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Penn Yan Democrat
Notices of Genealogical Interest
Issues printed in 1853


Tuesday, January 11, 1853

Married - In Penn Yan, on the 6th inst., by Rev. A. Chase, Mr. Shubael C. Babcock, and Miss Rebeckah Goold, both of this village.

Tuesday, January 18, 1853

Death of Mr. Purdy.
    Stephen Purdy departed this life at his residence, in Benton, Yates County, January 4, 1853, aged 65 years.
         “The world’s a loser, when a good man dies.”
    Mr. Purdy was a native of Dutchess Co., and through a residence of more then forty years in the town of Benton, he had endeared himself his friends and neighbors, and all with whom he held intercourse, by his honest, upright, and conscientious dealings. Being unscrupulously nice that everyone with whom he dealt should have perfect justice done him, he was soon regarded as one of the very safest and best men to adjust difficulties and differences that arise between man and man in their strife after the things of the world. Hence, his counsels were sought and listened to, and appreciated for their justice, impartiality, and conciliatory bearings. Peace and good neighborhood he always regarded of far more value than pecuniary considerations, whenever his own interests were concerned. And having the means to relieve the distressed and oppressed by misfortune, he cheerfully improved such opportunities to fulfill the mission to which he appeared equally appointed by his Divine Master, to administer to them. “Material aid.” Nor was his ear unattentive to the cry of the poor and needy, the fatherless and the widow. Of his frugal fare and board he supplied their wants and none from his door was turned empty away.   
          His sympathies were not confined to any sect or creed, but walked confidently onward in the path illuminated by the Golden Rule of our Savior, rejoicing in the light by which he was enabled to accomplish its requirements.…

Married.
    In Milo, January 13th, by Rev. H. K. Stimpson, Mr. O. Kenyon, and Miss Lucy A. Hedges.
    In Jerusalem, on the 30th of December last, by the Rev. D. D. Buck , Mr. E. C. Benedict, and Miss Martha Jane Sutton, all of Jerusalem.

Tuesday, February 1, 1853

Married.
    At Elmira, on the 18th of January, by the Rev. Mr. Bennet , Mr. Benjamin W. Wooster, of Albany, to Miss Kate M., daughter of T. S. Wright.
    On Thursday evening 27th inst., by Rev. Mr. Eells , Mr. Joshua Legg, and Miss Ellen Jane Rappelye, all of Milo.
    In Barrington, on the 26th inst., by Rev. D. B. Olney, Mr. Joseph Gibbs, to Miss Nancy Himrod, both of the aforesaid place.

    H. B. Northup, Esq., returned to this village on Thursday evening, with Solomon Northup, a colored man about whom so much has been said and written within the past few days.
    Solomon, about twelve years ago, was hired as a teamster at Saratoga Springs, by a company of traveling actors, and during their perigrinations found himself in Washington City, where he was kidnapped, carried to New Orleans and sold into slavery - from whence he was taken to the swamps of Louisiana, up Red River, where he remained until liberated through the agency of Mr. Northup.
    Sometime in September last, Mr. Northup received a letter from some unknown person, giving information as to Solomon’s whereabouts, and asking his interference to procure his liberation. On the 23d of November Mr. Northup obtained a Commission from Governor Hunt, and immediately started on his expedition.
    Arriving at the scene of operations, Mr. Northup had no trouble in securing the necessary assistance to accomplish his object. The Judge, Sheriff, and civil authorities of the Parish, were prompt in the discharge of their duty, and added, as far as in their jurisdiction, to further the ends of justice.
    Mr. Northup found Solomon on a cotton plantation, who, as soon as he saw him, ran to him and called him by name, (Solomon was formerly a resident of this village) - thus, and by other means, satisfying his master that he was a free man, who immediately delivered him up, and he is now with his family, a wife and two children, at Glens Falls.
    The above is a plan, unvarnished statement of the facts in the case, obtained from Mr. Northup himself, who speaks in the highest terms of the Authorities with whom he had to do. Presenting a strange contrast, in this respect, to some who administer the laws in this and neighboring states.
     In procuring the liberation of this man, Mr. Northup has traveled over five thousand miles and is entitled to credit for his untiring perseverance.

Tuesday, February 15, 1853

    Railroad Accident. - On Saturday last, John Burns, a resident of our village, was run over by the dirt train of cars (on which he was at work.) near Honeoye, on the Canandaigua & Niagara Falls Railroad, and terribly crushed and mangled. Both his legs and both his arms were broken. Some five or six cars ran over him. When last heard from he was alive, but it was thought he could not live. He was a sober, industrious and worthy Irishman, and leaves a wife and one child.
    We understand the accident occurred from the uncoupling of the cars, by which he was thrown upon the track.
    P. S. - We learn that Mr. B. is dead.

Married - In this village on the 30th inst., by Rev. A. Chase, Mr. John S. Allen, Printer, of Dansville, and Miss Mary Jane Tooker, of Jerusalem.

Died.
    At Monterey, Steuben County, on Sunday, January 30th, Mrs. Louiza Perry, wife of Levi Perry, the M. D., of this place. She died strong in the hope and faith of the Redeemer.
    In Penn Yan, on Thursday morning, the 10th inst., Mr. John Savage, aged about 53 years.

Tuesday, February 22, 1853

Married. - In Milo, on the 26th ult., by J. V. Van Alen, Esq., Mr. Henry Mosher, and Miss Harriet Carpenter, all of said town.

Died in Penn Yan, Yates Co., N. Y., February 18th, at the residence of her uncle, N. Thompson, after a short but severe illness, Kate Wight, aged 11 years.

Died - December 31st, 1852, on board Steam Ship Cortes, off St. Lucas Bay , Alonzo Murdough aged 25 years 6 months and 22 days.
    Mr. Murdough was a young man of steady and temperate habits, and well known to most of the citizens of our place. It is but about three months since that we last saw him full of life and high anticipations, start for the land of Gold. He probably but little dreamed at the time, that none of his hopes would ever be realized, and that his fate would be the same as hundreds and thousands that had preceded him. When within about 12 days sail of San Francisco, he was taken with the Cholera and died in the course of a few hours, and his remains now lie in the fathomless depths of the broad Pacific. He was the son of William and Elizabeth Murdough, of Benton in this County, and he leaves a large circle of relations and friends to mourn his untimely end. - Com.

Tuesday, March 15, 1853

Died - In Italy , on the 11th inst., Mrs. Jane Fox, wife of James Fox, Esq., aged sixty-five years.
    Mrs. Fox was born in the state of New Hampshire, and at an early day removed with her husband to this country, on turning all the hardships and privations incident to the first settlers. For the last thirty-six years she has been a member of the Baptist Church, and during all that time, she was a consistent and devote christian. She was the mother of nine sons, all whom she lived to see settled in life, and all except one, were present at her funeral.
    In her death her husband has lost a faithful and devoted wife, her children a kind and affectionate Mother, society, one of its most useful and valued citizens, and the Church one of its brightest ornaments. We fondly trust she is now enjoying the felicity of a blessed eternity.

Died - In the town of Torrey, February 18th, Noah A. Hose, aged 24 years.

Tuesday, March 22, 1853

JURORS.

Drawn at the office of the Clerk of the County of Yates, on Saturday, the 29th day of March, 1853, pursuant to due previous notice, to be summoned to attend the Circuit and Oyer and Terminer Courts, and Special Term of the Supreme Court, appointed to be held at the Court House, in the village of Penn Yan, in and for said County, on Monday, the 18th day of April, 1853, at 10 o’clock A. M.

Grand Jurors

Name.                                      Occupation.                              Residence.

  1. George L. Hollowell           Merchant                                  Milo   
  2. William Wyman                  Farmer                                     Potter
  3. Seymour Hurd                    do                                            Starkey
  4. Isaac Kress                        do                                            do
  5. Henry Larzelee                   do                                            Jerusalem
  6. Ira Owen                            do                                            Milo
  7. Henry Torrey                      do                                            Potter
  8. Samuel Jones                      do                                            Middlesex
  9. James C. Longwell             do                                            Milo
10. Moses W. Easton               Merchant                                  do
11. Guy Shaw                          Farmer                                     Benton
12. Stephen Wait                      do                                            Jerusalem
13. John Kennedy                    do                                            Italy
14. Jacob Morrill                      do                                            Jerusalem
15. John Mallory                      do                                            Torrey
16. Russel E. Aldrich                do                                            Middlesex
17. George W. Van Alen          do                                            Starkey
18. James Holden                     do                                            do
19. Alexander Bassett               do                                            Middlesex
20. Samuel Bassett                   do                                            Potter
21. Alanson Beecher                do                                            Benton
22. William S. Green                do                                            Italy
23. William L. Mitchell              do                                            Benton
24. William G. Fulkerson          do                                            Starkey

Petit Jurors

Name.                                      Occupation.                              Residence.

