History of Saratoga County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers., Part 109

Author: Sylvester, Nathaniel Bartlett, 1825-1894
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Ensign
Number of Pages: 780


USA > New York > Saratoga County > History of Saratoga County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers. > Part 109


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 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129


Esek Cowen, the noted writer on legal jurisprudence, was born in Rhode Island, Feb. 24, 1784, and came to Greenfield with his father's family in 1793. His father was Joseph Cowen, a descendant of a Scotch emigrant who settled in Scituate, Mass., in 1656. He came to Green- field with a colony from Connecticut, including the Fitch and Child families, and located near Scott's Corners. Soon after he removed to Washington county. Esek returned to this county in 1812, and settled at Saratoga Springs. Having been admitted to the bar in 1810, he entered upon the practice of the law, and met with gratifying success. In 1824 he was appointed reporter in the Supreme Court and court of errors, and held that position four years. His reports form nine volumes. He was appointed circuit judge by Governor Pitcher, April 22, 1828, and Governor William L. Marcy made him a judge of the Supreme Court, Aug. 31, 1836, which position he held at the time of his death, Feb. 11, 1844.


The Fitch family were among the earliest settlers of Greenfield, and came in 1786. They came from Wilton and Norwalk, Connecticut, and settled at the place after- wards called St. John's Corners, a little east of Greenfield Centre. The colony consisted of Ebenezer Fitch, Giles Fitch, Captain John St. John, who married Hannah Fitch, their sister, and a Mr. Smith. They selected their farms, all of which cornered at one point, by Ebenezer Fitch choosing the northwest corner of two hundred aeres, Giles Fitch the southwest corner, John St. John the northeast corner, and Mr. Smith the southeast corner. They built their log cabins on the adjoining corners, and the roads now run in a shape to define the lines of the lots selected by them. Shortly afterwards Major Jabez Fitch also came, from Fairfield, Connecticut, and purchased five hundred acres of land, in the neighborhood known as Locust Grove, of Dirck Lefferts, and in a short time built a grist- and saw- mill on the creek near that place. These three Fitches were brothers, and sons of Ebenezer Fitch, who died at Wilton, Connecticut, in 1762. He was the third son of Governor Thomas Fitch, of Connectient, who died July 18, 1774, at the age of seventy-five years. Ebenezer Fitch erected the first frame dwelling in the town of Greenfield, and in that house, in 1817, Hon. Augustus Bockes first saw the light of day. Ebenezer Fitch moved to near Stafford's bridge in 1798, having sold his farm to Ephraim Bullock, the grandfather of Judge Bockes.


Major Jabez Fitch, Captain John St. John, and Giles


.


"PROSPECT HILL" RES. OF NELSON D.MOREHOUSE, GREENFIELD, SARATOGA CO., N.Y.


:


439


IHISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.


Fitch all served in the Revolutionary war, the two first as officers and the latter as a private.


Ebenezer Fitch had a daughter born to him, Sept. 9, 1787, who was the third female white child born in this section, and probably the first in the town. She was named Hannah, and married Alpheus Bullard, of Schuyler- ville. David A. Bullard, of Schuylerville, and General E. F. Bullard, of Saratoga Springs, are among her sons who are still living.


