USA > New York > Chenango County > Sherburne > Reminiscences, anecdotes and statistics of the early settlers and the 'olden time' in the town of Sherburne, Chenango county, N.Y. > Part 2
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HISTORY OF SHERBURNE.
a social gathering, at the house of Timothy Hatch, to celebrate the day. Deacon Dickey introduced himself among them, remarking, " Although I was not one of the early settlers, I think myself entitled to a seat among you, for supplying the first seed potatoes planted in the town." This little reminiscence inaugurated him into their fraternity with right good will.
LOG HOUSES.
Their houses were constructed of round logs, laid upon the top of each other, and so notched at the ends, as to lie as close as possible-the joints between being filled with small sticks, and plastered over with clay mortar. Its covering was often of bark, sometimes tem- porarily of brush. Openings were made for doors and windows, a part of the logs cut away at one end, and a few stones piled up for a back to the fire place, the bare earth for a hearth and floor-a hole cut through the roof for the escape of the smoke-as large a log as could be conveniently managed, four or ten feet long, rolled into the fire-place, with a forestick to correspond, raised upon wooden "fire dogs ;" and then the good wife and mother was prepared to commence the duties of her sta- tion. The inspiring influence of the hope and belief that they shall see better days, banishes every murmur, and sheds around her a halo of joy and cheerfulness. The kettle adjusted on the top of the burning wood, the pork and potatoes put therein, soon all are delightfully foaming and boiling. The long-handled frying-pan, or the short-handled spider is on the coals before the fire, containing the Indian meal, moulded and prepared for baking into bread. Some unexpected movement of the burning wood, causes the kettle to upset, precipitating its contents into the fire ! The ashes and cinders raised
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into a cloud, unmercifully pepper the half baked bread. This mishap adjusted as well as circumstances allow, the frugal meal is arranged in due order, on the top of a large chest or some rough board, supported at each end on boxes or old barrels. The conch-shell echoing through the woods, summons the husband and father from his fallow ground, (which had been recently burnt over,) begrimed and blackened with soot and smoke, as thoroughly as the good house-wife's bread and pork. The accident explained, they instinctively glance at their child, express their joy and thankfulness that it was no worse, and sit down to their simple repast, with grati- tude and cheerfulness.
Gradually, as their circumstances allow, improvements are made. The blanket which has served as an apology for a door, gives place to one made of boards; it may be smoothed with the plane, or in its rough state ; hung on wooden hinges of rude construction, with wooden latch and handle. A string connected with the latch, runs through the door and hangs on the outside.
For want of glass, they substitute oiled paper. For a floor, some suitable tree is cut, rent in twain with the beetle and wedge, leveled with the hewing ax, and may or may not be, slightly smoothed with the plane; and then laid across a few poles adjusted upon the ground, leaving a suitable space for the hearth and fire-place.
Let all who reside in the house, or who may enter it, take good care of their pocket knives, or other small articles of value, lest they find their way through the crevices of the floor, and disappear from sight.
Let the gallant, who in self-complacency poises one leg upon his knee and rocks back in his seat, (strapping his new jack-knife upon his boot,) look well to his posi-
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tion, lest the legs of his chair explore the vicinity of a crack, seek a resting place below, and come out minus half their number, himself sprawling upon the floor, rub- bing his elbows and scratching his head.
This room constituted kitchen, nursery, parlor, and to a certain extent, lumber room. The bed snugly adjusted in one corner, on some rude structure-was surrounded and adorned with sheets or blankets for curtains.
The pantry consisted of wide boards, one above another, resting on long pins driven into the logs. These shelves were adorned with pewter plates, from six inches to two feet in diameter, arranged in rows set up on edge, with cups, mugs, and basins, all polished to such a degree that your own image would be distinctly reflected from their surfaces. Pewter constituted mainly their table furniture, even to their spoons, whether for table or tea. At that day, there was but one set of silver spoons in the town. The tradition is, that Cornelius Clark had a pair of silver shoe-buckles, sent him from a rela- tive in England, and that he had them melted down and wrought into tea-spoons, which are now in the posses- sion of some of his grand-children. When they were able to obtain boards, the roofs of their houses were more substantially covered, and some laid loosely over head for a chamber floor, for lodging room for their children, visitors and strangers, which was reached by climbing a ladder. All lodgers therein might reasonably expect, that by some unpropitious movement of the wind, a volumn of smoke would be rolled through the apart- ment of sufficient density to silence the buzz, and pre- vent the sting of the musquito, leaving them to dry their tears the best they could.
