Page:History of Delaware County (1856).djvu/55

 DELAWARE COUNTY. 31 tural purposes^ and immediately commenced improvements thereon. The category of this family included John and Abigail, the ancestors, and nine children ; the names and for- tunes of most of whom became afterward vitally woven in the frowning struggle of ^76, and all of whom fought unexcep- tionally and unreservedly for liberty. William, the eldest son, was an active member of the Pro- vincial Congress, and when Otsego county was organized in 1792, he was appointed one of the assistant judges, William Cooper, Esq., being first judge. He died in 1817, at the advanced age of eighty-seven years, at his residence at Mil- ford, Otsego county. New York. James, the second son, was a vigilant and bold asserter of American independence. Mary, the eldest daughter, married John Moore, an efficient and fearless member of the ^'Tryon County Committee of Safety,'' and who, with her three daughters, were taken pri- soners at the massacre of Cherry Valley, in 1777 ; and com- pelled, under the savage protection of Brant, to perform the journey to Niagara. Fortunately for her, she found in the person of the commandant of that fort, a relative and friend, to whose kindness and humanity they were indebted for their subsequent restoration to their home. John, the next brother in lineal descent, held a colonel's commission during the Revolution, and was particularly dis- tinguished for the humanity which he exhibited on every occa- sion toward those of the enemy who fell into his power, and for that cool, intrepid courage, which several times saved the Schoharie settlements from wanton destruction. It is to him that Harpersfield is principally indebted for its early improve- ments, and from him that that town derived its name. Joseph and Alexander, the youngest male members of the Harper family at the above mentioned date, both of whom fought during the Revolution in the protection of Harpersfield