USA > New York > Schoharie County > History of Schoharie County, New York : with illusustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 29
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
179
TOWN OF FULTON.
In 1846 he was elected a delegate to the Constitutional Convention, and the same year entered the Assistant 'Treasurer's office of New York City and held the position until the year 1849, when he retired to private life upon the Island. He married Catharine Lawyer, by whom he had eight children-Mrs. Lyman Sandford, Mrs. Erskine Danforth, and Mrs. George Danforth, of Middleburgh, Hon. Ga- briel Bouck, of Wisconsin, long a member of Congress from that State, and Hon. Charles Bouck, of this town, who retains the paternal homestead with all its pleasant surroundings, James of Schenectady, Joseph of New York, and Christian of Brooklyn.
We cannot close without copying the tribute paid by the late Lyman Tremain, to the char- acter of Gov. Bouck, in an oration delivered by him at the dedication of the monument erected at Binghamton, in honor of the late Daniel S. Dickinson. He said :---
" In 1842 he was elected Lieutenant-Governor upon the same ticket with Mr. Bouck, who was elected Governor. William C. Bouck-Daniel S. Dickinson ! How fragrant are the memories of these two men ! The misconceptions arising from political animosities have passed away. Differences of opinions are now forgotten, and we can do full justice to their great worth and spotless integrity ! Who would dare to think of peculation, dishonesty or corruption in connec- tion with these honored names ? Their repu- tation is the property of the State, and every true son of New York is entitled to share in the honor and lustre which such men reflect upon its good name. In the severity of their morals, the justice of their conduct and the unsullied purity of their private and public characters, they may be justly regarded as the Cato and the Aristides of the State."
The Governor died at his residence in April, 1859, at the age of seventy-three.
Inhabitants in 1788 .- It may be of interest to the reader to know who were the inhabitants of the town after the war closed, and prosperity again began to bloom.
We here present a road warrant dated in 1788,
which refers to the road leading from the Mid- dleburgh bridge to Bouck's Island, along which were settled nearly all of the inhabitants at that day.
John Bouck, Christopher Bouck,
John Crysler,
Peter Feek,
Michael Brown,
Martinus I. Vroman,
Peter A. Vroman, Jacob Sucraft,
Jacob Feek,
Johannes Feek,
Martinus Van Slyke,
Peter Swart,
John Vroman, Jr.,
Ephraim Vroman, Bartholomew Hagadorn,
Johannes Rickart,
Jonas Vroman, Harmanus VanValkenburgh,
Ganeson Becker, Nathan Becker.
" Sirs-You are hereby ordered to warn and set to work the persons rated on the within list on the road or highway in your ward or beat whenever it wants Repairing. Given under our hand this 24th Day of May, 1788."
PETER ZIELIE, Com'rs JOHN MYRES, of
JOHN M. DIETZ. High'ys.
To JOHANNES BOUCK,
Overseer Highways.
Timothy Murphy .- Of this man much has been told and written that has had a tendency to give a false idea of his true character. Among the old families of Schoharie, with whom he was familiar, are the most erroneous stories of his exploits that can be imagined, which are repeated with the greatest confidence of their truthful- ness.
While they regard him with veneration as a hero, yet the tales they tell make him nothing less than a cool, intrepid murderer, who escaped the censure of the people under the plea of ne- cessity in behalf of freedom. We have taken a deal of pains to learn his true character and exploits, and find that such was not the case,
180
HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY.
but that he was a kind-hearted man, and true patriot, and instead of being a "loud-mouthed Irishman " as insinuated by many, that he was reticent of his services, yet prompt in their exe- cution. From his children, three of whom are yet living in the full enjoyment of mental facul- ties, and others who were well acquainted with the hero, many long since dead, we obtained the facts of his life, which we will give without re- peating many small incidents that have been the ground-work of "thrilling tales" as told and pub- lished many times by his admirers and which are of no consequence in a rational view of his life.
The mother of Murphy was an Englishwoman and married a Simms. He soon after died and the widow, then living in Ireland, in course of time married the father of our hero, and emi- grated to America. They settled in New Jer- sey, where Timothy was born, and when he was four years of age they removed to Wyoming, Pa.
