Jedediah Sanger

Colonel Jedediah Sanger (1752–1829) was the founder of the Town of New Hartford, NY. He was a native of Sherburne, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. Born on February 29, 1751, he was the ninth child of Richard and Deborah Sanger. In 1782, he purchased a farm in Jaffrey, Cheshire County, New Hampshire. Two years later, a fire destroyed his property leaving him bankrupt. In 1788 was able to leave New Hampshire and settled on the land that became New Hartford. The Town of Sangerfield, NY was also named after him as he owned much of the land there.^[1] He built the first mills in New Hartford, and in 1796 erected the first grist and saw mills at the outlet of Skaneateles Lake. He was one of the principal proprietors of the "Paris Furnace," which went into operation in 1801. In 1805, he engaged in the manufacture of cotton goods. He was New Hartford Town Supervisor, a member of the State Legislature for eleven years, and was appointed the First Judge of Oneida County at its organization.^[2]

Sanger was married, first in May, 1771, to Sarah Rider, by whom he had four children. She died September 26, 1814, and on August 31, 1815, he married Sarah B. Kissam, who died April 23, 1825. October 3, 1827, he married, third, Fanny Dench, who survived him and died in May, 1842.^[3]

Sanger was also a Revolutionary War soldier and a Mason. He is buried at the Forest Hill Cemetery, Utica, NY.^[4]

Sangertown Square, a regional shopping mall in New Hartford is named after him as is the New Hartford High School yearbook, the "Jedediac".

Revolutionary War

Massachusetts Private, Lexington Alarm April 1775;

2nd lieutenant of Paterson's Regiment (1st Massachusetts Regiment) April 12, 1775

2nd lieutenant 7th Continental Regiment January 1, - December 1776

Cont. Massachusetts Militia 1777-1781.^[5]

Post War

Sanger learned the saddler's trade and worked in this business in Jaffrey, New Hampshire for two years until all his property was lost in a fire; this provided the impetus to move to New York.^[6]

References