Many years ago I visited a ruined cemetery a mile south of Jamesville,
and west of the reservoir through which flows Butternut Creek. A
short climb of 10 feet from the road on one side, and of 30 feet from the
railroad on the other, brings one to the top of a gravel ridge, forming
a broad plateau, 100 feet long by 80 wide. At the southern end the
gravel has been removed to the depth of 40 feet. I wrote at the time
these words: "One might easily pass the old cemetery unobserved, though
close to both public highway and railroad, so overgrown is it with sumacs
and native weeds, but through these one white stone appears, and search
reveals several more. Some are yet standing; others have fallen...
The spot is sightly but for
its neglected appearance."
I did not then speak of the prospect. South and southwest of the picturesque reservoir are the La Fayette and Pompey Hills. Almost due east are the Kasoongkta Flats: the word meaning Bark in the water, a name sometimes given to the old Indian town, because bark was always kept in the creek in readiness for building cabins. These rich fields were afterword called after Morehouse, the first settler there, whose daughter was the second white child born in the county. These fertile flats had been cultivated by the Onondagas. There Moses DeWitt Rose had his law office in 1806.
East of the reservoir and the road is the broad site of the historic Onondaga Castle, founded in 1682, burned in 1696, but at once rebuilt, for Col. Romer visited it in 1700, on his famous journey, and placed it on his map.
It is a little difficult to locate every part of Count Frontenac's march
from the Salt Springs to this spot, but easier to imagine his camp, as
the tents were pitched where the cabins had stood, and brilliant French
uniforms were contrasted with the barbaric
splendor of their savage allies. Many an incident of that forest
march and of the camp at the desolated town has been described and preserved.
One large broken tombstone in the cemetery at first seems to have fallen,
but Clark said, 70 years ago, that this grave was "covered with a marble
slab," suitable inscribed. It is in the centre of the plateau, and
is 3 feet wide by 6 1/4 long, with fluted
edges. It records the deaths of three brothers, and the full inscription
reads:
"Here lie interred / the remains of / Moses
DeWitt / Major of Militia and a Judge / of the County Courts; / one of
the first, most active, and useful / Settlers of this County / He was born
on the 15th of October, 1766 / and died on the 25th day of August, 1794.
/
"Also of his Brother / Egbert DeWitt,
/ Born on the 20th April, 1768 / and died on the 30th May, 1793.
"Jacob R. DeWitt, Esq., died Dec. 18th,
1821, in the forty-sixth year of his age."
I then found a small flag marking the grave, probably placed there on the last Memorial day, and this may have been continued. Moses was in his 17th year when the Revolutionary war closed, but his influential family connections make it certain that he even then had some share in public affairs. There were stirring events around his early home in Fort DeWitt.
I have spoken particularly of the spot and its surroundings because, some years ago, I went with a party of our members to look it over, with a view to its ownership and preservation. We could not readily ascertain the title, and the matter was temporarily laid aside. Three years ago it came up again through an offer from the railroad to convey the property to us by deed of gift, if we would see it cared for. The plan has not yet been carried out.
Moses DeWitt's life was a short one, but connected closely with some of the greatest men - his relatives - New York has yet produced, so that I make no apology for mentioning them with him, because their lives had direct effects on the welfare of the region in which we live. Had his own life been spared he would have been one of the greatest men of this county, as he was already one of the most prominent.
First let me speak of his ancestry, then of his immediate family.
Tjerck Claesson DeWitt, the first of Moses DeWitt's line in this country, came here early, and his name - Claesson, son of Claus - makes it probable that his father's was Nicholas.
Three Taatjes in the immediate family indicate that this was his mother's name. Je was common Dutch termination for a diminutive or -?- name.
