USA > New York > Columbia County > History of Columbia County, New York. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 82
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116
In the month of February, 1764, came William Warner, from South Canaan, Conn., and settled at Canaan Centre, where he opened an inn near the present Presbyterian church. He died Oct. 23, 1776. Of his thirteen children there were sons named William, Jonathan, Jason, Lupton, John, Daniel, and James. The well-known authoress Anna Warner is a descendant of Jason's family. Henry L., a grandson of Lupton, is the only male descendant in town.
Aaron Kellogg, from Wethersfield, Conn., came to the same locality in the April following. In 1782 he erected a house on the turnpike, which is now occupied by D. W. Curtis, having his name and date of building engraved on the door-handle. His sons were Joseph, Aaron, Martin, Robbins, Clinton, and John. Edward Kellogg, Esq., a son of Aaron, Jr., yet resides at Canaan Centre.
Soon after the Warners and Kelloggs came Elihu Curtis, from Dutchess county, and settled near Flat Brook. A son of his, Samuel A., was the first white male ehild born in town. He became a tanner, amassing considerable property, and attaining a prominent position in town af- fairs. He left two sons, Samuel A. and Daniel S. The former is yet living at Flat Brook. Near Whiting's lived Wm. Aylesworth and Zebulon Robbins, early settlers.
North of Red Rock was Daniel Lovejoy, a pioneer, having a son, Daniel, who was killed in the Revolution. Other sons were Benjamin, Justus, and Ebenezer. Two
319
320
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
sons of the latter, John W. and Hezekiah, reside at New Concord.
Ebenezer Cady was in the same neighborhood as early as 1760. Of his family there were David, Elias, Elijah, Ebenezer, and Eleazer, whose descendants yet live in town. West of these was John Bcbee, whose sons were Daniel, Russell, and John. The latter became a weaver, and made some remarkably fine goods for those times.
South of Red Rock, in what is now Austerlitz, David Barret purchased a large tract of land about 1765, on which his sons John, David, Daniel, Jeremiah, Elijah, and Ezra settled. Two sons of the latter, Egbert S. and Anson E., are well-known citizens of Chatham. A little north of Red Rock was the home of the Ford family, and the man- sion erected there at an early day is yet standing. Jona- than Ford was a lieutenant in the American army in the Revolution ; Joseph G. Ford was born in Canaan in 1787, and became a very distinguished surveyor. The family is one of the oldest and most respected in town.
Smith Park settled here in 1780, coming from Sharon, Conn. A son of his served three years in the Continental army.
Simeon Doty, a descendant of the Pilgrims, removed to Canaan in 1760, taking up the place now owned by A. Freehan, where he died in April, 1807. He was one of the first deacons of the New Concord church. His sons were John, Joseph, Samuel (who was a Revolutionary sol- dier, taken prisoner by the British, and nearly starved), and Simeon. A grandson, D. S. Doty, lives at New Con- cord, and other descendants of the old Doty family are in the county.
At what afterwards became Canaan Post-Office settled the Frisbies. Philip Frisbie creeted a house at that point, which yet remains. His sons were Gideon, Samuel, and Roswell B. Members of the family have lived here ever since the first settlement of the town.
Other carly settlers were Mathew Hawley, the Wilcox family, the Baldwins, and many others whose names appear in the civil lists, church histories, and other records given in this work. In the last two decades the population of the town has changed materially, many of the old families removing. In 1875 the total population was 1700,-males, 824; females, 876; native, 1492; foreign, 208.
In the northeastern part of the town are several Shaker families connected with the society at Mount Lebanon. They number about seventy-five persons.
CIVIL GOVERNMENT.
The northeastern part of the county formerly constituted King's district, and was formed "by virtue of an Act made and passed by his Excellency the Governor, the Council, and the General Assembly of the Province of New York, bearing date March 24, 1772, and entitled an 'Act to Divide the Counties of Albany and Tryon into Dis- tricts.'" As originally erected, King's district embraced all of the present towns of Canaan, New Lebanon, the east three-fourths of Chatham, and Austerlitz in part. The inhabitants were principally natives of New England, and were noted for their public spirit and the method which characterized their civil affairs.