Among the sons of Greenfield who have occupied con- spienous positions before the world, and reflected credit upon the town of their nativity by their useful and worthy lives, none can be found more worthy of notice than Au- gustus Bockes, of Saratoga Springs. He was a son of. Adam Bockes, Jr., who was quite an early settler in Green- field. Adam Bockes, though a plain farmer, was held in high esteem by his fellow-townsmen. He was supervisor of the town in 1832-34, and for several years a justice of the peace Augustus Bockes was born at St. John's Cor- ners, Oct. 1, 1817, and for the first eighteen years of his life enjoyed the educational advantages offered by the com- mon district schools. At that age he entered upon a course of study at Burr Seminary, Manchester, Vermont, teaching in some country school during the winters, and devoting his entire attention to his studies in the summers. In 1838 he began the study of the law in the office of Judiah Ellsworth. In 1839 he entered the office of Beach & Cowen, and studied with them till he was admitted to the bar in 1842. Upon his admission he formed a law-partner- ship with Hon. William A. Beach, which lasted until he was elected as the first county judge of Saratoga County, by the Whigs, June 4, 1847. He was re-elected to the same office in 1851 ; and upon the expiration of his second term in 1855 he was appointed circuit judge by Governor Myron H. Clark. In 1860 he was the Republican candi- date for judge of the Supreme Court, and was triumphantly elected. In 1867 he was again nominated for the same office, and was elected without opposition. In 1875 he was the candidate of both political parties, and received the uncommon, but not undeserved, compliment of a unani- mous re-election. In 1866 he occupied a seat on the bench of the court of appeals, in accordance with the then exist- ing provision of the constitution. In his judicial carcer he has exhibited a peculiar fitness for his position.


Among the other early settlers in Greenfield were Captain Allen Hale, a Revolutionary officer, Israel Williams, Stephen Comstock, John and Elijah Smith, James Dunning, Jere- miah Westcott, Prince Wing, Lewis Graves, Paul Anthony, Ambrose Cole, Nathan Medbury, Abner Williams, Esek Whipple, Job Whipple, Jonathan Deuel, Samuel Bailey, John Harris, Robert Early, Abraham Weed, John Weed, Olney Latham, Benjamin Grinnell, Jared Weed, William Belden, Dr. Asa C. Barney, one of the earliest physicians and an honored and respected citizen, Joseph Wood, Daniel Crawford, Israel Rose, Gideon Hoyt, Zenas Winsor, the first town clerk, John King, Joseph Mitchell, and Ezekiel Harris, all of whom were residents of the town previous to 1795.


Peter Hendricks came from Connecticut to Greenfield in 1794, and settled on what has since been well known as the


Samuel Westeott place. His children all died young ex- cept. Burr. He was eight years old when his father came to Greenfield.


The children of Burr were Walter J., now merchant of Saratoga Springs; Mrs. Henry P. Hyde, of Saratoga Springs ; Mrs. William Bennett, of Saratoga Springs; Mrs. Bochm, of New York ; and one daughter died un- married.


Nathaniel Waterbury states that when his father moved into Greenfield, there were then living a little south of the Congregational church, Israel Rose, and his four sons, Simeon, Benjamin, Cephas, and Joseph.


Wolcott Adsit and James Dunning were the commis- sioners by whom most of the carly roads were laid out. Nathan Green, Alpheus Williams, and Martin Blackmar were some of the carly surveyors who assisted them.


The first mowing-machine brought into town was owned by John Masten, who introduced it in 1853.


The first stores in the south part of the town were kept by Benjamin Grinnell, at Jamesville, and Jared Weed, at Page's Corners, both as early as 1800.


In 1812 the bears were very troublesome and did much damage to the standing corn, so that parties to hunt them were frequently formed. At one such hunt, in September, Martin Blackmar was accidentally shot and killed by William Williams.


The first apple-trees in the town were planted by William Scott, on the farm now occupied by Samuel Bailey, in 1790.


At the present time there are thirteen voters in the town who are upwards of eighty years of age. They are Phineas Jones, aged ninety-three ; Thomas M. Caswell, eighty-seven ; John Drake, John Leggett, Richard Ilewitt, and Amasa Martin, eighty-six ; and Lyman Sessions, Simeon Schouten, Otis Olds, Prince Deuel, Marvin Rowland, Justus A. Cronkhite, and Seneca Weed, who are over eighty.


The oldest person living in the town is Mrs. Lydia Med- bury, who is now ninety-six years old. She bas two sisters between cighty-six and ninety-four, and one brother, Amasa Martin, aged eighty-six.


IV .- ORGANIZATION.


