Leman B. Pitcher

Leman B. Pitcher Family

This is a small portion of the northeast corner of Salina Lot 3 as shown on an 1874 map.

This shows the same area as it was subdivided for residential development on a 1927 map.

Connection to Mattydale

After marrying Eliza Hinsdell in 1839, Leman and his wife lived for a year on a farm in Pompey, NY. Around 1840 they moved to the city of Syracuse where Leman went into the general mercantile business with a Hinsdell relative as the firm Hinsdell and Pitcher. According to Eliza Pitcher's obituary, in 1845 the Leman Pitcher family moved to the town of Salina [1899-07-19]. The earliest land records show that Leman Pitcher did not buy any land in the Town of Salina until July 1855 and at that time he was recorded as living in the Town of Clay to the north. On April 27, 1855 he had purchased 4.5 acres in the south west corner of Clay Lot #91 and was also described as a resident of the Town of Clay in that deed. In the 1855 NY State census Leman and his family were living with his wife's brother, Perry H. Hinsdell in the Town of Clay. According to that census they had been living in the town of Clay for 3 months. That was at the time when Leman had purchased the land on Clay Lot #91. So it appears that their arrival in Clay and Salina occurred in the same year, 1855.

However, in the end, in July 1855 Leman purchased about 205 acres in the north east corner of Salina Lot 3. Even though this land would not come to be located in Mattdale proper, the west end of this property would become known as Pitcher Hill, a location that was familiar to all residents of Mattydale.

Family History

Where did they originally come from

"Leman H. Pitcher [the father of Leman B. Pitcher] was born on November 26, 1781 in Rutland VT. He could trace his Pitcher heritage over several generations all the way back to England." [Re-Union 1875, pp. 337]

Where did they initially settle

"In 1796 Leman and his family moved to Pompey, NY and occupied the farm where Addison H. Clapp now resided (1875)." [Re-Union 1875, pp. 337]. Leman B. Pitcher was born in Camillus, NY on January 30, 1809.

Around 1813 Leman and his family were taken as prisoners by some Indians and British soldiers. Leman had managed to escape, but there was his wife and three children left behind. The children were Leman B., Sally and Nancy. There is more detail on this aspect [Pitcher, Leman Harmon]. After about 3 weeks they were put over the river and set free at Lewiston, without food and the snow was nearly 10 inches deep. Leman found out in Queenstown that his family had been set free and he went to pick them up in a sleigh. A few days later the family was safely in Pompey in the early part of January 1814.

Family connections

In 1839 Leman B. Pitcher married Eliza Hinsdell, the sister of Perry H. Hinsdell. Eli B. Hinsdell (one of Leman's brothers-in-law) and Leman B. Pitcher formed a co-partnership in 1855. The document was recorded in the Onondaga County Clerk's office in Deed Book 122, Page 285. In 1868, Leman was in business with Samuel H. Hinsdell (another brother-in-law) running a Steam Motor Mill at the corner of North Salina and Bear Street. [Nottingham & Tucker 1869, p. 410].

Property History

Leman Pitcher kept most of his property until his death in 1883 and then his wife continued on in the old homestead. In 1897 Eliza Pitcher's brother, Perry H. Hinsdell had the old Pitcher homestead fixed up as a gift to his only daughter, Cora Hinsdell Dyer.

In 1864 and 1865 Pitcher sold a total of 30 acres to Charles Bailey out of the southwest corner of his property. 

Notable Facts or Events

Leman Pitcher was well known for his many inventions, some of which were patented [Pitcher Patents].

NOTES:

[1899-07-19] -"Old Resident Gone, Mrs. Eliza Hinsdell Pitcher, Who Died at Age of Ninety Years," The Post Standard, Syracuse, NY, Wednesday, July 19, 1899.

[Nottingham & Tucker 1869] - Gazeteer & Business Directory of Onondaga County for 1868-9, J. A. Nottingham and W. L. Tucker, Compiled and Published by Hamilton Child.

[Pitcher, Leman Harmon] - Transcribed from the Re-Union of the Sons And Daughters of Pompey, 1875, pp. 337-341

[Pitcher Patents] - Transcribed from various documents

[Re-Union 1875] - Re-Union of the Sons And Daughters of the Old Town of Pompey, Held at Pompey Hill, June 29, 1871, Pompey: Published by Direction of the Re-Union Meeting, 1875