History of Herkimer County and the Upper Mohawk Valley, continued ...
Judge Nathaniel S. Benton
Published in 1856
CHAPTER VIII, continued ...
The Bellinger (or Pellinger) Family.
There appear to be five persons of this name, grantees of Burnetsfield patent; two of them being married women.
During the first quarter of the present century, the descendants of these families were considerably more numerous in the county than they now are.
The name is found among those Palatines who volunteered under Col. Nicholson, in 1711, for the expedition against Montreal, then held by the French.
On their arrival at New York, they seem to have been sent by Governor Hunter to the camps, so called, on Livingston's manor, under the pretense of collecting naval stores; and there is strong reasons for believing they were originally seated on the east side of the Hudson river.
The emigration of the Palatines to Schoharie appears to have been from the west side of the Hudson, and consisted of those who had been the most restless and unquiet under the hard treatment inflicted upon them, through the instrumentality of the colonial authorities, and the apparent indisposition to conform to the engagements made to them by Queen Anne, when they started for their new homes.
Indeed, most if not all the difficulties encountered by the colonial officers originated with the Palatines settled on the west side of the river.
These observations are drawn out in consequence of a tradition, existing in the county, that this family, or some members of it, came from the Schoharie into the Mohawk valley, which seems not to be supported by the documentary history of the times.
In November, 1722, Gov. Burnet, in a letter to the board of trade and plantations, says, "but as about sixty families desired to be in a distinct tract from the rest, and were of those who had all along been most hearty for the government, I have given them leave to purchase land from the Indians on a creek called Canada creek."
From what had then taken place, Gov. Burnet would not have said that the Palatines, who went to Schoharie in spite of the efforts to prevent them, had been very hearty for the government, while he censured those who had participated in that exodus, though not in strong language.
The similarity of names found among the Palatines on the east side of the Hudson river, and those contained in the patent, must go far, in connection with Gov. Burnet's declarations, to establish the conclusions now advanced.
This family seems to have held a prominent place in the public regard, at the time of the revolution, and were undeviating and unflinching in their attachment and devotion to the cause of the colonists, in the revolutionary struggle.
Col. Peter Bellinger, whose regiment was composed of the militia of the German Flats and Kingsland district, and Lieut. Col. Frederick Bellinger, of the same regiment, participated in the bloody fight at Oriskany; the latter was taken prisoner and carried to Canada.
Col. John Bellinger, of this family, was also in that battle, as a private.
He removed to, and settled at Utica, about the year 1791.
Most, if not all the lands allotted to the patentees, have been hold by their descendants down to the present time, in spite of the diffusibility of our laws in regard to real estates.
This has probably been effected by means of wills and testaments, for the statute of distributions, in the period of three or four generations, even where the children of each are few in number, would have divided a hundred-acre lot into very small parcels.
One branch of this family placed a high estimate upon military titles, and we find the son succeeding the father in military rank and title, with about as much certainty as to an inheritable estate.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
HISTORY OF HERKIMER COUNTY
Re: HISTORY OF HERKIMER COUNTY
History of Herkimer County and the Upper Mohawk Valley, continued ...
Judge Nathaniel S. Benton
Published in 1856
CHAPTER VIII, continued ...
Gen. Christopher P. Bellinger.
In pursuing the plan marked out, of grouping the individuals of the stocks of the Palatine families under one head, from their origin to the present time, great inconvenience has been encountered for want of such accurate data as family records would afford.
Gen. Bellinger was born in the town of German Flats, or within the territory formerly embraced within its boundaries.
In the prime of life he was a large farmer, and attained considerable wealth.
In 1828, when the town of Little Falls was erected, a part of the eastern portion of German Flats, in which was located Gen. Bellinger's homestead farm, was set off to the new town.
His native town contained a very large majority of inhabitants of German extraction, among whom his family connections were quite extensive and influential.
In the early division of political parties, he was a republican of Mr. Jefferson's school, and in this respect sympathized with a very large majority of the German population in his town and in the county; and, in the course of a long and active life, enjoyed a large share of public confidence.
He was often elected a supervisor of his town, and to other minor town offices; and, for many years, acted as a justice of the peace.
He was diligent, careful and upright in the discharge of all his public duties, and bestowed the most watchful care to the public interests committed to his charge.
No stronger illustration of this need be produced than the fact that for many years he had no competitor in his town, for any public favor his fellow citizens had to bestow, or to which they could promote his interests or wishes.
He was four times elected member of assembly, in the period of fourteen years, and once returned as elected, by the county clerk, when he was not chosen by a plurality or majority of votes.
At the annual election in the spring of 1809, he succeeded by a majority of five or six votes, and his two colleagues were defeated.
Thomas Manly and Rudolph Devendorff, two federalists, were elected over the two republican candidates.
It has been said that Gen. Bellinger owed his election at this time to a partial belief entertained by some portion of the federalists that he favored the political views of that party.
This was a mistake.
He was the next year elected on the same ticket with two other well known republicans.
In 1821 he was again a candidate for the assembly, and having a larger number of votes than either of the two other republican candidates running with him, he obtained the certificate upon an alleged informality in the return of the vote from the town of Danube, when one of his competitors, the lowest on the Clintonian ticket, had obtained a considerable majority.
