1807 State Census  

Town of Chautauqua

Return to Chautauqua County Gen Web page.

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The following appeared in the Fredonia Censor Sept 7, 1864, p 3:1

Letter from Judge Elial Foote; to the Editor of the Fredonia Censor:

Dear Sir--Under the former arrangement to send you a series of historical articles relating to Chautauqua County and its pioneer settlers for publication in your paper....... I herewith send you a census of all the names of the paternal heads of families in the town of Chautauqua, in A.D. 1807-- then the town of Chautauqua in the county of Genesee, now [1864] the entire county of Chautauqua. The census was taken under the old constitution of the State to show the number of electors in each class, with their qualification as to freehold property, &c. It will be seen that the total number of electors in our entire county was less than one hundred. The census was taken by two respectable citizens of the town, appointed for that purpose. The town had been divided into two districts, substantially in the form of the present Assembly districts.

1. = Electors of the freehold value of L100

2. = Electors of the value of L20 & under L100

3. = Electors not freeholders but rented, paid taxes, &c.

SCHEDULE OF JUSTUS HINMAN'S DISTRICT

Heads of Families

n.1

n.2

n.3

Hinman, Justus

1

Hart, Ozias

2

Holmes, Orsamus

2

Holmes, Alanson

1

Seaman, Seely

1

Scott, Rufus

 

Stebbins, Hazadiah

1

Gould, Daniel

2

Gould, William

1

Gear, Samuel

1

Griswold, Jared

1

Perry, Benjamin

1

Perry Samuel

2

Prior, John

1

Pattison, Benjamin

1

Orton, Abiram

1

Orton, Philo

1

Johnson, Uzial

1

Burnham, Eliphed

1

2

Bellows, John S.

1

Barns, Benjamin

1

Barrett, Benjamin

1

Barker, Hezekiah

1

1

1

Bush, Stephen

1

David, Samuel

1

Dickson, David

1

Douglass, Richard

1

Cooley, David

1

Cole, Seth

1

Cushing, Zatter

1

Cole, Daniel

1

Coon, Luke

1

Case, Nathan

1

Case, John

1

Risley, Elijah

2

Mann, Elisha

1

Fish, Hezekiah

1

Turner, Hezekiah

1

Lee, Urial

1

Webber, William

1

Webber, Jonathan

1

Webber, Morris

1

1

Webber, Francis

1

Walker,John

1

Williams, Richard

1

"This may certify that Justus Hinman has made a true return of the above names for the town of Chautauqua." Sworn and subscribed Oct. 15, 1807, before me. David Eason, J.P.

FROM ALEXANDER C. MARTIN'S DISTRICT

Heads of Families

n.1

n.2

n.3

Low Minegar

1

George Whithill

1

Abraham Frederic

2

Samuel Harrison

2

Loughts (?) McNeil

1

William McBride

1

William Crossgrove

1

Alexander Cochran

1

Andrew Spears

2

Josiah Farnsworth

1

Nathan Weasner

1

Asa Spears

1

Ebenezer Babcock

2

Oliver Loomis

1

Thomas Prendergast

1

1

Henry Day

1

William Alexander

1

Arthur Bell

1

David Eason

1

John Lyons

1

Peter Kane

1

1

John Price

1

James Dunn

1

Nathan Fay

2

Jacob George

1

John DeGrave

1

Stophel Dull

1

2

John McMahon

1

James McMahon

1

Nicholas George

1

James Brannan

2

Alexander C. Martin

1

"I hereby certify that this is a true census of the freehold electors within the bounds I was appointed to take, according to the best of my knowledge and belief." Alexander C. Martin Sworn and subscribed before me this 18th day of June, 1807. John McMahan, J.P.

[ the letter from Judge Elial Foote continues]

There were a few settlers about Chautauqua Lake and the Conewango who were electors in 1807, whose names do not appear in the preceding list. ..... The preceeding census was taken within five years after the first white man, Col. James McMahan, settled in the county with his family and commenced the cultivation of the soil. The names of electors embraced, but not then householders, was not given, consequently must be left to conjecturs, and in most cases are irrecoverably lost, although research by relatives or those in the vicinity of their residence may still recover them. I earnestly recommend to those who wish to preserve a memorial of the pioneer settlers, to preserve this list for reference and by diligent inquiry of relatives and others, ascertain the names of the sons and daughters of electors and what became of them. If they removed from the county, where to, that a trace of them may be preserved. I shall gladly preserve such memorials, or they may be forwarded to the Fredonia Historical Society, where, I have no doubt they will be carefully preserved. etc. etc.

with kind regard I am As ever, your most obed't

E.T. FOOTE

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