Mohawk Valley genealogy and history : [a compilation of clippings, 1948], Part 21

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, 1948] > Part 21


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55


Iroquois Indians in Mohawk Valley


By W. C. KIMM (Continued from last week)


Origin of' the Iroquois


In taking up the study of the American Indian one is surprised at the great number of different lan- guages and dialects used on the"con- tinent. This shows that there was a sparce population, consisting


of many scattered tribes. We in the Mohawk Valley are especially inter- 'ested in the powerful Dakota family an off-shoot of which was the Hu- ron Iroquois. These seem to have moved eastwand driving out or de- storying all earlier peoples, possibly such as the Mound Builders. The Hurons settled in the peninsula of the Great Lakes. The Iroquois set-, tled along the St. Lawrence but lat- er came into what is now central New York from Lake Erie to the Hudson river. At first there were three tribes, the, Senecas, Mohawks and, Onondagas, 'but later two of these tribes became divided and two tribtes, Cayugas and Oneidas were added which formed the great "Bar- baric Republic" which plays such a conspicuous part in the inter-colonial wars.


Confederacy of the Five Nations' Legendary Origin


The Iroquois have anvery pretty legend relating to their origin and


may lo 19:14


did not trust Col .- William Johnson, he said, "I will meet you tomorrow for the latter wrote. (1750) that Hen- and unfold my plan." drick and the "Mohawks were con- Hi-a-wat-ha's" Plan of Union . On the following day Hi-a-wat-ha vinced that Gov. Clinton and he were in league with the French to take arose in the council and spoke, as all the Mohawk river lands from the Indians and drive them out of the country:"In time, it is said,. Johnson succeeded in , showing Hendrick that these were false' rumors. ,


follows: "Brothers you have come here from a great distance to provide safety for yourselves and your homes. How should " it "be done'? ""We can make no progress by opposing these tribes from the cold north singly. We must unite' all our tribes into one band of brothers. In that way we shall be able to keep our ene- mies from our land."


Mohawks ,


"You, the Mohawks, sitting under the shadow of the "Great Tree" whose roots sink deep into the earth and whose branches spread over a vast country, shall be the first' na- tion, because you are warlike . and


Oneidas "And you, Oneidas, a people who


recline your bodies against the "gy- erlasting Stone' that cannot be Tov- ed,"shall be the second nation, be- cause you give wise counsel."1" . Onondagas


"And you,. Onondagas, who lars' your habitation at the 'Great Moun- tain': "and"are overshadowed by" its crags, shall be: the third nation be- cause you are gifted in speech and are mighty in war."


Cayugas


"And you, Cayugas, whose habita- tion is the 'Dark Forest,' and whose home is everywhere, shall be the fourth nation, because of your su- perior cunning in hunting."


Senecas


"And you, Senecas, a people who live in the 'Open Country,' and pos- sess much wisdom shall be the fifth nation, because you understand bet- ter the art of raising corn and brors and making cabins."


(To be continued)


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3. REGION OF SEARCH: Its importance and hints on HOW to fix early settlement of families (place).


4. MIGRATIONS and EARLY SETTLEMENTS: Major Sources it for a workable understanding of both !"."


Mohawk Valley


By W. C. KIMM (Continued from last week)


Origin of' the Iroquois


In taking up the study of the American Indian one is surprised at the great number of different lan- guages and dialects used on the"con-' tinent. This shows that there was a sparce population, consisting of many scattered tribes. We. in the Mohawk ,Valley are especially inter- ested. in the powerful Dakota family an off-shoot of which was the Hu- ron Iroquois. These seem to have moved eastwand driving out or de, storying all earlier peoples, possibly such as the Mound Builders. The Hurons settled in the peninsula of the Great Lakes. The Iroquois set -. tled along the St. Lawrence but lat- er came into what is now central New York" from: Lake Erie to the Hudson river. At first there were three tribes, the, Senecas, Mohawks and Onondagas, but later two of these tribes became divided and two tribtes, Cayugas and Oneidas were added which formed the great "Bar- baric Republic" which plays such a conspicuous part in the inter-colonial wars,


Confederacy of the Five Nations' ... ,Legendary Origin,


The Iroquois [have a very pretty legend relating to their origin and final'union into a confederacy. Long, long' ago they were confined under a mountain near the falls of the Oswego from where they were lead by the "Holder of the Heavens" into the beautiful Mohawk valley along which eastward and westward they finally settled each tribe in a sep- arate locality. About this time the sixth tribe, known as the Tuscaro- ras left and moved towards where the birds fly in winter. Many years later they came back to settle in what is now northern New York, thus making the confederacy the "Six Nations of Iroquois."


