My family tree

Ancestor of Reuben, Worden, Emmett and Clara Waite Burroughs.

He moved to White Creek, Washington Co., N.Y. in 1772. Later he moved to Waite's Corners, near Cambridge. Like his parents he possessed the pioneer spirit; which, when Western New York opened up, led him to migrate there with his children and their families.

In 1824, in Napoli, Cattaraugus County, N.Y., Stepen took up a section of land (lot 36) extending along the Coldwpring creek and its eastern branch. The Cattaraugus County Records at Little Valley show that Stephen bought his land of the Holland Land Company. The Records read: Wilhelm Willink and others to Stephen Waite--Warranty Deed Consideration - Money- $685.38. Deed dated 27th February 1827. Recorded 19th June 1827, in Liber 2 of Deeds, page 19. Conveying 296 acres on part of Lot 36, Town 3, Range 8, of the Holland Land Company's Land according to the plan laid down in the margin hereof.

Stephen brought his sons and their families to Western New York State, and at least two daughters and their families. (To date, the Other two daughters have not been located by this writer.) They traveled by the Erie Canal (opened in 18235) route and by ox-cart. Stephen's son Isaac located in East Leon in 1831. His son Peleg lived on Lot 40 in the northern part of Napoli; but five of his sons, William, George, James, Reuben, and Oliver, settled on the section he had purchased from the Holland Land Co. in 1827.

The following deeds are recorded in Cattaraugus County and show how Stephen sold land to his sons: Stephen Waite and wife--to William Waite, Warranty Deed-consideration, Money #175. Deed dated 19th March, 1831, recorded Sept. 28, 1831, at 11:00am in Liber 3 of deeds, page 119; conveying 100 acres on the northwest part of Lot 36, Town 3, range 8 of the Holland Land Company's Land. Stepeh Waite and wife--to George Waite, Warranty-Deed-Consideration - Money $175. Deed dated 19th March, 1831, recorded 28th Sept., 1831; conveying 100 acres on the northeast corner of Lot 36.

Other deeds are Stephen and Jemima Waite deeded to their son James 28 acres, the southeastern part of Lot 36, on Jan 55h 1831; money consideration $150.

William Waite and wife sold the south 50 acres of their 100 acres to Oliver Waite for $450. Deed dated September 30th, 1835.

Reuben Waite recived 77 and 28/100ths acres on the southwest corner of his father's (Stephen's) place. Evidently this transaction took place on Feb 17, 1830, but the deed was not officially recorded until March 12, 1858 (Ledger 48, pg. 20, Cattaraugus County records).

However, in giving the oulines or boundaries of his brothers' farms the county records mention Reuben as the owner of this tract of land.

According to county records, Peleg Waite received from the Holland Land Company a deed to 108 1/2 acres on Lot 40 in the northern part of Napoli Township. The deed was dated Dec. 27th, 1836; money consideration $165.50.

Here in this wilderness Stephen wished to establish his father's faith. The following is an account of the founding of the Baptist Church in Napoli:

 "The First Baptist  Church of Napoli, Calvinistic in belief, was formed in 1826 of 13 persons--namely:  Stephen Curtis and Wife, jacob Lyon and wife, Stephen, James, and Peleg Waite and their wives, George Waite, Mrs. Reuben Waite, and Lyman Lyon.  In 1840, on January 21st, the Napoli Baptist Society was formed; James Waite, Orrin Booth, Reuben Waite, B.H. Hillman, Joseph McCollister, and Amasa Booth (ANCESTOR TO DAVID J. GRIEP) were elected trustees.  This Society was reorganized in 1870 with a Board of Trustees composed of Worden B. Wait, Thomas Vidal, Orrin Booth, John Montanye" (or Montage) "and William McHerron."  Worden Waite and Orrin Booth wer deacons when this church history was written."

At one time, this Baptist Church was the oldest church buioding in Cattaraugus County. It existed until around 1903, when it was sold, at public auction, to Fremont Waite; he subsequently re-sold it to a Lif ttle Valley firm and the church was torn down then. (the site of this old church bordered that of the present commujnity church of Napoli, on the west.) The membership remaining in 1903 affiliated with the Baptist Church at Randolph.

(An item dated 1879, from "History of Cattaraugus County" by Franklin Ellis, tells that "from 1828 to 1831 Rev. Bartimus Braman was paster of the church and while he was connected in this capacity the meeting house was erected. It is a frame structure and the oldest house of worship now standing in the county.")

One daughter of the Rev. Bartimus Braman, Adelia, married Alexander (8); another daughter, Mary Jane, married Alexander's brother Warren Waite.