Person:Nathaniel Cohoon (1)

BIRTH! He was born near Colchester, Conn. On Dec 29, 1774 he was married to Abia Stuart at Kent, Conn and according to census record, they had a family of 8 children. 4 boys and 4 girls. Nathaniel served briefly in the Revolutionary war as a Private, Captain Issiah Higgins' Company, Col. Thomas Marshall's Regiment, from August 19, 1776 to date of discharge, December 1, 1776. Legend has it that in 1791, Nathaniel moved with his family into the wilderness of western N.Y. as followers of a new religion called the Society of Universal Friends founded by Jemima Wilkerson.

    (A brief account of the story of Jemima Wilkerson is noteworthy and

interesting---she played a part in the lives of our ancestors. Reportedly she was a beautiful young woman who began her ministry in Rhode Island. At the age of 24, she was convinced that she had been directed by a vision during a serious illness to preach to a sinful and dying world. She announced to her dismayed strict Quaker family that she had actually died during her illness and that a new spirit was now housed in her body, The Publick Universal Friends. She traveled through out New England and Pennsylvania, and crowds packed her meetings to hear this attractive young woman whose call to preach had brought her back from the dead. The unusual spectacle of a young woman preaching aroused a great deal of criticism and opposition and she was charged with fraud, blasphemy, sexual promiscuity and even murder. But she continued to hold meetings and to preach, and her converts and followers grew. Seeking to escape her critics and dreaming of a whole community of just the faithful, she sent some of her close supporters to what is now Jerusalem Township, Yates Co. N.Y. They were to purchase and clear land and choose a site for her new community to be called New Jerusalem. The year was 1790; it was 1791 that NathanielCahoon moved his family there, and in 1792 Jemima, the Publick Universal Friend arrived to stay. They settled some of the most fertile land in the Finger Lakes region and at one time owned most of Jerusalem Township. Things went well for some years---each family was to have a piece of land and some came for the land only. She still found harrassment and critics and at one point was forced to move the site of her community. she was cheated by realtors and some of her followers sold out for profit. She died in 1818 with a few of her followers and close friends standing by. She has become a legend of folklore in the area, but she was a real pioneer. her church is still standing.)