In my next several articles leading up to Veterans Day. I will list the names of all of the known veterans of Owasco.
A Roll of Honor was initiated by Anthony Gero, former historian of Owasco. I have been asked to update the list. Almost 100 additional names have been given to me after I placed an appeal for the names of veterans in the recent Owasco Newsletter.
Special appreciation is due to Elmer (Gene) and Mildred Greenfield Hole who together provided me with 48 names. They are the caretakers and record keepers of Owasco Rural Cemetery. It is located in the town of Skaneatles and county of Ononadaga. They are long time residents of this end of Owasco, and both Gene and Milly have helped me many times.
I have asked for the names, branch of service and service number of the men and women who have served from the Revolution, War of 1812, Civil War, World War I, World War II, Korean War, Gulf War, up to those now serving in Afghanistan and Iraq who lived in the town of Owasco during the time of their service for their country. I do not want any veteran or family name left out.
If anyone reading this article has information, please contact me at the Owasco Town Hall on Tuesday afternoons or e-mail me at nowthenwasco@yahoo.com.
On Friday evening, Sept. 21, after I left Seymour Library, I reached one of those special defining moments of my life. After 34 years, I finally took the time to complete the research necessary to complete my application to join the DAR. With tears swimming in my eyes, I could not help but think of those who would be so pleased I had done so - grandparents and parents, the past and present DAR members who encouraged me and patiently waited the 30 odd years for me to do it. They are: Jane Howlett, Mable Crosby, Norma Bilak, Ruth Probst and most recently Joan Minde Welch.
I was busy raising a family and working every day 34 years ago. Notice the key word here - busy. My mother had mentioned casually in 1961 when we were moving to Owasco that “her family was from there.” That was an understatement. While researching the Owasco Reformed Church for America's Bicentennial in 1976, I found my roots in the pioneer migration to Owasco from Conewago, Pa. on July 4, 1793. I discovered through genealogy research, my link to two of those pioneer families - The Bodine's and VanTine's. This all began with the Reformed Church baptismal records dating to 1798 that led me to discover the link with the Mattoon's. I was hooked on family history and stories. More importantly the history of the times that they lived and the impact it made on the history of America.
How I wish every student in school would be required to provide a class project to discover their family story. What a difference history would have meant to me back in the 1950s if I had known mine. Right after the Pilgrims landed, a Guildsman (a tailor of fine cloth) by the name of Mattoon settled in Kittery, Maine in 1648. He signed the Massachusetts Bay Colony Charter.
In the next generation, his son Philip's family were killed in the Indian Raid at Deerfield during the French and Indian War. Another son followed the Deerfield captives march to Canada to try and rescue his wife and baby that Feb. 29, 1704. The baby was killed on route because it cried, and his wife also because she could not keep up.
The next generation provided a son who fought in the Revolution.
He was a prisoner of the British and their Indian allies at St. Johnsville. At the fort, he watched in misery as his comrades were systematically tortured and killed slowly by the indians. He had his breeches and stockings removed and nearly froze.
His name was Abel Mattoon.
All of these records were available in the area at Syracuse Library on the fifth floor where the Genealogy Department is located. The history of each state and county is there, local history, hundreds of family genealogies, revolutionary pensions and service records are on microfilm.
A person just has to have the desire to find them.
On and on in every war fought for America, an ancestor of mine was there. It made our family history so meaningful to me. I wanted to share and help everyone find their heritage! In 1994 as a volunteer at the Cayuga-Owasco Lakes Historical Society in Moravia, a great team of friends and I, including my daughter, answered inquiries for family history. More than 450 files were created in the four years I volunteered there. From October of 2003 until May of 2007, I personally answered 542 requests for family history at the Cayuga County Historians Office, and more family files were added there. Almost 1,000 names in 13 years. I have been involved helping others find their roots for a very long time. I am sharing this with you why I wept when I finally completed my own.
If this story prompts you to begin, it is worth it. For each family has a story to tell. That is why I write and share so many with you. I thank The Citizen and Ashley Hanry, the Lake Life editor, for allowing us to share with you our town's history.
The War of 1812 Veterans will be in the next installment.
- Sources: Owasco Chapter, D.A.R. compiled by Flora Daniels and typed by Mable Crosby; Abel Mattoon Revolutionary Pension Record, microfilm from Syracuse Library; “The Galleries” on South Salina Street; Mattoon Genealogy Donald and Lillian Mattoon 1968; Owasco Reformed Church Baptismal Record 1798-1801
Laurel Auchampaugh is the Owasco Historian.
The Revolutionary War Soldiers of Owasco:
Powell J. Amerman, Tillabee Bathrick, Jacob Brinkerhoff, James Brinkerhoff, Roeliff Brinkerhoff, William Dates, William S. DeGroff, Samuel Hornbeck and Charles Van Tine
All are buried in the Parsell Cemetery on Martin Road
Moses Cortright, Abram DePuy, Benjamin Gunsales, Peter Howard, Elijah Price (was present at the surrender of Burgoyne) and Daniel Smith
All are buried in VanEtten Cemetery on North Road
Abijah Baker, Stephan Benson, Elnathan Benson, William Benson, Jacob I. Bevier, Moses, DePuy, Cornelius DeWitt, John DeWitt,
Elijah Drake, Daniel Ennis, Nathan Leonard (he served as a minute Man on the Lexington Alarm), Garton Nottingham, Samuel
Bevier, Ninian Chamberlain, Garrett Connover, Martin Cuykendall (served as a Indian Spy in New York state troops), Peter Decker, Benjamin DePuy Sr., Abraham Stryker, Peter Tallman and Resolvent Van Houten
All are buried in Owasco Rural Cemetery located on Benson Road in the town of Skaneatles
- Source: All the men listed here were listed by the DAR as Owasco residents
Special appreciation is due to Elmer (Gene) and Mildred Greenfield Hole who together provided me with 48 names. They are the caretakers and record keepers of Owasco Rural Cemetery. It is located in the town of Skaneatles and county of Ononadaga. They are long time residents of this end of Owasco, and both Gene and Milly have helped me many times.
I have asked for the names, branch of service and service number of the men and women who have served from the Revolution, War of 1812, Civil War, World War I, World War II, Korean War, Gulf War, up to those now serving in Afghanistan and Iraq who lived in the town of Owasco during the time of their service for their country. I do not want any veteran or family name left out.
If anyone reading this article has information, please contact me at the Owasco Town Hall on Tuesday afternoons or e-mail me at nowthenwasco@yahoo.com.
On Friday evening, Sept. 21, after I left Seymour Library, I reached one of those special defining moments of my life. After 34 years, I finally took the time to complete the research necessary to complete my application to join the DAR. With tears swimming in my eyes, I could not help but think of those who would be so pleased I had done so - grandparents and parents, the past and present DAR members who encouraged me and patiently waited the 30 odd years for me to do it. They are: Jane Howlett, Mable Crosby, Norma Bilak, Ruth Probst and most recently Joan Minde Welch.
I was busy raising a family and working every day 34 years ago. Notice the key word here - busy. My mother had mentioned casually in 1961 when we were moving to Owasco that “her family was from there.” That was an understatement. While researching the Owasco Reformed Church for America's Bicentennial in 1976, I found my roots in the pioneer migration to Owasco from Conewago, Pa. on July 4, 1793. I discovered through genealogy research, my link to two of those pioneer families - The Bodine's and VanTine's. This all began with the Reformed Church baptismal records dating to 1798 that led me to discover the link with the Mattoon's. I was hooked on family history and stories. More importantly the history of the times that they lived and the impact it made on the history of America.
How I wish every student in school would be required to provide a class project to discover their family story. What a difference history would have meant to me back in the 1950s if I had known mine. Right after the Pilgrims landed, a Guildsman (a tailor of fine cloth) by the name of Mattoon settled in Kittery, Maine in 1648. He signed the Massachusetts Bay Colony Charter.
In the next generation, his son Philip's family were killed in the Indian Raid at Deerfield during the French and Indian War. Another son followed the Deerfield captives march to Canada to try and rescue his wife and baby that Feb. 29, 1704. The baby was killed on route because it cried, and his wife also because she could not keep up.
The next generation provided a son who fought in the Revolution.
He was a prisoner of the British and their Indian allies at St. Johnsville. At the fort, he watched in misery as his comrades were systematically tortured and killed slowly by the indians. He had his breeches and stockings removed and nearly froze.
His name was Abel Mattoon.
All of these records were available in the area at Syracuse Library on the fifth floor where the Genealogy Department is located. The history of each state and county is there, local history, hundreds of family genealogies, revolutionary pensions and service records are on microfilm.
A person just has to have the desire to find them.
On and on in every war fought for America, an ancestor of mine was there. It made our family history so meaningful to me. I wanted to share and help everyone find their heritage! In 1994 as a volunteer at the Cayuga-Owasco Lakes Historical Society in Moravia, a great team of friends and I, including my daughter, answered inquiries for family history. More than 450 files were created in the four years I volunteered there. From October of 2003 until May of 2007, I personally answered 542 requests for family history at the Cayuga County Historians Office, and more family files were added there. Almost 1,000 names in 13 years. I have been involved helping others find their roots for a very long time. I am sharing this with you why I wept when I finally completed my own.
If this story prompts you to begin, it is worth it. For each family has a story to tell. That is why I write and share so many with you. I thank The Citizen and Ashley Hanry, the Lake Life editor, for allowing us to share with you our town's history.
The War of 1812 Veterans will be in the next installment.
- Sources: Owasco Chapter, D.A.R. compiled by Flora Daniels and typed by Mable Crosby; Abel Mattoon Revolutionary Pension Record, microfilm from Syracuse Library; “The Galleries” on South Salina Street; Mattoon Genealogy Donald and Lillian Mattoon 1968; Owasco Reformed Church Baptismal Record 1798-1801
Laurel Auchampaugh is the Owasco Historian.
The Revolutionary War Soldiers of Owasco:
Powell J. Amerman, Tillabee Bathrick, Jacob Brinkerhoff, James Brinkerhoff, Roeliff Brinkerhoff, William Dates, William S. DeGroff, Samuel Hornbeck and Charles Van Tine
All are buried in the Parsell Cemetery on Martin Road
Moses Cortright, Abram DePuy, Benjamin Gunsales, Peter Howard, Elijah Price (was present at the surrender of Burgoyne) and Daniel Smith
All are buried in VanEtten Cemetery on North Road
Abijah Baker, Stephan Benson, Elnathan Benson, William Benson, Jacob I. Bevier, Moses, DePuy, Cornelius DeWitt, John DeWitt,
Elijah Drake, Daniel Ennis, Nathan Leonard (he served as a minute Man on the Lexington Alarm), Garton Nottingham, Samuel
Bevier, Ninian Chamberlain, Garrett Connover, Martin Cuykendall (served as a Indian Spy in New York state troops), Peter Decker, Benjamin DePuy Sr., Abraham Stryker, Peter Tallman and Resolvent Van Houten
All are buried in Owasco Rural Cemetery located on Benson Road in the town of Skaneatles
- Source: All the men listed here were listed by the DAR as Owasco residents
The Citizens' Say
There are No comments posted.