USA > New York > Fulton County > Gazetteer and business directory of Montgomery and Fulton counties, N.Y. for 1869-70 > Part 27
USA > New York > Montgomery County > Gazetteer and business directory of Montgomery and Fulton counties, N.Y. for 1869-70 > Part 27
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The remains of Sir William were, at his death, placed in his own private tomb, under the altar of the stone church which he had erected. In 1836 the church was destroyed by fire, and when it was rebuilt the site was changed so that the space oc- enpied by the altar was left in the open space outside of the church. The precise location of the tomb was in consequence
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of this, unknown for several years. In the summer of 1862 Rev. Mr. Kellogg, the rector of the Episcopal Church in Johnstown, succeeded in finding the tomb. It was very well preserved, though some of the bricks composing the top had fallen in. A. few pieces of the mahogany coffin were found, with some wrought nails. A plain gold ring was also found, marked on the inside "June 1739, 16." The skull and the bones of the legs and arms were in a good state of preservation ; some other portions of the skeleton were also found. These remains were inclosed in a hollow block of granite, sealed up and replaced in the tomb with appropriate ceremonies. The Rt. Rev. Bishop Alonzo Potter, of the State of New York, officiated on the oc- casion.
The population of this town in 1865 was 9,805, and its area 47,640 acres.
The following characteristic anecdote is related of Sir Wil- liam : While residing at Fort Johnson he made some alteration in his grist mill near by, and put in a new pair of mill-stones. A German named Francis Salts, who was erecting a mill on Schoharie Creek, a few miles above its mouth, called on Sir William to purchase the old grinders. The price was agreed upon, and after some conversation about the terms of payment, the Baronet told him to put his mill in operation and when the debt became due if he would sing a song that pleased him, no further payment would be exacted. The mill was soon in ope- ration, and when the time of payment arrived, Salts, who was quite a singer, called on the Baronet to discharge the debt. Sir William had invited in some of his friends, and Salts sang song after song to the great delight of all except his creditor, whose countenance remained unmoved. At length having exhausted his catalogue of German songs, he thrust his hand into his pocket and drew forth a pouch containing the cash, singing in the German as he did so in no very good humor:
"Money bag. money bag, you must come out ; The man he will be paid."
" That will do, now put up your money," said Sir William, as he laughed heartily at the song. "Are you paid?" asked Salts,, with evident surprise, as he returned the purse to his pocket. " Yes, yes, that will do, that's the best of the whole," said the Baronet, and sent Salts away rejoicing.
We have already given an account of the capture of the Sam- mons family. In the aft ruoon of the same day, Sir John re- turned to the Hall. and while the prisoners were strongly guard- ed, many of the Tory inhabitants embraced the opportunity to visit their friends and relatives who composed to some extent the force of Sir John. Mrs. Hare, the widow of a British offi-
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cer, who occupied apartments at the Hall, interceded with Sir John and secured the release of some of her friends who were among the prisoners. Among these was Thomas Sammons, who had pretended to be very lame. Jacob and Frederick Sam- mons were carried into captivity, and imprisoned at Fort Chamb- lee. About forty prisoners were confined here. Jacob Sam- mons very soon began to contrive how to escape, but most of his fellow prisoners thought the project too daring to succeed. Af- ter this the two brothers began to plan for their own escape without regard to others. The prisoners were supplied with an allowance of spruce beer, to procure which two prisoners were detailed daily, under a guard of five soldiers, to bring the cask from the brewery. The plan was to contrive to be taken together to the brewery and at a given signal to break and run, thinking that while the guard were priming their muskets, they would be so far away as to stand a good chance to escape their shots. The plan was carried out and proved successful, though. twenty or thirty shots were fired at them. They had agreed to meet, in case of separation, at a certain place at ten o'clock that night. Jacob, who had concealed himself in a thicket not far from the Fort, lay until dark, when he proceeded to the spot, where he remained for some time calling aloud for Frederick until he despaired of meeting him. It subsequently appeared that he was too early and Frederick kept his appointment. We