Thursday, July 30, 2020

Vital Records, September 1832 & March 1847

Binghamton Republican, September 20, 1832
Married
In this village [Binghamton, Broome Co., NY], on Sunday evening inst. by the Rev. Mr. Lockwood, Mr. Jesse Orcutt, to Miss Catharine Sawtell, all of this village.

In this town [Binghamton, Broome Co., NY], on Thursday evening inst., by John Munsell, Esq., Mr. Erasmus D. Hall to Miss Betsey Bovier, all of this town.

In this town [Binghamton, Broome Co., NY], on Sunday last, by John Munsell, Esq., Mr. Sampson Merchant, to Miss Emily Temple, daughter of Captain James Temple, all of this town.

In St. Luke's Church, in the village of Harpersville [Broome Co., NY] on Monday morning last, by the Rev. Mr. Adams of this village, the Rev. David Huntington, Rector of St. Luke's Church, to Miss Lydia Allen, both of Harpersville.

Died
In the town of Vestal [Broome Co., NY], on Tuesday last, John Seymour, son of Lewis Seymour, Esq., aged 11 years.  This is the third child of Mr. Seymour's whose death we have recorded in the space of three weeks.

Binghamton Courier, March 3, 1847
Married
At Cortlandville [Cortland Co., NY], on Wednesday the 24th ult., by Rev. Henry A. Nelson, of Auburn, Rev. Silas McKinney, of Binghamton [Broome Co., NY] to Miss Fanny M. [Nelson], daughter of Deacon Seth Nelson, of Cortlandville.

In Vestal [Broome Co., NY], on the 22d ult., by the Rev. Mr. Gaylord, Mr. Edward Richards, of Ithaca [Tompkins Co., NY], to Miss Maria [Mersereau], eldest daughter of Cornelius Mersereau, Esq., of Vestal.

In this town [Binghamton, Broome Co., NY], on the 28th ult., by Rev. Thomas H. Pearne, Mr. Jeremiah Rosell, of Chenango [Broome Co., NY], to Miss Sarah Ann Joscelyn, of Rockland, Sullivan Co.

At Great Bend, Pa., on the 23d ult, by the Rev. J.B. M'Creary, Mr. Lewis Green of Union, Broome Co., N.Y. to Miss Angeline Smith, of Franklin, Susquehanna Co., Pa.

In Philadelphia, on the 15th ult., by the Rev. Robert Gerry, Dr. Tracy E. Waller, to Miss Henrietta Josephine [Lungen], second daughter of the late Wm. Lungren, Esq., all of Philadelphia.

Coroner's Inquest
On Thursday, last, the 18th inst., Coroner Secor, of this county [Chenango Co., NY], was called to hold an inquest, on the body of Mrs. Sarah Foote, of South New Berlin [Chenango Co., NY], wife of Dr. Dan Foote.  It appeared upon examination of witnesses, that Foote and his wife lived very unhappily together--that he had been in the constant habit of beating, kicking, and otherwise ill treating her--that he had slept nights with his razor under his head for the purpose of doing her violence, and that, on one occasion he sharpened it "to cut her throat" as he said, "from ear to ear."  Things went on this way until four or five weeks past, when they had another altercation, at which time he beat and kicked her so unmercifully, that, in the opinion of Dr. Gorton and Gibson, who made the post mortem examination, she died of the bruises thus received.  Foote was of a morose, petulant disposition. Mr. F. was spoken of as an amiable, high minded, dignified woman, and a member of the Baptist Chruch.

They jury brought in a verdict that Sarah Foote came to her death in consequence of wounds inflicted upon her by her husband Dan Foote.  Foote took French leave two weeks ago, having no doubt become alarmed from the dangerous condition of his wife.

Just before the jury brought in their verdict, a letter was received by the Rev. Mr. Chamberlin from Mr. Gordon, of Cleveland, Ohio (a brother of Mrs. F.) enclosing one from Foote to him, dated at Fredonia, Chautauqua county, in which, after attempting to fix the blame on his wife and others, he concludes thus:  "I want you to advise Sarah to leave New Berlin as soon as convenient.  And if she does not, and remains there to keep me away from my native home, which I do that no lives may be lost, there will be serious work done.  But I have said enough, &c."