At this time the county clerk alone, canvassed the county vote for members of assembly.
The constitution of 1777 was still in force, and the political majority in the assembly would determine the character of the council of appointment, which then wielded an immense political power, having nearly all the civil appointments in the state within its gift.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Judge Nathaniel S. Benton
Published in 1856
CHAPTER VIII, continued ...
Gen. Christopher P. Bellinger.
In pursuing the plan marked out, of grouping the individuals of the stocks of the Palatine families under one head, from their origin to the present time, great inconvenience has been encountered for want of such accurate data as family records would afford.
Gen. Bellinger was born in the town of German Flats, or within the territory formerly embraced within its boundaries.
In the prime of life he was a large farmer, and attained considerable wealth.
In 1828, when the town of Little Falls was erected, a part of the eastern portion of German Flats, in which was located Gen. Bellinger's homestead farm, was set off to the new town.
His native town contained a very large majority of inhabitants of German extraction, among whom his family connections were quite extensive and influential.
In the early division of political parties, he was a republican of Mr. Jefferson's school, and in this respect sympathized with a very large majority of the German population in his town and in the county; and, in the course of a long and active life, enjoyed a large share of public confidence.
He was often elected a supervisor of his town, and to other minor town offices; and, for many years, acted as a justice of the peace.
He was diligent, careful and upright in the discharge of all his public duties, and bestowed the most watchful care to the public interests committed to his charge.
No stronger illustration of this need be produced than the fact that for many years he had no competitor in his town, for any public favor his fellow citizens had to bestow, or to which they could promote his interests or wishes.
He was four times elected member of assembly, in the period of fourteen years, and once returned as elected, by the county clerk, when he was not chosen by a plurality or majority of votes.
At the annual election in the spring of 1809, he succeeded by a majority of five or six votes, and his two colleagues were defeated.
Thomas Manly and Rudolph Devendorff, two federalists, were elected over the two republican candidates.
It has been said that Gen. Bellinger owed his election at this time to a partial belief entertained by some portion of the federalists that he favored the political views of that party.
This was a mistake.
He was the next year elected on the same ticket with two other well known republicans.
In 1821 he was again a candidate for the assembly, and having a larger number of votes than either of the two other republican candidates running with him, he obtained the certificate upon an alleged informality in the return of the vote from the town of Danube, when one of his competitors, the lowest on the Clintonian ticket, had obtained a considerable majority.
At this time the county clerk alone, canvassed the county vote for members of assembly.
The constitution of 1777 was still in force, and the political majority in the assembly would determine the character of the council of appointment, which then wielded an immense political power, having nearly all the civil appointments in the state within its gift.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Re: HISTORY OF HERKIMER COUNTY
History of Herkimer County and the Upper Mohawk Valley, continued ...
Judge Nathaniel S. Benton
Published in 1856
CHAPTER VIII, continued ...
Gen. Christopher P. Bellinger, continued ...
For a time, after the election, it was doubtful which party had secured the majority of the assembly; it was charged against the clerk, who was a republican, or bucktail as then called, and who held his office at the pleasure of the council of appointment, that he had given the certificate to secure the election of an anti-Clintonian speaker and four anti-Clintonian members of the council.
The clerk of course denied the charge, insisting he had no right to look behind the returns, and he must take the certificate of the town canvassers as it stood.
And although an Irishman by birth, and could talk high Dutch with the most glib-tongued German in the valley, he said he could not make the word Tood read, mean or spell Todd, and therefore he should give the certificate to the candidate having the highest number of votes, after placing those certified to Stephen Tood among the scattering.
The general was however unseated immediately after the organization of the house, and Doct. Stephen Todd of Salisbury, the party who had been chosen, took his seat.
Gen. Bellinger in the party split of 1819 and 1820 acted with the section called in that day bucktails; was an ardent admirer of Daniel D. Tompkins, and in the presidential contest of 1824 adhered to the fortunes of William H. Crawford.
In the fall of 1823, he was again elected to the assembly with John Graves, Esq., of Russia, and Dr. Caleb Budlong, of Frankfort.
It devolved on the legislature, which assembled in January, 1824, to choose the electors of president and vice president of the United States, or provide by law for some other mode of appointment.
A large majority of members elected in 1823 were republicans or democrats, but very much divided in respect to the candidates for the presidency, and a new element of party strife was presented to the assembly, soon after the election of speaker.
The Clintonian party had ceased to exist, and the old federal party had been disbanded.
At the election in 1823, a new party, called the people's party, composed of Clintonians, federalists and republicans, hostile to the election of Mr. Crawford, sprung up, and, by the united action and votes of this political combination, a large number of members, hostile to Mr. Crawford, were returned to the assembly.
It is not my design to present to the reader anything more of the political history of the state than may be required to give a proper view of the position occupied by the individual whose biography is a subject of consideration.
The speaker, Mr. Goodell, of Jefferson, was friendly to Mr. Crawford.
Gen. Bellinger was appointed one of the committee of nine members to which was referred the subject of altering the law prescribing the mode of choosing presidential electors.
The minorities had combined to defeat Mr. Crawford; six of this committee, however, were supposed to be his friends, and Gen. Bellinger was one of that number.
He assented to the report of the bill, by the select committee, changing the mode of election, and voted for it on the final passage.
