Find out about Cramahe pioneers on Monday

Area residents will get a unique opportuunity to discover Cramahe's pioneer history next Monday.
Historian and writer, Catharine Wilson will be at the Castleton Town Hall at 7 p.m., February 8 to discuss Cramahe's pioneer history and transitions through the 1800's.

Her talk will most certainly relate to anyone in the community with pioneer ties. In her book summary Dr. Wilson says, "Two chapters are devoted to Cramahe farm families, their agricultural practices, family strategies, aspirations and successes. Running throughout the other chapters are numerous examples of Cramahe landlords and tenants. The study began with the farm owners and tenants who appeared on the 1842 census for Cramahe Township. I then linked these people with numerous other records going back as far as 1802 and moving forward in time so that their multi-generational experience on the land could be understood."

The historian relies on information provided by one of Cramahe's enumerators back in the 1800's. In her overview of the work done on the book Dr. Wilson states, "The census for Cramahe was compiled by James Munroe Merriman, sawyer and assessor for the township, and a landlord himself. This was the first year he had done the census and the assessment. He seems to have been very conscientious in his wrok as the document is internally coherent and complete, and it largely agrees with other records, the assessment, reserve records and land registry. Of all the censuses that survive for other townships, this is one of hte most carefully filled out, and certainly one of the most detailed concerning land tenure.

Landlords, from ordinary farmers to absentee aristocrats, are also part of the story and the much-criticized clergy reserves take a positive role. An intimate exploration of Cramahe Township follows tenants over the generations as they supported their families and combined liberal ideas with household-centered ways.

Admission to this talk, sponsored by Heritage Cramahe, is $5.