USA > New York > Oneida County > Camden > Pioneer history of Camden, Oneida County, New York > Part 2
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
Samuel Royce was one of the pioneers of Clinton, Oneida County. He was born April 20th, 1759. His native place was Plymouth, Connecticut. He married the daughter of Eli Wil- son. He came to Camden as early as 1794, and purchased 5.000 acres of land of John Murray for the consideration of £4,000. It was part of the original Roosevelt purchase, while this part of New York State was in Herkimer County. It extended from the
26
PIONEER HISTORY OF
green, northward. He settled at the head of what is now Main Street, on a portion of land included in his purchase, where the residence of E. H. Conant now stands. He built a log house, and here the first town meeting on record in the town of Camden was held in the year 1799. At this meeting the following persons
Pri.nitive Log House.
were elected to the office affixed to their names: John W. Bloom- field, Esq., Supervisor. Samuel Royce, Esq., Town ( lerk. John Humiston, Henry Williams, Levi Matthews, Assessors. Ben- jamin Barnes, Abner Matthews, Ephraim Wright, Commission- ers of Highways. Samuel Jarvis, Isaac Cook, Collectors. Noah Tuttle, Jesse Curtiss, Poor Masters. Whiten Barnes, Daniel Park, Ephraim Church, Overseers of Highways. John Hum- aston, Levi Matthews, Aaron Matthews, Commissioners of Schools. Chammont Taylor, Gideon Northrup, Ezra Barnes, Fence Viewers. Jesse Curtiss, Pound Master.
Voted-That swine be allowed to go at large.
Voted-That the fence viewers be allowed seventy-five cents a day for each day they shall be employed.
Voted-That the house of William Butler be a work house for idle and indolent persons.
Voted-That Marshal Merriam should be exonerated from paying a note of five dollars for giving a tavern license.
· Voted-That the next town meeting be held at the house of Samuel Royce.
2 7
THE TOWN OF CAMIDEN.
From the records of the first town meeting, it will readily be seen how necessary it became to make provisions for all classes of people, and to make laws to govern the same. The indolent and lazy, as well as the more thrifty ones, had come here to dwell. We find on the records for many years, extra town meetings were called in the autumn to make provision and raise money to main- tain the needy through the winter. But we doubt not the people gave generously, as in another place we find they voted against building a county house for the poor.
In the year 1800, Camden had 384 inhabitants, and it was quite necessary to provide some accommodation for new comers. The first money received after the excise law took effect was recorded March 21st, 1800:
"Received of John W. Bloomfield, Supervisor, the sum of $5.00, being the amount of excise paid by Timothy W. Wood, for the year 1799.
A true copy,
Jesse Curtiss, Overseer of the Poor, Samuel Royce, Town Clerk.
The Board of Commissioners of Excise for the town of Cam- den, hereby resolve, that Levi Matthews is of good moral charac- ter, and of sufficient ability to keep an inn or tavern, and that he has accommodations to entertain travelers, and that an inn or tavern is absolutely necessary at the place where the said Mat- thews now lives, for the actual accommodation of travelers.
A true copy, attested,
John W. Bloomfield, John Hathaway, Matthew Brown, Commissioners of Excise."
June 19th, 1800.
In 1801, the third and last town meeting which was held at the house of Samuel Royce, convened. But little business was transacted at this meeting.
Voted-That the town will build a pound, and that the super- visor be directed to add to the assessment for it.
28
PIONEER HISTORY OF
Voted-That a committee shall be appointed to ascertain the place to build said pound.
Jesse Curtiss, Zophar Barnes, Ambrose Jones,
Committee for the above mentioned purpose.
The next meeting shall be held at the house of Bartholomew Pond. Meeting dismissed.
Several locations were brought before the meeting, but we have no definite location until 1829, when we find this recorded:
"Paid Seth Dunbar $30.00 for building a pound, and ten dol- lars for the site."
It was situated on the north-east corner of the lot, on Mexico Street, now owned by Churchill and Tibbits, next to the road. It was made of framed timbers like a house, covered with boards, but had no roof. A pound master was elected every year at town meeting, with the other town officers. Cattle and swine found straying into other people's property were driven to the pound, and held for the damage they had done, and the cost of feeding them. This law did not work as harmoniously as desired. consequently it fell into disuse, and after 1845 or 1846, when nec- essary, the rear yards of the hotels were used for the purpose. until the law was finally passed prohibiting cattle from running at large, when the use of a pound was no longer necessary.
We find one law in the book of old town records, in regard to gianting licenses, dated June 20th. 1800, which would be well, had the town officers adhered to it up to the present time.
