Strachan/Tate Family

[William Carman.FTW] Lydia(4) Patterson and David Pixley.... She was his 2nd wife (He had by his 1st wife one son named David who was married to Drusilla Bond)....Mr. Pixley was one of the 1st men (Capt. Joseph Raymond and Amos Patterson being his onlyl Compainion} who went to explore the tract of land after wards purchased of the goverenments of Mass. by the "Boston, Purchase Company"} He was one of the comminissioners sent out by the Company to treaty with the Indians for the puschase of the rights to the soil. The tract inclued that part of the Counties of Broome and Tioga, Ner York which lives between the Chenago rivers on the east and the Oweago Creek on the west extending northward from the Susquehanna River about 25 miles. It contains about 230,00 acres. Wilkinson in his annala of Binghamton". says Col. D. Pixley acquianted himself with the Indian Language and became there by the more popular with them." He entered the service of his country at the 1st alarm, He was a member of Col John Patterson's regiment, they recieved the news of thebattle of Lexington at noon 2 days after it occurred and the next morning were on their wa to Boston. Completely Armed and equipped and mostly in uniform,(Holland's History of Wester, Mass, Vol. 1 p.222) his 1st commission dated 19 May, 1775 just 1 month after the battle of Lexington was as "Luient, in the----foot company in the regiment of Foot. Where of John Patterson Esq, is Colonel," It was signed "Joseph Warren, Pres. P.T. of the congress of the coloney of the Mass. Bay." after his remoced to the State of New York, he was honored by Gov. George Clinton with a connissiona as mayor on Ist of March 1792 and 22 March 1797, He reicived from Governor John Jay a commission as Liesutenant Colonel. Mrs. Pixleyk was eminently pious and made her house a home for strangers, and especially for the missionares and ministers of that early day"...(Annals of Binghamton III). At her death she was 1st buried in the ground now occupiled as the public square of that villiage, but was shrotly afterwards removed to the burial grounds in the rear of the Presbytirian church at Owego. In a funeral discouce and Obituary notice of her by Rev. Seth Williston Published in the Connecticut EVanglical Magazine for 1808, pp.366-374. It is stated that "She moved in to Owego in Feb, 1791' and she never had but 3 children of her own one only of whom survived her'", The followeing is a copy of the inscription upon her gravestone. In memory of Lydia consort of Col David Pixley who departed the life Feb. 2 1808 in the 63rd year of her life. A pattern she through early scene of life A piou christian and faithful wife A neighbor kind, a sweet and a pleasant friend. Twas thus she lived and peaceful was her end. his In Memory or colonel David Pixley who departed this life August, 25, 1807 in the 67'th year of his age. He was an officer of the Revolution at the siege of Quebec in 1775 under Gen. Montgomery, Was the 1st. settler of Owego in 1790 and Continued Its father and friend until his death.