USA > New York > Jefferson County > Clayton > Historical sketch of the village of Clayton, N.Y. : and a complete history of St.Mary's parish > Part 3
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Rev. Father O'Dowd came here every month for over a year, but made no attempt to pay the debt on the church.
He was tall and stout, had black curly hair, was a very fine looking man, a good speaker, lively in conversation, but was not blessed with a large share of patience, and few there were who dared cross his way.
In those days, St. Mary's church was so poor and de- nuded that it did not own a single chair, and poor Father O'Dowd was obliged to sit on a block of wood whenever he heard confessions. He is now dead, but I know not where his ashes repose.
Father O'Dowd married Joseph Thibault, Sr., to Henrietta Bertrand, Nov. 3rd, 1845.
47
CHAPTER IV.
Father M. Guth Takes Charge of Clayton .- Father Maurice Sheehan of Watertown .- A Third Building Lot is Given by Vincent LeRay .- The Rectory, Barn and Catholic School House are Built .- St. John's Church at Lafargeville is Erected in 1849 .- The First Catholic Cemetery is Bought .- The Famous Bell .- Part of the Present Cemetery is Purchased. -The First Baptismal and Marriage Records.
The sixth priest who took charge of Clayton was Rev. Michael Guth, brother of Rev. Francis Guth, the first and only president of Lafargeville Seminary. He lived at Rosiere and attended Clayton from that place until 1850. He built St. John's church at Lafargeville in 1849. In 1850 he gave up the mission of Clayton and Lafargeville on account of too much ministerial work, as he had then charge of Rosiere, Cape Vincent, Clayton and Lafargeville.
Father Maurice Sheehan, of Watertown, replaced Father Guth at Clayton, but he never resided here. He was the seventh priest to minister to the spiritual wants of the catholics at Clayton. He was tall but slender, had red hair and a florid complexion but was sickly looking. He was well thought of by the people. He
48
REV. MICHAEL GUTH
Attended Clayton from 1845 to 1850. Pastor at Clayton from 1852 to June 1861.
came here at regular intervals during several months, but in 1851, Fr. M. Guth divided up his extensive terri- tory between Fr. Louis Lapic and himself; he taking charge of Clayton and Lafargeville, whilst Fr. Lapic took charge of Rosiere, Cape Vincent, Evans Mills and of the French congregation at Watertown. Fr. Shee- han died in Albany several years ago.
Father Gutlı continued to make his headquarters at Rosiere with Father Lapic until the Clayton Rectory was built in 1852. The erection of this house was inade possible by the efforts of Joseph Thibault, then trustee. At the request of Father Guth, he took up a subscrip- tion, which was paid in due bills or orders. George Campbell furnished the money, which he exchanged for these due bills. The house was planned and built by George Goddard and cost about six hundred dollars. There was no debt on the building when completed and Father Guth took possession of it at once, and thus be- caine the first resident pastor of Clayton in 1852. He took his meals for some time at John Bertrand's, corner of James and Mary streets, then took Honorah Delaney for a housekeeper. The latter remained with him until he left.
This tireless and most zealous priest did not rest on his laurels after he was located at Clayton, but he built a catholic school house here in 1854. This school building, made of brick, was erected on the lot next to and north of the church. It was used by catholics only all the time Father Guth remained here and during sev-
eral years in Father Sherry's time, but afterwards, was rented by the public school board for $60.00 per year and thus it was turned into a public school for five or six years. This brick structure was demolished in Fr. Brice's time. There are many people still living who attended this catholic institution. The first teacher was Fr. Guth himself, then the following also taught school there: Ellen Delaney, Mary Sharples, (now Mrs. Geo. Stumps,) Charlotte Allam, Mary A. Cronin, Robert Hall, Mary A. Mahony, Kate Sherry, Mrs. John B. Bazinet, and Maria Brennan.
