Mary Elizabeth SLOSSON

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1850, Living father in Chazy, Clinton Co., New York
• Census: 1880, living with husband and father in Fenton, Broome Co., New York

Mary married Frederick G. NILES on 13 Dec 1865. Frederick (son of Bryant NILES and Eliza ?) was born on 12 Apr 1837. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Sarah Kate NILES was born on 13 Jan 1870 in Albany, Nemaha Co., Kansas.
2. William Weston NILES was born on 20 Apr 1868 in Albany Kansas.
3. Frederick B. NILES was born about 1873 in Kansas.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Cloth Dresser's Trade
• Residence: 1811, Maine, New York
• Census: 1850, Living in Chazy, Clinton Co., New York
• Occupation: 1850; Farmer
• Occupation: Feb 1856; Overseers of the Poor
• Census: 1880, living in Fenton, Broome Co., New York
• Occupation: 1880; Farmer

Notes:

Excerpt from "History of Broome County, New York": His father was Nathaniel Slosson, of Berkshire, Mass. He married Julia Ann De Witt, born in Fenton in 1807, married in 1832; she died in 1844. Her father was Abraham De Witt, who was an early settler and died in 1831..... Mr. Slosson is one of the pioneers of Broome county. He was in his younger days in active business, and learned the trade of cloth dresser and carried on the business for eighteen years in the then village of Binghamton, at what was then known as Lewis Mills. Mr. S. retired upon his farm in 1850, where he hwas ever since resided. Mr. S. is a man of strong mind and sound judgment, and is universally respected for his firm adherence of principles he believes to be right. He is now in the possession of allhis faculties and appears to wear the years with as good grace as most men do at sixty or seventy years. Although nearly eight-five years have come and gone, he has lived to see this county grow from a howling wilderness to one of great prosperity, and the now city of Binghamton, containing a population of 20,000 people, has come to such from a small hamlet of which he can well remember. Truly he is one of the early pioneers of old Broome county, and has kept alove the memories of this county during all its changes.

William married Julia Ann DE WITTBy Rev. Peter Lockwood. Julia (daughter of Abraham DE WITT and ? UNKNOWN) was born in 1807 in Fenton, New York; died on 24 Dec 1844 in Maine, Broome County, New York. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Death: 24 Dec 1844, Binghamton, New York

Other Events and Attributes:

• Birth: Apr 1764, Kent, Litchfield County,Connecticut

Notes:

Excerpt from "History of Broome County, New York": Moses Delano and Nathaniel Slosson are said to have been the first settlers in the vicinity of East Maine. They located there about the beginning of the present century, and were followed by Samuel Stone and Heman Payne in 1816, and by William Hogg in 1836.

Nathaniel married Eunice SISSON. Eunice was born about 1766; died on 22 Feb 1804 in Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts; was buried in Cone Hill Cemetery, Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

He was an early settler in Broome County, New York.

Abraham married ? UNKNOWN. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Oct 1785; Joined the Church in Richmond, Mass.
• Census: 1790, Richmond, Berkshire Co., Mass.

Notes:

Note from "Slosson Genealogy": Daniel built the "Caswell house," in Kent, and from there moved to Richmond, Mass.

"George Slawson" by Harold D. Slosson: Finally news came to Daniel and Keziah that the General Court of Massachusetts had opened for colonization the western part of that state. The area lay just north of them; it was the opportunity they were looking for. the expression "Western Fever," according to one reference, actually originated in Kent, Connecticut. In any event, Daniel contrated it, and in the next year, 1762, the Slossons were again on the migration trail. The specific place of interest to Daniel and Keziah was about midway in western Massachusetts between Connecticut and Vermont, and close to the New York State line. Actually, it was only some fifty miles north of Kent......
Transportation in Colonial days, however, was a real problem. Perhaps at that early day there may have been some kind of a wagon road in the Housatonic River Valley extending for a ways north of Kent. The Slossons' final destination, however, was off the river course, in a primitive and heavily forested area.
It is believed that the Slossons went northward on horseback, pack-train fashion, perhaps driving some stock before them. Most probably it was a three-day journey, with rivers to ford, hills to climb, and forests to ride through, requiring at least two nights of camping out on the way. At night, after their horses were fed and hobbled to keep them from straying, the Slossons ate supper around a lively campfire. Thereafter, with strts as their lamplight, trees as their cover, and pine needles as their mattress, they rolled into blankets for some sound sleep. Early the following morning they would push farther into the forest.
It might also be mentioned that now going through Kent is a footpath - ossibly following an old Indian course - Called the Appalachian Trail, or in some places the "Long trail." Starting in southern United States, it extends some 2000 miles north, almost to the Canadian border. But even this long trail couldn't finally help Daniel and Keziah, since - as before indicated - they eventually would diverge westerly from the trail's north-easterly course......
Daniel's next younger brother, John, and his wife, Hannah, decided to go to this new land also, taking with them their two-year-old daughter, Aldine. Daniel, now the leader, and his wife, Keziah, had with them daughter Eunice, perhaps six years old; their son Jehiel, about three; and Anna, a babe in arms of less than one year.
Finally, the Slossons reached a clearing, the start of a settlement then called Mt. Ephraim, now the present town of Richmond. No grand group of greeters awaited them to point out their allotted land, since at tht time there were screly more than a dozen white men in this immediate area. Captain Micah Mudge and his family came in 1760, and a few more families arrived in 1761. And now the Slossons were the first to arrive in 1762. Not until 1765, after more settlers were there, was the town actually established. Thus the Slossons were among the very first settlers in this section of the Berkshire Hills which had been purchases from the Indians.
In those pioneer days, much political organizing had to be done with the Slossons doing their share. For example, John Slosson is listed on the committee to oversee the construction of the town meetinghouse, a stout, well-built building. It is believed this structure, in excellent repair - including a good coat of white paint - stands to this day. John was also the town clerk for a time, it has been reported.
"Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War": Vol. 14, p. 307 -
SLOSSON, DANIEL. Private, Lieut. Jabes Colt's Co., Col. rosseter's detachment of Berkshire Co. militia; entered service Jul 17, 1777; discharged July 27, 1777; service 11 days, at the Northward; roll dated Richmond; also Capt. Aaron Rowley's Co.; Col. David Rosseter's detachment of Berkshire Co. militia; entered service Aug. 13, 1777; discharged Aug. 20, 1777; service 7 days, at Bennington.

Daniel married Keziah BENTON before 1758 in Kent, Litchfield, Connecticut, USA. Keziah (daughter of Jehiel BENTON and Sarah BERRY) was born on 25 Mar 1736; died on 28 Dec 1797 in Richmond, Berkshire, Massachusetts, USA; was buried in Cone Hill Cemetery, Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]