Captain Marcus Wellington Murdock: Civil War Veteran, Farmer, and Railroad Promoter of Venice Center - Part 3

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

Lyman Murdock's Career at Venice Center (continued)

The "Murdock Line," Lyman Murdock's First Railroad Promotion

Lyman Murdock had a great interest in railroad development that might benefit Venice Center and surrounding communities situated between Cayuga Lake on the west and the Owasco Lake valley on the east.

The elder Lyman Murdock was one of the leading promoters of one of the first north-south railroads in Central New York. Because of his active interests in its behalf, the road was nicknamed the "Murdock Line" in his honor. Efforts to raise money met with little success and it is remarkable anything was accomplished at all. The "first" Lake Ontario, Auburn & New York Railroad was incorporated Aug. 23, 1852 to build a line from "Lake Ontario to any point on the Erie road." The company organized with a capital of $1,500,000 and naturally Mr. Murdock was one of the directors. Levi Williams of Auburn, a reputable civil engineer, was employed to survey the line, the terminal being Fair Haven and Pugsley's station. A feasible route was selected and on Aug. 24, 1852 contracts were let. Construction was pushed energetically through in the winter of 1854, when money began to run dry.

-- Richard Palmer, Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), Rail Line Nicknamed For Early Venice Family (Auburn, Cayuga Co., NY, The Citizen-Advertiser, Wednesday, 30 April 1969), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com

Pugsley's station was located southeast of Ithaca, Tompkins Co., New York (1), and Fair Haven is located on Lake Ontario in the Town of Sterling, Cayuga Co., New York. The southern portion of the route of the Lake Ontario, Auburn & New York Railroad more or less followed the valley of Big Salmon Creek northward from North Lansing, Tompkins Co., New York through the hamlets of Genoa, Venice Center, and Merrifield toward Auburn, Cayuga Co., New York. About half of the proposed route eventually was graded before an improper bonding process and consequent lack of funds brought construction to a halt (1).

Lyman Murdock worked to keep the Lake Ontario, Auburn & New York alive during 1855 and 1856.

Rail Road Meeting. At a meeting of the Directors of the Preliminary organization of the Lake Ontario, Auburn and New York Railroad, held at the office of Charles P. Wood, in the city of Auburn, Oct. 29th, 1855, Mr. Chas. P. Wood was called to the Chair, and D. E. Havens was appointed Secretary. . . . Resolved, That the members of this Board individually and collectively use their best and most strenuous efforts and endeavors to procure subscriptions to the Capital Stock of the Road, in order to obtain if possible, the amount necessary to re-commence and finish the Northern division of the Road, ready for laying the iron from Auburn to the Bay, and report the same at the next meeting of the Board. . . . Resolved, That Lyman Murdock, of Venice, be appointed a Director, in the place of Slocum Howland declined. . . .

-- Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), Rail Road Meeting 2 (Auburn, Cayuga Co., NY, Auburn Weekly Journal, Wednesday, 31 October 1855), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com

Rail Road Meeting. - At an adjourned meeting of the subscribers of the Lake Ontario and New York Rail Road, held at Standford Hall on Friday, May 9th inst., it was resolved to proceed to the election of a Board of Directors, to run for the term of one year; and the following named persons were duly elected:--To wit. . . . Lyman Murdock, Venice. . . . 

-- Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), Rail Road Meeting (Auburn, Cayuga Co., NY, Auburn Daily American, Saturday, 10 May 1856), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com

Lyman Murdock's election as a Director of the Lake Ontario, Auburn & New York Railroad in May 1856 immediately preceded reorganization of the company in a further attempt to raise funds and complete construction. This effort allowed further work on the railroad grade but ultimately failed (1).

Times were stringent and the money market tight. The contractors pressed for payment of arrears. Some $200,000 was imperatively needed to advance the work to completion. Efforts to raise money failed and the company succumbed in March, 1855. But, as the old saying goes, if at first you don't succeed, try again, And so they did. The second company by the same name was incorporated was incorporated May 23, 1856 ''for the object of finishing the urgently needed road." Again, Murdock is mentioned as a director. Work was re-commenced on the Rd. and the grading north of Seneca River was nearly completed when the Civil War broke out. By 1862, a total of $449,541 had been spent.