Tjerck married Barbara Andriessen, April 24, 1656, and came from Zunder-?-and in Westphalia. His sister, Emmerentie DeWitt, married Martimus Hoffman in New Amsterdam, and in 1699 his brother, Jan Claessen DeWitt, died unmarried at Kingston. From New York, Tjerck went to Albany, and to Kingston, NY in 1661. - In 1672 Gov. Lovelace deeded him property there, and Gov. Andros deeded him 50 acres of land in 1677. In 1685 he got 189 acres more, and the same year claimed and in '94 obtained 290 acres on the north side of __ondout Kill. He held several high offices, and died in Kingston, Feb. 17, 1700, where his will, written in Dutch, is on file. His wife died July 6, 1714.
Of his thirteen children we are concerned only with Andries, the oldest son, born in New York city in 1657, married Jannetje Egbertsen, Mar. 7, 1682, lived at Marbletown on a farm given him by his father, removed to Kingston and died there July 22, 1710. He had twelve children.
The tenth of these, Egbert B. DeWitt, born March 18, 1699, married Mary, daughter of Wm. Nottingham and Margaret Rutsen, born March 19, 1704. He settled at Napanock, NY, and had nine sons and one daughter.
We are locally concerned with but three of these children.
Andries, the oldest, was baptized in 1721, and Surveyor General Simeon DeWitt was one of his sons.
Jacob Rutsen DeWitt was the second, baptized 1729, married Jenneke, daughter of Moses Depuy and Margaret Schoonmaker. He went to Orange Co. where he was Captain of a Militia Company.
Moses DeWitt, of Onondaga was his oldest son. The sixth child, Mary, baptized 1737, died 1812, married Gen. James Clinton, and their third son, Gov. DeWitt Clinton was born March 2, 1769. Thus Simeon and Moses DeWitt and DeWitt Clinton were cousins, differing but little in age.
Moses DeWitt was the oldest son of Jacob Rutsen and Jane DeWitt, of Mamascotting, Ulster Co., NY. The other sons were Egbert and Jacob R., both lying in the ruined DeWitt cemetery. There were seven daughters. Mary married Wm. Roosa or Rose. He came here, but returned to his old home, having inherited property there. His children remained here, and his wife, dying July 9th, 1839, aged 81,1,17, is buried in Oakwood.
Hannah married James Ennis, a pioneer in Skaneateles, living where Roosevelt Hall now stands. Later they went to Owasco.
Two other sisters lived in Skaneateles: Margaret, who married Peter Cuddeback, and Janneke or Jane, who married Abraham A. Cuddeback. Esther married Jacobus De Puy, and their fallen monument is in the DeWitt cemetery.
Elizabeth married James Coleman, a pioneer at Onondaga Hill, according
to L.F.Cuddeback, but others properly make it Timothy, ( 1752 - 1832 )
an ensign and lieutenant in the Revolution. He was born in Ulster
County, and died in Salina. This
makes plain Jacobus De Puy's will.
One of the sisters did not live here, though her own and husband's names often appear on early Onondaga deeds. This was Rachel, who died June 4th, 1830, in her 68th year. She married Robert Burnet, (b. Feb. 22, '62, d. Nov. 24, 1854) June 9, 1784, who at his death, was the last member of the Cincinnati and the last officer of the Revolution.
They were the parents of Moses D. Burnet of this city, who also served in the war of 1812. Naturally they would visit him here.
In Monroe P. Worden's "Eleven Taverns between Fayetteville and Syracuse",
he calls the ninth the Thomas Rose tavern, in Orville, about four rods
west of the James Norris tavern and south of the road. Captain Thomas
was the son of Mary DeWitt and Wm. Rose. This tavern Mr. Worden fully
described, adding that he "remembered a little rhyme that went the rounds
in connection with Squire Thomas Rose. He had engaged a man to help
him kill hogs...who was a character and familiarly called Uncle Pell.
He came early to the house, finding Squire Thomas still in bed, and...thus
addressed him
"Squire Thomas Rose,
I do suppose
I've come to work for you, sir;
Get out of bed and show your head,
And then put on your shoes, sir."
I omit the rest.