At about the time Fr. Guth erected the school house at Clayton, he received a gift of $100.00 from Thomas Brennan, Jr., which he used in building a barn behind the rectory. His Grace Archbishop John Hughes of New York City also presented Fr. Guth with the old Lafargeville seminary altar and bell, which the latter brought with joy to his dear Clayton church. The tab- ernacle is the only relic of that precious altar, which is still in the possession of St. Mary's. The bell was given by Rev. F. G. Brice to St. John's church at La- fargeville in 1888 when the new St. Mary's church was near completion. But shortly after it had been placed in the belfry of St. John's church, it was taken back to Clayton during the night and placed in the garret of old St. Mary's church, where it remained hidden for some time. Many thought that it had tolled its death knell at the bottom of the St. Lawrence river and hopes of its recovery were no longer entertained when one
52
OLD RECTORY BUILT IN 1852, STILL IN USE.
-
OLD RECTORY BUILT IN 1852, STILL IN USE.
morning it was found in good condition in the vestry roo111. This famous bell was returned to Lafargeville in 1890 where its peals can still be heard. It was never known for certain, how and by whom this deed was committed. The writer of this sketch has always be- lieved that this nocturnal feat was more a joke than an act of ill will and it certainly was not a sacrilege as some insisted.
There was yet something wanting to make St. Mary's a complete parish, and this was a cemetery. Fatlier Guth supplied the want when in 1859 he bought five acres of land east of the New York Central railroad, on the tract of land now owned by William Parish. This cemetery was used only two years as the ground was found to be shallow and wet. Yet Edward Ellam and a few children were buried in it.
In February 1861, Father M. Guth, through Patrick Cantwell and John Hayes, bought one acre and a half of the present cemetery from Levi Desrosiers for $90.00.
After so many years of arduous labor and missionary work, Father Guth's health failed him, and he was obliged to resign his charge in June 1861. Mr. Joseph Thibault drove him to Michael Bordle's at Rosiere where priests used to stop. After resting there a few days he went to Albany, lived there a few years, first with the Bishop, then at the Sisters' hospital where he died in 1863. Father M. Guth, true to his brother's memory, continued and completed his work, and imitated him in his zeal, his self denial and in all the other chris-
55
tian virtues for which they were both noted. These two names, Francis and Michael Guth will always remain inseparable in the memory of the people on account of their devoted and exemplary lives whilst in this neigli- borhood.
Like his brother Francis, Father Michael Guth was born in Alsace-Lorraine and came to this country after his brother's death in 1845 to continue his work in Jeff- erson county. He landed at New York and came at once to Rosiere. He stayed in this neighborhood for sixteen long years. .
Father Michael Guth was of medium height, coarse in appearance and dark complexioned ; he was very regular in the fulfillment of his pastoral duties, strict as a confessor, severe as regards fasting, but a poor financier, especially with regard to his personal affairs. He was a rather poor singer and a very ordinary preacher; he was pleasant, but sparing of words; he spoke French, German and English fluently ; he was zealous, very de- vout and inost charitable towards the poor. He was surnamed Father Good on account of his great kindness.
Father M. Guth, being the first resident priest at Clayton was also the first to keep records of baptismis and marriages. No death register was kept by hijn.
From now on, after each priest's pastorate, I will give the names of those who were baptized, married and buried by them, year after year.
For part of this difficult work of scanning the parisli registers and deciphering the alinost illegible and partly
56
effaced writings of the different priests, I am indebted to Rev. J. E. Derome and Joseph H. Brabant.
I will scrupulously give these records as they are found in the parish registers.
1854 BAPTISMS.
Bisonnette, Jedeon Lefaivre, Sophie Fortin, Mary
Apr. 7
Apr. 8
Date of
Date of Bapt.
Thibault, Mary Ludo- vica
Apr. 11
12
McJuley, John
Sept. 12
Oct. 8 Duford, Eli
26
May 13
Charon, Josephine
١١ 30
8. Lepine, Charles
11
13
Martin, Aurelie Martine Oct. 16
25
Nov. 4
St. Onge, Mary
Dec. 7
Dec. 10
10 Lagnon, Williamı
Julie 13 June 24
McCue, Wm.
