A short history of Pittsford and the region

I haven't posted here in awhile but I do have more recent research. I few recent emails have got me digging again. Since a good portion of my family seems to have stayed in western New York for a good number of generations it behooves me to understand the dynamics of the changing city and county names.


I've drawn up this basic timeline for Pittsford/Monroe.


1788 Oliver Phelps and Nathaiel Gorham of Connecticut signed Treaty of Buffalo Creek with Seneca Indians
1789 Simon and Israel Stone from Salem Washington Co. NY settled here (went back to bring friends and family)
1792 District of Northfield, Ontario Co. created from 7 townships
1794 School built in Mendon (school structures called Stonetown then The Milepost)
1796 Town of Northfield created (Silas Nye, first supervisor and Dr. john Ray was town clerk)
1808 Northfield was divided and became Boyle
1813 More divisions and renamed Smallwood
1813 Town of Mendon was organized in Ontario County
1814 Smallwood was divided into Henrietta and Pittsford (P. was named by Col. Caleb Hopkins)
1821 Mendon annexed by Monroe County when created

Here is a good short history sourced from here:

The earliest history we have of our area is that it was part of the lands of the Seneca Indians, the western most tribe of the mighty Iroquois nation. We have records that show that the Marquis DeNonville crossed Lake Ontario from Montreal in 1687 with a force of two thousand French and Indian warriors to make war on the Senecas. DeNonville landed at what is now Ellison Park on July 10, and marched overland, following roughly the path of Irondequoit Creek. That army camped at the Big Spring, a favorite camping site of the Native Americans. DeNonville and his punitive forces were successful in driving the Senecas from this region but in so doing he created a powerful ally of the English against the French. Whenever there was conflict between the two nations, the Senecas sided with the British.


In 1788 Oliver Phelps and Nathaniel Gorham of Connecticut settled with the state of Massachusetts for a title to the land in western New York. On July 8, 1788, Phelps and Gorham met with the Senecas and signed the Treaty of Buffalo Creek at Geneseo in Livingston County at which the Indians gave up title to all the land between the Genesee River on the west and Seneca Lake on the east and from Lake Ontario south to the Pennsylvania line. This comprised about two and one-half million acres, Simon and Israel Stone, two cousins from Salem, New York, Washington County, had been officers in the Revolutionary War. They had heard about this fertile land in western New York state and arranged to purchase 13,296 acres of land, land for which they were to pay about 36 cents an acre. The two men came to this area in the year 1789 and built crude log cabins. Israel established his site at the Big Spring and Simon's was just a short distance to the south. The two cousins then went back to Salem and were able to persuade family members and friends to join them in this new venture in the "west".


In 1792 the seven townships northeast of the Genesee River were organized into the District of Northfield as part of Ontario County. That same year, Simon built a grist mail on Irondequoit Creek. He built a sawmill the following year and frame houses soon appeared, giving the new community a more permanent look.


The early settlers were proud of this Northfield and wanted to be sure that it grew and developed into a thriving community. A school house was built in 1794 in the area where Mendon, Mendon Center, and Stone Roads merge.


This settlement of structures was called Stonetown but later was known as The Milepost. The cost of this school, the first in what is now all of Monroe County, was raised by subscription with each family paying in proportion to the number of children who would be attending. That cost was $ 1.00 per student.


On April 5, 1796 the District of Northfield was organized as the Town of Northfield. A full set of town officers were elected at that first town meeting held in what is now Pittsford village. Captain Silas Nye was elected the first supervisor and Dr. John Ray was chosen to be Town Clerk - a position he held for the next sixteen years.


In 1808 the town was divided and the name Northfield was changed to Boyle. In 1813 there were more divisions and the name Smallwood was given to this area. In 1814 Smallwood was divided and one part was called Henrietta and the remaining part was named Pittsford. That name was chosen by Col. Caleb Hopkins, a leading citizen who had been supervisor and a hero of the War of 1812. Hopkins named this town for his hometown of Pittsford, Vermont.


