Person:Augustine Boyer (1)

"Augustine Boyer was an invalid from bilious attacks of long continuance and by advice of physicians a change of climate and residence was decided upon. He sold his farm in Maryland and went first to Philadelphia thence to Baltimore and lastly to Washington City residing about a year at each place but deriving no benefit. He went from Washington to South Carolina, remained there one year with no better success and returned to Washington. He next resolved to go northward and followed up the Susquehanna river through Pennsylvania. It was here that he met a party of Virginians returning from prospecting in New York State and who had already purchased lands and intended to emigrate thither. They were Dr. Joseph Speed, John J. Speed, Dr. William Patillo and a man named Clingman of the same family of Thomas L. Clingman of North Carolina. The Speeds were from Mecklinburg county on the Virginia and N. Carolina border. They advised him when he reached Owego Settlement to call on James Primpelly the land agent at that place and Mr. Boyer did so and held a long interview with him as to location and prices of land in the adjacent county. He decided to go on but arranged with Primpelly that in case he should conclude to look at the land he would write to him to meet him at the house of David Rich's on Owego Creek. He then went on toward the Lake country passing through Caudor Cantine's Location thence over the hills into Lansing and Cayuga County without descending into Ithaca, a mere hamlet and a little off of his course. He went on around to Geneva Settlement, consisting at that time of a dozen log houses. His mode of conveyance was a horse and two wheel cart and his company a Negro boy owned by him named Jerry Blackman then a lad of sixteen and who is still living at near the age of ninety two on Green St. Ithaca. Arrived at Ithaca he was taken sick and confined to his bed several days from his old aliment. One day a physician came along and stopping at the house asked if there was anybody there that was traveling to Sodus Bay. Upon being told there was a man upstairs sick that was going that way he requested to be shown up to his room. He gave him some medicine took care of him so well that Boyer was enabled to go with him on the second day. They went together to Sodus Bay. Here Mr. B crossed over the lake into Canada and traveled around it to Niagra Falls, thence to Buffalo when he turned east and went over the Holland Purchase continuing on to Canandaigua and Geneva at one of which places he wrote to Primpelly to meet him on a certain day at Capt Rich's. They met accordingly and together prospected over the land which Mr. Boyer bought and subsequently owned in Caroline. His original purchase was one thousand acres at $2. per acre. This was in the year 1803."

    "Whilst they were looking over the land the day was warm and meeting with no water they became excessively thirsty. All their search for water was unavailing and as a last resort Primpelly asked Boyer if he could climb a cherry tree. "No." Then said Primpelly give me your buckskin breeches and I will try it. He did so and Prim.. Put them on climbed the tree gathered a quantity of wild cherries and making a bag from one of the legs wrung out enough juice to satisfy their thirst." 
    Augustine had gone as "far north as Geneva. He could have bought land there as cheaply as he did in Caroline but he questioned the land titles there and bought at Centerville instead."
    "Having made the purchase (of) the land Mr. Boyer hired a man named Doty living four or five miles off to build a log cabin on the same which was done a short distance below Caroline Center on the 76th Road the cite of which is still marked by an empty cellar well. "
    "It being completed in November Mr. Boyer and his Negro Jerry took possession and together spent the winter of 1803-04 therein. During the winter Mr Boyer had occasion to go to Owego, the nearest post office and not wishing to leave Jerry alone while he was gone he wished him to go over to George Vickery's (present N. M. Tobey's) and stay but he insisted upon staying alone and B let him do so telling him to be sure and not let the fire go out but if he did to remain in bed till he returned. Jerry awoke one morning and the fire was out. His stockings were froze. He put on his shoes without stockings and started for Vickery's for fire and on the way froze his feet. "
    "During the following summer 1804 Mr Boyer took the initial proceedings for laying out a highway. Known to fame as the 76th Road. For this purpose he journeyed eastward toward Chenango Point (now Binghamton) and westward to near Painted Post to procure commissions and then went to Spencer to obtain old Judge Ferris a surveyor for laying out this road. The whole occupying seven days time. When on the 4th of July pioneers of the region came together to cut the road out it was agreed by all that Boyer should give the road a name which he did calling it the 76th from the fact that he had spent seven days in laying it out and the war of independence lasted the same number of years. "
    "Augustine Boyer lived in his first log house about 7 years. His first frame house which is the present old yellow house owned by John Cross was built in the year 1810 and here he lived till he died. He and his wife made their first visit after their marriage to their old houses in the south in 1812." (Mulks notebook IV page 16)
    "During the war of 1812 Mr Boyer who belonged to Capt Slater's company of Militia was ordered out for the seat of the war on the occasion of the British and Indians burning Buffalo. He hired a substitute to go in his place paying him $40. In money and giving him his gun, a coat blanket and Knap sack. The company started and were only one day on the march when they received orders to return as the danger had passed and they were not wanted."
   Augustine was elected town supervisor in 1818 and 1820 and was appointed to fill the position for the 1828 term.

The 1834 assessment roll list Augustin owning 485 acres. The Real Estate value was 42635 and he also had a personal valuation of $2200 for a tax of $23.57.

Augustine Boyer and the other southern settlers in Caroline were all Federalists and opposed to the war of 1812. They all hired substitutes when they were drafted.

1. ↑ Tombstone.
2. ↑ Boyer Family Bible. (1834).
3. ↑ Tombstone.
4.   Mulks, Charles F. Charles F Mulks Notebooks, Record Number: 3654, box 4. (unpublished)
   Notebook IX, pages 121-134.