aass_!^|jr;t THE AVAGNER . RE-LNTERMENT, At Fort Plain, October 20, 1881. Johan Peter Wagner, born January 3, 1722, the son of Peter Wagner, a very early pioneer of the Mohawk valley, after serving f or vears as a patriot in the Revolutionary struggle, at first under Sir William Johnson, and later under General Herkimer, and after having been engaged in the battle of Oriskany and most of the other prominent battles of the time and region, died full of years and honors, and was buried at Palatine in a cemetery on the Wagner farm now owned by J. Harvey Smith. His eldest son, also Johan Peter, and like his father known as colonel, was born November 6, 1750, and died August 1, 1816, after a somewhat more quiet but hardly less useful life than his father's. He was buried by his side in the cemetery at Palatine. Some time ago it became necessary to take part of this old burying ground for a public purpose, and Jeptha R. Simms, the man of all in the Mohflwk valley most inter- ested in its historic events, called the matter to the attention of the Oneida Historical Society of Utica and suggested the eminent, propriety of reinterring the bodies of father and son in the beautiful cemetery at Fort Plain. The Historical society cordiallv took up the matter and determined to show proper honor to these two men, most worthy of themselves and as founders of one of the greatest families in the Mohawk valley. The plans arrano-ed. for the interesting event were carried through October 20 1881 and the day will not soon be forgotten by people in the region most interested. Two special cars were attached at Utica to the 10 a. m. train, to take the members of the Historical society and the military escort from Utica to Fort Plain, and they were well filled. The society was represented by its vice-president, Hon. C. W. Hutchinson, the chairman of the executive committee, John F. Seymour, the secretary, S. N. D. North, Dr. I. S. Hartley, Dr. A. G. Brower, Leroy F. Shattuck, Dr. Charles B. Foster, J. V. II. Scovil, Dr. Edwin Hutchinson, Dr. Douglass, Max Lehmanu and others. ■tABdOst 146 THIO WAGNEK UK-INTERMENT. General Deriii.K was represented by a detailed statt' consisting of Major Sherrill, INIajor Pomeroy and Captains Eaton and Spriggs. The Utica Citizens' Corps was represented by Major Everts and bis statt", Lieutenant J>agg, Lieutenant Gillniore, Lieutenant Munson, Chaplain Gardner, Surgeon West and Lieutenants Storrs, Kincaid, ^NfeQuade, Coggeshall and Stevens. The Hutchinson Light Guards, Company J>, of the Twenty-sixtli battalion, in command of Captain John W. Gossin, acted as military escort, and was accompanied by the battalion band. General C. W. Darlino-, as chairman of the committee of arrangements for the Utica pi*ty^ was in command for the day, and was accompanied by General W. H. Christian, also a member of the committee. On arriving at Fort Plain, the party was met at the depot by Jeptha 11. Sinnns, AVilliam Clark, Rev. Dr. Woi-tman, Dr. Morgan Snyder, Horace L. Greene, Hon. Webster Wagner, John B. Haslett and Simeon Tingue, the Fort Plain executive committee, and a procession was formed, President Hutchinson marching in front with the members of the executive committee, followed by the Historical society and the Military. Two hearses bore the bodies of the Revolutionary hero and his son, a guard of honor marching with each. Arriving at the Reformed Dutch church, Rev. Dr. Wortman's, all entered, and, with the people from th& town, it was comfortably filled. J. R. SiMMs' Address. After the reading of the ninety-first Psalm by Rev. G. L. Roof, D. D., of Troy, J. R. Simms delivered the address of welcome, in Mhich he showed the appropriateness of such a ceremony taking place on the day selected. He said : In behalf of the Fort Plain committee of reception on this interesting occasion, I take great pleasure in welcoming to our village this delegation of the Oneida Historical Society and its friends and escort, who have come hither on a sacred and commendable enterprise, to wit : — the re-interment in a more "befitting place, of the remains of some of our heroic pioneer settlers. The time chosen for this ceremony seems a very proper one, since we are in the midst of a galaxy of most interesting centennial events. One hundred years ago yesterday, at York- town, Va., the British lion crouched beneath the American eagle. One hundred and one years ago yesterday, was fought in the J. K. SIMM's ADDKKSS. 