"We. John W. Bloomfield, Joshua Hathaway, Matthew Brown, Junior, Commissioners of Excise for the town of Camden, in the County of Oneida, do solemnly swear in the presence of Almighty God, that we will not on any account or pretense whatsoever. grant any license to any person within said town of Camden. for the purpose of keeping an inn or tavern, but only in such cases as appear absolutely necessary for the benefit of travelers, and we will in all things, while so acting as commissioners of excise, do
29
THE TOWN OF CAMDEN.
our duty according to the best of our judgment and ability, withi- out favor or partiality, agreeable to law.
John W. Bloomfield, Joshua Hathaway, Matthew Brown, Jun., Commissioners of Excise.
Sworn before me, John W. Bloomfield,
Joshna Hathaway, Justice of the Peace.
In 1802 we find "That many of the inhabitants were of a good moral character, and of sufficient ability to keep an inn or tavern, and that they have accommodations for entertaining travelers." An inn or tavern was most necessary at almost every resi- dence, as in those early days they were far apart. In 1805, by an act passed February 16th, the town of Florence was taken from Camden, and on April 3rd, 1807, Camden was again divided, and the town of Orange formed later, called Bengal, and at the pres- ent day bearing the name of Vienna. The town grew rapidly. In 1800 it had 384 inhabitants, and in 1810, after the towns of Florence and Vienna had been taken from its territory, the population had increased to 1,132. Samuel Royce, at whose house the first town meeting was held, was a surveyor, as well as a large land owner. He remained but a few years in Camden, returning to Clinton, after this town was fully established. J. W. Bloomfield, whose name is so closely identified with our early town history, was the first white settler of Annsville. He was the son of Jonathan Bloomfield and Elizabeth Wood, and was of English parentage. His grandfather, Thomas Bloomfield, came to this country in 1660 with his four sons, and settled in Woodbridge, New Jersey, having named that town after his na- tive place in England. John W. Bloomfield came into this sec- tion of the State in the spring of 1789. His journey was made on horseback from Burlington, New Jersey, via. Schenectady, Fort Schuyler, Whitesboro to Fort Stanwix. He lived a number of years at Constantia, and was largely interested in the furnaces. and iron business in this part of the State. Although his home was elsewhere, he certainly did much towards laying the founda-
30
PIONEER HISTORY OF
tion of our beautiful town. He was closely and prominently identified with the business and landed interests of George Scriba and other early proprietors and leading men of the country, and was the confidential friend of business men, who relied upon his integrity, judgment and advice as to their property interests in this locality. Mr. Bloomfield moved from Taberg to Rome, about 1812, where he lived for many years. His death occurred in 1849, at the advanced age of 84 years. For a number of years the town meetings were held in the Congregational Church and the old Academy; they were the only buildings commodious enough for the purpose, until the town hall was built in 1838.
CHAPTER II.
T HE means of our primitive settlers did not allow them to in- dulge in costly mode of travel. They were conveyed from their eastern homes to this locality with oxen, and occasionally a horse attached as leader. We find the pioneers of the Seventh were very persevering, and possessed of heroic and indomitable en- ergy. They chose this locality for this reason, the land was more level than in the old Nutmeg State, or Massachusetts.
This settlement, from the earliest accounts, includes many inter- (sting incidents of a local character. To investigate the circum- stances connected with this settlement it was found necessary to examine all records, both of the church and town. The Seventh comprises the Second District in Camden Township. It was here they first intended to have the village: as late as 1820 it was far more thickly settled. In order that the present genera- tion can get a good idea of the place in early times, you will want to commence with your imagination at the top of the hill this side of Orson Woods, one and a fourth mile from the village, and the beginning of this district. On the left side of the high- way as you are going towards the west, there used to be a long wood-colored house built and occupied by Noah Preston; he was one of the oldest inhabitants, and possessed qualities of industry and perseverance.
Noah Preston was born February 23, 1763. He came to Cam- den from Harwinton, Connecticut, about the year 1800. Their large family of ten children were born in Connecticut. Their names were Warren, Rositter, Win. Riley, Honor, Cyprian, Olive, Sabra, Lyman, John Stiler and Chandler. Warren Pres- ton settled on the farm, and built the house now owned by G. Roberts, which was the property of Wilbert Upson for a long time. Rossetter married Oril Curtiss, who built and owned the farm now the home of E. A. Watkins. R. Preston lived on this farm twenty-two years, he sold it in 1866, and moved to Rock- ford, Ill., where he died Sept. 13, 1876, aged 89. His wife die 1 March 28, 1880, aged 82. James Gamble and son, F. S. Gamble
32
PIONEER HISTORY OF
and family, and daughter, Mrs. Geo. Young, are the only des- cendants living in Camden. Lyman Preston lived east of his father's on the same side of the road. Chandler lived near the Mix Hill, but his last days were spent in Volney, Oswego Co., N. Y. He died October 27, 1891. Wm. Riley married Sarah Aun Smith May 19, 1812. He owned property in different parts of the village.
