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1 2 3

SOM]

HISTORY

PIONEER SETTLEMENT

mm m mmi numi

AND

MOERIS' RESERVE;

KMBEACINO THE COUNTIES OF

OF ORLEANS. GENESEE AND WyOMIN^

TO -nrHICII IS ADDED, A SUPPLEMENT

', OR EXTENSION OF TOE PIONKKK UISTOEY OP

MONROE COUNTY.

THE WHOLE PRECEDED BT
SOME ACCOUNT OF FREXrn *Mn ..«„,

SENEOAS-WITH "a GLANCE AT

THE IROQUOIS."

BY 0. TURNER.

[AUTHOR OF THE "hiSTORV OF THE HOLLAND PURCHASE."]

,.,»-*^*..*jB ^

^ ai' BIT WILLIAM .ALtlNG.

1861.

34316

Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1851, by Wir. Alling, in tlie Clerk's
Office of the District Court of the Northern District of New York.

Stereotyped by
J. w. nuowjf, Rocliester.

rniNTEn by lee, maxn & oo.,
Rochester, JV. Y,

TO THE "

SURVIVING PIONEERS

AHQ THS

DESCENDANTS OP PIONEERS

PHELPS AND aOEHAM'S PURCHASE,

AND

MORRIS' RESERVE,

THIS -WORK 18 EESPKCTFDLly DEDICATED:—

To the first, — as a feeble tribute, a moiety of what is their due, for the
ph3,sical and moral triumphs they have won through long early years of toil,
privation and endurance. In view of the brief space allotted to man by an
All Wise Providence, as an average existence — (uo more than thirty
fleeting yeara constituting a generation) — you live to be the witnesses of
more than it is often given to man to see. The wilderness you entered in your
youths — some of you in middle age — you have lived to see not only
"blossom as the rose," but to bear its matured and ripened fruit. ^Vhere
you have followed the trails of your immediate predecessors — the Seneca
Iroquois -- or your own woods paths, are Canals, Rail Roads and Telegraphs.
A long line of internal navigation — an artificial River — bearing upon its
bosom the products of your own subdued, teeming soil, and continuous fleets,
laden with the products of an Empire, that has sprung up around the bor-
ders of our Western Lakes — winds along through vallies that you have seen
but the abodes of wild beasts; from whose depths you have heard in your
log cabins, the terrific howl of the famishing wolf ! Aqueducts, structures
that the architects of the old worid might take for models, span the streams you
have often forded, and over wliich you have helped to throw primitive log
bridges. And upon these Lakes, whose commerce you have seen to consist
of a few batteaux, lazily coasting along near shore, putting into bays and inlets,
whenever the elements were disturbed — are fleets of sail vessels, and "float-
ing palaces," propelled by a mighty agent, whose powers were but little
known when you began to wield the axe in the forests of the Genesee coun-
try. A subtle agent was occasionally fljishing in the dark forests, indicating
its power by scathing and levelling its taU trees; then but partiaUy subdued
to man's use; now tamed, hai^essed, control' 3d; traversing those wirea and
bringing the extremes of this extended Union to hold convene mth each
other with the "rapidity of thought,"— more than realizing the boasts of
the spirit of the poet's imagination, who would

'• Put a girdle 'round the Earth in thirty minutes !"

DEDICATION.

Villages, cities, institutions of religion and learning, are upon sites where
you have, seen the dark shades of the forest rest wi.h a profound stillness,
that you could hardly have expected to see disturbed by the hand of improve-
ment. But more than all this, you have lived to see an extended region of
wilderness converted inlx> fruitful fields ; a landscape every where interspersed
with comfortable, often luxurious, fai-m buildings; surrounded by all the evi-
dences of substantial, unsurpassed prosperity. Who else that have planted
colonies, founded settlement*, have lived to see such consummations ? Peaceful,
bloodless, and yet glorious ! The conquerous upon battle fields have been
destroyei-s; you, creatore; they, have made fields desolate; you, have clothed
them with smiUng promise and full fruition. The)', have brought mourning;
you, rejoicing. Theirs, was the physical courage of a day, perhaps of a for-
tunate hour; youi-s, was the higher and nobler attribute — the moral courage
— the spirit of endurance and perseverance, that held out through long years
of sufiering and privation ; that looked dangers and difficulties in the face,
till they became famiUar associates. In the retrospect of well-spent lives —
in view of the consummation of the great work of civilization and improve-
ment, you have helped to commence and carry on — now that the shades of
evening are gathering around you — now that you are admonished that your
work upon earth is done — well may you say : — " Now Lord lettest thou
thy servant depart in peace.^''

To the second, — as the inheritors of a rich legacy, the fruits of the
achievments, of the long years of enterj^rise, toil, fortitude and perseverance,
of those Pioneer Fathers; the conservatoi-s of their memories. Honors, titles,
stars and garters, such as kings may bestow, are baubles compared with what
they have bequeathed ! Far most of them breaking out from their quiet
New England homes, in youth, and strength, went firet to the battle field,
where it was the strong against the wealc, the oppressor against the oppressed,
and helped to win a glorious national inheritance ; then, after a short respite,
came to this primitive region, and won a local inheritance for you, fair and
fertile, as rich in all the elements of prosperity and happiness, as any that
the sun of Heaven shines upon ! Guard the trust in a spirit of gratitude ;
cherish the memories of the Pioneers ; imitate their stern virtues ; preserAc
and carry on the work they have so well begun !

And both will accept this tribute, from the son of a Pioneer — one " who
was to the manor bom," — who has essayed to snatch from fading memories,
gather from imperfect records, and preserve these local Reminiscences ; — and
who, most of all regrets, that in the execution of the task, he has not been able
to recognize more of the names and the deeds of the Found eus of settle-
ments IN THE Genesee Country. The Author.

ODE.

IN C01IMEM0HATI0.V OF THE FIRST SETTLIMENT OF WESTBEM NEW-YORK.

[by W. H. 0. H081IKE, ESQ.]

High was the homage Senates paid
To the plumed Conquerors of old,

And freely, at tlieir feet were laid.
Rich piles of flasliiiig gems and gold.

Proud History exliaustod thought,

Glad bards awoke their vocal reeds;
"VVliile Pliidian hands the marble wrought

In honor of their wondrous deeds :
But our undaunted Pioneers

Have conquests more enduring won.
In scattering the night of years.

And opening forests to the sun ;

And victors are tliey nobler far
Than tlie helmed cliiefs of other times.

Who rolled their chariots of war,
To foreign lands, and distant climes.

Earth groaned beneath their mail-clad men.
Bereft of greenness where they trod.

And wildly rose, from hill and glen,
Loud, agonizing shrieks to God.

Pur%'eyors of the carrion bird

Blood streamed from their uplifted hands.
And wliile the crash of States was heard.

Passed on their desolating hordes.

Then tell me not of heroes fled —
Crime, renders foal their boasted fame.

While widowed ones and orphans bled.
They earned the pAantom of a name.

The sons of our New England Sires,

Armed with endurance, dared to roam
Far from the hospitable fi es.

And the bright, hallowed bowers of Home.
The storm tliey met with bosoms bared.

And bloodless triumphs bought by toil ;
The wild boast from liis cavern scared.

And clothed in bloom the virgin soil.

ODE.

Distemper leagued with famines wan,
Ncned to a high resolve, tlioy bore ;

And flocks, upon the thymy lawn,
Eanged where the panther yelled before.

Look now abroad ! the scene how changed,

Wliere fifty fleeting years ago
Clad in their savage costume ranged.

The belted lords of shaft and bow.

In praise of pomp let fawning Art
Carve rocks to triumjjh over years,

The grateful incense of the heart
Give to our living Pioneees.

Almighty I may thine out-sti-etched arm
Guard through long ages, yet to be,

From tread of slave, and kingly harm.
Oca Eden of the Geneske.

ERRATA.

Page 131 — arta of peace, instead of " acts."

Page 151— read sister instead of " daughter of Zachariah Seymour."
Page 174— in note— Judge Taylor, should be in place of "Judge Wells. "
Two references whicJi belong to ])age 325 are earned over to page 326.
Page 483 — Shay's Rebellion — " General order" — ilate sliould have been 1786.
Page 314 — 8th line, " after," should precede "his appointment."
Page 416 — 9th line $200 instead of $2,00."

Page 597— 15tli Une, receipts of Rochester P, 0., should be as iu a few lines above,
:3,4b, instead of "|34G."

.*.*>^*t*-':*^*i>^^

'^.

'hJ^'o,: ■ :^•■^

-^^^

PREFACE.

I ^ ^ f ' f ""^'in^ed nearly one year since, the publication of which has been
f£'rtt\^^°''^ tt«F°'ni«cd period, owing to causes unforBecn - princiLly to
the fact that it is of greater magiiitude, and has fnvolved a fur greater amount o?£e
labor and research than was anticii.ated - is now presented to the public '

1 lie general plan of it will hanfly be misunderstood by its readers : — It is a his-
tory of the Pioneer, or first set. xement, of that portion of the Genesee Country em-
braced m the purchiise of Oliver Phelps and Nathaniel Gorham of the State of M:^I
sachusetto and the Seneca Indians, and of that portion purchased by Robert Morri.
J^hth '"""^^ "I H' • "^A" V^^ ^""""^ Company. *rho boundaries of the Sn
f!?™l ^V-'^If ^"'^ "! "'" ^'^}'' P''^''' «'"' '-^^^ "'""^ '^le-'irfy '''^fin^'d in the body of
w y \r ^V-? ^''^ ?'^^™' ''"'^ "'"'^^y t^»° "lie half of what constitutes, pro,)erly
Western New York ; its eastern boundary being the Massachusetts hue of pre-em Sn'
fr«.„<f X" <=«™"''^»'=e8 with the advent of the French upon the St Lawrence, and
traces their progress to this region, and along the shores o/ the Western Lakes to the
smrFrench'do!^nfon'*^'^°"^"^"'^ *^° prominent events that foUowed under English
Enough of colonial history has been embraced — that which tended in the direction
ot our local region — to make such an induction to the main design of the work as
l^n 5 1'''"!'^ *T? ""^°1^«» '=\«"'k «>• chronology of events, commencing wiUi the
lanchng of the French upon the St. Lawrence, and continued through the period of
Wfl'i' r"^ English occupancy As all this wa.s but incidental, it has been, geuemUy.
bnefly disposed of, for tlie author w.-is admonished tliat his space would berequirt>d
when he had entered upon a less beaten track. Yet he may venture to anticipate that
even Jie s udent of history, will find sometliing of interest in this precedent portion
of the work; for It IS not wholly an explored leld, and each new gleaner may bring
something from it to add to the common stock of historical knowledge
ti,: iTf the original design of the author to incorporate in the work, something of
the history of our immediate predecessors, the Senecas. It was mainly abandoned
however on learning tiiat a local author, quite competent for the task, (as his now
Dublished work bears witnes.s,) was preparing for the press, a work which would em-
.nT 'Til of Interest in their liistory.* Much of them, however, will be found
scattered throughout a large portion of the work, and a separate chapter is appropriated
to them, from the pen of a native, and resident of the Geneseo Valfey _ a scholar and
a poet, whose famejias gone out far beyond our local region, and conferred credit upoa
Its literature.t It;^ See chapter II, Part L uvii^muupou

The colonial period passetl, — the local events of the Revolution briefly disposed
ol; — Indian treaties commencing under tiie administration of George Clixton —
the almost interminable difficulties in which the State, and individual purchasers
were involved in with the Lessees, — the slow advance of settlement in tliis direc-
ri'^.l^T'"'*' ^""["Jf ts next ;,n order. Much of all this has been drawn from authentic
records, and did not previously exist in any connected printed record.

1 he mam subject reached - settlement of the Genesee country commenced -a
general plan of nan-ative, somewhat novel in its character was adopted : — History
ana briet personal Biography, have been in a great measure blended. This has vastiv
increased the labor of the work, but it is hoped it wiU be found to have added to ite
uiterest It will readily oe inferred that it involved the necessity of selectin.' the
most prominent of thr- Pioneers in each locaUty — those with whom could be blended
most oi the Pioneer events. In almost every locality there ^aa been regretted omis-
sions ; a failure to recognize all who should have been noticed. This has been pai-^ly
the result of necessity, but oftener the neglect of those who had promised to furnish
the required information. While tiie work contains more of names and sketches of
personal history, tiiau are to be found in any other local annals that have been pub-
lished in our countiy, there are hundreds of Pi oneer names reluctantly omitted.

• " League of the.Iroquois," by Lewis H. Morgan, Esq., of Eochegter.
1 W, H. C. Hosmer, Esq., of Avon.

PREFACE.

In a. 1 that relates to early difficulties with the Indians ; to tliroatened renewals of
the Border Wars, after the settlement of Uie country commenced, the author lias been
fortunate in the possession of authentic records, hitlierto neglected, which gives to
the subjects a new and enhanced interest. The accounts of the treaties of Messrs.
PicKERiNfi and CiiAriN, with the Indians, arc mostly derived from official coiTespon-
dence ; while most of what relates to the councils held with them to obtain land ces-
Hions west of tlie Seneca Lake, are derived from the manuscripts of Oliver Phelps
and Thomas Morns, the principal actors in the scenes.

The autlior cannot but coaclude, tliat poorly as the task may have been executed,
It hafl been undertaken at a fortunate period. More than one half of this volume is
made up from the reminiscences, the fading memories, of the living actors in the
scenes descnlxid and tho cvent.s related. No le.ss tlian nino, wlio, iviihin tlie last ten
months, have rendered in this way, essential senico, - ^vithout whoso assistance the
■work must have been far more imperfect -- are either in their graves, or their memories
are wholly impaired.

The thanks of the author are especially duo to Henry O'Rielly, for the use of val-
uable papers collected with reference to continuuig some historical researches, ho had
so weU commenced ; to James H. Woods, for the use of papers of Chas. Williamsox ;
to Oliver Phelps and James S. Wadswohtu, for the use of papers in their possession,
as tlio representativea of Oliver Phelps and James Wadsworth ; to Johx Grkio and
JosEPul'ELLOWsfor accoss to papers in their respective land offices; and especially
to tho former, for the essential materials in his possession as tlie representative of
Israel Chapih, and his son and successor, Isbael Cuapin ; to tlie managers of the
Rochester Athameum, for free access to their valuable Lii^ary ; to 0. C. Clarke, of
Albany, and S. B. B>jckley, of Yates, for valuable contributions; to numerous ther
individuals, most of wliom are indicated in the body of the work. And to Lee Mann
& Co., the Printers, and Wm. Alling, the PubUsher, for their liberal terms' and the
business accommodation with which they have aided the enterprise.

taf The manner of pubhshing is a n.aterial departure from the original intention.
Instead of pubhshing one work, there wiU be four. This is the first of tlie series.
1 hose that wiU follow in order— (and in rapid succession if no unforeseen difficulties
occur) — will be: — P. and G. Purchase — Livingston and Allegany; — P. and G.
P. -Ontario and Yates ;- P. and G. P. -Wayne. In this plan it is confidently
behevod the interests of Author, Publisher and Purchaser, will he made to harmonize,
it obviates the necessity of a large work of two volumes, and a high price, fatal to that
general sale that a loeal work must have, within its scope, to remunerate the labor of
Its preparation and defray the necessary expenses attending it. While the citizens of
Monroe, for instance, will have all the general history of Phelps and Gorham's
Purchase, i.nd Morris' Keserve — 493 octavo pages — brought down to a late Pioneer
period ; they will not be under the necessity of purchasing at an an enhanced price,
the mere local history of other counties. The only alteration there will ^le in the main
body of tho work, m the subsequent volumes announced, will be<he correction of
any material errors that are discovered; but there will be in each one of them the
' Supplenient," or "Extension," of the Pioneer history of the counties, as in this in-
stance — Monroe.

The historical works which have been essential to the author's purposes, other than
those duly credited, are : —Conquest of Canada, Travels of the Duke De la Roche-
foucault Liancourt, Mary Jomison or the White Woman, History of Schoharie His-
tory of Onondaga, History of Rochester. '

B^ There are no illustrations : — partly because the are not essential to liistorv
but mamly because they enhance the cost beyond wiiat the sa'.s of any local work
will warrant. Ihe leading object ha.s been in the mechanical execution of the work
to furnish a large amount of reading matter, in a plain, neat and substantial manner at
^ ^iSl.T'^^'.TrJ^ , ^^'i^C'*'' ^* "^^^^ probably be conceded, has been accomplished.

1^ It will be observed, that little is said of the early history of Steuben In an
early stage of the preparation of the wor'- the author was apprised that a local histo-
ry oi that county, was preparing for the press.

|lt«~Errors in names, in lates, in facts, wDl undoubtedly be discovered De-
pending upon memories often infirm, one disagreeing with another, labor, weeks and
months of careful research, could not wholly guard against them. O" With reference
to the future enterprises announced, the author will be thankful for any corrections
that may be commumcated to him personally, or through the mails.

PART FIRST.

CHAPTER I.

BEIEF NOTICES OP EARLY COLONIZATION.

It was one hundred and sixteen years after ihe discovery of
America by Columbus, before the occupancy of our race was tend-
ing in this direction, and Europeans had made a permanent stand
upon the St. Lawrence, under the auspices of France and Cham-
plain. In all that time, there had been but occasional expeditions
to our northern Atlantic const, of discovery, exploration, and
occasional brief occupancy ; but no overt act of possession and
dominion. The advent of Chamfllain, the founding of Quebec, from
which events we date French colonization in America, was in 160S.
One year previous, in 1607, an English expedition had entered the
Chesapeake Bay and founded Jamestown, the oldest En^'^lish settle-
ment in America. In 1009, Henry Hudson, an Englishman, in the
employ of the East India Company of Holland, entered the bay
of the river that bears his name, and sailed up the river as far as
Albany. In 1621, permanent Dutch colonization commenced at
New- York and Albany. In 1620 the first English colonists com-
menced the permanent occupancy of New England at Plymouth.

In tracing the advent of our race to our local region, French
colonization and occupancy, must necessarily, take precedence.
Western New- York, from an early period after the arrival of Cham-
plain upon the St. Law.ence, — until 1759, — for almost a century
and a haU' formed a portion of French Canada, or in a more ex-
tended geographical designation, of New France.

France, by priority of discovery, by navigators s&iling under her
flag, and commissioned by her King, in an early period of partition
among the nations of Europe, claimed the St. Lawrence and its
tributary waters and all contiguous territory, as her part of the New
World. Setting at defiance, as did England the papal bull of Pope

PHELPS AND GORHAM's PURCHASE.

Alexander VI., which conferred all of America, "its towns and
cities" included, upon Spain and Portugal, her then King, Francis
I. entered vigorously into the national competition for cofonial pos-
sessions in America. While the English and Dutch were cruizing
upon our southern and eastern coast,s, entering th^ bays, and mouths
of their rivers, hesitating and vascillating in measures of permanent
colonization ; and the Spaniards were making mixed advents of gold
huntmg and romance, upon our south-western coast; the French
were coasting off the mouth of the St. Lawrence, and unappallod by
a rigorous climate, and rough and forbidding landscapes, resolvin(r
upon colonization upon its banks. "Touch and take," was the
order of the day ; with but little knowledge of the value of the vast
region that had been discovered, of its capabilities and resources,
but such as had been gained by navigators in a distant view of the
coasts, and an occasional entrance into bays and rivers ; the splendid
inheritance was parcelled out, or cla'med by the nations of Europe,
as lightly and inconsiderately as if it had been of little worth.

The subjects of France, as it would now seem, when such a vast
field had been opened for possession ; after they had seen and heard
of more promising and congenial regions, made but a poor choice
of her share in the New World. We are left principally to con-
jecture for the explanation : First, the broad stream of the St. Law-
rence invited them to enter and explore it ; nc where were Europe-
ans met by the natives with more friendly manifestations ; and a
lucrative trade soon added to the inducements. It was a mighty
flood that they saw pouring into the ocean, with a uniformity °that
convinced them of the vast magnitude and extent of the region it
drained. Though ice-bound for long and dreary months, when spring
approached, its ^fetters gave way, and on rolled its rushing tide, a
" swift witness" that it came from congenial regions embraced in
their discovery. Beside, a " shorter route to the Indies," across this
continent, was one of the prominent and early objects of European
navigators, following the discovery of Columbus. It was in fact, a
mam object, allied perhaps with visions of precious metals ;— for
actual colonization, was at first but incidental to the leading objects.*

* Upon the shoros of the Clicp.apcnkp, upon tho Hiid«iu and St. Lawrenoi-, iui-l in
the bays ot New KnKlinul, tlic firKt inlonn;ition Houirlit after by Eiirop^-an adventure"*
ol the natives, throiiij:h the niediiini of sij^nsjiad reference to the directions fronnvhich
tne rivers flowed, and tlie existence of precious nietals.

PHELPS AND GOEHAm's PURCHASE. H

It was but a natural deduction, that the broad and deep river they
had entered from the ocean, and its tributaries, were stretched out
in a long line toward the Pacific coast.*

The progress of colonization in all the northern portion of the
contment, after discovery, was slow. What in our age, and espe-
cially where our own countrymen are engaged, would be but the
work of a year, was then the work of a century. It was before the
world had been stimulated by the example of a free government and
a free people, unincumbered by royal grants and charters, and their
odious and paralizing monopolies. It was before governments had
learned the simple truths that some of them are yet slow in appre-
ciating that the higher destinies of our own race are onlv to be
worked out in the absence of shackles upon the mind and the phy-
s.cal energies of the governed. It was when the good of the few
was made subservient to that of the many ; and Kings and their
favorites were central orbs around which all there was of human
energy, enterprize and adventure, was made to revolve as sattelites.
Jt was when foreign wars and conquests, and civil wars, in which
the higher interests of mankind were but little involved, wore divert-
>ng the attention of Europe from the pursuits of peace, civilization,
and their extended sphere. There was no prophet to awake the
sleeping energies of the Old World to an adequate conception of
the field of promise that was opening here;-no one to even fore-
shadow all that was hidden in the womb of time; and had there
been, there would have been unfolded to Kings and Potentates,
little for their encouragement; but how much to man, in all his
noblest aspirations, his looking forward to a better time '

When colonization, such as contemplated permanent occupation
finally commenced, it was in a measure, simultaneous, upon our
northern coast.. Two powerful competitors started in the race

•iH' idoa that ll.rro \^^^' \n^^t:tu'''^T t" buvebeeu prepossess.,! witl,
..et.ml .liscovery a ul a qu So "^ ''"' l^^'"""^Satf.l of wlmt in our day is

PHELPS AND GOKHAm's PURCHASE.

for possession and dominion in America ; and a third was awakened
and became a competitor. While as yet the Pilgrim Fathers were
refugees ni Germany, deliberating as to where should be their
assylum, appalled by all the dangers of the ocean and an inhospita-
ble dime, and at times half resolving to go back and brave the per-
secution from which they had fled; — while as yet there was but
one feeble colony, upon all our southern coast, and the rambling
Do Soto and the romantic Ponce de Leon had been but disai)pointed
adventurers in the south-west; the adventurous Frenchmen had
entered the St. Lawrence and planted a colony upon its banks ;
had erected rude pallisades at Quebec and Montreal, and were
making their way by slow stages in this direction. Halting at
Kingston, (Frontenac) they struck off across Canada by river^and

inland lake navigation — carrying their bark canoes over portages

and reached Lake Huron ; then on, amid hostile tribes, until thev
had explored and made missionary and trading stations upon Lake's
Michigan and Superior, the upper waters of the JMississippi, and the
Illinois rivers.

Jn all the French expeditions to the St. Lawrence, previous to that
of Champlain, there is little interest save in those of Jaques Cartier.
In his second one, in 1535, with three ships, and a large number
of accompanying adventurers he entered the St. Lawrence and
gave it its name ; giving also, as he proceeded up the river, names
to other localities which they yet bear. Arrived at the Island of
Orleaas, he had a friendly interview with the natives. In a previ-
ous voyage he had seized and carried to France, two natives, who,,
returning with him somewhat instructed in the French laniruHge^
now acted as his interpreters, and gave a favorable account to their
people of those they had been with, and the country they liad seen.
Proceeding on, he anchored for the winter, at " Stadacona," after-
wards called Quebec. Here he v;as met by an Indian chief, Dona-
cona, with a train ot five hundred natives who welcomed his arri-
val. The Indians giving Cartier intimation that a kirtrer vilhirre
than theirs lay farther up the river. With a picked crew of thirty-
five armed men he a.scended the river, had friendly interviews with
the natives upon its banks. Arriving at the present site of Man.
treal, he found an Indian village called Ilochelnga. which "stood in
the midst of a great field of Indian corn, was of a circular form,
containing about fifty large huts, each fifty paces long and from'

PJIELPS AOT) GORIIAm's PUECIIASE. Ig

iburfeen to fifteen wide, all built in the shape of tunnels forned of
wood, and covered with birch hnrt • tl..^ ii ^ ,'. '^™^^ ^^

seven] rnnm. ^^'^^ t^ifch baik , the dwellings were divided into

nres bu.ned. Three rows of pallisad-^s encircled the town with

th'oirrriTd r^'"^\'^^ '-''-''' ^^- '- wiK>ie L;:;:'

the outc. nng of defence, there was a gallerv, approached by ili.hts

resist attack. * The strangers were entertained with fetes and

to Jaqucs Cartier. who m the simple minds of the natives possessed

some supernatural power over disease, which he dLc a:imed ut

he p,ous adventurer "read aloud part of the Gospel of S John

and made the sign of the cross over the sufferers " '

parting uuh ns newly acquired acquaintances at Hochela^. In
- absence the intense cold had come upon his people un-TpaJ;

UK or less allectcd. The kind natives gave him a remcdv that

tfa IftTT-^ ^'--P^^^^^-P-P-dtoretur^rF;^
AS It al of the first mtervievvs of our race with the natives were to
be signa ly marked by acts of wrong and outrage, as n ea mesl of
the whole catalogue that was to follow, under pretence "ha "e|ad

c Pt "s and tl ^ ' ^ "/'"^ ^'" ''"■^^^' ^«"''^-"'^' t'^« fo'--

toTk 1^; t" I ": ''^"t', "' '""'^'"^ ^'"'" ^" ^--^ his vessels,

k ml t e u 'en T' ",'? ^^'"^ '^'^''S^^-'' i^ has been said, by a

Kind tieatment that reconciled them to their flite

lie expedition had found no "gold nor silver" and for that re.
son disappointed their patron, the King, and the peoi of F .ce

n ir ;::^h ' ^^^ ^^'^'^ ^^ ^"^^"-^^^ ^^ a n-goLi 0^1^.^ t

Idtl^ ;:;•"' '^'.^^'-^-hle repots of an he had seen and
enou'ho F 1? 'll ^^''"^^^"'^. «« «oon as he had acquired

of t^ bl tv " \ ' " '"'f'^^'' " "^"'"••"«'' «" ^''at had been said
otl, beauty, richness and salubrity of his native country " The

chief, however, sickened and died ^'

The next commission to visit the new dominions of France, was

* CoiKiucut of Canada.

t A decoction of tlie loaf anu tlie bark of tJio fir tree.

PHELPS AND GORIIAm's PURCHASE.

Is i

granted to Jean Francois de la Roche, with Jaques Cartier as his
second ni command. It was formidable in its organization and
equipment; after a series of disasters : — the arrival of Cartier,
upon his old grounds; a reconciling of the Indian.^ lo his outrage,
a winter of disease and death among his men; a failure of de°la
Koche to arrive in season ; it returned to France to add to a war in
which she had just then engaged, reasons for suspending colonial
enterprises. Almost a half century succeeded for French advents
to become but a tradition upon the banks of the St. Lawrence.

How like a vision, in all this time, must those advents have seemed
vvith the simple natives ! A strange people, with all that could excite
their wonder : — the'.- huge ships, their loud mouthed cannon, whose
sounds had reverberated upon the summits of their mountains, in
their vallies, and been re-echoed from the deep recesses of their
forests ; with their gay banners, and music, and all the imposing at-
tendants of fleets sent out by the proud monarch of a showy and
ostentatious nation of Europe ; who had addressed them in an un-
known tongue, and by signs and symbols awed them to a contempla-
tion of a Great Spirit, other than the terrible Manitou of their sim-
pie creed; who had showed them a "book" in which were revela-
tions they had neither "seen in the clouds nor heard in the winds;"
whose advent had been a mixed one of conciliation and porfid": —
who had given them a taste of "strong water," that had steeped
their senses in forgetfulness, or aroused their fiercest passions. All
this had come and gonr-, began and ended, and left behind it a vacu-
um, of mingled wonder, amazement and curiosity; and of darkfore-
bodmgs of evil, if there was some kind spirit, caring for their future
destiny, to foreshadow to them the sequel of all they had witnessed.
Would the pale faced strangers come again ? — Would their lost ones
be restored to reveal to them the mysteries of those wondrous
advents; and tell them of all things they had seen in that far off
land, the home of the strangers ? These were the anxious enquiries,
the themes around their council fires, in their wigwams, when they
held communion with their pagan deities, or asked the moon and the
stars to be the revelators of hidden things. One generation passed
away and anoth-r succeeded, before the mysterious strangers came.

T)hUr«,nn vn li ,J f ^^ ^'T r ""^ ^''^'^'V tl'e advents c? Cartier nnd Clmm-
fc mil ;J '''I'^l'"" ','« "1 l"i-'''H'lj fi^licrmon and traders, Kt'iiendly coastin- off New
Foundland, occasionally entered the St. Lawre.ice and traded with the natives

PlIELl'S AKD OOKIIAil's PUT^CIIASE. 15

first to conciliate their favor by offering themselves as allies; then
to wrest from them empire and dominion.

The first expedition of Champlain was in 1603 and '4 The ac
counts of them possess but little interest. In 1G08, equipped by his
patrons for an expedition, having principally in view the fur trade, he
extended his own views to the addition of permanent colonization
and missionary enterprize. Arriving at Quebec, he erected the firsi
±.uropean tenements upon the banks of the St. Lawrence The In
dians with whom Cartier had cultivated an acquaintance, were re-
duced to a few in number, by removal, famine and disease Re-
maining at Quebec through a severe winter, relieving the neccessi-
ties of the Indians, his own people suffering under an attack of the
scurvy, Champlain in 1609, accompanied by two Frenchmen and
a war party of the natives, went up tlia St. Lawrence, and struck off
to the Lake that still bears his name. The war party that accom-
panied him. were of the Algonquins and Hurons, of Canada, who were
then at war with the Iroquois. Their object was invasion of the Ir-
oquois country, and Champlain, from motives of policv had become
their ally. Upon the shores of a lake to which he ga^'e the name of
St. Sacrament-afterwards called Lake George-the party met a
war party of two hundred Iroquois ; a battle ensued, the tide c^ it was
as uusual, turning in flivor of the wariike and almost every where
conquering Iroquois, when Champlain suddenly made his appearance,
v.t his two Frenchmen and the first fire from their arquebuses, kil-
led two of the Iroquois chiefs, and wounded a third. The Iroquois
dismayed, as well by the report and terrible effect of new weapons
of war, as by the appearance of those who bore them, held out but
httle longer; fled m disorder; were pursued, and many of them killed
and taken prisoners. This was the first battle cf which history gives
us any account, in a region where armies have since often met -
And It marks another era the introduction of fire arms in battle," to
the natives, in all the northern portion of this continent. They had
now been made acquainted with the two elements that were destined

TheltdT't^r^''^'^'"';; '^^'''" ^^^ ^^^'^^^ extermination
They had tasted French brandy upon the St. Lawrence, English rum
upon the s^iores of the Chesapeake, and Du.ch gin, up^n the ba'k"
of he Hudson. They had seen the mighty engines, one of which
was to conquer them in battle and the other was to conquer them
m peace councils, where cessions of their domains were involved

PIIELP8 AND GOKUAM's PUECHASE.

Champlain returned to France, leaving a small colony at Quebec-
was invited to an audience, and had favor with the Kin-r. who be-
stowed upon all this region, the natn^ of New Franco.* Cham-
plain visited his infant colony again in KJIO. and 1013, recruiting it,
and upon each occasion going himself to battle with his neifriil'rors
and allies against the Iroquois. In ICloa company of merchants in
France, having procured a charter from the King, which embraced
all of French interests in Ni^^v Trance, gave to Champlain the prin-
cipal direction of their aflliirs. Having attende. to the temporal
affairs of the colony, the conversion of the natives, bv Catliolic
missionaries, engaged his attention. Four missionaries of the order
of Recollcts were enlisted. These were the first missionaries in
Canada, and the first upon all our Atlantic coast, with the exception
of some Jesuit missionaries that had before reached Nova Scotia.
Leaving the large recruit of colonists he brought out at Quebec^
where he found all things had gone well in his absence, the intrepid ad-
venturer, and soldier as he had made himself, pushed on to Montreal,
and joined again a war party of his Indian allies, against the Iroquois.'
The Iroquois were this time conquerors. Defea^t had lessened the
importance of Champlain in the eyes of his Indian allies, and they
even refused him and his few followers, a guide back to Quebec,
although he had been wounded. Remaining for the winter an
unwilling guest of his Indian allies, he improved his time, as soon as
his wounds would allow of it, in visiting more of the wild region of
Canada. In the spring he returned to Quebec, and in July, to
France.

For several succeeding years, Champlain visited and revisited the
colony, extending and strengtheningit; encountering vicissitudes in
France consequent upon the breaking up and change of proprietor-
ships ; his colony subjected to attacks from the Iroquois whom he

* OiarlovoLv.

Jond, u;vu,,„noy„t tins r.-mr, _ f ). ]I. Marshall. Esq. „f HufFal. — t,. asantn w "re

Champ am and lus In,l,a„ allios „,va,l..,i 11,,. (crrilo/v ,.f ,ho Ir„.j,.oi.s. T .y c "ue

ac )..s tho 1 .uvr ond ot Lake ()„fari„, an,! passinjn tlnm.frh what is now .M\wlm2d

sw,.,^,. ro,,n1„.s, cr„ss«l tJ.o Onoi,lo Lak. luul attacked the 0„on,lai,a.s at Ih ■ pHn-

rxn^lf^ l,f^^ .• ''!" """"'•■■' S'"'"^'' "" "'iviinta-o ; and Champlain who

PHELPS AND GORIIAm's PURCHASE.

had injudiciously made his implacable enemies. Still, French colo-
nization in New France slowly progressed, and trading establish-
ments were multiplied. In 1(523 a stone Fort was erected at Quebec
to protect the colonists against the Iroquois, and a threatened rndof
amicable relations with the Ilurons and Algonquins. In 1G25, 'G,
the first Jesuit missionaries came out from France, among them were
names with which we become familiar in tracing the first advents of
our race in Western New York and the region of the Western
Lakes.

In 10-27 the colonization of New France was placed upon a new
fooling, by the organization of the "Company of One Hundred Asso-
ciates." Their charter gave them a monopoly in New France, and
attempted to prothote ci.ristianization and colonization, both of which
had been neglected by making the fur trade a principal object. The
"Company" engaged to introduce 16,000 settlers before 1643.—
Before the advent of this new association, the colony had become
but a feeble one ; the Indians had become hostile and kept the French
confined to their small settlements, at times, to their fortifications.
Hostilities having commenced between France and England, the
first vessel sent out by the Associates fell into the hands of the
English. An English expedition after destroying the French trading
establishment at T.idoussac, on the Sagenay, sent a demand for the
surrender of Quebec. Champlain replied in a manner so spirited
and determined as to delay the accack, until the English force was
increased. In July 1629 an English fleet appeared, and demanded
a surrender which Champlain with his reduced and feeble means
of resistance was obliged to obey. The terms of capitulation se-
cured all private rights of the French colonists, and most of them
remained. Champlain, however, returned to France. It was a
siege and capitulation in miniature, that after the lapse of more than
a century, was destined to be the work of concentrated armies and
navies, and weeks of fierce contest.

English possession was surrendered by treaty in 1632. At the
period of this small conquest :— "the Fort of Quebec, surrounded by
a score of hastily built dwellmgs and barracks, some poor huts on
the Is-land of Montreal, the like at Three Rivers and Tadoussac,
and a few fishermen's log houses and huts on the St. Lawrence,
wore the only fruits of the discoveries of Verrazano, Jaques Cartier,
Roberval and Champlain, and the great outlay of La Roche and

I' i

PHELPS AND GORHAM's PURCHASE.

a'^LfC''"' ''' '"'^ '"' "^"^"Ss of their followers, fornearly

of Ser£n ''^"'^ ^" '"''• ^^"'"^ '^^^^ re-appointed Governor

cllTts and"'. "'"' ' '"; """'^ of Missionary and other
colonists, and gave a new impulse to colonial enterprise • settle-

"s flrmfrat O \"r^^"'^ ^^"^^^' w.thrich'endo«s
was tormed at Quebec, for the "education of youth andthemnvpr

the /ounder of French colonization in New Fiance, to whose perse
veranee courage, and fortitude, France was indebted for lefoo '
hold she had gamed upon this continent, died, and was "buri d in the'
oily of which he was the founder." t

Montmagny succeeded Champlain. Deprived of much of the
patronage from the Associates that he had reason to expect, the work
of colonization progressed but slowly during his alin straZn
winch continue until 1047. Trade, advanced settlement ;„„:

pr L h'ad'a „' "r r''°=""' '"' "'"'""'^^ ^""^ educa.ionalfn er-

w founded Th n'rr""^ ^^"'"^' "-'Q-bec,a college
waslounded. The Dutchess de Arguillon founded the Hotel Die^,
and Ma ame de la Pel.rie, the convent of the Ursulins The las,'

gio^ ai^i: T'™? ™ ""'"'■ "''«' ''"'■■ ^ ^-"'- "> her e '

n"w Wnu .r P''°P''S"°'- "' i'- She came hers, ' "to the

r,7. ;r " ™^«l"''"^''''™, accompanied byUrsulines

ofLt°rr r"r?"'"™°"'™"'p'™°-'y-*'thewto;'

of Lo«r Canada. Such was the eclat that attended the advent o^
the noble patron and her followers, who had left all the refinement"
ga ties and luxuries of France, to take up their abode upon . ,e w" d'

sTgnatdCa : l"" "'"' "• ^''™"'=^' '^'" ">-> -iv Z"
signalized by a public reception, with military and religious observan-

ma!!' °"'°'' T^r' '™"" ""''" 'he administration of Mont-
Foifthere™'''. '""""'■'=" "' Montreal, and the building of a
Foit there and at the mouth of the Richlieu, as out.posls a<.ainst ^le
Iroquo-. whosmce they had become exasperated by Champ ai"
made Ircjuent attacks upon the French settlements. A threat reth

* Conquest of Canada.

.i£:t= -r;xiKr £ s^:a^^^^^^^

PHELPS AND GOBHAm's PURCHASE. 10

ed the ears of Montmagny that they would "drive the white man into
the sea, and becoming convinced of the powers of the wild warriors
^.'hose strength he had no meansof estimating, he sought the means
of es abiishing a peace with then., in which he was encouraged by his
neighbors the Hurons, who were worn out, and their number's re-
duced, by long wars with their indefatiguable adversaries The -ov
ernor and the Huron chiefs met deputies of the Iroquois at Three
Itivers, and concluded n peace.

M. d' Ailleboust who had held a command at Three Rivers was
the successor of Montmagny, and continued as Governor until ier.o'
The peace with the Iroquois gave a spur to missionary enterprise
and trade, both of which were extended.

During the administration of Montmagny, missionaries and traders
had followed the water courses of Canada, and reached Lake Hu-
ron where they had established a post. From that distant point,
in 1640, came the first of our race that ever trod upon the soil of
Western Nevy lorlc, and left behind them any record of their ad-
vent. * On the 2d day of November, 1040. two .Jesuit Fathers.
Brebeauf and Chaumonot, left their mission station at St. Marie
on the nver Severn, near Lake Huron, and came upon the Nia^^ara
nver. both sides of which were occupied by the Neuter NatiJn. f
Ihey found this nation to consist of 12,000 souls, having 4,000
vva^Tiors, and inhabiting forty villages, eigliteen of which the mis-
sionaries visited. They were, say these Fathers :_" Larger
s ronger, and better formed than our Hurons." " The men Tike
all savages, cover the=r naked flesh with skins, but are less par'ticu-

Neuter Nation. If tliis is so he J^lZ"ti^.! V-^ ^ tlie winter ut IG^ti „n.,.n-r the
The period is earlier Ln we em w^I«,f^ wnten.un who saw Western New York,
so fa.- away fro,n tl.e S irenN „no '^71 '''"■" '""''' ^''^:^^*" »"/ J''»'"chn,a„
tl.e tlien utter hostility o the Imq^ / '^tHl tfe'"'^ osp.e.ally wlu., wo eonsid.,
as this have tolerated! few miS a^s ^ fti^""™ '''^'"^'' ■" ^'""" ""'^ -^-^ly

the west side of the N a.^ni river it wtv,^^ Lake Eno and a wide strip om
«'ere at, war, and they we e neutnls iT^tl,;,!""- «>•""',"'• ^j''il^«'"-nm„dini, nation,
and Chanmorot, the/we,.^d s w^,^ V'"' ^"'^'^ "^ "'•'-■'^«'"f

as we found it-a pit of ttC ,fo Th i w'^l''''^ ^ r!' ''" '>-'"" '^''^^'»°^^' "
the fury of the Iroquois, thev fina Iv n .!, ,^ "'?• ^■■'•^'? Clinrlevoix ; _ " To avoid
cothi.-,; by the union T o r>nn„ J r'f ,'.*'" "S'^lv'-s a-ainst the Hurons, hut mined
^■■.tiafui, c/ostroy d aU thl canic^ H. ';' ''v': ^'"'f ^^i^'^r' '''"^^ Wood.' can ?iot hi
of the Neuter :N^atioii." '''^' ' '""^ "^ ""^ '^"y ^'^^c remains no trac-

PHELPS AND GORUAm's PURCHASE.

It'

lar than the Ilurons in conceaHng what should not appear." " The
Squau-s are ordmarily clothed, at least from the waist to the knees-

They have Indian corn, bean... and .j^ourds in equal abundance-
|.lso, plenty of fi.h They are much employed in huntin.de.^ buf-'
hdo, wild cats, wolves, wild boars, beaver, and other animals. It is
rare to see snow m th. country more than half a foot deep But
tins year, it ,s more than three feet." Th. Rev. Fathers found our
remote predecessors here upon the soil of Western New York
with the exception of one village, unfavorable to the mission they'
were upon, and intent upon which they had braved all the ri^^ors
of the season, and a long forest path which they soon reiraeed^'

tu.be 'wl-N^fT" •"'" "'"'■"" '' "^^"^^'^ ^'--^ -du-
mbed woik.., fresh, as it were, Irom the Creator, and bearing

he mipress of His bands-and we may well suppose they were'
lor t„ey had come fro. > cloistered halls and high ats of iLlZ'
and relmeinent-h,..v must their eyes have been satlJed in : eS
ol he panorama ot lakes and forests, hills and plains, rushin. tor-
rents, water- falls, and the climax in their midst -1 the mighty°clta
-^ of I^K,gara, thundering in its solitude! Who woulcT^ w^

t ';:^^f ".-^-""V'"'" - "' '''''' '^ P^^'-P^ -- ratio "1
tlwu he could enjoy such a scene as Western New York then was ^

T .treaty with the Iroquois had but suspended their ho i uLs

In Cia they were again out upon their war-j.aths upon the banks

station of the small settlement of St. Jo.seph Whon ihn U

'Id men l,owo,„o„ and children, collec.ed for reli-io,,, scrvico .
party o Iroq„o,« „„,„ up„„ ,hem and massacred <& l^^n^
«s probably ,l,o (irs.of a series of martyrdoms that aw lied he
■losuit missionaries. In the carlv mn ,.r i,mo ,i ''""''so '"e
.cl, upon ,.o vi„a,os.„f the Ill^'l: e ly' tZ, ■ :?"£

.uofupon, n,, X*s: ;■; "■ '"r -^^^ van at.

;and, .ith their <^^^s^::^^ :.:^;::^2:^"y:::^ '^:^;i

the war-club, had visited the Hurons "Most of tho r

conqaerois, and were received into their nation. The few

PnEu.s ASL oouium's PunonAsE. 2I

flushed will, their victories over .heir mvn L r °''''"'"»-

Wdor and n,„ro delermine.l t, Tv ,1 T '"'i'™' K"'-

^oprded . intruder. : zt:\x.r:^zi::/^ p-

U,e ConrederacA^ion;::, irFirero' ^r.t^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ "'

a"^«j...^;:i::it;':;::;t:=:,;::r-''-'

In 10.8, V,.seount d'ArRuson succeeded M de Liuson Tl

rFTetrr' ";; '■'if^™-'--- - si,™,i.'d J;: :..: :

a. Tl, ee RKert w^' fr'^T'r " '"''"' "^ » ^™'' °'' M°l'-vk^

™ij^:^i;r:r^?h:Shr<:^Xu:ir;:;;::

a„J",l,e'''F ■ " ','"' '^.""'■""'' '^™'' O"'-'!''' Baron dAv„„„„r_
: ,i T'l ' r"7V'": '""'""^'' •■>■ ••"' '-P».-.».iOn°o 400

C if f 7n Q""''^'^ I'--"' "O"- l>a.. appoimed_M.de
Monts. lie found all spiritual and len,p„ral ell 'rts liU-Iy to he

eo omsts, that d Av ajour had alloued. The Bishop hastened to
r.anee, represented the evil to the Kin?, and cami hae ' whi,

ahe.t '■<! "cu- Governor proved a tyrant, thwarted the mis.
Mo^,anes^,||,„,o , general disrepute, and was soon roealled

• Conquest of Cauacla,

£Sss»'£^a:rsr=ffl,S^'c-™i3;»?r

■

PHELPS Axn gorham's purchase.

1.1 l(i03, tl.o company of Associates relinquished all their rights

transferred to the West India Coinpa-

in Ae

\v F

lance, which were

ly. In this year, all that :

the C

Wester

now
\e\v York, was visited by a tremendous earthquake. *

M. de Tracy came out as Governor under the West India Com-
pany in 1005, bringing with him a recruit of soldiers, and soon
nith the aid ot Indian allies, intimidated the Iroquois. A larrre'
•lumber ot families, artisans and laborers, were added to the colony
=md lorts were built at the mouth of the Richlicu. In December'
the Senecas, Cayugas, and Onondagas, sent deputations sueinrr for
peace and an exchange of prisoners, which was readily a^rreed up-
-Mi. Tne Mohawks and Oneidas still holding out, after sending out
an expedition against them that imncipally failed, M. de Trac'V at
tbe head of 1200 French soldiers and 000 Indian allies, encounter-
ed al the vicissitudes of a long march through the wilderness ; in
which his army suffered for the want of food, and were only
saved from starvation by subsisting upon chestnuts. Arrivin-^ /t
the villages of the Moliawks, he found them principally deser'ted.
J he finale of the formidable expedition wrts the burnincr of the
-Afohawk cabins, and the killing of a few old men and women +
Little of glory, and much of suffering, loss and disgrace, were the

Iruits of the expedition. M. de Tracy returned to France, and the

government devolved on M. de Courcelles.

Peace with the Iroquois ensued, and a brief season was allowed

for the progress of settlement and the promotion of agriculture.
The administration of M. de Courcelles was vigorous and well con-

ducted. Learning that the Iroquois were endeavoring to persuade
he Western Indians to trade with the English, he menaced them

with a formidable attack; to make amends fbr murders of Iroquois

..y Frenchmen, he had led out and executed, the offenders, in view

of those whose friends had been the victims ; and by other acts of

from 16C3? Some n, t ons offl?^ ^tica.n. sl.all Ave not say tliat all iliis datcH

to. of f^t, ti. j^ui; iS:;t;it t::;s^^:^^-^^^^^' ■ ^-^ - "" -^■

^^^t The French found corn enongh buried in pite to have suppUcd the Mohawks for

PHELPS AND OonilAM's PUECIIASE. 23

conciliation preserved peaee. A war broke out between the
Iror|uo,s and Otlawas, and he interfered and made peaee
About tl„s period, the small pox, always a most f i,-b,ful seource

ul tb" .",;'" "■"" ' ■"■"'" "'" "•"""" ••'" "■» allies o he f3
upon the St. Lawrenee and the interior of Canada. In so™ inrn
OS whole tnbes were exterminated ; the vie.ims were enTmeS
by^thousands; ,„ one ,„lage near Quebee, they atnounted to fifl

Near the close ofM. de Courcelles administration, in 1671 hv

western Lakes, a grand couned was convened at the Falls of St
Z7i :„;" '" ^"r^'snty ofthe King of France wa knowK
edged, and a cross, bearing his arms, was set up

cnu"al irall ?Jl!- ''''°""°'":' " "■"■"'^ """""">' of Champlain, his
equal m all, and h,s superior m many respects ; advanced in a.e bat
v^orous, arburarjvn ail his designs and ...ovements ; too t e r^
of government m New France, and in many respects created an w
era. Following out the plans of his subordinate, M. Talon, an exne
d.t,on was set on foot to explore the "great river," the "Me hasepe "
.n he dialect of the western tribes, of which but va^ue and Li
finite Ideas had been gained of the natives. Mar„„«.ra Jest
Missionary, with Joliet, and other attendants, set outlom S. Mar"
and veachmg the Miami, obtained from ,hem two natives a guWs
Thy struck upon the waters of Fox River, and descendin/rem
crossed the short portage, and descended upon the waters" of X'
Wisconsin River to :ts confluence with the Mississippi Their

llL u u ""' """^ ™"l 'l-ey came to a villa.re of the
fflnois where they were " kindly and hospitably received." ° Tl e x
pedition, fa hng m with none but friendly natives, went as fa down
as below the mouth of the Arkansas, where, hearin.la he rivc^

mpt.ed Itself into the Gulf of Mexico, instead of the PacMc as th.v
fe^ .ondly hoped ; and fearing that they might fall inioZC^Jf
"^e Sjxm^ds^hey^^t^^ c-onimencing missbnty

<Wsa, h„o faital tl„.,„ i, ^ 1™],]™ li. „' ,''■''' ™'"'"',' i"™M»I in other

Ijlex,,,,,, or rather ,h„ ,«,„„ „f,te ,V , dmt-S f, ,;,''Z; V """1"'"4 '» «« com-
lL.-.t prevoiila the illsciso l.reakhit o« .™ J i™. ,,,,»' ','! ""' '"?■ '° " lo"Sl>»<»»

¥'

•24:

PlIELPS AND GOEIIAm's PURCHASE.

labors among the Miamis, and Jolict carrying?- the news of their dis-
coveries to Quebec. These were the lirst of our race that saw the
upper Mississippi and its vast tributaries. The pajrcs of general his-
tory that tell of the hazardous journey ; that recounts the impressions
made upon the mind of Marquette, who had a mind to appreciate all
he saw in that then vast and hitherto unexplored wilderness of prairie
and forest, inland seas, and wide rivers ; is one of peculiar attractions.
Few historical readers will fail to peruse it. The name of a county
in Illinois, and a village, perpetuates the names, and the memories of
Marquette and Joliet.

ADVENTURES OF LA SALLE-TUE FIRST SAIL VESSEL Ui'UN THE

UrPER LAKES.

'. i

Previous to the western advent of Marquette and Joliet, La Salle,
a young Frenchman of ample fortune, after completing his educa-
tion, with, all the religious enthusiasm peculiar to the disciples of
Loyola, mixed with a spirit of adventure then so rife in Fiance, had
crossed the ocean, pushed on beyond the farthest French settle-
ments upon the St. Lawrence, an., become the founder of Frontenac,
now Kingston, the ownership of which was conferred upon him by
his King with the rank of nobility. The grant was in fact, that of a
wide domain, with some exclusive privileges of Indian trade.

When Marquette and Joliet returned, they took Frontenac in their
route, and found the young adventurer in tlic midst of his enterprises,
drawing around him missionaries, traders, agriculturalists — the pa-
froon ot one of the most flourishing settlements of New France.—
Listening to their accounts of the vast beautiful region they had
seen, its broad Lakes, wide prairies — and with especial interest to
their story of the "Great River,"-he resolve<l upon following
up their discoveries, by a new route, and extending French (hmin"
,ion across the entire continent. Ilcturning to France, with ll).
^ information he had obtained from various sources, his earnest impor-
. tunities inspired the king and his minister, Colbert, with confidence
and a commission of discovery was granted him. The object as
expressed in the commission, was, " to discover the western portion of
our country of New France," and the suggestion was made, that
through It a passage might be found to Mexico. The rxpndiiion

'f their dis-
at saw the
eneral his-
npressions
^rcciatc all
s of prairie
ttractions.
t' a county
imories of

L'UN TUE

La iSalle,
lis ediica-
'ciplcs of
mce, had
2h settle-
rontenac,
n fiim by

that of a
e.

c in their
terprises,
— the pa-
*ance. —
hey had
itercst to
bllowitirr
lidoniin-
with Ihe
it impor-
ifidcnce,
bjcct, as
Drtion of
:ie, that
["edition

PHELPS AND GORIIAm's PURCHASE. 25

was to be at his own expense, and that of his associates ; their pros-
pective remuneration, a restricted monopoly of trade with the natives.
With an Italian named Tonti, Father Hennepin, a number or
mechanics and mariners, naval stores, and goods for the Indian
trade, he arrived at Frontenac in the fall of 1678, and soon after a
wooden canoe often tuns, the first craft of European architecture
that ever entered the Niagara River, bore a part of his company to
the site of Fort Niagara. La Salle, followed soon after with a sail
vessel, in which he had a stock of provisions, and materials for ship
building; crossed the Lake, coasted along its .southern shore, entered
the mouth of the Genesee River or the Irondequoit Bay, and visited
some of the villages of the Senecas to reconcile them to his enterprise ;
and on his way from the Genesee to the Niagara River, encountered
a gale and lost his vessel, saving but a part of his cargo. Arrived at
Niagara, he erected some rude defences, established a post, and at
Lewiston erected a trading station with pallisades. Late in Janu-
ary the business of ship building was commenced at the mouth of
Cayuga creek, six miles above the Falls of Niagara. In mid winter
the neccessity occurring, the intrepid adventurer, on foot, made the
jom-ney to Frontenac, around the head of the Lake, returnincr on the
ice along the northern shore, with a dog and sledge for the transpor-
tation of his baggage.

_ It was fortunate, perhaps, that during the ship's building, the war-
riors of the Senecas were principally drawn ofTin anexpcdition against
some ot the western enemies. Tho.se that remained behind, hun^r
around and watched the operations at Niagara as well as at the
place of ship building. In consequence of their remonstrances, what
was intended as the commencement of a Fort at Niagara, had to be
abandoned and a "habitation surrounded with pallisades" substitu-
te!; and they were almost constantly annoying the shipbuilders.
The missionary, Hennepin, by mild persuasion, and the display of the
emblems ot the foith he was propagating, would seem to have aided
much in reconciling the natives to these strange movement.^ they

espjiuiuhun.

PHELPS AND GORIIAM's PUKCIIASE.

;l J

were w. nessmg. Becom.ng discouraged, surrounded with dangers,
the ship builders were once upon the point of desertion to the EnHish
settlements upon the Hudson, but were encournged bv the pious
missionary m "exhortations on holidays and Sundays "after divine
service. He told them that tlie enterprise had sole "reference to
the promotion of the glory of God, and the welfare of the christian
colonies. On one occasion, while the vessel was upon the stock.
a scheme, the Senecas had devised for burning it, was frustrated by'
the timely warning of a friendly squaw.

All these difficulties were surmounted, and when the River and
Lake had become clear of ice, a vessel of sixty tons burthen, was
ready for the water. It was " blessed according to our Church of
Home, ana launched under the discharge of artillerv, accompanied
by the chaunting of the Te Deum ; the Senecas fooking on with
amazement, declaring the ship builders to be " Ot-kons,» men with
penetrating minds." Some weeks followed of preparation for the
voyage; tnps by water were made to Frontenac ; trading parties
went to the principal villages of the Senecas ; and the Niagla Riv
er was explored to see how the vessel was to be got into Lake Erie
In the mean time the warriors of the Senecas returned from the
vvestward, and their reseniments were absorbed in wonder at all
they saw ; awe, or fear perhaps, overcame their jealousies. Invited
on board the vessel and hospitably entertained, they exclaimed
"ga-nor-ron," how wonderful! ^laimea,

The vessel was named the "Griffin," in honor of Count Fronte-
nac, whose armorial bearing was the representation of two-niffins
It was equipped with sails, masts, and every thing ready for Lvi^a-'

reV;;; w "^, ""■' ?^-^ ^^^^ ^^^"^^^ -^ two^arquebulls *
Aftei all was ready several attempts were made to ascend the Nia-

gam, befor a wind sufficiently favorable occurred to insure succ s

At as t, with much severe labor, men being often placed on sloi"

With tovv lines to assist the sails-the veLl entered Lake eZ

and on the 7th of August, IG70, accompanied by the discha,-: of cln-'

non, and the chaunting of the Te Deum, the first sail ve se w"

ton. llo says ■• .( t„ok fo r , oTL c- m v' "''/''" i ""';" '""""f'-'i"'^" »t L.^yil

to cltca- then,, the work v^JZn^^^I^,!!^^^''' ""''"''' ^"' ^''""^'^ ^'"^^ S'^ea

PIIELre AND GORIIAm's PURCHASE.

h dangers,
le English
the pious
fler divine
ference to
christian
he stock?,
3trated by

'iver and
then, was
'hurch of
Dinpanied

on with
men with
>n for tlie
g parties
;ara Riv-
vke Erie,
from the
er at all

Invited
claimed,

Fronte-

I griffins.
naviga-

ebuses.*
:he Nia-
success

II shore
e Erie,
ofcan-
-cl was

charts

(liffionlty
it Lowis-

After a protracted voyage, the Griffin cast anchor in Green Bay,
where a trade was opened with the natives and a rich cargo of furs
obtained. Late in the season of navigation, it started on Its return
voyage to the Niagara River, encountered severe gales, and the
vessel and all on board were never more heard of— their fate remain-
ing a mystery.*

^ Hennepin describing what they saw of the shores of Lakes Erie,
St. Clair and Huron, and the banks of the Detroit and St. Clair Riv-
ers, observes ;— Those who will have the good fortur;e some day to
possess the beautiful and fertile lands, will be under many obliga-
gations to us, who have cleared the way.

Anticipating the return of the ill-fkted vessel. La Salle established a
tradmg house at Mackinaw, and proceeding to the mouth of the St.
Josephs, added to a small Missionary station, under the care of Al-
louez, a trading house with pallisades, which he called the " Fort of the
Miami." Despairing of the return of the Griffin, leaving ten men to
guard the fort, with Hennepin, and two other Missionaries, Tonti, and
about thirty other followers, the impatient adventurer ascended the
St. Joseph and descended the Kankakee to its mouth. From there
he descended the Illinois to Lake Peori where he erected a fort amid
the murmuring and discontent of his followers, who deemed their
leader and his expedition ruined by the loss of the Griiiin. Yielding
temporarily to despondency, the stout hearted leader, named it For^t
Creve Crjcur, the " Fort of the Broken hearted."

Recovering his wonted energy, however, he set his men to sawing
ship plank, dispatched Hcimepin with two followers to explore the
Upper Mississipi)i, and started himself with three companions, for
Frontenac, to procure recruits, and sails and cordage for his vessel.-
The journey was made in the month of iMarch, and was one of peril and
suflering ; the route ovcrln.ad to the Niagara River, and from thence
around the head of Lake Ontario to Frontenac. New adventurers

Unlws tlio autlior was ri-ht in tlic cniidnHion he forniu.l m to its fate in a nvovimis
walk. 1 hu Jesuit Missionancs coiicliidcd that it was straiulod in a tralc, phindoml
by the natives and its ci-w niurdcivd. Sii.'h was ])rol,ablv the t-ir( :_ln 1,!<0.-) s.,in..
ot tlK> early settlers in Hanlhul•i,^ Faw e.ninty, after a seveVe blew thai bad renieved a
lara;(! bmlv »i sand and y-ravel iijien the lake sbere, tbuiid where it ha.l hevn deeply
jMiibedded, an anelmr. In later years, near the saniespot, there ha-^ been found several
luindred jviunds ot iron, sueh as would seem to have b<'en taken from a. vessel • and

near the snot, I wo rannon, the whole buried in iheVarth, and (rood sized forest trees otow
ini,' over them. There is no record, or tradition, of the lo-s of any vessel other tha
the (JrifHn at the early j.eriod in whieb thfsu relic must have been left 'where the

■were foiii'd:

PHELPS AND GOEHAM'S PUECHASE.

es^ped, and ound refuge among the Potawatomies on Lake Mi-
Returning to Green Bay, he commenced tradincr and estibh-shin^r

ovt: llntT"''" t' '''''''''-''-' -"-telhisscat™'
part of'ir^t ^ '^'"n ^r^^ ^" ^^« ^"'"^'^ ii-e'-. -d in the early
~o!t^'rl^'''''r^^^'^^^^^- He planted a
called it Tou^^^^^^^^ ^^--^ ^he country for France, and

in o?r' l''"^" '/ °^ '1^''' ^"''^"S enterprises, that have no parallel even
m our day of wondrous achievements -that paved the wav for the
occup, ,^^^ ,^ ^„ ^^^ ^^^^ ^P^.^^^ the ay f or th

sippi -IS a long chapter of disaster, of successes and reverses mosX
remote from our local region, and belonging to the pages of C^
history. In all that relates to French occunanov of' th It""^
count.y, the borders of the western Lak^: ^ft ^;a L; o,tt mT
.,ss>pp,_ especially, to the adventures of Marrmette Jolt T

tallu T"'^' Vh"' ^^"•'' '''^''^''^ h.torionr h d but et
tarn guules, andbut unsatisfactory, authentic details. Recent di
ovenes m Quebec, and among the archives of the Jesuits in Rom "
afford encouragement that with some future historian the el

tures, that led hmi oA-er the plams ot Texas, to New Mexico • that

me i unity River m Texas, on a return, overland, to Frontenac
conphshed national historian, Bancroft :-" For force of will ntj

■eturned to
is absence,
J, Father
Jwers, had
Lake Mi-

stabh'shinjT
ttered fol-
i the early
planted a
ance, and

illel even
ay for the
e Missis-
es, mostly
'f f^eneral
Genesee
the Mis-
ilief. La
tt uncer-
cent dis-
n Rome,
liese de-
)r leaves
r adven-
30 ; that
eries of
Hovvers,
>ntenac.
our ac-
r'ill and
1 of his
ty that
r afllic-
uperior

lewhat
3mark-

PHELPS AND GOEHAM's PUECHASE. 29

ed : One hundred and thirty nine years ago, the Griffin set out upon
Its voyage, passed up the rapids of the Niagara, and unfurled the first
sail upon the waters of the Upper Lakes.

Intrepid navigator and explorer! High as were hopes and ambi-
tion that could alone impel him to such an enterprise ; far seeing as
he was ; could the curtain that concealed the ^uture from his vfew,
have been raised, his would have been the exclamation :

" Visions of glory, spare my aching sight ;—
Ye unborn ages, rush not on my soul !"

He deemed himself but adding to the nominal dominions of his
King; but opening new avenues to the commerce of his country;
founding a prior claim to increased colonial possessions. He was
pioneering the way for an empire of freemen, who in process of time
were to fill the valleys he traversed ; the sails of whose commerce
were to whiten the vast expanse of waters upon which he was em-
barking!

_ How often, when reflecting upon the triumphs of steam naviga-
tion do we almost wish that it were admitted by the dispensations
of Providence that Fulton could be again invested with mortality,
and witness the mighty achievements of his genius. Akin to this,
wouk' be the wish, that La Salle could rise from his wilderness grave
in the far-off South, and look out upon the triumphs of civilization
and improvement over the vast region he was the first to explore.

Ours is a country whose whole history is replete with daring en-
terprises and bold adventures. Were we prone, as we should be
duly to commemorate the great events that have marked our pro-
gress, here and there, in fitting localities, more monuments would
be raised as tributes due to our history, and to the memory of those
who have acted a conspicuous part in it. Upon the banks of our
noble river, within sight of the Falls, a shaft from our quarries would
soon designate the spot where the Griffin was built and launched •
upon Its base, the name of La Salle, and a brief inscription that
would commemorate the pioneer advent of our vast and in'.reasincr
Lake commerce. "^

Frontenac returned to France in consequence of disagreement
with other officers of the colony, but to return again in after years
Le was succeeded by M. de la Burrc, who found the Iroquois dis-

PHELPS AND GORIIAm's PURCHASE.

posed to lean toward the English interests upon the Hudson, and
assuming again a hostile attitude toward the French. The Otta-
•as, who were the allies of the French, had killed a chief of the
.roquois ; and fronn this and other causes, they were again exaspera-
ted, and preparing for descents upon the French settlements. Hith-
er. -> the Senecas, far removed from what had been the seat of war
and almost continually waging war with those of their own race,'
had participated but little in the wars with the French. Provoca-
tions now began on their part, in the way of endeavoring to divert
trade to the English, and in warring upon the French Indian allies;
and upon one occasion, they had robbed a French trading party on
their way to Illinois.

A long series of provocations were given by the Iroquois, which
determined M. dela Barre to go against them with all the forces he
could command. He had information that a descent was to be
made upon the French settlements upon the St. Lawrence He
assembled an army of 700 Canadian militia, 130 regular soldiers,
and 200 Indian allies, in July, 1683. While coming up the St
Lawrence, he learned that the more friendly of the Iroquois nations
had prevailed upon the Senecas to listen to overtures of peace. The
English had offered their mediation, with intimations that they
would make common cause with the hostile nations of Iroquois if
the French Governor persevered in his warlike demonstrations.
M. de la Barre crossed Lake Ontario, and quartered his army at a
Bay m what is now Jefferson countv, and awaited the arrival of
peace deputies of the Iroquois. While there, the French army suf-
lered much for want of wholesome provisions, and they named the
place « La Famine," or Hungry Bay. The Indians met them, with
an Unondaga chief, Garangula, at their head. A speech was made
by the French Governor, and replied to by Garangula, in a tone
ot contempt and derision, rather than of fear or submission. * He
well knew that famine and disease had weakened the French force,
and even tantali:.ed them by allusion to their misfortunes. De la

*For n rorn'ot translation of this noted ! speed., copied from La Hontan seo
offn'i n '/'"■'■■'■■■'^^ M--- Clinton s,ud : _ " I believe it i'n.poH.sil.lo to tind i , a i the
ITn the'veir'.'™'"' "/'/''-''•"/'■■'l""-.^. ^ ^P-'^"'' "'ore . mropriate or convinoi,,,'
Liii.rtlevedot roHpcotfid profession, it conveys tlie most ()iti'iir irony: and wliiU-
i .s !pf'',l „Tm '"i V'lr *^P'""^i'' i'n^ory, it cont^.ins the most adid reasonintr," The
of tbeiiquit ' ^^^«t°'-:^«f Onondaga," regards Lim as having been the NesU,r

PHELPS AND GORIIAm's PUKCIIASE.

Ban-e, says the Baron la Hontan, who was present, " returned to his
lent much enraged at .hat he had heard." The interview ended
by a stipulation on the part of the Senecas that they would make
reparation for some alleged wrongs ; * and on the part of tlie French
Governor, that he would immediately withdraw his army. The dis-
comfitted and chagrined la Barre withdrew an army made feeble
by disease and hunger ; and upon reaching Montreal, learned that
a French force had arrived, which would have enabled him to
humble the proud warriors, and provoking orator he had met on
the wild shores of Lake Ontario.

[Of local events, the expedition of De Nonville follows next in order of time. A
brief nUimnii to it wiU be found in Mr. Hosmer's chapter upon the Senecas, and more
of it will be found in tliu Appendix, No. 2.]

The Iroquois were prompt tocairy the war home upon their in-
vaders. In November following De Nonville 's expedition, they at-
tacked the French fort on the Sorrel, and were repulsed, but they
ravaged the neighboring French settlements, and made captives.
Darkness lowered upon the French cause.

"In this same year, there fell upon Canada an evil more severe
than Indian aggression .or English hostility. Toward the end of
the summer, a deadly malady visited the colony, and carried mourn-
ing into almost every household. So great was the mortality, that
M. De Nonville was constrained to abandon, or rather defer, his
project of humbling the pride and power of the Tsonnonthouans
He had also reason to doubt the faith of his Indian allies ; even the
Ilurons of the far West, who had fought so stoutly by his side on
the shores of Lake Ontario, were discovered to have been at the
time in treacherous correspondence with the Iroquois."

" While doubt and disease paralized the power of the French,
their dangerous enemies were not idle. Twelve hundred Iroquois
warriors assembled at Lake St. Francis, within two days' march
of Montreal, and haughtily demanded audience of the Governor,
which was immediately granted. Their orator proclaimed the
power of his race, and the weakness of the white men, with all the
emphasis and striking illustration of Indian eloquence. He offered

* The wronnp complained of. wore the destruction, by the Senecas of a l.-ir™
nnnibor of the cmuoos „f the Freucli trnders, on (heir way to the K the akiiS

PnELPS AKD GOEUUI'S PTOOHiSE.

peace on terms proposed by the Governor of New York but o.I„
allowe,! t e French four days for deliberation," ' °"'^

strations. The whole country west of the river Sorrel, or Uichlien
was occ„p,ed by a savage host, a,.d the distant fort o c4ta touv'
on the Ontario shore, was with dilBeultv held loail Ron T ^'

wo had burned the fann stores with l^ Z , and ZZ
oatte of the settlers. The French bowed befor he ,„rt "he„
could not resist, and peace was concluded on Condi ions th" war
» ould cease in the land, and all the allies should Tar „ X
bloss.ngs of repose. M. De Nonviile furUier agreed to rel e he
n .au c ,ers who had been so treacherously to™ rom i ei " a. va
w.Ms, and sent to labor in the galleys of France "•

Before the treaty was concluded, however, the implacable ene
m,es of the Iroquois, the Ahenaquis. attacked then, o he SorreT
destroyed many, and pushed Iheir conquest even to the F l ,-
.ernents. And nearly at the sa,„e ti.nl, a^ZunSitut

:iah:n-i.:~f-i-^^t5

to h,s own country, he went up the St. Lawrence, and lyi„,r-„ a"

.t:: ■tSSsrkiit^r™ irL^ ''-'■■ '-^ ^^'""-

...en preluded that he was a!ti„^

wtly backwoods Mefernich had concluded it would : - A retKwtl

* Conquest of Canada. ~ ' ~ ' • —

vi.o honof-ablc and u.sdul ca 'eor can U'^ .^^ '^' *? Franco :-<• His othu-l

act of troacliory. Fron. tl.e day we, h, cv 1 d fl '"/" '^''""^ '/^"^ "*' ""« ^'"'k
"K.US Indians, sctiriied .. broLii "ml t ■ t , I ' '';"'/' U"' ""'^' '"'f •""^'".'ifii.

Kiiould not Itave nintio Do CSc w , k - • '^^^^^^^^ Tho awtl.or

..ndcr instructions. The instnlcVilt o iVi Tn'^o^V ■• "' J""^^''^""^^^- '''^ --t-'

^^l^e t.e,^ ^^edl^ e^S^o^^^uSlt;^]],!— ^ S -'LSi^

PHELPS AliD GORIIAM's PTJBCHASE. 88

of hostilities was soon made by the Iroquois, to revenge themselves
tor the supposed baseness of the French Governor. Twelve hun-
dred Iroquois warriors made a descent upon the Island of Montreal
burnt the French houses, sacked their plantations, and put to the
sword all the men, women and children within the outskirts of the
town. •• A thousand French were slain in the invasion, and twentv-
six carried into captivity."* The marauders retreated, but not with-
out further destruction of life;-a force of one hundred French and
htty Indians, sent m pursuit, were entirely cut off. " The disastrous
incursions filled the French with panic and astonishment. Thev at
once blew up the forts of Cataracouy. (Kingston,) and Niagara,
burned two vessels, bulk under their protection, and altogether
abandoned the shores of the western Lakes.'' y Frontenac m-rived
at Quebec in October, 1689, at a period of great depression with the
colony. H.s hands were strengthened by the government of
France, but a vast field of labor was before him. Ke repaired to
Montreal, and summoned a council of the western Indians ; the
hrst rnd most miportant consummation to be effected, bein- their
perfect conciliation and alliance:-" As a representative of the
Ualhc Monarch, claiming to be the bulwark of Christendom - Count
Frontenac, himself a peer of France, now in his seventieth year,
placed the murderous hatchet in the hands of his allies; and ivith
tomahawk m his own grasp, chaunted the war-song, danced the
war-dance, and listened, apparently with delight, to the threat of
savage vengeance." J

In the February preceding the event just alluded to, the revolu-
tion m England had been consummated. William and Mary had
succeeded to the throne, and soon after which France had declared
a war against England, in which the American colonies became at
once involved, and a contest ensued, in which the question of undi-
vided empire m all this portion of North America was the stake to
be won; -France and England had both determined upon entire
conquest Frontenac succeeded in conforming the alliance of
nearly all the western tribes of Indians, and through the mission-

* Smitli'8 History of New York.

t Bancroft.

PHELrS AND r.OIinAM's PUECnASE.

aries was enabled to make a partial divisioMof the Iroquois from the
English interests. He soon received from his government instruc-
tions to war for conquest, not only upon New England and New
Vork, but upon all the Indian allies of the English. His instruc
tions contemplated an attack upon "Manathe." ("Manhattan" or
l\ew York,) by sea, and an attack upon Fort Orange by land
and a descent upon the Hudson, to co-operate with the naval
expedition. The French force in Canada, of regulars and militia
was about two thousand. In February, 1G89, an expedition
started from Montreal and after a long march through the wild-
erness. in which they were obliged to walk up to their knees
m water, and break the ice with their feet, in order to find a solid
tootmg. they arrived in the vicinity of Schenectady, the then
farthest advanced of the English settlements. Arriving at a soli-
tary wigwam, the benumbed and disabled from the effects of the
severe cold weather, warmed themselves by its fire, and information
was gamed from the squaws who inhabited it, how they could best
fall upon the village and execute their terrible mission of war and
retribution upon those who had as.cisted the Mohawk branch of the
Iroquois ,n their onslaughts upon the French settlements. In all
their march and contemplated attack, they had been assisted by a
formerch.ef of the Mohawks, who had deserted his country and
Identified himself with the French allies at the west. Approaching
the point of attack, he had eloquently harangued the French and their
Indian aJIies to "lose all recollections of their fatigue in hopes of
aking ample revenge for the injuries they had received from th
Iroquois at the solicitation of the English, and of washino them out
m the blood of thetrai^ors."* At eleven o'clock at nighuhey came
ne.r the settlement, and deliberating whether they should no^no
pone the attack to a moredead hour of the night, were compel I'd by
th^e xcessive co ld^ton^sh^ their victims and destroy them, tJ

that oLped. bc4nVrdotX'.Vpit f tll^s "tH^^ ^'"^•^' "'' "" *'"' P"P"l'»tion

inandantof the pkco, "C. Sa Jc?- wl , 1^ ' ^ ^ '"/'^"'^■"'''^' of the British com-
to some Frencl, PrLs, „„9 ' The Fr 'nrl !'.' 'n*'^." ''T" ^''^'"■' P'■<'^'i<>"aly

" tl,e lives of fift'y or "i^n- nc, on. o J" " ' ' '" *'"/ 'V-^ Do<-u,„ent..,' .ay. that
havii^S escaped tlL fir.t l?.ry ol uttacS' ' "" ""'^ '^''^'^'''' ''"'' 'l"^"^- ^W

' ■ i.

PHELPS AND GORHAMS PURCHASE,

enjoy the warmth of their burning hamlets. A small garrison, where
there were soldiers under arms, was first attacked, carried, set fire
to aiid burned, and all its defenders slaughtered. Then succeeded
hours of burning and massacre, until almost the entire population
and their dwellings had been destroyed. The details of the terrible
onslaught are familiar to the general reader. It was a stealthy mid-
night assault, a work of the sword and the torch, that has few par-
allels in all the wars upon this continent. The whole forms an early
legend of the Mohawk, and was the precursor of the terrible scenes,
that in after years were enacted in that once harrassed and ravaged,
but now smiling and peaceful valley.

As if satiated with this work of death ; paralized by the severity
of the weather, or intimidated by the English strength at Albany ;
the French retraced their steps, with their prisoners and plunder, not,
however, without suffering from hunger and cold, enough to make
the victory, if such it could be called, a dear one. The flesh of
the horses they had taken at Schenectady, was for a part of the
march their only food. About one hundred and fifty Indians and
fifty young men of Albany, pursued them to Lake Charaplam, and
even over it, killing some and taking others prisoners.

Another expedition left Three Rivers and penetrated the wilder-
ness to the Piscataqua River in Maine, surprised a small English
settlement, killed thirty of its inhabitants, and made the rest prisoners.
After which they fell in with another French force, and destroyed
the English Fort at Casco.

A third expedition went among the Western Indians to confirm
their alliance by intimidation and a lavish bestowal of presents ;
and was by far the most successful of the three. It helped vastly to
turn trade in the direction of Montreal, and strengthened the French
with many of the powerful nations of the west. On their way, they
fe'l in with and defeated a large war party of the Iroquois.

While all this was in progress, war i)arties of the hostile Iroquois
had been making repeated incursions down the St. Lawrence,
harrassing the French settlements.

The incursions of the French at the eastward had aroused the
people of New England to make common cause with the people of
New York and their Iroquois allies. In May, 1G90, deputies from
New York and all the New England colonies met in Alliany, and
made the quarrel fheir own insfear! of that of England, who had been

PIIEirs AND G0imA3IS PURCHASE.

remiss in aiding their colonies to carry it on. A general invasion
ol the Lrench colony was resolved upon. Two expeditions were
arranged, one to sail Iro.n Boston to Quebec, and the other to cross
the country to the St. Lawrence, and descending the River join the
naval expedition at Quebec. Both were failures. The land force
under General Wintlirop of Connecticut. 800 strong, marched from
Albany to Lake Champlain. where they were disappointed in not
meeting 500 Iroquois warriors a^ had been aggreed upon, and the In-
dians had also failed to provide the necessary canoes for crossi;.g
the Lake. A council of war was held and a retreat agreed upon
Major Schuyler of the New York levies, had however, preceded the
main army, and crossed the Lake without knowing that Winthrop
had retreated. He attacked a small garrison at La Prairie, and oblicred
them to fall back toward Chambly. The French in retreatin- fell
m with a reinforcement, and turned upon their pursuers; a severe
engagement ensued ; overpowered by numbers, Schuyler was obliged
to retreac. Sir William Phipps had command of the naval ex-
pedition, which con.sisted of 35 vessels and 200 troops. After captur
ing some French posts at New Foundland, and upon the Lower St
Lawrence, the British squadron arrived at the mouth of the Sa-e-
nay, Frontenac having learned that the English land force had
turned back, had hastened to Quebec, and ordered a concentration
of .is forces there. The slow approach of the New England inva-
ders gave him a plenty of time to prepare for defence. On the 5th
of October the squadron appeared before Quebec and the next day
demanded a surrender. To the enquiry of the bearer of the mes-
sage what answer he had to return, the brave old Count said •-
iell your master I will answer by the mouth of my cannon, that
he may learn that a man of my rank is not to be summoned in this

TT'- Jr^u '"''^ ^"""^^^^ •■ - ^ ^^^'^^ «^ 1700 was landed un-
der Major Walley, and had much hard fighting, with but indifferent
success, with French out-posts. In the mean time. Phipps had

ibrtr TrT ' ^'"'^"^ '^' {^eaviestguns against the town and
loitress. The fire was mostly ineffectual; directed principally
against the high eminence of the Upper Town, it fell short of the
mark, while a destructive fire was pouring down upon the assail-

fl^! 'f L '""u ''''' '''"''""'^ but twenty hours, when the Briti..h
fleet fell down the stream out of the reach of the galling fire from
the h.gh ramparts of the besieged fortress. The force under Major

I-

PHELPS A^TD OORHAm's PLRCIIASE. 37

Wrliey, upon land, continued the firrht frennmllu c,.„« 1
.heir approacho. After a -nes of "slwpTnJatm "r, fe'Tand
orco were oMipd ,o resort ,o a hurried embarira.r '^ Id o^
Ile.r vessels. It was a night scene of panic and ,lis„,^
l'.sing tl,ei,- lives l,y ,he ups° ..ing of boatT The ar* v 1".""'
taken on shore, fell into the hands of the French LeS .7
abled ship. Phipps retnrned to Boslon to'lf.o tltT, f ot'lt

Quebec ■"''• " "' """""' "^ '"^ ™-" °f '- ^'egeTf

Then followed a winter of re|>ose with the French colonv b„. of
d^ay and apprehension in New England and New York' who!
fl et and „„y ^^j ,„ .^^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^ Iroquois who h"d
& led to co-operate with Winthrop in th« fall, werl early in .he
held by themselves in the sprint In Miv n .). "^"7 '" '"«
warriors approached Montrea";, lading ^al^^FXltlle^^^^
and re-cnact,ng all the horrid scenes of former year7-ulT"„;

repeated, and with similar results ^' "'""'"'" "'

.he'^Frenlh'rdtTh"" '"" "' '',""''* ^"'' '''^'•"'' -^ '"d-" -a^,
merrench under the energetic administration of Frontenac all ,U

wh,le extending their settlements, and stren^theniniTheirwho 1 1
omal pos,t,on. though with arms in their hai^d l^we I ,n s J
content to act upon the defensive, while on the part of tie fT.

.akiT-t Oiitarit) and ClianiDlaii, i„ inptm . *-""']"^'st« overthoir own raco. Crossina-

heir .tealtliy a.s,,ault,s and savago wartim^ £ on 1' ° ' "'--^ '"'• '.^^°'" ^'^^ "«' ""^v
tlu^r race added to ordinary >)ravorv-.thev ^r d f ■' °'^'""«''?"« ^itli the stoicism of
so dions of Franco, a.tonislfinj. the "men Xl Sinii-^ '""^'^ *™"''^ *'"'' ^*^'*^'-'»"
achievements. The best soldrers of Franco ^ndfe "^ 'he aits of war with their
occasion, for aB e.ual un.berof unt^^ saJdlii^^f S^^S S^ '"^ ^^

PnEPLS AND GOIIHAm's PURCHASE.

tering the Onondaga Lake, the army was divided, a portion of it being
sent against the Ojieidas, while Frontenac landed with the main force
destined for the attack upon the Onondagas. The old Count had
now become so decrepid from age and hard service, that he was
borne to the point of attack upon a litter ; presenting a scene spiced
somewhat with romantic heroism, if the object of attack had in any
considerable degree corresponded with the military array and pre-
paration. The French army landed upon the banks of the Lake, and
threw up some defences. The Onondagas were aware of the ap-
proach, fortified themselves as woll as they could in their castle,
.sent away all but their warriors, and resolved upon a desperate de-
fence. They were, however, intimidated by a Seneca prisoner, who
had escaped from the French, who told them that Frontenac's army
" was as numerous as the leaves on the trees, and that they had ma-
chines which threw up large balls in the air, which falling on their
cabins would burst in pieces scattering fire and death every where
around, against which their stockades would be no defence," This
was a kind of warfare new to them, and which they resolved not to
encounter, setting fire to their castle and cabins, t-hey fled and left
their invaders the poor triumph of putting to death one old Indian
Sachem, who remained to become a sacrifice and defy and scorn
the invaders, even while they were applying their instruments of
torture. The Oneidas fled at the approach of the other division of the
French army, but thirty of them remaining to welcome the invaders
and save their castle, village, and crops. They were made prisoners
and the village, castle, and crops destroyed. No rumor came from
the English, but the fear of one hastened the French retreat across the
Lake to Fort Frontenac, and from thence to Montreal.

The treaty of peace concluded at Ryswick, and the death of Fron-
tenac soon followed, leaving partial repose to the harrassed French
and English colonies. The amiable Callieres, the governor of Mon-
treal, succeeded Frontenac, but hardly lived to witness the consum-
mation of his wise measures for conciliating the Iroquois, renewing
Indian alliances, and generally to better the condition of the aflliirs
of New France. lie was succeeded by Vaudreiul who was soon
waited upon by a deputation of Iroquois, that acknowledged the
French dominion.

It was but a short breathing spell for the colonies : — In May,
1702, what was called "Queen Ann's war," was declared, and the

rnELPS AND goeiiam's purchase.

scenes of what had been called " King William's war," were re-enact-
ed upon this continent.

The Province of New York took but little part in the contest, and
itschief I irden fell upon New England. The Indians, within their
own limits, reinforced by the Indians of Canada, and not unfrequent-
ly accompanied by the French, made incursions into all parts of the
eastern English Provinces, falling upon the frontier settlements with
the torch, the tomahawk and knife, and furnishing a long catalogue
of captivity and death, that mark that as one of the most trying pe-
riods in a colonial history, upon almost every page of which we are
forcibly reminded how much of blood and suffering it cost our pio-
neer ancestors to maintain a foothold upon this continent.* The
war on the part of the English colonies, was principally directed
against Port Royal, Quebec and Montreal. Most of the expeditions
they fitted out were failures ; there was a succession of shipwreck,
badly framed schemes of conquest ; organization of forces but to be
disbanded before they had consummated any definite purposes;
"marching up hills and marching down again."

Such being the geographical features of the war ; the Province
of New York having assented to the treaty of neutrality between
the French and Five Nations, and contenting itself with an enjoy-
ment of Indian trade, while their nei'Thborinc; Provinces were strung-
gling against the French and Indians ; there is little to notice having
any immediate connexion w-ith our local relations.

Generally, during the war, the Five Nations preserved their
neutrality. They managed with consummate skill to be the inti-
mate friends of both the English and French. Situated between
two powerful nations at war Avith each other, they concluded the
safest way was to keep themselves in a position to fall in with the
one that finally triumphed. At one period, when an attack upon
Montreal was contemplated, they were induced by the English to
furnish a large auxiliary force, that assembled with a detachment of
English troops at Wood Creek. The whole scheme amounting to
a failure, no opportunity was offered of testing their sincerity; but
from some circumstances that transpired, it was suspected that they
were as much inclined to the French as to the English. At one

'•t

From the yonr 1675, to llio ch •■ of Queen Ann's War in 1713, about six thousand
of (lie Enirlisli colonists, liad perished by tlio stroke of tJio eneniv. or by distsmnei-a
contracted la military service. . . i

Mi'.'

PHELPS AND GOEHAM's PUECHASE.

period during the war, five Iroquois Sachems were prevailed upon
to visit England for the purpose of urging renewed attempts to
conquer Canada. They were introduced to the Queen, decked
out in splendid wardrobe, exhibited through the streets of London
at the theatres, and other places of public resort ; feasted and toast-
ed, they professed that their people were ready to assist in extermi-
nating the French, but threatened to go home and join the French
unless more effectual war-measures were adopted. " This was a les
son undoubtedly taught them by the English colonies, who had sent
them over to aid in exciting more interest at home in the contest
that was waging in the colonies. The visit of the Sachems had tern-
porarily the desired effect. It aided in inducing the English gov-
ernment to furnish the colonies with an increased force of men and
vessels of war, in assisting in a renewed expedition against Mon-
treal and Quebec, which ended, as others had, in a failure. They
got nothing from the Five Nations but professions; no overt act of
co-operation and assistance. The Governor of the province of
New York, all along refused to urge ihem to violate their engage-
ments of neutrality ; for as neutrals, they were p. barrier to the
frontier settlements of Nev. York, against the encroachments of the
iTench and their Indian allies.

"The treaty of Utrecht, in April, 1713, put an end to the war
France ceded to England 'all Nova Scotia or Arcadia, with its
ancient boundaries ; also, the city of Port Royal, now called An-
napohs Royal, and all other things in those parts, which depend up-
on the said lands.' France stipulated in the treaty that she would
'never molest the Five Nations, subject to the dominion of Great
Jiritam,' leaving still undefined their boundaries, to fbrm with other
questions of boundary and dominion, future disagreements. '

In all these years of war, French interests at the West had not
been neglected. In 1701, a French officer, with a small colony
and a Jesuit missionary, founded the city of Detroit. * The peace
of their respective sovereigns over the ocean, failed to reconcile
difficulties between the colonies. Tiie trade and the right to navi-
gate the Lakes, was a monopoly enforced by the French, which the
English colonies of New York were bent upon disturbing, though

yond Iho UeneseeSn '^°'' ^' ''*"°"''"'^ "^ ^''^''' ^"^^ ^''^ ^'''^ ^'^'^'"'''^ ^«'

PHELPS AND GORHAm's PURCHASE.

liled upon
tempts to
II, decked
' London,
and toast-
i extermi-
e French
ivas a les-
had sent
e contest
had tem-
lish gov-
men and
1st Mon-
. They
rt act of
i'ince of
engage-
r to the
ts of the

he war.
with its
led An-
•end up-
e would
»f Great
th other

had not
colony
e peace
concile
navi-
ich the
though

iced be-

the terms of peace had in effect, confirmed it. The English as-
sumed that all of what is now Western New York, was within
thair dominions, by virtue of but a partial alliance of its native
owners and occupants ; and the French claimed by a similar tenure ;
for, in fact, it was a divided alliance, fluctuating with the policy of
the Senecas, who seemed well to understand the importance of
their position, and were resolved to make the most of it. Soon af-
ter 1700, we find a marked and progressive change in the disposi-
tion of the Senecas towards the French. This we may well at-
tribute to the influence of the Jesuit missionaries, who had sue-
ceeded in getting permanent missionary stations among them, in a
greater degree, perhaps, to the advent of an extraordinary person-
age, who, for a long period, exercised an almost unbounded influ-
ence throughout this region. This was Joncaire, a Frenchman,
who, from a captive among the Senecas, merged himself with them,
was adopted, and became the faithful and indefatigable promoter
of the French interests. We first hear of him from Charlevoix, who,
m 1721, found him the occupant of a cabin at Lewiston, where he
had gathered around him a small Indian settlement, and where a
fortress was contemplated - the right to build which, he had nego-
tiated with the Senecas. He then bore a commission in the French
army. He was familiar with all the localities of this region, and
gave to Charlevoix a description of the "river of the Tsoutonouans,"
(Genesee river,) the Sul^-hur Springs at Avon, and the Oil Spring
at Cuba. In 17r.O, Kalm, the German traveller, found a half-blood
Seneca, a son of hb, at Lewiston ; and in 1753, Washington made
the acquamtance of another son of his, while on a mission to the
French at the West, and mentions that he was then preferring the
French claim to the Ohio, by virtue of the discoveries of L.i Salle.
In 1759. these two half-biood sons bore commissions in the French
army, and were among the French forces of the West, that were
defeated on the Niagara River, on their way to re-inforce the be-
sieged garrison. In 1730, M. de Joncaire, the elder, ',M made a
report to the French Superintendent at Montreal, of all the Indians
whom he regarded as '-connected with the government of Canada."
rie embraces the whole of the Iroquois nations, and locates them
principally through this State, from Schenectady to the Niagara
River ; and in Canada, along near the lower end of Lake Ontario,
all of the nations of Canada, and nil inhabiting the. valleys of the

PHELPS AND GOEHAM'S PFRCHASE.

lii i

western lakes, the Ohio inrl th^ i\r

ment, he ment ons that hoT. " ^^''f'^PV^- I" this official docu-
"He snok. » """' ^^7« '« "engaged at the history of the Sioux"

mZ t^eJZ 'enit fi " ''V ''' '-' ^^"^ '' ^ '^'-
elo^enceofou^^^t '"^'^ ''■''''' ^^ ^^^^ all the .ublime

ernor of Ne v Yc^^ ^ . ^'"'''^' '" '^'' '^''''''''■' b»t the Gov-

a fort at Osvve.0 and XJwn ^"^I'sh Governor, Burnett, built
ouoit " ThI ■ P "" store-house" at the Bay of "Ironde-

quo.t. The year previous, the French, upon the ruins of ZT
porary works of De Nonville h-id h,nU / v ^^'^■

protests and remonstrance: ontE^L ^'^'''^ '^^^'"^^ '^^

J': Tz:^i:^::':;~z:^ -- ^^ ^^^^^^ out-
sanatory expeditions, of F enTandTnIn '?"''"'"^^' '^ ^"

but little reference to this o..T '''^''' ''"'''' '" ^^' "^^i"

one prominentTaVse c!^^^ J^SltTofV ^f h ^'"^^". '^^'^ ^^'-
countries had but little influen e witlfXnl "''" '^^ ""^^"^'
make war upon their own accost Toft ^a^^^^^^^^^^ ''^'^''

t Wk n,otwith tl.o Hire,;;:, p ^ ^;/ n^F^::,?' '"•i'f'"T^t'»H.,n nt Lowisi a''^ ^^
Son..ca,s ponsislh,^ i/, allcnvinff /l/ei ' j ' ' " 7^?'.'/ " 5""tn,]Ii„f, tJ.c ,„H(fcr. T),e

country , sin poaec, the 4,k.I, a, /^v ' ';,.i,l I ""■'";''' ' 'f '^"'"''"'''■■'^ rq.li,.,l :_.o'';
raisi,,;. .listMrbanccH. ilore. v • '/ ' .^ "™'" ^" "'' ° *" "v^' t,«othcM- with, t
>.;ro ; he IS a d.ihl „f the nation h^ 'ni m n;:;;r? /■' i' •^'""^""•^^'«'"l<i r^'nZ
t '!ve Ironi hi„i.'' Soon after thi. the h . vL ^ .: ''''"''' "''■ ""' ""^ nt Jibevt v to

•own the river, and paved the v^.yC'^'ll:'^''^"^^ I'is view. i;,4e

1 i>H was acco.nnlishl,,! by a ursB on the t-f f r "*•''' "'""" *■•""•'•«« "t Nia.^. ra
Ihe Senecusha.'l no iUea^of,lLti,iTi;1.^."^'''f •"'%••"'' "tl'-r Fren<h ofiic'rs"
then- terntory. A body of Im , c 1. ' ' "' ' '"' ^'"•-"■•^'' lorlifications ,m,
Niasara nver, to conu/ence ti.e Srk w .bl?'"' ""'■'""^'^'^' '''^ ^''^ ">"""' "* > "
take It ni the presence of the Hc^Zt ul^^ '^ "o nieans stron.j. eno„-ii to nndcr-
tirst f,'ot jierniission (o bui! | •, ^I'T' •J"''' watclun- their rnov,.n,e,rm TJ Z It

c.slron.'bein.wi,nes.S;IVL^,n^Sbi:; '^kn'''""^^

UMble the French to protect nvcinsolv^seSi attack '''""»'' '"^™"^«1 ^o

PHELPS AND GOEIIAm's PURC.TIASE.

French continued to extend their posts to the West and South West
and the English to strengthen the frontiers of New Encrland, and
their advance post at Oswego. °

n^^T'^t ^'^^^ ^''^'''''' ''^''^^'^^ "^^^ ^g'"^'"''* F^^'i'^ce and Spain.
1 he first blow struck upon this continent, was the capture of Louis-
burg, which success emboldened Governor Shirley, of Massachu-
setts, to ask the co-operation of the other colonies in an attempt to
drive the French from all their American possessions ; some de-
monstrations with that view were made; but the principal events
of the campaign were at sea, and upon the frontiers of New Enrr.
land. The short war was closed by the peace of Aix la Chapelfe,
of 1748. Its chief result had been the loss to the French of all the
Northern frontier coast, to repair which, they immediately projected
schemes for extending their dominion to the valley of the Ohio and
upon the Mississippi, to the Gulf of Mexico. In 1750, commission-
ers met in Pans to adjust American boundaries, but after a long
session, accomplished nothing. Difficulties arose in a new quarter.
The crown of England granted to an association of its subjects at
home, and in Virginia, called the Ohio Company, 000,000 acres of
land upon the Ohio river, all of which was upon lerriiorv claimed
by France. The attempts of this Company to survey and settle
these lands, and the building of French posts upon them, simulta-
neously, brought the English and French colonists into direct con-
flict. The campaign was opened by the Governor of Vkmnla, who
sent an armed force to the disputed ground. Other colonies soon
co-operated ; and after the contest had been attended with alternate
successes and reverses, in 1755, General Braddock came with a
force from England, to aid the colonies. All the events of the war
upon the Allegany and the Ohio, form prominent pnges of American
history; ultimately connected with the history of our western
States ; but deriving its chief general interest from the circumstance
that it was the school of experience and discipline, where the sword
of the youthful Washington was first unsheathed.

Braddock's defeat followed ; then General Shirley's abortive ex-
pedition in the direction of Niagara ; Sir William Johnson's par-
tially successful expedition to Lake George ; the advent of Lord
Loudon, as Commander-in-chief of the British army in America ;
which principal events closed the campaign of 1755 ; and in the a<r'.
gregate, had darkened British prospects on this side of the Atlantic

PHELPS AND GORIIAM'S PURCHASE.

':•' !

i:ii

ii!'-'

county of OneUa !Lr r, "" "'^''^ '■'"■ '" >'''»' '» "<"^ 'he
a French f„,co „, Ihr W "" ''"S''«='™"' "f 2n.J».roc. wi,h

Ihe British fort" Z?ZT r;V"'" '■""°"^'' ''>' "'^ "P""-" of

These princ pa 1°: r ^^^^'^Tm- ''°"'°'"™-
Indian depredations ?,! , "'^ "P °'' f''™'^'' ""d

mination of the border s« I "'^ '..-"""""^ "''"os. to the exter-
terests, at tl,e close of th, l'™"7l'»nia ; gave to British in-

e»cct,r,i„, .::rot\:7Zht r.rs -- -

Lord L n on CO ee^ , 1 rT '^r"f ™- ^"""»' ""' -'— •
posablc forces of till " T"' "'"'" "'""^'" """y- "" "'= d''"

added, u e, o Cm !" n "l'' " P"""*' ""''=' -™™™'

.on.butaba„redS::itra r"'^

ble ; for reasons vvhieh7„l ■•° '"'''°''>' '"™'"'' "»="'.» ="»'na-

fare T,l i;? ™'"" '' '"}-^"=0-in the history of En dish war

cah„ in perso", ct SI, '^t;:::;^!! :.i'^,';?^ •■-- '^'--

wasayearofdisa^terswi,MI,„ 17 V> / Wilham Henry. It

were embarke „d Jil | 1 ='"'' ' '°'™"'''"'' """«'' »"" ■"'vie.

t;crc:H^~="-=-
'.-«:::r^:cp--t^^^^^^^^

Mr P ,!' ,d ' ""'"'"' ^"S'"""* ''"'""'^'.ood .— It wa, that of
of itf ff itv 'r"T'°" °' "^ ""'""■^- «'• •""•">-'l -a To aspcc

wi/b^St^tttS^^^^^^^^^^^^

or whoever is out " s-ii,-l J nrA r\ . 7 ,' °"''- Whoever is in.

^nehare::rrdots::i^:i ;:t:!-:r^r '"-
tbe'ix o'r[::i:bt:rrc''"''°^f = ""^"^^"'^ •'•'"«-™

military offiecr7XS n . '' '° '■™°''''' "f"'" ""™l and

recalled I-or: A*r tiThe ^./.^tG"' '" '"""T' "'■ ""

irom tne auny in Germany, and made him

ack of tJie
^ now the
•trcct with
capture of

renc'i and
tlie exter-
British in-
even less

ring, by a
under the
rengthen-
! summer,
II the dis-
irmament
^ape Bre-
y attaina-
clish war-
is, Mont-
Jnry. It
id navies
!re abor-
s of the
t'okition,

that of
5 aspect
t it was
er is in.
, "lam
increas-
. Ttie

are no

gs, was
.'al and
Ir. Pitt
de him

mELP3 AND GOEHAm's PURCHASE.

commander in chief of the expedition, and made the Hon. Edward
Boscawen the Admiral of the fleet. An expedition consisting of 23
ships of the line, 15 frigates, 120 smaller vessels, on board of°which
were nearly 12,000 British regulars, sailed from Portsmouth and arri-
ving at Ilalifiix on the 2Sth of May, soon commenced the siege of
Louisburg, which ended in a capitulation of the strong for»ress,"after
a gallant and protracted resistance, on the 25th of July. The' fruits
of the conquest were 5,000 French prisoners ; 11 ships of war taken
or destroyed ; 250 pieces of ordnance ; 15,000 stand of arms, and a
great amount of provisions and military stores. A scene of plunder
and devastation followed in all that region, which dimmed the lustre
of British arms.

Far less of success attended British arms in this campaign in other
quarters :— Mr. Pitt had infused among the despairing colonies, a new
impulse; they had sent into the field an efficient force of 9,000 men,
which were added to 6,000 regulars— all under the command of Aber-'
crombie. In July, he had his strong force afloat on Lake George,
proceeding to the attack upon Ticonderoga and Crown Point, 'a
protracted siege of Ticonderoga followed, badly conducted in almost
every particular; the sequel, a retreat, with the loss of nearly 2,000
men. The intrepid Bradstreet soon made partial amends for this un-
fortunate enterprise, by the capture of Fort Frontenac, then the strong
hold of French Indian alliance. General Stanwix advanced up the
Mohawk and built the Fort that took his name. In the mean time
General Forbes had left Pliiladelphia with an efficient army of over
0,000 regulars and provincials, and after a defeat of his advance force,
had captured Fort du Quesne, changing the name to Fort Pitt in
honor of the great master spirit who was controlling England's des-

Note. -How ofton iiro tnuinphg of arms, the result of chance! It is btit a few
vcarsBmco an Arnoncau General confe.sse.l that a sple.ulid victory wns owing r^.tl^
ftict that . on.e unJj^cn.Lne,! troops ,11.1 not know when they we.4 fmrly conqnered
pcrsevere.1 ,n (ho hj^ht and turne,! ll,o ti.le ,.f battle. An ini,Wi.sh hist.frian la ml i
upon ev. ,y subjec he touohoH, a.j.nivs that ll-e capture ..f Louisburir was accid.'ntu -
the hrst successful landm- was made by W„]f, then a Bn-a.fi.r General. Gen
Amherst doubte.l >t« j,rm-t,cal,ility. "The chivalrous Wolf himself, as he „e ed tbe
awlul sml, sniggered m las resolution, and nrop„siugto .h.ferthe enterprise, waved his
hat lor the boats o retire 'I hr,.,- y„uMg subaltern oHlcers.-howevor, connnandin.Mhe
1 ad ng eft, puH HMl on shore, having miHtaken the signal for what their stout hca ts

H , r , : ,f L -T r ' '•^';'^'''"'.'?«V.'.'^' ■■""! ci.'ov.'ned, but tlie renmint^er climbed up

r, f IT V • '"."' (""""'^ "I'"" ^'^^ ™"""^f- '•'''« Bng'^'lier then cheered on tlie
rest lit tliM i|ivi«i,iri (.1 ti>,. tiMiir-iii't of f'ii> •.iH , t (• i •• ■ i ^""-""" i'".

landing was accomplishod.'''^ ' ' ""^^'"^ ^''''' "'"^ '"'' "'° '^^'""'^"' '^'^'i"'"^

PHELPS AHD OOimAM'3 PUECIIASE.

be n ;.ectl e Ltr "'' ""f r^P^'S""' «>e year, Abercrombie ha,l

CHAPTER II.

SIEGE AND SURRENDER OF FORTNrAPAn*

I'UKl NIAGARA. CONaUEST OF WESTERN

NEW YORK.

Toward he close of 1758, the policy of the British Minister Mr
Pitt began to be clearly developed. It looked to no farthe b effi
cenM^easures but to a vigorous and decisive canWn vhth

t:^z::::r t? i^i-'' ^?^^^^^' ^^^-^ -^ ^^'^'

ttiis continent. 1 he British people, stimulated by a spirit of con
quest, and a hatred of the French, both of which haSbe n assidu"
ously promoted by the public press, and public men of En" nd'
seconded the ambitious views of the Minister p7r ^"f ''"?'
dre^sinrr thp Thrr>, i , ^» uie ivimistei. rarliament. in ad-

dre .ing the Throne, applauded him, and upon the recommendation
of the King, wei-e prompt and liberal in the voting of suppl s

corl a ::? '■'' '"" '^'^^" "P°" ^'- '-'- «f theltlant' to secure

ord lal and vigorous co-operation ; the colonists, wearied with w
^md Its harrassing effects, were cheered bv the exDressionlnf I
commiseration of the Kincr nnr? I,;. expiessions of the

fl„ I ■ J -^ "' ^"" '"^ assurances of protection nnrJ

fina .„dem„,fioa„on; and more than all, perhap, h/lnovT.cT^

that Mr. Pi., had projec.ed. ,„ H. ^o^Z^^^ ^^^
pme. a .nonopoly of the Indian .rade, ,ho c„„™orce of e Lake

PHELPS AND GORIIAM'a PUECHASE. 47

control to bear upon the King am Parliament, and of course, had not
failed to magnify the hindrances to British interest which continued
French dominion imposed; nor to present in glowing language, the
truits of conquG t and the extension of British power in America.
Sir William Johnson, always faithful to his liberal patron the Kintr
was more than usually active in wielding the immense influence h'e
had acquired with the Indians to secure their aid ; he drew them
together in different localities, urged upon them his professions of re-
gard for their interests, inflamed their resentments by recounting
the wrongs they had endured at the hands of the French ; listened
to their complaints of English encroachments upon their lands, and
was lavish m promises of ample reparation; not omitting the more
than usually liberal distribution of presents, of which he was the
accustomed almoner. By much the larger portion of the Five Na-
tions of the Iroquois were won over to the British interests, a portion
of the Senecas being almost alone in standing aloof from the contest
or continuing in French alliance. '

General Amherst having succeeded to the office of Commander
in Chief of the British forces in North America, had his head quar-
ters m New York, in the winter of 1758, '9, actively calling to his
aid the provincial troops, appointing Albany as the place of rendez-
vous at which place he established his head quarters as early as the
month of April.

The force at the disposal of General Amherst, was larger by far
than any that had been before mustered upon this continent. In
addition to a large force of British regulars, the colony of Massachu-
setts had furnished seven thousand men, Connecticut five thousand,
and New Hampshire one thousand. The provincial regiments, as
ast as they arrived at Albany went into camp, and were subjected
to rigid discipline ; the regulars, who were destined for operations at
the north, were pushed on and encamped at a point some fifty miles
on the road to Fort Edward.

The general plan of the campaign contemplated the conquest of
ti.e tJiree important strong holds, and seats of power, of the French •
Quebec, Montreal, and Niagara. The main army, under General
Amherst, were to move from the shores of Lake George, reduce the
French posts at Ticonderoga and Crown Point, descend by the river
Kichheu and occupy Montreal ; then, on down the St. Lawrence to
join the besiegers of Quebec.

PHELPS AND OORIIAm's PURCHASE.

Leaving the northern expedititlon to the province of general his-
tory.with the exception perhaps of a brief allusion to it in another
place, we will take up that portion of the general campaign, which
IS more .mmediately blended with the history of our local region : _
Ihe force destined for Ningara rendezvoused at Schenectady
early in May. It consisted of two British regiments ; a detachment
ot Koyal Artillery ; a battalion of Royal Americans ; two battalions
ot i>lew York Provincials; and a large force of Indian Allies under
the command of Sir William Johnson; the most of whom were
Mohawks, Oneidas and Onondagas, the remainder, Cayugas and
tsenecas, with a few from such western nations as had been partly
won over to the British interests. Brigadier General Prideaux was
the Commander in Chief; next in rank, was Sir William Johnson
who previous to this had been regularly commissioned in the British
army. The force moved from Schenectady on the 20th of May
came up the Mohawk, and via the usual water route to Oswego'
where it remamed, completing the preparation of batteaux for ascend-
ing Lake Ontario, for over five weeks. On the first of July, the
whole force were embarked, and coasting along the shore of the Lake
toward their destination ; a strong fortress, the seat of French domin.
ion, over a widely extended region ; the key or gate-way to the pri-
mitive commerce of the western lakes; its battlements in solitary
grandeur frowning defiance to any force that would be likely to reach
It through difficult avenues, in its far ofllocation in the wilderness.
JXever m all more modern periods, have the waters of Ontario borne
upon their bosom a more formidable armament. In addition to a
large force, to their stores and camp equipage, was the heavy artillery,
and all the requisites that British militarv skill and foresight had
deemed necessary for the reduction of a strong fortress by regular
approaches; such as the plan of attack contemplated. And how
mixed and made up of difibrent races, and men of different habits
and characters, was this expedition ! - There was the proud com-
missioned and titled Briton, who had seen more of the refinements
and luxuries of courts, than of the hardships of camps in the wilder-
ness ; veteran officers and soldiers, who had fought in European
wars, inured to the camp and the field ; the sons of the wealthy and
mfluential colonial, in New York, along the Hudson river counties.
who had sought commissions in the army, and were going out in
their first campaign. Provincials, men and boys, transferred horn

PHELPS AND GORHAlfs PURCHASE.

the stores counting-houses, and nnechanic shops of New York, and
the rural districts of Yestchester, Richmond, Kings, Queens, Suffolk,
Dutchess, Ulster, Orange, Albany, and the lower valley of the Mo-
hawk, to the camp, the drill, and the march that seemed then as far
extended, and beset with more difficulies than would one over
the mountains to Oregon now ; and lastly there was the warriors of
the Iroquois, fully imbued with their ancient war spirit, decked out
with feathers, claws, and hoops, the spoils of the forest chase — and
with new paint, broad-cloths, blankets and silver ornaments, the gifts
of the King.

The armament coasted along up the south sliore of the Lake, en-
camping on shore ; the first night at Sodus, invited there by the
beautiful bay, in which their water craft could be made secure from
winds and waves, as their frail structure demanded. Their other
halting places for the night, were at Irondequoit, Braddock's Bay,
and Johnson's Creek ; (which latter place was named in honor of Sir
William Johnson ;) arrived at the mouth of the Eighteen Mile Creek,
(what is now the village of Olcott,) within eighteen miles of Fort
Niagara, a halt was made to enable recounoitering parties to go out
and determine whether the French had made a sortie from the Fort
in anticipation of their arrival.

As they coasted along up the lake, they had occasionally dis-
charged their heavy artillery, well knowing that a noiseless approach
would give them no advantage, as the Indian scouts from the garri-
son, glimpses of whom had been caught upon several occasions, had
kept the French well informed of their movements ; and there were
Iroquois enough in the French interest, belonging to the lower na-
tions, to give the French missionaries and traders, in all their localr
ities in Western New York, timely notice of all that was going on.
But they wished to inspire the Senecas in their interests with cour-
age and the neutrals with terror ; and well, perhaps, did their device
subserve those purposes.

Leaving the British army almost within sight of the field of con-
flict, let us pass over the lake, and down the river St. Lawrence, to
see what preparation had been made for their reception : —

Well informed at home of the policy of Mr. Pitt; of the prepara-
tory acts of Parliame.it ; of the shipping of reinforcements to the
British army in America; of all the minutiae, in fact, of the cam-
paign ; the French had not been idle. Despatches were sent to M.

.';o

Iff

PHELPS AND OOnnAM's PCBCHASE.

etcTbvtif ■ ""' """'T' °' "'"""''■ ""'' ^i» I--* «erc strength,
eneci by reinforcements from Frnnpp u^ i * .• ■ ^

and country over the forest and best portions of the New World

men., and colencod if J J J "'^ *"' ''«»"" "" -'-"'h"

the advance workmen ■,. Ihl , "''"'""■ ""'"« "Pon

into the opeVZund ; IlT T' "''""" '" """"-S^ f'™ 'h" foU
tired into t for, /fit ' '"'"'. ""''""S"''' ""'' *e party re-

fort, whic ;:; kept iiTr "r "^ '"'^--^^^ f"- "-^

On the 8ih m. p ■ u"^ ^ " 8™""='' portion of the night

men! Mhe Fr th ottuCtr-'l''" ™"'" "P™ ">''^ ---'>■
the f„ ,, and Hon' ieur La F? T " "''°" "'"'" =" '"""-'"'^ f™"
in the anned rhooner l\ "^"'""^ "'' ""'' ''™" '>"> Lake
^hot. Genera Pndel'' """"^'""""y "^''d'ms them with a
".anding a :™jt X "" "'' "'"' " """ '"'» ">e fort, de-
Freneh'commrdt ot ™1 ^■^■""'■■'^-'y --efced by the
exchange orXlo^Jil Tu^l '""' '""P'"^ '^^^'""^ *«
the loth, the EnHlradvanee r""'"''''"'"''^'^*'^'-^- «»
themselves hy entrenchment, V " "'" "P"" 8™"''. P™tecting
^^^elment^^ occasional fire fro.n the fort!

r««..n, ,1.0 l„,fc, ,„„if„, J V° »' 2 J; ,'; : '" 'i""',"",'"' "' « »»'"' i- 1> C
and b,a,c, m die F™,ch .mice „ , Lli °o^?»"'"''"'' »' » >"n.J .3™ «" acU™

PHELPS AND gokiiam's puuciiase. 51

%Nliich became almost incessant during the nigbt, obliging tiiem at
tunes to suspend their works. The small French force at Schlosser
succeeded in reaching the fort. On the 11th, a small ,krty of
French approached within a short distance of the English trenches
irom which they sallied out in strong force, but were driven again
into their defences, by the guns of the fort. At 5 P. M., the En.'.
lish opened their fire with eight mortars. ' ' '^

The siege continued from day to day, and night to night, with oc-
casional, but not long-continued intermissions ; the French, too few
in number to risk a sortie, holding out valiantly amid the tunblin<r
walls of their devoted fortress, seriously annoying the besiegers
by an active fire, that often arrested the progress of their works" as
may well be inferred from their slow approaches ; wearied with toil
and want of rest; at tJmo?, almost upon the point of abandoning
the unequal contest. On ilio 14th, the besiegers had so e-tended
their works, as to be enabled to bring a heavy force to bear upon
the fort. On the evening of the 19th, their General, (Prideux,) who
had so well planned the attack, and, so far, so well executed it
was accidentally killed, while giving his orders in the trenches by
the premature bursting of a shell, discharged from a cohorn mortar
The vigor with which the siege was prosecuted, may be jud-ed
Irom the tact, that m one night, they threw three hundred bom'bs
Ihus things continued until the morning of the 23d, when the be-
sieged had a gleam of hope that was destined not to be realized • —
Anticipating this attack. Captain Pouchot had sent runners to
Presque Isle, Le Boeuf, Venango, and Detroit, ordering thcn^ with
their commands, and all the Indian allies tliev could muster to
repai" to Niagara. At a moment when it seemed that the dilapidated
fortress, and its diminished and wearied defenders could hold out no
longer, two western Indians made their way into the fort, brincrino-
word from Monsieur Aubrey that he had arrived with a forc°e ol'
nearly twenty-five hundred French and Indians, at Navy Island
opposite the " Little Fort," (Schlosser.) Four Indians were imme-
diately despatched, to inform Monsieur Aubrey of the critical con-
dition of the fort, and urge him to press forward to its relief

The command of the British force having now devolved upon
Sir William Johnson, he had anticipated the approach of the
1-rench and Indians from the West, and kept himself carefully ad-
vised of their movements, by means of his Indian runners On

PHELP3 AND GOKUAm's PUEOHASE.

the evening of the 23d, he sent out strong detachments of troops,
and posted them along on either side of the road leading from the
tort to the Falls, about tvv., miles from the fort, where they rested
upon then- arms during the night. Earlv in the morninrr of the
24th, other detachments of his most efTective troops were "(ordered
from the trenches before the fort, to re-inforce those already posted
upon the Niagara River. The success of his protracted siege,
now depended on arresting the march of D'Aubrey.

The British force had but just been posted for the encounter
when the French and Indians, under D'Aubrey, came down the
river. The British out-posts fell back, and joined the main body.
The opposing forces were now drawn up in order of battle, and
D'Aubrey gave the order for attaciv. His western Indian allies,
hitherto principally concealed, swarmed from the woods, and gave
the terrif;-! war-whoop, at the same time, rushing upon the English
hues, followed by the French troops. The British regulars, and
such provincials as had seen little of Indian warfare, quailed for a
moment in view of the fierce onslaught; the Iroquois and the prac-
ticed Indian fighters, nmong both regulars and provincials, stood firm.
In a moment, the shock was met as firmly as it had been impetu-
ously made. Volley after volley was discharged upon the fierce
assailants from the whole British line, and from the Indian fianking
parties, until the Indian assailants gave way and left the field^
Deserted by his Indian allies, D'Aubrey bravely led on his French
troops against the English colunm, and was pres: ing it vigorously,
when a reinforcement of Johnson's Indians arrived tVom the trench-
es, and assailed his fianks, and aided powerfully in turning the tide
of battle against him. Standing firm for a short time, and return-
mg the English and the Indian fire, he gave way and ordered a re-
treat, which soon assumed the character of a total rout. The
Enghsh pressed upon the vanquished and retreating French, and
made prisoners, or shot 'down by for the larger potion of them.
But a remnant of them escaped into an inhospitable and trackless
wilderness. D'Aubrey and most of his principal ollicers were
among die captives. This was the main and decisive feature of
the protracted siege. The contest was but of short duration; but
long enough, with the vigor and desperation with which it was
waged, to strew the ground for miles wilh the dead bodies of the
combatants.

PUBLICS AND GOKIIAm's PURCHASE. 53

How vivid is the picture presented to the imagination, of this
early scene ! It was then far, far away, in any direction, frohi the
abode of ci vihzation. There were no spectators of that sudden clasJ.
ofarms, of that protracted siege ; all were participants. Hundreds
of miles beyond the heaviest sounds that like earthquake shocks
must have gone out from the conflict, were the nearest of our race
save those who were at Frontenac and Oswego, and the few mis-
sionaries and traders upon our interior rivers. The outlet of vast
inland lakes, the shores of which had been scarcely tread by Euro
peans, hushed to comparative stillness, after having tumbled over
the mighty precipice, and madly rushed through the long narrow
gorge that succeeds, was rolling past, its eddies dashing heavily
againstthc shore, moaning a requiem over the dead that were thickl'y
strewn upon it. Death and carnage, the smoke of battle, the gleam-
ing of steel, had chosen for their theatre a marked spot, romantic
and beautiful as any that arrests the eye of the tourist, in that region
of sublime and gorgeous landscapes. There was the roar of musket-
ry, the terrible war-hoop ; the groans of the dying; the fierce assault
and firm repulsion ; precipitate retreat, and hot and deadly pursuit •
the red warrior loading himself, with trophies of the tomahawk and
scalping knife, that would signalize his valor in the war dance or
tale out his deeds of blood at a place of reward :

"The sliout of battle, llic bail)ariim yell, the bray
Of (lisouant iiistnimonts, the clang of ann.«,
The shi'ieks of agony, the grouti of ilealh,
In one wild uproar and continued din
Shook the still air !"— Soutiiey.

In yonder ancient structure, standing out in bold relief, solitary
and isolated even now; was a handful of brave men, their numbers
thinned, holding out after a long siege; encouraged by hones that
were crushed, when their brave countrymen, deserted "by tVeacher-
ous allies, gave way before a superior fbrce. Stretched out upon
yonder plain, in long lines of batteries and entrenchments, were the
besiegers, who, advancing from day to day, had approached so near
that every shot from their heavy artillery told upon the massive
walls they were assailing.

It was a new scene in the wilderness; —nature in her solitudes
and fastnesses, was affrighted; the wild beasts hurried flrrther and
farther, into the recesses of the forest, or Imddled in their lairs

PHELPS AND GORHAm's PURCHASE.

Rifl'i

tit ■ * <
ml

uli

t.e.nblngas each successive crash came upon tlieir unaccustomed

ears. It was a calm July morning. The surface of that wide ex-

pause of water, smooth and unruifled, mirrored the scene of fire and

smoke, of waving banners and advancing cohunns. Stunning and

doafenmg came the sounds of battle ;- then a Imshed silence? as if

war and conquest stood appalled in view of the work of death they

had wrought ; ni which brief pause would come the roar of the

.u.ghty cataract, rushing in as if impatient to riot in its accustomed

monopoly of sound! The "great thunderer" was contending with

it. first rival! Il.gh over all arose the smoke of the two battle

grounds to the clear bice heavens, and mingling there with the spray

ot the cataract was carried ofi-by a gentle breeze ; and at the suns

dechne, when the strife was ended, it canopied and spanned the deep

1 '"?!'''' r "" ^°'^ ""^^ 1''''"^''^ ""'"-^ ■'' harbinger of peace.
The French in the Fort had been close observers of every si-ni
without, and had seen enough to make them apprehensive of the in-
sult upon the river bank; but hours passed by before they could
know With certainty the fate of the gallant men wh. had been
arrested m then- march of intended relief An Indian scout gained
access to the I- ort infonning them of Aubrey's total defeat and rout
and ma few minutes, a British officer entered ond demanded a
surrender accompanying the demand with an exhortation from Sir
VV ilham Jolmson ag nst the necessity of further bloodshed, and the
intimation that his exasperated Indian allies could not be prevented
trom wreakiiig vengence upon the captives if the fight was furtlier
P olonged. Captain Pouchot, with the advice and concurrence of
of his officers, yielded to fate and necessity: and more than all, per-
haps, to the fearful apprehension that farther doubtful resistance
would make victims to savage warfare, of his unfortunate country-
men and their allies. Terms of capitulation were agreed upon, hon-
orable toboth parties ; and thus ended a well planned and Ivell con-
ducted siege; stood out against with almost unexampled heroic
fortitude, and thus commenced the English possession of Fort xXiag-
ara, and dominion over all the region oi Western N^w York

lagi?of-^;;il;;/:;i;!'^^;:riiii:r' £r.w 'h' ^^" Nin,nm Riverl-ct^roe.. tho vU-

"Bloody Run." s ■ i ( u- h^^" '" ''^^^'Y'^' ■''''"'"■'••^ ^y l'"' "i.m,.. of

l-arroK^,„, locks! l^J'^ls v n l^™,^:^ ^'^ i^ J 'i-^ -'^i'- ^T'T'^ ^""

..i the cam, and up to this i.n.i, tho p,:::.st.;;:"ai;rdi^h;^i'i':.tsSr

rnELP3 AifD goriiam's purchase.

The terms of capitulation assented to by Sir William Johnson,
should be added to the evidences that while he excelled in bravery
and military foresight, a life in the wilderness, far away from the
mcentives and examples of civilized life, had not made him insensi-
ble to the obligations ofhumanity and courtesy. Anticipatin-r the
bloody scenes we must yet pass through, to conduct the reader to the
mam objects of our narrative, the wish obtrudes itself that he could
have been spared to have exercised his vast influence in after years
m arrestmg the tomahawk and the scalping knife. The vanquished
were al-lowedto pass out of the Fort with the honors of war, and lay
down then- arms. It was stipulated that the French officers and
soldiers should be conducted to New York, where comfortable quar-
ters should be furnished them ; that the females and children should
have safe convoy to the nearest port of France ; and that the woun-
ded should be taken care of, and conveyed to New York as soon
as they were able to undertake the journey. Upon the other hand
Oaptam Pouchot stipulaicd tiie surrender of all the stores, provisions
and arms, with which the garrison had been well supplied.

The French that capitulated in the fort, numbered over 600 • be-
side them, were the prisoners taken in the battle upon the river
Not less than ten commissioned officers were among the prisoners,"
of whom were the gallant D'Aubrey, Captain Pouchot, and two
half-breed sons of Joncaire. In marching out and 3mbarking in
batteux. It was with difficulty they were saved from massacre by
the Iroquois ; and only saved by the conciliatory course of Sir
Wilham Johnson, and the promise to his turbulent allies of a liberal
participation m the spoils of victory ; a promise that he fulfilled.*
In a fow days, after holding an Indian council to further promote

lie

A Icttor, writtou from the spot Roon nffur fho «,„-r ,„ )
ne*v-s],;,iH.r filos, states that tlu' i,di.,„ • i; .J ' «""r''M.Ioi. proscn-cd in some old

.av.. iho arms a.ul a,, ■ u o„ 4 „; ? h?" ,'"•''''' ''Vk I''"'"''-''' "' f''^" ^'-'t.

fiatola.ts,stor.Hl therefor [„, rl'nuo I'! ''';.'''■'''' '"•?" 'l"""ti'i<"* "f V^'^'nlll

sio,.aiiy uncovered by the pio:^h:t d;;;?^::,;?^:;;;!;^-^;;;;^:;-;; -- — -ca.

Oreat Meadows, and wo,. Idstir a^ !,' ^'^ ^ ^ "'VT '^"'i'^ "' ''"" ^''^"I'V'f^u,
'Ic'n.ff.; (iatesand Mor^.-m we,-e at a d ek' J..':, l'^', ^ """'••" >va.s .ntTieo,,-
ac(.rpsof J'rovincial |.".a7„a,r,s ; (le r,r 01 ' , If ",' ^^"'^ w,^ a vo„n^M,(ru-er i,,
SKMi ain(,M- tlio I'roviiu'ials ^n the .iel ,, ' \' ,'''?' "^^"'"^■'1. 1""^' '>■ coniinis-

ward, rendered ilhr.lrio n.'e; in i.vf "'■'''' ''""' "'^■•■^■^'■^' "thcr imn.e.s, after-
Crown Point, Tico.uler...a:Si;I;^',;;:i'i;;;:;;;;['''^«'"'''« ^( the cauipaignH .igai„«t

PHELPS AND GOKHAM's PURCHASE.

and strengthen the alliance of the Iroquois, ami detaching a suffi-
cient force to repair and occupy the captured fort. Sir William
Johnson, with his main force and his prisoners, departed for

' in I •

■ I'l

CHAPTER III.

^mu

8XEGE AND CAPTUUK OF TICONDEROGA, CROWN VOim , aUEBEC, AND
MONTREAL -PEACE OF 1763 - END OP FRENCH DOMINION.

While all this was transpiring, war was waging with equal vigor
It not with as signal success, upon the banks of the St. Lawrence'
and upon the Northern Lakes. On the 22d of July, the main arm;
under General Amherst, arrived at Ticonderoga; and, opening I
heavy fire upon the French out-posts, compelled them to retire
vvithm the walls of the fort, leaving their heavy breast-works to
shelter the besiegers from a brisk fire they poured out from the
strong-hold to which they had retreated. The siege and stout re-
sistance continued until late in the night of the 23d, when the
l-rench, warned by the formidable preparations the besiegers were
making, withdrew their main force to Crown Point, leaving but
400 to mark^their retreat. Seldom, perhaps, in war's annals, has
an unequal lorce-a handful against a powerful array -so much
annoyed besiegers, as did these 400 gallant Frenchman, left, as it
would almost seem, for a sacrifice. In the daikness of the night, a
d taclunen of them went from the fort, and stealthily appro.^hed
the Enghsh in their entrenchments; breaking them up. and for a

entln .K T^ '"^^^^^'"S ^^y«' ^^""«yi"g the besiegers in their

Toltt^Z 'Vr"'""' ^^-^i^ecied fire. On the night of

he 26 h, the small force, perceiving that the English had planted

themselves strongly within six hundred yards, of the fort -that

l'(

ig a suffi-

William

irted for

PHELPS AND GORU Ail's PURCHASE. 5T

longer resistance would be unavailing- blew up their magazines,
fired their wooden breast-works, barracks and store-houses ; made a
wreck of their fortress for the besiegers to occupy, and secured a
.^afe. retreat, uninterrupted but by a pursuit across the Lake, and
the capture of 16 of their number. At daylight, on the morning
of the 27th, the French flag was struck down, and the En<Tlish flafr
raised, amid smoke and flames, devastation and ruin, that Sie torch
and lusee of the gallant, but despairing Frenchmen, had left for the
destruction of works their valor could not save.

The first work of Gen. Amherst was the repairing of the dilapi-
dated fortress ; and in the mean time some naval armament was per-
fected necessary to carrying his conquest further on, to Crown
loint. He was soon however, informed that that post was aban-
doned, and that the enemy had retreated to Aux Nois, at the lower
end of Lake Champlain. On the 4th of August, he advanced with
his mam army, to the last deserted French post. M. de Bourlema^ne,
who commanded the French forces in that quarter, seemed govern-
ed by the policy of retarding as far as possible, the advance of the
l;|ngiish force, whose ultimate destination he was well aware, was
Ciuebec; and their erran.i there, to aid the besiegers in the reduc-
tion of that strong hold, an-l last hope, of his king and country upon
this continent. At Aux Nois, where he had made his stand, he had
yet an effective force of 3,500 men ; 100 pieces of cannon ; and a
force of armed vessels, which gave him command of the Lake,
llie Lnghsh rested at Crown Point, engaging actively however, in
strengthening their feeble naval armament; occasionally sendincr
out small scouting parties; and preparing i.i all things, for breaking
up the Irench in their plan of retreat. On the 10th of Octol,ei°
the army under Gen. Amherst were embarked, and aftor an inefl'ec'
tua attempt to reach their destination, in consequence of Wmb winds
and storms, were obliged to seek shelter in a bay, upon the western
shore of the lake, and remain there for seven days. On the 18th
the troops were again embarke.l, and after encountering another
gale tell back to Crown Point. The season was now far^dvanced
-lie rigors of winter, in a bleak northern region, had began seri-
ously to impair the ability and energy of the troops. These con-
siderations, allied to the probability that he could not reach Quebec
until tae contest there was decided, induced Cen. Amherst to post-
pone further olTensive operations to a more propitious season.

ito

:f !l

ill

rUELrs AND GORIIAJi's PUECnASE.

The English squadron, destined for Quebec, had set sail about
the middle of February. The command of this expedition was
conferred by Mr. Pitt, upon James Wolf; the youngest man that
had ever borne the commission of Major General in the British
army ; yet, he was selected for by far the most difficult service that
the war involved. The naval command was conferred upon Admiral
feaunders The expedition arrived at Halifax, towards the close of
the month of April. The force destined to act upon land under
Wolf, was over 8,000. From the first landing upon the American
coast, the British Admiral had anticipated the arrival of a convoy
Irom France, destined for supplies and men, and had watched to in-
tercept It, but It had eluded his vigilance and reached Quebec

It was not until the 27th of June that the imposing force had
reached the Island of Orleans, a few leagues below Quebec, and
disembarke<l. A recent historian* has thus eloquently described
the Enghsh commander's first view of Quebec, and the task that lay
before h,m : - " Accompanied by the chief engineer. Major M Kel-
ler, and an escort of light infantry, he pushed on to the extremity
of the Island nearest to Quebec. A magnificent but disheartening
scene lay before him. On the sumniit of the highest eminence ; on
Iho s raits of the great river from whence the basin before him open-
ed, the French flag waved. The crest of the rocky hei<dit was
crowned with formidable works redoubted and planked. On every
fixvorable spot, above, below, on the rugged assent, were batteries
biistellmg with guns. This strong-hold formed the right flank of a
position eight miles in extent ; the falls and the deep and rapid stream
of the Montmorency, was the left. The shoals and rocks of the
b . Lawrence protected the broad front, and the rich vallies of the
fet. Charles, with the prosperous and beautiful villages of Charles-
burg, an>l Beauport, gave shelter and hospitality in the rear A
crested bmik of some height over the great river, nuarkcd the main
hne of defences from east to west, parapets planked at everv favor-
able spot, aided their natural strength. Crowding on this embattled
bank, swarimngin the irregular village streets, and formed in mass-
es on the hil s bej-ond. were 12.000 French and Canadian troops,
led by the gallant Montcalm."

The scenes that followed-all the details of that protracted and

IfJ.

* Aiitlior of Conquest of Cuiiaila.

PHELPS AND GORIIAM's PURCHASE. 59

eventful siege — form prominent pages in our general history. It
would be but repeating that with which most readers are familiar,
to give them a place in these local annals.

The siege commenced on the 29th of June, and lasted with but
brief intermissions, until the 18th day of September. Upon that
memorable day the French, after a gallant resistance — a holding out
almost unparalelled, considered in reference to time ind the fierce
and frequent approaches they had to resist — surrendered the great
citadel of their strength in America ; the Gibraltar upon vvhich
they had fallen back in other days of untoward events ; the spot
they had occupied since Champlain chose it in 1608, as the seat
and centre of French colonization.

The American reader has been surfeited, through English sources
principally, with accounts of the bravery, the skill and the fortitude,
of the besiegers and conquerors of Quebec. The story of the gal-
lant Wolf, the mild, unassuming and amiable commander ; in whose
character there is mixed up the finest sensibilities of our nature ;
child like simplicity, with as stern heroism as Britain can boast in'
her long catalogue of military conquerors ; his almost shout of tri-
umph, when the news reached him that the enemy was vie!din<T,
even when the film of death was upon his eyes, just as his nobfe
spirit was about to take its flight far away from worldly conflict ; —
has become as familiar as house-hold ^vords. But little has been
said, or known, in our language, of the brave defenders of the be-
sieged citadel; and of him especially, the gallant but unfortunate
Montcalm ; whose end was as glorious as that of his conqueror ;
though no shouts of victory cheered him upon his entrance into the'
dark valley of death.

A recent English historian,* has in this respect, set an example
of magnanimity ; and to his pages are we indebted for much that is
new m all that concerned the defence of Quebec. From the mo-
ment the English had obtained a footing upon the Island of Orleans,
the French commander was like a noble stag at bay. (;onfrunted
by a powerful force, chafed and harrassed in'his preparation for de-
fence ; distrustful as the result proved he had reason to be, of the
courage and counsels of the Governor, Yaudreuil, who had an
immediate command of the Canadian militia; his courage was that

' Author of "Conquest of Cauiida,"

liJ

Ilil

J;|fi
llti

If:

PHELPS AND GORHAm's PUKCHASE.

of desperation : - restive, impulsive, chivalric, to a fault. For<ret-

lul of superiority of rank, he said to Vaudreuil, in reference to some

policy he had pursued : " Vou have sold your country, but while

1 live J will not surrender it up." Of the provincial troops, he wrote

on the eve of battle : "My Canadians without discipline, deaf to

the sound of the drum, and badly armed, nothing remains for them

but to fly ; and behold me beaten without resources. But one thin.r

I can assure you, I .shall not survive the probable loss of the colony

There are times when a general's only resource is to die with honor ■

this IS such a time. No stain shall rest upon my memory. But in

defeat and death there is consolation left. The loss of the colony

will one day be of more value to my country, than a victory. The

conqueror shall here find a tomb; his aggrandizement shall prove

his ultimate ruin."*

Never did the general of an army, or the defender of a citadel
have more upon his hands. There was disaffection amon^r the
mihtia to conciliate ; desertion to prevent ; a scantv and bad supply
of provisions to obviate, with but feeble prospects of obtaining nevv
supplies ; an unreaped harvest wasting in the fields, for the preser-
vation of which he was obliged to spare 2,000 of his men at a crit-
ical moment; the supply of ammunition was scanty; the vigorous
and almost incessant prosecution of the seige, left him with little
ot that confidence which is essential to eflicient action. His co-
operator, and superior, (Vaudreuil,) was but a clog upon his move-
ments. Yet he manfully and heroically contended against impend-
ing and fearfully foreshadowed fate. lie compelled obedience to
his orders by iron rules and summary infiictions of severe penalties •
•nspireil l)y his determined impetuous bearing, terror, where duty
and courage failed or flagged; moved from point to point i.suin^r
his orders ; here to repair a breach, there to prevent desertion ; and
there, to push forward attacking columns.

" I am safe," said he on the 12th of September, "unless Wolf lands
above the town." Even then, there was a movement with the Brit-
ish force to gain the position, fn.n the possession of which he had
impliedly foretold his ruin.

PHELPS AND GORnAMS PURCnASE.

Forge t-
3e to some
but while
, he wrote,
e, deaf to
! for them
one thiniT
le colony,
ith honor ;
. But in
le colony
ry. The
lall prove

a citadel
nong the
ad supply
ning new
e preser-
at a crit-

vigorous
\ith little

His co-
is niovc-

impend-
lience to
•enalties ;
ere duty
t issuing
ion ; antl

olf lands
the Erit-
\ he had

.'nni : - Tf
> imt het'ii
^■ay to tlio
)hetii\

While he was listening to the sound of cannon from an unexpec-
ted quarter, a horseman came to him in full speed, and announced
that the English were occupying the plains of Abraham. He
aroused a sleeping and wearied soldiery, and by promi)t action hod
them soon hurrying in long lines over the valley of the St. Charles
to the battle ground. Incredulous at first, that the besiegers had
ventured and succeeded in gaining the rugged ascent — almost be-
lieving it a feint; — when convinced of its reality he nei'ved him-
self for the decisive contest which he knew had come. The hour
of conflict found him at the head of his army ; as Wolf was of his.
Where danger was most imminent, he was to be found ; flying from
column to column, inspiring confidence by his presence and infusing
into his ranks, a desperate courage that England's veteran troops had
no where before contended with. At one moment, simultaneously al-
most, as if each charge was exploded by an electric circuit, came a
volley from the drawn up columns of the British lines. The French
were swept down like forest trees before a whirlwind. Upon this
hand, fell his second in command, upon the other, one of his bravest
generals ; the day and the battle, the citadel and an Empire was al-
ready lost ; and yet Montcalm was undismayed. Recoiling from
the shock, like hardened steel that has been bent almost to l)reakinrr,
again he collected his scattered forces and presented a bold front
to the enemy. Then came another terrible fire from the British
lines, and with it a charge, such as has but few parallels in the his-
tories of battles. Overcome, trampled down, yielding and flyino- in
every direction, was the whole French force. Amid this scene of
death and carnage, Montcalm died as he had hoped he should ;
w}ien-h& could no longer resist the march of the invader. He fell
mortally wounded at the head of his troops, that he was in vain at-
tempting to rally and make stand firm, in the face of a fire and a
charge, incessant and desperate. When the surgeon had examined
his wound, he told him it was mortal. " I am glad of it," said he,
" how long can I survive ? " " Perhaps a day, perhaps less," was
the reply of the surgeon. " So much the better," replied Montcalm,
" I shall not live to see the surrender of Quebec." It is given on
the atuhority of a British officer, who was present at the siege of
Quebec, that Montcalm, in his last moments, paid a high compliment
to his Conquerors; and at the same time bitterly reflected upon his
own troops. That he said : " If I could survive tiiis wound, I would

ill

litr

PinSLPS AND GOBIIAm's PCIiCIIASE.

engage to beat tliree times the number of sueh forees as I commnn-
ded th,s mornmg with a third of their number of British troop,

on 'h B °iJ tie '""";"""■ ••">■' "« g""' -=.'0 mounted up.
besil'ed c tv . , rf- ''""'^' '° "■'"" " "'■••• """^ <^™'' from the

befo^ the fex. l: •:" '° r''°"""' '^ "° -■"'■--ment, ca.ne
'^^ moining. This was in anticipation of the arrival
me^Ti^^^ ^-Tf-o- Montreal that had been ordered d vv^ Tl

arC J^d?D;n ''',? T""'' '"-^"^ ^'^'^'- «^' ^he French

The'; "ttd^ PoT""'''^' ^ f ^''^'^ ^-'^ P-t«d at another point.
1 ney letned t^ Port aux Trembles. When the Governor of Mon
treal came down and joined them, it was agreed to send encour""
g.ng words to M. de Ramsay, the Governor of Quebec urZl"
o hold out against the siege. The courier reacheVte£:i ty

The English army took possession of Quebec, and the French
anny retn-ed to Three Rivers and Montreal. Thus ended h
campaign m that quarter, for the season of 1759. It re7u ti had
been the conquest of Quebec. Crown Point, Ticondero! a,td
Niagara. Occupying these vantage grounds, the Englisl - ."
well be supposed to I,ave surmounted the most formidabk. b n- rs
against the complete success of the campaign; yet. on he parof
he French colonists, the stake they were co1.t;r^iin;fo w'as Jo
large - the issue was too momentous _ to admit of entire un ender
as long as there was the least chance of winning '"'^"'

M. de Levi, the Governor of Montreal, had succeeded Montcalm
as commander- n-chief TIip F,-o,.^i . • ^"''" ^'^""^^^"^

1750 'fin h.A u . ^"^'' ^™>'' ^"'^"g the winter of

!!::!l!!:J:1!!!!^!^^ '^^^'' -^^ - i^rge

o„8 cn,.„,y m tl.o open fidtl. T,, aav fo h '"? 'l^'';;'""ncHl lo meet ]iis danger-
Wc. Jlatl tlio French Cener'il tl n t, ■ ' '^■'^f''""-''"'<'i'7 msulutwn, is inipossi-

dofietlhis assailants fnmi be LZ ..,'''"'';'* "•',^;' '^."'■^«<^' '^« ""ffl't J'a™ ^Ju^ly
short tinte belbre, he l,a,l i w ,M ; " "/'i'"'; *''^ '""^?"' ^'■"™ ^1^^'"' ^^^^'ay. l^ut a
lintish army in a ,r,„eral en^^^j ^ "^'it^': rT'''"''-'!f '"V""''' ""^f='- ^''^
in(lofal,.rable enemy had been^h Su.u eve^^. I 7'-'" ^'"'^ "" »''^' ««'"-•<« "f l"s
terms: antl yet, at leni,nh, ,.„ an me l- in V'\ '''''^' "" "" "^■^'"" >'I""' ■''"}-
unaided by any advan(a«o of i.os fi L ' , "' ". " '',","" '^■'"^■"'- *"■• '"'^ ''"-'iH'^rv,
veterans of Kntrlantl. Once a do I ^'•' /'".''^^' f'"' '■"^''^ Cana.lian militia ai^ainst flie
«iis gallant Frt:?,eh,„an fb.Sl hi w stLn? •^'' n • '''-^'''^"^ ^""^ '"'"^f""^'^ '^•'^■"r S
dous en'or led him to defeat and d,tu' * '"''""'"^ ''''"' ^"^ '^''^^ one tremeu

W ' I

city

bod

PHELPS AjSD GORIIAAl's PURCHASE.

y o{ Indians. In April, as soon as the ur

enoui

cr portion of the St.
he transportation of
nis artillery, Heavy baggage, and nnilitary stores, M. de Levi re-
solved upon a descent and an attempt to re-conquer Quebec. It
was a rash attempt, but he relied much upon the eflects a cold win-
ter had had in reducing and enfeebling the British force, that had
been lelt at Quebec ; and in fact, shut up as they had been, but
scantily supplied with salt provisions, death and disability had fear-
^ully thinned their ranks. The defence had devolved upon Gen.
Murray. On the morning of the 27th of .April, M. de Levi had
posted his strong force within three miles of Quebec. The British
General, fully aware that investment, for any considerable period, in
the condition of his army, would be equally as fatal as defeat 're-
solved to follow the example of Montcalm. His unequal force was
marched out, and an attack commenced. After a desperate fight,
and the loss, in killed and wounded, of nearly one-third of his army
he retired within the walls. U. de Levi followed up his success,'
approaching and strongly entrenching ; the lost citadel was apparent-
ly w'thin his grasp, when a small, but efficient English fleet came
up the St. Lawrence, and made quick work in destroying and cap-
turuig the whole French armament ; a new spirit was infused in the
English camp; and M. de Levi, with hopes so suddenly crushed,
made a hasty retreat at the sacrifice of his guns, amunition, stores,
and entrenching tools. Thus ended an expedition that the chagrined
Canadians stigmatized as "de Levi's folly."

On his way to Niagara, Prideux had left Col. Haldimand in com-
mand at Oswego. On the 4th of July, the fort was besieged by a
large force of Canadian militia and Indians, under the command of
M. de la Corne. A surprise was attempted and failed, the garrison,
being forewarned, was ready for their reception, and opened a fire
upon the besiegers, which compelled a dispersion. An attempt to
burn the English boats in the harbor failed, and the besiegers re-
crossed the Lake.

The English opened the campaign in 1760, to complete their con-
quest. Early in May, Gen. Amherst had collected a large force rt
Oswego. Two armed vessels succeeded in forcing all the French
armament upon the Lake to take refuge among the " Thousand
Isles.'' The army at Oswego consisted of over 10.000; allied to
which, were 700 Indians that Sir William Johnson had brou.dit into

PHELPS AND <:}ORHA.m's PURCHASE.

(jr

Iheficld The mam army under Gen. Amherst, went down the
Lake, and the St. Lawrence; a detachment under Co!. Ilaviland
gomg via Lake Champlain to Crown Point, to be joined by the force
stationed there The first point of attack was the small garrison
upon Isle Royal, commanded by captain Pouchot. That surrender-
ed after a spirited resistance. Here the Indian allies mostly deser-
ted, or marched offin a body, chagrined at Amherst and Johnson's
refusal to allow them to massacre the whole French garrison as
they had intended. After a perilous passage down the St. Lawrence
in which 80 men and (50 boats were lost, Amherst's army landed
nine nnles from Montreal on the 0th of Septemb.^r. Murray, with
all his disposable force, had left Quebec and sailed up the St. Law-
rence on the 14th of June. As an evidence how strong was vet
the attachment of the Canadians to the French interests -even in
this hour where there was little hope, it is mentioned that Murrav's
orce was constantly annoyed by guerrilla attacks from the banks 'of
the nver as they ascended. After a slow passage, delayed in expect-
ation of being joined by fresh troops from England, the squadron
reached the Island of Montreal on the 7th of September, and were
disembarked. Col. Ilaviland having come dovn. Lake Cham^ aTn
cap tui.d the post at Isle Aux Nois, to which the French had re-'

iTo^ T'i;f"'V^' ^''^''''' ^^^^^^"' ^^« "«^r ^' hand, and
reached the Island on the 8th.

Under Amherst, Murray and Ilaviland, there was now an

English force o 10,000 elTective troops. With but little delay, in

ZZ^ir r] f "" army of besiegers, M de Vaudreuil surivn-

ered Montreal and signed articles of capitulation, which included.

cair^ r;; ' """''"''" ^''' ^'°''^' '""^ ^^ ^'^« extent of the French
ciaima at tlae west.

If any thing excused the French Governor. Vaudreuil. for so sud-
den a surrender, it was the favorable terms he exacted from the be- '
H-egers, which were conceded to, as a better alternative, than the
hedding of more blood, of which the banks of the St. Lawrence,
and the shoi-es of the Lakes, had alrea.lv seen enough to satiate the
most morbid desire for human sacrifice, in the respective countries
to wh.ch the thousands of victims owed allegiance. The foreign
French troops; the civil officers, their families and bar^.a^e -were
to be sent home in English vessels; the troops under p^^oL^to' serve
no more durmg the war. The militia were allowed to return to

PKELPS AXD GORIIAMS l'URCIL\i?E. G5

their homes. The French colonists were to enjoy the same privi-
eges ami unmunities as British subjects. The Indians that had ad-
hered to the Lrench interests, were to be unmolested, and disturbed
m no rii,rht they had enjoyed under French dominion

Thus terminated French dominion uj.on this continent, which
had existed lor a century and a half. IIovv badly was all that time
improved ! Tbe sympathies which are naturally excited by a peru-
sal of all the details of the fmal contest ; the mislortunes and casual-
ties^we may well call then,, that one after another baflled the arms
of France, and paralize.l the arms of as brave men as were ever
tramed in her armies; shutting them up in fortresses; closincr the
avenues by which succor could reach them, with ice and snow, or
adverse wmds; cutting ofT reinforcements in their march of relief-
disease prostrating them, and famine staring them in the face, while
hos s of armed men were thundering at their gates, and their stron.^
walls were swaying and trembling over their heads; are in a mea!
sure abated by the reflection, that they so long held dominion over
as hne a region as arms ever conquered, or enterprise ever reach-
ed, and were so unmindful of the value of their possession. An
occupancy of five generations, and how little did it leave behind of
nsjpress ! How little was done for France ! how little for man-

There was in Canada, (East,) the two considerable cities of
Quebec and Montreal, and a few small villages upon the St. Law-
rence. In their vicinities, upon the most favorable soils, there was
an agricultural population, but little more than supplying their own
food In Canada, (West,) but a small garrison at Frontenac, (Kin^s-
ton) with a little agricultural improvement in its immediate neigh-
borhood; a small trading station at Toronto ; and a few missionary
and trading stations in the interior, and upon Lake Huron. In
western New York, the valley of the Lakes, and the upper vallies
of the Mississippi, over all of which the French claimed dominion
here was but Ibr trading and missionary stations ; with few except
t.ons of agricultural enterprise ; by far the most considerable of
which, was upon a narr nv strip upon the Detroit river

There is much that is ad.nm-able in the French Missionary enter-
pnze m all the region they occupied. The world has no where
seen as much of devotion, of self-sacrifice, of courage, perseverance
and endurance. A host ot gifted men who had left the highest

PHELPS Amy G0RHA3l's PURCHASE.

iUicj. 1.

81?

walks of civilization and refinement, which they had helped to
adorn, took up their abode in the wilderness, in rude huts ; here and
there, upon the banks of lakes and rivers, where there were none
of even the foot prints of civilization, save their own. Solitarv and
alone, they wrestled with the rude savage ; displayed the ^-oss.
the emblem of salvation, to his wondering gaze, and disarmed his
fierce resentments by mild persuasion ; adapting themselves to his
condition, and inducting him into the sublime mysteries of a re-
ligion of peace and universal brotherhood. Each missionary was
a wanderer: -ice, snow, swollen streams, winds and tempests,
summer s heats and winter's chills, were to him no hindrances, when
duty and devotion urged him onward. Inured to toil and priva-
tion a small parcel of parched corn and a bit of jerked beef, would
be hKs on y sustenance in long journeys through the forests, seeking
new fields of missionary labor. Olten were they martyrs - there
are few localities in all the vast region they traversed, where one or
more of them dd not yield up his life as an earnest of his faith _
As often as they perished by the tomahawk, the rigors of the cli-
mate, exposure, fatigue or disease, their ranks were supplied. Like
disciplined soldiers, the Jesuit missionaries, one after another, would
Wl ranks, the vacancy of which would admonish them of danger
_ And where are now the evidences of all these lang years of mis-
sionary enterprize, zeal and martyrdom ? In the small villages of
Western New York, which now contain remnants of the once
powerful Iroquois, there is the form of the cross in tlieir silver or-
naments, and around the western Lakes and Rivers, the traveller

TZr T, h" T ''"'' ^'^^^^^^^"^^"y' ^ ™de cross, over an Indian

grave. This is all that is left, save written records, to remind us of
that extraordinary, long continued, missionary advent. All else
faded away with the decline of French power. The good mission-

mould of the forests he had penetrated, or relire,. when the fla. of
his country no longer gave him confidence and protection. The
treaty 17G3 forbid any recruits of his order.' In his absence,
his simple neophytes soon forgot his teachings. The symbols of
his f^aith no longer reminded them of the "glad tidings" he had
proclaimed. Tradition even of his presence, has become obscure
_ iNever perhaps, was rejoicing in England, as universal and enthu-
siastic, as when the news of the conquest of Quebec _fh. onn-

i*i

PHELPS AOT) GOEnAll's PUECIIASE. 6T

quest of Canada as it was rightly construed _ reached there

sessions had been rmsed ; and hatred of the French had become a

umversal pubhc senthnent. A scries of defeats and ,ZoZ^

hat had prevtously attended the British anns in this quart..,. „ "he

war then was„ng, had disposed the people of England to , ak" the

was p,oeIa,med, pageants upon land and water succeeded with
bonfires and tllutrnnaticrs. The victory was the thenre o the Zt

was m:^*^°' ^ r' "'"' "'^'"»^^^- M'"8led with alHlS
was mouimng for the brave men that had perished in the lon^r -uc
oess,o„ of conflicts, or rather the reverse of the pictl w^ he
futleral pageant, the widow's and the orphan's tears, t earths
made desolate. When .he remains of the lamented V. „i, w re
earned home and conveyed to Greenwich eemetry, there wa a

EtZdher''"'"""'"'" '■" "" ""'''""■•" i"'-''- ^-l^"' ' ' °v-
cmpne, and the triumph of its armies

We know how ,vell it is ordered 'for us, as individual, that a
curtain is drawn between the present and tlie future; that ou pi
en happmess is unalloyed by any taste of the hiUe i,-ntZ!Z
eoncealed even ,„ the cup of bliss. So with nations, if fh y „u d
always see the tendency and the end of events, the e won d have

a pldleTE'T";'" r '"^ '"""""'^ °f --• H-v wold ha™
app. lied England , how would her Kin;;, her Statesmen, sittinc u„!

t "'".'"l^'"l/'-'=l'0». o-- holding saturnalias at festive boards liave

u : tu ;: 11""' 'i^r^"' "■ ^""•^ P'-^'-'- "and had ilscriS
upon^then walls:-" You have „A,»En a P»ov,»cn a»„ lost a»

And such was the destiny ;_ crowding into a brief space the
cause and the eff-ect, the triumph and its consequences riitted

have been, at the commencement of the Revolution, in the absence
of tie apprenticeship in the trade of war, that the last French and
E, g sh war upon t is continent aff-orded. What better discipitne
could men have had ; what better experience, to inure them t^toil

SLf P^^^ \ :; J ^^f'-^: Q-hcc, Montreal,
lu i^ia^a.a. i.veiy cuiDpaign svas a school far

«8

PIIELPS \XD GOPJUm's PURCIUSE.

better than West Point and Annapolis. Mingled in all these were
the colonists of Wew York and New England". New Jersey, Penn-
sylvania, Maryland and Virginia. Out of the ranks of those retir^-d
arm.es, came a host of the efficient men, who, upon thebreakin-out
of tne Revolution, so well convinced their militarv instructors of
the proficiency they had made under their tuition." The military
skill and genius necessary to organize armies, the courage and chi^--
alry necessary to lead them to triumph, which had been inert, was
aroused in the stirring scenes of the French war; its succession
of splendid triumphs. England had made war a profession with a
large number of the colonists, little thinking where would be the
field and what the occasion of its practice. In the prosecution of
the French war, England had fearfully augmented its public debt;
in an hour of evil councils, against the protestations of her wisest
statesmen, taxation of the colonies was added to the burthens the
privations and sufferings that had borne so heavily upon tliem
And It may be added, that a handful of feeble colonies would hardly
have ventured to strike a blow for separation, as long as the French
held dominion here. Independence achieved, the colonies would
necessarily have had to assume the relative condition that England
bore with France. They would have assumed England's quarrels
growing out of unsettled boundaries and disputed dominions

Had there been no English conquest of French dominions, the
separation of the colonies, if realized at all, would have been an
event far removed from the period in which it was consummated.
France surrendered her splendid possessions in America, sullenly
and grudgingly, yielded to destiny and a succession of untoward
events, hoping for some event -some "tide in the affairs of men "
that would wrest from England's Crown the bright jewel she had
picked up on the banks of the St. Lawrence, bathed in blood ; and
which she was displaying with a provoking air of triumph It
came more speedily than the keenest eye of prophecy could have
orescen^ In a little more than twenty years after the fall of Que-
bec, La Fayette, Rochambeau, Chastelleux, D'Estang, M. de Choisv
Viomen.l, de Grasse, M. de St. Simon, and a host of gallant French-
men beside, saw the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown • -.n
event as crowning and decisive, in the loss of an empire, as' was
the surrender of Quebec, in the loss of a colony.

PIIELPS AOT) GOEHASId PUECIIASE.

CHAPTER IV,

ENGLISH DOMINION BORDER WARS OF THE REVOLUTION.

From the end of French dominion in Western New York, to
the close of the Revokition, constituted a period of twenty-four
years ; the events of which, having an immediate bearing upon our
local region, must be crowded into a space too limited lor elaborate
detail; allowing of but little more than what is necessary to pre-
vent a break in the chain of events that leads us to the" main de-
sign of the work in hand.

Little of historical interest occurred previous to the Revolution.
The English would seem to have made nu belter use of the rich
prize that the fortunes of war had thrown into their hands, than had
their French predecessors. Settlements made the advance of but
a day's walk, and occupancy in any form, west of the lower valley
of the Mohawk, was but the fortresses of Oswego and Niagara, and
small English trading establishments, that had succeeded those of
the French. The rich soil, that has made this region the prosper-
ous home of hundreds of thousands ; in which lay dormant the
elements of more enduring wealth than would have been the rich-
est " placers " of California, had no attractions for their ndventur-
ers, and were without the narrow circle of enterprize that bound-
ed the views of colonial governors and legislators.

The change of occupants does not seem to have pleased the
Senecas. Scarcely had the English got a Jbotl.old in their coun-
ty, before a war was commenced by an attack upon a British
wagon-train and its guard, as they were passing over the Portage
from Lewiston to Schlosser. A tragical event that has much
prominence in the local reminiscences of that region. This was
followed by an attack upon a detachment of British soldiers at
Black Rock, on their way from Niagara to Detroit. Sir William
Johnson, in his official correspondence, called the Senecas a "trou-
blesome people."'

PHELPS AND GORIIAM's PURCHASE.

All of Engish dominion west of Albany, other than its military
posts was a 'one manpower;" and before proceeding forther ft

.tied;, mcidentaljy, been introduced in our narrative.

SIR WILLIAM JOHXSON.

He was a native of Ireland, of a good family, and was well edu-
cated. Soon after he became of age, in 1737 or '8, he came to
America as the land agent of his uncle, Sir Peter Warren, an Ad-
minil in the English navy, who had acquired a considerable tract of
and upon the Mohawk, in the present county of Montgomerv He
located a few miles from the present village of Port Jackson Of a
romantic disposition, and liaving acquired, from the unsuccessful
ternaina ion of a love affair in hi. native country, some distaste for
civilized society, which he was well qualified to adorn, he had not
been long a resident in the backwoods of America, when he had
determined upon permament settlement. He formed an exception
to a arge majority of his countymen, in the ease and facility with
vvhich he exchanged the refinements of civilized society for life in
the woods, with few but the native Indians for neighbors or associ-
ates. JNo Frenchman ever sit himself down upon the borders of
our western lakes, alone of all his race, in the midst of Indian wig-
wam., and sooner merged and blended himself with all about him
?>ays the London Gentlemnn's Magazine, (1755) :- "Besides his
skill and experience as an officer, he is particularly happy in making
himself beloved by all sorts of people, and can conform to all com
pames and conversations. He is very much the fine gentleman in
genteel company. But as the inhabitants next to him are mostly
uutch he sits down with them and smokes his tobacco, drinks flip
and talks of improvements, bear and beaver skins. Being surround-
ed^^.lth Indians he speaks several of their languages well, and has
a wa>. some of them with him. He takes care of their wives and
old lnd.ans when they go out on parties, and even wears their
niess. m short, by his honest dealings with them in trade, and his
courage, wh'.ch has often been successfully tried with them, and his
courteous behavior, he has so endeared himself to them, that they
chose him one of their chief Sachems, or Princes, and esteem him
as their father.

PHELPS AND GORTIAM's PURCHASE. ^1

He was just the man the English government required in the
contest they were waging with the French; and he had not been
long m the Mohawk valley, before he became its Indian a-nt and
the dispenser of its gifts, which added to his personal popularity
with the Indians, gave him an influence over them greater than
any one of our own race has ever possessed. He was the first
Englishman to contend, with any great measure of success, with
French Indian diplomacy; their governors, missionaries and tra-
ders.

On the breaking out of the last English and French war upon
this continent, he was made a General of colonial militia, and by
virtue of a leadersliip that had been created by the Iroquois, he was
head warrior of all of them that inclined to the English interests.
His first military service, was to head the formidable expedition
against Crown Point, in which he was the vanquisher of the Baron
Dieskeu. For this signal service, he was made a Baronet The
other prominent event in his military career, was the siege and con-
quest of Fort Niagara, which mainly devolved upon him, by the
death of his superior in command. Gen. Prideaux.

The gifts of his sovereign, and the facilities he enjoved for pur-
chasing Indian lands, made him the possessor of great wealth, which,
with his military honors, the partiality of his countrymen, and his
great influence with the Indians, rendered him as near a Prince as
any thing the backwoods of America have witnessed. *

After the close of tlie French war, as a British agent, he held
treaties and negotiated with the Iroquois, and some of^he western
, nations, all of the territorial acquisitions in middle New York north-
ern Pennsylvania, and upon the Ohio River, that was made pre-

«n ft-r-ir .' ':^ *

• f I 1 ,"•'" '^'"'>' ^''''■'' "•' liberally entortjiinod by Sir William and 500

un American Lady ■' ^ ^ "''^^^^8^° them valuablo ox A<^mM^: '- Memoir, of

PHELPS AND GOmiAai's PUECHASE.

Ill

vious to tlie Revolution. To his influence with the Indians as a
British agent, mhented by his family, may be attributed in a great

ZZl h7:n "T' '" ^'""^ ^^"•^"Shout the Revolulon ;
and yet had he hved when the contest was waged, it is doubtfu
what would have been his position. There areVong reason for
assumn^g that he would have been at least a neutral. He died at
JohnsonHallm June, 1774, just as the storm was gathering, soon
after he had himself predicted that " En'gland and her colonie; were
approaching a terrible war, which he should never live to witness."
tils health had been for some years declining *

In his youth, soon after he became a resident upon the Mohawk
hetook for his wiie, (conventionally,) a comely, German girl, 2.
being a redemptionist, was serving her time with one of his nLlbors
She was the mother of his son and successor, Sir John Johnson"
and of his daughters, who became the wives of Col. Claus, and Col'
Guy Johnson, a distant relative of Sir William. A lecral marria™
ook p, when Sir ^yI]liam was on his death bed, whicii cremof:
had reference to the descent of property. And here it would b'e
historical dehnquency to conceal the fact, that Sir William, awav
from th^ restraints of civilized life, had indulged in what M Ban
croft would call the <• freedom of the backwoods." Ebeneze Allan'
who was at one period, in the valley of the Genesee, "L^S":
William was m the valley of the Mohawk, without taking his many
yiitues as his examples, was but an humble imitator of his one pr J-
mentv.ce. The fruits of his amours may be traced at this d'^t
a 1 the re reats of the remnants of the Six nations. Upon tii. banks
of the Allegany, the observing traveller will recognize the family
resemblance in the contour of faces; the " blood cJ the Johnsons ''
ouoL""%'h' ^f ' 'A^ harmoniously blending with that of the Ir;.
quois. The sister of Joseph Brant, in some respects as good a speci-
men of her race as was her renowned brother, was the mother of
several of his children who were also legitimatized by a private
marriage that took place a l■o^v years before his death

Histories of the Revolution exist in too many forms, are too
easily accessib^ ^todlclasses of readers, to make it necessary to em!

* DocuiiicntniT History Vol o,i ,, O'-.? • n ,i r» x ^ ." T ~ ~~

PHELPS AND OOEKAm's PUKCIIASE.

brace even any considerable allusion to it in a work of this character.
All ofit that has any more than a remote connection with the his-'
tory of our local region, are the Border Wars of New Vork and
with them the author will assume that his readers are " generallv
familiar.

On the death of Sir William Johnson, his son, John Johnson, suc-
ceeded to his titles and estates, and his ofHcer of General Superin-
tendent of Indian Aflairs fell into the hands of Col. Guy Johnson
his son-in-law, who had as his deputy Col. Claus, another son-in'
aw. Thus inherited, all the official and personal influence that had
been acquired ^vas wielded against the Colon^ . and in favor of the
mother country. The natives unschooled in all that could enable
them to understand the merits of the quarrel -(Iiemsflvcs recog-
nizing in their simple form of government heriditary rulers -could
see in the up rising of the Colonies against their i^ing, little else thnn
unjustiflable rebellion, and they were told by the Johnsons that the
outbreaKs in Boston, and the battle of Lexington, were the acts of
disobedient children against the King their Father, who had been
kmd to them as he had to the Six Nations. Sir William Johnson had
been the almoner ofannual gilts from his sovereign, and minglino- a
smcei-c regard for them, with his official duties, had wedded them
strongly to him and to his government.

ri°''ltn'^''^'x^''' ^"^^^"' Thay-en-da-ga,) had been the protege
of Sir WiUiam Johnson. When quite a youth he had sent him to
the Kev. Dr. Wheelock's school in Lebanon, Connecticut, after-
wards employed him in his private business. * Engaged in military
service, when he took the field, the young chief took the war path,
one of the leaders of Sir William's Indian allies. Under these cir-
cmnstances It was very natural that Brant should have been found
a follower of the fortunes of the Johnson family.

With those influences bearing upon them, the Six Nations, with

river, l,is piuvnlj av ? ;; S ""^^^ ^''"^ ^^^^'^>^ '^ jVIol.nvk, iK.rn .m th. Ohio
Chc.l.es i. all it. .^uiou. of ulelLiL^^i^: S^eSJS J^ ^^^

PHELPS AND GORIIAJi's PUECJIASE.

14'

a l,cs 01 Lnsiand throughout the war of tho Revolution Immerfi

' ::;':. hf °' '' '?"'™' «"^ •"■^-°" renewi "I :
ces and as host.hties approached tho Mohawk valley, ■■ brightened

the Cham oflnendship" with gift., „„d lavish promiseJof i^crea"cd
patronage from hi, master, the King. A "committee o™,;-
wh,ch was early organized in " Tryon county," were iealou of
every movement of the Johnson, and especiall/ihose of G John-
son. It would seem, m fact, that he had at f.rst'ra.hly determined to
mam am h,s ground, and, for that purpose, under prete e o e
of attack from "the rebels," had fortified his hotse and dra™

auxniary to the central committee at Albany. Thev made re-
present.at,ons to the Albany committee of all 'that dZZZ

tht'::; "'.?"': ^"""'""'f-""^" ««'» and ,he hostUe-mdC
they say.- We are, gentlemen, in a worse situation than any par
of Amenca at present. We have an open enemy before our faces
and a treacherous enemy at our backs." Thev assure the Alba, y

■^rSC ' '' r"' "-•'^--"'™' •" 'hi acts of Parltmrn^
1101 Lol. Johnson s arbitrary conduct."

A series of stirring local events followed : - The Johnson fmilv
c^ob; dhed in interest and ft-iendship with other infliiZl t^^
hesof Tryon couMy, not only controlled the Indians, hut had .uch
an influence with the whites as almost to enable th^ni to co"c
oca obedience to them, and fealty to the King. They even

U.c^ ancl partial were successfbl, in using tl^ civil .L W

or ho instances ,n breaking up what they termed "rebel n-e^tin^s "
-Laily HI the summer of 1775 however, Guv .Tohnson had deter-
mined that his own safety and the interests of'his Kin., won d b^h
be promoted by removal to Canada. Up to this time, lie had . .lie

"27" h-V" -r'"^'---T movements were init temp r y
outbieaks, which would be suppressed bv the strong arn/of his
govemment, or conciliated by a redress ol^' son,e of the -n-ievanc s
complained of. But admonished by the dark clouds of^v ha
ere gathenng, that the crisis had arrived, that he could not preserve
uhere he was with safety, a position even of neutrality, he resolved
upon placmg himself in a position to take an active part in the coa-

nn.;j:L

n-e the firm
Immedi-
wcd allian-
brightened
' increased
of safety,"
jealous of
Guy John -
M-mined to
ce of fear
id drawn
s alarnaed
ganized as
made re-
goin,2; on,
e Indians,
I any part
our faces,
c Albany
arliament

3n family
tial fami-
Iiad such

coerce
ley even

1 authori-
ng in one
eetintrs."
id deter-
)u]d both
;id iolied
inporary
n of liis
evances
lar that
ireserve
■esolved
ihe con-

PIIELP3 AND GORIIAm's PUllCUASE.

test. Under the pretence that he could better control the Indians
and keep them from harming the inhabitants by fixin^ his head-'
quarters at Fort Stanwix, he left "Guy Park" and repaired to that
post, where he was soon joined by John and Walter Butler Brant
and a formidable body of Tories and Indians. He soon removed
with most ot his retinue to Oswen-o.

It should here be observed, that inured to war as had been the
Iroquois -fond of it as would seem fromthe avidity with which
they had engaged in it with their own race and ours — the breaking
out of the Revolution, found them with somewhat altered inclinat
tions. Vastly reduced by wars with the southern and western
Jnduns, and with the French, the remnant of them that had enjoy-
ed a few years of peace had learned in some degree to estimate its
value. Fully realizmg the consequences, should thev take up the
hatchet for the King, the local committees of safetv for Tryon and
Albany counties, heM conferences with the Mohawks and received
assurances of neutrality. In June, 1776, General Schuyler, appoint-
ed for that purpose by the Congress at Philadelphia, held a council
with all of the Six Nations upon the German Flats, where assur-
ances of neutrality were renewed. But the superior influences that
have been spoken of, finally prevailed.

Guy Johnson soon repaired to Montreal, where he made his
head quarter.;, and engaged with zeal and activity, in enlisting the
Indians m a harrassing border war, chiefly directed against Ids old
neighbors. Sir John Johnson, previous to the flight, or he-ira of
his brother-in-law, had stipulated with Gen. Schuvler that he would
remain and be a neutral, the chief motive being the preservation of
the vast estate he. had inherited ; but encouraged bv the prospect of
a final triumph of the King over the colonics, lie followed his incli-
nations, violated his pledges of neutrality, and taking with him
three hundred of his neighbors and dependents, (chiefly Scotch,)
loincd his brother in Montreal, and became like him an active par-
tisan The immediate presence of the powerful family was thus
withdrawn from the Mohawk, and little left of them but their deser-
ted f^ields and mansions; but the devoted valley had yet to feel the
terrible scourge which loyalty could inflict, when sharpened by mo-
tives ot ])rivate vengeance.

