Here’s a link to the full map on the Library of Congress Website.
I practically had to re-insert my eyeballs the first time I took a look at this map. It’s a treasure trove of information from pre-civil war Chateaugay, barely 60 years after the first settlers arrived. I’m sure that many experts on Chateaugay’s history have seen it, but I had no idea it was out there.
Like the 1876 map from a previous post, it shows residents names. A quick look at the Northeast Corner of town, where Earlville meets the Quaker Settlement revealed some really exciting facts. Well – exciting for me, as I make it no secret that I’m a Bradshaw/Chateaugay, NY/History/Map nerd. Your mileage may vary.
Anyways
- The map shows “W. Bradshaw” living at the North end of town. That would be my Great-Great Grandfather William Bradshaw. U.S. Census records show that he was living in Chateaugay as early as 1840, and this map seems to confirm family oral history that they lived just south of the McCormick road, possibly in the house occupied by John Dwyer in the 1970’s.
- There is ANOTHER Bradshaw family living just North of the McCormick Road. “J. Bradshaw” is probably John Bradshaw. He shows up in some census records, and a couple of records from Saint Patrick’s church. It appears that he was older than William, but not old enough to be his father. Possibly an older brother or cousin. He’s a mystery – disappearing from the records in Chateaugay in the 1860’s or 70’s. I’ll do a post about him sometime.
- Neither of these families is living on the farm that I and my father (and maybe my Grandfather) grew up on. It looks like “J.T. Hanley” is living on that property. I believe I have an old deed somewhere that says the Bradshaws purchased the farm in the 1870’s.
- If you scan to the right down the McCormick Road to Earlville, you’ll see that there is a “J.W. Gibson” shown. If you believe the this link J.W. Gibson was the father of Orville Gibson. Orville was born in 1856 and went on to found what would be the Gibson Guitar Company.
It’s a good thing i have a full time job, otherwise I would be up all night staring at this thing. But I DO have a full time job, so I have to wrap this up.
So – please let me know if you have any comments or questions.
Very interesting! I didn’t realize the farm had been in the family since the 1870’s. When did your Dad sell it? 1980’s? Do you know what’s become of it? Last time I drove by (~2004) the owner had let it deteriorate badly.
Dad sold it sometime in the 80’s. The house and one of the old buildings is still standing. Someone is still living in the house. The barns are all gone.
By the way – thanks for the comment on the blog. Any kind of comments are welcome (of course) but I really like it when people leave blog comments.
A. Holcomb on the map would be Amos Holcombe, my great X5 grandfather, one the first Holcomb(e)s that settled in Chateaugay. He was the first to run Hillcrest Farm, and my father Bill was the last. Dad was the 6th generation to run the family farm, and it was in our family for 198 years.
Amazing! They must have been one of the earliest families to settle in Chateaugay. Thanks for pointing that out.