Mohawk Valley genealogy and history : [a compilation of clippings, 1947], Part 5

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 5

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66 Oak street,

Hudson Falls, N. Y.

1885. Record, 20 vols. Arr. chron. wives and children, marriages and | Indexed alph. by children. Includes births. deaths.11885-1907. Custodian, Mathew. M. Munn, town clerk, Saranac Lake, N. Y.

Fairfield Many Years Ago

tby S. C. Kimm

A 1Contrast

I lhave tried to show the great change in population on the farms of Falrfleld duting my lifetime and perhaps to make a few kindly com- ments (on the contrast between the appearance of the farms of the old days and of the present. 1 presume the farmers of Fairfield today are as intelligent, as patriotic and as good looking as the farmers of 70 years ago. Judging afrom the appear- ance of the buildings and grounds, of the hedgerows along the fences, of pastures infested with fast grow- ing thorn apyle bushes ,on too many of the farms today one Is impressed with the thought that the present occupants do not love their homes and soil as did the old timers.

Neighborly Good will

I sometimes wonder if the pres- ent inhabitants have the neighbor- ly good will and helpfulness of those of former days. No more do we see the get-togethers in which the oldest as well as the younger

indulged in innocent games and amusements, No longer do farmers combine pleasure and help in corn husking, frame raisings, quilting and apple paring bees, Nor do we have evenings of competitive spell- ing down contests between the var- Here in this old institution of learning the farm boy started on the long and toilsome , journey that enabled him to understand and en- joy the history, the literature and the arts of the ancients. Cicero, and Llvy, ious school districts of the town. No wandering singing masters conduct- ing winter singing schools to which a fellow could take his girl in goose- neck cutter drawn by his restive colt. Nor do Fairfield's gay young Herodotus and Plutarch, Pericles men sweeten thelr girls at maple and Homer became his friends and sugaring off partles, or beau them terms of rural to last school day plenics or the commencement exercises of the Old Bem.

Grange, Church and Funerals

That most excellent institution, the Grange, seems to be the only thing at present where farmers can young man by the name of Frank meet ' to prove their desire to be [L. Warne, teacher of the village school for the fall term. The winter loyal and sympathetic neighbors, and even. the burdens of the Grange fand part of the 'spring term was are carried on the shoulders of a taught by W. H. Marcy and the

few leading :members.

The church, once :filled with a goodly proportion of the town's in- habitants, are nearly, cor cquite emp- ty and deserted. . A mere handful mow are found where hundreds of boys and girls once attended the Sunday Schools.

The all too frequent ffuneral iis the one get-together where farmers ex- press their neighborly lkindness sand regard. Too late then to say kind words. The principal subject of the occasion cannot hear them.

Old Fairfield Brings 'Tender Memories

Old Fairfield holds a tender spot in my heart and around her cluster memories or delightful social events, financial and mental struggles on:| es 1891-1910 and deaths 1891. Cus- the rough road to college and pre- paration to best fill my little niche Santa Clara, N. Y. Waverly

as a useful citizen in a fast grow- ing democracy. The farm boy swing- ing the old grain cradle or following

Seminary bell saying to him, "Come on! You can do it!" The fall of 1881 found the farm boy living in the cor- ner room above the worn stone

whose daily the bell to steps of the chapely chores were to ring arouse the sleepers in the morning, call the students to meals and to classes and ring them to bed each 10 p. m. He also wound the chapel clock whose exceedingly long pendu- lum ticked the seconds into eternity. Farm Boy Meets the Old Master

Inspiration. A few school teaching enabled him to re- turn at the advent of the Warnes in 1885 to graduate in the spring of 1886, -

F. L. Warne District School Teacher The fall of 1885 finds a dapper

BIRTH, DEATH AND MARRIAGE RECORDS (Continued from last week).

