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 116
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A son, John R. MeGregor, born in IS11, who has held several responsible official positions, resides at Saratoga Springs. He is well versed in the early history of Sara- toga County, and has furnished many valuable items of information for this work.
Stafford Carr, grandfather of Stafford Carr living north of the brick church, came from Rhode Island about the year 1794, and settled on the present Carr farm. The first house was a little northeast of the present Corners. His sons were Stafford, Eleazer, Amos, Stutely, and David. Stafford and David settled in this town. The old home- stead of Stafford was the brick house west of the Corners. Stutely became a Baptist minister. Eleazer removed to Illinois.
In the southwesterly part of the town there was an early settler by the name of Slate. He built a mill on Lough- berry ereek in 1793 or '96.
Nathaniel Newberry settled on the General Hawley place ; Joseph Pearsall, on the Davison farm; and Mr. Gleason, on the John Brill farm.
The first store was opened in 1795, by Isaac Ostrom, on the present place of Mr. Merrill. This is the common
RESIDENCE OF JOHN J. BRIL
E
ILTON, SARATOGA COUNTY, N. Y.
465
HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
statement of the " New York Gazetteer," and also among the people, but the inseription on John Laing's tombstone would imply that he preceded Mr. Ostrom by several years. Walter Doe kept a store very early at Emerson's Corners. HIe afterwards removed to what is now Wiltonville, and was in trade there for many years. Widely known in his business, the place has been occasionally called Doe's C'or- ners, though lately acquiring the name of Wiltonville. Abraham Wing also kept a store at Emerson's Corners, a son of the early settler of Glen's Falls.
The tavern kept by Benjamin Phillips in his first house at Stiles' Corners, and that of Stephen King on the Goodale place, were both opened probably between 1775 and 1780. At Emerson's Corners, Nathan Hinckley was the first tavern-keeper, in the house built by himself. Dudley Emerson, and after him Lynder Emerson, kept a house opposite for many years.
At Walworth there was a tavern very early. Seth Perry kept a tavern there at one time, but was not probably the first proprietor. Obadiah Green, and afterwards Jonathan Riley.
In very early times the first settlers went to mill at Schuylerville.
The first grist-mill in Wilton was built by Miller Me- Gregor. The remains of the dam still show the place of its location. The first saw-mill was by John Laing. Edward Bevins also built a saw-mill very early in the Loudon church neighborhood. Other mills were at Stiles', and near the present Calmer place, and also at Mr. Ilodge's. At Stiles' there was also a clothing-mill.
The first blacksmith was probably Hezekiah Willis, a son-in-law of Rowland Perry, the pioneer ..
The first doctor William Perry remembers was one Tim- othy Bloodworth. The regular physicians of early times were Dr. Vail and Dr. John Floyd Williams.
The town also afforded some little practice in early times for lawyers, and Aaron Blake and Cornelius Fonda are re- membered as belonging to that profession. Doubtless the primeval courts of Comstock and Emerson resounded with their forensic eloquence.
The Perrys and Stiles families set out the first orchards. The Perrys brought their trees from Jessup's landing in Corinth. The Stiles' from Rhode Island. Some of these trees are still bearing,-one hundred years old.
IV .- ORGANIZATION.
Name .- When the convenience of the people required the organization of another town from the western portion of Northumberland, the question of the name came up of course for consideration. There was some dispute among the petitioners; some proposing one name and some another.
It was finally settled by the member of Assembly from this county suggesting that they take the name of his old home in New Hampshire. It was accepted as a com- promise, and is certainly a brief, pleasant name.
The first town-meeting was held at the house of Lyndes Emerson in said town on the first Tuesday of March, 1819. The town officers elected were as follows : Dudley Emerson, supervisor; Henry Reynolds, town clerk; Benjamin Dim- 59
mick, Jason Adams, William Comstock, assessors; William Forbes, Lyndes Emerson, William Ingerson, commissioners of highways; James McGregor, James Bullard, overseers of the poor; George W. Fish, Cornelius I. Fonda, John J. Swartwont, Enoch M. Place, Samuel Hoag, Thomas Sherman, inspectors of schools; Jabez Reed, Selden Emer- son, Cornelins I. Swartwont, commissioners of schools. The meeting adjourned to the next day, and completed the organization by electing the remaining officers : William Forbes, collector; Peter Laing, Edward D. Avery, Elijah Woodard, Cornelius I. Boice, constables ; James McGregor, George W. Fish, inspectors of weights and measures ; William Ingerson, Jabez Reed, James De Long, Jonathan Woodard, John J. Swartwout, Benjamin Dimmick, fenee- viewers; Cornelius I. Swartwout, poundmasters; Daniel Weeks, l'eter De Long, William Forbes, Solomon Phil- lips, Sr., Joshua Taylor, Stephen King, Oramel King, Philip Hinckley, John Fitzgerald, Henry Reynolds, John Boyd, Benjamin Dimmiek, Zephaniah Lockwood, John Stiles, Peter Sleight, Jonathan Woodard, John McGregor, William Ingerson, Jonathan Pendle, Stafford Carr, Jr., Eli Lyon, overseers of highways.
