Birdsall Family of Greene, NY

Birdsall Family of Greene, NY

The Chenango American, Greene, NY, March 14, 1872

 

Ens. American:  My attention has been directed to the very able and spicy articles written for the Chenango Telegraph by Hon. S.S. Randall of New York, entitled "The Chenango and Unadilla Valley fifty years ago."  The subject is well chosen, and local and personal history of by gone days is ever an interesting theme, especially by the contemporaries and escendants of those who pass in review.

 

Local and genealogical history is attracting much interest in modern years, and the local press is the repository of much useful information that would otherwise be lost to us, as it could not be found in the more erudite pages of general history.

 

I see the articles of Mr. Randall are copyrighted, and will be published in a more enduring form than in the columns of a weekly paper.  If this is [true], accuracy is very desirable, and as I notice some errors in the genealogy of the Birdsall family in this town, I beg to state through your columns, the following facts in relation thereto.  This is not done with a wish to censure the hasty bird's eye views of the distinguished author after a lapse of fifty years, but merely in vindication of the truth of history.

 

Col. Benjamin Birdsall came to this town from Hillsdale, Columbia county, in 1816.  He was accompanied by three sons who became residents of Greene, viz Benjamin, George and Maurice, all of whom were middle-aged men, and had families.  James Birdsall, another son, settled at Norwich a few years previous.

 

Col. Birdsall held a Colonel's commission in the Revolutionary war, and was a very prominent man in our early history as a nation.  He represented his county in the Legislature in 1792, 1793, 1796, and 1801.  He was a member of the Convention in 1801 to amend the Constitution of the State. 

 

Col. Birdsall was a man of much enterprise, with great force of character.  He possessed an unusual share of mental vigor, and was very interesting in his historical reminiscences.  Urbane and gentlemanly in his deportment, he was to the last year of his life a general favorite of all classes.  He died in this village in 1828, aged 88 years.

 

Benjamin Birdsall, Jr., his eldest son, resided for many years a few miles west of this village [Greene, Chenango Co.,  NY].  He was a man of much force of intellectual character and was a magistrate for many years.  His children were:

1. Col. Benjamin Birdsall, who was an officer in the war of 1812, and while in command fo the military station at Greenbush, in 1818, was shot and killed by one of his soldiers, for which crime he was convicted and executed.
2. Samuel Birdsall who was an attorney and lived at Waterloo, Seneca County.  He was a member of Congress in 1838 and 1839.  He died a few weeks since.
3. William Birdsall, who was a physician and resided in Wayne, Steuben county for many years.
4. Betsey Birdsall, who married Noah Ely, Esq., of  New Berlin.
5. Melinda Birdsall, who lived a maiden lady, and died a few years since in Pennsylvania.
6. George Birdsall, a farmer in Pennsylvania

James Birdsall settled at Norwich and was an attorney.  He was early connected with the bank at that place.  He was an active and successful politician.  He represented his district in Congress in 1816 and 1817, and was in the Assembly in 1827.  His children were:

1. Henry Birdsall, Att'y at Law, at Addison Steuben county.
2. Benjamin Birdsall, Merchant at Fentonville, Mich.
3. Maurice Birdsall, Merchant at Fentonville, Mich.
4. Adalade Birdsall, married Wm. Fenton, of Norwich, who was subsequently Lieut. Governor of Michigan.
5. Sarah Birdsall, Wife of Henry Dalay, of Syracuse.
6. Elizabeth Birdsall, resides at San Francisco.
7. Rizpah Birdsall resides at San Francisco.
8. Catharine Birdsall resides at San Francisco.

George Birdsall was a physician.  He settled in the village of Greene.  He had two daughters:

1. Maria Birdsall, who married a Mr. Perry, a teller in the bank at Norwich and subsequently a clergyman.  He resides at Springfield, Illinois
2. Charlotte Birdsall wife of Rev. Mr. Payne, who resides at the same place.

Maurice Birdsall, son of Col. Benjamin Birdsall was a farmer and lived in the village of Greene.  He was a high-toned, upright man and was universally esteemed.  He died in 1852, aged 78 years.  His first wife was Ann Pixley of Columbia county.  His second, Ann Purple of Greene, who yet survives him.  He had eight children:

1. John Birdsall son of Maurice Birdsall, was a graduate at one of our eastern colleges and for a time a student at law at Norwich with his uncle James.  He came to Greene, and entered the law office of Robert Monell about 1817.  He was admitted to the bar and received into partnership with Mr. Monell, at a very early age.  He held the offices of Examiner in Chancery and Commissioner of Deeds before he was twenty-one.  He at once signalized himself as a man of marked character, and held a conspicuous place at the bar in this and other counties, in those days when Legal Giants were upon the earth.  In 1823, he located at Mayville, Chautauqua county, where his shining abilities soon attracted attention, and he was appointed by the Governor and Senate, a Judge of the 8th Judicial District of the State.  He was then but 25 years of age.  His Judicial duties were ably discharged until 1829, when he resigned his seat on the bench.  He was soon called from retirement and in 1831 he represented his county in the Assembly.  he was sent to the Senate in 1832.  He remained there three years, when he resigned and returned to Mayville.  In 1837, Mr. Birdsall emigrated to Texas.  Here he was received with open arms by the founders of the New Republic, and was a law partner of President Sam Houston, and Attorney-General under the "Lone Star" until his death, which occurred in 1839.  Judge Birdsall was a man of rare endowments.  His legal and general attainments, his solidity of character and his purity of intention, his ability to grasp the points and elucidate the most intricate questions involved in law, gave him a very high position with the legal profession.  His amiable social characteristics gave him a conspicuous place in the affections of his contemporaries, and prompts the grateful remembrance of his surviving associates.
2. Ann Birdsall, married the  Hon. Alvah Hunt, who was a prominent man in old Chenango.  He was a very energetic business man, and was in partnership with Rathbone & Hatch in this village for many years.  He represented the 6th District in the Senate for four years from 1839, and held the office of Treasurer of the State of New York.  He died in the city of New York in 1859.  His very amiable wife still survives him, and though long afflicted with the various ills that flesh is heir to, yet she retains, even in her long protracted illness,  those cheerful and agreeable characteristics which belong to her intellectual endowments.  She resides in this village, and is under the watchful care of her sister Emeline and other relatives, who filially administer to her physical and mental wants.
3. Polly Birdsall married Hon. Thomas A. Johnson of Corning.  On the adoption of the Amended Constitution in 1817, Mr. J. was made judge in the 7th Judicial District and by continued elections, still retains his seat upon the bench.  She died in 1835.
4. Benjamin Birdsall has been a farmer in the State of Wisconsin.  Within the past year, he has raised his tent, and with abundant means and a numerous family of all ages, in imitation of the ancient patriarchs, has passed over the Mississippi to the promising land of Iowa, where he doubtless will make it bud and blossom as the rose, and literally flow with milk and honey.
5. Emeline Birdsall married Robert O. Reynolds, who was a very respectable lawyer, and was District Attorney in 1842, 1843, and 1844.  He died in 1856.  She resides in this village.
6. Maurice Birdsall, Jr., is a resident of Greene.  He has been busily engaged in mercantile and other active pursuits for thirty years.  He is an energetic business man, and in all things pertaining to the interests and welfare of the country, he is ever ready and ever faithful.  His first wife was Elizabeth Juliand of Bainbridge, his second Maria Randall of Norwich.
7. Louisa Birdsall, was the wife of the late Judge Barnes, of Steuben county.  She died in 1859.
8. James Birdsall is a physician, and resides in Wisconsin.

Greene, March 12, 1872