Dantown -- A Place In Time

 Area in Dantown near where the Sherwood family lived (1774-1784)

Dantown is now a reservoir 

When the land your ancestors owned is under water and not because of a mortgage, but due to a reservoir covering it, how do you find where your ancestor's lived.  This article will attempt to do that without using scuba diving gear.

The John Sherwood Family  purchased land in Dantown, Connecticut  in 1774.  They had been living in Salem, New York, just across the border.   About 1784, they moved back to New York just across the border to Poundridge, New York.

The map below is of Dantown, Connecticut.  The Sherwood family lived here until about 1784, and many of their friends were still living there in 1790 when the first census was taken.  Through the use of this map, land records, military lists, and the 1790 census, it can be determined the approximate location where the Sherwoods lived from 1774-1784 before they moved.

Below are the families listed in order in the 1790 census who may have lived in the Sherwood neighborhood while they were in Dantown (1774-1784)

Note:  After I posted, I noticed print sizes varied for no apparent reason.

Samuel Jones-- "Samuel Jones of Canaan Society listed in baptism register January 24, 1783 on a page labeled "Baptism of Infants."  There is a note that he "Declared conformity to the Church of England" on the same day as John Sherwood and John Dufrees (St. Johns Episcopal Church in Stamford, Connecticut).  Served  in Militia with John Sherwood.
Jonathan Stevens --Served in Militia with John Sherwood.
Ebenezer Weed--Caanan Parish Patriot

17 Houses in between
Nathan Chitester--Served in Militia with John Sherwood.

02 Houses in between
Solomon Stevens--Son of Admer of Stevens.
Augustus Wilkes
Abner Stevens--Owns the land North of John Sherwood in 1788.  Son of Admer Stevens.
Allen (John?) --Possibly father of Reuben Allen who married John's daughter Sarah Sherwood.  See Map (II).                 
Israel Slason (Slawson)--Listed next to John Sherwood in the militia.  Buys "narrow strip on land" in 1788 from John Sherwood with Eleazer Slason (Slawson).  He marries Mary Dufrees, a daughter of John Dufrees who "Declared conformity to the Church of England with John Sherwood in 1783."  (see Samuel Jones).  Israel and Eleazer may both have been sons of Elephalet and Mercy Slason or sons of Eleazer and Sarah Slason.
JOHN SHERWOOD--Possible location of John Sherwood in 1784.  John was not listed on the 1790 Census with the people on this list.  John Sherwood is in Poundridge by 1790, but likely lived near here 1774-1784 based on map, census, land, and military sources.
David Slason (Slawson)--See Map (I)--David is listed next to Israel Slason in the 1790 Census which would place him near the Sherwood property which is where he was on the map.
Jonathan Slason Jun--son of John Slason.  Possibly served with John Sherwood in the Militia.
Reuben Stevens--See Map (III)--Served with John Sherwood in the Militia.
Daniel Stevens--Daniel may be the father of Reuben Stevens.  He would have been 33 in 1772.  May have been one of the owners of one of the mills on the map.  Possibly a brother of Admer Stevens.  He owned land just North of some land purchased by Abraham Stevens and John Sherwood in 1785.  John Sold his half in 1789 (possibly just before he moved to Poundridge).
Jonathan Slason--Son of David Slason (See Map (1). Served with John Sherwood in the Militia (or Jonathan above)
Thomas Jones
Samuel Jones Jun--A Samuel Jones was listed next to John in the Militia (could be his father?).
Abraham Stevens--A son of Admer Stevens.  Buys land in 1785 with John Sherwood from Admer Stevens.
Amos Stevens--Possibly a son of Daniel Stevens.
John Stevens--Buys land from Solomon Burtis in 1793.  John is probably the father-in-law of Solomon Burtis (the father of his wife, Ann Stevens).
Solomon Burtis ??-- (Difficult to Read)--Buys land from John Stevens in 1793.  He is on a list in St. Mark's Parish, New Canaan in 1794.  He may have been the brother of Lovisa Burtis Sherwood (wife of John Sherwood).  There is a Solomon See Map (IV) listed.  Could this be Solomon Burtis?   It could be Solomon Stevens as well, or some other Solomon.

21 Houses in between
Timothy Reed--Served with John Sherwood in the Militia.

5 Houses in between
Charles Weed--Caanan Parish Patriot
Abraham Weed
Enoch Comstock--Served with John Sherwood in the Militia
Peter Weed--Served with John Sherwood in the Militia.
Enos Weed
Daniel Weed
James Weed--Caanan Parish Patriot
Josiah Weed--Served with John Sherwood in the Militia (Corporal).
Jonathan Weed--Served with John Sherwood in the Militia.
Hannah Weed
Seth Weed--Served with John Sherwood in the Militia (Sergeant).

