Three Rivers
Hudson~Mohawk~Schoharie
History From America's Most Famous Valleys

A master poet has written:
"Look now abroad, another race has filled
Those prosperous borders, wide the wood recedes,
And towns shoot up and fertile fields are tilled
The land is full of harvest and green-mead."
-BRYANT.

For convenience and clarity the Ehle family of the Mohawk Valley is treated in three lines conforming to their location in early Colonial times in the present towns of Palatine, Canajoharie and Minden of Montgomery county, N. Y. No extended attempt has been made to trace the families after the third generation In America or after they moved away from the Mohawk valley. That the descendants can add to the foundation now given.

Dominie Johannes Jacob Ehl (P. 1.) Colonial Pastor and Missionary to the Indians.

In the closing years of the seventeenth century the armies of Catholic Monarchical France ravaged with fire and sword the peaceful Protestant German Rhineland States. The apology for these ruthless raids was made that they were punishment for aid and shelter to Protestant refugees from the fratricidal religious wars of France, but back of that excuse was the lust of conquest of those fertile border states.

Unfortunately at that time those small German states were not confederated for united resistance and due to the dilatoriness of their coreligionist nations, England, Holland and Prussia, the Rhineland states, alone were unequal to an effective resistance. The survivors of these ruthless raids, with the few things they could carry, fled either overland to Prussia or down the Rhine to Holland and on to England.

A contingent reason for the exodus of 1709 and later years was the attempt by the new Elector Palatine, a Catholic to coerce the Protestants into accepting his religion. It then became a question of freedom of worship on which the sturdy Germans would not compromise. The only alternatives were death or emigration. They chose the latter.

England received the impoverished refugees with kindness and charity, then aided them to establish new homes. The story of their dispersal to Ireland, the Carolinas, Virginia, Pennsylvania and New York is well told in the Story of the Palatines. These people preferred the unknown risks of the New World to carve out their own future to again becoming vassals in Europe. Time has long since proved the wisdom of their decision and by a queer twist of fate the Palatines became participants In founding a great nation whose sons and resources were spent freely to save Republican France from monarchical Germany in the World War of 1914-19, thus reversing the events of the Palatines exile and returning good for evil. The long pilgrimage of the Palatines to their Land of Promise, the Mohawk Valley parallels in a general way that of the Jews under Moses to their Land of Promise, Palestine, and like the Jews, the Palatines were guided and sustained In the perils and privations of their exodus by their ministers of the Gospel.

Among these humble servants of their God and people was Johannes Jacob Ehl, born about 1690 of peaceful Rhineland folks and tutored in learning at the grand old university of Heidelberg.

With his people he went to England where in August, 1722 he passed the examinations and was ordained in the ministry by John, Bishop of London, receiving two degrees in a week. The two parchment diplomas in Latin are yet in the family files. A photograph copy with English translation is herewith attached. The certification of the good Bishop leaves nothing lacking as a testimonial of character and fitness. In the photographic copy of his acceptance of the Articles of Faith and signatures In the Registry Book, Latin Is used. The two subscriptions vary slightly. In one Dominie Ehl uses a Latin variation of his name in the signature. English translations are:

August 12th, 1722.
"I, Johannes Jacobus Ehl, scholar admitted in to the sacred order of Deacons, do sign today the above written articles and everything contained In them joyfully and willingly." Johannes Jacobus Ehlius.

August 19, 1722.
"I, Johannes Jacobus Ehlius, scholar admitted into the sacred order of the church sign here the three above written articles and joyfully and willingly sign everything contained in them." Johannes Jacobus Ehle.

Shortly after these ceremonials Dominie Ehl went aboard the emigrant ship on his way to New York. Such voyages by these landsmen in a small overcrowded, poorly equipped and provisioned sailing vessel at stormy season of the year was so trying that many were sick and some died at sea. The survivors were in a wretched state on their arrival

New York harbor, October 27, 1722, that they were ordered quarantined. A medical survey showed no infectious sickness and the emigrants were shortly allowed to land to begin their trip up river in search of homes and their kinsfolks who had preceded them.

The experiment of using the Palatines in making tar and naval stores failed because the pine trees were not the right kind. Some of the Palatines elected to stay in Livingston Manor and its vicinity as farmers but about half of them had moved to Schoharie where they found good farm land. Here again by the connivance of politicians and land speculators the Palatines were in trouble. To avoid exploitation the bolder spirits began to migrate to the Mohawk Valley and down the Delaware River into Pennsylvania. In 1716 the census showed 680 persons In Schoharle.

On his way up the Hudson Valley Domine Ehl visited the early settlements and for a time substituted for the Rev'd. Haeger at Sowengen (Kingsbury). He found the people too impoverished to contribute sufficiently to the church and ministry and moved on to Albany. There he was in touch with Dominie Petrus Van Driessen, who was identified with the Indian Mission work in the Mohawk Valley. Their association was to have a great influence on Dominie Ehl's future life.

Another great influence at Albany was that he loved and married, June 17, 1723 Johanna Van Slyck, a daughter of Pieter Willemse and Johanna Hanz Barheit Van Slyck of Kinderhook, N. Y.; a grandson of Pieter Van Slyck who came to America about 1630 and settled near Beverwyck. He probably was a brother of Cornelius Antonisse Van Slyck, 'Brer' Cornelius the Indian trader, who married Oshtock, the half breed daughter of the Frenchman Hartell and a Mohawk woman.

Shortly after their marriage Dominie Ehl and his bride started up the Mohawk river by canoe to the landing for the overland travel and along it to their new home and his pastorate at Schoharie.

In addition to his church work at Schoharle, his duties took him over to the PaIatines along the Mohawk river and at Stone Arabia. At the latter place he founded a church and was its first pastor. He held services also at the 'Falls' (now Little Falls, N. Y.) and his duties included mission work to the Mohawk, Oneida and Tuscarora Indians with visits to their villages on his circuit. Later, with his patron, Petrus Van Driessen he established the mission on the left bank of the Mohawk river, at the ford opposite the Middle Mohawk Castle of Tarjioris. To this place, now in Nelliston, N. Y. he moved his home as a more central location for his work, although for a time continuing pastoral work at Schoharie. Like many pastors in a new country with scant and scattered population, his duties were those of a circuit rider-not often however on horseback, but on foot and by canoe. Church or mission service followed his arrival, with the usual crop of children to baptize and young folks to marry. These trips out along the forest trails and by canoe, in all kinds of weather were very trying and gave him but a scant living eked out by small contributions by the settlers and his salary or gratuities from the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in London. Along with many self-sacrificing missionaries he had the spiritual satisfaction of his work as a disciple of Christ fulfilling his mandate to carry the gospel to the heathen, which has been the incentive to so much self-sacrifice alike by Protestant, Catholic and Jewish missionaries in many countries.

The Mission of the Mohawks was established in accordance with the authorization in 1723 by William Burnett, Colonial Governor to Petrus Van Driessen.

"Whereas the Reverend Mr. Petrus Van Driessen of the county of Albany having presented to me the necessity of erecting and building a public meeting house for the Indians in the Mohawk country in the County of Albany in order for the more commodious and frequent assembling of themselves together for the solemn worship of God, which might be a means of bringing over, as well, the Indians there, as those in ye adjacent parts, to ye knowledge of the Christian religion; and has therefore made application to me for my lycence, and for that purpose now, for the furtherance of which design, I do, by virtue of the powers and authoritys unto me granted by virtue of his Majesty's letters patent under the great seal of Great Britain, give and grant unto the said Petrus Van Driessen full power, liberty, leave and lycense to erect and build a meeting house for the Indians in the Mohawk country, In order to the assembling of themselves together for ye solemn worship of God and that in any part of the lands to them belonging, as shall be found most convenient for the purpose aforesaid."

A temporary log house mission was first erected followed in 1727-28 by a single story rubble masonry building of flat field stones, roofed with hewn pine rafters and split shingles. A door and window with shutters were at each side. This hall in which the services were held, had a tamped earth floor. The family at first lived in a log house. Their nearest white neighbors was the family of Harmanus Van Slyck, who lived a short distance down stream. He was killed In the early part -of the battle of Oriskany in 1777.

In 1752 Dominie Ehl's son built the house addition to the mission and his Initials, P. E. 1752, are in the round recesses in the south gable end. This story and a half building was of similar construction to the mission in its walls and roof, but had two floors and a cellar. Under the eaves and at the sides of the doors and windows on each side were the loopholes for gun fire. The brick for the chimneys and the finishing lumber was brought from Schenectady.

Not forgetting his civil obligations and in conformance with the law Dominie Ehle took the citizenship oath at Albany October 14, 1732. In 1732 he bought the land of Lot 1, Harrison Patent at the mission from Philip Schuyler that ever since has been the Ehle homestead. The easterly 100 acres was sold to George Eacker.

Following their home building the clearing was gradually carved out of the forest and along the river flats for farming. This opened up the view across the valley. The house stands on a slight elevation above the river flats so that the Indian canoes on the river and later the barges of the settlers could be seen as they passed.

On the river trail in front of the mission, the Indians traveled back and forth to trade or for conferences with the officials at Albany or Sir William Johnson, the Indian agent. Westward the settlers passed in search of homes or eastward to trade at Schenectady or Albany. By the ford across the river and through the clearing settlers and Indians passed to Stone Arabia and beyond, or across the river and down stream to Schoharie or by the Otsquago trail to the Susquehanna country. Over on the hill in front were the bark huts of the Mohawk village with camp fires smoking by day and twinkling like fireflies at night. Out of the surrounding forest strode the hunter, red and white with his kill, stopping to look at the home and children. Sometimes, that great man of the valley, Sir William Johnson passed on his way to conferences with the western Indians or marched his farmer militia and Indians to the French and Indian wars. Those were great days for the Dominie and his family when his genial patron stopped for greeting or refreshments.

The kindly Dominie won the good will of the Indians by his ministrations and on their arrival the Mission and the basement were their quarters, with their campfires in the clearing out in front. The saying that the Indian never forgets a kindness did not fail. No war danger ever reached that family or house while they were on guard. The family passed in time but the house staid on until vandals of the present days began to wreck it in times of peace, searching for relics or treasures.

That the local Indians, the Mohawks guarded well their missionary, his family and home was shown both in the French-Indian wars and the Revolution. When the Mohawks were strong enough no foe-man could reach the Mission and when the French-Indian raids were on that they could not resist, their warning came in the night to flee. In the Revolution the Mohawks were largely outnumbered by the Senecas, Cayugas, Onondagas and other fierce western tribes over whom they had but limited control. Again they warned Dominie Ehl's family when it was too dangerous at their home for their protection: The family would then cross to the island at the ford at night and with their canoes paddle downstream to their kinsfolks at Albany and safety. The house was always unharmed when they returned, once after an interval of two years.

In the urgent haste of one of those flights, the family silver and heirlooms were taken out in the darkness by the cellar way and buried In the forest a short distance away. No lights could be used and in the haste and anxiety the hiding place was not well located. This could not be found when the family returned and has not to this day, in spite of many searches by the family and treasure hunters, the latter often using divining rods, incantations and what not.

Possibly some watcher may have seen the treasure buried and secured it.

In times of peace the settler cleared the land, made their homes, planted their crops and raised their families. Shutting them in on the north and west was ever the menace of their old French persecutors in the Palatinate with the addition of Indian allies, eager for any opportunity to ravage the Mohawk valley settlements in ruthless raids.

Then the chill of terror was felt alike by Palatine and Iroquois. The hatchet and scalping knife would spare but few captives and those often reserved for torture worse than death. The torch completed the destruction of homes as the nights flamed red. Those were dread days for women and children. Those who escaped fled to palisaded houses called forts or to hiding places in the forests. The men fought or stood guard until the raiders took the back trail to Canada with their captives, as occurred in the raid on German Flatts in 1758. Such times for the Palatines awoke the sad memories of the rapine along the Rhine from Cologne upstream to Philipsburg in their homeland.

Again they sturdily faced the future, closed up their ranks left by the burial of the dead, rebuilt their homes and tilled their fields. The dominant characteristics of the Palatines, obstinancy and courage would not to be denied, as witness their behaviour on that dread day of Oriskany when all seemed lost and death to all was at hand.

