James Main (1743 - 1841)

Born 27 Jan 1743 in Stonington, New London County, Connecticut

Ancestors

Husband of Hannah (Wallace) Main — married 4 Mar 1763 in Stonington, New London, Connecticut

Husband of Anna Bly — married 17 Aug 1806 in Berlin, Rensselaer, New York

Descendants

Died 20 Jan 1841 at age 97 in Berlin, Rensselaer County, New York, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Randall Gardner [send private message]

Biography

James Main was a centenarian, living to age 100.

Captain James Main served with 6th Regiment, Albany County Militia, New York Militia during the American Revolution.

Revolutionary War Veteran

The 1840 US Census for Berlin, New York has James checked off as being over 100 years old ! (from The Sons of the American Revolution [1])

James Main was the first child of Thankful (Brown) Main (1720-1812), the second wife of Jeremiah Main Jr. (1708-1780).

James was born in Stonington, Connecticut, as had many generations of Mains before him. All the Mains of the 18th and 19th Centuries seem to have strong connections to the early Baptist Church. James' paternal grandmother and maternal grandfather were brother-sister. Which means his parents were first cousins. And two of his grandchildren, James 3 and Mercy, would marry to produce James K. Main and his siblings.

He married Hannah Wallis from New Hampshire in 1763. They had two girls and two boys in Stonington, Connecticut, by the time the Revolutionary War with Britain started in 1775.

Two explanations for how the Mains ended up in Rensselaer Co. New York

New York was desperate for men to fight in the Revolutionary War. It needed to raise two Regiments, and offered "Land Bounty Rights." This attracted hundreds of men from nearby Stonington, Connecticut. Including James. Even a Private got a single Land Bounty Right of 500 acres at the time. James is listed as being in the 6th Regiment and receiving Bounty Rights. See, "New York In The Revolution, as Colony And State; These Records Were Discovered, Arranged And Classified In 1895, 1896, 1897 and 1898 by James A. Roberts, Comptroller Second Edition Albany, New York Press Of Brandow Printing Company, copyright 1898" (expired).

[How families were drawn to the Rensselaer County in the first place probably was not the promise of bounty lands. My previous research on the Scriven group who came from almost the same area as the Mains north to Petersburgh, New York. suggests that the parcels were rented by the migrants from Patroon Stephen van Rensselaer whose agents advertised his vast land holdings in upstate New York as an opportunity for impoverished and out-of-work soldiers at the end of the Revolutionary War. That and other sources clearly said that the parcels given were not bounty lands, but rentals. This lead eventually to a Renter's Rebellion when rents exceeded the veteran farmers' ability to pay. (See War)

A Discussion of Bounty Lands [2] by Lloyd Bockstruck clearly says that such land was always in the far western part of the granting states (so as to promote expansion of the tax base and settle former "Indian territory" with experienced soldiers). So, Berlin was not only owned by the Rensselaer family, it was not one of those western-most areas of New York. Furthermore, "The first act granting bounty lands in New York was passed on March 20, 1781. This and other subsequent acts set aside land in the Finger Lakes region in central New York and was known as the Military Tract." [3] On the other hand, there is a listing of a James Main as an enlisted man in the ALBANY COUNTY MILITIA (Land Bounty Rights) - Sixth Regiment [4], so that casts doubt on this argument--assuming the awarded land was local and not part of the Finger Lakes distribution. This is corroborated by an application to U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 for James Main by a Henry Hugh Hunt, January 4, 1926. This is through the Pennsylvania Society of the Sons (It looks as though Hunt was living in Pennsylvania when he applied. The application makes mention of a relative of his, Ziba Hunt, who served in the "Albany County Militia" with "Land Bounty Rights."

The idea that they were bounty lands--but that doesn't seem to make sense, considering the settlers were from Connecticut and Rhode Island, not New York. I know the Scriven family fought with a Rhode Island contingent. I'm guessing the Mains fought with a Connecticut one. So how would they end up with land grants from another state? I think, with a weak central government, it was the states giving the land grants, and there's no reason to think New York gave them anything. This is not even mentioning that the van Rensselaer land was mostly poor "left-overs" in the mountains and needed extensive clearing just to plant. I always thought that the families who got those Rensselaer parcels must have felt at least a little betrayed when they got there. But, as I recall, the rent was waived during the first years of ownership. So maybe the land was "free" for the first seven years or so was part of the attraction. (Today, we'd call that "bait and switch.") At any rate, back in those times, it was a very long way to travel to get what they got. The more likely explanation seems rentals rather than bounty lands. (See "impoverished soldiers" [5] on the profile page of William Scriven for more details.)

Then, there is an interesting and detailed discussion of this migration story on G2G [6] I found WikiTree member Ellen Smith's answer most compelling. Her ancestors came from Stonington, Connecticut, just like the Mains.