1886. Register, 2 vois. Arr. chron. Indexed alph. by children. Includes marrlages 1886-1907 and deaths 1886. Custodian IMrs. Rae Moore. registrar of vital statistics, Duane Stage Route, Duane, N. Y. Fort Covington

1847-48, 1883. Record, 12 vols. Arr. chron. Indexed alph. by children. In- cludes marriages and deaths. Custo- dian W. J. Rouselle, town clerk, Fort Covington, N. Y. Franklin

1884. "Record, 5 vols. Arr. chron. Indexed alph. by children. Includes marriages 1884-1910 and deaths, 1884. Custodian, Caleb Goff, town, clerk, Wermontville N. Y. Harrietstown

Malone

1847-50, 1883. Record, 8 vols. Arr. chron. Indexed alph. by children. 1n- cludes marriages 1847-50, 1883-1903 and deaths 1747-50, 1883. Custodian, George B. Bradish, town clerk, Ma- lone, N. Y.

Moira

1849. Report, 1 bdl. No obvious arr. No index. Includes marriages and deaths. Custodian, Thomas Foy, town clerk, Molra, N. Y.

11886. Register, 8 vols. Arr. chron. 1886-1909, no Index; 1910, indexed. alph. by children. Includes marriag- es 1886-1907 and deaths 1886. Cus- todian, Thomas Foy, town clerk, Moira, N. Y. Santa Clara

'1891. Register, 3 vols. Arr. chron: 1891-1913, no index; 1914 indexed alph. by children. Includes marriag-

todian . William Surprise, town clerk,

1887. Record, 7 vols. Arr. chron. 1887-1913, no Index; 1914, Indexed behind the plow imagined the old, alph. by children. Includes marriag- es 1887-1913 and deaths 1887. Cus- todlan Amos Forkey, town clerk, St. Regis Falls, N. Y.

Westville

1892. Register, 4 vols. Arr. chron. Indexed alph. ' by children. Includes marriages 1893-1907 and deaths' 1893. Custodian Bert Fleury, town clerk, Constable, N. Y. Brushton (1925)

1926. Register, 1 vol. Arr. chron." Indexed alph. by children. Includes deaths. Custodian A. D. Armstrong. village clerk, Brushton, N. Y. Burke (1922)

1926. Register, 1 vol. Arr. chron. Indexed alph. by children. Includes deaths. Custodian R. H. Weis, vil- lage clerk, Burke, N. Y. Chateaugay

1892. Register, 4 vols. Arr. chron. Indexed alph. by children. Includes marriages 1892-1907 and deaths 1892. Custodian Clarence J. Ryan, regis .. trar of vital statistics, Chateaugay. N. Y.

Fort Covington (1889)

1847-48, 1883. "Record, 12 vols: Arr. chron. Indexed alph. by children. Includes marriages and deaths. Cus- todlan W. J. Rousellė, town clerk (o. Fort Covington, Fort Covington, M Y.

(To be continued)

Would 'like data con all of these, with names and dates of their

Mrs. 'E. Everett "Thorpe, 107 'Fast '82 St.,

WARD

I am interested In data concerning my grandmother whose maiden name was Margaret' Ward. At the age of New York 28, N. Y.

1783, baptized Sept. 22, 1796. Sarah Sturtevant born Feb. 29, 1788. Caleb married . second "Mary Devenant and had James Sturtevant born Sept. 8. 1796, bapt. Sept. 22, 1796. These |Duane children were all baptized in the Dutch Church, Albany. (Holland Soc. Year Book 126 page 27-44.)

There was a J. C. Sturtevant who subscribed to a fund fer Trinity Church, Albany, N. Y. 1867. Could this be the above James (Chandler) Sturtevant, son of Caleb and Mary Devanant.