24
".
I 12
Slotz, Mary Eliz.
Oct. 22
١١
30
Laughlin, Andeen Michael
June 9
July 29
Goaley, Thomas
July 23
12
MARRIAGES.
Parent, Rachel
Aug. 14
Ang. 15
Date.
Duford, Henry
4 27
Sept. 23
Menard. J. B., and Julie Vandette, Oct. 22 Charlebois, John
Muller, Boniface and Rose Liel,
Dec. 30
Lepine, Louis
Aug. 5
23
Clement, Alex, and Marie Lep ine,
Feb. 11
Longdean, Stephen
Aug. .4
23
Michau, Sophia
Sept. 23 ١١
24
Feb. 11
Lachance, Farncis Xavier
Sept. 30
30
Cartier, Julienne
30
Oct. 14
Balthazar, Win.
Nov. 7
NOV. 11
Simard, J. B. and Natalie Long- tin,
Fitzgerald, Honora
12
19
Levesque, Elizabeth
Jan 25,'25 Jan. 25
Dwyer, Mary
Nov. 21
27
Clement, Mary
Dec. 22 " 27
Hammond, Mary Pamelia
Apr. 28
Thibault, Angelique Lae-
titia,
Jan. 29
Feb. 9
MARRIAGES.
Coms, Wm.
18
9
Myers, Jacob Henry and Ele- nora Pilon
Jan. 1
Delaney, Marcus Ja11. 20
Laporte, Adolphe
Feb. 22
25
Nov. 12
Jacobs, Elizabeth
Oct. 15,'54 Apr. 7 Nestor, Michael and Rosanna
Brennan, Richard
Jan. 19 Apr. 8 Mckinley
Apr. 19
7
8
Mch. 30
S
22 Fitzgerald, Michael Jacob Austead, Charles
May 11
27
Tabliert, Alice Joanna Oct. 1, '53
Dec. 15 ١١ Belleville, Josephine
Aug. 3 Aug. 12
McChe, Alexander
15
24
Levesque, Adelina
Charlebois, Adelaide
28 ١١
29
Fournier, Anastasia
July 26 " 12
Cantwell, Catharine
Nov. 18 Jan. 14 '55
Sept. 11
23
Gillett, Joseph
Sept. 22
23
Lachance, Oliver and Cath. Mir- 011,
Charpentier. Benj., and Julie Chayet,
May 14
Aug. 5
1855 BAPTISMS.
Date.
Quesnel, John
Mch. 8 Mch. 11
II Bazinet, Joseph and Christina Simard
57
Birth.
Lawler, Michael
Dec. 7 '54
27
..
St. Onge, Joseph and Marie P. Hammond
Thibault, Benj. and Sophia Bertrand
Longtin, Gedeon and Susanna Pilon Mulcahey, John and Mary O'Toole
Picard, Charles and Lousinda Rodrique
Lawler, Peter and Cath. Kirs- cher
1856
BAPTISMS.
Brabant, Joseph H. Jan. 27
Gervais, Alexander 30
30
1857
BAPTISMS.
Gillick, Catharine
" 16
12
Langevin, Antoinette Jan. 9 Jan. 13
12
13
Paiement, Cecilia
16
24 Loyet, Mary Margarite
7
..
24
Picard, Julia
Mch. 9
23 Gagnon, Charles ١٢
27
29
Rushlow, Juline
Apr. 10
Apr. 11 Sholette. John B.
Feb. 17
Feb. 21
Delaney, Daniel
Mch. 27 May 1 Jacob, Gregory
..
14 Mch. 8
Desrosiers, Charles
Apr. 21
II Purcell, Daniel
Jan. 5
Dennis, Edward
May 8 11 Thibault, Oliver John
Mch. 29 ..
