USA > New York > Montgomery County > St Johnsville > Mohawk Valley genealogy and history : [a compilation of clippings, 1942-1945] > Part 3
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'religious customs. They spoke their native language and worshipped ac- are many descendants today in' the cording to the Lutheran faith. Christ-
Mohawk, valley of those who were saved from midnight massacre by the undaunted courage and super- human endurance of John Adam Hel- mer."
An interesting relic of this mem- orable event is in the possession of Mrs. Catharine Jchnson of Mohawk, a granddaughter of the Mrs. Cath- arine Myers just referred to. It is an old German Bible bound in leather, with the corners of the cover pro- tected by metal. The history of this venerable book is thrilling. It be- longed to a Palatine ancestor of Mrs. Johnson. During a religious persecu- tion in Germany it was buried in or- der to save it from destruction. Lat- er it was brought by the family to the Mohawk Valley as a most pre- cious possession. When warned by John Adam Heimer that Brant was about to fall upon them, the family hastily buried the sacred volume, with a few other other valuables, and fled to the fort. Tradition says that the tree, under which it was concealed, stood near the place where the dwelling of the late Mr. John A. Rasbach now stands.
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When the Palatines came to settle in the upper valley, seven families left their fellows and hewed, as it were, their way through the dense forest to that part of Herkimer coun- ty called Warren. Here they felled trees from a small area of land and planted their humble homes and shut in on all sides by the primeval for- est, nine miles away from the near- est white settlers, these brave people subsisted undisturbed for many years. But during the revolutionary war, which was such a scourge to all parts of the country, these defenceless pi- oneers were attacked by a band of Indians and part of their number savagely butchered. The survivors were taken prisoners with the ex- ception of three families by the names of Crim, Hoyer and Osterhout. These escaped and made their way on foot through the forest to Fort Herkimer. Ann Osterhout, the grand- mother of Mrs. Alfred E. Brooks of Ilion, was one of the number. She was a child of tender years at the time, but nevertheless, walked with the rest of the terrified company to the fort nine miles away.
among them. They allowed no work on that day, and, after hearing prayers, gave themselves' up to eat- ing, drinking, and making merry. They were strictly honorable in all business dealings. It is recorded "of them that such a thing as a prom- issory note was unknown among them. Their word was. their bond. They were a superstitious people and held'to some very curious customs in regard to funerals, which no one at- tended unless especially invited. Af- ter the burial it was customary to. return to the house where intoxicants were partaken of very freely.
Cakes, too, were passed around in large baskets so that, with the eat- ing and drinking, the occasion as- sumed a very festive character. Simms is responsible for the state- ment that it was no uncommon thing for people at that early day, to go home from a funeral the worse from their potations.
Many of the names of these Ger- man pioneers have undergone curious changes. Their descendants would now hardly recognize them. The fol- lowing names which appear in the [original patent have been modified until Pellinger has become Bellinger; Pears, Barse; Pell, Bell; Edich, Edigh; Ittich, Eedick; Volz, Vols, Folts; Herter, Herder, "Harder, Hat- ter, Harter; Staley," Steele; Schu- macher, Shoemaker; Wollever, Wol- ber. There were innumerable changes rung on the name of Herkimer, such as Herchkeimer, Kerchmer, .. Erghe- mar, Harkemar,' and' Herkheimer. Among the names found in the orig- inal Stone Arabia patent are the fa- miliar ones of Finck, Deichert (Dy- gert), Koperuol (Coppernoll), Peip-
Loucks.
destined to be rudely ended by the unhappy calamity of war-a' calam" ity which had already been but too well tested by the unfortunate Pala- tines in their Fatherland. But they had ben lulled into a feeling of se- curity because of long exemption from hostile approaches and were slow to awaken to a sense of their danger although war was at their very doors-and for the very reason that they were so unprepared, the inhabitants of Burnetsfield fell easy victims to their French and Indian foes, who with tomahawk and torch, descended upon the defense- - less hamlet early one dark, cold morning in the fall of 1757. So sud- den was the onslaught those who es- caped had no time in which to clothe themselves. A few were bru- tally murdered, while many were dragged away into captivity, Johann Jost Petrie being smong the num- ber.
