USA > New York > Monroe County > History of the pioneer settlement of Phelps and Gorham's purchase, and Morris' reserve; embracing the counties of Monroe, Ontario, Livingston, Yates, Steuben, most of Wayne and Allegany, and parts of Orleans, Genesee, and Wyoming. To which is added, a Supplement, or Extension of the pioneer history of Monroe county > Part 57
USA > New York > Allegany County > History of the pioneer settlement of Phelps and Gorham's purchase, and Morris' reserve; embracing the counties of Monroe, Ontario, Livingston, Yates, Steuben, most of Wayne and Allegany, and parts of Orleans, Genesee, and Wyoming > Part 57
USA > New York > Livingston County > History of the pioneer settlement of Phelps and Gorham's purchase, and Morris' reserve; embracing the counties of Monroe, Ontario, Livingston, Yates, Steuben, most of Wayne and Allegany, and parts of Orleans, Genesee, and Wyoming. To which is added, a Supplement, or Extension of the pioneer history of Monroe county > Part 57
USA > New York > Yates County > History of the pioneer settlement of Phelps and Gorham's purchase, and Morris' reserve; embracing the counties of Monroe, Ontario, Livingston, Yates, Steuben, most of Wayne and Allegany, and parts of Orleans, Genesee, and Wyoming. To which is added, a Supplement, or Extension of the pioneer history of Monroe county > Part 57
USA > New York > Ontario County > History of the pioneer settlement of Phelps and Gorham's purchase, and Morris' reserve; embracing the counties of Monroe, Ontario, Livingston, Yates, Steuben, most of Wayne and Allegany, and parts of Orleans, Genesee, and Wyoming. To which is added, a Supplement, or Extension of the pioneer history of Monroe county > Part 57
USA > New York > Wyoming County > History of the pioneer settlement of Phelps and Gorham's purchase, and Morris' reserve; embracing the counties of Monroe, Ontario, Livingston, Yates, Steuben, most of Wayne and Allegany, and parts of Orleans, Genesee, and Wyoming. To which is added, a Supplement, or Extension of the pioneer history of Monroe county > Part 57
USA > New York > Steuben County > History of the pioneer settlement of Phelps and Gorham's purchase, and Morris' reserve; embracing the counties of Monroe, Ontario, Livingston, Yates, Steuben, most of Wayne and Allegany, and parts of Orleans, Genesee, and Wyoming. To which is added, a Supplement, or Extension of the pioneer history of Monroe county > Part 57
USA > New York > Genesee County > History of the pioneer settlement of Phelps and Gorham's purchase, and Morris' reserve; embracing the counties of Monroe, Ontario, Livingston, Yates, Steuben, most of Wayne and Allegany, and parts of Orleans, Genesee, and Wyoming. To which is added, a Supplement, or Extension of the pioneer history of Monroe county > Part 57
USA > New York > Wayne County > History of the pioneer settlement of Phelps and Gorham's purchase, and Morris' reserve; embracing the counties of Monroe, Ontario, Livingston, Yates, Steuben, most of Wayne and Allegany, and parts of Orleans, Genesee, and Wyoming. To which is added, a Supplement, or Extension of the pioneer history of Monroe county > Part 57
USA > New York > Orleans County > History of the pioneer settlement of Phelps and Gorham's purchase, and Morris' reserve; embracing the counties of Monroe, Ontario, Livingston, Yates, Steuben, most of Wayne and Allegany, and parts of Orleans, Genesee, and Wyoming. To which is added, a Supplement, or Extension of the pioneer history of Monroe county > Part 57
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Along in years previous to the war, there was extensive hemp culture on the river. The Wadsworths introduced it, raising much themselves, and furnishing seed for others; upon their Honeoye farm, in 1811, 18 acres of hemp were raised. Samuel M. Hopkins, and his brother, Mark Hopkins. were largely engaged in the business at one time, at what is now Cuyler- ville. The principal market was at Albany. It finally became a losing business; cultivation, harvesting, preparation for market, transportation, cost too much. It was abandoned after an experiment of a few years.
Game was very plenty :-- The hills of Rush, Avon, Caledonia, Wheat- land, valleys and uplands, were favorite ranges for the deer. In the win- ter of 1806, '7, a deep snow came suddenly in December-a thaw suc-
NOTE .- In 1816, the author paid some Indian women at Mount Morris, $2 per bushel for a one horse wagon load of corn, and helped pound it out in the bargain.
