Mayfield was settled in 1760 it
was locally called Philadelphia Bush as most people who
settled there were from that city. Sir William Johnson
called it Scotch Settlement trying to lure hard working
European Settlers there. It was part of the Mayfield
Patent of 1770 A land patent is evidence of right, title,
and/or interest to a tract of land, usually granted by
the federal, state or foreign government to an individual
or private company. In this case granted to Sir William
by the King of England. The town was established in 1794
from the old Town of Caughnawaga" ( Mohawk for at
the rapids). The name Mayfield is an English name for “from
the warriors field”. Anthonyville, Riceville, Wilkens
Corners, Cranberry Creek, Vail Mills, Tolmantown, Dennies
Hollow, Woods Hollow, Munsonville, Jackson Summit, Red
Bunch Corners (named after red tipped hay that grew there),
and Summit View were all part of the town.
Four fairly substantial creeks ran
into the Mayfield. The Kennyetto, Cranberry, Mayfield,
and Stony. Mostly a farming community important crops
were hay, buckwheat, and potatoes. Natural resources
were lumber and limestone which was later used by tanneries
to remove the hair from hides. Mayfield was abundant
in hemlock trees also used in the tanning process
In 1773 Brothers Solomon and Selah
Woodworth bought large tracts of land from Sir William
and Solomon built what was known as “Mayfield Fort” or
the “Sacandaga Blockade”. Selah left to go
back to Connecticut before the Revolutionary War as he
wanted to save his family from the fighting. Solomon
was, however, a passionate patriot. Soon many others
came together who supported him against the Tories and
the Indians. The blockade suffered repeated raids by
the Indians and the Tories in the winter of 1780. In
March of that year a small band of Indians tried to burn
the fort down. The next day they were given chase and
all the Indians were killed. It prompted a group called
the “9 months men” in which Solomon Woodworth
was made a lieutenant and eventually became a captain
at which time he formed a company of rangers in 1781.
The rangers, able bodied and well
armed, would comb the area around the fort looking for
Indians. An Indian was found one day in an ambush position
and was fired upon. The shot in turn provided a signal.
Appearing from their hiding places a large band of Indians
set themselves upon the rangers. They outnumbered the
rangers 2 to 1. Of the rangers fifteen escaped, forty-one
were killed, wounded, or taken prisoner and Woodworth
was killed.
In the late 1700’s to late
1800’s was a time of growth for the town of Mayfield
especially in the hamlet of Riceville. Two tanneries,
two taverns, four stores, a grist mill, sawmill, iron
foundry, distillery, skin mill, school house, and a fulling
mill. A fulling mill was place which involves the cleansing
of wool to get rid of oils, dirt, and other impurities,
and thickening it. Riceville was named after Oliver Rice
who was a revolutionary war soldier and businessman.
He built a clothiers mill in 1795 and ran the business
until 1830. In the early 1800’s he built the Rice
Homestead which still stands today.
In 1785 The Methodist Episcopal
Church was built. Encountering some problems due to drunkenness,
unchristian like conduct and the like some members were
banned from the church. In 1823 the Presbyterian Church
was built. Before 1840 there was a Quaker place of worship.
The “Friends Meeting House” still stands
today and is used as a private residence. Many churches
formed and then disbanded throughout the years.
. The late 18th century Greek Revival
was the home of a Civil War Captain by the name of Robert
Shaw. Another true patriot He was also an abolitionist
and community activist. He raised many companies of men
whom he turned over for the civil war. He served with
the 115th NY volunteers in 1862. He was injured in North
Carolina spent five weeks in the hospital then returned
to his regiment. He spent time as a prisoner of war.
In 1865 he returned home . One of the slaves he aided
in the underground stayed in the area and gained employment
as a hotel porter. In the years that followed Shaw worked
as a clerk, served as a supervisor, was active in Methodist
church, co-editor, newspaper correspondent, and editor.
His life was cut short by Brights disease in 1891. After
his death the area he lived in became known as Shawville.
.
By 1878 there were nine stores in
town. Mayfield incorporated in 1896 had 17 schools.
Unknown dates of history follows:
At the end of Summit View road there was a tuberculosis
sanitarium where patients could be treated and isolated.
The mountain air was touted as a remedy for tuberculosis
patients and many came to spend time there. And in Jackson
Summit there was also reported to be a gold mine.