The following resolutions were adopted :
"1. Resolred, That the inspectors of schools be allowed the same compensation as other town officers, and that their accounts be pre- sented and andited in like manner.
"2. Rexofred, That we raise five hundred dollars to defray the expense of the poor during the ensuing year.
"3. Rosolred, That no fence shall be considered lawful under four and a half feet high."
HIogs were declared to be free commoners if sufficiently yoked.
At the town-meeting of 1821 the following action was had :
"Resolved, That John Thomas, one of the paupers, be vendued. Josiah Perry bid him off at five shillings and sixpence per week for one year, from the date of our annual meeting. The said Perry is to board and lodge and elothe said pauper, and return him at the ex- piration of the year as well elothed as he now is."
There is no record as to what said Perry was to do about the " return" in ease the man died during the year.
At the annual election, held the 27th, 28th, and 29th of April, 1819, the following persons had the number of votes annexed to their names for Assembly :
Calvin Wheeler, 59 votes; Asahel Philo, 69; Dudley Emerson, 78; William B. Van Benthuysen, 53; Nehemiah Candee, 34; Billy J. Clark, 12; Joel Keelor, 13; Avery Starkweather, 13; David How, 1; Abraham Moe, 9; Elisha Powell, 1. Henry Reynolds, Benjamin Dimmick, Jason Adams, and Dudley Emerson were the inspeetors of election.
In road surveys the name of G. W. Fish appears as sur- veyor.
As one of the latest records of slave-births to be found in the county we note the following :
" I do hereby certify that my black woman, a slave for life, by the name of Sal or Silvia, had a male child born the 4th day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eleven, and I call his name Jack.
" DUDLEY EMERSON.
" Recorded April 10, 1823."
466
HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
The first election of justiees of the peace was in 1827, and Jason Adams was elected and drew for the term of one year ; John J. Swartwout, for two years; William C. Brisbin, for three years ; and Coles Colden, for four years.
The recurring vacancies in 1828, 1829, and 1831 are not recorded as having been filled, but probably were by the re-election of the same men, as their names appear at- tached to various legal documents later than some of them could have served under their first eleetion.
The town-meetings from 1819 to 1836, inclusive, seem to have been held, without question, at the house of Lyndes Emerson. This was a tavern at Emerson's Corners. In 1837 the meeting was held at the house of Tephaniah Lockwood, the present place of Jolin Stiles. In 1838 at the house of Eli Stiles, a tavern, the present place of North- rup Stiles, his son, at Stiles' Corners. Then back to the house of Lyndes Emerson, for ten years. Then for three years at the house of Eli Stiles.
In 1854, Andrew J. Lee, having just purchased the hotel at Doe's Corners, now Wiltonville, made something of an effort to secure the adjournment of the town-meeting to that place. The effort was successful, and proved so satis- factory to the people that the adjournment has been made regularly every year since to that place.
TOWNSHIP OFFICERS.
Supervisors.
Collectors.
1819. Dudley Emerson.
1820. 44
44
IS21.
1822. 44
Cor. I. Swartwout.
.4
1823. 64
Henry Reynolds.
1821. Wm. Comstock.
1825. Seth Perry.
Jolin Fitzgerald. Cyrus Perry.
Eli Calkins.
1826. «
1827. John J. Swartwont. James MeGregor.
Geo. W. Morehouse.
1828. Seth Perry. David Brill. Cornelius J. Boice.
1829. "
S. T. Van Deryee.
George A. Pearsoll.
1830. Dudley Emerson. 1831.
Theo. Y. Comstock. 44
Elihn Ellis.