30
Keeting. Mary Agnes
Mch. 31 '55 ١١ 12 Fitzgerald, Dan. Law-
rence
Apr. 9
May 10
Charlebois, Philomena Adelaide
Apr. 28
25 Daily, Catherine
9 June 2
Simard, Alexander
May 20
،٠ 30 Cartier, Charles Frank
Mch. 21
Bissonnette, Genevive
" 31
..
31 Brennan, Johanna Duford, Oliva
June 1
July 26 ..
Simonette, Eugena An- na M.
Jan. 22
3º Mckinley, Ellenora
Feb. 11
26
Bertrand, Mary Ann
June 8 June
9 Fitzgerald, Jeremiah 20 Joseph
May 25 26
Letarte, Michael
.. 14
22 Quesnel, William
July 3
31
Delmarse, Richarch
Apr. 20
.. 22 Flynn. Thomas
7 Ang. 9
Maher, Mary
June 23
27 Riley, Margarite 16
14
Boyer, Joseph
" 24
28 Thibault, Hellen Louise Ang. 23
..
27
Chales, Mary Comelia
July 10
July 11 Nestor, Julienne
June 27
30
McCarthy, Letitia
..
6
13 Picard, Zoe
Ang. 13 Sept. 10
Daniels, Mary Eliz.
26
28 Charlebois, Virginia Ang. 28 Quesnel, Frederic
Sept. 9 ١١
10
Bissonnette, Anthony
5
0 Fitzgerald, Michael
Ang. 3 ..
13
Charpentier, Francis Benj."
16
Duford, Michael
25
13
Duval, Clara
11
24 Belleville, Mary Jane
..
16
1 3
..
13
Nov. 11 Laporte, Frank Delaney, Elizabeth
13
26
19
..
26
Nov. 15 McCormic, Alice
13
Nov. 9
Lachance, Mary Louise Nov. 15
23
Patmartin, Mary
27
27
Goyette, Attilia
4 Dec. 5
Jan. 28 Fitzgerald, John
13
29
Bisonnette, Isidore Ed. Feb. 2
Feb. 10
Bailey, Mary Jane
Jan. 18
12
Russell, Josephine Lauthia Feb. 11
"
20
Farrell, Michael
16 Mch. 23 Charron, Amos Frank
Lalonde, Mary Sophia
May 18
24 Mckay, Jacob
..
27
24
58
Brown, Peter Mch. 17 Aug. 31
Apr. 28 Charlebois, Louis Win1. Aug. 15 Sept. 14
Johnson, Matilda
June 8 Amelia
Sept. 1I 28
Grapot, Louise Adele
Nov. 15 '55 28
Oct. 20 Chayet, Christine
Sept. 12 29
Oct. 11 Oct. 12
Nov. 10 Miron, Frank Lonis Carnagie, Sophia
7
8
26
Thomas, Eusebius
14
13 Menard, John
27 IO
Berlinguet, Mary Ang. 28
Balthazar, Henry Chale, Stephen Mulchahey, Michael
Sept. 15 Sept. 18 Cartier, Joseph
Jan. 12 Feb. 3
Oct. 2 Oct. 4 Rolland, Philomena
Feb. 12 14
Sept. 9 4 Levesque, Maxim Dec. 8 '57 Mch. 9
4+ 21 4 Mckinley, Rose Ann
Jan. 28 14
Reaume, Justina Regis, Mary Louise Oct. 18 '55 5 Gooley, John
Feb. 24 14
Bazinet, Philip Levesque, John
Aug. IS 21 Dival, Amelia
Mch. 16 17
Picard, Mary Jane
Oct. 18 .. 22 Daniel, Deline
25 ١١
26
Westerfield, Jacob Badreau, Melinda
Aug. 27 '53 21 St. Onge, Ann Rachel
Feb. 2 ١١ 28
Thesier, Charles
Oct. 18
21 Brabant, Felicite
Mch. 31
Apr. I
Ramot, Elizabeth Simard. Lucy
12
27 Farrell, Dan
Mch. 8 25
Chayet, Adelina
Oct. 18
Dec. 13 Boudreau, Eliz.
May 1 May 6
Langdean, George
Aug. 1 .. 17 Vandette, J. B.