This, the largest township of Saratoga County, was, pre- vious to the erection of Saratoga County, partly in the dis- trict of " Balls-town" and partly in the district of " Sarah- toga." The dividing line was a little east of the centre of the town. In 1791 it belonged to the towus of Saratoga and Ballston. In 1792 the western half was in the town of Milton. March 12, 1793, it was erected into a separate town, and embraced the territory it now has and all lying directly north, including the towns of Hadley, Corinth, and the eastern part of Day. In 1801 it was reduced to its present dimensions. There is a tradition that this town was first called Fairfield by some of the earliest settlers, after their former home in Connecticut. It is also sup- posed that the town was finally named after the former home of some of the earliest settlers, Greenfield, Conn.


The town was erected by act of the Legislature, March 12, 1793, but the first town-meeting for the election of oficers, etc., was not held until the following spring, on


440


HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.


April 1. It was held in a log honse near King's Station, on the Adirondack railroad. Wm. Scott was elected su- pervisor, and Zenas Winsor town clerk. The record of this meeting has not been preserved, but the following record of laws passed still remains on the book, viz. :


" Record of Laws Made and Past at the first Town-meeting held in and For the town of Greenfield, County of Saratoga, and State of New York, on the first Day of April, in the year 1794.


" Toted, That the Constables Shall Give Boods For the Faithfull performance of theyr office.


" l'oted, That the pathmasters Shall Return theyr warrants ten Days Before the Next Annual town-meeting.


" Toted. That hogs that Run on tho Common Shall be yoked in the following manner : the yoke to Be the Wedth of the Neck above the neck, and half the Wedth Below : & the Cross-piece twice the thick- ness of the neck."


The following is a copy of the proceedings of the second town-meeting, which is the first of which a record has been preserved :


" At a town-Meeting held on the seventh of April, A.D. 1795, in the town of Greenfield, the Following Acts was passed :


" Toted, That Fenees four feet and half high and well Built Shall Be a Lawfull fence.


" Yoted, That Fence-viewers Shall have Six shillings per Day when Called to Doe Ihuty in their office.


" Joted, That the Law Respecting hogs Shall Be the Same as it was the year past.


" Yoted, That the following men Serve in the ofice Set to their Respective Names :


" Zenas Winsor, town Clerk ; John St. John, Supervisor; Prince Wing, Jonathan Denel, Charles Deak, Jr., Commissioners of high- ways: Jonathan Wood, Luis Graves, Jonathan Deuel, James Dun- ning. John Prior, Assessors ; Rufus Price, Ezra Abbott, Poor-masters; Daniel Scott, Jonathan Deykman, Constables and Colleetors ; Joseph Denel, James Dunning, Benjamin Ingham, Fenee-Viewers; Israel Rose, Walter Hewet, Benjamin Greanold, Eseck Whipple, Pound- masters : John St. John, Abel Deuel, Benjamin Worden, Luis Graves, Doc. Tiffany, Asahel Porter, Joel Reynolds, Given Recognizanee for Keeping taverns, March Ist, A.D. 1796."


In the year 1798 the citizens authorized the payment of the following bounties out of the excise money, viz. : one cent per head for killing striped squirrels and blackbirds ; two cents each for black and gray squirrels ; and three cents per head for crows.


A bounty of $50 per head for killing wolves started in the town and killed in the county was voted at the town- meeting of 1801, and it was also resolved to elect officers by ballot at subsequent meetings. The wolf-bounty was reduced to $20 in 1802, and to $10 in 1804.


In 1805, to prevent the spread of noxious weeds, a fine of $5 was imposed upon every land-owner who allowed any Canada thistles to go to seed upon his land, and a sum of $10 for the erection of guide-boards was voted at the same meeting. One of the acts of 1806 was, "Voted, that a pound should be Bilt at or near the dwelling-house of Isaac Chaces and Bilt according to the construction and plan of the Justices Supervisor and town Cleark."