1833.
Eli Stiles.
1834.
Giles Dimmick.
Squire Perry.
1535. Cyrus Perry.
Ang. II. Pearsoll.
1836. Wm. McGregor.
Aaron C. Gifford.
Wn. Crippen. Alonzo llall.
IS38.
Henry Reynolds. Theo. Y. Comstock.
Wm. Crippen. 44
1839. Lyndes Emerson.
1840.
=
Owen II. Wilbur.
1841.
Giles Dimmick.
Philemon Tyrill. Joseph Dennis.
1843. David Carr.
David E. Chase.
Abner Hawley. Charles Ellsworth.
1844.
1815. Lyndes Emerson.
David R. Taylor. Stafford S. Carr.
Coonrad J. Campbell.
1846. Iliram Dimmick.
1847. Seth E. Calkins.
James T. Cornell. Sherard K. Chase. George W. Perry. Wm. W. Comstock.
James A. Granger.
1849. Lyndes Emerson. 1850.
1851. Richard F. Buckbee. James T. Cornell.
Geo. E. Newland.
1852. Iliram Dimmick. Wm. W. Comstock. Eli W. Tallmadge.
1853. Wm. Rouse.
1854. David Carr.
46
1855. Wm. Rouse.
1856. Tabor B. Reynolds. Oscar F. Stiles.
W'm. W. Comstock. Wm. L. Cooper.
1858. Ilenry E. Wagman. Edwin G. Perry.
1859. Jarvis Butler.
Miles B. Grippin. Win. D. Perry.
Supervisors.
Town Clerks.
1860. Daniel M. Gailor.
Wm. II. Taylor.
1861.
=
Wm. L. Cooper.
1862.
George II. Travor.
Peter C. Deyoe.
1863. Tahor B. Reynolds. Miles B. Grippin.
1864.
George H. Traver.
Wm. L. Cooper. Edmund R. Wooley. Gardner Perry.
1865. 4
IS66.
John E. Forbes.
1867. 44
1868. Caleb Boyee.
Daniel Washburn.
1869. Ananias Boyce.
I870.
George B. Ilinkley.
1871. Warren B. Collamer. Sidney B. King.
1872. "
1873. Ananias Boyce.
4 4
1874. David E. Chase.
Edmund R. Wooley.
1875. 66 Wm. H. Goodale.
Oscar Cook.
1876. Bartlett B. Grippin. Sidney B. King. John HI. Stiles.
1877.
16
1878. Warren B. Collamer.
Kellogg Perry.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE ELECTED BY TIIE PEOPLE.
1830. Cornelins I. Fonda.
1853. Jesse Murray.
1832. Robert Place. George D. Angle.
Wm. Comstock.
1854. Ananias Boyce.
1833. John J. Swartwout.
1855. Obadiah Green.
1834. Cornelius J. Fonda.
1857. Isaac F. Green.
1835. Robert Place.
1858. David Carr.
Peter Angle.
1859. John Qniek.
1836. Peter Angle. 1860. Jacob Boyce.
1837. Obadiah Green. Jason Adams.
1862. Philip Varney.
1838. Seth Perry.
1839. Dudley Emerson.
1840. Peter Angle. Cornelius J. Boice.
1865. George C. Morehouse.
1841. Obadiah Green.
1866. Philip Varney. Moses Miller. 1867. Jarvis Butler.
1843. Luther French.
1844. Stephen Olney.
1868. David Carr.
1845. Obadiah Green.
1869. James M. Gailor.
1846. Isaac T. Green.
1870. Milon Seeley.
Joha A. Bracket
1871. Caleb Boyee.
Gideon Sherman tio.
1872. David Carr.
1847. Luther Freveb.
1873. Jarvis Butler.
1848. Daniel Wait. Adam Boiee.
1874. George II. Traver. J. W. Marshall. 1875. Caleb Boyce.
1849. Obadiah Green.
1850. Perry P. Billings.
1876. Philip Varney.
1851. Isaac F. Green.
1877. John L. Buchanan.
1852. Daniel Wait. ISTS. George II. Traver.
V .- VILLAGES.
WILTON VILLAGE, better known as DOE's CORNERS, is the largest and most important business place.
It is perhaps the Palmertown of olden times, though doubtless that name was applied to a territory somewhat larger lying along the range of mountains.