  1. John W. Huff                      Farmer                                     Jerusalem
  2. David H. Buel                     do                                            Benton
  3. William Crandall                 Mechanic                                 Starkey
  4. Chauncey Wolcott              do                                            Milo
  5. Jeptha A. Potter                 Farmer                                     Potter
  6. Samuel G. Gage                 do                                            Benton
  7. Ansel Mumford                  do                                            Italy
  8. David B. Aspbell                do                                            Milo
  9. Henry Coons                      Merchant’s Clerk                     do      removed from county.
10. James Demarest                 Farmer                                     Starkey           
11. James Fisher                       do                                            Italy
12. Samuel Mosher                  Boatman                                   Milo
13. James H. Norris                 Farmer                                     do
14. Stout Smith                                                                         Barrington
15. Griffin B. Hazard                do                                            Milo
16. Anthony C. Harpending      Merchant                                  Starkey
17. Christopher Haggerty          Farmer                                     Milo
18. Albert Hurd                        do                                            Benton
19. Adolphus Eaton                  do                                            do
20. James Taylor                      do                                            Jerusalem
21. Allen Bassett                      do                                            Barrington
22. John D. Carpenter              do                                            Starkey
23. Ira Raplee                          do                                            do
24. Moses A. Legg                   do                                            Torrey
25. Charles J. Townsend          do                                            do
26. James M. Reeder               do                                            Starkey
27. George S. Wheeler             do                                            Benton
28. Peter H. Crosby                 do                                            Barrington
29. James B. Norris                  Gentleman                                Milo      removed from county.
30. John Fisher                         Farmer                                     Italy
31. Peter McKey                     do                                            Starkey
32. Charles Wagener                do                                            Milo
33. Jonathan Bailey                   do                                            do
34. Gilbert Hathaway                do                                            do
35. John R. Wyman                  do                                            Jerusalem      removed from county.
36. Samuel Wheeler                 do                                            do
Homer M. Dunn                       do                                            Milo      drawn in place of Henry Coons.
Isaiah Youngs                           do                                            do      drawn in place of James B. Norris.
Jeremiah S. Jillett                      Miller                                       do      drawn in place of John R. Wyman.

Given under our hands the day and year above written.

                                                John L. Lewis, Jr., Yates County Judge
                                                Henry Squire, Under Sheriff
                                                C. Martin, Clerk.

Tuesday, April 5, 1853

Singular Marriage. - The Dundee Record notices a singular marriage which took place at Weston, Steuben co., on the 21st ult. The parties are John P. Emerson and Mary Jane Bennett. The Record says: - “the bridegroom is about 24 years of age, the brother of a Mrs. Hoover, carrying on an extensive business as a tailoress at Weston. He has been at sea most of the time for some ten or twelve years past, and after an absence of about five years had just called up to see his sister. Finding that she had in her employ some sixteen or seventeen young women learning the trade, he strolled into the room in a free and easy manner and told the girls that if there was any one there who wanted to marry him right off, to say the word. The bride above named forthwith dropped her work and declared herself ready for the nuptials. Within an hour from that time the parties were spliced. A jolly wedding took place - the young couple [        ] were “put to bed,” and the next day he left his charming bride for a voyage on the briny ocean.

Distressing Case. - Some days ago a child of Mr. William R. Kelsey, who keeps the Dresden Hotel at Dresden, in this county, was so severely injured by two other boys, as a matter of cruel sport, that the little fellow lingered along a few days of great agony, and finally died. The age of the lad, we learn, was about eleven years, and his tormentors are aged, one 15 and the other, 17 years. - They not only beat him cruelly, but rubbed his face with sand, so that it penetrated his eyes and ears, and caused intense suffering. A coroner’s inquest was held on Friday, we believe, and the verdict of the coroner’s jury attributed the death of the lad to the rough usage of the two boys. They were accordingly arrested and, after a preliminary examination, lodged in the jail in this village to await a trial. It is a distressing and unfortunate affair. - Yates County Whig

Penn Yan Village Officers.

The village of Penn Yan was incorporated in 1833, since which time there have been twenty-one elections for village officers, including the one recently held, at which elections the following named persons were elected Trustees, viz:  

1833
A. Wagener, R. R. Fargo, R. N. Morrison, M. F. Sheppard, John Brooks
1834
R. N. Morrison, E. Smith, R. R. Fargo, Ja’s Cooley, F. W. Hewson
1835
A. Wagener, R. R. Fargo, S. S. Ellsworth, E. H. Huntington, E. Casner
1836
S. S. Ellsworth , G. A. Sheppard , J. D. Morgan , L. B. Mandeville, E. J. Fowle
1837
S. Rice, A. Stetler, John Sloan, M. Benham, T. H. Lock
1838
S. Rice, J. Sloan, M. Benham, A. Stewart, R. Scofield
1839
S. Lawrence, E. Smith, J. C. Robinson, Eli Sheldon, G. A. Sheppard
1840
E. Casner , R. R. Fargo , G. A. Sheppard, D.L. Bissell, A. Potter
1841
S. F. Curtis, L. S. Ayres, F. A. Hewson, W. Comstock, J. L. Moore
1842
H. P. Sartwell, A. Clark, J. Cooley, G. A. Sheppard, E. G. Hopkins
1843
G. A. Sheppard , D. B. Prosser , O. Stark, J. H. Lapham, J. H. Gallagher
1844
B. W. Franklin, S. Gilbert, S. Jillett, S. Stevens, C. Legg
1845
D. A. Ogden, W. Sutherland, A. Bridgeman, J. D. Applegate, W. Whitney
1846
D. A. Ogden, A. Bridgeman, M. Hamlin, W. Sutherland, J. D. Applegate
1847
C. Legg, S. Gilbert, A. Brown, John Sheets, H. A. Tyler
1848
C. Legg, S. Gilbert, A. Brown, John Sheets, H. A. Tyler
1849
A. Brown, J. Holmes, M. Mariner, J. S. Powell, S. Gilbert
1850
C. C. Sheppard, A. Clark, C. V. Bush, W. S. Briggs, S. Tracy
1851
A. Brown, B. W. Franklin, W. S. Sudd, S. C. Hunt, E. Casner
1852
S. H. Wells, Geo. Cooley, C. V. Bush, G. P. Monell, J. S. Powell
1853
S. H. Wells, J. S. Jillett, C. V. Bush, M. Spencer, J. D. Applegate

    Of the above, the first named in each year were subsequently chosen by the board President of the village. The lowest vote polled in any election was 108; the highest, 460.
    The following, of the above list, have since died: M. F. Sheppard, John Brooks, F. W. Hewson, L. B. Mandeville, S. Rice, R. Scofield, and S. Lawrence. The following named are not now residents of the village: Messrs. Morrison, Fargo, Benham, Stewart, G. A. Sheppard, Bissell, Moore, Gallagher, S. Jillett, Stevens, Whitney and Tyler.
    Henry Eno, Esq., was the first Clerk of the village, and served one year. D. B. Prosser was elected Clerk in 1834, and served until 1839, when P. H. Baldwin was elected. Luther Winants was in 1840, R. M. Smith in 1841, W. S. Briggs in 1842, S. Ayres 1843. L. Winant was again elected in 1844, and had been re-elected at each election since that time. Of the Clerks, all are still residents of Penn Yan except Mr. Ayres and Mr. Eno.
    The following persons have been, at different times, elected Treasurer of the village: A. Wagener , G. A. Sheppard , W. W. Statts, (3 years,) D. B. Bissell, L. B. Mandeville , E. H. Huntington, (2 years,) D. S. Marsh, Jr., (5 years,) O. Stark, (2 years,) D. W. Streeter, (2 years,) G. D. Wells, J. M. Chapman, J. Ford Morris.

Married.
    In Jerusalem, March 24th, 1853, by Rev. J. Jones , Mr. Chas. C. Westbrook of Bradford, Steuben County, to Miss Phebe A. Denung, of Jerusalem.
    At Danby, Tompkins county, March 30th, by Rev. Mr. Jones , Francis H. Rugar , of Galesburg, Ill., to Miss Elizabeth A. Beers, of the former place.
    In Benton Centre, March 25th, by Rev. A. B. Mallory, Mr. Ril[ ] Kittridge and Samantha Ellis, both of Penn Yan.
    At Geneva, on Sunday evening, March 20th, by Rev. Wm. Hogarth , Geo. C. Schwartz, of Philadelphia, to Miss Eliza Lathrop, of Penn Yan.
    Also in Penn Yann, March 30, Mr. George D. Carpenter of Elmira, Chemung County, to Miss Lydia J. Higley, of Penn Yan.