This bill was defeated in the senate, and in November, 1824, at the adjourned legislative session, he voted for Crawford electors.
This was the last time he represented the county in the legislature.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Judge Nathaniel S. Benton
Published in 1856
CHAPTER VIII, continued ...
Gen. Christopher P. Bellinger, continued ...
For a time, after the election, it was doubtful which party had secured the majority of the assembly; it was charged against the clerk, who was a republican, or bucktail as then called, and who held his office at the pleasure of the council of appointment, that he had given the certificate to secure the election of an anti-Clintonian speaker and four anti-Clintonian members of the council.
The clerk of course denied the charge, insisting he had no right to look behind the returns, and he must take the certificate of the town canvassers as it stood.
And although an Irishman by birth, and could talk high Dutch with the most glib-tongued German in the valley, he said he could not make the word Tood read, mean or spell Todd, and therefore he should give the certificate to the candidate having the highest number of votes, after placing those certified to Stephen Tood among the scattering.
The general was however unseated immediately after the organization of the house, and Doct. Stephen Todd of Salisbury, the party who had been chosen, took his seat.
Gen. Bellinger in the party split of 1819 and 1820 acted with the section called in that day bucktails; was an ardent admirer of Daniel D. Tompkins, and in the presidential contest of 1824 adhered to the fortunes of William H. Crawford.
In the fall of 1823, he was again elected to the assembly with John Graves, Esq., of Russia, and Dr. Caleb Budlong, of Frankfort.
It devolved on the legislature, which assembled in January, 1824, to choose the electors of president and vice president of the United States, or provide by law for some other mode of appointment.
A large majority of members elected in 1823 were republicans or democrats, but very much divided in respect to the candidates for the presidency, and a new element of party strife was presented to the assembly, soon after the election of speaker.
The Clintonian party had ceased to exist, and the old federal party had been disbanded.
At the election in 1823, a new party, called the people's party, composed of Clintonians, federalists and republicans, hostile to the election of Mr. Crawford, sprung up, and, by the united action and votes of this political combination, a large number of members, hostile to Mr. Crawford, were returned to the assembly.
It is not my design to present to the reader anything more of the political history of the state than may be required to give a proper view of the position occupied by the individual whose biography is a subject of consideration.
The speaker, Mr. Goodell, of Jefferson, was friendly to Mr. Crawford.
Gen. Bellinger was appointed one of the committee of nine members to which was referred the subject of altering the law prescribing the mode of choosing presidential electors.
The minorities had combined to defeat Mr. Crawford; six of this committee, however, were supposed to be his friends, and Gen. Bellinger was one of that number.
He assented to the report of the bill, by the select committee, changing the mode of election, and voted for it on the final passage.
This bill was defeated in the senate, and in November, 1824, at the adjourned legislative session, he voted for Crawford electors.
This was the last time he represented the county in the legislature.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Re: HISTORY OF HERKIMER COUNTY
History of Herkimer County and the Upper Mohawk Valley, continued ...
Judge Nathaniel S. Benton
Published in 1856
CHAPTER VIII, continued ...
Gen. Christopher P. Bellinger, continued ...
When war was declared by the United States, against Great Britain, in 1812, the General had then attained the rank of colonel in one of the militia regiments of Herkimer county.
Congress, anticipating that event, had, in April of that year, authorized the raising of 100,000 men, to be drafted from the militia of the several states; 13,500 of which number was assigned to this state.
Col. Bellinger was detached by Gov. Tompkins, to take command of the regiment of militia designed for the defense of the northern frontier, and repaired, with his command, to Sackett's Harbor, in May following.
The term of service fixed by congress, for these troops, was three months.
The object of the government in thus placing a military force upon the frontier, at this early period, was to watch the movements of any armed force that might be collected in Canada, protect the public property that should be collected at the various points designated as military depots, and enforce a rigid execution of the non-intercourse law with Great Britain and her dependencies.
A good deal of illicit commerce had been carried on, along the frontier; the laws of the United States had been openly and extensively violated, and the authority of her revenue officers contemned; and, when needed, even an armed force, from the other side, would sometimes be at hand, to aid the evasion.
A portion of the force, under Col. B.'s immediate command, was stationed at points most suitable to assist the civil officers of the United States in executing the laws of the land.
A distinguished American statesman is reported to have said, when delivering a political harrangue on the sabbath, "there were no Sundays in revolutions."
His Britannic majesty's liege subjects, acting upon the principle that a state of war abrogated the omnipotent behests of Jehovah, approached Sackett's Harbor with five armed vessels on the 19th of July, 1812; which day, the calendar tells us, was Sunday, with the view of capturing or destroying several American armed vessels at that place.
Col. Bellinger's regiment with the crew of an eighteen gun brig, and a few militia collected on that occasion, constituted the whole American force at the harbor when the formidable expedition made its appearance.
Although Col. Bellinger was at that time the commanding officer of the post, the arrangement of the batteries for defense, and the direction of the artillery, was supervised by the senior naval officers on that station.
The enemy abandoned the object of the visit, after being somewhat crippled by American shot.
Gen. Jacob Brown, in a letter to Governor Tompkins, spoke in terms of high commendation of Col. Bellinger's conduct on this occasion.
