George Washington Loomis Sr. and his wife Rhoda Mallet Loomis settled their family in Central New York to become one of the most notorious crime families of the 19th Century. The Guilford Historical Society recently hosted Vicky House, Oxford Town/Village Historian, as she presented the powerpoint on "The Loomis Gang of Nine Mile Swamp.” (Submitted photos)

GUILFORD - The Guilford Historical Society recently hosted a presentation of one of the most notorious crime families of the 19th Century, "The Loomis Gang." 

Vicky House, Oxford Town/Village Historian presented her research at the Guilford Historical Society building in Guilford.

House's Powerpoint presentation brought great insight on 'The Loomis Gang of Nine Mile Swamp', noting the entire family, including ten children, were part of the 'Gang'.

"George Washington Loomis Sr. was born in Connecticut in 1779 and was a descendant of Joseph Loomis of Windsor CT who came from England in 1638.  Joseph raised a large family that, with their many descendants, won distinction in the fields of law, medicine, ministry, science, and education," said House.

House explained George Washington Loomis came to Oneida County in 1802 from Vermont and settled in Sangerfield Township near theMadison County line where he bought 385 acres covering a high knob with a swamp nearby.    After clearing the land,  he  built a substantial farm house on the side of a hill  overlooking the Chenango Valley.  The homestead became known as, 'The Loomis Lair'.

Had the 'Gang' moved to  Sangerfield four years previously, they would have lived in Chenango County but an act was passed in 1798 to annex Sangerfield to Oneida County. Nonetheless, they  dominated Central New York for almost 100 years. From counterfeiting, horse/cattle & sheep  stealing, witness intimidation, arson and even murder, this family reigned over the countryside and left their mark on our history.