USA > Vermont > Rutland County > Pittsford > History of the town of Pittsford, Vt., with biographical sketches and family records > Part 14
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 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58
Sergt .- Alpheus Hall, Eleazer Marble,
Asahel Williams,
66 Elisher Smith,
Philip Sprague,
Solomon Cogswell, Obadiah Noble,
172
HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
Corp .- Oliver Wright,
Nath'niel Hamilton,
66 Silas Brookins,
Samuel Owen,
66 Isaac Grant,
Caleb Warren,
Timothy Clark,
Caleb Haywood,
Nehemiah Kellogg,
Nath'niel Allen,
John Lewis,
Abraham Owen,
John Martin,
Isaac Laughborough,
Eli Freeman,
Saml. Chipman,
Jedidiah Blackmar,
Richard Chamberlin,
Amaziah Church,
Jona. Newton,
Isaac Fenny,
Ephraim Wescott,
Chancy Clark,
Jona. Remington,
Hezekiah Rhodes,
Usual Parsons,
Elihu Allen,
John Cook,
Justus Brewster,
Mansan Cook,
Moses Beech,
Jesse Lang,
John Cristie, Fifer-Joseph Dewey,
Daniel Haskins,
Drummer -- Martin Adams,
David Roberts,
Comfort Smith,
Samuel Morrison
Moses Powers,
John Wilson,
John Cook."
After the close of the war Tomo returned to Coughnawaga,. the residence of his tribe, and engaged in civil pursuits. In that place, for some years, he kept a public house. Captain Brookins, in passing through that region about the year 1800, chanced to stop at this tavern. Observing that the landlord- a stout intelligent Indian-limped a little in walking, he asked him the cause of it. The reply was, "Me wounded at Pitts- ford fort." This response brought to the Captain's mind the night-scene near the fort in 1781, and it occurred to him that this Indian might have been one of the braves wounded by the ambuscade. He made further inquiries in respect to the time and circumstances of Tomo's wounding, and discovered that the limping landlord was the chief who had led the savages against
173
TOMO.
the fort on that well-remembered night. Other facts elicited from the chief, were corroborative of the opinion entertained by the garrison at the time, that one Indian was killed and that others were wounded. The Captain neglected to inform Tomo that the former commander of Fort Vengeance was before him, but whether this reticence was prompted by the consciousness that he was then in his power, we are not informed.
A few years later, Allen Penfield, Esq., was traveling through the same region and stopped at the same tavern. Tomo was no longer the landlord, but he was still about there. He was advanced in years and somewhat decrepit. As soon as the old chief learned that Mr. Penfield was from Pittsford, he made special effort to form his acquaintance. He engaged a room, had it well warmed and lighted, and into this he took Mr. Penfield, excluding all other company. Here he spent hours in questioning the stranger respecting the condition of his former favorite hunting-grounds and fishing-grounds. And Mr. Penfield declares that this aged Indian gave a more accu- rate description of Otter Creek and the adjacent valley, from Sutherland Falls to Middlebury, than he could possibly have done, though familiar with them from his boyhood. Tomo gave Mr. Penfield a full account of the contemplated attack upon Pittsford fort, pulled up his pants and showed him the scar upon his leg where he was wounded by a musket-ball, and narrated the circumstances attending the Indians' retreat," as well as the conveyance of their dead comrade to the place of burial. The interview was pleasant and cordial and full of interest, and at parting the old chief congratulated Mr. Penfield on succeeding to so goodly a heritage, while the latter in turn expressed his wish that the remaining days of his host might be peaceful and happy.
It is very much to be regretted that so little can be learned of the active life of Tomo. For many years he was known to
174
HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
the white men as a bold and cunning chief, but the most of his deeds have passed into oblivion. His full name was Thomas Orakrenton. It appears that he was born on the 9th of Octo- ber, 1752. In the Register of Baptisms, &c., of the mission of Sault St. Louis, is found a record of Thomas Orakrenton's baptism, in Latin, as follows :
25 " Equidem baptizavi cum Ecclesiœ ceremoniis
Orakrenton. puerum eodem die 9 Octobre natum ex patre Matthia Teshonarenion et ex matre Cecilia Anhrensite conjugibus quem Thomam nominavit Thomas Raonhrentsiakare filius.
Signe (a un des actes precedents) Jos. HUQUET."