have not the space to relate all of the hardships and hairbreadth escapes before reaching his home. Without food or the means of making a fire, he proceeded along the eastern shore of Lake Champlain, living upon birch bark for four days, chewing the tender twigs. He then caught a few little fish, but as he had no means of cooking them he ate one and threw the rest away. His feet had become scratched, bruised and so sore that he could scarcely travel, and to add to his misery great swarms of mos- quitoes continually invested him. A duck eaten raw made him one meal, but the eggs upon which she sat were too far ad- vanced to be palatable. On the tenth day he came to a small lake, where, almost exhausted, he sat down, bathed his feet, and felt that he could never rise. At length, somewhat refreshed, he started again and was met by a still greater enemy in the shape of a rattlesnake, which fastened his fangs in the calf of his leg. Quick as thought, he removed the flesh around the wound with his pocket knife and then killed and dressed the snake for eating. Remaining here for several days to recruit his strength he succeeded in making a fire which somewhat re- Jieved him, though he was compelled to creep on his hands and knees for fuel. On the fourth day of his sojourn here he re- solved to proceed on his journey, but could not without some
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protection for his feet. To remedy this he cut up his hat and waistcoat, and binding them to his feet, hobbled along. A jour- ney of two days more brought him to a house in the town of Pittsford, Vt. Thus after fifteen days of untold suffering he was again where he could recruit his strength and prepare for the remaining part of his journey. He proceeded to Albany, and thence to Schenectady, where he found his family.
The adventures of Frederick were not less marked and worthy of notice. It was near sunset when they left the Fort, and at the appointed time Frederick repaired to the place agreed upon and called so loud for his brother that the guard was turned out. The brothers had agreed to cross the Sorel River and proceed up on the east side, but a misunderstanding as to the place of crossing prevented their meeting here. Having crossed over, Frederick killed a bullock, and taking one of the hind quarters upon his shoulder, marched off into the forest. Here he pro- ceeded to dress his beef and make a knapsack of the skin, and then proceeded on his journey. At a distance of five or six miles he called at a house occupied by a French family, but was unable to procure supplies of any kind except some tinder. Proceeding on until night, he stopped, kindled a fire, smoked and dried his meat, which he cut in small slices for the purpose. On the fourth day he reached the lake, where he found a canoe which he launched, and hoped to find some relief from the te- diousness of his journey. His hopes proved vain, for the canoe soon parted and he was obliged to proceed by land. At the close of the seventh day, when he supposed he was within two days' travel of a settlement, he kindled a fire and lay down in fine health and spirits. Before morning he was taken with a severe attack of pleurisy. A drenching rain came on and con- tinued for three days, during which he lay helpless, without shelter, fire, or sustenance of any kind. On the fourth day he attempted to take some food, but found it too offensive to eat. He then crept to a stagnant pool for water to quench his burn- ing thirst, and found it swarming with frogs, which he devoured raw, not being able to make a tire. Here he lay for fourteen days, expecting to die. Lying upon a high bluff that overlooked the lake, he placed his hat upon a pole hoping that it might attract the attention of some vessel. This hope was realized and he was taken on board the vessel, senseless and speechless. On coming to his senses he was informed that he was on board of the enemy's vessel lying at Crown Point. Here he remained sixteen days, during which he had the satisfaction of learning that his brother Jacob had arrived at Schenectady. He also learned of Jacob's suffering from the bite of a rattlesnake, and that during their greatest suffering they were only a few miles
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apart. His recovery was very slow, and before he was able to walk he was taken back to his old place, Fort Chamblee, where he was heavily ironed and suffered untold hardships, the iron eating to the bones of his legs. Captain Steele, the officer in command, would not allow the irons to be removed until he re- ceived a peremptory order from General St. Leger, who was in command at St. John's, and then the hand-cuffs were not re- moved. In November 1781, the prisoners were transferred to an island on the St. Lawrence, called at the time Prison Island, and situated in the rapids above Montreal.
