  Mrs. Warren, (formerly Mrs. Forsyth,) now residing on Ridge road, in Cambria, is daughter of Capt. Ganson. Few have seen more of pioneer life -– and that, principally, upon the Holland Purchase. She has obligingly given the author some interesting reminiscences of early times: - Soon after my father had come on west of the river, and opened a public house, other settlers began to come in. There was nothing on the road to Batavia, until Mr. Ellicott’s surveyors made their head quarters at Stafford. The Indians were frequent visitors at my father. I used to see them often, the chiefs, Hot Bread, Jack Berry, Red Jacket, and Little Beard. Sometimes the Indians were turbulent; they would become a terror to the new settlers. My father was a stout athletic man; had great influence over them; would quell them in their worst drunken frolics. ----Pioneer History of the Holland Purchase of Western New York, by O. Turner, 184 1806-7 Mary and John bought land in the western frontier after the loss of their first born child at one year of age. When they left for their new property they have another child one year of age and their third still in Mary’s womb. The second year of their abode Mrs. Forsyth laid one of her small children on the floor on an improvised bed to take its usual mid-day nap. As she went to look to its welfare what was her surprise and horror to see a large rattlesnake that had unceremoniously crawled in the open doorway and lay snugly coiled up on the quilt near the child. With a rare presence of mind she quietly stepped out, got an axe and returned and with a sure blow severed the head of the reptile from its body, thus saving the life of her child. Her and John Forsyth had four children when John died of unknown circumstances in the year 1812. He was only 31 years old. Mary buried him on a knoll behind their Tavern. A few weeks later President James Madison declared war against Great Britain. For more than a year Mary managed her tavern and farm with her four young children. Neighbors were yet scares in those day and the frontier was still rough and dangerous. She prevailed none the less. In December of 1813 the United States invaded Canada in a brutal and futile battle against the United Kingdom and their native allies. The retaliation that followed was thrice as brutal---- When Ezra returned to Mary, her children and her Tavern, he quickly wed her in July of 1813. Together they reared an additional seven children. In all she had twelve children in her long and lustrous life. They are as follows,
She herself passed away February 23rd in the year 1857 at seventy-one years, five months and twenty-five days of age. She was buried between her two husbands on the knoll behind her Tavern. 1812 THE FRONTIER FUGITIVES had such short notice of the attack of the English and Indians that they had left most of their possessions behind. In some cases the women tied their silver and other small treasures in bags and dropped them in the well or hid them in the nearby underbrush.
The best account of this tragedy was written by Orsamus Turner, Historian and editor of Lockport’s first newspaper. His account follows: “There was little warning, the Indians preceding the English soldiers swarmed out of the weeds and commenced an indiscriminate shooting down of the fleeing citizens plundering and burning their log homes. Six or seven men and boys were killed and scalped.” On that day of December 19, 1813, the Ridge road section of the Lewiston Trail presented some of the harshest features of war and invasion. The inhabitants on the frontier were retreating eastward, the Tuscarora Indians having a prominent position in the fight. There was a small arsenal west of Howell’s Creek were a few of the Tuscaroras and settlers stopped and drove the invaders back. At FORSYTH CORNERS they stopped long enough to decide whether to take the Ridge road to Gaines where there was arsenal, or the Lewiston Trail to Batavia where there was also an arsenal. The Majority took the Lewiston Trail. All kinds of vehicles were used in this motley throng fleeing from the torch and the tomahawk of an invading foe. THE TUSCARORA INDIANS effectually aided the flight of the citizens of Lewiston by firing at the Indians who were following them. Twice they made a stand against the foe. Their first stand was just before the invaders ascended the road to the Reservation. They gathered the whole nation, men, women and children on the escarpment above the ascending road. The men had all the guns, the women each with a round stick looking like a gun barrel from below and a horn for every boy and would join them. However she was determined to stay behind and take her and girl. It was a big bluff but it held up the invaders for some time. When the fugitives from the Niagara Frontier reached Warrens Corners they halted momentarily at the FORSYTH TAVERN (later Warrens Corners) expecting that WIDOW FORSYTH and her two children would join them. However she was determined to stay behind and take her chances of the raiders getting that far. As it happened she made a wise choice because in a matter of a few weeks Militia from Batavia established a garrison of some 500 soldiers near Dickersonville, and her tavern was chosen to prepare rations for the garrison. About the same time Sergeant EZRA WARREN and two privates were stationed there. As we have seen the British and Indians stopped at Church Street, west of Streeter’s Corners. However on or about July 5, 1814 the Barracks at Hardscrabble (later Dickersonville) were burned by the enemy. It is interesting to note that after the war, Sergeant Warren and MRS. FORSYTH were married and the tavern became WARREN’S TAVERN and as the area began to attract settlers it became known as WARRENS CORNERS.” 1813 INVASION BY BRITISH, INDIANS CAUSED AGONIZING HARDSHIPS ON NIAGARA FRONTIER. (Union Sun & Journal, Lockport, N.Y., Thursday, October 2, 1969, Page 12). By CLARENCE O. LEWIS Niagara County Historian 
