News

ELM STREET
JULY 14, 2026
STARTING AT 6:00 AM

The Village of Delhi will be paving Elm Street Tuesday, July 14, 2026 (weather permitting) as a form of pavement preservation to help prolong the life expectancy of the paved surfaces of the roadways. Delays are to be expected and travel for traffic will not be allowed until the application to Elm Street surface has the proper time to cure and dry before traffic will be allowed return to the lane of travel. Dry time of the product can take up to, if not longer than a half hour before light traffic can resume therefore access in and out of driveways or parking lots will be prohibited while the paving project is taking place, so please plan according for limited access and availability to parking.

No parking will be allowed on Elm Street starting at 6:00 am until paving is completed and proper time to cure and dry has been given.

Please contact the Village Clerk’s office at (607) 746-2258 if you have any questions or concerns.

United States of America 250th Anniversary Celebration
1776 - 2026

This article will be my final Old Delhi Yarn sharing the stories of some of the Revolutionary War Veterans buried in Delhi. It’s been my privilege and honor to bring the stories of their lives and service to help us appreciate how much our Veterans have sacrificed for our country. The most famous words in America are “We The People”, the first words of the Preamble to the Constitution of the United States of America.

“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America”.

As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of our nation, the festivals and fireworks are a testament to the love we have for America. We mustn’t give up hope for a better Union. Through many difficult times the American people have continued to work toward unity. We’ve carved out our place in history as pilgrims, settlers, warriors, politicians, patriots, peacemakers, authors, artists, farmers, builders, craftsmen, scientists and innovators.

We owe ourselves, and future generations, our commitment to the freedoms our forefathers envisioned. As we continue to hope for a nation of diversity, we still have a long way to go. The United States of America has always been a beacon of hope for people. We must not let the hope of freedom and equality for all people die on our watch. We continue to honor the sacrifice of all veterans who fought and died to keep our nation free from tyranny and oppression as we celebrate America’s 250th
anniversary.

The Village of Delhi will be applying crackseal to Elm Street, Edgerton Street, High Street and Franklin Street (from Main Street to Edgerton Street) on June 30, 2026 beginning at approximately 6:30 am.

Travel will be limited to one lane traffic while the work is being performed. Expect delays during the morning commute.

Please contact the Village Clerk’s office at (607) 746-2258 if you have any questions or concerns.

PVT James Redfield, Veteran, Revolutionary War and the War of 1812

When James Redfield was born on 27 June 1767, in Saybrook, New London, Connecticut Colony, British Colonial America, his father, Captain James Redfield, was 32 and his mother, Sarah Grinnell, was 28. He married Sarah Haines in 1790, in Saybrook Manor, Old Saybrook, Middlesex, Connecticut. He died on 19 August 1858, in Delhi, Delaware, New York, at the age of 91. He is recognized as a Revolutionary War veteran and buried at Woodland Cemetery, Delhi, NY. James Redfield is my double cousin, being related on both his mother’s and father’s sides, to John and Priscilla Alden, my 9th great grandparents, Mayflower 1620.

James Redfield biography by grandson of George Elliot Redfield, Life History and Whereabouts:
“At an early age y Grandfather became a cabin boy on an American Privateer, near he close of the Revolutionary War with England.  He continued to  follow the seas for eleven year thereafter.  About 1790 he married his first wife Sarah Haines of Weston, Conn.  and their only child James Grinnell Redfield was born November 9, 1792. In 1794 this wife died at Weston, Conn. and my Grandfather moved to Stanford, Delaware Co, New York where he became a farmer and married his second wife Abigal Barlow about 1795.  She died February 17, 1822 leaving the following children, born at Stanford, Delaware Co. NY: Sarah Redfield, Saba Redfield, Theophilus Redfield, Priscilla Redfield, John Redfield, Hugh Rose Redfield, Elizabeth Redfield, Jesse Redfield, Nancy Emily Redfield, William Ward Redfield.  All of the above except Elizabeth were married and the ten children had seventy their children (grandchildren of James)”. 