In the spring of 1782, Sammons organized a conspiracy with nine of his fellow prisoners to make their escape, but being dis- covered, their purpose was defeated, and Sammons, being the leader, was again put in irons, but they were removed at the end of five weeks. Impatient of his imprisonment, he induced a fellow prisoner named McMullen to join him in another at- tempt to escape. The plan was to plunge into the river and swim to the opposite shore. About three fourths of a mile be- low the island, the rapids were such as to render the river im- passable to boats, but being expert swimmers they succeeded in making the perilous voyage. They attempted to land about two miles below the island but were unable to on account of the current, and were driven two miles further, when they landed at a point called by the Canadians " The Devil's Point." Each had preserved a knife and a tinderbox, and the next thing was to supply themselves with tinder. This was accomplished by entering a house and helping themselves after frightening the old lady, who was the sole occupant, so that she ran out and alarmed the villagers. After meeting with some ludicrous ad- ventures in their efforts to supply themselves with food and other necessaries for their journey, they plunged into the un- broken forest, and after a journey of twelve days emerged from the woods within six miles of the point for which Sammons, without chart or compass, had directed his course. Their pro- visions lasted but a few days, and they then subsisted chiefly on roots and herbs. Their clothes were nearly all worn and torn from their bodies, so that when they arrived in Schenectady. they were nearly naked. The people were at first alarmed at their appearance, but on learning who they were, rallied to their as- sistance, and supplied their wants. Sammons learned that his father and family had removed to Ulster County. On the morn- ing after his arrival at Schenectady, he wrote a letter to his father and sent it by an officer who was on his way to Phil- delphia. The letter was left at the house of a Mr. DeWitt. about five miles from the residence of Mr. Sammons, who had long given up his son Frederick as dead. The same night upon
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which the letter was left, Jacob Sammons dreamed that his brother Frederick was living and that there was a letter from him at Mr. De Witt's, announcing the fact. The dream was re- peated twice and the contents of the letter were so strongly im- pressed upon his mind that he repeated what he believed to be the very language it contained. The other members of the family laughed at his credulity, but so strongly impressed was he that he repaired to the place designated, and asked for the letter. Mr. De Witt looked for it and told him there was none. Not satisfied he requested a further search, when it was found behind a barrel where it had fallen. Jacob then requested Mr. De Witt to open the letter and examine it while he recited the contents. This was done and the letter was recited word for word. This singular circumstance is established beyond a doubt.
MAYFIELD, named from the Mayfield Patent, granted June 27, 1770, was formed from Caughnawaga, March 12, 1793. Wells (Hamilton Co.) was taken off in 1805, and another por- tion of Mayfield was annexed to that town in 1812. A part was annexed to Perth in 1842. It lies on the north border of the County, east of the center, and extends nearly to the south line. Its surface in the north part is broken by mountains, rising from 1,500 to 2,000 feet above tide. These elevations are of primary formation with rounded summits, the highest peaks having steep declivities. The central and south parts are roll- ing and generally susceptible of cultivation. Stony Creek flows through the north-west corner, Mayfield Creek through near the center, Kennitto Creek through the south-east corner, and Cranberry Creek in the east part. The soil is sandy and gravelly and in some places strewn with bowlders. The soil in the val- leys is alluvial with some clayey loam.
Mayfield, (p. v.) situated near the center of the town, contains two churches, a hotel, three stores, a carriage shop, two black- smith shops, two glove manufactories, a steel trap manufactory, a harness shop, two shoe shops, a saw mill, a grist mill and about 60 dwellings.
Vails Mills, (p. v.) in the south-east part, contains a hotel, a store, a wagon shop, two blacksmith shops, a tannery, a saw mill entting 250,000 feet, a grist mill grinding 75,000 bushels annually, and about twenty dwellings. The tannery turns out 8,000 sides of leather annually.
