males and females, in whatever shall be useful and
necessary in life, and proper tutors, masters and mistresses be
provided for the same."

_CHAPTER II._

During the war for independence, the Susquehanna valley below
Schenevus creek was the lurking place of Indians and Tories, who, from
this secluded territory, made many and frequent inroads upon the
settlements on the Schoharie and Charlotte. Owing to the remoteness of
this section and the weak condition of the frontiersmen, the trail of
the retreating savages was seldom followed to any considerable
distance and consequently but little knowledge concerning the valley
was derived by the settlers at the former points until the restoration
of peace.

In 1770, an extensive tract of land was granted to Sir William Johnson
and others, a large part of which lies within the limits of the town
of Oneonta. This tract lies on both sides of the Susquehanna river,
both above and below the Otego creek. It is supposed the first
settlement within the town was made upon this patent.[A] It contained
26,000 acres.

[Footnote A: Many have erroneously believed this patent to have been
the grant made by the Indian chief to Sir William in accordance with a
dream the latter had, _i.e._, he had dreamed that the Indian gave him
all of a certain described tract, whereupon the Indian told him that
he supposed what he had dreamed must be true, but "be sure and not
dream again." "Dreamland," by good authority, is said to be in
Herkimer county.]

Some years before the commencement of hostilities, Henry Schramling,
a hardy pioneer from the older settlement at German Flats, on the
Mohawk, came into the valley and made a settlement at a point near the
Otego creek bridge, but by reason of the troubled condition of the
country after 1775, Mr. Schramling moved back to the Mohawk for
greater security. After the war he with his brothers, George and
David, returned to the Susquehanna. It is believed upon good authority
that he was the first white settler in the town of Oneonta. After the
departure of the Schramling family, many years elapsed before any
pioneers were found venturesome enough to settle in this portion of
the valley.

Abram Houghtailing, Elias Brewer and Peter Swartz became settlers here
in 1786. Houghtailing and Brewer came from Washington county, and
Swartz from Schoharie. About the same date, James Youngs settled near
the mouth of the Charlotte and Baltus Kimball settled nor