Captain Rose came to this city, building a brick house on the corner of Beech and Genesee Sts., where he died in 1887. [Thos. Rose, 9 July, 1784 - 14 Sept. 1866]
Moses, the oldest son of Jacob Rutsen DeWitt was a large, well favored
man, sociable and agreeable in manners and conversation. It is added
that "the Indians esteemed him highly, and when he died deeply
lamented his death. This speaks
a thousand facts in his favor, for one man like this in a new settlement,
surrounded by Indians, liable to be excited and provoked to revenge and
murder by the least an unintentional injury, was like a garment to the
settlers, covering a multitude of their offences against them."
We must remember that when he was employed as a surveyor on the Military Tract, the country was a wilderness and the surveyor's parties were often in contact with the wild sons of the forest. Still further, we may remember that even when he died Oswego was retained by the British, and that very year block-houses were built here and at Brewerton, as a precaution against possible hostilities.
The boy had good training for his work. An Englishman had strayed
into the Dutch settlements, and took shelter in the fort during the Revolution,
establishing a school just outside afterward. He was a good
teacher and taught the boy all he could,
being very fond of him. A more practical training came from his uncle,
Gen. James Clinton, father of DeWitt Clinton. He had married Mary
DeWitt, the aunt of Moses. Though but ten years older, Simeon DeWitt
is often called the uncle of Moses. The family record clearly proves
they were cousins. They had similar tastes, and the older DeWitt
employed the younger on the survey of the New York and Pennsylvania boundary
line in 1786.
The next year Moses imparted some of his knowledge to Peter E. Gumaer, his relative and friend. Some of the Gumaers also came here, but settled widely apart. Then came the great survey of the Military Tract, in which Moses had a prominent part, under the supervision of the historic Simeon DeWitt. It would be a great gain if we could procure from the State Department the field notes made by those engaged in this important work in this county. One point is to be observed. This city, Salina and all of the town of Onondaga were within, but not a part of the Military Tract. Two important areas had not as yet been acquired by the State, and were known as the Onondaga and Salt Springs Reservations.
When surveyed later the lots in both differed much from the military lots, as you may easily see.
There comes in another question in connection with this. Mr. Clark says of Moses, "For his important services to the State, as a surveyor, he received several thousand acres of land, scattered throughout the Military Tract, and along the southern tier of counties, bordering on Pennsylvania. At the time of his death he was considered one of the greatest individual land owners in western New York."
Moses DeWitt was generous to his sisters in land affairs. If he wished to invest in land he had exceptional advantages. In the spring of 1857 I was spending a few weeks in a frontier town half way across the state of Iowa. A party of lawyers came along on their way to court, and stayed over night in our house. A great land sale was open in a few days at Ft. Dodge, and a lawyer remarked that he was once offered the charge of a land office, but the salary seemed too small. How, he wished he had taken it, because a thorough knowledge of the lands to be sold would have made investments both safe and profitable for himself and others.
I have heard a pleasant story of DeWitt's love for Patty Danforth, and of the well worn path from his home to her own, five miles away through the woods, but as she was but twelve when he died and he was sixteen years her senior, matrimony was probably far from the thoughts of both.
Moses DeWitt was appointed Surrogate of Herkimer Co., when organized in 1791, and justice of the peace at the same time. In '93 he was made major of militia. When Onondaga Co. was organized in '94, he was appointed both Judge of Courts and justice of the peace, and Surrogate as well. The same year he bacame first supervisor of Pompey. And just then death came. On a bright August day came his Indian friends who had showed him the forest trails, and brought game to his camps. His brother and sisters were there with one exception. There were the veterans whose lands he had surveyed; the settlers whom he had aided, the friends he had loved, the troops whom he had trained. These last fired the parting guns over his grave, and then the great land owner was left to have and to hold his six feet of earth.
Several of his relatives, the De Puys, have places in the old cemetery, and they were long influential there and elsewhere in the county. In fact the name is found here still.
