Welcome to the History Corner!
Celebrating the rich history of Port Byron, New York, an old Erie Canal village in the Town of Mentz. This site is dedicated to the legacy and heritage of our community as well as a variety of regional historical tidbits. I hope you enjoy your visit and will stop by again.
Showing posts with label New York History. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New York History. Show all posts

Thursday, July 7, 2016

Book Signing "Murder in the Adirondacks"

The Herkimer County Historical Society is pleased to host author Craig Brandon who has recently released his fully revised and expanded edition of "Murder in the Adirondacks" based on the 1906 Chester Gillette-Grace Brown murder case for a Talk and Book Signing on Monday, July 11 at 7:00 p.m. at the old Herkimer County Courthouse, 320 N. Main Street, Herkimer, NY. It will be 110 years since Grace Brown's body was found at the bottom of Big Moose Lake on July 11. 

The book features over 50 new photographs and excerpts from Chester Gillette's prison diary at Auburn Prison, as well as updated information on what happened to some of the key people involved in the case. The cost is $24.95 and can be purchased in the Society's Gift Shop, open Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and on Saturdays during July & August, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. You can also order it by mail, by sending us a check to our address at 400 N. Main St., Herkimer, NY 13350 and add $4.00 for postage (New York State residents please add 8.25% sales tax).

For more information, call us at (315) 866-6413 or email us and we will get right back to you!   
Susan R. Perkins
Executive Director
Herkimer County Historical Society
400 N. Main Street
Herkimer, NY  13350
(315) 866 6413
E-mail: herkimerhistory@yahoo.com
Web Site: www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nyhchs/

Sunday, October 18, 2015

EXCELSIOR CORNET BAND CONCERT for LINCOLN

7 pm Friday, October 23, 2015

Catherine Cummings Theatre
16 Lincklaen Street
Cazenovia NY 13035

Admission
Lincoln Bill for Adults         $5
Lincoln Penny 5- 12 years    $.01

Info and reservations:
nahofm1835@gmail.com
www.nationalabolitionhalloffameandmuseum.org
(315) 280 - 8828

Excelsior Cornet Band Concert for Lincoln

The National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum will open its Abraham Lincoln: The Great Emancipator event with A Concert for Lincoln presented by the Excelsior Cornet Band at 7 p.m. Friday, October 23, 2015 at the Catherine Cummings Theatre, 16 Lincklaen Street in Cazenovia NY. Reenactor Jack Baylis, as President Lincoln, will welcome theatre goers to an evening of music connected with Lincoln.  Jeff Stockham the director of the Excelsior Cornet Band will explain the musical selections and also share his performance experience in the movie Lincoln. This program is made possible, in part, by the Decentralization Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature and administered by CNY Arts.

The Excelsior Cornet Band is New York State’s only authentic Civil War Brass Band. Founded in 2001, the band consists of a group of Syracuse-area musicians dedicated to the performance of original Civil War era music on actual instruments of the period. Leading the band is one of Central New York’s premier brass players, Jeff Stockham. The band utilizes instruments from Stockham’s large collection of antique brass instruments. After consulting with several of the leading experts in the field of Civil War music and brass bands, Stockham formed the Excelsior Cornet Band so that the music of that pivotal period in American history could be once again heard and enjoyed by area audiences. The musicians of Excelsior Cornet Band are professional performers with many years of experience in a wide variety of musical genres. They perform with a polished enthusiasm that brings the music of the Civil War brass band era to life. The Excelsior Cornet Band presents an authentic Civil War appearance during its performances, wearing accurate reproductions of 1860s New York militia uniforms. The brass instruments used by the Excelsior Cornet Band are period originals which date from as early as 1825 to approximately 1872. Several of them were undoubtedly used by regimental bands during the Civil War. They were carefully returned to playing condition by several of the nation’s leading restorers of antique brass instruments. The mellow sound they produce is singularly appropriate for the music of the Civil War era. All of the music performed by the Excelsior Cornet Band has been arranged for the band from original Civil War era scores. The band’s repertoire includes many of the most popular melodies of the 1850-1870 period, including patriotic airs, operatic medleys, and popular songs by many of the most renowned composers and bandmasters of the Civil War era, as well as many lesser-known but equally exciting compositions. During their years of performing, the Excelsior Cornet Band has presented concerts, parades, educational programs, and living history portrayals for a wide variety of organizations and performing arts in several states. The Excelsior Cornet Band recreates the glorious sounds and appearance of this fascinating and important era, and is available for concerts, reenactments, educational presentations, and other functions.

