OUR ANCESTORS SHAVED WITH JACK-KNIVES TO MEET

COLONEL CHARLES WILLIAMSON

      In the year 1798 a number of families left their homes in Perthshire, Scotland and came to America, seeking a new home but not knowing where it might be.  They landed in New York and came as far west as Johnstown, Montgomery county, where they had friends and could remain until they could decide where to locate.
      Colonel Charles Willilamson heard of this arrival of his fellow countrymen and made the trip to see them.  He found them quite poor in purse, with nothing to pay for lands and but little even for present substinence.
      Mr. Williamson offered them land in a favored location near the "Big Springs," at $3.00 per acre, and payable in wheat at 75 cents per bushel - when they could raise it.  Also he would furnish them with provisions until they could help themselves.
      To satisfy themselves that the offered lands were safe from the much dreaded Indians and were suitable for farming purposes, five of their number came to view them.  These five, Malcolm and James McLaren, Hugh McDermid, Donald McPherson and John McVean, made the journey on foot, more than 200 miles, following the road which had been opened the year before from Fort Schuyler, now Utica, to the Genesee River.  They were pleased with the location, for along what we know as the Oatka Trail they found it rocky enough to remind them of their beloved Scotland.
      On their return to Johnstown for their families, these men were to meet Col. Williamson near Geneva and wishing to make a good appearance,so the story runs, they stopped under the shade of the bridge that crossed the outlet of the lake.  Here, using their pocket knives as razors and in other rude and primitave ways, they made themselves presentable.  They were met by Col. Williamson on the road between Canandaigua and Geneva and there the writing was drawn up and the bargin was closed.
      Williamson generously gave them 200 acres for the support of a minister and two acres more on the State road on which to build a church and a school house.  He also furnished them with cows and saw that they had oxen to plow with when the land was cleared.  Wheat was obtained at Dansville until later when Williamson built a grist and saw mill at the Springs.  This mill was bought in 1806 by John McKay and remained in the family for over 100 years.
      And so came to Northampton, later changed by act of the Legislature to Caledonia, these first sturdy Scotch settlers, poor in purse, but rich in courage, perseverence and habits of industry.  The housing problem must have been even more acute than it is now after 150 years.  They had to clear off the land of stone as well as of trees, as the many stone walls in the vicinity still testify.  They had to prepare from the beginning the lumber for their homes, although they never heard of such a thing as priorities.  There must have been many an aching back and weary feet for these our ancesters, who have left to us such a rich inheritance.
      Shall we do less than in some manner to show our appreciation and mark the milestone of a century and a half in the coming year of 1948?