in One incident of this cruel invasion never loses its thrilling interest the telling, partly because of the flavor of romance which hangs about it, and partly because its chief ac- tors have many descendants living today . in the Mobawk Valley. The outline in brief of the story is this: On the memorable night just refer- red to the slumbers of a family by the name of Harter were rudely broken by the blood-curdling war whoops of a band of Indians who had separated themselves from the main body of warriors who were intent on devastating the little hamlet of Bur- netsfield The humble log dwelling of'. the Harters stood on the sunny slope which is now occupied by the pic- turesque farm house of Mr. William Kay, just west of the village of Her- kimer. The savages lost no time in seizing the family and applying the torch to their abode, they started with the terrified prisoners to make their way back to Canada over the rough trail to the north. When they reached the St. Lawrence river they separated the family, placing Mrs. Harder in a canoe with two Indians who were to paddle the frail bark across the broad expanse of water .. Before the keel of the' boat had touched the opposite shore, a daugh- ter had been born to Mrs. Harter. This child, strange enough, survived to grow to womanhood and was ad- mired for her great beauty and so- cial gifts. She became the wife of General Michael Myers. In that
beautiful "God's acre," known as
Oak Hill Cemetery, rests all that is mortal of the lovely Catharine Har- ter Myers and but few of those who chance to pass the moss covered py- ramidal stone which marks the spot are familiar with the strange story of her life, the first year which was spent, with. her parents, in captivity among the Indians.
All of the prisoners were carried off at the time of the attack on Burnetsfield were released the fol- lowing year and returned to. their homes only to find them in ashes, and their lands shorn of everything but their fertility. -
They had hardly time to rally from these losses and afflictions be- fore the war cloud of the Revolution
er (Piper), Schnele (Snell) and obscured their horizon and it was not long after before it rose to break
For upwards of thirty years the over their heads. The prospect was Palatines enjoyed peace and security notwithstanding their exposed situa- tried souls did not flinch. They now gloomy indeed; but these much tion on this distant frontier. They cheerfully assisted in every move- had prospered, having acquired com- ment to repel the enemy and were fortable homes . and a fair compe- ¿tence, but this period of repose was
as unselfishly devoted to their adopt- ed country as though native to its
soil.
(To becontinued)
Many of the Palatines laid down their lives in the sanguinary strug- gle at Oriskany. Professor Grider, in a recent lecture upon the Mohawk Valley, referring to the importance of this battle, says that it was the pivotal one of the Revolution, and the success or failure of the revolt against England hinged upon it. The importance, then, of the service ren- dered to our country by these, brave! Germans can not. ba over estimated. That the sacrifices which they made for the country of their adoption may be fully appreciated let it be understood that almost every Pala- tine family was represented in the battle of Oriskany-not only by one of its members, but in many instanc- es by several members. Nine Snells marched to battle, two only return- ed. Six Petries periled their lives in the same conflict, while six Wag- ners, four Wolhebers, five Dygerts and six Foxes swelled the numbers of those who marched to this deadly fray.
"The men who fought this battle," to quote the words of Chancellor Haven, "were good specimens of a peculiar people. They came across the ocean-or their fathers and mothers did-not for money, but for liberty and religion. Such a people fought the battle of Oriskany; nay, [the battle "of freedom for all man- kind." Through the fatalities of two wars death had entered nearly every household; but being inured to all hardship, these heroic people bore even this sorrow with noble fortitude. One writer says that at the close of the Revolutionary war, "After this valley had been raided and warred over during seven long years, three thousand women and children re- mained with but five hundred men to care for them." What wonder, then, that the Palatines became dis- heartened and crushed in spirit. They had suffered so severely dur- ing two bloody conflicts they could not rally, and were never again the people they had been before.
After the Revolutionary war there was a remarkable emigration of the New Englanders to this part of New Yok state, the Mohawk valley in particular, being a favorite point of settlement with these ,thrifty and energetic people. The Palatines, be- cause of their vicissitudes, gave way before the encroachments "of this new element, and it was not long before the settlements of the valley lost their distinctively German char- acteristics ,and perhaps the change, was for the better, as these early Germans were intensely conservative and clung with great tenacity , to old customs, which made them disin- clined to favor innovations. The New Englanders, on the contrary, were. animated by a progressive spirit, which showed itself in the rapid ad. vancement of educatonal and , busi- ness facilities, the result of which is shown in the fact that this beauti- ful and historical valley of the Mo- hawk is today second to none in the 'country in enterprise and importance.