Col. John Butler soon fivred his residence on the shores of Lake
Untario, ni the immediate vicinity of the village of Niagara, where

PHELPS AND GOEHAM'S POECnASE.

j'l;

'i!

he ,™ .oon installed as the leader of the torv refugees. Erectine'

tt salM 7- ' "'Sf'^'^^J""'! quavered; and from that |,oint
hlk ri '"'"•■"\"'''"S -Podi'w"' to the valli,»- ol the Mo.

hey relumed when their errands of ml^diief had been executed
(was there the expeditions to the devolod valley of Wyomin-- and

to arres the mareh of Sullivan, were projected. °

After leaving the JMohawk valley, Brant was alternately at Oswego

A-gam upon the Susquehannah and Genesee Rivers' until Sy

at uld Ih' n.^""; '"^. W'=™"»<= with an armed band of warriors
at Unadilla, an Indi.an village upon the Susquehannah. There Gen
Herknner, with a strong guard of Tryon county militia sou4t an
|".e,-v,ew with him. in hopes of changing his purpos ^l eng li ^
n the Kmg s servtce. They met. Bran.rather'ha,!ghtilydema,rde3
he object of the mterview. which ,vas explained. Hinting to Gen
Herknner that h.s attendants were pretty numerous for a peac:
a.nbassador he assured hi.n that he Itad a superior force, fiv llZ7d
varnors w.th winch he could crush him and his part^ a, a "o d
bu sa,d he, "we are old neighbors and friends and I w'll no" dot "
A ot.headed and .mprtjdent Coi. Cox, who had accompanied Gen.
Iletknner, grossly tnsulted lirant, which came near bringing on an
unequal contest, bu, Brant hushed the impending storm and prnLed
another tntervew. It was had according to promise ; Brant a u,.
cd the General that he fully understood his enand ; "but" sa d h
you are too late, I am already engaged to serve the King. We

Ls ed. although you are entn-ely within my power." This was the
last conference held by the agents of Congress with the Man
pendM,gordu„ng,hewarof the Revolu.io;; and after thi . ton

lollowed the tern be scenes with vvl„V.' fi.^ .i

reader to be famih-ar. ^^^^h vvhicu the author presumes the

Imrnecliately following this interview with Brant, Sir John John-
son and Col. Water Butler sent out runners and convened dele' -
tions rom all of the Six Nations at Oswego. The counci w 's
open by a speech fro. Sir John, in' which L assured thc^Ind;:::
hat then- assistance was wanted "to subdue the rebels who Imd
taken up anns a,an.st their good Father the King, and was about
to rob him of a great part of iiis possessions and wealth." Tiau

PTIELPS A .m GORIIAJl's PURCHASE.

JlO

chiefs then rose and severally assured the British agents that they
had only one year before in council with General Schuyler, pledcred
themselves to neutrality, and that they should not violate the pledge
by taking up the hatchet. The British agents told them that the
rebels were few in number and easily subdued, and that on ac-
count of tneir disobedience they fully merited all the punishment that
white men and Indians united could inflict ; that the Km<r was rich
and powerful, botn In money and subjects; that his "vim was as
plenty as the waters of Lake Ontario." This appeal to the appetites
of the simple nafves which British agents had done much before to
vitiate, accompanied by promises of rich gifts, prevailed, and a treaty
was made in which they pledge themselves to take up arms a^rainst
the rebels, and continue in service during the war. " Upon the con-
elusion of the treaty, each Indian was presented with a suit of clothes
a brass kettle, a gun, a tomahawk, a scalping knife, a quantity of
powder and lead, and a piece of gold." *

_ In the speech of Cornplanter to the Governor cf Pennsylvania
in 1822, he said : - " The cause of Indians having been led into sin
at that time, was, that many of them were in the practice of drink-
ing and getting intoxicated.' Great Britain requested us to ioin
hem m the conflict against Americans, and promised the Indians
land and liquor.

Soon after the war commenced, Brant collected the Mohawks at
Lewiston, selecting for their home some of the fine grounds on the
Kidge Road, near the present village. He built a small lo- church
using the bell of one of the Indian churches upon the Mohawk
which was hung upon the notch of a tree, the British chaplain at
J^ort Niagara, frequently holding service there. After the Revolu-
tion, he removed to Brantford, C. W., where large c^rants of land
were secured to him by the British government. He died in 1807
aged 64 years. '

Col. John Butler, who was respectably connected upon the Mo-
hawk, became, from the first breaking out of the Revolution, a

* Life of Mary Jemison.
them « scou^ to bordtr sottte „f N.» iVk a'di'^Sitolta ' '""'"

I ■ X

PIEELPS AND GORIIAm's PtJRCIIASE.

s on that he had a good share of business talents. At the close of
the Revo ut.on he becan.o Superintendent of Indian afK irs fo^^^Un
per Canada and was also a half-pay British Colonel. T e p tron'
age of a K.ng he had served so devotedly at the s.crifico of th
private esteem of even those who had been hi. .. ^

enabled him to surround himself v^ .] "^P^^'^"-'^ ^"«™s,

the In vnrir.« nC I,T Ti u ' '''^ Comforts and many of

the luxu nes of hfe The home of which he was the founder even
now n. us neglected condition, exhibits in all its primiti^ am^^^^^^^

annals of Border WrT;^;^S^^^^^^^

llie „,nucnce ol tl,o Johnson lamiiy with the Indians was hard
y less potent than with their white neighbors. No wl e in aU
nttt'lrV "" "'"° '" 'r«^ " P'-oVon-'onaie diversion o.h

of th C 7 ""/^IT"' "' "'= ''''™'»"°"' "' i" '!'» valley
of theiVIohawk; and on the other hand, no where were there bet-
ter examples of patriotism, bravety and self sacrifiee. It was en

ha,J all the features of cvd war; households were divided- it was
brother agatns. brother, and neighbor against neighbor f^^td he"

1 ou iMiag.,ra and Canada, they returned from time to thne unon
g.«und,and «el] Inew where most effectually to direct their steps.

that wo UK under much fours from H,-. r i ' f'"^"'l : — " \<.u will not .supiwse

lJ.o(;ouo.ce river wi.W.;^::;^,,^;" S nll'O "^'^Ull 7"" ^1'^'^ ^ «tarto,l'Lm

tJio (leuesco ru J,: w)^W. 0:^,,^ J ^i tli'S:^ x"" ' ^'^" ^"" ^1'''* ^ ^tartoti'i^on

)1,

Butler. We were served with a,>£ d isfnnf • I ""/'xc.'lont dmuer with Col

Bu,>i.ed ine .0., wa. to see a^fiVlll^aolr ^^Z a^'US'l o^l^^lSli^

PHELPS AND GORlIAJi's PURCHASE.

and where to execute the most terrible mischief. In the retrospect,
when nations have settled down in peace, and look bnck upon the
excesses they have committed in the strife and hr it of w ir, there
is always inucii even for self-accusation ; but r all t' .ist'ory of
wars, there is nothing that so stands out in bold •-,iief, < ithout miti-
nation or excuse, as was the sanguine policy of ;.,.. hv' in the em-
ployment of the tomahawk and scalping knife, to aid uv:i in warring
against her colonies. In all her own dark catalog.- n .,: wrongs, in
the east, at home, in compelling obedience to i.'u; Uuune, the°re is
nothing that so far outraged humanity, that so far transcended the
rules of civilized warfare, as was the arming of savage allies, and
sendmg them to lay waste unprotected backwoods settlements and
massacre their inhabitants, without regard to age, condition, or sex.
What the feeble colonies scorned to do in self-defence — after they
had determined upon asking nothing farther than to have the toma-
liawk and scalping knife kept out of the contest — British agents,
with the sanction of their government, did not hesitate to do°in a
spirit of inhumanity so sanguinary aud unrelenting, that it urged on
Indian warfare, even when it hesitated in the execution of its
stealthy and bloody missions.

The Border Wars, the tory and Indian incursions from Canada
Oswego and Niagara, continued at intervals from the flight of the
Johnsons, Butler and Brant in '75, until August 1779. The horrid
details already fill volumes of published history.* With powerful
British armies to contend with upon the sea board — work enou<Th
for the feeble and exhausted colonies — inadequate help had been
afforded to repel invaders of the frontier settlements of New York
The stealthy foe could make descents by land or water through dif-
ferent unguarded avenues, and when their work of death was
accomplished, retreat to their strong holds at Oswego and Niagara
a wide wilderness their defence and security against pursuit and
retribution. VVhen expeditions were planned at Niagara, if designed
tor the valley of the Mohawk, the Indians and tories would concen-
trate at Oswego; and if the valley of the Susquehannah was the
destination, they would concentrate upon the Genesee river, Seneca

££HSsBS~;«-

ii i,f

■1

PIEELPS AND GORnA:\l's PURCHASE.

Lake, or the Tioi

ga river. Their

Fort Niagara, the Bastile of the then .,_ vv„uc.,

At last, in the early part of the year 1779, Gen. W;

prisoners were usually taken to
western wilderness

. ^ 1 - - — jv.>*. *i«.f, v<cu. vv ashinjiton de-

termmed upon a measure for carrying the war home upon the inva-
ders, rou mg the Indians from their villages, and if practicable, the
o,ge and capture of Fort Niagara. The command was entrusted
to Gen. Sulhvan. The army organized for the expedition was in
three divisions. That part of it under the immediate command of
Gen Sdhvan, coming from Pennsylvania, ascended the Susquehan-
nah to Tioga Pomt. Another division under the command of Gen.
James Chnton, constructing batteaux at Schenectadv, ascended the
Mohawk and rendezvoused at Canajoharrie. opened a road to the
head Otsego Laive, and from thence proceeded in a formi.lable
fleet of over two hundred batteaux, to Tioga Point, formin. a
.ivmction with the force under Gen. Sullivan, on the 22d of Au4st
Prev.ous to the arrival of Gen. Clinton, Sullivan had sent forward

^::::^:t''' ^" '- '-'' - '-'^'-^ ^-^^ -^ ^-'^- -^ ^

The con.bined forces amounted to 5,000 men. The expedition
had !,een so long preparing, and upon the march, that the enemv
were well apprized of all that was going on. Their plan of de-
fence contemplated a decisive engagement upon the Chemung river
For this purpose the Rangers and regular British troops, under the
command of Col John Butler, Cols. Guy and Sir John .Tohnson.

undei Brant had concentrated their forces upon a bend of the river
near the present village of Elmira, where they had thrown up a
long breast w^orkot logs. The united forces of the British al es
as computed by Gen. Sullivan, was about 1500. * Havin.. ascer-

ained their position. Gen. Sullivan marched in full force and .Stacked
them 1. the forenoon of the 29th of August. He found the enemy
partly entrenched and partly arranged in scouting and tlankin:.
parties, the Imhans especially adopting their favorite mode of wai^
are. Well provided with artillery, a heavy fire was op.aed upon
the enemies entrenchments, which soon proved them a weak de-
fence; apart of the Indians were panic stricken bv the heavv
cannonade, and fled, while other portions of then, were rallied by

* Assumed to be niucli less in the British accounts.

PHELPS AND GOEHA^^l's PURCHASE.

their intrepid leader, Brant, and well maintained the unequal contest

'Bothtories and Indians were entitled

manfully. Ev(

3k and tree and bush

to the credit of fighting

,,.,,.,- .sheltered its man, from

hehmd which the winged messengers of death were thickly sent
but with so little effect as to excite astomshment. The Indians
yielded ground only inch by inch ; and in their retreat darted iVom
tree to tree with the agility of a panther, often contesting each new
po.it.on at the point of the bayonet- a thing very unusual even
with m.ht.amen, and still more rare among the undisciplined warriors
ol the woods/; * The battle had been waged about two hours,
when the British and Indians perceiving their forces inadequate
anc that a maneuver to surround them was likely to be successful,
broke and fled in great disorder.

" This " says John Salmon, of Livingston county, who belonged lo
the expedition and gave an accouiii of it to the author of the LH«
ot Mary Jemison, "was the only regular stand made by the In-
dians. In their retreat they were pursued by our men to the Nar-
rows, where they were attacked and killed in great numbers, so that
the sides of the rocks next the River looked as if blood had been
poured on them by pailfuls."

The details of all that transpired in this campaign are before the
public in so many forms, that their repetition here^is unnecessary.
1 he route of the army was via " French Catherine's Town,"' f head
ot Seneca Lake, down the east shore of the Lake to the Indian
vi.age of Kanadesag;.. (Old Castle.) and from thence to Canandai-
gua, lloneoye, head of Conesus Lake, to Groveland. Tlie villa-res
destroyed (with the apple trees and growing crops of the Indian! )
were at Catherinestown. Kendai, or "Apple Town" on the east
side of the Lake, eleven miles from its foot, Kanadesaga, lloneoye
Conesus. Canascraga, Little Beard's Town, Big Tree,^ Canawagus,'
and on the return ot the army, Scawyaoe, a village between the

' Life of Brant.

chief ,o I'hih'w plii h ;• \^L2^ ZZ^fu "I'T'"' '^'" -eo„,paniea tho
'""I "•'■■■'t«l will. i.Hicli rcspoA SlK • . I ' i' , 1 K.T>i""^'"^V "] l"''^-'''f<r '"'<'«<'•
mm'kud utten iun ),y iK. Jir Sim to'* ^''' Niagara, wJ.e.e slie was trealod with

i.tr'

PHELPS AND GOllIIAM'rf PURCHASE.

Cayuga and Seneca Lakes, and several other Cayuga villages
Captain Maelun was at the head of the engineers in this expion'
Tiie industnous gleaner of Po.vIpv W • • expedition,

or the Ilistor-' of SI 1 .^^ '^^ War rernmisc-ences, the author
01 lli.to ^ of Schohane, has found among his papers the fol

lowing, whicli accompanied a map of Sulhvan\ entire route L

esee] Lasllc, taken in 1779, In/ actual survey : —

MILES.

NAMES OF PLACES.

I<rom Eastou to VVeoiniuiiin.

lo Lackuwjiiii'Lk Creek "'

Qtiniliitermink, . ' .

Tuiikliiiiiiniiik Creek,

Mcsli()liiii.f CrvL'k.

VaiiderJips J'lantaliou, -

\\ ealuhkiiiy 'lV»\vii,

Wefisawkiii, 01- Pine Creek,

Iioga, ....

Cliemiiiig, ...

Ncsvtoii, ...

Preuv'li Catlieriiicstowii, -

Kaiiilia <,r Ajjplotim

Outlet of Seneca, Lake,

Kaiiatlesaga, „:■ Scueca Castle

KanaTi(la(|iie,

Haiinyauya,

A'.ijiista, "...

CoKsauwauIoiij^-liby^ .

Cliene^see Cu»tlu ' ' .

G5
10

7
11

■ 8

141.,'

l.Vi.~

l-^ ~

27j,r
11/.";

15'.;

1-2}...

7
51

TOTAL.

C5
75

10:2

107

115

l:i!li.,'

145 ~

157

l«5k;

21 1'"

2:20
24 IJ.;
255 ~
207i..<
274'.'
2^0

mad, ^A,„„„g,he papc. „f Cap,. Muchi,, « ,|,e following c^-tifi-

i,™-i..s «ur ,1,0 F„„, t ; ,t ■ 1 1 :"" ':"" "" -"'" "■"' » "»i"»''t "'4 «.„

} .l..tta„,I.„ I, JOll.N-IlUTLKil, C„l.a„,l

f-iilil. o. II... s,x X„,i„„ „„j „,„ „|,i,„ „, ,,j_, ,^^. ,^^^, „

wa.s prow,:,, ';i f:^;;::^^!] 't '" 't- ^■"'°--

'.dJki^'

PHELPS AND GOEIIAM's PUECHASE. S3

Capt Gregg revived. His dog ran off to some fishern.en of the

.^ t 'c di;^;;.- ''^^"^^',^'^--^ ^^-- ^7 i^is -oaning, attracted then,
in the dnection of his wound.d master. Capt. Gre.. was thu.
discovered, and hvcd to relate the story of his preser^Mioi I i
given upon the authority of Dr. Dui<it ^^^"^'^^ ^ '^^•'^"- ^' ^«

The march of Sulhvan, the devastations committed by his armv
judat this distant period seem hke Vandalism, in tL ab Se'
the consideration ihat he was acting under strict orders L
^Mt those orders were approved, if not dictated by Washington
The campaign was a matter of necessity; to be effectual utas'
no -;^y-essary that its acts should be Retaliatory and r^tiib th^

of the So, r\ '''^ '' '^''''''y ^" ^'^^ '^'"^"^ «f subsistence

ad '" "r '7'^^^^'-^'^- '---' P--nt their return to them,
River ^ T ' T ^'^^';-P^"™-^«"t retreat beyond the Niagara

ha Luld t^r ^"^r' '"-""^^ '' ''^''''y' ^^''-'^ Col. Stone
d b ?h so n?'"r J "" " '''•'"™"^'^ ''''y ^^"=^Se he approach-
ed b) the sound of his cannon, the author conceives, a n isappre-
hension of his mot vp« <^fo..ifi • . <- , u, luiscippre-

• !!>, motives, btealthy, quiet approaches, would have
fou.^ as vicums ni every village, the o.d^Len, th^ .ZJZ

Huma^^^^ '^"'^^'* ''''' ^'-- ^-^-^^ ^I'ies.

vTat s ' , ^''""''^^S, that those he did not come to

war against cou d have time to flee. It would have been a f.r
darker feature oi the campa.gn than those that have been coLain;
o an o,ie that could not have been mitigated, if old men. .
and children, had been unnlarmed, and exposed to the vengeanc
o hos who came from the valleys of the Susquehannah .-md th.^

^o^^tr'T f ''''' '''''''' -'' -^'^^'^^-- '^h
ex ept n a small degree -just as it should have been, if lie could
not make victims of those he was sent to punish

The third expedition of this campaign, which hasgenerallv b.-,.

Fort 1 itt m August with six hundred m.Mi. and d....oyed seven,'
M.ngoand Muneey tribes living on the Allegany, French Co '
and other tribmaries of the Ohio. '«"i-" «-Kl...

The heavy artillery that Gen. Sullivar , :,n,.ht.s for as IVowton-
wod.l uidicate that N^^gara was ong:.:.i!y the destination. T^l
the Geiu-ral and Ins ollieers, sen.g how !,„g it had taken to reach

N.'

i:-L.

If 'ill
If',

' m

^' ill:

PHELPS AND gokiiam's pueciiase.

season

that pomt, m all probability dclormined .hat toomuch of
had been wasted, .„ allow of executing their tasks in

h ZTll ?""? ''."'^'r *' '"""" '" "f ™"'"- Besides, befofe
aseeZed hat ,1," 'n T"'^ °'' "'= <^''™'»* ""^ f»«' ™s

After the expedition of Gen. Sullivan, the Indhans never h-d an-

i: :■; vef' xre'"' rrr "''^' °^ •^^'- ^■"■~' »' •">«

eneseenvei. They settled down after a brief (li-^ht in tbei,-

i: o°"m. M ' ™i f' °' '"^ "^^' ■" '^^ -■=* •"^«i G "

Hinel "'"' "'""' '™°I''' ^"'^ ""frati™ of William

..eommt of Sull.vai, s expedition, as copied from the manuserints

J'nrve.«t. ''J'liis .tocupaucy contimicTi 'Afr'"in." •'' '",'"'1^:'''^" '"'^'"l ""''1 tlie next
liPi- at tlie .Morris treity.-^ contimiccl, .AIi,,. Jemisoii liml the Giudcuu tract grautud to

PAET SECOND

CHAPTER I

OUR IMMEDIATE PREDECESSORS - THE SENEGAS ~ WITH A GLANCE AT

THE IROaUOIS.

It IS not the design of this work to embrace a detailed account of
Uie Five Nations. The Senecas, however, the Tsonnontouans of
I rench chronicle, who guarded the western door of the Lon^
House, looking out on the Great Lakes, demand a passhig notice, as
we are approaching a series of events connected with the "par
tition ot their wide and beautiful domain.

In common with the red races, they are the " autochthonoi " of the
soil- "fresher from the hand that formed of earth the human
^ce, than the present rulers of the land that was once theirs
Un their hunting grounds, the pioneevs of the Genese^; country
preparatory to settlement, kindled their camp-fires. Our clusteriii
Cities and villages are on the sites of their ancient castles, forts and
places of burial. In the vallies where they lived, an.l on hills
where blazed their beacons, a people with the best blood of Europe
111 their veins, at one ana the same time, are founding halls of leain-
mg, and gathering in the golden harvests. The early annals of
their occupation, to which the reader is soon to be introduced, are
intimately blended with this once powerful and numerous branch
oi the Iroquois confederacy, that furnished under the toteiuic
l)ond, at the era of confederation, two of the presiding law-crivers
and chiefs. * '"^

An opinion prevails, that the guardians of the Eastern Door, the
Mohawks; or. as called by their brethren, " Do-de-o-gah," or

* Docimicutaiy History,

! C-

PHELPS AND GORIIA]\i's PURCHASE.

message bearers," were the most warlike; but a careful exami-
nation of history and the pages of Jesuit journals, establishes the
luct, that the Senecas were not their inferiors in every martial at-
tribute, and were always represented at a general gathering of ^he
clans, m time of danger, by a more formidable force. They're is no
foundat^ion for the remark of Buchanan, speaking in reference to
the_ Mohawks, that their allies neither made war or peace without
their consent.

Unquestionable proof is on record, that the fierce Senecas were
not always governed in their action by the general voice at Onon-
daga. Sternly independent, they some times took up arms, when
the other tribes, to use an Indian metaphor, sate smokin- in quiet
on their mats. After the rapid decline of French ascendancy on
this contUK'nt, and many of the tribes beheld with terror the .rov-
ernmentof Canada fldling into English hands, the Senecas, "un-
daunted by the danger, adhered with dogged obstinacy, to the
vanquished.

For a time, they were in alliance with Pontiac, and played a
conspicuous part with the great " Ottawa " in his plan of surprisin.^
a cordon of posts in the Lake country, and exterminating th^
• dogs m red clothing," that guarded them. This statement does
not rest on vague conjecture, or blind tradition. By reference to

Apul, 1763 Sir William Johnson concluded at Johnson Hall, on
le Mohawk, preliminary articles of peace with eight deputies of

Pon^^r' Wrr;; "'' "'r ''' ^'^ ^^°^^^^^ '"-g-' ^ad joined
Pont ac. WMe he proud and conquering Mohawks imposed

n bute on the Mohegans. and scoured the pine-forests of dLan

Maine in pursuit ot flying loe.s, westward the track of the Seneca

::^tl^'nr'^ -^ "'-''• ^^- ^-'^er Nation, with UoZZ
both Ides the Niagara, were "blotted from the things that be •"
and the Eries, after a brave resistance, destroyed _ tlie pri.e of
c<.nquest, the loveliest portion of our trans-denessean o try
The barren coast of Superior, a thousand miles away from the r
great counc.l-fire, was trodden by their warriors

The IH.nois turned pale at their approach on the shores of
he M ssissipp, and no hatchets were redder than theirs in the

et-culean tas of humbling the Lenni Lenapes, and fo etc
hushing into silence their boasting tonnies.

PHELPS AND GORIIAm's PURCHASE.

The ChippoAvas, a valinnt pc^nplo, discomfitted and utterly dis-
mayed by their prowess, lied like hunted deer to the remote vil-
lages of the Sioux. The Ion- and bloody wars waged by the Five
Aations with the Southern tribe., owed their origin to an attack
made on the Senecas in one of their distant expeditions to the
south west, by a party of Chorokees. The war-post was at once
struck, and the confederates joined with their injured brethren in
resenting the insult, and taming the pride of their wily antagonists
Though a vast extent of territory lay between the hunting grounds
of the latter and the central fire of their cantons, the^ dreaded
war-whoop of the Iroquois w.as heard on the banks of the Talla-
poosa and Ocmulgee. Forbidding wilds, draped in the lonrr .ray
moss of mdder latitudes, and swampy fastnesses, the savage haunts
of the alligator and terrapin, were explored by the infuriated in-
vaders.

Nature opposed no barrier to a triumphant campaign, and dis-
tance was no obstacle in the fearful work of retaliation.

Hiokatoo, the renowned husband of the " White Woman " was a
leader in one of those wild forays, and when a grav-haired ancient,
cheered many a listening circle at his lodge fire, with a narrative
ot his exploits on that occasion.

Individuals of Cherokee extraction, still reside on the Tonawan-
da Reservation. They trace their descent to captives, saved from
torture at the stake, and adopted as tribesmen bv their victors

I must differ from many writers, misled by Heckewelder in the
opinion that compared with surrounding nations, the Iroquois were
no a superior race of men. No primitive people can boast of
nobler war captains, than Kan-ah-je-a-gah, Jlon-ne-va-was, Brant,
Hendrick an.! Skenandoah ; - no abler orators and statesmen than
Dekanissora, Canassetego, Logan and Red .Jacket

When the adventurous Frenchmen first set foot on Canadian soil,
HI 003 ho ound the tribes of the League settled near Hochelaga
on he site of Montreal. Previous to this eventful period, they we'^e'
said o have been a peacc^ful and. happy people - more inclLd to

rl \ ]'' f ''' '^' "'="-P''^^^- ^''h« unprovoked encroach-
men o the Ad.rondacl. on their land - a powerful nation residing
. 00 milos above Trois-Riv.eres, at length woke their latent enennes

banks of the .S^ Lawrence, one of America's mighty arteries, and

PIIELP3 AND GORHAM's PUECIIASE. ;

conquering the Satanas in (lie

.. . . , , i'' migrations, they laid the founda-

tion of empire on the borders of our beautiful Lakes. Seasoned

hke C«;sars veterans, by hardship, long marches and victory, they

bravely resisted the inroads of their old ene.nies, the Huron and

ameiKls therefm-, by the exercise of greater prudence, and super or
tiategy Fighting in small detached parties, and under iii repid
aders they struck blows in remote points, at oiie and the same
moment of time, producing a general panic and surprise.

In turn, assuining the offensive, they drove back the invaders,
di.heai toned and disconifitted, to the neighboi-hood of Quebec.
Thcii came the tug of war. Through the intervention of Jesuit
mfluenee so puissant in the 17th century, that Kings and I'ontiffs
su mi ted to its dictation, the F,-ench coloiiists foi.iied an alliance
ith the vanquished tribes. Supplied with moi-e de;idlv ^^■ea].o^s -
the fire-ocks of civilization -the Algoi.quin ai.d ilm-o,; again
.a-uggled lor the ma.tei-y. By coiisulting Golden, we learn that
previous to the conflict between Chamj.lain and the Irocjuois, on the
Lake that bears his name, the latter had never hea,-d the thun.Ier
or seen the iightniiig of the pale faces. Though debated on that
occasion, they were not humbled ; all fear of conseque.ices was
mei-ged in a feeling of deep and deadly exasperation. The re-
doubtable Cha.iiplain himself, was doo.ned a few years after to feel
he heavy weight of their vengeance. * Incautiouslv lavinc. ..ie^e
to one of their forts on Onondaga Lake, in October, Ul'o, he "was
twice wounded by arrows, and forced to retire in disgrace with his
motley an-ay of French and Indians.

He who foils, in hard encouiUei-, a dexterous swordsman, with
an oaken stall, gives proof of matchless uddi-ess and prowcss-
and the fact that the Five Nations, recovering fi-om the illbcts of a
first sui-prise, boldly maintained their ground, even at this period,
and o.ten played an aggi-essive part, proves their native superioritv
and gives them indisputable right to their own haught^• tei-m of
designa t.on _ " O.i-gui-hion-wi " - men without peer.? '

Irench interference, in behalf of the.r old and implacable foes,
only developed the genius of their Sachems, and attested the devo-
tion ol their warriors.

*0. 11. Mar«lu.U'« ulle.addrcss before the YouDg Men'. As«ociatiuu at ButtUlo.

PHELrs AND GORilAM's PUUCllASE.
remely

«l.em ,0 wage a w tin. Zl I "'' ""''"""'■'' ""=>■ '=""°™8'=d

in... «n.i. Canada Is^pXf T^°Z::'^rr '"'■

posts were burned — fh^ r ■ scream, louns and out-

-e, a,. .„. :l i;^'r,: iLr,t ;',::r %r

age nor sex was spared. ciearnig. NeitJier

The fur-trader found a red frrave in iU. -i .
sentinel was shot mr>in. f. "^ ^ . ^'Iderncss ; even the

rovZtolTx'^V ■°"''', "" "'''""-'-'ion of succlsive Vice-

Ar„:;^!:;f ?a;r:r i::;- ":;;: "^ f ;'f r -^ ^

Hurons under Iho ..uns „(■ Omi!, "" °' •""■ 'aiHiful
foe that overran the°Z.°„e?l' "f '"""''"''"S '■'"l''-"^ "^ ^
isis, ■■ as a torre, , i ^ , " ■ ,"'' ""^ f ™"S """"■'' »'' l""' annal-

and there i "^^Itl.tndt!;""'-''"''^' "■'■^" " »-'"»- - "--k^.

fer^r ■'Lt:. ™,rl' Ita't"?""^, """ """■• ^»P-' "^
Ab„righ,al League Th„n , f ""''''" ""'' "''"'■^ "' 'l>i»

I'i-rro. with a few horl "f S 'ch"' """""r" ""^
shouting rider- deemed bv tl,r=l , '^'""^'"5 slecd and

Centaur of fable !!ra,,ll„; ^'"> ,"""«»"<= a'M"aI, like the
^bdned them '^th T^^JZ'"^ "" '','"'' "^ "'^- '™">P»'
overcome In ,i. 1^ „f ^ , ™ "PI*"' '° P""-'"'!^'" could .
»iain like unre is n ,|1„ i!' '"'"" ""',' """'^' "'""-"i^ -'e

yoke, and loold;^ ^n X 'ol/ ^Z:,™'?""™" f'"' "^'=^^ '° ""=
ed ignominious dea.l^^ Vr '"■ '"'••"■'■'"■'*en Incas sufltr-

perieueed a f vjXt J ^e Thf '^' ™r" ""^ """^ ^^'^^ ""^ --
away, as it wore in , nuZ '"r ]''^'-'^^"<"'» f>'c ; U crumbled

feet^aliy insur,'; i^:! J.i» ^'"™''" " '' """""'S -ore ef-
6

PHELPS AND GORnA:\l's PUECIIASE.

ii» n

The romantic valor of a few Castiiian adventurers, outweighed
in the scale of rondict, the countless multitudes that opposed them.

Montezuma and Guatimozin, after all, were nothii.f^ more than
royal shadows, notwithstanding their patient martyrdom.

The sceptred i)hantoms invoked by the weird sisters were less
trad and unsubstantial, for they inspired fear — extorting this shud-
dering cry from a tyrant and regicide, bloody and false like Cortcz —

"Lot this pernicious Jiour

Stand, aye, acciirsetl in the calcmhir."

Of difTerent mould and mettle, were the Sachems and Attotarhos
of the Five Nations. They were endowed with the will to dare —
the hand to execute. Their Garangulas and Decanissoras — their
OuHdiagas and Karistageas united to indomitable courage, talents
for negotiation, and resistless eloquence.

Less brilliant than banded states that paid submissive tribute to
the Aztec emperor, there was more stability and strength in their
unwritten compact of union. Though a mere handful, compared
with tlie swarming and priest-ridden slaves of Mexico, they posses-
sed an inherent valor and spirit of independence, that submitted to
no wrong, and brooked no rivalry. Seldom in the field with more
than a thousand warriors, they went forth conquering and to con-
tjuer— bound by an heraldic tie that evoked a deeply-rooted senti-
ment of regard and national pride.

Less formidable by far was Spanish inroad at the extreme south
than French military power on this continent so vainly exerted,
under De Nonville and Frontenac, to overawe and subdue them!
" and it can scarcely be deemed fanciful to assert," says a dis-
tmguished writer, * " that had Hernando Cortez entered the Mohawk
valley inst, .d of that of Mexico, with the force he actually had, his
ranks would have gone down under the skilfulness of the Iroquois
ambuscades, and himself perished ingloriously at the stake."

Wherever they were urged onward by a martial impulse and
ardor that no diiHculties could lessen or abate — whether traversing
the Appalachian chain or western prairie — the fame of their ex"
ploits preceeding them, created panic, and paralized resistance.
Though thinned in number by long and bloody wars, they were fear-
fully formidable in modern times : foes in our revolutionary struggle,

* Schoolcraft.

PHELPS AlfD GORIIAm's PURCHASE.
theyproye.1 their devotion to their British Father at Wyom

i\iinni«ml.- onri rvi,M,..,^r.,l /-»_• i._ .... J "

Al.nn.sink and mournful Oriskauy- friends at a later epoch, of ou
Union, they followed Oundiakaand Ilonneyavvas to the red field of
Chippewa. Atall periods oftheir history -flushed with triumph.or
clouded by disaster -there has been no decay of hereditary valor.
Whether known as 'Massavvornekes' to the southern, or 'Na-
dowu to the western Tribes, they were alike terrible and invinci-
ble. A more splendid race of savages never launched their war-
cnnoes on our streams, or drew bow in our forests ; and a wild macr.
namity throws light on their darker traits, in their practical applica-
tion of the motto, " parcere subjectos, et extirpare superbos." Hu-
manity blushes to recall the scenes of rape and hellish licence that
have followed the storming of towns, and sack of cities in the old world
t.ut an Iroquois warrior was never known to violate the chastttv of
a temale prisoner.

Often a chivalric spirit gave an air of romance to their native
daring. After a successful foray into an encmv's country, pursu-
ers on the trail, finding their gage of mortal defiance, would move
with greater circumspection. Like the generous reptile whose
dread rattle arrests the step of the hunter, significant tokens dropped
by the way, warned foemen to retire, or expect no mercy at their
hands. Thus in 1696, when Frontenac's army was on the Oswec^o
two bundles of cut rushes, in their line of march, a numerical si^n'
conveyed the startling intelligence that more than fourteen hundred
warriors were on the watch for their comincr.

Not less haughty and heroic was their conduct in 1779, when re-
tirmg before the greatly superior force of Sullivan. Thev bent a
tree, and twisted its rugged top around the trunk, as an emblem of
their^own situation - bent but not broken - smitten, but not over-

Though all the tribes of aboriginal America were competitors ; the
palm forgreatest manifestation of mental power would be awarded
to this extraordinary people. The principle of unity that banded
them together, oflspnng of profound policy that lifts them above the
hunter state - the.r love of liberty that scorned submission to foreign

Tt it ' f r f '" rP'' ^" '°""^^'' '''''^ '^' ^''' ^J^i"^"' diplo-
matists of a boasted civilization -the wonderful eloquence of their

Ihene?' t,! "^l?^ eompanson with the finest periods of Demos-
thenes - their self-reliance that laughed r.tthe menaces of kings-

'4i "

IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)

{./

'9/ ^m J^ SsM'm

t/i

1.0

I.I

1.25

2.2

12.0

1.8

U IIIIII.6

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{Jy^v'o.

Photographic

Sciences
Corporation

23 WEST MAIN STREET

WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580

(>16) 872-4503

15^^

it-

r~?A

;p.; :

PHELPS AND GOUnAM's PURCnASE.

their long adherence to one great plan of conquest ; — bear witness
that they were a highly-gifted race, and may well make them objects
of intense interest to the poet, philosopher and historian. The climate
enjoyed, and the country occupied by them were favorable to the de-
velorpement of a noble manhood. Their broad domain was irrigated
by streams whose rich alluvial bottoms rewarded the rudest tillage
with a full supply of golden maize ; its forests abounding in animals of
chase — bear, bounding deer, majestic moose and elk — furnished
their lodge boards with venison ; and the lovely lakes that spotted its
rolling surface, paid rich tribute to the bark-net, and barbed spear of
the fisherman.

Man owes many of his characteristics to the scenes amid which
he is nursed, and the grand, geographical features of Iroquois em-
pire were sources to its upholders and lords, of liigh, ennobling
thought. Rivers rushing to find a level "either in the gulfs oi' St.
Lawrence and Mexico, or in the intermediate shores of the Atlan-
tic " — Erie and Ontario, those lonely worlds of waters, that border-
ed on the north and west, with a blue belt, their hunting grounds ;
the Adirondack chain, with its deep gorges, vapory cones, and
splintered cliffs — old mossy woods, where the mysterious winds
awoke their wildest music ; glades basking in the light, and glens,
where reigned at noon-day a sepulchral gloom ; and, more than
all, the mighty Cataract of Niagara, singing an eternal anthem at
the western door of their Long House; were sights and sounds that
found a reflex and an echo, not only in their magnificent traditions,
but in the sublime imagery and symbolic phraseology of their
orators. Previous to the overthrow of the Neuter Nation, and
subsequent to that event, of the Erics, the Seneca country extended
westward to the Genesee. After that period they were undisputed
masters of the soil from the valley of Pleasant Water, to the banks
of the De-o-se-o-wa, or Buffalo Creek. Disputes have arisen among
antiquarians, as to the question whether the Kah-kwahs and Erie.s
were one and the same people. All Indian history proves that a
tribe is often known by diverse names in their own tongue, as well
as in difierent dialects. For example, referring to their position, the
Senecas were called "Swan-ne-ho-ont," (door on the hinge) — in
reference to the place of their origin — an elevated point at the
head of Canandaigua Lake, " Nun-do-wa-ga," or people of the Hill.
Whether known as Allegan, Erie, or Kah-kwah, the weitern door-

PIIELPS AND GOPHAM'S PUilCHASE. 93

keepers strucrgled many years in vai'n tr. „• .u t
of .he League a grca.efeins „ " To" eS , t si ™' "°""
Iheir Canadian seats, on the St. Lawrence and ,Kr"''""'"«
.hey checW in their march .owarV he e , j Jn "xhT' ^'7
m arna, ,ve,e incHned. while hand could wM L.che. no o"

- well worth the bloody sacHficeTrw T5 ''''= ^''''^■•"''^

gallant people i„ defen'din; hf i olrr oTt 'V 'T^' '""
.hen, wa. a foe. renowned throu„Wh/naiI T ^"^^ '°
durance, enterprise and boundlef/lbita "' '" "™"^^' '"■

i he latter assign as cause of war, the defeit of fJ,« K" u i u
■n^J^ll Playing, and other athletic ^^n^Z^t Z^^^;:^

lav one 01 the tairest gardens of this western Wnrl^ t*
was a„ easy task for their subtle minds to frame Ip^ text t h

bitterly bewailin- il„ !„.. .k 7u """'"'"gas. and found them
massacre "f, 7 "I line *lt°f ''^^^ '■"<' -»'--<i i" the
enemies, the IcIlkwahsTh "^ " A-nen-cra-os " by their

verydiskstrouststrto^th'er;:;^""""^"^"^""™ "^*°'" -^

edTn":;llrlT!t;rer'"'''""'''^'™°=°^-''™--''"™ph-

Wgl.. martia '"ul^Ue ' f B^"!™' " """'-'akeable proof of their

Chhood. on C::;,^z/!z:i^t: "^

Genesel Uiver L^^h : tcTte ^ !"" ''"T""'^"" "-"'^ """ '^»

days march from the „U X e of C™" "''""'° ""^ "'^" "

o,a village of Cannewaugus, in a westward

f -*!

It'

PHELPS AND GORIIAm's PUECHASE.

direction. The place of final conflict is better known. Leaving
more than half of their warriors, pierced by the shafts, and crushed
by tho war clubs of the conquerors, the survivors fled to their prin-
.cipal village, and strong-hold on the De-o-se-o-wa.
. ^ Reinforced by tlicir allies, the Senecas pursued and attacked them
in their fortress. After a brave resistance a feeble remnant of the
once haughty Eries fled from their old hearth-stones and possessions
to an Island of the Allegany ; but a foe was on their trail, truer
than the sleuth-hound when he has tasted blood. The unhappy
fugitives, surpris^^d in their encampment, fled down the river, under
cover of night, losing forever in distant wilds, their identity as a
nation. A few, saved from the general slaughter and dispersion,
were adopted by the confederates ; for by this politic course, they
in part, repaired the dreadful ravages of war, and postponed the
dismal hour of their own inevitable declension and fall.

I cannot forbear, in my brief sketch of their extirpation, from
closing in the eloquent words of my friend Marshall : — " They are
a people of whom there is scarcely a memorial, save the name of
the Lake that washes the shore they ruled. Fit mausoleum of an
extinct tribe ! Even the vague tradition that transmits their mem-
ory, will soon be lost, with the last remnant of the ' Nun-de-wa-gas'
that swept them from existence."

Enraged by continued infraction of their territory, during the ad-
ministration of De la Barre, by the passage of French trading
parties to the south west, laden with material to arm their enemies,
the Senecas began hostilities by wresting from them their powder
and lead — seizing their canoes, and dismissing them, homeward,
with threats of torture and death if they ever returned. In his in-
structions to the French Governor, on receipt of the alarming intelli-
gence, Louis XIV, recommended a prompt invasion of the hostile
country, and directed that all prisoners of war takei) in the cam-
paign, when opportunity offered, should be shipped to France, re-
marking, in his despatch, that " the Iroquois, being stout and robust,
would serve with advantage in his galleys.'

What plan, by the rash Bourbon, could have been devised, I ask,
more certain than this to undermine his sovreignty on this conti-
nent? An attempt to enslave a high spirited race, that preferred
liberty to life, was a long stride, on the part of French America,
towards certain destruction. Captives, treacherously seized, were,

PHELPS AKD GORIIAM's PUECHASE. 95

actually caiTied to France, in pusurance of royal policv, and forced
J n to degradmg service.

At a subsequent period thoy were liberated and laden with pres-
ents, brought back to Canad.. But the dragon-teeth had been sown
and U was too late to hope for a burial of the hatchet. The nsu^t'
n-as one that the Five Nations would neither forget nor forgive -
and r.any ^,^re the bloody scalps that soon hung drying \ the
smoke of the. w.gwams. De la Barre's expedition to'La°Famine

b; r^^^y^ ^^'' "; ''"'f''''' ^^'^h the royal pleasure, was attended
b d sa strous resets A terrible distemper broke out in his camp,
and the half fam.hed troops, spurning restraints of discipline, clamori
eJ lor speedy departure to their homes.

While thus in a condition to become an easy prey for enemies
ever on the watch, he endeavored to achieve by'^lomacyw" he
could no effect by force. Messengers were sent entreating the Five
Nations to meet h.m in council on the shore of the Lake

1 he Mohawks and Senecas returned a haughty refusal, bvt the
remammg tnbes complied with his request. Th .'peech of Gar n.
gulo. on that occasion, has been justly deemed a master-piece of
argument and eloquence. ^

De la Barre had indulged in idle bravado, thinking that his real
s.uat.on was unknown to his eagle-eyed adversary f and no h'g
could have astomshed him more than the picture^ drawn by f
sarcastic chief, of his utter inability to strike a blow -or mire
galling to a soldier's pride, than the taunting language that he em!

"Hear, Yonnondio! our women had taken their clubs, our chil-

or;::':^ t '^' ^"'■'^' '^^"' '^''-^ ^^^ — -^^ the he .

themblcr'' '" '"""" '"' "^^ ^'^'^^-'^^ ^'-"' -^d '-Pt

Soon after this signal exposure of his weakness, the Governor

returned to Canada, with a dispirited army, and a ta^ished relX

The Marquis De Nonville, successor of De la Barre thoucrh an
accomplished officer, was taught a still sterner lesson in 1687 n

tl. n H r IT) 7'' ^"° ^'^^"^^^"^ -Sulars and militfa and a
hou and fnendly Induans, he landed at "O-nvui-da-on-da-.wat " o

ed Long-house, at a point never before invaded, bv securing

Ill

II 'I

11'

PHELPS AND GORHAM'S PURCHASE.

greater chances of sucrpsc T . ^ l-

gardedthe most ferociousand ^''.'"f ,""' /<"'«<^"'. J-H)' re-
the Marquis hoped 1021 2 T .'" "' "'" '''""' ^-'ions,
their strong Loa'.„e ?„ * ' r •' "' ''"™"" "" ''™" "'
hi» name, i„ eo„^ rin" rt^ion !' "'' •™"" "''" "^""^ '»
nf t;^,.ov,« "^ legion, and annexinrr t to the rrnwn

of France, unsurpassed in beauty and fertility "J J i
sons," mild of climate, intersected hvl,'''. ,^^ '"«"'^^ ^^a-
and said, by writers o tl^^ ^1 ^be ""^ ' ^ '^"' """'
the fru.its of Touraine and 1^^^ ^'^^''^ '' '^^™S all

in addition, by erectintT n fnrf of «. ♦!

■and between the Niagara Rit a„a La\: or"''.^.".'""^r "'
secure uninterrupted oommund „r ,h ,''"'' '''""'""M to

beaver trade, and urnth alee „, T"' '"'«'^- "«>"°P»l-e the
savage .,i „, Iwl^-ltr/^lThrq^r ''^ '"' '''

tecttett^rh:t'„rr:^^r-"'^-- •» -

villa put his ar„,, i„ '^^.T wlT:'^ T'^'' ^' """"■

body of the Seneea warriors hastened to rrn'ovethti;. 'old ""''"
women and children to places of safelv ll , "'"^ ™™'

men at a small fort to lctZ!co!j^fT^ " '""''""^ "''^'""^
watch the progress of the invader^ *"~""'°"' ""'' ^^'-^

The latter, informed that " Ynnnnnri;^"
sent runners to their friends „d Z ™ "" "■»'•■'"'*•

give him a suitable recept!"„ " ^'"""S '™" """^'^ ^-"' '°

baitr^t^'r;,: S!'::!'^e!::t:f r-" "°*^ ''"'-^-

which was a deep and dan^erot's ttile ""=""''■ " "'^ '■°°' "^

No„oteofa,arJd;:rhctd:irZd:L"gTer^^^^^^^^

-.vmgs to quicken their moyempnt, Ti • j ^] "^""^ "^"^

•be nation bad Hed, JZT^X^tS X ^T '™''' °'
the French plunged rashly into thedelil While icV'T'"™'
*e dreaded and blood-curdling war vh^iop'o? ' T ""' ''"''^'
their ears, foII„we<l by a hcavv volhv f , ■"""" '•'"S™

bravest wen. down undir d e'elos IcharT f 'f "^""^ "^''^
recoiled ; then, emulating French .peedt^^'.^ttleSX sp::!^

PirELPS AND GORHAM's PURCHASE.

sharnefully fled, disorganizing the whole line, and carryin. dism.v
in their course. "Battalions " — snv<! T n TT ♦ ">i>'o aismov

the historian of the H-ht -" 'separated tf/rt' ' T'^'"'' "^^'
r,.,f I n „ ° separated into platoons, that ran with-

ou o.,e, pe„.„,], , ,he right and left, not ..«..•„. Ju^t
v^r,nt. A more vivid picture of utter overthrow for the timp 11
the contagion of fear, could not be drawn ' ''''^

Before tJ,e panic subsided, the Senecas broke cover, and charged
the flying foe, tomahawk in hand. cnarged

f..,^f-^''i''''["Sitivesvvere slain, but the pursuers followed too
far, losing the advantage of a thick wood, and strong position Such

vuie checked the Senecas, and after a valiant stand, and desoerate

Spartan prowess could l,ave done no more. A General thirty
years ,„ serv.ce, and a favorite officer of ..the Magnificent Lou s"
had been surprised ; his savage hordes coloni-,1 levl. ,
regiments disordered, charged' and tren ^ ' JTCo, ™S

numbcs from he crmvnmg disgrace of a disastrous defeat

Though repulsed, the Senecas were not disheartened and when
challenged, ,„ the.r retreat, ,o stand and figl,,, halted onTermw
d ed ,' ', ""^'"''1'' ^-"^""'^ ""■ "■"" '■""dred to our four hZ

we ti^fU: :::.::' Lt'':" t"-" *"™ ^-^-^ '^'^

iU^ r. :■ • '^ '^ unnecessary to remark thif

inX ;" T ""' ""'"^''' '"' ™ ""™ ^--1- -" »% or

'hri:r:;et.t°''™'""° """ *'^"' "•"""■'^ °-^'"»^-

If De Nonviile was the chivalrous ;,o!dier and christian fh,,

* Doc. "Ilk" Vol. 7, p. 248.
+ Doc. "His." p. 231.

!• • <

WIELl'S A.\D GORHAm's PUKCIIa'se.

l.v

Zu ^ '"""" '° "'^ '"^'^ "'»' fell i"lo Ills Land,

wnicn he billorly deiionnces their cowardice and cruel'v' lln.J

TOoate^s 1 iclory. w,th La Hontan's, Ijiat besides twentv-Uvo woun
ded, a„ hundred Frenchmen, and ,e„ savages were slak ?
/he Baron s honest narralive, so little flatlerin,; to the militnrv

in view or their „t.:rl„reLc7:o cTf ^i^ ^ 'XeTnT
mans, sneenn-ily exclaim, tha, "they were only f„ to make war on'
Indian corn, and bark nnn«o. » r *i ■ ^ 'uiumdKe wai on

.he French ^ffic s "t Snt kovS vl™ ," "'°''' 7 "°"''' *"
o„„,ii II ,1 ''""' "°}"l' jeered one another for bein<r
appalled by the Seneca war whoop to such a de<.ree I, .„Tn
terror-stricken and powerless to the ground • ° "

The memory of illustrious women who have matched, in defence
of altar and hearth, the deeds of the sterner sex, has beenenshri ed
m song, and honored by the Historic Muse. J^an of Trc a„d the
dark-eyed ma,d of Saragossa, in all coming time, will be dnvllric
watchwords for Fr,ance and Spain, but iJlcss worthy of "corT
and poetic er,,balmment, were the five devoted heroines wL f„ o"ed
«hei red lords to the battlefield, near ancient Gana™ "'d
fought with unflinching resolution by their sides, f Ch^n^f
sue w-ives could not beotherwise than valiant. « Brin. b ckTour

junction to her son; but, roused to a higher pitch of coura-e the
Jid daughters of the Genesee stood in Ihe perilous pass, and !„

tiie thunder of the captains, and the shouting."

ton 'hniT'" °^"!;' '"■•"""''"'"^ i'™P'ion into the Seneca can-
ton, though preceded by months of busy preparation, .reat con-
ump.on of material, and attended by the pomp'and pa al o Tr
may be summed up m few words.

* Doc. "His." Vol. 1, p. 2.1C.
tDoc. "His." Vol. l,p.248.

le helpless and
his hands,
nor, his official
iuty admirably
the Minister,
JruelLy? IIqw
to an almost
ity-two woun-
ain ?

the military
lain, by other
jnant savage.
Western Ro-
make war on
a record, that
ler for beinnr
•ee, as to fall

d, in defence
!en enshrined
Arc, and the

be chivalric
ly of record,
-vho followed
agarro, and

Children of
ig back your
:r's stern in-
ourage, the
'ass, and, in
le sword —

leneca can-
great con-
ide of war,

PKELl'S AND GORHAM's PURCHASE. 99

A battle was fought in which the field was won by the French —
the glory by their foe. Then a few unarmed prisoners were tor-
tured, corn fields laid waste, and bark villages burned, followed bv
alarms that caused a precipitate retreat to their boats, harrassed
every step of the way by hovering parties in pursuit. Embarking
at Irondequo.t, after the loss of about twenty men,* they coasted
along the Lake, leaving a feeble garrison at Niagara to defend an
isolated post.

i;iie greater part of them, soon after, including the commander.
Ue Troyes. while closely besieged by the Iroquois, fell victims
within their stockade, to the not less fearful assaults of famine and
disease.

CHAPTER II

CONFLICXmo CLAIMS TO WESTERV NEW YORK -INDIAN TREATIES -
THE LESSEE COMPANY — THE MILITARY TRACT.

w! %, r f r P'?f '^ ^^'^' ^^^^'^ '""^"^ '^'' Revolutionary
wa Engkind, f.,rgetful of their obligations to the Six Nations.

tT 'n7 ' "^r''"^ '^'"^ '^■^'^^"">^' ^' ^'^^ d^-a^'ated fron-

e se tlements fully attested, made no provisions for their allies;

but left them to the mercy or discretion of those against whom they

clr'^f .r«' ^"^r '"'^ «^"g"-^^T warfare. "The ancient

the 1 1 f h !, 1''""^' '^' '''''^''''' °^ ^heir ancestors, from
the time far beyond theiv earliest traditions, was included in the
boundary granted to Americans." f According to the usages of

, ,, . , tMaj. Schuyler to Gov. boiigan, Doc. His. v. 1 p. 255

t Menional of tlie Six Js^ations, presented to Lord Camden.

'lit:

l-^VI

i !l

US! I

¥i

100

rilELPS AND GOPJIAm's PURCHASE.

;rr r::::;r!:« rr;!:;r rrr

ties of our General nm] ^t.t. r ^""'1"«' "> • -"ut the authori-

so strinrrpnt. , , u '^^^^ Governments did not clioose to apply
so stringent a rule to the simple natives, who were unlearnoH n
reference to the position in which their action in e w t 'pi "

mmmms

Gene., sc,,„,:e. aided b^. :^r:it:er„?t:,iir:;:"::

co..,ue.. would have been far .„„ expeiive .h npraee oh

The cessation of hostilities on the pa,t of those to whor,, they had
lately been all,es, left them in an embarrassing position Enll „d
had made a peace, and left her allies in the fidd to fi"ht it ou or

Previous to the cession by all the states, of lands within their

Ge"r: :u;d%M "T^' ^°^^^""^^"' ''' -^P-tive ri^f
astliiStnt Governments were but illy defined; and so far

as h,s State was concerned, especially, a collision was had As

making the Governor and a Board of commissioner the Superb
ten ents oflndian a^airs. The commissioners designated weTl
Abraham Cuj^er P ter Schuyler, Henry Glen, who°associated with

Yates, jr., P. W. Yates, John J. Beekman, Mathew Vischer, (ien

a umJdTh 1 . ""™"' ""^"-^^ ^'^"^^"' ^' "- head of the Boar ,'
assumed the laboring oar of negotiation. The services of the mis-

thc.iraids«S,f til w'slr'""'/^ been pursued, the Indians .vould have called to
HIacksnake, m.w Tn h mdre Tve '.""fl ""^- r^'""^"'^ ^'^" '''''■ '^'^'^ ^^^^'^^''We chief
«ists that tie Six Natriwe^Wo tt/r''r f''^ ^"'^-^''"^ Keservatiou, i„.

onquered poo-
Jt the authori-
loose to apply
unlearned in
5 war had pla-
id, ungrateful,
vailed in the
g those who
>tate Legisla-
favor, that it
opposition of
on, with the
' by a feeling
ed war and
ice negotia-
)etter policy

orn they had
1- England
[ht it out, or
has seldom

ivithin their
e rights of
; and so far
s had. As
!ed an act,
e Superin-
d were : —
:iated with
3roeck, A.
cher, Gen.
the Board,
f the mis-

ve cnllcd to
erable chief
irvatiou, in-
a conquered

rmsips AND ooeiiam's PUECIIASE. 101

sionary, the Iv.v Mr. Kirkland, of Peler Ryokman, Jacob Keed
James Deane, Major Fonda, Col. Wemple, Major F,y, Col Va„'
%le, - „,„s, of whom had been India,, trader, or captive, -were
enhsted. Peter nyck,„a„ beean,e to the Board.Tlcie Tf

■w,nged Mercury," flying from locality ,0 locality- now aX da
then at Kanadesaga, then at Niagara, consulting, with Bran, and

ne« a, Albany, reporting the result of his conferences vh t e
sta esn,e„ and d,plo,„a.ists of the forest. The time and place
ol a treaty vvas parl,ally agreed upon

In the mean ti,ne, Congress had contemplated a general treaty
with the Indians. bor<}er,ng upon the settlements in New York
Pen„syU,an,a and Ohio; and had appointed as its commisLner '
Ohver Wolcott, K.chard Butler and Arthur Lee. A co,re po^.'
ence took place between the New York Boa,-d and the Co,l,s

he respec..-e nghts to treat with the Indians, wasse,-i„usly involv-
ed. The New York Commissioners found the Indians generally
averse to treating with a State, but generally disposed to mee 2

pelt of"so "' Tk' ''"" " "'"'' °f ^^'^ J°'""J' "i* 'heir
people of some of the western nations. Most of the sp,in., and

ummer of 1784, was consumed by endeavors of the New Y„ k

Board to get acouncilof the Six Nations convened. On the fi".,

o September, they met at Fort Schuyler-deputies from the mI

hawks, Cayugas, Onondagas and Senecas. The Oneidas and Tus-

caroras held back; but deputations from them, were b,ough. i,^ by

runners on the th.rd day. The deputies of these two nat,°o„s were

first addressed by Governor Clinton. He assured them of a di

p„s, ,o„ to be at peace ; disclaimed any intention to deprive hem

of thetr lands; proposed a settlement of boundaries; and warned

.hem ap,nst dtsposing of their lands to other than ommissione,;

V h th ra for lands, when they were disposed to sell them. In re-
pl) to tins speech, a delegate of the two nations cxp,essed their
gra.,ficat,„„ that the war had ended, and th,at they couM now me

"vh :rv'" p''" '"''''''■" '■^°"'>-° ---P." -wTe

th,s path winch you have seen as you have come along, has been

rewed w,th blood. We. therefore, in our turn, console'your Z

es and sorrows during these troublesome times. We rejoice that

102

PIIELPS AND GORIUJI'S PURCHASE.

you have opened the path of peace to this country " Hp fh. v A
the commissioners for their nL\r^ f. fi VT 7^" ^^^^ikeA

r^ J ,u , / * '""' °° """""'"y f™"! Cons-ras ; but as he h-,<l
.nv,ed.heI,,d,a„Mo assemble a. For. S.anvv^x, o^ ,he 20 h If
Sep ember, the commissioner,, ,o save the trouble of t, o cou noil/
would alter the determination of holdin.. their eound ,^ N?
and meet them at For Stanwix on the S„r "°""'

Mohawks, Ouonda;,™, Cayugas, and Senecas." He assured them
.ha what was a colony had becon,e a Stat. ; that he a^d h s M nd^
had met them to open the paths of peace, to establish tha f endiv
relation that eMsted between the Indians and their whiteLiTbo ^
prevtous to the war. Some passages of the Governor's speech wL
us truly eloquent as any thing that will be found amon/our Shte
records. He sa,d : " The council fires which was lighted both i
Albany and Onondaga by our ancestors and those of Ihe SixNa
t,ons, wh,cn burned so bright, and shone with so friendly a I ^h,'
over our common country, has unhappily been almost e.xting„i h' d
by the late war w.th Great Britain. I now gather to.'ether a Thi«
pace the remaining brands, add fr. h fuel, an'd w hX true ^W

ttt ToT; """ ""^ "'"™'"^' '■™"*'>'''' -''-^''^ 'ke fire, in J
that no future events may ever arise to extinguish n ■ but that von
and we, and the offspring of us both, may enjfy its beiign i fl e'nce

heletteisof the commissioners of Congress, he assured them that
their business was with Jndian. residing out of any Stlte Z h
New Yorlt had a right to deal with those residing. 'Z hj;":;,:.'

JJ^l ?.!"" '" *' ^.'^'"•""■■■^ speech was made by Erant He
aid that It meets with our dispositions and feehngs of our r^'inds "

tlrZ'Z 1 *^':^^P^""™ "'-- of Congress "and New York
to treat with the Indians, he thought it strange that « there shou d

He thanked
nd Tusoaroras,
•chase of their

iscarora chiefs
!s. The letter
commissioners,
ce with all the
- that the Gov-
; but as he had
™ the 20th of
two councils,
iil at Niagara,

'arriors of the
assured them
md his friends
I that friendly
lite neighbors
's speech was
mg our State
ghted both at
the Six Na-
endly a light
extinguished
?ether at this
he true spirit
fire, in hopes
but that you
gn influence
•eference to
;d them that
te ; but that
in her boun-

Erant. He
our minds."
^ew York
here should

PHELPS AND GORHAJl's PUKCIIASE.

103

be two bodies to manage the same business." Several speeches
followed, Brant and Cornplanter being the spokesmen of the Indi-
ans. The utmost harmony prevailed ; the Indian orators treating
all subjects adroitly, manifesting a disposition to make a treaty, but
evidently intending to stave otf any direct action, until they met
in council the U. S. Commissioners. To a proi)osition from Gov.
Clinton, that the State of New York would look for a cession of
lands to help " indemnify them for the expenses and sacrifices of
the war ; " they replied, admitting the justice of the claim, but say-
ing they were peace ambassadors, and had no authority to dispose
of lands. The council broke up after distributing presents, and
leaving the Indians a supply of provisions for subsistence while
waiting to meet the U. S. Commissioners.

The treaty of Fort Stanwix followed, conducted by the United
States Commissioners, Oliver Wolcott, Richard Butler, and Arthur
Lee. No record of the proceedings exist in our public archives ;
the general result is however known. Terms of peace were con-
cluded ; the western boundaries of the Six Nations were so fixei
as to enlarge the " carrying place" on the Niagara river they had
previously ceded to the King of Great Britian, and starting from
the mouth of Bufialo Creek, was to be a line running due south to
the northern boundary of Pennsylvania; thence westto the end of
said boundary ; thence south along the west boundary of said State
to the river Ohio. The treaty was eflected with considerable ditTi-
culty, a large number of the Indians insisting that it should be gen-
eral, and embrace the western Indians, so that all questions of boun-
daries could be settled at once. Brant was absent, transactin^r
some business with the Governor of Canada. Had he been present"
it is doubtful whether any treaty would have been concluded. Red
Jacket, then a youth, made his first public speecii, and as Levasseur,
(who derived his information from La Fayette,) says : — "His speech
was a masterpiece, and every warrior who heard him, was carried

NoTE.-La Fayette was present at the treaty of Port Stanwix. After the laDso of
forty yearn, the (,rcum,us Frenchman, tlie companion of Wasliingto.t uu the s'neca
orator, affun met The author was present at tlie interview. A conconi^o of cit"i"ens
hiwl been asseml.lec Or nearly two .lays, awaitinf: the arrival of the st™m boa from
Dunku-k, which had been cliartcred by the committee of Erie county to come La
Faye te to Buffi, o, and among them was Red Jacket. He made, a.sui.a1, a somcilm
ostentatious display of his medal_a gift from Washington - and it required the c-
peml a tention of a select committee to keep the aged cliief from aXd ,.e ce _
a "sin that so easy beset him," -which woiUd have'^ marred the dignity if'not tlic

104

PHELrS AND GORIIAM's PnECHASE.

i't

away with his oloniipnrp " TT^ * ,

away the hun.ing r„„,i, "fVl'""'', '""'T'^ "S"'"^' "''""«
advocated a ro„o°va Tt t' '^t,"\, "' ""'• """ ''°'J'>
planter, however, nreva le Th .,*" """""'■' "^ Corn-

agreed to surrend,. "n o he ''"«"='-''"l".v. Th. Six Nation,
brought to the ,r v-11 1 r T"'"' """ ""■ "■''»'" '■"'l '-een
in be1,„lf of th I S s" Lr '""''T- "^''^ ""--"i-'oners.
T..et po.e.io„ oftelfnTSerrS ^h'ief '^ ^""°"^ ''"

advising tlL tl",t he t ,e h Id hf " ^""'"=" "'°''' "='"»' -"l

infonned ti.em that it v „ e ,oST '" ""^^ '" ^"''''"-■

™mo of their lands south o" U Taji, "''a^rT ''T"' '" ^'"

sioners were ready to purchase Am ' T '°' "» '^™'"i'-

;io.;, the Go.ernoJ.s sp^lt ™ rf;",": ^ ;"i;.,t^^,f;f ""■

before the Kevo,uti:„t aid ■ ttZTFlT. "'"'V'^ f ""^-'^^
were poor, applied to us lor h,l \ T ''™'''" "ben Ihev

'hey are .-iclfthey dol ° 4 : li^l .^°\T"° ""f ^^ *"" ™"-
const,™™te abilit; ; especiallydid "he ihief I I leT ■"" °"^ ^^
Governor, in a lieouent allnsi™, i„ i ! ^ '"'''™ "P"" 'bo

to keep their lands D „ " H , , , "' '"^™'' '° ""^ '"dians
ceeded": the Indians nr U " rofi^ ll?'' ^^^^^ r""' --

romance of the i;itomlerl iiifcrvioxr ~Th'. '■ —-—

ipiiiiiiipiili

gainst ceding
3t, and boldly
cils of Corn-
ploquence of

Six Nations

om had been

)inmi.ssioners

N'ations the

! recognized

had made

!v, after the
ner, in June
'ov. Clinton
rights, and
5 purchase,
ared to sell
cam mis-
s delibera-
the minis-
with lands
5 Mohawks
vhen ihoy
; but now
ras one of
s upon the
le Indians
'^hig suc-
lantityof
ut failincr

orally, were
iroiiirli wi( Ji.
t,'!ii.s-< ill lii-i
'' '» iiroiulcr
'll^^ii'li, if i;
leral in liis
'«', LaKav-
'•I'.'lt" 8;i'i,!

■MkoU Til..

'as enrich.

HIELPS Amy GOPJIAM'S PUECIIASE.

105

get lice. a. .hey were o^a loiv 7°'"^ '^ ^■™™''"'' «•" "°-'''
•hey e.pro.cd't„e A^l^ ^le ? ^I "'h'^'IT- ""^™°"
overcome their cneraies " ^' * ''"■* "'""""gli lousy,

^et^t:rrrattwr::t:r"^^

east an,l west through those s^^" I ' "'""' "' " '"" d'"™
nia line, &o., for "^ich t M 7, fl"""^, °' "- P^-.vlva
'hem a liberal amount of gooS^ tril.'s °' 1° -'"""'' ™°"«
announcing the c„ncIusion°to sell , t/"i P""™"'- '» "-"-V
■This news about sellin. „ur ill '^ ' \° "''•''chopper said : -
Six Nations, when thev h° .r „» h n '" " S'''"' ""'"^ "' 'he

-e hope we shall , o, « ann LdT "" '"'' V"""^' ""> "«''=''°'-e
How 'vas th, f.tt^rS , , 7°^^'/°""y°'''''''■™''«0•."
^>atis,! Little duLltfT " ™P'' ''""''™'l'' <"P'»-
gmdgingly and unw lli ttp Ld "th"™", f':''' """"^ ""«
"Mened out, until his peo°pfe ^1^1; sh^ f ", "'''?' '"' ""''
sessions ! ' """^"y *om of then- broad pos-

llerc, in the order of thm^ it i,
hindrances that were int "Id ,1""" "'f ""^-^ '" ™"«^ -o
ary me,asure, for the See o eTr""'^' ""'"^ ""^ P'"''™'"-
lower valley of the MohavTater !'«""', T"'""' """' *=
of England and France wJre ° ?„ ° '"°" ^ " ^''° ^''"8^

eareless in their .ran of ,e, l f""' Seogfaphers, or very

'ed what they n^^er .osselTn'i" "I"" ™^'''- "^^'i- S™""
other's ri»hts and crelT? "^^ ""^' '""° °''<^'"i™ 'o each

ny a tractof -un,r;d:Lti:r;dr:i:,::nd':'rT' '"""'-

degrees of latitude north and S,„„l, j"S'-""''e"endtng several
Paeitic ocean, east and ts, 'rcha*r 1 T^l "" ^""°"" '» "«'
port on of this territory, granted by Irs I tf^:"""'''" °' »

the Atia„„e,o,be Pacific ocean. Charts ri,„v, ' "'I '™"

""^= - vor. a,,d Albany, .,. .■ovinii^:;^ Vos::":!^

106

PHELPS AND GOPJIAM's PUECIIASE.

i ii

ii I
1 - !
It , I

the present State of New Jersey. The tract thus granted extended
from a line twenty miles east of the Hudson river, westward, rather
in lefinitsly, and from the Atlantic ocean north, to the south line of
Canada, then a French province.

By this collision of description, each of these colonies, (after-
wards States.) laid claim to the jurisdiction as well as pre-emption
right of the same land, being a tract sufficiently large to form several
States. The State of New York, however, in 1781, and Massa-
chusetts, in 17S5, ceded to the United States all their rights, either
of jurisdiction or proprietorship, to all the territory lying west of a
meridian, line run south from the westerly bend of Lake Ontario.
Although the nominal amount in controversy, by these acts, was
much diminished, it still left some nineteen thousand square miles
of territory in dispute ; but this controversy was finally settled by a
convention of commissioners, appointed by the parties, held at
Hartford, Conn., on t!ie 16th day of December, 178G. According-
to the stipulations entered into by the convention, Massachusetts
ceded to the State of New York, all her claim to the government,
sovereignty and jurisdiction of all Jhe territory lying west of the
present east line of the Stale of New York ; and New York ceded
to Massachusetts the pre-emption right, or fee of the land, subject
to the title of natives, of all that part of the State of ISlew York
lying west of a line, beginning at a point in the north line of Penn-
sylvania, 82 .miles north of the north-east corner of said State, and
running from thence due north through Seneca Lake, to Lake On-
tario ; excepting and reserving to the State of 'New York, a strip
ot land east of, and adjoining the eastern bank of Niagara river,
one mile wide, and extending its whole length. The land, the pre-
emption right of which was thus ceded, amounted to about six
millions of acres.

The other dilRculty alluded to, arose from the organization and
operations of two joint Lessee Companies. The constitution of the
state forbade the purchase of the fee in lands of the Indians, by
mdividuals, reserving the right to the state alone. To evade this,
and come in possession of the lands, an association of individuals
•was organized in the winter of 1787, '8, who styled themselves the
" New York Genesee Land Company." Tlie company was com-
posed of some eighty or ninety individuals, mostly residing upon the
Hudson; many of whom were wealthy and influential. The prin-

Pm?LPS AWD GORIIAm's PCECnASE.

107

cipal seat of the company was at Hudson. Dr. Caleb Benton
John L,v„,g^„„, and Jared Coffin were the principal manager"'
At the same time a branch company was or.tani7eH in r,„!.
called the ..Niagara Genesee Land' cL,p.a„;-° TO consheTlf
John Dntler, Samnel Street. John Powellf JoLson a Z2 a d
Beruannn Barton ; all but the last n.amed. bein, residents of S„da
Ths branch organization enabled the company to avail themselves
of the then potent influence of Col. John Butler with the Sk
Nation,, and the innuence of his .as,socia.es. Benjamin Barton fhe
father of the late B.mjamin Barton Jr. of Lewis, „™ an ac,
ncmbcr of the assocktion. Soon after the close of the Revolution
he had engaged m the Indian tr.ade, and as a drover from New

N,,igara. By this means he had become well acquainted with the
S™e as was adopted by them, and had taken while a youth Hen y
OBail, the .son of Cornplanter, and placed him in a Loo ^7

to r-Ne : YoTc " "'° '"""""r "■"^ "^''-=^' «'-- W°"^d
o the New -i oik Company, several who had fcr a lon<r period been

ndian traders. Thus organized, by such appliances a's f, .1 for
™ded negotiations with the Indians, the company i„ Nov^be "
1787 obtained a Lease for " nine hundred and ninety nine years "
of all the lands of the Six Nations in the state of New Y'rl 'e^lt
'r ™"' ■■—«»"-'. 'I'e Fiviiege of hunting, fishinT&c
The annual rent was to be two thousand Spanish milled dollas- Tnd
a bonus of 830,000 was also promised '

afl-IL nlT „ T'"""""""'- "'■ ^Pe'intendent of Indian

temc 'the 1 o ' ■"" ?' '""' '" ""' '"'«»" """""T 'o conn-
teract the unlawful proceed ngs of the Lessees n„ i,- . u

reported that he had fallen in ^ith the cleA of' I . " '"

60 miles of Tioga, and would proceed no farth;,. Th "the Set
oa were exceedingly di,,satislied with Livingston, and vould „M

That near IfiO families were If T.-r u ^".^^eating them,
of P.,tfl . ;n III ^-'''' '"''^^ ^ consid'.rable number

of cattl.. n order to form a settlement on tho.se. lands- bn* were
very n.uch at a ios. as the, had heard that the state tended

/; It

108

PHELPS AND GOEUAM's PUKCHASE.

s n

l-'f

k .''

\rh ir

i f

that no settlement should be made." Governor Clinton issued a
proclamation warning purchasers that the Lessee title would be
annulled, and sent runners to all the Six Nations warning them of
the traud that had been practiced against them.

It was a formidable organization, embracing men of wealth and
political influence, and those who, if their own plans could not be
consummated, had an influence with the Indians that would enable
them to throw serious obstacles in the way of legal negotiations with
them lor their lands. The lease consummated, the next object of the
association was to procure an act of the legislature sanctionincr the
proceedings, and for that purpose, an attempt was made to intimidate
by threats of dismemberment, and the formation of a new state'
embracing all the leased territory. But the wliole matter was met
with energy and promptness by Gov. George Clinton, who urged
upon the Legislature measures to counteract the inte. ded mischief
In March, 1788, an act was passed which authorised the Governor
to disregard all contracts made with the Indians, not sanctioned by
the state as null and void, and to cause all persons who had entered
upon Indian lands under such contracts, to be driven off" by force
and their buildings destroyed. Governor Clinton ordered William
Colbraith, then Sheriff" of the county of Herkimer,(which then em-
braced all of the present county of Herkimer and all west of it to
the west bounds of the state,) to dispossess intruders and burn their
dwelhncrs. A military force was called out, ai-d the orders strictly
executed. One of the prominent settlers, and a co-operator of the
Lessees, was taken to New York in irons, upon a charge of hinh
treason. "

Thus baffled, the managers of the two associations determined to
retaliate and coerce a compromise, if they failed to carry out their
original design, by meeting the State upon treaty grounds, where
they could bring a stronger lobby than they could command for
the halls of legislation. At the treaty, held in Fort Stanwix in
September, 1778, with the Onondagas, for the purchase of their
lands by the State, Governor Clinton took the field in pci-son, back-
ed by all the official influence he could command ; and yet he
found for a while, extreme difficulty in effecting any thing Little
opposition from the Lessees showed itself openly, but it was there
with Its strongest appliances. In after years, when preferring a
claim against the " New York Genesee Company," in behalf of th«

PIIELP3 AJID GOEHAm's PUECnASE. 109

" Ningara Genesee Compuny," a prominent individua. among the
c a^mants, urged that the Canada company had kept the Indians
back from the treaties; and when they could no longer do so had
ononeocca.ion, baffled Governor CHmon for nearlyfhree :;et

ZT'l' TTl- T' ""' ""'^^ '^' ^''''' ^'^^ P^^^^^^ed itself of
the lands of the Six Nations east of the pre-emption line. The les-
sees, seeing httle hopes-of accomplishing their designs, finally peti-
tion d the legislature for relief; and after considerable dday, in
179J, an act mas passed, authorizing the commissioners of the land

£: ?r t'r ^'^"'"^ ^"^ ^^^^^^ --^^ unappropriated
lands of the State, a tract equal to ten miles square. The allot-
ment was finally made in township number three, of the " Old Mill-
tary tract." Thus terminated a magnificent scheme, so far as the
fetate was concerned, which contemplated the possession of a vast
domain, and perhaps, as has been alleged, a separate State organi-
zation It mark, an important era in the early history of our State.
The influence brought to bear upon the Indians from Canada, by
which the extraordinary lease was obtained, was stimulated by
the prospect of individual gain; but may we not well --nfer- with-
out an implication of the many respectable individuals who com-
posed the association in this State to that extent -that it looked
forward to future events; the maintenance of British dominion,
which was afterwards asserted and reluctantly yielded. It was
ong after th.., before the potent influence which the Johnsons, But-
ler and Brant had carried with them, even in their retreat to Cana-
da, was counteracted. They were yet constantly inculcating the
Idea among the Six Nations, that they were under British dominion,
he Senecas at least. What could better have promoted this pre-
tension, than such a scheme, especially if it contemplated the ex-
treme measure of a dismemberment of this State -such as was

tions? The calculations of the "New York Genesee Company"
may have been circumscribed by the boundaries of loss and ^ain •
that of their associates and co-operators may have taken a vvider'
range, and embraced national interest, to which it was wedded by
les even stronger if possible, than motives of gain and private
emolument As late as November. 1793, James Vadsworth and
Oliver Phelps, received a circular, signed by John Livingston and
Caleb Benton, as officers of a convention purporting to have been'

110

PHEJJ^ AXD GOKIIAll's PURCHASE.

< I

f'\.

held at Geneva, urging the people to hold town meetings and sign
petitions for a new state to be set off from New York, and to em-
brace the counties of Otsego, Tioga, Herkimer and Ontario.
^ Early in the spring of 1788, another council with the Six Na-
tions was contemplated by the New York commissioners. In an-
swer to a message from them, requesting the Indians to fix upon a
time, some of the chiefs answered in a writing, that it must be
" after the corn is hoed." Massachusetts, not having then parted
with its pre-emption right wes. of Senoca Lake, Gov. Clinton
wrote to Gov. Hancock to secure his co-operation in counter-
acting the designs of the lessees. The general court declared the
leases "null and void ;" but Gov^ernor Hancock, in his reply to the
letter, stated that Massachusetts, on account of the " embarrassed
situation of the Commonwealth," was about to comply with the
proposals of some of her citizens, for the purchase of the pre-emp-
tion right.

The first of September was fixed as the period for the treaty, and
Fort Schuyler was designated as tiie place. A ctive preparations
for it were going on through the summer, under the general super-
vision of John Taylor, who had the zealous co-operation of Gov.
Clinton. In all the villages of the Six Nations, the lessees had
their agents and runners, or Indian traders in their interest. Even
the Rev. Mr. Kirkland had been either deceived or corrui)ted by
them, and had played a part inconsistent with his profession, and
with his obligations to Massachusetts. It was represented to Gov.
Clinton that, in 'preaching to the Indians, he had advised them to
lease to the New York and Canada companies, as their territory

Rote.— After the arrangement with the State, there was a lont,' coiitroverHv be-
tween tJie two associations in settling tlieir affairs : in tlic course of wliich, nnicli of
tlie secret machinery of botli wtLS developed. An old adage was pretty well illustra-
ted. It no wliere appears that any thing was paid to tlie Indians in their national or
conlederate capacities ; thougli a bonus of twenty thousand dollars was stii)ulatetl to
be paid in addition to tlie annual rents. The Canada company refused at one tiineto
pay an installment into this general fund, alleging as a reason, the non-iiavment of
this twenty thousand dollars due the Indians. But yet, it appears that it was a nretty
expensive operation ; the chiefs who favored the scheme and the agents who operated
upon them, must have been well paid ; "presents " must have been as lavish as in the
palmiest days of British and Indian negotiations. Remonstrances that were i)resented
to the Legislature oi this State, set forth that "secret and unwarrantable means had
been employed by the les.sees in making their arrangements with some of the In-
* T" it'on'' "leetingof the "New York Genesee Company," at Hudson, in Sep-
tem jcr, 1(89, llie aggregate expenditures, as liquidated, liad been over twelve tho'i-
sanil pounds, N. L. currency. It will be necessary to refer to this subject aLmiii, ill
connectwu with Indiau treaUes that foUowcd, and Clmrles Williamson.

PIIELPS AND GOEHAm's PURCHASE.

Ill

was so wide, he could not makeh

is voice heard to its full

Gxtpnt '

h treaty held at Kanadesaga. when the Lease was procured, he had
acted efficiently for the Lessees. To counteract thosestronc infl,,
ences, agents and runners were put in requisition bfSf
HurpeTcr''' '""^ during the summer, the poor Indians had but'

The preparations for the embassy to the Indian country, at Al-
bany and New York, were formidable ones. A similar expedition
now to feanta Fee, or Oregon, would be attended with less of pre-
hmmary arrangements. A sloop came up from New York with In-
d.an goods, stores for the expedition, marquees and tents, specie for
purcnase money, (which was obtained with much trouble,) those
^ the board of commissioners and their associates, who resided in
iNew Yoi-k, and many who were going to attend the treaty from
motives of curiosity ; among whom was Count Monsbiers. the then
French minister, and his sister.

The board of commissioners and their retinue, started from Al-
bany on the 23d of August, (the goods and baggage going up the
Mohawk in batteaux that had been built for the ;urpose,) and did
not arrive at Fort Schuyler until the 28th.

A wild romantic scene was soon presented. The veteran soldier,

tT ?Tr' P"'^'^ ^'' "^''■^"^^' '-^"d ^«« ««"^"<^'^ the General
ns It he had headed a military instead of a civil expedition. Arroncr
his associates in the commission, and his companions, were m'any
ho had with h.m been conspicuous in the Revolution, and wer^
the leading men of the then young State. They were surrounded
by the camp fires of the numerous representatives of the Six Na
tions, amounting to thousand.s, who had been attracted to the spot
some from an interest hey folt in the negotiations, but far the lar-'
ges proportion ot them had been attracted from their scattered
WiMerness homes, by the hopes and promises of feasts and carous-
als. Indian traders from all their localities in New York and
panada, with their showy goods and trinkets, and "firewater." were
upon the ground with the mixed objects of a sale of their .oods
when money was paid to the Indians, and the e.^pousal either of'
^.e State interests or that of the Lessees. Some of the prominent
Lessees from Albany, Hudson and Canada had preceded the Gov-
ernor, and were in the crowd, secrelly and insidiouslv nndnavorin-.

i ft

ti 'i - '

f M '

-I

I
1-^

,f,

i.f

35'^-

113

PHELra AND GOEUAm's PDIiCIIASE.

to nvnrt the ol^ects of .l,e council. Irritated by dl he had heard

pnnc ,a, John L,v,„gs,on, of •■Livingston Manor" was present
-with the eoncunenee of his associates. Gov. Chnton "look the
r spo„s,b,hty." as did Gen. .lackson a. Nov Orleans, and orde cd

Ic^Jr ,"=■ T''^'™ ™ "'-"h™-." »"d •Totietothed
tance of forty miles from Fort Schuyler

After this, Governor Clinton organised a species of court, or

hSnf 'r«"'°"'"" '"*■'■""• '"■""■'" "-aders, runners in the
merest of b„.h State and Lessees, took afHdavits of all that had

schene ol bnbery, threats, mtimidation and deception, practiced
upon the Indians. Finding that , he Seuecas were hod,,, back
from he treaty, and that many of the head n,e„ of the CavuJas and

^I^jr ?""'■ -'"-™-S'l-. there ,v.,s a counte'
gathe„ng at Ivauadesaga, messenge,-s were sent there, who found
Hu Benton s„,To„„Jed by Indians and his agents, dealing out liquet'
and goods, anddehveringspeeches, in which he assured the Indian
that ,f they went to Fort Schuyler ,hc Governor of New York
would ether cheat them out of .heir lands, or failing in that, wou d
fall upon them w„h an armed fo,ce. Many of the Indian w^ c
undeceived, and finally induced to go to For. Schuyle,-, wi, nrtey
had lecovered from a state of beastly intoxication Ihev had been
kept ,„ by Dr. Benton and other agents of the Lessees." Such h d

wIrJsW f?^'' '^"' """">■ "'^ *^"'' ^^1"=" '^coming sober

we esck andu„.,blc to reach For. Schuyler, and a Cayuga chief,
Sp ce Garner d,od on the road. When thcy were en'eamped a
S vyace, twlve m,les east of Seneca Lake, on .he eas.en, .rail
wen, r ■ " '^J^r ''."■'■"' ■■ a' C-^l.ong, in .he in.erest of .he Lessee
wen. there, and by mtimida.ions, .he use of rum, and pro.nises ol"
presen.s, induced .hem .o .urn back romisesol

JrVir,™"' ",",'"■ "'■ ^""""'^^ """ ""^ ^'"■"™' Nations
ot tl e council. Governor Chnton addressed the Ononda^as inform
tng them minutely of the positions in which .ho Six Na". oVsto";
in refei-ence .0 .heir lands; .hat they were theirs .o d ", o o
when .hey pleased, bu. .hat to protect them from frauds, hi a"
had reserved .0 itself the right .„ purchase whenever hey wee

rnELPS AND GORHAm's rUECIIASE. 113

disposed to sell. lie told them that the acts of the Lessees, were
he acts "disobedient children " of the State, and that thev were
a cheat and at the same time informing them that as commis-
sioners of the State, he and his associates were there prepared to
purchase. He cautioned them to keep sober, as there were stran-
gers present "who will laugh at us if while this business is in a^i-
tation, any of us should be found disguised." "After the business
IS completed,' said the Governor. " wo can indulge ourselves in
innocent mu-th and friendship together." Eiack Cap, in behalf o^
the Onondagas. replied, assuring the Governor that the Onondar^as
who ly disapproved of the proceedings with the Lessees, had made
up then- nunds to sell to the State, but wanted a little farther time
1.0 a k among themselves. On the 12th, the treaty was concluded
and the deed of cession of the lands of the Onondagas, some res
ervatums excepted, was executed. The consideration was 81000
"1 liand and an annuity of $500 forever. After the trelty wa!
conc,,ae , additional provisions were distributed, presents of 'go d
made and congratulatory speeches interchanged. " As the business
on wluc we had met. said the Governor, is now hapnilv accom sh
ed. we shall cover up the council fire at this time i!;d Uake a dH k
andsmoke our pyes together, and devote the remainder of the day
to decent mirth. J

It should be observed, that this council was called for the double
purpose of perpetuating friendship with the Six Nations, ndpu
chasing ands. Though New York had ceded the p e-emron
ngh to the lands of the Senecas. to Massachusetts, still' t^^r
s.rab e t at the Senecas should be present. Most of their chiel
and head n-.en were kept away, but about eighty young Seneca

the old Foit. The governor addressed them, distributed amon.
hem some provisions and liquor, and desired them to go back to
their nation and report all they had seen, and warn their peop e
nganist having any thing to do with the Lessees. A young Seneca
warrior in his reply said :-" We had to struggle hard ^ break
through he opposition that was made to ourcomh^down, by some
of your disobedient children. We will now tell ^^u how ^hin^s

really are amonjj us

The voice of the birds,* and proud, strong

^V.gu.nnnor«, and falsehoods, were caUed by the Senecas. "tZZ^Z^^^^,

>i ■

114

PIIELPS AND GORHAm's PURCHASE.

1-4
f ■,

llC'?

!•# '

words uttered by some of our own people at Kanadesaga, overcome
tlie sachems and turned them back, after they had twice promised
to come down with us."

Negotiations with the Oneidas followed : — Gov. Clinton made a
speech to them to the same purport of the one he liad delivered to
the Onondagas. This was replied toby "One-yan-ha, alias Beach
Tree, commonly called the " Quarter Master." who said an answer
to the speech should be made after his people had counselled to-
gether. The next day, just as the council had assembled, word
came that a young warrior was found dead in Wood Creek. It
was concluded after som.e investigation, that he had been drowned ac-
cidentally, in a state of intoxication. Tiie commissioners insisted
upon going on with the treaty, but the Indians demanded a postpone-
ment for funeral observances. At the burial, A-gwel-en-ton-gwas,
alias, Domine Peter, or Good Peter, made a pathetic harrangue!
eloqueu. in some of its passages. It was a temperance, but not
a total abstinence discourse.

The funeral over, the business of the council was resumed. Good
Peter replied to the speech of the Govemor: — He reminded him
of a remark made by him at Fort Herkimer in 1785, in substance,
that he should not ask them for any more lands. The chief recapitula-
ted in a long speech, with surprising accuracy, every point in the
Governor's speech, and observed that if any thing had been omitted,
it was because he had not "the advantage of "the use of letters."
He then made an apology, that he was li^tigued, and wished to sit
down and rest ; and that in the meantime, according to ancient

Note.— The backwoods srnntnal and temporal adviser, insisted that his people

must abide by the resrdufi.m of tludr chief, widcli forbid anv of tliein askin- the Gov?

emor or connms.sioner.s for rum, but only to take it ^^hvu it%vas offered and measured

out to them. "We are n,,t fit " said he, "to prescribe as ro this .-Mtick.. Some who

re p-eat drinkers have often given in botli women and eiiildren in their list ad

nvn tor the whole company ,is warri(,r,., and tliereby inc.vased the quantity beyo d
all reasonable bounds. Let the Governor therefore determine, if he Les fit^to -ie a
glass mthemorn.n- and at noon, aiul then at night ; and if anv remain aftei-eaclt
one IS sen-ed, let it be taken off fhe ground. Thi.^ was the ancient custom at AlW

n '. T *;r'"f^',V'-«- ^^i"'" ■•! «'-^>^'t ■"""^■^■'' of Indians were a,.^embled on
th. hill above the city. The rum was brought there and each one drank a -la^- .oik
V as satisfied. No trie ndian who had the spirit of a man, was eve no vn at th

ay t() run to a commissioner and demand a bottle of rum, on the ground that he wis
m'suc ."r\""' .-.nother too, for tlie .s.me .eason, which is the practice now-a-day
nc such great men wer j known in ancient li; p])v times " ^

I Good IVler's temperance e.xliortation, is similar to that of the Scotch divine • -

dri dSmS"'n"'' «"H«''-. ""'» '^ little on g.anging to bed; but dilina bo "drau,;

, overcome
promised

on made a
elivered to
lias Beach
an answer
[nselled to-
)led, word
Creek. It
■owned ac-
rs insisted
L postpone-
-ton-gwas,
larrangue,
i, but not

?d. Good
nded liim
substance,
■ecapitula-
)int in the
n omitted,
f letters."
bed to sit
o ancient

his people
lis: the Gov-
k1 iiicasured

■Some wlio
fir list, and
itjty beyond
• lit to give a

I after each

II at Albany
v-eiiibled oil

a i(liis.< and
own at that
that he was
ow-a-days ;

1 divine : —
•f a niorniri,
i be "drum.

PHELPS AND aOEIIAM's PUECHASE.

115

custom, anoth^^r speaker would arise and raise the spirit of their de-
ceased sachem, the Grasshopper. But before he sat down, he in-
formed the Governor, that the man bearing the name of Oe-dat-segh-
ta, is the first name know in their national council, and had long
been publised throughout the confederacy ; that his friend, the Grass-
hopper, was the counsellor for the tribe, to whom that name be-
longed, and that therefore, they replaced the Grasshopper with this
lad, whom you are to call Kan-y-a-dal-i-go ; presentiiig the young
lad to the Governor and Commissioners ; and that until he arrives
at an age to qualify him to transact business personally, in council,
their friend, Hans Jurio, is to bear the name of 0-jis-tal-a-be, alias
Grasshopper, and to be counsellor for this young man and his clan,
until that period.

The Governor made a speech, in which he disclaimed any desire
on the part of the State to purchase their lands; bu', strenuously
urged upon them that the State would not tolerate th purchase or
leasing by individuals. He told them that when they chose to sell
the State would buy more for their good than anything else, as the
State then had more land than it could occupy with people.

Good Peter followed, said the Governor's speech was excellent,
and to their minds. " We comprehend every word of your speech,
it is true indeed ; for we see you possessed of an extensive territo-
ry, and but here and there a smoke." " But," said he, " we, too,
have disorderly people in our nation ; you have a keg here, and
they have their eyes upon it, and nothing can divert them from the
pursuit of it. While there is any part of it left, they will have their
ey^^ upon it and seek after it, till they die by it ; and if one dies,
there is another who will not be deterred by it, will still continue to
seek after it. It is just so with your people. As long as any spot
of our excellent land remains, they will covet it, and will never
rest till they possess it." He said it would take him a long time to
tell the Governor " all his thoughts and contemplations ; they were
extensive ; my mind is perplexed and pained, it labors hard." In a
short digression, he spoke of the Tree of Peace, and expressed his
fears that, " by-and-by, some twig of this beautiful tree will be
broken off. The wind seems always to blow, and shake this belov-
ed tree." Before sitting down. Good Peter observed that they had
all agreed to place the business of the council, on their part, in the
hands of two of their people, Col. Louis and Peter Ot-se-quette,

IIG

who

PHELPS AND GORHAjfa PURCnASE,

ap.

' would be their " mouth and their ears." * There was, a
pointed, as their advisers, a committee of principal chiefs.

The negotiation went on for days ; speeches were interchanged •
propositions were made and rejected, until finally a deed of ces'^ion
was agreed upon and executed by the chiefs. It conveyed all their
lands, making reservations for their own residence around the Onei-
da castle, or principal village, and a number of other sma-.er ones
for their own people, and such whites as had been their interpret-
ers, favorite traders, or belonged to them by adoption. The con
sideration was $2,000 in money, $2,000 in clothing and other
goods, $1,000 m provisions, $500 in money for the erection of a
saw-mill and grist-mill on their reservation, and an annuity of "six
hundred dollars in silver," for ever. Congratulatory addresses fol
lowed ; the Governor making to the Oneidas a parting a<ldress, re-
plete with good instruction and flxtherly kindness; the Onei.las re-
plying, assuring him of the satisfaction of their people with all that
had taken place; and thanking the Governor and his associate
commissioners for the fairness of their speeches and their conduct
It would be difficult to find a record of diplomacy between civilize '
nations more replete throughout with dignity, decorum and ability,
than is that of this protracted treaty.

After dispatching the Rev. Mr. Kirkland (who had been present
throughout the treaty, anrl materially aided the commissioners-
thus making full amends for the mischief he had helped to produce
in connection with the long lease,) to the Cayugas and Senecas
charged with the mission of informing them of all that had trans-
pired, the Governor and his retinue set out on their return to Al-
bany. The council had continued for twenty-five days.

The next meeting of the commissioners was convened at Albany
December 15, 1788. Governor Clinton read a letter from Peter
Ryckman and Seth Reed, who were then residents at Kanadesaga ;
Reed at the Old Castle, and Ryckman upon the Lake shore. The

C.,]. Loms was a half blood, FroMch a.ul Oneida. IIo had held a co.nmisfliou un
iZnJl- ^•^'."/r';/"/''r .I^'^^'^'I"fi""- I'"t^''- Ot-.se-q„ott,e, in a speech 1," "ado^", th^
rZTl' «'{"'^'"^tl/«l»%lj"«t returned from Franee, whero ho had'bcen take nd edu-
cated by La Fayette. He .aid that ^vhon he arrive.l in France, he "was nake .m
the Marquis clad liun, receiving and tre.-itin- nini with great kindness '' that f, a

^.hditr^rfr' ""^^ ",'V'^"- '^"'^'^'^ *'<■ l<"'>wl'><l.e^lo.-ed i., .n us , I he
felt distressed at the miserable situation of his countrymen ;" that after fo r y oars^

;'^^See SS:!:^!^^ ''' ''''''-' '''' '^'"'^^'^^^^ -^' reformi,i,^thL^'"^

IS, also, ap-

'fl

rchanged ;

of cession

!H all their

the Onei-

lauer ones

interpret-

The con

and other

!tion of a

ty of " six

resses fol

dress, re-

leidas re-

[h all that

associate

■ conduct.

1 civilize '

id ability,

n present

issioners ;
> produce
Senecas,
ad trans-
rn to Al-

; Albany,
>m Peter
idesaga ;
•e. ^[le

iissiou un-
Kulo in the
II and t'du-
inkcd, and
tliat for a
mind, he
iiur years'
tliciu.

PHELPS AND GORHAM's PURCHASE.

117

letter was forwarded by " Mr. Lee and Mr. Noble," who had been
residing for the summer at Kanadesaga. The writers say to the
Governor, tiiat the bearers of the letter will detail to him all that
has transpired in their locality ; and add, that if required, they can
induce the Cayugas and Senecas to attend a council. The Rev.
Mr. Kirkiand gave, in writing, an account of his mission. He
stated that on arriving at Kanadesaga, he ascertained that to keep
the Cayugas back from the treaty at Fort Schuyler, two of the
principal lessees and their agents, had " kept them in a continued
state of intoxication ibr three weeks;" that "Dr. B. and Col. M.
had between twenty and thirty riflemen in arms for twenty-four
hours ; and gave out severe threats against P. Ryckman and Col.
Heed, for being enemies to their party, and friends to the govern-
ment, in persuading the Indians to attend the treaty at Fort
Schuyler." Mr. Kirkiand stated that he had been as far as Nia-
gara, and seen Col. Butler ; and that at the Seneca village, on Buf-
falo Creek, he had seen Shen-dy-ough-gwat-tCj the " second man
of influence among the Senecas;" and Farmer's Brother, alias
'• Ogh-ne-wi-ge-was ;" and that they had become disposed to treat
with the State. Before the Board adjourned, it was agreed to ad-
dress a letter to Reed and Ryckman, asking them to name a day on
which they could procure the attendance of the Cayugas and
Senecas, at Albany. Reed and Ryckman, on tho icuc^ytion of the
letter, despatched James Manning Reed with an answer, saying
that they would be at Albany, with the Indians, on the 23d ot
January ; and adding, that the lessees kept the Indians " so continu-
ally intoxicated with liquor, that it is almost impossible to do any
thing with them."

It was not until the 11th of Febuary however, that Mr. Ryck-
man was enabled to collect a sufficient number of Indians, and reach
Albany. Several days were spent in some preliminary proceedings,
and in waiting for the arrival of delegations that were on the way.
On the 14th, James Bryan and Benjamin Birdsall, two of the
Lessees appeared before the commissioners and delivered up the
"long leases" that had occasioned so much trouble. On the 19th

Note.— Gov. Clinton and many of the commissioners resided in New York. As an
illustration of the then slow lassage down tlie Hudson, they resolved at Albany to
charter a sloop, and tlius be enabled to settle their accounts uud arrange their papers
on their way down the rirer.

! n

118

rnELPs AND gorham's purchase.

the council was opened with the Cayucras, many Senecas, Onon-
dagas and Oneidas, being present. ' Good Peter in behalf of the
Cayugas, made a speech. He said his brothers, the Cayugas and
Senecas had " requested him to be their mouth." As upon another
occasion his speech abounded in some of the finest figures of speech
to be found in any preserved specimens of Indian eloquer. ■ In
allusion to the conduct of the Lessees, and a long series ofprcjedent
difficulties the Indians had had with the whites, he observed : —
" Let us notwithstanding, possess our minds in peace ; we can see
but a small depth into the heart of man ; we can only discover what
comes from his tongue." Speaking of the relations that used to
exist between his people and the old colony of New York, he said,
they "used to kindle a council fire, the smoke of which reached the'
heavens, and around which they sat and talked of peace." He
said in reference to the blessings of peace, and the settled state of
things that was promised by fixing the Indians upon their Reserva-
tions, under the protection of the state : — "Our little ones can now
go with leisure to look for fish in the streams, and our warriors to
hunt for wild beasts in the woods." Present at the council,
was a considerable number of their women, ^vhom Good Peter
called "Governesses," and gave the reasons why they were there.—
"The Rights of women," found in him an able advocate : — "Our
ancestors considered it a great tran.^gression to reject the counsel
of the , women, particularly the Governesses; thev considered them
the mistresses of the soil. They said, who 'brings us forth?
Who cultivates our lands ? Who kindles our fires, and boils our
pots, but the women ? Our women say let not the tradition of the
lathers, with respect to women, be disiegarded ; let them not be des-
pised ; God is their maker."

Several other speeches intervening, the Governor answered the
speech of Good Peter; — He reviewed the bargain the Indians had
made with the Lessees, and told them that if carried out it would
be to their ruin; explained the laws of the state, and their tendency
to protect them in the enjoyment of a suflicient (juantity of land for
their use ; and to guard them against peculation and fraud. In re-
plying to that part of Good Peter's speech in reference to the
women and their rights, the venerable Governor was in a vein of
gallantry, elociucntly conceding the immunities that belonged to
the " mothers of mankind." He told them they siiould have re-

Mirt

as, Onon-
lalf of the
^'ugas and
3n another
I of speech
ier,r In
prcjedent
served : —
.'e can see
over what
t used to
:, he said,
ached the
ce." He
d state of
Reserva-
5 can now
arriors to
! council,
'od Peter
e there. — ■
: — " Our
le counsel
Jred them
IS forth ?
hoils our
m of the
t be dcs-

/cred the
lians had
it would
;endency
"land for
In re-
} to the
vein of
>nged to
lave re-

PIIELPS AND GOEHAm's PUKCIIASE, 119

servations " large enough however prolific they might be ; even if
they ^should increase their nation to its ancient stao and num-
bers." He apologised to the dusky sisterhood by saying that he
"was advanced in years, unaccustomed to address their sex in pub-
lic ;" and therefore they " must excuse the imperfections of his
speech."

Other speeches, and days of negotiation followed. On the 25th
of February, all the preliminaries being settled, the Cayugas ceded
to the state all of their lands, excepting a large reservation of 100
square miles. The consideration was 8500 in hand, .$1,G38 in June
following, and an annuity of 8500 for ever.

In a congratulatory address, after the treaty was concluded. Gov.
Clinton recapitulated all of its terms, and observed : — "Brothers
and sisters ! when you reflect that you hod parted with the whole of
your country, (in allusion to the long lease,) without reservin<- a
spot to lay down, or kindle a fire on ; and that you had disposed^'of
your lands to people whom you had no means to compel to pay
what they had promised, you will be persuaded that vour brothers
and sisters whom you have Mt at home, and your and^their children
will have reason to rejoice at the covenant you have now made'
which not only saves you from impending ruin, but restores you to
peace and security."

The three treaties, that had thus been concluded, had made the
state the owners of the soil of the Military Tract, or the principal
amount of territory now included in the counties of Cayuga, Onon-
daga, Seneca, Tompkins, Cortland, and parts of Osw.-o ant? Wayne
Other cessions followed until the large reservations were either
ceded entirely away, or reduced to their present narrow limits.

The deed of cession of the Cayugas stipulated that the state
should convey to their " adopte.i child," Peter Rvckman, " whom
they desire shall reside near them and assist them," a tract on the

iin;iti.r,.,n..M( tl,.. ,v,t,„,f „..,., : i , '..■?", *^"S '.'! *-" "^^''' J?.V wnlc, or some jilier

..wiuTslup, as i, was art.r v ' ■ 4'^vn ,' ,\l "i ' l"'"-^'',"l'f'"" I'ne. but their

.^u.UL- promises on tlie nart of Hv,:!.-,..:, '^'^^ ""^ Vr.ArMy had rctcrouoc U<

Bumu promises on tlie part <>f iiyckmau.

120

PIIELPS AND GORIIAM's PUECIIASE.

west side of Seneca Lake, which should contain sixteen thousand
acres, the location being designated.

Soon after the treaty of Albany, the superintendency of Indian
affairs principally devolved upon John Taylor, as the agent of the
board of commissioners. Although the treaty had seemed amica-
ble and satisfactory, a pretty strong faction of all three of the na-
tions treated with, had kept back, and became instruments for the
use of designing whites. Although the Lessees had surrendered
heir leases they did not cease, tiirough their agents and Indian
traders in their interest to make trouble, by creating dissatisfaction
among tlie Indians ; probably, with the hopes of coercing the State
to grant them remuneration. Neither Brant, Red Jacket, Farmer's
Brother, and in fact but fe^y of the influential chiefs had attended
the reaties. Hnn-assed for a long period, a bone of contention,
first between the French and the English, then between the Enc-
ish and colonists of New York during the Revolution, and lastl^,
between the State of New York and the Lessees, the Six Nations
had become cut up into contending factions, and their old land
marks of government and laws, the ancient well defined immuni-
ties of then- chiefs, obliterated. Dissatisfaction, following the trea-
ties, found ready and willing promoters in the persons of the cov-
ment ofhcers of Canada, and the loyalists who had sought reflige
there, dunng the border wars of the Revolution. When the first at
tempt was made to survey the lands, a message was received by Gov
Clinton, from some of the malcontents, threatening resistance but
an answer Irom the Governor, stating the consequence of such re-
sistance, intimidated them. At an Indian council at Niagara. Col
Butler said the Oneidas were "a poor despicable set of Indians,
who had sold all their country to the Governor of New York, and
had dealt tre'ticherously with their old friends."

When the period approached for paying the first annuitv, the
Onondagas through an agent, represented to Gov. Clinton; that
hey had '• received four strings of wampum from the Senecas, for-
biddmg their going to Fort Stanwix to receive the money ; an<l in-
forming them that the Governor of Quebec, wanted their lands •
Sir John, (.Johnson, it is presumed,) wanted it ; Col. Butler wants'
the Cayuga s lands ; and the commanding officer of Fort Niagara
wants the Seneca's lands." The agent in behalf of the Govei^or
admonished them to "keep their minds in peace." assured them of

inj

riiELPs AXD gorham's pueciiase.

121

tliousand

of Indian
;ent of the
ed 'imica-
of the Ha-
lts for the
arrendered
nd Indian
latisfaction
; the State
, Farmer's
1 attended
!ontention,
the Eng.
and lastly,
s Nations

old land
1 immuni-
l the trea-

the p,ov-
^ht refuge
le first at-
d by Gov.
:ance, but
r such re-
gara, Col.
f Indians,
Yovk, and

luity, the
ton, that
ecas, for-
; and in-
sir lands ;
31' wants
Niagara
!overnor,
them of

the Governor's protection; and told them the Lessees were the
cause of all their trouble.

The Cayugas sent a message to the Governor, informing him
that they were " threatened with destruction, even with total exter-
mniation. The voice comes from the west ; its sound is terrible ;
it bespeaks our death. Our brothers the Cayugas, and Onondagas
are to share the same fate." They stated that the cause of com-
plaint was that they had " sold their lands without consulting the
western tribes. This has awakened up their resentment to such a
degree, that they determined in full council, at Buffalo creek, that
we shall be deprived of our respective reserves, with our lives in
the bargain. This determination of the western tribes, our Gov-
ernor may depend upon. It has been communicated to the super-
intendent of Indian aOliirs at Quebec, who as we are told, makes no
objections to their wicked intentions, hut rather countenances them."
They appealed to the Governor to fulfill his promises of protection.
Replies were made, in which the Indians were told they should
be protected. As one source of complaint was, that some Cayugas
who resided at Bufialo creek, had not been paid their share of The
purchase money. The Governor advised that they should make a
iau- distribution ; and warned them against the Lessees, and all
other malign influences.

Among the mischief makers, was a Mr. Peter Penet, a shrewd,
artful Frenchman, who had been established among the Oneidas
as a trader ; and whom Gov. Clinton had at first favored and em-
ployed in Indian negotiations. But ingratiating himself in the good
will of the natives, he became ambif'ous, represented himself as
the ambassador of France, as the iriend of La Fayette, charged by
liim with looking to the interest of the Indians ; and finally, got the

^OTK.— Iho pnrt tlint tlio S<>n(>rns m>ro jicrsuadcd to tnko in promotinrf thrso om-
luiTjwsnu.nts wii. o.l,.,nni,'ly inconsiHtciit. 'I'liuy 1,;; I sold a part of thfir lands to Mr
J lK'Ii)s tlic lidl bctorc, without oon8idtin;,'otluT nations, to sav nothini,' of their havin-r
ronswiti'd to tho "loase" which was afar worso harsrain than thoso nia<lo hy tlic
^^tato Jiut tlio mam wonioters of tho tronblus, wore tho Lossets and the British
ai,'onts ; tlic latter ot whom, wore sourod by tho result of Iho Uevolulion, and were vet
looknii,' torw.an to ISntish re-possession of all Westei'n, and a part of Middle New
\ork. Ill all this matter Ihoeomluet of Brant, did not eorrespon-l with his Pvneral
reputation tor fairness ami honesty. He helped t.. fan tho flames of discontent while
nt the same time ho was almost upon )iis own hooks, tryinj,' to sell to th(^ Stnto the
remnant of the Mohawk's lands. Interferiiifr between' the Sl^ato and the Indiana
ho ijot some dissatisfied chiefs to join him m an insolent letter to the Governor'
which was replied U< wiiha wiod deal of severity of laii''iia!'o.
8 ^ a o

Mil

•' ' IJi

h I

122

PHELPS AND GOEIIAll's PUECHASE.

promises of large land cessions. Thwarted mainly in his designs,
he became mischievous, and caused much trouble. '

A mere skeleton has thus been given of the events connected
with the extinguishment of Indian titles, and the measures prelimi-
nary to the advancement of settlement westward, after the Revo-
lution. It was only after a hard struggle, much of perplexity and
embarrassment, that the object was accomplished. For the honor
of our whole country, it could be wished, that all Indian negotia-
tions and treaties, had been attended with as little of wrong, had
been conducted as fairly as were those under the auspices and
general direction of George Clinton. No where has the veteran
warrior and statesman, left better proof of his sterling integrity
and ability, than is furnished by the records of those treaties. In
no case did he allow the Indians to be deceived, but stated to them
from time to time, with unwearied patience, the true conditions of
the bargains they were consummating. The policy he aimed at was
to open all of the beautiful domain of western New York, for sale
and settlement — to prepare the way for inevitable destiny — and
at the same time secure the Indians in their possessions ; give them
liberal reservations; and extend over them as a protection, the
strong arms of the State.

The treaties for lands, found the Six Nations in a miserable con-
dition. They had warred on -the side of a losing party, for long
years, the field and the chase had been neglected ; they were suffer^
ing for food and raiment. Half famished, they flocked to the
treaties, and were fed and clothed. One item of expense charged
in the accounts of the tr.aty at Albany in 1789, was for horses p'^aid
for, that the Indians had killed and eaten, on their way down. For
several years, in addition to the amount of provisions distributed to
them at the treaties, boat loads of corn were distributed amoncr them
by the Stale.* °

In tracing the f)rogress of settlement westward, it will be neces-
sary to give a brief account of the disposition the State made of lands
acquired of the Six Nations, bordering upon the Genesee Country.
They constituted what is known as the Military Tract. To protect

Ihe yoars 1789, '90, is supposed to have been a period of m-eat srarcitv Tlie
U'cord of lepslatiou shows that large anioimts of provisions were paid for "by the
hUite, avid distributed, not only among the Indians, but among the white inhabitant*

is designs,

connected
3 prelimi-
he Revo-
2xity and
the honor

negotia-
'ong, had
^ices and
! veteran

integrity
aties. In
i to them
iitions of
cd at was
i, for sale
ly — and
five them
tion, the

able con-
, for long
re suffer-
d to the
charged
>rses paid
vn. For
ibuted to
»ng them

e ncccs-

of lands

[Country.

) protect

•ity. Tlie
for by tlie
iiLabitaiiUs

PHELPS AND GORHAm's PUECIIASE. 123

the frontiers of this State from the incursions of the British and their
Indian allies, the State of New York, thrown upon its own resour-
ces, in 1779 and 'fcO, enlisted two regiments to serve three years,
unless sooner discharged. They were to be paid and clothed at
the expense of the United States ; but the Statt pledged to them a
liberal bounty in land. To redeem this pledge, as soon as Indian
titles were extinguished, the surveyor General was instructed to
survey these bounty lands and prepare them for the location of
warrants. The survey was completed in 1790. It embraced about
two million eight hundred thousand acres, in six hundred acre lots.
The tract comprised all the territory within the present boundaries
of Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca and Cortland, and a part of Oswego,
Wayne and Tompkins. A large district of country adjoining on
the east, was thus put in the way of being settled, about the same
period that sales and settlement commenced west of the pre-emp-
tion line, though it did not progress as rapidly. Land titles wore in
dispute, and emigrants chose to push on farther, where titles were
indisputable. Speculation and fraud commenced as soon as the
patents were issued, a majority of those who it was intended the
bounty of the State should benefit, sold their right for a trifle,* and
some were defrauded out of the whole. By the f.me that settle-
ment commenced, there were few lots, the title to which, was not
contested. In addition to other questions of title, the officers' and
soldiers' wives, held in a large majority of cases, the right of dower.
Land titles upon the whole military tract, were not finally settled
until about 1800, when a committee appointed by the Legislature,
one of whom was the late Gen. Vincent Matthews, accomplished
the work.

In 1784, Hugh White and his family progressed beyond the set-
tlements on the Mohawk, and located at what is now Whitestown.
In the same year, James Dean located upon a tract given him by
the Indians, in consequence of some services rendered them as an
interpreter, near the present village of Pome. In 1787, Joseph

NoTE.--TnaIutto-frornMr. Moriss to Mr, Col-iuhoim. dated in Juno 1791, he .avs

^.R 1 n7 '*'"^"'?;l\*'''^f 'i'^'f"''' "'■ "^1^'' J''"J "^ *»"• ""lit'^ry tract ha 1 ri Jn

YorS ,f -^- ' n. "'"* " ■''''' "^"^"P"' ^■'"^•'' '"^ »""! '^""S''t of the State of New

lork ,n <86 in Otsego county, which by a fortunate use of some public so uritiel

cost him but 6d per acre, had rinen U, 10s per acre, New York currency. "'''

* "Many patents for GOO ficrcs woresohl it nricda in crvr. ;.>=(„., .» i • i

dolIara-L Juude, an English JounS ^ ' ""'^^"''^ "^ *°^ "^ "'^ht

JKk,

124

PHELPS AI05 GORIUM's PUECHASE.

I .

\AV

■s i

Blackmer, who was afterwards a pioneer in Wheatland, Monroe
count)', advanced and settled a short distance west of Judge Dean.
In May, 1788, Asa Danforth, with his family, accompanied by
Comfort Tyler, progressed far on beyond the bounds of civilization,
locating at Onondaga Hollow. There being then no road, they
came by water, landing at the mouth uf Onondaga Creek. The
very earliest pioneers of all this region, speak of " Major Dan-
forth " and the comforts of his log tavern, as compared with their
camps in the wilderness. Another name has been introduced, that
should not be passed over by the mere mention of it. Comfort
Tyler was conspicuously identified in all early years with the his-
tory of the western portion of this State. He was teaching a
school upon the Mohawk at the close of the Revolution, and also
engaged in the business of a surveyor. He was with Gen. James
Clinton, in the establishment of the boundary line between this
State and Pennsylvania. He felled the first tree, (with reference to
improvement,) assisted in the manufacture of the first salt, * (other
than Indian manufacture,) and built the first turnpike in Onondaga
county. He also constructed the first " stump mortar," or hand-
mill, of which the reader will be told more in the course of our nar-
rative. He filled many important offices in Onondaga county, and
was one of the original projectors of the Cayuga bridge. He was
the friend of the early pioneers ; and many in all this region, will
remember his good offices. The Indians, who were his first neigh-
bors, respected him, and his memory is now held in reverence by
their descendents. His Indian name was •' To-whan-ta-gua " —
meaning that he could do two things at once ; or be, at the same
time, a gentleman and a laboring man. While a member of the
Legislature in 1799, he made the acquaintance of Aaron Burr. A
charter having been procured for building the bridge. Col. Rurr and
Gen. Swartout subscribed for the whole of the stock ; and at that
time. Col. Burr had other business connections in this

region.

for new sot'ilcrs in
says, that ".sixtooii

rylcv ami Daiifoilli, l,„th eiignj:', i in making a little wilt
early vearB. A letter puhlished in a J'hl.-i.lelijhia iianer, in 17[)3,
bushels ol salt are in:inufiieture,l .lailv at 'A>1, Dani'erth'.s works." It i.^ n.ention«rin
the history ot Onondaga, tliat Col. Daniortli commenced the business of salt boilina
by caiTymg a five pail inm kettle IVoni Ononda-a Hollow lo the Salt Sprin-s iipoiihis
lieaci J.est this sliould be looked upon as incredible by (he younger class of read-
ers, .lie tact inay be mentioned, that it was a very comnuni practice of the pioneers to
carry tluur live puil kettles into the wood.s for sugar-mukiug iu thia way.

PIIELrS AND GOr.irAll's PUECnASE.

125

" Thus commenced the intercourse of Aaron Burr with the people
of Wes .ern New York, many of whom," with Col. Tyler, "were
drawn into the great south-west expedition." Col. Tyler and Israel
Smith were commissaries of the expedition ; went upon the Ohio
river, purchased provisions, and shipped them to Natches. Coh
Tyler was arrested and indicted, but never tried. With fortune
impaired by all this, in a few years after, Col. Tyler removed to
Montezuma, and became identified in all early enterprises and im-
provement at that point. In the war of 1812, he acted as Assistant
Commissary General to the northern army. He was an early
promoter of the canal policy, and his memory should be closely
associated with all that relates to the early history of the Erie
Canal. He died at Montezuma, in 1827,

There followed Danforth and Tyler, in the progress of settle-
ment westward, John L. Hardenburgh, whose location was called,
in early years, « Ilardenburgh's Corners," now the city of Auburn!
In 1789, James Bennett and John Harris, settled on either side of
Cayuga Lake, and established a ferry. This was about the extent
of settlement west of the lower valley of the Mohawk, when set-
tlements in the Genesee country began to be founded. * The ven-
erable Joshua Fairbanks, of Lewiston, who with his then young
wife, (who is also living,) came through from Albany to Geneva in
the winter of 1789, '90; were sheltered the first night in the "un-
finished log house" of Joseph Blackmer, who had become a
neighbor of Judge Dean ; and the next night at Col. Danforth's ;

Note. --For tlio pnur-piil farts in the above brief notice of one whose history
would. iiake a.1 inteivstin- volume, tlie author is indebted to tlie "History of Onon-
aagii. 1 le counection, in ail this reirjon, of prominent individuals with Col. Buit
m liiYouth-western .sdieme, was tar more extensive than hius ^a'nerallybeeu supposed!
It en.braced names here the mention of whieh would -„ far to favor the c<,nclusion

W p 1 i'"" '""' ''^^';^ "■'"''V''",^"^"'''" '"'''" Pro'l'^'i'ig, that the scheme, as imparted
by Col I.urrtohis followers, had nothinjr in it of domestic treason. There wire no
better Inends to their country, or more ardent devotees to its interests, than were many
inen ot western ^ cw \ ork, wlu. were enlisted in tliis scheme. In after years, when
u. finnhar cnnveivation with an informant of the author, (n resident of western
iNew loik,) Ool. ,urr fipoke even with enthusiasm of his associates here — namino-
them, and saym- that anionjj; tlicm, were men whom he would choose to lead armies'!
o len-a-i. ni any u-h achievement that rcpiired talents and ener-y of cliaracter. At
tliciiskot e.Mendni- this note to an unreasonable len-th, the author will add tho

^?r!^ 1 ri!'""V/f""'"-' ''f' *''"^^'"-' "'^'I'«andchart,s, by which the British fleet
api..oached^ew Orleans m the war of 181:2, were those jirepared in w.-stern New
ioif-. I>y a then resident here, tor the south-western expedition of Col. liurr. The
cucumstance was accidental; the facts in uo way implicating the author or maker of
the maps.

* Other than the settlement of Jerusalem.

12G

PHELPS AND GOEHAm's PURCHASE.

ill'

there being no intermediate settler. They camped out the third
night ; and the fourth, staid with John Harris on the Cayuga Lake
The parents of Gen. Parkhurst Whitney, of Niagara Falls, came
through to Seneca Lake, in February, 1790, " camping out '' three
nights west of Rome. It is mentioned, in connection with some
account of the early advent of Major Danforth, in May, 1788, that
his wife saw no white woman in the first eight months! These in-
cidents are cited, to remind tne younger class of readers that the
pioneers of this region not only came to a wilderness, but had a
long and dreary one to pass through before arriving at their desti-
nation.

I The first name we find for all New York west of Albany was
that bestowed by the Dutch in 1638 : — " Terra Incognita," or " un-
known land." It was next Albany county ; in 1772 Tryon county
(named from the then English Governor,) was set off, embracing all
of the territory in this state west of a line drawn north and south
that would pass through the centre of Schoharie county. Imme-
diately after the Revolution the name was changed to Montgomery.
All this region was in Montgomery county when settlement com-
menced. In 1788, all the region west of Utica was the town of
Whitestown. The first town meeting was held at the "barn of
Captain Daniel White, iu said District, in April, 1789 ; Jedediah San-
ger, was elected Supervisor. At the third town meeting, in 1791,
Trueworthy Cook, of Pompey, and Jeremiah Gould of Salina,'
Onondaga county, and James Wadsworth of Geneseo, were chosen
path masters. Accordingly, it may be noted that Mr. Wadsworth
was the first path master west of Cayuga Lake. It could have been
httle more than the supervision of Indian trails ; but the "warning"
must have been an onerous task. Mr. Wadsworth had the year
previous, done something at road making, which probably suggested
the idea Jiat he would make a good path master.* At the first
general election for Whitestown, the polls were opened at Cayu<Ta
Ferry, adjourned to Onondaga, and closed at Whitestown. Herki-
mer county was taken from Montgomery in 1791, and included all
wcsu of the present county of Montgomery.

The first road attempted to be made in tliis country, was in 1790, under the di-
rection of tl>e \VadHWorth8. from the setthnumt at VVhitestown to Canaidai-la
through a country Uien very Uttle explored, and then quite a wiJderness ''-So-v

PHELP3 AND GORIIAM S PURCHASE.

127

CHAPTER III

THE GKNESEE COUNTRY AT THE PERIOD WHEN SETTLEMENT COM-
MENCED ITS POSITION IN REFERENCE TO CONTIGUOUb TE'ttRITORY

CONDITION OF THE COUNTRY GENERALLY AFTER THE REVOLUTION.

At Geneva, (then called Kanadesaga) there was a cluster of
buildings, occupied by Indian traders, and a few settlers who had
come in under the auspices of the Lessee Company. Jemima
Wilkinson, with her small colony, was upon her first location upon
the west bank of Seneca Lake, upon the Indian Trail through the
valley of the Susquehannah, and across Western New York to
Upper Canada ; the primitive highway of all this region ; one or two
white families had settled at Catherine's Town, at the head of Sen-
eca Lake, A wide region of wilderness, separated the most north-
ern and western settlements of Pennsylvania from all this region.
All that portion of Ohio bordering upon the Lake, had, of our race,
but the small trading establishment at Sandusky, and the military
and trading posts upon the Maumee. Michigan was a wilderness,
save the French village and the British garrison at Detroit, and a
few French settlers upon the Detroit River and the River Raisin.
In fact, all that is now included in the geographical designation —
the Great West — was Indian territory, and had but Indian occu-
pancy, witii similar exceptions, to those made in reference to Mich-
igan. In what is now known as Canada West, there had been the
British occupancy, of a post opposite Buffalo, early known as Fort
Erie, and a trading station at Niagara, since the expulsion of the
French, in 1759. Settlement, in its proper sense, had its commence-
ment in Canada West during the Revolution ; was the offspring of
one of its emergencies. Those in the then colonies who adhered to
tiie King, ffed there for refuge : for the protection oflered bv British
dominion and armed occupancy. The termination of the strugglei

128

riIELP3 AND GORIIAm's PURCHASE.

;lll

i. !»,

f f

V i

If'* 5 1'

in favor of the colonies, and the encourngoinent afibrdcd by the
colonial authorities, gave an impetus to this emigration ; yet at the
period of the first commencement of settlement in Western New
York, settlement in Canada West was confined to Kingston and its
^neighborhood, Niagara, Queenston, Chippewa, along the"hanks of the
Niagara Iliver, with a few small settlements in the immediate inte-
nor. Upon Lakes Erie and Ontario, there were a kw British
armed vessels, and three or four schooners were emploved in the
commerce, which was confined wholly to the fur trade, and the
supplyn-,g of British garrisons.

Within the Genesee country, other than the small settlement at
Geneva, and the Friend's settlement, which has been before men-
tioned, there were two or three Indian traders upon the Genesee
River, a few white families who were squatters, upon the flats ; one
or two white families at Lewiston; one at Schlosser ; ane<n'o,with
a squaw wife, at Tonawanda ; an Indian interpreter, and two or
three tra.lers at the mouth of Bufililo creek, and a negro Indian
trader at the mouth of Cattaragus creek. Fort Niagara was a
British garrison. All else was Seneca Indian occupancy.

In all that relates to other than the natural productions of the
soil, there was but the cultivation, in a rude way, of a few acros of
flats, and intervals, on the river and creeks, wherever the Indians
were loca'.ed ; the productions principallv confined to corn, beans
and squashes. In the way of cultivated fruit, there was in several
localities, a few apple trees, the seeds of which had been planted
by the Jesuit Missionaries ; and they vere almost the only relic
lelt of their early, and long continued occupancy. At Fort Niag-
ara and Schlosser, there were ordinary English gardens.

The streams upon an average, were twice as large as now ; the
clearing of the land, and consequent absorption of the water, having
diminished one half, and perhaps more, the quantity of water then
carried off through their channels. The primitive forests — other
than those that were deemed of second growth — that are standing
now, have undergone but little change, that of ordinary deca>"
growth, and re-production, but there are large groves of secund
growth, now consisting of good sized forest trees, that were sixty
years ago but small saplings. The aged Senecas point out in many
instances, swamps that are now thickly wooded, that they have
known as open marshes, with but here and there a copse of under-

PIIEirS AND GORHA^^l's PURCHASE.

129

wood. The origin of many marshes, especially upon the small
streams, maybe distinctly traced to the beaver; th.^ erection of
their dams, and the consequent Hooding of the lands, having des-
troyed the timber. As the l)eaver gradually disappeared, the dams
wore away, the water flowed oiT, and forest trees began to grow.

And here it may not be out of place to remark, that a very com-
mon error exists in reference to the adaptodness of certain kinds
of forest trees to a wet soil. We find the soft maple, black ash, a
species of ehn, the fir, the spruce, the tamarack, the alder, and
several other varieties of trees and shrubs <Trowing in wet soils,
and then draw the inference that wet soils are their natural local-
ities. Should we not rather infer, that all this is accidental, or
rather, to be traced to other causes, than that of peculiar adaptation ?
Take the case of land that has been flooded by the beaver : — the
water has receded, and the open ground is prepared for the recep-
tion of such seeds as the wands, the floods, the birds and fowls,
bring to it. It will be found that the seeds of those trees which
predominate in the swamps, are those best adapted to the modes of
transmission. The practical bearing of these remarks, has refer-
ence to the transplanting of trees from wet grounds. Wherever
the ash, the fir, spruce, tamarack, high bush cranberry, soft maple,
&c. have been transplanted upon up lands, and properly cared for,
they furnish evidence that it was a casualty, not a peculiar adapta-
tion, that placed them where found, generally stinted and unhealthy.
But little was known in the colonies of New York, and New
England of Western New York, previous to the Revolution. During
the twenty-four years it had been in the possession of the English,
there had been a communication kept up by water, via Oswego
and Niagara, to the western posts ; and a few traders from the east
visited the Scnecas. The expeditions of Prideux and Bradstreet
were composed partly of citizens of New England and New York,
but they saw nothing of the interior of all this region. A few
years previous to the Revolution, in 17G5, the Rev. Samuel Kirk-
land, whose name will appear in connexion with Indian treaties, in
subsequent pages, extended his missionary labors to the Indian
village of Kanadesaga, where he sojourned for several months,
making excursions to the Genesee River, Tonawanda and Buflalo
Creeks, lie was the first protestant missionary among the Senecas,
and with the exception of Indian traders, probably gave the people

130

PTIELPS AND GORHAM's PUKCIIASE.

of New England, the first account of ,he Genesee country * But
the campaign of Gen. Sullivan, in 1779. more than all else perhaps
served to create an interest in this region. The route of the army
a ter entcnng the Genesee country, was one to give thorn a thvora-
ble impression of it. They saw the fine region along the west shore
ot tt.e feencca Lake ; and passing through what arc now the towns
ot beneca, Phelps, Gorham.Canandaigua, Bristol, Bloomneld,Rich-
niond. Livonia, Conesus, they passed up an.l down the flats of the'
Genesee and the Canasoraga. To eyes that had rested only upon
the rugged scenery of New England, its mountains and rockv hill
sides Its sterile soil and stinted herbage, the march must have af-
forded a constant succession of beautiful landscapes; and what was
ot greater interest to them, practical working men as they were
was the nch easily cultivated soil, that at every step caused them
to look forward to the period when they could make to it a second
advent — a peaceful one — with the implements of agriculture
rather than the weapons of war. Returning to the firesides of
Easter.1 New York, and New England, they relieved the dark pic-
ture of retaliatory warfare -the route, the flight, smoulderinrr
cabins, pillage and spoliations- with the lighter shades -descrip.
tions of the Lakes and Rivers, the rolling up-lands and rich valleys
-the Canaan of the wilderness, they had seen. But it was a far
off land, farther off than would seem to us now, our remote posses-
sions upon the Pacific ; associated in the minds of the people of
New England, with all the horrors of a warfare they had known
upon their own extreme borders ; the Revolution was not consum-

The younfr missionary hrid flrnt seen some of the young mm of the Six Nations
^t thenusMon school of tlie Rev. Mr. Wheeh.ck in Lci-num, Connecticut where hey
were hi.s lellow .s udents, muon- whom ^vas Jo.s-.ph ]!ra,.,. Takin- a ,1 ew intoS
n. the jspintual welfare of their people, he -,ot introduce,! t<. then, as n is o a rv ,3

he eacla. the in.han sett en,ent at the toot of SenJca Lake, or rather at the Sen'eca
mt 1 ",''^""«,;^-^'^^ f:^'"";' 'y tl'c dM .achem of the village, and invitcl to re-
inaii hut a,io her chief ot the Pa-an party of the villa-e, so ,n made him , ,ich

^ '/"f '" u'' '^"'''",'^T'' ^'' I"'' '•>■ "^''"^i"- ^'i"' "*' witchcrai't-of lo ' tjVe
ca.,se of the sudden deatl; (d one of their peoph'. He was tried and ac,,uitle.l t Im.u d

Cnur* u/*'";^,^-'",*''^''''''*'^^''''^- ^'"^'"' ^-^"•'>' ""'' grandfather of Mrs.' oiSe
Wosnu r. Afier this he wiis uninterrupted ;., ].m inis,sionary lal.oiu Mr. KirklancPs

* See Appendix, No. 5.

rilELPS AND (IORIIAm's PURCHASE.

131

ry.* But
e perhaps,
the army,
a favora-
vest shore
the towns
eld, Ilicli-
ts ot' tho
inly upon
ocky hill
t have af-
what was
ey were,
sod them
a second
riculture,
)sides of
dark pic-
)uldering
-descrip.
1 valleys
vas a far
3 posse s-
jople of
I known
consum-

s Nations,
hurc they
p intort'st
sioiiiiiy of
iiovi.sioii.s,
k Ijoii^hs,
lie iSciiocii
tf<l to ru-
liiiii iimch
l'i'iii|^ tJif
1 throii^rli
k, by th(*
s. Ocorpp
^irklaiid'H
jvolutioii,

mated ; long years it must be, as they thought, if ever, before the
goodly land, of which they had thus had glimpses, could become
the abode of civilization. The consummation was not speedy, but it
come far sooner than in that dark hour, they allowed themselves to
anticipate. In less than four years after Sullivan's expedition, the
war of the Revolution was ended by a treaty of peace ; but almost
ten years elapsed before tlie conflicting claims of Massachusetts
and New York were settled, and Indian titles had been extinguish-
ed, so as to admit of the ccmmencement of settlement.

The tide of emigation to the Genesee county, was destined to
come principally from New England. A brief space, therefore,
may be appropriately occupied in a sketch of the condition of the
citizens of that region, after the Revolution, in the vortex of which
they had been placed ; aad in this, the author has been assisted by
the venerable Gen. Micah Brooks, whose retentive memory goes
back to the period, and well informs us in reference to the men
wlio were the foremost Pioneers of the Genesee country. The
sketch is given as it came from his hands : —

" It was my lot to have my birth under the Colonial Government.
In childhood, I saw our fathers go to the field of battle, and our
mothers to the harvest field to gather the scanty crops. Food and
clothing for the army was but in part provided ; and at the end of
the war, the soldiers, who had suflered almost beyond endurance,
were discharged without pay ; the patriots, who had supplied food
and clothing for the army, had been paid in Government paper,
which had become worthless ; the great portion of laborers drawn
from the farms and the workshops, had reduced the country to
poverty; and commerce was nearly annihilated. The fisheries
abandoned, the labor and capital of the people diverted into other
channels, and the acts of peace had not returned to give any sur-
plus for exportation. A national debt justly due, of 8100,000,000,
and the Continental Congress no power to collect duties on imports,
or to compel the States to raise their quotas. The end of the war
brought no internal peace. In 1785, Congress attempted to make
commercial treaties with England, France, Spain and Portugal ;
each refused ; assigning as a reason, that under the Confederacy,
Congress had no power to bind the States. Spain closed the Mis-
sissippi against our trade, and we were expelled from the Mediter-
ranean by Barbary pirates ; and we were without the means to

:j3gtt^

132

PTIELPS AND GOKIIAm's PUECIIASE.

%h them, or money to buy their peace. The attempt of the
States to extend their commerce was abortive ; salt rose to .^5 and
$8 pe bushel ; and packing meat for exportation ceased. Ma^.a-
cmsetts proh,bUed the exportation of American products in BHtish
bottoms; and some of the States imposed a countervailing d y
wh T tonnage. Pennsylvania imposed a duty on foreign goods
while New Jersey admitted them free of duty

tnbuton of property: -those equally friendly to the British had
secretly traded with the enemy, and supplied them with fr::,;^ v .
sions whde the.r troops were quartered in various parts of the
coun ry; thus filling their pockets with British gold. At the close

cmntrv'')' \ "' 'T""' of British goods were sent into the
coun p absorhng nnuch of its precious metals; tcndm. to render
us stdl dependent on British favor. While all those whose time and
property had been devoted to the cause of liberty and inde ^d-

^ess and rum on a great portion of our most worlliy citizens
Time was required by those who had lost their time and property."
toree,tabhsh themselves in their former occupations; vet. som
of he States resorted to vigorous taxation, which crealed diseoT

t me sir 1 /'"'""" '^'^ ''''' '''' general pressure, at this
time, seemed to create a universal attempt of all ci, ditors to en-
force in the coui-ts of law all their demands before they should
be put at hazard by the sweeping taxation, which was e'videmly

cominfT.

in"-'

''i

It may be well to call to mind the condition of the country, as to
L^ and government. At the period of the Declaration o Inde-

people took the power into their hands to conduct the afi'airs of the

^ ont'tf ^'°^ ' ? "'"'' ^"^^''^■^ assemblies, attempted to ear-

ly out the recommendations of the American Congress; and that

theaim^. The citizens of a town would form themselves into
ch sses ; each class to lurnish a man, equipped for service. The towns
pun si ed treason, arrested and expelled tories. levied taxes, and
cordiay co-operated in all tlie leading measures of that day, so fur
as related to our National Independence.
"In 1786, '7, a boy, I saw the Revolutionary fathers in their

PIIELPS AXD GOI'JIAm's PURCHASE.

133

priinarv

assemblies. The scene was solemn and portentous ! Thcv
toun.1 their common country without a constitution and .-overn-
ment and without a union. The supposed oppressive m.as'ures of
an adjommg State had so alarmed the people of a portion of it,
hat open resistance was made for self-protection, and the protec
tion ot property An army, in resistance to a proceeding of the
courts of aw in Massachusetts, had been raised, and had taken the
tick . Coh P. a man of gigantic stature, and a soldier of the Rev-
olution, with his associates in arms, entered the court-house at
Northampton, silenced the court; and in a voice of thunder, order,
ed It out, closing the doors, and using the court-house as his castle.
In the county of Berkshire, a General, with three hundred volun-
eers had talu.n the field, in open resistance to State authority ; and

ZVr f , ? "'■""' ^^'^ ^^^" '^''^' ^'^^^ ^J^« ---"tion of
fetate laws had been suspended. Other sections of our countrv

were in a state of insurrection, and no prospect of relief from any

source of mediatorial power then existing. The appalling scenes

that followed, filled the American people with fear and dread. The

distress that existed, might be an apology for the resistance of the

laws which was afterwards regretted by those who partook in it, a

number o whom I saw who had left their homes Jd wandered as

fugitives to evade the punishment that the law would inflict on

"A new field was now opened to exhibit the powers, genius and
energies of the American people. They soon .hscovered what was
essentinl to their security and prosperity; and in their deliberations,
moved and adopted an ordinance, or constitution, which they de-
clared to be .m order to form a more perfect union, establish jus-
tice, ensure domestic tranquility, and provide for the general de-
fence; promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of
liberty to ourselves and our posterity;' and, although defects and

^Z :i;r r '"^ '''"-' '^''''' '-' '^ ^ '^^^ ^^- --^^-

At .the time the new constitution went into effect, a new class
of laborers appeared. These sturdy boys, who were taught in
business labits during the war, had grown to mnnhood, and with
redoubled energy, repaired the depredations which contending
anniesad spread. And many of those soldiers who composed'
bulhvan s army, and wiio had penetrated the western wilds of this

State, to chr

PHELPS AND GORHAm's PUECIIASE.
the savarres

lastise me savages tor cruel...., ........^^ ^.. ,.,^.,^ „,^.,,^^

and relations; those who had viewed the beauties of the Genesee
and the rich table lands of Western New York, resolved to leaW
the sterile soil, the worn and exhausted lands of New En-land and
with their families, under the guidance and protection of a kind
1 rovidence, gathered their small substance, pioneered the way
through a long wilderness, to the land of promise - the Genesee
country.

In 170G, in common with the sons of New England, I had a
strong disposition to explore the regions of the west, and avail my-
selt If possible, of a more productive soil, where a more bountiful
reward would relieve the toil of labor. I traversed the Mohawk,
the Susquehannah, the Seneca and the Genesee. I saw the scatter-
ed Pioneers of the wilderness in their lonely cabins, cheered by
the hope and promise of a generous reward, for all the temporary
privations they then suffered. Their hearts were clieered with the
sight of a stranger, and they greeted him with a welcome. I found
in most of the pioneer Realities, that three-fourths of the he Is of
families had been soldiers of the Revolution. Schooled in the prin-
ciples that had achieved that glorious work, they only appreciated
the responsibilities they had assumed, in becommg founders of new
settlements, and the proprietors of local, religious, educational and
moral institutions. These Pioneers inherited the principles and
firmness of their foreflithers ; and whatever in reason and pro-
priety they desired to accomplish, their energy and perseverance
carried into effect. They subdued the forest, opened avenues of
intercourse, built houses and temples for worship, with a rapidity
unknown in former ages. For intelligence and useful acciuirements
they were not out done in any age ; and were well skilled in all the
practical duties of life. In seven or eight vears from the first en-
trance of a settler, a number of towns in Ontario county, were fur-
nished with well chosen public libraries."

PHELPS AND GOETIAm's PURCHASE.

135

CHAPTER IV.

PHELPS AND GORHAm's PURCHASE OP MASSACHUSETTS —OLIVER PHELPS,

HIS ADVENT TO THE OENESEE COUNTRY, AND HIS TREATY

WITH THE SENECAS: NATHANIEL GORHAM.

Oliver Phelps was a native of Windsor, Connecticut. Soon
after he became of age, the resistance to British oppression com.
menced in the colony of Massachusetts, and he became an active
partisan, participating in the revolutionary spirit, with all the zeal
of youth and ardent patriotism. He was among the men of New
England, who gathered at Lexington, and helped to make that early
demonstration of intended separation and independence. Soon
after, without the influence of wealth or familv distinction — with
nothing to recommend him but uncommon energy of character, and a
reputation he had won for himself— though 1jut a youth, he was
enrolled as a member of the Massachusetts Committee of Safety.
When the troops of Connecticut were first organized, and had
taken the field, he entered the service of a contractor of the army,
and soon after had an appointment in the commissary department,'
the duties of which he continued to discharge until the close of the
Revolution.

On the return of peace, he settled in SufField, Massachusetts.
He held in succession, the offices of member of Assembly, Sena-
tor, and a member of the Governor's council. Robert Morris
having been at the head of financial aflhirs during the Revolution,
Mr. Ph. ' 'S had made his acquaintance, and for a few rears after
its close, business relations brought them frecjuently together. Maj.
Adam Hoops, who had been the aid of Gen. Sullivan, in his expe-
dition to the Genesee country, was a resident of Philadelphia, and
an intimate ac(iuaintance of JVIr. Morris. It was during interviews
with them, that Mr. Phelps Vv as confirmed in a iuvorabie opinion of

13G

ruELrs AND goeiia:h's pueciiase.

Ihis region, and the inducements it held out to enterprise, which had
been acquired by the representations of his New England nei^di-
bors, who had been in Sullivan's expedition. °

_ Soon after Massachusetts became possessed of the pre-emption
right by deed of cession from New York, he resolved upon being
niterestad in the purchase of one million of acres ; and for this
purpose associated liimself with Judge Sullivan, Messrs. Skinner
and Chapin, William Walker, and several of Jiis friends in Berk-
shire. Before they had matured their plans however, Nathaniel
Gorham had made proposals to the Legislature for the purchase of
a portmn of the Genesee lands. Mr. Phelps had a conference with
Mr. Gorham, and to prevent coming in collision, they mutually
agreed, that Mr. (lorham should merge himself with the association,
and consider his proposition as made for their common benefit. He
had proposed the purchase of one million of acres, at one and six-
pence currency per acre, payable in the "public paper of the com-
monwealth." The House of Representatives acceded to the propo-
sition, but the Senate non-concurred. In a letter to one of the
associates, announcing the result, Mr. Phelps observes : — " We
found such opposition in the Senate, and so many person's ears and
eyes wide open, propagating great stories about the value of those
lands, that we thought best to postpone the affair until the next
session." This was at the session of 1787.

The elTect of Mr. Gorham's offer was to bring competitors into
the field, and others had resolved upon making proposals before the
legislature again convened in April, 17SS. Another compromise
was made which admitted new partners, and embraced all who
had any intention of purchase, in one association, of which Messrs.
Phelps and Gorham were constituted the representatives. They
made proposals for all the lands embraced in the cession of Massa-
chusetts. which were acceded to ; the stipulated consideration being
«ilOO,000, payable in the public paper of Massachusetts; the price

XoTE.-rn niMitiou tolho knowlcl-o Mr. riR.lp.s had acqiiiiwl ,.f \hc amuU-v as
alM,vo_m(li.at.;cl, K,).m; early rapluror },;„| jrivm liiii.a wriltoii a<-c,mii( (,f ii iVoiuw/iioh

• 6

PHELPS AND GORIIAM's PURCUASE.

137

vhich had
lid neioh-

e-emption
pon being
d for tliis
I. Skinner

in Berk-
Vathaniel
rchase of
?nce with

mutually
sociation,
lefit. He
! and six-
the com-
he propo-
ne of the
: — "We

ears and

of those
tlie next

itors into
cfore the
n promise

all who
i Messrs.
; They

Massa-
on being
le price

counli-y n.s
iiiiiiwfiich
ijil>lc trees
itsaiid in-
cut Hiver.
' suiiiiner,
uiiulu k'i'i

of which being much depressed, it was selling at a high rate of
discount.

So much accomplisiied, the share holders held a meeting, appoint-
ed Gen. Israel Chapiri to go out and explore the country; Mr.
Phelps the general agent, whose first duty was to hold a treaty with
the Indians, and purchase the fee or right of soil ; Mr. Gorham as an
agent to confer with the authorities of New Yor.k, in reference to
running the boundary or pre-emption line ; and Mr. William Walk-
er, as the local agent of surveys and sales.

The Lessees and their "long lease," was an obstacle duly con-
sidered by the purchasers, for they were aware of the exertions
I they were making to thwart the commissioners of New York, and

had no reason to anticipate any thing less from them, in their own
case. Massachusetts had joined New York, in declaring the leases
illegal and void, but the association were well advised that they
could not succeed in a treaty with the Senecas, against the powerful
influences the Lessees could command, through their connection
with Butler, Brant, Street, and their associates in Canada, and the
Indian traders and interpreters in their interest. A compromise
was resolved upon as tlie cheapest and surest means of success.
Proceeding to Hudson, Mr. Phelps met some of the principal Les-
sees, and compromised with them upon te-ms of which there are
no records, but there is evidence which lead;- to the conclusion, that
they were to become shareholders with him and his associates.
The Lessees on their part, contracted to hold another treaty with
the Indians at Kanadesaga, surrender their lease of all the lands
west of the Massachusetts pre-emption line, and procure for the
same, a deed of cession, Phelps & Gorham, for themselves and
associates, to be the grantees.

Mr. Phelps returned to New England and made preparations for
attending the treaty at Kanadesaga, which was to be convened and
carried on under the general supervision of John Livingston, the
principal agent of the Lessees. In all confidence that the arrange-
ment would be consummated, Mr. Pheli)s started upon his advent to
the Genesee country with a retinue of agents, surveyors, and assis-
tants, prepared to take possession of the country and commence
operations. Arriving at Schenectady on the 8th of May, the party
put their baggage on board of batteaux and arranged to go on horse-
back to Fort Stanwix, as far as there was any road, and from there
9

uaiUu

138

rnEiPs AND gorham's puechase.

embark in their batteaux. Mr. Phelps wrote from Schenectidv
hat they were Hkely to be delayed there by the non-arralof M^
Livmgston ; that he had met many unfavorable rumors, the purport
of one of whicn was that the Indians had refused to treat wUh
Livings on and that they had " taken up and whipped seve al

?nl b H . """'"'l I" ^"'- Wadsworth, of Hartford, that Livings-

ton had arrived with his provisions and goods for the treaty, that
all W.1S on board of batteaux, and the expedition was about to move
on, but he adds that an Oneida Indian had just arrived from the
westwith theinformauon that Brant has "got the Indians colLted
at iJufialo creek, and is persuading them to take up the hatchet, and if
possi le not to treat with us." He expresses his fears that the treaty
wi Ifai! , and adds h.s regrets, as he thinks it will " keep back settle-
ment a whole year.

Mr Phelps dkl not arrive at Kanadesaga. (Geneva,) until the
fi..tof June. On the4thhe wrote to one of his associates, Samue
Fowler, informing him that the Indians had not collected, that Ent-
er and Brant had collected them at Buffalo creek and persuaded
hem not to treat with Livingston. But inasmuch as Livings on
had sent out runners and interpreters, he is in hopes they wilf ye
e collected " I am well pleased," he says, " with what /have seen
of the country. This place is situated at the foot of Seneca Lake
on a beautiful hill which overlooks the country around it, and .ive^
afine pro^,ectof the whole lake, which is about forty miles in
length. Here w^e propose building the city, as there is a water
carnage from this to Schenectady; with only two carryin-. places
of one mile each. I design to set out to-morrow to view the Genesee

After waiting at Kanadesaga until the 17th of June, Mr. Phelns
made up his mind that the Lessees would be unable to fulfil their

urn IZT- T "'?™';^ ^''" '^''"^' ^^'- Livingston, that he should
1.1 oceed independent of them or their lease, to treat with the Indians.

FroMoh Indian trnder at cCl on' X Sc W ^n3n t"' ^""""^'i'"' ^^'-''"'•■^^'^1'. fl>«
tJiai, a„v one m.in Im-l since th^.lVvM of , . i' A hmico tlion among tlioSonocas

es..c.n,ially aidod the I " cVs ^^^^^^^^ ^"'^T' ""'l ■J""eaire. Ho had

alniost bo said, niisslona io. att^lt ncri^?^ . J 'i "T' 7^?':i''*t^^'-H, and it 'may
generally payable iu land, in S a bcTobd^ini::"' '"' '^ I-^*^'" -^ it .ni

PHELFS AND GORIIAm's PURCHASE. 139

He had by this time discovered that there was a " screw loose"
between the" Nevv York Genesee Company" and the "Niagara
Genesee Company and that they were pulling in different directions.
Infen-mg that the balance of power was in the hands of the Nia<..
ara Company, Mr. Phelps taking the Indian trail, proceeded to Niag-
ara, where he met Butler, Brant and Street. He secured their
co-operation, and they agreed to procure a gathering of the Indians
at Buffalo creek for the purpose of holding a treaty with him. Mr
Phelps, rejomed his friends at Kanadesaga where he remained until
a deputation of chiefs waited upon hi,n to conduct him to the coun-
cil fire they had lighted at Buffalo creek,* where he and his party
arrived on the 4th of July. ^ v^nj

Negotiations were commenced. The Rev. Mr. Kirkland was
present, appointed by a law of Massachusetts to superintend the
treaty and see that no injustice was done to the Indians, and his
assistant, superintendent, Elisha Lee, Esq. of Boston. The ii tef-
preters were James Deane and Joseph Smith. William Johnstone,
Mr. Kirkland and several others. Besides these, there were also
pi-eseru, John Butler, Joseph Brant, Samuel Street, the officers of
Fort Niagara. Ihe Lessees, following up Mr. Phelps, were repre-
sented by John Livingston, Caleb Benton and Ezekiel Gilbert.
Chiefs of the Onondagas, Cayugas, and the Mohawks were also

On the opening of the council, Mr. Phelps produced the commis
sion given him by the Governor of Massachusetts : f had h TnTer.'
preted; and made a speech, explaining the object of the treaty
the right he had purchased of Massachusetts, &c. Most of the'

weie fcrr selling a portion of their lands. They, however stood

upon mdung the Genesee river the eastern boundary of their ces-
s,oi> and they stoutly resisted innovation west of it for seve II
days : but finally yielded, and fixed the western boundary as t w"

treaty, he said : - ■'• TIkmi 1, IJi h- a ul T]^ "f «''"KMvmn,irm rdor.nc." to Mr. Phelp's

took M. Phelps by the HaHa,Kff:^u;\jt?::;u!i;f^j^?\3^

baud. Wlieu he opened hisniiud

p a pai'vi, \vitha seal to it, an biy

tu us, we took it hard."

140

PHELPS AND GORHAM's PURCnASE.

afterwards cstubhshed. Mr. Phelps, in a statement he made of the
transacuons, says "the council was conducted in a friendK and
amica le manner.'' The negotiation then turned upon the pr ce to
he paid ; and Mr. Phelps and the Indians failing to i.,ee ley mu
tually appo nted John Butler, Joseph Brant, Elilha L^ee as eferees'

thous u)d dollars and an annuity of five hundred dollars for ;ver.
Ihe Indians had consented to take for the quantity of land they

o what the Lessees had agreed to pay for their whole country, and
tins was the basis upon which the price was fixed

The lands thus ceded, constituted what is now known as Phelp's

P em:t"h.f:"'^"; '^ ''''''•'' ^-"d-y- the Massachusetts'
pre-emption hne ; and its western boundary, a line " becrinnin.^ in
the northern line of Pennsylvania, due south of the corned- o noi

asciaga Cieek; thence north on said meridian line to the corner
or point, at the confluence aforesaid ; thence northwardly alon'the
waters o the Genesee river, to a point two miles north of Can^
wagus VI age ; thence running due west twelve miles ; thence run-
mng northwardly, so as to be twelve miles distant from the w s te n

ounds of said river to the shores of Lake Ontario." With
these boundaries, were contained, by estimation, 2,G00,000 acres
Soon after arriving at Buffalo Creek, Mr. Phelps saw that tiie

delir \':dlT-';"'^^''T^ ''- n.^^^o.sL.t ,east, cal

delay-and he, therefore, made a compromise, stipulatincr the con

eyance to them of the four townships named in another onne

agents well for a forbearance in the work of mischief, in n-liich
ey were so persevering. Their release of so much as wa b
eluded in his purchase, was interpreted to the Indians

The Niagara Genesee Company, Butler and his associates, in ad-
dition to heu- interests in common with all the Lessees, had an n-
dependent claim for convening the Indians ; and by their influ nc

tliucxtonBion of Lis T)uiA.u"'b"vo ml tl r P'-««""^«l. that Mr. PJiolps, i„ ,„41
the Falls ; and i„ all Jrr.l a ] ty^, "iS ^^T'f 'ri\ '^'''^' "^' l'""*'''"^ '^ "^ ^t
diansand the white Kt^tlers ■ilri.m.iw f J"' ^'^'^ "'"'""^ benefit of the In-
Ebeucer Allan, „pou cond!ticS\K^S ^'Z. ^H!!^,. '!^ ?-- "- ^f}^ -re .{I

I fci't'Ct a saw-mill iuid giist-mili.

lade of the
iendly and
lie price to
, they mu-
is referees,
hased, five
s for ever,
'land they
proportion
untry, and

as Phelp's
sachusetts'
ginning in
?r or point
I tlie Can-
he corner,
along the
of Cana-
ence run-
e western
Within
) acres.

that the
1st, cause
J the con-
• connec-
iimediate
in ^vhich
i was in-

es, in ad-
ad an in-
nfluence,

• . TLo au-
I, in 'irgiiijr
? a niiH nt
of t}io In-
UO acres to
I

niELrs AND goeuam's purchase. 141

in fact, enablinp Mr. Phelps to accomplish his purpose. This was,
probably, arranged by a promise on the part of Mr. Phelps, to give
them an interest in common with himself and associates. *

Mr. Phelps, before leaving the country, set surveyors to work,
under the direction of Col. Hugh Maxwell, to divide the newly ac-
quired country into townships ; and, having fixed upon Canandai-
gua as the primitive locality, the focus of intended enterprise, re-
turned to Suffield. All retired as winter approached, and left 'the
whole region in possession of its ancient owners.f Arrived at home,
Mr. Phelps reported, by letter to his principal associates, the result
of his embassy. " You may rely upon it," says he " that it is a good
country ; I have purchased all that the Indians will sell at pre-
sent ; and, perhaps, as much as it would be profitable for us to buy
at this time." Mr. Walker, after having remained in the country
until nearly the setting in of winter, returned and was present at a
meeting of the associates in January. He reported that he had
sold and contracted about thirty townships. At this meetincr, a
division of the land took place ; a large proportion of the shares
werebut small ones, the largest portion of the lands fallincr into the

.iiHl othom," (the Niagara Lessee Commnl^ fiV I I'n"'* *?°''"'' ^"^"""^l ^^'"^''^

Lis purchase. Canaudmirwas his^afxt c^^^^^^^^^ ""'''' '^^ '''""''^ ^^ «^ ''^'^

«ist tliat if w-i'j 'It P.,.,n,„i„; "^^'. pi^ooaoiy, tail mto tlio liaiids of tlioae who w 11 in-

crv, the tomahawk ami so 5„f Ci' "^ "ii^!^ eloquently invoking the war
whole storv is «|)(.ilo,l hv ulTlth tl' ^-'i^' "' « '''•"tlior opposing? him. The

Hoanof Do.r^ ' ' ,i M, ■pi, , ..'""^'l,^ °*" assertion, that lie and "Billy, and the
wai^no i Ition tT hrSVnrt,i-;'v'r^^^ 'T^ ''' Buffalo Cr/e'k. There

The idea ,/ a land tre'i v of m7 PI '^ •'?,* A'''' l"']'- ' ''^* °"° afterwards appeared.

came due. '-- ^'^ ■"•■; ^^'"f ^ir. liidpa' payments be-

142

PHELPS AND GORDAm's PtJEOHASE.

hands of Phelps and Gorham and a few associates. The most of
the early sales of townships, was to those who held shares *
Early m the spring of 1789. under the general auspicies of Mr

siariea out to the new Genospp rnnt^t^'1r t^ „ .

., , , vjLULsce countiy to commence a sett ement

.hegenorn ,le.a,l.of which will he found in another c„„„e" on
LnC? air '"=,*?' T'""''"""^ y^^'^' »"e™a.ingbe:
close of 178!., he had joinlly, wid, John Taylor, ,an agent of the
State contraeted with Ephraim Blackmer. who has before been
named, for the eut.ing out of a road, two rods wide from Fort Stln"
w,x to Seneca La „. While in the Genesee eountry this jw in
he absence o, any ocal laws, he entered into a written compact with

Zlr7 "' of ^«->'"=»' character, each parly promising
to punish olfences committed by their own people

legislature n, 780, Messrs. Phelps and Gorham, and their associates
found themselves unable to fulfil the eng.agements they had m de
for the payment of the purchase money. They had predicated

pa"r: "m " "^ ™"''"""'"- "■"' '"^y ^-^ P-hase' e pub le
paper of Massachusetts, at its then market value, which was bm

about fifty cents on the dollar. I„ ,he interval, before p y da^ ar

r,ved, the prospect of success in the formation of a Federal 'overn

ment, and a consequent funding „f ,he debts of the S tires [h;

paper they had stipulated to make payment in, had nearly a pa va !e

in market. Thus situated, and having failed to exLJuish h!

nattve right to the whole, they memorfalized the legiZ e 1

P tint ont r b'f ' °"'=""""" ™ ■■^'■^■■™- '" -h' ' ^-ined
payu g onlj for what was mcluded in their Indian treaty. The

legislature the more readily perhaps, acceded to their request inas
much as they were pretty sure of finding a purchaser foi wto re."
mained, m the person of Robert Morris
New difficulties however, soon presented themselves. The Indi.

M Phelos tr^l-^'Ti' ""'™'-^-"'^ -.isfied with the Let
Mr. Phelps, became divided upon the subject; the mischievous

.'» ,.™. they p.i,, for ji»d„.;rri?/;pL:Esi'''""''"'''''"' »"''

PHELl'S AM) GORIIAm's PURCHASE.

148

traders and some interpreters among them, promoted the trouble,
and in that then retreat of disturbed spirits, and liaters of every
thing that was American — the refugees of the Revolution, and
British officers and agents — Fort Niagara and its precincts — there
were disturbers other than those that had been compromised with.
The Indian chief Cornplanter, was the principal representative of
the malcontents.

In August, 1790, JMr. Phelps being in the Genesee country, wrote
to the elder Mr. Gorham in Boston, and after giving a somewhat dis-
couraging account of the almoft universal prevalence of disease
among tlie new settlers,* informs him that the Indians had been at
Canandaigua, and refused to receive any farther payments, alledg-
ing that the amount of purchase money, aside from the annuity,
was to have been ten, instead of five thousand dollars. He adds,
that some recent murders of Indians committed at Tioga, by whites,
had helped to exasperate them ; that he was about to set out to -'isit
their principal villages to appeasa them ; and that if he did not suc-
ceed, he feared they would retaliate by a general attack upon the
whites.

At an Indian council by Mr. Pickering at Tioga, in November,
Red Jacket and Farmer's Brother made speeches, in which they
both claimed that the sum to be paid by Mr. Phelps, was ten instead
of five thousand dollars ; alledged that they had been cheated ;
that their " heads had been confused " by treaties with the "thirteen
Fires," with " Fires kindled by the Governor of New York," and
by " Livingston." Speaking of the payment from Mr. Phelps, Red
Jacket said : — " When we went to Canandaigua to meet Mr. Phelps,
expecting to receive ten thousand dollars, we were to have but five
thousand. When we discovered the fraud, we had a mind to apply
to Congress, to see if the matter could not be rectified. For when
we took the money and shared it, every one here knows, that we
had but about one dollar a piece. All our lands came to, was but
the worth of a few hogsheads of tobacco. Gentlemen who stand
by, do not think hard of us for what has been said. At the time
of the treaty, twenty broaches would not buy half a loaf of bread ;

* He says: — " Wo have suft'erod mucli for tlio want of a physician ; Atwater has
not yet arrived ; wc liave Udw a sditlenian frotii I'ciiiisylvaniii .attending; on tlic sick,
who seems to undei-staiid liis business. Tlie t\vo Wad'swortlis, wlio came from Dur-
ham, liave lieeii very sieli, are now recovering,', but are low spirited ; they like the
country but tlieir sicKuesshas discourawd tliem."

144

PHELPS AND GOBUyvM'a PURCHASE.

80 that when we returned home, there was not a bridit spot of
silver about us."

In December, Cornplanter, attended by other Seneca chiefs, met
1 resident Washington at Philadelphia, and delivered to him a speech,
m which he represented that the treaty at Bulllilo creek, had been
Iraudulently conducted; that Mr. Phelps represented himself as
the agent of the " thirteen Fires," that he told them that the coun-
try had been ceded to the thirteen Fires by the British King; that
It he could not make a bargain with the Indians, he could take
their lands by force; and that generallv, it was by threats and de-
ceptions he had obtained the Indian lands. He added that Mr
Street, whom they supposed their friend, "until they saw him
whispering with Phelps." had been bribed by the promise of a
large tract of land. The President heard the complaints, promised
an investigation of the matter, and to see the Indians redressed if
they had suffered wrong.

Soon after all this, Mr. Phelps addre-ed the President, giving a
detailed history of the treaty, denying the allegations of Cornplan-
ter, and asserting that he caused the Indians at the treaty to be
well informed of his errand, their rights to their lands ; that he used
no threats, or coercion to accomplish his object, and that the sum
he was to advance to the Indians, was but five thousand dollars.
He accompanied his statement, by dejiositions from the Rev Mr
Kirkland, James Dean, Judge Hollenbeck, and others, ^\•ho were
present at the treaty, in substance, to the effect that the treaty was
conducted honorably, and fairly, and that Cornplanter was mista-
ken as to the amount of the purchase money.

In February, '01, Joseph Brant addressed a long letter to the su-
perintendent of Indian affairs for the northern district of the United

Jjn^^^H !'t^"f^ "•' ''r' ^if ^""''^',"''^' •>•"" '<'I™^' '"•" ""t of pain. A ot u.\]K
que eat ol t]it. fatal root, and hI« -, with his fathers in i)oacc> " Tliis w.« m .

iienn'o'^noTe. ■'"'"''"'■' ' "' ''" ^'''' '' -^^ <'-th,- .here one diHappearsild i

rilELPS AND GORIIAm's PURCHASE.

145

States, in which he attacks Cornplantor with severity ; alleging
that " influenced by bribes and other selfish views, he prevailed on
the chiefs who were sent to cover up the council fire at Kanadesaga,
kindled by John Livingston, to lease the whole of the Five Nation's
country, for a consideration of twenty thousand dollars, and an an-
nual rent of two thousand ; and it was wiili the utmost difiiculty,
that the Five Nations were able to move that lease, from off a por-
tion of the country." He recapitulates the bargain made by Mr.
Phelps, agreeing with other witnesses. He says that the Lessees
wore only released from the payment of five thousand of the twenty
thousand they had agreed to pay for the whole country, and a pro
rata amount of their stipulated annual rent.* Thi^ was to show,
that the bargain with Mr. Phelps, was abetter one even than Cor'.-
planter had jn-omoted with the Lessees.

When Mr. Pickering held his council at Newtown, in July, '91, he
examined several Cayuga and Onondaga chiefs, who stated that
Cornplanter's allegations were untrue ; and some of the principal
Seneca chiefs, stated to him that all was fair on Mr. Phelps' part,
in reference to the treat v.

But all this did not entirely quell the dissatisfaction, and the al-
ledged wrong was mixed up with other elements, to render the
earliest relations of Pioneers of the Genesee country and the Indi-
ans, equivocal ; in a condition to keep up alarm and apprehensions
of evil. If the Senecas themselves were mainly disposed to be
friendly, their jealousies and' resentments were kept alive, by the
western Indians, and their British prompters, and British agents at
Niagara. DCP See Mr. Phelps' speech to the Indians. Appendix,
No. 6. tt ■>

The whole history of the early Indian treaties in this State, is a
complex one; there was a disjointed state of things existing among
our own people ; the treaties began without any clear and definite
understanding, of what were the respective rights of the State and
the general government. The Indians, after they had heard of
"one big fire being lighted for all the thirteen States," could not un-
derstand why they should be invited to attend " so many little fires,"

i,roJil'orrhvn.?T'^ ''•'"■'^^•^ ^°. *•"'''; ^'>=^* ^''° poor Indians never realized the sura
fl r^?vn. Z \ If'' ""^'"V^"'. t^*^ *«'•'» "f l^'il-es to some of their chiefs ; and iu

tii.it torm hut a small portioti nf [t A,,,! -,.,,f fi,,. r^i-.-u- ir, -r,-, f „,.> . i X.

realized a large amount for their meg/'aong klle."" ' ^"''" ""^ """'^''■'

■■i hi

m Hi

146

PHELPS AND GOBIIAm's PUECIIASE.

or councils. The almost interminable mischief, the Lessee move-
ment, was thrust in to add to embarrassment. The close of the
Revolution had left them with distracted councils, cut up into fac-
tions themselves. No wonder that when they were pulled and
hauled about from one treaty to another, beset by State commis-
sioners. Lessee companies, speculators and " their old friends at
Niagara," they should on several occasions have complained that
their " heads were confused."

But the crowning curse, the source of nearly all other evils that
beset them, and nearly all that embarrassed our early relations and
intercourse with their race, was the use of spirituous liquors. In
the absence of them, the advent of our race to this continent, would
have been a blessing to theirs, instead of what it has proved to be,
the cause of their ruin, and gradual extermination. No where in a
long career of discover}-, of enterprize and extension of empire,
have Europeans found natives of the soil, with as many of the
noblest attributes of humanity ; moral and ph}'sical elements, which,
if they could not have been blended with ours, could have main-
tained a separate existence, and been fostered by the proximity of
civilization and the arts. Every where, when first approached by
our race, they welcomed it, and made demonstrations of friendship
and peace. Savage, as they were called, savage as ihf may have
been in their assaults and wars upon each other, then • no act of
theirs recorded in our histories, of early colonization, of wrong or
outrage, that was not provoked by assaults, treachery or deception —
breaches of the hospitalities they had extended to the strangers.
Whatever of savage character they may have possessed, so far as
our race was concerned, it was dormant until aroused to action
by assaults or treachery of intruders upon their soil, whom they had
met and treated as friends.

This was the beginning of trouble ; the cupidity of our race
perpetuated it by the introduction of "fire water," which, vitiating
their appetites, cost them their native independence of character,
made them dependents upon the trader and the agents of rival
governments ; mixed them up with factious and contending aspir-
ants to dominion ; and from time to time, impelled them to the
fields of blood and slaughter, or to the stealthy assault with the tom-
ahawk and scalping knife. For the ruin of his race, the red man
has a fearful account against us, bince we assumed tlie responsibiiit

litv

PiiELPs Amy gorham's purchase.

147

of intercourse with it, as a separate and independent people • but
as ni another instance, where another race is concerned, we may
plead with truth and justice, that we were inheritors of the curse
and that our predecessors are chargeable with having fixed the plague
spot and stain up6n us, indelibly, long before the responsibility de-
volved upon us.

From the hour that Henry Hudson toled the Indians on board of
his vessel, on the river that bears his name, and gave them the first
taste of spirituous liquors, the whole history of British intercourse
with them IS marked by the use of this accursed agent as a princi-
pal means of success. The example of Hudson was followed up
by al the Dutch and English traders upon the Mohawk, and when
bir Wilham Johnson had settled as a British agent in the Mohawk
valley, he had unfortunately learned the potent influence of spirit-
uous liquors in Indian traffic and negotiation. He is probably the
first that made use of them at Indian councils ; thus settincr a vicious
example that has been perpetuated. The earl French traders upon
the St Lawrence, and in all this region, commenced the traffic not
until after they had ascertained that they could in no way compete
with the English traders than by using the same means. The early
Jesuit Missionaries checked them in their work of evil, but 'he
English trader was left unrestrained, even encouraged by English
colonial authority. The Senecas, especially, naturally inclined to
the French. There was something in the French character that was
congenial to (heir natural preferences ; the two races met and
flowed into each other, (if the expression is admissable,) like kindred
or easily assimilating elements ; with the English it was difTerent '
there was a natural repugnance, it may almost be said ; the blowze'
turgid Englishman, and the Seneca who possessed generous and even
romantic and poetic elements, were in caste and inclination anti-
podes. It was with his keg of rum, that the Englishman could alone
succeed ; and with a morbid, sordid perseverance, he plied it in trade
as well as diplomacy. It was rum that first enabled the Englishman

tl,S'n"-'':^;::i*'i^^!!:^T!*.°^th«, f-nch Fmnciscan and Jesuit Mi^ionaries ia
li(

OWl

casks. Thoy l)c.('anic, in somo instances,* mail vi'H'in'('M(I.-nv..iM.r f. «un.>.-e-""tK> tr.'ffir'
liu nist tciiiiKTuiu'c essay tluMvmi.i eversaw other than ilie ra'ecei)tq of tl,.. lii In
>vaswnttunm this region by a Jesuit Missionary, andpubliiei iii K ^"^'^^''

r.oTL.-i<rom tlio hrst advent of the French Franciscar. and Jesuit Mis-sionarios in
US region, tliey were the detonnined opposers of the introduction of Si'oia
T" ,',',"*""" ^''^ ^r^'fi^- ^ '^^ .^^""''1 ^''PP"-'-'^'^ i' i" tlH' trading houses ^ot'th"k

148

PIIELPS AND GOEHAM's PUECHASE.

'l ,t!

!' !'

to get a foothold upon the Hudson, upon the Mohawk, along the
shores of Lake Ontario ; in the absence of its use, bold as the asser-
tion may appear, he would not have succeeeded in putting an end to
French dominion in America.

