USA > New York > Montgomery County > St Johnsville > Mohawk Valley genealogy and history : [a compilation of clippings, 1948] > Part 24
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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
the said Jost Dyger was at the time of his marriage an officer in the militia of the State of New York and served as such in the Revolutionary War. That as declarent was then informed'and afterward as she be- lieves that the said Jost first held the commission of Lieutenant and af- terwards that of captain and served, as such 'in said war. i ...
That declarent was married to said Jost Dygert on the 12th day of April
Iroquois Indians in Mohawk Valley
By W. C. KIMM
(Continued from last week)
Their Far Flung Empire
When first discovered the Iroquois were fast conquering, or at least ex- tending their influences over all the surrounding tribes. Their plan was largely one of extermination and adoption rather than that of conquest. If they spared a tribe it was to levy tribute, and woe to that tribe if it refused to acknowledge their sover- eignty. Some writers seem to think that if they had not been checked in their career of conquest by the ar- rival of the' white man, they would have extended their empire over the greater part of North America. Al- though their confederation was pure- ly democratic in spirit, yet, ruling over so large a territory, they found it necessary to adopt the representa- tive form. They were obliged. at first to form a league of defense against the more numerous and hostile tribes that surrounded them. This union government, and necessity compelled them to keep it in active operation. In a short time instead of acting on the defensive they became the most aggressive warrlors on the Ameri- can continent.
Wide Distribution of Power
Like the political fore fathers who framed our present constitution they made a wide distribution of power. Each canton or nation was a distinct republic, independent of all others in relation to its domestic affairs, but each bound to the others of the lea- que by ties of honor and general in- terest. Each canton had eight prin- cipal sachems, or civil magistrates, and several Inferior sachems. The whole number of civil magistrates in the confederacy amounted to nearly two hundred. There were fifty heredi- ; . tary sachems.
The Cantons
Each Canton, or nation, was sub- divided into clans or tribes, each clan
totem. For this insignia one tribe would have the figure of . the wolf; another of a bear; another of a deer; another of a tortoise and so on. By their totemic system they maintain- ed a perfect tribal union. After the European came, the sachem of the tribe affixed his totem, in the form of a rude representation of the ani- mal that marked his tribe to the do- cument he was required to sign, like an ancient monarch affixed his seal. The historian, Lassing, said the lea- gue had , a president clothed with powers similar to those conferred on
States. He had authority to assemble a congress of representatives of the league. He had a cabinet of six ad- visers and in the grand council ,he was moderator.
Public Office a Public Trust
years of active service. Receiving no pay but that of public favor these sachems became renowned for their prudence and sagacity. The Onon- dagas tribe was honored by having the first president chosen from a- mong their wise men. All' great af- fairs pertaining to the confederacy were enacted at the general council seat in, Onondaga, but in local affairs each nation acted for itself. ITha Romana of the Wait VIA
sequently the clan of the mother pre- dominated; the fathers never belong- ed to the clan. He was a stranger, an outsider in his own house. The food, domestic utensils, implements of husbandry and the children belong- ed to the clan and not to the father. Whatever was taken in the hunt or raised by cultivaion by any member of the household was for the com- mon benefit. Provisions were made a common stock in the house hold. In the museum of the Education De- partment in Albany is a replica of the Iroquois Long House and wax. groups of sereval Iroquois clans busy at their common daily tasks. There also may be seen a dug out log canoe and hundreds of domestic utensils like those uused by the women of the Iroquois.
(To Be Continued)
Grist Mills On The Old New York Frontier
By Paul B. Mattice
(Continued from Last Week)
Tuenis Osterhout built a water powered grain mill on the Mombaccus Kill in Ulster County in 1743.
William Fox built s mill on Caroga Creek in 1750. Fox Mills became a business center for a large area, soon there were other mills and a tavern constructed. All were burned in the Sir John Johnson invasion of 1780.
Douw Fonda, built a grain mill on the Cayadutta Creek at present day Fonda in 1751. Fonda was killed and the mill burned in the Revolution by the Tories and Indians.