(To be continued)
From an early history of Herki- mer county we learn that the early German settlers of the Mohawk Val- ley possessed many sterling quali- ties of character, being honest, thrif- ty and industrious. With such char- By Mrs. Mary S. Warren acteristics they naturally began to (Continued from last week) accumulate property and at once en- tered upon a career of prosperity to which they had long been strangers. The women were equally industrious with the men, and beside, caring for their families, which were large, they assisted in the farm work They rais- ed the flax, then pulled, broke, hetchelled, and spun it. By them the sheep were sheared, the wool pick- ed, carded and spun. They wove the cloth with which to clothe. their families. The numerous children of a family, ruddy and strong were quite content with their simple fare of su- pawn (a kind of hasty pudding) which they ate with wooden spoons from a common trencher. Content- ment and happiness were theirs for there were no distinctions of caste among them to create jealousy and unhappiness. They adhered closely to the ways and traditions of their fatherland both in manner of per- enough to shout, 'Flee for your lives!] forming labor and in their social and the enemy are not an hour behind!" and hurried to the next house. There
mas was a season of great rejoicing
Genealogical Suggestions for Amateurs
Editor Enterprise and News:
In response to your request for suggestions for the guidance of those to the American Revolution or earlier desiring to trace their ancestry back I should say that the first requisite is a burning desire to know and a large reserve of patience and perseverance. Equipped with these, much can be accomplished but the way is usually difficult and may be expensive so those who expect that the writing of a few letters will bring the answers "on a silver plstter" are doomed to disappointment.
If enough interest develops to car- ry the inquirer forward regardless of these threatening obstacles, I still have no recipe other than to outline the course which I personally fol- lowed, quite successfully, in tracing my own family lines, particularly the Nellis family back to the time of Julius Caesar though at the begin- ning it seemed as though I would never be able to learn my great grandfather Nellis' first name which was Peter W. and was further com- plicated by some five or six Peter
Nellises of the same period-all re- lated including a brother named Pet- er H.
Fortunately for me, an older sec- ond cousin had become interested, about 1890, in joining the then com- paratively new society ""The Sons of the Revolution" and his records gave me a starting clue. This led to searching "Fernow's Archives of the Revolution" and "New York in the Revolution" and a reading of Simms' "Frontiersmen of New York," fol- lowed by such works as Stone's "Life of Brant" and Stone's "Life and Times of Sir Johnson," William Campbell's "Annals of Tryon Coun- ty," Mary Diefendorf's "Historic Mo- hawk," Halsey's "Old New York Frontier," Reid's "Mohawk Valley," John Sanders' "Story of the Wall- oons," and many others.
This course of reading stimulated a search of such works as The Public Papers of Gov. George Clinton (10 vols.) The Sir William Johnson Man- uscripts (9 vols. or more.) The An- nals of Albany by Munsell (10 vols.,)
(Continued on Page 6.)
Genealogical Suggestions for Amateurs
(Continued from page 1)
and many similar works. But for real proof family Bible records, family pa- pers, particularly old wills and deeds, tombstone records and old church re- cords had all to be carefully search- ed out and checked. Frequently, searching the attic of an old homo long occupied by an old family brought forth old papers and records long forgotten or perhaps unknown to exist at all.
Again old people living in a neigh- borhood can often give information that will help as anyone who has read Simms' "Frontiersmen" will readily recognize.
For the novice I would suggest. a beginning with ono's immediate fam- ily and working back a generation at a time, question all living rela- tives for possible records or other in- formation, learn where your people lived, what real estate they owned, who were their neighbors, etc. Then go to the county seat and search for wills, deeds and surrogate court re- cords pertaining to those people and their real estate. Read every paper carefully. . Frequently scanning other wills and deeds will reveal family re- lationships that are perhaps unknown to the searcher.
Invariably every book and paper read will give some new references to other books to read or other lines of research. Keep your note book handy and record these things where you can find them them when want- ed being careful to note accurately where found. I suggest a card index as preferable to a notebook.
But, I hear you say, where can one find all of these books and reference works? Well-you have to hunt for them.