 -- Richard Palmer, Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), Rail Line Nicknamed For Early Venice Family (Auburn, Cayuga Co., NY, The Citizen-Advertiser, Wednesday, 30 April 1969), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com

"The completed grading has been referred to ever since as the 'Murdock Line,' after a resident of Venice Center, Lyman Murdock, who was interested in this and subsequent railroad development in the area" (1).

The New York & Oswego Midland Railroad, Lyman Murdock's Second Railroad Promotion

Lyman Murdock doesn't seem to have been discouraged by the failure of the "Murdock Line." It seems he had been working without success to get a railroad to Venice Center through the years during and after the Civil War. However, by early 1870, Lyman saw a new opportunity to get rail service to the hamlets on or near the old "Murdock Line" route, including Venice Center. The New York & Oswego Midland Railroad was considering a branch route from Norwich, Chenango Co., New York to Auburn (2). Lyman lobbied for the proposed Auburn branch to go by way of the partially constructed roadbed remaining from the uncompleted Lake Ontario, Auburn & New York project begun some 15 years earlier.

Local and Miscellany. . . . The Union Springs Advertiser has the following:  "LYMAN MURDOCK, of Venice, is laboring zealously to change the proposed branch of the Oswego Midland to Auburn from Norwich, so as to have it run over the road-bed of the Murdock line from Ithaca, intersecting the New York Central half way between Auburn and Cayuga. This evidently will need a stronger force. . . ."

-- Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), Local and Miscellany 4 (Auburn, Cayuga Co., NY, Auburn Daily Bulletin, Monday, 28 February 1870), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com

The following year saw rapid progress by the New York & Oswego Midland Railroad and supporters of resurrecting the "Murdock Line" route.

On Jan. 1, 1871, the line was sold to the New York & Oswego Midland Railroad as its "Western Extension" of the Auburn branch from Norwich. It was the original intention of the Midland promoters to build into Auburn, thence westward to Buffalo or "a point on the Niagara River.". . .

-- Richard Palmer, Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), Rail Line Nicknamed For Early Venice Family (Auburn, Cayuga Co., NY, The Citizen-Advertiser, Wednesday, 30 April 1969), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com

Lyman Murdock appears to have been heavily involved in raising funds for construction of the Auburn Branch of the New York & Oswego Midland during the summer of 1871.

Editorial Correspondence. THE MIDLAND RAILROAD. . . . SCIPIO CENTRE, June 22. There is no diminution in the interest shown in the Midland Railroad.--The progress of Mr. Littlejohn and party has been almost triumphal, inspiring those who have labored so long, with new courage, and convincing the doubtful or opposing. . . . At Sherwoods Corners a goodly audience assembled on the grounds of Slocum Howland, Esq., who, like many of his neighbors, is an ardent friend of a railroad from Auburn, South, through the county. The next gathering was at Venice Centre, and appropriately held on the grounds of Lyman Murdock, Esq., the man who, with indomitable perseverance, has labored through sunshine and storm, for the past nine years, to obtain a railroad connection with Auburn. A fitting monument to his untiring zeal will be the New York Midland, occupying the road bed which has cost him so much time, labor and money. . . . So many new names were added to the consents, that at night, signatures representing two thirds of the property, have been obtained. This evening the church at Scipio Centre was completely filled. Mr. Littlejohn's request for a subscription of $100,000 by the town of Scipio, was cordially entertained by a large number of those present, and all are sanguine that the assents for that amount can be readily obtained. The consultation at Scipioville will probably decide the question in this town. 

-- Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), Editorial Correspondence. The Midland Railroad. . . . Scipio Centre, June 22 (Auburn, Cayuga Co., NY, Auburn Daily Bulletin, Friday, 23 June 1871), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com

The New York & Oswego Midland obtained rights to use the tracks of the Utica, Ithaca & Elmira Railroad from Cortland, Cortland Co., New York to Freeville, Tompkins Co. in March 1872. From that point, the Midland constructed new line to the vicinity of South Lansing, Lansing, Tompkins Co., New York where they merged onto the old "Murdock Line" roadbed at Ozmun's, which they followed north to Scipio (3). Several hamlets along the route held celebrations as the line was completed through their location. Lyman Murdock was a willing but modest participant in the celebrations.

