determined the destination of the party by purchasing for himself of Farnsworth his log house and land, declaring that there he should make his future home. The rest of the family adopted the decision of Thomas, and Chautauqua County became the final home of all. Thus did the fancy of a single mind determine the destinies of generations of descendants. SLAVERY IN CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY Not until 1827 were slaves entirely emancipated in the State of New York. When the Prendergasts came to the shore of Chautauqua Lake, they brought with them Tom, a favorite negro slave, an heirloom of the family. Afterwards they brought Jack and Maria, brother and sister, slaves of Judge Matthew Prendergast. Jonas, the son of Maria, was born in Chautauqua County, September 22, 1816, and was the slave of Matthew, as the official records of the county show. He was probably the only slave born within its limits that was owned by a resident of the county. There also came Nan and Ann, who were the slaves of Dr. Jediah Prendergast, and Sue, the slave of Thomas. These slaves were treated kindly by their masters, rather as servants of the family. They were manumitted before the day of their legal freedom had arrived, and for the most part afterwards remained with their masters until they died. A spot was reserved for their burial on the Prendergast estate, and there it may be they all sleep, Jack, Jonas and Maria, Nan and Ann and Sue, a lowly people faithful servants of kind masters.* MEHETIBIL'S BURIAL PLACE As the season was far advanced, all but Bemus and Thomas Prendergast moved on to Canada, and passed the winter there. In the spring of 1806, the sons, James and William 2nd, returned and built a log house upon land *All of the valuable and interesting facts here given respecting slavery in this county, were gathered by Hon. Abner Hazeltine in the course of a thorough investigation, and given by him in an excellent and comprehensive address, made before the Chautauqua County Society of History and Natural Science, and are now preserved among its records. |