USA > New York > Genesee County > Our county and its people : a descriptive and biographical record of Genesee County, New York, v. 1 > Part 13
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William Parrish and his son Isaac came from Randolph, Vt., in 1806. The latter was pressed into service during the early part of the war of 1812, while on a business trip to Batavia, but was allowed to return home after reaching Buffalo. Hon. Abel Ensign and Harvey Hawkins settled in town in 1808, and were proprietors of the first tavern and store. The year following Lyman Riddle, John Squires, Thomas Rice, Shubael Wing and Edmund Tracy purchased land and founded homes Levi Thompson and Moses M. Page located here in 1810, and soon afterward Colonel Seba Brainard settled in the same neighborhood. John and Samuel Latham, who came about the same time, erected the first frame dwelling in Alexander. In 1810 and 1811 Gehial Stannard, William Waite. Spencer Waldo, John Cady and Return B. Cady be- came their neighbors. Captain Elisha Smith, who settled at Alexander village in 1812, was a native of Washington county, N. Y., and a soldier in the war of 1812. Timothy Movers built the first mill at Alexander village. Leverett Seward, another pioneer, was a soldier in the war of 1812 and served twice in the Assembly.
The early history of Pembroke is closely identified with that of Darien, and the names of most of the early settlers of the former town are contained in the preceding pages of this chapter devoted to the pio- neer history of Darien. David Goss made the first settlement in 1501. He came from Massachusetts and erected a dwelling which he also used as a tavern. Dr. David Long, from Washington county, N. Y .. John Long, his son, and Samuel Carr settled in town in 1808, and Joseph Lester, from Connecticut, in 1509. Samuel Carr built the first grist mill and saw mill, and also kept a tavern, believed to have been the first in Pembroke. The Longs located at what is now Corfu, and for many years that neighborhood was known as Long's Corners. Dr. Long was the first medical practitioner to establish himself in Pem-
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THE PIONEERS OF THE COUNTY.
broke. Anna Horton opened a school in 1s1l, the first in town. Jonas Kinne, who came to Long's Corners in 1812, soon after erected a com- modious two story tavern, which became a famous public house for those days.
Although the old gazetteers affirm that Peter Crosman, who located in Pavilion in 1809, was the first settler in that town, recent research shows that settlements were made within the present limits of the town at least four years earlier than that date. Isaac D. Lyon, who removed to this town in 1805, doubtless was the pioneer white inhabitant. The next record extant shows that in 1807 Richard Walkley and the Law- rence family established homes in the town. Peter Crosman came in 1809, and in the same year we find settlements made by Levi and James Me Wethy, Solomon, Ezra and Laura Terrill. Reuben Burnham, Dr. Benjamin Hill, William Halbert, Orange Judd, Rowland Perry, Joshua Shumway, Calvin Spring. Erastus Spring, Amos Spring, Elliott Ter- rill and Ezra Walker came in 1810; Barber Allen, Amasa Allen, Issachar Allen, William Almy, Leman Bradley, Samuel Bishop, II. B. Elwell, Libbeus Graves, Calvin Lewis, Daniel Lord, Samuel Phelps, Elijah Phelps, Page Russell, Cyril Shumway, Noah Starr, Isaac Storm, Jesse Sprague, Daniel Walker, Isaac Walker, Loomis Walker and Syl- vanus L. Youtig in 1811 ; and Harry Conklin, Lovell Cobb, Francis Her- rick, Richard Pearson, W. E. Pearson, D. W. Matteson, Isaac Shepard, Hazel Thompson, D -. Abel Tennant and Dr. Daniel White during or before 1812.
Ezra Terrill, one of the most prominent of the earliest pioneers, came from Vermont in 1800. He bought four hundred and eighty acres near Union Corners, and erected thereon a log house. He married Rox. anna Elliott. Daniel Lord was a tailor, and he and his wife made many suits of clothing for the soldiers of the war of 1812. Captain James Sprague, a native of Connecticut, in company with Aaron Spaulding, built the first saw mill in the neighborhood, on the Oatka. Amasa Allen and his wife, formerly Lucinda Loomis, was one of those who came in 1811. Captain Issachar Allen, his son, was an officer in the State militia. Dr. Daniel White, the first physician in town, was a surgeon in the war of 1812.