147 adjoining town of Piilatiiio, scarcely three miles distant, the battle of Stone Arabia ; in which tlic interpid and brave Colonel Brown, borne down by overwhelming numbers of the enemy under Sir John Johnson, fell a most generous and willing martyr to the cause of civil liberty. One hundred years ago next Tuesday^ occurred the battle of Johnstown, between the Americans under the daring Willet and the British, tories and Indians under T>Iajor Rose, in which the. latter were defeated ; and three days after, far up the West Canada creek, a just retribution for his damning deeds, sealed the fate of the infamous Walter Butler. It were impossible on this occasion to notice even a few of the many thrilling and important events which transpired in the Mohawk valley, after the bloody battle at Oriskany, in which the patriots whose memoiy we now honor took an interesting part.- But I may say that some of the most unique and noteworthy incidents that ever occurred in any place or age, transpired in the Mohawk river settlements during our seven years' war for the establishment of civil liberty. Many Avere the hair-breath escapes from the stealthy tory and Indian foeman; while many, very many representatives of families decimated by the tomhawk and scalping-knife, were conveyed at the end of liulian tump-lines through the unbroken wilderness, who, after suffering incredible hardships, were incarcerated for months — yes, for years, in Canadian prisons. Montgomery, Herkimer and Fulton counties were rife with such scenes of carnage and blood. I can not linger to single them out, but will barely make allusion to one of the most sanguinary. About the 1st of July, 1781, Captain Solomon Woodworth, of the Johnstown settlements, a very brave partisan officer, went on his first expedition with his new command, in search of the foeman. Without awaiting breakfast, with a lunch in their knapsacks, himself with his command of forty brave men and six Oneida Indians, moved in the early morning from Fort Dayton up the West Canada creek, and was at the end of a few hours drawn into a defile — surrounded, and his command nearly all slain or captured. Twenty-five of his men, including himself, were the next day buried in one grave, a few miles from Eaton's corners, by Captain Putman and another company of rangers, then at Fort Dayton. But I can assure the hearer that a thousand and one of the startling and blood-curdling events, which transpired in the war on this then frontier of civilization, will, as I trust, ere long be published for their amusement and consideration. 148 THE WAGNER RE-INTERMENT. I repeat, this is a befitting time to honor the memory and deeds of known patriots; and that country will be found the moat prosperous and happy which properly cherishes and perpetuates the memory of its heroic ancestry, whether in words or on endur- iuOX. 149 sufforini; or luToisin, or even pie-Ilcvolutionary history. Ilorc tlie okl fort stood wlieiice this town derives its name, called first Fort Plain, and afterwards Fort Rensselaer. Yonder, fnrther on, the old church and the graveyard where, during and before that ei)Ocli, the living W()rshij>i)ed and the dead were buried. Some two miles further, and across the river, near Palatine church stood old Fort Wagner, home and fortress both — ;iust as now and evermore the home is the diviutly protected fortress of our national virtue, integrity and strength. It stands yet, a strong stone house, that stood in those olden days as a protection against the foe. Skirting off well to the right, a few miles, you can see the old church of Stone Arabia, its predecessor burned a hundred years last October, while many of the people all about were massacred. Fur- ther to the right still, near Palatine Bridge, you come upon the battle grounil to which our veteran Fort Plain historian, Mr. Simms, lias alluded, the battle ground v.here, under Colonel l>rown, the Stone Arabians resisted so courageously the tory and Indian bands. Off toward the southwest the eye passes beyond Forts Clyde, Fail- ing, Fhle and the Fort Kenssclaer of Canajoh-.irie on to the village of Currytown that was destroyed ; and, yet fnrther, to Cherry Vajr ley, almost half of whose ])oi)ulation were killed or captured by the brutal Butler, Brant being at that massacre, but an unwilling and protesting participant. I say it is historic ground. It has a pre- Revolutionary interest. All this valley teemed with a vigorous Indian population, one of the most powerful tribes on the continent. Their bones and imi)lements of war seem so abundant as almost to make an