A great event in the life of our community was the opening of the Erie Canal in 1825. The village soon become a busy shipping port with produce being sent to the eastern markets. It also brought a heavy migration of settlers from New England and land values rose rapidly. The village expanded and was incorporated in 1827. Another important event which contributed to growth was the coming of the Auburn and Rochester railroad in 1842.


Prior to the Civil War, there had been stories of runaway slaves being hidden in homes and cellars - all part of the Underground Railroad. Unfortunately, we have very little documentation of this theory. We do know that Samuel Crump, a merchant whose store was at the Four Corners, is known to have received runaways into hiding in his barn and in turn, took them in his wagons to the Port of Charlotte where they boarded a boat for freedom in Canada.


There are also, rumors of underground caverns and tunnels beneath the streets of Pittsford village. We have the accounting of more than one person who says they have been in those tunnels, but no one alive today is able to corroborate this fact. If there are caverns and tunnels underground, there is no evidence of any connection with Underground Railroad trafficking.


Pittsford was established as an agrarian community by people of common stock who were willing to let commercialism pass them by. Industry was not encouraged, although there was at one time a thriving Pickle Factory in the community and Pittsford Milling Company was a flourishing business through World War II. The town today is primarily residential and serves as the "bedroom community" for the city of Rochester which is only about ten miles away. Pittsford is an area of beautiful homes and gardens, trees and historical buildings. The school has an excellent reputation as does the library. The municipal officers of both the town and village have paid particular attention to parks and recreational opportunities and have collaborated on many community events. There are numerous restaurants, shops, boutiques and places of worship. In a word, Pittsford is an ideal community in which to live and is ideally located in beautiful upstate New York.

Seth Kingsley Family

Seth Kingsley (1787-1833)
Birth: 29 Apr 1787
Marriage: Polly Mary Converse
Death: 19 Feb 1833 in Pittsford, Monroe, New York, USA
Buried at "Old Meeting House Cemetery" Pittsford, Monroe, New York, USA
Father: Kingsley, Calvin Sr.
Mother: Lathrop, Susanna


Polly Mary Converse (1788-1843)
Birth: 31 Jan 1788 in Stafford, Tolland, Connecticut, USA
Marriage1: Seth Kingsley
Marriage2: John Stayman
Death: 23 Mar 1843 in Mendon, Monroe, New York, USA
Buried at "Old Meeting House Cemetery" Pittsford, Monroe, New York, USA
Father: James Converse
Mother: Ruth Whitman


John Stayman (nothing known)


Seth was the asst. marshall on the 1830 Federal Census for Mendon, Monroe, New York, USA. He had at least 9 children. He died with children still in the home (the older children had moved out) they were young and his son Daniel had to be the man of the house. He is buried in the "Old Meeting House Cemetery" in Pittsford, also known as the "Pioneer Burying Ground". His wife remarried after his death to John Stayman. She is buried in the same cemetery as Seth but we have not found her second husband.


Children:

1 Name: Unknown Kingsley
Gender: Female
Birth: Abt. 1812 [4]
Spouses: Jerry Moore

2 Name: Lorin J. Kingsley [4, 5]
Gender: Male
Birth: 20 May 1814 [4, 5]
Marriage: 1845 [4]
Death: 19 Dec 1879 in Lagrange, Indiana, USA [4]
Spouses: Hannah Elizabeth Cronkite (b: 1826) Mary J. Lilly (b: 1815)

3 Name: Seth Lucian Kingsley [2, 4]
Gender: Male
Birth: 30 Jun 1815 [4]
Death: 31 Mar 1857 [4]
Spouses: Euphonia (b: 1820)

4 Name: Calvin Kingsley [4]
Gender: Male
Birth: 30 Jun 1815 [4]
Spouses:

5 Name: James Kingsley [4]
Gender: Male
Birth: 10 Aug 1817 [4]
Death: 21 Feb 1864 [4]
Spouses: Deborah Dake

6 Name: Mary Kingsley [4]
Gender: Female
Birth: 1822 [4]
Spouses: Unknown Briggs (b: 1810)

7 Name: Susan Kingsley [4, 6]
Gender: Female
Birth: Abt. 1825 in New York, USA [6, 7]
Marriage: Abt. 1839 [4]
Spouses: Christopher Supner (b: 1814)