Died.
    In Penn Yan, on the 21st of March, of Consumption, Mrs. Martha Henries, aged 48 years.
    At the Elmira Water Cure, Mrs. Margaret Green, wife of John R. Green, and daughter of Isaac Hedges, aged 38 years.
    At his father’s residence, in this village, on the 31st ult., Calvin Mead, aged 17 years. The deceased came to his death by a fall while indulging in playful exercise with his associates - dislocating his ribs.
    In Cincinnati, Ohio, on Tuesday evening 22d ult., Mrs. Ester Ann Green, wife of J. B. Green, Esq., aged 29 yrs. 7 months and 17 days. Mrs. Green was a Christian in the truest sense of the word, and died, or rather “slept in Jesus”. Her remains were taken to Dayton for interment in “Woodland County,” near the city.

Tuesday, April 12, 1853

Married.
    On Wednesday Morning, 6th inst., at Cooper ’s Plains, Steuben co., by Rev. John Vandeventer , D. D. of Easton, Pa, Willard C. Morse, of Painted Post, to Miss Mary E., daughter of J. Cooper, Jr., of the former place.
    In Penn Yan, April 6th, by Rev. Mr. Cheney , Samuel P. Gunn to Marr E. Du Bois, both of Geneva. (Geneva papers please copy.)
    In Torrey, on Tuesday, 29th inst., by Rev. [  ] Colson, Mr. Almon L. Read, of Potter, to Miss Harriet A., second daughter of M. A. Legg, Esq., of the former place.

Died - At Geneva, Ontario co., on the 29th ult., of Scarlet Fever, Mary Louisa, daughter of Smith and Sarah Spears, aged 4 years, 10 months and 1 day.

A Tragedy. - We are handed the following letter for publication, by Mr. E. Ingersoll, to whom it was addressed, and who informs us that the parties mentioned are well known in this vicinity. Rum is assigned the cause for the commission of the act. The letter will explain itself. - Dansville (Livingston Co.) Herald.
                                                Keelersville, March 28th, 1853.
    I am under the painful necessity of informing you of one of the most dreadful calamities of which I have heard. I can scarcely find language to describe the feelings of our whole family at this time. Yesterday (Sunday) about noon, my dear sister Harriet was found a corpse, and also Simon O’Keeler.
    It seems by the examination of an inquest and physicians that Harriet came to her death by a rifle ball which passed through her lungs and liver and lodged against her rib, and she probably died instantly. Simon was found to be free from any marks of violence whatever, and it is decided he came to his death by poison. Harriet was found laid out with her head to the west, in her every day dress, her jaw was tied up, her eyes closed and limbs straight on the floor, with a cushion under her head and a pillow at her left side with print of a hand, as though he had shot her in cool blood and waited until she died, then took his poison and laid down by her side to die. But it seems he was in too much pain to lay there and went to the east bedroom (next room to where she lay) and undressed himself and lay on the bed, partly across it - the bedclothes lying before the bed. They will be buried on --- Tuesday funeral at 10 o’clock.
    We will write again.
                                                Yours, in haste.
                                                Charles N. Poor.

Tuesday, April 26, 1853

    Married - At Milo, on the 24th inst., by the Rev. A. S. Smith, Mr. Adam H. Houghtailing and Miss Margaret Travis, both of Jerusalem.

    Died - On the 11th inst., at his residence in Benton, Samuel Jayne aged 90 years and 27 days.
    Mr. Jayne came to that town from [              ], Orange Co., at an early day, and endured all the privations and hardships incident to a new country. He was a Soldier in the American Army toward the close of the revolution. - Com.

Tuesday, May 3, 1853

Married.
    In Milo, on the 31st ult., by Rev. A. Chase, Mr. Schuyler Sutherland, of Seneca Falls, and Miss Elizabeth H. Hunt, of the former place.
    In Prattsburgh, April 21st, by Rev. W. F. Purington, Mr. J. Doubleday, of Yates County, and Miss M. E. Nepp, of this village.
    In Elmira, on the 28th ult., by Rev. Dr. Murdock , Mr. M. J. Hedges, Conductor, on the New York and Erie Railroad, to Miss Henrietta Converse, of Elmira.

Tuesday, May 10, 1853

    Married, in Benton, on the 4th instant, by John Sutherland, Esq., of Potter, Mr. Peter L. Waggoner, of Columbia County, to Mrs. Polly Bain, of Benton, Yates Co.

Tuesday, May 17, 1853

    Died, in Milo, April 26th, Sarah L. Hunt, wife of Cha’s L. Hunt, aged 20 years.

Tuesday, May 23, 1853

    Died. - At his residence in this village on Saturday, May 21st, Abraham Wagener, Esq., aged 78 years.
    All our readers will recognize in the above announcement the death of one of our oldest and most prominent citizens. From early manhood to old age he resided in Penn Yan, was one of the most active and enterprising of her citizens for half a century, acquired wealth and influence, was respected and honored, and has now been laid with a whole generation who have gone before him, in his last resting place on the hillside. Robert Boyd was buried two weeks ago, Abraham Wagener yesterday, and today Thos. Hathaway, three of the oldest residents of Yates Co. Verily the old men are departing fast.

List of Jurors.

Drawn at the office of the Clerk of the County of Yates, on Saturday the 21st day of May, 1853, pursuant to due previous notice, to be summoned to attend a General Term of the Yates County Oyer and Terminer and Court of Sessions, appointed to be held at the Court House, in the village of Penn Yan, in and for said county, on Tuesday, the 14th day of June, 1853, at 10 A. M.

Petit Jurors.

Name.                                      Occupation.                              Residence.

  1. James B. Norris                  Gentleman                                Milo   Removed from county
  2. Albert Thomas                    Gentleman                                Potter
  3. Nathaniel Tobey                 Mechanic                                 Milo      Removed from county
  4. Caleb Fulkerson                 Farmer                                     Benton
  5. Anson Lindsley                   do                                            Middlesex
  6. Alfred Valentine                  do                                            Milo
  7. James C. Longwell             do                                            Milo
  8. Jonathan Taylor                  do                                            Barrington
  9. Robert Norman                  do                                            Milo
10. Garret V. Scott                   do                                            Benton
11. Whitman H. Reynolds         do                                            Italy
12. Archibald Millspaugh          do                                            Milo
13. Gideon Maynard                Cooper                                    do
14. Benjamin W. Bush              Farmer                                     Benton
15. Charles H. Green                do                                            Italy
16. Gilbert Yates                      Mechanic                                 Torrey
17. Charles Roy                       Farmer                                     do
18. Joseph S. Havens               Mechanic                                 do
19. Charles S. Tompkins          do                                            Starkey
20. Darwin Holbrook               Gentleman                                Potter
21. Joel N. Jillett                       Farmer                                     Benton
22. Charles W. Barnes             Merchant                                  Starkey
23. James A. Belknap               Farmer                                     Jerusalem
24. William M. Gage                do                                            Benton
25. William S. Hudson              do                                            do
26. George L. Hallowell            Merchant                                  Milo
27. Benjamin P. Lyon               Mechanic                                 do
28. Benjamin Reed                   Farmer                                     Benton
29. William Sutherland              Mechanic                                 Milo
30. Clark Rice                          Farmer                                     Italy
31. Alanson M. Parsons           do                                            do
32. George A. Sheppard          do                                            Benton
33. Daniel J. Haynes                 do                                            do
34. James Miles                        do                                            Barrington
35. Moses Hatfield                   do                                            Starkey
36. Joseph Farnham                 do                                            Italy
      John Ainsley                       do                                            Potter    In place of James B. Norris, removed from County
      David Perry                        Mechanic                                 Milo      In place of Nathaniel Tobey, removed from county.

    Given under our hands the day and year first above written.
                                                            John L. Lewis, Jr., Yates County Judge
                                                            Nathaniel Squier, Sheriff
                                                            C. Martin, Clerk

Tuesday, May 31, 1853

Melancholy Suicide.
    We learn that Hiram Bush, a highly respectable citizen of Barrington, in the 45th year of his age, committed suicide by hanging himself in his barn on Friday last. An inquisition was taken by Hiram Kinyon, Coroner, on the body, and the verdict of the jury was that he “came to his death by his own hand, while in a state of mental derangement.” He leaves a wife and other relatives, but no children.

