Erie County, Ohio - Chapter 1: The Fire-Lands - a List of the Sufferers and Their Losses, 1916

Chapter 1: The Fire-Lands - a List of the Sufferers and Their Losses

To make compensation for losses, the State of Connecticut, prior to the sale to the Connecticut Land Company, released and quit-claimed to the suffering inhabitants 500,000 acres, to be taken from the western end of the Reserve. The tract so granted embraces the present counties of Huron and Erie, the Township of Ruggles in Ashland County, and of Danbury in Ottawa County. The name ''Fire-lands'' had its origin in the fact that the lands were donated because of losses which occurred by reason of fire.

Frequently did the inhabitants of the nine suffering towns appeal to the Connecticut Legislature for some material recognition of their claims for relief. The state afforded limited aid by the abatement of taxes, but no adequate compensation was provided for some years.

In 1787, at the May session, the memorialists made another and a strong appeal, asserting the justness of their claims and complaining of the neglect their previous petitions had suffered. They earnestly urged the attention of the Legislature to their prayer, which was signed for the petitioners of the several towns as follows: By Charles Chauncey, of New Haven; Philip Burr Bradley, of Ridgefield; Daniel Taylor, of Danbury; Thomas Fitch, of Norwalk; Jonathan Sturges, of Fairfield; John Mead, of Greenwich; John Deshon, of New London; and Andrew Ward, of Groton. The assembly referred this memorial to a special committee, consisting of Hon. Andrew Adams, of the upper house, and Col. Jeremiah Wadsworth, Maj. Charles Phelps, Maj. Wm. Hart, Col. Charles Burrell and Capt. Moses Cleveland, of the lower house. (See documents relating to Revolutionary war, volume XXXVI, number 351.)

In October of the same year, this committee reported that, for want of exhibits, certificates and vouchers, they were unable to present either a correct statement of the amount of losses, or of the relief already granted by the state; that the houses, buildings and furniture destroyed by the enemy ''ought to be, by this state, paid for at their just value; and that the only means in the power of this state at present to pay the same, is in western lands.'' (Lb., Doc. 117.)

The report, after discussion, was approved, and with this the matter rested. Further action being postponed from session to session, Thaddeus Burr and others, at the December session of 1790, presented a new petition. Thereupon a committee, consisting of Hon. John Treadwell, Ashur Miller and Capt. John Chenwood, was appointed to ascertain the amount of the losses of the memorialists and others who had undergone similar misfortunes. This committee entered upon its work without delay. At the May session of 1791, further time was asked and given. It was not until May, 1792, that the labors of the committee were so far completed as to enable the assembly to take action, which it then did as

''Upon the memorial of the inhabitants of the towns of Fairfield and Norwalk, shewing to this assembly that many of the inhabitants of said towns suffered great losses by the devastations of the enemy during the late war, praying a compensation therefor, and a report of a committee appointed by the assembly at this session held at Hartford in May, 1791, to ascertain from documents in the public offices the amount of the losses of the said memorialists, and others under similar circumstances, which had been estimated conformably to acts of this legislature, being such as were occasioned by excursions of the enemy during the late war, distinguishing the losses of buildings and necessary furniture from those of other articles, by said documents or otherwise, and also to ascertain the advancements which have been made to sufferers by abatement of taxes or otherwise, and to report the same, with their opinion relative to the ways and means of affording for the relief, as per memorial and report on file.

''Resolved, By this assembly, that there be and there hereby are released and quit-claimed to the sufferers hereafter named, or their legal representatives where they are dead, and to their heirs and assignees forever, five hundred thousand acres of land belonging to this State lying west of the State of Pennsylvania, and bounding northerly on the shore of Lake Erie, beginning at the west line of said lands and extending eastward to a line running northerly and southerly parallel to the east line ° of said tract of land belonging to this State, and extending the whole width of said lands, and easterly so far as to make said quantity of five hundred thousand acres of land exclusive of any lands within said bounds, if any be, which may have been heretofore granted to be divided to and among the said sufferers, and their legal representatives where they are dead, in proportion to the several sums annexed to their names as follows in the annexed list.''

