USA > Pennsylvania > Tioga County > History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania > Part 8
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When I got the road cut to the shore I went to the sled, and getting a log chain, reached under water and hooked it first to one runner and then to the other; then backed the horses in through the road, hitched to the sled and pulled it out.
It was now dark; I had six miles to go and four times to cross the creek, without a roller in my sled to guide it. Ou descending ground it would run out of the road, when I had difficulty to get it in the road again. There was not a dry thread on me, and the outside of my clothes was frozen stiff. It was twelve [midnight] o'clock before I got to the mill,* the first house before me; and there were neither hay nor stable when I got there. I thought my poor horses would freeze to death.
Next morning as soon as the daylight appeared, I cut a stick and put a roller to my sled-the very wood seemed filled with ice. I started from there at ten o'clock, and had fifteen miles to go to Wells'. The snow was two feet deep and there was scarcely a track in the road. I met Mr. Wells' negro five miles this side of his house, coming to meet me, on horseback, about sunset. He said there was a byroad that was a mile nearer than the one I was on, and he undertook to pilot me, but soon lost the path and we wandered about among the trees till at length my sled pitched into a hole and upset. I then un- hooked my horses from the sled and asked the negro if he thought he could pilot me to the house, but he acknowledged himself lost.
I looked about and took a view of the stars and started with my four horses, leaving the pork in the wood, and fortunately reached Wells'. When I got there he had neither hay nor stable, or any kind of feed, nor any place to confine my horses, and I had to tie them to the trees. He had a place dug in a log that I could feed two of my horses at a time!
All the buildings that he had erected were two small cabins, adjoining each other- one for himself and family, about sixteen feet square, that I could not stand straight in- built of logs, with bark for an upper floor, and split logs for the lower floor. The negro cabin was a little larger, but built of the same material. I sat by the fire until morning. It took me all that day to get my pork to the house and settle. I started the next morn-, ing for home without any feed to give my horses, after they had stood there two nights, and the snow was up to their bellies. I have been particular in detailing the circum- stances of this trip, leaving you to judge of the hardships that I had to endure; but it is only a specimen of much of the kind that I have had to encounter through life.
The route traveled by General Burrows was by what is known as the "State Road," built in 1799. It is described in the chapter on "Internal Improvements." His description of the primitive residence of one of the pioneers of Delmar town- ship will give the reader a vivid idea of the privations endured by the early settlers in the wilderness. The cabin erected by Wells was located about two miles and a half southwest of the site of Wellsboro. He was a brother-in-law of Benjamin Wistar Morris.
TAXABLES OF 1812.
The following list of names of the taxables of the county for 1812, taken from the "corrected assessment of seated and personal property" for that year, furnishes
* Supposed to have been the Morris Mills already refered to.
11", Bache
THE PIONEERS.
the best obtainable information as to who were here as early as the close of 1811, with the amount of real and personal property possessed by each person assessed. This is the earliest assessment to be found on file in the commissioners' office, and appears to have been the first made after the official machinery of the county was in operation. The previous assessments were made under the direction of the authorities of Lycoming county, to which Tioga county was attached, for judicial and other purposes, for several years after its creation in 1804. At the time the assessment was made the county was divided into two townships-Tioga and Delmar-the former created originally in 1:97, and the latter in 1805.
TIOGA TOWNSHIP.
NAMES.
ACRES.
HORSES.
OXEN.
COWS.
VALUATION.
TAX.
Adams, Rufus.
45
1
3
$216 00
$1 08
Adams, Timothy,
100
1
160 00
08
Adams, Lyman (saw-mill),
150
2
2
405 00
2 02
Allen, William, .
50
75 00
87
Ayres, Stephen, .
50
75 00
87
Allen, Charles,
100
2
2
2
440 00
2 25
Baldwin, Ebenezer,
150
2
2
1
397 50
1
1 98
Baker, Wliliam (tanyard),
20
1
2
150 00
79
Baldwin, Rufus, .
98
2
197 00
98
Baldwin, Thomas (one-half saw-mill)
100
2
4
527 00
2 68
Burley, Ebenezer,
114
2
8
219 00
1 09
Burley, David,
100
150 00
75
Bailey, Constant,
100
2
1
200 00
1 00
Baker, Isaac,
146
1
8
221 00
1 10
Briggs, Simeon
215
1
.
