9002 05350 4750 ^*^ ^' ^"••^f? I" ^"^ 1 IL , 'H'^'%*. .;*'/, <-'l**i. YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY Gift of Edith and Maude Wetmore in memory of their father George Peabody Wetmore b.a. 1867 ' ^Snxmeco-'' HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS STATE OF NEW YORK; CONTALHWa A GENERAL COLLECTION OF THE MOST INTERESTING PACTS, TRADITIONS, BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, ANECDOTES, ic. BELATING TO ITS HISTORY AND ANTICIUITIES, WITH GEOGRAPHICAL BESCRIPTIONS OF EVERY TOWNSHIP IN THE STATE, Illustrated by 230 EngTaving:s. BY JOHN W. BARBER, AUTHOR OF CONNECTICUT, AND MASSAQHUSETTS HlSTORrCAL COLLECTIONS AND HENRY HOW p:, • AUTHOR OF "THE MEMOIRS OF EMINENT AMERICAN MECHANICS," ETa [Arms of the State of New York.] [More elevated.] NEW YORK; PUBLISHED FOR THE AUTHORS, BY. S- TUTTLE, 194 CHATHAM-SQUARE. FBJCE, THREE DOLLARS 1842. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1841, By John W. Barber and Henry Howe, In the Cleric's Office of the District Court of Connecticut. C\2\.3lb HiTOHftOOK i. BTAPFORD, Primer. PREFACE The design of this volume is to give an account of the most im- Kortant and interesting events relating to the history of the state of few York, from its settlement to the present time, with gebgraphical descriptions, illustrated by numerous engravings. In collecting the materials and preparing them for publication, the compilers of this work have unitedly spent more than two years of close and laborious application. We have visited every part of the state, and besides travelling thousands of miles in the public conveyances, we have journeyed many hundreds on foot. Although feeling conscious that we have used all the efforts, and taken every precaution which could be reasonably expected, in order to have this work accurate in every respect, yet we do not claim an entire exemption from those imperfections ever attendant on works of this kind. A degree of difl&dence is felt, when it is considered who are to be the readers. Travellers in giving accounts of foreign countries, may make statements at random, which may pass for truth, when there is no one at hand able to correct their errors. This vol ume will come before many persons, who, on some subjects intro duced, have better means of information, and possess more know ledge than the compilers. A certain writer defines history to be merely " an approximation towards truth." Although this humilia ting statement will not be allowed to its full extent, yet when the im perfection of every thing human is considered, it must be confessed to have some foundation in truth. In the prosecution of this work, we have availed ourselves of the labors of those who have preceded us. The historian, of necessity, derives his information from others. It will be observed, that quota tions have been made from a great variety of publications ; in most instances of which, credit has been given. As a general rule, we have preferred to have each account appear as it was originally given to the public, in the author's own words, from which the reader can draw his own inferences. Truth ought always to be preferred before elegance of language. In the geographical department much information has been derived from Spafford's and Gordon's Gazet- PREFACE. teers, and the state maps, published at Ithaca by Messrs. Stone & Clark. Spafford may be considered as the pioneer in furnishing geographical descriptions of the state : his first gazetteer was pub- hshed in 1813, the second in 1824. The gazetteer by Mr. Gordon, consisting of 800 closely printed octavo pages, containing a map of the state, and one of each county, was published in 1836, and is by far the most complete and valuable work of the kind relating to New York, which has as yet been issued. To this able work, we would refer our readers for a filll statistical and geographical account of the various places in the state. It not only contains a great amount of statistical information, but also the political history of the state, abstracts of its laws, and other valuable information. It is a volume which ought to be placed in every public library in the state. The numerous engravings interspersed throughout this volume, were, with few exceptions, copied from drawings taken on the spot by the compilers of the work. In these engravings, our principal ob ject was to give faithful representations, rather than picturesque views, or beautiful specimens of art. Before deciding that any of these representations are incorrect, we wish our readers to consider that the appearance of any place will be materially altered, as viewed from different points. In order to form an entirely correct judgment, it will be necessary to stand on J;he spot from whence the drawing was taken. COUNTIES, TOWNSHIPS, VILLAGES. Acra, 183 Acron, 153 Acqiiabu^ue, 540 Adairu, 300 AdatriB Basin, 265 Adaitlspni-t, 531 Adarnsville, 572 Addison, 5'i8 Alabama, 175 AlbioM, 431 Alden, 143 Albany, 44 Albany County, 44 AllVi^d, 56 Albiufi, 431, 429 Alexandria, 158,201 All n, 58 Alexander, 175 A laiond, SO Allegany CoaNTY, 56 Allegany Ci^y, 82 Allen's Hill, 409 Alloway, 579 Amaj,'anset, 536 Amber, 392 Am buy, 383, 431 Amenia, 133 Amherst, 143 Amily, 56, 428 AmsLerdarn, 273 Ancrani. 114 Andes, 126 Andover, 57, 375 Angelica, 57 Annsville, 360 Antwerp, 201-- Appling, 201 Apulia, 384 Arcade, 603 Arcadia, 578 Argyle, 567 Aiietta, 191 Arkport, 531 Arkwrisht, 87 Ashftird, 82 Ashville, 90 Astori.-i, 461 Athens. 181 Athol, 562 Attica, 602 Atllebury, 142 Aubnrii, 74 Augusta, 3G0 Aurelins, 79 Auriesville, 278 Aurora, 143 Auslerlitz, 114 Au Sable, 106 Avdca, 528 Avon, 242 Babvlon, 530 Bainbrid?fl, 99 Barker's Mills, 466 Baker's Bridge, 56 Bakersville, 113 Baldwinsville, 384 Ballston, 491 Ballsinn Spa, 492 Bangor, 163 Barcelona, 93 Barbersville, 132 Baremarket, 142 Barker, 66 Barre, 429 Ban-ington, 605 Barrytown, 140 Barton, 549 Batavia, 175 Bateslown, 468 Bath, 464, 528 Bathhouse, 237 Baltenville, 572 Bayleytown, .525 Bearysville, 525 Beavei'dam, 543 Bedford, 584 U Betkman, 106,133 Belfast, 57 Bell Port, 535 Belli'isle, 383 Belleville, 202, 428 Bclnionl, 163 Bennei's Flats, 531 Bennet Settlement, 179 Bennington, 602 Benton, 805 Bergen, 178 Berkshire, 549 Berlin, 464 Benie, 50 Bethany, 179 Bethel, 547 Bethlehem, 50 Betts' Corners, 384 Big Flats, 94 Binghamton, 66 Birdsall, SO Black Biook, 106 Black Ruck, 143 Bleeker, 167 Bliaiheiin, 516 Blooniingsburg, 547 Blooming Grove, 411 Bloomville, 130 BloS:.iTm9ville, 263 Bluff Point, 605 Bolivar, 59 Bolton, 562 Boniboy, 163 Biionvilie, 360 Borodino, 403 Boston, 143_ Bouckville, 260 Bovina, 126 Boylston, 431 Bradford, .530 Branchport, 605 Branch, 541 Brandon, 164 Brasher, 483 Brant, 152 Breakaheen, 518 Bridgohampton, 543 Bridgeport, 260 Bridgewater, 300 Brigllton. 263, 447 Bristol, 404, .561 Brondalbin, 167 Bmrkport, 271 Brooktield, 255 Brnokhaven, 533 Brooklyn, 219 Broome County, 66 Broome, 516 Btoiut, 587 Brownville, 201, 408 Brunswick, 464 Brutus, 80 Buffalo, 147 BullVille, 417 BurdettG,552Btirlhighain, 547 Burlington, 440 Burns, 59 Bushnell's Basin, 266 Bushwick, 233 Burton, 82 Buskirk's Bridge, 567 Buiiti, 87 Butler, 578 Butternuts, 440 Byeraville, 251 Byron, 179 Byruville, 518 Cackemyer'a Mills, 135 Cadi/., 85 Cadysvilte, 59 Cairo, 183 Cahoes, 54 Caldwell, 562 Caledonia, 244 Cainbndge, 557 ¦ Camillus, 383 Campbell, 530 Cambria, 348 Camden, 361 Cameron, 530 Canaan, 114 Canaderaga, 447 Canajoharie, 274 Canandaigua, 404 Canadice, 404 Canaseraga, 260 Canastota, 260 Candor, 549 Caneadea, 59 Canisteo, 530 Calming, 365 Caniion.sviIle, 132 Caiioga, 525 Canterbury. 411 Cainon, 403, 483 Uape Vincent, 212 Cardiff, 384 Carlton, 430 Caroline, 552 Careysville, 179 Carlisle, 516 Carmel, 448 Carrol, 83 Carr's Corners, 152 Carter, 342 Caton, 530 Carthage, 135 Casadaga, 92 Caseiy Hollow, 360 Castile, 602 Cnstleton, 474 Cattaraugus Codnty,£ Catherines, 94 Catlin, 95 Cato, 80 Catskill, 183 Caughnawnga, 280 CATt'GA County, 74 Cayuga, 79 Cayuta, 95 Cazennvia, 255 Cedarville, 196 Centre Port, 540 Centrcville, 59, SO, 92, 114, 532 Chamberlain, 85 Champion, 201 Chatnplain, 106 Chn])insville, 408 Charlotte, 88 Charlotteville, 524 Charleston, 278 Charlton, 491 ChaunmnI, 212 Chateaugua, 164 Chatbani, 1 14 C'HATAUqUB County, 87 Chaauqtie, 88 Cliazy, 106 Cbefcictowaga, 152 Chelsea, 475 Cbeniung, 05 Chemung County, 94 Chenango, 66 Chenango County, 99 Chenango Forks, 66 Cherry Valley, 440 Cherry Creek, 88 Chester, 417, 565 Chesterfield, 155 Chili, 263 China, 603 Chitteiu-ingo, 260 Chittei]den Falls, 122 Churchlown, 114 Churchville, 266, 484 Cincinnalus, 123 Cicero, 383 Clarence, 152 Clarendon, 430 Clarke's Settlement, 73 Clarksnn, 263 Clarkstown, 476 Clarkesville, 59, 255, 79 Clavernck, 114 Clay, 383 Clayton, 201 Clear Creek, 89 Cleaveland, 431 Clermont, 115 ' Clifton Park, 491 Clinton County, 105 Clinton, 133 Clinlnnville, 106, 133, 453 Clockville, 260 Clyde, 578 Clvmer, 89 Cnhleskill, 516 Cochecton, 547 Coeyman's, 50 Concord, 153 Colchester, 126 Colden, 152 Coles' Mills. 449 Colesville, 72 Cold Spring, 83, 449, 463 Colliervillo, 444 Collins, 152 Collin.=villo, 24S ColoFse, 432 Columbia, 192 Columbia County, 113 Columbiaville, 1^ 485 COUNTIES, TOWNSHIPS, VILLAGES. Columbus, 100 Coneaville, 518 Conesus, 344 Coney Island, 237 Cotthucton, 530 Conklin, 72 Connewango, 84 Conquest, 80 Constable, 165 Constableville, 242 Constantia, 431 Coonsville, 408 Copake, 116 Cooperstown, 445 Copenhagen, 239 Corbeau, 106 Corfu, 180 Corinth, 492 Cornwall, 411 Comwallsville, 188 Corum, 534 Cortlandt, 585 CoRTLANOT County, 123 Cortlandtville, 123 Coventry, 100 Covert, 525 Covington, 603 Oowlesville, 603 Coxsackie, 188 Craigsville, 411 Crawford, 417 Croton, 585 Crown Pomt, 156 Cuba, 59 Cuddebackville, 417 Currytown, 283 Cutchogue, 545 Danby, 552 Danube, 192 DansviUe, 249, 530 Oarien, 179 Dashville, 559 Davenport, 126 Day, 492 Dayanville, 242 Dayton, 84 Deansville, 365 Decatur, 444 Deerfleld, 361 Deer Park, 417 Defriestville, 464 De Kalb, 484 Delavan, 87 Delaware County, 125 ¦% Delanti, 92 Delhi, 126 Delphi, 392 Denmark, 239 Depauville, 201, 484 Depeyster, 484 Deposit, 132 De Ruyter, 256 Dewit, 383 Dexter, 201 Dexterville, 89 Diana, 339 Dickenson, 165 Dix, 95 Dobb's Ferry, 587 Dover, 133 Dora, 72 Dresden, 567, 605 Dryden, 552 Duane, 165 Duanesbnrg, 507 ¦jlublin, 525 Dundee, 608 Dunkirk, 91 Durham, 188 '' Durhamville, 375 Dutchess County, 132 Eagle, 60 Eagle Harbor, 430 East Bloomfield, 408 East Chester, 587 East Hampton, 535 Easton, 568 Eaton, 256 Eddysville,S57 Edenville, 428 Eden, 153 Edinburg, 493 Edmeston, 444 Edwards, 484 Elba, 179 Elbridge, 383 Ellenburg, 106 Ellenville, 560 Ellery, 89 EUicott, 89 Ellicottville, 85 Ellington, 89 Ellisburg, 203 Elmira, 95 Elizabethtown, 156 Elmore's Corners, 556 Enfield, 552 Ephrata, 167 Erie County, 142 Erieville, 260 EiTvin, 530 Erin, 99 Esopus, 556 Esperane, 523 Essex, 156 Essex County, 154 Etna, 552 Evans, 153 Evans' Mills, 311 Exeter, 444 Fabius, 384 Factoryville, 474, 549 Fairfield, 193 Fairhaveii, 430 Pairport Basin, 366 Fall Creek, 552 Fallsburg, 547 Farmersville, 84, 525 Farmington, 408 Par Rockaway, 456 Payetteville, 387 Federal Store, 137 Fenner, 258 Felt's Mill, 212 Pinchville, 423 Fishkill, 134 Flanders, 543 Flatbush, 335 Platlands, 235 Fleming, 80 Florence, 361 Florida, 278, 428 Floyd, 361 Flushing, 453 Fluvanna, 89 Fonda's Buslj, 167 Porrcslburg, 547 Forestville, 90 Port Ann, 568 Fort Edward, 569 Port Miller, 569 Fort Covington, 165 Fort Hunter, 378 Fort Plain, 279 Fosterdale, 79 Fowlersville, 351 Fowler, 484 Frankfort, 194 Franklin, 127, 165 Franklin County, 162 Franklinville, 85, 135, 384 Frankville, 105 Fredonia, 90 Freedom, 85 Freedom Plains, 137 Freehold, 188 Freetown, 124 French Creek, 89, 201 French Mills, 165 Friendship, 60 Fulloms Basin, 366 Fulton, 439, 518 Fultonville, 378 Gaines, 430 Gainesville, 603 Galen, 578 Gallatin, 116 Galway, 493 Gardner's Island, 536 Garretsville, 444 Gasport, 359 Gates, 263 Gayhead, 135, 188 * Geddes, 394 Genesee, 60 Genesee County, 174 Geneseo, 245 Genoa, SO Geneva, 409 Georgetown, 359 German Flats, 194 German, 100 Germajitown, 116 Gerry, 89 Ghent; 116 Gilboa,516Gilbertsville, 440 Gilman, 191 Glen, 278 Glenn Falls, S66 Glencadia, 122 ' Glencoe, 119 Glenham, 135 Glenville, 507 Gorham, 408 Goshen, 417 Gouvemeur, 484 Grafton, 464 «. Granby, 431 Granger, 60 Granville, 570 Gravesend, 236 Great Bend, 201 Great Valley, 85 Greece, 263 Greenbush, 464 Greene County, 181 Green Haven, 133 Greene, 100 Greenport, 545 Greenfield, 493 Green River, 114 Green's Corners, 370 Greensburg, 587 Greenville, 188 Greenwich, 571 Greenwood, 531 Greig, 339 Greggsville, 351 Griflin's Mills, 143 Groton, 553 Grove, 60 Groveland, 246 Grosvenor's Comers, 516 Guilderiand, 51 Guilford, 101 Hadley, 492 Hague, 565 Half Moon, 492 Ballet's Cove, 461 Hall's Mills, 52 Halsey ville, 553 Hamburg, 153 Hamilton, 259 Hamilton County, 189 Hammertown, 137 Hammond's Port, 533 Hammond, 484 Hamden, 128 Hampton, 376, 572 Hamptonimrg, 418 Hague, 565 Hancock, 128 Hanford's Landing, 264 Hannibal, 431 Hanover, 89 Harlaem, 338 Harmony, 90 Harpersfield, 128 Harpersville, 72 Harrisburg, 239 Hartfield, 88 Harrison, 590 Hartford, 135, 572 Harlland, 348 Hartsville, 142 Hartwick, 444 Hartville, 387 Hastings, 431, 587 Havana, 94 Hebron, 573 Haverstraw, 476 Head-of-the-river, 541 Hebron, 572 Hector, 552 Helena, 483 Hempstead, 455 Hempstead Harbor, 463 Henderson, 202 Henrietta, 264 Herkimer County, 191 Herkimer, 194 Hermitage, 604 Heimon, 484 Hicksville, 463 High Falls, 558 Hillsdale, 116 Hinsdale, 85 Hitchcock's Comers, 133 Hobart, 132 Hoffman, 158 Hogansburg, 163 Holland, 153 Holley, 430 Homer, 124 Hoosick, 466 Hope, 191 Hopkinton, 484 Hopewell, l'J5, 408, 417 Horicon, 565 Homby, 531 Homelsville, 531 Hounsfleld, 203 Houseville, 243 Howard, 531 Hoytes, 535 Hudson. 116 Hughsonville, 135 Hull's Mills, 142 Hume, 60 Humphrey, 85 Hunter, 188 Huntington, 539 Hurley, 556 Huron, 579 Hyde Park, 137 Independence, 60 Ira, 80 Irelandville, 533 Irondequoit, 265 Islip, 540 Italy, 605 Ithaca, 552 Jackson, 444, 573 Jacksonburg, 444 Jacksonville, 248, 553 J^imaica, 458 Jamestown, 89 Jamesville, 383 COUNTIES, TOWNSHIPS, VILLAGES. Jasper, 531 Jay, 157 Java, 603 Jefferson, S5,"518, 532 Jefferson County, 201 Jemsalem, 456, 605 Jerusalem Comers, 153 Johnsburg, 566 Johnstown, 119, 167 Johnsonville, 135, 469 Jordan, 383 Junius, 525 Keene, 157 Keesville, 155 Kempsville, 353 Kendall, 430 Kennadayville, 528 Kennedy's Mills, 90 Kent, 449 Kinderhook, 118 Kinderhook Landing, 123 Kingsboro', 168 Kingsbridge, 601 Kingsbury, 572 Kings County, 219 Kingston, 556 Kinney's Comers, 431 KJikland, 361 Kirkville, 387 KnowlesviUe, 430 Knox, 51 Knoxville, 532 Kortright, 130 KysorviUe, 351 Lafayette, 384 Lafayette Corners, 137 La Grange, 137, 603 Lairdsville, 376 Lake Pleasant, 191 Lakeville, 248, 462 Lancaster, 153 Lansing, 553 Little Britain, 418 Lansingburg, 468 Laona, 91 Lawyersville, 516 Lasselsvllle, 167 Vathrop's Comers, 82 i^atintown, 559 Laurens, 444 Lawrence, 484 Lebanon, 360 Lee, 365 Leesville, 534 Ledyard, 80 Le Fargeville, 312 Leicester, 246 Lenox, 360 Leon, 85 Leonardsville, 355 Le Ray, 311 LeRoy, 179, 444 Levaniia, 80 Lewis, 157 Lewisboro', 590 Lewis County, 338 Lewiston, 348 Lexington, 189 Leyden, 239 Liberty, 530, 547 Lima, 248 Lincklaen, 101 Lindley, 531 Lindon, 430 Lisbon, 484 Lisle, 72 Litchfield, 196 Little Falls, 196 Little Valley, 85 Little Utica, 384 Liverpool, 394 Livingston, 119 LiyiNQSTON County, 242 Livingstonville, 516 Livonia, 248 Locke, 80 Lockport, 312, 351 Lockville, 578 Lodi, 535 Long Island, 351 Long Lake, 191 Lorraine, 311 Louisville, 484 Lowville, 239 Lloydsville, 447 Ludlowville, 553 Lumberland, 547 Luzeme, 566 Lyme, 311 Lyndon, 85 Lyons, 579 Lysander. 384 Machias, 86 Macedon, 579 Macksville, 403 McLeansville, 552 McDonough, 101 McGrawsville, 134 Madison, 260 Madison county, 255 Madrid, 484 Maiden, 559 ¦ Malone, 165 Malta, 493 Mamakating, 547 Mamaroneck, 591 Manhattanville, 338 Mann's Valley, 516 Mansville, 203 Marbleborough, 558 Marcellus, 387 Manchester, 408 Manheim, 198 ManUus, 384 Mansfield, 86 Marathon, 125 Majbletown, 558 Marion, 580 Marcy, 365 Marsball,36SMartinsburg, 240 Maryland, 444 Mason's Comers, 105 MasonviUe, 130 Massena, 485 Mattatuck, .545 Mattawan, 134 Matthews Mills, 387 Matildaville, 485 Mayfield, 174 Mayville, 88 Mechanicsville, 143, 499 Mecklenburg, 553 Medina, 430 lUendon, 365 Mentz, 80 Meredith, 130 Mexico, 432 Middlebury, 603 Middleburg, 518 Middleficid, 444 Middleport, 199, 359 Middle Settliment, 265 Middlesex, 607 Middleville, 194 Middletown, 130, 428, 492 478 Milan, 80, 137 Mill Brook, 158 Millers Place, 534 Milford, 444 Mllltown, 449, 453 Milton, 493, 558 MillvUIe, 430, 464 MUo,607 Mina, 90 Minaville, 378 Minden, 279 Minerva, 157 Minisink, 419 Mixville, 60 Mohawk, 194, 280 Moira, 166 Monroe, 421 Monroe County, 263 Montezuma, 80 Montgomery, 423 Montgomery Co., 273 Monticello, 447, 548 Mooeia, 106 Mooersville, 130 Moravia, 81 Moreau, 493 Morehouse, 191 Morgansville, 180 Moriah, 158 Moriches, 535 Morrisiana, 597 Morrisville, 357 Morristown, 485 Moscow, 246 Motts' Corners, 552 Mount Hope, 423 Mount Morris, 248 Mount Pleasant, 593 Mount Upton, 101 Mud Creek, 528 Murray, 430 Nanticoke, 72 Naphanock, 560 Naples, 408 Napoh, 86 Narrowsburg, 547 Nassau, 468 Natural Bridge, 319 Navarino, 389 Near Rockaway, 456 Nelson, 260 Neskayuna, 54, 508 Netterville, 509 Nettlehill, 93 Neversink, 547 New Albion, 86 Newark, 549, 578 New Balrimore, 189 New Beriin, 101 New Brighton, 474 Newburg, 424 New Castle, 596 New City, 476 Newcomb, 158 Newfield, 553 New Fane, 353 New Hackensack, 135 New Hartford, 365 New Haven, 432 New Hudson, 60 New Lebanon, 120 New Lisbon, 444 New London, 375 New Ohio, 72 New Paltz, 559 Newport, 199 New Rochelle, 596 Newry, 188 New Scotland, 51 Newstead, 153 Newtown, 460 New Utretcht, 237 New Windsor, 425 New Fork, 284 New York County, 284 Niagara, 352 Niagara County, 347 Nicholas Point, 583 Nicholas, 549 Nicholaville, 174 NicholviUe, 484 Niles, 81 Nineveh, 72 Nisbets Corners, 365 Nobleville, 444 Norfolk, 485 North Armenia, 137 Northampton, 174 North Castle, 596 Northfleld, 475 Nor;h Hempstead, 462 North East, 137 North Port, 540 North Salem, 596 Northville, 174 Northumberland, 493 Norway, 199 Norwich, 103, 463 Nunda, 60 Nyack, 478 Oakfield, 179 Oakhill, 188 Oak Orchard, 430 OaksvUle, 445 Ohio, 199 Ogden, 265 Ogdensburg, 485 Old Attlebury, 142 Olean, 86 Olive, 559 Omar, 92 Oneida Castleton, 375 Oneida County, 360 Oneonta, 444 Onondaga, 389 Onondaga County, 383 Ontario, 580 Ontario County, 403 Oppenheim, 174 Oquago. 70 Oran, 392 Orange County, 411 Orange, 532 Orangetown, 478 OrangeviUe, 603 Oriskany, 377 Oriskany Falls, 360 Orieans, 212 Orleans County, 429 Orville, 383 Orwell, 433 Osbom's Bridge, 174 Osborneville, 189 Ossian, 60 ., Oswegatchie, 485 Oswego, 433 OswEQO County, 431 Owego, 549 Otego, 445 Otisco, 392 Otisville, 423 Otto, 86 Otsego, 445 Otsego County, 439 Otselic, 102 Ovid, 525 Owasco, 81 Owensville, 597 Oxbow, 301 Oxford, 103, 411 Oyster Bay, 463 Oyster Ponds, 545 Painted Post, 532 Palatine, 282 Palermo, 438 Palmers' Comers, 105 Pamelia, 312 Palmyra, 580 Paradox, 158 Panama, 90 Paris, 366 Parish. 438 FariBbvUle, 489 COUNTIES, TOWNSHIPS, VILLAGES. Parma, iI65 Patchogue, 535 Patcrson, 449 Palroon's Mills, 464 Pavilion, 180 Pawling, 137 PeeksHII., 585 Peckville, 135 Pekin, 348 Pelhain, 596 Pembroke, 180 Pendleton, 357 Pdnfield. 366 Pciiii Van, 607 Perrinto.i, 286 Perry, 552, 603 Perrysburg, 86 PeiTysvil.e, 100, 258 Persia, 86 Pera, 106 Pcruville, 552 Peterboro', 260 Petersburg, 469 Penh, 174 Fiiarsalia, 104 Phelps, 409 Philadelphia, 213 Pbilipsburg, 56, 438 Philipspoit, 547 Philipstown, 449 Phffijiix,439, 444 Pierpont, 489 Pieimoiit, 478 Pike, 61 Fiiickney, 242 Pine Hill, 179 Fine Bridge, 601 Pine Plains, 137 Piseco, 191 Pitcairn, 489 Pitcher, 104 Pitts Flats, 409 Fittsfielrt, 447 Piltsfoul, 266 Pittstown, 469 Plainfield, 447 Plainville, 384 Flattakill, 516 Flattekill, 559 Flatlsburg, 108 Pleasant Plains, 133 Pleasant Valley, 137, 167 Fleasantville, 593 Plymouth, 104 Poesten Kill. 469 Poland, 90, 199 Pomfrel, 90 Pompey, 392 Poolville, 259 Portage, 61, 365 Porter, 357 Portland, 92 Port Byron, 80 Port Benjamin, 560 Port Chester, 597 Port Douglas, 155 Port Genesee, 363 Port Gibson, 408 Port Henry, 158 Fort Hickson, 560 Port Jackson, 278 Port Jarvis, 417 Fort Ji-fferson, 534 Port Kent, 155 Port Randall, 155 . Port Richmond, 475 Porlville, 86 Potsdam, 489 Potter, 607 Potters Hollow, 52 Foughkeepsic, 137 Fovghquake, 133 Foundridge, ,597 Frattebuig, 53S Prattsville, 189 Pratts Hollow, 257 Preble, 125 Preston, 105 Princetown, 509 Providence, 493 » Pulaski, 438 PuI.eney, 532 Pulteneyville, 583 Putnam County, 448 Putnam Valley, 453 Putnam, 575 Pulvers Corners, 137 Funchkill, 516 Quaker Hill, 137 Quecnsbury, 566 Queens County, 453 Queenston Heights, 349 Quincy, 93 Quogue, 543 Ramapo, 483 Ramerton, 464 Randolph, 87 Ransomville, 551 Rawsonville, 167 Raynertowii, 456 Reading, 5:13 Redficid, 438 Redford, 113 Redhook, 140 Red Mills, 449 Remsen, 366 Rensselaer, 469 Rensselaer County, 463 Rensselaerburg, 484 Rensselaer's Mills, 469 Rensselaerville, 51 Reynales Basin, 359 Reynoldsville, 553 Rhinebeck, 141 Riceville, 86 Ridgeway, 430 Richfield, 447 Richford, 551 Richland, 438 Richmond, 409 Richmond County, 473 Richmoiidville, 516 Richville, 180, 484 Riga, 366 Ripley, 92 Riverhead, 540 Roanoke, 180 Rochester, 266, 559 Rock City, 137, 493 Rock Glen, 135 Rockland, 547 Rockland County, 475 Rodman, 313 Rome, 366 Romulus, 525 Rondoubt, 557 Root, 283 Rossie, 490 Rose, 582 Rosendale, 556 Rossville, 475 Rouses Point, 106 Rotterdam, 509 Roxbury, 130 Rnyaltoii, 359 Rush, 370 Rushville, 408, 949, 607 Rusliford, 65 Russel, 490 Russia, 199 Rutland, 312 Rutledge, 84 Rye, 597 Sacketts Harbor, 302 Sagg Harbor, 543 St. JohnsvilIe,383 Sl Regis, 163 Salem, 92, 575 Salina, 393 Salisbury, 199, 411 Salt 'Point, 137 Sampsondale, 476 Santbrd, 73 Sandusky, 85 Sandlake, 469 Sandy Creek, 430, 438 Sandy Hill, 573 Sangerfield, 370 Saranac, 113 Saratoga, 493 Sardinia, 153 Saratoga County, 491 Saratoga Springs, 498 Saugerties, 559 Saquoit, 366 Savannah, 582 Sawpitts, 597 Scarsdale, 597 Scotchtown, 438 Schaghticoke, 469 Schenectady, 509 Schoharie, 530 Schoharie County, 515 Schodac, 469 Schroon, 158 Schroeppel, 439 Schultz Corners, 133 Schuyler, 199 Schuylerville, 493 Scieiiceville, 189 Scin, 65, 430 Scipio, 81 Scotia, 507 Scott, 125 Scotlsville, 271 Scriba, 439 Searsburg, 417, 552 Semproniiis, 81 Seneca, 409 Seneca County, 525 Seneca Falls, 535 Bennet, 81 Separate, 143 Seward, 534 Selauket, 534 Shandaken, 559 Sharon, 534 Shawangunk, 559 Shelby, 430 Shelter Island, 541 Sheldon, 603 Sbenand'oalh, 135 Sherburne, 105 Sheridan, 93 Sheiman, 92 Sherman's Mills, 469 Shookville, 137 Shortsville, 408- Sliumla, 92 Sibley's Comers, 270 Sidney, 130 Siloam, 260 Silver Creek, 90 Binclairville, 88 Sing Sing, 5^ Skanandoa, 375 Skencateles, 401 SloaiiEville, 523 Slnterville. 552 Sleepy Hollow, 59S Sniitliborough, 551 Smith's Corners, 83 Sniithfield, 260 Sniithtown, 516, 541 Smilhville, 105,201,202 Smoky Hollow, 114 Smyrna. 105 Sodus, 582 Soleiville, 300 Solon, 125 Somers, 597 Soinerville, 490 Somerset, 359 South Bristol, 411 South East, 452 Southfield, 475 Southampton, 543 Southold, 545 South port, 99 South Salem, 590 Sjiafford, 403 Sparta, 349, 593 Speigleton, 468 Speedville,S53 Spencer's Basin, 365 Spencer, 551 Spencertown, 114 Spencer's Comers, 137 Speunk, 543 Spracker's Basin, 283 Spiingfieid, 447 Springmill, 60 Springport, 81 Springtown, 559 Springwater, 251 Springville, 122 t^iamford, 132 Stafford, 180 Stanford, 142 Stanton Hill, 189 Slapleton, 475 Stark, 199 Slarkey, 608 Stephentown, 469 Sleriing, 81 Steuben, .371 Steuden County, 527 Stewart's Comers, 142 Stillwater, 499 St. Johnsville, 283 St. Helena, 602 St. Lawrence Co., 482 Stockbridge, 260 Stockholm, 490 Stockport, 122 Stockton, 92 Stone Arabia, 282 Stone Mill, 213 Slonybrook, 534 Stoimville, 135 Stowe's Square, 239 Stratford, 174 StryJtersvillc, 518, 603 Stuart's Corners, 82 Stuyvpsant, 122 Suffolk County, 533 Sugar Loaf, 428 Sullivan, 260 Sullivan County, 546 Summer Hill, 81 Summer Valley, 57 Summit, .524 Sweden, 271 Syracuse, 395 Taberg, 360 Taghkaiiic, 123 Talcott's Comers, 83 Talcoltvilli-, 2.39 Tannersville, 189 Tappan, 478 Tan y town, 588 Theresa, 201 Thompson, .547 Thompbonvillp, 548 Throopsville, 80 Ticonderoga, 158 Tioga, 551 TiooA County, 548 Tonilienick, 469 Tompkins, 132 ToHFKlNs County, 551 TonqftinsrUle, 474 COUNTIES, TOWNSHIPS, VILLAGES. Tonawanda, 153, 359 Trenton, 372 Triangle, 73 Troupsbiirg, 532 Troy, 469 Trumansburg, 553 Truxton, 135 Tally, 403 Tunesassah, 83 Tapper's Corners, S3 Turin, 243 Tylersville, 212 Tyre, 526 Tyrone, 532 Ullines, 469 Ulster County, 555 Ulsterville, 559 Ulysses, S53 Unadilla, 447 Unadil.a Porks, 447 Union, 73 Union Comers, 251 Union Falls, 106 Union Square, 432 Union Mills, 167 Union Spiings, 81 Union Vale, 143 Union Village, 571 Unionville, 420, 593 Upper Landing, 135 Urbana, 532 Utica, 373 Valatie, 118 Varysburg, 603 Van Buren, 403 Vanhornsville, 199 Varick, 526 Venice, 82 Verbank, 142 Vermont, 89 Vema, 552 Vernon, 375 Verona, 3'5 Versailles, 86 Vesper, 403 Vestal, 74 Veteran, 99 Victor, 411 Victory, 82 Viemia, 375,409 Villenova, 93 Virgil, 135 Volney, 439 Vorhecsville, 278 Waddington. 485 Wadhani's Mills, 163 Wainscott, 536 Waits Comers, 576 Walden, 423 Wales, 154 Wallkill, 428 Wal.on, 132 Walworth, 583 Wampsville, 260 Warren, 199, 476 Warren County, 561 Warrensburg, 567 Warsaw, 604, 605 Warwick, 428 Washington, 142 Washington Co., 567 Washingtonville,411, 439 Washington Hollow, 137 Waterburg, 553 Waterborough, 90 Waterford, 505 Waterloo, 526 Wateruiwn, 313 Waterville, 371 Waterville Comers, 153 Water Valley, 153 Watervliet, 54 Watson, 242 Wawaraing, 560 Wayne, 533 Wayne County, 578 Webster, 271 WeUsburg, 99 Weedsport, 80 Wells, 191 West Almond, 65 West Bloomfield, 411 West Farms, 597 Westfield. 93 West Galway, 167 West Milford, 92 West Point, 411 Westchester, 597 Westchester Co., 584 Westerlo, 55 Western, 376 Westfield, 475 Weslford, 448 Westhampton,543Westmoreland, 376 Westport, 162 West Troy, 54 West Turin, 242 Wcstviile, 166, 448 Wethersfie.kl, 604 Wheaifield, 359 Wheatland; 271 Wheeler, 533 White's Comers, 15S White Creek, 576 Whitehall, 577 Whitehaven, 153 White Plains, 598, WMtesborough, 377 I Whilestown, 377 Whitestone, 453 WhitesvillQ, 60, 312 WhitlockvUle, 584 Willet, 135 Williamsburg, 334 Williamson, 583 Williamstown, 212, 439 Williamsville, 143 Willsborough, 163 Wilmington, 163 Wilmurt, 199 Wilna, 319 Wilson, 359 Wilton, 506 Winansville, 188 Windham, 189 ; Windsor, 70 Winfield, 199 Winton, 199 Wirt, 66 Wolcott, 583 Woodburn, 547 WoodhuU, 533 Woodstock, 256, 561 Woodville, 303 Worcester, 448 Wurtzboro', 547 Wynantskill, 464 Wyoming, 603 Wyoming CouNTYrfiOl Yates, 430 Yates County, 604 Yatesville, 605, 608 Yaughcripplebush, 55& Yonkers, 601 York, 351 Yorkshire, 87 Yorktown, 601 YorkviUe, 338, 377 Youngstown, 357 POPULATION OF THE COUNTIES IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK IN 1840, Albany, 68,546 Allegany, 40,920 Broome, 22,348 Cattaraugus, 28,803 Cayuga, 50,.362 Chautauque, 47,641 Chemung,.... 20,731 Chenango, 40,779 Clinton, 28,178 Columbia, 44,237 Cortland, 24,605 Delaware, , 35,363 Dutchess 52,488 Erie 62,153 Essex, 23,611 Franklin, 16,450 Fulton, 18,038 Genesee, 59,640 Greene, 30446 Hamilton, 1,907 Herkimer 37,378 Jefferson, 61,064 Kings, 47,613 Lewis, 17,849 Livingston,.. 35,710 Madison, 40,007 Monroe, 64,912 Montgomery, ¦- 35,801 New York 312,932- Niagara, 31,114 Oneida, 85,327 Onondaga, 67,914 Ontario, 43,501 Orange, 50,733 Orleans, 25,015 Oswego, :... 43,820 Otsego, 49,412 Putnam, 12,825 Queens, 30,324 Rensselaer 60,3031 Richmond, 10,985 Rockland, 11,874 Saratoga, 40,450 Schenectady, 17,233 Schoharie, 32,351 Seneca, 24,868 St. Lawrence, 56,693 Steuben, 45,992 Suffolk, 32,469 Sullivan 15,630 Tioga 20,350 Tompkins, 38,113 Ulster, 45,724 Warren 13,470 Washington, 41,095. Wayne, 42,160 Westchester, 48,687 Yates, 20,442: Total, 2,429;476. INDEX. Adirondack Mountains. '<.... 157 Amsterdam, Nieiiw, in 1659 287 Andre, taking of. 479 Andre, execution of. 588 Anecdotes, ludicrous 446 Anecdotes, singular 187 Allfn, William H. epitaph 118 Ararat, city nf. 153 Arnold the traitor, anecdote of. 383 Antone, Abram, trial of. 257 Astor House • 334 Barber, Lieutenant-colonel, death of- 137 Baker, Miss Rachel, the Bleeping preacher 387 Backus, Azcl,D. D. epitaph 364 Barber, Robert, murder of. 261 Ballad, on the destruction of Schenectady 513 Battery and Castle Garden 331 Bennington, bottle of- 466 Beach, Timothy, adventures of 130 Bear, conflict with 554 Bishop, Sarah, hermitess 590 Big Kettle, notice of. 84 Bowne Man&ion House...- 45;i £nyd, Lieutenant, horrible death of. 247 Black Kettle, notice of. 391) Black Rock, attack on 144 Brock, Sir James, death of 349 Brant, Joseph, notice of.'. '• 275 Brant, conference with.'- 447 Brown, Colonel, «iioiice of. 283 Bread, scarcity of. 550 British officera, description of. 3J8 Bristol, wreck of 457 Burgess, Daniel, escape of 61 Burgnyne, 'Surrender of 497 Buffalo, burning of. , ,. 151 Butler House, Mohawk 282 Butlers, fac-simile of 2T3 BuUer, Walter, death of. 172 Captive boys of Rensselaerville 52 Cables Falls 54 Cattajoliarie, invasion of. 275 Cawiline, bninlngof. , 357 Camerojj, Dugald, epitaph 5:J0 Carihage Bridge 269 Catskill Monniain House 385 Cayuga Bridge 79 Census, New York city. State, and the United Slates 285 Chateaugay, skirmish at ."".*. 104 Chatauque gas springs * ' gj Child, first born in Long Island 22O Cbimney Point Gulf. 241 Church, ancient, at Caughnawaga 281 Church, ancienr, Albany 45 ChurUies, numner of, in New York 329 Cholera in New fork 3J4 Chippewa, battle of 354 CJierry Valley, destructioa of. 442 Chemung, battle of.... 9q City Hall, New York 316 Clinton, George, notice of. 419 CHnton, De Witt, notice of 426 Clinton Liberal Institute 362 Cornplauter, uoticeof. 83 Cork Island, Oxford • '¦• 10* Colden, Governor, effigy of 297 Colbraith, Colonel, anecdote of. "366 Cozier, E. S., epitaph 375- Colden, Cadwallader, notice of. 454 Cochran, Dr. John, epitaph 375 Uobelskill, attack on 516 Corn, early method of pounding 531 Crosby, Enoch, notice of 135 Croton Aqueduct 336 Customhouse 323 Dana, General James, notice of. 517 Deserter, execution of. 464 De Fonclaire, J. B. V., epitaph 173 Dean, Esq., James, notice of. 376 Diploma fur the Indians-.. f 173 Dodd, Rev. Bethuel, epitaph 383 Dowiiie, Commodore, epitaph 113 Dover stone church 334 Doxiader, J., the toiy, defeat of...- 524 Dream, remarkable 171 Dutch, ancient, church 46 Dutch church, Fishkill 136 Dutch church, ancient 595 Dwighi's, Dr., descripdon of Westchester County in [he revolution 592 Edwards, George C epitaph 530 Edwards, D.D., Jonathan, epitaph 514 Erie Canal celebration 334 Emmet, Thomas AdUis, epitaph 347 Esopus, Indian attack on 557 Fire, great, in New York, 1776 303 Fire, great, in New York, 1835 321 Fort Erie, assault on ; 145 Fort Erie, sortie of 146 Fort Plain, block-house 279 Fort Ann, battle near 568 Fort Edward, plan of. 569 Fox, George,, notice of..... 454 Frazer, Geneial, d^aih of. 504 French colony, account of 392 French emigrants in Greene County 100 Pulton, Robert, notice of 340 Gardner, Lyon, notice of. 536 Garretson, Freeborn, notice of. 141 Genesee Falls 269 Glerins Falls 566 GlenviHe, incursion into 507 Gray, Colonel, death of. , 210 Granger, Gideon, epitaph 407 Greig, Captain, remarkable preservation of 369 Gothic or Temperance Hall 329 Harpersi William and John, adventures of- 128 Hamilton, Miss Sally, murder of. 181 Hanford's Landing 264 Hale, Captain Nathan, notice of. 30ff Halls of Justice 3J8 Harlem Tunnel 338 Hamilton, Alexander, notice of. 344 Hamilton, Alexander, epitaph......... , 347 Hamilton College 361 Hathaway, Hon. Joshua, epitaph 370 INDEX. 11 Han Yerry, anecdote ofc 379 Herkimer, General, notice of. 192 Herkimer, burning of. 195 Hendrick, King, notice of. 280 Hendy , Colonel, anecdote of 98 Hornby I^odge.-^ 64 Hosack, Rev. S., D.D. epitaph 173 Holland Land Company's Office 176 Hughes, John, Welsh epitaph on 375 Hurlgate 461 Indian forts atPhilipsburg. •• 56 Indian antiquities, Oxford 103 Indians, interview with, in 1691 235 Irving, Washington, residence of. 588 Jay, John, LL. D. notice of- 584 Jefferson barracks 21! Jemison, Mary, the "white woman" 602 Johnson Hall 168 Johnson, Sir William, notice of 168 Johnson, Sir John, incursion of. 170 Johnson, Sir Guy, residence of 272 Johnsons, the fac-similes of. 273 Kalm, ProfessoE, visit to Albany 47 Kidd's Heights, Albany 45 Kidd, William, the pirate 536 Kirtland, Rev. Mr. notice of. 362 King, Rufus, notice of. 460 Kingston destroyed 557 Knickerbocker, extract from 290 Kosciusko, notice of 415 Kunze, J. C, D.D. notice of- 347 Lake George, battle -of. 563 Lawrence, Caprain J., epl^ph 346 Lee, Ann, notice of 55 Leverich, Rev. Mr. notice of. 461 Letter, anonymous, Newburg 425 Livingston, Robert R. notice of. 115 Livingston, Philip, notice of. 339 Livingston, WiUiam, notice of- 340 Livingston, Brockliolst- 342 Livingston's Manor 119 Liberty-pole, first, in Mohawk Valley 194 Little Falls, Indian descent at 198 Lindesay, Mr. notice of. 440 Louis Philippe, King, visit to Elmira 98 Long Island, battle of 228 Long Island, fiistory of- * 251 Long Island, Indians of. 253 Lundy'sLane, battle of. 355 Mann, J. D. Milton, epitaph 118 McCrea, Miss Jane, murder of- 569 McKeiizie,'A. epiiaph 173 Mifrsereau, Judge, notice of 73 Merrick, Martha, epiiaph of. 124 Merchants' Exchange, New York 325 Mexico, wreck of. .* 457 Meigs, Colonel, expedition of. 544 Minisink, invasion of. 420 Montour, Catharine, notice of. 94 Mooers, General, epiraph on 112 Morgan, William, abduction of. 177 Monumental insciiption, Sackett's Harbor 211 Moody, Lady, notice of- 236 Mohawk Castles, taking of. 277 Moimment at Hempstead 456 Monumental pile, Indian 278 Monument at Goshen 418 Montgomery, General, notice of. ,.. 343 Montgomery, epitaph 346 Moii^omeiy, Fort, capture of. 4S!2 Montgomery, Fort, shocking appearance at 423 Monlaiik Point, view of. 537 MorriS) Couvenieur, notice of-..-. 597 Mormonism, origin of. 580 Musquetoes, Indian tradition respecting 81 Murder near the Sterling Iron Works 428 Murphy, T. adventures of. 518 Navy Yard, Brooklyn. 