Joseph James Erskine

Excerpt from an early Delaware Co., New York book…
Joseph, believed to be the father of brothers Howard F. and John F. Erskine,lived in Andes Twp., Delaware Co., New York.He lived on a farm next door to Peter Burger.Steuben County histories state that Howard, John and their sister came to Steuben County, NY from Andes Twp., Delaware Co., NY in about 1794.They came with the Burger, Sluyter, Gregory and Olmstead families.
"He was one of the first settlers in Andes Twp., Delaware Co., New York.It was mostly
open wilderness with a few scattered farms.The first farm bordering on the river below the Middletown line, was owned by James Phenix who was among the first that emigrated after the Revolution.He had occupied the place before the war, but had retired for safety during that period.A man by the name of Olmstead, who came in about the same time, possessed the second farm.The third farm had been originally taken up by a man named Burgher, whos unfortunate end (murdered by Indians) was related in a previous chapter.The next farm was occupied by Joseph Erskine, an English soldier, who was taken prisoner and afterwards enlisted in the American Service. This information in relation to the early settlements, was derived principally from Cyrus Burr, a highly respecrtable citizen of Andes and formerly for a number of years, supervisor of that town."
"History of Delaware County by Jay Gould - 1856"