To Dominie Ehl those days of horror were only more in a lifetime of many like happenings when his ministrations were most necessary. His the duty to console the bereaved, to cheer them with the gospel's messages of hope and to bury the dead. His family was not entirely free from bereavement as his nephew John EhIe, the trader and Clock were slain and scalped at the German Flatts raid in 1758. He had barely escaped a like fate two years earlier at the carrying place between the Mohawk River and Woods Creek.

In 1758 Dominie Ehl who had reached the Biblical age limit of three score and ten, was yet in harness. Time was however slowing his pace but not his will to serve. His circuit trips were fewer with the passing years, until his services were limited to the Mission. Others as zealous coworkers shared in the local pastoral work of the valley, the Reverends Rosecrans, Schuyler, Wernig, Luppe, Gros, Weiss, Pick and Wack.

Time cannot be denied and as the old Dominie lived on at the Mission he brooded over the rapidly developing peril in the increasing friction of the colonists with Great Britain, due to excessive and unpopular taxation and denial of home rule. Dominie Ehl's patron, that great man of the valley, Sir Wm. Johnson, had greater worries over the oncoming peril that meant fratricidal strife and collapsed under its burden in July 1774, thus escaping the anguish of the Revolution. The control of the Indians then passed Into less capable and unscrupulous hands with the now well known awful results.

Dominie Ehl was 85 when the fratricidal war began, exceeding in its horrors all in his long experience. Families, kindred and neighbors were arrayed against each other in ruthless strife. Nearly 700 able bodied men went as Royalists to Canada, or about one-third in the valley of those fit for military service, many to return with the Indians under Johnson, Butler and their like in ruthless raids on their kin and neighbors. All attempts, by the Colonists, to keep the Indians neutral, failed before the lure of bribes and British scalp bounty. The great Pitt, Earl of Chatham, and his followers, the best of Englishmen stood bravely out against such a savage policy and went down to defeat in the British parliament. Many British officers and soldiers openly disobeyed and scorned such a ghastly policy recognizing it as their greatest handicap. Murder and scalping of women and children was generally limited to the partisan Tory and Indian raids. Some instances of hideousness were not lacking on the side of the Colonists, as told in 'A Century of Dishonor' by Helen Hunt Jackson. Fratricidal wars are the most cruel, but there are always outcasts and criminals In all nations, even in times of peace, to transgress all moral and social laws.

Again Dominie Ehl's family and the Mission were spared. At 87 he lived to hear of Oriskany's bloody day, to mourn the bloody toll of life taken from his people, and to brood over the unknown outcome of their sacrifices. Estimates of the loss to Tryon county are two-thirds of the people lost; and of the remainder 380 were widows and 2,000 fatherless children, seven hundred buildings had been burnt and 12,000 farms laid idle.

Death was kind when he came for the old Dominie and with the burden of 92 years he passed peacefully to rest. He was burled in the old Frey burial place near the present Palatine Bridge, N. Y. He, like another minister of his people in the exodus from Egypt and Pharaoh, when almost at the goal, was denied entry with them to the realization of their hopes-freedom of religion and government and peace.

Some reminiscences of Domine Ehl survive along with the information in documents and his report letters between 1724 and 1770 to the society for the Propagation of the Gospel. The letters, however, give limited personal items and treat chiefly of his work as a missionary and colonial pastor, of inadequate financial support the terrors of the French and Indian raids and the discouraging response of the Indians to Christian teaching. As an Illustration of parsimony in supporting the Colonial pastors 30 pounds local money, about 75 dollars, was the annual fee. Simms quotes one dollar fee for a marriage service and gives an anecdote of a groom paying but fifty cents to a pastor who had to walk five miles each way for the ceremony. A worse experience befell Dominic Ehl after a similar long jaunt out on the Otsquago trail for a wedding. The ceremony was followed by refreshments and jollification, then the happy groom approached the Dominie, who was preparing to leave, and asked about the amount of his fee. As usual with pastors he replied that was left to the generosity of the groom; "All right," shouted the happy man, the Dominie is a fine fellow, give him another glass of cider." The Dominie's reply is lost to history. Another interesting ceremony was officiating at one of the marriages of Brant, a protege of Sir William Johnson, who later became the noted war chief of the Iroquois and the scourge of the Valley.

Disappointment at the results of the Indian mission work was general and could not have been otherwise as subsequent events showed. The missionaries in their zeal attempted to rush the Indians into a worship they could not understand after centuries of savage life, worship and customs. The Indians' reverence was to a God of nature whom he saw all around him. A conception of an unseen God and the Holy Trinity was beyond his mentality. His religion was one with ceremonial feasts and dances for favors from God or to propitiate and ward off evil. Because of those ceremonials some of the few services of the Christian religion, especially those of the Catholic church, aroused in him a transient interest. The Jesuits had for a time a noticeable measure of success, due to this and their unparalleled energy and sacrifices. That waned when the Jesuits were banished or withdrawn.

The advent of the white man with his new vices and diseases was the doom of the Indian without regard to the question of religion. The Indians had never known small pox, measles, typhoid and venereal diseases brought by the white man. Those diseases would not yield to the incantation of the medicine man, and, with no competent doctors available, the Indians died like flies when afflicted by those contagious epidemics.

The Indians' moral code and government avoided the dangers of greed by a communal life. Like the ancient Greeks they cultivated strength, bravery and endurance. They did not, like the white man, lust for riches in land and valuables. But the settler took their land and deprived them of their hunting grounds and subsistence in game and the trader took their furs and other possessions. Both often drove a sharp bargain by befuddling the Indians with liquors. The Indian had not known liquor and he was absolutely helpless against his appetite, as long as he could obtain liquor by any sacrifice. Among the many appeals by the Indian chiefs against liquor none Is more typical than that of King Hendrick of the Mohawks at the Colonial convention at Albany in 1754.

"Brethren, here is an affair about which our hearts tremble and our minds are greatly concerned. We refer to the practice of selling rum in our castles. It destroys many, both old and young. We are in great fear about the rum. It may cause murder on both sides. We, the Mohawks, of both castles request that the people who are settled about us may not be suffered to sell our people rum. It destroys virtue and the progress of religion among us." All their pleas, those of their friend and agent Sir William Johnson, Dominie Ehl and associated pastors, backed by the Colonial government were as futile against liquor as the present efforts backed by all the resources of the United States government. In Canada liquor and the Indians were handled far better due largely to better conditions, a higher and more homogeneous average grade of citizens, better law enforcement and more respect for their laws.

Another adverse influence against the Indians' acceptance of the white man's religion was the result of their inborn habit of taking any white man as typical and responsible for his race and religion and the Indians found some very poor exhibits.

These inherent causes and the defeat of the Indians along with the British led to the Indians moral, physical and social decline as they were forced from their homeland and that no religion could have averted.

Of the old associations only the Mission lingers on. Gone are the great forests before the woodsman's axe. Across on the river hills the bark huts of the Indian village disappeared long ago and in their place stands out the residences, spires and factories of a white man's village, Fort Plain. Out on the once care-free crystal Mohawk, no longer the Indian paddles his canoe, but on a sewer river, shackled by civil engineers in a series of pools are the power driven barges of the white man's great commerce. Along on the river trail where the red man once strode with noiseless moccasined feet, white men now drive the roaring giant locomotives with their great trains on a four track ironway. High overhead the noiseless flight of pigeons no longer darkens the sun but the motorplane of the man bird roars as it saws the air. Progress was inevitable but it was not always kind. Such has been material progress but has the development of character morals and virtue kept pace or declined? Let the reader study the abnormally high criminal statistics of the United States and then judge for himself.

The lifework of Dominie Ehl was his efforts for the spiritual uplift of a future great people in their infancy and showing the way in religion and culture to a primitive savage people. The church he founded at Stone Arabia in 1723 in a log cabin, lives on in the stone church of 1788 that succeeded the frame church of 1733 , burnt by Sir John Johnson Oct. 19. At Palatine church the church he founded in 1729 in a log cabin carries on in the stone church of 1770 that is one of the outstanding monuments of the old times in the valley. At Schoharie, Indian Castle and Little Falls the churches he founded carry on. From these foci of his religious teaching, his influence radiated and was spread with the descendants of the pioneers as they founded new homes in all parts of the United States and beyond. The influence of his missionary work with the Indian tribes went with them in their banishment to the west and Canada helping them on their way to civilization and betterment. Thus the humble self-sacrificing pioneer pastor's foundation work carried on not only for his people and children but lives in the betterment of the generations long after his death.

Van Driessen-Ehl Land Grant

Here is the appreciation of the Mohawk nation of two of the pioneers in their grant of land, May 9, 1732 (2 v).

"To and for and in consideration of the love, good will and affection which we have and bear for the Revd's. Petrus Van Driessen and Johannes Ehl, etc." This grant of approximately two thousand acres, was subject as usual to the approval of the colonial government, to whom a petition was made Sept. 9, 1732. As usual this was referred by the Governor to the Board of Land Commissioners, who issued an order of survey Oct. 23, 1732, followed by their report Oct. 26, 1733. This grant of land by the Indians joined the Harrison patent at its upstream limit and extended one and a half miles upstream and two and a half miles back from the river, and it had to be surveyed to avoid conflicts with prior rights. It included the mouth and lower part of East Canada Creek, and the present Beardslee farm. At its north was located the Snell-Timmerman patent of 1755, based on the Indian grants to the Timmermans and to the Snells of 1734.

Dominie Ehl's Family

Ehl's family Bible was taken by one of the daughters in the division of estate and its final disposal unknown, so that now the details of Domine Ehl's family; births, marriages and deaths cannot be definitely given. In one of his letters he states that his family consisted of his wife, three daughters and an only son. The daughters were Elizabeth, Magdalen and another name now unavailable and the son, Petrus. Three of them including the son were born prior to 1730.

The Information in regard to two cousins named Elizabeth Ehl Is not definite enough to determine which Johannes Ehl was their father. The following adjustment is the best possible with the present data.

Elizabeth Ehl (p 2) and John Tice were married Sept. 9, 1761. He had lived among the Mohawks in the valley and probably was of the same English lineage as Guilbert Tice, the first hotel man of Johnstown, N. Y. As Captain John Tice he accompanied Brant the Mohawk chief to England and later appears to have returned to the Mohawk valley as a resident and his name is in the Revolution list of Tryon county.

The other Elizabeth Ehl is noted under the Minden line.

Magdalen Ehl (p. 2) is noted as one of the sponsors of Johannes Dillenbeck at his baptism at Stone Arabia in 1747.

Little information now is available about the third daughter. According to one of Dominie Ehl's letters his son-in-law was of German lineage, had been a sergeant of colonial militia, where he had learned bad habits that got the sheriff after him and the Dominie had to pay a fine out of his slim purse to keep his son-in-law out of confinement.

The only son, Petrus Ehle, (p 2) named for the Dominie's patron, Petrus Van Driessen, but more often known as Peter was born at Schoharie and grew up in the pioneer life at the Mission. At manhood he was a farmer of the homestead, extending the clearing and tilling the soil. In 1752 he built the stone residence addition to the mission as heretofore noted. He married Nov. 19, 1762 Mary Magdalen Douw 1744-1821, descendant of Volkert Janse Douw and Dorothe Janse Van Breerstede, pioneer emigrants of 1638 from Friedrichstaad, Holland.

Along with farming Petrus did trucking for himself and others on the river trail between Schenectady and Albany and the Falls, now Little Falls, N. Y. One of his bills reads:
"His Majesty King George the Second to Petrus Ehle, Dr.
"In the year 1760, the ninth day Of June last, then being impressed in his Majesty's service with two horses head and driver carrying stores across the Little Falls on the Mohawk river and continued in said service sixteen days."

This was sworn to before Renier Mynderse, Justice at Schenectady, county of Albany, 28th day of November, 1760 and is signed Peter Ehl. Along with other farmers Petrus Ehl was a soldier in the colonial militia called out by Sir William Johnson for the French and Indian wars as a private, and then Lieutenant of Captain Harmanus Van Slyck's company of Col. Claus' regiment. His commission, signed by Governor Tryon is in the family files. In the Revolution he served as a private in Captain Helmer's company of the 2nd Tryon Co. militia, Colonel Klock commanding. His old flintlock with bayonet and carved powder horn, which were in the Saratoga campaign hang on the home library wall. The death notice of Petrus Ehl is in the Sand Hill church records as Sept. 22nd, 1807; aged 84 years, 3 months and no days and that of his wife, February 1821, aged 77 years, 1 month and no days. They are buried in the homestead cemetery on the hill at the east side of the turnpike near the Dygert road.