Fire. - About one o’clock Tuesday night, 24th inst., the one story wooden building situated between Eli Sheldon’s brick building and the Yates Co. Bank, was discovered to be on fire, the building being small and entirely of wood, was soon consumed. One part was occupied by A. Potter, as a shoe store, and the other by Wm. H. Munroe, a barber shop. The entire loss will probably not exceed $300, which we learn is mostly covered by insurance. Mr. Hendrick, the owner of the building has an insurance of $150.
    Mr. Potter, saved most of his stock, no insurance.
    Mr. Munroe, saved but few of his things and those in a damaged condition, on which we learn he has a small insurance.
    The fire companies arrived on the ground in season to have rendered ample aid if it had been needed, if their machines had been in a condition for doing so, or if there had been any water to be obtained. It is fortunate that the high brick wall of Mr. Sheldon’s building prevented the farther spread of the flames, or the loss would have been much larger.

Obituary.
    Thomas Hathaway, died at his residence in the town of Torry, Yates Co., N. Y., Sunday, May 22d, 1853, in the 85th year of his age.    Thomas Hathaway, was among the last of the first settlers of this county, he was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, in the year 1768, emigrated to this country with his parents in 1788, near the place where he lived and died - was active, industrious and energetic, and consequently afforded unparallel comfort and relief to the destitute condition of the early settlers of this county, he and his only and younger brother Gilbert Hathaway, built the first sail boat that ever spread a sail on Seneca Lake, at Norrises Landing, which afforded many beneficial purposes. Grists of grain were transported on her to the head of the lake, from thence carried on pack horses over an Indian trail to Newtown (now Elmira) to be ground. - Many of his early deeds and contracts now on record are in his beautiful hand writing, as he was almost uniformly called on by those who knew him to transact such business. In 1793 he married Mary Botsford, who has survived him, and is now in her 81st year. They settled on the farm where he died, raised three sons and four daughters, and his was the first death that ever transpired under his roof.
    Thomas Hathaway was honorable in his dealings with men, quiet, peaceable and unassuming in all his business relations. In official manners, he discharged some important public duties with credit to himself and honor to benefit to his country; he held four Military Commissions, one signed by Gov. Stanton, 1802; one by Major Lewis, 1805; two by Daniel D. Tompkins, 1809 and 1810 a Major’s Commission; he was also one of the three Commissioners to divide and lay out the old town of Benton into School Districts, under the administration of D. D. Tompkins, which duty was discharged with ability and credit, the above are some, together with various other minor public duties.
    Thomas Hathaway lived to the honorable age of 85 years and retained his memory to the last, and apparently slept his life away without a struggle; a respectable, honorable and useful life, admired by all, his memory will be long retained and warmly cherished in the hearts of those who associated with him and knew him in life.                   
                                                                        Com.

Tuesday, June 7, 1853

List of Letters Remaining in the Penn Yan Post Office, at Penn Yan, June 1, 1853.

A.                                                        P.
Arden, Joseph                                      Pulver, Lucy Mrs.
B.                                                         Pond, Miron
Burdin, George                                     Philips, Samuel
Bigsbee, Charles                                   Prime, H.
Brown , A. P.                                        R.
Baker, Kydia Mrs.                               Riley, John
Barker, D. R.                                       Race, Henry
C.                                                        S.
Clark, Arminda Miss                            Stephens, Stephen S.
Caton, John                                          Stephens, Mrs.
Cameron, Jesse                                    Sutphin, J.
Comings, Mary A. Miss                        Sugarine, F.
Cleaveland, J. L.                                   Sherman, George J.
Cookingham, M.                                  Simmons, Joshua
Chatman, George                                 Saxe, Peter
Chapman, G.                                        Slayton, J. P.
Caston, Ann                                         Smith, John
Cleaver, Joseph                                    Starke, W. H.
D.                                                        T.
Decker, E. M.                                      Townsend, Susan Mrs.
Dean, Darius                                        Tissow, D.
Dexter, Mr.                                          Toby, Mrs.
Durning, E. Mrs.                                   V.
Dunn, Andrew                                      VanCott, John S.
E.                                                         Voak, Josiah D.
Ebber, Silas                                          W.
F.                                                         Wright, William
Fitzwater, Daniel                                   Wertmen, Joel
G.                                                        Walchon, Henry
Ganning, Jeremiah                                 Walling, Frederick
Gunn, E. D. Mrs.                                 
Gregory, Willis
Glover, George
George, M. T.
Goold, Harriet Miss
H.
Higley, E. Mrs.
Hadden, Gilbert Capt.
Henry, Elizabeth I. Miss
Harris, James
How, Jane Miss
Hazard, John
J.
Joslyn, Mary Miss
Jenes, Jacob N.
Janung, Phebe
K.
Koon, H. G.
Kelly, Thaddeus W.
Kittle, Franklin Y.
L.
Lewis, John
Lit, S. T.
Lee, Joseph A.
Lally, Zebadec
M.
Matthews, W.
Mills, Andrew T.
Morrison, Eliza M.
McNulty & Hancock
McClare, M. H.
More, John
O.
Osburn, Mary J. Miss
                                  L. S. Ayres, P. M.

Tuesday, June 14, 1853

Married, in Jerusalem, on the 9th inst., by Rev. A. C. Mallory, of Benton Centre, Mr. Jonathan D. Pierce, and Miss Mary Benedict, both of Jerusalem.

Died - In Penn Yan, June 12th, Francis Caroline, a twin daughter of W. C. Parsons, Esq., aged about 3 years.
    Supposed to have been occasioned by the Phosphorus from a bunch of matches.

Died - At Penn Yan, on the 10th of June, 1853, Daniel Sheldon Marsh, aged 75.
    He was born at New Hartford, Ct., Nov. 15, 1779, of which place his grand-father, the Rev. Jonathan Marsh, was the first minister. His father, with his family, emigrated to Saquoit, Oneida Co., in 1792, in which place, he has been for many years, an active and efficient member of society, and as a member of the Presbyterian Church, a constant and consistent promoter of the interests of religion. He obtained evidence of God, through Jesus Christ, in the sixtieth year of his age, and ever since, has felt that he was indeed a miracle of grace.
    ….A severe affliction and the loss of a beloved son, the late Daniel S. Marsh, Jr., of Penn Yan, with whom he had hoped to spend the evening of his days, though at the time almost overwhelming, was instrumental of improving him, in the enjoyments of religion. He was taken very severely sick, six or eight weeks ago, and expected then to have died, and in the near prospect of death, found a full assurance of acceptance with God, and even desired to depart…..

 Died - At the residence of M. H. Lawrence in Milo, on the 24th ult., Mariah Bogert, consort of the late Isaac Bogert, aged 70 years.
    Mrs. B. was for a long time a resident of Dresden in this county, her husband being one of the early and most prominent settlers of that village….

Tuesday, June 28, 1853

Drowned. - Yesterday, a young man named John Potts, aged about 22 years, was drowned at the foot of the Lake. It appears that Potts, in company with two or three others, left this village yesterday, for the purpose of going afishing, that they drank at “Our House,” kept by Thomas Harrison, and had a bottle of liquor, which they took with them from the village, and that Potts attempted to cross the channel opposite of Harrison’s, and from either being unable to swim, or too much intoxicated to do so, was drowned. 
    An inquest was held on the body last evening by Coroner Kenyon, a verdict found in accordance with the above facts.

Accident. - Geo. Birch, a young man in the employ of N. Thompson, had his arm broken by a kick from a horse, on Sunday last. The arm is much bruised, and the bones badly crushed, but it is believed that amputation will not be necessary.

Died, at Marysville, California, on the 30th of April last, Lorenzo Murdough, late of Penn Yan, son of William and Elizabeth Murdough, of Benton, Yates Co., aged 24 years.

Tuesday, July 5, 1853

Drowned. - Francis Scott, a curly-headed little boy, aged 19 months, son of Zebulon Lampson, was drowned on Friday last in Lock No. 8 of the Crooked Lake Canal. An inquest was held on the body by H. Kenyon, and a verdict of accidental drowning rendered by the jury.

