Yankee Pass

Excerpted from Pomroy Jones'
	"Annals and Recollections of Oneida County," 1851, p. 259-261

In the early settlement of the county, the story of Judge STARING's "Yankee Pass" was as familiar with people as 'household words.'
By virtue of his office, which carried with it the powers of a magistrate, it became his duty to see that the laws were properly enforced and obeyed. Then, as now, our statutes forbid 'all unnecessary labor and traveling on the first day of the week, commonly called Sunday.'
Soon after his appointment as first dignitary of the bench, a shrewd Yankee, who had been visiting that unlocated and fast-receding region, (the frontier,) though it was hardly more extended than as far towards the setting sun as Onondaga Hollow and Salt Point. The Yankee was passing, on horseback, the residence of the Judge, on his way 'down east,' on the first day of the week.
Judge Staring, who like many of the good Dutch settlers in the Mohawk Valley, was quite strict in his observance of the day. He went at once to the highway and arrested the law-breaking traveler. At first, the traveler stoutly demurred, stated that his business was urgent, and required haste. The Judge was, however, was immovable. The traveler, making a virtue of necessity, soon proposed to pay his fine of six York shillings. This was accepted by the law enforcer.
"Now," says the traveler, "I suppose I can proceed?" to which he received an affirmative answer. The traveler then said to the Judge, that as he had satisfied the broken law by paying his fine, he wished a pass, that he might not be again molested in his journey.
The Judge declared his willingness to give the desired paper, but stated his inability to write it, and further, if the traveler would do it, he would affix his signature. To this the Yankee assented, and proceeded to pen the wished-for document, to which the Judge signed his name, and forthwith the traveler proceeded on his way.
A few months afterwards, Judge Staring went to Kane's store at Cananjoharie, and was there presented for payment with an order for twenty-five dollars (an unpaid due bill). At first, he strenuously denied having given such an order, but having more particularly examined the signature, and finding it genuine, he revolved the matter over in his mind, and at last caught an inkling of the pass at the bottom of the meal-tab.
The Judge asked for a description of the person who presented the order, whereupon the Yankee and his beast were most accurately described. "Oh! Now I know it all," says the Judge, "It is nothing but that 'Yankee Pass.' " As the signature was genuine and as no proof could be made of the fraud, the draft had to be duly honored; but for the remainder of his official term, it is presumed the Judge never gave another 'Yankee Pass.'