A few of the carly settlers owned slaves,-among them were Doctor Isaac Young, of Middle Grove, and William Seott, the first supervisor. Several records of births of slave children appear on the town book. The first one was recorded June 1, 1800, as " a negro child Born of Nancy, the wench of William Scott, Esqr."


In 1813, the school commissioners, Salmon Child, Asahel


Porter, and Samuel Deake, divided the town into sixteen school districts in accordance with the law of the State.


At an election held for members of Assembly on the 25th, 26th, and 27th of April, 1815, about 340 votes were cast. On one ticket Asa C. Barney received 198 votes ; George Cramer, 198; Isaac Gere, 194; and Esek Cowen, 176. On the other ticket Thaddeus Jewett had 138; John L. Viele, 138; William Hamilton, 135; and Nathan S. Hollister, 135. Samuel Young also received 68 votes and Howell Gardiner 1. On the question of license or no license the town has voted at several times. The first was in 1846, and the vote stood-for license, 223; against lieense, 315. In 1846 the vote stood-for license, 265; against lieense, 293. From that time till 1875 the question did not form a direct issue. Then the new law of 1874 went into effect, and a license board of excise commissioners was elected by a vote of 229 to 185. In 1876 the town voted for license 212 to 170, and in 1877 for license, 227 to 192.


LIST OF TOWN OFFICERS.


Supervisors.


Town Clerks. Zenas Winsor.


Collectors."


1794. William Scott.


1795. John St. John. 66


1796. William Scott.


1797. Asahel Porter.


Abel Deuel, Colins Heathern, Abia- thar Millard. Abel Deuel.


1798. 46


George Shove.


1799.


Lewis Graves.


Jobn II. Youngs.


1800.


William Johnson.


1801.


Thaddeus Curtis.


IS02. John S. Jobn.


John Bockes.


Lewis Seott.


1803.


..


"


John Pettit.


IS04. Salmon Chill.


Zenas Belden.


1805.


1806.


1807. 46


John King.


1808. Asa C. Barney.


1809.


Giles Robinson.


1810. John Prior.


ISI1.


1812. John Pettit.


Elihu Wing.


Jonathan Williams.


1813. =


1814.


=


46


1815. =


Levi Smith.


1816. Samuel McCrea.


Charles Lewis.


1817.


John Williams.


1818. Charles Denke.


..


1819.


John Boekes.


1820. Elihu Wing.


1821. Nehemiah Wing.


1822.


John Williams.


1823.


Elihu Gifford#


Elihu Wing.


1824.


Asahel P. Cronkhite.


Nehemiah Wing.


1826.


16


Levi Smith.


1828.


Solomon Dake.


1829. 46


1830. Ilenry Miller.


Nehemiah Wing.


1831. =


Levi Smith.


Samuel Bailey.


1832. Adam Boekes.


Darius Johnson.


1833.


1834.


Levi Smith.


Daniel Williams. Zimri Lawrence.


I Removed from town.


Jonathan James.


Nath'n Medbury, Jr.


Thaddeus Curtis. Nath'n Medhury, Jr.


Nathan Green. John Deake. Otis Ballou.


Richard Hewitt.


1825. Jonathan Lapham.


1827.


1835. Edwin C. Weed. ..


¥ Daniel Scott, Jona- than Dykeman. C. Bailey, J. Dyke- 66 man, C. Heathern.


1


ELIHU WING


RESIDENCE OF ELIHU WING, GREENFIELD, SARATOGA CO., N. Y.


441


HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.


Supervisors.


Town ('lerks. Levi Smith.


Collectors. Zimri Lawrence. Amasa R. Day. Seymour B. Ingham.


1875. James M. Dake. 1877. Theodore Comstock.


1876. Benjamin S. Robinson. 1. t. 1878. Charles S. Latham. Starks Dake.


V .- VILLAGES AND HAMLETS.


There are three villages in the town, and five post-offices.