I
7
Gobler. Henry
Nov. 8
26 Lalonde, Matilda
8 ...
Delaney, Wm. ." 15
27 Boucher, Seraphine
Mch. 10
9
Dwyer, Eliz.
Oct. 5 " 28 Bissonnette, J. B.
May 15
15
Vadeau, Amelia
Dec. 13 Jan. 10 '58 Fortin, Felicite
" 29
.. 30
Myers, Amos Henry
Apr. 13 " 10 '58 Letarte, Mary Louise
June 2
June 13
Laloude, Mary
24
24
MARRIAGES.
Balthazar, J. B. and Eliz. Mir- on
Feb. 23
Russel, George
29
١١ July 5 6
Mckinley, Arthur and Mary Hayes
Apr. 12 Pike, Mary Helena
July
5
7
Lefaivre, Alfred and Cath. Dean Bertrand, Edward and Angelic Thibault
Gervais, Leander
8
8
May 2 Amos, Protais
Mch. 28
July 26
31
June 16 Lalonde, Mary Johanna July 31
29
. 4
9
Collin, F. X. and Marg. Miron Lefaivre, Oliver and Mary Char- pentier
Aug. 10 Collin, Mary Ann Lefaivre, Julia
17
10
Sept. 3º Charpentier, Julienne
27
66 10
Delaney, Bridget Ann
Aug. 6
13
Oct. 26 Peck, Mary
Dec. 29 '56 21
Brown, Mary
Mch. 6 29
May 17 Sept. 12
Delaney, John and Mary Ann Williams
Nov. 9 Delmarse, Mary Ann Rushlow, Alexander
Sept. 21
22
Charpentier, Cyrille and Mary Chayet
1858 BAPTISMS.
Bailey, Pat. Andrew Gillick, John
Jan. 6
Dec. 26
Lefaivre, Alfred
Jan. 15 .. 22
Jan. 23 24
Gillick, Ellena
13
26
٠٠
Oct. 10 11 Charlebois, Ellena
26 '57 14
Nov. 7 Nov. 9 Delaney, Wm.
Jan. 4 28
Nov. 11 22 Dennis, Win.
Apr. 14
14
Lachance, Virginia Caroline
27
29
Duval, John and Letitia Perry Furgerson, Dan, Joseph and Mary Stellier
25 Kilborn, Joanna Shaltry, Henrietta
May 25 Ang.
8
Menard, Clovis and Attelia Charlebois
27 (Lupe ?) Marg. Eliz.
Aug. 1 '55 ..
I2
23 Menard, Adelaide
" 27 11 Oct. 10
Delaney, Thomas
Bissonnette, Israel
Nov. 4 Nov. 4
Nov. 13
26
Forcier, J. B.
59
30
Boucher, F. R. and Mercelline Yotte
27 Maher, Marg.
MARRIAGES.
Ponkette. Joseph and Philomine Gelinot
Bertrand, Olivier and M. Gene- veve Bazinet
Letarte, Michael and Eliz Pilon Chales, Leo and Perpetue Churco Berthiaume, Martin and Jose- phine Le Gross Brabant, Hyacinth and Bibiane Duval
Dennis, Fk. Xavier and Eliz. Fortin
Herbrecht, Anthony and Hel- ena Hughes
Maher, William
Date. Mulcahey, John Parent, Catharine Apr. 26| Fitzgerald, Wm1. Herbrecht, Catharine 27 Beaudoin, Luciana
June 30 July 4 20 ** 10
May 28 Aug. 5 July 5 14
31 27
Sept. 9 Sept. 9
Aug. 15 ..
Sept. 24 Oct. 9
31 Fitzgerald, Peter Rieses, Arthur
Aug. 15 Oct. 23
Oct. 7 ". 23
29 Nov. 2
Nov. 6 c
5
28
Rhodrigue, Virginia Dec. 5 Dec. 10
Oct, 14 Benoit, Mary Meline Charlebois, Anthony 27
Sept. 17 1 1
Charlebois, Helen
Magdelene =
17
25
BAPTISMS.
