The Stewart Place teams at the barns

The William & Betsy Stewart Farm

Betsy was the daughter of Jesse Goodrich Jr., who bought the farm in 1837

circa 1881-1891

1 ~ Early History of the Farm

The Goodrich place, as it was known to earlier generations, changed hands several times in the early 19th century before Jesse Goodrich Jr. bought it in 1837, bringing it into the Goodrich family where it remained until my parents slowly parceled it off beginning about 1950 (and continued by me in the end, ultimately to my benefit and everlasting sorrow; but that's a story for another time).

So far I haven't found much information on the very early history of the farm. Red Rock was supposedly settled in 1750 but I've found little hard evidence to support a date that early, other than a petition in 1772 by the settlers in the area "To the Honorable Cadwallader Esq: Lieutenant Governor of the Province of New York and the Territories depending thereon in America Etc Etc In Council" In an attempt to clear up a title dispute with neighboring communities which included the phrase "That some of those Settlements have been made upwards of 20 years ago."

I don't know just when the farm was first settled but I think it likely was settled by "old John Clark" sometime in the late 18th century. Here I'll try to piece together the early chain of title as best I can.

Contents

1 ~ Late 18th Century - John Clark

From the little I've found it seems likely the farm was settled by John Clark sometime before 1786 since I found no record of his acquisition of the farm in the County records which begin in 1786.

In the Williams-to-Griswold deed of 1826 the farm is referred to as "the farm formerly belonging to old John Clark". There is a Pvt. John Clark I found at Find-a-Grave.com, born 1737, died 8 Aug 1818, and buried in Mountain View Cemetery, New Concord , who I suspect is the John Clark referred to in the deed.

There is also a record of a John Clarke I found at Geneanet.org; born 8 Feb 1736 - Kinderhook, Columbia, New York, USA, deceased in 1819 - Columbia County, New York USA, aged 83 years old. Parents: Wilhelm Klerck (Clarke, Clark, Clarck) ca 1710-1751 and Sarah Woodcock 1712-1753. This John Clark (Clarck) was baptized at the Dutch Reformed Church in Kinderhook 8 Feb 1736 and John Clark (Clerk), together with wife Hannah Carley, and son Pieter Clerk, appear in the Kinderhook Dutch Reformed Church baptism records in 1774.

Could this be the same "old John Clark"? Maybe; the farm is too far from Kinderhook for the family to maintain a close relationship with the church but it's possible they travelled to Kinderhook for their son Pieter's baptism in 1774. If "old John Clark" was born in Kinderhook of Dutch/English ancestry, that puts him out of alignment with the generally accepted stories that the first settlers of the northeast Columbia County area came from Connecticut around 1750. The farm is a few miles east of the Kinderhook area settled by the Dutch and it is certainly feasible for a settler from Kinderhook to venture into this fertile valley as the Dutch/English influence expanded in the 18th century though I've not come across any conclusive evidence of it. There were other Clark/Clarke families in the neighborhood in the early 18th century, including Henry W Clark mentioned as an adjoining property owner in the 1826 Williams-to-Griswold deed description of the farm and I think it likely they were all related.

There are some mentions in the 11 Feb 1817 Last Will & Testament of a John Clark of the Town of Chatham that lead me to believe that both the above references refer to the same person. The date is right. The location of his property on "the Turnpike Road" is right. His leaving property to his son Peter is right. His having a daughter Hannah is right. His having a grandson "Rensselaer" makes sense to a family of Dutch heritage.

This is all largely conjecture on my part.

References

1a ~ 1812 - William Babcock Jr. Dies and is Buried on the Farm

William was born in 1776 and died in 1812 at the age of 36 and was the first person buried in the burial ground on the farm, followed 7 years later by his mother in 1819. Why the Babcocks were buried here rather than on their farm in Piersonville is a good queston. I'm pretty sure their farm was that farm where Jack Doyle lived.

William's Last Will & Testament, written the day before he died, makes an interesting read. William left his real and personal properties to his wife, Anna, and his 8 minor children in a somewhat complicated structure to be completed after the passage of 21 years.