221 Negro plot, 295 New York, evacuation of. ^0 New York in 1800 315 New York tTniversity 326 New York Deaf and Dumb Asylum 327 Newspapers, ancient, extracts from 296 Niagara Falls, view of 353 Niagara Fort, account of 358 Norton, Seth M. epitaph 364 Novel marriage 514 • Oak, ancient, at Lyons 579 Oak openings 180 Officers, Dutch names of- 287 Ogdensburg, attack on 486 Oneida Institute, view of 378 Onondagas, account of. 389 Onondaga, French colony at, in 1656 398 Oriskany, battle of 380 Oswego, attack on 436 Oswego Fort, surrender of. 435 PalatJifates, settlement of. 521 Painted Post, the history of- 530 Parson's, Gen, correspondence with Gov. Tryon, 591 Penitentiary, Blackwell's island 320 Perkhis, Capt. S, epiiaph 370 Peekskill, incursion into 586 Piioenix, burning of. 107 Phelphs and Gnrham's surveys 406 Phelps, Hon. Oliver, epitaph 408 Phillips' patent 595 Pine, large 130 Pike, Gen. Z. M. death of. 205 Pike,*Gen. Z, M. monumental inscription 2U Fixley, Colortel D. epitaph 551 Plattsburg, battle of. 110 Portage Falls, view of. B2 Pompey, ancient remains at 392 Prison at Auburn 77 Prison ships, revolutionary 222 Prescott, battle of. 487 Proudfit, Rev. J. epitaph 576 Publications, periodical, in New York 333 Putnam's battle with Indians 573 PuUeney ville, invasion of. 583 Q,ueenstown Heights, battle of. 349 Red Jacket, notice of 149 Red Jacket, conference with 406 Rensselaer tenants, riot of ''¦^" ' ' ^'* Rensselaer, manor of- rt.... . 472 Rtnsselaer, Hon. Stephen, notice of 50 Revolutionary incident in New York 304 Rivington press destroyed 300 Robbery at Fishkill ISft Rochester, O'Reilly's sketches of. 267/ Rockwell, J.O. notice of. 386-. Robinson House, the 450< Roger's Rock *. 565 Royalists executed at Kingston 55B. Salt procured by Indians 74 Sammons, Sampson, adventures of. 171 Sackett's Harbor, attack on 207 Bandy Creek, battle at 20if Sanger, Jedldiah, notice of. 365 Salina saltworks 3lfQ Sailor's Snug Harbor 474 Sabbath Day Point 5fi5 Sandy Hill, Indian barharities at... 573 Schlnsser Landing, view of,... 3SG Schenando, notice of 363 Schuyler, Honyost, stratagem of. 369 Schuyler, General Philip^ notice of. 498 Schuyler Mansion House 494 Schenectady, destruction of. 5U Schoharie, middle fort, attack on 518 Schoharie stone church.. 523 Seneca oil spring,-.. 59 Seneca Mission House • 149 Senecas invaded by the French 343 Stinecas, sacrifice of. 263 12 INDEX. Shakers, notice of. ¦• - j-- 55 Shakers at New Lebanon 120 Silliman, Majo^generall capture of. 463 Sing Sing Prison 593 Skeene, Major, royalist 577 Smith, Richard, notice o^. 541 Smiih, Joseph, the Mormon 580 Sleepy Hollow, ., 595 Spanish Hill, Chemung 95 Spy, Indian, death of- 508 Standard, first, taken in last war .#163 StadtHuysinl642 236 Stuy vesant. Governor, notice of- 339 Sterling, Lord, notice of. 343 Stanwix, Fort, siege of- ,.-.. 368 Steuben, Baron, notice of, 371 .Stillwater, battle at 499 Steamboat, Fulton, first American 342 Tammany HaJI, New York 330 Tallmadge, Colonel, expedition of- 534 Ticonderoga, Fort 158 Ticonderoga, capture of, by Allen *. 159 Ticonderoga, St. Clair's evacuation of 161 Tornado in AUeganv County 57 Tripe's Hill, first settlers at 281 Trenton Falls 373 Truxton, Commodore, notice of 460 Troy Female Seminary 471 Tryon, correspondence with 591 Tunnel at Portage 63 Union College 510 ¦ITnion Race,Course — ^9 Van Buren, President, birthplace... ......'. 119 Van Buren, Abraham A. epitaph 119 Van Kleek House 138 Van Renselaer, S, notice of. 50 Van Ta^el Mansion 588 Van Wart, Isaac, epitaph 588 Warrant, ancient 140 Wadsworth, James and William, notice of 245 Washington, Fort, capture of. 600 Washington inaugurated 324 Washington's head-quarters, Newburg ¦ 424 Walnut tree, large 90 Walker, Rev. Blnaihan , 124 Wawarsing, burning of. > 560 Wedding, curious 384 West Point Academy , 412 West Point, ancient'view of.-.. 416 Wheat, &c. price of, 1804 174 White, Hugh, notice of. 378 White, Hugh, epitaph, 382 White Plains, battle of- 598 Wiljiams, Rev. Mr. capture of. 163 Willet, Colonel Marinus, notice of- 460 Williamson, Captain, first settler at Bath 529 Wilkinson, Jemima, "the Univeisal Friend" 605 William Henry, Fort, capture of- 564 Woolsey, Major, cowardice of, 5^0 Yeo, Sir James, amusing alarm of, near Rochester, 270 Yellow Fever jn New York 311 York Island, m;ilitary movements on 301 York, U. C. attack on 203 Youngj Major G, D. uotice of. ,p,. ...... .,, 1^3 OMISSIONS AND CORRECTrONS- Tage 50, th^Mbf»iy Columbus, taken from Brookfield in 1805; from Albany 83, from Norwich, NE., 16 miles. Columbus is a small village, and Columbus Corners a post-office. Pop. 1,561. Coventry, taken from Greene in 1806; from Albany 117, from Norwich 16 miles. Coventry and Coventry ville are post villages, on the Cattskill turnpike. Pop. 1,681. German, taken from De Ruyter in 1806 ; from Albany 115, from Norwich, W., 15 niiles. Pop. 975. Greene was formed from Union and Jericho in 1798 ; limits since reduced. The Chenango river passes in a SW. direction through the town, upon which are rich alluvial flats. Pop. 3,452. Greene, the principal village, is on the river, 20 miles SW. from Norwich, and 19 N. from Binghamton. It contains 3 churches, 11 stores, and about 90 dwellings. It was laid out in village form in 1806, and was at first called Homby. East Green and Genegansette are post- offices. The first person who settled in the vicinity of the village of Greene, is supposed to have been Conrad Sharp, a Dutchman, who located himself about two miles above the village in 1794 ; a number of other Dutchmen came in and formed quite a settlement in his vicinity. The names of some of the other principal settlers were, Stephen Ketchum, David Bradley, Derick Race, Joseph Tillotson, Mr. Gray, a Baptist elder, and Elisha Smith, who was the agent, for a number of years, in behalf of the Homby .Patent ; he surveyed the town of Greene and laid out the village. The first white inhabitants who located themselves on the site of the village, were eight or ten French families, who fled from their country during the revolutionary period. The first one who came appears to have been Sinion Barnet, who is said to have been a Creole from the West Indies. He came to this place from Philadel phia, probably sent as a pioneer for the French company. One of the emigrants, M. Dutremont, was a man of considerable talents, learning, and wealth. This gentleman contracted for the lands settled by the company. The purchase was made of WiUiam W. Morris and Malachi Treat, the patentees. Capt. Juliand, one of the French emigrants, came into the place in 1797, a little after the first company. About the year 1795, the celebrated French statesman, Talleyrand, visited this place, when on a sylvan jaunt on horseback from Phila delphia to Albany in company with a French gentleman. When here, lie became acquainted with the son of M. Dutremont, with whom he ^as so much pleased, that he obtained th§ consent of his parents to tske him to France, where he became his private secretary. By the CHENANGO COUNTY. 1-01 death of M. Dutremont, the financial affairs of the little colony be came deranged. He was drowned while fording a river on horse back, on his way to Philadelphia. As he had not paid for the land occupied by the' emigrants, it reverted back to the patentees. The emigrants became discouraged, and after a few years left the place, moved down below Towanda, and joined a French settlement at a place called Frenchtown, now Asylum. Capt. Juhand, however, re mained in Greene, and to him and Judge Elisha Smith the founda tion of the village is to be ascribed. " There were no Indians in this particular section, when first settled by the whites. But we have to record a most remarkable mound, the reUc of Indian superstition and industry. There are now to be seen only some imperfect traces of it. It was- situated about two mUes south of the viUage, and about thirty rods from the river bank, on what is now the farm of Mr. Lott. The mound, before it was dug down or ploughed over, was about six or seven feet above the surface of the ground, and forty feet in diameter ; being nearly cir cular. There was also, till within a few years, a large pine stump in the centre of it, the remains of a large pine-tree which was standing when the whites came in. It was then, however, a dead tree. When it was cut down, there were counted 180 concentric circles or yearly growths. Estimating the age of the mound by the concentric circles of the stump, it must have been over 200 years old when this section of the country was settled. An examination of this mound was made in 1829, by digging, and there were found hu man bones to a great number ; and lower from the surface, there were found bones that had been evidently burnt ; suggesting the idea, that the mode of disposing of the dead, when these bones were deposited, was burning the dead body. No conjecture could be formed as to the number of bodies buried here. They were found lying without order, very much jumbled, and so far decayed as to crumble, or fall apart, when brought to the air and handled. 'The supposition would not be an unlikely one, that these bones were the remains of bodies which had fallen in battle, and were afterward hurriedly thrown together and buried. * * * * In the mound near Greene, there were found, lying quite in one pile, 200 arrow heads, cut after their usual form, and all either of yellow or black flint. It will be recollected that there are no stones of this kind found in this part of tlie state of New York. In another part of the mound there were found, lying together, about sixty, made after the same form. A sQver band or ring was also found, of about two inches in di ameter, extremely thin, but wide, with the remains — in appearance — of a reed pipe, lying within it. The supposition is, that it was some sort of musical instrument. 'There was also found a number of stone chisels, of different shapes, evidendy fitted to perform differ ent species of work. A large piece of mica also, cut into the form of a heart ; the border much decayed, and the different laminae separated." — Annals of Binghamton. Guilford, taken from Oxford in 1813, by the name of Eastern; name since changed; from Norwich, centrally distant S., 10 miles. Pop. 2,828. Guilford is a small post village, Rockdale a post-office, and Mount Upton a small settlement. Lincklaen, taken from German in 1823; since reduced in area; from Albany 128, from Norwich, NW., 20 miles. Lincklaen and West Lincklaen are post-offices. Pop. 1,249. McDoNouGH, named in honor of Commodore McDonough, taken from Preston in 1816; from Albany 128, from Norwich, W., 14 miles. Pop. 1,369. Near the south line of the town is a sulphur spring much frequented. McDonough is a small village. New Berlin, taken from Norwich in 1807. Pop. 3,086. New Berlin, an incorporated village, 13 miles NE. from Norwich, and 90 W. from Albany, on the Unadilla river, has 1 Presbyterian, 1 Episcopal, 1 Baptist, and 1 Methodist church. There are here 154 dwellings, 10 mercantile stores, a weekly newspaper office, and sev- 102 CHENANGO COUNTY, eral large manufacturing establishments. South New Berlin, 9 miles east from Norwich, has about 40 dwellings. New Berlin Centre is a small village. Norwich, formed from Jericho and Union, as part of Tioga county, in 1793; area since much reduced. Pop. 4,146. Norwich village, the county seat, is delightfully situated upon the Chenango river. Its site is much admired by travellers. It is surrounded by lands in a Courthouse and other buildings in Norwich. high state of cultivation, and well supplied with pure and wholesome water. There is a mineral spring near the village resorted to for cutaneous diseases. The above view shows the courthouse in the centre of the engraving ; the building with a spire on the left, is the Presbyterian church. The courthouse has been but recehfly erected. It is built of freestone, and is one of the most splendid structures of the kind in the state. Besides the above, there are in the village 1 Episcopal, 1 Baptist, and 1 Methodist church, 2 weekly newspaper offices, the Chenango Bank, several manufactories, and about 200 dwellings. Otselic, taken from German in 1817; distant from Albany 110, from Norwich, NW., 20 miles. Otselic is a small village, and South Otselic a post-office. Pop. 1,621. Oxford.* " The present town of Oxford was originally a part of the township of Fayette, a tract which was laid out soon after the war of the revolution, and sold at auction in New York, in lots of a mile square. This township, and a tract called the Gore, bought by Gen. Hovey and Judge Melancton Smith, containing about 7,000 acres, were mcorporated into a town in 1793, and in 1794 the first town meeting was held at the house of Gen. Hovey ; this building stood on the site of the Fort Hill house, (burnt in 1839.) Previous to 1791, ?Communicated to the authors by Heniy M. Hyde, Esq. :!Henango county. 103 there were no settlers on the western part of Fayette except two, Mr. Elijah Blackman, and a man named Phelps. They lived on lot 92, in the bounds of the present village. " From the time the settlement was commenced, by the exertions of Gen. Hovey, whose enterprise and hardihood surmounted every ob stacle, the population rapidly increased. The pioneers who com posed the settlement, were distinguished for qualifications rarely pos sessed by men in their laborious occupations. Their intelligence was proverbial. In fact, many of them were persons of considerable sci entific attainments. They obtained an act of incorporation for an academy as early as 1794,_ and sustained the institution in the most creditable manner, under all difficulty. Gen. Hovey, whose name seems to be connected with nearly all the occurrences in the early days of the town, was a man of uncommon business abilities, and was a favorite of the distinguished men who were at that time at the head of affairs in this state. He was a member of assembly in 1798, and was also a judge of the county. He afterward removed to the Ohio, and at the time of Burr's expedition down the Mississippi, he was the general agent of a company, composed of some of the first men of the Union, for the purpose of canalling the Ohio a^ the falls opposite Louisville. The project failed, and Gen. Hovey was a severe sufferer in consequence. He died about 1815. " Nearly all the settlers were natives of New England, and a ma jority were from the state of Connecticut. There are at present hving many of the hardy pioneers who commenced the settlement. Of these, Mr. Francis Balcom, Mr. Jonathan Baldwin, Judge Anson Gary, Col. Samuel Balcom, James Padgett, and some few others, are now residing in this town. Judge Uri Tracy, who was some years since a member of congress from this district, and who died three or four years since, was likewise an early resident, and principal of the academy." " The Indian antiquities in and about the vUlage of Oxford are worthy of notice. Of these, the Old Fort has always attracted the most attention. This fort stood upon the hill in about the middle of the vUlage, and the ditch is yet to be distinguished, in front of the house of Ira Wilcox, Esq. When discovered, it was a regular semicircle from the river, and enclosed about three quartere of an acre, and the ditch, when the ground was cleared, was in many places four feet deep. The interior of the fort was covered with the largest kind of maple and beach trees, and on the top of the bank hove up, stood a dead pine stump, which, when cut, left a stump on which was counted two hundred grains or circles. This tree evidently sprang up after the ditch was dug. There were upon the north and south sides of the fort, two places where the ground had evidently never been disturbed. These are supposed to have been gates. The ditch was four or five feet wide, and on the river side, the bank having been almost perpendicular. The fort must have been a strong position. No diing short of cannon from the neighboring hills could annoy the fort. In the course of subsequent excavations in and about it, human ' bones, cooking utensils, and other reUcs, have been found. Of course, nothing is known about the object of this , fortification, or by whom built. The Oneidas have, a tradition running many generations back, but they can teU us nothing definite. The Oneidas leave us this tradition : that about a century or more since, a gjgantic chief occupied it, who destroyed aU thejr hunters who came into this quarter. They caUed this chief Tkxck Neck. The Onei das made several attempts to decoy him from his stronghold, but without success. They at length managed to go bstween him and the fort, when he ran down the river about six miles and secreted himself in the marsh around die pond called Wam's Pond. Here he was discovered and killed by the Oneidas, who buried him and scratched the leaves 104 CHENANGO COUNTY. over his grave that no vestige of him should remain. The remnant of his tribe were adopted by the Oneidas, and an Indian who was hung at MorrisviUe many years since named Abram Antone, was a descendant from Thick Neck. " There is an incident connected with a smaU island a few rods above the bridge over the Chenango. Some years ago, two worthies residing in the town, having quarreUed about some trifling matter, resolved to exchange shots, in vindication of their honor. The place selected for the transaction was this island. On the day appointed, the beUigerents made their appearance on the spot. The seconds, however, were agreed that neither should suffer harm, and loaded the pistols with cork instead of ball. Each second inspired his principal with courage, by imparting to him the information that his antagonist's pistol was loaded with cork, at the same time assuring him that his own contained the lead. The consequence was, the dueUists manifested great bravery — no one was hurt, and the actors were highly compUmented for their chivalry, and unhesitatingly pronounced men of. honor. The island has since been called Cork Island." % ^' -* _ V' J' Central part of the Village of Oxford. The above view was taken on the banks of the Chenango canal, and shows the principal public buildings in the village. The church on the left is the Presbyterian, the smaller building with a cupola in the centre is the Academy, and the two spires seen on the right* are those of the Episcopal and Baptist churches, which latter structures stand near the site^ of the old fort. There is also a Methodist church in the village, 2 weekly newspaper offices, and about 170 dwellings. There are several bridges over the Chenango river, and the Appian vray, from Newburg, terminates here. The village is 8 miles south of Norwich. There is a post-office at South Oxford. Population of the town, 3,177. Pharsalia, first settled in 1798, and taken from Norvrich in 1806, X ^ °^™^ °^ Stonington ; name afterward changed ; distant from Aftany 1 14, from Norwich, NE., 1 1 miles. Pop. 1,213. Pharsaha is a small post village, and East Pharsalia a post-office. Pitcher, formed from German and Lincklaen in 1827; from Al bany 127, from Norwich, W., 17 miles. Pitcher is a small post village. Pop. 1,561. Plymouth, taken from Norwich m 1806 ; from Albany 1Q7, from CLINTON COUNTY. . 105 Norwich, NW., 7 miles. Frankville, formerly known by the name of the French settlement, has 30 or 40 dwellings. Pop. 1,625. , Preston, taken from Norwich in 1806; from Albany 115, from Norwich, centrally distant W., 7 miles. Pop. 1,117. The Chenango river and canal pass through the SE. section of the town. Mason and Palmer's Corners are small villages. Sherburne, taken from Genoa in 1806 ; from Albany 96, from Nor wich, N., 11 miles.' Pop. 2,791. The flats on the Chenango river, which flows through this town, are remarkably fertile. The portion of the town called " the Quarter," was early settled by 20 families from Connecticut, who bought one quarter of the township. They formed themselves into a religious society of the Presbyterian denom ination before emigrating. They arrived on a Thursday, and by the succeeding Sabbath had erected a log meeting-house, in which they assembled for public worship ; and not a single Sunday has since passed without divine service being performed. Sherburne, post vil lage, has about 100 dwellings. . SxMithville, taken from Greene in 1806; from Albany 131, from Norwich, SW., 20 miles. Pop. 1,762. Smithville is a village of about 40 or 50 dwellings. Smyrna was taken from Sherburne in 1808. Pop. 2,240. The first settler was Joseph Porter, who emigrated here in 1792. The first post-office was established in 1808. The village of Sinyrna was incorporated in 1834; it is 101 miles from Albany and 11 NW. of Norwich, and contains about 60 dwellings. CLINTON COUNTY. Clinton county lies on the western shore of Lake Champlain, at the northeastern extremity of the state, about 170 miles N. from Al bany. Soon after the conquest of Canada, in 1759, the shores of Lake Champlain were visited by speculators in quest of pine and oak tim ber, but no permanent settlements were made until about the close of the revolution. Its greatest length N. and S. is 40^ miles, greatest breadth 37 miles. The northern boundary being latitude 45°, indi cates the rigors of a cold northern country. The natural advantages enjoyed by this county have been undervalued. Along the whole eastern border, adjoining the shore of Lake Chaniplain, a wide tract of land extends, moderately uneven or quite level, with a pretty strong inclination or depression eastward, averaging, 8 miles in v^ridth of no inferior quahty. It amply repays the labor of the husbandman. The western part is mountainous, but these mountains are covered with timber, and the county -with rapid streams and mill sites, and abounds with the richest and best of iron oresi already extensively manufactured. The soil is of various quaUties. On the broad belt 14 106 CLINTON COUNTY, of comparatively level land above noticed, it is principally a clayey with some tracts of a sandy loam. The streams supply a profusion of good natural sites for all sorts of hydraulic work. With these advantages, this county looks forward with confidence to increased sources of business and profit. About one fifth part is settled. Pop. 28,180. The county is divided into 10 towns. Au Sable, taken from Peru in 1839; distant 155 miles N. from Albany, centrally distant from Plattsburg 15 niiles. Pop. 3,229. The village of Clintonville on the Au Sable river, partly in Clinton and partly in Essex counties, was incorporated in 1825. It contains 2 churches, 1 Presbyterian and 1 Methodist, 8 mercantile stores, upwards of 80 dwellings, and 730 inhabitants. It is 6 miles W. of Keesville, 17 from Elizabeth, and 18 from Plattsburg. The exten sive works of the " Peru Iron Company" are located in this village. They have a forge of 18 fires, an extensive rolling-mill, a nail and a cable factory, furnace, (fee. All these works were commenced when the place was comparatively new, by I. Aiken, Esq., but little was done till the organization of the company by the legislature about the year 1825. Beekman, taken from Plattsburg in 1820; distant from Albany 167, NW. from Plattsburg, 18 miles. The township is 6 miles in width, and stretches across the country 37 miles ; the eastern part of the town is level or undulating, the western mountainous. Pop. 2,763. Black Brook, taken from Peru in 1839; from Albany 163, from Plattsburg, SW., 25 miles. Black Brook and Union Falls are small villages. Pop. 1,054. Champlain, organized in 1788; from Albany, N., 185 miles. Champlain village, on the left bank of the Chazy, 5 miles from Lake Champlain, has about 40 dwellings. Rouses Point, 23 miles N. from Plattsburg, Corbeau, and Perrysville, are small villages. Pop. 2,950. Chazy, taken from Champlain in 1804. Pop. 3,592. Chazy, 15 miles N. of Plattsburg on the state road from Albany to Canada, and West Chazy, are small villages. Chazy Landing, on Lake Champlain, is 3 miles from Chazy village, Ellenburg, taken from Mooers in 1830; from Plattsburg, NW., 25 niiles. Pop. 1,164. Mooers, named in honor of Gen. B. Mooers, was taken from Champlain in 1804 ; from Plattsburg, NNW., 18 miles. Pop. 1,701. Mooers is a small post village on the Chazy river. Peru, taken from Plattsburg and Willsburg in 1792 ; bounds since alrered. Pop. 3,183. Peru, post village, 10 miles S. of Plattsburg and 4 from Lake Champlain, has 1 Presbyterian, 1 Methodist, and 1 Catholic church, 70 dwellings, and 860 inhabitants. Unionville and Port Jackson are post-offices. The first settler in Peru village was John Cochran, who came here in 1794. Rev. Hernan Garlick was one of the first ministers who preached in this section. It is said that he Used to cross the lake, in a b6at, and walk 30 miles to preach to a congregation. CLINTON COUNTY. 107 The following is an account of the conflagration of the steamer Phoenix, which took place near here, on Lake Champlain, September 6, 1819. The steamboat left Burlington for Plattsburg about midnight, and had proceeded by one o'clock in tlie morning as far as Providence island, when the alarm was given. The boat at this time was temporarily commanded by a son of the captain, Richard M. Sherman, a young man of twenty.two. " Amid the confusion, danger, and difficulties attendant on this terrible disaster, he displayed an energy and presence of mind, not only worthy of the highest praise, but which we might seek for in vain, even among those of riper years. To qualities like these, rightly directed as they were, was it owing that not a person was lost on that fearful night. In that burning vessel, at the dead of night, and three mUes from the nearest land, was the safety of every one cared for, and ultimately secured, by the promptness, energy, and decision of this young commander." Shortly after the fire was discovered, it raged with irresistible violence. " The passen gers, roused by the alarm from their slumbers, and waking to a terrible sense of impending destruction, rushed in crowds upon the deck, and attempted to seize the small-boats. Here, however, they were met by young Sherman, who, having abandoned all hope of saving his boat, now thought only of saving his passengers, and stood by the gangway with a pistol in each hand, determined to prevent any person from jumping into the boats be fore they were properly lowered into the water, and prepared to receive their living freight. With the utmost coolness and presence of mind he superintended the necessary prepara tions, and, in a few minutes, the boats were lowered away, and the passengers received safely on board. They then shoved off, and pulled through the darkness for the distant shore. As soon as this was reached, and the passengers landed, the boats returned to the steamboat and took off the crew, and, as the captain supposed, every Uving soul except himself. But, shortly after the boats had left the second time, he discovered, under a set tee, the chambermaid of the Phojnix, who, in her fright and confusion, had lost aU con. sciousness. Lashing her to the plank which he had prepared for his own escape, this gal lant captain launched her towards the shore ; and was thus left alone with his vessel, now one burning pile. Having satisfied himself that no living thing remained on board his boat, and with the proud consciousness that he had saved every life intrusted to his care, .he sprung from the burning wreck as it was about to sink beneath the waters, and, by the means of a settee, reached the shore in safety. — This is no exaggerated story. It is the simple narrative of one of the most heroic acts on record. We have only to add, that the captain who so faithfully and fearlessly discharged his duty on this trying occasion, is still (1840) in command of a noble boat on Lake Champlain, and is known to every traveUer as Captain Sherman, of the steamboat Burlington." The foUowing description of this terrific scene was written by one of the passengers :— " I awoke at the time of the alarm, hut whether aroused by the cry of fire, the noise of feet trampling on deck, or by that restiessness common to persons who sleep in a strange place, with a mind fiUed with sorrow and anxiety, I am unable to teU. I thought I heard a faint cry of fire, and, after a short interval, it seemed to be renewed. But it came so weakly upon my ear, and seemed to be flung by so careless a voice, that I concluded it was an unmeaning sound uttered by some of the sailors in their sports on deck. Soon, however, a hasty footstep was heard passing through the cabin, but without a word being uttered. As I approachecl the top of the cabin stairs, an uncommon brilliancy at once dispelled all doubts. Instantiy the flames and sparks began to meet my eyes, and the thoiight struck me that no other way of escape was left but to plunge half naked through the blaze into the water. One or two more steps assured me that this dreadful alternative was not yet ar. rived : I hastily stepped aft,; — a lurid light illuminated every object beyond with the splen dor of a noon-day sun ; I fancied it was the torch of death, to point me and my fellow- travellers to the tomb. I saw no person on deck ; but, on casting my eyes towards the boat which was stiU hanging on the larboard quarter, I perceived that she was fiUed, and that her stern-sheets were occupied with ladies. I flew to the gangway, and assisted in lower. ing the boat into the water. I then descended the steps, with an intention of entering the boat ; but perceiving that she was loaded deep, and that there was a strong breeze and a high sea, I desisted. The painter was soon cut, and the boat dropped astern. I ascended the steps with the design of submitting myself to the water upon a plank ; for I had great confidence in my skiU in swimming, and I acted under an impression that the shore was only a few rods, certainly not half a mile distant. Judge of what would have been my as. tonishment, and probably also my fate, had I done as I contemplated ; when the fact was, that the steamboat at this period was in the broadest part of Lake Champlain, and at least 108 CLINTON COUNTY. toee miles from any knd. I had left the deck about two hours before, and this change had occurred in the mean time. I looked round upon the deck to find a suitable board, or something of sufficient buoyancy, that I could trust to amid such waves as I saw were run ning. There was nothing large enough to deserve such confidence -, I looked aft over the taffrail, every thing there looked gloomy and forbidding ; I cast my eyes forward, the wind was direcfly ahead, and the flames were forced, in the most terrific manner, towards the stem, threatening every thing in its range with instant destruction. I then thought if I could pass the middle of the boat, which seemed also to b« the centre of the fire, I might find security in standing to windward on the bowsprit. I made the attempt. It was, vain. The flames were an insurmountable barrier. I was obliged to return towards the stem. There was then no one in sight. I stepped over upon die starboard side of the quarter. deck. I thought all was gone with me. At that moment I saw a lady come up to the <:abin door ; she leaned against the side of it, and looked with a steadfast gaze and dis. tracted air towards the flames ; she turned and disappeared in the cabin. It was Mrs. Wil- son, the poor unfortunate lady who, afterward, with the captain's assistance, as he informed me, committed herself, with many piercing shrieks and agonizing exclamations, to the treacherous support of a smaU bench, on tlie troublous bosom of the lake. I then looked over the starboard quarter to know whedier the other boat was indeed gone. I had the happiness to see her ; she seemed to be fuU, or nearly so -, one or two passenger? were standing on the lower steps of the accommodation ladder, apparendy with the design of entering the boat when she came within reach. I was determined to enter her at aU risks, and instantly leaped over the quarter and descended into her. I found her knocking under the counter, and in danger of foundering. The steam-vessel stiU continued to advance through the water : the waves dashed the boat with considerable violence against her, and most of those who had sought safety in the boat, being unacquainted vvith water scenes, were much alarmed, and by their iU-directed efforts were adding to the risk. Under these circumstances it became necessary to cut the fast, which was done, and the boat, and those that were in it, were instantly secure. AU these incidents occun-ed in a shorter time than I have consumed in writing them. From the moment of my hearing the first alarm to that of leaving the steamboat, was not, I am satisfied, near ten niinutes ;' I beUeve it was not five." View of Plattsburg. Plattsburg, organized in 1785. Pop. 6,397, Plattsburg, an incor porated village and county seat, is distant from New York 319, from Albany 164, from Whitehall 112, and from Ogdensburg, E., 120 miles. The accompanying view was taken on the eastern bank of the Sa ranac, about 30 rods above the bridge. The first steeple on the left is that of the Presbyterian church, the second the Methodist, the third the courthouse, the fourth the Episcopal, and the fifth the Catholic. CLINTON COUNTY. 109 Besides the above-mentioned public buildings, there is an academy, the Clinton county bank, and about 300 buildings. A settlement was commenced in this village " previous to the revo lution, by a Count Vredenburg, a German nobleman, who, marrying a lady of the household of the queen of England, obtained a warrant for 30,000 acres of land, which he located on Cumberland bay, whither he removed, although he did not perfect his title by patent. He built a large house on the spot now occupied by the United States Hotel in Plattsburg, where he resided, as tradition reports, in extraor dinary luxury, having his floors covered with carpets, and his win dows shaded with damask curtains. When the revolutionary strug gle commenced, he sent his family to Montreal, but remained some time after their departure, and then suddenly and mysteriously disap peared : his house, and a saw-mill he had built 3 miles above, on the Saranac, ' at Vredenburg's Falls,' being at the same time burned; He was generally siipposed to have been robbed and murdered by some one covetous of the money and plate which he displayed. " In July, of 1783, after the preliminaries of peace had been settled, Lieut, (since Maj. Gen.) Benjamin Mooers, adjutant of Hazen's regi ment of Canadian and Nova Scotia refugees stationed at Newburg, on the Hudson, with 2 other officers and 8 men, left Fishkill Landing in a boat, and by way of the Hudson, the portage from Fort Edward to Lake George, and by. that lake and Champlain, reached Point au Roche, 9 miles N. of Plattsburg, where he and his companions, on the 10th August, commenced the first permanent settlement of the county. " A company, consisting of Judge Zephaniah Piatt and others, form ed soon after the war for the purchase of military warrants, located their warrants on Lake Champlain. In August, 1784, the judge, Capt. Nathaniel Piatt, and Capt. Reeve, personally surveyed the Plattsburg patent on Cumberland bay, and laid off, among others, 10 lots of 100 acres each, to be given to the first 10 settlers who came on with families. Another tract of 100 acres was allotted as a dona tion to the first male child born on the patent. Messrs. Jacob Ferris, John Burke, Derrick Webb, Jabez Pettit, and Cyrenus Newcomb, were the first settlers on the 'gift lots,' and. Piatt Newcomb, Esq., was the fortunate first born male, but not the first child born on the patent ; Mrs. Henry Ostrander having previously given birth to a daughter, who intermarried with a Mr. Wilson, of Chateaugua, of Franklin county. From this period the settlement of the county steadily progressed. " The first court was holden at Plattsburg on the 28th day of Oct., 1788, of which the following persons were officers : Charles Piatt, judge ; Peter Saily, Wm. McAuley, and Phney Moore, assistant jus tices ; Theodorus Piatt, justice; Benjamin Mooers, sheriff; John Fautfreyde, coroner; Robert Paul, John Stevenson, Lott Elmore, Lewis Lezotte, and Jonathan Lynde, constables. Grand jury, Cle ment Goslin, Allen Smith, Abner Pomeroy, Jonas Allen, Joseph Shelden, Peter Payn, Moses Soper, Edward Everett, Elnathan Rog- 110 CLINTON COUNTY. ers, John Hoffnagle, Cyrenus Newcomb, Melchor Hoffnagle, Stephen Cuyler, Jacob Ferris, John Ransom, and John Cochran."