USA > New York > Saratoga County > Our county and its people : a descriptive and biographical record of Saratoga County, New York > Part 13
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
family. His wife was a granddaughter of Philip Fraker, a prominent pioneer of Day. Among Partridge's neighbors were William Trow- bridge, Hezekiah Ranney, William Davis, Jordan Sprague and Dr. Gaylor. Isaac Deming, who located very early in the northeastern part of the town, built the first grist mill, about 1793. This mill was situated on the north bank of Beecher's creek, at Beecher's Hollow, where for many years the brick grist mill has stood. John and Mehit- able Sumner came from Ashford, Conn., with five sons, five daughters and several grandchildren, about 1797 or 1798, possibly a little earlier, and located on the west side of the Sacandaga river, east of Beecher's Hollow. Their sons took up farms in the same neighborhood. John Sumner, jr., the eldest son, built the first saw mill in town, prior to 1800. It was located on Batcheller creek, on the opposite side of the river, on the site of the present village of Batchellerville. Another son, Robert, was the first supervisor of Edinburgh, serving four years, from 1801 to 1804 inclusive. The head of the family, John Sumner, was a cousin of the father of Charles Sumner, the great statesman. Near Beecher's Hollow Samuel Cheadle was another early inhabitant. In 1797 he was married, in Edinburgh, to Rhoda Sprague. In the same locality Samuel Downing lived prior to 1800.
On account of the limited population of Edinburgh at the time, there were few schools in the town until the early part of the present century. The only teacher of those days of whom there is any record was Daniel Abbott, from Connecticut, who taught school in 1794.
The only religious body in Edinburgh prior to the present century was a Baptist church organized in 1798 by Rev. Mr. Munro, of Galway. No house of worship was built, however, until 1816, and this was razed in 1852, when the society ceased to exist.
MALTA.
Samuel Clark was among the most influential men who settled in the town of Malta during Revolutionary times, in 1776 or 1777. He came from Newburgh, N. Y. His residence stood opposite that of Samuel Smith, whose settlement is referred to in a previous chapter. In it was held the first court for Saratoga county. Mr. Clark was a presi- dential elector in 1792, voting for George Washington at the second election under the constitution. He was also the first supervisor of the town of Malta, serving in 1802 and 1803. His home was situated at East Line, first on the Ballston side of the line; but soon afterwards he
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NORTHUMBERLAND, 1783-1800.
built a house on the east side of the boundary line, in Malta. He owned about six hundred acres of land. His sons were Jehial, who re- moved to Sullivan county ; Samuel, who remained in Saratoga county, and James, the father of James H. Clark of East Line. Of his daugh- ters, Charlotte became Mrs. Miller of Ballston; Elizabeth married Rev. William Anson and finally settled on the old homestead; Lydia became Mrs. Cooper of Cayuga county, and Patty became Mrs. Valentine and removed to Michigan.
Among others who settled in the western part of Malta were Noah Olmstead, -- Rockwell, Ebenezer Millard and Obadiah Tompkins. Other early settlers in the town were Luther Landon, who lived north of Malta; Dean Chase, at Malta Ridge; Ebenezer Valentine, south of Malta; Cornelius Abeel, east of Round Lake; Stephen Ireland, near Saratoga lake; Ebenezer Dibble and Reuben Doolittle.
Several of the churches which existed in Malta during the closing years of the eighteenth century are now extinct. The first church of which there is any record was " The Presbyterian Society of East Ballston," which was incorporated March 1, 1793, and which may have existed some time before that date. Its trustees at that time were Uriah Benedict, David Rumsey, Gershom Gilbert, William Dunning, Samuel Clark and Joseph Rockwell. The first meeting-house1 was erected about 1800, and stood on the East Line road about eight hun- dred rods south of the residence of Samuel Clark.
NORTHUMBERLAND.
On account of the exciting scenes which occurred in the town of
1 This church afterward became Congregational and the house of worship was removed fur- ther south, to the corner of the old cemetery. A few years later the society removed to Malta- ville, abandoning its old house at the cemetery and erecting a new one at Maltaville. For several years thereafter the church was unsettled, being Congregational part of the time and Presby- terian the balance of the time, but in 1843 the Presbyterian church at Malta was organized and the old church at Maltaville was abandoned. It is said that the first church, located on the west side of the East Line road, in the town of Ballston, was Presbyterian. Rev. Lebbeus Armstrong bought the building and moved it to Benedict's Corners, but no society was organized. The church became Congregational in 1834, but in 1840 returned to Presbyterianism. The organization of the church at Malta (Dunning Street) absorbed most of the Maltaville society, which thereupon ยท became extinct. For several years afterward the old building was used by the Methodists and for union meetings.
