Andrew Sutherland Cooley

Notes:

Andrew S Cooley, Samuel T Cooley, and probably Caleb C Cooley were signers of an 1833 petition to the U.S. Government to re-route the Detroit-Grand River plank road to a more northerly bearing of higher elevation (roughly, present highway 24). It never happened and the former plank road is now US Interstate 96. - Carter, Clarence Edwin, "The Territorial Papers of the United States: Vol. XII, The Territory of Michigan 1829-1837"
Died at the home of Fred Cook, Garnavillo, on Tuesday, October 28, 1890, Andrew S. Cooley, at the advanced age of [86] years, 3 months and 17 days. Thus another of the pioneers of Clayton county has been called from the scene of his labors, to mingle with the silent majority beyond the tomb. Their labors here are ended, but their memories will be cherished. The best monument that can be erected to them, is this beautiful county, inhabited by the happiest people on earth. With its organization, A.S. Cooley was intimately connected. He was one of the earliest inhabitants and for nearly 60 years, his home was on its soil. Few of us are destined to witness the changes of life that he has witnessed during his long career. This sacred soil which he helped to wrest from the savages has become the home of thousands. He has witnessed the gradual advancement from the rude slow pioneer life, with its manifold trials and dangers, to the rush and rant of our modern civilization, and with the realization of a well spent life, he finds eternal rest among the scenes of his labors. Andrew Sutherland Cooley was born in the Pittsford, Rutland county, Vermont July 11, 1804. When eight years old his parents removed to Niagara county, New York, where he was raised on a farm. March 10, 1825, he married Miss Salome Warren, of Cambria, N.Y., a descendant of Jos. Warren of Revolutionary fame. In 1830 they emigrated west, and located in Franklin, Oakland county, Mich., where they resided until 1834. But that spirit of the typical New Englander, which compels him to seek new scenes, drove him further west. He left his wife and five children in Michigan and sought a new home in Iowa. He landed at Dubuque where he found employment with Dr. McCraney, on a farm. In the spring of 1835 he returned to Michigan by team, intending to bring his family to Dubuque. In the meantime his wife and family, not hearing from him had returned to New York, as they supposed him to have been killed by Indians. He at once started on this tedious journey, found his family and brought them to Dubuque, where they arrived November 20th, 1835. After remaining in Dubuque two years they came in company with Dr. Andros to Clayton county. There was at that time not a town, church or school house in this county. They broke up some prairie and raised a small crop about one mile south of Garnavillo, what is now called the old Beckman farm. In the fall of 1837 they located on the banks of the Turkey river in Millville township. They remained here until 1839 when they again returned to the prairie near Garnavillo and in 1840 took up and improved some government land three miles south of the town. There they made their home until 1872, when the old homestead was sold and another farm purchased in Mendon township near McGregor, which was their home until 1883, since which time they have resided with their daughter, Mrs. Fred Cook.
Of the 17 children born to them 11 survive. His remains were buried at the old cemetery on Thursday. Rev. R. W. Wilcox of Clayton officiated.

(Research):David Coomer-AS Cooley land description comparison, Oakland County, Michigan

