1850;  living with parents in Peterboro, Madison County - occupation described as a peddler.  (1850 Census of New York)
April 1, 1862;  sold to John Campbell, property in Madison Co., New York.  (Madison Co. Deeds book 95 page 226)
April 18, 1863;  with wife Ann sold 22 acres of land in the town of Fenner, Madison Co. for the sum of $400.00 described as part of Lot # 30 in the mile strip of the late Oneida Reservation.  Formerly owned by Benjamin Barton and sold to John McMahon.  (Madison Co. Deeds)
April 9, 1864;  sold land Madison Co. to Harvey L. Keeler.  (Madison Co. Deeds book 101 page 431)
January 24, 1865;  sold land Madison Co. to Ann Murfitt.  (Madison Co. Deeds book 102 page 496)
November 20, 1866;  sold land Madison Co. to Oglivie Booth.  (Madison Co. Deeds book 110 page 15)
April 19, 1867;  sold land Madison Co. to Eli N. Ransom.  (Madison Co. Deeds book 111 page 177)
October 27, 1868;  sold land Madison Co. to John Heele.  (Madison Co. Deeds book 115 page 395)
April 7, 1870;  sold land Madison Co. to Shepard Pexton.  (Madison Co. Deeds book 121 page 44)
December 28, 1871;  sold land Madison Co. to David Larkin.  (Madison Co. Deeds book 125 page 333)
April 1, 1873;  sold land Madison Co. to Millen (Milton?) L. Denison.  (Madison Co. Deeds book 129 page 186)
April 9, 1896;  sold land Madison Co. to Carrie F. Reese.  (Madison Co. Deeds book 188 page 272)
December 26, 1899;  from James and Ann to son Fred, for $100.00 - in town of Smithfield, southwest division of Lot 11 in New Petersburgh Tract. 3 63/100 acres.  And for $2,000.00 a little south of Peterboro part of Lot 26 ? 33 of New Petersburgh Tract on Old Nelson Rd. southwest corner of Neil Eastman's land to northwest corner by Daniel Cameron - then to Reuben Rich's ? next to Henry Berry, for total of about 50 acres.  This is the same property formerly owned by Milton L. Dennison.  (Madison Co. Deeds)

1900; Census of Clockville, Madison Co., New York shows;
James G. Messinger, born January 1829, New York, father born Connecticut
Anna, born February 1839, New York, father born Connecticut
1901;  with wife sold land to son Fred A. Messinger.  (Madison Co. Deeds book 205 page 164)
1910;  will - transfer of land to wife Ann.  (Madison Co. Deeds book 231 page 46)

Obituary Canastota Bee Journal;       "James G. Messinger
At an Oneida hospital Tuesday, occurred the death of James G. Messinger one of the old and highly respected residents of the town of Lincoln.  Mr Messinger had been ill for some time and his death was not unexpected.  He was born in the Town of Eaton, February 15 1826, and all of his life of 81 years had been passed within the confines of Madison County.  In his younger days he was sucessfully engaged in merchandising, keeping stores at Perryville, Canastota and Peterboro.
In this village he was in partnership for a time with the late M.M. Hess.  After retiring from mercantile pursuits Mr. Messinger engaged in farming.  He is survived by his widow Miss Elizabeth Phipps of Smithfield and to whom he was married Dec. 29, 1859, two sons Dr. Milton P. Messinger of Oakfield, Genesee Co., and Fred Messinger who holds a responsible position with the Armours in Chicago, and one daughter, Miss Lou Messinger, who for some years has been engaged as a teacher at Ballston Springs.
Mr. Messinger was a most indulgent father, a devoted husband for more than fifty years, and an upright citizen who had the respect and esteem of a wide circle of friends and aquaintances.
Funeral services were held at the late home of the deceased Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock.  The Rev. L. W. Farnsworth officiated and burial was made in Mt. Pleasant Cemetary, Canastota."

Obituary - Oneida Daily Dispatch September 9, 1910;  "Joseph Messenger (sic) old and respected resident of Clockville died at Oneida City Hospital on Tuesday, age 81- survived by wife.  The funeral held in Clockville yesterday afternoon."
(Oneida Daily Dispatch)

Obituary -  "Peterboro, September 15, 1910;  Last Thursday at his home in Clockville occured the funeral of James G. Messinger, aged 81 years, a former resident of Peterboro.  Mr. Messinger for a long time lived in Peterboro and was well known here.  He was a trustee of the Evans Acdemy of this place until his death.  A.L. Cameron, C.K. Record, J.N. Woodbury, and D.W. Coe, other trustees of the Academy, acted as bearers at the funeral.  Sympathy is expressed for the bereaved ones." Burial: Peterboro Cemetary, Peterboro, Madison Co., N.Y.201
After his death his property was sold by children.  (Madison Co. Deeds book 257 page 461 - book 254 page 150)  Owned a lot of property - including on Oneida Reservation town of Fenner and a farm on the Peterboro - Cazenovia Turnpike202,203Town Offices: trustee of Evans Academy, Peterboro until his death204

