HISTORY OF

SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

by NATHANIEL BARTLETT SYLVESTER

1878

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HISTORY OF THE VILLAGES AND TOWNS OF SARATOGA COUNTY.

MALTA.

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I. - GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION.

THE town of Malta includes a part of Saratoga lake, and is southeast of the centre of the county. (This expression, centre of the county, is used so often, it may be well to indicate it, as the centre of a tract with an irregular outline is perhaps open to some question. Draw diagonals upon the map of the county, and they will intersect near Jamesville; draw perpendiculars, and their intersection will be only a little farther east. In either case the centre will be found about on the north line of Milton, and not far from the central point of that line.) Malta is bounded north by Saratoga Springs, east by Stillwater, south by Clifton Park and Half-Moon, west by Ballston. It contains thirteen thousand nine hundred and three acres of improved land, three thousand one hundred and six acres of unimproved, and of this last amount one thousand nine hundred and ninety-six are woodland. The Kayadrossera creek forms the northern boundary line, though several maps in use erroneously give Drummond creek as part of the north line, and include Malta Ridge in Saratoga Springs. Malta includes a small portion of the Saratoga patent, but is mostly within the Kayadrossera patent. Population in 1875 was twelve hundred and fourteen.

In the revised statutes of the State this town is described, and its boundary lines defined, as follows:

"The town of Malta shall contain all that part of said county comprehended within the following bounds, to wit: beginning in the north bounds of the town of Half-Moon, at a place where a small creek, known by the name of Dwaas Kill, empties into Anthony's Kill, and running thence northerly on a straight line to a place where the most easterly small creek empties into the south end of the Saratoga lake; then northwesterly through the middle of said lake to the southwesterly corner of Saratoga; thence westerly along a continuation of the north line of Stillwater to the easterly bounds of Milton; then south along the easterly bounds of Milton and Ballston to the southeast corner of Ballston; then on a straight line to the place of beginning."

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II. - NATURAL FEATURES.

Its surface is chiefly an undulating upland, sixty to eighty feet above the level of the lake, and broken somewhat by the deep gulleys of the small streams.

The principal stream is the Kayadrossera, which forms part of the northern boundary.

The Mourning Kill is the main tributary from the south, though its course in this town is only for a short distance across the northwest part. There are two smaller creeks flowing into the Kayadrossera at points below the entrance of the Mourning Kill. Near the upper end of Saratoga lake there are no less than five small creeks flowing in from the town of Malta, not of sufficient importance to be given names. But north of these Drummond creek, a long, winding stream, flowing across a large portion of the town, finds its way into the lake.

The outlet of Ballston lake, flowing into Malta at East Line, becomes an inlet of Round lake. There are also five small rivulets that empty into Round lake. And Anthony's Kill, a more important stream, the outlet of the lake, forms a part of the southern boundary of the town. Round lake derives its name from the fact that it is very nearly circular. It is about one mile in diameter, and in the dense forest of olden times must have been a sparkling gem of rare beauty, as it is indeed even now.

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III. - EARLY SETTLEMENT.

It is stated in gazetteers that the first settlements within the present limits of the town of Malta were made by two men named Drummond and McKelpin. They were here before the Revolution, were loyalists, and obliged to leave during the war. Little is known of them, and it is believed they never returned. The name of Drummond creek is no doubt derived from the settler of that name, and suggests also the part of the town where they located.

It is by no means certain, however, that they were here in advance of John Hunter and Ashbel Andrews. John Hunter came with the Connecticut colony to Stillwater as early as 1764, and settled near Round lake, on what is now the Scotland place. Robert Hunter was, no doubt, a connection, and settled in the same neighborhood about the same time. From the frequency of the name of Andrews in the early annals of that Connecticut church, and from other circumstances, it is inferred that Ashbel Andrews, Sr., was also with the Hunters a pioneer at that early date. Unless, therefore, the loyalists were really here before, or in the year 1763, the members of the Connecticut colony pushing back from the Hudson were, no doubt, the earliest, especially as the colony very likely came in 1762.

Michael Dunning, with six sons and three daughters, came from Connecticut in 1771 or 1772, and settled on the site of what is now Dunning Street Corners, or Malta Post-Office. This pioneer farm included a large tract of land at that point, and his first house was erected on or near the site of the present store of Zachariah Seddon. Michael Dunning joined the Presbyterian church at Ballston Centre at an early day.

John Rhoades was an early settler on Malta Ridge.

Timothy Shipman settled northwest of Malta Ridge, on the present farm of Joseph Rowley. Hiram Shipman was a son of Timothy.

Jehial Parks was probably in Malta about the time of the Revolutionary struggle. His sons were John and Patrick. His homestead was a little east of Maltaville.

The list of town officers chosen at the first meeting, 1802, affords information as to the pioneers about that time.

Samuel Clark, the first supervisor, lived at East Line, south of the present Corners, on the farm now owned by Henry Van Hyning. He was a man of great prominence, a presidential elector in 1792, voting for George Washington at the second election under the new constitution. His homestead is a venerable relic of the past, opposite the old Smith place, and is noted, as elsewhere shown, for having been the place of the first court for Saratoga County.

Luther Landon was an early settler north of Malta, on the farm now owned by Charles Sickler.

Dean Chase lived at Malta Ridge.

Ebenezer Valentine, south of Malta, on the present Van Arnam place.

Ebenezer Dibble, on the farm now owned by George Rogers, Esq.

Ebenezer Millard lived northwest of Malta, on the Eighmy farm.

Obadiah Tompkins settled on Malta Ridge.

Reuben Doolittle was an early pioneer on the farm still in the family, owned by a son, Harvey Doolittle.

Cornelius Abeel lived a little east of Round lake, on the farm now occupied by a daughter, Mrs. Parks.

Stephen Ireland settled near Saratoga lake, on the place now owned by Joseph Smith.

Robert Hemple, father of A.H. Hemple, of Malta, came to the town about 1804. He bought a part of the Dunning tract, including the Dunning tavern, on the site of Seddon's store. Mr. Hemple kept a public-house fifteen years. A noted circumstance of this family is stated, that Robert Hemple was the eldest of eighteen children; that there was no death in the family until the youngest child was fifteen years of age. The name is frequently spelled Hemphill.

We add the following, obtained of James H. Clark, East Line: His grandfather, Samuel Clark, came from Newburg, on the Hudson, about 1776 or 1777. He had been the owner of property now covered largely by Newburg itself, and if retained, would have been an immense fortune for his descendants. Selling that, he came to East Line, and settled first on the Ballston side of the road. Soon afterwards, however, he bought a tract of six hundred acres, and built the well-known dwelling-house which is now standing on the Malta side of the line. The house is therefore nearly or quite one hundred years old. The sons of Samuel Clark were Jehial, who settled in Sullivan county; Samuel, in Saratoga County; James (father of James H.), also in Saratoga County. The daughters were Charlotte, who became Mrs. Miller, of Ballston; Elizabeth, the wife of Rev. Wm. Anson, who finally settled on her father's old homestead; Lydia, Mrs. Cooper, of Cayuga county, and Patty, who became Mrs. Valentine, and settled in Michigan.