In other letters to the governor, the general spoke of him as "a brave officer, and a worthy man"; "he is one of the best of men"; "the more I have seen of Col. Bellinger, the more I am pleased with him."
"He is disposed to do every thing for the best."
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Judge Nathaniel S. Benton
Published in 1856
CHAPTER VIII, continued ...
Gen. Christopher P. Bellinger, continued ...
When war was declared by the United States, against Great Britain, in 1812, the General had then attained the rank of colonel in one of the militia regiments of Herkimer county.
Congress, anticipating that event, had, in April of that year, authorized the raising of 100,000 men, to be drafted from the militia of the several states; 13,500 of which number was assigned to this state.
Col. Bellinger was detached by Gov. Tompkins, to take command of the regiment of militia designed for the defense of the northern frontier, and repaired, with his command, to Sackett's Harbor, in May following.
The term of service fixed by congress, for these troops, was three months.
The object of the government in thus placing a military force upon the frontier, at this early period, was to watch the movements of any armed force that might be collected in Canada, protect the public property that should be collected at the various points designated as military depots, and enforce a rigid execution of the non-intercourse law with Great Britain and her dependencies.
A good deal of illicit commerce had been carried on, along the frontier; the laws of the United States had been openly and extensively violated, and the authority of her revenue officers contemned; and, when needed, even an armed force, from the other side, would sometimes be at hand, to aid the evasion.
A portion of the force, under Col. B.'s immediate command, was stationed at points most suitable to assist the civil officers of the United States in executing the laws of the land.
A distinguished American statesman is reported to have said, when delivering a political harrangue on the sabbath, "there were no Sundays in revolutions."
His Britannic majesty's liege subjects, acting upon the principle that a state of war abrogated the omnipotent behests of Jehovah, approached Sackett's Harbor with five armed vessels on the 19th of July, 1812; which day, the calendar tells us, was Sunday, with the view of capturing or destroying several American armed vessels at that place.
Col. Bellinger's regiment with the crew of an eighteen gun brig, and a few militia collected on that occasion, constituted the whole American force at the harbor when the formidable expedition made its appearance.
Although Col. Bellinger was at that time the commanding officer of the post, the arrangement of the batteries for defense, and the direction of the artillery, was supervised by the senior naval officers on that station.
The enemy abandoned the object of the visit, after being somewhat crippled by American shot.
Gen. Jacob Brown, in a letter to Governor Tompkins, spoke in terms of high commendation of Col. Bellinger's conduct on this occasion.
In other letters to the governor, the general spoke of him as "a brave officer, and a worthy man"; "he is one of the best of men"; "the more I have seen of Col. Bellinger, the more I am pleased with him."
"He is disposed to do every thing for the best."
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Re: HISTORY OF HERKIMER COUNTY
History of Herkimer County and the Upper Mohawk Valley, continued ...
Judge Nathaniel S. Benton
Published in 1856
CHAPTER VIII, continued ...
Gen. Christopher P. Bellinger, concluded ...
During a part of this term of service there seems from the correspondence to have been some misunderstanding between Gen. Brown and Col. Bellinger, in regard to the position of the latter.
When the colonel was ordered to the harbor the command of the post was no doubt assigned to him, he being the senior officer in service at that point; and it was not until a brigadier's command was ordered out, and Brown assigned to it, that the latter could rightfully assume any control over him.
At the expiration of three months the regiment was mustered and discharged without being paid.
In the subsequent campaign of 1814, Col. Bellinger performed a tour of military service on the frontier with the patriotic and devoted militia of the county.
Being placed in defensive positions, he had no opportunity of distinguishing himself, except as a diligent officer, attentive to his duty, exacting its performance from his subordinates, and exercising those acts of kindness to the sick of his regiment, which rendered him beloved and respected by his men.
His experience in military affairs was wholly limited to casual militia service, and some years after the war closed he was promoted to the rank of brigadier-general.
Warm in his attachments, he was confiding to a fault, and consequently was not wholly exempt from the approaches of the artful and designing, although he possessed a strong and vigorous mind.
His education was somewhat limited, being mostly confined to the teachings of the German country schoolmaster.
He died at Little Falls about seventeen years ago, without male issue, at an advanced age, leaving four married daughters.
He was twice married, and his second wife survived him.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Judge Nathaniel S. Benton
Published in 1856
CHAPTER VIII, continued ...
Gen. Christopher P. Bellinger, concluded ...
During a part of this term of service there seems from the correspondence to have been some misunderstanding between Gen. Brown and Col. Bellinger, in regard to the position of the latter.
When the colonel was ordered to the harbor the command of the post was no doubt assigned to him, he being the senior officer in service at that point; and it was not until a brigadier's command was ordered out, and Brown assigned to it, that the latter could rightfully assume any control over him.
At the expiration of three months the regiment was mustered and discharged without being paid.
In the subsequent campaign of 1814, Col. Bellinger performed a tour of military service on the frontier with the patriotic and devoted militia of the county.
Being placed in defensive positions, he had no opportunity of distinguishing himself, except as a diligent officer, attentive to his duty, exacting its performance from his subordinates, and exercising those acts of kindness to the sick of his regiment, which rendered him beloved and respected by his men.
His experience in military affairs was wholly limited to casual militia service, and some years after the war closed he was promoted to the rank of brigadier-general.