At this village is a church, a hotel, a store, several me- chanie shops, and about twenty houses.
EMERSON'S CORNERS was formerly a place of more trade and business than at present. There for many years was kept the Emersou tavern. Town-meetings were formerly held there. The union meeting-house, usually occupied by the Methodists, is also at this village. There is now little or no trade, and only one or two mechanic shops. There are several fine farm-houses in the vicinity, and around it are some of the best farming lands in the town.
Other separate neighborhoods may be noted as " STILES,"
6.
W'm. L. Cooper. .. Jonathan Potter. Peter C. Deyoe.
1857. .4
Jacob Ilagaman.
Warren B. Collamer.
1848.
Town Clerks. HIenry Reynolds.
Wm. Forbes. Peter Laing.
Eli Stiles.
1863. Caleb Boyee. David Carr. 1864. David Carr.
1842. Abner Garrison.
=
Eli Stiles.
44
1832. Lyndes Emerson.
1837. Sir Laune't Carner. Wm. H. Taylor.
1842. Ilenry Reynolds.
David Carr.
16
Collectors. Norman Wagoner. Lloyd Weston.
Ransom Varney. Gardoer Perry. Sylvanus Sherman. James Sadler.
44
Phillip II. Deyoe. Gardner Perry.
1861. George C. Morehouse.
467
HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
the site of the old tavern and the place of the battle men- tioned elsewhere; the Loudon neighborhood, probably so called as being on the old road that bore that name, extending from the south to the north through the county ; the thickly-settled school district in the southeast corner of the town, and the Baptist church neighborhood not far from the centre of the town. Saratoga Springs, located so near, is the place of trade and business for a large portion of the town of Wilton.
V1 .- SCHOOLS.
Sept. 24, 1819 .- The school districts were arranged by the commissioners as follows :
District No. 1 .- Joseph Pearsall, James Brill, Wm. Forbes, trustees.
District No. 3 .- Selden Emerson, Samuel Hoag, Benja- min Dimmick, trustees.
District No. 4 .- Dudley Emerson, Henry Reynolds, and Wm. Comstock, trustees.
District No. 5 .- George W. Fish, James I. King, and Stafford Carr, trustees.
In 1822 there appears the following apportionment of school moneys :
District No. 1
49 children.
$17.90}
" 2.
71
=
25.92}
3 ..
.. 67
24.464
75
34.63₺
.6
. 5.
48
17.53
" 6.
.42
15.24
Part
6
9
3.28
At Palmertown (Doe's Corners) was an early school, remembered by William Perry as the place where he studied Dilworth's spelling-book, and learned from its alphabet page to call z izzard. The school-house was a frame building, with a chimney made of sticks, and board jams to the fireplace.
Some years after, Dr. Reynolds and Dr. Bent kept their office in the school-house when no school was in session. While they were out, it is said, to bathe in the stream near by, the board-jams took fire, the house burned down, and their pills, books, and clothes were lost in the common ruin.
Schools were supported at first by subscription. When the money failed the school stopped.
COMMISSIONERS' APPORTIONMENT, MARCH, 1878.
District.
between the ages of
five and twenty-one. '
Equal Quota of the
Public Money.
Public Money accord-
ing to the number
Public Money accord-
ing to average at-
Library Money.
Total Public Money.
No.
1
$52.14
$52.27
$37.60
$2.53
$144.54
27
52.14 |
18.57
24.58
90
96.19
3
35
52.11
21.07
25.79
1.16
103.16
1
62
52.14
42.64
42,16
2.07
139.31
5 ..
47
52.14
32.32
31.60
1.57
117.63
6.
32
52.14
22.01
33.71
1.07
108.93
66
20
52.14
13.76
18.77
67
85.34
8 ...
53
52.1}
30.45
24,30
1.77
114.66
66
9.
18
52.11
12.38
25.17
90.29
10 ...
20
52.14
13.76
23.13
67
89.70
390
$521.10
$268.23
$287.11
$13.01
$1089.75
An attempt was made in the year 1859 to found a per- manent academy, a boarding-school of superior facilities.
Steplien Fradenburgh, an educated gentleman from Moreau, came to Wiltonville, and, assisted by the citizens to some extent, erected a building west of the village. The school was opened in the fall of 1859. The institution was known as Wilton Academy, but was entirely private property. It was Mr. Fradenburgh's design to place it under the care of the regents, and thus secure the aid of the State.
