Cairo Town Records

1814- 1820

Transcribed by Scott Wichmann from original books in the Town of Cairo Offices

The Town of Cairo was established in 1806. The early pages of this record book are missing.

This project made possible by the generous support of Joan Swaney, Marsha. Tiemann, Melanie Citty and an anonymous donor.

The Commissioners of the town of Cairo being duly Called, and met to lay out a Road or highway from the line of a Lot of Land belonging to James M. Sanford, lying south of Acre point—do hereby lay out & establish the same as follows.  Beginning at a Stake and stone heap in the line aforesaid, and running 1^st south 31ºº E 10 Chains, to a state and stones, by a small brook near the now dwelling house of Thomas Stevens, then 2^nd South sixty one degrees East, Eleven Chains & 30 links, to a chesnut staddle marked, then (3) South 50 degrees East 11 Chains 20 links to a stake and stones—then (4) South 69ºº East 7 Chains, to a stake & stones, then (5) N 79ºº East 5 degrees & fifty five links to a pitchpine bush marked, then (6) N 64ºº East 7ºº 75 to a heap of Stones by a red oak Staddle—then (7) N 57ºº East 4-75 to the middle of the old dug way—then (8)S 72ºº E 7 Chs. to a stake and stones south of Isaac Bogardus’s house then (9) N 70ºº E 7 chains to a pine stump by the mill brook then (10) N 60ºº E 14 chains, to a stake and stones in Cyrenus Lennon’s field—then East eight Chains and fifty links to the road south of Cyrenus Lennon’s house, at the head of the lane—We do hereby direct the same to be Recorded as a public highway, free however of any expense to said Town of Cairo

Witness  our hand Cairo April 5^th 1814

                                                            John E. Darby   }  Commissioners of
                                                            Nari Stoddard    }  Highways

Recorded from the Minutes

April 23d 1814                                    S. Sayre, town Clk

At the Annual Meeting of the Inhabitants of the town of Cairo convened at the house of Peter Van Orden on the 5^th day of April 1814 according to Appointment

            Resolved That Richard Olmsted be Moderator for this meeting—

            Resolved that there shall be but three Constables chosen in this town for the ensuing year—

            On balloting and Canvassing Votes for Officers                   

Resolved that Orange Newell, Aaron Diboll, Benjamin Hine, Simon Sayre, Neri Stoddard & Ashbel Stanley be School Inspectors—

Resolved that Henry Wickes, David Brewster, Samuel Darby, Isaac Hine, Nathan Elliot & James Beach be Fence Viewers—

Resolved, that Isaac Hine, Benjamin Story, Reuben Allerton, Joseph Utter & Moses Wood be Pound Masters—

Resolved that the following named persons be Overseers of Roads, Viz.

            District No 1 – Stephen Webster

                               2 – David Rundel

                               3 – Samuel Darby

                               4 – James Lennon

                               5 – Frederick Schermerhorn

                               6 – Elias Dutcher

                               7 – Rufus Byington

                               8 – Abraham Underdonk

                               9 – Nathan Elliot

                             10 – Robert Baley

                             11 – Evan R. Runyan

                             12 – Eliab Alden

                             13 – Robert B. Field

                             14 – Joseph Utter

                             15 – Charles J. Howell

                             16 – Peter J. Marquart

                             17 – Montgomery Stevens

                             18 – Jeremiah J. Bennett

                             19 – Jesse Wood

                             20 – Joseph Wright

                             21 – Peter Horton

                             22 – Joseph Shepherd

                             23 – Moses Walters

                             24 – Abraham Person

                             25 – Peter Rouse

                             26 – Joshua Allerton

                             27 – Thomas Howard

                             28 – Abiel Wilber

                             29 – Jonas Finch

                             30 – Benjamin Story

                             31 – Henry Wickes

                             32 – Daniel Pine

                             33 – Peter Chevalier

Resolved that a bounty of twenty dollars be paid for each Wolf taken and killed within the bounds of this Town for the ensuing Year—

Resolved that the sum of one hundred dollars be Levyd & Raised by this town for the support of the Poor thereof the ensuing Year—

Resolved that the Poormasters- together with two of the Justices of the Peace of this town-be a Committee to devise ways & means for the support of the Poor as the Law directs—