A FETE DAY IN GENOA! - The Midland Railroad in Cayuga County! . . . For some months past the Midland Railroad has been quietly, but steadily pushing its way on from Cortland and the east toward Cayuga County; and a few days since it was announced that on Tuesday, October 1st, a railroad celebration would be held in Genoa, to rejoice over the completion of the Midland road to that village. . . . A HAPPY MAN. Our report would be incomplete without some reference to one of the chief projectors of the old road Mr. Lyman Murdock, of Venice whose untiring efforts to secure the building of a road over that route has given it its name, and who, through all the reverses and discouragements it has met, has never lost faith in the "Murdock route." Yesterday he was present and saw the consummation of his hopes. He appeared the happiest man on the ground. . . .

-- Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), A Fete Day In Genoa! - The Midland Railroad in Cayuga County! (Auburn, Cayuga Co., NY, Auburn Weekly News, Monday, 7 October 1872), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com

ANOTHER MIDLAND CELEBRATION! - The Iron Horse Reaches Lyman Murdock's Residence. . . . Yesterday was the day appointed for the celebration of the completion of the Midland Railroad to Venice Center, or Murdock's Corners, in the town of Venice. . . . AT FREEVILLE the excursion train for Venice was in waiting. . . . Five passenger coaches . . . came from Cortland, and must have contained four or five hundred people. Besides these there was one other passenger coach and seven box and flat cars arranged with seats. . . . At 12 o'clock the train left Freeville for Venice. At every station large numbers were "taken in," until the coaches were jammed and the platforms flat cars, engine and tender swarmed with human beings. At Beardsley's a crowd of about 200 were told they must wait until a train could be sent back for them; and accordingly a gravel train was dispatched from Genoa for them. The thirteen cars could not have contained less than 1,000 people. . . . a train of half-a-dozen cars left for Venice with the Genoese almost en masse. . . . At about two o'clock we approached Venice. . . . In a large field just east of the railroad and south of the hotel, was a mammoth three-pole tent, 125 feet long and proportionately wide. . . . The number of people present was, for a rural town like Venice, really immense. Not less than two thousand came by rail, and the hillside black with teams and vehicles gave evidence that the country for miles about had turned out grandly. A safe estimate would be that SIX THOUSAND PEOPLE were present. . . . Hon. Horatio N. Ballard of Cortland, was called out. He made an apt speech, congratulating the Venetians and picturing the benefits of railroads in general, and this one in particular. After he sat down, Lyman Murdock, Esq., the veteran railroad man of Southern Cayuga, was loudly called for, and upon his rising, three rousing cheers were given him. Mr. Murdock merely said that it would take till January for him to give the whole history of 'the old line;' he would not attempt it, but would delegate Frank Wright, Esq., of Auburn, to speak for him. Mr. Wright made a brief but stirring speech, in the course of which he said he believed that ere long the people of Venice would be connected with Auburn at one end of the road, as with New York soon at the other. . . . 

-- Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), Another Midland Celebration! - The Iron Horse Reaches Lyman Murdock's Residence (Auburn, Cayuga Co., NY, Auburn Daily Bulletin, Thursday, 31 October 1872), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com

The Western Extension of the Auburn Branch of the New York & Oswego Midland Railroad was completed to Scipio Summit in the Town of Scipio, Cayuga Co., New York on 16 December 1872 (4). Lyman Murdock must have been deeply satisfied with having a railroad through Venice Center, but he had always wanted the connection to Auburn that remained unconstructed north of Scipio Summit near Merrifield. He would need more patience because the Midland was overextended when a financial crash occurred in September 1873 and went into receivership several months later. Later, operation of the Auburn Branch was leased to the Utica, Ithaca & Elmira Railroad in return for use and maintenance of the Midland's assets (4)(5).

Mr. O. F. Peet purchased the Western Extension of the Midland on 31 May 1876 (4). It is said that the Ithaca, Auburn & Western Railroad Company was formed to hold this property, which remained leased to Utica, Ithaca & Elmira (U. I. & E.) for operation (4)(5).

 The Sale of the Auburn Branch Midland. . . . The "Western Extension" of the Midland railroad was sold at Ithaca, Wednesday, by the referee, D. Ira Baker, of New York. The property was disposed of for $25,000 to O. F. Peet, of New York. It is probable that this purchase is in behalf of the bondholders, although Mr. Peet did not appear directly in that interest. . . . It is now hoped that there will be no further difficulty regarding the reorganization, which contemplates the immediate completion of the Western Extension to Auburn. . . . 

-- Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), The Sale of the Auburn Branch Midland (Auburn, Cayuga Co., NY, News and Democrat, Thursday, 8 June 1876), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com

Lyman Murdock's involvement in the Ithaca, Auburn & Western Railroad Company (I. A. & W.) at the time of its formation, if any, has not been found. By the summer of 1879, however, Lyman was promoting the I. A. & W. by speaking at one or more fund-raising events in support of extending the line from its terminus in Scipio to the City of Auburn.

Local and Miscellany. . . . Ithaca, Auburn & Western. - DOLLARS JINGLE AT VENICE CENTER. A large and enthusiastic meeting was held at Venice Centre on Saturday evening, at which Sidney Mosher presided, and L. V. Smith acted as Secretary. Present from Auburn were Secretary Peet and L. E. Lyon. Otis E. Wood, of Freeville, and Lyman Murdock, the father of the "old line," were among the speakers. One thousand dollars in subscriptions resulted, up to 10 o'clock P. M. A committee was appointed to solicit further aid, and the locality is expected to give a good record. 

-- Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), Local and Miscellany. . . . Ithaca, Auburn & Western. - Dollars Jingle At Venice Center (Auburn, Cayuga Co., NY, Auburn News and Bulletin, Monday, 28 July 1879), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com

We hear no more of Lyman Murdock's promotion of railroads after the preceding event. He was just under 75 years old at the time and presumably entering retirement, but two of his sons and a grandson would carry on his work in subsequent years. In the meantime, trains continued to roll over the old "Murdock Route," eventually reaching Auburn while he yet lived, as Lyman had long envisioned.

While operated by the U. I. & E. the twelve miles to Auburn were completed and the line thereby acquired some nuisance value to the Southern Central owners, who accordingly leased it in 1883. In 1889 it was acquired outright by the Lehigh Valley (then controllers of the Southern Central), who abandoned it and removed the rails. . . .

-- Hardy C. Lee, revised and expanded by Winton G. Rossiter and John Marcham, A History of Railroads in Tompkins County, 3rd Edition (Ithaca, Tompkins Co., New York, DeWitt Historical Society, The History Center in Tompkins County, 2008), https://hdl.handle.net/1813/11518, Bankruptcy of the Midland; pp. 32-33

Lyman Murdock's Second Marriage and Final Years

Death of Clarinda Tracy Murdock

Clarinda Tracy Murdock, Lyman's first wife died on 9 June 1871 at Venice Center and was laid to rest in Venice Center Cemetery. Lyman's son, Marcus Wellington Murdock, and family lived with him at the Murdock Homestead, so Lyman was not alone following Clarinda's death. In addition, Lyman's daughter, Mary Ann Howard, had been widowed about December 1869 in Albany Co., New York and had returned to Venice Center with her two young daughters to also reside at the Homestead. We can presume that Lyman was thoroughly surrounded by family for the next 5 years.

Marriage to Charity Dean Adams

In June of 1876, Lyman married Charity Adams of Candor, Tioga Co., New York, widow of George Q. Adams. I have not found an account of how Lyman and Charity came to meet. Charity was the daughter of John B. and Sarah Dean of Candor, born ca. 1824, and had not married the widower, Mr. Adams, until sometime between 1860 and 1865. George Q. Adams died 2 August 1872.

The marriage of Lyman Murdock and Mrs. Charity Adams may well have occurred at Candor because in the following month Charity was appointed Postmaster of North Candor, a location no longer extant except for the name of a small cemetery on the West Candor Road several miles west of Candor Village. Charity's appointment lasted until July 1880 when the North Candor Post Office was discontinued. From this evidence, it is probably that Lyman and Charity lived in the Town of Candor at least from July 1876 through July 1880 although one source (6) says they only lived there several years. Lyman and Charity were censused at Candor in 1880.

The couple spent several years in Florida before returning to Venice Center near the end of their lives (6). Little record of their Florida residence has been found, but several clues emerge. First, Evander Murdock, the oldest son of Lyman Murdock and Clarinda Tracy, resided at Holly Hill, Volusia Co., Florida before his death in 1884. Lyman and Charity may have stayed with Evander, or at least near his residence in Volusia Co. Second, a County Judge of Volusia Co. received an official copy of Lyman Murdock's probate documents from the  Cayuga Co. Surrogate on 24 November 1890 in response to a request for same by one Champion H. Spencer, reason unknown (7). Together, these clues suggest that Lyman and Charity's time in Florida likely was in Volusia Co.