Indian cemetery of many of these hillsides, while out beyond Ephratah a score of mounds indicate even a possibly pre-Indiati occupation. Still, above all else, this is Revolutionary ground. In view of all hardships then endured in this whole region, I have accustomed myself to call it the very Shenandoah valley of that immortal conilict. » Xot inappropriate were it then for us to gather here at this time to call up the memories of those days to localize and fix this valley history; to bring to the thoughts of our present and fast passing times the dangers and the heroisms of those days and gather therefrom fresh inspiration for our work and welfare of to-day. Not the less fitting does it become because we are able to localize these matters about the life of one who had a considerable prominence in the affairs of that time, and who was the honored ancestor of so many honored descendants who abide among us to this day. Meanwhile, a more beneficent use shall we make of 150 THE WAGNEK RE-INTEEMENT. this occasion, if we be thereby inspired to move out unto a higher nobleness and a thorougher manliood. This, too, is a historic time — or shall be, if we so choose to make it. The Indians are no longer here. The tories arc dead. The Kevolntion is past. But there still are foes to fight, errors to subdue, holy truths and prin- ciples to establish, grand victories to gain, honors to achieve, divine purposes to serve. Ours is the heroism that made our fathers illustrious ! Ours the fortitude that carried them to victory ! And whether, a hund- red years from now, the place of our burial is known, or utterly forgotten, may the goodness we shall have done be buried in many hearts, and in many lives make itself manifest in glad and everlastingly recurring resurrections. He reminded his audience that they were seated in a church which stood on the spot where was the original Reformed Dutch church, w^hich stood in the time of the Wagners. He showed, too, the original deed for the church lot, a very old document, "gnawed by other teeth than those of time," and which but lately came into his possession. In concluding, Dr. Wortman gave the Historical Society a cannon ball found on the battlefield of Stone Arabia, one of the few relics in his possession belonging to that period. Dr. Wortman expressed pleasure at being able to introduce "the orator of the occasion, Hon. Charles W^. Hutchinson, the energetic and accomplished vice-president of the Oneida Historical Society." Address of Hon. C. W. Hutchinson. Mr Hutchinson having expressed the thanks of his society for the relic given it, spoke as follows: We are here assembled in the heart of the Mohawk valley, to pay proper tribute of respect to the memory of two individuals whose influence upon its history, and whose civic and military service during the troublous times of our Revolutionary war arc deserving proper recognition. Circumstances having necessitated the removal of their remains from their burifd place upon lands so long in the possession of the family, to a fitting spot in your beautiful cemetery overlooking those lands so many years their home. This day being so near tiie anniversary of the battle of Johnstown, with whicli their name is connected, make the cere- monies of this occasion unusually impressive. It appeals to our patriotism by recalling the history of the first settlement of this ADDRESS OF HON. C. W. HUTCHINSON. 151 valley by the Palatinates, and their noble Christian and patriotic deeds, of which, after a lapse of over a century, in a clear and undoubted record, has been preserved, and it is to be hoped that a more personal history will soon be written to perpetuate and record in a fitting manner the story of the lives and saci'ifices of these early patriots, to whose sturdy character and invincible energy, we to such crreat extent owe the civil and rclis;ious freedom we now enjoy. And it is properly a public duty, for at this time, in the sixth generation the trace of family lineage is so slight, and became so dittused by collateral connection, that any tribute to their memory should be in tlie broadest sense public in its char- acter. In casually tracing at this time the lineage of some of the Palatine families, there are found at present to be between one and two thousand descendants in a single family line, and in the period of one hundred and sixty years the blood of the Palat- inates permeates the veins of whole communities from Schenectady to "the crossing of the old ford" at Utica, called by