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 Our projects have slowed a bit with these seemingly endless rain but if you have passed by lately you may have noticed the beginning of our primitive Virginia Worm Fences. Early settlers constructed these fences from scrap wood and local rocks as we have done as well. These fences will make their way all across the historic farm as we restore the property back to its former glory. The word ' tavern' meant something completely different to people living in colonial times than it does today. In those days, the tavern was a place for both local and townsfolk and travelers alike to apply for lodging, meals, recreation and dancing. - By George Rice, Homestead Publications
The Town of Cambria’s website touts its commitment to progress without losing its personal touch… I guess, like too many people in power these days, the individuals who are supposed to work for the people, forgot their promises as well as the people who were promised. While we complain that the younger generation has forgotten the art of communication, the Town of Cambria exemplifies its demise. Given the opportunity, most people will pay the cost for permits and even jump through the unnecessary hoops the town throws up, chalking it up to small town politics. But to hide behind mailed letters, in a small town where everyone should know everyone, well that’s just cowardly and mean. Cambria government has forgotten its charge. Go to the town of Cambria’s spring newsletter. The town supervisor writes about creating memories. Nice words… but actions always speak louder. Is the role of government to help its citizens? To create solutions? Are rules to inform and protect people? The actions of Cambria official indicate the answer is a resounding “No; Not in our town”. It seems the Town of Cambria applies rules to hinder and hurt. IF there was a problem or a complaint, was there any reason why both parties could not have been brought together to create a solution? Isn’t government for all the people? Not a select few who are in power or personally know those who are? While we are at it, take a look at the planning board’s page on the website, specifically rule #6. It says anyone who wants anything from the board has to do whatever the board asks… So pay your fees and bring me the broom stick of the wicked witch of the west and you can have your permit… You may think that is ridiculous… but is it? “Applicant and owner must agree to Planning Board conditions or no approval will exist.” That sounds like absolute power to me, and absolute power corrupts absolutely… So think again if you believe this article is just about some farmer who didn’t apply for the right permits… It is a perfect example of a town without courage to talk to its citizens, without heart to help them and without brains to know that people will remain quiet and passive for only so long. The citizens of Cambria deserve better treatment. They deserve collaborative leadership. This is still small town America, where sunflowers and small business will not cease and good citizens will not desist just because someone who hides behind their title sent a letter. Cambria townspeople: It time to pull back the wizard’s curtain and find a way for all of us to live and WORK together. It has been a little bit over a year now since we began the restoration process at the historic Forsyth Tavern and a very limited number of people have been able to see the work that we have done so far. For this reason, here is a little update on what has been going on behind the scenes at the Tavern---  Currently the Dominick family is working hard to preserve and restore our barn complex which was in terrible shape when we took over the property.
When finished, we hope that a portion on the barn complex will be open to the public as part of Jay Bird Antiques. We are also currently working on obtaining the permits for this great little antique shop to open in our beautiful little hamlet of Warren's Corners. Back inside of the Tavern we are currently working on installing a Unico heat and air system which will help keep this beautiful structure comfortable in both summer and winter which we think that both our guests and the house will appreciate as fall comes racing towards us.  As always, thank you for checking in on us and we truly hope to see you all soon. Until then we hope that you enjoy watching our progress and don't be afraid to reach out, ask questions, show your support or share with us anything that you think we might find interesting!   Looking to see who owned your Niagara County historic home?Click the link below to download a full sized version of this map to aid in your research. 
