Stephentown from History of Rensselaer County New York

Book: 

 Pg 451:  Stephentown was named for Stephen Van Rensselaer, formed from Rensselaerawyck on 29 Mar 1784.

The town was first settled about 1765, by pioneers from Connecticut, and Rhode Island who entered town at the southeast corner and located upon the rocky hills there.  Asa and William Douglas settled there in 1765-66, but others believe the first settlement was made by Elnathan Sweet, Nathaniel

P 454:  East of Kinderhook Creek, from north to south are the lots of many including C. Sweet.  

Pathmasters of the town in 1784 included Samuel Sweet.  

P 499:  Burying Places, the Old Baptist Cemetery on the hill back of Stephentown village is one of the oldest in the town, and contains the remains of many of the first settlers of the town.  It was probably laid out about the time of the formation of the church, or in 1795 or 1796.  Among the stones still standing in the yard are those of Rufus Sweet, died April 11, 1850, aged 84; ... Elnathan Sweet, died Sept 25, 1819, in his 73 year; ...   (Rufus is the son of Elnathan in this cemetery)

David Sweet and Mercy Spencer are the parents of Elnathan Sweet Sr. as well as the (green) Amos Sweet line, which does not turn out to be our line - having found the names of children in a school record.  Elnathan Sweet Sr and Mehitabel Rogers are the parents of Elnathan Sweet Jr, Rufus Sweet . 

Epidemic 1813

Page 510:  The year following, in 1813, an epidemic made its appearance in the valley of the Hoosick, and swept through the country like a tornado.  The inhabitants of the valley had, from the earliest settlement, been much favored in health.  Very few cases of those complaints that generally afflict people of new countries, such as ague, bilious complaints, etc.  But few deaths had occurred comparative to the humber of inhabitants; but when the epidemic made its appearance it was but the warning of the near approach of the angel of death.

  "There was little or no exception as to age; the young and athletic fell before the destroyer.  The grand lever of human greatness broke at the silent touch of this awful disease.  Mourning as in almost every house; but few families escaped.  Few cases were cured; the knowledge of the physicians was altogether too limited to stay the fever of this raging epidemic.  The habiliments of mourning were everywhere, and the wail of widows and orphans not infrequent.  It made its appearance near midwinter, and continued till warm weather."

Page 511:

The road from Stephentown to Petersburgh, passing north and south through the town (of Berlin) (NY Highway 22), is the oldest existing highway in the town.  It was first an Indian trail, then the settlers' pathway through the wilderness, and finally a public highway.  The Green Hollow Turnpike, running from Albany to Williamstown, east and west through the town, is probably nearly as ancient.  The Harlem Extension Railroad passes north and south through the town, having stations at North, Centre, and South Berlin.  

Town of Hoosick:  

Page 361:

At the close of the French-and-Indian war in 1760, the country extended from the Walloomsac, near the junction of the Little Hoosick with the Hoosick, was covered with a dense forest of oak and pine, broken in only two places by the axe of the settler.  Jan Outhout had some time before 1754 erected a dwelling just within the present boundaries of the village of Hoosick Falls, on land afterwards owned by Henry Barnhart.  Pitt II .. had made a clearing and built a house two miles farther south, on the farm now owned by Mr. Nicholas Brown.

  At and near the junction of the Little Hoosick with the Hoosick was the settlement known in colonial records as Hosack.  It occupied those fertile meadows lying between ...

The legal description of the town from the revised statutes of the State:  "The town of Hoosick shall contain all that part of said county bounded northerly and casterly by the bounds of the county, southerly by Petersburgh and Frafton, and westly by Pittstown."

  The title to the soil in this town is derived through three original petents, the Hoosick, the Walloomsac, and the Schneider.

  The Hoosick Patent.  This was granted June 3, 1688 by Thomas Dongan

  The Walloomsac Patent.  This tract, lying north of the Hoosick but extending farther east, was granted June 15, 1739, to Edward Collins, James ....This patent conveyed about 12,000 acres lying along the Walloomsac River, partly in what is now Washington County and parly in the county of Rensselaer.

  The Schneider Patent.  July 8, 1761, land "bounded northwardly by the patent of Wallumshack, southwardly by the patent of Rensselaerwyck, westwardly by the patent of Hoseck, and eastwardly by other vacant lands, containing about 10,000.  

Hoosick is divided into two nearly equal parts by the Hoosick River.  This is an old historis stream, whose valley was the war-path along which the French and Indians made their stealthy marches upon the villages of New England.  This river, having received the waters of the Little Hoosick just within the town of Petersburgh, enters this town a little east of the central point of the southern boundary, and flows slightly west of north until it reaches the line of White Creek..  

