NYGenWeb Westchester County, NY

LEWISBORO (Town)

This page was last updated: Thursday, 05-Apr-2012 09:39:19 MDT

History

Formerly known as Salem, Lewisboro includes the village of South Salem

Lewisboro is part of the "oblong" which was under different state jurisdictions at various times. If you do not find references to your ancestors in New York State records, try Connecticut since many people of this town had relationships with churches in New Canaan, Ridgefield and Wilton. Any weddings or baptisms performed at churches in these towns might have been registered in the State of Connecticut. Many land transactions were also recorded in Ridgefield, CT.

    "Lewisboro' was first organized under the Van Cortlandt patent as Salem, and then included the present town of North Salem. To distinguish it from the upper part of the tow, it was called Lower Salem up to 1806. In 1783 the town was divided by act of Legislatue, Long Pond Mountain being the dividing line. The part south of the mountain retained the name of Lower Salem. In 1806 the name was changed to South Salem, and in 1840 again changed to Lewisboro', in honor of John Lewis, a leading citizen, who had contributed largely to the growth of the public schools. Most of the early settlers came from Connecticut, -- Norwalk, Stamford, Greenwich, etc. "

[Source: Excerpts from Scharf's History of Westchester County,..., Volume 2, Chapter IX, Lewisboro, page 535]

Vital Records

• Town Clerk's office
• 11 Main Street, South Salem, NY
• Phone: 914-763-3511


• Justice Court
  • 11 Main Street, South Salem, NY
  • Phone: 914-763-5417
  
  
• County Records

  For more information at a county level, see the NYGenWeb Westchester County Resources page as well as the main site page.

• Naturalizations

  For an index of naturalizations within the county, see the web pages of the Westchester County Archives.

• NY State Vital Records

  The web page for the New York State Dept. of Health can be found at http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/consumer/vr.htm. Also, check out the following web pages: http://www.vitalchek.com/us/ny.html

Also, see if there is any additional information on the Vital Records page at this site.

Historical Society

North Salem Historical Society

• Box 31, Keeler Lane, North Salem, NY 10560

Don't overlook the many resources held at the Westchester County Historical Society.

Churches and Synagogues

Presbyterian Church & Cemetery

Previous to 1752, a minister from Greenwich, Connecticut, had been preaching to the people of Lower Salem. [Source: Scharf's History of Westchester...., Vol. 2, page 555.]

   "In the grave-yard which surrounds the church rest the remains of the Gilberts, Websters, Benedicts, Rockwells, Keelers, Boutons, Lawrences, Meads, etc...."
   "In the town cemetery, a short distance west of the church, monuments have been erected by the Raymonds, St. Johns, Woods, Williamsons, Adamses, etc. The oldest grave-stone in the church-yard is that erected to the memory of Jacob Benedict, son of Amos and Martha Benedict, who died October 2, 1755." [Source: Scharf's History of Westchester...., Vol. 2, pages 555-6.]

Episcopal Church

    "... 1771 when a church was completed and consecrated. It stood opposite where the road leading from New Canaan to South Salem unites with the Ridgefield road to the latter place, now know as Keeler's Corner. The building stood on land now owned by the heirs of the late Thaddus H. Keeler...."

    "... In 1780 the church was used by Colonel Sheldon's troops as a hospital, and several solders who died there were buried in the little grave-yard near by. This ground is now used as a private burial-place for the Keeler family. Subsequently, Mr. Benjamin Chapman, a contractor, took the property, to satisfy his claims against it, and fitted it up for an inn. For years after it was known as the "Church Inn." In 1795 Mr. Chapman sold the property to Mr. John L. Morehouse, who disposed of it to Jeremiah Keeler. In 1796 Mr. Keeler took down the building and removed the material. Some of the partions that were taken from the church can still be seen in the Keeler mansion, nearly opposite where the church once stood." [Source: Scharf's History of Westchester...., Vol. 2, page 558.]

St. John's Church of South Salem (Episcopal)

    "...In a short time the parish was again reorganized under the title of St. John's Churck of South Salem, and on the 16th of August, 1852, the following vestry were chosen: Jonathan Beers and Issac Hays, church wardens; Stephen L. Hoyt, Samuel Field, Amos N. Raymond, Timothy Jones, William H. Robertson (afterwards collector of the port of New York) Ferris Bouton, William Lockwood and John Burr Whitlock, vestryment."

    "Mainly through the influence of Rev Mr. Patridge, Stephen Lewis Hoyt deeded to the church a lot of land six rods square, in the grove where the meetings has previously been held, and in 1853 a neat stone edifice, thirty-eight by forty-eight feet, with tower, was erected, and September 18, 1855, the church was consecrated by Right Rev. Horatio Potter, bishop of the diocese. Benjamin Loder, of New York, presented the church with a bell weighing six hundred and ninety-seven pounds. For some years no regular services have been held in this church." [Source: Scharf's History of Westchester...., Vol. 2, page 558.]