The Forsyth will be opening its doors this coming weekend during the Cambria Town Wide Yard Sale. Stop by to see our progress on our historic restoration of the property or to shop in our little antique shop currently set up just in front of our barn. We would love to see all of our neighbors and friends at this once a year town event! Early Settlement Warrens Corners |
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| Intro Beaver Dams Ruin Land Forsyth First Settler Wild Animals In Abundance Tavern Erected in 1806 Indian Invasion Repulsed Brave Women Rewarded Romance Named Hamlet Beach Family Arrives The Steadman’s Settle Haner’s Commodious Loghouse The Carleton Family Col. Sutherland Arrives | The First Sawmill Carlton’s First Cidermill Capen and Sabins Arrive The First Physician Arrives Adam’s Blacksmith Shop Mrs. Taylor’s Sudden Death Talbert Opens Tavern Cleared Parker Farm Freer Antecedents Settle Crocker Homestead Built Fowler Traded Farms Samuel Adams Arrives Freeman Builds Sawmill | Tailor in 1819 Beasts Drive Gunn Away First Negro Arrives Physicians were Numerous Cooley Migrated West First School Opened Methodist Church in 1825 Brick Church Built 1858 Military Activities Early School Life Black Famine in 1816 Stage Coach Days Blacksmith Industry | Threshing Machines Harvesting Implements Plows and Harrows One Horse Wagon Boot and Shoe Industry Post Office Manufacturing Roads Cemeteries |
Part 1.
Warrens Corners had no real natural advantages to make it a place of prominence above the many pleasant hamlets that conduce to make up Niagara County one of the most desirable counties of the state to locate in. It chanced to be located near the hub of the county, after its several towns of which it composed were located. Warren’s Corners comprises a part of the towns of Cambria, Lockport, Newfane and Wilson. In 1821 the proper authorities at Albany appointed three commissioners, Erasmus Root, Isaac Hawley and William Bruce, to locate the county seat. In connection with other localities from Lewiston to Wrights Corners they came to Warren’s Corners, and they were royally wined and toasted by Ezra Warren, then a large property holder and hotel keeper of the corners, and offered a commodious site for the location of the public buildings that would necessarily have to be erected.
The proposition was favorable considered by two of the commissioners, but previous to their final decision, Wm. Brittan died, and the remaining two differed in their opinion as to the location, so it became necessary to appoint another commission, which occurred in 1822. When they were qualified, and ready to act in their official capacity the Erie canal had been surveyed and its location determined upon. Therefore they selected Lockport. The wisdom of their choice has made itself manifest as years continue to multiply.
The proposition was favorable considered by two of the commissioners, but previous to their final decision, Wm. Brittan died, and the remaining two differed in their opinion as to the location, so it became necessary to appoint another commission, which occurred in 1822. When they were qualified, and ready to act in their official capacity the Erie canal had been surveyed and its location determined upon. Therefore they selected Lockport. The wisdom of their choice has made itself manifest as years continue to multiply.
Beaver Dams Ruin Land.
The pioneers had a dense forest to confront them as they located on their several farms. Many years previous the beavers had constructed dams to obstruct the flow of water in its natural course, so that three swamps were within, or contiguous to its borders. The one in the north part called, the big bear swamp, embraced hundreds of acres; one south of the Ridge Road, flooded a large tract of land for the most part of the year, and one on the east, located principally on the Forsyth farm, though not as large, retained the water like the previous ones until the hot days of summer, when the malaria that was generated from them caused fevers and augue that enfeebled every member of the community, so that at times hardly enough well ones were left to care for the sick. In time, those dams were opened by state and private ditches from six to eight feet deep. The swamp land was thus reclaimed, and consequently the health of the people in a great measure assured.
Forsyth First Settler.
