History of Saratoga County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers., Part 118

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 118

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The census of Albany county for 1723 gives the fol- lowing names for Canastigonie, and this is no doubt an ac- curate list of all the residents at Niskayuna one hundred and fifty-five years ago. There are twenty names, but several may have belonged to the same family, leaving it probable that there were thirteen or more families living

472

RESIDENCE OF LEWIS R. GARNSEY, CLIFTON PARK, SARATOGA CO., N. Y.

473

HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

there. Of these, some were no doubt on the south side of the river.

The spelling is peculiar, but it is easily seen that these are the ancestors of many of the present families residing in this section of country : John Quacumbus, John Ffoort, Jacob Pearse, Derrick Brat, Maes Ryeksen, Evert Rycksen, Gerrit Rycksen, Nicholas Van Vranken, Lapion Canfort, Cornelius Christianse, Eldert Timonze, John Quackenboss, Jr., Peter Ouderkirk, Jacob Cluit, John Cluit, Frederick Cluit, Samuel Creeger, Derriek Takelsen, Mattias Boose Suor, Johannis Christianse.

With reference to these names, inquiries at Vischer's ferry seem to sustain the following statements, though the links connecting the traditions of the people with this ancient census-roll are not entirely clear :

Derrick Brat lived on the flats, about a mile below Amity, owning the present John Pearse place. The buildings were burned in an Indian raid. The men were away. The younger women escaped, but the aged grandmother perished either by the tomahawk or the flames. When last seen by those who fled, she is said to have been going down the cellar stairs with a quantity of silver money, the genuine " dollars of the fathers," and it was supposed she buried it there. In later years many parties dug the site of the old cellar over repeatedly, and some suppose the money was found and carried away by lucky adventurers. Others be- lieve that, like most of the money-digging, the search re- vealed " nary a coin."

Jacob Pearse settled at Fort's ferry,-whether the one whose name is on the roll is a later proprietor is not certain. The pioneer homestead is still owned by a descendant of the same name. The building is very old, probably the oldest in town ; the timbers in it are massive and justify the belief that it is very ancient.

Old people speak of the Ryeksen homestead as the present Philip Warner place, or near it. The name Ryck- sen is said by some to be the same really as Van Vranken, yet they both appear upon the census-roll.

The name is variously spelled Quacumbus, Quackenboss, and Quackenbush, was known in the vicinity of Crescent (town of Half-Moon) at a very early date, and it is possible families may have been there of that name soon after 1700, as the old Vandenburg stone mansion at Dunsback's ferry bears date 1718, five years before the census referred to.

The families of Christianse are believed to have lived on the south side of the river, and also the Cluits.

Sebastian Cragier was a resident of Watervliet ; whether connected to the Samuel Cragier of the census-roll of 1723, does not appear. He had four sons. One of them, Tunis, settled on the present llegeman estate. His son, Garret Cragier, is the present landlord of the village hotel at Amity. We are indebted to him for many items in this account of Visher's ferry and vicinity.

Nicholas Fort settled at the ferry that has ever since borne his name before the Revolution. In what year is uncertain. Daniel Fort, mentioned in the census of 1723, may have been an ancestor, as the name Daniel appears in the subsequent Fort families at the ferry. The children of Nicholas Fort were John, who settled at the old home- stead, now occupied by his son, Nicholas JJ. Abram also

settled at the ferry adjoining the homestead, and his place is now owned by a son, Nanning V. Fort. Rachel, a daughter of Nicholas, senior, became Mrs. John E. Vischer, and is yet living at the age of eighty-seven. Maria mar- ried Francis Vischer, both settling in Clifton Park. The families of Fort are numerous on both sides of' the river.

Nicholas Fort kept a public house at the ferry in the time of the Revolution. When General Washington re- turned from his northern tour in the summer of 1783, having visited General Gordon in Ballston, he rode with his staff, joined by General Gordon, to Schenectady, and crossed the Mohawk at Fort's ferry. Nanning V. Fort states that he has himself heard his grandmother relate the incident. The general stopped a short time, and was then ferried over the river. Quite a number of the people had gathered around; and the old lady used to tell with animation how noble Washington looked as he stood up in the boat, one hand resting upon his horse, the other lifting his hat, returning the salutations of the people.

