Captain Marcus Wellington Murdock: Civil War Veteran, Farmer, and Railroad Promoter of Venice Center - Part 2

The Murdock Family of Venice Center, Cayuga County, New York (continued)

Lyman and Clarinda Tracy Murdock

Lyman Murdock's Youth

Lyman Murdock, the youngest son of Joshua Murdock and Eunice Moore, was born at present-day Venice Center on 8 August 1804 (1) (2), and there he was raised. These were very much pioneer times in the history of Southern Cayuga County when fields were wrested from forests, and business enterprises were in their infancy. Lyman must have shown early maturity, industry, and judgment for he is said to have assumed management of his father's large farm at the age of 16.

Lyman, his [Joshua Murdock's] son, has been largely interested in the growth and prosperity of Venice Center, where his father was the first settler, and prominently identified with its material interests and enterprises. In 1820, at the age of sixteen, he took the management of the farm. In 1821, he, in company with his neighbors, the Fishes, built a saw-mill on the site of the old one, on the southeast corner of the farm. September 5th, 1824, he married Clarinda, daughter of  Captain Alanson Tracy [NOTE:  Storke is incorrect on this point; Clarinda was the daughter of Squire Gilbert Tracy and Deborah Woodworth as shown by multiple sources - R. A. Post], of Scipio, and bought 150 acres of the old homestead farm, but continued to work the whole farm.

-- Elliot G. Storke, History of Cayuga County, New York 1789 - 1879 (Syracuse, Onondaga Co., NY, D. Mason & Co., 1879), Internet Archive http://archive.org/, p. 435 https://archive.org/stream/historyofcayugac00stor#page/434/mode/2up

Clarinda W. Tracy's Family and Youth

Clarinda W. Tracy was the daughter of Squire Gilbert Tracy and Deborah Woodworth (3). Gilbert was born 7 January 1761 at Preston, New London Co., Connecticut (3). He reportedly served from 1777 until early January 1784 as a soldier with Connecticut state troops and with the Continental troops in several regiments of the Connecticut Line. This service was interspersed with several cruises on the privateer, "Marquis de La Fayette," under Captain Elisha Hinman, presumably in the capacity of a gunner or marine (4). Following the Revolution, Gilbert Tracy made his way from Connecticut to the Cayuga Indian Reservation on the east side of Cayuga Lake ca. 1789 where he leased land from the Indians (5).

Gilbert married Deborah Woodworth, daughter of Jonathan Woodworth and Mercy Parker, on 9 April 1791 at Ulysses, then part of Herkimer Co., New York, in the portion of the town that would later become Ithaca, Tompkins Co., New York. Gilbert and Deborah took up residence at Gilbert's cabin at or near present-day Levanna, Ledyard, Cayuga Co., New York until they were burned out with 12 other families in October 1791 by the High Sheriff of Herkimer County on orders of Governor Clinton in response to a complaint by a Cayuga chief (5) (6). Having become homeless with the approach of winter, the couple lived for several weeks in a crude shelter while Gilbert harvested his corn and then removed about 5 miles east to near present-day Scipioville, Scipio, Cayuga Co., New York. Deborah and Gilbert occupied a doorless, windowless, floorless, and chimneyless cabin that Henry Watkins had fortuitously completed before returning to Albany, Albany Co., New York to register his land. There they remained the winter, removing in March 1792 with their baby son, Durastus Tracy, several miles farther east to Salmon Creek in the vicinity of Bolt's Corners in Scipio where Gilbert obtained land with a log cabin, possibly of his own construction (5) 

Clarinda W. Tracy was born 29 September 1803 in Scipio (7), presumably in her parent's cabin on Salmon Creek. She was the eighth child of an eventual 13 and third daughter of Gilbert Tracy and Deborah Woodworth. Little, if any record exists of Clarinda's youth. We can speculate that it was occupied with the household tasks of a pioneer family with many mouths to feed, carving a farm out of the forest. Clarinda's residence on Salmon Creek near Bolt's Corners likely was not more than 2 miles from the residence of Lyman Murdock in present-day Venice Center, Cayuga Co., New York. That they would know of each other was inevitable.

Clarinda married Lyman Murdock on 5 September 1824 (1), a few weeks shy of her 21st birthday. The location of the wedding is not known, but the Town of Venice had been taken off from Scipio the previous year, and the wedding does not appear in records of some early Scipio marriages so Venice is the likely location.

Lyman and Clarinda W. Murdock's Children

Lyman and Clarinda took up residence on the Murdock Homestead in what would become Venice Center following their marriage as noted in the quotation from Storke (1879) above. Their first child, a son, Evander Murdock (1), was born at Venice Center on 27 July 1825. Evander married Margaret Wood on 6 March 1856. They later removed west and resided at Cedar Falls, Black Hawk Co., Iowa. Evander died at Holly Hill, Volusia Co., Florida on 4 June 1884 (8). 

Mary Ann Murdock (1) was the second child of Lyman and Clarinda Tracy Murdock, born at Venice Center on 28 February 1828 according to one source (9); however, the Cayuga Co. NYGenWeb Cemetery List for Venice Center Cemetery gives an incomplete name and birth as 1827. Mary Ann married Stephen Van Rensselaer Howard on 24 February 1858. They lived at Guilderland, Albany Co., New York where Stephen died ca. December 1869. Afterward, Mary Ann lived with her daughters in her father's household at Venice Center, in her own household, and finally with a daughter near Scipio Center, Scipio, Cayuga Co., New York where Mary Ann died 17 October 1898.

Lyman T. Murdock (1) was the third or fourth (see next paragraph) child of Lyman and Clarinda Tracy Murdock, born at Venice Center on 6 March 1833 (1) (8). Lyman T. Murdock married H. Eliza Hull on 18 January 1861. They resided at Venice Center where Lyman T. was involved in various businesses including farming, operating a grist mill, and dealing in phosphate (fertilizer). He also was a Justice of the Peace and served as Venice Town Supervisor. Lyman T. died 12 December 1893 (1).

Clarinda Racelia "Celia" Murdock (1) was either the third or fourth child of Lyman and Clarinda Tracy Murdock. She was born at Venice Center, but the date of her birth is not certain. Celia's inscription on a Murdock monument in the Venice Center Cemetery shows her birth as 2 November 1834. This date conflicts with the birth date of her brother Eugene, who seems to have been born in December 1834. A published Murdock genealogy (9) gives Celia's birth as 2 December 1830, which seems consistent with her early census records but less so with later records. There also is a lack of clarity about Celia's middle name, which appears in census data as Lucelia and Rucella. A relative bore the name Racelia, perhaps indicative of Celia's actual middle name. Celia Murdock became an accomplished artist specializing in pastoral scenes and livestock. Celia studied in France, exhibited in several prestigious art venues, and was among locally recognized artists (10). After her untimely death on 15 November 1882 at the residence of Dr. Amanda Sanford in Auburn, Cayuga Co., New York, Celia's artistic recognition slowly faded from memory into obscurity. Several of her paintings, however, yet grace walls of homes and institutions including Wells College and the Howland Stone Store Museum (scroll down to Paintings).

Eugene B. Murdock (1) was born at Venice Center on 13 December 1834 (9), the fifth child of Lyman and Clarinda Tracy Murdock. Eugene was unmarried, listed as a Farmer in several sources, and lived in his father's household. One source says that Eugene also was a Civil Engineer (9). His occupation was Surveyor in the 1865 census. He died 27 August 1865 as shown by his Death Notice in a local newspaper.

Marcus Wellington Murdock was the sixth and last child of Lyman and Clarinda Tracy Murdock. He was born at Venice Center 4 May 1837 on the Murdock Homestead (1) (8). The story of his life will be told in subsequent posts.

Lyman Murdock's Career at Venice Center

Mills, Taverns, and Store in Venice Center

As seen above, Lyman had already built a new sawmill with the Fish family before his marriage to Clarinda Tracy, purchased 150 acres of his father's holdings, and continued to operate the entirety of his father's holdings. Lyman's next enterprise was to open a public house at his residence.

In the fall of 1826, he built an addition to the homestead and commenced keeping a public house, in which also the town meetings and other elections were held and other town business transacted for many years. That building, which was the first tavern at Venice Center, forms the east end of the present tavern, and was moved to its present site, in 1835, when the addition was built. In 1834 he built a grist-mill on the site of the present one; and in 1835 he built a saw-mill adjacent to it. The same year (1835) he built the present tavern at Venice Center; and gave one acre of land to Philander Tracy, who built thereon that year, the first store in that village. From 1850, he has been connected pecuniarily and officially with railroad projects, which culminated in the establishment of the road which runs through the central part of the town.

-- Elliot G. Storke, History of Cayuga County, New York 1789 - 1879 (Syracuse, Onondaga Co., NY, D. Mason & Co., 1879), Internet Archive http://archive.org/, Town of Venice - Early Settlements; p. 435 https://archive.org/stream/historyofcayugac00stor#page/434/mode/2up

An 1859 map of Venice Center, then called Murdock's Corners, reveals the locations of Lyman Murdock's 1834 gristmill and 1835 sawmill. This map and others also show that the mills and mill pond were constructed some distance from Big Salmon Creek, with a millrace leading from a point upstream on Big Salmon Creek and discharging back to the Creek well downstream of present-day Poplar Ridge Road. The dirtwork required to create the pond and raceway alone would have required substantial investment and effort to say nothing of building two mills.

Storke's (1879) description is a bit unclear, but it appears that Lyman built the first tavern in Venice Center as an addition to the Murdock house in 1826. One of the meetings held in this addition occurred on 10 September 1831 in response to a notice by the Anti-Masonic republicans of the Town of Venice to chose Delegates to the County Convention. John A. Barber, David Avery, and Lansing Kendall comprised the Town Committee of the party. Then in 1835, Lyman built a standalone tavern, and the house addition was moved to be reused as part of the new tavern. The 1859 map of Murdock's Corners referenced above shows the 1835 tavern, by then called the Venice Center Hotel, located on the southwest corner of present-day State Route 34 and the Poplar Ridge Road, about where the Venice Town Office is now located.

Storke (1879) documents Philander Tracy receiving 1 acre of land from Lyman Murdock upon which Philander built the first store in Venice Center. Philander Tracy was Lyman's brother-in-law.

The first merchant at Venice Center was Philander Tracy, who commenced business in 1835, and continued three years [NOTE:  Another source shows that Philander removed to Lowell, Kent Co., MI in 1836 - R. A. Post].

-- Elliot G. Storke, History of Cayuga County, New York 1789 - 1879 (Syracuse, Onondaga Co., NY, D. Mason & Co., 1879), Internet Archive http://archive.org/, p. 438 https://archive.org/stream/historyofcayugac00stor#page/438/mode/2up

The Venice Center store would have a succession of proprietors over the years following its founding. Perhaps Philander Tracy found the business less than lucrative because he settled at Lowell, Kent Co., Michigan on 5 May 1836 (11). Nevertheless, again referring to the 1859 map referenced above, we can see that the store was located on the northwest corner of the intersection of present-day Route 34 and Poplar Ridge Road, nearly opposite the Murdock house, and was operated by D. Cannon in 1859.

Politics

Lyman Murdock had some involvement of the politcs of the day. In 1831, Lyman may have been sympathetic to the cause of the Anti-Masonic party, if not an active member, as shown by the meeting at his tavern, referenced above. Since most members of the Anti-Masonic party eventually joined with the Whigs, it is not surprising that Lyman Murdock was named at the Whig Nominating County Convention, held at the Auburn House on 23 September 1843, as a Delegate representing the Town of Venice to convene with Delegates of other towns to select a Delegate to the National Convention.

We do not hear of Lyman's direct involvement in politics again until August 1880 when he was among the Republican candidates competing in party caucuses to be named the Republican Nominee for Sheriff of Cayuga County. Lyman did not receive the nomination but was chosen with another competitor, Philip Martin, to graciously escort the Nominee, John Choate, to the convention platform, presumably for Choate's acceptance speech.

Agriculture

Lyman Murdock, operating a farm of about 250 acres, was prominent in agriculture in Southern Cayuga County. Despite the number of enterprises in which he had engaged, he listed his occupation as Farmer in each census. He was a member of the second Cayuga County Agricultural Society by 1845, if not from its formation in 1841. A newspaper story printed in June 1845 listed Lyman as a member of the Committee for Farm Implements during planning for the Cattle Show and Fair of the Agricultural Society to be held at Auburn, Cayuga Co., New York on the 8th and 9th of October of that year. Several years later, Lyman served on the Committee for Devon Cattle, Class No. 1, at the Annual Cattle Show and Fair on the 6th and 7th of October 1852. Committee members presumably did the requisite judging in addition to setting the class and award structures.

The Moravia Agricultural Society was formed in 1858 and invited membership from all the towns of Southern Cayuga County. This caused the Society to be more generally known as the Southern Cayuga Agricultural Society, of which Lyman Murdock became a member and exhibitor at the Southern Cayuga Union Agricultural Fair in 1859.

SOUTHERN CAYUGA UNION AGRICULTURAL FAIR-1859. AWARD OF PREMIUMS. . . . CATTLE-CLASS NO. 1-DURHAMS. . . . 2d bull 2 years or over, L. Murdock  dip[loma]. Best 1 year old, L. Murdock, [$]2.00. . . . Best calf L. Murdock [$]1.00. Best cow L. Murdock [$]2.00. Best heifer calf L. Murdock [$]1.00. . . . CLASS NO. 5. [B]est pair fat oxen Lyman Murdock [$]5.00. . . .

-- Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), Southern Cayuga Union Agricultural Fair - 1859. Award of Premiums (Auburn, Cayuga Co., NY, Auburn Daily Union, Tuesday, 20 September 1859), Old Fulton New York Post Cards http://www.fultonhistory.com

As may be seen, Lyman raised Durham cattle of very good quality, and he garnered more prizes for his cattle at Sherwood the following year. His daughter, Clarinda Racelia "Celia" Murdock displayed one of her paintings of his oxen at this fair, the same painting now hanging at the Howland Stone Store Museum in Sherwood.

The Fair at Sherwoods. - A Fine Display of Stock--Good Attendance and a Fine Time. The second Annual Fair of the southern Cayuga Agricultural Society was held at Sherwoods the 11th and 12th inst. . . . Lyman Murdock exhibited a large and splendid 5 year old Durham steer, which would weigh about 2,300; also a noble calf. . . . The paintings were very fine, developing a taste and artistic competency seldom superceded by any of our Fairs. Among the most prominent was one executed by Miss. C. Murdock, of that yoke of splendid Durham cattle raised by her father, Lyman Murdock, and on exhibition at the Fair last fall. All pronounced the painting a perfect facsimile of the original, in every feature. . . . The following is the award of premiums:  CATTLE. CLASS 1--DURHAM THOROUGH BREED. . . . Best yearling, L. Murdock, [$]2; Best bull calf, L. Murdock, [$]2; 2d bull calf, L. Murdock, [$]1; Best 2 yr old heifer, L. Murdock, [$]2; 2nd 2 yr old heifer, L. Murdock, [$]1. . . . CLASS No. 5--FAT CATTLE. . . . Best fat ox, L. Murdock, [$]2[?]. . . .

-- Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), The Fair at Sherwoods. - A Fine Display of Stock--Good Attendance and a Fine Time (Auburn, Cayuga Co., NY, Daily Union, Wednesday, 12 September 1860), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com

To be continued.

References

(1). Elliot G. Storke, History of Cayuga County, New York 1789 - 1879 (Syracuse, Onondaga Co., NY, D. Mason & Co., 1879), Internet Archive http://archive.org/, p. 435

https://archive.org/stream/historyofcayugac00stor#page/434/mode/2up

(2). Joseph Ballard Murdock, Murdock Genealogy:  Robert Murdock of Roxbury, Massachusetts and Some of His Descendants (Boston, Massachusetts, USA, C. E. Goodspeed & Co., 1925), Internet Archive http://archive.org/, pp. 89-90
https://archive.org/details/murdockgenealogy00murd/page/88/mode/2up

(3). Evert E. Tracy, Tracy Genealogy, Ancestors and Descendants, Lieutenant Thomas Tracy, of Norwich, Conn., 1660 (Albany, NY, Joel Munsell's Sons, Publishers, 1898), Google Books https://books.google.com/, pp. 81-82
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=yale.39002013721254&view=1up&seq=89

(4). United States of America, Department of Veterans Affairs, U.S., Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, 1800-1900 (Washington, D.C., National Archives, Record Group 15, NARA microfilm publication M804), Ancestry https://www.ancestry.com, Gilbert Tracy
https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=1995&h=81090&tid=&pid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=TJa32350&_phstart=successSource

(5). Deborah Woodworth Tracy, JoSherman99 (transcriber), Early History of Mrs. Deborah Woodworth Tracy (Auburn, Cayuga Co., NY, Cayuga County Historian's Office), Ancestry https://www.ancestry.com
https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/tree/53345643/person/13562850455/media/f63ad1c1-4034-4b23-85cb-3e6677635c95?_phsrc=TJa31864&_phstart=successSource

(6). Elliot G. Storke, History of Cayuga County, New York 1789 - 1879 (Syracuse, Onondaga Co., NY, D. Mason & Co., 1879), Internet Archive http://archive.org/, Town of Ledyard - Early Settlements; p. 394
https://archive.org/details/historyofcayugac00stor/page/394/mode/2up

(7). Evert E. Tracy, Tracy Genealogy, Ancestors and Descendants, Lieutenant Thomas Tracy, of Norwich, Conn., 1660 (Albany, NY, Joel Munsell's Sons, Publishers, 1898), Google Books https://books.google.com/, p. 128
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=yale.39002013721254&view=1up&seq=136

(8). Joseph Ballard Murdock, Murdock Genealogy:  Robert Murdock of Roxbury, Massachusetts and Some of His Descendants (Boston, Massachusetts, USA, C. E. Goodspeed & Co., 1925), Internet Archive http://archive.org/, p. 128
https://archive.org/details/murdockgenealogy00murd/page/128/mode/2up

(9). Joseph Ballard Murdock, Murdock Genealogy:  Robert Murdock of Roxbury, Massachusetts and Some of His Descendants (Boston, Massachusetts, USA, C. E. Goodspeed & Co., 1925), Internet Archive http://archive.org/, pp. 89-90
https://archive.org/details/murdockgenealogy00murd/page/88/mode/2up

(10). Elliot G. Storke, History of Cayuga County, New York 1789 - 1879 (Syracuse, Onondaga Co., NY, D. Mason & Co., 1879), Internet Archive http://archive.org/, p. 70
https://archive.org/stream/historyofcayugac00stor#page/70/mode/2up/search/Celia+Murdock

(11). M. A. Leeson, History of Kent County, Michigan; Together with Sketches of its Cities, Villages and Townships . . . Biographies of representative citizens. History of Michigan. (Chicago, Illinois, Chas. C. Chapman & Co., 1881), Internet Archive http://archive.org/, p. 260
https://archive.org/details/bad0958.0001.001.umich.edu/page/259/mode/2up

NOTE:  Additional detailed genealogical sources, newspaper articles, etc. are not enumerated.

Captain Marcus Wellington Murdock: Civil War Veteran, Farmer, and Railroad Promoter of Venice Center - Part I

The Murdock Family of Venice Center, Cayuga County, New York

Joshua and Eunice Moore Murdock

Joshua Murdock's Youth

Joshua Murdock was the son of Samuel Murdock, Jr. and Mary Wight. Samuel had purchased land at Hartford, Windsor Co., Vermont in 1761 but never resided there. In 1773, however, Samuel bought property at Wilmington, Windham Co., Vermont when Joshua was 10 years old, and the family removed there the following year. Joshua presumably spent the later part of his youth at Wilmington where his father was a member of the Committee of Safety in 1778 (1).

Joshua Murdock's Revolutionary War Service

Joshua was a veteran of the Revolutionary War, serving with the militia in Vermont in 1780 and 1781. On 11 October 1780 he was called out for an "alarm," serving in the Company of Captain Samuel Robinson with Colonel Samuel Herrick's Regiment. The duration of this service is not known. Joshua appears in Revolutionary War records on three occasions in 1781, sometimes with his surname spelled "Mordock." He is listed on 21 May 1781 on a "Return" for ammunition, still with Captain Samuel Robinson's Company at Bennington, Vermont. Pay records, perhaps from later in 1781, show Joshua receiving  £1. 4s. 6d. (£. s. d. = pounds shillings pence) on one occasion and £1. 9s. 4d. on another for wages, rations, and travel. On the latter occasion, Joshua marched 60 miles. These pay records are for Captain Nelson's Company, Vermont 6th Regiment of Militia.

Bennington Merchant and Granville Farmer

 Samuel Murdock, Jr. is supposed to have removed from Wilmington to Rutland, Rutland Co., Vermont in 1784 (1, 2), at which time Joshua took up the clothing business at Bennington, Bennington Co., Vermont where he remained for several years. Joshua subsequently took up farming, which profession he continued for the rest of his life. Whether Joshua turned to farming before leaving Bennington or not until he removed to Granville, Washington Co., New York is not clear.

During his time at Bennington or later at Granville, Joshua must have encountered Eunice Moore of Athol, Worcester Co., Massachusetts whom he married on 7 February 1787. Sources differ as to the exact location of the marriage, either Athol or nearby Royalston, Worcester Co., Massachusetts. Joshua's residence was already listed as Granville at the time of his marriage to Eunice, which indicates that he likely removed from Bennington in 1786 or earlier.

The 1790 census records Joshua at Granville with two females in his household, almost certainly Eunice and their eldest daughter, Pamelia Murdock. The family removed to Bristol, Addison Co., Vermont by 1791 (2).

Pioneer Settlers of Venice

The story of the Murdock family in Venice Center is in many respects the story of Venice Center itself and begins with the pioneer couple, Joshua and Eunice Moore Murdock, as described in History of Cayuga County, New York 1789-1879.

Joshua Murdock, who was born in Windham, Connecticut, October 9th, 1763, removed with his father's family to Bennington, Vermont, where he spent two years in the clothing business. He afterwards followed the vocation of a farmer. In 1787, he married Eunice Moore, of Athol, Massachusetts, and settled at Granville, Washington county, and thence in the fall of 1800, he removed to Venice Center, and built a log house on the northeast corner of lot 62, where the State road crosses Salmon Creek. He took up 250 acres on which he moved his family in winter of 1801, bringing with him horses, sleigh, two yoke of oxen and an ox sled 'wood shod,' seven cows, household furniture and a year's provisions.
-- Elliot G. Storke, History of Cayuga County, New York 1789 - 1879 (Syracuse, Onondaga Co., NY, D. Mason & Co., 1879), Internet Archive <http://archive.org/>, Town of Venice - Early Settlements; pp. 434-435
https://archive.org/details/historyofcayugac00stor/page/434/mode/2up

The preceding account does not reflect the move of Joshua, Eunice and daughter from Granville to Bristol ca. 1791 given in (2); thus, Joshua and Eunice probably began their move to the Finger Lakes from Bristol. Joshua's removal from Bristol actually was to the Town of Scipio, Cayuga Co., New York because the Town of Venice was not erected until 30 January 1823 when it was taken off from Scipio. It may be that Joshua arrived slightly earlier than indicated above because he appeared with his family in the 1800 federal census of Scipio. This census was referenced to 4 August 1800, but census takers had 9 months to carry out their task, making it difficult to know whether or not Eunice and the children were actually present with Joshua in 1800. Regardless, the entire family must have made the arduous trek with their household goods, supplies, and livestock early in 1801 as described.

The statement that Joshua built his log house "where the State road crosses Salmon Creek" is a bit confusing. Today we would associate the "State road" with State Route 34, which passes through Venice Center in a north-south direction but does not cross the mainstem of Salmon Creek. Perhaps the present-day Poplar Ridge Road-Long Hill Road connecting Moravia and Aurora, which does cross Salmon Creek, was intended.

History of Cayuga County, New York 1789-1879 further describes how Joshua developed his property and formed the nucleus of what would become Venice Center.

January, 1801, Joshua Murdock built a log barn on the site of W. R. Cannon's store. In 1802, he built a saw-mill on the south-east corner of his 250 acres. In 1816, he built the family residence, now occupied by his grandson, M. W. Murdock. He died on the old homestead December 13th, 1845, aged 82; and his wife, August 21st, 1839, aged 78.
-- Elliot G. Storke, History of Cayuga County, New York 1789 - 1879 (Syracuse, Onondaga Co., NY, D. Mason & Co., 1879), Internet Archive <http://archive.org/>, Town of Venice - Early Settlements; p. 35
https://archive.org/details/historyofcayugac00stor/page/434/mode/2up

The location of Joshua's log barn was in 1879 W. R. Cannon's store, shown as T. Cannon's store on an 1875 map of Venice Center. I was unable to locate where the original sawmill was constructed without knowledge of Joshua's homestead boundary, but it's placement in the southeast corner of the homestead probably meant that it was well away from Salmon Creek and powered by means other than water. I believe Joshua's 1816 house yet stands over 200 years later on northeast corner of State Route 34 and Long Hill Road adjacent to the Venice Enterprises trucking company, which must make it one of the oldest houses in Venice.

Joshua and Eunice Moore Murdock are buried in the Venice Center Cemetery, which in the past was occasionally referred to as the Murdock Cemetery.

Children of Joshua Murdock and Eunice Moore

History of Cayuga County, New York 1789-1879 lists the children of Joshua Murdock and Eunice Moore.

His [Joshua Murdock's] family then consisted, besides his wife, of Pamelia, who married Samuel Beeman, and moved with him to Clarence, Erie county about 1808, where both died; Salmon, who died with his parents in Venice in 1815, unmarried; Mary, who married Hezekiah Murdock, and moved to Mesopotamia, Trumbull county, Ohio, where she died; Lydia, who married Wm. D. Ledger and removed to Lake county, Illinois, where she died; Huldah, who married Anson Baldwin of Royalton, Niagara county, where she died; and Ruby, who married Philip Reynolds, removed to Mesopotamia, Ohio, and subsequently went to live with her sons near Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, where she now resides. Lyman, another son, was born in Venice, August 8th, 1804, and lived on the homestead farm seventy-two years. He now resides in North Candor.
-- Elliot G. Storke, History of Cayuga County, New York 1789 - 1879 (Syracuse, Onondaga Co., NY, D. Mason & Co., 1879), Internet Archive <http://archive.org/>, Town of Venice - Early Settlements; p. 435
https://archive.org/details/historyofcayugac00stor/page/434/mode/2up

Pamelia's birth occurred 13 February 1789 at Granville prior to Joshua and Eunice's removal to Bristol. Their children born at Bristol were Salmon, 28 May 1791; Mary, 12 March 1793; and Lydia, 20 March 1795. Birth locations for Huldah and Ruby aren't documented. Lyman was born 8 August 1804 at present-day Venice (then part of Scipio) (2).

References

(1) Joseph Ballard Murdock, Murdock Genealogy:  Robert Murdock of Roxbury, Massachusetts and Some of His Descendants (Boston, Massachusetts, USA, C. E. Goodspeed & Co., 1925), Internet Archive <http://archive.org/>, pp. 29-30 https://archive.org/details/murdockgenealogy00murd/page/28/mode/2up

(2) Joseph Ballard Murdock, Murdock Genealogy: Robert Murdock of Roxbury, Massachusetts and Some of His Descendants (Boston, Massachusetts, USA, C. E. Goodspeed & Co., 1925), Internet Archive <http://archive.org/>, p. 56 https://archive.org/details/murdockgenealogy00murd/page/56/mode/2up

William M. Main (aka Maine): Revolutionary War Soldier and Settler of the Town of Scipio, Cayuga Co., New York

Family Origins of William M. Main (aka Maine)

John Maine (aka Mayne, Mayn) and wife, Elizabeth Laurie, of Casco Bay

John Maine, reputed to have come from England to America ca. 1629, is said to have been the first member of the Maine family in New England. By 1648, if not before, John was present in York Co., Maine. John purchased a house and 60 acres of land on the west side of the Wescustogo River (now called Royal River) on Casco Bay between 1652 and 1657. The area became known as Mayne's Point (now Prince's Point) in what is today's Town of Yarmouth, Cumberland Co., Maine. John's wife was Elizabeth, maiden name given variously as Laurie, Lawrie, etc., but solid documentation of her identity is lacking. The couple had four known daughters and possibly a son, Ezekiel.

Ezekiel Main, Sr. (aka Maine, Mayne) and Wife, Mary

Ezekiel Main, Sr., born in 1641 at York Co., Maine, is reputed to be the son of John and Elizabeth Maine of Mayne's Point. This relationship is not solidly documented but seems generally accepted. Ezekiel appears several times in the records of the Plymouth Colony as a resident of today's Scituate, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts beginning in 1660/61 when he was fined 20 shillings for helping a couple elope without consent or benefit of lawful marriage. His next appearance in the records (not related to the preceding case) was in 1666 when Ezekiel more respectably served on a jury for an inquest into the death of one Mary Totman who mistakenly collected and ate a poisonous root at Scituate. Ezekiel was still in Scituate in 1668 when the Court at Plymouth exempted him from further militia service on account of his having only one eye, making rifle practice both difficult and dangerous. "One-eyed Zeke's" Scituate militia company rather agreed with this assessment.

Ezekiel Main, Sr., the first of the Mains of Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut, removed there from Scituate in or before February 1668/69 (i.e., old calendar/new calendar date) as shown by a census of the 43 inhabitants or heads of families present in Stonington at that time. Ezekiel received land grants from the Town in 1670 and 1672, presumably for his house lot and farmland, respectively. He soon became a Freeman and a member of the First Congregational Church of Stonington. Ezekiel purchased additional land and subsequently received a large land grant from the Town in 1680. Perhaps by virtue of being a substantial landowner, in 1680, 1687, and 1696 Ezekiel represented Stonington as a Deputy to the Colonial General Court (somewhat equivalent to a legislature) held at Hartford, Hartford Co., Connecticut.

Ezekiel and his wife, Mary, were married at Stonington in 1669. Some have given Mary's maiden name as Hatch, but this cannot be verified from available original sources. The couple had at least six children. Ezekiel died 19 June 1714 at Stonington. In his Last Will and Testament, Ezekiel left Mary one-third of his movable estate, with another one-third to be divided by two daughters, and the final one-third to be divided between two sons. No mention of Ezekiel's real estate appears in his Will so perhaps he had divested his lands to his sons prior to its apparent execution in 1711 (ambiguous date written as 17011). The date of Mary's death has not been found but presumably was subsequent to probate of Ezekiel's Will at New London, New London Co., Connecticut on 13 July 1714.

Jeremiah Main and Wife, Widow Ruth Brown

The second son of Ezekiel and Mary Main was Jeremiah. His birth date is supposed to be 1 April 1678. Jeremiah married Widow Ruth Brown 11 October 1699 at Stonington. Ruth bore 11 children with Jeremiah, in addition to her daughter by her first marriage, Ruth Brown. By the time of Jeremiah's death in 1727, the family was living at or near North Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut and had joined with the new Congregational Church established there earlier that year. The fact that Ezekiel Main, Sr. had acquired land extending along the Shunock River nearly to North Stonington may account for Jeremiah's residence in that vicinity.

Deacon Thomas Main, Sr. and Wife, Ann Brown

Deacon Thomas Main, Sr. was the eldest son of Jeremiah and Ruth Main, born 19 July 1700 at Stonington. Thomas married Ann Brown, daughter of Eleazer Brown and Ann Pendleton, on 20 April 1720 at Stonington. Thomas and Ann had eight children, beginning with Thomas Main, Jr. Deacon Main lived until 1771.

Thomas Main, Jr. and Wife, Mary Pendleton

The birth of Thomas Main, Jr. occurred on 13 February 1720/21 at Stonington. It is likely that most of his youth was spent in North Stonington given that his grandfather, Jeremiah, had removed there before 1727. Thomas, Jr. married Mary Pendleton at North Stonington 3 February 1741/42. Mary bore four children before 1750. Birth records for subsequent children have yet to be found, but Thomas, Jr.'s Last Will and Testament shows that he had living in 1770 three additional daughters and a son, William, to whom he left a portion of his farm lands. This William Main would become the Revolutionary War soldier whose military service and life are explored in the following paragraphs.

Life of William M. Main (aka Maine)

Before the Revolutionary War

William M. Main was born ca. 1758, apparently in the Town of Stonington based on his father's residence in 1770. Thomas Main, Jr., William's father, probably died during the summer of 1771 because his Will was probated in September of that year. William would have been about 13 years old at the time. Thomas left three parcels of land to William:  Thomas's so-called "Fairbanks Farm," 25 acres previously purchased from Benajah Main, and part of a farm previously purchased from Benajah Pendleton.

William's mother, Mary Pendleton Main, received life use of one-third of her husband's real and personal estate. She also was Executrix of her husband's estate, with her son Thomas III as co-Executor. The date of Mary Pendleton Main's death has not been found, but she may have lived until William was grown. We can speculate that William M. Main worked his inherited land during his older teen years, perhaps with the assistance of his brothers Thomas III and Benajah.

Revolutionary War Service - Rhode Island

William M. Main began his Revolutionary War service as a Private in Captain Joshua Babcock's Company (later Lieutenant Andrew Stanton's Company), Colonel John Topham's Regiment on 16 March 1778 after enlisting from Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut. William served for one year and participated in the Battle of Rhode Island before being discharged on 16 March 1779. A partial account of William's participation in the Battle of Rhode Island appears in his military pension claim filed more than 50 years later.

[Preceding text illegible] that the regiment was stationed at Howlands Ferry in the town of Tiverton, that the American forces stationed there until August, when the army under the command of General Sullivan moved to Newport Island in[?] Rhode Island with the view of driving the Brittish forces from the Island; that the French fleet lying off the Island, which was expected to act in concert with Gen. Sullivan moved off and then[?] the American army activates[?] the rear guard for which he was and fought on the retreat which then arrived at Butts hill when the army made a stand for a short time when the whole army recrossed the Howlands ferry; where he remained until the sixteenth day in March 1779 when he was discharged. . . .

-- United States of America, Revolutionary War Pensions (Washington, DC, National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group: 15, NARA M804, Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files), Fold3 https://www.fold3.com/, National Archives Catalog ID: 300022; National Archives Catalog Title: Case Files of Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Applications Based on Revolutionary War Service, compiled ca. 1800 - ca. 1912, documenting the period ca. 1775 - ca. 1900. 

Revolutionary War Service - Fort Trumbull, New London, Connecticut

William M. Main returned to military service about 3 months after his discharge from duty in Rhode Island. He again would serve for the period of 1 year from June 1779 until June 1780 in Captain Richard's Company, Major Ledyard's Regiment (8th Regiment Connecticut Militia composed of men from Stonington, Preston, and Groton) at Fort Trumbull located at New London, New London Co., Connecticut. William again left an account of his service in his military pension application.

That he enlisted again under Capt. Richards to serve in Fort Trumble [Trumbull], Major Ledyard was the commandant of the fort, the day that he enlisted he does not remember but thinks it was in the month of June; it was in the year 1779; that he enlisted for one year; that he was appointed sergeant and did the duties of sergeant during the term on one year, at the expiration of which he was discharged. . . .  

-- United States of America, Revolutionary War Pensions (Washington, DC, National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group: 15, NARA M804, Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files), Fold3 https://www.fold3.com/, National Archives Catalog ID: 300022; National Archives Catalog Title: Case Files of Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Applications Based on Revolutionary War Service, compiled ca. 1800 - ca. 1912, documenting the period ca. 1775 - ca. 1900. 

In later years, William contended that he always served as a Sergeant after his initial year as a Private although official records show him only as a Private. William made a great effort for his claimed rank to be recognized by military pension officials to no avail. Thus, he describes himself as Sergeant in the above account of his service. William's time at Fort Trumbull appears to have been garrison duty during a period when there were no significant attacks on New London.

Revolutionary War Service - New London and Groton, Connecticut

Between 11 November 1780 and  9 January 1781, William served as a Private in Captain Hungerford's Company, Colonel Samuel McClallen's [various spellings] Regiment, in which his uncle Jonas Main was Ensign, when ordered "on a tower" at New London and Groton and received £4 s4 d10 in wages and mileages with s4 deducted. Being ordered on a tower presumably meant marching to New London and Groton to man defensive positions such as Fort Trumbull and Fort Griswold (at Groton) or smaller lookout posts. William is not likely to have faced combat during this short alarm.

Revolutionary War Service - Stonington Point Redoubt, Stonington, Connecticut

William enlisted for the third time in April 1781 in Lieutenant Sheffield's Company to serve at the Redoubt on Stonington Point until January 1782, a term of 9 months. Sheffield's Company consisted of 24 "matrosses." Matrosses were artillery soldiers that assisted gunners. William M. Main may have been a lucky man because Stonington escaped the slaughter perpetrated by the British under command of the traitor Benedict Arnold at New London and Groton in early September 1781.

William later unsuccessfully claimed the rank of Sergeant in his military pension application for this service, as he had done for his earlier duty at Fort Trumbull.

In the year 1781, he enlisted for nine months; to guard the redoubt at Stonington Point; that he has forgotten the day he enlisted but thinks it was in the month of April; that he served in the rank and duties of Sergeant *** during the whole time[?]. . . .

-- United States of America, Revolutionary War Pensions (Washington, DC, National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group: 15, NARA M804, Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files), Fold3 https://www.fold3.com/, National Archives Catalog ID: 300022; National Archives Catalog Title: Case Files of Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Applications Based on Revolutionary War Service, compiled ca. 1800 - ca. 1912, documenting the period ca. 1775 - ca. 1900. 

Revolutionary War Service - Fort Trumbull, New London, Connecticut After Arnold's Raid

William M. Maine took a short break from military duty following his discharge from artillery duty at Stonington in January 1782 but re-enlisted 2 months later in Captain Durkee's Company, Colonel Samuel McLellan's (various spellings) Regiment at Fort Trumbull. William later claimed to have been a Sergeant of the Guard on an American prison ship until July 1783 for a total enlistment of 16 months and obtained a deposition by Mr. John Brown in support of William's claim.

State of New York - Tompkins County} ss  John Brown being duly sworn deposes and says that he personally knew William Main of the Town of Stonington in the County of New London in the state of Connecticut who now resides in the Town of Venice in the County of Cayuga and State of New York; That Said William Main enlisted as a Sergeant in the Army of the United States in the Connecticut line, on the 7th day of March 1782 for the term of one year in Capt'n. Benjamin Durkees Company in the regiment Commanded by Colonel M'Clallen and went to Fort Trumbul [Trumbull] where he Served during the term of one year that this deponent saw the Said William Main as often as once in each week or more during the best part of Said term - Sworn & Subscribed this day of September 1832 before me Alvah Jarvis Justice of the Peace}  John Brown. . . .

-- United States of America, Revolutionary War Pensions (Washington, DC, National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group: 15, NARA M804, Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files), Fold3 <https://www.fold3.com/>, National Archives Catalog ID: 300022; National Archives Catalog Title: Case Files of Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Applications Based on Revolutionary War Service, compiled ca. 1800 - ca. 1912, documenting the period ca. 1775 - ca. 1900.

William submitted his own deposition in 1840 as to his service as Sergeant in Captain Durkee's Company in his attempt to be receive a Sergeant's pension. In his submittal, William explained that he had not retained his Sergeant's warrant over the 50 years that had passed since he had received it. The following is his account of his last enlistment at New London.

That after the death of Col. Ledyards this deponent was in the Company of Capt Benjamin Durkee in the regiment of Col. Mc'Clallen stationed also at the same fort that this deponent enlisted with Capt. Durkee as a Sergeant and immediately received from under the hand of said Capt Durkee a sergeants warrant and continued to serve as a Sergeant for about one year and three months without intermission - that during a considerable part of the time this deponent had the command of the prison ship kept at that place - that this deponent continued to serve as the sergeant of the guard on board of said prison Ship until a general exchange of prisoners took place. . . . 

-- United States of America, Revolutionary War Pensions (Washington, DC, National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group: 15, NARA M804, Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files), Fold3 <https://www.fold3.com/>, National Archives Catalog ID: 300022; National Archives Catalog Title: Case Files of Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Applications Based on Revolutionary War Service, compiled ca. 1800 - ca. 1912, documenting the period ca. 1775 - ca. 1900

Pension officials stood on the technicality that William couldn't prove his service as Sergeant, and as far as known he only received a Private's pension of $80/annum retroactively payable from 4 March 1831.

William M. Main's Marriage to Sally Wheeler

Little is known of William's movements and activities during the period immediately following the Revolutionary War. He may not have returned to the farmlands that he had inherited from his father and indeed could not have been actively engaged in farming after 1777 given his nearly continuous military service for the remainder of the War. Perhaps one of his brothers purchased the land in question. We do know that William married Sally Wheeler, daughter of Jonathan and Mary Wheeler shortly after the end of the War.

William's brother, Thomas Main III, and his wife Lucy Tyler were living at Ashford, Windham Co., Connecticut in 1786 where the birth of their son, William, was recorded as 13 March 1786 although the tombstone of William (son of Thomas III and Lucy Tyler) gives 11 March 1786. It seems plausible that Revolutionary War veteran William M. Main was present in Windham Co. with his brother Thomas III and there met Sally Wheeler, probably of Canterbury in the same county. Sally died on 27 March 1786 and was buried in Wheeler Cemetery at Canterbury.

William M. Main's Marriage to Lucy Fish

William must have married his second wife, Lucy Fish, ca. 1787. Lucy's origins are unclear, as are the place and date of her marriage to William. We do know from census data that their first son, Silas G. Main, was born 25 October 1789 in Connecticut as was their second son, Charles P. Main, ca. 1794 and their daughter, Lucy Main, ca. 1796. Perhaps William and Lucy remained for a time in the Windham Co. area because William's brother, Thomas III, was recorded at Ashford in that county in the federal censuses of 1790 and 1800.

William M. and Lucy Fish Main Settle at Scipio, Cayuga Co., New York

Census data indicate that William and Lucy settled in the Town of Scipio, Cayuga Co., New York ca. 1815 near the present-day south line of the Town. Storke (1879) gives their location as the farm occupied by Hiram Wheat in 1879. This farm was on present-day Burns Road south of Covey's Corners (intersection of the Sherwood Road and Burns Road in Scipio Section 40). Storke (1879) states that William and Lucy removed to the adjacent Town of Venice, Cayuga Co., New York ca. 1835, but the 1830 census shows that the family was already in Venice. William was by this time over 70 years old and about to begin the paper battle with officialdom to obtain his Revolutionary War pension.

Charles P. Main, William and Lucy's unmarried second son, appears to have been living with his parents in 1830 and 1840. Their older son, Silas G. Main, had married and removed to Chautauqua Co., New York before 1820 and their daughter, Lucy, had married Elisha A. Covey before 1819. Lucy Fish Main died 28 April 1847 in the Town of Moravia, Cayuga Co., New York at the age of 91. She was buried in the Stewart's Corners Cemetery in Venice.

The 1850 census shows William residing in the household of his son-in-law, Elisha A. Covey, in the Town of Venice, as does the 1855 census. William M. Main died on 14 August 1855, presumably at the Covey residence. William was buried with Lucy in the Stewart's Corners Cemetery.

William Main, aged 98 years [NOTE:  97 years by tombstone inscription - R. A. Post], died on Tuesday [14 August]. He goes to join his brothers in arms, already in the spirit land, who fought for American Liberty. Another Hero has departed. He was a resident of the town of Venice. Years ago he was connected with the office of the Auburn Journal as a carrier of papers. He did this from choice, preferring labor to idleness. Thus one by one, the sainted heroes' of the revolution are dropping into the grave. 

-- Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), MAIN, William:  Obituary (Auburn, Cayuga Co., NY, Auburn Weekly Journal, Wednesday, 22 August 1855), Old Fulton New York Post Cards http://www.fultonhistory.com

Thus ends the story another Revolutionary War veteran who, like William Smead and Roger Strickland, Jr., settled in southern Cayuga Co., NY and contributed to its history. William M. Main left a large number of Covey and Main descendants, some of whom still reside in southern Cayuga Co.

Account of Caleb Wadams, Sr. in the Tannery Ledger of Jacob Post, Sr.

Who Was Caleb Wadams, Sr.?

Caleb Wadams, Sr. was an early settler of the Town of Scipio, Cayuga Co., New York. His parentage is uncertain. He seems to have been born in Connecticut. A number of persons surnamed "Wadhams" were found at Goshen, Litchfield Co., Connecticut, and Caleb was recorded on at least one occasion under this spelling of his surname. A complete discussion of Caleb can be found on pages 537-539 of Wadhams Genealogy:  Preceded by a Sketch of the Wadham Family in England. This account includes Caleb's Revolutionary War service as an Artificer, in his case Carpenter, with an artillery regiment for 4 years. After his discharge, he married Eunice Farr in Dutchess Co., New York, the same county from which he enlisted in 1777.

Caleb and Eunice were censused at Freehold (then part of Albany Co.), Greene Co., New York in 1790. The Wadhams Genealogy states that Caleb purchased 200 acres of land in Scipio from Jonathan Fitch in 1795, at which time Caleb was living in Unadilla, Otsego Co., New York. Caleb and Eunice must have made their way to Scipio with their family sometime between 1795 and 1800. The 1800 federal census for Scipio lists a Caleb "Watham" as Head of Household, but no entry appears for his age. It is possible that the absence of his age entry is due to a hole or tear in the original records for Cayuga County, which are rife with such defects.

The location of Caleb's property appears to have been in the general vicinity of the present-day Scipio Town Offices north of Scipio Center. Caleb's close neighbors included Peter and Frederick Van Liew and Joel Coe who are known to have settled in that area. Caleb was censused at Scipio through 1830. Caleb's 1st wife, Eunice (aka Ruth), died in 1813. He married 2nd Mary Rude (aka Rood) Hammond, widow of Luthan Hammond. Mary died in 1832. Caleb died on 18 May 1835 and was buried in Cornwell Cemetery. One possible error in the Wadhams Genealogy may concern Caleb's date of birth. Given his known date of death and age at death, his calculated birth date would have been 14 January 1752, rather than 14 January 1754 as listed in the genealogy.

Caleb Wadams' Tannery Account

Ledgers in Early 19th-Century Accounting

Individual accounts for persons dealing with the tannery of Jacob Post, Sr. occupy facing pages, with the debits appearing on the left page and the credits on the right page. When a customer required leather or other goods of Jacob, the transaction was called a debit to the customer's account and entered on the left page. Conversely, when a customer reimbursed Jacob for all or part of their past purchases the amount was entered as a credit to the customer's account on the right page. Debits and credits ideally balanced out at some point, in which case the totals might be struck through to indicate cancellation.

Images of Caleb Wadams, Sr.'s Account in Jacob Post, Sr.'s Tannery Ledger

Debit Page for Caleb Wadams, Sr.'s Account at the Tannery of Jacob Post, Sr. - Fleming, Cayuga Co., New York

Credit Page for Caleb Wadams, Sr.'s Account at the Tannery of Jacob Post, Sr. - Fleming, Cayuga Co., New York

Note that Jacob Post, Sr. kept his accounts in pounds, shillings, and pence. This system was used in private trade into the 1840s, long after the adoption of the dollar. In brief, 12 pence (d) equalled a shilling (S) and 20 shillings equalled a pound (₤).

Transcription of Caleb Wadams, Sr.'s Account

Caleb Wadams		Debit			Caleb Wadams		Credit
Date	Description	₤	S	d	Date	Description	₤	S	d
March 21, 1811	To sundries from Day Book	13	5	0	May 11, 1810	By sundries	4	17	0
November 19, 1811	To one side of up[p]er	1	10	0	June 4, 1813	By one hide wt 58 lb	1	3	3
April 15, 1812	To ½ side of up[p]er leather And ½ sid[e] of soal [sole] leather	1	10	6		By one skin	0	10	0
September 21, 1812	To one side of up[p]er leather	1	8	0		By one skin	0	8	0
	And ½ side of soal [sole] leather 6¼ lb	0	12	6		By one skin ½	0	8	0
November 20, 1812	To ½ side of soal [sole] leather And one pair of boot legs	1	10	0		Subtotal=	7	6	3
December 10, 1812	To one horse hide	0	14	0	February 16, 1814	By Cash	3	12	0
October 13, 1813	To one side of soal [sole] leather	1	6	0	27 September, 1814	By Cash	4	0	0
November 9, 1813	To one side of up[p]er leather	1	6	0	January 16, 1815	By Cash	8	0	0
	Subtotal=	23	2	0		Subtotal=	22	18	3
May 12, 1814	To tanning one skin	0	10	0	December 11, 1816	By one hide wt 68 lb	1	12	8
June 1, 1814	To one skin tan[ne]d	0	9	0		By Cash	6	1	10
July 5, [1814]	To ½ side of soal [sole] leather	0	11	6		Total=	30	12	9
September 24, 1814	To one side of soal [sole] leather And one kipskin [kipskin is leather between cowhide and calfskin in grade]	1	5	0	February 24, 1819	By Cash [underscored amount struck through]	0	8	0
		0	15	0	February 9, 1820	By one [hide] wt 75 lb [underscored amount struck through]	1	16	0
December 26, 1814	To tan and cur[e] 1 kipskin	0	7	0
	To 1 kipskin by John	1	4	0
	Subtotal=	28	3	6
May 15, 1815	To one side of soal [sole] leather wt 10¾ And ½ side of up[p]er	1	4	3
		0	13	0
June 1, 1816	To tanning one skin	0	12	0
	Total=	30	12	9
February 24, 1819	To ½ side of soal [sole] leather wt 9¾ lb [underscored amount struck through]	1	4	3

Caleb Wadams, Sr.'s Purchases and Credits

Caleb Wadams, Sr. purchased leather from Jacob Post, Sr. one or more times per year from before 1811, as indicated by a substantial debit amount brought forward to 21 March 1811, presumably from an older ledger, and continued on a regular basis until 1816. Then a gap occurs until a final purchase in 1819. Caleb frequently purchased sole leather and upper leather. He was known as a carpenter, not a shoemaker, but as a craftsman, Caleb may have made the occasional boot. Alternatively, the leather might have gone to items required for farming, such as harnesses, bellows for forging, or leatherwork for carts or wagons.

Caleb used both cash and green hides on the credit side of his account. Reference to "sundries" in both the debit and credit columns was simply a way to group items that would have been chronologically detailed elsewhere in a "day book" before being entered in the ledger. It appears that green hides were valued by the pound, all else being equal. Presumably these hides came from butchered cattle and seem to have been fairly valuable.

The final debit and credit entries of 24 February 1819 and credit entry of  9 February 1820 do not balance. Nevertheless, the original image shows that they were struck through and thus cancelled. An unrecorded transaction or payment might explain this discrepancy.

William Smead, Jr.: Revolutionary War Veteran and Early Settler of Scipio

Family History of William Smead, Jr. (1742-1815)

William Smead II (ca. 1626-ca. 1703)

The Smead Family has a long history in the New World, beginning with a William Smead II, son of William Smead I (ca. 1595-ca. 1628), who was first brought from Gravesend, Kent, England in the fall of 1635 to the island of Barbados in the eastern Caribbean by his twice-widowed mother, Judith Stoughton Denman Smead. The family subsequently arrived at Dorchester in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1636. Judith died there about 3 years later. William Smead II lived at Dorchester over the next two decades, removing to Northampton, Hampshire Co., Massachusetts in 1660, not long after marrying Elizabeth Lawrence. In 1684, William and Elizabeth removed to Deerfield, Franklin Co., Massachusetts where William died ca. 1703.

John Smead I (1673-1720)

Among the children of William Smead II and Elizabeth Lawrence was a son, John Smead I (an earlier son of the same name died young) born 27 August 1673 at Northampton, Hampshire Co., Massachusetts. John married Anna Weld at Deerfield on 22 November 1699. They resided at nearby Wapping. John was wounded by Indians during the "Deerfield Massacre" of 1704 and carried a musket ball in his thigh for the rest of his life. Thus began what seemed to be a propensity of Smeads to suffer Indian attacks, perhaps because they repeatedly settled on the frontiers of the day. John served as a Selectman and Assessor before his death at Wapping on 30 April 1720.

