Delaware County NY Genealogy and History Site
Increase of population in the interior of the State - Necessary alteration of the civil divisions from time to time - Erection of Otsego in 1792 - Petition for the erection of a new County in 1796 - New County erected in 1797 - Called Delaware - Number of towns at the erection of the County -Enumeration of the other towns in the order of their erection - Names of the first Supervisors - First Representatives to the Assembly - First Court held in the County - First Judges - First Sheriff - Court-house and Jail erected - Murder of Cameron and McGilfry - Arrest of the murderer - Escape of a prisoner from jail - Re-arrested on Cabin-hill - Tried and found guilty - Sentenced to be hung - Execution a public one - Description by an eye-witness of the execution - Execution of Foster in 1819 - Burning of the Court- house and Jail - One man burned - Legislative Act - Erection of the Delaware Academy - Its founder - Manner of its endowment - Geological Society formed in Delhi - Its short existence - Matter in relation to the formation of the County - Extract from the Diary of Judge Foote - Obituary Notice - List of Assemblymen since the formation of the County - Surrogates and County Judges - Sheriffs - County Clerks.
The steady and rapid increase of inhabitants in the frontiers, or the central portions of the State, rendered the formation of new counties and towns necessary from time to time, to enable the more ready administration of government. In 1770, as before stated, the county of Albany contained by far the larger portion of the present county of Delaware; indeed, it comprised the whole, excepting a part of the towns of Hancock and Colchester. Latterly, I think in 1786, the boundaries of Ulster were increased so as to contain the whole of Delaware county east of the Pepacton, or East Branch of the Delaware; and in 1772, a new county by the name of Tryon, was organized, which included the balance, or northern frontier of the county, and the West Branch was made the dividing line, the whole of said river belonging to Ulster county.
These civil divisions remained unaltered until 1792, when Ostego [sic] county was formed from Tryon, and the southern boundary was fixed as the West Branch. It now became obvious that another county was necessary from portions of Ulster and Otsego, as those who resided north of the West Branch were obliged to go to Cooperstown to transact their business, and those who attend court, while those on the south side of the same stream did their business at Kingston; and accordingly, in 1796, the following petition was presented to legislature, signed by the most respectable citizens of Otsego county, including the supervisors of the respective towns:
"To the Honorable the Legislature of the State of New York - the petition of the subscribers, inhabitants of the County of Otsego, humbly showeth: -- "That the Legislature of this State did, in the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety- four, contemplate the erection of a county by the name of Delaware, composed of part of the counties of Otsego and Ulster. Your petitioners, after due consideration, do think it reasonable that the said county of Delaware should be set off according to the boundaries advertised for public consideration. We, your petitioners, do therefore humbly solicit that your honorable House would pass a law for erecting the said county of Delaware.
Benjamin Gilbert, William Cooper, Benjamin Griffin, Griffian Craft, Russel Bartlett, William Averill, Eleazer Robins, David Ferguson, William Cook, Nathaniel Golt, Thomas Fuller, James Harper, A.H. Ten Broeck, Elihu Phinney, Wm. Abbot, Samuel Huntington, Joseph Holt, Joseph Griffin, Israel Guild, Sluman Wattles, Supervisor of Otsego Co. H. Farnsworth, Benajah Beardsley, " " James Gardiner, David Goff, " " James White, William Beekman, " " Stephen Ingalls, Christopher Colwell, " " Norman Sandon, Joshua Dewey, " " Wm. French, Roswell Hotchkiss, " " Oliver Ingalls, Jas. Strong and Eli Parsons." "
From the above and other petitions, it appears that in the session of 1794, a plan with boundaries was agreed upon by the Legislature, and by a concurrent resolution it was resolved to defer the erection of the new county until a coming session, "that the same be published in the public papers, with leave to any person or persons affected thereby, to appear at the bar of either house, and show cause (if they have any,) against the passage of such a bill." Accordingly, at the session of 1796, the opponents of the new measures had arrayed themselves fiercely against the proposed boundaries, and had prepared themselves fully for the contest. While the inhabitants of Walton, Cannonsville, and Deposit, petitioned to be annexed to Tioga county, and to do their business at Kingston. As they were compelled to go there once or twice a year to transact their ordinary affairs, they might at the same time do their county business, with little expense or trouble. They also set forth, that between them and the proposed county-seat lay a hideous and almost impassible mountainous wilderness, without roads, and the people too poor to build them. The last remonstrance was signed by one hundred of the most respectable citizens of that section.
It appearing, however, from the remonstrances, that the petitioners were actuated by selfish motives, it had no other effect than to hasten the action of the Legislature, and accordingly on the 10th of March, 1797, the bill passed and became a law.
At its formation, Delaware county contained only seven towns, viz.: Colchester, Middletown, Franklin, Harpersfield, Kortright, Stamford and Walton, and with the exception of the latter, they had all existed previous to 1797. The local interests of the inhabitants, together with the steady increase of population, rendered the erection of new, and the subdivision of old towns necessary, from time to time; and in 1798, Delhi was erected into a town, from territory taken from Kortright and Walton. The village of Delhi was incorporated by an Act of March 16th, 1821; Roxbury was taken from Stamford in 1799; Meredith was taken from the towns of Franklin and Kortright in 1800; Sidney was taken from Tompkins in 1791; Hancock was taken from Colchester in 1806; Tompkins, originally called Pine-field, was erected in 1808; Masonville was erected from Sidney in 1811; Davenport from Kortright and Maryland, Otsego county; Andes was taken from Middletown in 1819; Bovina was taken from Delhi and Stamford in 1820. The name was given by the late General Root, and is of a latin origin, signifying cattle or oxen -- it is both beautiful and appropriate. Hamden was taken from Walton in 1825, and was the last town organized in the county.
The Supervisors convened from the first time in the county. May 31st, 1797, for the purpose of canvassing the votes taken in the county. The following is a list of their names and the town they represented:
Benjamin Milk, of Middletown, William Horton, of Colchester, Enos Parker, of Franklin, John Lamb, of Stamford, Roswell Hotchkiss, of Harpersfield, Benajah Beardsley, of Kortright, Robert North, of Walton.
Annexed is a list of the total personal and real ratable property in 1798, the basis of the first assessment made after the erection of the county:
Walton, .............................$7,197 50 Middletown,......................... 6,366 50 Kortright,...........................15,399 54 Stamford,............................14,375 00 Colchester,..........................14,803 75 Harpersfield,....................... 7,896 00 Delhi,.............................. 7,835 62 Franklin,............................11,169 84 $85,043 75
The first representatives to the Assembly were Nathaniel Wattles and William Horton. The first sheriff was Elias Butler. The first court was convened at the house of Gideon Frisbee, on Tuesday, the 3rd of October, following the erection of the county. Before proceeding to ordinary business, it was resolved that the seal of the court should be a "stream of water issuing from a high mountain, round which shall be the words, 'Seal of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Delaware,'" as emblematic of the surface and general features of the county.
Patrick Lamb, William Horton and Gabriel North, were judges, assisted by Isaac Hardenburg and Alexander Leal. The names of the attorneys who were admitted and sworn, were Conrad E. Elmendorf, Philip Gebhard, Erastus Root, Anthony Marvine, Cornelius E. Yates, and David Phelps.
The courts, and all other public gatherings, were held at the hotel of Gideon Frisbee, until the completion of the courthouse and jail, which was in the summer of 1799. Although the county had been to the expense of erecting a jail for the confinement of prisoners, it seems to have been an unnecessary appendage, for we note that in 1813, the Legislature passed an Act "authorising the commissioners of excise of the town of Delhi, in their discretion, to allow an inn or tavern to be kept in the building occupied as a jail;" and considering the extent of the county, Delaware has ever had, comparatively, but a small ration of crime.