--Bob Scrivens (May 17, 2018) ]

Finally, there is this observation from Sharon Klein, local historian of Berlin, New York: "I can tell you without reservation that there were NO bounty lands in Rensselaer County. Those lands were farther west, and some people from Berlin took advantage of them leaving their land here to those coming later because of the advertisements of the Patroon urging folks to come here. Probably Mr. Main took advantage of those people headed to Wisconsin and other western lands. Our house was built in 1793, and we have the original indenture. I am sure you could get any and all indentures held by James at the State Archives in Albany as we did. The patroon did reassign lands vacated as he wanted to continue to collect rent on that land. James may have taken advantage of this." (email from Sharon Klein to Bob Scrivens, 11/26/2018)

Dozens of others alongside James in these Bounty Land Rights later blossomed as prominent citizens of Berlin, New York, e.g., Bly, Babcock, Wells, Sweet, Odell, Hull, Hewitt, Wheeler, etc. The Militia was called out when wanted; kept as long as three months out of New York, and the soldiers then sent home. Sometimes a regiment or a part of a regiment would be called out half a dozen times in the course of a year, and for half a dozen days at a time, and again it might not be needed in the entire year.

15 May 1777, At the house of Daniel Hall, in Center Berlin, New York, pursuant to a call of a committee to form a Company in the 7th Brigade, 4th Division, and 13th Regiment, New York State Militia in Rensselaer County, and town of Little Hoosic, Brig. General Steven Van Rensselaer, commanding, Justice Hall chosen Captain, John Taylor Lieutenant, the first, and Will Jones the 2nd Lieut., commissioned by George Clinton, Governor, July 30th, 1777. James mustered in as a Private.

A very short time thereafter, and only a very short distance to the North of Berlin, these Patriots won a major victory at the Battle of Bennington.

His father died in North Stonington in 1780. The war finally ended in 1783 and was followed by a period of prosperity.

James the Entrepreneur

James was quite the entrepreneur. He and hundreds of others from New London County, Connecticut descended on Rensselaer County, New York to take the land the federal government gave them for their military service. Cheap land could also be bought by the section and quarter section (160 acres). James acquired hundreds of acres in Petersburg and Berlin. He built a tavern in 1781 on the SW corner of "Three Corners" (Hilltop Rd and Old State Highway 22), before there was a Berlin, or the Hoosac Turnpike. He reportedly owned the Nine Kitchens Hotel on the old Goodell Farm that succeeded the Tavern on the Hoosick Rd. (Approximately 54-84 Old State Rte 22, Petersburg, New York 12138, 42.714486, -73.377154.)

This hotel was kept by Charles Saunders after 1790. Hilltop Road used to take you over to Dyken Pond, where grandson James T. Main later had extensive real estate holdings. This farm and three others eventually fell to J. T. Main in the 1840's on the probate of James Sr.'s estate.

First in a line of three James's, his son, James Jr., is also buried here. Married to Hannah Willise, (Born 2 August 1745 • New Hampshire Colony) James Sr. cast a very long shadow. 30 July 1777, at Rensselaer, James at 34, joined Washington's Army as a Private, 13th Regiment New York State Militia 7th Brigade 4th Division (Record on file with County Clerk, Berlin, New York.) By 1781, an Isaac Whiting, (1766-1842), enlisted, 1781, under Capt. James Main, and was discharged at West Point, 1783. (Mentioned in the "Lineage Book" by Daughters of the American Revolution Published 1915.) Jonas Odell was proprietor of the first tavern in the village of Berlin. In 1781, another one was established in the north part of the town by James Main. 14 January 1785, Henry K. Rensselaer's regiment paid James Main four pounds sterling, six shillings, and three pence for his service in the "Revolutionary War." In 1799, The Eastern Turnpike Road was organized, ...from the village of Bath in the county of Rensselaer in the nearest and most direct route to the house of James Main in Petersburgh in that county and from there to the state line of Massachusetts where the road from Williamstown to the city of Albany crosses the said line... About 28 miles from Bath-On-Hudson. James was a tavern owner and one of the Incorporators. See History of Berlin, New York [7] From Find-a-Grave entry Find A Grave: Memorial #111653808 James Main

Connecticut, Town Marriage Records, pre-1870 (Barbour Collection) cite James' marriage to Hannah Wallace on 31 Mar 1763 in Stonington, Connecticut Colony

The birth of daughter Hannah Main (1763–) was on 12 December 1763 in Stonington, New London County, Connecticut. He also had a daughter named Lucinda.

NOTE: Date of Death is from Probate Court Records in Troy, New York:

Find A Grave: Memorial #111653808 James Main

The Eastern Turnpike Road

James Main and others organized and bought $25 memberships in the Eastern Turnpike to Troy in 1799-1803). That ran south of Kendal's Pond. The Old Petersburg Road was later renamed Plank Road in 1830, when they improved the early Turnpike with wood planks for wagon traffic. And that ran north of Kendall Pond starting thirty years later and continuing to today.

Some Colorful Stories From Church Records

These stories were contributed by Sharon Klein, local Berlin Historian to me via e-mail, 11/26/2018 to Bob Scrivens:

"From First Baptist Church records, I find that James Main was a member and trustee in 1820 when the church became incorporated. Another quote from a history of the church:

“In a church composed of so many members were found some eccentric characters. One was the clerk. He was a representative man, of whom many anecdotes are told. One of them which is the time that Elder Leland was expected to preach here and a large congregation gathered. Leland didn’t come as expected and while waiting for him, Mr. Main said it wasn’t best to let the time entirely run to waste, so he entered the pulpit and commenced talking. The congregation gradually left the house and only a few remained and among them was Dr. Hammond (a good friend of Main) who asked Mr. Main what made the congregation leave? His answer was that he didn’t think they could bear the truth! Afterward he insisted that he preached at that time a moving sermon.