** The original five tribes kept up a continual warfare with each other. After a time a fierce , and warlike tribe came from the home of the north wind and fell upon the On- ondagas and nearly exterminated them. This threw the Iroquois tribes into great , confusion. Unless . they | could overcome these northern bar- barians their whole nation would perish. In their great distress they called upon the "Holder of the Hea- ven" affectionally called by the peo- ple Hi-a-wat-ha, "The very wise man.' The Iroquois were his dearest child- ren so they followed his advice at all times. Hi-a-wat-ha told them to call representatives from all the tribes to a great council to be held on the banks of Onondaga Lake. The great council fire blazed for three days and yet no Hi-a-wat-ha appeared . to help or to advise. At length, guided by the Great Spirit, che was seen coming across the lake in a white canoe bearing with him his beautiful little daughter. Scarce- ly had they landed upon the shore when there suddenly arose a mighty wind and an immense bird so large as to darken the landscape swooped down upon the beautiful girl and crushed her into the earth. Speech- less with grief Hi-a-wat-ha mourn- ed for his daughter three days. Then


A time-saver


Following the listings are many time-saving and helpful notes to aid the researcher decide their value to him. The Guidex has, a helpful Revolutionary War Re- cords Source Check List, conveniently arranged by states. For those interested in tracing their Revolu- tionary Ancestry, this section alone is worth the price of the complete guide.


Titles are cross-indexed under various headings by repeating the given number of the title and the title it self


Sent Postpaid ;


$3


1200 MAJOR SOURCES


1. The Major GENERAL INDEXES and HOW TO USE THEM! Each one fully described as to ARRANGEMENT and CONTENTS including the ENGLISH Indexes.


2. PRINTED GENEALOGIES: Where to find them if any exist in print. Also those in PREPARATION.


3. REGION OF SEARCH: Its importance and hints on HOW to fix early settlement of families (place).


4. MIGRATIONS and EARLY SETTLEMENTS: Major Sources to consult for a workable understanding of both.


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The Enterprise and News


GENEALOGICAL PUBLISHERS SINCE 1924


ST. JOHNSVILLE, N. Y.


0


MOHAWK VALLEY


GENEALOGY


AND


HISTORY


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


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.


STAM


In the Syracuse Library I found some notes taken from the Enter- prise and News giving list of George Stam's family (gathered by Harry Stam.)


I have the following:


In a German Bible printed in Ba- sel, 1787:


Nancy Stam, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth, born July 4, 1811 in Herkimer county.


Also, in Stockbride cemetery,


Madison county, N. Y .: Frederick Snell July 16, 1804-August 26, 1838. Wife No. 1 Eva Stam Sept. 27, 1806- July 19, 1835.


Wife No. 2 Nanoy Stam July 1811-Oct. 20, 1886.


I am trying to establish Rev. ser- vice for father of Nancy.


Rev. record of a Frederick Snell who served at Oriskany battle, but find to complete her work. the records very unsatisfactory.


Where can I find records of the two churches Dutch Reformed and Stone Arabia ? .


Mrs. C. R. Baker,.,


Registrar Skenandoah Ch. NSDAR, 571 Broad street, Oneida, N. Y.


HINCKS


Wanted parentage of Roxsenah a.s Hincks born Feb. 22, 1800 in the town of Paris, Oneida county, N. Y. ; Married Daniel Lindsley of Livonia, i well, but very much hampered (by Livingston county, N. Y. Wish names of her sisters and brothers.


Maiden name of Vienna or Vina who married Simon Lathrop and be- fore 1837 married Lewis Newman of Weicester, Livingston county, N. Y: She is buried in Taunton, cemetery and according to . cemetery . record she was born in 1801. Census record says she always lived in Livingston county.


Parentage of Henry Cocker or Coker or Kocher, born Reading, Pa. in 1799. Married in York, Livingston county in 1826 Sarah Foose, dangh- ter of Jacob and Mary Tailor or Tal- lor Foose born 1806 in Northumber- land, Pa. Jacob Foose was born 1779 in Pa. Wish parentage, died Dec. 28, 1841.


Mrs. A. Lawrence Jinks, 9 Lamberton Park, Rochester 11, N. Y.


