Herkimer County, New York
 History and Genealogy

Newspaper Articles

FIRE!!! April 30. Between the hours of twelve and one laft (?last) night, the inhabitants of this village were alarmed by the cry of fire, when the office of Joab Griswold Efq. (?Esq.) was difcovered (?discovered) to be in flames--and fo (?so) far had the fire prevailed that all the exertions of the affembled (?assembled) inhabitants were ineffectual to refcue (?rescue) the office or any of its contents from deftruction (?destruction). From the accounts given by thofe (?those) who firft (?first) difcovered (?discovered) the fire it apears that it muft (?must) have been communicated by defign (?design). What renders the cataftrophe (?catastrophe) the more diftreffing (?distressing) is, that befides (?besides) the lofs (?loss) which Mr. Grifwold (?Griswold) has fuftained (?sustained)--the office contained all the records and papers appertaining to the office of Clerk of the county fcarcely (?scarcely) a veftige (?vestige) of which has been faved (?saved). [Source: Ostego Herald, May 10, 1804] By The Mails Events of the War HERKIMER, Feb. 11. IMPORTANT By a gentleman directly from Ogdensburgh, we learn, that Capt. Forsyth, commanding at that post, in consequence of the frequent attempts made by the British to disturb his picket guard, between Ogdensburgh and Morristonw, some of whom had been taken prisoners, on Saturday evening last, left Ogdensburgh with about 200 volunteers in sleighs, crossed the St. Lawrence from Morristown to Elizabethtown, and completely surprised the enemy at that place, took about 50 prisoners, 120 muskets, 20 rifles, 2 casks of fixed ammunition, and some other articles of war, and returned without the loss of a single man. Among the prisoners taken, were Major Carly, commandant at Elizabethtown, Captain Jones, Steward and Hubbel. All the prisoners were paroled. [Source: Independent American, February 23, 1813] HERKIMER, June 15. Accident--On Monday the 5th inst. it being the day on which militia of this state are clled out for exercise, while Capt. Gillespie was exercising his Artillery company in this village, a young man by the name of Asahel Brainard, a Musician, having undertaken to load the piece, and being in the act of raming down the cartridge when it accidentally discharged, and blew his right hand almost entirely off, so much so that he was obliged to have it taken off a little below his elbow; and injured his left considerably. This ought to be a warning to people who undertake to manage field pieces on such occasions, to be particular about swabing and spunging them before they apply the cartridge. [Source: Evening Post, June 19, 1815] HERKIMER, January 14. Alarming Disease!--For nearly two weeks past, a very alarming disorder said by the physicians to be similar to the Spotted Fever, has been raging in this town and in its vicinity, and as it is thought to be contagious, has excited almost universal consternation. This epidemic is believed to be the same which has so grievously afflicted the soldiers in the camps at Buffaloe, Ogdensburgh, Burlington, Plattsburgh, &c. where the mortality has been dreadful. Numbers in our neighborhood have already fallen victims to this terrible malady, and new cases are daily occurring. Bleeding has in most, if not all cases, proved fatal. [Source: The Northern Post, January 21, 1821]

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