Most families of note then held slaves. My old Presbyterian friend, the Rev. Samuel W. Brace, said in the Pompey Re-Union: "Pompey had its slaves; a number were held on the Hill by some of the most respectable families, but treated with much lenity and kindness. They were, however, quite numerous in the northwestern part of the town, near what is now Jamesville: sundry families there, as the DeWitts and De Puys, of Dutch extraction, held numbers of them, and with their labor entered largely into the cultivation of tobacco; hence it was that Pompey become the first town in all Central and Western New York that was defiled with the raising of this filthy and poisonous plant."
I quote from Jacobus De Puy's will, dated Apr. 8, 1813, his bequest of Lot 3, Pompey, to his wife, Esther DeWitt, and also "to her the black girl, Bet, said black girl to be free at the decease of my said beloved wife." J. Depuy was one of the founders of Pompey Academy and one of the first trustees of Onondaga Academy.
Moses Cuddeback of Skaneateles held slaves.
It is to be supposed that Simeon DeWitt was frequently here and elsewhere on the Military Tract in a business way. Probably such visits led to his removal to Ithaca, where he died. Considering the difficulties to be overcome, it is remarkable that no complaints were ever made of the accuracy of the survey, and a very great compliment to the system is that our General Government holds to it still.
A tablet to his memory has recently been placed in the Middle South Dutch Church, Kingston, NY and I give the inscription as an admirable picture of a really wonderful man:
"In Memory of / Simeon DeWitt / Born Dec. 25, 1758, at Wawarsing, Ulster
County / Died Dec. 3, 1834, at Ithaca, Tompkins County. /
His youth was devoted to study. His manhood to the service of his
country. His whole life to the cause of Virtue and Religion.
During the War of the Revolution he was Chief of the Topographical Staff
under
Washington, and was honored with his friendship
and confidence. For fifty years he was Surveyor General of the State
of New York. For five years Chancellor of the University. An
honorable and enlightened public officer. He was one of that noble
band to whose patriotic wisdom and virtue our Republic owes its prosperity
and power. For many years an officer and member of this church, while
by his life he proved the truth and power of religion, in his death he
was supported by its hopes and consolations. /
This tablet, an offering of their affection, has been erected by his children,
at the invitation of the church."
It is customary to make Simeon DeWitt answerable for the classic
names of many towns, but he had nothing
to do with this. Both lots and
townships were numbered and reported to
the Land Commissioners, and they
gave names as they chose. In street
names here we have groups of
presidents, poets, trees, fruits, and
city officials - mere conveniences.
In town here and elsewhere we have names
from every nation under heaven.
Don't lump the blame on one innocent man,
which was just what Drake and
Halleck did, addressing DeWitt as:
"Godfather of the christened West:
Thy wonder working power
Has called from their eternal rest,
The poets and the chiefs who blest
Old Europe in her happier hour."
This political as well as poetical effusion, ended thus:
"Surveyor of the western plains:
The sapient work is thine;
Full fledged it fell from out thy brains.
One added touch alone remains
To consummate the grand design:
Select a town and christen it
With thy unrivaled name, DeWitt."
He had no power to do this and the name had to wait.
DeWitt Clinton, of canal fame, was a cousin of Moses DeWitt, whose aunt Mary DeWitt, had married Gen. James Clinton. The great Governor was born Mar. 2, 1769, and died Feb. 11, 1828. A curious memorial of a party opposed to him, here exists in the famous Bucktail Road in Spafford.
It is needless to say much of so well known a man, but two incidents of a local character have interested me.
The first is from Monroe P. Worden's unpublished account of the "Eleven
Taverns". The fourth of these, reckoning from Fayetteville, was the
Jesse Prindle Tavern, at Lyndon, kept by Johnathan Worden in 1817.
I use his words: "In the fall of 1817, Gov. DeWitt Clinton was making a
tour of the State, with his family and retinue, and put up for the night
at Uncle Johnathan's. At that time father had some honey that was
made when the basswood was in bloom. Uncle Johnathan came in and
said, "Jesse, I want to get some of that nice honey of yours. There
is a man that has put up at my house, that, judging from his appearance
and equipage, I should say was smart enough to be Governor of the State
of New York - New York, understand
me! In the course of the evening
it became known that he was the Governor, and the next morning about fifty
male citizens in the vicinity had assembled to greet him, and then, on
the steps of that little one story weather beaten country tavern, the great
Gov. Clinton made them a speech."