Minor, Wmn. Henry Jan. 9 Jan. 19
Lawler, James
11
1
23 Rhodrigue, J. B. and Mary
Bouglot, Adeline Clarisse 29 '58 " 27
Benoit
Jall 24
Ponkette, Joseph " 25
31 |Doney, Albertus and Amelia
Feb. 14
Duval, Eli
..
9
14 Edus, Peter and Julia Collin
" 21
Hayes, Will.
Jan. 29 14 Preville, Joseph and Adelaide
Flynn. Mary Dec 28'58 14 Lemieux
May 9
Letarte, Eliz. Louise Feb. 21
21 Hughes, P. Thos. Fk. and Jean-
Johnson, Julia Louise Mch. 29 Mch. 30 nie Rood
June 2
Bertrand, Nap. Benj. Apr. 5 Apr. 10 Monroe, George and Marg.
Myers, Samnel Mch. 1 21 11 Dowdall
Oct. 18
Jackson, Johanna Eliz. Apr. 12 .. 21 Pilon, Edward and Philomena Preville 26 Pilon, Cyprien and Zoe Denis
May 15
Denis, Eliz. Virginie Apr. 24 66 26
Howath, Abraham Apr. 24 May
Chales, Louis Adolphus May II
1 1
1860
Laughlin, Win. Joseph Jan. 20 -
22
BAPTISMS.
Rood, Jannie Mary Feb. 20 '39 June 2 Lachance, J. B. Jan. 7 Jan. 8
Thibault, Ida Amelia May 29
2 Lefebvre Mennette
Dec. 24 '59 " 22
Wholey, Lucy Anna Apr. 24
12 Thibault Alphonse Jan. 25 29
MeCarthy, Abraham June 12
12 |Denis Amelie .. 3 22 ..
Belleville, Joseph Mch- 13
19, Daily Mary
Dec. 25 '59 " 29
Brabaut, Francis Xavier June 23
.. 26 Chaltre Ovila
Jan. 16 Feb. 26
McCormick, Michael =
IO 26 Lalonde Cyprien
Feb. 23 26
..
60
Hughes, Helena Ang- ustine Jan. S 11
Nov. 3
Nestor, Martin Apr. 12 29
MARRIAGES.
Bertrand, Mary Feb. 2 Feb.
3 Nadeau
25
1859
May 17 MeKinley, Michael 20 Bazinet, Catharine Josephine
Aug. 23| Charpentier, Charles Duford, Mary Sophie Sept. 27 Jacob, Alexis
Doran George Jan. 21 Feb. 26;O'Reily Philips " 26 Maher Bridget
Dec. 30
Collin George Marcellin Feb. 26
Dec. 30 Jail. 5 '61
Kelley Michael Jan. I Mch. II
Lefebvre M. Ann Feb. 9 Feb. 11
Delaney John Mch. 16 Mch. 25
Chayet Charles 17 Apr.
Mallette Mary Apr. I
Farrell Edward
Feb. 10
Feb. 26 Lareau Joseph and Mary D.
Simard Nathalie Apr. 30 May 1
Charlebois NOV. 12
Lafleur George
Jan. 11 '58 "
2 Blonchette Charles and Horora
Gillick Sarah Joanna Feb. 16
Apr. 28
Cain
Nov. 15
Bertrand Seraphine
Apr. 22
May 13 Brown John and Mary O'Connor Dec. 25
Denis Joseph "1 27
Thomas Henry
May 28
31
Brabant Mary
Apr. 28
June 5
1861
BAPTISMS.
Miron George Ant.
July 4
July 6
Charpentier Matilda
Jan. 24 Jan. 27 Mch. 14 Mch. 17
Dwyer John
Jan. 15
Dwyer Joanna
15
23 Thibault Francois X.
19
25
Delaney Eliz.
July 3
28 Aug. 12
Brown Henry
May 7 '59 29
Bailey Peter Eugene
June 1
July 27
Wright Luccetia
Henney Cath.
