Note: While the marker and later articles on Captain Rufus Washburn give he year of death as 1817, an article written at the time of his death shows the date to be 1818. The documentation associated with the settling of his estate also backs up 1818.
Rufus Washburn and his brother Nehemiah were early settlers in St. Lawrence county. They came to northern NY from Massachusetts and their descendants remain in the area today. Captain Rufus drowned in the Oswegatchie River after returning from a town meeting. He was buried nearby and when his body was later moved to what became Pierce's Corners Cemetery (on Washburn owned land) it is likely the stone was inscribed incorrectly.
It is believed that Rufus and his brother Nehemiah were the children of Nehemiah and Abigail White Washburn. Another brother, White Washburn, settled a bit further south in Jefferson County. A grandson of Rufus was also named White.
Here is what an article in the Watertown Daily News December 22, 1917:
"Seeks descendents of Captain Washburn"
Friday, town clerk H. C. Rogers received a communication from L. R. Goodsell of Danville, Ill in which he asked for information concerning decendents of Captain Rufus Washburn, an early settler of the town of Macomb, who lost his life by drowning in the Oswegatchie River in 1817. Mr. Goodsell gave the names of several children & grandchildren of Captain Washburn. It was learned that Sehemiah (sic) who died in Macomb a few years ago was a relative, and also that Mrs. E. N. Smith of West Main St., this village, was a relative.
Captain Rufus Washburn came from Massachusetts and for a few years lived in central NY. He was a blacksmith by trade and after moving to Macomb he followed his trade there in connetion with farming on a small scale. He often visited Gouverneur to secure supplies and on one of these trips he lost his life while fording the river about a half mile above the Elmdale Bridge. At that time there was little more than an Indian trail leading from Gouverneur to Macomb and it was a rocky road to travel. Travellers left the present (1917 that was) state highway just south of Elmdale and crossed the W.B. Churchill farm to the river where it could be forded on a sand bar.
History relates that he lost his life there and floated down streaa short distance and that his body was found and buried on the little point of land between the Elmdale cheese factory and the bridge where a small house occupied by John Peck now stands. Later the body was exhumed and taken to the Washburn settlement in Macomb where it was buried. The ford where the tragic affair took place was close to the farm home of William D. Marshall.
Some additional info appeared 50 years later, on Dec 22, 1967:
Captain Rufus Washburn, the second settler in the town of Macomb, drowned April 1817, a fact that is unquestioned. The exact datea and circumstances of his death however are no longer known. Today, 150 years later the exact location of the drowning is the subject of uncertainty.
Besides being a blacksmith and farmer, Captain Washburn was active in local government having been elected assessor at the first town meeting held in Gouverneur. Some reports of his death say he was fording the Oswegatchie river on his way home from a town meeting. Since Macomb did not become an independent town until 1847, Gouverneur at that time was the center of all legal & political activity in the section.
...
Mr. Covell, Great*2 grandson of Rufus believed that Captain Washburn drowned in Beaver creek, between Pierces Corners and Gouverneur and not in the Oswegatchie river. The 1917 article says Captain Washburn was on his way to town to obtain provisions. Mr. Covell believes he was going to vote, while other sources say he was returning from a town meeting.
First land record for Rufus Washburn (Deed book 1, page 153):
On August 5, 1805, purchased for $700 from Powell Davies and his wife Esther " all that tract or parcel of land and premises herein after particularly described, situate lying and being in the town of Ogdensburgh in the county of St. Lawrence and State of New Yourk, butted and bounded as follows: The said tract piece or parcel of land being a town lot in the Town of Ogdensburgh and is described upon a plan of said town by Lot No 3 in block No 12. .... Then, Rufus and Patience transfered the same lot on August 6, 1805 to Jehiel Dimmick for $700.
And, on June 8, 1805 (book 1, page 265), Rufus Washburn purchased for $200, the northeasterly half of the Bristol Farm, which lyied upon the northwesterly line of th etown of DeKalb and containing 150 acres. The land was siezed from Samuel Bristol by the sheriff, Thomas John Davies, by a writ of Fieri Facias
On February 4, 1806 (book 1, page 286) - For $100, Rufus Washburn, blacksmith, purchased from David Holister (of Exeter, Otsego county), land lying within the town of DeKalb distinguished in the subdivision thereof by lots No. 6 and 7 on the first range of lots in said town on the North west part of said town which said lots No 6 and 7 ajoin on the north east to lands owned by Samuel Bristol, on the north-west on the Town of Oswegatchie, and on the south west on lot number 8 and on the south east by lands of William Coopers. Containing in the two lots two hundred acres by the same more or less.