The Village of Delhi has a new water/sewer billing/payment portal; this new portal is a Citizen Action Center. The Citizen Action Center portal web address is below:

https://villageofdelhi.citizenactioncenter.com/sign-in

Every water/sewer account is set to receive a postcard bill, if you want to sign up for email billing or auto pay you will need to sign up for this new Citizen Action Center portal.

The attached PDF will walk you through signing up and using the Village of Delhi’s Citizen Action Center.

If you have questions please call the Village of Delhi Office at (607) 746-2258

**The old water/sewer portal does not work anymore, do not use it or any backdoor links that you used in the past**

LTC Thomas Farrington, 1735-1808 
Birth: Mar. 8, 1735 Andover Essex County, Province of Massachusetts Bay 
Death: Apr. 9, 1808 Delhi, NY

Thomas Putnam Farrington, born March 8, 1735 in Andover, Essex County, Province of Massachusetts April 9, 1808, was the son of Daniel Farrington of Andover, Massachusetts and Elizabeth Putnam, who was born in Salem, Massachusetts. His mother, Elizabeth Putnam, was a granddaughter of Ann Carr Putnam, the primary instigator which started the Salem witch trials hysteria.

Thomas Farrington served in the Revolutionary War under General Rufus Putnam. Thomas was commissioned a Lt. Colonel on January 1, 1777. Prior to that he was serving as a volunteer in the expedition against Canada and as a Captain in the 16th Continental Infantry. 

Thomas was cashiered (dismissed with dishonor) after he was accused of counterfeiting money. He placed a newspaper notice proclaiming his innocence, but he was remanded to jail after his court martial, to face civil charges. According to Thomas' pension papers, son March describes the counterfeiting incident as a “misunderstanding” between Thomas and his commander. Abigail Adams, wrote about the incident and more in a letter dated May 6, 1777 to her husband, future president, John Adams: 

“I must add a little more. A most Horrid plot has been discovered of a Bank of villans counterfeiting to a Great amount, no person scarcly but what has more or less of these Bills. I am unlucky enough to have about 5 pounds LM of it, but this is not the worst of it. One Col. Farrington who has been concerned in the plot, was taken sick, and has confessd not only the Counterfeiting, but as they had engaged and inlisted nearly 2 thousand Men who upon the Troops comeing to Boston were to fall upon the people and make a General Havock. How much mercifull God than man, in this providentially bringing to light these Horrid plots and Schemes. I doubt not Heaven will still continue to favour us, unless our iniquities prevent." 

General George Washington argued for Thomas to be executed, saying: 

“Whoever attempts to destroy their credit, particularly that of those, emitted by the United States, is a flagitious Offender & should forfeit his life, to satisfie the demands of public justice. In the case before us, the enormity of the crime, is aggravated in a peculiar manner by the post, Farrington held”. Despite Washington's call for execution, Thomas was only cashiered. 

Colonel Thomas Farrington settled in 1786 just above the village of Delhi, in a double log house. Putnam and Philip Farrington, his sons, came to Delhi with him. Three Farringtons were enumerated on the 1800 census in Dehli as heads of household: Thomas, March, and Putnam. 

Thomas’ second marriage was to Jerusha Hammond in 1776. Jerusha applied for a widow's pension based on Thomas's service in the Revolutionary War. Jerusha died November 11, 1840 in Meredith, Delaware County, possibly in the home of her stepson, March. There is no evidence the pension was awarded. In 1846, her family members applied for a pension on Thomas's record for themselves. I have no more information on that. 

Burial: Woodland Cemetery Delhi Delaware County New York, USA 
Plot: 204 
Sources: Geni.com, WikiTree, dcnyhisotry.org

View and download the Annual Drinking Water Quality Report 2025 here.

It is that time of year when people are getting ready to plant gardens and take care of their lawns. This is also true for the Delhi Community Gardens. Residents should be aware that the Village has boxes available for planting for individuals who do not have room on their own property to adequately or comfortably plant and tend their own garden box. However, before we can move forward with this in an organized and fair basis, we need someone to take a leadership role to administer this project. It would involve assigning boxes to those who wish to utilize them and to periodically monitor that the boxes are being maintained properly. Having some knowledge regarding gardening would be helpful. If you are interested in volunteering for this role, please see the mayor at Village Hall, 9 Court Street.