- — Gordon's Gaz. Plattsburg is rendered memorable as the place of the victory of Com. McDonough and Gen. Macomb, over the British naval and land forces, in Sept. 1814. The following account of the military movements on the land are copied from the statements given by Maj, A, C. Flagg and Gen. St. J. B. L. Skinner, who both were actors in the scenes described. " ' On the 31st Aug., (says Maj. Flagg,) the advance of the British army under Gen. Brisbane entered Champlain, and encamped on the north side of the great Chazy river, and on the same day Maj. Gen. Mooers ordered out the miUtia of the counties of CUnton and Essex,' en masse, ' The regiment from CUnton co., under Lieut. Col. MiUer, immediately assembled, and on the 2d Sept. took a position on the west road near the village of Chazy ; and on the 3d, Gen. Wright, with such of his brigade as had arrived, occupied a position on the same road, about 8 miles in advance of this place. On the 4th, the enemy having brought up his main body to Champlain, took up his line of march for Plattsburg. The rifle corps, under Lieut. Col, Apphng on the lake road, fell back as far as Dead creek, blocking up the road in such a manner as to impede the advance of the enemy as much as possible. The enemy advanced on the 5th, within a few miles of Col. Appling's position, and finding it too strong to attack, halted, and caused a road to be made west into the Beekniantown road, in which the light brigade under Gen. Powers advanced ; and on the morning of the 6lh, about 7 o'clock, attacked the militia, which had at this time increased to nearly 700, under Gen. Mooers ; and a small detachment of regulars under Maj. Wool, about 7 miles from this place. After the first fire, a considerable part of the miUtia broke and fled in every direction. Many, however, manfuUy stood their ground, and with the smaU corps of Maj. Wool, bravely con. tested the ground against five times their number, falling^ back gradually, and occupying the fences on each side of the road, tiU they arrived within a mile of the town, when they were reinforced by two pieces of artUlery under Capt. Leonard ; and our troops occupying a strong position behind a stone wall, for some time stopped the progress of the enemy.' " At this point, one of the finest specimens of discipline ever exhibited, was shown by the British troops on the occasion of the opening Capt. Leonard's battery upon them. The company to which I was attached, formed a part of the left flank of our littie ai-my, and was on the rise of ground west of the road leading from Mr. Halsey's corner to Isaac C. Piatt's, and about midway between the artiUery and the head of the British column ; and the whole scene was open to our view. Here, (at Halsey's corner,) was a battery of two field-pieces, so perfectly masked by a party of the infantry, that the enemy probably was not aware of it, until it opened upon him. There a dense column of men, with a front equal to the width of the road, and extending nearly half a mile in length, pressing on with a buoyancy and determination of spirit, betokening an expectation that they would be per mitted to walk into our works without much opposition. How sad the disappointment to the victorious veterans of so many bloody fields of Europe ! So perfect was the motion of the troops in marching, that they seemed a great mass of living matter moved by some invisible machinery. Yet I can now almost fancy we could hear them cracking their jokes, and' each claiming for himself the honor of being the first to make a lodgment in the Yankee forts ; when suddenly, with the noise of thunder, the sound of a cannon came booming through the air. It sent forth a round shot which took effect near the centre of the front platoon, about breast high, and ploughed its way through, sweeping aU before it, the whole length of the column; opening a space apparently several feet wide, which, however, was immediately closed, as if by magic ; and on the column pressed as if nothing had happened. A second shot was fired with the like effect, and similar consequences; but when the third discharge came, with a shower of grape shot, there was a momentary confusion. Immediately, however, the charge was sounded by some dozen British bugles-; which through the clear and bland atmosphere of a bright September mom^ng, was the most thriUing and spirit-stirring sound that could greet a soldier's ears. In an instant of time, the men forming the advance of the column had thrown their knapsacks on either iside the road, and bringing their pieces to the charge, advanced in double quick time upon .our miniature battery. " ' Our troops being at length compeUed to retire, contested every inch of ground, until ithey reached the south bank of the Saranac, where the enemy attempted to pursue them, but was lepulsed widi loss. The loss of the British in this skirmish, was Col. WeUington, CLINTON COUNTY. Ill and a Lieut, of the 3d Buffs, and two Lieuts. of the 58th, kiUed ; and one Capt. and one Lieut, of the 58th light company wounded, together with about 100 privates kUled and wounded, whUe that on our part did not exceed 25. The corps of riflemen under Col. Appling, and detachment under Capt. Sproul, feU back from their position at Dead creek in time to join the'miUtia and regulars just before they entered the vUlage, and fought with their accustomed bravery. The British got possession of that part of the village north of the Saranac about 11 o'clock, but the incessant and well-directed fire of our artillery and musketry from the forts and opposite banks, compeUed them to retire before night beyoild the reach of our guns.' The bridge in the vUlage was defended during this day by Capt. Martin I. Aikin's company* of volunteers, who were stationed in the saw-mill on the south bank of the river for that purpose. The enemy arrived towards night with his heavy artU lery and baggage on the lake road, and crossed the beach, where he met with a warm re ception from our row-galleys ; and it is believed, suffered a heavy loss in killed and wound. cd. On our side, Lieut. Duncan of the navy lost an arm by a rocket, and 3 or 4 men were kUled by the enemy's artUlery. The enemy encamped on the ridge west of the town, his right near the river, and occupying an extent of nearly 3 miles, his left resting on the lake about a mUe north of the vUlage. From the 6th until the morning of the 11th, an almost continual skirmishing was kept up between the enemy's pickets and our miUtia and volun teers stationed on the river, and in the mean time both armies were busily engaged — ours in strengthening the works of the forts, and that of the enemy in erecting batteries, coUect- ing ladders, bringing up his heavy ordnance, and making other preparations for attacking the forts. On the morning of the 7th, a body of the enemy under Capt, Noadie, attempted to cross at the upper bridge about 7 mUes west of the village, bu' were met by Capt. Vaughn's company of about 25 men, and compeUed to retire with the loss of two kUled, and several wounded. On the morning of the 11th, the enemy's fleet came round the Head with a tight breeze fi-om the north, and attacked ours whicli lay at anchor in Cumberland bay, two miles from shore east of the fort. " ' The enemy commenced a simultaneous bombardment of our works from 7 batteries, from which several hundred shells and rockets were discharged, which did us very little injury ; and our artillery had nearly succeeded in silencing them aU before the contest on the lake was decided. " ' The enemy attempted at the same time to throw his main body in the rear of the fort, by crossing the river 3 miles west of the town, near the site of Pike's cantonment. He succeeded in crossing, after a brave resistance by the Essex miUtia and a few of the Ver mont volunteers, in aU about 350, stationed at that place, who retired back a mile and a half from the river, continuaUy pouring in upon them an incessant fire from behind every tree, until Lieut. Sumpter brought up a piece of artUlery to their support, when the enemy commenced a precipitate retreat. " ' The Vermont volunteers, who had hastened to the scene of action on the first alarm, feU upon the enemy's left ffank, and succeeded in making many prisoners, including 3 officers. " ' Had the British remained on the south side of the river 30 minutes longer, he must have lost nearly the whole detachment that crossed. Our loss in this affair was five killed and eight or ten wojindcd, some mortally. " ' Immediately on ascertaining the loss of the fleet. Sir George Prevost ordered prepara. tions to be made for the retreat of the army, and set off himself, with a small escort, for Canada, a little after noon. The main body of the enemy, with the artillery and baggage, were taken off" in the afternoon, and the rear guard, consisting of the light brig-ade, started at daybreak and made a precipitate retreat ; leaving their wounded and a large quantity of pro- ¦visions, fixed ammunition, shot, shells, and other pubUc stores, in the different places of deposit about their camp. They were pursued some distance by our troops, and many prisoners taken ; but owing to the very heavy and incessant rain, we were compelled to return. The enemy lost upon land more than 1,000 men, in kiUed, wounded, prisoners, and deserters, while our aggregate loss did not exceed 150.' " The following account of the naval action is from " Perkins' His tory of the late War." " The American fleet, under Commodore McDonough, lay at anchor in the bay, on the right flank of the American Unes, and two miles distant. Great exertions had been made * "This company was composed of youn^ rtien atid bnys of the vill&ge, most of whom were not subject to military duty, who volunteered after the militia had gone out on the Chazy road, otfered their services, to tien. Macomb, who accepted their olfer, armed the company with rifles, and ordered them to repair to the head-quarters of Gen. Mooers, and report for duty." Ttuce only, it ii said, of the members of this corps were over 18 yeara of a^. 112 CLINTON COUNTY. by both parties to produce a superior naval force on this lake ; the Americans at Otter creek, and the British at the Isle aux Noix. On comparing their relative strength on the 11th of September, the American fleet consisted of the Saratoga, flag-ship, mounting 26 guns; Eagle, 20 guns; Ticonderoga, 17 guns; Preble, 7 guns; 6 galleys, of 2 guns each, 12 guns ; four, of one, 4 guns ; making in the whole, 86 guns ; and 820 men. The British fleet consisted of the frigate Confiance, flag-ship, mounting ¦ 39 guns ; Linnet, 16 guns; Cherub, 11 guns ; Finch, 11 guns ; five galleys, of 2 guns each, 10 guns ; eight, of one, 8 guns ; making in the whole 95 guns, and 1,020 men. " The British land forces employed themselves from the 7th to the 11th, in bringing up their heavy artillery, and strengthening their works on the north bank of the Saranac. Their fortified encampment was on a ridge a Utde to the west of the town, their right near the river, and their left resting on the lake, 1 mUe in the rear of the village. Having deter. mined on a simultaneous attack by land and water, they lay in this position on the moming of the 11th, waiting the approach of their fleet. At 8 o'clock, the wished-for ships appear. ed under easy sail, moving round Cumberland head ; and were haUed widi joyous acclama tions. At 9, they anchored within 300 yards of the American squadron in line of battie ; the Confiance opposed to the Saratoga, the Linnet to the Eagle ; 13 British galleys to the Ticonderoga, Preble, and a division of the American galleys. The Cherub assisting the Confiance and Linnet, and the Finch aiding the gaUeys. In this position, the weather being, perfectly clear and calm, and the bay smooth, the whole force on both sides became at once engaged.* At an hour and a half after the commencement of the action, the star. board guns of the Saratoga were nearly all dismanfled. The commandant ordered a stern anchor to be dropped, and the bower cable cut, by means of which the ship rounded to, and presented a fresh broadside to her enemy. The Confiance attempted the same ope. ration and faUed. This was attended with such powerful effects, that she was obliged to surrender in a few minutes. The whole broadside of the Saratoga was then brought to bear on the Linnet, and in 15 minutes she followed the example of her flag.ship. One of the British sloops struck to the Eagle ; 3 galleys were sunk, and the rest made off; no ship in the fleet being in a condition to foUow them, they escaped down the lake. There was no mast standing in either squadron, at the close of the action, to which a sail could be attached. The Saratoga received 55 round shot in her hull, and the Confiance 105. The action lasted without any cessation, on a smooth sea, at close quarters, 2 hours and 20 minutes. In the American squadi-on 52 were kUled, and 58 wounded. In the British, 84 were kiUed, and 110 wounded. Among the slain was the British commandant. Com. Downie. TThis engagement was in full view of both armies, and of numerous spectators collected on the heights, bordering on the bay, to witness the scene. It was viewed by the inhabitants with trembUng anxiety, as success on the part of the British would have opened to them an easy passage into the heart of the country, and exposed a numerous population on the borders of the lake to British ravages. When the flag of the Confiance was struck, the shores resounded with the acclamations of the American troops and citizens. The British, when they saw their fleet completely conquered, were dispirited and confounded." " A short distance from the village, are the ruins of the cantonment and breastworks occupied by Gen. Macomb and his troops. A mile north, is shown the house held by Gen, Prevost, as his head-quarters, during the siege ; between which and the village the marks of cannon-shot on the trees and other objects are still visible. Further onward about 5 miles, on a hiU overlooking the viUage of Beekmantown, is the spot where a sanguinary engagement took place between the American and British troops, which resulted in the death of the British Col. Wellington and several men of both armies." — Gordon's Gaz, The following inscriptions were copied from monuments in the graveyard in Plattsburg. " In memory of Gen. Benjamin Mooers, wh.o died Feb. 20, 1838. He served as lieu tenant and adjutant during the revolutionary war. He commanded the militia at the battle * " I win mention one circumstance for the purpose of showing the frame of mind in which the brave McDonough entered the battle, and in whom he put his trust for success. After the enemy's fleet hove ire sight, the men of his ship were assembled on the quarter-deck, when he kneeled down, and in humble,,and fervent prayer, commended himself, his men, and the cause in which they were engaged, to the God of Brat tles, and arose from that posture, with a calmness and serenity depicted on his brow, which showed he hid received comfort and assurance from above. One other little incident, and 1 will proceed with my subject. During the hottest part of the battle, the hen-coop was shot away, when a cock escaped and flew up into the rigging, flapped his wings, and crowed most manfully ! The sailors considered this as 'a sure omen of success, and, cheering froin one end of the ship to the other, went to their work of deal'mg death to the enemy with redoubled exertion. The cock remained in the rigging during the whole of the engagement, ever and anon cheering tlie inea on to a greater exertion by liia clear shrill voice."— Gen. Skinner'a- account of the Battle of Piatisliurg. COLUMBIA COUNTY. 113 of Plattsburg, Sept. 11th, 1814. He was the first settler in this county who remained here through life. He was the first sheriff of the county, and for 30 years county treasurer. He repeatedly represented this section of country in the assembly and senate of the state, and discharged the important duties which devolved upon him as a citizen, a soldier, and a Christian, with fidelity to his country, and integrity to his God." Grave of Commodore Downie at Plattsburg. " Sacred to the memory of Geokge Downie, Esq., a post-captain in the British navy, who gloriously fell on board his B. M. S. Confiance, whUe leading the vessels under his command to the attack of the American FlotUla, at anchor in Cumberland Bay, off Platts burg, on the 11th of Sept., 1814." " To mark the spot where the remains of a gallant officer and sincere fiiend were honor ably interred, this stone has been erected by his affectionate sister-in-law, Mary Downie." Saranac, taken from Plattsburg in 1834 ; from Albany, N., 145 miles. Pop. 1,464. Redford, 21 miles southwesterly from Platts burg, has about 60 dwellings. Here are the extensive works of the Redford Crown Glass Company. Bakersville is a small village about 5 miles NE. from Redford. COLUMBIA COUNTY. Columbia county, taken from Albany in 1786 :¦ its greatest length on the E. line 36, medium breadth 18 miles. Centrally distant N. from New York 126, from Albany, SE., 34 miles. The surface of the county is considerably diversified, though no part can be called mountainous. Ranges of small hillocks are interspersed with exten sive plains or valleys, and much of rich alluvion. There are some excellent lands, and much of the larger portion may be, by judicious culture, rendered highly productive. Nature, in the abundant beds of lime, has furnished the means, as if by a special providence, of tempering the cold and ungrateful -constituents of the clay ; and in many places the Hme in the form of marl does not require burning to 15 114 COLUMBIA COUNTY. become a stimulant. Scarce any portion of the state is better adapted to the raising of sheep, and the profits from this source, already great, are yearly increasing. This county is famed for the quantity and quality of its Indian corn Lead and iron ore are foimd in this county. It is divided into 19 towns. Pop. 44,237. Ancram, originally named Gallatin, and taken from Livingston in 1803 ; from Albany, S., 51, centrally distant S. E. from Hudson 21 miles. Pop. 1,769. The Ancram Iron Works operate quite exten sively in castings and bar iron from the celebrated ore of Salisbury, in Connecticut. Ancram is a small village near the W. line of the town. AusTERLiTZ, taken from Hillsdale, Canaan, and Chatham, in 1818 ; surface hilly and mountainous. Pop. 2,090. Spencertown, 15 miles NE. of Hudson, and Green River, are small villages. Canaan, organized in 1788; bounds since altered. Canaan Cor ners 24, Canaan 18 miles NE. from Hudson, and Red Rock are small settlements. The surface of the town is mountainous, with some fertile valleys. Pop. 1,957. Chatham, taken from Canaan and Kinderhook in 1795. Pop. 3,650. Chatham Four Corners, on the Albany and Hartford and the Hudson and New Lebanon roads, is a small settlement, 20 miles SE. of Albany and 14 NE. from Hudson. Chatham, North Chatham, New Cont-oic, and •'¦¦ are post-offices. Claverack, organized in 1788. Pop. 3,053. This name is derived from Klauver-rack literally Clover-reach; so called in its early settle ment from the immense fields of clover which abounded here. Cla verack post village, 4 miles E. of Hudson, was the seat of justice for the county, from 1787 to 1806, when it was removed to Hudson. It is a beautiful village, and contains about 60 dwellings. Churchtown, Smoky Hollow, and Centreville are small villages. This country was settled at a very early period by the Dutch. The following extracts from ancient newspapers, show that difficulties between the land lords and tenants are not confined to our time. To the printer of the New York Gazette, dated May 20th, 1766. Sir, — For many months past we have heard a great deal of the uneasiness and riotous behavior of the tenants upon several of the large manors of this government. And as these disorders have risen to a very great and dangerous height, and the causes of them variously spoken of, and not well understood, (some imputing the fault to the landlords, and others the tenants,) it is surprising that more care has not been taken- to set the whole affair in a clearer light ; which, besides that it might tend to an amicable settiement of the difference, would dispose the pubUc to join in discountenancing the blameable party, and obtain redress for the injured. On the one hand, it seems strange that the landlords should draw upon themselves so much trouble and vexation, so much ill-will and opposition from their tenants, unless the matters they insist on are just and reasonable, and of veiy great importance. On the other hand, it seems equaUy strange that the tenants should take such deSperate steps, and hazard the ruin of their famiUes, the loss of property, and even Ufe itsetf, unless their grievances are of die most insupportable kind, and such as it is worse than death to bear. If these matters were explained by an impartial narrative, it would, I beUeve, do service to the parties and oblige the pubUc, &c. A. B. Extracts fro7n letters from Claverack, near Albany, dated June 27th, 1766. " For some months a mob has frequently assembled and ranged the eastern part of the manor of Rensselaer. Last week they appeared at Mr. Livingston's with some proposals to Jiim ; but he being from Jiome, they returned to Mr. Rensselaer's son's, about two miles COLUMBIA COUNTY. 115 from Claverack, where, not finding him at home, they used some insulting words, and left a message for Mr. Rensselaer, that if he did not meet them next day at their rendezvous, they would come to him. On the 26th, the sheriff of Albany, with 150 men under his com mand, went to disperse the rioters, who were assembled it is supposed to the number of 60 in a house on the manor. On the sheriff's advancing to the house they fired upon him, and shot off his hat and wig, but he escaped unhurt — many shots were exchanged on both sides. Of the mihtia, Mr. CorneUus Tenbrook, of Claverack, was killed, and seven wounded. Of the rioters, three wei'e killed (two of whom were the ringleaders) and many wounded, among whom was Capt. Noble (one of the chief instigators) in the back. The rioters retreated to Capt. Noble's house, wliere they formed a breastwork, and did not quit the house tUl the sheriffs party left the place. He afterward went to Poughkeepsie to get assistance from the regulars to disperse the whole ; but the regulars were gone to Pender- graft's house, on Philip's Patent, in Dutchess county. " We hear from Fredericksburg, in Dutchess county, that on Saturday last, as a party of regulars stationed there, under the command of Major Brown, were crossing a bridge, they were met by about 30 of the rioters, who were going to join Pendergraft, their chiefs party — a skirmish ensued, whereon two of the regulars were wounded, and it is supposed a much greater number of the rioters, who generally dismounted and fled to the cornfields and bushes, leaving some of their horses and guns, which were taken, and one prisoner. Several more were taken that night. The next evening they sent a flag of truce with 50 followers, who were aU lodged in die meeting-house, and the next day several more parties came in. Pendergraft's wife was gone to persuade her husband to accept of the governor's mercy, as were many more wives of the rioters. We hear of no lives lost. It was reported that 300 of the rioters lodged at Quaker HiU, intending to attack the regulars on the 13th ult." [How many uneasy moments must such of these sensible regulars feel, who are pur. suaded that they are employed to support In Equity ?] From the New York Gazette, dated November 10th, 1768. "On Saturday last, the great cause between the Crown and Mr. John Van Rensselaer was ended. It was tried by a struck jury, and came on before the Hon. Justice Jones, on Tuesday the 25th of October, and continued (with evening adjournments by the consent of parties) until the 5th inst. The suit was for intrusion upon the crown lands, to try the limits of that part of the old Rensselaerwick manor and estate called Claverack. It was pro moted by certain reduced officers upon a supposition that there was a great unpatented vacancy between the manor of Rensselaerwick and Livingston, and the patents of Kinder hook and Westenhook, and carried on at the expense of the crown. 'There never was a trial in this colony so solemn, important, and lengthy. The counsel spent about eleven hours in summing up the evidence : Mr. Attorney General, Mr. Mayor, Mr. Duane, and Mr. Kissam, were of the counsel for the crown ; and Mr. Smith, jr., Mr. Scott, and Mr Thomas Smith conducted the defence. The judge was clear in his charge upon the construction of the old patent in the Rensselaer family, and the jury in two hours agreed on their verdict for the defendant This estate was attached upon the same princi- pies, by certain petitioners a few years ago ; but their petitions were dismissed by the gov. ernor and council, in the admipistration of Gen. Monckton, on the 20th October, 1762." Clermont, organized in 1788 ; from Albany, S., 43 miles. Pop. 1,231. Clermont, 12 miles S. of Hudson, is a small post village. It was the ancient seat of the Livingston family, and the residence of Chancellor Livingston, the well-known patron of Fulton, who named his first American steamboat the " Clermont." The following biogra phical sketch is extracted from the Encyclopaedia Americana. "Robert R. Livingston, an eminent American poUtician, was born in the city of New York, November 27th, 1746. He was educated at King's College, and graduated in 1765. He studied and practised law in that city with great success. Near the commencement of the American revolution he lost the office of recorder, on ac. count of his attachment to liberty, and was elected to the first general congress of the colonies ; was one of the committee appointed to prepare the Declaration of Independence ; in 1780, was appointed secretaiy of foreign affairs; and throughout the war of the revolu tion, signalized himself by his zeal and eflniciency in the revolutionary cause. At the adop tion of the constitution of New York, he was appointed chanceUor, which office he held until he went, in 1801, to France, as minister plenipotentiary, appointed by President Jef. ferson. He was received by Napoleon Bonaparte, then first consul, with marked respect and 116 COLUMBIA COUNTY. cordiaUty, and during a residence of several years in the French capital, the chanceUor ap. peared to be the favorite foreign envoy. He conducted, with the aid of Mr. Monroe, the nego tiation which ended in the cession of Louisiana to the United States, took leave of the first consul, (1804,) and made an extensive! tour on the continent of Europe, pn his return from Paris, Napoleon, then emperor, presented to him a splendid snuff-box, with a minia. ture Ukeness of himself, (Napoleon,) painted by the celebrated Isabey. It was in Paris that he formed a friendship and close personal intimacy with Robert Fulton, whom he materially assisted with counsel and money, to mature his plan of steam na-rigation. In 1805, Mr. Livingston returned to the United States, and thenceforward employed himself in promoting the arts and agriculture. He introduced into the state of New York tiie use of gypsum, and the Merino race of sheep. He was president of the New York Academy of fine arts, of which he was a chief founder. He died March 26th, 1813, with the reputation of an able statesman, a learned lawyer, and a most useful citizen." CoPAKE, taken from Taghkanic in 1824; from Albany, S., 57 miles ; from Hudson, SE., 16 miles. The town is part of the Liv ingston manor. Pop. 1,505. The eastern part of this township is mountainous ; on the western border is Copake lake, which covers about 600 acres, and embosoms an island of about 20 acres, which has been the residence of members of the Livingston family. Gallatin, taken from Ancram in 1830 ; from Huison, SE., 15 miles. Pop. 1,645. s* Germantown, organized in 1788; from Albany, S., 39, and from Hudson, S., 12 miles: commonly known by the name of the German or East Camp. Pop. 968. There are three landings on the Hudson. In June, 1710, seventy of the palatines sent out by Queen, Anne set tled on this spot, then part of Livingston manor. In 1725, pursuant to an arrangement between George I. and the proprietor, this tract was granted by letters patent to the persons belonging to East Camp, as the settlement was called, in trust to appropriate 40 acres for the use of a church and school, and to divide the rest equally among the inhabitants. The settlement first commenced by three small lodges, or dorfs, the German word for village, named respectively after the superintendent of each, as Weiser's Dorf, Kneiskerns Dorf, &c. Ghent, taken from Claverack, Kinderhook, and Chatham in 1818, Population 2,557. Ghent is a small village, 10 miles NE. of Hudson. Greenport, recently formed from Hudson. Pop. 1158. Hillsdale was organized in 1788 ; centrally distant 14 miles E. of Hudson. Pop. 3,470. Green river and Hillsdale are post-offices. Unhappy disputes relative to titles to l9,nd in this town, long agitated the inhabitants, and several lives were lost in the controversy before it was finally settled by arbitration. Hudson, the capital of Columbia county, is situated on the E. bank of Hudson river, 116 miles from New York, 29 from Albany, and 28 from West Stockbridge, Mass. Lat. 42° 14' N., long. 14' E. from Ne-wr York. The city is finely situated on an elevation of about 50 feet above the Hudson, the western part of which is a bold cliff or promontory projecting into the river, more than 60 feet high. The principal part of the city is built, on a street one mile long, ex tending in a straight line from the foot of Prospect Hill, to the prom enade on the extremity of the cliff. Neariy all the streets intersect each other at right angles, except near the river, where they conform ,"».^ "Msapj- ES&''r.s" «,«-—"'.-'- — SOUTH EASTERN VIEW OF HUDSON CITY, N. Y., FROM ACADEMY, OR PROSPECT HILL. The principal street in Hudson, one mUe in length, is seen in the central part of the engraving. The village of Athens appears on the opposite bank of the Hudson ; the Cattskill mountauis are seen in the extreme distance, on the left. COLUMBIA COUNTY. 