George Clinton, New York State's first Governor, built a grist mill on the Rondout Creek at Espous, near present day Kingston, about 1755. The mill was burned by the British when Espous was destroyed.
Johannes Eckerson built a mill on Fox's Creek, Schoharie near the present day Old Stone Fort Museum, about 1760.' The mill was damaged . Johnson but was soon repaired and put back into operation. In later years this mill was known as the "Stevens Mill." ' Col. Peter Vroman purchased the mill after the Revo- lution.
John Spencer built a log housed grist mill at South Petersburgh in Rensselaer County about 1760. This was probably . the only log housed grist mill on the New York frontier. Unlike saw mills, grist mills had to be substantially housed to protect grain and grists from the elements. Sometimes the grain was ground on the Chief magistrate of the United: the same day it was brought to the mill but frequently the farmer re- turned a day or two later to get his grist.
Goshen Van Alstyne 'built the first grist mill on Canajoharie Creek, near the present day Fort Van Rensse-
It was only by merit that public iaer Club House, about 1760.
Henry and George Houck built & grist mill on the Cobus Kill, near present day Central Bridge in Scho- harie County in 17661. This mill site was on or near the location of the legendary bill of Jacobus Kobell after whom the stream is named. .
Jellies Fonda built a mill on 'a stream flowing through the present day Montgomery Co. Home grounds in 1765. The mill was burned in' the \ October invasion of 1780. , Jellies Fonda was a big trader in the Mo-
having a heraldic insignia called! in the invasion of 1780 by Sir John
vices of her first husband.
Lieut. Jost Dygert
State of New York, Herkimer Co. On the seventh day of October in the Term of October one thousand eight hundred and thirty seven of thecourt of Common Pieas of said county held at hte Court House at Herkimer village In aforesaid county before the Hon. Adijah Osburn, John B. Dygert and Richard Terrenden Esquires judges of said couurt ap- peared personally in open court Mar- illus . Tockey (formerly Maria Eliza- beth Moyer, wife of Lieut Johann Jost Dygert, who being first duly sworn according to law, doeseth on her oath make the following declara- tion in order to obtain a pension under the act of Congress passed July 1836, and the act supplemental amendatory Thereof. .
That she is seventy-four years of age on the fifth day of May 1837 and is the widow of Jost Dygert de- ceased and now resides in the town of
Little Falls in said county, and that office could be secured and public| the said Jost Dyger was at the time opinion was the only reward for of his marriage an officer in the| militia of the State of New York and served as such in the . Revolutionary War.' That as declarent was then informed and - afterward as ' she be- lieves that the said Jost first held the commission of Lieutenant and af- terwards that of captain and served as such in said,war. 1. years of active service. Receiving no pay but that of public favor these sachems became renowned for their prudence and sagacity. The Onon- dagas tribe was honored by having the first president chosen from a- mong their wise men. All' great af- fairs pertaining to the confederacy were enacted at the general council seat in Onondaga, but in local affairs each nation acted for itself. The Romans of the West".
That declarent was married to said Jost Dygert on the 12th day of April 1777, at her father's (John Moyer's house) in the now town of Manheim in the County of Herkimer and that he (her husband, Jost Dygert) was then called Lieutenant. That in the sum- mer of 1777 and shortyl after their marriage the said Jost as said .of- ficer, as declarent was then inform- ed and as she then and ever has be- lieved true, was ordered out with the company under the command of Gen- eral Herkimer and that he said Jost was in August of that year with his company in the Battle of Oriskany and that previous to that battle de- ponent saith said Jost was absent from home and as she then and then informed and as she then and ever since believer to be true and with his company was engaged in cutting a road from some point on the Mohawk river: in the now town of Schuyler in the county of Herkimer to what is called Whitestown in the county of Oneida and also in cutting trees and timber into Wood Creek, west of what is now called Rome and that said Jost was absent from home and as deponent was then informed and ever since has believed to be true, engaged as said officer in the public service from some time in Mav of the year 1777 till after the battle of Oriskany in August of that year. After this battle said Dygert returned home and remained a few weeks, aft-
and went and was absent several weeks and salth that during this fall and the winter foliowing her said hus- band repeatedly was ordered out on times three weeks at a time and as were suspended strings of corn in the
deponent then was informed and then and ever has believed engaged in public service.