The homestead of Andries Van Vranken at a very early day was at Fort's ferry. Ile had one son, Garret Van Vranken. Samuel, a son of the latter, is yet living at an advanced age in the village of Amity. Garret Van Vranken was born in 1760, in the same house that he died in at the age of seventy-five. The name of Nicholas Van Vranken occurs upon the assessment roll thirty-seven years earlier than the birth of Garret, and the family at the present time understand that Andries, father of Garret, was himself born in this county, so that it is very probable that Nicholas was really the pioneer. There is also now living near Amity, Adam Van Vranken, the third in suc- cession of the same name upon the same farm. The second Adam was a cousin of Garret. This would imply that Andries and the first Adam were brothers-and point to an earlier pioneer as their father-either the Nicholas mentioned or some other Van Vranken.

It is the opinion of Mr. Samuel Van Vranken before al- luded to, that the following families were residents here nearly or quite as early as those already mentioned, from twenty to thirty years before the Revolution. The Da- visons, a mile north of Fort's ferry. John Smith, a half- mile below. Thollheimer, two miles below; he was commonly known as Tall-hammer. Nicholas Vandenberg, in Ilalf-Moon, near Dunsback's ferry. The Volweiders, two brothers, Abram and Jacob, below Fort's ferry, where Nicholas Clute now lives.

The pioneer of the Vischer family at the ferry of that name is regarded as Eldert, who died at the age of eighty- eight about forty years ago. Ile had two brothers; one of them, Nanning, also settled here. The third removed to central New York. Eldert was the proprietor of the ferry. It was first merely a skiff ferry ; capable, however, of taking over a team. The apparatus for transportation consisted of tico stout negroes and a heavy pair of oars. About 1817 or 1818, a large scow was built, and a rope drawn across the river. Garret Cragier remembers that great preparation was made and a large number of teams employed to draw the heavy timbers for the scow. Eldert Vischer's children were Nanning, who settled on the present place of Cor- nelius Ilicks ; Nicholas, also in Clifton Park; Garret, near

474

IHISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

the old homestead; Simon, on the turnpike to Waterford, below Middletown; John, in Clifton Park; Maria, who married Michael Weldon ; Elizabeth, Cornelius Vanden- burg ; Alida, Rensselaer Jones.

The children of Nanning, brother of Eldert, were Nicholas, who settled at Groom's Corners ; Francis, at the third grist- mill en the Steina Kill ; Alida, who married James Wel- don ; Catherine, Smiton Irish ; Maria, C. Groat, of Water- vliet ; Esther, Abram Fort, of the ferry ; Rachel, Peter Vandenburg, of the Boght across the river.

One of the three brothers, Nanning, it is understood was taken prisoner by the Indians while after the cows one night. He was in captivity two years. It should be added that men still living at Amity remember that Eldert used to say he was born under the big beams in the old ferry-house at Amity. This would indicate that the father of the three brothers was the first of the Vischers to settle at this point. It may be noticed, too, that John Vischer was a justice of the peace in 1770, and Nanning Vischer in 1772, and also in 1780.

Coming down to about the time of the Revolutionary war, we continue the sketch of carly settlement. Chron- ological order may not be followed exactly, but the design is to present as near as may be a complete statement of the families in town when the organization of Mall-Moon took place, 1788.

Half-Moon became an organized district in 1772, but the records are not known to be in existence. There were some settlers who came in just before the Revolution, as well as during its progress. A few years after the war the town organization took place, beginning in 1788, and from the records of Half-Moon at that point ninety years ago, we obtained the names of settlers, aided by the recollection of' Shubael Taylor and others of advanced age.