8 Name: Daniel Kingsley [1, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15]
Gender: Male
Birth: 13 Aug 1826 in Mendon, Monroe, New York, USA [1, 9, 10, 11, 12]
Marriage: 01 Apr 1846 in Pittsford, Monroe, New York, USA [1]
Death: 15 Sep 1886 in Pittsford, Monroe, New York, USA [15, 16, 17]
Spouses: Anna Maria Brown (b: 04 Dec 1827) Mary Unknown (b: Abt. 1843)

9 Name: George Kingsley [4, 5, 15, 18, 19, 20]
Gender: Male [18]
Birth: May 1828 in Pittsford, Monroe, New York, USA [5]
Marriage: 1864 [18]
Death: 24 Feb 1911 in Brooklyn, Kings, New York, USA [15, 18, 20, 21]
Spouses: Eliza Wiggins (b: 1830) Susan T. Kenney (b: 1844)

Sources:

1 Congdon, Peck and Speed, Family Record - Congdon - Kingsley 1912 (unpublished, 1912), Page 3
by Frances Anna Kingsley Congdon (notes by Ivan Clyde Speed).
2 Richard T. Halsey, Pioneer Burying Ground Grave Markers
(http://mcnygenealogy.com/cem/oldpitt.htm, Aug. 2000), Headstone transcription from the Pioneer
Burying Ground, Pittsford/Northfield, Monroe, NY, aka \u201cOld Meeting House Cemetery\u201d,
by Richard T. Halsey, 2000, accessed 11/2008.
3 Kingsley, Barbara, Kingsley Family Notes (unpublished, 16 Apr 1992), Page 05 (Generation 06) Calvin Kingsley.
4 Kingsley, Barbara, Kingsley Family Notes (unpublished, 16 Apr 1992), Page 06 (Generation 07) Seth Kingsley.
5 1850 United States Federal Census, Carlton, Orleans, New York.
6 1850 United States Federal Census, Mendon, Monroe, New York;.
7 1870 United States Federal Census, Pittsford, Monroe, new York, USA.
8 Municipal manual of Rochester and register of Monroe county. Residence date: 1752-1887 Residence place: Monroe, New York, USA.
9 1860 United States Federal Census (Name: Ancestry.com Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network,Inc., 2004.Original data - United States of America, Bureau of theCensus. Eighth Census of the United States, 1860. Washington, D.C.:National Archives and Records Administration, 1860. M653, 1;), Pittsford, Monroe, New York; Roll: M653_786;Page: 190; Image: 193.Birth date: abt 1826Birth place: New YorkResidence date:1860Residence place: Pittsford, Monroe, New York.
10 1870 United States Federal Census (Ancestry.com, Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network,Inc., 2003.Original data - 1870. United States. Ninth Census of theUnited States, 1870. Washington, D.C. National Archives and RecordsAdministration. M593, RG29, 1,761 rolls. Minnesota. Minnes;), Year: 1870; Census Place: Pittsford, Monroe, New York ; Roll: M593. Name: Daniel KingsleyBirth date: abt 1826Birth place: New YorkResidence date:1870Residence place: Pittsford, Monroe, New York.
11 1850 United States Federal Census (Name: Ancestry.com, Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network,Inc., 2005.Original data - United States of America, Bureau of theCensus. Seventh Census of the United States, 1850. Washington, D.C.:National Archives and Records Administration, 1850. M432,;), Year: 1850; Census Place: Carlton, Orleans, New York; Roll: M432_575;Page: 3; Image: 6.Birth date: abt 1827Birth place: New YorkResidence
date:1850Residence place: Carlton, Orleans, New York.
12 1880 United States Federal Census, Year: 1880; Census Place: Pittsford, Monroe, New York; Roll: T9_862;Family History Film: 1254862; Page: 419.3000; Enumeration District:62; Image: 0099.Birth date: abt 1827Birth place: New YorkResidence date:1880Residence place: Pittsford, Monroe, New York, United States.
13 History of Rochester and Monroe County, New York : from the earliesthistoric times to the beginning of 1907 (Name: Ancestry.com, Online publication - Provo, UT: The Generations Network, Inc.,2005.Original data - Peck, William F.. History of Rochester and MonroeCounty, New York : from the earliest historic times to the beginningof 1907. New YorkChicago: The Pioneer Pub. Co., 19;). Residence date: 1600-1907Residence place: Monroe, New York, USA.
14 Ancestry Family Trees, Ancestry Family Trees.
http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=7610900&pid=-1062095726.
15 Kingsley, Barbara, Kingsley Family Notes (unpublished, 16 Apr 1992), Page 07 (Generation 08) Daniel & George Kingsley.
16 Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester, Monroe, New York, USA: Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, Mar 17 1905), 1886 09 20 - Monday. Funeral for Daniel Kingsley in Monroe.
17 Ryan, Sean, Pittsford Cemetery Headstones (unpublished, Aug 2008), Daniel Kingsley. 1826-1886.
18 Jessica Kerr, Jessica Kerr Family Tree (ancestry.com),
http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/person.aspx?tid=8585184&pid=-926385662. j.e.k. family tree (Owner: evetenebra) - 1934 susan t kenny 1841 - 1903 charles f kingsley 1865 - 1939 walter j kingsley 1876 - 1929 Records 1880 United States Federal Census Source citations (1).
19 1880 United States Federal Census, Sweden, Monroe, NY.
20 New York Times, 1911. KINGSLEY - Feb. 24, 1911. George Kingsley, aged 82 years. He is survived by threo sons, 1 . Charles F. and ""alter J. of Xew York Cit)' • . IUld George K!ngsleY or Xlagara Fall •. I Funeral private from homEl of his son, I Charles F. , Klngslc.,'. 1.il:; Annue H. I
Frooklyn. Saturday, Feb. !!5. Interment at Plttstorcl. N. Y .. Sunda)', Feb. 26- Published: February 25, 1911 Copyright © The New York Times.
21 Unknown Source, Some Newspaper, 1911. George Kingsley Obit.


