St. Helena’s School Life

The St. Helena School in 1893, when Miss Ida Bennett was teacher.

When homes began to be established in St. Helena, the need for a school arose, naturally. The exact date of the building of the first schoolhouse cannot be learned. However, it is known that the structure was located in the valley on the west side of the northern highway leading toward Castile. The building was used later for a barn. The school district was Number Four, at first, but later was changed to Number Ten in Castile Township. Since the village’s plans were made about 1820, it would appear that the schoolhouse was included. The first school building was used … Read more

Early Settlers of St. Helena, New York

St Helena, ghost town of the Genesee, 1797-1954

In 1826, Mr. and Mrs. Parker Nichols emigrated from Vermont and settled in St. Helena, where on September 25, 1827, a daughter, Fanny, was born to them. She could remember seeing Mary Jemison at St. Helena. An abundance of timber and water power for their mills drew the early settlers to the valley. During the early 1800’s, an English surveyor, Stewart by name, laid out the plan for the village. Divided into three sections, residential, business, and manufacturing, the little town began to grow. In 1832, Asa Willey Gifford purchased land there. Asa was born in Vermont in 1798, son … Read more

East End Cemetery, Amagansett, New York

Amagansett Cemetery, Amagansett, New York

The East End Cemetery is located on the corner of Atlantic Avenue and Route 27, almost directly across the street from Amagansett Fire Department. This cemetery is also known by the name of the Amagansett Cemetery.

The first deed referring to Amagansett is dated 1683. By means of that document the Reverend Thomas James sold to Abraham Schlellinger 52 acres of woods by a highway known as Amagansett commonly called Amagansett Way. The name Schlellinger is commonly found on many of the tombstones in this ancient burial ground. The earliest families who settled in Amagansett were the Bakers, the Conklings and the Mulfords. Alice Baker, who died on February 4th 1708 at age 88, was the wife of Thomas Baker, the first to settle the village.

Adams Rural Cemetery – B Surnames

Adams Rural Cemetery

Adams Rural Cemetery is located on the west side of of South Main Street 1)NYS Route 3 at the southern edged of the Village of Adams. The cemetery is very well maintained. Stones, for the most part, are in excellent condition and readable. 2)Description of Rural Cemetery. Due to the large size of this cemetery I have had to spread it out over multiple pages. You can find the main page here: Adams Rural Cemetery – Includes Map This section contains the interments whose surnames begin with the letter B.   Footnotes:[+] Footnotes: ↑1 NYS Route 3 ↑2 Description of … Read more

Long Island New York – Historic Account Books

account book of Robert Townsend & Co.

The East Hampton Library has placed online a treasure trove of original and unique genealogical data in the form of digitized account books of former residents of Long Island. They have placed these online as part of the Digital Long Island Collection. Most of these account books pertain to East Hampton and the area surrounding it on Long Island.

The First Congregational Society of Adams Village, NY

1864 Map of Adams Village New York

The First Congregational Society of Adams was formed Aug. 28, 1805, with Jacob Kellogg, Eliphalet Adams, Elijah Fox, and Simeon Meacham, trustees. About 1818 they erected a church, 30 by 40 feet, which was used seven or eight years, when it was sold to the Methodists. In 1825 the present church was commenced, and completed for dedication July 26, 1826. Its original cost was 17000, and it was enlarged and remodeled in 1858, and subsequently at a cost of about 14000. The building is a well-preserved frame, with an audience-room having 400 sittings. The present trustees of the society are … Read more

The Presbyterian Church of Adams Village, NY

1864 Map of Adams Village New York

The Presbyterian Church of Adams village was organized as the “First Congregational church of Adams,” by the Rev. Ebenezer Lazell, July, 1804, and consisted of the following six members: Joshua Reals, Jacob Kellogg, Abram Griswold, David Comstock, Betsey Griswold, and Asenath Cooper. Divine worship had been established on the Sabbath, in 1801, at the house of Jacob Kellogg, and in 1802 the first sermon was preached by the Rev. Woodward, a missionary. From the time of the formation of the church services were conducted according to the ordinances of the Congregational church, until 1821. January 27, 1821, while the Rev. … Read more

The Methodist Episcopal Church of Adams Village, NY

1864 Map of Adams Village New York

Members of Methodist Episcopal lived in the town at an early day and classes were formed in different localities prior to 1828; but in that year they were formed into a circuit, and there-after supplied with a regular preacher. The members living principally at Adams village. The First Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Adams was formed at that place October 24, 1828. The trustees elected were Laban Ross, Philip Younge, David Wright, Zephania Jacker, Chester McKee, Daniel Dikeman, and John Adams. This board was reorganized in 1838, when John C. Cooper, Timothy Lawrence, William E. Whitney, Andrew Blackstone, … Read more

Brownville Co. K 35th Regiment

Camp of 35th New York Volunteers, Jefferson County Regiment

Organization and Roster of Company K, 35th NY Vols. On the occasion of the 1887 Reunion of the 35th, Col. Newton B. Lord, regimental commander during the war, wrote the following regarding how the regiment and Brownville’s Company K came to be organized. “The news came to Brownville, where I lived, that Fort Sumpter had been fired upon. In our little village a military company had been organized by me, which was called the Jefferson Greys. On the day of the arrival of the news that war had been declared by the south, I caused to be printed, on “Bill … Read more