117 to the shape of the ground. The promenade at the western extrem ity, and fronting the principal street, commands a beautiful view of the river, the village of Athens opposite, the country beyond, and the ¦ towering Catskill mountains. The bay south of the city is locked in by a lofty eminence, anciently termed Rorabuck, now called Mount Merino, in consequence of there being a sheep farm established here some years since. The city contains 5 churches — 1 Presbyterian, 1 Episcopal, 1 Baptist, 1 Methodist, and 1 Universalist. There is an academy, a number of classical schools, the Hudson Lunatic Asylum, a private hospital for the reception and cure of lunatics, 1 bank, and 3 printing-offices. An elegant courthouse has been recently erected. Water is brought in subterranean pipes from the foot of Becraft's mountain for the use of the city. Pop. 5,671. Hudson was founded in 1783, by enterprising men of property from Rhode Island and Nantucket, of the names of Jenkins, Paddock, Barnard, Coffin, Thurston, Greene, Minturn, Lawrence, and others, in all thirty persons. About twenty of this company, in the early part of 1783, sailed up the Hudson to find some navigable situation on which to commence a new settlement. They selected and purchased the site on which the city now stands, which at that time was occupied as a farm, with a single store-house on the bank of the river. In the fall of this year, two families arrived and commenced a settlement. In the spring of 1784, the other proprietors arrived, bringing with them seve ral vessels ; they were soon followed by other emigrants from the east ward. Between the spring of 1784 and that of 1786, there were 150 dwelling-houses erected, besides wharves, warehouses, shops, barns, &c., and several works connected with manufactures ; and the pop ulation had increased to 1,500 persons. In 1795, Mr. Ashbel Stod dard removed from Connecticut, established a printing-office, and issued a weekly paper, the " Hudson Gazette." Hudson was incorporated a city in 1785. At this period about twenty-five vessels were owned in the place, which were mostly em ployed in the West India trade ; a few were engaged in the whale and seal fishery, which was carried on with considerable success, and Hudson rapidly increased in wealth and population. During the rev olutionary struggle in France, and the long protracted war in Europe, such was the demand for neutral vessels, and such the high prices of freight, that the vessels owned here were engaged in the carrying trade. This trade was not long enjoyed, for British orders in council and French decrees swept many of them from their owners. Other losses followed by shipwreck, and the embargo, non-intercourse, and the war which succeeded, almost finished the prosperity of Hudson. The city was a port of entry till 1815. The immense losses at sea produced much embarrassment and many failures, and kept the place in a state of depression for a considerable period. From this de pression it is gradually and steadily advancing. The Hudson and Berkshire railroad proceeds from this city, across the route of the New York and Albany railroad, 31 miles to the west line of Massa- 118 COLUMBIA COUNTY. chusetts at West Stockbridge, whence it is continued for two mileS, till it unites with the great western railroad of that state. The following inscriptions are copied from monuments in the graveyard in this place : " To the memory of William Howard Allen, lieutenant in the U. S. Navy, who was kiUed in the act of boarding a piratical schooner on the coast of Cuba, near Malanzas, on the 9th of November, 1822, jE 32 — WilUam Howard AUen. His remains, first burieii at Matanzas, were removed to this city by the U. S. government, and interred under the direction of the Com. mon Council of this city, beneath this marble erected to his honor by the citizens of his native place, 1833. WUUam How ard AUen was bom in the city of Hudson, July 8, 1790 ; ap. pointed a midshipman in 1801, and a lieutenant in 1811 ; took a conspicuous part in the engagement between the Argus and PeUcan in 1813, and was killed while in the command-of the U. S. schooner AlUgator. " Pride of his country's banded chivalry. His fame their hope, his name their battle cry. He lived as mothers wish their sons to live. He died, as fathers wish their sons to die." Allen's Monument. " In memory of John Milton Mann, M. D., who was drowned crossing the Hud son from this city to Athens, August 24, A. D. 1809, aged 43 years. This monument is erected as a token of their love by his bereaved wife and children. Doctor Mann was born in Attiebury, Massachussetts ; he was educated at Brown's University in Providence, Rhode Island ; and came to reside in Hudson, A, D. 1800. This city is indebted to him for the introduction of vaccine innoculation, though here as elsewhere, the philanthropic enterprise was obliged to contend against prejudice and misrepresentation. The Common Council of Hudson, of which body he was a member, voted that they would attend his fu. neral and wear crape on the left arm thirty days on account of their respect for his char. acter, .and their regret for his loss. Here are laid the remains of one whom society re. spected and his kindred loved. He was a wise scholar, a skilful physician, a kind husband and father, and a sincere Christian. Deeply is he bewaUed. Few men of his time pos. sessed a mind more happily turned to the acquisition of science, or exhibited more per spicuously patience and vigor, than Doctor Mann. Alas ! just as his faculties had become mature, and society had learned their value — just when in the prime of bodily and mental manhood, with his honors thickening upon him, death struck him down. But let not in. fidel grief regard his mind as having been cultivated or his knowledge accumulated in vain ; for so he was enabled to enter the future life with enlarged capacities of enjoyment, with more worthy views of his own nature and destiny, with a clearer apprehension of his heavenly Father's wUI, and with added incitement to constant obedience. We wiU not mourn, then, as they who have no hope." Kinderhook was organized in 1788 ; the surface of the town is di versified, soil gravelly clay of sandy loam, and generally well culti vated. Pop. 3,512. This place was settled at an early period by some Dutch and Swedish families. Its name is of curious origin, and signifies children's corner, or point ; so called from the number of children belonging to a Swedish family that anciently lived on a point of land about half a mile above the present upper landing. Several of their descendants are now living of the fourth and fifth generation. Valatie is a large manufacturing village in this town, 14 miles N. of Hudson, at the junction of the Valatie and Kinderhook creeks. It contains 1 Presbyterian, 1 Methodist, and 1 Lutheran church. 8 mer- COLUMBIA COUNTY. 119 cantile stores, 300 dwellings, and 1,700 inhabitants. Kinderhook village on the old post-road to Albany, 12 N. of Hudson, 5 E. from the river, and 20 miles S. from Albany, is finely situated on a beauti ful level plain. Many of the dwellings have spacious yards and gardens decorated with shrubbery ; and groves of trees interspersed here and there give this place a pleasing aspect. There are several churcnes, an academy in high repute, and about 90 dwellings. Birthplace of President Van Buren, Kinderhook. The above is a representation of the house in which Martin Van Buren, recently president of the United States, was born. It is situ ated about 60 rods E. of the central part of the village, near the banks of the creek. It was at that time occupied by his father, Abra ham Van Buren, as a tavern, and the town meetings of former days were held within its walls. Originally it had a gable roof with two attic windows, in Dutch style ; and the small building seen on the right stood in the rear and was used as a kitchen. On a beam in the cellar, cut rudely with a penknife, are the initials, M. V. B ; ^ memento of the president's youthful days. The following epitaph of president Van Buren'sbrother was copied from a tablet in the new graveyard, about three fourths of a mile N. of the village. " In memory of Abraham A. Van Buren, who died at Hudson, Oct. 30th, 1836, in the 49th year of his age. He had been for many years, and was at the time of his death, sur rogate of the county of Columbia ; and by his talents and integrity, secured universal respect and esteem. Peace be to his ashes." Livingston was organized in 1788. Glenco, 9 miles SE. from Hudson, and Johnstown, are small villages. Pop. 2,534. " Livingston manor or lordship, originally contained that tract which now composes the towns of Livingston, Taghkanic, Copake, Ancram, GaUatin, Clermont, and Germantown It was granted by the English government, whUe America was a colony, to Robert Livings. ton, who had been some years settled in this country and who was a member of the Brit ish king's councU. • This consisted of several distinct grants made in the years 1684, 1685, and 1686. In 1710, agreeable to an arrangement with Queen Anne, the proprietor con veyed a tract containing 6,000 acres adjoining the Hudson from the SE. part of the manor, to a number of Palatines, who had served in her armies, and were now driven from Ger- 120 COLUMBIA COUNTY. many by the French army. This tract constituted the township of Germantown. In 1714 a new grant, or grant and confirmation, was made of the manor to the original proprietor, and erected into a lordship, witii die usual privileges and royalties at that day annexed to baronies. He was authorized to constitute a Court Baron, and appoint the officers thereof; and the manor tenants were entitled to elect a member to the legislative assembly for the manor, and without losing tlieir votes in the county elections, which pnvilege they exer- cised untU the revolution." New Lebanon was taken from Canaan in 1818. Lebanon Springs village is 25 miles from Albany, 32 NE. from Hudson. There are here about 35 dwellings, and several taverns for the accommodation of visiters at the spring. The spring is ten feet in diameter and four deep, and discharges water sufficient to turn several mills near its source. The water is tasteless, inodorous, and soft, and is deemed beneficial in internal obstructions, salt-rheum, and cutaneous affec tions generally. The place is much resorted to for health and amuse ment. The surrounding country is salubrious and picturesque. New Lebanon is a small settlement, one mile and a half SE. of the spring. B^^ Shaker Buildings in New Lebanon. New Lebanon, Shaker village, called by its inhabitants the village of the " Millennial Church," is two and a half miles S. of the spring, on the western side of the Taghkanic mountain, and contains about six hundred inhabitants. The annexed view shows one of their dwellings (containing a family of 150 persons,) and their meeting house, which was erected in 1823. This place of worship is some what singular in its construction. It is eighty feet long by sixty-five wide, all in one room, without beams or pillars, having a domical rool covered with tin ; and a porch thirty-four by twenty-seven feet, roofed and covered the same way. The building is of wood, but the founda tion and flights of steps are of marble. " This edifice," says a visiter, " stands in a beautiful grass plat, in the centre of the village. There are no seats in the house, except for spectators of their worship. Their stone walls and other fences are constructed with the utmost regularity and precision, and their gate posts are of massive marble columns, of many tons weight. They manufacture a great variety of articles for sale, which are remarka ble for their neatness and durability ; and, in short, their farms, their COLUMBIA COUNTY. 121 gardens, their manufactories, and houses, all exhibit the pleasing effects of industry and rural economy. Indeed, they are one independent community ; — their property is all held in common, and ' nowhere,' says Professor Silliman, ' in any community, can the moralist, the philosopher, or the statesman, see such a demonstration of the power of industry and economy.' They cheerfully pay their proportion of the public taxes, and share all the burdens of government except the bearing of arms, which they deem to be unlawful. They never ask charity for any purpose, but always have hands and hearts to give. We were conducted through the whole establishment in every de partment. Their internal domestic arrangement is excellent. Their standing motto seems to be, to save time and labor, and all their va rious machines and utensils are constructed to this end. We visited their extensive dairy, their washing-house, mills and manufactories, all of which evinced the most consummate skill and nicety. We also visited their school, consisting of about one hundred hearty, rosy- cheeked, and contented children, from eight to fifteen years of age. They underwent a very creditable examination in the various bTanches of astronomy, grammar, reading, spelling, arithmetic, &c., and gave us the most satisfactory proof that they are not trained up in ite rance As far as our observation extended, they are as willing to let others think for themselves, as they are to cherish their own peculiarities ; and, surely, if they are tolerant we should not be in tolerant. They are indeed a most singular people, but they have many, very many, excellent qualities. They are plain in their de portment and manners, close though iionest in their dealings, but kind, benevolent, and hospitable ; and they remember and treasure up every kindness shown to them. In short, they are inoffensive, quiet, and valuable citizens ; and notwithstanding the idle, and even abomi nable stories that have been put forth against them, after close ob servation for many years past, it is our deliberate conviction that among themselves they strictly live up to their professions, and that their conduct and morals are irreproachable."* The society own about 2,000 acres of land in this town, and about half as much more in Hancock, Mass., the adjoining town. Within a few years after " Mother Ann," as she is usually called, made an establishment at Neskayuna, (see Watervliet, p. 55,) another was be gun at New Lebanon, which is now the principal Shaker establish ment in the state. Their religious tenets must, of course, necessarily afl^ect the order of their societies, by producing an entire separation of the men from the women. The leading characteristic in the worship of this people, is their dancing. This they describe as the involuntary result of the exhilirat- ing and overpowering dehght received through the outpouring of di vine grace upon their hearts. The evolutions and .changes in the dance, by constant practice, become as precisely correct as the man oeuvres of a regiment of experienced soldiers; it becomes in fact a * New York Commercial Advertiser. 16 122 COLU.MBIA COUNTY. mechanical movement. No one ever makes a mistake, or throws the rank in disorder from inattention or inexperience ; but every thing is conducted in the most exact order, as if every step and movement of the body was directed by a gauge and rule. Dances are sometimes held in private houses, when variations are frequently introduced. On some occasions it is said their movements are so rapid, that the eye can scarce follow or keep pace with their swift motions. " The principal doctrines of the Shakers are a belief in the second appearance of Christ in the person of the holy mother. They admit of but two persons in the Godhead, God the Father, and God the Mother, which they say is according to the order of nature, being male and female. To relieve the depraved race of man, they believe that it became necessary for God to take upon him the real character of human nature as it is, male and female, and that his first appear ance was in the person of man, and the second in the person of wo man, whereby the work of redemption was finished and completed. The confusion and wickedness that prevailed in the Catholic Church, during the long period which preceded and followed the reformation, they ascribe to the work of redemption not being completed in Christ's first appearance, it being the necessary period that must intervene between the making and fulfilment of the promise of Christ, that he would establish his law of righteousness on earth. They believe ia perfect holiness, and insist that salvation from sin here is necessary to salvation from misery hereafter. They regard the Bible as a tes timony of Christ's first appearance, but deny that it contains the word of God, or of life, as they consider a beHef in the second appearance of Christ, or in the spiritual character and mission of the holy mother, as indispensable to salvation." Stockport, so named from Stockport, England, the native place of Mr. Wilde, the proprietor of the mills at Columbiaville, was taken from Hudson, Ghent, and Stuyvesant, in 1833. The Claverack and Kin derhook creeks unite near the centre of the town. In breaking through the high bank of the river, these streams, within three miles, have several falls which amount to about one hundred and sixty feet, and this water-power has given rise to the several flourishing manu facturing villages named below. Columbiaville, yci miles N. of Hud son, has very extensive cotton factories, and about forty^five dwell ings. The Hudson river Seminary is located here. The print works for printing calicoes, were established fourteen years since, by J .- Marshall & Co., and employ about two hundred and fifty hands. There are in this vicinity about seventy dwellings. Chittenden's Falls are seven, and Springville two and a half miles from Hudson. At Glencadia, on the Kinderhook creek, three and a half miles from Hudson niv, there are two falls amounting to about seventy feet, on which are situated extensive cotton factories. Pop, 1814. Stuyve.=>ant was taken from Kinderhook m 1823. Stuyvesant or Kinderhook Landing, on the Hudson, is one hundred and twenty-five miles N. of New York, five W. from Kinderhook, twenty S. of A^ bany, and contains about fifty dwellings. Pop. 1,946, COBTLAND COUNTY. 123 Taghkanic, taken from Livingston, in 1823, by the name of Gran ger ; name and bounds since altered. It is one of the towns of Liv ingston manor, and lies SE. of Hudson fifteen miles. Pop. 1,724. CORTLAND COUNTY. Cortland county, taken from Onondaga in 1808, and named in honor of Gen. Pierre Van Cortlandt, who was a large landholder here : centrally distant NW. from New York 200, and from Al bany, W., 145 miles. This county forms part of the high central section of the state. It has the dividing ridge between the northern and southern waters across its northern and western borders. It is consequently elevated. Its surface is composed of easy hills and broad valleys, giving it a gently waving and diversified aspect. The soil is generally a gravelly loam, rich and productive. This county comprises four whole and two half townships of the tract granted by the state to the soldiers of the revolution, and is settled chiefly by emigrants from the eastern states. Pop. 24,605. It is divided into 11 towns. Cincinnatus, taken from Solon in 1804 ; W. from Albany 131, from Cortland, SE., 15 miles. Pop. 1,301. Cincinnatus, the post village, contains about 30 dwellings. Cortlandville, taken from Homer in 1829 ; 142 miles from Al bany, Pop. 3,799. The following view shows the principal public Public buildings in Cortlandville. buildings in the village. The first building on the right is the Meth odist church, the second the Academy, the third the Presbyterian, the fourth the Baptist, and the last the Universalist church. The 124 CORTLAND COUNTY. courthouse is seen on the opposite side of the street. The village is pleasantly situated and laid, out in regular squares. There are here two weekly newspaper offices and about 120 dwellings, some of them splendid, with neat door-yards adorned with trees, shrubbery, &c. &c. McGrawsville, a small village, is 4 miles E. from Cortlandville,- South Cortland and Port Watson are post-offices. The following epitaph was copied from a monument in the grave yard at Cortlandville. " In memory of Martha Men-ick, wife of David Merrick, who died April 8, 1831, in the 62d year of her age. She had passed the last 32 years of hetUfe in tins town and Homer, having been among the first setflers in this county; She departed this life m the tuU iajth of a blessed Saviour. She Uved respected and died regretted." Feeetowj^, taken from Cincinnatus in 1818 ; from Albany 140, and from Cortland, SE., 10 miles. Freetown Corners is a small village, and Freetown is a post-office. Pop. 949. Homer, organized in 1794. The township is level; the soil a sandy and clay loam. Pop. 3,572. Homer village, the largest in the county, is beautifully situated upon a plain, upon the W. bank of the Tioughnioga river ; from Albany 138 miles, 40 N. from Oswego. 30 S. from Syracuse, 2h N. from Cortland village. The following view shows on the right the Episcopal church, the building next is Public buildings in Homer. the Academy, the third the Presbyterian, the fourth the Methodist, and the fifth the Baptist church. The Cortland Academy is a highly flourishing institution, having a collection of philosophical apparatus and a cabinet of minerals. The public buildings are upon a square of 6 acres. The village was incorporated in 1825, and has about 200 buildings. The following is the copy of an inscription on a monument in the graveyard in this village. " Rev. Elkathan Walkek, was bom at Taunton, Mass., Feb. 7th, 1780 ; graduated at Brown's CoUege, Rhode Island, Sept. 7th, 1803. Jomed the cliurcsh in Dighton, Mass., DELAWARE COUNTY. 125 Jan. 31, 1805, was ordained and installed Pastor of this church, Oct. 25th, 1809. Died June 4th, 1820. This monument is erected by an afiectionate people as the last testimony of respect to their beloved pastor. Rev. Mr. Walker settled over this church when it con sisted of 99 members. Admitted during his ministry 481. Left when he died 440. Hav ing ended his labors and caUed upon God, saying Lord Jesus receive my spirit, he fell asleep. Marathon, originally named Harrison ; taken from Cincinnatus in 1818; from Albany 145, and from Cortland, SE., 15 miles. Pop. 1,063. Marathon is a small village about 4 miles from the county line, on the south. Preble, taken from Tully in 1808 ; from Albany 138, from Cort land, N., 10 miles. Preble, a small post village, is seven miles N. of Cortland. Pop. 1,247. Scott, taken from Preble in 1815 ; from -Albany 146 miles. The surface of the township is broken by ridges of hills running N. and S., with valleys of good land. Pop. 1,332. Scott Centre, post vil lage 10 miles NW. of Cortland, has about 20 dwellings. Solon, organized in 1798; from Albany 140, from Cortland, E., 10 miles. Solon and East Solon are post-offices. Pop. 2,311. This township has a soil of good quality, and the inhabitants have been much engaged in rearing cattle. Truxton, taken from Solon and Fabius in 1808 ; limits since changed ; from Albany 138, NE. from Cortland 12 miles. Pop. 3,668. Truxton village, pleasantly situated on the right bank of the river, has about 40 dwellings. Cuyler is a post-office. Virgil, organized in 1804 ; from Albany 148, from Cortland, S., 6 miles. Virgil and Hartford are small post villages. Pop. 4,501. Willet, taken from Cincinnatus in 1818; from Albany 137, from Cortland, SE., 17 miles. Pop. 870. This is a hilly township and but thinly settled. DELAWARE COUNTY. Delaware county, formed from Ulster and Otsego counties in 1797, is centrally distant from New York via Cattskill 166, SW. from Albany 77 miles. Greatest length NE. and SW. 60 ; greatest breadth SE. and NW. 37 miles. The county has a broken and diversified surface — from the rugged, lofty, and barren mountain side and summit, to the subsiding hill and the high and low plain, with the rich valley, and the low and fertile alluvion. Its climate is subject to sudden and great changes of tem perature, yet not unfriendly to health and longevity. It is principally watered by the northeastern sources of the Delaware, a large navi- fable river of Pennsylvania, on which stands the city of Philadelphia. 'he east branch of the Susquehannah, another large stream of Penn sylvania, forms a part of the northeastern boundary, as does the Del- 126 DELAWARE COUNTY. aware a part of its southwestern. The Cookquago branch of the Delaware, or the true Delaware, as it ought to be called, runs nearly centrally through the county from NE. to S W. ; the Popacton branch runs nearly parallel with this, a short distance to the south of it. These streams with their branches, and many smaller streams, spread plentifully over the whole county, and supply a vast profusion of fine sites for mills. The quality of the soil is as various as the surface: On the upland there is a large proportion of chocolate-colored loam, and the valleys and alluvial flats have a rich mould. The whole may be pronounced a good country for farming, well watered by small springs and rivulets. The heavy trade of this county follows the course of its lumber, which goes in rafts by the Delaware and Sus quehannah rivers to Philadelphia and Baltimore ; while considerable traffic is carried on with the towns on the Hudson, to which there are turnpikes in various directions. The value of the wild lands in the county is from two to three dollars an acre, and the improved lands in the valleys average about 30 dollars, while those on the hills are worth about 5 dollars the acre. West of the Mohawk branch of the Delaware, the county was divided into several patents ; but east of it was included in the Hardenburgh patent. In 1768, WiUiam, John, Alexander, and Joseph Harper, with eighteen others, obtained a patent here for 22,000 acres of land, and soon after the Harpers removed from Cherry Valley, and made a settlement which was called Harpersfield, but which was broken up by the Indians and tories during the revolutionary war. About one quarter of the county is under improvement. Pop. 32,933. The county has 18 towns. Andes, taken from Middletown in 1819 ; from Albany 90, centrally distant SE. from Delhi 15 miles. Shavertown and Andes are post- offices. This town and Bovina were principally settled by the Scotch. Pop. 2,176. Bovina, taken from Middletown, Delhi, and Stamford, in 1820; distant from Albany 89, from Delhi centrally situated E. 10 miles. Bovina and Fish Lake are post-offices. Pop. 1,403. Colchester, taken from Middletown, part of Ulster county, in 1792 ; bounds since reduced ; from Albany 91, from Delhi S. 21 miles. Colchester and Popacton are post-offices. Pop. 1,567. The surface is hilly, somewhat mountainous. The settlements are princi pally on a branch of the Susquehannah, which passes through the town. Davenport, formed in 1817 ; from Albany 65, from Delhi centrally situated N. 11 miles. Davenport, West Davenport, and Davenport Centre, are post-offices. Pop. 2.054. Delhi, taken from Middletown, Kortwright, and Walton, in 1798 ; area since much reduced; from Albany 77, west from Cattskill 68, from Kingston 67 miles. Pop. 2,555. The following view of Delhi village, the county seat, was taken on the eastern bank of the Delaware. This village was incorporated in 1821. The building with a steeple seen on the extreme right is a factory — the spire near the centre of the view is that of the Epis- DELAWARE COUNTY. 127 Eastern view of Delhi Village. copal church, the one to the left the Presbyterian, and the cupolas are respectively those of the Courthouse, Jail, and Academy. The academy here, under the charge of the Rev. Daniel Shepherd, is in corporated and flourishing. The village contains about 100 dwellings. Delaware Literary Institute, Franklin. Franklin, taken from Harpersfield whilst part of Otsego county, in 1792 ; area since much altered. It was settled in 1785. Pop. 3,025, Franklin village is pleasantly situated 16 miles W. from Delhi, 80 from Kingston, and 60 S. of Utica, and contains 1 Presbyterian, 1 Baptist, and 1 Methodist church, and about 500 inhabitants. " The Delaware Literary Institute was incorporated in 1835. The build ing is of stone, 86 feet long, 42 wide, and 4 stories high. It contains, besides rooms to accommodate 80 male students, a chapel, two re- 128 DELAWARE COUNTY. citation rooms, and one for apparatus. Cost, including the site, $7,500. It has a chemical, a philosophical apparatus, and a library. It is di rected by a board of^ 24 trustees. It has a male and female depart ment, and five teachers are employed in instruction. Rev. Silas Fitch is principal, and Merit Piatt lecturer and instructor in natural science. It has 110 students. The moral influence and pecuniary advantages it affords are considered highly favorable." East Franklin and North Franklin are post-offices. Hamden, taken from Walton and Delhi in 1825 ; from Albany 85, from Delhi, SW., 8 miles. Hamden is a small post village on the Delaware. Pop. 1,469. Hancock, a large and somewhat mountainous township, was taken from Colchester in 1806 ; from Albany 129, and from Delhi centrally distant SW. 27 miles. Hancock, East Branch, Bloomfield, Paulina, and Partridge Island are the post-offices. Pop. 1,027. The inhabi tants, who are principally engaged in lumbering, are chiefly settled upon the Popacton branch of the Delaware. Harpersfield, organized in 1788 as part of Montgomery county ; bounds since much reduced ; from Albany 62 miles. It has a moun tainous surface. Pop. 1,696. Harpersfield, 18 miles NE. of Delhi, and West Harpersfield, are small post villages. North Harpersfield is a post-office. The following is extracted from Mr. Campbell's interesting and valuable work entitled " Annals of Tryon County :" " In 1768, WUUam, John, Alexander, and Joseph Harper, with eighteen other individuals, obtained a patent for twenty-two thousand acres of land lying in the now county of Dela. ware. The Harpers removed from Cherry Valley soon after, and ma,de a settiement there which was caUed Harpersfield. This settlement had begun to flourish at the commence. ment of the war. Col. John Harper had the command of one of the forts in Schoharie. The following account of a successful enterprise of Col. Harper, was furnished by the Rev. Mr. Fenn, who received the information from him. He informed me that in the year 1777, he had the command of the fort in Schoharie, and of all the frontier stations in this region. He left the fort in Schoharie, and came out through the woods to Harpersfield in the time of making sugar, and from thence laid his course for Cherry Valley to investigate the state of things there ; and as he was pursuing a blind kind of Indian trail, and was as. cending what are now called Decatur HUls, he cast his eye forward and saw a company of men coming directly towards him, who had the appearance of Indians. He knew that if he attempted to flee from them they would shoot him down ; he resolved to advance right up to them, and make the best shift for himself he could. As soon as he came near enough to discern the white of their eyes, he knew the head man and several others ; the head man's name was Peter, an Indian with whom Col. Harper had often traded at Oqnago be- fore the revolution began. The colonel had his great-coat on, so that his regimentals were concealed, and he was not recognised ; the first word of address of Col. Harper's was, ' How do you do, brothers ?' The reply was, ' WeU — how do you do, brother ? Which way are you bound, brother ?' ' On a secret expedition : and which way are you bound,, brothers V ' Down the Susquehannah, to cut off the Johnston settiement.' (Parson John. ston and a number of Scotch famiUes had settied down the Susquehannah, at what is now caUed Sidney's Plains, and these were the people whom they were about to destroy.) Says the colonel, ' Where do you lodge to-night ?' ' At the month of Schenevas creek,' was the reply. Then shaking hands with them, he bid tiiem good speed, and proceeded on his journey. " He had gone but a litde way from them before he took a circuit through the woods, a distance of eight or ten mUes, on to the head of Chariotte river, where were a number of men making sugar ; ordered them to take their arms, two days' provisions, a canteen of rum, and a rope, and meet him down the Charlotte, at a small clearing called Kvans's plaee. DELAWARE COUNTY. 1^9 at a certain hour that afternoon ; then rode with all speed through the woods to Harpers field ; coUected all the men who were there making sugar, and being armed and victualled, each man with his rope laid his course for Charlotte ; when he amved at Evans's place he found the Charlotte men there, in good spirits ; and when he mustered his men, there were fifteen, including himself, exactly the same number as there were of the enemy ; then the colonel made his men acquainted with his enterprise. " They marched down the river a little distance, and then bent their course across the hill to the mouth of Schenevas creek ; when they arrived at the brow of the hUl where they could overlook the valley where the Schenevas flows, they cast their eyes down upon the flat, and discovered the fire around which the enemy lay encamped. ' There they are,' said Col. Harper. They descended with great stiUness, forded the creek, which was breast-high to a man ; after advancing a few hundred yards, they took some refreshment, and then prepared for the contest — dayUght was just beginning to appear in the east. When they came to the enemy, they lay in a circk with their feet towards the fire, in a deep sleep ; their arms and all their implements of death, were all stacked up according to the Indian custom when they lay themselves down for the night : these the colonel se cured by carrying them off a distance, and laying them down ; then each man taking his rope in his hand, placed himself by his fellow ; the Colonel rapped his man softly, and said, ' Come, it is time for men of business to be on their way ;' and then each one sprang upon his man, and after a most severe struggle they secured the whole of the enemy. " After they were all safely bound, and the morning had so far advanced that they could discover objects distinctiy, says the Indian Peter, ' Ha ! Col. Harper ! now I know thee — why did I not know thee yesterday ?' ' Some policy in war, Peter.' ' Ah, me find era so now.' The colonel marched the men to Albany, delivered them up to the commanding officer, and by this bold and well-executed feat of valor he saved the whole Scotch settie ment from a wanton destruction. " Early in the springof 1780, a party of tories and Indians, under the command of Brant, destroyed Harpersfield. The inhabitants had generaUy left the place ; but a few of the men were at the time engaged in making maple sugar. Nineteen were taken prisoners, and several kiUed. A consultation was held in the Indian language in presence of the prisoners relative to a contemplated attack upon the upper fort, in Schoharie ; the Indians, satisfied with the booty and prisoners already obtained, were unwilling to risk any thing in am uncertain expedition ; some of the tories represented the plan as promising success, and advised the Indians to kill the prisoners, that they might not be encumbered with them. Brant came up to Capt. Alexander Harper, one of the prisoners, and drawing his sword, asked him if there were ariV troops in the fort ; saying his life should be taken if he did not inform him correctiy. Harper knew enough of the Indian language to have learned the subject of the foregoing conversation, and immediately answered that it was well gar risoned, beUeving that they would all be kUled should he answer differently. Another pris oner, not knowing the determination of the Indians, and fearing their vengeance should the falsehood be detected, staled truly that there were few if any troops in the fort. Harper insisted that his statement was true ; he was beUeved, and they returned to ^Niagara. 'The last night of their journey they encamped a short distance from the fort. In the morning the prisoners were to run the gauntiet. Harper, knowing the hostility of the Indians to wards him, and fearing they might take his life, requested Brant to interfere and protect him, which he promised to do. The Indians arranged themselves in two paraUel Unes, facing inward, with clubs and whips in their hands. " Harper was selected first ; he was a taU, athletic man, and on the first signal sprang from the mark with extraordinary swiftness. An Indian near the end of the line fearing he might escape with littie injury, stept before him ; Harper struck him a blow with his fist, and then springing over him, ran towards the fort ; the Indians, enraged, broke their ranks and followed him. The .garrison, who had been apprised of the movements of the Indians, ¦were upon the walls when they saw Harper approaching ; they threw open the gate, and he rushed in, when they immediately closed it. It was with difficulty they could keep the Indians back. The other prisoners took different courses and got into the fort without passing through this, if not fiery, yet bloody ordeal."* * " William Harper was an' active member of the provincial confess, and after the war was several times a member of the state legislature. When Otsego county was formed,' he was fippointed one of the as sistant judges, William Cooper, Esq., being first judge. He lived to a great age, and died a few years since at Milford, in Otsego county, retaining to tlie last that strong desire for information which had characterized his public life. Col. John Harper died in Plarperslield, and Alexander and Joseph, soon after the war, ob tained a grant of some land in the western part of the state of Ohio, whither they removed. 'File' quiet of the country, and the approach of civilization, was not congenial to them. They preferred the Itfe of a bor derer, and sought it amid the boundless forests which then covered that beautiful state." 