Vital Records, Madison (1815) & Otsego (1879) Counties, NY

 The Pilot, Cazenovia, NY, January 4, 1815

Death

In Nelson [Madison Co. NY] on the 29th ult. Mr. Rufus Weaver aged 69.

Elopement

Whereas my wife Lois Goodrich has left my bed and board, without just cause.  I therefore forbid all persons harboring or trusting her on my account, as I will pay no debts of her contracting.  L. Goodrich, Cazenovia [Madison Co. NY] Dec. 31, 1814.

The Pilot, Cazenovia, NY, January 11, 1815

News Item

Went away from the subscriber on the 29th ult. Elijah Williams an indented apprentice, without just cause.  Said apprentice is supposed to have been enticed away by four evil disposed persons.  If said boy will return, he shall have a good new pair of boots and vest, but the subscriber will not pay any debts of his contracting after this date.  J. Backus December 28, 1814.

The Pilot, Cazenovia, NY, January 18, 1815

Death

At Granville [Washington Co. NY] on the 10th ult. Mr.s Cynthia Bulkeley wife of Mr. Charles Bulkeley, aged 28.

Life speeds away / The cunning fugitive is swift by stealth, / Too subtle is its movement to be seen, / Yet soon our hour is up and we are gone.

At the same place on the 15th ult. Mr. Chester Bulkeley much lamented, aged 31.

The Pilot, Cazenovia, NY, January 25, 1815

Marriages

In Fabius [Onondaga Co. NY] on Sunday the 15th by Mr. Miles, esq. Mr. Cary Rogers to Miss Sally Bentley.

In Cazenovia [Madison Co. NY] on the 17th Mr. Harvey Smith to Miss Orice Ackley [and] Mr. Chester Coits to Miss Lucy Mason.

Death

In this town [Cazenovia, Madison Co. NY] on the 11th instant, Mr. George Beckwith son of Elder Beckwith, aged 23.

Freeman's Journal, Cooperstown, NY, February 6, 1879

Marriages

In this village [Cooperstown, Otsego Co. NY] on the 29th ult by Rev. F.E. Peck, William P.K. Fuller to Miss Eva Murdock all of this village.

At the Presbyterian Parsonage, Worcester. N.Y. [Otsego Co.] Feb. 2, 1879, by Rev. John M. chase, Hamilton Waterman and Mrs. Lovira Wright all of Worcester.

At New Lisbon [Otsego Co. NY] January 29th, by Rev. Ira Bailey, Leon Gregory and Miss Jennie Bundy all of New Lisbon.

At the home of the bride's parents in Hartwick [Otsego Co. NY] January 15th 1879, by Benj. I. Ripley, Lewis M. Edmonds of Cooperstown [Otsego Co. NY] and Miss Amelia Shepard of Hartwick.

It is reported that Ezra Alger a brother of the elder David Alger of Oneonta [Otsego Co. NY] was shot and killed Tuesday, by a deputy sheriff who was endeavoring to arrest him for stealing two satchels from a peddler. The affair took place in "Mormon Hollow" near Masonville, Delaware Co. [NY].  The report is that Alger resisted the efforts to arrest him and endeavored to kill the officer with a knife and that in shooting he (the officer) acted in self defense.

Deaths

In New Lisbon [Otsego Co. NY] Jan. 29th, Miss Sallie U. Hawley aged 57 years.

In Morris [Otsego Co. NY] January 29th, Nathaniel Moore aged 52 years.

In Westford [Otsego Co. NY], January 28th, Mrs. Wm. Wales in the 68th year of her age.

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The late news which has been received of Rev. M.C. Devitt's death has cast a melancholy shade over the minds of his friends in Cooperstown and elsewhere.  He was a just man, and the spirit of wisdom was upon him.  He was led by the spirit through the right ways of truth, justice, the straightforward paths of reason, an obedient servant of Christ.  The ends of his ways, the object ever before his eyes was "the kingdom of Christ."  A high and holy object was this, a grand and noble purpose which wisdom held out to him as the aim of his life and the crown of his days.  When a youth of scarcely thirteen he decided his vocation, entered Maynooth college, one of the most distinguished classical institutions in the world, and there completed his classics in less than two years, after which he traveled in different parts of Europe, visited Rome where he was cordially received by His holiness Pius IX.  As a true soldier of Christ, he concluded to go to Australia and labor among the natives and other inhabitants.  Having accomplished his theological studies, he was ordained when scarcely twenty-two years of age, where upon account of his minority he had to get a dispensation from the Holy Father.  He commenced his labors along the east coast of Australia where he had a territory of about one thousand miles to ride over, laboring with an indefatigable zeal for the salvation of souls.  Often his life was at stake whilst laboring among the barbarous natives and pirates who overran the uninhabited regions.

In the twenty-seventh year of his age, as his constitution was not rugged enough to undergo such severe labors, Father Devitt concluded to come to the United States.  Whilst crossing the Pacific, he visited the Feejee Islands and some others in Polynesia.  After coming to the United States, he remained a short time on Staten Island from thence came to Cooperstown [Otsego Co. NY] where he was apparently healthy until 1876.  In the autumn of that year, he was attacked with hemorrhage of the lungs, which he bore with sublime patience until called form this world on last New Year's Day.  As it is customary for affectionate fathers and mothers to present gifts to their children on Christmas and New Year's it is quite obvious that our Heavenly Father, by bringing his labors and sufferings to a termination, presented him on New Year's Day with "the eternal crown of light" which shall recompence him for his labors and goodness when time shall be no more.  In this age of ours, a few years are as a century of time gone by.  Great changes and startling events follow each other in such quick succession that the greatest names are forgotten almost as soon as those who bore them disappear, and the world is surprised to find how short lived is fame, which promised to be immortal.  He whose name is inscribed even in the golden book of the world's annals finds that he has but written his name upon water.  The Church alone is the true shrine of immortality, the temple of fame which perishith not; that man alone whose name and memory is preserved in his sanctuaries receives on earth a reflection of that glory which is eternal in heaven.  Surely Father Devitt was one of those; of a noble birth, gifted with a powerful and comprehensive intelligence, a remarkable memory, a most fertile imagination which poured forth its images in a vein of richest oratory; a generous spirit, a most tender heart, enriched with stores of varied learning and a genius of the highest kind, graced with every form of manly beauty - nothing seemed wanting to him.  He is gone, but his words and his goodness shall live forever in thousands of those to whom he was so dear.  "Requiescat in pace."

Religious services will be held in the Catholic Church this (Thursday) morning at which a Requiem Mass for the late Father Devitt will be celebrated.  A number of priests from different parishes in this Diocese will be present and take art in the service.