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cceded, leaving the openings pretty much bare, but there was eight or ten inches of snow left in the woods, which was suddenly crusted over. This drove the deer, in large flocks, into the openings. They were in good con- dition, and we could easily kill all we wanted. The Indians of Canawau- gus had fine sport, and laid in stores of venison. In all the early years, those Indians were frequently upon the trails that went down to Ironde- quoit, the Falls, and the mouth of the Genesee river. On their return, their ponies would be loaded down with the spoils of the chase, the fish-hook and spear.
The winter I have spoken of, was generally a very severe one; toward the last of March and beginning of April, there was a heavy fall of snow ; through Canandaigua, Phelpstown, and in all that region, it was from four to five feet in depth; on the river, three and half feet. All the roads were entirely blocked up. A thaw came suddenly and swept the flats of the river throughout their whole extent. It was a singular fact, that the robin remained in the country throughout this generally hard winter. In the winter of 1808, '9, another deep snow and crust occurred. The wolves and dogs made terrible havoc among the deer; the poor creatures would take to the roads, and flee into farmers' yards for refuge. Venison, in the way of meat, was a great help to new settlers. I have never heard of a region where deer were so plenty.
In the winter of 1815, we had a general wolf hunt, or drive, as it proved to be. The inhabitants of the whole region turned out, and surrounded all the swamps in Gates, Chili, Wheatland, and Caledonia; sounded horns. fired guns, halloed, shouted, and raised a din of discordant sounds. Many deer, bear and foxes were killed; the wolves fled, and after that, there was but few seen in this region.
Ducks were abundant in the river and tributary streams in early years. There was the wood duck, another species bearing a strong resemblance to the common tame duck, shell drakes, dippers, or divers; and occasionally, the real canvass back. Wild geese would come every fall and spring.
Pigeons would in some seasons come in large flocks, and seriously injure the newly sown crops. I have known an hundred dozen to be caught in a net in one day. In 1812, they made a roost in a cedar swamp on Dugan's creek. They occupied the trees of seventy-five or eighty acres; there were, in some instances, as many as thirty nests on a single tree. The young squabs were brought away by the inhabitants in cart loads. When the young ones left the nests, they would go off and remain about the neighborhood in flocks by themselves, and it was several months before the old and young ones mingled.
The black squirrel was a great nuisance in early years. I have seen thirty on a single tree. They would sometimes destroy whole fields of corn. They have been gradually diminishing.
The advent of the crow in this region was in 1817. They had been preceded by the raven, their natural enemy, as I am led to infer. The crow made cautious and gradual approaches; at first, they flew over, then ventured to light on the tops of the highest trees, in which position ume would seem to be determining if it were safe to locate. It was some ven. before they became permanent residents, and had fairly expelled the ra
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In after years, when a raven would venture to revisit the region, the crows would seem to be gathered here and there in council, to determine how the intruder was to be expelled. The occupancy of the crow, was the re- sult of conquest.
In the earliest years, there were a few turkey buzzards upon the river, but they soon disappeared. A constant revolution has been going on with birds, animals and quadrupeds; old settlers have been disappearing, and new ones succeeding. There is scarcely a year in which some strange bird does not make its appearance; and within a few years, the opossum of Virginia and Maryland has become a permanent resident.
Elisha Sibley, a brother of Judge Sibley, was among the early settlers. He died in 1832. His surviving sons, are : - Samuel Sib- ley, William Sibley, Rev. Jeremiah Sibley, of Rush, Elisha Sibley, of Henrietta, Charles Sibley, of Groveland, and Martin and Joseph Sibley, of Michigan. Daughters became the wives of - -- Hoit, of Rush, Calvin Norton, of Groveland, and Jehiel Markham.
Elnathan Perry was a settler in Rush, as early as 1806. He was in service during the Revolution, and came to this region in Sulli- van's expedition. At some period during the Revolution he had made the acquaintance of La Fayette, and was recognized by him at Rochester, in his tour through this region in 1825. He died in 1848 ; his widow still survives. His surviving sons are, John Perry, of Pennsylvania, and George Perry, of Rush; Mrs. Nathan Green and Mrs. Sturgess of Rush, are his daughters.
Benjamin Campbell, who afterwards was a merchant and miller in Rochester, was an early merchant in Rush; soon after the war of 1812. He is now a resident of Buffalo. John Webster and Miner, were early merchants.