Murphy lived with a family until he was six- teen years of age, when he enlisted in the Co- lonial cause for five years and joined General Morgan's corps of riflemen. He was in all the engagements in which the corps participated, including that of Brandywine, after which he was ordered to the north to assist General Gates in the repulsion of Burgoyne, at Bemis Heights. It was upon that hotly contested ground that Murphy was called upon by Gen. Morgan to perform an act that the over moralists condemn, as a breach of chiv- alry, and uncalledfor murder. To the mind of Morgan the defeat of the British depended upon the capture or death of Gen. Fraser, against whose corps his own was contending. To cap- ture him. being impossible, he commanded Murphy and a few other riflemen to slay him, at the same time expressing his admiration of the man, and regret of the necessity of such an act. Murphy and another man climbed into a tree and took a careful aim. Fraser fell as Murphy's rifle was fired and no doubt his bullet did the fatal work.
His command, seeing their gallant leader fall, soon broke in confusion and made a hasty re- treat, which gave to the patriots a glorious vic- tory. Morgan, as stated, was censured for the act, but since the death of one man, although
he be clothed with epaulettes, saved the lives of hundreds and perhaps thousands, besides break- ing one of the strong links in the chain of po- litical servitude, that was binding many thousand, we cannot see the enormity of the offence, more than in the shooting of a common private in bat- tle. After the surrender of Burgoyne, Murphy fol- lowed Morgan to the south and was engaged in the battle of Monmouth. Repeated appeals of the patriots of Tryon county and Schoharie valley. for assistance in repelling expected invasions, to the general government through the committee of safety, caused a detachment of Morgan's riflemen and a small regiment of Pennsylvania troops to be sent to Albany under the command of Col. Wm. Butler, and be assigned to different points, as most needed. In the fall of that year (1778) Butler was sent to Schoharie, for winter quarters, and with him came Timothy Murphy, who at once found plenty of work to do, and for which he was peculiarly adapted. He at once became a scout and with other brave patriots traversed the hills and valleys of the border, to arrest the disaffected and intercept communica- tions and forage for supplies.
He was a superior marksman, fleet on foot, and cautious, yet courageous. He became in- timate with the leading militiamen of the valley, who understood Indian strategy and warfare, and with them proved a terror to the dusky war- riors. The situation of affairs throughout the border required promptness on the part of the patriots. But few were unshrinking and faithful in the cause of freedom compared with the many that wavered, and necessity required the few to be strict, firm and active. The time of coax- ing and arguments had passed, and stern force had to be employed. Murphy was used to strict military discipline and saw the necessity of it, or at least its rigid enforcement among the Tory element, which they construed as "bul- lying" brutal, and when brought in collision with the Indians, he studied their mode of warfare, and met them with their own cun- ning. Having a two-barrelled rifle, a thing un- known to them, they superstitiously thought he was a devil, capable of shooting as many times as he wished without loading.
He accompanied Butler in 1779 to join Sulli- van at Tioga, to devastate the Indian country,
181
TOWN OF FULTON.
and without doubt performed the greatest feat of his life in escaping from the grasp of the maddened savages. When the main army was nearing the present village of Geneseo, then an Indian settlement, Thomas Boyd, a Lieutenant of the Pennsylvania regulars, sent to Schoharie the year before, was sent with a party of twenty- seven, in advance to reconnoitre, and upon their return to camp were intercepted by a force of one thousand British and Indians, within a few miles of Sullivan's advanced guard. The party was surrounded, and true to their valor, made an attempt to break through the enemy's lines. After repeated attempts, which laid many of the savages lifeless, and also seventeen of their own number, Murphy broke through, and with the fleetness of a deer bounded from his pursuers. Boyd and others made an at- tempt to follow, but were unable to run as fast as Murphy, and were taken captives. The greatest acts of cruelty were practiced upon them by the infuriated savages and demoniac Tories. But seven of Boyd's command returned to the camp. Murphy dodged his pursuers for a considerable distance, when he became tired and secreted himself in the tall brakes that cov- ered a low piece of ground he was to cross. While there he spied several Indians looking for him, but without success, and after becoming rested he again started for the camp but was surprised by an Indian when within a short distance of the American lines. .
They both took to trees, and after making several ineffectual attempts to get a shot at each other, Murphy placed his hat upon the end of his gun and held it one side of the tree, as if to get a glimpse of his antagonist, when the Indian fired and ran up to take Murphy's scalp, but the man was there himself unhurt, ready to receive him, and soon had his scalp in his pocket and was making tracks for the camp.