Who was J. B. Sturtevant oof Al-

A PALATINE FAMILY The Petries in America

INTRODUCTION

These notes of and records of the Johan Jost Petrie family and descendants In America have been compiled by Mrs. Frederick Staehla, Munnsville, N. Y. with the assistance of Dr. and Mrs. R. C. Petrie, Johnstown, N. Y., Mrs. Edwin Freer, Port Ewen, N. Y. and many others whose names will appear later. Our re- cords are far from being com- plete. If any reader of this pa- per is connected with the Petries In any way, we request that he, or she, write to Mrs. Staehla. Any additional information will be welcomed. If errors are de- tected, as the series proceeds, correction will also be welcomed. The Petries, together with many others, were driven from the Pala- tinate by religious persecution.

The Protestant religion had taken firm root in Germany and France during the latter half of the 16th and 17th centuries in spite of wars to'exterminate 'it. When Louis XIV of France, whose fundamental prin- cipie was, "I am the state," revok- ed the Edict of Nantes in 1685 many Huguenots fled to the Rhine Valiey. was situated has since been extend- Here in 1693 they together with :he Palatines, suffered the ven- geance of the French king. His forces ravaged the countryside destroying Over 2000 cities and villages. Vast numbers of the people perished in caves and the forests, from hunger, cold and nakedness. Many refugees finally reached England where Queen Anne provided for them. Two Ger- man ministers, perhaps more, ac- companled them, but we find special mention of Rev. Joshua Kocherthal a Lutheran and Rev. Frederick Haege of the Reformed church.

In 1708 the first Palatine Immi- grants came to this country and set- tled at the present Newburg. In 1710 the second expedition sailed, leaving England in early January. The last vessel reached New York harbor in June. Of 4000 embarking, 1700 died in passage, or soon after landing. They were detailed at Nutten's, now Governor's Island, in the harbor,

until fall on account of sickness among them, then were transferred to camps on both sides of the Hud- son river above Newburg. Orphans and sick remained in New York city.

Johan Jost Petry and his family sailed with this expedition. He was born in Strassburg, Alsace, thence removed to Herddberg (probably Heidleberg) where he lived when his son, Johan Jost, Jr. in 1706, married Cordelia, daughter of Jacob De Muth. Later they lived in the lower Palatinate. Tradition says the elder Johan Jost was drowned or died from some other cause, while crossing the Atlantic. His widow, Anna Ger- truyd Von Ringh, was also born in Alsace and was sald to be of a noble family.

In "Palatine Heads of Families" from Gov. Hunter"s Ration Lists, al- so "Colonial Series," Vol. 1, page 443, we find Anna Gertraut Petri,

Village of Little Falls in 1838

Foreword

(Continued from last week)

A little further west stod

"Mechanics Hall" a large three story building in the first story of which were stores and in the second and third, offices and shops. One time about those days I went up on the second floor on an errand and thought I would see how it looked up on the third so I walked up the stairs and just as my head came above the floor I saw before me a ferocious animal. A panther had been killed up north a while before and the skin stuffed and set up in the "Mechanics Hall" but I did not expect to see it there and it startied me so that I did not go on the third floor. I afterwards saw Feeter's grocery destroyed by fire and also the "Mechanics Hail" which the Hook and Ladder men pulled down in a heap with their big ooks wich partially burned.

Where the Richmond Hotel now is, stood Judge Benton's dweiling, a stone house which was not torn down but over and around which the Hotel called the Benton house was built. My Uncle George formed a partner- ship in 1840 with two other men - and under the name of Shepard Babbitt and Co. hired the machine shop and foundry on the south side of the riv- er. I think the street on which it

ed further west and is now called Southern, avenue. He desired us to go over there and board himself and Mr. Babbitt and some of their work- men, which we going into a house opposite the foundry called "Sing Sing." I do not know why it was called so unless it got the name from the bad character of its pre- vious occupants. I think neither of the partners had ever worked in a machine shop or foundry. I know my uncle had not and that Mr. Shepard was a carpenter and Mr. Babbitt had been a soap and candle maker. He afterwards went to New York and was known throughout the country as a large manufacturer of soap and soda. We stayed there about a year and then went into our own house on Jefferson street, just. above the upper lock. There were several mills along the raceway which ran parallel with this street now called Southern avenue. Col. Henry Heath had a foundry opposite the canal bridge and lived in a house adjoining. The next was the paper mill operated by Page and Priest. They made tobacco and printing pa- er and had teams traveling about the country - gathering rags. Oppo- site this mill was a small building