The first settler that struck a stake for a permanent residence at Warren’s Corners was John Forsyth. He was a native of the State of New Jersey. In the year 1800 he, accompanied by his brother, William, came to Western New York. His brother settled and became a large property holder in Canada near the Falls. He built a large hotel where the Clifton House now stands, and was its proprietor for many years.
John Forsyth sojourned in Genesee County. N. Y., two years. There he became acquainted with and married Miss Mary Ganson, a young lady connected with a family of prominence in that county, many of whom have since help responsible and honored positions in Western New York.
John Forsyth sojourned in Genesee County. N. Y., two years. There he became acquainted with and married Miss Mary Ganson, a young lady connected with a family of prominence in that county, many of whom have since help responsible and honored positions in Western New York.
Wild Animals In Abundance.
Early in the spring of 1805 he with his family started for the Town of Cambria as it as that time comprised all that section of land between Tonawanda Creek and Lake Ontario. His wife and child rode on horse. The household goods and provisions were loaded on an ox sled. Mr. Forsyth drove his stock, which comprised a small flock of sheep, a cow, and some shoats, in connection with the ox team. Taking what at that times was called the Niagara and Batavia road, or might be more properly expressed as an Indian trail. On their arrival a temporary abode was constructed. In the fall a more commodious log house was erected near the site of the present homestead. At that date their nearest neighbor east was Samuel B. Moorehouse, who kept a tavern at the place now called Hartland Corners. The intermediate space was known for many ears as the eleven mile woods. Five miles west on the South ridge, Joseph Hewett had located, who soon after sold out to William Howell, and he kept a hotel at that place for many years. On the North ridge there were two or three families by the name of Beach. A few other families were sparsely located in what was then called the Town of Cambria. The first summer of Mr. Forsyth’s residence, having occasion to cut swail grass in the marshes south of the ridge, principally on the Southerland and Longmate farms of today, he was obligated to go to Mr. Hewett’s five miles, to borrow a pair of boots to protect himself from the bite of the rattlesnakes that infested the marshy places in the warm days of July and August. The second year of their abode Mrs. Forsyth laid one of her small children on the floor on an improvised bed to take its usual mid-day nap. As she went to look to its welfare what was her surprise and horror to see a large rattlesnake that had unceremoniously crawled in the open doorway and lay snugly coiled up on the quilt near the child. With a rare presence of mind she quietly stepped out, got an axe and returned and with a sure blow severed the head of the reptile from its body, thus saving the life of her child. The small flock of sheep that Mr. Forsyth brought from Genesee County became the prey of the wolves. If enclosed for protection for the night they would pounce upon them in the day time. The cold winter nights were many times made hideous by their terrific howling. Bears were quite numerous and at times quite aggressive, especially when they got on track of a good shoat, or a patch of green corn, when bruin and the coon were hardly satisfied with an equal share, regardless of the wants of the pioneer and his family.
Tavern Erected in 1806.
Owing to the immigrants and land speculators that came to settle and view the country, the stage lines that where established to accommodate the travel and carry the mail from the eastern to the western part of the state and the heavy teaming required to carry goods and produce from one section to another, induced many of the early settlers to commence tavern keeping. John Forsyth erected the first sign post for a hotel at Warren’s Corners in the spring of 1806. He lived to be its proprietor until June 2, 1812. He died of paralysis, aged 31 years; was buried a few rods south and west of his late home, where since that times many of his kindred have found their last resting place.
Indian Invasion Repulsed.
At his death Mrs. Forsyth was left with four small children to care for and carry on the farm and manage the hotel. The responsibility resting upon her at that time can hardly be estimated at this distant date. War with England was declared within a few days, June 19, 1812. Prospect of an invasion of British soldiers and Indian savages made the feeble ad unprotected settlers apprehensive of danger, perhaps death. The invasion as apprehended occurred the 23d and 24th of December, 1813. The invading forces composed mostly of Indians, advanced as far east as the Howell tavern on the South ridge. Massacre and destruction of all kinds of property followed their march from Lewiston. At Howell’s hotel they were met by a company of Tuscarora Indians who held their allegiance to the United States under John Mount Pleasant as their chief and there repulsed them, causing the invaders to return to Lewiston. The few settlers at Warren’s Corners packed up what things they could take upon their ox sleds and horse’s backs and started for their previous homes east, principally in Genesee, Livingston and Ontario counties, where many of them had relatives living to provide for them in their extreme necessity. The old Niagara and Batavia road was the one the most of them took. Sad indeed would be the rehearsal of the incidents connected with that journey in the cold, bleak days of December. It was not a very Merry Christmas to them. Turner in his history of the Holland land purchase, states that “entire neighborhoods were deserted, hundreds of log cabins were desolate and the signs and sounds of life were mostly and deserted cattle and sheep jovng and bleating, famishing for the lack of fodder, there was none left to deal to them.