He married Anastasie Teramistha, by whom he had twelve children, seven of which died in childhood, and five arrived at the age of maturity, as follows: Joseph Tehaiasesha, Michel Tsioronrati, Recri* Saioris, mother of Anne Kaheriton the widow of Syneco Tehemiraron still living, Charlotte Tekaiaks. and Susanne Kurakrentha.
During some part of his elder years he carried on a trade in skins in a stone house occupied at the present time by Pierre Keeheréton, called Murray, a merchant, one of his relatives or descendants.
· Thomas Orakrenton died at his home in Caughnawaga on the 11th day of February, 1825, as will appear by the fol- lowing :
Thomas
6. "On the 11th day of February eighteen hundred and twenty-five, I the undersigned
Orakrenton. missionary buried Thomas Orakrenton, husband of Anastasia Teramistha deceased,
* Or words to that effect.
175
INTERVIEW BETWEEN PATRIOT AND TORY.
aged seventy three years and four months the day before yes- terday, died with the assistance of the church.
Charles Ohnarera and Jean Baptiste Ateramarikhon who
Jos. MAREOUX, Priest.
This extract, signed by the actual missionary at Sault St. Louis, alias Caughnawaga, we declare and certify to be a copy of the original inscribed in the archives of the said mission.
Caughnawaga July fourth eighteen hundred and seventy-one.
M. V. BURTIN."
It was probably about this time that the interview reputed to have been held between Captain Benjamin Cooley and Roger Stevens, Jr., took place. It appears that in the evening of the seventh of April, 1780, Capt. Cooley went on horseback to carry home Mrs. John May who had been at his house nursing Mrs. Cooley, who was sick. On his return, when he had got near where the present Gorham bridge now stands, his horse sud- denly stopped and appeared very much frightened. "What !" says the Captain, " do you smell a tory ?" Applying his whip to the animal he succeeded in forcing him along. No more was thought of the circumstance at the time, but this year, 1781, while Capt. Cooley was on duty at the fort, he received a note from Roger Stevens, Jr., who was in the vicinity at the head of a scouting party of Indians and tories-requesting an interview and appointing a time and place. He asked the Captain, moreover, to appear there with his side arms, and assured him that he would meet him alone, unarmed, and as a friend. The Captain complied, and held a long interview with his old neighbor. In the course of the conversation Stevens remarked to the Captain that he supposed his former towns- men blamed him very much for the part he had acted in the war ; but he stated that he had been governed by his convic- tions of duty, and that notwithstanding the course he had
176
HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
. taken, he was then and always had been, a friend to the people of Pittsford, and that he had done them many favors of which they were entirely ignorant. For when the Indians had taken any of ther number prisoners he had used his influence in saving their lives, mitigating their sufferings and effecting their release from captivity. And to convince the Captain that he had refrained from exercising his power to harm the inhabit- ants, he asked him whether he remembered the evening when returning from Mr. May's, his horse became frightened and refused to proceed, and he inquired of the animal if he smelt a tory. The Captain replied in the affirmative. "Well," said Stevens, "I was but a few feet from you with a party of Indi- ans, and might easily have killed you or made you a prisoner ; but wishing you well I refrained, though against the wishes of the Indians."
It is not probable that Stevens remained long about here after this interview, as he persevered in his attachment to the cause of the enemy. After the war, he settled in Canada, near the Rideau river, in which, some years later, he was drowned while shoot- ing ducks. His wife did not long survive him. They had one daughter, Martha, who married a Mr. Burritt, and whose descendants now live in Canada. He had also two sons, Guy and Christopher, both of whom left Canada at an early age and have not since been heard from.
Early in August, Gen. Stark, of New Hampshire, was placed in command of the northern department, with his head- quarters at Saratoga, and he was in constant communication with the military authorities of Vermont, who promised him all the assistance in their power to repel the common enemy. Though the British had a large force in Canada at this time, they attempted little, except to make a few demonstrations from St. Johns, still these demonstrations were sufficient to keep the people of Vermont in a constant state of alarm. It is probable that the activity of the enemy was stayed, in view
177
OPERATIONS IN 1782.
of certain negotiations then pending between the authorities of Vermont and the British Generals, by which the latter hoped to make a peaceful conquest of the State. The history of those nego- tiations is foreign to our purpose .* In the fall, however, the enemy in considerable force came up the lake as far as Ticon- deroga; but the news of the surrender of Cornwallis, on the 19th of October, so disheartened them that they soon after retired down the lake, and went into winter quarters in Canada, without having done any injury to the people of Vermont.