James Walsworth, who came to Alabama in 1:06, and opened the first tavern there, was the first settler in that town. As far as can be ascertained from careful study of the records he was the only one to lo- cate in that town prior to 1812.
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
Benham Preston, who originally located in Batavia, and who removed to Byron in 180; or 1808, was the first permanent settler in that town. In ISOS Elisha Taylor and Hoskins took up land and built homes there. Mr. Taylor came from Otsego county, N. Y. The following year the colony was increased by the arrival of Wheaton Carpenter from Rhode Island, Elisha Miller from Pennsylvania and Chester T. Holbrook from Cayuga county. In 1810 Nathan Holt came from Otsego county, and in 1811 Asa Merrill immigrated from Oneida county. Chester T. Holbrook taught the first school, which was opened in 1510. The earliest religious services were held in 1809 by Rev. Royal Phelps, a Presbyterian clergyman from Cayuga county. The first religious so- ciety in town was the Baptist church organized in 1810 by Elder Ben- jamin M. Parks. The first grist mill and saw mill were erected by Samuel Parker in 1809 or 1810.
In addition to those already mentioned as pioneers of Byron, the foi- lowing are recorded as having settled in the town in the years men. tioned: 1800, Sherrard Parker; 180;, Benoni Gaines; 1808, Elijah Loomis; 1800, Asahel Cook; 1810, Richard G. Moses, Elijah Brown, Elkanah Humphrey, E. Taylor; 1811, John Bean, David Cook. An- drew Dibble, Benajah Griswold, Amasa Walker; 1812, Paul Bullard, David Shedd, Ezra Sanford, Zeno Terry, William Terry.
According to the survey of the Holland Purchase into ranges and townships, the various counties and their towns, as at present organ. ized, were included in the ranges and townships of the original survey as follows:
Allegany County .- Bolivar, Township 1, Range 1. Wirt, t. 2. r. 1. Friendship. t. 3. r. 1. Belfast, t. 4. r. 1. Caneadea, t. 5, r. 1. Hume. t. 6, r. 1. Genesee, t. 1, r. 2. Clarkesville, t. 2, r. 2. Cuba, t. 3. r. 2. Belfast, eastern part of t. 4, r. 2. New Hudson, western part of t. 4, r. 2. Rushford, t. 5. r. 2. Centreville, t. 6, r. 2.
Wyoming County .- Pike, t. 2, r. 1. Gainesville, t. s, r. 1. War- saw, t. 9, r. 1. Middlebury, t. 10, r. 1. Eagle, t. f. r. 2. Weathers. field, t. S, r. 2. Orangeville, t. 9, r. 2. Attica, t. 10, r. 2. China, t. ;. r. 3. Java, t. 8, r. 3. Sheldon, t. 9, r. 3. Bennington, t. 10, r. 3. China, t. 7, r. 4. Java, t. S, r. 4. Sheldon, t. 9, r. 4. Bennington. t. 10, r. 4.
Genesee County. - Bethany, t. 11, r. 1. Stafford, eastern part of t. 12, r. 1. Batavia, western part of t. 12, r. 1. Elba, t. 13, r. 1. Alex- ander, t. 11, r. 2. Batavia, t. 12, r. 2. Elba, eastern part of t. 13, r.
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THE HOLLAND PURCHASE.
2. Oakfield, western part of t. 13, r. 2. Darien, t. 11, r. 3. Pem- broke, t. 12, r. 3. Alabama, t. 13, r. 3. Darien, t. 11, r. 4. Pembroke, t. 12, r. 4. Alabama, t. 13, r. 4.