Dr. Alexander Kelsey was an early settled physician - as early as 1811. He was killed by the fall of a tree, fifteen or twenty years since ; was a good physician and useful citizen. Levi Kelsey, of Rush, late one of the members of Assembly from Monroe, is a son of his; Mrs. Jeremiah Sibley, of Rush, and Mrs. Robert Martin, of Henrietta, are his daughters.
Dr. Socrates Smith commenced practice soon after the war of 1812, and is yet a practicing physician in the town. He married a daughter of the early Pioneer, Col. Wm. Markham.
The first religious society organized in Rush, was of the Baptist order; their early settled clergyman, Elder Goff. They erected a stone church about 1830. Elder Badger organized a christian so- ciety in early years. A Lutheran society was organized in early years; and built a church about 1830.
The town of Rush was organized in 1818. The first town meet- ing was held at the house of Benajah Billings. The officers chosen were :- William Markham, supervisor, Peter Price, town clerk.
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Other town officers : -- Nathan Jeffords, Jacob Stull, John Mark- ham, Nathan Rose, Dudley Brainard, Clark Davis, George Liday, Peter Price, Adolphus Allen, Alfred Jones, John Ford, Benj. Camp. bell. Daniel Hulburt, Philip R. Rich, Alexander Kelsey, Oliver Case, Jeriel Smith, Nathan Gilpin, Henry Hart.
HENRIETTA.
James Sperry, Esq., who is generally familiar with the deductions of land titles in this region, is under the impression that T. 12, 7th R .. which now constitutes the town of Henrietta, was sold by Phelps and Gorham, previous to the general sale to the London As- sociates. In the general deed of conveyance there is no reservation of that township, except that of 900 acres to "Major E. Scott," and the author therefore concludes that the main portion of the township became a part of the Pulteney estate ; and this belief is strengthened by the fact that the township assumed the name of the daughter of Sir. Wm. Pulteney. Mr. Wadsworth sold the township during a tour in Europe, to William Six, of Hague, in Holland, and two associates, as the agent of the London Associ- ates, as is inferred. When he returned from Europe, the sale and settlement of the town, constituted one of his numerous agencies. He did not, as would seem, bring it into market until the late period of 1806. In that year, Stephen Rodgers surveyed it into farm lots.
The name, " Major E. Scott," as entered in the office of Messrs. Phelps and Gorham, should have been, Major Isaac Scott. He had been either an agent or surveyor, for Phelps and Gorham, and to satisfy a claim. or to fulfill a promise of reward, they apportioned to him 900 acres, on the River, in the south west corner of the township. Although displeased with the location that had been as- signed him, he settled upon it soon after 1790, built a log house, cleared some ten or fifteen acres, remained in his solitary wood's home for two or three years; but becoming discouraged, from sick- ness in his family, and other endurances incident to pioneer life, he gave up his enterprise, and the tract, by some exchange or com- promise, was again merged in the township. This was the untoward commencement of settlement in what is now the wealthy and flour- ishing town of Henrietta. It was a hard region to begin in, desirable as it would now seem ; the lands were most of them flat, wet and heavily timbered ; and the whole region had a forbidding aspect, as many will recollect, in the earliest years of settlement.
The next adventurers, and in fact the pioneer settlers of the town, in reference to permanent settlement, were : - Jessee Pangburn, Lyman and Warren Hawley. They came in in 1806. Besides then, the purchasers in the township, in this year, were : - Charles
:
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Rice, William Thompson, Moses Goodale, Thomas Sparks, George Dickinson, Sela Reed, Asa Champlin, Gideon Griswold. In Octo- ber, 1807, there were settled, and about to settle in the east part of the township, mostly on what was called the " Wadsworth Road :" - Joseph Came, Ira Hatch, Moses Wilder, Charles Rice, Jonathan Russell, Benjamin Bales, - Parish, - Barnes, Elias Wilder ; and soon after the period named, there were added to the settlement, the Baldwin family and Elisha Gage.