Thursday, May 28, 2015

23rd Annual Peterboro Civil War Weekend

Sat  June 13 , 2015 10am-5pm
Sun June 14, 2015 10am-4pm

$8 Adults    $3 6-12 yrs    Free Under 6
civilwarweekend.sca-peterboro.org
(315) 280-8828


New York State Museum Authors Sign Exhibit Book
An Irrepressible Conflict: The Empire State in the Civil War
Robert Weible, NYS Historian and Chief Curator NYS Museum
Jennifer A. Lemak, Sr. Historian and Curator NYS Museum
Aaron Noble, Assoc. Museum Exhibition Planner NYS Museum
Saturday, June 13, 2015 10 am ~ 2 pm 




Audacious: Historical Novel by Janet Ashworth
Sat  June 13  10 am - 5pm    Author Exhibit and signing 
Sun June 14  10 am - 4pm    Author Exhibit and signing     3 pm Program


Freedom Journey: Black Soldiers and The Hills Community, Westchester County, New York

Author: Edythe Ann Quinn 
PhD, Professor of History at Hartwick College, Oneonta NY
Sat June 13 10am - 5pm Author Exhibit and signing  3pm Program
Sun June 14 10am - 4pm Author Exgibit and signing  11am Program





Veterans in a new Field: A Civil War Mystery of the Irish Brigade
Author: William H. Payne
Sat June 13 10am - 5pm  Author Exhibit and signing
Sun June 14  1pm - 4 pm  Author Exhibit and signing






Sunday, April 26, 2015

Palatine Migration

It is enjoyable to hear from others that contact me in response to my articles. Recently I was contacted by distant relatives in Canada to share that they are doing well.

The descendants of the 1709/1710 Palatine movement have called New York home for more than two centuries.  Some of their off spring found their way to Canada.  The recent contact made me take another look at my ancestor Anna Maria Hoffman who married Johann Nicholas Traver, ancestors to many of the Port Byron Traver families and their various off branches.

To recap, Anna Maria lost her husband and most of her children on the voyage to America.  Upon settling in New York, she married a man named Joseph Reichardt who also made the voyage.  Establishing a family unit was critical for this time period, as it reduced the chances of her small children being removed from the household to be placed to work.  The family not only stayed together but flourished with the addition of two additional sons from this union.

In researching what became of Anna Maria Hoffman Traver and her second husband Joseph Reichardt, I found the land deed at Rhinebeck:

"New York, Land Records, 1630-1975," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-32717-7704-71?cc=2078654&wc=M7HT-W3D:358133801,358565401 : accessed 26 April 2015), Dutchess > Deeds 1718-1761 vol 1-3 > image 300 of 769; county courthouses, New York.


"New York, Land Records, 1630-1975," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-32717-7313-75?cc=2078654&wc=M7HT-W3D:358133801,358565401 : accessed 26 April 2015), Dutchess > Deeds 1718-1761 vol 1-3 > image 301 of 769; county courthouses, New York.

There is allot of information about Joseph Rikert at the website titled Descent by the Sea.  It includes useful information about the Reichardt land in Rhinebeck and how it would later be in the possession of Zachariah Traver.  The article also states that the land was later acquired by Col. John Jacob Astor in 1905.  Astor was a casualty on the Titanic disaster in 1912 and his connection to our ancestors land is very fascinating.