MIDDLE GROVE, or JAMESVILLE, lies on the south west part, on the Kayadrossera creek, and contains about thirty dwellings, one church, two paper-mills, two stores, a hotel, saw-mill, grist-mill, some mechanics' shops, and about two hundred inhabitants. It was named Jamesville after John W. James, the man who was the most instrumental in causing its growth, and the name Middle Grove comes from a hand- some pine-grove, covering several acres, that separates the eastern and western portions of the village.


GREENFIELD CENTRE is a little east of the centre of the town, and has twenty dwellings, two churches, two stores, a hotel, and two or three shops. Its population is about one hundred.


PORTER'S CORNERS, a little northwest of the centre, is a small village, containing about twenty dwellings, two churches, a store, a saw-mill, two grist-mills, a carriage- shop, and about one hundred inhabitants.


VI .- SCHOOLS.


The first school now remembered was kept in a log school- house that was built on what is known as the Morris lot, about two miles east of Greenfield Centre, in 1795 or 1796. Among the early teachers were two men, named respect- ively Richard Fish and Slaughter Close. Richard Fish afterwards, about 1815, in connection with Jeremiah Good- rich, kept a select school in the vicinity which attained con- siderable celebrity, and was finally removed to Albany.


COMMISSIONERS' APPORTIONMENT, MARCHI, 1878.


JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.


1794 .- Adam Comstock, William Scott, John Pettit, Salmou Child.


1831. John Morehouse.


1854. Moses Ballou.


District.


Number of Children


between the ages of


fiveand twenty-one.


Equal Quota of the


Public Money accord-


ing to the number


Public Money accord-


ing to average at-


Library Money.


Tulal Public Money.


No. 1.


40


$52.14


$27.51


$20.37


$1.30


$101.35


50


52.14


34.39


34.92


1.67


123.12


1837. John Williams.


1860. James V. Smith.


27


52.14


18.57


14.07


90


85.68


66


4


59


52.14


40.58


26.85


1.97


121.54


1862. Alexander II. Scott.


5


20


52.14


13.76


12.74


67


79.31


1840. Alexander 11. Scott, I. t. John Morehouse.


1861. Daniel Palmer.


S


53


52.14


36.15


33.24


1.77


123.60


1841. John Williams.


0


42


52.14


28.89


33.23


1.40


115.66


1842. Andrew Medaffey.


44


11


66


52,14


45.39


51.25


2.20


150.98


1843. John Morehouse, 1. t.


=


12


32


52,14


22.01


19.14


1.07


94.36


Asa lugerson.


13


22


52.14


15.13


11.96


73


79.96


1844. Joho Gifford.


1867. Benjamin F. Weed, I. t.


11


59


52.14


10.58


39.26


1.97


133.95


1845. John Williatos.


Alexander HI. Scott.


54


52.14


37.14


36.64


1.80


127.72


1846. Richard Hewitt.


1868. Alexander II. Scott, l. t. Calvin W. Dake.


17


40


52.14


27.51


30.05


1.34


111.04


1847. Devine II. Youog.


1848. John Gifford.


1869. Seymour B. Ingham.


19


...


31


52.14


21.32


25.03


1.03


99.52


1849. John Williams.


1870. Charles S. Latham.


21


20


52.14


13.76


18.84


67


85.41


1850. Richard Hewitt.


1871. Calvin W. Dake.


90


52.14


66.03


43.65


3.20


165.02


934


$1147.08


$642.39


SGI4.21


$31.16


$2434.84


64


1861. Alonzo Russell.


=


Wm. Il. Gibbs.


1862.


Gideon W. Schofield.


1863. Ianthus G. Johnson. Henry C. Olds.


N. M. Carpenter. 16


1864.


1865. Freeman Tourtelot. Benj. S. Robinson.


1866. Warren Dake.


Chas. W. Mosher.


1867.


66


HI. B. Woodcock.


1868. De Witt C. Hoyt.


16


Geo. II. Hodges.


1869.


John II. Smith.


llenry C. Wood.