But few sales and settlement took place in 1807 and '8; in 1809, '10, nearly all the most desirable lands in the township were contrac- ted. In the latter part of 1811, the sales were arrested in conse- quence of the discovery that the foreign proprietors had neglected to put their deeds upon record in the office of the Secretary of State, as they were required to do by a special statute. The set- tlers were advised by Mr. Wadsworth to use their means in making improvements, and in preparing to pay the purchase money when the difficulty in the way of title was removed. In the winter of 1813, '14, Mr. Wadsworth drew up a petition, which was generally signed by the settlers, praying the legislature to pass a law which in effect would allow the proprietors to supply the omission of record within one year after the close of the then pending war. The prayer was granted, and in 1817 title was perfected. Soon after this, Mr. Wadsworth purchased of the foreign proprietors, all of the unsold lands in the township.
On the perfection of title, a somewhat stringent policy was adop- ted by the proprietors, in reference to the outstanding expired con- tracts : -- The contract price, $4 per acre, had been fixed at a time when Henrietta was looked upon as a quite out of the way place - a back settlement - " thirty miles from Canandaigua," and pros- pectively far removed from market facilities. In 1817 the whole face of things had changed, and was changing : - A village had sprung up at "the Falls," (Rochester,) milling, and other manufac- turing was in progress there, and large expectations had began to be formed in reference to the locality ; and what was still more im- portant, the speedy prosecution of the then projected Erie Canal, was confidently anticipated. New terms were imposed upon the settlers, or rather what amounted to new terms, for although they had had a long time to prepare for payment, they were mostly un- prepared ; - it was in years when new settlers could do little more than provide for present support of themselves and families. The conditions imposed were : - payment in full upon their contracts at contract price, within about four months, or payment in full for twenty acres or more at contract price, and a new contract for all that remained unpaid for, at an advance of 66 per cent ; or paying nothing, and taking new contracts, the 66 per cent was to be ad- ded. The new conditions imposed were upon the principle that the proprietors and settlers, were entitled to an equal share of what
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would be regarded as a fair estimate, of the rise in value that had occurred since the original contracts were made ; a principle that governed large land proprietors in other similar instances, but which did not give due weight to the consideration, that it is the pioneers who first break into new tracts of land - commence improvements - who principally give the lands their enhanced value. But few of the settlers could meet the prompt payment demanded ; most of them were obliged to submit to the terms of renewed contracts; un- toward years followed, and the finale was the loss, with many, of their improvements ; while many were obliged to sell at a sacrifice, and renew in some western region, a pioneer life. Such has been the fate of many early settlers in other localities of the Genesee country, but in few instances perhaps, were there as large a propor- tion of changes of ocupants as in Henrietta. But few, in fact, of the early settlers became permanent residents.
The Sperry family, as will have been observed in another con- nection, settled in Henrietta in 1809, -- or a part of it in that year, and a part in 1813; their location, what was termed " Methodist Hill." John Briminstool was the first settler on the River road, in 1810. His father, Michael Briminstool, settled on the same road in 1811. In that year, the only settlers on the River road from Enos Stone's, in Brighton, to south line of Henrietta, were the Brimin- stool's, John Cook, - -- Russell, and a family in a log house near Mt. Hope ; to whom were added before the close of the year, Lu- ther C. Adams, Charles Case, Isaac F. Nichols, Hugh and Frederick Sample, Simon Moore, Bethuel Hitchcock, and Charles Colegrove. In the same year, Andrew and John Bushman, and John Gould set- tled on cross road between River and State road. With a little assistance from Mr. Wadsworth the River road was opened through Henrietta to the Falls, in 1812 : - " but," says Deacon Briminstool, " we had but little business in that direction ; we used sometimes to go down the river to fish, and sometimes to mill." In 1812 Joshua Briminstool and William Frazier, and soon after, Daniel Bly and Timothy Torrence settled upon the road. Of the early settlers in that part of the town, the surviving residents are, Michael Brimin- stool, Charles Case, and Andrew and John Bushman. Deacon Brim- instool is now in his 81st year. Jacob Briminstool, of Henrietta, is a surviving son ; a daughter of his became the wife of James Mc- Nall.
Moses Wilder set out the first orchard in town, and built the first framed house ; Elias wilder the first barn. Elias Wilder moved to Conneaut, Ohio, soon after the war of 1812. His surviving sons, are, Amasa Wilder, of Richmond, Moses Wilder and Palmer B. Wilder, of Rochester; daughters became the wives of Jonathan Rood, of Pittsford, Clark Marshall, of Waterbury, Vt., Orrin An- derson, of Orleans county, Jairus Bryant, of Pontiac, Michigan. Ira Hatch removed to Cattaragus county. Jonathan Russell is
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still living in Henrietta. Benjamin Bales removed in an early day to Ontario, Wayne county ; and also the Barns and Parish families.