Brave Women Rewarded.
Mrs. Forsyth sent two of her children, Edmund and Luther in the forlorn procession to spend the winter with her brother John Ganson, near Batavia. With the other two smaller ones she remained, prepared to start at a moment’s warning in case of necessity. The defeat of the invaders at Howell’s removed the necessity and she remained at her home, while many of those who fled did not return to occupy their deserted homes until the close of the war.
Romance Named Hamlet.
Ezra Warren who enlisted in a company of cavalry in the state of Vermont in 1812, was in connection with the company sent to the Niagara frontier. He with two others of the company were detailed to do duty at the Forsyth tavern as messengers or to intercept stragglers or deserters from the main force stationed near the river. Then, becoming acquainted with Mrs. Forsyth an attachment was formed and as soon as the members of the company were honorably discharged he returned from Vermont and married her. The place derived its name from him. He continued the business of hotel keeping until the year 1825. That year he became converted through the preaching of the Rev. John Copeland, a circuit preacher of the Methodist Episcopal Church. A radical change in his way of life was made manifest by the baptism of the Holy Ghost that had cleansed him from the sins of the world. He could never be convinced that any other baptism was necessary so that he never was admitted in full membership with any church, only as probationer. Soon after his conversion he became a local evangelist and held revival meetings in many of the churches and school houses throughout the county. Many of the older people of the county remember the fervent exortations of Father Warren, as he was usually called. He died Nov. 12 1857, in the 90th year of his age. His wife preceded him and died Feb. 23, 1857, in the 75th year of her age. Ending a life that was more intensely connected with its history than any other person that has favored it with life’s presence. She was the mother of 12 children, ten of whom grew up to man and womanhood, three of whom are still living. Her grand son, Chas. F. Warren, who owns and lives on the homestead, has among the papers pertaining to the estate, an article from the Holland Land Company, signed by Joseph Ellicott, agreeing to convey to John Forsyth a certain tract of land dated February 17, 1808.
Some winters just don’t want to go away and 1816 was one of those. The 1815 -1816 winter in the northeastern United States was milder and dryer than usual. As spring approached however, the weather turned colder and frosts were widespread. Farmers anticipating planting crops were frustrated throughout April and May. By the first week of June milder weather had returned and farmers rushed to get their crops sown. The relief was short-lived. On June 6th a storm brought freezing temperatures and snow. Crops planted only a week earlier were lost to frost. A few days later, milder weather returned for the rest of the month. Again crops were planted in the hope that the frosts were over. This was not to be. Cold weather and frost returned again in July. With temperatures in the 40s during the day, people began to worry about famine. Crop losses affected not only humans but livestock as well. Another warm spell in later July allayed fears but by August 6th, another round of winter weather arrived. What vegetation had survived the previous episodes was now destroyed. Once again another warm period followed but it was too little, too late. A killing frost came in late September, two weeks before usual. Then the winter started again.
Repercussions of what people called “eighteen hundred and froze to death” were widespread. The overall harvest was half of what it normally should be and only half was edible, leaving people and livestock only a quarter of the crop yield to consume. Crop prices rose while livestock prices dropped as farmers sold off livestock they could not feed. The prices remained in this pattern throughout 1817 and did not return to normal until after 1820. The opening of short sections of the Erie Canal helped stabilize prices. By the 1820s prosperity had returned to the area.
