Notes
Census: Listed as Sayles Hoslington in the 1820 census index for Alexander,
Genesee Co., NY
Census: Sayles Howington listed on 1830 Attica, Wyoming Co. (Genesee) NY census:
1 male 5-10 [at this time Lyman would be abt 10, Davis abt 6, both alive]
1 male 30-40 [Sayles]
2 females under 5 [Hulda, and Mariana in this age group]
1 female 5-10 [Louisa]
2 females 10-15 [Sara and Polly]
1 female 15-20 [Caira]
1 female 30-40 [Abigail]
Residence: "Sayles Hoisington came there (Little Hollow) in 1834 having purchased two 100-acre lots of Ira Tucker of Rochester for $350. Lot #2 in the 7th range east of river, and Lot #3 in the 6th range, both drawn to the original right of Heber Chase." 4
Census: 1850 Census Rochester, Windsor Co., VT
225,243, Sayles Hoisington, 57, m, farmer, 800, VT
Abigail, 57, f
Lyman, 28, m, farmer, 450, NY
Aaron, 17, m,,,VT
Sayles, Jr., 15, m,,,VT
Miriam, 21, f,,,NY
Description: Sayles Sr. was about 6 feet tall, straight, weight 180 in middle life to
200 later. Owned and lived on a farm at Rochester, VT per George W.
Swain hh259
From "Two Vermont Hollows" by Leyland E. Wood 4
"The Hoisington family lived in Little Hollow for over 150 years. Sayles died December 22, 1874 aged 81, and his wife
Abigail died July 25, 1869 aged 76. They are buried in Little Hollow cemetery. Nearly all the Hoisingtons were famous bear hunters. Their
fame spread throughout the New England states. Sayles was known to take as many as two bears in a week and fifteen in
one year. His son Sayles, Jr., and Will, son of Lyman, were also famous bear hunters. One time Sayles captured a wildcat
alive, caged it in a barrel and brought it to West Randolph for exhibition.
About the last of March 1853 Sayles was informed by Mr. Chaffee of Rochester that a large bear had killed two of his
sheep. The next morning Sayles with his dog on leash followed him all day on snow shoes. The bear took a zig-zag course
crossing from one side of the mountain to the other. As darkness came on, Sayles and the dog took shelter at a nearby
farm. Bright and early the next morning they were on the trail. The dog was unleashed and was soon baying and shortly
began barking tree. About 100 rods from where they halted the night before was the bear in a heap of brush. Furious at
the excited dog nipping at his heels, he turned and charged on the rapidly approaching hunter. Taking careful aim, Sayles
fired and the ball entered one of the bear's eyes and killed him. He weighed 300 pounds.
Sayles was one of the organizers of the famous bear hunt of October 1852. This hunt was announced by newspapers
throughout New England and part of New York. The territory of the hunt was to be along the Braintree-Rochester
mountain range about 25 miles long and 3 to 6 miles wide. The story of the hunt with the magical inspiration called
forth nimrods of all ages. By the thousands they were camped along the mountain sides awaiting an early morning start.
Night came on and campfires were lighted on both sides of the mountain. Throughout the early part of the night the
whole mountain range echoed with shouting and singing of the hunters. They were shooting at lighted candles, blowing
horns and making merry. Soon after daylight they were on the march, some dragging their tails from the too-premature celebration of a successful bear hunt. Soon all was confusion and some became weary from the unaccustomed travel and too much night celebra-
tion, and were about to abandon the hunt. The bear's worry was over if he ever had any. A certain enterprising soul had
arrived with "material aid" in the form of a wagon load of demijohns of rum. Sure enough it proved to be material aid
to the bear as well. Rum appeared from mysterious sources on other parts of the hunters' line. Soon after the appearance
of liquid aid many lost interest in the hunt and declared they had nothing against bears anyway and deserted to Straggle
home. The whole hunt became a farce. The local paper commented, "Among the hunters were several who had come a
long distance to enjoy the hunt. We presume they will not soon covet a second lesson in the pedestrian habits of Ver
monters.
Sayles was heard to remark that from now on he and his dog would hunt alone. Sayles Jr. became the famous bear hunter of the area after
his father became too old to follow the chase. He also kept bear dogs. They were sleek and well cared for and beloved
by Sayles and despised by his wife, Caroline. She was a spotless housekeeper. Everything shone in her house. There
was no love on her part for muddy-pawed hounds tracking across her floors. Her flower garden with a white picket fence
and cherry trees blooming inside was long remembered by the Hollow people. In October 1880 Sayles lost one of his
hounds, which he valued at more than $100. It was caught in a bear trap on Rochester Mountain.
The writer is inclined to believe if there is a place in the sky where people go to their reward, there must be a special
place reserved for wives who have had to contend with hound
dogs and hound dog men.
Will, son of Lyman and grandson of Sayles, was also a great bear hunter. Many of the older residents of this day remember
Will and his dogs. He lived both in Gilead and the Hollow. The famous Barnard panther was seen lying on a rock by the
roadside in Gilead a day or so before he was killed in Barnard. Will was informed and brought his dogs there. They trailed
the panther all day before they lost the trail over towards Barnard. A day or two later the panther was shot in Barnard
while sleeping off a feast of young pigs. Will was the last of the famous Hoisington family of bear hunters. Old timers say if you listen carefully on a clear still night you can almost hear the melodious bay of a Hoisington bear hound lamenting the days long gone.
There are still descendants of the Hoisington family in this region."
Sources
1. Windsor VT Town Records, researched by Judy Hulliberger and verified by Harriette Jensen 9/15/03. Book 1, page 44.
2. Vermont Vital Records film F-30267 Rec ID 21428. Transcribed by Harriette Jensen 042904. Vermont Vital Records Center, Middlesex VT.
3. 1830 Census Genesee Co. NY.
4. Leyland E. Wood. Two Vermont Hollows, a history of Gilead and Little Hollows. Leland E. Wood, Randolph, VT. 1976. p. 222.
5. Free Public Library, Morristown, NJ, p. 1669.
6. Photograph. Photograph of tombstone taken 0903.
8. 'Some Early Marriage Records of Windsor, VT', Branches & Twigs 1994-1995.
9. Windsor VT Vital Records, researched by Harriette Jensen and Linda Farnsworth. Book 2, page 39.
10 http://www.gendex.com/users/rtwgen/mwheeler/d0012/g0000070.html#I01354 as quoted by Al Smith 1/18/99, Their sources were: Stowell Genealogy, and "John Horsington of New England"(by Fred Q. Bowman) NEHGS Register, vol. 141, p. 52. "Genealogical Abstracts of Revolutionary War Pension Files", author, Virgil d. White, Waynsboro, TN, 1991. Call number NS4500203, Morristown Free Public Library, Morristown, NJ, p. 1669.
Unless otherwise indicated in the text, data is from "Hoisingtons in America" by Harry Hoisington, privately published 1935 and on file at NEHGS, Boston.