The first religious meetings held in town, were at the house of Moses Wilder, by circuit preachers : - Elder S. Puffer, Lacey, Fill- more. The first school on Wadsworth road, was opened in 1809, in a log school house that stood near Stephens' corners. The school was kept by Sarah Leggett. The first military muster in town, was in 1810. Joseph Bancroft was captain ; - - Hodge, who was killed at the battle of Queenston, was the Lieutenant. It was remembered that but few of the trainers had guns, and most of them were barefooted. A saw mill was erected in 1811 or '12, by Jon- athan Smith.
In 1814, Elder Thomas Gorton settled on the river road. He had previously resided in Lima. A Baptist society had been or- ganized two years previous, and meetings had been kept up, Deacon Briminstool generally leading in them. After Elder Gorton settled in the neighborhood, a block meeting house was erected. The Elder emigrated to Michigan in 1840. He had thirteen children who be- came heads of families. The first school on River road, was opened in 1810, by Lucy Branch, now Mrs. Solomon Nichols, of Cattarau- gus county. A religious reading meeting was started in 1811, by the elder Mr. Sperry, on the State road, which terminated in the forma- tion of a Congregational society, in 1815. A log meeting house was erected, but no stated preaching was maintained until the Rev. Wm. P. Kendrick was employed by the society in 1823. In 1833, the society was merged with another that had been organized in the east part of the town, and their present meeting house near the Academy was erected.
In 1813 or '14, a Baptist society was organized in the east part of the town, over which Elder John Finney was settled for several years. In 1827 the east and west societies were merged, and a house erected at Henrietta corners. Over this united church Elder Miner was settled until 1838, when a division took place, and churches were erected at West Henrietta, and in the east part of the town.
To the enterprise, and just appreciation of the cause of education, on the part of a few citizens of the town of Henrietta, the inhabitants of all this region were indebted for an early flourishing literary insti - tution. Monroe Academy was projected as early as 1825. Before the close of 1826 a sufficient amount of subscriptions were obtained to warrant the erection of a building. The contract went into the hands of Benjamin Baldwin, a young merchant of the town; the Academy building was completed and the whole enterprise was fairly under way under the auspices of David Crane as Principal, in the winter of '28'9. Among its most active projectors and pat- rons, were : - Luther C. Chamberlin, Richard Wilkins, Richard and Charles Daniels, Elisha Gage, Bedjamin Baldwin, Abijah Gould,
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Ozias Church, (father of the present Lieut. Governor,) of Henrietta, and Giles Bolton, of Rochester. Its success exceeded the most san- guine anticipations ; its students soon numbering as many as 350. It continued to be a flourishing institution in all the early years of its existence, and supplied a local deficiency that had existed in the means of education ; and only declined when similar institutions were rapidly multiplied in other localities.
Early settlers of Henrietta. other than those named : - Ebenezer Gooding, a son of the early pioneer in Bristol, Warren Burr, Ros- well Wickwire, Elijah Little, Stephen Legget, Alfred Jones, Noble Dayton, Charles Balwin, - Scudder.
The Pioneer settlement of Henrietta, owing to its secluded posi tion, its heavy timber, and the prevalence generally of level lands and wet soil, to which was added years of questionable title; was slow and discouraging. As with all the rest of this region - but especially with that and several other localities - the " good time" came with the Erie canal ; or when that great promoter and diffuser of prosperity had become a settled measure. The town is 110w justly ranked among the best agricultural towns of Western New York ; and no where, perhaps, do farms bear a higher average value.
CHAPTER II
MORRIS' RESERVE.
The territory thus designated is bounded on the east by Phelps and Gorham's purchase; north by Lake Ontario; west by the Transit, or Holland Company's eastern line ; south by the Penn- sylvania line ; - containing in all, not far from 500,000 acres. It was a reservation made by Mr. Morris, in his sale to the Holland Company, and afterwards sold in large tracts to others -principally to preferred creditors. The northern portion of it, the settlement of which will only be included in this connection, was divided into two tracts :- the " Triangle," and the "Connecticut," or " 100,000 acre Tract."
THE TRIANGLE.