An excise list of 1788, among the records of Half-Moon, is very largely a guide in determining early settlers. Draw- ing our information from this source, it may appear that we are " writing up" the taverns pretty strong, but it should be noticed that in those days of travel wholly by teams public-honses were of great importance, and were located thickly along all the main routes of travel. It is said that on the Albany and Whitehall turnpike, in the valley of the Hudson, every alternate house was a tavern, and that strings of teams often reached from one to another, the man ahead lifting the full glass at the advance tavern just as the man in the rear was placing the empty glass on the bar.

Edward Rexford came to what is now Clifton Park just before the Revolution, and his family were here through all that struggle. He bought a tract of some three hundred acres, near what is now known as Rexford's Flats, at $5 per acre. Their first pioneer house was of logs, built under the bluff near a spring ; afterwards a frame house was erected on the hill, the present Allen McKain's place. Mr. Rexford was himself away as a soldier in the American army a large part of the time. His wife was often obliged to take the children and flee into the woods for safety from roving parties of savages, and yet many friendly Indians made their house a stopping-place. It is remembered by Mrs. Has- lam, of Rexford Flats, that she has often heard the aged grandmother tell of the dangers and hardships of those early

times. Often her house would be filled at night with thirty or forty Indians, and herself and children alone with them. Little can the children of this generation now living here in peace and quiet appreciate these early struggles of the pioneers. Mr. Rexford left three sons,-Elisha, Edward, and Eleazer, -- all of whom settled in Clifton Park, the last two on the old homestead. Cyrns W. Rexford, a son of Eleazer, is now a merchant at Rexford Flats. There was one daughter, Luzina, who married Ephraim Knowlton, and settled in Clifton Park. Edward Rexford, the pioneer, was from England. He married in Herkimer county. ITis wife's name was Eaton.

Nathan Garnsey was also a settler about the time of the Revolution. His place was the present Smalley farm. He had a brother who had come in still earlier and taken up the land ; but he was a loyalist, and was obliged to leave. The tradition is that the brothers swapped farms, Nathan coming here and the brother going where he could enjoy his opinions without danger.

Something of a romance in connection with this family has come down in neighborhood tradition. The father of Roscius and Garnsey Kennedy (the latter still living near Jonesville) was an early pioneer about the same time as the Rexfords and Garnseys. Unmarried, he sought the hand of a daughter of Nathan Garnsey. The course of true love did not run smooth ; the father opposed the match. We are left to imagine the tender meetings and the inci- dents of the courtship ; but it ended as all such stories are expected to end, by the determined girl quietly dropping the yarn at her spinning-wheel, putting on her sun-bonnet, and telling the family she was going over to a neighbor for a few minutes. There she met Mr. Kennedy, a min- ister present fastened the irrevocable tie, and, without re- turning home for any outfit, the bride went to her husband's forest-home. After a while she visited her own home occa- sionally, her mother receiving her gladly, but her father declining to speak to her. He was, however, a watchful and kind parent. He saw the struggles of young Kennedy, his steady industry, his invincible determination to win a home, and, as an important payment drew near, Mr. Garu- sey took occasion to greet his daughter on one of her visits, and, as he helped her on to the horse to return home, he quietly put into her hands the money to make the payment. " All is well that ends well" was true no doubt of this.

We proceed to note briefly others who are shown by the records already mentioned to have been in Clifton Park as early as 1788, when the town of Half-Moon was organized.

Adrian Hegeman, whose judgment as assessor and poor- master was so often called into service by the people in the early times of Half-Moon, was a resident of what is now Clifton Park. His place was on Sugar Hill, so called, about a mile west of Amity.

John Rouse's old homestead was the present Eddy place. Gradus and Aaron Rouse were sons of John.

Richard Peters settled north of Vischer's ferry, on the 11. J. Miller place. His sons were Samuel and William.

Samuel Sweatland settled near Jonesville, on the Peter Althouse place.

Israel Brooks lived near Jonesville. One sou, Israel, now lives in the same neighborhood.

475

HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

All these were settlers from 1785 to 1790; all, at least, before this last date.

James Groom lived near where Cyrus Clark does at the present time. From him Groom's Corners, of course, takes its name. Ile had a son, James, and removed to Albany. Samuel, a son of the second James, resides at the old corners.

