Recollections of the Early Settlement of the Town of Greene
Chenango American, Greene, NY, December 3, 1857
Part 1
This town [Greene, NY] was originally organized on the 9th of March, 1798, as a part of the County of Tioga. It was taken from the towns of Union and Jericho (now Bainbridge). It originally embraced the present towns of Coventry and Smithville, the former of which was organized by the Legislature in 1806, the latter in 1808. The town was named in honor of General Nathaniel Greene, of Revolutionary fame. It is situated in the southern extremity of Chenango County, twenty-two miles from Norwich and eighteen from Binghamton.
The Chenango River passes through the centre of the town, running about thirteen miles within its limits. The Genegantslet, a mill stream of considerable size, takes its rise in the northern part of the County passes through the western part of the town, forming a junction with the Chenango a few miles below the village of Greene. The signification of its name in the Indian dialect is not known. The name of the river is said by some to signify "Pleasant Stream," by others "Big Neck;" which is correct it is difficult now to determine.
The first settlement of this town was made about the year 1792. The first families were dispersed over the then surface of the town nearly simultaneously, and did not radiate from any particular point.
Greene was early signalized as the seat of a settlement of French refugees who fled from their own country to escape the terrors of the Revolution. It is supposed that they arrived in Philadelphia in the year 1791. One of their number Charles Felix De Bulogne, had preceded the main body of the emigrants and had negotiated for, and concluded the purchase of a tract of land granted by letters patent from the people of the State of New York to Malacoy Treat and William W. Morris, lying on the east side of the Chenango River in said town, containing about 15,000 acres, upon which he paid a very considerable amount, taking a deed and executing a mortgage upon the land for the balance of the purchase money. It was through his influence that the French settlers were induced to come out and form the settlement. The first detachment of these adventurers came on from Philadelphia, in the fall of 1792. This party consisted of M. Bulogne, M. Shamont, M. Le Fevre, M. Bravo, M. Du Vernet and M. Obre. A portion of them had families and there were some young ladies among the party. The route taken by them was through New York, Albany, Schenectady, and thence up the Mohawk to Fort Plain, where leaving the valley they passed over to the town of Butternuts, in Otsego County; here they were joined by Simon Barnet, who had formerly resided in Philadelphia.
It is not certainly known how they were enabled to penetrate the then unbroke wilderness, but the fact is undeniable that they arrived at their destination and commenced operations on the east bank of the Chenango River, by laying out a town plot, each lot containing ten acres, and the whole plot embracing about three hundred acres of land, facing the west by a gently decent. The plans of operation in carrying on their agricultural pursuits were the same adopted in many parts of their native country, where the agriculturist with his family resides in the village and owns and works a farm, more or less remote from his residence; with this view each was to select his farm on other portions of the tract, thus combining social intercourse and good society with rural pursuits. These settlers were for the most part gentlemen and ladies of education, refinement ad polished manners. It is said that the leader of this band was a titled nobleman in France. Subsequently M. Dutremont, joined the colony with his family and before its entire dispersion, Capt. Joseph Juliand, was attracted thither; who being strictly the only French emigrant who attained a permanent residence in the town, will hereafter claim a further notice. These adventurers erected rude dwellings from the materials within their reach, and commenced improving their lands by removing the timber, and grubbing out the roots, each putting a small patch of land in complete cultivation, while their supplies of provisions were drawn from great distances at much labor and expense. under these circumstances it is not strange that persons reared in affluence and accustomed to the pleasures of refined society should yield to the pressure of the misfortunes that soon overtook them.
M. Bulogne, while on his way to Philadelphia in the spring of 1785, was unfortunately drowned while fording a creek much swollen by the spring floods. On arriving at the stream which is a tributary of the west branch of the Susquehanna, in the State of Pennsylvania, enquiry was made at the nearest house in regard to the safety of the ford, but in consequence of the illness of the master of the house he could do no more than to point out the route to be taken. M. Bologne directed his servant to take the best horse and pass over, which he did in safety, the water only reaching the horse's sides. M.B. then attempted to follow with the horse of his servant, but on reaching the middle of the stream, the horse stopped and became restive and on applying the spurs he reared and lunged and threw his rider, whose foot became entangled in the stirrup, and without the power of extricating himself he was drowned. Before the horse reached the shore the foot was freed and the body carried down the swollen stream. He might have been saved had assistance been at hand. The servant could render none, but standing on the bank in the agony of despair, exclaimed Mon Dieu! Mon Dieu!
The untimely death of the leader of this adventurous band proved fatal to the future success of the settlement. The failure to pay the balance of the purchase money due on the tract, caused the title to revert to the original patentees, and hence no valid title could be obtained through him. After all the hardships and privations they had endured, the failure to secure a title to their land, proved a signal for dispersing the settlement. The majority of these settlers left in the year 1796. They removed by water, in such canoes or boats as could be obtained for that purpose, descending the river to its junction with the Susquehanna and thence down the latter river to a point on its western bank in Bradford County, Pa., where they again commenced a settlement which they namef Asylum, but it has since been known as French Town. It is believed that some of their descendants still reside in that vicinity. The widow of M. Bulogne and some others returned to France. In the year 1794, the celebrated French diplomatist, Talleyrand, whose name stands conspicuous in European history, while sojourning in the United States visited his fellow countrymen at their settlement in Greene. He came on from Philadelphia on horseback, accompanied by a traveling companion and servant, and after remaining here a few days, pursued his journey to Albany. Having made the acquaintance of M. Dutremont and family, he became much interest in his eldest son, and on leaving he persuaded the young man with the consent of his parents to accompany him to France. Young Dutremont afterwards became his private Secretary, and may have received other preferment through the influence of his patron.
To be continued
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