13 House in between
Stephen Weed--Served with John Sherwood in the Militia
Obadiah Weed--Possibly Admer Stevens's brother
Sarah Stevens--Possibly Admer's sister
Admer Stevens--Sells land to John Sherwood in 1784.  Sells land to John Sherwood  and Abraham Stevens in 1785.

Not sure why some print sizes are different.  They were the same in the draft.

*In some cases there could be an error of those who served with John Sherwood, if it was another person by the same name who was listed in the census.  The fact that they lived close to John Sherwood help verify they are the same person.  Also in some cases is it difficult to determine if it was the father or son, or even another person who served (Samuel Jones, Jonathan Slason).  The fact that John Sherwood served with so many neighbors definitely put him in this neighborhood before 1790.  This is also true of other listings.
It is  Is difficult to determine exactly which person it is in other entries as well when several people in the area have the same name.  The reader will have to look at the total picture of the people who lived in the neighborhood in 1790 and weigh the circumstantial evidence.

Deeds

The deeds tell us that John Sherwood who lived in Salem, New York bought land in Stamford (Dantown) in 1774 and lived there until about 1784.  He may have lived in Salem from his marriage in 1769-1774.  In 1784, it appears he lived on Old Poundridge Road in Poundridge (Old Poundridge), Westchester, New York just over the border from Stamford (Dantown).  At this time he added to his property in Dantown by buying a strip of land just South of his property.   John purchased it from Admer Stevens. In 1789 John says he is "of Stamford" and his buying and selling land there.  In 1790 he is listed on the 1790 Census across the border in Poundridge, New York

What is a Grog Shop which is listed on the map?  Grog refers to a variety of alcoholic beverages.  The word originally referred to a drink made with water of "small beer" and rum.  Modern versions of the drink are often made with hot or boiling water, and sometimes include lemon juice, lime juice, cinnamon or sugar to improve the taste.  Rum with water, sugar and nutmet was known as bumbo and was more popular with pirates and merchantmen.

Sources

Descendants of George Slawson
Descendants of Thomas Stevens
Federal 1790 Census
Map of Dantown, Connecticut

Stamford Connecticut Land Records

St. Johns Episcopal Church Records, Stamford, Connecticut

Registration of Births, Marriages and Deaths of Stamford Families.  Compiled by Reverend Elijah B. Huntington Stamford, April 6, 1797.

How John's property (approximate location) in Pound Ridge was located

The land transaction dated 12 April 1784, between John Sherwood and Admar Stevens in Fairfield County, Connecticut said John Sherwood was of Old Pound Ridge, New York at that time. (Land Records of Stamford, Connecticut, Deed Book K, Page 529.

To all People to whom these Presents shall come:  GREETING.  KNOW YE, That I Admar Stevens of Stamford in Fairfield County and State of Connecticut for the Consideration of Two pounds eight Shillings Lawful money of said State Received to my full Satisfaction of JOHN SHERWOOD OF OLD POUND RIDGE in the county of Westchester of State of New York......................Apparently he had lived in Connecticut because the deed said the land was "directly opposite to the house of said John Sherwood and which he lately inhabited."

In 1790 John Sherwood is listed on the Census in Pound Ridge, Westchester, New York. Land records were good in Fairfield County, Connecticut during that period.  That was not the case in Westchester County, New York.  So I began to look elsewhere to find other records for Westchester County.  

I visited the Pound Ridge Historical Society shown on the front of this pamphlet, and Debbie Butterfield showed me the records there.  One record showed Sarah Sherwood,  John's second oldest daughter had been married by the Reverend Judd of Pound Ridge  to Henry Cramer in 1792.  The Sherwood Family left Pound Ridge about that time so there was no other evidence  they had been there.  I purchased "Historic Landmarks of Pound Ridge."  On page 33 of the pamphlet, I saw the following:

When I did not find John Sherwood's home,  I began checking to see if any of his neighbors (listed on the census above)  were included in the publication.  I noticed there was a picture of Nathan Olmstead's home.  If the census taker went down the road in order this would have been John Sherwood's next door neighbor.  This  home would have been there when he was there!!  John's children would have played with the Nathan Olmstead children in that very home (or should I say a version or it).

I looked at a map of Pound Ridge found in the publication

I was able to enlarge the map  to show  where the Nathan Olmstead home was on Pound Ridge Road.  This may well have been Old Pound Ridge mentioned in the Connecicut deed.  I noticed Ebenezer Jones and Simeon Dibble were also listed on the map.  Ebenezer Jones was  on the 1790 census three houses down from John Sherwood.  Simeon Dibble was a son of Jonathan Dibble and was listed two houses away from John Sherwood on the census.  Joseph Ambler, also on the map, may well have been related to Sarah Ambler, the wife of Nathan Olmstead.  There is an Ambler Cemetery near their home although Sarah Ambler Olmstead was not buried there.  The next post shows how the Nathan Olmstead home and the the area appear today.

