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Cornwall Preserve
| Historic Site #: | 14-084 (Exists) Type: B4,K5 | Town: | Williamson | ||
| Site Name: | Cornwall Preserve | GPS Coordinates: | 43.279556, -77.192076 | ||
| Address: | 3975 Lake Road Pultneyville NY | ||||
| Description: | |||||
| Located just west of Pultneyville. Signage on the property details the history of the Cornwall family as well as the ecology of the 80 acre preserve. Trails have been developed and maintained, a meadow has been planted to attract pollinators, a parking lot installed and recently, another parcel has been added giving access to almost a mile of lake front that is open for the public to enjoy. Genesee Land Trust - Cornwall Preserve Cornwall Preserve Facebook Page | |||||
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| Photo by Bruce Farrington 2019 |
| Historic narrative: | |||||
Circa 1809, Andrew and William Cornwall came from Connecticut to Pultneyville. William died in 1810, that first year in Pultneyville, at the young age of 20 years. In 1810, Andrew married Elizabeth B. Martin. This was the first marriage in the town, performed by an Irish missionary. Andrew was a cabinet maker, and he served as magistrate (justice) for 18 years. Andrew died in 1854.
Brother, Ansel Cornwall was born in Chatham, Connecticut in 1789. He came to Williamson in 1812. Ansel built the first church – Union Hall (Gates Hall). At his death at the age of 88 in 1877 Ansel was then the oldest man in Pultneyville and the oldest Free Mason in the United States. [Landmarks of Wayne County, Cowles, p. 309.] | |||||
Times of Wayne County August 14, 2019 edition