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Peter died Nov. 17, 1829, aged 97 years and 8 months.
the living our pity is aroused at the sight of the thickly rusted padlock on the gate, where no key has been inserted for more than half a century. On the morning of May 8, 1781, while Abram Wolever was at work in the woods on Shoemaker Hill, two miles south of Fort Herkimer, he was surprised by a band of savages - taken prisoners, and finally knocked down, scalped twice and left for dead. Towards evening he revived and attempted to return home but weakness prevented. His family becoming alarmed at his continued absence instituted a search for him. When discovered he was so disfigured as to be taken for a red man, and came near loosing his remnant of life, at the hands of his friends. He had made a rude bark halter and succeeded in adjusting it upon a trusty old horse which he had called to him but was too weak to mount.
With the aid of good care and the professional services of Dr. Petrie (the famous Revolutionary Surgeon) for a year, he recovered but the wound on his head never healed. He and his family were among the first settlers in Columbia, after the Revolution. This pioneer is often referred to as Richard which is a unaccountable error, as both Richard and John sleep on the Oriskany battlefield. Abram selected for his home the farm now occupied by William W. Hopkinson, and he located his log cabin conveniently near the Indian trail, just west of the well in what is now Olcott Harwicks garden. Abram's name appears repeatedly in the Church Records and the venerable Stephen Clapsaddle, who opened his eyes in the sixth year of the last century, told the writer he had often sat in church with him and that he wore a sort of skull cap which he never removed in public.
He died Feb. 6, 1819 aged 63 and his wife Dorothea died Oct. 5, 1847 aged 92. His was the first interment in the southeast part of the Columbia Cemetery, where many of his descendents are now resting. Of his children, Abram, Jr. married Margaret Stahring (Starring) and lived in Springfield where he had numerous descendents.
Jeremy remained at the homestead. His children were Dolly, Henry, and Elizabeth who married Mr. Steele Margaret. Abram who married Frank Flansburgh. Peter and John. Jeremy moved to Truxton, then to Frankfort, then to Tunnicliff Hollow, locating on the Clark Possessions. Jeremy and Peter both stuttered. Peter (son of Abram) lived on the south side of the road west of the Cullencroft Hen dairy where the remains of an old cellar in the limestone ledge may still be seen. Jacob and Isaac were brothers, Dorothy (daughter of Abram) married Peter Piper and lived on the north side of the road, east of her brother Peter.
Among her granddaughters are the Misses Comstock and Mrs. Henry GreenmanI
of Richfield Springs, Isaac was killed by lightning, while binding wheat, with the sun shining. Elizabeth (daughter of Abram and Dorothy) born Feb. 28, 1785 married Henry Miller (son of John and Nancy Miller) born March 3, 1777, married March 9, 1806. This childless couple lived in what is now the Kayner homestead, and later on the Newell Orendorf place. Had many foster children. Henry died Sept. 25, 1843 aged 66-6-16 and Elizabeth died Nov. 10, 1857. A handsome monument is erected over the two graves and the tiny plot is enclosed with a handsome iron fence standing in a stone curbing but while all this speaks well for the dead and Jacob Wolever, a nephew who shared their hospitality (son of Abram and Margaret born Feb. 9, 1805 married to Catherine House Feb. 2, 1839. Their children were Stephen of Nov. 28, 1839, died June 30, 2867, aged 27-6- Sarah Elizabeth born July 31, 1842, Margaret Diantha born June 20, 1844, (widow of Daniel Ward) Charles Henry born Mar. 22, 1847. Katherine died Sept. 25, 1849, and Nov. 17, 1849 he married Christina Eckler, born Jan. 18, 1824 and their son Henry M. Wolever, born May 12, 1854, Charles Henry Wolever was cleaning out a well for Henry Myers, whose home was between Mohawk and Ilion. The well caved in; a force of workmen worked diligently to release him, and although they found him alive he died from his injuries. John Wolever who lived west of the Wilkerson homestead near the town line of Warren, was clearing the ice from the motive power of an old fashioned sawmill, when the wheels began to revolve and he was hit in the head by the pitman, and instantly killed.
Jemima Wolever was born July 4, 1832 in the eastern part of the town of Manheim. Her parents were Jacob and Katherine Wolever, old settlers in town. She was married at her home Nov. 15, 1852 to Jacob A. Petrie. He was born at the Petrie homestead April 13, 1823, son of Frederick and Cathern Petrie and h s grandfather was Dr. Wm. Petrie a surgeon of the Revolution. They celebrated their golden wedding Nov. 15 1802 at their home in the eastern part of the town of Herkimer.
Superscript Notes
(1) Son, Peter's death notice mention that both Peter and his father escaped the Oriskany Battle field in Aug. 1777 as reported in "book of Names" page172.
(2) Peter's wife also has the spelling of Catherine Grey and Catherine Vlack, they both are buried in Manheim Church Cemetery
.
(3) As reported by Andrew Frederick Hunter in his booklet
"Memoirs of George And Phoebe Warnica" page 9
(4) This account on the raid of Fort Herkimer is from Benton's " History of Herkimer County".
There also was another account of this raid in
SKETCHES of SOME OF THE OLD FAMILIES of the MOHAWK VALLEY
with HISTORICAL INCIDENTS
"In July 5th, 1782, a band of Indians and Tories under Brant came into the Mohawk Valley. They were discovered early in the morning by our vigilant scouts, who were on the lookout. One was an Oneida Indian called Good Peter. The Oneidas were our allies during the revolution. Peter was an Indian runner and gave the alarm to the inhabitants that Brant was coming. The people near Fort Herkimer took shelter in the fort. The family of Augustine Hess were the last to gain the fort. They all got safely in but Mr. Hess, who was shot dead at the gate. The inhabitants east of Fort Herkimer who could not reach the fort, were gathered together by grandfather Jacob Casler, and were taken for safety to the ravine on the north side of the river, near the gulf bridge, where they remained for two days and came back to their home in safety. Among the children were Betsey Rankin, who afterwards became of the mother-in-law of the late Major Richard N. Casler."
Benton's Herkimer, page 406 and French's Gazetteer also mentions this massacre.
"5 in July, 1782, a party of 600 Indians and Tories entered this settlement, and were discovered by Peter Wolever, who, with Augustinus Hess, lived about 60 rods from the fort. Both families escaped to the fort, except Hess who was killed at the picket gate. Valentine Starring was tortured within hearing of the fort, which was too feeble to attempt a rescue."
(5). Early Families of Herkimer County New York, page 279.
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