Samuel Smith kept a tavern on the Ballston side of the line, opposite the Clark place.

Noah Olmstead was an early settler in Malta, near East Line; also Mr. Rockwell.

Mr. Benedict lived in Ballston, near East Line.

Wm. Marvin was an early settler in Malta. His deed, dated in 1761, would indicate him to be the first settler, provided he came at the time of the purchase. Judge Marvin, of Saratoga Springs, is a grandson.

While the courts were held at Samuel Clark's, there was a building near the road and just opposite the Smith Hotel, that was used and was called the court-house, - though it is the opinion of James H. Clark that the legal business was mostly done in the dwelling-house. One room in the house was used to keep the prisoners brought from Albany county jail for trial.

The country near Round lake had a touch of the oil excitement, which broke out so violently in almost every town in the land about the time the great discoveries in Pennsylvania were astonishing the world. There was thought to be an oil spring northeast of the lake, near the place of J. Deyoe, and a well was sunk in the search for oil south from the lake, but no decisive results were achieved that could satisfy any one that there was oil worth working for.

The early mills in this town were on the various small streams that have become of little importance in later years, since the clearing up of the country has so much diminished their volume. There was a grist-mill on the site of the present one at Maltaville. It was run by the water-power of one of the Round lake streams. There was also a sawmill near the present place of Mr. Lent; another on one of the Saratoga lake streams. At the Stillwater line, and near the upper end of the lake, was both a grist-mill and a sawmill. It is somewhat uncertain just what year milling operations began at these points, but in several cases it was no doubt before 1800.

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REMINISCENCES OF LEWIS SMITH, NOW OF MECHANICVILLE.

He was born Jan. 15, 1786, at East Line, being now (1878) in his ninety-third year. He states that his father, Samuel Smith, came from Norwalk, Conn., to Ballston somewhat earlier than the Burgoyne campaign. He is not certain of the exact date. The family came by water to New York, and up the Hudson to Albany.

From there the pioneer with his wife and one child went on foot to Schenectady, and then made their way to Ballston. When they reached their destination they had twenty-five cents left, and no tools for work or housekeeping furniture. Samuel Smith was a blacksmith, and he told his neighbors, among whom was Noah Olmstead, that if they would go to Stillwater and procure blacksmith tools from Burgoyne's surrendered camp he would do their blacksmithing until they were satisfied. They went and procured an English bellows, a vise, two hammers, and two pair of tongs. Brought them on a pole slung across their shoulders to East Line; and thus Mr. Smith was established in blacksmithing.

He also procured considerable of his chopping and clearing done by men for whom he did blacksmith work. The vise and the anvil were sold many years ago, but at his father's request the old bellows was saved, slung up in the upper part of the shop on the old Smith place at East Line. It is there now, and it was Samuel Smith's desire to have it remain as a family relic, - the foundation of the pioneer's fortune. Mr. Smith's children were Samuel (born before removing to Boston), who settled north of East Line, and whose grandson, James H. Smith, now lives on the pioneer homestead south of East Line; Esther, who became Mrs. Alexander Weed, and settled east of Ballston Spa, in Malta; Hannah, who became Mrs. Moses Landon, and settled in Malta; Lewis, from whom this account is derived, now of Mechanicville; Silas, who succeeded to the old homestead, and died at the age of eighty-four.

Lewis Smith remembers something of the courts, being a boy of seven or eight years before they were removed from Mr. Clark's, opposite his father's place. He remembers Dirck Swart, the first county clerk, who always stopped at his father's house, and who gave the little boy many shillings for waiting upon him from time to time. He also remembers Major Buel. He relates an anecdote showing that penmanship in the old times was not much better than it now is. A lawyer in Charlton had written a letter to one of his clients, then attending court at East Line. The client could not read it; neither could the judge, nor the lawyers, nor anybody else at East Line. So the "little shaver," Lewis Smith, was mounted on a horse and sent to Charlton to carry the letter to the lawyer who wrote it, and see if he could read the document himself. The boy was instructed not to tell him anything, who wrote it or where it came from. The lawyer took the letter, looked it over, turned it upside-down, studied it diagonally and perpendicularly, and then broke out with, "Who in h--l wrote that? The devil couldn't read it!" Lewis did as he was directed, and kept still for awhile, but was finally obliged to tell all about it. The lawyer picked it up again. "Oh," said he, "that is plain enough; anybody could read that."

Mr. Smith says that in his boyhood days the children had to work; there was no time to go off on expensive sprees with nice carriages. If a boy was able to pull up a weed or to burn brush, he must keep busy. He could go fishing sometimes in the outlet of Ballston lake. The men used to go to Saratoga lake with nets, and catch a wagon-load in a few hours, divide them, and pack them away for family use. He used to go to general training, and expected to have three cents pocket-money to buy a card of gingerbread with. He had one pair of shoes a year, and usually one suit of home-made winter clothes. His summer wear was made at home, of brown tow-cloth. Mr. Smith remembers going to Saratoga Springs and seeing the water bubble out of the top of the High Rock.

In the War of 1812, Lewis Smith was captain of an artillery company of which Lansing was a lieutenant. The colonel procured permission to draft by companies, and Captain Smith's company drew clear. Mr. Smith was married in 1809 to a daughter of Isaac Garnsey, of Clifton Park. She died Nov. 14, 1877, - their married life having extended for sixty-eight years. They had six children; one died young. Of the others, Lewis E. settled in Mechanicville; Esther became Mrs. Sears, of Mechanicville; Silas, three miles west; Daniel, in Waterford; Isaac N., a lumber dealer, died some years since. Lewis Smith, soon after his marriage, settled at Crow Hill, where he in time acquired a farm of nearly six hundred acres. He lived there forty-three years. In his earlier farming he raised and sold wheat. After that failed, went in to raising hogs rather largely, fattening from twenty to thirty, and sometimes forty and fifty, a year. He also kept at times from six hundred to one thousand sheep. In 1853 he moved into Mechanicville. His neighbors said he would not live long if he moved off his farm; but he has passed a quarter of a century since in his pleasant village home. He is one of the few links left that connect this generation to the past, - three years older than the constitution; five years older than Saratoga County.

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IV. - ORGANIZATION.