The first annual meeting of the district was held at the house of Grixson Frisbie, May 5, 1772, and was organized by choosing Daniel Buck, moderator, and Martin Bebee, clerk for the district. The election then proceeded, with the following effect : Supervisor, Wm. B. Whiting ; Col- lector, Daniel Buek ; Constables, Martin Hawley, William Jarvis, and Philip Frisbie ; Poormasters, Daniel Lovejoy, first, and Jarvis Mndge, second; Fence-viewers, Aaron Kellogg, first, and Eleazer Phinney, second ; Poundmas- ters, Ebenezer Cady, first, and Elijah Gifford, second ; Tithing-Men,* Jarvis Mudge and Elnathan Griffith, for New Lebanon ; Samuel Wheeler and Joseph Wood, for New Britain ; David Wright, Jr., and William Warner, for New Canaan ; John Bebee and Ebenezer Cady, for New Concord ; Nathaniel Culver, for Philipstown ; John Blair, for the southeast of King's district.
" Voted, That Ebenezer Cady's yard be the pound for the south end of the district, and Elijah Gifford's for the north end of the distriet.
"Voted, That the next meeting be held at the house of Grixson Frisbie."
Other carly district and town-meetings were held at the houses of Solomon Demon and Jonathan Warner.
The following have been the principal town officers from 1773 to the present time :
Supervisors.
Town Clerks.
1773 W. B. Whiting.
Abraham Holmes.
1774
Martin Bebee.
1775
1776 Philip Frisbie.
Barrett Dyer.
1778
1779
66
1780
1781 Martin Behee.
1782
1783 Philip Frisbie.
46
1785 =
1786
1787
Mathew Adgate.
1788
66
=
1793
Patrick Hamilton.
1794
=
"
1796
Elihu Gilbert.
1797
Benjamin Tohey.
1798
1799
Eleazer Grant. 16
1800
William Aylesworth.
1801
Jonathan Warner.
1802
John Whiting.
1804
44
1805 66
"
1806 John King.
Elias Warner.
1807
I808
Reuben Swift.
1810
Nathan Whiting.
ISUI
Daniel Warner.
John Hamitton. €6
1813
16
1814
Peter Van Vleck.
Jason Warner.
1815 Daniel Warner.
1816.
John Hamilton.
1817
1818
Elam Tilden.
Thaddeus Elmore. John Hamilton.
1819 l'eter Van Vleek.
Jonathan Warner.
1789 William Powers. 66
1790
1791 Jonathan Warner.
Elihu Phinney.
1792 Elisha Gilbert.
46
1795 Aaron Kellogg.
Nathan Noyes. Jason Warner.
1803
1809 Jason Warner.
1812
1784 William Powers.
Ezra Murray.
1777 Mathew Adgate.
66
* These officers were charged with a general oversight of the con- duct of the inhabitants, in a manner similar to the committees ef safety which were afterwards appointed.
DANIEL D. WARNER
ASA DOUGLAS
( PHOTOS. BY J.R ALLIS, CHATHAM VILLAGE, MY )
RESIDENCE OF MISS SARAH WARNER, CANAAN.COLUMBIA CO. N. Y.
+
<
UTH. BY L M EVERTS & CO PHILA PA
321
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
Supervisors.
1820 .Samuel A. Curtis.
1821
.4
66
"
1822
1823
1824 Danicl Warner.
1825
Allen Barstow.
1826 llenry Warner.
1827 Roswell B. Frisbie.
1828 Moses Bramhall.
1829
.Joseph G. Ford.
1830
Muses Bramhall.
1831
Uriah Edwards.
1832 Moses Bramhall.
1833 Daniel S. Curtis.
1834 Calvin Herrick.
1835 James Warner.
1836
John E. Warner.
Henry C. Barnes. 1837
1838 Iliram D. Ford.
1839 William A. Lord.
1840
John E. Warner.
1841
1842 Robert Reynolds.
1843 Daniel D. Barnes. 1844 Lorenzo D. Ford.
1845 Moses Bramhall.
1846 Henry H. Brown.
1847 Alva Frisbie.
1848 Daniel D. Barnes.
1849 Samuel A. Barstow.
1850 1851
Lorenzo Gile.
1852
Russel Cady.
1853
Chester Brown.
1854
Samuel A. Barstow.
1857
Lorenzo Gile.