the [ fronting the towpath in which Moses Chase worked as a shoemaker and I remember seeing John Ramsey working there and think he learned the trade with Mr. Chase. Next was the foundry and machine shop, the business of which was sold, I think by Shepard, Babbitt & Co. to Reddy and Cunningam. Above was another paper mill of which Wm. Page, Jr. was owner or superintendent. This mill manufactured wrapping from straw. The straw was unloaded near the mill without any covering and once, got heated and took fire by spontaneous combustion. Close to the paper mill was a grist mill connect- ed with a distillery which extended along the raceway. I think the mill and distillery were operated by one concern under the name of Drake and Sharer. Above the distillery was a large barn in which they fatted- Back of the grist mil was a say mill. The grist mill and distillery were connected by a passage way over the driveway which led to the sawmill. I do not know who owned these mills but the whole group way taken down when the cotton .mill was built, and I think that was about 1845 or 1846.

While we lived in the "Old Sing Sing" I continued to come across the river to the school in the Stone school house in the fork of the streets back of the Benton House. The teach- er was an old man Wm. D. Gray. I did not like him then and have de- tested him ever since for this reason. My mother was always particular that I should go to school looking neat and clean, especially as to hands and face, and he knew it, There were two boys much larger. than I who habitually came to school! . / with smutty faces. One day when, their faces were more than usually. unclean he called them up on the floor and talked to them about the matter, then he looked at me and called me up with them and said : we had heards and he was going to shave us. He then took a corn cob . from his desk and rubbed our faces .. with it. This was an insult to a sen- sitive child, seven and a half years of age, because he came in from play at recess with one little speck of mud on his face. In my long life since then I have been often the- prey of gossips, misrepresented, at- tacked by liars, cheated and swindled out of considerable money but to thie day all of these things do not excite so much indignation in my mind as does the memory of that one act, (To be continued)

GENEALOGICAL MATERIAL OF SCHENECTADY CO. HIST. SOC.

By HI. A. McConville

(Continued from last week)

Of the genealogical periodicals and books, the New York Genealogi- cal and Biographical Record of Tal- cotts, "New York and New England Families" are probably the best. The Holland Society books are in our own society's collection and cover the records of the Albany, Brooklyn, Bergen, Hackensack and Shawan- gunck Reformed Churches. "Early

CLARK

Sylvanlus Clark, born probably in1 New York state, was the youngest' of 13 children. His father was Asa' Clark who lived to. the age 87 and1 was named for his father and grand -- father, Asa Clark. In 1920 the de4 scendants of one branch only, num= bered 103. Sylvanus Clark, a Bap- tist deacon for 50 years, married Rebecca Warner, born July 14, 1813; They lived in Holland Patent, near Utica, Oneida county, N. Y. where the eldest of four children, Sarah, Ann was born July 9, 1844. About. 1850 the family removed to south .. . ern Michigan, where in 1867 Sarah!

mention of Hev. Joshua nocherwinijiny uncre nau

a Lutheran and Rev. Frederick Haege of the Reformed church.

In 1708 the first Palatine immi- grants came to this country and set- tled at the present Newburg. In 1710 the second expedition sailed, leaving England in early January. The last vessel reached New York harbor in June. Of 4000 embarking, 1700 died in passage, or soon after landing. They were detailed at Nutten's, now Governor's Island, in the harbor,

until fall on account of sickness among them, then were transferred to camps on both sides of the Hud- son river above Newburg. Orphans and sick remained in New York city.

