HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY
Re: HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY
HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK, continued ...
by NATHANIEL BARTLETT SYLVESTER
1878
HISTORY OF THE VILLAGES AND TOWNS OF SARATOGA COUNTY, continued ...
TOWN OF BALLSTON, continued ...
III. - EARLY SETTLEMENT, continued ...
Isaac Stow was the miller of Gen. Gordon, and the man killed in the Tory raid, as noted in another place.
Jabez Hubbell settled at Hop City.
Wm. Barnes resided on the present place of Isaac Cain, between Ballston Centre and Burnt Hills, opposite the old school-house.
Robert Speir settled in Ballston very early, in the northwest part of the town, where his two sons, Archibald and James, also resided.
The name is still common in Ballston.
His grandson, Robert, was a sheriff of Saratoga County.
A son of Archibald, Gilbert M., is a judge of the Supreme Court in New York city.
It is known that John Young, with his wife, joined the Presbyterian church in 1776.
John Cable was an early pioneer some time before 1776, as he united with the church that year.
His place was the present farm of Abram G. Bradt.
Uriah Benedict came from Connecticut in early times, and settled on the East Line road.
His home was the farm now owned by Thomas Moffitt.
He was a supervisor of Ballston in 1785, when the town included nearly eight of the present towns of the county.
His children were Uriah, Elias, and David.
Uriah died young.
A grandson was Lewis Benedict, of Albany.
James M. Marvin and Thomas J. Marvin are grandsons.
Nathaniel Weed was in Ballston very early, as the deed of the Ball farm bounds the tract on the south by land owned by Nathaniel Weed.
His homestead is supposed to have been on the corner opposite the church at Ballston Centre.
He afterwards removed to Greenfield.
Mrs. Morehouse Betts is a granddaughter, and lives northwest of the church, and Mrs. Riley Crippen is a great-grand-daughter of Mr. Weed, now living on the homestead of her ancestor.
Miles Beach was an early settler of Ballston.
He came from Connecticut in 1786, with his father, Zerah Beach.
Miles Beach married Cynthia Warren, in 1807.
Their second child was William A. Beach, the noted lawyer.
His father afterwards removed to Saratoga Springs.
The Davis family, coming in about the time of the opening of the Revolutionary troubles, settled on the present place of A.J. Slade, the first house north of Ballston Centre, on the Middle Line road.
The first barn built is still standing there, and is said to have been the first framed barn in town.
It is a tradition in the family that the Tories were confined as prisoners in this barn, when they attempted to join the British forces in Canada, and were seized and brought back.
The old house of Mr. Davis stood south of the present mansion, near the well.
It was moved back, and is yet in use as a wagon-house.
A son of the pioneer, Henry Davis, resides north of Academy Hill.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
by NATHANIEL BARTLETT SYLVESTER
1878
HISTORY OF THE VILLAGES AND TOWNS OF SARATOGA COUNTY, continued ...
TOWN OF BALLSTON, continued ...
III. - EARLY SETTLEMENT, continued ...
Isaac Stow was the miller of Gen. Gordon, and the man killed in the Tory raid, as noted in another place.
Jabez Hubbell settled at Hop City.
Wm. Barnes resided on the present place of Isaac Cain, between Ballston Centre and Burnt Hills, opposite the old school-house.
Robert Speir settled in Ballston very early, in the northwest part of the town, where his two sons, Archibald and James, also resided.
The name is still common in Ballston.
His grandson, Robert, was a sheriff of Saratoga County.
A son of Archibald, Gilbert M., is a judge of the Supreme Court in New York city.
It is known that John Young, with his wife, joined the Presbyterian church in 1776.
John Cable was an early pioneer some time before 1776, as he united with the church that year.
His place was the present farm of Abram G. Bradt.
Uriah Benedict came from Connecticut in early times, and settled on the East Line road.
His home was the farm now owned by Thomas Moffitt.
He was a supervisor of Ballston in 1785, when the town included nearly eight of the present towns of the county.
His children were Uriah, Elias, and David.
Uriah died young.
A grandson was Lewis Benedict, of Albany.
James M. Marvin and Thomas J. Marvin are grandsons.
Nathaniel Weed was in Ballston very early, as the deed of the Ball farm bounds the tract on the south by land owned by Nathaniel Weed.
His homestead is supposed to have been on the corner opposite the church at Ballston Centre.
He afterwards removed to Greenfield.
Mrs. Morehouse Betts is a granddaughter, and lives northwest of the church, and Mrs. Riley Crippen is a great-grand-daughter of Mr. Weed, now living on the homestead of her ancestor.
Miles Beach was an early settler of Ballston.
He came from Connecticut in 1786, with his father, Zerah Beach.
Miles Beach married Cynthia Warren, in 1807.
Their second child was William A. Beach, the noted lawyer.
His father afterwards removed to Saratoga Springs.
The Davis family, coming in about the time of the opening of the Revolutionary troubles, settled on the present place of A.J. Slade, the first house north of Ballston Centre, on the Middle Line road.
The first barn built is still standing there, and is said to have been the first framed barn in town.
It is a tradition in the family that the Tories were confined as prisoners in this barn, when they attempted to join the British forces in Canada, and were seized and brought back.
The old house of Mr. Davis stood south of the present mansion, near the well.
It was moved back, and is yet in use as a wagon-house.
A son of the pioneer, Henry Davis, resides north of Academy Hill.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Re: HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY
HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK, continued ...
by NATHANIEL BARTLETT SYLVESTER
1878
HISTORY OF THE VILLAGES AND TOWNS OF SARATOGA COUNTY, continued ...
TOWN OF BALLSTON, continued ...
III. - EARLY SETTLEMENT, continued ...
Asa Waterman, now residing near Burnt Hills, is the son of David Waterman and grandson of Asa Waterman.
The father of this last named was also Asa Waterman.