At a later period, when the storm of the Revolution was gather-
ing, the English resorted to the old weapon they had used against
the French, to use against the colonies. The Indians had undoubt-
edly resolved upon neutrality ; unsophisticated, unlearned in all the
grievances of oppressed colonies, in the intricacies of taxation,
representation, and the immunities under other structures of gov-
ernment than their own, they could not understand why the bonds
of kindred should be sundered ; why those they had just seen fight-
ing side by side against the French should be arrayed against each
other so suddenly. The aspect of the quarrel was not suited to
their tastes or inclinations, and they resolved upon standing aloof;
the Senecas at least. Invited to Oswego, by the English refugees
from the Mohawk, kept intoxicated for days and weeks, promised
there that the accursed "fii^ water" of England's King, should be
as free to them " as the waters of Lake Ontario," their good inten-
tions were changed, and their tomahawks and scalping knives were
turned against the border settlers ; a series of events ensued, the
rev" nv of which creates a shudder, and a wonder that the offences
were so easily forgiven; that we had not taken their country after
subduing it with our arms, instead of treating for it. But well and
humanely cHd the Father of his Country consider how they had been
wiled to the unfortunate choice of friends which they made. Eng-
lish rum was not only freely dealt out at Oswego, during the Revo-
lution, but at Fort Niagara, where it paid for the reeking scalp, and
helped to arouse the fiercest passions of Indian allies, and send
them back upon their bloody track.

When peace came, and our State authorities began to cultivate
an acquaintance with the Indians, they found thein deserted by
their late Britisli employers, with nothing to show for the sanguine
aid they had given them, but appetites vitiated by the English rum
cask, and a moral and physical degeneracy, the progress of which
could not have been arrested; and lingering yet among them, in all
their principal localities, was the English or tory trader, prolonging
his destructive traffic. It was American, New York legislation,
that made the first statutes against the traffic of spirituous liquors

PHELPS AND GORHAM's PUROnASE.

149

among the Indians. It was American legislation, after the incubus
of British dominion was shaken off, that first checked the slave
trade. Two enormous offences have been committed against two
races, both of which had been alike perpetuated under English do-
minion.

Eng-

Mr. Phelps, although his residence in ail the earliest years of set-
tlement, was still in Massachusetts, spent most of his time in Can-
andaigua, and was the active and liberal patron and helper in all
the public enterprises of the region where he had been the pioneer.
Of ardent temperament, ambitious in all that related to the pros-
perity of the new country, the Pioneer settlers found in him a friend ;
and when disease, privation, Indian alarms, created despondency,
he had for them words of encouragement, and prophecies of a " bet-
ter time." He was useful to a degree that no one can realize who
has not seen how much one man can do in helping to smooth the
always rugged paths of backwoods life.

A considerable shareholder in the original purchase of Massa-
chusetts and the Indians, he eventually became a principal owner,
by purchase of shares, reversions and other means. In a few years
after the settlement of the Genesee country was fairly under way,
he was regarded as one of the most successful and wealthy of all
the many founders of new settlements of that period. In 1795, he
regarded himself as worth a million of dollars. There are no busi-
ness enterprises which, if successful, are better calculated to lead to
excess and rash venture, than that of speculation in lands. A
mania of land speculation, as will be seen in another connection,
commenced along in '95 and '6, and extended through all the then
settled parts of the Union. Philadelphia was the principal focus,
its leading capitalists, among whom was Mr. Morris, were the prin-
cipal operators. Among the devices of the times, was a gigantic
" American Land Company." Elected to Congress, Mr. Phelps,
elated with his success in the Genesee country, was thrown into
the vortex of rash adventure, and became deeply involved, as all
were who made any considerable ventures at that unfortunate
period. One of his ventures was in connection with the "Georgia
L.'ind Company ;" with the fate of which, most reader;, will be
familiar. Liabilities abroad made him a large borrower, and obliged

150

PIIELPS AND GOEHAM's PtJrvCllASE.

. ■I'-

him to execute mortgages upon his Genesee lands. In all this, the
titles of purchasers under him became involved, which created dis-
trust and excitement among a portion of the settlers, and broucrht
upon him a good deal of censure. His reverses, and the app!-e-
hensions, perhaps, that others were to be involved in them, previncr
upon a sensitive mind, his health gradually declined, and he died in
1809 aged GO years. In 1802, he had removed to Canandaic^ua ;
and from the commencement of his reverses up to the period o^fhis
death had been struggling to extricate himself, and others involved
with him, from embarrassment. In allusion to all this, an inscrip-
tion upon his tomb-stone contains the following sentence : —

i2^l7^^:^T"''' 'Ti Irr"^''' "■^'^"°* ^^^^^^ ^-^^"'--^ success; but tl.e
irmts ot tJioso viHues, \nll be felt by society."

The State of Connecticut having been a principal creditor of
Mr Phelps, and holding a large mortgage upon his lands, the Hon.
Gideon Granger became its agent, and ultimately the settlement of
the estate devolved upon him. When he entered upon the task, he
was assisted in some of its preliminary investigations by the late
Jessee Havvley, Esq., who, in a memorandum which the author has
m his possession, remarks that the estate was involved in " com-
plexity perplexity and confusion." The superior business facul-
ties ot Mr. Granger, however, made "crooked things straicrht •"
debts were cancelled, land titles cleared from incumbrances^; no
purchasers under Mr. Phelps, it is believed, ultimately suffered loss ;
and a considerable estate was saved to his heirs. Amoncr the sur-
viving early Pioneers, it is common now to hear expressiolis of re-
spect for the memory of Oliver Phelps, and regrets, that the last
years ot his active and enterprising life was so clouded by misfor-
lortune. Jesse Havvley wrote that he was "the Cecrops of the
Genesee country. Its inhabitants owe a mausoleum to his memo-
ry, in gratitude for his having pioneered for them the wilderness of
this Canaan of the west."

Mr. Phelps was first judge of Ontario, on the primitive or-aniza-
tion of Its courts; and was an early Representative in Con-ress
Irom the then western district of this State. "

He left a son and daughter. His son, Oliver Leicester Phelps
was educated at Yale College, married a grand-daughter of Rorrer
Sherman, and became a resident of Paris, France. Returnin<T°to
this country, after the death of his father, he became the ocrupant

PHELPS AND GORHAM's PUECHASE. 151

of the old Phelps' mansion at Canandaigua ; was atone period Ma].
General of the 22d Division of New York Infantry. He died in
1813. His surviving sons are : — Judge Oliver Phelps, of Canan-
daigua, who resides at the old homestead, a worthy representative
of his honored ancestor ; William H. Phelps, of Canandaigua ; and
Francis Phelps, an inmate of the Infirmary at Brattleborou^h
Vermont. The daughter of Oliver Phelps became the wife °ot'
Amasa Jackson, of the city of New York, and is now a resi-
dent of Canandaigua. A daughter of hers, is the wife of Gen.
John A. Granger; and another, is the wife of Alexander II. Howell
a son of the Hon. N. W. Howell. The wife of Oliver Phelps, who
was the daughter of Zachariah Seymour, died in 1826, acred 74
years. °

upant

Nathaniel Gorham, the elder, who was the associate of Mr.
Phelps, was never a resident upon the Purchase. He resided in
Charlestown, Mass. His son, Nathaniel Gorham, jr.. his local repre-
sentative, came to Canandaigua in 1789, and was of course one of
the earliest pioneers. He was an early Supervisor of Canandaigua,
a. Judge of the county courts, and the President of the Ontario
Bank, from its first organization, until his death. He died in 1826,
aged 62 years. His surviving sons are : — Nathaniel Gorham, mer-
chant, of Canandaigua ; William Gorham, of Canandaigua ; and
David Gorham, of Exeter, New Hampshire. Mrs. Dr. A. G. Bris-
tol, of Rochester, is a daughter ; and an unmarried daughter resides
at the old homestead at Canandaigua. The mother died in 1818,
at the advanced age of 83 years.

And in this connection, lest he should be omitted in a work like
this — as he should not be — some mention should be made of the
venerable William Wood, who, if not a pioneer himself, is especial-
ly the friend of the pioneers ; and among his other good works,
takes a lively interest in perpetuating theii- memories. Mr. Wood
IS a veteran bachelor, the brother of the late Mrs. Nathaniel Gor-
ham. His native place is Charlestown, Massachusetts. At one
period of his life, he was an importing merchant !n the city of Bos-
ton; after that, a cotton dealer in 'New Orleans, where he was
known for his deeds of philanthropy and benevolence. Becomino'
a resident of Canandaigua, "by quiet unostentatious charities, by

;. II'

152

PHELrS AND GORIIAM's PURCHASE.

being " present in every good work, " he has well entitled himself to
be called the Howard of his local region. The public edifices of
Canandaigua, the rural church-yard, the streets and side-walks, the
public libraries, bear testimonials of his public spirit. If no other
good work is in hand, he will carry apples, books, and other accept-
able presents, to the inmates of the jail, and cheer them by kind
words. In cities and villages of this country and in England, he
has established libraries and literary institutions, principally for the
benefit of mechanics, apprentices and clerks. Well may it be said;
that the world would be better, the picture of humanity would have
in it more of lighter coloring, if there were more like William
Wood. But, principally, it has been intended to notice him in con-
nection with a Gallery of Portraits — mostly of Pioneers of the
Genesee country — that he is collecting and suspending in their
well-chosen and appropriate place, the court-house at Canandaigua.
It contains already the portraits of —

Oliver Phelps,
Peter B. Porter.
Philip Church,
Wm. Wadsworth,
MicAH Brooks,
Vincent Mathews,
Abner Barlow,
Walter Hubbell,
John C. Spencer,
Mobes Atwateh,

Augustus Porter,
John Greig,
James Wadsworth,
Red Jacket,
Nathaniel Rochester,
Jasper Parrish,
Judge Fitziiugh,
Ambrose Spencer,
William Williams,

N. W. HOWELI,.

And a correspondent adds; — "William Wood, the noblest Ro-
man of them all."

PIIELPS AND GOEHAm's PURCHASE.

153

CHAPTER V

JEMFMA WlLKlNSO.V.

even the Indian trealie, ft,- 1! ''":"'=,'^™''^'=<' ■"'""fy, preceding
=.i.u.ed in ea,.,; Z^t Z^'^T^^ l^^^-^''^ »-
account of them it mnv ,v.ii i , '^''S'on; some

"ork of this ch";cter ' ™''"°"'' ""' '^^ '°'"^»<' '- '» ^

Ft/e'ri ■" "r'^'i;':?;''-''''' ",t ™ ^^-"^^ ■'^ ^^ f""»-,.s, « ne

En:itr;:;rv,"r^^^^^^^^

recovty. si rwt;,afw:„T I """';"""■"' ""'' """■ "'-■•
'■•aetedi; .in^ostoHif J;,r; Iti^S'-- .;- ^^^'^'■'' """ ""•
iilness, lici- friemk Iv,^ , ° , , l'""«" °'- I" the extremity of her
herdeatllw " asst !ffi' 'i'' '""""^ '"" ''«' ^'J" '""''"ess

K-ehng byits side, ^ade tt /t „ra,t X P "' 'T'; """

she was l^Z^^J^:"'fT''""'' ^'"^ ''''^''^' J^-^cefonvar3

ci^nsidfi XroTsres'T f "^' """ '-^""'■""^' """ ™'* "
Sood New EnJ d tmeT T° "'''""'''■''"^■''' ■'°'"^' "^ "'=">

York, and spent sevcnll! f ^''' ^"^-''^"^' ^^^'^^^'^^'^ ^^^^"^^

_^ ^Pent sevcial years ni the neighborhood of Philadelphia

f .vZlt '!■ 'f '-'''•^' '""• "'^^■" "™<'""' "f ho ! ! . c :

I},t . f '

154

PHELPS AOTD GOEnAirS PURCHASE.

ih^i

r i;

and Lancaster, Pennsylvania, accompanied by most of her follow-
ers ; and she had proselytes wherever she went. Her authority
over them was absolute. Upon one occasion, at New Milford, in
Connecticut, she proclaimed a fast for thirty days on bread and
water. Most of them strictly obeyed; some of them becoming
almost what Calvin Edson was in later years. After remaining in
New England and Pennsylvania about twenty years, she came to
Western New York ; she was then near forty years of age. The
author has a copy of the " New Haven Gazette and Connecticut
Magazine," of date, ]March 1787, that has a letter in it from a
Phihidelphia correspondent, written at the time " The Friend," and
her followers were in Philadelphin, on their way to this region.
Her personal ajipearance is thus described : — " She is about the
middle size of woman, not genteel in her person, rather awkward in
her carriage ; her com])lexion good, her eyes remarkably black and
brilliant, her hair black and waving with beautiful ringlets upon her
neck and shoulders ; her features are regular, and the whole of her
face thought by many to be perfectly beautiful. As she is not to be
supposed of either sex, so this neutrality is manifest in her personal
appearance: — She wears no cap, letting her hair hang down as
has been described. She wears her neckcloth like a man ; her chemise
is buttoned around the neck and wrists. Her outside garment is a
robe, under which it is said she wears an expensive dress, the fash-
ion of which is made to correspond neither with that of a man nor
woman. Her understanding is not deficient, except touching iier
religious fanatacism. She is very illiterate, yet her memory is very
'.;reat ; artful in discovering many circumstances which fall out
among her disciples. On all occasions she requires the most extra-
ordinary attentions that can be bestowed upon her; one or more
of her disciples usually attend upon her, and perform the most
menial service. Her pronunciation is after the peculiar dialect of
the most illiterate of the country people of New England. Her
preaching has very little connexion, and is very lengthy ; at times
cold and languid, but occasionally lively, zealous and animated."

Enlarging upon the account she first gave of her rising from a
bed of sickness — dead in the flesh — she assumed that there was
nncc such a person as Jemima Wilkinson, but that " ^\\e died and
went to lieaven ; after which the Divine Spirit re-animated that
same bodv, and it arose from the dead ; now this divme inhabitant

rilELPS AND GORnA:\['s PURCHASE. 1^5

is Christ Jesus our Lord, the friend to all mankind, and gives his
name to the body to which he is united, and therefore, body and
spirit conjointly, is the "Universal Friend." She assumed to have
two "w^nesses," corresponding in all respects to those prophccled
m Rev Chap xi, from 3d to 13th verse. These were James Par-
ker and Sarah Richards.

But the reader will be principally interested in the advent of this
singular personage and her followers to the Genesee country • _
Previous to 1780, they were living in detached localities. In that
year, they met in Connecticut, and resolved upon finding some "fer-
tile unsettled region, far from towns and cities, where the ' Univer-
sal Friend" and her followers, might live undisturbed in peace and
plenty, in the enjoyment of their peculiar religion.' They delega-
ted three of their number, Abraham Dayton, Richard Smith and
Thom.s Hathaway to look for such a location. They went to
1 hiladelphia and traversed on horseback the interior of Pennsylva-
ma Passing through the valley of Wyoming, they came across a
backv/oodsman by the name of Spalding, who furnished them with
a glimpse of the region around Seneca Lake, and gave them direc-
tions hovv to find it. Following his directions, they went up the
river, and falling upon the track of Sullivan's army, reached the
loot of Seneca Lake, and from thence proceeded to Cashon<T creek
where they found two French traders, (De Bartzch and Poudrv )'
who told them that they had travelled through Canada, and through
the Western territory, and had seen no where so fine a country as the
one they were in. A few days exploration, satisfied the land look-
ers and they returned by the route they came, to inform the Friend
of the result of their travels.

In June 1787, twenty five of the Friends, among whom were

a grant in tlio present townnl, p < 'l m'ford C W v? ,"'""' ■'"-*^«''''l' ■''«'l ■"•■"lo
irrat... whc.nthcG,,v,.rn.w-aMnun(a],k .w ^'h ' ^ '^^'PanUions were made to enii-
j.oso,l Uumi t,. bo Q.4.rr f 4, n 1 1 , "^ --^'^''^ '^" excuse that he had .np-
Imt h-arning tha ll^ i 'r ,' • now o .f ' f '''T":^ l" ^^""^' "I'inion in EnK]an('l ;
Ho howcvo'^- ,nado tfio I'r ni c/T D^ nt ,''r T^ '' ^"'^""'"^'^t^'^r en.igratinn.
.nont dnties .tc.-as h^^^ i ,n i S,' .'l i/"'';'"''',"- '•^■' l'^' '"''' t^'nns,- settle-

6 1

15G

PHELPS AND GORIL^m's PURCnASE.

Abel Botsford, Peleg and John Briggs, and Isaac Nichols, with their
families, met at Schenectady, and embarked on board of batteaux
for the promised land. At Geneva they found but a solitary log
house, and that not finished, *' inhabited by one Jennings." They
went up the east side of the Lake to " Ajiple Town," where they
remained several days searching for a mill site. The noise of the
falling water, of the outlet of Crooked Lake, attracted them to the
west shore of Seneca I^ake. Passing up the outlet they came to
the Falls, and exploring the neighborhood, fixed upon i as their
location. They began their settlement in Yates County, about, one
mile south of the present village of Dresden. It was August when
t'^ey arrived. They prepared ground and sowed a field of wheat
in common, and the next season, 1789, several small fields of wheat
were sown.*

The first land purchase was made of the State, upon the " Gore,"
previous to the running of the new pre-emption line. It was a
tract of 14,000 acres, situated in the east part of the present town
of Mile, and south east part of Starkey. William Potter and
Thomas Hathaway were delegated to make the purchase. They
applied to Governor George Clinton for a grant of land, which was
refused of course, but he assured them that if they would attend
the public sale in Albany, they would be able to obtain land at a
satisfactory price. They attended the sale and bought the tract
above named for a little less then 2s per acre. Benedict Robinson
and Thomas Hathaway, soon after ])ought of Phelps and Goriinm
the town of Jerusalem for Is 3d per acre.f

The first grist mill in Western New York, was built by three of
the society ; — Richard Smith, James Parker and Abraham Dayton.
The site was the one now occupied by the " Empire Mills,"" two
and a half miles from Penn Yan. It was built in the summer and
fall of 1789 and fiour was made in it in that year. Here also was

■'TliiscoiTc'dstlic very common impression, that the first v.-hcat was liarvcstcd at
Cannmiaicrna, and Vidor, in the fall of 1700. Tho wheat sown by the Friends must
iuive been liarvcstud in 1789.

tit was anile at that early period, with Messrs. Theljis cfc Gorhain, in soliin"- a
picked townslnp, to require tlie pureliascr to draw for aiiotlier township at flio smie
]nice. Jvobiiison and Hathaway after puivliasiui;' Jerusalem, drew what is now tJie
town of Gcneseo. The Friend o})jeeto(l lo her people "tradin-,' and buyins; pro|)ertv
at a distance," and fearing her displeasure, they jjrevailcd uixm Mr. PJi'elps to release
tlieni Iwm the l)arKain, which he was quite wilhng to do, as he had ascertained the
Value ot the township.

PHELPS AND GORHAM's PURCHASE.

157

opened the first public house by David Waagencr. A son of his,

Abraham Waggener of Pcnn Yan, now TG^'ycars of arre, well re-

men.bers seeing the Frencii Duke, Liancourf, at his father's inn.*

The first framed house in the Genesee country, was built by Enoch

and Elijah Malin, as a residence for " Tlio Friend." The house is

still standing, and is occupied by Charles J. Townsend. It is a mile

north of Dresden, and a half a mile east of S. B. Buckleys. The

first school in the Genesee country, was opened by Rachef Malin in

a log roo.ri attached to this house. In 1789, a log meetinrr house

was built in which "The Friend" preached, and met with her fol-

lowers. This house stood a few rods south of the . -sidence of S.

B. Buckley. But this is anticipating pioneer events that belong in

another connexion.

Major Benajah Mollory, well known in all this region durino- the
war of 1812, is yet living, in Lockport, Niagara County. He is
spoken of in a preceding note as having married the daurrhter of
Abraham Dayton. This family connexion, (or then anticipated one,)
brought him to the Friend's settlement at an earlv period after it was
founded. He was the first merchant there ; and in fact, opened the
first store m the Genesee Country, other than those connected with
the Indian trade. From him the author has obtained manv remin-
iscences, some of which are applicable to the subject in hand He
gives the names of principal heads of families who were followers
of "The Friend," and located in the settlement during the earliest
years:— Abraham Dayton, William Potter, (father of Arnold Pot-
ter) Asahel Stone, John Supplee, Richard Smith, David Wagrrener
James Parker, Samuel Lawrence, Benj. Brown, Elnathan ant Jon-'
athan Botsford, Jessee Brown, Jessee Holmes, Joshua Brown, Barn-
abus Brown, Nathaniel Ingraham, Eleazor Ingraham, David Culver
David I^ish, Beloved Luther, John Gibbs, Jacob Waggener, Wm
feAnfoijI, John Barnes, Elijah Brown, Silas Hunt, Castle Dean, Jon-
athan Dean, Benedict Robinson, Thomas Hathaway, Besides the^e
there were unmarried men, and men and women who had been
separated in adhering to the Friend. The followers were mostly

Alh3,. .u A,„oncan supno.- .onsS^o/^nffi:,^'" Sl^H;:;"r ^fh ""[T"f "

158

PHELPS AND GORHAm's PUECHASE.

respectable men of small property ; some of them had enourrh to be
called rich m those days. Those whc had considerable property
gave her a part, or were at least liberal in supplying her wants
Man and wife were not separated ; but they were forbidden to
multiply. A few transgressed, but obtained absolution by confes-
sing and promising not to disobey again. It ^vas generally a well
regulated community, its members mostly lived in harmony, were
temperate and industrious. They had two days of re«t in the week
Saturday and Sunday. At Uieir meetings the' Friend would gener-
ally speak, take a text preach and exhort and give liberty to others
to speak. The Friend appeared much devoted to the interests of
her followers, and especially attentive to them in sickness. Major
Blallory insists that the old story of her promising to '-walk on the
water" is wholly false. When Col. Pickering held his treaty with the
Indians at Newtown Point, nearly five hundred Senecas encamped
at Friends' Landing on Seneca Lake. They were accompanied by
Ked Jacket, Cornplanter, and Good Peter, (the Indian preacher,)
the Rev. Mr. Kirkland, Horatio Jones and Jasper Parrish. Good
Peter wanted an interview with the " Universal Friend." She ap-
pointed a meeting-with the Indians and preached to them. Good
Peter followed hei-, and the Friend wanted his discourse interpre-
ted. Good Peter objected, saying : — " if she is Christ, she knows
what I said." This was the meeting upon the bank of Seneca Lake,
that gave rise to the report alluded to.

The Friend did not join her colony until the spring of 1789. She
then came with a reinforcement, a somewhat formidable retinue.*
Benedict Robinson, the most considerable property holder amono-
her followers, gave her 1000 acres of land, upon which she resided.?

\-n3""'"S H^'^^hcT, the Pioneer at the moutli of tlie Genesee l{ivei^;^,nh;;j:;;
^ewtoNvn Point, and helped l,er on ^vith Ian teams ihrou-di the woods to CteriU
FWond- r •^"'•^'^r"''r" ^^" accon,pa„ied the expediH,,,!, \ve f 'n^K • Tl ^
Sd iec 3 n ^[T^""^ ""^«"'"n^- "-tKeenuillo hini.of a wonum eo ^roll !;
worn rJo'i" '/','?" y""-'' appertan,n,f. to the ounioy. It seemed to liin. a " o S

£u iho wil'l ''■' ^"■''' ^'"''^^'^^"'"l hospitality, when his father's fan ilv ea, e
Iwr ° ^'l^'«'-"^'^-^.»"<l stopped at her residence, on their way to the tienesoe

w!ir'"' """"", '"f ^''''''"■"^ ^^'^f^^™ "f -^f'-- Robinson, written to Messrs W'.dstrortl,
J\ Ihanison, an. others, and he is ofte.i alh.de.l to in early ren i dsc ,;; TJ e TS- "

i^ r''nd Slth'" 7'' '"' ^r"' W-:-"ThisBenedi:-"Zwnsoii aS'
rn ve •' "I M V 1 '"■•",'• '•'^;;"'^'"^"" ;'" ^^^^\^ "f ^'00 acres, ]o(l of which are im-

row A|,V, . '^ "f ' '^'■%''"" 'J"' <;""tt'nt.s hnns<.lf with breakinL' it no with a har-

ineuu, lieinlened from ks conversation that his confidence iu her divine mi*.k.u

PIIELPS AND GORIIAM's PURCHASE.

159

Her business would seem to have been conducted by her female
witmess, Sarah Richards, who did not arrive at the settlement until
June, 1789. Some correspondence of hers, and memorandums,
have been preserved : —

" Jehusalem, 1st of Gth ino., 17D1.
" I arrived with Rachel Miilin, Elijali Malin, E.Mclutable Smitli, Maria, an.l most of
the Friend's family, ami the goods which the Friend sent Elijah to assist in briugin"
on. We all an'ived on the west side of Seneca Lake, and reached the Friend's house
which The Universal Friend had got huilt for our reception ; and with great joy, met
The Friend once more in time, and all in walking health, and as well as usual.

"SARAH RICHARDS."
"In the year '91, settled witli Elijah Malin, being in trust for The Universiil Friend.
Attliistime, reckoned and settled with him forbuildiag Tiw; Friend's house, and pjiss-
ed receii)ta the 24th of the sixth montli, 1791. SARAH RICHARDS."

"Reckoned and settled with Richard Hathaway for goods which the carpenters took
up at his store for building The Friend's jLouse in Jerusalem. Settled, I say, tliis 3d
of the 7th month, 1791. SARAH RICHARDS."

"About theSGth of the 7th month, 1791,1 and Rachel Maliu were taken sick about
the time of wheat harvest, and remained sick, aud were not able to go out of the house
until the ground was covered with snow ; but entirely confined to our chamber, wliich
finished up the year 1791. SARAH RICHARDS."

Sarah Richards died in '94 or '5, and was succeeded in all her
relations to The Friend, by Rachel Malin. The father of The
Friend never became her convert, but her brother, Stephen, and
sisters, Mercy, Betsey and Deborah, followed her in her advent to
this region.

The meetings of this singular sect, were conducted very much

was somewhat weakened. The Duke might liave added a circumstance that hid
somtnyhat interfered with the relati<.ns of the Friend and one of her most prominent
(lisciplfts. He had mtracted one of her rules, by mairving. He was in tliis wav the
hrst transgressor among the followei-s. Susmnah lin'.wn had been his liouskeeper
1 hos. Hathaw.'jy having laisiness with Benedict eariy one morning, went to his house
where he^f.mnd Mr. \Villianison,wh.. told him that Benedict being unwell was vet
in bed. Mr. A\ il lanison leading Die way, they botli went up stairs iind found lieno-
dictin bed with his liousekeei)er, Susannah; "Good .Lord! Benedict, what does this
mean ? was the ejaculatK.n and ii.teiTogation of Thomiis, accomi)anied by an ui iliftiii'r
cU lus hands, in token of astonisl.nient and horror, at what he called "shameful, sin-
tid. and disgraceful.' Mr. Williamson replied :_"Whv, ISenedict g.,t tired <,fs!eenin.r
Mlone, and crept m bed with Su.sannah." Thomas hWtened to inlbrm The Friemf
wlio was dnpleased but avoided an open ri'pturo, with onewlioseposltionand influence
made liim too valuable to admit of ex-communication. The harsh features of theaifair
were so- n s(itfene<l, by Mr. Williamson, who announced that lie was then on his wav
trom ( iiandaigua, where he had taken out his commission as a Judge of Ontario county
and had legrJly married Benedict and Susannah before tliev had ventured to i.laco
llieniselves i,i tlie po.sition in whicli 'I'homas had found them. ' The eccentric mairia<re
proved a hnypy one to the parties, whatever it m.ay have been with the offended Jenu-

ina. The living descendants in the first di

nah, are : — DiCDaniel Robi

nson ofFarmiiiijtoii. Out

j:ree. ofthe olfending Benedict aiul Susan

county fMr.s. Dr. Hatniaker of

Mo \ ates county ; Jaines C Robinson, P. M., lenn Van ; and Phoebe, a maide
ilauglitei, who residesj at the old homestead.

ICU

PHELPS AKD GOIUIAm's PUECIIASE.

'p I ■

iW'iJ

Itli

after the manner of the legitimate Society of Friends. The con-
gregation would sit in silence until some one would rise and speak.
While Tiie Friend lived, ..he would generally lead in the public
speakmg, and after her, Rachel Malin. In addition to this, and the
usual observance of a period of silence, with each familv, upon sit-
tmg down to their meals, " sittings " in each family, upon Sunday
evenmgs, was common. The family would observe perfect silence
tor an hour or more, and then rise and shake hands. " I remem-
ber," says Mr. Buckley, "when I was a boy, many such 'sittings '
at my grand-father's, and I always rejoiced' when they commenced
shakmg hands to end the tiresome stillness."

_ It has already been observed, that the French Duke, Liancourt,
visited The Friend's settlement in 1795. He became much inter-
ested in the new sect, made the acciuaintance of The Friend, was
a guest, with his travelling companions, at her house, and attended
her meetings. For one so generally liberal and candid, he writes
of all he saw there in a vein of censure, in some respects, unde-
served. She and her followers, were then at variance with their
neighbors, and the Duke too readily listened to gossip that im|)lica-
ted the private character of this fbunder of a sect, and added them
to his (justifiable, perhaps,) denunciations of religious imposture.
Her real character was a mixed one : — Her first incentives were
the imaginings of a mind highly susceptible of religious enthusiasm
and strongly tinctured with the supernatural and spiritual, which'
in our own day, has found advocates, and has been systematizctl in-
io a creed. The physical energies prostrated by disease, the
dreamy mind went out, and, following its inclinations, wandered
.'.n celestial spheres, and in a " rapt vision," created an ima^e, some-
thing to be 01- to personate. Disease abating, consciousness return-
ing, this image had made an impress upon the mind not to be readily
effaced. She became an enthusi;-t ; after events, made her an im-
postor. All founders of sects, upon new revelations, have not had
even so much in the way of induction to mitigate their frauds. A
sect that has arisen in our own day, now counting its tens of thou-
sands, the founders of a State, have nothing to show as their basis,
but a bald and clumsy cheat ; a designed and pre-meditated fraud.'
It had no even distempered religious enthusiasm ; no sick man or
sick woman's fancy to create a primitive semblance of sincerity or
integrity of purpose. The trance or dream of Jemima Wilkinson

rilEIPS AND GOKIIAm's PURCnASE.

161

honestly enough promulgated at first, while the image of its creation
absorbed all her thoughts and threw around her a spell that reason
cou <1 not dissipate, attracted the attention of the superstitious and
credulous, and. perhaps, the designing. The motives of worldly
ambition, power, distinction; the desire to rule, came upon her
when the paroxism of disease in body and mind had subsided and
made her what history must say she was, an impostor and false
pretender.

And yet there were many evidences that motives of benevolence,
a kindly spirit, a wif;h to promote the temporal wellfare of her M-
lowers, was mixed up with her impositions. Her character was a
compound. If she was conscious herself o^ imposition, as we must
suppose she was, her perseverence was mc "traordinary Never
through her long cr.reer di<l she for one m. aent yield the preten-
sions she made upon rising from her sick bed and goin- out upon
her mission. With gravity and dignity of demeanor," she would
confront cavillers and disbelievers, and parry their assaults upon
her motives and pretensions; almost awing them to a surren-
der of their doubts and disbelief. Always self-possesserl, no evidence
could ever be obtained of any misgivings with her, touching her
spiritual claims. Upon one occasion James Wadsworth called to
see her. At the close of the interview, she said :— " Thou art a
lawyer ; thou hast plead for others ; hast thou ever plead for thvself
to the Lord ?" Mr. Wadsworth made a courteous replv, when re-
questmg all present to kneel with her, she prayed fervently, after
which she rose, shook hands with Mr. Wadsworth, and retired to
her apartment.

The reader must make some allowances for the strong prejudices
of the French Duke, who upon the whole, made but poor returns
for the hospitalities he acknowledges. He says: — "She is con-
stantly engaged in personating the part she has assumed ; she des-
canted in a sanctimonious, mystic tone, on death, and on the happi-
ness of having been an instrument to others, in the way of their
salvation. She gave us a rhapsody rj prophecies to read, ascribed
to Dr. Love, who was beheaded in Crom '.veil's time. Her hypoc-
risy may be traced in all her discourses, actions and conduct, and
even in the very manner in which she manages her countenance "

The Friend's commn.nity. at fi.-,:t flourishing and successful, berran
to decline in early years. The seclusion and separation from "the

162

PHELPS AND GORHAm's PURCHASE.

pViBr f .

selected ,„o fine « region ,o make a monopolv of i,. The tide o
m,s,at,o„ reached, hen,, and before thev ha.fgo, fairly undefvav
they were surrounded wilh neighbors who hfdli.UeS "^1
Fnend or sympathy with her followers. The relations of "e "
borhoo , town and county soon clashed, militia tnusters eam^ln

propcitj sold. Ihn Fnend was a Ion? time harr..««J -i-H ■-,-)■■
menls lor blasphemy, but never convicted While'sh,').„ I'T '
»ost of her older followers in the bar, J 'the ^ ef n 1 tl
ed of the res tratrts imposed upon thetn, by contrasting the r p "w
leges w,th then- d.sbelieving neighbors, would unharnes., tl mselve,

Jwo of , lat cmly class of methodist circuit preachers,* that were
so tndefattguable ,n threading the wood's Lds of his w tern
fores as were the.r Jesuit predecessors a cenluty befor the n
found he retreat, and getting a foothold, in a log schod hou "'
gra ually drew many o/ the young people to their mfetings Mam'
of the sons t^,d daughters of the followers abjured the faith ^

Jemtma W.lt.nson died in 1819, or departed, went awa^ as the
mtphe,. behevers in her divine ehnraeteJ would have ^'kache
Main, her successor in spiri.u.al as well as worldly alli.irs dtd
about three years stnee. She fcpt up the meetings unti a f^w
years prev.ous to herdeath. James Brown, and GeorgeCIa A ■ I o

Zt , f' , tr' ""'""r" "'° P'°"^''>- "'a. she iri e^
from The Fnend. The peculiar sect may be said to be eMincT

.0. more than tln-ee or four are living who even hold ligbti; o t, '

ongmal a,.h Even the immediate .successors of Jan ma ad

Itaehel, he mhentors of the property, and those who ^^1 be

conservators ol tlieir memories, if not of their faith ar„ ,r,

their teaching. The old homestead, th v rv ' ncttnrvT

Universal Friend once with all things appertah n^ to ' -e L "

ened by her ngid discipline ; is even desecrated Durin. ,|.°

winter the sounds of music .and dancing have c^^^':^^::

once consecrated and venerated walls. nn=For „, ■ ! •

sketch of Jemima Wilkinson and Iter follitir, 1,' luf ^''ir

manuserii.ts of Thomas Morris, see Appendix No 7 '

'Revs. James Smiilt :ni.lJolm Eruadhcad.

Tliey had
The tide of
'under way,
faith in The
ns of neigh-
i came, and
i and their
v.'itii indie i-
! could kecj)
nes remind-
: their privi-
themselves ;
!t Robinson.
,* that were
his western
efore them,
3hool house,
igs. Many
iiith.

way, as the
it. Rachel
ifl'iirs, died
wtil a few
Clark, who
3 inherited
36 extinct ;
htly to the
mima and

should be
' forgetful
ary of the

so chast-
^is present
within its
Interesting
from the

PART THIRD.

CHAPTER I,

COMMENCEMENT OP SURVEYS, AND SETTLEMENT OF THE GENESEE

COUNTRY.

[Pioneer settlcmoiits will be taken up in tliis connection, by counties, as they now
exist. The arrangement will not allow of strict reference to tlie order of time iu
which events occuiTed ; but it will be found more convenient for the reader than any
other that could be adopted.

After Mr. Phelps had concluded the treaty,— before leaving the
country he made arrangements for its survey into Ranges and Town-
ships. This was done under contract, by Col. -Hugh Maxwell, who
completed most of the northern portion of it previous to the close
of the year 1788 ; and in the year 1789, with the assistance of
Judge Porter, he completed the whole. The survey of townships
into farm lots, in cases where whole townships were sold, was done
at the expense of the purchasers. Judge Porter, Frederick Saxton,
Jenkins, were among the earliest surveyors of the subdivis-
ions.

Mr. Phelps having selected the foot of Canandaigua Lake, as a
central locality in the purchase, and as combining all the advanta-
ges which has since made it pre-eminent, even among the beautiful
villages of western New York, erected a building for a store house
on the bank of the Lake. The next movement was to make some
primitive roads, to get to and from the site that had been selected.
Men were employed at Geneva, who underbrushed and continued
a sleigh ruad, from where it had been previously made on Flint creek,
to the foot of Canandaigua Lake, following pretty much the old

1. ■» ,j !

164

PHEIPS AND aOEIrA,Vs PPECHASE.

whtrMt'ohJ'"*''"?''™^' ""•"="" ""'■ "--•■"'» near
gua outle . No one wintered at Canandaigua in 1788 '9 Earlv
m the spnng of nso, before .he snow was ofl' JZund Wh
Sm„h moved his family n-on, Geneva, and oecupi-d the „' store
house thus making hin.self "he first settler wes of Sene a L ke
Soon after h,s arrival he huilt a block hottse upon Main s re" up n

fl s tstoek o hquors was obtained from Niagara, U. C. He wen

re „ 1™/"|" "^r """"^ °' ""'"'^'^ "-"• i" •■' canoe ■
S Sr I ' ;f' --/™"d«cd in a gale, a. ,he mou.i, of the
Uak Orcha d creek; but he saved n.ost of his stock, and carried it
to Cananda,gua on pack horses. This primitive tavern a, dihe
ude store house on the Lake, furnished a temporary JtSpl" place
for those who arrived in the spring and st,mn,er of 1780 ° ^
Early in May 17811, Gen. Israel Chanin arrived at rni,n„ l •

and selected it as his residence, erecting'a 1^ Lt^e La iT X !

-connected with him, and with surveys and land sales la, ,«;

contemplated. v.»re some eight or ten others, who can . ^ ^

ho ,.1, ^i'™"''^' "■"'''■■ ''™" '■"°'h<' '"l^. <hou..h this w^

Gen. chapin . -^^^^.:^2:Lt:^:^^£:2:'s::^

Ph Ir.' Tr r™' ''•■""• ^°™ "•■"''■ M'-. Walker, a, t mrf

residence. Others came during the summer, who will be nimed in
another connection, and before the sittin. in of win e tho 7
pretty good beginning of a new settlement Ju;^^^^^^^^^
a brother of Capt. Horatio Jones, -who still surviveft^ leXr

Canamlaif,nia was but a W on,, ti I ^ "''"'"','" "'«""- tin.,,.. His stay at

At the M,;^Ti,s imit at Oj, .sir ; hi ""''■" ''"'" ^''i'l'l^'.Ywl »« "n Indian iiitor eter
OMlc's of land o ,. W c^^^^^^^^^^^^ l'.'"""^ f;>'^ '" 'i''i ■•"ul Horatio .J,„u,ssix ^^ ,"':

Leirc.stcT. A .la,,,-?! t",^;,,' ','^..''"'*\'^'''^ <..'.'asio,H..l hy an acci.l...t at a l)all ,,], .'
D)Mix.BelJ, late CmialCuma^i;;;:^? """"' ''''^'"' "^ ^"^" ^^"'^ ^'^^ ^oJii.law,

PIIELP3 AND GOEHAM's PUECnASE.

1G5

> made near
e Canandai-
, '9. Early
und, Joseph
"le log store
3neca Lake,
street, upon
ivern. His
He went
loe ; on his
outh of the
d carried it
ni, and the
pping place

nandaigua,
the outlet ;
! that were
it the same
1 this was
the out-let
!rs, besides
Benjamin
agent of
3ned a log
2d for his
named in
-re was a
H. Jones,
emember

diiniii-- tJio
flis Slay at
iiiU-rpietiT.

ivcr I'liclps
''• Hi' wiia
ni(if8('(l t'ur

( tin. Jiidi-

■vUh uwnt.
I' J'l'tv. ill
on-iii^l;iw,

with great distinctness, early events, was one of the party who
opened the road from Geneva to Canandaigua, and from Canandai-
gua to the landing place on the outlet, in 1788, revisited the locality
again in August, in 1709. He says : -- " There was a great change.
When we left in the fall of '88 there was not a solitary person
there ; when I returned fourteen months afterwards the place was
lull of people ;— residents, surveyors, explorers, adventurers ; houses
were going up ; it was a busy, thriving place."

Mrs. Hannah Sanborn, is now the oldest surviving resident of
the village ; and with few exceptions, the oldest upon Phelps and
Gorham's purchase. She is now in her 88th year, exhibiting but
little of the usual infirmities of that advanced age, with faculties,
especially that of memory of early events, but slightly impaired,
The author found her in high spirits, even gay and humorous, en-
joying the hearty laugh of middle age, when her memory called up
some mirthful reminiscence. Upon her table were some of the
latest publications, and she alluded in conversation to Headly's fine
descriptions in his " Sacred Mountains," as if she had enjoyed them
with all the zest of her younger days. She had just finished a letter
in a foir hand, shewing but little of the tremor of age, which was to
be addressed to a great grand daughter. To her, is the author
largely indebted for reminiscences of early Tioneer events at Can-
andaigua.

Early in the spring of 1790, Mr. Sanborn came with his wife and
two young children to Schenectady, where he joined Judah Colt,
and the two chartered a boat, with which they came to the head
of navigation on the Canandaigua outlet.* Mr. Sanborn moved

IsoTH.— >,atlianu-l Saiiboni, llio luisbnml of Mre. Sajiboni, died in 1814. There i-
wareoly a pioneer .scM lev m tlio Ciunesee counli'v, tliat did not know tlie earh' landlord
and landlady. -Ir* S. was Ihe da.i-hler of Jann-, Gonld, of Lvni.. Conn., 'i- ihc aunt
ol Ji'.nies Gould ol Albany. Her son John and William ro.side in lliiiiois. Her el.lest
.lautriiter — tlic lirst born m Canandaijrua.— now over (iO years of a;,'e, is tlie wife of
)r. Jacol)sol Canandai,i.-ua; another (laui;hter is the wife of Henrv Fellow.s Ivsq. of
lenlield; another, is Jlrs. Jh'astus Granger of Hulfalo ; and a foiirth i.s a maiden
daughter, residing willi her iiKitlier.

* Mrs. S.srivcR a c;raphic account of this journev. The last hou.so the j larty slept
lu atti.'r leaving .^eheneetady unlil tliey arrived at the cubhi on llie Canaiu.aiguu out-
let, was the then one lo^; house in Utioa. It was crowch'd with boatmen from Nia^'-
ara. Mrs. S. spread lier bed ujion the iloor for herself, lui.sbaiul and ehihhvn, and the
weaned boatmen liegged tlie inlvilege of hiving their heads up,)n its Imrders. The
Iloor was covered. Alter tliat they camped wlierever iiii,dit overtook them. On tlie
0.swego lliver they took po,s.se.ssieii of a deserteil camj., antl just as they had got their
Hupper jirepiired two sfotit IiuUans came who claimetl the camp aud threatened a sum-

166

PHELPS AND GOPJIAm's PURCHASE.

I*"

H 'i

intchB loghut ,ha, ho hnd built in the R„bi„.on „e!ghborl,oo,l, where

some Mrs S chose to go u-here she could have more than one
mtt' s::^Z/f' ,™'-- . Tl.ey removed to Canan. „„
on h-nl; r\ *"= '°"."'' 'here .n May, 1790, Joseph Smith, hvtv-
on ba„K of Lake, Darnel Brainard in a hltle log hou e near the pre 3
en, oen,e.ry. Cap, Martin Dndley, in ,(,e hons^ built b^M VV t-
er James D. F.sh.n a log house down near the Lake; Gen. Cha, in
wo had been on the fall before had built a small framed house'f"
h.s famdy, a few rods below Bemis' Bookstore. Mr. Sanborn
moved ,n o „ untd a small framed house was erected on the Atwa r
^ZL f ^^'^7'"= the occupant, opening a tavern, which

^v.lh ho excep,ionof wha, Joseph Smith ha<l done in the way of
enter atnment, was the first ,avern west of Seneca Lake, and
was the only one for four years. It was the home of the votm.
men who came to Canandaigua for sClemen. ; of advenmre °
emigrants, who would stop a, Canandaigua with their families a fe^
daj^ ,0 prepare for pushing here and there into the wilderness •
land surveyors and explorers ; Judges of the early courts andlaw
yers; ,he ndianUiefs Red .f.acke,, Bran., Farmer's Br^eTc rn-'
planter who were called ,o Ca„,„daigua often in e.arly years "o
ransact business with Gen. Chapin, ,he Superi„,e„den^/i„ short
the prm„„ve ,avern that now would be ieemed of i^ade ua e
.nenstons or an m„ at some four corners in the country, had W

m nen.t their'T""'"",' """' "' *"' ''"''^ 1^=™'" ■ ""^ »f --V
eminent m their day, and even now blended with all the earlv his-
tory of he Genesee Country. Mrs. Sanborn enumerates amonc-
her early guests, many of them as boarders: -Oliver vZJ
Charles Williamson, Aaron Burr, Thomas Morris, Rev. Mr S'
nd, Augustus and Peter B. Porter, James and Wilham Wadswo h
the early Judges of the Supreme court of this State. Bishop CT '
Joseph and Benj. Ellicct. Philip Church, Louis Le C,™teC
Chailes and Dugald Cameron, Vincent Matthew. Kathane W
Howell, John Greig, Horatio and John H. Jones llobert T o ,„'
Jeremiah Mason, Philetu. and John Swift, ^n IIow ' t^yTe '
Lh»^_Cc^t^man Bogert, Samuel Ilaight, Timothy Hosmer,'

PIIELPS AND GOEILUl's rUKCUASE.

1G7

iiood, where
ig and lone-
re than one

inandaiirufr
mith, Iivir»'jr

ar the pres-
lAIr. Walk-
en. Chapin
d house for
•. Sanborn
'le Atwater
ern, which
le way ol"
Lake, and
the vounfr
Iventurors,
lilies a few
i'ilderncss ;
I, and law-
her, Corn-
years to
; in short
Inadequate
y, had for
I of many
3arly his-
!S amonrr
I' Phelps,
^fr. Kirk-
idsworth,
)p Chase,
outeleux,
aniel W.
'■ Troup,
Cuyler,
Hosmer,

S. says it

Arnold Potter, Benedict Robinson, J<?niima Wilkinson, Samuel B.
Ogden, John Puller, Samuel Street, ana Timothy Pickering. Few
of all of them are now living, and yet the busy stirring landlady, of
whom they were guests, most of them in their early \ nrs, lives to
i-emember them and speak tamiliarly of their advents to this
region.

Mrs. Sanborn well remembers the Pickering treaty of '94. As
it was known that Col. Pickering, the agent, would come prepared
to give them a grand feast, and distribute among them a large
amount of money and clothing, the attendance was very general.
For weeks before the treaty, they were arriving in squads from all
of their villages and constructing their camps in the woods, upon
the Lake shore, and around the court house square. The little
village of whites, was invested, over run witli the wild natives.
It seemed as if they had deserted all their villagr>s ana transferred
even their old men, women, a? 1 children, to the feast, the carousal,
and the place of gifts. The night scenes were wild and picturesque ;
their camp fires lighting up the forest, and their whoops and yells
creating a sensation of novelty, not unmingled with fear, with the
far inferior in numbers who composed the citizens of the pioneer
village, and the sojourners of their own race. At first, all was peace
and quiet, and the treaty was in progress, beeves had been slaughter-
ed sufficient to supply them all with meat, and liquor had been care-
fully excluded ; but an avaricious liquor dealer, secretly dealt out
to them the means of intoxication, and the council was interrupted,
and many of the Indians became troublesome and riotous. Gen.
Chapin however suppressed the liquor shop, harmony was restored,
and the treaty concluded and the gifts dispensed. A general ca-
rousal followed, but no outrages were committed. They lingered
for weeks after the council, dis[)laying their new broadcloths and
blankets, silver bands and broaches.*

Samuel Gardner was the first merchant in Canandaigua ; he
married a sister of \Ym Aiitis ; hi^i store was in a log building.
Thaddeus Chapin was the next.

* Jutlgt! Porter was then in C;uii:i>(li»ic!iia iutiiii; as the a!,'oiit ol' riiclps ami GurliMin,
ij-.Uie iiainu of liis j)rin('i|)als, lie Juul lo niakiMlu'ni ])r("'er.isol' provisions and wliiskcy
wiicn they came to Canamhiiii-iia, and tliat was pretty often. Uiithe oeoasion alhide'd
to \\v denied an Indian wliiskey, tt'llinfj,' liini it was all ''one. "No, no," replied tlio
Indian, " Genesee FulLs never dry." 'this was a shrewd allnsion to the j^nft to rhol]i8
and Gorbam of the enormous " Mill Lot," -s^hieli embraced the Ueuoriee FuHs.

'Mi;i

168

During the

rmiPS AND GOUII,Ul's PDECIIASE.

age,,,, who h JZll'!!?' ""T r"":- '"^ '"""" °^ "-

I'liys ciaii was T Dr A.u ^' '" '^anandaigiu. Ihe nearest

been left hy a travel e. A, w ? , " "'"=" " '''"^'' "'»' '''"I

Se, ;:!,tr^^el.r"'se''"=""'"°'■«""'^^'■""'■"«^"^--■
M,■. Sanborn Ie,l the ZT^ ^""'°"' ''"" '«'"' l"-^ •'«'>" Call ;

.»one.o,„,e.hel";"S;^s:::r;L""t;V,:;:^.^::^^
"'."•ertoirx!;^^^^^

f.-o.n eight, to „„ hnn,,red taa /e S and tl Wh™ r"", h'"'

ormeart. » 'M fru,ts — whortleberries, blackbrnle^ v:;i,i „l
crab.ap,,,e.,, cranberric-.,, .,„-awberries, ,-a pber e I we^ S "^ ■''
.e,,. sea™, and furnished a prett/g J;;b:?i;,,eX\ ,U ^.^t^"
"near ct" , T '""" ™ C-anda.gua Lake, a, the Old Gas- '

4,-od,,e'eff:;o„,1i;f™:-ti;;-';„3'-'^^

saucei, Dy Ails, feanborn, m 1794 •it n tpi nnvt,- i ,

■nuel, talked of; i, ,„arked an e,-a ' ' ^' '■""'' "'"' " """S

Ebenczer Allan is well ,.e,„e,nbered a. Cananrtaigna, as he is in
all tile I'joneer sett emonf? l\r,.o c i , "

...est on his way ^Z^J'^T - " "' ''' ''°"'= ""'
I- two half-blood daaghte s ehoo ' i! .r,'" ''''''' '" f'"-

-Iwas^t that period what .be'tene": ':tJr^T:£^^

iier of the
nton, died,
le nearest
■s destitute
it that ha(!
heiiig an
first rch\i^-
ssee Coun-
ling Judge
ohn CalJ ;
ere being
lith,* wlio
next was

plentj^ of
sh. The
■ere easi-
■ould kill
lien they
for Hour
i plums,
lenty in
iltivated
31d Cas- "
J supply
'egan to
irst dish
;i a tea-
a thing

e is in
ing her
) plact.!
along,
lied a

riEELPS AND GOIUIAm's PURCIIASE.

109

" Shin-ne-wa-na," ( a gentleman ; ) but stories of his barbarity in
the Border Wars, were then so rife, that he was treated with
but httle respect. Sally,* the Senecu mother, with all a mother's
fondness, came as far as Canandaigua to bid her daugiiters good
bye.

In July, 1790, the heads of families in T. 10, R. 3, (Canandai-
gua) were as follows : — Nathaniel Gorham, jr., Nathaniel Sanborn;
John Fellows, James D. Fish, Joseph Smith, Israel Chapin, John
Clark, Martin Dudley, Thineas Bates, Caleb Walker, Judah Colt,
Abner Barlow, Daniel Brainard, Seth Ilolcomb, James Brockle-
bank, Lemuel Castle, Benjamin Wells, John Freeman. Before the
close of 1790, there was a considerable accession to the popula-
tion.

The first town meeting of the town of Canandaigua, was held in
April, 1791. It was "opened and superintended by Israel Chapin,"
who was chosen Supervisor; and James D. Fish was chosen Town
Clerk. The other town officers were as follows : — John Call, Enos
Boughton, Seth Reed, Nathan Comstock, James Austin, Arnold Pot-
ter, Nathaniel Potter, Israel Chapin, John Codding, James Latta,
Joshua Whitney, John Swift, Daniel Gates, Gamaliel Wilder, Isaac
Hathaway, Phineas Bates, John Codding, Nathaniel Sanborn, Jared
Boughton, Phineas Bates, Othniel Taylor, Joseph Smith, Benjamin
Wells, Hezekiah Boughton, Eber Norton, William Gooding, John
D. Robinson, Jabez French, Abner Barlow.

"Voted. That swine, two months old and upwards, going at large,
shall have good and sufficient yokes."

" Voted, That for every full-grown wolf killed in the town, a
bounty of thirty shillings shall be paid."

The reader, with names and locations that have occurred and
will occur, will observe that these primitive town officers were
spread over most of all the eastern portion of Phelps and Gorham's
Purchase. It was the first occasion to bring the Pioneers together.
Mutual acquaintances were made ; friendship, good feeling, tiiliari-
ty, athletic games, (says Mrs. Sanborn,) were the order of^he day.

ii'liiiin-
1 of the
vc'i', not

Note. -When the Scneca.s ut tlie Morris treaty, deeded four square miles at Mount
Moms, to Allan, m trust for C hloe and Sally Allan, one conditio,, if the trust wa^ t^a
he slH.M a have them tau-:ht "rendrng and siting, sewing, and other useful art.; ac-
cordui!,' to the custom of while people." ^a^^-^.^i.

PIIELI'S AND GOEIIAM's PURCHASE.

In April, 1792, the town meeting was "opened and inspected by
Israel Chapin and Moses Atwater, Esqs." Most of the officers
were re-elected. Eighty pounds were raised to defray the expen-
ses of the town. In this year i!:r, record of a road' was made,
which ran Irom " Joseph Kilbourn's house to the shore of the Lake •"
and another, from "Sw.;fs ashory to west line of No. 13, R. 2
near Webb Harwood's ;" another, •' from Swift's to Canandaigua ;"
and others, leading "from the square in Canandaigua," in different
directions.

Town meeting, 1793, it was voted that fence viewers "examine
the size and dimensions of hog yokes ;" tiie wolf bounty was raised
to %5. In this year, twelve scalps were produced; among the
narnea of those who claimed bounty, were : - Thaddeus Chapin,
William Markham, Benjamin Keys, Gamaliel Wilder, Daniel Cha-
pin, Israel Reed. Roads from "Canandaigua to John Coddings •"
"from Nathan Comstock's to Webb Harwood's;" "from old pre-
emption line to Canandaigua Mills;" "from Mud Creek Hollow to
Capt. Peter Pitts' ;" and many others, were surveyed this year.
The early road surveyors were: — Gideon Pitts, Jairus Rose,
Jonathan Edwards, Jabez French.

By the tovva records of 1791, it would seem that Annanias M
Miller had a mill in operation on Mud Creek. Roads were recorded
tins year, "from Canandaigua to Jerusalem;" "from Jerusalem to
Gerundegut." This year, Othniel Taylor presented six wolf scalps.
Gen. Israel Chapin was Supervisor till 1795, when he was suc-
ceeded by Abner Barlow. There is recorded this year, the sale of
several slaves, the property of the citizens of Canandaigua.

Although the county of Ontario, embracing all of the Genesee
country, was set off from Montgomery, during the session of the
legislature in 1789, '90, no organization of the courts was had until
1793. In June of that year, a court of Oyer and Terminer was
held at "Patterson's Tavern in Geneva." The presiding judge
was John Stop Hobart, one of the three Supreme Court judges ap.
pointed after the organization of the Judiciary in 1777. A grand
jury was called and charged, but no indictments preferred. The
first court of Common Pleas and General Sessions, was held at the
house of Nathaniel Sanborn in Canandaigua, in November, I794
The presiding judges were, Timothy Hosmer and Charles William-
son, associated with whom, as assistant justice, was Enos Bough-

:, f

PHELPS AND GORIIAm's PUROHASE.

171

pec ted by
le officers
he txpen-
^as made,
le Lake ;"

12, R. 2,
idaigua ;"

different

''examine
ras raised
Tiong the
3 Chapin,
niel Cha-
addings ;"
old pre-
lollow to
!his year,
us Rose,

anias M.
recorded
isalem to
If scalps,
ivas suc-
e sale of
1.

Genesee
1 of the
lad until
ner was
g judge
dges ap-
A grand
i. The
d at the
r, 1794.
Villiam-
Bough-

■

ton. Attornies, Thomas Morris, John Wickham, James Wads-
. worth, Vincent Matthews. There was a number of suits upon the
calendar, but no jury trial. The organization of the court would
seem have been the principal business. There was, however, a grand
jury, and one indictment was found.

The next session of the court was in June, 1795. James Parker
was an associate justice. Peter B. Porter and Nathaniel W. Howell,
being attornies of the Supreme Court, were admitted to practice in
the courts of Ontario county. Stephen Ross and Thomas Mum-
f:-rd were also admitted. At this court, the first jury trial was had
west of the county of Herkimer. It was the trial of the indict-
ment that had been preferred at the previous session, for stealing a
cow bell. John Wickham, as County Clerk, was ex-officio District
Attorney, but the management of the prosecution devolved upon
Nathaniel W. Howell. Peter B. Porter and Vincent Matthews
managed the defence.

In November, 1795, Moses Atwater was added to the bench. It
was ordered that " Nathan Whitney be appointed the guardian of
Parkhurst Whitney, an infant at the age of eleven years." David
Saltonstall, Herman Bogert, David Jones, Ambrose Hall, Peter
Masterton, John Nelson, Major Bostwick, George D. Cooper, H.
K. Van Rensselaer, were admitted as attornies, [most of them non-
residents.]

From Book of "Miscellaneous Records," 1797: — Peter B. Por-
ter as county clerk, records the medical diplomas of Daniel Good-
win, Ralph Wilcox, Jeremiah Atwater, Moses Atwater, Augustus
Williams and Joel Prescott. 1799— Chiefs of Seneca Nation ac-
knowledged the receipt of $8,000 from Gen. Chapin, as a dividend
upon the sum of $100,000, which the United States government had
received of Robert Morris, as purchase money for the Holland Pur-
chase and Morris Reserve, and invested in the stock of the United
States Bank. The medical diplomas of Drs. John Ray, Samuel
Dungan, David Fairchild, Arnold Willis, are recorded. Peter B.
Porter appoints Thomas Cloudesly, deputy clerk. Theophilus Caze-
nove and Paul Busti appoint Joseph Ellicott and James Wadsworth,
their lawful attornies. 1800— Robert Troup as general agent for
Sir William Pultney, appoints Robert Scott local agent. De Witt
Clinton executes a mortgage to Oliver Phelps, on .in " undivided
fourth part of 100,000 acres [ying west of the Genesee River." 1801,

Ill.t i

i I,

172

I'lIELPS AND GOEIIAJi's PUnciIASE.

Peter B. Porter as clerk, makes Aurrustus Porter his deputy. 1803—
Benj. Barton and Polydore B. Wisner are made appraisers of dam-
ages incurred by tlie construction of the Seneca Turnpike. 1801—
Sylvester Tiffany as county clerk appoints Dudley Saltonstall his
deputy. Thomas Morris appoints John Greii,' his lawful attorney.
Harry Ilickox files certificate of license to practice medicine. 180(5 —
John Hornby of the county of Middlesex, Kingdom of G. B. ap-
points John Greig his lawful attorney. T. Spencer Colman is ap-
pointed deputy clerk. Phineas P. Bates is succeeded as Sheriff
by James K. Guernsey. 1807— Oliver Phelps appoints Virtue
Bronson his lawful attorney. 1808— Stephen Bates as Sheriff ap-
points Nathaniel Allen deputy. James B. Mower succeeded Syl-
vester Tiffany as clerk. 1810— Myron Holley is county clerk.
Canandaigua Library organized. 1811— James B. Mower as clerk
appoints Daniel D. Barnard his deputy.

In all the earliest years," the Cayuga, Oneida, Onondaga and
Seneca Indians received their annuities at Canandaigua, which
made it the place of annual gatherings of those nations, and the
centre of the Indian trade.

Although not entitled to it from population, in 1791, by a special
act, Ontario was entitled to be represented in the Assembly. This
was not known in the new settlements of Canandaigua, Geneva,
and their neighborhoods, but in a small settlement that had com-
menced on the Canisteo in what is now Steuben Co., they were in
possession of the secret. Col. Eleazor Lindley, under whose auspi-
cies the settlement was made, collected together a few back woods-
men, held an election, got a few votes for himself, carried them to
New York and was admitted a member of the Legislature. The
whole proceeding was irregular, but there was no one to contest
the seat, and the Legislature did not wish to deprive the backwoods
of a representative. General Israel Chapin was its representative
in 1792.

In a letter to Sir Wm. Pultney, in 1791, Robert Morris had de-
clared his intention of settling his son Thomas in the Genesee coun-
try, as an evidence of his faith in its value and prospects. He
states that Thomas was then reading law with Richard Harrison
Esq. by whom he was deemed a " worthy young man." In August
1791, Thomas Morris v.ith some companions, passed through the
country, visited Niagara Falls, and on his return, made a conb^dera-

PHELrS AND GORHAIW'S PURCnASE.

173

ble stay at Canandaigua.* He returned and became a resident of
Canandaigua, marrying a daughter of Elias Kane, of Albany. His
father having become the purch ser of ihe pre-emption right of
what was afterwards the Ho 'and ?■ r-haso and Morris' Re^'serve,
it was probably intended that h • shou: 1 be the local agent. That
interest however being parted x ', , H hnd much to do with closing
up his Cither's affairs in this region, ,,,.u in all the preliminary meas"^
ures adopted by the Holland Corr,,.M,y, in reference to their pur-
chase. His father having in .is sale to the Holland Company,
guarantied the extinguishment of the Indian title, he acted in all
that aHair as his agent. He was the first representative in Concrress
from all the region west of Seneca Lake; and as a lawyer.land
proprietor, and agent, was intimately blended with all the local
history of this region. Becoming through his father, an early pro-
prietor of the Allan tract at Mount Morri;^, that locality derives its
name from him. He was the intimate friend of Mr. Williamson ;
and in fact, enjoyed the confidence and esteem of all the early
Pioneers. Like others of that early period, he over-traded in lands,
shared in his father's reverses, and as early as 1803 or '4, retired to
the city of New York, where he practiced law, until his death, in
1848. The author knows nothing of his family, save the fact, that Mr.
Morris an Engineer upon the southern rail road, and Lieut. Morris
of the Navy are his sons.

*; Major Hoops, who was tlicn survoj-inrr for the father, Robert Morris in Stonhnn
wntestoh„„.S.,,t 1791 :_;< Your «on Thomas is an exceUont wV.Xla . He <^t^
lo.s abou a ni.k. troni Canaudaigi.a, nigl,t came ou ; lie n.ade his way thnm ' h .v^„
a,.<l over h.lls, and at en.^th espie.l a solitary light at a distance. 'Enter m'th't
froni whence It proceeded, he asked for lodging, but he appeared in such a questio
able Shane that it was denied. Upon being tohl who lie was, the <,ccn,,/ut n ado
amends lor his inciv.hty by turning half a dozen boys and girls n t of th eiri^^d n to
lu9 own 1 on, turned m, slept till morning among ilees and bed bugs, ^e. ?c tJ^eu
rose and tnidged on six miles, to Canandaigua, arriving before sun ris?" ' '

And another case ol a benighted traveUer. of greater note perhaps, but of far less

rea nient, had happened years before settlemen't coniniencej :_ j^^.hn Jacob AsS

with a pack ot Indian goods upon his back, wandere<l from the Indian trail got l5

111 the low gnmnds at the footof SenecaLake, in an inclement night, wa iZed an

he howl and he rust ingof wild beasts, until almost morning, whenhe was U ti "

uild waSi. "" '" '"^'"' """■ '^'" "^^' "''''^'' '"^"^^ *"""^^"'° it' obtained shelter

Note- Mr Morris, in his manuscripts which were prepared in 1841, savs •-" The
excursion that has been spoken of was undertaken ty ne. partly from^a desire to
witness an In.han treaty, and see the Falls of Niagara; am partly wh a S to
see a country in w Inch iny father, at tliat time had To ex ensivJan interest and with
the detc.rm,nation o settle n it if I liked it. I was pleased with it, ancr,nkdc p n y
>nind to settl.. ..f Oiuandai^irua. .-m soon as T .houkl iiave attained he age o of a 5
myadmisswu to the bar. Accordingly, in the early part of Murcli, 1792, I left New

174

PHELPS AND GOEHAm's PUKCHASE.

John Fellows, who is named among the residents in Canandai-
gua in lye ,, was in the Massachusetts line during the Revolution,
with the rank of Brig. General. He was a resident of Sheffield!
Mass., was sheriff of Berkshire county, and its representative in
the State legislature. He was one of the associates of Bacon and
Ada as, in the purchase of East Bloomfield; drawing his share —
3,000 acres, — on Mud creek, he erected a saw mill there in 1790,
in company with the late Augustus Porter. Besides this tract, he
had lands m Canandaigua and Honeoye. He never became a per-
manent resident of the country — got discouraged, or rather looked
upon the dark side of things; said there was no use of having
good wheat lands, if they never were to have any market. He re-
sold the 3,000 acres on Mud creed ibr 18d. per acre. He died in his
native town, Sheffield, in 1808. He was the father of Henry Fel-
lows, Esq. of Penfield, and of Mrs. Daniel Penfield.

James D. Fish, was first town clerk ; his wife's death was the
second one in Canandaigua ; and he died in early years.

John Clark came with Mr. Phelps to the treaty. His trade be-
ing that of a tanner and currier, he manufactured the first leather
mthe Genesee country. This was from the hides of the cattle
driven on to furnish beef for the Indians at the treaty. His vats
were made by sawing off sections of hollow trees. From this
small beginning, his business was extended, and in early years his
' snoe and leather establishment was well known throughout a wide
region. His wife was the daughter of the early pioneer, Lemuel
Castle. Mr. Olarke died in 1813, and Mrs. Clark in 1842 Thev

Luther Cole came into the country with Gen. Israel Chapin
He was the first to carry the mail from Whitesboro to Canandai^rua '
on horseback when the roads would allow of it, and often on foot *
In winters he would travel with a sleigh, buy goods in Whitesboro

that handsome town. wW the e .itl^ n mv hon,! 1 '"^'''^■'' "'"' '^^^■" ">

g^iSe w£ '""" ""* ^' Whitesboro." The Louse is n^ S^^alS^
* See Post Office Canandaigua, Appendix, No. 8.

PHELPS AOT) G0IlIIA3l's PURCHASE.

175

and sell them in Canandaigua. From this small beginning he be-
came an early and prominent merchant. His wife was a niece of
Mrs. Phineas Bates. He died many years since. His sons, Henry
and James, emigrated to Detroit ; James will be remembered as
an early and highly gifted poet.

Dr. Hart was another early physician, and died in early years.
He married the widow of Hezekiah Boughton, a brother of Jared
and Enos Boughton, and father of Claudius V. and George H.
Boughton.

William Antiss emigrated from Pennsylvania, and established
himself in Canandaigua as a gun smith, at an early period. He
was employed by Gen. Chapin to make and repair rifles for the In-
dians, and the white hunters and sportsmen, over a wide region,
were for a long pc-iod, the customers of his establishment. He
died in early years, and was succeeded by his son William Antip ■
2d, who continued in the business until his death in 1843. The
sons of Wm. Antiss 2d, are William Antiss of Canandaigua, Robert
Antiris, who is the successor of his father and grand-father in busi-
ness. Mrs. Byron Hays and Mrs. Wm. Reed of Canandaigua, are
daughters of Wm. Antiss 2d.

In his rambles in June, 1795, the Duke, Liancourt, went from
Bath to Canandaigua. He staid all night at " Capt. Metcalf 's," and
mentions the fact that a few years before the Capt. had bought his
land for is. per acre, and sold a part of it for $3 per acre. He
says the settlement was " called Watkinstown, from several families
of that name who possess the greatest property here."* ''Capt.
Metcalf besides his lands and Inn, possesses a saw mill, where 4500
feet of boards are cut daily. These boards he sends on the lake to
Canandaigua, where they are sold for 10s. per 100 feet." " There
is a school master at Watkinstown, with a salary of twelve dollars
per month." Speaking of Canandaigua he says : — " The houses,
although built of wood, are much better than any of that descrip-
tion I have hitherto seen. They consist mostly of joiner's work,
and are prettily painted. In front of some of them are small courts,
surrounded with neat railings. There are two Inns in the town,
and several shops, where commodities are sold, and shoes and other

it.

* The Duke was in Naples. rhelp.s and Gorhain aol.l the township to " Watkins
Harriss & Co." ^ viuuo,

176

PHELPS AND GORHAJl's PURCHASE.

articles made. The price of land here is three dollars per acre
without the town, and fifteen dollars within. Speakinir of a visit to
"Mr. Chipping," * (Chapin) he says he found him surrounded by a
dozen Seneca Indians, (among whom was Red Jacket,) who had
come to partake of his whiskey and meat." The Duke was evi-
dently in bad humor at Canandaigua. His friend Blacons had
selected the "second Inn, which was far inferior to the first," and
he says their dissatisfaction was greatly increased, when they were
" shewn into a corn loft to sleep, being four of us, in company with
ten or twelve other men," and after he had got to sleep, he says he
was disturbed by a recruit of lodgers, an old'man and a handsome
young woman, who I believe was his daughter." At the idea of a
young woman occupying the same room, with twelve or fifteen of
the other sex, bethinks his European readers "will scofi; or laugh,"
but he thinks it showed in " an .ulvantageous light, the laudable
simplicity and innocence of American manners."

riiineas Bates was a native of Durham, Conn. He came to the
Genesee country in early summer in 1789, with the early Pioneer,
Gamaliel Wilder, and remained with him until the fall of the year!
making the commencement at Wilder's Point, in Bristol. He re-
turned to Connecticut in the fall, making the journey on foot.
Early in the spring of 1790, accompanied by his eldest son,
Stei)hen, his son-in-law, Orange Brace, and several others, he return-
ed, starting with a yoke of oxen and sled, the party bringing with
them a year's provision, and some household goods. Arriving at
Schenectady, they put every thing they could not conveniently
carry in their knapsacks, on board of abatteaux, left their sled, un-
yoked their oxen, travelled up the Mohawk, and struck otY into
the wilderness, preceding the Wadsworths a few weeks. At Onon-
daga, Mr. Bates bought half a bushel of potatoes, slung them across
the neck of one of his oxen, brought them ' > Canandaigua, and
planted them upon some village lots he j ...chased. During the
summer, he cleared ten acres, and sowed it to wheat.

Returning to Connecticut late in the fall, in company with Amos

Hall, Sweet, Samuel Knapp; soon r.fter the party left, they

encountered a severe snow storm, the snow falling to such a depth

' Tlic tr.-iiislatnr of tlio Duko'.s "Trnvcl?," iniulc bad work willi names. William
V\ lulKwui'tli inr iiistaiici', in ciillud Cupt. Watworth."

PHELPS AND GOEHAm's PURCHASE,

as to render their progress extremely slow. Walking in single file,
one would go forward to break the path, until he wearied out, when
another would take his place. Anticipating no such delay, they
had provided themselves with an inadequate stock of provisions,
and long before they reached Whitestown, the suffering of hunger
was added to that of cold and fatigue. The carcass of an otter,
their dog killed in the Nine Mile Creek, was a substitute for more
palatable food.

Undismayed by the scene of suffering and privation he had passed
through, Mr. Bates on reaching home, made preparations for the
removal cf his family, and in February, 1791, brought them by
sleighing tc Canandaigua, making the seventh in the new settle-

's
mcnt.

He opened a public house at an early day, near the upper end of
Main-street, which was continued by him and his son for many
years. He was an early Justice of the Peace, and in all respects,
a worthy citizen. He died in 1829, at an advanced age. Bring-
ing with him into the country at so early a period, active and en-
terprising sons, the family occupied a prominent position for a long
series of ye;«-s. His eldest son, Stephen, marrying the daughter
of Deacon Handy of W. Bloomfield, became a successful fa°mer
in Gorham, was sheriff of Ontario, a member of Assembly, and a
Senator. In 1845, he emigrated to Sauk, Wisconsin, where he
died the year fbllowing ; and of a large family of children, but few
survive. Asher Bates married the daughter of Elisha Steel, of
East Bloomfield; in 180r-t, moved west of the Genesee river, 'and
opened a public house on the main road between Caledonia and Le
Roy; was one of the earliest sheriffs of Genesee; died in 1810.
An only son studied law with Spencer and Sibley in Canandaigua,
settled in Detroit, and is now a resident at Honolulu, one of the
Sandwich Islands, acting in the capacity of the King's attorney or
counsellor. His first wife was the daughter of Thomas Beals of
Canandaigua ; the second, is a sister of Dr. Judd, the phydcian of
the nn'ssionaries in the Sandv.ich lands. The widow of Asher
Bates is now the wife of Dr. Wm. Sheldon of Le Roy. Phineas
P. Bates succeeded his father as a landlord in Canandaigua, and
was for many years a ,;, -rUy sheriiF and sheriff of Ontario.' He
is the only one of a luge family that survives ; is the occupant
of a fine farm adjoininr the village of Canandaigua. David C.

n-m

178

PHELPS AND GOEHAM's PUECHaSE.

Bates was a farmer near Canandaigua; died in 1849. A daughter
of the elder Phineas Bates became the wife of John A. Stevens
the early Printer, and Editor of the Ontario Messenger. An elder
daughter was the wife of Orange Brace, who has been named in
connection with the early advent of the family ; in 1806, he be-
came one of the earliest settlers upon the purchase of Phelps and
Chipman, in Sheldon, Wyoming county. *

Phineas P. Bates, Esq., the survivor of the family, who has been
named, in 1800, was the mail boy from Canandaigua to Fort Nia-
gara. The mail route had been, established about two years pre-
vious, and was carried through by Jasper Marvin, who sometimes
dispensed with mail bags, and carried the contents in a- pocket
book. Mr. Bates observes that when he commenced carrying it
for his brother Stephen, who was the mail contractor, it used to
take six days to go and return. His stopping places over night,
were at Mrs. Berry's, among the Indians at Tonawanda, and at
rort Niagara.

In some reminiscences of Mr. Bates, he observes, that "in 1793
one of those fatal accidents occurred at Canandaigua, which always
cast a gloom over small communities. A Mr. Miles, from what is
now Lima, and a citizen of Canada, were on their way to Massa-
chusetts Riding i-nto the village, when they were within a few
rods of Main-street, a tree turned out by the roots, fell upon the
travellers, killing them both, and one of their horses. What made
the affair a very singular one, was the fact, that although it was
raining moderately at the time, there was not the least wind to
cause the full of tlie tree."

Dr. Moses Atwater settled in Canandaigua as a physician, at the
early period of 1791. In some correspondence that passed be-
tween Gen Chapin and Judge Phelps, there was much gratifica-
tion nrianifested that their new settlement was to have the benefit
of a physician. Dr. Atwater enjoyed for a long period an extensive
practice, and made himself eminently useful in the -ew coun^rv

PIIELP3 AND GOEHAMS PUKCHASE.

1T9

He was an early Judge of Ontario county. He died in 1848, at
the advanced age of 82 years. Samuel Atwater of Canandaigua,
and Moses Atwater of Buffalo, are his sons ; a daughter became
the wife of Robert Pomeroy, of Buffalo ; and another, the wife of
Lewis Jenkins, formerly a merchant of Canandaigua, now a resi-
dent of Buffalo. Dr. Jeremicih Atwater, a brother of Moses, set-
tled in Canandaigua in early years. He still survives at the age
of 80 years, laboring, however, under the infirmity of a loss of
sight.

Mr. Samuel Dungan was a native of Pennsylvania, a student
with the celebrated Dr. Wistar. He settled in practice in Canan-
daigua in 1797. He possessed extraordinary skill as a surgeon, and
in that capacity, was known throughout a wide region. He died
nearly thirty years since. He left a son and a daughter, both of
whom are still living.

Dr. William A. Williams was from Wallingford, Conn. He en-
tered Yale College at the close of the Revolution, and graduated at
the early age of sixteen. After passing through a regular course
of medical studies, he commenced practice in Hatfield, Mass.; but
m a few years, in 1793, emigrated to Canandaigua, established him-
self in a large and successful practice, which he retained until near
the close of a long life, One who was his neighbor for near forty
years, observes : — " He was a man of plain and simple manners,
amiable and kind hearted ; at the bed side of his patients, he min-
gled the consolations of friendship with professional advice ; in
day or night time, in sunshine or in storm, whether his patients were
rich or poor, he was the same indefatigable, faithful physician and
good neighbor. He died in 1933 or '4. Col. George Williams, of
Portage, and Charles Williams, of Nunda, are his sons. His
daughters became the wives of the late Jared Wilson, Esq., and
John A. Granger, of Canandaigua, and — — Whitney, the present
P. M. at Canandaigua, and Editor of the Ontario Repository.

NATHANIEL W. HOWELL.

The venerable Nathaniel W. Howell, now in his 81st year, is the
oldest resident member of the Bar of Western New York. His
native place is Blooming Grove, Orange County, N. Y. The son

„* ' _i-

180

I HI

PHELPS ANB GORHAJi's PURCHASE.

of a farmer, ot a period when farmer's sons were early inured to
toil, a naturally robust and vigorous constitution was aided bv the
healthy labors of the field. At the age of thirteen he was placed in
an Academy in Goshen, founded by Noah Webster, the widely
known author ; where he remained for nearly two years ; after
which he entered the Academy at Hackensack, N. J., the Principal
of which was Dr. Peter Wilson, formerly Professor of langua.'es in
Columbia College. In May, 1787, he entered the junior cla'ss in
Princeton College, and graduated, in Sept. 1788. A few months
after graduating, making choice of the legal profession, he com-
menced the study of law in the office of the late Gen. Wilkin, in
Goshen. Remaining there but a short period, he accepted a call to
take charge of an Academy at Ward's Bridge in Ulster Co.. where
he continued for over three years ; after which, he resumed the
study of law in the office of the late Judge Hoffman, in the city of
New York. He was admitted an Attorney of the Supreme Court
in May, 1794.

In May, 1795, lie opened an office in the town of Union, near
the now village of Binghampton, in Tioga county. The late Gen.
Matthews was then practicing law in Newtown, now Elmira. The
two were the only Supreme court lawyers then in the county.

Judge Howell was admitted as an Attorney of the court of com-

mon pleas in Ontario in June, 1795, and in the following February,

removed to Canandaigua, where he has continued to reside until

the present time. The records of the courts bear evidence of his

having acquired a large practice in early years. He was one of the

local legal advisers of Mr. Williamson^ and was employed by

Joseph Eliicott in his earliest movements upon the Holland Purchase.

Laying before the author at this present writing, are copies of his

letters to Mr. Williamson written in 1795, and a letter written with-

m the present year, in a fair hand, but little marked by the tremor

of age. Fifty six-years have intervened !

In 1799, he was appointed by the council of appointment, on the
nomination of Gov. Jay, assistant Attornev General fur the five
western counties of this state, the duties of which office he contin-
ued to discharge until his resignation in 1802. In 1819 he was
appointed by the council of appointment, on the nomination of Gov
pewitt Clinton, First Judge of the county of Ontario, which office
he hlled ihr thirteen years. He was an early representative in the

PIIELP3 AND GORHAM's PURCHASE.

181

inured to
ed by the
s placed in
le widely
ars ; after
! Principal
iguages in

class in
iV months

he com-
VVilkin, in
d a call to
/O., where
uined the
he city of
ime Court

ion, near
late Gen.
ira. The
ity.

t of corn-
February,
lide until
3e of his
)ne of the
oyed by
'urchase.
es of his
ten with-
e tremor

'. on the
■ the five
contin-
he was
of Gov
h office
e in the

state legislature, and in 1813, '14, he represented in Congress, the
double district, composed of Ontario and the five counties to the
west of it. On retiring from the Bench, he retired from his profes-
sion, employing himself in the superintendence of a farm and gar-
den, enjoying good health, v/ith slight exceptions; in summers labor-
ing more or less with his own hands.

In a previous work, the author has observed, that there are few
instances of so extended a period of active participation in the
affjiirs of life ; and still fewer instances of a life that has so adorned
the profession to which he belongs, and been so eminently useful
and exemplary. To him, and to such as him —his early cotem-
porary. General Matthews, for instance — and others of his cotem-
poraries that could be named, is the highly honorable profession of
law in Western New York indebted for early and long continued
examples of those high aims, dignity, and exalted integrity, which
should be its abiding characteristics. They have passed, and are
passing away. If days of degeneracy should come upon the profes-
sion — renovation become necessary — there are no better prece-
dents and examples to consult, than the lives and practices of the
Pioneer Lawyers.

The first wife of Judge ' Howell was the youngest daughter of
General Israel Chapin. She died in 1808, leaving two sons and a
daughter. He married for a second wife, in 1809, the daughter of
Dr. Coleman, of Anchram, Mass. She died in 1812, leaving three
sons and a daughter. The surviving sons are : — Alexander H.
Howell, Thomas M. Howell, Nathaniel VV. Howell, Augustus P.
Howell. Daughters became the wives of Amasa Jackson of the
city of New York, and Henry S. Mulligan of Buffalo.

Dudley Saltonstall was a native of New London, Conn., a grad-
uate of Yale College. He studied law in the celebrated law school
of Judge Reeves of Litchfield, and was admitted to practice in the
court of common pleas of Ontario, in 1795. He had genius, and
high attainments in scholarship, commenced practice under fovorabla
auspices ; but aiming high and falling below his aim, in his first
forensic efforts, he lost confidence in himself, and abandoned the
profession. He engaged in other pursuits with but little better
success, and in 1808, emigrated to Maryland, and soon after to
Elizabeth city, N. Carolina, where he died some fifteen years since.

•Dudley Marvin did not locate at Canaudaigua within a pioneer

in.
If

182

PHELPS AND GORHAm's PURCHASE.

period, but his name is so blended with the locality, that a brief no-
tice of him will perhaps be anticipated. He was a native of
Lyme, Connecticut. His law studies were commenced and com-
pleted in the office of Messrs. Howell & Greig ; in the absence of
any classical education, but in its place was a vigorous intellect,
peculiarly adapted to the profession he embraced. He had not
Ijeen long admitted to the bar, when he had no superior, and few
if any equals, as an advocate, in the western counties of this State ;
indeed, the giants of the law from the east, who used to follow the
circuits of the old Supreme Court Judges in this direction, found in
the young advocate of the west, a competitor who plucked laurels
from their brows they had won upon other theatres of forensic strife.
" When sitting as a judge," says one of his early legal mentors, " I
freque-ntly li-stened with admiration to his exceedingly able and elo-
quent summings up in jury trials. I was once present on the trial
of an important and highly interesting cause, in which Mr. Marvin
and the celebrated Elisha Williams were opposed to each other,
and I thought the speech to the jury of Marvin, was quite as
eloquent as that of Williams, and decidedly more able. He was, in-
deed, unsuccessful, but the failure was owing to his cause, and not
to him. He might well have said witli the Trojan hero : — " Si
Pergama'dextra defendi possent etiam hac dcfensi fuissent."

He was twice elected to Congress, in which capacity the high
expectations that were entertained of his career were somewhat dis-
. appointed. The new sphere of action was evidently not his forte —
neither was it to his liking; while the free habits that unfortunately
so much prevailed at our national capitol, were illy suited to help
the wavering resolutions of a mind that was wrestling with all its
giant strength, to throw off chains with which a generous social
nature, had helped to fetter him. Years followed, in which one who
had filled a large space in the public mind of this region, was almost
lost sight of; his residence being principally in Maryland and Vir-
ginia. He returned to this State, and resumed practice in the city
of New York, where he continued but a few years ; removing to
the county of Chautauque, and retiring upon a farm.

Myron Holley came from Salisbury Connecticut, in 1803, locating
at Canandaigua. He had studied law, but never engaged in prac-
tice. He was an early bookseller, and for a considerable time
clerk of Ontario county. He was a member of the first Board of

PHELPS AND GOEHAM's PURCHASE.

183

canal commissioners, the acting commissioner in the original con-
struction of the western division of the Erie Canal, unil the whole
was put under contract. Soon after the location of the canal he
became a resident of the village of Lyons. So eminently able and
faithful were his services as a canal commissioner, that the grateful
recollection and acknowledgement of them, outlive and palliate the
mixed offence of fault and misfortune, with which his official career
terminated,

Mr. Holley died in 1839, or '40; his widow, the daughter of
John House, an early Pioneer at Canandaigua, resides in Black
Rock, Erie county.

Isaac Davis, an early merchant at Canandaigua, and subsequently
at Buffalo, married another daughter of Mr. House. She resides
with her two sons in Lockport. Wm. C. House, a surviving son of
John House, was an early merchant in Lockport, and lately the
canal collector at that point ; his wife, the daughter of John G.
Bond, an early merchant in Rochester.

Thomas Reals became a resident of Canandaigua, engaging in
the mercantile business, in 1803. In early years his trade extended
over a wide region of country, in which he was highly esteemed
as an honest and fair dealing merchant. The successor of Thad-
deus Chapin as treasurer of Ontario county, in 1814, he continued
to hold the office for twenty eight years. As Trustee and Secretary,
he has been connected with the Canandaigua Academy forty years.
He was one of the trustees, and a member of the building com-
mittee of the Congregational Church in 1812; and was one^of the
county superintendents of the poor, when the Poor House was first
erected. He is now, in his 66th year, engaged in the active
pursuits of life ; the Treasurer of the Ontario SaviTigs Bank, a
flourishing institution of which he was the founder. Mrs. Beals,
who was the daughter of the early settled clergyman at Canan-
daigua, the Rev. Mr. Fields, still survives. There are two survi-
veing sons, one a resident of New York, and the other in Indiana.
Surviving daughters are: — Mrs. Alfred Field, and Mrs. Dr. Carr,
of Canandaigua, and Mrs. James S. Rogers, of Wisconsin.

In 1798, a formidable party of emigrants arrived and settled near
Canandaigua. It consisted of the families of Benjamin Barney,
Richard Daker and Vincent Grant. They were from Orange countyi
and were all family connexions.. With their six or seven teams!

I' ''

184 puixps AND goeiiam's purchase.

and a numerous retmue of foot passengers, and stock, their advent
is well remembered. They practiced one species of travelling
economy, that the author has never before heard of among the de-
vices of pioneer times: — the milk of their cows was pift into a
churn, and the motion of the wagon produced their butter as they
went along.* The journey from Orange county consumed twenty-
six days. The sons who came with Benj. Barney, were : — Thomas,
John, Nicholas, Joseph and Henry. Thomas was the head of a
family when they came to the Genesee country ; a surviving son
of his, is Gen. V. G. Barney of Newark Wayne county ; a surviv-
ing daughter is the wife of Elisha Higby, of Hopewell, Ontario
county; — and in this connection it may be observed, that Mr.
Higby erected the first carding machine in the Genesee country,
in 1804, in what is now the town of Hopewell, to which he soon
added a cloth dressing establishment.

James Sibley, the early and widely known silver smith, watch
repairer, and jeweler, of Canandaigua, still suivives, retired from
business, a resident of Rochester. His son, Oscar Sibley, pursuing
the business of his father, is the proprietor of a large establishmen°
in Bufialo.^ By the aid of a singularly retentive memory — especi-
ally in reference to names and localities — he has furnished the
author with the following names of all the heads of families in Can-
andaigua, village, in 1803 : —

Setli Tlionipson,
Almci- liunndl,
Elijali 5J()r)»!y,
H(;iirv Cliaimi.
Samuel Latta,
Dudley Saltonstall,
Loaiul'cr ]5utlor,
Luther W. Eeujamin,
John Hall,
John House,
Maitin Dudley,
V'cn. Wells,
Jasper Tarisli,
Mr. Crane,
Daniel Danes,
Mr. Sampson,
Timothy Younglove,
Samuel Abbey,
John Shulur,
John I!rork('ll)ank,
Jeremiah Atwatcr,
General Taylor,

Widow Whiting,
I'hineas Bates,
Augustus I'orter,
Zaoliariah Seymour,
Natlianiel Sanborn,
Timothy Hurt,
TlioniiUH Morris,
ThomjLs ISeals,
M(jses AtAvater,
.Thaddeiis Chapin,
Israel Cha[)in,
Gould it Post,
James Dewey,
Ezekiel Taylor,
Wm. Anfisi,
John Clark,
James Srnedley,
Jacob Haskell,
Rev. Timothy Field,
Joshua Eaton,
Samuel Brock,
Mosea Cleveland,

Sylvester Tiffany,
Wm. A. VViUiams,
James llolden,
Natli. W. Howell,
Sanniel Dungan,
Robert Spencer,
Hannah Whalley,
Ebenezer F. Xortou,
John Furj^uson,
Abner ]5in-low,
Norton it Richards,
Nathaniel Corhani.
William Shepherd,
Freeman Atwater,
William Ciiaiimau,
Col. Hyde,
Virtue lironsoii,
James B. Mower,
Oliver I'helps,
Feter H. Colt.
Luther '"'ole,
Amos Beach.

fi.r ?"^^'"'^. '^IV^'' ^""'"? '""'« ^^'^^ i'« '"'Itch with an old lady who was fleeinn- from
the frontier in the war of 1812. An alarm found her with her dough mixed for b'lkinl

PHELPS AND GORHAm's PURCHASE.

185

heir advent
travelling
nng the de-
put into a
ter as they
ed tvventy-
— Thonnas,
; head of a
rviving son
; a surviv-
ill, Ontario
!, that Mr.
!e country,
2h he soon

lith, watch
itired from
f, pursuing
ablishinent
■ — especi-
nished the
es in Can-

H'fany,

illiiiius,

leii,

lowc'll,

inpan,

liiilley,
\ Xortou,

ISOIl,
low,

licliards,

ioiham.

icphcrd,

twatcr,

iipniau,

ISOll,

xnvcr,

I IS,

It.

fleejlii;: fiotn
1 for bakiii"'.

The first permanent church organization in Canandaigua. of
which the author finds any record, was that of St. lALithew's
church of the town of Canandaigua, February 4th, 1799. "A
meeting was Jield at the house of Nathaniel Sanborn'; Ezra Piatt
was called to the chair to regulate said meeting." The followin-r
officers were chosen : — Ezra Piatt, Joseph Colt, Wardens ; Johii
Clark, Augustus Porter, John Hecox, Nathaniel Sanborn, Benjamin
Wells, James Fields, Moses Atwater, Aaron Flint, Vestrymen.

The Rev. Philander Chase, the present Bishop of the United
States, then in Deacon's orders, presided at this organization ; re-
mained and ofliciated as clergyman for several months.

About the same period, " the first Congregational church of die
town of Cannandaigua," was organized. "Ail persons who had
statedly worshi[.ped in said congregation," met "at the school
house," and cho.se as Trustees : —Othniel Taylor, ThaddeusChapin,
Dudley Saltonstall, Seth Ilolcomb, Abner Barlow, Phineas Bates.
The first settled minister of this church, was the Rev- Mr. Field.

The first record of election returns that the author has been
enabled to obtain, is that of the election of Senators and Assem-
blymen in 1799. Tliis was before Ontario was dismembered, or
rather before Steuben had a separate organization, and the returns
of course embrace the whole region west of Seneca Lake. Vin-
cent ]\Iatthews, Joseph White, Moss Kent, were the candidates for
Senators. The candidates lor Assembly were, Charles Williamson
and Nathaniel Norton, opposed by Lemuel Chipman and Dudley
Saltonstall. Williamson and Saltonstall were elected. The entire

vote is given : —

BloomfiL'ld
Korthfield
Charleston
s Easton

Auj,'iista -
Sparta

1G8

125

58
58

Jerusalem
Hartford
Palmyra
Gcneseo

Sodus
Sonera

101
70
55
44
4G
55

Sho rolled it up in a Wd, and sitting upon it, kept it warm, puUin- it out aud bakiuR
as she stopjied along tlie road. i a uv* uaivmjj

N-OTE.-TIiero was a little feeling of rivalry in tlu. organization of the,so Pioneer
W^^^^^^^ 'i'l^^' 'iH.n yoimg de ,y

mlm boardwl with Mrs. Sanborn, and to amuse one of her cLiMren, Vhittled < .n -i
slnngle m the shape ot a hddle, and stringmg it with nilk tluead, put it in t^he S
dow ; an ^ohan J.arp. The trifling affair soon got noised about .Ind son en b "s

of Sic SfI mSngTlldXr' """^'-^^'^ '' ^° ^^ ^^^ '^^"^ ^^^ '^' "^ ^ ^^
13

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23 WEST MAIN STREET

WEBSTER, N.Y. 1458C

(716) 872-4503

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m/j

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186

PHEIPS AND GOEHAJi's PUECHA3E.

Cannndaigua

Middlesex

Bristol

- 110

Fiederickstown

Phelps

104

Painted Post

Pittstown

Dansville

Middletown

Canisteo

978

Bath -

106

766

978

V >tal

- - -

- 1744

In 1800, Lemuel Chipman and Nathaniel Norton were elected;
number of votes, 3,582. Thomas Morris was elected to Congress,
receiving almost the entire vote of the Genesee country. Canan-
(iaigua, Palmyra, Bristol, Sparta, Hartford. Easton, Charleston,
Northfield, Augusta, their entire vote : and in several other towns
there were but one, two and three, against him. 1801 — Peter B.
Porter and Daniel Chapin were elected to the Assembly. 1802 —
Steuben elected separately, Pollydore B. Wisner, Augustus Porter
and Thaddeus Chapin, were elected members of Assembly from
Ontario. 1803 — Batavia, which was then all of the Holland
Purchase, gave less than 180 votes. In that year, Amos Hall,
Nathaniel W. Howell, Pollydore B. Wisner, were elected to the
Assembly. 1804 — The members of Assembly were, Amos Hall,
Daniel W. Lewis and Alexander Rhea.

Jonathan Philips, an early shoemaker of Canandaigua, still sur-
vives, hammering and drawing out his waxed ends upon a seat he
has occupied for 51 years ; being now 75 years of age. The old
gentleman observes, that in that now healthy locality, he has known
it to be so sickly, that more than half the entire population would
be afflicted with fevers.

Southworth Cole, an elder brother of Luther Cole, came into the
country in 1797. He located on the east side of the Lake, in a
then wilderness, at what was known in early days as '• Corn Creek."
There was an old Indian clearing of about 20 acres. Mr. Cole
was for several years the only settler between the foot of the Lake
and Naples. The location was famed as the favorite ground of the
rattle snake : some members of this Pioneer family have killed as
many as 100 in the course of a day at their den. Deer were so
plenty, that a hunter of the family hrs killed 00 in a season. The
sons of the Pioneer were Abner Cole, an early lawyer of Palmyra ;
Dorastus Cole, of Palmyra ; Joseph Cole, of Michigan ; G. W.

52
46
63
54
76
lOG

PHELPS AND GOEHAm's PUECnASE. 187

Cole of Saratoga Springs; and Benjamin B. Cole, of Ocrden.
Mrs. Philetus Swift of Phelps, and Mrs. Kingsley Miller of Palmy,
ra, were h.s daughters. Joseph Colt, the early merchant of Geneva
and Palmyra, married a sister of Southworth and Luther Cole

BLOOMFIELD.

The settlement of East Bloomfield, commenced simultaneously
with thatof Canandaigua. The east township was purchased by
Capt. Wm. Bacon, Gen. John Fellows, Elisha Lee, Deacon John
Adams, Dr. Joshua Porter (the father of Peter B. and Au-ustus)
Deacon Adams became the pioneer in settlement ; — and tlie pa-
tnarch it might well be added, for he introduced a large household
into the wilderness. His family consisted of himself and wife his
sons John, Jonathan, William, Abner and Joseph ; his sons in laws,

Ephraim Rew. Lorin Hull, and Wilcox, and their wives, and

Elijah Rose, a brother in law and his family, and three unmarried
daughters. Joined with all these in the primitive advent, were • —
Moses Gunn, Lot Rew, John Barnes, Roger Sprague. Asa Hickox
Benjamin Goss, John Keyes, Nathaniel Norton. Early after the
opening of navigation, in 1789, the emigrants departed from Sche-
nectady, some of the men with the household furniture and stores, by
water, but most of the party upon pack horses, following principally
tlie Indian trails. In May, they were joined by Augustus Porter,
Ihaddeus Keyes, Joel Steele, Eber Norton and Oran^re Woodruff.
Judge Porter, then but twenty years of age, had been°employed to
make farm surveys of the township. When he arrived h^. found
the Adams family, and those who had come in with them, the occu-
pants of a log house, 30 by 40 feet, the first dwelling erected west
of Canandaigua after white settlement commenced. To accomo-
date so large a family with lodgings, there were berths upon wooden
pins along the walls of the house, one above another, steam, or
packet boat fashion. It was the young surveyor's first introduction
to backwoods life. He added to the crowded household himself and
his assistants, and soon shouldered his "Jacob staft;" and commen-
ced his work. The emigrants had brought on a good stock of pro-
visions and some cows ; wild game soon began to be added, which
made them very comfortable livers. The Judge, in his later years,

188

PHELPS AJ^D G0RILV:\1*S PURCHASE.

would speak with much animation, of the primitive log house, its
enormous fire place; and especially of the hread "baked in ashes"
which Mrs. Rose used to bring upon the table, and which he said
was excellent.

William Bacon, a principal proprietor in Bloomfield, was a res-
ident of Sheffield, JMass.; he never emigrated. He bore a captain's
commsssion in the Revolution, and was a contractor for the army.
After the Revolution he drove cattle through upon the old Indian
trail to Fort Niagara. Deacon Adams, Nathaniel Eggleston, and
several others of the early settlers in Bloomfield, first saw the Gen-
esee Country, in connection with this cattle trade to Niagara. Col.
Asher Saxton a prominent pioneer, i:i Bloomfield, Cambria, and
Lockport Niagara co., and lastly upon the river Raisin, near
Monroe, was a son in law of capt. Bacon and his local representa-
tive. He died at his residence in Michigan in 1847 at an advanced
age. He married for a third wife a sister of Gen. Micah Brooks.
When he left Bloomfield to go into a new region in Niagara county,
he remarked to an old friend that he was going " where they live in
log cabins." " I want" said he " to see more of Pioneer life." The
roof of a log cabin has seldom sheltered a worthier man.

The author is unable to name the j-ear in which all of the emi-
grants settled in Bloomfield after the primitive advent of the Adam'g
household, and those who came in the same year. Those who will
be named were of the earliest class of Pioneers.

Dr. Daniel Chapin was the early physician. He was the next
representative of Ontario county in the Legislature after Gen.
Israel Chapin. He removed to BufFalo in 1805 and died there in
1835.

Amos Bronson was from Berkshire, a persevering and enterprisino-
man, and became the owner of a large farm. He died in 1835.
His wife still survives, at the advanced age of over 90 years. Mrs.
Bronson, and Benjamin Goss, are the only two surviving residents

Note. — Tliero iirono suniving dcscotidants in tho first degree of tlio early Pioneer
Deacon John Adams. In tlie second, tliiid and i'omth de<;reo, few families are nioro
ininierous. The three unnianiod daughters mentioned above, became tlu! wives of

John Kt^es, Benjamin, and Silas K«!,deston. Among the descendants are the

lannlywho gave the name to "Adams Hasin," in Ogden ; Oen. Wm. H. Adams of
Lyons AVni. Adams of Rochester, and Mrs. Barrett of Lockport ; and the autlior re-
grets tliat he has not the memorandums to enable him to remember more of a mime
aud lumdy so promiueiiUy identiliod witliPiouccr aettlemeut.

PHELPS AND GOEHAM's PUECHASE.

189

of all the adult pioneers of East Bloomfield. The sons are among
the wealthy and public spirited men of the town.

Benjamin Goss, who is named above, was in the country as early
as 1791. He married a daughter of Dea:on George Codding, of
Bristol. Theirs was the first wedding on Phelps and Gorham's Pur-
chase. He is now 90 years of age ; a Revolutionary pensioner.
He was in the battl'^ at Johnstown, at Sharon Springs, and was in
the unsuccessful expedition of Col. Marinus Willett to Oswego in the
winter of 1781.*

Nathaniel Norton was from Goshen, Conn. He was the foun-
der of the mills that took his name, on the Ganargwa creek, in
Bloomfield. He was an early sheriff of Ontario, and its represen-
tative in the Legislature ; and an early merchant in Bloomfield and
Canandaigua. He died in 1809 or '10. The late Heman Norton
was his son ; a daughter became the wife of Judge Baldwin of the

Sup. Court of the United States ; another of Beach, of the

firm of Norton & Beach. Aaron Norton, the brother of Nathaniel,
settled in Bloomfield about the same time; died soon after 1^15,
Hon. Ebenezer F. Norton of Buffalo, and Reuben Norton of BLom-

field, are his sons. A daughter became the wife of Kibbe,

the early Bank cashier at Canandaigua and Bufialo ; another, the
wife of Peter Bowen. Eber Norton, another brother of Nathaniel,
died in 1810; Judge Norton of Allegany is a son of his.

Roger, Azel, and Thomas Sprague, with their father and mother,
and three sisters, were early pioneers. Roger succeeded Nathaniel
Norton as Sheriff of Ontario, was a member of the Legislature, and
supervisor. He died in Michigan, in 1848. Asahel and Thomas,
both died soon after 1810. The only survivor of the family is a
sister who became the wife of Dr. Ralph Wilcox.

Tlic old gentleman gives a relation of suffering and privation in that expedition,
winch exlahits some of the harshest features of tlie war of the Revohition. The con-
tein]ilatc(l attack npon Oswego, was mulertakeu in mitl winter, and the army eiicoun-
tere( deep snow. Many of tlio men had tlieir feet frozen, and tlie relator among the
number, llie expedition was undertaken in sleighs, and upon snow shoes, the men
going aliead unon the snow shoes, and partly beathig ihe track. Oneida Li>ko wna
crossed upon tlio ice. Arriving at Fort Brewerton, a largo number of the pressed mil-
itia, a])iialled Ijy the sutl'ering and diinger they were to encounter, deserted and return-
ed to the valley of the Moliawk ; the remainder, an unequal force for the work that
was belorethem, struck off into the dark forest in the direction of Oswego, were badly
jnloted, missed their course, and were tliree days wanderers amid the ttuni sn,)ws of
the wildernesf:. Coming within four mik's of a strong fortress, with provisions exhaus-
ted, amnuimtion much damaged, and men already worn out in the march, a council de-
culed against the attack, and the expedition retreated to Fort Plain.

I! •

H ^

PIIELPS AND GOEHAM's PUEOHASE.

Moses Gunn was from Berkshire. He died in 1820 ; Linus Gunn
of Bloomfield was a son of his; another son wa. an early tavern
keeper on north road to Canandaigua

As early as 1790 Daniel Gates located in the town of Bloomfield
on the Iloneoye creek, at what is now known as North Bloomfield'
and erected the first saw mill upon that stream. Procuring some
apple sprouts from the old Indian orchard at Geneva he had one of
the earliest bearing orchards in the Genesee country. His youngest
.on Alfred Gates, now resides upon the old homestead.

Dr. John Barnes was an early physician, remained a few years,
and emigrated to Canada.

Elijah Hamlin, Philo Hamlin. Cyprian Collins, Gideon King, Ben-
jamin Chapman, Joel and Christopher Parks. Ephraim and Lot Rue,
Alexander Emmons, Ashbel Beach, Nathan Waldron, Enos Hawley
Timothy Buel, were Pioneers in Bloomfield, but in reference to thern
the author as m many other instances, has to regret the absence of

names Elijah Hamlin, who was alive a short time since, in Mich-
gan. If ahve now, is the only survivor of them. He was a contrac-
tor on the Erie Canal, at Lockport, in 1823. Joel Parks, a son of
one of those named, married a daughter of Dea. Gooding of Bristol
He was a pioneer at Lockport. Niagara county, a Jus:ice of the
peace and merchant; and is nowa residen.of Lockport Illinois.

iZZ'/rV'"""^ ^''"^ ^'''^''^'''' '' ^^oorni^-^d, in March.

1/94. vvith his wife and seven children. He was then but 27 years
old. Remaining in Bloomfield until 1813. he removed with his
lamily to the town of Henrietta, when settlement had but first com-
menced and where he had been preceded two or three years by
some of his sons. He died in the town of Gates, in 1820, aged 62
years At the time of his death he had Hving, 12 children, 67
grand-children, and 7 great-grand children; nine of the sons and

PHELPS AND GORHAM's PURCHASE.

191

daughters are now living. The mother died in Randolph, Cattara-
gus county, in 1840, aged 78 years; the eldest son at Council Bluff,
on his way to Oregon, in 1840. The history of this family furnishes
a remarkable instance of the spirit of enterprise and adventure in-
herited by the descendants of the early pioneers of the Genesee
country. Residing in one town, in 1813, in 1842 the sons and
daughters were residents of five different States,. Nine of them
are now living : James Sperry, in Henrietta, a well known surveyor,
and a local agent of the Wadsvvorth estate ; Moses Sperry, the
present Surrogate of Monroe ; Calvin Sperry, in Gates, Monroe
county; Charles Sperry in Quincy, Illinois; George Sperry in
Trumbull county Ohio. A sister resides in Cattaragus county ;
another in Akron, Ohio ; another in Missouri ; another in Gates,
Monroe county.

Mr James Sperry having kindly furnished the author with some
interesting pioneer reminiscences, they are inserted in the form
adoDted in other instances.

REMINISCENCES OF JAMES SPERRY.

Among the trials of tlio first settlers, there wore none more irntatinij tlian
the destniction of slieep and swine by th^- wohes ami bears. Often "wliole
flocks of sheep would be shuiglitered in tlie niglit by the wol\-es. Tliis ha])-
pened so frerincntly that those wlio determined to preserve their sheep, made
l)ens or yards, so high and tight that a wolf could not get over or tlu'ough
them. If left out by accident or carelessnes.s, they weio almost sure to be at-
tacked. The state, coanty and town, offered bounties, in the ao-oTOfjate,
amounting to 820 for each wolf scalp. Asnhel Sprague caught ten irBIoom-
fiekl, which had the effect to pretty nnich stop their ravages in that quarter.

Bears preyed iqion the hog's, that iVom necessity the new settlei's were
clMged to let run in the woods for shack. About two years after we
came to Bloomfickl, when our iicarciit neigld)or was a mile from my father's
house, one dark evening in October, when we were all sitting around the
table pearing pumpkins to dry, (and to make apple sauce,) we were suddenly
started by a loud squeal from tlie motiier of the gruntei-s, who with her pro-
geny, were resting in a hollow log in the woods. Mv father having no ara-
nuuution for his old French gun, seize 1 an axe, and went to the rescue, un-
hindered by the remonstrances of my mother. The bear tied at his appi'oach,
biit had so injured the hog tliat my father killed her and dragged in the carcass.

It was not uncommon for boys to see bears when at\er the cows, but I
tl i:ik no one of tlie early settlers' received any injury from them, unless they
had first been wounded. One of the Coddings, in BloomlieU, came pr<.'tty

192

PHELPS AND GORUAm's rUECIIASE.

give ]u.n a I J. UMn^^^!^ '""? ^^P', ''f' ^"'-^ I^'''^^'^ ^'■^^"^^''^^1. ^o

fled boarinj <S' the a Sel v^^^^ to penetrate the sk„]l. The bear

Lnhu] <<,. ' " ^^''■'^ '"^■'*^ '^•y the woiiiK ed sk n and flesli

V.an.l-.,,ik,..^ ;'„, M^ *" T5 !"s heels, ana broke his back with a

el Jest sisler tt'l e , ll ^ r '■""' "'"f-'l"" '»«• My mother and

e^ongh ro.;;ar;;';'hr^,.'ro!;i7'is„ !::TZ^- ''''-'■ -'

ToL I Su Z ' ""I'''«^"*^'^^'"^^ ^^•'-^••« SO extended that the inhabitants
SvSe ° 'JFnings and soon they began to bo covered with oak nd

now per acre, . tt ^^SS^i.^ ^S^Ji.^^^S. ^ ^^^ ^^^^ «^ ^^
be^ hSXrr'""'?!;'^^!^"^^^"^^^^ ^^^'-^ """^-o"s and hard to

inn- nil +)„• * Vi ^^ ""<-!, and l)arefoot in the summer; yet, notwith'^t-md

March nS ^f, •^^^'^'^^^ f«Vl'^"!- ^''ilcl>'en. . When our family arrived in
tt re liL'o th Tdn' ""^''i V '^'^ ""'f' '''' ^«™^'- «f the town, ne r
te ol It of our fHmtv ".' ''"^ .? 'T\ ^'^'^ "^>' ^=^"''^ ^^l'^^^- ^^'^'"r of
Norton nn-lTTr^^,'-'"*'.''''^ ^^'"^ •-°^"^'^' '"^^ «'»n as we arrived. Ilemin
J^ o?^si;;^^"'a^r "went through college," wer/mr

buiitl';roneiaSf":^::f:s.':::rcf^ ''% ^^'^?^ ^^^"^^ ^^='«

waskrMitbvIovi.-i P f \V A ^ ^'^^''*^ ^^"^''^' ^^'^'^™ '■^ «'J'ool
.to-uataMa. Uunng the summer o f '95 and '6, Betsey Sprague

west of Uatavin. wL f ' o^ i f ' ^ '," ^""^'-'''^''i Crock, tlneo miles

rlin.e. He canled the first tnuul o7. ,,, > ^^' '•' '"''' " '" "I"'" ^'"^ ^■^""•''"'l J*">-
rloth, a,ul nia.le tlic fir "t rL^i^ f t n^r C ? '"'"■''"•^'T ■• ^IrosseJ the fi„.t piece of
78th year of his age ^ '" ''"*' "* Caladuiua. He still survives, iu the

niELrs AND GORTI All's PUPwCUASE.

193

and

kept tins school. TheiR was then but two schools in the town. Miss
Spmgiie kopt the siiine school in the winter of '90 and '7. My eldest
brother and myself attended this school in the winter, walking two and a half
miles through the snow across the openings ; not with "old shoes and clout-
ed "_ on our feet, but with rags tied on theln to go and come in, taking them
oft" in school hours. The young men ami boys, the young wonu-n and girls,
for three miles around, attended this school. John Fairchild, west of tho
Centre, sent his children.

In tint fall of '97, a young man with a pack on his back, came in.', the
neighborhood of Ounn, Goas, King, Lamberton, and the Bronsons, two miles
ciust of the south west school, and one mile north of may father's, and intro-
duced himself as a school t<>acher from tho land of steady habits ; proposing
that they form a new district, and he would keep their school. The propose
tion was accepted, and all turned out late in the season, the young man volun-
teei'ing liis assistance, and built another log school house in winch he kept a
school in the winter of '97 and '8, and the ensuing winter. The school was
as full both winters as the house could hold. Two young men, John Lam-
beilon and Jesse Tainter, studietl surveying both winters, and in 1800,
Lamberton commenced surveying for the' Holland Company, doing a laro-er
amount of sur\eying upon their Purcluise than any other man. °Ho now
lives near Pine Hill, a few miles north of Batavia. The first wmter, ray
father sent seven to this scliool, and the second winter eight. In this school,
most of us learned for the first time that the earth Avas round, and turned
round upon its axis once in 24 hours, and revolves around the sun once a
year. .1 shall never forget the teacher's manner of illnsti'ating these tacts : —
For the ANTrnt of a globe, he took an old hat, the crown having "gone up to
seed," doubled in the old limber trim, marked with chalk a line round tho
mitldle lor the e([uator, and another representing the eliptic, and held it up
to the scholars, with the " seed end " towards them, and turning it, com-
menced the two revolutions. The simultaneous shout which went up from
small to great, was a " caution'" to all young school masters how they in-
troduce " new things" to yoimg Pioneers. Although the school mjister was
afayoriU;_with parents and pujjils, the "most orthodox" thought he was
talking of some thing of which he knew nothing, and was teaching for sound
doctrine A\hat Avas contrary to tho common sense of all ; for every body
knew that tho earth was flat and immovably fixed, and that the sun rose and
set every day. That teacher finally settled in Bloomfield, was afterwards
manv years a Justice of tlie Peace; for one term, member of the legislature;
anil for one term, a member of Congress; now known as Gen. Micah Bi'ooks,
of Brook's Grove, Livingston county.

■ TIk', fiist meeting house in the Genesee country, was erected in Bloomfield,
in IRQ 1. A church and society had been formed some years before; Seth
■\Villiston and Jedcdiali Bushndl, ujissionaries from the east, hibored occa
sionaliy and sometimes continually in Blcjmfield, from 1797 to 1800. An
extensive revival in that ami adjoining towns continued under their labors for
several years, and in 1801, they raised a large meeting house. Robert
Powers was the builder. Meetings were held in it summer and winter, when
it was in anunlinished condition, and without warming it, until 1807 and '8,
when it wa.': finished ; Andrew Colton being the ai'cliilect.

Ancient occupancy wsis distinctly traced "at the period of early settlement

I s

19^^

PHELPS AND QOEHAm's PUECHASE.

in Bboinfie],!. On tlie farm of Nathan Wuldron, and on othei-s contio-uous,
in tlionortliefist comer of the town, near whore the Adams, Norton! and
Kues hi-st settled, many gim barrels, locks and stock barrels, of French con-
struct.oti, and tomahawks, were plowed up and used for makini; w mendin-r
agricultural implements. I have seen a,' many as 1 5 or 20 barreS at a time, al
Wadrons blacksmith shop, while ho and David Reese, his journeyman, were
vyorkino- them uji. I once saw Reese pointiniy out in the roof of the shop,
the etlect ol a ball fired from an old barrel while heatini; it in the forge; his
hearers wonderino; how the powder retained its strength for so long a period,
the barrel having lain under ground.

There were many old Indian burying grounds in Bloomfield, and many of
the graves were opened in search of curiosities. In some of them, hatchets
were loiind, out generally nothing but bones. In ploughing the ground,
bones, skulls, and sometimes hatchets, were found.' The 'stones used by the
Indians tor skinnmg tlieir game and peeling bark, were found in various
localities, iheso stones were very hard, worked off smooth, and brou<^ht
down to an edge at one end, and generally from four to six inches long.
I'estle stones used for pounding their corn were frequently found. They
were from one to one a half feet in length, round and smooth, with a round
point at both ends, something like a rolling pin ; and they were frequently
used by the settlers for that puri)ose. ^

The venerable Deacon Stephen Dudley, who settled in Bloomfield
as early as 1799, still survives. In the summer of i848 he informed
the author that there were then less than twenty persons living in
Bloomfield, who were adults when he came there. He also inform-
ed the author, that Gen. Fellows built the first framed barn west of
Canandaigua; and as an instance of the value of lands in an early
day, he related an anecdote : — Gen. Fellows had no building spot
on the road, on his large tract, but an acre of land on a lot adjoin-
ing was desirable for that purpose. Proposing to buy it, he asked
the owner his price, who replied :— " I declare, General, if you
take an acre right out of my farm, I think you should give me as
much as fifty cents for it."

In 1798 a second religious society was organized in Bloomfield,
called the "North Congregational Society." The first trustees
were : — Jared Boughton, Joseph Brace, and Thomas Hawley.

MICAH BROOKS.

Micah Brooks, was a son of David Brooks, A. M., of Cheshire,
Conn. The father was a graduate of Yale College. He belonged

PHELPS AND GORHAIm's PURCnA3E.

195

( contiguous,
J^ortous anil
French con-
; or mending
. at a tiiiio, at
oynian, were
of the shop,
lO forge ; his
ag a period,

nd many of
3m, hatchets
the ground,
used by the
1 in various
ind brouglit
inches long,
und. They
r'ith a round
e frequently

Bloomfielil
e informed
s living in
so inform-
'n west of
n an early
Iding spot
lot adjoin-
lie asked
al, if you
ve me as

lloomfield,
t trustees
vley.

Cheshire,
belonged

to the first quota of men furnished by the town of Cheshire ; en-
tering the service first as a private soldier, but soon becoming the
quarter master of his regiment. He was a member of the legisla-
ture of Connecticut, at the period of the surrender of Burgoyne,
and a delegate to the State Convention that adopted the U. S. con-
stitution at Hartford. After his first military service, he alternated
in discharging the duties of a minister and then of a soldier — going
out in cases of exigency with his shouldered musket ; especially at
the burning of Danbury and the attack upon New Haven. After
the Revolution, he retired to his farm in Cheshire, where he died in
1802.

Micah Brooks, in 179G, having just arrived at the age of twenty-
one years, set out from his father's house to visit the new region, the
fame of which was then spreading throughout New England. Af-
ter a pretty thorough exploration of western New York, he returned
to Whitestown, and visited the country again in the fall of 1797, stop-
ping at Bloomfield and engaging as a school teacher ; helping to build
his own log school house. [D= See reminiscences of Mr, James
Spe:ry. Returning to Cheshire, he spent a part of a summer in
studying surveying with Professor Meigs, with the design of enter-
ing into the service of the Holland Company. In the fall of '98,
he returned, and passing Bloomfield, extended his travels to the Falls
of Niagara on foot, pursuing the old Niagara trail ; meeting with
none of his race, except travellers, and Poudry, at Tonawanda, with
whom and his Squaw wife, he remained over night. After visiting
the Falls — seeing for himself the wonder of which he had read so
imperfect descriptions in New England school books, he went up
the Canada side to Fort Erie, crossing the river at Black Rock.
The author gives a graphic account of his morning' s walk from
Black Rock to where Buffalo now is, in his own language, as he is
quite confident he could not improve it : — " It was a bright, clear
morning in November. In my lonely walk along the bank of the
Lake, I looked out upon its vast expanse of water, that unstin-ed
by the wind, waj as transparent as a sea of glnss. There was no
marks of civilization upon its shores, no American sail to float
upon its surfivce. Standing to contemplate the scene, — here, I re-
flected, the goodness of a Supreme Being has prepared a new crea-
tion, ready to be occupied by the people of his choice. At what
period will the shores of this beautiful Lake be adorned with dwel-

196

PfiELPS AND GOnnASl's PUECHASE.

lings and all the appointments of civilized life, as now seen upon the

shores of the Atlantic ? I began to tax my mathematical powers to

see wh6n the east would become so overstocked with population,

as to be enabled to furnish a surplus to fill up the unoccupied space

between me and my New England friends. It was a hard question

to solve ; and I concluded if my New England friends could see

me, a solitary wanderer, upon the shores of a far off western Lake,

indulging in such wild speculations, they would advise me to return

and leave such questions to future generations. Dut I have r/ten

thought that I had then, a presentiment of a ;)rtr< of what half a

century has accomplished." Walking on to the rude log tavern of

Palmer, which was one of the then, but two or three habitations, on

all the present site of Buffalo, he added to his stock of bread and

cheese, and struck off again into the wilderness, on the Indian trail,

— slept one night in the surveyor's ca.-r^p of .Tames Smedley, and

after getting lost in the dense dark woods where Batavia now is,

reacheil the transit line, where Mr. Ellicott's hands were engaged in

erecting their primitive log store house.

Renewing his school teoching in Bloomfield, in '99, he purchased
the flirm where he resided for many years. It was at a period of
land speculation, and inflation of prices, and he paid the high price
of 80 per acre. Boarding at Deacon Bronson's — working°for him
two days in the week for his board, and for others during liaying
and harvesting, he commenced a small improvement.

Returning to Connecticut, he kept aschooi for the winter, and in
the spring came out with some building materials ; building a small
framed house in the course of the season. In 1801 he brought out
two sisters as house keepers, one of whom as has been stated, be-
came the wife of Col. Asher Saxton, and the other Curtiss, a

settler in Gorham. In 1802 he married the daughter of Deacon
Abel Hall of Lyme, Conn., a sister of Mrs. Clark Peck of Bloom-
field.

He became a prominent, public spirited, and useful Pioneer.
Receiving in one of the earliest years of his residence in the new
country, a military comminion, he passed through the different gra-
dations to that of Major General. Appointed to the office of justice
of the peace in i806, he was an assistant justice of the county
courts in 1808, and was the same year elected to the Legislature
from Ontario county. In 1800, he was an associate commissioner

niELPS AM) GORHAMS PURCHASE.

197

n upon the
:1 powers to
population,
ipied space
nl question
3 could see
tern Lake,
e to return
have f/ten
hat half a
tavern of
tations, on
bread and
idian trail,
ledley, and
rm now is,
engaged in

purchased
period of
high price
ng for him
ig liaying

ter, and in
ng a small
•ought out
stated, be-
Curtiss, a
if Deacon
3f Bloom-
Pioneer.
. the new
brent gra-
of justice
e county
2gislature
missioner

with Hugh McNair and Mathevv Warner, to lay out a road from
Caiiandaigua to Olean ; and another from Ilornellsville to the mouth
of the Genesee River. In the war of 1812, he was out on the
frontier in two campaigns, serving with the rank of Colonel. In
1811 was elected to Congress. He was a member of the State
Convention in 1822, and a Presidential Elector in 1821. He was
for twenty years a Judge of the Ontario county courts.

In 1823, he purchased in connection with Jellis Clute and John
B. Gibson, of Mary Jemison, commonly called the White Woman,
the Gardeau tract on the Genesee River. Selecting a fine portion
of it for a large farm and residence, on the road from Mount Mor-
ris to Nunda, he removed to it soon after the purchase. The small
village and i)lace of his residence is called " Brook's Grove. "

Gen. Brooks is now 75 years of age, retaining his mental facul-
ties unimpaired ; as an evidence that his physical constitution holds
out well, after a long life of toil and enterprise, it may be remarked
that in the most inclement month of the last winter, he made a jour-
ney to New England and the city of New York. His present wife
was a sister of the first wife of Frederick Smith, Esq. of. Palmyra,
and of the second wife of Gen. Mills, of Mount Morris. His sons
are Lorenzo H. Brooks, of Canadea, and Micah W. Brooks, residing
at the homestead. A daughter is the wife of Henry Rielly Esq.,
formerly the editor of the Rochester Daily Advertiser, and P. M.
of Rochester ; now a resident of New York, widely known as the
enterprising proprietor of thousands of miles of Telcgrajjh lines in
diflerent States of the Union ; another, is the wife of Mr. George
Ellwanger, one of the enterprising proprietors of Mount Hope Gar-
den and Nursery ; another the wife of Theodore F. Hall, formerly
of Rochester, now of Brook's Grove. He has two unmarried
daughters, one of whom is a well educated mute, and is now a
teacher in the deaf and dumb institution at Hartford, Conn.

The history of Mica'' Brooks furnishes a remarkable instance of
a man well educated, and yet unschooled. The successful teacher,
the competent Justice and Judge — as a member of our State and
National counciis, the drafter of bills and competent debater — the
author of able essays upon internal improvements, and other sub-
jects — even now in his old age, a vigorous writer, and a frequent
contributor to the public ^oress : — never enjoyed, in all, a twelve
months of school tuition I The small library of his father, a good

]98

PItELPS AND GOEHAil's PURCHASE.

native intellect, intercourse with the world, a laudable ambition and
self reliance, supplied the rest.

The original purchasers of that part of the old town of Bloom-
held, which IS now the town of West Bloomfield, (or 10,5G0 acres of
It) were Robert Taft, Amos Hall, Nathan Marvin and Ebenezer
turtis. All of these, it is presumed, became settlers in 1789 '90 •
as was also Jasper P. Sears, Peregrine Gardner, Samuel Miller,'
John Algur, Sylvanus Thayer.

Amos Hall was from Guilford, Conn. He was connected with
the earliest military organizations, as a commissioned officer and
rose to the rank of Major General, succeeding William Wadsvvorth
At one period during the war of 18J2, he wos the commander-in'
chief upon the Niagara frontier. He also held several civil offices ;
and in ail early years was a prominent and useful citizen. He died
in 1 827, aged G6 years. The surviving sons are : — David S Hall
merchant, Geneva ; Thomas H Jl, superintendani of Rochester and
Syracuse R. Road; Morris Hall, Cass county Michigan : Heman
Hall, a resident of Pennsylvania. An only daughter became the
wife of Josiah Wendle, of Bloomfield.

Gen. Hall was the deputy ]\Iarshall, and took the U. S. censu<- in
Ontario county, in 1790, in July and August, it is presumed. His
roll has Deen preserved by the family, and will be found in the Ap-
pendix, (No. 9.) ^

HONEOYE - PITTSTO W.^T - NOW RICHMOND.

In April, 1787, three young men, Gideon Pitts, James Goodwin
and Asa Simmons left their native place, (Dighton, Mass.,) to seek a
nevv home m the wilderness. They came up the Su.squehannah
and located at Newtown, now Elmira. Here, uniting with other
adventurers they erected the first white man's habitation upon the
site of the present villnge ; and during the summer and fall planted
and raised Indian corn. Returning to Dighton, their favorable rep-
resentations of the country induced the organization of the " Di^^hton

1 helps and Gorham had perfected their title. To be in season, Cal-
vin Jacobs was deputed to attend the treaty with Gideon Pitts, and
select the t'-Qn* a. .^^., __ .u. . i- i^.^, .um

ie tr.<jct,

soon as tac townships were surveyed, the

com-

bit ion and

yf Bloom-

acres of
Ebenezer
1789, '90;
b1 Miller,

:ted with
Seer, and
adsworth.
lander-in-
^il offices ;
He died
i S.Hall,
ester and
; Hen.an
came the

3ensus in
ed. His

1 the Ap.

roodvvin,
o seek a
ehannah
th other
ipon the
planted
ble rep-
Dighton
soon as
in, Cal-
tts, and
le com-

PHELPS AISTD GORHAJl's PtJKCnASE.

199

pany purchased 46,080 acres of the land embraced in Townships 9
in the 3ci, 4th, and 5th Ranges : being most of what was after-
wards embraced in the towns of Richmond, Bristol, and the fraction
of number nine, on the west side of Canandaigua lake. The title
was taken for the company, in the name of Calvin Jacobs and
John Smith.

In 1789, Capt. Peter Pitts, his son William, Dea. George Codding,
and his son George, Calvin Jacobs, and John Smith, came via the
Susquehannah route to the new purchase, and surveyed what is now
the town of Richmond and Bristol. One of the party, (the Rev.
John Smith,) on their arrival at Canandaigua, preached the first
sermon there, and first in all the Genesee country, save those
preached by Indian missionaries, by the chaplain at Fort Niagara
and at Brant's Indian church at Lewiston. The lands having been
divided by lottery, Capt. Pitts drew for bis share, 3000 acres, at
the foot of Honeoye lake, embracing the flats, and a cleared field
which had been the site of an hidian village destroyed by Sullivan's
army.

In the spring of 1790, Gideon and William Pitts commenced the
improvement of this tract. Coming in with a four ox team, they
managed to make a shelter for themselves with the boards of their
sled, ploughed up a few acres of open flats, and planted some spring
crops, from which they got a good yield, preparatory to the coming
in of the remainder of the family. Withal, fattening some hogs
that William had procured in Cayuga county, driving them in, and
carrying his own, and their provisions upon his back. Capt. Peter
Pitts, started with the family in October, in company with John
Codding and fixmily. They came from Taunton River in a char-
tered vessel, as far as Albany, and from Schenectady by water,
landing at Geneva. The tediousness of the journey, may be juchred
from the fact that starting from Dighton on the 11th of October
they did not arrive at Pitt's flats until the 2d day of December.
A comfortable log house had been provided by Gideon and William.
The family consisted of the old gentleman, his wife, and ten children'
besides hired help. For three years they constituted the only family
in town ; their neighbors, the Wadsworths at Big Tree, Capt. Taft
in West Bloomfield, and the Coddings and Goodings, in Bristol.
^ The House of this early family being on the Indian trail from
Canandaigua to Genesee river — which constituted the early trav-

200

PHELPS AND GOEHAm's PUECIIASE.

ats

elled road for the white settlors — " Capt. Pitts" and "Pitts FLls
haa a vvide notoriety in all primitive days. ' It was the stoppincr
place of the Wadsworths and Jones, of Thomas Morris and in
lact ot all of the early prominent Pioneers of that region. Louis
1 hrlhpe, when from a wanderer in the backwoods of America, he had
become the occupant of a throne, remembered that he had spent a
night ni the humble log house of Capt. Pitts. The Duke Liancourt
strollmg every where through this region, in 1795, with his com-
panions went from Canandaigua to make the patriarch of the back-
woods a visit.*

The Indians upon their trail, camping and hunting upon their old
grounds, the flats, and the up lands around the Honeoye Lake
were the almost constant neighbors of Capt. Pitts, in the earliest
years. Generally they were peaceable and well disposed ; a party
of them however, most of whom were intoxicated, on their way to
the Pickering treaty at Canandaigua in 1794, attacked the women
ot the family who refused them hquor, and Capt. Pitts, his son's
aiid hired men, coming to the rescue, a severe conflict ensued
Ihe assailed attacking the assailants with clubs, shovels and tonj:."
soon vanquished them though peace was not restored,, until Hor-'
atio Tones, fortunately arriving on his way to the treaty, interfered.
Ihe first training in the Genesee country was held at Captain
littsiiouso; a mihtia company, commanded by Captain William
Wadsworth; and Pitt's Flats was for many years a training ground.
Captain Peter Pitts died in 1812, aged 74 yeans. His eldest son
Gideon, who was several times a member of the Legislature, and
a delegate to the state convention in 1822, died in 1829 a-od 03
years. The only survivors of the sons and daughters of Canj
I itts, are, Pe ter Pitts, and Mrs. IJlackmer. A son! Samuel Pitts"
" ~ — ■ — — . )

" The Dukii lias inadu ,i n^coici of ;h • " W.i cr.t n^^^ „-;.i, ui , T^

I ;mi,l it v,.„- ,lilli™ltl„ „b,„i„ i,„, .» f ' -„L l,,"i m/ t.,v t. , '''";i " " "

better onus tlmn wo donyw."

PHELPS AND GOEHAlVl's PURCHASE.

201

tts Flats "
5 Stopping
"is and in
n. Louis
ca, he had
id spent a
-liancourt,
his com-
the back-

I their old
)ye Lake
10 earliest
i ; a party
ir way to
le women

his son's
; ensued,
nd tongs,
mtil Hor-
iterfered.
t Captain

William
g ground.
Idest son
ure, and
ngod 03
of Capt.
el Pitts

it an c'lBtiUo
10 cuuinry.
^ attfii(li;r[j
' t-'locutioii.
iin.J "AVe
f^vls tor our
iiiictcristic
ii" tliiitlie

II the iine
is lieju'ur.i
lu.i^'htcr of
'i''s house
■•n<j;nii {iiid
lyst; much

was an early and prominent citizen of Livonia. The descendants
of Capt. Pitts are numerous. Levi Blackmer settled in Pittstown
in '95, is still alive, aged 78 years, his wife, (the daughter of Capt.
Pitts,) aged 72. In the summer of 1818, the boy who had driven
an ox-team to the£tenesee country, in 1795, was at work on the
highway.

The Duke Liancourt, said that Capt. Pitts had to "go to mill with
a sled, twelve miles " ; this was to Norton's Mills. In '98, Thomas
Morris built a grist and saw mill on the outlet of Hemlock Lake, and
in 1802 Oliver Phelps built a grist mill on Mill Creek.

In '95, Drs. Lemuel and Cyrus Chipman, from Paulet, Vermont,
and their brother-in-law, Philip Reed, came into Pittstown, with
their families. They came all the way by sleighing, with horse and
ox teams. The teams were driven by Levi Blackmerr-Bercc
Chamberlain, Asa Dennison, and Isaac Adams, all of whom became
residents of the town. They were eighteen days on the road.

Lemuel Chipman had been a surgeon in the army of the Revolu-
tion. He was one of a numerous family of that name in Vermont,
a brother of the well known lawyer, and law professor in Miudle-
bury College. In all early years he was a prominent, public spirited
and useful helper in the new settlements ; one of the best specimens
of that strong minded, energetic race of men that were the founders
of settlement and civil institutions in the Genesee country. He was
an early member of the Legislature, and a judge of the courts of
Ontario county ; was twice elector of President and Vice President ;
and was a State Senator. Soon after 1800, he purchased, in con-
nection with Oliver Phelps, the town of Sheldon, in Wyoming
county, and the town was settled pretty much under his auspices!
He removed to that town in 1828, where he died at an advanced
age. His sons were Lemuel Chipman of Sheldon, deceased, father
of Mrs. Guy H. Salisbury of Buffalo; Fitch Chipman of Sheldon ;
and Samuel Chipman of Rochester, the well known pioneer in the
temperance movement— now the editor of the Star of Temperance.
A daughter became the wife of Dr. Cyrus Wells of Oakland county,
Michigan, and another the wife of Dr. E. W. Cheney, of Canan-
daigua.

Dr. Cyrus Chipman emigrated at an early period to Pontiac,
Michigan, where he was a Pioneer, and where his descendants
principally reside.
13

202

PHELPS AND GORIIAM's PTJECHASE.

In the year 1796, Roswell Turner came from Dorset, Vermont,
took land on the outlet of Hemlock Lake, cleared a few acres, built
a log house, and in the following winter moved on his family, and
his father and mother. The family had previously emigrated from
Connecticut to Vermont. After a long and tedious journey, with
jaded horses, tliey arrived at Cayuga Lake, where they were des-
tined to encounter a climax of hardship and endurance. Crossing
upon the ice on horseback, a part of the family, the Pioneer, his
mother and two small children, broke through in a cold day, and
were with difficulty saved from drowning by the help of those who
came to their rescue from the shore. Arrived at their new home,
sickness soon aadcd to their afflictions, and two deaths occurred in
the family the first year. The residence of the family was changed
in a year or two to the neighborhood of Allen's Hill, where tiiey
remained until 1801, and then, as if they had not seen enough of
the hardships of rioneer life, pushed on to the Holland Purchase,
into the dark hemlock woods of the west part of Wyomino-, the
I'ioneer making his own road, west of Warsaw, thirteen miles ;
he and his family being tJie first that settled in all the region west
of Warsaw, south of Attica and the old Buffalo road, and east of
Hamburgh; — pages could be filled with the details of the hard-
ships of the first lonely winter, its deep snows, the breaking of
roads out to Wadsworth's Flats, and digging corn from under the
snow to save a famishing stock of cattle too weak to subsist upon
brouse, and other incidents which would show the most rugged
features of backwoods life ; but it is out of the present beat. Ros-
well Turner died in 1809. His sons were, the late Judge Horace
S. Turner of Sheldon ; the author of this work ; and a younger
brother, Chipman Pheljis Turner of Aurora, Erie county. Daugh-
ters—Mrs. Farnum of Bennington; Mrs. Sanders of Aurora;
and the first wife of Pliny Sexton, of Palmyra.

I'lTTSTOWN-REMIXISCENCES OF MRS. FARNUM.

I lu^mciiiber veiyi\cll, (Iiat ^\Il.■ll oailv .](>;itlis omirred in our family, no
sea.som:d WkuxU could bo olilainod for ootliu.s, short of takino- down a parti-
tion of our log-house. The second winter, myself, a sister, a'nd youn^ bro-
ther, w;ent to st'hool two miles and a half through the wood.^ into what is
uow Livonia. We went upon the old Eig Tree Road, and mostly find tn

PUELPS AND GORHAm's PURCHASE.

203

beat our own path, for but a few sleighs p.-is-sed during the winter. There
was hut onefuniily — that of Mr. Brig2;s — on the way.

I think it was in the summer of 1802, tliat a little daughter of one of our
neighbors, 8ewal ]3oyd, three years old, was lost in the woods. A lively
sympathy- was oi'cated in the neighborhood, the woods were scoured, the out-
let waded, and the flood wood removed; on the third day, she was found in
the woods alive, having some berries in her hand, which the instincts of
hunger had caused her to pick. The nniscpietocs had preyed upon her until
tney had caused running sores upon her face and arms, and the little wander-
er had passed through a terriiic thunder storm.

^ The Indians, if they were guilty of occasional outrage, had some of the
nncst miiHiIses of the human heart. The wife of a son of Capt. Pitts, who
had alwiiys been kind to them, was upon her death bed; hearing of it, the
hqufiws came and wailed urouml the house, with all the intense grief they
exhibit when mourning the death of kindred.

Upon "Phelps' Flats," as they were called, near the Old Indian Castle,
at the foot of Honooye Lake, in the iirst jjlouLrhing, many brass kettles, guns,
beads, &c., were found. An old Squaw that had formerly resided upon the
Hats, said that the approach of Sullivan's army was not discovered by them
until they were seen coming over the hill near where Capt. Pitts built his
house. They were quietly braiding their corn, and boiling their succotash,
bhe said there was a sudden desertion of their village; all took to fli(rhtand
eft the invaders an uncontested field. One Indian admitted that ife never
looked back until he reached Buft'alo Creek.

In the earliest j-ears, deer would come in flocks, and feed upon our gi-een
wheat ; Elisha Pj-att, who was a hunter, made his home at our house, and I
have known him to kill six and seven in a day. Bears would come and take
the hogs from directly before the doors of the new settlers— sometimes in open
day light. I saw one who had seized a valuable sow belonging to Peter
Allen, and reti'eated to the woods, raising her with his paws clenched in her
spine, and beating her against a tree to deprive her of life; persisting even af-
ier men had approached ami were attacking him with clubs. °

_ I could relate many wolf stories, but one will perhaps be so incredible that
It will sutl'ce. A Mr. Ilurlbuit, that lived in the west part of the town, was
ruling through our neighborlioo.1, on a winter eveniuo-, and passing a strip of
■woods near our house, a pack of wolves surrounded him, but his dog diverted
their attention until he escaped. While sitting upon his horse, telling us the
story, the ])ack came within fifteen rods of the house, and stoj)ping^upon a
knoll almost deafened us with liieir howl. Retreating into the woods a short
distance, they seemed by the noise to have a fight among themselves, and in
the inorning, it was ascertained that they had actually killed and eat one of
their own number ! *

Capt. Harmon, built a barn in 1802 or '3; at the raising, an adopted son
ot his, by the name of Butts, was killed outright, and Isaac Bishop wjisstun-
noJ, supposed to be dead. He recovered, but with tiie entire loss of the fac-

* This is not incredible ; other similar cases are triven upon i^ood authoritv. Vnm-
ishiiig, iaveii,m.<; a fighl occurs, and usting blood, they know no distinction between
uieir own and otier species. — AuiHoa.

204

rilELPS AND GORHAM's PURCHASE.

iilty of memory. Altlioiigli lie had possessed a good education, ho had lost
It all, even the names of his childivn, his wife and farming utensils. His
vMte re-taught him the rudiments of education, beginning with the ABC.
!Uid the names of things.

Rattle snakes were too common a thing to speak of; but we had a few of
another kind of snake, that I have never heard or read of, elsewhere. It had
a hom with which it would make a noise like the rattle of a rattle snake.

In 1790 and '7, Peter Allen and his family ; his brother Nathaniel,
and the father, Moses Allen, became residents of the town. The
father and mother died in early years. Pete.' Allen was connected
\.-ith early military organizations, and rose to the rank of a Brig.
Gen.^ lie was in command of a Regiment at the buttle of Queens-
ton, in which he was made a prisoner ; afterwards a member of the
Legislatm-e from Ontario. DCr" See Peter Allen and "Hen. Fel-
lows," Hammond's Political History. In 1810 he emigrated to In-
diana, becouiingone of the pioneer settlers of Terra Haute ; i por-
tion of his original farm, Veing now embraced in the village. He
died in 1837, many of his descendants are residents of Terra
Haute. Nathaniel Allen was the primitive blacksmith of Pitts-
town ; working first as a journeyman in Canandaigua, and then
starting a shop, first in the neighborhood of Pitts Flats, and after-
wards, on the Hill, that assumed his name. He was an early officer
of militia, deputy sheriff, member of the legislature. In the war
of 1812, he successively filled the post of commissioner and pay
master, on the Niagara Frontier. After the war, he was sheriff of
Ontario county, and in later years, for two terms, its representative
in Congress. He died at Louisville, Ky., in 1833, where he was a
contractor for the construction of the canal around the Falls of the
Ohio. Of five sons, but one survives. Dr. Orrin Allen, a resident
of Virginia. An only daughter was the first wife of the Hon. R.
L. Rose, who is the occupant of the homestead of the family on
Allen's Hill. The family were from Dutchess county. The daugh-
ters oi Moses Allen became the wives of Elihu Gifford, of Easton,
Washington county, Samuel Wood worth of Mayville, Mont, co.,'
Samuel Robinson of Newark, Wayne co.. Fairing Wilson, of Stock-
bridge, Mass., Roswell Turner of Pittstown, Ont., and Stephen
Durfee of Palmyra, Wayne county.
Sylvester Curtis erected the first distillery iii town ; and James

PHELPS AND GOEIIAM's PURCHASE.

205

Henderson who Avas a pioneer at the head of Conesus Lake, was an
early landlord upon the Hill.

David Akin, Wm. Baker, Thomas Wilson, James Hazen, Silas
Whitney, Cyrus Wells, the Johnsons, David Winton, Nathaniel
Harmon, William Warner, were settlers in earliest years.

Philip Reed, who came in with the Chipmans, died about twenty
years ago. His surviving sons are Col. John F. Reed, Silas Reed,
Wheeler Reed, Wm. F. Reed, and Philip Reed, all residing on and
near the old homestead.

As early as 1790 or '7, Elijah and Stiles Parker, Elisha Belknap,
Col. John Gi-een, John Garlinghouse, became residents of the town.
The four first namea, emigrated many years since to Kentucky, and
in late years some of them have pioneered still further on, over
the Rocky Mountains to Oregon. Joseph Garlinghouse, a son of
the early pioneer, John Garlinghouse, an ex-sherilF of Ontario
county, a prominent enterprising farmer, still resides in Richmond.
A son of his married a daughter of Erastus Spalding, the early
pioneer at the mouth of Genesee River ; another, the daughter of
David Stout, a pioneer in Victor and Perinton. Daughters, are
Mrs. Comstock, of Avon, and Mrs. Sheldon, of Le Roy. Mrs. Briggs
and Mrs. Hopkins, of Richmond, are daughters of John Garling-
house ; and a son and daughter reside in Iowa.

Asa Dennison who is namea in connection with the Chipmans,
still survives, a resident of Chautauque county.

GORHAM.

In all of the old town of Gorham, at first Easton, (what was is
now Gorham and Hopewell,) a few settlers began to drop in along
on the main road from Canandaigua to Geneva, as early as 1790. In
July of that year, there were the families of Daniel Gates, Daniel

Warren, Sweets, Platts, Samuel Day, and Israel Cha-

pin jr. who had commenced the erection of the mills upon the
outlet. Mr. Day was the father of David M. Day, the early ap-
prentice to the printing business with John A. Stephens in Canan-
andaigua, and the founder of what is now one of the prominent
and leading newspapers of western New York, the Buffalo Commer-

206

PIIEIPS AND OOEIIASrS PURCHASE.

cal Adverfser. Daniel Warren emigrated to SI.eldon, now Wyo-
m,ng CO., ,„ ,8,0 or ■„, „l,ere he died within a few yea " I'ome
roy Warren of Attiea. Wyoming eo., is a son of h^ and Mrf
Harry J ara.lton. near Little For,, Ilhnois, is a daughter

Conn., bo h were out with Mr. Phelps in his primilive .advent
They purchased land in Gorham, paying ,s cd per aero. Tl !:«

mwT;,: .: "f /.■=«" '«'•«"- H-vastl ,irsteollee.orof
aies of the town of Gorham. His descendants are numerous a

Hrdt" f-rs r" '1 "^"=*'^" ^"™"-8 heads of fl L
H.S daug^ite s beea.ne the wives of Asahel IJurch.ard, the early
P oneer of L,,„a; Asa Denton, Shubel Clark and J.amo Wyckoff
1 "; Bantcl Gates, jr. died in ,8,2; his wife was a sister o

he wtfe of Major Miller the early pioneer near Buffalo, and o
the Wife of Capt. Folle.t ; Daniel Gates of Palmyra is asoi

earr,7 ror"'^" ","' '"'z ^"^ "" "^'•'™'^ °f «-'>-" -

early as 179G or 7: — James Wood, Perlev Gitps T„ ii

Frederick Miller Sdas Eeed, Cap,! FreZictp II^ITl S

JorWarm ""' ""'"""' '"'^°^'' ■' '°'^^' -" J-- ^'"^^

Major Frederick Miller left Gorham soon after ,800 a' 1 was a

Roneer at Black Roek, the early landlord and keeper of thTe^y

M,s Darnel Gates jr., were daughters of George Babcoek.

Silas Reed died m 1834, at the age of 70 years ; an only sur-

Tf loi, »:£! ■ " "'■'' ''°"°"' °' '''''^''' "-' " -M-

™t,bone and E hsha Williams, on the Kingston side of the river
w.th,n s,gl,t ol .he Wilkesbarre Fort, the party were s d nly at

rnd^leTnS''SeT:i,;r::,'^-'s:il;f •""'="-''''»-'»

fpll ^.. I • f , ^^""•''Pf^ais. fctill having consciousness, he

fell on Ins face ~ be.n. unable to escape - held his breath as much

lation at the hands ol his ruthless pursuer.. But he was not thus

PHELPS AND QORIIAm's PURCHASE.

201

ovv Wyo-
s; Pome-
and Mrs.

tonington
advent.
The old
'Hector of
merous, a
' families,
the early
Wyckoff
sister of
, and of
11.

3rham as

- Ingalls,

Lemuel,

Hrdseye ;

\ was a
he ferry
nd Mrs.
Ictt and

•nly sur-
ime the
resident

tiers of
Steplien
e river,
■nly at-
red and
ioulder,
less, he
s much
r muti-
ot thus

to bo spared. The Indians came up to him, and without any un-
necessary delay or useless ceremony, scalped him as he lay in hia
gore and agony ; and but for tlie approach of assistance from the
fort, would no doubt have ended his days with the tomahawk.
The spear wounds were severe and deep — one of which penetra-
ted his stomach, so that its contents came out at his side ! His
case was deemed hopeless, but kindness prompted all the aid that
medical and surgical skill could allbrd. lie was placed i i charge
of Dr. William Hooker Smith, who did all in his power to save
him — and his eflbrts were crowned with success, and he becr.me a
hearty and well man. He was then young and full of vigor, and
never experienced any particular inconvenience from these severe
wounds, except occasional pain from one of the bullets, which was
never extracted from his body, and extreme sensitiveness to the
slightest touch, or even the air, of that portion of the head from
which the scalp was removed.

He afterwards entered the naval service — was captured, and
taken to Halifax, and confined in a dungeon six months ; was re-
leased ; entered the service again, and was twice captured by the
British, and eventually returned to his native country, to Dalton,
Berkshire county, Mass., from whence he removed at an early day
to Gorham.

It is a somewhat singular coincidence that his eldest son- now
dead — who entered the naval service as a midshipman, in 1812,
was captured on board the Chesapeake in her engagement with the
Shannon, and was also imprisoned in the same dungeon six months
that his father had occupied during our first confiict with the pow-
ers of England.

" Capt. Follett " is frequently mentioned in the manuscripts of
Charles Williamson, and would seem to have been in his employ as
early as 1794. His surviving sons are, :— Orrin Follett, an early
printer and editor at Batavia, and a member of the legislature from
Genesee county, now a resident of Sandusky, Ohio ; his second
wife, a niece of James D. Bemis, of Canandaigua ; Nathan Follett
of Batavia; and Frederick Follett, of Batavia, the successor of his
brother, as a printer and editor — for a long period honorable assc
•lated with the public press of the Genesee country — and at
present, one of the Board of Canal Commissioners of this State ;
having in immediate charge the western division of the Erie Canaii

208

PnELPS AND GORnAll's PUECHASE.

M. Folletl, of Ihe U. S. army, a Rraduate of West roint ■ a .ir-
cun^s ance wor.l.y of mention, as ,l,e patronage of tha M&na.
cheol ,s not always a, well bestowed, as in this instanee, upon the
d scendant of one so eminently entitled to be remember d L ser
™e^ sacr,nces and sulTerings, unparalleled in our Revolutionary

BRISTOL.

tol. About the period that Mr. Phelps was holding his treaty with
the Indians, ■„ 1T88, they locatod at the Old Indfan ebari Tn,l

1 lonccr MiJi that has heen often named in other connections Hp
died many years since. Joseph Gilbert was living a ewLnS
since, at the age of 93 years; if living now, he is the ordeTtsur
vivmg resident of the Gene.see country

Deacon William Gooding and George Codding were amon. thp

ew who wintered in the Genesee c^'ountry in'l789 T" b1

famihes have been widely known, and few have been more usoM

Deacon John G„o.i„g, another son, was one of h Irlv fo^T"
of Lockport, Niagara county, where he died in ,838 oT'o "

Coddin- Town Clerk Olhe,r, 2 ®"I"'"''Sor, and John

Nathan Allen, nI i „ierFH,e i\* Goo7''";T '°'"''"="'
Moses Porter. Amos Barber AldenSersrS Z '!f''
Stephen Sisson, Amos Uice', ^^^l^^^r^^J'^'^f

Dan.el Bur,, Mose, Porter, Jonathan Wilde" 'ti'^SiHC

PHELPS AND GOEHAM's PTTRCnASE.

209

Frederick
nt; a cir-
t national
, upon the
ed for ser-
alutionary

s of iJris-
eaty with
hard, and
the small
ons. He
V months
dest sur-

nong the
0. Both
re usefu]
e health-
is. The
reside in
)dding is
is a son
Illinois,
founders

>f 1797.
id John
'oddinc:,

Hicks,
'oddinnr,
Hatch,
coding,
ere : ■ — .

Allen,

Elnathan Gooding, Chauncsy Allen, Samuel Mallory, Ephraim
Francis, Seth Hathaway, Constant Simmons, James Carl, Zebulon
Mark.

MANCHESTER.

Township 12, R. 2, originally a part of Farmington, now Man-
chester; settlement commenced as early as 1793. Stephen Jared,
Joel Phelps, and Joab Gilleit, were the fu'st settlers. DCP For
Stephen Phelps, see Palmyra. Gillett, in early years, moved to No.
9, Canandaigua.

Nathan Pierce, from Berkshire, was a settler in 1795. But small
openings had then been made in the forest. Mr. Pierce erected a
log house, had split bass wood floors, no gable ends, doors, or win-
dows ; neither boards or glass to be had ; and " wolves and bears
were his near neighbors." Coming from Parker's Mills through
the woods at night, with his grist on his back, a pack of wolves
followed him to his door. Brice Aldrich, a Pioneer of Farmington,
w^as taking some fresh meat to Canandaigua on horseback, when a
wolf stoutly contended with him for a share of it. There were
many Indian hunters camped along on the outlet ; some times the
whites would carry loads of venison to Canandaigua for them,
where it would be bought up, and the hams dried and sent to an
eastern market. Trapping upon the outlet was profitable for both
Indians and whiles.

Mr. Pierce was supervisor of Farmington for fifteen years, and
an early magistrate ; he died in 1814 ; his widow is now living, at
the age of 87 years. His surviving sons are: —Nathan Pierce,
of Marshall, Michigan, Darius Pierce, of Washtenaw, Ezra Pierce
of Manchester. Daughters : — Mrs. Peter Mitchell, of Manches-
ter, Mrs. David Arnold, of Farmington. John McLouth, from
Berkshire, came in '95, was a brother-in-law of Nathan Pierce ;
died in 1820. Joshua Van Fleet, was one of the earliest; was an
officer of the Revolution, a member of the legislature from Ontario ;
a judge an*d magistrate, and the first supervisor of Manchester.
He is 90 years of age, a resident of Marion, Ohio. First merchant,
Nathan Barlow, a son of Abner Barlow, of Canandaigua; -resides
now in Michigan. First physician, James Stewart. Nathan

210

PHELPS AND GORHAM's PUllCIIASE.

arr hk 'l h, f ^' ""^ '-i'™'' ""'' Mrs. Simmons of I'helpg

1-h. :""'"T'" ?^ purchasing a la,.o tract of i:nrTt
Hn" t ;'T '^^•«'" Berkshire; Gilbert died in 1830. Nicholas
Howland of Farmington. and Jonathan IIou land of Adrian M.ch
igan, are his sons. Mrs Sil-is T{m„.n ^r u i ^^ '"^"' ^"'cn-
a daughter. °^ Hamburg, Erie county, is

John Lamunion, came in early years ; was from Rhode Island

of ctt fTu f? ''''' ^"^^- «'^ -•^^' -'- -- the w ow
of Capt. Follett, died two or three year, since.

leleg Redfield. was a townsman of Mr. Thelps in SufT.eld • was
a musican m the Connecticut lineduringthe Rovolution.nl 99
he exchanged wuh Mr. Phelps, his small farm in Suffield. fo 200

r PhlT' H ' f ""'.' ^.'T ^^ '^^•^'^' °" ^^y unsold lands of
Mr Phelps. He selected the land where he now resides on the

Ra.l Road, a m.le and a half we.^ of Clifton Springs ; (a judiciou
se ectjon, as any one will allow, who sees the fine farm inCw eh
t has been converted ; ) clearing three acres and erecting the body of
a og house he removed his family in Feb. 1800, consistmg of a wiJe
and s.x children. " The journey," says a son of his, '^ was pe, form-
ed wuh a sleagh and a single span of horses. Besides theZX
h sle,gh was loaded with beds and bedding, and articles of house
hold fun.ture. I shall never forget this, my first journey to the
Genesee country, especially that portion of it west of Utica The
snovv was three feet deep, and the horses tired and iodod'by the
crad e-holes, often refused to proceed farther with their loaJ I
had the privilege of riding down hill, but mostly walked with my
father, my mother driving the team." ^

Arriving at their new home, the Pioneer familv found shelter with
anew settler, "until the bark would peel in the spring," when a
roof was put upon the body of the log house that Mr. Redfield had
erected ; openings made for a door and window, and bass-wood logs

? ,1 ' r- "''" '^' ^"^'^y ^'^'^'^^"^'^ ""ti' -utu'nn. when a
double log house had been erected. Mr. Redfield is now in his
80th year; his memory of early events, retentive, and his physical
constitution remarkable for one of his years. He is the fatiier of

rnELPS AND OORnAM's PURCHASE. 211

the Hon. Ileman J. RedncKJ, of Batavia; of Lewis II. Ro.lfiol.l

p ,7 . rT "'''"'*' ^'"^'"'^'"'■' ^"^ l^«ok,seIIcr at Syracuse ; Hiram
Kodfiold of Rochester, George Redfield, Cass co. Michigan Alex-
ander H. Redfield of Detroit, Cuyler Redfield, with whom he i-e
sides upon the old homestead. His .on. Manning Redfield, of Man
Chester, was killed in a mill where he was marketing his grain in
1850. One of his daughters, was the wife of Leonard Short of
hhortsv.lle, and the other, of Marvin Minor, a merchant at Bergen
and Johnson's creek. "I could have made my location at I^rl
Will, near Canandnigua," said the old gentleman to the author "but
a town was growing up there, and I feared its influence upon my
boys. There are many Pioneer fathers who have lived to regret
that they had not been governed by the same prudent motive ' '
The Pioneer mother died in 1844, aged 80 years. It will appeal
incredible to the house keepers, and young mothers of the present
day when they are told, that Mrs. Redfield, in early years, when
she had a family of six and seven children, performed all her ordin^
ary huu^e-work, milked her own cows ; and carded, cpun and wove
all the woolen and linen cloth that the family wore. But the old
gentleman thinks it should be (.dded, that he and the boys licrhtened
her labor, by uniformily wearing buckskin breeches in the winter;
tfiough the mother had them to make.

REMINISCENCES OF PELEG REDFIELD.

rv i? I ^ ^?'''^ ''''t ^''" '■''*'''*"'^' ^^ fi'^^ it up and hired Elam
Crane to toucli a school. It was a mile from my house, and my boys used
to go throiigfi the wood.s by maikod trees. ^ ^

mi?" r\^ ^'"'■'"m ''■"''''■' ''■'"■'' '"^ ^'''^^ ""i^nnce; nothing sliort of a pen sixteen
it. ';- W f^t^'^'t «»■• «1"^^P- in ^vinters, when hungry, they would
CO lect together and prow around the log dwellings; and if disappointed in
sccirnig any prey then- howling would sturtlo even backwoodsmen. The
Imhan wa,^ upon the wolf with great hatred ; it is in a spirit of re^■enge for
..en preyinjT up .u tlien- game, the deer. In the side hill, along on my farm
l^jy dug pits, covered them over with light brush and leaves, and bendinff
clown small trees, suspended the ortiils of deer dir.ictly over the pits. In
sprm-nng for the b|ut tlie wolf would land in the bottom of the pits where they
c-ouM easdy be k, lied. The salmon us.d ,o ascend the Canandaigua outH
as ar up as Shortsvilo, before mill dams were erected. The speckled trout
we.e plenty^n the gulphiu-^S pring brook ; and in all the small streams.

'•'*£y ?n"lT8i'"^ ""''""^ '" '""^ BristolIgedT37e^8Th^l^;;;rt^ the Genesee

312

PHEIPS AOT) QOEHAJI'S PUECUASE.

«l,e3 per biBbd, u, Watts Stem,™ J^ ' f ^;'**°f "'«'•■"■ I »U it for

bofght tads tor t^rSvc l°,s r:r:ct '""" ■' ""^ '" ""=" '*»'■■ -"

I 'iw!l

fir.tn?''^!''^ ^^"''^ '''"' °^S^^"i=^ed in Manchester in 1804- the

evvey. i his was the first legal organization, a society had been
formed previous to 1800. Judge Phelps gave the soci:'y a ste for

Rev Anson .Sh/vn! . ? "^^^^^"g house was erected,

for 25 x. 1 ^^ °''"''^ *'^' "'^"^"'^' ^"^ ^^'"^^ined its pastor

T e M tl^:^i;tslaT''"*^^^^''^^''^^^^"^ ^^'^^^-^ '^'--' -^«^^

I ne Methodists had a society organization as early as 1800 hold
ang their primitive meetings in school and private houses. '

St. John s Church, Farmington," (Episcopal, at Sulphur Springs )
vas organized by the Rev. Devenport Phelps, in 1807. Th offi
cers were: -John Shekels. Samuel Shekels, wardens- Dart

Wn^ms^ '^" '""rr ^^"»"^ '^'''^' A-hibald A Ll, Da
Williams, Thomas Edmonston, Alexander Howard, William Pow-

GOLD ■ BIBLE ~ MOBMOIf ISM.

Hilt' Tr.p""'' '* *J" ^'"'' "^ *^'« S'"'^l' family-in sio-],tof "Mormon
it in it« caro.r,\n I L W to fl^ I '■ Tl^- 1" '^ '' ''''''' ^"^ "'''''•<>' ^'^''^'4

^'S^:S:^T%f^!7^l'^'-^^^'^f^^ J^ - ^- the
tr, 11. ilo fi,>. settled in or near Palmyra village, but as

man's store. C.inancliugua Banker, who was the bo„k keeper L Shl7-

PublttSo'^H^l'"!''^^''^'^^ keeper at Qcnovn. The
public huu.se at the Sprmga.-.n,! Wiulam was thclandCi.

two brothers liad erected a

PHELPS AND GOEHAm's PURCHASP.

213

ss and naik. I
?at. I sold it for
ndjuiid ISdper

\arliest yeai's of
ilieir labor, and

in 1804; the
and Jeremiah
ety had been
"'y a site for
erected a log
was erected,
led its pastor
3ied in 1845.
s 1800, hold-
?s.

lur Springs.)
• Tlie offi.
5ns; Darius
l3eal, Davis
illiam Povv-

)f "Mormon
lid siiio'ularly
crc'Iy starting
to Kirtlaud,

as fi'oiri tlio
IJagc, Lilt as

'd l)j Hoiiry
l)er 111 SLer-

ad ort'ctod a

early as 1819 was the occupant of some new land on " Stafford street" m the
town of Manchester, near tlie Tne of Palmyra.* " Mormon Hill " is near the
plank road about half way between the villages of Palm3Ta and Manchester.
The elder Smith had been a Univei-salist, and subsequently a Methodist; was
a good deal of a smatterer in Scriptural knowledge: but the seed of revela-
tion was sown on weak ground; he was a great balili^r, credulous, not espe-
cially industi'ious, a money digger, prone to the marvellous; and withal, aht-
tle given to dilHculties with neighbors, and petty law-suits. Not a very pro-
pitious account of the father of a Prophet,— the founder of a state; but there
was a " woman in the case." IIowe\-er jiresent, in matters of good or evil ! —
In the garden of Eden, in the siege of Troy, on the field of Orleans, f in the
dawning of the Reformation, in the Palace of St. Peterebuigh, and Kremlin
of INIoscow, in England's histoiy, and Spain's proudest era; and here upon
this continent, in the persons of Ann Lee, Jemima Wilkinson, and as wo are
about to add, Mrs. Joseph Smith! A mother's influences; in the world's
history, in the history of men, how distinct is the impress I — In heroes, in
statesmen, in poets, in all of good or bad aspirations, or distinctions, that
single men out from the ina.ss, and give them notoriety ; how often, almost in-
variably, are we led back to the influences of a mothei', to find the germ that
has sprouted in the offspring.

The reader will excuse this interruption of nari'ative, and be told that Mrs.
Smith was a woman of strong uncultivated intellect; artful and cunning; im-
bued with an illy regulated religious enthusiasm. The incipient hints, the
first gi\ ings out that a Projihet was to spring from her humble household,
came from her; and when matters were matui'ingfor denouement, she gave
out that such and such ones — always fixing upon those who had both money
and credulity — were to be instruments in some great work of new revelation.
The old man was rather her faithful co-worker, or executive exponent. Their
son, Alvah, was originally intended, or designated, by fireside consultations,
and solemn and mysterious out door hints, as the forth coming Pi'ophet. Tho
mother and the father said he was the chosen one ; but Alvjili, however spir-
itual he may have been, had a carnal ap]ietite ; eat too many gi-een turnips,
sickened and died. Thus the world lost a Pi'ophot, antl Morinonism a leailcr;
the designs impiously and wickedly attributed to Pro\idence, defeated; and
all in consequence of a surfeit of raw turnips. Who will talk of the cackling
geese of Rome, or any other small and innocent causes of mighty e\-ents, af-
ter this? The mantle of tho Prophet which Mis. and Mr. Josejih Smith and
one Oliver Cowdery, had >vove of themselves — every tarcad of it — fell upon
their next ekh^st son, Joseph Smith, Jr.

And a most unpromising reci|)ient of such a trust, was this same Joseph
Smith, Jr., afterwards, "Jo. Smith." He was lounging, idle; (not to say
vicious,) and possessed of less than ordinary intellect. The author's own re-
collections of him are distinct ones. He used to come into tho village of
Palmyra with little jags of wood, from his backwoods home; sometimes pat-
ronizing a village grocery loo freely ; sometimes find an odd job to do about

* Here Iho luithor rcnioinbors to have first scon the family, in the winter of '19, '20,
in a nule log house, with but a small spot undurbrushe J oi-'ouud it.

t France.

214

PHELPS AND GOEIIAm's PUnCHASE.

Uie store of Seymour Se(U'f.ll • o„ i

"dare i>...7." *' to oneo andTwl^lf: f ''T'" .""'' ""l"'''"'^ '" "^ V<n,ng
inquisitive lounger-but'iw 1^''r", tiie iace of the then meMing
wlien ],e used to put hi f i | ' '"^''f ' ^^'^''/^'^ «'^' ^'^^W'-'ned hallj
Ra.na.e press! ViL e t^ ^t cK '" "I 1^ ^^'^'^ ^'^' ^^^^--J
may justly consider himself for 1 .,n ' ''^^ ^^ ''''"J-^-^^teemed as he

t}nuU of i ^vith eontriti^ a^ v^^"'; .^^V''^"'" T'^ "f '=""^' "''^^
%ure the face of a P.^ophet -md i '., '^J '^'f"'^ ''"''P'^''' ^1^"-^ ^ dis-

But Joseph had a iS 1') v ''''' *''^' ^^'""•l^''' "fa State.

nK.her'siilllS'oJc £Sft;r

used to help us sohe .omo or .? • '"" *•''''''■' '^•Temlly when he

iu our Juviule deb t J h ^ Sl.;j""''T f '"""' ^ I-'!^i«^* ethics,
house onDurfee street/^o 4 H f .^ '""''^' '''^^y" '" ^'"^ "'^l ''^^^l school
in upon us in the villa «• an I 1. ;'""«3;'nee of c.^itics that used to drop

disnl in the ean.p nS;^ "w^ tT i^^^ ^'^"' T^^^""^ ^^ ^'^^'* ''^ ^^'^^l-
w^ a ,e,y pass.^le oxho^eHn\'::;;";:;;S;^r'^' "' ^^'^ '^^^""^ ^-^'' ^-

l>isla(lL. and mothir .'LS? n ^.i;"' S°?f 1" •^' r '"V^'^ ^'"^^ ^'^^^^
••ompanied his father in the n.idiSf K ; "• '"'^ ''"''''"'' ^"'^ ^'^'^^ ^''-

that guarded it. ""^'"'gi^t deh mgs, and mcantations of the spirits

rJl^, ';"ti;'h:;rS:% ^;;i^£;r^''' '^7 -^"-^.-« ^^ ^1.. ti. smith

was to eo„,e from thei £;, t,1 1 u l"';! J"'"'^rT^'"' '^''' ^ ^''-^J-''^^
AWon Ilill was the p.aee^;.:,:^ it tS ^d^' ^'^^ ^*^ ^^^ ^^'^^

an]^mc!;f::lSnf^th'n r^]:St 1??"^'" ^^'^^-^^^ ^™''v.

foun,lation for the stateml h tl >? 1 V""™"^'"^''' '''^'* ^^'''^ i« "«
Mr. Spauldin- of Olio A I ,' . ^'"','' '"''""^'^I't was written hy a

Comniandnis" n II prowK^^ ^f ''"' "'1''- I^ook 'of

been aided by Spauldin^l ttu^;,; J^ ^fj^ ^ L^ ''t •'"'•^f "'^ ''-«
a production of tl,e Smith fann^^ a «U. oi r r T'^' '' ;"''"'"' ^'""''^'
teacher on Stafford street an infh If > ^ u ?t'"-''' ^^''^ ^^s a school
with the whole niatte Th 2 ; ';'^ "u ^'-if' ^T^y^ ""^1 ^'I^^^tilied
it, or even given it u ur^ - ? t rn^';i.rV""';''''' ^'^ '—- ^
n>an. The bungling attcmp" to count M-fS tl ? . "" f ''."'"^'^^ ^'^"' "'• ^^'O'
intermixture of inodernlXlo'v '^' ' '.'^ the Scriptures; the

Pl'v ; it. utter crudm'y ; ^l dn;.?'i^"'''f 7 "'* chronology and eeogra-
clearly exhibits its vuh.^. Sin Ta^." wholc^ stamp ite character and
and bad composition ° ° " '^™-' '"^^^"^■>' ^'^ ^^P^ures, romance,

■Jhtained by a cheat and afriud T P.""'"!''.';^'/'^ a desire for noton,.f\-, t,, be

wasanatdthougirinS-th:;;::;:^^^^^

pr^.S.:t;w;:;i;:j.:;!;.::;:r^,2-j^r£"/'''' '-'?:■■• ^'-i^' '- rcn,in.i«f that np.

c^iiod, and j,u.ua4 it w^ r^^'^p;;^!;;;,:;^^ "^ ^'^-^ --^ «"ttoai.o.^ bce^ th!;; I

niELPS AND GOEHAJ«''s PURCHASE.

215

into tho office
i-S ill lis young
len meddling
Aioned liall.'s,
old f'ahhioJiej
teemed as lie
eftilnoss, may
1, thus to dis-
te.