In the Mexico Street Cemetery we find the graves of Noah Preston and wife, the pioneers. Mr. Preston died April 4th, 1835, aged 72; Honor, his wife, died November 22, 1847, aged 82; their son William died August 4th, 1834, aged 44; Olive died October 17, 1815, aged 19; Cyprian died May 26, 1819, aged 25; these three children are buried beside their father and mother.
Passing on to the next farm, at an early date came Silas. Blakeslee from the land of steady habits prior to 1804, and bought a tract of land and built his house opposite the old pine tree above the "Wood's Home." He was a brother of Enos Blakeslee; his children were Reuben, Asa, Woodard, Lucius or Lewis. Lewis became an Episcopal clergyman in New York City. This farm was tranferred to A. Dennison. Mrs. B'akeskce went by the name of Aunt Prudy; when the farm was sold she went to Mrs. Dennison and asked for a hop vine she had got into. a productive growth. Mrs. Dennison was not willing to part with it. Aunt Prudy gave vent to her disappointment and anger by a prediction that it would not bear hops while they owned it. and her prophecy proved true; it grew in a prolific manner, but no hops did it bear until Mr. Woods bought the farm, and it was under different cultivation.
The earliest records we can find of the next place, now the home of Francis Park, was the coming of Ashbel Upson in 1807, who bought land in lot No. 20, the farm of the late deacon Lent Upson. This place he leased or bought; there is no record to show when. He returned to Plymouth, Conn.,and came here with his family the last of November, 1808, with two yoke of oxen and three horses, with a family of eight children-two daughters did not come, as there were ten children in the family. Their names were Patty, who married Mr. Sutton of New Jersey; Alma, mar- ried Dr. Huntly; Polly married A. Dennison: Nancy married
33
THE TOWN OF CAMDEN.
Pliny Darrow; Canda married Davies Sperry in 1812, and after his death married Luther Miller in 1826; Eleanor married Pliny Alden in 1812; Nellie married Ashbel Orton of Williamstown, where there are descendants still living. Their sons were Eras- tus, Lent and Ashbel, who was only five years old on coming here. Mr. Upson in coming so late in the fall found eight or ten inches of snow. It was hard pulling with wheels. They finally reached their destination and located on the place now occupied by Francis Park. There was a log house that he had already built, and he added a frame part the following year, and kept a tavern. Later he moved on his farm on Lot No. 20, and it was kept in the Upson family until sold by Lent to Woodard Perkins in 1865.
The Upson family were among the first to organize the Con- gregational Church. Ashbel Upson, Sen., was made deacon, and there was always a Deacon Upson in the church until the death of Lent in 1870. Deacon Ashbel and his brother Jesse, who was next younger, were in the Revolutionary War; Jesse came here with his brother; he was 6 feet 6 inches high, the tallest Up- son of that family. No one seems to know where he died or where he was buried. Ashbel served two years under Capt. Wilcox and Col. Baldwin; he was with the company that helped to for- tify West Point in 1777, by a chain drawn across the river at that point to prevent the enemy from going up to Albany. But the fort and river chain were taken by the Brit- ish, but abandoned after the surrender of Bargoyne. These reminiscences were very interesting for him to tell to his children. He enlisted at Plymouth, Conn. Mrs. Upson's maiden name was Mary, the only daughter of Levi Munson. She survived her hus- band 26 years, and drew a pension until her death, March 3rd, 1857, aged 91. Mr. Upson died June 31, 1831, ged 71. Erastus Upson was the first to start in the tin business in Camden; he commenced on the Seventh, nearly opposite their home. In 1820 he moved his business into the village. He married Cynthia Bal- lard, March 28, 1811. Ashbel Upson, Jr., married Betsey Barnes; first went to housekeeping in a house he built that stood where Oliver Howard now lives. In 1838 he bought on
3
34
PIONEER HISTORY OF
the Florence Hill road, and moved there with his three children. More will be said about him in that locality.
Lent Upson married Maria, daughter of Garner Preston, of Harwinton, Conn. There were ten children, nine lived to matur- ity. In 1865 he moved into the village, and gave up farm life. Four of the children are living: Miles Upson of Oneida. Mrs. Eliza Preston in Illinois, Spencer of Minneapolis, the father of Arthur Wheelock Upson, the young poet Maria, who married Samuel Scoville of Camden.