These letters, the coroner conceiving to be of much importance, were retained.  A warrant was issued, and the officers of the law are in hot pursuit of the fugitive [Bainbridge Freeman]

Binghamton Courier, March 10, 1847
Married
In this town [Binghamton, Broome Co., NY], on Wednesday the 3d inst., by the Rev. D. D. Gregory, Mr. Aaron P. Hupman to

Died
In Union [Broome Co., NY], on Saturday morning last, Mr. Isaac Carhart, aged 53 years.

At Sherburne, Chenango county, on the 3d inst., Mr. Thomas Merrill, father of Mr. Myron Merrill of this village [Binghamton, Broome Co., NY], aged 86 years.

Foote Arrested
We last week related an instance of brutality and death, in which Dr. Dan Foote of South New Berlin was the actor, according to the verdict of the Coroner's jury, rendered over the dead body of his wife.  We also stated that his whereabouts had been ascertained, and that measures were adopted calculated to secure his arrest.

Foote on leaving New Berlin, after his wife became insane, undoubtedly in consequence of his abuse and violence, went to Fredonia, Chautauqua, Co., and not dreaming, we presume, that death would so soon overtake his victim, wrote to her brother who resides in Michigan, that for certain reasons which he assigned, he should not live with her longer, and (as we are informed) requested him to provide for her for the future. The brother on reading this letter, immediately enclosed it to Elder Chamberlain at South New Berlin, making inquiries as the the facts of the case.  Learning his temporary residence, Mr. John Sergeant left this county, in company with Constable Mott Burr, of Sherburne, for Fredonia.  On arriving at that place the "bird had flown," he having left for Pennsylvania--they tracked him to Warren Co., Pa., where a warrant was issued on which he was arrested, and rather than to be imprisoned there until a requisition could be obtained from Governor Young, he voluntarily consented to return with them.  On Thursday or Friday last, they reached South New Berlin, but the examination was postponed until today (Thursday) in consequent of the indisposition of the prisoner.  He has employed able counsel in the defence, but if we are correctly informed as to the character of the evidence, a commitment will inevitably follow.  We would not prejudge the miserable man, who, if guilty of the crime imputed to him, will, be legally arraigned at the bar of justice.  Telegraph.

Binghamton Courier, March 17, 1847
Married
In Windsor [Broome Co., NY], on the 25th ult., by the Rev. H.W. Gilbert, Mr. Jonathan Farnsworth, of Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY] to Miss Lydia Johnson of Sanford [Broome Co., NY].

In Colesville [Broome Co., NY], on the 4th inst., by the same, Mr. Asa M. Perkins of Windsor [Broome Co., NY], to Miss Harriet M. Doolittle, of the former place.

Chenango Telegraph, September 29, 1847
Trial of Dr. Foote - Judge's Charge & Jury's Verdict
The case was then submitted to the jury on the charge of his Honor, Justice Mason, which lasted two hours.  He briefly referred to the evidence bearing on the different points of the case and particularly that portion of it relied on by the prosecution, as showing a settled design of the prisoner to effect the death of his wife. He said the repeated declarations proved to have been made by Dr. Foote, his repeated acts of violence and the declaration in the letter that if his wife remained at So. New Berlin, there would be serious work done, went to show a strong case of malice.  On the other hand, if the prisoner intended murder, it is for the jury to say whether he would not have resorted to means that would have left no trace behind, whether he would not have administered some drug instead of beating and bruising her as detailed in the evidence, and that he regarded this as a strong circumstance going to disprove malice.  He said that Counsel had said much in regard to the treatment of Mrs. Foote, while sick, and had argued that some more skillful physician might have saved her life; but that this could be of no avail to the prisoner.  It was no defense for him, that the disease was not properly treated.  He said Counsel were mistaken in supposing that the testimony of the five physicians called for the defense had in effect taken the case out of the hands of the Jury; that it was evidence for them to consider in determining the guilt or innocence of the prisoner; that if the Jury were satisfied that the disease of which Mrs. Foote died, was caused by blows inflicted by the prisoner with intent to kill, whether it resulted in inflammation of the bowels or in a disease of the brain, or whether the general bruising had in any other way as to cause her death, they would find him guilty of murder; if without malice, they would find him guilty of manslaughter in the first degree.  It is impossible for us to do justice to the charge of his honor.  The Jury, after an absence of two hours, returned with a verdict of "Guilty of Manslaughter in the Frist Degree."








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