KIRBY


Who were the parents of " Seth Kirby who was born about 1750 (where ?) and died in the Town of Charlton, Saratoga county, N. Y. Jan, 2, 1825,' aged 75 years? He mar- red '(when and where ?) Olive"(sur- name unknown). She was born about 1751 (where ?) and died in Charlton Jan. 4, 1817, aged 65 years, 5 months


4. Major Thomas Kirby, an ensgin in the War of 1812, born about 1791, died Jan. 28, 1866, aged 75 years, married Amy Hewitt, born about 18022, died Aug. 23, 1834 or April 27, 11834, aged'32 years. They are buried in the Smith cemetery.


Donald A. Keefer,


RD 2 Sacandaga Road, Schenectady, N. Y.


The Petries in America


These notes and records of the 4, Johan Jost Petrie family and de- scendants in America were compil- ed by the late Mrs. Frederick Staeh- la, of Munnsville, N. Y. Her notes Have tried unsuccessfully for a, have been checked, so far as we have


been able to do so, and we will try


Dr. and Mrs. R. C. Petrie, Johnstown, N. Y.


PETRIE CORRECTION


Your typist has omitted a whole paragraph from last week's install- ment of "Petries in America.".


The following is the part omitted: Historians in the past have built up Sir William Johnson as of a high moral character, seeking ever to do good, interested in the welfare of the Indians and the white settlers


those poor Palatines) Klock and his associates. They have 'represented that, had Sir William lived he would have been on the Patriot side in the strife. No doubt, but that he had a great influence with the Indians, but this no doubt, rested on' his willing- ness and ability to buy scalps, at a premium; on his polygamous rela- tives with the various tribes; on his generous gifts of goods and money supplied by the English government; alded with a liberal supply of rum, for which he received large tracts of land. No doubt the flaunting of money, and the wealth of England, by Guy Johnson, before Joseph Brant was the decisive factor in bringing the Indians into the Revolution, whereas, - the patriots had exerted every effort to keep the Indians neu- tral. (Article by Milo Nellis, E. and N. Feb. 15, 1928.)


(Continued from last week) |


Historians in the past have built up | I am ready to go. Farewell.


Sir William Johnson as of a high, moral character, seeking ever to do good, interested deeply in the wel- 'fare of the Indians and the white settlers as well, but very much ham- pered " by " (those . poor Palatines) Klock and his associates. They rave represented, that had Sir William lived he would have been on the Pat-


THURSDAY, MAY 13, 1948


of Abraham Brant. (Doc. Hist. of N. Y.) Caroline bore three children to Johnson, one son and two daughters. The son was called William and the daughters were Charlotte and Caro- line. Caroline, the mother died in 1753 at Caroline's birth. William, the, eldest child, is referred to in the will of the Baronet, as William of Cana- joharie (Tag-che-un-to.)


After 1753 Molly Brant became the mistress at Mount Johnson and took in charge these two girls while Wil- liam went to live with his grand- father, Abraham at the Canajoharie castle at Danube. Charlotte Johnson married a young British officer, Hen- ry Randall, shortly before the Rev- olutionary War, later joining the Continental Army, and fell at the battle of Monmouth Courthouse. Two children were born of this union, Charlotte Randall who married Geo. King and they had a daughter Char- lotte Randall. The other girl, Caro- line, married a man named Michael Byrne, a clerk in Si. William's office (Indian Commissioner). Byrne was with' Butler Rangers at Oriskany where he lost his life. The widow re- turned with the Brants to Canada, marrying some years later an Indian agent named Mac Kim.


Joseph Brant, brother of Molly, was born in 1742. She was six years older than he. Their mother was a daughter of Abraham, brother of Hendrick. She was a sister of "Little Abe." This made her a niece of Hen- drick. It is also said that the wife of Joseph Brant was a daughter of San- quoit the Oneida Indian, Chief and her mother was a daughter of Hen- drick. Thus the Johnson family tree.


Iroquois Indians in Mohawk Valley


By W. C. KIMM


(Continued from last week)


In Unlon There is Strength


"You, five great and powerful nations, must unite and have one common interest and no foe shall be able to disturb and subdue you. If we unite, the Great Spirit will smile upon us. Brothers, these are. the words - of - Hi-a-wat-ha. . . Let them sink deep into your hearts. Admit no other and you will always be free and happy. If other tribes and na- tions are admitted to your councils they will' sow the seeds of jealousy and discord and you will become few, feeble and enslaved. Remember these words. They are the last you will hear from Hi-a-wat-ha. The Great Master of Greath calls me to go.I have patiently awaited his summons.