This is a tract, which as will be observed by reference to maps, has its base upon Lake Ontario, and terminates in a sharp point, a
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little south of Le Roy village. The peculiar shape had its origin in the north easterly direction it was necessary to give the west line of Phelps and Gorham's Purchase, in order to have it corres- pond with the course of the Genesee River, and be an average dis- ' tance of twelve miles therefrom .* The tract contains 87,000 acres ; embraces the towns of Clarkson, Sweeden, and part of Bergen and Le Roy. Mr. Morris sold it to Le Roy, Bayard and M'Evers, who were then merchants of the city of New York. It was not sur- veyed until 1801. In the spring of that year, Mr. Ellicott, as agent for the proprietors, employed Richard M. Stoddard who then resi- ded in Canandaigua, and had been in the employ of the Holland Company, to survey the tract; and after the survey he became the local agent for its sale and settlement.
Mr. Stoddard had married the sister of Dudley Saltonstall, of Canandaigua, who took an interest with him in the purchase of 500 acres of the tract, which constitutes the site of Le Roy village. Mr. Saltonstall soon sold his interest to Ezra Platt, who was also a resident of Canandaigua, and one of the early Judges of Ontario. Stoddard and Platt, became the Pioneers of Le Roy, and all of the Triangle. Before the close of 1801 they had built a log house on the banks of Allan's creek, opened a land office, and were erecting mills at what was then called " Buttermilk Falls." Mr. Stoddard was sheriff of Genesee county soon after its organization; in all early years a prominent and useful citizen. His widow still sur- vives, a resident with her son, Thomas B. Stoddard, Esq, near Irving, Chautauque county. The only daughter was the first wife of the IIon. John B. Skinner, of Wyoming. Mr. Stoddard died in 1810. Ezra Platt, who was at one period First Judge of Genesee, died in 1811; Elijah and George Platt of Le Roy, and Ezra Platt, of Ann Arbor, are his sons ; Mrs. Stephen M. Wolcott, of Le Roy, is a daughter of Judge Platt.
This pioneer commencement has reference to the immediate vil- lage of Le Roy. Near the village, on the main road, east, it will have been observed, Capt. Ganson had succeeded Charles Wilbur in a public house in 1798. In reference to the whole town Mr. Wil- bur was the pioneer. He was the first justice of the peace west of Caledonia. Removing from Le Roy, he located at the Cold Springs, near Lockport, becoming the first settler in all that part of Niagara county. His wife was a daughter of Deacon Handy, of West Bloomfield ; a daughter, the first born in Le Roy, is Mrs. Standart, of Cleavland. Jessee and Philip Beach, Chapman Hawley, Gil-
* The survey of the Mill Tract was first made by Col. Hugh Maxwell. He ran twelve miles west from the river, and then due north to Lake Ontario. This being objected to by the Indians, the late Judge Porter ran a new line, which was as near an average of twelve miles distant from the River as a straight line would allow. In after surveys, west of this line, the tract which Porter's survey struck out from the Maxwell survey, became what has been termed the Triangle.
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bert Hall, - - Douglass, Samuel Davis, and Hinds Chamberlin, were soon added to the new settlement east of the present village site. The Beaches removed to Niagara county where many of their descendants now reside. Deacon Hinds Chamberlin, who is named in another connection, came a young man to Scottsville, as early as 1795. He was elected a constable in 1798, for the whole region west of the River ; first serving precepts issued by a magis- trate at Avon ; and afterwards those issued by Esq. Fish. As a road commissioner he laid out the first road west of theRiver, from Scottsville to Hall's corners. He married previous to 1800, the widow of Malcolm M'Laren, of Caledonia. He died in 1849, aged 84 years. Some reminiscences of his, will be found in Holland Purchase, p. 321 ; to a son of his, Mr. S. Chamberlin, of Le Roy, the author has been indebted for some farther reminiscences obtain- ed from the early pioneer, previous to his death .* Mr. Davis be- came an early tavern keeper, a mile east of Le Roy. He was from Bloomfield ; lived in early life with General Hall ; married a daugh- ter of Isaac Scott, the pioneer of Scottsville. He was murdered in his own house, in 1827 or '8, by James Gray, who was excuted at Batavia. The father of Gray, who was implicated in the murder, was sentenced to the States prison, pardoned by the Governor, and died in Le Roy a few years since. The Grays were intoxicated ; the immediate provocation was the refusal of Mr. Davis to give up a child of James Gray that was indented to him.
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