Around the time he acquired the farm, Astor was buying as many farms as he could to add acreage to his Ferncliff Estate.  How Astor used the Reichardt/Traver farm is unclear, as I was not able to access the deed online for that date range.  However, the land transaction is not unusual as the Traver family also had a unique connection to Astor, being officers at the same bank where Astor was a trustee.  

In 1905, officers at the Rhinebeck Savings Bank included Augustus M Traver, President and Thaddeus A Traver, Secretary.  Both Traver men along with others, including John Jacob Astor were Trustees.  Given this connection, the relationship could have aided the purchase of the family farm.

To learn more about John Jacob Astor, read a short bio at the New Netherland Institute


Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Fine of Lands

Recently I stumbled onto another way people transferred land using an old English law that was not commonly used in the United States.  The process was called "Fine of Lands".

What makes this different than a normal land sale is that was initiated as a law suit where a person (plaintiff) files a case stating they are the true owner of the land and request the court to order the land returned to them from the current owner (called a deforcient).

There was never any real dispute when using this method, both parties were already in agreement on the sale, but used a court process to declare the asset belonged to the plaintiff.

The normal process when selling land does require confirmation of the seller's spouse, they would be traditionally interviewed away from the husband where it would be documented that she agrees to the sale free of duress or demands of her husband.  The Fine of Lands bypasses this step.  It also moves the land out of an estate as if the original owner never owned it at all.

The person who gains the most from this process is the original land owner (the deforciant).  The outcome of the case relieves them from all liabilities.  Why is this significant?  One reason may be that in the 1820's, many soldiers of the American Revolution were just receiving their benefits from their service, in the form of pensions and bounty land.  Between 1775 and 1855, the Government was issuing bounty-land warrants to encourage enlistment for the War of 1812, the Mexican War etc as well as to compensate those who served the Revolution.  Those given a promise of land or script sometimes sold it for quick cash, especially if they had already established a homestead.  The scripts sometimes were sold more than once, thus many complications could arise.  

Such a conveyance would also be difficult for heirs to contest because a legal ruling would already be on file which takes precedence.  Heirs would be hard pressed to make claim when a court has already determined you never owned it to begin with.

There may be additional reasons and benefits why someone would use the "Fine of Lands" to move property.  The process was banded in England by the mid 1830's.  However, you will find isolated cases where this was used in Cayuga County prior to the law being abolished.

The parties filing the case would quickly return to the court to advise that they settled, often on the same day the case was filed.  Then the court would draw up the paperwork based on their agreement.  It was settled before the court could take any action on it.  The plaintiff would then use the court papers as his legal deed to the property.

The law gave exceptional rights to the original owner or deforciant by allowing them to transfer the asset while at the same time remove them from all liabilities.  It is unclear what documentation was required by the court when the case was closed (levied).

This process was not used for convenience, as the case would have been presented before the Supreme Court.  Fine of Lands is a fascinating and rare application for conveyance of land.

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Home Defense Reserve Unit 176

Today I discovered that Port Byron has an entire new group of service men who deserve recognition.  Shortly after the outbreak of World War I, Port Byron formed their own company of the Home Defense Reserve and was designated Company No. 176 when it mustered in on July 18, 1917.

According to the 1919 annual report of the Adjutant General, the Home Defense Reserve is described as follows:

HOME DEFENSE RESERVE

"On April 25, 1917, the Governor authorized the organization of the Home Defense Corps under section 5-a of the Military Law.  Later the designation was changed to the Home Defense Reserve of New York State. This organization was a local auxiliary police reserve under the control of the Governor as commander-in-chief and was intended solely as a local police guard. The units were not to be used outside of the county in which organized. Arms, uniforms and equipment were not issued to it by the State other than a few Ross rifles in 1918.  The units were equipped and maintained either by voluntary contributions or under chapter 235 of the Laws of 1917, which authorized a county, city, town or village to provide arms, uniforms and equipment for military organizations raised within the municipality.  Its members were enrolled for the period of the emergency and the Governor had authority to terminate the liability under the enrollment oath at any time. Soon after the armistice was signed these organizations began to be musteredout and at present very few of them are in existence.  Chapter 212 of the Laws of 1919 prescribes that all property in the possession of such organizations provided by or purchased from funds appropriated by a county, city, town or village shall be disposed of upon disbandment in a manner to be prescribed by the governing board of the municipality which provided the property or appropriated the funds from which it was purchased and further prescribes that all other property and funds in the possession of said organizations shall be disposed of upon disbandment in such manner as may be prescribed by a two-thirds vote of all of the members of the organization concerned in good standing at the time of disbandment."

In the roster, there are only two companies from Cayuga County being unit 175 of Auburn and unit 176 of Port Byron, with 40 members serving from Port Byron.  The names of those that served are not known at this time except for L. H. King who served on the county committee.  Dr. George B. Stewart of Auburn was Chairman and secured the Ross rifles for Auburn and Port Byron.

There was also a Woman's Division under the direction of Mrs. Anna M Kent of Union Springs.

Sunday, April 7, 2013

Reed GAR Post # 259 of Montezuma

The Reed GAR Post was likely named in honor of Pvt. Franklin Eli Reed, who died at Drewry's Bluff, VA.

Ancestry.com

The post was formed in 1882 with the first officers being installed by R.R. Stillwell of the Lockwood Post of Port Byron.  
fultonhistory.com

Weekly News and Democrat May 15, 1884
Weekly News and Democrat Auburn NY May 22, 1884
fultonhistory.com

Weekly News and Democrat June 4, 1885
fultonhistory.com
The Town Clerk register for soldiers who served in the Civil War indicates that Franklin was the son of Dr. Griffen Reed and Susan Bentley.  It is marked that he died in battle.  His mother applied for pension, at the time of the application her name was Susan Forshee.  The file does confirm that Pvt. Franklin Reed was "killed in action on May 16, 1864".

How long this post was active is not known.  There are only a few newspaper articles that acknowledge that the post even existed.  The New York State Archives in Albany has the Charter applications for most of the Posts for our State.

I was aware of the GAR Post in Weedsport and was thrilled to re-discover this additional GAR Post in Cayuga County.

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Doctor Cayuga

Courtesy of Fold3.com
Today's post is dedicated to Kevin Faatz who attended one of my classes and expressed interest in Indian soldiers.  It is a topic that I have not collected data on to date, so I know Kevin will read this post with interest.

I'd like to share a little information on an Indian by the name of Doctor Cayuga of the Cayuga Tribe of the Six Nations.  Dr. Cayuga reported that he was 14 years old when he was living at the Indian reservation at Buffalo and placed into Capt. Littlebeard's Company of New York Militia.  His application for pension benefits in  1871 indicates he was born about 1791, so his exact age is not known.

He saw service at Black Rock and present when Buffalo was burned.  His unit crossed over Niagara River to the Canadian side opposite Black Rock where he did picket patrol and skirmishes.  He was in the battles of Chippewa and Lundy's Lane.  He served with Chief Black Squirrel who was of the Seneca Tribe and reported to be loyal to the American cause.  Some pages of the pension application suggest he saw service under Capt. Pollard.

While he was awarded 160 acres of bounty land (112,273) under the Act of 1855 for his service, he was denied a pension because he was not a Citizen of the United States and as such would not be able to "pledge an Oath of Allegiance" as required in the Pension Act.

His residence in 1871 was listed as Alabama, Genesee County, NY and had since moved to the Seneca Tribe, so perhaps he was living at the Tonawanda Creek Reservation located in that township as he is reported as living with the Senecas.

There is also an equipment claim for him:
No.: 10,087
NAME OF WARRIOR.: Doctor Cayuga,

CLAIMANT.: George Skye, Administrator

Here is some additional resources from the American State Papers about the Northwestern Indian Tribes which mentions Chief Littlebeard.

