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Penn Yan Democrat
Genealogical Extracts
From issues printed in 1852 (incomplete)



Tuesday, February 17, 1852

Married.
    At Penn Yan on Tuesday morning last, by Rev. J. H. Kellogg, Mr. Samuel Botsford, to Miss Esther Spangler, both of Jerusalem.
    At Mt. Morris, Livingston Co., on the 12th inst., by Rev. O. I. Sprague , Mr. G. W. Shannon , of Penn Yan, to Mrs. Mary Gould, of the former place.
    In Potter on the 11th inst., by Rev. A. Chase , Mr. George W. Spencer , of Benton , to Miss Martha E. Wheeler, of the former place.
    At his residence in Jerusalem, Feb.14th, by A. S. Kidder, Esq., Mr. George Dains, to Miss Betsey Hopkins, of Potter.

Tuesday, March 2, 1852

Married.
    On Thursday the 26th ult. at residence of S. Booth in Branchport, by Rev’d Mr. McGlaslion of Bethel, assisted by Rev’d Mr. Ells of Penn Yan and Rev’d Mr. Avery of Syracuse, David Russell of Jerusalem and Miss Sarah Cramner of Pultney.
    In Barrington on the 25th ult., by the Rev’d D. B. Olney, Mr. George Campbell and Miss Elizabeth Gibbs, both of the aforesaid place.
    By the same, on the 27th ult., in the Baptist Church at Warsaw, Mr. William Beach to Miss Adelia Ann Carr, both of Barrington.

Died.
    At Milo Centre, on the 21st February ult., Mr. William P. Sands in his 58th year of his age.
    In this village on Friday the 27th inst. Miss Eliza Conger aged 18 years, daughter of Jacob Conger, Esq.

Tuesday, March 9, 1852

Melancholy Accident
    On the afternoon of the 4th inst., Mr. E. P. Potter was accidentally shot, in the town of Potter, in this county, under the following circumstances:
    Mr. P. had been hunting for foxes and was some three miles west of his residence, and in the neighborhood of Wyman’s sawmill. He had hunted with some two or three others, and come out of the woods to the road and then parted with his companions, they taking one direction and he another. A sled with a saw log coming along and going the same direction, viz, to the sawmill, he jumped on the sleigh, and seated himself on the log. In a short time the driver heard the report of the gun and Potter exclaimed “I’m a dead man.” The horses started from the report of the gun and run a few rods before he could hold them up: when he did so he found Mr. P. upon the ground insensible. His companions hearing the report of the gun returned. He was carried to a house and breathed his last in about three-fourths of an hour after the accident. The gun was loaded with shot and had a cap lock. It is supposed that the gun slipped from Mr. P.’s hand, and that the lock struck the rail of the sled with sufficient force to explode the cap, and that in following the muzzle was brought into contact with the right side just below the armpit, as the entire contents of the gun entered his person in the right side and passed oblikely to near the left shoulder. He did not speak after his first exclamation.
    Mr. P. was aged 28 years. He leaves a young wife and a large circle of friends to mourn his sudden death. He was much respected for his worth in the neighborhood of his residence, and his melancholy fate will be sincerely mourned by a large number of friends and acquaintances.

Tuesday, March 16, 1852

    Married in Jerusalem, on the 15th inst., by Rev. Abner Chase, Mr. Henry Brown to Miss Elizabeth Carl.

Tuesday, June 1, 1852

Death of Mrs. Lawrence
    By a telegraphic dispatch from Washington received yesterday, we learn of the death in that city of Mary Lawrence, widow of the late Samuel Lawrence. Her remains will be buried here, and the funeral services will take place at the Methodist Church in this village, this Tuesday afternoon at 4 o’clock p.m.

Tuesday, August 3, 1852

    Back Again - M. H. N. Kendig, Esq., is in town, having just arrived from California, where he has been sojourning for the last three years. Mr. K. was among the number who took the overland route via Fort Smith, and as a consequence he had to endure everything but death to reach the land of gold. The march of the Penn Yan company from Fort Smith to California, down the Gila and up the coast, was one of romance united with stern reality, and proved to beyond question that the boys had the pluck and the metal for anything.
    Mr. K. has resided much of the time in California, at Nappa Valley - has held the office of Post Master, County Register, Col. of the Militia and Clerk of the Senate, and now returns fresh and hearty as ever. He reports all right in California, and goes, as with Golden State, for Pierce and King.