the Indians Yah-nun-dah-sis. In addressing you, therefore, we feel that any new fact which may be presented relating to the personal and historic events which have taken place in the valley of Mohawk should be received with interest. The story of a man's life is usually written in the water. At his death a moment's troubled surface, then all becomes placid as before, and in a few years all memory of him except perhaps his name, or a record of his good deeds has passed into oblivion forever. But the history of each individual of tlie early settlers of this section stands out boldly in striking contrast. Their lives were constant struggles against opposing forces and adverse circum- stances, but v/hich brought out persistent determination of purpose, unity of ideas, and the closest harmony in united action, when a result was to be attained for a religious or a patriotic purpose. The two Palatinate families of Johan Peter Wagner and William Fox removed from Schoharie to the Mohawk valley, about the year A. D. 1723, and settled in the town of Palatliue, near Palatine church some two miles v/est of this village. Fox settling on the easterly side of the Garoga creek (a part of which is now known as the Newkirk farm), and Wagner settling about a half-mile easterly of the creek (a part of which is now occupied by Harvey Smith 152 THE WAGNER KE-INTEKMENT. and Channecy Wagner.) The lands occupied extending from the Mohawk river several miles northerly. We find from the copy of the original deed that John Conrad Wiser, Jr., Jan Jacokop, John Jost Peters, Conrad Rigarts, Nicholas Fuller, Henry Mayor, Angcrian Smith, Rutles Raving, I*eter Spice, Peter Waggoner, Peter Conneaskern and Jacob Warynoo, all high Dutchmen or Palatines, took a deed from the five nations by their sachems, dated July. 9, 1722, of the land beginning at Ostenrogen, or the first carrying place to the westerly end of it, to Gauerdagavien, being, about twenty-four English miles upon both sides of the Mohagus river. And this is the first recorded mention of this branch of the Wag- ner family. The traditional and subscfpient history I now note. Joiian Peter Wagner, the Palatine and ancestral head of this family, was born at Brauusback, in Wirtemburg, October 4, 1G87. He was married with Maria Elizabetha Laucs, who was born at Oehringen in 1686. They emigrated to America 1709 and settled at New Paltz, Ulster county, and afterwards, in the year 1714, removed to Schoharie county where they remained until their settlement at Palatine in 1723. About the year 1750 he built his residence the old stone dwelling, (now standing and in a good state of preservation.) It was quite similar in style with the well known houses of Frey, Ehle, Van Alstine, and Wormouth, which were erected about the same ])eriod. This Wagner house is said to be the oldest house now standing in the State of New York, west of Fort Plain. In early times, and during the wars, it was stockaded and was known as Fort Waggoner, and a block house was said to have been situated some fifty feet southeasterly of the dwelling, and that some of its timbers are still in the barn buildings on the farm. And a part of the old foundation still remains. On the Wagner farm in the rear of this house is a ])eculiar range of hills, called by the German settlers the Steilcr-JJcn/ or steep hill, ranging east to west for about half a mile. These hills, on excava- tion, are found to contain Indian relics of the prc-historic period, and recent discovery has opened two burial grounds of difterent generations of the tribes. It was upon one of the most prominent of these hills that the old burying ground of the early settlers of this ])ortion of Pala- tine was situated ; a very few graves having inscribed tablets, hundreds being marir, Donieier. He was married with Maria Elizabetha Dockstader in the year 1750. They had nine children, namely: Johan Peter, Johan Georg, Elizabetha, ]Maria Margaretha, Johan Joseph, Johan William, Catharine, and Helen or Laney. And it is to the memory of Colonel Johan Peter Wagner and of his eldest son also named Johan Peter, and of their remains we are now paying this tribute of resjiect and Christian duty. Upon their graves no evanescent flowers are laid; a crown of laurels is the fitting tribute to the record of their lives, a brief resume of whicli connected with public events I shall now partially present. The first j)ublic record of Colonel Wagner is his commission as second lieutenant in the second battalion of the county of Albany, 154 