Another extinct church is the Methodist Episcopal church at East Line. The house of worship, now a school house, was built in 1809, but the society was incorporated March 26, 1800, as "the Methodist Episcopal Church of Stillwater," Malta then being a part of Stillwater. The first offi- cers were Jerciniah Hart, Frederick Conley, John Myers and Stephen Hart. Services were dis- continued in 1870, the relations of the members being transferred either to Ballston Spa or Jones ville.
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
Northumberland during the Revolution and the numerous perils which confronted the inhabitants of that town, practically no settlements were made within its borders between the time of the Burgoyne invasion and the peace of 1783. In that year-or at least as early as 1784 -- General Peter Gansevoort, the hero of Fort Stanwix during the expedi- tion of General St. Leger in 1777, purchased the old Hugh Munroe property in the northern part of the town. This property had been owned by the Tory Munroe, who joined Burgoyne's expedition and who also made the attack upon Ballston in 1780; but the State confis- cated it and sold it to General Gansevoort. This gallant warrior re- sided in Albany, but spent his summers upon his newly acquired estate, a fine one, in that portion of Northumberland which ever since has borne his name. He was not a permanent resident, but his interests at Gansevoort were so numerous and he spent so much of his time there that he certainly deserves the place accorded him in the history of the town. General Herman Gansevoort, his son, built the famous Ganse- voort mansion. The family made frequent purchases of real estate until they finally owned a large tract in the northwestern part of the town.
General Gansevoort made great improvements to the old Munroe property. Soon after his arrival he found the irons and stones of the Munroe mill hidden in the woods, and used them in the construction of new mills. He improved his land, built good roads and made the country about his home as inviting as possible for newcomers.
James McCreedy 1 and John Terhune removed from Fishkill in 1785 and located on land purchased of Mr. Campbell of Schenectady. Mr. McCreedy's farm was that which, many years afterward, was occupied by Abram Marshall. Mr. Terhune's farm adjoined it. Both had served in the American army during the Revolution, and they were related by marriage. Both families became prominent in the affairs of the town. Nicholas Vandenburgh removed into the town about 1790 and bought a farm north of the 1,600 acre tract occupied in 1772 by Wynant, John and Cornelius Vandenburgh. He was supposed to be a brother of the latter three. "Captain " Samuel Lewis 2 bought a farm just after the
1 It is worthy of note that five generations of the McCreedy family served this country in the various wars in which it has been engaged. James McCreedy, his father, and his grandfather all fought with the American army in the Revolution. Williani McCreedy, his son, who lived for many years in Schuylerville, served in the war of 1812, as did his three brothers, Jeremiah, Gama- liel and Charles. William McCreedy's sons served in the Union army in the Civil war.
2 Samuel Lewis had been a lieutenant in the force under General Gansevoort at Fort Stanwix. He left three sons, Prof. Taylor Lewis, a professor in Union College, Schenectady; General Samuel Lewis, of Gansevoort; and Morgan Lewis, of Gansevoort. All are deceased.
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CORINTH, 1783-1800.
war of a Mr. Graham. Ebenezer Bacon came from Connecticut in 1794 and settled at what has since been known as "Bacon Hill." He built a large tavern at that place and also ran a store for many years. This hamlet was quite an important place until after the opening of the Champlain canal, when most of the trade was diverted to Northumber- land and Schuylerville. As far as can be learned Bacon's store was the first in town. Evert Walker and Reed Lewis were other early inhab- itants at Bacon Hill, before 1800. The latter married a daughter of Mr. Bacon. He did an extensive business as harnessmaker and saddler. He had two sons and a daughter.
A short distance east of Gansevoort a number of families from New Jersey settled before 1800. Among them were Colonel Sidney Berry and the Craig and Nevins families. The former became a very prom- inent citizen, serving frequently in official positions. He was the first supervisor of the town, serving in 1798 and 1799. His daughter Betsey married James Rogers, son of General Thomas Rogers. He died in 1810, and she subsequently married Esek Cowen,1 who afterward be- came one of the most eminent lawyers in the United States. John Hammond located about 1790 on a farm between Bacon Hill and North- umberland. Thomas Hartwell was the first settler in the vicinity of Brownsville. William Copeland was another early inhabitant. His wife was a daughter of Captain Palmer. Others who located in town during this period included John De Monts, above Fort Miller, who maintained a ferry at that point for several years; James Gamble, James Cramer, Jared Palmer and -- Buel. Charles Carpenter had the first store at Northumberland, about 1800. Among the early physicians in town were Dr. Jesse Billings, grandfather of Jesse Billings, a wealthy boat builder and capitalist of the town at present; Dr. Collins and Dr. Reynolds.