The designation of this town, like that of some others, seems to have been a merely arbitrary selection. Any tradition with reference to its origin is vague and uncertain. The name of Dunning is intimately connected with the place in the conversation of elderly people, reaching back to the commencement of the present century. The centre of the town - Malta P.O. - is still much better known by the name of Dunning Street, and is still constantly referred to under that name rather than that of Malta. Whoever suggested the name certainly chose a brief and convenient one, which probably no citizen has ever regretted. Three of the post-offices or villages take their names from the town itself: Malta Ridge in the north, Maltaville in the south, and Malta, as before stated, at the centre. If a name for the town was chosen at the present time, from the reputation the beautiful sheet of water in the south is acquiring among pleasure-seekers and religious associations, it would probably be Round lake. Thousands have heard of Round lake without knowing anything of Malta, unless they knew of the European name or had been initiated into the mystic rites of the "Sons of Malta."

Courtenay Neilson, of Stillwater, suggests the following rather unpoetical origin of the name: In early times a malt-brewery was erected within what is now the territory of this town. The cluster of buildings around it gradually became known as Malt-ville, and hence Malta. With this final effort to account for the name, we pass the question on to the next historian.

The town of Malta was formed from Stillwater, March 3, 1802. A portion of Saratoga was added March 28, 1805. The first town-meeting was held at the house of Michael Dunning, Jr., April 6, 1802. The following officers were chosen: Supervisor, Samuel Clark; Town Clerk, Ashbel Andrews, Jr.; Assessors, Joseph Rockwell, Luther Landon, Dean Chase; Commissioners of Highways, Abraham Valentine, Ebenezer Dibble, Uriah Hawkins; Overseers of the Poor, William Dunning, Samuel Gates; Constables, Pontius Hooper, Eleazer Millard, Jr.; Collector, Pontius Hooper; Overseers of Highways, No. 1, Obadiah Tompkins; No. 2, Elisha Wood; No. 3, Samuel Gregory; No. 4, David Keeler; No. 5, Reuben Doolittle; No. 6, Jesse How; No. 7, Cornelius Abeel; No. 8, Stephen Ireland; No. 9, Timothy Shipman; Fence-viewers, Obadiah Mather, Robert Hunter; Pound-keeper, William Dunning. The supervisor was authorized, conjointly with the supervisor of Stillwater, to prosecute the town of Easton for moneys alleged to be due.

The same year it was decided that seven twenty-fifths of the State tax apportioned to the old town of Stillwater be paid by the town of Malta, and eighteen twenty-fifths by the town of Stillwater. This, with thirteen other items of settlement between the two towns, was arranged and signed by Samuel Clark, Samuel Gates, and William Dunning on the part of Malta, and John Hunter, William Strang, and Thomas Morey on the part of Stillwater.

The assessment roll of 1813 shows two hundred and eleven property-holders. Those assessed for $2000 or over were Cornelius Abeel, $3732; Isaac Andrews, $2280; John Burr, $3000; Eddy Baker, $3797; Eddy Baker, Jr., $2382; Jasper Burch, $2867; Samuel Clark, $6758; Orrin and William Culver, $2220; James Clark, $2532; Dean Chase, $3600; Thomas Collamer, $2400; Marvin Collamer, $2400; Barker Collamer, $2780 (the Schuyler lot), $2000; Palmer Cady, $2800; William Dunning, $4115; Richard Dunning, $2001; Moses Dunning, $2129; John Fish, $3390; George W. Fish, $2448; Joshua Fish, $4374; George Gorham, $2660; Samuel and Coleman Gates, $2128; John B. Gould, $5991; Adam Gould, $2242; Preserved Gardner, $2265; Lawrence Hooper, $3200; Thomas Hall, $3460; Robert Hemphill, $3500; Isaac Kellogg, $2340; Aaron Kellogg, $3028; Melaliah Lathrop, $2388; James Merritt, $8000; Ephraim Miller, $4048; Dennis, Samuel, and David Marvin, $3155; David Newton, $2261; James Ostrander, $3900; Joseph Rockwell, $2221; John Swartwout, $2710; Simeon Simmons, $2060; John Southard, $2220; John Scidmore, $2204; Timothy Shipman, $2476; Ezra Talmage, $3875; Lovett Tripp, $2593; Abraham Valentine, $7592; Stephen Valentine, $2000; Jacob and Michael Van Wagoner, $2054; George Wiggins, $2629; Alexander Weed, $6120; John Wilde, $2730; James Weeks, $2785; Daniel Weeks, $2660; John Weeks, $2299.

At the election for members of Assembly, commencing April 27, 1802, and continuing for three days, the following result is recorded: Samuel Hunter, 87 votes; Adam Comstock, 83; Gideon Goodrich, 73; Othniel Looker, 76; Asahel Porter, 25; John Taylor, 1; John Hunter, 34; Samuel Lewis, 15; Henry Davis, 31; Abner Carpenter, 2; John McCrea, 2. The inspectors of the election were Samuel Clark, Ashbel Andrews, Jr., Luther Landon, Dean Chase, and Joseph Rockwell.

In 1833 there are recorded innkeepers' licenses to the following: William Marvin, whose tavern was at East Line; Richard Chase, at Malta Ridge; Abner Carpenter, at Dunning Street, in the old building now bearing the name of Northern Hotel; George Badgley, then at the south end of Saratoga lake; and Joseph Soules, at the present Rogers house, Dunning Street. In 1833 there are others named: Henry Van Hyning, in the old stone building south of Round lake; George Rogers, at Dunning Street; Samuel Irish, south end of Saratoga lake; and Isaac Van Hyning, south of Round lake, where the railroad now creases the common road. Jerry Payne, a grocery license.

The list of three town officers following is complete from 1802 to 1877, inclusive, - three-quarters of a century.

It will be noticed by the facts recorded in another place that several of these town officers attained great prominence in the wider fields of county, State, and national history. In the humble spheres of town business they developed such qualities as made them appropriate candidates for the honors and responsibilities of more exalted public service.

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TOWN OFFICERS.

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JUSTICES OF THE PEACE ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE.

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V. - VILLAGES AND HAMLETS.

EAST LINE, as already mentioned, takes its name from its situation. It is an old point in Saratoga County, well known on the route from the south and east to the county-seat, when the public buildings were at Court-House Hill as well as afterwards.

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DUNNING STREET CORNERS. - This takes its name from the large pioneer family that settled here. It has one feature that scarcely any other village in the county has, - its wide-open public square. This was due to the liberal views of the Dunning proprietors.

The opening of the system of railroads in this county cannot be said to have isolated this town, and yet it has materially changed lines of travel and centres of trade and business. Dunning Street, or Malta, was once a competitor for the county-seat, and General Dunning made a handsome offer of land for that purpose.

The fine public square was the place of the old militia-trainings, still remembered by many of the citizens. The regiment was considered one of the best drilled and best equipped in the State.

Dunning Street was the birthplace of Colonel Elmer E. Ellsworth. His father was a tailor, and worked at his trade over the store opposite the present Rogers Hotel. He was married to Miss Denton in this village. Mr. Ellsworth and wife boarded at the Rogers tavern, and there Elmer was born.

As the birthplace of the heroes of old was eagerly sought, and became the shrine of a people's patriotic love, so let this place grow historic in future years, as the native village of one whose record of high chivalrous daring was written in blood upon the most enduring page of our country's history.