In "Palatine Heads of Families" from Gov. Hunter"s Ration Lists, al- so "Colonial Series," Vol. 1, page 443, we find Anna Gertraut Petri, Johan Jost Petri and a statement that he was a soldier in Col. Nich- olsons expedition against Canada in 1711. He was in East Camp. Others were Just Petri of New Annesberg, with wife Anna Cath. and three children; Philip Petri who married Anna Elisabeth Mueller at West Camp, Jan. 3, 1712. Some correspon- dents are inclined to think that these with John Conrad, 12 years old in 1710, were all children of Johan Jost Petri (1). No proof. John Con- rad Petri was evidently among those children whom the governor ordered to be apprenticed to save expense to the government. He was apprenticed to Robert Livingston in 1710. Hc took the oath of naturalization Nov. 22, 1715 and was enrolled in a mill- tary company on Nov. 30, 1715. (Col. Series I, 523). The members of the first immigration from England were required to be naturalized as British citizens before they embarked. It is possible that all those of mature years in this second expedition were also naturalized before leaving Eng- land. In old Linlithgo Church, Co- lumbia county, is recorded the death of ohann Conrad Petri, Jan., 1770, aged 73.

He evidently remained in the Hudson Valley after his apprentice- ship was finished.

The mother of Gen. Nicholas Her- kimer Is said to have been Cathar- ine Petrie. She may have been one of Anna Gertruyds children but nothing definite is known of this. Other Petries are listed in these early records, but nothing more ha' been found regarding them. (Koch- erthal Rec.) Phillipp Petri, widower married Anna Elisabetha Muller at West Camp Jan. 3, 1712. Philipp Pe tri, the sexton and his wife, Anna Margretha, were sponsors at a Star- ing baptism August 9, 1711.

(To be continued)

Shepard was a carpenter and Mr. Babbitt had been a soap and candle maker. He afterwards went to New York and was known throughout the country as a large manufacturer of soap and soda. We stayed there about a year and then went into our own house on Jefferson street, just above the upper lock. There were several mills along the raceway

unclean he called them up on the floor and talked to them about the matter, then he looked at me and ' called me up with them and said : we had beards and he was going to , shave us. He then took a corn cob . from his desk and rubbed our faces .- with it. This was an insult to a sen- sitive child, seven and a half years of age, because he came in from which ran parallel with this street play at recess with one little speck now called Southern avenue. Col. Henry Heath had a foundry opposite of mud on his face. In my long life since then I have been often the the canal bridge and lived in a house| prey of gossips, misrepresented, at- adjoining. The next was the paper mill operated by Page and Priest. tacked by llars, cheated and swindled. out of considerable money but to thie' day ali of these things do not excite so much indignation in my mind a.s does . the memory of that one act, (To be continued)" They made tobacco and printing pa- er and had teams traveling about the country -gathering rags. Oppo- site this mill was a small bullding

GENEALOGICAL MATERIAL OF SCHENECTADY CO. HIST. SOC.

By H. A. McConville

(Continued from last. week)

Of the genealogical periodicals and books, the New York Genealogi- cal and Biographical Record of Tal- cotts. "New York and New England Familles" are probably the best. The Holland Society books are in our own society's collection and cover the records of the Albany, Brooklyn, Bergen, Hackensack and Shawan- gunck Reformed Churches. "Early Settlers of New York State" has some good material. The paper cov- ered books of the "Journal of Amer- ican History" give the histories of many prominent families with their coat of arms. If you have not looked them over, they are well worth your attention. The New York Historical Society year books contain the wills on file in New York City and can be of great assistance. Knittie's "Pala- tine German Immigration" is the standard authority on the Palatines. The year books of the various patri- tic societies give data on some of the members' families.

Under military records for New York soldiers in the Civil War, I suggest a study of the Muster Roils of New York Volunteers, furnishing valuable data. Sometimes an ances- tor's name may be encountered in the records found in some of the Orderly Books or the Committees of Safety. More compilations such as "Revolutionary Soldiers of Ononda. ga County would be welcome. If any ancestor attended any of the churches whose histories are given a study of these books may be of help.