Orleans County .- Barrre, t. 14, r. 1. Barre, southern part of t. 15, r. 1. Gaines, northern part of t. 15, r. 1. Carlton, t. 16, r. 1. Barre, t. 14, r. 2. Ridgeway, western tier of lots in t. 15, r. 2. Barre, south- eastern part of t. 15, r. 2. Gaines, northeastern part of t. 15, r. 2. Carlton, t. 16. r. 2. Shelby, t. 14. r. 3. Ridgeway, t. 15. r. 3. Yates, t 16, r. 3. Shelby, t. 14, r. 4. Ridgeway, t. 15, r. 4. Yates, t. 16. r. 4. Cattaraugus County -Portville, t. 1, r. 3. Portville, southern part of t. 2. r. 3. Hinsdale, northern part of t. ? , r. 3. Hinsdale, southern part of t. 3, r. 3. Rice, northern part of t. 3, r. 3. Lyndon, t. 4, r. 3. Far- mersville. t. 3, r. 3. Freedom, t. 6, r. 3. Olean, t. 1, r. 4. Olean, southern part of t. 2, r. 4. Hinsdale, northern part of t. 2, r. 4. Hins. dale, southern part of t. 4. r. 4. Rice, northern part of t. 3, r. 4. Lyn. don, eastern part of t. 4, r. 4. Franklinville, western part of t. 4, r. 4. Farmersville, t. 5, r. 4. Machias, southwestern corner lot of t. 6, r. 4. Freedom, residue of t. 6, r. 4. Burton, t. 1, r. 5. Burton, t. 2, r. 5. Humphrey, t. 3. r. 5. Franklinville, t. 4, r. 5. Machias, t. 5, r. 5. Ma- chias, southern tier of lots in t. 6, r. 5. Yorkshire, part of t. 6, r. 3. Yorkshire, southeastern part of t. f, r. 5. Carrolton, t. 1, r. 6. Carrol- ton, southern part of t. 2, r. 6. Great Valley, northern part of t. 2, r. 6. Great Valley, t. 3. r. 6. Ellicottville, t. I. r. 6. Ellicottville, southern part of t. 5. r. 6. Ashford, northern part of t. 5, r. 6. Ashford, south- ern part of t. 6. r. 6. Little Valley, t. 1, r. 7. Little Valley. t. 2, r. ?. Little Valley, t. 3, r. 7. Mansfield, t. 4, r. f. Otto, t. 5, r. 7. Otto, southern part of t. 6, r. 7. Ashford, part of t. 6. r. C. South Valley. t. 1, r. 8. Cold Spring. t. 2, r. 8. Napoli, t. 3, r. S. New Albion, t. 4, r. S. Otto, eastern part of t. 5, r. 8. Persia, western part of t. 5, r. S. Otto, southeastern part of t. 6, r. 8. Persia, southwestern part of t. 6, r. 8. South Valley, t. 1, r. 9. Randolph, t. 2, r. 9. Connewango, t. 3, r. 9. Leon, t. 4, r. 9. Dayton, t. 5, r. 9. Perrysburgh, t. 6, r. 9.
Erie County .-- Sardinia, northwestern part of t. 6, r. 5. Sardinia. northern and western parts of t. 2, r. 5. Holland, t. S. r. 5. Wales, t. 9, r. 5. Alden, t. 11, r. 5. Newstead, t. 12. r. 5. Newstead, southern part of t. 13, r. 5. Sardinia, northeastern part of t. 6, r. G. Concord. northwestern part of t. 6, r. 6. Sardinia, eastern part of t. f. r. 6. Con- cord, western part of t. 2, r. 6. Colden, t. S, r. 6. Aurora, t. 9, r. 6. Lancaster; t. 11, r. 6. Clarence, t. 12, r. 6. Clarence, southern part of
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
t. 13, r. 6. Concord northeastern part of t. 6, r. 7. Collins, north. western part of t. 6, r. ?. Concord, eastern part of t. 1, r. ?. Collins, western part of t. ", r. f. Eden, western tier of lots in t. S. r. t. Bos- ton, eastern part of t. S, r. 7. Hamburg. t. 9, r. 7. Black Rock, two western tiers of lots in t. 11, r. 7. Amherst, northern tier of lots in t. 11, r. 7. Cheektowaga, residue of t. If, r. f. Tonawanda, two southeast- ern lots in t. 12, r. 6. Amherst, residue of t. 12, r. C. Amherst, south- ern part of t. 15, r. :. Collins, northern part of t. 6, r. 8. Collins, t. ?. r. S. Eden, t. S, r. S. Evans, southwestern part of t. 9, r. S. Ham- burg, residue of t. 9, r. S. Buffalo City, as constituted in 1850, south - western part of t. 11, r. 8. Black Rock, residue of t. 11, r. S. Tona- wanda, southern and eastern parts of t. 12, r. S. Brandt, southern part of t. S, r. 9. Evans, northern part of t. S, r. 9.