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MALTAVILLE was an old business place that grew up around the grist-mill there. It is not far from Round Lake station.

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MALTA RIDGE. - This is in the north part of the town, its name indicating the nature of the country in and around it.

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VI. - SCHOOLS.

From 1812 to 1843, inclusive, the following school commissioners served one or more years each: Thomas Hall, Richard Dunning, John B. Hall, Elliot Green, Zadock Dunning, Reuben Doolittle, David Everts, William Baker, Dennis Marvin, Stephen Valentine, Peter Fort, Robert Hunter, Palmer Cady, Gould Morehouse, David Morehouse, Zalmon Olmstead, Moses Dunning, Thomas Collamer, Daniel A. Collamer, Alford Scribner, John Valentine, Luther Landon, Jr., Samuel Hunter, Philo T. Beebe, John Staats, Levi Hemphill, Oliver P. Raymond, Joseph Raymond, Abraham Wigg, Daniel Phillips, David Newton, Phineas Thompson, Reuben Rogers, William A. Collamer, Moses Langdon, John Chase, Abiram Fellows, Simeon Arnold, Thomas Staats, Jr., Elisha Miller, John Shurter, Abram Green, Wm. G. Hermance, Stephen Reno, Silas G. Smith, James Foster, John M. Olmstead, Henry Van Hyning, Wm. D. Marvin, Phineas Thompson, Richard Hermance.

During the same period the following inspectors were in office one or more years each:

Philo T. Beebe, Mataliah Lathrop, Jr., Luther Hulbert, Samuel Hunter, John B. Hall, Wm. Baker, Gould Morehouse, Jared Seymour, Thomas Hall, Isaac Andrews, David Powers, Henry Doolittle, Lewis Waterbury, Thomas Collamer, Dennis Marvin, Bockes Barrett, Peter Fort, Stephen Thorn, Abner Carpenter, Danforth Shumway, Moses Landon, Barzillai Millard, Jacob Hulm, Daniel A. Collamer, Wm. Marvin, Roswell Day, Benjamin Armington, Moses Dunning, Simon Calkins, John Staats, Wm. Baker, Marville Shumway, Oliver P. Raymond, Abner Carpenter, Jr., Phineas Thompson, Wm. C. Grassie, Robert Simpson, Wm. Betts, Jr., Abraham Wigg, Nicholas Green, Stephen Becker, Ozias Kellogg, Abiram Fellows, Wm. D. Marvin, Reuben Rogers, Lewis I. Fish, George W. Marvin, John M. Olmstead, Walter S. Landon, Nathaniel Brockway, and Arthur W. Hunter.

The town superintendents following the system of commissioners and inspectors were: 1844, Wm. D. Marvin, annual election; 1845, John M. Olmstead, annual election; 1846, Arthur W. Hunter, annual election; 1847, John B. Emigh, annual election; 1848, Andrew Day, biennial election; 1850, Levi L. Weeks, biennial election; 1852, David N. Collamer, biennial election; 1854, Gilbert P. Rowley, biennial election.

The records do not give the election of 1856. In June of that year town supervisors ceased, and Assembly district commissioners were appointed.

The report of the school commissioners, March 18, 1828, is as follows:

The school-books most in use were reported to be Marshall's spelling-book, Woodbridge's geography, Murray's grammar, Daboll's arithmetic.

Fifty years later, March, 1878, the apportionment is as follows:

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COMMISSIONERS' APPORTIONMENT FOR 1878.

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VII. - CHURCHES.

CHURCH AT MALTA, PRESBYTERIAN.

The first organization here was in 1843. A Congregational church was established under the labors of Rev. Mr. Marsh, who became the first pastor. The trustees chosen were Luther Landon, Zadock Dunning, and James Hunter. The number of communicants was twelve, - Polly Dunning, L. Landon, Eli Dunning, Mark T. Dunning, Sarah Betts, Deborah Foster, Betsey Ireland, Reuben Anderson, Emeline Ireland, Polly Vail, Delia Hemphill, and Belinda Anderson. The second pastor was Rev. Wm. Hill. He was followed by Samuel Dunton, under whom the church became Presbyterian. Since that the several ministers have been Rev. Peter Talmadge, Alexander Proudfit, James Gilmour, A. McA. Thorburne, Thomas A. Lamson, J.H. Crocker, George I. Taylor, and H. Lancashire. The house of worship cost $1500. A parsonage was built in 1848, at a cost of $700. The present elders are Wm. H. Coon, S.N. Rowell, and John H. Traver. This church is either the successor or the continuation of one much older.

Malta is said to be celebrated for extinct churches. This is probably no reflection upon the character of the people, but is due to the location, - to the fact that Ballston Spa is so near a large portion of the town, - to the removal of many of the children of early citizens to other towns, and partly to the large numbers of different denominations endeavoring to found churches in the town or near its borders, no less than six denominations, or seven, counting the old First Baptist church of Stillwater, not far from the eastern portion of Malta.

"The Presbyterian Society of East Ballston" was incorporated March 1, 1793. The trustees were Uriah Benedict, David Rumsey, Gershom Gilbert, Wm. Dunning, Samuel Clark, and Joseph Rockwell. David Gregory was one of the officers of the meeting, and the certificate was acknowledged before Jacobus Van Schoonhoven. The old meeting-house of this society was on the East Line road, built about 1800, a quarter of a mile south of Samuel Clark's. The church afterwards became Congregational, and the house was removed farther south, to the corner of the old cemetery. In process of years, this society was removed to Maltaville, the old house at the cemetery abandoned, and one erected at Maltaville. There the society has had a varied Presbyterian-Congregational history, until the organization at Malta, in 1843, of the present Presbyterian church. The house of worship erected at Maltaville has in late years been used for union meetings, and for Methodist services to a considerable extent.

A memorandum by Abiram Fellows states the succession above alluded as follows: The first church was Presbyterian. Its old house of worship was on the west side of the East Line road, on what is now the Esmond farm. That society went down. Rev. Lebbeus Armstrong bought the building and moved it to the next corner south, known as Benedict's Corners, but no church was organized. The house was used for funerals, miscellaneous religious meetings, and temperance gatherings. Earlier than this, from 1820 to 1825, a Presbyterian church was formed at Maltaville, and the present house of worship at that place was erected. About 1834 the church became Congregational, but in 1840 returned to Presbyterianism.

Meanwhile, there had been no church at Dunning Street, and most of the people attended at Maltaville. But a house of worship was finally erected there, and for a time preaching was alternate between the two places. Finally, the organization at Dunning Street absorbed whatever there was of the other society, and the latter became extinct. The house at Maltaville remained as a place for union meetings, occupied principally by the Methodists. A church of this denomination has been organized within a year, and with the aid of the influences developing at Round Lake may very probably become a strong and active society.

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METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, EAST LINE.