1858 Daniel S. Curtis.
1859 John J. Van Derburgh.
George T. Howes. 1860
1861 Samuel A. Curtis.
1862 Joseph C. Ford.
1863. Jason H. Johnson.
1864 Daniel W. Curtis.
1865
Lorenzo Gile.
1866
Le Roy L. Brown.
1867
1868 Joseph R. Hemingway.
1869 George T. Howes.
1870 .Robert Reynolds.
1871 Juhn M. Barnes.
1872
Lorenzo Gile.
1873.
1874*
1875 Le Roy L. Brown.
1876
Charles W. Havens.
1877
1878
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
Appointed by the Governors. 1786-95. William B. Whiting. 1786-1804. Mathew Adgate. 1786-98. Eleazer Grant. 1786. Reuben Murray. John Bebee. 1786-95. William Powers.
1789-1810. Samuel Wheeler. 1792. James Savage. 1792-1808. Joonthan Warner.
1795-1808. Samuel Jones.
1795-1804. Elisha Gilbert.
1795-1801. John Whiting. 1795. Elihu Phinney. 1798. John Tryon. Asa Douglas. 1801-15. William Spier. 1801-4. Benjamin Tubey.
1801-27. Joseph Lord. 1801-4. John King. I808. Elam Tilden. 1810-13. Peleg Spencer.
1810-15. Joseph Davis.
1810. Aaron Olmstead.
Jesse Ford.
ISI3. Uriah Betts. Nathan Wheeler. R. Janes.
1813-27. Uriah Edwards.
1813-19. Joseph G. Ford. 1815. John Hamilton. Alexander Smith, Jr. William T. Avery. Moses Bramhall. Royal Torrey. William Hunt.
1816. Ichabod Wheeler.
1816, '27, '29. Roswell B. Frisbie. 1818. James Warner. Joseph Davis. Peleg Spencer.
1819-27. David Ford.
1821. Edmund Bramhall. Joseph Norton. Daniel Warner.
1828. Henry Warner. Elected.
1830. Uriah Edward. Joseph G. Ford,
1856. Edward Kellogg.
1857. John G. Dusenbury.
IS31. Hiram D. Ford.
1832. Samuel B. Ludlow.
1833. Uriah Edwards. 1835. IFiram D. Ford. 1836. Juseph L. Warner. Josinh S. Sutherland.
1837. Joseph L. Warner. Samuel Whitman, Jr. Roswell B. Frisbie.
1838. David Parsons. Uriah Edwards.
1839. Hiram D. Ford.
1840. David Parsons.
1841. John C. Clark.
1842. Uriah Edwards.
1843. Hiram D. Ford.
1844. Albert Cady.
1845. John C. Clark.
1846. Edward Kellogg.
1847. Hiram D. Ford.
1848. Anson E. Gifford.
1849. George W. Frary.
1850. John C. Clark. Edward Kellogg.
1851. Stephen S. Reed.
1852. Anson E. Gifford.
1853. John G. Dusenbury.
1877. John W. Smith.
1878. Chauncey W. Smith.
The records of the old King's district contain much that is interesting, as will be seen from the extracts here given :
" King's District, Ye 24th day of Dec. 1774 .- At a meeting pub- liekly warned by the Clerk of the district and requested by a number of the principal inhabitants. Present : five of the King's Justiecs for the County of Albany and a great number of the principal people helonging to said District.
" Whereas, it appears to this meeting that some individuals in the northeast part of this District have associated with divers people of a neighboring district, and combined together to hinder and ohstruet Courts of Justice in said County of Albany ; this meeting deeply im- pressed with a just abhorrenee of these daring insults upon Govern- ment, and being fally sensible of the blessings resulting from a due obedienee to the laws, as well as convinced of the Calamities and evils altending a suppression, or even suspension of the administra- tion of Justice, have, therefore, unanimously come to these resolu- tions : First, That our gracious Sovereign, King George the Third, is lawful and rightful ruler and King of Great Britain and all other dominions thereunto belonging, and as such, by the Constitution, has a right to establish Courts, and is supposed to be present in all his Courts, Therefore, we will to the utmost of our powers, and at the risk of our lives, discountenance and suppress every meeting, associ- ation, or combination which may have a tendency in the least to molest, disturb, or in anywise obstruet the due administration of justice in this Provinee.