Rufus Washburn and his brother Nehemiah were early settlers in St. Lawrence county. They came to northern NY from Massachusetts and their descendants remain in the area today. Captain Rufus drowned in the Oswegatchie River after returning from a town meeting. He was buried nearby and when his body was later moved to what became Pierce's Corners Cemetery (on Washburn owned land) it is likely the stone was inscribed incorrectly.
It is believed that Rufus and his brother Nehemiah were the children of Nehemiah and Abigail White Washburn. Another brother, White Washburn, settled a bit further south in Jefferson County. A grandson of Rufus was also named White.
Here is what an article in the Watertown Daily News December 22, 1917:
"Seeks descendents of Captain Washburn"
Friday, town clerk H. C. Rogers received a communication from L. R. Goodsell of Danville, Ill in which he asked for information concerning decendents of Captain Rufus Washburn, an early settler of the town of Macomb, who lost his life by drowning in the Oswegatchie River in 1817. Mr. Goodsell gave the names of several children & grandchildren of Captain Washburn. It was learned that Sehemiah (sic) who died in Macomb a few years ago was a relative, and also that Mrs. E. N. Smith of West Main St., this village, was a relative.
Captain Rufus Washburn came from Massachusetts and for a few years lived in central NY. He was a blacksmith by trade and after moving to Macomb he followed his trade there in connetion with farming on a small scale. He often visited Gouverneur to secure supplies and on one of these trips he lost his life while fording the river about a half mile above the Elmdale Bridge. At that time there was little more than an Indian trail leading from Gouverneur to Macomb and it was a rocky road to travel. Travellers left the present (1917 that was) state highway just south of Elmdale and crossed the W.B. Churchill farm to the river where it could be forded on a sand bar.
History relates that he lost his life there and floated down streaa short distance and that his body was found and buried on the little point of land between the Elmdale cheese factory and the bridge where a small house occupied by John Peck now stands. Later the body was exhumed and taken to the Washburn settlement in Macomb where it was buried. The ford where the tragic affair took place was close to the farm home of William D. Marshall.
Some additional info appeared 50 years later, on Dec 22, 1967:
Captain Rufus Washburn, the second settler in the town of Macomb, drowned April 1817, a fact that is unquestioned. The exact datea and circumstances of his death however are no longer known. Today, 150 years later the exact location of the drowning is the subject of uncertainty.
Besides being a blacksmith and farmer, Captain Washburn was active in local government having been elected assessor at the first town meeting held in Gouverneur. Some reports of his death say he was fording the Oswegatchie river on his way home from a town meeting. Since Macomb did not become an independent town until 1847, Gouverneur at that time was the center of all legal & political activity in the section.
...
Mr. Covell, Great*2 grandson of Rufus believed that Captain Washburn drowned in Beaver creek, between Pierces Corners and Gouverneur and not in the Oswegatchie river. The 1917 article says Captain Washburn was on his way to town to obtain provisions. Mr. Covell believes he was going to vote, while other sources say he was returning from a town meeting.
First land record for Rufus Washburn (Deed book 1, page 153):
On August 5, 1805, purchased for $700 from Powell Davies and his wife Esther " all that tract or parcel of land and premises herein after particularly described, situate lying and being in the town of Ogdensburgh in the county of St. Lawrence and State of New Yourk, butted and bounded as follows: The said tract piece or parcel of land being a town lot in the Town of Ogdensburgh and is described upon a plan of said town by Lot No 3 in block No 12. .... Then, Rufus and Patience transfered the same lot on August 6, 1805 to Jehiel Dimmick for $700.
And, on June 8, 1805 (book 1, page 265), Rufus Washburn purchased for $200, the northeasterly half of the Bristol Farm, which lyied upon the northwesterly line of th etown of DeKalb and containing 150 acres. The land was siezed from Samuel Bristol by the sheriff, Thomas John Davies, by a writ of Fieri Facias
On February 4, 1806 (book 1, page 286) - For $100, Rufus Washburn, blacksmith, purchased from David Holister (of Exeter, Otsego county), land lying within the town of DeKalb distinguished in the subdivision thereof by lots No. 6 and 7 on the first range of lots in said town on the North west part of said town which said lots No 6 and 7 ajoin on the north east to lands owned by Samuel Bristol, on the north-west on the Town of Oswegatchie, and on the south west on lot number 8 and on the south east by lands of William Coopers. Containing in the two lots two hundred acres by the same more or less.