St. Paul's Chapel (Episcopal)

    "In 1870 John Lewis, of Clinton, Conn., gave the church twenty-eight acres of land in the lower part of Lewisboro, on condition that a chapel should be built thereon, to be called St. Paul's Chapel. On the 12 of April, 1871, the corner-stone of St. Paul's Church was laid, on the land which had been given by Mr. Lewis. No further progress has been made towards the erection of the church."

    "In 1871 a rectory was completed, a part of which was the former residence of Isaac B. Hays, situated on the forks of the road leading from South Salem and Ridgefield to New Canaan. Ner the rectory, in a tower, hangs the bell presented to St. Paul's Church by William M. Tweed, of New York."

    "In the cemetery near the rectory repose the remains of John Lewis...." [Source: Scharf's History of Westchester...., Vol. 2, pages 558-9.]

Friends' Meeting-House (Golden's Bridge)

    "Meetings of "The Religious Society of Friends" began at the house of Robert Runnels, in the town of Bedford, in 1792. In the summer of 1798 an acre and a half of land was purchased near Golden's Bridge...."

    "In 1810 the meeting at Peach Pond, that had existed for about seventy years, was discontinued and the remaining members of the society there were assigned to Salem. Upon the establishment of a Monthly Meeting at Amawalk, in the town of Yorktown, about the year 1800, Salem Meeting became a branch of it, and in 1814 the present meeting house was erected, an addition to the old lot have been purchased for forty-one dollars...." [Source: Scharf's History of Westchester...., Vol. 2, page 559, published 1886.]

Methodist Churches

    "The Methodist Protestant Church (Vista) was organized in 1853, with John S. Hoyt, Anson Benedict and Samuel Benedict, trustees. The first minister was Rev. O. C. Dykman and the present pastor is Rev. Mr. Dibble."

    "The Methodist Episcopal Church (Cross River), was incorporated March 28, 1843, with Joseph Wilson, Daniel Silkman, John Silkman, Aaron Silkman, Walter S. Lyon and John Brady, trustees. "

    "Hermon Chapel, near the residence of Mr. Edward Brady, and the Methodist Episcopal Church at Golden's Bridge are under the same ministry with Cross River. "

[Source: Scharf's History of Westchester...., Vol. 2, page 559, published 1886.]

Baptist Churches

    "The Baptist Church (Cross River) was incorporated March 28, 1842, with Lewis Holmes, Abijah Reynolds, Lewis Mead, Titus Reynolds, and Josiah M.Elmore, trustees."

    "In 1830 a Baptist Church was erected in the lower part of Lewisboro, near the present residence of Aaron O. Wakeman, by Walker Wakeman, Asa Raymond, Amos Northrop and others. Rev. Ebenezer Raymond preached in this house for a number of years. Other ministers who supplied the pupit there were Elder Flandreau, of New Rochelle; Elder Goldsmith, of Guilford, Conn.; and Rev. Mr. Card, of Cross River. Elder Hobby, of Cross River, was the last. In 1870 the church was taken down and the material removed."

[Source: Scharf's History of Westchester...., Vol. 2, page 559, published 1886.]

Roman Catholic

Roman catholic churches in Westchester county are under the juridiction of the Archdiocese of New York. You can search their parish listing at the following web page: http://www.ny-archdiocese.org/pastoral/parishes.cfm

Episcopal Churches -- New York

See a list of Episcopal Churches in New Yorkhttp://www.episcopalchurch.org/webpages/p2.html#NewYork or use their Parish Finder search engine.

Cemeteries

The following cemeteries along with an alphabitzed listing of those interred are listed in the book entitled A History of the town of Lewisboro, Westchester County, New York. For information about this book, contact the Library.

• Beck Hill Cemetery, across from Episcopal Church, Vista
• Canfield Cemetery, Vista
• Colonel Enoch Avery Cemetery, Pound Ridge Reservation
• Fancher Cemetery, East Street
• Halstead Cemetery, Rte. 138
• Herman Chapel Cemetery, Increase Miller Road
• Keeler Burying Ground, Rte. 35 & 123 (see references to Presbyterian Church above.)
• Mead Street Burying Ground
• Northrop Cemetery, Rte. 123
• Reynolds Cemetery, Cross River
• South Salem Presbyterian Church, Spring and Main Streets
• South Salem Cemeter, Spring Street
• Todd Cemetery
• Wood Cemetery, Old Church Lane

Transcribed Cemetery Inscriptions

Carretta, Katherine A., compiler. A Guide to Listings of Old Cemetery Inscriptions and other Genealogical Aids for Westchester County, New York. [Westchester County Historical Society, 1977]

Horton, William P. Cemetery Inscriptions of Westchester County, NY. [Peekskill, NY: 1928] Copy available at New York Public Library's Genealogical & Local History Room.

Manville, Margaret. Revolutionary War Soldiers buried in Cemeteries in Westchester County, New York. [White Plains, NY: 1966] Copy available at New York Public Library's Genealogical & Local History Room.