The total amount of losses awarded was 161,548 pounds, 11 shillings and 614 pence New England currency, equivalent to $538,495.26. The board of commissioners ascertained that the number of sufferers was about 1,870. The following table will show in what proportion these sufferers and their losses were distributed among the suffering towns:

The following list is taken from the ''Classification Record,'' an old book in the office of the recorder of Huron County, and, though far from being well arranged, the names have been copied in the order there given. Even where a cursory glance might seem to show the list alphabetical, further examination will disclose many exceptions. The largest amount awarded to any one individual was to Jeremiah Miller, of New London, in the sum of 2,535 pounds, 18 shillings and 10 pence, or $8,845.31; the smallest on the list is that of Marah Kilby, of New Haven, 2 shillings and 6 pence or 41 2/3 cents.

The names on the list are familiar ones. Many of them and their descendants settled on the Fire-lands, and their posterity are numerous here today. The family names are almost exclusively of English derivation, there being a notable absence of the Irish, Scotch, French and German names so common at the present day. But the baptismal names were peculiar, and, in this respect, time has wrought changes. Amos, Abijah, Ephraim, Ebenezer, Eleazar, Hezekiah, Joshua, Justin, Jedediah, Jotham, Obadiah, Nehemiah, Titus, Timothy and Uriah were as common as Abraham, Benjamin, John, James, Matthew, Moses and Solomon, while Eliphalet, Eliakim, Shadrach, Shubael and Zechariah and many more names now unheard of are of frequent occurrence. The names of George, Charles, Albert, Edward, William, Henry, Frederick and Richard were not altogether wanting, but were less esteemed than those taken from scripture. In the names of women, Anna, Abigail, Charity, Deliverance, Deborah, Prudence, Priscilla, Ruth, Thankful and Temperance are as easily picked out as Lucy, Mary, Jane and Sarah. It is needless to say that there were no Allies or Bessies, Jennies or Minnies.

Another feature will strike even the most casual reader, and that is the absence of the middle names - scarcely one person in a hundred is so provided - while Jr., 2nd and even 3d, are common suffixes used to distinguish those of the same family having the same name.

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Meads water's eibeke 85 RobertUNutt yee sere 14 HM rancisiiNashiermslrets ere 646 Daniel Ogden. aise 115 Silas Meade aaras ar aoe 62 Thomas Mesnard ...... 6 William Marshall ...... 14 Deliverance Mead ...... 39 Jemima Mead ......... 18 Rev. Jonathan Murdock. 79 Jesse: Meadiasittl.c sss. 22 Henry Mead eatin 105 Elizabeth Mead ....... 13 Dr. Amos Mead........: 180 Joshivay Meadiera niece cee 11 Jerusna Meads... sce): tf John Mesnard, Jr....... 6 James Moe 25 .03sa eens 32 Nathaniel Merritt ..... 46 Edmond Mead ......... ant MitnsePalmeroc wake ee. 3 Jere. and John Wood

£ Ebenezer Bennit, Jr..... 14 Nathan Adams) et.reusne ciors 14 James, Betts der ccc sane 17 Benjamin Keeler ...... 10 Nathan Keelersenei se 3