Warm in his attachments, he was confiding to a fault, and consequently was not wholly exempt from the approaches of the artful and designing, although he possessed a strong and vigorous mind.
His education was somewhat limited, being mostly confined to the teachings of the German country schoolmaster.
He died at Little Falls about seventeen years ago, without male issue, at an advanced age, leaving four married daughters.
He was twice married, and his second wife survived him.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Re: HISTORY OF HERKIMER COUNTY
History of Herkimer County and the Upper Mohawk Valley, continued ...
Judge Nathaniel S. Benton
Published in 1856
CHAPTER VIII, continued ...
Major Frederick Bellinger.
Being another descendent of the Palatine stock, was a native of the county.
He embarked in mercantile pursuits, early in life, which he continued with some interruptions to its close.
He won the regard and confidence of his fellow citizens, which was frequently shown by expressions of popular favor on the part of the people of his native town, Herkimer.
He represented the county in the assembly of this state in 1836, with Stephen Ayres of Fairfield and Thomas Hawks of Columbia.
Major Bellinger possessed many amiable qualities, and was highly esteemed by all who knew him.
He died at Mohawk, German Flats, leaving descendants.
He was twice married and his last wife survived him.
His family, in common with every other inhabitant of the valley, were visited by the scourge of Indian warfare.
During the revolutionary struggle, two brothers, descendants of one of these Palatine families, had occasion during harvest to go into the meadow after a load of hay, and as usual one or both of them went armed.
One of the brothers had placed his gun against a stump in the field and commenced pitching hay to the other on the wagon.
They had not been long engaged in this before they were fearfully warned of danger at hand by the savage yell and the discharge of muskets.
The brother on the wagon after seeing the other shot down and marking the man who did the act, succeeded, by the fleetness of his horses and being partly protected by the hay, in making his escape.
The young man shot, was killed while endeavoring to reach his gun, by a well known tory, who had lived on Young's patent, in the south part of the county.
He had most likely recently joined the sable allies of the king, and was out on a mission to reduce his rebellious subjects to duty; and true to the instincts of his nature and obedient to the orders of his masters, he could shoot down the peaceful husbandman in the harvest field, or drive the hatchet into the head of the unoffending mother while nursing her infant offspring, and hang the scalp lock of both to his belt with as much zest as the most proficient of his nimble-footed compeers.
Many long years had rolled over the head of the surviving brother; he had a family and sons grown to manhood, but time had not obliterated from his memory the recollection of a brother's death or the face and form of the man who had done the foul deed.
So late even as when Henry S. Whiting kept the stage house in Herkimer, and a line of passenger stages was running between Utica and Albany, when large wood fires and massive andirons were much in fashion, Mr. Bellinger went into the tavern, to see whether some friend or acquaintance had not just then arrived in the stage, with no thought that he should meet face to face the man who many years before had slain his brother.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Judge Nathaniel S. Benton
Published in 1856
CHAPTER VIII, continued ...
Major Frederick Bellinger.
Being another descendent of the Palatine stock, was a native of the county.
He embarked in mercantile pursuits, early in life, which he continued with some interruptions to its close.
He won the regard and confidence of his fellow citizens, which was frequently shown by expressions of popular favor on the part of the people of his native town, Herkimer.
He represented the county in the assembly of this state in 1836, with Stephen Ayres of Fairfield and Thomas Hawks of Columbia.
Major Bellinger possessed many amiable qualities, and was highly esteemed by all who knew him.
He died at Mohawk, German Flats, leaving descendants.
He was twice married and his last wife survived him.
His family, in common with every other inhabitant of the valley, were visited by the scourge of Indian warfare.
During the revolutionary struggle, two brothers, descendants of one of these Palatine families, had occasion during harvest to go into the meadow after a load of hay, and as usual one or both of them went armed.
One of the brothers had placed his gun against a stump in the field and commenced pitching hay to the other on the wagon.
They had not been long engaged in this before they were fearfully warned of danger at hand by the savage yell and the discharge of muskets.
The brother on the wagon after seeing the other shot down and marking the man who did the act, succeeded, by the fleetness of his horses and being partly protected by the hay, in making his escape.
The young man shot, was killed while endeavoring to reach his gun, by a well known tory, who had lived on Young's patent, in the south part of the county.
He had most likely recently joined the sable allies of the king, and was out on a mission to reduce his rebellious subjects to duty; and true to the instincts of his nature and obedient to the orders of his masters, he could shoot down the peaceful husbandman in the harvest field, or drive the hatchet into the head of the unoffending mother while nursing her infant offspring, and hang the scalp lock of both to his belt with as much zest as the most proficient of his nimble-footed compeers.
Many long years had rolled over the head of the surviving brother; he had a family and sons grown to manhood, but time had not obliterated from his memory the recollection of a brother's death or the face and form of the man who had done the foul deed.
So late even as when Henry S. Whiting kept the stage house in Herkimer, and a line of passenger stages was running between Utica and Albany, when large wood fires and massive andirons were much in fashion, Mr. Bellinger went into the tavern, to see whether some friend or acquaintance had not just then arrived in the stage, with no thought that he should meet face to face the man who many years before had slain his brother.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Re: HISTORY OF HERKIMER COUNTY
History of Herkimer County and the Upper Mohawk Valley, continued ...