As an incident of his times and the old homestead, the battle of Stone Arabia took place but a short distance from the easterly part of the farm that William Ehl (C2), a cousin, farmed. At the alarm of the battle he loaded his family into the farm wagon and rushed them out in the forest to hide. After the defeat of Col. Brown's little army, Sir John Johnson and his raiders passed about a mile farther fast, near Fort Keyser on their way to Stone Arabia. William Ehl and George Eacker, his neighbor, aided in gathering and burying the dead and brought some still alive but dying to Ehl's house. Later the local stories said the house was haunted by the shrieks and moans of the dying. An anecdote of the battle was that Col. Brown was shot out of a small tree that he had climbed to look for the enemy.

The survivors of Col. Brown's men Including Peter Dygert, a neighbor's son, fled to Ehl's Ford where General Van Rensselaer's patriot army was coming up the trail on the right bank of the river. In spite of urgent pleas to cross and save the settlers at Stone Arabia, Van Rensselater refused and went on and spent the night at Fort Plain. The army crossed at the ford in the morning, caught up with Johnson's army late in the afternoon at Klock's Field and were defeating them when at nightfall Van Rensselaer let them escape by withdrawing his army to camp down stream nearly 3 miles at Palatine Church. For his blunders General Van Rensselaer was tried by court martial and acquitted. A family story was to the effect that when Van Rensselaer's army crossed the river a letter addressed to him was found by the scouts in the trail, stuck in a split stick and it was surmised that it was from Johnson. Those men had known each other at Albany before the war and this letter was rumored to have been the cause of Johnson's escape. Probably however, Van Rensselaer's bungling and dilatoriness were but the mistakes of an incompetent and untrained citizen put in charge of an army, because of social and political standing as happened in the Revolution. A critic has said wisely "War is a costly game of mistakes in which the victor makes fewer than the vanquished."

Military service in the valley militia was casual and transient. Settlers were subject to call in emergencies and might be in service a few days, weeks or months. Returning from war calls Petrus Ehl and others hurried home to neglected farming. In addition to the homestead Petrus Ehl owned 100 acres in the R. Bleecker Patent at Fort Plain, and In 1764 bought 420 acres of land in the Springfield patent of Johannes Vetterly being lot 4 that was assigned to Adoniah Schuyler, one of the partners in the grant. Both of the old deeds are in the family files and are so full of flourish writing that they are difficult to read. Such efforts seem to have pleased the scribes of those days. This lot 4 excepting 100 acres that was sold, was willed by Petrus Ehl in equal shares to his daughters Maria and Elizabeth. Petrus Ehl had three daughters, Maria, Elizabeth and Anastacia and an only son Peter.

Maria Ehl (p 3) married Feb. 25, 1790, John Diel, son of Henry Diel, a grandson of the pioneer Heinrich Frey whose home was about a mile down stream.

Elizabeth Ehl (p 3) born July 13, 1774 married Rudolph Dygert, apparently a descendant of Werner Dygert the pioneer of Stone Arabia. The church record gives the baptism of a daughter Maria April 3, 1796.

The third daughter Anastacia, married July 27, 1794, Peter Westerman, Jr., son of Peter and Maria Elizabeth Dunckel Westerman. Elizabeth Dunckel was a daughter of Johan Peter Dunckel from Zwelbrucken, Germany. The Westermans had a son Petrus for whom Petrus EhIe and Catherine Westerman were sponsors at the baptism.

Later the Westermans moved to the town of Sullivan, Madison county, N.Y.

Peter P. Ehle (p 3), only son of Petrus Ehl, born in 1768, died 1834, married Delia Nellis, daughter of Johannes Nellis a son of William and Magdalen Klock Nellis. Their lives were spent as farmers on the old homestead. Prior to his father's death Peter Ehle took over farmingall that tract of land between the turnpike and the river. After the change from the river trail in 1803, he built the stone house on the new turnpike at its junction with the road to Stone Arabia at the south end of the farm. His neighbor Nicholas Gros had bought the Van Slyck farm In 1806 and ran a road house. With this change of residence, the clearing of the upland part of the farm progressed and the cultivated area was increased.

Peter P. Ehle's 1768-1844 span of life covered the wars of the Revolution and 1812, the change from barge transportation on the Mohawk to "Clinton's Ditch" in 1823 and the building of the Utica-Schenectady railway.

An interesting receipt in the family files is that for a slave bought by Peter P. Ehle,

Slaving in New York quickly followed the early Dutch settlements and was taken up by the German Palatines in the early days of Schoharie as soon as they could buy them. Abolition began in the northern states In 1799, but was gradual in New York and Pennsylvania and lasted until 1840 in the latter state. The old slave burial plot is near a giant granite boulder of the glacial age, a short distance from the old house. An old assessment book presented by Anna V. Ehle to the Historical Society of Canajoharie gave the number of slaves owned by the citizens of Montgomery county.

The children of Peter P. and Delia Ehle were Lanah, Maria, Jacob, Peter and John P., Lana Ehle (p 4) married Garrett Nellis, a great grandson of the pioneer William Nellis. One of their children was Rufus Nellis who after retiring from his farm near Nelliston, ran a bus line in Fort Plain.

Maria Ehle (Polly) (p 4) married first Peter Wagner, a grandson of Colonel Wagner, second Peter W. Ehle, a grandson of William Ehle © 3) soldier of the Revolution. The children by the latter marriage were James, Horatio, Nelson and Chauncey.

Jacob Ehle (p 4), son of Peter P. Ehle, a lively and promising child, wandered out into the forest when his father was on a trip to Albany with wheat and died from eating some poisonous red berries.

Peter P. Ehle, Jr. (P4) succeeded his father on the old homestead. He was educated at Cherry Valley Academy and served as a soldier in the Sacketts Harbor campaign of the 1812 war with the rank of lieutenant. After the war he was a captain in the 19th New York militia in training. His records of court maritals of delinquents and their fines are in the family files. In the Sacketts Harbor campaign the soldiers were poorly equipped for the hardships to which they were exposed in winter. Lieutenant Ehle and others suffered severely in after life from rheumatism that often incapacitated them for farm work. He told of marching all day through the winter storms, often wading creeks and swamps, Soaking wet at night the soldiers would then cut hemlock boughs for a bed and try to sleep. In the morning his clothes would be frozen fast.

On his return from war he took up farming, but with indifferent success because of his poor health. He married 1818 Elizabeth, daughter of Peter and Maria Snell Dygert who lived on the adjacent farm. Peter Dygert had gone into the Revolution quite young in place of his father, who was in poor health He became the well known scout and ranger who fought at Oriskany, Caughnawaga, Johnstown, Stone Arabia and Sharon. His grand parents were the pioneers Johan Pieter and Anna Elizabeth Fox Dygert.

Peter Ehle (P 4) 1792-1864, had six daughters Catherine, Harriet, Maria, Elizabeth, Eleanor and Delia and an only son Peter.

Catherine Ehle (P 5) born March 2, 1819, married Reuben Lipe, son of Johan Casper Lipe of the pioneer Hans Casper Lipe family. They lived on the old Wormuth farm on the turnpike, about a mile west of Nelliston, N. Y. Their children were John M., Peter E., Nathan and five daughters, Mrs. Irving Pollock, Mrs. Anthony Kilts. Mrs. Mary Toole, Mrs. Alex Van Slyck and Elizabeth unmarried.

Harriet Ehle (P 5) born 1831, died 1868, married Levi Shaul of Columbia, Herkimer county, N.Y. where they lived as farmers. His grandfather and two brothers were captured in Brant's raid in 1778 and held prisoners In Canada until the end of the war. Levi Shaul was a town supervisor and held other political appointments. He had an only child Oscar, a teacher, who married Lida Helmer.

Maria Ehle born 1820, died 1907 unmarried.

Eleanor Ehle (P 5) 1823-1907 married James Ehle © 5) a builder of Fort Plain who died childless in 1907.

Elizabeth Ehle (P 5) married first George Cheese, second Mason. She lived after the first marriage in Chicago in its early days and later was a pioneer at Colorado Springs, Col.

Delia Ehle (P 5) married first Walrath, second Niles and lived at Oneida, N. Y. One daughter Lillian Walrath died when a young woman.

Because of his father's ill health, a result of his soldier service, Peter Ehle, Jr. (P 5) 1834-1917, took over the farm management at the early age of fifteen. His only schooling was several winters at the old red school house on the turnpike about a half mile westerly from the Nelliston cross roads. There he was a school mate of Webster and Chauncey Wagner, Dan Van Camp, and other children of pioneer families. Along with other dairy farmers he took up hop culture, getting the cuttings from his brother-in-law, Reuben Lipe and the cedar poles from beyond Ephratah with a start at 2 a. m., using two teams and sleighs all one winter. This venture was a success from the start and prosperity at last came to the old homestead.

The dairy farming developed rapidly, at first making cheese and butter at home, later at the Smith Creek factory, then taking the milk to the first condensed milk factory at Fort Plain and then followed by bulk milk shipment to New York city as at present. The farm furnished all the stone for masonry on the West Shore railroad near Fort Plain and some of its ties and lumber.

Peter Ehle (P 5) Married in 1864 Anna Veeder Dockstader, 1834-1914, daughter of Jacob J. and Anna Veeder Dockstader. He was a great grandson of Marks Dockstader of Fonda, a soldier of the Revolution and she was a great granddaughter of Simon Volkertse Veeder, a pioneer from Holland; and a daughter of General Abram Veeder, of Fonda. Children of Peter and Anna Ehle are Boyd, Louis C. and Florence.

Boyd Ehle (P 6) born 1866 was brought up on the home farm, educated at the Nelliston district school, Clinton Liberal Institute and Cornell university. Graduated as a Civil Engineer, he has been active in engineering and construction work up and down the American continent. He married in 1896 Grace Cook, daughter of Charles and Mary Snell Cook of Manheim, Herkimer county, N.Y. Charles Cook was a great grandson of Atwater Cook of Wallingford, Conn., a soldier of the Revolution, whose wife was Mary Bartholemess. The Atwaters and Cooks were among the first settlers of Wallingford and New Haven, Conn. Early in the seventeenth century. Mary Snell was a great granddaughter of Peter Snell, one of the two Snells, out of nine, who survived the Oriskany's battle and a direct descendant of John Jost Snell, the pioneer and participant in the Stone Arabia and the Snell-Timmerman patent of Snells Bush, Manheim. Boyd and Grace Ehle have two sons Loris C. and Ralph V.

Loris C. Ehle (P 7) educated at the Yonkers N.Y. schools and Stevens Institute of Hoboken, N.J., married Madge Mosher, daughter of George and Grace Jennings Mosher and lives on the ancestral Snell farm. They have two children Marian and Robert of the eighth generation in America.

Ralph V. Ehle (P 7) educated at the Yonkers, N.Y. schools, Johns Hopkins and Yale university is an assistant professor at Lincoln university.

Louis C. Ehle (P 6), educated at Nelliston district school, Clinton Liberal Institute and Cornell university, read law in Fort Plain and Chicago, studied at Northwestern Law School and was admitted to the bar in Chicago. There he practiced law in the firm of his cousins Albert and ??ry (can't read name) Veeder. Louis C. and Mabel Robbins Ehle have two daughters, Kathleen and Carlene of Chicago.

Florence Ehle (P 6), educated at the Nelliston district school and Clinton Liberal Institute, married J. Aylmer Failing, a son of George Falling of the Stone Arabia pioneer Fehling family. A daughter Elsie, (P 7) educated at the Fort Plain schools and Wellesley College, is a teacher.

