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[2931.ftw]

[Brøderbund WFT Vol. 27, Ed. 1, Tree #2931, Date of Import: Jan 2, 2000]

From the 'History of Schoharie Co.' NY, Roscoe-p. 343 Town of Wright
Sometime before the Revolution commenced, John Dominick (Domonique) came from New York City and settled in the eastern part of the town, upon the farm now occupied by Isaac I. Barber, and caused no little commotion among his neighbors and the community after a few years, by his peculiar religious tenets. He was, without doubt, the first Methodist in these parts, and owing to his deep interest in the Christian cause, and the excitable nature of the spirit that moved hin, his neighbors and acquaintances concluded that he was bewitched, and treated him accordingly- though not with that severity to which the Pilgrims subjected the unfortunate of their day. Dominick was taken to Dr. Multer, of Schoharie, whose skill was in the extermination of witches, in short- a witch doctor. The Methodistical Dominick insisted that he was not sick, nor possessed of witches or devils, and would not take the medicine the doctor prescribed. Multer, was a large man, and when a patient refused to take his medicine, through the want of faith, or a knowledge of the inconsistency of the case, he threw the patient and poured his drugs down, contending that the witches were to be overcome by force. Dominick was thus served and upon closing his teeth and throwing the medicine from his mouth, the wise doctor concluded the the witches refused his mode of treatment, and a sound whipping was the only alternative. Poor Dominick, though a stout man, was but a child in the hands of Multer, and was forced to receive a sound thrashing with hickory gads, that the evil spirits might be freightened away long enough for the doctor to get some of the medicine down the patient. Dominick, upon being released, concluded to leave the evil spirit, found, with the doctor, so when the latter's watchful eye was turned, he took to his heels and wandered down to Breakabeen, where he concealed himself for a while, and then sent word to his sons to take him home. Regardless of distasteful medicine, whippings, and the jeers of the uncharitable, Dominick was still a Methodist, and continued so to be until his death. He was the leader of the first Methodist service in the County, and for many years attended the old Knox Church, from which a pastor was sent to preach in the school-house, in the present district No. 1 long before the present Methodist organization was formed. His children were- John, Francis, George, Peter, and Sophia, the children of whom love to relate the bewitching life of the Christian Grandfather, whose shouts of Hallelujah and Glory awoke distrust of lunacy among the simple settlers, and brought persecution upon him, to which his happy spirit responded a fervent AMEN!