This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: DeeDavidson97 Surnames: SWEEZE, SWEEZER, SWEEZEY, SWEZEY Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.newyork.counties.chautauqua/5439.2/mb.ashx Message Board Post: in 1850 census is listed JOHN SWEEZER b 1800 wife ANN b ca 1805 no Richard SWEEZER found any data Richard Swezey Age in 1860: 90 Birth Year: abt 1770 Birthplace: Virginia Home in 1860: Chautauqua, Chautauqua, New York Race: Black Gender: Male Post Office: Dewittville Richard Sweeze Estimated birth year: abt 1780 Age in 1870: 90 Birthplace: New York Home in 1870: Chautauqua, Chautauqua, New York Race: Black Gender: Male Richard SWEEZER a slave, one of the interesting characters of "Africa" named Richard P. SWEEZER, came into the county at an early date and purchased his wife from the PRENDERGAST estate, sometime before 1820. Richard SWEEZER, a man not learned of books, but who as a sable auction drummer has made some noise in the world. Richard was one of the original fixtures of the town, for a spouse he purchased a serving maid, one of the few relics of slavery in NY state. while she worked as a laundress, he prosecuted his profession as a boot black, holding himself at liberty also to labor at miscellaneous occupations, in one of these a drummer for auctions, while Richard was himself no one dared trench upon his manor,as drummer for auctions but now is changed, old age, disease and perhaps some "Holland" have done the business for Richard. His honest spouse, (good soul) rests beneath the sod, and he himself is fast passing away. Now as we write, a small specimen of "young America" goes! by monotonously crying "AUCTION", but he has no speculation in his eye nor rich modulation in his voice, "Othello's Occupation Gone" Jamestown Journal, MArch 31st 1873 Died this morning in the County house, Richard SWEEZER somewhere near 90, all the old residents recall Sweezer well, He was one of the earliest residents, did odd jobs or whitewashing, ringing auction bells, or anything that needed doing. SWEEZER was born a slave, and bought his wife who was a slave on the Prendergast estate, She was a nice colored woman who was an industrious and excellent washer and did not drink whiskey, as Richard sometimes did, after her death, Sweezer drifted into the county home, for many years he was a fixture here, and hobbled about with the use of a cane, bowed down by the immense responsibility of running the county home. For all winter the old man failed, for the past month was confined to his bed. His age must have been more than 90, as long as we remember , he was grey and grizzle haired, He must have been 30 when he purchased his wife, The negroes of the Prendergast estate were freed about 1820 SOurce; Conquest of Chautauqua Co John Sweezer Age: 50 Estimated birth year: abt 1800 Birth Place: New York Race: Mulatto Gender: Male Home in 1850 Ellicott, Chautauqua is he a son of Richard? Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.