Another resource for those interested in learning more about the Indian land struggles resulting from the 1812 War.


Friday, January 25, 2013

Port Byron War of 1812 Soldiers

Finding soldiers who have served in the War of 1812 can be difficult.  Often their service was of short duration and few have any marking at their grave to tell visitors of their service.

I am pleased to share my latest research project to document our soldiers.  Many on this list may have been overlooked for public recognition as the majority of these men do not appear on any official list for soldiers from Port Byron and Mentz.

The list contains surnames that are still here today, while other soldiers moved elsewhere and their burial locations are not known.  The 1812 Equipment Claim offers a window for the names of our men who served between 1812-1815.



Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Steam Boat Port Byron

Here's an interesting article that captured my attention!

To find any steam boat named Port Byron is worth exploration:



Click here for Mahan patent for propulsion of Canal Boats.

Click here for Primus Emerson patent for paddle wheel.  


Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Woman's Relief Corps No. 207

The Lockwood Post GAR #175 of Port Byron once had an auxiliary but little is known about it as an organization.  In searching newspapers, I have found an entry that confirms they were indeed part of our community:

AUBURN WEEKLY BULLETIN. FEBRUARY 1, 1901

PORT BYRON, Jan. 29

The Lockwood Post Woman's Relief Corps, No 207 will hold a rummage sale in the vacant store of Mrs. James V White commencing tomorrow.

We know that this auxiliary was no longer functioning as of 1916 when the auxiliary for the R.R. Stillwell Sons of Veterans was formed.  To date, newspaper coverage listing the officers for the W.R.C. No. 207 of Port Byron has been hard to locate.

If anyone in your family belonged to the Lockwood Post G.A.R., the R.R. Stillwell Sons of Union Veterans, or any of their auxiliaries, please email me so I can update the members list.

Partial Lockwood Post GAR List

I will be creating a similar list for the auxiliaries but need your feedback to help tabulate the lists.  I look forward to hearing from anyone that had ancestors or relative that belonged to these organizations.

To learn more about the Woman's Relief Corps, click (here)

Sons of Veterans Auxiliary No. 10

Syracuse Journal January 11, 1916

Sons of Veterans New Auxiliary Instituted

Sons of Veterans Auxiliary, No. 10, taking an old number, was instituted last evening at Port Byron by the division president, Mrs. Winnie F. Durst of this city, assisted by members of General Sniper and Merriam Camp's auxiliaries.

Mrs. Minnie S. Root, wife of Commander Root of Lockwood Post, G. A.R., is president of the new auxiliary, and its other officers are: Vina Tuller, vice president; Laura Woodford, chaplain; Alice Warren, treasurer; Ella E. Emmons, secretary; Jennie Godfrey, patriotic instructor; Freda Nye, guide; Ruth Nye, assistant guide; Bessie Stillwell and Marjory Ware, color bearers; Louise Sweet, inside guard; Eliza Ames, outside guard; Nanna Lockwood, press correspondent; Margaret Clapp, Jennie Ward and Addie Warren; trustees; H. R. Warren, judge advocate.

Auxiliary No. 10 is organized for Stillwell Camp. No. 17. and will also be attendant upon Lockwood Post, which is without a Relief Corps. Division President Durst will next endeavor to organize auxiliaries at Clyde and Oneida.

Monday, July 16, 2012

Nathan Munger

G.A. R. APPOINTMENTS.
Colonel Anson E. Wood, State Department Commander, Names his Staff Officers.


Col. Anson E. Wood, State Department Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, while in this city yesterday made appointments to his staff as follows:

Assistant Adjutant General, Nathan Munger, Post No. 175, Port Byron, 
Assistant Quarter Master General, Jared W. Wickes, Post No. 151, Syracuse, Judge Advocate General, Thomas B. O'Dell.Post No. 103, New York, Inspector General, Frank Z. Jones, Post No. 47, Rome, Senor aid de camp, J . J . Perkins, Post No. 116; Schuylerville.

