LeRoy Township, Genesee County GenWeb -

Joseph Ellicott, son of Andrew, was the father of the subject of this notice. He was a man of liberal scientific attainments for that period and was a naturally skillful mechanic. Without special instruction he constructed a clock with four faces, showing the time, motion of some of the heavenly bodies, a chime of bells playing twenty-four tunes, etc.; it was pronounced a marvel of mechanical ingenuity and skill. The other sons of that Joseph were Joseph (the subject), Andrew, Benjamin and David. Andrew became a prominent surveyor and was at one time surveyor-general of the United States; his three Sons were Andrew A., John B. and Joseph, all of whom became residents on the Holland Purchase. Benjamin entered the service of the Holland Company and was assistant to his brother Joseph. He was one of the judges of Genesee County and a member of Congress. The younger son of the first Joseph (David) was a surveyor on the Purchase in early life and then went south and was not heard from again. There were also five sisters, daughters of the first Joseph, three of whom married three brothers named Evans. The family was prominent in Maryland as millers, founders, builders of wharves, inventors, etc.

Joseph Ellicott was only fourteen years old when his father removed from Bucks County to Maryland. His educational opportunities up to that time were confined to the public schools. His early lessons in surveying were taught him by his brother Andrew, and his first practical experience in that business was as assistant to his brother in the survey of the city of Washington. In 1701 he was appointed by the secretary of war to run the boundary between Georgia and the lands of the Creek Indians. Soon after this he was selected by Mr. Cazenove to survey the Holland Company's lands in Pennsylvania. This work finished he was engaged a short time in Maryland in business with his brothers, and then began his service for the Holland Company on their lands in this State.

The active years of Mr. Ellicott's life were principally those between 1790 and 1821. Ten or twelve of those years were passed in the arduous duties of surveyor, mostly in unsettled districts, to be finally given up for the little less trying task of local land agent. His success in these positions was largely due to his practical education, his great industry, his careful and systematic methods and his natural adaptability for executive work. These qualities are clearly shown in his voluminous correspondence and his journal. His memory must forever be identified with the surveys and settlement of Western and Central New York and the origin of the Erie Canal, in both of which capacities his influence upon the future of Erie County was paramount.

After a life of great activity and usefulness he approached its close in a manner greatly to be regretted and deplored. As early as 1816-17 he became subject to periods of great depression of spirits and melancholy which, in course of time, settled into confirmed hypochondria. The causes of this condition may be sought in his natural temperament, his lonely unmarried life, disappointments in the outcome of some of his hopes and expectations and the apparent emptiness of his later years. His land agency ceased in 1821 by his own act. No neglect of duty was ever charged to him, but his condition had become such that further useful activity in that direction was not to be expected from him. Fully conscious of this he resigned. This was practically the close of a busy and useful life. In November, 1824, by medical advice, he was removed to New York, making the journey on a canal packet. In New York a council of physicians was called, who decided that he should enter Bellevue Hospital. Anticipated benefits from this step were not realized; mental and physical infirmity increased and in July or August, 1826, he escaped from the vigilance of his attendants and took his own life. His remains were brought to Batavia for burial.

Source: Our County and its people, A descriptive work on Genesee County, New York, Edited by: F. W. Beers, J.W. Vose & Co., Publishers, Syracuse, N. Y. 1890


