Mohawk Valley genealogy and history : [a compilation of clippings, 1947], Part 48

Author:
Publication date: 1942
Publisher: [1942-1949]
Number of Pages: 222

USA > New York > Montgomery County > St Johnsville > Mohawk Valley genealogy and history : [a compilation of clippings, 1947] > Part 48

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).

Norway Teachers

Seventy-six years ago one spring day my first school teacher came to . our north woods -school from, Dairy Hill in the town of Norway. , A little slip of a 16 year old girl almost too refined and too tenderi hearted to properly discipline the barefoot and unbathed rabble that watched her from behind the big board benches. Her ncatness, her ! refinement, her pleasant eyes and kind smile were such a contrast to which we had been accustomed that we thought, or at least I did, that an angel had come down from the northern hills to be our teach- er. Alas! one day when everything seemed to have gone wrong she sent me out of doors to get a whip with which to punish me. After a long search I found a sinall rasp- berry briar and saine back to my seat where I sat cowering in fear to the great dellght of my hard- hearted schoolmates. After school they hovered around outside to see what was. about to happen to "teacher's pet."

The girl teacher called me to her desk, took my dirty little paw in her hand, gave ine a, tap that would scarcely dislodge a fly, the twig broke in the place where I had accidentally cut it a little, and then dropped her head on her arms on the desk and cried as though she were heart broken. Poor little girl teacher, accustomed to a re- fined home and coming from a town that sent men to the legisla- ture and at least one to Washing- ton, she could not fit in with the conditions which she found in a neighborhood at the edge of the great north woods and what were the feelings of the little six year old culprit standing there who had brought such sorrow to the teacher whom he loved. More than seventy years have not erased the memory of that tableau from the little boy's recollection.

The Salisbury Family of Dairy

The young teacher was Ada Salisbury, granddaughter of Na- thaniel Sallsbury, one of the early settlers in Norway and one of three or four pioneer dalrymen of the eastern part of the town. Here keeping of large herds of cows first started and for some years the

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PAGE TWO

Andrustown-A Page From Herkimer County's Past

By Dr. Grace M. Norris An address delivered before the Herkimer County Historical Society November 11, 1911.

Near the terminus of one of the rocky spurs of the Helderbergs there is a quet nook that is rich in landmarks of the past, but these landmarks are fast disappearing, and even the knowledge of these historie spots is half forgotten by many resident descendants of these historic ancestors. If the dust of these stalwart men and heroic wo- men who once inhabited this ham- let could rise and stroll again in the lanes of old Andrustown, not a single tablet erected to their memory would meet their wonder- ing' eyes.

You, who can "find sermons in stone and good in everything" shall be at no loss for matters of thought in the huge volume which time has bound together. The leaves are closely written upon, filled with notable Ilfe records of the pioneers, the patriots, and the martyrs who lived and died among the hills, of Andrustown; and it is with diffi- culty that we are able to glean a word here and there from the great manuscript so dimly inscribed with the historic events of a century and a half or over.

When the thirty years religious conflicts swept the German empire with firebrand and crimsoned sword, warning the disciples of the Reformation to seek a haven in other climes If they would not bow the knee to a different faith, among the unfortunate refugees who had lost parents and seen the sur- rounding country lit up at the mid- night hour by the red flames of his father's burning dwellings, was von Grimm. With a last look at the old homestead by the moun- tains of the Rhine, burdened with a few possessions, he and his two brothers fled through the

The solitary environments of the camps and the mysterious rustling of the Immense pine woods which circled around the rude hovels for mlles and miles amazed them. The tops of those solemn old trees met so closely that even on a bright day the settlement seemed bathed in a gloom. Then, added to the In the harbor, idly rocking tol weirdness of the scene, the crows the movement of the current, lay' flew through the red rays of the dying sunset in twos and twos, like witches flying home to their Infernal ogres deep in the heart of the great black forest.

wild darkness of the night to the coast.

pale, white mists above the rest- less waters they saw in the dreary heavens immense flocks of carrion birds, which wheeled and circled over the dead stricken Inhabitants of rulned villages, and the sun hid his saddened face below the dark- ened horizon in a gloomy farewell as they salled away.