Robert Eldridge lived near Jonesville, in the present Best neighborhood.

John Terpenny lived northwest of Groom's Corners, near Rexford Flats.

John Knowlton settled northwest of Clifton Park vil- lage.

Israel Brooks was a pioneer in the same neighborhood.

The Quivee family were in the northwest part of the town.

Jerry Cramer lived en what is known as the John Tay- lor farm.

The Close family was a prominent one in the carly times, as it has been in later years. Their homestead was in the Moe neighborhood, on the place well known in later years as the residence of Halsted Close.

Simeon Van Camp kept tavern in what is now the village of Clifton Park. His house was on the present site of George Datur's house.

Hicks kept a tavern about a mile from the present vil- lage of Clifton Park.

James Jones, the first collector of the town of Half- Moon, was the pioneer landlord at the village that has ever since been known from him as Jonesville. His house was on the site of the present Rosekrans Hotel.

Solomon Waite lived near Jonesville, where his great- grandson now lives.

Jacob Fort was town clerk for the first three years of Half-Moon.

The name of Abraham Moe is associated with all this section of country through a long series of years. From him the corners near his old homestead derives the name it has so long borne. To say nothing here of his other public services, he held the office of town clerk for twenty- eight years consecutively, and the records yet extant bear witness to his care and acenracy in public matters. First elected in 1791, he kept the record through the long pioneer period down to 1828, when the portion of the town in which he lived was erected into Clifton Park. That was a favorable time to retire when the records he had kept so long and well were no longer within his jurisdiction.

Among the early settlers of Clifton Park was Thomas Young, from Berkshire, Mass. He came in 1785 and settled on the Apple patent, midway between Burnt Hills and Groom's Corners. Ile was the father of Colonel Sam- uel Young, afterwards so prominent in public affairs. At that Clifton Park fireside the young man educated himself, pursuing his studies far into night by the light of pine knots long after others were asleep. Samuel Young after- wards married and settled at Academy Hill, Ballston. His publie career left little time for private pursuits. Four years supervisor ; three times elected to the Assembly ; four times to the Senate; twice Speaker; one of the original canal commissioners that constructed the Erie canal ; mem-

ber of the Constitutional Convention of 1821; candidate for governor in 1824 against De Witt Clinton ; Secretary of State, and superintendent of common schools, is a record seldom equaled.

Isaac Southard settled in the year 1800 on the present Scrafford farm. Of his sons, Jonas and John settled in Clifton Park ; Samuel L., in Ballston ; Stephen S., in Wil- mington, Delaware. A daughter, Phebe, became Mrs. Eldred, of Rochester, N. Y. At the time of Mr. South- ard's settlement, among the neighbors not already mentioned, was Nathaniel Holmes, who left a large family ; Richard Smith, a wagon-maker, on the bank of the river ; John Knowlton, below the Flats ; Wm. Ilays and Ezekiel Ter- penning.

Early Mills .- The grist-mill at Amity is very ancient. The present building was erected thirty-six years ago, and its predecessor had probably stood for fifty years. It is remembered as wooden rigged entirely,-no castings in it. There is a tradition, but not very definite, that a still earlier mill was on the site where the canal crosses the Steina Kill. A half a mile above Amity was an early grist-mill on the site of the present Ilegeman saw-mill. Some eighty rods above this was a carding-mill, used in later years for a cider- mill. A mile and a half farther up was a third grist-mill destroyed by fire in 1846-7 ; a saw-mill there at the pres- ent time. Still farther up the stream was a saw-mill and a cloth-dressing establishment, known as Clark's mills.

In the north part of the town on the line of Half-Moon was a saw-mill, and a few years later a woolen-mill. There was also a saw-mill near the present place of I. Higgins.

IV .- ORGANIZATION.