David Coomer 3 Dec 1830 W

Andrew married Salome Warren on 10 Mar 1825 in Lockport Township, Niagara Co, New York. Salome was born about Aug 1809 in Massachusetts; died on 2 Nov 1895 in Elkader, Clayton Co, Iowa; was buried about Nov 1895 in Old Garnavillo Cemetery, Clayton Co, Iowa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. New York Child 1 Cooley was born about 1826 in Probably New York State, Niagara County; died about 1830-1840 in New York or Michigan.
2. New York Child 2 Cooley was born about 1828 in Probably New York State, Niagara County; died about 1830-1840 in New York or Michigan.
3. Andrew Sutherland Cooley was born about 1830 in Cambria Twp, Niagara Co, New York; died on 1 Sep 1906 in Tehama Co, California.
4. Stephen Warren Cooley was born on 31 Oct 1831 in Oakland County, Michigan; died on 31 Dec 1906 in Alexandria, Douglas County, Minnesota; was buried about Dec 1906 in Emerick Cemetery, Madison Co, Nebraska.
5. Thomas W. Cooley was born about Jul 1833 in Michigan Territory Probably Oakland County; died after 1890.
6. Michigan Census Child 1 Cooley was born about Nov 1834 in Probably Michigan Territory, Oakland County; died about 1834-1840 in Michigan or Iowa.
7. Iowa Child 1 Cooley was born about Jul 1836 in Dubuque, Dubuque Co, Iowa; died about 1836-1840 in Michigan or Iowa.
8. Noah Cooley was born about Sep 1838 in Garnavillo Twp, Clayton Co, Iowa Territory; died on 3 Jan 1915 in Leavenworth, Leavenworth Co, Kansas.
9. Emily E. Cooley was born about May 1840 in Garnavillo Twp, Clayton Co, Iowa Territory; died before 1870.
10. Lewis T. Cooley was born about Jan 1842 in Garnavillo Twp, Clayton Co, Iowa Territory; died in 1900-1910 in Washington or Nebraska.
11. Peter S. Cooley was born about Oct 1843 in Garnavillo Twp, Clayton Co, Iowa Territory; died on 15 Aug 1873 in McGregor, Clayton Co, Iowa; was buried about Aug 1873 in Old Garnavillo Cemetery, Clayton Co, Iowa.
12. Hersey Churchill Cooley was born on 24 Dec 1845 in Garnavillo Twp, Clayton Co, Iowa Territory; died on 7 Feb 1930 in West Union, Fayette Co, Iowa; was buried about Feb 1930 in West Union, Fayette Co, Iowa.
13. Robert Reed Cooley was born on 14 May 1847 in Garnavillo Twp, Clayton Co, Iowa; died on 28 Dec 1917 in Flagler, Kit Carson Co, Colorado; was buried on 31 Dec 1917 in Flagler Cemetery, Kit Carson Co, Colorado.
14. Clara Salome Cooley was born on 3 Sep 1848 in Garnavillo Twp, Clayton Co, Iowa; died on 7 Mar 1941 in Strawberry Point, Clayton Co, Iowa; was buried about 1941 in Garnavillo Community Cemetery.
15. Ella J. Cooley was born about Apr 1850 in Garnavillo Twp, Clayton Co, Iowa; and died.
16. Isabel S. Cooley was born about Oct 1851 in Probably Clayton County, Iowa; and died.
17. Willard K Cooley died about 1855 in Garnavillo, Clayton Co, Iowa.

Other Events and Attributes:

• _TODO: Open

Notes:

Grandma Carrie Louella Miller-Cooley's anecdote: "They" lived 13 miles from Niagara Falls but never saw them. (This would be Robert Reed's grandfather's family, Noah Cooley and Jane Sutherland who lived on Holland Land Purchase property in Niagara County New York about 13 miles direct line distance east from the Falls). Another anecdote (Dale Cooley): They could sometimes see a rainbow caused by water spray from the Falls.
Noah Cooley, son of Col Benjamin, married Jane daughter of Peter Sutherland, January 24, 1804, and located on the west side of Otter Creek, upon land now owned by Ransom Burdett. The house he occupied, built by him, stood on the east side of the old road leading from the residence of Tilly Walker to that of Peter Rice--now R. Burdett's. The cellar of the house can still be seen in the pasture about thirty rods west of the railroad. Mr. Cooley resided there a few years, and then removed to 'Western Country' where he died, Jan 11, 1856. Mrs. Cooley died July 4, 1854. [These death dates are apocryphal. They come from p320 in Caverly's The History of Pittsford but cannot be verified because the original letter to Caverly has been lost].

Fourth Child discrepancy A large discrepancy cropped up in 2010 concerning Noah and Jane's children. Sally Merryman produced a document written by Jennie Lincoln a cousin of James Watson Cooley. The reason I latched onto that document so quickly was the way it was written including the time of day the children were born. Noah's father, Col. Benjamin Cooley as Town Clerk of Pittsford entered the births of his children into the official records of Pittsford use this same method and language. For instance, "Andrew Sutherland Cooley was born July 11th 1804 Wednesday about one o'clock in the morning". The discrepancy concerns the fourth child. Caverly in the History of Pittsford names a James G Cooley born about 1810* whereas the document written by Jennie Lincoln** has no James G. but Jane Eliza Cooley-Coomer as the fourth child, b. 11 Oct 1811, d. 10 Oct 1871. The latter is well documented and a centaph has been built by Coomer descendants in the Oak Grove Cemetery, Morenci, Seneca Twp, Lenawee Co, Michigan. Consequently, I felt "James G" was an error for many years until I visited Pittsford Vermont in 2016. I went through many land records in the Town Office and found several references to a James G Cooley in the year range 1840-1860. Those references showed James G. involved in land transactions with Lydia Huntley, wife of Azariah Cooley, elder brother of Noah Cooley. This knowledge and the fact that Lydia aged 76 is found in the household of James Cooley in Leicester, Addison County, Vermont in the 1860 US Census leads to the conclusion that James G Cooley was the son of Azariah Cooley and Lydia Huntley.
* Here is the list of Noah and Jane's children from the History of Pittsford page 697: COOLEY, NOAH s of Col. Benjamin, m 1802, Jane Sutherland, b August 24, 1787. Children-- 1, Andrew s. b 1804; 2, Samuel b 1806; 3, Caleb C. b 1808; 4, James G. b 1810; 5, Milton b 1815; 6, Mary b 1823, d 1851; 7, Benjamlin F. b 1825. The father d January 11, 1852; the mother d July 4, 1854.
**Here is Jennie Lincoln's list of Noah and Jane's children (courtesy of Sally Merryman): Benjamin and Ruth's son Noah, B 2 Jul 1782 Pittsford, VT, d. 11 Jan 1852 New York State or MI, M. 24 Jan 1804 Jane Sutherland B. 24 Aug 1787 prob Greenwich, CT, D. 4 Jul 1854.