Supreme Court; County of Dutchess.
John M. Brewster, Against Charles P. Brown, Elvira Brown, and Milton P. Messinger as the sole Executor of the estate of James G. Messinger, deceased.
The plaintiff for complaint against the above named defendants, avers, upon information and belief:
1.  That all parties hereto are residents and inhabitants of the State of New York; and the plaintiff of the County of Dutchess.
2. That on or about the 2d day of July, 1902, one Allan Fisher, for a valuable consideration, made and executed his promissary note in writing, of which the following is a copy: "$5,000.00 Detroit, Mich, July 2d 1902. Two months after date. I hereby promise and agree to pay to the order of Henry C. Oliver at the First National Bank of Detroit, Mich. the sum of Five thousand dollars, value received, with interest Allan Fisher." That the said Allan Fisher then and there, for a valuable consideration, delivered the same to the said Henry C. Oliver, and that he, the said Oliver, then and there became the owner and holder of said note. That the same time and place, and for a valuable consideration, the said defendants Charles P. Brown and Elvira Brown, and one James G. Messinger, made and executed a written instrument, under seal, of which the following is a copy viz: "Detroit, Mich. July 2, 1902. For value received, we, James G. Messinger, of the County of Madison and State of New york, and Charles P. Brown and Elvira Brown, of Detroit, Mich., co hereby, jointly and severally promise and agree, guarantee and warrant, that a certain promissary note, bearing even date herewith, for $5,000.00, made and executed by Allan Fisher, payable to the order of Henry C. Oliver at the First National Bank of Detroit, Mich. Two months from its date, and which note is hereto
attached, will be paid, principal and interst at % its matutity (sic), and when and as the same becomes due and payable and that in case it is not so paid, we will pay the same.
Hereby binding our respective heirs, representatives, Executers/and Administrators, jointly and severally, firmly firmly (sic) by these presents.
Witness our hands and seals the 2d. day of July, 1902. Charles P. Brown, LS.
Elvira Brown, LS. James G. Messinger. LS"
The said Guarantee and warranty were then and there, for value received, delivered to the said Henry C. Oliver who then became the owner and holder thereof; and the said last mentioned paper and instrument were then and there, attached to and made a part of said promissary note. That when said note became due and payable, it was duly presented at and to the First National Bank of Detroit, Michigan, the place where it was made
payable, for payment and payment thereof then and there duly demanded, which was refused.
3.  That thereafter, and the 4th. day of October, 1902, the payee named in said promissary note, duly endorsed the same, by writing his name upon the back thereof, as follows, "Henry C. Oliver" and for valuable consideration, duly transferred said note, guaranty and warranty, to Henry C. Oliver Jr., who then becamd the owner and holder of said promissary note, guaranty and warranty.
4. That thereafter, and on the 14th. day of March, 1911, the said Henry C. Oliver Jr. for a valuable consideration to him in hand paid, duly transferred the said note, guaranty and warranty, "without recourse" to the above named plaintiff John M. Brewster, who then became, ever since has been, and now is the legal and lawful owner and holder thereof.
V. That said note was not paid at its maturity: and nothing has ever been paid on it, of principal or interest, except as hereinafter set forth, viz; Nov 2 1902 $100.00; July 3, 1906. $50.00; July 2, 1907. $50.00; in all, $200.00; and there is now due and unpaid upon said note the sum of $5000.00 with interest thereon from July 2, 1902, - less said $200.00, above set forth.
VI. That said James G. Messinger died on or about the 6th. day of September, 1910. That the above named defendant, Milton P. Messinger was thereafter, and on or about the 13th. day of September 1910, duly appointed by the Surrogate of Madison County, sole Executor of the estate of said James G. Messinger; that he duly qualified as such Executer entered upon the discharge of his duties as such; and ever since has been, and now is axting (sic) as such.
That the estate of the said James G. Messinger has never been judicially settled. Wherefore, the plaintiff demands judgement against the above named defendants, in the sum of Five Thousand dollars, with interest thereon from the 2d. day of July 1902, less the sum of $200.00 paid and endorsed on said note, as aforesaid, together with the costs of this action.
H. M. Bennett, Plaintiff's Attorney
Hudson Terminal Building,
New York City, NY
Borough of Manhattan.

State of New York; County of Dutchess: S.S.
John M. Brewster being duly sworn deposes and says; that he is the plaintiff in the above entitled action; that he has read the above complaint, and knows the contents thereof, and that the same is true to the knowledge of deponent, except as to those matters therein stated to be alleged upon information and belief, and that as to those matters he believes to be true.
J.M. Brewster,
Subscribed and sworn to before me, this 25th day of May, 1911,
John M. Hamm
County Clerk Dutchess County.