"Second, That we will as much as we possibly ean in our different capacities, cneourage, promote, and enforee a strict obedience to the aforesaid authority.
" Third, Inasmuch as the life, liberty, and prosperity of society are seenred and protected by the laws, we do for the further sceurity of these blessings mutually consent, agree, and engage that if any obstruction, hindrance, or molestation is given to any officer or min- ister of Justice in the due execution of his office, we will separately and collectively (as occasion may require) aid and assist the exeeu- tive part of the Innd, so that all offenders may be brought to justice."
A short time after this meeting a communication was received from Sheriff Abraham Yates, of Albany, request- ing the district to appoint a committee of corresponden
# Resigned ; Henry J. Whiting filled vacancy. 11
Town Clerks.
Thaddeus Elmore. Daniel Smith, Jr.
Thaddeus Elmorc.
John Hamilton. Joseph G. Ford.
John E. Warner. Chester Beale. John E. Warner. Jonathan O. Allen. William W. Janes. Isaac S. Gifford. Lewis W. Hall. William W. Janes. Richard H. Ashley. William W. Janes. David Parsons. Lorenzo D. Ford. Joseph C. Ford. Joho E. Warner. Daniel D. Barnes. Juhn C. Clark.
Ilenry C. Jewell. =
Edward Kellogg. David Ford, Jr. Philo B. Blinn. = George W. Lovejoy. Aaron Keliogg.
Asa D. Cornwall.
George W. Lovejoy.
Le Roy L. Brown.
Daniel D. Warner.
George W. Lovejoy. "
Valentine J. Wilcox. Asa S. Bates.
16
Wm. S. Woolworth. Asa S. Bates.
44
= €6
66
16
George O. Wilcox. Asa S. Bates.
44
1855. Stephen S. Reed. Chester Belding. Wm. A. Hutchinson.
1858. Chester Belding. 1859. Albert Wilcox. 1860. Le Roy L. Brown. 1861. Ira S. Johnson. 1862. Stephen S. Reed.
1863. John J. Vanderburgh.
1864. Le Roy L. Brown. Joseph D. Park. 1865. Ira S. Johnson. Robert Reynolds.
1866. Edward Kellogg. Chester Belding. 1867. Robert Reynolds. Henry B. Hatch. 1868. Le Roy L. Brown. 1869. Wm. N. Sherman.
1870. Edward Kellogg.
1871. Joseph D. Park.
1872. Le Roy L. Brown.
1873. Wm. N. Sherman. 1874. James Phinney. John W. Smith. Henry II. Park.
1875. Henry H. Park.
1876. Le Roy L. Brown. Daniel D. Jones.
I854. William S. Woodworth.
Samuel A. Barstow.
Asn S. Bates. Henry J. Whiting. 1855. George W. Frary. 46 1856 Samuel A. Barstow.
=
1789-98. Philip Frishie.
322
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
to confer with other committees of the province upon mat- ters pertaining to their mutual good. This the district, at a special meeting held Feb. 8, 1775, declined to do. But a committee of correspondence and safety, composed of Na- thaniel Culver, Peter Guernsey, Theophilus Jackson, Ma- thew Adgate, Asa Waterman, Asa Douglas, and Robert Bullis, and Wm. B. Whiting, clerk, was appointed at the annual meeting, May 2, 1775, and thenceforth the district appears to not only have followed its neighbors in protesting against the oppressive measures of the parent country, but actually led in this direction.
A memorable special meeting was held June 24, 1776, when the inhabitants declared themselves independent, as will be seen from the minutes of that occasion :
" At a meeting of the inhabitants of King's District, in the County of Albany, legally warned by the Committee of said County, at the house of William Warner, innkeeper, in said District, on Monday the 24th day of June, 1776, for the purpose of electing twelve delegates to represent said County in the Provincial Congress, be voted : First, that Daniel Buck be moderator of this meeting; second, that the present Committee's clerk be clerk of this meeting ; third, that the District's books be delivered to the care of said Committee's clerk until the next District meeting ; fourth, that a committee be chosen by this meeting for the purpose of drawing up instructions for a new form of gov- ernment to be introduced by said delegates.
" The question being put, whether the said District chooses to have the United American Colonies independent of Great Britain, voted unanimously in the affirmative.