Translated


The legend tells us that when the great Hi-a-wat-ha finished his speech the air was filled with the sweetest music, The , beautiful- white canoe rose slowly into the air and bore their good friend and wise councillor far, into the eternal blue. The music eller diad aurore and the dual


moral character, seeking ever to do good, interested in the welfare of the Indians and the white settlers as Married Daniel Lindsley of Livonia, ¡ well, but very much hampered (by Livingston county, N. Y. Wish names of her sisters and brothers.


HINCKS


Wanted parentage of Roxsenah Hincks born Feb. 22, 1800 in the town of Paris, Oneida county, N. Y.


Maiden name of Vienna or Vina who married Simon Lathrop and be- fore 1837 married Lewis Newman of Weicester, Livingston county, N. Y. She is buried in Taunton, cemetery and according to . cemetery . . record she was born in 1801. Census record says she always lived in Livingston county.


Parentage of Henry Cocker or Coker or Kocher, born Reading, Pa, for which he received large tracts in 1799. Married in York, Livingston county in 1826 Sarah Foose, darch- ter of Jacob and Mary Tallor or Tal -! b lor Foose born 1806 in Northumber- land, Pa. Jacob Foose was born 1779 in Pa. Wish parentage, died Dec. 28, 1841.


Mrs. A. Lawrence Jinks,


9 Lamberton Park,


Rochester 11, N. Y.


KIRBY


Who were the parents of Seth Kirby who was born about 1750 (where ?) and died in the Town of Charlton, Saratoga county, N.Y. Jan. 2, 1825, aged 75 years ? He mar-


In 1785 Seth Kirby purchased a


farm in Charlton. In the census of 1790 "Seth Kinbey" was the head of


a family residing in Ballstown (Ballston) Town, Albany county (now Saratoga Co.) This census re- cord shows 2 males, over 16, 4 males under 16 and 4 females. The known children of Seth and, Olive Kirby are:


1. Betsey Kirby, born about 1780 (where ?), died in Charlton April 11, 1854, aged 74 years, married (when and where?) Peter Lockwood, born Aug. 11, 1772 in Town of Stamford, Fairfield Co., Conn., died in Chariton Jan. 22, 1843, aged 70 years and 5 months. They are buried in the Smith cemetery.


22. Seth Kirby, Jr., born about 1785, died in harlton March 6, 1871, aged 86 years, married Margaret Wendell, born about 1786, died in Charlton Oct. 13, 1866, aged 80 years. They are buried in Pine Grave cemetery in Charlton.


3. Lucy Kirby, born about 1787, died in Charlton Jan. 13, 1801, aged 13 years, $ months and 28 days. Bur- ied in Pine Grove cemetery.


those poor Palatines) Klock and his associates. They have ' represented that, had Sir William lived he would have been on the Patriot side in the strife. No doubt, but that he had a great Influence with the Indians, but | this no doubt, rested on his willing- ness and ability to buy scalps, at a premium; on his polygamous rela- tives with the various tribes; on his generous gifts of goods and, money supplied by the English government; aided with a liberal supply of rum,


"'of land. No doubt the flaunting of money, and the wealth of England, by Guy Johnson, before Joseph Brant was the decisive factor In bringing the Indians into the Revolution, whereas, - the patriots had exerted every effort to keep the Indians neu- tral. (Article by Milo Nellis, E. and N. Feb. 15, 1928.)


(Continued from last week) ;


Historians in the past have built up [ I am ready to go. Farewell.


Sir William Johnson as of a high, moral character, seeking ever to do good, interested deeply In the .wel- fare . of the Indians and the white settlers, as well, but very much ham- red (when and where?)"Olive (sur- pered " by : (those " poor"Palatines) name unknown). She was born about 1751 (where ?) and died in Charlton Jan. 4, 1817, aged 65 years, 5 months and 19 days. Who were her parents? 'They are buried in the Smith ceme- tery located on the Swaggertown! the Indians, bu this no doubt, rested Road in Charlton.


Klock and his associates. They rave represented, that had Sir William lived he would have been on the Pat- riot side In the strife., No doubt, but that he had a great influence with on his willingness and ability to buy scalps, at a premium; on his poly- gamous relatives with the various tribes; on his generous gifts of goods and money supplied by the English government; aided with a liberal supply of rum, for which he receiv- ed large tracts of land. No doubt the .. flaunting of money, and the wealth of England, by Guy Johnson, before Joseph Brant was the decisive fact- or in bringing the Indians into the Revolution, whereas, the patriots had exerted every effort to keep the In- dians neutral.