1
60 00
30
Boylean, James,
50
Benson, John,
100
1
2
1
170 00
85
Bud, John,
.
.
.
·
.
2
167 00
88
Bailey, Robert,
260
22
1
890 00
1 95
Button, Alphous,
90
2
8
715 00
3 57
Bailey, Griffin,
60
21
2
360 00
1 80
Cannon, Cornelius,
100
2
1
70 00
35
Clemons, David, .
100
1
1
153 00
76
Crandie, John,
70
1
87 50
48
Cannon, Jacob,
50
1
60 00
30
Cudworth, Paul,
100
1
3
215 00
1 07
Cudworth, Apolios,
100
100 00
50
Churchill, Thomas,
87
1
2
3
225 00
1 12
Corey, Jonathan,
50
1
1
94 00
47
Corey, Jonathan, Jr.,
150
1
1
190 00
95
Doud, Poieg,
168
2
227 00
1 18
- Daggott, Reuben, .
181
2
2
194 00
97
DePuy. Elijah.
Dartt, Joshua,
2
2
80 00
40
-
.
2
20 00
10
Cady, John.
265 00
1
1 32
Chambers, Benjamin,
60
1
60 00
80
Baldwin, Isaac (saw-mill),
290
1
72 50
36
Clark, Elijah,
100
2
1
184 00
92
Bacon, Ebenezer,
90
90 00
45
Bacon, William, .
91
20 00
10
Bacon, Alvin,
150
2
2
237 50
1 18
Bacon, Daniel,
818 00
1 69
Bloss, Aaron,
412
·
.
1
$145 00
72
Daggett, Seth,
100
150 00
-
75
Cannon, Stiliman,
100
- -
.
2 05
1
10 00
05
Bentley, Benjamin,
1
272 50
1 36
2
458 00
2 26
Berry, Rachel,
175
2
5
65
66
HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.
NAMES.
ACRES.
HORSES.
OXEN.
COWS.
VALUATION.
TAX.
Elliott, Nathaniel,
400
1
$640 00
$3 20
Elliott, John,
90
3
2
7
500 00
2 50
Everts, Solomon,
36
54 00
27
Franklin, John, .
10 00
05
Fellows, Nathan,
100
2
1
190 00
95
Fosset, Jonathan,
100
2
160 00
80
Greenleaf, Israel,
200
310 50
1 55
Goodhue, Daniel,
120
1
3
258 00
1 29
Gray, John, .
100
2
2
210 00
1 05
Greeno, Moses,
210
2
2
4
505 00
2 52
Gitchell, Eli,
100
1
1
210 50
1 05
Gitchell, Aaron,
73
1
4
I
259 50
1 29
Gray, James, .
400
I
2
3
525 00
2 62
Gifford, Noah,
100
1
2
140 00
70
Gifford, Judah,
50
Gray, James, Jr.,
100
1
2
60 00
30
Hart, Adam (one still),
264
2
2
5
929 50
4 64
Hill, Nathan,
50
50 00
25
Haws, Ebenezer,
100
310 00
. 55
Higley, Samuel,
100
2
2
3
250 00
1 25
Hughes, Henry, .
28
.
·
66 00
33
Hammond, Josiah,
1
1
40 00
20
Hammond, Erastus,
200
206 00
1 03
Hammond, Joseph,
82
286 00
1 43
Hakes, Beebe,
50
50 00
25
Harris, Alexander,
100
2
2
430 00
2 15
Ingersoll, B Montgomery,
1
1
1
40 00
20
Inscho, Obadiah,
200
3
. .
.