"A long time before he died, he had his coffin made and the workman that took his measure was admonished by him to make it large enough as he didn’t want to be crowded. It stood in the belfry of the church for many years and was a curiosity to young and old. He lived to be more than 100 years old. He was buried in that coffin, and it fulfilled a mission on earth.

"I believe that James Main and Dr. Hammond were buried side by side in the Center Berlin Baptist Cemetery, but can find no markers."

Stonington

"Colonial Era and Revolutionary War: 1670s - 1770s

For much of the 17th century, North Stonington was thinly populated by the Pequots and European settlers. . . .However, the pressure of a growing population and continued immigration in succeeding decades caused homesteading to steadily push northward. . . .

The first settlers to North Stonington were Ezekiel Main and Jeremiah Burch in 1667, who established settlements in the areas which became the village of North Stonington and Clark's Falls, respectively. Main was formerly of Massachusetts; he had served in King Philip's War and received a land grant in return for his military service. Burch had been a blacksmith in England before making the crossing to America and establishing a land stake. Other pioneers soon followed; families arrived during the 1670's and 1680's who formed the backbone of the town. They were the Mains, Miners, Wheelers, Browns, Palmers, Hewitts, and Averys, to name a few. "

--from "North Stonington, Connecticut" Wikipedia [8]

The 1790 United States Federal Census for Stephentown, New York shows this was the first place where James settled. He was in Petersburgh for the 1800 US Census.

James Main in the 1820 United States Federal Census shows James living with his family in Berlin, New York. There were two James Mains on this Census; the other must have been his son.

The 1840 US Census for Berlin, has James checked off as being over 100 years old ! (from The Sons of the American Revolution [9])

The Genealogical Record of Babcock, . . .Ezekiel Main listed James being the son of Jeremiah and Thankful Brown Main, born in Stonington and dying in Berlin, New York (at age 104 !) This source lists his children, including Gilbert, my ancestor, born January 10, 1768. (page 265) This source also lists the extensive ancestry of Thankful Brown. [10]

From Richard Main, Main Law Cafe (email send to Bob Scrivens, 3/23/2019):

"I found nothing to say James was a Reverend. He and his family were very devote Baptists, but not "a man of the cloth.

"I think James settled in what is now Berlin, New York and did not move. Before 1790 that spot was classified as Stephentown. Then later the same spot was classified as Petersburg, then finally it was Berlin.

"I think he was the second owner of a 1789 Tavern at the corner of Hilltop Rd and St. Rt 22, 1.5 mi. north of Berlin. Held it briefly, like a year or two. I suspect he was unsuited to be a tavern operator.

"Taverns back then were tiny hotels with a room or two to rent, a place to feed and put up horses overnight, a place to get a meal, and a small general store, and a good place to meet and hang out and have a beer. They often were the only building for miles around and on the only road. In this case the Hoosac up to Bennington."

Sources

• WikiTree profile Main-227 created through the import of BaxterFamilyTree.ged on Jan 27, 2012 by Jason Baxter. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Jason and others.

• Source: S-2130033797 Repository: #R-2146549482 Title: Ancestry Family Trees Publication: Online publication - Provo, Utah: The Generations Network. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. Note: This information comes from 1 or more individual Ancestry Family Tree files. This source citation points you to a current version of those files. Note: The owners of these tree files may have removed or changed information since this source citation was created. Page: Ancestry Family Trees Note: Data: Text: http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=7276982&pid=514
• Repository: R-2146549482 Name: Ancestry.com Address: http://www.Ancestry.com Note:
• Source: S-2130071391 Repository: #R-2146549482 Title: Family Data Collection - Individual Records Author: Edmund West, comp. Publication: Online publication - Provo, Utah: The Generations Network, Inc., 2000. Note: APID: 1,4725::0
• Source: S-2130072322 Repository: #R-2146549482 Title: Family Data Collection - Births Author: Edmund West, comp. Publication: Online publication - Provo, Utah: The Generations Network, Inc., 2001. Note: APID: 1,5769::0

James Main in the 1810,1820, 1840 United States Federal Census for Berlin, New York

Connecticut, Town Marriage Records, pre-1870 (Barbour Collection)

The Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970

Genealogical record of Nathaniel Babcock, Simeon Main, Isaac Miner, Ezekiel Main [11]

Sharon Klein, local historian of Berlin, New York, email, November 26, 2018.

• Genealogical Record of Nathaniel Babcock, Simeon Main, Isaac Miner, Ezekiel Main compiled by Cyrus H. Brown, Westerly, Rhode Island, The Everett Press, Boston, 1909 pg.73
• https://archive.org/details/genealogicalreco1909brow/page/73
• Find A Grave: Memorial #111653808