List of letters remaining in the Post Office at Penn Yan, N. Y., July 1st, 1853.
Abbott, Jared T.
Amistead, Miss Amanda D.
Andruss, J. P. Mr.
Banks, H. S.
Baman, Sumner
Bain, Miss Sarah E.
Bendall, John
Beach, Mrs. Bridget
Bennett, Asel W.
Bishop, H. S.
Brothen, William
Brown, A. M.
Burt, Lewis
Burton, Mrs. Mary
Case, J. W.
Carr, Jerusha
Caird, Elizabeth
Castner, John P.
Coons, Peter
Covert, Isaac
Crow, Ruth
Conklin, Jacob
Cornell, Miss Melissa
Chidsa, C.
Couch, Silas M.
Cronk, Garret
Crane, Mrs. Caroline
Crosby, Mr. Selah
Dawsanbury, Mr. Jan’r
Deniston, Mr. J. C.
Downes, William
Donaho, Ann
Dunn, Jeremiah
Ellis, William S.
Ferguson, C. C.
Ford, Mr.
Falvin, Patrick
French, Seymour
Fraser, Wm.
Gallaher, James H.
Gilmane, Margaret
Graham, Miss Euphinia
Grimes, Mr. P. S.
Griswell, Aaron
Gordon, Peter
Hall, Hiram
Hayes, Dr. C.
Hallock, Cha’s
Hay, George W.
Hawley, William
Heath or Keath, Emily
Hill , William
Hodge, William
Holbrook, Thos.
Howly, Wm.
Johnson, Miss Hellen
Jackson, John
Kinney, Betsey
Killpatrick, Mrs. Joseph
Leonard, Miss Rosaltha
Lake, Catharine W.
Lewis, Mr.
Loomis, Mrs. Mary P.
Lampman, Abram
Mangas, Miss Harriet A.
McKee, Sarah
Miller, Mrs. Adeline
Moshier, Davison
Moshier, David
Moon, J. P.
Moor, James A.
Moore, J. D.
Martin, Garret
Moshier, William
Owen, Allen P.
Oakley, Peter
Payne, Caleb
Painter, Mr. W.
Pruner, Mrs. Millicent A.
Pearce, Mr. J.
Potter, Mrs. John
Pritchard, G. W.
Pugend, Monsieur A.
Pulver, William
Reynolds, Miss Helen
Rector, Mr. Henry
Richardson, E. B.
Roat, Joseph
Rogers, Miss Jane
Secor, Malinda Jane
Shetter, Mrs. J.
Shelton, Mrs. E.
St. John, Miss Rebecca
St. John, Miss Lucretia
Stimson, Rev. H. K. 2
Stewart, Mrs. Mary E.
Sutherland, John
Sutherland, William
Swarthout, A. B. R.
Terney, William
Thuse, Lorany
Thayre, Jane
Tobin, Patrick
Tinsley, William
Timer, Miss Elizabeth
Underwood, Oliver
Walker, Henry
Warner, Miss Jane
Walchli, Maria Elizabeth
Webster, Milton L.
Wood, William H.
                           L. S. Ayres, P. M.

Married.
    In Potter, June 17th, by Rev. Ira Fairbank, Mr. John Cayward, of Prattsburg, to Mrs. Sarah Jane Emerson, of Canandaigua.
    Also June 27th, James Decker to Mrs. Lucratia P. Keefer, both of Milo.
    At Penn Yan, on the 4th inst., by J. V. VanAlen, Esq., Edward Graham, to Rhoda Ann Graham, all of Italy.
    At Penn Yan, on the 4th inst., by the same, John B. Davis, to Sarah Maria Davis, all of Benton.

Tuesday, July 12, 1853

Murder. - We learn that a murder occurred in the town of Pultney on Tuesday. - As we have learned the facts they were somewhat as follows: a Mr. Simonson in a freak of jealousy toward his wife, beat her severely, knocked her down with a club, and then actually cut her head off with an axe. We suppose he has been arrested. - Yates County Whig

Distressing Accident.
    On Wednesday night of last week, a young woman was burned so as to cause her death, at the house of Hon. M. H. Lawrence, in Milo.
    She was a servant in the family of Mr. L. and with the rest of the family had retired, the room was on the ground floor adjoining the kitchen. About 11 o’clock, Mr. L. was awakened from sleep by shrieks from the room, on forcing open the door, he found her on the bed on her knees, her body enveloped in flames, and the bed, carpet and clothes hanging in the room all on fire. She was not undressed, but was tearing off her clothes, he immediately threw a blanket around her, carried her out to the well and extinguished the fire, but it was too late, she was badly burned, particularly on the front part of her person, where the fire seems to have caught, portions of her flesh was literally roasted. She lingered in great pain until about 9 o’clock the next evening when she died, every attention was paid to her but all in vain. She was past the physicians help; she was an Irish girl of good character and amiable disposition. She probably fell asleep, leaving the candle burning either on or near the bed. It was with great difficulty that the flames were finally extinguished, a few moments more and the house would have burned, and had not the alarm been given, other victims besides herself would probably have been added to the list. Let this sad calamity admonish all of the necessity of care in the use of fire, or that which can produce it.

Tuesday, July 19, 1853

Married.
    In this village, on the 13th instant, by the Rev. James Eellis, Jr., James V. Van Allen, to Sarah, daughter of Eben Smith, all of Penn Yan.
    In Benton, July 6th, by Rev. A. C. Mallory, Mr. Thomas V. Morrell, of Williamsbargh, L. I. and Miss Cordelia Hicks, daughter of Henry Hicks, Esq., of the former place.
    In Boston, June 22d, by Rev. Mr. Wines, Mr. S. M. Pettingill, the well known and enterprising newspaper and advertising agent of New York and Boston to Miss Sarah E. Kendall, of  the former place.
    In Rushville, July 5th, by Rev. J. W. Wilson, Mr. Marshall A. Hunt, to Miss Elizabeth P. Powers, both of Rushville.

Tuesday, July 26, 1853

    Married, in Penn Yan, July 3d, by Rev. J. Jones, Mr. Wm. Fraser, of Ogdensburg, St. Lawrence Co., to Miss Sarah Chitsey, of Penn Yan.

Tuesday, August 9, 1853

Died - In Geneva, on the 26th ultimo, very suddenly, of brain fever, Mary Abigail, infant daughter of Sarah and Smith Spears, aged about 10 months.
    The deceased was the youngest child and only remaining daughter of her parents, being the last of three who have been called from their affections to an early grave. It is but a few weeks ago, since the death of one of them was recorded, who was in the 5th year of her age, and who, bright and intelligent far above her years, and more loving and endearing than unsophisticated childhood generally is, was almost idolised by her parents, and the favorite of all who knew her. This sore bereavement made the fond parents look upon with more tender affection, and cling to with closer embrace, this youngest and only daughter, and whilst with fondest hopes & brightest dreams, its doting parents were anticipating scenes of happiness with their beloved little one…..

Died - At Geneva, on Friday, August 5th, of Typhus Fever, Thomas Heber Chapen, son of William Chapen, of Philadelphia, and formerly a resident of this county, aged 21 years.
    His funeral was attended on Sunday last, by a large concourse of friends, including a delegation of thirty young men from Geneva, the attached personal friends of the deceased. The appropriate services of the occasion were held in the Presbyterian Church in this village.

Tuesday, August 16, 1853

    Married, at Elmira, August 2, by Rev. A. Hull, Prof. James E. Latimer, of Northfield, N. H., to Miss Anna E. Ross, of the former place.

