Zelotes Dewey

   User ID: 1399.

  General Notes:

From the Dewey Genealogy:

6672. ZELOTES DEWEY, son of Asaph, b. (???), 1785, at Richmond, Mass.; d. Dec. 30, 1843, at Deerfield, N. Y., where he was one of the first settlers, made a clearing and built a log house; was a man of indomitable courage and perseverance; was obliged to travel ninety-six miles to Albany to market his produce, the trip occupying three days. Wolves were plenty and furious in the woods surrounding his home, sometimes attacking and killing his cattle and sheep. On one occasion, as he was returning from the then small village of Utica, traveling by way of marked trees, which was the only road,
Page 669
a pack of wolves followed him, being attracted by the smell of fish, of which he had purchased a quantity that day. To save his own life and that of his horses became his one thought. As the wolves came nearer he threw out some of the fish and then drove on as fast as possible, thus placing a greater distance between them. After devouring the fish the wolves followed on again, when he would throw out more, and so reached home in safety, but without the barrel of fish with which he started. His log house having burned, with considerable loss, he erected a fine two-story frame dwelling, which stood in 1898 on the old site in good preservation. Mr. Dewey was a prominent figure at general training in the old militia days, being captain; rode a jet black horse, by the name of Pompey, which pranced in pride when led forth clicked with the trappings of war, and understood what was required of him with a perception little short of human. His sword, flint-lock pistols, spurs, and other accoutrements have long been in the possession of his grandson, George W. Dewey, of Deerfield, N. Y. The last time he attended general training, on reaching home after riding for hours in the rain, he was unable to dismount from his horse without assistance, and from then until death was confined with rheumatism, for seventeen years, the last seven being unable to feed himself; m. (???), 1813, MEHITABLE ROBERTS, of Pittsfield, or Dalton, Mass., b. Nov. 28, 1855, at Deerfield, N. Y.
[It appears that the date given at the end of the account above (b. Nov. 28, 1855) is for the death of Mehitable Roberts rather than her birth. - T. King]

Zelotes married Mehitable Roberts in 1813. (Mehitable Roberts died on 28 Nov 1855 in Deerfield, Oneida Co., NY.)