" Fifth, voted that William B. Whiting, Asa Waterman, Philip Frisbie, Martin Bebee, Elisha Pratt, Capt. Baldwin, Daniel Buck, Elijah Bostwick, Gideon King, Jarvis Mudge, Samuel Johnson, John Gillet, Lieutenant Herrick, Joseph Wood, John Wadsworth, and Samuel Bailey be a Com- mittee to draw up instructions for the purpose aforesaid."
A committee of inspection was also appointed this year, 1776, which was composed of John Bebee, Jr., Philip Frisbie, Mathew Adgate, Asa Douglas, Nehemiah Fitch, Peter Guernsey, Reuben Burlingame, and Samuel Bailey.
A number of special meetings were held in the early part of 1777, to consider the new constitution proposed for the State; but King's district refused to adopt it, and gave the matter a final consideration in June, 1777.
" According to adjournment, the inhabitants of King's District met at the house of Jonathan Warner, on Tues- day, the 10th day of June, 1777, Major Daniel Buck being moderator.
" Ist. Voted, That the Constitution formed by the Con- vention of this State be rejected, and not be adopted by the good people of this State. Mathew Adgate absented from said vote, requested the same to be recorded.
" 2d. Voted, That the Committee of Safety for this Dis- trict be invested with full power to try all cases of trespass, wherever committed in this District upon the lands of the inhabitants.
"3d. Voted, That this meeting be adjourned to Tues- day, the 1st day of July next, and to be held at the house of Jonathan Warner, in said District."
Meanwhile, the sheriff of the county of Albany directed
a meeting to be held, June 16, 1777, to elect officers ac- cording to the provisions of the new constitution, adopted in spite of the good people of King's district. The record is thus given :
" Agreeable to orders from the Sheriff of the County of Albany, the inhabitants of King's District, Stephentown, and a part of Claverack, met at the house of Solomon De- mons, ye 16th day of June, to elect a Governor, Deputy- Governor, Senate and Assembly to officer the Constitution formed by the Convention for this State,-Colonel William B. Whiting and Captain John Bebee, conductors of said meeting."
The conductors expressed themselves ready to proceed with the business in hand, but the people were not minded to elect officers under a constitution which they had rejected, and made a move that the conductors should try the minds of the people whether they would officer the same. This plan being adopted, those favorable to the measure were to move to the north, and those opposed to the south. The division being called, the people moved unanimously to the north, thus again expressing their contempt for the constitu- tion by their refusal to officer it, or act under its provisions. It was then voted that a committee be appointed to draw up a remonstrance against the articles they looked upon as griev- ous, and to lay it before the proper authorities, so that they might know why the inhabitants rejected the same, and pray for redress. The committee consisted of Esquire Nathaniel Culver, Dr. Nicholas Harriss, Captain George White, Captain Eleazer Grant, Captain John Salsbury, Captain Daniel Hull, and Lieutenant Jarvis Mudge.
" Voted, That the said Committee make returns of their doings to the inhabitants of said District, at the house of Jonathan Warner, on the first Tuesday of July next.
" Voted, unanimously, that we will protect, defend, and support the officers of the militia and the Committee of Safety in the execution of their office."
At the July meeting, above provided, it was voted " That every person that is an inhabitant in any District, Town, or Manor in this State has a right, and ought to have the privilege, of voting for a Governor, Senate, and Assembly to officer a Constitution, or to form the Legislative Authority of the State."
From this period until December, 1777, several meet- ings were held without resulting in any important action. On the 8th of that month it was voted " that Nathaniel Culver be the Representative of the District, and that the following be Enlisters: Peter Guernsey, Gideon King, John Gillet, Elisha Gilbert, Noah Gridley, Samuel Allen, Increase Childs, William Warner, Jonathan Ford, Nathan- iel Rowley, Timothy Brainard, Noadiah Moore, Nathan Herrick, Edward Wheeler, Jacob Vosburgh, and Ezra Allen."
A few months later the vexed questions pertaining to the new constitution received a final disposition. " At a meeting of the inhabitants of King's District, held at the house of Jonathan Warner, on Monday, the 23d day of March, 1778, said meeting being legally named by the Committee of Safety for King's District, to know whether the inhabitants thereof would accept a remonstrance drawn up against the Constitution formed for the regulation of
1
323
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
this State by a certain Convention chosen for thit purpose ye 16th of June, 1777 ; and whether they would forward the same to the Honorable Senate and Assembly of this State, and do all other business thought necessary to be necessary on that day.
