Civil War Soldiers Buried in Watertown
As with many people, the location New York invariably refers to the city, and the existence of the state is unknown, so it is with Watertown. The population and importance of the city overshadows the township. The city's site was dictated by the falls of the Black River, which afforded the waterpower badly needed in a new settlement. From a little crossroads on the south side of the Black River, Watertown has grown to be the principal city of northwestern New York State.
Surveyors first came upon the site of the town and city of Watertown in 1796, and even before Jefferson County was set off from Oneida, settlers began to trickle into the area. By 1800 the pioneers were picking out the best locations for farm and industry. When the county was created in 1805, Watertown was considered the best place for the county seat. By 1812 the village had 500 inhabitants, and on 5 April 1816, the village was incorporated.
The country village became a city in 1869. Located almost entirely in the Town of Watertown, the city sprawls across the center of its northern border, and the suburbs reach out into the Towns of Brownville and Pamelia. Nearly the whole course of the Black River from Carthage to Black River Bay is populated. The city has long prided itself on its residential character, but the proximity of Fort Drum, and the decay of the city center has eroded some of its once proud neighborhoods.
The county seat, Watertown boasts the home of the Jefferson County Historical Society, Northern New York Library System, and a zoo, as well as the usual city amenities. Of particular interest to genealogists is the genealogy department of the Flower Memorial Library . A volunteer organization housed within the library, it is the first resource for anyone researching family history in Jefferson, Lewis, or St Lawrence counties, with the emphasis, naturally, on Jefferson County. The county offices are located on Arsenal Street, and are generally friendly to researchers. The Mormon church maintains a Family History Center on Ives Street.
For specific details, see Jefferson County Resources.
Names of the Early Settlers |
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| ADAMS, SEPTIMUS G. ADSIT, Margaret ADSIT, Philena BACKUS, RUFUS BACON, AARON BAILEY, Seth BENEDICT, AMOS BINSSE, Dr. John BRAINARD, DANIEL BUCKLIN, DAVID W. BURNS, Thomas BURR, TIMOTHY BURT, Charles S. BUTTERFIELD, ZACHARIAH CALHOUN, Alvin CALHOUN, Abigail M. CALHOUN, Chauncey CALHOUN, Chauncey, Jr. CALHOUN, Ebenezer CALHOUN, John CALHOUN, Mary CALHOUN, Nancy C. CALHOUN, Sarah E. CANFIELD, MEDAD CASWELL, GORDON COFFEEN, AMOS COFFEEN, HENRY COLLINS, ELA COOK, JOSEPH |
COOLEY, Olive M. COWAN, JONATHAN CUTLER, ISAAC DOOLITTLE, JESSE EDMUNDS, ANDREW FAIRBANKS, JASON FLETCHER, WILLIAM FOSTER, JABEZ FOX, AMASA GILBERT, MARINUS W. GOODALE, BENJAMIN GOODALE, JOEL GOODALE, REUBEN HATHAWAY, John HATHAWAY, Pamela C. HATHAWAY, William HENRY, JOSEPH HUNGERFORD, ORVILLE HUNTINGTON, WILLIAM JEWETT, EZEKIEL JOHNSON, PHILO KEYES, AARON KEYES, PERLEY LYON, Rebecca MASSEY, HART MASSEY, ISAIAH, Dr MASSEY, Jonathan McCLURE, Samuel |
OTIS, SETH OWEN(s), Elizabeth PADDOCK, JOHN PADDOCK, Sarah E. PHIPPEN, SAMUEL PIERCE, OLNEY ROGERS, ELI SHELDON, JOSEPH SIKES, JOHN SIMMONS, JOHN SKINNER, BENJAMIN SKINNER, THOMAS SMITH, THADDEUS SMITH, WILLIAM SMITH, WILLIAM STAFFORD, DAVID STERLING, MICAH TAYLOR, ABRAM, Jr TEN EYCK, EGBERT THORNTON, ISRAEL TUTTLE, GERSHOM WAITE, J. WATSON, SAMUEL, Jr WELLS, PAOLI WHITTLESEY, SAMUEL WOODRUFF, NORRIS W. YOUNG, John Guinn |
If you have additional information about Watertown, please contact:
Nancy Dixon
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