The weary pilgrims were landed in the British Isles and after a short Interval In London Town, at the dictation of the sovereign, em- barked agaln on the trackless deep towards the New World. After weeks of lonely endurance spent In

less slumbers from thelr crude

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bunks at the creaking and groan- ing of the massive timbers of the ship, walking the worn planks of printed in 1930 by the Enterprise and News. Copies of the pamphlet and ews. Copies of the pamphlet are available at the office of the Enterprise and News.

the narrow deck under the dim starlit sky, listening to the mourn- ful sea breeze as it sighed among the dingy mists, still the ship pur- sued her way slowly and heavily, tossed by the great waves of the Atlantic and Impeded in her pro- gress by the angry lashings of the sea. The dismal dirge howled by the fierce, relentless gale, and the weird, uncanny screams uttered by the gulls flapping past the boat, were forgotten as the crew sighted land and the Germans reached a harbor in old New York.

With glad hearts and benedic- tions they stepped forth on the soil of the Empire State and hurrled up the crooked streets of this

quaint city. After some moons spent here amidst strange faces and unsought advice given in a babel of tongues of which they on- iy understood one, as to the num- berless locations, coupled with the innumerable directions to new west- ern villages, and prosperous towns in New England States many of the voyagers left the city by the sea and were ready to tempt Daine of Fortune In other parts the

A small primitive commonwealth. from the band of acquaintances Fatherland paddled up the Hudson stopping at Schoharie, perhaps with a view to business interests, or the hope of seeing some familiar vis- age among the Germans tolling in the great pine forests making pitch and tar preparations for the use of the British naval stations.

Then the quaint innumerable Dutch superstitions stamped for centuries on the German race came quickly to the surface and caused a fall in their spirits, and they shook their heads ominously and prepared to journey on, and at length reached the twin villages of German Flatts, separated by the

(To be continued)

Mohawk Indians to Visit Tekakwitha Shrine Sunday

p. m., a group of Mohawk Indians from the reservations at Caughna- waga and St. Regis, Canada, will participate at the Catherine Tek- akwitha Memorial Shrine which is located one-half mile west of Fon- da on Route 5.

Ie Is expected that the visiting

in the Mohawk language before the usual Latin hymns are sung.

In coming to the Tekakwitha Shrine, the Mohawks will visit their valley ancestral homes. At the same time, they will honor the memory of one of their tribe, Catherine Tek- akwitha, who was baptized in the misslen chapel of St. Peter at Cau- ghnawaga by Father James de Lamberville, S. J., on Easter Sun- day, April 18, 1676.

An invitation is extended to the general public to join this gather-

ing and also to note the progress of the spirt which seems to have which is being made on the propos- ed museum at the Shrine.

The amount of nicotine in tobac- this portion of the building has cos range from two to five percent. been the self-appointed duty of the

Nellis family: The last repairs were made in 1920 by the Misses Kate and Lena Nellis of St. Johnsville, N. Y., direct descendants of the original bullders.

The church remained as origi- nally built for a century when it was remodeled and repaired at a cost of $4,000. In the fall of 1870 on its 100th anniversary, a large celebration and falr were held at which time Governor Seymour de- livered an appropriate address. In its early history this society seems never to have had any Indepen- dent church organization but was supplied by ministers from other churches, principally the Lutheran Church of Stone Arabia."

History of the Church

An extensive review of the his- tory of the Church was printed in the Fort Plain Register on the oc- casion of the 100th anniversary and we are indebted to the Misses Kate and Lena Nellis for a copy of that paper which has been pre- served. From it we reproduce the following. The article was written .by Daniel Spraker, Jr., a gifted scribe of Spraker's Basin who was once clerk of the Board of Super- visors. He has long passed to his reward, but his painstaking efforts towards perpetuating the memory of the old church are in evidence as one will appreciate by a pe- rusal of the following: Palatine Church

The small hamlet by this name, situated about two and one-half miles north of the village of Fort Plain on the east side of the Mo- hawk river, is the oldest settlement between Utica and Schenectady and for a long time after the Re- volutionary War it was the main business place between those two sections. From Jacob P. Fox, of the town of Palatine, now aged 82 years and in' the full enjoyment of all his physical and mental facal- ties,, we derive the following infor- mation. At the time the old Luth- eran Church (now standing) was built in 1770, the land on the north side of the creek, including the church lot, was owned by Hendrick W. Nellis, who gave the church a deed of gift of said lot, said deed bearing date January 2, 1769, and which is appended to this article, being copied from the original

list of donors towards building the church, the articles of agreement between the trustees of the church and the bullder, the subscription list to pay the first minister, all of which are also appended, they hav- ing been loaned to us by Peter F. Nellls, Esq., of St. Johnsville, who has preserved them among his un- cle's papers.