This 21 year structure seems to have been cut short by the marriage of William's widow Anna to Martin Benjamin on 13 Dec 1813. There is a Benjamin family burial ground on the John Doyle farm indicating to me Martin Benjamin was a neighbor. Along about this time, it seems likely she sold the farm, including the children's interests, to William's father, Capt. William Avery Babcock before moving to Ohio with her new husband.

References

1b ~ 1819 Capt. William Avery Babcock's Wife, Lucretia, Dies and is Buried on the Farm

Capt. William Avery Babcock owned much land in the area, apparently including his son's farm after his son William died. I'm guessing he moved to the farm not long after acquiring it from his son's heirs since his wife, Lucretia, died 26 Nov 1819 and is the second person to be buried in the burial ground here on the farm, after his son, William, in 1812.

Deacon Daniel Babcock, grandfather of the writer, referring to his brother Capt. William Avery Babcock, Apr. 5, 1845, said, "William served in the Revolutionary Army, and was engaged in the capture of Burgoyne." Joshua Babcock, a nephew of Capt. William, said that he was Ensign in the Revolutionary War and later a Captain of Militia.

In Apr., 1777, a party of eleven "Householders" apparently from Columbia County, commanded by Capt. Martin Beebe, rode to Albany, "to do all in their power for the defense of America in general and New York State in particular, fearing lest timely assistance for the defense of the city and stores should fail." They arrived on the 17th inst. Their bill, which covered only their expenses, was sent to the committee asking for £6 18s. Among the eleven persons were "Sergt. Wm. Babcock" and his wife's father, "Lieut. John Davis." (NewYork in the Revolution, Supplement, p. 139.)

On p. 203 of the same book is a list of persons who received Land Bounty Rights for services or willingness to serve in defense of the frontiers of the State. The name of William Babcock is found in this list.

Capt. William Avery Babcock was a farmer and owned much land. He was the boss carpenter at the building of the Spencertown Presbyterian Church, which is still standing. New Lebanon, N. Y., records state that he was elected Assessor for the years 1787, '88, '90, '92, and Fence Viewer for the year 1791.

From: APPENDIX B - The Babcock Genealogy, 1903, page 108

Capt. Babcock was a talented and accomplished man in the community. Serving as master carpenter overseeing the construction of the outstanding St. Peters Presbyterian Church in Spencertown in 1771 at 24 years old was quite an accomplishment.

New Lebanon was still a part of the Town of Canaan until 1818 when it was split off from Canaan to form the new Town of New Lebanon.

On March 7, 1788, the name was changed to Canaan, the boundaries remaining the same until 1793. In that year proposals to divide the town were made and met with strong opposition. Nevertheless in 1795 a large part of Chatham was taken off. Again in 1818, against loud protests, a part of Austerlitz was shorn from its territory, and later in the same year New Lebanon was added to the subtracted territory, leaving Canaan with its present area of 20,770 acres.

From: Smith, H. P. (Henry Perry), 1839-1925. Columbia County At the End of the Century: a Historical Record of Its Formation And Settlement, Its Resources, Its Institutions, Its Industries, And Its People ... Hudson, N.Y.: Record Printing and Publishing Co., 1900. [available at hathitrust.org]

What does it mean to say something is in Town of New Lebanon records before the Town was formed? Where was Capt. Babcock assessor and fence viewer? Do those records include all of the Town of Canaan at the time (Canaan included the Home Farm until 1795 when parts were split off to Chatham)?

William's brother Gershom also lived in the area and is buried in Mountain View Cemetery.

Capt William Avery Babcock died 21 Sep 1829 and is buried on the farm. The Griswolds owned the farm by then.

References

2 ~ 1825 - Elisha Williams Buys the Farm

Elisha Williams bought the farm from John Clark's heirs in April 1825 for $2,500.00 and had David W Patterson survey it before selling it to the Griswolds in January 1826.

Looking through the County Grantor and Grantee indexes it seems Elisha Williams was a guy who, much like my Dad (and me too for a bit), bought and sold tons of properties around the County, including this one. An early Spencertown settler and a prominent lawyer, Elisha Williams was born 29 Aug 1773; came to Spencertown in 1793; removed to Hudson in 1799, and died 20 Jun 1833; buried in Manhattan. He married Lucia Grosvenor in 1795.