The Village of Delhi is seeking bids for a contractor to perform lawn mowing services for delinquent property owners in the Village of Delhi on a monthly basis as determined by the Village. MUST be insured. Bids should be received in the Clerk’s office by May 11, 2026 by noon.  For more information or to submit proposals and estimates, please contact the Village of Delhi, PO Box 328, Delhi, NY 13753, (607) 746-2258.  The Village accepts the right to reject any and all bids.

Kimberly Cairns
Village Treasurer

Jonathan Finney 
B:1758 
D:1843 
Revolutionary War Veteran, Private

Served in: Captain Joseph Palmer’s Company, Colonel Josiah Whitney’s Regiment and Captain Samuel Fish’s Company for 8 days, Capt. Moses Ashley's Company, Col. John Paterson's 15th Massachusetts Regt., 1776 

Jonathan Finney applied for a pension in May 1820. He stated he owned no real estate but had use of part of an old house and a small spot for a garden. He owned 1 cow, 8 hens, 2 small tables, 1 old chest of drawers, 8 old chairs, 4 pewter plates and other modest household goods, including an old Bible and 1 copy of Milton’s Paradise Lost. He stated his occupation was farmer. His application to the War Department was denied. 

Jonathan was born November 8, 1758 Kent, Litchfield County, Connecticut and died August 10, 1843 Delhi, Delaware County, NY. He was the son of Jonathan, age 22, and Phebe (Phelps) Finney, age 24. His wife was Sarah Treadway. They married on June 15, 1789 and had 10 children - Mary, George, Mary “Polly”, Phebe, Seldon, Jonathan, Beri, Harriet, Amasa and William. The Finney’s moved to Delhi, NY around 1800. 

Jonathan Finney died on 10 August 1843, in Delhi, NY at the age of 84. His wife, Sarah, died in 1857, age 93. Jonathan and Sarah Finney, and their son, Seldon, were originally buried in the Old Delhi Burial Ground. Jonathan’s and Sarah’s remains were removed to Woodland Cemetery but their gravestones remain in Old Delhi. Seldon’s remains are still interred in Old Delhi. 

Jonathan Finney’s name was alternatively spelled Phinney, as it is spelled on his son, Seldon’s, gravestone, in the Old Delhi Burial Ground. From his obituary, “In Franklin (Delaware Co, NY) on 20th inst. Mr Seldon Finney of this town (Delhi, Delaware Co, NY {he married} Miss Annis Johnson of the former place. From the Delaware Gazette January 12, 1825. Seldon and Annis were married only 18 months before he died. I haven’t found a record of Annis being buried with him so she may have remarried. His funeral was held at the Delhi Courthouse, now the Delhi Village Hall. 

His gravestone inscription reads, “In memory of Seldon Phinney who died July 9, 1826, AEt 30 yrs”. AEt stands for Aetate, Latin for “at the age of”. Jonathan and Sarah’s gravestones are nearly indecipherable.

Brush and lawn debris will be picked up every Monday starting at 6:00 am from April 6, 2026 through October 12, 2026.

1. Brush and lawn debris should only be placed by the curb over the weekend before the Monday you need it picked up. Please do not put out any earlier. DO NOT PLACE BRUSH AND LAWN DEBRIS IN THE ROAD.

2. Brush should be no larger than 6 inches in diameter and free of dirt and stones.

3. Brush should be separated from other debris.

4. Grass clippings and other small debris should be placed in receptacles. The receptacles will not be taken away. 

Leaves will be picked up every Monday starting at 6:00 am from April 6, 2026 through November 23, 2026.

1. Leaves should only be placed by the curb over the weekend before the Monday you need it picked up. Please do not put out any earlier. Leaves should be secured, to avoid them blowing into the road and causing a traffic hazard. DO NOT PLACE LEAVES IN THE ROAD.