Note: While the marker and later articles on Captain Rufus Washburn give he year of death as 1817, an article written at the time of his death shows the date to be 1818. The documentation associated with the settling of his estate also backs up 1818.
Rufus Washburn and his brother Nehemiah were early settlers in St. Lawrence county. They came to northern NY from Massachusetts and their descendants remain in the area today. Captain Rufus drowned in the Oswegatchie River after returning from a town meeting. He was buried nearby and when his body was later moved to what became Pierce's Corners Cemetery (on Washburn owned land) it is likely the stone was inscribed incorrectly.
It is believed that Rufus and his brother Nehemiah were the children of Nehemiah and Abigail White Washburn. Another brother, White Washburn, settled a bit further south in Jefferson County. A grandson of Rufus was also named White.
Here is what an article in the Watertown Daily News December 22, 1917:
"Seeks descendents of Captain Washburn"
Friday, town clerk H. C. Rogers received a communication from L. R. Goodsell of Danville, Ill in which he asked for information concerning decendents of Captain Rufus Washburn, an early settler of the town of Macomb, who lost his life by drowning in the Oswegatchie River in 1817. Mr. Goodsell gave the names of several children & grandchildren of Captain Washburn. It was learned that Sehemiah (sic) who died in Macomb a few years ago was a relative, and also that Mrs. E. N. Smith of West Main St., this village, was a relative.
Captain Rufus Washburn came from Massachusetts and for a few years lived in central NY. He was a blacksmith by trade and after moving to Macomb he followed his trade there in connetion with farming on a small scale. He often visited Gouverneur to secure supplies and on one of these trips he lost his life while fording the river about a half mile above the Elmdale Bridge. At that time there was little more than an Indian trail leading from Gouverneur to Macomb and it was a rocky road to travel. Travellers left the present (1917 that was) state highway just south of Elmdale and crossed the W.B. Churchill farm to the river where it could be forded on a sand bar.
History relates that he lost his life there and floated down streaa short distance and that his body was found and buried on the little point of land between the Elmdale cheese factory and the bridge where a small house occupied by John Peck now stands. Later the body was exhumed and taken to the Washburn settlement in Macomb where it was buried. The ford where the tragic affair took place was close to the farm home of William D. Marshall.
Some additional info appeared 50 years later, on Dec 22, 1967:
Captain Rufus Washburn, the second settler in the town of Macomb, drowned April 1817, a fact that is unquestioned. The exact datea and circumstances of his death however are no longer known. Today, 150 years later the exact location of the drowning is the subject of uncertainty.
Besides being a blacksmith and farmer, Captain Washburn was active in local government having been elected assessor at the first town meeting held in Gouverneur. Some reports of his death say he was fording the Oswegatchie river on his way home from a town meeting. Since Macomb did not become an independent town until 1847, Gouverneur at that time was the center of all legal & political activity in the section.
...
Mr. Covell, Great*2 grandson of Rufus believed that Captain Washburn drowned in Beaver creek, between Pierces Corners and Gouverneur and not in the Oswegatchie river. The 1917 article says Captain Washburn was on his way to town to obtain provisions. Mr. Covell believes he was going to vote, while other sources say he was returning from a town meeting.
First land record for Rufus Washburn (Deed book 1, page 153):
On August 5, 1805, purchased for $700 from Powell Davies and his wife Esther " all that tract or parcel of land and premises herein after particularly described, situate lying and being in the town of Ogdensburgh in the county of St. Lawrence and State of New Yourk, butted and bounded as follows: The said tract piece or parcel of land being a town lot in the Town of Ogdensburgh and is described upon a plan of said town by Lot No 3 in block No 12. .... Then, Rufus and Patience transfered the same lot on August 6, 1805 to Jehiel Dimmick for $700.
And, on June 8, 1805 (book 1, page 265), Rufus Washburn purchased for $200, the northeasterly half of the Bristol Farm, which lyied upon the northwesterly line of th etown of DeKalb and containing 150 acres. The land was siezed from Samuel Bristol by the sheriff, Thomas John Davies, by a writ of Fieri Facias
On February 4, 1806 (book 1, page 286) - For $100, Rufus Washburn, blacksmith, purchased from David Holister (of Exeter, Otsego county), land lying within the town of DeKalb distinguished in the subdivision thereof by lots No. 6 and 7 on the first range of lots in said town on the North west part of said town which said lots No 6 and 7 ajoin on the north east to lands owned by Samuel Bristol, on the north-west on the Town of Oswegatchie, and on the south west on lot number 8 and on the south east by lands of William Coopers. Containing in the two lots two hundred acres by the same more or less.