I have no doubt he used honeyed words, and that he gained votes for himself and his big ditch.
It was Clinton's ditch which brought prosperity to Syracuse and the Empire State.
By factional action Gov. Clinton afterward lost his election, but was still Canal Commissioner. In the Legislature of 1824, resolutions were introduced removing him from office. A member who came in during the reading held the floor, and in conclusion said:
"When the miserable party struggles of the present day shall have passed by, and the political jugglers who now beleaguer the capitol shall be overwhelmed and forgotten, when the gentle breeze shall pass over the tomb of that great man, carrying with it the just tribute of honor and praise which is now withheld, the pen of the future historian will do him justice, and erect to his memory a monument of fame as imperishable as the splendid works that owe their origin to his genius and perserverance.
"Sir, I have done; and I have only to beseech every honorable gentleman
on this floor to weigh all the consequences of the vote he is about to
give on this important question. It is probably the last that will
be given this session, and I pray God
it may be such as will not disgrace us in the eyes of our constituents."
Tammany was too powerful and Clinton was removed. The country was indignant. Clinton was nominated for Governor and triumphantly elected. Hence it was that he was the central figure in the great event of the following year.
It was in the autumn of 1825 that the Erie Canal was completed, and at
2 P.M. Oct. 29, DeWitt Clinton and his party reached Syracuse by canal,
bearing water from Lake Erie to pour into the ocean off Sandy Hook.
They dined at the Mansion House, where Judge Forman addressed the Governor
and joined the party. Mr. Stone said this address was "replied to
by Gov. Clinton in his usual felicitous style." So late in the fall
he may have had some more Onondaga honey. One of his near relatives
greeted him officially,
for the spring before, Moses D. Burnet,
nephew of Moses DeWitt, had been elected one of the first trustees of the
new corporation of the village of Syracuse, and was president in 1825.
Col. W. L. Stone, author of the Life of Brant, and then New York City's
greatest editor, was on board the sumptuous Seneca Chief, and gave full
reports of the trip in his usual charming style. Cannon along the
banks, a few miles apart, signaled the
departure from Buffalo at 10 A.M., Oct.
26, and the last gun was fired at 11:20 A.M. in New York city.
The most picturesque ceremony near here was at Rochester, where eight uniformed military companies greeted the fleet. The Young Lion, a Rochester boat, met and saluted the travelers, and this dialogue followed:
"Who comes here?"
"Your brothers from the West, on the waters of the great lakes."
"By what means have they been diverted from their natural course?"
"By the channel of the great Erie canal."
"By whose authority and by whom was a work of such magnitude accomplished?"
"By the authority and by the enterprise of the patriotic people of the State of New York."
"Pass on."
Seven years from now some of you will celebrate the centennial of this great event, in a way undreamed of then.
Moses DeWitt's youngest brother, Jacob Rutsen, born in 1775, married Rachel Hardenberg Sept. 1, 1799. She was born May 11. '75 and died Oct. 2, 1881. Two of their children lie in the ruined cemetery, where the stones remain. These are of Jane, died Dec. 10, 1822, aged 20 years, 2m., and Locky, died Nov. 27, '23, aged 18,11,15. The latter is a family name.
Jacob R. DeWitt was one executor of Jacobus De Puy's will. In that appear the names of the latter's brother John, his own son Benjamin, and his oldest daughter Jane. Also a legacy to Elizabeth Coleman of land occupied by Timothy Coleman, before mentioned. Their son Timothy, (Oct. 28, 1798 - Mar. 10, '70) married Diana Tiffany, died July 25, 1880, aged 72,11,23. Buried in Coleman Cemetery, Pompey.
Major Jacobus Depuy died Apr. 22, 1813, aged 40,7,18, and Esther DeWitt,
his wife, died Dec. 20, 1834, aged 60 years, 8m.