1
40 00
20
Ives, Timothy,
300
1
2
3
470 00
2 35
Ives, John. Jr.,
1
1
1
55 00
27
Jennings, Oliver,
100
1
3
240 00
1 20
Kelso, John,
200
2
2
410 00
2 05
Kiphart, Jacob, Jr.,
122
2
2
472 00
2 36
Kies, William,
6
2
29 00
14
Kilburn, Ira,
150
5
6
750 00
3 75
Losey, Jesse,
200
3
2
3
425 00
2 12
Lamb, Gad,
239
Lamb, Daniel,
127}
1
I
252 50
1 26
Lamb, Harry,
127₴
1
1
242 50
1 21
Loper, Uriah,
50
1
2
106 00
53
Ludington, William,
100
1
2
2
205 00
1 02
Lane, Allen,
100
1
3
2
220 00
1 10
Laurence, Henry (one-half a saw-mill),
150
1
2
1
423 00
2 11
King, John, .
50
King, Simeon,
50
Knowlton, Henry,
150
50
Mudge, Aaron,
100
1
1
140 00
70
Mitchell, Richard,
365
3
2 835 00
4 17
Maine, John (one-half a saw-mill),
160
1
2
375 00
1 871
.
1
1
40 00
20
Kiphart, Jacob, .
100
2
380 00
1 90
Kelley, Nehemiah,
1
.
1
40 00
20
London, Benjamin,
50
1
1
376 00
1 88
Lindsey, David,
173
319 50
1 59
Lewis, Thomas, .
150
·
.
.
20 00
10
Laurence, Benjamin,
.
2
1
50 00
25
1
63 00
31
50 00
25
2
195 00 56 00
97
Ingersoll, Daniel,
1
1
10 00
05
Jackson, Lorentes,
1
1
40 00
20
Ives, Benajah,
1
2
50 00
25
Ingersoll, Daniel, Jr.,
4
790 00
3 95
Gitchell, Levi,
100
1
160 00
80
25
100 00
50
Hart, George, .
.
1
10 00
05
·
.
.
+
.
160 00
80
Laurence, Jonathan (hatter),
65 00
32
Jackson, Ebenezer (tan-yard),
Kies, Samuel,
50 00
1 32
Gordon, John,
.
1
1
McCane, Samuel,
28
67
THE PIONEERS.
NAMES.
ACRES.
HORSES.
OXEK.
COW8.
VALUATION.
TAX.
Mitchell, Robert, .
90
2
3
$390 00
$1 95
Middaugh, Joseph (half a whiskey-still),
160
1
2
370 00
1 85
Marvin John, .
100
150 00
75
Miller, Jacob, .
200
2
320 00
1 60
Mann, Asa, .
255
2
2
360 00
1 80
Moore, Silas,
50
·2
1
110 00
55
Mudge, Ira, .
100
2
2
170 00
85
Mudge, Joshua,
50
1
85 00
42
Miller, Garret,
205
2
240 00
1 20
Miller, Garret, Jr.,
156
1
166 00
83
Miller, Samuel,
160
2
3
287 50
1 18
Moss, David,
190
1
200 00
1 00
Moss, Benoni.
50
50 00
25
Miller, David (one-half a saw-mill),
200
2
1
518 00
2 59
Miller, Vaughan,
100
110 00
55
Norton, Trueman,
50
50 00
25
Newell, John,.
100
1
1
143 00
71
Nash, Noah,
298
8
2
8
622 00
3 11
Nichols, David,
20
1
2
80 00
40
Niles, Nathan,
225
1
8
297 50
1 48
Overton, Thomas (half a saw mill and half a grist mill),
807
582 50
2 91
Orvis, Jesse,
50
60 00
80
Power. Simeon (physician),
60
3
2
262 00
1 81
Pritchard, Calvin,
101
1
178 00
89
Pritchard, Lyman,
100
2
2
8
340 00
1 70
Platner, Widow,
50
1
1
96 00
48
Prutsman, Jacob,
140
2
2
580 00
2 90
Pitts, Hanover,
98
1
110 00
55
Pain, Clement,
300
800 00
1 50
Pain, David,
97
102 00
52
Prentiss, Levi,
200
819 00
1 59
Prutsman, Nicholas,
29
2
2
740 00
3 70
Putnam, Thomas,
566
2
2
4
1,879 00
6 89
Reep, Jacob,
260
8
3
1,020 00
5 10
Roberts. Eliza,
50
1
1
97 50
48
Rutta, Samuel,
50
2
75 00
37
Rowley, Nathan,
100
1
172 00
86
Reynolds, Obadiah,
1
30 00
15
Rose, Russell,
15
42 50
21
Rumsey, Noah,
50
60 00
30
Rumsey. Jeremiah,
276
2
1
386 00
1 68
Rexford. Thomas, .