THE WAGNER RE-INTERMENT. which was under the command of Sir William Johnson. It is dated August 25, A. D. 1748, and is signed by George Clinton, the colonial governor. lie was undoubteilly engaged in the Frcncli r.nd Indian war of 175G. Tiie colonel was a staunch patriot during the licvolutionary war, and unswerving in his devotion to the cause of his country. Ue "was one of the committee of safety for Tryon county, and was present as a delegate from the Palatine district at its first meetiTig held at the house of Adam Loucks, at Stone Arabia, August 27, 1774. There being present Christopher Yates, chairman, Peter Wag- goner, Isaac Paris, John Frey, Jacob Klock, Andrew Fink, jr., Christopher W. P^'ox, George Ecker, jr., Andrew Kecber, Daniel McDougle and Anthony Van Fecliten. And he is also recorded as being present at the first general meeting of the committee in the Canajoharie district, held June 2, 1775, at the house of Werner Tygert, near the upper Indian Castle. Colonel Wagner was engaged in the battle of Oriskany and held the position of lieutenant colonel of the second battalion from the Palatine district, of which Jacob Klock was colonel. His oldest son, Johan Peter, was second lieutenant in tlie first company of this regiment, and his second son, Joluui Georg, was a volunteer in his command ; the latter, was wounded in the forearm by a bullet, and on account of it received a pension. Josei)h another son ran away from home and joined the command at the German Flatts, but being only sixteen years of age and the only son old enough to afford any protection to the family, his father j)r()mptly sent him back to look after the women and chiidren. Lieutenant Colonel Wagner, it is said, took command of the first battalion of the Canajoharie district at the battle of Oriskany, which was under the command of Colonel Ebenezer Cox, after General Herkimer, who was its first colonel, was wounded. He was also one of the grand jury at the first court of quarter sessions under the new State Government held at Johnstown September s, 1788, and represented Ins district as a Member of Assembly at the second, third and fourth sessions, in the years 1777, 1778, 177f», 1"8(), 1781. A reference to some of the local historj' of this portion of the State may interest some of those here assembled. Those lands upon the south side of the river were in the possession of the Mohawks, whose easterly or lower Castle was called by them. Te-ah-ton-tii-lo-ga, situated near F'ort Hunter. The westerly or ADDRESS OF HON. C. W. HUTCHINSON. 155 upper Castle was called Ga-ne-ga-liti-ga, and was situate on the east bank of the Hovv-a-da-ga creek in the town of Danube, some two miles easterly of the residence of General Nicholas Herkimer, and was the former residence of King IIiMidrick and Captain Joseph Brant. The village of Fort Phiin was called by the Iroquois Twa-da-ala-hala, "Tlie Fort on a Hill." The Mohawk Middle Castle being situate on the easterly bank of the O-squil-go creek overlooking the viUage, and was called (ia-na-jo-hi-e, and was the junction of the great Central and Susquehanna Indian trails. Here, near the Keformed German Church, familiarly known to you as the Sand Hill Church, lived the Indian trader John Abeel, who married for his first wife the daughter of a Seneca Sacliem, and whose sons were Teh-wun-yars, who was one of the fifty hereditary Sachem of the Iroquois, and was the leading military Sachem of the Confederacy; and Gy-ant-wil-ka, John (Abeel), the Cornplanter, the great war chief, and their half brother by Indian lineage was Ga-ne-o-di-yo, "The Prophet." It was during the invasion of the tories and regulars, under the command of Colonel John Johnson, and the Indians, under the commands of the Chiefs Tha-yen-da-ne-gea and Gy-ant-wii-ka, in August the year of 1780, that the Indians took John Abeel prisoner and burned his residence and other buildins:^, but his son soon released him and sent his father with an escort safely home. Abeel's daughter Maria, by his second wife, married Joseph Wagner, who resided in the old Paris mansion in this village for mau}^ years. The following correspondence, taken from the originals still in the possession of the family, relating to these incursions just mentioned are of historic interest, and while curious in style, they are imbued with a spirit of rare force and determination in their quaint expression. Palatixe, May 2Sth, 1780. A Return for Amunitiou for the mca wliicli are gethered at the house of George Klock — 13 men. Sir