He was in active service in the Revolutionary war, and was present at the surrender of Burgoyne's army.
In possession of the present Asa Waterman is his ancestor's commission as lieutenant-colonel, signed by Governor George Clinton, December 27, 1786.
This was an appointment in the militia just after the war was over.
There are preserved also the sleeve-buttons marked A.W., a pocket-book and knee-buckles, very likely worn at Schuylerville, October 17, 1777.
The wife of Asa Waterman, Sr., lived to an advanced age, dying in 1831.
Her great-grandson, now living, received from her many anecdotes of the war, and particularly of the battles of Stillwater, and these had an especial value as not coming through several hands, but related by one who lived then to one living now.
She confirmed all that has been written of Arnold's brave, desperate fighting that last great day - October 7, - and when he fell wounded Mr. Waterman carried him from the field.
When the fearful crime occurred that forever blackened the name of the brave hero, Waterman regretted that he had not left him to die upon the field of his glory rather than live to be stained with treason.
The Waterman family, Asa Sr., and Asa Jr., went from Columbia to Montgomery county, soon after 1786, and a few years later came to Ballston.
Their home here was at first opposite the Presbyterian church at the Centre.
Soon after they removed to the Larkin farm, just east of the present Asa Waterman place.
Asa the second was an only son.
His children were David, Frederic, and John.
All settled in this vicinity.
Seth C. Baldwin was one of the early settlers of Ballston.
His pioneer home was the well-known Colonel Young farm.
He was an active and useful citizen, and filled important public positions for many years.
He was elected to the Assembly for three years from 1797, and was also chosen supervisor of the town in 1793, and again in 1800-1.
In the latter year he was appointed sheriff.
He held that office three years, and was then elected county clerk.
He continued in that position for nine years, and kept the records all that time at his own residence, no public office having then been built.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
by NATHANIEL BARTLETT SYLVESTER
1878
HISTORY OF THE VILLAGES AND TOWNS OF SARATOGA COUNTY, continued ...
TOWN OF BALLSTON, continued ...
III. - EARLY SETTLEMENT, continued ...
Asa Waterman, now residing near Burnt Hills, is the son of David Waterman and grandson of Asa Waterman.
The father of this last named was also Asa Waterman.
He was in active service in the Revolutionary war, and was present at the surrender of Burgoyne's army.
In possession of the present Asa Waterman is his ancestor's commission as lieutenant-colonel, signed by Governor George Clinton, December 27, 1786.
This was an appointment in the militia just after the war was over.
There are preserved also the sleeve-buttons marked A.W., a pocket-book and knee-buckles, very likely worn at Schuylerville, October 17, 1777.
The wife of Asa Waterman, Sr., lived to an advanced age, dying in 1831.
Her great-grandson, now living, received from her many anecdotes of the war, and particularly of the battles of Stillwater, and these had an especial value as not coming through several hands, but related by one who lived then to one living now.
She confirmed all that has been written of Arnold's brave, desperate fighting that last great day - October 7, - and when he fell wounded Mr. Waterman carried him from the field.
When the fearful crime occurred that forever blackened the name of the brave hero, Waterman regretted that he had not left him to die upon the field of his glory rather than live to be stained with treason.
The Waterman family, Asa Sr., and Asa Jr., went from Columbia to Montgomery county, soon after 1786, and a few years later came to Ballston.
Their home here was at first opposite the Presbyterian church at the Centre.
Soon after they removed to the Larkin farm, just east of the present Asa Waterman place.
Asa the second was an only son.
His children were David, Frederic, and John.
All settled in this vicinity.
Seth C. Baldwin was one of the early settlers of Ballston.
His pioneer home was the well-known Colonel Young farm.
He was an active and useful citizen, and filled important public positions for many years.
He was elected to the Assembly for three years from 1797, and was also chosen supervisor of the town in 1793, and again in 1800-1.
In the latter year he was appointed sheriff.
He held that office three years, and was then elected county clerk.
He continued in that position for nine years, and kept the records all that time at his own residence, no public office having then been built.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Re: HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY
HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK, continued ...
by NATHANIEL BARTLETT SYLVESTER
1878
HISTORY OF THE VILLAGES AND TOWNS OF SARATOGA COUNTY, continued ...
TOWN OF BALLSTON, continued ...
III. - EARLY SETTLEMENT, concluded ...
TAX LIST OF THE DISTRICT OF BALLSTON.
As fully showing the entire list of property-holders in the district of Ballston in 1779, {original text has "1799".} we add a copy of the tax list of that year.
The original is in the possession of Mr. John Miller, of Gansevoort.
This assessment was levied pursuant to an act of the Legislature of the State of New York, entitled an act for raising the sum of $2,500,000, by tax within the State, passed 23d of October, 1770 {1779?}.
The district of Ballston then comprised Ballston, Milton, Charlton, Providence, Galway, Day, Edinburgh, and the western parts of Hadley, Corinth, and Greenfield.
The collector of this tax was Dr. Elisha Miller, and in this connection the following certificate of Rev. Mr. Ball will be of general interest, a facsimile of which is given on the following page:
John Davis
Eliphalet Ball
John Ball
Nathaniel Mead
Thomas Barnum
Lewis Barnum
Edward A. Watrous
Paul Persons
John Griswold
Israel Munn
James Benedict
William Mirick
Jabez Gorham
Samuel McCrea
William McCrea
James McCrea
Daniel Seeley
Jabez Hubbell
Stephen Sherwood
Edmund Jennings
John Cole
Joseph Proctor
John Waters
Nehemiah Seeley
Grixon Frisby
John Curry
James McDonald
Robert Spears
James Fullerton
James Gordon
Elisha Benedict
John Higby
Jonathan Philo
Daniel Hand
Uriah Gregory
Gilbert Benedict
Samuel Benedict
John Dumbleton
John Cable
Jeremiah Persons
John Sprague
Benijah Smith
Daniel Olmstead
Ebenezer Sprague
Thomas Kennedy
John Kennedy
Jonathan Olmsted
Ebenezer Sprague, Jr.