Deaths of Lyman and Charity Murdock

Charity Dean Adams Murdock died in April 1887 at Venice Center. No record of her burial has been found either at Venice Center or at Candor. Lyman Murdock died at Venice Center the following year on the 18th or 19th of June (sources differ).

Lyman Murdock. an aged and respected citizen of Venice Centre, died at his home in that place, June 18, in his 84th year. He had lived on the homestead farm nearly his whole lifetime, with the exception of two winters in Florida, where he overtaxed his strength making improvements on his Florida home. He returned with his health greatly impaired and gradually failed up to the time of his death. He was a man of marked ability, an exemplary citizen, a good neighbor, genial, kind and obliging. He added much to the growth and prosperity of the place. When he undertook an enterprise he never faltered until it became a success. It was largely through his efforts that the Ithaca, Auburn & Western railway was constructed. . . .

-- Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), MURDOCK, Lyman: News Item on Death at Venice Center (Union Springs, Springport, Cayuga Co., NY, The Advertiser, Thursday, 12 July 1888), Old Fulton New York Post Cards http://www.fultonhistory.com

LOCAL NEWS COLUMNS. - Brevities. . . . Mr. Lyman Murdock, whose recent death occurred at his home at Venice Center, in the town of Venice, was in his 84th year, and at one time probably as well known throughout the county as was any one man, which grew out of his energetic efforts in the interest of the old "Lake Ontario, Auburn and New york Railroad" project of more than thirty years ago. It was through his connection therewith, that Venice Centre came to be very generally known as "Murdock's," or "Murdock's Corners," and that part of the projected railroad running through this county, as "The Murdock Line," and out of which grew a long series of contentions, and litigated cases, some of which are not even yet ended. Subsequently he aided greatly in the establishment of the present Ithaca, Auburn and Western branch of the Southern Central, a portion of which occupies the old original L. O., A. and N. Y. roadbed. 

-- Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), Local News Columns. - Brevities (Dryden, Tompkins Co., NY, The Dryden Herald, Wednesday, 25 July 1888), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com

References

(1). Hardy C. Lee, revised and expanded by Winton G. Rossiter and John Marcham, A History of Railroads in Tompkins County, 3rd Edition (Ithaca, Tompkins Co., New York, DeWitt Historical Society, The History Center in Tompkins County, 2008), https://hdl.handle.net/1813/11518, The Murdock Line; pp. 15-16

(2). Hardy C. Lee, revised and expanded by Winton G. Rossiter and John Marcham, A History of Railroads in Tompkins County, 3rd Edition (Ithaca, Tompkins Co., New York, DeWitt Historical Society, The History Center in Tompkins County, 2008), https://hdl.handle.net/1813/11518, The Controversies of 1870; p. 18

(3). Hardy C. Lee, revised and expanded by Winton G. Rossiter and John Marcham, A History of Railroads in Tompkins County, 3rd Edition (Ithaca, Tompkins Co., New York, DeWitt Historical Society, The History Center in Tompkins County, 2008), https://hdl.handle.net/1813/11518, 1872 and the Auburn Branch of the Midland; pp. 25-26

(4). Richard Palmer, Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), Rail Line Nicknamed For Early Venice Family (Auburn, Cayuga Co., NY, The Citizen-Advertiser, Wednesday, 30 April 1969), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com

(5). Hardy C. Lee, revised and expanded by Winton G. Rossiter and John Marcham, A History of Railroads in Tompkins County, 3rd Edition (Ithaca, Tompkins Co., New York, DeWitt Historical Society, The History Center in Tompkins County, 2008), https://hdl.handle.net/1813/11518, Bankruptcy of the Midland; pp. 31-33

(6). 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

(7). State of Florida, Florida, Wills and Probate Records, 1810-1974 (Florida County, District and Probate Courts), Ancestry https://www.ancestry.com, Probate Records, 1855-1872, 1874-1922; County Judge's Court (Volusia County). "Name: Lyman Murdock; Probate Date: 24 Nov 1890; Probate Place: Volusia, Florida, USA; Inferred Death Year: Abt 1890; Inferred Death Place: Florida, USA; Item Description: Wills, Vol D, Vol 1 1874-1901 [NOTE:  This doesn't appear to be an actual probate, rather it is a copy of Lyman Murdock's Cayuga Co., New York probate sent to a County Judge of Volusia Co., Florida in response to a request by one Champion H. Spencer - R. A. Post]"
https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=8993&h=499406&tid=&pid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=TJa32528&_phstart=successSource