Apr. 9
29
Balthazar Edmond
Hughes John Pat. June 27
29 Fortin Mary Eliz
Apr. 12 14
Goyette Virginia
Sept. 2
Sept.
5 Chale Mary Malitina
14
14
Lebic ? Catharine
July 2
9. Bissonnette Eliz. Ann.
14
21
Gooley William Pat. Aug. 5 .. 26
Russel Anna 9
11
30
May 5
Lefebvre Mary
Sept. 7
14
Leger Mary Augustine 66
12
12
Fitzgerald Mary
Aug. 21
23 Ponchette Amelia
29 Quesnel Benjamin
IO
15
Lieb Rosa
Dec. 25 '59
30
Monnette Lena
Jan. '60
16
Klotz George
June 28 '59 30
Rhodrigue Mary Joanna May I
June 16
16
Bertrand Bertha
Oct. 12
١١
12
Kelley John
Feb. 25 ١٩
18
Duford Alphonse
" 17
14
Delmarse Helena
Sept. 17
14
MARRIAGES.
Equien Ilarriet
Oct. 1
11
14 Vandette Victor and Attila LeGros Jan. 14 18
Lucier Scholastique
.. 15
Churco Chas, and Cath Lefebvre
15
St, Onge Joseph Dan
Aug. 27
Gelinot Hel'en
Nov. 2
11
16
2 Benoit Joseph and DesAnges
Lawler Richard
Dec. 2
Dec. 17
Mercier
May 12
Brown John Uriel B.
Oct. 30 '36 " 25
..
IO
Austead Mary Helena
June 5
7 Gervais J. B.
S Charlebois Matilda
23 Amelia 16 25
23 Pilon Mary Virginia
66
24 28
Hayes Francis
Minor Athalia
Aug. ! 2 15 Brown M. Jane
July 22 '57 29
7 Mch. 13 '47 Apr. 6 3
Duval Mary
Johnson Mary Henriette May 11
..
12
Picard John
7 '59 64
Letart Sophia
Sept. 6 Oct. 12
Rogers Joseph
28 Stumps George and Mary Jos. 2 Sharples
Apr. 9
Gelinot Virginia
2
MARRIAGES.
Parrot, Peter and Eliz. Miron July 1
8 Myers Louis and Hellen Lepage 13
8|Denis Joseph and Mary Denis May 22
22
Letarte Joseph
'7
Flynn John
May 23
9
June 2 June 16
16
61
CHAPTER V.
Rev. Fr. Michael Clarke .- The Church is Repaired and the Cemetery Enlarged .- Stations of the Cross are Placed in the Church.
The eighth priest to look after the little catholic flock at Clayton, was Rev. Michael Clarke of Carthage. He arrived here for the first time on the 4th of July, 1861. He found the rectory open and occupied by Honorah Delaney and Bridget Stapleton, whom Fr. Guth had left in charge until another priest should come. Fr. Clarke did not disturb these two ladies in their peaceful occupancy of the parish house and boarded and lodged with them every time he came to Clayton.
Fr. Clarke found the church dilapidated. The plas- ter was falling down and no one could tell that it had ever been painted. From his very first visit, he spoke of repairing the church. Twice after inass, he begged of the people to come forward and subscribe generously towards the repairs needed on the building. About $200 was raised in this way and with this money, Father Clarke had the inside of the church ceiled, and both the inside and outside painted.
In October of 1861, Father Clarke called a " bee " to level the cemetery, to lay it out into plots and to remove
62
-
REV. MICHAEL CLARKE ATTENDED CLAYTON FROM JULY 1861 TO AUGUST 1862.
a sand bank which stood just outside the cemetery gate. During the day he took up a collection and bought three quarters of an acre of land from Dannah Angel October 22, 1861, for $80, and in this way enlarged the cemetery to the road that leads to Jolin Barrett's.