1870. Warren Dake.


Chas. S. Tubbs.


Albert Il. Kassan. Seth Hill.


1872.


Chas. S. Tubus.


Charles Rowland.


1873. John II. Smith.


..


Daniel W. Lovett.


1875.


66


Melvin Spaulding.


Thomas W. Brown.


1876. Jos. L. Rowland.


=


..


Ezra Ilarris.


1877.


Nathan W. Burdick.


1878. John R. Harris.


J. G. Weeden.


A. S. Allard.


1836. Edwin C. Weed.


1837.


16 -


1838.


1839. Levi Smith. 1840.


1841. Freeman Tourtelot. Warren Bockes.


1842. Edwin C. Weed.


1843. Joseph Wood.


1841. Chester Foot.


1845. Calvin W. Dake.


N. D. Morehouse. Joseph Carr.


Orrin Peacock. Smith Sherwood.


1846. Freeman Tourtelot. Wm. HI. Bushnell.


6€


1847. Frederick J. Wing. ISAS.


" 6 4


Aaron Ingalls. George B. Rowland.


1850. Benj. F. Prior.


Wyllis Peacock.


1851.


46


George B. Rowland.


1852. Harmon G. Sweeney. Charles B. Wing. 1853.


John Scott. Samuel S. Scott.


1854. Oscar Granger.


Ambrose Young.


George B. Rowland.


1855. HI. G. Sweeney.


Richard Hewitt. ..


Orrin Peacock. Samuel 11. Craig.


1856. ITiram S. Freeman.


1857. Lewis Wood.


Andrew M. Young. Jerem'h G. Smith. Richard Hewitt.


1858.


46


1859. Abial C. Allard.


Geo. W. Hazard.


Alonzo Russell.


1860.


1871. Warren Bockes.


Stuart Early.


Edward A. Rood.


1874. James V. Smith.


IS55. Joel B. Morehouse.


Alexander Il. Scott, l. t.


1856. John Gifford.


1833. Stafford Lapham.


1857. Nelson E. Morehouse.


1834. Nathan Daniels.


1858. William Il. Ingersen.


1835. Henry Miller.


1859. Moses Ballou, I. t. Alexander II. Scott.


1863. Moses Ballou.


6


32


52.14


22.01


17.52


1.07


92.74


-1


...


43


52.11


29.57


36.09


1.44


119.24


1865. Seymour B. Ingham, l. t. John Wagman.


10


56


52.11


38.51


56.17


1.87


118.69


...


15


16


51


52.14


35.68


18.23


1.70


107.15


1838. Nathan Daniels.


1861. Seymour B. Ingham.


1839. Henry Miller.


1866. James V. Smith, 1. t. Benjamin F. Weed.


18


19


52.14


13.07


17.32


63


83.16


29


52.14


15.13


17.64


73


85.64


185I. lliram S. Freeman.


1872. Benjamin S. Robinson, l. t. John 11. Smith.


1852. John Gifford, I. t.


Lewis Wood.


1873. Theodore Comstock.


1874. Charles S. Latham.


1853. Nelson D. Morehouse. 50


John S. Peacock.


Merritt C. Cronkhite. Ilamilton Early. Jeremiah Coon.


66


1849.


Theron Barrows.


James V. Smith.


John N. Peacock.


Public Money.


of Children.


tendance.


1832. Stafford Lapham.


1836. Alexander HI. Scott.


...


442


HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.


VII .- CHURCHES.


FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHI OF GREENFIELD.


This was the first church organization in the town, and was formed in July, 1790. At that time a covenant and articles of faith were drawn up and signed, and among the names attached we find those of Elnathan Scofield, William Belden, Benjamin Ingham, Jonathan Wood, Joseph Wood, Nathaniel Seymour, Isaae Weed, John Benedict, Jonathan lloyt, James Dunning, Stephen Crawford, Elisha Scofield, Enoch Kellogg, Nathan Fitch, Daniel Calkins, David Cal- kins, Eli Weed, Mary Scofield, Priscilla Belden, Mary Westcott, Martha Wood, Mary Seymour, Hannah Weed, Lucy Benedict, Elizabeth Hoyt, Abigail Iloyt, and Elias Gilbert.