John P. Ehle (P 4), 1786-1870, son of Peter P. (P 3) and Delia Nellis Ehle married Christiana Nellis, 1794-1826, daughter of General George H. born 1767 and Catherine Crouse Nellis of Freys Bush, N. Y. She was a daughter of George (1740-18,24) and Katherine Klock Crouse (1742-1819), and granddaughter of Jacob, 1690-1772 and Elizabeth Nellis (d. 1755) Kraus. George H. Nellis was a son of Henry H. Nellis probably a son of Hendrick Nellis of Palatine. The second wife of John P. Ehle was Alida Van Plank. Children by the first marriage were Jacob N. (P 5), Angeline, Joshua, George, Maria, Peter and Harriet Jane.

Jacob N. Ehle (P 5), born 1813, married first, Elizabeth Nellis, second Caty and lived at Fort Plain as a farmer and lumberman. His children were Helen, Hattie, Josiah, Menzo, Joshua, William, Alida and Libbie.

Helen Ehle (P 6) married Pelgo, Kelsey of Fort Plain. Their children were Jennie, Frank and Grace.

Joshua Ehle (P 6) was burnt to death in childhood.

Hattie Ehle (P 6) married George M. Dillenbeck and had a son James G.

Josiah Ehle (P 6) born 1834 married Mary Ann Alter, born 1833? and was a canal boat captain of Fort Plain, N. Y. Their children were Jennie L., born 1857, Robert 1859-1897, Charles born 1862 and Eddie, born 1861. (Note: date supplied by Mary Ehle--Josiah born June 20, 1836, died April 9, 1910 and Mary Ann Alter born May 10, 1834, died November 16, 1923. These dates will be verified in the spring.)

Robert Ehle (P. 7) married Harriet Reiser and had a son Robert J. (P 8), born 1892.

Charles (P 7) born 1862 and his wife Bell V., born 1859, live at Fort Plain, N. Y. where he was a coal dealer.

Eddie (P 7) and his wife Anna, born 1869 had two children Edna, born 1896 and Herman J. born 1907.

Menzo (P 6) born 1846 and his wife Elizabeth born 1850 lived at Fort Plain, N. Y. where he was a truckman.

George Ehle (P 6) born 1851, no further Information.

Alida and Libbie were twins born in 1847.

William (P 6) born 1856 and his wife Mary E., born 1855 had three children Willie Edgar born 1876, Chas. Eugene born 1878 and Maud born 1882.

Angeline Ehle (P 5) born Dec. 2, 1816 married William Van Plank.

Harriet Jane Ehle (P 5), 1818-1898, married Adam Bush. Their children were John, Byron, George, Lynn and Josephine who married Coursen.

Maria (P 5), 1822, married Charles Hinaman of Nelliston, N. Y. and had a daughter Jennie who married Chas. Luft.

John P. born 1816 and his wife Caroline F. Ehle had John, Lilla, George, Sophie, Anna and Nettie. He was a liveryman of Canajoharie, N. Y. but moved elsewhere and no further data of this family is now available.

George (P 5), 1820-1901, married Sept. 18, 1848, Eva Bush 1923-1891, daughter of Gottlieb Bush 1784-1840 and Juliana Casler 1784-1850. Their children were Jane Ann, Charles P., and John Oliver. He was a hotelman at Hessville, Fultonville and Johnstown, N. Y. After his retirement in 1898 he lived with his son Charles F. in Utica, N. Y.

Jane Ann (P 6) born 1847, died in childhood.

John Oliver (P 6) 1853-1912, married Henrietta More 1854-1901 of Johnstown, N. Y. They had a son Henry who died in childhood and a daughter Carrie (P 7) who married the Rev'd. Walker Gage, who have three children and live in California.

Charles Franklin (P 6), 1951-1913, married Sept. 25, 1872 Isabella McCall 1855-1880; second Oct. 7, 1884 Cora Bicknell Wicks, 1863-1928. Children by the first marriage were Mary Eve and George; by the second Russel Tracy, Charles, Edward Brisban, and Stanley Seymour.

Mary Eve (P 7), 1874, unmarried, is an assistant librarian of Utica, N. Y. who has supplied these notes for the John P. Ehle line.

George (P 7) born Dec. 6, 1875, died Sept. 1, 1918 in California.

Russel Tracy (P 7) born July 7, 1885 at Johnstown, N. Y., married in 1908 Olive Escott. They have a son George Escott Ehle (P 8), born July 2, 1913 and live at Scranton, Penna.

Edward Brisban (P 7) born June 25, 1893, married in 1920 Jane Baldwin Wilber and live at Utica, N. Y.

Charles Ehle (P 7) born 1891 at Pittsfield, Mass., died in childhood.

Stanley Seymour (P 7) born Nov. 4, 1896 at Utica, married in 1927, Nettie Olive Baldwin and have Patricia born Nov. 6, 1929 and Nettie Baldwin born July 3, 1928.

Canajoharie Line, ( C.)

Harmanus Ehl (C 1)

Harmanus Ehl ( C 1) a younger half brother of Dominie Ehl and a widower married Elizabeth Miller and came to America in 1745, settling on a farm near the present Canajoharie on the Maple town road. But little is now known of his activities which were the routine of a settler farmer making a home, clearing lead and cultivation of crops. The name Harmanus Ehl appears In the list of emigrants, taking the citizenship oath at Albany July 3rd, 1759. His house was palisaded during the Revolution and known as Fort Ehl. Seven sons were in the militia service. The family and home escaped injury in the Revolution. The children were Michael, William, Peter H., John, Anthony, Harmanus, Jr., Jacob, Lana, Nancy and another daughter.

Michael Ehl ( C 2) 1746-1825 married Janet Van der Werke. They settled at Stone Arabia where their lives were spent in farming, He served several enlistments in Capt. Klock's company, 2nd Tryon Co. militia. As a devout churchman he was prominent In the Stone Arabia church founded by his uncle Dominie Ehl and serving as deacon and elder. A tombstone in the church graveyard gives his death as 1825 and that of his wife Feb. 10, 1821, aged 72 years. But few items of information are available about this family except as noted in his will. Apparently the children scattered to other locations, They were William M., Harmanus M., John M., Elizabeth and Mary.

William M.c (C 3) had two Peter and Michael (C4).

Harmanus M.( C 3) married Elizabeth Dockstader, daughter of Frederick Dockstader of Fonda, N. Y.

Elizabeth( C3) married Sept., 1805 Peter Gardinier and had a daughter Caty.

John (C3) of Stone Arabia and his wife Rachel Gardinier had children Michael M., Dirky born Jan. 27, 1809, Betsy Moore and Peter M.

Peter M. (C 4) and Margaret Dillenbeck Ehle, daughter of Johannes Dillenbeck, had children: James born Oct. 15, 1808, Maria born June 6, 1812, Annnetje born Dec. 22, 1806 and Andrew born 1816.

Information by correspondence about this family line is invited.

William Ehl (C 2), 1749-1826, married Catherine Jordan and settled as farmers on the eastern part of his uncle Dominie Ehl's homestead with Jacob Eacker as his neighbor. There they lived quietly as settler farmers until the Revolution in which he served several enlistments with Capt. Bradbig and Bielly of the 2nd Tryon County militia. According to his papers, on which a pension was granted in 1818 his battle record included Oriskany and Johnstown. The incident of how he saved his family at the time of the battle of Stone Arabia is given with the history of his cousin Petrus Ehl (P 2).

William Ehl's first wife died about 800 and he married Jane Johnson, born 1764. His children were Harmanus W., John W., Michael W., William, Adam, Elizabeth, Jane, Emy Catherine and Peter W. W.

Harmanus W. Ehle (C 3) born 1781, married Anna Weiser, daughter of Nicholas Weiser, was a soldier In the 1812 war, and alive at 81 years of age.

John W. Ehle (C 3), born 1784, married Dec. 2, 1810, Catherine Wallrad, 1790-1844. They were farmers at Stone Arabia.

Michael W. Ehle (C 3) born June 4, 1789, married March 22, 1818, Elizabeth Nellis.

William Ehle, Jr. (C 3) born June 12, 1791 and wife Jennie had a daughter Phoebe.

Adam (C 3) was born May 16, 1794.

Elizabeth born Feb. 28, 1796 married May 10, 1816 George Dockstader and had a son Gustavus Adolphhus.

Jane (C 3) was born Oct 8, 1801.

Emy (C 3)) was born Nov. 22, 1802.

Catherine (C 3) married John Laney of Stone Arabia.

Peter W. married first Catherine Nellis who died Feb. 27, 1823, second Dec. 25, 1824 Maria Ehle (P 3) Wagner, widow of Peter W. Wagner.

Henry (C 3) born 1807 married Ann Bellinger, probably the daughter of John F. Bellinger of Oppenheim.

Archibald Ehle (C 4), son of John W., born Dec. 6, 1811, married Nancy Wagner, granddaughter of Johan Peter Wagner and was a Stone Arabia farmer.

Catherine (C 4) married Cyrus Shults.

Harrison (C 4) born May 24, IW4 and his wife Christiana located as farmers in the town of Sullivan, Madison county, N. Y.

Maria (C 4), no further information.

Michael W. Ehle (C 3) and Elizabeth Nellis Ehle had three children.

Betsy Ann (C 4), born 1819, no information.

William H. (C 4), born Peb. 25, 1821, married Minerva de Forest born 1826.

Caty (C 4) was born 1823, no information.

John Jacob (C 4) was born March 26, 1828, no information.

George M. (C 4) born 1826, married Maria Geesler.

Susan (C 4) was born 1833, no information.

Children of Peter W. Ehle and wife Maria were James, Horatio, Nelson, David and Chauncey.

James (C 5) born 1815, a carpenter and builder of Fort Plain, married his cousin Eleanor Ehle (P 5), no children.

David (C 3) and Louisa daughter of John R. and Elizabeth Loveliss had a son George W. (C 6) born 1867.

Horatio Nelson (C 5) born March 1, 1813 and wife Maria, born 1841, had three children: Adaline, Maria born 1843 and Catherine Alice born 1847.

Adaline (C 6) born 1841 was a teacher at Fort Plain.

Chauncey (C 5), 1812-1897, and his wife Nancy Hawn Ehle had these children: Helen, Wallace C. born 1837, Caty, Sherwood born 1846, Charles E., Martha born 1841, Louise born 1842, Melvin.

Helen (C 6) 1936-1906, married E. C. Chapman.

Caty (C 6) 1839-1901 married Ed. Deusler.

Melvin (C 6) was born in 1848, no information.

Charles E. (C 6) was horn in 1849 and Mary E. Ehle had LeRoy and Maud. He was in clerical work at Fort Plain.

LeRoy (C 7) born 1876 and his wife Hattie had a son Victor C. (C 8) born 1909 of Fort Plain, N. Y.

Maud (C 7) was born 1892, no information.

Archibald (C 4) and wife Nancy Wagner Ehle's children were Alvin, Arthur born 1840, Ella born 1843, Mary born 1845, Emma born 1847, Nancy born 1850, Archibald born 1854, Frances Ann born 1854 and Gertrude born 1856.

Alvin (C 5) and his wife Susan J. Day 1839-1927 had a son now the Rev. Archibald 1. Ehle of Carmel, N. Y. who married in 1863, Kate Hagadorn.

Children of Geo. M. (C 4) and Maria Geesler Ehle were Vernon, Marvella and Byron.

Vernon (C 5) was born In 1852 and lived at Fort Plain.

Marvella (C 5) born 1853, married James Rapp.

Byron (C 5) born 1860 and Kate Ehle had a son George B. (C 5) and grandson Ralph (C 7.)

Children of William H. (C 4) and Minerva DeForrest Ehle were Elvira Emma, Alonzo D., Lillian and Sarah.

Elvira (C 5) born 1951 married Seward Moyer of Fort Plain and had one son.

Emma (C 5) was born 1859, no information.

Alonzo D. (C 5) born 1862 and Emrna his wife, have retired from farming to Fort Plain where he is in the insurance business.

Lillian born 1870 married Smith and have a son C. D. Smith.

Sarah, no information.

Henry (C 3) and Ann Bellinger Ehle moved from Minden to Madison county, N. Y. Their children were Lena, Catherine born 1831 and Andrew J. born 1833.