As the collection taken by Father Clarke did not suf- fice to pay for this parcel of land Joseph Thibault sr., went to see all the people who had not yet contributed and in this way raised enough money to satisfy the ob- ligation. Following are the names of those who sub- scribed and the amount that each gave. For this list I am indebted to Joseph Thibault. Joseph Thibault $5, Joseph Duford $5 Thomas Delaney $5, Israel Belleville, Nelson Duford, John Fitzgerald, John Bertrand, Michael Mason, Moses Lefaivre, Marcus Delaney Patrick Dow- dall, John Hayes, Richard Lawler, Patrick Cantwell, Michael Mullen, Patrick Fitzgerald, James Dwyer, Denis Maher, Roda Fitzgerald, Stephen Pilon, Felix Belonger, Thomas Mercier, Edward Bertrand, Joseph . Charlebois $1.00 each; Leander Brabant, Philip Bazinett, Louis Baninett, Protet Penault, Edward Cartier, Joseph Pilon, $2.00 each; Leander Denis and James Belonger gave 50 cents eaclı.
Another event took place during Father Clarke's short pastorate. Joahna McManus and Honorah Delaney took up a subscription to buy Stations of the Cross. The frames were made by John B. Bazinet, the glass was bought at Redwood and the chromos in New York city. These were put together in Clayton, and such were the
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first stations of the cross which St. Mary's church owned. These are quite in contrast with our present grand and expensive stations of the cross. Yet the catholic people of 1861 prized them highly and thought these were quite artistic.
When the new St. Mary's church was completed, the pastor Rev. F. G. Brice, did not hang them on the walls of the new temple, but distributed them among different families, in whose homes, they can yet be seen. Father Clarke blessed and erected these stations of the cross in the summer of 1862. Shortly after, he ceased to attend Clayton. He had charge of the mission but a short time, yet he accomplished a great deal. He left behind him the reputation of being a conscientious priest, a clever man and a good financier.
Father Thomas C. Middleton, O. S. A. D. D. writes that: "Father Michael Clarke was a tall, square shouldered, heavy built man, on whom small pox had left its indelible marks." He was dark complexioned, stern and determined ; he wore cheap and plain clothes and was very rustic in appearance. He was pions, charitable, generous and a fair speaker. He was a dis- ciple and advocate of total abstinence and did not use tobacco in any form. "He was one of the most ener- getic missionaries of his time." He built the churches at Rossie, Pinckney, Louisburgh and Sterlingville, and at the same time attended to Clayton and Carthage with scrupulous care. Yet, in spite of these qualities, he had no patience with tepid catholics and he fought the dic-
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tatorial trustees of Carthage to the bitter end, thereby raising a contention which resulted in the parish being placed under interdict by Bishop McCloskey. Father Clarke never had any trouble in Clayton; he was well liked by all and carried away with him the best wishes of the people. He died in Schenectaday several years ago. Following are those whom he baptized and mar- ried. He kept 10 records of deaths.
1861 BAPTISMS.
MARRIAGES.
Date of
Date of
Jacob, Michael and Annette McCarthy 25
Birth.
Bapt.
Marshron, John and Virginie Lalonde
Nov. 21
Minor, Alford
July 4
July 4
Pilon, Hellen
June 25
..
4
St. Barba, Ann Mary " 25
McCormick, Peter Eugene Mayio
Ang. 15
Broshon, Mary Eliz.
July 28
15
BAPTISMS.
McGuilly, Mary Honora
June 24 14
15 Howarth, Julia Ann
..
S
23
Lachance, George
Aug. 9
15 Letarte, Adelaide
Cortier, Edward
Oct. 13 '60
15 Flynn, Geo.
Feb. 20
23
Mulcahey, James
Aug. II
15 Bertrand, Joseph
June 22
23
Cholette, Mary Julia
Sept. 9 Sept. 15 Bertrand, Cath. Clo- tilde
May 16
23
Bernier, Mary Edwidge
27
21 Farrel, Sarah
May 20 18
Leroux, Xavier
Nov. 21
Dec. 15
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