Judah Colt and [Unk] Marvin

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Husband Judah Colt ¹

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           Born: 1 Jul 1761 - Lyme, Litchfield Co, CT
     Christened: 
           Died: 11 Oct 1832 2
         Buried: 

       Marriage: 

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• Note: This may be the same person as : Judah P. Colt.

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Wife [Unk] Marvin

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           Born: Abt 1768
     Christened: 
           Died: 13 Mar 1834 2
         Buried: 

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         Father: Elisha Marvin (      -      ) 3 4 5
         Mother: Elizabeth Selden (1747-      ) 3 4 5

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Children

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General Notes: Husband - Judah Colt

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Greenfield was one of the first townships of Erie County, Pennsylvania, to be settled. After the restoration of quiet along the border, the Triangle became a favorite field for settlement. Among those who were impressed with its advantages was Judah Colt, a native of Lyme, Connecticut, who came on in 1795. Believing the country would fill up rapidly, he made the Population Company, which claimed most of the lands in the county, an offer of $1 an acre for thirty thousand acres off of the east end of the Triangle, which they declined. They were so much pleased with his energy and shrewdness, however, that they appointed him their agent for Erie County. Mr. Colt took up a permanent residence in 1797, having been preceded by Elisha and Enoch Marvin (his brothers-in-law), and other - all hardy and intelligent New England people. Mr. Colt established his headquarters at what came to be known as Colt's Station, around or near which most of the emigrants settled. The same year, Mr. Colt cut a road through from the lake at Freeport to the Station, the first in the county after the old French road, as an avenue for supplies, which were brought by lake from Buffalo. This road was extended in 1798 to French Creek, near what became "Little Hope," or Greenfield Post Office, where Mr. Bissell had established a landing, and later in the season Mr. Colt and William Miles continued it to the forks of French Creek. Mr. Colt brought his wife on in May, 1798, who remained with him till his removal to Erie.
The inducement that took Mr. Colt and his colony to Greenfield was the belief then generally disseminated that the hill lands were preferable to those of the lake shore, which were densely wooded, swampy and well-nigh impenetrable. In a short time, Mr. Colt saw his error, and in 1804 he removed to Erie, where he remained the balance of his life. He and his wife left no children, and the large estate Mr. Colt had acquired passed into the hands of relatives. On Mr. Colt's departure, the greater portion of the colony left also, scattering in various directions, and most of them making amends for their blunder by taking up some of the choicest lands in the county.