Benjamin Wood
David Wood
Stephen Wood
Cyrus Philmore
Elijah Wood
Nathan Wood
Thomas Smith
Joseph Ketcham
Gideon Lawrence, Jr.
James White
Ezekiel Olmsted
Rozelle Russell
Thomas and Charles Mirick
Samuel Bryon
Thomas Ballard
Jabez Patchin
Robert Shearer
Robert and John Tannahill
George Gardiner
Alexander Glen
John McNiel
George Scott
John M. McNeil
Samuel Hunter
Peter How (probably)
John Christie
Peter McPherson
Joseph Shearer
Angus McDermott
John Michael
Jonathan Tuttle
William Stewart
Alexander Davidson
Henry Bigford
George Bolton
William Wilda
James Grant
George Frazier
Joseph Rue
Joseph Rue, Jr.
Hezekiah Seeley
Nathaniel Cook
David Gordon
David Maxwell
James Adams
John Camp
John McKnight
Thomas Brown
Thomas Sweatman
Robert Clinch
John Young
Eli Northrup
Wilson Northrup
Zophar Wicks
Thomas McCarty
Obadiah Wood
Samuel Whitney
James McKinley
John and Moses McKinley
John Major
John McClannan
John McKerg (probably)
Thomas Pattison
Christopher Herrington
John Agleson
William Kelly
James McWilliams
William Gilchrist
John Whitney and Jabez Morehouse
Peter Smith
Joseph Gonzalez
Benjamin T. Schermerhorn and Nicholas Van De Bogert
Seth Hubbell
Nathan'l Wealt (probably)
James Sherwood
John Holmes
Nathan Hull
Jesse Cunda
John Rogers
John Taylor
Alexander McAuley
James Low
Jonathan Douglas
Nathaniel Jessup
Michael McDonald
Joseph Morehouse
George Morehouse
Zaccheus Scribner
Daniel Scribner
William Reeves
Nathan Raymond
Zaccheus Scribner, Jr.
Zachariah Mead
Azor Nash
William Belden
Daniel Armstrong
Samuel Wood
John Wood
Uriah Benedict
Jonas White
Epenetus White
Stephen White
John Nash
Joel Pease
Azor Cole
John White
Gamaliel Stewart
Christopher Hagerman
Andrus Mitchell
Job Aylesworth
John Miller
William Burns
Thomas Armstrong
Joseph Bettys
Sunderland Sears
Deliverance King
Benjamin Young
Joseph Chard
Michael Middlebrook
Gilbert Miller
Solomon Couch
Tyrannus Collins
Isaac How
Slatly Scranton
George White
Elisha Miller
Eliphalet Kellogg
James White
John Clinton
David Clinton
John Clinton, Jr.,
Hezekiah Middlebrook
Nathaniel Munn
Thomas Van Vleck
Harmanus Van Vleck
Matthew Fairchild
Samuel Nash
George Wakeman
Beriah Palmer
Abraham Hyatt
Elisha Persons
John Glen and Ryar Schermerhorn
Daniel Campbell
Heirs of Johannes Fisher, Albany
McCrea and the Beekmans, concerned in the same
Allotments of land in the Great Patent
Nanning Vischer
Luther Thurber
Samuel Stringer
John McKie
Nicholas Vischer
JAMES GORDON, Supervisor.
BALLSTON, 31st of December, 1779.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
by NATHANIEL BARTLETT SYLVESTER
1878
HISTORY OF THE VILLAGES AND TOWNS OF SARATOGA COUNTY, continued ...
TOWN OF BALLSTON, continued ...
III. - EARLY SETTLEMENT, concluded ...
TAX LIST OF THE DISTRICT OF BALLSTON.
As fully showing the entire list of property-holders in the district of Ballston in 1779, {original text has "1799".} we add a copy of the tax list of that year.
The original is in the possession of Mr. John Miller, of Gansevoort.
This assessment was levied pursuant to an act of the Legislature of the State of New York, entitled an act for raising the sum of $2,500,000, by tax within the State, passed 23d of October, 1770 {1779?}.
The district of Ballston then comprised Ballston, Milton, Charlton, Providence, Galway, Day, Edinburgh, and the western parts of Hadley, Corinth, and Greenfield.
The collector of this tax was Dr. Elisha Miller, and in this connection the following certificate of Rev. Mr. Ball will be of general interest, a facsimile of which is given on the following page:
John Davis
Eliphalet Ball
John Ball
Nathaniel Mead
Thomas Barnum
Lewis Barnum
Edward A. Watrous
Paul Persons
John Griswold
Israel Munn
James Benedict
William Mirick
Jabez Gorham
Samuel McCrea
William McCrea
James McCrea
Daniel Seeley
Jabez Hubbell
Stephen Sherwood
Edmund Jennings
John Cole
Joseph Proctor
John Waters
Nehemiah Seeley
Grixon Frisby
John Curry
James McDonald
Robert Spears
James Fullerton
James Gordon
Elisha Benedict
John Higby
Jonathan Philo
Daniel Hand
Uriah Gregory
Gilbert Benedict
Samuel Benedict
John Dumbleton
John Cable
Jeremiah Persons
John Sprague
Benijah Smith
Daniel Olmstead
Ebenezer Sprague
Thomas Kennedy
John Kennedy
Jonathan Olmsted
Ebenezer Sprague, Jr.
Benjamin Wood
David Wood
Stephen Wood
Cyrus Philmore
Elijah Wood
Nathan Wood
Thomas Smith
Joseph Ketcham
Gideon Lawrence, Jr.