17 130 DELAWARE COUNTY. Kortright, organized as part of Otsego county in 1793 ; from Al bany 68 miles. Bloomville, 7 miles NE., and Kortright 14 miles from Delhi, are small villages. South Kortright and North Kortright are names of post-offices. Pop. 2,442. Masonville, taken from Sidney in 1811 ; from Albany 105, and from Delhi NW. centrally distant 24 miles. Pop. 1,420. This town contains great quantities of pine, and lumbering is the principal oc cupation of its inhabitants. Meredith, taken from Franklin and Kortright in 1800 ; from Al bany 77, and from Delhi centrally situated N. 8 miles. Meredith and West Meredith are small settlements. Pop. 1,640. Dr. Dwight, in his journey to the Niagara Falls in 1804, passed through this town. He says : " Meredith is in the fullest sense a new settlement. In the year 1800 it contained only 213 inhabitants, and in the year 1810, 726. PecuUar efforts have been made by Mr. Law to introduce into this township sober, industrious, virtuous settlers. In this manner he has probably secured its prosperity, both moral and physical, for a century. Since the date of my journal, the inhabitants have built an academy, in which they assemble for public worship From the house of Mr. Law, a handsome mansion in the centre of the town, the prospect stretches to the south, over a valley ultimately bounded by mountains at the distance of thirty miles ; and to the north, over another valley which extends ten miles. The hill which hmits the northern prospect is covered with a magnificent growth of white pines ; one of which having fallen down was measured by Mr. Law, and was found to be two hundred and forty -seven feet in length It is not improbable that the next generation may never see a white pine of the full size, and may regard an exact account of this noble vegetable production as a mere fable." — Dwight's Travels, vol. 4. Middletown, taken from Rochester and Woodstock as part of Ul ster county, in 1789 ; area since much reduced ; settled by emigrants from New England, and by Scotch, Dutch, Irish, and German emi grants ; froln Albany 79, from Delhi centrally situated SE. 20 miles. Middletown, Ashville, Colesville, and Halcottsville, are post-offices. Pop. 2,608. RoxBURY, taken from Stamford in 1799 ; area since altered ; per manently settled by New England emigrants in 1790; from Al bany 63 miles. Roxbury, formerly called Beaver Dam village, and Mooresville, 28 miles E. of Delhi, are small villages. Pop. 3,004. Sidney, taken from Franklin in 1801 ; from Albany 100, and from Delhi, NW., 24 miles. Sidney Plains, Sidney, and New Road, are post-offices. Near here is a locality called " the Beaverdam," where there are the timbers remaining Of a dam constructed by the beavers which flooded 30 or 40 acres of land. Pop. 1,720. One of the first settlers of this 'town was Timothy Beach, originally from Fairfield county, Connecticut. At the close of the revolutionary war, Mr. Beach, with his son, a lad of about 12 years, proceeded up the Hudson river to Cattskill, and from thence struck across the wil derness to Wattle's Ferry, a distance of about one hundred miles. DELAWARE COUNTY. 131 Being considered dangerous to penetrate that distance without a guide, they procured the services of an Indian conductor. Mr. Beach selected his farm near Wattle's ferry, on the Susquehannah, then in a wilderness state, since known as the Ketchum farm. He then returned through the same woods, carrying his boy on his horse behind him, till he arrived in Connecticut. On November 11th, 1784. Mr. Beach with his family went up to Albany, and from thence con tinued their journey till they arrived at Otsego lake, the head waters of the Susquehannah. Here they left their teams, as the road pro ceeded no further, put their effects on board of a batteau, and glided gently down the lake, a distance of nine miles to its outlet, where they encamped in the open air, on the spot where the village of Coopers town is now built. On the third day after leaving this place, Mr. Beach arrived at his farm, on which was a small clearing, having a log hduse in a ruinous state, in the centre. It appears that the place had belonged to a Scotchman who was killed by the Indians in the revolutionary war. " The shortness of time," says Mr. Priest, (in a pamphlet giving an account of the adven. tures of this family,) " between their arrival here and the setting in of winter, prevented the building a larger and a better log house. During this winter they became experimentaUy acquainted with cold, hunger, and a variety of sorrows, known only to the pioneers of an entire new country. Money was of but little use, as food was not to be bought where there was none for sale, as scarcely any as yet had been produced. There were but five famiUes in the whole community, who having come in the spring of the same season, had not therefore had time to raise but Uttie, consequentiy food of any kind was scarcely to be found among them. To procure it from a distance was also extremely difficult, there being no settiement where it could be had, nearer than old Schoharie, a distance of about seventy miles, to which place at that time the road was not much better than none at all. " This dreadful winter at length passed away, and with it, in a measure, their sufferings ; as by this time they had learned of the Indians how to catch fish, which abounded in the river, coves, and creelcs of tiie country. Widiout this relief they must have finally perished. But now a new scene of things, such as they had never before witnessed, says Mrs. Priest, were about to captivate their attention. March had begun to yield its rains ; the snow lo feel its dissolving power ; every rill and creek of the mountains to sweU and roar, plunging forward over crag and cliff" to the vales below. The devious Susquehannah began to put on majesty, drinking largely of its annual libation from earth and sky, swelling the headlong waters, which as they rose lifted and tore away the ice from the shores and promontories. Loud sounds were heard to moan along the thick-ribbed ice, the covering of the waters bursting in ten thousand places with the noise of tempests. But now commenced a more amazing display of the power of the waters. Already its banlis were overflown, and the distant forests of the flats along the river, inundated with the sweeping flood to the very base of the hiUs. The broken ice began to move, large islands of it to rush upon each other, StiU breaking more and more, urging its way forward with resistiess fury. Now the roar increases, large fields of ice plunge into the woods on either shore ; the trees bending, groan and snap asunder beneath the overwhelming load, stiU passing on tiU thrown in huge heaps along the shores and in the adjacent woods. Still the main channel pursues its way, every moment adds to the enormous weight it bears. As far as the eye can view from the tops of commanding eminences, above, below, aU its commotion, plunging onward with a loud and steady roar tUI stayed on some long level in the river. Here it makes a stand, or but slowly moves ; as a vast army on the verge of battie, which halts to adjust its prowess, then to move again. So the river in its grandeur resumed its course a mo ment, while from shore to shore the ice stood pUed in pyramids, chafing up and down as if in anger. But now the level narrows to a defile between the mountains, when aU at once the mass for many miles above, with whirUng eddies, stood at bay. So halts.the embattled host, whose scouts descry the foe ; the councU, cool in war, debate the safest mode to bring their legions fiercely to the fight. Now suddenly the waters rise and boU and foam through all its heaps and ranks of massive ice ; as generals do, inspiring courage in the soldier's breast. . The upper floods having gathered head, urge on with augmented power its course ; 132 DUTCHiiss County. expectation stands aghast ; the lowing herds -with stupid gaze wonder at the noise, ieet from their coverts scamper to the hiUs, dogs howl from fear at the dismal sounds, horses snort, bounding with staring eyeballs both right and left; when all at once the frozen dam gives way and rushes on with sound of thunder. Fury and desolation mark its progress, trees torn from their roots plunge here and there, old timber with fences swept from the fields and woods, mingle in the ruin ; onward roars the unconquered deluge, tiU from Otsego lake to where die fi-ightful Caughnawaga dashes to foam the descending river with the sub dued and shivered ice : which ends the scene. Stamford, taken from Woodstock, and organized as part of Ulster CO. in 1792 ; from Albany 58, from Delhi, centrally distant NE., 16 miles. Pop. 1,681. Hobart, upon the Delaware river, is a village containing about 80 dwellings. Stamford is a small village near the head of the river. Tompkins, originally named Pinefield, and taken from Walton m 1808 ; it has a mountainous surface. Pop. 2,032. Deposit village, upon the Delaware, and partly in Broome co., 116 miles from Albany, 40 SW. from Delhi, and on the Erie railroad, has about 70 dwellings. ¦ Cannonsville and Barbersville are small settlements. Walton, taken from Franklin in 1797; from Albany 94, from Delhi, centrally situated SW., 17 miles. Walton village, on the Delaware, has about 70 dwellings, withui the area of a mile. Pop. 1,844. DUTCHESS COUNTY. Dutchess county was organized in 1683. It is on the E. side of the Hudson river, 75 miles S. of Albany, and 74 N. of New York. Greatest length N. and S. 38, greatest breadth E. and W. 26 miles. This county is one of the most opulent in the state, though its area has been reduced by the erection of the small county of Putnam from its southern end. Along the eastern border towns there are ranges of hills called the Fishkill or Matteawan mountains. Along the west ern borders of these, the surface is tossed into ridges -and valleys, knolls and dales, fancifully diversified, producing a great variety of position, of soil and aspect, and a multitude of brooks and springs. In the southern part are some of the highest peaks of the Highlands, That called the Old Beacon, two miles from Matteawan village, and three from Fishkill Landing, raises its crest 1,471 feet, and the New Beacon or Grand Sachem, half a mile southward, towers 1,685 above tide. Their names are derived from the Beacons placed on their summits during the revolution. From the top of the latter, the view on the S. embraces the country upon the Hudson, for 25 miles to Tappan bay ; on the SE. includes Long Island and the sound ; and upon the NE. and W. comprehends, in the diameter of a circle 50 miles in extent, scenery of every diversity, blending the beauties of cultivation with the stem and unchangeable features of nature. The principal streams are the Hudson river on its western boundary, Ten DUTCHESS COUNTY. 133 Mile, Fishkill, and Wappinger's creeks. As a whole, the county is highly fertile, producing abundantly wheat, rye, corn, oats, and grass, and an immense amount of produce is annually exported to New York. This county is divided into 18 towns. Pop. 50,926. Amenia, from Albany 75, and from New York 95 miles. Pop. 2,179. Until 1761, Amenia was part of the Crom Elbow precinct, when it was erected into a separate one, and in 1 788, into a town ship with its present name. Ameniaville, 24 miles E. of Poughkeep sie, is a small village. The Amenia Seminary, in Ameniaville, has been in operation about 5 years, and is in a flourishing condition. The village of Hitchcock's Corners, 29 miles from Poughkeepsie, lies partly in this town, and partly in Sharon, in the state of Connecticut. It is pleasantly situated in a beautiful and populous valley, rich in the resources of agricultural wealth. The township comprises the width of the oblong tract, and the E. tier of lots, in the Great Nine Part ners, — a large tract from the Hudson to the W. line of Connecticut, granted to nine proprietors or partners. It is stated in Spafford's Gazetteer, that "in 1711, Richard Sackett and family lived on this tract, and continued the only white family until 1724, when Ulric or Oliver Winegar removed thither from the German Camp in Livings ton manor, with a few other families. But the improvements were very small until 1741, when several families emigrated here from Connecticut." Beekman, organized in 1788 ; from New York, NE., 87, from Al bany, S., 90 miles. Pop. 1,400. The Clove vale in this town, which was early settled by the Dutch, is extremely fertile. " On the Sprout creek, which rises in this town, a great quantity of human bones have accidentally been discovered, lying promiscuously, as if a vast pile of human bodies had here been made, and left to rot. No tradition has been preserved of this event, but it is supposed the spot was once the scene of a bloody Indian battle, and that the slain were hastily thrown together, probably friends and foes, and left to the raven, the fox, and the worm." Beekmanville, on the Fishkill, 16 miles E., Greenhaven, 18, and Poughquake, 18 E. of Poughkeepsie, are small settlements. At the Beekman furnace 1,000 tons of pig iron are an nually manufactured. Clinton, organized in 1788 ; NE. from New York 90, from Al bany, SE., 70, and from Poughkeepsie, NE., 16 miles. Clintonville, Pleasant Plains, Clinton Hollow, and Schultz Corners, are small set tlements. Pop. 1,830. Dover, taken from Pawling in 1807 ; from New York, N., 80, and from Albany, S., 90 miles. This town was early settled by the Dutch. Pop. 1,999. Dover, South Dover, 24 E. from Poughkeepsie, and Chestnut Ridge, 2 miles S. from Dover village, are small settlements. Near Dover village is a remarkable cavern, which, from the re semblance of the entrance to the pointed Gothic arch, is called the Stone Church. The following description is from the pen of a late visiter : — " The Stone Church consists of a fissure in the rock on a dechvity 134 DUTCHESS COUNTY. Dover Stone Church. of the mountain, and near its base, through which passes a rippling streamlet, which, inits passage down until it reaches the ground-work or floor of the church, forms numerous and extensive cascades, some of thirty feet in height, and from ten to fifteen in breadth. This current has been looked upon as the great architect of the work. The opening, though so narrow at the top as to ap pear almost closed, gradually widens to its base, so that it forms a vast arch of very con siderable regularity, of per haps twenty feet span and up wards. Its greatest depth is probably two hundred feett and the inner or principal two spacious halls,) is about apartment, (it being divided into seventy feet in length, and is well lighted and aired from above. The ante-chamber, as it may be termed, or hall of entrance, is separated from the church by a huge mass of rock, which has detached itself from the side or roof, and is aptly styled the pulpit- The view is well fitted to inspire feelings of devotion. The heart, touched by the religious gloom and solemnity of the place, acknowledges the power of the Creator, and rises in admiration of his works." Fishkill was organized in 1788. Pop. 10,436. This town was settled by the Dutch, previous to any other in the county. Its eariy inhabitants called it Vis-kill, that is, fish creek ; kill being the Dutch for creek, — hence its present name. Matteawan is a beautiful manufac turing village upon the Fishkill creek, about a mile from the landing, at the foot of the Matteawan mountain. It was founded in 1814, by Messrs. Schenck and Leonard, about which time the Matteawan com pany was formed. There are here several large cotton mills, and factories of various descriptions. There are about 2,000 persons connected with and employed in the works. S. Grosvenor & Com pany, are the agents of the company in New York. There are many neat dwellings, and two beautiful churches, one Presbyterian and one Episcopalian, at whose sabbath schools 250 children attend. No intoxicating liquors are permitted to be sold, and almost the whole population have pledged themselves to abstain from their use. " The deep valley, with its cascades and rapids ; the village, with its neat white, dwellings, magnificent factories, and ornamental churches, overhung by the stupendous mountain, render this one of the most beautiful scenes in the state, where enlightened, cheerful, and perse- DUTCHESS COUNTY. 135 lJ^'^^ T?l-i,£f' Factory Buildings in Matteawan, Fishkill. vering industry is reaping its due reward. It attracts much atten tion, and is greatly resorted to in the summer season." Glenham, Frankhnville, and Rocky Glen, are small manufacturing villages. Fishkill Landing, Hopewell, New Hackensack, Carthage, Upper Landing, Johnsonville, Hughsonville, Stormville, Shenandoah, Cackemeyer's Mills, Gayhead, and Peckville, are small villages or hamlets. Fishkill village, on the creek, 5 miles from the Hudson river, and 16 from Poughkeepsie, is situated upon a beautiful plain, in a fertile country, and has about eighty dwellings, an academy, one Episcopal, and one Dutch church. A portion of the American army were located here in the revolutionary war. Their barracks were alsout half a mile south of the village. The head-quarters of the officers was the dwelling now occupied by Isaac Van Wyck. Esq., generally known by the name of the " Wharton House."* The bar racks commenced about 30 rods north of this dwelling, from the resi dence of the widow, Mrs. Cornehus Van Wyck, and extended south wardly near the line of the road, to the foot of the mountain. The soldiers' graveyard was situated near the base of the mountain, where a road turns off from the turnpike to the east. While the army was here, the tory and other prisoners were confined in the old Dutch stone church, represented in the following engraving. In this church, it is said that Enoch Crosby was confined, and escaped in an apparently miraculous manner. The following is an inscription on a monument in the graveyard, adjoining the church : * This dwelUng and its vicinity is the scene of " The Spy," by J. Fennimore Cooper. Some years since a work was pubUshed, entitled " Enoch Crosby, or the Spy Unmasked," which attempted to identify the hero of Cooper's novel with a person then living. This production is generally beUeved to have but slight foundation in truth. It is not, however, questioned, but that there was such a person as Enoch Crosby, and that some of the adven tures attributed to him actually happened. He died at South East, in Putoam co., about 10 or 12 years since. 136 DUTCHESS COUNTY. " Glory to God alone ! Sacred to the memory of the Reverend Nicholas Van Vrancken, minister of Jehovah Jesus, and Pastor of the Dutch Reformed Congregations of FishkiU, HopeweU, and New Hackensack. This exceUent man lived tenderly beloved, and died deeply lamented, by the people of his charge. He was born the 24th of May, 1762, and departed in peace and rested in hope, the 20th of May, 1804, aged 41 years, 11 montlw and 19 days. The Lord gave, and the Lord taketh away ; blessed be the name of the Lord." H^:'ii» ... 'ii ml M'li Old Dutch Stone Church, Fishkill. The following extracts are from newspapers published at the time to which they refer : — " July 12th, 1765. — We hear from the Fishkills, that for a week or two past, a tiger or panther has been seen in the woods in that neighborhood, not far from Mr. Depeyster'a house. It had kiUed several dogs, torn a cow so that she died the same day, and carried off' the calf ; it likewise carried off a colt of about a week old. Eight men with their guns went in search of it, and started it at a distance ; it fled with great swiftness, and has been since seen at the Fishkills." " August 28th, 1776. — A few days since about 100 women, inhabitants of Dutchess county, went to the house of Colonel Brinkerhoff, at Fishkill, and insisted upon having tea at the lawful price of six shillings per pound, and obliged that gentieman to accommodate them with one chest from his store for that purpose. Shortly after he sold his cargo to some Yorkers, who, for fear of another female attack, forwarded the neforious stuff to the North river precipitately, where it is now afloat, but the women have placed their guard on each side." " Forty Dollars Reward will be paid by the subscriber, besides aU reasonable expences, for detecting and bringing to justice, one or more of a gang of villains, eight or ten in num ber, who, on tiie night of the 17th of August last, armed with guns, bayonets, and swords, surrounded the house of Mrs. Phebe Thomas, on Quaker HUl, in Dutchess county, which some of their number forcibly entered, and after many threatening expressions, robbed the subscriber of the following articles, viz. 180 silver dollars, 28 guineas, 9 half Johanneses, 1 green silk purse, opening with a spring with a large sUver hook, and containing between £4 and £5 in smaU silver, with one guinea ; two pairs of silver shoe buckles ; 1 sUver table-sppon, marked with the letters R. M., with a T at top between them ; 1 smaU silver snuff-box, marked A. S.; 1 large paper snuff-box ; one silver thimble ; two penknives, (one with a mother-of.peari handle,) in cases ; one carved ivory tooth-pick case ; one lawn hand kerchief; one red and white linen do.; three cotton stockings, and one pair of white yarn knit garters. One pair of buckles has been found upon a fellow, who went by the name of WiUiams, who formerly used to profess himself a painter in New York ; was lately talien up on a charge of some other felonies, and impi-isoned at Kingston, in Ulster county. DUTCHESS COUNTY. 137 from whence, on the approach of the British incendiaries, he was removed (with the other prisoners,) into the state of Connecticut, where he is now confined. " Quaker HUl, Nov. 5, 1777. MARY FERRARI." " Fishkill, February 1th, 1783. — ^It is -with pain and regret, that we mention the death of Lieutenant-Colonel Barber, who was unfortunately killed at camp the 11th ult, The circumstances which led to this unhappy catastrophe, we are told, are as follows : Two soldiers were cutting down a tree ; at the instant he came riding by it was falUng, which he did not observe, till they desired him to take care ; but the surprise was so sudden,, and embarrassed his ideas so much, that he reined his horse to the unfortunate spot where the tree feU, which tore his body in a shocking manner, and put an immediate period to his existence." Hyde-park, so called from the country seat of the late Dr. S. Bard ; taken from. Clinton in 1821 ; from New York, N., 81, and from Alba- n5% S., 68 miles. Pop. 2,364. Hyde Park village and landing are about 7 miles N. from Poughkeepsie. The village has several church es, about 80 dwellings, a distinguished female seminary and a classi cal school for boys. The magnificent seat of the late Dr. Hosack is here. Staatsburg is a post-office, 2 miles N. of Hyde Park. La Grange, originally named Freedom, and taken from Beekman and Fishkill in 1821 ; from Albany, S., 77, and from Poughkeepsie, SE., 8 miles. Freedom Plains, Spouts Creek, and Arthursburg, are names of post-offices. Pop. 1,851. Milan, taken from North East in 1818 ; from Albany 63 miles. Mi lan, Shookville, 25 N., and Lafayette Corners and Rock City, each 24 miles from Poughkeepsie, are small villages. Pop. 1,726. North East, organized in 1788. The surface of this township is covered with portions of the Taghkanic and Matteawan mountains. The western mountains are cultivated to their summits, and have excellent lands for sheep pasturage. Spencer's Corners, 31 NE., North Amenia, 28 NE., and Federal Store, 25 miles NE. from Pough keepsie, are small villages. The form of this town is nearly that of a boot, 10 miles long E. and W., 5 wide at the top or W. end, 3 across the ancle, and with a foot 7 miles in length. Pop. 1,381. Pawling, organized in 1788; from Poughkeepsie, SE., 22 miles. Pop. 1,571. Pawlingville and Quaker Hill are small post villages; the latter was first settled by Friends in 1740. Pine PlaiIvs, taken from North East in 1823 ; from Albany 72 miles. Pine Plains, 28 miles NE. from Poughkeepsie, has about 40 dwellings. Hammertown and Pulver's Comers are small settlements. The western part of this township is mountainous. In the north eastern part there was formerly an extensive plain covered with pines, — hence the name of the town. Pop. 1,324. Pleasant Valley, taken from Clinton in 1821 ; from New York 84, and from Albany 82 miles. Pleasant Valley is a manufacturing village, 7 miles NE. from Poughkeepsie, beautifully situated upon the right bank of Wappinger's creek, and has 1 Presbyterian, 1 Metho dist, 1 Friends, and 1 Episcopal church, and about 100 dwellings. Salt Point, 12 miles NE. from Poughkeepsie, and Washington Hol low, are small villages. Pop. 2,219, Poughkeepsie was organized in 1788: its name is said to have been derived from the Indian word Apokeepsing, signifying safe har- 18 138 DUTCHESS county. bor. The face of the country along the Hudson river is somewhat broken, but the general surface is but moderately uneven. Pop. 10,006. The village of Poughkeepsie, one of the most thriving and substantial places in the state, was first founded by a number of Dutch familes somewhere about the year 1700. Being situated about half-way between New York and Albany, it occasionally be came, in early periods of its history, the place of legislative dehberations. The convention which met to deliberate on the Federal Constitution, and voted for its adoption, met in this place in 1 788. The annexed engraving, taken from one published in the Family Magazine, Dec. 1838, is a representation of the first house erected in this place. It Van Kleek House. was built in the year 1702, by Myndert Van Kleek, one of the earliest settlers of Dutchess county. The house and grounds attached are still in possession of his descendants. It belonged to Matthew Vas- sar, Esq., in 1835, the year in which this house was demoMshed. — The distant building seen on the left, is that of the old brewery, this ancient edifice exhibited its port-holes, a feature so common in the buildings of the early settlers, they being necessary for defence against the original possessors of the soil. In 1787, this buildmg, then a public house of some note, was used as a stadt-house ; the eleventh session of the legislature of this state was held therein. Georse Clinton was then governor of the state, and Pierre Van Cortlandt, afterward mayor of New York, lieutenant-governor. Poughkeepsie is by the river, 70 miles from Albany, and 75 from New York, 18 from Kingston, 14 from Newburg, and 42 from Hud son. Population of the village in 1840, was 7,710. The central part of the village is neariy a mile from the landing place on the Hudson, standing on an elevated plain about 200 feet from the river. Several roads conveniently graded, and the principal one paved, lead from the shore to the plain above, which on the north is overlooked by a beautiful slate hill, from which is a commanding prospect of the adja cent country. The Fall creek or kill meanders through the plain: on which the village is built, and finally passes into the Hudson by a DUTCHESS COUNTY. 139 succession of cataracts and cascades, which together fall more than 160 feet, affording water-power for a number of mills and factories. There are 11 churches, viz : 2 Presbyterian, 2 Episcopal, 2 Meth odist, 2 Friends, 1 Baptist, 1 Catholic, and 1 African ; there is also a Universalist society. There are 3 banks, having an aggregate capital of $850,000, 3 newspaper offices, and a variety of manu facturing establishments. Within the limits of the village are twelve male and female schools, all of which are of a superior order. iri^i[Trrr'"'i" .1^ ¦! tf^ Poughkeepsie Collegiate School. The above is a representation of the Poughkeepsie Collegiate School, erected on the summit of an elevated hill about a mile from the Hudson, and half a mile northward from the business part of the village. This structure is modelled after the Parthenon at Athens, and is 35 by 115 feet in size, exclusive of the colonnade ; inclusive, 77 by 137 feet. It cost, exclusive of the ground, about forty thousand dollars. This institution was opened for the reception of pupils in Nov., 1836, under the superintendence of Mr. Charles Bartlett, as sisted by eight competent teachers. During the first term, there were 50 pupils ; the second, 84 ; the third, 94 ; and the fourth term, 108., "Its situation is truly a noble one; standing on an eminence commanding an extensive view of almost every variety of feature necessary to the perfection of a beautiful landscape. From the col onnade, which entirely surrounds it, the eye of the spectator can compass a circuit of nearly fifty miles : on the south, at a distance of twenty miles, the Highlands terminate the view, within which an apparent plain stretches to their base, covered with highly cultivated farms, neat mansions, and thriving villages. Similar scenery meets the eye on the east, but mOre undulating. On the west and north, the Hudson rolls on in its pride and beauty, dotted with the sails of inland commerce and numerous steamboats, all laden with products of industry and busy men. In the dim distance, the azure summits of the Cattskill, reared to the clouds, stretch away to the north, a dis tance of forty miles, where the far-famed ' Mountain House' is dis tinctly seen, like a pearl, in its mountain crest, at an elevation of nearly three thousand feet above the river. At our feet, like a beau tiful panorama, lies the village of Poughkeepsie, with its churches, its literary institutions, and various improvements in view, indicating the existence of a liberal spirit of well-directed, enterprise." The Dutch- 140 DUTCHESS COUNTY. ess County Academy was erected in 1836, in the southeast part of the village, at an expense of about #14,000. The average number of its pupils is about one hundred. "The objects of this institution' are to prepare young men for college, for teachers of common schools, for the counting-house, or any of the active pursuits of life." The following is copied from the ancient records in Poughkeepsie, and will serve to show one form of a legal instrument in olden times. T-, rt ) Thomas Sanders Esqrj Justice of the peace Dutchess Lounty } ss. r - i /-i .. * • j i for said County Assigned. To all Constables and other officers as well within thfe [L. S.] said County as Elsewhere within the Collony of New York to whom the Execution hereof doth or may Concern Greeting WHEREAS I have Received Information and Charge against one James Jones Lately Come from Lebanon In ye County of Windham In ye Collony of Conecticut and Liveing in Dutchess County at the house of one Ellexander Griggs Calls him self a Weaver a Lusty Well Sott Likely man full faced Brown Complextioned and wares a Black Wigg Irishman; by birth by the brogue on his Speach Who is Charged before me to be a Dangerous person and is suspected, to have Stolen a Silver Spoon or the bigest part' of a Silveir Spoon; as by a Warrant Produced ; and the Complaint of William Derddy of Lebanon in County afores^ Some time in the month of this Present November. Notwithstanding Seavvrall Endeavours for apprehei^sions of him he hath not as yett been apprehended but hath withdrawn himself and fled^Lately from Lebanon in ye County of Windham In ye Colloney of Conecticut and is Come to our County of Dutchess These are therefore in his majesties name to Command you and Every of You to make diligent Search withui your Severall Precincts and Districts for said James Jones and to make hue and Cry after him from Town to Town and from County to County and ithat as well by horsemen as footmen according to Law and if you shall find the said James Jones that then you do Carry him before sonlie one of his majesties Justice of the Peace Within the County or place Whare he shall be taken to be Dealth withall according to LaW Hereof fails not at your perrills— - Given Under my Hand In Dutchess County this Seventeenth Day of November In the fourth year of our Reaign And In the Year of our Lord God Everlasting An" 1730 To Franc Cooll High Constapel „, , flTrru o j In Dutchess County pursue After ^'^^ ^^^^ °^ 'f Thomas Sanders the Person In this Hue and Cry Justice of the Peace. ¦ Red Hook, taken from Rhinebeck in 1812; from Albany ,55, and from New York 96 miles. Pop. 2,833. Red Hook is, a small village, 25 miles N. from Poughkeepsie. Upper Red Hook, Banytown, and Tivoli, are post-offices. WESTERN VIEW OF POUGHKEEPSIE, N. Y. The above shows the appearance of Poughkeepsie, as seen from the elevated bank on the west side of the Hudson, a short distance below New Paltz landing. The Hotel at the Steamboat landing, is seen on the extreme right. DUTCHESS COUNTY. 141 Rhinebeck, organized in 178S, is centrally distant from Pough keepsie 17, from Albany 57, and from N. York 91 miles. Pop. 2,749. The surface of the township in the eastern part is rolling, in the western it is level. The Rhinebeck flats, near the centre, are noted for easy culture and fertility : the Wirtemburg tract, in the SE. part of the town, has a light soil, which has been rendered productive by the use of plaster. This town was settled at an early period, by some German families, and derives its name from the river Rhine in Germany, and Beekman, an original proprietor. Much of the land was formerly holden in large tracts, and leased out to tenants in small farms. The village of Rhinebeck Flats was incorporated in 1834, and is 3 miles^E. from the Hudson. It contains a Dutch Reformed and a Methodist church, an Academy, with upwards of 100 houses in the vicinity. Rhinebeck Landing, on the river, is 90 miles from New York and 55 from Albany. Methodist Church ajid Acade\ny, at Rhinebeck. The above is an eastern view of the Methodist church and the Academy in the central part of the village. The Methodist church, a plain but substantial stone structure. Is seen on the left, and the Academy on the right. The church was erected in 1822 ; the Rev. Freeborn Garrettson, a resident of this town, contributed largely to its erection. Mr. Garrettson was one of the pioneers of the Meth odist denomination in this part of the state, and on account of his labors to promote the cause of Christianity, and of his exemplary life, his memory is deservedly cherished with respect and affection. Mr. G. was bom in Maryland in 1752. His parents were members of the Church of England,-and educated their children in the same faith. About the beginning of the American revolution, some of the first Methodist preachers who came over to America labored in the vi cinity of his father's residence. He joined the Methodist society, and soon after became a travelling preacher. He was remarkably con scientious in the performance of whatever he considered his duty. Being convinced that slaveholding was wrong, he gave his slaves their freedom, telling them, that they did not belong to him, and he did not desire their services, without making them a compensation. Having 142 ERIE COUNTY. conscientious scruples which deterred him from taking the prescribed state oath, during the revolutionary period, he suffered some persecu tions on this account. In one instance, he was seized by a mob, who took him to a magistrate, by whom he was ordered to prison. While part of the mob were taking him thither, they were dispersed by a remarkable flash of lightning, and he was left unmolested. In 1788, Mr. Garrettson was appointed presiding elder for the district north of New York, then includuig all the circuits from New Rochelle to Lake Champlain. In 1793, he was married to Miss Livingston, daughter of Judge Livingston, of Clermont, in the manor of Livings ton. In 1799, a mansion-house was erected on the bank of the Hudson, in Rhinebeck, where his family were settled during the re mainder of his life. The following is a copy of the inscription on his monument, in the graveyard attached to the church represented in the engraving. " Sacred to the memory of the Rev. Freebokn Garrettson, an itinerant minister of the Methodist Episcopal church. He commenced his itinerant ministry in the year 1775. In this work he continued until his death, laboring with groat diligence and success in various parts of the United States and of Nova Scotia. He died in peace, in the city of New York, September 27th, 1827, in the 76i,h year of his age, and 52d of liis ministry. — ' Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace,' Psalm xxxvi. 