In the early part of the year 1814, the citizens of Bovina and Delhi were thrown into the greatest excitement, by the inhuman murder of two citizens and neighbors. These two men, Hugh Cameron, and Alexander McGilfrey, had been at a logging-bee on a neighbor's premises, and were murdered while passing through a piece of wood on their way home. Suspicion immediately rested upon James Graham, an Irishman, who had had an angry dispute with the men during the afternoon, and who had left for home a short time previous to their departure, pursuing the same route. He was accordingly arrested and confined in Delhi Jail, from which he succeeded in making his escape a short time afterwards, in company with another prisoner. After a few days search he was recaptured and returned to jail, where he was locked in a cell, until some irons could be forged to confine him more securely. While in this situation he bethought himself of fortifying his cell in such a manner as to prevent the ingress of any one, and for this purpose he wedged the bedstead firmly between the door and the partition; he then broke the hearth of the stove into suitable pieces, and prepared to defend himself to the last minute. A large crowd of persons assembled around the outside door and in the jail, but none dared to approach the door of the cell, with the exception of one Smith, who made strong pretensions of friendship to the prisoner, and protested his willingness to aid in his escape. After having won his confidence, and when about to take his leave of the prisoner, Smith reached his hand, which was cordially grasped by Graham, not doubting for a moment his sincerity. He was soon undeceived, however, for Smith seized his arm with a firm hold, pulling it through the door and calling for help. The prisoner was held in this position until a hole was made in the back part of the cell large enough to admit the body of a man, when the officers crawled into the cell and succeeded in securing and ironing him. The weight of the irons was forty pounds. 1
The grand jury found a bill against him on the 16th of June, and the following day he was tried, and pronounced guilty by the jury.
I make the following extract from the records of the county clerk's office: -- "June 20. -- The prisoner, James Graham, being arraigned to receive the sentence of the court, was asked if he had any thing to say why judgment should not be pronounced according to law. The court therefore ordered and adjudged that the said James Graham be returned to prison from whence he came, and there to remain until the 29th day of July next, then, between the hours of 12 o'clock and 2 o'clock,to be taken from thence and hung by the neck until he be dead, and his body delivered to Asahel E. Payne and Ambrose Bryan, surgeons, for dissection."
The execution of Graham was to be a public one, and consequently great numbers of men, women and children prepared to witness the proceedings. The following information was furnished me by Isaac Burr, Esq., an eye witness.
"The people commenced pouring into Delhi from all points, the day preceeding that fixed for the execution, so that before night every house in and around the village was filled, while hundreds could get no lodgings at all. A considerable number passed the night in Meredith and that vicinity. More or less kept arriving during the night, and even up to the hour for execution. Probably such a number of people had never before been collected together in the county. The gallows had been erected at some distance in a north-easterly direction from the jail -- the place was well chosen to give spectators a chance to witness the execution. 2 The hills rose on every side somewhat steep, and in a circular form, presenting an amphitheatre of considerable extent, in the centre of which the gallows was erected. The people commenced occupying the ground some hours before the time fixed for the execution, and a dense mass of human beings seated themselves on the hill-side, covering several acres of ground. A battalion of militia had been called out to protect the sheriff in the discharge of his duty. They paraded near the jail, and when the time arrived for the procession to move, the military marched to the ground, followed by the sheriff, Robert Leal, and the prisoner, arm in arm, together with the clergy, judges, and other officers. The militia formed a hollow square around the gallows, while the sheriff, clergy, and others occupied the platform with the condemned man, who walked with a firm step. Prayer was offered, when Graham addressed a few words to the people, declaring that 'he never murdered or stole.' The rope was then adjusted and all things made ready, when leave was taken of the prisoner, and the sheriff and clergy descended from the platform; the sheriff mounted his horse and took his station, telling Graham from time to time, the number to minutes he had to live -- and at last that he could live no longer. He drew his sword and with it struck a latch: the next moment the unhappy man was suspended breathless in the air -- he made but a slight struggle, and all was over.
"The people immediately commenced leaving the ground, and before night most of the vast multitude were many miles away from the place. The weather was warm, and there were one or more showers during the day, making it very muddy, which somewhat soiled the white dresses of the ladies, although I believe no serious accident took place. To finish the sentence, his body was given to the medical society for dissection, and doubtless his bones are still preserved."
The iron-wood handspike with which the two men Cameron and McGilfrey were knocked down, and which was found and produced at the trial, is still preserved in the Albany Museum.
