REVOLUTIONARY WAR SOLDIERS

REVOLUTIONARY WAR SOLDIERS

Town of Fabius

Submitted by Kathy Crowell

Source:  Dwight H. Bruce, Onondaga's Centennial.  Boston History Co., 1896, Vol. I, pp. 167-168.


This town, originally a part of Pompey, was materially reduced in area after its erection in 1798, by the formation of Tully and of the town of Truxton in Cortland county; so that now the names of only twelve veterans of the Revolution are found, who lived at any time within the limits of the present town.  Those who applied for pensions in 1820 and at later dates, were as follows:

Barnes, Heartwell--Served in the Connecticut troops and was discharged at the close of the war.  He was seventy-two years old in 1820, and his schedule of property amounted to $32.59, among which was growing broom corn worth $2, a butcher knife, tobacco box, penknife and needle, with four cents in cash.  He had one son, Elias Jefferson Barnes, aged nineteen, and one daughter, all dependent on the son.

Brooks, Jonathan--Was fifty-six years old in 1820, enlisted in the Massachusetts line in 1781.  He was a farmer and lived with his three daughters and a son, Alfred.  He was worth $66.74, but was in debt a still larger sum.

Cadwell, John--The affidavit of this pension was sworn to on the day after his death by Denison Belding and Olive Belding, the latter being his daughter.  The testimony states that he died at his home in Fabius on March 3, 1834, leaving a widow.

Clark, William--This veteran made two applications, one in 1820 and one in 1823, when he wished to be restored to the pension list.  His service was performed in the Connecticut troops and extended to over five years, during which he was in many of the prominent battles.  He swore that "three years ago this fall (1820) I married widow Cluff who had six children."  Abel Clough, as the name is spelled in the second affidavit, husband of the widow, died in possession of 108 acres of land, which a son, Abel, jr., was working on shares.  In 1820 Clark made it appear that he was worth $19, but he was in debt $400.  He was certainly entitled to the pension which he received.

Conner, Daniel--"In the year 1775, at the time of the alarum at Lexington," as he quaintly puts it, this soldier enlisted in the Massachusetts line and served to the close of the war.  He was sixty-seven years old in 1820, and had property worth $56.  He had a wife and three daughters.

Goodale, Nathan--At the age of sixteen this veteran enlisted, January 1, 1777, in a Massachusetts regiment and served to June, 1783.  In 1820 he said he had thirty acres of land on lot 11 in Fabius, worth $150, and a yoke of steers worth $29.  Among those to whom he was indebted were William Goodale, James Sanford, Francis Miner, John Miller, Elijah Miles, Bacon & Wilson, Noah Goodrich, and Rodney Starkweather.  He lived with his wife, his mother, one son, Henry, and two young daughters.

Ives, John--Enlisted in 1777 in a Connecticut regiment in which he served about thirteen months, when he was transferred to Washington's lifeguard and continued three years.  Ives thought his property was worth $14.37 1/2, although it embraced a broken five-pail kettle which he valued at a dollar.  He stated that in 1816 he bargained for eight acres of land and paid $80 of the purchase money; but in 1820 the man of whom he had bought became involved, and cleared out without giving Ives a deed or other security.  He was living with his wife.

Other Fabius veterans named in the census of 1840 were the following:

Carter, Rufus--Was seventy-five years old in 1840, and was living with his family on his farm.

Foot, Ebenezer--Was eighty-seven years old and lived with Thomas J. Beden.

Gron, Ambrose--Was living with his family in 1840, and was eighty-seven years old.

Hills, Daniel--Must have enlisted young as he was only seventy-eight years old in 1840.

Truair, Manuel--Was the ancestor of the Truair family of this town, and in 1840 was drawing a pension and living with John Truair.


2 August 1998