Niagara County .- Royalton, northern part of t. 13, r. 5. Royalton t. 14, r. 5. Hartland, t. 15, r. 5. Somerset, t. 16, r. 5. Royalton, northeastern part of t. 13, r. 6. Lockport, northwestern part of t. 13. r. 6. Royalton, eastern part of t. 14, r. 6. Lockport, western part of t. 14, r. 6. Hartland, eastern part of t. 15, r. 6. Newfane, Western part of t. 15, r. 6. Somerset, eastern part of t. 16, r. 6. Newfane. western part of t. 16, r. 6. Pendleton, northern part of t. 13, r. :. Lockport, castern part of t. 14, r. ". Cambria, western part of t. 14, r. 7. Newfane, eastern part of t. 15, r. :. Wilson, western part of t. 15, r. 7. Wheatfield, northwestern part of t. 12, r. S. Wheatfield. t. 13, r. S. Cambria, eastern part of t. 14, r. S. Lewiston, western part of t. 14, r. S. Wilson, eastern part of t. 15, r. S. Porter, western part of t. 15, r. S. Niagara, t. 13, r. 9. Lewiston, t. 14, r. 9. Porter, t. 15, r. 9.
Chautauqua County .- Carroll, t. 1, r. 10. Poland, t. 2, r. 10. Elling- ton, t. 3, r. 10. Cherry Creek, t. 4, r. 10. Villanovia, t. 5, r. 10. Han- over, t. 6, r. 10. Ellicott, northern tier of lots in t. 1, r. 11. Carroll. southeastern part of t. 1, r. 11. Busti, southwestern part of t. 1, r. 11. Ellicott, t. 2, r. 11. Gerry, t. 3, r. 11. Charlotte, t. 4, r. 11. Ark- wright, t. 5, r. 11. Hanover, four lots in the southeastern part of t. 6. r. 11. Sheridan, residue of t. 6, r. 11. Busti, eastern part of t. 1, r. 12. Harmony, western part of t 1, r. 12. Busti, southeastern part of t. ? , r. 12. Harmony. southwestern part of t. 2, r. 12. Ellery, northern part of t. 2, r. 12. Stockton, northern tier of lots in t. 3, r. 12. Ellery, residue of t. 3, r. 12. Stockton, t. 4, r. 12. Pomfret, t. S. r. 12. Pom- frot, t. 6, r. 12. Harmony, t. 1. r. 13. Harmony, t. 2, r. 13. Stock-
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PURCHASERS OF HOLLAND LANDS.
ton, northeastern lot in t. 3. r. 13. Ellery, residue of the eastern tier of t. 3, r. 13. Chautauqua, western part of t. 3, r. 13. Stockton, east- ern tier of lots in t. 4. r. 13. Portland, northwestern part of t. 4, r. 13. Chautauqua, residue of t. 4, r. 13. Portland, t. 5, r. 13. Clymer, t. 1. r. 14 Sherman, t. 2, r. 14. Chautauqua, eastern part of t. 3, r. 14. Westfield, western part of t. 3, r. 14. Chautauqua, southeastern part of t. 4. r. 14. Westfield, residue of t. 4. r. 14. French Creek, t 1, r. 15. Mina, t. 2, r. 15. Ripley, t. 3, r. 15.
The names of all the purchasers of land in Genesee county, from the commencement of the land sales up to January 1, 1801, are given be- low. They appear in the order in which the contracts were taken each year. their locations being designated by townships and ranges. Reference to the plan of Genesee county as it appears in the foregoing tabulation will show in what towns these settlements were made, and what year :
1801 .- Batavia village, Abe! Rowe, Stephen Russell, David Mc- Cracken.
Township 12, range 1. Worthy L. Churchill, William Rumsey, Daniel Curtis, William Blackman, Hiram Blackman, William Munger, Eleazer Cantling, Nathaniel Walker, John A. Thompson, Peter Stage, Jesse Rumsey. John Dewey, Zenas Bigelow.
Township 12, range 2. Gideon Dunham, Isaac Sutherland, Samuel F. Geer, Peter Lewis, John Forsyth, John Lamberton, Russel Noble.
Township 12, range 5, Orlando Hopkins, Otis Ingalis, David Cully, Peter Vandeventer.