Resolved that Daniel Sayre & James Renne esqr be of said Committee—

Resolved that the above named Committee by Authorized to Confer with the committees from other towns in this County & to adopt such plan as they shall deem best Calculated to lessen the burthen of supporting the Poor

Resolved that Hogs shall be considered as lawful Commoners, when they are well Yoked, and  Ringed and not otherwise—

Resolved, that no Cattle shall run at large in the town within twenty rods of any public House from the first day of November next, to the first day of April next, under a penalty of one dollar (to be paid by the owner) for each beast so offending—

Resolved, that no Rams shall run at large in the town, from the first day of September next to the tenth day of November next, under a penalty of three dollars for each Ram so offending, to be paid by the owner of the same—

Resolved that the next town meeting be held at the house of Joseph Blackmore—

Recorded from the Minutes April 1814

                                                                        S. Sayre, town Clerk

At a Meeting of the commissioners of Highways for the town of Cairo held on the 29^th day of March 1814 it was resolved to divide and road Districts as follows Viz—

District No 1 – To comprise the road from the Turn pike near the Block School House by the House of Nathaniel Stone, to Rundel’s Ore bed, and the Road from the said school House to the line of the town of Durham near the now dwelling house of Daniel Morison, and the road from the Wheeler house to the aforesaid Road, near the now dwelling house of Stephen Webster, and to have Annexed thereto Joseph Mott and John E. Darby, living on the said turnpike—

District No 2 – To comprise the Road from Rundel’s Ore bed by Martin Burhans to the line between John A. Morison’s and Samuel Darby’s farms, and the Crossroad from Rundel’s to the turnpike, and to include the Inhabitants on the Turnpike from Zina Phinney’s to Isaac Coffin’s inclusive—

No 3 – to Comprize the road from the line of John A. Morison’s and Samuel Darby’s farms by Jabez Cook’s to the south and of the bridge over Cyrenus Lennon’s Mill brook, and the crossroad from near Jabez Cook’s to the turnpike in Akres and to have annexed thereto the Inhabitants on the turnpike from the house of James M. Sanford to the house of Abner Judd inclusive—

No 4 – To comprise the road from the south and of the Bridge over Cyrenus Lennon’s mill brook to Ebenezer Mall’s house, and from Daniel Lennon’s to the bridge near James Lennon’s, and the CrossRoad by Richard Grimes’s to the East Kill road—

N 5 – To Comprize the Road from the north and of the Bridge near James Lennon’s to Elias Dutcher’s and the crossroad from the same by the old Common place, to the other road—

No 6 – To comprise the road from the lines of the towns of Cairo and Windham by Elias Dutcher and Eben Bronk’s to where the road forks to go to Shingle Hill at Stropes hill—

No 7 – To Comprize the Road from Ebenezer Hall’s to the four Corners so Called, and the road by Arthur Hathaway’s to the forks of the road by Stropes hill, and to Include Ebenezer Hall—

No 8 – To Comprize the road from the Eastkill road by Abel Eaton’s, to the Catskill line—

No 9 – To contain the road from the Susquehannah turnpike by Nathan Elliot’s to the four Corners and the road from thence by Benjamin Gillet’s to the line of the town of Catskill, and the road to Robert Purdy’s-and to include the inhabitants on said Turnpike from the house of Matthew Winner to the house of James Kinyan inclusive—

No 10 - To contain the road from the line of the town of Catskill by John Bassett’s to the turnpike at Nathan Rowley’s, and the road from the said turnpike near Robert Bailey’s southward to the Kistatom road—

No 11 – To include the road from John Balis’s to John Vanatten’s Barn, and the road from John Balis’s to the road near Nathan Elliott’s, and to include the inhabitants on the turnpike from the house of Joseph Gilbert to the house of Evan R. Runyan inclusive—

No 12 – To include the road from the turnpike near the house of Amos Smith to the four Corners, and the crossroad from the same by Charles Hinman’s house to the other road at Stropes hill, and to include the Inhabitants on the turnpike from house to the house of Stephen Judd inclusive—

No 13 – To include the road from Simon Sayre house to the Akree Road near the house of John Barker and the road from the bridge near the Trip hammer by Crooker’s Mills to the Catskill Creek & from the said road by Vanatten’s to John Vanatten’s barn, and to include the Inhabitants on the turnpike from Ezekiel Smith’s to the house of Obadiah Ames Inclusive—

