From the will of Andrew Calpsaddle, Jr....also I give and bequeath unto my son John Clapsaddle all my real property.
Lot number 10 lying on the south side of the Mohawk River. Lot number 10 began its life as part of the wilderness in the Mohawk River Valley. The Valley had been the domain of the Idnidan and the wolf. It has existed as wilderness from time out of mind until on April 30, 1725, Governor Burnet of the Colony of New York granted a patent for 24 english miles along the reiver..... This patent, called the Burnetsfield Patent was subdivided into ninety two lots of 100 acres each, 46 lying on each side of the river near the western end of the patent. It was a long rectangular, 100 acre parcel of land 6600 feet in length and approximately 668 feet in width, stretching from the flats along Mohawk River, south to the foothills in the back. It was rich fertile land and provided a rewarding bouthy for those who tilled its soil. Originally purchased by Godfrey Ruell, the lot eventually devolved to the Clapsaddle family some time before the Revolution. Number 10 was owned by Andrew Clapsaddle, the farm house being at what is now Main and Otsego Street in Ilion. The center of Town. Andrew was a farmer, a veteran of America's was for independence adn survivor of Oriskany. He lived at a time of great historical drama and change. His personal life was filled with richness of experiences few have had the pleasure of knowing. During the Revolution, the farm suffered an Indian raid which destroyed the farm house and all the outbuildings. Andrew and his family escaped. Andrew raised his family and enjoyed the port-revolution years until the death of his first wife Maria. He later married his wife's half sister, Margreth, and at her death, married a widow named Phoebe Rollins Ingham and there lived out fis few remaining years until his death on June 27, 1809. Andrew wnt the way of all flesh, but the land remained. John made many improvements to the land. He put in orchards, ditches, fences, houses and outbuildings at a cost of two thousand dollars. A farm of the size at that time, in that area sold for less than that. Then in 1821, the Erie Canal, with its average of 70 packet boats a day was opened. The canal was dug right through the front of the property. One can only guess at the increase in value of the farm. John sold off two parcels of the property, both between the canal and the River Road (Main St). One parcel of one-ninth acre was sold to Dennis Dygert who built a sore house on it. The other was osld to Benjamin Herrinton on which be built a house and coopers shop. With this great increase in value and income, Phoebe gegan to feel she was not getting her just due. In July of 1824, she took Hohn to court where she pleaded for her dower rights. John contended that his improvements had taken the property beyond the scope and original dower. We don't know how it came out, but four years later, on January 1, 1828, John sold the entire property of Eliphalet Remington for $ 2,800.00. He purchased the land for a factory where he was to manufacture the famous Remington Firearms. Later he would add the Agricultural Implements Plant and the Typewriter Works.