99
1
2
3
292 50
1 46
Reynolds, Samuel,
200
2
2
270 00
1 35
Spencer, Uriah (one-half etlii),
150
1
770 00
8 85
Sullard, James,
60
2
8
167 50
88
Sullard, Stephen,
50
1
1
.
.
1
169 00
84
Spencer, Mica (book store),
51
1
2
2
172 00
86
Seely, James,
200
1
2
3
340 00
1 70
Seely, Jesse,
100
Smith, Rensselaer,
100
104 00
52
Smith, Benjamin,
1
80 00
15
Smith, Jesse,
8
2
1
66 00
38
Sharp, Andrew.
150
2
·
1
.
1
88 00
14
Sharp, Cornelius,
150
1
2
8
255 00
1 27
.
1
2
2
90 00
-
-
.
.
.
.
.
.
118 1 8
158 00
79
Putnam, Elijah, . .
400
1
.
.
.
.
2
107 50
53
Spencer, Amos (one-half grist.mill), Shaw, Joshua,
100
.
1
180 00
65
Spencer, Jonathan L. (one-half grist-mill), Sramans, Gardner,
4
50
1
60 00
30
00 00
50
Staples, Samuel,
30 00
15
Shed, Simeon,
50
.
2
2
80 00
40
Mitchell, Thomas,
.
1
106 50
53
Rose, William,
190
11
1
166 50
83
400
630 00
3 15
Rathbun, William (half a saw-mill)
.
.
·
2
242 60
1 21
·
2
1
45
Miller, Joshua,
68
HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.
NAMES.
ACRES.
HORSES.
OXEN.
COWE.
VALUATION.
TAX.
Taylor, Charles,
100
$100 00
$ 50
Taylor, Moses,
200
203 00
1 01
Trout, Adam. .
3
1
80 00
40
Van Campen, James,
260
2
2
515 00
2 57
Van Wy, Henry,
66
2
128 00
64
Westbrook, Samuel,
76
288 00
1 44
Williams, Elisha,
100
2
2
180 00
90
Waldo, John,
100
2
2
3
1,490 00
7 45
Wilson, Joseph,
1
1
40 00
20
Westbrook, Benjamin,
30
2
3
260 00
1 30
Wilson, Thomas,
157
2
3
416 50
2 08
Wilson, John,
200
.
The names of the following "single freemen," each of whom was assessed a tax of seventy-five cents, appear on the same list: Stephen Ayres, David Burley, Ebenezer Bacon, Elisha Burk, William Bullock, Jacob Cannon, John Clark, William Cricket, John Covey, Apollos Cudworth, Paul Cudworth, Jr., Judah Gifford, John Hart, Elias Houghtaling, Benjamin Ives, John Ives, Jr., Lorentes Jackson, Jesse Kies, Jacob Kiphart, Jr., Daniel Lamb, Harry Lamb, Benoni Moss, Erastus Niles, Calvin Pritchard, Nathan Rowley, Jr., Jesse Seely, John Thomson, Thomas VanCamp, and James VanCamp, Jr.
DELMAR TOWNSHIP.
NAMES.
ACRES.
HORSES.
OXEN.
COWS.
VALUATION.
TAX.
Allington, John,
60
1
·
1
$97 00
$
48
Allington, William,
150
1
2
2
304 00
1 52
- Austin, Caleb,
100
2
1
148 00
74
Atkins, Samuel,
100
1
1
1
153 00
76
Bonney, Thomas,
42
I
4
3
435 50
2 17
Blanchard, Charles (one-third saw-mill),
246
3
2
4
648 50
3 24
Bulkley, Israel (distillery),
350
2
3
943 00
4 71
Bonney. Jonathan,
50
1
.
1
82 00
41
Bowen, Emmer (one-half a saw-mill),
129
1
2
3
448 50
2 24
Bloss, Dorman, .
12 00
06
Baker, Abisha (town lot),
26 72
13
Blanchard, Abner,
98
.
.
.