John Ehle (C 2) born 1756-1795 married Rachel Goertner, daughter of Peter and Mary Catherine Goertner, emigrants from Germany, who settled in a farm near the west end of Ehle's Ford. John Ehle was a sergeant in Captain Van Everen's company of the 1st Tryon County Militia. A son, Harmanus I. was born.

Harnianus I. (C 3) born March 29, 1790, married Jan. 29, 1809 Christine Vrooman. He was a prominent citizen and merchant of Canajoharie. Their children were James R., Henry Eliza, Maria, Charles, Caroline, Harmanus, Catherine.

James R. (C 4) married in 1833, Catherine Loucks and died In 1861.

Henry (C 4) died in 1861.

Eliza married (C 4) died in 1860.

Charles D. (C 4) was born in 1816.

Catherine (C 4) born June 12, 1816, married Nov. 2, 1855, George C. Wetmore, born Nov. 18, 1809.

Anthony (C 2) born 1762 and his wife Engeltje Steeretsh Ehle had children: Clarissa born 1803, Margaret born 1805, Elizabeth born 1808, Herman A., John A., Sarah, Catherine, Peter A. and Cornelius A.. He served in Capt. Van Everen's company of the 1st Tryon Co. militia and later was a captain of state militia.

Harman A. (C 3) and his wife Maria Young Ehle had a son Herman A., Jr. (C 4) born Dec. 8, 1824.

John A. (C 3) married Feb. 24, 1817, Catherine Van Alstein.

Sarah (C 3) was born in 1812.

Catherine (C 3) was born in 1815.

Peter A. (C 3) married June 9, 1822 Betty Van Slyk. Their children were Angeline born 1823, Elizabeth born 1826, Sarah born 1828 and Margaret J., born 1829.

Cornelius A. and his wife Eva Hillegas, married in 182A had a daughter Nancy, wife of George H. Cline of Oppenheim, N. Y.

Harmanus Ehl (C 2) born 1762, married in 1789 Elizabeth Cornue, born 1773, daughter of Daniel and Sally Wessels Cornue and died at Canajoharie, March 12, 1844. He served as a private in Capt. Van Everen's company of the 1st Tryon Co. Militia. After the Revoludion he was a blacksmith at Canajoharie. Their children were Henry E., Daniel, Elisha, Maria, Jane Ann, Sarah, Marcus, Eliza and Abram B..

Henry E. (C 4) born 1822 died Dec. 3, 1902, married July 21, 1851, Almira Failing. Their children were Ardella, Daniel H., Harman H., Maggie and Eliabeth.

Ardella (C 5) married Jan. 2, 1885 Rev'd. James B. Gow and went to reside in California.

Daniel H. (C 5) born 1852, died 1906 married Gertrude Rice. He was a teacher and lived at Canajoharie. Their children were Mertie, Virgil and Ledro.

Mertie (C 6) married Charles Van Buskirk. Their children are Marcus A., and Charles D.

Virgil (C 6) born Feb. 2, 1884 and Ledro (C 6) born June 3, 1880 live at Gloversville, practicing civil engineers.

Herman H. (C 5) born Dec. 12, 1854 and wife had a son Almer B. (C 6) born June 11, 1902.

Maggie (C 5) married July 2, 1892 Aaron Keller and had a daughter Maria.

Elizabeth (C 5) born Sept. 3, 1859, married April 31, 1851 Charles Empie.

John (C 3) son of Harmanus (C 2) married Catherine.

Peter H. Ehl (C 2) 1754-1847 and his wife Gadlein had two sons and a daughter, David, Barnet and Dorothea. He was a captain in the transportation service of the Revolution under Colonels Willett, Van Schaick and Ganesvoort, for which in 1823 he received a pension. It is reported that he was with the men who delivered the last provision to Fort Schuyler as the siege began, but escaped the capture that happened to some of his comrades. After the Revolution he settled in Herkimer county, N. Y., apparently in the town of Danube and his children were baptised at Saint Johnsville. Very little information seems to be available about this family.

Dorothea (C 3) was baptized Jqn. 15, 1790.

David (C 3) was baptized January 10, 1791.

Barnet (C 3) was baptized April 7, 1792.

David (C 3) a lawyer and his wife Elizabeth born 1794 moved to the town of Sullivan, Madison county, N. Y. Their children were Elijah, Margaret and Harman.

Elijah (C 4) born 1825 had a son George born 1867.

Margaret (C 4) was born in 1830.

Harman (C 4) was born in 1833.

It is hoped that readers may furnish further information of this family line.

Jacob Ehl (C 2), the youngest son of Harmanus Ehl (C 1) born March 2, 1756, married first Jane Van Everen 1769-1805, a granddaughter of Reynier Van Everen of the first Tryon county militia and second, Rebecca Higgins, a daughter of Benjamin Higgins of Canajoharie. He acted as a sentry at Fort Ehl at an early age and afterwards lived as a farmer on the Ehle homestead. His children by the first marriage were Elinor, Elizabeth, John, Abraham and Maria; by the second Jane Catherine, Charles P., Fannie and Stephen Peck.

Abraham succeeded to the homestead farm when the family moved to Jefferson county, N. Y.

Elizabeth born March 7, 1795, died Jan. 15, 1845, married Martin Quackenbush.

Elinor (C 3)) born Jan. 16, 1793, died April 3, 1869.

John (C 3) born Get. 3, 1797 died Feb. 15, 1845.

Abraham (C 3) born Sept. 8, 1799, died July 26, 1897. He married Esther Reed. No children were born of that marriage but three were adopted.

Maria (C 3) born Nov. 1, 1802, died Dec. 20, 1882, married John Vrooman of Cherry Valley and they moved to Jefferson county where they had these children: Jane Catherine (C 3) born Dec. 15, 1810, died July 9, 1827. Charles P. (C 3) born Feb. 9, 1815, died March 10, 1817. Fannie (C 3) born Sept. 15, 1814, marrid Dr. Arndt of Milwaukee, Wis.

Stephen Peck born June 9, 1821, died August 9, 1822.

Apparently no grandsons of Jacob Ehle had male descendants. These notes are extracts from those of Miss Ella C. Gibbs, great granddaughter of Marie Ehle (C 3).

Of the daughters Nancy, Lana and another of Harmanus and Elizabeth Miller Ehl (C) but little information is now available.

Lana (C 2) married Johannes Helmer, a son of Gottfried and Anna Margaretha Helmer, pioneer settlers. They had a son John baptized Oct. 30, 1788.

Of Nancy (C 2) and the other daughter no information is now available.

Minden Line (M)

The information now available regarding this Ehl line is limited and in places lacks in definiteness, which descendants should be able to supply. Apparently the head of this line was the Palatine emigrant Johannes Ehl who took the oath of citizenship Sept. 11, 1761 and was another half brother of Dominie Ehle (P 1) and brother of Harmanus (C 1) of Canajoharie as the family relatives were intimate. The homestead location of this line was at Freys Bush, adjacent to Fort Clyde and the Nellis family with whom they intermarried with the daughters.

Johannes Ehl's children as far as known were John, Christian, Peter and Elizabeth.

John Ehl (M 2) was a barge man and trader on the Mohawk river, was killed with another trader named Clock at the siege of German Flatts in the French Indian raid of 1758 after barely escaping a like fate two years earlier at the carrying place to Woods Creek, as noted in Doc. Hist. N. Y.

Christian Ehl, sometimes called Hanchrist or John Christ, born Sept. 25, 1742, died Oct. 6, 1920, with his wife Eliza Klock, born May 15, 1745, died Sept. 16, 1822 had children John C., Catherine and Henry. He served with the continental militia and several enlistments in the first Tryon county militia in the Revolution and was a farmer at Freys Bush.

John C. (C 3) Feb. 2, 1766, died June 26, 1835 and his wife Delia Bellinger, a daughter of Johannes Bellinger killed at Oriskany who was a grandson of the pioneer Frederick Bellinger of the Burnettsfield patent and the 1711 expedition against the French at Montreal. Their children were John, Jr., Lana, Catherine and another son John E. who died before his father having a son John E.

Catherine (M 3) born August 30, 1782, died Oct. 29, 1868, married Jacob Zeller, born 1777, died 1863. He was a son of Jacob Zoller, wounded and lost at Oriskany. His son Jacob served in the 1812 war. The children of Jacob and Catherine Ehle Zoller were John F., Mary, James, Jacob, Josiah,

Henry, Chauncey, Abraham and Catherine. Josiah was the builder of the Zoller house of Fort Plain, N. Y.

Henry Ehle (M 3) married Lana Delchert (Dygert), a daughter of Warner Dygert who was murdered at the Falls by Indians during the Revolution. His mother was Magdalena Herkimer, sister of the General.

John Ehle, Jr., (M 4), son of John C., born 1794, died 1874 and Peggy Fraleigh, his wife had five daughters and four sons, Anna, Maria, Reuben, Caty, Lana John, Ebenezer and Morgan Parks. By his father's will John Jr. (M 4) was given a homestead at Sharon, N. Y., but he does not appear to have located there and no further information of this family is available except their birth dates, Anna 1815, Maria 1817, Reuben 1819, Caty 1822, Lanah 1824, John 1827 and Ebenezer 1833. Readers may be able to supply additional data.

Abraham (M 4) was willed the homestead farm in Freys Bush, but apparently, sold it and was a member of the firm of Young and Ehle of Albany. of the firm of Albany. He died in New York city March 24, 1886.

Lanah (M 4) born Oct. 22, 1796, married Jan. 19, 1815 Jacob I. Lipe, of Dutchtown, near Fort Plain, who was a son of John A. Lipe born 1764, a merchant of Fort Plain and descendant of Hans Caspar Lipe, made a citizen in 1715.

The will of John C. Ehle (M 3) gives provision for John E. Ehle, his grandson, whose father was dead. It does not give his name, which appears as John in John E. Ehle's staternent in which his mother's name is given as Smith.

John E. Ehle (M 5) born 1830, died 1907 married Martha Abeel and had two sons, Frank J. and Eugene.

Frank J. (M 6) born Sept. 9, 1863, educated at Clinton Liberal Institute, was a merchant of Fort Plain, N. Y., and one time mayor. He married Nettie Walrath. Their children are., Elizabeth and Russel.

Elizabeth (M 7), born January 24, 1890 married Roland Hoffman.

Russel Ehle (M 7) born 1899 rnarried Lulu Shults, daughter of Manly ShuIts of Fort Plain.

Catherine Ehle (M 4) born August 12, 1802, died 1892, married Abraham Diefendorf, born Sept. 30, 1801, died 1892, a descendant of the pioneer Heinrich Diefendorf who came as an immigrant in 1710.

Maria (Polly) (M 4) married Sol Timmerman, one of the sons of Theobald Timmerman of Dutchtown. He was one of the sons of Jacob Timmerman, early settlers at St. Johnsville who came in 1710 to America and was a participant In the Snell-Timmerman patent of Snells Bush, Manheim, Herkimer County, N. Y.

Elizabeth Ehl (M 2) born 1738 married in 1756 Johannes Schouman, born Dec. 14, 1732 in Germany and arrived in America in 1750. He was an expert wood worker and built the old Sand Hill church, near old Fort Plain, which was burnt in the Indian raid of 1780.

Johannes and Elizabeth Ehl Schouman had a daughter Anna (M 3) born Oct. 20, 1758 who married Nicholas Dunckel of Freys Bush and has many descendants. A second Schouman child, a boy, was born in 1760 but died an infant. John Schournan was murdered by Indians in 1760 while cutting timber in the woodlot at his home.

Peter Ehle (M 2), born Dec. 23, 1746 died January 25, 1829, married April 4, 1772, Catherine Nellis, apparently a sister of Henry H. Nellis of Preys Bush. He moved as a corporal in Capt. Adam Leyp's (Lipe) Co. of the 1st Tryon Co. Militia in the Revolution with a battle record of Sharon, Johnstown and Oriskany. At the latter place he was captured and witnessed the torture and murder of Isaac Paris and others by the Indians the evening after the battle in revenge for the loss of chiefs in the battle. On his return from Canada Peter Ehl lived as a farmer In Minden until about 1821, when the family moved to the town of Sullivan, Madison county, N. Y. where he died in 1829. His widow Catherine (Cadrina) survived him and received a pension Feb. 16, 1838. Children of Peter (M 3) and Catherine Ehl were Mary Elizabeth, Johannes, Anna B., Peter P. Lisbed and Cadrina, twins, Hendrick and George.