Upon his return to Schoharie, he was again employed as a scout, and soon became ac- quainted with one of the valley girls, whose charms conquered his stubborn heart and laid the foundation of a romance that was as inter- esting as his tragedian life, and changed the , garrisons' and residents' fear of savages to pleasure for a season. John Feek lived upon the farm now owned in part by Mrs. Lawyer
Bouck, and was a well-to-do farmer, possessing but one child-a daughter-of whom the par- ents were proud, and doted upon as their pro- tector and staff in their declining years. But Margaret, meeting with the notable Timothy, whose fame as a sagacious warrior was upon every one's lips, and whose general appearance was attractive, became favorably impressed, and allowed her warm heart to accede to her lover's appeals, much against the parents wishes. Murphy was denied the freedom of visiting her, which was known to the Middle garrison and residents, who became interested in the case and did everything to help their comrade and protector along in his new role of adventurer. The couple met clandestinely and agreed upon an elopement. Murphy was to meet Mar- garet upon a certain evening, on the opposite side of the river, and "take her captive " to the fort, from whence they were to proceed to some point to be married.
· Margaret upon the evening appointed, with cheery heart milked the cows, leaving one un- touched, and after carrying the milk to the house returned again to the yard to milk the stray one. But seeing the coast was clear, as desired, she passed down the lane to the river and crossed over where the " Murphy mill " was afterward built. Timothy was rather dilatory for the first time, she thought, and was not there, but soon appeared and crossing the river the couple crossed the mountain and gained the "Clauver" road and proceeded on foot to the middle fort, where the garrison was in waiting to receive them, ere the parents were aware of their daughter's absence. As the hearts of the occupants of the fort were jubilant in behalf of the couple's success, the protracted stay of Mar- garet excited the parents fears and cast a gloom over their hearthstone. The father and mother anxiously called for their daughter, but received no answer. Upon finding the milk-pail hanging upon the fence, they surmised the truth and hastily sent a messenger to the fort to learn of her safety, and if not there to obtain assistance in finding her. But naughty Margaret was there and refused to quit her " captor" to return, but anxiously awaited the marriage ceremony. The couple, in company with several others went to Schenectady and were married, and re-
182
HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY.
turned to the fort where a general jubilation was enjoyed in honor of the event. When the parents found their daughter was married and her husband's intention of removing to Penn- sylvania, they concluded to forget, forgive, and receive Murphy as their son-in-law. Mur- phy had no idea of leaving the valley, but he knew it was one way of softening the parents hearts and bringing about an amicable ·settle- ment. After the war closed they settled upon the Feek farm, where Margaret died in 1807, at the early age of forty-four. She had nine chil- dren, three of whom are now living, in the full enjoyment of their mental faculties, at advanced ages. Catharine (Mrs. Benjamin Best) is now eighty-two, and is a type of the early settlers of the valley in muscular vigor, mental tenacity and patriotic sentiment. She has been a widow several years and finds a home that makes her declining years full of pleasure, with her daugh- ter, Mrs. Charles Bouck, at the homestead of her father's early friend, the late Gov. Bouck. Elizabeth, an elder sister, widow of the late Benjamin Foster, resides with a son, Mr. Thomas Foster, at Gloversville, and is now seven- ty-nine years of age, full of the vigor of younger years. Mr. Peter Murphy, now of this town, is the only remaining son of the patriot, and like his sisters, exhibits a remarkable tenacity of fac- ulties. They retain a vivid recollection of the father's explanation of events, and deeply regret the erroneous statements made of the patriot's exploits. The remainder of the nine children were: John, Polly, (Mrs. Wm. Banks,) Thomas, Cornelius, Jacob and Jenny, (Mrs. Eben Fos- ter,) who have "laid their armor down" and joined the father and mother, after lives crowned with usefulness and respectability.
On the 27th of June, 1818, the patriot passed away at the age of sixty-seven, and was buried upon the "Murphy farm." In 1873 they were removed to the Middleburgh cemetery, and an effort is now being made to erect a monument over them, expressive of his worth, and the veneration of a grateful people.
