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The following content is taken from a post on the Clinton County Historical Association's Facebook page written by Julie Dowd, a researcher and volunteer with CCHA. We urge you to visit our Facebook site to discover a wealth of similar historical notes.

Were your ancestors on the list? - Only men could serve on juries in those days.

PLATTSBURGH SENTINEL – January 3, 1873 – 148 years ago

JURY NOTICES – GRAND JURORS

List of names of persons drawn at the Clinton County Clerk’s Office, on Tuesday, the 24th day of December 1872, to serve as Grand Jurors at a Court of Oyer and Terminer, to be held at the Court House, in the village of Plattsburgh, in and for the County of Clinton, on the second Tuesday, the 14th day of January, A. D. 1873.

Beekmantown – John B. Bertrand, farmer
Black Brook – Moses Perry, farmer
Champlain – John H. Whiteside, manufacturer; Edward Hamilton, farmer; Pliny F. Dunning, Merchant
Chazy – Silas A. Doty, farmer; Willard W. Little, farmer; Albert Eldred, farmer
Clinton – Albert Gonyea, farmer
Dannemora – John Mason, merchant; Daniel L. Parsons, merchant
Ellenburgh – Reuben G. Holbrook, farmer
Mooers – William B. Cannon, farmer
Peru – Nelson Day, farmer
Plattsburgh – Patrick Moffitt, farmer; John R. Banker, farmer; John Percy, merchant; Solomon Monash, merchant; Levi Gold, merchant
Saranac – Elisha R. Stanton, farmer; Michael Bean, farmer
Scuyler Falls – J. S. Jones, farmer; William H. Dodge, farmer

Signed – Stephen Moffitt, Clinton County Clerk

Oyer and Terminer literally means to hear and determine. Thus, these jurors were called to listen to and determine the facts to see if the case should go forward.

To see a history of the courts in Clinton County, you can go to a 27-page essay by Penelope Clute at: http://www.nycourts.gov/.../clinton-county-history.pdf

The essay is supported by information and several photographs from CCHA’s permanent collection.

The picture is of the Clinton County Court House at the corner of Margaret and Court Streets from our permanent collection.

Remember us when you start any research involving Clinton County – we’re a goldmine of information on many subjects. For information, contact 518-561-0340 or director@clintoncountyhistorical.org.