by Garry Bryant Andrew Edmonds Captain (1760 - 1813) The third child and son of James Edmonds and his second wife, Abigail Jenks, was born on 17 June 1760, probably at Scituate, Rhode Island. He married Hulda (Hulday or ThaHulda) King, on 5 April 1782, at Clarendon Township, Rutland County, Vermont. Huldah King listed in the 1850 census that she was from Riksland. She was born on 13 March 1765, and died after 1850. (Please see King family history.) In 1795, Captain Andrew Edmonds/Edmunds brought his family to the area that was known as Oneida County. Edmonds came from Rutland County, Vermont, by way of Easton in Albany County, New York. At Oneida County, he entered the services of one Gerritt Boon. Boon worked for the Holland Company as a real estate agent and he enlisted the services of one Andrew Edmonds to help him sell land in Oneida County. With this Edmonds became the first settler of the entire area and first supervisor.17 Edmonds first duty was to build a saw-mill upon Mill Creek. He enlisted the help of several men who’s names are unknown. But the saw-mill was not to be. After great labor in felling the numerous pine and spruce trees of the area, the timber was next to be dried in a dry-kiln. But the boards caught fire, and the rude structure went up in a ball of flames. Boon was greatly discouraged, as was Edmonds and his men. They departed the area and wintered in Olden Barneveld in the south.18 The foundation of Boonville was built the following year in the spring. The saw-mill was completed, as well as a grist-mill and tavern. Some miles away was the new town of Leyden and Boonville was part of it’s boundaries. The first town meetings were held at Edmonds home. The first meeting was held on 4 April 1797, and town officers were elected. Town supervisor was Andrew Edmunds who held the job until 1799. Also elected was Andrew’s brother, Eliphalet Edmunds as one of the roadmaster’s. Quickly the settlers began to arrive.18a Several local histories refer to Andrew with the title of captain. Although he did serve in the Revolutionary War, his rank is recorded as a private in Capt. Jesse Sawyer’s Ranger Regiment in Vermont. How he obtained the title of captain is a mystery.19 1800 Federal New York Census Oneida County Head of House Edmonds, Andrew1 1 1 1 0 - 2 1 1 1 0 0 0 Edmonds, Eliphelet2 0 0 1 0 - 1 3 0 1 0 0 0 Edmonds, William 1 0 0 1 0 - 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 The first couple married in Boonville was Andrew’s daughter, Elizabeth Edmunds to Henry Evans.20 One researcher, Barbara Beede, has found an Edmonds Bible record which gives the names of Andrew Edmonds family. One of the notations in the Bible lists the marriage of Eunice to Samrul Hings as October 1813. This date is not correct, for in the later part of October, Eunice gave birth to Lydia, who was named after her sister. Obviously this Bible notation was written long after and the memory of the compiler was foggy on some details. Andrew died in an epidemic that swept the area on 8 January 1813. From the Alzina (Edmonds) Tyler family Bible (names and dates only), the children of Andrew and Huldah (King) Edmonds are listed on it’s pages. CHILDREN (Following children born in Rutland County, Vermont.) 1. Betsey (Elizabeth) Edmonds - Born 19 March 1783. Married to Henry Evins (Evans) in October 1799 (at Oneida County, New York). 2. Andrew Edmonds - Born 25 May 1784. Died 1 October 1788. 3. Elephalet Edmonds - Born 10 April 1786. Married 1st to Hannah Day in January 1811; (2nd wife is Elizabeth. 1850 Calhoun County, Michigan Census, four children born in Cana- da between 1831 - 1840). 4. Eunice Mary Edmonds - Born 3 August 1788 (possibly in Albany County, New York). Married to Samrul Hings in October 1813 (Bible record is incorrect and should read E. Samuel Harger about 1804 at Oneida Coun- ty, New York. Moved to Parke County, Indi- ana then to Lee County, Iowa) Twelve chil- dren. (Please see Harger family history.) 