Pomfret, New York
The Town of Pomfret is located in Northern Chautauqua County in the westernmost part of New York State. It's true beginning is the arrival of Zattu Cushing in the spring of 1805. Mr. Cushing was the first permanent settler in Pomfret, although he was joined by a number of other settlers in the first five years of the town's existence.
The town of Pomfret was officially formed in 1808 from the town of Chautauqua, being the first partition of Chautauqua after the county was formed. Pomfret later lost substantial parts of its territory during the formation of five new towns of the county.
Within the town is the Village of Fredonia, which was incorporated in 1829 along the banks of Canadaway Creek. The southeast section of Fredonia is the Hamlet of Laona.
Fredonia has the distinction of having been the first place in the United States whose buildings were illuminated with natural gas. The utilization of natural gas was begun in 1821, when the fluid was introduced into a few of the public places, among them the hotel which was thus illuminated when Lafayette passed through. the village. The gas works in Fredonia were the first in this country. The gas on Canadaway creek was first discovered by the burning of driftwood lying over the water. Child's "Gazetteer and Directory" says that the first spring discovered, and from which gas was first used, was on the north bank of the creek, at the Main street bridge.
Land records show:
“Original Purchases in Township 5, Range 12.
1822-February, Thomas A. Osborne, 29; July, Ezekiel Johnson, 21; October, Isaac Bussing, 35.
1825-December, Joel H. Johnson, 5.”
http://history.rays-place.com/ny/chau-pomfret.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomfret,_New_York
https://townofpomfretny.org/pomfret-history
Johnson Direct Line Ancestors who lived in Pomfret:
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Ezekiel and Julia Hills Johnson
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Joel Hills Johnson (1802-1882) and Anna Pixley Johnson
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Almera Woodward Johnson (1812-1896)
Born in Pomfret: -
Elmer Wood Johnson (1821-1822) - died in Pomfret 14 Sep 1822.
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The Holland Land Co. Maps include Ezekial and Joel’s lots in Pomfret, Chataqua Co. and Allegheny Co.
Ezekial Johnson (Chautauqua County Property)
10 Aug 18 Lot 14 Section 0 Township 5 Range 12
31 July 24 Lot 21 Section 0 Township 5 Range 12
Joel Johnson (Chautauqua County Property)
15 Dec 25 Lot 5 Section 0 Township 05 Range 12
16 Sep 28 Lot 14 Section 0 Township 05 Range 12
The Pomfret lots were slightly northwest of the present Fredonia Reservoir in the vicinity of Fredonia Stockton Road /County Road 610 between Osborne Road and Webster Road. Freedonia Reservoir was not on the early maps of Pomfret.
Things to see in Pomfret, NY:
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Laona – a hamlet south of Fredonia on Route 60 and Webster Road.
When the Johnsons first arrived, they "hired a little house about two miles and a half from the village of Canadaway” (now Fredonia.) In Johnson Pioneers of the West by Milas Edgar Johnson and Rolla Virgin Johnson, it says that Joseph Ellis Johnson was born in this house, which was on Canadaway Creek near the settlement of Laona. BFJ would have also been born in this house.
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Laona Cemetery – 3762 Webster Rd, Fredonia, New York, This is probably the place where Elder Brackenbury, the missionary who converted and baptized Julia Hills Johnson, was buried. (See MLR pp. 6&7)
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The Village of Fredonia on the northern border of Pomfret township.
To supplement his farming income, Ezekial Johnson worked as a carpenter in Fredonia.
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Cassadaga Lake
In their writing, the Johnson sons mention swimming and fishing in Lake Cassadaga and "the brook", presumably Canadaway Creek.
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Canadaway Creek rises in Cassadaga lake, and runs northwesterly, entering Lake Erie near Dunkirk. In 1821, while the Johnsons were living in the area, the Village of Fredonia, tapped an accumulation of inflammable gas that bubbled up from the bed of the Canadaway Creek. The citizens of Fredonia opened a hole on the bank of the creek and collected the gas in a gasometer. They then laid lead pipe through the streets, allowing the gas, forced by its own natural pressure, to flow freely into a total of 100 street lamps throughout the village. Freedonia was the first place in the United States to be illuminated by natural gas.
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Take I-90 to Bennett Rd. Exit 59.
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Turn Left on Rt. 60/ Bennett Road,
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Turn Right on Wilson Road – Through Laona Village. Slight Left onto Porter Rd.
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Take Porter Road to Rt. 60. Turn Right. Go to Spoden Road. Turn Right.
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Stop on Spoden Rd. by Canadaway Creek on turnout just past gated road on the Right.
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Ezekial Johnson Property and Joel Hills Johnson Property
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Continue South on Spoden St.. Turn Right on Darby Switch Rd.
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Turn Right on Glasgow Rd.
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Turn Right on Rt 610 – Fredonia Stockton Rd. Stop at unnamed road to the right. This is part of Ezekiel Johnson’s property.
We did not visit Allegheny County, but this map of Ezekiel’s property there is for your information.
Ezkiel Johnson (Allegany County Property)
01 Jan 29 Lot 47 Section 0 Township 02 Range 01
(Intersection of W. Notch Rd (34) and Blaine Rd/Watson Rd, Friendship, NY 14739