In 1816 Western New York was still very much a wilderness. Most of the information on that summer comes from accounts in New England newspapers and correspondence. However, in the 1849 “History of the Holland Land Purchase,” Oramus Turner wrote of Western New York, “In 1816 and 1817, the seasons were unpropitious (unfavorable)…after a long period of gloom and depression, struggling against formidable difficulties, the courage of the new settlers was revived.”
What caused the summer of 1816 to be so unusual? At the time there was much speculation about why the skies were wreaking havoc. It was later determined that volcanic eruptions in Indonesia between 1812 and 1815 spewed so much dust into the atmosphere that it affected weather conditions for several years around the world. The eruption of Tambora in 1815 is believed to be the worst ever recorded in human history resulting in that memorable year without a summer.
Douglas Farley, Director
Ann Marie Linnabery
Erie Canal Discover Center
24 Church St.
Lockport NY 14094
716.439.0431
CanalDiscovery@aol.com
www.NiagaraHistory.org
Repercussions of what people called “eighteen hundred and froze to death” were widespread. The overall harvest was half of what it normally should be and only half was edible, leaving people and livestock only a quarter of the crop yield to consume. Crop prices rose while livestock prices dropped as farmers sold off livestock they could not feed. The prices remained in this pattern throughout 1817 and did not return to normal until after 1820. The opening of short sections of the Erie Canal helped stabilize prices. By the 1820s prosperity had returned to the area.
In 1816 Western New York was still very much a wilderness. Most of the information on that summer comes from accounts in New England newspapers and correspondence. However, in the 1849 “History of the Holland Land Purchase,” Oramus Turner wrote of Western New York, “In 1816 and 1817, the seasons were unpropitious (unfavorable)…after a long period of gloom and depression, struggling against formidable difficulties, the courage of the new settlers was revived.”
What caused the summer of 1816 to be so unusual? At the time there was much speculation about why the skies were wreaking havoc. It was later determined that volcanic eruptions in Indonesia between 1812 and 1815 spewed so much dust into the atmosphere that it affected weather conditions for several years around the world. The eruption of Tambora in 1815 is believed to be the worst ever recorded in human history resulting in that memorable year without a summer.
Douglas Farley, Director
Ann Marie Linnabery
Erie Canal Discover Center
24 Church St.
Lockport NY 14094
716.439.0431
CanalDiscovery@aol.com
www.NiagaraHistory.org
April 15th 2018
I have told this story about a year without a Summer probably one hundred times this "Spring" and as I looked outside this morning to see a field of fresh white snow I decided that it was about time to dig through the newspaper scans. This one is curtesy of Ed Warren's collection which he was kind enough to lend to me last year. It just goes to show though that it is very possible for Western New York to hold onto winter all year long. For my sake I hope to never witness a repeat of the Black Famine of 1816 but one hundred and two year later... perhaps we are due for a repeat?
November 18th 1789 - November 12th 1879
 |  Envelope containing the photo to the left, mailed to Mary Forsyth-Warren from Ezra |
Warren's Store and
Grange Hall
March 1923
The Grange Movement began in 1867 by The Patrons of Husbandry which was a more-or-less monopolization on farming put together by local farmers of every community throughout the Unites States. The club met as a gathering of resources to help farmers get an upper hand on everything from state-of-the-art machinery to politics. For Cambria, the seat of Niagara County and a place of very well established farms, this Grange was a true powerhouse. It also seems to have become a posh retreat for its members along the Million Dollar Highway as well in its later years.
The two story portion of the Grange Hall was once the Warren's Corners store. Its build date is unknown at this time but its placement right in the center of Warren's Corners would have made it a fine Grocery in its day.
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1800 And Froze To Death
1860 Map
Animals Over The Falls
Behind The Walls
Captian John Ganson
Come And Get Your Drunken Pigs
DeWitt Clinton Visits Tavern
Early Settlement Of Warren's Corners
Ezra Warren Becomes A Temperance Leader
Ezra Warren's Obituary And Life
Former Tavern Keeper Gave Name To Warrens Corners
Landmark Preservation Needed
Mary And The Invasion Of Lewiston
Mary Forsyth-Warren
Photos
Small Town News
Tavern As County Seat
Tavern Facts
War Of 1812
Warren's Corners 1938-2017
Warren's Store And Grange Hall
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