Township 13, range ?, Aaron White, Peter Rice.
1502 .- Batavia village, Charles Cooley, James McKain, Elisha Gett- ings, Joseph Alvord, Zerah Phelps, Elijah Tillotson, James W. Stevens, Hezekiah Rhoads, Rufus Hart, Israel M. Dewey, James Brisbane, Will- iam Wood, Major Nobles, Russell Crane, Oswald Williams, Rowlen Town, Silas Chapin, Ebenezer Cary, Paul Hinkley, Timothy Washburn, Moses Hayse, James Holden, Elijah Spencer, Benjamin Russell, Paul Hill, Peter Powers, Daniel Curtis, Libbeus Fish, Henry Wilder, Jesse Hurlbut.
Township 11. range 2, Lewis Disbrow.
Township 12, range 1, Elisha Adams, Roswell Graham.
Township 11, range 2, Alexander Rea,' John Olney, George Darrow. Township 12, range 2, Samuel F. Geer, Benjamin Morgan.
1 This name appears on the records as both Rea and Rhea.
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
Township 13, range ?, Daniel Ayer, Job Babcock.
1803 .- Batavia village, John S. Leonard, James Clement, Jeremiah Cutler, Elisha Mann.
Township 11, range 1, John Torrey, Charles Culver, Abner Ashley, Elisha Wallace, David Hall, Sylvester Lincoln, M. Scott, Nathaniel Pinney, Orsamus Kellogg, George Lathrop, Solomon Kingsley, Jedediah Riggs, Horace Shepherd, John Dewey, Lyman D. Prindie, Samuel Prindle, Oliver Fletcher.
Township 12, range 1. Lewis Disbrow, Ebenezer Eggleston, Peter Powers, Enos Kellogg, Charles Culver, John Henry, Moses Dimmick, Robert Berry, Stephen Wickham, Lemuel T. Pringle, James Guttridge, James Fuller, John Berry, John Spencer, Burgess Squire, Moody Stone, Asa Osborne, Elisha A. Eades, Parley Fairbanks.
Township 13, range 1, Archileus Whitten, David Kingsley, Thomas Parker.
Township 11, range 2, Ezekiel Churchill, George Darrow, Elijah Root, Joseph Fellows, Miles Wilkinson, Benedict Ames.
Township 12, range 2, Peleg Donglass, Alanson Gunn, Benjamin Tainter, IIenry Lake. John Lamberton, Hugh Henry, Amos Lamberton, Joshua Sutherland, William Pierce, Elisha Cox. David Bowen, Abraham Starks, William Lucas.
Township 13, range 2, Hiram Smith, Salas Pratt, William McGrath. George Lathrop, Darius Ayer, Philip Adkins, Lemuel L. Clark, James Robinson.
Township 12, range 3, Jesse Tainter, Abner Lamberton, Micajah Brooks.
1804 .- Township 11, range 1, Peter Adley, Isaac Wright, Elijah Bristol, Israel Shearer, Alanson Jones, Joseph Hawks, Joel S. Wilkin- son, Peleg Douglass, Isaac R. Wright, Elisha Giddings, John Smith, Abner Ashley, Charles Culver, William Coggshall, William B. Cogg- shall, John Halstate, John Grimes, James Cowdry, John Roberts, David Tyrrill.
Township 12, range 1, Nathaniel Walker, Pardon Starks, Zenos Keyes, Benjamin Cary, Alfred Lincoln, Horace Jerome, Nathan Miner.
Township 13, range 1, John S. Sprague, Nathaniel Johnson.
Township 11, range 2, Elijah Root, Samuel Russell, Benham Preston, Elisha Carver, Ehas Lee, Jesse Hawkins, Solomon Blodgett, Rufus Blodgett, John Lee, Ezekiel T. Lewis, Elijah Rowe.
Township 12, range 2, Elizur Messenger, Isaac Smith, Levi Davis, Azor Marsh, David Smith.
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PURCHASERS OF HOLLAND LANDS.
Township 13, range ?, Rufus Hastings, Roraback Robinson, Benja- min Chase, Solomon Baker, Samuel Jerome, sr., Samuel Jerome, jr.
Township 12, range 3, David Goss.
