Memorial to Joseph Burritt in The Ithaca Journal, Apr 23 1921, P. 4, Cols 5-6
"A detailed biography was published in The Ithaca Journal at the time of Mr. Burritt's death in 1889. From that the following facts are taken:
Joseph Burritt was born at Stratford, Conn., August 21, 1796, and at East Haven, Conn., learned the trade of silversmith by apprenticeship to an old master especially versed in watch and clock making. In the summer of 1816 young Joseph attained his majority and also his freedom from a long apprenticeship, and immediately decided to go west in search of a less crowded field for the practice of his profession.
In October, 1816, he started out with his young wife, Aserath Curtiss of East Haven, in a wagon containing the tools of his craft, and accompanied also by a journeyman silversmith named Fairchild. The tools, it is said, he had made himself.
After 10 days' journey the travelers came out on South Hill and obtained their first view of the score of primitive houses that constituted Ithaca. It is said that the Presbyterian meeting house, which had just been completed at that time, was ornamented with a young tree with branches and leaves still growing, which served in place of a spire.
Joseph Burritt found in Ithaca one silversmith who had preceded him, William P. Burdick, and with him a partnership was soon formed, the journeyman Fairchild returning to his home after a short time. For many years Burdick and Burritt carried on their business in half the hat store of Ackley and Hibbard and had all the work they could do by daylight and late into the night by candlelight.
Mr. Burritt later removed around the corner to the east side of North Aurora street, then to the west side, and back again into the first building which was burned at one time and replaced by him with a brick structure. In this neighborhood he carried on his business until the Civil War, when, after nearly half a century of hard work, he sold out to his partner and son, Joseph C. Burritt, who continued the business for many years. Many of the later watch repairers of Ithaca acquired their knowledge and skill under the tuition of Joseph Burritt, who was both an ingenious mechanic and a thoroughly faithful, honest workman.
...
Mr. Burritt built a residence on the corner of Buffalo and Albany streets, on the site of the State Street Methodist parsonage, and his partner, Mr. Burdick. erected the house on the corner of Seneca and Albany now owned by O. P. Hyde."