2
2
60 00
30
Beecher, Hopestill (one-third grist-mill),
160
2
2
1
654 00
3 27
Beecher, John (one-third grist mill),
160
1
2
618 00
3 06
.
.
1
12
06
Bailey, Roswell,
1
54 00
27
Babb, Samson (saw-mill),
100
Baldwin, Isaac (saw-mill),
400
2
920 00
60
Welch, Nathaniel,
150
2
2
227 50
1 13
Welch, Samuel, .
100
100 00
50
Weast, Abraham.
100
2
2
280 00
1
40
Washburn, Isaiah,
100
100 00
50
Wbitten, Luther,
50
75 00
37
Youngman, John C.,
100
1
175 00
87
Youngman, John, .
100
1
172 00
86
.
1
115 00
57
Willard. William (one-half saw mill)
567
1
1
40 00
20
Walker, Daniel,
2 02
Washburn, Isaiah, Jr.,
100
1
1
140 00
70
Welch, Nathaniel, Jr.,
180
1
1
222 50
1 11
57
Wood, Lemuel,
200
1
114 00
.
1
1
310 00
1 55
Burdick, Jesse,
Beecher, Thomas (one-third grist-mill). .
50
.
3
240 00
1 20
.
2
29 00
14
Vail, Levi (one-half still)
·
405 00
69
THE PIONEERS.
NAMES.
ACRES.
HORSES-
OX EN.
COW8.
VALUATION.
TAI.
Bryant, David,
50
2
1
$102 00
$ 51
Bowen, Zadoc,
1
1
2
2
116 44
58
Culver, Timothy,
212
2
6
313 00
1 56
Colvin, Joshua,
200
2
1
445 00
2 22
Cook, Levi,
68
2
2
262 00
1 41
Colvin, Joseph,
50
2
2
234 00
1 17
Costley, James,
52
1
2
5
271 0
1 35
Coates, Lintsford,
75
2
150 00
75
Culver, Amasa (one-third saw-mill),
125
1
383 00
1 91
Coates, Timothy (moved away).
2
22 00
11
Cloos, Newbury,
54
2
2
4
886 00
1 68
Carpenter, Charles,
60
1
200 00
1 00
Cady, Curtis,
1
15 00
07
Dill, Samuel, .
1
1
37 00
18
Ellis, Richard,
1,000
4
2
2
1.147 00
5 78
Furman, Josiah,
200
2}
8
499 50
2 49
Freeman, Ichabod,
40
1
1
298 00
1 49
Faulkner, William,
100
2
2
1
216 00
1 08
Flurance. Peter,
12 00
06
Fisher, Samuel W. (grlet-mill and saw- mill), .
200
844 00
4 22
Furman, Aaron,
50
1
.
.
2
2
781 00
8 65
Gaylord, Jonathan,
15
1
82 00
41
Goodwin, Richard,
100
1
352 00
1 76
Gardner, John (moved away).
1
2
42 00
21
George, Bedford,
400
1
2
677 00
8 88
Greenleaf. David,
100
100 00
50
Gillet, Aaron,
340
360 00
1 80
Gillet, Aaron, Jr.,
200
2
2
325 66
1 62
Hotchkles, Harrls,
800
1
2
1
800 50
4 00
Howland, Eddy,
150
1
2
8
607 00
3 08
Hill, Elihu. .
6
1
1
46 00
28
Holden, Willlam,
100
100 00
50
Hoadley, William,
300
513 00
2 56
Hammond, Davld,
100
1
168 00
84
Ives, Timothy (ono town lot),
160
2
1
336 00
1 68
Ives, John (2d),
400
2
677 00
-
58
Jackson, Lorentes,
25
¢
1
12 00
06
Jay, David,
80
1
167 00
88
Jordan, Daniel, .
100
4
224 00
1 12
Knox, Margaret,
180
2
2
477 00
2 38
Kelsey, Joseph,
100
2
2
2
148 00
74
Kent, Jabez,
150
2
2
1
250 16
1 40
Lapham, Jesse,
250
2
1
361 00
1 80
Losey, Jesse,
126
198 00
99
.
.
1
93 00
46
Carpenter, Samuel,
100
Cook, Reuben,
60
2
234 00
1 17
1
12 00
06
Cady, Abel,
.