    Married, on Saturday, the 28th ult., in Penn Yan, by L. V. Van Men, Esq., Ephraim I. Webster, to Miss Sarah C., daughter of John Pruner, all of Penn Yan.

    Died - In Milo, on Sunday, August 1st, Chauncey Jones, aged 73 years.

    Died - Suddenly of Cholera in Columbus, Ohio, on the 5th of July, Miss Henrietta Gale.
    Miss Gale will be remembered by a large circle of young ladies in Yates and Ontario counties, as an associate pupil in the Geneva Female Institute, where she graduated in 1848. She was young, beautiful and accomplished a member of the Episcopal Church, and much beloved by her many friends. She was on a visit to the home of her late brother Gen. Gale, in Columbus, who died of Cholera three years before, and lived only 9 or 10 hours after she was attacked by the same fatal disease.

Tuesday, August 10, 1852

    Married - In Milo, August 8, by Rev. J. Jones, Mr. Daniel H. Hughtailing, of Jerusalem, to Miss Sarah J. Jackson, of Milo

    Died in Benton on the 27th ult., of Consumption, Charles R. Kelsey, aged 30 years.

Tuesday, August 24, 1852

    Married - In Benton, on the 16th inst., by the Rev. Mr. Goldsmith of Bellona, Mr. George Loree, to Miss Elizabeth M. Wiley, both of Steuben.

Died.
    At Somersite, on the 13th inst., Mrs. Ann T., wife of R. Kitridge, aged 40 years.
    At the same place, on the 13th inst., Mrs. Subrine, wife of John Campbell, aged 42 years.

Tuesday, September 7, 1852

    Sudden Death - Thomas Bassett, of Milo, came to his death on Friday evening last as follows:
    He was milking, and observed to his brother that he felt unwell, took his pail of milk and started for the cellar. In descending the steps, he either slipped and fell, or fell from faintness, striking his head against a stone, which fractured his skull, and he died about eight o’clock in the evening. Mr. B. was a man of generous heart and right impulses. We would let the grave cover his faults. He was aged --- years and a bachelor.

Married.
    In Urbanna, Steuben Co., August 22nd, by Rev. Smith Huls , Mr. John P. Castner , of Milo, Yates Co., to Miss Sarah Bennett, of Mt. Washington.
    In Milo, on the 2nd inst., by Rev. Abner Chase, Mr. Miles V. Bush, to Miss Elizabeth M. Shearman.
    In Penn Yan, August 19th, by Rev. J. Jones, Mr. Silas Gayton, to Miss Sarah Ann Boley.
    In Penn Yan, August 27th, by Rev. J. Jones, Mr. John Norman, of Torrey, to Miss Eliza J. Schofield, of this village.
    At Benton Centre, on the 30th ult., by Rev. Ira Fairbanks, Mr. Holmes W. Haveland, to Miss Ruby Hatburt, all of Rushville, Yates Co.
    In Barrington, on the 2nd inst., by Rev. D. B. Olney, Mr. Jonathan Taylor , Esq. , to Mrs. Betsey Boyes , both of the aforesaid place.

Tuesday, September 14, 1852

    Married - In Penn Yan, on the 11th inst., by Rev. A. Chase, Mr. Henry M. Smith, of Vermont, to Mrs. Cynthia Pembroke, of Benton, Yates Co., N. Y.

    Died - In Buffalo, on the 15th of August, of congestion of the lungs, Mrs. Rhoda C. Lord, wife of Mr. Andrew A. Lord, and daughter of Zenas and Fidelia Phelps, of Highland, Michigan, aged 23.

Tuesday, September 21, 1852

    Married - In Havana, on the 19th inst., by the Rev. Mr. Clark, Mr. Richard A. Bassett, of Penn Yan, to Miss Mary A. Hendrickson, of Havana.

Tuesday, September 28, 1852

    Rufus Schofield, one of our prominent citizens and business men, died at his residence in this village, on Thursday, 23d inst. of dysentery. He leaves a wife and four children to mourn his loss.

Death of George Hanford (from the Albany Argus)
    We are called to announce the death of George Hanford - one of our most estimable and valuable citizens. He expired at his residence in this city, on Wednesday afternoon - of an attack of apoplexy - which he survived but a few hours.
    A correspondent favors us with the following reminiscences of the career and character of the deceased: -
    “Mr. Hanford was an old resident in this city. He came here when quite a youth, and apprenticed himself to the printing profession, as long since as when Southwick & Barber were State Printers. He married a daughter of the late Joseph R. VanZandt, and soon after entered into co-partnership with his father-in-law, with whom he continued until the death of the latter, having been successful in obtaining a handsome competency. In the course of a few years he met with repeated reverses in business, which it was his lot to struggle with to the end of his life.