The Public Library, 42d Street, New York City has a large room de- voted entirely to genealogy and an- other devoted to history. Probably the most complete in existence. These books are avallable to anyone but can not be taken from the room, though copies of many books I have
mentioned are available to borrowers in the central reserve section. The New York Genealogical Society in E. 57th Street has in addition copies of most of our earliest church records down to the Civil War or even later. Albany, Schenectady, Fonda, Johns- town and Herkimer are the county seats filled with ancient records. The Archives Department at Fonda is particularly replete. St. Johnsville Public Library has probably the most complete local history collection out- side of New York City. I have per- sonally collected all of the "out of print" volumes referred to and many others. Anyone desiring to make such a collection can still do so with a little patience and perseverance at an average cost of from $5 to $15 a volume, depending on the rarity and importance of any particular volume.
It is indeed an interesting, fasci- nating and enlightening hobby if one can devote the Line and expense to it
Finally I would suggest a careful reading of Lieut. L. F. Bellinger's ac- count of the Bellinger family run- ning currently in the St. Johnsville Enterprise and News as a guide and also as a revelation of the records re- quired to trace just one of our old Palatine families and also a reminder that those families are all intermar- ried so that any one family history reveals much that helps with anoth- er. Mr. Bellinger has no doubt spent much patient and painstaking re- search over a period of at least 25 years to be able to produce his sketch. I sometimes wonder if it real- ly is appreciated by those who should take the most interest in it.
In closing I find I have failed to mention such county histories as Beers' Montgomery and Fulton Coun- ty and Frothingham's Montgomery County, Fulton County and Herkimer County-these and others are very useful. Also persion papers on file in Washington.
Very truly,
Milo Nellis.
History and Genealogy. Closely Interwoven
By Rev. W. N. P. Dailey
If the best history of mankind is the history of the best men and wo- men who lived in the world, as we believe it is, then in order to under- stand the great events in global his- tory we must study the lives and the services rendered by these persons. Thus we come to see how history and genealogy are so closely interwoven, and how no clear picture of the past or present can' be gained unless we carefully research in both these fields.
But, to return to the Staats family, and to Munsell, to whom we owe ' a debt of immeasurable gratitude for his voluminous and painstaking col- lections. We begin at Albany with the year 1642, when Rev. Johannes Megapolensis organized the Dutch Church there, and Evarts Pels (Brewer) erected a brewery for the colony, and Dr. Staats, besides follow. ing the pursuit of surgery, was li- censed to trade in furs, and had a large "Bou Werie" of his own, On page 9 of this first volume of Mun- sell we find this data. On page 84 is an account of the Dutch Church consistory meeting at which Henry, Jochim and William Staats were pres- ent (May 27, 1805.) Page 75 refers to the Hooge Berg farm on the east side of the Hudson, a little below Al- bany, owned by Jochim Staats. Abra- ham Staats (p. 99, 103) dees land
to Dutch Church. Page 151 Capt. Abram Staes buys a lot in Albany,
Oct. 25, 1643, - between Howard Beaver streets which he later sold to the Lutherans on March 28, 1680. On July 22, 1686 Albany gets its charter as a city from Gov. Dongan and Jo- chim Staats is an alderman mention- ed in the charter.
On page 58 is a reference to the 1686 charter and the pasture of, Abram Staats. Maj. Abraham Staats, J. P. is absent from a July council meeting 1689 (p. 70) and is present March 22, 1689 (p. 208. Jacob Staats
A recent re-reading of one of the is a Council member. (Oct. 14, 1687 (p. 93) and subscribes five pound for defense Sept. 1689 (p. 119) a: did also at the same time, Lt. Jochim Staatts. On Sept. 11, 1689 Lt. Jo. chim Staats and nine others fixed the soldiers' pay (p. 116.) Nov. 11, volumes of Joel Munsell's "Annals of Albany County" (vol. 1) with' the story of the Maj. Abram Staats fam- ily in mind, forcibly illustrates this principle. Many another history, and with some other family in thought, would produce the same results. In the J. H. Reaney Library in St. 1689, a "great multitude of people as- Johnsville, N. Y. is a collection of sembled illegally at City Hall and chose Lt. Staats and Capt. Wendell to command a company of soldiers, come from New York." (This was a most of the sixty-two histories of the counties of New York. A research of these tomes would reveal a great mass of historical data peculiar to the whole state.
Leisler move-W. N. P. D.) pp. 145- 46.) On page 172 is the account of an "attempt to revolutionize Schenecta- dy" by Jochim Staats and on page 179 Jochim Staats with 30 men were appointed to go to Schenectady (Feb. 10, 1690) to pursue the Indian and French, but they did not go as it would weaken the Albany force. Feb.