Tuesday, August 23, 1853

Destructive Fire in Penn Yan Loss from $60,000 to $70,000
    About 3 o’clock yesterday morning, a fire was discovered in the loft of the building on the corner of Main and Canal streets, occupied by A. Wolf, as a Clothing store. The fire rapidly spread to Canal and Main street making a clean sweep. The fire extended on Canal street as far as, and including the Canal House, and on Main street as far up as the Stewart & Tunnicliff store, on the corner of Main and Jacob streets, where it was finally stopped by the high brick wall and fireproof roof of the said store.
    Fears were entertained that the Commercial Iron Works of E. B. Jones would go, but it was saved by proper precaution, and the strenuous exertions of the citizens, and the hands there employed, and suffered no material injury, except the loss of an out shed, and pile of wood.
    At one time it seemed inevitable that Casner & Sheetz’s Mill and the west side of Main street would be included in the general conflagration, owing to the intense heat, but were finally saved by the prompt and energetic efforts of a few of the citizens, and Fire Company No. 2, who are deserving of all praise, considering their imperfect organization and their small and almost worthless machine.
    The fire is supposed to be the work of an incendiary.
    As far as we can ascertain, the losses in insurances are about as follows:
    The building in which the fire originated, owned by Mrs. Bradley, worth $1500; Ins. $1000 in New York Union Co., Johnstown and occupied by A. Wolf as a Clothing Store. Ins. $1600 in Mohawk Valley, covering entire loss.
    A. Tuell’s Ware House, worth $4000; Ins. $3000 in the Fireman’s Ins. Co., New York city; occupied in part by Tuell & Watson, Grocery, Ins. $1500 in New York Union, Johnstown, covering entire loss, and by Sutherland & Co. Grocery, loss $1000 - $2000. No Ins.
    C. Legg’s Ware House, loss $1500; Ins. $1[   ] in the Genesee Mutual Ins. Co. Also some $500 or $600 worth of oats and barley; Ins. $500 in same Company.
    Adjoining Legg’s Ware House, was a small Ware House formerly owned by E. J. Fowle Ins. $400 in Ont. & Liv. Ins. Co.
    Isaac Murdock lost 1800 insured $1000. Building owned by C. C. Shepherd, worth $1500 Ins. $1200 in Ont. & Liv., occupied by Tracy & Miller. Ins. $1500 in Ont. & Liv., covering entire loss.
    Building owned by Dr. H. B. Stiles, worth $1500 Ins. $1000 in Ont. & Liv. Mutual, occupied by A. Beals. Loss from $2000 - $3000 no insurance.
    Building formerly owned and occupied by E. J. Fowle, (vacant) worth 1500. Ins. 1 - $200 in Ont. & Liv.
    Building owned by A. Tuell, (vacant) worth about 1800. Ins. 1000 in the Western Massachusetts Ins. Co.
    The three story brick building formerly owned by A. Clark, worth from 4000 - 5000 - has 2000 in the Aetna Ins. Co. Hartford. Occupied by U. Hill, Grocery and Provision [           ]. Loss 4000; Ins. 2000 in the Fireman’s Ins. Co., New York city, and 2000 in North Western, Oswego.
    Building owned by H. Sheldon New York, worth about 2500. Ins. not known. Occupied by Rosenthal &  Kohn, as a Clothing Store. Ins. 2000 in the Fireman’s Ins. Co. New York, covering entire loss.
    Building owned by James McVey, worth 3000. Ins. in Onondaga Mutual Ins., am’t unknown. Occupied by Ayres & Squier. Loss 1500 Ins. 2000 in the North Western and 2000 in the Hartford.
    Building owned by the Marsh Estate, worth from 3000 - $4000. Ins. 2500 in the Fireman’s Ins. Co., New York city. Occupied by A. F. Hazen. Dry Goods Ins. 3000 in the Ont. & Liv. and 2000 in the Atna, which will probably cover the entire loss.
    Building owned by Eb. Smith, worth about 3000 - $4000. Ins. $1500 in the Saratoga Co. Mutual Ins. Co. - occupied by Brace & Graves - Ins. $8000, which will probably cover their entire loss, as follows: 4000 in the Ont. & Liv. Mutual, 2000 in the Wayne Co. Mutual, 1000 in the N. Y. State Mutual, 2000 in the old Hartford, Conn.
    The Tunnicliff store saved, but some damaged. Ins. 2500 in the Ont. & Liv. Mutual, and 2500 in the Rochester Ins. Co. - occupied by Chas. Reed & Co. Groceries and Provisions, slightly damaged - Ins. 2000.

Married.
    In Penn Yan, August 16th, by Rev. J. Jones, Mr. John Casterline, Jr., to Miss Catharine B. Lights, both of Penn Yan.
    In Milo, August 21st, by the same, Mr. Sylvester Tibbetts to Miss Ruth E. Lampson, both of Milo.
    In Benton, on the 4th inst., by S. G. Gage, Esq., Mr. Wm. O. Burton and Miss Harriet C. Shory, all of the above place.
    At Benton Centre, on the 18th inst., by the same, Mr. Norman Cole, of Three Rivers, Mich., and Miss Lucy Jane Lewis, of the former place.
    At Benton Centre, on the 7th inst., by Rev. A. C. Mallory, Mr. Byron S. Sunderlin, of Barrington, and Miss Rachel Ellis, of Starkey.

Tuesday, August 30, 1853

    Died. - In this village, on the 28th inst., Mary Jane Rice, daughter of the late Stephen Rice - aged 19 years.
    Her funeral will be attended this day at 2 o’clock P. M. at the Congregational Church.

    Married. - At St. Peter ’s Church, Charleston, S. C. , on the 3d inst., Major John R. Hull, of Columbus, Georgia, to Miss Mary E. Fishburn of the former place.

Tuesday, September 6, 1853

Died. - At the American Hotel in this village, on Saturday evening, the 3rd inst., Capt. P. H. Baldwin, aged 51 years.

List of letters remaining in the Post Office at Penn Yan, not called for and not heretofore advertised, on the 1st day of September, 1853.

Butterfield & Walker                            Linch, Ward              
Benton, James W.                                McVay, James
Boileiu, Miss Mary                               Moon, Samuel
Brown, Mr.                                          Moonson, B. J.
Boyle, Ellen                                          Morey, W.
Bogart, Mrs. Mary                               Mills, Mrs. S. T.
Clark, Rev. Mr.                                    Patterson, Samuel
Crowley, Michael                                 Prentice, Augustus
Cole, E. D.                                           Parsons, Rev. DeFoust
Clark, Mr. W. H.                                 Preston, Josiah
Couch, Mrs. Margaret M.                    Rutter, W. E.
Conklin, James A.                                Rector, William
Cloon, W. I.                                         Robert, Joseph
Conklin, Hiram                                     Sisson, George
Durham, James                                     Statt, Samuel
Draper, Mrs. Margaret                         Seamans, David
Eastman, B. C.                                     Smith, Mrs. Mary C.
Evans, Mrs. Mary                                 Secor, Mr. J.
Freeman, A. W.                                   Sutton, John
French, Miss Margaret                         Seymour, W. H.
Finger, John                                          Soggs, William
Hall, Mrs. Mary E.                               Staat, George
Hebud, Mrs. Matilda                            Taylor, J.         
Helsey, George                                     Taylor, Rev. O. D.       
Hewitt, Andrew                                    Thomas, David A.
Kennedy, Wm.                                     Walker, Miss Margaret
Kelley, John                                         Wheeler, Mr. E.
Kimball, James L.

Persons calling for the above letters will please say “advertised.
                                                            L. S. Ayres, P. M.

Tuesday, September 13, 1853

    An inquisition was held by Coroner Kenyon, on Thursday last, 8th inst., in the town of Benton, on the body of John Slayton, which was found in the nursery of Gilbert Mead, in the said Town. There being no marks of violence upon his person, nor other signs to show he came to his death by unfair means, the Jury rendered a verdict, that said deceased “came to his death by the visitation of God, in a natural way, and not otherwise.”
    Slayton is probably about 40 years of age, and unmarried.

Died. - In Mobile, Ala., on the 29th ult., of Yellow Fever, Mr. George Huntington, aged 26 years.

Tuesday, September 20, 1853

High handed outrage. - Last evening, Abner Bridgman, while repairing to his home about 10 o’clock, was knocked down while on the bridge near the mills, by three ruffians, and very badly bruised. It is supposed the object was to rob him. This however was not affected. Is there no way by which such things can be prevented in our village. If we are to be given over to rowdyism, citizens will have to arm themselves and shoot down the ruffians. We trust our public authorities will take the matter in hand, and see to it that the public peace is preserved at all hazards, and the safety of unoffending people put beyond contingency.   

The Storm. - On Saturday evening last, this village and vicinity was visited by one of the most terrific thunderstorms known to the “oldest inhabitant.” For an hour there was a literal war of the elements. The heavens were illumined with one continued flash of vivid lightening, and the thunder came, peal upon peal, and crash after crash, like the artillery of contending armies. The rain descended in torrents, mingled with hail, and take it all and in all, it was a most appalling storm, but with less damage than is sometimes the result of similar ones. In this village, the brickyard was flooded, and some $200 worth of green brick destroyed. At Milo Centre, the lightening set Mr. F. Randolph’s barn on fire, and it was consumed with its contents - loss $700. In Benton, a barn belonging to Mr. Nutt was also struck and consumed - loss in grain &c., from $1,000 - $1,500. We learn of other buildings being burned, but have not the particulars.

Tuesday, September 27, 1853

Law and Order in Penn Yan.
    We think that none can but admit that the law in many respects has been almost totally disregarded in Penn Yan, for a long time past. The rowdies have had full swing, and to our knowledge no effort has been made by the proper authorities to put a stop to their disgraceful and unlawful proceedings. Whether it’s owing to inefficiency, or a total neglect on the part of our police, we know not but we know that hardly a night passes without our streets being the scene of the exploits of some drunken wretch, and our citizens subject to annoyance and insult, and no effort is made to arrest them, or put a stop to the same.
    Within the last three or four weeks, as we learn, not less than three attempts has been made at burglary, and one at highway robbery, on the person of Abner Bridgman, two of the perpetrators of which are now in custody, Holliday and M’Laughlin, but the third one, a state prison convict known as Tone Wagener, a negro, is still at large.
    Unless some means can be adopted to put a stop to these broils and depredations, by making officers do their duty, and not countenancing this method of bailing every renegade that has taken up, but let them suffer the penalty of the laws they have violated. We know of no better plan than for every well disposed citizen to arm themselves, and rely entirely upon the law of self preservation, for in the present state of affairs no person is safe in our streets after dark.

Jurors drawn at the office of the Clerk of the County of Yates, on Saturday, the 24th September, 1853, pursuant to due previous notice to be summoned to attend a Special Term of the Supreme Court and Court of Oyer and Terminer appointed to be held at the Court House, in the village of Penn Yan, on Monday, the 17th day of Oct., 1853.

