Y^., on May 27, 1836, he said he assisted his sisters in tending the cattle and one day he said to his father he would like to go to school. The father replied that he was too young, " but," said the witness, "I was determined to secure an education, as I was then fourteen years of age. At last," said the witness, with a smile, " I fell in with a blacksmith, and as I could write a good hand, I told him I could keep his books. He consented and that was the first occupation that brought me remuneration."

He had a taste for mathematics; used to get up at three o'clock in the morning and study till six and in this way prepared himself for a start in life.

Mr. Gould then proceeded to say that he heard of a man in Ulster County who was making a map of

63G

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

that county, and having a great taste for surveying he (the witness) went and offered his assistance. He was thereupon engaged at twenty dollars per month, but his work proved so unsatisfactory that his employer told him the work he i)erformed was a silly lot of stuff. " After that," said the witness, " I had not the heart next day to ask anybody to give me a dinner." He finally went to a quiet place, where nobody could see him, and had a good cry. He then went to his sister's house, where he went up stairs and prayed, after which he felt better. After that he resolved not to go home again, but to go ahead and die in the last ditch. He returned to his task of completing the map and made similar surveys of Delaware and Albany Counties, from which he realized five thousand dollars, which was his first capital.