Judge Nathaniel S. Benton
Published in 1856
CHAPTER VIII, continued ...
Major Frederick Bellinger, concluded ...
But there sat the slayer enjoying himself before a rousing wood fire, which had imparted so much heat to the andirons as to make them red-hot.
Mr. Bellinger saw and knew the man at once, and, no doubt, considering him a murderer, seized one of the hot irons by the top, drew it from the fire intending to inflict a blow upon the head of his tory acquaintance, which must have greatly disfigured his scalplock if the bystanders had not interfered and prevented him.
I very much doubt whether this man ever again traveled through the Mohawk valley, or would venture within reach of Bellinger's curling tongs.
He rightfully believed himself protected by the guaranties of the treaty of peace, but Mr. Bellinger did not think so, and when prevented from using the andiron, he sought for and loaded his gun, declaring that he would take the life of his brother's murderer.
His son interfered, explained how matters stood between Americans and their late enemies under the treaty of peace, and finally took the gun and put it away.
There may be some who will look upon the outburst of fraternal feeling with great disfavor, and overlook all mitigating circumstances which at the moment seemed to justify Mr. Bellinger in his own mind for any act of retaliation, however severe, or even fatal to the individual who had thus unexpectedly and presumptuously made his appearance upon the field of his former hostile exploits.
Let the scenes of the revolution enacted in the valley be remembered; let it be borne in mind too, that this family with many, if not every other inhabiting the German Flats, had been subjected to the severest calamities of an unnatural and cruel warfare of seven year's continuance, had looked upon harvests and houses destroyed, fields desolated, and cattle and horses shot down as if in sport, or driven away to gorge the appetites of an unrelenting enemy, and last of all, but by no means the least inconsiderable cause of irritation and unappeasable bate, who had mourned some relative slain, either in the field of battle, or by stealth and Indian stratagem; when these things are brought to memory, we can not visit with stern rebuke an act, palliated, if not justified, by so many bold and indisputable mitigating circumstances.
The treaty of peace had thrown round this man its broad protective shield, and he was therefore entitled to an immunity which he was in no haste to claim a second time.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Judge Nathaniel S. Benton
Published in 1856
CHAPTER VIII, continued ...
Major Frederick Bellinger, concluded ...
But there sat the slayer enjoying himself before a rousing wood fire, which had imparted so much heat to the andirons as to make them red-hot.
Mr. Bellinger saw and knew the man at once, and, no doubt, considering him a murderer, seized one of the hot irons by the top, drew it from the fire intending to inflict a blow upon the head of his tory acquaintance, which must have greatly disfigured his scalplock if the bystanders had not interfered and prevented him.
I very much doubt whether this man ever again traveled through the Mohawk valley, or would venture within reach of Bellinger's curling tongs.
He rightfully believed himself protected by the guaranties of the treaty of peace, but Mr. Bellinger did not think so, and when prevented from using the andiron, he sought for and loaded his gun, declaring that he would take the life of his brother's murderer.
His son interfered, explained how matters stood between Americans and their late enemies under the treaty of peace, and finally took the gun and put it away.
There may be some who will look upon the outburst of fraternal feeling with great disfavor, and overlook all mitigating circumstances which at the moment seemed to justify Mr. Bellinger in his own mind for any act of retaliation, however severe, or even fatal to the individual who had thus unexpectedly and presumptuously made his appearance upon the field of his former hostile exploits.
Let the scenes of the revolution enacted in the valley be remembered; let it be borne in mind too, that this family with many, if not every other inhabiting the German Flats, had been subjected to the severest calamities of an unnatural and cruel warfare of seven year's continuance, had looked upon harvests and houses destroyed, fields desolated, and cattle and horses shot down as if in sport, or driven away to gorge the appetites of an unrelenting enemy, and last of all, but by no means the least inconsiderable cause of irritation and unappeasable bate, who had mourned some relative slain, either in the field of battle, or by stealth and Indian stratagem; when these things are brought to memory, we can not visit with stern rebuke an act, palliated, if not justified, by so many bold and indisputable mitigating circumstances.
The treaty of peace had thrown round this man its broad protective shield, and he was therefore entitled to an immunity which he was in no haste to claim a second time.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Re: HISTORY OF HERKIMER COUNTY
History of Herkimer County and the Upper Mohawk Valley, continued ...
Judge Nathaniel S. Benton
Published in 1856
CHAPTER VIII, continued ...
The Keslaer and Casler Family.
This was, a few years since, and is now, probably, one of the most numerous of the Palatine families in the town of Little Falls.
We can trace the name back to the camps on Livingston's manor, and find it on the lists of volunteers in the Montreal expedition.
In respect to this county, so far as I have been able to discover, the name has been derived from the two patentees, Johannes and Nicholas Keslaer.
The industrial pursuits of this family have been principally directed to agriculture, and this has been attended with such uniform success, that, in most instances, the sons have inherited the home farms of their fathers, through several generations; and, even at this day, the two lots granted to the first patentees, are still possessed by their lineal descendants.
John and Nicholas were brothers, no doubt unmarried, and without families, as each drew a lot of one hundred acres; and no more lands were drawn to that name.
Another fact bears out the presumption taken: the, third generation from one of the patentees, now living, inherit the property, and the combined ages of the three oldest is more than one hundred and eighty years, and making due allowance for the adolescence of the first and second generation, the period from 1725 to 1855 is more than filled up.