Mary Elizabeth born Feb. 5, 1773, married July 5, 1788 Johan Jung (Young), son of Johan Christ Jung of Minden, who was a son of the emigrant Johan Jung.

Johannes born born Sept. 25, 1774, the eldest son, married Mary Cradell and lived on a farm near his father in Madison county.

Anna (M 3) born May 3, 1777, no further information.

Peter P. (M 3) born June 25, 1779 and Hannah his wife lived on a farm in Madison county near his father but later moved to the town of Fenner where he died.

Lisbed (Betsey) (M 3) born April 9, 1785, died Feb. 7, 1859, married Feb. 7, 1804, Henry Fox, a son of William Fox a justice of peace for over 40 years in the present town of Palatine, Montgomery county, N. Y. Henry Fox and wife settled as farmers in Madison county and retired at old age to Chittenango, N. Y.

Of Cadrina (M 3) born April 9, 1783 no information.

Hendrick (Henry) (M 3) born April 13, 1737, succeeded his father on the homestead farm and died at Chittenango, N. Y. after passing on the farm to his son Oliver (M 4). Henry and his wife Eve's children were Oliver, Henry, Jr., Andrew, Abram, and Catherine.

Oliver (M 4) died in 1862 on the homestead.

Henry, Jr. was born in 1818.

Andrew J., (M 4) was born in 1833.

Catherine (M 4) born 1830 married James Hood and had two daughters Helen and Libbie (M 5).

Abram (M 4) died 1895, had a son Charles (M 5) of Sheboygan, Wis., Abram, Jr. Jarnes (M 5) died Feb. 19, 1885.

George (M 3) born Jan. 20, 1792, died July 10, 185.1, married Jan. 2, 1811 at Fort Plain, N. Y. Ann (Nancy) Nellis, born April 19, 1793, died July 1, 1841. She was a daughter of Henry H. Nellis, born Oct. 3, 1746, died April 22, 1829 and his wife Christiana, born Feb. 2, 1844, died June 14, 1827. George Ehle was the proprietor of the Dixie House, Chittenango, N. Y. and later of the Lucklen House, Cazenovia, N. Y. His children were Irene, Anne, Harriet, Charlotte, Sophie, George and Catherine.

Irene (M 4) born May 18, 1815, died Sept. 20, 1891, married April 24, 1834 0. K. Swift and had three sons, Edwin W., Charles B. and Oliver N.

Anne (M 4) born April 6, 1859 died May 8, 1900, married James Cole. and has children George E., James B. and Katie C.

Harriet (M 4) born Aug. 14, 1818, married Dean Knowlton.

Charlotte (M 4) born Feb. 26, 1820, at Fort Plain, N. Y. married John Bates.

Sophie (M 4) born April 8, 1823 married Sept. 20, 1840 Leonard Williams.

George (M 4) born Jan. 1, 18-96, died 1890, married May 15, 1845 Sarah Stewart. Their children were:

Charles S. (M 5) born Jan. 9, 1847.

Anna C. (M 5) born July 12, 1845.

Catherine (M 5) born Sept. 7, 1827, married in 1844 Samuel V. Clarke.

Maternal Lines

Except for brief notes in the preceding chapters this record is limited because of the lack of data. The important and large part the mothers played in the pioneer life unfortunately never was properly recognized in the old records and historical writings. History of old time usually treats of the doings of warriors, priests and politicians, who monopolize the written records to the exclusion of the humble citizens and women, but no one was more self-sacrificing than the mothers, who not only reared and cared for the family and had more than their share of suffering, privations and dangers of the pioneer life. Yet after marriage, among the Palatines, the wife's identity was merged with that of her husband and family and rarely mentioned, except sometimes in church records or legal papers. Available records of the maternal lines follow. It is regretted that they are so scant and entirely inadequate.

Cook Line

Grace Cook Ehle, wife of Boyd Ehle (P 6) is a daughter of Charles Cook, born April 14, 1848, died Jan., 1907, who married Jan. 13, 1869, Mary Snell. He was a son of Chauncey Cook, born August 16, 1822, who married Feb. 26, 1846, Jane Getman. Chauncey Cook was a son of Friend Cook, born Jan. 27, 1792, who married Nancy Foote, born July 29, 1799. He was a son of Atwater Cook, born Nov. 3, 1758 and his wife Mary Bartholemess, born June 25, 1758. Atwater Cook was a direct descendant of Henry Cook of Birmingham, England and John Atwater of Kent, England, who emigrated to Massachusetts in the early sixteen hundreds and became a pioneer settler at Wallingford, Conn. prior to 1640. The Cooks and Atwaters had various intermarriages.

Atwater Cook was a soldier in Capt. Brackett's company, 5th Battallion of Wordsworth's Brigade of the Connecticut line, who participated in the battles of Long Island and White Plains in the Revolution. After the war, along with other New England families, he settled on a farm at Salisbury, N. Y. His grandson Chauncey Cook lived on his farm near Little Falls, N. Y. and his son Charles bought the Jehoram Snell farm in Snells Bush, now farmed by his grandson Loris Cook Ehle.

Snell Line

Mary Snell Cook, mother of Grace Cook Ehle, was a daughter of Jehoram Snell, born July 31, 1923, died Oct. 31, 1907, who married Amy Zimmerman, born Nov. 20, 1821, died April 28, 1907. He was a son of Suffrenus Snell, born June 24, 1784, died Sept. 23, 1872, who in 1807 married Eve Fry, a daughter of Adam Fry, 1760-1855, and Anna Hoering, born Oct. 9, 1787, died July 30, 1867. Suffrenus Snell was a son of Peter Snell, born June 24, 1720, died July 24, 1804, who March 18, 1768 married Anna Kilts, born Feb. 9, 1750, died Dec. 14, 1842, daughter of Peter Kilts of Stone Arabia. Peter Snell was one-of the two Snells, out of nine, who survived Oriskany battle and he was badly wounded. He was a son of Johannes Snell born 1730 and Margaret Fink, and a grandson of the pioneer Palatine emigrant Johan Jost Snell, born 1696, died Sept. 12, 1787, and his wife Catherine who arrived in New York 1710 and came by way of Schoharie to the Mohawk Valley. At Stone Arabia in 1723 they participated in that patent and in 1734 they received an Indian grant which was later, in 1755 combined with a similar grant to Anna Margarite Timmerman, for the Snell-Timmeriman Patent, called Snells Bush, of the present town of Manheim, Herkimer County, N. Y. Manheim is named after the home town in Germany of these settlers.

Members of the Snell family relate how their patent papers and others hid in a hollow tree in the Revolution for preservation during the Indian raids were found to have been gnawed by mice.

Zimmerman (Timmerman) Line

Amy Zimmerman, grandmother of Grace Cook Ehle and wife of Jehoram Snell, was a daughter of David Zimmerman, born Sept. 27, 1794, died Dec. 27, 1854 and his wife Mary Forbush, born June 18, 1794, died Nov. 22, 1879. She was a daughter of Jas. Forbush and Nancy Nellis. David Zimmerman was a son of Conradt Zimmerman, died April 27, 1827 and his wife Mary Magdalen Snell, a daughter of Suffrenus Snell and his wife Eve. Suffrenus Snell was one of the seven Snells killed at Oriskany battle. Conradt Zimmerman was one of the sons of Jacob Zimmerman the early settler of the site of St. Johnsville, N. Y., having come in the 1710 emigration from the Palatinate, who became a citizen of New York at Albany in 1715 and came with the other settlers to the Mohawk valley by way of Schoharie. Later in 1755 he was a participant with Johan Jost Snell in the Snell Timmerman Patent where those two families had many intermarriages. Now the Snells are gone, but two Timmerman families yet remain in Snells Bush. The early settlers spelled their name Zimmerman as some of their descendants still do, but some have passed to using the form Timmerman. The former corresponding to the English carpenter, is probably correct, as the latter has no similar equivalent.

Dockstader Line

Anna Veeder Ehle, wife of Peter Ehl (P 5) was a daughter of Jacob J. Dockstader 1809-1895 and his wife Eliza Veeder, died Dec. 2, 1847, who were farmers of Stone Arabia. He was a son of John J. Dockstader 1787-1837 and Phoebe Dillenbeck. John J. Dockstader was a son of Jacob Dockstader, 1763-1807, and his wife Elizabeth Groff. He was a son of Marks 1733-1820 and Elizabeth Shults Dockstader 1732-1820 of Fonda who was a German emigrant that settled near Fonda, N. Y. as a farmer and served as a soldier of the Revolution Exempts of the Tryon Co. Militia. His son Jacob was in the 3rd Tryon Co. Militia.

Veeder Line

Eliza Veeder, mother of Anna Y., was a daughter of Albert and Nancy Eacker Veeder of Fonda, N. Y. He was a son of Abram Veeder and his wife Sarah Vedder of Fonda, N. Y., who was a major general of militia, after the war of 1812, having been a captain of the 3rd and 5th Albany and 3rd Tryon Co. Militia Regiments in the Revolution. Abram was a son of Johannes Veeder, who came to America about 1750 from Holland and settled near Fonda, N. Y. where he secured a thousand acre tract of land.

Dygert Line

Elizabeth Dygert, wife of Peter Ehle, Jr. (P 4) was a daughter of Peter Dygert, 1759-1841 and his wife. He went into the Revolution as a boy in place of his father who was unfit for service. Peter Dygert was a son of Severinus and Gertrude Eacker Deigert and a grandson of the pioneer emigrants Johan Pieter and Elizabeth Fox Dygert. Their homestead on lot 2 of the Harrison Patent has passed to Ed. Dygert, a grandson of Peter Dygert.

Nellis Line

Delia Nellis, wife of Peter Ehle (P 3) was a daughter of Johannes Nellis and a granddaughter of the pioneer emigrants of 1710 William and Magdalena Klock Nellis, who came by way of Schoharie and participated in the Stone Arabia patent Oct. 19, 1723, obtaining lots 32 and 34. William Nellis served as a soldier under Capt. Johan Conrad Weiser in the 1711 expedition against the French at Montreal. His home then on the Hudson was at Queensburg. His descendants still retain farms of the Stone Arabia patent.

Douw Line

Mary Magdalene Douw, wife of Petrus Ehl (P 2), was a daughter of Johannes Douw and a granddaughter of Hendrick Douw and Neeltje Van Iveren. Hendrick Douw was a son of Jonas Volckert Douw and his wife Mary Quackenbos; and a grandson of Volckert Janse Douw and his wife Dorothe Janse Van Breerstede, the pioneer emigrants of 1638 from Holland of this line. He was a son of Jan Douw of Friedrichstadt, Province of Friesland, Holland. The Douws were early settlers at Beverwyck (Albany), N. Y.

Van Slyck Line

Johanna Van SIyck, wife of John Jacob Ehl (P 1), was a daughter of Pieter Willemse and Johanna HanzBarheit Van Slyck of Kinderhook, N. Y. and a granddaughter of Willekn Pieterse Van Slyck, a son of Pieter Van Slyck, who came from Holland to New York about 1630 and apparently was a brother of the Indian trader 'Brer' Cornelius Van Slyck, who married the breed daughter of Hertel, the French captive of the Mohawks and a Mohawk woman.

Other Intermarried Lines

Van der Werke, Jordan, Johnson, Miller, Goertner, Steeresh, Cornue, Van Everen, Higgins, Helmer Gardineer, Rice, Laney, Wallrad, Wagner, Bellinger, Hawn, Dillenbeck, Hagadorn, GeesIer, DeForrest, Vrooman, Van Alstein, Young, Wemple, Duesler, Chapman, Quackenbush, Failing, Gow, Keller, Empie, Van Buskirk, Hinaman, Bush, Van Plank, Moore, Wicks, Gage, Escott, Kelsey, Van Alter, Coursen, Reiser, Wilbur, Baldwin, Clock, Ziller, Fox, Hood, Fraligh, Lipe, Abeel, Diefendorf, Timmerman, Swift, Cole, Knowlton, Bates, Williams, Stewart, Clarke, Way, Webster, Old, Hoffman Shults, Shaul, Niles, Mason, Dygert, Diehl, Tice, Schouman, Crouse, Westerman, et al.