Data:

1820 US Federal Census for Mendon Monroe NY


1830 US Federal Census for Mendon Monroe NY
(Note: Seth Kingsley is asst. marshall administering the census)




Pioneer Burying Ground, Pittsford Monroe NY

From Congdon Families

From Congdon Families

KINGSLEY
Desire, wife of Nathan; d July 7, 1850 aged 61y
Nathan; d Aug. 15, 1859 aged 73y 3m 5d
Seth; d Feb. 19, 1833 aged 45y 9m 21d
Polly;; see → Polly STAYMAN
Seth Jr.; d March 31, 1857 aged 41y

BROWN
Lydia, wife of Elder Daniel; d May 29, 1814 aged 53y [not found in 2000]

GILLETT
Adelia Acer; d in Michigan, Aug. 1845 aged 33y

RAY
Dr. John; d June 1, 1821 in the 48th yr. of his age
Betsey, first wife of Dr. John; d Oct. 2, 1803 in the 27th yr. of her age
Sabrah, 2nd wife of Dr. John; d Feb. 28, 1821 aged 39y
John, son of John & Sabrah; d 1803 [not found in 2000]
Eunice P., wife of Chauncey; d Aug. 21, 1824 in the 26th yr. of her age
Eliza M., wife of Hiram and dau. of Wm & Mary AGATE; d May 18, 1832 aged 30y
William A.; d Dec. 29, 1875 aged 48y
Miranda Lake, wife of William A.; b March 16, 1829, Rose, NY; [no death date]
Bertha M., dau. of William A. & Miranda; d Feb. 9, 1879 aged 14y 7m 10d
Florence E.; b July 14, 1858, Pittsford, NY; d Jan. 15, 1883
Wellington L.; Feb. 15, 1867, Pittsford, NY; d July 5, 1891

SPELLMAN
Asenath, wife of John; mother; d March 14, 1856 aged 53y
Aaron W., son of John & Asenath; d March 14, 1837 aged 2y 9m 20d
Julia K., dau. of John & Asenath; d March 7, 1837 aged 6m 12d
Mary E., dau. of John & Asenath; d Feb. 27, 1853