(To be continued)

Area Sergeant Has Been In Army 29 Years

M-Sgt. Raymond L. Smith has been assigned to the Whitehall wa cruiting office LeRoy Harper, v ferred to Warre cannot be class. cruit" as he has ed 29 years of the Army.

Originally fror section, the serg in recruiting in 20 years ago an. the territory he, dutles. He was : 26th Infantry several years, bi of the world sinc. Sgt. Smith has Germany where the Eucom-QM mand Quarterm quished his war warrant officer grade of master Smith started ! years ago as a ) quartermaster cc the armed force, ized since that t He is a vet Wars having se, Division in the' and being attac Division in Work Sgt. Smith is tl Mr. and Mrs. Ri had a farm on between Fort Pla Johnsville. He 11ve his entrance into

Recipe

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The harbor of &

We also have the originals of the following papers: The subscription extends inland 13

REGISTRATION NON-PERSONAL

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4 7 A. M. TO 10 P. M.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11 12 NOON TO 10 P. M.

DISTRICT 1 OLD STONE

DISTRICT 2 FIREMEN'S

DISTRICT 3 OTTMAN'S G

DISTRICT 4 GRAMMAR S

Ray Smith, Supervi Daniel Reese, Frederick Cairns, 1

Justices of the P

Harold Foss, William Lieber, Councilmen

Edward Davis, Town Clerk

The Old Palatine Church

Excerpts taken from a pamphlet |entitled "The Old Palatine Church"

Comparisons are unnecessary not odious. All the world is beau- tiful, from the glittering ice fields surrounding the poles to the palm studded regions of the tropics. It is therefore without drawing com- parisons that we invite the trav- eler to tarry for a moment along the highway that winds in graceful curves along the Mohawk River and follows the famous "Old Mo- hawk Turnpike."

Landscape without tradition is beauty unadorned. The Mohawk Valley is rich in both beauty and tradition, Every nook and corner of the Mohawk Valley is invested with some historic interest carrying the mind back to the days of flint lock and tomahawk. Here for eight years the torch of liberty was kept burn- Ing. Torn asunder by fierce war- fare In which the untutored savage was sometimes outdone by his sup- posedly civilized ally and the still more venomous Tory-the spirit of liberty survived. It was a contin- yous Valley Forge, Here the first striped flag received its baptism of fire, made from the petticoats of the patriotic wives of Fort Stan- wix, and here the last battle of the Revolution was fought near Johns- town, October 25, 1781, six days after the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown.

Traces of these distant days will remain. Here and there along the highway we come across mementos of the Revolution. Not infrequent- ly are found silent burial plots where modest tomb stones cast their shadows across the sleeping place of some Revolutionary hero. Occa- sional buildings remain, and among these we have chosen for this sketch the old Palatine Church, the oldest church edifice in Montgom- ery county and which antedates the Revolution by five years.

Standing at an elbow in the road and overlooking the "Old Mo- hawk Turnpike," located miles east of St. Johnsville, this three rare old structure at once visual- Izes and typifies the historic past. Built of selected limestone in 1770 by our early pioneers, it would seem as though they had built into the edifice something of the sturdy character of the men who founded this country.

It is an imposing edifice and the hand of time which has wrought such mighty changes in the valley seems to have passed lightly over the gray stones of Palatine Church. In'spite of its antiquity it appears to be as strong and firm as it was

On Sunday, September 28, at 4 in the days of flint lock and tallow dip Concerning Palatine Church, Nelson Greene, the valley historian, says:

"The Palatine Evangelical Luth- eran Church edifice at Palatine Church, is the oldest churchebuild; ing now standing within the limits of Fulton and Montgomery coun- ties. It was also the first structure in the Palatine or Canajoharie dis- tricts to be fittingly built of a per- manent material such as the stone of which it is constructed. It was erected in 1770 of stone, by the generous donations of a few Indi- viduals.