This body is now dissolved, but it was a point where Methodism was established in very early years. The house of worship, now changed into a spacious school-house, was built in 1809, and this was a prominent point in the work of the Methodist church. The book of church records at the county clerk's office shows that "The Methodist Episcopal Church of Stillwater" was incorporated March 26, 1800, and this no doubt refers to the pioneer church of East Line. The officers were Jeremiah Hart, Frederick Conley, John Myers, Stephen Hart, Frederick Conley. The town of Stillwater then, and for two years later, included Malta.

This Methodist church was for sixty years or more an active working society, but owing to various causes it declined in numbers, and services were discontinued in 1870. Methodist families interested in this old church transferred their relations either to Ballston Spa or to Jonesville. Considerable inquiry has failed to find the old book of records.

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METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, MALTA RIDGE.

This organization was formed about fifty years ago, and religious services have usually been continued through all that period. The society has not had a very vigorous existence, but like many other quiet, unobtrusive country churches, it has nevertheless borne its part in the religious instruction of the people. If it has erected no splendid temple and has remained comparatively unknown, it may have, however, earned the commendation bestowed by Christ upon the woman, "She did what she could." No statistics have been received from the officers in reply to circulars.

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THE METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH OF MALTA RIDGE

was formed in the year 1829, with the following members: Thomas Collamer, Edward Dunning, Samuel Crouch, Elijah Armstrong, John Evans, Polly Collamer, Betsey Crouch, Hannah Armstrong. The house of worship, thirty by forty feet, was erected in 1832, at a cost of $1000. The building committee were Thomas Collamer, Edward Dunning, Isaac Andrews, Jr., James B. Wiggins. The first trustees were Thomas Collamer, Edward Dunning, and Isaac Andrews. The first ministers were James Jermon and Daniel Ireland. Others since have been J. Taylor, Mr. Rolliston, George Thomas, William Carr, Lorenzo Blakely, James Conley, Robert Beard, William Crabtree, Peter D. Esmond, John Croker, Peleg Weaver; Reuben Bertolph, Ransom Spear, Anson Spear, Charles Stokes, M. Ashley, Aaron Sornberger, Robert Woodruff, George Miller, Matinus Hollenbeck, and William Walton.

The above memorandum is furnished by James B. Wiggins, one of the present board of trustees.

In view of the historic importance of East Line in connection with the pioneer labors of the Methodists, it seems a fitting place to add a brief sketch of their work applicable to Saratoga County as a whole. The insertion of the following paper in the history of the town of Malta will appear still more appropriate from the fact that Round Lake is, year by year, growing into a famous summer resort for the members of that church throughout the whole country, and is also frequented by the active workers of other Christian denominations.

Amid the cool shades of the delightful groves and luxuries of this rare and beautiful place, it will be well to recall the sturdy labors of the fathers for whom the only rest was a change of labor from one far-reaching wilderness circuit to another of equal hardship.

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EARLY METHODISM IN SARATOGA COUNTY.

The organization of the Methodist churches is so largely by circuits at the opening of their work in a new country, and individual societies in after-years have usually so few records bearing upon this early period, we have at considerable labor secured the following statement of Methodist organization throughout the county of Saratoga, leaving, however, individual churches for the last forty years to be mentioned in the local history of the several towns, so far as their officers have furnished the facts.

This section of country as early as 1788 was probably included in Methodist minutes under the name of either Lake Champlain circuit or that of Cambridge, more probably the latter. Or perhaps there was no precise defining of circuit limits at that time, and this county may have not been assigned to any circuit until the year 1790, when the name of Albany appears for the first time among the records. As this county was a part of Albany then, Albany circuit may be supposed to have included Saratoga. In 1791 the name of Saratoga first appears in the minutes of the conferences.

It was grouped with Dutchess, Columbia, New Britain, Cambridge, Albany, and Otsego; constituting a district over which Freeborn Garretson was presiding elder. Lee's "History of Methodism" says this district included all the circuits north of New York city to Lake Champlain. The name "annual conference" had not then been used to designate a permanently organized body, but Saratoga circuit, with the district of which it was a part, practically belonged to what afterwards was called "The Philadelphia Annual Conference." In 1794 a readjustment of districts took place, and Saratoga was united with Herkimer, Otsego, Delaware, Albany (Middletown): Newburgh, Flanders, Elizabethtown, and Staten Island; a district bounded as it appears on the east by the whole length of the Hudson from Glen's Falls to the bay of New York, with indefinite extension westward. Thomas Ware was the presiding elder. Freeborn Garretson still presided over a district of equal if not greater length on the east side of the river, extending from Long Island to Lake Champlain.

In 1795 the northern portion of this eastern district seems to have been added to the western, for we find Cambridge, in Washington county, grouped with Saratoga.

In 1797 another rearrangement brought into one immense district the territory upon both sides of the river, extending far to the west, and also far to the east and south, comprising portions of Massachusetts and Connecticut. Freeborn Garretson was the presiding elder of this consolidated district. The circuits included were New London, Pomfret, Middletown, Tolland, Litchfield, Granville, Redding, Cambridge, Saratoga, Pittsfield, Columbia, Dutchess, New Rochelle, Long Island, and New York.

In 1798 the territory east of the river was taken off; but almost the whole of New York, west of the Hudson, was brought together; for we find Saratoga grouped with Seneca and Cayuga. Freeborn Garretson was appointed presiding elder, and by this time he was, no doubt, accustomed to rule, ecclesiastically, over a large empire. In 1802 the names of "annual conferences" and of "districts" were first regularly applied in the minutes, and Saratoga was designated as belonging to the "Albany district" and the "Philadelphia Annual Conference." In 1804 the Albany district was transferred from the Philadelphia annual conference to that of New York, including, of course, Saratoga circuit.

In 1806 Saratoga circuit was made a part of "Ashgrove district," named from the pioneer church of that title in Washington county. This brought the Methodists of Saratoga County into organic local union with those upon the opposite side of the river, and this was continued for fifteen years. In 1821 the Saratoga district was constituted, with Daniel Ostrander as the first presiding elder. It comprised the circuits of Montgomery, Saratoga, Pittstown, Troy, Schenectady, Berne, Cambridge, and Warren.

In 1828 the Albany circuit became a part of the Saratoga district. Previous to this Albany had been attached sometimes to the old "Hudson river district," and sometimes to the "Rhinebeck district." The Saratoga district, that at first included two cities, - Troy and Schenectady, - again comprised two, though Troy had been erected into a separate district.

In 1832 the rapid growth of the church compelled a reorganization. Troy Conference was formed, and has continued forty-six years to the present time. The districts at first were four, - Troy, Saratoga, Middlebury, and Plattsburg.