5. Jephthah Edmonds - Born 22 March 1790. Married to Pandis (Wandis) Stebbins in De cember 1818. (probably named after Jeptha King, a settler of Oneida County, and perhaps a brother to Hulda King). 6. Jonathan Edmonds - Born 9 April 1792. (Mar- ried to Rachel Jackson in January 1847). Died 8 July 1857. 7. ThaHulda Edmonds - Born 22 November 1793. Married to John Schooler in March 1812. (Following children born in Oneida County, New York.) 8. Stephen Edmonds - Born 18 June 1796. 9. Lydia Edmonds - Born 21 August 1797. Mar- ried to Cephas Brainard in October 1821. (1850 Cuyahoga County, Ohio Census, three children born in Ohio from 1814 to 1831). 10. Amanda Edmonds - Born 15 April 1800, died 28 May 1813. 11. Thomas Edmonds - Born 11 February 1802, died 17 October 1829. 12. Alzina Edmonds - Born 13 April 1807. Mar- ried to Stephen I. Tyler on 3 April 1845. Died 7 July 1891. In 1854, Franklin B. Hough wrote the History of Jefferson County, New York. In this work are a few spatterings of Edmonds family history which follows with page locations. Christopher Edmonds For the town of Ellisburgh (page 145) is found an Christopher Edmonds who was elected as Fence Viewer in 1803. In the Diary of James Constable, 1803-1806, can be found the mention of Christopher Edmonds and his farm on the north side of Sandy Creek. Edmonds had a fine farm, best corn in the county which produced 90 bushels an acre. Date of diary entry was 23 August 1804. (page 150-151). Eliphalet Edmonds The first town meeting for Adams was held at Eliphalet Edmonds home on 1 April 1802. Later on from 1818-1820 he served as town supervisor. (page 71). On 6 November 1799, Eliphalet Edmonds signed for land at Adams. (page 72). In 1812, Eliphalet Edmonds was made a judge and again in 1823. (page 368). The courthouse burned in Jefferson county and on 13 March 1821 one of the three appointed to direct in the building was Eliphalet. The building was not to exceed $8,000.00. (page 32). A company was formed with several gentlemen for the construction of roads in the county. Eliphalet Edmonds was one of them who formed the Oneida & Jefferson Turnpike Company on 8 April 1808. (page 320). For Adams town, Eliphalet Edmonds was chosen to represent them at the forming of The Jefferson County Agricultral Society on 25 October 1817. (page 401). Eliphalet Edmonds was one of the many directors of The Jefferson County Bank, being appointed on 20 June 1817. (page 415). Andrew Edmonds Andrew Edmonds built a bridge below the village near the courthouse in Watertown (Jefferson County, New York) in 1803 along with Henry Coffeen. (page 260). The building of this bridge made it possible for the north side of the river to be settled. In another work called Through Eleven Decades of History, the book tells of the arrival of “Eliphalet and Christopher Edmunds, brothers, who rode down Black River in a boat in 1798 carrying their arms, goods and provisions. When they reached the rapids on their way down, their craft overturned resulting in the loss of all their goods and chattels (page nine).” This site where their mishap occured would be the future town of Watertown. The two brothers left the area and settled away from the falls. Christopher settled at Dry Hill and Eliphalet at Adams section. ENDNOTES 17 Tharratt Gilbert Best, Boonville and Its Neighbors. (1960) P. 31, “Settlement 1795-1800,” & 186. (FHL-USA/CAN 974.762/B1 H26.); Our County and It’s People, Chapter 29, The Town of Boonville. http://oneida.nygenweb.net/misc/wager/ch29.html. 18 & 18a Best, p. 31. 19 D. A. R. application of Edna Michael of Santa Paula, California, approved 1 August 1974. National number # 580803. NOTE - application is for Andrew Edmunds, it lists his children, with spouses and birth dates (some dates conflict with Bible). 20 Best, p. 32.