" Voted, that the remonstrance drawn up against the Constitution, read this day to the inhabitants, be rejected, and that no remonstrance go forth against said Constitu- tion in the name of this District.
" Voted, unanimously, that we will support the Consti- tution formed for the regulation of this State (with the rest of our brethren and fellow-citizens) with our lives and our fortunes.
" Voted, that the letter sent to Colonel Wm. B. Whit- ing, in the names of individuals, which copy has been read, now be sent by Ezra Murray, District Clerk, to the said Colonel Whiting, in the name of the whole District.
" Voted, that we rescind all former votes passed in this District relative to the present Constitution formed for this State."
About this time the land titles of many citizens were jeopardized, owing to divers Indian claims to the same tract of land, and other conflicting claims. At the annual meeting, in May, 1778, it was " Voted, that the following persons be a committee to consult and agree upon some gen- eral plan for this District to petition for the lands, and that the said committee make returns to the inhabitants of their doings on the first Tuesday of June next." Committee, Hezekiah Baldwin, Elisha Pratt, Philip Frisbie, Nehemiah Fitch, Moses Jones, Daniel Herrick, Nathaniel Culver, William Warner, and Ezra Allen.
The report recommended that the Senate and Assembly of the State of New York be petitioned for a confirmation of the lands in said district to the possessor and the occu- pant thereof. Captain Philip Frisbie, John Bebee, Ezra Murray, Matthew Adgate, Elisha Pratt, and Joseph Wood were selected to prepare the petition and appoint an agent to bear it to the Legislature. Ebenezer Cady, Ebenezer Benjamin, Eleazer Grant, Daniel Herrick, and Theodore Jackson were to collect money to defray the expenses of said agent. The Legislature passed a bill relieving the set- tlers, and enabling them to secure undisputed title.
At a special meeting, June 15, 1779, " Voted, unani- mously, that the District shall and will pay all such cost and charges that shall necessarily arise in consequence of the Poormaster's taking care of and supporting the poor in a proper, charitable, and Christian manner.
" Voted, unanimously, that the Representatives for the County of Albany in General Assembly be instructed to use their most vigorous exertions to have a confiscation bill immediately passed, on all the estates of those persons who are inimical to the American States.
" Voted, that the District clerk send a copy of the above votes to the General Assembly of this State."
Six months later, on the 5th of January, 1780, the right of the enemies of the country to hold property was again considered. It was then determined to memorialize the Legislature in regard to the confiscated lands of the Tories, reciting that " the petitioners did at the commence- ment of these struggles, on solid principles, enter into them
with a fixed and firm determination to defend our fortunes, rights, and privileges, both civil and religious, and that we have risked our all to this end, and that we have not shrunk back from the terrible armaments of Great Britain."
It was further urged that the last tax did much distress the good people who had spent so much in defense of the country, " and that a great number of those parasites, who stimulated and aided Great Britain, murdering many inno- cent people, and who are now with the instruments of death actually stabbing us to the vitals, upon joining our power- ful and haughty foe, they left with us lands and property which are an actual prize, and which the representatives have an undoubted right to dispose of, and which if not done would bankrupt those who had espoused the American canse." " And those butchers who are now cutting onr throats with a treaty of peace with England, will be restored to their forfeited estates, if they are not sold before that period arrives, and they become our rulers, and by that means have it in their power to legally murder all those who have opposed them. In which case it may be justly said, ' we are our own executioners.' "
The petition concludes that prudence and the common welfare would dictate the sale of the property, while it is yet within the power of the representatives to make such a disposition of it.
In 1781, Gideon King, Aaron Peabody, Jonathan War- ner, Elijah Skinner, Samuel Banford, Aaron Kellogg, Reu- ben Murray, Josiah Clark, John Gray, Ezra Murray, Josiah Warner, Ebenezer Cady, John Blinn, Wm. Babcock, Wm. Savage, Solomon Demon, and Jonathan Preston were ap- pointed informing officers, " whose duty it is to stop people traveling on the Sabbath ; to take notice of all breaches of the peace and treasonable practices, and enter complaint to the proper authorities, that offenders may be brought to justiee."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.