Spies, Francis F. Inscriptions copied from gravestones in West Chester County yards with genealogical notes. Copy available at New York Public Library's Genealogical & Local History Room.

The Westchester County Historical Society also has extensive manuscripts giving inventories of many old cemeteries located throughout the County. Also check with the local historical society for information about the above cemeteries.

Have you looked at the cemetery listings here at the Westchester NYGenWeb site?

Maps

Many town historical societies hold maps of their vicinities, including copies of the Sanborn insurance maps. Insurance maps were detailed to the point of showing each building on each street so that insurance companies knew what to pay the insurer in the event of fire or destruction. Be sure to inquire at such institutions as well as at local libraries.

Also, see additional information on the Maps page at this Westchester site.

Library

South Salem Public Library

• Main Street, P.O. Box 477, South Salem, NY 10590
• Phone: 914-763-3857

The library has for sale A History of the Town of Lewisboro, Westchester County which includes an index of people and places mentioned in the book. Also check the bibliography for books by Theodore Langdon van Norden for other resources pertaining to South Salem.

Town Web Site

We are not aware of any town web site at this time. However, if you know of one, please please contact the county coordinator for this web site.with its web address.

Census Information

Miscellaneous and Local Censuses

Miscellaneous censuses were taken for a variety of reasons. One such "census" is the List of Dog (Owners) in Lewisboro in 1848 as transcribed for us by Jean Ann Orser Lupinetti.

New York State Census

The only NY State censuses which survived are for the years 1905, 1915, and 1925. Check at your local LDS Family History Center for these films.

Federal Census

Fuller, Elizabeth Griffen. Index to Westchester County Names in the Federal Censuses, 1790-1840 [Elmsford: Westchester Cty. Historical Society] 1994.

Federal Census: 1790

Salem

Some census information for Westchester county can be found at the Census page.

Directories

Also see the City Directories page on this Westchester Site.

If you know of any directories for this town, please please contact the county coordinator for this web site.about adding that information to this page.

Annotated Bibliography

___. When our Town was Young, Stories of North Salem of Yesterday. [North Salem, NY: Board of Education] c. 1945.

Landgon van Norden, Theordore. South Salem Soldiers & Sailors.

Landgon van Norden, Theordore. Unpublished Manuscript dealing with genealogies of residents of South Salem houses prior to 1900. Copy held by Lewisboro Public Library in South Salem.

Landgon van Norden, Theordore. South Salem: Gravestone Inscriptions c. 1926.

___. A History of the Town of Lewisboro, Westchester County . Available for sale through South Salem Public Library. See info under town of Lewisboro. See pages 537 to 554.

___. A History of the Town of Lewisboro, Westchester County . Available for sale through South Salem Public Library. See info under town of Lewisboro.

Pelletreau, William S., Am. M. Early Wills of Westchester County, New York 1664-1784 Pub. 1898. Cornell University Library has scanned this book and placed it on the web at the following address: http://moa.cit.cornell.edu/MOA/bookp.html

Webster, Joseph A. Annals of South Salem

For other books with information relating to this town but covering a county-wide level, see the County section of the Bibliography page.

Cultural and/or Historical sites

If you have any such information relating to this location, please contact the county coordinator for this web site.

Renowned Residents

If you know of any notable residents from this town, please please contact the county coordinator for this web site.about adding them to this section and please identify when the person resided here as well as why you consider them to be notable.

Other Institutions of Genealogical Interest

Westchester County Genealogical Society

The Westchester County Genealogical Society has been publishing a series of articles in their monthly newsletter for some time which gives an overview of each town within the county. This Focus on (town name) [WCGS Newsletter, ] series includes a brief history of the town, a listing of some houses of worship, some cemeteries and often a bibliography. See the information about ordering back issues of the newsletter.

If you know any additional information relating to this town, please please contact the county coordinator for this web site.about adding it to this page.

Military Info

See the Military & War Links page for more information.

As we find information relating specifically to this town, we'll post it here. If you have any such information or know of other web pages to link to, please please contact the county coordinator for this web site.with particulars.

Loyalist Info

Have you a Loyalist in your family tree? If so, the Loyalist page may be of interest to you. If you have any specific information relating to this town and loyalists, please contact the county coordinator for this web site. about adding the information to this page.

Picture Gallery

If you have a scanned picture relating to any location within Westchester and would like to add it to this site, please please contact the county coordinator for this web site.with particulars.

Some Surnames associated with this town

See the Surname Web Pages for links to web pages of researchers in Westchester but not specifically associated with this town.

Query & Message Boards

Rootsweb.com has Some Query boards where you can post a query for others to view. Or join the Westchester mailing list and correspond with other Westchester researchers.

Return to Westchester County's Town Index page.

Return to the main page for Westchester County at NYGenWeb.

Return to the NYGenWeb web site.

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This web site was designed by and has been exclusively maintained since November 1996 by Cathy Horn.