In a recent interview had with Richard Casler, a venerable patriarch of one branch of the family, and now eighty-nine years old, I gathered some materials for this notice.
He was with Col. Willett's party when W. N. Butler was killed, on the West Canada creek.
Capt. Ellsworth, Lieut. Bloodgood and Ensign Show, were the officers of his company, he knew Gen. Herkimer, and says he was a thick-set, stout man, not quite six feet high.
The general's dwelling, at Danube, was built before his recollection.
He recollected his grandfather Johannes, the patentee.
His father, Jacob, and his uncle, John Casler, who died about the year 1816, at an advanced age, were both in the Oriskany fight.
Johan Marks Petri, who was also there, killed an Indian, and told Jacob Casler he might have the Indian's gun, and all he had about him, and be welcome, if he would go and get them, which Jacob took and brought away.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Judge Nathaniel S. Benton
Published in 1856
CHAPTER VIII, continued ...
The Keslaer and Casler Family.
This was, a few years since, and is now, probably, one of the most numerous of the Palatine families in the town of Little Falls.
We can trace the name back to the camps on Livingston's manor, and find it on the lists of volunteers in the Montreal expedition.
In respect to this county, so far as I have been able to discover, the name has been derived from the two patentees, Johannes and Nicholas Keslaer.
The industrial pursuits of this family have been principally directed to agriculture, and this has been attended with such uniform success, that, in most instances, the sons have inherited the home farms of their fathers, through several generations; and, even at this day, the two lots granted to the first patentees, are still possessed by their lineal descendants.
John and Nicholas were brothers, no doubt unmarried, and without families, as each drew a lot of one hundred acres; and no more lands were drawn to that name.
Another fact bears out the presumption taken: the, third generation from one of the patentees, now living, inherit the property, and the combined ages of the three oldest is more than one hundred and eighty years, and making due allowance for the adolescence of the first and second generation, the period from 1725 to 1855 is more than filled up.
In a recent interview had with Richard Casler, a venerable patriarch of one branch of the family, and now eighty-nine years old, I gathered some materials for this notice.
He was with Col. Willett's party when W. N. Butler was killed, on the West Canada creek.
Capt. Ellsworth, Lieut. Bloodgood and Ensign Show, were the officers of his company, he knew Gen. Herkimer, and says he was a thick-set, stout man, not quite six feet high.
The general's dwelling, at Danube, was built before his recollection.
He recollected his grandfather Johannes, the patentee.
His father, Jacob, and his uncle, John Casler, who died about the year 1816, at an advanced age, were both in the Oriskany fight.
Johan Marks Petri, who was also there, killed an Indian, and told Jacob Casler he might have the Indian's gun, and all he had about him, and be welcome, if he would go and get them, which Jacob took and brought away.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Re: HISTORY OF HERKIMER COUNTY
History of Herkimer County and the Upper Mohawk Valley, continued ...
Judge Nathaniel S. Benton
Published in 1856
CHAPTER VIII, continued ...
The Keslaer and Casler Family continued ...
A small grist-mill was built on the Casler creek, before the war, which, being stockaded, protected it from being destroyed by the enemy.
The Petri and Casler families were connected by marriage.
Johan Marks Petri owned lot No. 12, at Little Falls, before the revolution, and built a small grist-mill in the first place on Furnace creek.
The mill that was burned by the enemy, a relation of which has been given in another place, was on the river, and supplied by water from it.
Jacob Casler, probably a distant relation of my informant, and commonly called Black Jacob, by reason of his having black eyes, a very unusual circumstance among the Germans, at an early day in the settlement of the country, had a severe fight with a bear.
The contest was for dear life, and whether black Bruin or black Jacob should live to see another day.
Casler had gone out, towards nightfall, in pursuit of cattle strayed into the woods, armed with a common bayonet fixed on a heavy stick several feet long, and when passing up a woody ravine some distance from the clearings, the black tenant of the forest saluted Jacob with a hostile growl, which brought him to a halt.
The belligerents did not look at each other with much fraternal feeling.
One of them prepared himself for an embrace entirely too bearish to suit his antagonist, and when Master Bruin opened his arms to give the unfriendly hug, Jacob thrust his bayonet into the bear's side as far as he could drive it.
This only enraged the wounded beast.
It did not disable him entirely, nor cause him to retire from the contest.
The bear wrenched the bayonet from his side with his fore paws, and endeavored to disarm his foe; but Casler held fast to his stick and in the scuffle the bayonet became detached from it.
Jacob pounded his antagonist on the head and back with his club, and the bear tore Casler's clothes and lacerated his limbs and body with his claws; but Black Jacob knew he must conquer or die, and made up his mind to fight as long as he could strike a blow with his faithful club.
The issue of the combat was some time doubtful.
Casler bled profusely from his wounds, and was nearly exhausted by his exertions.
The bear bled some from his first bayonet wound, and exhibited signs of being confused by the repeated heavy knocks bestowed upon his head, when a happy blow over the eye laid Master Bruin on his back.
Casler, no doubt, counted his own life among "the spoils of victory" on this occasion, and would have freely given the bear's hide and bruised carcass to be rid of the ungentle scratches he had received.