Grand Jurors.

Name.                                      Occupation.                              Residence.

  1. Daniel Disbrow                   Farmer                                     Barrington
  2. Horace Babcock                do                                            Middlesex
  3. Charles L. Bordwell            do                                            Potter
  4. Barnard Bush                     do                                            Torrey
  5. William Wright                    do                                            Middlesex
  6. Ira S. Disbrow                    do                                            Barrington
  7. Adam Hunt                         do                                            Milo
  8. Nathan Coleman                 do                                            Jerusalem
  9. Eber Stone                         do                                            Milo
10. George N. Dox                  do                                            Torrey
11. John Kipps                         do                                            do
12. David L. Phelps                  do                                            Benton
13. Henry S. Dubois                 do                                            Torrey
14. John Sayre                         Mechanic                                 Potter
15. James Johnson                    Farmer                                     Torrey
16. Samuel Allen                      do                                            Benton
17. Peleg Gardner                    do                                            Potter
18. John Sheetz                        Muller                                      Milo
19. George B. Briggs                Farmer                                     do
20. Robert N. McFarren          do                                            Benton
21. Andrew F. Chapman          do                                            Benton
22. Harry Hutchison                 do                                            Italy
23. Oren G. Loomis                 do                                            Middlesex
24. Benjamin Stoddard             do                                            Jerusalem

Petit Jurors.

Name.                                      Occupation.                              Residence.

  1. Charles Goundry                Farmer                                     Torrey
  2. William B. Hamlin               Merchant                                  Starkey
  3. Putnan Fish                         Farmer                                     Middlesex
  4. Peter Vandeventer              do                                            Benton
  5. Franklin Culver                   do                                            Jerusalem
  6. Roswell B. Jones                do                                            Milo
  7. George W. Van Allen         do                                            Starkey
  8. Levi E. Brundage                do                                            Milo
  9. Othniel Emery                     do                                            Middlesex
10. Albert McIntyre                  do                                            Barrington
11. William Waddle                  Mechanic                                 Milo
12. Isaac Bell                           Mechanic                                 Milo
13. George S. Reeder               Farmer                                     Starkey
14. Henry S. Dunn                    Mechanic                                 Milo
15. Oliver Underwood              Farmer                                     Potter
16. Thomas Amsbury               Cooper                                    Milo
17. Nathaniel R. Beardsel         Farmer                                     do
18. John N. Dox                       do                                            Torrey
19. Abraham V. Miller              Mechanic                                 Milo
20. Joseph Reynolds                 Farmer                                     Starkey
21. William Simmonds              do                                            Milo
22. Harry C. Boyd                   do                                            Benton
23. Myron Cole                        do                                            do
24. Herod Conklin                    Mechanic                                 Milo
25. Anson C. Gillett                  Merchant                                  Milo
26. Solomon Williams               Mechanic                                 do
27. William Baskin                    Farmer                                     do
28. Hiram Kenyon                    Grocer                                     do
29. George S. Hallowell            Merchant                                  do
30. Isaac Owen                        Farmer                                     Jerusalem
31. Garrett Martin                    do                                            do
32. Daniel Playsted                   do                                            Milo
33. Jeremiah Sprague               Mechanic                                 do
34. John Owens                       Farmer                                     do
35. Levi Loncor                        Mechanic                                 do
36. Seth B. Briggs                    Farmer                                     Benton

Given under our hands the day and year above written.
                                                John L. Lewis, Jr., Yates County Judge
                                                N. Squier, Sheriff
                                                C. Martin, Clerk

Tuesday, October 4, 1853

List of letters remaining in the Benton Post Office October 1st, 1853.

Ackerson, Edward B.                           Huie, Thomas
Austin, N. G.                                       Hoban, William
Brazee, N.                                            Keech, Susan
Bush, Rynard                                        Kuger, Lewis
Bates, William or his heirs                     Kelsey, Olive
Barden, Helen J. Miss                           Lally, Michael
Conklin, Josiah B.                                 Munson, Thomas
Comer, John                                         Manes, Thomas
Clark, Sarah A.                                    McFarline, Isabella 2
Clapp, Eliza S.                                      McLelan, John
Delaney, John                                       McKnight, William
Gooden, P.                                           Mangas, Henriette
Gifford, Henry                                      Mapes, Sarah Ann
Griffith, Emma                                      Mr. Olmstead
Gleason, Eli                                          Renton Andrew
Huie, John H.                                       Roosa, Charles
Howland, L.                                         Sticmney, Jonathan
Henderson, John                                   Wood, Eli 2
Hammond, Titus or heirs                       Weatherby, William
                                                                                       J. L. Lewis, P. M.

Tuesday, October 11, 1853

Married, in Penn Yan, on the 5th by Rev. J. Jones, Mr. Edmund Wright to Miss Sarah Walton, both of Penn Yan.

Died, [                    ]  Mr. George W. Maynard of Penn Yan [                         ].

Tuesday, October 18, 1853

Married, in Penn Yan, on the 17th inst., by Rev. A. Chase, Mr. Amasa Griffith, of Prattsburgh, to Miss Phebe E. Raymond, of Benton.

Tuesday, November 1, 1853

Yates County Circuit Court
    ….Among the indictments which were presented by the Grand Jury were two against Abraham Hamilton for Petit Larceny, second offence(sic). The Court consented to try this indictment. John D. Wolcott was assigned counsel for the prisoner by the Court, and evinced much skill in the trial of the same. In charging the Jury the Court remarked the case had been tried on behalf of the prisoner with ability and that the prisoner’s counsel had made a very creditable effort on his behalf.           The jury did not agree, and the prisoner was remanded back to his old quarters to remain until the next session. -  There was also an indictment against Stewart McLaughlin and John Holliday, for assault and battery with intent to rob and also to kill. On motion of D. J. Sunderlin a nolle prosequi was ordered as against the latter. Prisoners plead guilty as to the former, and McLaughlin was sentenced to the State Prison for the term of two years, and Holliday to the County Jail for six months…..

Tuesday, November 8, 1853

Died - In this village, on Monday, the 24th inst., Mrs. Sophia Lee, relic of the late Dr. Joshua Lee, of this town, aged 63 years.

Died - In Starkey, of consumption, on Sunday the 30th ult., Lydia , wife of Isaac Lanning, in the 48th year of her age. She had for several years sustained a good standing in the Christian Church at Starkey, and was a highly esteemed member of society.

Died - In this village on the 29th ult., Mrs. Joanna W. Hale, wife of Mr. Chancey H. Hale, of the American Hotel, aged 32 years.
    In this very sudden and unexpected death, a husband is bereaved of a wife who was truly every thing to him; and six little children of a mother, the measure of whose loss is to be known only by a future, sad experience…..

Died - In Dresden, on the 12th inst., at the residence of her father, Miss Fanny B. Pettengill, aged 43 years.

Tuesday, November 15, 1853

Married.
    At Branchport, Oct. 26th, by Rev. J. Jones, Mr. James H. Minisee, to Miss Maria Ray, both of Jerusalem.
    By the same, in Penn Yan, Oct. 27th, Mr. Silas R. Elder to Miss Maria Craven, both of Benton.
    In Penn Yan on the 2d instant, by Rev. A. Chase, Mr. Barnet West, of Jerusalem, to Miss Hannah S. Goodrich, of this village.
    In Penn Yan, on the 7th instant, by Rev. A. Chase, Mr. Wm. A. Carr, of Italy , to Miss Mary Holliday, of Jerusalem. 

Petit Jurors.

Drawn at the office of the Clerk of the County of Yates, on the twelvth (sic) day of November, 1853, at 1 o’clock P. M., for the December term of the Yates County Court of Sessions, appointed to be held in and for said County, on the second Tuesday of December, 1853.

Name.                                      Residence.                                Occupation.