18, 1690 Mayor Schuyler and Jochim Staats orders certain houses and. trees and fences to be razed and on Feb. 25, 1689, ordered that no mer- chandise be' sent out of the city (p. 181-82.) Frequent references to Ja -! cob Staats as assessor and alderman
and justice of the peace, etc. (pp. 237-264.) The latter pages of the volume contain many references to the Leislerian regime and the parť taken by Capt. Jochim Staats who belonged to the party of Leisler the acting Governor of the Province of New York.
Fort Ehle in Family Ownership Since 1727
Fort Ehle, Nelliston 1727-1752 Fort Ehle, the rulned stone house In the Eastern section of Nelliston, was built by Rev. Johannes Jacobus Ehle, a Palatine German minister, In the year 1727. He came into the Mo- hawk valley in 1724, two years fol- lowing the Palatine settlements in the Fort Plain-Nelllston section. Dominie Ehle built the North end of the house of native field stone- mostly of limestone. Like many of the first valley houses, It consisted of one ground floor room, with a large fireplace, and a loft room above. This small stone structure, however, was well fitted to withstand the rigors of the cold winters and the heat of the torrid summers of this region. It served both as the residence of Rev. Ehle and as a mis- slon house for the Mohawk Indians who lived on Ta-ra-jo-rees or Pros- pect Hill in present Fort Plain from 1700 until 1755. Following the battle of Lake George, on September 8th of that year, these Mohawks, of the Turtle Clan, moved Westward and jolned the Bear Clan Mohawks in their Upper Castle at present Indian Castle in Herkimer County. So many of the warriors of Tarajorees had been killed in this battle that the move became necessary.
" The North shore Mohawk Indian trail passed directly in front of the Ehle house. This later became the King's Highway on the location of the present tracks of the New York Central railroad. Another Mohawk trail came from Stone Arabia, on the line of the present road past the Ed Dygert farm and crossed the Mo- hawk river at Ehle's ford to the South shore trail, now Route 5S, and on the trail through the Prospect Hill section over what Is known as the Old Road. Fort ... Ehle therefore was at a strategic travel location which was an "excellent situation for Dominie Ehle, who served not only the Stone Arabia churches-Luther- an and Reformed-and the Fort Plain Reformed church but also oth- ers of the Mohawk and Schoharle valleys. Dominie Ehle was a most important 'figure in the early reli- gious history of the Mohawk valley. " In 1752, Peter Ehle, son of Dominie Ehle built the southern / and larger section of the stone house. This was.
was built -along the Mohawk Turn- pike, now Route 5, about, a third of a mile east of Fort Ehle. The 'farm : is now conducted by Loris Ehle; 'a direct descendant of Rev. Johannes: Jacobus Ehle. The property has been .. In the possession of the Ehle fam- lly for 219 years, one of the longest: records of farm ownership' by one | family in the Mohawk valley.
Fort Ehle was not a true fort but it was a strong, stone house, capable of defense and hence the name. It. stands about 300 yards east. of the Fort Plain statlon of the New York Central rallroad in full view of pass- Ing trains. Although efforts have been made to preserve the house, it is now in a very ruined condition. In Colonial and Revolutionary days: before the construction of · bridges,, the few river fords were important crossing places-such as those at Sprakers, "Frey's" at Palatine Bridge. and "Ehle's" and . "Wormuth's," he- tween present Fort Plain and Nellis- ton and that at West St. Johnsville
FOX .CO-AUTHOR OF "HISTORY OF AMERICAN LIFE"
Dr. Dixon Ryan Fox, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. James Fox of Potsdam has earned fresh laurels ing the release of a newly published "History of American Life," in which, he collaborated with Arthur M. Schlesinger.
Dr. Fox was the head of the de -. partment of history at Columbia Un -. versity, prior to accepting the presi-, dency of Union College. He married the daughter of Professor Osborn, long time head of the history de-' partment at Columbia.
Commenting on the work, Beulah Rector, in her column "Matters Lit- erary," In the Watertown Times of December 16, says: "A work that Is both formidable in its scope and ex- tremely engaging in subject matter is "A History of American Life," ed- Ited by Arthur M. Schlesinger and Dixon Ryan Fox and now published in a dozen volumes by the MacMil- lan Company. It is the full story of the American people. It begins with them and ends wth them, which is a change from histories which ordi- marily deal with statesmen, wars, treaties. . . . This is a large and Im- pressive work."
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