There was much anxiety in the public mind to know what effect the surrender of Cornwallis would have upon the British and how it would influence their plan of operations for the year 1782. It was generally believed, however, that as they had a large force in Canada, an invasion of the northern fron- tier would be resolved upon. In anticipation of this, the Legis- lature in February ordered the raising of three hundred men for garrisoning the frontier posts, and they were to serve from the 15th of April to the 15th of December. The Board of War was directed to allot to each town its quota of said levy, according to the common lists of said towns made for the year 1781, and each town was also required to provide the wages for the non-commissioned officers and soldiers which it fur- nished, a sergeant to receive two pounds eight shillings per month, a corporal, drum or fife, two pounds four shillings, and a private, two pounds.
But instead of entering at once upon open hostilities, as had been expected, the British agents resumed the negotiations which had been so abruptly terminated the previous fall, and the season wore away in "masterly inactivity," though a large British force in the vicinity of the lake, kept the people of Vermont in a state of continual apprehension, and rumors of aggressive movements created frequent alarms, That Gen,
* For a full account of them consult the excellent work of Gov. Hall.
13
,
178
HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
Haldimand, the commander of the British forces in Canada, intended to enter the frontier towns with a powerful army, about the month of June, there can be no doubt ; but before the necessary arrangements could be made, he received from Sir Guy Carleton who had been appointed to the chief command in America, a dispatch communicating the pacific intentions of the new ministry and their instructions prohibiting further offensive movements. These instructions were not then known to the people of Vermont, and consequently they were not wholly relieved from the fears of an invasion until they received intelligence of the provisional articles of peace, which were signed at Paris on the last day of November, 1782.
We have thus sketched the principal events in the Revolu- tionary war, which have most specially interested the inhabitants of Pittsford. In the office of the Secretary of State, there are certain papers which contain a few supplementary references to persons who resided in this town and it may be worth while to notice them.
On the Roll of "Capt. Brownson's Company called out for the defence of the frontiers of the New Hampshire Grants in June, 1776," we find the name of Jabez Olmstead who served 22 days and received £2-4s-6d.
On the Roll of "Capt. Parmelee Allen's Company of Rangers, Maj. Ebenezer Allen's detachment, raised for the defence of the State of Vermont," are the names of Thomas Tuttle, Nathan Rowley, Hopkins Rowley and Ira Rood, who served from Feb. 1st to Dec. 1st, 1780.
On the Roll of " Capt. Tehan Noble's Company, Col. Warren's Regiment, which served in defence of the northern frontier," are the names of Ira Rood, who served from May 5th to June 18ht ; and Nathaniel Montague who served from May 7th to June 18th, 1781.
On the Roll of " Capt. William Hutchinson's Independent Company, on duty at Castleton and Pittsford forts," we find
179
PETITION OF ROWLEY AND HENDEE.
the names of Joshua June and John May, who served from Nov. 20, 1781, to May 1, 1782.
On the Roll of "Capt. Patterson's Company, Col. Warren's Regiment, for service in the alarm in October, 1781," are the names of Samuel Hopkins and James Hopkins.
On the Roll of " Capt. Jotham White's Company, Col. Fletcher's Regiment," is the name of Ashbel Hopkins, who served from July 1st to Dec. 19, 1781.
On the Roll of "Capt. Zadock Everest's Company, Col. Ira Allen's Regiment," is the name of James Hopkins, who was allowed pay for 27 miles travel and 9 days service-1781.
On the Roll of " Capt. Eli Noble's Company, in the service of the State from the 16th of August to the 21st of Nov., 1780," are the names of Aaron Parsons and Abraham Owen.
On the Roll of "Capt. Lee's Independent Corps of Rangers in the three years service," is the name of Jabez Olmstead.
On the Roll of "Capt. Joshua Babcock's Company, in the Battalion commanded by Lieut. Col. Walbridge," is the name of Luther Drury.
PETITION OF JONATHAN ROWLEY AND CALEB HENDEE.
" To the Hon. the General Assembly of the State of Vermont to Be convened at Bennington Jan. 31, 1782.
