Fourth Report of the NSDAR - Kanisteo Chapter

FOURTH REPORT OF THE NATIONAL SOCIETY
OF THE
DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
OCTOBER 11, 1900 TO OCTOBER 11, 1901

"Home and Country."
Approved by the National board of Management, May 8, 1902.
June 27, 1902. - Referred to the Committee on Printing and ordered to be printed.
WASHINGTON: GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 1902.

KANISTEO VALLEY CHAPTER
Pages 277 thru 279

     Kanisteo Valley Chapter, of Hornellsville, 43 members, for the first time in its history reports no contributions outside of local interests. Prizes were given to students in the high school for the best essays on subjects connected with the revolutionary period. This chapter has been fortunate in its researches among the family papers of its members and has put on its chapter files records of much importance in the early history of the town. A copy has been made of an old book - the only one of its kind now known to be in existence - which is called "An historical sketch of Roswell Franklin and his family." This man was a lieutenant in the battle of Wyoming, and the book contains interesting records of personal experiences and sufferings, as well as incidents in the lives of several members of family who were captured by the Indians during the Revolution.
     In the oldest pioneer cemetery in the valley, called the "Old Settlers Burying Ground," are the graves of the following Revolutionary soldiers:
     Solomon Bennett: Born in Connecticut, died at Canisteo, N. Y., 1823, aged 73. He was a private in Captain John Franklin's Company in the Wyoming Valley.
     John Jamieson (formerly Jenningson): Born at Durham, Bucks County, Pa., Dec 3, 1755; died at Canisteo, N. Y., March 23, 1836. He was two years captain in the Pennsylvania troops. A part of the time he served under Colonel Robert Robinson. He was at the battle of Fort Washington, being taken prisoner at that time, and sent to the prison ship in New York harbor. At the commencement of the war he raised a company and for the expense of this, and for the relief of himself and others under his command, he had to draw upon his father. This was charged to his personal account and when his father's estate was settled, John Jamieson had nothing. Thus did he sacrifice his time, health and fortune for his country.

"STEPHENS BURYING GROUND."

     Rev. Jedediah Stephens: Born in Canaan, Litchfield County, Connecticut, May 11, 1757, died at Canisteo, N. Y., Jan 26, 1830. He was a Lieutenant in the Pennsylvania Troops, serving six years.
     Uriah Stephens, Jun.: Born in Connecticut, about 1754, died at Canisteo, N. Y., Aug. 2, 1849. A private in the Pennsylvania troops, serving from the spring of 1777 till the close of the war under the following Captains: David Hayes, Jno. Chatham, Jno. Morrison, Simon Spaulding.

"BAKER BURYING GROUND."
     Jeremiah Baker, Sen.: Born in Litchfield County, Connecticut, died at Canisteo, N. Y., Dec. 23, 1825, aged 78. He served as a private enlisting in the Wyoming Valley. See pages 263 and 266 "Record of Connecticut Men in the Revolution." His name occurs under "Additional Names appearing on the rolls of Captain Simon Spaulding's Company for March 15, 1779." "In June this Company was ordered to the Wyoming Valley but failed to arrive until after the Indian attack and massacre of July 3, 1778." It remained there until the fall of 1780, joining Sullivan's expedition in the summer of 1779.

"ADRIAN OR CROSBYVILLE."
     Richard Crosby: No facts can be ascertained about this man except what is recorded in the "History of Hornellsville and Steuben County," which states that he served as a Captain in General Washington's bodyguard.

"HORNELLSVILLE."
     Nehemiah Closson: Born in Vermont, died at Hornellsville, N. Y., April 16, 1839. He was a "Minute-Man" and served one enlistment as a private under Capt. John Wheelock. He was with Washington when the attack was made upon Trenton, after crossing the Delaware.

"GREENWOOD."
     John Stephens: Born in Connecticut, died at Greenwood, N. Y., March 19th, 1837. He enlisted while a lad in the Wyoming Valley.
     Enoch Ordway: He was a sharpshooter in a New Hampshire Regiment.

"FREMONT."
     Oliver Harding: In the New York troops his name is enrolled in the artillery, under Hamilton. He is said to have been a native of Connecticut and at one time in Captain Dunkie's Company.

"ARKPORT."
     Christopher Hurlburt: Born at Groton, Conn., May 30, 1757, died at Arkport, N. Y., April, 1831. April 3, 1776, he enlisted in the Continental Army and served under the immediate command of Washington. In 1780 he was enrolled as sergeant in Capt. John Franklin's Company, Wyoming Valley, Pennsylvania.
     Three women who had thrilling experiences as Indian captives are buried in the Canisteo Valley.
     Olive Franklin: Daughter of Lieut. Roswell Franklin, and wife of John Sterms, was captured when a girl of thirteen, in the Wyoming Valley, but escaped after a few days when a rescuing party overtook and fired upon the Indians.
     Elizabeth Jones: Captured when a child, at Cherry Valley, with other children. Later, she with the others were returned by friendly Indians, probably the Tuscaroras. She was the wife of Uriah Stevens, the Revolutionary Soldier mentioned above.
     Anna Sterms: Wife of Jeremiah Baker, who is also mentioned above, was at one time taken prisoner with her children, by the Indians. She is buried in the Baker Burying Ground.