No 14 – To contain the road from Benjamin Hines to Ebenezer Walter and to include the Inhabitants on the turnpike from the House of William Dedreck to the house now occupied by Daniel Briggs Inclusive—

No 15 – To contain the road from Acre by Dennis Webster’s to the town Line, and the crossroad from Truman Lewis’s to the turnpike near John E. Darby’s, and to include the farms of Eliphalet Ackley, and the Widow Smith on the turnpike, and from the house of Timothy Webster to the house of Moses Olmsted inclusive—

No 16 – To contain the road from the Windham turnpike by Alpheus Webster’s, to the Susquehannah turnpike, and from the same by Asahel Peck’s to the road near Truman Lewis’s and to include the house now occupied by George Bilk—

No 17 – To Contain the road from Woodstock bridge, by the house of William Wright to the road near Joseph Utter’s—

No 18 – To contain the road from Woodstock bridge by the house of the Widow Baron, and the crossroad from there to the Widow Allerton’s—

No 19 – To contain the road from the Freehold road near Jeremiah Mandege’s, by Andrew Woods, to the said road by the Widow Baron—

No 20 – To contain the road from the widow Barons, by John Renne’s to the town line, and the road by Seth Warren’s to the town Line—

No 21 – To contain the road from the Schoharie turnpike near Robert Sayles’s, to the road by Jeremiah Bennetts—

No 22 – To contain the road leading from the Schoharie turnpike near Shubal Newmans, by James Lassly’s, to the Widow Allerton and the road from Yeoman’s Grist mill to Joseph Shepherds—

No 23 – To include the road from the Widow Allertons to the Widow Browns and from the said road by the house of Moses Walters (?) to the Catskill Creek—

No 24 – To include the road from the Widow Brown’s house Abraham Person’s house to the Line of the farms of Joseph Clark and John Barlow—

No 25 – To include the road from the line between the farms of Joseph Blackmor and John Barlow to the town line, and the crossroad from this by John Winne’s to the Catskill Creek—

No 26 – To Include the road by the Browns, by Joshua Allertons to Zephaniah Teed’s—

No 27 – To include the road from the Schoharie turnpike to Yeomans Grist mill, and also by Thomas Howards to Joshua Allertons—

No 28 – To contain the road from the Schoharie turnpike, by Abiel Wilbers, to the road by Wessel Salisbury’s and the road from Abiel Wilbers, to Reuben Brundiges House—

No 29 – To contain the road from the burnt meeting house by Wilber Earles to the road leading to James Earles’s and the road from Reuben Brundiges to the above named Road—

No 30 – To contain the road from the main road near the the (sic) house of Henry Branda, by John Pines and Amos Finch’s, to the road composing district No 29 and to include Benjamin Story—

No 31 – To include the road from the Schoharie turnpike by William Brownalls, to William Earls, and by Peter Simpsons to the east road, and by Henry Slacks and James Earls southerly to the house of Staats Salisbury—

No 32 – To contain the road from the town line near Potick Mills, by said Mills, Oliver Palmers, Staats Salisbury to the house of Gideon Palmer, and thence south to the town line—

No 33 – To contain the road leading from the Schoharie by Peter Chevaliers to District No 32—

            Signed                                     John E. Darby             }  Commissioners

                                                            Nari Stoddard             }          of

                                                            John Pine Junr             }  Highways

            Recorded from the Minutes                S. Sayre, Town Clerk

List of persons assessed to work the road Districts for the year 1814

Broke into the Inclosure of the Subscriber on the 18 day of September last a red yearling bull with no Ear mark  Likewise broke into the inclosure of the Subscriber on the 2^nd day of October instant a pair of red white faced two year old Stears with no Ear Mark

The owners are requested to pay charges & take them away                         Nathan Elliot

Recorded by request this 15^th day of October 1814               S. Sayre, town Clerk

Broke into my Inclosure on the 23^rd day of October 1814 a black Mare with a white star in the forehead appears to be about nine or ten yeas old, no Artificial mark

Cairo November, 1814                                                Nathan Elliot

Recorded on the above mentioned day                                  S. Sayre, T. Clerk

Came into the Inclosure of the Subscriber on the 25^th day of October 1814, a yellow cow with her left horn broke off close to her head, the s^d cow appears to be old with a white star in her forehead and some white near the under part of her Nose with the brush of the tail off                                                                                                Eli Brooks