James White
Ezekiel Olmsted
Rozelle Russell
Thomas and Charles Mirick
Samuel Bryon
Thomas Ballard
Jabez Patchin
Robert Shearer
Robert and John Tannahill
George Gardiner
Alexander Glen
John McNiel
George Scott
John M. McNeil
Samuel Hunter
Peter How (probably)
John Christie
Peter McPherson
Joseph Shearer
Angus McDermott
John Michael
Jonathan Tuttle
William Stewart
Alexander Davidson
Henry Bigford
George Bolton
William Wilda
James Grant
George Frazier
Joseph Rue
Joseph Rue, Jr.
Hezekiah Seeley
Nathaniel Cook
David Gordon
David Maxwell
James Adams
John Camp
John McKnight
Thomas Brown
Thomas Sweatman
Robert Clinch
John Young
Eli Northrup
Wilson Northrup
Zophar Wicks
Thomas McCarty
Obadiah Wood
Samuel Whitney
James McKinley
John and Moses McKinley
John Major
John McClannan
John McKerg (probably)
Thomas Pattison
Christopher Herrington
John Agleson
William Kelly
James McWilliams
William Gilchrist
John Whitney and Jabez Morehouse
Peter Smith
Joseph Gonzalez
Benjamin T. Schermerhorn and Nicholas Van De Bogert
Seth Hubbell
Nathan'l Wealt (probably)
James Sherwood
John Holmes
Nathan Hull
Jesse Cunda
John Rogers
John Taylor
Alexander McAuley
James Low
Jonathan Douglas
Nathaniel Jessup
Michael McDonald
Joseph Morehouse
George Morehouse
Zaccheus Scribner
Daniel Scribner
William Reeves
Nathan Raymond
Zaccheus Scribner, Jr.
Zachariah Mead
Azor Nash
William Belden
Daniel Armstrong
Samuel Wood
John Wood
Uriah Benedict
Jonas White
Epenetus White
Stephen White
John Nash
Joel Pease
Azor Cole
John White
Gamaliel Stewart
Christopher Hagerman
Andrus Mitchell
Job Aylesworth
John Miller
William Burns
Thomas Armstrong
Joseph Bettys
Sunderland Sears
Deliverance King
Benjamin Young
Joseph Chard
Michael Middlebrook
Gilbert Miller
Solomon Couch
Tyrannus Collins
Isaac How
Slatly Scranton
George White
Elisha Miller
Eliphalet Kellogg
James White
John Clinton
David Clinton
John Clinton, Jr.,
Hezekiah Middlebrook
Nathaniel Munn
Thomas Van Vleck
Harmanus Van Vleck
Matthew Fairchild
Samuel Nash
George Wakeman
Beriah Palmer
Abraham Hyatt
Elisha Persons
John Glen and Ryar Schermerhorn
Daniel Campbell
Heirs of Johannes Fisher, Albany
McCrea and the Beekmans, concerned in the same
Allotments of land in the Great Patent
Nanning Vischer
Luther Thurber
Samuel Stringer
John McKie
Nicholas Vischer
JAMES GORDON, Supervisor.
BALLSTON, 31st of December, 1779.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Re: HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY
HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK, continued ...
by NATHANIEL BARTLETT SYLVESTER
1878
HISTORY OF THE VILLAGES AND TOWNS OF SARATOGA COUNTY, continued ...
TOWN OF BALLSTON, continued ...
IV. - ORGANIZATION.
Name
This town derives its name from the early minister, Rev. Eliphalet Ball.
He was not the first settler, as appears in another place, but as the leader of a company of his neighbors from Bedford to this section of country; as the pastor of the first church, founded no doubt by his labors; as a prominent citizen in every other respect in those early times of civil peril, he became so well known that the new settlement received his name, and was called Ball-town.
Common usage soon inserted the "s," and the abbreviating tendencies of language reduced the final word to a mere syllable, and "Ballston" was the result.
The tradition that he purchased the right to have his name attached to the town from pioneers still earlier than himself may be true, as such a process is known to have changed Wing's falls to Glen's.
But in this case the circumstances of the times, the change in the word itself, conclusively indicate that the name was of gradual growth, not one of sudden application.
Whatever may be true as to this, it is certain that no worthier selection could have been made than this to perpetuate the memory of a faithful pioneer pastor.
We may add, for what it is worth, that the purchase of the right to name the place is said to have occurred at an old-fashioned "raising" of a log house; that somewhat in jest Mr. Ball offered the McDonalds a gallon of rum to surrender their right as pioneers to name the town; that the offer was accepted, otherwise citizens at the present time might now have been compelled to date their letters at "McDonaldton."
TO BE CONTINUED ...
by NATHANIEL BARTLETT SYLVESTER
1878
HISTORY OF THE VILLAGES AND TOWNS OF SARATOGA COUNTY, continued ...
TOWN OF BALLSTON, continued ...
IV. - ORGANIZATION.
Name
This town derives its name from the early minister, Rev. Eliphalet Ball.
He was not the first settler, as appears in another place, but as the leader of a company of his neighbors from Bedford to this section of country; as the pastor of the first church, founded no doubt by his labors; as a prominent citizen in every other respect in those early times of civil peril, he became so well known that the new settlement received his name, and was called Ball-town.
Common usage soon inserted the "s," and the abbreviating tendencies of language reduced the final word to a mere syllable, and "Ballston" was the result.
The tradition that he purchased the right to have his name attached to the town from pioneers still earlier than himself may be true, as such a process is known to have changed Wing's falls to Glen's.
But in this case the circumstances of the times, the change in the word itself, conclusively indicate that the name was of gradual growth, not one of sudden application.
Whatever may be true as to this, it is certain that no worthier selection could have been made than this to perpetuate the memory of a faithful pioneer pastor.
We may add, for what it is worth, that the purchase of the right to name the place is said to have occurred at an old-fashioned "raising" of a log house; that somewhat in jest Mr. Ball offered the McDonalds a gallon of rum to surrender their right as pioneers to name the town; that the offer was accepted, otherwise citizens at the present time might now have been compelled to date their letters at "McDonaldton."