Each Canton, or nation, was sub- Produit divided into clans or tribes, each cian about 1760. The mill' was damaged having a heraldic insignia called! in the invasion of 1780 by Sir John Johnson but was soon repaired and put back into operation. In later years this mill was known as the "Stevens Mili." 'Col.' Peter Vroman purchased the mill after the Revo- lution. 3
John Spencer built a log housed grist mill at South Petersburgh in Rensselaer County about 1760. This was probably . the only log housed grist mili on the New York frontier. Unlike saw milis, grist mills had to be substantially housed to protect grain and grists from the elements. Sometimes the grain was ground on the Chief magistrate of the United; the same day it was brought to the mill but frequently the farmer re- turned a day or two later to get his grist.
Goshen Van Alstyne built the first grist mill on Canajoharie Creek, near the present day Fort Van Rensse-
It was only by merit that public laer Club House, about 1760.
Henry and George Houck built & grist mill on the Cobus Kill, near present day Centrai Bridge in Scho- harie County in 17661. This mill site was on or near the location of the legendary bill of Jacobus Kobell after whom the stream is named.
Jellies Fonda built a mill on 'a stream flowing through the present day Montgomery Co. Home grounds in 1765 The mill was burned in the October * invasion of 1780. Jellies Fonda was a big trader in the Mo- hawk country and often sent his agents as fas west as Fort Niagara to buy Indian furs and sell them 'blankets, trinkets and knives.
Captain Adam Crysler built a grist mill at present day Fultonham in Schoharie County in 1760. He had the Indians burn the mill in 1777 so the Continentals would not have the use of the mill when he fied to Canada. One of the mill stones is now owned by LeGrand Shaul of Fultonham, N. Y. Chrysler fought long and hard for his King. There was hardly an 'in- vasion, or raid during the Revolution Into the Schoharie Valley that he did not have a part in organizing and directing.
A grist mill was built on the Key- . ser Kill in Breakabeen in Schoharie County about 17666 and was in oper- ation in 1778 according to the Cap- tain Gray military map published in the "Gen. Sullivan Expedition of 1779" by the state. Originally it had only one run of mill stones.
The 'Sir William Johnson mili at Sammonsville on/Cayadutta Creek was built in 1766. Peter Young was one of Sir William's miliers,
One Snyder built a" grist mili at "Newkirk's Fond" on, the . Schoharie River in Montgomery County before 1767. The miiler was John Van Dor- en, Snyder's son-in-law, who sent wheat flour to Valley Forge in 1777- 78 and helped save the Continental army from starvation. The branding Irons to mark the barrels for the army are still in existence. Washing- ton publically thanked Miller Van Doren after the war. The mill has a long history.
William Carpenter built grist mill at West Sand Lake, Rensselaer Co., in 1768. :.
(To be Continued)
(To be continued) children belonging to the clan, con-
totem. For this insignia one tribe would have the figure of . the wolf; another of a bear; another of a deer; another of a tortoise and so on. By their totemic system they maintain- ed a perfect tribal union. After the European came, the sachem of the tribe affixed his totem, in the form of a rude representation of the ani- mal that marked his tribe to the do- cument he was required to sign, like an ancient monarch affixed his seal. The historian, Lassing, said the lea- gue had . a president clothed with powers similar to those conferred on
States. He had authority to assemble a congress of representatives of the league. He had a cabinet of six ad- visers and in the grand council he was moderator.