The territory of this town belonged to Half-Moon for fifty-six years,-from 1772 to 1828. The convenience of the people finally began to require a new town, and the question was decided by an act of the Legislature. The name was derived from that of one of the land patents lying partly within the town, a description of which is given elsewhere in this history. The name first given to the town was Clifton, but the policy was just then begin- ning to be insisted upon at Albany that no new towns should be erected bearing the same names as those pre- viously existing. There were so many Cliftons already that it was not desirable to increase the confusion, and so the next year the name was changed to Clifton Park. The naming of this, the youngest of the family, rounded out the eircle to the full number of twenty. From that thue the alphabetical list to be called at courts and conventions has been one stereotyped set, knowing neither variableness nor change. The school-children of successive generations have learned it, politicians have committed it to memory, and it is no doubt safe to say that County Clerk Horton, in the thirty-two years he has occupied his position, has learned the list perfectly from Ballston to Wilton, not omitting the long words Edinburgh and Northumberland.

This town is the last one organized in the county. It was formed from Ilalf-Moon, March 3, 1828, and includes some of the earliest settled territory in the county. Its early history in reference to town affairs is blended with

476

HISTORY OF SARATOGA .COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Half-Moon, and much of interest relating really to this town will be found in the history of that.

The first town-meeting was held at the house of James Groom in the spring of 1828, and the following were the town officers chosen : Supervisor, Ephraim Stevens; Town Clerk, Henry Clow ; Collector, Michael Weldon ; Assessors, Joseph Reed, Abram Pearse, Isaac E. Garnsey ; Overseers of the Poor, Joseph Arnold, Tunis Cragier ; Highway Commissioners, Jacob Volwider, Elisha King, Stephen HI. Wakeman; Committee of Common Schools, Cornelius Failing, Seth W. Higgins, Solomon C. Peck ; Inspectors of Common Schools, Levi Garnsey, William E. Noxon, Leonard Shepherd ; Constables, William H. Brown, James Knight, Jr., John Cole ; Poundkeepers, Ephraim Stevens, Eleazer Rexford ; Fence-viewers, Andrew Evans, David Garnsey. The town was divided into thirty-nine road districts.

TOWN OFFICERS FROM 1828 TO 1878.

Supervisors. 1828. Ephraim Stevens.

1829. Nathan Garnsey.

llenry Clow. Wm. Shepherd. Solomon C. Peck.

1830. Ephraim Stevens. 1831. David Garnsey.

James Groom. =

1834.

1835. Win. Gates.

1836. James Groom.

Jobn Thomas.

1837.

Wm. Hollister.

Israel Brooks.

1838. Joseph Aroold.

1839. "

James E. Jones.

D. G. Van Vranken.

1840. Heory Clow.

184].

1842. Roseius R. Kennedy.

1843.

Joseph S. Wood.

1844,

Wm. A. Peters. =

1845. John Peck.

1846.

John Arnold.

1847. Chris. C. Ilegeman. Aaron Wood.

1848

Silas IJ. Sweatland.

1849. John Peck.

Franeis N. Viseber.

1850. J. W. Van Vranken. Lorenzo H. Sprague. Grardus D. Clute.

1851. llarvey II. Rogers.

1852. Wm. Shepherd.

1853.

Staats V. S. Fonda. Stephen Rogers. lliram P. Jones. John Woodworth.

Isaac L. Garosey ; their homestead was near Jonesville.

Joseph Arnold, on the present Peter Althouse farm, near Clifton Park village.

Tunis Cragier, lived at Vischer's ferry.

Jacob Volwider, at the Dry Dock.

Elisha King, near Jonesville.

Stephen H. Wakeman, kept a store at Rexford's Flats. Cornelins Failing, lived near Groom's Corners, on the Wager farm.

Seth W. Iliggins, at Clifton Park village.

Solomon C. Peck, in the Waite neighborhood, and still living.

Levi Garnsey, on the present Smalley place, near Rex- ford Flats.

Win. E. Noxon, near the line of Half-Moon; in later years in that town.

Leonard Shepherd, near Groom's Corners.

1874.

1875. Hiram Parker.

1876. Adam Mott.

1877.

Edward S. ITubbs. €4 16

Jobn R. Flagler. J. Frank Godfrey.

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE.

1830. John Clute. 1853. Jobn W. Van Vranken.

1831. Cornelius Failing. Samuel B. Edwards.

1832. Joseph Reed.

1833. Corpelins llegeman.

llenry Clow.