37. — ' I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith : — Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge shaU give me at that day, and not to me only, but aU them also that love his appear. ing,' 11 Tim. iv. 7, 8." Stanford, taken from Wa^ington in 1788 ; from New York 110, and from Albany 78 miles. ?op. 2,278. Stanford, with Clinton ana Washington, comprised Charlotte precinct before the revolution. This precinct has been settled about 100 years. Bangall, 20 miles NE. from Poughkeepsie, Altlebury, Old Attlebury, Separate, Hull's Mills, Stewart's Corners, and Bare M^arket, are small settlements. Union Vale, taken from Beekman and La Grange in 1827; from New York 75, from Albany 90, and from Poughkeepsie, E., 15 miles. Pop. 1,499. Verbank and Clove are post-offices. Washington, organized in 1788 ; from Poughkeepsie, E., 16 miles. Pop. 2,833. The principal portion of the early settlers were Friends or Quakers, from Long Island and the eastern states. Mechanics ville, 15 miles E. of Poughkeepsie, and Hartsville, are small villages. At the former place is ttie Nine Partners Orthodox Friends school which was established in 1797, and is now flourishing. ERIE COUNTY. Erie county was taken from Niagara county in 1821. Greatest length N. and S. 44, and greatest breadth E. and W. 30 miles. Centrally distant from New York 357, from Albany, W., 298 miles. Lake Erie and the Niagara river form its western boundary, the ERIE COUNTY. 143 Tonawanta creek its northern, and the Cattaraugus its southern. The many streams which empty into Lake Erie furnish fine mill sites. The Erie canal enters the Tonawanta creek on the northern border ; from which a towing path has been constructed along the bank of the creek, which is used as a canal 12 miles to the Tonawanda vil lage, a short distance above its junction with Niagara river, near Grand Island. A railroad connects Buffalo with the village at Niag ara Falls, and one with the Black Rock ferry. The surface in the northern part of the county is level or gently undulating ; the southern is more diversified, but no part is hilly. Generally the soil is good ; consisting in the northern half, of warm, sandy, and gravelly loam, occasionally mixed with clay, and adapted to wheat ; in the southern, clay prevails, and is productive of grass. Both portions yield excel lent and various fruits. About one third of the land is under im provement. The whole county was within the Holland Land Com pany's purchase, excepting a strip a mile wide on the Niagara river. The county has 21 towns. Pop. 62,251. Alden, taken from Clarence in 1823; from Albany 272 miles. Pop. 1,984. Alden, 20 miles E. of Buffalo, is a small village. Amherst, taken from Buffalo in 1818; from Albany 283 miles. Pop, 2,440. Williamsville, 10 miles NE. from Buffalo, is a thriving village containing about 50 dwellings. Aurora was erected in 1818, when the former town of Willink was divided into 3 towns, Aurora, Wales, and Holland, abolishing the name of Willink, which had been given in honor of one of the principal proprietors of the Holland Land Company. It has an un dulating surface, soil clay and gravelly loam. Pop. 2,909, Aurora village is 15 miles SE. from Buffalo ; it contains about 700 inhabit ants, 1 Presbyterian and 1 Methodist church, and 150 dwellings. The Baptists are the most numerous denomination in the village, and occupy the Presbyterian church one half of the time. The hydraulic privileges within one fourth of a mile from the village are very great, and can be used to almost any extent. Griffin's Mills is a small set tlement 3 miles SW. from Aurora. The Aurora Seminary was incorporated in 1833. Boston, taken from Eden in 1817 ; from Albany 289, from Buffalo, SE., 18 miles. The land is elevated, the soil a moist or wet loam, and adapted for grass. Boston, Boston Centre, and North Boston, are small settlements. Pop. 1,746. Black Rock, recently organized, comprises what was formerly the southern part of the town of Buffalo. The village of Black Rock is in two divisions, the upper and lower. The post-office, which is in the south part, is 3 miles from Buffalo, opposite the village of Water loo on the Canada side. The following is a distant northern view of part of the village of Black Rock ; the Canada side, on which is the village of Waterloo, is seen on the right and Lake Erie in the extreme distance. A ferry boat plies between Waterloo and the south part of Black Rock village. Niagara river at this point is three fourths of a mile wide, 20 feet 144 ERIE COUNTY. Distant view of Black Rock and vicinity. deep, and runs with a current of 6 miles an hour. The harbor of Black Rock is 4,565 yards long from N. to S., and from 88 to 220 yards broad, containing an area of 136 acres. It begins in the lake opposite Buffalo, at Bird island, and is continued, by a mole of double wooden cribs filled in with stone 18 feet wide and 2,915 yards long, to Squaw island, and is raised from 1 to 4 feet above the surface of the river, rising gradually towards the north. A dam at the end of Squaw island, connecting it with the main land, raises the water about 4f feet to the level of the lake. The average depth of the water in this harbor is 15 feet. By means of the dam, great water-pcwer is obtained, and mills of various kinds are estabhshed at the lower village. The vil lage of Black Rock contains about 350 dwellings, and 2,000 inhabit ants. Black Rock, in common with other places on the Niagara fron tier, was ravaged and burnt by the enemy in December, 1813. On the 11th of July previous, the British made an attack on the place. The following particulars of this event are compiled from the Buffalo Gazette. " The British troops which crossed over at Black Rock on the 10th inst. were commanded by Cols. Bishop and Warren. "They crossed the Niagara below Squaw island, and marched far above the navy yard before any alarm was given. The detached militia being surprised, retreated up the beach, and left the enemy in quiet possession of the village, who proceeded to bum the sailors' barracks and block.houses at the great battery. They then proceeded to the batteries, dismounted and spiked three 12 pounders, and took away 3 field-pieces and one 12 pounder ; they took from a storehouse a quantity of whiskey, salt, flour, pork, &c., which, with four citizens, they took across the river. At the first moment of the alarm. Gen. Porter left Black Rock for Buffalo, at which place he assembled a body of volunteers and a few regulars, which, with 100 mUitia and 25 Indians, formed a junction about a mile from the enemy. After being formed, with the miUtia and Indians on the flanks and the volunteers and the regulars in the centre, they attacked, and the enemy, after a contest of 20 minutes, retreated in the utmost confusion to the beach, embarked in several of our boats, and puUed for the opposite shore ; aU the boats got off without injury, except the last, which suffered severely from our fire, and from appearance nearly all the men in her were kUled or wounded. The British lost 8 kiUed on the field, besides those kUled and wounded in the boats. We took 15 prisoners, who were sent to Batavia. Capt, Saunders, of the British 49th, was wounded whUe stepping into his boat ; he was conveyed to Gen. Portei^ house. He states that Col. Bishop was badly wounded and carried into the boat, and says also, that several killed and wounded were carried into the boats. On our side. Sergeant Hartman, Jonathan Thompson, and Joseph Wright were kUled, and 5 wounded, 2 of whoJit were Indians. The Indians behaved weU and committed no act of cruelty, "They fought ERIE COUNTY. 145 because they were fiiendly to the United States, and because their own possessions, which are very valuable, were in danger of invasion. They are opposed to crossing the river to fight, but are ready to meet the enemy at the threshold in defence of the country which protects them. Maj. King was at Black Rock overnight, and was present and assisted in the action. Two hundred regulars have arrived from Erie at Black Rock, where they are to be stationed." Fort Erie, about a mile S. from the ferry at Waterloo on the Can ada side, was a post of much importance during the last war. After the battle at Niagara, the Americans fell back to Fort Erie, of which they had previously taken possession. This fortress is situated on the margin of the lake, at its outlet into the Niagara river ; being nearly a horizontal plain 15 feet above the level of the water, it pos sesses no natural advantages. On the 13th of Aug., 1814, the British troops, having invested the fort, opened a brisk cannonade, which was returned from the American batteries. At sunset on the 14th, one of their shells lodged in a small magazine, which blew up without any injurious effects. The following account of the assault which took place a few hours afterward, is taken from " Perking History of the Late War." " Gen. Gaines, expecting an assault in the course of the night, kept his men constantly at their posts. 'The night was dark, and the early part of it rainy ; at 2 o'clock in the morning, the British columns, enveloped in darkness, were distinctiy heard approaching the American lines. The infantry under Maj. Wood, and Captain Towson's artUlery, opened a brisk fire upon them. The sheet of fire from this corps, enabled Gen. Gaines to discover this column of the British, 1,500 strong, approaching the American left. The infantry were protected by a line of loose brush representing an abattis bordering on the river. The British, in attempting to pass round this, plunged into the water breast high. The com manding general was about to order a detachment of riflemen to support Maj. Wood, but was assured by him that he could maintain his position without a reinforcement. The British columns were twice repulsed, and soon afterward fled in confusion. On the right, the Unes were lighted by a brilUant discharge of musketry and cannon, which announced the approach of the centre and left columns of the enemy. The latter met the veteran 9th regiment, and Burton's and Harding's companies of volunteei-s, aided by a 6 pounder, and were repulsed. The centre column, under Col. Drummond, approached at tlie same time the most assailable points of the fort, and with scaUng ladders ascended the parapet, but were driven back with great carnage. The assault was twice repeated, and as often check. ed ; this column, concealed by the darkness of the night and the clouds of smoke which rolled from the cannon and musketry, then passed round the ditch, repeated their charge, reascended their ladders, and with their pikes, bayonets, and spears, feU upon the artiUerists. Most of the officers, and many of the men, received deadly wounds. Lieut. McDonough being severely wounded, and in the power of the enemy, surrendered and demanded quar. ter ; Col. Drummond, refusing it, drew a pistol and shot him dead. In a moment after ward, as he was repeating the order to give no quarters, Col. Drummond was shot through the heart. The bastion was now in the possession of the British. The battie raged with increased fury on the right ; reinforcements were ordered and promptly furnished fi-orn Maj. Wood's corps on the left. Capt. Fanning kept up a spirited and destructive fire from his artillery on the enemy as they were approaching the fort. Majs. Hindman and Trimble, faihng to drive the British from the bastion, with the remaining artiUerists and infantry, and Capt. Birdsall's detachment of riflemen, rushed in through the gateway, to the assist. ance of the right wing, and made a resolute charge. A detachment, under Maj. Hall, was introduced over the interior of the bastion, for the purpose of charging the British, who stUl held possession, but the narrowness of the passage, admitting only 2 or 3 abreast, prevented its accomplishment, and they were obliged to retire. At this moment, every operation was arrested by the explosion of the principal magazine, containing a large quantity of cartridges and powder, in the end of a stone buUding adjoining the contested bastion. Whether this was the effect of accident or design, was not known. The explosion was tremendous, and its effects decisive. The British in possession of the bastion were destroyed in a moment. As soon as the tumult occasioned by that event had subsided, Capt. Biddle posted a field. piece, so as to enfilade the exterior plain, and the salient glacis, Fanning's battery at the 19 146 ERIE COUNTY. same time opened on the British who were now returning. In a few minutes they were all driven from the works, leaving 222 kiUed, 174 wounded on the field, and 186 prisoners. To these losses are to be added, those kUled on the left flank by Maj. Wood's infantry and Towson's artillery, and floated down the Niagara, estimated in the official reports at 200. The American loss during the bombardment of the 13th and 14th, was 9 killed, and 36 wounded, and in the assault of the night of tiie 14th, 17 kUled, 56 wounded, and 11 missing." The British troops still continuing their investment of Fort Erie, on the 17th of September a part of the American garrison made a sortie, and took the British works about 500 yards in front of their line. The British had two batteries on their left, which annoyed the fort, and were about opening a third. Their camp was about 2 miles distant, sheltered by a wood ; their works were garrisoned with one third of their infantry, from 1,200 to 1,500 men, and a detachment of artillery. "Early on the morning of the 17th, General Porter, with a large detachment, was order. ed to penetrate through the woods by a circuitous route, and get between the British main body and their batteries ; while General Miller was directed to take a position in the ravine, between the American lines and the batteries, and attack them in front. The advance of Gen. Porter's command consisted of two hundred riflemen, under Colonel Gibson. The right column, of 400 infantry, commanded by Col. Wood ; the left, under Gen. Davis, of , 500 militia, designed to act as a reserve, and to hold in check any reinforcements from the British main body. Gen. Porter's corps carried the blockhouse in the rear of the third battery by storm, the magazine was blown up, and the garrison made prisoners. The leaders of the 3 divisions under Gen. Porter, all feU nearly at the same time ; Col. Gib. son, at the head of the riflemen, at the second battery, and Gen. Davis and Col. Wood m an assault upon the first. While these transactions were taking place in the rear of the enemy's works, General Miller in front penetrated between the first and second batteries, and aided by the operations of Gen. Porter in the rear, succeeded in carrying them. With. in 30 minutes from the commencement of the action, 2 batteries, 2 blockhouses, and the whole Une of entrenchments were in possession of the Americans ; and immediately after ward, the other battery was abandoned by the British. Gen. Ripley was now ordered up with the reserve, and at the close of the action, was dangerously wounded in the nec£ Strong reinforcements from the British main body arrived while the Americans were en gaged in destroying the works, and took part in the action. The object of the sortie being fully accomplished, the American troops were ordered to return to the fort. During the action. Gen. Porter, in passing from the right to the left column of his detachment, accom panied with only 2 or 3 officers, suddenly found himself within a few yards of a body of 60 British soldiers, who had just emerged from a ravine, and were hesitating which way to go. The general immediately advanced, and ordered them to surrender ; approaching the first man on the left, he took his musket, and pushed him towards the American lines : in this way he proceeded nearly through the whole company, most of the men voluntarily throwing down their arms, and retiring towards the fort : when on a sudden, a soldier, whose musket the general was about to seize, presented the bayonet to his breast, and de. manded Ms surrender. Gen. Porter seized the musket, and was about wrenching it from him, when he was seized by a British officer, and 3 or 4 men who stood in the ranks, and thrown on the ground. He succeeded in gaining his feet, when he found himself sur rounded by 15 or 20 men, with their guns presented at him, demanding his surrender. By this time, several American officers with a number of men weie advancing to the scene of action. Gen. Porter, now assuming an air of composure and decision, told them they were now surrounded and prisoners, and if they fired a gun they should aU be put to the sword. By this time a company of Cayuga riflemen had arrived, and after a momentary scene of confiision and carnage, the whole British party were kiUed, or made prisoners." The American loss was 79 killed, 432 wounded and missing. The British loss, as estimated by the American commander, was 500 in killed and wounded : 385 prisoners were taken, and their advance works were destroyed. On the night of the 21st, Gen. Drummond, after an investment of 56 days, broke up his camp, and retired to his intrenohments behind Chippewa river. ERIE COUNTY. 147 Immediately after the unfortunate termination of the battle of Queenstown, Gen. Van Rensselaer resigned the command to Gen, Smyth, and retired from the service. Upon taking the command. Gen. Smyth issued two proclamations to the citizens of New York, one of which was an appeal to their patriotism, and calling upon them to join him in an expedition to conquer Canada and secure peace to the American frontier. This call was answered, and a highly re spectable force assembled for the expedition. The result of this en terprise is thus given in Perkins' History of the Late War. " On the 27th of November, 1812, the miUtary force collected at Black Rock, under Gen. Smyth, prepared for the invasion of Canada, amounted to 4,500 effective men, consisting of New York voluateers under Gen. Porter, and regulars and volunteers from Pennsylvania and Baltimore : 85 boats were prepared for crossing the river, capable of transporting at once the necessary artiUery and 3,500 men. On the night of the 27th, two parties were sent over, one under Colonel Boerlster, and the other under Capt. King, assisted by a com. pany of marines, under Lii^ut. Angus, to destroy the British batteries. They effectuaUy ac complished this object, routed the enemy, spiked their guns, and drove them fi-om the shore. Capt. King, in attempting to return, was captured, with two boats belonging to his party. Colonel Winder, with a party of 250 men, in attempting to land at a difficult point on the river, was prevented by the rapidity of the current, and obliged to return to the American side. The general embarkation commenced in the morning of the 28th, but was not completed until afternoon. They then moved up the stream from the navy yard to Black Rock, and were ordered by Gen. Smyth to disembark and dine. After dinner, the expedition was postponed to a future day. This attempt gave the enemy full notice of the plans of the American general. The two following days were employed in preparations for a second attempt. At 3 o'clock in the morning of the 1st of December, the embarka tion commenced a second time ; the regulars on the right. Gen. TanehiUs's brigade in the centre, and the New York volunteers on the left. Gen. Porter, accompanied by Majs. Chapin and Macomb, Capt. Mills of the cavalry, and Adj. Chace, with two pilots, took his station in the front boat, hoisted his flag, and advanced to the head of the line to lead the expedition. " The troops, in fine spirits and in eager expectation, awaited their orders from Gen. Smyth, when, after considerable delay, they were given, not to proceed to the Canada shore, but to disembark and go into winter quarters. Nothing could exceed the chagrin and disappointment of the troops upon this occasion ; disorder and insubordination ensued ; Gen. Smyth's life was threatened, and in imminent danger ; the militia disbanded and sent home ; and Gen. Smyth, finding the Canadas were not to be taken by proclamation, and being disincUned to make use of more powerful means, retired from the service." Buffalo city is situated at the outlet of Lake Erie, at the head of Niagara river, at the mouth of the Buffalo creek, and at the western extremity of the Erie canal ; Lat. 42° 53' N., long. 2° west from Washington. Distant from Albany by the great western road 298 miles ; by the Erie canal, 364 ; from New York, by Albany and Utica, 445 ; by Morristown, N. J., Owego, and Ithaca, 357 ; from Rochester, 73 ; from Niagara Falls, 22 ; from Erie, Penn., 90 ; from Cleveland, Ohio, 103 ; from Detroit, Mich., 290 ; from Toronto, U. C, 72 ; from Montreal, L. C, 427 ; and from Washington City, 376 miles. Buffalo is the port of entry for the Niagara district, including Silver Creek, Dunkirk, and Portland, and all above the falls. It is an entrepot for the great and growing trade between New York and a large portion of Upper Canada and the great west. Buffalo was originally laid out in 1801, by the Holland Land Compar ny, on a bluff or terrace rising 50 feet al)ove the water, and partly on the low and marshy gj-ouhd extending from the terrace to the creek and lake. This marsh has been drained, and a large portion of the 148 ERIE COUNTY. business part of the city lies upon it. The Erie canal from Tone- wanda village is continued along the margin of Niagara river and the shore of the lake to the city. A mole or pier of wood and stone, 1,500 feet long, extends from tihe south side of the mouth of the creek, forming a partial breakwater to protect the shipping from the gales which are felt here. For the better accommodation of trade, a ship canal, 80 feet wide and 13 deep, was completed in 1833, across the harbor near the mouth of the creek, a distance of 700 yards. A light house built of limestone stands on the end of the pier, 46 feet in height. From the time of the foundation of this place to 1812, it increased slowly. In that year it became a military post, and in December, 1813, every building in it was burnt save two, by the British and In dians. Many of the inhabitants were taken prisoners to Montreal. The place was soon rebuilt, and by 1817, it contained 100 houses, some of which were large and elegant. It was incorporated as a village in 1822, and,. in 1823, had the courthouse and jail, and upwards of 300 buildings. It had then felt in advance the infliience of the Erie canal, and much improvement was made in anticipation of the completion of that great work. In 1829, it had 400 houses and more than 2,000 inhabitants. It was incorporated as a city in 1832, and contains at this time about 2,000 houses, and 18,041 inhabitants. There are 13 churches, viz : 1 Presbyterian, 1 Episcopal, 1 Free Congregational, 1 German Lutheran, 1 Unitarian, 1 Methodist Epis copal, 1 Methodist Reformed, 1 Baptist, 1 Universalist, 2 Catholic, 1 German Evangelical, and 1 Bethel, a literary and scientific academy, incorporated in 1827, 3 banks, 5 weekly and 2 daily newspapers, and many hotels and taverns required for the great concourse of strangers here. The buildings, public and private, are generally good, many of them four stories high, among which are fine specimens of architecture. An enterprising citizen, Mr. Rathbun, during the year 1835, erected 99 buildings, at an aggregate cost of about #500,000 ; of these, 52 were stores of the first, class, 32 dwellings, a theatre, (fecf." The followiing is a western view of the Seneca Mission church, on the Indian reservation, four miles from the main street in Buffalo. The church is somewhat on the congregational plan. This building was erected in 1829, almost wholly at the expense of the Indians. The Rev. Asher Wright is their minister, and resides a short distance frohi the church. In order to render himself more useful to them, he has acquired their language, as they are but partially acquainted with the English. They seem to be much attached to him. The Indian burying ground is about 25 rods north of the church. This spot is the site of an Indian fort, on which some vestiges of the wall are still remaining. The Senecas have a tradition that there was a great battle fought here against a hostile tribe ; that the bodies of the slain were collected, and burnt-sacrifices were offered, &c. This is' strongly corroborated by the fact of human bones, those of animals, and corn in a burnt state, having been dug up on this spot. Four or five graves NORTH WEST VIEW OF BUFFALO, N. Y. The above view was taken on a gentle elevation, a short distance westwardly of the city. A small portion of Lake Erie is seen on (he extreme right. EEIE COUNTY. 149 Seneca Mission House, Buffalo Reservation. only have monuments. The following inscriptions were copied from two of them. Red Jacket's monument was erected by some persons connected with the theatre in Buffalo : " Sagoyewatua, Keeper Awake, Sed Jacket ; chief of the Wolf Tribe of the Senecas, the friend and protector of his people. Died Jan. 20, 1832, aged 78 years. Erected by — ." " In memory of ' The White Woman,' Mary Jemison, daughter of Thomas Jemison and Jane Irwin, born on the ocean between Ireland and PhUadelphia in 1742, or '43, ta ken captive at Marsh Creek, Penn., in 1755, carried down the Ohio, adopted into an In dian family in 1759, removed to Genesee river, was naturaUzed in 1817, removed to this place in 1831, and ha-ving survived two husbands and five children, leaving three still aUve, she died Sept. 19th, 1833, aged about 91 years, having a few weeks before expressed a hope of pardon through Jesus Christ. The council of the Lord shaU stand." There are about nine hundred Indians on the Buffalo creek reser vation ; of this number about six hundred and seventy-five are Sen ecas, the rest Onondagas, Oneidas, Tusdaroras, a few Mohawks, and four or five Stockbridge Indians. They have eight peace and two war chiefs, who have a seat in the council of the confederated Six Nations. There are about ninety chiefs in the Seneca nation, per sons authorized to sign treaties, &c. These chiefs preside over about 2,400 Indians, who hve on^the Buffalo creek, Tonewanda, Allegany, and Cattaraugus reservations. Many attempts have been made, by treaty and otherwise, to get possession of the Indian lands in the vicinity of Buffalo. It is believed that the full extent of the bribery, fraud, and villany which has been practised upon the Indians, in order to make them sign treaties for their lands, will never be fully known. At present, only about one fourteenth part of the Indians are willing to remove. Whether the recent attempts of the land speculators to get the Indian territory into their possession will prove successful, remains to be seen. The following is an eastern view of the house of William Jones, and the cabin of Red Jacket, both situated about 80 rods from the Mis sion church. The house of Jones, which is seen on the right, is a fair specimen of the better sort of Indian houses. It is said that Jones was offered ten thousand dollars bv the land speculators, if he 150 EEIE COUNTY. House of Red Jacket, on the Buffalo Reservation. would sign his name to the treaty, conveying away the Indian lands. Although as anxious and diligent as most white men in the pursuit of wealth, yet considering it would be injurious to his Indian brethren, he refused the bribe. The cabin seen on the left, is constructed of hewed logs, and was the residence of the celebrated chief Red Jacket, during the latter period of his life. It stands back a few rods from the road, and is quite humble in its appearance. The following biographical sketch of Red Jacket is taken princi pally from the 14th vol. of the New York Mirror, and partly from persons on the reservation, who were acquainted with the subject of it. Red Jacket was bom in 1756. His birthplace is supposed to have been at a place for merly caUed " Old Caste," about 3 miles west of Geneva, in the present limits of the town of Seneca. His Indian name was Sa-go-yov^wat-ha, a word signifying one who keeps awake by magical influence. During the revolution, the Senecas fought under the British standard. Although quite young, his activity and intelligence attracted the attention of the British officers. By them he was presented with a richly embroidered scarlet jacket. This he wore on all occasions, and from this circumstance arose the name by which he is known among the whites. During the revolution he took little or no part as a warrior, but his personal activity and transcendent talents won the esteem of his tribe. A gentleman who knew him intimately for more than 30 years in peace and in war, speaks of him in the fol. lowing terms. " Red Jacket was a perfect Indian in every respect, in costume, in his contempt of the dress of the white men, in his hatred and opposition to the missionaries, and in his attachment to, and veneration for the ancient customs and traditions of his tribe. He had a contempt for the English language, and disdained to use any other than his own. He was the finest specimen of the Indian character that I ever knew, and sustained it wit^ more dignity than any other chief. He was second to none in authority in his tribe. As an orator he was unequalled by any Indian I ever saw. His language was beautiful and figurative, as the Indian language always is, and delivered with ihe greatest ease and flueiicy. His gesticulation was easy, graceful, and natural. His voice was distinct ai)4 clear, and he always spoke with great animation. His memory was very strong. I have acted as interpreter to most of his speeches, to which no translation could do adequate jus- tice." The foUowing interesting anecdotes are Ulustrative of his peculiar points of character, as well as of his ready eloquence. At a council held with the Senecas, a dispute arose between Gov. Tompkins and Red Jacket, connected with a treaty of some years standing. The governor stated one thing, and the Indian chief insisted that the reverse was true. But, it was rejoined, " you have forgotten — we have it written dfiwn on paper." "The paper; then teUs a lie," was the confident answer ; " I have it written here," continued the chief, placing his hand with great dignity upon his brow. " You Yankees are born with a feather be tween your fingers; but your paper does not speak tiie truth. The Indian keeps his ERIE COUNTY. 