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

Isaac Darrow, Jr.: Civil War Veteran and Mapleton Farmer

Isaac Darrow, Jr.'s Family Background

Isaac, Jr. was born in the Town of Owasco, Cayuga Co., New York on 29 July 1845, the son of Isaac Darrow, Sr. and Sarah Anne Sharpe. Sarah was the daughter of Jacob and Clarissa Sharp who lived in the towns of Venice and Scipio, Cayuga Co., New York in Sarah's youth. (Note:  Use of a terminal "e" on Sharpe is variable in this family.) The antecedents of Isaac Darrow, Sr. have not been identified.

The 1850 census does not reveal the whereabouts of the Darrow family, but in 1855 the family was censused in the adjacent Town of Niles, Cayuga Co., New York. They had moved to the Town of Sennett, Cayuga Co., New York by 1860 and returned to Owasco by 1863 as shown by Isaac Darrow, Sr.'s Civil War Draft Registration there during June of that year.

Isaac Darrow, Jr. in the Civil War

111th Infantry Regiment, New York Volunteers Formation and Early Battles

Isaac enlisted as a Private in the 111th Infantry Regiment, New York Volunteers at Owasco on 23 February 1864 at the age of 18. The 111th Regiment had been organized in Wayne and Cayuga counties during the summer of 1862 for service of three years after mustering into federal service at Auburn, Cayuga Co., New York on 20 August 1862 (1) (2). By the time of Isaac's enlistment, the 111th had experienced the humiliation of being surrendered at Harper's Ferry in September 1862, shortly after the regiment went into service, but had returned to participate in the momentous Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863. The 111th Regiment's subsequent engagements during 1863 and early 1864 occurred in Virginia and included Fall's Church, Lewinsville, Auburn, Bristoe Station, Blackburn's Ford, the Mine Run Campaign (Robertson's Tavern), and Morton's Ford (2) so Isaac was joining a battle-tested unit.

Battle of the Wilderness

Isaac joined Company A of the 111th Regiment following his enlistment (3). He would have traveled from Auburn to his unit's encampment, probably in Virginia. The 111th was not involved in any battles for several months following Isaac's enlistment. Isaac thus had time for training and gaining knowledge of combat from hardened veterans before being thrust into action. That action came with the Battle of the Wilderness, which began on 5 May 1864 (2). Isaac survived the first day of the battle but was seriously wounded in action on 6 May (3), presumably during the fighting on the Plank Road. Records show that Isaac was missing from the 30 June and 31 August 1864 muster rolls, apparently hospitalized from his injuries.

Capture and Prisoner of War

Military records show that Isaac had returned to duty with the 111th Regiment by late October 1864. During his absence, the 111th Regiment had participated in the battles of Spotsylvania Courthouse, North Anna, Totopotomoy, and Cold Harbor; the Assault of Petersburg; and the battles of Weldon Railroad, Deep Bottom, Strawberry Plains, and Ream's Station through 25 August 1864 (2). Isaac was transferred from Company A to Company G of the 111th Regiment as a Private on 29 October 1864 and had the great misfortune of being captured by Confederate forces the following day (3).

The details of Isaac's capture are not known. The 111th would not see significant action until the Battle of Hatcher's Run on 8-10 December 1864 (2). Thus, Isaac must have been captured while in a minor skirmish or perhaps while on picket duty or a detail away from other troops. Military records show that Isaac Darrow, Jr. was a prisoner of war until 10 April 1865, the day after Lee's surrender following the Battle of Appomattox Court House. Isaac was fortunate to survive the deprivation and disease prevalent in Confederate prison camps, but he may have been in poor health as a result. Isaac had not yet appeared on the muster roll of Company G, 111th Infantry Regiment by 30 April 1865. On 4 June 1865, Isaac was transferred to Company (Battery) G of the 4th Regiment, New York Heavy Artillery while noted as being absent sick from Company G, 111th Regiment since 27 May.

Isaac Darrow, Jr.'s Civil War Service came to an end on 30 June 1865 when he was mustered out of service at New York City.