1857. Abram V. Fowler.

1834. Henry Clow.

1835. Solomon Brown.

1836. Seth W. Higgins.

1837. Samuel Wilber.

1861. Rufus Palmer.

1838. llenry Clow.

1862. Adam Mott.

1839. Brnajah D. Arnold.

1863. Norman B. Prentiss.

1840. Abijah Peck. Nelson Cole.

1865. John W. Van Vranken.

1841. Wm. L. Potter.

J866. Adam Mott.

1842. llenry Clow.

1867. Cyrus W. Rexford.

1843. Thomas N. Peters. Nelson Cole.

1869. Tunis C. Pearse.

1844. Abijah Peck.

Samuel Langdon.

1845. Thomas N. Peters.

1870. Adam Mott.

1846. Henry Clow. 1871. Wm. E. Rogers.

1847. John Philo.

1872. James Edwards.

1848. Aaron Wood.

1873. Tunis C. Pearse.

1849. Abijah Peck.

John Peck.

Thomas N. Peters.

1874. John Peek.

1850. Henry Clow.

1875. Wm. E. Rogers.

1851. Nelson Cole.

1876. Julian Fish.

1852. Urias Williams.

1877. Tunis C. Pearse.

Abram V. Fowler.

1878. Jobn Peek.

Though 1828 is a modern date compared with the real pioneer period before 1800, we add at this point a brief statement of the residences of the first town officers, as being a matter of some interest to recall at the end of fifty years :

James Groom, lived at Groom's Corners, on the present farm of Minor Keeler.

Ephraim Stevens, resided at Clifton Park village.

Henry Clow, was also a resident of Clifton Park village.

Michael Weldon, south of Groom's Corners, on the pres- ent Best farm.

Joseph Reed, near Clifton Park village.

Abram Pearse, at Fort's ferry.

1854. Nanning F. Viseber. Wm. E. Rogers.

1855. Nelson Cole.

1856. Isaac Schauber.

1857. Roseius R. Kennedy. John Peek (2d).

1858. Nicholas Viseher.

Edwin Lyon.

John Peck (2d).

1859. David W. Wait. 1860. Gradus Viseher. 1861. Cyrus W. Rexford. JS62. =

Samuel Grooto.

1863.

4 4

1864.

1865.

John Peek.

1866.

1867. Nicholas J. CInte.

Samuel Groom. Henry J. Wetzel.

1871. Cyrus W. Rexford. Samuel Groom.

1872. Nicholas J. Clute.

1873. Barney R. Caldwell.

John J. Clute. Emmet Arnold.

W'm. II. Lasher.

1878.

Town Clerks.

Collectors. Miebael Weldon.

Sam'l B. Edwards. Aaron Quivey. Cortland Brewster. 16 Michael Weldon. Hiram Mosher. Hugh Sherman.

1853. Norman B. Prentiss.

1854. Wm. A. Potter.

1855. Nathan D. Garnsey.

1856. Silas P. Shepherd. Benjamin llowd.

1858. Elijah F. Reed.

1859. Nelson Cole.

1860. Silas P. Shepherd.

1864. Samuel Langdon.

1868. Samuel Langdon.

1832. Ephraim Stevens. 1833. 44

Win. L. Potter. Thomas M. Peters.

Dorman K. Haight. John Philo. Pardon W. Cole. Garret Cragier.

Adrian Ilegeman. Chas. S. Doughty.

Eldert V. Failing. Henry Clow.

Silas Keeler.

John Arnold. Nicholas Vischer.

Abram D. Graff. " Augustus Smith.

Samuel Groom. C. D. Ilieks. John W. Arnold. ~ Wesley llaynor. Jacob I. Lansing. George H. Clute. Daniel W. Wright. Samuel Y. Davy. Wm. E. Shurtleff. Miles Brooks. Erastus R. Fort. John W. Jewel. Daniel Dater. John W. Jewel. A. P. Philo. Augustus M. Wait.

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History of Saratoga County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers., Part 118

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

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