Col. Klock desired me to call upon you for Amuiiition, as you had trawn for all the men in his Heg't living upwards from Fox's. Remain Sir your Humble Servt, To Col. Peter Waggoner. Jacob G.' Klock. PAL.vriNE, 36 .June, 1789. Sir, 1 do not doubt but you know that our scout made a discovery of the Enemy this afternoon near our Quarters. I Emediately on the endeligence Bend a few lines to Col Clyde Informing him of the aproge of the Enemy, and also desired some Assistance of him, he Emediately send 18 men which arrived here. 156 THE WAGNKR RE-INTERMENT, ('apt Diffendorf with liis Company Lise at Cox's, which wo send for to come over this Evening, now I desire you woukl send all the yung abble men to-morrow by day brack from all the forts from you up. In order to duni out at day braek to attack the Enemy, as all the men here mean to durn out if we could be Leetle more Ranforced. I should he glad if you desire Col Klock to send some men from Stoneraby also. No more as Remain Sir your most Humble servt Col Waggoner Jacob G. Kiahk. FoitT Paris July 13 1780 Sir pleas to order twelve of the smartest men that you have in the dif- ferent forts under your command to Joyn Capt John Cassalms Company with four days provition with the quickest dispatch from your friend and humble servant To Lt Col Waggoner. Jacob Kixkk Coll FoBT Pabis, June 5, 1781. Sir: I this moment received a letter from the commanding officer at Johns- town, that the enemy have yesterday taken several ])risoners and burnt some buildings in those quarters, and it is thought by him that they will make a stroke either at Stoneraby or else up the river, the enemy is sixty or seventy Ftrong you '11 give notice to all the Posts up above without a moment's delay. I am your To Cols. Klock and Waggoner. Peteb S. Dygebt, Major. FoBT Paris, Sept. 9, 1781. Dr. Col: I received your order and did according to it. I have ordered every man, except yours namely John Shull's Adam Loux, Valentine Freligh and Henry Becker, whom I have kept for scouts. I am Dr. Col. your verj'hbl servt To Col Waggoner. Seprinus Klock, Capt. iiieutenant Johan Peter Wagner, the oldest son of Colonel Wag- ner, and afterwards also a colonel was a fittinf^ scion of the sturdy old Dutch stock of his ancestry. He was boni November G, 1750, and his wife Nancy Bell was born in the year 1759. They were married in 1782 and had a family of nine children. He died at Palatine, August 1, 1816 at the age of sixty-seven years. He was ap])ointed by General I^icholas Herkimer a special commissioner to confer with Captain Joseph Brant at the Unadilla conference in July, 1777, and as heretofore mentioned was second lieutenant in the first company of the regim(!nt commanded by Colonel Klock, at the battle of Oriskany, He with his brothers Johan (xcorg, Johan Joseph, William and Johan appear nlso to have been engaged in several skirmishes in this portion of the valley, particu- larly that of Fo.k's ^lills, situate some eight miles west of this village, where Sir John Johnson with his Tories and Indians had thrown up a small breast work, and awaited the approach of General Van Rensselaer and his militia. The Indians were fii'St ADDKKSS OF HON. c. w. irrTriiiNsox. 157 driven from tlicir posiiion, and the works of the enemy would have been earried, wlien ai)|):ireiitly without reason Van Rensse- laer ordered his troops to fall hack a niilc and encamp. The youniT. carry arms, marcliod through the unbroken forest to meet St. Leger and his disciplined army and its savage allies. Their arms were victorious, the invaders repulsed, and their righteous cause, con- tending for civil and religions freedom, was crowned with success. These heroic men liad all most dear to life i)ledged upon the suc- cess of their arras, and stood in the ranks by the side of their sons, in defense of their cause. Members of the committee of safety car- ried muskets as privates, and four of them of great prominence iu public life, namely: Col. Isaac Paris, Samuel liillington, John Dygert and Jacob Snell were killed at Oriskany. Had they failed,, in their patriotic ettbrts their homes would have been devastated,, their property forfeited, and the lives of their wives and families left to the brutal mercy of a ruthless enemy. In thus cursorily recalling your attention to these events of the early history of this valley in which these ])atriots were such active participants, if an increased interest in this subject has been produced in tite minds of any who will now determine to collect and ]