The school existed for a little over two years, when the enterprise entirely failed, financially. At the outset the institution suffered by the death of Miss Boice, who was expected to assume the duties of preceptress. She was thoroughly educated, and had the esteem and confidence of the community. Mr. Fradenburgh removed to Vermont soon after relinquishing the enterprise, where he died in a short time. The property passed into private hands. The beautiful hill-side where Mr. Fradenburgh located the acad- emy is a fine situation, with the mountains overlooking it from the north and the west, and the building itself placed on a sufficient elevation to afford a fine view of the pleasant scenery in the northern part of the town.
The grounds, even in their present rough and un- improved condition, show what they might have become, under the cultivated taste and educational enthusiasm of Mr. Fradenburgh, had he sneceeded in his enterprise and completed bis plans.
The school abandoned and the property passed into pri- vate hands, and closed to visitors, is a serious loss to the people of Wiltonville, who miss the pleasant academic resort and the warm welcome extended to all by Mr. Fra- denburgh and his associates.
VII .- CHURCHES.
At Emerson's Corners a meeting-house was erected very early, probably in 1805 or 1806, as Lebbeus Armstrong, the Congregational minister of Moreau, labored here at that time, and led the movement for the crection of the house. It does not appear that any church was organized at that time, and the house has always been an independ- ent affair, not connected with or belonging to any church whatever. In this case the house of worship and the church have always been separate. The modern use of the word church is, however, applied here, and the " Union church of Emerson's Corners" is spoken of among the people, when really there is no such thing in existenec. At the present time, to say that a church is renewed and improved, leaves a painful uncertainty as to whether the house has been newly painted or the spiritual condition of the members revived. The meeting-house has been opened for all denominations. It is owned by none, but is the absolute property of the people that built it and keep it in repair. Originally Congregationalists met in it, afterwards the Baptists preached there for several years. In later times the Methodist Episcopal church are granted the regular use of it. The officers of the original business society that built it are not easily obtainable, as the okler records are lost. It was thoroughly repaired, and the old, square, high-backed pews taken out many years ago. This
Number of Children
of Children.
tendance.
..
468
HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
work was done by a building committee, consisting of David Carr, Aaron Chase, and Lyndes Emerson. The present trustees of the society are Isaac Green, George 11. Traver, and S. K. Chase. The first named is clerk.
TIIE BAPTIST CHURCH OF WILTON
was organized as early as 1815. Meetings were held in school-houses, private houses, and at the union meeting house at Emerson's. The brick house was built about the year 1854, and cost $1500. Deacon Lockwood, Stafford Carr, and Stafford Carr, Jr., were trustees or buikling com- mittee. The church having thus become settled in that neighborhood, had a formal existence for about twenty years longer.
The removal of members to other towns, the death of some, the convenience of attending at Saratoga, together weakened the society, until in 1874 all the members but three took letters to Greenfield or to Saratoga Springs, and services ceased. The house still stands, a convenient place for neighborhood funerals; and a flourishing Good Tem- plars' lodge has met there for many years. The ministers of the Baptist church preaching in town have been Elders Blakeman, Carr, Fletcher, Lockwood, Dwyer, Andrews, Jewett, Combs; and the Baptist ministers of Saratoga Springs have often assisted in keeping up services at this point.
Deacon James Lockwood is the only one living of the three who declined to take letters, and therefore he consti- tutes at present the Baptist church of Wilton.
METIIODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHI.
Meetings by Methodists were held in very early times, many years before there was any house of worship, except- ing the union house at Emerson's Corners. In accordance with the efficient system of that church, gathering the " two or three" into a class long before they have reached the many, and that in several separate neighborhoods at the same time, under the care of the same preacher travel- ing a wide circuit, they accomplished a great work, and wrought out as in other cases permanent results.
In the vicinity of Wiltonville a class was maintained for many years. Unfortunately, early class papers were treated as if they were mere temporary memoranda, whereas they would have been of great value to the historian in after-years. Names and dates are hard to be obtained. Isaac Green was a class-leader for many years. In later years the society, aided largely by citizens not directly connected with the church, has erected a fine house of worship, handsomely finished and neatly furnished. The cost was $3200. The building committee were Abram Staples, Cyrus Washburn, William O. Peterson. The trustees were Abram Staples, William O. Peterson, John Goodale, Dr. Marshall, Alfred Cooper; and Dr. Marshall was elerk.
