I will start with the History: In many of the books written about the history of our County the word "goal" is used, as this is the British word for "jail". When the authority of a jail was given by the controlling members of a county, it was stated as "Liberties of a Goal", meaning that a jail may be constructed and operated at a certain location, be it a town or county. In 1794 thru 1799 the first Sheriff of Onondaga County was Sheriff John Harris. At this time Onondaga County was comprised of land of Cayuga and Seneca County. In 1799 Cayuga County was formed by seceding from Onondaga County. Cayuga County's land included what is now Seneca County. The Sheriff of Cayuga County was Sheriff Joseph Annin. In 1799 the County Seat for Cayuga County became Aurora. Aurora contained a Court House and Jail. On May 3, 1799 the County Court, which was controlled by a man named Seth Phelps, set forth that the "Liberties of the Goal" be located at Cayuga Village. In 1799 a log jail was erected in the Village of Cayuga. It was near the shore of the lake and made out of hewn logs. The location of the jail was east of the Cayuga Bridge. After the construction of the jail, a toll house was built on top of the jail. When prisoners were brought to the jail, the prisoners had to go through a trap door down a ladder to his cell. The jail Cayuga had no heat. In 1804 Seneca County seceded from Cayuga County. The first county seat was in Ovid, which was also known as Verona. The first Sheriff of Seneca County was William Smith. During 1804 thru 1806, a new Court House and Jail were built in the Village of Ovid on Lot #3. The land was given to Seneca County for the Court House and Jail by Mr. John Seely. The Supervisors appropriated $1,000 for the Court and Jail. The building started in 1895 and Henry and Joshua Montogomery were master carpenters of the Court House and Jail. In 1803 a Tyre citizen named Ezebiel Crane, attempting to buy some venison from an Indian, was shot and killed. The Indian was named "Delaware John" a Delaware Indian. In this contest we will call him "Indian Joe" because he was referred to by this name most of the time. "Indian Joe" was a proud man, who believed in his religion that his spirit was a great hunter. Several times "Indian Joe" went out to hunt, but returned home without any game. When his partner arrived with a deer, "Indian Joe" shot him, but did not kill him. Ezekiel Crane, having no knowledge of the days events, came to "Indian Joe's" hut and knocked on the door. "Indian Joe" believing that his partner was coming back for revenge, shot through the door striking Ezekiel Crane. After the death of Mr. Crane, the citizens of the area believed that there should be a trial so that the tensions between the white man and the Indians of the area would lessen. The court for "Indian Joe" was held in Aurora Academy, where "Indian Joe" pled guilty to the indictment of the murder of Mr. Crane. The Indian was sentenced to be hung. In 1804 "Indian Joe" was hung at the Cayuga Jail. Both Indians and Whites witnessed the hanging and this ended the uneasiness between the Indians and the Whites. It must be added that "Indian Joe" stated several times that he did not have a grudge with Mr. Crane and he smoked a pipe of peace with Mr. Crane's spirit before being hung. More to come later....... Dianne