)iration,s; tho
illy when ho
'liticaJ etliies,
Id red school
used to drop
■k of M(!tho-
nna road, he

ill as the de-

t only heard

but had ae-

of the spirits

It the Smith
t a Prophet
; and that

lith family,
there is no
ritteii hy a
le Book of
9 may have
lout doubt,
^as a school
■ identified
> liavo read
nan or wo-
>tnres; tho
nd gcogra-
'at'ter, and
, romance,

whry, was
■iefy, to be
1 ne\v sect,

<1 that np.
I'eou thus

The projectors of the humbug, being destitute of means for carryin5«- out
tlieir plans, a vi(^tim wjus s('lected to obviat(! that ditficulty. Martin Harris,
was a farmer of Palmyra, the owner of a good farm, and an honest worthy
citizen ; but especially gi\'en to religious enthusiasm, new creeds, the more
extravagant the better; a monomaniac, in fact. Jtweph Smith upon whom
the mantle of prophecy had fallen after the sad fate of Alv;i, began to make
demonstrations, lie informed Harris of tho great discovery, and that it had
been revealed to him, that he (Harris,) was a chosen instrument to aid in the
great work of surprising the world with a new re\elation. They had hit up-
on the right man. Ho mortgaged his fine farm to pay for priming the book,
assumed a gra\e, mysterious, and uneailhly d(.>portment, and made he're and
there among his acipiaintances solemn annunciations of the great event that
W!is transpii'ing. His version of the discoverv, as coramunieated to him by
tho Pi'ophet Joseph hims('lt; is well remembered by several respectable citi-
zens of Palmyra, to whom he made early disclosures. It was in substance, as
follows :

The Prophet Joseph, was directed by an angel where to find, by excava-
tion, at the place afterwards called Mormon Hill, tlu! gold jilates; and was
compelled by the angel, much against his will, to be the interjireterof the sa-
cred record they contained, and publish it to the world. That the j-lates
contained a record of the ancient inhabitants of this C(nmtry, " eno-ra\(,'d by
Mormon, the son of Nei)hi.'" That on tho top of the box containinoM;he phites,
"a pair of large spectacles were found, tho stones or glass set in which were
opa(pie to all but tho Piophet," that "these belonged to Mormon, the cjigra-
ver of the plates, and without them, the plates could not be read." Ilarris'as-
sumed, that himself and Cowdcny Avere the chosen amanuenses, and that the
Prophet Jos(>ph, cuitained trom the woi'ld and them, with his spectacles, read
from the gold j)lates what they counnitted to paper. Harris exhibited to an
informant of the author, the manuscript 1 itlo page. On it were drawn, rudely
and bunglingly, concentric circles, l)ctween above and below which were char-
actors, with littl(i resemblance to letters; apparently a miserable imitation of
hieroglyphics, the writer may have somewlKMv seen. To guard against pi'o-
fane curiosity, tho Prophet had given out that no one but himself, not even
his chosen co-operators, must l)e permitted to see them, on i>ain of instant
death. Harris had n(.!\er seen the j^lates, but the glowing account of their
massive richness excited other than spiritual hopes, and he ujion one occasion,
got a village silver-smith to help him estimate their value; taking as a b;isis,
the Prophet's account of tlieir dimensions. It was a blemling of Uie spiritual
and utilitaiian, that threw a shadow of doubt upon Martin's sincerity. This,
and some anticipations he indulged in, as to tho profits that would arise from
the sale of tiio (Jold Bible, made it then, as it is now, a mooted question,
whether he was altogether a dup(\

Tho wife of Harrs was a rank infidel and heretic, touching the whole thing,
and deciiledly ojiposed to her husband's partici[)ation in it. With saeriligioiia
hands, slu^ seized over an hundred of the manuscript pages of the new'Teve-
l.'ition, and iiurned or secreted them. It was agi-cei] by the Smith family,
t'ow.lery and Harris, not to transcribe those again, but to let so much of the
new re\ elation drop out, as the "evil spirit would get up a story that tho
second translation did not agree with the first." A verv in^'onious metluxl
surely, of guarding against the possibility that Mrs. Harris had preserved tlio

216

PHELPS AND GOEHAll's PUECIIASE.

.onSL'f :',S »',!:it,^„7 sl'iif £.;,*" 7'?;r = f ""st' i-
'tt'rf °n.',:il di""'*, TrTT' "■"■" '"''"■-■ H« .""™«i'iiX

uie iu(, ot ci baptiht older, biitlia.l by some iirevious froak if the iiitlior i^
mat,,,,, Dc«,g,,,„g i,„I„t,o„.s a.nl dirf,<„,«i, „„,li.,i,„ so„,I,l„„cc of "3

"Yo too, b:licvers of incredible creeds,
WLosu faith enshrines tlio monsters wliich it breeds ;
Who bolder, even tlian Nimrod, think to rise
By nonBciiBo henped on nonsense to the skies;
Ye shall have miracles, aye, sound ones too,
Seen, lieard, attested, every thing Ijiit true.
Your preaching zealots, too insi)ired to seek

One grace of meaning for the things they sjieak ;
Youi- martyrs ready to shed out theii- blood

ttempt an iuir

lioiiseliold of
5 absence, tlie
libors. They
the sliore of
1 cotton, and
5 stone, in a
it will be ob-
was the same
3nded discov-

ad with some
le credulous,
inie across "a
3ne. In tlie
ce. Enlarg-
d then explo-
-lurknoss. "
'hetsand the
■Idly as wore
)usiness con-
by spiritual
of the new
d witnessed
proceeds of
I of $2,500,

original in-
) made his
■■ of impos-
oithily bore
e author is
ous denom-
ce of sanc-

the Smith
1 they were
et, or more
jd Prophet

PHELPS AND GORIIAM's PURCHASE. 217

For truths too heavcnlj to be understood ;"

* * # ,

" They shall liave niystcrie.s— aye, precious stuff
For knaves to thrive by— mysteries enough ;
Dark tangled doctrines, diirkas fraud can weave,
Wliich simple votaries shall on trust receive,
Wliilc craftier feign belivf, 'till tliey believe."

Under tlie auspices of Ri^rdon, a n«nv scet, the Mormon.s, was proiectod
prophcc.s fell thick .and fast tVoin the li,>s of Jos..ph ; old Mrs. Smith Issum-
ed all the airs o the mother of a J^rophet ; that particular family of
bmiths were .saigled out and became e.Kalted above ail their k-o^ion of name-
sakes. _ I ho ball, clumsy cheat, found here and there an enthusiast, a mo-
nomaniac or ,-. knave, in and an.und its primitive localitv, to help it upon its
start ; and soon, like another scheme of imposture, (that had a little of dij?-
mty and plausibility in it,) it had its Hegir..^ or llio-Ut, to Kirtland; then to
^auvo; thentoashort re.stin;r pl^ce in Missouri— and then on over the
Ivocky Mountains to Uta li, or the Salt Lake. IJanks, printing oilices, tem-
pH cities, and hnally a State, have arisen under its auspices. Converts have
multiplied to tens of tlu.u.sands. In .several of the countries of Europe there
are preachei>. and organized sects of Mormons ; believers in the divine mission
ot Jose})h Smith & Co.

And liere the subject must be dismissed. If it has been treated lio-htlv —
with a_ seeming levity -it is because it will admit of no other treatment.
1 here IS no dignity about the whole thing ; nothing to entitle it to mild
treatment. It deserves none of the charity cxU^nded to ordinary reli"iou«
la ^uacisin for knavery and fraud has been with it incipienily and progress-
ively. It has not even the poor merit of ingenuity. Its succes,s is a slur"ipon
the ago. lanatici.sm promoted it at first; then ill advised persecution •
then the designs of demagogues who wislu'd to command the suilVao-es of
Its followers ; until finally an American Congress has abetted the fraud and
imposition by Its acts, and we are to have a state of our proud Union —
in this boasted era of light and knowlodnre — the very name of which will
sanction and dignify the fraud and falsehood of Mormon Hill, tli.; gold plates
and the spurious revelation. This much, at least, might havci been omitted
out of decent respect to the moral and religious sense of the people of thu
01(1 smti6s*

FARMINOTON.

Township No. II, R. 3, (now Fanuington,) was the first sale of
Phelps and Gorham. Tlie purchasers were : — Nathan Comsfock,
Benjamin Russell, Abraham Laphain, Edmund Jenks, Jeremiah
Brown, Ephraim Fish, Nathan Herendcen, Natiian Aldrich, Ste-
phen Smith, Benjamin Rickeason, William P>aker and Dr. Daniel
Brown. Tiic deed was given to Nathan Comstock, and Benjamin

V -__

218

rnELPs AND goriiam's purchase.

l!)>

Russell ; all except Russell, Jenks, J. Brown, Fish, Rickenson, Ba-
ker and Smith, became residents upon the purcliase. Jn 1789, Na-
than Comstock, with two sons, Otis and Darius, and Robert Hatha-
way, came from Adams, Berkshire county, Mass. ; a part of them by
the water route, landing at Geneva, with their provisions, and a
1- -♦ by land with a liorse and some cattle. When the overland
party had airived within 15 miles of Seneca Lnkc, they had the ad-
dition of a calf to their small stock, which Otis Comstock carried
on his back, that distance. They arrived upon the new purchase,
built a cabin, cleared four acres of ground, and sowed it to wheat.
Their horse died, and thoy were obliged to iriake a pack horse of
Darius, who went once a week through the woods to Ooneva, where
he purchased provisions and carried them on his back, twenty niiles,
to their cabin in the wilderness. Upon the approach of winter,
the party returned to Massachusetts, leaving Otis Comstock to take
care of the stock through the winter, with no neighbors otlicr than
Indians and wild beasts, nearer thai. Bougliton Hill and Canandai-
gua. About the same period of the advent of the Comstocks,
Nathan Aldrich, one of the proprietors of the township, came by
the water route, landing his provisions and 3ced wheat at Geneva,
and carrying them upon his back to the new purchase ; he clear-
ed a few acres of ground, sowed it to wheat and returned to Mass-
achusetts.

In the month of February, 1700, Nathan Comstock and his large
Aimily, started from his home in Adam.s accompanied by Nathan
Aldrich and Isaac Hathawny, and w^ere f jllowed the day after by
Nathan Herendeen, his son "Wiiliam, and his two sons-in-law, Josh-
ua Herrinrrton and John M'Cumber. The last party overtook the
first at Geneva, when the \\lioIr' penetrated the wilderness, making
their own roads as they proceeded, the greater part of the distance,
and arrived at their new homes in the wilderness, on the 15th of
March. After leaving Whitestown, both parties, their women and
children, camped out each night during their tedious journey, and
arriving at their destination, had most of them to erect temporary
habitations, and this at an inclement season.

The following are the names of all who were residents of the
new township in 1790 : — Nathan Comstock, Nathan Comstock, jr.,
Otis Comstock, Darius Comstock, John Comstock, Israel Reed,'
John Russell, John Payne, Isaac Hathaway, Nathan Herendeen,'

Pirar.ps AND aoRnAM's pdrotase. 219

Welcome IlerenJecn, Joshua Ilerringlon, John JfCaml-cr Nalhan
Adnoh, J"cobS„,,^l, Job II„„,a>Kl, Abrahnn, Ln,.ham. J I,„ t^

Wiic! Tir li"! '"' '"'"'''"'"'■'■'"='•• J™"'!'"" Smith. Pardon
Wilcox. liobcrl Ilathavvny, Jeremiah Smilh. But a part of all
hese ,ha, were n,arricd had brought in their families, and Is „

them were um)arried.

Pa don Wdcox. and Levi Sn.i.h; ,0 the last of whom ,he author

s nuleh.ed for many of his Pioneer reminiscences of Farmi„,,o„

Joshua Hercndeen died last winter, a. the advanced age of over

Many of these early Pioneers were Friends, either by member-

that an, of ts members contemplating any i.nportant enternrise

■e rXh '/""' °':r'S™'-' "-' -Ion their intentir. '
thetr meeting for eons.deralion and advisement. The rash enter-
pnse of go.ng away off to the Genesee countrv. and seltli,' down
am„n,g savages and wild beasts, was not consistent with °k nZ
regard entertamed by the meeting for the Farmington e, g ", "^

onsent was refused, and they were formally disowned, vlh n a
connn,,, f ,h„ Friend's Yearly Meeting of Philadelphia, attend^
Frie'ds! pT'°-" T" '' ^""--J-g- ■'" "0«. they visited the

moetmg that had disowned them in Massachusetts, which resulted
n he,r restoratton. A meeting was soon after cganized, tl e iL,

e ,t a '""».''",""'• "-« ■"% o"" west of Utiea. The society
etected a mee ,ng house in 1804. Their ea,ly local public Friend

wT He died last year at an advanced age.

Wheat was harvested in the summer of 1700, the product of

: : ;;r 7'" '' ''" ^""^'"^"^ "•" ^'""- A'd,.ich,'i„ V

PC. .ous. Some sun.mer crops were raised in the summer of '00

lie .stump mortai- w-as the principal dependence for pteparing

lieii-gi-am for b,ea.l. I„ the fall of 1700, iosliua Ilcicnd™, ,"i"h

Mills in Bristol ; arriving late on Saturday night, the n,iller' wife

s:r^.if'a,;'F' '""'■ ■■"" "-'"-« >i-^" ^HouM 'i'rrLrf

f«iii.aj, ,1 all iarmmgton starved." This ,„adc liin, a second

»1 >

220

rinars akd ooniiAM's runciTASE.

journey, and it was a work of d

lys, as the first had boon. Duri

the same season, Welcome Ilerendcen. John M'Cumber and J
than Smith, took grain up the Canand

ona-

Wilder's Mill. They got hut
in the season, a part of (I

aigua outlet and Lake to

a part of it grouiid, and it being late

icir grist lay over until the next season.

man of Nathan Aldrich and

Levi Smith, in 1791, then a hired ..........

Abrahan, Lapba.n, carried grists upon two horses toVhe'FrienL
Mill, in Jerusalam,

As an example of the dilTiculties and hardships that attended
emigration at that early period, it may be mentioned that in 17!)I,
Jacob Smith, wi'h his family, was thirty one davs in makinn- the
journey (rom Adams, Mass., to Farmington. I'utling famil/and
household lurniture on ^oard of a boat at Schcneetadv. and driving
h.s stock through the woods, along tl« creeks, rivers, Imd lakes, the
^vllole arrived at Swift's Landing, beyod which he had lo make
hjs road principally, as there had been little intercourse in that
direction, from the settlement in Farmington.

Nathan Ilerendecn himself wintered iiuhe new settlement, hi.^ son
Welcome returning to bring out the family, who came in February,
01 ; and about the same time other considerable additions were
made to the settlemenl, consisting of the families of those who had
come in the year before, and new adventurers. Brice, and Turner
Aldrich and their families William Ca.Iy, Uriel Smith, Benjamin
Lapham, were among the number. A considerable nun d)er of
them came in company, witli ox and horse teams, were twenty-one
days on the route, the whole camping in the woods eight nights on
the way.

The young reader, and others who may be unacquainted with
Pioneer life, in passing through that now region of wealth and
prosperity, will h^ sur])rised to be told that the i'ounders of many of
those farm establishments — clusters of neat farm buildings, "sur-
rounded by flocks and herds, and broad cultivated fields — iV their
primitive advent, plodded through snow and mud days and \v-eeks,
with stinted means; at night, with their families of young children,'
clearing away u.e snow and s[)readiiig their cots upon the ground J
their slumbers often interrupted by the howl of the caunt wolf
prowling around their camp-fires. Unless in that localitv, liom the
peculiar character of its inhabitants, better ideas of rigin physical
education prevails than is nsnn!. ihom f..-,. ,\--,„c.Ui..,-., ;.. .V . > >

c arc daughters in those abod

niELii'S AND OORnAM's PURCHASE. 221

of comfort and luxury who shrink even from the henhhful breeze
w o.se nv.th.rs have prepared the frugal rrnal l,y the winter
camp-hre, and kept ntu-sery vigils where the drivin/storm pelted
her and her household through their frail covering. EJwt
phy.s.eal degeneracy, the work of but one and tw^o gen La ion
mar ed n. the sons. There are those in the Genesee eountr who
would deem ,t a hardship to black their own boots, harness their
own hor.e, or make their own fires, whose fathers and grand-fathers
have earned provisions to their families upon their backs throurrh
long dreary winter woods paths. Sincere.'v is it to be hoped ih^t
mental degeneracy is not keeping pace with all this, as some ob-
servers and theorists maintain.

But we are losing sight of the germ of what became a prosperous
settlement The new comers were soon in their log cabins, dotted
down m the forest, and making openings about them to let in tho
sun. i\afhan Comstock was regarded as surveyor general of roads.
Mounted upon his old mare, he would strike off into the woods in
oiilercnt dn-ecl.ons where roads were needed, followed by axe-men
and a teamster with oxen and sled. The underl)rush would be cut,
logs cut and turned out of the way. and thus the beginning of a
road was n,ade to be followed up gradually, by widening out"o two
and lour rods, and bridging of streams, sloughs and marshes. As an
evidence that they commenced in earnest to subdue the wilderness
It may be mentioned that there were ccnsiderable fields of wheat
sow-n ,n the fail of 1790. Nathan Aldrich having raisvl .ome
se.d wheat m that season. Welcome Herendeen worked for him
thirteen days for two and a half bushels, sowed it, and he used to
tell the story when he became the owner of broad wheat field,
remarkmg that he never had to buy any after that. The first set-
tlers of larmmgton, bringing with them apple seeds, and peach
a.u plum Pits, were early fruit growers _ soon had bearing
orchards- and for long years, the new settlers in far off nei<d,bor!
hoods, went there for apples, and a real hixurv they were in^imi-
tive tunes. larmington and Bloomficld cider, apples, and apple
sauce, was ari especial treat for many years in the backwoods of
the Holland Purchase. Some enterprising keeper of a log tavern
would push out when sleighing came, and bring in a load. His re-
*"■•" would be heralded over a

w ox sieds and iiorse sleigh ride, th

Je district ; and the

n woult

J fol-

rough wood's roads, rude feasts

222

PHEU'S AND GORIIAJl's PURCHASE.

and frolics. The pampered appetites of the present day know
nolhmg of the zest which attended these simple luxuries then.

J he fu-st marriage in Farmington, was that of Otis Comstock to
lluldah Freeman, at the house of Isaac Hathaway, in 1792, Dr.
Atvvater, of Canandaigua, officiating. The first birth, was that of
Welcome llerendeen, m 1790, a son of Joshua Ilerendeen, who now
resides m Michigan. As a specimen of this first production it
may be mentioned that his weight is now said to be 350 pounds.
1 he first death of an adult, was that of Elijah Smith, in 1793.

1 he first frame building was erected by Joseph Smith and James
U iMsh of Canandaigua, for an ashery, on the farm of Welcome
Herendeen. The first framed barn was built by Annanias McMil-
Ian for Isaac Hathaway, in 1703; and the same year, McMillan
bu It a small framed grist mill on Ganargwa Creek, within the town-
ship, for Jacob and Joseph Smith. Settlers have been known to

1 he fns saw mill was built by Jacob and Joseph Smith, in 1795
I he first physician in Farmington. was Dr. Stephen Aldridge. from
Uxbridge Mass. He died about fifteen years since, alter a long
and useful career, both in his profession and as a citizen

Almost the whole town of Farmington was settled by emi-rrants
from Adams, in that same county of Berkshire that has been so
prolific a hive, sending out its swarms not only here, but to all our
western States and territories. The local historian here and at
the west has olten to query with himself as to whether there could
be any body left in Berkshire ? It would seem tnat when new
lelds of enterprise were opened, new regions were to be subdued
to the uses of civilization, legions went out from its mountains, hills
rnd valleys -not "of armed men "-but of the best of materials
^r the work that lay before them. Berkshire - a single county of
New England -It may almost be said, has been the mother of em-

In the iiistory of a wide region of unparalelled success and pros-
perity, no where has it been so uniibrm as in the town of Farming.

and nf n T'"" 'T ''°" ^"■"^'^^ •^"^ ^y '^'' «'-'S'"^^l proprietors,
and of all the purchasers, but one failed to be a permanent citizen

and pay fur his land. The wholesome discipline and example of

the .Society of Friends preserved it liom the eflects of an early

proluse use of spirituous liquors, so destructive to early prosperity

PiiELi's AND oorham's purchask. 223

Icqrirecl '' ^""' ^'" '""^ ^'^^ P'-e-eminencc that it h..

The first town meeting of the " District of Fur.nln^ton " was held
at the house ofNathan Aldrich, in 1707; meotin, ^^00 ne, S
sup.r,ntendea by Phineos Bates, Esq., when .Tared Co.nsrc Z.
chosen Supervisor, and Isaae Hathaway town clerk. Otho town
offieers:- Joseph Snu.h. Nathan Ilerendcen, Jonathan SniT
O s Cc..stock Asa Wihnarth, John M'Lou.h. Isaac II. thaway

Kte s, .Tob Howland, Welcome Ilerendeen, Turner Aldnch Gid-
eon Payne, .Toshua Van Fleet, Jacob Smith

in^Lr^Fm thafSlObep..idfor the scalp of each wolf killed
Town Tl ^ '""' ™''^ to defr..y the expenses of the

lown. The meeting W..S adjourned to beheld next year at the
house of Nathan Ilerendeen.

PHELPS.

John Decker Robmson, from Claverack. Columbia co., and
Nathaniel Sanborn, were among those who came to the Genesee
country about the time of the Phelps and Gorhan. treatv Mr San!
born was employed by Mr. Phelps to take charge ^f a drove of
cattle that he mtended for beef, to distribute among the Indians a

have Ho.,t h.,t,.r .MiUeria^ to tS Si ^ ""l' Z^ 7;, ^^^ England could hardly
••Hclul. At the period .,f omi-n' a o, ? ,? ,',1 ' f ^ ^ ^'l"' '^""''' '"^^'^ P'"v»-'d more
had .ix sons : Jo.is. F). in!. I , ' ' '• ,' ,/'^i^, '"""^''- ■''."'.' ralroon of uow settlement.

iet at Cup;^ .- 3i;r£:^;S .^Jlf" -'1 j£ ^„U,a„ .. the Piol

was construclod. Jose^,, J red nd Ih i we 1 t .'^ ""'''''^ ^'"T ^"^'''"^ '^'^ '^'^"^
ted, and iK.raiiie tlic Dror rietn -^ r.f' , 1 . '^ """"^ »•'* ''»« C'l""! wa.s loca-

Town, u.ul tl,eT..avn.K' h c-ri. f^'".!'^'?"':" "* f''^«ite of the present Upper

«..uplerc:d l.eean,e a Pioneer nJar ! ^nr ' , >7 and .00., alter the canal was

the site of the vilia-re of A, 1, ■,,,,-. I"^' "V ' '"■'«(' <d Adijnn Miehi-rnn. A part of
stock, was a pronl ::::;f .^^ ^ ^ :^;;i;;;!:, ^ l^-''-^. -'"-I. if. -n. Addi.o„ ^S.ul
.'oseph, in Lock-pert, in IH'' \ ,1 - /j Vf,. ,/ ^^1'';:;^^^^ 18IG ;

i^an, in 1814 a.^l '5 ; ancfilis 1, F , ; ::^: ';tl;:^i^'^'^it■'-:• •'•'^' 1^^'"- i" Mich:
^ylu. xvns an earlv law student in Cairind W • ,) , • ' ''^' ™'"^i™'- " John,

ria.., Michi-an. The .ie.scenlantV . i? ' ' "'^.'•f' di'« 4'on a farn. near Ad-
tlioir residences bein^ urn n^' v in M i 1! /"; "ri^ '^'^T' '"'' ^*^V' """'«'•«"«.
P-nin„on, is ada,^h.er 1/ '& Tl^ lif y|;,.„ ^li s! l^l^lAn,/^" ^'"^'^ "^
Vriia a tl;u:giitt;rol Joseph. -n-^-ci ^nt.i, ot Uuiuu Spnngs,

224

PHELPS AND QORIIAM's PURCHASE.

the treaty. As soon ns land sales commr^nccd, Mr. Kobinson Ijought
lot No. 14, T. 1], R. 1, (Phelps) on the Canandaigua outlet, in pay-
ment for which he erected for Phdps and Gurhatn, (partly of logs
and partly Ihuned,) the building that was used as the primitive land
office, and lor the residence of the agent of Mr. Walker. In the
spring of 1789, he put his family and goods on board a battcaux at
Schenectady and landed them at their new home in the then wilder-
ness. Raising a cloth tent they brought with them, the family
were sheltered under that until a log cabin was erected. Nine days
after their arrival, they were joined by Pierce and Elihu Granger,
Nathaniel Sanhorn and his brother-in-law, Gould, who remain-
ed with them a few months, cleared a few acres on an adjoining lot,
built shantees, and returned to Suiricld in the flill, leaving' the Rob^
inson family to spend the winter eight miles from their nearest
neighbor. Mr. Robinson opened a public house as soon as '93, or 4.
His location was East Vienna; embracing some valuable mill'seats
on iMint creek and Canandaigua outlet. He was one of the most
enterprising of the early Pioneers. His son Harry was the first
male child born in Phelps; another son, Henry, H. resides in
Lima.

Following the lead of Robinson and the Grangers, in 1791, were,
Thaddeus Oaks, Seth Dean, Oliver and Charles Humphrey, and
Elias Dickinson.

Jonathan Oaks was the primitive landlord, erecting as early as
'94 the large framed tavern house, at Oak's Corners, about the same
time that Mr. Williamson erected his Hotel at Geneva. It was a
wonder in early days ; peering up in a region of log houses, it had
an aristocratic look, and its enterprising founder was regarded as
pushing things far beyond their time. ^It was the secon'd framed
tavern house west of Geneva, and when built, there was probably
not half a dozen framed buildings of any kind, west of that locality.
It was the house of the early explorers and emigrants, and its fame
oxtended throughout New England. It is yet standing and occu-
pied as a tavern in a pretty good state of preservation. Mr. Oaks
died in 1-804, leaving as his successor his son Thaddeus, who had
married a grand-daughter of Elias Dickinson. The father dying
at so early a period, the name of Thaddeus Oaks is principally
blended in the reminiscences of the later Pioneer period. He died
in 1824 at the age of 50 years; an only surviving son, Nathan

?on I)ought
l(!t, in pay.
lly of logs
litivc land
r. In the
attcaux at
en vvilder-
lio family
Nine days
I Granger,
10 remain-
oining lot,
r the Rob-
r nearest
s '93, or 4.
mill seats
'the most
3 the first
•esides in

'91, were,
irey, and

s early as
the same
It was a
es, it had
rarded as
d framed
probably
. locality,
its fame
nd occu-
ilr. Oaks
who had
er dying
incipally
He died
Nathan

PIIELP3 AND GORHAm's PHRCIIASE. 225

Oakf!, a worthy representative of his Pioneer ancestors, inherits the
fine estate, thn fruit of h's grand-father and father's early enterprise.
He is the P. M. at Oaks' Corners ; his wife, the daughter of Truman
Heminvvay Esq., of Palmyra ; a sister, is the wife of Leman llotch-
kiss, Esq. of Vienna.

As early as ISIO, the lessees ..f the Oaks' stand, were Joel and
Levi Thayer, now of Buffalo. About th=s period, the long celebra-
ted Race Course, was established ujjon the broad sweep^ of level
ground, upon the Oaks farm, which passengers may observe from
the cars, in the rear of the church. For years, it was a famous
gathering place for .sportsmen, and amateur sportsmen ; race horses
came to it from the south, and from Long Island and New Jersey.
The annual gatherings there, were to western New York, in a
measure, what the State Fairs now ai- to the whole State.

Philetus Swift, a brother of John Swift, of Palmyra, was in
Phelps as early as '91. He was an early representative of Ontario,
in Assembly and Senate ; in anticipation of the war of 1818, hold-
ing the rank of Col, he was ordered, with a regiment of volunteers,
to march to the Niagara Frontier, and was with his regiment at
Black Rock, when war was declared. He died in 1820. He left
no sons ; an only daughter by a second marriage, is wife of Alexis
Russel, of Webster, Monroe co.

Seth Dean, was the Pioneer upon the site of the present villat^e
of Vienna, building a primitive grist and saw mill, upon Fiint creek.
His mill was raised by himself and l:is son Isaac ; they being unable
to procure any help. The Pioneer died in early years; liis son
Isaac resides in Adrian, Michigan, is the father-in-law of Addison
J. Comstock, one of the founders of the village of Adrian. Mrs.
Wells Whitmore, of Vienna, is a daughter of Seth Dean. Walter
Dean, a brother of Seth, came in at a later period. He was the
father of L. Q. C. Dean. A daughter of his married Dr. Isaac
Smith, of Lockport, deceased, and is now the wile of David Thomas,
of Cayuga.

The first merchant in Phelps, was John R. Green, an En-llsh

lrv^"m)~d^'''' .^' i"' '^ '^P^ ^r"«''' P»t <^^ fi'-«t clioesofo pro.s.s in the Concsce coun-
try ; arid "Ihcrchy li;iii','S!it;ilo" — or, a hour .story. It was in ciio of tho „I, If.ti • V
out ,loor proHsos ; a boar cune at night, and entirely devoured t ^ hi^t^^ifa; ,1 Mi-
empty chc'csoourl), boro wiiiesa '""'•-'^ ", «ia nia tratks, and tlio

226

PHELPS AND GOPJIAM's PITKCHASE.

man, located at Oaks' Corner,.. Leman llolditiss and David Mc-
Ne,l, were the first «,erci,a„ts in Vienna ; a firm of muci, enterprise
command.ng. for a long period, the trade of a wide region. Ho h.'
.ss was the brother of the late Judge Hotchkiss^f Lew^ten
He d,ed ,n 1822. His widow is now Mrs, Joel Stearns, of Vient'
H,ram, of Lvor^ and Leraan B. of Vienna, are his son.,, MoNei
wa t e first ',M, ,„ Phe|,„ appointed in ISOI, he held the offic
re'-lntott:!'"'- ''''-' "■"^'-- "-vidow survives, a
l>r. Joel I'reseott, was the early physieian. He was an early
surerv.„r of the town, and fbr several ears chairman of Z board
of superv,sors ,>l Ontario. He died during the war of ISl- a
son of ,s, Imly Preseott, recently died in Geneva; Z d te s'be
came „e w.ves of Owen Edmons.on, of Vienna, a^d Jame Da .
row, ot feeneca county.

Elder Solomon Goodale, was the first resident minister in Phelps •

was at Uaks Corners Prp« ivtori-.K. ti n- • ,•

uxuLi!, iieso}teiian — the ofiiciatinfr.mm ster the

se Lorrnve'^r""" '^'!"''™"^ """ ^''" ^'^^'^-- ^^
settled over a Weld, congregation in Ohio ; a grand-dau-diler, Jane

Reese, was a poe,es.s whose early effusions appeared ind,e I'a my

«est Of Seneca Lake, that of East Bloon.f.eld the first ]t wa,

01 Col. Co t who proone,! ,™bseripti„ns, and rented pews the
ava.ls of winch, more than paid for i,s con.pletion, Thad Zoab

locati™ "'" '""■"'"• ™''='"«i"ally co„,pe,i,„rs for the

Pioneer''!'™ 't "T '" " ""'^' »' '"' ' """^ '"=»- ""■ "-" -""^t

;5f ^. ■t^:;e"z.rJJ;,;l:™:Ii~
p:^s:zr,^ii-:;:rr-i;:l^:nw;;i'.^f
e was a large landholder. After accun, 1, i g" ^t f: 't

; r:'po ^^u "fr''-'' "-^ """"■>• ™^»-'"'". "" as

ycdis, upon a llevolutionary nop.^inn If. j:.,! i,,,. ,•

J 1 -. !j^ (j,cu L'ut u lew years

David Mc-
h enterprise,
)n. Hotch-
f Lewiston.

of Vienna.
s. McNeil
Id the ulfice

survives, a

IS an early
)f the board
af 1812; a
ugliters be-
anies Dar-

• in Phelps ;
2ed church
inister, the
'cs, and is
;hter, Jane
he Palmy.
ey Durfee,
icond built
t. It was
m became
I in charge
pews, the
leus Oaks
vas finish-
Ts for the

than most
;novvn as
ry enter-

>a,sturago
It, where
'State, he
his lasts
-'vv years

PHELPS AM) GORIIAM's PURCHASE. 227

since, at an advanced age.* His son, Jonathan Melvin, now resides
upon the old homestead.

Wells Wlntmore came in with Jonathan Oaks ; married a daucrh-

S' . '•',"'"'' '''' '"" ^"'"'^' '''''^'' ''^ <^^'°''gi«. an J Mrs.
JN'orton, oi Vienna, is a daughter.

John and Patrick Burnett, brothers, came in 1795; Patrick left
m a lew years; John became a prominent citizen. He held a
Captam s com.nission in the Revolution. Wm. Burnett, his son
was an early supervisor, magistrate, and attained t'le rank of Brier'
Oen. of mihtia. He was in service on the Niagara frontier in 1813
and commanded the volunteer force, called out to repel the British
mvaders at Sodus. He died in 1826; William Burnett, of Ann
Arbor, is his son ; I\Irs. Benjamin Hartwell, and Mrs. Bainbridge of
1 helps, are his daughters.

Cornelius Westfall came in '95; purchased 500 acres of land ;
died in 1832. His only son, Jacab, a Captain of a company of
riflemen, was killed in Queenston battle.

Elijah Gates, came in '95 ; died in 1835 : his sons Seth and Dan-
iel, reside at the old homestead.

Oliver Humphrey, one of the earliest, died in 1838; was a Major
of Mihtia. His son Hugh Humphrey, lives at the old homestead.
1-1 IS brother Charles, who came in with him, died a few years since ;
his son John, resides upon the homestead.

Lodowick Vanderniark, came in '94; erected one of the earliest
saw mills on the outlet. He died just previous to the war of 1812 •
1- reder.ck and William, of Phelps, are his sons. His brother Joseph.'
who came in with him, died in 181(5.

Deacon Jessee Warner, one of the earliest, located on site of
v.lnge of Orleans; was one of the founders of the churches at
Orleans and Melvin Hill. He died in 1835 ; John Warner of Or-
leans, is his son.

Solomon Warner was in Geneva as early as '88. He located
near, a;.d afterwards became the purchaser of a part of the Old
('astle tract, which he sold to Jonathan Whitnev. His wife was a
daughter of Jonathan Oaks. He died in .1813; two of his sons
re side in Michigan, a nd two at the homestead; daughters became

» In pnssin^nl.o 01,1 Oastlo, in an early -lay, l.o jnrke.l m.T.^am loTinrwns h,^l^
now Hla..dina along tharoaJ, oa ias'dd iar:^:' "" " ^°"^ '' ''^ *""' ' "" ''^'^ ''''

228

PIIELP3 AlfD GORIIAM's PURCnASE.

the wives of Cephns ShekclLs, Alfred Hooker. William Jones. Rev.

Znl' Tu "•,'"" !^"'^"'' ""''" ''' y^''' '^^ =^Se, resides in the
hous. Ins father btnlt in '89, and in winch he was forn

Col Ehas Dickinson, on.s of the original purchasers of Phelps, was
from Conway. Mass. II3 died in 1804, or '5. His son. Cdton,
was killed m raising the church at Oaks' Corners, in 1804 ; Samuel
Dickinson, die eminent printer and publisher, of Boston, was a son
of Colton Dickinson; he was an apprentice of Elias Hull of Ge-
neva. Another son of the old Pioneer, was the founder of the
large mills of Vienna. He died in early years

Col. Elms Cost wns a native of Frederick co., Maryland, a son
of Jacob Cost; a sister of his, was the mother of Wm: Cost John-

Shekel, and Abraham Simmons, he came to the Genesee country
The party travelled on horseback, coming i„ via Mr. Williamson^s
Nonhumberland Road; upon 40 miles of which, there was. then
but one house; stopped at the Geneva Hotel, and continued on

lacTw h7? ' ''. ?"'"' o'"" ''">'^^""^ Mr.' Williamson,
lef ttrhn ; o """ ^^"" '''' >'^'^"S adventurers had

left their horses at Oa.. tavern, and arriving at the outlet, at Ly-
ons, were ferried over upon the back of a stout backwoodsman, by
^ name of Hunn. Shekels and Simmons, bought land at the Sul
phur Springs. The party returned to Maryland. The next season
Col Cost came out and purchased land near Oaks' Corners, where
he has resided for half a century. He is now 72 years o^ a^e
may almost be said to be robust in health; his mind retaining^its
his native ^'•■'!''^''>' ' .'^---'■"^ the fine social qualities, peculiai- to
his na ive region. His first wife was the daughter of Capt. Shekells
After her death he married the widow of Thaddeus Oaks and was
t e an lord of the Oaks' stand for fourteen yea:s. His darle."
he fruits of his first marriage, became the wives of Thomas^John-'
son of Maryland, and Lynham J. Reddoe. a son of John Beddoe,
Of Yates CO. An unmmarried daughter whose mother was Mrs
Oaks supplies the place of her mot' e , (who died recentiv,) in 1 1^
hspitabe mansion. Col. Cost was upon the frontier in tl. wlr of

of As "1 ^'r^'';-:''\^' ."^« -'•'i- of Fort Erie ; was a member
ot Assembly from Ontario, in 1840.

.>'oiK._C,,, c.st, .li,.,} i„ Ai;rii hst^^MUt^u^ wurk was in inv,,.

PHELPS AND GOPwIIAMS PURCHASE.

229

Jones, Rev.
esides in the

Phelps, was
son, Colton,
}4 ; Samuel
I, was a son
Hull of Ge-
ader of the

'land, a son
Cost John-
h Benjamin
ee country,
i/'illiamson's
3 was. then
ntinued on
ViJiiamson,
nturers had
tlet, at Ly-
xisman, by
at the Sul-
lext season
lers, where
irs of a<re •
staining its
peculiar to
. Shekells.
s, and was
daughters,
mas John-
n Beddoe,
was Mrs.
lly,) in his
he war of
giir.cntof
1 member

Benjamin ShaksU, who33 advent is mentioned in connection with
Col. Cost, died m 1818. His son Richard resides in Hopewell ; a
daughter, is Mrs. Ste[;Iicns of Hopewell. Samuel Shekell came in
1803 ; died in 18'i3 : his son Thomas in 1894, and opened a store
at Clifton Spring-; ; returning to Maryland in a few years ; another
son, Jacob M., resides near Ann Arbor, Michigan ; another, John, in
Waterloo ; another, Cophus, in Milwaukee. His daughters became
the wives of Col. Elias Cost, Major \Vm. Howe Cuyler, Alexander
Howard, and Andrew Dorsey, of Lyons. The Shekells were trom
Bladensburg, Maryland.

William Hildreth was an early merchant and distiller ; was a
Supervisor of the town, and a member of the legislature. He
creeled mills on Flint Creek, was a large farmer, and in all, a man
of extraordinary enterprise, carrying on for many years an exten-
sive business. He died in 1838; his widow survives. His sons,
William and Spencer, reside in Vienna.

Eleazor, Cephas and Joseph Hawks, were early settlers in Vienna.
Cephas Hawks, just previous to the war, erected a large woolen
factory at Whitj Sprin s, on the Nicholas (now Mrs. Loe's) f\irm,
near Geneva ; bought the fine wool of the Wadsworths ; sold cloth
at from 85 to $12 per yard ; made money rapidly ; but low prices
ond consequent failure succeeded at'ler the war. He emigrated to
Michigan. Benjamin F. H iwks, of Vienna, is a son of Eleazor.

Luiher Root was the first clothier in Phelps ; he died 25 years
since ; his widow and sons are residenis of ViiMuia.

The town of Phelps was first the "J'istrict of Sullivan;" the
first tov/n meeting was held at the house of Jonathan Oaks, in 1796.
Jonathan Oaks was cho.sen Supervisor, Solomon Goodale, Town
Clerk. Other town ofTiccrs : — Joel Prescott, Philetus Swift, Pierce
Granger, Cornelius Westfall, Abraham F. Spurr, Chas. Humphrey,
Elijah Gates, Augustus Dickinson, John Patton, Wells Whitmore,
Jonathan Melvin, Oliver Humphrey, Patrick Burnett, Jesrse Warner,
Oliver Humphrey, Phil(>!us Swift, Augustus Dickinson, Joel Prescott,
Oliver Humphrey, Solomon Goodale.

A "gratuity of four pounds" was voted for "every wolf's head
that shall be killed in this district by an inhabitant thereof."

At a court of special sessions of Ontario county, in June, 17CG,
name was changed to ''Dist.ict of Phelps."

In February, 1797, u special town meeting was called "for the

230

PIIELP3 AND GOPJIAm's PURCKASE.

purpose Of establishing some regulations in roforencc to schools."
After the town had assu.ned his name, Mr. Phelps save an enter-
a.n.ent at Oal.-Wn, and a jovial time tL b'ackwLsmen
had of It, as but few of them live to recollect.

GEWEVA.

While the Pioneer events we have been recordinjr, were jroincr
on m other localities, the little village of Kanadesaga, at the foot ,3?
beneca Lake, had been going a head under the auspices of Reed
and Ryckman and the Lessees. In the compromise with Phelps
and Gorham, the Lessees had come in possession of townships 6, 7,
and 8 m the 1st Range, and 9 in the 2d. These townships were
deeded to the Lessees under tlie name of the "New York Com-
pany ;" and a fifth township (No. 9 in the 1st.) was deeded to
Benton and Livingsto.." * " In the fall of 1788," savs a manu-
script m the author's possession, "number 8 was divided into lots
and balloted lor at Geneva; Benjamin Barton, sen., at that time
being agent for the Niagara (or Canada) Company, drew the num-
ber of lots assigned to them ; and Messrs. Benton and Birdsall
being present, drew for themselves and associates " f

In the fall of 1788, about the time that the Pioneer movements
were making at Canandaigua, Geneva had become a pretty brisk
p ace ; the focus of speculators, explorers, the Less(>e Company and
their agents ; and the principal seat of thelnxlian trade tor a wide
region. Horatio Jones was living in a log house covered with
bark, on the bank of the Lake, an.l had a small stock of goods for
the Indian trade; Asa Ransom (the afterwards Pioneer at Buffalo

* Bui. the four townships were included in tJ.e coinproniiso Benton ^ind T i in^^f
were nroinmont union" tlip L("W'>i^ • iml ..^ti,,..- ., . '.,',• ',',"^"" -i"" Unng^toii

ti» iHt, „t ii„s„; v-rf,-'„;„i rl:!. ';::;IJ; ..'':!.,;'"'"'.'■"■'•■'■.'■ ™j h ■••t

: o.k iuid Canada joint Lc-sce Coinpanic.i

all

to schools."
/a an enter-
kvvoodsmen

were going
the foot (>f
i'.i of Reed
vith Phelps
nships 6, 7,
ships were
fork Corn-
deeded to
.'s a manu-
d into lots,
that time
' the nuin-
1 Birdsall,

lovements
rettj brisk
ipany and
'or a wide
ired with
goods for
at Buffalo

1 Living-itoii

lip hy j;iir-
ig the coiiv

IP, witli tlu>
I! lots tlicv
t,V thcrcoC."
I'l.'iiijiM was
I Iho Liiko
"t," wliich
B iiiiniu of
Eind liy all

PITELPS AND GORnAM's PURCHASE. 231

and Ransom's Grove,) occupied a hut, and was manufacturing
Indian trinkets; Lark Jennings had a log tavern on the baidv of
the Lake ; the Lessee Company had a framed tavern and trading
establishment, covered with bark, on the Lake shore, "near where
the bluff approaches the Lake," winch was occupied by Dr. Ben-
ton. There was a cluster of log houses all along on the low grounrl
aear the Lake shore. The geographical designations wer°e '• hill
md bottom." Peter Ryckman and Peter Bortle were residing
there, and several others whose names are not recollected. Cot
Seth Reed was residing at the Old Castle. Dominick Debartzch,
an Indian trader from Montreal, was rather the great man of the!
country. His ])rincipal seat was the Cashong farm, which he
claimed as an Indian grant, and where he had a trading establish-
ment ; though his trade extended to the western Indians, among
whom he went after selling his claim to the Cashong iarm to the
late Major Bsnj. Barton, of Lewiston.*

The Lessees were then strenuously claiming all of the lands of
the six nations up to the old pre-emption line.' A letter from one
of the company at Geneva, to one of the Canada associates, dated
m Nov. '88, speaks confidently of a compromise with the State, " by
which we shall be enabled to hold a part, if not the whole of "the lands
contained in our lease." To further this object, it is prop.,sed that
the Canada miluence shall bo brought to bear upon the Indians ; and
th.it a strong delegation of the chiefs shall be at Albany whe'n the
legislature meets, and "retnonstrate openly to the sovereignty of the
State, against the late proceedings at Fort Stanwix, and d'emand the
restitution of their lands."t In April and M^iv, 1789, the New
York company held out to their Canada associates, the strongest
assurances of being enabled with their assistance, to induce the'ln-
Jians to abide by the Lease, instead of their cessions to the State •
hut in the fall of that year, they began to be disposed to take what-
ever they could get. In September, one of the auditors of the " New

John FI. Jom- y hu.«.,l tlie conf.rn.ahon of lliis ],a,-ai.<. Mi>jor Barton, in part
pavwiont, pulled .,11 Ins ovorcnnt, un.l ^-.-.v,. it to l),.I,iu-tzdi. It Jian heretofore beoi
SMd hat In,, pureluwewiis iniule of Pondry. ^fr. Jones correefs this, and savs Ih-it
ondry at the tune was a servant of Debarty.ch, o.va^ioually a:s,ssi:sting liinfiu the
Indian trade. Botli gloried m native wive.?.

tin llio inoiith of Septend)er preeeding, tlio Ononda-aH had, at a treaty at Fort
btiinwix,eeded their lauds to the Slate; and in the aaiue month, tho Ou-'l^Jas i<ad
ceuod tiieira

232

PnELI»S AND GOEILUl's PDIICIIASE.

I:|

York Genesee Compiny," writing to tiie " Niagara Gancsee Com-
pany," says :— " Our business has fallen much short of our first idea;"
and after -.yA ing their concurrence in a proposed compromise with
the State, the letter closes with, " I am, with due respect, but like
the rest of the company at this time, somewhat dejected, your very
humble servant."

All that w;;s done at Geneva previous to the spring of 1793, was
under the auspices of Reed and Ryckman and the Lessees. The
little backwoods village th,':t had grown up there, the scattered set-
tlements in the Lessee towns and upon the Gore, and at Jerusalem,
constiti'.ted a majority perhaps of all the population west of Seneca
Lake. " 'i'hc district of Seneca," which, so far as organization was
concerned, embraced all the region north to Lake Ontario, and the
Lessee towns, had its first town meeting in April, 1793. It was held
at the house of Joshua Fairbanks, who still survives, a resident of
Lewiston. Niagara county. Ezra Patterson was chosen Supervisor,
Thomas Sisson, Town Clerk. Othor town officers, Oliver Whit-
more, Jas. llice, Phineas Pierce, Patrick Burnett, Samuel Wheedon,
Peter Bortio, Jr., Sanfdrd Williams, Jonatlian Oaks, David Smith
Benjamin Tuttic, Win. Smith, Jr., David Benton, Benj. Di.Kon,'
Amos Jenks, John Reed, Caleb Culver, Charles Harris, Stephen
Sisson, W. Whilmore, Joseph Kilbourn, Seba Squires.

In 1791, Aii.brose Hull was Sup ■s\ isor. Store and tavern licen-
scs were granted to Graham S. Scott, Thomas Sergeants, Joseph
Annin, Ilewson & Co. 1795, Timothy Allen was Supervisor, and
Samuel Colt, Town Clerk ; town meeting was held at the house of
Ezr.i Patterson, who was chosen Supervisor of the town for several
successive years. In 1800, the numl'cr of persons assessed to work
on the highways in the town of Seneca, was 290.
^Mr. Williamson turned his attention to Geneva, in the spring of
1793 ; and as will be observed, many of the early reminiscences of
the locality occur in connection with him. In fact, Geneva is more
or less mingled with the earliest events of the whole region. It was
the door or gateway to the Genesee country, and there our race first
made a stand preliminary to farther advances.

Herman II. Bogert, conunenced the practice of law in Geneva,
in 1797, being now the oldest resident member of the profession'
except Judge Ifowell, in western New York. His father was Isaac
Bogert, a captain in the Revolution, attached to the ISow York line '

PHELPS AND GORnAM's PURCHASE.

233

ncsce Com-
r first idea;"
romise with
ct, but like
I, your very

' 1703, was
isees. Tile
atlcred set-
Jerusalem,
; of Seneca
lization was
•io, aad the
It was held
resident of
Supervisor,
liver Whit-
I Wheedon,
ivid Smith,
•nj. Dixon,
is, Stephen

ivern licen-
its, Joseph
rvisor, and
e house of
for several
ed to work

! spring of
5cences of
va is more
fi. It was
r race first

n Geneva,
Profession,
was Isaac

^ork !i

nc;

was at the siege of Fort Stanwix, and at the close of the war be-
came a merchant in Albany. The son was preceded in his profes-
sion at Geneva, only by Henry II. Van Rensselaer, who remained
but a lew years.

Mr. Bogei' observes, that at the period he came to Geneva, land
speculations were at their height ; high prices were the order of the
day; board was S 1,00 per week at the hotel; and all things were
going on as swimmingly as in the later years, 183G, '37. Eligible
building lots of three-fourths of an acre'> sold for 8500 ; farmin.T
lands in the neighborhood, sold for 85,00 an acre, that afterward"
brought but $2 and 83,00. .Mr. Williamson had a slocp upon the
Lake that was engaged in bringing down lumber. The mail was
brought from Albany once in two weeks upon horseback. Mr. Wil-
liamson's head quarters were then i)rincipally at the Genera Hotel.
In addition to his other enterprizes, he was a'ctivelv engaged in the
construction of the turnpike.

Mr. Bogert is now 77 years of age ; his wife, the daughter of
John Witbeck, of Red Hook, who also survives, is 73. Charles A.
Bogert of Dresden, Yates county, is a son; a daughter became the
wife of Derick C. Delamater, of Columbia county ^ another, of Her-
man Ten Eyck, of Albany ; another, of Godfrey J. Grosvcnor, of
Geneva.

Early lawyers in Geneva, other than Mr. Bogert, Pollydore B
Wisner, Daniel W. Lewis, Robert W. Stoddard, John Collins, Da-
vid Hudson. Mr. Wisner was an early District Attorney. He
died in 1814. He was from Orange county; studied law with
Richard Varick ; at one period member of the Legislature. Mr.
Lewis died within a few years in Buffalo, leaving no chikircn. An
adopted daughter of his was the wife of Stephen K. Grosvenor, and
IS now the wife of the Rev. Dr. Shelton, of BufTlilo. Mr. Stoddard
died in 1847. A son of his is a practicing lawver in Brooklyn, and
another son is an officer of the navy. Mr. Collins is now a prac-
ticing lawyer in Angelica. Mr. Hudson still survives, and contin-
ues a^resjdent of Geneva. Mr. Parks is yet a practicing Attorney

NoTE.-Mr. T!oi,rcrt,aiu.n.g^.thor interesting reininisccnoe.s of early tiiiios, wlii^
V-!l7 "'tT ''""^ "' "^•^";«'"'"-'«i""^. «]'«>k. of a niavke.1 evont-a'\l,under! o , '

Zo Zir^'P'Tn"*'''^ 'l""'"^ succession, of tiunuler; not nnlike the rc-

hudtw I'u'aiiek '" ' ''"' ^ '""''' of grandeur and terror, U.at h-a.

234

PHELPS AND GORIIAm's PURCHASE.

in Geneva. He studied law with Lewis and Collins, and was ad-
mitted to practice in 1814. In the war of 1812, he was upon the
frontier, and in the battle of Queenston, in command of a company
of volunteers.

The early merchants of Geneva, other than those who were loca-
ted there under Indian and Lessee occupancy, were : Grieve and
Moflat, Samuel Colt, Richard M. Williams, Elijah H. Gordon,
Richard M. Bailey, Abraham Dox. Grieve & Motlatt established
the first brewery in all this region. Mr. Grieve was in the employ
of Mr. Williamson, in the earliest years, as it is presumed Mr. Mof-
fat wa-', as his name occurs in connection with the early move-
ments at Sodus. Mr. Grieve was out in the war of 1812, a colonel,
under Gen. McClure. He died in 1835. Mr. Moffat removed to
Buffalo. Richard M. Williams became a farmer in Middlesex, On-
ta- io county, (or in Yates county) where he died a few years since ;
a son of his was lately in the Senate of this State. Mr! Colt was a
lirothcrof Joseph Colt, the early merchant of Canandaigua, Auburn,
and Palmyra. lie removed to New York, and on a visit to Ge-
neva, attending tiie com'mencement at the College, he died suddenly,
at the Hotel, in 1831. Mr. Baily is still living. He entered the
regular army in 1812; had a staff appointment, was taken prisoner
at the battle of Queenston; went to Quebec in company with Gen.
Scott, where he was parolled.

Elijah H. Gordon is one of the three or four survivors of all who
were residents of Geneva previous to 1798 ; is in his 80th year.
His goods came in early years, from Schenectady, via the usual
\vater route, costing for transportation, generally about $3 per cwt.
Barter trade, in furs especially, constituted his principal early busi-
ness ; potash and ginseng was added after a icw vears.

Mr. Gordon was a Judge of Ontario county courts in early years ;
and the second Post Master at Geneva, succeeding Walter Grieves,'
who was the first. His two sons, John H., and Wm. W. Gordon,'
reside in Washington, Louisana.

Dr. Adams was a physician in Geneva in the earliest years of
settlement. Dr. John Henry and Daniel Goodwin, were the ear-
liest permanent physicians. Dr. Henry died in 1812. Dr. Good-
win removed to Detroit, where he died a few years since. Stephen
A. Goodwin, an attorney at law, in Auburn, is a son of his ; another
son, Daniel Goodwin, is an attorney in Detroit.

PHELPS AND GOBHAm's PURCHASE.

235

ind was ad-
is upon the
a company

were loca-
Grieve and
[I. Gordon,
established
the employ
d Mr. Mof-
'arly niove-
I, a colonel,
removed to
Idlesex, On-
,'ears since ;

Colt was a
iH, Auburn,
visit to Ge-
d suddenly,
intered the
en prisoner
.' rtith Gen.

; of all who
80th year.
I the usual
83 per cwt.
early busi-

arly years ;
er Grieves,
V". Gordon,

t years of
re the ear-
Dr. Good-
Stephen
3; another

A Presbyterian society wa orjranized in Geneva, as early as
1798. In July of that year, a meeting; was held ; John Fulton and
Oliver Wliitmore presided ; Oliver Whitmore, Elijah Wilder, Sep-
timus Evans, Ezra Patterson, Samuel Latta, Wm. Smith, jr., and
Pollydore B. 'Winner, were chosen trustees. The Rev. Jedediah
Chapman became the first settled minister, continuing as such,
until hi3 death in 1813. He was succeeded by the Rev. Henry
Axtell. The society built a church in 1811.

In 180G, " nineteen persons of full age, belonging to the Protest-
ant Episcopal church, assembled, and there being no Rector, John
Nicholas presided." Trinity church was organized by the election
of the following officers :— John Nicholas and Daniel W. Lewis,
Wardens; Samuel Shekel!, John Collins, Robert S. Rose, Richard
Hughes, Ralph T. Wood, David Nagler, Jas. Reese, Thomas Pow-
ell, Vestrymen.

The Rev. Davenport Phelps was the first officiating clergyman ;
was succeeded by the Rev. Orrin Clark, who officiated for many
years. He died in 1828. The society erected a church in 1809,
which was removed, and its site occupied by the present Trinity
Church, in 1845.

Baptist and Methodist societies were organized, and churches
erected, soon alter the war of 1812, but the author has no farther
record or information concerning them.

Among the earliest mechanics at Geneva, were : Wm. Tappan,
John and Abraham B. Hall, John Sweeny, Elisha Douner, Moses
Hall, W. W. Watson, John Woods,* Lucius Gary, Jonathan Doane,t
Foster Barnard, Richard Lazalere, Jacob and Joseph Backenstose.'j

John Nicholas, emigrated from Virginia, and settled at Geneva
m 1804. He was a lawyer by profession, but had retired from
practice. He was for several terms, a member of the State Senate,
and a Judge of the courts of Ontario. He engaged extensively in

* Mr. Wood, was also an eai'Iy landlord.

t He erected the primative cliurclies ; was the father of Bishop Dcano of Xew Jer-
sey, who received his primary education in Oenevii.

t Thev were brothers, came to Geneva in tlio earliest years. Thev were the pioneer
tailors of the Genesee country. Time was, when to wear a coatlVoiu (heir press board
marked the wearer as an aristocrat. Men going to Ct)ngreHs, or the Legislature (jen-
cnilly got it coat liom a "(lenevii milor," but never before election. "GeiR>rals''~and
"Colonels" sotnelimes indulged insucli an extravagant lu.\ury. Tlie surviviu"- sons of
Jacob, are :— John Harkenstore a mercliant of Geneva, and Jacob and Frederick, of
iiloomtield. Jacob Barkcustorc yet survives, a residout of LocJijiort.

236

rilELPS AND OOUIIAm's PUUCIIASE.

agricultural pursuits, owning nnd occupying llio large farm after
wards iMirchased by Cidcm Loo. Judge Nicholas died in 1817.
iris surviving sons arc Rol)ert(J. Nicholas, Lavvson Nicholas, Gavin
L. Nicholas, John Nicholas ; a daoghter became the wife of Abra-
ham Dox, and another the wife of Dr. Leonard, of Lansingburg.

Robert S. Rose, a broth<'r-in-law of Judg(^ Nichr.las, emigrated
with him from Virginia. He located upon a finm on the oirposite
side of Seneca Lake, where for many years, he was one of the
largest farmers in westc-rn New York. Roth he and Judge Nich-
olns, wore at one j.eriod extensive wool growers, and did much to
promote the imi)n)vement of sheo[) husbandry in this region. He
was for (.ik; or two terms, a rei)resentativo in Congress. " He died,
suddenly, :.t Waterloo, in 1815.* His widow, who was of the
Virgmiu family of T.awsons, so liighly esteemed for her quiet and
unobtrusive charities, and especially for her zealous aid to the Epis-
copal church, whose doctrines she adorned through life, died in
1817, or '8. The surviving sons, are: — Dr. Lawsmi C.'roso cf
Geneva; John an<l Henry lios*., of Jerusalem, Yates county;
Robert L. Rose, of Allen's Hill, Ontario county, late a representative
m Congress, from the Ontario and Livingston district, and Charles
Rose, ol the town of Rose, Wayne county. A daughter became
the wile ol Robert C.Nicholas; nnother, the wife of Hopkins Sill

i;;!

Bill i:v REMIN ISCKXCES.

From old nowspnper fil,..^ ]m^^ovvcd by James Bogart Es,,., nn early and
wortl.y ,.on. .,..(,„• of (l,e ,K.usp...,,..r press i„ Ontnno.ounty. ' ^W sJsonic
ac...,.Ml u ... early prin(..rs and edif.rs of (he (!en, sec eonntry.

In Hath (.azette 17!)!), by an advertisement, it woul.l seen, il.at the " Uath

iH.a re was,,, l„h UtH. The plays annunnee,!, arc tho "Mock Doctor, or

the ),,,,., J.,, ye,,,vd' " A peep into the Se,.aglio." -Pit, six .hilii,, >.;

(.alley three .slnlhngs." In same pape,', (Jeo,'go M'Chiro, announees that lie

* In iwlv lif,. lu- li;ul eM(vi-(ai,.(..l a iM-eser.tin.etit of ,su.M<.|i .lei.Ui, arisi,«- fn.m sonu-
.sor,.u„/,a„n„ ,n ,)„. ,-...um ..f ,1... lK,,rt. Jlany y..;.rs j-iovious , , l,is .K. l/ . ul

.1 t ..t st..,,,„„- ,nt,. I„.s sii.,.;!, to refii,-,, l.o.ne, l\.ll nm\ .s,„m, expi,v,l So iluJi,, \ ' s

farm affcr
d in 1817.
jlas, Gavin
of Abra-

emigrated
le opposite
t)nc of the
idge Nich-
ifl Miuch to
gion. He
He (lied,
:as of the

quiet and
3 the Epis-
e, died in
'. Rose, of
s county ;
esentative
id Ciiarles
sr became
)pk ins Sill

PlffiLPS AND GOKIIAm's PUIICIIASE.

237

1 early and
'" Soo some

the " Jjatl!

l)oct(ir, or
v .^liilliiu^'s;
u'cstiiat lie

C fn>m sonic
I'.-ilh lie ]i;i(l
I with siinu-
and in the
itiiiliii!,' «'a.s

ill! CXi'^t']!-

l>a« r^K.m..l a " house 'of ontert^iinmont," at IJath. Bath races arc advertised.
"iN..rlliiiinl,-rl;iiirl and Siinhiirv (iazcttc " lino- rJ„„.|, • w,\v

per aero to actual settlors." H.. says: — "A vill...c ell l i/- jV ,'
islaid oatat „K. j.,.K.tion of the i.a....^ ^H '^^ ' o ^^^'tZ

ihe Mla^., ^v,il l.ayo the advantage of asci.ool, chureh, dro." "MechanL
;v""te. , to whom vi lage lots will lu, donated." "Mr.' W liiam .n lo^
eavo t., n,tunM th. (icru.an settle, in JVnnsylvania, that h. ..pel Z 2
o he annal of 400 Saxons fion. (J.rmany, who havetak... u, land in it
Oene,s,.o o.Minli y. Th.y sailed tVnm Hamifun^ in April la.t " *

M t .t .hey vv.ll contract the n.aking of a turnpike from Onondaga llollol
U) Gc.ncva, anc n>ake payn.u.t for the same "in g.,.d land." In s^„,e „ Z
It .s announced that "Sloop Seneca, will sail fmm (icneva <-Nery lUZ
^vndand wvather pcrn-,i„in., fur the head of the Lake, andwiV^lT;

tained'hv'') ^7u u""^' ^J"""' !«"« = - "I^<-tive proof has been ob-
; d ■ ,? '"^ "• .^^'l^'^/"orr.ey o-eneral for Keaitncky district, that Burr

Ind fon /in'; ']{r';'^'^M ^^f-^ ^var against Si-ain, invadiLg Mexico,
and toiijiing a distuict empn-o m the western "country."

JAMES REESE.

In all our country there are but few survivors of our Revolution-
ary period -not one. perhaps- certainly not in our local region,
survives, who was so familiar with its stirring events as the venera-
ble .James Reese, of Geneva, now in his 87th year. Enterin- the
counting house of Willing & Morris, in Philadelphia, in the memora-
ble year of the Declaration of Independence, he remained thereuntil
tlie close of the long struggle that ensued. Transferred from the
commercial department of the firm to the private desk, and confi-
dence, of one of its partners, Robert Morris, then so blended with
and so particiinitnig in all that was transpiring, it may well be con-
ceived that his yet vigorous mind is a rich storehouse of historical
reminiscences. The man survives, a citizen of our own local region
who was a witness of the interviews that often occurred between
Geo. VVashmgton and Robert Morris ; when he who wielded the

: i::'^£rir:;:i^i::::;::{::S'z^^ ^^^ ^^^^^ - that the eatc^ns.

238

PHELPS AKD OORIIAM'S PURCHASE.

■i '

1-1

sword, would meet him who wielded the purse, and the two, with
painful anxiety, surrounded by embarrassments — with an unclothed
and unpaid army, and an empty treasury — would discuss the por-
tentuous questions, the ways and means of our nation's deliverance.
When unpaid armies, disheartened, wore down by fatigue and pri-
vation, would threaten dispersion and a return to their long neglect-
ed homes ; when even their sicit-hearted leader would temporarily
yield to despondency, and almost in despair appeal to him whose
financial expedients were seemingly exhaustless, for council and
aid.

The printed notes of hand that Mr. Morris issued in several
emergencies during the Revolution, — especially those used in addi-
tion to the sum borrowed of the French to enable Wa.-^hington to
put the army upon its march, preparatory to the battle of Yoiitown,
were filled up and afterwards cancelled by Mr. Reese. Of the
hundreds in Mr. Morris' employment at that period, in all his com-
mercial relations — as Superintendent of the finances, and Secre-
taryof the Treasury — Mr. Reese alone survives. His position
brought him in contact, and made him acquainted with the leaders
or both the American and French army, and the officers of the
Navy, of those whose memories are embalmed in a nation's heart.
He names them with all the familiarity of recent intercourse ; but
there are few, if any, in the long list that have not gone to their final
rest^ He is one of the few remaining links that connect the Past
with the Present — and his is not only in reference to our national
history, but to the Pioneer history of our local region.

Mr. Reese's first visit to this region was as clerk or secretary to
the commissloutM;s for holding a treaty with the Indians, at " Big
Tree, " commonly called the Morris' treaty. Returning to Phila-
delphia he acquired an interest in the new region, and in 1798, he
removed his family to Geneva, where he has since resided, with' the
exception of one year spent in Bath,i>. connection with the land of-
fice there. When Mr. Williamson canje out as the Pultnev agent
his first business was v^ith Mr. Morris, where Mr. Reese became
one of his earliest acquaintances in this country. On arriving here,
he entered into his agency service, and after that, was his private
agent until he returned to England.

le two, with
n unclothed
iss the por-
loliverance.
jue and pri-
)ng neglect-
temporarily
him whose
iouncil and

in several
!ed in addi-
shington to
York town,
!e. Of the
ill his com-
and Secre-
is position
the leaders
ers of the
on's heart.
Durse ; but
I their final
t the Past
ir national

cretary to
I, at " Big
;to Phila-
1 1798, he
I, with the
e land of-
ley agent,
le became
ving here,
is private

of the work

PHELPS AND GORIIAM's PURCHASE. 239

He was appointed cashier to the old Bank of Geneva when it
went into operation. He was in service during the war of ISiy, as
a Deputy Quartermaster of the Northern Division of the Army •

StiTlnrv^T' l" ''"%""'''' ^'"^ *^^'^^'"*' I^^"k Conunissioner of
otato, and Postmaster at Geneva.

In a work devoted to other objects, but a brief space can be spared
lor iicvolutionary reminiscences -even those as full of interest as
are those of the subject of this sketch. Speaking of Mr. Morris, he
observes: — "His commercial transactions were immense, extend-
ing over the greater portion of the commercial world ; and to all
this was added the onerous task of providing for an army in the field,
and an armed force upon the ocean. He brought all his energies
ot mmdand body in requisition for the Herculean labor; wasactrve
vigilant -at tunes sleepless,- and all in his employ were kept in
motion 1 here was no man who could have filled his place He
wielded an immense amount of wealth ; had an extraordinary facul-
ty to inspire confidence ; he unloosed purse strings that no one else
could have unloosed. Even those of the society of Friends, their
principles forbidding an immediate or remote participaton in war
or any of its relations, who constituted at that period a large class of
Phdadelphia capitalists, lent him money; in one especial instance,
«6,000 in specie, in a pressing emergency of the armv, with an in-
junction of secrecy.* The relations between him and Washincrton
during the whole of the Revolution, was one of great intimacy, con-

Z7T -r^'^''^- There was no one individual upon whom
the 1 ather ol his country so much relied, in all the terrible conflict
that won our national Independence

As the clerk of Mr. Morris, Mr. Reese had an opportunity of
seeing Washington under circumstances which enable him to
speak familiarly of him. " He always," says he. "received me and

anfact"witrh-''""TT'"''"" '' ""^•"^' "^^" ' ^^' ^"^-^ ^o
t ansact wuh him. He was mild and courteous - sedate - not

Mr. Reese observes Ihat Mr. Morris' sudden reverses were in a

^40

VIIELPS A^D fiORHAM's PUECIIASE.

-reat measure consequent upon what he re^rardecl as lus forf.nv.t
investments! in ♦i.« /< "" "-o""^'^" 'is njs lortunate

«:£i :;■:, ;«;- -s ,;".;v,:::

CHAPTER II.

,t ii.

MLE OP P,„„. „„ „.,„„,„ ^„ „„„^„ „„„,^ _„^_

A »A.« intimaielj, bla,id,d will, tl,„ whole history of Iho Revo
reg,o„. What could well Imnid, the material for an elabonte ht

successor J^f ,h> , ■""" ""= P"""" "^ ^'^ '"" "''i

successor. At the breakmg out of the Revolution, althou-h en

gaged m an extensive mercantile and eonnnercial l,u ines ra . e'

z* '"irmrh;"^ "^="™ " °"- - »-™ i«'i^- i" ;'e

=>"u le. m 1776, he was a member of Con<rress from P,.nnc, i
van,a, and one of the signers of the DeCaratirof XenSe:

PHELPS AND GOEIIAM's PURCHASE.

241

s fortunate
His irolden
ir Willijirn
ope as the
" and with
he Union,
e from af-
h dignity,
his u.seful

TO ENG-

le Revo-
ititude is
struggle
h all this
rate his-

his in-
cvuntry.
While a
litimore.
ideiphia,
son and
ugh en-
that de-

1 ill the
onnsyl-
ideiice.

In the previous year, soon after the battle of Trenton, General
Washington, in a pressing emergency, had realized from him a tern-
porary loan for the army. Again, money was wanted by the
commander in chief, and he supplied it; the army was destitute
of bread, and the doors of his store houses were opened for their
relief; it was without lead for bullets, — stripping the lead fixtures
from private dwellings for that purpose, — when the ballast of one
of his vessels supi)lied the deficiency. Invested with the office of
Secretary of an empty Treasury — becoming the financier of the
poorest country that ever kept an army in the field, or armed ships
upon the ocean — his own means were put in requisition, and his
almost unbounded credit freely used. With a tact, as a financier,
never excelled, when money must be had, he obtained it. When
other men or bodies of men failed, he would succeed. When the
rich bankers of Amsterdam knew no such new creation as the
United Stales, or its Congress ; or, knowing them, had no confi-
dence in their engagements, they trusted him on his private re-
sponsibility with millions, which he used in the public service.
And when the great struggle was drawing to a close — when a
last and desperate blow was to be struck, and the army that was to
doit, was in New Jersey, without pay, and destitute of comfortable
clothing and rations, *~ when even its stout hearted commander-
in-chief was almost yielding to the embarrassments with whic'i he
was surrounded, and upon the point of leading his army the wrong
way, because he could not command the means to move it where
it should go — the active, patriotic financier hastened to his camp,
and by assuring him that he would supply all immediate wants, en-
couraged him to put his army in motion. The destination was
Yorktown ;— the defeat of Cornwallis, the crowning act of the
Revolution, was the result.f Mr. Morris died in New Je-sey, in
1800. He was eventually reitnburscd by Congress for all of his
expenditures and losses in the Revolution, though not for the sacri-
fices of time and abstraction from his private business, that his pub-
lic services made necessary. He was, however, eminently success-

*"lHiiwthat army wlicn it i.iiHsod tliniiit;], I'liihuldphin," sjiys flio venorablo
JameH lli't-s,, ; "au.l a inoiv nmire,!, bIdoIoss, aiul sad looking one,' lias soldom been
[lilt iiiwii the inaivh lu tlio diicotiou of an I'lifiiiy."

t Tl... mn„.-y i-, «n.,oi,,>, that hi. h:id pr«n.i...d, wud bonwcd, aiid paid to tho army.
Init a lew days bulore tJiu attack upon Cornwallis. '

'fill

i|i!

24:2

PHELPS AND GOEHAm's PURCHASE.

ful in his commercial affairs, and at one period, was by far the
wealthiest man in the United States ; but engaging enormously in
land purchases — other than in this region — he became embar-
rassed, and the country he had so well served, had the sore morti-
fication of seeing him, toward the close of his useful life, the tenant
of jail limits. *

Mr. Morris' extended commercial affairs, had made him in a
measure, a citizen of the world, instead of that of the new republic.
Such was his credit at one period, that in most of the commercial
cities of Europe, his private notes passed from hand to hand, with
all the confidence that would have been had in the issues of a sound
bank. At the close of the Revolution, an immense quantity of wild
lands were thrown into market, speculation became rife, and Mr.
Morris entered into it upon an extensive scale. Mr. Phelps, during
the Revolution, having been connected with the commissary depart-
ment of the Massachusetts line, and Mr. Gorhnm, being a promi-
nent merchant in Boston, Mr. Morris had made their acquaintance,
and when they sought a purchaser for their unsold laiids in the Gen-
esee country, they applied to him. Little was known in the com-
mercial cities of all this region, other than what had been gathered
from maps, and from those who had accompanied Sullivan's expedi-

NOTE,

of Lini in I

TIio DiiK Liiinconrt, who itiiide the acquaintance of Mr. Morris, and speaks
lan^'UMgc of rc'sjic'ct and cstocn), montionH anioni,'liis ![rii,'antic, l)n,sinfss oiier-
ations, Ins investniouts in the city of Wasliington. Tlie c-ipital \vaa located in an era
of speculation and inllation, and niiijjii I ficcut expectations wew entertained in reference
to the city that would grow up anjund it. In company with Messrs. Nicholson and
Greenleaf, of I'hiladelpliia, he i)urchased G.OOO lots at f 80 per lot, with the condition
that there should be built upon thoni ILH) two story brick houses, within seven years.
This purcliase was made of commissioners; the company bought about an euuai
number of lots of original proprietors of the ground. Successful sales followed, ijart
of the buildings were erected, but the bubble burst and added to the embaiTassinents
of Mr. Jlorris, ruining manv others of the large capitalists of the United States. The
city of " brickkilns," and "magnilicent distances," as Mr. Randolph called it, abounds
with tlie relics of tlio extravagant views entertained at an early period.

The iirivatc notes tliat Mr. Morris issued during the Kevolul'ion, were railed " Lon-

J3ob8,"Saiid " liort Bobh ;" having reference to the drawer's name, and the periods of
their maturity. Jttgs- For a more extended biographical sketch of Robert Morris see
History of Holland Purchase. '

*An unthinking Sliylock at a public watering place, during the last summer, in W.
X. Y., gave it as his sage and ])rofound oinuion, that no " worthy, (h'servin" man «'
eversulFered by the operations <if tlie old law, which imprison(Hl for lU'bt ; and added
the wish, tJiat it could be restored. The .'nithor nuist here not<! what occurred to him
nt the time ; — The man, without whose individual exertions, the Revolutionary strug-
gle woidd have been a failure ; and the man who projected the overland route of that
groiit dispenserof wealth and prosjierity to rnillinns — the Erie Canal — were victirtw
of that relic of an iron age, which strangely enough had found at this late period one
advocate. ' '

PHELPS AND GORHAM's PURCOTASE.

243

tion. Mr. Morris, however, sought the means of further informa-
tion. Ebenezer (or Indian) Allan, was then located as an Indian
trader on the Genesee River, at what is now Mount Morris, and
was in the habit of making yearly visits to Philadelphia for the pur-
chase of goods. Samuel Street who resided at the Falls on the Can-
ada side, had also visited Philadelphia. From them Mr. Morris ob-
tained information, which induced him to accede to a proposition of
Messrs. Phelps & Gorham. Their deed of conveyance embraces
their entire final purchase of Massachusetts, of about two millions,
two hundred thousand acres, excepting such towns and parts of town-
ships as they had sold, being in all, about one million, one hundred
thousand acres. The consideration and actual price paid by Mr.
Morris, was thirty thousand pounds New York currency.

At an early period after the purchase, Mr. Morris employed Maj.
Adam Hoops to exolore the country,* who reported that " in respect
to soil, climate and advantageous navigation," it was equal to any
portion of the United States. Measures were immediately adopted
for the survey of such portions as vtas unsurveyed. The celebra-
ted David Rittenhouse was then just perfecting some surveyor's in •
struments, and he was employed to fit out Major Hoops' expedition.f

«>•?•' MrEbo™\tfn )l "^ n T'^^l^'' P"'"f "■'^'*''' ^'"^ "" '"« "g'^"* i" London,
tJiat Mr. Ji.l(iiczai Allan tlu^ oldest settler in that country" had .issured him "that

3,Xfs onr:o'fi^' "■' l'"t ' '^ "' ™"'P»■'^'•»'"1 '^troni an.l that he K ra sod
loity busholh ot the htiesi ;vheat he ever .saw, an.l so of otlier articles in like abund-
ance. Ho a.s,sert.s that the forest trees about Philadel,>hiu are not larger la th bran-
ch, s of trees i„ h,s neighborhood." In another letter he assures his agen ha he has

Si H^ml-f. Hi''''''"-; '''''%"''•' "^'"? ^""'^'^" P'"-'''''''^"' f--""' «'"«" who belonged to

the iM lend s settlen.en oa fccncca Lake, tliat had returned to Pennsylvania on a vi^t

o their connc^xion. He n.ssures him that he has from all quarttTS Srsuerfuor -

ble accounts of the couutry, that were he a young man, he wldd " pifcl, Ids tent there i"

Jf fhiu "','T '''■''' "'''• '"1? ';,";'■"■ I'''"«''''lplii-'i- Ho had been in the army through-
«fy-W '■;'•''';'"' '"''%"' «""'™"'>' c.i'npMign, and at one period, belonged oAe
staff ot W ashmgton ; and was one of the aid's of Gen. Sullivan, \n his expedition to the

^Tm 'Z''''- f}'- '""'i ^""•'T^*'^ ''''''^' the earliest surveys of aFl ^ region
\\hen Mr Morris nf erwards, purchased all the regions west of 'Phelps and Gorha "s
^'hjiT'; T^T^:"""^ .t and commenced the surveys. In 1801. he i'^ 1^ w h
Lbenezer I< .Norton, purchased the most of the township of Olemi. They la^d out

Sud.:;? a?n weSSS'^Sf^s :^>r''- ^^^'^^^ ^° «^-"- ^ ^^

toUSi^/miJ'l^lirdr^ 1?h^he'i;K3i:JT' 7r'i *"''^°°1

i.,strumems. in anticipLtion of the t.anS ofVi:, ill^'h ttSll^dlS'j^St
be present and enjoy a view of it Among the res he had iuv e a re pectaWe far-
mer from tho ccmntry. who knew far more about raising crops, than hTSd about

244

PHELPS AND GOmiAJi's PURCHASE.

In Mr. Morns' extensive land operations, he had a-ents in all the
principal cities of Europe. His agent in London, was Win Tern-
pie Franklin, a grand-son of Dr. Franklin, to whom he had .^iven
an inadequate idea of its real value. Just as he became fully ap-
prized ot Its value, and was in active preparation to bring it' into
market for settlers, un<ler his own auspices, he received news from
Mr. Franklin, that he had sold it. The purchasers were an '-Asso-
ciation," consisting of Sir Wm. Pultney, John Hornbv and Patrick
Colquhoun. The first was a capatalist, and at that peHod occupied
a high position as a citizen and statesman. He resided in the city of
London. The second, had been governor of Bombav, and was a
retired London capitalist. The third was eminent in his dav, as a
statesman and philanthropist.* The price paid for wliat was sup-
posed to be about one million one hundred thousand acres, but
which in fact amounted to almost one million two hundred thousand
acres, was thirty five thousand pounds sterling. Mr. Morris had
written to Mr. Franklin previous to the sale, a letter from which he
would have inferred, that he intended advancing on the price, but
the sale was made previous to the reception of the letter. In'that
letter he says: — "I have applications in all, for 250,000 acres of
the Genesee lands, and they are daily increasing. This winter has
disclosed the real character those lands deserve. Many genteel
families arc going to settle there, and as I have determined to settle
my son there, no one can doubt the favorable opinion I entertain of
the soil, climate and rapidity of settlement." " I consider that the
southwestern Indian war, will eventuallv be of advantage to the set-
tlements of the Genesee country." " There is now in this city a Mr.
Jackson, who lives on the borders of Seneca Lake, who is accom-
panied by an Indian. They assured me that before they left, while
there was snow on the ground, every night thirty or forty Iknilics
arrived at his place, (Friends settlement,) on their way to settle the
lands that had been bought before my purchase." " All our public
affairs go on well. This country is rushing into wealth and impor-

,,n, ^'^'I'^f. ^^^l'** «'"ect«J i» front f.f the Pro«byterian cliurch in Caiiamlai.nm fo
pcrpctuaUj ]U8 moniory, Im i,p„„ it an insoriptiou wliicli rociriiiz,.. the pWnc pal
evontH ot lu« us. Ml l.fo. He ^vaK a „ativo of Glas^.nv, an.! .li,.! in Lon.lon, i,I l,>^!i()
ago<l .bycaiu iMny men liavo coiitrilnitod more to tlu- ivfonuatioii of criMiiiial law-'
to Ik. i.mmj.tion ot tiado and c.ninicvo.in foundinir syst.Mus for lH.n<-tiuin..-ll,t. poor'
and tor public edurNition ,n Entfland and Soolland. in son.e of Jus vorn^^v.mLwc
, « -Vw, "'^.^''.•' ;■'""'"••.• '>•' "H.ntiouK liaviuLf sp,.nt .oinf tin.o in Anieriiu iMrvi-
ous to I I'M : iiti i.s iiil..nvd. lu somu of thi' Siiuthcrn Stati's.

PIIELPS AND GORHAMri PUKCIIASE.

245

tance faster than ever was expected by the most sanguine of the
sanguineus." My Genesee lands are infinitely prelerable to any
American lands that can be offered in Europe." After he had
been apprised of the sale, he wrote to Mr. Colquhoun : — "Those
iracts which Gorham and Phelps had sold previous to my purchase,
are settling very fast, and the first settlers are raising enough to
supply the new comers." " I am now at New York, on my return
from Boston, where I saw several people from the Genesee country,
and it affords me great pleasure to reiterate the account which you
have already had, of that fine country. On my way through Connec-
ticut, I met Mr. Wadsworth who has settled in the Genesee country,
with whom I had much conversation, and who I find like every
other person who has visited the country, is in raptures with it.
Mr. Wadsworth is extremely intelligent, and one upon whose
veracity the utmost reliance can be placed. The reports made by
him and others in New England, has turned the attention of all who
think of em-igration, towards the Genesee, and every man who
pitches his tent there, adds to the value of your purchase."

IMajor Hoops, prosecuted the surveys under the new proprietors,
by an arrangement with Mr. Morris. He early discovered, what
had been suspected, a material error in the running the Pre-emp-
tion line. As this is a matter which it will be necessary for the
reader to understand, in connection with after events, it may be
here stated, that the State of New York ceded to Massachusetts,
all the territory west of a line to be drawn due north antl south
from the 82nd mile stone on the Pennsylvania line. Before the
running this line, it could of course be but mere conjecture where
it would fall, as far north from the starting point as Seneca Lake.
Seth Reed, the afterwards founder of the settlement at Presque
Isle, CErio.) Pa., the grand-father of the present ChnHes M. Reed,
and Peter Ryckman, both of whom had been Indian traders, ap-
plied to the State of New York, for a remuneration for services
rendered in some previous negotiations with the eastern portion of
the Six Nations, and proposed to take a patent for a tract, the boun-
daries of which should "begin at a tree on the bank of the Seneca
Lake, and run along the bank of the Lake to tho south, until they
should have IG.OOO acres between the Lake and tho east bounds of
the land ceded to Massachusetts." Their request was acceded to,
and a patent issued. Thus situated, they proposed to Messrs. Phelps

246

PHELPS AND GORIIAm's PUECIIASE.

and Gorham, to join them in running the Pre-emption Line, each
party furnishing a surveyor. " A Captain Allen," says one authority,
" Mr. Jenkins " says another, was selected by Reed and Ryckman,
and Colonel Maxwell, by Phelps and Gorham. In the mean time,
the Lessees assuming that their transactions were valid, took an in-
terest in the matter, and as Messrs. Reed and Ryckman were both
share holders in their company, the matter was mutually accommo-
dated between them. The line was run, which is known as the
"Old Pre-emption Line." Messrs. Phelps and Gorham, were
much disappointed in the result, suspected error, or fraud, but made
no movement for a re-survey, before they had sold to the English
Association. Their suspicions had been at first excited by an offer
from a prominent member of the Lessee Company, for " all the lands
they owned east of the line that had been run." They were so
well assured of the fact, that in their deed to Mr. Morris, they
specified a tract, in a gore between the line then run, and the west
bounds of the counties of Montgomery and Tioga, those counties
then embracing all of the military tract.

Upon a superficial ej^amination of the line, Major Hoops was
convinced of its inaccuracy. Mr. Morris having in his convey-
ance to the English purchaser-s, stipulated an accurate survey of all
he conveyed, instructed Major Hoops to correct the line.* Mr
Elhcott with his two brothers, Joseph and Benjamin, had then just
finished the survey of Washington city. The transit instrument,
for surveymg by means of astronomical observations, havlwr just
been invented in Germany, Mr. Ellicott availed himself of It, ! is
brother Benjamin superintending its construction. Upon arriving
in this country, Mr. Ellicott was joined by the late Judge Porter, who
was then a surveyor in the employ of Messrs. Phelps & Gorham ;
a corps of axe-men were employed, and a vista thirty feet wide
opened before the transit instrument, until tlie line had reached the
head of Seneca Lake, when night signals were employed to run
down and over the Lake. So much pains were taken to insure
correctness, that tne survey was never disjjuted, and thus the " 7iew
Pre-emption Line" was established as the true division line between

11 ' a

* In a letter to Mr Colquhovn, Mr. Morris says: "These tliree brother*" CAn-
d ew, Joseph, and Benjamin Ellirott,) "are of tJio number of l,ein.s on X,'. n lU. e
Sh t'l''" ^T''- J '7 '"\S''^^ ">Hthen,aticiaMS as well as nR.ehanical ge u os to
Wlucli they have addocf much practical experience, and good moral character^'"

PHELPS AND GORHAM's PUECIIASE.

247

the lands of the State of New York and those that had been ceded
to Massachusetts. In examining the old survey, Major Hoops had
discovered the precise points of deviation to the westward. It had
commenced s6on after leaving the Penhsylvania line, gradually
bearing off until it crossed the out-let of the Crooked Lake, where
an abrupt offset was made, and then an inclination for a few miles,
almost in a north-west course ; then as if fearful that it was running
west farther than was necessary to secure a given object, the line
was made to incline to the east, until it passed the foot of Seneca
Lake, when it was run nearly north and south to Lake Ontario. All
this will be observed upon any of the old maps. It will at once be
perceived that the site of Geneva, the 1G,000 acres of Reed and
Ryckman, and the supposed interests of the Lessees, had caused more
than a usual variation of the surveyor's compass. Judge Porter's
explanation is as follows: "Geneva was then a small settlement,
beautifully situated on the Seneca Lake, rendered quite attractive
by its lying beside an old Indian settlement, in which there was an
orchard." *

The old pre-emption line, terminated on Lake Ontario, three
miles west of Sodus Bay, and the new line very nearly the center
of the head of the Bay. With the exception of the abrupt varia-
tions that have been noticed, the old line parting from the true merid-
ian about five miles south of the Chemung river, bears off gradually
until it reaches the shore of Lake Ontario. The strip of land between
the two lines was called " The Gore." In addition to the patent
granted to Reed and Ryckman, the State had pre-^umed the origi-
nal survey to be correct, and made other grants, and allowed the
location of military land warrants upon what had been made dispu-
ted territory. We shall see what was the final disposition of the
matter.

After Mr. Morris had made the purchase of Phelps and Gorham,
he had once endeavored to promote the settlement of the Genesee
lands, entering into negotiations with individuals, and with those
who proposed founding settlements or colonies, but he had perfected
nothing; though some sales he had in progress, were consummated

* In speaking of this fraiul, to tlie author, Jiul,i,'o Porter eutiroly exonerated Col
Maxwell, tor whom, in common with all who knew him, ho eiit<>rtained a lii^h res-
pect. In fact, it turned out that Col. Maxwell was sick and ^Mhvd to tnist the lino
to his associate at the time the fraud was committed.

248

PHELPS AND GORUAm's PURCHASE.

II;

II'

by his successors. His plan of settlement contemplated principally
emigration from Pennsylvania ; but there were formidable difficul-
ties in the way. A wide forest separated his lands from the most
advanced settlements of Pennsylvania, over the mountains and
across the streams, of which no avenue had been opened ; and the
still greater difliculty was the fear of Indian wars. The Six Na-
tions were looked upon as but in a state of armistice, as having re-
luctantly yielded to necesssity, and paused in their stealthy assaults ;
but far from being reconciled, ready to again take up the tomahawk
and scalping knife, upon their own account, if opportunity was of-
fered, or at the bidding of those who were yet brooding over their
revenge behind the walls of Forts Oswego and Niagara, and in their
Canadian retreats. The borderers of Pennsylvania had seen and felt
too much of the horrors of Indian wars, to feel willing to place them-
selves again in a position to be harrassed by them. News had
reached them of Indian murders of surveyors and emigrants near
Presque Isle, and of surveyors in this region ; of solitarv cases of a
renewal of Indian hostilities upon the Susquchannah/ and rumor
had vastly magnified the, apprehended danger. A society of Men-
onists in Pennsylvania, had contracted with Phelps and Gorham
for a township, and were negotiating with Mr. Morris for a larger
purchase, to enable them to settle their sons in this country, but
gave up the project in consequence of the fear of Indian war. Mr.
Morris writes to Mr. Colciuhoun soon after he had sold to the As-
sociation, that " these worthy but timid people had grown afraid
smce the Indian wars at the westward had become so^general as it
IS, to let their sons go out even to the townships tliev have bought,
lest the Six Nations should become parties, and attack the Gcne'see
settlements. Now as there is not the least danger of this happenino-,
the Six Nations having decided already for peace, yet these timid peo-
ple wdl await their own time. I will, however, announce to them that
[ can supply them with the lands they wanted, and as I think the
[ndian war will be of short duration, there is little doubt but thev
will buy it when it is over."

In a letter from Mr. Morris to Mr. Colquhoun, dated in June.
1791, he gives a general statement of wild lands in the United Slates!
dien m market. Sjjcaking of his own operations he savs, he has
50,000^acres in Otsego county, that he had bought of the St.itc of
\'ew York; and he mentions that the State of New York iias yet

PHELPS AND GOEUAm's PUPwCIIASE.

249

principally
ble difficul-
tn the most
iitains and
d ; and the
ho Six Na-
liaving re-
ly assaults :
tomahawk
ty was of.

over their
lud in their
^en and felt
ilace them-
News had
rants near
cases of a
md rumor
y of Men-
id Gorhani
)r a larger
untry, but
■var. Mr.
to the As-
wn afraid
neral as it
fe bought,
3 Genesee
lappening,
timid peo-
them that
think the

but they

in June,
}d States.
f, lie has

! Stiitc nf

: has yet

000,000 acres, but he knows of a "company who intend to buy it.
1 he fetate asks four shillings per acre, and want cash down, the ap-
pheants want credit, an.l a lou'er price, and as yet the land remains
unsold. On the Molr.iwk river, lan.ls are worth from £5 to£l5
per acre. New Englan<l currency." He mentions " that in company
with Govcrncur Morris," (who was then in Europe, endeavorincr to
sell lands,) " and his brother-in-law, I have a 190 thousand acres°on
the river Sf. Lawrence." " In Pennsylvania the lands belonging to
the State are reduced by sales and settlement to an inconsiderable
quantity." " The vacant lands in Virginia, from a vicious practice
in the land office, and a more vicious practice of the surveyors, are
rendered so i)recarious in title, that people are afraid to buy them
and therefore they are olfered at Od per acre, and no buyers"
•'Lands west of the Ohio are now out of the question, until the In-
dian war IS over; they are also too remote from any market"
'•Lands in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia may be
cheap, but the climate is too warm for rapid settlement."

CHARLES WILLIAMSON.

As soon as the London Associates had completed their purchase
of Mr. Franklin, the agent of Mr. Morris, they entered upon
measures for the sale and settlement of what they had acquired.
Sir Wm. Pultney, in the earliest years, was in a great measure a
silent partner; the concerns of the Genesee lands .seem to have
devolved principally upon Mr. Colquhoun. He devoted himself
earnestly to the work; availed himself of all the information he
could acquire; projected improvements ; and made himself, by an
active correspondence with Mr. Morris and others, in this country,
.amil.ar with this region. He was ambitious to make it a lucrative
operation for himself and associates, and at the same time to make
himselt and them the founders of prosperous settlements. His
correspondence are perfect specimens of method, and high business

tliorel,.,., u. tLi. rc,u.,, dul not coase with U. ^d. to Sir Wiu. i'miuoy aul ™tL

250

rilELPS AND GORlI^^l's PUKCIIASE.

qualifications ; exhibit great foresight and prudence ; and touching
the interest of those upon whom was to devolve tlie hard task of
subduing the wilderness, there is blended in all of it a spirit of phi-
lanthropy, and fair and honest dealing, which would well justify
nmch that has been said of him on the tablet that has been raised
to his memory in Cahandaigua. And with nothing to judge from
but his business letters, instructions to agents, &c., it is impossible to
form any other conclusion with regard to Sir Win. Pultney, but such
as are creditable to liim, as one whose capital had made his own
interests and those of new settlers, mutual.

And here, with a knowledge that the author has acquired by a
perusal of masses of correspondence that have passed between the
foreign land holders of most of all Western New York and their
agents — letters written in all the confidence that would accrue from
such a relation— he is constrained to remark, that the country
could hardly have fallen into better hands. Both the English and
the Dutch companies, under whose auspices, as proprietors, three
fourths of the whole country west of Seneca Lake was settled,
were composed of ca5)italists who made investments of large
amounts of money, in the infancy of this republic, when its stabil-
ity was by no means a settled point ; and they were satisfied with
reasonable returns Ibr their vast outlays ; and patient under the de-
lays of payment, as all must concede. With reference to both
companies, in all their correspondence with their agents, no wish or
mdication escapes them of a disposition to have the new settlers
oppressed, or to have their business conducted in any other than a fair,
honest, and liberal manner. If any Avrong policy was pursued it
was a fixing of too high prices upon land, and in that matter they
generally were guided by the advice of their agents ; but long, in
many instances, almost interminable credits were given ; and that
enabled men to possess, and finally pay for land, who could not have
done so, if payment at a very low rate had been demanded in hand.
There is not in the history of the world a better example of the
advantages of credit than is furnished in the settlement of all this
region. It has conferred homes and competence upon tens of
thousands who would not have had them if pay down had been the
order of early days. There was no considerable class of actual
settlers when most of the Genesee country was brought into
market that could pay down even twenty five cents per acre. The

PIIKLP9 AND OCRirAM's POCCIIASE. 251

present system of sellmg the wild land, of the UnLed States would

one then ' ™ = " °"' ""^ ""= '"'"■ '•"""" '<'«- was

The Association, as a first step after purchase, looked for an a-ent
to manage ,,. The choice feii npon Charles Williamson o^e Ih"
was destined to nave his name prominently and honorably idenlZ
w,th all^Uje carhos. history of settlement and progress i'n Cem

frie*8cT;i!:r°H::;:tiT'ii:;:„S™^[ ■" '"^ --r^^™-

tarv of ,h. P„l f u Alcxande. Wi||,amson, was the Secre-

tary «f (he Earl of Hopcton. At the commencement of the Revo
im.on. he held a captain's commission in .ho British servTce and
was ordered to this conntry with his rogi.nen,, though a' 'hap
pened w.thout any service. The ship Tn whi h he°saiM when

newbnrypo 1, and transferred to the depot at Boston, where he re

."red to'iz'd""'^', "' ^'°" "' "'^ "»^' "- ™-™d Id ;::

turned to bcotlund. lie improved his stiv in <h« * > ■

lectins much information, and eft it v 1 hilh e ? i'^' ""^ ''°'-
ference to ;i> ,),. ,■ ■ ■ ■ Sti expectations h re-

lerence toits dcst n.es, which were fully confirmed by the success

IZZT""! "' ""^ "■•"• "'■ ''" ""™''"-"- After m Mug he"

:::i^^trr^rz?f^:;Ssin^Erp-' "r '^^

qualities attracted thettentn o Mr't '^dU 001^ T'^'
thensherin-of Wes,„,i„ster. and with then ' he befame v X M
mate, wh.ch was only ended by the death of thenar. e7 Mr
W,ll,^mson had a strong desire to return to this country wh ch ™
gm uficd by h,s appointment as agent of what was a't f s taW
The, Assocatton, ■ and afterwards the Pultney Estate. Leav „1
London, he repaired to Scotland, and after arranging his affairs there
sailed for this country, accompanied by his fiimilv ind t vo n
educated and intelligent ScotcLen. /ohn jl" Le a d ch-'-
Cameron, who came out as his assistants. After a long voyage the
party arrived at Norfolk, and going ,„ Baltimore, Mr W I ramson
provided quarters for his family for the winter. From tZi dty he
wrote to his principals Iha. aii things looked well in the nw out

252

PHELPS AND GORHAm's PURCHASK.

try; that the city was so full of newly amved emigrants that he
found it (lifllcuU to ,<ret accommodations. Preceding his companions,
he went to Philadelphia, made the acquaintance of Mr. Morris, and
availed himself of his knowledge of the Genesee country, and his
remammg mterest in it, in projecting some improvements, the open-
ing of a dn-ect road to the purchase, and a general plan of commen-
cing the settlements; at the same time, after having become natural-
ized he took from Mr. Morris deeds in his own name, his principals
being aliens and non-residents. In a letter to Mr. Colquhoun from
Baltimore, Mr. Williamson had foreshadowed some of his ideas of
what should be done. He states that he had just met with a gentle-
man who had "traversed the Genesee lands in several directions ; "
and his account corresponded with their most favf.rable anticipa-
tions : — " He declares that even the worst are superior to any he
ever saw." Mr. Williamson adds:-" These disinterested ac-
counts, from diirerent people, put the quality of the land in the ftdrest
view. The next object then is to take some liberal and decisive
steps to bring them to their value. Want of communications is
the great draw back on back settlements distant from the rivers
that run into the Atlantic. Remove this difficulty and there can be
no doubt that the gentlemen of the Association will reap an advan-
tage fifty times their outlay ; and come to their purpose many years
sooner. Nothing will draw the attention of the people of America
more readily than the idea of their settling under the protection of
an association who will take every means To render their farms con-
venient and profitable. " In the samo letter he proposes a plan for
advancing £J0 to "poor settlers to induce them to settle down on
the worst part of the tract where wealthier people might hesitate to
make a beginning.,

Mr. Williamson spent the most of the winter of 1791, '2, with
his party in Northumberland, Penn. In February, however, he
made a flying visit to the Genesee country, going around via Now
York and Albany. He writes to Mr. Colquhoun that he passed
through "an uninhabited wilderness of more than 100 miles before
reaching Geneva, which consisted of a few straggling huts."
"There is not a road within one hundred miles of the Genesee
country, that will admit of any sort of conveyance, otherwise than
on horseback, or on a sled, when the ground is covered with snow."
" The price of land has, in a few instances, exceeded 2s. per acre ;

Its that he
^inipanions,
tlorris, and
ry, and his
;, the opon-
f commen-
ne natural-
; principals
ihoun from
lis ideas of
h a gentle-
rections ; "
5 anticipa-
' to any he
'rested ac-
the fiurest
d decisive
licaticns is
the rivers
lere can be
an advan-
lany years
f America
)tection of
farms con-
a plan for
e down on
hesitate to

'1, '2, with
wever, he

I via New
he passed
iles before
ng huts."
Genesee
wise than
th snow."
per acre ;

PIIELPS AND GORIIAm's PirRCHASE. 253

some few farms of first-rate quality have been sold on a credit for
4s. per acre." Returning to Baltimore, he decide.! upon opening a
conur.unication with the Genesee country from the southward "it
was Ironi that direction he expected his principal emigration ;"and
he looked to the Susquehannah and its branche.^ and Chesapeake
IJay, as the prospective avenues of trade from all this recrion • and
to Baltimore as its great emporium. To the eastward °from the
Genesee country, every thing had a discouraging look — a woods
road through the wide wilderness that separated the recrion from
the old settlement dn the Mohawk, which when improv^ed, would
furnish but a long and expensive land carriage ; and the imperfect
and expensive water communication afforded by the Mohawk
Wood Creek, Oneida Lake, Oswego, and Seneca Rivers, afforded
the best prospects that existed in that direction. Takin- care to
excite a good deal of interest in Baltimore, by holding out^the fine
prospects for trade with the Genesee country, he returned to North-
umberland and organized a party of road survevors. Pioceedincr
via Loyalsock, the party went up the Lycoming to the "house
of one Kyle," who was then the farthest advanced settler —
Sending out the hunters to explore ahead, and return and re-
port, the party by slow progress, camping and breaking up their
camps, proceeded until they had located a road from what
was then " Ross Farm." now Williamsport, to the mouth of the
Canascraga Creek, on the Genesee river, a distance of about
one hundred and fifty miles. * Application was made to the State
ot Pennsylvania for assistance to open the road ; but little more was
obtained than authority to build it through that State. Measures
were immediately commenced for opening the road. Before it
could be opened, a ship with merchant's goods that Mr. Colquhoun
had consigned to Mr. Williamson, arrived at Baltimore. The con-
signee informed the consigner that there was no other way to get
them to the Genesee country, but by "pack horses and Indian
paths, except in freshets ;" but finally concluded to sell off the heavy
goods at Baltimore, and send on the lighter ones via New York
and Albany. Before the close of 1792, Mr. Williamson had deter-

■ * - "•- '-•' i..i<«<;a to Uenedcc nvcr.

254

PHELPS AND GOKHAm's PURCHASE.

mined upon commencing his first settlement at the termination of
his road on the Genesee river, and in pursuance of that decision,
had laid out a village, which he called Williamsburg, ploughed 80
acres of flats, and built a long row of dwellinfrs.

The dwellings and ploughed ground were intended for the use of
a German colony. As " Williamsburg" and " the Germans,"
formed a distinct feature of all tliis region, in an earl} day, some
account of them, their advent, and alter hegaa, must be given
here. It was an untoward commencement of settlement, or rather,
of European colonization in the Genesee country.

Soon after the Association had sent out Mr. Williamson, there
appeared in London an itinerant picture merchant from Germany,
by the name of Berezy. With a good deal of tact and gentlemanly
address, he had won the confidence of Mr. Colquhoun, and prevail-
ed upon him to let him head an expedition which contemplated the
bringing to this country a colony of poor, industrious Saxons —
colonizing them, and holding them here as redempt-onists.* In-
stead of following his instructions, he went to the city of Ham-
burgh and jjicked up idlers, indifierent mechanics, broken down
gamblers and players, — in Hict, just about the worst materials that
were ever collected for the practical uses of a new settlement.!
They consisted of about seventy ftunilies. From their very start,
they began to be the source of enormous expense, Arriving at
London, they were, after a great deal of tnjuble, put on board two
chartered vessels and consigned to Robert Morris. They finally
^. rived at Northumberland just about the time that Mr. Williamson
commenced opening the road. Axes, spades and hoes were provi-
ded for them, and they set to work: nnd bad work enough they
made of it. They had to be first taught the use of their tools, and
were far from learning easily. An old gentleman who came over
the road in an early day, says th6 trees looked as if they had been
"gnawed down by beavers." Their labor, however, made the road

NoTR.— On nrriving at Gcnesoo rivor, Mr. Williamson found that T. 8, R 7, now
Groveland, had boon wild to an agont ol a Society of Mcnonists, in Pct)nsylvaiiin, by
PljolpH and (iiiiliani. lie purtluiaeil the town.ship.s of llio agent, paying iho thou high
price of ono dollar per aero.

* Persona hekl to service to pay all expensos uttondhig their enuOTation and settle-
ment,

t They were, says the French Duko Lianconrt, " of the crowd of foroigneri, whom
poverty, idleness, and uocoaaitius of every kind, induce to resort, to HaniLurgh wiUi a
view to umigratiou."

PIIELI'S AND GOEHAM's PURCHASE.

2nn

iib

principally, to where Blossburgh

They

1 . V> . , -r. " ' "°^ *^- ^^^^y were irien laKen

down to Painted Post, and ren.ained there until the sprin. of '93
when they were located at the home provided for them at William.',
hurg. Each family had a house and fifty acres of land appro-
priated to Its use ; necessary farming tools ; a stock of provisions ■
and there were distributed among the whole. 27 yoke of oxen 4o'
cows, BO hogs, 300 sheep. Even their household utensils wore
provided them. Beside all this, they had their minister and
physician.

The city training, and idle habits of the expensive colonists, soon
began to be exhibited. They were both idle and improvident the
women made as bad use of the provisions that had been furnished
as the men of the farming implements that were pu to their
hands. An eye witness informed the author, that thcN ^ .od their
pork and then threw it away, supposing the grease only intended for
use; and he gave other .similar specimens of their domestic econo-
my. The whole fiddled and danced, and drank whiskey ; even the
minister proved a bad specimen of his cloth. It soon turned out
that most of them had been deceived. Berezy to sw^>Il his num-
bers, and gratify his ambition to be tlie head of a colonv, had prom-
ised them fine times in America ; had assured them that his patrons
being rich, they should want for nothin-g, and as they were to be
the founders of a city, they could each choose such employment as
was best suited to their tastes and habits. That they were to dig
and delve in the dirty earth, was not in the bond, according to th.ir
under.«tandinff. *

Mr. Williamson soon became convinced, that he had at least one
bad job upon his hands, as the founder of new settlements. One
stock of provisions was consumed, and another had" to be supplied ;
the fallows that had been provided for them, lay undisturbed; th.
sheep and hogs that were intended as breeders, and th. cows that
were intended to furnish milk -all obtained at great expense and
t.oube-one after another disappeared, and were found upon the
shambles; the city appetites of the hopeful colonists cravin- occa-
sional alternations between salted and fresh provisions. The very
seeds that Mr. Williamson provided, instead of going into the
ground, went into the pot. And what was worse perhaps than all,
Berezy, by indulgence and other artful management, had oMain^
ed complete control of the colonists, and set ^himself above Mr

256

PHELPS Aim GORIIAM's PURCHASE.

t'l

Williamson, claiming to have brought his authority directly from
head quarters in London. A store had been established at Wil-
liamsburg, which was under the care of Mr. John Johnstone, and
Berezy and the Germans had used its goods and provisions lavishly ;
and besides. Berezy had contracted debts for supplies, especially
with the Messrs. Wadsworth.s, assuming that he was acting for the
Association, and not under the authority of Mr. Williamson.

After having humored the whole matter, until some decisive
measures became necessary, Mr. Willinmsnn visited his refractory
colony, taking with him from Canandaigua, his friend Thomas Morris,
determined to have some reform. He had a house at Williams-
burg, then occupied by James Miller, where he kept a desk contain-
ing all his papers that had reference to that locality ; and tlierc he and
his friend took up their quarters.* Sending for Berezy he had an
interview with him, which ended by displacing him as an agent,
and forbidding him to exercise any authority over the Germans.
Calling the Germans together, he mformed them of their new rela-
tions, and proposed measures of further assistance to them, condi-
tioned upon their going tb work, and trying to help themselves. At
first they were disposed to listen to his proposals, but the superior
influence of Berezy soon prevailed, and riot and mutiny succeeded.
Sunday intervened, and Mr. Williamson says, " Berezy and the
minister were all day pow-wowing in every house in the settlement."
Monday came, and Mr. Williamson found the (piarters of .himself
and friends besieged. The Germans had collected in a body, and
under the influence of Berezy were making extravagant demands
as the terms of peace, and a continuance in the colony. Mr. Wil-
liamson retreated into the house with his friends Morris, Johnstone,
and several others, in all, a force vastly inferior to the refractory
colonists. " Driven into a corner between two writing desks" says
Mr. Williamson, " I had luckily some of my own people near me,
who were able to keep the most savage and daring of the Germans
ofl; though the cry was to lay hold of me. Nothing could equal
my situation, but some of the Parisian scenes. For an hour and a
half I was in this situation, every instant expecting to be torn to
pieces." Berezy finding the storm he had raised, raging too vio-

•Thortwlcr nhonU iindorMt.'uul tliiit Wiriiarnsliurt,', tlui sifo of <his oarlv German

Snr'^' 'f ,T ' p'"' A'-' "", '"Tr -V""^'; ''' t''" " Hornutage ; " U.y inwnt fknn and n""
wcncti ol Uic liDii. Cuarlos II. Carroll.

PHELPS AND GORIIAm's PUECIIASE.

257

lently, quelled it ; but rapine took the place of personal assault. The
cattle upon the premises were driven ofT, or killed to furnish a feast
for a general carousal. The mutiny and plunder lasted for several
days ; there being no authority or superior force to quell it. At
one time, the physician of the colony, who had taken sides with
Mr. Williamson became the object of the fiercest resentment. He
was seized, and in attempting to rescue him, Messrs. Morris and
Johnstone were assaulted and their lives placed in jeopardy ; but
finally made their escape.

Present in all the affray was Mr. Richard Cuyler, then acting as
Mr. Williamson's clerk. He was dispatched to Albany with a
requisition upon Gov. George Clinton, for a force sufficient to quell
the riot and apprehend the rioters. Berezy with a few of the Ger-
mans, departed for Philadelphia, for the double purpose of escaping
arrest and enlisting Mr. Robert Morris on their side. Gov. Clinton
issued an order to Judah Colt, who had been appointed Sheriff" of
the new county of Ontario, commanding him to summon a posse
for the arrest of the rioters. A posse eq'ual in numbers with the
German colonists was no easy matter at that early period of settle-
ment. But fortunately some boat crews and new settlers, had just
arrived at Bath. Thoy made a forced night march through the
woods, and joined by others, succeeded in arresting those who had
been foremost in the riot. They were taken to Canandaigua and
light fines imposed ; the principal object being the assertion of the
supremacy of the laws. Unable to pay the fines, they were hired
out to new settlers in Canandaigua and the vicinity, to earn the
money. Their defence, was some of the earhcst practice of the
late Gen. Vincent Matthews.

Berezy, going from Philadelp*hia to New York, put the Germans
and himself under the auspices of a German benevolent association,
who had made arrangements with Gov. Simcr ?, for settling emi-
grants at what is now Toronto, and in the townships of Markham.
They went down and encamped at the mouth of the Genesee river,
and were temporarily the early neighbors of VVm. Hencher. When
the boats came from Canada to take them away, a boatman was
drowned in the river. His was the first death and funeral, after
settlement commenced, in all of what is now Monroe county.

Another formidable attempt at colonization from Europe, did not
progress so far, or rather took another direction. Donald Stewart,

258

PItELPS ANT) GORHAM's PUECIIASE.

an enterprising Scotcliman, of " Achnaun by Appin, in Argyle.hire "
soon after the purchase of the Association, had organized a colony
m his neighborhood, the destination of which was Cumberland N
Carohna. He received a proposition from Mr. Colquhoun too late
fo change the-r direction, the colonists having embarked and sailed
but following them soon, Mr. Stewart came to explore the Genesee
country, with the intention, if suited witii i!, to bring his colony
here. He spent several weeks traveling on horseback, with Mr
U ilhamson, got a small specimen of the ague and fever; the new
country m its primitive roughness, had to him a forbidding look • he
turned his back upon it rather in ill humor.* There were many
other schemes of the proprietors in London, and J\f r. Wil]iam<^on to
colonize this region, none of which succeeded, except that of the
persevering, and finally eminently successful one, at Caledonia
Springs. And here it may well be observed, that in reference gen-
erally to founding new settlements in the United States, the AssvDci
ates in London, and their agent here, had many impracticable views
at first, of which they became finally convinced, by a pretty ex
pensive experience. , - f j'

The getting the Norlhumbe^'and road through ; the commence-
mentof a settlement at Williamsburg, and the building of a saw
mill on the Canascraga creek, near the present town of Ossian oc-
cupied the business season of 1792. Mr. Williamson himself iiav-
ing settled his family at Northumberland, was upon the move •
visited New lork, Baltimore; travelled in the interior of Mary'
land and Pennsylvania, beating up for emigrants; and explored
pretty thoroughly the whole region over which his agency extended

In tlie spring of 1793, operations were commenced at Bath f

* A e;oo(l anecdote panic of it however, wliirli it is sni() 1,-uI on,>,oH- .1
his dislike of 11,0 eountiy. Threadi,,.^ tl e rorest oif 1 0,1 ^"^T )vV'' ^" "^'''^

his eo,niK„,io„ wove a(tr;lc,edl,y the ;H,is;"/^S,""-nr^^M^^^^

p.. oi:e'h:^u:'i;:Sn;::tt ^:i:l::ikj!;^ti- ••?•' r '^^

Highland ('olony, was not early intHHliiwd into lhi,s reL'ion The read rim 1 ^
h.irn,i.-.ed, that the i,artj were viewing Clifton Springs? ^ " ''-'"^'' '^'" ^'■'"'

t Name from ttio daughter of Si-- Wn,. ruUncy. who was Couutc«s of Bath.

PHELPS AND GORIIAm's PUECHASE

259

Two boats with workmen, provisions &c., came up the Susquehan-
nah to Tioga Point, where they left one boat and half the load of
the other, and reached Bath April 15, 1793. Mr. Williamson ar-
rived via Northumberland road, two days after. Some shantees
were thrown up, a village plat survpyed, a log land office was built ;
and during the season, about twenty other log buildings were erect-
ed. As would be said in this later day of refinement in language,
the Pioneers had a "distinct view of the elephant." Provisions
failed, and they were at one time three days without food ; as they
cleared away the forest, the fever and ague, as it was wont to do,
walked into the opening, and the new comers were soon freezing,
shaking, and then burning with fever, in their hastily constructed
cabins. It was Mr. Williamson's introduction into the hardships
and [)rivations of the wilderness. " He would lay in his hut, with
his feet to the fire, and when the cold chills of ague came on, call
for some one to lie close to his back, to keep him warm." To other
improvements during the year, at Bath, Mr. Williamson added a
log tavern, which was opened and kept by John Metcalf Bath
having been fixed upon as the centre of all the southern portion of
the Associates' purchase, farther improvements were commenced.
Mr. Williamson built a saw mill and a grist mill ; emigrants from
Pennsylvania and Maryland, soon began to be attracted there. It
became the permanent residence of Mr. Williamson. The Dulte,
Liancourt, who visited him in the summer of 1795, says: — "The
habitation of the Captain consists of several small houses, formed of
trunks of trees and joiners' work, which at present forms a very ir-
regular whole, but which he intends soon to improve. His way of
living is simple, neat and good ; every day we had a joint of fresh
meat, vegetables and wine. We met with no circumstances of
pomp or luxury, but found good ease, humor and plenty." Perhaps
it is the fairest eulogium I can pass upon his free and easy urbanity
to say, that all the time of our stay, he seemed as much at his ease
as if we had not been present. He transacted all his business in
our presence, and was actively employed the whole day long. We
were present at his receiving persons of different ranks and des-
criptions, with whom the appartment he allots to business is generally
crowded. He received them all v/ith the same attention, civility
and good nature. They came to him prepossessed with a certain
Confidence in him, and they never leave him dissatisfied. He is at

260

PIIELP3 AND GOKTT.Ul's PURCHASE.

ir I

all times ready to converse witli any who have business to transact
with him. He will break off

a conversation with his friends, or

sake of dispatching those who wish

even get up from dinner for
to speak to him.

h\ the spring of 1791, improvements were commenced at Geneva,
the first and principal one being the erection of the Geneva Hotel.
It was comi)lcted in December, and opened with a grand ball, which
furnished a memorable epoch in the early history of the Genesee
country. The Hotel was talked of far and wide as a wonderful en-
terprise ; and .such it really was. Even now, after the lapse of fifty-
six years, when fine hotels have arisen in all of our cities and prin-
cipal villages, the okl Williamson Hotel, as it is often called, in its fine
location, with its large open park in front, is ranked as one of the
first class. Imagine how it was when it had no competitors in all
the region west of Utica, save perhaps three or Ibur moderate sized
framed taverns ; when log taverns were generally the order of the
day. It was an Astor House then ; and even this comparison falls
short of conveying an idea of its then comparative magnitude. Mr.
Williamson wrote to his principals, proposing such "a house, and
urged that as it would stand in the doorway or entrance to the
Genesee country, it should be respectable ; so designed as to make
a favorable impression ; and urged beside, that such a house, where
all the comforts of a good English inn could be realized, would
mvite respectable people to the country. And so perhaps it did.
How many readers of these early reminiscences, will remember
the house, the landlord, and all belonging to that early halting place,
in the long and dreary journles that used to be made. Blended with it
in memory, is the old stage coach ; chilled and drowsy with long night
rides, over hubs or poached clay roads, there would be the'^smart
crack of the driver's whip, the trundling of the wheels upon a stone
pavement, the squaring up to the door, the getting out and stretching
of almost torpid limbs ; the ushering in to well warmed and com-
fortable apartments, the smell and the taste of smoking steak and
hot coffee, and other "creature comforts," that it will not do to
speak of now. Your modern travellers know nothing of the ex-
tremes of pain and pleasure of the old fashioned way of traveling
from Albany to Bufl'alo. For landlord to his new Hotel, Mr. Wib
liamson selected Thom;..; Powell, whom he had known in London,
connected with the celebrated " Thatched Cottage, the rct^uH of

PHELPS AND GOmiAll'a rURCHASE.

261

to transact
friends, or
who wish

-t Geneva,
va Hotel.
»nll, wliich

Genesee
der'ul an-
sa ot'fifty-
and prin-
in its fine
ne of the
lors in all
'ate sized
er of the
ison falls
ide. Mr.
3use, and
!e to the
to make
^e, where
:1, would
IS it did.
Mneinher
ng place,
d with it
'ng night
le smart

a stone
retchinji
id com-
3ak and
t do to
the ex-
•aveling
[r. Wil-
-.ondon,
sort of

statc.^imen, politicians and wits." * He had previously emigrated to
this country, and opened a house at Lansirigburg.

Although Mr. Williamson's house was at Bath, a large proportion
of his time was spent at Geneva, attending to mailers connected
with the northern division of the purchase. The company that he
drew around him, made a very considerable business for the new
hotel ; and it was the early home of the young men without fami-
lies, who located at Geneva; the principal stopping place for enu-
grants, who could afford the comforts of a good iim. Under the
auspices of Reed and Ryckman, Joseph Annin and licnjamin Bar-
ton had surveyed a small village plat, which was superseded under
Mr. Williamson's auspices by a new, cnlrM-t^ed survey, generally
as now indicated, except that the new survey, i\ir. Willian)son"s
plan, contemplated that the whole town should be built up frjnting
the Lake; the space between the mam street and the Lake, was
intended for terraced parks and gardens. Ii a few words, Geneva
is now, though beautiful in all its appointments, more upon the utili-
tarian order, than Mr. Williamson intended. He had seen the
original in his travels upon the continent, and associating Seneca
Lake with " Lake Leman," had in view an imitation, in a wilder-
ness of the new world. In reference to this as well as other of his
projections, his ardent and sanguine temperament lad him to sup-
pose that villages and village imprfivements, to a considerable extent,
could precede a general cultivation of the soil. Experience has
shown that they must follow by slow steps after it.

The Hotel was but a part of Mr. Williamson's enterprises at
Geneva.

Before the State had acknowledged the correctness of the new
pre-emption line, as in the case of the site of Geneva, and Reed
and Ryckman, patents had been issued, covering nearly the whole
of " the Gore," Mr. Williamson, through the agency of Mr. John
Johnstone, having purchased all the patents, had so fortified
the claim of his principals, that he had ventured upon exercising
ownership; though title was yet an open question. In March,
1705, while a bill was pending in the legislature, providing for run-
ning a third line, by the Surveyor General, and if the one run by
Mr. Ellicott should prove correct, to give the associates other lands

* Mr. Powell became an early stajro propiictor. After keepiiiir the Hotel for many
years, lie removed to Sclieuuclutiy, uiid was succeeded by Lia broLher, Win. rowcll.

[■

262

PIIELPS AND OOKIIA^il's Pr KCIIASE.

in lieu of those that had been patented upon the Gore ; Philhp
Schuyler introduced amendments, which prevailed, makinrr it dis-
cretionary with the Surveyor General, allnvvins Irm to w.-dve the
runnmg of a new line, if he satisfied himself that Mr. Ellicott's
Ime was correct; and leave it to the commissioners of the land
office to arrange matters between the holders of patent?) and the as-
sociates, or Mr. Williamson, holding as he did, by purchase, most
of the patents, to perfect the title to "the Gore," nearly 84,000
acres. As an equivolent for what he had paid in the purchase of
patents, the commissioners of the land office conveyed to him about
the same quantity of land embraced in the patents, off from the
military tract, in what is now Wolcott and Galen, in Wavne
county.

The reader will have seen that the first location of " The Friend''
and her followers, was upon « The Gore." Their titles were all
confirmed by Mr. Williamson, upon terms generally satisfactory.

Sodus was the next site chosen for the foundation of a settle-
ment—or in Aict, for the founding of a commercial villa^ro —not
to say city. In all Mr. Williamson's plans for settling The coun-

wl.oa,e nm.w,n thvHmiTtT^? w' *'?-" "PP?'-t""i'y. ^« I't thee know ««; wishes,
t" ri , " , tffsS ' /v {;""n<l's «<^ttk.Mu.Ht in Jonisaler,,, i„ the coiuUy of
fr eS Wi h s . fS w/ r ^ "'■''■ ^^'' ^'"^ ^"I'S'^'i'^^'s. ^vish lo take deeds iVora
Our desires kX e w I "V l^Vrov^'T'^t.^i ,,„, rather than any other person.
^1.0 are on ihe hmd ""' ^''^'"'" "^ '^'" '^""'^ '" '^"^ "^'^''^ P"-^"" ^ul to us,

Ehiatlian Botsford,

Daniel Iiiirraljani,

Richard Matthews,

Ehiathan Bot.st'ord, jr.,

Asaliel Stnne,

Samuel Doolittle,

Jdlin Davis,
- Benedict Robinson,

pu^tt "■ ;St'"k '""] ?"!?''='; ''"\~ -^'"thcrsof the Friend, ..thesame
out reserve- _''?t it 1,1 -1 ^'?']*'"," ^^ 'Hi.t'"^"" " iiito hie family atlairs, with-

Beiiajah Botsford
Eleazor Ingrahatii,
Solomon In(^riJiain,
Richard Smith,
Abel Botsford,
Enoeli Malin,
Williatn Davis,
John Briggs,

Philo In^aljam,
Elisha Inf,'rahain,
Samuel I'arsons,
Jonathan Davis,
E\iy,)li Malin,
Thos. Hathaway,
Mary Aldrieh."

PHl'Xl'S AND GOEHAM's PURCHASE.

263

try, and his projections of internal improvements, laid from time to
time before his principals, he had looked to the Conhocton, the
Caniste, Tioga and Susquehannah rivers, as the avenues to market
from the southern district of the Genesee purchase ; and to Balti-
more as its commercial mart. With those views, he had founded
Bath. * Looking to Lake Ontario, the Oswego river, Oneida Lake.
Wood Creek, the Mohawk and the Hudson river, and the St. Law-
rence, as avenues to the New York and Montreal markets, for the
northern district of the purchase, he selected Sodus Bay as the
commercial depot.

Early in the winter of 1793, he determined upon improvements
there, and in the spring of '04, he had roads cut out from Palmyra
and Phelpstown, to get access to the spot from those points. It
was his first appearance in the Lake Ontario region, and his pre-
sence there, with his surveyors, road makers, builders, and all the
retinue necessary to carry out his plans, created a new era — in-
spired new hopes with the scattered backwoods settlers. It had
looked before he came, as if for long years, no one would be bold
enough to penetrate tlie dark, heavy forests, that in a wide belt, were
stretched along the shores of the Lake. They entertained before
no hopes of realizing for years, any better facilities for trans-
portation to market, than was afforded by Ganargwa Creek, f the
outlet of Canandaigua Lake, and Clyde river. He had preceded
the enter['rise by a written announcement of the plan of oper-
ations : — It contemplated the survey of " a town between Salmon
Creek and Great Sodus Bay, and a spacious street, with a large
square in the centre, between the Falls on Salmon Creek and the
anchorage in the Bay, and mills are to be built at the Falls on Sal-
mon Creek." He adds : — " As the harbor of Great Sodus is ac-
knowledged to be the finest on Lake Ontario, this town, in the con-
venience of the mills and extensive fisheries, will command advan-
tages unknown to the country, independent of the navigation of

• It shiiiild be (ib>c'rvo(l, tliiit Ik- ronteniplatcil ilio iinpvovotneiit of t]w iiavii^atioii
of those livers, and projuctuil a caiud to connect tiie lioga and Delaware rivers, in
order to reach Philatlelphia.

tMud Creek, until rec(ii\tly. Tlie old name was Mended witli tin- lecnllection of
staj^nant waters, liof^s, chills and i'ever.s. When its whole a,spect liad been rlian!i;ed by
tlie hiind of ini])rovt'inent, and it became even picturesque and bcatitii'ul in its inean-
derintrs throUi,'li ('idtivated ticlds, and a rural sc( nery seldom i quailed, the dwellers in
its valley werc^ enabled, witli the help of Lewis Morgan, PJsq , of Rochester, to couiu
ul itaancieat Scuecu name, wliich they adopted.

ivm.

2G4

PIIELP3 AND GORlIAil's rURCIIASE.

I> I

the Great Lake, and the St. Lawrence." The town was surveyed
by Joseph Colt. Tlie plan was as indicated above. The in-lot3
contained a quarter of an acre, and the out-lots ten acres. The
whole was upon a scale ofmagnificoncc illy suited to that primitive
period; and yet, perhaps, justified by thru pr'^poctive events;
and more than all, by the capacious ar.d hcnutiliil Bay, the best
natural harbor upon our whole chain of Lakes, a view of which,
even now, e.xcites surprise that it has not, ere this, more than reali-
zed the always sanguine expectations of Mr. Williamson.

The in-lots in the new town, were ofFered for one hundred dol-
lars; the out-lots, for four dollars per acre ; the farming; l.iuds in
all the neighborhood, at one dollar fifty cents per acic. Thomas

Little and MolFat, were the local agents. A tavern house was

erected at a cost of over $5000, and opened by Moses and Jabez
Sill. * JMiJLs were erected at the Falls on Salmon Creek ; a plea-
sure boat was placed upon .the Bay ; and several other improve-
ments made. In roads, surveys, buildings, die, over 820,000 was
expended in the first two years.

The first difficulty encountered was the ague and fever, that early
incubus that brooded over all of Pioneer enterprise, upon the Lake
shore. When the sickly season came, agents, mechanics and labor-
ers, could only work upon " well days. " Mr. Williamson soon be-
gan to realize that there was something beside the " romantic and
beautiful, " about the "Bay of Naples" he had found hid away in
the forests of the Genesee country. And another trouble came.
DO^ See British invasion of the Genesee country, at Sodus.

Soon after Mr. Williamson had perfected his title to the Gore,
the junction of the Canandaigua out-let and Ganargwa creek, the

fine flats, hemmed in by hills and gentle swells of upland the

facilities aflbrded for navigation with light craft, — attracted his at-
tention. Fancying the outlet and the creek to be miniature repre-
sentations of the Rhone and the Sayone, and struck with a coinci-
dence of landscapes, he bestowed upon the location the name of
Lyons. lie had been preceded here by some of the earliest Pioneers
of the Genesee country. In May, 1789, a small colony consisting

*Mosos Sill (lied in D;ui,svillo, in 1849. Jalicz Sill died at Wilkcsbarre, iti 1844.
Th(! lattdi-was an oarly pmjirictor at I'lidcaiix, " IJrudiidck's Bay." His son, Uaiiiol
Sill, is the forlutiaU; Caliioi'iiia adventurer from DansviJIe.

IJ^* For Konu! .•icconiit of the Sill family. Bce History of Wyoraliig, and Mrs. Ellott's
" Woraon of the lluvolutiou."

PHELPS AND GOIUIAllS PURCHASE.

265

of twelve persons, were piloted up the Mohawk, and by the usual
water route, by Weinple, the Indian trader who has been mentioned
in connection with the Rev. Mr. Ivirkland. Arriving at what was
then the principal head of navigation, especially for batteaux of any
considerable size, they located and erected log huts half a mile south
of the present village of Lyons, whore James Dunn lately resided.
The heads of families, were : — Nicholas Stanscll, William Stansell,
and a brother in-law, John Featherly. They had been inured to
iiardships, toil and (I;inger, as border settlers upon the Mohawk, and
in Otsego county ; Wm. Stansell had been to this region in Sulli-
van's expedition. Their nearest neighbors were Decker Robinson
and tlie Oaks family ; the same season, a few families, located at
Palmyra. The Stansells and Featherly may be regarded as the
Pioneers of all the northern part of Wayne county. They ground
their corn in a small hand mill "until a German named Baer put up
a log mill where Waterloo now is. " Jointly with the Pioneers of
Phelps, they opened a woods road to that neighborhood and in the
direction of the mill at Waterloo. The father of the Stansells died
in the earliest years, and was buried in the absence of any funeral
rites ; there being no one to conduct them. A few weeks previous
to Wayne's victory, the early Pioneers became alarmed ; made up
their minds they must flee, or see a second edition of the scenes
that tliey had passed through upon the Mohawk ; the old batteaux
that brought them into the wilderness was re-corked and pitched to
take them out of it ; they were upon the point of starting, when news
came that '• Mad Anthony " had humbled the western nations, and
smothered the llame that had threatened to break out in the Gene-
see country. These early adventurers depended much upon the
" products of the forest ; " not such as comes under that head in
our modern canal statistics; but upon wild game; deer principally,
Nicholas Stansell was a hunter, and would go out and kill from
eight to ten deer in a day. Nicholas Stansell, a surviving son of

Note. — This curly colony hronslit in with tlicin some ling,s. and the rosult, with
other i^iniilar oiic-j thiit will bo noted, coiifinnR Hk; fact that oui-'doniostioatcd ho^ will
if tnriu'd into the forest, to share it with wild atiinials alor.c, gu hack U> his primitive
condition in one, or two years, at farthest. A Iwar, of this primitive stock changed
ni foiiii, liecame a wild racer, liis tusks grew to a frightful length ; he became more
than a match fi>r bears and wolves ; and finally a terror to the new settlers, until he
Wius hunted and shot. The first progeny of tliis primitive stock when caught could
not be tallied, oiid geuurull^ had £u be hunted like otlier game.

J66

PHELPS AND GOIUIAM's PURCHASE.

one of the two Pioneer brotlicrs, who now resides in Arcadia
Wayne county, says : — " After our first stock of provisions was
exhausted, we saw hard times ; got out of corn once ; went and
liourrht of Onondaga Indians. For days we were without any pro-
visions other than what the forest, the streams, and our cows aflor-
ded. We eat milk and greens. Venison and fish we could always
have in plenty. My father hardly ever missed when he went out
after a deer. Salmon, bass, pickerel, speckled trout, ducks and
pigeons, were in abundance. "

A small patch of corn and potatoes, raised by the Stansells and
Featherly, on the old Dorsey farm, in 17S9, were the first crops
raised in Wayne county.

Nicholas Stansell died in 1817 ; his surviving sons are, William
- Stansell, of Arcadia, and George vStansell, who lives a mile south
of Newark. John Featherly died a few years since in the town
of Rose, aged 80 years. Nicholas Stansell, changing his residence
in 1800, l)ecame the proprietor of lands upon which the village of
Lockville has grown up.

Mr. Williaiuson commenced operations at Lyons, in the summer
of 171)1. He made Charles Cameron his principal local agent.
Reserving nearly a thousand acres, which was afterwards sold to
Judge Dorsey, a house and barn were built for Mr. Cameron; the first
framed house in that region.* Mr. Cameron had the village surveyed,
and built a store house and distillery. Before the close of 1790,
Henry Tower, as Mr. Williamson's agent, had erected and com-
pleted wiiat was long known as " Tower's Mills," at Alloway.

The mills must have been of more than ordinary magnitude, for
that early period, as the author observes that the cost was over
twelve thousand dollars. In addition to other improvements, Mr.
Cameron cleared land, a>id cunnnenced making a farm.

Next to Sodus Bay, Mr. Williamson had regarded Prideaux
(Braddock's) Bay as a favorable position upon the Lake. He made
some surveys there for a town, but did little towards startins; it.
In his correspondence with his principals in London, he often men-
tioned the mouth of Genesee River, but not in a way to indicate a
high oi)inion of its k)cality. His aim was to improve only such spots
as were surrounded bv the lands he held in charge. Those nearest

It is uuw !^ta^ldiul^ in a tolerable state of prcsen'atiou, on the bank of the outlet

riiELPs AJND goeiiam's pukciiase.

2G7

the mouth of the River and the Falls, had been sold by Thelps and
Gorham, before their sale to the London Associates. In 1794 he
visited the Falls, Prideaux Bay, and spent a day c"- ;•'•. with Wm.
Hcnchcr. He soon after purchased of Samuel l!. Ogde;, the Allan
Mill, and the Hundred Acres, with a view i -> con. ..jncing some
improvements upon the present site of the cit' -A' V chester. Al-
lan had sold the property to Benjamin Barton, sen o ■ ; ,nd Barton to
Of];dcn. DCT See deed, or title paper, in Library of Rochester
Athenaeum and Mechanic's Association. At tlit fima of William-
son's purchase, the mill, a frail structure origuially, with no cus-
tomers to keep it in motion, had got much out of repair. He
expended upon it some five or six hundred dollars— put it in tolera-
ble rei)air— but unfortunately there were no customers. It was
dilTicult of access from the older settlements, and mills more con-
venient for them, were soon erected. The purchase, repair, and
sale of the mill and mill tract, was about the extent of Mr. Wil-
liamson's enterprises at the " Falls of the Genesee River," where
the aspect of things in that early day, was any thing but encouraging.
In 1798, a party of emigrants from Perthshire, Scotland, cmfgra.
ted to America, landing at New York, and coming west as far as
Johnstown, IMontgomery county, halted there to determine on some
permanent location. Mr. Williamson hearing of the arrival of his
countrymen, made a journey to see them. He found them poor
in purse — with nothing to pay for lands — and but little even for
present subsistence ; but they came from the

Land of the forest and tlie rock,

Of dark Ijlue hike and mighty river.
Of mountains reared aloft, to mock

The storm's career, the lightning's shock ;

.X r <^^'".''^^''">' '""y '"> r'-osumod to bo the first business letter that was ever
written fn.m tlie site ul the present eity of ]{„chost<.r. Christopher Du-au nwried a
sister ot Lbenezer Allan, and was put in charge of the mill by him :

„, .„ ^ , , ^, i'ALLS Of t^EXESEE, Aiig. 9, 1791.

The null erected by Ebenezer Allan, which I am informed vou have purchased is
n a bad situation luuch out of repair, and unless atientiou is'paid to itTwiU so„n
fc.ke Its voyage to the Lake. I have resided here for .several ve;n ., aud ke t U ehTnd
war, , w.thout ee e.r recompense ; and am please.l to hear *t hat t has t; lien So the
bajuts o a gentleman who is able to repair ii', and whose character is sue 1 a 1 firm y
x.heve he wdl not allow an old man to suffer without rew.anl lor his exertions I w2
lo have you come, or send some one to take care of the mill, as my sit^^ at ou is S
as makes it necessary soon to remove. I am sir, with respect your mos

OiiAiiLKa WiLLi.-iiisox, Esq,

obedient humbl

e servant.

CUIUSTOPHEU DUGAN.

268

T'HELPS AND GOKIIAm's PURCHASE.

they were rich in courage, in a spirit of perseverence, in habits of
industry ; in all the elements that Ilk in the wilderness, and success
in It, requn-cd. Mr. Williamson became to them not onlv a patroon,
but a benefactor. "A Scot had met a brithcr Scot." ' He offered
them a favorite loration, in the neighborhood of the " Big Springs,"
(Caledonia) ; - land at three dollars per acre, payable in wheat It
SIX shillings per bushel ; a reasonable pay day; and besides, to fur-
nish them with provisions until they could help themselves. Four
of their number were sent out to view the lands; were pleased
with the allotment that Mr. Williamson had made ; on their return,
met him on his way from Geneva to Canandaigua ; he drew up a
writing on the road, and the bargain was thus closed. In March,
1799, while there was yet sleighing, the Scotch adventurers came
from Johnstown to the "Big Springs."* Those who first came
were:— Peter Campbell and wife, Malcolm .MLaren and wife,
John M'Naughton and wife; and Donald M"Vcan and Hugh
M'Dormid, single men. In the fall of the same year, they were
joined Ly their countrymen, John M'Vean, John M'Pherson,
John Anderson, Duncan Anderson, all single men "but M'Vean!
During the next year they were joined by Donald M'Piiersoni
Donald Anderson, Alexander Thompson, and their families. Those
whose names have been given, except Thompson and M'Vean,
had crossed the ocean in the same ship. They are to be regarded
as constituting the primitive settlers at Caledonia, though for s°cveral
years after, other of their countrymen joined them.

The Springs, being on the great trail from Tioga point to Fort
Niagara, had long been a favorite camping ground.f Previous to
the Scotch advent. Fuller and Peterson, had become squatters there,
built log houses, and entertained travelers. This furnished the
Scotch settlers a temporary shelter. John Smith, one of Mr. Will-
iamson's surveyors, soon arrived and surveyed their lands, so j^lan-
ning the surveys that each allotment would have a front upon the
streams. Log houses were soon erected in the primitive manner,
small patches of summer crops planted ; and the Scotch settlers

™no Vm '''" ^V, ""»!'',:■ *^ *'''' hcaVdy, even a.s far back ns (he first Engl Lsh occu-
pancy „f Nia-Mva. Mi-. W illianison gavo it thu new niuno of Caledonia.

t Au old C.'inrulian cniifrrant, and a frequent traveler upon the trail abont the close

1 Id l";\"'"".""' ""r ''"' ?"'r''"i^' "."^^'^^^^ '^ fr'-'l"'^"^, that the firen of one party
would be burning when anulhor arrived, * '

PnELP3 a™ aORDAJl's PCRCnASE. 269

Zil^ZTr"'"'; "'""°' "™""'"'" "'"■ '""''' '--' «s--t

Mel";, I '"",'"' r'"''"' ^"'" """" •" Alexander

lor supplung some provisions. Wheat was procured at Dans

vile and ground nuhe Mes.rs. Wads,vor,hs' ml at Co, esus and

pork was drawn from the store at Williamsbur. Mr W 1

^an,»„„ ako furnished them with some cows. And' how dM™

manage for yo,„. early team work ? was the author', enouir of'the

bv hi t , " f'-^'^^-S'""". "°w in his 80,h vear.. „ Lnded

and ro.;';":;?"' """"'f, °^™'- hi^gamersfilled to overflowing,

"C o steX" Ti''"'^""'' P™-i-S'"'-e abundance

rive,' it T "; '"' "■"' "« """^'^ -^P"". f" ^«'l«-x on the

pu,ts h! e "T "? :"'^'"='' »»" «fty »-- for school
r,r ,./ ["^ "' ""^ *P""S' •■' S"^' '-""I S'"" mill, which

This is so far as Mr. Williamson was directly connected with the
P.oaecr settlers at Caledonia. Their after progress will be m n*d
w,d, event., „a,-ra.od in succccling portions of the work "

The reader of the present d.ay will smile at the idea of ■■ Fairs "
and Race grounds ,„ back woods settlements, at a time when
settlers generally had but just made small openings in the forest anS
stood n,o,.e ,n need of log causeways over streams, boa ds fo ter
blr:;- 'tr '"J'rr'^^- 'h- of-o^ dorses or imp,, td

»eef,ha „ tti "r"l T^"'"" "''-"'«"- Scotchman had
seen ihQse thmgs m England and Scotland, and supposed them

ments, and as , will be observed he had ulteiior object, in view
mprcssed w.tl, the idea that the region, the settlemen of whic To
«a cndcavoiang to promote, was nearly all it had m-„ved to ),!

cnlhusi.islic even inhiseflrats- h„l,.,t i ^ '"' ■
niselloits, he had made up hjs mind that the

Uio hi„ l„„,„„ i]i,„h Cli„ml„.,l ,"„".„», :""l,,'}^'- ■'!';'•"'"'; ":«• ll» wiaon-of

270

PHELPS AOT) GORIIAMS PURCHASE.

Genesee country need only be seen to be appreciated. In travelling
through Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania, he had endeavored
to bring niei- of wealth and enterprise to view the country, but had
generally failed. It was too secluded, too far off from civilization,
too much threatened with Indian wars ; liad in it too much of the
elements of chills and fevers, to be attractive, to men who were not
under the necessity of encountering such formidable difficulties.
But he had discovered that those he wanted to come and see the
country were fond of races and holiday sports, and he resolved upon
instituting them in ad<lition to the attractions he had held out. In
1794 he had laid out a race course and fair grounds, near the pres-
ent residence of the Hon. Charles Carroll, on the forks of the Can-
ascraga creek and Genesee river, and in the fall of that year was
had there a fair and races. Extensive preparations were made
for the event. Mr. Williamson's anxiety to have all things in read-
iness is manifested in a letter to Mr. Wadsworth. He says ; — "As
you have manifested much interest in the exhibition at Williams-
burg, do, my friend, attend to it, and push the getting a bridge from
Starr's or thereabouts, to the flats, in time ; Mr. Morris will give
£10 and I will give £lO. The appointed day came, and there was
a gathering from all the new settlements of the Genesee country ;
from as far east as Utica; and of sportsmen and land explorers from
Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania. The two small taverns of
Starr and Fowler, at Williamsburg, and the deserted log houses of
the Germans, were vastly inadequate to the accommodation of the
crowd. The few buildings at Geneseo, and all the log tenements of
the neighborhood were put in requsition, and yet the Fair ground
had 10 be an encampment. In the language of an intbrmant of the
author, who was present : — " Here met for business and pleasure,
men from all parts of the purchase ; stock was exhibited and pur-
chases made. Here also were seen for the first time, the ' ^liday
sports of " merry Englnnd, " such as greasing a pigs tail ; ..imbing
a greased pole, &c. " Care had been taken for the gratification of
visitors, to have a general attendance of the Indians; and as it was
just after Wayne's victory, it was perhaps very wisely c:onsidered
that it would help them in their then growing inclinations to be at
peace and cultivate the acquaintance of their new neighbors. They
were present in great numbers, and joim rl in the sports with great
relish. Their own foot races and ball plays, were added to the

PHELPS AND GOEUAJl's PUECHASE.

amusements. It all went oft' well ; all were pleased ; the southern-
ers and Pennsylvanians vvere delighted with the entertainment and
with the country ; made favorable reports when they returned home ;
and with many of them it led finally to emigration. The Fair and
Races were held next year at Williamsburg, and at Bath and Dans-
ville, in a few successive years ; Mr. Williamson had himself some
fine race horses ; and in the way of oxen, such was the magnitude
of his operations in different portions of the purchase, that at one
time he had eighty yoke wintering on the Genesee flats.

In addition to the enterprises of Mr. Williamson, that have been
named, he was active in procuring the passage of the act for laying
out the old State Road from Fort Schuyler to Geneva, and was
one of the commissioners for locating it. In 1798, when Mr. Elli-
cott had commenced the survey of the Holland Purchase, he joined
him in making what was at first called the "Niagara Road," west
of Genesee river. He made the road from the river to Col. Gan-
son's, within a mile of Le Roy, expending upon it $2,000. * He
assisted in making the road from Lyons to Palmyra ; from " Hope-
ton to Townscnds;" from " Seneca Falls to Lyon's Mills;" from
" Cashong to Hopeton." There are few of the primitive roads in
Yates, Steuben, and the south part of Livingston, that he did not
either make or assist in making. He built mills at Hopeton, ou
the Hemlock Lake, and at Williamsburgh. He added to the hotel
at Geneva, the "Mile I'oint House and Farm," on the bank of
Seneca Lake, which he intended for a brother, the " Hopkins' House
and Farm," and the " Mullender House and Farm," at the Old Castle.
His enterprises at Williamsburg embraced an extensive farm which

NoTF — Tlic"\Villianison Fair niul Raoes, " am .■uiionf; the cherished leniiiiisccuees
oi the "oldest iidiabitaiits, " and in t'ael, it is uuly tlie oldcwt wlio survive to remem-
ber them. Frolie, sports, recreation, witli the meii of that period, were tilings done in
earnest liki- everything else they undertook, (ien. George M'Clure, an early I'ioneer
at Batli, .low re.siding at j;igiii, Illinois, writing to liis old ti lend Charles Cameron,
now of (Irceiie, Chenango eo., during the present year, savs in allu.sion to some liistor-
icalreniiniscem>eshe is g:ithei'ing up: — " It wont doto tt-f of all of our doings in those
ilays of ' Lang Syne. ' 1 jiresnnie you liave iiot forgot . 'lie night we spent in Dunn's
hotel when we roasted th't cpiarterof beef." "Give i ," v>>... 'go and any thing else
you can tliinkof This is a llouri.shiiig town. The Chioaj.,.. nd (i.-deim rail road
jw.sses through it. Why cant you come and ni.'ike iis n visit. You can come all the
way by steam. 1 am now in my MItli year, anil enjoy good lu'ilth.

* In connection with this (-nterprise, theauth:! hassmne items of account, shomng
the cost of thiiigH at that primitive period : - !• . ,st.f 18 to take a common waggon
load from Cenevato Le Hoy. 2 bbls. of |)(,iK and 2 i)bls. of whiskey cost, deliverecl,
(at (ianson's) ;«<l;>0. The only urind-stoiie in all the region, was one owned by the
Indians at Cunawagus, and tlie uso of it cost $1,50. •

272

PHELPS AKD GOEHAm's PURCHASE.

aa&'ai- 'StuMii

he called the " Hermitage Farm." Beside this, he had a larrre fonr
on the Canascraga, a few miles below Dansville, and several farms
in Steuben.

Connected with all these improvements in the way of agencies,
clerkships, mechanics, surveyors, road makers, &c., are many fami-
liar Pioneer names: — Among them, those of William Wliite, John
Swift, Jonathan Baker, "Capt. Follett," Reed, Buskirk, Fitzsim-
mons. Woodward, Griswold, Henry Brown, Ralph T. Woods, Peter
ShaeiTer, Fiancis Dana, Solomon Earl, Williams and Frazee,
Gordon and Evans, James Bardin, Jonathan Woods, Francis Dana,
Jonathan Mathews, B. Lazclere, David Miloer, William Mulhallen,
Jacob Hartgiile, Elisha Brown, Leonard Beaty, Daniel Nicholson,
Woods and Pratt, Thomas W^ilbur, Nathaniel Williams, Judah
Colt, Caleb Seely, Thomas W. Williams, E. Hawkes, David Abbey,
King and Howe, Joseph Merrill, Charles Dutcher, Jonatiian Bur-
nett, Robert Burnett, Peter Lander, David Fish, Daniel Britain,
E. Van Winkle, Gideon Dudley, Norman Merry, David Abbey,
Obadiah Osburn, George Humphrey, Annanias Piatt, Wm. Angus,
John Davis, Grieve and Moffatt, John Carey, James Beaumont,
Joshua Laig, George Goundry, Elisha Pratt, Pierce Chamberlain,
Joseph Roberts, Thomas Howe, David Dennett, Jeremiah Gregory,
Darling Havens, Daniel P. Faulkner, Jonathan Harker, ifenry
Bro\vn, Asa Simmons, Peter Rice, W. M'Cartney, James Hender-
son, Rufus Boyd. These are but a moiety; i'or a considerable
period, in one way and another, a large proportion of the new
settlers were connected with his enterprises.

He was a large subscriber to the Canandaigua Academy, to the
first library established at Geneva, and aided in some of the first
movements made in the Genesee country, in the cause of educa-
tion. After he had extended his road Irom Northuinberland, Penn.,
to Williamsburg, on the Genesee river, he soon established a mail,
on foot sometimes, and sometimes on horseback, between the two
points, thus opening a communication with Philadelphia and Balti-
more. A branch mail went to Canandaigua, Geneva and Sodus.

■lu^,"^''"'""''^^'""^ ^'"' •'""' "^ "^'' I'l-ojortion of tlie Stntc Roiul west, of Romo, Mr.
VVilliaiiisun WHS n.linn; iipnii Jahut Islnn.l, in cr.Min.'inv witli Jlo WitI Cliiiton wlio re-
iiiiivkuiL' upnti llio KiMo,,|}incs.s <.f tliii roiid. siii.l \n .Mr. W.; — "If you liiul such ro.-uls
to your ooiiiJtry I would iiiiiko you avisit." — "It cnii lie donowith propor e.\urtioiis"
Mr. (huloii pioniiscd liini liis co-opcralioM. and afterwards assisted in procuring
the nu'orporatioii .,f tlie Genera Turninke fonipany, in which the State Itoau was
tiicrg<'d. Mr. I'hnicui's iirst visit to tliis region, -was in I&'IO.

PIIELPS AND G0RIIAM8 PURCHASE.

273

new

For several years after, a better understanding was had with Gov.
Simcoe and his successors by means of these mail facilities ; they
received their letters and papers from Europe and the Atlantic
cities, through this primitive medium. It is presumed that he had
something to do with putting on the first mail and passenger wagon
from Albany to Canandaigua, as the agent at Albany procured and
charged to him a wagon and harness for that purpose.

Mr. Williamson was elected to the legislature from Ontario
county, in 1700 ; and for three successive years, while in that capa-
city, he contributed with great energy and perseverance to dif-
fei'ent measures for the benefit of the region he represented, which
was all of Western New York. He was a Judge of Ontario county ;
in the early military organizations in what is now Steuben, equipped
an independent company at his own expense ; and rose from the
rank of Captain in his Britannic Majesty's service, to that of Col.
of a regiment of backwoods militia in the Genesee country.

The manufacture of pot and pearl-ash was prominent in his view,
as one of the resources of the new country ; he gave some en-
couragement to it ; but the means of transportation to market at
that early day, was a great drawback upon the enterprise. * The
manufacture of maple sugar was also an object of interest with
him ; and in fact, was an anticipated source of great revenue to
the country, by many of the earliest adventurers. They failed to
appreciate the competition it had to encounter in the sugar-cane and
cheap hibor. One of the earliest enterprises of Mr vYilliamson,
was the improvement of the navigation of the Conhocton and
Canisteo, the manufacture of lumber, and the carrying of it to Bal-
timore, in periods of high water.

In all this career of Pioneer enterprise that has been passed over,
it may well be anticipated that much money was required. There
was little money in the country — hardly enough for the purchase
of the common necessaries of life — of course, not enough to make
any considerable land payments. Lands liad to be sold upon credit,
payments of instalments postponed ; most of his enterprises were

* Writiiip: to Mr. Colqulunm snon after his aifival in tliis country, lie slak'fl that
Judfjo Cddpor, I'atlicr of .1. i'VimiiiKiro Cdopcr, who was tlicn just foundii. ;• ;i settlo-
iiKMit on llic <)tsc),'o Lak(>, was (greatly pronioliiif^ salcH of land and sottlt'niciit, by
furnishing; Ihe new wltliTS with pot-as^h kcUlc^rt to a largo amount. Ho Kjjoal.s of the
aftor horo of backwoods' roinaiico — "Judge Tenijjlo," — as a proruiiioiit co-workoriu
|:jroinoti!ig settlunii'iits.

274

PHELPS AND GOPJIAm's PUECnASE.

ahead of the time and the condition of the country, and made slow
returns. The resources were mainly the capital of his princij.als,
the London associates. Seldom, if ever, have property holders ad-
vanced larger amounts for improvements, or more freely at first
thougli they began to be impatient after years had gone bv, and the
returns of their immense outlays were coming in but slowlv to re-
plenish their cofl-ers. In 1800, the balance sheets did not iJok well
for then- Genesee country enterprise. There had been expended
for purchase money of lands, agencies, and improvements, such as
have been mdicated, $1,374,470 10. There had been received for
lands sold, but $147,974 83. In addition to tiiis balance a-ainst
them, they owed of principal and interest upon lands purchased? over
5^300,000. To make all this look better, however, they had an im-
mense amount of unsold lands, farms and mills, and an immense
debt due for lands sold. While all Mr. Williamson's enterprises
had been puttmg the country ahead in the way of settlement and
miprovement, (even from ten to fifteen years, as manv estimate )
another direct effect must have been, the adding vastly 'to the prin
cipals, the care of which he turned over to his successors He
lound the wild lands of the Genesee country selling at from 1 to 4s
per acre; he left them selling at from 81,50 to $4.

He had at first formidable difficulties to overcome, other than
such as have been named and indicated, as consequent upon the
task of settling a country so isolated from the older settlements
possessing so many harsh features to keep back emigration He
was a foreignex, and had held a commission in the nmks of the
British army, with whom a large portion of the new settlers h?d
just been contending upon battle fields. Arms had been crrounded
but feelings of resentment, prejudice, were rife. The pos^'ssion of'
tort Niagara and Oswego, the British claims upon the territory of
Western New York, their tampering with the western Indians, and
even those that were unreconciled here, served to keep dive this
feeling. Although Mr. Williamson had from the time he landed in
America, given the strongest evidence that lie intended to mercrg
himself with the disenthralled colonies, and throw off all ulle-iance
to Great Britain, still he encountered jealousy and distrust. In re
capitulating to Sir Wm. Pulteney, toward the close of his arrency
the difficulties he had encountered, he makes the followiiicr renTarks •'
'Even previous to J794. there was a strong predisposiUou against

PlIELrS AND GOKUAm's PUECHASE.

275

every thinj? that was British. But this was more particularly the
case in those parts of the back country adjacent to the British set-
tlements ; and where, I'rom the influence of the British govern-
ment with the Indians, there was too nii^ch reason to fear that hos-
tilities from that quarter would be directed against these infant set-
tlements. These jealousies met me in an hundred mortifying in-
stances ; and they were with difTiculty prevented from having the
most disagreeable elTects, both to me and every old countryman in
the settlements. To such an extent was this carried, that every
road I talked of was said to be for the purpose of admitting the In-
dians and British ; cveiy set of arms I procured — though really to
enable the settlers to defend themselves againt the Indians — was
said to be for supplying the exjiected enemy ; and the very grass
seed I brought into the country for the purpose of supplying the
farmers, was seized as gun powder going to the enemies of the
country." He also alleges that these distrusts — opposition to his
movements — were enhanced by influential individuals, who were
interested in the sale of wild lands in other localities.

All this, however, wore off, as we may well conclude, for he was
elected to represent the county in the legislature, with but little op-
position, in 1790, and the mark of favor was repeated. Well educated,
possessing more than ordinary social qualities, with a mind im-
proved by travel and association with the best classes in Europe,
his society was sought after by the many educated and intelligent
men who came to this region in the earliest years of settlement ;
and he knew well how to adapt himself to circumstances, and to
all classes that went to make up the aggregate of the early adven-
turers. Changing his habits of life with great ease and facility, he
was at home in every primitive log cabin ; a welcome, cheerful, and
contented guest, with words of encouragement for those who were
sinking under the hardships of Pioneer life ; and often with sub-
stantial aid, to relieve their necessities ; away off in some isolated
opening of the forest would be those prostrated by disease, to whom
he would be the good Samaritan, and send them the bracing tonic
or restoring cordial. These acts of kindness, his benevolence of
heart, are well remembered by surviving Pioneers ; and repeatedly
has the author been importuned by them to speak well of their
friend, in those local annals.

From the day that Mr. Williamson arrived in this country, until

27C

Pinars and goritam's ruKoirASE.

i'li

he returned to Europe, his corrospondence was oxtonsivc and em-
braced a lar-e number of prominent men in the northern States
and in Europe. The interests of uli this rerrjon were deeply in-
volved m the success of Mr. .lay's mission to Eiiirjnnd in 17i)l. 'Mr.
Wiihamson's acquaintance with the stat(>smen of En-rjiuid were
with those principally of the cf>nservativ(. class, and with them he
urpd a reconciliation of all existing dilliculties. He made the I'ln-
hsh government acquainted witii the conduct of their agents hi
Canada : with their machinations with the Indians to brin." on an-
other series of border wars ; an.l with the coiuiuct of IJritish oflicers
at the western posts, in stimulating the Indians to stealthy assaults
upon settlers, surveyors and explorers. [D- See account of munler
oj Major Trueman, Appendix, No. 10. The treaty of Mr. Jay con-
eluded, he urged upon the Colonial department of the Enrr]ish gov-
ernment, the substitution of better disposed neighbors in The Cana-
das, than Lord Uorchcster, and Gov. Simcoe ; anrl the hastenin<T of
the fulfilment of treaty stipulations by the surrender of ()swe<vo'!xn(I
Niagara. Trouble, an open rupture with England, was to be sure
but postponed; but the author can hardly forego the conclusion, that
in the n.fancy of settlement in the Genesee country, it was fortunate
that English statesmen were extensive land holders— deeply inter-
ested in the securing of peace and prosperity to the country— and
that they had for their local agent, such a man as Charles Williamson
There had accompanied Mr. Williamson on his first advent to
the country, from Scotland, Charles Cameron, John Johnstone
James Tower, Henry Tower, Andrew Smith and Hugh McCartney
Mr. Cameron came over at the solicitation of Mr. Williamson pen-
etrated the wildernes with him, assisted in planning and executino-
improvements, kept the books and accounts, was his^ravellincr conv
panion in many forest journeys ; and in fact, was closely connected
with him during his whole residence in the country. He was the
local agent as has been seen, at Lyons, and from that point it is
supposed, shipped the first produce of the Genesee country to an
easiern market; the flour from the mills that had been erected un-
der his agency. He was one of the earliest merchants at Canan-
daigua; at a primitive period, when the mercantile business of
almost the pntlie Genesee country, was transacted in that village.
In this relatii.a he was widely and favorably known to the Pionee'J-s.'
Either upon liis own account, or as agent for Mr. Williamson, he

rirELP3 AND GOIUIAM's rURCIIASE,

277

£0 7h. 6d.
10

was a merchant at IJatli before ho removed to Lyons, as is inferred
from a ston^ hill, vvhicli the author lias in his posses-iion : —

Bath, October, 1793.
John Dolson,*

I?oiif,'lit of Cliarlos Caitieron :
Ort. 20, 1 111. diocolatd, 'Jm. <i<l I l-ii b'iil. wliiskcy 5s.
Nov. .'). 1 f,';illoii whiskey, U)h.

Mr. Cameron is one of the few survivors of thai early period.
He is now in his 78th year ; a resident of Greene, Chenango county.
Mr. Johnstone was also in Mr. Williimison's employ.

When the division of liinds t(K)k place between Sir Wm. rultcnc}
and Gov. Hornby, Mr. Johnstone became the agent of the Hornby
lands, in which agency he continued until his death in 1800. He
married a step-daughter of Nicholas Lowe, of New York. He
was the father of James Johnstone, of Canandaigua, and Mrs
Leavenworth, of New York.

Henry Tower, was an tigent in the erection of the mills at Lyons,
(or " Alloway,") became the purchaser ot them ; and resided there
for many years. Hugh McCai tney nettled in Sparta. Of the other
two who came with Mr. Williamson, the author has no account.

Mr. Willinmson's first engngemcnt with the London Associates,
was for the term of seven years ; though he continued in the agen-
cy beyond the expiration of that period. It has already been in-
dicated, that his principals were somewhat impatient at the slow
return of his large outlays ; and the sanguine, impulsive agent, may
have ventured to deplete their purses too rapidly; but there could
have been no serious misunderstanding between them, as the cor-
respondence that took place, in reference to the final settlement of
the affairs of the agency in 1800 and 1801, exhibit a continuance
of mutual esteem and friendship. A paragraph in a letter from Sir
Wm. Pultney to the successor in the agency, indicates a wish that
Mr. Williamson should be dealt honorably with in the settlement.

In the final adjuslii.ent of his aliairs with his principals, what
would then have been considered a very large estate, was left him
in farms, village property in Geneva and Bath, wild lands, bonds
and mortgages, and persona! property. James llecs:*, Esq., oi Geneva,

* Mr. Dolson lived near Elmira. In one of Mr. Williiunsoii'sbapkwoods excursions
in 17;i-2, ho had an allack of h;vi!i- at Mr. Dolsmi's lioii.sc, where lie w:w nursed until
he recovered. He preBenled tlio family with twenty guineas, aiid a iann wherever
they might chooae it upon the purehaao.

278

PIIELrS AND aOUIIA^fs PURCHASE.

was his agent, until he finally returned to Scothind, in Ifl03, or '4,
when he left all his allairs in America, with his I'riend Col. Benja-
initi Walker, of Utica. The successor of Col. \7alker in the care
of the Williamson estate, was John II. W ends Esq., of Geneva,
with whom it now remains.

Aaron Burr was identified, as has already been observed, with
some of the earliest movements in the direction of the Genesee
country. Soon after Mr. Williamson'.s arrival, he made his acquain-
tance, and retained him as counsel in his business : and the farther
relation of strong personal friendship soon succeeded. In 179,'>,
Mr. Burr made a visit to this region, continuing his journey as far
west as Niagara Falls. He was accompanied by his daughter The-
odosia, and her then, or afterwards, husband, Mr. Allston. The
party were on horseback.* Upon this occasion, Mr. Williamson
had interviews with him, if he was not in fact, his travelling com-
panion in a part of the trip; and when Mr. Williamson became a
member of the legislature in 'no, and in succeeding years, business
and social relations, made theni frequent companions in Albany.
In whatever project Mr. Burr had at the south, i\Ir. Williamson
was blended, and would have taken a conspicuous part in it, if it had
not been so summarily arrested.

After Mr. Williamson left this country, he resided at the home of
his fan)ily in Balgray, and in London. He died in 1808. The
only record of the event, that the author has been able to obtain, is
the following extract of a letter from Col. Walker, to " JMr. Wm. Ellis,

^OTE.— C(.I. BcTijaTiim Walker, vas an early and prominent ciHzcn of Utien In
the early part ot the Revolution he had l,eei» in the statr of (ien. Washini^nini, aiu! ^va.?
afterwards the aul of Baron Stenl,en. He is r<.nneeted with a i,^,,,,.! atu'clote of he
J)uron:—Reviewnij< some raw troojiH, he ordered them witii liis im.ierfect J'hi.disli
pronunaau.Mi, to fall haek which tliey mistook for "advaiKv," and eame n.slii,,- di-
rectly npon lam. Irritated, and fearing they would understand him no belter in his
repnnKiiuis, he ordered Col. \Valker to d— ii ihem in Eii"i;^li

In 17!)^ Jk. was surveyor of the port of New York, ,md was employed by Messrs.
1 ulteney and Hornby to settle with an a-ont m this country, who had'invested some
money or theni m lands (other tlian the (ienesee purchase.) whirl, h,l to Lis early
aequain ance with Mv. VV, hamson. His corresp.mdence with Mr. Wilham^-on after ho
returned to hurope, woidd mdicato superior talents ; and there could be Lrk,,„ed from
tJiem niimy interesting early reminiscences .,f events in this country, t'ol. Waliver
died m Ltica, m 1818, An only daimhter married H'Villicrs, a F/ench .'entlenrm
who was m this region in '91, or '."). .She died in Franco. The only reiM-eseiitative of
the family in this country, is an adopted daughter, Mrs. Bours (jf (Jeneva.

*In this western visit Mr. Burr parted from his travelling companions at Avon
Uiid went down andvisited the fallsof theOenesec, takhigtheirhei<dit anda Lmdsc-njo
view of theni. He shared th.i log cabin of Mr. Shaefler, over night"! on his return .and
.lie old gentU'Tuau wcU rcmombora his praLsus of the new couutry, and Lis "ulei^ant
Bociable turn." •" i "o""!,

rnELrs and goriiam s purchase.

279

Nicholson street, Edingburg :" — " An extract sent me from an
Englisli newspaper, announces the death of my friend, Col. Will-
iamson, as having happened on his passage from Ilavanna to
England ; an event which will be most sincerely lamented by a
numerous acquaintance in this country, who esteemed and loved
him."

There is now no descendants of Mr. Williamson in this country.
He lost a son and a daughter in Rath ; and a son and daughter went
soon after him to Scotland. The daughter survives. Charles A.
Williamson, the son, married a Miss Clark of New York, and resi-
'ded in Geneva. Enticed by the discovery of gold in California —
although he would seem to have had enough of wealth to satisfy a
reasonable ambition — he took the overland route in the summer
of 1818, died of cholera at Fort Laramie; and about the same
period his wife died in Scotland.

Sir William Pulteney died in May, 1805, leaving an only heir, his
daughter, Henrietta Laura Pulteney, Countess of Bath. She died
in July, 1808. DCt' For historical, and legal deduction of title to
lands, other than what is contained in the body of the work, see
Appendix No. 11.

ROBERT TROUP.

The successor of Mr. Williamson, in the general agency ot tne
London Association, was Col. Robert Troup. He was a native of
New Jersey ; in the war of the Revolution, he w^as the aid of Gen

Note. — Tlicrc are Cdiitradictorv acoounts of Mr. Willianisdii's position at tlu' jioriod
111' liis dcatli. One is, that lie liad bueu apixiinted by tliu L)ritisht,'ovL'L'rnineiit, (Jovuni-
or of ono of tlie West India Islands; and anotliov is. that his advL'iitnrous and entcr-
]ii-isinff spirit, had connrctod him willi sonii' of tho oarliest niovoniunts in rulatiou to
Sunth AnuM'ii'au Indcpcndoni'L', in which hi; wa?! to have liornu a con.spicuous part ;
and in pnr.suance of which, he was at sua, at tho period of his death.

Note. — In a letter from JiiincH Wadsworth to Col. Troup, dated in September, 1805,
lie says: — " I havci just heard of the death of Sir William Pultnuy. ily mind is stroiii^-
ly impressed with tho disasti'rs that may befal this section of the State, from the
(■\ent. Sir William was a man of business ; he was cajiable of deciding for himself,
what was and what was not proper. Wliat may be the character of hi-! successor we
know not." In another letter from ihesametothe same, it is assumed that the sucoossov
in the man.'igeinent of tho estate, is Sir James Puheney. Mr. W. says : — I once dined
with Sir James at Sir William's; he is ilevoted to the army, and a great favorite of
the Duke of York ; and I think 1 have been informed, (luite nigardless of property;
but of his honorable views, and perfect soundness of miud, I have no reason to doubt."

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280

PHELPS ANL GOPJIAm's PURCHASE.

Gates ; his father was an officer of the navy in the preceding French
war. Previous to the Revolution, Col. Troup had been a student
at law in the ollice of Thoir-as Siuidi, of Ilaveslraw, New Jersey,
and subsequently in the office of Gov. Jay. After obtaining license,
he opened an office in the city of Alba j, and soon after returned
to New York, where he practiced law until 1801. He was a few
years a Judge of the U. S. District Court. In 1801 he was appoin-
ted a general agent of the Pulteney estate. Residing in New York
and Albany, he frequently visited this region, until 1814, when he
became a permanent resident of Geneva. Under his aus; ..os a
large portion of the original purchase of the London Associates, .
(such as had not been settled during Mr. Williamson's administra-
tion,) was sold and settled. Liberal in his views, public spirited,
and possessed of much practical knowledge, he was a valuable
helper in speeding on the prosperity of the Genesee country. Al-
though the "Mill Tract," west of the Genesee river, was settled
under the immediate auspices of Mr. Wadsworth, Col. Troup as
the general agen^, had much to do in all that relates to its pioneer
history; and for over' thirty years, his name was conspicuously
blended with the history of all this local region. He was one of
the early promoters of the Erie Canal, and wielding a ready and
able pen, he did much to forward that great measure in its early
proj(>ction and progress. He was the intimate friend of Alexander
Hamilton, antl in fact few enjoyed more of the. intimate acquaint-
ance and friendship, of the most of prominent men of the Revolution,
and early statesmen of New York. He died in New York in 1832,
aged 74 years. He liad two sons, one of wljom died in Charleston,
and the other in N. York. A daughter of his is Mrs. James L.
Brinkerhoof, of N. York; and another unmarried daughter resides
in New York.

Before Col. Troup's removal to Geneva, the immediate duties of
the agency devolved successively upon John Johnstone, John Hes-
lop and Robert Scott. Heslop was first a clerk of Mr. VYads-
worth, and ( ntered the Geneva office a short time before the close
of Mr. Williamson's agency. He died on a visit to his native
country, England. Mrs. Gresliom, of Brooklyn, is a daughter
of his.

HrELP3 AND GORnAH's PUECHASE.

281

JOSEPH FELLOWS.
Joseph Fellows is a native of Warwirlcshi.-^ Pn i j r

.00., an„ e„,e..e. ,h. office of Co,'. T™ ""rolrr Ge' e":'
■n I8I0, as a sub-»ge„t m the Pultney land office : the detail, JZ

was the wife of DrEli Hi 1 T""," \ *'" ' '^ ^'"^ "f h-
Geneseo Hr hT^ ' , H,'^''"''^ phjsic.an of Conesus and

ImZ ir „ T,"' '" ^'"''"- Mi'^'"S»". where he died

brofhe": '"""'■ """ '■^^'*' "' G^""", with her

The purchasers of the Pnllney lands, have found in Mr Fellows

an agent deposed to conduct the business with strictlTe^rhv L

Wr ^^f''^'"^"" left Bath, James Reese removed thero

fiom Geneva, and took the temporary charge of the wfo r
Hesiqnmii fhenost In isni i * ^"Ji„e oi me L.and Office,

o „ ne post in 1803, lie was succeeded by Samuel I TTni,rhf

282

PHELPS AND GOEIIAm's PURCHASE.

to practice in the Supreme Court, and in the following year opened
an office in Bath. Assuming the duties of the Land Office soon
after, he • ontinued to discharge them until 1814. He was sub-
sequently the law partner of General Matthews at Bath, and re-
mained so until Gen. M. removed to Rochester in 1821. He now
resides at Cubr<,, Allegany county. Besides holding important civil
stations, in 1819 he received the appointment of Major General of
the 25th military division, then comprising the counties of Steuben,
Allegany, Cattaraugus and Chautauque.*

The subsequent agents in the Bath office have been, Dugald
Cameron, and William M'Kay ; the latter cf whom is the present
agent. He is the son of John S. M'Kay, who emigrated to Geneva
in 1800, and died in Pittsford, in 1819.