Widow Dean, the mother of Mrs. Erastus Upson, lived in a house on the Florence road above the Park place. After the death of Mr. Ballard she married the second time, Joseph Phelps, and after his death she married, in 1819, Judge Dean of West- moreland for his second wife. Mr. Dean was an agent and inter- preter for the Indians. Mrs. Dean was present at the burning of Cherry Valley by the Indians, November 11, 1775. Sherman Barnes owned the Park place after Mr. Upson; then it was deeded, about 1816, to John Humaston. April, 1821, it was bought by John Dunsbaugh, who came from Clermont, Column- bia County. He married Concurrence Landon.
JACOB PARKS.
Jacob Parks, who had married their adopted daughter. came with them. This place has been in the Parks family ever since. It was kept as a tavern for a long time. John Dunsbaugh died November 18, 1843, aged 72. His wife died later in Colum- bia County. Jacob Parks did not live many years after coming liere. He died in 1827, aged 44 years. His wife survived him 60 years, and made he: home with her son Francis. She was a pensioner of the war of 1812, and a most estimable woman in every respect. She died February 27, 1888, aged 98. Three children living of the 12 born to them, Mrs. J. Hyde of Indiana, Mrs. H. Hammond of Iowa, Francis Park of Camden, and his descendants are the only ones living here. Daunsbaugh's Tavern was a very popular place for the weary traveler, and back in the thirties was made famous by a wolf hunt. In 1837 or 1838
35
THE TOWN OF CAMDEN.
a wolf was prowling around Annsville, and finally came near the property of Anthony Empey's in the town of Florence, and killed 20 sheep. This aroused the neighborhood. There was no way to get rid of them but to kill them. A large party gathered together and followed the creature to Camden without getting a chance to shoot. Each man tries to aim well, for if he misses, the animal may in his fright spring upon him. All are excited, and there is danger of shooting one another. The animal after reaching the
Mrs. Concurrence Parks
pine woods back of the school house on the Seventh, led his pursuers through a long strip of woods into Amboy. By this time the first of the party were completely exhausted, and called for recruits. They finally headed this ferocious animal at Amboy, and he made a return trip through the pines to the Seventh. Bythis time a large party came from Camden village, and J. D. Cavalry was among them. They finally surrounded Mr. Wolf, and every way he turned there was a gun pointed at him. J. D. Cavalry was the hero of the day. His shot hit the mark. The wolf was brought over in front of Daunsbaugh's tavern with great shouts
36
PIONEER HISTORY OF
from the crowd. It proved to be a very large black wolf. After the party got pretty full of "fire water," which was only 25 cents a gallon in pioneer days, they procured a sled and put four poles. one on each corner, and then a platform on them, then the wolf was laid out high and dry, with J. D. Cavalry to guard it. Then they started for the village. I suppose it was equal to any Fourth of July. The only difference, one was celebrating the conquer- ing of the British, and the other the capture of the wolf.
The wolf was given back to Annsville. It was on exhibition in a farmer's barn for some time, and then it was bought by some one in Utica, and put in the hands of a taxidermist. That was the last they heard of it.
Francis Park remembers when the stage stopped at their house to change horses, at one time ex-President Martin Van Buren was passenger, en route for Oswego.
SEVENTH TOWNSHIP CEMETERY.
We find at the County Clerk's Office this cemetery was re- corded August 12, 1826,in Book 42, page 163. November 15,1823,
Cemetery on the Seventh.
it was given in a quit claim deed by David Smith and Hannah his wife, of the first part, for the sum of twenty dollars, to Daniel
37
THE TOWN OF CAMDEN.
Northrup, Benjamin Curtiss and William Plumb, of the second part, in lot No. 36, for a burying ground, and should be kept for the purpose mentioned in good repair, with a fence around it. They have lived up to their agreement. It is the oldest in town that is kept in good condition. This place is hallowed by the remains of many good and brave men, Revolutionary patriots that were among our earliest settlers, and of the war of 1812, and other prominent men; and sacred to the memory of faithful women who helped to battle with life in our primitive forests. We have been told that this ground of one acre is more than full and there is nothing to mark the graves of many, and no record is to be found. There are 187 stones, with the field stones as counted, in the burying ground, September 1896. This is the inscription on the stone of the oldest burial :
"In memory of Samuel Potter, who died August the 21st, 1806, in the 87th year of his age.
Farewell my friends and children all, I am out of sight and out of call, I pray, my friends take timely care, Of a deaf son who is my heir.