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~§ Ephraim Robbins ...... 106 Ebenezer Sturges ...... 89 John Squire, Jr...-..... 15 Judson Sturges ....... 128 Tsaacw Mickeraser.setveiores te 68 Samuel Smith ......... 19 Tsaa cavum Cyamcr recreate 20 John Williams, Jr....... is Ruth Wakeman ........ 22 Wright White .... 5... 46 Miia? AUMOROL Che dgagnoad 20 Teaacr Burris ects ceeds 23 AmeliasiBurr eee serie ens 10 Ruth Burrs. 3 CharlessBurrir ste ere 24 MUIGO es NL arenes: csraie ste 4 George Batterson ...... 55 Dudley Baldwin ....... ef William Batterson ..... 16 Samuel Burr, Jr........ 2 Samuel Burr, 3d........ 14 IDERPOlel ae 5 Samo eD an 10 Abigail Burr, Jr........ 50 Nathan Bulkley ....... 11 Olive Bulkley ......... 30 Wid. Abigail Bulkley and Jonathan Bulkley .... 54 Ebenezer Bulkley ...... 0 Nehemiah Banks ....... 4 Priscillag Burr jaenese 282 David sBarlowees sects sete 374 Nathaniel Burr ........ 22 INathanes laneeetertercnts 4 Walliamy Carter mas. « 16 Ann Caldwell ...5..... 8 Thomas and Simon Couchipasyevrets cute srotieter: 10 Abigail Chapman ....... 2 OWNS CAKO Ga scious etorsrocees 0 Caleb Disbrow ........ 18 Rev. Andrew Elliot..... 549 Hrancis) Morgue). «1... «1. 151 Abigail Thompson ..... 8 Nathan T. Nickols...... 81 Hannah McKensey ..... il Jemima; Gould sce 6 Wibels Gold. iis /sreueessle 15183 Abel Golds istr ss. sae 3 Daniel Gorham ........ 20 Jos. Gold, deceased..... 17 Martha Fairchild ...... 44 UShIN pELOD aM banter crcterene 15 Jabezambbell ac.) crew 32 Tsaac Hubbell aoe. en. 18 TSHACHELA VOCS Aen ereaicie oe 86 Jey ISIE A eAsio.ons Gude 64 John wHacklin GG ec: 20

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Timothy and William UCM Co clo no toms ontore 167 IERIE VOUCE ks ome 6ouade 148 MGV VGSME pete sieus) ei Pasece 46 PetrerisORNSOM I. a rer. ae 20 Silas Kimberly ........ 9 AZel acimberly ies cis sir 52 Mary Kimberly ........ 18 Elam Luddington ..... 408 Daniel Lyman, Esq..... 368 Jesse Leavenworth ..... 143 - Walliamelsy.On oreieis:s sss 92 Ebenezer Lewis ........ 20 John Lathrop <os5.1...-. aan

ANENOED MOE 5 Joc hana Ge 1,235 William Mansfield ..... 47 AEN WINGED ea Gos odbo.on 15 Stephen Munson ....... 22 HOSE PL wll eye erecta: iil William Miles ......... 5 Joseph Munson ....... 10 John, Miles w caves. ase: 48 William Munson ....... 73 Samuel Munson ........ 41 israel ea Munson e..& eiciete 27 CATISS MGIES: Fhe) sevets bates ze 5 Edward Maloy ......... 265 Amos Munson ......... 18 IP aUIMINOYeS oie e.. ic tearetests 2 DavideOsbornmecscttee 30 Nathan Oaks een ieiecaes 19 Nahittibal Osborn ...... 3

PON Va cu erasure rece 402 Maryn Pandy muectnsiere or 134 Hezekiah Parmely ..... 109 Mostin Parrott ........ 27 William Punchard ..... 20 JACODDEINTO cree rerete aieta's 22 Ichabod Page ......... 59 Sarah Parmely ........ 8

James Planter. eleeee ats 94 Jeremiah Parmely ..... 18 Charles Prindle ........ 47 JONMNPLCASOW ern e eeaeiees 18 Benjamin Pardy ....... 88 John Robertson sy... 26 - John Richards ......... 13 Philemon) Smith... 53 Benjamin Sanford ..... 32 William Sherman ...... 3" Mrancis!Sagel sss esse. 34 Jonathan Sabin ....... 64 Timothy Sperry =... 30 Charles Sabie. ciyeke 29 Jesse Stephens) <0... 18 Klias Shipman -.,..... 10 Caleb Trowbridge ..... 125 Jere Trowbridge, Jr.... 7 Daniel init tlew- veer 13 Isaac Townsend ....... 11 Benajah Thomas ...... 7 Robert Townsend ..... 15 iézekiahy Duttle see cc 54 Richard Muattlem, wrert-eece 13 Michael Dodd y tires eis 73 Jeremiah Townsend .... 36 Jacob Thompson ...... 60 Timothy Townsend .... 11 Abraham Tuttle, Jr.... 27 John Townsend ....... 3 Stephen Trowbridge .... 8 SamuelsTuttlew. 1... 270 JameseTuttler aan tren tee 93 Dimothiy Duttlemrcete tte 79 Noab slicker wt ents 99 Jesse Upsontaee sireiriee 47 Jonathan Williams ..... 2 John Woodward ....... 838 John Woodward, Jr..... 740 Moses: Wellsin cs tc, st celete 256 Samuel Wilmott ....... 62 iWallianaee War dl. fyeeesess. eee 22 SONNY WIS. creiecerenteteate see 31 Daniel Wilmott ........ 42 John White, Jr........ 23