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Re: HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY
HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK, continued ...
by NATHANIEL BARTLETT SYLVESTER
1878
HISTORY OF THE VILLAGES AND TOWNS OF SARATOGA COUNTY, continued ...
TOWN OF BALLSTON, continued ...
IV. - ORGANIZATION, concluded ...
Civil History.
The Districts of Saratoga and Half-Moon were organized in 1772.
At that time Half-Moon included three present towns, Half-Moon, Clifton Park, Waterford.
Saratoga comprised all the rest of the county, or what is now divided into seventeen towns.
In 1775, Ballston district was formed from Saratoga.
The three districts then consisted of the following territory: Half-Moon, the same as before; Saratoga and Ballston, dividing all the remainder of the county between them by the present east line of Ballston, extended northward to the Hudson river.
The three districts remained in this form thirteen years, or until 1788, when four towns were created - Half-Moon, Stillwater, Saratoga, Ballston.
Half-Moon retained the same territory as when a district.
Stillwater, taken from Saratoga, comprised the present town of Stillwater and the largest portions of Malta, while to Ballston remained the same territory as before; that is, the present towns of Ballston, Charlton, Milton, Galway, Providence, Day, Edinburgh, Hadley, and parts of Corinth and Greenfield.
The records of the district of Ballston, from 1775 to 1778, are probably lost, or have drifted into private hands, and are consigned to some box or chest in an old pioneer garret.
They would be of rare value now at the lapse of a hundred years.
May it not be the reward of some patient searcher yet to discover and bring them to light?
As it is, the records of Ballston still preserved in the office of the clerk are the earliest district or town records in the county.
They commence with 1779.
The district-meeting for that year was held in the meeting-house, and the following officers were chosen: Supervisor, James Gordon; Town Clerk, Beriah Palmer; Collector, Dr. Elisha Miller; Assessors, Captain Elisha Benedict, Jabez Patchen, John Rogers, Beriah Palmer, Jr.; John Taylor; Constables, Isaac Stow, Daniel Taylor; Fence-Viewers, Lieutenant John Bell, Lieutenant Nathaniel Weed; Overseers of the Poor, Hezekiah Middlebrook, Jabez Hubbell; Pathmasters, Nathaniel Weed, Jabez Hubbell, Elisha Benedict, Jabez Patchen, James Adams, Sunderland Sears, Nathan Raymond, Isaac How.
The assessors, it will be noticed, were headed by a captain, and the fence-viewers were qualified for their positions by being lieutenants in the military service.
The next year the same officers were generally re-elected, though a few new names appear - Stephen Sherwood, John Holmes, Uriah Benedict, George Morehouse.
These names show to some extent the scattered settlers in all the ten towns of what was then Ballston.
There are no records for 1781-83, and it is supposed no annual meetings were held, the settlers having been captured or driven away largely by the Tory raids of 1780 and 1781.
Commencing again in 1784, the lists of town officers are complete to the present time.
In 1792, four years after the town organisation, Ballston was reduced to its present limits by taking off Charlton, Galway, and Milton.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
by NATHANIEL BARTLETT SYLVESTER
1878
HISTORY OF THE VILLAGES AND TOWNS OF SARATOGA COUNTY, continued ...
TOWN OF BALLSTON, continued ...
IV. - ORGANIZATION, concluded ...
Civil History.
The Districts of Saratoga and Half-Moon were organized in 1772.
At that time Half-Moon included three present towns, Half-Moon, Clifton Park, Waterford.
Saratoga comprised all the rest of the county, or what is now divided into seventeen towns.
In 1775, Ballston district was formed from Saratoga.
The three districts then consisted of the following territory: Half-Moon, the same as before; Saratoga and Ballston, dividing all the remainder of the county between them by the present east line of Ballston, extended northward to the Hudson river.
The three districts remained in this form thirteen years, or until 1788, when four towns were created - Half-Moon, Stillwater, Saratoga, Ballston.
Half-Moon retained the same territory as when a district.
Stillwater, taken from Saratoga, comprised the present town of Stillwater and the largest portions of Malta, while to Ballston remained the same territory as before; that is, the present towns of Ballston, Charlton, Milton, Galway, Providence, Day, Edinburgh, Hadley, and parts of Corinth and Greenfield.
The records of the district of Ballston, from 1775 to 1778, are probably lost, or have drifted into private hands, and are consigned to some box or chest in an old pioneer garret.
They would be of rare value now at the lapse of a hundred years.
May it not be the reward of some patient searcher yet to discover and bring them to light?
As it is, the records of Ballston still preserved in the office of the clerk are the earliest district or town records in the county.
They commence with 1779.
The district-meeting for that year was held in the meeting-house, and the following officers were chosen: Supervisor, James Gordon; Town Clerk, Beriah Palmer; Collector, Dr. Elisha Miller; Assessors, Captain Elisha Benedict, Jabez Patchen, John Rogers, Beriah Palmer, Jr.; John Taylor; Constables, Isaac Stow, Daniel Taylor; Fence-Viewers, Lieutenant John Bell, Lieutenant Nathaniel Weed; Overseers of the Poor, Hezekiah Middlebrook, Jabez Hubbell; Pathmasters, Nathaniel Weed, Jabez Hubbell, Elisha Benedict, Jabez Patchen, James Adams, Sunderland Sears, Nathan Raymond, Isaac How.
The assessors, it will be noticed, were headed by a captain, and the fence-viewers were qualified for their positions by being lieutenants in the military service.
The next year the same officers were generally re-elected, though a few new names appear - Stephen Sherwood, John Holmes, Uriah Benedict, George Morehouse.
These names show to some extent the scattered settlers in all the ten towns of what was then Ballston.
There are no records for 1781-83, and it is supposed no annual meetings were held, the settlers having been captured or driven away largely by the Tory raids of 1780 and 1781.