A shelf would generally be suspended from the beams
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over head, about one foot below the chamber floor, which served as a depository for almost every article not wanted for immediate use. A social party was seated one afternoon around the table of Joel Hatch. The tea having been poured out and distributed, the mistress of the house remarked, "Mr. Hatch, perhaps some of our friends would like some sugar in their tea, wont you hand it down ? its over where Mr. Gilmore sits." Mr. Gilmore rising, took it from the shelf, and commenced knocking off fragments with his knife. After repeated blows, he exclaimed, "I declare! this is the hardest cake of sugar I ever saw, it makes my knife strike fire !" and laying it down, began drinking his tea. Mr. Hatch took up the fragment to sweeten his tea. After striking one or two blows, he stopped, saying, “ Well might Mr. Gil- more call this hard sugar ! its a piece of a grindstone !" Mr. Gilmore replied, he had not discovered but his tea was very well sweetened.
A broom made of hemlock-boughs, or small twigs of beech, would give unmistakable evidence of having been frequently called upon to keep things neat and tidy, around the mansion.
For that necessary article, a cradle, owing to the scar- city of mechanies, a sap-trough, for a brief space, would be substituted, and the " little darling " rocked to quiet- ness and sleep, under the musical tones of "lullaby," with as much promptness and success, as ever attended its more aristocratic name-sake.
Instead of the piano, their music would be the buzz and hum of the spinning wheel-the echo of the wood- man's ax-and the crash of falling trees.
There was great equality among them. All were in debt for their lands, for the payment of which, together
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with the supply of their daily recurring wants, they were dependent entirely on the products of their partially sub- dued farms, and were obliged to practice in their domes- tic arrangements, the most rigid economy. Their dress was of the plainest kind, in the manufacture of which, every pound of flax, from the hatchel to the distaff, every fleece of wool, from the cards and spindle to the loom, must pass through the manipulations of the good ma- tron's or her budding daughter's hands. Their own ingenuity and skill must be exercised in dying every article of their wardrobe, the materials for which could only be obtained from the forest around them, such as the Butternut, Soft-Maple, Witch-hazel, Sumac, &c .; or from the more aristocratic Indigo tub, which, as a matter of course must stand as an ornament by the side of every fire-place, especially in cold weather. If its odor is offen- sive, you have only to remove to a more respectful dis- tance, and no offence will be given or taken. The mothers, all honor to their names, whether prepared for company, or dressed for church, would be clad in checked linen garments, every thread of which had passed through their busy fingers. The plaids with their blending shades and arrangements, were matters of their own fancy and taste. After being fitted and prepared according to their knowledge of the mantua-maker's arts, and having been subjected to the polish of the smoothing iron, this dress would bestow upon its wearer as much dignity and gracefulness, as can be found within the folds of silk or satin at the present day.
The fleece of wool of "nature's darkest dye," taken from the " good old black sheep," and sparsely mixed with that of the white, would, through the doating mother's energy and skill, clothe her sons in garments, which to her fond view, would not disgrace them in the
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eyes of some lovely damsel, if it did not recommend them to their good graces and affections.
In the supply of their tables, they confined themselves from necessity, to such kinds of food as afforded the most nutriment, with the least labor and expense; prominent among which were beans and Indian corn. The morn- ing and evening repast, generally consisted of "hasty pudding," eaten in milk, or, in its more primitive form, spread over with maple molasses, the sight of which, when being prepared by the ever indulgent mother, would cause a noisy scramble among the little urchins, reminding us of the acme of three boys, while enjoying with great gusto such a meal, "I wish we were three kings, then we would have clean ruffled shirts to wear, a new coal-cart to ride in, and eat puddin' and 'lasses for- ever." Bean porridge, flavored by being boiled with salt beef or pork, was no uncommon article of food upon their tables. Their bread in its simplest form was " Johnny cake," baked in a spider, or on a board set up on edge before the open fire-place; or the loaf of Indian bread, compounded with pumpkins, to make it moist and sweet, baked in a wrapper of cabbage leaves, under a bed of burning coals, which could not fail to gratify the most delicate palate. Gradually, as their clearings increased, wheat became their more common bread, but of such a quality as would at the present day be con- demned as unfit for use, in consequence of the mixture of cockle, chess, smut, and other impurities, which grew in their fields in rank luxuriance around remaining logs and stumps.