.
. .
.
.
2
422 00
2 11
Faulkner, Joseph,
50
1
· .
135 00
67
Fish, Joseph, .
50
2
80 00
40
Greenleaf, Israel,
600
812 1 8
12 00
06
Hill, William (three town lots),
100
5
161 00
80
Hill, Ebenezer,
.
200
201 00
1 00
Ives, Roswell.
25
52 22
26
Ives, Titus,
100
1
117 00
Johnson, Joseph.
37 50
18
Joseph, John.
1 88
Kelsey, Daniel.
100
·
1
12 00
06
Lindsey, David (three town lots),
1
72 00
36
Faulkner, John,
148
2
22 0.
11
Carpenter, Jedediah,
1
12 00
15
Cheney, Alpheus (two town lots),
30 00
12 00
06
1
.
.
377 00
8 88
Graves, John,
1
Hazlett, Samuel (one-half a saw-mill).
2
Darling, Stephen,
Coates, Frederick,
70
HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.
·
NAMES.
ACRES.
HORSES.
OXEN.
COWS.
VALUATION.
TAX.
Logan, Paul,
100
$100 00
$ 50
Matteson, Alexander,
50
3
3
267 00
1 33
Matteson, Solomon, .
63
.2
2
254 00
1 27
Merrick, Israel,
100
2
5
190 00
95
Mann, Nathaniel,
20
2
2
3
172 00
86
Manning, Thomas,
300
1
2
357 00
1 78
Mitchell, William,
100
1
2
161 00
80
Miller, Samuel, .
126
198 00
99
Matteson, James,
20
40 00
20
Mead, Nathan (moved away),
100
2
3
881 50
4 40
Morris, Samuel W. (eight town lots),
675
4
4
7
1,117 26
5 58
Mathers, John,
100
1
2
1
187 00
93
Morris, Benjamin Wistar,
100
102 00
51
Moore, Mordecai,
.
2
2
4
194 50
97
Niles, Aaron,
50
2
1
82 00
41
Niles, Nathan,
50
Niles, Nathan, Jr.
170
2
2
233 00
1 16
Phillips, Spencer,
100
1
.
2
282 00
1 41
Phillips, Daniel,
120
1
2
2
267 00
1 33
Parker, John,
120
1
2
231 00
1 15
Place, Asa.
100
1
1
182 00
91
Prentiss, Thomas,
80
1
2
3
374 00
1 87
Ryers, John P.,
100
.
.
.
258 00
1 29
Rathbun, Thomas (one-third saw-mill), :
150
1
1
400 00
2 00
Robinson, Joseph,
400
2
1
680 00
3 40
Shed, Simeon,
100
1
1
1
153 00
76
Steele, Robert,
50
.
1
296 00
1 48
Shumway, Peter,
250
1
2
2
60 00
30
Scott, Luke,
100
4
206 00
1 03
Strait, Jonathan,
50
1
2
115 00
57
Strait, David,
80
177 00
88
Seely, Nathaniel,
120
1
3
256 50
1 28
Short, John,
60
1
1
95 00
47
Short, Benoni,
100
1
112 00
56
Short, Asa, .
100
2
122 50
61
Seelye, Ebenezer (one-half saw-mill),
1
4
3
1,043 00
5 22
Strawbridge, George,
9
. 45 00
22
Sweet, John,
64
2
5
314 00
1 57
Swimeley, Joseph,
90
1
1
188 00
94
Stiles, Jonathan,
269
1
438 00
2 19
Seelye, Julius,
.
.
2
1
160 50
80
Salsbury, Benjamin,
100
1
2
189 00
69
Spencer, Uriah,
169
85
Short, David,
73
2
1
133 00
66
Taylor, Widow,
200
1
2
680 00
3 40
Taylor, Samuel, .
100
Taylor, Ebenezer, .
225
2
3
795 00
8 97
Tubbs, Samuel,
550
50
1
62 00
31
.
1
.
.
25 00
12+
Read, Daniel, .
116
1
.2
234 00
1 17
Ryon, John,
160
2
1
52 00
26
Sligh (Sly), Henry (one town lot),
76 72
38
Starkweather, Elijah, .