Public Office a Public Trust
In one thing the Iroquois were not unlike the Romans - military power was stronger than the civil power and often over threw the latter by deposing the sachems. The head of the war department was called Chief and he received his authority from the people. If a warrior wished to secure a band of followers he organ- ized. a war dance, the recruiting sta- tion of the tribe. It was never neces- sary to resort to conscription to fill, the ranks. But however strong the army might be there was a third party which had a right to veto a declaration of war. This third party was composed of the matrons of the long houses who could demand a cessation of war, nor was it any dis- grace for the bravest chief to bury the hatchet at the command of the leading women of the tribe.
Their Hauses
The Iroquois were distinguished from other tribes in the manner in which they built their shelters. These were so different in construction as to' give the Iroquois the appellation "The People who, live in Long Houses. There were anywhere. from 50' to 100 foot long, divided into com- partments of 6 or 8 feet, two on a side and in the center of each four compartments was a fire pit which was used in common. Of course the er which he was again ordered out ; longer the house the more compart- ments there would be. Thus five fires would accommodate 20 apart- ments with 20 families. Raised bunks were constructed around the walls duty and that he was absent some for beds, From cross poles above
ear braided in the husks, and strings of dried pumpkin and squash. As a rule each house was occupied by re- lated families, the mothers and their
June 3 1948.
MOHAWK VALLEY
GENEALOGY AND
HISTORY
St. Johnsville Enterprise and News, St. Johnsville, N. Y.
THURSDAY, JUNE 3rd, 1948
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.
RIGGS, WEED, WILLIAMS.
Obituaries (some undated) in old family scrap-books show Frances Emeline a dau. of Timothy (7) Riggs (Joseph 6 Miles 5 Joseph 4 Edward Otsego County, New York about
3 2 1) and Candace Weed, of Sara- toga Co., N. Y., in or near East Line. She was b. Feb. 22 1823 (her birth or bapt. rec. wanted) and d. Nov. 22, 1846, where ? Fort Plain? She mar. as his 1st wife, when ? where? Harvey Eliphalet Williams, b. Otsego Co., when d. Fort Plain, N. Y., ae. 63 (date asked). He rem. from Otsego Co. to Fort Plain in 1830 and opened a hardware store. He mar. 2nd, Mins. Esther Truumbuull ,her husband's name and data asked). She was a dau. of Judge Randall of Canajoharie.
WILLIAMS, RIGGS, TRUMBULL
Harvey Eliphalet Williams and Frances Emeline Riggs, above, had one son James Harvey Williams who | SILAS DORR - BRYANT
was b. in Fort Plain, N. Y., when ? and who mar, when ? where? Har- miet Trumbull (full data on her want- ed). They rem. to Brooklyn, N. Y., where he started, 1883, a large fong- ing factory . and became a partner with his cousin, Eliphalet Williams Bliss, in the E. W. Bliss Co., which manufactured the Whitehead tor- poedoes used by the U. S. Navy. He d. 6 Pierrepont \St., Brookyln, Dec. 5, --- , ae. 59 (this date asked.)
In his will, James Harvey Wil- liams left $40.000 to each of his chil., namely deu. Frances and sons' James Harvey Jr., and Earl Trumbull, to be held in trust by their mother until they reached age 25. To his sister Sarah Jarvis Williams, he left real estate in Fort Plain formerly belonging to his father. Another source gives a fourth child, Marlan; did she d. y. ? Descendants of these children also wanted. I shall appre- ciate further information on any of the above.
Marie Lyle
Lyle Heights, Paso Robles, Cal.
WEED, SMITH, MANN
Full list of children, with dates, locations and marriages asked for Alexander Weed, son of John Weed and Hannah Mann. Sand Alexan- der was . where? Apr. 22, 1773; d. July 27, 1857, ae. 84; is buried in Factory Village Cemetery, Milton, . Saratoga Co., N. Y. He mar. when ? where? Esther Smith, b. Apr. 14, 1782, where? d. July 10,' 1862; bu. beside her husband. Known is one son, Smith Weed, below .. .
WEED, GARFIELD
Smith Weed, son of above Alexan- der and Esther (Smith) Weed, was
b. Pawlet Vịt. 1775. He was an inn Chula Vista, Calif.
keeper in vicinity of Lake George and Whitehall, Washington Co., New York about 1781 and was host to George Washington. He removed to 1790. Did he have other children ?