Their only contrivance for cleaning grain was a hand fan, made of willow wicker-work, in using which, by a peculiar toss, aided by a dexterous movement of the knee against
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HISTORY OF SHERBURNE.
the underside, the grain received an upward impulse, when a portion of the chaff would be blown away. After this process had been repeated a number of times, it was passed through a coarse sieve or riddle, and then elevated high in the air, and poured in a gentle stream through a current of wind upon the threshing floor. This, though slow, tedious, and imperfect, was the best means they had, until mills for cleaning grain were intro- duced.
Swine, which were easily fattened by the aid of acrons, beech-nuts and other " shack," constituted their standard meat. When cooked in any of its multifarious forms, it was customary for the master of the house to cut it into small pieces, and place it in the centre of the table, after which, each, fork in hand, would help himself, mouthful by mouthful. It would have been thought as selfish and vulgar at that day, to take a slice of meat upon your own plate, as it is at this, to be repeatedly helping your- self from the dish. This was the custom of the people, and sanctioned by the times.
When the fatted calf was killed, or lamb slain, they would distribute portions to their near neighbors, who, in due time, returned the compliment without refer- ence to the balance. They would mutually arrange the time when each should kill, so that they might, at suit- able intervals, be accommodated with a piece of "fresh." Trout abounded in the small streams, and with venison occasionally, and other trophies of the huntsman, formed no undesirable portion of their animal food. The tin milk-pan, or the wooden bowl, would adorn one end of the table, well filled with ample sized dough-nuts, which, in modern times, are nearly supplanted, by stinted crul- lers, miffs, jumbles, and deleterious sweet cakes, that make us sigh for the good old days of yore. C
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HISTORY OF SHERBURNE.
GRIST MILL.
The nearest mill for grinding grain, was at Whites- town, about forty miles distant, reached only by Indian foot-paths, leading through a dense unbroken forest. For more than two years, this and the mortar and pestle, was their only resource. Some of the more ingenious would attach a spring to the pestle, which materially les- sened the labor of pounding.
Some of the first grists taken to mill, were from neces- sity carried on horseback, or on oxen yoked together, and one or more bags of grain lashed to their backs, with others hanging across the yoke between them. This mode of milling was evidently inconvenient and unprofitable. In order to carry more at a time, they con- structed a "dray " or " carry all," by cutting a crotched tree of suitable dimensions, and so attaching one end to the yoke, that the two branching limbs shall spread out and drag upon the ground behind the oxen. By pin- ning cross pieces to these, and driving stakes into their sides, they were enabled to pile their bags of grain thereon. Two or more men, leaving behind them loved ones, with no neighbor in sight or hearing, anxiously awaiting their return, seize their axes, shoulder their musket, and plunge into the wild wood, clearing away such obstacles as block their path-fording streams and climbing their precipitous banks. Their cattle, at times, sink to their bodies in the mire. They struggle, floun- der, and flounce to extricate themselves, but all to no pur- pose. They are unyoked, and by hard pulling and pry- ing, released. Onward is the motto. Night overtakes them. They camp as best they may-build their barri- cade-examine their musket, pick the flint-renew its priming-commit one eye to Morpheus, while the other
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stands sentinel over the camp, ready to give the alarm on the approach of the common enemies that prowl in the forest, which, from their growl and howl, and fresh tracks recently seen, are known to be near. A blazing fire, like a guardian angel keeps them at bay. They arise at dawn to re-enact each day in substance, the toils of the preceding. Five or six days of precious time would thus be spent in procuring sustenance for their own and some of their neighbors' families, until, with joy, they find themselves on their return, and approaching their little clearing. At length, their log-cabin heaves in sight, their bosoms swell with emotion -a little daughter, with blooming rose colored cheeks, discovers her father, bounds into the house, dancing with joy, and exclaims, " Oh, mamma ! mamma! daddy has come! daddy has come ! now we shall have something besides pounded corn to eat-some good new wheat bread to crumble into our bean porridge, shant we ?- wont you make some short-cake ?- Oh! oh! oh!"