Their children were:1. Andrew Sutherland B. 11 Jul 1804 d. 30 Oct 1890. I believe their children were: Peter, Clara married Fred Cook, Eliza, Thomas, Lewis, Robert, and Hersey. This is where Dan Cooley's (danbcooley) family comes in.
2. Samuel Thurman, B. 30 Mar 1806 Pittsford, VT, d. 4 Jan 1892 Jonesville, MI, M. 3 Feb 1831, Oakland Co., MI Harriet Electa Woodruff. Their children were: A. Byron, b. 1837 M. Sarah Collins. The only other thing I have besides the names of their children that I posted on your was on his son George. I have two pictures only. One was of Byron, George and his wife (name unknown)and their twin daughters (names unknown). The other picture is of the twin daughters only. B. Rebecca, b. 3 Mar 1839 married George Coffin. Their children were Fred and Jean. C. William, b. 1841 married Melissa Hyde. He was in Co. D", 11th Mich. Vol. Cav.
Their children:
1) Byron
2) Ralph d. 6 Feb 1961 3) Celia married Norton (first name unknown). Their children:
a. Ruth b. Grace married Charles Machin. Their child: Norene, Born 1906 Died 1922
D. Woodruff, b. 1843? d. 1848? E. James Watson, b. 12 Mar 1843 Pittsford, MI, D. 20 Jul 1924 Grand Rapids, MI, M. 30 Jun 1870 Pittsford, MI Armilla Howell. Their child: 1) Justin Winthrop, b. 5 Nov 1877 Ottawa Lake, MI, M. 3 Oct 1899 Pittsford, MI, Hazel Gwendolyn Sturdevant. Their children: a) Clifford Winthrop, bB. 2 Sep 1900 d. 27 Apr 1901
b) Madeline Evelyn, b. 11 Jun 1902 d. 15 Apr 1969
c) Thurman Woodruff, b. 30 Aug 1904 d. 5 Oct 1936
d) Marjorie, b. 17 Oct 1907 d. 25 Apr 1989 e) Katherine Armilla, b. 28 May 1909 d. 18 May 1988 f) James Louis, b. 22 Feb 1912 d. 21 May 1960. He played high school football with the late President Gerald R Ford.
g) Richard Harold, b. 2 Oct 1916 d. 14 Nov 1992 h) Audrey Janet, b. 21 Aug 1919. She is my mother-in-law.

3. Caleb Carroll, b. 25 Mar 18084. Jane Eliza, b. 11 Oct 1811, M. Arnold Coomber (brother to Ben Coomber)
5. Milton Potter, b. 6 Apr 1818
6. Noah Beach, b. 14 Nov 1819 D. 7 Sep 18207. Mary Isabel, b. 21 Feb 1823, M. Ben Coomber (brother to Arnold Coomber)
8. Frank

Noah Cooley's death date discrepancy From pp46-47 of John William Sutherland and Allied Families by Millie A. Owings "Noah Cooley was born 2 July 1782...and died 11 Jan 1852 in Lockport, New York This presents a fairly large discrepancy between the History of Pittsford year of 1856 (which the Cooley Genealogy uses) and the John William Sutherland Genealogy (1852); the day and month agree but there is a four-year difference. Also, Owings states a death place of Lockport NY whereas the Cooley Genealogy ducks the death place by saying "Western Country".
Although there is a death date discrepancy, the larger problem is that neither Noah Cooley's nor Jane Sutherland's death dates and places have any documentation whatever. Whether Lockport New York or Michigan or 1852 or 1856, it makes little difference since their death information remains an undocumented mystery.

