Vital Records, November/December 1845

Binghamton Courier, November 5, 1845

Married, in Conklin [Broome Co., NY], Oct. 30th, by Rev. Mr. Gregory, Mr. Elkanan Pierce of Lisle [Broome Co., NY], to Miss Catharine Colier of Conklin.

Married, in Union [Broome Co., NY], October 29th, by S.M. Hunt Esq., Mr. Robert Hatfield to Miss Sarah Ann Stimpson, all of Union.

Binghamton Courier, November 12, 1845

On the 30th of October ult., a man who called his name Fuller, committed suicide by cutting his throat with a razor at the Poor House of this County [Broome Co., NY]. He was brought there the day previous by the poor master of the town of Windsor; and stated that he was from Butternuts, Otsego County.  He was respectably dressed with black coat and pantaloons, snuff colored vest, and fine wool hat something worn.  He was apparently 55 years of age, bald headed, and had a pair of silver mounted spectacles.  He was evidently insane.

Married, in this town [Binghamton, Broome Co., NY], on Thursday the 6th inst., by the Rev. Mr. Gregory, Mr. Calvin Shepherd of Union [Broome Co., NY] to Miss Sarah Bullock.

Married, in Conklin on the 5th inst., by the Rev. Mr. Dyer, Mr. Morgan L. Wood to Miss Sarah Norton, all of Conklin [Broome Co., NY].

Married, in Clinton, Dutchess county, on the 27th inst., by Daniel H. Schultz Esq., Mr. John F.B. Stoutenburg to Miss Maria [Conger], daughter of Benjamin Conger Esq., both of the former place.

Binghamton Courier, November 19, 1845

On Sunday morning last, the body of a female was discovered floating in the canal near McKinney's Store House, in this village [Binghamton, Broome Co., NY] by one of the lock tenders, Mr. Thomas DeWitt; who procured assistance and removed it from the water.  It proved to be the body of Elizabeth J. Speed, a girl aged nineteen, late of Norwich, Chenango County.  An inquest was held before coroner Congdon, at which the following facts were elicited.  Elizabeth J. Speed came to Binghamton some five or six weeks previously, remained with some relatives who are among our respectable citizens, until a week or ten days since, when she engaged herself to do housework in the family of Mr. A.C. Angell.  She proved a good girl, but was very silent and sedate.  On Saturday evening she retired to the room where she slept with another young woman, who went to bed and finally to sleep, leaving Elizabeth looking over her trunk.  Nothing farther is positively known of her until she was found dead as related; but it appears sufficiently evident that after her companion was asleep, she changed her clothes, arraying herself with much care, put on her bonnet and shawl and left the house.  The next trace of her is on the west side of the canal, on the dock by Lewis' storehouse, where her bonnet and shawl were found carefully put together, and where she doubtless threw herself into the water; whence, buoyed by her clothes, she floated down the canal some forty or fifty rods to the spot where she was found.  Her dress was pinned to her stockings, she lay much upon the surface, and her clothing was unruffled and not entirely saturated with water.  Doctors Jackson and Burr made an examination of the body.  No marks were found upon it--it was evidently a case of suicide, and such was accordingly the verdict of the jury.

We have some additional particulars connected with this most melancholy occurrence, from a source we deem reliable, which may throw some light upon the motives which influenced this unfortunate girl to the terrible act of self destruction.  She was an illegitimate child.  Her mother is living in this vicinity; her reputed father is a person of some note in a neighboring county.  She was brought up in a respectable family in or near Smyrna; and so far as we can learn, has always borne a good character.  for some time she has been under engagements of marriage to a young man in Chenango county, who from time to time had adjourned over the period of their nuptials, until she became satisfied that he intended to forsake her.  This circumstance she imparted with much feeling to her sister a few days since; and this it probably was, which, casting a blight upon the future, in addition to the blight of the past, induced that morbid condition of mind which led her to loathe life and to cast it from her.  If in the weakness of human nature there can be found any seeming apology for him who makes himself a father without the sacred right of marriage; there can be none for him, who, having done so, leaves his helpless offspring to the compassion of the world, aside from the brutal and heartless depravity of his own heart; and it is to be hoped that this most solemn occurrence, will not be without its influence upon all the parties whose criminal conduct has conduced to bring it about--upon the parents who cast this poor girl off from the cradle, and upon the individual who obtained her affections, only to trample upon and crush them.  

Married, in this village [Binghamton, Broome Co., NY], on the 15th inst., by the Rev. T.M. Pearne, Mr. Samuel Shaw to Miss Catharine C. Quick, all of this place.