  1. Myron Hamlin                    Milo                                         Merchant
  2. Lewis Rhoda                      do                                            Mechanic
  3. George Swarts                   Starkey                                    Farmer
  4. Martin Grover                    Milo                                         Mechanic
  5. Jethro Bonney                    do                                            do
  6. Ephraim Lord                     Middlesex                                Farmer
  7. John R. Brown                   Milo                                         Mechanic
  8. Peter Meserole                   Torrey                                      Farmer
  9. James Bill                           Benton                                     do
10. William A. Gabriel              Starkey                                    do
11. John C. Mabie                    Italy                                          do
12. George Steever                  Jerusalem                                 do
13. Andrew Chapman              Benton                                     do
14. John J. Finger                     do                                            do
15. Miles Marriner                    Milo                                         Gentleman
16. Stephen Chubb                   Barrington                                Farmer
17. Peter Trovinger                   do
18.  Joseph Reeler                    Milo                                         Clerk
19. George R. Castner              Barrington
20. James P. Henderson           Starkey                                    Farmer
21. Adam Crosier                     Benton                                     do
22. Israel Comstock                 Jerusalem                                 do
23. Elisha Delane                      Milo                                         Mechanic
24. Timothy Blodget                 Potter                                      
25. John Sims                           Benton                                     do
26. George [  ] Marring            Milo                                         Farmer
27. Henry Coons                      do                                            Clerk
28. Henry Wicker                     do                                            Farmer
29. Shannon McLoud               Starkey                                    do
30.  Josiah White                      Jerusalem
31. Philemon Chissom              Benton                                     Farmer
32. Benedict Gabriel                 Starkey                                    Mechanic
33. Henry Hicks                       Benton                                     Farmer
34. William B. Andruss             Jerusalem                                 do
35. John Dorman                      do                                            do
36. Horace Holmes                  Barrington                               
Anson Wyman                          Milo                                         Butcher
    Drawn in place of John R. Brown, removed from the county.
Wells Pierce                             Jerusalem                                 Farmer
    Drawn in place of Henry Coons, removed from the county.
George Cooley                         Milo                                         Mechanic
    Drawn in place of Benedict Gabriel, removed from the county.

Given under our hands this 12th Nov. 1853.
                                                            N. Squier, Sheriff
                                                            John L. Lewis, Jr., Yates County Judge

Tuesday, November 22, 1853

Penn Yan Honor.
    On the night of the 19th of Sept. last, Mr. A. Bridgman was waylaid by two midnight assassins, at Penn Yan, and barely escaped with his life. The affair created great sensation in that village, and a meeting of the citizens was held at the offices of S. H. Welles, President of the village, the second evening after, and a resolution passed offering a reward of $100 in behalf of the village for the production of evidence that would lead to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who committed the assault upon Bridgman. This resolution was embodied in a handbill signed “S. H. Welles, President of Village,” copies of which were sent to Sheriff Harrower of this village. The morning this notice was received here, Deputy Sheriff J. E. Jones, started in pursuit of a fellow named Stewart McLaughlin, who had left in the stage for Hornellsville and overhauled him at Howard. McLaughlin confessed that he was one of the persons who committed the assault upon Bridgman, and the Deputy Sheriff took him to Penn Yan immediately and lodged him in jail. The next week he was put upon trial, when he plead guilty, and was sentenced to Auburn for two years. - After the conviction, Sheriff Harrower called upon Mr. Welles for the reward, who coolly replied that he did not consider himself under any obligations to pay it, but that if the Sheriff would make out a bill of the actual expense in making the arrest, he would lay it before the Board of Supervisors! Now this matter needs no comment. If there is a spark of honor in the village of Penn Yan, the citizens will not be long in taking the matter in hand, and compel their authorities to pay this just demand.
    Will our friends of the Penn Yan Democrat and Whig have the kindness to publish this article?
    At the request of our Bath contemporary, we give the above article.   
    The facts of the case are not fairly stated as every body can see by reading the article; besides, the publication is premature and calculated to cast a reproach upon our village not warranted by the facts. No demand has ever been made to the Trustees for the $100 reward. Sheriff Harrower had a conversation somewhere with Mr. Welles, the President of the village, who gave his view of the case, viz., that the person who made the arrest of McLaughlin was not entitled to the $100 reward, but remarked to him at the same time that what was fair and honorable to pay, would be paid, and asked him to make out a bill of his charge, that it might be laid before the proper auditing board; this he declined to do and has not yet done.
    On this state of facts, the publication above is made and we must say that it was out of time and unjust. Mr. Harrower should have made out his charge if he claimed the $100, for that sum and had it laid before the board of Trustees, and when they refused to pay it would have been time enough to post the village as dishonored and its public authorities as repudiators. Penn Yan has not and will not repudiate a fair and honest demand. If the charge of Mr. Harrower is just - if upon any principle of equity, the corporation is liable for the reward, it will be paid promptly and without hesitation.

Married.
    At Fort Plain, Montgomery Co., on the 9th inst., by Rev. Mr. Skank, Mr. T. W. Hanes, of Benton, Yates Co., to Miss Louisa M. Wagener, of the former place.
    At the Methodist Church in this village, by Rev. D. D. Buck, on the 30th Oct., Rev. Asa Countryman to Miss Sabra H. Latham, both of this village.
    In Potter, Yates Co., on the 17th inst., by Rev. Mr. Goshen, Mr. David H. Rosencronse, of Hamburgh, Suffolk Co., N. J., to Miss Louis (sic) V. Perry, of Potter.
    At Benton Centre, Nov. 13th, by Rev. A. O. Mallory, Mr. Wm. Horton, of Cameron, Steuben Co., and Miss Nancy M. Bancroft, of Orange.

Tuesday, November 29, 1853

Married. - In Penn Yan, Nov. 23d, by Rev. J. Jones, Mr. Chauncey Wolcott and Mrs. Elizabeth Slaughter, both of this place.

Tuesday, December 6, 1853

Died. - Of Yellow Fever, in Houston, Texas, on the 29th of September last, Walsteen C. Howe, aged 50 years. Mr. Howe was formerly a resident of our village, also of Branchport. He leaves a wife, but no children.

List of letters remaining in the Post Office at Penn Yan, December 1, 1853, and not heretofore advertised.

Adams, S. P.                                                    Lesley Miss Ann
Andrews Miss Ellen                                          McKie Agnes
Ackley John                                                     McNiff Pat
Banks, H. S.                                                     Mack Michael
Brown Robert                                                  Moorehouse Gideon 
Bart M. J.                                                         Morrison John H.
Beckwith Andrew                                             Miller H. & B.
Beal Mrs. Almon                                              Millus Christina
Braman Henry C.                                             Miner J. G.
Burdin George                                                  Merrill John
Cook Miss Martha                                           Miller Sam’l P.
Clark E.                                                           Nickerson Mrs. Eli
Cleveland M. S.                                               Nichols Jacob
Cory Joseph                                                     Peckens Miss Mary J.
Chapman Miss S. E.                                         Prichard Ezra
Crosby Nathan                                                 Purchase Mrs. Susane 
Culver Lewis                                                    Placer Mrs. Elizabeth
Crank Almay                                                    Parsons A. L. or E.
Cawer Eleazer                                                  Pelegrini Francesco
Cole Elizabeth                                                  Prosser William
Cartwright Walter                                             Regan Michael
Cahel M. Battely                                              S[   ]tt R. M.
Colman Elwith                                                  Smith Lavinia   
Cleaveland George                                           Skinner J.
Craven Miss M.                                               Spencer Frank
Curran Judith M.                                               Smith Emily A.
Dunning Mrs. Harriet A.                                   Seymour J. W.
Decker John H.                                                Sulen W. J.
Done George W.                                              Seymour W. H. & J. W.
Easling Miss Mary                                            Suton Daniel
Egan Mr. John                                                  Soggs Wm.
French Frank                                                    Stewart Mrs. Mary E.
Flausburgh S.                                                   Traver Mrs. Margaret
Grimes Mr. N.                                                  VanVegan Louis
Gregg M. H.                                                     Vorce Miss Clara
Green Samuel                                                   Veil Samuel
Holt William                                                     Wheeler Mrs. Polly
Hathaway George W.                                       Wright Mr. Edmund
Halsey George                                                  Waterbury S.
Herrington David                                              Willett John
Howly William                                                  Witter Miss Elizabeth
Jones Catherine                                                Wheeler Mrs. Jane C.
Lanning & Winants                                           Wells J. K.
Little Isaac                                                        Youman Miss Elizabeth
Lee David C.

Persons calling for any of the above letters will please say advertised.  
                                                                        L. S. Ayres, P. M.

Tuesday, December 13, 1853

Married, in Torrey, November 14, 1853, by Rev. F. G. Hibbard, Mr. John L. Remer, of Dresden, and Miss Rachel A., daughter of M. A. Legg, of the former place.

Died.
    In Benton, on the morning of the 8th inst., Kiametia, daughter of Homer M. Townsend, aged two years and six months.
    In Spring Port, Cayuga Co., on the 3d inst., Mrs. Mary Richards, sister of Mr. N. D. Suydam, of this village, in the 31st year of her age.

Tuesday, December 20, 1853

    Died - In Jerusalem, on the 17th ult., after a short illness of about four weeks, which was borne with Christian fortitude, patience and resignation, Mr. Levi Walker, in the 32d year of his age.
    He has left a wife and three small children to mourn his loss and company. His last conversation to his family and friends, was to seek religion and follow Christ.