Little is known of the early schools of Northumberland. Mr. Fra- zier was one of the first teachers, but where his school stood is not shown by the records. Isaac B. Payne, John Metcalf and Robert Mc- Gregor were among the early school commissioners. There is also no existing record of any church in the town before the present century.
CORINTH.
One of the first to come to what is now the town of Corinth during
1 A sketch of Judge Cowen will be found in the chapter on the Bench and Bar of Saratoga county.
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
the Revolution was Benjamin Ide, formerly of Jonesville, in Clifton Park, who located in the Clothier neighborhood in 1777. He had a family of six children; Thomas, Benjamin J., Timothy, Ebenezer, Pa- tience and Hannah. A large number of his descendants reside in the town. William Grippen (or Grippin) came the following year. Among his neighbors were Hathaway Randall and Lawrence Barber. Jona- than Hodges, who had served in the American army in the Revolution, removed from Rhode Island to Greenfield in 1783, and soon afterward settled in Corinth. The late Claudius Hodges of Corinth was a son. Daniel Boardman came to Jessup's Landing soon after the war, where, in 1792 or 1793, he built a grist mill and store. He became prominent and very wealthy, and used much of his money for the advancement of religion, education and public enterprises generally. His sister, Rosanna Boardman, the wife of Benjamin Cowles, and her husband came to Jessup's Landing at the same time, probably about 1789 or 1790. Their children were Nathaniel, Zina H., Chauncey, Orlando, B. Sedgwick, Henry E., Daniel H., Hannah and Rosetta. Mr. Cowles became a man of great prominence, and held various public offices. He was elected supervisor of the town of Hadley (of which Corinth then formed a part) in 1801 and held that office until the organiza- tion of Corinth in 1818; then was the first supervisor of the new town, serving two years. Again he served in the same capacity in 1826, 1833, 1834 and 1842. In 1812 he was made associate judge of the Court of Common Pleas, and in 1815 he was made master in chancery and also elected to the Assembly. For many years he served as justice of the peace. Stephen Ashley was another early settler at Jessup's Landing, where, in 1800, he open the first tavern.
South Corinth, which is located south of the center of the town, was first settled about 1790, though there were a few inhabitants near by a few years earlier. Among these were Adam Comstock,1 who came
1 Adam Comstock was born in Warwick, R. I., in 1740; in 1763 he married Margaret McGregor, and they had a family of seventeen children. At the beginning of the Revolution he entered the army and soon became a colonel, and served under Washington, being one of the soldiers who endured the hardships at Valley Forge. He served with distinction. After the war he was elected to the Rhode Island Legislature. In 1785 he removed to Schenectady and the following year came to Corinth. Two years later he erected the first frame building in town, but soon re- moved to Ballston, then successively to Milton, Greenfield, Hadley, then back to Corinth. In 1792, while residing in Milton, he was elected to the Assembly, and was successively re-clected for twelve years. In 1793 he was appointed associate judge of the Court of Common Pleas; in 1794 was appointed one of the first justice's of the peace of Greenfield; from 1805 to 1808 was a member of the State Senate, holding a seat in the Council of Appointment during that period ; and in 1804 was a presidential elector, voting for Thomas Jefferson. He died in Corinth April 10, 1829, and was buried in the family burial ground on his farm. Adam Comstock's son, Oliver C.
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MOREAU, 1783-1800.
from Schenectady in 1786 and bought a good sized farm on the south- ern boundary of the town. He became one of the most prominent men, not only in the town but in the county. In 1796 Nathaniel Ed- wards' located about a mile south of the village of South Corinth. He and his family were prominently identified with the welfare and pros- perity of their adopted town. Frederick Parkman, who came to town in 1796, had the first tavern; and the grist mill which he built on Kay- aderosseras creek was the first between Ballston and Jessup's Landing. He was a grandfather of Frederick Parkman of Jessup's Landing. Jeremiah Eddy had a blacksmith shop near by in 1796 or 1797. John Purqua2 settled about a mile north of South Corinth two or three years earlier than this. Among other early inhabitants of the town were Silas Nims, Jonathan Deuel, who had, at South Corinth, the first lumber mills in town, in 1800; Zebedee Mosher, Jephtha Clark, Timothy Brown, Washington Chapman, James Cooper, Elias Lindsey, Stephen Brayton and William Brayton.