2. Leaves must be separate from brush and all other small lawn debris.

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Village of Delhi Board of Trustees will be holding a budget workshop on March 9, 2026 at 6:00 PM at the Village Hall, 9 Court Street, Delhi, NY 13753.

Kimberly G. Cairns
Village Treasurer
Dated: March 4, 2026

This Old Delhi Yarn is to commemorate a Veteran of the American Revolution, Job Sheldon, to celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary. Job Sheldon was born in Cranston, RI Jan 26, 1758 and died in Delhi, NY April 1, 1832. He married Hannah Crawford Tripe (1763-1831) on Sept 28, 1783 in Palatine, Montgomery Co, NY. Job Sheldon was 18 years old when the Revolution began. His war record includes his survival at the siege of Valley Forge, the defense of Forts Mifflin and Mercer, for which he was awarded the badge of honor from Gen. Washington, the Battle of Monmouth, he was a Sgt. of the Guard at the execution of the British spy, Major John Andre, and he was at the Battle of Yorktown when Cornwallis surrendered. Mr. Sheldon was a loyal patriot and continued to fight for his country when he joined the Army during the War of 1812.

In 1831, after his wife, Hannah, died, Mr. Sheldon came to Delhi to visit his eldest son, Crawford (1799-1859) and his wife, Abigail, née Moxham (1800-1881), where he died in 1832. Crawford and Abigail Sheldon were the parents of 6 boys and 3 girls. Their eldest son, Edwin Holmes Sheldon, (1821-1890), married Frances, née Ogden (1824-1870), daughter of Abraham Ogden, from Walton, NY. Edwin H. and Frances Sheldon’s eldest son, Edwin B. Sheldon (1849-1923), married Louisa Bruen Whitehouse (1843-1919). Edwin B. Sheldon was born in Chicago, IL. He was a real estate developer and brother in law to William B. Ogden, (1805-1877), First Mayor of Chicago. W.B. Ogden donated money to build the library in Walton, NY, which is named for him. Edwin B, known as EB, and Louisa had no children. They moved to Delhi from California and built the house they called Longwood, on the hill where Delaware Academy is now. The house burned in 1937 and Delhi School District bought the property in 1938. Edwin H. Sheldon hired an architect from Chicago, a friend of William B. Ogden, to design the beautiful round tower and wrought iron gate for the lychgate (roof) at the Orchard St entrance to Woodland cemetery. Edwin B. Sheldon had the Sheldon mausoleum erected in Woodland Cemetery in 1921 in memory of his beloved wife, Louisa. Many members of the Sheldon family are buried there. One of the many descendants of the Sheldon’s and the Whitehouse’s is Sheldon Whitehouse, United States Senator from Rhode Island.

NOTICE TO BIDDERS

The Village of Delhi is accepting bids for June 1, 2026 through May 31, 2027:

Item #1: Heating Oil – Price delivered to Delhi Village Hall and Wastewater Treatment Plant. Bid will be a fixed price; any/all fees must be included.

Item #2: Kerosene – Price delivered to Delhi Village Hall and Wastewater Treatment Plant. Bid will be a fixed price; any/all fees must be included.

Item #3: Propane – Price delivered to Water/Highway Depot Street Building, Wellhouse Building, Highway Garage and Police Range. Bid will be a fixed price; any/all fees must be included.

All items must meet New York State specifications and must be in a sealed envelope clearly marked “Bid for Item #_____.” All bidders shall conform to
Section 1030 by including non-collusion Bidding Certificate as stated in General Municipal Law. All bids must be submitted on a bidding form using one form for each item bid. Bidding forms are available at the Village Clerk’s office.

Sealed bids must be delivered to the Village Clerk, PO Box 328, 9 Court Street, Delhi, NY 13753 no later than Tuesday, March 31, 2026 by 4:00 pm. Bids will be reviewed by the Village of Delhi’s Board of Trustees.

The Village of Delhi reserves the right to reject any or all bids and to accept only those most advantageous of the Village of Delhi.