Thomas Wooster ...... 590 John Whitney, Esq..... 158 Titus Beecher s.eeeeeue 5 Hannah Bingley ....... 10 Isaae Beecher se ts.iete 3 SarahP Brows occ eiceer 12 Peter buckleyecns sec 2 Joseph Bishop ........ 8 Ehas Beech ..3s3.....% 3 g Enos Hotchkiss ........ 3 Mary HELOnUOM rs giccer eles 5) Stephen Honeywell .... 1 Abigail Hughes ....... 37 Stephen Johnson ...... -14 Simeoned Oulimie ss... ve 10 IMMeVACHY GiCwW bby Faseene 25 Abraham Johnson ..... 5 MabeltJiohnson.)-. 1 sc 6 HinOS J OhDSON .. es ee 1 Alex "pial Gp8hes Soo coe Neh Jared Ingersoll 2.2.27... 2 Richard Johnson ....... jul Lydia Johnson ........ i) TBP ENE, ASHES 4 Soom nie.oo 11 Sarah Kimberley ...... 27 Miara ine oy scree terceesets 0 Lydia Kimberley ...... 21 Nathaniel Kimberley ... 2 JSAMESH EAVES eiyer elias 4 Edward Larkins ....... 21 Samuel elittle sean was: 7 Mia OTN CStreteg etter cots 14 diames Wane sae ce. 9 Mark Leavenworth Tf Gade iuke®.. Heiser ns skate 6 27 Susannah Mahon ...... il AO stay Wb Dew oonnond5 9 Daniel Mansfield ....... 11 IOUT Ney INDE 5515 Goa atoc 2 Meriva MAGS ier etonsteeytecrs 2 Amos Morrison ........ 1 Robert Matthews ...... 8 Esther Mansfield ...... 299 Kirsted Mansfield ...... 10 eames Murray) seater 0. 9 Nathan Mansfield ...... 3 Silas Merriman... ..... 2 David Mulford .3..+..- G Hannah Manstield ..... 8 Patience Nlixe fern ctche ete 20 PhebesMaller sci sve. as 15 David Murrasome -. 2 cy. 2 ania tas ixeterrt, pacers 3 36 Dr, Timothy, Mix. ..-..: 16 Moses Mansfield ....... 6 INatham tel Ma xcsveter. cients. 10 NWalliivem PINOY Sit srars asi sisl- iil Anns elattimere «sneuauvoers 5 10

MiOSOS RAT Y, Gavete euetes techs Solomon Phipps ....... Lamberton Painter .... Elijah Painter ........ Martin Patchm <5... . Devi an divaneretiaere cere Jonas Prentice ........ Sarab= Pomeroy eye -1te- James Prescott ........ Philip Rextordinc..0- o- Samuel Robinson ...... Rachel Russell ........ Zechariah Read ........ J AIMESMRICE), cia sy stess lsat ever o

New London

ANIA Wace sie onaeeRetayestabe etek 215 Edward Hallam ,...... 10 Wiliam Higgins ...... 4 Daniel seourclbunty ee. etae 126 Sarah agris aes aes asPeil

OtROLS mr ss stehogachre. ore « 30 DONMetA AAMAS neverencncteenas 417 Benjamin Harris ...... 19 Tyrer IE, poGonomede 18 Nathaniel Hempstead... e cerita 44 Jose phe Eoltwere.cratritis 2 Toy dia Glarriss secs ae 60 ANREP EIOMD Coke dooce 4 Bridgett Harriss, ...... 20 Johny Harriss: 1 Steeci.. «. 0 Walter Harriss %......... 17