The Conference relations of Saratoga circuit, then, have been, first, Philadelphia, eleven years; second, New York, twenty-eight years; third, Troy, forty-seven years. As to districts, Saratoga belonged first to the several unnamed districts described; then from 1802, to Albany district, four years; seventeen years to Ashgrove, becoming the Saratoga district in 1821. This was dissolved and united to the Albany district in 1835. In 1842 Saratoga district was again established, and John H. Weaver appointed presiding elder. Under this name the district has continued to the present time.

The following-named Methodist preachers have been appointed to this section of the State:

1789. - John Bloodgood, Samuel Wigton, to Columbia; David Kendall, William Losee, to Lake Champlain; Darius Durham, to Cambridge.

1790. - Lemuel Smith, Thomas Everad, to New Lebanon; Andrew Harpending, John Crawford, to Columbia; James Campbell, to Albany; Darius Dunham, Philip Wager, to Cambridge.

1791. - David Kendall, to Saratoga.

1792-93. - Matthias Swaim, to Saratoga.

1794. - Thomas Woolsey, Jacob Egbert, to Saratoga.

1795. - Robert M. Coy, to Saratoga.

1796. - Shadrach Bostwick, Smith Weeks, Roger Searle, to Saratoga and Cambridge.

1797. - Joel Ketchum, Joseph Sawyer, to Saratoga.

1798. - Anthony Turek, to Saratoga.

1799. - Anthony Turek, William Vredenburg, to Saratoga.

1800. - Daniel Higby, Smith Arnold, to Saratoga.

1801. - Zenas Covel, Alexander Morton, to Saratoga.

1802. - William M. Lenahen, Eber Cowles, to Saratoga.

1803. - Matthias Swaim, A. McKean, S. Arnold, to Saratoga.

1804. - John Finnegan, Mitchell B. Bull, to Saratoga.

1805. - Gideon A. Knowlton, Matthew Vanduzen, to Saratoga.

1806. - John Crawford, Smith Arnold, to Saratoga.

1807. - John Robertson, to Saratoga.

1808. - Gershorn Pierce, to Saratoga.

1809. - Samuel Draper, to Saratoga.

1810. - John Finnegan, Mitchell B. Bull, to Saratoga.

1811. - Datus Ensign, Benjamin Griffin, to Saratoga.

1812. - Smith Arnold, Abram Daniels, to Saratoga.

1813. - Tobias Spicer, Hawley Sandford, to Saratoga.

1814. - Andrew McKean, Samuel Luckey, to Saratoga.

1815. - Samuel Howe, Jesse Hunt, to Saratoga.

1816. - William Anson, David Barclay, to Saratoga.

1817. - William Anson, D.J. Wright, to Saratoga.

1818. - Friend Draper, John Lovejoy, to Saratoga.

1819. - Friend Draper, Peter Bussing, to Saratoga.

1820. - Samuel Eighmey, Peter Bussing, to Saratoga.

1821. - Jacob Hall, Noah Levings, to Saratoga.

1822. - Samuel Howe, Andrew McKean, to Saratoga.

1823. - Samuel Howe, Andrew McKean, to Saratoga; William Anson, Elisha P. Jacob, to Ballston and Saratoga Springs.

1824. - Theodosius Clark, William P. Lake, William Anson, to Saratoga.

1825. - Benjamin Griffin, Wesley P. Lake, William Anson, to Saratoga.

1827 . - Datus Ensign, Jacob Beeman, William Anson, Gilbert Lyon, to Saratoga; Joseph McCreary, Wright Hazen, Andrew McKean, to Half-Moon.

1828. - Datus Ensign, S. Dayton, William Anson, G. Lyon, to Saratoga; Joseph McCreary, Wright Hazen, Andrew McKean, to Half-Moon.

1829. - S. Stebbins, N. Rice, William Anson, Datus Ensign, to Saratoga; J.W. Dennison, E. Goss, A. McKean, G. Lyon, to Half-Moon.

1830. - John D. Moriarty, Nathan Rice, William Anson, Datus Ensign, to Saratoga; John W. Dennison, E. Goss, A. McKean, G. Lyon, to Half-Moon; Seymour London, to Waterford.

1831. - John Luckey, Wm. Anson, John D. Moriarty, Datus Ensign, to Saratoga; James Quinlan, Andrew McKean, to Half-Moon; Timothy Smith, to Waterford.

1832. - D. Brayton, T. Newman, D. Ensign, Wm. Anson, to Saratoga and Mechanicville; J. Quinlan, W. Amer, G. Lyon, A. McKean, to Half-Moon; T. Benedict, to Waterford.

1833. - D. Brayton, Orrin Pier, Wm. Anson, Datus Ensign, to Saratoga; S. Covel, G. Scott, G. Lyon, A. McKean, to Half-Moon; J.D. Moriarty, to Saratoga Springs.

1834. - Ephraim Goss, John Harwood, Wm. Anson, Henry Stead, to Saratoga; D. Stevens, H.L. Starks, D. Ensign, A. McKean, to Half-Moon; Charles Pomeroy, Gilbert Lyon, Henry Williams, to Galway; J.D. Moriarty, to Saratoga Springs; Freeborn Hibbard, to Waterford.

1835. - E. Goss, H. Burton, G. Lyon, to Saratoga; D. Stevens, D. Ensign, A. McKean, to Half-Moon; S. Coleman, D. Brayton, to Galway; Wright Hazen, to Waterford; J. Harwood, O. Emerson, Wm. Anson, H. Stead. J.D. Moriarty, to Saratoga Springs.

1836. - C. Meeker, J. Quinlan, G. Lyon, to Saratoga; O. Pier, O. Emerson, D. Ensign, A. McKean, to Half-Moon; S. Coleman, J.P. Foster, to Galway; S.D. Simonds, to Waterford; E. Andrews, W.H. Backus, W. Anson, H. Steed, J. D. Moriarty, to Saratoga Springs.

1837. - Cyrus Meeker, James Quinlan, to Saratoga; Orrin Pier, Cicero Barber, D. Ensign, A. McKean, to Half-Moon; Roswell Kelly, John P. Foster, to Galway; P. Green, to Waterford; S. Coleman, W.H. Backus, W. Anson, H. Stead, J.D. Moriarty, to Saratoga Springs.

1838. - D. Stevens, H. Chase, A. McKean, to Saratoga; C. Meeker, D. Ensign, to Half-Moon; M. Witherell, W. Anson, to Galway; E. Crawford, to Waterford; S. Coleman, J. Quinlan, H. Stead, to Saratoga Springs.

The perseverance of the early workers is shown by the regularity of their appointments, and their faithful zeal, notwithstanding the slow growth of the church in Saratoga County. The reported membership for the first thirty-five years is as follows:

Saratoga Circuit. - 1791, 100; 1792, 182; 1793, 270; 1794, 100; 1795, 241; 1796, 246; 1797, 241; 1798, 311; 1799, 409; 1800, 444; 1801, 465; 1802, 580; 1803, 535; 1804, 323; 1805, 363; 1806, 310; 1807, 300; 1808, 310; 1809, 324; 1810, 455; 1811, 478; 1812, 489; 1813, 490; 1814, 496; 1815, 531; 1816, 501; 1817, 546; 1818, 580; 1819, 790; 1820, 790; 1821, 761; 1822, 711; 1823, 666; 1824, 640; 1825, 771.