JOHN GREIG.

Mr. Greig was a native of Moffat, in Dumfrieshire, Scotland. His
father was a lawyer by profession, the factor or agent of the Earl
of Hopeton; and besides, a landholder, ranking among the better
class of Scotch farmers. After having acquired in his native
parish, and in a High School in Edinburg, a substantial education,
while undetermined as to his pursuits in life, Mr. Johnstone, who, it
will have been seen, had been in this region, connected with Mr.
Williamson, revisited his native country, and meeting Mr. Greig,
induced him to be his companion on his return to the new world.
They arrived at New York, in the winter of 1799 and 1800, after
a tedious passage of eleven weeks. Mr. Greig, after spending some
time in ]\ew York and Albany, came to Canandaigua, in April,
1800. He became a student at law, in the office of Nathaniel W.
Howell, and in 1804 was admitted to practice. In 1800, on the
occurrence of the death of his friend, John Johnstone, he succeeded
him in the agency of the Hornby and Cohjuhoun estate ; in which he
has continued up to the present period.

In an early period of his professional career, he became the part-
ner of Judge Howell ; the partnership continued until 1820. Ming-
ling with his professional duties, the arduous ones consequent upon

'lu 1819 all that territory coutcoined but 3,100 men, subJMt to .Tilitary duty,

PHELPS AND GORIIAm's PURCHASE.

283

Ming-

the sale and settlement of large tracts of wild lands, professional
eminence could hardly be expected ; yet in early days, when there
were " giants in the land"— when the bar of western New York
had in its front rank, a class of men, whose places can now harldy
be said to be filled — tney found in the young foreigner a professional
cotemporary, possessed of sound legal acquirements ; and especially
recommending himself to th. ir esteem, by a high sense of honor^,
and a courtes} , which ruled his conduct at the bar, as well as in
the business ard social relations of life.

As a patroon of new settlements — which his agency of a foreirrn
and absent principal, made him — in that position, in which so im-
portant an influence is wielded over the destinies of a new coun-
try— his best eulogy is found in the frequent expressions of gratitude,
which a gatherer of historical reminiscences may hear, from the
lips of surviving Pioneers, for indulgence and kindness received
at his hands..

Mr. Greig succeeded Mr. Gorham, in the Presidency of the On-
tario Bank, soon after 1820, which place he continues to fill. He
became one of the Regents of the University in 1825, .t, '. is now
the Vice Chancellor of the Board. In 1841, '2, he was the Repre-
sentative in Congress, from Ontario and Livingston ; and is now
one of the managers of the Western House of Refuge.

He is row 72 years of age ; his general health and constitution
not seriously in)paired ; his mental faculties retaining much of the
vigor of middle age ; having the general supervision of his estate,
and discharging the public duties which his several offices impose. '
_ One of the largest estates of western New York, is the fruit of
his youthful advent to a region he has seen converted from a wil-
derness, to one of fruitful fields and unsurpassed prosperity ; — of a
long life of professional and business enterprise and judicious man-
agement. Leaving his young countrymen and school fellows to
mherit estates ; with a self-reliance, which can only give substantial
success in life, he boldly and manfully struck out into a new field of
enterprise — a then fresh and new world — and became the founder
of one. Liberal in its management and disposition, with a sensible
estimate of what constitutes the legitimate value and use of wealth;
he is the promoter of public enterprises, the Hb-.-al patron of public
and the dispenser of private charities ; in J[ of which he finds a
willing co-operator in his excellent wife, wlio is a worthv descend-

284

PIIELPS AND GOEIIAm's PURCHASE.

ant of one who occupied a front rank among the earliest Pio-
neers of the Genesee country. She was tlie daughter of Captain
Israel Chapin, the grand-daughter of Gen. Israel Chapin ; was mar-
ried to Mr. Greig in 1800.

CHAPTER III

INDIAN DIFFICULTIES BRITISH INTERFEUENCE INDIAN COUNCIL."

GEN. ISRAEL CHAPIN.

In preceding pages, tHe reader has observed some indications of
unsettled relations between the Indians, and the early adventurers
of our own race, in the Genesee country ; and the mischievous
influence of those to whom they had been allies in the Revolution.
All this will be farther exhibited in connection with the early settle-
ment of Sodus. In this chapter it is proposed to treat the subject
generally, avoiding as far as possible a repetition of what has been
and will be, in the other connections, but incidental.

The reader of American general history, need hardly be told,
that what was called a treaty of peace with Great Britain, in 1783,
war rather an armistice — a cessation of hostihties — and that but
little of real peace, or amicable '-elations, was immediately conse-
quent upon it. On the one hand, a proud arrogant nation, worsted
in a oontest with a few feeble colonies, its invading armies defeated
and routed, grudgingly and reluctantly yielded to a stern necessity,
and allowed only enough of concession to be wrung from her, to
secure the grounding of arms. And on the other hand, success,
victory, had been won by a last, and almost desperate eflbrt, — the
wearied colonies gladly embracing an opportunity to rest. Thus
conditioned, the terms of peace were illy defined, and left open
questions, to irritate and furnish grounds for a renewal of hostilities.

PHELPS AND GORHAm's PURCHASE.

285

British armies re-crossed tlie ocean, and British navies left our
coasts, but British resentment was still rife. In the palace at
Windsor, England's King was mourning with almost the weakness
of childhood, or dotage, over his lost colonies ; yielding to the
sacrifice with a bad grace, and in the absence of any kinglv digni-
ty. Rich jewels had dropped from his crown, and he refused to be
reconciled to their loss ; and his ministers, with more of philosophy,
but little less of chagrin and discomfiture, in peace negotiations,
seem almost to have made mental reservations, that contemplated
a renewal of the contest. The homely adage, "like master like
man," was never better illustrated, than it was in the persons and
official acts of those who came out as government officers and
agents, to look to the little that was saved to England, after the
wreck of the Revolution. But one spirit, and one feeling pervaded
in the home and colonial governments. It was that the treaty had
been an act of present necesr<ity, that had not contemplated an
ultimate sacrifice of such magnitude as was the final loss of the
Ainerican colonies. The statesmen of England, were not unmind-
ful that the site of an Empire lay spread out around our western
lakes and rivers, and in all of what is now western New York, over
which the Indians held absolute and undisputed sovereignty. Those
Indians were their allies, ready to take the tomahawk from its belt,
. and the knife from its sheath at their bidding.

The first, and principal hope and reliance of England, touching
the reversion of her lost empire, was that the experiment of free
government would be a failure. Astonished that resistance to their
rule had been attempted by a few feeble colonics, and more aston-
ished that it had been successful — almost prepared to believe in
the decrees of fate, or the enactment of miracles — they were yet
unprepared to believe that discordant materials could be so blended
together as to insure a permanent separation; that here in the
backwoods of America, statesmen would be created by exigency,
with a firmness, an intuitive wisdom, to mould together a perma-
nent confederacy, that would be the wonder of the old world ; a
political phenomena — and thus secure all that had been so dearly
won. After the close of the Revolution, every movement upon
this side of the water, was watched with intense anxiety. Unpro-
pitious as were the first few years of the experiment, the events in
creased their confidence. The difficulties growing out of disputed

286

PIIELPS AND OORHAM's PUKCKASE.

boundaries between the States; the Shay rebellion in Massachu-
setts ; the internal commotions in Pennsylvania ; and finally the
discordant views of those who came together to form a Union, and
a permanent government ; all helped to increase their hopes, that
divided and distracted, the colonies would either fall back into their
embraces, or be an easy conquest when they chose to renew (he
war.

In the final success in the formation of a confederacy of States,
— the Union — the interested croakers lost some confidence in their
predictions, but they still hoped for the worst. If they admitted
for a moment that there might be a confederacy of eastern States,
they thought they saw enough of the elements of trouble in geo-
graphical divisions, in conflicting interests of soils and climate ; in a
curse they had entailed upon the colonies in the form of African
slavery, to insure the failure of the experiment to embrace the
whole in one political fabric.

Disappointed in their earliest hopes, they fell back upon another
reliance ; that by means of a continued alliance with the Six Na-
tions, and with the western Indians, they should be enabled to re-
tain all of what had been French Canada ; western New York, the
Tallies of the western lakes and the Mississippi. With this end in
view, by means of pretences so flimsy, that they never rose to the
dignity of being sufficiently defined to be understood, they disre-
garded the plainest stipulations of the treaty of 1783, withheld the
posts upon Lake Ontario and the western lakes, and steadily pur-
sued the policy of commercial outrages and annoyances, dogo-ed
and irritating diplomacy, and bringing to bear upon the Indians an
influence that was intended to embarrass all our negotiations with
them, and ultimately to make them allies in a renewed contest for
dominion over them and their territory.

The settlement of the Genesee country, commenced under the
untoward circumstances of a continued British occupancy ; the
native owners of the soil, but illy reconciled to the treaties of ce?-
sions, and thus in a condition to be easily incited to mischief; while
off upon the borders of the western lakes, were numerous nations
and tribes ready to join them, to redress their fancied wrongs, at
the instigation of the malign influences that lingered among them.
For six years after feeble settlements were scattered in backwood's
localities, the British retained Fort Oswego and Niagara, and the

PHELPS AND GORHAJU'S PURCHASE.

287

western posts ; no American commerce was allowed on Lake Onta-
rio, or if allowed, it was a mere sufferance, attended with all the
annoyance and insolence of an armed police ai the two important
points, OswefTo and Niagara.

In the person of Lord Dorchester, the Gov. General of Canada,
was an implacable enemy of the disenthralled colonies, an embodi-
ment and fit representative of the spirit that ruled his home gov-
ernment, and his deputy. General Simcoe, the Lieutenant Governor
of the Upper Trovince, located at Niagara, was well fitted to take
the lead in that then retreat of mischief makers and irreconciled
refugees. Sir John Johnstone, after his retreat from the Mohawk,
had continued to reside at Montreal, and after the war, retained a
large share of the influence he had inherited, over the Six Nations.
He may well be supposed to have had no very kind feelings toward his
old neighbors. He was in fact the ready helper in the persevering
attempts that were made to keep the Indians irreconciled and trouble-
some. The position of Joseph Brant was equivocal ; keen scrutiny
and watchfulness, failed to determine what were his real inclina-
tions. Even his partial biographer, has left his conduct in the crisis
we are considering, an enigma. At times he would seem to have
been for peace; in his correspondence with Messrs. Kirkland,
Phelps, Thomas Morris, General Chapin, and with the Secretary
of War, General Knox, there were professions of peaceful inclina-
tions ; while at the same period, he would be heard of in war coun-
cils of the western Indians, stirring up with a potent influence, side
by side with his British allies, their worst passions ; or organizing

NoTK — As late as the Rummer of 1795, even after theJaytreaty and Wayne's treaty
of Grenville Col. Simcoe was irreconciled, and to all appearances loukmg forward to
a renewal of the contest between Great Britain and her lost colonies, or btates a.s they
had then become. The Didce Liancourt, was then his guest, at Niagara, who says ot
l,i,n • _ "War seems to be the object of his leading jKissions ; " he is acquainted witli
the military history of all countries: no hillock catches his eye without exciting in
hLs mind tl've idea of a foit, whicli miglit be constructed on the spot, and witli the
construction of this fort he assiciates the plan of operati.ms f.ir a campaign especially
of that wliioh is to lead him t(, Philadeliihia." At tlie Indian village ot luscarora,
near Lcwiston, where tlie Dukj accompanied him, he told the Indians <hat the Yan-
kees were brooding over some evil (U'signs against them ; that they had no other object
in view but to rob them of tlieir lands ; and that their good father, king George, was
tlie true friend of their nation. Ho also repented, that the maize thief, li.i.. diy
I'ickeiin.' was a rogue and a liar." When the governor and the Duke were on their
way to fuRcarora, they met an American family on their way to Canada. On leani-
ii,/ their destination, the Governor said to them : —"Aye, aye, you are tired of the
F.'^deral government ; vou like not any longer to have so many kings ; you wish again
for your old father, come along and I will give you lands."

'JSS

PHELPS AND G0PJIA5I S PURCnASE.

arrne<l band, of Canada Indian, as allies of the western confcde.
ates. led Jacket was a backwoods Talleyrand, and Cornplanter
an unschooled Metternich. '"l^'amer,

and l!im''',!? ^TJ' ^'''""^''^'^'S-rn in affluence, richly pensioned,
a^^d lumself and fam.ly connections richly endowed wifh lands bJ
the king repaid the bounties of his sovereign with all the zoal that
?ert , rT'i-" " ''"'' ^y^«^«"^Ji"gthe views of Lord Dorches-
he W, f TT"- - ^' ^^"P«'-'"t^"dent of Indian affairs he had
me.!n "^^^^^'"S«'^t«^« '"^"^« atNiaga^-a. and dispensed his
piesents profusely among the Indians, telling them that the "king,

e 1'" Th ' r^'r^" "^"^ '''''' ^^^^''^- «Sain, against the
rebels. 1 he early settlers of the Genesee country, saw on more
than one occasion, the Indians in possession of n;w broadcloths,
blanlcets and silver ornaments, that came from the king's store house,
he fearful purport of which they well understood. Some of the
nfluences and agencies that have been named, had assisted in land
treaties, but ,t had been for pay, and with the hope ultimately of the
partition of New York, and the non-fulfilment of the treaty stipu-
lation for the surrender^ of its western territory. Lin-erL vet
upon the Genesee river, and in several other localities, uere Refu-
gees from the Mohawk, with feelings rankling in their bo.oms akin

ParadiL '"°'^' "^'"' '^'^ ^""^ ^'''' ^^^^'^» '^' ^^

Added to all thes« elements of trouble, was an irreconciled feel-
ing against the Indians, on the part of those who had been border
settlers upon the Mohawk and the Susquehannah, and could not so
soon foi-get their horrid barbarities. In the absence of courts and
any efficient civil police, this feeling would occasionally break out
in outrages, and on several occasions resulted in the murder of In-
dians; It required all the wisdom of the general and State govern-
ments and their local agents to prevent retaliation upon the Scatter-
ed settlements of the Pioneers.

While a storm was gathering at the west, and the Senecas, un-
der the influences that have been named, were half inclined to act
in concert with hostile nations in that quarter, the murder of two
benecas, by whites, occurred on Pine creek, in Pennsylvania It
highly exasperated the Senecas, and they made an immediate de-
mand upon the Governor of Penn..ylvania for redress. It was in
the lorm of a message, signed by Little Beard, Red Jacket, Gisse-

riIELP3 AND GORIIAm's rUItCHASE.

289

hakio, Caunhesongo, rliiefs and warriors of the Seneca nation, and
dated at "Genesco River Flats," August 1790. After saying they
are glad that a reward of eight hundred dollars has been olfered for
the murderers, they add: — "Brothers the two men you have killed
were very great men, and were of the great Turtle tribe ; one of
them was a chief, and the other was to be put in the great king
Garoughta's place, who is dead also. Brothers, you must not think
hard of us if we speak rash, as it comes from a wounded heart, as
you have struck the hatchet in our head, and we can't be reconciled
until you come and pull it out. "We are sorry to tell you, you have
killed eleven of us since peace." " And now we take you by the
hand and lead you to the Painted Post, as far as your canoes can
come up the creek, where you will meet the whole tribe of the de-
ceased, and all the chiefs and a number of warriors of our nation,
where we expect you will wash away the blood of your brothers,
and bury the hatciiet, and put it out of memory, as it is yet sticking
in our heads.

Mr. Pickering, who was then residing at Wyoming, was either
sent by the Governor of Pennsylvania, or the Secretary of War to
hold the proposed treaty, at Tioga Point, on the ICth day of No-
vember. He met there. Red Jacket, Farmer's Brother, Col. Butler,
Little Billy, Fish Carrier, and other chiefs of the Six Nations, and
the Chippewa and Stockbridge Indians. They came to the coun-
cil much enraged, and a speech of Red Jacket was well calculated
to increase their resentments. The black cloud that hung over
their deliberations for days, was finally driven away by the pmdent
course of Col. Pickering, and the war spirit that was kinJled in
many a savage bosom, finally quelled. This was the first time that
the Six Nations were met in council by the general governmen^
after the adoption of the constitution. Col. Pickering informed
them that the Thirteen Fires was now but one Fire, tha^t they were
now all under the care of the great chief, General Washington, who
would redress their wrongs, and correct any abuses the whites had

NoTE.--MoiK),v atul presents of Roods, it is presumed, were the prineiral agents of
tx.,u.ihati..n. Ti.e wily chicft who deniandod the conncil, while they ussuined that

recoiu

,, • - •',,,,, " "" ",i'""""^»-u uiu council, wnue uiey assumed that

hen- young wanT:„rK,ouldh,u-dly be restrained from t^ikin;. nummary v^nseanco upon
hu ^ylutes, intimated what tl>ev wore expoctinR ; and they especially requested t^,a°
AeG..vernor should send to t fie council "all the property of the tmirderers" .->"]
would" be a gi-eat satisfaction to the families of the deceLd.-' The resu t of ll o

rf"frl' ul '{'ir't " . '° '"' ' ?•"'■'', ?'"'^ " co,npro,niMn.r of Uie murdei-s, and professions
ot Iriendship, tliat were destined to remain equivocal "''""a

290

rilELPS AND GOKUAJi's PUKCIIASE.

practiced upon them ; and that especially traders among them
would be prohibit'^d from selling sjiirituous liquors. To all this
Red Jacket and Farmer's Brother made replies, expressing much
gratification that the "great chief of the Thirteen Fires, hi>d opened
his mauth to them." They made formal complaints of the manner
in which their lands had been obtained from them» to which Col.
Pickering replied, that their lands were their own to dispose of as
they pleased, that the United States would only see that no frauds
were practiced in the land treaties.

The Six Nations called their councils with the whites, measures
for "brightening the chain of friendship, "and never did chains get
rusty so quick after brightening as they did along during this critical
period. One treaty or council was hardly over before another was
demanded by one party or the other. In the spring of 171)1, when
the Little Turtle as the successor of Pontiac — at i leader, almost
his equal — had perfected an alliance of the principal western na-
tions against the United States; when expedients for reconciliation
with them had been exhausted, and General Ilarmar was about tu
march against them ; it was deemed of the utmost importance to
confirm the wavering purposes of the Six Nations, and divert them
from an alliance with the legions that threatened to break up the
border settlements west of the Ohio, and if successful there, to in-
volve the new settlements of the Genesee country in the contest for
dominion. For this purpose, Colonel Pickering was again commis-
sioned by the Secretary of War to hold ■ treaty. It was held at
Newtown, (now Elmira,) in the month of June. With a good deal
of difficulty, a pretty general attendance of the Indians was secured.
Fortunately Col. Proctor who had turned back in a peace embassy
to the western nations, in consequence of intimations which induced
a conclusion that it would not only be fruitless but dangerous, had
spent some weeks among the Sjnecas at Buffalo, and his visit had
been favorable to the drawing off of the chiefs and warriors from
Canada influence and western alliance, in the direction of Colonel
Pickering and his treat} ground.

The treaty was mainly successful. With all the bad inclinations
of the Set.3cas at this period, and bad influences that was bearing
upon them, there was a strong conservative influence which had a
powerful auxiliary in the, "Governesses, " or influential women.*

* The very coiiiiuuu imbues -luii iJiut the women L;ul no iiitlueiice ia tlie u. ucils of

PHELPS AND GCRIIAMS PURCUASE.

291

The principal speakers were, Red Jacket and Farmer's Brother.
Thomas Morris was present at this treaty ;* the autlior extracts tro#
his manuscripts, spoken of in the prcl'acc to this work; — "Red
Jacket was I suppose, at that time, about 30 or 35 years of age, of
middle height, well formed, with an intelligent countenance, and a
fine eye ; and was in all respects a fine looking man. He was the
most "graceful public speaker I have ever known ; his manner was
most dignified and easy. He was lluent, and at times witty and sar-
castic. "" He was quick and ready at reply. He pitted himself against
Col. Pickering, whom he sometimes foiled in argument. The
Colonel would sometimes become irritoted and lose his temper ; then
Red Jacket would be delighted and shew his dexterity in taking
advantage of any unguarded assertion of the Colonel's. He felt a
conscious pride in the conviction that nature had done more for
him than for his antagonist. A year or two after this treaty, when
Col. Pickering from Post Master General became Secretary of War,
I informed Red Jacket of his promotion. ' Ah, ' said he, ' we began
our public career about the same time ; he knew how to read and
write, I did not, and he has got ahead of me ; but if I had known
how to read and write I should have got ahead of him.' "

The name of an early Pioneer has already been incidentally men-
tioned, who became prominently blended in all the relations of the
general government, and consequently in all the relations of this
local region, with our Indian predecessors. General Israel Chapin
was from Hatfield, Massachusetts. He was commissioned as a Cap-
tain in the earliest military organizations of Massachusetts, after
the commencement of the Revolution, and was in the campaign
against Quebec ; soon after which he was advanced to the rank of
Colonel, and at the close of the Revolution, he had attained to the

tliG Six Nations — tliiu their whole sex was regarded as mere drudges — is refuted by
tlio recorded facts, that in treaties with Gov. George Clinton, and iu the treaty at " Big
Trei'," they turned the scale iu councils.

* Mr. Morris, then just from his law studies, withayounger brother, set out from Phil-
adelphia, and coining via Wilkwharre and what was called " Sullivan's path, " attended
the treaty, visitoil tlie Falls of Niagara, and returning, made up his miud to fix his res-
idence at Canandaigua. »^See sketches of early times at Cauandaigua, and see also
Boiue further reniiniscences of Mr. Morris in connection with tlie treaty at NewtowD,
Appendix No. 12.

Note.— Among the Revolutionary papers of General Chapin, are many interesting
relics. Ei)hraim Patch, a soldier of liis company, charges in his memorandum, for
" one pair of bult'ed trowsers, one pewter basin, one pair ahoes, ouu tomahawk and

292

PIIELPS AND GORHAm's PURCHASE.

rank of Brij^adier General. In addition to his services in the field
ftfc was occasionally a sub contractor, or agent of Oliver Phelps in
procuring army supplies. Upon one occasion, as the author o' • erves
by his correspondence, he was requested by Mr. Phelps to obtain a
fine yoke of fat cattle for Gen. Washington's table." Gen Chapin
was in active military service during the Shay rebellion : [D" See
''general orders,' transmitted to him by Major General Shepherd
Appendix, No. 13. After the close of the Revolution, he was a
prominent managing member of an association, organized for the
purpose of dealing in wild lands in Vermont. He was one of the
origmal associates with Mr. Phelps, in the purchase of the Genesee
country, and was chosen to come out and explore it in 1789 which
resulted m his removal with his family to Canandaigua. in 1790

Soon after the organization of the general government, the Sec-
retary of War, General Knox, saw the necessity of a local a^ent
among the Six Nations, and the well earned reputation of General
Chapin, in the Revolution, and in the important civil crisis thai fol-
lowed after it in Massachusetts, fortunately for the region with
which he had become identified, pointed him out as a safe de
pository of the important trust. From his earliest residence in the
country, he had been entrusted with commissions, in connection
with Indian relations, by Gen. Knox and Col. Pickerin y. Soon after
the treaty at Newtown, he was appointed to the office of Deputy
Superintendent of the Six Nations, though the duties of his office
ultimately, in many instances, embraced the whole northern de-
partment.

The letter of appointment from Gen. Knox, enjoined upon him
the impressing upon the Indians, that it was the " firm determination
of the President that the utmost fairness and kindness should be
exhibited to the Indian tribes bv the Uniteri States " Tint it was
« not only his desire to be at peace with all the Indian tribes, but 'to
be their guardian and protector, against all injustice." He was
informed by the Secretary, that Joseph Brant had promised a visit
to the seat of government, and instructed either to accompany him
"or otherwise provide for his journey in a manner perfectly a^ree'
able to him." *=

bell, onobiiyoiiGt. 111(1 bolt, lost by moil. UiJ^at from Qiioboc, MiiTcTnipri^r
athat. ClMrkohiirgos t.;it ho was equally lu.fortunato in the h.xstv ( i^^h ]JZl

PHELPS AND QOEIIAm's PUECIIASE.

293

This attempt to get Brant to Philadelphia, together with a large
representation of other chiefs and warriors of the Six Nations, and
others not actually merged with the hostile Indians of the west, had
been commenced in the previous winter. It succeeded very well,
with the exception of Brant ; a large Seneca delegation, with a few
Cnondagas and Oneida?, nearly forty in all, were conducted to Phil-
adelphia, across the country, via Wilkesbarre, by Horatio Jones
and Joseph Smith. It was upon this occasion that the Indian chief,
Big Tree, was a victim to the excessive hospital'ty that was extended
to the deJegation, at the seat of government, dying there from the
effects of surfeit. British hospitality and liberality was outdone ;
President Washington won the esteem and confidence of the Indi-
ans, and they departed with promises of continued frlend.ship, and
that they would undertake a friendly mission to the hostile Indians
of the west.

Brant w-is invited to the conference by the Rev. Mr. Kirkland
and Col. Pickering, but he stood out somewhat upon his dignity,
and intimated that if he went, it was to be in a manner more con-
sistent with his character and position, than would be a journey
through the country, with a drove of Indians, under the lead of in-
terpreters. This being communicated to Gen. Knox, he took the
hint, and thence his instructions to Gen. Chapin. Apprehensive,
too, that Brant wanted the invitation to come directly from the seat
of government, he addressed him an official letter, respectful and
conciliatory, appealing to him upon the score of humanity, to lend
his great influence toward reconciling the existing Indian difficul-
ties, preventing tlie further shedding of biood, and to assist the
government in devising measures for bettering the condition of his
race. This drew from the chief an answer that he would start for
Philadelphia in about thirty days, and in the meantime would con-
suit the western nations, and be enabled to speak by authority from
thorn. No statesman of the new or old world, ever penned a more
guarded, non-committal answer in diplomacy, than was this from
the retired chief, in the backwoods of Canada.

The letter to the Secretary of War, was sent to Mr Kirkland,
at Oneida, and forwarded by him by the hands of Dr. Deodat Al-
len, to the care of Col. Gordon, the British commanding officer at
Fort Niagara, with a request to have it sent hy private express to
Captain Brant, at Grand River. This manner of forwarding- the

294

PIIELP8 AND GORHAm's PURCHASE.

etter proved unfortunate. Dr. Allen, knowing its contents dosijrned.
ly or imprudently communicated them to Col. Gordon, who acsompa-
nied U with suggestions well calculated to promote an unfavorable
answer. He also informed Captain Chew,* a deputy Indian
agent under Sir John Johnstone, residing at Niagara, of the
contents of the letter, who brought ail his influence to bear upon
Brant, to prevent the journey.

As the time of departure drew near, Gen. Chapin had Brant at-
tended from the Grand River to Canandaigua, and from there,
via Albany and New York to Philadelphia. The chief was at-
tended by Israel Chapin, jr., Dr. Allen, Samuel Street, a servant of
his own, and another provided for the party by Gen. Chapin. It
was Brant's first appearance in the Valley of the Mohawk after
his flight from there, and well knowing that upon his journey he
must often encounter those of his old neighbors against whom he had
carried on a sanguinary warfare, he feared retribution, and onlv
proceeded upon the pledges of Gen. Chapin that no insult or indi.-
nity should be offered him. It was only upon one occasion that fears
were entertained fof his safety on the route by his attendants, who
enabled him to avoid the threatened danger. Arrived at New
York, it would seem the whole party, about to appear at court — or
rather, at the seat of government — doffed their backwoods ward-
robe, and patronized a fashionable tailor. Pretty round bills were
presented to Gen. Chapin for payment ; that for a full suit for Brant
would show that he at least did not appear in any less mean attire
than was befitting an ambassador.

The result of this visit of Brant to the seat of government, in
detail, is already incorporated in history. Although in a measm-e
satisfactory and productive of good, his position was by no means
fixed, or changed by it. In the midst of feasting and civilities, the
recipient of presents and flatteries, he was reserved and guarded •
put on an air of mystery ; so much so. that Gen. Knox in a letter
to Gen. Chapin, expresses fears that some thing was said or done at

of rS^'!.S7.^'''^r7f,°^?'''.^^''^"'" '^^"'■•'' ^ h,-ilf blood T„8carora, the dm,f.hter
piodsiit ot luHoaroia, a woman wlio is wtOl remenibm-.l by the I'ioiu'crs of tint ro-
^ b..n l"° ?'''"• ""^, \^"''} J"''*?" *" =^"^''' •"""-'•''• tolcf tla. autl, r th: t .so wag
! I nf r I'r •'^""'''" •^'^ ?^ "^'^ ^*'^'"' "i'-- fi™t ^■•'P""^^! Wia will, a ('., t .i^, J.;t-

PHELPS AND GOEHAm's PURCHASE.

295

designetl-
acsompa-
ifavorable
ty Indian
a, of the
)ear upon

Brant at-
3m there,
f was at-
prvant of
apin. It
iwk after
)urney he
)m he had
and only

or indig-
that fears
nts, who

at New
mrt — or
is ward-
ills were
or Brant,
an attire

iment, in
measure

means
ities, the
juarded ;

1 a letter
done at

> diiiif^hter

)f that ro-
t tiliu wag
ijitain Ki-
ll! nfttiyes

Philadelphia that had displeased him. The truth was, that he had
a difficult part to perform: — In the first place, he was sincerely
tired of war, and wanted peace ; but he was bound to the British
interests by gratitude, by present and prospective interests ; exist-
ing upon their bounty, and apprehensive that his large landed pos-
sessions were held by the tenure of a continued loyalty. He knew
that every step he took, and every word he uttered in favor of the
United States, or peace, would be used against him, not only to
weaken his influence with the British, but also with what he proba-
bly valued still higher, his influence with his own race. Gen. Knox
drew from him a promise that he would visit the western nations ;
but the promise was attended with conditions and mental reserva-
tions, which were calculated to render the mission of little avail.

There followed this movement, a series of fruitless embassies to
the hostile Indians, a protracted period of alarm and apprehension. •
Repeated conferences and councils were held by Gen. Chapm with
the Six Nations, mostly with the Senecas, as they were most m-
clined to be allies of the western Indian confederacy. Hendricks,
aStockbridge chief, Red Jacket, and Cornplanter, were successively
sent on missions to the west, under the auspices of Gen. Chapin ;
but neither they, nor white ambassadors, succeeded in gettmg any
overture better than the ultimatum that the Ohio should be the
boundary line of respective dominion.

There was a long period of dismay and alarm, in which the new
settlers of the Genesee country deeply and painfully participated ;
evei<y movement in the west was regarded with anxiety ; and the
Senecas in their midst, were watched with jealousy and distrust.
In addition to the fruitless missions from this quarter, others were
undertaken from the seat of government, and our military posts
upon the Allegany, equally abortive; in two instances, peace am-
bassadors were treacherously murdered before reaching treaty
grounds. The hindrances to peace negotiations with the Indians,
were vastly augmented by British interference. Not content with
encouraging the Indians to hold out, and actually supplying them
with the°means of carrying on the war, on one occasion, they refused
to let a peace embassy proceed by water via Oswego and Niagara ;
and on another occasion, with a military police, prevented commis-
sioners of the United States from proceeding to their destination,
a treaty ground. And these were the acts of a nation with whom

*•

296

PnELPS AND GORIIAM's PtJRCnASE.

if '

1^ (

we had just rnade a treaty of peace ; a nation who, in a recent
co.on.al cnsKs of their own, demanded the most stringent observance
of the duties of neutral nations. They set up the specious and
false pretence, that the supplying the Indians with the mea.^s of
warnng upon us, was the work of individuals, for which the .^ov-
rnent was not accountable. In the case of the Navy Island war.
they insisted that our government should be responsible for individ-
til ucts.

The office of Gen. Chapin, it may well be concluded, was no sin-
ecure. At the head of the war department was a faithful public
officer, ond he required promptness and energy from all his subor-
dinates. Upon Gen. Chapin, devolved the procuring of embassa-
dors to the host.le Indians, fitting out them and their retinues, and
^ holding council after council to keep the faces of the Six Nations
turned from the west. In these troublesome times, the gov ernment
was of course liberal with the Senecas, and Gen. Chapin was its al-
moner. They, shrewd enough to understand the value of their con-
tinned friendship to the United States at that critical period, were
rnos of them sturdy beggars. Often they would propose counci
with the ulterior motive of a feast and carousal and a "staff"* to
support them on their return to then- villages. At his home in Can-
andaigua he was obliged to hold almost perpetual ar.dience with self
constituted delegations who would profess that thev were decided
conservat.ves and peace makers, as long as he disp;nsed his bread,
rneat and whiskey Ireely. Lingering sometimes quite too long to
be agreeable or essential to the purposes of diplomacv, he would fit
hem out with a iberal "staff" and persuade the squaws to uo back

ZtrmBe 'fr' '^'""^^ their hunting camp; in the
toiest. Ml. Berry at Canavvagus, and Winney, the then almost

«f thoso ,H,fo„ve,.sanf, wiU v .J J ? ' f 1 " '".^"^tio.u.d, for the information

Hllof Ihoir couiitiT tl.ey had rod , to h.'. 1 i 1 ^'i" ^''""'' T'"-"''' ^^'"•^ f" ■•.oover

.•m the t.o,UKlarvlino, u, 1^, tl iV v w III . "''f T'"^' '■'■^'^'^■'' "P"" "''' «'""
Tlio oxpoditions of St M ir d ¥,;„r w . ''f ''' '■"';' ""'■'""■■'g'".! ^v the British.
runishiiH' tliu Indians for }.i., )',• ' ''■"■ ''."'"'•'^^'"^' P'-^vioud trealias a„d

ceded terriloiy. " Jq.redations coM.mUtcd ,.ponti>os. wlio had settled on

a miioniS " tIcSJ'u^ ?f "^.^'■'t^'y t" ^^-^^h they ^ave this «an,o. What

PHELPS AND GORHAM's PURCHASE.

29t

solitary resident upon the present site of BufTalo, were Indian
traders, and acted as local sub-agents, the two first named es-
pecially. Upon the General's orders, and sometimes at their own
discretion, they would dispense meats and drinks, and formidable
accounts thereof would be presented. Winney occupying an im-
portant position with reference to Indian relations, kept the General
apprised of all that was going on in that quarter. The United
States having passed a stringent law prohibiting whol'y the selling
of liquor to the Indians and trading among them without license, an
onerous task was imposed ujjod the superintendent to prevent its
infraction. School masters, missionaries and blacksmiths, among the
Indians had to be cared for, and their various wants supplied. In
all difTiculties that arose between the white settlers and the Indians,
the superintendent was usually called upon to be the arbitrator. If
the Indians stole fiom the white settlers, complaints were made to the
superihtendant and it seemed to have been a matter of inference
that his office imposed upon him the duty of seeing all .such wrongs
redressed. It will surprise those who ars not conversant with the
scale of economy upon which our national affairs commenced, that
the pay for all this, which was attended with large disbursement of
public money, for which the most rigid accountability was deman-
ded, was but five hundred dollars per annum.

The season of 1794 opened with gloomy prospects; — Negotia-
tions with the western Indians had signally failed ; one army had
been routed, and another defeated ; Indian murders of border settlers
at the west continued ; a war with England was not improbable ;*
and among the fearfully anticipated results in this region, was a
renewal of the border wars, with the active participation of the
legions of savage warriors at the west, added to increase its hor-

NoTE. — The fdllowin;; is ri spocimen of Mr. Wiimcy's coiTespondoiicc. Prince Ed-
ward wiw tlio afterwards Duko of Kent, tlie lather of the present Queen of England,
lie had then a commission in the British army : —

lii FFAi.o Creek, c 23d Aug., 1792.

"I inform General Chapin that :ihont 70 of the Cauiida Lidians is gone to Detroit,
they seem to be for Warr and a number of Indians more are expected to go uj), I fmlhir
inform you that the Indians of this place arc to go up in the iir.st Kings vessel tha
comes di)wn. Prince Edward i.s amved at niagara should I hear anything worth while
10 writo I Bhall let you know. I am your most obedient rnd very humble servant.
■' C. WiNNEY.

* The reader is reminded that a war botwoon England and France had commenced
Entrl.iiid had nrostratxMl American commerce by her arbitrary orders in council; and
impressment of American seamen, (of itself a ButHcicut cause of war,) was going on.
19

298

PHELPS AND aORHAJl's PURCHASE.

rors. In the month of February, Lord Dorchester had returned
from England, and meeting a deputation from the western Indians,
had delivered to them an inflammatory speech, asserting among
o her thing., tnat he should regard as invalid, any acquisition of the
l/n.tejl States, of Indian lands since the peace of 1783. [Appen-
dix i\o. 14.J This of course included all of the Genesee country
I-ollowing up the hostile demonstration, Gov. Simcoe, early in April
with a body of troops had proceeded 'o the west, and erected a
Fort, at the foot of the Rapids of the Miami, far within the boun-
danes of the United States, as acknowlcged in the treatv of 1783
Although General Chapin, as many of the old Pionee"rs well re-
member, endeavored to quiet alarm, and prevent the desertion of
the country, he was far from feeling all the security and freedom from
apprehension of danger, that he with good motives professed All
eyes were turned to him; from all the backwoods settlement.s, mes-
sengers would go to Canandaigua, to learn from him all that was
going on -to consult him as to anticipated danger: -if he had
shown misgivings, or favored alarm, a desertion of the country would
have ensued, the necessity of which he was laboring to obviate
During the previous winter he had been to Philadelphia, and deliv-
ered to the President a message from a council of the Six Nations
and brought back an answer. In February he had convened a coun-
cil at Buflalo and delivered it. It had proved satisfactory except in
one particular -it had foiled to give an explicit answer upon the
vexed question of the disputed western boundary. He however
distributed presents among them -of which was a large supply of
warm vyinter clothing -and left them with renewed professions of
peaceful intentions.* In April he wrote to the Secretary of War that
he had entertained confidence that the Six Nations intended to hold a
council with the U. States, in order to bring " about a general peace,"
but that he feared that the '-inflammatory speech of Lord Dorches-
ter (which had been interpreted to the Indians at Bufllvlo Creek
by Col. Butler.) "with what passed between the British and Indi-
^ins on that occasion, had changed their intentions." "Captain
Bomberry attended the council in behalf of the British government
and took pains on all occasions to inform the Indians that war betweeii

* At diis period the Senecas wore almost wholly clothed and fed tiv I.;,,, t^
the only poUoy w,nch could provout the,, ft.. r^Lrti^.t ^^^^^ iJ^::^

PHELPS AND GOmiAMS PURCHASE.

299

their government and ours, was inevitable. When I was at Buf-
falo Creek, Gov. Simcoe had gone to Detroit. He started for that
place immediately on receiving Lord Dorchester's speech to the
Indians." " The expenses of the Indians increase with the im-
portance they suppose their friendship to be to us ; hov»rever, you
may be persuaded that I endeavor to make use of all the economy I
can." The letter closes as follows : — " This part of the country, be-
ing the frontier of the State of New York, is very much alaimed at the
present appearance of war. Destitute of arms and ammunition, the
scattered inhabitants of this remote wilderness would fall an easy prey
to their savage neighbors, should they think proper to attack them."

On the 5th ot May, General Chapin informed the Secretary, that
the British had commenced the erection of a Fort at Sandusky.
" If," says he, " it is consistent with the views of the United States,
to put any part of this country in a state of defence, this part of
it calls aloud for it as much as any. We are totally unprovided
with arms and ammunition, and our enemy is within a few miles
of us. If 12 or 1500 stand of arms could be spared from the arse-
nals of the United States, to the inhabitants of this frontier, together
with some ammunition, it would contribute much to their security."*

The apprehension of danger extended over all the region west
of Utica. In the small settlements that had been commenced in
Onondaga, it had been enhanced by an unfortunate local occurrence:
Early in the spring. Sir John .Johnson, through an agent, had at-
tempted to take from Albany to Canada, a boat load of groceries
and fruit trees. A party of men waylaid the boat at Three River
Point, and plundered the entire cargo. It was a lawless attempt of
individuals to take the power into their own hands, and redress na-
tional wrongs ; gratify an ill feeling against Johnson, and retaliate
for British offences upon the Ocean, and the annoyances of Ameri-
can Lake commerce at Oswego. An invading force from Canada
to land at Oswego, and march upon the settlements in Onondaga,
was threatened and anticipated. Rumors came that Johnson and
Brant were organizing for that purpose.

In refirence to the whole complexion of things at the west, and
in Canada, the legislature of New York had resolved upon erecting
fortifications upon the western borders, and had appropriated

• Some f.rras and aitinuniitioii were shortly afterwards sent to Gen. Chapiu, either
by the general or stato government.

300

PHELPS AND QORHAm's PURCHASE.

£12,000 for that purpose. Tlie commissioners under the act, were
Generals Stephen Van Rensselaer and William North, Adjt. Gen,
David Van Home and Baron Steuben, who was then a resident
ot Oneida county. Soon after their appointment, they had enlisted
the co-operation of General Chapin, Charles Williamson and Robert
I orris, as to the location of the defences. Although Baron
^ \ben came west, and corresponded wit>- he last named gentle-
n reference to the matter, the author can not learn that any
vas finally consummated west of Onondaga. Before any
uld have been matured, the clouds of war had began to dis-
1 the hour of alarm, the State commissioners came west
rr.i- ^s Salt Point, and ordered the erection of a block house,
%hich was soon completed. The Baron mustered together the
backwoodsmen of Onondaga, officered and inspected them; a
committee of public safety was organized. Before the block house
was completed and garrisoned, on several occasions, the inhabitants
fled to the woods with their most valuable effects. At this time,
there was an unusual number of Indians at the British posts of Os-'
wego and Niagara ; it was inferred that they were only waiting for
Wayne's defeat at the west, as a signal for a movement in this
quarter.

^ A new element of trouble was interposed to embarrass the rela-
tions of the Six Nations with the United States. Cornplanter,
with a few other chiefs, had sold to the State of Pennsylvania a
district of country along on the south shore of Lake Erie, which
included Presque Isle. The act was strongly remonstrated against,
and Pennsylvania was early informed that it had not the sanction
of competent authority, and would be regarded by the Indians as a
nullity ; but at a critical period, the authorities of Pennsylvania
very inddiscreetly commenced an armed occupancy and surveys.
This threatened to undo all that had been done by General Chapin

^0TE. — The author of tJio oxcollont History of Onoiulaga.from which a portion of
the account of movoinents in thiit (]uaitcr are derived, savs : — "Frederick William
Auffustimharon do Steuben, once an aid-de-canip to Frederick the Creat, Kin- of
I ruHsia, Qiiarterniaster (teneral, Chevalier of the Order of INIerit, (iiand Master of the
Court of Hohenzollen, Colonel in the Circle of Suabia, Knight of the Order of l-'ideli-
ty, (-oinniander-)n-ehief of the armies of tlio Prince of Jiaden, MnU>v General of the
armies of the United States, and Inspector General of tlie same— the fortunate
Boldier of hfty battles, an admirer of freedom, the friend of Washintrton, tlio man of
virtue, tideht y and honor— performed his last mililarv service in revie\viii!r a score of
!!!i!tnr,rd, half-elad militia, and in selectiie? a site ibr a blu.'k-hniise f(ir the defeuce of
the Iroutier of New ^'ork, in the county of Onondaga, at Salt I'oint, in 1791."

iiJ

PHELPS AND GORIIAM'S PUKCIIASE.

801

to keep the Six nations quiet. He took the advantage of a visit of
Capt. Williamson to the seat of government, to represent the con-
sequences, and induce the Presitlcnt to interfere and persuade the
authorities of Pennsylvania to abandon the enterprise. In a letter
to the Secretary of War, dated on the 7th of June, he had fore-
shadowed the difficulty that was springing up in a new quarter —
" The Cornplanter, whose steadiness and fidelity has been, until
lately, unshaken, has, I am apprehensive, been induced to join
their interests. He has lately returned fro.n Niagara, loaded with
presents. Shortly after his return to his home, he despatched run-
ners to the different tribes of the Six Nations, requprfting them to
meet in a general council at his castle, to proceed from thence to
Venango ; informing them that an Indian had been killed by our
people, and that it would be necessary for them to inquire into the
circumstances." " I am afraid that the murder of the Indian is not
the real cause of calling this council. The lands at Presque Isle,
were sold to the State of Pennsylvania by Cornplanter, and a small
party, without the consent of the nation. No division of the
money was ever made. The Cornplanter has always denied h;,ving
made the sale, and they have never considered it as a valid one.
The troops sent on by the State of Pennsylvania, prove to the In-
dians that the property is considered by the State as belonging ot
them ; and the Cornplanter, in order to extricate himself from the
unpleasant situation he is placed in, is perhaps desirous of inflaming
the Six Nations against the United States." General Chapin sig-
nified his intention of attending the council at Venango, as he had
been invited, to thwart any mischief that might be engendered
there. He succeeded, however, in changing the council to Buffalo
Creek, to be held thero on the 15th of June.

Cornplanter was present at this council, and the principal speak-
er, lie led off with a speech to be transmitted to the President, in
which he nearly threw off all disguise, and from a conservative, be-
came an ultra ist. He opened smoothly and artfully, however ; ad-
dressing the President through Gen. Chapin, he said: — " Brother,
I have for a long time aimed at the good of both parties. I have
paid you different compliments, as that of brother, and f^^ther, and
now I shall call you friend. We were pleased when we heard that
you war- appointed to have chief command of the T^nited States."
He closed a long speech, and one of a good deal of ability, by join-

302

PHELPS AND GOKIIAm's PTJECHASE.

mg the western Indians in their ultimatum, in reference to making
the Ohio the boundary line ; thus, in fact, nullifying his own acts.
He demanded redress for two of their people killed by the whites ;
and even hud the effrontery to complain of the occupation of
Presque Isle, adding very significantly that it might "occasion
many accidents," and presented the Gen. with ten strings of black
wampum. General ^jhapin made a judiciou.« reply ; and in answer
to a request that Cornplanter had made in behalf of the Six
Nations, for him to go to Prcsfpie Isle, disclaimed any right he had
to interfere with the acts of Pennsylvania; but said he would ac-
cept the invitation, and go there and give his ad /ice.

Accompanied by William Johnson, * two Seneca chiefs and ten
Indians as a guard and as oars-men, General Chnpin left Buffalo
Creek on the 19th of July for Presque Isle, where he arrived on the
24th. Their , 'ow progress had been owing to head winds that
frequently obliged them to camp on shore and await their subsiding.
There were then no Indian or white occupants at Presque Isle. A
company of troops and a corps of surveyors were stationed at Le
Boeuf, on French Creek, IG miles distant, to which place the em-
bassy plodded their way through the woods on foot. A Captain
Denny co:nmanded troops at Le Boeuf, and Mr. Ellicott f was at
the head of the surveyors. The arrival of the ambassador of peace
and his dusky retinue, was honored by the discharge of cannon.
Runners had preceded the party, and on its arrival, a considerable
number of Indians were collected. General Chapin delivered to
Messrs. Denny and Ellicott , a message from the chiefs he had met
at Buffalo Creek, which contained a demand for the suspension of
surveys and a withdrawal of the troops ; a day or two was spent in
makmg speeches, and in friendly intercourse with the Indians. The
council, or interview, terminated in a promise from General Chapin
of a general treaty to settle not only that, but all existing difficul-
ties, and the representatives of Pennsylvania signified a wfilingness
f abide by the result. Before leaving Le Boeuf, General Chapin
despatched a letter to the Secretary of War, in which he said, that

rrli"^'"wl''^'t1'*l^''','r''',"'l'"''-"r'''''*^''" '" ^'^'^ ""tish interests, residing at Duffxlo

hTr^'.tlT ° '"!"'l "^" '■* ""^ P'''-'^''"^ "ty of Buffalo. A coniproniise .'avo

Z £' a But W h" ""■ '"'■'^ " f'r. *='V' ""<! '^ tract of wild land neai- [he citv. ^ He
iw(i iiiun a Uutler Ranger. Ho died in 1807

t Either Jo.scph or Beujainiu JJllicott.

rnELPS AKD goeiiam's pukciiase.

303

" although the minds of the Six Nations are much diatuibed at the
injuries they say they have sustained, they are still opposed to war,
and wish, if possible, to live in peace with the United States.
They are much opposed to the establishing of a garrison at this
place, as they say it will involve them in a war with the hostile
Indiana. * They are likewise much displeased with the having
those lands surveyed, as they say they have not been legally pur-
chased." In this letter, General Chapin earnestly recommended a
general treaty, as the only means which could keep the Six Nations
aloof from the dangerous confederacy at the west.

To the letter of General Chapin, the Secretary answered on the
25th of July, saying: — "Your ideas of a conference are adopted.
It will be held at Canandaigua on the 8th of September. Colonel
Pickering will be the commissioner, to be assisted by you in iW re-
spects. Notify the Six Nations that their father, the Presiti nt of
the United States, is deeply cjncerned to hear of any diss; 'sfac-
tion crusting in their minds against the United States, and there-
fore invites them to a conference, for the purpose of removing all
causes of misunderstanding, and establishing a permanent peace
and friendship between the United States and the Six Nations."

No time was lost by General Chapin in disseminating the invi-
tation among the Indians ; holding " talks " and councils with them,
personally, in their villages. A crisis was at hand ; Gen. Wayne
was marching into the Indian country ; legions of the western and
southern Indians were assembling to give him battle ; unless the
Six Natiins were diverted, there was strong probability that they
would be with them ; and if Gen. Wayne was defeated, there was
the additional fearful probability that an attempt of the confederates
would follow, to address the alleged wrongs of the Six Nations, by
bringing the war to this region. Runners, or messengers, were
despatched to the scat of government ; frequent communications
passed betwen Generals Knox and Chapin, and frequent speeches
came from the President, through GtMieral Knox, to the Six Nations.
On the 30th of July, General Chapin reported progress, and inform-
ed General Knox that the complexion of things at the west looked
discouraging ; that although he entertained hopes of a general at-

* Oblige ihf^m to join the hostile Indians, it is presumed, is the meaning intended
to be conveyed.

304

rm:LPs and oortta^m's ruRciiASE.

tendance at the treaty, he had to stem a strnncT tide of opposition,
principally instigated by the British. "Captain O. Bail does not
feel satisfied respecting his villanous conduct in making sale of the
lands at Presque Isle, which jrivcs general dissatisfaction to the Six
Nations, as they were not informed of his proceedings. The In-
dians' enmity to him, induces him to be more attached to tho
British, as they tolerate every kind of such conduct to disturb the
Indians and bring about their own purposes." In this letter, the
General mentions that the warriors on the Allega.iy had been' per-
suaded that Wayne would march in this direction, and had re-
moved their old men, women, and children, to a new location on
he Cattaraugus Creek, with the ultimate intention, as he thought,
of crossing the Lake to Canada.

In the forepart of September, General Chapin employed William
Ewing, whom the reader will find alluded to in connection with
reminiscences of Pioneer settlement on the Genesee river, to repair
to Buflldo creek and Canada, use his influence in getting the Indi-
ans in that quarter to attend the treaty, and watch and counteract
as far as possible, British interference. A letter from Mr. Ewing
to General Chapin after his return, contains so much of the cotem-
porary history of that period, that the author has inserted it entire
in the Appendix, No. 15.

The most ample provisions were made for the treaty ; while the
Secretary of War would caution against the unnecessary expendi-
ture of public money, he transmitted funds liberally, and ample
stores ^of Indian goods, liquors, tobacco, &c., were purchased in
New York, sent up the Hudson, and started upon the long and tedious
water transit, while at Canandaigua, the local superintendent, laid
in provisions and prei)ared to fulfil a promise to the Indians, that he
would "hang on big kettles." Col. Pickering wrote to General
Chapm to have quarters provided for him where he could entertain
friends ; that he ha.l sent on liquors, provisions, tea and coffee, for
a private establishment.

The Indians gathered tardily. Col. Pickering anticipating this,
di'i not arrive until after the 20th of September. In a letter to the
Secretary, dated on the 17th, Gen. Chapin mentions a rumor, that
Wayne had defeated the Indians. In reference to the treaty he
says : — " Since the Indians were first invited to it, the British have
endeavored if possible to prevent their attendance, and have used

PHELPS AND G0R1IAM8 PUROHASE.

805

every t-ndcnvor to persuade them to join the hostile Iiuli.'ins, till at
last they found the Indians would not generally join in the war,
the Governor told them in the council at Fort Erie, that they might
attend the treaty, and if anything was given them by the Ameri-
cans, to take it." " The Indians will generally attend the treaty in
my opinion, or especially those of the best part of them ; such as
are generally in council, and the best friends to the United States."

Previous to the treaty, or Wayne's victory, a little light had broke
in to the darkness ihat pervaded. The prospect of a general war
with Eii"lrM(l was lessened. Gen. Knox wrote to Gen. Chapin in
June, that the " British conduct in the West Indies." and Lord
Dorchester's speech had "rendered it pretty conclusive__that last au-
tumn the ministry of Great Britain entertained the idea of making
war upon us. It is however, now pretty certain that they have
altered or suspended that intention. This conclusion is drawn from
the orders of the Pth of January, and the general opinion enter-
tained in Great Britain." Favorable as were these indications,
they had no immediate efiect upon British agents in this quarter.

It was not until near the middle of October, that a sufficient num-
ber of Indians were collected at Canandaigua, tc warrant the com-
mencement of business. About that period General Chapin w;ote
to the Secretary, that he should " endeavor to make use of the
shortest ceremony in procuring supplies, but the number cf ^adians
is greater than I expected, and the expenses also." It is apparent
from the cotemporary records, that the Six Nations, a large propor-
tion of them at least, hung back from this treaty, even until they
began to hear of Wayne's victory, from such of their number as
had been in the fight, as allies of the confederates; and in fact they
did not assemble at Canandaigua, in any considerable numbers, un-
til Wayne's success was fully confirmed, and they were clearly con-
vinced that the fortunes of war had turned decidedly against those
w'th ^vhom they would have been fully allied, if Wayne had met
with no better success than had his predecessors, Harmar and St.

Clair.

The general proceedings, and favorable termination of Picker-
ing's treaty of 17!) 1, at Canandaigua, are already incorporated in
history. Wayne's victory, and the success of the treaty, which
was in a great measure consequent upon it, were the commence-
ment of events that finally gave a feeling of security to this region,

30G

rilELPD AND GOKUAm's PURCHASE.

and enabled settlenrients and improvements to go on, unannoyed by
the alarms and prospects of war and invasion. There was a iin-
gering state of uncertainty after the two fortunate events; for
months rumors can)c, that the western confederates were a<rain
makmii; a stand, and refusing any compromise ; indications in Can-
ada, and at the British posts at the west, favorrd the conclusion of
British alliance with them ; but the news at last cmne, that the far
western nations were retiring across the Mississippi, discomfited,
and chagrined with an alledged breach of fai'h on the part of the
British, in not coming to the rescue when 'uiey were hotly pressed
by Wayne — in shutting t!ie gates of their fortress against them,
when his iron hail was strewing the ground with their warriors; *
and finally, that the nations more immediately interested in the con-
test, had signified their willingness to do what was soon after con-
summated at the treaty of Crenville. Jay's treaty Ibllowed, Oswego
and Niagara were surrendered, and years of peace and security
followed, and continued until the war of 1812.

The lion. Thomas jMorris, it will have been seen, was a citizen
of Canandaigua. lie was })resent at the treaty. He tnus speaks
of it in his manuscript reminiscences: — "For some months prioi
to the treaty at Canandaigua, the Indians would come among us
painted lor war; their deportment was fierce and arrogant : such
as to create the belief that they would not be unvvillingto take up
the hatchet against us. From certain expressions attributed to
Gov. Simcoe, in connection with his conduct at SoJus Bay, it was
believed that the British had taught the Indians to expect that Gen.
Wayne would be defeated, in which event they might easily have
persuaded the Six Nations, to make common cause with the hostile
Indians, and our settlements would have been depopulated. Such
were the apprehensions entertained at the time of an Indian war on
our borders, that in several instances, farmers were panic struck, and
with the dread of the scalping knife before ihem, had pulled up
stakes, and with their families, were on their way to the East. Ar.
rived at Canandaigua, they found that I was painting my house,
and making improvements about it ; believing that I [tossessed better
information on the subject thai, they did, their fears became quieted,

*Mr. Morris Hnystlint flu- hostile Truli.ans at (lie west, sent nnui('r.^to tlu! Ciinaiulai-
uativaty with a lull account of llicir disaslcr, whii'li closcil by savin;,' : — " AuiU.iif
rcllin n, tik' liiiiiMh, lookcil un, and yavc us not llic least assistance.''

rilELrS AND GOimAMS PURCIIASE.

307

and they retraced their steps back to their habitations. After the
defeat of the liostile Indians, those of the Six Nations becam com-
pletely cowed ; and, from that time all apprehensions of a war with
them vanished.

Brant has almost been lost sight of in the progress of this narra-
tive ; though he was by no means inactive. He was in correspond-
dence with General Chapin, on terms of personal friendship with
him, receiving from his hands considerable sums of money in pay-
ment for promised services ; but it is impossible to avoid the con-
clusion that he was insincere and faithless. His own partial biog-
rapher, Col. Stone, places him in arms, with an hundred Mohawks,
against St. Clair, and gives a letter of his to Gov. Simcoe, in which
he acknowledges the recei})t of ammunition from the British, and
said he was about to join his cainj) of warriors at " Point Appineu,"*
to act in co-operation with Cornplanter in an attack upon Le lioeuf.
In short, with the exception of a growing distaste for war, of which
he had had a surfeit, his relations to the British government, and
atlachmcnttoits interests, were not materially changed, until grow-
ing out of land difliculties in Canada, he had a quarrel with the
colonial authorities. Cornplanter finally made some amends for
the conduct of which Gen. Chapin so very justly complained.

The visit of General Chapin to the disputed territory in Penn-
sylvania, as a mediator, and the fortunate turn he gave to affairs by
his judicious suggestion of a general treaty, was an important event
not only to this region, but to our whole country. It diverted the Six
Nations from marching against Wayne ; had they been in main force
with the confederates, the result of the contest, in all probability,
would have been adverse. Little Turtle would have been aided
by the counsels of "older and better " warriors than himself ; the
ancient war cry of the Iroquois that hac" so often spread dismay and
terror among the confederates, \/ould have been equally potent in
rallying them in a common cause of their race. In a letter to Gen.
Knox, dated in December, alter the treaty, in which he congratu-
lates the Government through him of the favorable turn of allairs,
and gives the assurance of a settled state of things in this region,
General Chapin says : — " My journey to Le Boeuf, I shall ever
believe was the means of preventing the Six Nations from lending

* Piiiut Abiuo ou the Canada side of Luke Erie.

308

PITELPS AND GORHAm's PURCHASE.

their assistance to their western brothers, as they term tl,ern • and
mwh,ch I got my present sickness fron. which I :.m fearful I shall
never recover. But believe n.e. Si, to be useful to the frontier upon
wind I hvc. and my country in general, has been the prevai ing
object of my pursuits. " ^ ^

Other than the mutual pledges of peace and friendship which
was made at the treaty, the settling of the lands about Presque Isle
was the important consummation. This was the result of 1 com-
P onnse. IJy the treaty at Fo.t Stanwix, the western boundary of

the Pennsylvania hne ; thus cutting thorn otf from Lake Erie and
takuig from them all the territory that is now embraced in Chautaunue
count3^ besides a strip which is now in Cattaraugus, and a gor '"
Ene county. Th,s was restored, making their Western b<; .ulary
the shore of Lake Erie, and a strip of la.ul on the Niagara Rivef

toured te's '''" ''' ''''] ^^"^'" '^ ^''-^ ^^•'^•"'"' ^^ ^'- -
loreu. I'le benecas sniTen; (^rpf) nil rilni,,^ ♦„ n

land -the triangle at Vr^^uf ' """"' """"" ''

at Whitof "'''""^ r""'' '' '^'"- ''''' ''''' ^'>--" '"^ - '^tter dated
atWlmsown, ,n this state, which says that « Wm. Johnston a
British ndian agent was p,'esent at the t,-eaty an.l secretly at

tins m General Chapin's correspondence with Gen. Knox but he
ir^fers hat so.nething of the kii.d occu.Ted. In aleU^o B,nt
Gene,, chapin speaks of the sudden departure o olm ton^ 1
h t..eaty g,-ound. as if he had advised it in consequence of a Z
ha soine out.;age woi.ld be coniu.itted upon him ,y citizens in at
tenda..c. ; as . he had intci-f^i.,, ai.d a Lm.na.^ ^nish:!;^

The_ forebodings of General Chapin, in his last letter to General
Knox, m reference to his declining health, unhappily for his coun y

wha s ,t ; ; ^" """'"""^ ^" '^^^^""^' '-^'- tl- effects of

disease of the couiit.y, which fhu.Ily tern.i.iated in dropsv II';

e on he 7t of M.i,.eh, mr, aged 54 yea.-s. In the ^cha":

01 h.s olhcal duties, he had won the esteen. and confidence of the

d u:""" w1"'n ''r' '''''' ''"'^ Sivon befbre ai.d af>er 1 u
leath. Apprized ui his iiii.ess. his frie.id Colonel Pickering, who had

PHELPS AND GOEHAm's PURCHASE.

309

succeeded Gen. Knox as Secretary of War, carefully consulted the
eminent physician, Dr. Rush, and communicated his advice by
letter ; and equal solicitude was felt throughout a large circle of ac-
quaintance. In all this local region, his death was mourned as that
of a public benefactor ; and no where more sincerely than among the
Indians, whose esteem he had won by his uniform kindness and
strict regard for their welfare. Soon after 'his death a large num-
ber of chiefs assembled at Canandaigua, and in public council de-
monstrated their high sense of thi loss they had sustained, Red
Jacket, addressing Captains Israel Chapin and Parrish, said : —

"BaoTiiEiis — I wish you to pay attention to what I have to say.
We have lost a good friend ; the loss is as great to us as to you.
We consider that we of the Six Nations, as well as the United
States, have met witli a great loss. A person that we looked up to
ss a father ; a person appointed to stand between us and the United
States, we have lost, and it gives our minds great uneasiness.
He has taken great pains to keep the chain of friendship bright be-
tween us and the United States ; now that he is gone, let us pre-
vent that agreeableness and friendship, which he has held up between
us and the United States, from failing.

"Bkotiieus — It has been customary among the Six Nations,
when they have lost a great chief, to throw a belt in his place after
he is dead and gone. We have lost so many of late, that we are
destitute of a belt, and in its place we present you with these strings,
[9 strings black and white wairipum.]

•■'BaoTHKRa — As it is a custom handed down to us by our fath-
ers, to keep up the good old ancient rules, now we visit the grave
of our friend, we gather leaves and strew them over the grave, and
endeavor to banish grief from our minds, as much as we can." [14
strings black and white wampum.]

Alter this the chiefs adopted a messngc to be sent to the Presi-
dent, inlbrming him that the "person whom 'le had appointed for
us to connnunicate our minds to, has now left us and gone to ano-
ther world. He with the greatest care comnnmicatcd our minds to
the gn>;it council Ih'e." They concluded the message by recapitu-
lating the services that had been rendereil them by Captain Israel
Chapin, his son ; reminded the President that ho is conversant with
all the relations of his father with them, and request that he may
t;ucce(;d to his place.

310

PHELPS AND GOEHAm's PURCHASE.

The President being of the same mind of the Indians, the ap-
pointment of Captnin Israel Chapin soon followed. In announcing
to him his appointment, Mr. Pickering says : — " The affairs of the
Six N tions will henceforward be managed with much less trouble
than rmerly. The treaty made with them last fall, must supersede
all pre-existing cause of complaint. The treaty entered into by Mr.
Jay with Great Britain, will, I trust, rid you of all such embarrass-
ments, as heretofore have sprung from British influence, and peace
with the western Indians, is now in fair prospect. The hostile na-
tions liave all sent in their chiefs to Gen. Wayne, to sue for peace ;
and have agreed upon a treaty, to be held at his head quarters, about
the first of June next. So your principal concern will be to pro-
tect the tribes under your superintendence from injury and imposi-
tion, wliich too many of our own people are disposed to practice
upon them ; and diligently to employ all the means under your di-
rection, to promote their comfort and improvement."

As the Secretary suggested, the principal ditnculties with the Six
Nations had been adjusted, but a vast amount of labor and responsi-
bility still devolved upon the local agency. Annuities were to be
paid, not only the general ones, but special ones, to a large num-
ber of chiefs and warriors, who had recommended themselves to
favor; schools and school-masters were to be looked to; blacksmiths
were to be employed and superintended in all the principal Indian
villages; depredations upon Indian lands were to be prevented, and
frequent difficuhies between Indian and white settlers were to be
adjusted ; Indians killed by the white men were to be paid for.*
The Indians had learned to lean upon the local Superintendent with
all the dependence of childhood. All these arduous duties seem to
have been faithfully discharged until 1802, when he was removed
from the agency. His successor was Captain Callender Irwin, of
Erie, Pennsylvania. The change would seem to have been one
ot an ordinary political character, an.l not from anv cause that im.
plicated his private or official character.

In connection with these events, it should be mentioned that

"KUliTiu: wiM n n.Mtt.T of ]>„siiHw c..mi)rnini«. : — " Roccive.l .,f Is-n-I ("I,-.,,ip

PHELPS AND GORIIAM's PUECIIASE.

311

the Six Nations found in the Yearly Meeting of the society of
Friends of Philadelphia early and faithful guardians of their inter-
ests and welfare. A committee of their number hospitably enter
tained their chiefs when they visited Philadelphia ; at the especial
request of the chiefs, a committee attended the treaty of '94, at
Canandaigua. For almost half a century there has been a standing
committee of that Yearly Meeting, having especial care of the
Six Nations. In HOG this committee, availing themselves of a
visit of Jasper Parrish to the seat of government, prevailed upon
him to visit the Indians and tender to them their assistance in a
plan to instruct them in "husbandry and the most neccessary arts
of civil life. " They soon after established schools, sent men and
women among them to teach them fanning and house work, and
built mills for them, in at least one locality.

The sons of General Israel Chapin were : — Thaddeus, who was
an early merchant in Canandaigua, and subsequently, a large farmer
near the village ; Israel, the official successor of his father, who was
the founder of what was called "Chapin's Mills, " a ihw miles north
of Canandaigua, on the Palmyra road ; the only survivors of his
family, are, Mrs. John Greig, and a maiden sister ; Henry, who was
an early merchant in Bufllilo, a resident of Ohio ; and George, a
farmer near Canandaigua. A daughter of General Chapin, was
the wife of Benjamin Wells, who came to Canandaigua with his
father-in-law, in 1789. The surviving sons of Mr. Wells are,
Walter Wells, of Webster, Monroe county, Benjamin Wells, of
Conhocton, and Clement Wells, of Canandiagua. A daughter
became the wife of Jonas Williams, who was one the founders of
the village oi Williamsville, Erie co.

JASPER PARRISH.

His family were emigrants from the state of Connecticut to the
head waters of the Delaware river in this State, where they were
residing on the breaking out of the border wars. In 1778, wheti
but eleven years of age, the subject of this sketch was with his
father, who was six miles from home, assisting a family of back-
woodsmen to move nearer the settlement, where they would be less
exposed. Attacked by a small [rariy of Munsee Indians, they were
made captives. Tlic father was taken to Niagara, and after being a

312

PHELPS AND GOHIIAM's PUECIIASE.

captive two years, was exchanged and enabled to rejoin liis family.
The protector of young Jasper, was a war chief, by whom he
was well treated. After remaining a while at the "Cook House,"
he was taken to Chemung. When entering the Indian village, the
war party that accompanied him set up the Wiir shout, when a posse
of Indians and Indian boys sailed out and met them; pulling the
young prisoner from the horse he was riding, they scourged him
with whips and beat him cruelly with the handles of their toma-
hawks — subjected him to one form of their gauntlet — until his
master humanely rescued him. lie was soon after sold by his
master to an Indian family of Delawares, and taken to reside with
them at their village on the south side of the Delaware river, where
he remained during the year 1779, suffering a good deal during the
winter for the want of warm clothing, and in consequence of the
scanty fare of the Indians. To inure him to cold, the Indians com-
pelled him almost daily, to s'rip and plunge into the ice and water
of the river. Adopted by the family who had become his owners,
he was kindly treated, and accompanied them in all their hunting
and fishing excursions.

He was at Newtown with his captors, when Sullivan invaded
their country, and used to relate what transpired there : — As the
army api)roached Newtown point, a large body of Indians collected
four miles below to make an attack, after having placed their squaws,
prisoners and baggage in a safe place. They soon found they could
not stand their ground, and sent runners to the squaws directing
them to retreat up the river to Painted Post, where they followed
them soon after. The whole made a hasty march to Niagar.i, via
Bath, Ceneseo and Tonawanda. The family to whom Parrish be-
longed were of this retreating party. In a short time after their
arrival, nearly the whole of the Six Nations were encamped on the
plain, in the vicinity of the Fort. They subsisted upon salted pro-
visions curing the winter, dealt out to them from the British garrison,
and great numbers died in consotjuence. To induce them to dis-
perse and go back to their villn.gos on the Genesee river, or go out
on scouting parties, the British oilicers offered them an increased
bounty for American scalps.

Before winter young Parrish was sold for twenty dollars, to Cap-
tain Dnvid Hill, ''a large fmo looking Mohawk Indian,"' a relation
of Joseph Brant, who conducted him to his tent and gave him to

PIIELPS AND GORIIAMS VURCIIASli:.

313

understnnd that he would thereafter live with him. He disliked
the change of . .asters at the time : it involved the nccessitv of
learning another Indian language, and he had become attached to the
Delaware family ; but it all turned out for the best. He resided in
the family of Captain Hill for five years, in all of which time he
was kindly treated, and well provided for. His time was chiefly
spent in accompanying the Indians in travelling excursions, hunting,
firihing, and when put to labor, but light tasks were imposed upon
him. Soon after he was purchased by Captain Hill, a general
council of the British and Indians took place at Fort Niagara; upon
which occasion Capt. Hill took his young American captive into the
midst of an assembly of chiefs, and adopted him as his son, going
through the ceremony of placing a large belt of wampum around
his neck. After which an old chief took him by the hand and
made a speech, as is customary on such occasions, accompanying it
with a great deal of solemnity of manner. Then the chiefs arose
and all«ehook hands with the adopted captive.

On one occasion, while with the Delaware family at Niagara, he
came near being the victim of the British bounty for scalps. Left
alone with some Indians who wei'c on a carousal, he overheard one
propose to another, that they should kill the "young Yankee," take
his scalp to the Fort and sell it for rum. In a few minutes one of
them took a large brand from the fire and hurled it at his head, but
being on the alert, he dodged it and made his escape. The Indians
pursued him, but it being dark he was enabled to avoid them.

In May, 1780, Brant founded a village of Mohawks near the pres-
ent village of Lewiston, to vvhich Capt. Hill removed. There Par-
rish remained until the close of the Revolution. He travelled with
his Indian father a good deal among other Indian tribes, by whom
he was always well treated. At the treaty of Fort Stanwix, in 1784,
he with other prisoners, were surrendered in accordance with treaty
stipulations. He immediately joined his father's family, whom he
found in Goshen, Orange county. Having nearly lost the use of
his own language, he attended school for about one year, which was
all the opportunity for acquiring an education he ever enjoyed,
otlier than what a strong native intellect enabled him to acquire in
his intercourse with the world.

He was employed by Mr. Pickering in his Indian treaty in 1790,
and '91, and his qualifications as an interpreter, together with his
20

314

PIEELPS AXD GORirA:M's PURCHASE.

character for faithfulness and integrity, coming to the knowledge
of the then Secretary of War, General Knox, he employed him in
the Indian department in 1792, giving him a letter to General Cha-
pin, with ivhom he became associated as interpreter for the Six
Nations. In all the crisis of Indian difficulties, he was the active
co-oi)erater of General Chapin, ain] contributed much to the final
adjustment of them. A " winged Mercury," in the earliest years
his appointment after he was now here, and now there ; alter-
nating between the seat of government, at Philadelphia, Buflalo
Creek, Genesee River, Onondaga, Oneida and Canandaigua ; the
interpreter at councils, and the bearer of messages. The captive
boy of the Indian wigwams, becoming a man, remembered only the
virtues and kindnesses of his captors — not the wrongs they had
intlicted upon him or his countrymen — and was the faithful inter-
preter of their complaints and grievances to him, whom they called
their "Father, the great chief of the Thirteen Fires" — Washino-.
ton. In 1803 he had the additional appointment of local Indian
agent, and continued to hold both offices, through all the changes
of the administration of the general government, down to the
second term of General Jackson's administration.

He retained to the close of his life, a strong attachment to the
Indians, as was the case generally with liberated captives ; and by
means of his position, and the influence he had acquired with
them, was enabled to render them essential service ; to assist in
ameliorating their condition, by introducing among them the Chris-
tian religion, schools and agricultural pursuits. While a prisoner,
he acquired the Mohawk language, and before the close of his life,
he spoke that of five of the Six Nations with great fluency.
Captain Parrish died at his residence in Canandaigua, July 12th,
1836, in the 69th year of his age.

He married in early life, a daughter of General Edward Paine,
one of the Pioneers of the western Reserve, and the founder of
Painesville. She died in 1837. His surviving sons are, Isaac, a
farm^'- on the Lake shore, near Canandaigua ; Stephen and Ed-
ward, residents of the village of Canandaigua. One of his daughters
became the wife of Ebenezer S. Cobb, of Michigan, who was lost
with the ill-fated Erie, near Dunkirk, in 1841 ; another, the wife
of Peter Townsend, of Orange county ; and another, the wife of
William W. Gorham, of Canandaisxua.

pirELrs Amy gorhams pukciiasb.

315

CHAPTER IV,

ATTEMPT OF GOV. SIMCOE TO BREAK UP THE SETTLEMENTS OF THE

GENESEE COUNTRY.

The reader has already learned, generally, what was the temper
and bearing of the British authorities in Canada, touching the early
Pioneer movements in the Genesee country. A British and Indian
alliance, a connected movement, having in view the re-possession
of the country, was with much difficulty but barely prevented.
In all the controversy — or pending the issue of the whole matter —
';here was, other than what may have transpi-ed at the west, but
one overt act, in pursuance of Britisli pretensions and threats. This
was an actual invasion, by a British armed force, of the Genesee
country, at Sodus Bay.

Previous to coming in possession of the valuable manuscripts of
the late Thomas Morris, the author bad drawn up for this work, an
account of the events the materials for which were derived prin-
cipally from the papers of Mr. Williamson. Mr. Morris having
included it in his reminiscences, it being a matter, " all of vvliich
he saw, and a part of which he was," his L'story of the transaction
is substituted : —

" Gov. Simcoe had, from his first assuming the government of
Upper Canada, evinced the greatest jealousy of the progress of t'iC
settlement of our western country ; he was even said to have
threatened to send Captain WiHiamson to England in irons, if he
ever ventured to come into Canada. In 1794, Capt. Williamson
had commenced a settlement at Sodus Bay.

In the month of August of that year, Lieut. SheafTe, of the
British army, (now Major General Sir Roger Hale Sheaffe, who,
durir.g the last war, commanded at the battle of Queenstnn, after
[AC (l■■^[h of Gov.. Brock,) was sent by Governor Simcoe, with a

316

PHELPS AND GOIlHAJl's PT'RCIIASE.

protest to 1)0 delivered to Cnptiiin Williamson, i.rotosfinir no-ninst
the prosecution of the settlement of Sodus. and all other Ameri-
can settlements beyond the old French line, durini: the inexecution
of the treaty that terminate.l the Revolutionary war. Findincr
there only an .■.-jcnt of Mr. Willian)son's, (a Mr. Modat, who is yc^
livmji,) Lieut. Sheatlb intorn.ed him of the nature of his mission,
andre(iuestedhinitomake it known to Capt. Williamson, and to
inform hnn that he would return in ten days, when he hoped to
meet Capt. Williamson there. Mr. MolTat came to mo at Canan-
daigua, to acquaint me with what had taken place, and induce me
to accompany him to Bath, to confer with Capt. Williamson in re-
lation to this very extraordinary protest. I accordinolv went to
Bath, and it was agree.l between Capt. Williamson and niyself that
we would both meet Lieut. Sheallo at So.h.s, at the time lie had ap-
pointed to be there. Acconlingly, on the day named by Lieut
bhealle, we were at So<lus ; and shortly after our arrival there we
perceived on the lake, a boat rowed' by about a dozen British
soldiers, who, after landing their ollicer, were directe.l by him to
pull ofT some distance in the bay, and remain there until he made a
signal to return for him. Capt. Williamson, in consequence of the
threats imputed to Gov. Simcoe, in relation to himself did not think
proper to expose himself unnecessarily to any act of violence, if
any such should have been meditated against"^ him. He therefore
requested me to receive Lieut. Sheaife on tiie beach, an<l to ac-
company him to the log cabin where Capt. W illiamson was, with a
brace of loaded pistols on his table. The ordenng his men to re-
main at a distance from the shore, shows that tlie precaution that
had been taken, though proper at the time, was unnecessary
and that no resort to force was intended. The meotinq between
the Lieut, and Mr. Williamson, was friendly; they had known each
other before ; and while in the same service, had marched throu-h
some part of England together. The Lieut, handed to Capt. Wil
Iinmsan the protest, and was desired by the Capt. to inform Gov-
Suiicoe that he would pay no attention to it, but prosecute his set-
tlement, the same as if no such paper had been delivered to him ;
that if any attempt should be made forcibly to prevent hiin from'
doing so, that attempt would be repelled loy force. Lieut. SheafTe
having, (luring the interview between them, made some allusion to
Capt. Williamson having once held a commission in the British

PHELPS AND GOHIIAm's PURCUASE.

317

army, ho replied, that while in the service of the Crown, he had
faithfully performed his duty ; that having since renounced his al-
legiance to that Crown, and became a citizen of the United States,
his adopted country, having both the ability and the inclination,
would protect him in his rights, and the possession of his property.
I asked Lieut. Shealle if he would be so good as to exi)lain what
was meant by the old French lir.e, where it ran, und what portion
of our country we were forbidden in Gov. Simcoe's protest, to oc-
cupy. He replied, that he was merely the bearer of the paper ; that
by the orders of his superior oiricer, he had handed it to Capt. Wil-
liamson ; that no explanation had been given to him of its purport,
nor was he authorized to give any. After about half an hour, I
accompanied him to the beach, where he had landed ; and on a
signal having been made by him, his boat returned for him, and he
deported. This is what my father, in his letter of the 10th of Sep-
tember, 1794, alludes to, and terms a treaty, and f)r which he hopes
that Simcoe will get a rap over the knuckles from his master. So
many years have elapsed since the complaints made both by the
British and our own Government, were adjusted by negotiation,
that you may be at a loss to know what Governor Simcoe meant
when he spoke of the inexecution of the treaty that terminated our
llevolutionary struggle. The complaint on the part of Great
Britain, was, that those parts of the treaty which required that
those States in which British subjects were prevented by law, from
recovering debts due to them prior to the Revolution, had been re-
pealed, — as by the treaty, they ought to have been, — and also,
that British property had been confiscated, since the period limited
in the treaty for such confiscations, and no compensation had
been made to the injured parties. On our part, the complaint was,
that after the cessation of hostilities, negroes and other property,
were carried away by the British army, contrary to stipulations en-
tered into by the preliminary treaty of peace. The British retain-
ed itossession of the posts on our borders, and within our bounds,
until an amicable .settlement of these ditficultien, and which settle-
ment, I think, took place in 1796."

NoTK. — ^^Tlie Odiivoivatidii Itint juissimI liotwei'u Mr. Williainsdii and Lieut. Slieaffe,
as copied from Mr. Williainsdii's autdtrra|ili, is as t'dUows : —

LiKVT. Shkakke. — " I am C()iiiiuissi<iiiu(l by Governor Sinicoo to deliver tlie papers,
ant! reuuiie an arjswer."

Mr. vVii.i,i.\msox. — "I am a citizen of the L^nited States, and under theii- authori-

318

rilELI-H AND OOKirAM'ri J>nROHASE.

The news of this hostile dcnionstration on the jiart of one, secm-
inj; to act l»y authority from the IJritisli ^'overnnient, was soon
s|)iea(l throui^h all the hackwoods seftjeinents of the Genesee coun-
try. At no jn-riod since the settlement coinnionced, had the con-
dilcl of till' Indians so riiiich favored the worst a|)|)relu!nsions. Ilar-
niar and St. t'lair had in turn been defeated and r('|iulsed hy the
weritern Indians, and the issue that Wayne had niado with them
was pending; in"s defeat beinj^ not im|)rohal)Ie, in view of the for-
midahle enemy with which he had to contend. Mvidences of
IJritish aid to the western Indians, ajfainst General Wayne, was
furnished hy returniii'^ adventur.Msfrom the west, and every travel-
ler thai came throuu;!i the wilderness from Niatj;ara, confirmed the
worst suspicions of all that was going on at that focus of liritish
machinations, against the peace of the defenceless border settlers.
It was, too, oiiiiiioiis of danger, that tho Senecas in their immedi-
ate neighborhood, in their midst, it may almost be said, had armed and
moved off in considerable numbers, to become confederates against
General Wayne, bearing upon their persons the blankets, the broad
cloths, calicoes, and whr decorations, served to them from the kind's
store house at Niagara, by the hands of one whose very very name*
was a terror, for it was mingled with the chiefest horrors, and
the darkest deeds of the Border Wars of the Kevolutiun. Wayne
defeated, it was but natural to suppo.se that the Senccas who had gone
west and made themselves confederates against him, would brine
back with them upon tlieir war path, allies from the western tribes, to
renew the i)loody scenes that had been enacted upon the banks of the
Mohawk and Susquehannah. fSueh being the cotemi)orary state

tynmii)roti<ctinii, I ikisscsm these lands. I kiunv iii> iii;lit tli;if his liritaiinie Miijestv,

or (h)v. Siiiu'iie, has to iiilcrC'ie, <ii- leM me. Tlie (iiil\ iille^'iaiice 1 dwi' In aiiy

|)(>wer on earlh, is |o t\w . iiileil dilates : and so far Iroin heiiii,' inliniidated hv threats
ironi peo|ih'l liavc no eonneelion « ilh, I sh.ali proeecd willi'inv ini|inivetne'Mls; and
iiothini,- lint superior I'oree ahall make me abandon the pla^'e. Is the protest <il' (!ov.
Simeoe iutendeil (o apply to .Sodiis, e.\cliisivelv V"

LiKi T. SiiK.vi-KK. — •■ l>y no means ! li is inU-nded to endirace all tlu^ Indian lands
I'lnrhased since the peaee of 17!s;i."

Mil. U'ri.ii.vMsus. — ".Nnd what are (lov. Simeoe's intentions, snpixisin"- the nrotost
i.s disri'M-arded V '

l.iK;-r. SuKVKKK. — "I am merely the ollieial lir.aror vl' tlii' pajiers ; hut I have a
Anther nie.'^saue to deliver from (iov. Simeoe ; which is that he rejiroliates your con-
duct exccediiiirly lor endeavorini; lo ohiain llour from I'jiper Canada ; and llial should
lie iierniil il, it would he acknuwledgiiiy the riyht of the Tiiitetl Slates tu these In-
iliau lands.'"

"Col. J oliu Butler.

pinara and gcril^^^i's i'urcitase.

310

of tliiniTs, it is liardly to he wondered, that the landing of <a small
body of British trnr)j)s upon the soil of tlie Cenesee country ; though
they came but small in numhers, their errand but to bring a threat-
ening protest, was a circumstance of no trifling magnitude. And the
reader will not fail to take into the account, how fi;e!)le in nurrdjers,
how exposed, and how weak in all things necessary to a successful
defence, was the then new settlernjnts of the Genesee country. In
all this he will be aided by a brief retrospect of the commencement
and [trogress of settlement ; and added to what this will show,
should !)(■ the consideration, that the settlers came iiito tiie wilder-
ness unpre|)ared for war. They came, relying upon a treaty ot
peace. Wearied with war and all its harrassing ellects, they had
more than figuratively beat their swords into ploughshares, and
their sppars into j)runing hooks. They had come to subdue the wil-
derness, and not to subdue their fellow men. The rumors of war
cairie to the sparse settlemisnts, and the solitary log-cabins dotted
down in the wilderness, like the decrees of fate, to be added to all
the sulVerings and endurances of pioneer life. But a few weeks
previous to all this, there had been, as if by concert, a far more than
usual emigration of New York Indians to Canada. They went from
most of the Six Nations, in detatched jiorties, and a very large pro-
portion of the Onondagas had emigrated in a body. The demeanor
of the .Senecas had undergone a marked change. By some unseen
but suspected influence, they had become morose and quarrelsome.
A I'ar more than usual number of outrages were committed u})on
the new settlers ; in fact, the principal ones that are now remem-
bered, liap|)ened about this period. These facts were not without
their inlhience in converting the circumstances of the landing of an
armed force at Sodus Bay, into a preliminary measure, the secjuel
of which might prove the breaking out of a general war, having
for its object the recovery of the soil of the Genesee country by
the Indians, and the bringing of it again under British dominion

It will surprise those who are not familiar with early events in the
Genesee country, when tl.'cy are told that as late as 1791 — eight
years after settlement had been commenced, there was but little of
intercourse or communication with Albany and New York ; Phila-
delphia and Baltimore, and especially the latter, had far more inti-
mate relations with all this region. To the papers of those cities,
the settlers in those then backwoods looked for news, and in them

'ih

820

PUELPS Am) (}ORIIAjfs PURCHASE.

events transpirinnr here were generally recorded. On the first of
September, tiie alfair at Sodus was announced in the Maryland
Gazette, in a letter from Philadelphia, accompanied by the intelli-
gence that an express had arrived at the then seat cf government
with desi)atclies for the War Office. '

Immediately after the departure of Lieut. SheafTe, Mr. William-
son, with theco-operationof other prominent citizens, adopted the
rnost energetic measures, as well for the purpose of preparin<r tbr
the contingency, which he had good reasons for supposing would
occur, alter what had transpired at So.lus, as to give assurances of
Safety and protection to the inhabitants.

He not only despatched an express rider to the seat of govern-
ment, as indicated by the correspondent of the Maryland Gazette,
but he also despatche<l one to Albany. He forwarded' by these mes-
sengers letters to Edmund Randolph, Secretary of State to Gen
Knox, Secretary of War. and to Gov. George Clinton. In these
letters he detailed all that had transpired, suggested some measures
ot protection, and gave asurances that the mandate of Gov Sim-
coe would be disregarded. In the letter to Gen. Knox, he says • _
" It IS pretty well ascertained that for some time past, quantities of
military stores and ammunition have been forwarded to Oswego
This makes me think it not improbable that Lieut. Sheaflb will take
a forcible possession of Sodus on his return. I shall, however with-
out relaxing, go on with my business there, until drove olf bv a
superior force. It is heedless for me to trouble you with any com-
ments on this unparalleled piece of insolence, and gross in.ult to
the government of the United States."

Mr. Williamson wrote a letter to Sir William Pulteney, in which
nc suvs *■ -■

" T shall inakonofurtlier comment on this business, than to observe tint
nay linng slu.rt of actual liostilitios, it eom,,]etes the u u^iSlS t^^ on
.1. t ot Mr. .Snncoo toward thi. g,.vernme,lt. Mr. Simce's p s c of nv

iu h'm" J" ; " ""''"^; ^" ^''^ *"'^^ ^'■'■'^"' i» thisoounln- .' d op
laia sciu'incs lie li.-is nrevcut.v everv iio<siIiilitv ,^f^ -n, .,... . i .• i' ^

tljiseountn- and thelstile Indiaus," aid .S:^,;^, i^ 1 ! i ^1 Ic t' K

N., ' n''' ""^* ^T' '""^ '^■^' i.oll.ing undone to indue ll„. Six

Na ons, our neighbors, to take up tlio batch.t die moment ho gives tl ' u . r 1
\oumust ,eaniuamt..d with his marching a body ot\.nii;i t o ,. • i
^-.vctmg a tort at theKapids of the Miami scven,;y^ miles withi, ^ L^nt^y

PIIELP3 A^'D GOltHAMS TUKCIfASE.

321

of the United States, Lut this being an extensive wilderness, seemed of less
iraiKirtance.

" Nnt content with this, h<» lias now interfi'ivil witli our sr-ttlenients, in a
manner so unlike the ilijjrnity of a yreat nation that it must astonish yon, If it
L« tlieintt'ntii)n of tlie Drilish ministry, by low and underhand sehenu-s, to keep
alive a harrassing war a^'ainst heljijcss women and children, or by murders on
this frontier, to add to the list of nuirders already committcilby the intluenee
of tlieir serv;mts her<', and to treat this <i;i iNcrnnuMit with the most nn\\ arrantable
insolence and contem]it. 1 allow tiiat Mr. Siimoe is the most iiKhisirious and
faithfid servant the British o-ovemnient ever had. But if 'I is theii' intention
to cultivate a frieiully intereonrse \\ith this countiy, it never can take ]ilace
■while sueh is the conduct of their (iovernorhere. For my own part, I think
it woulil lie doing the government of Great Britain a most essential service,
should their intentions towards this country be friendly, to show to their min-
istry the i< induct of (iov. Simcoe; and 1 write this letter that you may ^how it
to Mr. Dundas, or Mr. Pitt, if you think projier. Their knowledge of me, I
anr conxinced, will gi\e it sniticient weight. If these transactions are in con-
sequence of orders from (Ireat llritain, and their views are hostile, there is
nothing further to be said."

While all this was progressing, in four days after the affair at Sodus
in fact, before Gov. Sinicoe would liave had time to execute his
threats, the great measure of deliverance for the Genesee country
and the few scattered border settlers of the west, had been con-
summated. " Mad Anthony, " — [and there had been " method in
his madness, "] — had met the confederated bands of the hostile
Indians cf the west, and almost under the walls of a fortress of their
British allies, achieved a signal victory! Those upon whom Gov.
Simcoe was relying for aid, (for it is evident that he looked to a
descent of the western Indians upon the Genesee country in case
the war was renewed,) — were humbled and suing for peace.
This alone would have averted his worst intentions, and added to
this, was the consideration that Mr. Jay had sailed for London on
the 12th of May, chjthed with ample powers from our government
to arrange all matters of dispute.

Those familiar with the history of our whole country in the
earliest years of its separation from England, are aware how im-
portant was the well planned and successful expedition of General
Wayne. Important in its immediate conse(iuences — the putting
an end to protracted, harrassing Indian treaties, and tliefotniding of
tliat great empire of wealth, prosperity, and unparralleled progress,
our western states, liut few can now realize its local consequence,
in the Genesee country. It gave security where there was little of
it beiore, inspired hope and confidence with those who were half

322

PIEELPS AND GOEnAMS PURCnASE.

■ ■

determined to retrace the weary steps that had brought them into
the wilderness, for they felt that if war was to be added to all the
sufferings and privations they were encountering, it were better to
abandon the field, if not forever, to a period more propitious. The
news of Wayne's victory was communicated by Ijrant to Gpn.
Chapin, and it circulated briskly among tlie backwoods settlements.
Here and there was seen small gatherings of Pioneer settlers, con-
gratulating each other upon the event, and taking fresh courage to
grapple with the hardships of Pioneer life. All was confirmed,°when
in a lew days, the Senecas were seen coming back upon their war
path, humbled, quaking with tear at the mere recollection of the terri-
ble onslaught that Mad Anthony had made upon the dusky letWons
that had gathered to oppose him, and uttering imprecations a-niinst
those who had lured them from home to take part in the contest
and then remamed far away iVom danger, or shut themselves up in
a strong fortress, but spectators in a conflict in which they and
their confederates were falling like autumn leaves in a shower of
hail.

The haughty spirit of the descendants of the warlike Iroquois
was humbled within them, and chagrined by the terrible discomfit-
ure they had witnessed, and been partakers of, as well as by the
bad faith of their advisers and abettors at Niagara, they resolved to
settle down quietly in their villages, and renew their peaceful and
amicable relations with their white neighbors.

As early as the 3d of July, preceding'^the visit of Lieut. Sheaffe,
to Sodus, a representation had been made to the War Department,'
of the exposed condition of the new settlers in the Genesci coun-
try, the danger of Indian disturbances promoted by British agents
at Niagara, and the necessity of some means of defence. To wliich
Gen. Knox, the Secretary of War, had replied in substance, that
some official use had been made of the communication, by the Sec

NOTI...-1 lore are some ainusinij aiHTilotoH of (hordaticnsDiat the n-hirniii- Iiidi-

<lm.,s jjMv. .,1 tl.e .atil.. I,, its cm .'t, Wavn.. l,a,l ,na,l,. lii.nsrlf n tV , n' ..

aU.ms, m.,.v than Innna,,. His y^-,. a ^varthr,.■ thw l,a,l h.vn uuu^dV--\,Z^;;^:u^
cmslun,. : „,sp,nn.^ a tenor thai ooM,,u.rea as ..K.otimllv as his ar , A S ' wl ^
camo auav n, an early sfa^e of the l.a.fle, Laviuj. seen ,|uite enough to frn,tif v is',^ "

^wi hi 'V ;"''rf""'''>,^''"i""" ""'"'"^"'t -'•''- author: tho'reason tor s
piec iil,.te retreat, lie sai.i ,u h.s irraphic deserij.t.ou of the opening, of the li.^h'
- lop pop l.op,-.hoo, woo, woo-o.oo,_wish. wish, wi^li-J-ee.-ho,., woo'l-
^ Liv •'' "^"'"^ """' """■'• "" -""^'' kv.l-nl" TJiis the reader will ui o„c-o

r^h !! ,:; .IVr'L"' ^:';'lf '" ;'"";"" ""! ,«'■"'*? "f «'""11 '""'H and cannon, and the
wiu/...ni^' o! till.- tu=e, uiid ihu burstnig oi Loinba.

■t,^iP

PHELPS AND GORIIAm's PUECHASE.

323

retavy ot War, in his correspondence with the British Minister,
that a conlerence was to be held with the Six Nations at Canandai-
gua, in Septeuib'^r, for the purpose of concihating, and establishing
finally a peace with them if possible. In reply to an application
for arms, the Secretary says, that an order had been issued in favor
of the Governor of New York, for one thousand muskets, cartridge
boxes, and bayonets. 4

The following copy of a letter from President Washington to Mr.
Jay, our then minister in London, possesses much of a general
historical interest, and will aid the reader in a full understanding of
the questions then at issue, so far as this local region wasc oncerned :

"ArcjusT, 30, 1704.

"As you will receive letters from the Secretary of IState.s' utlice, gi\iiig' an
official account of the public occurrences as they ha\-e arisen and advanced,
it is unnei'i'ssary for nie to retouch any of them ; and yet I cannot ivstiain my-
self from uiakin^'some observations on the most recent of them, tlie commu-
nication of whicli wiis receiveil this mornino- only. I mean the protest of tho
Governor of Upper Canad;i, delivered by Lieutenant Hlieatfe, against our oc-
cupving lands far fnun any of the jiosts, whicli, long ago, tliey ought to have
surrendered, and far within the known, and uutil now, the acknowledged
limits of the United States.

" On this irregular and high handed proceeding of Mr. Simcoe, which is
no longer masked, I wtndd rather licar what the ministry of (treat Liiuain will
sav, than ]ironounce my own sentiments thereon. litit can that government,
or\vill it altemjjt, after this oflicial act of one of their governoi-s, to hold out
ideas of friendly iiilentions towai'ds the United States, and sutler such con-
duct to pass with impunity ?

"This may be considered a.s tht most open and daring act of tho British
atrents in AnuM'ica, though it is not the most hostile and ciiiel : for there
does not lemain a doubt in the mind of any well informed i)erson in this
country, not shut against conviction, i\\\\i all the difficidties 'we cncounler with
the ludi'iiis, their hostililieif, the murders of helpless women and ehildren,
along oxr frontiers, result from the conduct of agents of Great Britain in
this couiilri/. In vain is it then for its administration in Biitain, to disavow
having giv(,'n orders which will warrant such conduct, whilst their agents go
unpuni>he(l ; while we have a thousand corroborating circumstances, and
indeed as many evidences, some of which cannot be I irought forward, to prove
that thin arc seducing from our alliances, and endea\oiing to remove over tho
line, tribes that ' ive hitherto been kept in peace and friendship with us at a
he;\vv e.\[H'nse, and who have no causes of complaint, except pretended ones
of their ei'eating ; whilst they keep in a state of irritation the tribes that wq
li'istileto us, and are instigating those who know litUe of us, or we of them,
to unite ill the war against us ; and whilst it \i-an undeuialile fact, that they
are furi</-<hiuij the whole with amis, ammunition, clothing, ami even jiro-
I'isions In carry on the war. I might go farther, and if thev are not much
behed, add, men also in disguise.

324

PIIELPS AND GOKIIAMa PURCirASE.

" Can it bo oxpectc.], I ask, so lonj. a.s tli^se t Inn-s an- kn.nvn i„ tl.- United
tnac tiKu ner ^vlll u ■ ,,m I,., any cnr.l.alitv belw.rn tlu; two cuiuiiri,..^ 1

i 1 t,nn lonn It (lies,. i,„,sts a.v nu, sunvn.l.n,,!. 7V km^^h.hv . f tI„>.o b.-in^r
i.i> M.nlnn,.„.s, would bavobut little wd^^bt, I an,,H.>.„adoirwI,h h. i; '?
nd mms ,.a..>n, orp..,.I,a,. wi,b tlu-nation, i„ Hil.,,!n.t!,.. ,n:.as„r s b,
nu K. sat,shH, tint .f tl...y want to b. at peace with Ibis eonnf v. m o
\V 1 di,: I't ''^'•''^''^- to givenp the posts is the <mlv road to i'

CHAPTER V.

JAME.3 AXD WILLIAM WADSWORTH — PIONEER EVENTS IN miAT 13

NOW LIVINGSTON.

The advent of these two brothers to the Genesee country, marks
an era „. our early local history. They were from ihe first,
large landholders and patroons of new settlements, and for many
years uifnnatoly and conspicuously blended with the jiro-n-ess of
nnprovement. The connection of their family with Col. feremiah
^\ adsworth, of Hartford, Co.ul, was the primary cause of their
early enterprise ; of whom, as he was an early and large proprietor
of land, by purchase from Phelps and Gorham. it will not be out of
phice to speak, incidentally. He was the son of the R,.v. Daniel
Wadsworth, ot Hartford. Entering uj.on a sea-faring life in early
years, or the benefit of his health, first as a sailor before the masf
and afterwards as mate and captain, he finally settled down in
Hartford, vvdiere he resided upoa the breaking out of the Revolution-
ary war. He received the ai)pointment of commissarv of the Con-
necticut line, and following that app; intment, he had important trusts
committed to his charge, not only by Connecticut, but bv the Con-
gress at 1 hiladc-lphia, having relereuce generally to the pa'v. clothincr

riiELPs AND gori[a:\i s purchase.

325

and subsistence of the Continental troops. Soon after the arrival
of Iloeliiiniheau, with the Frcnr'i army, their subsistence was en-
trusted to his charge, jointly with Jolni B. Church. He was one
of those with whom Gen. Washington made an early acquaintance
when the great crisis arrived, and in whose hospitable mansion, at
Hartf(.)rd, he was wont to meet, and have social intercourse and
consultation with its owner, and other prominent men of the Revo-
lution. It was the taking down and removal of this old mansion,
that suggested the following leautilul lines of Mrs. Sigourney : —

" Fallen dome, beloved »i •well,
Tluni eould'st many a legend tell
Of Iho cliiefs of ani'icnl lamp,
Wlio, to sl.ai'u thy shelter came : —
Riii'liiimlicaii and La Fayette,
]{onnd thv jilenlcdus board liave met,
With Columbia's mi^ditier son,
Great and glorious WAsiiiMiTox.
Hero with kindred minds they plann'd
Kescue for au infant land ;
While the Bntisli Lion's roar
Ecliu'd round the leagur'd sliore."

Annali cf Conn., by R R Hinman.

"The services of Col. Wadsworth, during some periods of the
war," says a biographer, " were incalculable." He was a member
of the 1st, 2d, and 3d Congress. He died in ISOl, aged Gl years.

Mr. Pheli)s having been in the commissary department during the
Revolution, he had made the acquaintance of Col. Wadsworth, and
soon after he obtained title, induced him to make investments in the
Genesee country.* He purchased T, 0, R. 9, a part of T. 11, R.
7, and one 12th of " Big Trce."t Being a man of wealth, and con-
sidcrablv advanced in years, their purchases were for investment
and and re-sale, rather than with any intention to emigrate.

William and James Wadsworth were natives of Durham, Conn.,
the sons of John N. Wadsworth. James Wadsworth graduated at
Yale College, in 1787, and spent the winter of '87 and '88, in Mon-
treal, employed in school teaching. The father had died before
James ^graduated at College, and left the homestead in Durham,
which would have been called a " fair estate" in New England, to
his three children, the care of which had devolved upon the elder
brother, William. Iti the Spring of 1790, at a period when James,
then 22 vears of age, was undetermined as to the pursuits of life —

I! ji

326

PIIELPS AND GORHAJi's PirUCHASE.

•r'

hesitating between tlie alternatives of seeking his fortune in the south-
ern states, and acquiring the profession of law, and settling down in
New England, his kinsman, Col. Jeremiah Wadsworth, proposed to
him emigration to the Genesee country, the sale to him of a part
c*" his tract at " Big Tree," upon advantageous terms, and an
agency that would embrace the care and sale of his remaining lands.
After consulting with his brother William, making it a condition of
the proposed emigration that he should accompany him, the two
brothers agreed jointly to accept the proposition.

In Juno, after a work of preparation which was of no little mag-
nitude in New England, preliminary to an advent to this then far
off and secluded wilderness ; amid the farewells of kindred and
friends, in which were mingled sad forebodings of the dangers and
vicissitudes the bold adventurers were about to encounter, thev com-
menced their journey. William, the practical working man of the
two, so far as manual labor was concerned, started with an ox team
and cart, two or three hired men and a colored woman, a favorite
slave belonging to the family. J James came via the Sound, and the
Hudson, and the water route from Schenectady to the head of navi-
gation on Canandaigua outlet, in charge of provisions and a small
amount of household furniture. William, with his oxen and cart,
made sl(nv progress. The winter sleigh I'oad west of Whilosboro,
had to be adapted to wheels as they progressed ; logs had to be cut
and moved out of the track, and small streams and sloughs had to
be cause-waycd. Arriving at Cayuga Lake, there was no ferry
scow, and the party chartered two Indian canoes, which they lashed
together, and making a deck of poles, succeeded in crossing. Be-
tween Whitcsboro and Canandaigua their average progress was
but twelve miles per day. The parties reunited at Canandaigua,
James having arrived three days in advance.
After making some necessary preparations, the whole partv start-

* Or, ns is mii(o jiroliiiblo, Col. Wailsworth mny Lave Lad an interest, originally,
with Messrs. rliolps and Gorhain.

t To wliicli, James and William alterivards added a tentli, making the original
Wadoworth tract at Geiieseo, about 5,(IU0 acres.

t The identical "Jenny." She was for a hnvjr time almost the only one of her rare,
in that region ; and an object of curiosity wiili the younger portion of flic hacJi-
voodsmen. Turning to tliu travels of Liancoui,, \ve ivil thai on the niornihg lie left
"Big Tree," she was (jiRuiingand powdering "Capt. WadsAvortli's" hair, j)reparatory

to his departure for'Cai fuiaigua to "vivii'V/a p.,;ry of ^i M;'-..-. (;S.-r v.Ii.mm lie is

L'fi; t.MU.'

rnELPS AND GOP.IIAII'S PURCHASE.

)21

ed from Canandfiigua, with all the eftects with which they had left
Durham, to which had heen added i small stock of cattle, purchased
upon the Mohawk. They took the Indian trail and Sullivan's
route, clearinij; their road for the passage of their cart, as they went
along, camping the first night at " Pitt's Flats," and the next, at the
foot of Conesus Lake. Breaking up their encampment in the
morning, James, on horseback, with one companion, preceded the
rest of the party, and pursued the Big Tree trail; William, with
the oxen, cart, and other effects, following after, took the Branch
trail that led to a large Indian village of the Oneidas, which was
two miles below Big Tree, on the river. Wandering from the
obscure trail, the party got lost, and brought up at night in a swamp
about two miles north-east from Big Tree, tied their cattle to trees,
and encamped. James, having spent the night at Big Tree, with
his companion, in the woods, with no means of making an en-
campment, took his back track in the morning ; arrived at the point
where the Oneida trail branched off, followed the track of the cart
wheels, and found the lost party, groping in the wilderness, un-
determined as to the course they should pursue. He conducted the
whole party to Big Tree, (Geneseo, the reader will bear in mind,)
where they slept in the cart and upon the ground, for two or three
nights, until they erected a rude cabin on the table land, a little be-
low the present village, on the old River trail. On their arrival,
they found, of their race, but one man, Lemuel Jennings, who had
a cabin, and was herding some cattle on the flats for Oliver Phelps.
James, returning to Canandaigua on the day he had located the
party, on his way back, got benighted, but was attracted by a light,
and pursuing the direction from which it proceeded, found the negro
woman, Jenny, holding a light for his brother William, who was
hewing some plank for their cabin floor.

The arrival was upon the 10th of June. In August of tlie same
year, 1790, when Gen. Amos Hall took the census, the family of
William Wadsworth corsisted of nine persons. Beside him, there
had then settled in the town.^hips, others who were regarded as
heads of families: — Phineas Bates, Daniel Ross, Henry Brown,
Enoch Noble, Nicholas Rosecrantz, David Robb, Nahuni Fair-
banks. Horatio and John H. Jones had preceded the Wadaworths
■a few weeks, and were over the river, occupying an Indian cabin,
and the shantee they had built the year before. They had come in

328

PJIELPS AND aORIIAM's PFUCIIASE.

I" '.

from Geneva, via Canandaigua and Avon, witli a cart, Horatio's
wife and three children, household fiiriuture, and some hired men.
Their cart was the first wheel vehicle that passed over that route.
From Avon, they had no traok, but picked their way alon- the
ridges and open n-rounds. Horatio Jones l)uilt a coinfortal)le block
house the same year. Besides Horace Jones' family, tliere was in
August, west of the river, on what was then called'" Indian lands,"
the families of William Ewing, * Nathan Fowler, and Jeremiah
Gregorv. f

The Indiiins residing ui)on the Genesee river in 1790, were loca-
ted in villages, as follows : — At S(iuaky Hill, near lAfount Morris,
there were a small cluster of cabins, and a few families. The men
had been southern captives, who had intermarried, and n)erged
themselves with the Senecas. The principal chief, was " Jjlack
Chief." At " Allan's Hill." now Mount Morris, there were a few
families ; their principal chief, " Tall Chief" He was a fine speci-
men of his race, physically and otherwise. At Philadeli)hia, on a
visit to Congre-s, with Horatio Jones, he commanded much atten-
tion and respect. '

Little Beard's Town, a large village, was upon the present site
of Cuylerville. The chief, Little ]}eard, was one of the worst
specimens of his race. He was chiefly instrumental in the horrid
massacre of Lieut. Boyd, and all the early Pioneers give him a bad
character. The manner of his death in 1800, was but a just retri-
bution for his many acts of cruelty in the l^mier wars : — In a
drunken row, in which both Indians and whites were enga<red, at
the old Stimson tavern, in Leicester, he was pushed out. if door,
and falling froin the step.s, received an injury lliat caused his
deaih.

Big Tree, a considerable village, was upon the bluff, opposite

S , V fT ! '"V^;-,"^^'"'^ '''"'■-'■ J''^v""i.': .•"iHitli.T son, (;<-o.-oW., was Si.Mc
1^.,,, nt f,„ni Ir,. nn,l, nm\ w,-,s s.utl.d iu Nortli.milK.-lau,!, Pa., wheu setll..ni.nl f

J- "li,^:'" ui Si:r.;;f :i ^^?' ^''•' "'"■>■" ^-''^ ^='« ""« "f <■'« ^''ite ^vivos ..f j^bone.

..m .lanes in,) the pros.nt site of ul^ «hato S^lel^ ' ^''' "^"" ''^"" "'"" ''''

PHELPS AND GOPJIAMS PUKCIIASE.

320

Geneseo, upon the rivei-j now embraced in the farm of Eason Slo-
cum ; Ken-de-wa, (Big Tree) was its principal chief.

There was a small village of Tucaroras on the river, a little
above t! 3 Geneseo bridge, which was called Tuscarora ; and two
miles down the river from Geneseo, near the large Maple Giove of
the Messrs. Wadsworths, was " Oneida Town," a large village of
Oneidas. *

The other, and a principal village, was on the west bank of the
river, opposite Avon, near where the main road crosses the river,
The chief was Ga-kwa-dia, (Hot Bread,) in high repute among his
people, and much respected by the Pioneer settlers, f

Gardeau, was the residence of the White Woman, and the several
branches of her family went principally to make up the small
village. Her husband was principal chief At Nunda, there
was a small village; "Elk Hunter" and "Green Coat," were
principal chiefs.

At Caneadea there was a considerable village ; the head chief,
John Hudson. He was an old man, and had been a leading
" brave " in the southern Indian wars, waged by the Senecas,
and afterwards, in the English and French wars. Hon. George
Woods, a prominent citizen of Bedford, Pennsylvania, became a
prisoner with the Indians, on the Ohio or the Allegany. Hudson
porcured his release, after he had been condemned au.l tied to a
stake. In after years, they met, and the Judge treated him with
much kindness, making him a present of a fine house and lot at

* The Oneidas and Tuscaroras were divided on the hrcakuig out of the Revolutiou.
Those that adhered to the colonics, and llie jieiitrals, reniaiuins; in their eastern vil-
lages; and those that followed Ihitler and Ihant, coining upon the Genesee River. A
partial re-union of the Tuscaroras took place at their village near Lcwistou, in after
years.

fThis wa-s the birth place of Cornjilanter. In his letter to the Governor of Penn-
sj'lvania, in lb'2'2, he says : — " 1 feel it my duty to send a speech to the (Governor of
Pennsylvania at this time, and inform him the' place wliere I was from — which wag
Conni'wauijiis, on the Genesee river." He then y;ues on to relate to the (T()vern<ir, that
on trrowini; uj), the Indian hoys in the nei;;hborliood took notice of his skin being of
a dillerent color from theirs, and on naming it to his mother, she told him who his
white father was, and that he livt'd at Albany. He, after becoming a nian, souglit him
out, and made himself known to him. He comj)laiiis that lie gave him victuals to e.at
at his house, Init "no ])rovisions to eat on the Avay home." "He gave me neither
kettle nor gun, nor did he tell ine that the United States were about to rebel against
Great Ibitain." This is authentic, and does away with the less tnithful, but more
rom.-mtie version of the first iaterriew betwee-u Coruplaiitor aud his white father,
O'Baii or " Abeel."
21

:130

PIIELrS AND GORTIAm'.S rURCIIASE.

Bedford, which he never occupied, but he used to often pride him-
self upon its possession, and the munner in whicii he cnnie by it.

In a ramble, to give the reader some account of their neighbors,
the adventurers wlio were mere immediately under consideraticn,
have almost been lost sight of We left Willinm Wadsworth hewing
plank for their shantee, by cnndle light, and James emerging from
the forest, where he had been lost on his return from Cananchiigua.
The shantee went up, and the work of clearing a small spot of^p-
land anrl preparing a few acres of flats for summer crops, was im-
mediately commenced. There was from the first, a division of
labor l)etween the two brothers : — William had been bred a
farmer, and from habit and ])hysical constitution, waa well adapted
to take the laboring oar in that department. Few men were better
fitted for a Pioneer in the backwoods — to wrestle with the harsh-
est features of Pioneer life —or for being merged in habits, social
intercourse and inclinations, with the hardy adventurers who were
his early cotemporaries. The backwoodsmen called him "Old
Bill," and yet he had not reached his 30th year ; —not from any dis-
respect, but as a kind of backwoods conventional nomenclature At
a log house raising, " a bee," or a rude frolic, " he was one of them ;"
and when there were any "doings" at "Old Leicester," "Pitt's
Flats," or Williamsburg, he was pretty sure to be there. He took
an early interest in the organization of the militia, and mingled
with the recollections of the author's boyhood, is " General B^ill,"
at the fall musters, with his harsh, strong features, and bronzed
complexion, mounted upon his magnificent black charger ; the
" observed of all observers," the not inapt personification of the
dark and frowning god of war; and to youthful backwoods eyes,
he looked nothing le.5s.

James, was by nature, of a difierent cast, and to natural incli-
nations had been added the polish and the discipline of mind
acquired in college halls, and a mingling in the most cultivated of
New England society. The transition, the change of a New Eng-
land home, for that of a cabin in the wilderness, and the associa-
tions of the backwoods, was far less easy and natural ; thouirh by
alternating between the settlement at " Big Tree, " and Cana^ndai-

NcTE.— James Hiulson, the snn ami successor of Jolui. was one of tlm fi„o«t ^pfici-

li,'.';ri',/i' ;!f T"'' I '''1 ''"'""' '"■?■' "' ^''° ""''"^y ^'■'^'» "*' ^^^ttli'ment. Staid and d .'iii-
tieil 111 Ins aeportiiient, ]w was tnilv one of "Dftiire's no1.Ipi<ip,i " ^

:mr,w

PHELPS AND CiOTiirA:\l's PURCHASE.

331

j,'ua, Albany and Connecticut, he managed to accommodate himself
very well lo circumstances. Ij)on him devolved the land agen-
cy, and soon extending: its spiiore, and purchasino; Inrsoly on the
joint account of himself and brother, even in early years, he be-
came engrossed in a business of great magnitude.

They had left behind thorn a large circle of family connexions
and friendH in "old Durham, " and great was their concern for the
rash adventurers who had pushed away on Ijejond the verge ^f
civilization, and set down in the midst of wild beasts, and then l)ut
recently hostile Indian tribes. How diifereut is now the spirit and
feeling of the age ? Then, there had been brooding over New Eng-
land the incubus of foreign dominion, binding, fettering enterprise,
and confuiing it to nari-ow, sterile and unpropitious bounds ; until
when the fetters were shaken off, it seemed rashness to venture
upon the extension of settlement and civilization even to this fair
region, where all would seem to have been so inviting and promis-
ing. Now, under the blessings, the stimulus, the release from
foreign thraldom, of something over half a century, our young men
make a hasty preparation, and are off over a wide ocean track, foun-
ding villages and cities on the Pacific coast, in the interior, and fol-
lowing up, up, the dark ravines of the Sierra Nevada, are making
their camps upon its slope and its summit ; and in fond kindred
circles at home, there is less concern for them than there was for
the young adventurers who pushed out from New England to settle
in the Genesee country.

An active correspondence commenced between James and his
New England friends soon after their departure from Durham.
In a letter to his brother, John N. Wadsworth, dated at Albany, he
says : — " We have secured a boat and pilot, forage is pretty scarce,
but our expenses do not exceed our expectations. We have now
arrived where Genesee is much talked of, and all accounts confirm
us in our choice. All hands are in good health and fine spirits ; lay
aside all anxiety for us. We expect many difficulties but are fast
in the belief that perseverance will surmount them. There hn^
arrived this day, two vessels from Rhode Island. One has 28 and
the other 30 passengers, bound full speed for the Genesee country.
The migrations to the westward are almost beyond belief. Gin's
(the colored woman,) courage rather increases, as many of her
'^olnv are froiufr to the Genesee."* A tender epistle to James, in no

331'

PHELPS AM) GOUIIAm's PUUCIIASK,

aiasculine han.I, diito.l at New Haven, imayines that at some Indian
war dance, his scalp may be one of the trophies " that will daiurje
Irom the belt of a Seneca brave. " She ad<ls, that " nothing short
of niakinjr a fortune could induce you to reside amongst an uiicivill
ized people, exposed to the savages of the wilderness. " Samuel
Street, ot Chippewa, C. \V., writes a note from CanandaJcnia, on a
small strip ot paper, asking Mr. Wadsworth to excuse it "as paper
IS very scarce hei:e. " John 15. Van Epps writes from Schenectady
that " leter and Gerritt Ryckman would not take up the four bar-
rclsof rum to Canaudnigua. under 84 per barrel; and to be paid
likewise tor riding the barrels over the carrying place. "

As early as Seplember, 17U0, the progress ol' improvement was
arrested : — William and all of his hired hands had the fever and
ague, the wench Jenny being the only well one among them JJis-
heartened by disease, the hired men returned to " Connecticut,
where they were soon tbllowed by James, leaving William and
the negro woman, to winter in the shantee and take care of 'the
stock.

James Wadsworth started from Durham, in April 1791 • but was
delayed in New York by the sprouting of the ague, the seeds of
which had been sown the fall previous. He arrived however at
"Big Tree " in June, and writes back to his uncle James thai' lie

ox-cnn, outline out r„a,l. and nu,Vins. "a n tht^T " ^|" ,^::^ «;™ohn.es ,„ ti.o
Hist tljat tiK. ex|,c.,l.tio„ ^va.s a w,Ll a,ul 1 >. i; un^a d^ f^^^ "'."

would bo U.t t., ,,. back to '■ Old Durha,„ " aild ^'o 11 uj^a'a bad gb."'""' ^'"^ ''

Revolution, ^v.. n u,on,borot ,l,e Co;,;!,'' ^ i ,^ ^ss", w^r";. ;"" '" ""
nent iiu-n oj ^c■w E nn-land. Ir wn,;!.| set'o, tint •.IWtl ,! , I < , '. '"' '"■'""'"
U.n, if not tbe ,uanl,.n, .ho kind u..n,:;.':;,:.t;: ^.i ^ ..'Z''^'':'"'''

fi rhis incniorv is ilw natura iinind^o uium ih.. „ ..i V i • '"■ '" l"" ^V'-- lu-vurciico

had d..part«l fi.r the Gcnos, ."S-v ^HislSw^/T '''u''^'", *'"'"" ='"'■'• ^'""^
ono. re .loto ^vith advi... and ad.no , ^.n 'ilv ^ ", ti h". H 7' ''''' ■"" '^ ^*""f
instructions as to tlio dutirs and imrMiitso f i l * ', ' ''Uio is soninuml, and

the nc,,]K.ws ;dl fhccurront noVs I /, • "j -f t "; ""k' I'"^^]^,,'" ■^"'■V' l'.^' ^^'^-.s
pa,.ors or mails, (as thov roallv ^veIv ^ •!, I .'o?' -, , i ••"'"' *'"' ''''"''^' "' "^'"■''-

yol, of the in,,H;Aancc .^^ " Ss" , d •" I ^ ^n t in I'n'u^ ^ '"'"' """'"'^

obsm-alion of the SaM.nli ; of jiwiicc i" ■ „ ;, , ' '' '"^'^ •^^.''tl'^"'^"' • "i '^ I-'opcr

and of inviolably Hupponini^ J' - c ml ' V, j ^^ ^'^^l^i ^l"-'''^''!;, ^^.th the Ind.ans;
Indians. WhatVver nisbamlrv ^4?mlVVt ,',/', ".'"' '?;"'"' "^''^''''"'""i?
other letter, he strikes off npo, f vU „e v li^ Tl ^r:'!?; ^ • '^'' "^''"" '" '""
topics an,on!,M,urpolitician,sand ^Jml C^;;^,.]ilJTZT''' '" f''""'^'' ."'■'• l''«
are nun.h .h,. order of .he dav tluTe^'lt u1 ^ ^^"".^^Inrd a^ If H "' "'^'^^"'^""'^i"".
pn;pe,.ly appli., i„ ...e i,,siances. K.p.ll^s^v;^ tlil^iin'^'hc , 'i; ;;rj|;ir^;;^ ^^

I'nELPH AXD GORTIAM3 PUI!CJTA?«E.

333

foiuhl '•brother Bill well ; and by ])ersin'eriiig indiistiylic h:\s much
iiiiprnvo<l the place, and given our settlciiieiit a very dilll'ieut and
hiLrhly pleasing aspect. We have an excellent enclosed pasture
within eight rods of our house, and please ourselves with the pros-
pect of soon enjoying most of the conveniences of settlements of
several years standing. We have tiie pn)S(»ect througiiout the
country of ;i most extraordinary crop of wheat ; ours far exceeds
our expectations, and corn promises 00 or 70 bushels to the acre.
Our flats bespeak a great quantity of hay,(\vil(l grass.) Respecting
the Indians, we are so far from dreading the Six Nations (our neigh-
bors) that we consider them no inconsiderable security. Thev
have given us the most satisfactory proof of their friendsliip. We
shall not be troubled by the southern Indians. I am happy to say
that on second view of the Genesee country, I am confirmed in my
favorable opinion of it. We have received a great increase of in-
habitants the winter past. Four barns were raised last week in
Canandaigua, within a half mile distance. Ontario, from a dreaiy
wildiM-ness begins to put on the appearance of a populated country. "
In a letter to his uncle James, dated in August, same year, he
says: — " The Indians have returned from the treaty(Pickering's at
Newtown,) highly pleased. The inhabitants now do not even think
of danger from the Six Nations ; although fears are entertained
that the southern Indians will attack the Six Nations. "

In 1791, Oliver Phelps, First Judge of Ontario county admits
James Wadsworth to practice as attorney and counsellor " to enable
persons to sue out writs and bring actions, which at the present,
for want of attornies, it is impossible to do. "

The Messrs. Wadsworths' from year to year, extended their far-
ming operations, bringing the broad sweep of flats that they pos-
sessed, under cultivation, and stocking it with cattle. There beincr
no access to markets for wheat, they raised but little, but were early
large producers of corn. Their cattle went to the Philadelphia
and JJaltimore mru-kets principally ; some were sold to new settlers,
and some driven to Fort Niagara and Canada. Independent of
their cultivated fields, the uplands and flats in summer, and the
rushes that grew in abundance upon the flats, in winter, enabled
them to increase their cattle to any desired extent. The present
town of Rush, upon its flats had extensive meadows of rushes, upon
which tlieir cattle were herded for several of the early winters.

1^'

\
i

1 1 ii

IN
I i

II !

' I

834

PHELP8 AND GOKHA.Al's PUKCIIASE.

They at one period had an extensive dairy. Tiie cultivation of
hemp engaged their attention in an early day, and along in 1800,
and a few succi vding years, they were large cultivators of it, with
others upon the river. They nuinufactured much of it into ropes,
for which they found a market la Albany and New York. In com-
mon with others in their neighborhood, they commenced the culti-
vation of tobacco ; but that business fell pretty much into the hands
of a company, who came on from Long Meadow, in Connecticut,
rented flats of them, and cultivated for a few years largely. They
cured it and put it \i\ for market alter the Virginia fashion. The
breeding of mules fo. the Baltimore market, was a considerable
business with them in early years. In later years they turned their
attention to sheep, nnd prosecuted wool growing to an extent that
hns never been exceeded in the United States. In some observa-
tions of Professor Rcnwick, they are ranked with Gen. Wade Ilam})-
ton, of S. Carolina, in reJerence to the magnitude of their opera-
tions, at the "head of agricultural pursuits in the United States."

While the inmiediate care of all this chiefly devolved upon Wil-
ham Wads'.vorth, James iiarticipated in it by a general supervis-
ion, the purchase and sale of stock in distant markets, the procuring
ot improved breeds of cattle and sheep, and a scientific investiga*^
tion of all matters of practical improvement in agriculture.

T^rom their first coming into the country, they were con,^ atly
extending their farming operations, and adding to their possessions.
In early years they were materially aided in all this, by the use of
the capital of their friends in New England ; especially that of
their relative. Col. .Teremiah Wadsworth; but their extensive and
judiciously conducted farming, soon began to yield them large
profits, winch added to the commissions that James realized upon
various land agencies, in the aggregate, of vast magnitude, and of
profits of purchase and sale of wild lands upon his own account
enabled them to add farm to farm, and tract to tract, until they were
ranked among the largest land holders in the United States; and
m i-eference to present and prospective value of their possessions,
pi-obably the largest. Certainly no others owned and managed so
many cultivated acres.

Ini « Y«al ^...:us ..pj.h. ,1 moHl of the «iuuil JcaW. ^s..i oi bun.ca Luku,

nlo pliiL's, .'Hid

rilELrS AXD GOmiA^MS PURCHASE.

335

,'liu1

In February, 1790, James Wadsvvorth sailed lor Europe. He
went upon his own account, upon tiiat of joint partners with him in
land operations, and other km^e land holdeis in the United States.
And here it is .not out of fjUice to remark, that land s})eculations had
beconia rife very soon after the close of the Revolution. Large
quantities of wild lands were tlu'own into market by the dili'erent
States, pre-emption rights weie obtained. Indian cessions followed,
and very soon most of the available capital and credit of the whole
country was used in the i)urchase of lands. They rose rajjidly in
value, fortunes were made, but as we have seen in later years, a
crash followed, ruin and bankruptcy overtook, a large and prominent
class of the operators. No matter how low they had purchasetl
their lands ; if they were in debt for them, sale, settlement and nn-
provement, would fall behind the pay days of purchase n)oney, and
wide tracts of uncultivated wilderness was a poor resource for taking
care of jn'otested bills, and threatened foreclosures. Speculators had
over bought, even with the ([uantity of wild lands then marketable,
and when other wide regions in the north-west territory were thrown
into market, and brought into competition, embarrassments were en-
hanced. In '95, '6, this untoward state of things had arrived at its
culminating point ; an exigency existed which created the alterna-
tives of ruin to nearly all who had ventured in large land specula-
tions, and the enlisting of cai)ital in Europe.

In such a crisis, a distinct realization of which, can only be liad
by a general review of the history of that period, Mr. Wadsworth
was selected as an agent to go to Eurojie, and make sales of lands to
foreign capitalists. It was ce-rtainly no sniall compliment to the bus-
siness reputation and character of one who had gone out in his youth
and acquired his recommendations in the back woods, to be thus
singled out from among the most prominent men in the United
States, whose interest, with his own, he was to proinote. His visit
l(.) Europe, was at the suggestion, and attended by the co-operation,
of Uobert Morris, Thomas Morris, Governeur Morris, Aaron Burr,
Charles Williamson, De Witt Clinton, Robert Troup, Oliver Phelps.
Nicholson and Greenleaf, Col. Jeremiah Wadsworth, of Hartford,
and other prominent men of New England and Pennsylvania. His
mission was undertaken under adverse-circumstances : — What was
understood in Eurojie to have been the highly successful ventures of
the London'associutes, and the ilolland Company of Amslerdaui, in

nnr.

pni'irrs and ciouiiam'm pni:(!irAMT<:.

IiiikI.; ill flii; i(Mri,,ti. Ii;i(| hail (Iin (>li;«ct. to sfiiimlafc ofluTs. and at
firsi, lo cnvitc a, stioii;^ ilisiiositinn lor Aiiiciicaii land invcsdncnts.
hund a-rciils liiid (locked lo iMiropc, and it is not at all stran-c tliat
iinp(V'ili..ns had liccii piacliccd. and thai many liad lu-cn. (to ns<< :i
in.'dcrn l<-nii,) viclinii/rd. Tlic reader need only Ik! told, (liat !i
system of .<|.(-raiions had been carried on, not nnlik<' tlui inappinj^
•'>iid |il:illiii;r upon papiM-, uliicli prevailed in lN;t({, '7. Mr. W.ads-
woith iv.aclie.l l':urop(« .at ;i p,>riod of ivaetioii, and yet. with llii>
f<vstimonials he rariied with him, addinl to the conlidenoe he inspired
hy his di.niiiy of d,>p()rtment .and nianil'est in(ei.rrity of purpose, hy
!i slow process, his mission was m.ainly siiccrssliil. II(. visited, .anil
resided t(«mporaily in London, I'aris and An.sterdam. His Idlers of
iiilrodiiction.comiii.-; fromhie;!! soiirci-s in this country, ,i;ave him no-
r(>ss to the society of prominent fiiianci.al men ol'thal period, .and inci-
dentally to that ol'some (Miiinent statesmen and scholars. Favored ;it
<Mic.' I.y the eountenanee .and hiendship of Sir Wm. l»ulten(>y and
AFr. folipdioun. and in Amsterdiim, with that of the memhers of the
IloI!,and (\)mpany, aiiK.n.^ whom was on(> (<ininent statesman, and
several who ornipied a hi<di iiosition .as bankers, the youDir liack-
woodsman. from then youn.r America, w^as (Miahled t.) plaee him-
solf u|>,m a iavorahle lootinjr. not only with reCeivnce to the immo-
diate ohiects of his mission, hut with nd'erenee to those advanin'^-es
iHM'iMvd ( y foiviim (rav.d and r.>sidence. I Je remained abroad until
the last of \ovember. 17!)S. In all this time, he elllvted a larw
muonnt of sales, and to this mission is to be attributed many of the
iorei-n proprietorships in this re-ion. as well as in oth(<r portions of
the Tnited States. Some brief extracts from his corrospon.lence
whil,« abroad. po,ss.>ss not only local, but i^eueral hist.irioni inter-
est, imd are contained in a note .•utached. While in London
Air. Wadsworth obtained a commission agency from Sir William
rnlteney, for tho sale o[' lands ujion the I\rill Tract west of
tienesee H Ivor, ombraciiur what is now (Vdcn, Parma, Ki^,!, {1,i|i
;ind a part of (Greece and Wheatland, from William Sixr.."f Am-
sterdam, for the sale o( the township, now Ucnnetla, and from
tethers, the agency for the sale of other tracts. And a.Med fall
this, was the ns^ency for the s.ale o( lands in the Cene.see country
belonpni^to.lerciniah Wadsworth and. other New England land*-
holders. The duties thus as.sumed. loszether with the general man-
au'onient o( what then, constituted. t!ie Wadsworth estate, of farms

PITELl'H A,\I) (lOKIfAMS riTUOHARE.

837

rind wild Innds, throw niton his hmids an arnonnt dI' I)usin('ss seldom
dcvnlvitif^ upon one individual, aiid rc(iuirin'^r nil his tirno and cner-
<j;i('s. Ho must Ix^ rctrardod as the patroon of now scttlotnents in
his own nci^hl)orli(M»d, iti a largo portion <)\' llio present county of
Monroe, atid in several other localities. His European a'^encies
wore upon terms that ;!;uve him an interest in the sale and settlement
of wild lands, in soino instances more than i'.(\\v,i\ to that of the jiro-
prietors, and he was indefati_a;aJ)Ie in promotiiiy; sales. The fine re-
f^ionscominj^ under hissu[)ervision, uid)roken by sales or settlement,
prineipally west of the (Jenesoc; river; were put in m;irket, and
(.'oinir to New I'iiiLdand, he [trosecuted ti[)on a. lar^c^ scialc, a system
that Mr. I'helps had he.i!;an, of exchanivinir wild lands for farms, "
whcM th(! occupants would Ixicome residents. lie thus secured a
jfood class of now settlers, and no where in the whole historv of new
settlements in thiscotmtr}', have they been more prosperous, abating
such dr;iwl)acks as were beyond his control, than those were of
which h(^ may be regarded thi> founder. And while he was thus
the. instrument, eventually, to promote the prosi)erity of others, he
was laying the foundation, or accumulating, the. largo estate which
his family now ]>ossess. The profits oi his agencies were large
ones, and wore invested in wild lands and farms. These beiiK^

g niM-ally retained and well managed, the ri.se in value chielly helped

NdTK. — l''r(im lidiiihm, .hiiic, '!M;. ,F. W. writcw to OIiiirloM Wilkes,* lli:it lio wns
Ujioii ilii' iHiinI 111' ('IJ'rcliii;,' l:irLCc siilcH oi hiiid, "luit all had hccii IViislralcrl l>v oppo-
Hilidi'. in llic II. (it Kvp, 1.1 Jay's Ircaly." "'I'lii' t'car of sciiucslralinii and ii.iill«cati(iii
lias (ir.sMoycd .all cdnlidcnrd willi cap'ilalislH in Kni^larKl. lii'sidcs tlicy l'c;:r llic cllert
(if iMvni'h inlluciu'c in llic riiilcd yialcs." " Mr. Vdniit,^ ji lai;;c Kasl India cap-
ilalist, l<i whoni I was froin:,' to s<'ll Itd.OOl) acres <if land at liait' a f;iiin( a per acre,
backs (lilt in c(inKci|iience of news iVimi America." J. W. (o 'I'lidiiias .Mdnis, .May'
'HO, sjiys; — " I am prevetiled from Tnalcin;; sales liy (lie |irdceedinL''K df II. of Kepre-
penlatives." J. W. lo Oiarlcs Wilkes, ■linu'. '!t(i : — '"I'liiiitrs are lookiiii,' lictler ; neWH
lias l.een received llial ('on^re.-is liave passed llie necessary laws to carrv llie Irealy into
eiVecl ; contidence in American inve.stmcnls are reviving'." J. W. to Henj. West, (llio
celelirated p.'Mnter.) — " lie kiml enonirli to use yo'ir inlliience in i|nieliiii..; alarm and
L'etliiur lip Cdnliilence in London. I liave no diiiilil llial tin; L'niled Slates will lie as
liappy, and their irdvernment as pcrniaTienl, as is ailowalile to men, anil human insli-
luliniisinthe world." A cdrn-pdndenco lietween .Mr. Wadswiirth and Aanm linrr
was ki'iit lip dnrim'; the absence of the fdrnier; the Icller.sof Mr. liinr, would some-
limn.- lie upon mailer,'* df Inisine.ss, Sdmetimes n|idn iiolilics, which suhject Wdidd snd-
Jenly he arrested hy his faviirile theme, yossip upon conrtship and niarriai;e. Some
pdrlioHH of his letters are dhscnred liy the use df his ci])hers. A. 1>. to .1. W., Xov.
17!li; : — "1 refer yon to the !,'a/.ettes fo'r the name of the electors, and the parti'culara
Vi'l known respectiii!.;' the elfdion ; .1 I think will he 15; 1, ha.s, I think Ud chance ;
1') and I will run ^'cnerally to!,'ether, 4mt the latter will not succeed liy rea.son of
bomr .iisaU'ection in M ; — Hi, U), Wl been at home, i;{ would have lieen" the man iiH

* .\.i rmineiit early inerchant of New York ; a namesake and family cdiinevion of
Charii.- W dkos, of Londiui.

338

rnELPs AXD goriiam's purchase.

to make the lagest estate, perhaps, that has ever heen accimiulateii
in the United States, by the same process.

But lul no one, while viewing tlie broad domains of which he
died possessed, suppose tiiat they came to hiia in the absence of in-
dustry, economy, good management, or of long vears of severe
trial and embarrassments. Dependent, chidly, in' his early enter-
prises, upon the capital of others, he carried along through an ex-
tended period of depre.-sion, a slow growth of the country, a war that
bore heavily upon this local region — a large debt, and all the trials
and vexations which it carrits in its train.* It was not until the
war of 1812 made a good market for his produce, that lie began to
•be relieved from embarrassment ; his large clip of wool, his cattle,
grain, and the produce from his duiiy, enabled him to rapidly di-
minish his indebtedness ; then followed a few years of depression ;
then came that great measure of deliverance, and source of pros-
perity to all this region, the Erie Canal ; and participating largely, as
his possessions enabled him to do, in the rapid advance in the value
of real estate, in the facilities for market that it at once atlbrded
freedom from debt, unincumbered wealth that was soon rated "by
milHons, was the reward of his early wilderness advent, and over
half a century of industry and enterprise.

In a history of pioneer settlement, such as this is intended to be,
one who bore so conspicuous a part in it, must necessarily occupy
a considerable space, and yet one entirely inadeciuate to the task of
detailing his immediate and intimate connection with the 'growth

7011 will JO c.,nvino,..,l ^v uMi y„>, shall roturn hcmo. Tpon il,o wlu.lo I am quite sat-
ishcH .v.ththe..lat.>.,t t hm.^s." "Kxcpt the lilllo h.i- ahvadv a.-kn-n lo"' I an 1
vluch appeai-od „ have bL..ii sent by ,ny bo.,ksellei-8, pr„bably under v.,ur onl ts I
have m,t receive.l a .,nok or a pan.phh.t iVun, you sin,'e your >esi,|,.nee „broa,l." ' 1
h,ne t horn the very best authority that your triend Liuklaen i.s soon to In. luarried
o a .lau,,']> er ol Major L.. yard, a prclly and aj4re..able ^dii Not a ba.l , ateh I

S^hu s A ; 't W ■•; P'v^^'iit u.d.^putably at llie head of n,y list. Under otir.
u dates A. B to J. A\ . --"J uive beeiMjiule a rerluse and a fanner this summer;
lw\e not .een two miles troni home smee my r.^linn Inmi I'hilndelphia; am !,ot iiiar-
ned nor have made any approaches to it, though .shall not probahlv y.s, another shx
l.H , hs sinn.le. though no partu.dar objee, has y<.t engnged 'mv attwuion. Cnd ble s
nnd piosper you ' t is hoped by some, feined by others, .■in'd b,.lieved bv all, tliat

he ] resident will deelme being a .■andidate at the next eh-etiou. Tiie ea.ididatc.s will
be burw-k, -1 i, .1 and I. Ihe ev.nl seems pretty doubttul. I have been told (this
d.iy,) and ully behove it, that ^'D .-uul 21 « ere i-ublielv married a lew daysa-o. Adieu
oiK'o more," » .. Jo- j»>"iu

_* In a letter to a friend after he liad had an experieiue of fifteen vears hesjivs'—
It IS slow realizing from new hinds. J will never advise iinotlier friend 'to invest in
tlK'in, .Men genoridly h.avt! not the i-e.iuisitepatieiK'c for siiecuiaang in tliein "'

PIIELPS AND GOEHAM S PUKCIIASE.

339

and prosperity of this region. His biography alone, if it followed
him in all his relations to our local region, would be almost its early
history. To say that his was a useful life, would be but a natural
deduction from his early advent, and his leading participation in
laying the foundation of that unexampled prosperity, which now
exists in a region that he entered, the wheels of his cart, and shoes
of his horse, making the first impress of civilization upon its soil !
The abatement, if any, from his life of usefulness, would be the
amount of territory he encompassed, and held on to with a tenacity,
almost amounting to dotage, or an inordinate desire to possess ex-
tended fields and forests. This ambition was first excited when a
young adventurer, on his way to IMontreal, in company with John
Jacob Astor, to seek employment as a school teacher, he saw an
extensive and beautiful estate, in one of the valleys of Vermont ;
and traveling in Europe, a few years afterwards, making a sojourn,
occasionally, at the hospitable seats of immense land proprietors, he
seems to have been confirmed in his desire for a similar position,
and to have steadily pursued his object in after life. Great landed
estates in a country like ours, are a sore evil ; the effects, in various
ways, bearing heavily and vexatiously upon their immediate
neigliborhoods. It is no " vote yourself a fiu'm" spirit, no sympathy
in common with agrarianism, that dictates the exjiression of a hope,
that b)' all legal means, the evil may be abated. It would have
been far better for the beautiful valley, where Mr. Wads worth cast
his lot in early life, and with which he became so intimately blen-
ded, if his ambition for large possessions had been more moderate;
but, " may I not do as I will with mine own? '" is an interrogation
he might well have opposed to those who cavilled at his monopol}-
of the soil.*

* And this rcniiiiils II11' aiilhur (if an aiu'Cildtu of iiii carlv and vi'iioratt'd coteinpora-
ry of Ml'. Wadswoith, the late Ani,'ustuH I'orter. Tiie ])(isst'ssiou in liis family of " Goat
Island." and all the most dcsii'atik' t;-rounds 011 tho Anicricau side, at Nia^'ara Falls,
and the tcnarity with which tlioy were held, when iniiJi-ovcmcuts were s(Uii!:ht to
he made, had oeeasioned nn I'li of mnrmmint; and faidt findini;;, in which the au-
thor, as the editor of a iiajier in tjiesanie eonnly, had ]iailu'i]iated, oeeasionally !,'ivin,i»
pome tln-nstsat what nsed to lie called the " nionopuly." While enn-a!i;ed in a |ireccding
l.isitirieal worli, tlie old f,'eiitlenian had kindlv i,d\en liini tlu^ henelit of days and
niu'lits of ounversatiou n])on Iheeaily iiistory ol' all this retjion ; his peisoiial narrative,
that lii'^ini with Ids early adventures in the wilderuet^s, his early years spent in survey-
or's canijis, eneounterini;' hardships and ])rivations; his at'ter Ions years of toil. At
the close of tliis intc^rview. sulVerinir under I'oddy inthnntics. partly consequent ujion
nil this, ho observed : — "Isow you have luy w'hule history ; you have seeu liow I

340

PHELPS AND GORITAm's PUECIIASE.

At an early. period — almost as soon as the farming operations of
the Wadsv^orths were fairly commenced —James Wadsworth crave
much of his attention to agricultural improvements. He may be said
to have given the impetus, in this state, to the application of science,
the heeding of the simple teaching of nature, the elt/ntion of rural
labor from mere uninslructed handicraft, to the position and the di^r.
nity It has been rapidly assuming. He had cotemporaries, co-opera-
tors — there were perhaps those before him in the state, who had
labored m the same field - hut he had entered upon the work with
an earnestness, with practical views, and aided with his pen and
his purse, effectual measures, that helped to mark a new era in
agricultural improvements. Practical in his views upon all sub-
jects, his theories and recommendations occupied the mi.ldle crround
betvveen a judicious and healthy reform in the cultivation "of the
earth, and stock breeding, and the extravagancies of mere theorists.
1 he practicability and the usefulness of a thing with him were always
allied. Had he been in the place of Mr. Jefferson, his spirit of enter-
prise may have dictated the erection of a saw mill upon an eminence,
to be propelled by wind, but before he had ventured upon the ex-
periment, he would have seen how his saw logs were to be got up
the steep ascent.

His, was a mind too active to repose upon the possession of
wealth, or fall into supineness and inactivity, when the stimulus of
gain had in a measure subsided. It reached out after new objects,
when old ones were accomplished. Education, — educat ' .n of the
masses, alHed to political economy, in all its later years, became
with him, if not a hobby, an object of intense interest. He was not
unmindful of the higher interests of religion, but even those he would
have made secondary in the economy of life, believing that educa-
tion of the mind was the broad superstructure upon which all of
spiritual as well as temporal good should be based. As the possessor
of property, he urged upon the wealthy of the state, by stron.- r,p.
peals, that it had no security short of the education of the masre- ,
out of which alone wou'd grow a respect for the laws, aii<I vested
rights. He was the patron of J. Orville Taylor, in his first move-
ments ; had essays upon education, upon political economy, tracts,

hav

tmnly no c.mvc.,.ic.nt ^vay of ineotrng tlie rebuke, or answering the interrroiat" ly

tllG

ccr-

P1IELP3 AND GCPJIAMS PUECHASE.

341

printed and distributed through the state, at his own expense ; en-
listed newspapers in tl\e cause of education, by paying tlieni for
setting apart a space for its discus^-ion; aided i-n the estabhshment
of the District School Journal, and paid salaries to public lecturers,
to go through the State, and arouse public attention to its impor-
tance. If the system of District School Libraries did not originate
with him, (as there are some reasons to suppose it did,) it had the
benefit of his early and efficient aid. In tne way of agricultural
improvement, he had essays printed and distributed, and was an
early and efficient patron of Judge Buel, in the starting of the
Cultivator, at Albany

A love of order, system and regularity, was one of his leading
characteristics. This is strikingly exhibited in his correspond-
ence, and the careful manner in which it was preserved ; and
equally so in the written instructions to his agents. His office
clerks he reminded of the maxim : — "Every thing in its place, and
a place fur every thing ;" and they were forbidden to hold any con-
versations with those who came to tlie office to do business, on
the subject of party politics, but instructed to interest themselves,
and hold conversations "in reference to schools, and the means of
their improvement." His out-door clerk, or farm agent, was in-
structed to " frequently visit every farm, make suggestions to ten-
ants ; see how they manage alfairs, see that every farm has growing
upon it good and wholesome fruit ;.look to the compost heaps and
manure ; see that the premises are made conducive to health." All
short comings, negligencies, and slovenly, or bad management, you
are to report to the office. Your inquiries should be : — " Are the
gates in good order ? Is the wood-pile where it ought to be ? Are the
grounds around the house kept in a neat and wholesome manner ?
Are the sheds, and yard fence around the barn in a good state of re-
pair ? The land agent should make suggestions to the tenants on
the leading principles of good husbandry, with frequent reference

Note. — Tn a letter to Mr. Traup, nl'tcr lie had succoedod to the PulU'iuiy nguiicy, in
180,"), Mr. Wiulswin'tli iirj^'cs tlio suttinji; apart of laud in eacli township " for a school
house, meeting: hovu-^e, gleljo, and pai-sonaj."'." He acidic : — " 1 am not sujurslifioiLs, but
I believe in Christianity; lain no partwni, lint 1 lielieve in the piety iif patriot-
is:-i ; and amidst the atHu'tionsof this wayuard -worhl, it ajipears lo niethat thesweot-
est ('(insolations that attend advanced life, is a recollection of snb.staulial lieneiits con-
ferred npon our country of haviiiL; contributed our fidl ndte t(j theimpiovement and
happiness (if our felk'W men : especially t" llmt port-'H of them whose di slinics, 'ire in-
lluenced more or luHS by our decisions, and by iLubiluaUonn, 'whicli, uudui Froviduucc,
w6are jilaccd."

342

PHELPS AND GOrJIA;M's PURCHASE.

: .»
:ltl

to sound mornls, founded on the sanction of religion and just
reasoning; and also the unappreciable importance of the edu-
cation of youth; and of a vigilant attention to the state of com-
mon schools in the lessees' district. Shade trees must bo about
each house. From a look or two about the garden or house, you
can easily ascertain if the occupant drinks bitters in the morning
or whiskey with his dinner. If he drinks bitters, vou will find his
garden full of weeds."

To a natural love of rural scenery, skirted and dotted with forests
and shade trees,had been added observation in European travel where
time ha<l enhanced their beauty and value. In England, in fact,
he had learned to love trees, and appreciate the importance of their
preservation ; and in nothing has he so distinctly left traces of him-
self, as in the beautiful woodland scenery and magnificent lV,rest
trees, so much admired, in the immediate valley of the Genesee
With the same forecast that enabled him to estimate the prospec-
tive value of lands, he saw far ahead what this whole region is no^y
beginning to realize, the evil of destroying the native forests, with-
out planting and rearing trees for future practical uses, as well as
ornament.

The personal character of Mr. Wadsworth may mostlv be infer-
red from tliis imperfect sketch of him, as the Pioneer and founder
of settlements. yVlmost his entire history is blended with this local
region — its early settlement and progress; though he took a deep
interest in public affairs, it was in the retirement of private life,
from which he would seem to have never had a disposition to be'
drawn by any allurements of official stations. His private corres-
pondence, the ability with which ho discussed various subjects of
political economy, scientific agriculture and education, evince a
clear, sound judgment, strengthened by judicious, practical read-
ing; mdeed, his library, like all the appointments of his farms his
stock, his dwelling, and his garden, is chosen with a strict regard to
utility. " He was," (says a surviving cotemporary, * ) « a good jud-^e
ot men — .seldom erred in his estimation of them — and reiving up-
on his judgment, was even arbitrary in the withholding ancfbcstow-
al of confidence. He had not the elements of popularity ; or if he
had, did not choose to make them available ; usually absorbed in
the cares of business, or some favorite study, he was reserved in his

Cft.v,,,

•■"i-

PITELrs AXD GOKnA:\l's PURCHASE..

343

deportment, and liable to be ro,a;nrded as austere and unsocial ; but
relaxing, as he sometimes would — freeing his mind from its bur-
dens, he would exercise fine conversational powers, not unmixed
with humor, wit and gaiety."

William Wadsworth, as has already been indicated, was the prac-
tical farmer, and has little of history disconnected with the imme-
diate supervision of large farming operations, and his early and
prominent position in the local military organization. At the battle
of Queenston, after the wounding of Gen. Solomon Van Rensselcar,
the immediate command devolved upon iiim, and he acquitted him-
self with honor, and won even something of laurels, upon a badly
selected and generally unfortunate battle field, where they were
scarce, and hard to acquire.* He was a bachelor, and a bachelor's
history has always an abrupt termination. lie died in 18r}3, aged
71 years. His property which had been mostly held in common
with his brother James, was willed to his children; thus leaving the
large estate unbroken.

James Wad"worth died at his residence in Geneseo, in June,
1844, aged 70 years ; leaving two sons and two daughters. His
eldest daughter, was the wife of Martin Brimmer, of Boston, at
one period the Mayor of that city; she died in 1834. His second
daughter, Elizabeth, was married in January, of the present yeai',
in Scotland, to Charles Augustus Murray, second son of the late
Earl of Dunmore, and a nephew of the Duke of Hamilton ; and
now resides at Cairo, in Egypt, where her husband is the diplomatic
representative of the British Government.f His son, William

* M:iiisSc;l(l, oiiuof tlio hio^rriiphors of Gen. Scott, says that when lie had crossed
the Xi;i[,'arn, at tlio l)attlo of (^iicciistnii, and arrivod iipfm the Tlri^lits, he prupnseil
to (ieii. Wadsworth, ins^teadof tLssumiiig tlie chief coiiiinaiid to Hiiiit it to tlie lemilur
force; to which the brave and patriotic Wadsworlii replied: — " Xo, you know best
jirofessionally what oiiglit to be dr)no ; I am liere for tb.e honor of my country, and the
New Yorlv nulitia." And the l)ioi,'ra])lier adds : — " Scott assumed the command, and
Wadsworth throuirhout (lie movements that ensued, ilared every danger in .seeondini;'
his views. Though they liad met for the tirst time, ho had become attaclied to the
youn<j; C(donel, re])eate(lly durini^ tlui Ijattle, interposini!; his own person to shield
Scott from till' Indian riMes, which his tall foiTU attracted." This statement, illus-
trating llio modesty of his courage, is confirmed by General Scott.

tHe is the grand son of Loril Dunmore, the governor of the cohmy of Virginia on
the breaking out of the Kovolution, In If^'.il, he visited t}m cotnitry, u]!on a torn-
undertaken with the two fehl objects of liusiness and jileasure. Upon investigation
he ascertained tliat by some defect or omission in tlie N'irginia acts of contiscation,
he could recover a largo tract of land that had behinged to liis grand-father, but he
declined consummating the recovery upon learning that the land was nearly valueless.
Striking off into tlie western States, lie orgnnixed at St. Louis a eor]>3 of ulh eiiturers,
and with them visited one of the far westeni Indian nations — the Pawnees — spend-
ing the inoBtof tt summer with them, joining them in their rural sport ■j, atvl i',ccf>';;-

344

PHELPS AXD GOKIIA.^l's PUIiOIIASE.

Wadswortli, who marriorl the daughter of Auntin, of Boston,

resides at the old (annW mansion in Geneseo. His son. James S.
Wadswnrtii, who married tin: daughter of John Wharton, of Piiiladel-
phia, IS the occupant of a fine mansion he has erected in a MV)ve
a short distai^ce north of t.he village of Geneseo, upon a blua'lhat
overlooks a broad sweep of the valley of the Genesee. Upon him.
in consequence of the abscence of the surviving sister, and the in-
firmities^ of his brother, flevolves the entire management of the
Wadsvvorth estate ; a difficult task, with all its diversified interest
Us numerous farms, and tracts of wihl lands ; but one that is well
performed, not only in reference to the estate itself, but with refer-
ence to the public interest in which so large landed possessions are
necessarily merged. The representative of the early Pioneers —
his father and uncle - " to the manor born" - while he knows little
of the hanlships, self-denial, the long years of trial and anxiety
which attended the accumulation of tiie immense wealth he controls,
he entertains liberal and enlightened views in reference to its iu;in'
agement and disposition ; is not unmindful, as his frequent acts of
punhc munificence bear witness, of the local interests and prosper-
ity of his native valley of the Genesee. While in many portions
of our country, the evil attending the accumulation of great estates
is much enhanced by the narrow and sordid views of those into
whose hands they fall; in this, as well as in other instances, in our
own prosperous region, it has been mitigated. It was something
more than the mere possession of wealth — something of the more
legitimate claims to poi)uIar esteem — that during the last winter
created that intense anxiety in the local public mind, when the
worst ieai-s were entertained in reference to the iate of the packet
ship, in which the subject of this incidental notice, had taken pas-
sage on iiis return voyage fi'om Europe.

pa . n- tu>,u,n their huftilo huuU He is the .author of a hook of " Travels in North

Amvna," an.l of he j.onulur talc of fnet an<l tii-tioii - of wikl adventure an,l ro,„an-

jc nu.,, en,s_ entnleJ tL " I'rairie Und ;" ^vhieh the author is int/.rmeii iVo!,!. of

a q 1,0 lan.eof 1 he tanuly ,lur,ni,^ h,.s residence in Europe, and the youu^-er nuMuher

It ^lou^d,t a le.terof introduction to Idn, when he came out tothi/countrv in ]rM;

thenu. the aoiiuaintance; the se<iuel, after a hu.-r d.day, consequent upon tllo n.„ ,ied

lucstiwn ot country and residence, lias been f},e transfer of one of tlie Jauyhtei's „i' the

f^v oiT", !i." k 7 H '^ ni I'lr'-V, *^ ^^'^ '-■""'■^ '""' ^''" dil'l^"'=^tic circle of one of the
liu oil capilols ot the Old A\ orld.

,^''.7?:- — •''""'•« ^Va.lswortli in his life time, founded a Iit,rarv in Gencseo, erectincr
a buiUhn,!^ ior the puri.ose, and for its support deedinir to its Tnistees two fr".,. ami
faome vuhige i^roiierty. Ue made it free to every citiijeii of Livingston coiiuty. 1 1 has

riTELPS AND GORIIAJI'S PURCHASE.

845

In the primitive division of Ontario into Districts, the second
district, Geneseo, embraced all west of the east line of the present
towns of Pittsford, Mendon, Richmond. The first town meeting
for the " District of Geneseo, " was held at Canawajrus, April 9,
1791. John Ganson was chosen Sup. David Bullen, T.C. Other
town officers : Gad Wadsworth, Nathan Perry, Amos Hall, Israel
Stone, Edward Carney, Hill Carney, Jno. Ball, Isaiah Thompson,
Benj. Gardner, John Lusk, Jasper Marvin, Norris Humphrey.

It will be observed that these officers were distributed throughout
the entire settled region west of the line named above. It used to be
alledged that a little feeling of aristocracy had thus early crept into
the backwoods, and manifested itself in the choice of supervisor —
shoes, moccasins, and bare feet, were the order of the day, but '• Capl
Ganson, " glorying in tho possession of a pair of boots, the choice
fell upon him.

The town meeting in 1793, was held at "Miles Gore," Lima ;
Amos Hall was elected Supervisor. Thrs year, most of all the
early roads in Livingston, east part of Monroe, and west part of
Ontario, were laid out and recorded. Store and tavern licenses
were granted to Gilbert R. Berry, Wm. Wadsworth, Simon Stone,
Elijah Flowers, Pierce and Ransom, John Johnson, Donald JMc-
Donald, Elijah Starr, Abel Willey, Peter Simms, Nathaniel
Fowler, James Rogers, Wm. Hencher, Abner Migells. Nathaniel
Perry, Christopher Dugan.

At that early period, when stock of all kinds ran in the woods,
ear marks were appended. It is presumed that nearly all of the in-
habitant.s had their peculiar marks recorded. In many of the old
town books, the picture of a hog or a sheep's ear, is drawn, with
each man's mark delienated opposite his name. In 179G, there
were upon the town books of the district of Geneseo, the following
names of those who had chosen ear marks, in all the wide region
west of East Bloomfield to the western boundaries of the State.
There is no other form in which so many Pioneer names are re-
corded : —

mm- about 2,1500 Toluincs, and a yearly income of about $G0O. In his will, lie constitu-
ted Ills iininrdiiite heirs its trustees. Its maiiagcniont devolves ujwn James S. Wads-
worth, under which it iscarryinj^ oui the designs of its founder, and promises to become
oneof Ihc lar<iest Libraries in the State. He gave $10,000 the income of whicli is to be
en!i>l(!yed hi the education of .any iiulii^cnt vcl.'ilive. He. also g.nve *! 0.000, tliein-
coiiie of which is to be devoted to the benefit of the commou schools of the State.

1 !

346

PlIELrs AND GORHASl's PURCHASE.

Benjamin Gurdner,
IViiz (tiirdiier,
J. I'. ScaiH,
Clark Peek,
Jas|)cr -Marvin,
Jiifiii Alifcr
Jolm Gardner,
Jcihii Elinor,
yiiliiinon Hovey,
Anius Hall,
As,i linker,
Saiiniol iiarkur,
Paul Davisdii,
Saniut'l |{aki'r,jr.,
lOliJah Mori;an,
'i'licpiiias Peck,
Sylvi sior ilarviii,
Nathaiiicil Fowler,
Win. Harris
Kbcrii'zcr Mcitv,
Jariil) W'riL^lit, "
Al)raliani VVrii,dit,
S. C. linu'kway,

Elisl.il \V;uh',

StL'i)li('ii 'rui'kor,
Amariali JJittts,
Jos. Wright,
John Park^,
-lohn Gansoii,
David 9(" villi mr,
Alexander Forsyth,
•Icihii Beach,
Reuben Thayer,
Nuthauiel ifun;'er.

Henry Redding,
Josejih Sniiili,
Adiia lleai'ook,
Marvin (iatos,
Danifl (!ate«,
Phineas Hates,
Awdiei Jiiirchell,
Klicnezer Sprague,
Simon Titl'any,
Ezra Burchull,
Seth Lewis,
Alexander Ewing,
Gad W'adsworth,
Wni. Markhani,
Ehenezer Alerry,
Wni. VVad^worih,
Jed. Cuniniinf,'s,
Benjamin Thompson,
Lonn Wait,
'I'liomas Lee,
lliehard Wait,
Wni. Moore,
John Barnes,
Daviil Davis,
Samuel Goodrich,
Gershoni lieacb,
Daniel Fox,
Aaron Lyon,
"William Layton,
Hoiekiah Fox,
Joseph Baker,
Zebailon Moses,
Asahel Warner,

Tim. Ilosmor,
John ItlioiU-H,
David Bailev,
Thomas Rlii,'ells
Theo. She|)herd,
Ransom Smith,
Philip Simms,
David Markhani,
Reuben Heath,
Daidel Wright,
J'.s. Arthur,
P. and J. Sheffor,
Jo.s. Morgan,
Enos Hai-t,
Abel Wil.sey,
John Morgan,
Asa B. Simmons,
David B. Jlorgan,
Samuel Bullen,
Samuel Stevens,
Ge(jigo (iardner,
Joseph >rorton,
Jesse Pangburn,
Joel Har\ey,
David Benton,
Jeremiah Olmsted,
Joshua Whitney,
David Pierson,
Justus Minard,
Jon.athan (lonld,
Abiol (iardner,
Ezekiel Chamlierlin,
Benjamin Parsons,

The location of the Wadsworths at Geneseo.made that point the
nucleus of a considerable neighborhood, though for many years,
there was but a small cluster of buildings. The business of the
new settlements was divided between Geneseo, " Old Leicester,"
and Williamsburg. The Wadsworths resided in their primitive W
house until 1794, when they built a large block house on the site of
the old Wadsworth mansion. About 1804, they had erected the
upright part of the present building, a large square roofed house
that made an imposing appearance in a region of log houses, where
a framed house of any size was a rarity. The early clerk of
James Wadsworth, after he had opened his land office, was Samuel
B. Walley, an Englishman, the father of Mrs. Dudley Marvin ; lie
was succeeded by Andrew McNabb, who went into the Bath land
office ; Joseph W. Lawrence was first blacksmith in Geneseo. He
removed to Michigan, where he died in 1845. Among the promi-
nent early settlers, were : — Lemuel B. Jenning.s, Benjamin Squire,
Wm. Crossett, Rodman Clark, Wm. Findlay, David Findiav. As

PHELPS AND OOUHAm's PUR(^nASE.

847

oarly as IFOl. Mv. Wadsworth visited Mnrlhorough. Connecticut,
and exoiumtrc'd hnds I'or Ihrms, thus inducint,' several families to
remove, who settled on the road leading to Conesus, among whom
was David Kneeland ; their location was early called " IMarlhoroufrh
Street."

The early merchants atGeneseo were Minor & Hall. In 1805,
one of the firm, Hall, died at Oneida Castle, on his way to New
York to purchase goorls.

The prominent early merchant of Geneseo was the late Major
Wm. n. Spencer. He was from East Haddam, Conn. Arriving
upon the Genesee River in 1803, with his axe upon his shoulder, he
was a Pioneer of " Fairfield " now Ogden ; breaking into the wilder-
ness on Rush creek, about a mile east of Spencer's Basin, he built
a cabin, kept bachelor's hall, bought provisions of Mr. Shaefler,
carrying most of them in on his back ; built a saw mill, and in a little
over a year cleared fifty acres. Getting ready for his saw mill irons,
he went to Connecticut, and brought them all the way from there
with an ox-team. In 1804 he struck the first blow in Rin-a, makinc
an opening, and erecting a house for Mr. Wadsworth, a mile and a
half southeast of Churchville.

In 1805 he was induced by Mr. Wadsworth to take an interest
with him in a mercantile establishment in Geneseo. Starting with
a large stock of goods for that period, his business extended as set-
tlement advanced, and there were many early years that his trade
embraced a wide region. His goods came by the water route from
Schenectady to the foot of Cayuga Lake, and from thence on wheels
to Geneseo; the transportation usually costing about 83,00 per cwt.
Doing principally a barter trade, his furs, tobacco, hemp, grain, pork,
and maple sugar, were in the earliest years marketed at Baltimore ;
by wagoning to Arkport on the Canisteo, and from thence by water.
The first produce shipped at Arkport, was from Dansville ; the sec-
ond shipments were by Spencer & Co., from Geneseo. This was
the avenue to market for all the southern portion of Phelps and Gor-
ham's Purchase, until the Jefferson embargo ; then it changed to
Lake Onfar- •, by wagon roads to the mouth of Genesee River,
until bateaux wei j introduced upon the river. These ran from the
rapids above Rochester, as higb up as Geneseo ; and Durham boats
used to ascend to Mount Morris. In the war of 1812 INIaj. Spencer
was the aid of Gen. Wadsworth. Many year's since he retired

348

PHELl'3 AND GOnilAJi's PURCHASE.

from the mercantile business to his extensive farm of flats and up-
land, on the river opposite Geneseo. lie was the owner of the
beautiful sweep of flats, field after field, along on either side of the
road from Geneseo to PifFardinia ; and had become one of the largest
grazers, wool and wheat growers in the valley of the Genesee. He
died suddenly, of ajjpoplexy, in January of this year, while engaged
in the active management of the large estate that had been gai'ned
by early Pioneer enterprise, industry and perseverance.

In 1805 Geneseo had but about a dozen dwellings, there were
two public houses, one kept by Faulkner, and the other by Bishop ;
John Pierce had started the hatting business. Seymour Welcon
was a tavern keeper there as early as 1809 or '10. Dr. Sill was the
early physician. He died in early years ; he was the father of Dr.

Sill, of Livonia, and Sill of Wheatland. He was succeeded

in practice by Dr. Augustus VVolcott, who emigrated west in early
years. Ashbel Atkins was the early tanner and shoe makei-. The
earliest religious meetings were held in a small building called the
" town house, " opposite the Park, which also answered the purpo-
ses of a school-house. Elder Joseph Lindsley was the first resident
clergyman. That portion of Morris Reserve and the Holland Pur-
chase lying west of Geneseo, commenced settling along in 1805 and
'6, and Geneseo being upon the main thoroughfare, its trade, and
the business of its public houses, derived a considerable impetus
from it. Much of the trade of the new settlers was done there and
the grain raised upon Wadsworths, Jones, and Mt. Morris flats,
was their principal dependence.

A RECLUSE.

In 1793 or '4, DeEoui, a Frenchman, wandered to this region with a single
eninpaniun, a negro slave, Imilt a log cabin on Wadsworth's flats, and lived tJie
life of a recluse. He was a nati\ e 'jf Alsace. While a youth, he cjuarrellcd
witha fiiend, wounded liim in a duel, fled to St. Domingo, where he .served
as a ])rivate soldier, until his sajtcndp attainments reeonuuended him for em-
ployment in llie pul.lic ,ser\ !«• as an engineer. He finally received the appoin-
ment of Inspector General of the higliroads, and became besides, a consider-
able planter. Tlie rf\(»lution in St. ijoininon, bi'caking out, lie tied to Amer-
ica, bringing with hiii! om faithful servant, iuict the remnant of hk eaalo, a

PHELPS AND GOEHAM's PURCHASE.

349

few bills on France. Col. Wadsworth, of Hartford, assumed tlie neQ;otiation
of his bills, ad\aiieod him money, and granted to him the use of a small ti-aet
of land, which ho came on and occupied. When the Duke Liancourt, and
his Frvnch compani(jns were upon the river, in 1795, they visited .ii.n and
spent the night in his hut. They found him a confinnc-d misanthrope, but
pleased at the unexpected visit of his ccuiitryinon to his backwooils I'etreat. A
highly cultivated mind had been soured by misfortune ; and he had contract-
ed a disgust for his race, seeking no other associates but his taitliful servant,
who cooked his food, and cultivated a small patch (jf ground for tlu.-ir nuitual
sustenance. Ll^nless he is right in assuming that he finally joined a colony of
his countrymen at Asylum, in Pennsylvania, the author is unable to state
what became of him.

HORATIO AND JOHN H. JONES.

B£

In 1788, John H. Jones had joined his brother Horatio, in Gene-
\a. In the spring of 1789, having obtained a yoke of oxen, the
two brothers went into what is now Phelps, found an open spot,
ploughed and planted five or six acres of corn, which they sold on
the ground. In August of that year, the Indians having promised
Horatio a tract of land west of the Genesee river, the advent of
the two brothers, was as related in page 328.

With the history of Horatio Jones, the public have already been
made familiar. In a previous work of the author's — the history
of the Holland Purchase,— there is a sketch of his life. Identified
as he had become, with the Senecas, and shaving hirgely in their
esteem and confidence, in his settlement west of the river, he had
relied upon their intention of granting him his location, in which
he was not disappointed, as will be seen in connection with the
Morris treaty. Receiving from President Washington the appoint-
ment of Indian interpreter, in early years, his attendance upon
treaties, the accompanying of Indian delegation.^ to the seat of gov-
ernment, and various other trusts connected with the Indians, em-
ployed most of his time. When alive, there veas none of our race,
save Mary Jemison, who had been so long a resident of this region.
He was with Col. Broadliead in his expedition to the Allegany, and
as an Indian prisoner, he resided at Nunda, as early as 1781. The

Nom — Noouo wlioselot was ever cast with the Seiiccas, was a better jikIot of
Iheir chiiriietcr; mikI no one lui^ in ii ,nm\>}T ■.Icirrii'j contribute!! lis .ii;r kiuiv-U'd^e of
them. Ills lirothcr gave to tlie author, some observations of his, in reference to^thok

!Ji

350

PHELPS AND GORIIAM'ri PURCirASE,

farming principally devolved upon John II. Jones, and in early years,
the brothers were large producers, especially of corn, for the new'
settlers who dropped in around and beyond them. At a primitive
period, when the In/lians in all that region, far out numbere<l the
whites — at a period too, when they were unreconciled, and unde-
termined, as to their relations with the whites, Horatio Jones ex-
ercised a salutary influence; and to him much of the credit is due,
for the .success of Indian treaties, and the suppression of hostilities.
The Indian captive boy became the arbitrer between his captors
and his own race ; and by an inherent strength of mind and energy
of character, which marked him as no ordinary man, made eaSy
misfortune the means ol conspicuously identifying himself with the
early iiistory of ali tiiis region : rendering to it essential service in
years of weakness ; becoming in fact, a founder of settlement and
civilization upon soil where he began his career as an alien and
captive.

Among the captives with whom he became acquainted while in
captivity himself, was the daughter of Whitmore, of Schenec-
tady. She was rele;tsed with him at the treaty of Fort Stanwix,
soon after which they were married. She died in 1794. He died
1830, aged 75 years. The surviving sons, are : — William, Hiram
and Charles, of Leicester, Horatio, of Moscow, Seneca, a Califor-
nia adventurer. Daughters : —Mrs. Lyman of Moscow, Mrs.
Fitzhugh, of Saginaw, Michigan, Mrs. Hewitt and Mrs. B. F. Angell,
of Geneseo, Mrs. Fintey, of Ann Arbor, Michigan. Two sons,'
George and James, were killed at the IJritish attack on Lewiston,'
in the war of 181'J.