As far as can be learned no school existed in Corinth until 1800, when one was built at South Corinth and another at Jessup's Landing. There also is no record of the establishment of any church within the limits of the present town during the eighteenth century.
MOREAU.
Probably the most prominent man to settle in the town of Moreau after the close of the Revolution was General Thomas Rogers, who had been a colonel in the American army. He settled in 1783 upon the farm formerly owned by David Jones, the young Tory who was the betrothed husband of Jeanie McCrea, who was killed by the Indians while they were carrying her to the British camp in 1777, as described in a preceding chapter. The Jones estate was confiscated by the State and sold to General Rogers,3 who is said to have bargained for it
Comstock, was a member of assembly from Seneca county in 1810 and 1812, and a member of Congress for three terms, beginning in 1813. The latter's son, Oliver C. Comstock, jr., served several years as a member of the Michigan State Legislature; and Noah D. Comstock, a great- grandson of Adam Comstock, served several years in the Wisconsin State Legislature.
1 Nathaniel Edwards served with the English army in the French and Indian war, and during the Revolution was a captain in the patriot army, enlisting from Connecticut. His son, Isaac, enlisted at the age of sixteen and served the entire eight years. The latter had six sons and one daughter. Of these Hon. Edward Edwards of South Corinth was a member of assembly in 1848, 1864 and 1865. He became a large landowner and prominent merchant.
2 Mr. Purqua had served, against his wishes, in a Hessian regiment engaged by Great Brit- ain to help her put down the American Revolution. Three years after coming to America he' deserted and entered the American army, serving until the close of the war.
3 General Thomas Rogers is said to have been a lineal descendant of John Rogers, who was
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
with Jones before the war. The population of the town was consider- ably increased in 1790 by the immigration thereto of a large number of settlers, some of whom came from Connecticut and some from other parts of Saratoga county. Paulinus Potter, Daniel Hamlin and - Churchill came that year from Connecticut. All were related by marriage. Mr. Hamlin's home was what was afterwards known as the Tearse farm. He had three sons-Daniel, Lent and Truman. Several descendants still live in the town, where they are prominent citizens. Moses Lewis came from Connecticut in the same year. Dr. Billy J. Clark,1 who became one of the most influential and generally beloved citizens of the town, located in 1799 at Clark's Corners. He and Dr. Littlefield were the earliest physicians in town. Dexter Whipple and Elisha Danford located east of South Glens Falls about 1800. They were brothers-in-law and came from Connecticut. Oliver Hubbard, Ichabod Hawley, -- Andrews and Henry Martin were also early settlers in that vicinity. John Albrow located near Fortsville, and Ezra Hooper and Irenaeus Hulbert at Clark's Corners. Lewis Brown was another early inhabitant.
Among the early teachers were Dr. Gillett, Asahel Potter and Messrs. Sherman, Minor aud Beebe.
The only religious organization in Moreau in the eighteenth century was the First Baptist church, which was organized in 1795.2 Two
burned at the stake as a heretic in England, because he preached against Romanism, the estab- lished religion of England. He had three sons-Thomas, James and Halsey. He was the first supervisor of Moreau, serving in the office from 1805 to 1808 inclusive. One of his sons married a daughter of Colonel Sidney Berry of Northumberland and who afterward became the wife of Hon. Esek Cowen. The Rogers family were all influential and prominently identified with the early development of Moreau.
1 From existing records, enhanced by tradition, it would appear that Dr. Clark was a man of almost unbounded influence. He studied medicine with Dr. Wicker of Easton, located across the river in Washington county. Dr. Wicker had an exclusive practice in Moreau and North- umberland, and it was upon his advice that young Dr. Clark located permanently in Moreau. He at once became identified with the best interests of the town, and was honored by being chosen supervisor in 1809, to succeed Thomas Rogers, and again in 1831. In the latter year he be- gan his term of service as one of the school commissioners, and assisted in the work of dividing the town into six school districts. He was also the organizer, in 1808, of the Moreau and North- umberland Temperance Society. The first meeting of this society was held April 13, 1808, at Clark's Corners, and upon the organization of the society Dr. Clark was chosen secretary. The society existed many years and was a great power for good in the community, and even to this day Dr. Billy J. Clark's name is frequently heard mentioned as the pioneer temperance reformer in Saratoga county.