SPRAGUE
Charlotte, wife of Abram; d Apr. 4, 1819 aged 48y
Mary, dau. of A. & C.; d Oct. 29, 1818 aged 20y
Angeline, dau. of A. & C.; d Nov. 10, 1820 aged 19y
Sobrina, dau. of A. & C.; d Apr. 20, 1820 aged 16y
Nedediah, child of A. & C.; d May 6, 1822 aged 20y

STAYMAN
Polly, wife of John and former wife of Seth KINGSLEY; d March 23, 1843 aged 52y 1m 23d

WELCH
George; d Sept. 19, 1846 aged 67y 5m 11d
Susan, wife of George; d Oct. 6, 1849 aged 66y
Richard, son of George & Susan; d Nov. 7, 1831 aged 21y
Sarah Jane, dau. of George & Susan; d Sept. 7, 1842 aged 18y 1m 29d




Individual Summary: Kingsley, Seth [1,2,3,4]
Sex: Male
Father: Kingsley, Calvin Sr.
Mother: Lathrop, Susanna

Birth: 29 Apr 1787 in Belchertown, Hampshire, Massachusetts, USA [1, 4]
Birth: 1788 [1] Birth: 29 Apr 1789 in Belchertown, Hampshire, Massachusetts, USA; or Easton, Bristol, Massachusetts, USA, (or 26 May 1787) [2]

Census: 1820 in Mendon, Monroe, New York, USA; 6m (4x0-10, 16-26, 26-45) 2f (0-10, 26-45) (was Ontario County, also called Pittsford) [5]
Census: 1830 in Mendon, Monroe, New York, USA; 7m (2x0-5, 3x10-15, 15-20, 40-50) 4f (2x5-10, 15-20, 40-50) -Last name on census, assumed census taker [6] Death: 19 Feb 1833 [1,2,4]

Burial: Pittsford, Monroe, New York, USA; "Old Meeting House Cemetery" [1]
Burial: Pittsford, Monroe, New York, USA; Pioneer Burying Ground [2, 4]

Death: Pittsford, Monroe, New York, USA [1]

Shared Facts: Converse, Polly Mary
Marriage: Bef. 1816 in Pittsford, Monroe, New York, USA
Marriage: Abt. 1811 [4]
Children: Unknown Kingsley, Lorin J. Kingsley, Seth Lucian Kingsley, Calvin Kingsley, James Kingsley, Mary Kingsley, Susan Kingsley, Daniel Kingsley, George Kingsley.

Sources:

1 Congdon, Peck and Speed, Family Record -Congdon -Kingsley 1912 (unpublished, 1912 ), Page 3 by Frances Anna Kingsley Congdon (notes by Ivan Clyde Speed).
2 Richard T. Halsey, Pioneer Burying Ground Grave Markers (http://mcnygenealogy.com/cem/oldpitt.htm, Aug. 2000), Headstone transcription from the Pioneer Burying Ground, Pittsford/Northfield, Monroe, NY, aka \u201cOld Meeting House Cemetery\u201d, by Richard T. Halsey, 2000, accessed 11/2008.
3 Kingsley, Barbara, Kingsley Family Notes (unpublished, 16 Apr 1992), Page 05 (Generation 06) Calvin Kingsley.
4 Kingsley, Barbara, Kingsley Family Notes (unpublished, 16 Apr 1992), Page 06 (Generation 07) Seth Kingsley.
5 1820 United States Federal Census (Ancestry.com Online publication -Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2004.Original data -United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Fourth Census of the United States, 1820. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1820. M33, 14;), Mendon, Ontario, New York; Roll: M33_62; Page: 355; Image: 182.Residence date: 1820Residence place: Mendon, Ontario, New York, United States
This census is labeled:
Mendon Ontario NY Mendon Monroe NY Pittsford Ontario NY.
6 1830 United States Federal Census (Name: Ancestry.com, Online publication -Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network,Inc., 2004.Original data -United States of America, Bureau of theCensus. Fifth Census of the United States, 1830. Washington, D.C.:National Archives and Records Administration, 1830. M19, 201;), Year: 1830; Census Place: Mendon, Monroe, New York; Roll: XXX;Page: XXX.Residence date: 1830Residence place: Mendon, Monroe, New York.