Reeville, on Mayfield Creek, contains a grocery, two skin mills turning out 50,000 skins each annually, and about twenty dwellings.
Jackson Summit is a hamlet containing a tannery, capable of turning out about 18,000 sides of leather annually, and a saw
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mill with a capacity for cutting 800,000 feet of lumber annually. Both these establishments are owned and run by I. Jackson & Co.
Closeville is a hamlet in the east part, on Kennitto Creek, and contains a paper mill for the manufacture of wrapping and straw board paper, making about 100 tons of the former and 150 tons of the latter annually.
The Saw Mill of David W. Hathaway, on Mayfield Creek, cuts about 300,000 feet annually.
The Grist Mill of E. A. Elphee, on Mayfield Creek, has two runs of stones and grinds about 12,000 bushels annually.
The Saw Mill of B. B. Vandenburgh and Isaac Brown cuts about 70,000 feet annually.
The Tannery of William Kennedy, in the north-east part of the town, turns out about 5,000 sides of leather annually.
The settlement of this town was commenced about 1760, un- der the patronage of Sir William Johnson, on the old road lead- ing from Tribes Hill to the Sacondaga, and was called Phila- delphia Bush. The first settlers who obtained a title from Sir William of one hundred acres of land each, were two brothers named Solomon and Seely Woodworth, Truman Christie, two brothers named Reynolds, and others named Dunham, Cadman, Canfield and Flock. Christie was a Scotchman, but most of the other settlers were enterprising Yankees. The Woodworths won from Salisbury, Connecticut. Seely settled near the pres- ent -ite of Mayfield Corners, and his brother about a mile to the westward of him. Solomon Woodworth was killed by the Indians in the Revolution. Mr. Dunham was also killed by the Ichans, and his house was plundered but not burned. Dun- Hun had a son in Captain Woodworth's company who shared the fate of his commander. Nathaniel Conners, Michael Cro- ;in, two families named Walters, Peter Whitman, Michael Hav: * , George Cough, John Anderson and some others, settled here previous to the Revolution.
The settlers were at first obliged to go to Johnstown for thor milling. To accommodate them and some other settlers Mir Willam erected a small grist mill at Mayfield in 1773 or 11:4. It was either burned during the war or allowed to go into Popay by neglect. The mill property was confiscated and at the case of the war purchased by a son of Rev. Dr. Romeyn. who r bnih the mill and put it in operation. Some of the early $ 1- thor: after the war were William and Robert Jackson, David Knapp, Alvin MeDongal, Peter and John McKinley, Dancan Anderson, Jane Bemas, Captain and Major Van Beuren Pour and Jellis Fonda, Samuel Lefforts, William Vail, David and Luke Woodworth and Jonah Bartlett. Soon after Roneyn put
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his mill in operation, Thomas Shankland erected a grist mill in the present town of Providence. The bolts in these mills were turned by hand, and it was the practice for customers to turn the bolt for their own grist, a task by no means agreeable.
The first birth in the town was that of Mary Cough in 1766. Christian Furtenback taught a German school in 1771.
The first church organization was Dutch Reformed, in 1792.º In March 1827 it was reorganized as a Presbyterian Church, with 56 members, and has at present about 100 members. Rev. Jeremiah Wood, the present pastor, commenced his pastorate in 1826 and has continued without intermission since that time.
The Methodist Church of Mayfield was organized about the year 1816, with about fifteen members. The present member- ship is 80.
The population of this town in 1865 was 2,280, and its area 37,208 acres.
