Historical Wyoming County April 1957 - Old Fulton History

April 1957 Page 8 9
A REVOLUTIONARY HERITAGE (cont.)
Berzillai Yates
Travelers along Route 19, south of Rock Glen, may note a large
stone to the east of the highway across a pasture, and above it during
the slimmer months usually flies an American flag. Quaintly
carved, the stone reads:
Soldier of the Revolution
BERZILLAI YATES
died
Sept. 1, I8I4.I.
Aged 81; y' s
Native of Mendon, Worcester Co., Mass.
On the right is my mother
On the left my wife
We lived to good old age and now
rest in peace.
This is all that remains to the founder of Yates settlement,one
who carved out a homestead about the site where he is buried during
the very earliest days of Gainesville settlement. It is stated that
his home became a wayside tavern and a stage stop. Elizabeth Yates,
the mother, died Dec. 15, 1809, aged 96 years. She was, according
to the inscription, a native of Rehoboth, Bristol Co., Mass. Mercy
Yates, wife of the Soldier, died Sept. 30, 1827, aged 71 years, a
native of Uxbridge, Worcester Co., Mass. At the foot of the grave of
the father sleeos the daughter, Bethiah, who married Daniel Thayer,
and died in 1852, when 60 years old. Around about rest some of their
old neighbors, but their stones have been scattered and broken and
the area is now a pasture.
Berzillai Yates received a pension for his services as a Private
in the Massachusetts Continentals. "Massachusetts Soldiers &
Sailors in the Revolution" credits him with the rank of Private in
Capt. Job Knap's Co., under Col.Job Cushing,having enlisted Aug. 17,
1777, joined the company Sept. 15, and discharged ^ov. 30, 1777, a
total of two months and 21; days. During this period he was with the
Northern Army and the payroll of Worcester Co. includes 10 days
travel time going home. A great-great granddaughter, Miss Ola J.
Kidney, Little Valley, some years ago stated he also saw service of
three months and five days as a Private in Capt. Edward Seagraves'
Co., under Col. Joseph Read, and after the 1777 service given above,
he was a Corporal In the 9th Co. under Col. Nathan Tyler.
(NOTE: A concluding article in the autumn is exoected to bring
some additional material on the careers of a few of the Soldiers of
the Revolution who have already appeared in this series. It is earnestly
hoped that readers who may have additions or corrections will
write us at any early date. Thank you.)