The other prisoner who escaped from the jail with Graham, was named Kinney, and was a resident of the town of Sidney. He was charged with having passed counterfeit money. Expecting that search would be made, he determined, if possible, to deceive his pursuers; for this purpose, he cut his shoes so as to tie them on heel foremost, to give the impression of his having travelled in an opposite direction. He was, however, followed to Sidney and re-arrested -- was afterwards tried and sentenced to the state prison for two years.
Only one other execution has ever taken place in the county, that of Nathan Foster, for poisoning his wife, in 1819. Martin Van Buren, Esq., the Attorney General, assisted the District Attorney, on the part of the people, and Erastus Root and Samuel Sharwood, were the prisoner's counsel. Judge Martin Keeler, of Kortright, was then sheriff.
Foster was a tory during the Revolution, and is reported to have been the identical person who inhumanly murdered Col. Alden, at the massacre of Cherry Valley, in 1777. Priest, in his narrative of the capture of David Ogden, who died a short time since in Franklin, Delaware County, thus refers: "This act of barbarity was perpetrated by a man named Foster, a tory at that time, and the same, who a few years since (1819) was hanged for the murder of his wife, by poison, in Delaware County, N.Y. at Delhi. That the same Foster did murder Colonel Alden, was ascertained by a certain James Campbell, another tory, who stated to David Ogden, that he had heard this Foster boast of the act, while they were both with the British at Niagara. He was at length overtaken by justice, and ended his miserable life on the gallows, although at the advanced age of __ years. He died without a confession of his guilt."
The spring following the execution of Graham, a fire broke out in the court-house and jail, which were then all included in one building. The following extract is from the Gazette: -- "On the 17th of April, about half-past 3 o'clock in the morning, the fire was discovered by some person, and the alarm given, but all attempts to save the building proved fruitless. What added to the horror of the scene, a young man from the town of Andes, by the name Abraham Coon, who, but three days before had received the sentence of the court to a short confinement for the petty theft of three yards of cotton cloth, was extricated from the ruins of the building -- his arms and legs completely burned off. His mangled remains were interred in the village burying ground. At this time no family resided in the building, and it was supposed the fire originated in his own room."
A meeting of the citizens was immediately called, and it was determined to apply to the Legislature for a loan to enable them to erect new buildings, without resorting to the expedient of directly taxing the people for the whole amount. The limit of the legislative session was about closing, and no time was to be lost. The late Amasa Parker, Esq., was dispatched to Albany to lay the case before Gen. Root, then a member of that body, and to co-operate with him in procuring the loan. Col. Parker did not arrive in Albany until the 10th, when he had an immediate interview with Root, who expeditiously drew up a bill covering the whole ground, and having called upon and secured the co-operation of the leading members of both the Senate and Assembly, the next morning introduced the bill, which passed rapidly through both houses, and before night became a law. The following is a summary of the bill: -- The State loaned the county $8000, to be redeemed in four years, at six per cent. interest; that the jail of Greene county should be used in criminal cases, and for debtors who refuse to give bail, and that courts should be held at the house of Jesse C. Gilbert.
I am indebted to Isaac Burr, for the following information: -- "I succeeded Mr. Keeler in the office of sheriff, and the burning of the court-house and jail took place the night before I qualified and took upon myself the responsibilities of the office. I was placed in rather embarrassing circumstances. Mr. Keeler delivered over to me ten or twelve prisoners who were on the limits, and I had not so much as a 'Log Pen,' to confine them in. I, however, succeeded in getting bail for the limits in every instance. In a few days we had a law authorizing me to use the jail of Greene county. And it is a singular fact, that while we were without a jail, for several months, no case occurred that rendered it necessary to take a prisoner to Catskill, and that within two or three hours after we had a prison room in the new jail so far completed as to hold a prisoner, it was necessary to use it."