"Peter Wagner and Andrew Re- ber contributed 100 pounds each. Johannes Hess and six Nellises, namely William, Jr., Johannes, Henry, Christian and David gave 60 pounds each, while the building

been an after consideration, was paid for by the Nellis family ex- clusively. (The maintenance of

deed.

an English ship. When all were aboard and the vessel had weighed anchor the wretched, heart-broken Germans turned their faces tow- ard the land of their birth. The melancholy swish of the sea against the bleak cliffs of the deserted shore and the moan of the waves, seemed to forecast as dark a future to the emigrants as that of the land they had been forced to leave. In the distance columns of black smoke floated seaward, rising from burned hamlets, and through the calmly flowing Mohawk.

the rough cabins, starting in rest . Mohawks . will render some hymns

FOR THE PARTY

anchor the wretched, Heart-VIVACH ard the land of thelr birth. The melancholy swish of the sea against the bleak cliffs of the deserted shore and the moan of the waves, · seemed to forecast as dark a future to the emigrants as that of the land they had been forced to leave. In the distance columns of black smoke floated seaward, rising from burned hamlets, and through the pale, white mists above the rest- less waters they saw in the dreary heavens immense flocks of carrion birds, which wheeled and circled over the dead stricken Inhabitants of ruined villages, and the sun hid his saddened face below the dark- ened horizon in a gloomy fareweli as they sailed away.

The weary pilgrims were landed in the British Isles and after a short Interval in London Town, at the dictation of the sovereign, em- barked again on the trackless deep towards the New World. After weeks of lonely endurance spent in

less slumbers from their crude

. ....

FOR THE PARTY

ORDER

Utica Lub

XXX CREAM ALE PILSNER LAGER

AT YOUR GROCERS WEST END BREWING CO. PTICA N.Y.

Then the quaint innumerable Dutch superstitions stamped for centuries on the German race came quickly to the surface and caused a fail in thelr spirits, and they shook thielr . heads ominously and prepared to journey on, and at length reached the twin villages of German Flatts, separated by the caimly flowing Mohawk.

(To be continued)

Mohawk Indians to Visit Tekakwitha Shrine Sunday

On Sunday, September 28, at 4 p. m., a group of Mohawk Indians from the reservations at Caughna- waga and St. Regis, Canada, will participate at the Catherine Tek- akwitha Memorial Shrine which is located one-half mile west of Fon- da on Route 5.

Ie Is expected that the visiting in the Mohawk language before the usual Latin hymns are sung.

In coming to the Tekakwitha Shrine, the Mohawks will visit their valley ancestral homes. At the same time, they will honor the memory of one of their tribe, Catherine Tek- akwitha, who was baptized In the mission chapel of St. Peter at Cau- ghnawaga by Father James de Lamberville, S. J., on Easter Sun- day, April 18, 1676.

An invitation is extended to the general public to join this gather- ing and also to note the progress which is being made on the propos- ed museum at the Shrine.

road and overlooking the viu Mu- hawk Turnpike." located three miles east of St. Johnsvllic, this rare old structure at once visual- izes and typifies the historic past. Built of selected limestone in 1770 by our early pioneers, it would seem as though they had built into the edlfice something of the sturdy character of the men who founded this country.

It is an imposing edifice and the hand of time which has wrought such mighty changes in the valley seems to have passed lightly over the gray stones of Palatine Church. In spite of its antiquity it appears to be as strong and firm as it was in the days of flint lock and tallow dip.

Concerning Palatine Church, Nelson Greene, the valley historian, says:

"The Palatine Evangelical Luth- eran Church edifice at Palatine Church, is the oldest church- build; ing now standing withln the limits of Fulton and Montgomery coun- ties. It was also the first structure in the Palatine or Canajoharie dis- tricts to be fittingly built of a per- manent material such as the stone of which it is constructed. It was erected in 1770 of stone, by the generous donations of a few indi- viduals.

"Peter Wagner and Andrew Re- ber contributed 100 pounds each, Johannes Hess and six Nellises, namely William, Jr., Johannes, Henry, Christian and David gave 60 pounds each, while the building of the spirt which seems to have been an after consideration, was paid for by the Nellis family ex- clusively. (The maintenance of

The amount of nicotine in tobac- this portion of the building has cos range from two to five percent. 'been the self-appointed duty of the

REGISTRATION

NON-PERSONAL

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4 7 A. M. TO 10 P. M.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11 12 NOON TO 10 P. M.

DISTRICT 1 OLD STONE

DISTRICT 2 FIREMEN'S

j DISTRICT 3 OTTMAN'S G

DISTRICT 4 GRAMMAR S

Ray Smith, Supervi

Daniel Reese, Frederick Cairns, 1

Justices of the P

Harold Foss, William Lieber, Councilmen

Edward Davis, Town Clerk

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Germans turned their faces tow- the great black forest.

the rough cabins, starting In rest= "Mohawks will render some hymns

ST. JOHNSVILLE (N. Y) ENTERPRISE AND NEWS

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1947

GENEALOGY AND HISTORY

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

A department devoted to the pursuit of knowledge. No charge

to regular subscribers. Any reader, whether subscriber or not, Is invited to submit answers. Give dates, places and sources.