NORTHAMPTON was formed from Broadalbin, Feb- ruary 1, 1799. It is the north-east corner town of the County. The surface is hilly, the hills in the north rising about a thou- sand feet above the valleys. The Sacondaga Vlaie occupies sev- eral thousand acres in the south part. Sacondaga River flows south-east through the town, in a valley from one fourth of a mile to a mile in width. Mayfield Creek flows east through the south part. The soil in the valley is a rich alluvium and upon the hills a sandy loam. In some places it is stony and very hard to cultivate. Shell marl abounds in the bed of the Vlaie.
Northville, (p. v.) situated in the north part of the town, con- tains three churches, three hotels, six stores, two wagon shops, a marble factory, an iron foundry, a glove and mitten factory. an undertaking and furniture shop, five cooper shops, several other mechanic shops of various kinds and about 800 inhabit- ants.
The Glove Factory of Bradley & Lobdale turns out about 1500 dozen pairs of gloves and mittens annually.
Northville Grist Mill, about half a mile from the village, has four runs of stones and grinds about 1,500 bushels annually.
Parkville is a hamlet about a mile north-west of Northville, on the Sacondaga River, and contains a large tannery, turning out about 18,000 sides of sole leather annually. This is the largest in the County and is owned by Wm. L. Wright.
The Saw Mill of S. Hubbell cuts about 400,000 feet annually.
Northampton, (p. v.) known as the Fish House, is situated in the south-east corner of the town and contains three churches, two hotels, three stores, a cabinet shop, a carriage shop, a shoe shop, a blacksmith shop and about forty dwellings.
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The Presbyterian Church of Northampton was organized Sep- tember 5, 1808. This was the first religious organization in the town. In 1814 it was changed to the Northampton Union Presbyterian Society. Their first house of worship was dedicat- ed October 17, 1816. A new edifice is now being erected on the site of the old one.
The Methodist Church of Northville was organized in 1821, with about fifty members. The church edifice was erected in 1826, and enlarged and re-dedicated in 1849. The present mem- bership is about 130.
The Presbyterian Church at Northville was organized in Au- gust 1849 with fourteen members. The church edifice was erect- ed in 1853. The present membership is sixty.
The Baptist Church of Northville was organized in 1802 with about a dozen members, and has now 192.
Osborn's Bridge, (p. o.) in the south-east part of the town, contains a Methodist church and about a dozen houses.
Cranberry Creek is a post office in the south-west part of the town.
The first settlement was commenced in 1770 under the aus- pices of Sir William Johnson, who erected a summer residence which was called Fish House. Mr. Godfrey Shew, a German, became the first permanent settler. For some time previous to his removal to Fish House, he had lived a mile west of Johnson Hall. The house was burned during the Revolution, but the place is still known by its original name, though the post office is Northampton. John Eikler, Lent and Nicholas Lewis, Ro- I+rt Martin, Zebulon Alger, families named Ketchum and Chadwick, Asahel Parker, John Trumbull, John Rosevelt, Al- erander St. John and John Fay were among the other early settlers. Soon after the Revolution, Zadoc Sherwood and Samu- el Olmsted settled at Northville ; and Garret VanNess, Abel Scribmer and John Brown, three Revolutionary soldiers, settled near Osborn's Bridge. The other early settlers were Thomas Foster, Daniel and Timothy Ressequie, John McNeil, Calvin Young, Adam Olmsted, Cornelius Richardson, Elihn Coleman, Sylvanus Sweet, Robert Palmer, John Randall, Eli Sprague, Green Wells, Cornelius Harving, Felix Porter and John Denni- son. most of whom were from New England.
The first birth was that of Godfrey Shew Jr., about two years before the breaking out of the Revolution. The first marriage was that of Alexander St. John and Martha Scribner, about 1108; and the first recorded death was that of Gideon Olmsted.
The population of the town in 1865 was 1,903, and its area 17,755 acres.