Jacob long enjoyed the reputation, and justly, of a bold and resolute man.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Judge Nathaniel S. Benton
Published in 1856
CHAPTER VIII, continued ...
The Keslaer and Casler Family continued ...
A small grist-mill was built on the Casler creek, before the war, which, being stockaded, protected it from being destroyed by the enemy.
The Petri and Casler families were connected by marriage.
Johan Marks Petri owned lot No. 12, at Little Falls, before the revolution, and built a small grist-mill in the first place on Furnace creek.
The mill that was burned by the enemy, a relation of which has been given in another place, was on the river, and supplied by water from it.
Jacob Casler, probably a distant relation of my informant, and commonly called Black Jacob, by reason of his having black eyes, a very unusual circumstance among the Germans, at an early day in the settlement of the country, had a severe fight with a bear.
The contest was for dear life, and whether black Bruin or black Jacob should live to see another day.
Casler had gone out, towards nightfall, in pursuit of cattle strayed into the woods, armed with a common bayonet fixed on a heavy stick several feet long, and when passing up a woody ravine some distance from the clearings, the black tenant of the forest saluted Jacob with a hostile growl, which brought him to a halt.
The belligerents did not look at each other with much fraternal feeling.
One of them prepared himself for an embrace entirely too bearish to suit his antagonist, and when Master Bruin opened his arms to give the unfriendly hug, Jacob thrust his bayonet into the bear's side as far as he could drive it.
This only enraged the wounded beast.
It did not disable him entirely, nor cause him to retire from the contest.
The bear wrenched the bayonet from his side with his fore paws, and endeavored to disarm his foe; but Casler held fast to his stick and in the scuffle the bayonet became detached from it.
Jacob pounded his antagonist on the head and back with his club, and the bear tore Casler's clothes and lacerated his limbs and body with his claws; but Black Jacob knew he must conquer or die, and made up his mind to fight as long as he could strike a blow with his faithful club.
The issue of the combat was some time doubtful.
Casler bled profusely from his wounds, and was nearly exhausted by his exertions.
The bear bled some from his first bayonet wound, and exhibited signs of being confused by the repeated heavy knocks bestowed upon his head, when a happy blow over the eye laid Master Bruin on his back.
Casler, no doubt, counted his own life among "the spoils of victory" on this occasion, and would have freely given the bear's hide and bruised carcass to be rid of the ungentle scratches he had received.
Jacob long enjoyed the reputation, and justly, of a bold and resolute man.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Re: HISTORY OF HERKIMER COUNTY
History of Herkimer County and the Upper Mohawk Valley, continued ...
Judge Nathaniel S. Benton
Published in 1856
CHAPTER VIII, continued ...
The Keslaer and Casler Family concluded ...
Frederick Casler, a descendant from one of the patentees, died October 19th, 1849, about seventy years of age, and his father, Jacob Casler, died April 1, 1822, aged sixty-nine years.
John Jacob Casler, the grandfather of Frederick, died in January, 1811, aged 88 years.
This carries his nativity back to 1723, renders it probable that he may himself have been the patentee, Johannis, and overturns the supposition previously advanced, that the two patentees were brothers.
The family tradition respecting the purchase of one of the two patented lots from strangers by the sons of John Jacob, may induce a belief that he was a son of Nicholas, and that the lot having been parted with by the father or his other children, had been brought back into the family by purchase.
Jacob and George Kesslair, were, it seems, two of the seventeen patentees of Staley's first and second tracts, granted in 1755, chiefly to the Palatines of the upper valley.
Richard Casler, referred to in this notice, died on the 18th of September, 1855.
The newspaper obituary notice states his age at ninety-five years.
He told me when I saw him, he was then eighty-nine years old.
One of his sons was present and confirmed this statement, by saying that was his reputed age in the family.
His health was not firm during the latter part of his life, but he was never known to neglect joining his fellow citizens in celebrating the anniversary of American freedom.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Judge Nathaniel S. Benton
Published in 1856
CHAPTER VIII, continued ...
The Keslaer and Casler Family concluded ...
Frederick Casler, a descendant from one of the patentees, died October 19th, 1849, about seventy years of age, and his father, Jacob Casler, died April 1, 1822, aged sixty-nine years.
John Jacob Casler, the grandfather of Frederick, died in January, 1811, aged 88 years.
This carries his nativity back to 1723, renders it probable that he may himself have been the patentee, Johannis, and overturns the supposition previously advanced, that the two patentees were brothers.
The family tradition respecting the purchase of one of the two patented lots from strangers by the sons of John Jacob, may induce a belief that he was a son of Nicholas, and that the lot having been parted with by the father or his other children, had been brought back into the family by purchase.
Jacob and George Kesslair, were, it seems, two of the seventeen patentees of Staley's first and second tracts, granted in 1755, chiefly to the Palatines of the upper valley.
Richard Casler, referred to in this notice, died on the 18th of September, 1855.
The newspaper obituary notice states his age at ninety-five years.
He told me when I saw him, he was then eighty-nine years old.
One of his sons was present and confirmed this statement, by saying that was his reputed age in the family.
His health was not firm during the latter part of his life, but he was never known to neglect joining his fellow citizens in celebrating the anniversary of American freedom.
TO BE CONTINUED ...