Commencing again in 1784, the lists of town officers are complete to the present time.
In 1792, four years after the town organisation, Ballston was reduced to its present limits by taking off Charlton, Galway, and Milton.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Re: HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY
HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK, continued ...
by NATHANIEL BARTLETT SYLVESTER
1878
HISTORY OF THE VILLAGES AND TOWNS OF SARATOGA COUNTY, continued ...
TOWN OF BALLSTON, continued ...
V. - VILLAGES AND HAMLETS.
COURT-HOUSE HILL must always be a place of interest to citizens of Ballston and residents of the county.
It is situated on the middle line, that old historic road of Revolutionary times, a sightly elevation, fitly chosen for its convenience of access over the leading roads of the county before railroads were opened, and for its reasonably central position.
Enos Mann, in his book, "The Bench and Bar of Saratoga County," says, "Around the court-house a thriving village was growing, and doubtless the owners of the surrounding farms discussed the probable value of corner-lots, and saw, in imagination, their pastures and corn-fields bisected with avenues and streets; and, without doubt, there were others who saw, with an air of dismay, the ruin of their sylvan homes beneath the crushing weight of local taxations for local improvements."
"Several stores and two hotels were erected, and did a 'land-office' business in court terms."
"Two lawyers - John W. Taylor and Samuel Cook - displayed their shingles there, trusting in the maxim to secure the worm."
"But suddenly a blight came over this rural Arcadia, and its hopes were forever blasted."
The court-house and jail burned to the ground on the morning of the Sunday preceding March 27, 1816 - closing the village prospects of the Hill.
George Billings, a prisoner chained to the floor, lost his life.
When the question came to be argued before the commissioners appointed to decide the location of the new buildings, the advocate of Court-House Hill, Samuel De Forest, made an able effort to retain the honors and emoluments of the county-seat; but the efforts of Judge Cook, of Ballston Spa, Thomas C. Taylor and Nicholas Low, of New York, aided by the liberal offers of the latter, prevailed, and Court-House Hill retained its name secured in the early times, but the name only.
The court-house stood on the west side of the road, opposite the large dwelling-house, formerly a tavern, now owned by David R. Harlow,, rented, however, to other parties.
Mr. Harlow's residence is south of the court-house site, on the same side of the road.
Abner Harlow, father of David R., came to this town from Vermont, reaching here the day after the court-house burned, and settled a half-mile west of the hill, on what is now the place of James Young.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
by NATHANIEL BARTLETT SYLVESTER
1878
HISTORY OF THE VILLAGES AND TOWNS OF SARATOGA COUNTY, continued ...
TOWN OF BALLSTON, continued ...
V. - VILLAGES AND HAMLETS.
COURT-HOUSE HILL must always be a place of interest to citizens of Ballston and residents of the county.
It is situated on the middle line, that old historic road of Revolutionary times, a sightly elevation, fitly chosen for its convenience of access over the leading roads of the county before railroads were opened, and for its reasonably central position.
Enos Mann, in his book, "The Bench and Bar of Saratoga County," says, "Around the court-house a thriving village was growing, and doubtless the owners of the surrounding farms discussed the probable value of corner-lots, and saw, in imagination, their pastures and corn-fields bisected with avenues and streets; and, without doubt, there were others who saw, with an air of dismay, the ruin of their sylvan homes beneath the crushing weight of local taxations for local improvements."
"Several stores and two hotels were erected, and did a 'land-office' business in court terms."
"Two lawyers - John W. Taylor and Samuel Cook - displayed their shingles there, trusting in the maxim to secure the worm."
"But suddenly a blight came over this rural Arcadia, and its hopes were forever blasted."
The court-house and jail burned to the ground on the morning of the Sunday preceding March 27, 1816 - closing the village prospects of the Hill.
George Billings, a prisoner chained to the floor, lost his life.
When the question came to be argued before the commissioners appointed to decide the location of the new buildings, the advocate of Court-House Hill, Samuel De Forest, made an able effort to retain the honors and emoluments of the county-seat; but the efforts of Judge Cook, of Ballston Spa, Thomas C. Taylor and Nicholas Low, of New York, aided by the liberal offers of the latter, prevailed, and Court-House Hill retained its name secured in the early times, but the name only.
The court-house stood on the west side of the road, opposite the large dwelling-house, formerly a tavern, now owned by David R. Harlow,, rented, however, to other parties.
Mr. Harlow's residence is south of the court-house site, on the same side of the road.
Abner Harlow, father of David R., came to this town from Vermont, reaching here the day after the court-house burned, and settled a half-mile west of the hill, on what is now the place of James Young.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Re: HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY
HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK, continued ...
by NATHANIEL BARTLETT SYLVESTER
1878
HISTORY OF THE VILLAGES AND TOWNS OF SARATOGA COUNTY, continued ...
TOWN OF BALLSTON, continued ...
V. - VILLAGES AND HAMLETS, continued ...
THE MIDDLE LINE ROAD contains many historic points - the old Gordon homestead, where General Washington dined in 1783; the site of Gordon's grist-mill, the remains of the dam being still visible in the creek south of the mansion and near the road; the points in the Tory raids where they seized their prisoners; and the houses they pillaged, and many others.
The traditional stories of olden times are full of interest, abounding in "moving accidents by field and flood," hair-breadth escapes, thrilling encounters and hasty flights.
All this has passed away.
Peace and civil order prevail.
In all this now beautiful section of country "the desert has blossomed like the rose and the wilderness become a fruitful field."
*****
ACADEMY HILL is the old point at which Rev. Mr. Ball settled, and at which the first meeting-house was built, in 1780.
The place received this name from the fact that about the year 1804 the old red meeting-house, then abandoned for the new one west, was opened as an academy.
It stood upon the site of the present school-house, and was for many years an excellent school, at which many distinguished men were educated.