One stone in particular attracts attention as you enter the gate; that of Dr. Joel Rathburn, a soldier of 1812. The inscrip . tion is as follows :
"In memory of Dr. Joel Rathburn who died August 23rd, 1820, aged 41 years. As a physician he was able and skillful, possessing during 18 years of extensive practice the deserved confidence of the community. He was an active and liberal patron of religious institutions, and a friend of order and a peace-maker. Being among the early settlers of Camden, he contributed much to its prosperity. Of the truth of the Christian revelation. he was firmly persuaded, and left the world in the expectation of sharing its joy. In life, respected and beloved; and in death, not less lamented. By this event the poor have lost a benefactor. But the tears of his widow and orphans attest how kindly he ful- filled the office of a father and a husband."
Now let us linger a while here, just beyond, at the left. This will tell of the past that is linked with the life of to-day. Here is
38
PIONEER HISTORY OF
a little field-stone, simply marked "L. M., ÆE. 77." Here rests a great grandfather of a great many living in our midst at the present day. He responded quickly, with others, at the fight of Lexington, and it is a noteworthy fact the life of the one that sleeps here will show.most conclusively the spirit of the man in defence of his country.
LEVI MUNSON.
Levi Munson, with others, marched from Connecticut towns for the relief of Boston, April, 1775. He was from Wallingford, but went as clerk from Branford, and was six days in service. September Ist, 1775, he enlisted in the Quebec expedition under Col. Benedict Arnold of New Haven, Conn., with Capt. Oliver Hanchett of Suffield. September 25, 1775, Mr. Munson, with seventeen others, surrendered with Col. Ethan Allen, near Mont- real, and was taken to Halifax. Very soon after they were sent to England. While there, Ethan Allen rejected an offer made by the king, which caused them to be handcuffed and thrust into a dark hole 22 by 20 feet, in Pendennis Castle, and they were con- fined there for a month, then they were transported back to Hali- fax, June 21, 1776. Mr. Munson was given up by his family as one dead, but through the kindness of one of the ship's crew he wrote a letter home as well as he could in his weak state, and the little ray of light they had on ship-board. Not long after their arrival at Halifax, he was among the exchanged prisoners, an-1 made haste home to his family. As soon as health would permit he re-enlisted in the Continental army, and was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant January ist, 1777. He resigned September 8th, 1780. The last time he enlisted, his youngest son, Levi, who was old enough to go, went as his father's assistant, and four other sons also entered the army.
Lent went as a drummer in Capt. Stephen Potter's Company from Brantford, June 16th, 1777, afterwards he was a fifer in Capt. Elisha Ely's Company, January 21, 1778.
Orange was a drummer in the same company from January 20, 1778, to March 1, 1780.
Almond enlisted in Ely's Company March 6, 1777. Discharged
39
THE TOWN OF CAMDEN.
March 3, 1782. He was a pensioner in 1818, and a resident of Pensylvania.
Ephraim was in Col. Mosley's Regiment, Capt. James Stod. dard's Company; enlisted July 8, 1778. He was a pensioner in Litchfield County, Conn., in 1832.
The oldest son, Lent, while in the army was in company with four or five others carrying supplies on horses. They were captured by a band of Indians from Lake Superior region. Their horses were taken from them, and they were obliged to walk. Overconie by fatigue, one after another would fall by the way, and in every case they received a blow on the head from a tomahawk, and were left where they fell. Only two lived to get through, and Lent was one of them. After reaching their destination the In- dians cut their hair short, painted their faces, and dressed them in Indian fashion. They were bound every night, and slept between two Indians, and were never allowed to speak to each other. They were now in the unsettled West, the Indians' hunting grounds, for this tribe were great hunters. By Lent's good con- duct they soon had confidence enough to allow him to be alone while hunting. On one of these expeditions he chanced to meet a fur dealer, who occasionally came among them to buy their furs. He told him his history, and through him learned some- thing of his whereabouts, and what direction to take to find a white settlement, should he decide to attempt an escape. He de- cided very soon, and traveled nights, and secreted himself through the day. On one occasion, while lying in a hollow log, . some of the party passed him near enough to hear what they said. He soon came to the river, and fortunately found a boat, he was soon on the other side, and near the settlement he was searching for. In looking back he saw some of the tribe in close pursuit. He told his story to a lady, and she hid him in her attic until the Indians left the village. He was given suitable clothes, and after washing the paint off, and having a good rest, his thoughts turned towards home, and after expressing his utmost gratitude to these true friends in need, who had also furnished him money to defray his expenses to his home in Wallingford, Conn., he soon arrived there, and was received with great joy.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.