DOMINIE EHLE LETTERS

As to the situation of my family it consists of a wife and three daughters, but with an only son. I live apart from society, leading a secluded life, and hitherto I have converted many among that people among Whom I live, baptizing their children and uniting them in marriage, since they are without a regular pastor, and for a long time have been prevented from sending for another for the administration of the sacrament.

What pertains to my service among the Indians is indeed very well known that as long as I have lived here I have had much business with our upper camp and I shall mention in particular Canajoharie Castle. Because I live here among the Mohawks they have always carried on business with me. As I visit their farms and baptize both their children and the adults, for it behooves the adults with bended knee to know from memory and to recite the Lord's Prayer and the Articles of Faith with the Ten Commandments, and going among them with an interpreter I join them in marriage.

But let me make mention of the time from which Reverend Barclay bade us farewell. Thus it behooves me to mention this because appointed by him. After his departure I had the privilege of attending carefully to all religious matters among the Indians and from that time also I officiated on this side of the ferry Sunaxin in the Mohawk camp and in the meantime they often visited me with their children and their relatives as much as they could when there was dangers of war, and even we were compelled to flee hence, and to seek refuge among our neighbors.

But this I am glad to relate that from the Oneida Camp in two villages I converted them. In one village I baptized twenty adults and children and learning that they were not far from our foundation as well as I could by signs and other methods of communication, I was able to convert seventeen Tuscaroras and, during those three years in which the Rev'd. Barclay was away from our upper camp, I was able to influence a great number, and I think thirty one signified their desire, and that might have been worth while. But this also must not be forgotten that in the Upper Camp, I also administered the Lord's Supper with fourteen or fifteen communicants, either Quaker or Quirigies and eleven in the Mohawk camp. Concerning the other services I shall write nothing. Granted that in the eyes of the world my services have been in proportion to my slender powers, if rightly and worthily they are reflected upon I do not doubt that with Divine help your hearts will be moved to approbation.

As to the assistance of my little friend Salarius, helping in my household, if it pleases them for the fourth time to help him with some gift they will be treating him as a friend. In the meantime my most honored patrons, I have no greater desire than to leave you under Divine protection by praying to God continually in your behalf that in His abode and by His power he may furnish you more and more with the worthiest gifts, and when finally these duties shall have been religiously dischargod by each one of you, that it may seem good to Him to receive all in His own good into His Heavenly joy. This from his soul hopes and the most devoted and humble servant of you all. JOHN JACOB OEL.

Abstract Translation from Latin April 17, 1751.
Acquainting with his receiving the secretary's letter by the hands of the Rev'd. Mr. Barclay and returning his sincere thanks to the Society for their benevolence to him and employing him in their service among the Indians and he promises faithfully to discharge his duties as long as he shall continue among them."

Dec. 20th, 1754.
It was between three and four years since the Society was pleased to appoint him to that service of which he shall ever retain a grateful sense, and he had taken great pains among those Indians and in this and the preceding year he had baptized 39 of them and thrice administered the Holy Sacrament of the Lord's Supper among them, that he had formed also an assernbly, about eleven miles from here, where are at present only six communicants, but he hoped through God's Grace soon to have more and be prosperous also to officiate to the Swedes at the Mohawk River if the Society approve it and as to his labors and diligence in general he humbly refers himself to the acoaunt that Mr. Ogilvie shall give of thern, and prays for God's blessing on all the pious designs of the Society.

Feb. 8, 1758.
He lives in continual fear of the cruelty of the Indians which prevents him doing as much good as he could wish. He was along with Mr. Olgilvie when he catechized the Indian children in the church of the Mohawks and administered the holy sarament in the Indian tongue. He refers to Mr. Ogilvie for an account of his services this year.

Translation from LatinAlbany, Nov. 1, 1761.
To the Reverend Society in England.
My office and the love in my heart impelling me for much and so many favors, demands and requires of me that once more I should send a letter to the most celebrated Society in which it befits me that I give an account of my stewardship.

So far as concerns myself personally my family consists of my wife, three daughters and an only son who are doing fairly well.

I hope for my Reverend Lord's and patrons better things.

But as to my ecclesiastical offices, I am at this time a man of seventy or seventy-two years but I have not ceased to perform the duties of my office, imposed upon me by you and to be of use to the Lord, though I may have been guilty of some sins of omission on account of the state of my health and the inclemency of the climate which is not mild enough for me.

So I have constantly urged and exhorted to Christian things with all my strength, firm for all things prescribed and in all things placing perpetually as my standard the rules of the Divine word.

I have talked with my people thru a good interpreter, who also knows how to read in their language from their book of public events, both before and after Divine service and for one interpretation he receives a dollar reward from our overseer Lord Johnson, which is paid promptly when he has my endorsement, as he promised us, on account of his sympathy with us.

Also we have established in the Upper Camp a school in which the small and the great are instructed, if they desire, by a certain man skilled in their language who takes much enjoyment in the information be obtains and knows well how to write and read their language. But also, this is very difficult and although the work is necessary it must be neglected with the progress of time, because if he does not receive pay from us, he will with difficulty obtain sustenance for his wife and children. But I leave to the most reverend Society for their mature deliberation as to the amount to be designated for our school. I would like them to make provision for me more liberally at my merchant representative.

I also wrote regarding this matter to Dominie Ogilvie in Montreal two years ago and regarding myself and my services but I do not know whether my letter reached him for I have received no response..

I here conclude. I would write many other things which I have in mind but this must be omitted now, and I will make an end, so as not to annoy you with my prolixity and will reserve these matters for another more convenient time.

So I recommend all my most Honorable Lords and patrons to the Divine patronage and also recommend myself to their patronage.

The most humble and obedient of all your servants. JOHN JACOB OEL.

Translation from Latin
Albany, July 1, 1762. To the Venerable Society.
So far as I may be troublesome again with this my letter, do not believe this to be important to any other thing than because I have not been able thus far to accomplish my very important purpose, both on account of threatened ruin of my home and church by the damage of war, the burdensome sickness among us, and especially the sickness among the Indians and the losses by death both now and hitherto including even my cat.

Indeed my congregation. which formerly at one time consisted of thirty now on account of the above contains only as few as 12 or 13 and so will be reduced.

But I am supported by the strong hope that it may be possible by the establishment of a school in which the younger ones may be instructed as they advance in years and because an Indian youth so educated and inspired by Divine Providence is in every camp who knows how elegantly to write and read the Indian language and who is filled with great ardor to propagate the doctrine so much so, indeed, that he not long since, said to me that he himself would be equal to thirty scholars.

But, alas! (using a common proverb) if you have not gold you are poor and not rich and, as my most honorable Lords and patrons know, none can serve two masters, and I must neglect either my school or my other labors, such the work! such the labor!

If therefore It would please the Honorable Society to send us some assistance or place my salary for one or two years at our merchants in London, from whom I receive my money, so that it might faithfully be used, It would be possible to obtain catechisms for the school to be used for instruction and to be committed to memory, so that the members would go forth well informed in the church This and many other things great and small, I would wish from the Venerable Society, that my most honorable Lords and patrons may think thereon and that they may deem it worthy of the Church to assist my poor little congregation with so much as may please them.

Strong in which hope I live and have recommended my most honorable patrons and Lords to the Divine protection as most faithfully I pray and, further, in their fraternal love and favor, I will preserve my spirit steadfast to the end of life.
In all things commanded,
Your most obedient servant, JOHN JACOB OEL.

Translated from Latin
Canajoharie, May 15, 1770.
In Jesus' Name Amen.
To the Most Reverend and Honorable Society in Conference.

I am writing to you, because by your grace, I have been laboring here in this distant land for the last two years, and I have wished to experience here both your former interest and also to bring before you freely the matter of my contribution and annual gift and I hope by no means to be rejected.

But greatly I deplore the serious condition of matters with my Indians in the Upper Camp and that I cannot recommend them more favorably. All things seem lost with them both all good love, since I have not been able to excite any motion or ardor among them for public instruction and also the use of the sacraments.

This may be partly considered merely conjecture but I have formerly several times sent an interpreter to them in their camp, who is intelligent enough so that he could interpret my mind and theirs concerning the celebration of the Lord's Supper among them, but we have been unable to get any response and they remained mute as fishes as to sending someone among them to inform them when it would be convenient to celebrate the Supper, but so it was. They are indeed stupid and rude folk who know nothing of sacred things, from whom we have been unable to extort any response concerning the Articles of Faith and the Ten Commandments, although these most stupid Indians could and indeed they sent boys to New England to learn the English language. But I have been unable to get anything out of them, with the exception of two or three old Indians who remain of those who formerly were there and who cherish ardor for public instruction. The other faithful ones were killed off by disease or war, or some way I do not know, by what misfortune. I have offered through interpreters that I would baptize their infants and join them in marriage at my home whenever it would suit their convenience, but without response.

I also heard with my own ears and they themselves have boasted of it that you would send another minister from your England for the temple or sacred edifice that Sir William Johnson has proposed building at his own expense, however that may be, and in a short space of time, and that he would be acceptable with the Indians and that he would be tractable as Dominie Bary and Oglive were, with whom I have lived on the best and most fraternal terms, and that he would celebrate the Lord's Supper with them.

For my part, whatever in me is, I hope in no things to be lacking.

Even though this report is a fiction I received it from the depths of my heart with a sound and happy welcome for the great happiness of this region.

Meanwhile I cannot omit to say that during this time I have also been infirm and weak and have been much afflicted with a heavy cough and with colds, and have scarcely been able to get about on my feet.

This brings up the matter, that, because no calamity comes altogether singly in the home, I have fallen into a great misfortune in my family life, unless it should be prohibited by Divine Providence, because of the husband of my daughter, who served as a sergeant in the former war and in the militia fell into prodigal life and drinking, and hence into other things so that he was with difficulty able to evade the hands of the public officer, commonly called the sheriff, if he were left at liberty.

So I was forced to provide security and bond for him that he might be free and furnished security of 24 Spanish dollars, moved by sympathy for my daughter, and so obtained his freedom; and now for a while it is settled. He was born of German parents and is well acquainted with the English language.

I also have taken hold here of an English congregation and celebrated the Lord's Supper when twelve or more are gathered together, whenever they all could get together from the distant places.

But it befits me to hasten the end of my letter and that I should not bother you more, and including nothing is more in my prayers, than your most reverend and honorable Society and I pray that it may please benign Heaven, that you may long live in prosperity and peace and accumulate celestial goods and honors, and that those who have lived prominently here, there above may be prominent and shine as stars and glow as the sun, and that I, the least of the servants may be deemed worthy to live in their society.

This is the wish and prayer from the depths of his soul of the most devoted and humble servant of you all. JOHN JACOB OEL.

Contributed Additional Ehle Items

Notes of C. G. Ehle of Portland, Oregon, Canajoharie Line (C).

Descendants of John A. (C 3) born ) Dec. 17, 1794, married Feb. 24, 1817 Catherine Van Alstein of Canajoharie. Their children were George L. born June 19, 1818, died June 1, 1826.

Henry G. born June 1, 1820.

Adelia born Sept. 2, 1822.

Helen born Dec. 6, 1824.

Harriet born March 24, 1827.

Mariette born July 3, 1829.

Elisha (C 4) born April 6, 1825, d Sept. 15, 1901, married Sally Eyesman Jan. 17, 1854. Their children were Sarah, Elmer, Bertha and Maria.,

Maria (C 4) born Feb. 20, 1828 died 6, 1905, married Sept. 2, 1852 John Walrath. Their children were Charles and Helen who married Zimmerman.

Elizabeth (C 4) born June 28, 1820, died Sept, 1, 1905, married Luke Walrath. Their children were Mary, Edward, Helen who married Hoyt, Luke, Fidella, Daniel and Anna.

Marcus (C 4) 1832-1909, married June 5, 1865 Mary Goff. Their children were Chester Goff, Chauncey Eckford and Glenn Stewart.

Chauncey Eckford (C 5) born Apr 20, 1966 at Racine, Wisc. graduated at the North Western Medical School in 1894 and is now chief surgeon at the Soldiers' Home, Quincy, Ill.