The same year that the new court-house and jail were put up, the Academy building was also constructed, and it may be interesting to some to learn the history of its origin, and to whom it is indebted for its liberal endowment. In 1770, before the Revolutionary war, John Leake, Daniel Stiles, Roger Richards, and twenty-four other associates, obtained a grant of 27,000 acres of land, comprising what is now commonly called the Beddington Patent, which lies in the towns of Franklin and Walton. In 1820, Gen. Root discovered that a large portion of this tract of land had escheated to the State, its proprietor having died intestate. He accordingly introduced a bill appropriating the proceeds of the sale of these lands to the construction and endowment of an academy at the county seat of Delaware county. The bill, after an exciting debate and a good deal of opposition, finally passed.
The Delaware Academy was one of the first incorporated institutions of learning in the interior of the State, and the first in the county, and has since maintained a high literary reputation. Connected with the institution is a valuable and well- selected library, containing several hundred volumes, and a fine collection of mineralogical specimens, principally collected by the County Geological Society.
This Society was formed in 1821. The meeting for the purpose of organization, was held at the hotel of G.H. Edgerton, on the 6th of September. Charles A. Foote, Esq., was elected president; Rev. James P.F. Clark, vice-president; Charles Hathaway, Esq., receiving secretary; Doctor Calvin Howard, corresponding secretary; and Selah R. Hobbie, Esq., treasurer; Cornelius R. Fitch, Esq., R.W. Stockton, and Ebenezer Steele, were elected directors.
Colonel Henry Leavenworth, of the U.S. Army; Edwin Croswell, then of Catskill, but afterward, and for many years, senior editor of the "Albany Argus;" and O. Rice, Esq., of Troy, were unanimously elected corresponding members.
The main object of the institution was to promote inquiry with reference to the geology, mineralogy, and the natural history of the county, although I believe the researches of the society in the county for specimens, were very limited. "The Autobiography of the Delaware Gazette" thus alludes to this Society:
"This Society had but a short existence -- neither it nor any other association making us familiar with the geology or mineralogy of the county. Some years since the State expended large sums in making geological surveys of its territory, which, so far as Delaware county is concerned, was as complete a humbug as ever was known. I think the learned professor condescended to ride through our county -- possibly he even slept one or two nights within our territory -- but for all practical purposes, the passage through our county of a blind fiddler and his dog, would have been as promotive of public good, as the Professor's journey. Delaware county, geologically and mineralogically considered, is terra incognita. We know nothing of our mineral resources, notwithstanding nature hints strongly of treasure lying dormant in the bosom of our mountains."
Our limits -- even did it not trespass upon the patience of the reader -- will not permit us to indulge in all the minute details of the history of the county since its formation, and we shall therefore content ourselves by glancing at the most prominent features. It may with propriety be stated, that the erection of Delaware county, in the face of such decided opposition, is mainly due to Joshua H. Brett, at that time member of the Assembly from Otsego county, an eminent physician of Harpersfield, and one of its first settlers; John Burr, of Middletown, and Ebenezer Foote, merchant of Newburgh, the latter two being members of Assembly from Ulster county. Joshua H. Brett was appointed first judge, and Ebenezer Foote obtained the appointment of county clerk, 3 and shortly after removed into the town of Delhi, where he resided until the time of his death.
The following extract is from a manuscript journal of Judge Foote: --
"April 28th, 1828.-- I was appointed first judge of Delaware county for the third time. Under my first appointment I served until I was sixty years of age -- a term beyond which I could not constitutionally hold the office. I was then appointed judge, and served in that capacity until the new constitution was adopted, when I was again appointed as above stated; and what is rather unusual, my three last appointments have been made by men of different political sentiments from myself."
In 1798, the new town was erected which contained the county seat. There was some dispute as to what should be the name of the new township: General Root and others proposed calling it Mapleton, while Judge Foote and his associates wished to call it Delhi, which name finally prevailed. An anecdote is told of General Root, who was at that time young, but possessing the same impulsive, ardent, fearless disposition, which so conspicuously marked his after life, that when the decision was announced of calling it Delhi, he expressed himself in the following words to Mr. Foote, or some of his associates; "Delhi, hell-high -- better call it Foote- high!" It is hardly necessary, and perhaps out of place to predict, that were the choice now to be made, Mapleton would be the decision -- Delhi being rejected, from its known Hindoo origin.