JURORS.
Drawn at the office of the Clerk of Yates County, on Saturday, September 25, 1852, pursuant to due previous notice, to be summoned to attend the Circuit Court, and Oyer and Terminer Courts, and Special Term of the Supreme Court, appointed to be held at the Court House in Penn Yan, in and for said County, on Monday, the 18th of October, 1852.

Grand Jurors.

Names.                                    Residence.                                Occupation.

  1. George W. Wolcott            Barrington                                Farmer
  2. William Mitchell                  Benton                                     do
  3. Benedict Lewis                   Starkey                                    do
  4. Harry S. Dunn                    Starkey                                    Miller
  5. Timothy M. Blodgett           Potter                                       Farmer
  6. Ambrose S. Thomas           do                                            do
  7. George R. Winants             do                                            do
  8. Torrey Holbrook                do                                            do
  9. David Coleman                   Benton                                     Carpenter
10. Stephen Chubb                   Barrington                                Farmer
11. John Schultz                       Milo                                         Miller
12. John Kennedy                    Italy                                          Farmer
13. Hiram Tinney                      Potter                                       Mechanic
14. Moses L. Rugar                  Benton                                     Farmer
15. Lancaster Dusinbery           Milo                                         Farmer
16. Edward A. Briggs               Benton                                     do
17. Charles Swarthout              Barrington                                do
18. Peter Merritt                       do                                            do
19. Charles Easton                   Middlesex                                do
20. Nelson Thompson              Milo                                         Livery Keeper
21. Samuel Benham                  Starkey                                    Mechanic
22. James Thayer                     Milo                                         Farmer
23. Jacob R. Vanorsdell           Potter                                       Mechanic
24. Delansen Munger                Jerusalem                                 Farmer

Petit Jurors.

Names.                                    Residence.                                Occupation.

  1. Andrew Bullock                 Barrington                                Farmer
  2. Albert Buell                        Milo                                         Livery Keeper
  3. John P. Castner                  do                                            Farmer
  4. Moses Heartwell                Jerusalem                                 do
  5. Joel M. Clark                     Italy                                         Cabinet Maker
  6. Oliver Stark                        Milo                                        Clerk
  7. Isaac VanTuyle                   Jerusalem                                 Farmer
  8. James W. Henderson          Milo                                         do
  9. Rial Lindsley                       Middlesex                                do
10. John R. Rush                      Benton                                     do
11. William Van Deventer         Milo                                         do
12. Azor Kimble                       Jerusalem                                 do
13. Charles L. Bordwell            Potter                                       do
14. Asbury Harpending             Starkey                                    do
15. Henry Pratt                         Milo                                         Mechanic
16. Christopher Willis               Starkey                                    Farmer
17. Richard Green                    Potter                                       Farmer
18. Harris Cole                         Jerusalem                                 do
19. Thomas Lamoraux              Starkey                                    do
20. John Merrifield                   Benton                                     do
21. Claudius B. Brace               Milo                                         Merchant
22. Rowland J. Gardner            Milo                                         Farmer
23. Alexander F. Whitaker       Benton                                     do
24. Joseph Embree                   Torrey                                      do
25. James Wright                      Starkey                                    do
26. Eli Sunderlin                       Barrington                                do
27. Orrin Bishop                       do                                            do
28. Samuel Millspaugh              Jerusalem                                 do
29. Jacob Koons                      Starkey                                    do
30. John S. Ferguson                Benton                                     do
31. Samuel Allen                      do                                            do
32. John Baskin                        Milo                                         do
33. William Fowler                   Starkey                                    Mechanic
34. Elisha D. Barker                 Italy                                          Farmer
35. Stephen Gilbert                   Milo                                         Mechanic
36. Washington Barnes             Torrey                                      Farmer
      Isaac N. Gage                    Benton                                     Merchant
     (Drawn in place of Moses Heartwell, removed from Co.)
Given under our hands this 25th day of September, 1852
                                                John L. Lewis, Jr., Yates County Judge,
                                                Alfred Reed, County Clerk,
                                                George Wagener, Sheriff

Tuesday, October 12, 1852

Camphene Accident, - A daughter of Mrs. Sally Randall, residing on Clinton Street, in this village, was very seriously injured by a camphene explosion on Monday evening. She attempted to fill a lamp while it was lighted. The girl is very dangerously burnt on the breast and right arm. Dr. William Oliver expresses the fear that the arm may have to be amputated, while there is some danger of a fatal termination.
(From the Yates County Whig)