A catalogue of its early students would include a large number of citizens, eminent at home and abroad.
Whoever will dig out from the archives of the past a history of that institution - its teachers, scholars, and officers - will add a contribution of much value to the pioneer history of Saratoga County.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
by NATHANIEL BARTLETT SYLVESTER
1878
HISTORY OF THE VILLAGES AND TOWNS OF SARATOGA COUNTY, continued ...
TOWN OF BALLSTON, continued ...
V. - VILLAGES AND HAMLETS, continued ...
THE MIDDLE LINE ROAD contains many historic points - the old Gordon homestead, where General Washington dined in 1783; the site of Gordon's grist-mill, the remains of the dam being still visible in the creek south of the mansion and near the road; the points in the Tory raids where they seized their prisoners; and the houses they pillaged, and many others.
The traditional stories of olden times are full of interest, abounding in "moving accidents by field and flood," hair-breadth escapes, thrilling encounters and hasty flights.
All this has passed away.
Peace and civil order prevail.
In all this now beautiful section of country "the desert has blossomed like the rose and the wilderness become a fruitful field."
*****
ACADEMY HILL is the old point at which Rev. Mr. Ball settled, and at which the first meeting-house was built, in 1780.
The place received this name from the fact that about the year 1804 the old red meeting-house, then abandoned for the new one west, was opened as an academy.
It stood upon the site of the present school-house, and was for many years an excellent school, at which many distinguished men were educated.
A catalogue of its early students would include a large number of citizens, eminent at home and abroad.
Whoever will dig out from the archives of the past a history of that institution - its teachers, scholars, and officers - will add a contribution of much value to the pioneer history of Saratoga County.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Re: HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY
HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK, continued ...
by NATHANIEL BARTLETT SYLVESTER
1878
HISTORY OF THE VILLAGES AND TOWNS OF SARATOGA COUNTY, continued ...
TOWN OF BALLSTON, continued ...
V. - VILLAGES AND HAMLETS, continued ...
BALLSTON CENTRE is on the Middle Line road, a short distance west of Academy Hill.
The new Presbyterian church, built there in 1804, the importance of the line of travel, the location of the post-office, all tended in early times to cause the growth of a small village.
Its importance was diminished very much by the change of the courthouse, the change in all the great lines of travel, but it remains, nevertheless, a beautiful spot.
*****
BURNT HILLS is a pleasant rural village in the south part of the town.
It derives its name from the fact that there was a large tract of land at this point burned over, either purposely or by accident, about the time the first settlers were coming in.
Traveling up from the Mohawk Flats below and passing these blackened forest elevations, they spoke of them as the Burnt Hills.
This point was settled at an early day by the Hollister family, who owned, at one time, a large estate, reaching from the hills to the Branch.
A descendant, Asa Hollister, is still living in the village.
The records of the Baptist church extend back to 1791.
Rev. Bradbury Clay was the first minister.
The father of Joseph Bettys, the noted spy, was an early settler near Burnt Hills.
Of Harriet McGregor we learn that her stepfather, Wm. Kingsley, probably opened the first tavern, in 1805, and that Fox, Guernsey, and Cogswell were early settlers.
There was also a tannery established here at an early day.
*****
THE BRANCH, as railroad men term it, or SOUTH BALLSTON, as it appears in the maps of the county, is the railroad station about a mile east of Burnt Hills, and is a convenient point for all the south part of this town and the north part of Clifton Park.
The opening of the road caused the growth of whatever there is of this place.
Before that there were not even the three necessary elements to constitute a village - a tavern, a blacksmith-shop, and a store.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
by NATHANIEL BARTLETT SYLVESTER
1878
HISTORY OF THE VILLAGES AND TOWNS OF SARATOGA COUNTY, continued ...
TOWN OF BALLSTON, continued ...
V. - VILLAGES AND HAMLETS, continued ...
BALLSTON CENTRE is on the Middle Line road, a short distance west of Academy Hill.
The new Presbyterian church, built there in 1804, the importance of the line of travel, the location of the post-office, all tended in early times to cause the growth of a small village.
Its importance was diminished very much by the change of the courthouse, the change in all the great lines of travel, but it remains, nevertheless, a beautiful spot.
*****
BURNT HILLS is a pleasant rural village in the south part of the town.
It derives its name from the fact that there was a large tract of land at this point burned over, either purposely or by accident, about the time the first settlers were coming in.
Traveling up from the Mohawk Flats below and passing these blackened forest elevations, they spoke of them as the Burnt Hills.
This point was settled at an early day by the Hollister family, who owned, at one time, a large estate, reaching from the hills to the Branch.
A descendant, Asa Hollister, is still living in the village.
The records of the Baptist church extend back to 1791.
Rev. Bradbury Clay was the first minister.
The father of Joseph Bettys, the noted spy, was an early settler near Burnt Hills.
Of Harriet McGregor we learn that her stepfather, Wm. Kingsley, probably opened the first tavern, in 1805, and that Fox, Guernsey, and Cogswell were early settlers.
There was also a tannery established here at an early day.
*****
THE BRANCH, as railroad men term it, or SOUTH BALLSTON, as it appears in the maps of the county, is the railroad station about a mile east of Burnt Hills, and is a convenient point for all the south part of this town and the north part of Clifton Park.
The opening of the road caused the growth of whatever there is of this place.
Before that there were not even the three necessary elements to constitute a village - a tavern, a blacksmith-shop, and a store.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Re: HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY
HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK, continued ...
by NATHANIEL BARTLETT SYLVESTER
1878
HISTORY OF THE VILLAGES AND TOWNS OF SARATOGA COUNTY, continued ...
TOWN OF BALLSTON, continued ...
V. - VILLAGES AND HAMLETS, concluded ...
SPEAR'S CORNERS is within the town of Milton, but derives its name from the families spoken of elsewhere, who settled in the northwest part of Ballston, at what is still known as Hop City.