Isaac Darrow, Jr.'s Life After the Civil War

Farm Work in the Town of Owasco and Town of Throop

The New York State census of 1865 shows Isaac's parents in Owasco and lists Isaac as a member of the household although at the time of the census (20 June 1865) Isaac had not yet been mustered out of the Army. As far as known, Isaac returned to his parent's household in early July 1865. The family had removed to the Town of Throop, Cayuga Co., New York by 1870. Isaac was in his father's household there, and both were listed as Laborers (probably doing farm work).

Marriage to Josephine Maine

Isaac Darrow, Jr. and Josephine Maine (Note:  Use of a terminal "e" is variable in this family) married on 23 September 1874. The location of the wedding  has not been found but may have been in the Town of Scipio, Cayuga Co., New York. Josephine was censused in Scipio in 1870 in the household of George G. Barnes, and her parents, Ephraim B. Main and Caroline L. Sharp, resided in the same town. Josephine was born in the Town of Aurelius, Cayuga Co., New York, most likely on 20 November 1853 (dates vary), making her 21 years old when she married. Caroline L. Sharp was a sister of  Isaac's mother, Sarah Anne Sharpe, which made Isaac and Josephine 1st cousins. Josephine was a great-granddaughter of Revolutionary War veteran, William M. Main.

Farm Work in the Town of Fleming and Town of Venice

Isaac and Josephine Maine were censused in the Town of Fleming, Cayuga Co., New York in 1875. Isaac was listed as a Farmer. He was not a landowner at this time but rather was a farm laborer or perhaps tenant farmer as evidenced by his later moves and identification as a laborer. Nearby landowners included Peter V. Wyckoff and Thomas Plunkett, which place Isaac and Josephine in the southeast corner of the town, probably on Lot 98 near Wyckoff Station on Owasco Lake.

By 1880, Isaac and Josephine are living in the Town of Venice, Cayuga Co., New York with three children:  Clarence (age 5), Martha (age 3), and Emma (age 1) - who later would appear both as Imogene and Jennie and went by the latter as an adult. Isaac is listed as a Laborer. His family appears in the census adjacent to that of Achsah Ulter whose residence can be found on the 1875 map of Venice in Lot 66 on present-day Lyons Road.

Scipio Landowner

The 1892 census places Isaac and his family in Scipio on the Fleming-Scipio Town Line Road at its intersection with present-day Cork Street, a short distance south of the hamlet of Mapleton in the Town of Fleming. This location can be found on the 1904 map of Scipio in Lot 2. Isaac was still listed as a Laborer in 1892 but presumably already owned the house shown on the 1904 map.

By 1900, the children had left home. Isaac and Josephine were homeowners at the location that they occupied in 1892, and Isaac was employed as a Farm Laborer. We know that Isaac was working for John H. Payne in 1904. The exact location of Payne's farm has not been found but seems to have been in the vicinity of present-day Walters Road in Scipio in the vicinity of Lot 13.

WAS BADLY BRUISED. Isaac Darrow, employed by John Paine [NOTE:  This name was given as John H. Payne in other sources - R. A. Post], of Scipio, met with a peculiar accident Wednesday. He was working on the load while hay was being unloaded by means of a horsefork. While a huge forkful was being drawn toward the roof of the barn the car broke and hay, tackle, fork and all came tumbling down on top of Darrow. He was badly bruised but no bones were broken. Dr. Frank C. Smith attended him. 

-- Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), Was Badly Bruised (Auburn, Cayuga Co., NY, Auburn Weekly Bulletin, Friday, 29 July 1904), Old Fulton New York Post Cards http://www.fultonhistory.com

Isaac listed himself as a self-employed Farmer in 1910. He was then about 65 years old (listed as 67 in the census). One can only imagine Isaac's and Josephine's struggles and perseverance to achieve a modicum of independence over more than 30 years, which may have paled, however, when compared to Isaac's experiences as a prisoner of war in a Confederate prison. Isaac continued to farm through 1920, still living south of Mapleton, as shown by census data.

Reunions of the 111th Infantry Regiment, New York Volunteers

Veteran Isaac Darrow, Jr. of the 111th Infantry Regiment, New York Volunteers, seems to have regularly attended reunions of his regiment as the number of veterans dwindled with time. One memorable reunion occurred in 1910, hosted by General and Mrs. MacDougall on the grounds of their home on South Street in the City of Auburn, Cayuga Co., New York. Several hundred people attended this event. Isaac was listed among the veterans from Southern Cayuga County, along with Captain Marcus Wellington Murdock of Venice and Benjamin F. Gould and Morton M. Palmer of Scipio.