Nathan Olmstead Home (near John Sherwood's property in 1790)

The sign pointing to Pound Ridge Road

The Nathan Olmstead home as it looks today at 61 Pound Ridge Road

Sign designating the Nathan Olmstead as a landmark of Poundridge

This sign points to the next property.  The next three photos are property near the Nathan Olmstead Home.  The census taker went to the Sherwood family after the Olmstead family so if he went in order, the Sherwoods possibly lived in one of the next three areas.  Property records are not available to help us to better determine exactly where they lived in 1790.

The land is used for a much different purpose today (tennis court) than in 1790

Land near the Nathan Olmstead home

Land near the Nathan Olmstead home

The Olmstead and probably Sherwood home were very close to the border of Bedford.  Sarah Sherwood, daughter of John Sherwood was married to Henry Cramer in Bedford January 19, 1792 by the Reverend Judd of Pound Ridge.  This was exactly 23 years after Sarah's parents had been married by the Reverend Eliphalet Ball of Bedford.  

Lovisa Burton? Burtons? Burtous? Burtis?

The question is what we should call John Sherwood's wife.  We could just call her John Sherwood's wife, but that would not help genealogists, and she DID have a name of her own. 

 I have examined many records as have many others to try and verify that Lovisa was actually  a Burton(s).  I have never come up with any evidence that she was  a Burton(s) even though her name was spelled that way in this record.

Note:  Solomon Burton(s) who married Ann Stevens and their two children, Sarah and Nehemiah are listed here as well.  Ann Stevens was the daughter of  John and Ann Stevens.

Another source called Stamford Registration has Lovisa listed as a Burtous.

Note:  Solomon Burtous who married Ann Stevens is also listed as a Burtous with their children Sarah and Nehemiah in Stamford Registration.  It was interesting that the ONLY time the name is spelled Burtous in the Stamford Registration records was with Lovisa and Solomon.   That links them a little closer together.  Possibly they were even siblings.  It is interesting that John and Lovisa named one of their sons Solomon (after her brother?)  

In the land and property records Solomon Burtous is the named used.  So even though he goes by Burton(s) in the Barbour Collection, in other records located Solomon goes by Burtous.

The land records show Solomon Burtous of Stamford bought and sold land in Stamford between 1790 and 1803.  Solomon's son,  Nehemiah Burtis, (listed above in Barbour Collection records) sold land in Stamford from 1815 to 1822.  In the property records his name is spelled Burtis, the more common spelling of the name.

A purchase of land by Solomon Burtous from John Stevens April 13, 1792 is interesting in that his wife, Ann Stevens, had a father and a brother by the name of John Stevens.

Solomon Burtous (Burtiss) and Ann (Stevens) Burtiss are living close to John Stevens Sr. and John Stevens Jr. in 1800. 

 There were also several transaction between John and Lovisa Burtis Sherwood and the Stevens family suggesting that Lovisa and Solomon were siblings or at least closely related.  

The purpose here is to show that the Solomon Burton(s) listed in the Barbour Collection is really the Solomon Burtous (Burtis) listed in Stamford Registration and in land and property records later on.   This article has attempted to tie Solomon to Lovisa and show that she was also a Burtous (Burtiss).

There are two other sources that shed light on this as well.  Dr. Harry B. Neilsen formerly of Weston, Connecticut who has researched this line for many years wrote:  "Both Lovisa and Solomon both wrote their names two ways - Burtous and Burtiss.  the "U" in the first way was written in such a way that it looked like an "N."  

The Livingston Manor Times in Ocober 13, 1966 quoted from a letter by Mrs. Maxwell:  "My ancestor, Solomon (Jr.) Burtis born Apri 30, 1787, with a brother and sister went to live with Aunt Lou Sherwood between 1813-1815........"  These would be the children of Lovisa's brother Solomon.  He died in 1816.  

The fact that Solomon (Jr.) married a Rebecca Roosa of Mamakating, Sullivan, New York, where (Aunt Lou) Sherwood lived at that time, gives credibility to this story.  This is the most direct link that Lovisa and Solomon (Sr.) were indeed brother and sister.

From the above information and more which could not be included here, I believe that Lovisa's surname was Burtous or Burtis as it is more commonly spelled today.

A similar article could be written about her first name, but for genealogy purposes at least we can feel better about her last name.    She has been called Louisa, Lou, Lovisa, Levisa, Levica?.  Her granddaughter who was named after her was called Lovisa and Louisa and other names, but with the first name it is more true that a name by any other name is still the same.

"The John Sherwood Story"

Click here to view "The John Sherwood Story"





This is the you tube video on Stephen Sherwood's grandfather, John Sherwood and his wife, Lovisa Burtis Sherwood.  I set out to find the crumbs they left behind on the trail from Green's Farms, Connecticut to Wurtsboro, New York.  Future posts will give more details behind the findings on this  video.