Moses Root Jr., my 4*great-grandfather, led the second party of settlers to Orleans County in April, 1804. Much of what we know about him has been gleaned from the memoirs of his eldest son, Reuben.
In 1801, Moses and his family left what is now the town of Butternuts in Otsego County, NY, near Cooperstown for the frontier of western New York. They settled first near Sodus Bay, where they stayed for three years. Then, on July 11, 1802 Moses purchased lot 9 of section 12, township 16, range 2 of the Holland purchase.
This property lies on the south side of the road about 1/2 mile east of Kuckville. It is a surprising piece of ground that he chose, being only watered by a small ditch stream less than 2 feet wide. Today, we might think that he would have naturally selected a parcel on Johnson's Creek which was nearby, but he didn't. Whatever his reason was, he brought his family and the family of Matthew Dunham there in April 1804. From the records of the Holland Land Company, we find that he had paid a $215.25 down-payment on December 31, 1803, and paid the remainder of $214.25 on February 29, 1812.
We wish we knew more about Moses, but we find records only of the middle portion of his life. Of his first and last years we know nothing. From census records, we know that he claimed to be born between 1765 and 1775. He appears in the 1800 census of Butternuts, Otsego, NY and in the 1810 census of Ridgeway, Genesee, NY.
Our only clue to the Moses's parents is the 1800 census. In it, Moses Root his wife, and his two eldest sons, Reuben and Daniel, are listed, and Moses's name has "Jr." appended to it. And on the very next line, there is an entry for the only other Moses Root in New York. From this, we feel safe in assuming Moses's father lived on the next farm.
From September 3 through 29, 1814, Moses and his eldest son Reuben served in the War of 1812 at the battle of Ft. Erie near Buffalo. They served in Capt. Aretas Haskell's Company, Lt. Jedediah Crosby's Regiment, NY Volunteer Militia, and were paid the grand sum of $7.25 apiece for 27 days of service.
Moses married Ann Meagher. We know nothing of her except we see her gravestone in the Carlton Cemetery. "Wife of Moses Root", she died on March 15, 1854, aged 84. We are not even sure whether Meagher was her maiden name or a later married name.
Moses and Ann had five sons and a daughter. We know the two eldest sons, Reuben and Daniel, and have strong suspicions that we know the identity of two of the other three sons, but no proof. Finally, we have less reliable suspicions that Moses' daughter was _____ Root, wife of Andrew Weld, who was an early settler of North Ridgeway.
b. between 1765 and 1775
d. after 1814, probably before 1854
Ann Meagher
b. 1769 or 1770
d. 15-Mar-1854, aged 84, probably Carlton, Orleans, NY
bur. Carlton Cemetery, north of Waterport, town of Carlton, Orleans, NY
Children:
Reuben Root Sr.; b. 28-Dec-1792, Cooperstown, Montgomery (now Otsego County), NY; d. 10-Sep-1875, Yates, Orleans, NY.
m. Elizabeth Hastings, 28-Jan-1819.
Daniel Root; b. 23-Mar-1797, Butternuts, Otsego, NY; d. 25-Jun-1886, Carlton, Orleans, NY.
m. Annis Hastings, about 1820.
(probably) Lewis Root ; b. 1800, probably Butternuts, Otsego, NY; d. 10-May-1881, Yates, Orleans, NY.
m. Cynthia Clark
(probably) Aaron Root ; b. about 1804; d. after 1860
m. Abigail Halleck
(possibly) Rufus Root; b. about 1805; d. after 1840.
(possibly) _____ Root; b. between 1800 and 1805.
m. Andrew Weld