John H. Jones, is now living at the age of 80 years, his mind
but little impaired, and with the exception of rheumatism, a physi-
cal constitution but little broken. In 1792, lie was engaged
in the Indian trade at the mouth of Genesee river, upon Ihe
Allegany river, and Cattaraugus creek. He speaks familiarly
of being at Buffalo, when the only white inhabitant was Win-

Tnt 1 I i • '• '\''"'' " " '"'"T*"' '"'•" "^■^■'-■'' '"^^''"■^' ''<'^'>' l'"l'li^l"''i. ill' used to
H!X^ tjMt thou- soutlicTi, wMrs M-,ih llioirowii ntcc, tlicir Kurass in tlu'tn. were .,ft,.n
tl.rii-tljn,i..si,i t HMVMr .la.Kv, ;iii.l iu Hum,- ui-wiinis. ii,. iw.s oflon hvnvd ilu, „ld

IT,'/' > ' I ",' '■'''■>■ "•'""" "'' '^''"'■'■■'. lui'l .1 ffiTor will. IiHliaiis .,f (itli.M- naliniiH

At t ij' south ami tlu. wc'st, iiiid aiiinnir iho nalions u{ dnuuh. tlic Sciiwii wai-wiioon"
would almost .•oiHiuci' of iiscli: II,. said that even as lalo as (ho war uf 18l:>, the In-
auiiiH <.t ( aiia.ia w.to struok with tenor, whuii they k-amed that thov luusttncouuter

PHELPS AND GORILUl's PURCHASE.

351

ncy, a Butler Ranger, and the only resident on all the south
shore of Lake Erie, west of Buffalo, other than Indinns, was " Black
Joe," a fugitive slave, at the mouth of Cattaraugus creek. Judge
Jones was a magistrate of Ontario before the division; soon after
Genesee was set off, he became one of its Judges, and from 1812 to
1822, was first Judge of Genesee, and after that for several years
of Livingston. He was the first supervisor of Leicester, and was
in all early years, a prominent, active helper in pioneer movements.
His surviving sons are, George W., Ilorntio, Thomas J., James M.,
John H., Lucicn B., Iliram, and Fayette, all residing in his imme-
diate neighborhood ; and Napoleon N., of Scottsville. Daughters ;
Mrs. Clute, of Cuylerville, Mrs. William Jones, of Leicester, Mrs.
James Jones, of Cincinnatti.

The three brothers, Jellis, Thomas and William Clute, from
Schenectady, were early settlers at Leicester. Jellis was engaged
in the Indian trade at Beardstown. Thomas and William settled
at Gardeau.

The Rev. Samuel J. Mills was a graduate of Yale College, a na-
tive of Derby, Conn. He emigrated to the Genesee river in 1795.
He joined Thomas Morris and others in the purchase of 10,000
acres of land in Groveland and Sparta, at a period of high prices,
paying and contracting to pay 80 per acre. The price soon fell
below 82. He settled near where Col. Fitzhugh afterwards loca-
ted ; erecting a framed house and moving into it, it burned down,
with all his household furniture, the family barely escaping. This,
with his unfortunate investment in lands, embarrassed him, and dis-
couraged the spirit of enterprise that had brought him from New
England. He was the early minister, for several years itinerating
among the new settlements, until the period of his death, soon after
1800. His wife returned to Connecticut. One of his sons, the
late Gen. William A. Mills, was destined +0 a more fortunate career.
Thrown upon his own resources at the age of 17, he rented flats
of the Indians, occupying a shantee, where he lived alone at Mount
Morris, his nearest neighbors, the Indians. Renting iiis land upon
easy terms, and hiring the Indians and Squaws to assist iiim in
working it, ho was soon enabled to erect a distillery ; and when the
Mount Morris tract was opened for sale, he purchased from time
to time, until he became possessed of eight hundred acres, including
several hundred acres oi the fine flats opi)osite the present village

352

PHELPS AND GORHAJl's PUECHASE.

of Mount Morris. His Indian name, " Sa-nem-ge-wa," (generous)
would indicate their esteem for him, and the probity that governed
his early intercourse with them. He spoke their language (luent-
ly, and from early associations, was much attached to them. When,
after their removal, they would occasionlly revisit their old homes
upon the Genesee, he met them, and treated them as old friends. *
To his distilling and grain raising in early years, he added grazing
upon the Mount Morris and Gardeau flats, and became finally large-
ly engaged in that business ; and successful, as many have witness-
ed at our early county and State fairs. He was for twenty years,
the Supervisor of Mount Morris ; a commissioned officer in the
early military organization in his region, he was upon the frontier
in the war of 1912, and in later years, rose to the rank of Brig.
General. He died in 1844, aged 67 years. His sons are : — Wil-
liam A., Sidney H., Minard.H. and Julius F., of Mount Morris,
and Dr. xMyron H., ol' Rochester. Daughters : — Mrs. Levi Beach
of Knox county, Ohio, Mrs. Dr. G. W. Branch and jMrs. William
Hamlin, of Mount Morris.

Alexander Mills, another son of the early Pioneer, Rev. Samuel
J. Mills, located at Olean in an early day, where he was extensively
engaged in the lumber trade ; now resides in Cleveland. Major
Philo Mills, another son, located in Groveland, emigrated to Tecum-
seh, Michigan. Frederick L. Mills, another son, 'located on flats;
he died in 1834; his living descendants are :— George, of Mount
Morris, Philo, of Groveland, Lewis, of Allegany, and Mrs. Hunt,
of Groveland.

The first saw mill west of Genesee river, (save one at Niagara
Falls, erected by Stedman,) was erected by Ebenezer Allan, on° the
outlet of the Silver Lake. This supplied the first board^^ had in the
ui)per valley of the Genesee. It was built in 1792, and raised by
the help of the Indians, for the want of suflicient white men in the
country. In some of the earliest years. Judge Phelps had a distil-
lery erected near the present village of Moscow. In 1800, Augus-
tus Porter, as the agent of Oliver Phelps, laid out the village' of

And tl'is, the mitlior would here remark, wns not unlike the rcLitio", that existed
.etween nios of (he I'lonenrs of the (ieiuwee country and the Indians, wlioro they
hecarne nei-hliors ni early years, and Koniethin.' .'.f mutual dependence existed
Jl.veii now. ni our I'ities fiud vill.u.f... tl.f. ,,i.i i>:, „,,,.,, _.. ,,.,:,,, i jv .. • ■,

mg uitn (legrudation, and j.roinpt to resist any insult otrored totiieui.

PHELPS A]ST> GOEIIA.Al'8 PUKCIIASE.

353

Leicester, * on a tract ho had purchased of Jones and Smith, and
opened the direct road across the flats to " Jones' Ford ;" previous
to which, it had cjone via Beardstown. He also erected a saw mill
on Beards' Creek, near the present village of Moscow. For several
years after 1800, the village of Leicester bore an important relation
to the new settlements forming in Wyoming, Allegany, and south
part of Erie. The early and well known tavern keeper, was
Leonard Stimson, from Albany, who had been engaged in a
small Indian trade at Mount Morris. He opened the first store,
and started the first blacksmith shop. He left Geneseo soon after
the war of 1812 ; his descendants reside in the neighborhood of
Rochester. The first physician was Dr. Paul Newcomb. Colonel
Jedediah Horsford, the present M. C. I'rom Livingston, was an early
teacher of a missionary school at Squaky Hill, and an early land-
lord at Moscow. Joel Harvey was an early tavern keeper a little
west of Old Leicester.

The first town meeting in Leicester, was held at the house of
Joseph Smith. John J. Jones was elected Supervisor ; George A.
Wheeler, Town Clerk. Other town officers : — Samuel Ewing,
Alpheus Harris, Dennison Foster, Abel Cleavland, Samuel Hascall,
George Gardner, Wm. A. Mills, Joel Harvey, David Dickinson,
James Dale.

One hundred dollars was raised to pay " bounty on wolves and
wild cats, killed by white people."

By a resolution of a special town meeting, in 1803, town of An-
gelica was set ofT from Leicester.

The village of Moscow was started just after the close of the
war of 1812, under the auspices of the late Samuel M. Hopkins,
who in company with Benjamin W. Rngers, had purchased three
fourths of the original Jones and Smith's Indian grant, of Isaac
Bronson. Hopkins built the fine residence now owned by W. T.
Cuylor, between Cuylerville and Moscow. The first merchant was
Nicholas Ayrault, late of Rochester ; Wm. Robb, William Lyman,
and Sherwood and Miller, were (\irly merchants. The earl v land-
lords were: — Jessee Wadhams, Wm. T. Jenkins, Homer Sher-
wood. Early lawyers, other than S. M. Hopkins: — Felix Tracy,
John Baldwin, George Miles, recently one the Judges of the Su-

* Name, from Oliver Lciceater Plielps.

354

PHELPS AND GOKUAM's PURCIIASE.

preme Court, of Michigan. Rev. Mr. Mason founded the first
Presbyterian church. An Academy was founded principally under
the auspices of Mr. Hopkins, in 1817; the first rrinci])al \vas Og-
den M. Willey ; his assistants, the Miss Raymonds, one of whom
became the wife of the Rev. Calvin C. Colton, the author of the
hfe of Henry Clay, then a settled Presbyterian minister, at Batavia.
The early physicians were : — Asa R. Palmer, J. W. Montross,
Daniel II. and Daniel P. Bissell.

Cuylerville sprung up after the completion of the Genesee Valley
Canal. W. T. Cuyler, who was an early citizen of Rochester, pur-
chased tile Hopkins house and farm, of Richard Post, a son of the
late Dr. Post, of ^cw York, in 1830. TJie village has grown up
on or near the site of the old Indian village of Beardstown, where the
road from Perry and Warsaw crosses the canal. Mr. Cuyler
started the first ford warding and commission house; the early mer-
chants were: — Odell and Evans, and Joseph Wheelock.

From Ebenezer Allan, the Mt. Morris tract, of four scjuare miles,
went into the hands of Robert Morris, and afterwards his son Thom-
as became a joint owner with others. Col. John Trumbull, of
Revolutionary memory, the celebrated artist, was one of the early
proprietors. He visited the country, and selected for his residence,
the site, in the present village, now occupied by George Hastino's,
Esq.; planted an orchard, and made some preparations for building.
The name, which had been " Allan's Hill," he changed to " Rich-
mond Hill." Afterwards, when he had abandoned the idea of
making it his residence, the name was changed to Mt. Morris. The
early jjroprietors of the tract, other than those named, were : — Mr.
Fitzsimmons, of Philadelphia, Charles Williamson, Robert Troup,
the Messrs. Wadsworths, John Murray* & Sons, of New York
(of which firm Wm. Ogden was a partner,) Benj. W. Rod-'ers'
Isaac Bronson, Gen. JMills, and Jessee Stanley, were the prominent
pioneers of settlement. Deacon Stanley was from Goshen, Conn.,
his residence was the site now occupied by James Bond. He died
in 184G, aged 90 years ; he was the father of Oliver Stan-ley, of
Mt. Morris. The village has grown up principally on the lands of
Messrs. Mills, Stanley, and Mai'k Hopkins, a brother of Samuel M.

* .Tdlin \{. Miirrny, <if Mr. ArniTis is tlio !rrnnil*tn of J<>liu Muiray. Ihe o.".rl-.- jiniiiri.'
tor at Mt. Murri«, aud owner of tlio towiiwluj', uuw Oyduu.

PHEirS AND GOElIA]\l's PUECnASE.

355

Hopkins. Mr. Hopkins came on as agent for owners, soou after the
tract was opened for sale. He died soon after 1820.

VALLEY OF THE CANASCRAGA.

Following the tract of Mr. Williamson when he broke in from
Pennsylvania and made a commencement at Williamsburg, settlers
soon began to drop into the valley of the Canascraga. In Grove-
land, other than at Williamsburg, John Smith was the Pioneer. He
wasiiom New Jersey, a surveyor ii. the eii.j)loy of Mr. Williamson.
He purchased a mile square, upon which he resided until his death
in 1817. Benjamin Parker, a step son ul' John Smith, John Harri-
son, William and Thomas Lemen, William and Daniel Kelley,
James Roseborough, were among the earliest. Smith in '99, built a
mill between Hornellsville and Arkport, and as early as 1800 took
lumber from it to the Baltimore market. Michael Roup was an early
Pioneer upon the up lands in Groveland, with his son Christain
Roup, He died during the war of 1812 ; iMichael Roup, of Grove-
land is his son. The early minister that visited the neighborhood was
the Rev. Mr. Gray ; the first school taught was by Robert M'-
Kay, in one of the houses that the Germans had deserted.

The early Pioneers of Sparta, on the Canascraga, between jNIount
Morris and Dansville, were : — J. Duncan, John Clark, Thomas
Ward, Wm. McCartney, Henry Driesback, Benjamin Wilcox, Geo.
Wilkenson, Rev. Andrew Grey, John McNair.

In Groveland, other than those named in another connection : —
Samuel Nibleck, (Nibleck's Hill,) William Martin, Samuel Stilwell,
John Vance, Doty, Ewart.

In reference to all the upper valley of the Canascraga, Dansville
was the prominent pioneer locality, as it is now the focus of business
and enteri)rise. The Pioneer in the town of Sparta, near the present
village of Dansville, was Hugh McCartney, who had accompanied
Mr. Williamson from Scotland, and of whom, the author has no ac-
count other than the fact of his early advent. Upon the site of the
village of Dansville, Neil McCoy, was the first settler. He came
from Painted Post, and located where his step-son, James McCurdy^
who came in with him, now resides. The family were four days in

856

PHELPS AOT) GOEHAMS PTTRCIIASE.

making the journey from Painted Post, camping out two niirhts on
the way. The only tenement they found, was a small hut built for
surveyors, where Conrad Welch now resides on Ossian street. At
this time there was no white inhabitant in what is now the town of
Dansville. Preparing logs for a house 14 by 18 feet, help to raise
it came from Bath, Geneseo and Mount Morris, with Indians Irom
Squaky Hill and Gardeau. It is mentioned by Mr. McCurdy, in
some reminiscences he contributed several years since to a local
history of Dansville,* from which the author derives many facts to
add to what he has gleaned from other sources, that his mother, Mrs.
M'Coy, the first season heard of the arrival of Judge Hurlburt's iamily
at Arkport, on the Canisteo, eleven miles distant, and as an act of
backwoods courtesy, resolved upon making the first call. Taking
her son (McCuidy) with her, she made the visit through the woods
by marked trees, dined with her new neighbors, and returned in
time to do her milking, after a walk, going and coming of twenty-
two miles ! During the first winter they needed no hay for their
stock, the rushes upon the Canascraga flats furnishing a substitute,
upon which their cattle would thrive. The Indians belonging in the
villages along the Genesee river, were almost constantly encamped on
the flats of the Canascraga, as high up as Dansville, principally engag-
ed in hunting, though they cultivated small patches of ground, l^ietr
venison and corn was a part of the subsistence of the new settlers.
Mr. McCoy died in 1809, childless; his representative, and the
occupant of his primitive locality, is James M'Curdy Esq., his step
son.

The venerable Amariah Hammond, for a long period a patriarch
of the setflement and village of Dansville, after living to see a young
and flourishing city grow up in the wilderness, where he so early
cast his lot, died in the winter of '50, '51. His large farm, is im-
mediately adjoining the village, on the main road' to Geneseo.
Daughters of his, became the wives of L. Bradfor, Esq., and Dr.
James Faulkner, both of whom are prominently identified with the
locality. L. C. Woodruff; Esq., formerly of Lockport, graduating
in his youth from a printing office, and now the principal active
manager of the Bank of Dansville, a sound and flourishing institu-
tion, married the daughter of Mr. Bradner, the grand-daughter of

If i

'Miniature uf Diinsville," by J. W. Claik.

PHELPS AND GORIIAM's PURCHASE.

357

the early and much respected Pioneer. The first wife of Mr.
Huinniond died in 1798, " She had," says Mr. M'Curdy, "endear-
ed herself to all of us by hei many virtues. When she died, all
wept who had hearts and eyes."

The author of the small local history already named, states that
Mr. Hammond on coming in to explore, slept two nights under a
pine tree on the premises he afterwards purchased. Early in the
spring of 1796, " he removed his young family from Bath to this
place ; his wife and infant child on horseback, his household goods
and farming utensils on a sled drawn by four oxen, and a hired man
driving the cattle." Some difficulty occurring in getting the cattle
through the woods, Mr. Hammond after arriving at his log cabin,
went b;ick upon his track, and remained in the woods all night,
leaving his young wife with her infant child to sjiend the first night
alone. Mr. Hammond among other instances of the embarrass-
ments of pioneer life, that he used to relate, said that the first scythes
he used, cost him a journey to Tioga Point. Two scythes and the
journey costing him eleven dollars.

In relating to his London principals the progress of settlement,
Mr. Williamson says: — "I sold also on six years credit, the west
half of township No. 6, Gth range," (this includes a large portion of
the site of Dansville,) to a Mr. Fitzgerald, at $1 50 i»or acre. He
so^d the land to gentlemen in Pennsylvania for a large profit. The
purchasers were, a Mr. Wilson, one of the Judges of Northumber-
land CO., a Mr. C. Hall, a counsellor at law in Pennsylvania, a Mr.
Dunn, and a Mr. Faulkner. These gentlemen have carried on the
settlement with much spirit, and Mr. Faulkner is at the head of it.
The\- have a neat town, a company of militia, two saw mills and a
grist mill, and indeed, every convenience. Mr. Faulkner, although
he came from Pennsylvania, was originally from the State of New
York, north from Albany. This winter he went down to see his
father and other connections ;. the consequence was, that he moved

Note. — In "Uescriptiniis of tlie Geiicsoc country," -Bjiftcu liy Mr. Willianisoii, in
798, 111' ii'iiiiirks : — " Ol'tlidso M'ttlcnicntH lu'guii fii ]7!)(i iJiuro tiro two worthy ofiio-
ice , tiiat (if tlie Ui'v. Mr. Gray, in T. 4, 7th l<;ingc, who removed from ruunsylvaniix
ritli a ri'spci'tablf ]iart of liis former j);iri>h, ami a ^Mr. Daniol Faulkner, witU ir.lereey
cttlcmcnt, on the head of Canaseraga ereek ; both of them exhibit iristances of iudus-
ry and enterprisi'. I'lie ensuini^ season, ilr. Faulkner beinf,'a]i])ointed cajitain of a
onipany of i,n-eiiadiers to be rai.-ed in his settlement, at the ori;anization of tlie militia
if Steuben, ;i[)|ie;i.'eil on parade ai the head of 27 f,Tena(!!ers, all in a iiandsonie uuiform,
llld well .armed, mid eiiniiuiseil Riilelv iif the. vniinir ihi'M nf liis Hetfli'iiipiit "

35S

PHELPS AND GORHAIM's PTJRCnASE.

IP:

up about fifteen very decent families, who passed through Albany
with excellent teams, every way well equipped. He sold to some
very wealthy and respectable men of Albany. r,,000 acres at a large
profit. " The Captain Faulkner, who Mv. Williamson names, was
Daniel P. Faulkner, an early patroon ol Uansville, as will be infer-
red. "Capt. Dan. Faulkner," was his familiar backwoods appella-
tive, and thence the name ~ Dans-vWle." He was the uncle of Dr.
James Faulkner.

Soon after settlement commenced, Mr. Williamson had erected
a grist and saw mill, on the .site afterwards occupied by Col. Roches-
ter. David Scholl, who was Mr. Williamson's mill-wriglit at the
Lyons mills, erected the mills. The early mill-wright of the Gen-
esee country, emigrated many years since to Michigan. Mrs. Sol-
omon and Mrs. Isaac Fentztermacher, of Dansville, are his diuightcrs.
The mill was burned down soon after 1800, after which, befm-e re-
building, the neighborhood had to go to Bosley's mills at the foot of
Hemlock Lake.

Jacob Welch came from Pennsylvania to Dansville, in 1708.
He died in 1831. His widow still survives, aged 80 years. His
sons, Jacob, Henrv and Conrad, are residents of Dansville. His
daughters became the wives of John Beltz, Peter Labach, Will-
iam Kercher, and Valentine Hamsher. The deccndants of Jacob
Welch, residents of Dansville and its vicinity, number over one
hundred and thirty. The part of his farm inherited by his son
Conrad Welch, embraces the Dansville canal slip and basin. Mr.
Conrad Welch, a prominent and \vorthy citizen of Dansville, gave
the author some account of the early advent of his fathcr,'^and
others: — "My grand-fulher, Jacol) Martz, resided near Sunbury,
Northumberland county, Pa. The advent of Charles Williamson
through that region, his road, and all that was going on under Wu
auspices, created a good deal of interest for the Genesee country.
Jacob Martz came out and viewed it, and returning, reported so
favorably, that an emigrant party was soon organized. It consisted
of Jacob Martz, In's son Conrad Martz, George Shirey, Frederick
Barnhart and Jacob Welch, and their flnuilies. The partv came
via Batii, and up the Conhocton. From what afterwards became
Blood's corners, the emigrants had their own road to make througn
to Dansville. A winding road had been underbrushed, but no
streams bridged, and high winds had encumbered it with fallen trees

I'lLfiLPS AND GOMLUfs rUKCIIASE.

350

They were three days coming in from Buth, camping out two nights.
Hearing of our approach, the new settlers in Dansville nearly all
turned out, met and assisted us. Prominent of the party was Mr.
Faulkner, who was ahvay ready to assist new settlers by such acts
of kindness. Occupying an old deserted hut, and quartering our-
selves upon the settlers in their log cabins, we got through the
winter, and in the spring erected log cabins for ourselves. When
we arrived, Samuel Faulkner had opened a small framed tavern,
near where Mr. Bradner's store now is. In addition to the Faulk-
ners, Hammond, and M'Coy, there was here when we arrived,
Wm. riienix, James Logan, David Scholl, John Vandeventer,* the
father-ill-law of Escp Hammond, Jared Erwin.Wm. Perrine. Tliere
was three or four families along on the road to Williamsburg."

"There had been, where Dansville now is, a pretty large Indian
.settlement, fifteen or twenty huts were standing when white settle-
ment commenced, and several Indian families lingered for several
years in the neighborhood."

"Game was very abundant; the new settlers could kill deer
about when they pleased. After yarding their sheep, they would
often have to go out and scare the wolves off. In cold winter
nights, the wolves would set up a terrific howl in all the surround-
ing forests. They attacked cattle ; in one instance, they killed a cow
of my grand-father Martz. Steel traps, dead falls and pits, were
put in requisition, and soon thinned them out. There was fine fish-
ing in the streams. iMill Creek, especially, was a fine trout stream.
Pigeons were so abundant, that almost uniformly, newly sowed
fields had to be watched almost constantly."

* A l)riitlic;r of Isaac VaiidevoiitLT, tlie oarly sottluroii liulfalo i-oacl west of Clarence
Hollow.

Note. — The autlKU- copies iVoin the iiiamiacripts of W. H. C. Hosmer, Esq., the fol-
lowintj account of a!i " ancient trrave at Dansville : " —

"Picibre the Revoliuioii, aceonlint; to Indian tradition, a liattlo took place on a hill
a few miles distant fioui the village of Dansville, lietweeuthe Cauisteo Indians ajid
those livin.s; on the ' Gii-nose-ga-j^-o,' [Canascra,L,a] Creek. A chief of the latter, of
preat renown, was slain, and 1)!nie(l with f^reat ])onip by nis trihesmen. When the
wliites first settled here, ihe spot where he f'.dl was niarkeil by a lar!j;e liole dug in the
shajie of a man prostrate, with his arms extended. An Indian trail Idl liy the phice,
and the passing,' red man was accustomed to clear away the dry leaves and brush
lilown in by tlie winds, 'i'lie chief was interrt'd in an old burial jdace near the present
site of Ihe 'Lutheran Church in the village of l);insville. The ground was formerly
covered with graves to the extent of two or three anres. His monument consisted of
a large pile of small stones, gathered IVom time to time by the natives, from a hill, a
miledislant; ]iassiiig, they would add to tlie heap, by lusslng ou ii, after the manner
of the ancient Cakdoui;uis", tlieir rude tiibules of .all'ectiou."

h !

ill

360

PUELl'S AND GOEIIAMS PURCHASE.

The primitive settlers of Dansville were mostly Lutherans, or
Dutch lli'Ibrmed. The first meetings were held from house to
liouse ; Frederick Biirnhurt or Adiim Miller, usually taking the
lead. The Rev. Mr. Murkle, a Lutheran jn-eachcr from Geneva,
occasionally visited the place, as did Elder Gray. The first loca-
ted minister, was the Rev. Mr. Pratt. The Rev. Hubbard, a

son-in-law of Moses Van Campen, was an early settled minister.
He was the father of John Hubbard, of Oswego.

Jonathan Rowley was an early landlord in Dansville ; he erect-
ed for a tavern the first brick house in the villaae. He died in
1830, childless; the only representative of the family, residing in
Dansville, is a niece of Mr. Rowley, the wife of Samuel W.
Smith.

William Perrine, has been before named as one of the primitive
class of Pioneers, died in 1847, at the advanced age of 93 years.
He was a soldier of the Revolution in the Pennsylvania line. His
son, Peter Perrine, occupies the farm on which his father originally
settled, near the village. William Perrine, of South Dansville, and
Robert Perrine, of West Sparta, are also sons of the early Pioneer.
Mrs. Robert Thompson, of Dansville, is a daughter of his.

Harman Iiartman was one of the earliest of the Pennsylvania
emigrants. His descendants are numerous, residing princii)ally in
Dansville and its vicinity.

Hugh McCurdy, Esq., in a statement made for tlie author of the
published reminiscences of Dansville, already alluded to, says : —
" The first tanner and currier was Israel Vandeventer ; the first black-
smith, James Porter ; the first marriage was that of Wm. McCartnev
to Mary McCurdy ; our first school was taught by Thomas Mac-
lain ; the first established preacher and founder of a church among
us, was the Rev. Andrew Gray ; the first Justice of the peace was
Dr. James Faulkner, (uncle to the present Dr. James Faulkner;)
the first Supervisor was Amariah Hammond ; the first death was
that of Captain Nathaniel Porter ; the first P. M. was Israel Irwin ;
the first merchant goods were brought in by Captain Daniel P.
Faulkner ; the next merchant, Jared Ervvin. He died of the pre-
vailing fever during the war of 1812 ; his widow became the wife
of Col. James JM'Burney ; Mrs. Gansevoort, of Bath, is his daugh-

ter.

Joshua Shepherd, L. Bradner and S. W. Smith, were early and

PHELPS AND (iOIUIAM's PURCHASE.

501

proniinont mcrclmnts of Dansville. Mr. Sliephenl died in lh'29 ;
Mr. Bnidner is the President of tlie Bank of Dansville ; Mr. Smith
is a son of the early landlord on the main road fn n Avon to Cale-
donia.

I'inneer settlers of Dansville, other ii:an tht'se named : — Natha-
niel Porter, John Haas, Thonias Mc' 'i..>rt( i. Samuel vShannon.
James Harrison, Daniel Hamsher, TJathe ],orr, Oliver Warren.
a ne{)he\v of Dr. Warren, of llevolutionar} .Tiemory.

Col. Xathaniel Rochester became aresideni of Dansville in 1810,
purchasing a large tract of land, which includes the greater portion
ol' the water power now within the limits of the corporation. The
old Williamson mills were eiribraced in his })urchase. lie added
to till! mills, a paper mill, the pioneer establishment in that line, in
all western New York. * In 1815, Col. Rochester sold his land,
mills, and water power, to the Rev. Christian Endress from the
borough of Easton, Pa., and Mr. Jacob Opp, from Northampton Co..
Pa. Mr. Endress resided in Dansville but a year, when he return-
ed, and resumed the charge of a German Lutheran cougregation in
Easton. He died in Lancaster, Pa., in 1827. His interest in
Dansville was purchased by Dr. James Faulkner. Judge Endress
and Dr. Endress, of Dansville, are his sons. Mr. Opp died in
Louisville, in 1847, aged 84 years. Henry B. Opp, of Dansville, is
his son.

North Dansville, in which is the site of Dansville village, was in
the county of Steuben, until 1822, when it was attached to the
town of Sparta, Livingston county. In 1840, the old town of
Sparta was divided into three towns — of which the town of
North Dansville, three miles square, was one. The town of Dans-
ville, is still in Steuben county.

Although it is one of the pioneer localities, of the Genesee coun-
try, and commenced in an early period to be a place of considera-
ble business, Dansville was but little known in the northern por-
tion of western New York, until after the completion of the Gene-
see Valley Canal ; and even now, away from the main eastern and
western thoroughfares, as it is, it may well be presumed that this
work will fall into the hands of many readers, who have neither

* The pnro ■water at Dansville aiul fine ■n-ator pciwcr, has invitod tliis braiirli of inanu-
fnpluvcs tlii'iv to a axeat cxtt-iit. TliiTu wire I'mr larire ])ai>L'r mills tlare in 1844,
iiiauutai'turiiig over $1UII,UUU worth of paper jxir aiiiunu.
23

sssmmmmii^L

36f

niELT'S AXD G MIFIAM's PUltCIIASE.

seen the bustlinrr, prosperous large village, hid away among the
southorn hills, nor perhaps, read any account of it. For this rea-
son, a brief topographical sketch will be given — a departure from
the uniform purpose of the author, in this history of pioneer set-
tlement.

Thouy'i some sixteen miles from the Genesee River, it is in fact
at the head of the Genesee Valley.* Coming down through the nar-
row gorges of Allegany and the southern portion of Livingslon, the
river has but an occasional broad sweep of flats, until it reaches Mt.
Morris. The flats of the river are continuous, and mostly of uni-
form width, from a few miles above Rochester, to Mount Morris,
from whicli point gradually narrowing, they follow the course of the
Canascraga to Dans vi lie, where, after widening out, and gradually
rising in beautiful table lands, they come to an abrupt termination,
and are hemmed in by hills. The Canascraga, Mill Creek, and
Stony Brook, coming down from the highlands, through narrow
gorgi?s, enter the valley and unite maiidy within the village limits.
The Canascraga enters the valley through a narrow pass called
"Pog's Hole," through whicli, climbing along a steep acclivity, and
tb.en descending to a level with the stream, passes the Ilornellsville
road. Upon the opposite side of the stream from the road, through
the whole length of the narrow pass, is a perpendicular ledge of
rocks, an hundred feet in height. Beyond this pass, the valley
widens out occasionally, into small areas of intervale, but ranges of
highlands rise in near proximity on either hand. The scenery is
wild and romantic, at every step reminding the contemplative ob-
server, of the written descriptions of the passes of the Aljis. Mill
creek making in irom another direction, has a rai)id descent for a con-
siderable distance, before reaching the valley, furnishing a succes-
sion of hydraulic facilities, as does the Canascraga, where it jjasses
from the highlands, and for a considerable distance below. The
aggregate durable water power of both streams, before and after
their union, is immense —largely improved now — and equal to any
present or prospective retiuirements.

At the head of the valley, is a succession of promontories, over-
looking the town, upon one of which is a rural cemetery, not unlike the
Mt. Hope, at the other extremity of the Genesee Valley. Moulder-

* Tl.p term " viillov " ia here uml not in its luliirged House — the term " flats " would
ptTLiipri be better.

PirELPS AND GORIIAMS PUECIIASE.

863

ing in its shades, upon its slopes and summits, are all that was earth-
ly of nearly all the rioncers, who, eiiterin-j; that beautil'ul valley,
when it was a wilderness, laid, amid toil, disease, and j>rivations, the
foundation of that busy scene of enterprise, ])rosperity and happi-
ness. Admonished may their successors and inheritors be, that
their spirits may be lingering upon that summit, (guardians and
watchers, over those to whom they bequeathed so rich an inherit-
ance. Let that elevated city of the dead, be to them a Mount Sinai
or an Horeb, i'rom which to catch, as if by inspiration, a nioietv of
the stern resolves, the moral courage, the patriotism, of the Pioneers.

The main street of tlic town is parallel with, and at the base of
an unbroken range of high land, rising to the height of nearly f /e
hundred feet — steep, but yet admitting of cultivation. Cultivated
fields and woodlands, rising one above another, form tiie back grounti,
or rurd landscape ; iu the foreground are gentle olfsets, or table
lands, at the termination of which, the Canascraga winds along the
base of another similar hill, or mountain range ; to the left are the
headlands, that have been named, and to the right, the Canascra-
ga, winding along between the two ranges of highlands, ilows to min-
gle its waters with the Genesee, at Mount Morris.

The Genesee Valley Canal, terminateti a half mile from main street,
where it is fed from Mill creek, and a mile below, at Woodville,
receives the waters of the Canascraga. The canal terminating
too far from the central business locality of the town, individual
enterprise has supplied a side cut, or slip which remedies the incon-
venience.

In reference to the whole scenery of the southern portion of the
Genesee country, the upper vallios of the Genesee, the Canascraga,
the Allegany, the Cattaraugus, the Conhocton, and the Canisteo, it
may here be remarked, that the traveller or tourist of wdiat Mr.
Williamson called the "northern plains, " who breaks out for a
summer excursion to the east, the north or the west, may be told
that a day's journey to the south, will bring him to a region of hill
and valley, rivers and creeks, mountains and rivulels. cultivated
fields and wild woodlands, which should satisfy any reasonable desire
for the romantic and picturesque. And if health is the object of
his summer wanderings, no where can he breathe " freer and deeper,"
of a pure and invigorating atmosphere — or drink I'rom purer springs
and streams, — thau in jdl our local southern reuion.

3G4

niELPS AOT) GORHAaAl's PUKCIIASE.

WILLIAM I'lTZHUGU.

He was of a family, the name and services of which are inti-
nnately blended with the history of the stirrinsr events of the Rev-
olution in the colony of Maryland. The lather, Col. William
iMtzlmgh, held the commission of Colonel in the liritish army,
retired upon half pay, when the troubles l)etween the colonies and
the mother comitry commenced. IJe resided at the mouth of the
Patuxent.^where he had a larw estate, a farm, mills and manufac-
tories. Exercising an unusual share of inHuence with his fellow
citixens,^ the Briti.-^h colonial Governor made him the extraordinary
oiler of a continuance of his rank and half pav, and the (juie't
possesion of his property if he would remain a neutral in the con-
test. Though an uivalid, by ivason of physical infirmities, here-
jected the overture, surrendered his connnis.sion — (or inther left it
tipon the Covernoi''s table when he refu.sed to receive it) — encour-
aged his two .sons to take commissions in the "rebel" army, takin<r
himself a seat in the Executive council of Maryland, to assist in
devising ways and means for his country's deliverance. His fine
estate, easy of access from its locality, was of course doomed to pil-
Inge and the torch. Tn the absence of the father and .sons, a small
British party landed, but resistance came from an unexpected source.
The Kevclutionaiy wife and mother. Mrs. Eitzhugh, armed the slaves
iijHni the estate, and carrying herself carfridiies in her apron, went
out to meet the invader.s and intimidated them to a hasty retreat.
It was however, but a warding oil" of destiny for a brief season. A
stronger party came and ruthlessly executed their mission, the
family fleeing to an a.sylum fifty miles up the river where it remain-
ed until the contest ended.*

The son. Col. Peregrine Fitzhugh, was first commissioned in a
corps of light horse, but in a later period of the war s enrolled in
the military family of Washington. DCT See Soaus. William,
the more immediate subject of this brief sketch, served as a Colonel
in a division of cavalry, and after the war, was a member oi' the
Maryland Legislature. Previous to ISOO Col. Peregrine Eif/.hugh
had made the acquaintance of Mr. Willlam'son, and had visited the

' PriiK iii.illv I'lom Mrs. EUet'w "Wonifu of Uie Revolution."

V"^

•1 ■>

PHELPS AND GORHAJl's PURCHASE.

365

Genesee Country. Wlien Col. Willhmi Fitzlmgh first visited the
country in 1800 in company with Col. Nathaniel Rochester, Major
Charles Carroll, and several others, he brought a letter of introduc-
tion to Mr. Williamson from his brother, foi himself and Col. Roches-
ter ; IMaJor Carroll as would seetu from the reading of the letter,
having previously known him. During this visit, in addition to a
third interest in the "100 acre Tract" at the Falls of the Genesee, pur-
chased in company with Messrs. Rochester and Carroll, jointly with
Mr. Carroll he purchased on the Canascraga, in Groveland and vSpar-
ta, 12,000 acres of Mr. Williamson, paying 8 201) per acre.* Their
tract embraced the old site of Williamsburg, Mi-. Williamson having
abandoned his enterprise of forming a town there after the failure
with his German colony. Leaving iheir property in the care of an
agent. Messrs. Fit/hugh and Carroll did not emigrate with then
families until 181(5, when a division of the joint purchase was
made.

Col. Fitzhughdied in 1839, aged 78 years; his wife, who was the
daughter of Col. Daniel Hughes, of Washington county, Md., died in
1821), aged 50 years. The surviving sons and daughters are : —
Wm. H. Fit/.hugh, residing upon the old homestead in Maryland ;
Dr. D. H. Fit/.hugh, residing upon the Canascraga four miles from Mt.
Morris; James Fitzhugh, in Ohio county, Ky.: Richard P. Fitzhugh,
on the Canascraga near his brotlier Daniel ; Hen.y Fitzhugh, in
Oswego; m^. Dr. Fi'ederick F. Backus, of Rochester ;"Mrs.
James G. Rirney, of Kentucky ; ^frs. Gerrit Smith of Peterboro ;
Mrs. John T. Talman, of Rochester ; Mrs. Lieut. J. W. Swit\
of the U. S. Navy, residing at Geneva. A son, Judye Samuel

l.H'ir tnu'i wiis i)niici|iiilly up Ituids ; a striuii,'.' clioicc it wn.s tlioiif,'lil at tlio time,
wJiou X\\v\- wtTi' ,,lk'i'i'(l the Mt. .Mon-is tract, with its hfautifiil swoi'i.s .if tliits, at m,m
per aoiy. l!ut they liad vumv IVdiii a n'i;i(.ii mIutc tiiiil)i'i- va.s ficaivo. aiul t'licv had
loanu'd to apinvcian^ its value ;iiid wilii ivloiviici' to intrinsic relalivu valno i.i' soil ;
tun.', and iin|iv,.voi systems of .■ultivation an- fust dcmonstfatini'- that their ehoice <if
lands was lar li>s mjndieious than it iisod ♦ . be considenMh 'J'iie late iMajoi- ^'jjenm-
told tlie authevthat the uplands uj.on his L. >• f, . ■>■ were wofth as mueh T)eV anv as his
Hats. '

NoTK.— Tlie i^hiikei- settleuienf af the [iini'tion of the Kishaiiua creek willi flio
taiuiseni-a atew mdesahove Mt. Miu'iis, wheiv llie (ieneseo Vallev canal entefs tho
valley ol the ( anas.raoa. isa])ait of the ofi-inal Fitzlmgh and ('arroU tr-t Tins
s.|eletv puivhascMl .if Dr. Fitzlin.-'., :; '■ «• years ^in.v. 17(1(1 acivs, for whi.'h toey paid

f ,U,(I( ; an,! t.. whu'h they ha 'u,m1 s.'veral hun.lred a.uvs. Tlieir ...ijani/.atiou is

after the nianner ..1 lli.. socieliOH at Niskavuna an.l N.'w Lebanon ; thev are enterpri-
bin.u'and prnsp>.rous : (h.niselvesan.' ;h..ir h.^autiftil location one of the many ubiects
-A Jiiterest ii, the soiulicni portion of our h)L'id" region.

|i , kJ it

l!r IS! I I

sou

PflKLI'H AND OORHAm's I'l'KCirASK.

Fil/Im-h, ivsi.li.iir ;,(. Mt. M«rris, died in 1811) ; ;„hI :i y()un!.cr son.
ItoLerl, .li.'.l ill (In.vchni.l. in 1N.'{(;. Tlu-re :uv over 80 (Icsceud-
unts ul (Jul. Wni. riizjuiuli.

CHARLES CAKUOLL.

Ifis coniioction with Messrs. Iloclu-slcr j.nd Fit/.himh, ;ind his
.•idveiit to ;his ivoi(»n Willi them in IHOO, will Imvc hirn noticed.
lie had pivvionsly in ttu; year 17i)8. with a bi-olher. Daniel Cnrroil,
been here upon a four of exploration. They eanic via the Sus(iuo-
hannah route, witii paek mules, made a general survey of the coun-
try, were ])leased with it, hut made no investments as will he oh-
served. until 1800. 1'heir residence in Maryland was at IJellevue,
near 1ho;erstown : the earlier home of the family had heen ujion
the site of the city of \Vashin,uton ; the cajHlal (.f die Tnited States,
ii"w occupies a portion yf tlie estate of their father, Charles Carroll,'
niio wa.s a cousin of • Charles Carroll of Cariollton."

The author has little of the history of Major Carroll, disconnected
with that of his associates. Messrs. Rochester and Fitzluio|i. He
died at his residence in ( ooveland, in 1897, ajved (iO year.s. His
hviiur sons are: — Charles (^irroll, the occupant of the homestead,
recently the representative in (\.nnress of the Livingston and On-
tario .li.strict, and a Stat.- Senator; Dr. ])aniel .). Carrol of New
"^ovk: William 'J'. Carroll, a clerk of the Supreme Court of the
ruited Slates. Dauuhters became the wives of Henry Fit/hnuh,
of Oswego: I\ros(«s Tahhs, of Washington, D. C.; Dr. llard.ige'
Lane of St. Louis. The (-Idest ..on was the jirivate Secretary of
Mr. (lay, at tduMit : becoming soon :d'ter the clt-rk of his father
who held the ..iHce of Kec(>iver at Franklin, Missouri, he was killed'
in an alfray which occurred in that town.

There came t.) the Cienesee country with Messrs. Fit/hugh,
Kochester and Carroll, <ir at about the same time. Col. .Tonas Hog-
inire, of Washington comity, Md., Wm. Heal, and .lohn Wilson, of
Frederick couiily. Col. llogmire purchased of Mr. Wadsworlh,
on the river, in Avon, um acres of land, upon which his sons Con-'

'!(

1 ,

rilELPS AND OOIiJlAMri I'UllCIIASE,

367

rad and Samuel Hosimire now reside. The father never emigrated.
Messrs. Beul and Wilson purchased a large tract on tiie (^anascraga,
in Sparta.

AVON.

Gil!)(M-t R. Berry, was the first permanent settler in what is no
Avon.* He was irom All)any. He married the daughter of the
early Indian trader, Wemple, wlio has been named in connection
with the Uev. Mr. Kirkland. Enga,y;in<r in the Indian trade, he
located first at Geneva, and in 1785), removed to the Genesee river,
erected ;i lo^y house on the west side of the river, near the present
l)ridji;(>, oi)ened a trade with the Indinn village of Canawaugus, es
tahlished a ferry, and pntertained the few travellers that passed
through on the old Niagara trail. He died in '9() or '7, and was
succeeded by his widow. The Holl and Purchase being opened for
settlnnent soon tdterwards, the "Widow Berry's" tavern was
widely know in all early years, west of the river; and besides fur-
nishino- a comfortable resting place for early Pioneers, in her prim-
itive tavern, i^ome of the best wives and mothers of the Genesee
count ry, were reared and fitted for the duties of life. Her daughters
became the wives of Geo. Hosmer, Estp, of A\(;n, E. Clark Hickox,
the early merchant of J?atavia and Bullah^ .lohn Mastick, Es(i., the
Pioneer lawyer of Rochester, and George A. TiHany, whose father
was one of the early ]).rinters of Canandaigua.

Cajit. .Tohn Ganson, was the pioneer settler following Mr. Berry.
Holding a commission in the Revolutionary war, he had accompanied

'I'hi^i-i.'issmiu'tl tVointiu- l)cst iiiforniati.m the autlior hius bwrn able to olitsiin.

WilliuH UicfwasiU Avon in llu' snine yoar, and must liavo sciili'il i'm-iv sunn allur
Mr IUmtv Muiviina.ul Williiini Ih-slia, wove upon Iho " l)i'>lia l-lats," us oarly n.s
ns'l .■hmiiiii" uiiil.T an Indian f;Tanl ; liut tiio title failin-,', tla-.y iviudvea to Canada.
Tli.MV NvrivtluTe in tliat voar, be.sides, several lieads of fanulies. wlio afe supposed not
toliav.. l,renpennaneuf settlers. Tlie son of the Wm. Riee named above, was the
tirst horn up..i' tlie I'helps an.l Gorhan.'s I'nrel.ase. He wa. nmne, •Oliver 1 helps
Uiee " .!ud"e I'lielps uave him an KKI aeres i.f land in Livoma, wlu.'h he oeer.pied
when he beeanu' of a-e. Mrs. liiee was a «o<..l specimen of the slron- mn.ded ener-
1\h- women, who were the 1 l;„a.er n.olhers of thisre-iun MulUd as a nudw.leand
nur-e she wnt from seltlemeni lo settlement, and trom In- eabir to lo^^ .■abin. olren
sum.i'vin- the i.laee of a phvsieian. Her manv aets of kindn.'ss are jtraleluliy remein-
l fl 11 ' 'a riv I'iot.eers. Mrs. Gould of Lima, and Mrs. llhodes ol Gcausco, an-

I I

her daui,diiers.

3GS

rjIELPS AND GOWlAJi's rUlICilASE.

the expodition of Gen. Sullivan. Before the treaty was concluded,
in 178H, he revisited the country, and selected a fine tract of land
on the river, about two miles below Avon. Ills sons John and
James wintered in a cabin in 1788, '<), ujKm the premises; and the
father and family came on in the fall of 1780. During the fnllow-
inc^ winter they erected a rude "tub mill " on the small stream that
puts into the river on the Markham i'arm. It was a .'^mall lorr
building; no boards could be had ; the curb was made of liewed
plank ; the spindle was made by straightening out a section of a cart
tire ; the stont's were roughly carved out of native rock. There
was no b(jlt, the substitute being hand sieves, made of sjilints. It
was a rude, ])rimitive concern ; but it would mash tiie corn a little
better than a wooden mortar and pestle ; and was (juite an acquisi-
tion to the country. It preceded the Allan mill a lew months, and
if we shall call it a mill, it was the first in the Genesee Valley. The
buckwheat that lias been mentioned, produced upon Boughton Hill,
was ground or mashed in it, having been carried there twenty miles
through tlui woods, by Jared Boughton, in the fall of 178!) ; and the
producer, and mill boy (or man) lives to eat buckwheat cakes, now in
the winter of 1850, '51. Borrowing the language of Shaks])care, and
applying it to this one of the few survivors of that early period, may

"Godil (lif^i'stiuu wail on iii)j)etite,
Ami hoallli du botli."

Capt. Ganson had claimed title either under the Indian grant, or
under tlu' Lessees, which failed, and Col. Wm. Markham becam.e
liis successor. He resided for several years afterwards, four miles
east oi" Avon, on the main road. As early as 1788, about the period
ot the conimencement of surveys ujton the Holland Purchase. Capt.
Ganson, had jjushed on to the west side of the river, and purchased
the i)ioneer tavern stand of Charles Wilbur, on the then vern-e of
civilization, one mile east of the ])resent village of Le Rov. In this
location he was widely known in early years. His iiouse \\as the
liome of early land agents, surveyors, explorers and pioneer settlers.
He was both loved and i'eared by the Indians; thev came t(j him
for ct)unsel and advice ; and when they became turbulent in their
drunken frolics and threatened outrage, he would quell thetn by his
determined will, or with his strong arm. He was even ultra in his
Revolutionary principles. When he came upon the river, he and
the Butler Hangers — the tories of the Revolution, were far from

PHELPS AND GORUAlVl's PURCHASE.

[569

beini? ngreeuble neighbors ; lie was impatient to see the last of them
on their wny to Canada.

'J'ownship 10, 11. 7, (Avon,) was sold by Mr. Phelps to " Wads-
worth, Lewis & Co." Those interested in the purchase, wt-rc : —
William Wadsworth, of Farmington, Conn., (a cousin of .lames

and William,) Wells of Hartford, Isaiah Thompson, Timothy

Ilosmer, and Lewis. The price paid was Is (Jd, N. E. cur-
rency per acre; "a high price at the ))priod, in conseiiuenco of the
hirge amount of open Hats." Dr. Hosmer, and Thomiison, were the
only ones of the proprietors who became residents. ]\Lijor Thomp-
son, who had not brought his family, died the first season, of hillious
fever. His son Charles afterwards became a resident, ;nid died in
Avon, nniny years since. Mrs. Tompkins, of Batavia is a grand-
daughter of Major Thompson.

Dr. Timothy Hosmer was a native of West Hartford, Conn.
With a little more than an ordinary academical education, he be-
came a student of medicine with Dr. Dickinson, of Middleton.
But recently settled in practice in Farmington, at the breaking out
of the Revolution, he entered the service of the colonies, as a sur-
geon, in the Connecticut line. Serving in that capacity through
the eventful crisis, he retired, happy in the recollection of its glori-
ous result, hut like most of those who had achieved it, poor and
pennyless, a growing family dependent on his professional services
for support. In the army he had accjuired a high reputation in his
profession; especially lor his successful treatment .of the small pox,
at Daid)ury, where an army hospital hail been established for |>atients.
The discovery of .lenner, having been but recently promulgated in
Europe, its efficacy was a mooted question ; with a professional
boldness which was characteristic of the man, he espoused the new
discovery, and used it with gi;eat success. His mate, in the army,
was Dr. Eustis, afterwards Secretary of War.

Personally acquainted with jMr. Phelps, and hearing of his pur-
chase in the Genesee country, partly from a love of adventure and

iNoTK. — Jiiiiifs aii<l Joliii GiMisii

o, ,. I ,, ... ., "" t lie siiiis. were nivlv IiiiHllords ;it Lo Roy and

Ht.u,..i,l. Mv>^. WiiiToi. roMuiiij.-iu.ai- Lcn-kimi-t, isa .laiin-hfr. Jainc-s Causm is stiU
Jiuny-, ai-o.s,,U,,t ot .liickson, .Mu-l.i-aii ; l,is sons, arc .)olm S. Gaii-m,, ,,f liuffiilo,
1 rcsuuMit of ho Jiuiicol .\ttioa; Josoph (iansoii, .-. nu.roluiiit of J!i-ookiK,n. Ilira:
t oi-iiolius aiK Coriioil. i-o,Hilonts(,fMiolui;ini. and aimtluM- son rosi.lo-
llio sons ol .loliii Gaiison, aro Dr. Uolloii (iaiison of Ha

iiaiu,
in Mihvaiilvpc.

• ,, ,;. , ,'"i' •"'•"• *""i"ii v.iiMMMi ui liataviii; Jolin (ian^dii. an .-Utor-

lioy Jii l.iiUulo; luul Jiiino.s (imiHou, Ca.siiior of tliu .Marino Bank of iiuQUlo.

370

PIIELI^ AND GORIIA:\i's PURCHASE.

new entcM-pnso, and partly to escape from alai-e practice that wa.
re.iu.niiur too ,nuch of constant toil, in 1700, he visiteil this re-non
111 company with Major Thompson, with whom, for themseU-os''and
associates, he made the purchase of a township. Spendin-r the
summer ol -DO in Avon; in -Ol he brought on his two sons. Fred-
eiickand Sydney; erectin.s; a lonr house, the first dwellincr on the
liresent site of Avon, where Mr. Merrill's house now stands. His
whole lannly joined him in 1792. Coming into the wilderness, with
other objects m view, he was forced by necessitv-bv the ab.sence
ot others of his profession, to engage in practice, widch he contin-
ued until relieved by others. Among the old pioneers who in those
primitive days, were in detached settlements throughout a wide
range, you udl hear him .spoken of; and especiallv do thev remem-
ber Ins disregard of fatigue, his long, night, wood's rides, prompted
more by a .spirit of benevolence than professional gain; his .rood
humor, and the kind words he always ha.l t.. cheer the despoiidin^
settler wh<j was wrestling with disease, or the hardships of pioneer
Ide J he Indians early learned to appreciate his profes.sional skill,
and personal good oflices. They named him •' At-tta-.rus," the healer
of disease. In a period of doubt as to their relations'wifh the new
settlers, he helped to reconcile them and aven a threatened .langer.
V\ hen Ontario was organized he became one of its Jud^res, and
succeeded Mr. Thelps as first Judge, which ollice he held until he
was sixty years of age, the constitutional limitation. He possessed
naturally a fine literary taste ; and his well selected librarv was an
ano.naly ,n the backwoods, hi his correspondence with Messrs.
\V adsw.M-th and Williamson, which the author has perused, there are
indicr.tions of the scholar, the poet,* and alw.n's, of ardent, enli<dit-
ened patriotism. ^ ^

He died in November, 1815, aged 70 years. His surviving sons,

! ::;; ''^^'"^•"' ^'^'•'■-. «o„l,l notlK. ..i,vn,ns.TilK..l il, il« limits t.Ml.o .hoU of

tic I ; St.,t ' "'7' "^ •■•■"'■'■','""■. " '-^''''T". «H,1 that 1h. ...xt..M^i^,. t..ni|,„.v of
Smij : ^^''"^■"■™" ''^' ^'"V''"H.,1 with th.-pvafstlarililv, andwitlia .h-r-v ofh.p.

1'} >uiU,o„. : a,Ml ,t isthwvlure not a matter of suquisc, to .e. Frauce, who.u a nnif

linvi

T— ?;

PHELPS AND G0RHA:M 8 PtmCIIASE.

most of whom ciime to- the country as junior pioneers, are William
T., of Meadville, Pa.; George, of Avon, who in early years occu-
pied a conspicuous position at the bar of W. N. York, the father
of Wm. II. C. Hosiner, the author of " Yonnondio," "Themes of
Sonif,'' and other poems ; who is justly entitled to the positifui that
lias been awarded him in the front rank of American scholars and
poets. Geo. Hosmer pursued his early studies under the tuition of
the Rev. Ebenezer Johnson of Lima ; in 17i)9 entered the law
oflice of the Hon. Nathaniel W. Howell, as a student ; and in 1802
•svas admitted to practice, oi)ening his oflice in Avon, then the only
lawyer west of Canandaigua. In the war of 1812 he was upon the
frontier as the aid of Gen. Hall. He is now OO years of age.
Timotiiy, the early and widely known landlord at Avon, resides at
the Four Mile creek, near Fort Niagara ; Sylvester, in Caledonia ;
Albert in Hartland, Niogara co. An only daughter of Judge Hos-
mer is the wife of the Kev. Flavel F. BHss, of Churchville. Fred-
erick Hosmer, deceased, was a son of Judge Hosmer; he was the
first merchant at Avon ; another son, A. tSydney Hosmer, was long
known ns a tavern keeper at Le Roy; he emigrated to Wisconsin,
where he died in 1835.

Colonel William Markham, who had first settled at Bloomfield,
moved to Avon in 1790. In Bloomfield he had purchased an hundred
acres of Innd, and paid for it with the proceeds of one acre of po-
tat(»es. With the proceeds of tliat land, he purchased and paid for
the fine farm on the river, now owned by his son, Guy Markham,
which has rented tor !$1,000 per year. He became a useful, public
spirited citizen, and his name is mingled with the reminiscences of the
town, in all early years. He died in 1827, or '8. His surviving sons
are ; Guy and Ira, of Rush, Wayne, on Ridge Road, near Clarkson,
Vine, in Michigan. Daughters : — Mrs. Whitney, Michigan ; Mrs.
Boughton and Mrs. Dr. Socrates Smith, of Rush.

Gad Wadsworth was a distant connexion of James and William,
and came in with them, in their primitive advent in 1790, in care,
personally, pf the stock. James and William having become, by
purchase from first hands, land proprietors in Avon, he settled

liiivf fiiiii'liitlitiViiitlli.Mif liKlvpt-iidi'iice, ill Aiiicrii'M, vk'toriimsovi'iMlif tninidnsof des-
pois. Anil it' I limy bo allti\v('<l the ]irivil('<;'t' of a prodiftioii, I i^lKlll liavc ln.t Utile
iif'sitiiiioii ill iirououiu'ing, that tlie extirjiatiou of tyrants and tyranny from Europe,
is but a ^niall remove from the present era."

I^^^l

■

'■'mM

■

372

PIIKLI'S AND GORIIAJl's I'UUCIIASE.

^f f

tlioro in 1702, his ninn bein,<r what are now the fiirms of liis son,
irtMiiy Wn.lsworth. aiul Asa Nowlon, upon wliich aro the Avon
si)rinir^s. He died soon after IH20. nearly HO years old. Another
son of his, Rieliard, inhabited that piirfof the farm upon wiiirh tiie
sprinnrs are situated, and sold to Mr. Novvien. lie emigrated to
Sandusky.

IMajor Isaac .Smith was the early and widely known landlord, four
miles west of the river, eomnienein<r th(>re as early as INOO. I'n-
der his roof, a lartje pioj)ortion of the Pioneers west of the river,
have I'ound rest and refreshment ; and from under it, it may ;ilso be
added, have eome not less th;m half a dozen excellent wives aii.l
mothers. They were : — Mrs. Isnac Sutherland, and Mrs. K. Kim-
berly, of IJatavia, Mrs. John M'Kny, of (^idedonia, Mrs. A. Sidney
Hosnier, formerly of Le Hoy, Mrs. Faulkner, (jf Dansville, and
Mrs. Sylvester Hosmer, of Caledonia. S. W. Smith, .^f Dansville,
an<l Nelson Smith, of ]\Iichi<ran, are sons of the early landlord.

The n(<xt landlord at Avon, after Gilbert K. Rerry, w:is Nathan
Perry. lie built a framed house, north side of square, on the site
now occujiied by the dwelling of i\Ir. Curtis Ilawley. Perry emi-
irrated to the Connecticut Re.serve, and was succeeded by Sydney
llosmer, who nuide additions to the house. In 180(5 .lames Wads-
worth buih the hotel on tlie corner, and soon after .sold it to Sidney
and W. T. Hosmer, after which it was loni;; known as the Hos-
mer Stand.* During the war, and for many years alter, it was
kept by Tihiothy Hosmer. The old landlord "aiiil hr diady are still
alive, the owners and occupants of one of the linest 'arms, in that
region of fine farms, Niagara county. The first school hou.^e was
a log one, erected a little north of the Episcopal church. .Judge
Hosmer and the Wadsworfhs. built saw-mills on the Conesus, as
early as 170G. The first meetings were held in the log .shool house.
Judge Hosmer usually reading the Episcopal service. Mr. Crane,
an Episcopal clergyman, and Rev. SamuoJ J. Mills, were early
itinerant ministers.

Jehiel Kelsey yet survives, of the early Pioneers of Avon. He
has reached his SOth year. The old gentleman si)eaks familiarly of
early events, of the [)eriod when not over twenty or t\ enty-flve

■Prcvidiis 1(1 till" silc. li(

liiiwt'vci-, T);iviil Finillnv iiml JosliuaLovcjov wiiiv iMTiipiintH.
Lov(jjt..v ivmovcl to I'.iilthI,.. j;^" Scf nccuuiil' of llu' nuwsicru ol'.Mns. Lowiov, at
tJie di'.siructioa ul' JJulValo, iu lli.storv of Jiulhuul I'luvliiise.

^m^Mi

I'lIELi'S AND GOUIIAAl's PUIICHASE.

373

iiK'ii cdulil In; i-iiiscd in all the UciieHce valley, to put a lui: bridf^e
over I )(•('[) Hollow, in the n(nv city of Rochester. In 17J)8 he
Itrounht the first carj^'o of salt that came from Ononda;ii;a, by water,
and around the Portat^e, at Genesee Falls. He paid lor each bushel
ol salt, a pound of pork, and sold his salt at 810 jier barrel. He
well rcmenibors seeing companies of surveyors fitting; <nit, and load-
iiijj; their pack hor.scs at Avon, to break into the Holland Purchase.

In 180r>, a Ijibrary was established at Avon. The trustees were :
A. Sidney Hosmer, .Job Pierce, .Toshua Lovejoy, .lehirl Jvelsey,
Elkanah Whitney, .lames Lawrence, Win. Markham, George Hos-
mer, Stephen Ilodi,fers.

ill ISIO, " a number of persons be inij; stated hearers of llev. John
F. Pliss, of Avon," met and organi/.ed "Avon Rcjligious Society."
Samuel Bliss and Asa Clark presided. Trustees: — .Tohn Pierson,
George Hosmer, Nathaniel Bancroft, .Tolm Brown, E/.ekiel Mosely,
William Markham.

AVON SPHLVdS.

Tlio ra]M(l]y incroasing colcbvity of Avon Springs a.s a sunn tier resort for
invuliils, jileasure ]>nrlios, ami toinisls ; invite<l ;is well hy tlic healing waterji,
n?\>\ clKirniing seencry, the bmail, cnltivated fields, and beautiful t'oi'ests, tliat
suriduud them, will juiiliaps render some early reininiscenees of them nut un-
inleresting: — They were known to the Jesuit Mis.sionarie.s, and Joneaire, un-
der l'"n;neli duuiinion, and they recognizeil their usi- by the Indians, fui' ir;edi-
cinal or healing jnu'poses. 'i'lie Seneca name tor them was " Can-a-wau-gus,"
(feiid. liad smelling water,) and tlieneo the name of their villa::.', in ihc im-
mediate neighliorhood. When settlement eonuneured, sixty years since, they
were surround<!i| by a dense ced.ar marsh. 'J'Ik; waters of tho springs tlowed
into a hasin or poml, covering a space of several acres, tlio margin of wliidi,
wa< pure white sanil, thrown up by the action of the water. The watei's W(,'re
clear and transparent, and shaded by the dark forest, the spot had a secluded
and romantic as])ect. It was tirst noticed as a resort of the wild ]«igef)n.
Indian paths were found leading to the spot, from tho old Niagara trail, and
from the branch trails; and the Indians told the earliest settlers of the ellicacy
of' tin.' waters in cutaneous diseases. vVt an early jierioil in tho settlement of
the country, as many will remember, the mea.sles, (as it was called*) was

* It tlie iiii'ilii'al faculty will excuse a non-])rof(!ssor for tho iutroduotiou of a new
luuiic, in llii'ir\<n'aiiul;uv, it was tlie " Genesee ifcti," to wliichincua.s well as Miiiiiiiils
vrci't' siiliji'ct in this retjion, when tirst cuinini,' here — cndeinical in its chararter — or
rntlu-r inciJoifcil to forest lifu here. The Jesuit uiissiouaricb wero alliictcd with it.

'>§

IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)

1.0

1.1

u iii

£ us

WUu

2.2

1.8

1.25 1.4

1.6

^ 6" —

►

Photographic

Sciences

Corporation

23 WEST MAIN STREET

WEBSTER, NY. 14580

(716) 872-4503

sr ^^ MP.

374

PHELPS AXD GOItHAIM's PUECHASE.

preva ont amono: tl,e_ hoo.. It was oLsen-d, tl,at when thus afflictK]. tl.ey

lentl} ortbatol-ject In early yoa.., Miss \Ven.],le, a si.ter of M,.. ulL
upon e ,.e<..„,„u,Kanuno D..Hc™, bathed in an.l chank the waters, a.K
vas ,ehe^ed; an.l other snn.Jar ca.es occuvrecl. Soon aft.T the war of l.si'>
visitors troni abroad be.Q-aij to resort to the Sprino^s, and Hiehard Wadsworth!
at nesugges uon, and w,th the aid of George llosn.er, Ks<,., erected a sn'al
kahmg.stabl,sh.nent and shower bath. Afrerthe pnrohase of the prup.l
bv M.. iNowlen, and the erection of a boardinij house by Mr. IhnXL a
new nnpetns wasgnen to ^npro^•enlents; ^■isito;>; be^an tJ increase, tV^.n year
to yeaiv improvements have been progressive ; nntil sick or uvil, the.^ is notpot
moieinMting in western^ew Vork. Bnt a ],ioneer history was only intended

EEMINISCENCES OF GEORGE HOSMER.

_ Mr. Ilostner confirms tlie position, tliat the domestic lioo- will go back to
bis native s ate, soon after he has re-entered a f.avst lif<.. In earlf ye k of
s.-ttleinent, there were droves of h„gs, generally roaming ov^ the I 1 kN
a ong the Genesee river, the immediate p.-ogenitors of .ddch ha,I be V '

lose

.omesticated by the Indians, and those brond.t here by Bntler's ]{ , o.^.

They w<.re wiid, as ,u: those now seen by Ca!itV,rnia adintnrei^ in cn,;si, ^

he Isthmns ot Panama. They Mere nntameable, and when wanted t U'

wild '-ame '" "''"^'^''"° ^ ^' ''^ ^'^"^'^ ''"'" ^''''^''^ ^'""^ ^^^^^ ^^^ ''ti'«'
• 11^795 Frederick Hosmer, attlie instance of Mr. Williamson, went to
reside at the mouth ot the river. Erecting a Jog shantee, he kept a tl.
goods to barter with the Indians for fnrs, and trade with the b Ltteann ..Ai
used to make that a stopping place. George Hosmer was freuueiuh ^^i
mn. British deserte.^ trom Niagara would frequently come down the Lake
Lpon one occasion some deserte.s were followed bv a voung Lieutenant and
agmu-dof 8 nien in a boat. Arnving at the mouth of tlurrivei, and W
ign<.thingof therctugees,_tbe Lieutenant hunted and fished; lendin.- Is
to^^lng piece to two of his soldiers who were goino-up to theFalb'tlcv
too deserted. The Lieutenant pursued them to dr^m,Z S oneV b B td

" md 0? £1^ '^^"''-^l'^ tliey werefieemg toson.e new^llemo!;;'!;!'^

land ot hbe.t3 «o rapidly, that he gave uj) the chase, and returned to Fort

Niagara, minus wo of his guard, addcl to Ihe deserte s. The unt , ami'

^"=::;;f tc:^-'^ '-' "^" -^ '^^ ^-^-'- -^ ^"^ ^-^'^

sol lierr;'? *!l "; f '''''" ^'"^^^^ ^^l' ^''^^^''^ ''^^ frequent a. soon as the
soLheis knew that there we.e new settlements in this .juarter - placxs uf re-
fuge ,- Lidians were iired by the British officers to pursue them and failin<v
to arrest, to shoot the m. White hunters, and citizens visiting the Fort"

falniSs'lJe'lv'sJ^fW^" NonviHe's arn.y,,.erc attacked ^ith thT^^^nJ^l^..
^X^:l:l:::::l^!^;'^'^^'' ----iterate, and otherwise n^oh4. diilbr-

PHELPS AND GOEHAm's PURCHASE.

375

fflict.'fl. tliey
• forest a}i|)a-
Mix. \ktY\j,
wati'is, aikl
>ai' of 18 IL',
Wailswortli,
cteil a small

;llO lirnp(,'ity

loiiulituii, a
I', fii;iiiyfar
no is no spot
ly in tended.

go back to
y years of
!io ti|ilanils,

bei_-n ilioso
s ]"t;iiio'ei's.

Ill crossinfi"
waiiletl fur
fc like other

II, Avont to
kept ^ few
luuii'ii tfcat
lently with
n tlie Lako.
tonant and
and liear-
oiuliiio- Lis
Falls,' t key
L J)i'in'Iit(.in,
lent in tlio
led to I'uit
iiifoiiunale
he liei'o at

oon as the
aees ( )f re-
nid failing
the Fort,

:im." '11)0
W!iy would
iully difll-r-

nnd intondinpf to pass through the wikh^rncss to the eastward, wore furnished
with a medal, or a token, to show the Indians thus employed, to iire\ cnt ar-
rest. " Tuscarora,'' or "Stitf-amiod George," was thus employed, and he
was one, of the worst speeimons of his race; a terror wherever he was known.
Ho shot and scaljK'd several deserters, carrying his trophies to Fort Niao-ara
for reward. Ui)on one occasion, wlien (Joorgo Hosmer was left to take care
of tliH shantee in the absence of his brother' Frederick, Gooro-(« deiiiandod
rum, which being refuseil, the Indian pushed him back against a post, and
striking at his head with his tomahawk, the blow was averted, making an
impression upon the post which evidenced the intention of the reven'\'ful
sa\-age. Mr. Iloncher and his hireil man came to the rescue.* °

Ebenezer Allan was rather imposing in his appearance, usuallv mild and
gentlemanly, but ho had a bold and determined look; could easily put on the
savage character. IIo had acquired a distaste for civilized life. Mrs. Dii'mn,
his sister, was mild and amiable — somewhat accomplished. °

_ The "On-ta-gua," or Horse Shoe Pond, a mile and a half bel.iw Avon
village, abounded in line fish, especially large black bass, in an oaily day ;
and it was also the favorite resort of ducks, goose, and other wild water fowl.
Speckled trout wcmo plenty in the river, an.l in all the tributary streams.
Thei-o was no pickerel, or pike, above the Genesee Falls, until ]R10, wlK-n
William Wjidswortli, and some others, caught pickerel in Lake Oiit'irio, and
other Lake fish, and i)ut them into Conesus Lake; and pickerel abound tiiere
now; have been taken weigliing 20 lbs. As the pickerel came down from
the Lake into the Genesee river, the trout disappeared.

The most troublesome wild animals in early days, other than boars and
wolves, were the foxes and wild cats preying upon die fowls, piireons preying
npon the newly sowed crops, chipmucks, ravens, hawks, owls, wood chucks^
and black stpiiri'cls. There were a few turkey buzzards upon the ri\er, and
a few turkeys npon tlie uplands; several panthers were killed. The crow,
the grey squirrel, the quail, came in with civilization. New species of bii'ds
have been coming in almost yearlj-. The opossum is a new couior.

LIMA.

Paul Davison, in the summer of 1788,t about the period that Mr.
Phelps was negotiating his Indian purchase, in company with his
brother-in-law, Jonathan Gould, came from the valley of the Sus-
quehannah, to look out a new home in the Genesee country. Passhio-

* He finally met his deserts. Enlisting as an ally of the western Indians against
Wiiync, lie was among the killed. ^

tif tlio aiitlier's informant is rorrect in the year, this was the first advent of an
hou!ielwld west of the Adam's settlement, iuBlooiiitield.

376

PITELPS ANP GORIIAJl's PURCHASE.

the last white habitation at Geneva, tliey pursued tlie Indian trail
to the present town of Lima ; where, finding a location to suit them,
they erected a cabin and commenced making an opening in the
forest. Going to the Indian lands at Canawaugus, they plorited and
raised a patch of corn and potatoes. Their location was about one
mile south of the Indian trail, near the west line of the town. Af-
ter some improvements upon their cabin, such as the luxury of a
bark roof, and a hewed plank floor, and gathering the small crop
they had raiserl upon Indian lands, they returned to the Susquehan-
nah, and in the spring of 1789, Mr. Davison, with his family, con-
sisting of his wife and her mother, and two children, came to make
his permanent home in the wilderness. He was accomi)anie(l by
Asahel Burchard, The family and household implements were con-
veyed in an ox cart, Mr. Davison and his companion sleeping under
the cart, and the family in the cart, during the whole journey.
Their route was Sullivan's track, the whole distance from the Sus-
quehannah to where the Indian trail bore off in the direction of
Canawaljgus. They had bridges to build occasionally, and logs to
cut out, before they left the track of Sullivan ; after that, they had
their own road to make for the greater part of the way to the place
of their destination. The journey consumed three weeks. Mr.
Davison raised a crop of oats and turnips, the first of any kind raised
in Lima ; and in that and a few succeeding ye-ars, cultivated Indian
lands at Canawaugus. For two years, the family pounded all their
corn in a stump mortar, getting their first grinding done at the Al-
lan mill. Cai)tain Davison and some of his Pioneer neighbors, took
six or seven bushels of corn to Canawaugus, hired an Indian canoe,
and took it down to the mill. On their return up the river, their
canoe ui)set, and their meal became wet and unfit for use ; a small
matter to make a record of, some readers will say, and yet, let them
be assured, it was no small matter with those new beginners in the
wilderness. In 1790, Mrs. Davison's mother died; it being the
second death in the Genesee country after .settlement commenced.
A daughter of Captain Davison, who became the wife of James
Otis, of Perry, Wyoming county, was the first born white female
west of Geneva. Captain Davison died in 1804, aged 41 years,
after having become a successful farmer, and the owner of a large
farm. Mrs. Davison died in 1844, aged 80 years.
Dr. John Miner and Abner Migells, had settled in Lima, in the

PlIELPS AKD GCPJIA:m'3 PURCHASE.

377

summer of 1790 ; and it is presumed that Mr. Burchard liad tlien
brought in his family ; as his name, as the head of a family, occurs
in tiie census of that period. He still survives to enjoy the fruits
of his early enterprise and life of toil. ■' He was," says a corres-
pondent of the author, "always a kind and good neighbor, and much
esteemed by the early settlei-s."

Lima was cal' ^d, in arx early period, " Miles' Gore," the fraction
of a township having been purchased in the name of Abner Miles,
or Abner Migells, as the author finds it on some of the early records.'
According to the recollccticns of William Henchcr, he must have
left Lima soon after settlement commenced there ; as he was early
engaged with his father in trading trips to Canada, and erected a
public house at Toronto in the earliest years of settlement there.

The brothers, Asahel and Matthew Warner, Miles Bristol, and
others, who were early and prominent Pioneers in Lima, the author
hopes to be able to speak of in another connection. At present, he
has not the necessary datas.

Reuben F. Thayer must have settled in Lima before the close of
1790. The venerable Judge Hopkins, of Niagara county, was in
the fall of 1789, with a number of companions, returning to New
Jersey, after a trading excursion. Passing Canawaugus, they as-
sisted Gilbert R. Berry in erecting his first log house ; and the next
day, finding a " settler just arrived by the name of Thayer, with
logs ready for a house," they stopped and assisted him.

Wheelock Wood came to Lima in the winter of 1795, Incatino-
upon the present site of the college, where he commenced clearinc"
and erected a log cabin. He remained there a few j^ears, and re-
moved to Livonia, and from there, in 1807, to Gainesville, Wyoming
county. He died in 1834.

In an early period of settlement in Lima, ancient remains, and
relics of French occupancy were to be seen in various localities.
The "Ball Farm," so prolific in these, and so often alluded to by an-
tiquarians, is within the town. Upon the farm of Miles Bristol, a
short distance west of Lima village, upon a commanding eminence,
the embankments and ditches of an ancient Fort were easily traced!
In ploughing upon his farm, in early years, Mr. Bristol picked up
several hundred pounds of old iron, chiefly French axes.

James K. Guernsey, in connection with the Nortons, of Bloom-
field aud Canandaigua, and afterwards upon his own account was

178

PIIELPS AND GORHAM's PURCHASE.

the ear y prominent merchant of Lima. He removed 'to Pittsford,
where he died m 1839. George Guernsey, of Michigan, is his son '
Mrs. Mortimer F. Delano, of Rochester, is his daughter. For m^ny
years, his stare m Lima commanded the trade of a wide region

CHAPTER VI

PIONEER EVENTS IN WHAT IS NOW WAYNT^ COUNTY.

chased T 12, R. 2 now Palmyra, and commenced the survey of it
-nto farm lo ., m M^rch. Jenkins being a practical surveyoif bu
a camp on the bank of Ganargwa creek, about two miles below the
pesent village of Paln.yra. His assistants were his nephew, Al!

pheus Harns, Solomon Earle, Baker, and Daniel Ransom. One

mormng about 2 o'clock, the party being asleep .n their bunks, thai
fire givmg hght enough to show their several positions, a party of fonr
Tuscarora Indians and a squaw stealthily approached, and the Indi-
ans puting their guns through the open spaces between the logs, se-
lected their victims and fired. Baker was killed, Earle, lying upon his
bacK with his hand upon his breast, a ball passed through his hand
and breast, mutilated his nose, and lodged under the frontal sinus
between h.s eyes. Jenkins and Ransom escaped unhurt, and en-
countering the murderers- Jenkins with his Jacob staff, and Ran-
som with an axe - drove them off, capturing two of their rifles and
a tomahavvk In the morning they buried their dead companion,
earned Earle to Geneva, and gave the alarm. The Indians were
pursued and two captured on the Ciiemung river. Tlie nearest jail
being Johnstown, it was feared they would be rescued; if an at-
tempt was made to carry them there ; what in later years would be
called a Lynch court, was organized ; they were tried and execu-
ted at Newtown, now Elmira. The execution was after the Indian
method, with the tomahawk. They were taken back into the

PHELPS AND GORHAM's PTTKCHASE.

379"

woods, and blindfolded. One of the executioners dispatched his
TMCtiin at a blow ; the other failed ; the Indian being a stout athletic
fellow, parried the blow, escaped, was followed by a possee, who
caught and beat him to death with stones and pine knots ! This
was the first trial and execution in the Genesee country. Horrid
and lawless as it may now seem, it was justified by then existing
exigencies.

During the summer, John Swift moved into the township, erect-
ingj^a log house and store house at "Swift's Landing a little north of
the lower end of Main street, Palmvra.

Before the close of the year 1789, Webb Harwood, from Adams,
Berkshire county, with his wife came in and erected a cabin on the
rise of ground near first lock west of Palmyra, upon the farm now
owned and occupied by Dennison Rogers. He was accompanied'
by Noah Porter, Jonathan Warner and Bennet Bates, single men.
The author is disposed to regard Harwood as the Pioneer, although
it is generally supposed that Gen. Swift had previously brought in°a
family. No family but that of Mr. Harwood and David" White

K'oTE.— The I'lJian party had their hunting camp neiirtlie aurvevors. and had seve-
ral times shaved tlieir provisions ; tlie incentive was huii;,'er. One 'of them that
escaped was " Turkey" well knmwn m after vears ujion tlie Genesee river. He had a
s.^ar upon his face, the mark of a blow from Ileukin's Jacob staftl IJuiim.- the war ot
1812, he contracted the small pox upon tlie frontier ; came to Scpiak v llFll. The In-
dians dreading the spread of the disease, carried him to a hut in the piiie woods near
Moscow, where lie was left to die alone. Earl rci; )ve!ed. He was the early ferry num
iit the Seneca outlet. Tliere have been many versions of tiiis aflair. The author de-
rived his information from the late Judge Porter, and from Judge JoJin H.Jones, whoso
informants were Horatio Jones and Jasper I'ani^h, wlio were' present at the trial and
execution. He has a-lso a printed account of it in the Maryland Journal, of April 17.><9.
Alpheus Hivrris waslidng a few years since, if ho is i.ot'now, at Sjiauish Hill, a few"
miles from Tioga Pohit. He says the Indians were " tried by committee law."

XoTE. — John Swift was a native of Litchfield Cotmtv Connecticut. He took .an
active part in the Kevolutionar^ war, and at its close, with his brother Philetus was
an emigrant to the disputed territory in Peiinsvlvania. He held a commission, and
was at the battle of Wyoming ; and wa.s also engaged in the " Pennamite " war, where
he set tiro to a Pennamite block house. He became a conimissionod otficer 'in the
earhest organization of the militia and in the campaiirn of 1S14 iip<jn the Nia^'ara Fron-
tier, he was co.nmissioned as Brig Gen. of N. Y. voluuteeis. In reconnoiU'rinf' the
enemy's position and works at Fort George, he captured a picket guard, and while in
the act of receiving theirarms, one of the prisoners shot him through the breast ; an at-
tack from a superior British force followed ; tlio wounded General ralhed his men,
commenced a successful engagement, when he fell exhausted bv his wound. "Never"'
Bays an historian of the war, "wa.s the country calknl upon to lament the loss of a firm-
er patriot or braver man." The Legislature voted a sword to his oldest male heir.
The gift fell to Asa R. Swift of Palmyra who was (h-owned in Sodus liay in l!^20 or -21
by the upsetting of a boat wlule engaged in fishing. The sword is now in the Innds
of Henry C. Swift, his .son, a resident o.fPhelps. His companion Ashley Van Duzer,
was also drowned ; his widow a sister of Mrs. Gen. Brooks, became the wife of Gen.
Mills ot Mt. Morns, ami now resides at Brook's Grove. The Rev. Marcus Swift, of
Michigan is a sou of Gen Swift.

880

PHELPS A]SD GORHAm's PURCHASE.

!■

IS enumerated in the census taken in the summer of 1790. Mr
Harvvood died in 1824. Wrn. Ilarvvood, of Ann Arbor, Midi,
igan IS a son of his; his daughters becauie the wives of Isaac Mace

oi lerry, Wyoming co, and Coe, of Kirthmd, Ohio.

The settlers that followed, in 1790, 'gi, '92, in the order in which
tliey are named, or as nearly so as the author's information enables
him to arrange them, were: -Lemuel Spear, David Jaekways,
James Galloway, Jonathan Millet, the Mattisons ; Gideon Durfee
the elder, his sons Gideon, Edward, Job, Pardon, Stephen, ami
Lemuel; Isaac Springer; William, James and Thomas Ri-rerT;
John Russell, Nathan Harris. David Wilcox, Joel Foster, Abraham
Foster, Elias Reeves, Luther Sanlbrd ; and to what was Palmyra,
now Macedon, in addition to those that have been named, Messrs,
Reid, Delano, Packard Barney, Brown, Adam Kingman, Hill, Lap-
ham, Benj. and Philip Woods.

Lemuel Spear, was a soldier of the Revolution, as most of the
Pioneer settlers of Palmyra were. He was from Cun.mington,
Mass. The family came on runners, before the breaking up ot the
ground in Feb '90, with two yoke of oxen, some cows and sheep,
having little more than a bare track and blazed trees to guide them
from Vienna to their destination, a mile above Palmyra village, where
Mr. Spear had purchased land of Isaac Hathaway, for twenty cents
per acre. The season being mild, they turned their stock out upon
the open flats, some of which had been cultivated by the Indians,
where they got along well through the winter and spring; the fam-
ily consisting of the parents and nine children, living in a covered
sleigh and in a structure similar to the Indians camp, until they had
planted a few acres in the si)ring, when they built a log house.
Bringing in a year's provisions, and killing deer whenever they
wanted fresh meat, or bartering for venison with the Indians, they
got along very well until after the harvest of their few primitive acres
of crops. In the first winters, the Indians camped upon the flats and
w^ere peaceable, good neighbors, hunting and trapping, occasionally
getting a beaver, the last of a colony, selling their furs and skins to
traders and bantering their surplus venison with the new settlers.
Lemuel Spear died in 1809; his surviving sons, are: — Ebenezer
Spear, of Penfield, Abraham Spear, of Jeddo. Orleans county,
Stephen Spear, residing upon the old homestead. A daughter is
the wife of Dr. Mallory, of Wisconsin.

PHELPS AIST) GORHAll's PURCHASE.

381

Ebenezer Spear is now in his 78th year. Leaving Palmyra in
early years he went to sea, engaged in mercantile business in Bos-
ton, returned to Palmyra in 1804, married for a second wife, a
daughter of Francis Postle, an early tailor in Canandaigua and Pal-
myra, from the city of Prague, in Bohemia, moved to North Pen-
field in. 1807. He was one of the Carthage Bridge company, and
opened a tavern at Carthage, while the bridge was cor-tructing.

REMINISCENCES OF EBENEZER SPEAR,

In 1790, after we had got settled at Palmyra, the wife of our predecessor
in the wildorness, Webb Ilanvood, in a delicate state of lieaUh, prececUiig
child-bii'tli, I'eqiiired wine, and her indulgent husband determined ujion pro-
curing some. At his request, I went to Canandaigua, found none — to
Utica, and was equally unsuccessful — and continuing my journey to
Schenectady, j^rdcui'ed six quarts of wine of Charles Kane. I was fourteen
days making the journey on foot, carrying my provisions in a knapsack,
sleeping undei a roof but four of thirteen nights.

Our tirst boards came from Granger's saw-mill on Flint Creek, several years
after we came in; Captain Porter built the tirst framed barn, and my father
the next one. 1 burned the tirst lime kiln west of Seneca Lake, for General
Othniel Taylor, of Canandaigua. In 1794, or '5, Abraham and Jacob
Smith built mills in Farmington, on the Ganargwa Creek; previous to which,
we used to go to The Friend's mills in Jerusalem. The tirst corn carried to
mill from Palmyra, was by Noah Porter. He went to Jerusalem with an ox
team in '90, carrying corn for all the settlers, taking leu days in going and
retui'ning. His return to tlie settlement was hailed with great joy, for } nvmd-
ing corn was very hard work. Our cotfee was made of burnt com; our tea,
of hendock and other bark ; and for chocolate, dried evans root was frequent-
ly used.

David White died in early years — the first death and funeral in
Palmyra. His sons weve, the late Gen. David White, of Sylvania,
Michigan ; Orrin White, a resident of Ann Arbor, Michigan ; and
Drs. James and William White, who reside at Black Rock ; a
daughter married Col. Otis Turner, of Niagara Falls. Ber'-''tt
Bates is still living at Ridgeway, Oneans county ; is the fathei
of Lyman Bates, of Ridgeway, and Orlando Bates, of Jeddo.
Noah Porter died in early years ; he was the father of Mrs. Sey-
mour Scovell, of Lewiston, and John Porter, Esq., of Youngstown.

382

PHELPS AND GOrjIAJl's PURCHASE.

1'^

Jacob Gannett was an early settler, and founder of the mills near
Macedon Locks.

The Durfee family, who have been named, were from Tiverton,
Rhode Island. In the summer of 1790, Gideon and Edward came
first to Farmington, and Gideon returning in the fall, represented
the country so favorably, that the whole family resolved upon emi-
gration. Gideon, with Isacc Springer, came buck in the winter of
'90, '91, with an ox sled, consuming 17J days in the journey.
Gideon purchased of John Swift his choice of IGOO acres. He
located it on what was long known as " Durfee Street," a short dis-
tance below Palmyra, securing a large amount of the ilats on the
Ganargwa. Being soon re-joined by iiis brother Edward, the
brothers and Springer built a cabin, and clearing six acres, and
without the use of a plough, planted it to corn. The brothers re-
turned to Rhode Island, and brought out their brothers, Pardon and
Job, with their families, coming in a batteaux, and landing at their
new home in the wilderness, almost destitute of food. They were re-
joiced on their arrival to find their corn fit for roasting, a forward-
ness they have never since known. It served them the tv,o-fold
purposes of food, and confidence in the soil and climate. The six
acres yielded 50 bushels to the acre, a quantity that served their
own wants and over-stocked the market, as there were few con-
sumers.^ The remainder of the large family came out in the winter
of '91, '2. They had a large crop, some of which was marketed
at Schenectady, probably the first that ever reached that market
from as far west as Palmyra. Otherwise prosperous, sickness soon
laid a heavy hand upon the large household, 17 out of 22 being
prostrated at one time with fevers. Their first bread was made
from pounded corn ; their first grinding was procured at Wilder's
mill, and occasionally at The Friend's mill, Jerusalem,

The descendants of the Pioneer and Patriarch, Gideon Durfee,
were 1 1 sons and daughters, 9G grand-children, and the whole num-
ber are now over 200. The daughters became the wives of the
Pioneers, Welcome Herendeen, of Farmington, Weaver Osborne,
Humphrey Sherman and William Wilcox, of Palmyra. The only
surviving son, is Stephen Durfee, of Palmyra, aged 75 years ; and
the only surviving daughter, is Ruth Wilcox, aged 76 years.

Elias Durfee and IMrs. Thomas Lakey, of Marion, Elihu Durfee,
of Williamson, William, Isaac, Lemuel, Bailey Durfee and Mrs.

PIIELPS AND GOEHAMS PURCHASE.

383

Brown, of Palmyra, Mrs. Wicks, of Ogden, Mrs. Edward 8. Town-
send, late of Palmyra, Charles Durfee, ot New York, Pliilo Durfee.
of Bullalo, Sidney Durfee, of Chicago, Allen, Barton and Nathaniel
Durfee, of Michigan, are among the descendants.

REMINISCENCES OF STEPHEN DURFEE

There was general prosjieiity in the early settlement; all were friendly;
mutual de])endenee iiiado us so; and stnijrgling with the hardships of pionet-r
life, tliero was a fellow feeling, u sympathy for each other's misfortune's, but
little of which exists now. The fii-st curse that came upon us was whiskey
distilleries, when the new settlers would take their corn and rye, and get them
con\'erted to what wiis the cause in many instances, of their ruin, and that of
many of their sons. There was not only habitual, every day drinking, but
much intoxication. I saw so much of the evils of intoxication, that I refrain-
e<] entirely, and was almost alone in it. I think the first temperance movi-
ment, practical one, in all this region, was made by me when I raised my
house in 1811. When I invited my neighbors to the raising, I gave out that
no liquor would be pronded; and although it wiisa new experiment, 1 ha^i
no difficulty in raising my hou.se. Strict temperance was not then a disci-
pline with the society of Friends to which I belonged, but aftenvards be-
came so.

In the way of markets, our eiuliest grain mostly went to the distillericN
and supplied the new settlers. After Zebulon Williams, the early merchant
established his store, he commenced a barter trade, receiving for goods, grain
and cattle. Money was .scarce ; those who were pretty well off wei'c trouble'!
many times, to pay their taxes, and much property used to be saci'ificed at
public sale. W^illiams wiis the fii'st cash purchaser for wheat, but the prices
were fluctuating; running down sometimes to 37+ cents. One of my neigh -
1)ors once sold his wheat in Rochester, for twenty-five cents.

In early yeara we couU hardly believe that settlement would go much be-
yond the Genesee River, dui'ing our life time. We thought we were quite
far enough to the west ; as far removed from markets as it would answer to
venture ; and we that had seen the hardest features of pioneer life, wei'e surju-ise'l
to see or hear of men attacking tlie dark hea^■y forests of the Holland Purchase.

Our fii'st commerce was the navigation of the Ganargwa creek ; then cam.i
the ''big wagons," and then the Erie Canal, that ga\e usf;ur, steady prices
for prod uce, raised the value of lands, and brought on a new era of enterprisie
and prosperity.

The Indians, were hunting and traj^ping, camping in our neighborhood, in
all tlve eailiest years. The flats of the Ganargwa, and tlie adjoining up lands
were favorite hunting grounds. Many of the sons of the early settlers were
trai)i>ers. It was about our only means of obtaining any money. I have re-
iilized from muskrat and coon furs, 850 in a season. I caug'ht a beaver in a
trap that I set for otter. Henry Lovell, a famous hunter was here in early

3S4 riiELrs and ooeuam's rcKcnASE.

i«u1L,!I;,Ixi;z;;::„';L;;^

tW Smt-J^ If 1 hV '°™,'-' '?"" »'P"'i»'ti"'l. Join. Swift ,VM

too^'inl'^oJT"'i '''*'' ^'^'^'""''1^'''^ '''^^'>' ^'""t*^^ «f P^'l'^vr^; and fisherman
of C WniiSf:rcriT'" M?'^"'r^"^^''^' ^^-^^ ti. present rcia^^e

&e '• m to .vlvi^^^ a» early convert to Mormonism, and mortgaged Lis

nue laim to pay for the printing of the " Gold Bible."* b o " "'^

Zebulon Williams, who has been mentioned by Stephen Durfee,
as the early merchant, died several years since, his widow survives,
a resident at the old homestead. Piatt Williams, of California, who
was early engaged in canal transportations at Albany, and Richard

in- the broom stick aw) 1 i ?„ f ■i^l'ilW<ma floor, snap and catcli 'em, junp.
sports, t]K x°™a .oanl cm V th*!,";;'';] ' *" "Tt^ \^' ^ast. / All joined iu the'ru.tlc
ladv, "the dan cs we e w^^^^^^ Canai.daigna " continued the old

a h red ehl in ■imilta en '"^'"' n»"^^^ ,f'"t tliere was no aristocracy there; thonjrh

Ld 1 ,fce w th S'r 1 n''\- ?"^'":' ""'/ ^^"•-''' ^^■■"■'°^' I "««fl to attend the ffi
Colt D \t«.,t , ■ ■ '^"'l ^^fe'"st"s I'orter, Th<,mas Morris, Samuel and J ud^

v-tiitts ui inc past, one alter another, woiild flash upon her memory;

PTTELPS AND GORTIAm's rUUCnASE.

38r)

Homer and Zebulon Williams, are his sons ; Mrs. Hiram P. Tliayer,
of BufTiilo, is his daufjthtor.

Stephen Phelps was the early landlord in the village ; afterwards
the surrogiite of Ontario county. Tlie site he occupied, is now that
of Nottinifham's Eagle Tavern. He emigrated to Illinois in 1820.
Enoch Lilley was another early landloni ; his wile was the daughter
of the Rev. Eleazor Fairbanks. Preceding either, however, wis
Dr. Azel Ensworth, who was a brother-in-law of William llodgers,
and had come into the country in '92, and first settled in his imme-
diate neighborhood. After keeping a public house in early years,
in Palmyra, in the early start of Rochester, he was the founder of
the Eagle Tavern, and for a long \)er\oA he and his son were its
landlords. He still survives, a resident of Bufialo, with his son-in-
law, }3enjamin Campbell.*

Silas Stoddard was from Groton, Conn. ; had been at sea, in the
merchant service, emigrated to Palmyra in 1801, landing first at
Sodus. He died in July last, at the age of 91 years ; his intellect
and physical constitution but little impaired previous to his last ill-
ness. Col. James Stoddard, known of late years as an intelligent
horticulturist, is his son ; now a resident of Palmyra, aged 66 years.
He served an apprenticeship with Col. Samuel Green, of the New
London Gazette, and emigrated to Palmyra with his father. From
him the author obtained many early reminiscences. In 1804, he
\vas in the employment of Major Samuel Colt, who had commenced
merchandizing in Palmyra, and had charge of two Durham boats,
which JNIajor Colt owned at Palmyra. Loading them with flour
and j)ork, he went down the Ganargwa creek to Lyons, and from
thence to Schenectady. Among his companions, were Gilbert
Howell, Cooper Culver, John Phelps, and Wm. Clark. The party
were one month going and one month returning ; having merchan-
dise for their return freight. About the time of the building of
these boats, says Col. Stoddard, land transportation looked discour-
aging; the merchants of Geneva, Canandaigua, Palmyra, Ithica, in
fact all who did not depend on the Susquehannah as an avenue to
market, held a consultation, and concluded that business must be
done via the Rivers, Oneida Lake, and the Mohawk ; and to en-

* At the Pioneer Festival in Rocliester, in 1850, he was pie.9cnt, and the medal was
awarded to him as being the earliest Pioneer present.

386

PHELPS ANB GOEHAJl's PURCHASE.

courage them, stone locks had been built, at Rome and Little Falls.
Many boats were built ; for a few years business was brisk, but it
proved too tedious and expensive ; too dependant upon high nnd
low water. Even land transportation, over bad roads, successlully
competed with it.

" The first trip we made," says Col. Stoddard, " in passing through
Oneida Lake, we stopped at Vanderkemp's settlement, now Con-
stantia. Mr. Vanderkemp had erected an expensive dam, .a large
saw mill and grist mill, and there were eight or ten framed and
some log dwellings ; but one single family however, all the rest hav-
ing been driven off by sickness.* When I landed with my father's
family at Sodus, Mr. Williamson's settlement had much declined,
and there were many deserted tenements between Sodus and Pal-
myra ; sickness having driven off the occupants. I have known
periods when a majority of all the inhabitants of the Ganargwa
valley were prostrated by svers."

Henry Jessup was the early tanner in Palmyra, and still survives,
his sons being his successors in business. His partner for many
years was George Palmer, of Buffalo.

William Rogers came in with his brothers, James and Thomas,
in 1792, a widower, and his brother James dying in early years, he
married his widow. The family were from Rhode Island. William
was one of the early Judges of Ontario, one of its representatives

in the Legislature, and a

magistrate

prominently identified with

the history of Palmyra and Ontario county. He died in 1836, aged 83
years. Major William Rogers, so favorably known to the travel-
hng public in the early years of canal navigation, as a packet master,
the father-in-law of Pomoroy Tucker, editor of the Wayne Sen-
tinel, is a surviving son. He is now the occupant of a fine farm
near Pultneyville ; as stirring and energetic as when he used to
sing out : — " Hurra, i", the lock ready ? " — or beat up the quarters
of the sleepy drivers in dark and rainy nights. A daughter of his
was the wife of Noah Porter. Gen. Thomas Rodgers, and Denni-
son Rodgers of Palmyra, are surviving sons of James Rodgers.
Thomas Rodgers preceded his brother, and assisted in the survey
of the town ; of his family, only his son David remains in Palmyra.

*The loiinder of this settlunicnt -w.is tlio fatliorof John J, Vaiidcrkonip, of Pliila-
doljihiii, ihe y:i'iiti;il jif,'C'iif of tlio Holland Co. lie soon abandoned the entcjprise, and
reinu\i;a lo Oideubaruuvcidl," [Tiuuloii,] Oueiduco.

PHELPS AITD GOEnAM's PUECHASE.

887

The first winter after Judge Rodgers came in, the neighborhood
was without salt. Learning that some had been brought up as far
as Lyons, with a hired man, and an ox team, he cut his own sled
path, and after three days hard labor, returned with his salt.

Zackariah Blackman was the early blacksmith. John Hurlburt,
a brother of Judge Hurlburt, who was the Pioneer of Arkport, on
the Canisteo, became a resident of Palmyra in 1795. His widow
is now living at the age of 81 years. He set up a distillery as ear-
ly as '96. He died in 1813. * William Jackway, who came in
with Gen. Swift, died in 1849, aged 91 years. John Russell, who
was one of the front rank of Pioneers, upon whose original farm
a portion of the village lias grown up, removed to Henrietta in 1821,
where he died but a few years since, from the effects of the kick of
a horse. John Russell was the step-father of Augustus Southworth,
of Holley ; Mrs. Russel now resides in Rochester.

Reuben Town was the earliest settled Physician in Palmyra.
He removed to Batavia iii early years. He was followed by Dr.
Gain Robinson, as early as 1800. Dr. Robinson was from Cum-
mington, Massachusetts. He married the daughter of Col. John
Bradish, the father of Gov. Bradish, who was one of the early set-
tlers of Palmyra. He continued in practice until his death, in 1880,
enjoying a large share of professional eminence, and highly esteem-
ed in the wide circle of his practice. There have gone out from
under his instruction a large number who hare conferred credit up-
on their early mentor ; among them may be named : — His nephew,
Dr. Alexander Mclntyre, who for many years practiced with him,
and is now his local successor ; Drs. James and William White ;
Dr. West, of Cayuga county ; Dr. Isaac Smith, of Lockport,
(deceased;) Dr. Whippo, (now an engineer;) Dr. Durfee Chase,
of Palmyra; Dr. Gregory of Michigan. The surviving sons of
Dr. Robinson, are : — Clark, Darwin, and Rollin, of Buffalo.
Daughters :— Mrs. Philip Grandin, of New York ; her husband
was an early merchant in Palmyra ; and IMrs. Judge Tiffany, of
Adrian, Michigan ; Mrs. Hiram Niles, of Buffalo ; and Mrs. Geo.
Pomeroy. f

* A toast of the early Pioneer, in one of tlio early years, at a Fourth of .July oele-
bratiun, is worthy of prcsorvalioii. The wisli has' been fully realized: — "May wo
cullivate the vino and sheaf in this new world, and l'\n-nish the old with bread."

t.Tuikri! TifTany is a son of the early printer at ^'■iaLrara, C. W., luid Canandfugutu
Mr. Tomeroy is one of the founders ot' \V elL-j & I'omeroy's Express.

388

PHELPS AND GORHAM's PURCHASE.

_ The first lawyer in Palmyra, was John Comstock, who al«o mar-
IdHa:.Sr^'^'-^-^^^^- "^ -- -eside. Zr
In the year 1789, Joel Foster, Elias Reeves and Luke Foster of
Long Island, became the agents of a company that had been form

d m Connecticut New Jersey and Long Island, for the purpose of
leasing lands of the Indians ; an organization similar to L L see

JCHned by others, they traversed the wilds of Virginia, and return-
mg to the north, struck the Ohio river, and followed it down to the
desirable location called Turkey Bottom, where they purchased a
daim to a large ti-act, and left Luke Foster to keep possession for
th winter, Joel Foster and Elias Reeves returning to take on a
coon3 of settlers in the spring. An act of Congress interfedn^
with their title or possession, frustrated the enterprise. "Turke^
the west '" ^''"''' ""^ ^''"'' ^'''"'' Cincinnati, the queen city of
Thus disappointed,, and Indian wars growing more threatenincr at
the west, the Long Island adventurers turned their attention tolhe
Genesee country Elias Reeves, Abraham Foster, William Hop-
kins, Luther Sandford and Joel Foster, in the summer of 1791
bought 5,500 acres on the Ganargwa Creek, in East Palmvm'
spotting a tree and planting some apple seeds, an earnest of fheir
m ended occupancy. In April, 1792, they built a sail boat, launched
1 m Heady Creek, embarked with their families, towing down the
stream to South Bay, and sailing up to New York, and from thence
to Albany, where they took their boat out of water, transj.orted it
on wheels to Schenectady, launched it in the Mohawk, ami from
thence came to Lyons ; and obtaining a smaller boat, ascended the
Ganargwa Creek to their new wilderness home. The journev con-
sumed 28 days. Most of those named, became prominent founders
oi settlement, and have left numerous descendants.

mmmmmmmm

Me P;^.!,,,,.',., "'■'Ill -I'll. niiii> J. I'o.stei, fi (k'sceiidaiit ol one of 1 ho Pkiijopvh

tL ul\ ,""'■ "* *'f ^•"^t'"'«"* t''° cliok.m at Saiulusky, in tliosu.n.nor of 848

,.i-"„.ii^„Ti(UaiJOxa, aided m laying tiie fouudaUoua of (society and tiwse

PHELPS AND GOEHAM's PUECHASE.

389

It is stated by the Rev. Mr. Fisher, that a Presbyterian church
was organized in 1793, i-n Palmyra. If this is so, it was the first or-
ganized church west of Seneca Lake. Mrs. Tice, a daughter of John
Hurlburt, says their first religious meetings were conversational or
social meetings, not sectarian, generally held at the house of John
Swift. It is recorded that the Presbyterian church in Palmyra was
organized in Sept., 1797; the trustees elected : — Jacob Gannett,
Stephen Reeves, David Warner, Jedediah Foster, Jonah Howell!
The first settled minister was the Rev. Eleazor Fairbanks, who was
succeeded by the Rev. Benjamin Bell.

Jonah Howell erected the first mill, a mile east of the village, on
the Vienna road ; this was followed by one erected by Gen. Swift,
on the site occupied by Goddard's mill.

The first death in Palmyra was that of David White ; the first
wedding was that of William Wilcox and Ruth Durfee ; the first
male child born in town, was Asa R. Swift, a son of John Swift;
the first female, the daughter of David Wilcox, who became the wife
of Alva Hendee.

WILLIAM HOWE CUTLER.

His father, John Cuyler, of Greenbush. had been (at what period
the author is unable to state,) a General in tiie British service.
He was a resident of Greenbush, opposite Albany, an attorney at
law. It is presumed, that when Mr. Williamson arrived in this
country, upon his agency, he found in him an old acquaintance, as
he is one of the first with whom he held correspondence, and he
was one of his first legal advisers. As early as 1793, his son, Rich-
ard, was in the employment of Mr. Williamson, as was his son Wm.
Howe Cuyler, several years previous to 1800.

Soon after 1800, Wm. Howe Cuyler became a resident of Pal-
myra, having become the local agent of Mr. Williamson, for the

bk'SfSi'd iiis^titutions wliich arc now tlio supjiort and ornanu'tit of ooinnimiitv Tho
logciuls ul those tiriiCH are adoniLvl with tlie names of feiiialfs tliat slioiild diNcoiid to
postcnty, and ],v cinlialined in tlicir most jiTatcful recollections. We oftt'ii wonder if
the mantle of those veneniteil matrons liave fallen uiiou the wives of llie present day •
With all the improvements m modern edncation, are they better qnalitied fo make
ha].py homes ? Have tliey larKer hearts, better minds, pun-r patrioiism, wrn'm'T z«al,
iu every jjood work '("

390

PHELPS AND GOBnAM's PTTRCHASE.

sale of lands in the north-east portion of what is now Wayne

county. Sawyer, the brother-in-law of John Swift, who

had an interest with him in the original purchase of the town, wish-
ing to return to Georgia, where he had formerly resided, sold his
property to Major Cuyler, in 1805. Included in this sale, was tlie
old Cuyler farm, upon: which a considerable portion of the village
of Palmyra lias grown up.

Upon ihe breaking out of the war of 1812, Major Cuyler v/as early
upon the frontier, as the aid of General Swift.* " Stationed at
Butfalo, he was the active co-operator with Lieut. Elliott, in the
preparatio-^s for the gallant exploit of capturing the British vessels,
from under the walls of Fort Erie, on the 8th of October, 1812.
In anticipation that the expedition would return with wounded men,
he had been engaged through the night in making preparations for
their reception. Anxious for the fate of men who had engaged in
so hazardous an enterprise, before day light in the morningrhe had
rode down upon the beach, towards Black Rock, when a chance
grape shot, from a British battery, at Fort Erie, passed through his
body, breaking the spine, and killing him instantly.f It was the first
sacrifice of the war, on the Niagara frontier; the first and one of
the dearest of the many sacrifices ot western New York, in all that
contest. And it may also be added, that Gen. Scott being near
him, it was his first introduction to the terrible realities of war, of
which he wa^ destined to see so much through r lonj^ and brilliant
military career.J After the war, his remains were removed to
Palmyra, and are now entombed in the rural cemetery, which the
citizens of that village, with much of good taste and public spirit,
have within a few years added to their flourishing village.
In civil life. Major Cuyler was a man of much energy and enter-

. ...T^i" ""tJ^o'' !>«» «ii enrly epdcnce of liis military spirit and ambition. When some
of the earliest military organizations were going <fn I'n Steuben, he wa.<, a resident at
?„ il?^f r° •*^';' ^^'"''""'°'\ ■^^'- Williamson beingin Albany, the young a p ant
^military d.stmctum. wrote to Wrn ; - " You arc the only field^officcT in the He" -

?ZuT\ "\^°"' ""irTi ^'"/l''™lvc tl'c duty of maki.fg proper recommendatioT.k
L™^^ ^'T"^ '^1* \ 'r*-' \"''\'' nmavymnn for about twelve years past, and
o T.v If T " M™//'" H^''"^' '""^ ^^'*t I ""^ look for promotion.-^ I should like

the duty of Adjutant Geuerfd m the several brigades, now devolve on th»t olHcer."

t The Rhot is now in possession of his sister, Mrs. Smith, of Auburn.

t He had just been promoted to the rank of Lieut Colonel, and had nnived at Black
Ilock, m command of two companies of U. iS, Artillery.

PHELPS AXD GORHASrS PTJECnASE.

391

prise ; he was one of the founders of the Ontario Woolen Manu-
facturing Company.* He married the daughter of Samuel Shekell,
of Manchester, who still survives, a resident of Brooklyn, with her
daughter by a second marriage. Major Cuyler left two sons, George
\7. and William Howe Cuyler ; the former a banker, and the lat-
ter a merchant, in Palmyra.

LYONS.

The early advent of the Stansell's and Featherly, the building of
mills, the primitive commencement generally, at Lyons, have been
noticed in connection with Mr. Williamson.

James Otto came in 1796, was employed in the erection of the
mills, and in '98, marrying the daughter of Capt. Dunn who settled
where the Mead's now reside on the Geneva road, he moved upon
his farm south of Lyons village, where he now resides, in his 81st
year. He has been the father of eight sons and eight daughters,
thirteen of whom are now living in Lyons and the western states.

The old gentleman says it was so sickly about the village of Lyons
in early years that many who attempted to settle there got discour-
aged and left. Dr. Prescott of Phelps, was the first physcian. Dr.
Willis settled where the village of Lyons now b, but getting sick
himself, and sick of the country, returned to "Vermont. In the
winter of '99 and 1800, there was an unusal deep snow ; there came
a rain making a crust, and the wolves destroyed the deer to such an
extent that their carcasses were strewn over the woods tainting the
whole atmosphere.

Judge Evert Van Wickle, who has been mentioned in connec-
tion with early operations in Allegany, came to Lyons soon after
Mr. Williamson had commenced improvements there, and was in
his employ as a surveyor.f

Judge Daniel Dorsey from Frederick county, Maryland, came

* He introduced the first Merino buck into western New York, purchasing it of one
uf the Liv-ingetons, in Albiuiy, paying $900.

t In one of Mr. Williamson's letters, in 1798, hosays :— "A promising tiettlem^nnt,
ooniposed of p'iip1.\ f'nir.i Jcvs-.'v mid Mary bind, is beiruu here tliisJu'ie
Wickle from the Jerseys, nioveil iu along with forty persons."

n Mr Vau

392

PHELPS ATTO GORHAm's PURCnASE.

to Lyons in 1801, with his family. Two years previous he had ex-
plored the country and purchased of Mr, Williamson nearly one
thousand acres, mostly on the east side of the outlet, immediately
adjoining the village of Lyons, on either side of the Lyons and
Geneva Plank Road. It included the farm that had been common,
ced by Mr. Cameron, as agent for Mr. Wiliamson, and the improve-
ments ; had been reserved in anticipation of what would grow up
at the confluence of the streams— m-^stly the head of navigation;
but was sold to Judge Dorsey as an inducement to emigration.
He had a large family— ten children — and a considerable number
of slaves, that were soon liberated, p.incipally for the reason ihat
in that case as well as in all other similar experiments that were tried
in this region, slave labor was unprofitable.

The strong handed emigrant immediately commenced clearing
and improving his fine possessions. Soon after 1800 he commen-
ced merchandizing, bringing his goods from Baltimore. A large
proportion of his early trade was with the Indians, who were en-
camped along the banks of the outlet and at Sodus. There used to
be as many as thirty Indian huts along where William street, of
Lyons village, crosses the canal.

^ Thomas Dorsey, a son of the early Pioneer, now occupies a por-
tion of the old homestead. The author transcribes from memoran-
dums of a conversation had with him, some early reminiscences of
that locality : —

Durham boats used to arrive frequently from Schenectady with
emigrants and goods, and with salt from Salt Point. It was only
in freshets that they could go as high up as Palmyra and Manches-
ter. Salmon were very plenty in the streams ; at the forks I have
known fifteen and twenty taken with one spear in a night ; weigh-
ing from fifteen to twenty pounds. It was not uncommon to see
herds of deer grazing on the flats.

When the Dorsey family arrived at Lyons, there was settled in
village and immediate vicinity, other than those already named : —
John Biggs, who kept a tavern on the site now occupied by Bar-
ton's tavern, in a log house. He was the Pioneer landlord, and is
yet living near the village. Richard Jones, a saddler, had a shop
on what is now Broad street, in a log building. He died in 1833.
George Carr, a mason by trade, lived on Broad street in a log house.
William Gibbs lived a little south of the village, on the farm now

PHELPS AKD G0EHA3IS PUKCIIASE.

393

owned by Harvey Geer. John Perrine lived on tlie Canandaigua
outlet one mile from the village. He was an early magistrate and
Supervisor of the town ; removed to Michigan, wher,- he died in
183G. The progress of the village was slow in all the early years,
and in fact until the location and construction of the Erie Canal.
In 1818 there was but a small cluster of buildings ; two taverns, one
kept by Ezekiel Price, and another by Elias Hull ; the store of
Leach & Demmon ; a few dwellings ; a few mechanic shops ;
a Methodist and Presbyterian church. John Cole, the father of
Joseph Cole, was the first local minister, and organized the first
Methodist society. He died in 1810. The first religious meetings
were attended by Judge Dorsey, who was a member of the IMeth-
odist church, and occasionally an exhorter.

The village of Lyons had a rapid start after the completion of
the canal ; many enterprising men were attracted there ; substantial
business establishments were started one after another ; private
residences, in beauty of location, and in all their appointments vic-
ing with those of any of its neighboring villages and cities in West-
ern New York, were founded one after another ; new streets were
laid out with the accompaniments of fine walks and long lines of
shade trees; substantial and neat public edifices were erected;
until now, in 1851, there are few spots in all this wide region, hold-
ing out more inducements, either for residence, or business pur-
suits. The tourist, in western New York, who does not wander
from the rail road route, misses at least two beautiful and flourishing
villages — Palmyra and Lyons. But things as they were, not as
they now are, are the subjects in hand.

Daniel Dorsey died in 1823, at the age of 65 years. His survi-
ving children are: — Upton Dorsey, Esq., of Geneva; Thomas E.
Dorsey, residing on the old homestead at Lyons ; Nelson R. Dorsey,
residing in Calhoun county, Michigan ; Mrs. Cyrus Chapin, of Gen-
eva ; Mrs. Lawrence Riley, in Ohio ; Mrs. Thomas Rook, of Lyons,
Mrs. Wm. Hudson, of Geneva ; Mrs. Michael Miller, of Calhoun
CO., Michigan ; Mrs. Milton Barney, of Chicago ; and two sons
have died after arriving at adult age ; eleven in all. The early
Pioneer had held a Captain's commission in the Maryland line during
the Revolution, and after his advent to this region, was an early
JnrlfTft of thft courts of Ontario.
25

394

PHELP8 AND GORIIAM's PtJRCIIASE.
SODUS.

After the advent of Mr. Williamson in that region, the erection
of his mills, large tavern house, wharf aad store house — all the im-
provements under his auspices — there followed long years of de-
chne ; but an occasional hardy adventure dropping into the wil-
derness, along on the Lyons and Palmyra roads, encountering dis-
ease and privation— some of them wrestling with them until dis-
couraged, leaving their log cabins untenanted — a forbidding indi-
cation to new adventurers. All that Mr. Williamson had done was
I)remature. A fine public house, good mills, a pleasure boat upon
the beautiful Bay, would have been well conceived enterprises in a
settled country, but sadly out of place in a wilderness, with here
and there, miles apart, in small openings of the forest, a Pioneer
settler, half resolving to leave the country, and give up his enter-
prise as a bad job. Of those that were connected with the im-
provements, but few remained long after they were completed.

In 1801, Ami Elsworthcame from East Windsor, Conn., and set-
tled on the road leading from the Ridge to the village Mr. William-
son had founded upon the Lake and Bay. There was then on the
road leading to Palmyra, no settler nearer to where he located than
Daniel Russell, 9 miles distant. At the Point, (village) Moses Sill
was in the tavern house ; and there were two or three families be-
side, most of whom lived by fishing and hunting. On the Lake
shore, seven miles above the Point, was a solitary settler by the
name of Amos Richards. * Elijah Brown was an early, but not a
permanent settler on the Lake shore, four miles above the Point, f

CoTincc cd with lum or liis family, is a talo of pioneer life, vreU v^ovthj of record.
Mr. KicliardH had been .n but a few years, and made but a little opening in the forest,
when he died, leaving a wife, and a daughter twenty years old ; botli uneonimoidv en-
dowed with health and strength. In their solitary fiome, far away from neighbors,
the mother and daughter took the laboring oars in out of door work, eliopped and
Cleared land added a comfortable log barn upon their jiremises, planted nn orchard,
Harrowed, plou^died, sowed, reaped and harvested ; dispensing entii-cly witli the labor
ot men. In wiiiteis, they had their own roads to make to the settlements, their stock
to todder and brouso ;— in fact, women as they were, they contended successfully with
all tl.e endurances of jMoiieer life, and in tlie end, with pretty good success. TJiero
was an eiitno r.ew fe.ntuio in the old lady's domestic economy : — She trained a cow
to cany burdens, and espociallv lier grain to mill, upon her back. Mrs. Richards died
in Iti'U, aged 93 years. The daughter is the wife of Jeduthan Moffatt.

file was a Pioneer upon the Hcillaiid Pnrrhase, at thn mmith of Q.-iV Orpjiorr)
Creek, as early as IbUt. In 1805 or '(i, he came down the Lake from his new loca-
tion to null at Sudus, in a skiti; lleturuiug, he was taken sick, and on going on sliorc,

PHELPS AND GOKIIAJi's PUnCHASE.

395

Mr. and Mrs. Ellsworth still survive, at an advanced age. They
have fifty living descendants in the town of Sodus.

The old gentleman says that his neighborhood, in an early day,
was more than usually the haunt of deer, bears and wolves; wild
ducks were abundant in the Bay, and sonit seasons of the years,
pigeons were so plenty, that it was difficult to protect the crops
from their depredations. At one period, they had their roosts on
the Lake shore, their nests occupying the trees upon hundreds of
acres. Some trees would have sixty and seventy nests upon them.
The backwoods settlers carried away cart loads jf the young
squabs. On another occasion, an unusual quantity of beach nuts
and mild weather, attracted myriads of them to the neighborhood ;
the weather suddenly changing to severe cold, the woods were
strewed with those that had been frozen to death.

Elijah Gibbs was the first settled physician in the neighborhood.
He died in 1829. Several of his sons are masters of vessels upon
the Lake. Elisha Matthews was an early physician ; a son of his
resides in Rochester.

Mr. Ellsworth was sick for five of the first years after settling at
Sodus ; his then young wile, transferred to the u-ilderness from a
comfortable New England home, had her husband and young chil-
dren to take care of, and much of the out door labor to perform.
A payment upon their land became due : their dependence to meet
it was a sum due them in Connecticut ; Mrs. E. made the long
journey to Windsor upon horseback, and obtained it. The history
of their pioneer years has the harshest features of backwood's life ;
but with them, as with others, the scene has changed ; the dense
forests have melted away ; in the midst of their descendants, sur-
rounded by fruitful fields, they are spending the evening of their
days, and calmly awaiting the close of the mission upon earth,
they have so well performed.

PEREGRINE FITZHUGH.

DCr See William Fitzhugh, page 364. He emigrated to this re-
gion in 1799. Residing three years at Geneva, he was engaged in

died at Tromlequoil. John G. Brown, of Hudson, Michigan, and Paul Brown, of Pal-
myra, Wayne county, are Iiis soiia Daughters became the Avives of Edward Durfee,
audWilliauA Wilcos, of Palmyra, oud Gilfjurt Howell, of Oak Orchard.

396

PHELPS AND GORHAM's PURaiASE.

improving a large purchase he had made at Sodus, until his removal
there in 1803. But little had been done there before his advent,
m the way of farm improvements. Mr. Williamson's fine tavern
house loomed uj) on the Bay, on either hand, a few log cabins,
most of them deserted ; while the background was a thickly wood-
ed forest, upon the beautiful swell of land between the Bay and
the Lake; cut up into "inner" and "outer" town lots; the stakes
and blazed trees of the surveyors being the only marks of improve-
ment.

Col. Fitzhugh came into the country strong bended; his was the
Pioneer advent of the " Marylanders," and was a marked event.
He came over Mr. Williamson's Northumberland road, with a for-
midable cavalcade; large Pennsylvania wagons, drawn by 27
horses ; his fa. ily, including slaves, consisting of over forty per-
sons. The cavalcade was five weeks in making the passage, the
whole camping in the woods two nights on the way.

The enterprising .adventurer from the shores of the Chesepeake
Bay, chose ihr his home one of the finest regions of the Genesee
country, as time and improvements are now rapidly demonstrating,
but one beset with many early difficulties and hindrances — dis-
ease, isolation, in reference to the directions that business and the
progress of improvement took ; destined to slow settlement, and
long untoward years. He died in the midst of his enterprises, in
1810. The owner, by inheritance, of slaves, he introduced them
into a region unfitted for slave labor, and in his case, as well as with
all others who made the experiment, it was a failure. He had
made most of them free before his death.

Mrs. Fitzhugh, who was the daughter of Samuel Lloyd Chew, of
Ann Arundel, Md., still survives, a resident at the old homestead, at
the advanced age of 84 years. She has lived to see her descend-
ants of the fifth generation. The surviving sons of Col. Peregrine
lltzhugli, are: — Samuel Fitzhugh, who has been a clerk in the

^OTK —Au experiment of 1 )cnl ooloDizafion, or n-parate settlement of free blacks,
cnmmcnop • m aii early day ;..t Sodus. The inanniinittcd slaves of most of the
Marylande.-s — many of tliei/i those of Mr. Fit chugh — were allowed to go
upon tlio lultrney lands, near the liav, the ten, fifteen, and, twenty acre
lots that hal hcen laid out hy Mr. Williamson ujion liis towwn plat. They
numbered at. one time, abort 80 in all The settlement began to disjjorse after a
few years; thi.y provrd illv ndapfcd for makirig thoMi^elves a home upon new lands'
those that reniahied wore i.lle and tmthriftv, and their locality is now a Bad specimen
ot the self relianv^e, or iudepei.deut existence, of their race.

PIIELPS AND GORHAM's PURCHASE.

397

General Post Office, at Washington, for nearly thirty years ; and
Bennett C. Fitzhugh, a resident at Sodus Point. Daughters be-
came the wives of William Pulteney Daiui,* whose mother was a
niece of Sir William Pulteney ; of William Haylartz, of Sodus ;
of William Edwards, of Sodus ; an unmarried daughter resides at
the old homestead.

WILLIAM NIXON LOOillS.

He was a native of New Jersey. After a collegiate education,
he studied medicine, attended the lectures of Dr. Rush, at Philadel-
phia. His ambition as a student, is indicated by the fact, that he
took copious notes of the whole course of lectures of that eminent
man, which fill several ([uarto volumes, and are the only re]:ort ex-
tant, of that course. An acquaintance thus formed, betwe i mas-
ter and pupil, they afterwards maintained a correspondence of
intimacy and friendship. Commencing the practice of medicine
in Philadelphia, he continued there until a declining health, conse-
quent upon an attack of the yellow fever, induced him to seek a
change of climate.

He came on a tour of exploration to the Genesee country soon after
1800. In a trip by water, with some friends, they were overtaken
by a storm, off the mouth of the Genesee river. The party landed,
and went up to view the Falls. Upon the present site of Roches-
ter, they came to a solitary log cabin, knocked, and were bid
to com: in. Upon entering, they found that in the absence of
the family, a parrot had been the hospitable representative. The
family returned soon, however, and gave them a supper of potatoes
and milk ; the best that the site of a now city of 40,000 inhabit-
ants, then afforded. Deciding upon making Sodus Point his home,
he made considerable investments in lands there, and soon removed
his family to their new home. He resided at the Point, until the
commencement of the war of 1812, when he removed two miles
farther up the Lake, where he had purchased lands, and erected a
flouring jnill. His house at the Point was burned when the British

* He came to this country soon after his relative had become a proprietor here ; his
■wife (1 yiiij,', he returned to England in early years. Mrs. Daniel H. Fitzhugh, of Grove-

lainl is. ;i il;iiR-ht('V of Ilia.

398

PHELPS AND OORHAM's PURCHASE.

force made their landing there. To the flourin« mill, in his new
locality, he added a. saw mill, an iron forge, and several other branch-
es of business; besides improving the land, dividing it into farms,
and building several houses for tenants. The little settlement was
called " Maxwell." Leaving Philadel])hia with the design of aban-
doning his profession, his practice was only such as the exigencies
of the new region demanded, and mostly gratuitous. He be"stowed
much of his time and talents in the cause of internal improvements.
If not the projector, he early and zealously espoused the opening
-f a communication between Lake Ontario ar;i the Erie Canal, bv
means of a branch canal, terminating at Sodus Bay.*

To indefatigable industry and perseverance, he added extraordi-
nary business talents ; and to u vigorous intellect he added a thor-
ough education, cultivated literary tastes and pursuits, in hours of
relaxation from the sterner duties of life, v/hich made him an agree-
able and instructive companion. He died in 1833, at the age of 58
years. An inscription upon his tomb stone, in the rural cemetery,
at Sodus village, pays the following tribute to his memory; — "He
was one of the Pioneer Border settlers. His enterprising, vigor-
ous, and active mind, aided esssentially in the improvements of this
country, aiKl commanded for him universal esteem."

The first wife of Dr. Lummis died in early years. His second
wife was a daughter of Captain Jol.n Maxwell, and the niece of
General William Maxwell, both of whom are honorably mentioned
in Revolutionary annals. The surviving sons of Dr. Lummis,
are : — Benjamin Rush Lummis, residing on the east side of Sodus
Bay ; William M. and Dayton Lummis, merchants, New York.
An only surviving daughter is Mrs. Elizabeth Ellet, the wife of Dr
William H. Ellet, Professor of Chemistry in Columbia College, N.
York ; The amiable and gifted authoress of " The Women of the
American Revolution," and "Domestic History of the American
Revolution."

Dr. Thomas G. Lawson, an Englishman, leaving home on ac-
cou nt ot so me domestic di fficulties, came to Sodus Point, in early

«n;',.i^?'""-'f^'r'',''''''^/" ^''*u' years.'piidj^diT^ the auspices of another public
Gpiuted ni,livi(h.al-&en. Wni H.A.lauis-witli sloxvand untoward progress a lirst ;
but now, with tlie aid ot recent legislati.m, likely to bo coMsuniinated.

JN OTK ■— Mrs. Lllet is now about 3H years of age. Her tint iniblished literary- effort
^v as written at the age of thirteen ; an "Oile" written on the occasion of La Fayetto's
vxsitatUeneva where she was attending school.

PHELPS AND GORIIAM's PURCHASE.

399

years, purchasing a 111 rge number of Mr. tVilliamson's "out lots," a
mile from the Point, fixing his residence there. Possessed of consid-
erable wealth, he practiced his profession only occasionally, spending
his money freely in improvements of his possessions. lie returned
to England, where he died in 1833.

Elder Seba Norton was the the pioneer clergyman, at Sodus, set-
tling there as early as 1805. After four years' service in the
Revolution, which included a participation in the battles of Mon-
mouth and Saratoga, he united with the Baptist church, an(' loon took
upon himself the olfice of a minister, with a limited education, but
with a native strength of mind, and a devotion to his profession,
which insured a long career of usefulness. He was the founder
of th(; first meeting house in the township. He died in 1835, in
the 76th year of his age.

In reference to the slow growth of Sodus, the early fluctuations of its
population, Judge Byram Green remarks : — "A large ))ortion of the
early settlers about the Bay, v^re but transient residents, fishermen
and hunters. They would come to the Bay, invited by the abun-
dance of deer in the forest, wild ducks in the Bay, and fish in the
Bay and Lake, and erect their huts on the Islands in the Bay, or the
main land. There they would hunt and fish for a season, some a
few years, and leave the place. Soon another set would come, and
occupy the vacant and common ground. And thus a floating pop-
ulation was coming and going, like the rolling waves upon ttic Lake,
until more enterprising men purchased and occupied the ground,
subdued the forest, and cultivated the soil."

RIDGE ROAD AND SODUS BAY.

Secluded, in referenc to the main tliorougliferus, the northern portions of
Mf>m-of' and Wayne counties are loss known than most of the Genesee coun-
try. Sodus ]_iay, ospeciiiUy, a markwl spot in the topography of the Genesee
country, and in fact in all our Lake region, luis never been seen by many,
otherwise faniilim- with the whnle region. Tlie.se considerations will excuse a
seeming partiality, in making tliem an exception to a general rule, in this his-
tory of i)ior.er settlement.

Passing Irondequoit Bay, and tri'ing east, the Ridge Road becomes as well
defined, as uniformly ele\ated, a- u]ion ;iny ]>ortion of it between the Genesee
and tlie Niagara rivers. It psisses through the towns of Webster, in Monroe,

400

PHELrS AJfD GOEIIAM's rUKCKASE.

„

„,_ _,.^ ^

Ontnrio, Willimnwn, and So<lus, in Wavue, tomiiiiatini^ at thn head of the
Bay, orrath.T losing tla-re its regular and clistiiietive''cliaracter. Ktaitino-
troin .Ir<mae<[uuit, pasMiig tlie fine swells of uplands and broad plains — the
constant succession of magiiificcnt farms, of the town of Wel.ster, the flour-
ishing inral village, that bears tlie name of the town — there is a great uni-
tnriiiity in nature's own highway, npon which yon are tiHveling; its gradual
slope in the direction of Lake Ontario, and the gentle swells and rolling lands
<'n the other hand — a sainen?ss of landscape — nutil you arrivi! at Wil-
hainson, or Po]>pino's corners, whore the m/iin road passes from Pahnvra to
1 ultney vijle. Hero the scene changes gradu/ill v, the slope and the Ridge becom-
ing more irregular, and at the south knobs aiufsugar loaf hills bcconKrfrequent,
to add to the variety of sccneiy, not to form an exception to the every wliero
desirable farms, and prosperous agricultural region. No where in all this
region of progress, has the hand'' of improvement eftectwl a more rapid
change, or found a soil making better returns for its labor. And here it may
be reniarked, that with reference to the stai)le grain i)i„Juct, wheat, there is
no region (^t country on earth, that contains in its s(^il more of its elements,
than the slope from the Ridge Road to Lake Ontario, in its whole extent.

I assmg from Poppino's Corners to Sodus village — seven mil(>s — on either
liand are broad wheat fields, clear of stumps, mHnv of them looking like vast
onion beds ; the Ridge gcutly curving, and then strain-ht for miles, widi a
regular elevation, you are gradually bearing towards the Lake, until for a con-
siderable distance you catch glimpes of its blue waves, through vistas of the
forest, schoonore with Fails spread, or perhaj is a magnificent steamboat— -a
tloating palace — vnll cross the lino of vision.

Sodus village has gi-ownu]) on tlie Ridge — hardly within a pioneer period
— a liounshing, brisk countiy \illage, having a pleasant rural aspect ; its site.
^yhere the roail from Lyons to Sodus Point, crosses the Ridge. A walk, oi
ride, of four miles through a fine farminjx reo-ion, of ridges and valleys, brino-s
you to the Point, or the old site of Mr.AVilliamson's magnificently projected

If yo'Kpiestion his judgement, or say that his plans were premature, yoii
will be obliged to pay homage to his t'.ste ; for no where in all this re^rion is
tliere a finer site for a village or a city. The bold shore of the Lake'^'fonns
an elevated and beautiful terrace on the one hand, while the ground <rra,lua]ly
descends to the waters of the Ray upon the other. As the l>oint gradually
wMens out in the back ground, it rises slowly, and is interspersed with

XoTE.-In the years 1818, ']!), tlio nntlinr, a vontli, sorvin- lu's npiircntishin in i

■ < blind iio\\>i,a|or c rncT. ft was a iiidst iinjiruiiiisin.r rcijio i eC lo.' (vibins «iiiitod
improven.e,, s ol cImIIs m,d fevers. '] h. owls 'hoete,! fVomlops c f liro . .'k t Jo
mui^drli'l'r- ''?■'' ^""''"''*^" '.'"^ ''■■"" f'^rcsts;t].c^aucyl,.wk would bo

;^f Zr iS 'r' J"^"'T-''""" ••••"•'■, Jki.I t.kcll.e pl.rc of those n.gi;e,l sccnc^

nml c ,1, >s lK> ,,l,,,,.^,,,l t„ ]„,,;_. I ,„,j ^„ i^ ^.,^.^t ^.^^^ ,^^^j^ J

lii'ic, tiuw I aJiiiost pity tho-elliat cnimot." t. uvo

PHELPS AND GORHAJi's PUECHASE.

401

swells of land, slopes and vallies, forming sites for residences overlooking Lake
and Bay, and every way inviting.

The Bay enters a cove of the Lake, which is protected on cither liaud by
headlands, Itis about half a mile across its neck, gradually widening out to
the extent of four miles. Li lenglli from north to south, itis ncaily seven
inilt^s. A small Island in the Lake, l}ing opposite the entrance to tlu-Bay, a
pier connects it with the main land, and another is extended into the Lake.
These public impro\'ement'!, added to natund ad\'antages, renders it the iinost
harbor upon all our Lake coasts. It is said of the magniticent li ay of San
Francisco, that " all the navies of the world might ride at anchor in it at
one time, with safety." It may bo said of Sodus IJay, that all the craft that
will ever navigate our Lakes, Avould lind ample room there; good anchorage,
and protection from the severest gales. Its mostly deep, still waters might at
times, be passed over safely in a canoe, when a tempest was tossing the waters
<)f the Lake. The scenery, especially upon the east siile of the Bay, is less
bold and rugged, but its ])roinentories I'cmind one of the desciiptions of the
Bay (jf Naples. AVith an eye for the pictureapie and romantic — a feeling of
enthusiiism in reference to all this region, — Mr. Williumson Wivta to a friend
in England; — "The town" (Sodus,) "stands on arising ground on the
west point of the Bay, having the Lake on the north, to appearance as bound-
less as the ocean, and the Bay to the east romantically interspersed with Islands,
and parts of the main land stretching into it. The first view of the place,
after passing through a timbered country from Genev;i, twenty-eight miles,
strikes the eye of the beholdei", as one of the most magnificent landscajjcs
human fancy can picture ; and the beauty of the scene, is not unfrequeutly
heightened, by the ai)peartmce of largo vessels navigating the Lake."

The " District of Sodus," was erected in the primitive division
of Ontario county into Districts, in 1789. The earliest record of a
town meeting is in 1799. The district then embraced all of the
present town of Sodus and Lyons. The town or district meeting
was held at the " house of Evert Van Wickle" in Lyons vilhige.
The officers chosen were as follows: — Azariah Willis, supervisor,
Joseph Taylor, town clerk ; other town officers : — Norman ]\Ierry,
Samuel Caldwell, Chas. Cameron, Moses Sill, E. Van Wickle,
Timothy Smith, Joseph Wood, David Sweezy, Daniel Russell,
Henry Lovewell, Wm. White, Reuben Adams, Samuel Nelson,
David Sweezy, and John Van Wickle.

At a special town meeting in 1799, held "at the house of Jolm
Briggs," John Perrine, Timothy Smith, and Samuel Caldwell were
chosen school commissioners.

There was at this period on the tax roll, the names of 50 persons,
some of whom were non-residents ; the settlers would seem to have

402

PHELPS ANDGORHAm's PURCHASE.

been located m Lyons village, on the road from Lyons to Sodus

IZL ; l"T 7^ °" '^' ^^'"^^''•^ ^°^^^' ^^'^^h the exception of
B own and R.chards, on the Lake shore between the Point and
Pulteneyvdie. In 1800, Timothy Smith was supervisor. In this
year the first records of roads were made. Two dollars bounty

voted that "hog yokes be eight inches above the neck." It was
also voted that Elias Dickinson, who it is presumed was a Justice of
he peace m Phelps, "be allowed $3 for opening town meetings
two years past. ^

In 1799, l^he District gave Charles Williamson and Nathaniel
Norton candidates for Assembly, each 23 votes. In 1800 Thomas
Moms had the unanimous vote of the district, 68, for representative
of the Western District in Congress.

_ In 1801 the district "neglected to hold town meeting," but three
justices of the county, Wm. Rogers, Darius Comstock and Ezra
Patterson, met at the house of Oliver Kendall, and appointed John
1 errine, supervisor, and Richard Jones town clerk

Pulteneyville is upon the shore of Lake Ontario, at the mouth of
Little Salmon creek. The waters of the fine pure stream that have
been collecting upon the slope in Marion and Williamson, on ap-
proaching the Lake, seem to have been coy and hesitating in fall-
ing into Its embrace ; meandering along for a considerable distance,
nearly , arallel with the Lake shore, a ridge elevated from 35 to 40
teet, affords fine building ground overlooking the Lake. Two prom
ontories put out above and below the entrance of the creek into the
Lake, which, with a bluff shore, affords the means of making a very
good harbor with a small comparative expenditure of money It
was a prominent locality in long years of French and English do-
rninion-the frequent stopping place for the small craft that coasted
along the Lake shore. Although the locality was marked by mT
Williamson in his plans of improvement, and is mentioned in his
c oirespondence with his principals, no commencement was made
there under his auspices.

Previous to 1806, William Waters was the only resident there.
In that year. Capt. Samuel Throop, changed his residence from
Manchester to Pulteneyville, accompanied by his father-in-law
Jeremiah So by, who had settled at Pahnyra as early as 1801.
rhey erected a saw mill and grist mill on Little Salmon creek

rilELPS AIST) GOEHAm's PURCHASE.

403

Capt. Throop kept the first public house at Pulteneyville. Russel
Whipple, becoming a resident there in early years, built the schooner
" Laura,' which was sailed by Capt. Throop. The widow of Capt.
Throop, is now the wife of Major William Ilodgers.of Pulteneyville.
In addition to the son named in a note attached, Capt. Washington
Throop, of Pulteneyville, is another son. Daughters becam.c the
wives of W. H. Rodgers and Capt. Andrew HoUing, of Pulteneyville.
Joseph Colt, the early merchant at Canandaigua and Geneva,
was the pioneer merchant at Pulteneyville. Jacob W. Hallett, late
of New York, was an early resident of Pultneyville, ar. was Samuel
Ledyard, who is a resident there now ; of both whom, especially
of the latter, whose family was early identified with all the region
west of Utica, the author is in hopes to be able to say something in
another connection.

CHAPTER VII.

PIONEER EVENTO IN WHAT IS NOW MONROE.

In December, 1789, the Shaefier family became the pioneer set-
tlers in all the region west of the Genesee river, and in fact of the
whole valley of the Genesee, if we except those who had blended
themselves with the Indians, w^ere Indian traders, or had become
squatters upon Indian lands, in their flight from the Mohawk and
Sus(iuehannah, during the border wars. With reference to pe ma-
nent settlement and improvement, they must be regarded as the
Pioneers of the Genesee Valley.

NiiTK. — A Hiiifijular train of Lnkc ilisiisti'rs and deatliH, is connected with tliis pio-
iicui family : — Capt. Tlnoop liinisolf was drowned from tli ■ sclioonor Lark, of which
111' was master, while attcniptiiiu; to i.iter Sodiw Bay, in a trale, in 1819. Previous to
which, Mrs. Throop witli two young diildren, in a sldtf with lier luii-.hand, Jeremiah
}!. Selhy and George Arnistrong', were going a few miles up the Lake ; the skiff
filled, the children were drowned, and Mrs. Throo]) harely escaped. At the early
age of IS, the jiresent well known Ca]it. Horatio N. Throop, of the steam boat Onta-
rio, became a navigator of the Lake, as the master of a small schooner, which he had
b\iill liimself In lH'2't on his way to ()swey:o, a carijo of corn with whicli ho was
laden became damp, swelled, tlie ve8,sel suddenly Innsting and sinking. Two lads on
l)o!ml drowned, and Capt. Throoj) himself escaped by swinimaig to the shore, four
Iiiilu.s, on it door that had become detached.

404

PIIELPa AXD GOIUIAJU'S PUECIIASE.

• ..^i^fe.''

Peter ShaefTer, the elder, was a native of Berks county, Pa., but
emigrated from Lancaster to this region, at the advanced age of
85 years. His family who became permanent residents, consisted
of hi-nseif and liis sons Peter and Jacob. In July, 1789, they came
first ) Geneva, and then to Ganargwa creek, in B]oomfield,\vhere
the} purchased 1200 acres of land of Gen. Fellows. Remaining
there until December, the old gentleman apportioned that tract
among his three daughters, and went upon tl.e river ^vith his sons.
They found Ebenezer Allan, the owner of the fine tract of flats and
upland at the mouth of Allan's creek, adjoining the present village
of Scottsville. He had a comfortable log house, upon a gentle
swell of land, which may be observed a short distance from the
confluence of the creek and river. He was living then with a
young white wife, whose name had been Lucy Chapman. Her
family on their way to Canada, had stopped with him, and by the
solicitations of Mrs. Dugan, (Allan's sister,) Lucy remained to keep
her company. A sham magistrate came along soon after and made
her a joint partner with some half dozen natives, in the aflections
of the then lord of the Genesee Valley. Mrs. Dugan, had come
on some years previous, with her husband and joined her brother,
and had been his housekeeper. Allan had acquired three hundred
acres of land by gift from the Indians, to which he had added one
hundred and seventy by purchase, from Phelps and Gorham. He
had a stock of goods for the Indian trade.* He had 50 or 60 acres
of open flats under the plough. 20 acres of wheat upon the ground;
some horses and cattle. A few years previous he had wintered
seventy head of cattle on rushes, f

The Shaeffers became the purchasers of his fine tract of land,
paying him the then high price of $2,50 per acre ; though it must

_ * And •;thcrcl)y lianra a talo : " - Tlieso goods were obtained of Jolin Buflor Brit-
leh suponnterxlcnt of Indian affairs at Niagara. Tliey were taken fo.n Si Kino" ,
tScon r'T"?.! r'''f «"'^;"%i;'^>''l.«.l for Indian p4ent« npon the Genesee riv^r
o do^^i !n f.i ^'''T'^" i". '■" ^^'''''''' '"*""'^*'^' ''"'» strengthen the British claim
an, s n r l'' T "^' li ^''" ""r^T P"''^"" "^ tl"^ State. But tlie agent ,nis-

In V 1 n H • h- i""^''^ ^"';t ^'^'' ^H 8"'"'« '"-"^ey 1 ecanie oftenergif^s of gal-
lat.y than tins, ofdiploniacy. Butler made a business matter of it; demanded pay for
t he gomis ; Allan eonH'sted the claim, but it was finally compromised by theinte/ven-
uon ot James \\ iulsworth, Esq. .< i j

1 J A^^*"" ''"'"'"^, "P"n *¥ Geneseo river, he had become a grazer and drover. But-
ler a Kiuiwrs andthe Indians would steal rattle froinUio Mohawk and the Susnuehan-
n.ui ami dnvo them to him. After keeping them upon the river, until they becaineirood
Doel, Uicy would command A ready sale at high prices, at Fort Niagara and in Cmiada.

PHELPS AND GORHAMS PURCHASE.

405

be considered that sixty acres of improvement was tlien a valuable
acquisition. Allan included in the sale, one acre of wheat upon the
ground and a sow pig.* The father and sons added to Allan' house-
hold for the winter, subsisting upon the milk of two cows they
brought in, and Indian pudding that jMrs. Dugan cooked for them.

Allan had erected the saw mill at the Falls, (now Rochester) in
the summer previous, and had his timber out for the grist mill. The
money that he realized for his farm, enabled him to push forward his
enterprise. The grist mill was raised the forepart of winter. The
frame was 26 by 30, of heavy timber. All the able bodied white
men in the Genesee valley were invited to the raising — and they
numbered fourteen, all told. It took them two days. A trading
boat happening to enter the mouth of the river, while they were
raising, some rum was procured, and the backwoodsmen had a
dance in the mill, and a rejoicing at the prospect of something better
to prepare meal for their bread than the stump mortar.

The Shaeffers brought apple seeds with them from Pennsylvania,
and planted them in December, 1799. These were the first apple
seeds, (other than the old French orchard at Schlosser,) planted in
the Genesee country, west of the river.

After Allan had sold his farm to the Shaeffers, he went back to
Mt. Morris, purchased goods at Philadelphia, bringing them in from
the back settlements of Pennsylvania, on horseback. In the season
of '90, he sowed 100 acres of wheat, besides raising considerable
Like Alexander Selkirk, he was " lord of all he surveyed ;"

corn.

commanded the services of the Indians to work his fields for rum
and trinkets, occasionally pressing into his service the Butler Ran-
gers, who had stopped in the valley, in their flight from the Mohawk
and the Susquehannah ; paying them sometimes, but often arbitrarily
adjusting their services to suit himself, as there was then no au-
thority superior to his own. His gallantries, truthfully related, would
equal the tales of eastern romance ; the " turbaned turk might have
yielded to him supremacy ; it extended even to the employment of
a purveyor, in the person of a Dutchman, Andrews. About this
time, alternating in his tastes between his own and another race.

* Tluit same sow pis; cost a iiiglit's loilu;in!^ in tlio woods. She took to tho -woods
Cfirly in tho mmuii;, ami liiid U. liu Inoktnl 14. wln;ii wiutCT came afralu. In the Rearch,
tl 10 preswit Peter Shaoflfor got beuiglitod uud'slopl in a koUow log through a winter
night

40G

PHELPS AND GORHAHl's PURCHASE.

he took another white wife, the daughter of a Ranger, named Greg-
cry, who hved upon the Canascraga flats, near Dansville.*

Mr. Shaeffer contradicts the story of Allan's murder of the
Dutchman, Andrews.f but he says that he murdered a boy that
lived with him, and points out the grave, near the site of Allan's
residence, on the ShaefTer flats. The boy was sent for a bucket of
water, and playing l)y the way, Allan met him, took the bucket
from him, and beat him to death with it.

He was, says Mr. Shaefler, mild and conciliating, when he had a
selfish end to accomplish ; but always severe and harsh with his
dependents. A refugee, a negro slave, had during the Revolution,
come from the Mohawk to the Genesee river, and domiciled with
the Indians. He was called « Captain Sun Fish." He was shrewd,
intelligent, became a trader in cattle, selling in Canada, and at Fort
Niagara, took a squaw wife, and acquired considerable money. At
one time he was settled at the mouth of Tonawanda creek. Cov-
eting liis money, and wishing, perhaps, in the way of matrimony to
try a thu'd race, Allan married one of his daughters. Getting pos-
session of the money, however, he aiscarded the mixed negro and
Indian wife ; but as if there were some redeeming traits in his char-
acter, he pensioned the old negro, and allowed him a hut upon his
Allan's creek farm. Sun Fish finally went to Tonawanda. where
his descendants now reside.

Jacob Schoonover and his family had preceded the Shaeffers a
few months, and settled near the mouth of Duijan's creek. Peter
Shaefl-er married his daughter, in 171)0. He and his wife died in
1838, '9, at the ages of 93 and 94. Mrs. Shaefler died in 1835 aged
63 years. ^

The whole valley of the river below Mr. Shaefler's, was slow in

T y' J''^ ^"''^ '^"''' '^^' •'^'^Ph J^^'^'-S'^"' Jii« f'^-m adjoining
the Shaeflbr farm, in '92; a daughter of his, Mrs. Early, now occu-
pies the place. His son, Joseph Morgan, resides on the river, a short

wiZ\rin,,w!rrH'^ to Canada, l.e u.ulcrfook to le.sen the number of hi, white
Pun'o«7tr,k n f .flrowninf? of thm hist one. Two men that were hire.l for the
puqx.sc, took lier down in a canoe, and ixu-imKelv ran over the falls near tlie nr.Nenf

sHe W ;;"li""""'^r'r ^^'"'"^■'^•^' ''"^ l-vin^h^^lIl^ooSj'^he ta^ hK
Ser ^i : V'"'? f* them saving? Iierself, and 8„on appearing in the preseneo

^1 tdn, P . ' *1V'" '"""'•' 'f ^^'' '''-'''- --^ '''M'Pi-'S «•■■"'■'• "y'V Shi follow"
(Kl hm to uanada, and became one of his now household there.

mm" rirbir"' .*'•"' «''"<«^'e Falls when takin^r mill ii-ous dowa for the old AUaii
null , the boat and irons were found below the Falls.

PHELPS AND GORIIAJI S PURCHASE.

'c.

.reg-

distance below. In some of the earliest years,

407

— Peabody

erected a dis, :iery, first at Handford's Landing, and afterwards, on
the Joseph Morgan place; Win. Peabody, of Scottsville, is a son of
his. Andrew Wortnian was a settler upon the river, as early as
'94 or '5, occupying the farm that belonged to Samuel Street, of
Chippewa, who was his brother-in-law. Caleb Aspinwall, Peter
Conlde, T^rederick and Nicholas Hetzteller, were early in the Shaef-
fer neighborhood. Reuben Heth, a Vermonter, stopping first at
Bloomfield, came upon the river, in early years, worked for Mr.
Shafter, without a change of his buckskin breeches and buckskin
coat, until he had earned enough to pay for a farm. He died about
twenty years since, a man of wealth, and the founder of a highly
respectable family. Eldridge Heth, of Wheatland, is a son ; Mrs.
Hyde, Mrs. Nettleton, and Mrs. Halsted, are his daughters.

The two story, venerable looking farm house, near which is the
old apple orchard, on the Genesee Valley canal, a short distance
below Scottsville, is the residence of Peter Shaeffer. The fine flats
spread out before it, in a high state of cultivation, with long lines
of wire fence, are those he purchased from " Indian Allan." In a
romantic spot, at the end of the ridge, that will be observed rising
upon the flats, and terminating near the river and creek, stood the
log dwelling, which served the purposes of a farm house, a store, and
a harem, for this singular man, who fled from civilization, first to
become the scourge of his own race and kindred, and afterwards to
repay the confidence and hospitality of another race, by a career
among them, marked throughout by selfishness and sensuality.

It will hardly do to talk of antiquity, in a country where our race
have been occupants but sixty years, in allusion to any relic of
their advent. But the old Shaeffer home, with all its historical as-
sociations, may be said to look antiquated. It was built in 1789, be-
fore the new discovery, the cut nail, was in use, and all the doors had
to be made consequently with wrought nails. Its strap door hinges,
its locks, handles and latches were made by a blacksmith, who had
come into the country ; none other could then be procured. It was
the first framed farm dwelling, in all the region between Genesee river
and Lake Erie. When it was building, the surveyors were making
the preliminary surveys of most of all the territory now comprised in
the counties of Orleans, Niagara, Erie, Genesee, Wyoming, Allega-
ny, Cattaraugus, and Chautauque ; Buffalo contained three log

408

PHELPS AWD GOEHAM's PUBCHASE.

dwellings, and Mr. Ellicot was making an opening to erect the first
log dwelling at Batavia. For ten years after that house was com-
pleted, and twenty years after its venerable surviving occupant was
cultivating large fields; when those apple trees had become bear-
ers, from the seeds he had planted, the site of a city of 40,000 in-
habitants, was a rugged and forbidding wilderness! The orchard
was planted six years before the British gave up all claim to W. N.
York, and surrendered Fort Niagara, and the house built but two
years afterwards.

The father and brother of Peter Sh^efl^er died in early years.
The fine start which the improvements gave him — the ready mar-
ket he found for his early large crops of corn — the facilities he en-
joyed for exchanging provisions for labor, with the new comers
that dropped in around him, were advantages he well improved ; and
to which he soon added grazing and droving ; his market. Fort Niag-
ara and Canada. He added to his original land purchase, by degrees,
until lie had a large possession ; and a competence of wealth has
rewarded his early enterprise. He is now in his 88th year ; his
faculties not materially impaired, his memory of early events reten-
tive and intelligent ; and with the exception of a diseased ankle, his
physical constitution holds out remarkably for one of his age. In
his younger days, he used spirituous liquors moderatelv; none for
i'u? last twenty years ; and as an example to old tobacco" chewers, it
may be added, that he was one of them for iialf a century, but is not of
them now. He has been the occupant of difl'erent town offices, and
has always enjoyed the esteem of his fellow citizens. The Scotch
settlers who became his neighbors, in indigent circumstances, and
the pioneers of different neighborhoods, in the western part of
Monroe county, many of them speak of his kindness in early years,
in furnishing them with grain and pork, upon credit; and in return
the old gentleman pays a high compliment to the honesty of the
primitive settlers, by saying that of the numerous debts thus con-
tracted, lie recollects no instance where he ultimately failed to re-
ceive his pay. He speaks of the gratification it used to give him, to
suppx^ vith a few bushels of grain, some potatoes, or pork, i)erhap.s,
settlers in the backwoods, (to be carried off", generally, upon their
backs,) who he has lived to see become the owner of broad fields and
crowded granaries. The surviving sons of Peter Shaeffer, are : —
Peter, Levi, Daniel, George ; the last of whom is the owner and

riELPS AND GORHAJI 8 rURCHASE.

409

occupant ox" the old homestead, and one of the best farmers and stock
breeders in the Genesee valley. Mrs. Philip Garbut and Mrs.
Caleb Allen, are his daughters. His children all reside in Wheat-
land and Chili.

REMINISCENCES OF PETER SHAEFFER.

It was several years after settlement commenced upon the river, before the
Ridge Road was known ; an Indian tiail wont from the in(nith of the River
to Foit Niagara, keeping near the Lake shtire; and an(.)ther trail was alung
the west bank of the river fi'Dia Canawagus to mouth of river. Peter and
Jacob Shaetfer laid out a road from vVilan's creek to the Fails, in '92; had
no compass; took ranges from trees; but the road as it now exists, is mainly
on the okl route. It wiis improved, the streams bridged with logs, so that
tc.".ms could pass in the winter of '9;3, '4.

Deer were plenty ; bears and wolves made it troublesome to keep sheep or
hogs; but the raccoon was the most troublesome animal we had to contend
with. To save their corn, the new settlers were obliged to Inmt them, but
their fur sold readily, and paiil for the hunting. At some seasons the pigeons
•were very abundant; they could be taken in large numbers, by the use of nets;
the brciists were cut out, salted, and they made \ery good eating. Trout
were so plenty in Allan's creek, that a string of an hundred and an lumdrod
and titty, could be taken without changing ground. At Dumplin Hill, on
one occasitm, a jjanther vv;us a victim to liis voracious appetite. Killing a Ueer,
lie gorged himself, became stupid, an Indian found him hol}>less, avd shot him.

Uj> to 1V94, there was a constant intercourse kept up between the British
at Fort Niagara, and in Canjida, and th ^ Indians upon the river. A large
proportion of the Indians inclined to the British interests, and by means of
runnei-s, and speeches sent from Gov. Simcoe and Lord Dorchester, the idea
was constantly inculcated that the British would soon want their aid against
the United States. Just before the victory of Gen. Waj'ne, belie\ing as they
were made to believe, from some source, that be Avould be defeated, they
were menacing and insolent. AVhen a large ]iarty of them were encami)ed
on the Hats of Allan's creek, on their way to become allies against Wayne,
some (if the ])ainted wariiore gave out that they Avould return with help enough
to drive otf tlie whites. The victory created a better state of things, but th re
was not a feeling of perfect security until the surrender of Fort Niagarii, in
1790.

" I lia\ e been the commissary of an army," said Mr. Shaeffer, and he ex-
plained : — "When the American troops were on their way up the Lake to take
possession of Fort Niagara, in battcaux, they met with head winds, ])ut back
into the (ienesee ri\er, where their [irovisions failed. Hearing of Mr. Shaeffer,
they came up the river, quaitered in his barn, and ho supplied them with
pork and Indian meal, taking the ollicer's note. When they broke up their
quarters, Mr, Shnefter piloted them to Caledonia Springs, put them upon the
26

410

PHELPS AXD GORnAM'H PURCnASE.

trail, nn.l arrivin- at To„,iwan.la, Voudry pilot..! thorn to Fort Nia<rarn, whoro

drovo cat K, to (;anac^^ Ms,t..,l [-'...t Nia-a^^ an,l n-...iv.Ml hi., pay.

Mary J-nnson oiuv, stai,! at Mr. Hha-'-tK-r's over ni-ht, on her way with a
htintn,^. party to tho m.,„lh ,.f tlu, river. Sho ,vlat..,l tlu, story of l.or cap-
tivity, au.l said sh„ was haj-py in her Indian relations, and preferred to remain
rather than to rejoni her friends.

William ITencher was a native of Brookfield, Mass., a soldier of
the Revolution, he afterwards hccame a parti/.an of Shay, in the
Massachusetts rebellion. While transportinir some i)rovisions to
the insurgents, he was overtaken by some of the oi)posing military,
fled, leaving his teams, and sought refuge in the then wild region:*
of western New York. He came finst to Newtown Point, remained
there one year, was joined by his family, and located in the neigh-
borhood of Col. Sterrett, on Big Flats. In August, 1791, he and
his son William, then eleven years of age, went to the mouth of the
Genesee river, where they found Walker, the Ranger, located in a
log hut on the east pide of the river, near its mouth, the solitary oc-
cupant, short of Irondequoit Bay, Orange Stones, and Peter
Shaefi'ers. Determining upon a settlement, Mr. Hencher, with the
help of his son, went up to Long Pond, cut wild grass for the stock
fhey intended to bring on, erected a hut on the west side of the
river, and returned to Big Flats; carrying with them, however, a
sufficient amount of the fever and ague to last them nearly through
the winter.

^ In February, '92, he moved in by the way of Seneca Lake and
Catherine's Town, upon ox-sleds. At Irondequoit, was the end of
any road. Mr. Hencher cut his road before liis teams, striking the
river above the Falls, and then down on the east side to Walker's,
where the family remained until the last of March, when they
crossed the river and occupied the hut they had erected in the fall,
the rocf of which was dry wild grass. This was the first hut of a
white man erected on the shores of Lake Ontario, between the
Genesee river and Fort Niagara. The family consisted of the
father, mother, one son, and seven daughters. Clearing a few acres
the first season, and i)lanting a few acres that Walker had cleared,
they got some summer crops ; and also erected a comfortable log
house. The place was much frecjuented by emigrants and boat-
men, who came to camp on shore. Mr. Hencher soon commenced

T'lIKLPS AND GOUIIAM's PUllOIIASE.

411

traffic with boatmen, emifrrantji and Indians, to which business he

soon added a brisk trade in fi.sh. lie and his son, havinti; |)i.,oured

a boat, would cross Lake Ontario to the river Credit, and purchase

fresh sahnon, and aometimes catch ihcni in the Oal; Orchard and

the Irondo([uoit. These he would cirry back into the settlements,

and exchanife for butter and cheese, which he would market in

Canada, makinjj; large profits. Purchasing six liunured acres of

land, li(! su[)]iort,ed a large family, and paid for the land twice, the

first title proving defective. The old gentlinrian died soon after the

war of 1812, his wife surviving until 1813, when she died at the

age of 93 years. The eldest daughter married Thomas Lee ; she

survives, and is a resident at I'ittsford. Hers wa.s the first marriage

that took place upon the west side of the river, except that of Peter

Shaefler. Another sister married Bartholomew Maybee, and is

yet living in Ohio ; another, Stephen Lusk, of Pittsford, and is yet

living; another, Jonathan Leonard, of Parma, and is yet living;

another, Donald M'Kenzie, of Caledonia, and is yet living. Two

others, Mrs. Clement, of Cleveland, and Mrs. Abel Rovve, of Parma,

are dead. Seven Pioneer wives and mothers came from under one

roof I Of the eight children, six are living ; and yet, they have

passed through the most rugged scenes of pioneer life, and their

location was, in early years, deemed the most unhealthy of all the

new settlements ! The eldest is 80, and the youngest (55. The old

gentleman lived to see all of his children married and settled. The

only son, William Hencher, is 71 years of age ; resides in Andover,

Allegany county, with faculties unimpaired, his memory enabling

him to relate early events with minuteness and accuracy.

REMINISCENCES OF \VM. HENCHER, 2d.

For two years after we came to the moiitli of tlie Genesee river, many of
tlio Tmlians were ugly, tlireatcning and (jiianvlsome. Ponding the victory
of Wayne, my father had made uj) his mind to leave the country, if the re-
sult had been adverse; but his courage was renewed when the Senecas came
])aek from tlic tight, tamo and spintloss, complaining of the conduct of tlioir
ISritish allies in shutting themselves up in a fort, and not comint;' to their res-
cue, as they had lieen made; to he]ie\-e they would. We all expected that if
"Wayne was tlefeated, the western Indians would come down and aid tlie
Senecas in a war upon the whites in diis region. The mouth of the Genesee
River, Braddock's Bay, and Irondequoit i3ay, were huntings, trapping, aud

412

I'llKLVS AND GOUnAM's I'URCIIASE.

: (

°™;;f iH"* ;!;t Ss :i:,:;. txjr «^"'-«- ""- ^"-j«

!i?™i°; :;;:;""""'' '"■""«' "■■ '"■''»"• »"•■ ^^rt >-•. ..,."..,.11 ,,„ .,;;;;.

™„ll'l"'.° ,i^""'l """". .''""■" '""' ■■"^'''' "ill' " l"i- *»-.T,.l ,h,v, wl,,.n 1,0

between fl...... I,v u-.. ,. ; ^^'''o'"'' ■'" • U.^u.m,,, a |„a,l u.so.l to lie eiinW.

iW Vl ■ ''''■^"■V^^'"^'^'^''' ^^ '*• ^'^'"l "l I'-"n,l,.,,„,.ir, was ,.n,ssin.- th.lky
m a canoe — saw a bear swiinmn.r — . struck atliim ...i - i .1 " ■

Parks, tl,3 lu,nt..r, n,a,|,. ,„y father's honso i.is head m,a te^ ' Ni ^ I.^uhT

cocJnston'u,'''l .;;'"' T" ^"S"> ^^^'^ "^''^'l '^^ I'''^»^1<^'!>'oit, .ere out after
dark T, 1 ' i'"!"'- ^'""' ''"-' ^'■'■'"' '""'- "'^ ^l'*'y ^"l'l"«t.d. It was

dark, ]Ju, ,arelnnl„.d the tree, until he diseov.nd ,, .mi ofiyes laro^er tlnn
coons usually hav., and backed .lown. Thcv built n> ti, ., mnaS lr25

loJ ^fS: *,■;; ;-^'^ !-"''!<- ---'l''l<;n^i.. the bank.of tlio river be-
Slie ^n^u 'T "•'■'r'"-''^'^^^^ ^'"'3' ^vould come out,

li^ r nT '' '^^''^'.r^^ ^^■'^'' ^''^'•' J'^^'l^^tiekiuixout; .0

ZseUel Im I ''^r''- /^'"'^ r."'^' ^■""^■■»"« "»'i' the weather

to tliui den, unti cold weather came ao'ain. I have killed ll^rtv in a dav

w^t 1 d^^Sr •; '•''' '''''' 'iV!r n '-^^ ^-^ ^•'^^■*'-' "" --'■•' -^^

the J-A , '","'"''■""' ^'"''' '^^^ '" ""■-'' '•''•>•• i '"'V.' no doubt of

La I i . uTi "^ ^'':""""«-A-, ^■■^■t''"; ^ ^'''^'^ ^^'"'^^1 ••'•»"1« -snakes tJmt
bl k 5^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^""''' ""^' '''^^■^^^'■^^■" --' l-i'-lstlutterin,. over

snake, when they woidd quickly take thewino-,
terof'D'.''\T'"'"'I-'p""''' '■''""-' "'' •^"''" ^^^■^^' ^^''"^ I>'>'1 "'^"■i^^l" <^'«'^h.

M-^Jt n v'''V. \^''^''''rr'' "* ^^''- ^^'il"i"n,son. My father and Love
Mcnt up t.;. Ls,,. >Shae rters and bought some corn, took it down to the Allan

TvlZ ,ur"ir T ? "^'^f^^^' l;"^k«.l n over the portage d.nvn to a point
a 1 ttie ab(.e Handtord s Landing, where they made ropes of bark and et it
Clow n in a canoe.

Deer we,-., abundant. I have killed six in one hour. Braddock'.s Bay was
aiamouspiace tor trai.ping otters, muskrats and minks. Geese and ducks

f fiimt'd

I'iiise,

PTTELPS AND OORnAM'3 PURCHASE. 413

bro<l in tlio Bay, in tl.o pond, in Ironaefjuoit ]}ay. Wo ooiil.l nroonre their
ejrf,'s in any (lcMr,.,l (juMntity.

Our early route u|. ti.e rivor wasanold Indian trail that hore off from the
river to a\oi(l D,.,.]) Hollow, and came upon it again at Seuttsville; and it
was m;iuy yars before we had auv thing but a wood's road tinou'di the nre-
sent city of Kochcster. ^

A very likely [ndian — Tusearora Charles — and his S,,uaw, were almost
constantly eneami)ed at the mouth of tlie river and iJradtloek's Bay. When
Uadierwent to Canada in '93, Charles went with mo to drive his cattle.
On our return, arriving at a camping ground, where the viliaoe of Cary-
ville, (lenesee comity, now i.s, we found Joseph Brant, with a white waiter,
en his way t(. Canada. He was well dressed, after the fcwhion of white men;
but before we parted, he changed his dr.'ss (Mitirely, putting on an Indian
dress, and getting Charles to paint him like an Indian warrior. This was be-
fore reachuig Tonawanda, and I fancied that he preferred appearing among
his own people like one of them.

There was a great change when tlie British gave up Oswego and Niagara:
navigation of the Lake was brisk; surveyors and emigrants 'on their way to
JNew Connecticut, often put into the mouth of the river.

We had but little sickness in our family; calletl Dr. Ilosmer on one or two
occiLsions. He used but little medicine; he recommended to my mother the
use ot the extract of bntteinut root, iw an ordinary cathartic, 'and she was
well Convinced of its etliacy.

During the Revolution, Butler's Rangers that did not go to Canada, were
.scattered along among the Indians, on the Susrpiehannali and Tioga rivers,
beneca Lake, and Genesee river. To arrest the march of Sullivan, Butler
and Brant came from Canad.•^ Butler to head the Rangers, and Br;mt to
head the Indians. When they were defeated and driven" before Sullivan's
army. Brant with his Indian allies, took the Niagara trail for Canada; and
Butler and Ins Rangers went down to the mouth of the Genesee river, after
sending AValker as a runner to Niagara to have boats sent down. They en-
camped, nmde no Hres for fear the "smoke would betray them, fired no guns,
kept as (piiet as possible, fearing that Sullivan's scouts would discover dieir
retrofit. There were several days delay of the boats, and when Walker ar-
rived with them, Butler and his men were nearly famished for the wjint of
food.

.^^''- I^""ti ^ij«3 Pioneer at Johnson's Creek, Niagara county, was a

prisoner at Fort Niagara during the Boi'der Wars. Walker was then on the
other side, and one day was sent by Col. Butler over to enquire of the com-
manding ofHcer of the Fort if he had any news? "Tell Col. Butler," said
the British commandant, "that there is bad news; the d— d rebels have
carried the day, and there will be no place left for us but Nova Scotia where
It IS colder than is hot." *

This was jtist after the battle of Yorktown. The reader may fill the blank with
the name of the wainiest Ideality he can think of. The Walker alluded to by Messrs.
bliaettor and Heiicher. was from Minisink. Beconiini,' a Butler Ranijer, in the flio'ht
of tliat corps to 0:111 ;!.i:i iiftrr tlir ,!,i«i!<Te~ful attemi.t !u arrest the march of Sullivan,
he stojiped at tlie nioutii ot the Genesee rirer, on the east side, erected a lo" cabin, and
Lvcd there until his removal to Canada. He will have to be considered tho first of

414

rimLPs AND gorham's purchase.

Isaac Scott wns the first owner and occupant of tiie present vil-
lage of Scottsville. He emigrated from Vermont, in company
with Aaron and .lessee Beach,* in 1T!)(), to Avon, and they located
at the mouth of Allan's creek soon after, if not in the same year.
Scott (lied in 1818; many of his descendants reside at Whitewater,
Indiana. Other early settlers there not named in otiier coi iiections :
— Hinds Chamherlin, Samuel Cox, Israel Hall, William Frazier,
.Tames Woods, D. S. Winter, .John Smith, who was an early sur-
veyor employed hy Messi-s. Phelps, Williamson and Wadsworth,
Robert and Thomas Smiih, of Chili, are his sons.

Samuel Street of Niagara Falls, C. W., purchased soon after
1790, (of Ebenezer Allan it is presumed,) what has long been known
as the Street farm, at Dugan's creek on the river. In earliest the
years of settlement, Jeremiah Olmsted, his brother-in-law, came from
Fairfield, Conn., with his family, and occupied it. Considerable
improvements had been mad.' upon the farm by Allan and Dugan,
and Mr. Street had stocked it largely lor that early period. Ofthe
family, and those en^ployed upon the tarm, ten persons died the first
year of the " Genesee fever," among whom was Mrs. Olmsted. In
'98 or '9, Mr. Olmsted moved down the river and occupied a hut, on
the [)rescnt site of Rochester, south of the House of Refuge, near
where M'Kerchney's brewery now stands, where he cleared a small
spot. This was the first blow struck in the way of impr(jvement,
other than at the Allan mill, on all the present site of the city of Roch-
ester. " Tho shantee," says the author's informant, " had been put
up by one Farwell ; " one of the brothers it is presumed, who are
named in another connection. Mr. Olmsted remained upon the
spot but one year ; long enough, however, to produce tlie first crops

A (Imio:liter ot Is;iiic Sedtt, ivlio was llic v,-ilo (if .Tosso Bench, now rcsidos with
herson.Cvnis Hcncli, ;it Cimiliriii, Niii-iirii tomitv; jiavd t<2 viTirs. Sliosavshcrfnlhw
ami tho lioai'hos jiaul .')0 oeiit.s pcraoio lor lainl in aiulal)ou'l iSciltsvillr. " 'J'hfaullKir
fjivc'sa nMniiiHi'dic" in licr own words :— "'rhcrt' wiis a innii thcv railed Alli.ui ahowt
there when we eaiiie ; lie kept a nuniher of eatth^ on the llats, aiid jiad two or tlireo
squaws that staid with him ; they browsed and took care of tho cuttle."

oirr rare who iiihahit.'d all the ])resent county of Monroe. He h;id with him either two
Rtel)-(laui:h(<'rs, or women hving in a more (['uestionahle capacil v. He 1 imted, fished,
and trailiek.'d with halteinixmen. An early ma]) of all this rejrii'ii, en.ii'raved in J.ondon,
has upon it no sii^n of civilization or hahitation. on all the J.ake shore between Us-
■Wego and Niau'ar.-i, excpt t!ie picture (if a lo^' cabin at the moulli ut the (ienesoe
nvejvuid uiiderne.ah it the word "Walker's."