Rufus Washburn and his brother Nehemiah were early settlers in St. Lawrence county. They came to northern NY from Massachusetts and their descendants remain in the area today. Captain Rufus drowned in the Oswegatchie River after returning from a town meeting. He was buried nearby and when his body was later moved to what became Pierce's Corners Cemetery (on Washburn owned land) it is likely the stone was inscribed incorrectly.
It is believed that Rufus and his brother Nehemiah were the children of Nehemiah and Abigail White Washburn. Another brother, White Washburn, settled a bit further south in Jefferson County. A grandson of Rufus was also named White.
Here is what an article in the Watertown Daily News December 22, 1917:
"Seeks descendents of Captain Washburn"
Friday, town clerk H. C. Rogers received a communication from L. R. Goodsell of Danville, Ill in which he asked for information concerning decendents of Captain Rufus Washburn, an early settler of the town of Macomb, who lost his life by drowning in the Oswegatchie River in 1817. Mr. Goodsell gave the names of several children & grandchildren of Captain Washburn. It was learned that Sehemiah (sic) who died in Macomb a few years ago was a relative, and also that Mrs. E. N. Smith of West Main St., this village, was a relative.
Captain Rufus Washburn came from Massachusetts and for a few years lived in central NY. He was a blacksmith by trade and after moving to Macomb he followed his trade there in connetion with farming on a small scale. He often visited Gouverneur to secure supplies and on one of these trips he lost his life while fording the river about a half mile above the Elmdale Bridge. At that time there was little more than an Indian trail leading from Gouverneur to Macomb and it was a rocky road to travel. Travellers left the present (1917 that was) state highway just south of Elmdale and crossed the W.B. Churchill farm to the river where it could be forded on a sand bar.
History relates that he lost his life there and floated down streaa short distance and that his body was found and buried on the little point of land between the Elmdale cheese factory and the bridge where a small house occupied by John Peck now stands. Later the body was exhumed and taken to the Washburn settlement in Macomb where it was buried. The ford where the tragic affair took place was close to the farm home of William D. Marshall.
Some additional info appeared 50 years later, on Dec 22, 1967:
Captain Rufus Washburn, the second settler in the town of Macomb, drowned April 1817, a fact that is unquestioned. The exact datea and circumstances of his death however are no longer known. Today, 150 years later the exact location of the drowning is the subject of uncertainty.
Besides being a blacksmith and farmer, Captain Washburn was active in local government having been elected assessor at the first town meeting held in Gouverneur. Some reports of his death say he was fording the Oswegatchie river on his way home from a town meeting. Since Macomb did not become an independent town until 1847, Gouverneur at that time was the center of all legal & political activity in the section.
...
Mr. Covell, Great*2 grandson of Rufus believed that Captain Washburn drowned in Beaver creek, between Pierces Corners and Gouverneur and not in the Oswegatchie river. The 1917 article says Captain Washburn was on his way to town to obtain provisions. Mr. Covell believes he was going to vote, while other sources say he was returning from a town meeting.
First land record for Rufus Washburn (Deed book 1, page 153):
On August 5, 1805, purchased for $700 from Powell Davies and his wife Esther " all that tract or parcel of land and premises herein after particularly described, situate lying and being in the town of Ogdensburgh in the county of St. Lawrence and State of New Yourk, butted and bounded as follows: The said tract piece or parcel of land being a town lot in the Town of Ogdensburgh and is described upon a plan of said town by Lot No 3 in block No 12. .... Then, Rufus and Patience transfered the same lot on August 6, 1805 to Jehiel Dimmick for $700.
And, on June 8, 1805 (book 1, page 265), Rufus Washburn purchased for $200, the northeasterly half of the Bristol Farm, which lyied upon the northwesterly line of th etown of DeKalb and containing 150 acres. The land was siezed from Samuel Bristol by the sheriff, Thomas John Davies, by a writ of Fieri Facias
On February 4, 1806 (book 1, page 286) - For $100, Rufus Washburn, blacksmith, purchased from David Holister (of Exeter, Otsego county), land lying within the town of DeKalb distinguished in the subdivision thereof by lots No. 6 and 7 on the first range of lots in said town on the North west part of said town which said lots No 6 and 7 ajoin on the north east to lands owned by Samuel Bristol, on the north-west on the Town of Oswegatchie, and on the south west on lot number 8 and on the south east by lands of William Coopers. Containing in the two lots two hundred acres by the same more or less.
Gravesite Details
Aged 51 yrs, 8 mos, 19 dys