From a communication published in the Atlantic Monthly, we think, about the time of the corner-stone ceremonies at Bemis Heights, we extract the following in regard to the shoot- ing of General Fraser :- " Brigadier-General
Fraser, who up to this time had been stationed on the right, noticed the critical situation of the centre, and hurried to its succor with the Twenty-fourth Regiment. Conspicuously mounted on an iron-gray horse, he was all ac- tivity and vigilance, riding from one part of the division to another, and animating the troops by his example. Perceiving that the fate of the day rested upon that officer, Morgan, who with his riflemen was immediately opposed to Fra- ser's corps, took a few of his sharp-shooters aside, among whom was the celebrated ınarks- man Tim Murphy-men on whose precision of aim he could rely-and said to them ‘That gallant officer there is General Fraser. I admire and respect him, but it is necessary for our good that he should die. Take your station in that cluster of bushes and do your duty.' Within a few moments a rifle-ball cut the crup- per of Fraser's horse, and another passed through his horse's mane. Calling his attention to this, Fraser's aid said, 'It is evident that you are marked out for particular aim ; would it not be prudent for you to retire from this place ?' Fraser replied, 'My duty forbids me to fly from danger.' The next moment he fell mortally wounded by a ball from the rifle of Murphy, and was carried off the field by two grenadiers.
"Upon the fall of Fraser, dismay seized the British, while a corresponding elation took pos- session of the Americans, who, being re-enforced at this juncture by General TenBroeck, with three thousand New York militia, pressed forward with still greater vehemence. Up to this time Burgoyne had been in the thickest of the fight, and now, finding himself in danger of being sur- rounded, he abandoned his artillery and ordered a retreat to the 'Great Redoubt.' This retreat took place exactly fifty-two minutes after the first shot was fired, the enemy leaving all the cannon on the field, except the two howitzers, with a loss of more than four hundred men, and among them the flower of his officers, viz., Fra- ser, Ackland, Williams, Sir Francis Clarke, and many others."
The patriotism displayed in 1780, was renew- ed in 1812 by the children of those heroes, and a goodly number entered the service upon the Canadian border. Among the few of such
183
TOWN OF FULTON.
now remaining, is . Harvey Efner, living at Fultonham at the age of eighty-eight, in the full possession of his physical and mental powers. Athough sixty-nine years have come and gone, working the great changes that our country so fully presents, and pleasing to us of to- day, yet the incidents and scenes of those distant years as recalled by the veteran, re-kin- dle the sparkle of the eye and animate the spirit to exclaim. "Those were the days and times." Mr. Efner vividly recalls his comrades who went forth with him, and relates many pleasing incidents connected with their soldier life. He was in Captain Philip Bartholomew's company of which Noah Dibble was Orderly Sergeant and Isaac Barber was Ensign, The fellow privates were Peter Saquendorf, David Schofer, Henry Herron and Cornelius Vroman. Valentine Efner was Major. The Efner family came over about the year 1760. They con- sisted of the father and four sons, threc of whom, William, Joseph and Henry, settled in Schoharie, and John in Saratoga county. They were worthy men and their children like them were true patriots and have been useful in so- ciety as intelligent and honored citizens.
PETERSBURGH.
The lofty hills of Fulton were once covered with giant timbers of all kinds, peculiar to the county, but particularly with hemlock, that grew solid and straight-grained. After the giant pines had been extravagantly wasted, and become scarce, hemlock took its stead in the manufacture of lumber and shingles, and that which was found upon the hills, was sought for the latter purpose from far and near. Peters- burgh hill, was for a long time the center of the shingle trade, as they were manufactured there, and to such an extent that but little else was done by the settlers. They being the only product were called, " Petersburgh Currency." The bark was sold to the tannery at Middle- burgh and the hill, and those near were soon stripped of their surplus timber and gave room for berry bushes to grow luxuriantly, to which for several years the people of adjoining towns resorted, in their season for their winter store. But industry made a bold strike and the
grounds were soon clcared, and to-day present farms, that for productiveness, will cope with any other. Among them, are those of the Kings, Warren Cornell, Miles and Lansing Nobles, Caleb Hess, Jacob Scott, Lansing Sit- terly and others near.
BREAKABEEN.