The memorial of Jonathan Rowley and Caleb Hendee of Pittsford in Rutland County, Humbly showeth, that your honor's Memorialists situated in Pittsford, Lying adjoining the Garrison, chiefly on the north side of the Garrison, rendered it impracticable for us consistent with prudence to continue on and improve our houses and lands, we thought fit by the advice of the principal officers of the Garrison to remove our families into the more interior parts of the State, since which time the Garrison has made use of about 2000 feet of boards. which were the property of Jonathan Rowley, your honors memorialist, the bigger half of said boards were taken from
180
HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
his house, the upper and lower floors being loose, and the parti- tion and ceiling boards &c., taken and improved for the barracks, and a considerable number of nails taken for the same use, some of the shingles of the roof taken off for the nails. The state hath been benefited by our fields and meadows for feeding the cattle, and all for the benefit of the state; and we your honors' memorialists have been and still are put to great distress to support their families, we think it altogether reasonable that the state should pay us, at least, what they have been benefited by our property if not the damages for burning our fences for fire wood and many other damages. Your honor's memorialists would therefore pray that the Hon. the General Assembly would appoint a committee to look into the affair and examine into the whole of the circumstances, and make their report to some Board as your honors shall think proper. That your honors' memorialists may be considered and have justice done in the case, as your honors' memorialists in duty bound shall ever pray.
Dated in Danby, 29th June, 1782.
. JONATHAN ROWLEY, CALEB HENDEE."
This petition has the following endorsement :
" In General Assembly Feb. 7, 1782.
The within petition was read and dismissed.
Attest, ROSWELL HOPKINS, Clerk."
"PITTSFORD, May 28, 1784.
Then application being made by Mr. Caleb Hendee of said Pittsford to us John Mott and Amos Cutler of Brandon, to apprise on said day the damages done him the said Hendee, on his place in time of the war by the garrison being erected there in said place. We living near in said Brandon and being in some measure acquainted with the articles that were on said
181
ANECDOTE OF ABEL STEVENS.
Hendee's place that are now destroyed or gone, we truly judge the house would have been worth at the end
of the war
£10-12s-6d
Barn would have been worth
6-0-0
Fences "
66
15-0-0
Wood lot " 66 66 66 11-0-0
Maple trees saved for sugaring,
5-0-0
Apple orcharding
22-10-0
£70-2s-6d
Attest, JOHN MOTT, AMOS CUTLER."
Mr. Hendee presented a petition to the General Assembly in 1786, asking for twenty-four pounds as compensation, for one years use of his farm by the State troops. This petition was favorably entertained, and the amount asked for paid.
In this chapter and the one preceding relating to the Revolu- tionary war, we have given an account of most of the known events, in which the inhabitants of this town or any portion of them, took an active part. Tradition has transmitted to us some anecdotes pertaining to the period immediately following the war, though the most of these are too uncertain to be recorded as authentic history. The following, however, comes from a source which entitles it to credit: Among the early inhabitants of the town were a few men who, at the usual sea- son, dealt quite largely in furs, and hunting and trapping were to them not only pastimes, but sources of considerable income. Abel Stevens was one of this class. In the fall of 1782, or about that time, he went on a hunting expedition to the north- ern part of the State, and upon territory claimed by the Caughnawaga Indians. In his rambles he chanced to meet a hunter of that tribe. The Indian treated him cordially, pro- fessed great friendship, and invited him to accompany him to
182
HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
new ground where game was more abundant. After a little discussion they agreed to go in company one week, and at the expiration of that time to divide their furs equally. It was a successful expedition, and when the time had expired they divided their furs according to agreement and set out on their return. As they were traveling along a narrow foot-path Stevens who was in advance heard behind him a sound like the snap of a gun. Turning quickly he saw that the Indian had treacherously attempted to shoot him, but his gun had missed fire. Without a moment's delay, Stevens lodged the contents of his gun in the Indian's heart, took the furs of both and returned home.
In about a year from that time Mr. Stevens decided to revisit the same territory. But this time he took with him Gardner Simonds, an experienced hunter from Elizabethtown, N. Y. They were quite successful in collecting furs, but on their return they were followed by a party of Indians who were incensed at them for trespass, and quite likely had in mind the fate of one of their tribe the year before. On reaching the town of Addison, it being late in the fall and quite cold, Stevens went into a house to warm himself. As he sat by the fire, a tall, angry-looking Indian entered the room, and approaching him in a menacing manner, said, "Me come to kill thee." Stevens, who was a very large, athletic man, rose quickly and struck the Indian a powerful blow which felled him to the floor, where he lay some time in an insensible condition. In the meantime Stevens and Simonds hastened on their return, but finding Indians in pursuit, they turned westward and went to Ticonderoga, where they remained several days. After changing their course, the Indians, losing all traces of them, gave up the pursuit and all but one turned back. This one- supposed to be the one whom Stevens had floored-came on to Pittsford, and for several days was seen lurking in the woods in the vicinity of Stevens' house. In about a week Stevens,
183
A SAVAGE KILLED.