It is worthy of note, that at this time, there were but two log-houses where the city of Utica now stands, four miles cast of Whitestown. Such incidents it is well to record, that the generation now growing up in comfort, ease, and luxury, may, by comparing the present with the past, realize how great is the labor, and how many the privations of those who first settle and build up a new country. Great was their rejoicing, when their landlord generously offered to furnish the irons, mill- stones, and other articles which could not be obtained upon the spot, and ship them to Albany, agreeing to take the mill when finished, at a fair valuation in pay- ment towards their land, deducting the amount he had advanced. This proposition was readily accepted, and steps immediately taken to carry it into effect.
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To get their mill-stones from Albany was a herculean task, such heavy articles, such ways as the primitive con- dition of the country furnished, (for roads they could not be called, roads were yet in the future,) would appal almost any men but such as these. Their stout hearts, and indomitable energy, were adequate to every emer- gency. Two men, one of whom was John Lathrop, started with sled and oxen, the latter part of winter, to obtain them. Slow indeed was their progress. Day after day, their voices would echo among the trees, as they cheered their teams-now starting the bounding deer, anon frightening the nimble fawn-now joining teams to surmount this hill-now to cross that stream, and climb its abrupt bank-now breaking through nature's bridge of ice, and extricating themselves from their difficult position, in the best manner circumstances allow, until their formidable task was successfully accom- plished .*
In the spring of 1794, Joel Hatch built a temporary hut, and commenced operations upon the mill. He was three miles from his nearest neighbor, with his wife and two small children.
As the evening twilight begins to hover around, the dense forest lends its aid to render the scene monoton- ous and solemn. In subdued quietness they seat them- selves before the blazing fire, built where the hearthstone ought to be. The good old cow, lies upon the ground, near the door, chewing her cud, gently sounding her bell as she sways to and fro, when the howl of the wolf, from some distant hill-top, breaks the silence that reigns "around. Wolf answers wolf, from among the neighbor- ing hills-wolf answers wolf, from hill and vale, on every
* It took three weeks to perform the journey.
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side, giving unmistakable evidence that a pack are near ! A glance at the door, satisfies the inmates that a blanket only, is a poor barrier against famishing half-starved wolves. A large chest is hurriedly placed behind it, rest- ing on its lower edge. Chairs, boxes, anything at hand, which will aid in blocking the entrance, are piled thereon. A solemn stillness succeeds, for some half-hour. These noctural visitors, in the mean time, reconnoiter the pre- mises, halt near the door, and, without warning, raise on the wings of the wind, a prolonged yell, that rever- berates from hill to hill, to the consternation of the inmates of the house ! The cow leaped to her feet, and made the circuit of the house so furiously, that the clat- ter of her bell caused the wolves, with equal fear and fright, to beat a retreat. All was silent the remainder of the night, save an occasional howl from some distant hills.
The mill, where the above scene took place, was the first erected for grinding grain in the town, and undoubt- edly in the county, and is located about four miles north of the village, in the north west quarter, on the Hand- some Brook. It is now owned by Walter Firman. I am aware that Preston and Norwich, both claim priority ; but Sherburne people would not have gone to Whites- town to get their grinding done, if there had been a mill at either of those places. Neither would Norwich have resorted to Tioga Point, as she is said to have done, in Clark's History of the County, if Preston had a mill at that time. Besides, people living in Norwich, are known to have brought grain to this mill very early.