151 knowledge here — this is the book the Great Spirit gave us — ^it does not Ue !" A reference was immediately made to the treaty in question, when, to the astonishment of all present, and to the triumph of the tawny statesman, the document confirmed every word that he had uttered. It happened during the revolution that a treaty was held with the Indians at which La. fayette was present, the object of which was to unite the various tribes in amity with America. The majority of the chiefs were friendly, but there was much opposition made to it, especiaUy by a young warrior, who declared that when an aUiance was entered into with America, he should consider that the sun of his country had set forever. In his travels through the Indian country, when last in America, it happened at a large assemblage of chiefs, that Lafayette referred to the treaty in question, and turning to Red Jacket, said, " Pray tell nie, if you can, what has become of that daring youth who so decidedly opposed aU propositions for peace and amity ?" " I myself am the man," replied Red Jacket ; " the decided enemy of the Americans, so long as the hope of successfully opposing them remained, but now their true and faithful aUy until death." During the late war. Red Jacket with his tribe enUsted on the American side. He fought through the whole war, and displayed the mostimdaunted intrepidity; while in no instance did he exhibit the ferocity of the savage, or disgrace himself by any act of inhumanity. Red Jacket was the foe of the white man. His nation was his god ; her honor, preser vation, and liberty, his religion. He hated the missionary of the cross, because he feared some secret design upon the lands, the peace, or the independence of the Senecas. He never understood Christianity. Its subUme disinterestedness exceeded his conceptions. He was a keen observer of human nature; and saw that among white and red men, sordid interest was equajly the spring of action. He therefore naturally enough suspected every stranger who came to his tribe, of some design on their litde and dearly prized domains. His tribe was divided into two factions, one of which, from being in favor of the missionaries, was caUed the Christian, and the other, from their opposition, the pagan party. His wife, who would attend the religious meetings of the Christian party, received mucli persecution from him on this account. During his last sickness there seemed to be quite a change in regard to hie feelings respecting Christianity. He repeatedly remarked to his wife, that he was sorry that he had persecuted her, — that she was right and he wrong, and as his dying advice, told her, " Persevere in your religion, it is the right way .'" A few days before His decease, he sent for Mr. Harris, the missionary ; but he was at. tending an ecclesiastical council, and did not receive the message until after the death of the chief. In his last wandering moments it is said that he directed that a vial of cold water should be placed in his coffin, so that he might have something with which to fight the evil spirit. A considerable number of people from Buffalo attended his funeral, some of whom wished him buried in the ancient or pagan style. He was, however, interred in the Christian manner, in accordance with the wishes of his relatives. He left two wives, but none of his children survived him. Two of his sons are supposed to have died Christians. Rev. Jabez B. Hyde, a teacher to the Senecas before the war of 1812, states that one of the sons of Red Jacket was the first convert to Christianity from this tribe. For some months previous to his death, time had made such ravages on his constitution as to render him fully sensible of his approaching dissolution. To that event he often ad verted, and always in the language of philosophic calmness. He visited successively all his most, intimate friends at their cabins, and conversed with them upon the condition of the nation in the most affecting and impressive manner. He told them that he was passing away, and his counsels would soon be heard no more. He ran over the history of his peo ple from the most remote period to which his knowledge extended, and pointed out, as few could, the wrongs, the privations, and the loss of character, which almost of themselves constituted that history. " I am about to leave you," said he, " and when I am gone, and my warning shall no longer be heard or regarded, the craft and the avarice of the white man wiU prevail. Many winters have I breasted the storm, but I am an aged tree, and can stand no longer. My leaves are fallen, my branches are withered, and I am shaken by every breeze. Soon my aged trunk will be prostrate, and the foot of the exulting foe of the Indian may be placed upon it in safety ; for I leave none who wiU be enabled to avenge such an indignity. Think not I mourn for myself. I go to join the spirits of my fathers, where age cannot come ; but my heart fails when I think of my people, who are soon to be scattered and forgotten." At the time of the burning of Buffalo in the last war, most of the regular American troops were removed from the Niagara frontier. Gov. Tompkins, on being informed of this, ordered out the militia for 152 ERIE COUNTY. its defence.. On the 25th December, 1813, Gen. Hall had assembled at Black Rock and Buffalo 2,000 men. On the night of the 29th, the enemy were discovered approaching the American shore in great force. The militia were ordered to oppose their landing, but the main body fled on the approach of the enemy. Col. Blakesley's regi ment, with other detached corps, amounting in the whole to about 600 men, formed in a line, and pbured a destructive fire on the enemy as they approached the shore. They were, however, overpowered by numbers, and forced to retire. Gen. Hall retired with the remains of the dispersed militia to Eleven Mile creek, where he was able to collect only about 300 men to cover the flying inhabitants. The frontier presented one scene of universal desolation. " The misera ble inhabitants who escaped the Indian tomahawk, fled into the in terior, without shelter or means of support, in the depth of winter, and subsisted on the charity of their friends." The following, relative to these events, is extracted from an official letter to Gov, Tompkins : " On my arrival at Batavia, I found that the inhabitants of that place, and the country west, as far as Buffalo on the main road, had, on receiving information of the landing of the enemy, fled and left their homes, but were generally returning. 1 proceeded to Buffalo, and found that flourishing vUlage totally destroyed. The only buildings remaining in it are a jail, which is built of stone, a smaU frame house, and an armorer's shop. AU the houses east of Buffalo on the Batavia road, for two miles, excepting log-houses, are also destroyed, and almost every building between Buffalo and Niagara along the river, had, I was informed, shared the same fate. The enemy had with him at Black Rock and Buffalo, a number of Indians, (the general opinion in that country is about two hundred,) who pursued their ac customed mode of horrid warfare, by tomahawking, scalping, and otherwise mutilating the persons who feU into their hands. Among the victims of their savage barbarity, was a Mrs. Lovejoy, of Buffalo, who was tomahawked and afterward burnt in her own house. The conduct of these savages has struck the minds of the people on the Niagara frontier with such horror, as to make it absolutely necessary that a more efficient force than the ordinary militia of the country should be employed for its protection, to prevent its becoming en- tirely depopulated. There was, when I left Batavia, between five and six hundred miUtia at WilliamsviUe and in its vicinity, under the command of Gen. Hopkins, and about the same number on the ridge road near the arsenal, under the command of Col. Hopkins. It was the intention of Gen. Hall, who was at Batavia, to make up the number at each of these stations to 1,000 men. There was also at Batavia about 100 regulars, under the command of Major Riddle, who had received orders to march to WUIiamsviUe." Brant, recently formed from Collins, is situated in the southwestern corner of the county, bounded partly on the S. by Cattaraugus creek ; centrally distant from Buffalo 26 miles. Pop. 1,068. Cheektowaga, recently erected from the southern portion of Am herst ; from Buffalo, W., 7 miles. The line of the Buffalo and Bata via railroad passes centrally through the town. Pop. 1,137. Clarence, organized in 1808 ; bounds since altered ; from Albany 265 miles. Clarence, 18 miles NE. from Buffalo, has about 50 dwelhngs. Pop. 2,271. Colden, taken from Holland in 1827; from Albany 287, from Buffalo. SE., 21 miles. Pop. 1,085. Collins, taken from Concord in 1821 ; from Buffalo, S., 30 miles. Lodi village is partly in this town and partly in Cattaraugus co. (See Persia, Cattaraugus co.) A targe portion of this town was set tled by Friends. Pop. 4,227. Colhns Centre and Carr's Corners are small villages. ERIE COUNTY. 153 Concord, taken from Willink in 1812 ; from Albany 282 miles. Springville village, incorporated in 1834, 28 miles SE.from Buffalo, has 1 Baptist, 1 Methodist, and 1 Presbyterian church, a flourishing Academy, 110 dwellings, 7 mercantile stores, a large flouring mill, erected at the expense of $20,000, two woollen factories, &c., and about 700 inhabitants. Concord Centre and Waterville Corners are small villages. Pop. 3,004. Eden, organized in 1812; centrally distant from Buffalo, S., 16 miles. Eden and Eden Valley are small villages. Many German and Swiss emigrants have settled in this town. Pop. 2,172. Evans, taken from Eden in 1821 ; from Albany 293, from Buffalo, SW., 19 miles. Jerusalem Corners and Evans are small villages. Pop. 1,822. Hamburg, taken from Willink in 1812 ; from Buffalo centrally dis tant, SE., 10 miles. Hamburg, E. Hamburg, Water Valley, Whites Corners, and Hamburg on the lake, are small settlements. Pop. 3,734. Holland, taken from Aurora in 1818 ; bounds since altered ; from Buffalo, SE., 24 miles. Holland is a small village. Pop. 1,242. Lancaster, taken from Clarence in 1833 ; from Albany 280 miles. Lancaster, 10 miles E. of Buffalo, is a small village. Town Line, on the Lancaster and Alden line, is a post-office. Pop. 2,083. Newstead, originally organized by the name of Erie, as part of Genesee county, and taken from Batavia in 1804 ; from Albany 260 miles. Akron, 24 miles NE. from Buffalo, and Fisher's Falls, are small villages. Newstead is a post-office. Pop. 2,653. Sardinia, taken from Concord in 1821 ; from Albany 273 miles. Sardinia on the Cattaraugus creek, 34 miles SE. from Buffalo, has about 50 dwelhngs. Pop. 1,741. Tonewanda was recently taken from Buffalo. It comprises Grand Island, in the St. Lawrence, and a small tract of the adjoining main land. Pop. 1,250. Tonewanda village lies at the mouth and on both sides of Tonewanda creek, the portion lying on the north side of the creek being in Wheatfield, Niagara co. It is 16 miles SW. from Lockport, 11 N. from Buffalo, on the lines of the Buffalo and Niagara railroad and the Erie canal, which latter here runs in the Tonewanda creek. Grand Island, called by the Indians Owanungah, in the Niagara river, commences about 5 miles below the termina tion of Lake Erie, runs down 8 miles, and ends within 3 of Nia gara Falls. Its breadth varies from 3 to 6 miles. Originally this with the small islands of Strawberry, Snake, Squaw, and Bird, be longed to the Senecas, and were purchased of them by the state for $1,000, and an annuity of $500. " The state, in 1833, sold Grand Island to the East Boston Co., who have erected upon it, ou the site of the proposed Jewish city of Ararat, opposite to the mouth of the Tonewanda creek, the village of White Haven, (named after Mr. Stephen White, who resides upon Tonewanda island nearly opposite,) where they have a steam grist-mill and saw-mill 150 feet square, with room for 15 gangs of saws, said to be the largest in the world, several dwellings, a building used for a school and church, a commodious 20 154 ESSEX COUNTY. wharf, several hundred feet long, and a spacious dock of piles for storing and securing floating timber. The principal object of the company is to prepare timber for vessels on the lakes and the ocean, fitting the frames to the models given ; in which they avail them selves, not only of their special resources on the island, but of all which the vast region around the upper lakes affords." The oper- tions of this company are at present suspended. " In 1816 and '17, a number of persons from the United States and Canada went on this island. They marked out the boundaries of their different possessions ; elected magistrates and other officers from among themselves ; and gave out that they were amenable to neither government, but an independent community. After the question of boundary was settied, the state of New York passed a law to drive them off; but that was not effected tiU the severe measure was resorted to of destroying their honses, which was done by the sheriff and posse of Erie county. ' Grand Island was selected by Major Noah, (now of the city of New York,) on which to build a city, and establish a colony of Jews, with the view of making it the Ararat, or resting-place of that dispersed people. There it was anticipated that their government would be organized, and thence the laws would emanate which again were to bring together the children of Israel, and re-establish them as a nation upon the earth. The European Rabbi did not sanction the scheme, and it vanished as a day dream of the learned and worthy projector." — Steele's Book of Niagara Falls. The monument erected by Major Noah is now standing. It is about 14 feet in height. The lower part is built of brick, — the upper or pyramidal portion is of wood, and the whole painted white. The following is inscribed upon the tablet, which faces the east. ARARAT, A CITT OF EEFtrSE POK THE JEWS, Pounded by MoRnECAi M. Noah, in the Month Tizw, 5586, September, 1825, and in the 50th year of American Independence. Wales, taken from Willink in 1818 ; from Buffalo, SE., 20 miles. Wales, S. Wales, and Wales Centre, are villages. Pop. 2,441. ESSEX COUNTY. Essex county, formed from Clinton in 1799, was originaHy settled from New England. Its greatest length N. and S. 43, greatest breadth E. and W. 41 miles ; centrally distant from New York 271, » Trans.-—" Hear, 0 Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord." — Deut, vi. 4. ESSEX COUNTY. 155 and from Albany 126 miles. Pop. 23,620. The county is divided into 15 towns. "The surface of this county is decidedly mountain ous, in which respect it bears a striking contrast to the St. Lawrence. In addition to this, it may be remarked, that the hills, as well as the mountains, are steep and abrupt, and almost uniformly present, on one side, a precipice nearly perpendicular. In this county there are no long and gradual slopes, or gentle risings towards the moun tain summit, but they are always bold and difficult of ascent. A sur face of country thus characterized, combined also with great height, both of the general surface and especially of numerous peaks, alters to a very great extent its agricultural character. By this combina tion, the mean temperature of the county is reduced so low, that the cultivation of some of the most useful vegetables is prevented, or they are crops so uncertain, on account of late springs and early autumnal frosts, that little inducement is held out for trying them even as matters of experiment. There are, however, some bright and favored places where most of the essential vegetable productions are raised, and even grow luxuriantly, as along the shores of Lake Champlain and the valleys of the upper Hudson." But the agricultural poverty of this county is amply compensated by her immense mineral resources. " Many years must elapse before a correct estimate can be formed in regard to their real extent and value. To say that there are here numerous beds of magnetic iron ore, would scarcely convey a true idea of the enormous deposits of that mineral which are found in various parts of the county. The ore is everywhere of sufficient purity for the manufacturer, and if only a small portion of it can be wrought, Essex must become one of the most thriving counties in the state." — State Geol. Rep. Chesterfield, taken from Willsborough in 1802. Pop. 2,697. Port Kent, a small village 25 miles from Elizabethtown, upon the lake, is the stopping place for the steamboats. Port Douglass, also upon the lake, is the shipping place for the Clintonville iron works. Port Randall is a village in the SE. part. Keeseville is a flourishing manufacturing village on the Au Sable river, which forms here the boundary line between the counties of Clinton and Essex. It is 21 miles from Elizabethtown, and 16 from Plattsburg. There are 1 Presbyterian, 1 Baptist, and 1 Catholic church, an Academy, 10 mer cantile stores, 225 dwellings, the Essex County Bank, and 1,800 inhabit ants. This place is now the centre of business for the great iron and lumber district of the Au Sable valley. A railroad 4^ miles in length connects it with Port Kent. Keeseville was originally named " Anderson's Falls," from a Mr. John W. Anderson, who settled here about the year 1813. At this timelke was almost the only inhabitant in the place. In 1819, a post-ofl5ce was established, and the present name was given to the village in honor of Mr. Richard Keese, a partner of Anderson's. The first clergyman was the Rev. Elijah Crane, a pious and devoted minister of the Methodist persuasion, who located himself here in 1825, and was very efficient in reforming the morals of the place. Near here is the High Bridge of Keeseville, on 156 ESSEX COUNTY. the Au Sable river, which is one of the greatest natural curiosities in the state. Crown Point, organized in 1780 ; from Albany 100 miles ; cen trally distant SE. from Elizabeth 20 miles. Pop. 2,212. Crown Point, whence the name of the town and ancient fort are derived, is sit uated at the NE. extremity, and is formed by an extensive deep bay on the west, skirted by a steep mountain, and on the north and east by the body of the lake. Fort Frederick, at this place, was built by the French in 1731. This fortress was a star work, being in the form of a pentagon, with bastions at the angles, and surrounded by a ditch walled in with stone. This post secured the command of Lake Champlain, and guarded the passage into Canada. It was through this lake, by the route of Crown Point, that the parties of French and Indians made their bloody incursions upon the frontiers of New Eng land and New York. This fort was subsequently blown up ; and its site is now 'marked by a heap of ruins. This place being abandoned by the French, in 1759, to Gen. Amherst, fort Crown Point was after ward erected, about a quarter of a mile from the shore, and has at a distance something the appearance of Ticonderoga. The walls were of wood and earth, 16 feet high, 22 thick, enclosing an area of 1,500 yards square, surrounded by a deep broad ditch cut into granite. There were here a double row of stone barracks, and on the north, a gate with a drawbridge and covered way leading to the lake. These works and those adjoining, which were extensive, are now mostly heaps of rubbish. Crown Point fell into the hands of the Americans at the time of the capture of Ticonderoga, in May, 1775, but was evacuated the next year. The disastrous expedition against Canada was terminated near this- place, by the destruction of the lake fleet under the command of Gen. Arnold, Oct. 13th, 1776. Arnold, on his retreat from Canada, on board his fleet, was pursued by the enemy so closely, that he Was obliged to run his vessel on shore and blow up five gondolas. The British soon established themselves, with their army and fleet, at Crown Point, and strengthened the fortifications ; but ere long they abandoned the station and retired to Canada. Elizabethtown, settled in 1785, and organized in 1798 ; from Al bany 126, from Lake Champlain, W., 8 miles. Pop. 1,061. Eliza beth, the county seat, is a small village of 30 or 40 dwellings. About a mile SW. of the village is a detached mountain called the Giant of the valley, the summit of which is elevated 1,200 feet above the plain, and commands a very extensive prospect to the eastward. It embraces a view of the whole valley of Lake Champlain, compris ing Plattsburg, Burlington, Vergennes, Middlebury, and many other villages. W Essex, taken from Willsborough in 1805 ; from Albany 133 miles. Pop. 1,681. Essex village, handsomely situated upon Lake Cham plain, has about 40 or 50 dwellings. About 12 miles NE. of Eliza beth is the noted Split Rock. This curiosity is part of a rocky pro montory projecting into the lake about 150 feet, and elevated 40 above the water. The part broken off contains half an acre covered ESSEX COUNTY. 157 with trees, and is separated about 20 feet from the main rock. The opposing sides fit the prominences of the one, corresponding with the cavities of the other. Through this fissure a line has been let 'down to the depth of 500 feet without reaching the bottom. There is a third post-office called Wessex. Jay, settled in 1790, by emigrants from New England. "The Forks," Upper Village, and Jay ville, are manufacturing villages ; the latter is 20 miles NW. of Elizabeth, the county seat. There is a large quantity of iron annually manufactured in this town. Pop. 2,260. Keene, taken from Elizabeth and Jay in 1808 ; from Albany 138, from Elizabeth, W., 12 miles. The settlements at the "Flats" were commenced in 1797. and those at the "Great Plains," in 1804. Pop. 730. Adirondack Mountains. The Adirondack mountains, which are partially in this town, were comparatively but little known until explored by the state geologists. They named them from the Adirondack Indians, who formerly dwelt in this region. The group, as a whole, is more lofty than the White Hills of New Hampshire, though the main summit. Mount Washing ton, exceeds the highest by 767 feet. Mount Marcy (named in honor of ex-governor Marcy) is the most lofty, being 5,337 feet, or 67 feet over a mile in height. Large banks of snow have been observed on this peak as late as the middle of July ; and there is reason to be lieve that ice is formed there every night in summer. Lewis, settled about 1800, and taken from. Willsborough in 1805. This township has its surface much broken by high mountains. Iron ore is abundant. Lewis, 5 miles N. from Elizabeth, is the post vil lage. Pop. 1,500. Minerva, taken from Schroon in 1804. Minerva Four Comers, in the SE., 92 miles NE. from Albany, 40 SW. from Ehzabethtown, is the post village. Pop. 455. 2 53 ESSEX COUNTY. Moriah, on Lake Champlain, taken from Crown Point and Eliza bethtown in 1808; from Albany 114, from Elizabethtown centrally distant S. 10 miles. Iron ore of excellent quahty abounds here. Pop. 2,595. This place was first settled about 1785, by William Mackenzie, Esq. Moriah, West Moriah, Port Henry, and Millbrook, are post villages. Pondsville is a post-office. Newcomb, taken from Minerva and Moriah in 1828 ; N. from Al bany 120, centrallv distant SW. from Elizabethtown 30 miles. Pop. 74. The Adirondack mountains are partially in this town. Mount Marcy, the highest, being on the dividing line between this and Keene. Newcomb is a small settlement, centrally situated. Schroon, taken from Crown Point in 1804. Schroon, 30 miles S. from Elizabeth, Paradox, and Hoffman, are small post vdlages. Pop. 1,660. Ruins of Fort Ticonderoga. I Ticonderoga,* taken from Crown Point in 1804 ; from Albany 196, S. from Elizabeth 30 miles. Alexandria and Ticonderoga are thriv ing villages ; the former at the upper fall, near Lake George, and the latter on the lower falls, near Lake Champlain, about one mile apart. Pop. 2,168. The above is a representation of the ruins of Fort Ticonderoga, the fortress so celebrated in colonial and revolutionary history. These ruins are situated on a peninsula of about 500 acres, elevated upwards of 100 feet above Lake Champlain, at the mouth of Lake George's outlet. This fortress was originally erected by the French in 1756, and was called by them Carillon, and was a place of much strength by nature and art, surrounded on three sides by water, and having half the fourth covered by a swamp, and the only approach able point defended by a breastwork. It was, however, commanded by Mount Defiance on the south side of the creek or outlet, which, " * Ticonderoga is a corruption fi-om the Indian word Che.onderoga, signifying noisy, probably in aUusion to the falls on the outiet of Lake George. ESSEX COUNTY. 159 towers 750 feet above the lake. It was on the summit of this moun tain that Gen. Burgoyne's troops showed themselves on the morning of July 4th, 1777, with a battery of heavy cannon, which they had drawn up along the ridge during the night. The distance from the summit to the fort, in a straight Une, is about a mile. The position was so commanding that they could count all the men in the fort, and fully justified Gen. St. Clair in ordering an immediate retreat of the garrison. Mount Independence, connected in history with Ticonde roga, lies in Vermont, one mile from the fort on the east side of the lake. There are here also remains of military works. The following account of the defeat of Gen. Abercrombie before Ticonderoga, July 8, 1758, is from the 3d volume of Macauley's His tory of New York : " The expedition against Ticonderoga and Crown Point was conducted by Abercrombie in person. In the beginning of July lie embarked his forces, amounting to nearly seven thousand regulars and ten thousand provincials, on Lake George, on board of nine hundred batteaux, and one hundred and thirty-five whale boats, with provisions, artillery, and ammu. nition. Several pieces of cannon were mounted on rafts, to cover the proposed landing at the outiet of the lake. Early the next morning he reached the landing place, which was in a cove on the west side of the lake near its issue, leading to the advanced guard of the enemy, composed of one bat'alion, in a logged camp. He immediately debarked his forces, and after having formed them into three columns, marched to the enemy's advanced post, which was abandoned with precipitation. He continued his march with the army to wards Ticonderoga, with the intention of investing it ; but the route lying through a thick wood that did not admit of any regular progression, and the guides proving extremely ig norant, the troops were bewildered, and the columns broken by faUing in one on another. Lord Howe being advanced at the head of the right centre column, encountered a French detachment, that had likewise lost its way in tlie retreat from the advanced post, and a warm skirmish ensuing, the enemy were routed with considerable loss ; and one hundred and forty-eight were taken prisoners. This advantage was purchased at a dear rate. Lord Howe, and one other officer, besides privates, were kiUed. The former is spoken of in very high terms for his bravery.* Abercrombie perceiving the troops were greatly fatigued and disordered, deemed it advisable to faU back to the landing place. Then he detached Lieutenant-colonel Bradstreet, with a detachment, to take possession of a saw-miU in the vicinity of Ticonderoga, which the enemy had abandoned. This post being secured, Abercrombie a^anced again towards Ticonderoga, where, he understood from the prisoners, the enemy had assembled eight battalions, with a Ijody of Canadians and Indians, amount ing in aU to six thousand men. The actual number, however, was considerably less, not exceeding four thousand men, as was afterward ascertained. These, they said, being en. camped before the fort, were employed in making a formidable intrenchment, where they intended to wait fur a reinforcement of three thousand men, who had been detached, under the command of M. de Levi, to make a diversion on the side of the Mohawk ; but upon intelligence of Abercrombie's approach,were now recalled for the defence of Ticonderoga. This information induced Abercrombie to strike, if possible, some decisive blow before the iunction could be effected. He therefore early next morning sent his engineer to recon noitre the enemy's intrenohments ; and he, upon his return, reported that the works being still unfinished, might be attempted with good prospect of success. A disposition was made accordingly for the attack, and after proper guards had been left at the saw-miU and the landing place, the whole army was put in motion. The troops advanced with great alacrity towards the intrenohments, which, however, they found altogether impracticable. The breastwork was raised eight feet high, and the ground before it covered with an abattis, * "This young officer was the idol of the army. From his first arrival in America, he had accnmmodated himself and his regiment tu (he peculiar nature of the service. He cut his hair short, and induced the regi ment to follow the example. He fashioned their clothing for the activity of service, and divested himself and tlteni of every article of superfluous baggage. When near Ticonderoga, major, afterward Gen. Putnam, with about 100 men, advanced in front of the army as a kind of scouting party. Putnam endeavored to ftrevent Lord Howe from accompanying him, saying, ^ My Lord, if I am killed, the loss of my life will be of ittle consequence, but the preservation of yourB is of intinite importatice to this army.' The only answer was, * Putnam, your life is as dear to you, as mine is to me : I am determined to go.' They soon met the lell flank of the enemy's advance, by whose iirst fire his lordsliip fell." — Humphrey's Life of P-utnam, 160 ESSEX COUNTY. or felled trees, with their boughs pointing outward, and projecting in such a manner as to render the intrenchment almost inaccessible. Notwithstanding these discouraging difficnl ties, the troops marched up to the assault with an undaunted resolution, and sustamed a terrible fire. They endeavored to force their way through these embarrassments, and some of them even moimted the parapet ; but the enemy were so well covered, and defended their works witii so much gallantry, notwithstanding their greatly inferior numbers, that no impression coiild be made ; the carnage became fearfully great, and the assaUants began to fall into great confusion, after, several attacks, which lasted several hours. Abercrombie by this time saw plainly that no hope of success remained ; and in order to prevent a total de feat, sounded a retreat, lea-ving about two thousand men on the field. Every corps of the army behaved, on this unfortunate day, with remarkable intrepidity ; the greatest loss sus tained among the corps, was that of the regiment of Lord John Murray." The seizure of the fortress of Ticonderoga, by Col. Ethan Allen, on the 10th of May, 1775, is thus related by Ramsay, in his history of the American Revolution : " It early occurred to many, that if the sword decided the controversy between Great Britain and her colonies, the possession of Ticonderoga would be essential to the security of the latter. Situated on a promontory, formed at the junction of the waters of Lake George and Lake Champlain, it was the key of all communication between New York and Canada. Messrs. Deane, Wooster, Parsons, Stevens, and others of Connecticut, planned a scheme for obtaining possession of this valuable post. Having procured a loan of 1 ,800 dollars of public money, and provided a sufficient quantity of powder and ball, they set off for Bennington, to obtain the co-operation of Colonel AUen of that place. Two liundred and seventy men, mostly of that brave and hardy people who are called green mountain boys, were speedily collected at Castieton, which was fixed on as the place of rendezvous. At this place Colonel Arnold, who, though attended only with a servant, was prosecuting the same object, unexpectedly joined them. He had been early chosen a captain of a vol unteer company by the inhabitants of New Haven, among whom he resided. As soon as he received news of the Lexington battie, he marched off with his company for the vi cinity of Boston, and anived there, though 150 miles distant, in a few days. Immediately after his arrival he waited on the Massachusetts committee of safety, and informed them, that there were at Ticonderoga many pieces of cannon and a great quantity of valuable stores, and that the fort was in a ruinous condition, and garrisoned only by about 40 men. They appointed him a colonel, and commissioned him to raise 400 men, and to take Ti conderoga. The leaders of the party which had previously rendezvoused at Castleton, ad mitted Colonel Arnold to join them, and it was agi-eed tiiat Colonel Allen should be the commander in chief of the expedition, and that Colonel Arnold should be his assistant. They proceeded without delay, and arrived in the night at Lake Champlailf, opposite to Ti conderoga. AUen and Arnold crossed over with 83 men, and landed near the garrison. They contended who should go in first, but it was at last agreed that they should both go in together. They advanced abreast, and entered the fort at the dawning of day. A sentry snapped his piece at one of them, and then retreated through the covered way to the pa. rade. The Americans foUowed, and immediately drew up. The commander, surprised in his bed, was called upon to surrender the fort. He asked. By what authority ? Colonel Allen repUed, ' / demand it in the name of the great Jehovah, and of the continental congress.' No resistance was made, and the fort, with its valuable stores and forty-eight prisoners, feU into the hands of the Americans. 'The boats had been sent back for the re- mainder of the men, but the business was done before they got over. Colonel Seth War. ner was sent off with a party to take possession of Crown Point, where a sergeant ?ind 12 men performed garrison duty. This was speedily effected. The next object, caUing for the attention of the Americans, was to obtain the command of Lake Champlain, but to ac complish this, it was necessary for them to get possession of a sloop of war, lying at St. Johns, at the northern extremity of the lake. With the view of capturing this sloop, it was agreed to man and arm a schooner lying at South Bay, and that Arnold should com mand her, and that Allen should command some batteaux on the same expedition. A fa vorable wmd carried the schooner ahead of the batteaux, and Colonel Arnold got immedi ate possession of the sloop by surprise. The wind again favoring him, he returned with his prize to Ticonderoga, and rejoined Colonel Allen. The latter soon went home, and the former with a number of men agreed to remain there in garrison. In this rapid manner the possession of Ticonderoga and the command of Lake Champlain were obtained, viW- out any loss, by a few determined men." ESSEX COUNTY.' 