accompanied by Simonds, returned to Pittsford and on being informed of the proximity of the Indian, he knew very well that the savage was seeking personal revenge, and that his life was in danger. Simonds, who well understood Indian tactics, determined to protect his friend and relieve the town of so dangerous a visitor. Being well armed, he went into the woods near Stevens' house, and lay in ambush, waiting the approach of the enemy. After several days of anxious waiting, he con- cluded to change his position, and walking cautiously down the Creek, just in the evening twilight he discovered, near the foot of what is now known as Town Hill, the tall form of an Indian creeping stealthily along, and headed towards Stevens' house. Just as he was passing the most easterly point of the short curve of the Creek-that part of it, the channel of which is now nearly dry, the water having cut a shorter channel farther west-Simonds shot him through the heart. Taking his gun, powder-horn and bullet-pouch, together with the rings from his ears, he rolled his body into the Creek, and with the trophies of his victory he proceeded to Stevens' house, and communi- cated to him and his family the gratifying intelligence of the death of the blood-thirsty being of whom they had such fearful apprehension. This was probably the last Indian who was killed on Pittsford soil. Mr. Stevens resided in this town about ten years after this event, and then with his family he removed to Canada where he died in 1828.
184
HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
CHAPTER VI.
Immigrants after the War, and their Locations ; Proprie- tors' Meetings; Survey of Town Plot Lots; The Insur- rection; Arrest and trial of the "Regulators;" Apology; Leader expelled from the General Assembly; 1780- 1790.
Jonathan Warner, Eleazer Harwood and Caleb Cooley located in Pittsford in 1780.
Jonathan Warner was born in Sandersfield, Conn., March 17, 1750, came to Pittsford in 1772, and bought of Isaac Fellows two rights of land originally owned by Benijah Hunt- ley and Nathan Jewett. The deed was dated October 10, 1772, and was in consideration of £20, L. M. A part of this land was so pitched as to include the farms now owned by Mr. Warner's grandson, Jonathan Warner, and E. M. Bailey. The following year he commenced some improvements on his pur- chase. His first clearing was near where Mr. Bailey now lives. In 1774, he built a log house which stood a few rods north of the ground on which Mr. Bailey's house stands, and near the location of the present highway. January 1, 1775, he married Mary Griffin. At that time it was his intention to make his home in Pittsford the following spring ; but on the breaking out of the war, he changed his plans and entered the service of his country. He was in the battle of Brooklyn, was with Washington on his retreat through New Jersey, and was also in the battles of Trenton and Princeton. On arriving at the Delaware river the night before the former battle, Washington wished to obtain a boat from the opposite shore, and called
185
J. WARNER-E. HARWOOD.
upon some one to swim the stream and get it. Warner volun- teered and obtained the boat. Patting him on the shoulder Washington exclaimed, "Brave fellow," and sent him for a dry suit of clothes. His term of enlistment expired in the fall of 1779, when he was discharged and took his pay in conti- nental money which, on account of its great depreciation, went but little way towards procuring an outfit for housekeeping. So little value had the currency that Mr. Warner paid sixty dollars for a small kettle, and about in the same proportion for other things. In the spring of 1780, with his wife and two children, he came to Pittsford and occupied the house he had built before the war. After residing here a short time he went to Connecticut to visit his friends, and during the absence his house here was burnt. On his return he built another house, which stood on the west side of the present road, and on the highest point of ground, between the present residence of Jonathan Warner and that of Abner T. Reynolds. In this house he resided until 1795, when he built the house now occu- pied by his grandson. Thenceforth this was his residence.
On the 15th of October, 1776, Eleazer Harwood of Ben- nington had pitched fifty-five acres of land in Pittsford, "being a part of a 3d division lot belonging to the right of Phineas Newton." This pitch included a part of the farm now owned by John M. Goodnough. The year we are noticing (1780), Mr. Harwood cleared the land and built a house near where the red school house now stands, and removed his family here in the fall. In 1786, he came into possession of the land which now constitutes the farm owned by his grandson, Samuel H. Kellogg, Esq., and removed thither, occupying a house which had been built by his son-in-law, Amos Kellogg. A more extended account of him will be given in connection with a different subject.
Caleb Cooley was the youngest son of Benjamin, of Green- wich, and brother of Captain Benjamin of Pittsford, and was
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.