Bristol1 was formed in Jan. 1789. South Bristol was taken off in 1838, and a part was annexed to Richmond, March 23, 1848, and restored Feb. 25, 1852. It is an interior town, lying s.w. of the corner of the co. Its surface consists of a series of ridges, gradually declining to the n. The highest points are about 500 feet above the valleys. These ridges are divided by the deep valleys of Mud Creek and Egypt Brook. The declivities that border upon these streams in the s. part are usually very steep. The soil is a rich alluvial upon the intervales and disintegated slate and shale among the hills. Bristol Center (p. v) contains 30 houses; Baptist Hill2 (Bristol p. o.) 25; and Muttonville3 15. Egypt is a hamlet in the s.e. part. Gamaliel Wilder and Joseph Gilbert settled in 1788, at what was called the "Old Indian Orchard."4 The first religious services were performed by Rev. Zadock Hunn, in 1793. There are now 4 churches in town.5
Footnotes:
1. Named from Bristol co., Mass., from which the first settlers came.
2. So named because a Baptist church was erected there at an early date.
3. Derives its name from the establishment of a tallow chandlery there some years since. 30,000 sheep have been slaughtered there in a year.
4. William Gooding and George Codding settled in 1789, James, Elnathan, and George Gooding in 1790, and Alden Sears and John, George, Farmer, Burt and William Codding in 1792. The first store and tavern were opened by Stephen Sisson, in 1793; Gamal. Wilder built the first gristmill, in 1790. Cornelius McCrum was the first child born.
5. Bap., Cong., M. E., and Univ.Footnotes:
6. This name is a corruption of the Indian name of Canadice Lake.
7. Soon after, John Wilson settled at the head of Canadice Lake, and John Richardson, John Wheeler, Samuel Spencer, and And. Ward near Canadice Corners. The first tavern was kept by Llewelyn Davis; and Severance & Ford opened the first store. The first sawmill was built at the head of Canadice Lake, by John Algur.
8. M. E., Meth. Prot., and Wes. Meth.
Canandaigua1 was formed Jan. 27, 1789, and a part annexed to Gorham, March 16, 1824. It is the central town of the co., lying upon the w. and n. shores of Canandaigua Lake. The surface is hilly in the s., but level or gently rolling in the n. The highest summits are about 600 feet above the lake. Canandaigua Outlet, Beaver Creek, and Stevens Brook are the principal streams. The soil is a clayey loam in the n. and a deep, gravelly loam in the s., and in fertility this town ranks among the first in the State. Canandaigua, (p. v.,) situated at the outlet of Canandaigua Lake, is an important station on the N. Y. C. R. R., and a terminus of the N. F. & C. Branch and of the E. J. & C. R. R. A daily steamer connects it with Naples, at the head of the lake. It contains the co. buildings,2 a State Arsenal,3 5 churches, an academy,4 a female seminary,5 a private lunatic asylum,6 3 newspaper offices, and a bank. It was incorp. April 18, 1815, and has a pop. of 4,154.7 Cheshire, (p. v.,) in the s. part, contains 20 dwellings. Centerfield (p. o.) is a hamlet, and Academy, near the s. line is a p. o. Wm. Morgan, of masonic notoriety, was imprisoned at Canandaigua previous to his disappearance. Settlement was commenced in 1788, by Phelps and Gorham and their associates, and considerable accessions were made in 1789 and '90.8 The first religious service at Canandaigua, was held in 1789, by Rev. John Smith. The first church (St. Matthew's, Epis., now St. John's) was organized Feb. 4, 1799; the Cong. church was formed Feb. 25, 1799. The census reports 10 churches in town.9
Footnotes:
1. This name was derived from Gan-a-dar-que, a village built by the Seneca Indians on the present site of the village of Canandaigua. It signifies a chosen spot.
2. In one of the courtrooms is a collection of portraits of the prominent first settlers and residents of the co.: viz, of Oliver Phelps, Gen. Peter B. Porter, Augustus Porter, Philip Church, Wm. Wadsworth, James Wadsworth, Abner Barlow, Moses Atwater, Micah Brooks, Vincent Mathews, Walter Hubbell, John C. Spencer, John Greig, Nathl. Rochester, Jos. Parish, Red Jacket, Judge Fitzhugh, Ambrose Spencer, Wm. Williams M. D., N. W. Howell, Wm. Wood, Stephen A. Douglas, Danl. Barnard, and H. Welles. Among other distinguished residents of Canandaigua were Hon. Gideon Granger, P. M. Gen. under Jefferson's administration, his son, Francis Granger, P. M. Gen. under Harrison's administration, the late Hon. M. H. Sibley, and Hon. J. R. Giddings.
3. This arsenal was authorized before the war, and 1,000 stand of arms were ordered to be deposited there, Feb. 12, 1808.
4. This academy was founded in 1795, by Gorham and Phelps. It is in a prosperous condition.
5. The Ontario Female Seminary was founded in 1825. Its buildings are commodious, and pleasantly situated upon grounds containing 7 acres. The number of students in 1857 was 311.
6. Brigham Hall, incorp. in 1859, is about 1 mi. s. w. of the courthouse. The grounds consist of 70 acres, and the buildings, with accommodations for 80 patients, are located in a beautiful grove of 16 acres.
7. The co. Agricultural Society has a lot containing 10 acres within the village limits, with suitable buildings.
8. Among the settlers in 1789 were Joseph Smith, Israel Chapin, Nathaniel Gorham, Jr., Frederick Saxton, Benjamin Gardner, Daniel Gates, Daniel Brainard, Martin Dudley, and James d. Fish. The first birth was that of Oliver Phelps Rice; and the first death, that of Caleb Walker, both in 1790. Samuel Gardner opened the first store; and the first school was taught by Major Wallis, in 1792. There were in that year 30 families in town. The Legislature granted, March 31, 1804, to Levi Stephens and Jason Parker the sole right of running stages from Utica to this place for a term of 7 years. The trip was to be performed twice a week, from June to October, within 48 hours, and at a rate of 4 cts.a mi. if with 6 or more passengers. A similar monopoly was granted, April 6, 1807, for 7 years, to John Metcalf, between this place and Buffalo.
