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Abraham’s Plain, Rush, New York One Place Study

Privacy Level: Open (White)
Date: 1795 to about 1825
Location: Ontario County, New Yorkmap
Surnames/tags: One_Place_Studies New York United_States
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Abraham’s Plain, Rush, New York One Place Study

This profile is part of the Abraham’s Plain, Rush, New York One Place Study.
{{One Place Study|place=Abraham’s Plain, Rush, New York|category= Abraham's Plain, Rush, New York One Place Study}}

Name

Abraham's Plain was a settlement by free People of Color (both Native American and Black) near the towns of Rush and Avon in Ontario County, New York, founded c. 1795. Most of the original settlers were part of an extended family named Wright from Connecticut.

Geography

Continent: North America
Country: United States of America
State/Province: New York
County: Ontario
GPS Coordinates: 42.976142, -77.625191
Elevation: 204.3 m or 670.1 feet

History

"The Landmarks of Monroe County book, written by William Peck and published in 1895, states that “Abraham Wright, a mulatto, is said to have settled in the town (Rush) as early as 1797, in the locality then known as the ‘Negro’s settlement,’ but later as ‘Abraham’s Plains.’” The area identified as “Abraham’s Plains” is now known as Keyes Road." -RUSH TOWN NEWS Volume 27, Bi-Monthly Issue No. 6 December 2022/January 2023

The "On Being Black in America" article in HONEOYE FALLS • LIMA SENTINEL features an imagined conversation set in 1835: "The Wrights were a large clan of colored folks who lived not too far west of here. But they’ve just about played out since comin’ into these parts just before 1800.... Libbius Wright comes to mind as the last of the bunch, and I reckon that, over the last thirty-five years or so, they’ve pretty near scattered to the four winds... mainly Scottsville, Mumford, Caledonia."[1]

From "HISTORY OF THE TOWNS AND VILLAGES of MONROE COUNTY, NEW YORK: Rush": " A mulatto, by name Abraham Wright, had established himself prior to 1797 in what is now district No. 10, at what later became know as the "negro settlement," and which is now called Abraham's Plains. Others of his race came in later, and finally he and they removed elsewhere.... On the 16th of June (c 1800) a road was surveyed from Honeoye to the north line of No. 10, passing Abraham Wright's. "[2]

Population

Scipio's home at Hickory Hill

Solomon Scipio (could be either Sr or Jr) purchased land from Abner Morgan in 1808. A wooden house was built c. 1810. In 1814, a brick house was built by William Lawrence, so

Hickory Hill is one of the oldest homes in the Town of Rush; the frame portion of house was constructed circa 1810. A historical marker is at 95 Keyes Road in Honeoye Falls, Monroe County, New York, and it says "Settled by Solomon Scipio, free black man, ca. 1808. Hallock bros. purchased property 1866. Passed to Keyes family, their descendants." Location: 42° 58.887′ N, 77° 37.433′ W.

Brick home built in 1814 by William Lawrence...has a wood section believed to be the early home of Solomon Scipio, Jr., early owner of the property. It predates the brick Structure. The Road to Yesterday, Town of Rush, Monroe Cty, NY. Hickory Hill Historical Marker

Census

The 1800 Census shows these heads of households and number of people in the "All Other Free Person" column for the town of Charlston, Ontario County, New York. Forty-two people are living there.[3]

The 1810 Census lists 52 people of color living near each other in Avon.[4]

In the middle of that list are Henry Armstead and Hendrick Pemberton, both listed in the White Columns. However, "Rebecca Jefford Price in her reminiscences at age 93 referred to Hendrick Pemberton, a half-breed Indian, as the first clergyman. His daughter Anne married Libbeus Wright and his daughter Hannah was wife of Sol. (Solomon) Scipio." Henry Armstead and/or some of his family may also be a person of color.

In 1820, the household of Libbeus Wright (9 people of color) has the only free people of color listed in the town of Avon. By 1830, he and his family were living in Gainesville, Genesee County (later Wyoming County), NY.

Sources

  1. ↑ https://mhflsentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/2019.10.24.indd-page-1-12-final-color.pdf
  2. ↑ History of Monroe County, New York; Everts, Ensign & Everts; 1788-1877 http://genealogytrails.com/ny/monroe/rush.html
  3. ↑ Year: 1800; Census Place: Charlston, Ontario, New York; Series: M32; Roll: 28; Page: 376; Image: 47; Family History Library Film: 193716
  4. ↑ Year: 1810; Census Place: Avon, Ontario, New York; Roll: 33; Page: 595; Image: 00122; Family History Library Film: 0181387




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Categories: Connecticut, Free People of Color | New York, Free People of Color | Ontario County, New York | One Place Studies | Locality, Place Studies | New York, Place Studies | Abraham's Plain, Rush, New York One Place Study | Rush, New York