Cairo Novr 19, 1814

Came into the inclosure of the Subscriber on or about the first of November 1814 a red Stear supposed two years old no Artificial mark

Cairo November 1814                                                             Seth Warner

Came into the inclosure of the Subscriber on the 20^th day of February instant, a red bore having the horn lopped down apparently about nine years old

Cairo Febry 25, 1815                                                              John Hayes

1815

Road district No 34 to Comprize the road beginning at Amasa Wood house on the Eastkill road running by Stephen Burgess—thence to where the road intersects the forge road at the Felker hill being a part of district No 4—to include Amasa Wood, Stephen Burgess, Lewis Tilleo & William Head 

That piece of road running from Daniel Lennon by Elias Stones in District No 5 to be annexed to district No 4 Including Elias Stone, Mr. Laird and Mr. Minor— 

That piece of road from the wheeler Road to the Schovil farm to be ann3exed to District N 1—

Cairo, March 25^th 1815                                   Nari Stoddard             }  Commrs

Recorded the above date by me                   John C. Burhans          }         of

S. Sayre, Tn. Clk.                                             John Pine Junr             }  Highways 

At the annual Meeting of the Freeholders & Inhabitants of the town of Cairo held at the house of Joseph Blackmar on the first Tuesday in April 1815—

Resolved that there be but three Assessors appointed for the ensuing year—

Resolved that there be but one Collector appointed for the ensuing year—

Resolved that there be but three Constables in the town for the year ensuing—

On balloting for Officers-and Canvassing the same the following persons were chosen Viz

The following Persons were then chosen overseers of Roads

District      No 1          Nathaniel Stone

                        2          John C. Burhans

                        3          James Webster

                        4          Henry Van Bramar

                        5          Frederick Schermerhorn         

                        6          Elias Dutcher

                        7          Joel Curtis

                        8          Elihu Slater

                        9          William Green

                      10          Nathan Rowley

                      11          Evan R. Runyan

                      12          Amos Smith   

                      13          Daniel Sayre

                      14          Benjamin Hine           

                      15          Dennis Webster

                      16          Zenus Weed

                      17          John Barker

                      18          Jeremiah I. Bennet

                      19          Eliasaph Preston

                      20          Jeremiah Mandego

                      21          William Wright Junr   

                      22          Joseph Reed

                      23          Jonathan Howard

                      24          Joseph Blackmar

                      25          Waldron Dumond

                      26          Orange Newell

                      27          Gilbert Yeomans

                      28          Abiel Wilber

                      29          Abraham Vermilyea

                      30          William Grissman

                      31          William Brownal

                      32          Joseph Wickes

                      33          Abner Lawton

                      34          Lewis Filleo 

Voted that a bounty of twenty five dollars be paid by this Town for each Wolf catched and killed within the bounds of the town for the ensuing year—

Voted—that the sum of four hundred Dollars be raised in this town the ensuing year for the support of the poor—

Voted—that hogs shall be free Commoners only by being well yoked, and ringed—

Voted—that no Cattle shall run at large within 20 rods of any public house in the town between the first day of November and the first day of April next under penalty of two dollars for each beast so offending to be paid by the owner of the same—

Voted—that no Rams shall run at large in this town between the first day of September and the tenth day of November next—under penalty of three dollars for each ram so offending to be paid by the owner of the same

Voted—that the next town meeting be held at the house of Moses Olmsted in Akree--                 Recorded from the Minutes & Canvass this 5^th day of April 1815

                                                                        Simon Sayre, tn. Clerk

List of Persons Assessed to work the roads in the town of Cairo in the year 1815

Recorded from the road Lists this 24^th day of April 1815

Came Into the Inclosure of the Subscriber on or about the 19^th day of November last a two year old Heifer, a light red Colour with a white belly, some white in her face, and some white about the feet

Cairo  December 5, 1815                                            Joseph Gilbert

            A true Copy from his Certificate        S. Sayre, town Ck.

Came into the inclosure of the subscriber on or about the 18^th day of November last, a Red pide Cow, about five years old—She has red sides, a white back and belly-handsome horse
                                                       John Balis

            Recorded December 8^th 1815             S. Sayre, town Clk.