Possibly the most moving reunion of the 111th Regiment for Isaac was their trip to Gettysburg in 1913. Gettysburg was fought before Isaac joined the regiment, but he was surely schooled on the details of the battle by his fellow veterans.

"ON TO GETTYSBURG. . . . It was a jolly bunch of veterans of the Civil War who left  Auburn Saturday night for the battlefield of Gettysburg to enjoy a reunion of the Yanks and Johnny Rebs who participated in that bloody struggle which commenced just 50 years ago tomorrow and which was the deciding battle for the preservation of the Union in the great conflict of '61 to '65. . . . The following took the trip via the Lehigh Valley road from Auburn. . . . Isaac Darrow of Mapleton. . . ."

-- Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), On To Gettysburg (Auburn, Cayuga Co., NY, The Auburn Citizen, Monday, 30 June 1913), Old Fulton New York Post Cards http://www.fultonhistory.com

Isaac is known to have attended a reunion of the 111th in 1916. He is not recorded as attending further reunions until 1923 although he likely did so. In 1918, Isaac was named as one of the surviving Civil War veterans in the local area. Veteran numbers had dwindled so much by that time that the veterans required assistance to carry out their traditional ceremonial duties on Memorial Day and at other times. Accordingly, the Sons of Veterans was formed in the local G.A.R. (Grand Army of the Republic) meeting rooms on Exchange Street in Auburn. By 1923 only 22 veterans of the 111th Regiment were able to attend their reunion at the G.A.R. rooms. Isaac Darrow was listed among them.

Retirement to New York State Woman's Relief Corps Home (aka Soldier's Home) at Oxford, Chenango Co., New York

Leaving Scipio

Isaac's health was failing in 1923, and he was nearly blind. He applied for admittance to the Woman's Relief Corps (W.R.C.) Home at Oxford, Chenango Co., New York for himself and his wife on 29 August 1923. Isaac listed among his assets a Civil War pension of $72/month, a small place with 3 acres of improved land worth $500, Josephine's small place where they lived worth $700, and a small bank deposit. Isaac and Josephine were approved for admittance to the W.R.C. Home.

Death of Josephine Maine Darrow

Josephine died at the W.R.C. Home on 29 July 1924, 11 months after she and Isaac had applied for admittance. Her funeral occurred at the Gross & Mosher Funeral Parlor on Lincoln Street in Auburn on 1 August 1924. Josephine is buried in the Fleming Rural Cemetery, not far from her former home in Scipio.

Remarriage of Isaac Darrow

On 23 March 1926, Isaac married Mary Zerua Burlison at Norwich, Chenango Co., New York. Mary had been twice married to Harvey Woods and Sherman L. Wade. Isaac and Mary determined to occupy their own home on Green Street in Oxford; therefore, Isaac left the W.R.C. Home.

Death of Isaac Darrow, Jr.

Isaac died on 29 January 1927, less than a year after he married Mary Z. Burlison. He must have returned to the W.R.C. Home in his final days because the Home is listed in his obituary as his place of death. No record has been found of Isaac's funeral. It may well have occurred at Norwich or Oxford before his remains were brought to Fleming Rural Cemetery for burial on 2 February 1927. Isaac was survived by his second wife and her children, his daughter Martha Ann Darrow Strang, and his son Clarence Darrow. His daughter, Imogene (aka Jennie) Darrow Baker, predeceased him in 1911.

Selected References

(1) Hall, Henry. The History of Auburn. Auburn, New York: Dennis Bro's & Co., 1869. (see pp. 429-435)

https://archive.org/details/historyofauburn01hall/page/428

(2) Phisterer, Frederick. New York in the War of the Rebellion. Volume 4. Third Edition. Albany, New York: J. B. Lyon Company, State Printers, 1912.  (see pp. 3305-3306)
https://archive.org/details/phisterernewyork04fredrich/page/3304

(3) New York State Adjutant General Office. Rosters of the New York Infantry Regiments during the Civil War. Albany, New York: New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs, New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center, 2010. 

http://dmna.ny.gov/historic/reghist/civil/rosters/Infantry/111th_Infantry_CW_Roster.pdf

NOTE:  Additional uncited information was obtained from a commercial genealogy website and newspaper items.

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.