Married.
    In this village, on the 7th inst., by the Rev. Mr. Hogarth , Mr. Henry Cook, of Geneva, to Miss Mary, eldest daughter of Elisha Delano, Esq., of the former place.
    In this village, on the 28th of September last, by the Rev. E. Eells, Mr. Robert Sweet, to Miss Emily Murdock, all of this place.
    In this village, on the 3d inst., by the Rev. A. Chase, Mr. Nicholas Turner, to Miss Watty Ann Andrews, both of Potter.
    In Penn Yan, September 22d, by the Rev. A. Chase, Mr. Daniel Sutton, and Mrs. Menty Pierce, both of Benton.

Tuesday, October 19, 1852

    Died, at Ottawa, Illinois, on the 2nd inst. of cholera, Horace M. Towns, in the 38th year of his age.
    Mr. T. moved from our village about a year and a half ago, to “try his fortunes in the west,” and left behind him many acquaintances, all of whom were his friends, (for enemies he had none) who mourn his sudden demise. He was upright and generous, and if he did not at all times relieve the wants of those who applied, it was only because his means were not equal to his benevolence. A favor was never asked of him in vain if it were in his power to grant it. As a brother, he was beloved by all the members of the fraternity to which he belonged, and to use the words of one who was in her early days placed under his care, “they feel many regrets at parting with him, he was so kind.” He died trusting in God and the fullness of his salvation.

Tuesday, October 26, 1852

Died.
    In this village, on Oct.18th, of Consumption, Sarah Emily, wife of George M. Allen, of the City of Detroit, Mich., and daughter of the late Doct. Wm. Cornwell, aged thirty years.
    In this village, on the 14th inst., Richard Henry, only son of Richard and Henrietta Chamberlain, aged 11 years and 9 months.
    In Benton, after a severe but brief illness, on Friday & Saturday, the 15th and 16th inst., Mary S., Jesse T., and Elenor Ann, aged 3, 5, and 15 years, children of Reuben M. and Ann Gage.

Tuesday, November 9, 1852

    Married - In this village on the evening of the 17th, by the Rev. Mr. Clark, Fitch Howes, M. D., of Vernon, Oneida Co., to Mrs. Cornelia M. Crane, of this place.

List of Petit Jurors
    Drawn to be summoned to attend the December County Court and Sessions appointed to be held at the Court House, in the village of Penn Yan, in and for the County of Yates, on Tuesday the 14th day of December, 1852 at 10 o’clock A. M. to wit:

Names.                                    Occupation.                              Residence.

  1. Smith Shoemaker               Mechanic                                 Starkey
  2. Erastus Griswold                Farmer                                     Jerusalem
  3. Morris B. Flinn                   do                                            Potter
  4. Amasa Tuells                      Merchant                                  Milo
  5. Henry Larzelere                  Farmer                                     Benton
  6. Gideon Wolcott                  do                                            Jerusalem
  7. John Armstrong                  do                                            Milo
  8. Samuel F. Curtis                 Mechanic                                 do
  9. William Baxter                    Farmer                                     do
10. Thomas J. Lewis                 do                                            Benton
11. James Lawrenceville           do                                            Milo
12. Benjamin McDonald           do                                            Potter
13. Richard M. Smith               Clerk                                        Milo
14. William H. Fiero                 Merchant                                  do
15. Volney Vorce                     Farmer                                     do
16. William Segar                     do                                            Italy
17. Chillion Stoll                       Mechanic                                 Starkey
18. David Reddout                   Farmer                                     Potter
19. Arthur Earl                         do                                            Benton
20. James T. Davis                   do                                            do
21. Caleb Hazen                       do                                            do
22. George Oxtobey                 do                                            do
23. William Sisson                    do                                            Italy
24. John A. Owens                   Cooper                                    Milo
25. Henry B. Vrooman             Farmer                                     Jerusalem
26. Henry H. Hobert                do                                            Middlesex
27. Hosea C. Williams              do                                            Jerusalem
28. John VanNess                    do                                            do
29. Robert F. Shay                   do                                            Italy
30. Ezekiel Casner                    Miller                                       Milo
31. Andrew Haight                   Merchant                                  Torrey
32. Isaac Kress                        Farmer                                     Starkey
33. Thomas J. Hawley              do                                            Middlesex
34. Lewis E. Jacobus                Grocer                                     Milo
35. Simeon Royce                    Mechanic                                 Starkey
36. Michael Martin                   Farmer                                     Middlesex
Given under our hands at the office of the Clerk of Yates County, November 17, 1852.
                                                John L. Lewis, Jr., Yates County Judge
                                                George Wagener, Sheriff
                                                Alfred Reed, Clerk

Tuesday, November 30, 1852

    The Steuben Farmer’s Advocate announces the death of William W. McKay, Esq., of Bath village, in that county, for many years the chief agent for the Pultney estate. He was 62 years of age, and his life was marked by strict integrity, fairness and liberality.