161 The following account of the evacuation of Ticonderoga by Gen eral St. Clair, on July 6, 1777, and some of the events which follow ed, is from the 3d volume of Macauley's History of New York : " From Crown Point, the British army advanced on both sides of the lake ; the naval force keeping its station in the centre ; the frigate and gun-boats cast anchor just out of cannon-shot from the American works. On the near approach of the right wing, which advanced on the west side of the lake, on the second of July, the Americana abandoned and set fire to their works, block-houses and saw-mills, towards Lake George ; and with out attempting any serious opposition, suffered General Phillips to take possession of Mount Hope. This post commanded the American lines in a great degree, and cut off their com. munication with Lake George. The enemy charged the Americans, on this occasion, with supineness and want of vigor ; but this charge seems not weU-founded ; they had not men enough to make any effectual opposition to the powerful force which threatened to enclose them. " In the mean time, the British army proceeded with such expedition in the construction of their works, the bringing up of their artUlery, stores, and provisions, and the establish ment of posts and communications, that by the fifth, matters were so far advanced as to require but one or two days more to completely invest the posts on both sides of the lake. Mount Defiance had also been examined, and the advantages which it presented wore so important, that it had been determined to take possession, and erect a battery there. This work, though attended with extreme difficulty and labor, had been carried on by General PhiUips with much expedition and success. A road had been made over very rough ground, to the top of the mount ; and the enemy were at work in constructing a level for a battery, and transporting their cannon. As soon as this battery should be ready to play, the American works would have been completely invested on aU sides. " The situation of General St. Clair was now very critical. He called a council of war, to deUberate on measures to be taken. He informed them that their whole effective num ber was not sufficient to man one half of the works ; that as the whole must be constantly on duty, it would be impossible for them to endure the fatigue for any considerable length of time ; that General Schuyler, who was then at Fort Edward, had not sufficient forces to relieve them ; and that, as the enemy's batteries were nearly ready to open upon them, and the place would be completely invested in twenty-four hours, nothing could save the troops but an immediate evacuation of the posts. " It was proposed that tiie baggage of the army, with such artillery stores and provisions as the necessity of the occasion would admit, should be embarked with a strong detach ment on board of two hundred batteaux, and- despatched under convoy of five armed gal leys, up the lake to Skeensborough, (WhitehaU,) and that the main body of the army should proceed by land, taking its route on the road to Castleton, which was about thirty miles southeast of Ticonderoga, and join the boats and galleys at Skeensborough. It was thought necessary to keep the matter a secret till the time should come, when it was to be ex ecuted. Hence, the necessary preparations could not be made, and it was not possible to prevent irregularity and disorder, in the different embarkations and movements of the h-oops. " About two o'clock in the morning of July the sixth. General St. Clair left Ticonderoga, and about three, the troops at Mount Independence were put in motion. The house which had been occupied by General de Fermoy was, contrary to orders, set on fire. This afforded complete information to the enemy of what was going forward, and enabled them to see every movement of the Americans — at the same time, it impressed the latter with such aft idea of discovery and danger, as precipitated them into great disorder. About' four O'clock, Colonel Francis brought off the rear-guard, and conducted their retreat in a regular man ner ; and soon after, some of the regiments, through the exertions of their officers, recov ered from their confusion. When the troops arrived at Hubbardton they were halted for nearly two hours, and the rear-guai-d was increased by many who did riot at first belong to it, but were picked up on the road, having been unable to keep up with their regiments. The rear-guard was here put under the command of Colonel Seth Warner, with orders to foUow the army, as soon as the whole came up, and to halt about a mile and a half short of the main body. The army then proceeded to Castleton, about six mUes further — Colonel Warner, with the rear-guard and stragglers, remaining at Hubbardton. " The retreat of the Americans from Ticonderoga and Mount Ipdependence, was no sooner perceived by the British, than General Frazer began an eager pursuit with his bri gade. Major-general Reidesel was ordered to join in the pursuit -with the greater part of his ©ermans. General Frazer continued the pursuit through the day, and having received ia- 21 162 FKANKHN COUNTY. * teUigence that the rear of the American army was at no great distance, ordered his men to lie that night upon their arms. On July seventh, at five in the morning, he came up with Colonel Warner, who had about one thousand men. The British advanced boldly to die attack, and the two bodies formed within sixty yards of each other. The conflict was fierce and bloody. Colonel Francis feU at the head of his regiment, fighting with great gallantry. Warner was so well supported by his officers and men, that the assailants broke and gave way. They soon, however, recovered from their disorder, formed again, and charged the Americans with the bayonet, when they, in their turn, were put into disorder ; these, however, raUied and returned to the charge, and the issue of the battie became du.^ bious. At that moment. General Reidesel appeared with the advance party of his Ger. mans. These being led into action, soon decided the fortune of the day, and the Amet. icans had to retreat. The loss in this action was very considerable on the American side. Colonel Hale, who had not brought his regiment, which consisted of miUtia, into action, although ordered so to do, in attempting to escape by flight, feU in -with an inconsiderable party of the enemy, and sun-endered himself, and a number of his men, prisoners. In killed, wounded, and prisoners, the Americans lost in this action three hundred and twenty. four men, and the British one hundred and eighty-three in killed and wounded." Westport, taken from Elizabethtown in 1815. Iron ore abounds. Pop. 1,932. Westport, a thriving village at the head of NW. bay of Lake Champlain, 8 miles east of Elizabethtown, contains about sixty dwellings. Wadhams Mills, on the Boquet, is a small village. Willsborough, originally organized as part of Clinton county in 1788 ; since modified. Pop. 1,667. Willsborough, 2 miles from the mouth of the Boquet river, N. from Albany 138, and from Elizabeth E. 13 miles, is a manufacturing village, and has about 50 dwellings. Wilmington, taken from Jay in 1821 ; name and boundaries since altered ; from Albany 148, from Elizabeth NW. 20 miles. The White Face Mountain here commands a view of more than 100 miles in extent, including Montreal, Ogdensburg, and Lake Ontario. Pop. 928. FRANKLIN COUNTY. Franklin county, taken from Clinton in 1808, is centrally distant from New York 287, from Albany NW. 142 miles. Greatest length 60, greatest breadth 30 miles. The high northern latitude sufficiently indicates the rigors of the climate. The forests are very dense, con sisting of trees of immense size. In the southwestern part are some lofty ridges of mountains, but of all the rest a large portion is rather level than hilly. The settlements are almost wholly in the northern part, extending about 15 miles S. from the N. line, and even here are sparse ; much the larger portion of the county being as yet covered with the primitive forests. The soil is a sandy loam, occasionally mixed with clay, stony, and the fields commonly among thrifty farm ers are fenced with stones gathered from the surface. Some wheat is raised, but it is an uncertain crop, whilst grass, oats, barley, corn, &c., generally are very productive. No portion of the state is per haps better adapted to the sugar-beet. Grazing and lumbering are the chief pursuit of the inhabitants, who find their market upon the franklin county. 163 St. Lawrence river. Pop. 16,450. The county is divided into 13 towns. Bangor, taken from Dickenson in 1812 ; distant NW. from Albany 221 miles. Pop. 1,218. Bangor, 5 miles W. of Malone, and W. Ban gor, are post villages. The population is principally distributed along two roads about 3 miles asunder, known as the North and South streets. Belmont, taken from Chateaugua, in 1833 ; N W. from Albany 185. Pop. 470. Belmont is a small village, 12 miles SE. of Malone. Bo.MBAY, taken from Fort Covington in 1833 ; NW. from Malone 20 miles. Pop. 1,446. The Indian village of St. Regis lies on the left bank of the St. Regis river, upon the northern boundary. The reservation of this tnbe lies partly in this town and partly in Fort Covington, extending 3 by 11 miles. Hogansburg and Bombay Four Corners are villages. The present or late chief of the St. Regis Indians, is or was a descendant of the daughter of the Rev. John Williams the m.nister of Deerfield, Mass., who was with most of his family and neighbors taken prisoners to Canada in 1704. Mr. Williams was carried to Lake Champlain, and from thence to Montreal and Quebec. In 1706, a ilig-ship was despatciied to the latter place, and Mr. WJl.ams and 57 other captives were redeemed and sent to Boston: all hiS ch.ldren returned with the exception of his daughter Eunice, who, at the age of 10 years, was left behind. She adopted the manners of the Indians, to one of whom she was married, and became converted to the Catholic faith. Some time alter the war, she, with her husband, visited her relations at Deerfield, dressed in the Indian costume; and though every persuasive was in vain tried to induce her to abandon him and remain among her connections, she still persisted in wearing her blanket and counting her beads, and returned to Canada, where she ended her days. Her descendants still continue to visit their relatives in New England, by whom they are hospitably received. One of them, by the name of Eleazer Williams, has been educated by his friends in New England and employed as a missionary to the Indians at Green Bay. Mr. Williams some years since, when on a visit to Canada, found the Bible of his great-grandfather, the Rev. John Wihiams, with his name in it. He states, that when Deerfield was destroyed, the Indians took a small church bell, which is now hang ing in the Indian church at St. Regis. It was conveyed on a sledge as far as Lake Champlain and buried, and was afterward taken up and conveyed to Canada. The first standard captured from the enemy in the late war was taken at this place by Maj. Guilford Dudley Young, on the 22d of Oct., 1812. The following account of this event is extracted from newspapers published at the time. " Major Young, of the Troy militia, commandant of a detachment stationed at French MiUs, on the St. Regis river, having received information that a parly of the enemy had arrived at the viUage of St. Regis, and that more were shortly expected, formed a resolution to take them before they were reinforced. For this purpose, he marched a detachment, at 11 o'clock on the night of the 21st of October, crossed the river at Gray's Mills about 3, and at 5 in the morning arrived within half a mUe of the viUage unexpected by the enemy. Here the major made such a jtidicious disposition of his men, that the enemy were entirely 164 franklin ¦ COUNTY; surrounded, and after a few discharges, surrendered themselves prisoners with the loss of 5 killed. 'The result of this affair was the capture of 40 prisoners with their arms, equip ments, &c., one stand of colors and two batteaux, without a man of our party being hurt. They got safe back to camp at 11 o'clock in the morning. The prisoners were sent off" to Plattsburg. Maj. Young has thus had the honor of taking the first standard from the ene. my in the present war." From the Albany Gazette of January, 1813. " On Thursday, the 5th inst., at 1 o'clock, a detachment of the volunteer militia of Troy entered this city, with the British colors taken at St. Regis. The detachment, with 9 superb eagles in the centre, and the British colors in the rear, paraded to the music of Yankee Doodle and York FusUeers, through Market and State streets, to the capitol, the officers and colors in the centre. The remainder of the vestibule, and the grand staircase leading to the hall of justice, and the galleries of the senate and assembly chambers, were crowded with spectators. His excellency the governor, from illness, being absent, his aids. Cols. Lamb and Lush, advanced from the council chamber to receive the standard." Upon which Maj. Young, in a truly military and gallant style, and with an appropriate address, presented it to the people of New York ; to which Col. Lush, on the part of the state, replied in a highly- compUmentary speech, and the standard* was deposited in the council room, amid the loud huzzas of the citizens and military salutes. Subsequendy to this achievement, Maj. Youngt was appointed a colonel in the U. S. army. Brandon, taken from Bangor in 1828 ; centrally distant SW. from Malone 30 miles. The settlements are in the north part of the town. Pop. 560. Chateaugua, taken from Plattsburg and Champlain as part of Clinton county. Chateaugua Four Corners, 1 3 miles E. from Malone on the turnpike to Plattsburg, is a small village. West Chateaugua is a post-office. Pop. 2,820. There is in this town a cascade on the Chateaugua river of 90 feet perpendicular, over granite rock. Cha teaugua was settled in April, 1804, by Benjamin Roberts, from Man chester, Vermont ; Wilham Bailey, Esq., and Mr. Nathan Beman, came about the same time. Mr. Beman acted as a guide in conducting Col. Ethan Allen into Ticonderoga. At the first settlement of this place, there were no other settlers in the limits of the county, except ing a few Canadians at French mills, now Fort Covington. A skirmish took place in this vicinity during the late war, between the British and a portion of the American army under General Hampton, which was designed for the co-operation upon Montreal. The following account of this, affair is taken from '•' Perkins' History of the Late War." * Jh? standard is at present remaining in the capitol at Albany. f This officer was a native of Lebanon, Conn. " After the war he entered the patiiot service under Gen. Mina, and lost his life in the struggle for Mexican uidependence in 1817. The patriots, 269 in number, had p^ession of a small fort which was invested by a royalist force of 3,5110 men. The supplies of provision and water being cut off, the sufferings of the garrison and vi^omen and children in the fort became inlolerable ; many ot the soldiers deserted, so that not more than 150 eifective men remained. Col. Young, however, knowing the perfldy of the enemy, determined to defend the fort to the last. After having bravely defeated the enemy in a number of endeavors to, carry the fort by storm, Col. Young was killed by a cannon shot, Iroin Uie battery raised against the fort. ' On the enemy's last retreat, the colonel, anxious to observe all tlieir movemenis, teailessly exposed his person, by stepping on a large stone on the ramparts ; and while conversing ¦with Ur. Hennessey on the successes of the day, and on the dastardly conduct of the enemy, the last shot Uiat was hredtrom their battery carried off his head. Col. Young was an officer, whom, next to Mina, the American part ol the division had been accustomed to respect and admire. In every action he had been conspiciiouB for his danng courage and skill. Mina reposed unbounded confidence in him. In the hour of danger he was collected, gave his orders with precision, and, sword in hand, was always in the hottest of the conihat. Honor aiid timincss marked all his actions. He was generous in the extreme, and endured priva tions with a cheerfulness superior to that of any other officer of the division. He has been In the U. S. service as Lieut. Cot. of the 29th regiment of infantry. His body was interred by tlie few Americans who could be spared from duty with every possible mark of honor and respect; and the general gloom which per vaded the division on this occasion was ihe sincerest tribute that could he offiired by them to the memory of Uleu- brave chief.' "—Barhcr'a Uistoriad ColleUima and AniiguUm (ffOnrncHmt, FRANKLIN COUNTY. 165 " On the moming of the 21st of October, 1813, the anny commenced a movement down the Chateaugay. An extensive wood of lO or 12 miles in front, blocked up with felled timber, and covered by the Indians and British light troops, impeded the progress of the army. Gen. Izard was detached with the light troops and one regiment of the line to turn these impediments in flank, and seize on the open country below, while the army, preceded by a working party, advanced in a more circuitous, but practicable route. The measure suc ceeded, and the main body reached the advanced position on the Chateaugay, on die evening of the 22d. The 23d and 24th were employed in getting up the artiUery and stores. There was now in front of the army 7 miles of open country, at tiie end of which commenced a wood of some miles in extent, which had been formed into an entire abattis, filled with a succession of wooden breastworks, the rearmost of which was supplied with ordnance. The Indians and light troops were placed in front, and a heavy force in the rear. On the evening of the 2.5th, Col. Purdy, with the light troops, was detached to gain the rear of this position, whUe Gen. Izard made a simultaneous attack in front. Col. Purdy was misled by his guides, the attempt faUed, and the advanced corps retired, with a loss of 50 kiUed, wounded, and missing, to a position 3 mUes in the rear. On the 28th, Gen. Hampton, under an impression that Sir George Prevost might be in the way of his further advance, feU back to his former position at the Chateaugay Four Corners," and immediately conducted his army back to Plattsburg for winter quarters. Constable, taken from Harrison as part of Clinton county in 1807 ; bounds since altered. Pop. 1,121. Constable is a small village 7 miles N. of Malone. East Constable is a post-office. Dickenson, taken from Harrison (original name of Malone) in 1808; from Malone centrally distant SW. 30 miles. Pop. 1,005. This town is about 50 miles long, N. and S., and 6 broad. The set tlements are in the northern part. Duane, taken from Malone in 1828 ; centrally distant S. of Ma lone 20 miles. The post village lies in the N. part of the town, where there is a considerable quantity of iron and steel manufactured from ore in the vicinity. Pop. 324. Fort Covington, named after Gen. Covington, who was slain at the battle of Williamsburg in Canada, November 11, 1813; taken from Constable in 1817; from Malone N. 7 miles. In the Fork, 5 miles S. of the St. Lawrence, is the post village of Fort Covington, formerly called " French Mills," which contains about 150 dwellings. Fort Covington of the late war was in this township. A large lum ber business is here conducted by the way of the St. Lawrence. Pop. 2,098. Franklin, recently formed from Belmont ; centrally distant 28 miles SE. from Malone. The post-office is at Merritsville. Pop. 192. Malone, taken from Harrison, and organized as part of Clinton county in 1805 ; from Albany 212 miles, from Plattsburg W. 51, and from Ogdensburg E. 70 miles. Pop. 3,229. Malone village, the county seat, is situated upon both sides of the Salmon river. This stream is here crossed by a stone bridge, having an arch of 97 feet span and a roadway of 70 feet above the original bed of the stream. "This town was first settled by Nathan Wood, an emigrant from Vermont, who located himself about a mile north of the village. The following view was taken near Hosford's tavern, and shows the prin cipal part of the village. The public building on the extreme left is the academy, the one adjacent, the Baptist church ; the steeple of a large cotton factory is seen near the centre of the engraving; at the foot of the hill, and the courthouse on the right ; the Presbyteri^ 166 FULTON county. View of Malone. church, a large and substantial stone structure, u not brought into this view, being at the eastern end of the village. During the late war, (Feb., 1814,) a detachment of British made an incursion into this place, and proceeded as far as Chateaugua Four Corners. They were commanded by Col. Scott, of the 103d British regiment, and numbered about 2,300 men, including many Indiaijs. Hearing of the approach of the American troops, they retreate 1 in great confusion, though not without destroying the bridges in their rear. The whole party suffered severely in their retreat by a tre mendous storm of snow and hail which prevailed at the close of the day, and lost upwards of 200 men by desertion. Moira, taken from Dickenson in 1827 ; from" Albany 225, centrally distant W. of Malone 14 miles. Pop. 964. Moira is a small village. Westville, taken from Constable in 1829 ; from Albany 233. from Malone centrally distant NW. 9 miles. Westville is a small village; Pop. 1,033. ^ FULTON COUNTY. Fulton county was taken from the northern part of Montgomerjr county in 1838 ; NW. from Albany 40 miles ; length E. and W. 32 fflileis, breadth N. and S. 17. The surface of the northern part of this county is hilly, with some ranges of a mountainous character. The Kayaderosseras range of mountains enters the county on the NE., but sinks to the general level in the town of Northampton. The county is well watered and contains several small lakes. It is divid ed into 9 towns. Pop. 18,038. pulton county. 167 Bleeker, taken frohi Johnstown in 1831 ; from Albany 53 miles> from Johstown N. 13. There are three inconsiderable settlements in the town. The soil is quite poor and covered with small evergreens. Pop. 346. Broadalbin, taken from Caughnawaga in 1793 ; from Albany 47 miles, from Johnstown, NE. 10. A settlement was made in this town ui 1776, by Daniel Mclntyre, and a few other emigrants from Scotr land ; but it was broken up during the revolutionary war. Fonda's Bush or Rawsonville, 10 miles from Johnstown, incorporated in 1815, has about 800 inhabitants. West Galway and Union Mills are small post villages. Pop. 2,728. Ephrata, taken from Palatine in 1827 ; from Albany 58 miles, from Johnstown centrally distant W. 10. This town was settled in 1724, by Germans. Pop. 2,009. Pleasant Valley, Ephrata, and Lasselsvllle, are small villages. ^^^^^^.iR 'ji iij Southern view of Johnstown. Johnstown, originally named Caughnawaga, was founded about the year 1770, by Sir William Johnson, who resided here during the, lat ter period of his life, essentially in the rank, and with much of the splendor of a nobleman. Sir William and his family, by various means, became possessed of vast tracts of valuable land in this section of the country, and had many tenants and retainers under them. Their great possessions, however, were confiscated during the revo lutionary war, on account of their adherence to the Br.tish cause. The village of Johnstown is about 4 miles N. of Fonda, the seat of justice for Montgomery county, and 44 from Albany. The accom panying engraving shows the appearance of the village as viewed from the first elevation south, on the road to Caughnawaga or Fonda village. The courthouse is the first building seen on the left with a spire ; Mayfield mountains appear in the extreme distance. The vil lage contains a bank, an academy, 4 churches — 1 Presbyterian, 1 Episcopal, 1 Dutch Reformed, and 1 Methodist — and about 250 168 FULTON COUNTY. dwellings. It is situated on a handsome plain, skirted on the N. and W. by Cayadutta creek, and ofl the S. by a hill of moderate ele vation. It was regularly laid out by Henry Oothoudt, Jeremiah Van Rensselaer, and Christopher P. Yates, state commissioners, in 1784, and was incorporated in 1807. The village of Kingsboro is 4 miles NE. from Johnstown ; it has a Presbyterian church, an academy, and about 40 or 50 dwellings. This village has acquired some celeb rity, as being the place where great quantities of dressed deer-skin gloves and mittens have been manufactured. The town of Johns town was originally organized by the name of Caughnawaga in 1798 ; its territorial limits have since been much reduced. Pop. 5,408. Johnson Hall, in Johnstown. The above is a southeastern view of the mansion-house built by Sil" William Johnson, called '^Johnson Hall." This house, now oc cupied by Mr. Wells, is situated about three fourths of a mile NW. of the courthouse, on ground gently elevated above the village. The hall itself is built of wood, but the buildings or wings on each side are of stone, pierced with loop-holes for musketry. When Sir Wil liam occupied these buildings, he had them surrounded by a stone breastwork. While in possession of the Johnson family, this was a place of resort for the sachems of the Six Nations, and all the Mo hawks repaired thither to receive their presents from the British gov ernment. William Johnson was born in Ireland about the year 1714; he was a nephew of Sir Peter Warren, the naval commander who dis tinguished himself at the siege of Louisburg in 1745. Sir Peter hav ing married a sister of Chief-justice De Lancey of New York, pur chased a large tract of land on the Mohawk, and about the year 1734, sent for his nephew to come to America and superintend this estate. Young Johnson first established himself at the mouth of the Schoharie, afterward erected a house in the town of Amsterdam, and subsequently the hall at Johnstown. To fulfil the duties of his commission; he learned the language of the Indians, studied their FULTON COUNTY. 169 manners and cultivated their acquaintance. His situation between Albany and Oswego presented a fine opportunity for trade, and he carried on a large traffic with them, supplying them with goods, and receiving in return beaver and other skins. By a course of sagacious measures he obtained an influence over the Indians greater than was ever possessed by any other white man. In 1757, Johnson was intrusted with the command of the provincial troops of New York, whom he led to Lake George, where was achieved the first victory gained on the British side, in the war com mencing at that period. For this victory, towards which he did but little more than barely hold the place of commander-in-chief, he re ceived from the house of commons £5,000 sterling ; and from the king, the title of baronet, and the office of superintendent of Indian affairs. In 1759, being at the head of the provincial troops employed under Gen. Prideaux to besiege Fort Niagara, he became, when that officer was killed, the commander-in-chief: by his activity and skill he defeated the enemy and obtained possession of the fort and garri son. In 1760, when Gen. Amherst embarked at Oswego on his ex pedition to Canada, Sir William brought to him at that place 1,000 Indians of the Iroquois or Six Nations, which was the largest number that had ever been seen in arms at one time in the cause of England. " Sir William Johnson possessed considerable talents as an orator, and his influence over the Indians was not a little owing to the im pression made upon them by means of his elocution He had wives and concubines, sons and daughters, of different colors." By Lady Johnson he had 3 children — 1 son and 2 daughters. His son. Sir John Johnson, took side with the British, in the revolutionary war, and became the scourge of the Mohawk valley. One of the daughters married Col. Claus, and the other Sir Guy Johnson. Sir Wilham died suddenly, at Johnson Hall, July 11th, 1774, aged 60 years ; and was succeeded by his son in his title, and also to his post as major-general of the militia. The following anecdote respecting Sir William, seems to evince, that in his dealings with the Indians, who have a good reputation for cunning, he was not outwitted. Hendrick, the chief of the Mohawks, was at the house of Sir William when he received several rich suits of laced clothes. Soon after, the chief came to him and said, "I dream." " Well ! what did you dream ?" " I dream you give me one suit of clothes." This hint could not be mistaken or well avoided, and accordingly Hendrick received a suit. Some time afterward Sir William meeting Hendrick, said to him, " I dreamed last night." Did you ! What did you dream ?" " I dreamed you gave me a tract of land," describing it. Hendrick at first paused at the enormity of the demand, but at length said, " You may have the land ; but we no dream again, you dream too hard for me." The tract of .land thus obtained, is stated to have been 12 miles square, in the present county of Herkimer ; the title to it was confirmed by the king, and was called the " Royal Grant." The power which Sir William Johnson acquired over the Indians 22 170 FULTON COUNTY. descended to his son and to his nephew. Col. Guy Johnson, who suc ceeded him in the agency of Indian affairs. As the family- had de rived most of their wealth and consideration from the crown, they were, as might be supposed, devoted loyalists. In 1775, Gen. Schuy ler prevailed upon the Indians to agree to be neutral in the coming conflict. It appeared, however, that the influence of the Johnson family prevailed with the Indians, and induced them to join the British cause. It also appeared that Sir John was fortifying his house and arming the Scotch Highlanders, his tenants and adherents. Congress having heard of these movements, sent Gen. Schuyler to disarm these persons, and take other measures to secure the tranquillity of Tryon county. Schuyler set out on this mission with 700 militia, but before he reached Caughnawaga his force had increased to* three thousand. At Schenectady a deputation of Mohawks under the in fluence of the Johnsons met him, and with much artfulness endea vored to dissuade him from advancing. On the 16th of January, 1776, Gen. Schuyler despatched a letter to Sir John, requesting him to meet him on the morrow ; they accordingly met, and a:fter some subsequent delay, he and the Scotch gentlemen agreed to make a delivery of the arms of the inhabitants. Sir John likewise agreed that he would not go westward of German Flats and Kinsland dis trict, and that six Scotch inhabitants might be taken as hostages. On the 19th, Schuyler marched into Johnstown and drew up his men in a line ; the Highlanders were drawn Up facing them, and grounded their arms. The military stores were surrendered : and this service being performed, Schuyler and the militia returned. It was found afterward that the Highlanders had not delivered up their broad swords or ammunition. Gen. Herkimer was left by Gen. Schuyler to complete the disarm ing of the hostile inhabitants. Sir John, notwithstanding his word of honor, continued his hostile intrigues with the Indians, and otherwise forfeited his promises. It was found necessary to secure him, and in May, 1776, Col. Dayton was sent on this duty. The tories in Al bany gave notice to Sir John of his approach, and the knight and his followers fled to the woods, and escaped to Canada, arriving at Mon treal after nineteen days of suffering and starvation. He left his re sidence in much haste : an iron chest with the family Bible and papers were buried in the garden. On arriving In Canada, the baronet was commissioned a British colonel, and raised the regiment of tories called the Royal Greens. By his adherence to the British, his immense estate was forfeited, and this appears to have inspired him with implacable revenge. On Sunday, the 21st of May, 1780, at dead of night. Sir John Johnson, with a force of about 500 men, part of whom were Indians, made an incursion into Johnstown. He had penetrated the country by way of Lake Champlain to Crown Point, and thence through the woods to the Sacondaga river. The following account of this incursion is from a newspaper pubhshed June 15th, 1780. " By the latest intelligence from Schenectady, we are informed that Sir John Johnson, (who styles himself Lieut, colonel commanding the King's Royal Yorkers, in the parcels PULTON COUNTV. 171 given to some of the prisoners,) on Lord's day evening, the 21st ult., made his first appearance at Johnson HaU, undiscovered by any but his fiiendsj who no doubt were in the secret. On Monday, about daybreak, they began to burn aU the houses except those of the tories, beginning at Aaron Putnam's, below Tripe's HiU, and continued burning to Anthony's Nose, or Acker's house, except a few which by the vigilance of the people were put out after the enemy had set them on fire. There have been burnt 33 houses and out-houses and a miU ; many cattle were kiUcd in the field, and 60 or 70 sheep burnt in a barn. Eleven persons were kiUed. Col. Fisher [Visscher] and his two brothers fought with great bravery, when the two brothers were killed and scalped ; the colonel went up stairs and there defended himself, but being overpowered, was knocked down and scalped, on which they plundered the house, set it on fire, and then went off. The colonel recovering a Uttle, though he was left by the enemy for dead, he puUed one of his dead brothers out of the house then in flames ; the other was consumed in the house. It is said that the doctors have hopes that Col. Fisher wiU recover. His mother had a narrow escape for her life, being knocked on her head by an Indian ; but she is Uke to do well. Capt. Hansen was kiUed by an In dian, who had formerly been used by him with kindness, and professed much gratitude. Old Mr. Fonda was cut in several parts of his head with a tomahawk. Had it not been for the alertness of Mr. Van Vrank, probably more would have been butchered by their savage hands ; he alarmed the people along the way to Caughnawaga, who by crossing the river saved their lives. Having done all the mischief to the distressed inhabitants they possibly could, they returned to Johnson Hall in the afternoon ; when Johnson dug up his plate, and about sundown marched for the Scotch Bush, about four miles, that evening. He has 15 or 20 of his negroes who had been sold ; several of his tenants and others have gone with him. He has permitted some of his prisonera to return on parole. His whole force when he landed at Crown Point, is said to be about 500 men, 200 of them British, part of his own regiment, and Indians. Capt. Putnam and four men foUowed them in their retreat four days, on their way to Lake Champlain. He saw him 24 miles from Johnson Hall. Some think they will take their route to Oswagatchie ; but this seems improbable, as they have not provisions sufficient with them. His excellency the governor has collected a body of militia to intercept their way to Lake Champlain ; a number have also marched from the New Hampshire grants for the same purpose : Col. Van Schaick, with 800 men, is in pursuit of him by the way of Johnstown. We hear that the enemy had their feet much sweUed by their long march ; and being greatly fatigued, it is hoped our people may come up with and give a good account of the Lieut, colonel and his murdering banditti." In this incursion, Mr. Sampson Sammons and his three sons, all stanch whigs, residing in Jonu-stown, were captured by the enemy and their dwelling laid in ashes. The elder Mr. Sammons and his Joungest son, a youth of eighteen, were released by Sir John, but acob and Frederick, the other sons, were taken to Canada and con fined in the fortress of Chamblee. From this place they made their escape, and after a series of dreadful suffering, in their flight through the wilderness, arrived in safety among their friends. A long and interesting account of their adventures is given in Col. Stone's Life of Brant. " A singular but weU-attested occurrence," says Col. Stone, " closes this interesting per. sonal narrative. The famUy of the elder Sammons had long given up Frederick as lost. On the morning after his arrival at Schenectady, he despatched a letter to his father, by the hand of an officer on his way to PhUadelphia, who left it at the house of a Mr. Levi Da Witt, five miles distant from the residence of the old gentleman. The same night on which the letter was thus left, Jacob dreamed that his brother Frederick was living, and that there was a letter from him at De Witt's announcing the joyful tidings. The dream was repeated twice, and the contents of the letter were so strongly impressed upon his mind, that he repeated what he believed was the very language, on the ensuing morning — insisting that such a letter was at the place mentioned. The family, his father in particu lar, laughed at him for his creduUty. Strong, however, in the beli^ that there was such a communication, he repaired to the place designated, and asked for me letter. Mr. De Witt looked for it, but replied there was none. Jacob requested a more thorough search, and behold the letter was found behind a barrel, where it had faUen. Jacob then requested Mr. De Witt to open the letter, and examine whUe he recited its contents. He did so, an