Greene County

Town of Cairo             To Simon Sayre Clerk of said Town

            You are hereby requested to record the Road Laid out, and Beginning at or near the Centre of the Road leading from John Pine’s, to John Winnea’s, and East of the School house, and from thence South sixty five degrees west, two Chains and forty seven links, to a pitch pine sapling, then south seventy two degrees and forty five Minutes West three Chains, and fifty seven links, then South eight degrees west three chains and eight links then south eighty five degrees west five Chains and eighteen links  Then south Eighty eight Degrees and half West, five Chains to near the Centre of the Road leading from Gayhead to Joseph Beviers & Joseph Blackmars

Recorded by Order of the Commissioners                      Waldron Dumond

this 9^th day of March 1816                                                  Martin Burhans

                                                                                                Nari Stoddard

Greene County

Town of Cairo             To Simon Sayre, Clerk of the town aforesaid

            You are requested to record an Alteration made by the Commissioners of highways on the road leading from Kisketominatia to Shinglekill  Beginning near the southwest Corner of Justice Blanchard’s land, North thirty three degrees East seventeen Chains thirty eight links from the North east corner of Casper Dobbs house

Rec’d by order March 9^th 1816                                                Waldron Dumond  }

                                                                                                    Martin Burhans        }  Comr.

Road laid out and surveyed by the Commissioners of Highways in Cairo March 18^th 1816 as follows       Beginning at a white oak Tree in the Kiskatom road near the Creek that Joseph Stein’s saw Mill stands on  Thence West 10 Degrees south 15 Chains  Thence West 12 degrees south 10 Chains  Thence West 25 deg south 5 Chains  Thence West 23 Degrees South 5 Chains  Thence North 2 Deg West 25 Chains  Thence South 23 Deg West 10 Chains   thence South 10 Deg West 20 Chains  Thence South 17 Deg West 10 Chains to the Barburrack road—

Likewise a Private Road from the old Spicer House by the sawmill of Eli Brooks, and by the House of John Tompkins to the land of Eli Brooks and James Beach the following Courses  South 12 degrees West 15 Chains to the Creek.  Thence South 23 deg West 25 Chains to John Tompkins house  Thence West 5 deg North 5 chains  Thence South 30 deg West 15 Chains  Thence South 34 deg West 15 Chains.  Thence South 39 deg West 15 Chains to the line of Eli Brooks & James Beach

The above highways Laid out in Conformity to the Petition of 12 twelve Freeholders and Inhabitants of s^d Town March 18^th 1816

                                                            Signed             Nari Stoddard             } Comis. of

                                                                                    Martin Burhans           } Highways

Note.   The above Road with the old Kistedam road will form a new District, to begin at the Mountain Road, Near Amasa Woods.  Thence to the Town Line & the road by Hawleys Mill to the Barbarrack road. 

Alteration of Road District No. 23 to Begin at John Barkers Bridge & Extend to the foot of the hill near the Catskill Creek 

District No 30 To include the new Road from the school house, near John Pines to the Gayhead Road— 

District No 14 To extend to the middle Crossway on the Forge road, also from Joseph Utters Barn to Peter J. Marquarts in??? five

            Recorded by order of the Commissioners                  S. Sayre

At the Meeting of the Supervisors Town Clerk & Justices for Auditing the Accounts of the Town held at the house of David Wickes March 26, 1816

On Auditing the Accounts it was found that the Town was Indebted the sum of Twenty four dollars and Seventy Eight Cents  $24.78                  1816 

At the annual Meeting of the Inhabitants of the town of Cairo held at the house of Moses Olmsted on the 2^nd day of April 1816—

Abiel Wilber was chosen Moderator

Resolved that the sum of three hundred dollars be Levied and raised in the town for the year ensuing for the support of the Poor—

Resolved that the Poormasters, together with the Justices, or any two of the Justices of the town, be and they are hereby authorized to make such disposition of the town Poor, as in their Judgment shall seem best for the benefit the town, either by selling them to the best advantage, hiring them kept, or by providing a work house for their accommodation-

Resolved that there shall be but three Assessors chosen in the town the ensuing year—

Resolved that there shall be but three Constables chosen for the ensuing year—

Resolved that there shall be but one Collector chosen for the ensuing year—

On Canvassing the ballots given for town Officers the following persons were duly Elected & chosen

The following persons were chosen Overseers of the Roads