Lorraine, Jefferson, NY

Early Settlement & Lands

EARLY LAND INTERESTS AND SETTLEMENTS

Lorraine was settled under the agency of Benjamin Wright and some others. The unsettled interests were for a long time controlled by the Hon. Wm.. C. Pierrepont, of Pierrepont Manor. As early as Sept, 6, 1806, there were 128 settlers in the town, who had either titles for their land or long terms in which to pay for them. The practice of issuing certificates prevailed, and there was a tendency to speculation in these papers which was strongly reprobated by the original owners, who desired actual settlement. From a journal kept by James constable, bearing date august 10, 1805, we learn his views upon this matter:

"Town No. 1 is settling very fast, and, indeed, all that part watered by Sandy creek has a name that brings settlers in great numbers. The practice of giving certificates to the people, and allowing them a certain time after exploring to go for their families, before the take contracts for their lots, has been productive of speculation, and must not be continued. A Mr. Salisbury, who had formerly taken a contract, sold it to another, and bought, or procured, one of these certificates, came to us, apparently to ask indulgence as to the time of payment, but really with a view to ascertain what our intentions were in respect to such instruments; when we explained to him that they were given to assist the first real settlers, and by no means to be transferable to second or third parties, as that led to speculation upon the persons who ought to have indulgences, not to the speculators, who profited to the disadvantage of both the proprietors and actual settlers.

We, of course, would oppose all such attempts, and as he has seen fit to change this situation from holding a contract under us to speculating in certificates, which he must know were intended only as an accommodation to the first parties, we could not treat with him, since the indulgence intended for them could not be transferred. Upon conversation with Mr. Wright, we found that the certificates had already occasioned some mischief, and we discovered from others that some of the holders of them has caused it to be believed that all the best part of the town was taken up, so that newcomers wre obliged to apply to them or go to some other town. Mr. Wright has no or accounts here, but supposed that one-half of the town was sold, books either by contractor by $3, though the sales were begun, and a good deal sold, at $2. The conditional agreement, and would average lowest price was now $2, and it might at once be raised to $4 for the whole, from the great immigration to this quarter. He gave it as his opinion that it would not be for our interest to hurry sales, as this town would speedily settle, and the price might be raised."

The first settlement in this town was made in November, 1802, by James McKee and Elijah Fox, who were brothers-in-law, and the latter unmarried. They were natives of Vermont, but did not come from there directly. They erected a log house on a fifty-acre lot, on the State road south of the present village of Lorraine. Her they passed the winter, and Fox, having sold his interest in the first lot to McKee, returned to what is now Oneida county and married, coming back in the spring to improve a tract of land he had purchased, and which is not the Fox homestead. Here he soon after built a house, a portion of the frame of which yet remains in the residence of Geo. A. Fox, a son of Elijah, who was born here in 1814, and who has since that time lived continuously under the old roof-tree. Elijah Fox died in 1862, after a life of great usefulness. Of his family of ten children, George A. is the only survivor. McKee lived in Lorraine a number of years, rearing a large family, with whom he removed to Canada.

In the winter and spring of 1803, a number of families, natives of New England, but who had lived in Herkimer county for some years, came and settled along the State road from Rome to Brownville, in the neighborhood of McKee and Fox. Among the best known of these were Comfort Stancliff, Seth Cutler, Benjamin Gates and John Alger. The latter built a house on the site of Lorraine, in the summer of 1803, which was the first building in that locality. Some of these removed after a few years’ residence in the town. Several months later the same year, 1803, Clark Allen, a native of Connecticut, took up his abode in the northwestern part of the town of Sandy creek. Here he lived until his death in 1855, the father of five sons and two daughters, one of whom, Elisha, now occupies the old homestead. Alexander, another son, is also a citizen of the town. Clark Allen, or General Allen, as he was generally called, from his service in the War of 1812, was a man of more than ordinary ability, and distinguished himself in the service of his adopted town, holding the office of supervisor for nearly twenty years.

A year later, the Lanfears, William and Isaac, came to Lorraine from Columbia county. The latter reared a large family, of which Lafayette, well known in the town, is a representative. The consort of Isaac Lanfear, now nearly a hundred years old, also resides in Lorraine. The Browns, Asa and Aaron, but not related to each other, were added to the settlers about this time. The former served as the first supervisor, but removed from the town several years after. Aaron Brown was a native of Connecticut, but had come to Lorraine, from Washington county, a single man, and soon after married Miss Betsey Burbee, who had come to the town as a school-teacher. With her he lived more than sixty years, having three sons, Moses, Levi H., and Henry M., who became well known in Jefferson County. Aaron Brown died in May, 1870, leaving Mrs. Brown still alive, having passed her fourscore years. Moses Brown, who became a prominent citizen, died in 1853. A son, Philo M., is yet a resident of the town.

The tide of immigration along the old State road was now so great, and the settlers so numerous, that a list of names only of some of those coming to Lorraine prior to 1808-10 can be given in the limited space allotted to his history. William Hosford, Ormond Butler, William Hunter, Asa Sweet, John Griswold, Calvin Clifford, James Perry, Elnathan Doane, Ebenezer Brown, Ozias Barton, Michael Risley, Thomas Stancliff, Allen Hills, Oliver Miller, Henry Voners, David Steadman, Nathan Gould, Charles Thomson, Hubbard Randal, John Cowles, Isaac Weston, Abner Baker, Timothy Heath, George Sampson, John Brewer, Joseph Studley, and William Adams. Most of these made substantial improvements, and identified themselves permanently with the town by clearing farms and building mills. One of the first frame barns was erected by Isaac Lanfear, the work being done by Rufus Larkins, perhaps in 1814. This still remains as built, with the exception of having been once re-shingled.

PIONEER TAVERNS

The first to offer entertainment to the traveler and land-hunter were McKee and Fox, in1802, although they did it more as a matter of accommodation than from a desire to engage in the business. John Alger was the first to open a regular inn in a house which stood on the site subsequently used for hotel purposes; in the village, at the forks of the roads. He began about 1803, and continued a number of years. A short time after, Michael risley and Allen Pitkin, brothers-in-law, started a tavern on the old State road, at the place now occupied by A. Caulkins, which they conducted a few years.

Dr. Isaac Weston built a public-house, below Alger’s, about 1807. For those times it was a large structure, being two full stories high. It was a popular place, and many parties and dances wre held there, where mirth prevailed and enjoyment was unrestrained. The doctor himself was of an eccentric turn of mind and of discursive habits, so that his place was much frequented by those who delighted in his oddities. It is further remembered that some of the rollicking youngsters frequently taxed the old gentleman’s good nature to excess by making him the subject of cruel practical jokes. The building, painted red, stood many years after the doctor had removed to Watertown, and was demolished, in 1850, by Daniel Caulkins.

Another old-time tavern was kept, about 1816, by David Webb, on the State road, two and a half miles south of the village. The place feel into poor repute, and Webb himself fell into the fire of his hearth, burning himself so severely that he lost some of his limbs.

At the crossing on Sandy creek, Elisha Allen, Sr., kept a place for nearly forty years, where man and beast found cheer, comfort, and rest. A sign, made of pine boards, with the words, "Allen’s Inn," was long a familiar landmark in that section. (Jefferson County History, by L. H. Everts, 1878)

Transcribed by Holice B.Young

Html by Debbie

December 26, 1999

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