This is part two in the history of the establishment of the town of Harrietstown in 1841, celebrating our 175th anniversary.

But of course, someplace else is always trying to upstage us. I was in Rochester, Vermont last week and picked up a copy of the local newspaper, The Vermont Journal. There on the front page is a story about the town of Chester, Vermont, celebrating its 250th birthday, established on July 14, 1766.

It took the Pilgrims longer to get this far north after they landed at Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts in 1620. Oops! Wikipedia claims the Pilgrims really landed on what today is the site of Provincetown and later moved to Plymouth.

The official wedding data, 1909

Not all of the information was listed in the spaces provided in the book of weddings and the information was all written in longhand, some names and places difficult to read. The first three categories read; Color, Age, No. of Marriage, Divorced; if they were divorced it asked – When and Where?

William Milton Mace, white, 23,1st marriage to Hazel Evelyn Dockuss (sp?) white, 19, first marriage. He was a chauffeur from Loon Lake, she was a waitress from Lyon Mountain. They were married in Saranac Lake by Frank Love, a minister. Married Oct. 4, 1909.

[I will skip some of the above details simply used as an example of the information required.]

Henry Trushaw, age 31, a laborer from Malone married Katherine Theresa Cassidy, age 21, a maid from Saranac Lake, on October 11, 1909. His parents were Oliver Trushaw from Malone and Hattie Bessette from Canada. Her parents were John Joseph Cassidy from New York and her mother was Bridget Kennedy from Ireland. They were married by Rev. John J. Waters, a Catholic priest in Saranac Lake.

Wilfred Horace Facteau, a widower, age 29, a porter from Redford, married Mollie Helen Ryan, age 22, a maid from Franklin Falls. His parents were Geary Facteau and Adeline Perry or Berry of Redford. Her parents were Edward Ryan and Mary Harrigan of AuSable Forks. They were married October 20, 1909 by Father Richard O’Donnell in Bloomingdale.

Sanford Truman Mace, age 27, a machinist from Loon Lake married Goldie Louise Walker, age 21, a millineryfrom East Chazy on October 14, 1909 in Saranac Lake. His parents, from New York, were Amasa Mace and Elizabeth Fletcher; her parents were Stephen Walker from Vermont and Almira Randall from New York. Rev. Love performed the ceremony.

Arthur Furness, age 27, a painter from Altrinchan Chesire, England married Maud Louis McNamara, age 22, from Saranac Lake on October 29, 1909 in Saranac Lake. His parents, William Arthur Furness and Elizabeth Darlington were from England. Her parents were Elizer McNamara and Mary Randall of Jay, New York. Rev. Love performed the ceremony.

Dying young in 1863

Written in big, bold letters – ASSESSOR’S BLANK is a journal recording deaths in the Town of Harrietstown in 1863.The first page has this introduction: “For recording the Deaths that occurred in the year 1863 Assessment District of the Town of Harrietstown, County of Franklin, N.Y., during the year ending Dec. 31, 1863. Reported pursuant to Chapter 380 of the Laws of 1864 by Augustus Torrance, Assessor, dated August 16, 1864.”

The pages of this open book stretch nearly 17 inches across. It does not seem possible that only eight people died in Harrietstown in 1863. The population here about 1843 was only 129 but 20 years later one would guess it was much larger. Following are the sad statistics:

Amanda Reynolds, age 7, died Sept. 7 of diphtheria. Her parents were Newel and Patty Reynolds.

The following children all died of diphtheria: Elmer E. Johnson, age 2, died in October [no date listed], son of William and Eliza Johnson; Abby Green, age 2 died September 2, daughter of Leonard and Ellinor Green; William W. Whitman, age 15, died August 6, listing his occupation as farmer, son of George and Eliza Whitman; Charles Smith, age 5, died in November, no date shown, son of Crampton and Elizabeth Smith; Elison Nishoe, age 4, died in July, no date given, son of Howard and Maria Nishoe.

The only other deaths listed were two adults: William Hobart, age 66, died Feb. 12, occupation farmer, died of heart disease; only one name, also William Hobart was listed under “head of family or parents.” He is the great-great grandfather of Donald and Mark Tucker of Gabriels. Their mother was Flora Hobart Tucker, Frank Hobart’s sister.

William W. Smith, age 89 died February 11of ‘old age’. He was from England, occupation cloth dresser [one who cuts woolen pieces as they come from the mill, well paid, skilled workers – that is the simplest description I could find – eh, not to be confused with cross dressers.] He was the son of William and Margaret Smith.