PHELPS AND GOKIIAM's PUKCilASE. 415

ever grown upon the site of Rochester, lie went upon the Ridge
becoming the neighbor ol' Daniel Rowe. He was the collector of
taxes for Northanipton, in 1799, and like his predecessor, «imon
Kuig, and his successor, Peter Shaeller, his tax roll embraced the
whole region between the Genesee and Niagara rivers. He changed
his residence to Ilandford's Landing in 1810, where he died °he
same year. Harry Olmsted, of Greece, his son ard successor, still
survives; has been long known as a tavern keeper, on River road,
near Handford's Landing; another son resides in Canada, and Mrs.'
Billington of Allegany county, is a daughter. Harry Olmsted, was
at the mouth of the river, and upon Niagara frontier in the war of
1812, at one period a irember of Capt. Rovve's company, at another
enrolled in the cavalry of Major Stone. He was in the battle at
Lundy's Lane, and was at Fort Erie in the aHliir of fhe luth of
August.

As early as April, 1797, ail the region between the Genesee river
and Lake Erie, was made a separate town of Ontario county, called
Northampton. The first town meeting was held at the house ol"
Peter Shaeller. "The vote was taken by Gad Wadsworth, Esq..
of the town of Hartford." Josiah Fish was chosen supervisor, Eli
Granger, town clerk. Other town ollicers : — .Joseph Morgan' Jo-
siah Fish, Peter Shaeffer, Elijah Kent, Jeremiah Olmsted^Gideon
King, Christopher Dugan, Isaac Scott, Hinds Chamberlin, Simon
King,

It will be observed that there were but three road districts. They
were on the river, from Canawagus to Lake Ontario ; no road then
leading into the interior. The inhabitants were so few, that one
man held no less than three town offices. Filty dollars was raised
to defray the expenses of the town. In that year 18d., was au-
thorized to be expended for "election boxes."

In 1799, most of the same officers were re-elected, and Jesse
Beach who had settled on the road west of Caledonia, was made a
path master, the first west of Caledonia Fifty dollars was raised
for town expenses, and the like sum, " payable in labor or produce,"
for the erection of bridges.

In 1800, the town ofiicers chosen v,-ere distributed along on west
bank of the river and along the main road to the village of Buffido.
For instance: — iwo path-masters resided upon the river one at
Le Roy, another at Statlbrd, another at Durham's Grove, another

---1

I lit .lili

4 i I
-4 I i

•i;

'Mi t

416

PirELTO AISD OORHAm's rURCITASE.

at Clarence ITollnw, and another in liufllilo. Tn this j'oar, il'iOO
was raised lor huildiiiy; a hridgo over the creek at " Buttermilk Falls."
In an accouni current between the tt)vvn, and Josiah Fish, su])(>rvisor.
lor tlie years '97, '8, '0, '<.>0, lie is credited for money expended on
" Bridge over Deep Hollow," (llochester) $17^). In this year, Peter
ShaeH'er was collector of the town. The number of names upon
his tax roll was less than ir)0, and a lar^e number of them were
those of non-residents. Althougli the whole fax was over S?,000,
the sum paid by resident landholders was less than 6i2,00. In the
collection of it Mr. Shaefler found it much cheaper to pay himself
many of the small amounts, than to look up those to whom they
were assessed, scattered as they were in the forest. To reach the
town of Lewiston, from Buffalo, he had to cross the Niagara river
and go down on the Canada side.

In 1801, $100 were raised "for destroying wolves, and payinfr
other contingent charges of tb.e town." It was voted that the
"wolfs head must have the entire skin thereon." A resolution was
passed, that "from the extensive boundaries of the town, it is neces-
sary it should be divided. "

A glance at the records of 1802, shew the progress of settlement
westward ; although the town meetings were still continued at the
house of Peter Shaeller, and Col. Fisfi was continued supervisor, the
path-masters began to occupy a wide range : — Abel Howe was a
a i)ath-master in the now town of Greece; Asa Utley, near Scotts-
ville ; Daniel Buell, at Lo Roy ; Jas. M'Naughton, Caledorda ;
Ezekiel Lane, Buffalo ; Joseph Howell and Lemuel Cooke at Niag-
ara Falls and Lewiston ; Richard M. Stoddard of Le Roy was one
of the commissioners of highways ; and Isaac Sutherland of Batavia
was a constable.

In 1803, the towns of Leicester, Batavia, and Southhampton, were
erected from Northampton by a resolution adopted at a special town
meeting. The commissioners appointed to fix the boundaries of the
four towns, were: — Elijah Kent, R. M. Stoddard, Samuel Tupjier,
John Thompson.

The first general election for all the region west of Genesee River,
was in April, 1800. For Congress, Thomas Morris had 37 votes.
For members of Assembly, Nathaniel Norton had 37, Lemuel Chip-
man 25, William Dunn 10. In 1801, Stephen Van Rensselaer had
78 votes fur Governor, George Clinton 10. For delegates to state

nmLI'S AND CiOKIIA.M's TT^RCirASE.

417

convention ; — Moses Atwatcr 52, John Knox 77, Israel Cliapin yi,
Amos ITnll 0. In 1803, for (V,n<ri-ess, Oliver rhoIi)s 117, N.W.
Howell 1(5; lor metubers of Assenihly, .Tose])li Ellicotf. 117, Aug.
Porter 117, Daniel Chapin 121, TliaJdeus Cliapin 5, Eheiie/.er Merry
2, I'ollydore B. Wisner 12. 'J'liis was the last election previous to
the erection of Genesee county.

First road recorded i;- from Braddock's Ray to distillery of
St<'[)hen Peahody, on River, a short distance below Mr. ShaeOer's.
This, it is presumed, was what had been called the " Williamson
road," — tlie first avenue opened to reach the Bay fiom the BufTalo
road. The 2d: — "From Landing; |)lace below the Falls, to Land-
in<^ place above the Allan mill." 3d: — Across the fiats of the
River near Cuylerville. 'Ith: — From "mouth of River to Canawa-
gus, and from thence to east ])Oun(is of Peter (JampbcH's lot, at the
up])er end of Scotch settlement." In lh02 the road was recorded
from Le Roy to liatavia; from "Batavia to mouth of Buffalo creek
near John Paltner's house;" from "Niagara Falls to Lewiston and
Fort Niagara." In 1707, there were three path-masters west of Gen-
esee River: — Christo[)her Dugan, Joseph Morijan, and Jo;iiah
Fish. In 170!), there w(n-e five : — Jessce Beach, Asa Baker, Peter
Shaefier, Elijah Kent, Sanuiel Hicks. In 1800, there were seven : —
Jotham Curtis, Garrett Davis, Asa Ransom, Joshua ('hamberlin,
Stephen Peabody, Timothy Madden, Jr., Daniel (Jurtis. In 1801,
eleven: — Nehemiah Weston, Simon King, Solomon Blood, Joseph
Cunnnings, Vvycy. Brown, John M' Vean, Daniel Davis. John Pal-
mer, John M' Naughton, Salmon Scott, Asa Ransom.

Col. Jo.siah Fish, the early Supervisor of the wide region of
Northampton, was from Windham, Vermont. Having in a pre-
vious visit to the country, jiurchased a farm at the mouth of Black
Creek, on the Genesee river, in 171)5, with his son Libbeus, he came
on to commence upon it. Hiring his team work of Mr. Shaeller,
he broke up a few acres of the open flats, planted it, put up a log
hut which h(> \'ot the Indians to cover with bark; after which, the
father and son went down to board with Sprague, who was then in
charge of the Allan mill, at the Falls; "and pretty hard board it
was," says the son: — " We had raccoon fur breakfast, dinner and
supper, witli no vegetables ; and upon extra occasions, we had
cakes fried in raccoon oil." This, with the fever and ague added,
was a specimen ol pioneer life in what is now Rochester. Taking

418

PHELPS AND GOEIIAm's PUECIIASE.

the son up to Mr. Berry's at Canawaugus, where he had a winter's
sickness, the father returned to Vermont for the family; and in
April, the whole were in their new solitary home at Black Creek
hvmg without doors, floor, window or chimney. Over half of the
family were soon prostrated by disease, whicii continued the crreat-
er part of the season. In November, Mr. Williamson havin-^lnred
Coi. .<ish to fake charge of the Allan mill, the family moved°down
to the Falls, and occupied a board shantee for cookinrr, sleepincr in
rooms partitioned off in the mill, where was not even the lu.xury
of glass windows. In this way they wintered and summered.
1 he next fall, they put up a three walled log house, against a ledge
of rocks on the river hank, the site being that now occupied bv the
old red m-.il, near Child's basin ; the ledge of rocks serving fo; one
wal of the house ; a fire place and chimney being excavated in the
rock. They found for their neighbors, Messrs. Hencher and Hos-
mer, at the mouth of the river; and soon after they had located at
the Falls, they ;vere much gratified in the accession of some new
neighbors — the Atchinsons — at Braddock's Bay. In 1798 Col
Fish, being a magistrate for Ontario county, held a court at Lewis-
ton for the trial of a person who had sold li.juor to the soldiers of
t ort A K.gara. He remained in charge of the mill until 1804, when
he moved back to his farm. In 1807, he sold his farm, and moved
upon the Ridge, near Parma, where he died in 1811. Libbeus
Fish, lormerly of Batavia, now residing at Jackson, Michigan;
John P., Chicago, are his sons.

The Afchinson family were from Tolland county. Conn. It con-
sisted of Bezaleel Atchinson, his brothers, Asa, Jacob, Sylvester
Stephen and John, his two sons, and two daughters. Sylvester
Atchinson surveyed the town of Naples for Phelps & Gorham In
1794, they purchased lands there, some of the brothers remained
and mad. impn.vements, and in 1790 were joined by Bezaleel and
his family, who remained there but a short time, and in March of
that year, went to Braddock's Bay, two brothers accompanying him.
Although all the Atchinson brothers, six in number, were at the
Bay as eariy as 1802, Bezaleel with his family, and two brothers,
Stephen and John, were the Pioneers. Mr. Williamson having just
opened the town of Parma for sale, held out some inducements for
them to commence the settlement at the Bay. They came in by the
way of Canawagus, crossing the river on the ice, and on urnving

PHELPS AND GORHAM'b PURCHASE.

419

at the Allan mill, found a hunter by the name of Parks, a wanderer,
with his dog, gun, and blanket — the Leather Stocking of the Gen-
esee Valley — who they hired as a pilot, — not having even the bene-
fit of marked trees after they left the river. They were three days
making the journey from where Rochester now is, to Braddock's
Bay, making their own road as they went along. With tlie boards
from their sled, and some blankets, they made a shelter, in which
they lived six weeks; in which time they built a log house without
nails, boards or glass. Starting from Naples with four oxen they
lost one on the road, and two, soon after they arrived at the Bay,
leaving them but one ox for their team work ; but with this one ox,
they logged eight acres and prepared it for summer crops. They
used him with a crooked yoke and traces.

Michael Beach, had the summer previous, come in and made a
small improvement, on the farm now owned by Judge Castle.
Within one, two and three years, the Atchinsons were joined in
their new settlement by George Goodhue, Silas Leonard, Timothy
Madden and their families. Leonard was from Stockbridge, Mass-
achusetts; there came in with him his sons Jonathan and Silas.
The next year after they emigrated, the father went to the salt
works at Onondaga to chop cord wood, and was killed by the fall-
ing of a limb of a tree. Capt. Jonathan Leonard, upon whom the
care of the family devolved, who married a daughter of Wm. Hench-
er, is yet living at the Bay. He says : — " We suffered much from
sickness. After being in three years we lost all our household ef-
fects by fire ; we could raise no money for anything except cattle,
with which we paid for our land ; with a crop of three hundred
bushels of wheat, we could not raise one shilling in money. We
experienced the utmost kindness from Mr. Williamson, and his suc-
cessors." Silas Madden, of Parma, is a son of the early Pioneer ;
another son, Alpheus, sickened upon the frontier in the war of 1S12,
and died soon after reaching home.

Roswell Atchinson, Esq., of Parma, is a surviving son of the
early Pioneer, Bezaleel Atchinson. He says ; — "I have heard my
mother say that she lived eight months without seeing a white
woman. The Indians often come to the Bay to hunt, trap, and pick
cranberries. Salmon were abundant in Salmon creek; I have
known my father to take three barrels in a short time. We had for
neighbors, tlie first v/inter, a colony of beavers. Their dam was on

420

PHELPS AND GORIIAir's PUECHASE.

Salmon creek ; we did not molest them ; used to often see them at
work ; thounrht we would protect them, and let them breed a large
colony ; hut the spring freshet came, swept away their dam, they
went into the Bay where they were caught by a trapper. These
were all the beavers we saw ; their dams on all the small streams
however, looked as if they bad not been long deserted." " We had
no schools until we had been in eight years ; we then built a locr
school house, in whicli Alpheus Madden taught for two monthj
when the house burned down. I went to Victoi-, the nearest school.
Two Metho.list circuit preachers — Messrs. Hill and Woodworth
found our new settlement after many years; not until settlement
had commenced upon tlie Ridge. They would preach at the house
of some new settler ; and it was not uncommon for women to cro
on foot five or six miles to hear them." ^

The surviving sons of Bezaleel Atchinson, are: — Roswell of
Parma, Austin, of Greece, Fuller, a Methodist clergyman at the west
Daughters: — Mrs. Willard Cranson, and Mrs. Buel, of Michicran
Mrs. Samuel Wyman, of Parma, and Mrs. Sylvanus Willey, of Oo-.'
den. The father died in 1828, aged 06 years. The brothers who
came into the country with him :- Sylvester, resides in Oakland
county, Michigan ; Stephen died a few years since in Illinois, Mrs
George Patterson of Parma, is his daughter ; John resides in Parma
overSOyearsof age; — he commanded a volunteer corps in the
war of 1812, serving upon the frontier, and at the mouth of the
Genesee river. Asa. resides in Coldwater, Michigan, and Jacob in
Illinois ; makmg four of the six brothers, who came to the Genesee
country in 1794, still alive; an instance of longevity, that has few
parallels^ Jacob Atchinson buried a wife and nine children, before
leaving Parma, and has now a second wife, and a large family

In 1790 Phelps and Gorham sold to a company of men in Spring-
field and Northampton, Mass., 20,000 acres of T. 7, 1. short ran4
upon the "Mill Tract." This embraced all of the present site of
the city of Rochester, west of the river.* Among the purchasers,

were Quartus Pomeroy, Justin Ely, Ebenezer Hunt, and

Breck. By re-sales, previous to 1796, Augustus and Peter B. Por-
ter, Zadock Granger and Gideon King, had become part owners

or "Il^!n ^11 t"^»^ V- ?"; 'V"' of conveyance, the "One Hundred Acre TiacV
or Allan MiU 1 ract," vhich had previously been granted to Ebei-ezer ATan.

PIIELPS ANB GORHAm's PURCIIASE.

421

igan,

The tract was surveyed in 1790, by Frederick Saxton, aad sub-
divided in '97, by Aug. Porter.

In the winter of 1796, '7, the settlement of the tract commenced,
by the advent of four families : — Eli Granger, Thomas King, Si-
mon King, and Elijah Kent. They came in via Canawaugus, and
down the river, locating a short distance above what was afterwards
King's, now Handford's Landing. They had no shelter but their
covered sleighs, until they erected log huts. The next year they
were joined by Bradford and Moses King, Dr. Stone and Gra-
ham ; and in 1798, four brothers, Ebenezer, Daniel, Abel and Asa
Rowe, settled in the neighborhood. These new settlers began to
make farms, but encountered sickness and death enough to have dis-
couraged the less resolute. Several of the hea«ls of families died
in the first few years.

Asa Rowe died soon after coming in, as did Graham, and

the father of the brothers Kings, and Elijah Kent. When Mr.
Rowe died, the other brothers were sick and unable to go for help
to lay him out and bury him, until he had lain 24 hours. Recover-
ing from their sickness, the surviving brothers left the country, and
returned to Oneida county. In a few years however, Daniel and
Abel returned, bringing with them another brother, Frederick, and
setded on the Ridge Road.

The first boards that the new settlers obtained, was by repairinrr
the old Allan saw mill at the Falls, and in a few years Nathaniel
Jones, built a rude saw mill on the small stream, that puts in near
Hanford's Landinji.

Dr. Zacheus Colby, and Dr. Sylvester Atchinson, were early
physicians, practicing in the Kings' settlement.

In 1799, Eli Granger and Abner Migells, built a schooner at
King's Landing, the first merchant vessel built by Americans on
Lake Ontario, and none had been previously built by Americans on
the LIpptr Lakes.

Township 13, range 7, was the fifth sale made by Phelps & Gor-
hnm. In Mr. Pheli)'s memorandum, it is entered as sold to " Gen.
Hyde and others." The associates of Gen. Hyde, who was a resi-
dent of Lenox, Mass., were his townsmen, Prosper Polly, Enos
Sto.v,'. Job Gilbert, Joseph Chaplin, and it is presumed, John Lusk,

422

PHELPS AND OORIIAm's PUKCIIASE.

of Berkshire, as fifteen hundred acres of tlie township near the head
of Irondequoit Bay, was set ofi" to him, while the survey of the
township into farm lots was progressing. Mr. Lusk was the pio-
neer in improvement and settlement, and in fact bore that relation
to all of what is now Monroe county, having even jireceded the
Shaelfers several months. With his son Stephen, then fifteen years
old, and Seely Peet, a hired man, he came to the new region early
in the summer of 1789. Arriving at Schenectady, he embarked
with a small stock of provisions, in a batteau, the son and hired
man coming by land, and driving some cattle. The son, Stephen
Lusk, of Pittsford, who still survives, says he remembers very well,
that upon the present site of Utica, there was only an opening of
about half an acre in the forest — and that the ])ioneer there, John
Post, was just finishing his log cabin. They came upon the Indian
trail, via Skaneatelas, Onondaga Hollow, and from there to Cayuga
Lake had little more than spotted trees as a guide. They crossed
Cayuga Lake on a raft, swimming their cattle. The father, son and
hired man, re-united at Canandaigua, and constructing an ox-sled,
made their own road to their location in Brighton. Erecting a loo-
cabin, they cleared twelve acres and sowed it to wheat, procuring
their wheat of Ebenezer Allan, upon the ShaefTer farm, by cutting
a woods road to the mouth of Red creek, to which point they trans-
ported it in a canoe. While they were clearing the land and so\\ing
their wheat, they saw none of their own race, but the surveyors of
the township. Indians often came from Canada in canoes to the
Bay, on their way to Canandaigua. The whole three had the ague
and fever, which obliged them to suspend labor for a considerable
period. They returned to Massachusetts in the fall.

In the spring of 1790, Mr. Lusk brought out his family, coming
all the way from Schenectady to the head of Irondequoit Bay by
water, the sons Stephen and Erastus coming by land with stock in
company with Enos Stone and others. Mr. ShaefTer and his brother,
being bachelors, the family of John Lusk may be said to be the first
family located upon all the territory now embraced in Monroe county,
other than the temporary residents, refugees from the border wars,
Allan and Walker. The first few years they had to contend v/ith all
the usual privations of extreme l)ackwoods life, and to which was
added disease and harrassing Indian alarms. The refugee Walker
of whom Mr. Hencher speaks, living in his solitary hut at the mouth

PltELPS AND GORTIAM's PURCnASE.

423

of the River, was stilhn the British ami Indian interests -made
frequent_ visits to Niagara; and returning would ahirm the lew
settlers in the backwoods by representing that thev were to be
attacke ' by the Indians. He was not jileased with his new nei-rh-
bors ; and when they crowded upon him, he sought more concrenial
associations, in Canada.* . °

Mr. Lusk died in 1814, aged GO years. Besides the present
Stephen Lusk, his sons were Erastus, Norman, John and Aaron.
Stephen Lusk, whose wife as will have been observed, is the dauc^hter
of Willinm ITencher, is 76 years of age. Heman and Dennis Lusk
of Bittsford, Henry Lusk of Laporto, Indiana, are his sons; Mrs.
Thomas Wilcox of Mendon, is his daughter.

Orange Stone, a son of one of the original proprietors of the
township, with his fiimily, Joel Scudder and family, and Chauncey
and Calvin Hyde, followed Mr. Lmk in a few weeks; and about
the same time Timothy Allyn, came on and occupied ahne, a log
cabin he erected on a tract of 500 acres on the stream that took his
name, near the termination of the Brighton plank road. Spending a
summer in the wilderness he got discouraged, sold out and went°to
Geneva, where he wcs a prominent and useful citizen in earlv years.
He had borne the commission of Captain in the war of ihe Revolution.
He finally returned to Massachusetts, where ho died at the advanced
age of 90 years. He was a lineal descendant of Robert .Ulvn, who
with Robert Winthrop and James Averv, was a pioneer emio-rant
at New Lo-.don,Conn.; F. U. Sheffield, of Palmyra, is a nephevv of
the early Pioneer of the Genesee country.

Orange Stone located on the now Pittsford road, a little east of
Brighton village, near the " rock and tree." Messrs. Bacon, Adams,
and Fellows, of Bloomfield, Enos Stone, Stephen Lusk and others,
who had emigrated, or intended to do so, in 1790, clubbed together,
and started for the new region a drove of oxen, cows, and hogs.
Enos Stone, Jr. the son of one of the proprietors named above,
Stephen Lusk. Jacob Lobdell, one of the Adams, were of the drivers.
After leaving Utica, they travelled about 25 miles per dav, camping

424

PlIELPS AND GORIIAm's rURCIIASE.

each night ; arriving at Cayuga Lake they crossed their stock in
two Durham Boats — the work of crossing consuming four days.
The provisions of the party failed thcMn, and they were from Thurs-
day morning until Sunday night without food. Arriving at Geneva,
nearly famished, their wants were supplied.

Unless this party had been preceded a few days by the Wads-
worths, their stock was the first brought west of the Seneca Lake.
They had among the rest, a few sheep that went to Bloomfield. In
addition to Orange Stone, Chauncey Hyde, a son of another of the
proprietors came on in 1790, locating upon the farm now occupied
by Col. Gould. He remained but one season ; sickness discouraged
him. He went upon some lands of his father, in Broome county.
The elder Enos Stone did not emigrate to Brighton until 181G,
where he died a few months after his arrival. Orange Stone, who
for many years occupied one of the western outposts of civilization,
keeping almost from his first arrival, a house of entertainment ; a
home for the young men who were settling about him, and a stop-
ping place for the occasional hunter, Indian trader, and traveler,
died in 1842, aged 73 years. His eldest son. Orange, was drowned
at Connraut, Ohio, by stepping from the plank of a steamboat in the
night. The only surviving son, Enos Stone, is now in California;
several daughters reside in Michigan.

Col. Enos Stone continued to reside in Lenox, making frequent
visits to the new purchase, and residing occasionally with his bro-
ther. Orange, until 1810, when he became a pioneer settler of the
city of Rochester, his original farm embracing all of the most densely
populated portion of the city east of the river. He still survives,
at the age of 76 years. His wife, who was the daughter of Bryant
Stoddard, of Litchfield, Conn., died in 1850, aged 73 years. James
S. Stone, (horn in May, 1810, the first born on the site of the city
of Rochester,) of Greece, is the only survivor of five sons ; Mrs.
Wm. C. Storrs, of Rochester, and Mrs. George Wales, are sur-
viving daughters ; and a third, unmarried daughter, resides with her
father. With a memory of early events unimpaired. Col. Stone has
furnished the author with many interesting reminiscences, the ear-
liest of which, are inserted here, and the later ones reserved for
that portion of the work, having more especial reference to Monroe
county.

PHELPS AND QORlIAJi's PURCHASE.

425

REMINISCENCES OF EXOS STONE.

In an early year, I was stopping with my brother Orange. Chauncoy
Hyde and myself were out liunting cattle. We saw a sinuke risini^ at the
Irondcqiioit Landing, and went down to it. AVe found that it prucfckvl from
an Indian camp; as we approached it, two Indians rase up from a coucli, one
of wliich, especially, attracted our attention. His camp otjuijipage we thought,
rather extraordinary fi)r an Indian; he was well dressed — partly as a white
man, and partly as an Indi;m; bid us good morning with great civility, and
displaying a gold watch and trimmings, observd that being wearied lie had
over slej't. He soon announced himself f,., Josei)h Brant, on hLs way from
Burliiigl(>n Bay to Canandaigua. Having ariived in a boat he had sent In-
dian runners to Canandaigua for horses, and was awaiting their return. He
accepted our invitation and came up with us to my brother's house. His
familiar conversation, and gentlemanly manners, soon convinced us that he
was nut the savage we had conceived him to be, from accounts we had heard
and read of him, in connection Avith the Border Wars. He (piieted our ap-
prehensions of any farther Indian troubles, by assuring us, that as the Seneciis
had sdld their lands to the whites, the bargain should be cairieci out in good
faith, and the new settlements should not be molested. He manifested I'nuch
interest in all that was going on in tlrs region, and inquired when new settle-
ments were commencing. The visit gave us great pleasure, and (piieted our
fears. In iiereon, Jaseph Brant bore a close resemblance to Gen. Braily, of
the U. S. aimy.

I knew an early settler of Irondequoit, who used to kill, dress, and eat
skunks ; ho said their meat was fine flavored, free from any ofl;ensive odor.*

The principal colony of the rattle snakes was in bank of river, below the
Lower Falls, at a place Ave used to call " Rattle Snake Point;" and there wjis
also a large colony at Allan's creek, near the end of the Brighton plank road.
I think they grow blind about the time of returning to their dens, in August

region tor the oil and the gall of the rattle-snake. The oil was used for stitf
joints and bruises; the gall for fevers, in the form of a pill, made up with
chalk.

Fish were abundant, and a great help to the early settlers. A structure
similar to an eel wire was placed in the Irondequoit, below the Falls. The
rack was made of tamarack poles. I have known ten barrels of fine fat
salmon taken there in one night. The river atibrded a plenty of black and
st)ii)ed biiss, and the Bay pickerel and pike. I never knew of the salmon
ascending the Genesee river, but one season. Allan's creek in Brighton,
aftbrded abundance of trout. The geese and ducks were so plenty in Brad-
dock's Bay, that bushels of their eggs could sometimes be picked up in the
marshes.

* Somo of the early surveyors of Wiaconain confirm this good opinion of the flesh
of the skunk.

Ill

lie

IS"

i2G

PHELPS ANB OORIIAMS PURCHASE.

In one of tlie early ycnrs, I carried sonip jfrain to the Allan mill, to jvot
pround for my brotlier Oranj^o, and had to remain over niylit. Allan was
there, iu a spree or carousal. To mnke a fea-<t, he had sent Indians into tho
woods, to Hli(K)t ho^s that had gone wild, and he furnished the whiskey.
There were many Indians collected. It was a high time, and the chief of
tlie entertainment wiuseiij'ving it in great glee. Tired of the carousal, ho re-
tired to a couch, where a sijuaiv and a white wife awaited his coming.

The hogs that we brought here in 1790 strayed oh', and they and their pro-
geny became wild, we hail to either shoot or hunt them with dogs. The
boars and old sows have been seen often, victoi-s in a conflict with beai-s. A
boar was caught and penned. He refused footl, and woulil not tame. When
pei'sons ap[)roached the pen he would froth at the moutii; occasionally strike
his long tushes into the logs of his pen, tearing out and champing the splinters.

OLIVER CULVER.

He is a native of Orwell, Vermont. In March, 1796, when he
was 19 years old he left home in company with Samuel SpafTord,
and came on foot to the Genesee country, first stoppinj^ a short time
at Jonathan Smith's in Farmington, where they hired out to make
sap troughs. Going to Irondcciuoit Landing, he found tlie only
occupant there, Asa Dunbar, a mahitto, witia a family. Remaining
at the Landing about six weeks, a large company, consisting of the
proprietors of the then newly purchased Connecticut lands in Ohio,
their surveyors, and two families, in five boats, came up the Lake
on their way to commence survey and settlement. In pursuance of
a previous agreement, the young men, Culver and SpalFord, joined
the expedition. Landing at Queenston, taking their butteaux over
the portage, the expedition went up Niagara River and coasted along
the south shore of Lake Erie, finding no wliite inliabitant after they
lef* the mouth of Buffalo creek — where there was one solitary
family until they reached Er.':, where they found Col. Seth Reed,
Gunn, who had his family with him, stopped at Conneaut, be-
coming the first settlers there. Proceeding to the moftth of the
Cuyahoga, the party landed, on the site of the present city of Cleve-
land, and erected a log dwelling house and store house. Stiles, one
of the party who had taken his wife along, built for inmself a house,
and became the Pioneer settler at that point.*

* A son of his born tlie next winter -vwis the first born of white parents, on the Re-
serve. Mrs. Stiles <it the period of parturition bad none other of her sex than native
Bquaws, to attend her.

PIIELPa AND (JOUHAM's PUUCIIA8E.

427

The party all returned to New Eii<rl;H)(l in the fall. In the follow-
ing spriiiir, Messrs. (Culver ami S|>air<'r(l came on again to Ironde-
quoit, himted, trapped, bought furs, until the surveyors again arrived>
and they again embarked in their service. The principal of the
party on this second expedition, was Seth Pea o, a brother-in-law
of Gideon Granger. The expedition consisted of a Dout (50 persons.
In the .summer — 1707 — they cleared and planted six acres, which
are now in the centre of the city of Cleveland. In 1798, Mr.
Culver was in the employ of the contractors who had taken the job
of the New Connecticut com[)any to cut out the road from the Penn-
sylvania line, across their purchase. Remaining the next year in
Vermont, in 1800 Mr. Culver came out and purcliased the farm
where he now resides; making his home at Major Orange Stone's,
and going to his place through the woods by marked trees, he cleared
seven acres and sowed it to wheat the first season ; realizing a
good crop. Fearing a defective title, he abandoned his farm, and
•was employed by Augustus Griswold for the next three years, at
Ironde(|uoit Landing, in superintending an Ashery, the first estab-
lished in all this region. It worked up the ashes and black salts of
the new settlers I'or a great distance around it ; shipping at the
early period, in 180;i, 108 barrels of pearl ash to Montreal. Ashes
being a shilling per bushel, enabled the settlers, generally destitute
of money, to get some store trade. In 1804, obtaining a small stock
of goods at the east, by purchase, and a much larger stock of Tryon
and Adams, at Iron(ief[uoit upon conunission, Mr. Culver went to
Cleveland and opened a store, principally for Indian trade, where
he had been preceded only by one trader, with a small stock. He
bought furs of the Indians, and opening a barter trade with the
settlements in Pennsylvania, his customers brought him upon pack
horses, whiskey and cider brandy, in keg,s, butter, cheese and honey-
He sold them salt at 83,00 per bushel. Extending a barter trade to
Detroit, he obtained there, a|)ples and white fish. Disposing of his
goods, he returned, had title to his farm made good, married the
daughter of John Ray of Pittsford, and became a permanent resi-
dent of Brighton, as early as 1805.

In 1811, Mr. Culver built the schooner Clarissa, on the Roswell
Hart farm in Brighton, and drew it to the Bay, with twenty six
yoke of oxen ; and after tliat he built three other schooners, and put
them upon the Lake. He was one of tlie contractors for building

428

PHELPS AND GOEHAm's PUECIIASE.

the ombifted locks at Lockport, on the original construction of
the canal. In 1822, he built at Brighton, a packet boat, the first
boat built as far west as there, and the fourth packet that was built on
the canal. These are but a part of the enterprises of his active
and useful life. He is now 72 years old, moving about and super-
intending a large estate, neither his physical or mental constitution
but little impaired. He has buried two sons ; his only daughter is
Mrs. L. D. Ely of Brighton.

EEMINISCENCES OF OLIVEE CULVER.

lis

On the .shore of Lake Ontario, on a liigli bhilf near Irondequoit Bay, in
1796, tlie bank caved otf, and untoiiibed a large (quantity of Imnum bones,
of a large size. The arm and leg bones, upon comparison, were much
larger than those of our own race.

In 1797 I trapjied two young beaver, at Brush creek, above Braddock's
Bay. I saw one of their kjdges. It was about the size and shape of a liay
cock; carried up with brush, as aground work, co\ered with nislies, and pks-
tered with clay. I have seen the stumps of trees they had gnawed down, that
measured one foot across. They select the sites of their dams with something
like human intelligence.

At one pei'iod, jJivtty much all the Lake business of this region, was ens-
acted at Irondequoit Landing. Tlie first flour wasshijiped there that v 4 to
Montreal. It wa.s not untib along about 1813, that we abandoned the idea
that it would be the great commercial point of this region.

In 1805, 'G, myself. Orange 8tone, George Dailoyryiwnuel Spafford, and
Miles Nortlui]), with tlie hulp'of $50 a]iproi)riated from the town of North-
field, cut out the road, two rods wide, from Orange Stone's to the river, four
miles.

Wlien I first came to Irondequoit, in excavating the earth to build a store
house, we found a large quantity of lead bails and flints. On a knoll, on the
bank of tht' < reek, there were the remains of a battery.*

In 1802 there was no school nearer than Pittsfoitl. We clubbed to-
gether, built a log school house, and hired a young man by the name of
Turner, who was clerk in Tryon & Adams' store," to ojjen a school. I wanted
to go to school, and foi- my part, I got logs to a saw mill, and furnished the
roof boartls. Our first iih\sician was Jol'in Ray, of Pittsford; our first mer-
chant at Bi'ightnn, Ira West, who removed to Rochester.

Amos Sparti)rd, of Orwell, Vermont, the father of Samuel Spaftbrd, who
came to the Genesee country with me, was one of the early surveyors of the
Reserve, and one of the founders of settlement at Cleveland. The U. S.

hg.

* The battery, undoublutUj, that La liontan sayb De Nonville erected at the LaiiJ-

PHELPS AND GOEHAil's PURCHASE.

429

government granted him a mile and a half square of land, at Mauraee, to
•nliich jilace he removed, and where his descendants now reside. Samuel
Spart'ord setded at Brighton, and made first improvements on the Blossom
farm, emigrating to Maumee.

AniosSpatford being the first mail contractor at Cleveland, in 1805, his
carrier being taken sick, I took the mai) on my back, and carried it to Huron,
in four hours, traveling on the ice with skates.

Timothy Allen sold his five hundred acres of land, in Brighton, to John
and Solomon Hatch. In company with them, I built a saw mill on Allan's
Creek, in 180G. They removed to Genesee county.*

In 1798, Judge John Tryon, of Lebanon Springs, became through
a brother who had failed to make the payments, the owner of a
tract of land on the Irondequoit, in Brighton, three miles above the
Bay. His brother had previously laid out a village, but had made
no progress with it. Judge Tryon built a store and store house,
and in the spring of '99, opened a store in the name of Tryon &
Adams. The locality assumed the name of " Tryon's Town." The
agent of the proprietors, Augustus Griswold, first came on with
five sleigh loads of goods, and after that, in the fall, Capt. Oliver
Grace came with a boat load from Schenectady, the freight costing
$3 00 per. 112 lbs. Asa Dayton soon opened a tavern, Stephen
Lusk started the tanning and shoe making business, and besides
these was Asa Dunbar, a mulatto, and John Boyd, — four families
in all. In 1800, Henry Ward, the present worthy citizen and Post
Master, of Penfield, then 18 years of age, came on and became a
clerk in the Tryon & Adams store. At that period, much of the
business of this pioneer store, the first west of Canandaigua, con-
sisted of barter, for furs, bear and deer skins, with the Seneca In-
dians, and such white men as were hunters and trappers. In 1801,
Silas Losea settled in the place, and enabled " Tr/on Town," alias
the "city of Tryon," to glory in the addition of a blacksmith's
shop. An ashery and distillery was added to the store, soon after.
In the earliest years, the store commanded a wide range of custom-
ers. There are names upon its old books, of the early settlers of
all the western towns of Ontario and Wayne, northern towns of

1 !

irMi

1":
1

: f

* Jarvis M. and Hiram F. Ilatcli, attorneys in Rochester, are the sons of the early
pioneer, Jolm Hateh. Tlie i'atlier and bruthor were from Madison county. John Hatcxi
rernoveil froiii Hri^tlion t" B.irrc.Orlo" us count j, and subscnuentlj to Elba, near Bata*
via, where his widow now roaidea

430

PHELPS AND GORIIAM's PUUCi'IASE,

liiii

Livincrston, and even a solitary settler of Orleans county, at the
mouth of Oak Orchard creek, was a regular customer. The '• city"
was governed by civil laws of its own enacting. What has since
been called a " Lynch Court " was established, and several trials
and convictions were had.

The business of the place declining, shipping business going to the
mouth of Genesee river, and rival stores springing up in other local-
ities, in 1810 Mr. Grisvvold broke up the store, and went to Tren-
ton, Oneida county. In 1818 the old store house was demolished,
and there now remains scarcely a vestige of the once"citvot
Tryon."

Gen. Jonathan Fassett, of Vermont was the original purchaser
from Phelps and Gorham, of T. 13, R. 4, now Penfield, and south
part of Webster; he attempted its settlement in '91 or '2. He

was accompanied by Caleb Hopkins, his son Jonathan Fassett,

Maybee, and some others. Discouraged by sickness, and other
endurances of the wilderness. Gen. Fassett abandoned the enterprise,
and returned to Vermont; though Messrs. Hopkins and Maybee
remained in the country. Mr. Hopkins was the afterwards Col.
Hopkins, of Pittsford, and Mr. Maybee was the father of John and
James Maybee, who were pioneer settlers of Royalton, Niagara
county, and of Suflrenus Maybee, a pioneer settler at Bulfalo, and
the mouth ui Cattaraugus creek ; a daughter was the wife of Orange

Stone, another of Caleb Hopkin.s, another of Griffin, of Pitrs-

ford. Dr. Fassett, of Lock[jort, and a brother of his in Rochester,
are grand-sons of Gen. Fassett.

Mr. ]\Iaybee was from the Mohawk! He came by water to
Swift's Landing at Palmyra, there mounted his batteaux upon
wheels, and cut his own road from a short distance west of Palmyra
to Penfield.

Gen. Fassett located at the old Indian Landing, on the east side
of the Bay, about two miles below the present village of Penfield.
He had a plat surveyed there for a town, but nothing farther was
done. He soon sold his interest in Penfield to Gen. Silas Pepoon,
who sold it to Samuel P. Lloyd, from whom, in consequence of some
liabilities incurred, it went into the hands of Daniel Penfield.

iCr' Farther reminiscences of Penfield will be added in another
connection.

What is now Pittsford, being a portion of a township at the

PHELPS AND GORHAM's PURCHASE.

431

northern termination of the 5th range, 13,296 acres was purchased
by an association, who were represented in the transaction by "Stone
and Dodge." Settlement commenced there before the close of
1789. Tlie pioneers were, Israel Stone and Simon Stone, Silas
Nye, .Joseph Farr, and at the same time, or soon after, other heads
of families came in: — Thomas Cleland, Josiah Giminson, Alex-
ander Dunn, and David Davis.

William Walker, the local agent of Phelps &■ Gorham, purchased
T. 12, R. 4, now the town of Perinton. In the sutnmer of 1799 his
brother Caleb erected a log cabin, and moved into the township,
taking with him Glover Perrin, with his wife. Perrin went fust in
the capacity of a hired man, but after the death of Caleb Walker,
had some interest in the purchase. The pioneers had no children,'
and lived alone in the woods for several years, after which they
moved to Pittsford. lEP For Mendon, see Monroe county.

VICTOR.

[Omitted in its appio]iriate place.]

Enos Boughton, of Stockbridge, Mass,, and his brother Jared,
had visited this region in 1788. Enos had engaged as a clerk of
William Walker, the agent of Mr. Phelps, and as soon as sales com-
menced, purchased the town of Victor, for twenty cents per acre.
In the spring of 1799, the two brothers, Horatio Jones, a brother-
in-law, who was a surveyor, and several hired hands, went upon
what was afterwards called Boughton Hill, erected a log cabin,
sowed a patch of buckwheat, (the first of that crop in the Genesee
country,) surveyed the township, and after sowing three acres of
wheat, the whole party returned to Massachusetts, except Jacob
Lobdell, who remained "solitary and alone," to take care of the
premises, and winter fourteen head of cattle upon wild grass, that
had been cut upon the Indian Meadow, on what is now known as the
Griswold place. In February, 1790, Jared Boughton started from
Stockbridge, with his wife and iiifanl daughter, and made the long

NoTK. — Mr. Lobdell loinained in the town, and became an enterprising and promi-
nent citizcii ; was well known as iin curly ciuilraotor iipMii tlic Eric Canal! His many
kind acts in jiioneer times, are well remembered. He died in IrtlH, as^ed 7H years.
His sons are : — Levi and Jan.b L., of Victor, UeorKe, of Hennepin, Illinois, Wallace]
of Cidlioun CO,, Micliiu-an : his dantditers, Mrs. Abraham and. Mrss. Ilufus lluihjihrey'
of Victor, and Mrs. Ulcveland, of atouben llliuois. i ■ J'

t
t-

432

PHELPS AND GORHAm's PUECHASE.

winter, and wood's journey to their now home ; a pretty full ac-
count of which is given in History of Holland Purchase. Their
travelling companions were the family of Col. Seth Reed, who were
coming on to join him at Geneva. Between Col. Danforth's at
Onondaga Hollow, and Cayuga Lake, the whole party, fourteen in
number, cleared away the snow, and made a night camp of hem-
lock boughs. They were ferried across the outlet of Seneca Lake,
by Solomon Earle ; after parting with the Reed family, they arrived
at Flint creek — there was no bridge — had to fall trees to get their
goods over, and afterwards tow the horses and sleigh across with
ropes. Between Flint creek and Canandaigua, they found one
small opening, and an unoccupied cabin. They arrived in Victor,
March 7th, one week after the Adams family had arrived in Bloom-
field. The stock of provisions they brought in, lasted with the help
of the buckwheat that had been harvested the previous fall, until
their wheat harvest. The early wheat crop was thrashed upon a
floor made of split bass wood, and cleaned with an old fashioned
corn fan, the rim of which was fabricated from an oak tree, and
the bottom from a pine board, which had been a part of their sleigh
box.

After Enos Boughton had purchased Victor, his father took an
intercot with him, selling his farm in Stockbridge, and coming into
the new region. He died in Aug. 1798. His four sons were Enos,
Jared, Seymour and Hezekiah. Enos, who was introduced to Mr.
Clinton in 1825, as the man who built the first stick chimney, first
framed barn, and planted the first orchard west of Seneca' Lake,
he died in Lockport, in 1826, where he had made an early pur-
chase of a large portion of the present village site. Jared is yet
living, at the age of 84 years. In 1848, the author saw him in the
full possession of his faculties, and he was afterwards indebted to
him for .pioneer reminiscences, in a hand writing that showed little
of the tremor of age, and exhibited a distinct and intelligent recol-
lection of early events. The young wife, who with a child four
months old, had cooked frugal meals by winter camp fires, and en-
dured the most rugged features of pioneer life, was also alive in
1848 ; " hale and hearty," the mother of 12 children. She died in
1849. The living sons, in 1848, were : — Selleck, an Attorney in
Rochester, Frederick, of Pittsford, [the first white child born in
Victor.] Jared K., on old homestead in Victor ; EuoS: of E. Bloom-

PHELPS AND GOmiAM's PUECHASE.

433

field ; daughters, Mrs. Dr. A. G. Smith, New York, Mrs. Bennett
Lewis, of Green county, Ohio, Mrs. Mortimer Buel, of Geneseo.
Hezekiah died as early as 1793 ; was the ftuher of the late Col.
Claudius Victor Boughton, after whom the town was named in
1813, as a mark of esteem for his gallant services upon the Niagara
frontier, to which the legislature of this State added the presenta-
tion of a sword. Reuben H. Boughton, of Lewiston, is a son of his.
Another son of Hezekiah, is George H. Boughton, Esq., of Lock-
port. Col. Seymour Boughton was killed at the battle of Black
Rock, in the war of 1812.

Jared Boughton took the buckwheat and got it ground at Capt.
Ganson's rude mill at Avon. His next milling expedition, (after
wheat harvest,) was with a double ox team, to the Allan mill at
Genesee Falls. Arriving within four miles of the River, (at Orange
Stone's,) he came to the end of the road ; any direct route' to the
River was through a dense forest, and low wet grounds ; which
obliged him to go around, and work his way over the range of hills
east of Mount Hope. Arrived at the River, he belled his oxen and
turned them into the woods, carrying his grain across and down
the river to the mill. As winter approached, the infant settlement
was without salt. It was decided to send a boat to Salt Point. In
November, Jared and Seymour Boughton. aud John Barnes, went
to Swift's Landing, (Palmyra,) took a Schenectady boat, and pro-
ceeded on their voyage. The Stansells, at Lyons, were the only
white inhabitants on the whole route. Below the junction of the
Ganargwa creek, and Canandaigua out-let, they came to a raft of
flood-wood, 16 rods in extent. To pass it they were obliged to haul
their boat out of the water, up a steep ascent, and move it on rollers
to a point below the raft. Procuring twelve barrels of salt, the
party starting on their homeward voyage, encountered a snow
storm and ice when they got into the Seneca river. They made
slow progress, on one occasion being obliged to wade into the ice
and water to lift their boc.t from stones upon which it had struck.
At the raft on Clyde River, they had again to transport their boat
overland, with the addition of their twelve barrels of salt. On
account of low water, they were obliged to leave their boat and
cargo at the Lyon's Landing. Going through the woods to Farna-
inston, followinsr township lines, they returned with six yoke of
oxen via. Palmyra, and partly upon Wagons, and partly upon sleds,

434

PHELPS Am) GORHAjfs PURCHASE.

making their roads mostly as they went along, they succeeded in
getting the first cargo of salt to Victor.

Levi Boughton, an uncle of .Tared and Enos. accompanied Jared
and Jacoi) Lobdell in their primitive advent — moved his family in
the next year. He died in 18-28, aged 78 years. His sons were,
Nathaniel, of Bloomfield, Joim B., of Ohio, Thomas Morris, of
Rochester, Horace B. of Victor. Thomas M. is tiie only surviving
son. Daughters became the wives of Jacob Lobdell, Aaron Tay-
lor, an early settler on the Ridge Road, near Molyneux's Corners,
Niagara county, Zera Brooks, John Brace, and Philemus Smith, of
Victor.

Rufus Dryer from Stock])ridge, Mass., came to Victor with some
portion of the Boughton family, and in 1799, accompanied Enos
and .Tared m their lumbering expedition to Georgia, where he re-
mamed with them for several years. Residing after that in Madi-
son county, he became a permanent resident of Victor in 1806.
He was the founder of the well known Dryer stand in Victor, and
had opened it and kept it a year before his death in 1820. His son,
Wm. C. Dryer, succeeded him, kept the stand for many years, and
retired to a fine farm, upon which he and his brother Truman now
reside.

DCf= For additional reminiscences of Victor, see " Phelps and
Gorham's Purchase — Ontario."

[The Allowing omissions in reminiscoucos of West Bloomfield, page 198 • and in
reminiscences of Bristol, page 208, are supplied.] ^ '

Ezra Marvin was one of the associates in the purchase of town-
ship now West Bloomfield; he never emigrated; his son. Jasper
1 . Marvin, became a resident and died there, in early years The
surviving sons of llobert Taft, are Jessee, Robert, Bezaleel, and
Chapin raft, al of Bloomfield; daughters, Mrs. Peck, of Bloomfield,
Mrs. Lea-:h, of Lima. Ebenezer Curtiss died in 1812 ; Mrs P .r
ker, of Luna, is his daughter. Jasper P. Sears died in early years.
O her pronunent early settlers : _ Marvin Gates, a brother of Dan-
jei, mentioned in connection with East Bloomfield; Jacob Smith

rJ/l,'',": '""'""'' ^''''^ '"ill- i» early years, on the Honeoye,-

^miths Mills -died many years since; Deacon Samuel Handy,

aied 10 or 15 years smce, was the father of Russel Handy, of Alle-

"\ m

PHELPS AND GOEKAm's PUKCIIASE. 435

gany; Peter W. Handy, of Rochester. Mrs. Stephen Bates, and
Mrs. Charles Wilbur, (the early pioneer in Le Roy and Lockport )
Bayze Baker, still surviving, at the a; e of 80 years ; Nathaniel Err-
gleston, an early landlord, father of Mrs. William Parsons, of Lock-
port; Palmer and Clark Peck, came in as early as 1790 Clark
was an early Supervisor of the old town of Bloomfield, died in 1825 •
Jasper Peck, of Bloomfield, is a son of his, Mrs. Page, of Blnomfield'
a daughter; his sons, Joseph and Abel, resiae in Michi-ran- the'
mother is still livinjr. ° '

John Dixon, was a native of Kcene, N. H., a graduate of Mid-
dlebury College, studied law in Milton, near Ballston, Saratoga
county ; was admitted to practice in 1812, and in 1813 located in
West bloomfield, where he has since resided, and now resides
mingling professional duties with the successful pursuits of agricul-
ture, a useful citizen, and a much respected member cf the bm- of
Ontario. He was a member of the State Legislature, in J 821), '30
and of Congres.s, for two terms, at a later period ; is now 67
years of age.

The sons of Gamaliel Wilder, the earliest Pioneer of Bristol
were : - Daniel, David, Joseph, Asa, Jonas ; daughters became the
wives of Elisha Parrish, Theophilus Allen, Nathan Hatch, and
— IToag. Daniel became the owner of the Indian orchard in
Bristol, that had escaped the devastation of Sullivan. *

Ephraim Wilder, coming in soon after Gamaliel, settled at first
m South Bristol, but afterwards removed to T. 9, 4th Range. He
died in 18^2. His surviving sons are, Timothy, John, and Russell
Wilder, of Bristol ; daughters became the wives of George Goodinjr
Henry Pitts and John Hatch.

In Gen. Hall's census of 1790, Aaron Rice (other than the early
settler at Avon, as the author concludes,) is named as the head of a
family in South Bristol. He removed to Genesee county, and
from thence to the west in early years. His daughters became the

It contained both apples and jioaolie^, both in greator nunntity than in any other
of tin. I.uhnn orchanls that ^y^^v. p.vsorvcl. A rid. to " ixMnk" apple nuIvS
eatn,«-. and ouler dnnkinjr. „n horseback, o„ ox slo.lsand horse .le,>hs k.n. \hetcT-
teied new settlements, was no uncommon occurrence. Tlie possession of an old Indian
orchmd near Geneva, am some c eared hu.ds anmnd it, w!,s deeme.l of s „ c co,^

V^P ''''' '/'VT,'' r n'"""' '['"'I''' pre-empUon line was varied in order to c^n-
bi.ice It. South Hns „l, hillv and broken as it is known to be, conld once have been
exchanqfed for Eiist R nnn.H,.l,1 b"Mhe!>-ii-o"iin irim,l-^l- ' . ' , ' t i •

orchard " ' ' "' '"S'"" ^\ ^^ dtehijva uii accountoi the " ludiau

436

PHELPS Am) OORHAm's PURCHASE.

wives of David Wilder, Simeon Crosby, and Randall Chapman.
Aaron Spencer was also the head of a family in South Bristol, in
1790, but of him the author has no account.

The Coddings, whose advent is named, incidentally, in connection
with the Pitts family, were three brothers : -^ John, George, and
Faunce, [called erroneously "Fauner," in another [connection.]
The surviving sons of John Codding are, John, George, Benjamin,
Warren, of Coddingsville, Medina county, Ohio : and Robert F.,
of Summit county, Ohio. Daughters became the wives of Timo-
thy Wilder, Isaac Van Fossen, and John Wilder. The sons of
Faunce Codding are, Faunce and Stephen A., of Bristol ; George
T. and Ichabod, of Lockport, Illinois, where their mother and sister,
Mrs. Hale S. Mason, reside. George Codding died childless. Geo.
Coddmg, sen., the father of the three brothers, joined his sons in
early years. His other children were, Burt Codding, Mrs. Benj.
Goss, Mrs. Zenas Briggs, Mrs. Elizur Hills, and Mrs. Wm. T. Codd-
ing, who still survives, a resident of Bristol. M. O. Wilder, Esq.,
of Canandaigua, is one of the numerous descendants of this early
and orominent Pioneer family.

CHAPTER VIII.

THE MORRIS TREATY AT " BIO TREE." — CESSION OP THE TERRITORY
WEST OF PHELPS AND GORHAm's PURCHASE, WHICH BECAME
MORRIS' REBERVB AND HOLLAND PURCHASE,

Although Mr. Morris had acquired the pre-emptive right of
Massachusetts to all the territory in this State west of Phelps and
Gorham's Purchase — what was afterwards designated as Morris'
Reserve and the Holland Purchase — as early as May, 1791, the
native right to the soil was not extinguished until 1797.' Soon af-
ter he purchased of Massachusetts, in 1792 and '3, he sold to the
Holland Company all the land west of the transit line, over three
millions of acres, which is now embraced in the countietj of Niagara,
Erie, Cimutauque, Cattaraugus, and all of Allegany, Wyoming,

PHELPS AND GORHAM's PURCHASE.

437

Genesee and Orleans, except their tiers of eastern townships, leaving
to himself a tract of about 500,000 acres, between the lands of
Phelps and Gorham, and those he had conveyed to the Holland
Company. In his conveyance to the Holland Company, he had
stipulated to extinguish the native title, and had left in their hands
thirty-five thousand pounds sterling, of purchase money, as a
guarantee.

Various untoward circumstances — the withholding of the mili-
tary posts by the British, or in fact, their refusal to surrender their
dominion over this region, the prospects of a renewal 'of British
and Indian wars ; and more than all, j)erhaps, the indisposition of
the Senecas to part with any more of their lands — delayed the
fulfilment of this stipulation. It had been the firm determination
of the Senecas, adhered to strenuously during all the preliminary
negotiations of Mr. Phelps at Buffalo Creek, to make the Genesee
river below Mount Morris, their eastern boundary line, and they
yielded the "Mill Tract" with great reluctance and subsequent regret.

Fort Niagara was surrendered by the British, and taken posses-
sion of by a company of United States troops, under the command
of Captain J. Bruff, toward the end of the summer of 1796. In a
few weeks after American possession of that ancient strong-hold
of French and British power — the spot where the Senecas had so
often assembled to renew French and British alliance — had been
established, a numerous delegation appeared before the garrison,
made a salute after the Indian fashion, which was returned by the
discharge of artillery. It seemed an overture to establish the rela-
tions of good neighborhood, and was met by the commandant in
a spirit which evinced that he did not mean to fall behind his prede-
cessors in acts of friendship and hospitality. He made a friendly
speech to them, presented them with the American flag and a bar-
rel of rum, and apologised for not furnishing them with a supply of
provisions, alleging that they vi^ere scarce at that " distant post."
In the answer to this speech, the Indians alluded to Mr. Morris'
pre-emptive right, and begged of Captain Bruff to protect them
from the " big eater with the big belly," who wanted to come and
" devour their lands." Mr. Morris was then about to make his appli-
cation to President Washington for the appointment of a commis-
sioner, but concluded to delay it on account of this manifestation at
Fort Niagara.

438

PHELP3 AND GORirA:*l's PURCHASE.

The next year, 1797, President Washington, at the solicitation
of Mr. Morns, consented to nomiimte a commissioner, with the
condition that Captain Bruir's speech and the Indians' reply of the
precednig year, should accompany the nominati.ni to the Senate
and observed that "such was the desire to conciliate the Six Na-
tions, that lie did not believe that the Senate would confirm any
nommation contrary to their wishes." The Senate confi. ned the
appointment of a commissioner, but with the proviso that he should
not act until the Indians themselves reciuested a treaty. The com-
missioner first appointed was Judge Isaac Smith, of New Jersev
but his official duties interfering. Col. Jeremiah Wadsworth was
substituted.

The task of getting the consent of the Indians to hold a treatydevolv-
ed ui.on Thomas Morris, and he ob.serves that it "was not an easv one
to accomplish." It required journeys on foot and on horseback,' con-
ferences with the Indians in their villages, and all the persuasive
arts of one who was not unfited for diplomatic missions to red or
white men. The Indians objected that if thev asked for the treaty.
It would be construed as the expression of a wish to sell their lands'
Their consent was finally, however, obtained, the time of hoJdirKr
the treaty agreed upon, and "Big Tree," now Gencseo, designated
as the treaty ground.

All concerned were principally congregated during the last davs
of August. Thomas Morris and Charles Williamson, and .lan.'es
Reese, as Secretary, were the representatives of Mr Morris-
though Mr. Williamson being called away in an early sta<rc of the
treaty, the principal labor of negotiation devolved upon° Thomas
Morns. Col. Wadsworth was in attendance as the commissioner
on the part of the United States, and William Shepherd as the
commissioner of Massachusetts. Theophilus Cazenove, wh.. was
then the representative of the Holland Company in the irnited
States, procured in their behalf the attendance of William Baynrd
of New York, Joseph Ellicott and Col. Linklaen,who were acconi-
panie.I by two young men by the name of Vanstai)horst, neailv re-
lated to one of the Dutch proprietors. Beside these, Israel Chapin
was present, and a large representation of Indian interpreters and
traders, whde many, ^vere drawn to the treaty ground from motives
of curiosity.

James Wadsworth was then in Europe ; Mr. Morris obtained of

5olicitation
with the
ply of the
10 Senate ;
ifi Six Na-
nfli'in any
fii 110(1 the
' he sliould
The com-
\v Jersey ;
vorth was

itydevolv-
n easy one
back, con-
persuasive
to red or
he treaty,
loir lands.
)!" iiokh'nfr
lesignated

last days
id James
. Morris ;
ge of the
Thomas
missioner
•d as the

who was
c United
I Bayard,
e accoin-
learly re-
i Chapin
3ters and
. motives

tained of

ritELPS AND GORirA:M's PURCIIASE. 439

William Wadsvvorth the use of the tmnnishod residence of the
brothers, to accommodate those directly connected with the treaty;
and for a council house he provided a large tent covered with green
boughs, and furnished wilh a platform and rows of scats, after the
manner of preparations for a camp meeting.
^ Days, and in fact, nearly two weeks, of lardy and fruitless nego-
tiations succeeded. With few exceptions, the Indians were entirely
averse to parting with their lands. Red Jacket took the laboring
oar for his jieople, though Cornplanter, Farmers Brother, Littl«
Beard, and Little Billy, were occasional speakers.

The first business of the treaty was to deliver a speech addresf?-
ed to the Indians, by Thomas Morris, containing generally his pro-
posals. Then followed a long consultation among the Indians to
frame an answer; which, when it came, was adverse to any land
ce^sions. Meetings and speeches succeeded, Mr. Morris urging
his proposals and Red Jacket resisting his importunities with ol^lity
and ingenuity. After some ten or twelve days had been spent, and
nothing accomplished. Col. Wadsworth became indisposed, impa-
tientof further delay, and insisted on the business being brought to
a close: and about the same time Mr. IMorris discovered thrU the
influence of white sciuatters, upon the Indian lands, and some inter-
preters, whose oflers of assistance he had rejected, stood in the way
of success. The interpreters especially had inculcated among the
Indians that by standing out they could get a much larger price'than
had been offered.

Learning that a council of the Indians had decided upon otTering
him a single township, and that only, his friends persuaded him
against his better judgement, to promptly and indignantly reject the
ofthr, which he did on the assembling of the general council, and
the offer being made. This was thougiit to be the best expedient to
bring the Indians to terms, but as it proved, was ill advised. The
offer was a township on the Penn.sylvania line, at one dollar per
acre, which Red Jacket accompanied with the very com.ortable

NV,'H;._Tnii spoMi ,.f U«l Jacket's he nssun,<..l thiiliftlio SiMuras ,«,t,-d with
what was h'it oi \hnv wide domain, th( y would bo shorn of th.-ir iuhwncc with
u'li- n..|ohl.nnn,u- liatio.jH To liiis Mr. Morris ••c.j)lied, rathw tauntinirlv aUudin.r to
th(. trcat,Mi'iit that Red Jarlcot and otiicrs of a(h.h.<ration of St.n<'Cis liad rwc^ivcd
ronilhe western ndians wl,eu they went as ])ea(>ene<rotiators to the Miainu with
Uil liekornif,r and Beverly liandolnh; treatment that amounted to contempt Red
Jacket parried the assault l,,y shrewdly o!>Hervin<r fhnt it was all owiuL^ to Ihclr mnnu
tliere in bad eoinpany. tliat the ciieunistance alluded to Lad admonished them not to
go in bad company when they visited their friends.

440

PHELPS AND GORHAm's PURCHASE.

li
11

assurance, that over and above the purchase money, the land could
be sold for enough to pay all the trouble and expense of the treaty.
Mr Morris told them if they had nothing better to offer, the sooner
the conference terminated the better, that all might return to their
homes.

Red Jacket immediately sprung upon his feet, and said :— " We
have now reached the point to which I wanted to bring you You
told us when we first met, that we were free either to sell or retain
our lands, and that our refusal to sell would not disturb the friend-
ship that has existed between us. I now tell you that we will not
part with them. Here is my hand." Mr. Morris taking his hand,
he ended by saying : — " I now cover up this council fire." A ter-
rible whooping and yelling followed, and menaces made somewhat
alarming to those present, who were unacquainted with Indian man-
ners. To all present, but Mr. Morris, affairs looked hopeless, and it
was with difficulty that he persuaded Col. Wadsworth and others, to
remain and let him make another trial.

The next day, Farmers Brother called upon Mr. Morris, and told
him that he hoped the failure of the treaty would not diminish the
triendship that had existed between him, (Mr. Morris) and his peo-
ple Mr. Morris replied that he had no right to complain of their
refusal to sell iheir lands, but he did complain of their behavior
towards him; that they had permitted one of their drunken warriors
to menace and insult him, whooping and yelling in approbation of his
conduct. He said he had noi deserved such conduct from them ;
that for years he had not refused them food, or as much liquor as
was good for them, when they had been at Canandaigua; and that
his father had treated such of them as had been to Philadelphia
with equal hospitality. Farmers Brother admitted that all this was
true, and regretted that the council fire had been covered up oth-
erwise they could meet and "smooth over, and heal these' diffi-
culties^ Mr. Morris replied :-" The council fire is not extin-
guished ; and of this I also complain, that Red Jacket had declared
the council fire to be covered up, when according to your own
usages, he alone who kindles the council fire, has a right to extin-
gmsh It. It is still burning." After a few moments' reflection,
farmers Brother assented to the correctness of the conclusion, and
agreed that the council should be again convened ; Mr. Morris pro-
posing that It should be delayed a few days, which time he would

PHELPS AND GORUAM's PURCHASE.

441

jiil

occupy in examining his accounts, and paying for the provisions
which had been consumed, collecting the cattle tii.it were not
shiughtered, and attending to other matters preparatory to leaving
the treaty ground.

" The Indians," says Mr. Morris, " are very tenacious of a strict ad-
herence to their ancient rules and customs ; according to their usages
the sachems liave a right to transact all the business of the nation,
whether it relates to their lands or any other of their concerns, but
where it relates to their lands, and they are dissatisfied with the
management of their sachems, the women and warriors have a
right to divest them of this power, and take it into their own hands;
the maxim among them being that the lands belong to the warriors,
because they Ibrm the strength of the nation ; and to the women
as the mothers of the warriors. There are therefore in every na-
tion, head or chief women, who, when in council, select some
warrior to yieak for them.

With a knowledge of this fact, Mr. Morris had made up his
mind to try his luck with this mixed council, as a last resort. He
brought about a meeting with the chief women and warriors. He
told them of the offers that had been made to the sachems ; and
urged upon the women the consideration, that the money that
they would receive for their lands, would relieve them from all the
hardships they then endured. " Now," says he, " you have to till
the earth, and provide by your labor, food for 'yourselves and
children. When those children are without clothing, and shivering
with cold, you alone are witnesses to their sufferings ; your sachems
will always supply their own wants. They feed on the game they
kill, and sell the skins to buy them clothing ; therefore, they are in-
different about exchanging their lands for money, enough every year
to lessen your labor, and enable you to procure for yourselves and
children, the food and clothing necessary for your comfort." He
concluded by telling them that he had brought a number of presents
from Philadelphia, which he intended to have given them, only in
the event of p. sale of their land.s, but as he had no cause of com-
plaint agains' the v,omen, he would cause their portion of the pres-
ents to be distributed.

The " women's rights," and well considered diplomatic speech,
WMth the presents added, gave a ftivorable turn to affairs. For sev-
eral days, the chiefs, women and warriors, were scattered about in
28

44:

PHELPS AND GORIIAM'S PURCHASE.

small parties, in earnest consultation ; the finale of which was, an
invitation to Mr. Morris toa,c;aiii open the council.
^ They convened, and speeches were made by Mr. Morris, by
Col. Wadsworth, explaining to the Indians their rights, and the na-
ture of the pre-emptive claim; and by the Indians, Red Jacket
and Cornplanter, principally. But the women and warriors had
become the real negotiators, and with them, in fact, the bargain
was made. *

The purchase money agreed upon was orle hundred thousand
dollars. The President had directed that it should be invested in
the stock of the Bank of the United States, in the name of the
President and his successors in office, as the trustees of the Indians.
When the sum was agreed upon, it was with great difficulty that
the Indians were made to understand how much one hundred thou-
sand dollars was ; the sum far exceeding any rules of their simple
arithmetic. This difficulty was obviated by computing how many
kegs of a given size it would take to hold it, and how many horses
to draw it. Another difficulty of still greater intricacy with thorn
occurred : — a stock investment would of course givp fluctuating
per annum returns, or dividends ; and this was quite beyond their
comprehension. They conjectured, however, that the bank was a
large place in Philadelphia, where a large sum of money was plant-
ed : and that like other things that were planted, some years there
would be a good crop, and some years a poor one. With this con-
jecture, they were content ; and in years that followed, whenever
Mr. Morris returned from Philadelphia or New York, they would
enquire of him what kind of a crop they might anticipate ?

The Reservations was the next business to be arranged : — Mr.
Morris had stipulated that he would make no deduction from the
purchase money, it they were reasonable in their demands in this
respect. The Indians insisted upon itural boundaries, such as the
course of streams, &c. To this i^Ir. Morris objected, inasmuch as
I'.e could be no judge of the quantity of land within such bounda-
nes. He brought them to his terms, the naming of S(iuare miles,
in the aggregate about three hundred and fifty. Viien this came
to be apportioned among the diflerent villages, a great deal of

This may liave been the natural eourse in tlie vst^^mcj tliat cxistrd, or it may
have hcfii a (■•(.nvcnifut cxpi'dicnt of lied Jai'k.'l .■m.l nihor .-hi, f< to havo th,. (rc-itv
foiiBUiuuiatcd ami ilifir diguity unsulUed by an appearance of a cliaugoof piupose.

bargain

PIIELPS AND GOKIIAm's PURCHASE.

443

jealousy and rivalry was manifested amono; the chiefs, as to the re-
spective allotments. Before it was agreed how much the agfr. tr/ate
of the Reservation should he, Red Jacket was exhorbitant in his
deniands, claiiimig for the reservation of his immediate people at
BuHmIo Creek, nearly one-lburth of all the territory purchased; and
Cornplanter was scarcely less exorbitant in his deuiands. They
were rival chiefs, nnd tlieir relative importance depended upon the
respective possessions of their people. Mr. Morris had to assume
the office of arbitrator, and decide the respective allotments. *

After all tluisc matters had been adjusted to the satisfaction of
all parties, a young Indian, then about twenty-four years of age,
who had not before been to the treaty ground, mad' ; appearance.
It was Young King. He was, by the female line, :) neal descen-
dant of "Old Smoke," whose memory was revered as onei of the
greatest men that had ever ruled over die Six Nations. In liis lile-
time, his power had been unbounded. Young King was a heavy,
dull, unambitious, but ai>parently an honest young man. Seldom
meddled with the business of the nation; but when he did so, he ex-
excised a great hereditary influence. On his arrival, all business
was suspended, until what had been done was fully explained to
him. He expressed his disapprobation of the course that had been
pursued. Farmer's Brother and other chiefs informed Mv. Morris
that the treaty could not be completed contrary to the wishes of
Young King ; that however unreasonable it might appear to him
that one man should defeat the will of a whole nation, it was a
power which he had derived from his birth, and one which he could
not be deprived of. Young King at last, though not reconciled to
their parting witli their lands, acquiesced, saying he would no long-
er oppose the will of the nation.

1 \wy were : — At bq.uiky Hill, two sqiiaip iiiil(>s : at Little Roanl's Town and Biff
Iroc our; at Gank'iui, t\vonty-eifj;ht ; at Cana-dca. Kixtccn ; Oil Spri.ifr, one; on
U.c Alk.-any Riwr, f,,vty-tw,. ; on the Catiara.i-K-sCroek, tortv-two ; on the BuiR.lo
l.rivk (.lie liiin.lici and thirty; on the 'i'oiiawuuda Creek, soventy ; .it Tuscarora
one ; iit Cauawaugus, two. '

i\„TK. — Yoiinijf Kin- n.si(l(>« upon tho Bnftalo ResoiTation, wliiw he diei! but a few
vearK .since, boon atlerthewar of 1H1!2, he met with an .^^•cid..nt, wliich for a few
•lays, seemed likely to orea-iion an outlvreak anien;; the Senecaw : — .\n altercation oc-
curred between hmi and David Reese, the tierson ernnloyed to do black.stuith work for
tlie iiidiauM, by the U. S. Indian aufent at iiuthlo. \\ j^rew out of an aUeired failure
to niiike or repair a !i-h spear !WrY.>.in,.I\i„j.. Ju.,.ir.„h.|;.„c.., Reese dealt a trenien-
(lous hlow wiiha scyihe, whicli nearly severed one of Yoniu^ lCiie''s arms; so nearin
lact, IhatamputnUoii had to hv iiniiiudiately resorted to. The Indiaus became inucli

1,1, '■

444

PHELPS AND GORnA]M's PURCHASE.

i I II

Red Jacket, who had ably defended the interests of his people
and acquitted himself with much credit during the tedious negotia-
tion, played Red Jacket, and not the great orator, at its close The
night previous to the signing of the treaty, he sought a private in-
terview with Mr. Morris, and told him that he had pretended to the
other chiefs that he was opposed to it; but that after its execution
uy the other chief:,, he would come to him and have his name alTix-
ed privately ; and for that purpcjse, wanted a space reserved. He
added that it would not do for the treaty to go to Philadelphia with-
out his signature, as Gen. Washington would observe the omission,
and conclude that he had been degraded, and lost his rank and in-
fluence among the Senecas. The blank was left, and his signature
thus privately added. UJ^ For unpublished reminiscences of Red
Jackeli see Appendix, No. 10.

Thus concluded a treaty which gave title to all of what is now
known as the Holland Purchase and Morris' Reserve ; the account
of which has been given in a detail that may seem to some unne-
cessary for historical purposes ; but as there had been many garbled
and imperfect relations of it, the author has availed himself of the
authentic documents in his possession, to give a pretty full, and
what may be regarded as a correct history of\he whole transaction.
The surveys of the Holland Company commenced in 1788, un-
der the general supervision of Josei)h Ellicott ; surveying parties
were soon traversing the wilderness in all directions ; a mere woods
road was made upon the main east and west route ; and before the
close of 178^, flunilics had moved in tor the purpose of opening
houses of public entertainment at Staffbrd, near the present village
of Caryville, and at Clarence ; and at Staflbrd, Mr. Ellicott had
erected a store-house quarters for iiis surveyors, covering them with
bark.

In the meantime. Captain BrulF and his successor, Maj. Rivardi,
had prevailed upon the Indians to allow a sufficient improvement
of the old Niagara trail to admit of carrying provisions through by

J m Ins r..ut(! thai l.e wa. "gu.n^r to kill \h',sv." Well .l„o.ll„. atitlmr mncnboi

F M-natod the " „l.al anovl ot .Lalh ;" h. wan arnu.i with a war ch,h an, lonmhawk
■a pan.t waR .laul.ed up,,,, hi. ^warlhy fa«., and I..,,,^ h,i,u-li,.,s „f h,„>,. hair, .lyil
ru! ..<;,'p.-mli!iit tr.mieadiurm. Itcoso wa.-, k.-i,! Mvivk'.t.ami Ihiis.inall nmimbili-
ty, avo.,Jod Uio lute that cvou kiudred Imd luct at Uie hui.ds of Jolui JeniisoL,

PHELPS AND GOEHAil's PUE0HA8E.

445

sleighinjT, from the settlements east of the river to Fort Niagara ;
and a weekly horse mail was put upon the lonrr and mostly woods
route from Canandaigua to Fort Niagara. Add to this, the two or
three log and one framed hut at Buffalo, and two or three tenements
at Lewiston, and the reader will have a pretty good idea of all, in
the way of improvement, thrt had transpired upon the Holland
Purchase before the close of 1709 ; and at the close of the cen-
tury, there was but little more than the addition of a few families
along on the Buffalo road, and the prosecution of surveys.

The author had supposed that he was done with Indian wars, and
Indian war alarms ; coming down to this period, he finds a letter from
Capt. Bruff to Capt. Israel Chapin, which would indicate that some
apprehension was entertained in this quarter, that the Indians here
would be drawn into a southern alliance with the western Indians,
in connection with the then pending difficulties with France and
Spain. The letter is given in the Appendix, [No. 1^,] more as a
curious local reminiscence than from any thing of load consequence
allied to it.

Previous to the advent of Mr. Ellicott and his surveying parties,
in the spring of 1798, the Senecas had not surrendered the possession
of their lands, and were extremely jealous of any encroachments
until certain preliminaries were arranged with the Holland Com-
pany. In March, Hinds Chamberlain and Jesse Beach, who had
the year previous been to Le Boeuf, Pa., and fixed upon locations
there, started from Avon, with two yoke of oxen and sleds, and
making their own road the greater portion of the distance, arrived
at Buffalo, where some four hundred Indians were assembled, high-
ly exasperated at what they considered an invasion of their ierri-
tory. The trespassers informed them that Poudry, of Tonawanda,
had assured them that he had obtained their consent ; and after
menacing and threatening, the matter was settled by Red Jacket,
as the principal negotiator, for " two gallons of Indian whiskey, and
some tobacco." And this is but one of the many instances in
which that chief sullied his high character, by as'sisting to feign
resentment to levy tributes — generally payable in that which he
would often sacrifice his honor to obtain.

446

PHELPS AND GOEHAm's PURCHASE.

CHAPTER IX.

ALLEGANY JOHN B. CHURCH, AND PHILIP CHURCH.

John B. Church came from England to the American colonies, a
young adventurer, a few years previous to the Revolution. He had
been placed by a wealthy uncle in a large mercantile establishment
m London, but the business not suiting his inclination, he emigrated,
fixing his residence in Boston, where he prosecuted for several years,
with great success, the business of an underwriter. When the
Revolution broke out, or as soon as an army organization was per-
fected he was engaged in the commissary department, with Jeremiah
Wadsworth, in which he continued throughout the war. Gen.
Philip Schuyler, being also engaged in the commissary department
for the northern division of the army, business relations led to an
acquaintance, and before the close of the Revolution, Mr. Church
married one of his daughters. The official duties of Messrs. Wads-
worth and Church, embracing the care of the subsistence of the
French army, an intimate acquaintance with the French military
and naval officers of the Revolution, succeeded. Soon after the
close of the Revolution - in '85, — some unliquidated accounts
between the commissary department and the army of Rochambeau,
made it necessary for Messrs. Wadsworth and Church to visit the
French capital, where they remained with their families for eighteen
months. Mr. Church removed his family to London, residing there
and at a country seat in Berkshire, on the Thames, until '97, when
he returned to America, and settled in the city of New York.

The eldest son of John B. Church, is the i)resent Judge Philip
Church, of Belvidere, Allegany county, the Pioneer ol that region.
In iiis early boyhood he was taken to Paris by liis father and after-
wards to England, receiving his education at the celebrated Eaton
school. Returning to America, he became a student of law, with

PHELPS AND GORIIAM's PUKCIIASE.

447

his uncle Alexander Hamilton.* and also his private Secretary
Changing h.s destination in life soon after his majority, and becom.
nig the patroon of new settlements in the wilderness
_ Judge Church is now 71 years of age. With a yet vigorous
intellect, n.s memory goes back to the early scenes of his youth, and
calls up remmiscences of the American and French Revolutions
ot England and English satesmen, which, although they belon- t.'.
the provmce of general history, will, the author is confident, notb.
unacceptable, if preserved in these local annals. -See Appendix

While pursuing his studies, the difficulties occurring with France
on the raising of the provincial army, he was commissioned as a
Captain tliough he saw little of service, as the difficulty was soon
adjusted.! Cen. Hamilton, as the agent of John 13. Church, had in
his absence, loaned to Robert Morris $80,000 and taken a mortgage

T fnZL *'"'■'' f f '^'^'^'l^'"'^; ^''« li«" being afterwards transferred
to 100,000 acres of land, on Morris' Reserve in the now county of
Allegany. In 1800 the mortgage was foreclosed, the land wassold

, T-, "i"^ ^^' ^""j- ^^'^""- ^'^^" Sheriff of Ontario, and bid
in by Phihp Church for his father.|

At the period of this sale, there was no white settler on all the
territory now embraced in the county of Alleganv, with the excep-
tion ol two localities which will be named. The' survey and settle
raent ot the 100,000 acre tract was commenced under the general
supervision of Philip Church. Shortly after he had graduated from
the law office of Edmund Pendleton, where he had finished his law
studies-m July 1801 -he made a second advent to the Genesee
country. Taking Geneva and Lyons in his route, he employed as

♦Gen. Hainiltoii married a daiigliter of Gen. Philip Sdiiivler
tWh I J ■

ngs-
or-

an opinion. " rtnnn^, in. « jj .tiuUcd bj h^ lulliur lur orfonng so rash

448

PHELPS AND GOUJIAm's PURGIIASE.

surveyor and local agent, Evert Van Wickle, who was accompa-
nied by John Gibson, John Lewis and Stephen Price. Laying in
provisions and camp equipage at Geneva and Bath, the party ren-
dezvoused at the setvlement, which had been commenced by the
Rev. Andrew Gray and Moses Van Campen, in what is now Almond,
Allegany county. Mr. Van Campen, who to use a sailor phrase,
knew all the "ropes" of the forest, was enlisted in the expedition.'

Proceeding on, the party came to the house of Dyke, a solitary

settler who occupied the advanced post of civilization, near the
junction of the eastern line of Allegany with the Pennsylvania
Ime ; slept in a log tarn, and then pushed on into the dark forests
upon the Genesee River. This was the first breaking into the woods
in all the region which is now embraced in the western portion of
Allegany, Wyoming, southern portions of Erie, Chautau(iue and
Cattaraugus, and all that part of Pennsylvania bordering upon this
state, with the exception of Presque Isle, and the solitary family
of Francis King, at Cerestown, near the Allegany river, that had a
short time before exchanged a residence in the city of London for
a solitary one in the backwoods of Pennsylvania, a days journey
from their nearest neighbor.

The party made a pretty thorough exploration of the tract, camp-
ing and breaking up their camp from day to day, encountering
almost constant rains and swollen streams. With Judge Church i"t
was a youthful advent — a first introduction to the woods — and a
pretty rugged specimen he encountered, as all will acknowledrre who
have traversed the alternating hills and valleys of Allegany. ^Arriv-
ed at the north-west corner of the tract, the party mostly returned
to their homes; Judge Church and Van Campen, making up their
minds for a. pleasure trip, taking an Indian trail * that bore ofT in
the direction of Niagara Falls. This they pursued for two days,
when they found themselves in the Seneca Indian village. They
made their appearance in the little white settlement of "Ivew Am-
sterdam," (Buflalo) in a sorry plight ; with torn clothes, beards un-
shaven, tanned and camp smoked. They visited the Falls, returned

This trail led from the Indian village of Canaedeaon the Allesranv rivor, over the
siiiJinut that (livid, i -ho waters nf the Geuuseo from tlioso of Lako llrie, fdl into tho
valley of the Caiaraiiirus, tlieii passed over into tlie valley of the west branch of Btif-
lalo creek, and jiursued generally, the conrso of that stream, to the Indian village at
its juiKliou with the niaiu itreaiu, lour linies iVom its uiouLh.

rilELPS AOT) aORHAM S PtJRCnASE.

449

to Buffalo, and took the " white man's trail " * on their return to
Bath. No such tramps had been contemplated, and soon after
leaving Buffalo, money and provisions had both been exliau>ted ; all
but a surplus of chocolate, which they exchanged alonfr with the
new settlers for meals of victuals. Mr. Ellicott had just got liis land
iiffice built at Batavia. At Ganson's there was a militin training,
the first that was ever had west of the Genesee river. Richard
W. Stoddard being one of the officers, supplied Mr. Church with
money ; and proceeding on to Geneseo, they visited Mr. Wads-
worth, whom Mr. Church had become acquainted with in New
York.

Returning to Lyons, Judge Church arranged with Mr. Van Wickle
to go on to the Allegany lands, and commence sui'veys and im-
provements, having previously designated the site of Angelica, as
a primitive location. A mill calcu' ited for one run of .stones, and
a saw mill, was soon commenced, and a road opened from four miles
west of Hornellsville, (west line of Steuben) to Angelica.f This
road was cut through by Silas Ferry and John Ayers. The saw
mill was in operation in 1802, the grist mill in 1803. A framed
dwelling house for Mr. Van Wickle, a small log land office, and a
few shantees to live in, were also erected. Judge Church remembers
that the transportation of his mill irons from Albany to Angelica,
cost 86.00 per cwt. All the early transporting was done with
sleighs and wagons, from Geneva (80 miles ;) with liglit loads, a
trip would generally consume seven days. In 1802, Joseph Taylor
opened a tavern. In the same year. Judge Church opened a small
store, which was managed by John Gibson, one of his companions
m the primitive exploration, who now survives, a resident of the
neighborhood of Angelica, aged 72 years, John Ayers who helped
cut out the first road leading into Angelica, is also alive, a resident
near the Transit Bridge, on the river. In 1803 a road was opened
from Angelica to Belvidere, and in 1805 was continued on to the
present site of Hobbyville, to which point Dr. Hyde had advanced
and erected a log tavern house. This was in 1807 ; the road was
for several years but little better than a woods' path.

*"Wlion wolKHl iiKulc .-i track tlirougli iho. UnvM," suvs Mr Slepl.cn Ln.k of
Pittsford, wo cdlccl It a "white huiu'h trail, to distinguish it from the huliau miils"

450

PIEELPS AND GORIIAM's PUKCIIASE.

From the commence-nent of settlement, until 1805, Allegany was
a part of the town of Leicester, Ontario county, and the new settlers
had to go to the old village of Leicester on the Genesee river, via
Hornei:svilIe, to town meeting. In 1805 what is now Allegany
county, was erected into a new town, and called Angelica. In
April of that year the fust town meeting was lield at the house of
Joseph Taylor. Benjamin Criggs was elected supervisor, Jacob S.
Holt, town clerk. Other town officers : — John T. Hyde, David
Church, Luke Goodspeed, Sylvester Russel, Elijah Church, Wm.
Barney, Evert Xixn Wickle, Joseph Taylor, Abisha Cole, Win. S.
Hcydon, Stephen Waterman, Thoma.s Cole. John Bennett, Ezra
Bacon, George Otto, Jacob S. Holt.

In this year there are the records of roads, as follows : — Through
main street of Angelica ; from Angelica to Indian line, or Canaedea;
from Angelica to south liije of Van Campen's farm ; from Angelica
to rhilip^burgh mills ; to Bhilips creek ; to Vandennark's creek ;
to Dike's settlement.

No resolutions were passed in 1805. In 1800 Luke Goodspeed
was supervisor. It was resolved that "every man's yard should be
his pound ; " that the town of Angelica should pay .$2,50 for every
wolf caught within the limits of the town.

At the first election, April, 1805, John Nicholas had 10 votes for
Senator ; Ibr members of Assembly, Alexander Rhea, had 30 votes,
Ezra Patterson 25, Daniel W. Lewis 10, Jeremiah Munson 12. Iri
1800, Daniel W. Lewis a.s a candidate lor Congress, had 51 votes;
for the Senate, Joseph Aimin 42, Evens w'herey 38, John Mc-'
Whorter 33, Freegift Patterson 33 ; for Assembly, Philip Church
82, Timothy Burt 35, Philetus Swift 33, James Reed 32, Asahel
Warner 30, Joseph M'Clure 0. In 1807, as candidates for Governor,
Morgan Lewis had 37 votes, Daniel D. Tompkins 28.

Judge Church spent several months in the new settlement, in
each of the years 1801, '2, '3, and '4. In 1803, 1.., selected as 'his
residence, a location upon the Genesee River, where he now resides,
four miles from Angelica, which was named Belvidere. His large
farm is a beautiful sweep of flats, table and up land. The Judge,
who in his prime, was somewhat noted for athletic feats, is said to
have looked out the favorite spot, by climbing tall pine trees upon the
highlands. The winding of the river at that point, and the frequent
breaks in the ranges of highlands as they rise from the valley, sur-

PHELPS AND OOIinAM's PURCHASE.

iol

rounds cultivated fields, a fine mansion with its En^dJsh lawn, culti-
vated groves, orchards and gardens, — with a varied, wild and ro-
nnantic landscape. The primitive framed house — built in 1803 —
which slood for years, an outpost of civilization, is yet preserved ;
its architecture, its old fashioned cut nails, marking a period when it
must have looked almost aristocratic. Its founder still lives, but
how n)any of the early men of the Genesee country, who have
been sheltered under that venerable roof, have long since gone to

thei

r graves

Belvidere is retired and secluded, even now. After an occupan-
cy of nearly half a century, the guest of its hospitable founder, will
often be waked from his slumbers, by the crack of the rifle, and the
baying of hounds upon the surrounding hills. How must it have
been when miles of forest intervened between it and the nearest
settlements, and those settlements far away from the earlier ones of
the Genesee country !

In 1805, Judge Church married the daughter of General Walter
Stewart, of riiiladelphia,* transferring her at the age of eighteen
years, from city life and its associations, to the ^ar oil" home in the

wilderness, that has been described. The then youn" wife the

now venerable matron — remembers that woods journey, and des-
cribes it, even in a vein of gaiety and humor. There was the long
ard tedious journey IVom Albany to Geneva, and Bath ; then the
jolting wagon, over a wood's road to Hornellsville; and then when
wheels could no longer be used, the horseback ride over what was
but little better than a wood's path, to Angelica, and her new home
at Belvidere. With a characteristic gallantry, Thomas Morris, then
the active promoter of settlement, in the Genesee country, accom-

* Glti. Stewart li;icl a commaiul in the Pcnnsvlvania line (luring the Rcvohition.
Hw liouse in Philadel|.liia\vas(>t'toii the liospitable retreat iif Wiishiii!,'t<.ii, La Fayette,
Rodinmbeau, and other of tlie eminent men of llie Revohilimi. Mrs. Cliiircli lins a
valualik' heir loom of tlic family, a rdic, r,f the latliev of liis country. If is his por-
trait m a^ frame ; imoii the haek of the fiame i.s jjasted an <iriginal autoKfaiili addressed
to Mrs. Stewart, which accompanied the ]>ortrait. It was soinethiii>r nniqiie in its
way at the time. In the note, Washington witli characteristic modestv, begs Mrs.
Stewart to regard it " not so much for any merit of the original, a.s for its excellence as
a work of ait; the prodiiclion of a yomig hidv."

E.xtract from Wasiiington's general order liook, Moore's House, 1779 : — "The com-
mander in chief directs a general conrt martial to I)e held at the usual place to-morrow
niornmg, at 10 o'chick, for the trial of Col. Arniand ; Col. Walter Stewart to ))reside."
Ac. Ry a resolution of Congress, medals were ordered struck for Gen. Wavne, Major
Walter Stewart and Lt, Co], Fleury, for their gallant, conduct in tlicstorming of Stouy

I'oint

ouj-

452

riTELPs Amy gohtiam's purcuase.

panied her in this her bridal tour to the wilderness. She had her
first experience in housekeepinu;, and lived for several years, miles
away from neighbors ; often the busines's of her husband calling
him away for weeks , her only compuniou a colored female domes-
tic, and a small boy.* She m;; 'c in. ..• )r)y acquaintance with the
Indians at Canaedca, and was a I'.ivorite with them. Upon one oc-
casion, in the absence of Judge Church, she attended one of their
festivals, contributing to its feast out of her stores, and enjoying
with a high relish their Pagan rites, dances and rude sports. They
gave her as a name, "Ye-nun-ke-a-wa," or the ' first \vum;in that
has come ; " having reference to settlement upon the river. Judge
Church being in England on the breaking out of the war of 1812, a
party of Canaedea Indians, headed by a chief, went to Belvidere,
and in gratitude for Mrs. Church's kindness to their people, offered
to keep a guard around her house, to jn-otcct her from thi^ ]5i itish
Indians, llegarding herself as secure from invasion, in the Nvnods
of Allegany, she thanked them but declined their proffered gallantry.
John B. Church died in London, in 181G. His sons, other than
Philip Church, were :— John B. Church, who now resides in Paris;
Alexander, who died young, and Richard, who now resides in Eno-
land. His daughters became the wives of Bertram P. Cruger, of
New York, and Rodolph Bunner, late of Oswego.

The family of Philip Church, now consists of John B. Church,
of ISiew York, who married a daughter of Professor Silliman;
Walter and Henry Church, of New York ; Philip Church, who re-
sides near Belvidere, and Richard Church, who resides at the home-
stead. Daughters : — Mrs. John Warren, of New York, Mrs.
Pendleton Hoosick, of New York, and an unmarried daughter, re-
siding with her parents.

The southern portion of all that part of Allegany, which is upon
the Holland Purchase, was not settled until just preceding the war
of 1812. As early as 1804, a few families had settled at Clean, but
no road from Angelica to that point was opened until 1809 or '10, and
then but a woods road. It was surveyed by Moses Van Campen,

Thore was miidi of womaTi's nature in licr reply, in 1, ng after years, to nn obser-
vation made to her, e.xpressinsf some surprise that she could liavc cndure.l such a
change — Ironi a gay and social city to the woods : — •' Oh," said she, " I was just the
one to do It, [ had youth, Iiealth ; to bo sure it was pretty hard at first, but the rela-
tions ot a wife, to wliich was added the cares of a mother, soon reconciled me to my
Uuw home." •'

PHELPS AND GORIIAM's PURCHASE.

453

in 1815, and soon after settlers drc^jped in, began to be worlied by
them and the proprietors of Oleaii; though when it began, in 1810,
'17, to lie thronged with western emigrants on their way to embark
upon the Allegany, it was only by sleighing they could get along
comfortably ; when that left them, as it often did, they plodded
through sloughs, and over stumps and roots, making slow progress.
There ar^ emigrants on the Ohio and Wabash and in southern Illinois,
who remember their early journey through the woods of Allegany
and Cattaraugus, as by far the most trying scene they encountered
upon their journey. Soon after 1810, a state road was laid there,
the state making a small appropriation, but the pay for its construc-
tion principally made dependent upon the proceeds of tolls. It was
completed in 1822. The road was principally built by David D.
Howe.

In 1805 Judge Church purchased and had drove to Belvidere twen-
ty-four sheep. Arriving late in the evening, they were folded close
by the house. In the morning a brother-in-law, from New York,
being his guest, he invited him out early to see them. Approaching
the pen, they found 19 of the 24 lying dead. The wolves had
tracked them in, and made the havoc. As is usual, where they
have a plenty of victims, they had only bitten the throats, and ex-
hausted the blood. The woods of Allegany were especially the
haunts of wild beasts ; trapping and hunting was a serious diver-
sion of the new settlers, from the work of improvement.

In early years, the Pust-olBce nearest Angelica, was at Bath, 40
miles distant. The citizens clubbed, and contracted with William
Barney to make the trip, carrying letters and papers once a month.
A blind boy of Mr. Barney made the trips, until he was killed by a
fall from his horse.

There was no physician in Allegany, in the earliest years ; Judge
Church says he brought in a medicine chest, and " Buchan's Family
Medicine," and occasionally made prescriptions. The nearest phy-
sician. Dr. Niles, in Steuben county. The first settled physician in
Angelica, was Dr. Ellis, who was succeeded by Dr. Southworth,
now of Lockport.

The primitive religious meetings were held in the loft of Judge
Church's store house, by the Rev. Andrew Grey. " He was a broad
shouldered man," says Judge Church, "of extraordinary muscular
power ; I remember his getting »o earnest on one occasion, in en-

454

PHELPS AND GOKFTAM's PURCHASE.

forcinrr rcliijjious precepts upon his brickwoorls conf^tofration, that in
his gestures, he knocked our Htoro desk to pieces, tiiat we j^ave him
for a pulpit.'"

That ))art of the Morris' Reserve, in Allegany, which constituted
the ('hurch Tract, was six miles wide, lying east of, and adjoining
the Holland Company's lands. In the division among Mr. Morris'
creditors, another tract, six miles wide, containing 150,000 acres,
fell into the hands of Sterritt and Harrison, merchants of Philadel-
phia ; and in turn, this was cut up into small tracts and divided
among their creditors. This large tract was mostly kept out of
market until after 1815. South of the Church and Sterritt tract,
on the Pcmisylvania line, is another tract of 37,000 acres, which
fell into the hands of Willing &; Francis, also merchants of Phila-
delphia; Mr. Willing, of the firm, was President of the old United
States Bank.

The first settlement founded after Angelica, was at Van Campen's
creek, in the direction of Olean. This name was giv-en dm-insr the
primitive advent of 3Ir. Church, in honor of his woods' com])an ion,
Mr. Van Campen. Harrison and Higgins were the first settlers.
Six or seven miles up the river, above Philipshurgh, a settlement
was commenced by Josejjh and Silas Knight. The first settlement
down the river, was founded by the Sandfords.

No new country has probably ever been opened for sale and set-
tlement, that had as rugged features, as much of difficulty to over-
come, as the territory which comprises the county of Allegany.
Heavily timl)ered throughout, with the exception of small spots up-
on the river, it was many years before the roots were out so as to
admit of easy cultivation. The new settlements in all early years,
were extremely isolated. The wide forests of the Holland Pur-
chase bordering upon them, had been but little broken into, as late
as ISOOor '10, and after that for many years, settlement upon them
advanced but slowly. When the settlers began to have any thing
to diriposo of, they had no market, but such as involved a ruinous
cost of transportation, over long woods, roads, and up and down
steep hills. The very earliest years, however, were far more pros-
perous than a long period that succeeded. Black salts, pot and
pearl ashes, and grain could be taken to Hornellsville, and from
thence go to Baltimore, where it would command cash. This made
for a few years, pretty brisk times ; but the navigation was precari-

rany.

PHELPS AND OORHAm's PURCHASE. 455

ous, and at best, had in each season but a short duration ; and
soon came on European wars, the embarcro T, be...- especially heavy
upon the enterprise and prosperity that h. d bctjir,. to dawn in the
secluded backwoods. Pine lumber, >v. j.;oo(i /or nothing, beyond
the homo uses of the new settlers. It v .s to, far from the naviga-
ble waters of the Allegany, even if there ' ' -en roads ; and Too
far from the, nortliern older settlements, to allcnv of any considerable
market in that direction. The best of ,.. , > trees, instead of being
any help to the new settler, was a great Inudrance, for they constitute
the most difficult clearing of new lands that is encountered. The
first consideralile market for the pine lumber of Allegany, was at
Mt. xMorris and Dansville, after the completion of the Genese Val-
ley canal to those })oints.

Independent of other hindrances to prosperity — or especially to
agricultural improvement — two prominent ones have existed' —
The mountains, the valleys and the streams, had attractions fot the
hunter, the trapper and the fisherman, and slow progress in felling
the Ibrest, neglected fields, and dilapidated log tonenients, were the
consequences. The free use of whiskey in all the new settlements
of the Genesee country, was a curse and a blight, the consefjuences
of which — the manner that it retarded prosperity and imjirove-
ment— the strong men tliat it made weak— the woe and the sor-
row that it carried to the log c;.bins of the wilderness— would fbrm
a theme that might be regarded as an innovation here ; but elsewhere,
in its appropriate place, would "point a moral," though it would not
"adorn a tale." Especially was this an evil where men were
attracted by the causes that have been named, from legitimate pur-
suits. The other local hindrance succeeded when lumbering be-
came a sufficient object to draw men away from agricultural im-
provements.

Soon after 1807, a serious embarrassment was added to other
difficulties upon the Church tract, which constituted nearly all the
settled portions of Allegany. John E. Church, who was then resi-
ding m New York, became embarrassed, principally inconsequence
of French spoliations upon American conunerce ; having made
large ventures as an underwriter.* The title of one half of the

* His licirs havu now largo, niul ms it would soum just claim upon our L'overninent.
^n-owng out ot thw. Uy Treaty with Fr;uu;o, uur goveriimwit Lunml pavme.it .,f

Uic claims.

456

PIIELI'S ANDGOUIIAm's PUliCIIASE.

• ' ii

100,000 acre tract, was in his son, Philip Church, but there had been
no division ; a mixed interest was assigned to trustees, for the benefit
of his creditors, and there was no final division and settlement until
1815. In all this time there was a distrust of title, which bin-
dered settlement, and created an unsettled state of things, as the
same cause always will.

The war of 1812 prostrated all of enterprise and progress in all
the newly settled portions of the Genesee country, wliere they had
no surplus produce, were consumers instead of producers. The new
settlements of Allegany furnished their full (juota of men for the
frontier, drawn from feeble settlements, where they could least be
well spared ; some were left upon battle fields, died m hospitals, or
returned to die of disease contracted upon the frontier. Peace had
but just been concluded, when the cold and untoward season of
1810, came upon them, its biting frosts upon hill and valley, de-
stroying all their hopes of sustenance, creating distress and want,
driving, in many instances, men to the game in the forest, the fish in
the streams, and,wild roots and lierbs, as their only resources to ward
off a famine. Independent of their own sufferings and privations,
they had quartered upon tliem the poor Indians of Canaedea,who were
reduced to the extremity of want. Then came propitious seasons,
lite and activity ; for a few years a tide of emigration flowed through
their midst, on their way to Olean, and down the Allegany, creatiuir
a home market for their produce. This lasted, gradually declining
until the Erie canal had reached its western terminus, when emigra-
tion was entirely diverted, and their main roads and public hou.ses
were deserted. The Erie canal so diffusive in its benefits, stimu-
lating to life and activity, in all other localities of western New
but came to crush the hopes, and depress the energies of the people
of Allegany and Cattaraugus. Recovering from its first effects,
gradually, and remotely, its benefits began to reach them, even be-
fore the construction of the Valley canal.

It is after almost a half century's struggle, but for Allegany the
'•better time" has come. The whistle of the steam cars are start-
ling the deer that yet linger in her forests ; the echoes of the boat-
man's horn, ere these imperfect annals will issue from the ])ress, will
be sounding along the valley of the upper Genesee ; the dark forests
are rapidly disappearing ; the neat framed house is taking the place of
the mo.<s covered log cabin ; all is putting on the appearance of re-

tal)!

PHELPS AND GORHAm's PUKCHASE.

457

newed enterprise and rapid progress. Long almost a " terra incogiii-
tia" her near neighbors on the " northern plains," lier soil, her climate,
pure water and pure atmosphere, is beginning to be appreciated ;
and she will soon occcupy a better relative position in the empire
region of the Empire State.

CHAPTER X,

THE PIONEER PRINTERS AND NEWSPAPERS.

Mr. Williamson was directly connected with the introduction of the
jM'inting press into the Genesee country; The two first ncwspa])ei's wx'iv, e.s-
tahlished utidei' his ausjiices and patronage. Early in January-, 1790, In; pro-
cured from Nortluiniberland or Sunhury, in Pennsylvania, a second liand
newspa]K'r office, and enlistetl as printei-s and publishers, \Vm. Kersey* and
James Edie. Tliey issued "The J^ath (lazette and Genesee Advertiser.'"
This Wiis the first newspaper published in western New York.

In the same year, he induced Lucius C'arcv, who had been jniblisliiiiir a
jtajier at Newburg, to sell t)ut and est;iblish himself at Geneva. Mr. Care^-
forwarded his printing materials by water, and came himself, with liis house-
hold goods, by land. On his arrival, hiMvrote toMr. Williamson at All)aiiv,
that be had en I'd a lung and expensive jocirney; arrived, and found his
house unfinished, and no room provided for his ofiice.f He got settled during

* It is ]ire.st:tn(?(l that Mr. Kersey may liave liiui a ciuniection with llip jinper not a.s
printer, but iis one of Mr. Williuiusoii's asjeiits at Hatli. He was a l-'iiend, as would
appear Viy iiis h'tteis. In eno of them, written to Mr.Wiliiamsoii at .Miwiny, lie speaks
of havini,' lo(;ateil some new .settlers, and at th(^ hhiw' time, asks for .some new tv])e,
nrij;int; that the type they have brouj^'ht from Pennsylvania is "<ild and worn." "We!
on considerinix the ease, I'onelude it is best to have a suilicient (piantity of new tvpe t(i
complete the oHiee, so that we may do business in good fashion; therefore reijue'st that
in addition to the order by Ci\\)\^ Coudry, tliou may i)o pleased to send us as soon as
may be, ^(1(1 weii(ht of small jiica or bourj,'eois. We have some eneoiu-a<rement to inir-
Hue the b\isiiiess, luit many of our patrims eomplain of tlie badness of tlie i)rint, and
that not without suffi<'ient cause." Ho was at the time one of the .Indices of !S|eid)en,
and informs Mr. Willi.imson that he and his associates had been indicted bv the Grand'
Jury, "for not holding u-i election at the J'ainted I'ost for a re|)resentativo in Con-
j,Tess."

t "Tiie Pioneer printer was in ill Imnior. He says to Mr. Williamson : — I am now
lyinj? idle, and how long- 1 shall, 1 cannot say, only i'orthe want of a room to work
ill. My house was to be done in July, and it is a mortifying reflection to me to have
29

458

PHELPS AND GORIIAM's PDRCHASE.

the winter, liowever, and in April, 1797, brouglit out tho fii-st number of the
"Ontario Gazetto and (Jeneseo Advertiser." Tho paper wiis continued but
about a year and a half at Gene\a, after which it was removed to Canaiuhii-
gua, and continued until 1802, when the othco was sold, and the name of the
paper changed to "Western Repository and Genesee Advertiser." Mr,
Caivydieti in Canandaigiui, in 1804.

James K. Gould was the immediate successor of Mr. Carey. In May,
1803, ho issued "for the propriet.jrs," the "Western Repository and Gene-
see Advertiser." In August, 1803, Mr. Gould, in ompaiiv with Russell E.
Post, purchased the establishment, and changed the title to " Western Reposi-
tory.'' In October, 1804, this partnership was dissolved, and James D.
Hemis took tlio ])]ace of Mr. Post. Mr. Gould dving in March, 1808, the
paper was continued by Mr. Remis, with only a "slight change of title, for
twenty-one years. The i)aper is still published, being now the oldest news-
]iapcr in western New York. The immediate successors of Mr. Bemis were.
Cliauncey Morse and Samuel Ward, the former of whom was a biolhcr-iu-

law of Mr. R., an,l the latter a nephew. Mr. Har\ cv was at one j .eriod

a-;s<xiated with Mr. Morse in ius publication, flie present editor and publisher,
IS George L. Whitney.

In 18(13, Sylve-<ter Titfany established in Ganandaigua, the Ontario Free-
man, lie was from New Hampshire; his wife, one of the well known fami-
ly ot Ji'iistons, of that Stat.'. For several years before settling at Canandai-
gua, Mr. Titiiiny had jiublished a paper at Niagara, U. C. Ho was for sever-
al yeai's clerk of Ontario county. He died in 1811. His widow still sur-
\ives, a resident of Rochester. The surviving sons are : — Svlvester Titiany,
an early merchant in Le Roy; George A. Tittany, who married a dauohter of'
Mrs. Berry, at Avon, and now resides in Wisconsin ; Alexander R.Titfany,
who studied law in Canandaigua, married a daughter of Dr. Gain Robinson,
and is now Judge Titfany, of Adrian, Micbiu-an. Dean 0. Titfany, the
youngest son, was a clerk in the book store of James D. Bemis, of Canandai-
gua, and subse(|uently, in the Everingham store in Rochester; died at the
south. Daughters became the wives' of Stephen and William Charies, of
RoclK^ster, and John C. Ross, of C. W.

John A. Stevens was the successor of Mr. Titfany, commencing tho pub-
lication of the Ontario Messenger in 1800. The Repository and Messen<rer,
untlerthe management of Messrs. Bemis and Stevens, were for a considerable
I'enod the leading papers of the respective ])arties whose interests they es-
poused. "Mr. Stevens," says a brii^f l)iogra])her, * "wa- a kind, atleciion-
ate, and good hearted man, and very generally esteem, •; by all who knew
liim. He died some twenty years since.

iny pari'iits lionr tlmt, I must lay i.ll<- lor the want ef a lioiisc, ivlicii f Jiml si>„ke so
nine 1 111 pniisc ot the town, and liccn tlic ineiins nf a inonl.cr coiiiim' t. it since I

7" luln \ Y"'I'"'';" ^^'' ^"■>''' ''^' •''"'"■"f ''"I"'"'^ "'■ 1''-^ '""•'^'•'''' : vet, with Uk^ loan
V .'■"', *'; I • ',' """'^■•■' '>^' '""> K<'f ii paper (Hit, and move alontr, "if lioVan i,'<'t a room."
tlis (IwelhiiK house was liimlly fnrnished, and a far hetter on<. it must liave heen than
I inneer printers usually enjoy, as the amount i>ai(l for it by iMr. Williamson, was over

* Frederick Follctt, Esq., who compih'd the proroedinirsof the " Printers' Fe«tivnl "
ui K(K-hostcr, held in 1847, and ailded a " History of the Truss of Westuru New

PHELPS AND GORHAm's PURCHASE.

459

Mr.

Of the large nninlicr ol" printers, mot of wliuiii liavc been, or are now,
conductors of ne\vs[>!i[iers, ^vllu serveil tlieir ;i|)iiri'nti(.('sl.ij)H witli Messrs.
Beinis and Stevens, the names of the followino- ooeur to the author: — Oran
Follctt, IJavid M. Day, [..'wis II. Kedli.M, I'lCz-kiah and Smith Salisbury,
A. H. I)ennctt, Thomas 11 JJaiiium, Kandall ^leai. ham, John Van Sice, Ed-
ward Van Cleve, John Gilbert, Elisha Stai'r, beside many othere of a later
period; and the Author of this work, in ]iart.

Eben I^aton, a brother of (ieneral Eaton, was the successor of Mr. Carey
at (Jeneva. He started a paper in 18U0, called "The impaitial Observer
and Seneca Museum."

James IJogcrt came to Geneva in 1800. lie served his apprenticeship in
the old ollice of T. it J. Swords, New York. In November, 1800, he is-
sued the lirst nmnber of the "Expositor," which was continued until 1809,
when he changed th" title to "(h-neva Gazette." He conducted the paper
for ovi'r twenty-seven years, retiring from it in 18.38. Next to Mr. Beinis,
he is the oldest survivor of the conductors of the jircs in western New York.
He was a good printer aiul editoi', and in all respects, a Avortliy member of
the "craft." He was u])on the frontier in the war of 1S12, bearing the com-
mission of Captain in the regiment of Colonel Peter Allen, and was after-
wnnls commissioned as a Colonel. After retiring from the Gazette, he was
for five years Collector of Canal Tolls at Geneva.

James I). Hkmis may justly be regared as the father of the press of west-
ern New York: and thisr.ot only with reference to his eariy and long con-
tinued coniieetion with it, but with tarther reference to the large number of
printers who have gone out from under his instruction ; his character as a man,
and as a member of a local craft, the dignity and respectability of which he
has in so large Ji degree maintained. lie was a native of New Hampshire;
though, if the author rightly recollects, lie served his apprenticeship in Al-
bany. Soon after a riving at his majority, in the winter of l,--0.3, he left
Albany with a small stock of books and stationery, intending to locate in
Canada, but arriving in Canandaigua, was induced by the favorable jirospects
held out there, to make it his permanent home. [See his own cotemporary
acccnmtof his advent, Aiipendix, No. 19.] Soon engaging with Mr. Gould
in the Repository, he sold his stock of books and stationery to Myron Holley ;
but it was not long before he connected book-selling with printing, and for
many yeais was not only the editor and ])ublisher of the most successful
newspaper in western New York, but he enjoyed almost a monopoly in the
printing of handbills, blanks, in the sale of books, and in the business of
book-binding, in a wide region. All of this was inanaged by a close aj)plica-
tien to biwinoss, in a careful, systematie manner. }ieculiar to the man. No
one connected with the newspajier press in western New York, has been mor-^
successful, and no one better deserved succcv.

Mr. li.'mis still survives, li.iving reached his i"*^"! year. Sincerely is it la-
nieule.l iiy a wiile circle of friends — and <'■ pccially by those who have known
him nnvst intimately; many of whom owe him gratitude as well ius respect —
that the evening of his long and • fid life is ckxided with misfortune. I'e
has been for a considerable periov ,i) aimate of an institution at IJrattleboro,
Vt., under treatment for the cure of physical intinnities, in which hisonco
well balanced mind in -omo degree ]»articipates. * He married in early life;
liis wife still sarvi\es. An only son is George W. Bemis of Canandaigua,

.i ^

t
li

■ \

I'W

460

PHELPS AND GOEHAM's PURCHASE.

D^;r;rs'M^''/l^7: ' V"^^^"^^' ^^^^^ ^^^ -^^^"*1>^ '^^^n appointed a
IJepiity U S. Ma.-s}iall, Daughters became tlie uiv,.s (/ Tluulde is C}vm\r
ot^gjnanda.gua, and W.n. B. Peck, a bookseller of New i^'Z^'^f

and addc.) : _..^Tho wir artofS 'nl f^^.S^^

car..or, whotl.or wo conHidor t]>o oven s ,^ t nf . ■ ! / "/i "'^7'"^ 1" "^^^^>' y**''"'"

acted tlifir parts in trnisf. rm ur tu2 , "■^^J'^'"'"'. "r the cliaractcr of men who

il^'iS^;,;^^^- ^-^'^-t editor in we.tS.^l^iS Sll^h ^^^^^

[end of general history op PHELPS AND GORIIAm's PURCHASE.]

*fev ^Vr-,

TABLE OF CONTENTS,

GENERAL HISTORY OF PHELPS AND GORHAM'S

PURCHASE.

[Note.— A table of contents -which would .mibrace a reference to localities, persons
and events, in regular order, was found far too elaborate, and occupying too much
space. A shorter one lias therefore been adopted, by which the reader, having refer-
ence to localities, will be enabled to refer to atiy given subject, event or person, with
attle difficulty.]

PART FIRST.

CHAPTER I.— [Commencing page 9.] — Brief notices of Early Colonization — Pro-
gress of the l-rench upon the St. Lawrence — French and Indian, and French and
i^nghsh Wars-- Progress of tlie Frencli around tlie borders of the Western Lakes
— Discovery of the Mississippi by Marquette and .Joliet — First advent of our
race to woMerii New York — La Salle — First sail ves.sel upon the Upiier Lakes—
M. lie La Barrie's invasion of tlie country of tlie IroquoLs — Do Nonvi]l."s inva-
mon ot the Seneca Country, in what is now Ontario County — Foundiu" of Fort
JSiagara — I-ivnchand English battles in the region of Lakes George ami Cham-

CHAPTER IT.— [Coin, page 40.] — Siege and SuiTendor of Fort Niagara— Con-
quest of ^\ esteru New York.

CHAPTER in.— [Com. jiago fiG.] — Siege and Capture of Ticonderoga, Crown Point,
tiuebeo and Montreal- Peace of lUi'.i, end of French Dominion.

CHAPTER IV.— [Comjiage 69.]-
olutiou — Sullivan's Cainpaigu.

■ English Dominion — Border Wars of the Rev-

TART SECOND.

CHAPTER I--[ Com. page 83.] — Our immediate predeces,sors, the Senccas, with a
glance at the Iroquois — their wars with their own race, and with the French -
tlieir bravery and prowess — invasion of tlieir country l.y De Nonville.

CHAPTER II. -[Com. page !I9.]- Conflicting claims to western New York — In-
dian 1 ieati(>s— The Lessee Company— The Military Tract.

CHAPTER III.- [Com. page 127.] - The Genesee Country at the period when set-
tlement commenced— its position in reference to contiguous temtory — Condi-
tion ot thecouutrygenerally after the Revolution.

^^^'sHN '^)l,V,7,fi'^';'"- ^:''-" F'-^ r ',''"■''" '""' ^■"■•''•i'"'« I^'-relioso of Ma,^sachu-
Se ne^Ts \ ,1 ''^'Ip.''' '"'^/"'^'^"t to the Gene.seo Country, and hi:^ treaty with the
Oenecas — Jvatlianiel Gorliain. "^

*^"'Vow Yates Counter ^"'°" ^''^■^-^'''^'^ Wilkinson -Pioneer events in what is

462

PHELPS AND GOUIIAm's PUKOHASE.

PART THIRD.

CriAPTFR I._[C,.,n. rii-c KM.J -CmuM,.,,,...,...,,! of siim.ys nnd sotllomcnt of
the O.. u'so.' ( nnnti-y-I'MMMTr ..vnits m1 (';i,„„„lm-un~ Mrs. Sa-il.nrn - J.i.W
now,;ll-o luT, ,,Hy rioM.rr.s-l!;,M,n>ti..l,|-tlu.A,h,M,staMiiiT-oil„.r,,io,„.,r
)iinnli..s-|{,.,mMis<vi,..,.s ,.f .h„„,.s Spcrry- Mici.l, H,.„„kM-'W,.sl lilooMilirM
-lillstown.~l,tl'H iiiiMily--()thf,- cMily l'io,„.,.rs~ l!i.|i,i„isroiKVH of Mrs.
I'iinuMM— IhrCl mi.miiH and Allans— (ioihaiii. l'anMii.f,'fon, MaiH,'li..sl,.,— lU-
.nm,sa.nc,..M of l",.],^. J{,,l(iol,l - Tli. Murn.on.s- J'ludps- Ocnova- Janios

CHAl'TKR Tr~[r,,,n p,njr,.o.|n.]--Sal,-of I'lu'lp.s an.l Goilia.u to liolurt. Morris

— U(>HaliMo Knnisli /vssocialio.i — A.lvoiit of C'liarlrs Williamson— Kvf.its at
\y,ll,an.stM.vp, I,.,,],, (;.,,„,,,., Lyons. So.lns, Culclonia, l!nuldock'.s liay-Jolni
OrcifT-HobrK 'I'roiip-JoHiipli Fellows. ^

ClIAPTKR III. [Con,. ]|a,nv :2,S1.J- In.lian .liflionltios-Uritisli intorimmcc-

Jndian connciLs— (Jon. Israel CliajMn- Jasper I'arri.sli.
CHAI'TKli lV._[Coni. jia^v 'Ur..]- AtL^nipt of (Jov. .sin.eoel,. Invak np llio set-

tlenient at Sodus May- l!,i,isl, elain.s to weslen. New York-Wayne's Victory

— Surrender ol J'orts Osweijo and Niairara. > '""ry
CHAl'TKR y.-[Co,n. i.ai,re .Mr.,|.]-,i,,„„,; .„„, -^^rj,];,,,^, Wadsworth-Horatio and

tlie Di.MM.t ol (.eneseo ' — Leir,.sler,.'\[ose<,w, m. iMorris- N'a ley .,f the Can-

CPIAPTl'jJl Vr.-[Con,. p;i;,^e;)7S.]~T'ionorr events in what is now Wayne county
~.lolu, ^wilt - Harwoo.1 Spears, Dnrfees, Rodders, other early l'i,,Meers--Wm
Hove U,yler-Jvons-Uor,s..ys, Van Wiekles, I'errine. othcT early '1^1 tiers -
R.d-e Road - So.lus Ray- Per.-rino Fif/hugh-Dr. Lun.niis. ^

^"1vtII'si,iy;;r'^iv;niT"%"*"'^'^7f'';V-'^^ 'r^'' "• ^^■'"'•^ '^""^^ ^onroe-
Ki , • . ' ""■. ; llcnelier-Ool, Frsli-Ateliinsons- Hraddoek's Jiay-

Kin^^ s setlJenen- Rriirl,t.n.- Lnsks. Stones, ( »liver Cuh er- Trv.m's Town -

\SS'^':Z 'T^r '".'.'^f'"'''; ^''■'■'■'"'""- 1^"""-'^-" «»l'I'li-rin r Ibr^^c to
Victoi, \\ e.st Uloomheld and IJnslol, paL;e -j;n.]

CIIArTKR VIIL- [Com. pa-.. l.'Ui.] -The Jlorris Trealv at Hi.. Tree-Cession

NewspicS"'^ "''''' '^'^"'^'^'^ -dGorhau.'. Purd.a^o - Eady I'rinlirand

APPENDIX.

ill'

[NO. 1.]

EXTRACT FROM MANUSCRIPTS IN TIIi: JESClTs' COLLEGE AT aUEBEC.

On tlic mil of February, IGG,'), ubout half piint five o'clock iu the evening, a great
rushing noise was heard throughout the wlioh; extent of Canada. Tim noise ciuLsed
the peojile to run out of (heir houses into the streets, as if their habitations hud been
on fire ; but, instead of flames or Hinoke, they were surprised to see the walls rwding
backward and for\vard, ;ind the stonc's moving as if they were detached from each
other. The timbers, rafters tind planks cracked. The earth treiubled violently, and
caused the stakes of the jialisades and palings to dance, in a manner that would have
been incredible, had we not actually seeu it in many jilaees. It was at this moment
every one ran out of doors. Then were to be s(!en animals flying in every direction ;
children crying and screaming in the streets ; men and women, seized with affright,
stood horror-struck with the dreadful scene before them, unable to move, and ignor-
ant where to fly for refuge from the tottering walls and trembling earth, which threat-
eiu'd every instant to crush them to death, or sink them into a profound and iiiimeas-
urabU' abyss. Some (hivw themselves (m their knees in the snow, crossing their breasts,
and calling on tlieir saints to relieve them from the danger with which they were sur-
rounded. Others passed the rest of this dreadful night in prayer; for tho"eartl](|uake
ceased not, but continued at slKjrt intervals, with acertain undulating imj)ulse, resem-
bling the w;)ves of the ocean ; and the same qualmish sens-itionis, or sickness at the
stomach, was felt dining the s'.ocks, as is experienced in a vessel at sea.

" The vioh'nce of the eartliquake was greatest in the forest, where it ajijieared ;ls if
there was a battle raging between the trees ; for not oidy their brandies were destroy-
ed, but even tiieir trunks are said to have been detached from their jilaces, and dashed
against each other with inconceivable violence and confusion —so much so, that the
Indians, in their figurative manner of sjieaking, declared that all the forests were drunk.
The war also seemed to be carried on between the mountains, some of Avliich were
torn from tlieir beds and thrown ujion others, leaving imtnense chasm.s, in the jilaccH
fioin wlience they had issued, and the very trees with wliidi they were covered, sunk
down, having only their tojjs above the surface of the earth ; others were completely
overturned, tlieir branches buried in theeailh, and the roots only remained above
ground. During this general wreck of naiinv, the ice upward of six feet thick,
was rent and thrown uji in large pieces, and from the ojieiiings in many part.s
there isued thick chnids of smoke, or fountains of dirf and sand, which spouted up to
a very considerable height. The .sjiiings wiie eitlie:' choked ii]i, or imiiregnatcd with
sulphur; many rivers were totally lust ; others were diveiled from their courses, and

464

APPENDIX.

ihcir waters entirely corrnptod. Sonic of tlictn hpciimo yellow, others rod, and tlio
^ivat river of tliu St. Lawrence app(^are(l entirely white, as far down as Tadoiissjic
Thi-* cxfriiordinary phenomena, must astonisli thowe \\li()kiu'W the size of the river
and the immense liody of waters in various parts, whieli must hav(^ HMpiired sueh
atmiid.'un'e of matter to whiten it. They write from Montreal, tliat durinij the earth-
Unako, they plainly saw the stakes of tho picketing or palisades, jump up as if they
had heon dancinjf ; and that of two doors in the sanio room, one opened and the
oilier shut of their own accord ; that the chimneys and tops of the housi's, l)ent lik,'
Krauches of the trees ajfilaied with the wind ; that when they wnt to walk, tiiey felt
the e.arlh foUowinij them, and rising' iit every step they took, somethin!^ sticking
against the solos of their fee',, and other lhiiii,'S in u very forcible and surprising inaiv-
ner."

" From Tlirec liivers they write that tho first shock was the most violent, and com-
menced witli a noise rcsemhlini? thuruler. The liouses were actitated in the same man-
ner as the tops of tre"s during a tempe^t, with a noise as if fire wius crackinu; in the
g.'inots. The shock lasted hf'f an hour, or rather better, though its greatest force wa.s
pro])erly not more than a (juartcr of an hotu', and we believe there was not a single
shock, which did not cause the earth to open more or less.

•' As for Uw rest, wc have reni.arked that, though this eartlKpiake continued almost
without infermis:,ion, yet it was not always of an eipial violence. Sometimes it was
like the pitching of a large vessel which dragged liea\ ily at her anchors, and it was
this motion which caused many to have giddiness in their lieads, and a (pialmishness
in their stomachs. At otJier times the motion wasluirried and irregular, creatini' sud-
den jerks, some of which were (,'.\treniely violent ; but tho most common, was a slight,
trenudous motion, which occurred frequently with little noise. Maiiy of tho French
inhabitants, anil Indians, who were eye-witnesses to the scene, state that a gri'at way
up the river of Trois Kiviercs, about eighteen miles below Quebec, the hills which bor-
dered the river on citlier side, and which were of a prodigious height, were torn from
tlieir foundations, and plunged into the river, causing it to change its course, and
spread itself over a large tract of land recently cleared ; tho broken earth mixed with
the waters, and for several montlis changed tho color of the great river ISt. Lawrence,
into which that of Trois Riviera disemboques itself. In the course of this violent con-
viU.sion of nature, lakes ajijieared where none ever existed b<tore; mountains were
overthrown, swallowed nj) by tho gaping, or preciiiitated into .■idjacent rivers, Laving
in their jilaces frightful chasms or level phiins ; falls and rapids were ch.anged into
gentle streams, and gentle streams into falls and rapids. Rivers in many parts of the
country sought other beds, or totally <lisnp]ieared. The earth and mountains were
entirely split and rent in innumerable ])lace.s, creating chasms and precipices, whose
depths have never yet been a.^certained. Such devastation was also occasioned in the
wood,s, that more than a thousand acres in one neighborhood were comiiletely over-
turned ; and where, but a short time before, nothing met the eye but an immense forest
of trees, now were to be seen extensive ch'ared lands, ajiparently cut up by the plough.
At Tadoussac, (about l.")0 miles below Quebec, on the north side,) the elFect of the
earthquake was not less violent than in otlier ilac s ; and such a heavy shower of vol-
canic ashes fell in tliat neighborhood, particularly in the river St. Lawrence, that the
wai.'r was as violently agitated as tluring a tempest. The Indians .say that a vast
volca\.. .xistsin Labrador. Xear St. I'aul's Hay (about fifty miles below Quebec
on the north .side,) a mountain, about a quau'er of a league in circumference, situated
on the shore of the St. Lawrence, was precipitated into the river, but us if it had only

APPENDIX.

465

madn a pliingo, it rose from tlu! bottom and Iwcamo a Biiiall island, formiiitf with the
sliorc a convenient liarbor, well sheltered froTii all winds. Lower down the river,
towiird Point Alonettoi.", an entin! forest (jf eonsideralile extent, was looHeiied from tho
main bank and slid into the liver St. Lawrence, wliero the trees took fresh root. There
are three circnrnstances, however, whicli have rendered thi.s extniordinarv eartliqiiakc
paiticnlarly remarkable ; — The first is it.s dMriifion.it havin},'eontinned Iroiri Fc^bniary
to Anjjust, that is to say, more than six months almost wilhout intermission. It is
I me, the i-liocks were not always ecinally violent. In several places, as toward the
inoiintjiins buhind Q n bee, the ihunderint,' noiwwmd trenibling motion continued suc-
cessively for a considerable time. In others, as toward TadfiuKsac, thc^ shock contin-
ual f,'r.iierally for two or Ihreo days at a time, with much violence.

The second circumstance relates to the extent of this earth(juake, which we believe,
was uiiivorsal throughout the whole of New Franco, for we learn that it was felt from
L'Isle Perce and Gasiie, which are situated at the mouth of the St. Lawrence, to be-
yond Jlonlreal; as also in New England, Arcadia, and other places more remote. As
far IIS it has coiik! to our knowledge, this earthquake extended more than (JDO miles in
lentil, and alwiit DfJI) in breadth. Fleiice, It^O.OOO s((uare miles of land were convul-
sed in the same day, and at llu,' same moment.

The third circumstance, which appears the most remarkable of all,re,<<ards the ex-
traordinary protection of Divine Providence, which has been extended to ii.s and our
habitations; for we have seen near us the large openings and chasms which the earth-
quake occasioned, and the jnodigions extent of country which has been either totally
lost or hideously convulsed, without our loosing either man, woman, or child, or even
having a Lair of their head touched."

[NO. 2.]

DE NONVILLe's invasion OP TIU; GENESEE COUNTRY.

Succeeding M. de la Barre, the Governor, Do Xonville, had immediately commenced
peace negotiations with tho Sunccas ; at times there seemed every ju'osjiect of a favora-
ble issue ; but the EiigUsh Governor, Dongan, was evidently throwing every obstacle
in the way of ]ieace. Had he been otherwise disposed, a jjowerfiil inllneiice was
brmiglit to bear iqion him : The English traders had approached the imiductive hunt-
ing grounds of Western N(!w York ; and were stimulated by the prosjiect of gain wliich
they afforded ; and this region was their only practicable" avenue of approach to the
still more extensive field of Indian trade around the borders of the western Lakes.
The mi'rcenary views of the English traders predominated over any regard for the
peace of their colony. The sale of poor English brandy to the Indians, and the ac-
quisition of rich packs of beaver were considi;iatioiis with them paramount to tho.se wliich
involved (juestions of peace or war between J^ance and England. They of course
wc^re not the i)eace coun.sellors of Gov. Dongan.

France and 1)(! Nonville had a faithful helper, in tho person of tho Jesuit Father
LamberviUe, who had been for sixteen years located as a missionary, at Onondaga,
the central canton of the InKjuois. He had, not unworthily, acquired great influence
and he exercisi'd it in fa\-or of peace. He had perseveringly endeavored to prevent
the introduction of sjiiiitous liquors among Mio Indians ; had foretold its consequences,
and in all things else had jiroved their friend. Pending tho viait of M, de la Earrc to

460

APPENDIX.

tho south shore of Lake Ontario, ho had exerted himself to procure a conference be-
tween tliu French and all the Iroquois nations ; and in ordurto romovc ovory olwtacle,
had opened a friendly con-osjiondence with Gov. D(,^igan, to induce him to be on the
side of peace. - Let your zeal," lie wrote, " for tiie public peace, and especially for
the Christiana of this America, induce you to put a fini.shin^' hand to this good
work. Since peace, through your care, will apparently last, we shall continue to carry
the Christian faith throuy:li this country, and to solicit tho Indians, whom you Jioni^r
with y(jur friendship, to embrace if, as yon yourselves embrace it, for this is the sole
object tliat has caused us to come here ; that the blood of Jesus ChrLst, shed for all
men, may be useful to them, and that his glory may be great throughout the earth."
Till' good missionary retjuests the Governor to Ben<l lu.s answer by Gai-akontie, m
Onondaga, whom he will meet at Albany ; and he exhorts him " to have a little care
for Garakontie," to recommend him "not to get dnmk any more, aa he promised when
lie was baptised, and to iierform the duties of a Christiim."

On the advent of De Nonville, Father Lamben-ille seconded all his efforts for
peace, though as duty to his country dictated, he at the siime time kept tlie (iovcrnor
informed of all the English were d<jing to prejudice the Iroquois against tlie French.

The winter of 1685, 'fi, wore away, the French shut up at Montreal, and at their
advanced posts, and tho English, not venturing nmch beyond tho Hudson. Little
could be done in the winter in the way of peace negotiations, war, or trade, iw the
navigable waters, tho only means of conmiunication, were principally closed with ice.
In May, De Nonville informed his govern ment.that there had been seen on Lake Erie,
ten Englisli canoes, laden with merchandise, in which were some French desei tcrs ; and
mentions that lie had sent a small force to Niagara to intercept them on their return.
He gives a mintito topograi)hical description of Niagara ; describes its command-
ing position ; and recommends the erection of a fort there, its the most elfectual means
of preventing English encroachments at the west ; and he is of the oj)inion that if
the Scnecns should see a fort planted there, they would be more pliant." Ho informs
the government that he has assumed tho responsibility of sending an engineer and
draughtsman to Niagara, to locate the Fort, and make the necc'ssary drawings."* The
expense attending tho getting of military stores and provisions to Kingston, is men-
tioned as a serious drawback to his oiierations, it costing not less than "110 liVres
from Ville JIarie, on the Island of Montreal, to Catarokouy, per 1000 lbs."

Soon after this dispatch had been forwarded to France, De Nonville received a letter
from the English Governor, abounding in professions of friendshij), and a disposition
to preserve jieace between the two nations ; laments that the Indians had dealt harshly
with two Jesuit Missionaries ; and thinks it " a thousand pitties that those who made
such progress in the service of God. should be disturbed; and that by the fault of
tlioso wlio laid the foundation of Christianity ainonst those barbarous peojile." In
this letter, however, the English Governor distinctly asserts the right of English do-
minion, all along the soutli sliorcs of Lake Ontario, and up to the eastern banks of

lis is imiloubtedly the incijiient step to the occupation of the site of Fort Niag.
n his llistiiry of the Holland Purchase, the author has assumed that La S;dl(

*Thi
ara. In ms msiory ox me noMaiid I'uivliase, tlie autlior has assumed that La S;dle
erected a trading post there; but butter information leads him to the conclusion that
this was an error.

Note.— The reader will bear in mind, that up to this period of colonization in
America, the queslKui ofright, as to jurisdictiou and doniinioM, was but illv defined
Boundaries were but imaginary, no survevor's compass having marked them ; no

stakes or stones" had been set up. The French claimed dominion and pre-emjjiive

Al'PENDIX.

4G7

tho Niagara River, complnins of the gatherinwof stores at "Cataraqui," (Kingston,)
as it is evidence of intention to war upoii tiio Iroqiiois, who, it is assumed are the
kir^' of En(,'land's siihjocta, and protests against the iiitt'iitioiw of the Frencli to build
a tlbrt at a place called Ohnijijero, on tliis side of the Lake, within my master's ter-
ritory es."

Other correspondence transpired between the Governors of the rival colonists, and
lx)th kept their governments informed of all tliat was ffoins; on in this purtidn of tlio
new world. The diplomacy of the floveniors, was marked thronf^hont witli insincer-
ity ; they mutually concealed from each other their real intentions. Gov. Don^an
occasionally falls into a vein of flattery : — On one occasion he expresses his "hii?h
satisfaction that the Kini^ of France has sent him so ffood a neij^hbor, of so excellent
qualitications and temper, and of a humor alto^etlier dilferent from Monsieur La Uarro,
who was so furious and hasty, very much addicted to great words, as if it had bin to
have bin frightened by him." De Nonville aware that Gov. Dongan was a (^atholic,
takes good care to often impress him with the idea, that all tliat lie is doiiig lias refer-
ence to "the glory of God, and the ])ropagation of the Christian faith." Suddenly
however, his tone changed, and he charged tJie English Governor with inciting the
Indians to lunnlia- Frenchmen uj)on their own territory; of being privy to tlie "mar-
tyrd(jm of holy missionaries ;" of having sent an English exjjedilion to JMishillima-
quina." " Think you," says he, "that religion will progress, whilst your merchants
«upply as they do, Eau de vci in abundance, which converts the savages into demons,
and their wigwams into counterjiarts and theatres of hell." He charges in addition,
that the English liave "hiubored and protected French runaway.s, bankrupts and
thieves."

De Xonville informed his King of English eucroachinents upon French teftitory ;
of their expeditions to the AVest ; of their hohling councils with the Iroquois, and es-
pecially the Senccas ; of their arming and inciting them to war upon the French ;
and ooncluds with the opinion, that there can be no .success for the French Mission-
aries or Traders, until the Senecas are hun'bled ; and for this purpose he demands a
large j-einforcement from France. The King assured him that his demands should be
complied with, and recommends prompt otfensive measures.

Much othei coiTospondenee passed between De Nonville and his government, and
between the two Governors, which is not material to an understanding of events that
followed.

right over all the lands of the Indians, aniong whom their missionaries and traders had
gained a foothold. By this tennre they were, at the jieriod u])on wliicji we are now dwell-
ing, claimiu^' the wliole vallev of tlie Western Lakes, and of tlie Mississijipi ; over
into Texas and Xew Mexico, by rea.«on of llie advent of La Salle ; and all ot wliat is
now New York, as low down as tlie eastern bounds of Oneida county. Tlie taking
po.ssession by formal jnodamation, in the name of their king, w.as tlrst ilone by De
Nonville, in what is now Ontario county ; and repeated at Niagara. The English
claimed upon similar tenure, beyond wlieie they had obtained po.ssession by treaty.
When the issue was jiending between De Nonville and tlio English Governor, the Eng-
lish had not been occupant.*, in anv form, of any portion of western Ne\, York.
The Frendi had missionary and trading stations as low down as the Oneida castle.
The Eiiii'Iish had, to be sure, performed the ceremony of sending agents to all the Iro-
quois villages, to en-ct poles,upon which were flags bearing the a: ins of their nation ; but
the act was so ludicrous as to excite (he contempt of the natives, who generally tore
them down, for llie Iroquois acknowledged no sovereignty of either France or England,
over them.*

*We are free !" said GaiTangula to de la Barre ; — " We woroborn fro(>men, and have
no dependence on Yonnoudio," (the French Governor,) " or Corlear," (the Euglisb
Governor.)

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468

APPENDIX.

In June, 1687, the recniite having arriveu from France, the French army moved up
the St. Lawrence, and occupied the Fortat " Cataracouy." The premeiiitatcd invasion
of the Seneca country, W08 preceded by an act of treachery and perfidy, which has
few parallels in liistory. The French Governor persuaded the go(*d misworiary, Laiu-
bervdle, who was intent only upon peace, the service of his King, and the success of
his mission, to take a large delegation of Indians to his head quarters, under the pre-
tence of holding a peace council, and reconciling all difficulties. When they were
shut up within the fort, and completely in his power, he ordered fifty of them to be
put in irons, conveyed to Quebec, and from thence to the galleys in France ! His ob-
ject, as will be inferred, was to hold them a.s hostages, to give him advantage in making
overtures of peace ; but he sadly misjudged the effect. The news of the treachery
reaching the Oneidas, a French Missionary was seized and led to t'le stake, and was
only saved by th.! intervention of a squaw, who claimed the right to adopt him as
her son. At Onondaga, the Missionary Lambenllle, was summoned before a council
of chiefs, and while anticipating that his life had been forfeited by the part he had
taken m the affair, a chief arose and addressed him thus : —"Thou art now our ene-
my- thou and thy race. But we have held counsel and cannot resolve to treat thee
as an enemy. We know thy heart had no share in this treason, though thou wert its
tool. Wo are not unjust; we will not punish thee, being innocent and hating the
cnme as much as ourselves. But depart from among us ; there a* some who mi-ht
seek thy blood ; and when our young men sing then- war song, we may no longer be
enabled to protect thee." Lamberville was furnished with an escort, who conducted
him to the French upon the St. Lawrence.

Previous to his arrival at Cataracouy, De NonviUe had sent presents to the western
nations at war with the Iroquois, their ancient enemies, who were in alliance with the
French, and had given orders to the commandants of the western posts to collect
them, and repair with them and their respective commands to Niagara, and from thence
to Ga-ni-en-tar-a-quet," (Irondequoit.) There were at this period, Fr..nch posts
at Mackinaw, upon Lakes Superior and Michigan, Upon the Wisconsin, the Illinois
and the Mississippi rivers ; and never had a King or a country more devoted or faith-
tul subjects, than were the commandants of these far off posts, dotted down, hundreds
of miles apart, in the wilderness. Chief among them was Tonti, wliom De NouviUe
Lad named to the King, as "a lad of great entei-prise and boldness, who undertakes
considerable." Tonti, it wiU have been observed, had been the companion of La
Salle in the primitive advent over the waters of Lake Erie. Left by his principal,
withahandfulof menatthe-Fortof the Illinese," (Illinois,) he had successfully
defended it against the assuJts of the Indians. He was with de la Barre, in his expe-
dition to the south shore of Lake Onterio; and returning to Illinois, he had been in
search of the adventurous La SaUe, to the Gulf of Mexico. Undei him the western
forces were marshalled.

By a remarkable coincidence, the army under De Nonvillo, and the western French
and Indians arrived at Irondequoit on the same day, -the 10th of July. Pushing
directly across the Lake from Cataracouy, to "La Famine Bay," the main army had
coat,ted by slow stages, encamping on shore when night overtook them. Thrir last
andmost^onside^^ .^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^ .

and ^aZ ^'l^l'.rS h?!' v*''l-' i' VF^^^^ stopping place for IV^ncYba t^xi^;;^
FrpnM . f ( 1. • ^"^'■'■'''i L"!'-" coasters. The sj)ecics of amAo tree wliich the

fid ic^ : i^^dtrir' t'"*',':';g''^»./v.-.8 growing tl,ere, and there was the remains of a^
Sofn blf ^« I'lt^ T •^''"le'nent commenced. The place was known i.s "Ap.
pienoon, before its present name was conferred, *^

APPENDIX.

469

The western dmsion of the army came d„,.n from Niagara by lan.l pur«uinwhe
Indmr, trail upon t].e h.ke shore. Entori,,, the Bay of Inrnd.quoit with twolnaod
butteaux, and n.n,ar.y canoes. De Nonville erected a paliJe fort upon an deva^
tedsrte, m wluoh to station a snmU force for the protection of his wat^r rnffand
nnhtary stores. "Never had Canada seen and never perhaps will it se^ 1 ;''"-
acl A camp composed of one fourth regular troops, with the General's uTt^one
fourth habuans,* xn four battallions, with the gentry otthe country ; onetX'hr
tian Indians; and finally a crowd of all the barbarous nations naked trooed .Th
panued over the body with all sorts of figure, wearing horns o thettS t 1„^
down then, back, and armed with arrows. Wo could hear during the nig t ^nuT
tude of languages, and songs and dances in every tongue. The "Tsonnontouan »
(Senecas came to reconnoitre ns, and then went to burn their villages andTe to
leffwit, r '^^'^•■•^-^'^.g"-^,:- 300 Christian Indians; the Pagan ^savages ntl^
Thercl r""-Tr T.^^^^^-'^OO Pou^, (Sloux.) 100IUinois,50HuronI
headed by De Nonville, and the other by M. Duque "

In the mean time the Senecas had not been idle. They were cognizant of thp
ga hermg of troops and provisions at Cataracouy-had seen ^heTISri LLn
push across the Lake ; squads of them concealed in the thick woods, had watched the

Ernti: :Jn ^-^-'^ .t-^^-^: ^'-- "^^^•^ ^^^^^-^ -d their swift ^^it ti

fhe' n s -"^'- '-^J-ed of their moven.ents. Preparations had been made for
aetT^lTi, 1 "f •"«™"™lt'-<'^t'-eme youth, had been sent to places of

sa ety all else without regard to sex, had been marshalled for the approach^ com-
bat A party of an hundred, approached the French in canoes, bef re they had L
embarked, and hailed them in a friendly manner; to which, as they re,« t" te
French "rephed in base language : -Enustogan horrio, squa which irnuchn
ti.- anguage. as the devil take you ! " Another scouting party ppr ch d t^o
F.enoh and received quite as uncivil an answer; whereupon they wont back -nd re
ported to the sachems, that to fight was the oidy alternative.

Various accounts of the battle that ensued, have been preserved ;-There are De
Nonvme-, ofhcial report; La Hontan>s account; the EngLi account d r dim
the Indians; and that of L'Abbe de Belmont, in a manuscript, "Historvof Cunl "
recently discovered in the Royal Library of Paris. Theau'tl or woulcl' 1 o'lte
be n an e,. witne..s, and he has faithfully, as is evident, recorded the ev , '"

coveied with aides. ^I'ls is the place which they selected for their ambuscade. iW

* French militia.

head a tuft of haii' is bound and tridned to If.nT • ^T'"^ VP«" ««> crown of the
or tassel ' ^ '"""^'^ *° ^^and upright, terminating in a loose tuft

470

APPENDIX.

divided Ihenisulvos, posted 300 men alori^ the falling brook botwoon two liill.^, in a
great thi.kct (if beodi trees ; and 500 at the bottom of these hills, in a marrfi, among
the alders ; with tlie idea that the first ambuscade of 300 men should let the army pass
and then atti.ck them in the rear, which would force it to fall into the second anibus-
cade whicJi was concealed at the bottom of the hills in tlie marsh. They -deceived
Uiemselves nevertheless, for as the advanced guard which M de Calliera commanded,
was very distant from the body under the command of the Marquis, tliey believed it
was the entii'o array. Accordingly as the advanced guard pits.sed near the thicket of
beeches, after making a terrible whrjoj), (sakaqua ! ) they tired a volley.

" The Ottawas and the heathen Indian.s all fled. The Chrisfiau Indians of the
mountain and the Sault, and the Abenaquis held fast and gave two vollies.

"The Marquis De IS'imville advanced with the main body, conqiosed of the royal
tro-ps, to occupy the height of the hill, where there was a 'little fort of piquets; but
the t«'rof and disorder of the surprise were such, that there was only M. de Calzenne
who distinguished liimself there, and M. Duquo who bringing up the rem- guard, rallied
the battalliou of Berthier, which was in flight, and being at tliohead of that of Mon-
treal, fired two hundred shot'i. The Marquis, en chemise, sword in baud drew up the
main body in battle (mier, and beat the dnmi at a time when scarcelv anv one was
to be seen. This friglitenetl the DDO Tsonnonouans of the ambuscade, who " fled from
above towards the 500 that were and)ushed below. The fear that all the world was
upon Ihem, made them fly with so nuich precipitation that they left their blankets in
a heap and notlung more was seen of them.

"A council was held. It was re solved, as it Wiis late, to sleep on the field of battle for
camp. Oiij who was still alive said there were 800 of them ; 300 above, and 500
below ; and that the Goyogoaians, (Cayugas.) were to come the next day, which was
the reason that they f\ aid where they were. There were found at several j)lac(s during
the succeeding days, provisions, and some other dead savages ; or if not dead, our men
killed them."

"On the morrow we inarched in battle order, wating for an attack. We descended
the hill by a little sloping valley, or gorge, througli wliich ran a brook bordered with
thick bus^vs, and which discharges it.self at the foot of a hill, in a marsh full of deep
mud, but planted with alders so thick that one could scarcely see. There it was tliat
they had stationed their two ambuscades, and where perhaps we would have been de-
feated, if tlu^y had not mistaken our advanced guards for the whole army, and been
so hasty in firiug. The Manjuis acted -"ery prudently in not pursuing them, for it was
a trick of the Iroquois to draw us into a greater ambuscade. The marsa which is
about twenty acres, (aopens,) being passed, we found about three hundred wretched
blankets; several nuserablo guns, and began to perceive the famous Babylon of tlie Tsou-
nontouans ; a city, or village oi bark, situate at the top of a mountain of earth, to
which one rises by three terraces, or hills. It ajipeared to us from a distance, to be
crowned with roimd towers, but these were only large chests, (drums) of bark, about
four feet in length, set the one in the other about five feet in diameter, in which they
keep tlieir Indian corn. The village had been burnt by themselves; it was now
eight days since ; we found nothing in tlie town excejit t'.ie cemetery and grave. It
was filled with snakes and animals, tliere was a great mask with teeth and eyes of
brass ; and a bear skin with which they disguise in their cabin.s. There were in the
four corners, greiit boxes of grain which tliey had not burred. They had out.sidc
this j)ogt, theii* Indian corn in a piquet fort at the top of a httlo mountain, steps or cut
down on all sides, where it was knee high thvoughout the fort."

APPENDIX.

471

" The Tsonnontouans have four largo villages, which they change every ton years, in
order to hring tlien>selves near (lie wodds, and permit them to grow up again. They
callthfiii CMgn.sjifa, Tohaitwi, which are the two larger; Onnntagiie, and Oiinenatu
ffhich are Rinaller. In the kst dwells Ganonkitahoui, the principal eliief. Wu cut the
hfau(iing grain already ripe enough to eat, and burned the old. It was estimated that
we burnt one Imndred thou.iand minots of old grain, and a huntlrod and fifty thou-sand
minotH of that standing in the field, besides the beans, and the hogs that we killed.
Sixty persons died of wounds received inthebatlle, a multitude perished of want:
many of them fled beyond tlie great mountainM of Onnontagtie, and went to dwell in
the country of the Andastoez. The greater part of their captives dispersed, and
Mncothat time the Tsonnontouau, (Seneca) nation, which counted at loiHit eight or
nine hundred warriors, and ten thousand souls in all, has been reduced to half tliat
number.

" From here, against the expectations of our Indians, who believed wo were going
among the Iro(iuoia crntons, we went to establish a Fort at Onnigara, [Niagara,] where
we arrived after three days' journey."

The ofheial account of I)e iVonville, does not difter materially from that of the L
Abbe de Belmont. He says the French loss was but " five or six raeu kiUed and
twenty wounded." He says : — " We witnessed the painfid sigh.^ of the usual cruel-
ties of the savages, who cut the dead into quarters, as in slaughter houses, in order to put
thcia into the jiot. The greater number were opened wliile still warm, that their blood
might be draiik. Our rascally Ottowas distinguished themselves parti ularly by the.«o
barbarities, and by their cowardice, for they withdr om the combat ; the Hurous of
Michilimaquina did very well, but our Christian Indians surpassed all, and performed
deed« of valor, especially our Iroquois, of whom we durst not make sure, ha\in- to firrht
against their relatives." He is quite as extravagant as de Belniont, in hLsestimate of tlie
amount of com destroyed.* The estimate of either is incredible; it was a new kind of war
for the Marquis, and not much to his taste. He says to the Minister of War : — " It is
an unfortunate trade, my lo.d, to command savages, who, after the first broken head, ask
to return home, carrying home with them the scalps which they lift off Uko a leather
cap; you cannot conceive the terrible efforts I had to retain' them until the com was cut.
It is full thirty years since I hate had the honor to serve, but I assure you, my lord,
that I have seen nothing that comws near this :n labor and fatigue.

Baron La Hontan accompanied the expedition, as he was much disposed to tell the
truth upon all occasions, his version of the general features of the battle is entitled to
credit. Ho insists that the ambuscade was very successful, tlirowing the French into
general disorder, and panic from which they were only relieved by a fierce assault
of tlieir allies, the western Indians, upon the assailants. He savs the ]o.ss was that of
ten of their Indian iJlies, and a hundred Frenchmen. " Six lavs we were occupied
in cutting down Indian com with our swords. We found in all the villages horse?,
cattle, and .n multitude of swine."

The western Indians were much chagrined at the result of the expedition They
had come down to join De Nonville, in the hope that their ancient implacable ene-
mies, the Iroquois, were to be exterminated, when they found that the French intended
to retreat without visiting the other Iroquois cantons, tiiey complained bitterly and
indirectly taunted them with cowardice. They spoke in contei.iptuous language of
an expedition assembled at so much expense and trouble, "to burn bark cabins which
could bo rebuilt in four days," an.l destroy com, the loss of which t heir confederates

* A minot ia equal to tluee bushels.

472

APPENDIX.

in tlieir abundance, could easily Rupply. Many of tliem doparted for home in disgust
Those that went with tho French to Niagara, were only a])[)wiKC(i by the proiuiac that
the war should be renewed.

Before leaving tlie Seni'ca country, De Nonville took fonnal posBftssiou of it m the
name of liis king, making a ijoniiiousi)rorlaniation, in wliich he enumerates the Tillages
of Ga-os-waeh-gwa, (upon Botighton Hill,) (Ja-no-gairae, (near where the old ludiai
trail crossed the Oanargwa, in East Bloomtield,) De-yu-di-huak-do, (at the north-east
bend of the Houeoye outlet, near West Meiidon,) Dy-u-doii-set, (al)out two miles
south-east of Avon.) "^he proclaniation, act of possession, or " process verbal," sayb
that the I'rench ;ai-my " have vanquishetl and put to flight eight hmuhcd Iroquois
Tsonnontouans, and have laid waste, burnt, and destroed tlieu- cabins."

Subsequently there has appeare<l tlie careful and distinct account of the battle given
by the L. Abbe de Belmont, a larger portion of whicli is given in preceding pagea
Guided by that and Mr. Marshall's pamplilet, the author has made some personal
investigations which leads him to the conclusion that the army of De Nonville landed
on the east side of IrondequoitBay.at whr.t has been known as the old "Indian Land-
ui; ;." and pursued the old Indian trail, r-nsged the head of tiio Bay, and the branch trail
which bore otTa little east of Pittsford village, and over tho ridge of higlilands, descend-
ing to Victor flats over the now farm of Wm. C. and Truman Dryer, near the present
Pittsford road.

With the different authentic accounts of the battle which we now have, the antiqua-
rian, or historical reader, will have no difhcnlty in identifying upon Victor Flats, Bough-
ton Hill, and Fort Hill, the entire battle grounds. There are the places of the two
ambuscades, the site of tho " Babylon of the Tosnnontouans," the " high hill siuTOunded
by three little hills or terraces, at the foot of a valley, and opposit« some other hills ;"
and mdeed, many things, evidences of identity that arc conchisire. In early years of
settlement, Brant was a guest of Jared €*; ;1 Eiios Boughton. He traced out tlie site of the
ancient Indian villag'-, and tho old French battle ground, and 8t!ite<l that his grand-
father, who was of the Iroquois tliat had settled under French protection, upon the St.
Lr^'-Qiico, was the pilot of De Nonvilk's army.

Relics of the battle and of temporary French occ^ipancy, were numerous in the
early years of K'ttleniv'iit, such as " bill axes," gun barrels, and trinnnings, a silver cross
and silver coins. As late as 1818, two five frank pieces were j)loughed up on the liill
nortli of Boughton Hill. A little oast of the Pitfsfcrd road, near tho old Indian trail,
on the farm of Asahel Boughton, there was ploughed up a few yeai-s ago, a half bushel

NoTK. — The p'-ecise location of the battle ground of De Nonvallo and the Senecas,
has been a muofed question. Mr. Ho.smer has favored the conchision that it was in
Avon, near one of the tributaries of the Honeoye. Mr. James Hpeny, of Henrietta, an
early pioneer, a man of obser\;ition, as the reader will ;ilready have obser\'ed, inclines
to the opinion that it was on the farm of Nathan Waldron, in tlie nnrtli-east cornel
of East Bloomtield. A few years sinco', O. H. Marshall, of Builalo, a close and care-
ful investigator — an intelligont antiquarian, to whom our whole local region is far
more ind(bted for early Indian and French History, than he has had credit for — trans-
lated from the Frencl'i, the Journal of De Nonville, for the, use of the New York His-
torical Society, and to illustrate his sulijcct, made a tour of obseiTation, He located
tho battle ground in Victor, traced and mapped the several localities alluded to in De
Nonville .and La Hontan's account of the battle ; and left little room to doubt the
correctness of his conclusions. He was assisted in his investigations by Jacob Lob-
dell and Wm. C. Dryer. Exhibiting a maj) of the region to tlie venerable and int"l-
gent Seneca chief, Blacksmith, at Touawanda, he traced it with bis finger, and locat xl
the battle ground as Mr. Marsliall had.

APPENDIX.

473

of iron balls, about the sl-^ of musket biilbi. In the early years of scttloiuent iu Victor,
the niowt of tho iron tlic settlers used, was the old French axon the phugh woulil
ozpijse.

But tlie inquiry arises, if the battle ground of De Nonville and the Senecaa was in
Victor, liow arc Iho relics on tlie " Wuldron farm," tlie " Bull farm," in Avon, to he
accounted for ? The inquiry miglit also include Uio relics of French warfare, and
Frencli occupancy, in Aurora, and Eden, Erie counly, spoken of in tlie history of the Hol-
land Purchase. Tlie answer may be that our Jiistory of French occupancy of ;h(; wliolr
Genasee country, is as yet imperfect , but a small part of the Jesuit, Recollet and Fran-
ciscan "Relations," during tlic occupancy of more than a century has as yet been dis-
coTered, unless the recent discoveries among the archives of the Jesuits in Montreal,
and by Mr. Cass our minister at Rome, has supphed the deficiency.

[NO. 3.]

[extract FKOM his excellency, gen. WASHINGTON'S ORDERS.]

"Head Quarters, More's IIoisk, Oct. 17, 17'?9.
"The Commander-in-Chief, has now the pleasure of congratulating the armv on the
complete and full success of Maj. Gen. Sullivan, and the troops under his command,
against the Seneca and other tribes of the Six Nations, as a just and necessary puuishnienl
for their wanton depredations, their unparalleled and innumerable cruelties, their deafness
to all remonstrances and entreaty, and their pereeverance in the most horrid acts of
barbarity. Forty of their towns have been reduced to ashes, some of them large and
commodious-; tliat of tlie Genesee alone, containing one hundred and twenty-eight
houses. Their crops of com Iiave beeu entirely destroyed,— which, by estimation, it
it is said, would have provided 160,000 bushels, besides large quantities of vegetables
of various kinds. Their whole country has been over-run and laid waste : and thev
themselves compelled to place their security iu a precipitate flight to the British for-
tress at Niagara ; — and the whole of this has been done with the loss of less than foitr
men on our part, including the killed, wounded, captured, and those who died natural
deaths. The troops employed in this expedition, both officers and men, througliout tlie
whole of it, and in the action ti^^y had with the enemy, manifested a patience, perse-
verance, and valor that do them the highest honor. In the course of it, when tliere still
remained a large extent of the enemy's country to bo prostrated, it became necessary
to lessen the issues of provisions to half the usual allowance. In this the tro( ips acqui-
esced with a most general and cheerful concuiTence, being fully determined to sur-
mount every obstacle, and to prosecute the enterprise to a complete and successful
issue. Maj. Gen. Sullivan, for his great perseverance and activity ; for his order of
march and attack, and the whole of his dispositions; the Brigadiers and officers of all
ranks, and the whole of the soldiers engaged in the cxpedititm, merit, and have thv
Commander-in-Cliiers warmest acknowledgements, for tlieir important ser\-ices upon
this occasion."

As nothing has been said of Col. Brodhead's campaign, it may be proper to sUte
that on the 22d of March, 1779, Waehington ordered him to make the necessary pre-
parations for an expedition against Detroit, to throw a detachment forward to Kittan-
ing, and another lieyond to Venango, at the same time preserving the strictest secrecy
88 to his ultimate object. Though this expedition was soon found impracticable and
obaudoued, preparations were immediately, made for the one, which was actually un-
30

474

APPENDIX.

|i)'

il,

-lertakpii ngninat tlio Indiana at tho heml of tlie Allegany River, French Creek, and
.)t.her trilmtarifK of tlic Ohio. On the ll(h of Au(,niHt, 1779, with about hx liumlred
men, incliuliiig militia and vohintociH, and one month'rt provisions. Col. Daniiil Brod-
ht>a<l left Fort Pitt and hefran his march to tho Indian country. Tho result was an-
nounced by Gen. Wjwhington to his army at West Point :—
[Extract from General Orders.}

"Hkad Qiiarteus, Moiiu's Hoise, Oct. 18th, 1779.

" The Commander-in-Chief is happy in the ojuxirtunity of congratulating the army
< >u o\ir further success, by advices just arrived. Col. Biodhead, with the Continentid troops
uuder his command, and a body of militia and volunteers, has penetrated about one
hundred and eif^hly miles in.'o the Indian country, on the Allcfjany river, bu.nt ten
of the Muuc'v and Seneca towns in that quarter, containing one huiuh'ed and si.xty-
tive houses; destroyed all their fields of corn, computing to comprehend five hundred
acres, besides large quantities of vegetables; obliging the savages to flee before him
with the greatest inecipitatioii,and to leave behind them many skins and other articles
of vahie. The oidy oi)position the savages ventured to give our trooi)s, on tliis occasion,
was near Cuskusking. About forty of their warriors, on their way to commit barbarities
on our frontier settlers, were met here. Lieut. Harden, of the 8th Pennsylvania regi-
ment, attlieheadof (me of cmr advance partu-s, comjwsed of thirteen men, ot whom
eight were of our friends the Delawan! nation, who immediately attacked the savages
and put tluun to the rout, with tho loss of five killed on tho spot, and of all their canoes,
blankets, shirts, and provisions, of which, as is usual for them when going into action,
they had divested themselves ; ai;d also of several arms. Two of our men and one of
our Indian friends were very slightly wounded in the action, wliich was all tho dam-
age we sustained in the whole enterprise.

"The activity, perseverance, and firmness, which marked tho conduct of Col. Brod-
heau, and that of all the oflicern and men, of every descri])tion, in this expedition, do
them great honor, and their services justly enlitlo them to the thanks, and to tliis tes-
timonial of the General's acknowledgment."

In a letter dated "West Point, 20th October, 1779," addressed to tho Marquis dc
La Fayette, Gen. Washirgton incidentally alludes to these two campaigns, and their
j)robable efT'eets njion the Indians. He informs Gen. La Fyetto as news that may be
interesting to him, that —

" Gen. Sullivan has conijileted the entire destruction of the country of the Si.x Nations •
driven all their inhabitants, men, women, and children, out of it ; and is at Easton on his
return to join this army, with the troops under his command. lie performed this service
without losing forty men, either by th(^ enemy or by sickness. While the Six Nations
were under this rod of correction^thc Mingo, and Muncey tribes, livingon the Alleganv,
French creek, and other watei-s of tho Ohio, above Fort Pitt, met with similar chastise-
ment from Col. Brodhead, who, with six hundred men, advance<l upon them at the
same instant, and laid waste their country. These unexjjeeted and severe strokes have
disconcerted, humbled, and distressed the Indians exceedingly ; and will, I am persua-
de.I, be productive of gi-eat good, as they are undeniable pi'oofs to them, that Great
Britain cannot protect them whenever their hostile conduct deserves it"— Writings of
Washington, Vol vi, p. 384.

APPENDIX.

[NO. 4.]

PETER OTSEQUETTE.

[from manuhchipts ok thomas moekis.]

476

At this trrnty also, T became intiiniife with Peter Ofsequclte, wlio when a boy, was
taken U) France, by the Marqum d(; La Fayette. He remained witli tlio Marquis seven
years; he received while with him, a very finiHJiwi education. Having received tlic
early part of my own echication in France, and t.-ng well arciuainted with the French
langiiaj,'.-, I won Id fa'(jnently retire with Peter, into the woods, and hear him recite
some of the finest pieces of French poetry from the tragedies of Corneillo and Racine.
Peter was an Oneida Indian, he had not been many months restored to his nation, and
yet he woidd drink raw rum out of a brass kettle, take as much delight in yelling
and whooping, as any Indian ; and in fact, became as vile a drunkard as the worst of
them.

[NO. 5.]
HENDRICK WLilPLE.

[from MAJdlSCRIPTS OF W. H. C. nOSMER.]

Ho was the father of MiH Maria Berry, wife of the late Gilbert R. Rerry, a pioneer
Indian trader, and settler in the valley of the Genesee. In advance of civilization,
this remarkable man, frequently visited the Indian villages of western New York—
ajid sometimes exten<led his joiirnies by water, in a birch canoe, manned by Indians, to
Detroit, and thence to Mackinaw and the Straits of St. Mary's. His place of resi-
dence was near Canghiiawaga, on the Mohawk, at the breaking out of hostilities. He
afterwards removed to the Oneida Castle.

John Scott Quackeuboas, a kinsman, and who knew him in his boyhood, describes
him as a man of majestic proportions, more than six feet in height, and endowed by
nature with great personal strength and agility. His influence was great among the
Oneidas and Mohawks, being familiar with their customs, and their superior in all ath-
letic sports. He accompanied, by special invitation, Gc ral Herkimer and party, in
their perilous expedition to Unadilla in 1777, and acted m.-^ interpreter at an interview
between Drant and the gallant old German, on that occasion. He was also interpre-
ter for Sullivan, and in that capacity served in the great Indian campaign of 1779,
accompanying the army in their march through a howling wilderness, and hostile
country, to the valley of the Genesee, where liis daughter and son -in law subsequent-
ly settled and died. My informant, Mr. Scott, of Mohawk, in Montgomery county,
alluded particulaily to his skill as a marksman, having been his companion in many a
hunt. He also spoke with great fluency, all the dialects of the Iroquois, besides
having a knowledge of many western tongues. Soon after the close of the Revolu-
tionary T^ar, while in a forest that bordered the Mohawk, he Avas the unseen spectator
of a murder, p.-rpctrated by a Mohawk, known as Saucy Nick — the victim being un-
conscious, at the time he received the fatal blow, of an enti.:^ being in the neighbor-
hood. After he returned to his home, he saddled a horse for the purpose of procuring
process for the Indian's arrest Ou his way to the magistrate's office, a few miles dis-
tant — he stopped at a public house, observing Saucy Nick standing on the steps, and
wishing a close watch to be kept on the murderer's movements. After the necessary

476

APPENDIX.

I' (

wa^lill^' had Ixhmi {,mvoii, ho wns about to loavc, wlion Saucy Nick importunnd him to
treat, iiiiil iii,si.4o(l that Mr. AVeinplo whouM drink ■with liiiii.

To liilUho Jiidiuik's MiiKpicioiiB, wliich hiUiiou^'lit liad W'vn fi.ivil.ly aroiiwd, lio drank
witli him, and niountod his liorsc ; he had Ijceii ia tlic mMh hut a few ininutcH, wlicn
ho was attacked witii a severe pain, and a scuso of niortid tiickiiess. With dilliculty
Lo disnioiiuted, and vaH !i>*tiisted to a bed. His 'tonf,'iie BWelled until it protruded from
his nioutli, and tlie next day, after indeHcribable agony, he died.

IV was generally believed by his neij,'hl)i)rs and friends, tliat the Indian had had Kocrot
intelligence of the design to arrest hiiii, and adroitly druggeil, wiih boiuc Hubtlo poison,
tho ' 'pior of his unsuspecting victim. Tlie murderer elfected iiis escape;, and joined
hifl tribe in Canada, tiendritk Weniple, was buried close to Oueida Oaatle, ou the
north side of the turnpike, about one mile from Skenandoah's residence.

In his life time he claimed a large portion of temtory, afterwards bought by Judge
Coo])er, of CooiRTstown, and embracing some of the best lands of Otjscgo county.
Ho was a descendant of Hendrick 'Wemple, one of the original proprietors of .Schenec-
tady— the O-no-al-i-gono of the Oueidas — and whose arms, Giles F. YatcH informs
me, may still be seen over the door of an old Dutch church, one <if the moat cherished
antiquities of the city. His name is not out of place in this local work.

He was a transient resident in this region previous to tlio Revolution, aud many of
his descendants are now residents of the Genesee country.

[NO. 6.]

OLIVER PHELI'S' SPEECH TO THE INDIAKS, IN ANSWER TO 1IIEIK

COMPLAINTS.

I wish in afiieudly manner, to state to you the particulars of our bargain : — When
I arrived at Buffalo creek, O'Bail, (Cornplanter.) had leased all your cotmtiy to Liv-
ingston and Benton. I had bought that lease of Livingston, but I found you were
dis,satisfied, and not willing to give up your country. Although I had power to have
confirmed that lease and have held your lauds, yet I would not have anything to do
with your lands without your voluntaiy consent. I therefore, to remove the lease out
of the way, and set your minds at ease, bought so mucli of it of Livingston as covered
the Seneca lands, and gave up tho lease to you, making it all void ; so that all the
Seneca lauds was yours. So that by my means you got your whole country back
again. I then came forward with a speech to you, requesting to purchase a part of
your country. You was not willing to sell so much as I wanted, but after a long
time we agreed on tho lines.

Brothers, you rcmemher we set up all night. It was almost morning before we
agreed on the boundaries. After breakfast we returned to agree on the prico you
should have. Capt. O'Bail said he was willing to take the same proportion for the
Seneca lands, that Livingston was to pay for the whole,

[Mr. Phelps recapitulati'd the terms of the bargain as fixed by the referees, and
cited the testimony of those present, in confirnuitiou ol his statement]

After some consideration you agreed to the terms proj)osed, but insisted that I must
add some cattle and some rum, to which I agreed. Brothers, you know there was a
great many people there ; they all tell alike ; they all teU one story.

Now, brothers, I do not want to contend with you. I am an honest man. If you
go to New England aud enquire my character, you will not find me such a rogue iis

APPENDIX. 477

you represent me to bo. I menn to fulfill my engagement to yon. I now owo you
ono tlioiisand doUnrs for two years rent," which I am willinj? to j«y at auy time, and
at any place you wish.

[NO. 7.]
JEMIMA WILKINSON,

[raOM MANBSCEirTS OF THOMAS MOUHIS.]

"Prior to my having settled at Cnnandaigua, Jemima Wilkinson and her followers,
had cstahlislied themselves on a tract of land, purchased by them, and called the
Friend's settlement. Her disciples were a very orderly, sober, industrious, and some
of them, a well educated and intelligent set of people ; aud many of them posaossed
of handsome properties. She called herself the Universal Friend, and would not
permit herself to bo designated by any other appellation. She jtretoiidctl to have had
revelations from heaven, in which she had been directed to devote her labors to the
conversion of sinners. Her disciples placed the most unbounded, confidence in her
and yiehled in all things, the most implicit obedience to her mandates. She would
punish those among them, who were guilty of the slightest deviation from her orders ;
in some instances, she woiild order the offending culprit to wew a cow bell round
his neck for week.s, or month.s, accordijig to tlie nature of tho offence, and in no in-
stance was she known to have been disobeyed. For some offence, committed by one
of her people, she banished him to Nova Scotia, for three years, where ho went, and
from wlience he returned only after tlio expiration of his senteuce. When any of her
people killed a calf or a sheep, or purchased an article of dress, the Friend was asked
what portion of it she would have, and the answer would sometimes be, that the Lord
hath need of the one half, and sometimes that tho Lord hath need of the whole. Her
house, her grounds, and her farms, wore kept in tho neatest order by her follower,
who, of course, labored for her without compensation. She was attended by two
young women, always neatly dressed. Those who acted in that capacity, and enjoyed
the most of her favored confidence, at tho time I was there, were named Sarah Rich-
ards and Rachel Malin. Jemima prohibited her followers from marrying ; and even
those who had joined her after having been united in wedlock, were made to sept-
rate, and live apart from each oilier. This was attributed to her desire to inherit tho
the property of those who died.

Having discovered that bequests to the Universal Friend would be invalid, and not
recognizing the name of Jemima Wilkinson, she caused devises to bo made by the
dying to Sarah Richards, in tlie first instance. Sarah Richards, however died, and her
heu- at law claimed the property thus l)equeathed ; litigation ensued, and after the con-
troversy had gone from court to court, it was finally decided in Jemima's favor, it ap-
pearing, that Sarah Richards had held the property in tnist for her. After the death
of Sarah Richards, devises were made in favor of Rachel Malin ; but Rachel took it
into her head to marry, and L.r husband claimed in behalf of his wife, the property
thus devised to her. Among Jemima's followers, w.-s an artful, cunning, and intelli-
gent man, by tlie name of Elijah Parker; she dubbed him a prophet, and called liim

* Purchase money in part. Mr. Phelps' use of tho term "rent "must have been dic-
tated by the consideration that the Indians had been talked to so much about rent, by
the Lessees, that they would better understand him, than they would if ho spoke of
instalraenta of purchaso money.