HASKINS
Information wanted of Mrs. Abi- gail Haskins who died in Camden, Ohio January 18, 1868. She was born 1751, Burlington Vermont, and lived on Long Island when the British oc- cupated New York.' She was 116 years old when she died. Correspon- dence desired with anyone who has Camden, Ohio and Burlington, Ver- mont record3.
Mrs. Donald C. McCreery, 2133 East Seventh Ave. Denver 6, Colorado
-
May 28, 1948
The Enterprise & News St. Johnsville, N. . Y.
-
Gentlemen./
Upon returning from vacation and glancing thru my accumulated mail and magazines etc. I find that my genealogy queries were publshed in your Thursday April 29th issue.
However, you neglected to list eith- er my name or initials to the quer- ies and I am wondering if you are holding any replies for me.
Since my queries were followed by others, it. is possible that persons have misinterpreted and sent any data they migh have been intending for me to other queriest.s.
If you could clear this up in any monner, I would appreciate it. The queries were:
Silas Dorr, Bryant, Hoibrook, Shephard-Fenno, French-Whitman, Denbar - Howard, Fuller, Pidge, White, Fuller.
Thank you for your co-operation. Sincerely, .
Mrg. C. D. Townsende
452 South Jenkins St
Centralia, Missouri
SANDERS
Who were the parents of 'Aaron Sanders, who was born about 1761 (where ?), and died in the Town of Charlton, Saratoga Co., N. Y. May 12, 1813, aged 51 years, and 6 mos. ? He married (when and where ?) Phebe (surname unknown), who was born about 1768 (where ?), and died in Charlton, N.' Y,, May 272, 1813, aged 45 years, 3 months and 14 days. They are buried in the Smith Ceme- tery located on the Swaggertown Road in Charlton. Did 'Aaron and Phebe Sanders have the following children ?
5, 1819, died 1831, Troy, N. Y. Char- lotte Chase was dau. of Ebenezer Chase, Jr. (b. 1784, Bennington, Vt. who mar. Feb. 1815, Mercy or Macy Harwood who was b. June 10, 1793,' Bennington; Vt.)) Desire data on Mercy Harwood. The Chase line back to Aquila Chase, I have. 1 Elzoe Prescott Clark Weissgerber 347 Kimball Terrace, .
Grist Mills On The Old New York Frontier
By Paul B. Mattice
(Continued from Last Week)
Col. Hendrick Frey built a grist mill on the Canajoharie Creek near the falls in 1770. Apparently the grain raised at Cherry Valley ; was ground in this and the Van Alstyne mill. This creek had many mills lat- er.
Hendrick Mattice built a grist mill on the West Kill at present day' Blen- heim in Schoharie County about 1770. The residents of . Harpersfield in Otsego County patronized this mill. This mill is also located on Captain Gray's military map of 1778. Mat- tice was a Tory and fled to Canada in 1777. Gen. Freegift Patchin ac- quired the mill after the war.
Francis Saltz built a mill at Milli Point on the Schoharie River int Montgomery County about 1770. Saltz was a good singer and paid for his mill stones by singing for Sir William Johnson. quite a story here. Captain Christian Brown in 1770 built a small grist mill on a tributary of the Cobus Kill at present day Bar- nerville in Schoharie County. »
Sir William Johnson built a stone grist mill on the Caroga Creek int present day Ephratah in 1770, Stone housed mills were uncommon in the first days.
The. Becker-Borst mill" at „Davis Ford on the Schoharie River, a mile and a half above present day Scho- harie village was built in 1772. Peter Borst was the miller and soon , be- came the owner. Captain Grav lists this mill on his map as the. "Becker Mill:""Benjamine 'Waldron of Beth- lehem, Albany County was the mill- wright who installed the machinery and later married Peter Borst's sis- ter. Later this mill had a capacity of j 1,000 bushels of grain per day.