_TODO:
Lets expand our view to include Cambria - after all, Andrew Sutherland and wife Naomi Cooley were there, buried there. Then review Holland Purchase locality - forget the 13 miles - it suffices to say they lived close to the Falls

Noah married Jane Sutherland on 24 Jan 1804 in Pittsford, Rutland Co, Vermont. Jane (daughter of Peter Sutherland and Carol Bush) was born on 24 Aug 1787 in Nine Partners, Dutchess Co, New York; died before 1850. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

(Research):Jane's death is even more mysterious than Noah's because the last record about her I have been able to find is the 1840 U.S. Census, Michigan, Lenawee, Seneca. There is an 1845 Michigan state census but the summary on Ancestry.com lists only head of household, namely, Noah Cooley, MI, Lenawee, Seneca.
On p46 of John William Sutherland and Allied Families by Millie A. Owings we have "Jane [Sutherland](3) (Peter(2), John William(1)] was the first daughter of Peter and Amy [Sutherland] and was born 24 Aug 1787 at Nine Partners, Dutchess county, New York and died 4 July 1854. A footnote in the JW Sutherland genealogy states that "One source says that Jane died in Lockport, Niagara county, New York. Another surce says she died in Seneca township, Lenawee County, Michigan where her children lived. We were unable to find a cemetery record for her either place.
This paragraph is reproduced from Noah Cooley's research notes.: Noah Cooley, son of Col Benjamin, married Jane daughter of Peter Sutherland, January 24, 1804, and located on the west side of Otter Creek, upon land now owned by Ransom Burdett. The house he occupied, built by him, stood on the east side of the old road leading from the residence of Tilly Walker to that of Peter Rice--now R. Burdett's. The cellar of the house can still be seen in the pasture about thirty rods west of the railroad. Mr. Cooley resided there a few years, and then removed to the western country where he died, Jan 11, 1856. Mrs. Cooley died July 4, 1854. [These death dates are wrong; they come from p320 in Caverly's The History of Pittsford which was also wrong about Noah and Jane's children. Mortimer Cooley just copied these erroneous data to his Cooley Genealogy p492 and p547-8].
Amazingly, in the 1850 U.S. Census Noah (aged 68) turns up back in Pittsford VT living with his brother Azariah (70) and his wife Lydia. Alas, Jane is not with him. In 2008 I went to Michigna to investigate a conjecture that she died in Lenawee or Hillsdale counties but turned up nothing in the south-central area (see Owings' footnote above).

Notes:

Married:
Noted that Jane was age 16 when married (Noah was 21)

Notes:

DAR Patriot; Captain Vermont From DAR Lineage Book vol. 30 pp. 343-44 Mrs. Katherine Beach Gray (#29959) b. Pontiac MI; grandaughter of Noah Beach and Eunice Cooley; Gr. Grandaughter of Benjamin Cooley and Ruth Beach. Benjamin Cooley (1747-1810) commanded a company of Vermont militia, 1778. He responded to various alarms under Col. Ebenezer Allen and Col. Gideon Warren. He was born in Greenwich MA and died in Pittsford VT.
Greenwich was originally part of an area known as Narragansett Township Number Four and was settled by land grantees in the 1730s who had served England in the Indian Wars against the Narragansetts. The area became known as "Quabbin Parish" or "Quabbin Plantation" when the Rev. Pelatiah Webster was ordained in 1749. The towne of Greenwich was incorporated per Chapter 37 of the Massachusetts laws on April 20, 1754. It was located along the East and Middle branches of the Swift River.
Greenwich and three other towns were disincorporated on April 28, 1938 as part of the creation of the Quabbin Reservoir. Upon disincorporation, portions of the town were annexed to the adjacent towns of Hardwick, New Salem, Petersham, and Ware. It is now largely below water, except for the hilltops of Curtis Hill, Mount Liz, and Mount Pomeroy which are now islands.
Extracts From the Rutland Weekly Herald 1800-1805 by Dawn D. Hance
Monday 20 Sep 1802Thunderstorm Tues last 7 a.m., one of the worst in town [Rutland]. At Pittsford, Col. Cooley's barn struck by lightning and burned.