250
2
2
312 00
1 56
Short, Reuben,
300
1
366 80
83
Pierce, Baker,
150
1
.
.
·
2
1
I
12 00
06
Strait, James,
80
407
2
3
1
162 00
81
Taylor, Silas,
·
1,408 00
7 04
.
.
.
2
20 00
10
Seely, Benjamin.
42 00
21
1
12 00
06
Streeter, Widow,
2
1
188 00
94
Rexford, Simon,
300 00
1 50
Murry, Eben, .
50
50 00
25
Norris John (two and one-third town lots),
2 00
Mann, Asa,
1
25 00
13
Merrick, Israel, Jr.,
776
189 00
94
Matteson, Jonathan,
50
Thompson, Bethlehem (grist-mill),
888 00
4 44
1
171 00
Schoonover, Christopher,
466
1
1
71
COUNTY ORGANIZATION COMPLETED.
NAMES.
ACRES.
HORSES.
OX EN.
COW8.
VALUATION.
TAX.
Thomas, Ezekiel,
50
$ 53 00
$ 26
Tuttle, Ayres (grist-mill,)
100
1
2
2
333 00
1 66
Thomas, Jonathan,
50
.
.
2
111 0
55
Tuttle, Sheldon,
100
1
167 50
84
Van Natta, Jacob,
45
67 50
33
White, Elisha,
100
1
2
1
223 00
1 11+
Williams, Robert,
100
3
208 00
1 04
Williams, Bob,
12 00
06
Wright, Cyprian,
98
1
1
3 47
1 73
Wheeler, Orva,
100
102 00
51
Willard, Oliver,
200
2
1
247 00
1 23
Yarnall, James,
7
2
2
1
69 00
34
.
.
-
1
·
.
The names of the following "single freemen" also appear on the same list, each of whom was taxed seventy-five cents: Eli Abbott, Sylvester Bailey, Samson Babb, Jr., Royal Blanchard, Edmijah Blanchard, Blanchard, Zadoc Bowen, Isaac Gaylord, David Greenleaf, John Hazlett, David Henry, William Holden, John Mckinley, William Mathiaa, and Israel Merrick, Jr.
CHAPTER VI.
COUNTY ORGANIZATION COMPLETED.
LOCATION OF COUNTY SEAT-TRUSTEES APPOINTED-PROPOSALS FOR A SITE AD VERTISED FOR-THE OFFER OF BENJAMIN WISTAR MORRIS ACCEPTED - LOCATION MADE-WHY NAMED WELLSBOROUGH-A TOWN LAID OUT-ACTIVITY OF MORRIS- DELMAR TOWNSHIP FORMED-FIRST COMMISSIONERS-EARLY FINANCIAL STATE- MENTS-OTHER STATISTICAL INFORMATION-GROWTH OF POPULATION BY DECADES.
IT has been shown that Tioga county was erected March 26, 1804. After this enactment the political affairs of the country seem to have remained in abeyance for about two years. This was doubtless caused by the sparseness of the popula- tion and the fact that the territory had belonged to Lycoming. By the act of February 3, 1806, the powers of the commissioners of Lycoming were extended to the districts of Potter and Tioga counties. In other words, a protectorate, so to speak, was to be exercised over them until they were sufficiently strong to set up business for themselves. It was made the duty of the commissioners of the mother county to keep distinct accounts of the moneys collected from each of the aforesnid districts, and the recorder of deeds of Lycoming county was required to provide a separate book for recording the deeds for lands lying within the respective counties of Tioga and Potter. The deed book for Tioga is written in the beautiful round hand of John Kidd, who was the first officer appointed by Governor
.
72
HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.
Mifflin for Lycoming county, and during the first few years of the existence of that county he held all the offices in the court house, except sheriff and coroner. This deed book is known as No. 1 in the register and recorder's office at Wellsboro. He wrote with a quill pen and his writing is noted for its plainness, uniformity and simplicity.
The act of March 26, 1804, states that the county seat "shall be fixed by the legislature at any place at a distance not greater than seven miles from the center of the county, which may be most beneficial and convenient for the people." This clause may be attributed to the foresight or sagacity of Benjamin Wistar Morris, agent for the Pine Creek Land Company.