(Article by Milo Nellis


Enterprise and News 2 - 15 - 28. (From King Hendrick, by Rev. W. N. P. Dailey, E. and N. Feb. 10, 1937.)


Sir William Johnson and King Hen- drick were very closely related along domestic lines. It is well known that Catherine Weisenberg was Johnson's first housekeeper (at Warrensbush) and was the mother of Sir John, Mary and Nancy Johnson! On her death, a Dutch widow took charge for a while, whose place was taken in 1745 by a niece of King Hendrick, whose name was 'Caroline, daughter


ANOTHER ONE FOR THE AMERICAN GENEALOGY GUILD DIRECTORY


"George E. Frost has solved my problem of 12 years standing ---- "The surnames and antecedents of Rachel - - - , wife of Othniel Gil- bert of Brookfield, Mass. She turns out to be Rachel Abbott, dau. of Moses and Bathsheba Abbott, b. 1727, Brookfield. Her line is Moses, 4, George 3, George 2, George 1. Thanks to your Directory listing." John Warren Joyce, late Secy. Schenectary Gene. Assn.


-


You can join the A.'G. G. for 50c, write Harry A. Odell, P. O. Box 899, Church St. Annex 8, New York City.


Iroquois Indians in Mohawk Valley


By W. C. KIMM


(Continued from last week)


In Union There is Strength


"You, five great and powerful nations, must unite 'and have one common interest and no foe shall be able to disturb and subdue you. If we unite, the Great Spirit will smile upon us. Brothers, these are the words - of- Hi-a-wat-har-Let them. sink deep into your hearts. Admit no other and you will always be free and happy. If other tribes and na- tions are admitted to your councils they will' sow the seeds of jealousy and discord and you will become few, feeble and enslaved. Remember these wonds. They are the last you will hear from Hi-a-wat-ha. The Great Master of Greath calls me to go.VI have patiently awaited his summons.


/ Translated


The legend tells us that when the great Hi-a-wat-ha finished his speech the air was filled with the sweetest music, The beautiful white canoe rose slowly into the air and bore their good friend and wise councillor far, into the eternal blue. The music slowly died away and the dusky sav- ages were left to try the eperiment of becoming a confederated nation.


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A Proud Race


The Iroquois named themselves "Men all Surpassing Others." They designated themselves, "A people dwelling in a long house." It has been said, "They were the proudest re- presentatives of natural manhood ever discovered. When their confed- eracy was first formed their terri- tory extended from Lake Erie to the west gate and the Mohawks the east- ern gate. The latter were in many respects the ablest warriors among all thé aborigines of America. They were a terror to the weaker tribes in the south and also to those living in what is now the New England States.


: A Debt We Owe the Six Nations


Gradually the Iroquois extended their conquests west ward until they finally reached the Mississippi river and it was solely on this conquest that the English based their claims to that territory as against the French and Lndian war, and it was in this way that New York State came into possession of that vast territory which she gave to the Unit- ed States from which were carved the great states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin. In he land of the Onondagas near the shore. of their beautiful lake was the capital of their confederacy. On the spot where Hi-a-wat-ha appeared to them in his beautiful canoe they kept their great council fire, a sym- bol of the living and endurance of a great nation. It was the duty of the


How Oneida Received Its Name


of gray syenite, known as the "Onei- da Stone." It was an object of spec- ial veneration to the Indians of New York, and especially to the Oneidas from which they received their name and years later also the county and other localities. The story of the stone contains much of legend mixed with. certain facts of veritable his- tory. The stone was heaven sent, a token of the presence of the Great Spirit. It was given to the tribe at the very beginning, on the Oswego river, near Oneida Lake. To them it was sacred, and became central in their religious and social life. It was their altar , of sacrifice. Around it were held the feasts of New Year, harvest and other festivals. Beside it were their war dances and council fires. It added solemn sanction to their treaties and other engagements. Later when. the headquarters of the tribe were removed to the eastern end of the lake near where it re- ceives the waters of Oneida Creek, the stone accompanied them, un- touched by human hands. The same thing occurred at a subsequent re- moval up the creek-stone taking a position on a hill on the eastern side, in what is now the town of Stock- bridge, in Madison county. Here it remained during the subsequent his- tory of its people. It here saw the rise and power of the confederacy of the original Five Nations. It here listened to eloquence unsurpassed by Greek or Roman. Logan, the white mans' friend uttered words that burn" Sconondora, warrior chief and lastorator of his race, swayed the hearts of his fellow tribesmen. .




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