We are indebted to a highly respectable correspondent for the following biographical sketch of the life of the late Judge Foote -- a life covering more than half a century of the most interesting period of our county -- full of incident and usefulness, which affords abundant matter, would our limits permit, for a more enlarged notice.
"Honorable Ebenezer Foote died at his residence at Delhi, on the 28th, (1818,) at the advanced age of seventy-four. Few men have been called to act as many parts in the drama of human life as the subject of this notice, or have sustained themselves as well. Judge Foote became a volunteer in the Revolution at the first beat of the drum, and continued as an intrepid soldier and active officer, until near the time of disbanding the army, in 1783. He participated in the toils and danger of the battle of Bunker's-hill, and shared in the privations and sufferings of his fellow- soldiers at Valley Forge. He escaped from the enemy by swimming the Hudson River, near New York, in December, 1777. The vigilance and ability of young Foote did not escape the observation of the commander-in-chief,from whom he received an appointment in the staff department, and finally left the army in the rank of major. His conduct during the war, won for him the badges of the order of Cincinnati, of which society he was an active member until his death; and perhaps no event of the latter part of his life afforded him more pleasure, than on the 4th of July in each revolving year, joining this little band, the remnant of his Revolutionary compeers, in celebrating the independence which they contributed to achieve.
"At the close of the war, Major Foote had little left but his title and his friends; of the former he was tenacious, and to the latter he was true. He commenced the dull round of his civil life by embarking in mercantile business, in Ulster county, in which he continued with varied success, until 1797; when, upon the organization of this county, he was appointed its clerk, and shortly afterward came to reside upon the spot where his remains are now deposited.
"Judge Foote was a member of Assembly several years, from the county of Ulster; represented the old Middle District four years in the Senate of this State; sat in the Council of Appointment with Governor Jay, and enjoyed his confidence. Upon the resignation of Judge Brett, in 1810, Mr. Foote was appointed to fill the vacancy of first judge of this county, and has ever since remained a distinguished member of the Common Pleas bench.
"Mr. Foote having been identified with party politics in 1800, fell a victim to its retribution when at its utmost height, in 1801, and was deprived of the office of clerk, upon which he relied for the support of himself and family. This event, connected with an indiscreet selection of a successor, gave rise to considerable newspaper discussion of the day, and as the case gained publicity, it secured to Mr. Foote friends who soon obtained for him an extensive and profitable land agency, which he retained during his life. Without advantages of an early education, Judge Foote nevertheless possessed a liberal share of literary attainments. To an original and strong mind, he united peculiar amenity of manners, a high sense of moral propriety, and unyielding integrity."
The following list contains the names of members who have been sent to the Legislature from the county, since its erection:
1798. William Horton, Nathaniel Wattles,
1799. Elias Butler, Erastus Root,
1800. Patrick Lamb, Sluman Wattles,
1801. Gabriel North, Erastus Root,
1802. Gabriel North, Erastus Root,
1803. John Lamb, Elias Osborn,
1804. Gabriel North, Erastus Root,
1805. Adam I. Doll, Anthony Marvine,
1806. Gabriel North, Anthony Marvine,
1807. John T. More, Joshua Pine,
1808. John T. More, Gabriel North,
1809. Daniel Fuller, David St. John,
1810. John T. More, Elias Osborn,
1811. Daniel Fuller, David St. John,
1812. Daniel H. Burr, Isaac Ogden,
1813. Robert Clark, Andrew Craig, Jr.
1814. John T. More, Isaac Ogden,
1815. Robert Clark, Asahel E. Paine,
1816. William Dewey, Henry Leavenworth,
1817. Martin Keeler, Asahel E. Paine,
1818. William Beach, Erastus Root,
1819. James Eells, Erastus Root,
1820. Peter Pine, Erastus Root,
1821. John H. Gregory, Erastus Root,
1822. Benjamin Benedict, Asa Grant,
1823. Samuel Rexford, Asa Grant,
1824. James Eells, Peter Pine,
1825. Jabez Bostwick, Harman I. Quackenboss,
1826. Erastus Root, William Townsend,
1827. Erastus Root, John Thompson,
1828. Erastus Root, Edward Doyle,
1829. William S. McCrea, James G. Redfield,
1830. Erastus Root, Matthew Talcott,
1831. David P. Mapes, Peter Pine,
1832. James Coulter, James Hughson,
1833. John Edgerton, Stoddard Stevens,
1834. Samuel Gordon, Amasa J. Parker,
1835. Dubois Burhaus, William B. Ogden,
1836. John Griffin, James W. Knapp,
1837. Jesse Booth, Thomas J. Hubbell,
1838. Cornelius Bassett, Darius Mapes,
1839. Ichabod Bartlett, Jonas More,
1840. Orsen M. Allaben, Nathan Bristol,
1841. Stephen H. Keeler, Charles Knapp,
1842. Samuel Eells, Orrin Griffin
1843. Milton Bostwick, Nelson K. Wheeler,
1844. Edward J. Burhaus, Jesse Palmer,
1845. John McDonald, Linus Porter,
1846. Orrin Foote, Reuben Lewis,
1847. John C. Allaben, Donald Shaw,
1848. Platt Townsend, John Calhoun,
1849. James E. Thompson, Luther Butts,
1850. George H. Wisner, Richard Morse,
1851. Samuel Doyle, William Gleason, Jr.,
1852. Hezekiah Elwood, Lewis Mills,
1853. Charles S. Rogers, Daniel Stewart,
1854. Samuel A. Miller, Daniel Rowland,
1855. William B. Smith, William Miller,
1856. Haxtun.
Annexed is a list of the first Judges of the County Court, with the respective dates of appointment or election, for which the author is indebted to the New York Civil List, by F. B. Hough, Esq.:
Joshua H. Brett, March 20, 1797.
Ebenezer Foote, March 27, 1810.
Isaac Ogden, March 26, 1816.
Ebenezer Foote, Feb. 10, 1823.
Jabez Bostwick, Jan. 22, 1830.
Charles Hathaway, Feb. 12, 1840.
Nelson K. Wheeler, Feb. 12, 1844.
Edwin More, (elected) June, 1847.
William Gleason, Jr., (elected) Nov. 1851.
Jesse Palmer, (elected) Nov. 1855.
COUNTY CLERKS OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
Ebenezer Foote, March 30, 1797.
Philip Gebhard, Aug. 17, 1801.
John Doll, March 29, 1803.
Homer R. Phelps, Feb. 12, 1809.
Asahel E. Paine, Feb. 26, 1810.
Homer R. Phelps, Feb. 12, 1811.
Ambrose Bryan, March 30, 1813.
Asahel E. Paine, Feb. 16, 1815.
Homer R. Phelps, Feb. 12, 1821.
Homer R. Phelps, (elected) 1822.
John E. Burhaus, (elected) 1825.
Crawford B. Sheldon, (elected) 1828.
Wm. McClaughry, (elected) 1846.
Benjamin Cannon, (elected) 1852.
Benjamin Cannon, (elected) 1855.
SHERIFFS OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
Elias Butler, March 20, 1797.
James J. White, Feb. 11, 1799.
Clark Lawrence, May 8, 1801.
Roswell Hotchkiss, March 29, 1805.
Nathan Edgerton, Jr., March 6, 1809.
Jabez Bostwick, Feb. 23, 1811.
Robert Seal, March 13, 1813.
Jabez Bostwick, Feb. 13, 1815.
Martin Keeler, Feb. 12, 1821.
Roger Case, (elected) 1822.
Martin Keeler, " 1825.
Gurden H. Edgerton, " 1828.
John H. Gregory, " 1831.
Duncan I. Grant , " 1834.
John M. Betts, " 1837.
John Edgerton, " 1840.
Green Moore, " 1843.
DeWitt C. Thomas, " 1846.
Daniel Rowland, " 1849.
Duncan McDonald, " 1852.
A.H. Burhaus, " 1855.
FOOTNOTES
- I obtained the above the information of Robert Leal, Esq., sheriff at the time, and who is still living, aged 77 years.
- See map of Delaware County for the exact location, in the plan of Delhi village.
- Anthony Marvine, father of Charles Marvine, Esq., President of Delaware Bank, recorded the first deed in the county clerk's office.
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