The correct name of this locality is Braka- been, given by the Germans, owing to the broad flats being covered with brakes-a species of fern. The word has been somewhat changed, but not materially. The name was given in early times to a long stretch of the valley from Vromans- land to the south and not confined to one lo- cality as now. Without doubt the first settlement of Germans was made to the south of Vromans- land and very soon after Adam Vroman removed his son Peter upon his land. The Germans were jealous of his possession and he of theirs and with- out doubt the lands Vroman complained to Gov- ernor Hunter, that the Germans were buying of the Indians, were those to the south of his tract, at and near Crysler's Hook, and the upper hamlet of Fultonham. But we will refer more particu- larly to that settlement after we dispose of the present locality known as Breakabeen. One of its early settlers was the Keyser family, the oldest representative now living being Barent Keyser of Blenheim.
In the commencement of the Revolution but three houses were to be found at this place, and the Keyser residence was one which stood near that now owned by Charles Mann. There were three sons living at home, Abram, Barent and John, and owing to the treachery of the Indians living near, the family removed to the upper fort. Barent was taken prisoner while on a scout and was taken to Canada where he died in captivity. John, then but fourteen years of age, was sent from the fort to get the cows and was taken captive by a party of Indians and hurried off to Canada from whence he re- turned at the close of the war. Abram was at that time still youngcr. He located in after years at Schoharie village and was the father of Abraham Keyser, once sheriff of the County, and State Treasurer from 1826 to 1838. There had been more than the three residents at this
.
184
HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY.
place, but when Sir William Johnson examined the titles of the settlers in 1759, and declared those null that were obtained from the Indians, without a purchase from the Government, a few living here also quit their lands and removed elsewhere, not wishing to pass through another season of "land trouble."
The most prominent family that settled at this place soon after the close of the Revolu- tion was Benjamin Waldrons. He came from Bethlehem, Albany county, as a mill-wright, and was first employed upon the building of the Peter Borst gristmill, now known as the "Davis Mill" of Middleburgh. He soon after inarried a sister of Peter Borst, "Tauty," and settled here in 1795 or 1796, and immediately built a gristmill where the Bergh mill now stands. The next settlers were Philip and Abram Bergh, of Kneiskern's dorf, Joseph Zeh and Michael Borst, of Middleburgh, who were full of enter- prise for those days, and founded the village. Philip Bergh purchased a half interest in the mill of Waldron, and in 1838 the whole, and rebuilt what is the present structure. In 1808, Wal- dron opened his house as a tavern which was the first in the place. A few years after, George Hilts engaged in the same business where the present Hilts family resides, farther up the creek. David Mattice also commenced to " entertain .man and beast" about the year 1830, and was succeeded in a few years by Peter Burget, whose widow remains in the old stand.
To close the hotels of the village we will refer to the present "Loucks House" that was first opened by Henry Parslow, about the year 1850. It has been occupied by several proprietors since that date, the last being George Loucks,- who took possession in the spring of 1882.
After a useful life as a miller and mechanic Benjamin Waldron passed away leaving the fol- lowing children who have also died and in their turn left prominent families who are now the actors in the business arena and remain to per- petuate the genius of the pioneer mechanic ; Henry, Mrs. Abram Bergh, John B., and David.
Michael Borst, long an "inn" keeper at Mid- dleburgh came here about the year 1815, and built a tannery near the present bridge which
was removed by John B. Waldron in 1850, who built a foundry in its stead, which is still in op- eration and owned by his son Charles.
This part of the valley being as thickly popu- lated as now, and the hamlet being a mechani- cal center, it was necessary for the convenience of the people to have a store, at which the com- mon necessities of the household could be sup- plied. The stores of that period were of small proportions as well as variety of goods, as the people's wants were few beyond what their labor could supply.
Among the considered "real" necessaries were rum and whiskey, which were kept at all stores up to within the last thirty years, and from which as much "profit and loss" was derived as any other commercial commodity. The " loss " was usually attributed to that por- tion the proprietor individually used, the extent and amount of which was rated according to the bodily proportions attained and flush of countenance. Undoubtedly a consolation was found in the truth of the adage that "there is no loss in which there is no gain."
One Breffle came about the year 1800, and opened a small store, and was followed by Pasco Noxin, and in connection with his tavern, Michael Borst succeeded the latter. Borst was followed by John Myers, and later by Peter W. Becker, who kept a larger stock and greater variety of goods. They in turn were succeeded by the following, who may not have been in business as here placed, but were located as merchants :-
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.