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OPPENHEIM was formed from Palatine, (Montgomery County,) March 18, 1808. St. Johnsville (Montgomery Co.,) was taken off in 1838. It is the south-west corner town of the County. Its surface is a hilly upland, inclining gradually to the south-west. In the north-east part the hills rise from 1,200 to 1,500 feet above the Mohawk. East Canada Creek flows south along the west border, and Fish Creek flows through the north- west corner. The other principal streams are Little Sprite, Crum, Zimmerman and Fox Creeks, all flowing south-west. The soil in the south-west is clay, in the south-east a clayey loam, and in the center and north a light sandy and gravelly loam. Bowlders are scattered over some portion of the town in great numbers, and primary rocks appear in the north. Lime- stone has been extensively quarried in the south-west part.
Oppenheim, (p. v.) near the center of the town, contains a church, two hotels, two stores, a saw mill, two blacksmith shop3 and about 100 inhabitants.
·Brockett's Bridge, (p. o.) on the East Canada Creek, contains a cheese box factory.
Lottville (p. o.) contains a saw mill.
Crum Creek (p. o.) contains two churches and a saw mill.
Middle Sprite (p. o.) contains a store, a saw mill and about a dozen houses.
This town was first settled by Germans, previous to the Revo- lution. The first settler was Rudolph Yonker, followed soon after by John Shaver, Jacob Youron, Moses Johnson, Daniel Diekman, William Alterburgh, Henry Buckdorf, Frederick Billinger and Simeon Schuyler, in the south part of the town. Benjamin Berry, Peter Clive, Jacob Ladue, James Johnson, William Bean, Richard Hewett and Daniel Guile, from New England, settled in the town about 1797. Moses Johnson, from New Hampshire, came into the town Jan. 21, 1794, with his family, Elizabeth, Susannah, Lydia and Moses, and located on the farm now owned by Emerthow Johnson. Mr. Johnson had been here during the previous summer, opened a small clearing, erected a log house and covered it with bark and slabs split from trees. He paid $2,50 per acre for 219 acres. He came with two horses, but was obliged to sell one of them to purchase provisions for the first summer. Moses Johnson, the son of this early set- tler, is still living with his son Zephaniah. He. is eighty-four years of age and has raised a family of thirteen children, most of whom are now living in this County. The names of these children are as follows : Sernthew, Emerthew, Eunice, Zennis, Dorcas, Moses, Obadiah, Sherabiah, Ezron, Enoch, Polly, Ke- ziah and Zephaniah. Jacob Claus settled in 1800, where Peter J. Claus now lives ; Christian House, a Revolutionary soldier,
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settled where Mary Claus now lives; and his son, John C. House, settled where Daniel House now lives. Henry H. Hayes settled where Elias Hayes now lives, about 1800 ; Gordon Turner set- tled in the north part of the town the same year, and Peter Clive settled where K. Clive now lives, about 1796; John Rarich settled in 198 where H. Turner now lives; Peter Mosher, where Leonard Mosher lives, in 1796; Andrew Claus settled in 1798 where Jacob A. Claus lives; and Daniel Guile, from Saratoga County, settled where John Ward lives, the same year. Mr. Guile was a soldier of the Revolution ; his son William now lives in town and is 77 years old. Peter Claus, from Rensselaer Co., settled in 1801 where William Failing lives; he purchased one hundred acres of Waggoner at $2,20 per acre. Daniel In- gersoll, from Saratoga Co., settled in 1794 where Henry Inger- soll now lives; Marcus Dusler, in 1796, where Alonzo Dusler now lives; Frederick Baum settled in 1791 where Jacob F. Baum lives. The last two were Revolutionary soldiers. Mr. Baum purchased one hundred acres of Klock & Nellis Patent, of Philip Helmer, for $1,25 per acre. Peter Davis settled du- ring the war, where Benjamin Crouse lives. He was killed by the Indians while at work in the field. His wife escaped, but his daughter was taken prisoner with a man named Pring. They were carried to Canada, and after suffering imprisonment for some time, escaped and were afterwards married. Harvey Nellis settled in 1792 where David Handy lives; he was a soklier in the war of 1812.
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