Mark Jr. (C 5) born Oct. 15, IS70, a graduate of the Colorado School of Mines married Mabel Hood in 1898, and is professor of mining at the Arizona School of Mines. No children.

Glen Stewart (C 5) born Jan. 15, 1880 married first Nellie Ward In 1898 who died Jan. 5, 1929, then he married Florence Gardinier Sept. 18, 1929. He is now located at Oakland, Calif. as an insurance broker. Their children are Chester Ward, twin girls Theda and Dorothea.

The twin girls died as infants at Marshalltown, Ia.

Chester Ward (C 6) born in 1899 is unmarried and lives at Oakland, Calif.

Theda (C 6) born July 23, 1903, married Charles Church in 1927. Their children are Patricia born 1928 3md Charles born in 1929.

Dorothea (C 6) born in 1919 is unmarried and lives with her parents at Oakland, Calif.

Chester Goff (C 5) born Oct. 31, 1885 at Marshalltown, Ia. graduated at the Golden Colo. High School in 1904 and the South Dakota School of Mines in 1911. He is now assistant engineer of the Portland, Oregon Water Bureau where he resides with his wife Ada M. Anderson, married June 19, 1911. No children.

Abraham (C 4) born April 14, 1839, died Dec. 9, 1908 married Martha Fox Oct. 24, 1866 and had a son Harry who died at Demoines, Ia. in 1898.

Items from Newton G. Ehle, Bath, New York

Harmanus Eble (C 3) soldier of the 1812 war moved from Palatine Bridge, N. Y. to Sandy Creek, N. Y., Where he died Dec., 1875 aged 96 years. His son David H. (M 4) had three sons Richard D., Newton G., and John W. and two daughters, one of whom Sarah Helfer lives at Minoa, N. Y.

Newton G. (C 5) was sacrificed for his country in the 1861-5 war.

John W. (C 5) left New York state to settle in Michigan where at Flint a son survives him.

Richard D, (C 5), soldier of the Civil War had a son Newton G. (C 6) now quartermaster of the National Military Home, Bath, N. Y. His son Newton G., Jr. is a 1926 graduate of the College of Civil Engineering, Cornell University.

Ehle, Minden Line

Harlow C. Ehle of Syracuse writes that his grandfather war. Archibald Ehle and his father, Daniel Warren Ehle born at Perryville in 1842' married Helen Louise Soper in 1861. Their children were George Warren, born 1862, died 1918; Harlow C. born 1865; William S. born 1867; Mary Jane born 1875; Ellen Louise born 1882, and Blanche Hannah born 1885. These descendants appear to be of the Minden line through one of the sons of Peter (M 2).

It is hoped that additional Ehle items may yet come in to be included in the Ehle book that will be published with the serial articles, maps and photostats of important historical papers. Send in your family items to aid your descendants and future generations to know their ancestry before it is too late.

There is no better heritage than a good name that a father can bequeath to his children; nor is there In a family any richer heirloom than the memory of a noble ancestor.

PENSION PAPERS

Granted
Catherine Ehle
Widow of Peter Ehle Deceased who, lived 25 January 1829 of Madison County State of New York who was a Corporal in the Company Commanded by Capt. Adam Lipe. Inscribed on the roll of Albany at the rate of 22 dollars to commence on the 4th day March 1837.

Revolutionary Claim Act Jun 4 1836
Copy of Pension Papers of William Ehle, Soldier of the Revolution

Affidavits of John W. Ehle and Peter W. Ehle to the Indigent circumstances of William Ehle follow: Also similar affidavit by William Ehle, June 16th, 1820 as to his property and family.
Pension Awarded

William Ehle of Madison in the State of New York who was a private in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Wyncoop of the New York line for the term of 11 months. Inscribed on the roll of New York at the rate of 8 dollars per month to commence on the 28th April 1818.

Granted
Catherine Ehle

Widow of Peter Ehle Deceased who died 25 January 1829 of Madison County State of New York who was a corporal in the Company commanded by Capt. Adam Lipe. Inscribed on the roll of Albany at the rate of 22 dollars to commence on the 4th day March 1837. Revolutionary Claim Act Jun. 4 1836.

List with certification of Henry Brown Judge of Herkimer County and Jabez Fox clerk of the Court follow:

Where and in what year were you born?

"At Canajoharie in Montgomery County on the 6th day of March, 1754."

Have you any record of your age and if so where is it?

"I have no record but suppose my father's record of my age is in the hands of my brother Jacob at Canajoharie."

Where were you living when called Into the service, where have you lived since the Revolutionary war and where do you now live?

"When I went Into the service I lived at Canajoharie and till about 34 years ago continuing to live there, at which time I moved Into Madison Co., now Town of Sullivan and now I live in, the Town of Eaton aforesaid."

How were you called Into service. Were you drafted, did you volunteer or were you a substitute and if a substitute for whom?

"I went Into the service under my commission above mentioned."

State the name of the regular officers who were with the troops where you served such continental and militia regiments as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your service?

Ans. "I have above stated the name of officers and regiments as near ascan remember."

Did you receive a commission and if so by whom was it signed and what became of It?

"I received a commission signed by Col. Morgan Lewis and Quartermaster Gen'l. H. Glen and have lost it."

State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood and who can testify as to your character for veracity and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution?

Ans. "Icabod Amiden of the town of Eaton, Sylvanus Leeber of Lenox, late a judge of the County Court of this county; Joseph Sanger and George Ehle of Sullivan."

PETER H. EHLE.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. S. Sloan, Clerk.

Pension Award Peter H. Eble

County of Madison State of New York Who was a captain of the Regiment commanded by Col. Lewis In the New York Line for 12 months. Inscribed on the rolls at Albany at the rate of 240 dollars per annum to commence on the 4th day of March 1831.

Copy of Pension Papers of Peter Dygert (Father of Elizabeth Ehle), Wife of Peter Ehle. Jr. Soldier of the Revolution

That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as is hereinafter stated. That is to say, that he the said Peter did in the year 1777 duty under Capt. John Breadbeck as a private and went through the battle of Oriskany, and that in the years 1778 and 1779 he, in each of the said years, enlisted under Capt. Leffler as boatman on the North River for nine months In each year, during which time he served when not on water he did on land, and that he, also attended the battle of Johnstown under the command of Col. Willet as a private belonging to the detachment of Capt. John Zielly militiaman In the year 1781; and also he went as a militiaman to aid Col. Willet at the battle of Turlough (now called Sharon) In the county of Schoharie; and that he also went as a militiaman to defend Caugnawaga at the time that was burnt and pursued the enemy with Col. Willett to Johnstown; and that he also went to Fort Stanwix as a guard to the United States boats; and that he frequently stood guard at Stone Arabia fort; and also went to Herkimer at different times in the service of the United States as a militiaman; and that in conformity with the act of Congress passed the 27th day of May, 1775, he did arm himself in 1775 and from that time to the close of the Revolution kept himself armed and a sufficient supply of equipage until the conclusion of the Revolution; and that it is out of his power to recollect the number of days served at the different times mentioned, except specified above.

That the deponent further saith that he has not the least doubt but that the claimant has also been engaged in Johnstown battle under immediate command of Col. Willet against Major Ross and Capt. Butler with about 800 incendiaries on the 25th day of October 1781. That deponent further declares he has taken a fair and general view and observation of the services rendered by the applicant as not forth in his supplemental declaration hereto annexed, and that the deponent is well assured that the applicant has at a moderate calculation and at least rendered the length of services in behalf of the United States as set forth in his supplementary declaration.

Year 1775 as private under Capt. Breadbeg, Lieut. Zielly, 2nd Lieut. J. Eaker, Nicholas Van Slyck Ensign under Col. Klock, Lieut, Col. Waggoner, Major John Frey, Major Eisenlord and Major Van Slyck in Palatine Montgomery County, New York State. Applicant enrolled under Capt. John Breadbag in the fall of seventy five and called In company training to the house of Philip Empie; there organIzed and trained. That he was born 24th Nov. 1759 and is now aged 73 years 8 months and 7 days on the 31st of July 1833.

Year 1776 date not known but In spring he served 17 days as private with Capt. Breadbeg, 14 days in Jan., being under Gen'l. Herkimers orders to march to Caughnawaga to Veeders Flats the company on alarm there stationed 3 days; from thence they marched to Stone Arabia too Stahers there stationed two weeks and ordered out the whole brigade, joined Gen'l. Schuyler at Caughnawaga, there stationed for several days. All men paraded in the ice then all went under command of Gen'l. Schuyler causing Sir John to surrender with about 300 men with arms.

Year 1777. In May or June served 8 days and during summer and fall 28 days under Capt. Breadbag. On alarm ordered out to Saratoga, after marchiIng to Amsterdam countermanded to march to Johnstown; there stationed several days then discharged. Drafted twice under Capt. Breadbag to Herkimer each time 14 days, to Fort Dayton in the service of the United States by order of Genl. Herkimer. August 6 went on duty 15 days then 22 days under Capt. Breadbag of Gen'l. Herkimer brigade engaged in that memorable battle and continued until the enemy were withdrawn-Battle at Oriskany, at which battle Gen'l. Herkimer slain; Col. Cox; Major Eisenlard, Major Clapsaddle, Major Van Slyck and killed in battle. Brigade Major Frey wounded and taken prisoners; about 200 slain on that day and a number of our men taken prisoner and wounded his own. Capt. Breadbeg wounded.

Year 1778. In the course of the winter. served 2 months 19 days then 6 days pressed by soldiers to take soldiers from Fort Plain to Fort Stanwix.

In the spring enlisted in the United States services under Capt. Leffler attached to the company of boatmen boating on the Worth River, transporting provisions and supplies for the United States troops stationed at the respective forts.

Year 1779 9 months, under Capt. Leffler, again enlisted for the second period for 9 months to the same boat company and faithfully served during as said term in the United States service never received a written discharge only verbally on each term. At time of the general conflagration at Caughnawaga while others were ordered out to march in pursuit of the incendiaries the applicant was directed and positively with some others by his superior officers to guard the inhabitants moved into Fort Keyser; and accordingly did watch and guard the same.

During the summer served 24 days and same fall 14 days days under Capt. Zielly of Col. Wagner's Regt. ordered out and stationed at 3 different times exclusive of the first time at Fort Keyser performing garrison duty same year each term eight days. Ordered out and stationed at Fox Fort fourteen days rendering garrison service in succession.

Oct. 19th served two days under Capt. Zielly with Col. Brown. Was ordered out in battle under the immediate command of Col. Brown in Palatine at Stone Arabia, generally called Browns Battle, against Sir John Johnson, his army or force consisting of about one thousand and our force not exceeding 200. Col. Brown was slain in battle, about 45 killed. In our retreat, and the old settlement of Stone Arabia totally desolate with the little exception only, as well then up and down the Mohawk valley for about 20 miles or exceeding.

Year 1781. In July served 3 days with Col. Willet. The enemy put to flight Oct. 25; with Capt. Zielly served In Col. Willet's command ordered out with Col. Klock's Regt., engaged in Johnstown battle against Major Ross and Capt, Butler with 800 Tortes, Indians and some regular troops, attended with a number of lives lost prisoners, taken, and wounded on both sides and Capt. Zielly was taken prisoner. During season served 1 month 15 days with Capt. Zielly, ordered out and stationed at Fort Keyser rendering garrison duty. DuriIng summer and fall served 1 month 15 days with Lieut. Waggoner, ordered out and stationed at Fort Fox performing garrison duty.

Some time in winter served 15 days with Ensign Van Slyke drafted to Fort Remsnyder at the time Capt. Kyser and sons were taken prisoner. Latter part of winter served 14 days under Capt. Zielly of Col. Klock's Regt., ordered out and stationed at Fort Timmerman on an alarm at another time, year forgotten, served 8 days under Capt. Melly of Col. Willet's Reg't. ordered to Bowmans Creek under Col Willet in pursuit of the enemy.

THE END

AN ENGINEER TURNS TO HISTORY
Sketch of Boyd Ehle Who Has Prepared the Genealogy of the Ehle Family, (From St. Johnsville (N. Y.) Enterprise and News)