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VIII. - BURIAL-PLACES.

The principal ones are the cemetery near Mr. Yeager's, the one near Armstrong's on the west town line, Dunning Street burying-ground, one near the place of B.V. Hall, and also northwest of Malta Ridge.

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IX. - SOCIETIES AND ASSOCIATIONS.

The present Rogers Hotel at Dunning Street was the place where the old Franklin Lodge, No. 90, now of Ballston Spa, was first organized before 1800. The lodge-room itself in the old garret is in nearly the same form as when used by the Masonic brothers of 1791. As in the case of the churches, so with reference to societies, the citizens of Malta interested in such matters belong to bodies located just beyond the limits of the town.

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ROUND LAKE.

In addition to those are a telegraph- and express-office, a post-office, a book- and news-store, and many other buildings In the very centre of the city, among the trees, is a preaching-stand, surrounded by well-arranged, comfortable seats for thousands of hearers. A large, elegant hotel, with all modern improvements, has just been completed. The whole ground is artistically laid out into broad streets and avenues, bearing such names as Asbury, Wesley, Janes, and others, whose devoted lives have rendered their memory sacred to all men and for all time.

The water is of the best quality, brought to the grounds from a pure spring, and supplied in the greatest abundance, both for ordinary use and fountain adornments. Within two minutes' walk from the grove lies the lake, from which the place has taken its name. It is about a mile in diameter, well stocked with fish, and affords excellent facilities for boating, fishing, and bathing. It is one of the most beautiful of the numerous inland lakes for which New York is so justly famous. Its old Indian name was Ta-nen-da-ho-wa.

A mineral well, fourteen hundred feet deep, supplies an abundance of mineral water, composed of the most valuable medicinal properties. In taste and medical qualities it is similar to the best waters of Saratoga.

A Palestine park, the largest and finest ever constructed, showing the general contour, the cities, rivers, and sacred mountains of the Holy Land, has just been added to the other attractions, under the direction of Rev. W.W. Wythe, M.D.

Nature has made this one of the most beautiful and healthful, and the association have spared neither labor nor expense to make it one of the most instructive and attractive Christians resorts in America.

The following is a list of the camp-meetings which have been held at Round Lake:

Sept. 1, 1868. - Conference, ten days, Rev. E. Watson, presiding.

July, 1869. - National, ten days, Rev. J.S. Inskip.

Aug. 31, 1869. - Conference, ten days, Rev. C.F. Burdick.

June 21, 1870. - Conference, ten days, Rev. S. Meredith.

Sept. 5, 1870. - Conference, five days, Rev. E. Watson.

July 4, 1871. - National, ten days, Rev. J.S. Inskip.

July 16, 1872. - State, ten days, Rev. B.I. Ives.

July 8, 1873. - State, ten days, Rev. B.I. Ives.

Sept. 3, 1873. - Conference, ten days, Rev. S. Washburn.

July 8, 1874. - Fraternal, fourteen days, Bishop Janes.

July 1, 1875. - Fraternal, fourteen days, Bishop Janes.

June 23, 1876. - Fraternal, ten days, Bishop Janes.

Sept. 5, 1876. - Conference, ten days, Rev. Homer Eaton.

July 10, 1877. - Union Evangelistic, ten days, Rev. S.H. Platt.

July 20, 1877. - S.S. Congress, eight days, Rev. Alfred Taylor.

Sept. 1, 1877. - Conference, eight days, Rev. L. Marshall.

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X. - PLACES OF HISTORIC INTEREST.

The Mourning Kill has a name that suggests traditions of early slaughter and sorrow upon its banks, but the scenes of bloodshed from which it receives its name occurred within the present limits of Charlton. Round lake, called by the Indians Shanandhoi, was, no doubt, a place of encampment by the aboriginal tribes. The beautiful groves near it and the placid waters were as attractive then as they are now, though the war-dance and the wild revelry of the savage were in strange contrast with the pleasure-gatherings and religious associations that now visit the locality.

In the town of Malta, then a part of Stillwater, the first court of common pleas for the new county of Saratoga was held, May 10, 1791. The house of Samuel Clark, on the present farm of Henry Van Hyning, was the court-house. The presiding judge was John Thompson, and with him were the associate judges Jacobus Van Schoonhoven, Sidney Berry, James Gordon, and Beriah Palmer. These, with three justices, John Varnam, Eliphalet Kellogg, and Epenetus White, certainly made up a formidable bench. At this session, in the old pioneer farm-house, sixteen attorneys were admitted to practice - Cornelius Vandenburgh, Guert Van Schoonhoven, Peter Ed. Elmendorf, Myndert Everen, Jr., John V. Henry, John D. Dickinson, Gamaliel and Harmonis H. Wendell, John W. Yates, Nicholas Fonda, Abraham Hun, Peter D. Van Dyck, John Woodworth, Moss Kent, John Lovett, and Joseph C. Yates. Here, too, Major Ezra Buell commenced his long public career as crier; the official "Hear ye, hear ye," first echoing through that old house and the surrounding fields. The long and brilliant career of Saratoga courts and Saratoga judges and attorneys, traced back through a period of eighty-six years, finds its beginning May 10, 1791, at the house of Samuel Clark, in the town of Malta. Surely this is a place of historic interest.

At this same time and place the criminal jurisprudence of the county was also inaugurated by a court of "general sessions," held, as the law required, by one judge of common pleas and, at least, three justices of the peace. Here the law was certainly complied with, as James Gordon, the judge, had associated with him nine justices of the peace, - John Varnam, Epenetus White, Eliphalet Kellogg, Richard Davis, Jr., Dowd J. Fonda, Elias Palmer, Nathan Douglas, John Ball, and John Bradstreet. A grand jury was also sworn, consisting of Richard Davis, Jr., Joshua Taylor, John Donald, Henry Davis, Hez. Ketchum, Seth C. Baldwin, Ezra Hallibort, John Wood, Samuel Wood, Eddy Baker, Elisha Andrews, Gideon Moore, Abraham Livingston, and John Bleecker.

Just how all these parties, with the throng of court attendants, were entertained, history does not inform us; but as there were forty taverns in Half-Moon in 1788, perhaps we may infer they were equally plenty in the rest of the county, and in the vicinity of East Line. The one tavern near by, on the opposite side of the road, was kept by Samuel Smith, ancestor of the present owner, and that, no doubt, as far as possible supplied the wants of the throng of dignitaries gathered there.