The appointment of Mr. Munger as Assistant Adjutant General relieves George H. Lester of this city from further duty. His friends were hopeful of a reappointment for him. 

The Rome Daily Sentinel, Wednesday Evening, May 16, 1900







Sunday, April 22, 2012

Ring the Bells for 1812

On June 18, 2012 at 12:00 Noon, the New York State Organization DAR is asking everyone to ring a bell in honor of the beginning of the Bicentennial of the War of 1812.

From my own research experience, there are many patriots who served in this campaign that today their service continues to be unrecognized.

Countless soldiers of the War of 1812 rest in our cemeteries where there is no distinguishable marking to reflect their service to our Country.

Please join the Owasco Chapter NSDAR and many other chapters across the Empire State in recognizing the soldiers of the War of 1812 by ringing a bell on June 18th at Noon.




Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Civil War Concert

Interested in Civil War era music? 

Madison County is hosting two unique programs: 

Monday, April 12, 2010

New York's Coat of Arms

Next week my article about the New York Coat of Arms will be published in the Auburn Citizen. The laws and regulations behind our State Arms and Seal could not be covered in full due to space restrictions, so I thought readers may enjoy some of the resource links about the Arms that is used in our State flag.

I was inspired to write the article after finding reference that the Coat of Arms was used in Gansevoort's 3rd NY regimental flag that was carried at Yorktown during the revolutionary war.

The beauty of our flag has always interested me, but my knowledge of its history was limited. There are many claims of the flag that belonged to Col. Peter Gansevoort’s 3rd New York Regiment. Some site that it was the inspiration of our State Coat of Arms.
Photo from Albany-A Cradle of America.by Francis P. Kimball, Printed by the Argus Company 1936.

It has also been claimed that this flag was in the collection at the Albany Institute of History and Art.  After contacting them, they granted use of a photo of their flag for my Citizen article and it has slight variations of the flag pictured above, indicating there was a flag previous to their flag which dates between 1790-1797.

Due to limited article size, I was unable to include the flags from the civil war that also used variations of the State Coat of Arms:

4th NY Heavy Artillery

3rd NY Provisional Cavalry

15th NY National Guard

The correct arms of the state of New York, as established by Law since March 16, 1778 by Henry Augustus Homes, See Page 22, where it is recorded that Col. Peter Gansevoort issued a proclamation in 1864 that the 3rd NY was flown at Yorktown.  Gansevoort himself was not there due to consolidation of regiments, he was returned to command the Albany Militia as a Brigadier General.

The 3rd NY was best known for its defense at Fort Stanwix.  Soldier Ashbel Treat who was pensioned from Mentz and buried at Pine Hill in Throop testified he marched to Fort Stanwix but the dates on his muster cards indicate he arrived after the famous battle. 

The Revolutionary War flag did not "create" the Arms, it simply used a variation.  The fact that it was used on the regiment flag of the 3rd NY does provide me with a greater appreciation of what our State flag stands for.  Our current State flag is inspired by this historical flag of the American Revolution, from the Arms that were adopted in 1778.

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Henry Hudson 400th Anniversary

Henry Hudson was the first European to explore what is today known as the Hudson River. He liked to call it "The River of Mountains".

Sailing for the Dutch East India Co. on the ship "Half Moon" he and his crew left Amsterdam in 1609. The Association of Public Historians of New York State (APHNYS) along with many historical societies and schools are paying tribute to the achievements of Henry Hudson.

APHNYS Tribute to Henry Hudson

See a replica of the ship Half Moon

The Hudson River played a major role in navigation of future residents of Port Byron for those that were part of the Palatine Migration of 1709/1710. The Hudson divided East Camp and West Camp, which served as their first place of residence in America. In later years, descendants of these Palatines would make their way to Port Byron, Weedsport and other places in Upstate, NY.