Binghamton Courier, December 3, 1845

On Monday morning last, a worthy citizen of this place [Binghamton, Broome Co., NY] named Nathan Platt, was killed instantly, by the fall of a part of a frame which he and others were engaged in raising.  The frame belonged to Stephen Weed, and is designed to furnish additional accommodations for his extensive coopering establishment in the north part of the village.  The bents, several in number but of no great height, were raised, and the plates laid across them; and Mr. Platt had climbed to the top of one of the posts, for the purpose of aiding to secure the frame, when, in consequence of the stay laths having been thoughtlessly removed, it began to sway, and several of the bents fell.  The others upon the building escaped by jumping, with little injury.  Mr. Platt on the contrary, held on to the falling bent, and struck across two pieces of timber, while the post to which he was clinging, came down upon his breast.  He never stirred after striking the ground.  He was about thirty years old, and leaves a wife and child to mourn his untimely end.

Married, on Wednesday the 26th ult., by the Rev. J.B. McCroary, Dr. J. Brooks to Miss Lydia Jane [DuBois] daughter of A. DuBois Esq., both of Great Bend.

Married, in Chenango [Broome Co., NY], on Sunday evening last, by the Rev. Mr. Gregory, Mr. Charles Collins Jr., to Miss Lauretta M. Scofield.

Married, in this town [Binghamton, Broome Co., nY], Dec. 1st, by the Rev. Mr. Gregory, Mr. Luther Severance to Miss Jennett Wilson.

Married, in Binghamton [Broome Co., NY], Nov. 30th, by Rev. C. Darby, Mr. Daniel Wilcox Jr., of Conklin [Broome Co., NY], and Miss Catherine Severson of Colesville [Broome Co., NY].

Died, in New York, on the 10th ult., after a lingering illness, Rebecca [Cropsey], wife of Nathan Cropsey, in the 46th year of her age.

Died, on the 28th October last, at Paris, France, Mrs. Clara B. Catlin, the wife of George Catlin esq., the eminent traveler, so distinguished for his researches into Indian antiquities of America, and so universally known and respected in Europe and his native country, the United States of America.

Binghamton Courier, December 24, 1845

Married, in Honesdale Pa., on the 9th inst., by the Rev. Mr. Rowland, Mr. Horace A. Woodhouse to Miss Millicent Foster, all of that place.

Died, in this village [Binghamton, Broome Co., NY], on Tuesday morning, Major Sidney T. Robinson, in the 36th year of his age.  In the death of Mr. Robinson, community has lost one of its most valuable members; and in his family and large circle of relatives and friends, and the church to which he belonged, a vacancy has been made which cannot easily be filled.  His disease was consumption; and the hopes and fears and pains of an illness protracted to many months, he bore with the calmness and resignation of the Christian; and finally departed with all the glowing hopes of the Christian, without a shadow or a doubt to obscure the joyous vision of the future.  For many years he had been a consistent and useful member of the Baptist Chruch.  He leaves a wife and one daughter. Mr. R. was the second son of the Hon. Tracy Robinson, and for many years has been well known as an active business man and stage proprietor, during which he has formed extensive acquaintances among whom his many excellent qualities will be long remembered.

Died, at Berkshire, Tioga County, on the 11th instant, William Henry Moore Esqr. in the 61st year of his age.  Mr. Moore was highly esteemed for his intelligence and social virtues, and his family and friends have, in his death, sustained an irreparable loss.

Binghamton Courier, December 24, 1845

Died, in the city of New York on the 4th inst., Mercy Dolf, wife of Mr. John Dolf, formerly of this village [Binghamton, Broome Co., NY], aged 29 years.

Died, at East Bethany, Genesee County, N.Y. on the 15th Nov. last Mr. Seth Allen (father of Mr. T. Allen of this village) in the 85th year of his age.  Mr. A. was formerly from Richfield, Otsego County, and was a soldier of the Revolutionary Army.

Binghamton Courier, December 31, 18454

Married, in Binghamton [Broome Co., NY] on the 24th inst. by Rev. T.H. Pearne, Mr. Nathaniel A. Rowley of Chenango [Broome Co., NY] to Miss Maria M. Braman of Vestal [Broome Co., NY].

Married, on the 24th inst., at the same place by the same, Mr. Samuel Duncan to Miss A.E. Dougherty, both of Candor, Tioga Co.

Married, in Owego [Tioga Co., NY] on the 29th inst., by the Rev. J. Sheridan, Mr. Timothy Boyle to Miss Amelia Batchlor, both of New Milford, Pa.

Married, in Union [Broome Co.,, NY], on the 22d inst., by the Rev. Wm. Gates, Mr. Abel Curtis to Miss Amanda Persons, all of that town.