FLOWER, MURRAY

Information wanted concerning descendants of Norman Murray

Flower (1820-1886) and Lorenza Pearl Flower (1823-1896), sons of Pearl and Electa (Murray) Flower of Pike, Wyoming county, N. Y. They were believed to have moved to Michigan about 1850.

AUSTIN

Would like to hear from anyone interested in the descendants of Richard Austin, Jr. of Charleston, Mass. 1638. Information wanted particularly regarding the family of Josiah Austin Nathaniel, Eben- ezer, Richard, Sr|) who was in the Revolution and lived in Northamp- ton, Mass. between . 1780-1790. Jo- siah was born in 1740 and married Margaret Palmer.

W. B. Murray, 116 Maizefield avenue, Bloomington, Ill.

COMSTOCK, LYNCH, WOOSTER Charles Comstock Lynch, born Elmira, New York 1831, son of Dan- iel and Cornelia Ann Comstock Lynch, She was daughter of Chas. and Charlotte Wooster) Comstock.

Charles Comstock was born in Conn., went to Oswego, New York and died there 1859. The Lynch family lived in Binghamton, N. Y. also. Would appreciate any informa- tion which may help me clear these lines.

Mrs, James F. Imes, 646 Washington Blvd., Kansas City 2, Kansas

WINSLOW, WETHERBEE

My great grandfather Joseph Winslow lived in the township of Fort Ann, N. Y. in Washington county in 1812.

He married Mary Wells and had four boys and four girls, One son was named Liberty. My grandmoth- er was Pamelia Winslow. After her first husband Daniel Heald died, she married my grandfather, Wil- liam Wetherbee and moved to Iowa.

I would like to trace both of these families previous to 1812 when my grandmother was born. Lillian Littleproud,

123 Monterey,

Highland Park, Mich.

NOCKS, NOAKES (Answer)

Miss Agnes Roxburgh, North "Sarah Nocks, daughter of Walter Nocks was born 12th of April, 1781. In the will of John Conklin, Court of Sessions at Southampton March 18-20, 1683-4 he gives to Walter Noakes "three pounds and all my wearing claoths except my Best Coat." A list of children is given, but none of them married a Noakes or. Nocks. He mentions a grand- daughter Rebecca Hubert; and one Mr. Eliphalet Jones.

Probably Noaks-Nocks were just friends or servants. There is noth- ing to show that the Noakes were any relation to the Conklins.

FARNUM, FARIIAM 1 Philo Farnham was a resident of Cazenova, New York in 1805, He married Clarena Atwell. MORSE, MOSS

Wanted data on Joshua Morse or Morse and his wife Rebecca. They lived in the vicinity of Poughkeep- sie, N. Y. in 1769. Their daughter Sarah married Samuel Coonley In 1789

GREEN, HYDE, DURKEE

Sally Green married Caleb Phil- lips of Ashfield, Mass. in 1781; also want data of Mary Hyde who mar- ried Oliver Durkee of Windham. Conn. June 21, 1764. Harry A. Odell for Lulu Becker Going, 214 W. Pike street, Pontiac 14, Mich. GWINN, GUINN

MILROY

I would appreciate any further information on the following or oth- er Milroy families.

1. Alexander Milroy was living in Mohawk Town, Montgomery Co,, N. Y., in the census of 1790.

2. Alexander Milroy, of the Town of Florida, Montgomery Co., N. Y. wrote his will Nov. 17, 1823, which was probated Jan. 8, 1824. He men- tions the following in his will: niece Isabella and her son Thomas; niece Elizabeth; niece Ann Mil- roy; nephew Peter; nephews John and Alexander Milroy (Alexander, a brother of Isabella). Executors, Peter Milroy, John Kelly, John Keachie, Witnesses S. Reynolds, John McClumpha, John Biggam. 3. Alexander Milroy born about 1791, died Dec. 28, 1854, aged 63 years and 10 months. He is buried in the Florida United Presbyter- ian Church Cemetery (Scotch Church), Pattersonville, N. Y.

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.

Mohawk Valley genealogy and history : [a compilation of clippings, 1947], Part 48

Author: Publication date: 1942 Publisher: [1942-1949] Number of Pages: 222

Author:
Publication date: 1942
Publisher: [1942-1949]
Number of Pages: 222