The first meeting for the transaction of business was held Aug. 17, 1790, and Benjamin Ingham was chosen chairman and Gilbert Weed elerk.


The first officers chosen were Deacons Elnathan Scofield and Benjamin Ingham, and Church Clerk Gilbert Weed.


The church joined the convention of churches at Ben- nington, Vt., in September, 1790, and maintained its con- nection with that body for several years. About 1797 it withdrew and united itself to Albany presbytery.


The meetings were at first held at the house of William Belden, the same place where Mrs. Lydia Darrow now re- sides, and subsequently at other houses. The first church was erected in 1793. The location was determined by " the centre of the subscriptions ;" that is, by selecting the most central point to all who were subscribers. This church was a frame building thirty by forty feet, and fitted up with temporary benches, which shortly afterwards were supplanted by the old-fashioned box-pews. The gallery was very wide, and nearly covered the whole of the lower floor. The pulpit was a very high one. This church stood just across the road from the present one. In 1831 a house and lot containing thirteen acres of land were purchased of Vineent Youmans for $500 to be used for a parsonage, and in 1832 the church was moved across the road and rebuilt at a cost of $597.50. In 1855 the church was newly roofed and painted, and a new parsonage built at a total cost of $1280.89. This amount was raised by voluntary subscriptions, and was all paid in before the 16th of March, 1858. In 1860 the church was again repaired, and was enlarged by the addition of one bent to the frame. The ladies of the congregation, by their indefatigable efforts, succeeded in raising a sufficient amount to newly carpet the church, cushion the pews, and furnish the pulpit.


March 9, 1797, it was voted that thereafter the annual meetings should be held on the first Tuesday in March of each year. This was subsequently changed to the second Tuesday, and the regular meeting has never been omitted.


At a meeting held March 20, 1817, it was decided to have some one person take charge of the sweeping of the house for a month, and another one for each succeeding month. The places were quickly spoken for by volunteers, and the list appears on the books as follows : March, Joseph Wood ; April, Aaron Belden ; May (to be washed ), Howell Gardiner ; June, Walter Hewitt ; July, Andrew Seymour; August, Aaron Dunning ; September, Eben Darrow ; Oc- tober, Jonathan Wood; November, Nathaniel Seymour ;


December, Jonathan Hoyt ; January, William Belden, Jr. ; February, Daniel Scott.


Since its first organization the following members have held the office of deaeon, viz. : Elnathan Scofield, Benja- min Ingham, Daniel Kellogg, Joseph Wood, Samuel Wood, Jonathan Wood, Walter Hewitt, Alexander Hewitt, Aaron Hickok, Lyman Sessions, Joel B. Gardiner, Enoch Kellogg.


The first pastor was the Rev. Elias Gilbert, who was in- stalled May 30, 1793, at a salary of £70, New York eur- rency, per annum. Ile held this relation to the church at the time of his death in 1814. Since that time the follow- ing ministers have had charge of the church for different periods of time, viz. : Revs. Mr. Ingalls, Mr. Williams, Silas Parsons, James B. Ambler, Henry Benedict, Theophi- lus Redfield, Ilarvey Smith, Joseph B. Eastman, Philander Bates, W. II. Phelps, Charles H. Chester, and Zerah T. Hoyt, the present pastor, who was installed in 1855, and has held the pleasantest relations with his people for up- wards of twenty-two years.


The present officers of the church are Joel B. Gardiner and Lyman Sessions, deacons; Charles D. Gardiner, clerk of the church ; William King, Benjamin F. Prior, Samuel W. Hoyt, S. E. Darrow, Nathan IIickok, and Elihu Wing, trustees ; Henry L. Gardiner, clerk of society,




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.