The general Interest books may be helpful oniy in getting an insight to the kind of country our ancestors Ilved in. This general background should be helpful to all of us in trac ing our family histories. The record available in the Historical Socic' library should be used more by o members.

THE END

PROOF OF SUPERIORITY

Is the fact millions prefer d. Utica Club Pilsner Lager and XX: Cream Ale. To insure your sup ?! return empty botties today .- Adv.

CLARK

Sylvanlus Clark, born probably in New York state, was the youngest of 13 children. His father was Asa Clark who lived to. the age 87 and1 was named for his father and grand- father, Asa Clark. In 1920 the des scendants of one branch . only, num" bered 103. Sylvanus Clark, a: Bap* tist deacon for 50 years, married, Rebecca Warner, born July 14, 1813: They lived in Holland Patent, near Utica, Oneida county, N. Y. where the eldest of four children, Saralı, Ann was born July 9, 1844. About- 1850 the family removed to south+. ern Michigan, where in 1867 Sarah! Ann Clark married George Ferris McRay. Want data of the other three Clark children, but more par- ticularly, data of Sylvanus Clark and three progenitors, the Asa Clarks, one, two and three and their spouses. Mrs. J. Harry Baker,

2732 Mabel street, Berkeley 2, Calif.

NOTICE TO PRINTERS

Sealed proposais and bids for the printing of the 1946-1947 Enroll- ment of Voters in Montgomery Coun- ty, in pamphlet form will be re- ceived by the Board of Elections at their office, 39 Market street, Mor- ris Building, Amsterdam, N. Y. Tuesday, ebruary 4, 1947 at three p. m.

ISpecifications and instructions may be obtained at the office of the Board of Elections at any time be- fore the above mentioned date. The board reserves the riges to reject any or ali bids.

Signed, BOARD OF ELECTIONS, +

Edward .J. McCarthy, Clinton S. Cole, Commissioners. 1-23-2t

Enterprise & News

An ABO Newspaper ST. JOHNSVILLE, N. Y. Telephone 3741 S. K. IVERSON PUBLISHER

Entered at the St. Johnsville Post- office, St. Johnsville, N. Y. as second class matter. Published Every Thurs- day SUBSCRIPTION RATES

Montgomery. Fulton and Herklmer Counties One Year $2.50. Al) others $3 except Canad# $4 Six Months $2.00

MORAWE

VALLEY

GENEALOGY AND HISTORY

St. Johnsville Enterprise and News, St. Johnsville. N. Y.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 1947

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 datcs, places and sources. St. Johnsville Enterprise and News, St. Johnsville, N. Y.

RICHARDS

Would like information on ances- try and birthplace of Milo Richards. He lived in Wethersfield, N. Y., was married first to Eliza Tainter, sec- ond to Cornelia Lewis Baldwin. Mov- ed to Prairie due Chien, Wis. in the 1830s. Information from descendants of Erastus Richards indicates that Milo was a brother of Erastus. Erastus Richards was one of the first settlers of Wethersfield, N. Y. My family Bible says Milo was born in Litchfield, Conn. July :29, 1792. My own idea is that he was the son of Elisha Richards of Colebrook, ad- joining Litchfield, Conn. and in Litchfield county. The court house and records of that county were de- stroyed by fire.

Would like to learn marriage date and place of marriage of Joseph G. Lewis and Sally Preston. They lived at Winfield, Herkimer county, N. Y. about 1800. Their daughter Cornelia who married Milo Richards was born there in 1803. Would also like dates and places of deaths om Joseph G. Lewis, his wife Sally Preston Lewis. I think Sally Preston Lewis may have married an Easton second, perhaps about 1812 and may have moved to Ellisburg, N. Y. Would al- so like dates and places of deaths of Sally Preston's parents, Wilson and Susannah Aldridge Preston. Census of 1820 gives Wilson Preston in the town of Schuyler, N. Y. Mrs. Harry A. Rungee, 45 Penn Drive,

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Mohawk Valley genealogy and history : [a compilation of clippings, 1947], Part 5

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

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