Historical Wyoming County July 1956 - Old Fulton History

Page 110 July 1956
A REVOLUTIONARY HERITAGE (cont.)
bounds of civilization, where he hired to labor to a couple of men
by the name of John and Archibald Kane. ^e was in their employee
about four years, left them, commenced boating on the Mohawk river,
making trips as far West as Seneca Lake and several as far as the
head of the lake, when there was no one to supply but Indian traders.
Mr. Gates, soon after he left the Kanes, married a young woman about
sixteen years old, soon moved to the head of Seneca Lake, being the
first settler there. He lived there about eight years, when he sold
the farm and moved to Caneadea, where there lived two white families
by the name of Sanford. He lived there about six years.
"Mr. Gates, hearing the Ogden Tract was an excellent township
of land, visited it, sold his farm and removed to Perry in 1808, he
being then 56 years old. Mr. Gates built the first log house in
Perry (Robert's history says it was on the hill overlooking the
northwest end of Silver Lake, near the former Parris Andrews home),
cleared the land and raised the first crop of wheat and set out the
first orchard. The first child born in Perry was his daughter Nancy,
he being about fifty-eight years old when his youngest daughter was
born. In the month of August 1812, while clearing and fitting a new
piece of ground for wheat and destitute of help, requested his wife
to aid in rolling up a few heavy logs. She ruptured a blood vessel
and bled to death before a doctor could be obtained. She left a
family of six children, the oldest about 16 or 17, and the youngest
about two. She was burled in the Perry "Cemetery --opposite 1 the
Presbyterian Church. In January 1813, Mr. Gates was taken very
suddenly and violently ill with epidemical influenza and died the
third day. He was buried beside his wife. Now an oak tree is growing
over his grave „ 11 This oak was placed as a sapling with a few
roots over Mr. Gates' freshly filled grave by Mr. Otis, who returning
some time later was surprised to see that it had taken root.
Otis trimmed the sapling and saw it grow into a mighty tree which
was cut down when the site was cleared for the Public Library in
1914 • There is no information as to whether any remains of the two
pioneers were found at that time.
No detailed information is at hand concerning the career of
Stephen Gates, whose name appears on the DAR list. One source
credits him to the 3rd Regiment, Albany County militia. He was
supposed to have been buried in the Pioneer Cemetery, Perry Village.
Wo trace of his grave has been found nor is there a record of his
removal. Wiles Giddlngs, from Hartford, Conn., according to Buffalo
DAR records, is buried in Warsaw Village Cemetery, the site being
marked by a bronze plaque with the dates, 1766-1842. He is also
listed on the Genesee County pension list of 1833.
Jacob Glazier, 1759-1828, served as a Minute Men in Capt.
Eliphalet Holmes' company of Connecticut militia. He married Annie
Rood. His birth was in Connecticut while he died in Gainesville.
It is said he was related to the Flower family but,as in their case,
a search for his burial spot has been unsuccessful. In Vernal
Cemetery, Middlebury, was b\iried William Green who died in November
l8l8 at the age of 80 years, JMothing has come to light to determine
his military service.
(continued on page 111)