Three trustees were authorized by the legislature to be appointed to supervise the affairs of Tioga and select a site for the county seat. John Fleming and William Ellis, of Lycoming, and William Hill Wells, of Tioga, were appointed. The latter was a brother-in-law of Morris, and a son of Ellis married a daughter of Morris. Under these conditions it requires no stretch of the imagination to arrive at the conclusion that a majority of the trustees would favor Morris in the selec- tion of the county seat.
The following advertisement appeared January 25, 1806, in Poulson's Ameri- can Daily Advertiser, published in Philadelphia:
TYOGA COUNTY.
The subscribers having received official information of their having been appointed by the governor trustees for the county of Tyoga, hereby give public notice that they are ready to receive proposals for a scite or scites for the county town, and to perform such other duties as the law governing their appointment requires; the increasing population near the center of said county rendering it probable that the subject may be brought before the ensuing legislature for final arrangements.
Williamsport, Lycoming county. December 11, 1805.
JOHN FLEMING, WILLIAM HILL WELLS, WILLIAM ELLIS.
All the preliminaries having been completed, Morris at once proposed to con- vey a certain number of acres to the trustees on which to locate the county buildings. The offer being satisfactory to these officials, an act was approved March 21, 1806, fixing the seat of justice at Wellsboro, and the trustees were authorized to survey a certain tract of land to include the said town, and to lay out a lot for the public buildings, and take a deed in fee simple for one half of said tract and lots for the use of the county, and have it recorded in Lycoming county; to sell the town lots and execute deeds therefor to the purchasers, and reserve the proceeds thereof for the use of the county. It was furthermore stip- ulated that within six months after the organization of the county the trustees were to surrender their trust to the commissioners of the county, who were to complete the duties to be performed. The trustees were also required to file a draft of their survey in the recorder's office of Lycoming or Tioga counties. This was complied with and the deed and draft may be seen in Deed Book 1, p. 1, Tioga county.
July 14, 1806, Benjamin Wistar Morris and his wife, Mary Wells Morris,
73
COUNTY ORGANIZATION COMPLETED.
conveyed to John Fleming, William Hill Wells and William Ellis, "one full and equal moiety," with the usual allowances, etc., of 150 acres of land, agree- ably to the proposals made by Mr. Morris to the legislature. This land was originally taken up in the name of James Stewart, and is fully described in the deed, recorded September 6, 1806. The conveyance was made to the above named persons as trustees "for the use of Tioga county forever."
This tract of 150 acres commenced at the intersection of the Delmar and State roads and included the settlement of Mr. Morris. This State road, built in 1799, from Newberry to the 109th mile-stone, had become an important thor- oughfare at the time the county seat was located. The selection of this site was the culmination of the plans of Mr. Morris, backed by the influence of the Pine Creek Land Company, for the purpose of founding a town and therefore enhancing the value of the lands.
WHY NAMED WELLSBOROUGH.
When Morris succeeded in carrying out his plans, by having the county seat of Tioga located at the place he had selected, and the trustees had formally accepted the same, he named it "Wellsborough" (now by common consent spelled "Wellsboro") in honor of his wife, Mary IIill Wells, who was a sister of Gideon and William Hill Wells. Mrs. Morris had shared his trials and tribulations in the wilderness and he felt that to her was due the compliment of having her name perpetuated in this way. The compliment was worthily bestowed, for she was a good woman. She was born in Philadelphia September 16, 1761, and died in Wellsboro, November 6, 1819. She was reared in the Quaker faith and always wore the garb of those people. The Wells family came from Delaware, and brought with them four slaves-"Uncle Eben Murry and his wife, Aunt Iletty"-who became very worthy citizens of the new town and were greatly respected by the people and Elias Spencer and his wife, Maris. After a few years' residence here Mr. Wells moved back to Philadelphia, and the tradition is that he gave his farm to Uncle Eben. Mention is made by General Burrows, when he was flounder- ing in the snow and searching for Mr. Wells' house, of meeting one of these slaves on horseback, who undertook to pilot him to the house. Other interests probably called the Wells family away and the fact of their being among the early settlers was almost forgotten.
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