2 Little is known of the early history of this church. It was served by these pastors in early times: Calvin Hulbert, Joseph H. Ellice, James Rogers, Elisha Blakeman Charles Williams, John C. Holt, Harvey Slade, J. H. Dwyer, Joseph W. Sawyer, R. O. Dwyer, Ebenezer Hall, L. L. Still, Amos R. Wells and George Fisher.
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WILTON, 1783-1800.
years later it was admitted into the Shaftsbury association. In 1805 it joined the Saratoga association.
WILTON.
James and William McGregor, who came to Wilton in 1787, became the most influential inhabitants of that town in their day. James Mc- Gregor located a short distance north of Wilton, where he built a story and a half frame house His sons were John, James, William, Alexan . der, Peter, Duncan and Gregor. He had three daughters. Elizabeth became the wife of Horatio Buell; Margaret married Lewis Thompson and Mary Ann married Nicholas Vanderwerker. Duncan McGregor located in Glens Falls, and was the chief mover in making Mount McGregor, north of Wilton, a popular summer resort. William Mc- Gregor, brother of the first James, settled east of Wilton, his home being about a mile from that of his brother. His sons were John, William, James and Alexander. Of his three daughters-Ann, Char- lotte and Elizabeth-the first named became Mrs. Emerson, and the last named Mrs. Peter McIntyre.
The town had a number of inhabitants, however, when the Mc- Gregors located there. During the early years of the Revolution- certainly as early as 1775-Reuben Stiles, who came from Rhode Island, removed with his family to Wilton, then known as Palmer Town, and built a home at what was afterwards known as Stiles's Cor- ners. He had a family of eight sons and one daughter-John, David, Reuben, Eli, Peter, Isaac, Johnson, Henry and Angeline, who married James D. King. Eli, Isaac and Peter settled in Wilton and became men of prominence. Near Mr. Stiles lived Benjamin Phillips, a hardy Vermont Yankee, who later opened a tavern. The children of the two families intermarried, and their descendants are numerous. Stephen and Ebenezer King, brothers, came from Dutchess county in 1775. The former opened a tavern after the war, which is said to have been the first in the town. The latter is believed to have been the first set- tler at Wiltonville. William King was another early inhabitant and tavern-keeper, but probably was a representative of another family. John Laing, a hardy Scotchman, located near Emerson's Corners about 1775, where he erected a saw mill and opened a store. He conducted both up to the time of his death, which occurred in the spring of 1793. Peter Johnston, also a Scotchman and a brother-in-law of Laing, came to town about the same time and located in the same neighbor-
8
114
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
hood. Stafford Carr came from Rhode Island about 1794. John Boyce came soon after the close of the Revolution and settled in the south- eastern part of the town. Robert Milligan, James Milligan, Enoch Place and John Kendrick lived in the same neighborhood. In 1790 Broadstreet Emerson built a home a short distance north of what after- ward became known as Emerson's Corners; and Dudley and Joseph Emerson, his brothers, soon afterward located in the same neighbor- hood. All the Emersons came from Lyme, Conn. They became wealthy and prominent men, having a great influence in the manage- ment of public affairs. Broadstreet Emerson was an early magistrate, serving for many years. Edward Bevins was an early settler, about 1780, in the vicinity of the old Loudon church. He served as a private and later as a drum major in the Revolutionary war, and participated in the battle of Bunker Hill. David Adams came from Connecticut about the same time and settled near him. A man named Slate settled about 1794 in the southwestern part of the town, where he built a mill on Loughberry lake.
Isaac Ostrom is believed to have been the second storekeeper in town. He began business in 1795, some time after John Laing. Another early store was kept at Emerson's Corners by Walter Doe. Nathan Hinckley had the first inn there. Another, near by, was run by Dud- ley Emerson.
CLIFTON PARK.
The territory embraced within the limits of the town of Clifton Park, lying adjacent to Half Moon and near Schenectady, was populated early in the eighteenth century, but settlements were almost suspended during the Revolutionary period on account of the repeated depreda- tions of the Indians in that locality.
Edward Rexford and his family came to Clifton Park from Eng- land and located near what is now Rexford's Flats a year or two before the Revolution. They remained there during that conflict, the head of the family being away from home much of the time in the service of the American government as a patriot soldier They first built a log house on the lowland; but soon after they erected a substantial frame house on the site now occupied by the residence of James B. McKain. Mr. Rexford's three sons-Elisha, Edward and Eleazer-all settled in town. His daughter, Luzina, married Ephraim Knowlton and continued to reside in town,
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