Benjamin5 married Ruth Beach on 18 Feb 1773 in Pittsford, Charlotte Co, New York. Ruth (daughter of Gershom Beach and Mary Salter) was born about 1756 in Morristown, Morris Co, New Jersey; died on 5 Sep 1825 in Pittsford, Rutland Co, Vermont; was buried about Sep 1825 in Congregational Church Cemetery, Pittsford, Rutland Co, Vermont. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

From the Cooley Genealogy: "[Benjamin Cooley] m. Feb. 1773, Ruth Beach, b Jan 11, 1756, Morristown, N.J., d. Sept 1, 1825; when married, she was visiting her brother, Co. Beach, in Rutland Vt. She probably belonged to the Beach family of Milford and New Haven, Conn. who went with the New Haven Colony to New Jersey in 1666"
Vermont Vital Records microfilm verifies: (1) Ruth Beach's birth place as Morristown New Jersey, (2) Ruth's birth year, 1756 and (3) Ruth Beach was a resident of Rutland, Charlotte Co, New York at the time of her marriage. However, the exact date of her birth has not been sourced. Note that her husband Benjamin was town clerk at the time.
Morris County was created on March 15, 1739, from portions of Hunterdon County. The county was named for the Governor of the Province of New Jersey, Colonel Lewis Morris. In later years Sussex County (on June 8, 1753) and, after the revolution, Warren County (on November 20, 1824, from portions of Sussex County) were carved out of what had been the original area of Morris County under English rule. The county was the site of the winter camp of the Continental Army after the Battles of Trenton and Princeton during the winter of 1777, as well as another winter camp at Jockey Hollow during an extremely cold winter of 1779-80 which occurred during the Little Ice Age.

Notes:

Married:
Cooley Genealogy: [Benjamin Cooley] m. Feb. 1773, Ruth Beach, b Jan 11, 1756, Morristown, N.J., d. Sept 1, 1825; when married, she was visiting her brother, Col. Beach, in Rutland Vt.
Vermont Vital Records: Place of residence [when married], Rutland

Other Events and Attributes:

• AFN: 21BQ-HTX

Notes:

From "History of Pittsford": "Noah Cooley, son of Col. Benjamin, married Jane, daughter of Peter Sutherland, 24 Jan 1804..."

Peter married Carol BushVermont. Carol was born before 1754 in Probably Rutland Co, Vermont; died in Sutherland Falls, Rutland Co, Vermont; was buried in Vermont. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• AFN: 21BQ-HV5

Notes:

There are no extant records of this person. Hundrreds of trees on Ancestry list Carol Bush as a wife of Peter Sutherland yet none site a source other than "Ancestry trees", the worst possible source for good data; other peoples GEDCOMs and family trees.

Notes:

Benjamin4 Cooley was born 5 Nov 1701, probably in the long meddowe precinct of Springfield, Hampshire County, Massachusetts. He was twice married, first to Elisabeth Charles, second to Mary Needham.
In Mass Vital Records microfilmed by LDS Church there is an entry: #9-Greenwich p36 "Mary daughter of Benjn Cooley by Mary his wife was born Dec 24, 1768". This is highly unlikely since there was already a Mary Cooley b. 1750, d. 1769. While the first Mary died young in 1769 and sometimes families, who lost a child renamed a later child the same name, there is overlap here.

(Research):Massachusetts Political Organization Hampshire county was created 7 May 1662 from Non-County Area 1 (towns of Springfield, Northampton, Hadley, and all territory within 30 miles). It effectively covered the entire western part of the province. (Mass. Recs., vol. 4, pt. 2:52) Hampden county was was set off from the northern half of Hampshire Co 1 Aug 1812.

Benjamin4 married Mary Needham on 14 Feb 1744/45 in Brimfield, Hampshire Co, Massachusetts. Mary (daughter of Anthony Needham and Mary (Molly) Moulton) was born on 21 Jun 1725 in Brimfield, Hampshire Co, Massachusetts; died on 16 Jun 1799 in Pittsford, Rutland Co, Vermont; was buried about Jun 1799 in Old Baptist Burying Ground, Pittsford, Rutland Co, Vermont. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Gershom Beach III died 1812 in Salisbury, Addison Co, Vermont NOT Gershom Beach Jr b. 1729

Gershom married Mary Salter on 24 Apr 1751 in Wallingford, New Haven Co, Connecticut. Mary was born about 1733 in Cheshire, New Haven Co, Connecticut; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• AFN: 1TWB-8X3

Notes:

John William Sutherland had extensive land holdings in Dutchess County, New York in 1766. In 1767 he removed to Sutherland Falls (present Proctor), Rutland County, Vermont and took up a claim at the falls under the New York charter of Socialborough. (In 1767 Gideon Cooley was the first settler in the area just northeast of Sutherland Falls that later became Pittsford).
From a SAR application nr 77058 by Francis Sutherland Gombar Jr, accepted 5 Dec 1953: John Sutherland served as a private and lieutenant in Simon Wright's Company; Thomas Bull's Company and Israel Hurlburt's Company. He was a member of the state committee from Vermont. In 1779 he was given 199 acres of land and in 1786, 116 acres [place not specified].
DAR member Jessie Sutherland Weirich nr 149302 states: "John Sutherland (1735-1817) served as private and lieutenant under Capt Simeon Wright and Col Gideon Warren, Vermont militia; also a delegate to the General Convention, Vermont. He was born at Nine Partners, Dutchess County, New York, died at Otter Creek, Rutland County, Vermont.

From the History of Rutland
Although some reports state that John William Sutherland, a carpenter by trade, had settled in Rutland prior to 1771, no records have been found to substantiate these claims. He was in Rutland by the spring of 1775 when he purchased over three hundred acres surrounding the Great Falls on Otter Creek, which afterwards bore his name. He built a gristmill and sawmill on the west side of the creek. The gristmill, likely constructed prior to the sawmill, was located northwest of where a carding machine (a machine for the mechanical process that disentangles, cleans and intermixes fibres of wool, cotton, or other fiber consisting of cylinders having intermeshing wire teeth and revolving at different speeds or in opposite directions) later stood. The sawmill was located a little farther upstream. After the lumber was sawn it was slid over the rocks to the pond below. At this point it was made into rafts and floated down the stream to the customers.

Accusations
John William Sutherland, was suspected of being a Tory. During the summer of 1777, when most inhabitants fled the town, he remained behind, unmolested by the British. When the people left, many hurriedly turned their pigs loose to fend for themselves; some men were angered to find their branded pigs in Sutherland's pen upon their return. Perhaps if John, who has been described as selfish and grasping, had willingly given up the pigs, he would have escaped criticism but he didn't. However, he did serve in 1778, 1780, and 1781 in the Revolution, as did three of his sons, so possibly the rumors had more to do with his personality traits than his actual political affiliation.

Rebuttal
From NEHGR vol. 61 page 203: Regarding the loyalty to Congress, during the Revolutionary war, of John Sutherland then living at Sutherland's Falls, Rutland Co., Vermont, the records of the Adjutant and Inspector General of the State of Vermont show that he served several terms as a private and leutenant in the Vermont troops during the Revolution; and his name appears on the Records of the Council of Safety (and of the Governor and Council) as a member in 1788. The accusation appears in a lengthy article contained in a history of Rutland county published in 1886, which is utterly false and contradicted by official records. The writer of this reply is a great-grandson of John Sutherland, and familiar with the history of the Sutherland family from the first Immigrant from Scotland to the present time. He was personally acquainted with four of the sons of John Sutherland, and frequently visited them and their familles in Green County, Wis.
Aaron Randall
Boston, Mass.

Yorkers
In the part of Rutland County that became Pittsford, the Cooley brothers, Benjamin and Gideon were the first. John Sutherland came by 1767 and took up a claim at the falls under the New York charter of Socialborough. He was acquainted with the British officers at Whitehall. When in 1771, William Cockburn came to survey the area for New York, he was told to leave by those with New Hampshire grants, and he did. When it became known that Sutherland was friendly with Cockburn, he was forced to rebuy his land from those with New Hampshire grants. Because of his grist and saw mills that the other settlers were dependent upon, he was not driven off by the Green Mountain Boys who had as their objective to drive off "Yorkers" who had muscled in that area then known as New Hampshire Grants. Interestingly, the Cooley half brothers bought their land in present Pittsford from the Province of New York, taking over land formerly granted others by New Hamphire Governor Benning Wentworth.
In 1778 John William sold 175 acres to his sons, Peter and John Jr for 380 pounds.By 1793 he had disposed of all of his property at the Falls and had moved Wallingford.The holdings consisted of a saw and gristmill, iron works, four houses, barn, orchard and twenty tons of hay.

John married Mary Germond about Jan 1755 in Probably Rutland Co, Vermont. Mary was born on 2 Oct 1733 in New Rochester, Ulster Co, New York; died on 3 Sep 1789 in Sutherland Falls, Rutland Co, Vermont; was buried in Rutland County, Vermont. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• AFN: 21BQ-ND4