In the old cemetery are stones for the following De Puys: Moses, who died
Nov. 8, 1816, aged 18,7,12; Esther, wife of James I. Depuy and daughter
of Andrew and Sally Kimber, who died Sept. 5, 1822, in her 24th year; three
infant children of James I. and Eveline De Puy, 1827-28-29; Samuel S. their
son, died Sept. 20, 1843, aged 3,7,27; Robert B. De Puy, died Dec. 2, 1834;
Jesse C., son of Robert B. and Ann De Puy, died Dec. 10, 1830, aged 3,8,5.
Jacob Rutsen De Puy, a descendant, married Polly, daughter of Isaac V. Hibbard of Pompey, and both were baptized and confirmed in Christ Church, Manlius. They lived at Fayetteville, and when Trinity Church was organized he became Senior Warden. Their little daughter was baptized Helen Burnet, May 29, 1830, after Mrs. Burnet of Syracuse.
One stone in the old cemetery tells of Jesse D. Rose, who died June 10, 1828, aged 30,1,3, possibly either son or brother of Moses DeWitt Rose, the lawyer. The latter made his will Feb. 8, 1817, and it was probated Mar. 10th. His wife, Deborah, was a legatee, and four grandchildren, Moses DeWitt Rose, and DeWitt, Robert Burnet, and Samuel, sons of Samuel Merritt. It is a little puzzling that a newspaper of the same date records the death of Mrs. Moses D. Rose, aged 25.
In Jacob DeWitt Rose's will are mentioned his mother Mary Rose, his sister Mary Booth (Mrs. Benjamin), and daughters Jane DeWitt, Harriet, and Margaret.
The name of Locky DeWitt suggests other DeWitt relatives in the Rose family. In an old cemetery at the corner of Colvin St. and the Jamesville Road is a stone for Locky Eliza Rose, who died Nov. 19, 1851, aged 24,5,2, and her father, Nathan, who died June 5, 1849, aged 63,6,13. He was afterward placed in Oakwood, beside his wife Magdalene, who died May 12, 1878, aged 92 years, 6m.
Another lot in Oakwood has others better known, earliest of all is Mary Rose, who died July 9, 1839, aged 81,2,17 [81,1,17], implying removal of course. It is natural to suppose Moses D. Rose was her son, as was Thomas Rose, before mentioned. He died Sept. 14, 1866, aged 82,2,5, and his wife Eliza, June 6, 1862, aged 78,3,7. On the same lot DeWitt Rose perpetuates the family name, having died May 10, 1833, aged 39,4,3. Gordon N. Rose, son of Thomas, died in 1861 [15 Dec. 1860 - std], and left a widow, Sarah Case, and two sons, Edwin Burr and Howard Egbert. In Thomas Rose's will his son William Egbert is mentioned.
Of the Skaneateles Cuddebacks, Abraham A. died Oct. 22, 1831, aged 71,7,11, and his wife, Jane DeWitt, Feb. 27, '36, aged 71,2,14. Their children were Esther, wife of Richard Conklin, Isaiah, Jacob, DeWitt, Egbert D., Levi, David, Simeon, James and Moses.
DeWitt Cuddeback, born July 20, 1801, died Dec. 12, 1845; Sarah his wife survived him, and his children, Seth and Emily.
Jacob, born Jan. 27, 1787, died May 14, 1852. His first wife, Elizabeth, born Apr. 2, 1789, died Apr. 27, 1821; (2) Catherine, born Sept. 21, 1798, died Aug. 19, 1883.
Moses died May 14, 1837, aged 54,1,8.
Peter, James, Nathan and Jacob were his sons, and Locky, Esther and Margaret, his daughters.
Egbert DeWitt Cuddeback left a widow, Maria, and David's children were Mrs. Jane Ann Rundles, Laura Turner and Miss Esther Cuddeback. His son was La Fayette. Egbert's will was proved Jan. 1862.