9. The census reports 2 Bap., 2 Prot. E., 2 M. E., Cong., Free Will Bap., Christian, and R. C.Footnotes:
1. Incorp. April 9, 1838. The average number of students is 100.
2. Deacon John Adams and his sons, John, William, Abner, Jonathan and Joseph, his sons-in-law, Ephraim Rue and Loren Hull, and Elijah Rose, Moses Gunn, Lot Rue, John Barnes, Roger Sprague, and Asa Hickox moved in with their families in 1789. The first death was that of Lot Rue, in 1793; the first marriage -- and the first upon the Phelps and Gorham purchase -- was that of Benj. Goss and a daughter of George Codding. The first sawmill was erected on Mud Creek, in 1790, by Gen. Fellows; and the first store was opened in 1806, by Norton & Beach. Laura Adams taught the first school, in 1794.
3. Cong., M. E., Prot. E., and R. C.Farmington1 was formed Jan. 27, 1789. It lies on the n. border of the co., w. of the center. Its surface is nearly level in the s., but in the n. it is broken by the drift ridges peculiar to this section of country, rising to a height of 50 to 100 feet above the general surface. The declivities of these ridges toward the n., e., and w. are generally steep, but toward the s. they become gradual slopes. The streams are Mud and Beaver Creeks and Black Brook. A strip of land across the s. part, embracing about 3 tiers of lots, has a clay soil. North of this is a marshy region; and farther n. the soil is a gravelly loam and very productive, with good proportions of arable, meadow, and grazing lands throughout the town. New Salem, (Farmington p.o.,) a village in the n. part, contains 206 inhabitants. Brownville (Nortons Mills p.o.) is a hamlet. East Farmington and West Farmington are p. offices. The settlement was commenced in 1789, by Friends from Berkshire, Mass., among whom were Nathan Comstock, his sons Otis and Darius, and Robert Hathaway.2 The first house of worship was erected by the Friends, in 1804. There are now 2 churches in town; Friends and Wes. Meth.
Footnotes:
1. Named from Farmington, Conn. It was formed by the Court of General Sessions.
2, Early in 1790, Nathan Aldrich, Isaac Hathaway, Nathan Herendun, Welcome Herendun, John McCumber, and Joshua Herington, from the same place, joined the infant settlement, and were followed by 18 others the same year. Jacob and Joseph Smith built a gristmill in 1793, and the first sawmill, in 1795. The first birth was that of Welcome Herendun, in 1790; the first marriage, that of Otis Comstock and Huldah Freeman, in 1792; and the first death, that of Elijah Smith, in 1793.Gorham1 was formed Jan. 27, 1789, as “Easton.” Its name was changed to “Lincoln,” April 17, 1806, and to Gorham, April 6, 1807. Hopewell was taken off in 1822. A part of Canandaigua was annexed in 1824. It lies upon the e. shore of Canandaigua Lake, s. e. of the center of the co. Its surface is rolling, the ridges rising in gradual slopes to a height of 25 to 200 feet above the valleys. Flint Creek is the principal stream. The soil in the e. part is principally a gravelly loam, and in the w. it consists of clay, and is generally fertile and productive. Gorham,2 (p.v.,) 3 mi. from the Gorham Station, on the C. & E. R. R. contains 3 churches and 310 inhabitants. Reeds Corners (p.v.) contains 3 churches and about 20 houses. The first settlement was made at Reeds Corners, in 1789, by James Wood.3 There are now 6 churches in town.4
Footnotes:
1. Named in honor of Nathaniel Gorham.
2. Formerly called "Bethel".
3. Parley Gates, from Mass., settled on Lot 49 in 1796; and soon after, Oliver Howard and Henry Greene, from Oneida co. N. Y., and Samuel and Silas Reed, Elijah Hurd, and others, came in. The first tavern was kept by William Sherwood, at Reeds Corners, in 1800; the first gristmill was built by Levi Benton; and the first sawmill, by Buckley & Craft, in 1807. Timothy Moore taught the first school, in 1802.
4. 2 Bap., Cong., Prot. E., Presb., and M. E.Hopewell was formed from Gorham, March 29, 1822. It is an interior town, lying e. of the center of the co. The surface is level or gently undulating, with a northerly inclination. Canandaigua Outlet, Fall Creek, and Fall Brook are its principal streams. The soil is a sandy and gravelly loam in the w., and the same mixed with clay in the center and e. It is very fertile and highly cultivated. Chapinville, (p.v.,) a station on the N. Y. C. R. R., contains a church and about 30 dwellings; Hopewell Center (p.v.) contains 1 church and 16 dwellings. [p.497] Hopewell is a p.o. Settlements were made in 1789-90.1 There are 5 churches in town;2 the first church (Presb.) was formed in 1808.
Footnotes:
1. Among the first settlers were Daniel Gates, Daniel Warner, _______ Sweet, Ezra Platt, Samuel Day, George and Israel Chapin, Jr., Frederick Follett, Benj. Wells, and Thomas Sawyer, mostly from Mass., and William Wyckoff, from Penn. The first child -- Benj. Wells, Jr. -- was born Feb. 4, 1791. Calvin Bacon taught the first school, in 1792. The first tavern was kept by Ezra Platt; and the first mill was built by Oliver Phelps and Israel Chapin, in 1789.
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