Judge James Dean

James Dean BIRTH 20 Aug 1748, Groton, New London County, Connecticut, USA DEATH 10 Sep 1823 (aged 75), Westmoreland, Oneida County, New York, USA BURIAL , Westmoreland Union New Cemetery, Westmoreland, Oneida County, New York, USA, MEMORIAL ID 3339337, Photos added by Karen Moore

The first settler of Westmoreland, NY

James Dean was born in Groton Connecticut in 1748. He spent much of his adolescent years with a group of Native Americans (Oneida's) where he learned their language and became the adopted son of a woman who had lost her first son to war. James graduated from Dartmouth College in 1773 with a license to preach. He served as an Indian missionary and Indian agent for the United States during the Revolutionary War, stationed at Fort Stanwix and Oneida Castle. For his service to the Oneidas during the war, he was granted a tract of 2560 acres that included Wood Creek and Westmoreland.

In 1786, Dean married Lydia Camp, and they had six children together: four sons and two daughters. After Lydia died in 1814, Dean married Cynthia Phelps. Dean was appointed to a judgeship of the Court of Common Pleas for Herkimer County in 1791, and was one of the first five judges in Oneida County. He was Oneida's successful Federal candidate for the New York State Assembly in1808, and attended a convention against the War of 1812 as part of the delegation from Oneida. Retiring from political office in 1813, he resided at Westmoreland until he died in 1823.

• There are some local stories about the "actual" burial location of Mr. James Dean. The possibility of the body having been moved sometime after the original burial has been heard. It has also been said that his headstone was removed to protect the location of the body. Obviously these photo's do not depict the original 1823 headstone. At this time I am unsure as to the current location of the original, but I have seen it. Many years ago while walking the property of the Dean homestead on Deans Highway I found what I believe to be the original headstone leaning against a tree. It was dark and dirty, appearing to be made of limestone, and was approximately 3 feet tall. It had been severed at it's base and was crumbling. Inscribed on it were his name, dates of birth and death.

Find A Grave contributor Todd James Dean has made this suggestion regarding the Find A Grave memorial for James Dean- "It states very clearly in the antique "Patriots and Veterens of New York" page 70 that James Dean was born 20 August 1743, died 10 Sept 1823. Of this I have no doubts a "3" got accidentally miss-read as an "8" and the new stone carved wrong. Amazing, but I bet I'm correct. I've been studying Dean Familys in the USA for almost 30 years, let me know if I can ever help, thanks!"

Parents John Dean, unknown–1793

Spouses Lydia Camp Dean, 1760–1814 Cynthia Jaynes Dean, 1763–1837

Children James Dean, 1787–1841 Electa C. Dean Spencer, 1796–1881

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/33393371/james-dean

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The first settler of Westmoreland, NY James Dean was born in Groton Connecticut in 1748. He spent much of his adolescent years with a group of Native Americans (Oneida's) where he learned their language and became the adopted son of a woman who had lost her first son to war. James graduated from Dartmouth College in 1773 with a license to preach. He served as an Indian missionary and Indian agent for the United States during the Revolutionary War, stationed at Fort Stanwix and Oneida Castle. For his service to the Oneidas during the war, he was granted a tract of 2560 acres that included Wood Creek and Westmoreland.

In 1786, Dean married Lydia Camp, and they had six children together: four sons and two daughters. After Lydia died in 1814, Dean married Cynthia Phelps. Dean was appointed to a judgeship of the Court of Common Pleas for Herkimer County in 1791, and was one of the first five judges in Oneida County. He was Oneida's successful Federal candidate for the New York State Assembly in1808, and attended a convention against the War of 1812 as part of the delegation from Oneida. Retiring from political office in 1813, he resided at Westmoreland until he died in 1823.

• There are some local stories about the "actual" burial location of Mr. James Dean. The possibility of the body having been moved sometime after the original burial has been heard. It has also been said that his headstone was removed to protect the location of the body. Obviously these photo's do not depict the original 1823 headstone. At this time I am unsure as to the current location of the original, but I have seen it. Many years ago while walking the property of the Dean homestead on Deans Highway I found what I believe to be the original headstone leaning against a tree. It was dark and dirty, appearing to be made of limestone, and was approximately 3 feet tall. It had been severed at it's base and was crumbling. Inscribed on it were his name, dates of birth and death.

Find A Grave contributor Todd James Dean has made this suggestion regarding the Find A Grave memorial for James Dean- "It states very clearly in the antique "Patriots and Veterens of New York" page 70 that James Dean was born 20 August 1743, died 10 Sept 1823. Of this I have no doubts a "3" got accidentally miss-read as an "8" and the new stone carved wrong. Amazing, but I bet I'm correct. I've been studying Dean Familys in the USA for almost 30 years, let me know if I can ever help, thanks!"

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=33393371

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Judge James Dean, who was the first settler of the town of Westmoreland...

...one of the notable men of his day. He was born in Connecticut, and at the age of 9 years was placed with an Indian missionary with a branch of the Oneida tribe of Indians on the Susquehanna, to learn the Oneida tongue. He graduated at Dartmouth just before the war of the revolution, and at the outbreak of the war was stationed at Oneida Castle and Fort Stanwix as Indian agent and interpreter, with the rank of major. Thro' the efforts of Mr. Dean and Mr. Kirkland the Oneidas were induced to remain neutral during the struggle. For his services the Oneidas gave Mr. Dean a tract of land two miles square, and he settled in Westmoreland in 1780. He was judge of the court of common pleas, and was twice elected to the assembly. He had six children...

Source: Morning Herald, Utica, New York, 10 Aug 1881

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=49566232