Early Norwich History - Part 3

Early History of  Norwich

Chenango County, New York

Chenango Union, January 31, 1907

 

David Fairchild was probably the next settler. He located near the south line of the township near the Gates farmhouse.  He was a noted hunter and trapper and soon removed to Preston where he was killed about 1805 in a trap set for bears.

 

The third settler is thought to have been Silas Cole, who came from Connecticut with his wife, both riding one horse.  He took up the land now comprising the southeastern quarter of the town.  About 1800 he built for a tavern the house now [in 1907] the residence of Mrs. Elisa Hickok.  When the first militia muster was advertised to take place in Norwich, he, with others, made extensive and expensive preparations in anticipation of the expected multitudes.  The crowd came, but to the dismay of the innkeepers, numerous hucksters also appeared, who supplied the wants of the crowd, and the innkeepers failed to receive expected patronage.  Mr. Cole thus became involved and was obliged to sell his fine farm.  This he did and removed about 1806 with his family to Ohio.  The farm was then divided and bought by Judge Steere and Elder Jedediah Randall.

 

Capt. John Harris, the next settler, came as we know from Voluntown, Conn. in 1789.  With him came William Smiley.  The latter brought his family and settled on what is known as the Breed farm two miles below town.  On this farm was at that time a famous sulpher spring supposed to be sovereign remedy for all cutaneous diseases, but which has been lost.  Smiley sold about 1796 to Stephen Collins and went west with his family.  Collins built the present farm house about 1806 and kept tavern and toll-gate.  About 1810 he sold to Elias Breed and removed from town with his family. 

 

Of the interesting history of Captain John Harris we have been told in a previous paper. When he returned to Norwich with his family in 1790, his two brothers-in-law came also.  They took up extensive lands just north of the village.  Hascall Ransford's land lay on the west side of the river.  He married Fanny Graves June 12, 1793.  This was the first marriage contracted in town.  The ceremony was performed by Joab Enos, who was made justice for that [purpose] as no clergyman or justice was closer than Tioga Point.  We are told that Mr. Enos was ignorant of the ceremony and was aided in its performance by Capt. John Harris, who stood at his back and prompted him.

 

Hascall Ransford built a log house which stood in a clearing about a mile north of the village on the east side of the road nearly opposite the Dimmick farm house.  Here he kept tavern for some time.  Later he built a frame house on the opposite side of the road, several rods nearer town. Traces of foundations remain.  He was a member of assembly in 1814 and died in 1859 leaving several children.

 

Wm. Ransford's farm was on the east side of the river, and his great granddaughter, Mrs. Reese, now [in 1907] resides in the homestead.

 

Nicholas Pickett came about 1795, located on east side of the river, but afterwards sold out and moved west.

 

Major Brooks came about same time.  He was a Massachusetts man and a Revolutionary soldier.  He also participated in Shay's rebellion, a fact which he always admitted and justified.  he settled on what is now west side park where he build a log shanty and later removed to Plymouth, where he was killed by a fall of a tree in 1822.

Jacob and Joseph Skinner came from Hebran, Conn. in 1790.  Jacob finally settled on the crest of West Hill where he built a log house and afterwards a frame house.  Joseph settled on east side of river about a mile above town.  Both had several children.

 

To be continued