Judah Colt, who had been appointed to succeed Mr. Rees as agent of the Population Company, came on in that capacity on the 1st of July, 1796. His duties and experience are best told in the memoir he left for the use of his family, an abstract of which is here given:
I was born at Lyme, Conn., July 1, 1761. In August, 1795, in company with Augustus Porter, came to Erie to purchase land. At Presque Isle found a number of men encamped, United States troops erecting a fort, and Commissioners for the State, Gen. William Irvine and Andrew Ellicott, laying out the town of Erie. They had about 100 militia troops in their employ. Thomas Rees was acting as agent for the Pennsylvania Population Company in the survey and sale of lands. Porter and I took two certificates of 400 acres each at $1 per acre, payable in five annual installments. We made but a brief stay.
On the 3d of March, 1796, went to Philadelphia for the purpose of getting the lands purchased of Mr. Rees at Erie confirmed. The principal proprietors of the Population Company resided there. Offered to buy 30,000 acres at $1 per acre, but they declined to sell in so large a body. Col. Aaron Burr, who was one of the proprietors, informed me that they were in need of a more active agent, and offered me the position. A contract was entered into by which they agreed to pay me $1,500 a year, besides board, traveling expenses, etc. This was raised to $2,500 in 1798. Money was advanced with which to procure supplies and hire laborers, and in the month of April I started to return to my home in the Genesee country, New York. At New York City, I laid in provisions, sundry kinds of goods and farming utensils, such as were needed in a new country. They were shipped under the care of Enoch Marvin, up the river to Albany, across the portage by wagons to the Mohawk, up the latter by batteaux, then by wagons again to Oswego, and from there by lake and wagon to Presque Isle. Mr. Marvin arrived at the latter place on the 22d of June, 1796, but the boats did not reach Presque Isle till the 1st of July. He found a Captain's command stationed there in a garrison laid out and built in 1795. His tent or marquee was erected near the old French garrison. During the season, he met with considerable opposition from advance settlers, "a company known as Dunning McNair & Co., from the neighborhood of Pittsburgh." Leaving the agency in charge of Elisha and Enoch Marvin, I set out on the 4th of November for Philadelphia, returning to the mouth of Sixteen Mile Creek May 31, 1797.
June 1, rode out to where Elisha Marvin was stationed, who had charge of the men employed by the agency, nine miles south of Lake Erie, known afterward as Colt's Station. Made this my headquarters until the 10th of November. The season was one of much business. The opposition of advance settlers caused me much trouble. I had to keep from forty to one hundred men in service to defend settlers and property. More than once mobs of twenty to thirty assembled for the purpose of doing mischief. Went to Pittsburgh with witnesses and had a number indicted by the grand jury of Allegheny County. On my return, loaded a boat with stores to take to the Sixteen Mile Creek, and put it in charge of four men. On their way up the lake, a storm upset the boat and three of the men were drowned. During the season, the building of a vessel of about thirty-five tons was commenced at the mouth of Four Mile creek. The Lowrys and others were the indicted parties. Their disturbances took place in the months of June and July.
Went East in the fall, and set out to return to Erie in April, 1798. At New York, purchased supplies, which were sent forward in charge of B. Saxton and Eliphalet Beebe. Arrived at Presque Isle the 31st of May, and at Greenfield on the 3d of June. Brought my wife along for the first time. Resided at Colt's Station with my family until the 7th of November. The vessel, begun the year before at the mouth of Four Mile Creek, was completed in time to make a trip to Fort Erie. It was named the Sloop Washington. On the 10th of October, I accompanied about sixty-five of the settlers to Erie to attend an election, all of whom voted in favor of a Federal Representative. On the 7th of November, with Mrs. Colt, set out for Pittsburgh, on horseback. Our baggage was taken down French Creek in boats. Arrived at Pittsburgh the 9th of January, 1799. Shortly after our arrival, the weather became very warm, the frost came out of the ground, and the farmers began their plowing. Did not return to Erie County until May, 1801. During a part of 1800 and 1801, the peace of the county was much disturbed by the adversaries of the company. In the summer and fall of 1800, the settlement was visited by a number of clergymen who were sent out by the Ohio and Redstone Presbyteries, who preached in a number of places and took much pains to establish churches. Among them was Rev. Mr. McCurdy.
During the year 1801, some progress was made in organizing the militia of Greenfield. Elisha Marvin was chosen Captain. He had about eighty men in his company. During 1802, considerable progress was made in the county, military, civil and religious. In the month of June, 1803, aided by a Deputy Marshal of the United States Court, removed sundry intruders against whom ejectment had been brought, some of whom were obstinate and gave much trouble. During the same month, Mary Marvin arrived in company with her brother Elisha. September 24, purchased of James Wilson four lots, on which was a small house, in the town of Erie, for the sum of $490. On the 26th, set out for Pittsburgh by way of the new State road. Returned to Greenfield February 24, 1804. During the month of April, 1804, was again in Philadelphia as a witness in the United States Court relating to the lands of the Population Company, and in which the company was successful. On the 6th of August, 1804, began to improve my Erie property, to which I removed my family on the 21st of November.
The country in 1805 was still far from tranquil. People continued to take unlawful possession of lands claimed under warrants, and were encouraged by others for political purposes. The company brought sundry ejectments. During the summer we were called upon by a number of clergymen. In the month of December, James and Ezekiel Graham, who had unlawfully settled on the tract of the Population Company, purchased 100 acres each at $3 per acre, payable in installments.
November 20, 1806.-News came of a decision in the land case in United States Court at Philadelphia. Robert Penn, plaintiff; Adam Arbuckle, defendant.
July 1, 1807.-The obstinacy of adverse settlers renders my employment in some respects unpleasant. The Erie & Waterford Turnpike is in process of building.

1 —, History of Erie County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: Warner, Beers & Co., 1884), Pg 783.

2 —, History of Erie County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: Warner, Beers & Co., 1884), Pg 784.

3 —, Nelson's Biographical Dictionary and Historical Reference Book of Erie County, Pennsylvania (Erie, PA: S. B. Nelson, Publisher, 1896), Pg 558.

4 John W. Jordan, LL.D., Genealogical and Personal History of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1913), Pg 585.

5 George P. Donehoo, Pennsylvania - A History (NW) (New York, NY; Chicago, IL: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, Inc., 1926), Pg 203.