LEROY TOWN, GENESEE COUNTY, NEW YORK GENWEB PROJECT
BIOGRAPHY JOSEPH ELLICOTT - OF GENESEE COUNTY, NY

JOSEPH ELLICOTT was a son of Andrew and Ann Bye Ellicott, who were natives of the town of Cullopton, Wales; they came to this country in 1781, having been "disowned" by the Society of Friends through the marriage of Andrew to his wife, who was not a member of that sect. These adventurers, with an infant son, landed in New York, and being possessed of some means they purchased a tract of land and settled upon it. From that date until about 1760, little is known of their history. Previous to 1760, however, they had become residents of Bucks County, Pa., and had four sons, the elder having at that time just begun operations in several business engagements. It is probable that the family did not long remain in New York after their immigration and were among the pioneers of Bucks County. The four Sons of Andrew Ellicott were Nathaniel, Joseph, Andrew and John. As early as 1770 they purchased a tract of wild land on the Patapsco River in Maryland and there built mills which were long known as Ellicott's Mills.
Joseph Ellicott, son of Andrew, was the father of the subject of this notice. He was a man of liberal scientific attainments for that period and was a naturally skillful mechanic. Without special instruction he constructed a clock with four faces, showing the time, motion of some of the heavenly bodies, a chime of bells playing twenty-four tunes, etc.; it was pronounced a marvel of mechanical ingenuity and skill. The other sons of that Joseph were Joseph (the subject), Andrew, Benjamin and David. Andrew became a prominent surveyor and was at one time surveyor-general of the United States; his three Sons were Andrew A., John B. and Joseph, all of whom became residents on the Holland Purchase. Benjamin entered the service of the Holland Company and was assistant to his brother Joseph. He was one of the judges of Genesee County and a member of Congress. The younger son of the first Joseph (David) was a surveyor on the Purchase in early life and then went south and was not heard from again. There were also five sisters, daughters of the first Joseph, three of whom married three brothers named Evans. The family was prominent in Maryland as millers, founders, builders of wharves, inventors, etc. Joseph Ellicott was only fourteen years old when his father removed from Bucks County to Maryland. His educational opportunities up to that time were confined to the public schools. His early lessons in surveying were taught him by his brother Andrew, and his first practical experience in that business was as assistant to his brother in the survey of the city of Washington. In 1701 he was appointed by the secretary of war to run the boundary between Georgia and the lands of the Creek Indians. Soon after this he was selected by Mr. Cazenove to survey the Holland Company's lands in Pennsylvania. This work finished he was engaged a short time in Maryland in business with his brothers, and then began his service for the Holland Company on their lands in this State. The active years of Mr. Ellicott's life were principally those between 1790 and 1821. Ten or twelve of those years were passed in the arduous duties of surveyor, mostly in unsettled districts, to be finally given up for the little less trying task of local land agent. His success in these positions was largely due to his practical education, his great industry, his careful and systematic methods and his natural adaptability for executive work. These qualities are clearly shown in his voluminous correspondence and his journal. His memory must forever be identified with the surveys and settlement of Western and Central New York and the origin of the Erie Canal, in both of which capacities his influence upon the future of Erie County was paramount. After a life of great activity and usefulness he approached its close in a manner greatly to be regretted and deplored. As early as 1816-17 he became subject to periods of great depression of spirits and melancholy which, in course of time, settled into confirmed hypochondria. The causes of this condition may be sought in his natural temperament, his lonely unmarried life, disappointments in the outcome of some of his hopes and expectations and the apparent emptiness of his later years. His land agency ceased in 1821 by his own act. No neglect of duty was ever charged to him, but his condition had become such that further useful activity in that direction was not to be expected from him. Fully conscious of this he resigned. This was practically the close of a busy and useful life. In November, 1824, by medical advice, he was removed to New York, making the journey on a canal packet. In New York a council of physicians was called, who decided that he should enter Bellevue Hospital. Anticipated benefits from this step were not realized; mental and physical infirmity increased and in July or August, 1826, he escaped from the vigilance of his attendants and took his own life. His remains were brought to Batavia for burial. Source: Our County and its people, A descriptive work on Genesee County, New York, Edited by: F. W. Beers, J.W. Vose & Co., Publishers, Syracuse, N. Y. 1890
Joseph Ellicott (surveyor) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia "Joseph Ellicott" redirects here. For his father (1732-1780), see Joseph Ellicott (miller). Joseph Ellicott Born November 1, 1760 (1760-11) Bucks County, Pennsylvania Died August 19, 1826 (1826-08-20) New York City Occupation Surveyor, city planner, land office agent, lawyer and politician Known for Laying out Batavia and Buffalo, New York; advocating Erie Canal Joseph Ellicott (November 1, 1760 Bucks County, Pennsylvania - August 19, 1826 New York City) was an American surveyor, city planner, land office agent, lawyer and politician of the Quaker faith. He was the son of Joseph Ellicott (1732 - 1780). In 1790, his brother Andrew Ellicott was hired by the federal government to survey the new federal district, where the new capital city of Washington was to be built. Joseph was Andrew's chief assistant during the latter part of the survey. Joseph Ellicott was subsequently sent to Georgia to survey the boundary line, established by treaty with the Creek tribe. He was then engaged to survey some property in western Pennsylvania which has been purchased by a group of Dutch investors, who had formed the Holland Land Company. He also extended the New York - Pennsylvania border westward. When the company purchased a huge tract of western New York (that became known as The Holland Purchase), Ellicott was hired in 1797 and was sent to perform the monumental task of surveying it. Ellicott spent two years (1798–1800) living outdoors in summer and winter, laying out the townships of the new land in order to complete the Great Survey of the land in October 1800. In 1800, the principal agent of the company, Paolo Busti, gave him a new position as their agent at their headquarters in Batavia, New York. From this office, for the next 21 years he supervised the sales of the tract, with his personal signature on many deeds. Ellicott was an observer for the investors at the Big Tree Treaty when the Senecas sold their rights to the land in Western New York. In 1801, he laid out Batavia, New York, and in 1804 the village of Buffalo, and established mill sites and communities. From March 1806 to June 1807, he was First Judge of the Genesee County Court. He advocated a canal to be built from the Hudson River to Lake Erie, and was among the Erie Canal Commissioners appointed in 1816 to supervise the canal construction, but resigned in 1818 due to ill health. The Erie Canal was finished in 1825. He also arranged for the contribution of more than 100,000 acres (400 km2) of company land to this project. As seller and land agent, Ellicott offered generous terms to the buyers, some of whom purchased farms for as little as 25 cents down. When some buyers could not make payments he often extended the terms and sometimes forgave interest if they had made improvements. He offered some selected parcels free upon condition that the buyer would establish a mill or an inn, to help stimulate growth in the area. In later years, Ellicott became the target of complaints by citizens who were unhappy with the land company. Ellicott was held responsible for the state of New York's decision not to buy up unsold land of the land company, and he retired in 1821. He then attempted to finance the purchase of the unsold land himself, but no one would join his venture, and he had to abandon the plan. His final years were marred by serious mental problems. Family members had him admitted to an asylum in New York City, where he died in 1826 by hanging himself. He was buried originally in that city, but was soon exhumed and re-buried in Batavia, New York at the Batavia Cemetery.[1] Ellicott never married, and at his death left an estate valued at about $600,000, which was a considerable fortune in those days.
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