The town of Austerlitz as it now exists, was formed from the towns of Hillsdale, Chatham and Canaan, on the 28th of March, 1818. The greater portion of its territory—about five-sixths—was derived from Hillsdale, which portion of the latter town was generally called "Spencer's Town," from the unusual number of families of that name in that locality, and eventually the village alone became known by that appellation. "New Ulm" was suggested as an appropriate name for the new division, but when the bill authorizing the erection was before the Legislature, the present name was adopted under the circumstances which we quote as follows:

"When the bill erecting it passed the Legislature, however, Martin Van Buren, then a State Senator, and who being an ardent admirer of the great Napoleon, was somewhat incensed at one of his political opponents ( Elisha Williams, if we mistake not), who had succeeded in having a town in Seneca county christened 'Waterloo,' leaped to his feet and moved to amend by calling the new town 'Austerlitz.' Having carried his point, he retired to his seat, saying 'There's an Austerlitz for your Waterloo.'"

From: Columbia County at the End of the Century: A Historical Record of Its Formation and Settlement, Its Resources, Its Institutions, Its Industries, and Its People ..., page 700 [available at hathitrust.org: https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924092228414&seq=7]

References

3 ~ 1826 - John and Albert Griswold Buy the Farm

For $5,725.00, John S Griswold and Albert Griswold of Austerlitz acquired the farm by deed dated January 1826 from Elisha Williams.

John Griswold came to Spencertown in 1773 and set up a cloth manufacturing mill on the Punsit, and, having become quite wealthy, built a mansion in Spencertown in 1795.

1834 - The Griswolds Mortgage the Farm

In March 1834 the Griswolds borrowed $3,000.00 from Charles Marriott secured by a bond and mortgage on the farm.

In January 1835 the Griswolds borrowed $2,500 from Milton Niles and mortgage the farm to him.

It seems the Griswolds had big plans for the farm. I'm guessing it was the Griswolds who built the fine two story, center hall, Greek Revival house on the farm, at the height of the popularity of that style, and also built the extensive farm building complex.

As I interpret the receipts on the bond, on 20 Mar 1836 the Griswolds make their last documented annual interest payment on the Marriott mortgages, there being no reference to who made the 1837 and 1838 payments. Wm D Stewart made the 1839 payment.

References

4 ~ 1837 - Milton Niles Buys the Farm

In April 1837 John and Albert Griswold sell the farm to Sherman Griswold for $6,000.00.

In July 1837 Sherman Griswold sells this farm, together with another farm, to Milton Niles for $16,000.00.

References

5 ~ 1837 - Jesse Goodrich Jr. Buys the Farm

This transaction brings the farm into the Goodrich family.

On 26 Jul 1837 Milton Niles, a couple weeks after he acquired it, sold the farm to Jesse Goodrich Jr. for $8,400.00. This sale price was the balance due on the mortgages to Marriott and Niles, which were still outstanding, plus $2,900.00.

This sale was subject to the Griswold to Marriott and Griswold to Niles mortgages noted above, in spite of the declaration in the deed "that the same are now free, clear, discharged and unencumbered, of what nature or kind soever it may be" and also subject to the Griswold to Niles mortgage.

... AND that the party of the second part, his heirs and assigns, shall and may, at all times hereafter, peaceably and quietly have, hold, use, occupy, possess, and enjoy the above granted premises, and every part and parcel thereof, with the appurtenances, without any let, suit, trouble, molestation, eviction, or disturbance of the said party of the first part, his heirs or assigns, or of any other person or persons lawfully claiming or to claim the same ; AND that the same are now free, clear, discharged and unencumbered, of what nature or kind soever it may be. ...

From: APPENDIX A - Early Deeds and Mortgages: "1837-07-26 Deed - Milton Niles to Jesse Goodrich"

William D. Stewart, whose wife Betsey inherited the farm from her father, Jesse Jr., finally paid them off.

References

— revised 2024-07-07 jhc