Jacob Cuddeback's will was proved July 22, 1852. Catherine was his
wife, and his children were Jane Church and David.
Levi Cuddeback's will was proved Jan. 7, 1850, his heirs being his wife
Rhoda, and his children were Alfred and Lydia.
Isaiah Cuddeback's will, proved Dec. 1853, mentioned his wife, Maria, and his children, Maria Dorland, Hannah Cuddeback, Eliza Jane Clinton, Norman, Lina Grover, Enos and Isaiah.
For Peter Cuddeback's estate Jacobus Depuy and Moses Cuddeback were appointed administrators Apr. 5, 1803, and Clarissa Cuddeback and Liva ?eck at a later day. He married Margaret DeWitt, born 1757, and was baptized Nov. 25, 1763. I omit other mention of this large family.
I will say but little about Moses DeWitt Burnet, others being better qualified
to speak of him from personal knowledge. A few things may have escaped
their attention. He was the nephew of Major Moses DeWitt of Jamesville,
the son of his sister Rachel and Robert Burnet. His parents doubtless
visited here, though not resident, as they were large land owners in this
county and were grantors of many deeds. Rachel DeWitt was born in
1762, married Robert Burnet june 9, 1784, and died June 4, 1830.
He was
born Feb. 22, '62 and died Nov. 24, '54.
Moses D. Burnet's own sales were large, partly as a trustee for others, partly on his own account and that of his wife Helen.
In October, 1816, John B. Dreed and Helen Pellse, a youthful pair, were
married in Onondaga Valley, where they at first resided. Practically
there was no Syracuse then. He died June 14, 1825, aged 30 years.
His widow opened a boarding house in Syracuse, and possibly the young widower,
M. D. Burnet, may have shared her hospitality and admired her skill.
James Street was the Foot Street, from leading to that settlement.
On this forest trail, Mr. Cheney said, Major Burnet erected the first house
in 1824. The
site is now occupied by the Century Club.
Mr. Cheney added, "This house stood on a slight eminence now occupied by
the new residence (1857) of Major Burnet. The house fronted the south,
and had a path, or rather an impromptu road, leading directly to the towing
path on the Erie Canal. The house then stood far out of town, and
the only avenue of approach for teams was by the tow path and the private
road. Persons on foot could reach the house by taking the trail and
beating through the underbrush."
Naturally he wished some one to share and brighten his solitary mansion, and thus it came that Moses D. Burnet and Helen Creed were married by the Rev. Dr. Adams, July 13, 1826. So fair and youthful seemed the bride that good Dr. Adams forgot himself and registered her as Miss Helen Creed. Mr. Cheney spoke of her as the Widow Creed.
The first deed Major Burnet executed here was for the First Presbyterian Church, of which he and his wife become members.
He made a will in 1853, to which, at intervals, he added three codicils.
He was born Jan. 13, 1792, and died Dec. 29, 1876, aged 84. His first
wife Margaret Barber, died Apr. 14, 1818, in her 27th year. Helen
Burnet died Apr. 27, 1874, aged 76 years.
He gave the lot for the Old Ladie's Home.
His son, John Barber Burnet, gave that splendid property, Burnet Park, to the City of Syracuse, an increasing blessing as time goes on. He was born Apr. 14, 1818, was on the first City Council in '48, and died July ?7, '89. He married Cynthia, daughter of Nathan Munro of Elbridge, June 9, 1846. She was born May 8, 1826, and died Sep. 16, 1913. aged 87 years.
Here is the sequence which led to Burnet Park. Under Simeon DeWitt all lands in the Military Tract were surveyed. He called his talented cousin, Moses DeWitt, to his assistance, with liberal pay. Moses died unmarried, the largest land owner of this region. His property went to his brother and sisters, of whom Rachel D. W. Burnet was one. Moses D. Burnet inherited from her and his father Robert, John B. Burnet from his father Moses D., and from John the city of Syracuse had Burnet Park. Ought it not to be grateful, looking back, to the man who was laid to rest in the early and ruined cemetery I have described?