Cornwallville Papers from the Anson Strong House

Collection — Box: MSS Box 350

Identifier: MSS 2021.0020

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Collection comprises a selection of materials which have historically resided in the historic home of Anson Strong in Cornwallville, a hamlet in the Town of Durham. Of particular note are some early materials relating to land ownership which convey the location of early businesses in the vicinity of Cornwallville, as well as materials related to the boarding of Nancy Merwin who was likely a ward of the overseers of the poor. Also included is an indenture between a farmer in Durham and the Greene County Poor House to apprentice a child who was a charge of the Poor House.

Dates

Majority of material found within 1810 - 1874

Biographical / Historical

Anson Strong was an early arrival to Durham, New York who settled the vicinity of Cornwallville in the late 1790s. He was one of the many arrivals in Durham who were originally from Durham, Connecticut and was a son of Medad Strong who also came to Durham, NY with several brothers. The family was prominent in social, religious, and civic activities in Durham's earliest years, and Anson served variously as a Justice of the Peace and Town Clerk. A selection of his and his son Ellsworth's accumulated papers remained in the early 19th century home Anson built despite the sale of the home to owners outside the family in the 20th century.