*****
The V CORNERS, a mile south of Ballston Spa, appeared in early times as likely to be a business point, but it lost its importance, being outranked by the demands of spring waters, official business, and manufacturing enterprise at the southern bend of the Kayadrossera.
*****
EAST LINE is a name in connection with Ballston - old as the town itself - spoken of in the history of Malta.
It is seen, under the head of "settlement," that the beautiful slopes east of the lake attracted many of the early settlers.
For them East Line was a business point, and they also drove across the "outlet" to Academy Hill and Ballston Centre.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
by NATHANIEL BARTLETT SYLVESTER
1878
HISTORY OF THE VILLAGES AND TOWNS OF SARATOGA COUNTY, continued ...
TOWN OF BALLSTON, continued ...
V. - VILLAGES AND HAMLETS, concluded ...
SPEAR'S CORNERS is within the town of Milton, but derives its name from the families spoken of elsewhere, who settled in the northwest part of Ballston, at what is still known as Hop City.
*****
The V CORNERS, a mile south of Ballston Spa, appeared in early times as likely to be a business point, but it lost its importance, being outranked by the demands of spring waters, official business, and manufacturing enterprise at the southern bend of the Kayadrossera.
*****
EAST LINE is a name in connection with Ballston - old as the town itself - spoken of in the history of Malta.
It is seen, under the head of "settlement," that the beautiful slopes east of the lake attracted many of the early settlers.
For them East Line was a business point, and they also drove across the "outlet" to Academy Hill and Ballston Centre.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Re: HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY
HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK, continued ...
by NATHANIEL BARTLETT SYLVESTER
1878
HISTORY OF THE VILLAGES AND TOWNS OF SARATOGA COUNTY, continued ...
TOWN OF BALLSTON, continued ...
VI. - SCHOOLS.
The earlier settlers were men who valued education and religious privileges.
Among their first public acts were the opening of schools and the establishment of churches.
The meeting-house and the school-house rose side by side in the wilderness.
Amid the severity of pioneer life there was little opportunity for long school terms.
Boys and girls were obliged to work, but the brief three months' school was well improved.
The three R's - Reading, Riting, and 'Rithmetic - were well taught, and the very brevity of the advantages rendered them all the more highly prized and the more promptly attended to.
The number of learned men that have risen from the ranks of the early pioneers of Ballston prove their culture, their real refinement, though struggling with all the rudeness of the wilderness.
A very early school was at Ballston Centre, or near there at Academy Hill.
At Burnt Hills also was a pioneer school-house, and among the sturdy Scotch settlers in the western part of the town there was another.
East Line, so prominently known in the old times, had a good school.
Lewis Smith, of Mechanicville, now in his ninety-third year, recalls the school and the following incident, though the names of teachers and scholars are fading from his memory: He was a "little boy."
The fat, good-natured old teacher was asleep in his chair, and the larger boys gave Lewis twenty-five cents (which seemed to his eyes an immense fortune) to carefully tie the school-master's ankles fast to the chair.
He succeeded in doing it.
Then the "big boys" made a noise, and woke him up.
Rising suddenly, his feet refused to move, and he fell his full length upon the floor, at imminent risk of life and limb, though, fortunately, he was not much hurt.
There is no profanity in Mr. Smith's remark when, in his quaint way, he said to the writer, "It was a devil of a fall."
He gives the older boys credit for standing by him, and the schoolmaster was unable to find out who did it.
The Ballston Academy was probably opened about 1804, as it was established in the old pioneer meeting-house, which was given up for their new one by the church about that time.
Many distinguished men received their education here.
But little trace of records or catalogues can be obtained.
With the growth of Ballston Spa that place soon became the resort of those seeking a higher education.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
by NATHANIEL BARTLETT SYLVESTER
1878
HISTORY OF THE VILLAGES AND TOWNS OF SARATOGA COUNTY, continued ...
TOWN OF BALLSTON, continued ...
VI. - SCHOOLS.
The earlier settlers were men who valued education and religious privileges.
Among their first public acts were the opening of schools and the establishment of churches.
The meeting-house and the school-house rose side by side in the wilderness.
Amid the severity of pioneer life there was little opportunity for long school terms.
Boys and girls were obliged to work, but the brief three months' school was well improved.
The three R's - Reading, Riting, and 'Rithmetic - were well taught, and the very brevity of the advantages rendered them all the more highly prized and the more promptly attended to.
The number of learned men that have risen from the ranks of the early pioneers of Ballston prove their culture, their real refinement, though struggling with all the rudeness of the wilderness.
A very early school was at Ballston Centre, or near there at Academy Hill.
At Burnt Hills also was a pioneer school-house, and among the sturdy Scotch settlers in the western part of the town there was another.
East Line, so prominently known in the old times, had a good school.
Lewis Smith, of Mechanicville, now in his ninety-third year, recalls the school and the following incident, though the names of teachers and scholars are fading from his memory: He was a "little boy."
The fat, good-natured old teacher was asleep in his chair, and the larger boys gave Lewis twenty-five cents (which seemed to his eyes an immense fortune) to carefully tie the school-master's ankles fast to the chair.
He succeeded in doing it.
Then the "big boys" made a noise, and woke him up.
Rising suddenly, his feet refused to move, and he fell his full length upon the floor, at imminent risk of life and limb, though, fortunately, he was not much hurt.
There is no profanity in Mr. Smith's remark when, in his quaint way, he said to the writer, "It was a devil of a fall."
He gives the older boys credit for standing by him, and the schoolmaster was unable to find out who did it.
The Ballston Academy was probably opened about 1804, as it was established in the old pioneer meeting-house, which was given up for their new one by the church about that time.
Many distinguished men received their education here.
But little trace of records or catalogues can be obtained.
With the growth of Ballston Spa that place soon became the resort of those seeking a higher education.
TO BE CONTINUED ...