The society was greatly assisted in clearing off the final debt, by a handsome donation of $250 from James Buell, of New York, a former resident of this town. He also pre- sented the Sunday-school with a valuable library. The house was built iu 1871. The corner-stone was laid by Dr. Ilawley. A sealed box was placed in it, with lists of
all the early Methodists remembered in this section, the newspapers of the county, and other valuable memorials of the times. The contractor was Mr. Sturtevant. The society is not strong in numbers, having a present member- ship of only twenty-five. The Sunday-school numbers seventy-five, and is superintended by Wm. O. Peterson.
THE SOUTH WILTON METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
all that of Emerson's Corners are to some extent united in the same organization. At South Wilton there is a neat chapel, and for a long series of years services have been maintained there.
THE LOUDON PROTESTANT METHODIST CHURCH OF SOUTHI WILTON
has a chapel in the south part of the town. The society was originally an offshoot or branch of the Methodist Epis- copal church. Some differences of opinion led to the for- mation of another society in connection with the Protestant Methodists of the United States. The chapel was built in 1833. At that time Hugh Groesbeck and Jesse Lamoreaux were trustees. The house cost about $1200. Sylvester Sher- wood was an early class-leader, Deyoe Esmonds preacher. Peleg Weaver, and Stokes, Ashley, Whitely, Hudson, Wood- worth, Hollinbeck, Buttolph, Spears, and Walton have preached in this congregation at various times since the society was organized and the chapel built. The ground for the chapel and the adjacent burial-ground were given by Jason Adams. The present officers are John Harn and Dow J. Winney, stewards; George Hudson, clerk.
VIII .- BURIAL-PLACES.
Early burials were in various places, -many merely private,-and some of these are actually lost to all identi- fication. We mention the following : On the Fuller farm, and the Standish farm, and the King burial-ground on the Goodale farm ; the cemeteries, opposite James Hodge's ; at the Baptist church ; at Doe's Corners and at Emerson's Corners ; on the McGregor farm and the Laings'; on the Rood farm, and there are several others. We note the following early dates: " Doct. John F. Williams, died Sept. 2, 1808, aged 38;" " Ralph Cox, died April 20, 1807 ;" " Mrs. Hannah Cox, died July 16, ISII ;" " Mary, wife of Uzziel Durham, died March 18, 1806;" " Mr. Malachi Cox, died April 1, 1798, aged thirty-six years."
There are no less than four old burial-places in the south- east part of the town, not far from each other.
IX .- SOCIETIES.
A Good Templars' lodge has existed for many years in the Baptist church neighborhood, in which are included earnest temperance-workers of this town and from the neighboring portions of Greenfield.
X .- PLACES OF HISTORIC INTEREST.
Near the mill-pond on the Snoek Kill are abundant traces of Indian occupation, showing that an extensive village or encampment must have existed there before the advent of the white men. Arrow-heads, broken pottery, and pestles were found there in great abundance. William
JOHN HAM.
MRS. LUCINDA HAM.
JOHN HAM.
The Ham family was originally of German descent, and one of their members emigrated to this country about one hundred years ago, and settled in what is now Rensselaer county, N. Y., the inhabitants of which, at that time, being mostly from the same part of the Old World. John was the third son of William and Lydia Ham, and was born in the town of Brunswick, Rensselaer county, November 9, 1815. His parents were both natives of Rensselaer county, and resided there until the year 1826, when they removed to Saratoga County, where they passed the remainder of their days. Both lived to a good old age, and are buried in the cemetery connected with the Methodist Protestant church in Wilton, and a suitable monument, erceted by their son, marks the spot. Ilis father's family being large, John, at an early age, was obliged to leave home and start for himself, and with no other inheritance but his own hands he commeneed the battle of life. Becoming tired of single life, he was married, January 17, 1839, to Lucinda, daughter of John and Margaret Miller, she being born in the town of Saratoga Springs, Saratoga County, February 12, 1815. Three sons and three daughters came to bless their fireside and make their home pleasant. The eldest, Rebecca Adaline, was born January 8, 1840, and was united in marriage to James L. Howard, of Malta, January 20, 1857. The second, Caroline, was born April 5, 1842, and passed away April 10, 1859. Next came twins, Edgar and Edwin, born June 20, 1844. And when foul rebellion
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