These early settlers brought with them many of the customs and traditions of the Emerald Isle, and until after the Revolution they spoke with a rich Irish brogue. In 1765 many of the settlers, who had become dissatisfied with the soil and other existing conditions, moved westward, and joining a colony of settlers from Ballibay, Ireland, helped to found the town of Salem, N. Y.
Among the descendants of the early settlers who became noted were: Ira P. Rankin, collector of the port of San Francisco, appointed by President Lincoln.
Adam Johnson, one of the benefactors of Amherst College, and for whom the “Johnson Chapel” is named.
Dr. Israel Taylor, a leading physician in Amherst, Mass., until his death in 1890.
Ithamar Conkey, for a number of years town clerk of Pelham, and in 1830 appointed judge of probate. His son, Ithamar F. Conkey, one of the leading lawyers of the Massachusetts bar, was a resident of Amherst, Mass., until his death.
There are very few of the descendants of the original settlers living in the town of Pelham to-day.
THOMAS FAWCETT, IRISH QUAKER, AMERICAN PIONEER.
CONTRIBUTED BY THOMAS PLUNKETT, EAST LIVERPOOL, OHIO.
The following article possesses sufficient historical interest, I think, to merit a place in the Journal of the American-Irish Historical Society. The article was evidently written by some one well acquainted with the Fawcett family and appeared in the Tribune of East Liverpool, Ohio, Aug. 9, 1900. It interested me and I thought it might also interest my fellow-members of the Society. I therefore send it to you.[[39]]
There has just been erected and completed a granite memorial monument in Riverview Cemetery[[40]] an illustration of which is given below, which is worthy of mention in the Tribune. It will be found to the right of the main driveway, and about midway in the section which slopes gently to the south, and faces the city which was founded by Thomas Fawcett about 1800[[41]] just one hundred years ago. Here, in a beautiful lot, have been placed the remains of these old pioneers, which were buried in the old cemetery now going to ruin, and soon to be abandoned. The Tribune takes pleasure in illustrating the memorial and giving the several inscriptions: