WILLIAM PRENDERGAST, A PIONEER OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, N. Y.
Reading edition
BY MISS HELEN PRENDERGAST.[9]
About one mile back of the west shore of Lake Chautauqua, N. Y., and almost directly behind the present Chautauqua Assembly ground, lies a farm now occupied by Chauncey Moses. This farm was formerly the home of William Prendergast, one of the pioneers of Chautauqua County.
To the rear of the house, and on a hill, is an old family graveyard where are buried the pioneer, his wife and many of their children and other descendants. The pioneer’s tombstone bears an inscription stating that he was born in Kilkenny County, Ireland, Feb. 2, 1727, that he was a son of Thomas and Mary Prendergast, and that he died Feb. 14, 1811.
His wife, Mehitable (Wing) Prendergast, is buried beside him. The inscription on her tombstone states that she was the daughter of Jedediah and Elizabeth Wing of Beeker, Dutchess County, N. Y., that she was born March 20, 1737, and died Sept. 14, 1811.
For some years after their marriage, Mr. Prendergast and his wife resided at Pawlings, Dutchess County. I have heard it said that William, the pioneer, came to America when he was but nineteen years of age. He continued to live at Pawlings until the year 1766. At that time the inhabitants of Rensselaer, Dutchess and Columbia counties who rented their lands, instead of owning them, became dissatisfied by what they considered the unreasonable demands of the proprietors, and broke out in open revolt.
Prendergast, who was looked upon as a leader of the disaffected, was taken prisoner, tried for treason and sentenced to death. He was, however, pardoned by the British king, George IV, on taking an oath never again to bear arms against the government of England. This oath he kept, so that during the Revolution neither he nor his 60sons were actively engaged in the Patriot cause, although sympathizing therewith.
After his pardon, he removed to Pittstown, Rensselaer County, twenty-two miles above Albany, N. Y., where he lived until 1805. At this time the family decided to remove to Tennessee, and departed for thence, traveling in wagons and on horseback. Not liking the place, they returned through Ohio and Pennsylvania to New York state. When they had reached a point some miles within New York, the horse ridden by Thomas Prendergast, one of the sons, became lame. Being near a settler’s log cabin, Thomas entered the latter and soon prevailed upon the settler to sell him his claim. Thomas, therefore, decided to go no further but to settle there and make the locality his home, which he accordingly did.
William Prendergast, the pioneer, and his wife, were the parents of seven sons and six daughters. All but one of these children arrived at maturity, and all but one settled in Chautauqua County, N. Y. The children just mentioned were:
1.
Matthew, born Aug. 5, 1756; died July 24, 1838.
2.
Thomas, born Sept, 11, 1757; died June 3, 1842.
3.
Mary, born 1760; died July 11, 1845.
4.
Elizabeth, born Aug. 30, 1762; died Aug. 31, 1824.
5.
James, born March 9, 1764; died June 18, 1846.
6.
Jedediah, born May 13, 1766; died March 1, 1848.
7.
Martin, born April 22, 1769; died June 21, 1835.
8.
John Jeffrey, born 1771; date of death unknown.
9.
Susanna, born April 22, 1773; died Aug. 8, 1847.
10.
Elinor, died in infancy.
11.
Martha, born March 18, 1777; died Dec. 9, 1849.
12.
William, born 1779; died Nov. 11, 1857.
13.
Minerva, born Aug. 26, 1782; died March 30, 1858.
The foregoing data, relating to the births and deaths of the children, while possibly not exact in every instance, is approximately so, and is the best it is now possible to procure. Of the children here mentioned:
1.
Matthew became associate judge of Niagara County, N. Y., from which Chautauqua County was taken.
2.
Thomas became a successful farmer.
3.
Mary married William Bemus.
4.
Elizabeth died unmarried. 61
5.
James founded Jamestown, N. Y., built and operated mills, conducted a store, and became judge of the Court of Common Pleas.
6.
Jedediah became a physician. He also engaged, with his brother Martin, in mercantile pursuits. He was of scholarly tastes, took special interest in geology, and at the invitation of DeWitt Clinton once wrote several articles on the geology of that section of New York state. These articles were afterward published by Governor Clinton just mentioned. Jedediah has one grandson living in Canada. Jedediah’s only daughter, Catharine, wedded Hon. Hamilton Merritt.
7.
Martin was associate judge of Niagara County and was supervisor for Chautauqua township for eighteen terms.
8.
Susanna became the wife of Oliver Whiteside, but was a widow with two daughters when she came to Chautauqua County.
11.
Martha died unmarried.
12.
William was a farmer, but is best known as Colonel Prendergast. He enlisted in the army during the War of 1812, took part in the battle of Black Rock, under Col. James McMahan, and won promotion.
13.
Minerva became the wife of Elihu Marvin, but was soon left a widow with a son and daughter of tender years.
I can remember when I was a child of six or seven years of visiting Colonel Prendergast’s house on Christmas Day and seeing his wife roast the turkey in a tin oven before the fireplace, cooking the vegetables in kettles hung on a crane over the blaze and pounding coffee in a mortar. She also “dipped” her candles and cooked in a brick oven.
She had a red broadcloth cloak, trimmed with red satin, which I was allowed to wear if I would sit still, and at the end of the visit my great-great uncle always gave me a piece of gold or silver money. One yet in my possession bears the date 1776.
Alexander T. Prendergast was a son of James Prendergast, the founder of Jamestown, N. Y., and of his wife, whose maiden name was Agnes Thompson. This Alexander had one son, James, who was a lawyer by profession and served as a member of the State Assembly. His parents founded the James Prendergast Free Library at Jamestown, an Episcopal church there called the Prendergast Memorial, gave a public drinking fountain, a window in the Congregational church, scholarships in the Jamestown schools, and 62other benefactions. There are no living descendants of James, John, William, Minerva, Martha, Elizabeth, or Elinor—children of William Prendergast, the pioneer.
Descendants of others of the children achieved a good measure of success. One of them, Col. Henry A. Prendergast, served as a paymaster during the Civil War and died of sickness contracted in the service. He was also a member for many terms of the New York State Assembly.
My own grandfather, a son of Matthew Prendergast, participated in the battle of Black Rock during the War of 1812, and rendered able service as a surgeon. He served many terms as a supervisor and was a famous physician. The only members of this family, bearing the Prendergast name, now left in Chautauqua County are my two brothers—John H. and Dr. William Prendergast—and James Hunt Prendergast, son of John H. This James is a lawyer practising at Westfield, N. Y. To these must be added myself. My sister, Mrs. Whallon, has a grandchild named William Prendergast Whallon who is now eight years of age and is of the seventh generation.
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