Dr's Sweet - 5 generations of bone doctors

Hudson-Mohawk
Genealogical
and Family memoirs
under the editorial supervision of Cuyler Reynolds
Vol IV, New York, Lewis historical Publishing Company 1911
pages 1441-2

Genealogical Society of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: #50622

SWEET:

The Sweet family of Amsterdam, New York, descends from Dr. Samuel Sweet, immigrant ancestor, who came to America from Wales, where the family name is not uncommon.  A remarkable fact connected with the family is that each of the four generations in the United States has produced one or more members who have been noted for their skill in the treatment of diseases of the bones and joints.  Their methods have been handed down from father to son, and while differing from the regular prescribed treatments for such diseases laid down by regular schools of medicine, have been very successful.  Each generation of the four has had a Dr. Sweet who enjoyed more than a local reputation for skill in bone surgery, there is described as a “simple, natural treatment.”

(I) Dr. Samuel Sweet was born in Wales.  He settled in Rhode Island at a date previous to the revolutionary war, and was then a comparatively young man.  He was noted around Providence for his skill in bone treatment and must have had the method taught him by his father in Wales.  By his “natural treatment” he was able to perform some cures of dislocated bones and joints that were considered very remarkable.  Leaving providence, Rhode Island, he journeyed north and westward with his wife, whom he married in Rhode Island, using the method of transportation then available - the covered wagon drawn by horses or oxen.  He settled at Bullshead, Montgomery county, New York, on a farm where he resided until his death at an extreme old age.  He was often called upon by his pioneer neighbors to treat their disabled or disjoined limbs and gained a reputation that extended far beyond local limits.  He reared a family and it is a matter of regret that the name of his wife has not been preserved.

(II) Dr. Waterman, son of Dr. Samuel Sweet, was born in Providence, Rhode Island, April 8, 1776, died 1849.  He inherited the method of bone treatment followed by his father.  His fame extended over a large section of country, and he was much sought after by those afflicted with diseases he was reputed to successfully cure.  To his business of a healer he added that of farmer, and was an active worked in the Baptist church.  He studied theology and was licensed to preach, which he often did, in fact was known as widely as a preacher as a healer.  During his latter years his eyes failed and he became totally blind.  So skilled was he and of such delicate touch that his blindness did not interfere with his work of healing.  He was greatly respected all over Montgomery county.  At the time of his death, 1849, he was living in Amsterdam, New York.  Rev. Waterman Sweet married, in New York Elizabeth Hodges, born in New England, died in Amsterdam and buried in Florida, Montgomery county, New York.

(III) Dr. Waterman (2), son of Dr. Waterman (I) and Elizabeth (Hodges) Sweet, was born in Florida, Montgomery county, New York, August 12, 1809, died August 18, 1886.  He also became famous as a “bone healer,” having succeeded to his father’s practice.  He cultivated a small farm successfully and died possessed on considerable property.  He and his wife were members of the Baptist church.  He married, in Florida, June 1, 1815, died march 28, 1902.  Children:
1.  Elizabeth, born August 1, 1839, died July 25, 1859.
2.  Twins, died in infancy
3.  Twin, died in infancy
4.  Waterman (3), April 17, 1843.
5.  David M., see forward.
6.  Ira S., march 14, 1849; resides in Utica, New York and is a successful practitioner of the family method of bone treatment; married Martha Brown and has five children.
7.  Sherod L., November 6, 1850, died aged three years
8.  Leonard G., November 21, 1852, died January 21, 1890.

(IV) Dr. David M., son of Dr. Waterman (2) and Ruth (Mallory) Sweet, was born in Florida, Montgomery county, New York, June 4, 1845.  He quite naturally adopted the profession of his father, in which he has achieved remarkable success besides a local patronage, people from all over the United States coming to consult him concerning their bone ailments.  He has resided for many years in amsterdam, New York, where he is a highly respected citizen and professional man.  He has now (1909) largely withdrawn from active practice, surrendering it to his son, who is the fifth of his name to follow the particular methods employed.  The “Old Original Sweet’s Liniment” was made by the emigrant who settled in Rhode Island, and the same liniment is used to this day.  Dr. David M. Sweet married, December 23, 1863 Hannah M. Greene, born June 11, 1843, in Greenfield, Saratoga county, New York.  Children:
1.  Emma L., born November 11, 1864; married John S. Sterling, of Pattersonville, new York; they have a son, Lincoln S., born October 11, 1894.
2.  Harry L., November 30, 1869; was educated in the public schools and is rapidly succeeding to the business of his father, whom he will succeed as the fifth in direct line to follow the “natural method”; married Harriet M. Ransler, born in Schenectady, New York, June 13, 1874; has one child, Vinnie M.
3.  Vinnie E., August 21, 1873, died February 3, 1885.
4.  Infant, deceased,

Mrs. Hannah M. (Greene) Sweet is a daughter of Anson Greene, born in Saratoga county, New York, January 23, 1814, died June 1, 1891, and Lucinda (Lincoln) Greene, born in Saratoga County, March 7, 1818, died November 9, 1851.  Anson Greene was the son of James Greene, born in Rhode Island, died in Saratoga county, new York, aged seventy-seven.  James Greene married Pamelia Hendrick, who died in May 1868, aged seventy one.  Lucinda Lincoln, wife of Anson Greene, was daughter of Henry and Hannah (White) Lincoln, who were married in Rhode Island, settled in Saratoga county, New York, where they died, both having passed their eightieth year.