Soon after it was put in operation, it became expedi- ent for the daughter of Cornelius Clark to "go to mill." Caty, who was just budding into womanhood, was well pleased with the prospects of a ride of four miles through C2
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the woods on horse-back. "She was'nt afraid, no, not she." Being detained longer than she expected, she started rather late on her return. When within one mile of her father's house, her horse gave an unexpected spring, which brought her and the bag of meal to the ground. Striking upon her feet, and maintaining her hold upon the bridle, the first object she saw, was two fiery eyeballs, glaring through the twilight darkness, directly upon her! Scarcly realizing how it happened, she found herself astride her horse; and not inclined, if she could, to check his speed, bent all her energies to maintain her seat in the saddle. On reaching home, with natural excitement, she related her adventure. The family with one accord endeavored to allay her fright, by pretending to think she was more " scared than hurt." They did not deem it advisable, however, to go in search of the bag until the next morning, when they discov- ered the well known tracks of a large wolf, in its imme- diate vicinity !
There have been, including the above, eight mills for grinding grain erected in town-there are now only two in operation.
At an early day, a grist mill was built by John Gil- more, close to the Falls, known as the Sulphur Springs. The water was conducted by a spout through the roof. The road leading to it, was down a small ravine from the north, running under a bridge, over which the Cherry Valley turnpike road passed. The ravine, under the bridge, has since been filled up, and no trace of the bridge or mill remains. There have been twenty-one or two mills for sawing lumber, running at different times, within the bounds of Sherburne. At this day, there are but twelve.
The remainder of the town, after this begining, was
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settled with unusual rapidity. In seven years, the num- ber of inhabitants had increased to twelve hundred and eighty-two. Many of these proved to be kindred spirits, drawn hither by the prospect of enjoying a well regu- lated Christian Society, with organized Churches and Schools. They were ready and willing at all times to throw their influence upon the side of good order, morality and religion, and were honored with offices of trust and responsibility, the duties of which they dis- charged with credit to themselves, and satisfaction to the people.
FIRST PAYMENT FOR THEIR LANDS.
When the first payment for their lands became due, their landlord, Benjamin Walker, mounted his horse and came to witness the progress and prosperity of the set- tlers and receive his dues. He met them at the house of Cornelius Clark. The money at that day was chiefly silver. One of them having brought his in a common mill bag, Mr. Walker purchased it, and added the remainder of his receipts. When ready to depart, he swung it across his horse, and vaulted into his saddle, with the air and attitude of a mill boy, which excited the merriment, and called forth the jokes of the spectators. They wished to know "how much toll " the miller was entitled to for grinding his grist, &c. As he bowed himself away, the settlers jocosely cautioned him to be on his guard, lest by riding against some protruding limb, he should rend his bag and scatter his grist along the path, a misfortune which sometimes happened. I would by no means be understood to intimate that the bag was so full, that he experienced any difficulty in tying its mouth; or, that it was so heavy, that he required assistance to lay it across his horse.
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HISTORY OF SHERBURNE.
FIRST SCHOOL.
The first school organized for winter, was at the house of Nathaniel Gray, one and a half miles north of the village. Two log houses having been erected adjoining each other, to accomodate two families, one of them was vacated for the benefit of the school. A pedagogue, by the name of - Gardner, was employed to teach it ; when exercising a class in spelling, he put the word book-the scholar spelled it b-u-k-the teacher pro- nounced it right. Edward Gray, son of John Gray, dis- puted this. The master, in order to maintain the dignity of his station, undertook to correct him corporeally ; a scuffle ensued, from which the teacher came out second best. The result was, the school was broken up for the remainder of the winter.
TOWN MEETING.
The first Town Meeting was warned by the Town Clerk of Paris,* to meet at the house of Timothy Hatch, on the first Tuesday of April, 1795. They met in a log- house. Isaac Foote was chosen moderator, and Oramus Holmes, Town Clerk.t
* Four years previous to that date, it was a part of Whitestown.
+ Oramus Holmes was a soldier of the Revolution, a resident of Vermont. At the age of 17, he enlisted into one of the regiments of the celebrated "Green Mountain Boys." He was with Gen. Montgomery in his expedition against Quebec. About the period of the evacua- tion of Ticonderoga by the British, he and a companion while out on a scouting expedition, were taken prisoners, conveyed to Quebec, and confined on board a prison ship. Making their escape in the ship's boat, with two others, they crossed the St. Lawrence, struck into the wilderness, without compass or guide, and traveled seventeen days in a wild, dreary, and unsettled region, subsisting for the first seven days on four hard biscuits, and eight ounces salt pork, per day,
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