Ensign William Smead, Sr. (1706-1797)

[NOTE:  William Smead, Sr. appears with the surname spelling "Smeed" on his tombstone and in most contemporary records. Earlier and later generations generally used "Smead."]

This William Smead -- who might also be considered another William Smead I given his son and grandson named William -- was born to John and Anna Weld Smead at Deerfield on 22 October 1706. At the age of 27, William became a Proprietor of the Upper Township on Ashuelot River in 1734 with the payment of 5 pounds for an 8-acre house lot in the wilderness up the Connecticut River. The initial lots would accommodate about 60 families under a land grant from the Massachusetts Bay Colony. This area would later become Keene, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire. Year-round occupancy of the new settlement began in the spring of 1737 after several years of summer work laying out the house lots and surveying additional lots to support agricultural activity.

William married Phebe Partridge on 9 November 1738 at Medway, Norfolk Co., Massachusetts. As far as known, Phebe accompanied her husband back to the Upper Township on Ashuelot River following their marriage. William was by this time a Sergeant in the local militia, and events on the frontier would require his service within the following decade. King George's War, later locally known as the Old French and Indian War, caused removal of all the settlers from the Upper Township in March 1747. Where William moved his family is not evident but may have been to Deerfield or to Medway where Phebe's mother yet lived. William, however, returned to the frontier to serve as Sergeant in Captain Josiah Willard, Jr.'s Company at Fort Dummer (near present-day Brattleboro, Windham Co., Vermont) and at Ashuelot for the duration of the War, mustering out on 26 October 1748.

William and Phebe probably returned to the Upper Township on Ashuelot River in the spring of 1749. The settlement largely had been destroyed by the French and Indians, necessitating reconstruction of houses and outbuildings. In 1753, the Proprietors after many petitions to the government of New Hampshire finally succeeded in getting their land grant from Massachusetts rechartered as Keene by New Hampshire to reflect the contemporary colonial borders. The Smeads again seemed to attract French and Indian attacks with the outbreak of the Seven Years' War, locally called the New French and Indian War. William's military rank was specifically noted as Ensign between 1755 and 1760, indicating continuing militia service while he also served 4 years as Selectman.

The family remained in Keene until about 1761 when William sold extensive tracts of land after they had already removed to nearby Walpole, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire. William and Phebe resided at Walpole through 1767. By 1771, the family was in Windsor, Windsor Co., Vermont where they remained. Ensign William Smead, Sr. died 26 October 1797 at Windsor.

William Smead, Jr. (ca. 1742-1815)

The first two sons of William Smead, Sr. and Phebe Partridge, Asa and Joel, died in 1744. William and Phebe later would have two more sons bearing those names. William Smead, Jr. -- who might also be called William Smead II given his father and son named William -- was the third son of William and Phebe, probably born in 1742 at the Upper Township on Ashuelot River. William, Jr., as far as known, grew up on the family lands there and presumably removed with his parents to Walpole ca. 1761. He married Mehetebell Brown at Walpole on 20 August 1767, the ceremony being performed by Rev. Thomas Fessenden of the newly formed Walpole Church of which William's father, and probably mother, were founding members earlier that year.

William Smead, Jr. appears as a Head of Household in a census taken at Windsor in 1771, indicating that he and Mehetebell had removed there from Walpole at about the same time as his parents. William's deed at Windsor was reconveyed in 1772 following a change in jurisdiction of the area from New Hampshire to New York. By 1777, William, Jr. is censused at Cornish Township, Sullivan Co., New Hampshire. This area is directly across the Connecticut River from Windsor.

William Smead, Jr. in the Revolutionary War

The Revolutionary War did not seem to affect William in 1777, despite the Battles of Saratoga being fought in September and October, not far from Vermont. However, Major Ebenezer Woods directed that men from Windsor conduct scouting activities between June and September 1778. A William Smead served as a Scout for 3 days during this time. It is likely that the "Wm. Smead" shown on the rolls of Vermont was William Smead, Jr. because his father was then 71 years old.

William was not called to serve again until 1780. Between 2 August and 8 August of that year, William was a member of Captain John Mercy's Company (also seen as Captain John Marcy's Company) for 6 days when they marched 20 miles in pursuit of Tories on the order of Colonel Ebenezer Woods of Windsor. William's pay rate was 1 shilling 4 pence per day. He received a mileage rate of 4 pence per mile. His total pay for this period was 14 shillings 8 pence.

William again served from 20 October to 31 October 1780 in Lieutenant Asahel Smith's Company, Vermont Militia, marching to Fort Fortitude by order of Lieutenant Colonel Safford. The Fort was located at Bethel, Windsor Co., Vermont near the White River, but the exact location has been lost. Captain Smith's Company marched 40 miles during this time, for which William's total pay was 1 pound 8 shillings.

No further reference to William Smead, Jr. appears in the Vermont records of Revolutionary War soldiers. We can presume that William returned to his land in or near Windsor after each of his brief forays scouting or with the militia. In terms of Revolutionary War service, William's total time of 20 days was minimal and may not have included any actual combat. Nevertheless, we honor the fact that William was a patriot who contributed to securing independence for the Colonies.

William Smead, Jr. and Settlement of Scipio

No records of William and Mehetebell Brown Smead in the decade between the William's last Revolutionary War service and the first federal census in 1790 are readily accessible. At some point, the family must have removed from the area of Windsor because William appears at Queensbury, Washington Co., New York (now Queensbury, Warren Co., New York) in the referenced census, adjacent to David Eddy. The Smead and Eddy families must have moved westward together to settle in the Town of Scipio, Cayuga Co., New York before 1800 because they are again adjacent in the 1800 federal census of Scipio, thus beginning what would be a long association between the families. No mention of William Smead, Jr.'s settlement in Scipio appears in Storke's (1879) account of this period. One bit of evidence may be gleaned from the date of David Eddy's settlement, as known from an account by his son, Owen, who stated that David moved to Scipio when Owen was 8 years old. That would make the year ca. 1795. We can speculate that William Smead, Jr.'s family came in at the same time, given their adjacent locations in 1800.

William Smead, Jr. probably resided on present-day Bergerstock Road in the Town of Scipio. His oldest living son (as of 1800), William Smead III , appears there (with surname spelled "Smeed") on an 1853 map of Scipio, presumably having inherited his father's land. The Smead farm was on the north side of the block where David Eddy, whose farms were on present-day Manchester and Black Street roads, settled. William Smead, Jr. died on 17 February 1815. His wife, Mehetebell, died on 6 January 1823. Both are buried in the Eddy Cemetery on Manchester Road.

Monument for Revolutionary War veteran William Smead, Jr. and his wife, Mehetebell Brown Smead in Eddy Cemetery, Manchester Road, Scipio, Cayuga Co., New York

Children of William Smead, Jr. and Mehetebell Brown Smead

William and Mehetebell had four living sons when the family settled Scipio:  William Smead III (aka William Smead, Jr.) (1779-1860), Jedediah Levens Smead (1781-1865), Marshall Smead (1784-1853), and Allen Smead (1788-1858). Their first son, David Smead, died at Walpole in 1768, probably at or near birth. One source references a William Smead baptized on 17 May 1772 at Windsor. This William may have died young because William Smead III appears to have been born in 1779. Other, unrecorded, children also may have been born and died young during the 11-year gap between David and William Smead III.

With the exception of William Smead III of  Bergerstock Road, the sons of William and Mehetebell eventually removed to the western portion of New York State settling in Livingston and Genesee counties, where they left many descendants, including some who later returned to Scipio.