Simon Stone

Co-Founder Of The Town Of Northfield

Simon was born November 18, 1762 in New Ipswich, New Hampshire. He accompanied his parents to Lunenburg in 1765 and to Deerfield in 1771. Although he was only 12 years old when the Revolution broke out, he was old enough to fight before the end of the war. On July 30, 1780, he enlisted as a private in Captain Isaac Newton's company. He was described as 17 years of age, with a small stature, light complexion and blond hair. He enlisted from the town of Deerfield and was discharged in October 1780.

His regiment was raised in Hampshire County to reinforce the Continental Army for 3 months. About 1797, Simon Stone went from Deerfield to Salem, Washington County, NY in which township his cousin, Israel had previously located.

Simon married Hannah Nye in 1788 in Salem. She was the daughter of Silas and Patience Carpenter Nye, who with their children emigrated to "Stonetown". There were other Stone-Nye marriages among the pioneers in early day Pittsford.

In 1788-89, Simon, Israel, and Seth Dodge formed a partnership. On February 21, 1789 they purchased 13,000 acres in "Genesee Country" for about $5,000. It amounted to one shilling and one penny per acre. Dodge relinquished his claim to the Stone cousins. Simon and Israel rode on horseback to this Genesee area, selected home sites, cleared some land and planted a crop of winter wheat. Israel built the first house in Pittsford, now marked with an historic sign near the Erie Canal on State Street. He built this log home at the site of a large ever-flowing spring which was later incorporated into the Erie Canal.

After Simon and his cousin had planted their crop and built log houses, they returned to Salem and persuaded many friends and family to come to this area. By 1791, Simon had built a water-powered grist mill on Irondequoit Creek, near what later became the Great Embankment. His mill ground local grain. There were local distilleries as whiskey was an important product of the frontier. It could be transported to other parts of the region more easily than bulky grain.

In 1797 Simon was commissioned a lieutenant in the Ontario County militia. During 1804, he accepted a commission as a captain. In 1805, then 43 years of age and presumably in ill health, resigned his commission.

Simon and Hannah had ten children, nine of which were born in Pittsford. They were, Orrin, Alfred, Anathusia, Sophia, Israel, Charlotte, Elias, Adolphus, Hannah, and Elin. Hannah died April 1821 at age 52 and is buried in the Pioneer Cemetery. Simon died October, 1832 and was laid to rest in the East Street Cemetery near Park Road. There is an American Flag and a "Founder of Pittsford" sign near his headstone. The town historian plans to pursue getting more recognition for this founding father through the organization called The Sons of the American Revolution.

We owe a debt of gratitude to this early pioneer and his enterprising cousin, Israel for recognizing the wonderful advantages of this fertile area and their foresight in what it could become.