The John Carr mill 'at Johnson Settlements (Old' English District) across the Susquehanna River; from the Indian village of Unadilla, now Sidney, was built in 1772. This mill was used by the Indians and Tories at the beginning of the Revolution. It was destroyed with 4,000 bushels of grain by troops under Lt. Col Wil- liam Butler of Pennsylvania in 'Oct- ober 1778. Carr was a Tory and fled to Canada. Rev, - William Johnson was the first settler here and in' 1780 married the famous rifleman, Timo- thy . "Murphy and Margaret Feeck, when thev eloped to Duanesburgh in
poedoes used by the U. S. Navy. He d. 6 Pierremont St ... Brookyin, Dec. 5, --- , ae. 59 (this date asked.)
In his will. James Harvey Wil- liams left $40.000 to each of his chil., namelv deu. Frances and sons' James Harvey Jr., and Earl Trumbull, to be held in trust by their mother until they reached age 25. To his sister Sarah Jarvis Williams, he left real estate in Fort Plain formerly belonging to his father. Another source gives a fourth child, Marian: did she d. y. ? Descendants of these children also wanted. I shail appre- ciate further information on any of the above.
'Marie Lyle
Lyle Heights,
Paso Robles, Cal.
WEED, SMITH, MANN
Full list of children, with dates, locations and marriages asked for Alexander Weed, son of John Weed and Hannah Mann. Sand Alexan- der was . where? Apr. 22, 1773; d. July 27, 1857, ae. 84; is buried in Factory Village Cemetery, Milton, . Saratoga Co., N. Y. He mar. when ? where ? Esther Smith, b. Apr. 14, 1782, where? d. July 10, 1862; bu. beside her husband. Known is' one son, Smith Weed, below.
WEED, GARFIELD
Smith Weed, son of above Alexan- der and Esther (Smith), Weed, was b. prob. Saratoga Co., N. Y., ca. 1812 (want birth or bapt. rec.); d. Fox Lake, Dodge Co., Wis., Dec. 6, 1873; mar. where? May 2,.1842, Mary Gar- field, dau. of Nathaniel Garfield Jr. and Polly Cook. She was b. when ? where? d. Fox Lake, Wis., Sept. 8, 1886. They had 6 children, below.
WEED, HINKLEY, GAMBLE 4
Children of above Smith and Mary (Garfiedl) Weed were: 1 Clarence, b. ] where in N. Y. ? Apr. 10, 1843; d. where ? Mar. 10, 1910. Did he marry ? 2 Edgar, b. where in N. Y. ? July 20. 1846; d. where? Feb. 15, 1857. 3 Jen- nie, b. where in N. Y. ? d Waupun, Wis., Nov. 5, 1884; mar. as his 1st wife, Sept. 20, 1882, Lucius Dwight Hinkley of Waupun. 4 Eva F., b. Apr. 2, 1853; mar. Sept. 20, 1880, Hugh S. Gamble of Warren, Wis. and later rem. to Yankton, 'S. D. 5 Elizabeth A., b. Fox Lake, Wis., ter of Peter and Betsey (Kinby) Aug. 3, 1856; mar. as his 2nd wife, Lucius Dwight Hingley above, of Waupun, Wis. When did she die ? 6 Fred G., b. Fox .Lake, Wis.,' June 11, 1861; d. there Oct. 20 1917; mar. Apr. 1895, Mary Evers, who d. 1901, without issue. Did he marry again -?
Missing dates and locations in
above data asked, and list of des- cendants of above children of Smith and Mary (Garfield) Weed, with dates, locations, and marriages.
I shall appreciate correspondence with any of the descendants.
Marie Lyle
Lyle Heights Paso Robles, Cal.
HASKINS
genealogy queries were published in saltz was a good singer and paid for your Thursday April 29th issue.
However, you neglected to list eith- er my name or initials to the quer- ies and I am wondering if you are hoiding any replies for me.
Since my queries were followed by others, it is possible that persons have misinterpreted and sent any data they migh have been intending for me to other queriest's.
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