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& Christopher Prince ..... 512 Apical PO GLCH acmiertieiele 573 Pra Ee ReStOW eters 21 Joseph Plumb ......... 24 (Coden, Jeb), soaedotac 43 Ichabod Powers, Jr..... 188 Andrew Palmer ....... 105 NiGioKoniig ARWE 6 Sigs on 60 48 Simeon VR eck eanccec ele 19 James) Parker 2. 2m. 21 Sara hweoole sate reentecks 4 Joshua Powerse sc. le 4 William Packwood ..... 12 Ichabod Powers ....... 620 JLOnM Pen WweLb ry syercdieninese 223

Thomas omit haere iat William Skinner ....... 15 Seth 'Sere pec vrcciter cress 13 Jonathan and I. Starr.. 53 Bathsheba Skinner ..... 180 Bathsheba Smith ...... 465 Hliza Shapely ......... 382 Adam Shapely ......... 20 Dy diaeSpineks cr 9 Amn SQuirei ate ci oleic a eS UG ache sie Sea Daniel) Cooley ..2...... dy ale Marty Grayvee ils lela TE Kee is) WES AUSICR ES. is Goeg eee o 3) 167550 David Rockwell, 2d..... ae.) All) Abijah Rockwell ....... Bie pits 92 Abner sWialsOnii an syeresusre 9. 0 ~0 ANH SHAN Bo Go Bone H6oy Ten Samuel Keeler, 2d...... lee eee ze) OMEN IRM Ke! SeAcoon ade UO KO) N. B. - The sums advanced to the Town Sarah Silsbyswntemersieei. Ai MBS of Ridgefield by grants of General As- Elihu Deforest ........ ye WAY sembly are deducted from each man's re- Price Northrop cwiie.. cc 4 4 0 spective sum and the neat balance ascer- Nathan Foster ........ Ole LOS tained. GROTON

ATMOS MEAIV OLY, src rejal eels oie LO 2 ae Joshua andIsaac Morgan 4 10 0 iPrudenceeAveryarci.... 270 14 8 Mary: Moores. ee cveirere L0G Tee Thankful Avery ....... 9638. 165 8 Frederick Moore ...... OD scien) UU US eA VOLY geotayaistetetonesore 1382 18 4 Shoram (negro)........ Os eV Tay ditey MA MOL YAN gs seca /c)erelahs LOS se op a6 Ebenezer Ledyard, Esq.1,151 3 4 Ebenezer Avery ......-.. 8X0) 2) oly Wartha ners. eteealore = 94 18 9 Phebe sAveryij. sa. eisee ot a tae Bridgett Ledyard ...... 397 14 5 Peter PAVED voice). ale ensie 4 13 0 Youngs Ledyard, Dee'd. 75 0 0 George Avery ......... Sule bee Walliam leeds <7. SOO if, a8 Hannah Avery ..5..... Omen OMsrO Benjamin and Caleb Led- Hlizabeth Avery ....... Duna teen Wau wratevors eters ai eves PAN a Benjamin Avery ....... Bye V1) a) AMIE Wed Vay di aereterse ack 142°) 7 10 CalebmAverye Grice ude oe ome aes O PATIO MINES CS eye lensr eke relents Of 1a ee Wzekiel Bailey ......... PANS 5) Benajahwliester reser fe AS Es Ne Stephen Billings ....... CATO ae ei Capt. Edw'd Latham... eit aah James Bailey .......... Zoeller Thomas D. Lavis ...... ea aiske AND) Samuel Chester .:.. 3... Oy i © @ Widow A. Latham..... Sloe ll) = 0) Eldridge Chester ...... Opal Capt. William Latham.. 45 2 2 Jedediah Chester ...... Pil oS Be IB y ONE, ADEN NNT aA soo 92 6e 4S: Benjamin Chester ...... 442 3 0 Mammy athens ceaiessentetes Aan Or 10 Benjamin Chester, as Ex- Jonathan Latham ...... Se eS