The town of Malta was also honored in the year 1823 by the session of the New York Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal church. It met on the 28^th of May, at East Line, in the old Methodist chapel, now remodeled into a school-house. The New York Conference then comprised the New York district, having nine circuits; New Haven district, sixteen circuits; Rhinebeck, nine circuits; Saratoga district, nine circuits; Hudson River district, thirteen circuits; and Champlain district, eleven circuits. It included a large part of Connecticut, considerable portions of Massachusetts and Vermont, and extended from the Canada line on the north, to the bay of New York and the farthest point of Long Island on the south. From all this vast territory there came to East Line the hardy, self-denying itinerancy of the church, and then and there the annual business was transacted, and the plans laid that added to the growth and power of Methodist churches through all this section of country. The conference was cheerfully entertained in the neighborhood, and the delegates welcomed to the hearts and the homes of the people. Many of the oldest citizens have pleasant memories of this ecclesiastical gathering, and relate many interesting incidents connected with it.

The following extract from Judge Scott's address, July 4, 1876, applies to trails, antiquities, and incidents that may appropriately be included in the history of Malta:

"The territory comprised within the limits of the county of Saratoga, when first known to Europeans, formed a part of the extensive domain of the Mohawk Indians, one of the five nations composing the confederacy of the Iroquois. This territory had been reserved, and was kept by them, as their favorite hunting-ground. No one, not of their nation, whether savage or civilized, was permitted to encroach upon it. In the appropriate seasons, they would leave their villages and castles up the Mohawk, and in their bark canoes glide down the river to the mouth of the Aal Plats (or Eel Place creek), about three miles below Schenectady, row up that stream to a point near the head of Long (now called Ballston) lake, transport their canoes thither, pass down that lake at their leisure, and through its outlet to what is now the East Line Corners, and there encamp, for the purpose of hunting, trapping, and fishing.

"Until some forty years ago there was upon the Marvin lot at that place a boulder, with an orifice on its surface in the shape of a mortar, scooped out either by artificial means or by the action of water at some remote period, which the Indians used for pounding or crushing their corn into meal. This interesting relic has unfortunately disappeared, no one knows how or where, but it is supposed that it was broken up in the construction of the railroad in the immediate vicinity.

"From this encampment they crossed over to the Mourning Kill, a short mile distant, and proceeded thence in their canoes down that stream to its confluence with the Kayadrossera, and thence to Saratoga lake. There are still occasionally found upon the west shore, between the mouth of the Kayadrossera and the Narrows, traces of their encampment. That lake was then noted, as it is yet noted, for the abundance of its fish, and contained what have unfortunately long since disappeared, large quantities of trout. The Kayadrossera, as far up as Rock City falls, for a considerable time after the advent of the whites, abounded not only in trout but shad and herring. From the lake, the Indians passed down Fish creek to the Hudson, and down that river to the mouth of Anthony's Kill, up that stream, through the Round lake, and up the Ballston outlet, to their encampment by the old stone mortar.

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XI. - INDUSTRIAL PURSUITS.

Agriculture is the principal occupation of the people of Malta, and the soil and conditions favor a fair degree of success. The northeast part of the town along the Kayadrossera is a swampy region, comprising several hundred acres of land. Some of the higher portions of it that can be drained are of excellent fertility, producing a large amount of grass per acre. In the other parts of the town the soil is principally a light sandy loam, with clay and muck in the lowlands. Some portions of the town, under persevering and judicious cultivation, have become productive, yielding abundant crops of excellent quality. Formerly, considerable fruit was raised, but like other towns in this section, the great failures of fruit have discouraged the planting of new orchards, and most of the trees are the venerable remains of orchards planted by the earliest settlers. Rye, oats, potatoes, and corn constitute the principal crops raised.

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XII.-.MILITARY.

In the War of 1812 the following were soldiers from the town of Malta. The names are furnished by Lieutenant-Colonel Shubael Taylor, of Clifton Park: Seneca Hall, Daniel D. Tompkins, Eli Dunning, Peter Dunn, Barney Vail, John Storey, Adjutant Gould Morehouse, John Van Arnam, Henry Pell.

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The annexed list of those who went from this town into the army for the suppression of the Rebellion, in 1861-65, has been prepared from the printed muster-in rolls of the State, and from Colonel French's muster-out rolls of the Seventy-seventh.

Unfortunately, as in many other cases, no record was written up in the town clerk's office under the law of 1865. But our list, in convenient form and in alphabetical order, was left for several months with the town clerk of 1877 for corrections and additions. It was also advertised. The veterans and citizens generally had full opportunity to make it perfect.

WAR OF 1861-65.

Charles D. Atkinson, enl. Sept. 19, 1861, 77^th Regt., Co. H; corp.

Philip J. Austin, enl. Sept. 15, 1861, 77^th Regt., Co. H; corp.

Charles Atkins, enl. Sept. 20, 1861, 77^th Regt., Co. H; disch. for disability, May 16, 1862.

Chauncey L. Beebe, enl. Jan. 4, 1864, 13^th Art., Co. F.

Charles C. Clark, enl. Jan. 4, 1864, 13^th Art., Co. F.

Charles S. Dunham, enl. Sept. 24, 1861, 77^th Regt., Co. H; disch. with regt. Dec. 19, 1864.

Albert Dunning, enl. July 31, 1862, 115^th Regt., Co. C.

George D. Fish, enl. Dec. 26, 1863, 13^th Art., Co. F.

Erastus H. Harder, enl. Jan. 11, 1864, 13^th Art., Co. F.

Wm. H. Kane, enl. Aug. 12, 1861, 115^th Regt., Co. I; corp.

Charles W. Miller, enl. Aug. 15, 1862, 115^th Regt., Co. I; corp.

Wm. McCarty, enl. Jan. 11, 1864, 13^th Art., Co. F.

Abner Mosher, enl. Dec. 31, 1863, 13^th Art., Co. F.

Edward Olmsted, enl. Aug. 14, 1862, 115^th Regt., Co. I.

Joseph Pairer, enl. Jan. 13, 1864, 25^th Cav., Co. B.

Wm. H. Rose, enl. Jan. 26, 1864, 25^th Cav, Co. B.

George D. Storey, enl. Sept. 14, 1861, 77^th Regt., Co. H; 2^d lieut.; pro. 1^st lieut., Jan. 30, 1862; resigned, May 31, 1862.

Eugene Shears, enl. Sept. 25, 1861, 77^th Regt., Co. H; disch. for disability, Dec. 10, 1862.

John Stewart, enl, Sept, 25, 1861, 77^th Regt., Co. H; trans. to Vet. Bat., 77^th.

Sidney Smith, enl. Aug. 14, 1862, 115^th Regt., Co. 1.

Michael Van Horn, enl. Sept. 25, 1861, 77^th Regt., Co. H; died of chronic diarrhœa, Sept. 21, 1862.

George W. Vail, enl. Jan. 4, 1864, 13^th Art., Co. F.

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Transcribed from the original text and html prepared by Bill Carr, last updated 2/7/00.