Amos York

HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF STONINGTON, County of New London, Connecticut, from its first settlement in 1649 to 1900, by Richard Anson Wheeler, New London, CT, 1900, p. 472, 697, 703

Father: William York (1705 - ) Mother: Hannah Palmer Spouse: Lucretia Minor (b 1733, d 1821) Child: Barentha York, Manassha Miner York ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ History and geography of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, 1615-1924 Chapter XVII. Wyalusing Township Page 192

Amos York in 1773 removed with his family from Connecticut to Wyoming thence to Wyalusing in 1774. Here he carried on his improvements with much success. He had erected a good log house and barn and possessed horses, cattle, sheep and hogs with sufficient quantities of hay and grain for their support.

Upon the breaking out of the Revolutionary War, he was known as an active and ardent Whig, which arrayed against him the enmity of his Tory neighbors.

On February 12 and 13, 1778, there occurred a severe snow storm. Each evening, a negro from the old Indian town came to Mr York's on a trifling excuse and remained until late in the evening. On the 14th, the storm ceased and Mr York determined to find out the reason for the negro's strange conduct. Immediately after breakfast, he set out on horseback to Mr. Pawling's. Without suspicion, he entered the house of this supposed friend and received a cordial welcome. But it was the malicious welcome of a treacherous enemy. Between forty and fifty Indians led by Parshall Terry, Jr and Tom Green (Tories) had arrived in the settlement and were waiting there during the storm. The moment they saw Mr York, they gave the war-whoop and his white neighbor told him that he was their prisoner.

Terry and Green, accompanied by twelve of the savages, repaired with Mr York to his house for plunder. Mrs York with the devotion of a wife and mother, made a most touching plea with Terry and Green for the safety of her husband and the protection of her family. Then, says a daughter of Mr York, "They drove the cattle into the road, stripped the house of everything of value they could carry away, broke open the chests, tied up the plunder in sheets and blankets, and put the bundles on the backs of the men. Father had to take a pack of his own goods. When they were ready to start, my father asked permission to speak to his wife; he took her by the hand but did not speak. When the company started, father was compelled to walk, carry a bundle and assist in driving the cattle, while his favorite riding mare carried Terry."

The journey was one of indescribable suffering from exposure to cold as well as from grief of mine. Mr. York was taken to Canada, subsequently exchanged and returned to his old home in Connecticut, where hearing of the disastrous battle of Wyoming and learning nothing of his family, he fell sick of fever and died October 30, 1778, eleven days before his family reached him.

The helpless family - mother and eight children, her son nine years of age and her youngest child eight months old, were thus left in the depth of winter without protection and with but little clothing, bedding and provisions. They remained here three weeks, when Captain Buck arrived and escorted them to Wyoming.

Mrs York was a witness of the horrible battle in which her son-in-law, Capt. Aholiab Buck, was killed, leaving her widowed daughter with a child four months old.

As soon as it was safe to do so, she set out with her son, eight daughters and an orphan grandchild for her home in Connecticut. On the way, her youngest child died and Mrs. York was compelled to bury it with her own hands.

In narrating her flight to Connecticut, a daughter, Sarah says: "When we were at the North River, where General Washington lay, an officer informed him that there was a woman distressed. Washington ordered her to be brought to his tent. She told him her story and Washington gave her fifty dollars. But we did not need money for traveling expenses as people on the road treated us with great sympathy and kindness."

In 1785, Mrs York and her children returned to their old home in Wyalusing. She died in 1821, in her 89th year.

The children of Amos and Lucretia York were: Wealthy Ann (died in infancy), Esther M., Lucretia, Wealthy Ann, Keziah, Sarah, Temperance, Manassah, Berinthia, Hannah, Amos (died in infancy). Esther M., born November 15, 1754, married Aaron Smith of Brooklyn, Conn; Lucretia,born April 21, 1757, married first Capt. Aholiab Buck, second Major Justus Gaylord of Wyalusing; Wealthy Ann, born November 3, 1759,married Benjamin Smith of Kingston, Pa.; Keziah, born January 1, 1762, married Job Turrell of New Milford, Conn.; Sarah, born May 4, 1764, married Robert Carr of Yates county, N.Y.; Temperance, born May 1,1766, married Daniel Turrell; Berinthia, born September 27, 1770, married William Sherman Buck; Hannah, born April 27, 1773, married Stephen Beckwith.

The son, Manassah Miner, born October 11, 1769 became a man of great usefulness and was noted as a Presbyterian minister. "He was abundant in labors. He wrought with his hands, taught school, preached through a large section of country not only on the Sabbath, but through the week, gathered the children for catechetical instruction, and older persons for Bible study. He occupied an extensive field, preaching regularly at Towanda, Wysox,Wyalusing, Black Walnut and occasionally at out stations. His name is still spoken with respect and veneration, and his memory is blessed."He died January 2, 1830 in Wysox. He married, 1792, Elizabeth Arnold of Black Walnut. Their children were: Amos, Vesta, Augusta, Miranda,Lucretia, Polly, Miner and Sarah. Amos, born Oct. 17, 1793 , married Harriet Hinman, died May 16, 1878 inWysox; Vesta married Adonijah Alden of Monroe, and died in the West;Augusta married Abner C. Hinman of Wysox; Miranda married George Carrand died in New York state; Lucretia married Hannibal Hamlin and diedin the West; Miner removed West, married there and died at Fort Scott,Kansas; Sarah never married, died in Illinois