Tuesday, December 7, 1852

    Married in Seneca, November 2[  ]th, Mr. Thomas Watkins to Ann [              ]. 

Tuesday, December 14, 1852

Accident. - Theodore Savage, (Printer,) a young man employed in this office, was thrown under the cars at the Depot in this village last night, the wheels of the cars passing over and crushing one of his hands and part of the arm in such manner that amputation was rendered necessary, just below the elbow. The operation was performed by Drs. F. Hammond and Wm. Oliver. The patient is now doing well.

    Died - At Goshen, Indiana, on the 7th day of December inst., Ebenezer Brown, formerly a sheriff of Yates County and Post Master of Penn Yan for six years.

Tuesday, December 21, 1852

Married.
    At the residence of B. W. Franklin , Esq. , in this village, on the 16th inst., by the Rev. Mr. Cheney , Mr. Richard Petherick, of Canandaigua, to Miss Esther Franklin, of Penn Yan.
    In Penn Yan, on the 16th inst., by the Rev. A. Chase, Mr. Isaac W. Conklin, and Miss Nancy L. Sperbeck, both of Jerusalem.

Died.
    At the residence of her father, in this village, on the 18th inst., Miss Adelia Hopkins aged 20 years.
    In Penn Yan on the 14th inst., John E. Stewart, aged about 50 years.
    In Elmira, on Thursday morning, Frances, daughter of the Rev. W. H. Goodwin, aged 13 years, 9 months, 7 days.
    In this village, on the 8th inst., at the residence of his uncle, E. P. McAllaster, Wm. Japhet McAllaster, aged 15 years, the cause of his death was hemorrhage at the nose.
    In Milo, on Friday, the 10th inst., Robert Shearman, aged 58 years. He was a native of Ireland , and a resident of this town for more than 40 years.

Died - At his residence in Benton, on Wednesday the 15th inst., Hon. Elijah  Spencer in the 76th year of his age.
    The sudden and unexpected death of this venerable and excellent citizen, though at an advanced age, produced a painful shock in this community where he had been so long known and universally esteemed. Eminently loved and respected in all the relations of life, a brief record of his history is the slightest tribute due to his memory.
    Mr. Spencer was a native of the county of Columbia in this State, whence he removed, in early life to the county of Ontario. Possessed by nature of a strong and discriminating mind which through life, he was constantly improving by varied reading and reflection, he soon became a man of consideration and [       ] in the county of his adoption. He was c[         ] at an early period, a Justice of the Peace, which office he held for several successive terms, by appointment from Gov. Tompkins. He was subsequently, through the generous confidence and just appreciation of his fellow citizens, elected Member of Assembly, and, more recently, the Representative in Congress, from the Ontario District - a district, which, [                                                   ].

Died - A t the residence of Hon. Henry Wells, in this village, on the 11th inst., Ferdinand Parker, oldest son of Theodore B. and Emily Hamilton, of Brooklyn, N. Y., aged 3 years, 11 months, and 5 days. The subject of the above was on a visit to his grand-parents, in this village, and had been with them just two weeks, when he was taken with the Croup and died the second day thereafter. - So sudden unexpected was his death that intelligence of it reached his parents before they heard of his illness. His death has caused many hearts to wring with anguish. He was an intelligent, active child, and possessed a very affectionate disposition, and had entwined himself most thoroughly and closely around the hearts and affections of all his kindred. To his parents this affliction is truly severe, as a little more than two years ago they lost their oldest child - a lad of 6 years - under the same afflicting circumstances. It is hard to part with those we love but doubly hard to part with those we love as devotedly as we did little Ferdinand.
                                                                                                Com.                                                                 

Tuesday, December 21, 1852

Deaths
    In Penn Yan, December 8th, after an illness marked with peculiar severity, Mrs. Polly, wife of Carlton Legg, Esq., for many years a resident of this place, aged 69 years, 7 months and 17 days.