OBITUARY for ABIGAIL AVERY BIRDSEY
1825-1918
(from Boonville Herald 7/25/1918)
SISTER OF JANE AVERY WARD

 AGED RESIDENT IS CLAIMED BY DEATH

Mrs. Abigail Birdsey Passes Away at the Advanced Age of 93 Years

Following a long and useful life, Mrs. Abigail Avery Birdsey, widow of the late Linus Birdsey, passed away at the home of her son George Birdsey Thursday July 18, 1918 at the advanced age of ninety-three years.  Mrs. Birdsey enjoyed unusually good health up until about three months ago when the infirmities of old age hastened upon her.  She retained her faculties until the hour of her death and her usual strength of character and cheerfulness enriched her life and won for her many friends which held her in high esteem.

Mrs. Birdsey was born in 1825 in Petersboro, NH.  When but a mere girl her parents moved into the wilderness of northern NY locating near Pasadena.  The many weary miles of the journey were made in an old-fashioned wagon of the prairie schooner type (Click here for AVERY journey to NY from NH.) and the few neighbors of the district assisted Mr. Jonathan Avery in erecting his new home.  The house was scarcely completed when another claimed title to the land and sympathetic friends again assisted John Avery in razing and reconstructing the home upon another site in Leyden. 

The passing of Mrs. Birdsey removes from our midst one of the early pioneer families which settled in this district.  Mrs. Birdsey was well informed and up to within a year or so ago, in spite of her many years, enjoyed excellent health.  She was young in spirit and active in household work.  In conversation, she was unusually interesting and told many stories of long ago, speaking intimately of the primitive mode of living in the days when Boonville was merely a clearing in the Adirondack forest, which even covered the now open country as far as and beyond West Leyden.  

She would tell of the time when a huge kettle hung over the fireplace wherein wholesome meals were prepared, a fireplace of such dimensions as would light up the entire kitchen and living room, radiating warmth and cheer.  She was familiar with the early methods of making tallow candles, even before the days of candle molds and was experienced in the primitive methods of baking when modern ovens yet remained to be invented and when the baking pan was covered with live coals which remained from the logs that crackled in the fireplace.  She not only made her own soap and woven rugs and carpets but worked up homespun from crude flax and wool into finished garments and household necessities.

The deceased throughout her entire life was a sincere and consistent Christian.  She was a faithful attendant of the old Baptist church which stood at the forks of the east and west roads and continued faithful to her church duties up until the time of her last illness.  As she felt the drowsiness of the last deep sleep gradually creeping upon her, she had the satisfying consciousness that her life had been spent in usefulness and service.

The deceased is survived by a son, George Birdsey, a step daughter Mrs. Alma Bacon, a stepson Alson Birdsey, one brother G .S. Avery of Holyoke, MA, two sisters, Mrs. Owen Heald, of Rockland, MA and Mrs. E. G. Palmer of Boonville.  The funeral was held Sunday afternoon at 4 pm from her late home on West Street.  Rev. E. J. Davis officiating.  Interment was made in the Boonville Cemetery.

The above news article was supplied by Janet Palmer Fentress, 
a descendant of Mrs. E. G. (Esther) Palmer, sister of Abigail Avery Birdsey.