Township 12, range 4, John Richardson, Stephen B. Tilden, Jacob Farnham.
Township 13, range 4, James Walworth.
1805. - Batavia village, William Ewing.
Township 11. range 1, Phineas Smith, Harvey Prindle, Cyrenus Glass, William Williams, David Anderson, Solomon Lathrop, Jonathan Bixby, John Bixby, Ezekiel Fox, Philo Whitcomb, John Greenough, Gershom Orvis, Heman Brown, Nathaniel Brown, Peter Putnam, Pat- rick Alvord, Alford Rose, Richard Stiles, John Chambers, Thomas Hal. stead. John Boynton, Eli Perry, Abel Buell, Joseph Barlett, David Mor- gan, Asher Lamberton. Israel Buell, William Bannister, Amasa Robbins, Jesse Cowdry, Isaac Wilson, Josiah Southard, John Grimes.
Township 12, range 1, Asa Webster, James Heacocks, Oliver Sweat- well, Asa Osborn, Hiel Chapman, Abel MeKain, Nathan Graham, Jo- seph Bentley.
Township. 13, range 1, Hiram Smith, Colonel Samuel Hall, Horace Carr, Benjamin Chase, Elisha Kellogg, Dudley Sawyer, Samuel Cum- mings, Nathan Miner, Silas Torrey. Edmund Burgess.
Township 11, range 2. John McCormick, Levi Harris, William Prout, Asa Buckley, Ezra Blodgett, Noah Brooks, Asa Frost, Nathanial East- man, Thomas Lee, Daniel Rawson, David Rowland, Elisha Fox, Seth Landon, Stephen Day, Abijah Warren, Samuel Reed, Daniel Davis, Manna Chase, Amos Adams, Joseph Gladden, Joseph Cady, John Olney, Gurdon Williams, Jonas Marsh, Charles C. Jackson, Elisha Sutton, Will- iam Burton, William King, Isaac King, Samuel Benedict.
Township 12, range 2. Timothy Washburn, Thomas Godfrey, Renben W. Wilder, Rufus MeCracken, Azor Nash, Lemuel L. Clark, Joel Tyrrell, Hugh Duffy, James Henry, Richard Godfrey, John Algur, John Herring, Jonathan Wood, Reuben Lamberton, Amos Lamberton, Paul Hill, Silas Dibble, jr.
Township 11, range 3, Orange Carter, Israel Doane, Samuel Russell, James Jones, David Clark.
Township 12, range 4. Francis B. Drake, David Sarles, Noah Pease, Ephraim Pease.
1506 -Township 11, range 1. Daniel W Bannister, Jerry Cowdry, Thomas Starkweather, Mons Goodrich, Lewis Barney, David Morgan,
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
Ebenezer Wilson, David Filkin, Peter Davidson, Chester Davidson, Franklin Putnam, David Stewart, Lyman D. Prindle, Joseph Shedd, Henry Miller, Orsamus Kellogg, Ebenezer Eggleston, Henry Rumsey, Elisha Bristol, Elijah Andrews, David Ingersoll, Joseph Bartlett.
Township 12. range 1, Solomon Sylvester, Daniel B. Brown, Israel Graham, Moses Norton, Peter Putnam, Amos Jones, Alvah Jones, Ste. phen Powell, Webster Powers, Robert Norton, Benjamin Graham, Jo- seph Savacool, Henry Stringer, jr., Samuel Ranger. Peter Stage, Gur- don Huntington, John Gould.
Township 13, range 1, Joel Jerome, James Mills, Horace Jerome, Aaron White, Enos Kellogg. Ephraim Wortman, Benjamin Chase, Syl- Vester Eldridge. Slas Torrey. John Romaback.
Township 11. range 2. Elijah Root, ir .. Ezra Whipple. John Hum- phrey. James Clisby. Jacob Thompson, Amos Thompson, George Har- rick, Joseph Carpenter, David S Clement, William Wood, Noah Brooks, Benjamin C. Goodrich, Joel Munn, Phineas Munn, John W. Lawson, Andrew MeLean, Ebenezer Seeley, John Olney, Joseph Van Debogart.
Township 12. range 2, Newcomb Godfrey, Elijah Clark. Richard God- frey, William J. MeCracken, Edmund Badger, William H. Bush, Othniel Field, James Post, Caleb Blodgett, Samuel Risey, Elisha A. Eades, Joshua Barrett, Elisha Morehouse, Thomas Godfrey.
Township 13, range 2. Micajah Green, Caleb Blodgett, jr., George Hoge, Eldridge Buntley, Nicholas Bentley, George Harper, James Cros- sett, John Harper, David Woodworth, David Clark, William Parrish, Ezra Thomas, Caleb Blodgett.
Township 11. range 3, Amos Jones, Joseph Fellows, Timothy Fay. Henry Rumsey, Davil Carter. Elnathan Wilcox, John Chamberlin. Alexander Little, Nahum Thompson, Jonas Blodgett, Isaac Chaddock. John McCollister. Burnhan Lyman, Henry William, David Clark, John Churchill, jr., Reuben Nichols, Joseph Peters, Aaron Gale.
Township 12, range 4, John Richardson, Jariel Scott, Samuel Carr.
Following are the names of the first persons who took contracts and, in most instances, became pioneer settlers in the various towns of Gene- see county embraced within the limits of the Holland Purchase in which no contracts were taken previous to January 1, 1802. The names of those who settled in the county previous to that date are found in a list which appears in previous pages :
1810 .- Township 13, range 3, town of Alabama, Jesse Lund, David Gary, Charles Bliss, Levi Smith, John S. Wolcott, Nathan McCumber.
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THE COUNTY IN THE WAR OF 1812.
1807 .- Township 11, range 4, town of Darien, William Humphrey, Emery Blodgett, Joshua Bailey, Josiah Lee, Rufus Kidder, Amos Humphrey, David Long.
1822 .- Township 13, range 4, town of Alabama, Benjamin Patterson, Solomon Force, Augustus L. Barton, Joseph Barber, Ezra N. Russell.
CHAPTER X.
The War of 1519, and the Part Taken Therein by the Inhabitants of Genesee County.
While the United States and Great Britain were ostensibly at peace during the period from 1753 to the beginning of 1812, the two nations were far from being on friendly terms. Great Britain continued her depredations wherever practicable. She maintained military posts on the Canadian frontier, 'despite the treaty stipulations to the contrary, and constantly menaced our trade and commerce and our frontier settlements. When Congress, realizing probably that another conflict was inevitable, began to build a navy, Great Britain took offense. In 179: this country put into commission three frigates-the Constitution, the Constellation and the United States. Each carried a full comple- ment of guns. At the close of the year 1798 the United States had a navy of twenty-three vessels, with an aggregate of four hundred and forty-six guns.
As soon as it was learned that this country was placing itself on a war footing, the British formed a plan to cripple the American navy. The first intimation of the intentions of Great Britain came November 16 of that year, when Captain Phillips, in command of the American cruiser Baltimore, sailed from the harbor of Havana, Cuba, to escort a number of merchant vessels to Charleston, S. C., and protect them from attack by French privateers, which then infested the western waters of the Atlantic. Just outside the harbor Captain Phillips met a British squadron and advanced toward the Carnatick, the flagship, to speak with the commander as an act of courtesy.
Then, without a word of warning, the British squadron bore down upon the American merchantmen and seized three of them. Captain
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
Phillips went on board the Carnatick to protest, but was informed that every man on the Baltimore who could not prove that he was a native- born American would be compelled to enter the British service then and there. Captain Phillips announced that he would prefer to make a formal surrender, but this privilege was denied him. Upon returning to his own vessel he found that a British officer was mustering the American sailors. Fifty-five of these were transferred to the Carnatick, but later, when Phillips struck his flag, all but five of them were re- turned. These five men, with the three merchant vessels seized, were carried away by the British squadron.
Great Britain at that time was the acknowledged mistress of the seas, consequently all that the United States government could do was to pro- test against the outrage. Not only was no attention paid to the protest. but Great Britain continued to prey upon American commerce upon the high seas, impressing into her service the best American sailors during the next fourteen years. Great Britain claimed the right of search, not only as regarded American vessels, but also all neutral vessels, her de- sire being to look for British subjects to press them into the British naval service for her war with France. Every time America offered to en- deavor to reach a friendly understanding with Great Britain on the subject the offer was rejected or not noticed.
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