478

APPENDIX.

tho Prophet Elijah. IIu would, before proplicsying, wear around the lower part of hu
waist, a hnnda^'e or girdle, tied very tiglit, and wlien it had caiwed tho upper part of
liis stomach to swell, ho would pretei-d to 1)0 filled with the prophetic visions, which ho
would impart to the cotninutiity. But after Horiie time, Jeiniiiia and her Pr.iphet (juar-
relled, and lie then denounced her as an imixwtor, declared that «!ie had iinpowed on
his credulity, and that he had never been a prophet. After havin;? divested himself
of his projihetic character, lie became a justice of the peace, and in that capacity isHueu
a warrant ajjainst Jemima, charging her with blasphemy. She was accordingly
brought to Canandaigua, by virtue of this warrant, and at a circuit court held there in
179(), by the late Governor Lewin, Judge of the S-prenie Court of tho State, a bill of
indictment prepared by Judge Howell, of Ciinandaigua, thiMi District Attorney, was
laid before the Grand Jury. Judge Lewis having told the Grand Jury, that l)y tJio
laws and constitution of this State, blasphemy was not an indictable offence, no bill
was found. Judge Ho -ell has informed me that a similar question having been
brought before a full bench of the Supreme Court, that Judge Lewis* opinion was
overruled by all the other Judges, and that blasphemy Wiis decided to be an indictable
offence. These litigations liowever, had considerably les.sencd the number , f her fol-
lowers, but she. as I am informed, retained until her death, her influence over a con-
siderable portion of them.

Prior to these occurrences, Jemima had been attacked with a violent disea-se, and
she expected to die. Under tliis conviction, she caused her disciples to be a,«sembled
in her sick chamber, when she told them that her Heaveidy Father, finding tliat tho
wickedness of the world was so great, that there was no prospect in her 8ucce(;ding in
reclaiming it, had determined that she should soon quit it, and rejoin him in heaven.
Having unexpectedly recovered, she again assembled them, when she announced to
them that her Heavenly Father had again commanded her to remain on earth, and make
one more trial.

When I first saw Jemima, she was a fine looking woman, of a good height ; and
though not corpulent, inclined to en bon point. Her hair was jet black, short, and
curled on her shoulders ; she had fine eyes and good teeth, and complexion. Her dress
consisted of a silk j)ur})le robe, open in front ; her under dress Wiis of the finest white
cambric or muslin. Round her throat, she wore a large cravat, bordered with fine
lace. She was very ignorant, but possessed an uncommon memory ; though she could
ueitlicr read nor write, it was said tliat she knew the Bible by heart, from its having
been read to her. The sermon I heard her preach, was bad in point of language, and
almost unintelligible ; aware of her deficiencies in this respect, she caused one of her
followers to tell mo, that in her discourses, she did not aim at exjiressing herself in fine
language, prefening to adopt her style to tlie capacity of the most illiterate of her
hearera

So
"J
Hi
Sri
tor
Tc

um
ma
of

[NO. 8.]

In 1803, the only Post Office in all the Genesee country west of Geneva, was a*
Canandaigua. To show the reader how wide a region of new settlements was em-
braced in its circle of delivery, the autlior extracts from its list of advertised letters, a
few names and their localities : —

"Mr. Garbut, near Geneva;" "Gen. Mountjoy Bailey, Geneva;" "Wm. Bates,
Gov. House, head of Lake Ontario;" Samuel B 'sin, (Avor " "Mathew Clark.

APPENDIX.

479

Sodus;" "Dr. Prcscott, Phclpstown ; " " Samuel C.bwdl, Friendn' Settleraont;"
" Aloxuniior M'Donuld. Caledoniu; " "Nathan Fisk, Northfield ; " "Widow llebtscca
Reed, PittHtown ; " " Wni. White, Palmyra;" "Elisha Sylvester, Lyo.m;" "John
Smifh, Williamsbug ; " "James 0. Shennett. Potter's Town ; " " Henry Tower, Hope-
ton;" "Soljmon Hull, JeruHalem;" "David Nash, Big Tree;" "Joseph Poudry
Tonawanda ; " " Eliakim Crosby, Fort Erie ; " " Peter Anderson, Big Springs."

[NO. 9.]

Tlic followinfj is an abstract of the census roll of Gen. Amos Hall, a deputy ranrslml
under the U. S. census law of 1790. Th.. author i>resumcH that the enumeration was
made in July and August of that year. It embraces the names of all who were heads
of families, in all the region v^cst of the old Ma^^sachusetts pre-emption line : *

No. 9. 7th R.

William Wadswoiih,
Phineas Bates,
Daniel .R0.18,
Henry Brown,
Enoch Noble,
Nicholas Rosecrantz,
David Robb,
Naliuin Fairbanks.

No. 1, 2nd R.
Ele<izer Lindley Esq.

Daniels,

Samuel Lindley,
John Seely,
Ezekiel Mumford,
Eleazer Lindley, Jr.,

No. 2, 2d. P..
Arthur Krwine,
Henry Gulp,
William Anchor,
Martin Youn,^,
Peter Gardner,

No. 3 & 4, .'ith & 6tli R'8.
James fj^^dley,
William Baker,
Jedediah Stevens,
Uriah Stevens,
Uriah Stephens, Jr.,
Joliii Steplieiis,
Richard Crosby,
Solomon Bennett,
Andrew Bennett,
John Jameson.
No. 11, 2d. R.

■ Sweet,

Ezra Phelps.

No, 10, .'ill. R.
Nafliiiuiel Gorhnm, Jr.
Nathaniel Sanborn,

No. 10, 3d. R.
John Fellows,
JoHe|)h Smith,
James D. Fisk,
Israel Chapin,
John Clark,
Martin Dudley,
Phineas Bates,
Caleb Walker,
Judah Colt,
Abner Barlow,
Daniel Brainard,
Seth H(dcomb,
James Brocklebank,
Lemuel Castle,
Benjamin Wells,
John Freeman,

No. 11,3d. R.
Abraham Lapham,
Isaac Hathaway,
Nathan Harrington,
John M'C'-mber,
Joshua Harrington,
Elijah Smith,
John Paine,
Jacob Smith,
John Russell,
Nathan Comstock,
Israel Reed,
Reuben Allen.

No. 12, 3d, R.
Webb Harwood,
David White,
Darius Comstock,
Jerome Smith.

No. 8, 4th R.
Gamaliel \^ Uder,
Epliraiin Wilder,
Aaron Rice,
Aaron Spencer.

No. 9, 4th R.
James Goodwin,
William Goodwin,
Nathaniel Fisher,

No. 10, 4th R.
Ephraim Rew,
Lot Rew,
Matthi!w Hubble,
John Barnes,
Oliver Chainn,
Nathaniel Norton,
John Adams,
Michael Rodgers,
Allen Sage,

No, 11, 4th R.
Seymour Boughton,
Jared Bouditon, ,
Zebulon Norton,"
Elijah Taylor.

- No. 9, Sth R.
Gideon PittB.

No. 10, 5th R.
Peregrine Gardner,
Amos Hall,
Benj. Gaidner,
Peck Sears,
Samuel Miller,
John Alger,
Sylvanus Thayer.

No. 12, 5th R.
Jared Stone,
Siraon Stone,
Israel Farr,
Thomas Cleland,
Silas Nye,
Josiah Giminson,
Alexander Dunn,
David Davis,

* Geneva and the Friends Settlement on' Seneca Lake, is of course not included.

480

No. 11, 5th R.
Jonathan Hall,
William Moores.

No. 13, 5Ui R.
John Lusk,
Chauiicey Hyde,
Timothy Allen,
Jacob Walker.

No. 10, Gtli R.
John Minor,
Asahel Burchard,
Abuer Miles,
Davison.

No. 11, 6th R.
John Gaiison,
Philemon Winship,
Atcl Wilsey,
Elijah Mortran,
Solomon Hover,
John Morgan,
William Webber,
William Markham,
Abr? ia;u Devans.

iVo. 7, 7th R.
Niel.

APPENDIX.

No. 9, 1st R.
David Smith,
I'hineaa Pierce,
Esther Forsyth,
Thomas Smith,
Harry Smith,
Thomas IJarden.

No. 10, 1st R.
Scth Reed,
Thaddeiis Oaks,
Jonathan Whitney,
Solomon Warner,
Jonathan Oaks,
Joso]'h Kilboume,
John Whitcomb,
Phineas Stevens,
Benjamin Tuttle,

No. 11, 1st R.
John D. Robinson,
Pierce Granger.

No. 8, 2d R.
Francis Priggs,
Michael Pierce,
Benjamin Tibbits,
Henry Lovell,
John Walford,
William Hall,
Arnold Potter.

No. 10, 2d. R.
Sweet,

No. 9, Ist R.
Jame.q Latta,
David Benton,
Samuel Wheaton,
Rice,

Males, 728 ; Females, 340 ; Free Blacks, 7 ; Slaves, 9 ;— Total population, 1,084.

No. 10, 2d R.
Daniel Gates,
Thomas Warren,
Israel Cliapin,

Piatt,

Day.

West of Gknksek Riveb.
Gilbert R. Berry,
Darling Havc^ns,
David Bailey,
William Rice,
Gershom Smith,
HUl Caniey,
Morgan Desha,
William Desha,
Horatio Jones,
William Ewing,
Nathan Fowler,
Jeremiah Gregory,
Nicholas Philips,
Jacob PhiUps,
CaluK/ Forsyth,
Nathan Chapman,
Nicholas Miller,
Asa Utley,
Peter Shaeffer,
Ebenezer Allan.,
Christopher Dugan,
Zephaniah Hough,
Edward Harp,
Joseph Skinner,

[No. IC]

. MURDER OF MAJOR TRUEMAN.

[statement of WILLIAM SMEILIE, OBTAINED BY CHAELES WILLIAMSON.]

About the 20t]i of May last, [1793] I left FortWashington, in company with Majors
Hardin and Trueman. After bearing us company 7 days. Major Hardin and his atten-
dants took the route for Sandusky, while Major Trueman, with whom I continued, took
the route for Au Glaize. About sunset we fell in with two Indians and a little boy, who
appeared friendly and asked to encamp with us, saying they would be our pilots to An
Glaize, then about 30 mi'es distant.

After having made fires, taken our supper and smoked. Major Tnieman had laid down
and fallen to sleep. The oldest Indian asked me to ask the Major if he would have me
or the Major's servant tied to him as otherwise the Indian boys would be afraid to sleep.
The Major consented that his servant might be tied to liim, which was done. After
which the Major covered liimsclf all over with his blanket to keep off the musquctoes,
and seemed to fall asleep. The Indians sat up against a log and smoked. The oldest
Indian desired me to lay down on a boar skin near him, which I did. Taking rp liis
gun, he said, ' look, what a bad gun I have got,' and taking advantage of my head being
turned the other way, fired, killing Major Trueman, the ball entering lii." 'oft br<....)t.—
The Major threw himself over on his left side, groaned and died immediately. I ran to
a tree ; the Major's nervant disengaged himself, ran, but was overtaken and brought

APPENDIX.

481

back. One of the Indians watched mo to shoot rae, but I covered myaclf ■with the
tree, and reasoned with him to save my life. The Indian who h,id tlie Major's Hcrvant
called to the one who had the gun to shoot as he could not hold liim. He turned and
shot him through the heart.

WliL-n all thi.s was done they called me to come to the fire, which I did after they had
promised to save my life. Next morning they carried me to Au Glaizc where I met
some of my adopted relatives* and wa.'^ well used. At this time there seemed to be u
suspension of hostilities on account of Brant's going to Philadelpliia. They were wai-
ting for his answer. While I was at IJois de Bou, a great council was hold to heai-
Brant's ans';\er, whom they heard was returning ; but on his being taken sick one Mr.
Gill brought his papers, which were opened before a great council. But as Congress
they said, liad not agreed to give up the land on the further side of the Oliio, the voice
for war was unanimous, and a paity of COO warriors mai-ched immediately after to
attack Fort Jefferson.

Mr. Williamson added that Smellie informed him that the Indians were bueily
employed in concentrating their forces, and that they expected to have not less than 7
or 8000 warriors the nejtt year ; and that tliey were liberrJly supplied by the British
with provisions, arms and ammunition.

[No. 11.]
THE PULTENEY TITLE.

Not as much as the reader will have been led to anticipate by the reference in the
body of the work, wiU be given. In proceeding to the task, the author found that a
connected historical and legal deduction of title would involve the use of too much
space, at a stage of the work in which condensation, and the omission of much matter
already prepared, had become necessaiy. So far as the validity and soundnefis of the
title is concerned, now after the lapse of over half a century, when the acts of our legis-
lature and the decrees of our courts have frequently confirmed them, and no less than
three Attorney Generals of state have investigated and made reports coinciding ; the
whole must be deemed now a settled question. Certainly, a careful penisal of the
whole chain of title, induces the conclusion that there are few less broken and imper-
fect ; lew instances in which through so many changes, and a long succession of years,
a title has l)'2en so carefully guarded.

lu the body of the work, the Pulteney estate is left vested in Henrietta Laura Pulte-
ney, the daughter of Sir William Pulteney. She died in July, 1808, leo\-ing a cousin,
Sir John Lowther Johnson, her sole heir. He died in December, 1811 ; previous to
which he had executed a will devising all of his real estate in America, in trust, (to be
sold and the proceeds spccilically appropriated,) to Ernest Augustus, Duke of Cumber-
land, Charles Herbert Pien'epoint, David Cathcart and Masterton Urc. In these truE-
toes, and then- successors, tlie title now remains, in trust for two sons of George Frede-
rick Johnstone, who was au oidy son of Sir James Lowther Johnstone. The heirs are
twins, born after the death of their father, and are now minors, being but 1 1 years of
age. They reside in Scotland.

The portion of the original estate of the London Associates, which in the division,
fell to Gov. William Hornby, is owned by his grand-children who reside in London.

•Smellie had been an Indian captive.

JaL

482

APPENDIX.

[NO. 12.]
RED JACKET -FARMER'S BROTHER _ INDIAN WAR DANCE.

[fBOM MAKUSORIPTg OF THOMAS MOBHIS.]

It may not l,e amm to mention here, an arecdote that ^.as told, and ^vhich was
generally bol.ovod to l,o correct, as to the means resorted to by Red Jacket to become
a faac hem. The Sacliemnhip is derived from birth, and the doscenu is in the female
hne, because they say the offspring,' of the mother is always known to be legitimate ;
the ^ar-Ch.efs only, are selected for bravery and merit. Red Jacket, though of
obscure birth was .letern,ine<l to become a Sache.n. To effect his purpose, he announ-
ced to the Ihdmns, that the Great Sj.irit had made known to hin, in a drea.n, that their
Wahon woidd never pnmi„.r, until they m,«le of hin. a S.achem. For some time, Vfiiy
little attention was paid to this j.ret.Muled revelation ; but the dreamer artfully availed
himsclt of every cidamity that befc'l the Nation - su.^h a« an unusually sickly season,
the small pox spreading amons: them, iuid .ittributed all the misfortunes of the Nation
to their not complying with the will of the Great Spirit. He is said to have persevered
in tins couree until he wfis made a Sachem.

The Farmer's Brother was a tall, powerful man, much older than Red Jacket por-
fcctly honest, an.l possessiu-, and deserving to possess, the confidence of the Nation.
Ho wasdiirmtied a.id fluent in his public s],eaking ; and although not gifted with the
brilliancv- of Red Jacket, he possessed good common sense and was esteemed both by
tlic white people and the Indians.

_ It may not be improper here to describe a religious ceremony to which I had been
invited, and joine.l in. during this treaty. It being full moon ; the ceremony waa in
honor .;f that luminary. There were present probably 1.500 Indians; we w.'ie aU
Bcated on the gro„„,l forming a large circle, excepting that part of it, where afire was
burning, and not far from which was a pillar or po.st, rej.resenting the stake to which
criminals are tied when tortured, after having been taken in battle. A very old Cayuga
Chief, much distinguished for hid bravery, .and called the Fish Carrier, rose, and address-
ed the Moon in a speech of alnnit a half an hour in length, occasionally, throwing in
the hre a handful of tobjicco, as an otFering. After this speech, we all stretched our-
selves full length upon the ground, the head of one, touching the feet of another •
and .It one end of the circle commenced the utterance of a guttural sound which wa^
repe'ited, .me after the other, by every pem.n present. Then followed the War-dances
performed by young warriors, n.aked to the w.ais* band, with bodies painted with
Btreaks of red, down their backs representing streams of blood. Occasionallv ono ot
the dancers would strike the post, representing the tortured prisoner, and inl!^. whoso
body he was sup,,osed to thrust the end of a burning stick of wood. Ho wouhl then
brag of the number of scalps be had taken from those of his tribe or nation. After the
nim dr.ink during this ceremony, i,ad began to produce its effect, an Oneida warrior
struck the . St, and imprudently began to boast of the number of Indian .scalps he had
taken during the War of the Revolution, when the Onei.las alone had sided with tho
Americans, and the Senecas, Cayugas, Onondagas, and Chii)pewa3 with the Ihitisii.-
Ihis b,.ast e.\.'iiecl llio anger of the others, knives were drawn, and theie would have
been bloody work, had not old Fish Carrier, (who was venerated both on account of his
age and his bravery,) interi.osed. He arose, and addressing himself to the young war-
riors, told them that when any of them had attained his age, and Lad taken as many
Bcalps as he had, it would be time for thwu to boast of what they Lad dona; but until then

APPENDIX.

483

it better became them to be mlont. Ho then stnick the post and kicked it over, and
caused tlie fire to be put out, and they dispersed peai;eat)ly.

It was fit tills ceremony that I received the Indian name, by which I was tliereafter
calhid by them. I'liat name was O-tes-si-aw-nc, which was translated to bo " always
ready." Red Jacket told mo that it was his name, when he was a ybuug man ; but
when he became a Sacliem, he was called Sa-go-ye-wa-tiu

And in this connection the author will add an mipubliahed reminiscenco of Red Jack-
et, that he had from John Dixson, Esq., of Bloomtield, who gave Jasper Parriah as his
authority.

'I"he Chief, it is well known, was no renowned warrior. The author, in his boyhood,
kn(!W liim wcU, has often seen him hi his wigwam upon the Seneca Reservation, and in
his fre(nient journeyings between liis own village and-tlu! homes of his people upon tlie
Genesee River. He was never popular with his own race ; his influence wai* acquired
alone by the force of liis superior tidents ; ho would govern by Ids detiirmined will and
strong intellectual powers ; not by commanding the love or esteem of those he govern-
ed. It Wiis common to hear him called a coward ; indeed such wiis his general reputa-
ti(m among his own people. But, to the reminiscence : — When the Indians retreated
before Sullivan, and had crossed the Canandaigua outlet, reaching the commanding
bluff, on the west side of the Lake, Farmer's Brother insisted upon a stand, and a resis-
tance of the invasion, but Red Jacket opposed him and insi.sted upon a continued flight.
Agidii, at the old Indian orchard, a little south west of Canandaigua, Farmer's Brotli-
er was for standing and giving battle, but met with the same opposition. Turning in a
spirit of indignation to the squaw of Red Jack- 1, he told her not to boar sous of which
He was the father, for they would be the inheritors of his cowardice.

[NO. 13.]
SHAY'S REBELLION.

[FODND AHONQ the PAPEUS of gen. ISRAEL OHAPIN.]

Northampton, 5th December, 1796.
General Order* for the Miiitia of the 4th DicLiion.

WhereaB, the Legislature, composed of the Representatives of the good people of this
Commonwealth, have, at their late meeting for that purpose, carefully and attentively
examined our political circumstances, and the various causes, and even pretended causes
of complaint anions' us of late ; and have, aa far as is consistent with the interest and
hapfiiiicsH of the State, complied with the wishes of every of its citizens; and have
among other things, i)i'cpared and jfliblished an accurate statement of all taxes that
have been granted, and the sums p.lid ; also the sums that have arisen frota the Impost
and Excise, aiul the application of all monies within the State. Also the whole amount
of our foreign and domestic federal debt, and the particular debt of this State. And
have enumerated resources competent to the payment of the whole, accompanied with
agreements convincing to all honest and well disposed members of society ; and finally
have even iiidemnltied all concerned in any irregular or riotous proceedings in any
part of the State that none who had acted from mistaken notions of propriety and civil
duty, might be jirecluded from returning to the same.

Notwithstanding which, there are still some noi-so-is (so restless and abandoned to
all sense of soc'ial obligations and tranquility and not improbably influenced by the
clandestine instigations of our avoweii and must iuqilacablo euomies) again embodying

484

APPENDIX.

r I

under arms to obstruct the course of law and justice, and perhaps by one IjoM strolte
ovorturri tlio very fnuiulation of our Government and Constitution, and on their ruins
exert the unprincipled and lawless domination of one man. The General, tlierefore
from a sense of duty, and desirous to ward off impending evils, no less than in compliance
with orders from lus excellency, the (Governor, once more entreats and even conjures
the mihti,-. of his division, both Train Band and Alarm List, and indeed every cliUHs of
citizens, as tlioy prize their lives, their liberties, tlieir prosperity, and tueir country,
unitedly to exert themselves to prevent those ills which must otbor^vi80 inure. And
all officers commanding Regiments, are hereby requested and comman.led immediately
to march with all the effcclivc men of their several regiments to Brookfield, in tlie
county of W(,rcester, ami to wait further orders ; tlie commanders of regiments will
take care that the men are furnished with arms, ammunition and accoutrements, well
clad, and with fifteen day's provisions. The (k'neral begs that no little j)ersonal or
private considerations may t^dce place of tlie very near regard we all owe our country
but that we may with one mind contribute in our several conditions to reclaim the de-
luded, bring aU high handed offendf.rs to tlie punishment they so justly deserve, and
give not only the present but future generations proof tliat Uie peace and dignity of
Massachusetts is not to be attacked with impunity.

' WM. SHEPARD, Maj. General

[NO. 14.]
LORD Dorchester's speech to the Indians.

''Children : I was in expectation of hearing from the people of the United States,
what was required by tJi.™ ; I hoped that I should have been able to bring you together
and make you friends. '

"CnttnaEN : I have waited long, and Hstened with great attention, but I have not
heard one word from them.

"CnxLmiEu: I flattered myself ^V^ the uopc that the line propo.sed in the year
eighty-three, to separate us from thoTJnitod States, which was immediately broken by
themselves as soon as peace was signed, would have been mended, or a new one drawn,
m an amicable manner. Hero, also, I have been disappointed.

" Cnii:,DRE.v : S-'nce ray return, I find no appearance of a line remains ; and from the
manner m which tlio people of tlie United States vush on, and act, and talk, on this
side; and fron. what I learn of their conduct toward the sea, I shaU not be surprised
If we are at war t. ith them in the course of the present year ; and if so, a Une must then
De oi-awn by the warrior.a.

" CniLDHEx : You talk of selling your lands to the State of New York.* I have told
you that there is no line between thorn and us; I shaU acknowledge no lauds to be
thcir's which have been encroached nn by them since the year 1783. They tlien broke
the peace, and as they kept it not on their part, it doth not bind on ours.

"Childden: They then destroyed their right of pre-emption. Therefore all their
approaches toward us since that rime, and aU the purchases mad.! by them, I consider
as an infringement o n tlie King's rights. And when a lino is drawn between us, be

* The Caughnawaga Indians, residing near Montreal, were about this time in treaty
with Governor George Clinton, for tlie sale of some of their lands lying within the
bonndaries of the State of New York. The late Egbert Benson was a Commissioner
on the part of the State.

APPENDIX.

485

it in peace or war, tlicy must loose all their Improvements, and houses on one side of
it, those people must all bo gone who do not oVjtain leave to become the King's sub-
jects. What belongs to the Indians will of coui-se, be secured and confirmed to them.
"Children : Whi.t farther can I say to you ? You are witnesses that on our parts
we have acted iu the most peaceable manner, and borne the language and conduct of
the people of the United States with patience. But I believe our patience is almost
exhausted."*

[NO. i5.]

WILLIAM EWINg's LETTER TO GE^. CIIAPIN WAYNe's VICTORY.

Geneseo, Sept 17th, 1794.
Israel Ciiapin, Esq., Sir : — Agreeable to j-our request, the 2Gth ultimo I left this
place to go and see Capt. Brant, and bring him forward to Canandaigua if possible.
As I passed tlirough Buffalo Creek settlement, I was told by Red Jacket, one of the
Seneca chiefs, f hat the Indians at that ])lace, and the Six Nations in different parts of
the country around, had not yet determined, whether they would attend the treaty at
Canandaigua or not ; that they were waiting for Capt. O'Bail (Cornplaiiter,) and other
chiefs to come in, whose arrival was hourly expected, when they should determine
what answer to send to your invitation, though himself and many others, from tlie
first, was determined to attend your council fire. I was also told by young Jemison,
a Seneca Ind-'an, that Cob Butler left that place a few hours before I arrived, who
had been in council with the Indians some days past, aud that he was of an opinion
that Butler was trying to stop the Indians, and he did not think they would go to
Canandaigua. I from this place crossed the river to the British side, and proceeded down
the river to Niagara Fort. I found tlie Britisli had been much alarmed at Gen.
Wayne's advancing into the Indian country. The news was that Wayne had an en-

* The autlienticity of this speeeh of Lord Dorchester is denied l)y Chief Justice
Marshall, and Mr. Sjiarks, in his Life and Correspondence of Washington, notes that
denial without dissent. Hence it has been received as spurious, and Lord Dorchester.
Avith his Oovernment, has escaped the responsibility of having uttered such an un-
warrantable document. The first copy was forwarded to President Washington by
Governor Clinton, who did not doubt its genuineness. Neither did the President" ;
since, in his letter to Governor Chnton, acknowledging its receipt, he states his reasons
at large for dissenting from the opinions of those who were proclaiming it to be spurious.
On the contrary, he declared that he entertained " not a doubt of "its authenticity."
Equally strong was he in the opinion, that in making sucli a speech. Lord Dorches'ter
had s] token the sentiments of tlio British Cabinet, according to his instructions. On
the 2()tli of May, the attention of the British Minister, Mr. Hammond, was called to the
subject by the Secretary of State, Edmund Ran(lol])li, who remonstrated stronglv, not
only against tlie speech, but against the conduct of Governor Siincoe, who was then
engageil in measures of a liostile character. Mr. Hammond replied on the •2-2d of
May, rather tart ly ; and. what renders the denial of the speecli by Marshall and Sparks
tlie more singular, is tlu^ fact, that the British Minister sjiid in that letter :— " I am
willing to admit the authenticity of the speech."— [Sea T. B. Wail (^« Son's Editinn
of American State Papers, vol, 1, pages 449 — 453.] " But if doubt has existed be-
fore, as (o tlie genuine character of that document, it shall no hjngcr exist. 1 have
myself transcribed the preceding extracts from a certified niamiscrijit copy, discovered
among the papers of Joseph Brant in my possession."— ^j</ior of Life of Brant,

Note. — If confirmation, other than that furnished by Col. Stone, is required, the
papers of Gen. Israel Cliapin will supply it. Assuperintendentof Indian affairs in this
region, Gen. Cliapin obtained authentic information of the exti-aordiuaiy speech of Lord
Dorchester a few days after it was delivered. — Author.

IP'

i )■

'ii

486

APPENDIX.

gagement with the Indians, that the action commenced in what is called the Olaize,
and that he had defeated and completely routed the Indians, and drove them six or
seven miles down the Miami of the Lakes, below the Fort at tlie rapids, built by the
BriUsh, and that as he passed by the Fort he demanded it, but the officer in command
of it, refused to comply with his request, and he passed on without giving any dam-
age to the Fort Some said there was 100 Indians, some 150, some 60 i nd 35 killed
and taken, and that the loss on Wayne's side was very great, two or three hundred.
Rut the best i.'formation, and what I most depended on was, I lodged at what is called
the Chippewa Fort, at the head of the Great Falls, at the head of the carrying
place, and I overheard a Mr. Powell, who had just arrived from Detroit, relating to
tlie officer the news of tn^.t country, and among the rest he told him he thought there
was eighty or ninety Indians and white people lost in all ; he said also there was no
dependence to be put in the Militia of Detroit, for when Wayne was in the country
they refused doing duty in the Fort Gov. Simcoe had called out all the Militia of
the country about Niagara, it was said to man the posts through or to send up to De-
troit, but upon hearing that Gen Wayne had returned back to his Forts, some were
discharged, some deserted, and about sixty were kept in Barracks, so tliat every thing
seemed to be suspended for the present I from Niagara Fort proceeded on to the
head of Lake Ontario, about twenty miles from Capt Brant's settlement, at wliioh
place I got certain information that Capt. Brant liad set off some days past for De-
troit. At this place I also found he had vvrote you a letter the day he started, and
that a Dr. Ciirr had it, which 1 afterwards con< ived to get. It wa.s said Brant'.-; object
was to meet the Southern Indians r.t Detroit, though I believe he has taken l.jO or 200
warriors with him, but his object will be known in a future day. I returned by Ni-
agara and Buffalo creek. I was told at Niagara, that Gen. Simcoe would set off for
Detroit in a day or two to meet Capt Brant and the other Indians, and to strengthen
tlie Fort at the Miami. The 13th instant Simcoe arrived at Fort Erie opposite Buftalo
creek, and Col. McKay from Detroit met him there. The day following the Indians
from Buftalo creek were called over to council with them. Simcoe there told them
when he was going, and that he was going to make his forts strong, and to put more
men in them, tliat if Wayne should return, he would not be able to injure them, that
the fort at the Rapids was not strong, nor but a few men in it when Gen. Wayne came
past it, but that he now should make it very strong, and put a great many men
in it, so that he would be able to protect the Indians for the future ; he told tliem the
Indians had lost but thirty-five warriors, and five or six white men in tlie last engage-
ment with Wayne, but that Wayne had lost a great many, two or three hundred men
supposed, and that he would not have drove them, only tlie Indians were not collec-
ted. This it seems was the news Col. McKay brought h<it times would soon alter, for
the Indians were collecting from all quarters, and from all nations, that a greater force
was already collected, and they were coming in daily, and that he observed Capt
Brant was gone with a number of wamors, and that the destination of tlie Indians
was to give Wayne a decisive stroke, and drive them out of the countiy. Tliis I Avas
told by one of the Indians who was at the council. The next day Simcoe and McKay
sailed for Detroit. After this council I saw Red Jacket and lie informed me that the
Indians would all go to the treaty at Canandaigua, that the next day tiiey would go
into council among themselves, and agree upon the time they should start and where
to meet you, and in two days time they should send off runners to let you know, but
that there was not the least doubt but all the Indians would attend, but r-.y opinion is
it will be fifteen or twenty days before they all collect I cannot perceive any differ-

APPENDIX.

487

ence in the Indians at Buffalo creek, they appear as friendly as ever, and I do not
think they wish a disttnbaiicc with the United States, were it not for tlie British. As
to Brant, although he is now gone away to the South, and will not attend the treaty
and every appearance is liostile, yet I cannot luit entertain favorable ideas of his con-
duct and juacofble wishes towards the United States ; he acts open and candid and
the part ho is now acting, it appears to me, he is rather forced into it by the British,
and the promises he has made to them Southern Indians heretofore, though I cannot
but tliink from the conversation I have had witli liini some time pjist, and wliat I have
heard in many other places, but that his real wish and desire is that a peace might be
brought about between the United States, and all the Indian nations, and that although
he now acts in the capacity of a warrior, that he would be as willing to take hold of
the olive branch of peace, as the bloody tonoaliawk.

I am, Sir with respect, your most obt and most humble servt,

WM. EWING.

[NO. 16.]
UNPUBLISHED REMINISCENCES OF RED JACKET.

"Many years ago," snys Thomas Maxwell, Esq., of Elmira, "in conversation with
Red Jacket at Bath, after a little fire water had thawed liis reserve, the diief remark-
ed, that when a boy, he was present at a great coimcil fire held on the Shenandoali.
Many nations were represented by their wise men and orators, but the greatest was
Logan, wlio had removed from the tenitory of his tribe to Sliemokin. He was tlic
son of Shikellcimus, a celebrated chief of the Cayuga nation, who was a warm friend
of the whites before the Revolution. On the occasion alluded to. Red Jacket remark-
ed, tliat he was so cliarmcd with his manner and style of delivery, that he resolved to
attain if possible, the same liigh standard of eloquence; though he almost despaired
of equaling his distinguished model.

He said tliat after his return to his then home, at Kanadesaga, near Geneva, he
sometimes incurred the reproofs and displeasure of his mother, by long absence from
her cabin without any ostensible cause. When hard pressed for an answer he inform-
ed his mother that he had been playing Logan."

Thus in Ills mighty soul, the fire of a generous emulation had been kindled not to
go out, until his oratorical fame threw a refulgent gloiy on the declining fortunes of
the once formidable Iroquois. In the deep and silent forest he practiced elocution, or
to use his ow;i expressive language, played Logan, until he caught the manner and
tone of his great master. What a singiiLir revelation ! Unconsciously the forest ora-
tor was an imitator of the eloquent Greek, who tuned his voice on the wild sea beach,
to the thunders of the surge, and cauglit from nature's altar his lofty inspiration.

Not without i)reviou8 prejiaration, and the severest discipline, did Ked Jacket acquire
!iih power of moving and melting his hearers. His graceful attitudes, significant
gestures, perfect intonation, and impressive pauses, when the lifted finger and flashing
eye told more than utterance, were tlie results of sleepless toil ; while his high acquire-
ment, was the product of stern, habitual thought, study of man, and keen observation
of eternal nature.

He did not trust to the occasion alone for his finest periods, and noblest metaphors.
In the armory of his capacious intellect the weapons of forensic warfare had been pre-
rioHsly polished aiid sturud away. Ever ready for the unfaiteiing tongue, was the cut-

488

APPENDIX.

ting rebuke, or apt illustration. Let not tlio superficial candidate for fame in Senate
halls mipposefora moment, that Sa-go-ye-wat-ha, "The Keeper Awake," was a
speaker who sprung uj, fully equipped for debate, without grave meditation, and cun-
mug anticipation of whatever an adversary might advance, or maintam.

By labor, like all other gi-eat men, persevering kbor, too— he achieved his renown
A profound student, though unlettered, ho found "books in the running brooks ser-
mons m stones." By exercising his faculties in playing Logan when a boy, _ one of
the highest standards of mortal eloquence, eitlierin ancient or modem times — he has
left a lesson to all ambitious a-'^irants, that there is no royal road to greatness ; that
the desired goal is only to be gained by scahng rugged cliffs, and treading painful paths.

[NO. 17.]

CAPT. BEUFf's letter.

, "NiAOARA, Sept., 1797.

Ur. bir: — Recent information, not to be disguised, assures us that emmissaries
have been among the Indians residing within tlie territorial limits of the United States,
to engage them in hostile enterprises against the posts, and from a combination of
circumstances, it is feared that tliey have been too successful.

"Accounts from Detroit say that the Indians there are very surly, and have planted
no crops; that numbers have gone over the Mississippi, and that others have collected
in bodies near th^posts St. Josephs, Mackinaw, and other points, whose views are
unknown, but must be apprehended. That the French inhabitants of the post St
Vincent have revolted, taken the national cockade, and declared for France and Spain.
That the attachment of these at Detmit, cannot be much relied upon. That the
Spaniards have not yet given up the pc „s, but are collected in force, high up the Mis-

SLs.-

'11^'

lliese menacing appearances ; the hostile messages to the western Indians
tlioirs to the Seven Nations of Canada, and their.s to the Sk Nations; tlie doubtful
disposition of the latter towards us; the admonition of the Secretary of War in his
last communication, "to uso the same precautions as if tlie United States were actuaUy
at war;" with the remembrance of the deep laid schemes of Pontiac ; arc sufficient
to put us on our guard, if not to alarm us, on account of our present reduced numbers
and the distance from which we ...re to look for succor. For provided the Indians and
those that set them on, are politic, they may so manage the attack upon the posts on
either side, tliattlie other would hesitate about giving aid that might involve the
nation in an Indian war.

For some weeks past, our neighbors, the Tuscarora.s, have been very shy • the few
that have visited us are distant. There are at present about fifty warriors of Chippewa
and Ottawa nations on the opposite shore, and a large number are expected in a few
days ; ostensibly to hold a council with the Governor about supplies. Those already
arrived have been importunate for arms and ammunition, and I understand have ob-
tained a gim each."

[Capt. BniflF closes his long letter with some account of the indefensible condition
of Fort Niagara, and suggestions to as keeping watch of the Indians, and other precau-
tionary measures.]

[NO. 18.]
On his return to England, John B. Church having been a decided partizan in the

APPEISTDIX.

489

Rovnlution, and moreover, having connected himself by marriage, with so notorious a
"rebel" family as the Schuylora, found himself not in repute with the hio;h tory par-
ty, and had especially the disfavor of his j)atron uncle. Fortunately, Jiowever, the;
An.erican adventurer was as independent in his purse as in his politics, and g'jon gi-ew
in favor with Fox and Pitt, and their party. Ho was elected a member of the British
Parliament, from Wendover, warmly esj)oused the liberal party, and ndhered to Mr.
Fo.x, when it wiis said in de>isio-i that "his party could go to (he House of Commons
in a hackney coach."

The country residence of the family was but four miles from Windsor Castle, and
tJie family physician was the physician of George tlie Third. Long before it trauspir-
e<l publicly, the physician informed Mr. and Mrs. Church of the King's aberration nf
mind, and he did not hesitate, confidentially, to attributes the developcmeut of herctlita-
ry tendency, to the loss of American Colonies.

The house of Mr. Church in Lon<lon wa"; a frequent resort of Fox and Pitt ; of pro-
minent Americims who visited London ; and on the breaking out of the Freuch Rev-
dlution, when the refugees fled to London, he had as guests, Talleyrand, and many
of Ids companions, with most of whom he had become acquainted in America and
Paris. Judge Church speaks of the happy faculty of the French to be gay and light
hearted even in the darkest hours of advei-sity. The men who liad fled fr(mi what M.
A. Tliiers calls the " Sanguinary Republic of '93" — from the rack and the gtiillotiro
— statesmen and courtiers — stripped of their possessions and dependent upon tte
purses of their friends for the means of subsistence ; were yet chcerf'd and seemingly
happy, seeking amusements, and endeavoring to make dull and smoky London as gay
as their own devoted capital had been.

In Paris, Judge Church had made the acquaintance of Talleyrand, and it was by
means of the assistance he rendered him that the refugee Minister was enabled to reach
tliis country, when the British Ministers had ordered him to leave London in twenty-
four hours. Aftei-wards, when he had returned to Paris, and was flourishing again und er
a new dynasty, he remembered the kmdneso, but the demonstrations of his gratitude
were marked with the peculiar characteristics of the man. John Church, a son of iiis
benefactor, having taken up his residence in Paris, received from him a general invitat ion
to all his evening parties, and besides, an invitation that at his weekly dinners there was
always a " knife, fork, and plate for him." This had continued for a while, when the
welcome guest, discovered that some change had come over his host ;— coldness and
reseiTC had taken the place of cordial welcomes. An explanation followed. One evening
as Mr. Clmrch entered his apartments,Talleyrand beckoned him to a deep window recess
and -vhispered :— " Mr. Church, I am always happy to see you, but you must not feel
unpleasantly if I pay no attention to you ; I am so watched that I cannot be civil to
any person from England or America." The anecdote will be adjudged bx good
keeping with the whole character of the man.

Judge Church relates many anecdotes which illustrates the ill feeling that prevailed
in England, after the Revolution, and especially pending the Jay treaty, to every
tiling that was American. His school-follows at Eaton, were generally tlie sons of thi'
nobility, and of high tory blood, and tlieir boy partizanship could hardly tolerate the
sentiments of a representative of the disenthralled colonies. French politics -Kaa soon
introduced, and the young American, following the lead of his father, was inclined to
be a French republican ; manifesting upon one occasion a little exultation over tlie fate
of Louis XVI, he provoked the bitterest resentments of his school-follows.

When the family left London, in '97, there was employed about the King's home-
stead, a young Frenchman, in the capacity of a cook or confectioner. Ho had made
31

490

APPENDIX.

himself olmoxmustotho tones by Iuh Hitra French republieanis.n. and would sing
siiatcluH oi Fre.cU revo uhonary balladn. in tbe very precincts ..f royalty, and at tl.o ale
houses So„,e oAc.al of the King's household quietlv a^-ran^ed his ^-npLy n.ent by Mr.
Church, and he c..n.c to Au.erica vith his fan.ily ; afterwards, estuWishin.- himself a. a
c.mfect.o„er ,„ ^ ew \ ork. 1I« v..^ the father of Godey, the founder ..f Godey 's Ma^a-
Eiue, in i'liiladelphia. "

Most rea.lersure familiar witli the attempt .3f Dr. nolhnan and Busier to relea.se La
Fayette Ironi the pri.son of Uhnntz. Yhe daring adventurers reaching; London, made
ac.,ua,ntanco ot Jo'.n B. Church, ^vho had kno.vn La Fayette when a guest at his lath-
cr-indaw s house, ui Albany, in other places during tho Revolution, and aftenvards in
Paiis and London ; and feeling a lively interest in the pr..j..ct for his release, he at once
seconded it ; m hw aouse, in London, the plan wa.s matured, and ho contributed moauB
fw p'usccutirig it.*

/^ Judge Philip Chursh bears upon his .jerBoii a relic of the Border Wars of the Revolu-

Uou ; a slight scar upon his forehead ; comicctcd ^ith which is an interesting lustorical

renuniscence, dillerent vershuis of which have alrea.ly I,cen incorporate.! in history. In

August 1 < 97 a scheme was devised by Sir Frederick Haldimand, the !?riti.sh c.umnan-

dei-, in Caua.la, to secure Gen. Schuyler at Alba.iy, and by getting possession of him

emove the powerful mlluenco he was exercising against the success of the banded

British tones and Indians. John Waltemeyer. a tory refuge* was cntn.stc.1 with U.e

«.jumand of the expi^lition. With a gang of torh'S, Canadians and Indian.s, he cro.ssed

Die Pt. Lawrence, and readied the pine plains between Albany and Schenectady when-

tJieylurk.'d about for several days until they could a.scertain the precise position of

General Schuyler's mansion, which stood upon the banks of the Hudson, about three-

fourths of a mile from the then setUed portions of Albany. Attempts having been

previously made upon his life, he had a good 8up])ly of arms, and a pretty strong body

gi.ard ot servant.s. He had beside rehablo information that Waltemeyer and his party

were lu the neighborhood, and well inuiginod theii- errand.

Witli reference to defence, the hou.se was so arranged, that at night the only accea
was in the roar, and that was banvrl by an iron gate, wluch was kept locked. Sit-
ting with lus numerous famUy in the main hall, in a sultry evening, a servant came and
mlonned him tJiat a man was at the gate wishing to speak to him. In reply to U.e
question as to wliere the man came from, tlic servant repUed that he " thought he came
down the hill from the woods." The moment the General heard this, he onlered all
the lights to be extinguished, the sen-ants to arm themselves, and the family to retreat
to tlie garret. Unfortunately. JIra John B. Church, tlie day previou.s, seeing that her

Wlivu La Fayette visited Rochester in Ins American tour, a member of the c.unmit-
tec ol rcceptum was introducing the ladies as they one after another, in ,n,ick succession
presented hem.sclves. In the crowd was a daughter of Judge cliurch. As shJ
approaches , La I ayette addressed the conuuittcc man, saying : -^ ■< Sir, vou nee.l nor

r^If. V''r- %T,"r"-J'\''"'''r''^''" :^''''""'""^"*' '"y "'l<lin<'"<l Angelica Srhuvl.T;"
K '1 ;"• Ti"'''' ^'H\y^''^'^ "t the .same time advancing and shaking her cordi.ally
by tl„, hand This was the recognition of a family resemblance after tlie !;ipse of over
forty years! This is almost incredible, and yet the author witnessed in tl'e Nation's
gue.st, Kunnlar instances of his 'xtraordinary recognition of persons, and familv resem-
blances. In a letter to Judge Church, dated at La Grange, in 182(;, he alhufcsto the
circums ance : — " Happy I an in the opportunity to remind you of the old friend of
your beloved parents ; to present my respects to Mrs. Cliurch, doubly dear to niv most
precimi:^ recollections ; ami to your amiable daughter whom a frimdly imarre ch'sraral
on imj heart, niade me recognize before she was named to me.

Your affectionate friend, LA FAT £TTE."

APPENDIX.

491

mfwit son, (the present Jiulgo P. Cl.urch) was meddling' with the muskeg had them
removed to a back closet or entry. Gen. Schuyler, lookh.g wit at iho window, saw
tJiat his house was surrounded by armed men, and immediately posted himself with
the servants at the foot of the stiiirs, with the lest defences they could lay their hands
on ; resolved at least to protect tho family. The banditti soon forced an entrance into
iho house. At this juncture, Miss Margaret Schuyler, (aftenvards the wife of Gen.
Stephen Van Rensscloar,) discovered Uaat her inlant aistor had been left asleep in a
cradle upon the ground floor. Rushing down stau^, cad passing her faUier, against his
remonstrances, she seized the child and was pas.sing the beseigers, when Waltemeyer
nnstnkmg her for a ser^-ant maid, demanded of her— " Where is your master V "Gone
to rail tlie guard," she replied with gre.it presence of mind, as she made a safe retreat
with the child. Prcsummg that the chief object of tlic visit had escaped, they com-
menced plundenngtho house, and were in tlie dining room securing the plate. Three of

theservants had possessed themselvesofanns, and Gen. Schuyler havinghisside arms aa
good a rosist^mco was made as their strength would admit, but the superior force finally
obliged all to retreat to the upper rooms of tlie house. Waltemeyer and his party pur-
sued, and ,,ust as they were about to make prisoners . f the whole family, Gen. Schuy-
ler hit upon an ingenious and successful expedient. 'Suddenly raising a window, as if
a host had come to his rescue, hallowing out to the eve ngair,in aloud voice, there w.re
no friends to hear : _" My friends, my friends, quickly, surround tlie house and let not
one of the rascals escaj^o !>' The banditti were panic stricken, ran down stairs, sweep-
ing the silver from tho side board as they passed, and hurrying off with them in their
retreat to tho woods as captives two slaves,- the first amied rescue perhaps, of " .per-
sons held to seiTice," that ever transpired in this State. No one was killed in the
melee ; Waltemeyer received a slight wound from a pistol shot of Gen Schuyler •»
sen-ant was slightly wounded. The slight injury of the child, named in tlie intnKiuc-
tion, was had in the hurried retreat to the garret.

The failure of Gen. Schuyler to bring to his aid any of the then few citizens of the
tiUaseot Albany, was owing to a most ingenious contrivance of Waltemeyer Dunua
his ambush in the woods, he had come across a woman, whom he bribed to precede
hm. m Ins attack and report, in the village that there was a dead man in the woods
off ,n another direction from Gen. Schuyler's house. The trick succeeded. When tho

alarm was given the men of the village were away searching for the dead maO

s B88; at

In his retreat, Wiiltemeyer and his party <«ok General Gordon from his
Lallstou, and carried him to Canada.

^ii;'

not vary luatorial v from tlio account o( Col. StonV i, Li b of II,-, t .'" ",^f™

A writer in tlie Albany Express, a few years since snoakiiirr nf tl„. .,1,1 q i i
mansion in Albany, say/: - '^ Here also til illustrious Tf am f , " w o 1 md .m?S
daughter otns -hospitable proprietor, that venerable and exccWm wo na w1 sSl
hves n tho full enjoyment of her intcllectu.il iiicuKi.s, „„e of the few re ',"'.1^, of S^
Revolutionary a,-e. Another daughter of Gen. Schuvler -i bidv of .rr,.f V> . i
acconiplislinients, was als., niarried'in this housJ, to J&t c£^^^
came out to t ns country .hiring the Revofeion. Aiuong llSis Ze ■' 1 ave

492

APFEiroiX.

[NO. 10.]

MB. JAMES Ii. BEMIS' COTEMPORARY ACCOUNT OF HIS ADVENT TO THE

GENESEE COITNTUY.

ExtiTict of a letter to Mr. nnd Mrs. Diuiiel Wiird, of Albany : — [Mrs. Ward was a
sister of Mr. Ik-miH, -was tlio mother of Samuel and Uen. ^'ard, and Mi-a Oran
FoUett.]

"After being at Utica upwards of seven weeks, my patience was so far exhausted,
that I dtteriiiiiied, notwitlistnriding the badness i.f the roads to make one nioreatttini)t
to gain tlie place of my destination, mid iccordingly hired two wagons to taku me to
Oaiiandaigua. They had proceedtvi about 50 rods when one of them got mired to the
hub I Cood start, you will say. Well, we g.,t out in about a- hour, mul tinvi'lled
eight milts the first day, and put up at Raymond's inn. Next morning after taking n
warm breakfast, I rgain weighed anthor, and trudged in solitude along the inuildy
waste, (for it is indeed solitary to have no company but swearing teamsters,) 'till wo
reached Oneida village, an Indian settlement, where about dark, both wagons again
got mired (o the hub ! Zounds and alack ! What a pickle wo were in I ! How dkl I
invoke the aid of old Hercules to give one tug at tbo wheel 1 However, after Ufting,
1,'runibling. hoUowing and tugging three hours and a half, with the assistance of
an Indian, we once more got on land. It was now ten, and no tavern within our power
to reach. Cold, fatigued and liungry, we were glad to get under shelter; and accor-
dingly sto])pe(l at thg first Indian hut we found, where there was no \ 1, nor victuals
except a slice of rusty pork." * * * » •##«,'

" After a night spent in yawning, dozing, gaping, we again got under way, and hove
in sight of a tavern about ten o'clock ; but nothing like breakfast was to bo had — all
confusion -and wo went on to Onondaga, (50 miles from Utica,) where wo anived
about ten at night. Here the house was full, and I obt^iined the privilege of sleeping
with two strangers, by paying for their lodgings and giving theia a glass of bitters ;
an odd bargain to be sure ; but I iJiought it cheap, had it been my last shilling. But
fate decrtied that the troubles of that day, should not end with going to bed." *

[The young adventurer had become a room mate
with a " snoring traveUer." He describes his enormous nose, and says, that the sounds
It gave out all night long, "frightened Morpheus from his post."]

" At tliis place, (Onondaga) the wagonera got discouraged and dispairod of the
practicability of travelliug ; they r.ccordingly stored their goods and made the best of
their way home again. Here I was obliged to remain two weeks, when a fine snow
L-illing, I hired a man with a three horse sleigh, to carry me to Canada, and arrived at
this place on Saturday evening, 14tli Januaiy, after a short and pleasant passage of
SIXTY TWO days from Albany ! Here I put up for the night only, c xno( tin.r 'o depait
early in the morning for Canada ; but receiving some advices hero froi ^ gH;n , 1 smcn of
respectibility, which deserved my attention, I wjls persuaded ).. ..pt-i v^y store in this
village, for the winter at least. How I shall succeed is yet among the secrets of fate ;
but as yet I have had no reason to repent of having stopped here ; for such is the en-
couragement I have already found, that I think it probable I shall continue here."

"I have now only room to add, that the country is beautiful and flourishing ; the.
inhabitants wealthy and respectable; the citizens enlightened, affable and friendly;
and there is an agi-eeable society of young people, especially of Indies. Hence a
Ktianger finds an agreeable reception. I am the seventh young man that is Jiere from
Albany ; sill old acfjnaiutances."

SUPPLEMENT,

EXTENSION OF THE PIONEER HISTORY

OF THAT PORTIOxN OF PHELPS AND GOllHAM'S PURCHASE EM-

BRACED IN THE

COUNTY OF MONROE,

AND THE SOaTHEBN POBTION OP fflOBBIS' BESEEVE.

:a^V

,r\i\

LIBRARY

f#^

( , <

I" . , ) Cl

CHAPTER I.

'1!

*.<

1 1

'•

WHEATLAND.

That portion of the old town of Caledonia which is now Wheatl
land, was, as ^vl 1 have been observed, the Pioneer locality — the
spot where settlement first commenced in all the region between
the Genesee River and the west bounds of the state. In connection
wi h the enterprises of Mr. Williamson, the advent of the Scotch
settlers, and in another connection in the body of the work, the
tovvn has already been embraaed. It remains in this connection to
ex end the notices of Pioneer advents in that localitv,as fur as the
author s information will allow.

.vpM^'r/f ^^nt'^Y ""T^ ^? ^^^^' ^^'""^ ^^"eca county, and soon
erected the mills that bear Ins name, and those that were so useful

to the eai-ly settlers west of the River. He removed to the Lake
shore, m Niagara county, in an early day, where he died a few years
since. _ His son Jacob Albright, one of the most successful and en-
terprising tarmers of that county, resides at Olcott.

Donald M Vean, who came a single man with the first Scotch
settlers, was a mill wright ; had charge of the early mills built by
the Wadswoi-ths at Conesus. He erected the first mill in Scotts-
vU e; and selling it, purchased a large iract of land which he <livi-
ded between his sons ;^ they are Donald M'Vean, of Michiiran,
Duncan and Peter M'Vean of Caledonia. Mrs. Donald and Mrs.
Joseph Campbell, and Mrs. James Cameron, of Caledonia, are his
daughters.

John M'Naughton has been named as one of the advance corps
ot Scotch emigrants, in 1799. He still survives at the u^e of 80
years. His surviving sons are : — Duncan M'Nauirhton oYMum-
lord and Darnel M Naughton. a resident upon the homestead ; Mrs.
Duncan M \eanof Scottsville, and lAIrs. Merrit Moore, of Church-

ville,

are his daughters

an unmarried daughter resides with her

^OTI■;. — Prcvinnsto lonving tlioir homos in Scotlami, cortificatos siinilar to the fol-
Wing ^-ore g.vou to nil of the Scotch cnigrant.s ,vh;. wcvo nK-mhcH of tho kir •
such at Ic-ust as ^vol■o hon, rertlishire ; and it y,-as wortliily bestowed in tliis instmicc'
as !i long and useful lite will Ix'ar witness : — J '■u" ^^' l"is msiaucc,

" These do certify that t lie hearer John M'2^a.iirhton. .ind his spouse. Manwot M'
Bern,,,!, are nat.ve.ot tlnn uur j.ari.sli of KUlin ; aud luc-d therein' .uostlv fr^m tiieir
inliuicy ; and always behaNod m their single and married state, virtuously, honestly.

. !■

'tS <

, 9

496

riiELrs AND goriia:\i-s purchase.

father. The mother died in 1844. Mr. M'Naushton established
the first brewery west of the River, previous to 1810, and a distil-
lery which was the next one after that built bv Oliver Phelps near
Moscow. He was one of the first to entrage in the purchase of
wheat to be (loured for the Canada naarket ; cotnniencing the busi-
ness pr(>vif)us to the war of 1812.

Zachariah Garbutt was a resident upon the river Tyne in England,
in the town of Winston, county of Durham, at the period of the
French Revolution. Espousing the whig side in jjolitics in those
violent i)arty times in England, when freedom of speech was re-
stricted, lie subjected liimself to jiroscription and persecution at the
hands of his more loyal neighbors. His windows were broken in
and his children stoned in the streets. Leaving Winston, he went
into a retired part of the cuuntry, where he remained for three or
four years, and then sought an asylum over the ocean in a land of
toleration, of political and religious liberty. Borrowing thirty
guineas to defray expense of emigration, it was repaid by liis son,
John Garbutt, with money earned ujjon a shoe bench, anil remitted
to England. Arriving at New York in 17i)8, they remained near
Smg Sing tmtil 1800, when they came to the Genesee country, set-
tling first upon sixty acres of 'land in the town of Seneca. ~ The
eldest son John, in 1803 purchased laud on Allan's creek, which
soon became the residence of the whole family — the site of what
is iiow known as Garbutville. The three brothers, sons of Zach-
ariah Garbutt, were, John, Philip and William. John Garbutt
who still survives, was the first sujjervisor of Wheatland; in 1829
he was a representative of jMonroe county in the Legislature.
Philip Garbutt, widely known in business enterprises, the owner of
the mills and locality that bear the name of the family, also
survives. His wife, as will have been seen, is the daughter of Esq.
Shaelfer. The father-in-law was the original owner of the mill site

and inotH'iisivc'ly ; froo from all public scandal known to us. That tlicroforo wc know

of no iTah.(in to liiiidcr llicir reception into, oi- rosidonco in, any oontrrci^ation, socictv

or family, wlierc God may cast their lilt. * * * » » "# ** ' « # « >.

[A few closing lines arc ohliteratod.]

" Signed.

High M'nor(;Ar., ^linistor,
•Iamks M'N.Miii, J'^Idcr,
„, Jas. M'Gibdin, Parish Clerk."

" The above is fact.

CuAs. Cami'dkij,, Es(j. of Lockllordit,
Francis M'Nabb, chief of M'Nabbs.
J'>lui ItoDsox, liaron, Bailio to the Earl of Bradalbine."
Dated Fel). 1798.

" Do me the favor to name tlio fact," saiil an early inercliant of tlie Genesee country
to the author, "that when reverses came upon me, 'and 1 was tluown uimmi jail limits.
■while those wlio owed me dehls of icratitude stood aloof ; a f^eni'rous Jieart'ed Scotch
fanner, wiioni I had butslii;iit!y kiu.wu, in tlio way of business, souf,dit me out. kindly
invited me in wharc his purse for all iliiit was necWsarv for tlie ci-uifort of myscli'or
ttiniily. And you may add that it was John M'Naughtnn, of Wheatland."

PIIELPS AND GOPJUJl's PURCHASE.

497

of what is now known as Garbiilt's mills and the land ujion which
the celebrated pl.-ister beds are located. A saw n:"ill was erected by
Es(|. Shaeilcr in 1810 and a p;rist mill in 1811.

The venerable Powell Car])enter, now in his 80th year, became
a resident in the immediate neighborhood of Scottsvillc in 1.804.
In 1818, by })urchasc from Isaac Scott, he became the proprietor of
most of the site of the present village of Scottsville. In 18'25 or '«).
Abraham ilandford and Judge Car))entcr created a water power by
conducting the waters of Allan's creek in a race, 1:^ mile, and thus
obtaining a fall of 1!) feet. This was the commencement of any
considerable mov^ements towards the founding of the pleasant and
prosperous village; though mills had been erected as early as ISl."!
by Donald M'Vean and Abraham Ilandford. Often sons of .Judge
Carpenter, six are now living, three of whom were Pioneers iu
Michigan. Ira Carpenter, of Scottsville is his son. He was one of
the early Judges of Monroe.

The Rev. Donald Mann was a nativo of Invcrnesshire, Scotland ;
emigrated, settling on tiie 40,000 acre tract in Caledonia, in 1809 ;
ifi 1815 removed to what is now Wiieatland, where he now resides.
He had been educated in his youth for the ministry, in the Baptist
connection, but located in the new region, he united the labors of the
field, (or rather, the forest,) with tiie duties of his profession ; provi-
ding lor the respectable maintenance and education of a large family,
and at the same time itinerating occasionally where i)riiuitive and
feeble church organizations needed his services. "When we had
got together a small Baptist congregation in Le Roy," says an in-

NoTK. — Tlio (lisco^'ory of tlio plaster, which has proved so valimblo an aoqiiisif ion
to a wi(k' rojjio'i — tht^ heels jkihscssiiii,' more of what ''onstit\ik's real value tliaii if tiie.v
had liceii llie riflR'.-it jilacers that liave been found ii])ou tlio slo]ii' o f tlie Sierni
Nt'Mida — iiiMV nof lie cuiisidcreil an un interest iut^reniinisccncf : — It was accidental.
Aa the y^rist mill drew ni'ur to completion in the winter of ISIO, '11, Mr. John Carbnt
Went to Cayufi'a for a load of jiliusler, with the promise from Es(|. Shaefl'er that it
should he i^i-ound in tlu; process of |ire]iarini,' the mill stoue.s. In his aliseiici\. wliile
Home workmen were e.vcavaling the hank to procure earth to iinish the endjaidvininit
of the mill race, one of them, a forei',nier, insisted that they werc^ e.wavatini,' i>laster.
E.\]>erime,its followed whicli jiroved the fact. The demand for it Iteiii^- liiil limited,
farmers hininf,' lieen slow in appri'ciatin^' its value, its mimufacture was not fairly
underway until ISIS ; since which it has heeii constantly upon the increase and
the heds wouM seem exhaustless.

Note. — .ludgo Carpenter cmisrratod from Westchester county as early na 1704, loca-
ting,' in company with William Arinesley, nein- Cash(.iiu' creek, on Seiu'ca Lake, ^[ajor

Beujamin Barton was then residing at Cashouii' in a 1' '■■" *'■•■ ' ■ " *' '

Det)art7.ch and I'oudry, Samuel Wlieaton had been
or fom- vears. Afti'r makinic !' little openini,' iu tlie fore
J ■ ■'" " - ■

. cabin, tlii^ successor then,'
in the ueijrldjorhood for three
luildin;,' a jiole cabin.

I.U iiMii ^>v-uis. iiiifi iMiiKiiit; a xinur (t[jemrii^ lo uie inreM, ioio iMiiioni;;; a [foii' eanui.

Judij'e C;iri)enter went to Pennsylvania and hrouiflit a smidl stock of fiu'niture, and a
younif wife into the wdderness. Comintc u[) the Susi|Uehamiali he workeil llieir pas-
sai^'e on a Durham boat, crossed over to Catliei'iiiestown, and came down the Lake tu
Cashotuf in a batti'au. The wife that he moved into his ]irimitive cabin, as well a-
himself, are amonff Ihe few survivini; Pioneers of tliat early ]ieriod. There are pro'i-
nlily not twetity pertjuns li\Hig' who were adult emigiiiuls lo IJie Genesee country
jirevious to 17'j.'>.

i:^

li II

498

fori

PHELPS AND GORHAJl's PURCHASE.

I^Z lthr;"°r""Th''''" Mr, Mann used .0 come up on

ivr i' "r- The sumvinrr sons are : — Alexander

!y.

The mothev uL c ]i "^'^ 'T^ *°"'" unmarried daughters.

emi'TZ An. r ' '"''^''''' ^' ^ ^^"ghter of the early Scotch
emigrant, Angus uameron.

me," TrJm '^^' ^'r^'!'"''^ V'PS^^'', ^"'''■g^ Goodhue, Joseph Black-
mei J(,lm So_ge, Elud Goble, Peleg Weaver, Marvin Cadv See Iv

ageu 48 jeais Mr. Goodhue, was a settler at Painted Post and

removed ^V^ .1 'f'^'''""'/^^'' ^^^'^^^ddock's Bay. Ir. 180G he
lemoedto Wheatland, where he now resides with his son To^n

derc mhnts ""'uf^' ''^^T% ^"^ '^^ ^y riarrcircb 'of
hL "te "son M ^;'r\^''^'' ^ ^rW"'' ^'"^^ ^" the 72d vear of
^eacf 'Mr cllZ '"?' ^^"^.l^^^'^'" ^age occupy the home-
sieaci. Ml. GobJe was a resident of Seneca countv as earlv is 1 Ron •

Frink l"V' n,' !''''T'' ""''''' «*' ^^heo.tland "his on '7r
Funk >^d ^e tied in Westmoreland, Oneida county, previous to

Jk aLohis w fi r^'''''"r"' f'^^ ^'^'^''^ epidenliic in 1813, as

t . V ' r^r'"'"'"' ^^•^"'^' «t Wheatland is his son.
P.M . ^/^^'o^^'»g "Pot pioneer enterprise with Joseph

S SL" 0? if ""'"\^," ^^'^"^^^"^'^ ^" ^««« We have alreaSy
comm utn J u "P^r t'^^ ^'«;y ^^erge of civilization, in Oneida
cou •; in 7«« T 'o' a'u' ^''^, c°»^»^encing in the Genesee
ho t-i^h^' w Ion ,;!" . ^^' "'^'''t^' Pioneers otten speak of his
wee Ju l^r^ D^^^^ '""vv""'' ''"'f '^'^ ""'^ ^^-^i^^ habitation be-
tueen Judge Deans, in Westmoreland, and Colonel Dantorth's, at

a^vi.y fro,,, ,]„. l,n„ks. to t!,e , is an 'o " n , f ' "'•^i"'^' , """^^ ^'" ""'^ ^''^^^■«'

..xistcd tl,"r,. ; -r ntt; h . «. d'S l"''^ ''" 7^"'^^ '^'"''^ ^''" ^■■""^' •'irti'^"lfy
drive tl.c..,. ncn.ss t , ov- n k . ■, do .m ■,.„"•■ """i"^' '"' ';-"'™V '" ""''^■"vori-,.' to

in scvo.-;,l i„sta>,ces on vi ,^ . ;. ^M ] ^'^ '^''"^'''iy'Jf ^'^MV^ tlio ioun,c.y ;
Im.luv t., w.f „„„„ tlw, .„IM :. ' "'.'„" ■*■,• .™ I'.' '^■'■'' H" ''t1 to I'l-eet a tor.-;,orary

■ ■" "ity

.ito siu.,v, his .ito/si;;,, a;;?;^;;-;'s v;:?o;;X som'S" t^TfT "" "'^f

Avciittd worktoniakoa l.iid..,. -l.,, «I i:;,,, "ii soli,l icc, to got thoni over, he
t)iev Moi-c, hroke off id >.„;,. "'"';,"''* "'ff^S:*^^'! the section ofice upon which
thoTails SeL n- ; , . ; Hi '^ ''!^'' '',"'■ ""'''''"^' '"^<^'3^ t^' »'« precipi'tated over

tJie si -.nd hi i:i,t '""^v.nir .t to h.s ^vife, .ho fastened ,l„e. e„i of i: t(,

Slus ' ;i r :^ ;i r, ;";;!i^;', :;7^''^'^ "i;" •'« 'r-^^i the ice to the si,ovo ami

ice from wh L , „ v , I 1 '"";-"^'l'"l'l ^'^^^'<^^^- I" n tew moments thr rake of

ortw'lt ule*^;! •; , : :;™,^^rtheoLrH:;VM^^^ the Fans . Stoppi,,, ..raday
Mte whi.h is noM- f],e ee , n of he it ,• R *V 'I' '''' '"'VT'' '"■" ''''""' ^'I'"'^ ""-'
woodsvoad,heAtehi,,:Shn:i,ul;:i";oii;.a!yo;Sl.^"*' '"""™^ ^"""^'^ ^'"^

PHELPS AND G0EIIA.^['S PUKCIIASE.

499

Onondarra. In a letter from John Tavlor, a State Indian acent, to

T"r^r^'"'^?,L "''■"' "' ^'^'^^' '^ '•' mentioned that in co-cmeralion
with Uhver 1 helps, he had made provisions for openin-r .1 road from
Onondaga to Oneida, and that Mr. Blackmcr had contracted to do
a i)ortH.n ot the work. He was a native of the town of Kent,
State oi Connecticut, and may truly he said to have heen of a
lioneer stock, as he was a descendant of Peregrine White the first
born of white parents, in New England. Ile'died in 184S, arred
80 years. He was public spirited, enterprising as the reader will
mier, a goo*} neighbor, and an efficient helper in all that was tend-
ing to die prosperity of his locality. He donated from his farm tlie
site for a meeting house, .school house and burying ground. Jirah
i^phraim, and Oliver P. Blackmer, of Wheatland, are his sons'
i^aughters became the wives of Jesse Kinney, of Michi<ran ; of
Jerry Merrill, of Orangeville, Wyoming county.

Deacon Rawson Harmon was a native of New Marlborouc'h
Berkshire county, Mass. ; he was a resident of Madison county
previous to 1797 ; in 1811, he removed to Clarence, Erie county
but soon changed his residence to Caledonia, now Wheatland. At
that period he had six sons and five daughters, nine of whom are
vet living, VIZ :— Ariel, Uawson, Ira, Sylvester, Anan and Elisha
Kawson, all residing upon and in the neighborhood of the home-
stead ; Mrs. Horace P. Smith, Mrs. James R. Flynn, and Mrs.
Oliver 1 . Blackmer. The living descendants of Deacon Harmon
are, 9 in the first degree, 52 in the second, and 17 in the third. He
died m 1850, aged 85 years.

Calvin Armstrong and George H. Smith, were residents in
VVlieatland as early as 1812. Mr. Armstrong, now 70 years of
age has recently changed his residence to the neighborhood of
bushviUe, Batavia, having become the owner and occupant of the
well known Pendell farm. Mr. Smith died in Wheatland, at ad-
vanced age ; he was a native of Germany ; Daniel Smith, of Wheat-
land, IS his son.

The Baptist church in Wheatland, was orcanized as early as 1811 .
O all the original members of it, none survive but Jirah Blackmer,
who has been a Deacon and Clerk in it for 40 years. Its settled
ministers have been :— Solomon Brown, Ely Stone, Aristarchus
Willev, William W. Smith, Horace Griswold, John L. Latham,
Daniel Eldnge, John Middletca, Gibbons Williams, Hiram R
Stimpson, and Wm. W. Evc-rts.

In observations made in connection with Pioneer history, the
author has been frequently reminded of the benefits that have
accrued from the early institution oi' public librar'es. The books
\yere selected at a better era of our literature, of book making, than
the present one ; before a surfeit of the worthless trash that now
untortunately too much prevails in our popular reading ; they were
^Jioroughly read, and thoroughly umlerstood ; the Pioneers became

500

PHELPS AND GORIIAll's PUEOHASE.

intelligent, and inducted their sons and daughters into a course of
profitable reading. The general intelligence of the citizens of all
of the old town of Caledonia, has-been proverbial ; they enjoyed the
benefits of a well selected library, as early as 1804. It was the
Pioneer Library west of Genesee river. The first books were
bought at Myron Holle s book store, in Canandaigua, by John
Garbutt, who carried them to their destination on his back. Peter
ShaefTer waa first Librarian. Tiie library now consists of over
1500 volumes.

[Farther reniinisconccg of Scotch settlers, having reference to the old town of
Calcdonin, will bo inserted in the volume, "Livingston nnd Allegany." The autlior
lia« found it difficult to separate tlicm as town and county divisions have done.]

In addition to their purchase of the " Big Springs," and water
power at Caledonia, of Mr. Williamson, in early years, John
and Robert M'Kay purchased land and water power at what
is now the village of Mumford, and had erected a saw mill there
previous to 1808. In 1809, Thomas Mumford purchased the inter-
est of Robert M'Kay. In 1817, Thomas Mumford and John M'Kay
erected a large stone flouring mill having four run of stones. John
W. Watkins opened the primitive tavern ; Philip Garbutt the first
mercantile establishment.

Donald M'Kenzie may be regarded as the earliest resident Pio-
neer of the locality. In 1804, he came from his native place, In-
verness, Scotland, remained in New York and Connecticut two
years, and coming to the Genesee country in 1806, resided at
Honeoye one year, after which, in 1807, he erected a log building
upon the present site of Mumford, started the business of cloth
dressing, becoming in that branch of business the Pioneer in all the
Genesee country west of the river. His early customers were dis-
tributed over a territory that now constitutes ten counties. The
venerable Simon Pierson, of Le Roy, in some published reminis-
cences, gives a graphic account of his first milling advent to Cale-
donia. " I took my wheat on my horse," says the narrator, " rode
down Allan's Creek 7 or 8 miles, when I came to a dark, dense
forest of evergreens, which I t(X)k to be a cedar swamp on a hill.
Near the centre of this swamp, as I took it to be, I found a small
hut which I entered, for I was very cold, it being late in November.
I found a good fire, and the w^orkmen were at dinner. I found the
owner liberal and intelligent. He told me his name was Donald
M'Kenzie — that he was building a fulling mill, and making prepa-
rations for wool-carding and cloth-dressing."

In 1809, Mr. M'Kenzie added to his business, a carding machine,
which was preceded in all the territory west of the river only by
one er"xted by Wm. H. Bush, near Batavia. He still survives, af-
ter a long, active, and useful life ; a good specimen of the energetic
and persevering Pioneers. Few men are better versed in the his-

PlIELM AND GORHAJl's PURCHASE.

501

tory of ecarly settlement in all this region, and the author is much
indebted to him for written reminiscences, and the results of his
retentive memory. He is now (57 years of acre. His surviving
sons are : — William, in California; Daniel R., in Laporte, Indiana;
John, Simon and Joseph, upon the homestead. Daughters became
the wives of Daniel M'Naughton, of Wheatland, and Hector M'-
Lean, of Rochester.

UZf' For topography, &c., of Caledonia and Wheatland, see Ap-
pendix to supplement. No. 1.

RIGA.

The settlement of " West Pulteney," now Riga, commenced
under the auspices of Mr. Wadsworth, in 1805. the first ten set-
tlers were :— Elihu Church, Samuel Shepherd, William Parker,
Amasa Frost, Ezekiel Barnes, Nehemiah Frost, Samuel Church,
Joseph T-cker, Enos Morse, and George Richmond. Elihu Church
still survives, a resident upon the land upon which he settled in his
early advent, and upon which the first tenement was erected, and
the first improvement commenced, in Riga. He is in his 77th
year. Dennis Church, late Supervisor of Riga, is his son ; daugh-
ters became the wives of Erastus Sprague, of Lima, Dann Hawes,
of Carv'ville, Genesee county, Oliver W. Warner, of Lake county,
Ohio, Enoch Fitch, of Wilson, Niagara county, and an unmarried
daughter resides at the homestead." His first wife died in 1823 ;
a present one was the widow of Matthew Fitch, one of the second
class of early settlers in Riga. Mr. Church was for many years
a Supervisor and Magistrate of Ri^a.

Samuel Church, a brother of Elihu, was the founder of settle-
ment at Churchville, where he built the first saw mill in town, in
1808, and a grist mill in 1811. He was a Captain of the first mili-
tia company organized in Riga ; was upon the frontier in the war
of 1812, and participated with his command in the sortie of Fort
Erie. He died in 1850, in Chenango county, agtd 82 years. His
surviving sons are : — Rev. Samuel C. Church, ot'Medina, and Rev,
Jared Church, of Tennessee; a daughter became the wife of the Rev,
Charles Robinson, a missionary to Siam, who died on ship board on
his return to this country in 1848. Mrs. Robinson who, with her
three children, was returning with him, now resides in Medina ; she
was the first born in the town of Riga. Other daughters are, Mrs.
Casey, of York, Mrs. Clark, of B^-ron, and the wife of the Rev.
Titus Cohen, a missionary to the Sandwich Islands.

Jesse Church, another brother, settled in Riga as early as 1807;
was an early mechanic of Churchville ; also, the Captain of a com-
pany in the war of 1812; was made a prisoner at Fort Erie, and

502

PHELPS AND GORTIAm's PUKCIIASE.

til

carried to Iliililhx. He died in 1820 or '7. Stoddard Church, of
Ugdeii, IS his son ; (.ther sons reside at tiie west.

Samuel Sliepinnl died hut a lew rears since. Beniamin F.
hhephard. ol Hica, is his son ; his son Hiram, now deceased, was
the hrstmale child horn in IliiTji.

Ainasa Frost died inanyye;n-s since; Nelson A. Frost is his son;
another son ve^^ules in iMichiu^an. ,Mrs. Jacoh All.riifhf, of Olcott,
JNiajrara county, and the wili' ol' Dr. Dibble, of Rochester, are his
dauirhters. Achpmi.'di Frost, died in isno; Dr. Frost, of Medina,
IS his son. William I'arker removed to Maj.le Uid-c, Orleans coun-
ty, and emi^n-ated from there to tlie west.

Those whose names follow, were ali residents ol" ]l\<sn previous

10 1810— most of them settled there in 1S08, "D :— James iviiowles,

still survives; Paul and William Knowles, of liiua, are liis sons;

:\lrs. \\ arner iJrown and Mrs. Montross, of Pti-rf,,' jire his dau^h-

ters Thnmas Hill-ham still survives: .Toseph J'.mgham, of Alle^Ta-

ny, Justin bintrliam. ol Michijian, and William PiiKdiam, of UiW

are his sons ; Mrs. Pratt, of Alh',<:aiiv. is his dauu'hter. Clark hIiH

still survives, a resident of Wheatland, thouol, his earlv lor.ation

v^as in K Ilia. ITalfs Corners, in ^Vheatlaiul, took their name from

him 1 homos Hill was the first Supervisor of Rijra, still survies

at the age oi 8{) years; Hev. Robert Hill is his son: another son,

beorge Hill, resides in Wisconsin : Mrs. Emerson, of Rio^a. is his

'l^aughter. Joseph Emerson still survives ; Erastus. Jos'epii, and

beorge Enierson, of Riga, arc his sons : an onlv daucrhter became

the wile ol John Reed, of Sweden. Eber and Chester Orcutt;

Ljcy still survives. They were brothers ; the father, Moses Orcutt,

was an early Pioneer in PittstoA^-n. Bcnajah Holbrook. emi-rated

to Michigan ; Mrs. Frederick Davis, of Mount Morris, is his

daughter.

The rapidity of settlement warranted a mercantile establish-
ment in Rigaas early as 1808 ; that of Thompson & Tuttle : the
last name( oi the firm, was a non-resident, engaged at the time in
nmning a big ^yagon upon the Albany and Ruflalo road. Joseph
Ihompson, ol the firm, was the Pioneer tavern keeper: a part of
the building now occupied bv the Riua Academv. was erected bv
him for a tavern house. He died many vears since.

Dr. John D.arling was tlie earliest jilivsician in town ; ho died in
oaiiy years. He was succeeded bv ])r: Richard Dil)ble.

1 he first death m town was that of Richard Church, in 1807. the
tather of the brothers who have been named.

RKMIXISCENCES OF ELIIIU CIIUKCn.

I emi.oTntod from Berksl.iro to Phelps. Ontario county, in llOG, and
urchased land upon Flint Creek, where I remained until 1805. In that

PHELPS AKD GORIIA^l's PURCILVSE.

503

change ^v.ld lands for farms, and had induced by b'otbor sTimuelto

PuTe2 ye'f""H'T } -?-l'--'J ^>i- to^vhatwL th n WeS
i-ulttney. We found it a densely and heavily timbered wilderness- the
«ily oceupants other than ^ild boLts. John Si^ith and his sr^^^^^^^^^^^

p ored he township, and were pleased with it. Durino- the next winter I
selected lor myselt, my present location, and fur my broTher, the site " Ihe
preson village of Churehville. In March, 1806, I rem^; d ^^^ Lt
from Phe ps to my new location, expecting that I had a house re'ady fbr
them as I had contracted for the building of one; but on anivfnf we
found ourselves houseless. William Parker, Samuel Shepherd ad Am^s^
Fro t, lad preceded me a few days, with their familie, and were oTc^
part of the, surveyors' camp, where myself and family w^re hospi ubh a -
muted as jom occupants; and a crowded household we had-2S of us al
together-al m one small cabin. We called it t!>e " Hotel," and tJutt it
tlie name to the stream upon the banks of which it stood Isaac EH Im
and David Farwell, then of " Springlleld," now Wheatland, hear nV- tl t I
was houseless generously came and helped me erect one. whm up
^e body of It in one day; had it ready to move into on the fourt da/
The floor was of split basswood, the roof of cedar shingles; no boaX

Tf v" • s^" TZTT"":' ' "'^ ''''^r '"^^^^^^ ^" Ehsha'FaruS for
VI • , r'l , f^ "P"^ *'"'^y commenced a pioneer life, a small specimen
of wluch I had already witness..d, and been a part of. ii^ Phelps. '

summer^.! T .f'1-,? .-'^^ ''"'"« "^ ^«°«' '"aised small patches of
summci crops. In the fall ot that year. I had fiftv acres cleared which
I sowed to wheat. I had got in debt in clearing land and in bu 1 I.'k, and

ough I had an excellent crop of wheat, it ,vas difficult to pay debts S
It , It would not con.mand money. 1 exchanged some of it for labo w th
new comers In 803, 1 took wheat to Canandaigua: there w no p a
and no sale for it there; no exchanging of it for ^tore trade. I remm'ed

to Geneva, at a cost of 12i cents per bushel, and paid a debt lowed
there for a barrel of whiskey with it; the wheat fin.lly nettino me m
cents per bushel, or one gallon of whiskey for six bushels of whea^ w!

busS * Tn ^1 . IH '''^' ""'Z^'' ''''' ""^ ^'^«'-''^"^' Pncc, 31 cents per
bushel In the cold season of 181G, when summer crops were oeneral-

&'" T the fdf 'r' \f """f T' '''''' "'" ^"^ '^-'^"-^ wheu^rop in
fn "So [ , ' ^ ^?^^'''y '''^"'^'' ^'■^P ^° ^«"d anJ Hatch, Rochester,

In some of the earliest years, Mr. Wadsworth sent some pot-ash kettles
mto the township, and the manufacture of black salts and pot-asli was com-
mence.l. It proved a great help to the new settlers; enabled them to pr^
cuie some of the common n ecessaries of life, when wheat would not.

* Extinct of a letter from ."^Ir. Wmlswoitli to Col. Trom d.ito<] in ISO^ • •■ it ;

XoTK.-Tlie first four pot-ash kettles that Mr. Wadswortli in-oourod iu All,-inr for
the new settlcmeuts, co.t $10 each ; trau.purtaUou to Uie lailing place at clJu^S'

If i

■^'"'i

.in

■)(»4

PITEirs AND GORHASfs PURCHASE.

TIio first town meoting we attended was in Ogden, at the house of Esq.
VVillcy, in 1807, Then the town of Northampton embraced the nortliern
towns of Monroe, west of the river; or " sottk-rnents," and "districts," as
they were tlien termed. We made choice of two Supervisors in su-ices-
sioii, but their election was a nulHty, neither of tliem being freeliolders;
tVee-liolders were scarce in tliat early day. Wo finally compromised the
matter by appointing delegates from each settlement, to appoint town ofH-
cers. The proceeding- was not exactly legal, but no objection being made,
it all went off well enough.

Our first religious meetings, previous to the organization of the Con-
gregational church, wore held in my barn, it being the first framed barn
erected in town. I think Elder Reed, a Baptist missionary, was the firfet
to visit our settlement. The Rev. Mr. Phelps and several Methodist cir-
cuit preachers, visited us in early years.

Judiic Heniy Brewster, now a resident of Le Roy, at tlie :id-
vanced au'c of 77 years, was one of the Tionecrs of Riga. Though
laboring under the physical infirmities incident to old age, his men-
fal faculties are unimpaired ; as a well drawn up and intelligent
account of his early advent, which he has furnished for this work,
attests. His surviving sons are; — Henry A. Brewster, Rochester,
Edward Brewster, Builalo, Albert Brewster, Le Roy. F. W. Brew-
ster, Brockport ; a daughter is iMrs. Norris, of Stratford, Conn.

REMINISCENCES OF IIEXllY BREWSTER.

My father was a farmer in New London county, Connecticut, town of
Prescott. As with most ^ew England farmers, the Revolutior., its per-
sonal services and sacrilices, its incidental burdens, was the occasion of
depression and embarrassment. 2\.s soon as I was old enough to labor,
ray services were required upon the farm, so unremittingly as even to de-
prive me of the advantages of education, beyond what could be acquired
before I was twelve years of age. I married at the age of twenty-three
years, and unfortunati'ly bought a ffirm and settled upon it, in one of the
poorest mountain towns of the county of Berkshire. Unable to sell it, I
was obliged to cultivate the ungenial soil of the Berkshire mountains for
ten of the best years of my life.

The duy of deliverance came, however: — In 1805, I met with a large
handbill sent out by James Wadsworth, Esq., of " Big Tree," pioposing
to exchange each alternate range of lots of land in " West Pulteney town-
ship," for improved farms in the county of Berkshire. Daniel Dewey,

Esq., of Williamstown, and Hopkins, Esq., of Great Harrington, were

named as the agents in Berkshire, who would give applicants all needed

BiRige, lor till.' itiur, §156 :25. Tliis was in 1M)7. In IHUS, be bnuglit 24 kcttlos in
Albiiny,at $35 eucli ; cost of transportation tmt little less than, in tlic preceding yeai'.

PHELPS AND GOKirAM's PURCflASE.

505

information The farms were to l,e taken at appraised value, and the wild
land given in exchanov, at H per acre.

In October I8O0. Mr. 8amuel Baldwin, a neighbor of mine, and myself
mounted our hor.es and camo to see liie Q.n.^^^e country, a .d csS v
West Pul eney. Arriving nt Avon, a guide Imd been^' videdC r
Wadsworth to conduot us to our destination. Ueacl.in/tlir' I] mo /;
se tlenu-n," in East Pulteney. we went through the Zds t the s !
m-s cabin in We.t Pu Iteney. where we were lodged, fed, and providc'd wUh
maps and a guide, while we made a pretty th").ou..h explur'Uion of. «
township We found that several of our neighbors fi/m Bert ire I 3
been m. [those named by Mr. Church,] had Visited the to w, '^7 p t
chased and exchanged lands; but all .hat was doing to prepare fo seUle

Baldwm and myself selected 850 acres each, the quantity which th^ an-
praised value ot our farms in Berkshire entiti kI us to. After this we vi S
od the mouth of the river, and ascending it, viewed t!ie Fa! , S Ra id •
and the present site of Rochester. All was a dreary wihlernestin which

d a ely about the oM Allan mdl. There was a narrow and crooked w "oa
pa h(. the east side of the nver, and such it remained for several ye-.rs

the ver, made n.m the timber of my lands in West Pulteney.

We then visited "liig Iree," where we were hospitably entertained b^
Mr. Wadsworth. our land exchanges arranged, and the deeds nreo m.f
which we took with us to Albany to^" be signed by Col Tro p Velt'
each of us, purchased several lots upon credit ^ '

In the fall of 1800, I re-visited tiie country to make preparations for the
removal o my family. At the hotel in Can^Kulaigua, .LL I was r Idn!
mg over the Sabbath, I met with Col. Troup. \'here bei,."^ X
worship ,n the village, we spent the day in company. ObservlnrtI afhe
took a lively inte. est in all that related to the Settlement ot the' cm try
md especially in al that ndaled to public worship, and a stri t re' rft^o
the observance of the Sabbath, I ventured to suo4st to him the hinnv •
fluence it would have upon our new set.lementTn U'es T^ 1 en Ti f he
would set apart or donate lands for religious and educational mLose •

Tow isl in HrSl r%." "'"" P"'"^-^^ "" '■''' '•"'• -'"'^--t oTtl e
township. He fell in with my views, saying to me :— " Go on and or-aniza

a t-ehgious society, elect trustee's, and select^ two one hundred acre lots-

on fur the support of the Gospel, and another f a- the support of schoo _

call on me at Albany on your return, and I will deliver you the title dee L "

Duimg my stay in the settlement, a meeting of the Pioneers t ok pi 'e

few m number, and measures were adopted toavailou.>elvesof the dona ion'

ihere were then hve families in West Pulteney, and about fifteen heads

of families were making arrangements to settle there. At the mceti e i?

was agreed to take all the necessary legal steps in the form: tion of a fd

gious society: one of whg^^^s^the^ that notice uf intention

NorK.-Iu a letter frcm Mr. Wa.lswoi-tli to CI. Troup, in IH.I.J i,7s;;;:;idi^7M^
fine pr(,sp..cts h,. had „f settlin- West Piiifei.ev he iienr ,, , \i , ' » " • ,

Brewster as likely ,., prove a v.duublc a..iZ^6n tl: tl "^w l^ta;;;:!! "'''^"" '"^'

I ■

i !

,' r
,'■ i

•fs-^ '.'i

WiV-i^

506

PIIELPS AND GORIIASl'a PUTlOriASE.

--•"^

slioiild 1)0 read nt tluj "close of public worship, three Sabbaths in sicces-
sioM," nl ilic iiMKf and pldci! to ..lect to organize audi suciotv. Wo ap-
puiiiicd a meiMiii^' thr e Siii/oaths in succesM"ii, at t!-. li-diouse of Anuwa
I'rost. Doacon iVelioniiali Frost und myself were ih'^ only prof.ssurs of
religion in llio fiftile n aL; we comlucted the reading uikI -j.ray.'r ii.!;elin.'s.
LviTV pei-soii, yonng and i.Id, aitunded the meetings. On liie day appoint-
ed for the orgamzaiion of the society, Xehoiniuii Frost was chosen niodura-
t<)r, and mysc-lt .seeretary. Nidieniiah Frost, Samuel Church, Aniasa
JJ^rust, Samuel Daldwin, Klilu, Churcli and myself, were cliu.sen trustee!!.
Tlie society was ealh-d the " First Congregational Society of West Pulte-
ney, m the county of Genesee." Tlio hnds W(!ro secured, and devoted to
the objects designed by the donor, or donors, as Col. Troui) acted, of
course, for Ins |)iincipals.

In less than three ye;irs after the organization of the societ\', a church
was lonjK'd, and the U-v. Allen llollister, from the county of Dutchess,
was settlrd as its pastor. The church and society, thus early organized,
have unitorinly supp(jrted a pastor, up to the present time, without any
missionary aid. 1 am the only one living of the original members of that
church, and I do not know of any of the original members of the society
living, exoe|)tElihu Church, E-cj., and myself

1 moved my family from Herksiiire to the then new region of the Genesee
country, in Alay, 1H07. Tin; town of Riga had a rapid and permanent
settlement, the papulation being, with few exceptions, from New England,
We saw, perliaj)s, less of the harsher features of pioneer life, than most of
new settlers. We were tolerably well accomodated with a grist and sa\/
mdl; the substantial necessaries of life were obtained at ac()nvenient dis-
tances, nndat fair prices; the lack of a market was a serious drawback.
Before the completioi of the Erie Canal, in one year, I raised three
thousand bushels of wheat. After harvest, the nominal price was from .•)!
to 87^ cents per bushel. I tried the experiment of transporting Hour to
Northampton, Conn, by sledding. For this purpose, I had seventy bar-
rels manufactured from the best <juality of wheat, rurchasino- six yoke
ot oxen, 1 put th( in upon two sleds, and two spans of horses, each upon a
sleigh. With the lour teams, I transported my 70 barrels of flour; was
on the road twenty days; sold my flour at 8t3 per barrel, and my oxen at
a protiL; all for cash in hand. My teamsters cost me nothino- but their
board going and coming, us they v.ished to visit New England; and that
was a part of my own object;— upon the whole, the experiment succeeded
pretty well. We were about twenty days on the road, going down. 1 sold
the balance of my crop of wheat the next June, for 50 cents per bushel.
It went to the Canada market.

N0TE.-I11 a letter to Mr. Tronp. .Intod Jnntmrv. 1807, Mr. Wndsm-rtl. snvs :-
TMuMi I ••oninieiiml mvitiiiir settlement tu West, I'ulteuev, it was literallv a wiLlei-
iiess witlmut a loii,. passu,- throu-h it. It liad lu'eii tor sal,' ten vem-s, ^uu\ M..t, ii s,'!-
tier liii. '^uuo up..,, lie. t,aci. bales l„„l l„.i.,i enil.a.Tassc.I hv the el.e;,,. liinds ol' the
HollMi,,! (.omiiimy ; a„il yet, i,..Iwilhvlai,aii,ir ll,ese ..l.stacles; it has beeome the imisl
r.^speetable setth'ieent west of ti,.. (i-'iir-eo i-iver." In a lettci' }n,i,i sa,n,.. t., saiee, in
May tollo«-ii,-. It IS i-ei„;e-k:..l :— " Mv. M ■ail has oreote I a saxv-mill ..„ Jilaek Creek :
tuik; im:\v harns Lave been creeled in West I'ulteuev. There I.h imf tliree frame barns
11' Caiedouia. 1 ' ' "

PiTELPS AND GORIIASl's PUIlCnASE.

r)07

Less than a century has produced such a clmniro in tl.o aspect and con-
dition ot all this n.-ion as is hardly to be cnnlitcd by those who havo not
resided in it; and Imrdly to be realized by tliose who have. Even those
who are wont to <' take careful note of time," have been unable to keep up
witli progress and improvement. Forty years have champed R„<:h'.stcr
from a wild.'rnoss to what it now is; and Ri-a sho^vs what has been done
in a iitti." more than forty years by the hardy enterprise of New Knoland
yeomanry; about half of the tiie.d destitute of the advanta-res of a°nar-
ke . A l.oavy timbered wilderness has been eonvert.'d into a well cultiva-
ted, well fenced, wealthy farming town; unsurpassed bv any town, in any
region of country, in the way of neat and convenient farm hous.'s and
barns, and in the general appearance of rural happiness and iiido[)endenco

Alter observations made in travelling more or less in twenty States of
the Uni.jn, I regard the greater portion of western New York, in point of
soil, climate, and in all things which go to make up the character of a
countrv, as tlie most desirable spot of earth, in which i could reside as a
larmcr.

An excellent example was set hy the venerable Pioneer, Elihu
Uiurch bsq., in the spring of 1850. He invited to his ample and
liospitable (IwellinfT, all the Pioneers of Riga, and t'lcy had u plea-
sant, social time of it. Old times were reviewed, anecdotes and re-
miniscences related ; the memories of their departed friends and
neighbors passed in review; ol 1 acf|uaintances revived and friend-
ships renewed ; toasts and sentiments offered ;— in all things, it was
an agreeable and happy meeting. Present, as -in everv good
work, having reference to pioneer times, was the enthusiastic, kind
hearted Scotchman, Donald M'Kenzie. It is to be hoped that such
social parties will he multiplied.

Among the reminiscences related, was that of Mrs. Emerson,
who said that on one occasion, when their wheat was ripe, her hus-^
band '• cut it with a sickle, drew it out of the field upon an ox sled
threshed it with a flail, cleaned it witli a hand fan. drew it to Ro-
Chester and sold it for 31 cents i)er bushel." Elilm Church, Eso
related the adair of the cold bath in Black Creek, in the winter of
1807. llimsell and brother Samuel, Amasa Frost, Samuel Shep-
herd, and their wives, were on their way to visit their nei<rhbor
.lehiel harnes. Crossing the stream on their ox sled, the hind "board
come out as they were raising the steep bank, and the whole party
were m-enched with water, in a cold night, two miles from the near-
est house.

A resolution was passed, worthy of especial note :— It was in
substance, that the male Pioneers present, attributed, under Provi-
dence, a largo share of the success that had crowned their efforts
to the heroic fortitude, self-denial, fidelity and energy, of their " ex-
cellent Pioneer wives."

The Pioneers present, all entered their names, ages, and the

r ' *: 1

,' '' t ■

: 1 ■

^ j

')08

PHELPS AND GORHAM's PURCHASE.

periods of their arlvents. A review of the list, and a reference to
other incans of observation, induces the conclusion, that there is no
town HI the C;enes<.'e country, where there is so large a proportion
ot the Pioneer settlers survivin<r.

The first town meeting wns held at the house of Ilenrv
Uaidener, m J 800. Thomas Hill was chosen Su])ervisor, and

Joshua Howell, town clerk. The ot!ier town oflicers were:

Eleazer T. Slater, Jes^se Church, Israel Douirlass, Thomas liinrr-
ham.^ Jacob Cole, Isaac C. Griswold, Aniasa Frost, Henry Waiden-
er, Thomas Gay, Warner Douglass, Daniel Dinsmore, George Rich-
mond, .Solomon Blood. Elihu Church was Supervisor in 1811,
12, '13; and Horatio Orton, town clerk in those years.

OGDEN.

John JMurray, a merchant in New York, was an early proprietor
of T. 3, west of Genesee river, formerly Fairfield, now 0-rden.
William Ogden, of New York, was his son-in-law; consequently,
one of the heirs of the estate : and thence the name the town bears.'
The sale and settlement of the township was embraced in the nu-
merous agencies of James Wadsworth. Soon after 1800, he made
himself acquainted with the valuable tract, and took preliminary
stejis to bring it into market. Fixing the price at 82 per acre, in
1802, he sold farm lots, in the town'shij), to Benajah Willev. Abra-
ham Colby, Jolm Gould, John Webster, Sally Worthington, Benj,

Freeman, Snow, Daniel Spencer.

The Pioneer of the tovvnshii) was George W. Willey, who still
survives at the age of 83 years. He is living with his "third wife,
and of nine children, but three survive : — George Willey, of Michi-'
gan, Mrs. Elisha P. Davis, of (^hurchville, and Mrs. Jehiel Castle,
of Parma. Mr. Willey moved in his family from East Iladdam,'
Conn., in 1801. His route from Avon was via Scottsville antl the
Ilanover settlement, where Joseph Carey, Samuel Scott, and John
Kimball, had located, and to which poiift they had opened a road.
Beyond that, Mr. Wadsworth was opening a*^ road to "Fairfield,"
but had it but partlv completed. Mr. Wiliev had been in the vear

before, and built a log house, and made a small openinc-,
panied b} '^'"' ' ' ....."'

aecom-

hnirliam, wlicm he

o , - Had found settled on Jilack

Creek, and persuaded to change his location. Each erected lo'r
houses, the first tenements in the township ; living in a rude canij^
and procuring their provisions of the new settlers south of them.
When they had the logs ready for their houses, they went in difler-
ent directions, to Braddock'.s Bay, the Landing, Scottsville, and the
Hanover settlement, for help to raise ; procured in all about twenty
men. Mr. Willey remembers that lie came very near not being

log

PITELPS AXD GOim.VM's PURCHASE.

509

present at the raising of his own house ; for in his tour, invitincr the
raisers, he got lost remained in the u-oo.Is all mixht, and his return
Wi.s thus delayed until after the raising had commenced. Mr.
Wa,hu'oiih hadot ereda premium of six bushels of wheat a barrel
o[ whislvey, and a barrel of pork, for the first (hveljing raised in the
townshi}) , and was himself present at the raising"; sharin<r the
camp ot Messrs. Willey and Dillingham over night.lxit gettin. lit-
tie s eep; or the backwoodsmen, intent upon a frolic, ufed up" the
Whole night, lor that |)urpose, insisting occasionally that he should
participate m their ru.le sports, which he knew well how to do
when occasion rerpnred: and a log house raising, away olf in the
wilderiH-ss, was no place to be a non-participatU in whatever was
proposed. Dillingham moved his family in soon after, but crettin<^
onesome, moved back to Black Creek. vVfter the raising Mr VViU
ley was taken sick, was removed to Geneseo, and reco'veriiiT re-
turned to Connecticut late in the fall, coming out with his lUmilv
the next season, as has been mentioned. Before his arrival with his
iam.lv, Lphraim, Abraham, Timothy, and Isaac Colbv, two of them
with tamihes ha( built a log house and moved in."' In the same
year^ .Tosiah Mather, Jonathan Brown, Henry Ilahn, and William
±1. fepencer, settled in the town.

At the Pioneer Festival in Rochester, in 18-19, the medal pro-
cured tor that purpose, was awarded to Mr. VVilley, as the oldest
lesident Pioneer in attendance.

William B. Brown settled in Ogden in ISOG or '7 ; was from
l^ynn. Conn. ; located near the present village of Soencerport •
married '" early years the sister of Mr. Willev; still survives at
the age o (>Q. He has been one of the Judges of Monroe county ;
a CoIoupI mihtia ; was upon the frontier in the war of 181-i,"in
CoondAfchinsons regiment. Rev. Daniel Brown, the father of
Ju< ge Brown, settled m Ogden as early as 1807 or '8. He i.reach-
ed the first sermon m the village (now city) of Rochester; ilied in
1 ittsfc.rd, in 1845 aged 84 years. William Brown, of Ogden, is a
son <) his; a daughter became the wife of the Rev. Lemuel Brooks.
ot Churchville. Daniel Arnold in 1805; died in early years;
Daniel. Aaron and l-^noch Arnold, of Ogden, and Ebenezer Ar-
nold, ot Boi-gen, are his sons ; a dauglifer of his became the wife
ot Sainuel Latta, ot Greece. David W^andle was one of the ear-
liest; (lie< some 25 years since ; no descendants rcsidiu'r in town.
J!mr,>s Baldwin was a settler in early years; removed to Royalton,
Niagara county, where he .lied a few years since, and where many
o| his tami ly now reside. James Patfingill, Jarvis Ring, Stephen
Cridley. Oliver Gates, were other early settlers :— Mr. Pattin-dH
died al)out ten years since; Benjamin, Reuben, Osgood, and Moses
aimgilL u( (3gden. are his sons ; adau-hter is the wile of Nathaniel
iin hn, ot ()g<len. Mr. Gridley is still living. Mr. Gates .lied 15
or 10 years since : Stephen and llenrv Gates, of Garden, are his son^

' i ;

li. i

I 4

ium

510

PIIELrs AND GOUnAM's PUECIIASE.

Daniel Spencer from East Haddam, Conn., settled in Orrden in
1804. Ills tann einl)raced the present village of Spencerport. He
died in 1835, aged f.l years ; his first wife was a sister of Mr. Wil-
ey ; Joseph A. and Libbeus Spencer are his sons. He was Col-
lector ot the old town of Northampton. Austin Spencer, his hrotiicr,
settled m the town in 1808, locating near his brother. He still
survives at the age of (J7 years. He was the Supervisor of the
town, before and after the organization of Monroe county ; and for
twenty years n Justice of the Peace.

John P. Patterson settled in Ogden in 1810. He was the first
Supervisor of the town, and afterwards the Sheritl' of Monroe.
He emigrated to Illinois, where he died a few years since. Samuel
Ivilbourn, now ot Brockport, was a brother-in-law of Sheriff Pat-
terson, and settled in Ogden about the same period ; was an early
supervisor of the town, and a Justice of the Peace.
r, ^'H^i^-u ^'^''g'*^"^ meeting in the town, was held at the house of
lisq. Willey, in 1805; Revs. Mr. Mitchell, .Tenks, Van Epps,
Cratchell, Lane, were early Methodist circuit preacher.^ who visited
the settlement. The first settled minister was the Rev. Ebenezer
Everett. Dr. Gibbon Jewett was the first physi^'ian, and practiced
lor niany years. He died at Parma Corners "about 15 years since.
i he first school Was kept by a sister of Esq. Willev, who became
Uie wife of Judge Brown. Benajah Willey built fhe first framed
house and barn ; pretty much all the settlers who came in in 1804
raised a few crops in 1805. The first born in town, was John
Colby, a son of Abraham Colby.

The settlement of the town was pretty much arrested during the
war of 1812 ; but after the war, was rapid, until the whole was set-
tled. JMr. Wadsworth recommended the township to his New
England fi-iends, as one of the best in the Genesee country : and
well he might. The soil is uniformly of tho best quality ; and what
IS a little remarkable, there is perhaps, not 50 acres of waste land
in the townshij).

Charles Church was the first and the principal merchant in 0<r-
den for over thu'ty years. He died in Rochester, in 1850, where
his widow (who IS a descendant of the Pioneer of Bloomfield, Dea-
con John Adams.) now resides. He left but one son, a minor ; a
daughter is the wife of F. T. Adams, of Rochester. Fairchiids and
Richards were also early merchants in Ogden.

«n ''^"•L*^'\^''^ ^''^"'^ i'pttlers of Ogden were from Haddam, Conn.
When Mr. Wadsworth had resolved upon commencing the settle-
ment, he visited that part of New England, and in Haddam a pub-
lic meeting was called to hear his description of the new town of
"iMirfield." It was called the "Genesee meeting." Following
this, Daiiiel Arnold came out, saw the township, and reported favor-
ably. Emigration soon commenced.

The settlement of the town was carried on under the auspices of

PHELPS AND GOEHAM's PURCHASE.

511

Mr. Wadsworth, until 1823, when Messrs. IMurrav anrl O^^rlen an-
pointefl Mr. Willey tlieir local a,<ront, and lie cr)niinu"(l t<. act as
then- agent until the township was all sold and paid for. The father
o{ Mr. Willey, (Benajah VVillcy) who it will be oljserved was the
first purchaser m the township, settled in it in 1800. He died in
early years.

The late Wm. H. Spencer, as will have been observed, located
first in Ogden. lie built a saw mill in 1805, which furnished the
first boards used in that region.

PARMA.

" Gore in Parma, north of Fairfield."— This was the desicnation
given by Mr, Wadsworth, under whose at^ency it was sold and
settle(l, to all the south part of the town of i'arnia, on either side of
the Ridge Road. Those who first purchased, or took contracts for
land, upon this tract.commencing in 1805. and in the order named,
were: — Abner Brockway .Tr,, James I'^frbert, Jonathan Ogden',
IIoi)e Davis, Lazarus Church, Samuel M. Moran, Daniel Bmwn,
Bezaliel Atchinson, Jarvis Ring, Tillotson Ewer. It is not to be
presumed that all these became settlers. The reminiscences of
two Pioneers, as given to the author, will embrace the names of most
of the settlers, and most of the early events : —

v..

REMIXISCEXCES OF LEVI TALMADGE.

I was a resident of Wolcott, N. H. In 1803, James Wadsworth vi.'ited
that town, called a public meeting, gave lis a description of the Genesee

country, and urged us to emigrate. Thomas VViard, Benni Dishop, .

Stebi)ins, Seymour Welton and Abel Curtis, with their fomilics, and Ash-
bel Atkins, John Curtiss, and myself, unmarried men, formed an eniigant
pnrty. There was 38 persons in all. We came with seven wagons, form-
ing a considerable cavalcade ; were 21 days on the road. Gencsco was
our desriination ; when we arrived there we were all quartered in some log
houses that belonged to Mr. Wadsworth ; were jovfully received by the
settlers ; we liked the country ;and all were cheerful and happy.

I worked out by tlie month for a year or two ; was engaged for some
time in a trading excursion with James Rodgers who had settled in Canan-
daigua in an early day ; we traded with' the Indians in Allegany and
Cattaraugus. I resided in Bergen from ISO'J until 1811, in which last
year, 1 came to Parma, and purchased the tavern stand and the small im-
provennuit of Hope and Elislia Davis. Thiy had been Pioneers at Parma
Corners : had built a eoinibrtablo bi.ick hou^L-. Ilupe died ia lb4ij ; bit*
widow still survives ; Elisha Davis removed to Riua.

512

PHELPS AND GOEHAJl's PUKCnASE.

1 here was settled at Pnrma Corners before tlie close <,f 1811, beside
«ie Dav.ses and myself :_ Augustus Mather; he died four years since ; his
widow sull survives ; Mrs. Amos VVebs.cr of Parma is lu's daugiter. Lendell
Curtiss; emigrated to A ichigan, som.,- years since; Kinnieone Roberts died
whoSjri""' , Mo^'y •"' '' ^^''- ^''''''' "f OKd<". Joshua Whitney,
r / i i '^"', " ^"'^ ^'"^ ''''' '^>'" ^" Salmon creek ; he emN

g ated to Michigan where he now resides. These were all at the corners uid

iln n Wl'' ?" ''T'^'''; ,'^"^''':'' ^'"'' '>^^'l removed from the Allan
mills at Kochcster, and resided on the Ridge east of tlie vill ge

Our hrst meirhants at Parma corners, were Joseph Thompson and David

luttle; tlie.r successors were, John Rochester and Harvey Montoomery;

then-successor wasW.lham M'Knighf, now of Rochestei- Dr. Gibbons

Jc»ett, was our first phy.s.can; Gibbon II. Jewett, of i'arma, is his son;

h vas an early superv.sor and magistrate. John D. Iliggins was the first

to Rath. Dr. John Scott practiced here in several early years.

/oyed Stevens settled in Parma in ]8i;j or '14; was a merchant and
distiller; a supervisor and magistrate; died 12 or 14 years since

beitlementw'ns entirely suspended during the warof 1812; some left, but
none came ; and yet the beating up of recruits, the marching of soldiers the

transportation of supplies for the army, made brisk times upon tiie Ridn-e Road
It was a constant state ,.f e.xcitement and alarm, and little was doiTe in the
way of iinin-ovements by those wlio remained in the country Hope Da-
vis the early I loneer I have named, raised a volunteer comminy, and went
to the Trontier; >yas at the battle of Lundy's Line, and in several other
engagement.s. I have a cannon ball t at Aveighs si.xty-eight pounds, that
was tired from the Mritish fleet, off the mouth of Genesee River. I saw
where it struck, and went and picked it up.

The early tavern keeper, .Air. Talmn.lge, resides upon a fine
farm a mile west olPanna Comers; is cliildless ; his wile, wno
M-a.sMlie widow of David Franklin, whose sudden death is noticed
by iMr. I'ier.son, died m 1812.

_ Samuel Castle settled hi Parma, north of Rid-re, in 1810 and vvas
joined next year by his lather, Abraham Castle. The old .rcitle
.nan d.ec m 18P2 Ili.s surviving sons, other than the one named,
are :-Jeh,el Castle, of Parma ; Isaac Castle, of Greece. A dau-di-
ter ol us became the wile of Arnold Markham, a brother of tlie
earlv I loneers in Avon and Rush. Samuel Castle has been one of
tlie Judges ol Alonroe count v.

IIEMIXISCENCES (IK SAMUEL CASTLE.

Our purchase of land when we came in, was of Birdseye & Norton;
the location had upon it a small improvement that liad been made by
Michael Heach, a previous occupant, lie had been a salt boiler; had sev-

PIIELPS AND GORIIAm's PURCHASE. 513

wlr'"'Sfn'' •■"'"'^^, /"^p.«^''; T^S by endeavoring to get stronger
^v, tor. ]3eac!, removed to Put^ford. died several years smce in Clarendon

Koad to t e L; ke ,t was called the " Canawaugus ilocfd;" another road
d from I5raddock's Bay to "Deep Hollow Bridge." What w ' ciS d
^le Canawauous road is now the main road from Parma Cor, er toPunu
Centre and Un.onvil e. The inhabitants at that period nor h cf Rid, en
Parma, other that, those in the immediate Bralidock's Bay settlement
were:-Alpheas Madden, near Parmi Centre; died hero, lis funj J re-
moved; Timothy Madden, a little west of Castle's Corners died 5 o^r 20
years since; Sdas Madden, of Parma, is his son; Mrs. Joseph Randal of

Parma, ,s h,s daughter^ Hicks; died in early years Van Rm^se

lear and Be-.jamin Hicks, of Parma, are his sons Joshua iSon
Jeremiah Perry; died here. Nehemiah Weston. !"» ^I'cKson,

In 1810 there was no framed house or barn in Parma, north of Rid^e
excep m the Braddock's Bay settlement; there was but 0^11^ at K
m. Coiners. It was very sickly north of Ridge, in all the early years;

nouTtoni'T' '"r^" "i'^'^'^, T""' ^'^^^« would not be w'eli one
enough to take care of the sick; deaths sometimes occurred for the want

a -u n,'-o ""'"^ r'^'Ti f '^'' r"^- ^ ''^"'^ '^'''^ ^^J'^" -ffli^ted with the
dkl l^av Tl, ■T^'^ ^""'1 '^' '""''"''y ^^'^^'^ I 8-ot well enougli; many
^e Poll A ''?^:''f,^''^ ^« P'--'^^i >"o«t at Braddock's Bay. and about
the I ends. A spirit of kindness prevailed among the new setlers. a sym-

rn2f!v'''f'"'n''''"'t'''^'"*^^= '^'''' ^^'^'^ "^'^^J i» settlement; a little
and take care of the invalids day .nd night. The land north of Ridoe
was heavily timbered, wet. It was so hard beginning, that men who had
no means, could not take up land ami pay for i1; molt that attempted to
do so, failed; were obliged to sell their improvements for what the? could
get. 1 knew of one man, however, who persevered in this way, taking up
OV.1"'; "^"^^ small improvemen-s, and selling out, until he became thL
owne of a good farm. The proprietors of the land were very indulgent ;
had It been otherwise, but few of the early settlers could ever become free-
holders ihere was, m the earliest years of settlement, no market when
the settlers had any thing to sell; in 1810. they had began to better their
condition by the manutacture of pot-ash and black salts.

During the war, settlement was mostly suspended; some left who did
not return; others would move off at periods of excitement and alarm, and
return aoain A smgular circumstance occurred with one of our nei-h.
borsatthe battle of Queenst..n:-Jo,seph Stoddard was shot in the fo°re-
head ; the army sui^-eons extracted a ball ; ],e came home, and another was
extracted; the two balls having made but one perforation of the skull

Parma Centre is three miles north of Parma Corners ; there is a
post-othce, two meeting houses, two stores, several machine shops
and a tavern house and dvvellinixs. Unionviile is two miles north
ol Parma Corners ; there at that point, two meeting houses, a store,
several machine shops and dwellings. The village has started on

i:'

^1 H

1 sH

Illl

514

PIIEirS AND GORHAJl's PURCHASE.

the farms of Jnson Tyler, and Jonathan Underwoorl. The last of

manv

Pion

eers.

e IS a

in,

Avhorn, is especially remembered by

bachelor, nearly 70 years of no;e. 'lie had a Inrire improved far
and in an early day raised large crops of rirain. In seasons of
scarcity he would withhold from" those who had money to purchase,
and trust it out to his neighbors who stood in need of it. Let those
old neighbors, or their descendants, see that marble, as well as
history records this fact.

The town of Parma was erected in 1808. At the first town
meeting in 1809, Gibbons Jewett was elected Supervisor, Justin
Worthington, town Clerk; other town officers : — Jarvis Rino;,
Jonathan Underwood, Abraham Colby. Daniel C. Arnold, Joshua
Wickson, Elisha U. Brown, Josiah Mather, Benjamin Freeman,
Ephraim Colby, Hope Davis, Stephen Atchinson.

The north part of Parma was called by Mr. Wadsworth, " Brad-
dock's Bay Townshii)." It was surveyed in 1790, by Joseph Colt.
Upon the original surveyor's map, many lots are marked as sold to
"Thayer," and afterwards it is noted that they are "released by
Thayer to Lady Bath." It would seem that Mr. Wadsworth's
agency, in the township commenced in 1800, or rather that he first
turned his attention to the sale and settlement of it in that year. —
In September, of that year, he wrote to Mr. Troup : — "I have
just been down to Braddock's Bay Township. Almost every man,
woman and^ child was sick with the fever ; some of them were
actually suffering. I supplied them with some articles of necessity.
I am afraid the settlement will be abandoned." How changed ! The
region which the enterprising patroon of new settlements then
spoke of with so much despondency — where men, worn down by
disease and all the trials incident to back- wood's life ; is now one of
health and prosperity. It v.'ould take from $40 to 800 per acre, to
induce its owners to " abandon" it now ; and most of them are
under no necessity of quitting it even at that rate.

GREECE.

In a preceding portion of the work, the early advent of William
Hencher, the lu'oprietors of the " -^0,000 acre tract," and a few oth-
ers, in what is now Greece, has been noticed. It remains in this
connection to speak of jiioneer events there at a later period.

Messrs. Troup and Wadsworth would seem to have contem-
plated the making of the mouth of the river a commercial point,
soon alter Col. '^'roup succeeded to the agency of the Pulteney
estate ; it is often a subject of discussion in their correspondence ;
but it was not until a few years before the war of 1812, that any
movements were made to that end. Samuel Latta was the first

gust.

PIIELrS AND GORnAl\l's PUKCnASE.

515

permanent settler there, as a local agent for the Pultenev estate,
and the locality having heen made a port of entry, he was^ appoin-
ted a collector of customs, and had also a small mercantile estal)lish-
ment. The Latta family were early settlers at Geneva ; Mrs.
Benjamni Barton of Lewiston, was a member of it. Samuel Lat-
ta died in Greece ; his widow is now ]Mrs. Beal, of that town ; John
Latta of Ijroclqjort, is his son. George Tiatta, now the owner and
occupant of the fine farm on the lake shore, near Charlotte, was a
younger brother of Samuel; became a resident at Charlotte, in ISU.

Erastus Spalding, who had resided at or near Geneva, settled at
the mouth of the river, under the auspices of Col. Troup, some
time before the war of 1812, lie built and opened the first hotel;
a building now standing on the bluff, a litde uj) the river from the
present steam boat landing ; had a small trading establishment ;
built the first vessel at the point — the schooner Isabel, which was
captured by the Bnitish, in the war of 1813 — and was the first to
commence the purchase of butt staves, a business that became one
of considerable magnitude at that point. Mr. Spalding afterwards
became the owner and occupant of the farm on tne river, which
embracedthe eligible plat of ground now called Lake View, near
the city of Rochester. His son, Lyman A. Spalding, was one of
the earliest merchants of Lockport and has been for many years
one of the most enterprizing business men of W. N. York ; other
surviving sons are. Holmes Spalding of Michigan; Mark Spalding
of Lockport, and Frederick Spalding of Rochester.

Frederick Bushnell, was established as a merchant at Charlotte,
previous to, and during the war of 1812. Samuel Currier was an
early tavern keeper at Charlotte, and had some connection with the
lake commerce. R is mentioned as an extraordinary fiict, that he
was the husband of seven wives, five of whom are buried at Char-
lotte. He was drowned in the Genesee River, below the Falls.

The first steam boat that entered the mouth of the Genesee Riv-
er, was the Ontario, in 1810 — Capt. Eli Lusher was commander.

John Mastick, who afterwards settled at Rochester, was first
located at Charlotte, previous to the war; was the Pioneer lawyer
o| all this local region. Giles H. Holden, Esq., now a resident at
Charlotte, settled there at the close of the war. He remarks : —
■'As late as 1815, there were but kw settlers at Charlotte. Sick-
ness and the war had been the prhicipal hindrances. Wuen 1 came
there were many deserted tenements in Greece, where the Pioneers
had either died, or had left the country on account of sickness, or
in fear of British invasion. For many years after, the ague and
fever, and the billious fever were very"^ general in July "and Au-
gust. In 1819, diseases were most i'atal — many died — there
were instances of three and four deaths in the same familv. The
prevalence of disease was attributed to the low grounds on the riv-
er and lake ; to tJic ponds and marshes, of which there are over

u I

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•,»i

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Ki'

51 G

rilELPS AND GORIIAlt's PURCHASE.

4000 ncrcs in the town of Greece. I nttrilmte it rather to the
clearing up of land, the letting in of the sun upon wet lands, the
consequent decomposition of vegetable matter; li.r now that lands
are cleared and dry, we have little of disease, and yet the ponds and

^ouiitiT ''"'''^ ^' '"'''"'"" "' ^''''^' '""'''^ '" ^''^ '^'^•''>' settlement of the
_ Immediatelv after the war there was a considerable accession of
inhabitants at Charlotte; the purchase and shi,,pin^ „f luml)er and
pot ash, and a small business in the way of shippin- (lour an.l <rrain
made it a pretty b-isy place ; but as Rochester gradually sprung up,
business declined there. "^ ' =■ ' '

Tlie mouth of the river was an exposed jwint during all of the
war of 1812 ; in the fore fact of the war, the enemy had vastly the
superiority in naval torce u[)on the lake : and in fact, durin<r the
entire war, there was too little to prevent their landing where^they
chose, between Oswego and Niagara ; a fact howev^er, that they
were not at all times aware of At the mouth of the river there was
but httle to attract them, and Rochester, as will be inferred, was of
nomagmtude that would have made its capture either glorious, or
prolitab e. Although there were several instances of discmbarkinrr
and enibarkmgot American armies at Charlotte, and of temporary
encampments, there was no regular force established there during
the war J he defence of the position mainly devolving upon the
local mi litia, and volunteer companies, who at some pe^-iods were
exempt rom going upon the Niagara Frontier in consequence of
anticipated exigencies nearer home.

Sir James Yeo, the British commander, made his first appearance
oft the mouth of the nver, in June, 1813. He had contemplated
an attack upon Oswego but the weather proving unfavorable, he
cruis d up the lake, anchored oft' the mouth of Gcmesee River and
sent a r)arty on shore. Their entire errand was plunder ; no resis-
tance was oftere<l, for there was no military organization to offer it.
1 he only restraint that was put upon a few captured citizens, was the
preventing theirgoing out t<. warn the inhabitants of the nei-rhbor-
nood of their presence.

In the store-house of Frederick Bushnell there was a quantity of
salt, whiskey, and jn'ovisions, ^^•l,ich they took off; in a business
A ay hoNV'ever, for they gave to the clerk, George Latta, a receipt
for the proi-erty. The landing was made in an afternoon ; they
remained over night keeping cut sentinels, and quietly retired early
in the morning; probably g(>tting an intimation that an armed force
was colecting at Ilandford's Landing. A body of armed men
mat Had collected there marched down, arriving at the Charlotte
landing just as the invaders were embarking on board their boats-
pome shots were fired upon them, but from too great a distance to
be ellcetive.

Toward the last of September, of the same yeftr, both the British

PITELPS AXD GORILUl's PURCHASE.

517

and^^ertcnn fleets were at the upper end of the lake, Conimo-
do. ( hauncey making trequont demonstrations to Sir James Yeo
ot hKs rea.hness to contend for the supremacy of the hd<e, hut the
latter rlcclmnig, and gra.lually making his wav down the hike. —
Arriving ofl the mouth of the Genesee River the fleet was becalm-
ed niwl ay ahnost motionless upon the water. The inhabitants at
Uiailotte supposed the fleet had anchored preparatory t.. another
landing expresses were sent into the country; men armed and
unarmed flocked from the back-wood's settlements, and in a few
Hours a considerable number of men collected ready to fi<r|,t or to run
as ciiances of mvasion should make it expedient. While anxiously
watchmg the Br tish fleet. exi)ectiug every moment to see their boats
coming tovvard the shore a light breeze sprung up, and soon after,
me tteet ot Commodore Chauncey was seen rounding Bluff Point
It was a welcome advent, was hailed with joyous shouts from the
sliore ; at a moment when a weak force had supposed themselves
about to engage with a vastly superior one, succor had come — a
champion had stepped, or rather sailed in, quite equal to the task of
de ence, in fact seeking the opportunity that seemed to have occur-
red. Commodore Chauncey brought his fleet within a mile from
the shore, and when it was directly opposite the becalmed fleet of
he enemy, he opened a tremendous fire upon it. At first a sheet of
flame arose from the American fleet, and then a dense cloud of
smoke, that rolling off" before a light breoKe, blowing ofl" shore, as
completely shut out the British fleet from view, as if the curtains
of night had been suddenly drawn; while the American fleet
remained in full view. The fire wa,; returned, but as the breeze
increased both moved down the lake, continuing to exchange shots
until after dark. The fire upon the British fleet was prettv efTect-
ive, unti by its superior sailing abilities it had got out of theVeach of
Commodore Chauncey s guns. The British fleet was a good deal
disabled; and an officer and ten men were either killed or woun-
ded A vessel of the American fleet got a few shots through its
fuilf, but no one was either killed or wounded on board of it " Sir
Jaines Yeo, ran into Amherst Bay where the American fleet was
unable to follow him on account of the shoals."*

The next visit of Sir James Yeo, with his fleet, to the mouth of
Genesee river, was in May, 1814. In anticipation of such an
event, in addition to other organizations for defence in the nei<rh-
borhood, Isaac W. Stone, one of the earliest Pioneers of Uoch-
ester, had been commis.sioned as a captain of dra<Toons, had en-
listed a company of fifty men, and was stationed at Charlotte; and
flie further measure of defence had been the sending to captain
Stone, by the orders of General P. B. Porter, from Canandaigua,
an 18 and a 4 pound cannon. The 18 pounder had been taken

! , tl

T !'

618

rin':Lrs and gorham's ruRcnAsi:.

iM'4

down to the mouth of the rivor, and tho 1 ].oundpr planted upon a
bafferv, or hivast work, called "Fort IJcndfr;' wliic-h the citizens
had thrown up on the River road to impede the crossinir, hy ili(> in.
vaders, ol" the bridge over Deep Hollow. The fleet was (irst "descried
by captain Stone and the citizens of Charlotte, a litfe after sunset,
upon which expresses were sent into tht> settlements in dillerent di-
rections, calling for volunteers. In what is now the city of lloches-
ter, there were then 32 men capable of bearing arms. 'These were
organized during the forejiart of the night, mikI armed with nniskets
that Jiad been deposited with llarvcy Ely &, Co. ; or rather 30 of
them, one refusing to volunteer, and another i)eing held in reserve,
with a cart, to tidic off the women and children'; so few in num-
ber, that the means of conveyance was (piite ample. The formida-
ble force, marching through deep mud, and in rain, arrived at
Charlotte, at 2 o'clock in the morning. They iuul constituted
Francis Urown and Elisha Ely their olliccrs. In addition to the
force of ca])tain Stone, there was stationed at Charlotte, a volun-
teer company, under conmiand of captain Frederick Jiowc ; the
men ])rincipally citizens of what is now the towns of Gates and
Greece; and Col_. Atkinson's regimeiit, from what is now the north
western towns of Monroe county, were cither there previously, or
as soon as tlie exigency re(piire(l. The only fortification at Char-
lotte, was a breast work, ui)on the bluff, near the old hotel, so loca-
ted as to command the rbad leading up the bank from the wharf
Ttwas composed of two tiers of ship timber, with a space between
the tiers filled in with barn manure.

The hastily collected defenders of their country were so impatient
to meet the invaders, that before any demonstrations were made
from the fleet toward shore, a volunteer party went out in an old
boat that had been used as a lighter, just after day light, in a heavy
fog, to reconnoitre ; the fog suddenly clearing away, they found
themselves within range and reach of the guns of the\vhole British
fleet. A gun boat from the fleet jait out after them, but they suc-
ceeded in making good their retreat.

All tilings remained in a state of suspense until about ten o'clock
in the forenoon, when a ilag of truce was seen to leave the British
fleet, and make^ toward the shore. At the retjuest of captain
Stone, captainsFrancis Brown and Elisha Ely went to receive it.
with orders not to let the party who bore it enter the river, or dis-
einbark, but to communicate with them from the Lake shore. For
this purpose, they went out upon a fallen tree, a short distance
above the mouth of the river, and tied a white handkerchief to a
stick, as a signal. The British boats' crew approached, proposed to
land, as is usual with the bearers of flags of truce, but the orders of
captain Stone were tenaciously obeyed. While the parley was
going on, a small party of urmcLl men a{)j)roached, anxious to watch
the progress of events. The British olHcer, a stickler for all the

PHELPS AND GOKHAm's PURCHASE.

519

rules niul iTcriilafioMs of war, onquircd :—" Ts it your custom to re-
ceive a (1:.^ of irure uiulcr anus Y' Tn which ciiptnius IJrown and
-Ny replied :— " ^ ou must excuse us, sir; we are not soldiers, but
citizens The armed men, however, were reciucsted to retire,
when the Untish oHicer disclosed his husiness. It was to tender
iho iissuiance of Sir James Yen, that if all the public i)ro|)erty vvas
surrendered, private profjcrty should he resp(>ct(!d. To favor his
mission, he presented a paper si,-^r,„.,l by several citizens of Oswef^o,
tlie purport of which was, that as the government had left lanre
quantities of stores and munitions at that place, without any ade-
quate lorce to protect tliem, thev had concluded not torisk their lives
and pro|x>rty in the defence. The message and the paper was for-
warded to captain Stone, whr decided at once that the citi/en sol-
diers assembled at the mouth of the C^enesee river, could not follow
the preccileni of their countrymen at Oswego. " Go back and tell
the oflicer," said he, "that he may say to Sir James Yeo, that any
puljlic |)roperty that may be liere, is in the hands of those who will
delend it."

Soon after this, a gun l)oat, sloop rigged, of from {)0 to 100 tons
bun en, .sailed out from the fleet, approached the mouth of the river,
fired a six pound shot, which compliment was returned from the 18
pounder on the American battery. The gun boat then fired 15 or
20 08 pound shots ; but one of them, striking the store-house, doin"
any damage. " '^

Soon aiter this occurrence, Peter B. Porter arrived, and assumed
command. Another ilag of truce came from the British Hect at 4
o clock P. M, bringing a perem])tory demand from Sir Jajiies Yeo,
that the public property be delivered up; and the threat, that if the
demand was not complied with, he would make a landing with his
marines and 400 Indians. To this, Gen. Porter replied, through his
aid, Major Noon, that he would endeavor to take care of any force
thai. Sir James ielt disposed to send on shore ; accomi)anying the
reply with an intimation that a third Hag of truce sent upon the
.same errand, could not be respected. The demand for the surren-
der of the public property was not repeated; and nothing farther
occurrc(l, but an occasional shot from the fleet, which did iio harm.
Many of the heavy balls thrown on shore, were picked up, and have
been preservetl to this time, as memorials of the event.

The whole force collected for delence, vvas at most, 800 ; a num-
ber entirely insufficient to contend with one which could have been
iurnished Irom the British fleet. The reason why Sir James Yeo
sailed down the Lake without executing his threat, was probably an
over estimate of the strength of the American force ; many ingen-
ious maneuvres having been resorted to, well calculated to i)roduce
that result. Or, he may very wisely have concluded that a victory,
won with even a small loss of men," would have been a barren one" ;
for with the exception of a small amount of public property, there
was little in all the locality to encourage or provoke invasion.

I '

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PIIKL

f;LPs AND oonirAji's rvRcirASJK.

OATKS.

arJ L i T TV'^ '" '^'' l^'''''^^"^ touns ,.f (ialos, Greece
ami the city o Uochestor on the west si.le of the River had a

o thRiv 'l -'T'"' ^'•'■•'"""P'"". once e.nhnu'n. all ZIl
1, •,, • • ''"■|.^'".'J^' ^^''' "'"-^ '•^••'•"•'''1 in territory. The iVech-.M-

vi^sSl. s''''''M"''"^r''^;''^'''^-^'''-'- Hartor" n
vent!; 1 ■ *'"■';■ ^^T' ^''''''''^^' ^'^■•"""^•> t'"''i<'r. I aac \ =u„le

MnV •"''^,.'^'— J ''•;•""« Kniff, Richanl Clark, John Williams
Mathew D.n.m.ck Moses Clark, Nathaniel Til, hies Al,.]''
ihonias Lee, Charles llarlord, Frederick Rou-o F .. , i> i '

Asahel Wdkinson, NaU.aniel .1.,^^; aI^s^^^! ^ w" ^ Zl;

iNiU fcan.Kd Latta was supervisor; the hountv unon r-,nlr

:r ;: «;:;"""";■:; '"'vr'""-;' ,','; •"- -ki"''! i"'r. i:l

nn ,.nMi ?■ 1^ 1— >^acheus Colbv was suiicrvisor • hountv
on lattle snakes was increased to V2i cents. 1812 - Toh /m ich
;8^!!'Ji::S j}«f-l^ounty on wolves w^s r^l::!;!^ ^1^!
cWk. i/^rli =:!l";f.^"i--™-. Jo'^"^- Rochester, town

- --.^v-v.,^ >nio oci Ull HI i«:;iij.

1 revious to the close of the war of iMio „^«,i, , . .

e«,m^, „?"'?"■ "I'","'",!'" »»>ne,l in c.mec.io,, ,v ,1 ear y

an impiovenient of al)out 30 acres on fh'if mnA ...wi i -if i

= t/Xirrrr'^'', ^^- ^^^'-- ^i -ilJ:;!^ 'ri^e

^Xh^v•s nur i V'l "p/r '\^.«'"'»^ncement upon the farm
\VSarUtir II ^h ''"'■'' ^^'''^^' '" ^^^«; now owned by

i Id 'isn ■-''""" ""'^ a commencement upon th^

Mr. M

ason, and comn

In 181U. William Williams
lenced inii)rovements

the

upon

ulvanccd heyoiid

luncey larm.

I'lUai'8 AND GOitllAM's rirRCHASE. 521

I'EiVFIELD.

commissary flcpurtment • -iff • • f ,.1 ^'"T" ^ ''^'l''^' '" ^^e

field. Hediedin H4 » t . '^'^'^i' ^' ^^^'^^ settlement of Jiloom-
lit^, dunn^ t;I ' , ^^; ; t;;:^;^ ^^^^^ ^'^-- a Ion, and active

ters:_Mrs. Judge in o? Bl i t l1 T" ""ri^r ' ^^^"-^-

The permanent settlement of Penfield commenced in isni Tn

i«in. ""^ 1''^"^ "I village. 1 he former died in 1810 the lotforin
1810; sonsot both reside in l^enfield Th<. Jf\L I '^"^^'"
II 1804 wore— Tn«inh T K u k • , ^^"'^'3 who came m

Y yii!.,no, was at cue period the keeper of thf> l<'nr,i„ t'' •

Pataya. Both of .ha 'brother, sut-vivl °' ito'-Bet.; Xd" In

'.»'

' i

I ;

" 1

PHELPS AND GOEHAJl's PURCHASE.

I ft;

1835. arroH 73 years ; Mrs. David Baker Mrs. Luke Thompson, Mrs
John I). Scovell, are his <lau'jfhfiM-s. Tie was a captain in the Rev-
olution, in the Jerscv lin". Afrs. I'addock still survives.

hi 1800, Capt. Wni. M'Kinslcr opened tlie first store of goods,
with which he connpclcd a distillery. Me was from Hudson, the
son of the Col. M'Kinster whosi' life was saved hy Joseph Brant
(lurii _ix the horder wars. Mr Fdlows ^.^avo the author an interest-
inn; aeconnt of J}rani's visit to lIuiUoii in ISO.'). He was on iii?,
uay to iMnzland, and had stopped there to .^^ei' Daniel Penfieldjn
reference to some land tides on the Grand iiiver in Canada. Tlie
business delaved him fi'r two we(d<.-'. in which time he received much
attention from tht; citiz'-nsof Hudsun, many of the men ot the Rev-
okition calling upon him. who had met him in the battle field, ^ or
learned to dread him as the master spiirit of horder warfare. Col.
M'Kinster. who lived at 1/ivinuston Manor, w.Mit down to Hudson,
and the two had a happy mi'eting. It was t!ie lirst time they had
met since Brant had saved the Col's, life. An)ona; the rest who
came to see him was a lixiuacious Dutchman who had known him
before the Revolution. In a boasting and rather uncivil way, the
Dutchman told him if he had met him in the border wars, he would
have put a stop to his career. Brant i)arried the attack with a
pleasant anecdote: — ".And if you had met me,'" said he, "it would

have been with you just as it was with your neighbor ■. He

had boasted just as you are boasting now. In a skirnnsh 1 happened
to meet him"; he took to his heels, and hardly stopped to take breath
until he arrived in Albany, where a fire h;' just broke out, and the
Dutchmen were in the streets crying, " raunt!" "braunt!!"^ —
(fiire! fire ! ) Stop))ing short he exclaimed in amazement : — " The
d — d Indian has trot her(> before me!' "

While in Hudson Brant was free to say that he regretted having
espoused the liritish sirie in the Revolution ; and that in another
contest such would not be his pf)sition.

Capt. M'Kinster was upon the i'rontier in the war of 181-2, in com-
mand of a company at the battle of Queenston. In 1814 Jacob
B. lb-van became hi"s liu'iiness partner; the firm was continued un-
til 18-io, until Mr. :\rKinstrv returned to Hudson. Mr. Bryan, who
was the early P. M. of Peiifield, continued the business untd 1841 ;

dioxl in 1813.

Dr. \'an Dake commenced the practice ot medicme ni I enfield
in 1801, died in 1810: Dr. Rich in 1808, died in 1814. Dr. Arms
m 1810; removed to .Michigan in 1833. where he died in 1838.

Dr. Oliver Reynolds eounnenced piactice in the village, m 1815;
in 1S18 removed to what is now Webster, where he now resides.
Dr. Daniel Durfee settled in the east i)art of the town m 1818,
where he still continues the practice oi his profession, at the age of
70 years. ,

the first settled miaister was the Rev. Asa Cai'iienter, as early

PHELPS AND GORII All's PUKCIIASE. o23

!}l/'^*^i«J-' ''''''' ^''^ ^''•""^'' ^^'^'^-'^ IVesbyteriau church. He

UlCfl 111 loJ<^.

Mr. I'eiifield erected a jurist and saw null, at the Falls of the
Iromlequo.t .n 1805. As has been observed, he did not become a
resident until 181]. In 1813. Henry Ward (who has been'uln'ed
in connection with reminiscences of Tryon Town,) became his
cerk- continuing as such until 18-1. Mr. I'enfield erected a tlourin.^
mil at an expense of ,S15,000. It is now owned by J. B. Roe In
18db, James Iv. Livingston erected a stone tlourin<r mill at an ex
pense ot $30,000, which is now owned by Samuel Millei'

1 here has gro\vn up in the locality, a pleasant rural vilh.cre hav-
ing a 1 the signs ol enterprise and pro.sperity ; of which much more
could be .said, but it is only primitive things that come ^vithin the
design ot this work.

Henry Fellows was the son of Gen. John Fellows ; (see pace 174 )
After graduating at Williams' College, he studied law with Peter
iTin '"i •' '^;.^^"^''f.hook. In 1800 he was adi, 'tted to practice,
and settled in Canandaigua, where he remained until 1812, when
he removed to Penfield, where he still survives, the occupant of a
hnelarm, a successtul agriculturist and horticulturist, exhibitincr but
little ot physical, and nothing of mental infirmities usually conse-
quent upon the age at which he has arrived. He was at one period
a member otthe State legislature, as all will remember, who are
conversnnt with the political history of the State. He is the father

pJnrM 'Vf'';"-i" ^''"^'^^'''' «'■ ^^Irs. Danlel E. Lewis, of
1 enheld, Airs John L. Livingston, of ShortsN . -, Mrs. John Van
rSusKirk, ot JXevvark.

It was not until 1805 or '0 that settlement commenced in north
part of present town of Penfield, and what is now Webster In those
years and .soon alter, there went into that neigliborhood, John Shoe-
ci%alt Isaac Strai-lu, Daniel Harvey, Deacon Foster, Paul Ham-
mond, Wi ham Mann, William Harris, John Letts, Samuel Pierce,
Michnel Dunning, Justin Walker, William Straight, Gerard Dun-
ninii, Rulus Herrick, Robert Woodhull, Brooks Mason.

Ah: Shoecratt was a native of Ulster county, a Pioneer upon the
Mohawk {irevious to the Revolution, an active partisan in the Bor-
der wars ; w:is in Sullivan's expedition, and helped bury the man<ded
remains ot Lieut. Boyd. In the command of a, picket guard, near
Mieriy V alley, he with one Broidhoad was taken prisoner by the
Indians, and carried to Chemung. While their Indian guards were
asleep, they made their escape, killing several of their captors. In
the war of Ihpj. he was upon the frontier, in command of a com-
pany ol Silver Greys ; Jclm Shew was his lieutenant. He died in
1833, aged 77 years. Peter and John Shoecraft, of Penfield are
his sons ; two other sons and a daughter, Mrs. Fox, reside in Michi
gan. Mr, Letts was the jnoneer tavern kcejjer, uj.on the stale road •
still survives. The Dunnings were enterprising pioneers : it is per-

••l, I

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5-24

PHELPS AND GORHAjfs PURCHASE.

Iiaps worthy of record, that Michael built the first cider mill in all
that region.

William Mann is the son of John Mann, the founder of Mann's
mills on the Irondequoit, in Pittsford. He settled whore he now
resides in 1808, upon 100 acres his father purchased, and upon
which he had erected the first saw mill in all that region. William
Mann added a grist mill in 1813. A life of industry, perseverance
and endurance, has been that of most of all the early Pioneers ;
even where all this has been common, there are some things in the
history of William Mann worthy of note. Possessed of but a slight
frame, with apparently a i'eeble physical constitution, his life has
been one of constant and persevering toil, uninterrupted by sickness.
Taking charge of his own saw mill in an early day, he has been
known for weeks to have no .■•leep, except during the intervals of the
sets of his saw for each board ; in the labor of the field, he has been
earliest and latest ; foremost at logging bees or raisings, where hard
work was to be encountered ; and even now, there is with him but
little falling off, or suspension of labor. The reader will be glad to
learn thatcouifort and competence is the reward of all this ; but he
seems to work on as if he did not know how to stop.

MEMINISCEjS'CES of WILLIAM M.\NX.

In most of North PcntielJ, what is now Wobster, the forest was heavy*
the ground wet, and it was hard beginning'. The new settlers used to
change works; many of them could not command a team, and had to work
for their neighbors to procure team work. " Bees" would be made to help
the weak handed ; all were friendly ; sickness, privation, liardship, created
unity and mutual regard for eacli other's inter'st and weU'art. JNer and
other wild game were nlenty ; salmon in the spring and fall would come
several miles up the Four Mile creek. No money could bo obtained in the
earliest years ; in fact, our lirst resources for a little money and a little store
trade, was when the brothers, Comings, and Amos Dunning, and Amos
Harvey, started asheries, and nuide market for ashes and black salts. The
RidL^e Road was an Indian trail. It was not cut out so as to be passable
for wagons, until a little whde before the war of 1812. There was great
scarcity of food after the (old summer of lylO. I had ten acres of rye,
stout and early ; live acies of it was cut and eaten before the remainder,
or any other grain in the neighborhood was cut. In 1807, Amos Stone, of
Pittsford, harvested wheat, threshed and carried it to Mann's Mills to be
ground in good condition, o)i the Alli of July. A peach tree was planted
on my farm, in 1807j it lived and bore peaches imtil 1849. Solomon Ful-
ler, in IBOG, built a small mill on the Irondequoit, in Brighton; used the
old mill stones, and mill irons of the Allan mill at the Falls; I have one of
the gudgeons. The tir^t school in North Penfield was organized in 1810,

PIIELPS AND GORIIAm's PURCIFASE. 5^5

WY ^'^'^r^'^,'''''';''. »f-'igl>borhoc.d; Wm. Harris, a Scotchman, was the first
eacher. Methodist circuit riders were our first ministers. The 1 ev So
Ion Pierce organized a Methodist church in 1812

the Lnghsh as.soc,at,on the Salt Works tract, 3000 aci^s. There
was upon the tract, about two miles north of Webster Corner a
salt spring that vvas first known as a much frequented deer lie ^'-^^
As agents tor the proprietors, Stephen Howard and Stephen
S^:iTi ':\f ^ ^^^" «0 ieet deep and obtained tolerablv stron J w .

ec for t wi l'v7''' T '"^^ '"'f '^ " -""'• ^'"^^''^3- was manun'i;.tur-
ed toi a Wide region o new settlements. The price was Si 00 ner

hushel. Christopher Prentice succeeded How'ard and SpraTe ^Ts
agents ; as early as 1809 or '10 the business of salt manufacture fe!
.no the hands o Daniel Hudson and his son-in-lavv, Joel Tlaye
The property iell into the hands of Mr. Groicr, the n anufictu.e of
sal was suspended, and the lands reserved tc.llu-nlsh timl r for s.d
boihng forms now a landscape of beautitui highly cultivaS farms
i he first town meeting in Penfield, was held" in 1811. William

OtlTi T "^''^ '^"P«-i->'% «'-ooks Mason town c le
Otl er town officers .--Nathaniel Case, Charles P. Moore, Josiah T.

WiM fsn ' n-''''/± ^^''f'"'^'' ^'''^'^ ^^''' ««"i^^'^i" Tripp
S . ll'?'"'' I f T' T'''°"' ^'''''^'^' T. Shaw, Reuben Bailfy
bid?., "'r^^ ^'^•'^P'^''"''''^'^''^ '^'" exhibit pioneer names, and
mdicate where settlements were made as late as 1811 :-John
Strogor Gurdon Lewis, David Camp. Stephen Butler, Pelecr Ross
w'lY ^^'\«-' Enos ILu.j s,,,,.^^^^., pi^,.^l_ EbenezorSpearrDavid
S'n"' J/f ^P'\"«'-^:«y' Z'^^th Eldridge, Elisha Smith, Rufus D

M ^h b-V^'^' ?/'"7^''' '^'^'^'^ ^''■^'''^'' E"'^''-'^ <'=^««' John Pierce
Michael Hibnor Reuben Brace, Zaccheus Horton, Abner Brown,'
Wm. Cole, Jonathan Carpenter. Willian. Spear was Supervisor in
in 1838 The townof Web.ster was taken from Penfield

Brooks Mason was an early Judge of Ontario, a Justice of the
icace, and m other respects, a prominent Pioneer. Hussell B

Mis. Andrew Lincoln, of Pennton, is a dautditen

•^i7!"'~/' '■'■''* ^'^^™'^'^'f' '^""" Yankeu rionocr wnntwl nothiii.Hnit nn " -.vn u
Ijmhld MM.l au^ur, a . rau-in.r knil\. an,! .jn..l< plan.." to bu Id „ M h use M
Main, iKU not as nnu'l, ; ),nt l.ninir a l„.llnwH and anvil ),.. mad. 1 is o v dmi.loti'
.iugur,s and plane iron., witl. which he Ix.ilt not only fra.no bu ii g , .illf

) -I

i 1
t I
. 1

I !

;

'i ]
J :

526

PHELPS AND GOKIIA^iL S PURCHASE.

Tlio village of Webster has grown up on the farm of Dr. Oliver
Reynolds. The earliest merchants there, were Stearns & Coltiss ;
the' permanent ones, William .-md Timothy Corning.

I'lTTSFORD.

The names of tlie first eight heads of families will be found on
page 431. They were priiicii)ally from Salem, Washington coun-
ty. Israel Stone died in early years ; his widow became the wife
of Paul Uichardjon, and after his death that of Moses Barr : she
died a few years since at an advanced age, Eri Stone, of I'itts-
ford is a son of Israel Stone. Simon Stone died 15 or 20 years
since. Orrin Stone, of I'ittsford, is a son of his. Jesihel (not .To-
seph, as on page 4.'H.) Farr, died soon after 1812 : the death of Mrs.
Farr was the first that occurred in " Stonetown;" Jesihel Farr, of
Pittsfnrd is a son : a daughter became the wife of Caleb Nye. Silas
Nye came into the new I'cgion at an advanced age ; had h(dd a
commii^sion in the Revoh.lion : he was the first supervisor of the
town; died in early years. Tlis surviving sons are, Nathan and
Silas Nye, of I'ittsford. Nathan who is now 78 years of age, has
been a suj)crvisor of the town, and justice of the peace. A daugh-
ter of Silas i\ye the elder, becanie the wife of one of the brothers,
Becliwiths, early merchants in Palmyra : another, the wife of Carmi
Hart, of Pittsford. Thomas Cleland died soon after 1830, Josiah

Gimminson did not become a permanent resident, neither did

Dodge, who was one of the pro])rietors of the town. Alexander
Dunn was a son in law of Silas Nye.

Other Pioneers, as early as 1790, and mostly before 1800: —
Anson Stone, John Stone, Ann is Stone, Samuel Stone, Daniel Per-
rin, (the father of Darius Perrin, P. M. Rochester.) Caleb Hopkins,
Wm Acker, Noah Norton, Thomas Billinghurst, Wm. Agate, Rich-
ard Welsh, Nehemiah Hopkins, Robert Holland, Henry Bailey,
JarcMl liarker, Elilui Doud, Nathan Calhoun, Ezra Patterson, Ben-
jamin Weeks, Daniel Brown, (an early liaptist preacher,) Israel
Canfield, Benjamin Miller, William Hill, Robert Holland. Wm.
Acer, was the father of John Acer, the widely known landlord of
Pittsforil; Ezra Act'r, of Pittsford, is a son; daughters became the

wives of Theron Noble, Dwellie Clapp, and May. Caleb

Hopkins was breveted a Colonel in the war of 1812, had com-
mands upon the Niagara frontier, and at the mouth of the Cenesee
River; was an active and efficient ])artizan in all the trying crisis;
Marvin Hopkins, late sui)ervisor of Pittsford is his son. Nathan
Calhoun still survives at the age of 73 ; lias been a sujiervisor ot
the town 8 years, a magistrate 30 years ; is the father of eight
daughters, of whom have become ^vives.

WIELPS AND GOllirAM's PrHCIIASE.

52*7

►Simon Stone 2(1, a connexion of the numerous family of thai nime
who wore pioneers m the lociilitv, w:is the primitive kuvver. He
WIS loeiited HI jH-actice soon alter 1800; filled the office of super-
vise, and Justine ol the pence : he died 1 5 or 16 vears since. Wm.
Cr. 1 ayior was the next practicing lawyer, locatinjr in early vears •
he emigrated to the west. Ira Bellows; who has been so lone ideii-
tihed with the locality, yet suryiyes, in the practice of the profession.
1 lie (Mrly physicians were, Dr. .Tohn Rav and Dr. Daniel Rood •
.succeedinsr them were, Dr. Acliill<-s G. Snn'th, and Dr. Hartvveli
Carver. Dr. Carver is a lineal descendant of John Carver who
came over in the M.'ivtlower, and of Jonathan Carver, the ear-
ly western explorer, lie was a -rraduate of Yale Colle-H-, .settled at
littsloid soon alter the war of 1812. Althoimh makinir that hi.s
hailinir place, a spirit of eiiK-rprise and adventure, has made him a
traveller in Europe, a resident in New Orleans, in Florida, and in
iViiiinesota; lew men are more widely known, or have obtained
more prolessional celebrity. Though a waiiderinu bachelor, he
would seem to be becoming a fixture now, as he is buildin-r th," m,.
iquo dwelling place, that may be observed uiion the outskirts of the
pleasant rural village of I'iitsford.

Allhough Israel Stone in an early day, did a little in the mercan-
tile way, the first considerable mercantile establishment was founded
by U'-- A^ G. Smith, Nathan Nve, Caleb Hopkins and John Acer
Samuel Hildreth, a brotiier of the Hildrelh's of Vienna, was an
early merchant, tavern keeper and stage proprietor ; foundiii"- the
first line ot public conveyance from Caiiandaigua to iJoeliT'ster,
an( with others, the; first on the Riga road from Rochester to Can-
andaigua; his widow survived until recentiv; John Ilildivth, of
littsloid IS a son; Mrs. Babcock and Mrs. Richardson ol' Tittslord
are his daughters. Augustus Elliott was an early merchant and
distiller ; and in an early day erected an iron forue in IVnticid. lie
was the lounder of the fine private mansion that was alterward^ oc-
cu;)it d by James K. Guernsey.
_ Glover Perrin who is inentioned as the pioneer of Perrinton. <rot
tired ol his solitary life there, vacated his log cabin soon after The
death ot his friend Caleb Walker, and became the pioneer landlord.
lie died childless : .John Acer was his successor.

Pittsfoid village, ill ])oint of time, may be said to have been a
lioneer locality next to Canandaii-ua. aiid as early as Geneseo
Avon, Palmyra and Lyons. The fine bluir which forms its site, at
the base of which was a valuable spriim, drew the attention of the
early .adventures to the spot. There were lonu years in which the
principal business of a wide region was transacted there ; and thouuh
It IS now oneot the out posts of an (wershadowing city, time was,

(and lliat w

w settlers in tl

itiun tiie memory of hundreds who survive,) when the

o{' that city, thought themselves out in tl

mall openings of the dense forest on the site

\e world again, when they

f-kf,
I- I

"^,

ft •!

M '.

I'.

528

PHELPS AND GOPJIAm's PURCHASE.

had reached ihat vilhifre, where there were dry streets, comfortable
pubHc and private dwelliiiirs, merchants, mechanics, lawyers, and
doctors, and ''stated prea'jhino;."

The town of Northfield was organized in 1701. It was then all
of what is now Piftsford, Penfield, Perrinton, Henrietta, Brighton.
Irondequoit, and Webster. The first town meeting was in 1790.
It was "opened by Phineas Bates." Silas Nye was chosen super-
visor, John Ray town clerk. Other town othcers, Noah Norton,
Caleb Hopkins, Glover Perrin, Jonas Sawen, Jesihol Farr, Aaron
Stone, Ezra Patterson, Samuel Bennett, Henry Bagley, Alexander
Dunn, William Acer, Paul Richardson. In 1798, tlic name of the
town was changed to Boyle. In 1813, the town of Boyle was
divided into three towns, Penfield, Perrinton and Sniallwood , and
in 1811 the town of Brighton was erected ; and in the same year,
what is now Pittsford and Henrietta, was made to constitute a town
which was called Pittstbrd. Henrietta was erected in 1818. There
was no such town as " Stonetown ;" this was the early designation of
the settlement ; as in the case of " Boughtontown," " Pittstown," &c.

A school was organized in what is now Pittsford, as early as 1794 ;
a Congregational church in 18(»9.

John Mann, saw the Genesee country immediately after the close
of the Revolution — as early as 1784. ' A resident of New Jersey,

in company with Allen N"ixon and Scritcbfield, he came

through the wilderness from the Delaware River, following the
Indian trails to Niagara River. Failing to make some contempla-
ted arrangements with Gov. Simcoe in Canada, for a settlement
there, the i)arty returned to New Jersey. Upon the Genesee river
they made the acquaintance of Eben /.er Allan, who offered to ob-
tain for Mr. Mann the Indian grant ol .')00 acres of the present site
of the city of Buffalo, for the horse he rode. Mr. Mann visited the
country again in 1803 in company with his son, Wm. Mann of Pen-
field. He found al that early period a sister of his wife — a Mrs.
Field — wiio had settled with a large f\unily of .sons and daughtei-s,
in a small Indian village at the mouth of the Wiscoy, in Allegany
county. In 1804 Mr. Mann moved his famly, consisting of a 'wife
and ten children, to Victor, and renting land of Enos "Boughton,
raised^ 500 bushels of wheat for his own'share, which he exchanged
with Zachariah Seymour, of Canandaigua, f r ihe hundred acres of
land in Penfield, upon which his son "now resides. In 1805 he
bought of Simon Stone fifty acres of land on the Irondequoit near
the great embankment, upon which Mr. Stone had erected a small
grist mill and saw mill soon after 1790. Mr. Mann re-buill the mills
in 1812. As " Stone's mills" and " Mann's mills," they were known
in early years throughout a wide region. Millwrights of the pre-
sent day may learn something of the oxpediciUs of the early period
in which the sawmill was built; ot what " necessity, the mother of
invention," used to accomplish ; from the fact, that the saw used in

PIIELPS AND GORIIA]M S PURCHASE.

529

Mr. Stone's primitive mill was made by Samuel Bernett, a black-
smith, by welcliiij. together old scythes. Mr. Mann died 1824, aged
75 years. His son, other than the one already noticed in connec-
tion with Penlield, is Jacob Mann, of Pittsford ; daughters became
wives of Wm. B. Jobson, of Canandaigua, Calvin R. Cheeny, of
Michigan ; Mrs. Asahel Baker, of Iowa.

Stejihen Lusk, whose early advent is noticed in connection with
Brighton, became a resident of Pittsford in 1807, establishing there
a j)rimitive tannery, and continuing it for many years. He is now
the occupant of a fine farm, a mile east of the village on the Victor
road.

rERRINTON.

It has little of pioneer history distinct from that of Pittsford, with
which its territory was blended previous to 1810; and it is one of
those localities from which the author has been favored with no
account of its early settlers. It will be observed that its original
proprietor made a commencement there as early as 1790, and died
in that year at Canandaigua; his companion, Glover Perrin, leaving
sf»on after ; it was several years before its settlement was again
attempted. Among the earliest settlers were, Jesse Perrin, Asa
Perrin, Ecbvard Perrin, Major Norton, John Scott, Levi Treadwell,
Richard Treadwell, John Peters, and Gideon Ramsdell.

With reference to the uplands of Victor, Mendon, Pittsford, Per-
rinton, Penfield and Irondequoit ; oak openings, and to a small ex-
tent, pine plains, a marked change has occurred. It was an inviting
soil when settlement commenced ; far easier beginning upon it, and
making more speedy returns for labor expended, than the heavily
timbered lands. But long years of discouragement and stinted
crops succeeded. The sandy, light soil became almost unproduc-
tive, in some instances thtir cultivation was abandoned, and the
vallies and intervals became the chief dependence. In Victor, as
late as 1820, uplands were sold as low as from $'S to $0 per acre.
Since about that period a chansre has been going on, until from the
poorest, these lands have become, if not the best, equal in value to
any in all this garden of the State. Their prices now range from
$40 to 'S80 per acre; in J'ittsford, farms have been sold this sum-
mer as high as f SO. Tunc, and each successive cultivation, im-
proves the soil.

Omitting any speculations or any theories of his own, the author

530

rilELrS AND OOIOIAM S I'UKCIIASE.

Mr. Wm. C. Dryer, ot Victor, a lui.uuf intdli-.Mice uii.l auvM
ol.s,.rvaf,(.n, s;,ys 1 mt tl.c IVcq.u'nt l)urnincr over of these opcuin.rs
that pr(-c(>d,'(l sctflomont an<l cultivation, |„hI rendered inert aiTd
unproductive the surface soil, while it had been niakin- deposites in
tliosul.-sod, ot someot the mo«t essential elements of ve.retafion
which deeper plowui^ has I.ee., developing and other of improved
cultivation, m.kmg ayi.ilable. The late Timothv Hacluis.of Le l{oy
and ^ockp..rt. (one ol nature's student.s, as well as one of l-.er " nohle-
men, ) a li-w y,.ars before his denth, in conversation with the author,
was citing the lact that the first board of commissi.,ners, sent out
byourgmvrnmentto explore the peninsula of Michi-aii, ma.le ;,
report, which is upon record, in substance, that it was unfit for hab-
itation or cultivation and woul.l never repay the co^t of survev and
sale. 1 hey jud,ir<«d, ' said he, "that the heav-ily timbeie<l lands'were
ge.ierally too wet for cultivation, an.l that the burr oak openincrs,
which predominated, were unproductiv barrens, lu'cause they sifw
upon thein but stinted herbage, and a feeble undergrowth of shrub-
beiy. i here was m the soil rich and abimrlant elements of a-rri-
culture, as time and experiment has .lemonstrated, but it was intlic
sub-soil ; the surface s<.il had been depleted by fire, and deteriorated,
or poisoned by the acids of the oak and chestnut leaves This
remark is applicable to the same kind of lands in our own reo-ion •
tl^ie new settlers could at first realize but stinted crops upon tliem.'
Even now, wherever the oak or chestnut leaf has fallen and decayed
tor a long succession of years, it requires time and cultivation to
make the soil productive."

JVIEXDON.

Township 11, R. 5, what is now Mendon. containincr 'jgoiO
acres, was the last sale made by Phelps and Corham previo'us to the
sale w^h to Sir Wm Pulfc.n,.y and his associates. The purchasers
were Franklin and Bougbton," or the entry of sale is to them.
Ihe tou-nship was soon subdivided, an<I .Teivmiah Wadsworth be-
came the owr.cr of 1 1.000. Other large early pr.mrief,»rs of the re-
mainder of the town were, Catlin & Fe; ris, VVaddington & Pcpoon.
Jonathan Bal . Ebenezer Barnard, of IlartfonI, Conn., became
the owner o( ha t of the Wadsworth tract. The whole 1 1,000 acres
was settled under the auspices p.i>vMpally of James Wadsworth,
either as owner or agent. Tlu Ball trac^ was sold to Augustus and
1 eter B. Porter, and Zel ulon Norton. Zfliulon Norton '^from Ver-
mont, was the Pioneer in the township, erecting mills as eaviv as
1791, on the Honeoye Falls. He died in 18 J i ; his son Ezra, upon

whom the

two years
Sales ot
the 11,00(
year, sales
Williams,
Williams,
not all of y
tli''y paid
Hickox. a!
1701. Ot
fore the ch
Samuel L
Klijah licl
atider, Ge
wives of I'
side at the
years ; his
settler at
Capt. Tr
a century
could be s
hrii^fness f
and J'iller
stead, aiu
Ainaziah,
lienjamin
Nathan \
Mendon, ;
viving sor
residing u
a daughte
sons of Si
.fudge Jol
Iji'yan.

Other e
ters, Jacr
Sims. ]i
ot' Marvii
ters of Bl
an early n
as do in f
usual in <
son of Jo
The ea
der of K
He wa.s

PHELPS ATSTD fiOTlHAM S PURCHASE.

531

wliom flic care of the mill and farm devolved in early years, died

two yciifs y)revious.

S;ili;s of farm lots were commenced by James Wadsworth, on
the 11,000 acre tract, in June, 170.'{ ; in that and the succecdin;^
year, sales were made to "Dan Williams, Cornelius 'J'icat, Elijah
Williams, Henjamin I'arks, lihene/.er llafhhun. Ilufus I'arks, Nathan
Williams, Moses Everett, Wm. Hiekox, Lorin Wait, Ueuheu Hill;"
not all of whom, it is presumed, became actual settlers. Tic ])rices
tlu'v paid were from 61 2r» to S'-i pcv acre. Treat, Williams,
Hickox. and Parks, "all from Berkshire." were actual settlers in
1701. Other earlv Pioneers in the tovvtishij), in succession, all be-
fore the close of 1800, were, John Parks, Jonas Alhm, Joseph Hryan,
Samuel Lane, Charles Foote ; and soon after 1800, Moses Rowell,
Elijah fieland. Charles Foote, of Mendon, and Elias Foote, of Alex-
ander, (ienesee Co., are sons of Charles Foote; dauj^hters became
wives of Fnos Blossom and Gains Lane ; other sons and dauirhters re-
side at the west. C'apt. Treat died in 1848, at tfie advanced a<re of 81
years; his wife, whose first husband was Benjamin Paimer, an early
settler at Palmyra — father of Ceo. Palmer of JJuffalo — died in 1849.
t'apt. Treat was not only an early settler, but for more than half
a century was a protninent citizen of the town, of whom much
could be said, as in lumdreds of other instances, if the necessary
l)ri(!fness of these sketches would allow of it. Dr. John Jay Treat
and J'illery Treat, of Rochester, Nelson Treat, upon the home-
stead, arul Joseph Treat, residinfr at the west, are surviving sons.
Ainaziah, Calvin, and Thomas Parks, of Mendon, are the sons of
[{enjamin Parks. Joseph Williams, of Canandaigua, is the son of
Nathan Williams. Rufus, John, Benjamin, and James Parks, of
Mendon, are the sons of John Parks, who still survives. The sur-
viving sons of Capt. Jonas Allen are, Ethan, in California; Daniel,
residing upon the homestead ; and George, a magistrate in Mendon ;
a daughter is the widow of the late Dr. Milton Sheldon. Of eight
sons of Sanniel Lane, but one survives, Gaius Lane of Rochester.
Judge John Bryan, of Michigan, is the only surviving son of Joseph
Bryan.

Other early settlers of Mendon : — Marvin Smith, Henry Shel-
ters, Jacob Young, John and William Dixon. John Moore, John
Sims. Benjamin of Mendon, and Isaac Smith, of Rush, are sons
of Marvin Smith. Lyman Shelters, of Mendon, and Cabot Shel-
ters of Bloomfield, are sons of Henry Shelters, Jacob Young was
an early and enteryn-ising manufacturer at the Falls; now survives,
as do ill fact, a larger number of the early Pioneers named, than is
usual in other localities. Amos Dixon at the Honeoye Falls, is a
son of John Dixon.

The early physician was Dr. Knickcrbacker, who was the foun-
der of Knickcrbacker Hall, Avon, now a resident of Rochester.
He was succeeded by Dr. Harvey Allen, who is yet in practice.

'1 ;
1

r ,

V, !

K f

) '

•>i

' \ \ . '

f» i

■

in
I"

l,i

532

PIIELPS AND GORIIAm's rURdlASE,

Dr. Wm. Rrown was the early physician in East Mendon, is now
a resident ot rembroke, Cenesee county.

^^ Zebulon Townsend was an early settler on what was called
Abraham s riains," still survives, at the a^e of 75 years. Surviv-
uig sons are: — Geo. P. Townsend, an Attorney, in Penfield, Jo-
seph B. ol Mendon, Jeremiah, Seth and Gideon, of Maren™, Mich

'^'\"\r L'' i''Vl ^^- ^^""'"'^ '-''"'^ ^^''- Oi-ra Case, of Honeoye Falls
and Mrs. S. N. De^roli; of Maren, o, are liis daughters.

Innothy IJarnard, who was the brother of the e. rly land propri-
etor, (l)ut not resident,) named above, removed from the city of
Hartlord— cxchaiitrinnr a comfortable home for a log cabin in the
new i;egion--in 1808. He died in 1847 or '8, aged' 1)1 years. It
IS a singular fact, that although he brought a large family into the
new country, and his descendants in the second degree became nu-
merous, his was the first death that occurred in the whole family
circle. He was an early Judge of Ontario, and in other respects a
prominent and useful citizen. He was the father of Daniel D
Barnard, the U. S. Minister to Prussia, of Timothy and Henry
Barnard who reside on the homested.

Among the reminiscences of the early settlers of Mendon, is that
of an oak stump, on the farm of Capt. Treat, nine feet in diameter
1 he tree was supposed to have been cut down by the Indians. On
tne Jarm ot Mr. 1 arks, a section of a hollow sycamore was cut off
6 feet in length, through which a pair of oxen, of ordinary size, was
driven in their yoke. John Stimpson, a trapper, caught on Capt

fTJ T' '"^ '''°'''^' ^" ''"^ "'g'^^' ^"^»' which he received a bounty
01 bJO- a large sum ot money in those primitive times. Wolves
pursued Capt Treat one night for miles ; and nothing but the supe-
nor speed of his horse saved him from becoming an inhabitant of
an older settled country, '•• where wolves cease from troul)linfr " Dr
Joe Brace, the early physician in Victor, was going from Norton's
Mills owards home, on the old Indian trail. When near what is
novv Miller s corners, his horse suddenly stopped, and looking ahead
ot him he saw in his path a huge i.anther, crouched and i^eady to
spring upon him. An attempt to turn around would have been fatal.
With much presence of mind he suddenly spread his umbrella, and
shaking it, the animal walked otf.

The town was organized in 1813. Jonas Allen was the first
supervisor; Daniel Dunks town clerk. A Baptist church was or-
ganized in 180!) ; the first pastor, the Rev. Jessee Brayinan ; a Con-
gregationalchurcji inlSlTor '18, the first settled minister the Rev.

eivm7fom,',']w./''i"^''''r'"'°" "*■ *H" En.pk7sMZ" is a designation oc^i^ni^
K r , / T '": •'''■''''^''''■''f ^'"''"^^y' '■•'^^''■' vauntingl/j,m-hap.s; l.ut it li li

SvlJ fh our imtional oxiston.e conunonced. and for I.mi- rears nfr,.-

rSviMn '.!''!•'• ' "f ^^^^■■^"'^'"' "'; H'^' ^'"'^^''' *'='f^'^ ; ^ ^'"^t MasUT General ;
Ld h<f amepeSd ^ ^-'^•''''•''"'- "'"l I^'cuteuant Governor of our State; atone

Nathaniel
Hams, Wir
( ;ady, of ]\
the frame
owned am
Urook was

Jeremia
'ian and \
I'holps ani

The aut
itive settle
ally in the

Joseph .
was one
which nov
tiful sweei
with the C
the hands
ilv of thai

'In 1801
township,
county, M
as. Jacob

The fa:
(laughter,
county, w
tario, for (
a member
the war ol
upon the
county, a
of Rush,
sors of INI
ollices ga'
ol" Comni
He was c
case with
long and
the wife (
wife, whc
cob Adan

Ion, IS now

vas called
!. Surviv-
Mifield, Jo-
1^0, Micli-
Joye Falls,

ind pro])ri.
he city of
bin in the
years. It
y into the
!came nu-
)le family
respects a
I3aniel D,
1(1 Henry

)n, is that
diameter,
ians. On
as cut off,
size, was
on Capi.
a bounty
Wolves
the supe-
ibitant oi'
ig." Dr.
iVorton's
• what is
iig ahead
ready to
een latal.
ella, and

the first

was or-

; aCon-

;he Rev.

•casionally
but it lias
'SCO Coun-
L'ars jitVcr-
■ Gcnoral ;
tc ; at oni!

PHELPS \ND GORIIAJI'S PURCHASE.

533

Nathaniel Taylor. The early mechanics were : — Nathaniel Wil-
liams, Wm. Hickox, Nathaniel Bryan, Samuel Lano ; (Jen. Chalotte

( 'ady, of Miciiigan, was the first merchant. Elliott erected

the frame of the first saw mill on the Irondecpioit ; the mill was
owned and finished by Jonas Allan. The first grist mill on i'ond
Brook was built by Haze.

RUSH.

Jeremiah Wadsworth, was the purchaser of 5,000 acres, and "Mor-
'ian and his associates, of 4,750 acres of what is now Rush, of
I'holps and Gorham.

The author is unable topive the years in which each of the prim-
itive settlers came in, but those named were the earliest, and gener-
ally in the oi'der named.

"Joseph Morgan, who had first settled on the west side of the river,
was one of tlie earliest settlers of the tov\n, his farm the same
which now constitutes the horaested of Joseph Si1)ley — the beau-
tiful sweep of flats and upland at the junction of the Honeoye creek
with the Genesee river. The properly i)assed from Morgan into
the hands of Spraker, one of the well known Mohawk fam-
ily of that name, who died there.

"In 1801, to the few settlers that were previously located in the
township, there was added a considerable number from Frederick
county, Maryland: — The families of Philip Price, Chrystal Thom-
as, Jacob Stull, John Bell, Otto.

The family of Philip Price, consisted of seven sons and one
(laughter. The sons were: — John Price, of Gorham, Ontario
county, who was for many years one of the county Judges of On-
tario, for one or two terms a representative in the Legislature, and
a member of the State Convention of 1831. Peter Price, who in
the war of 1812 was a Lieutenant in a volunteer corps, and served
upon the Niagara Frontier. He was an early Judge of Monroe
county, a Justice of the Peace, and for 18 years was the supervisor
of Rush, and for several years chairman of the board of Supervi-
sors of Monroe county, improving the opportunities that judicial
otlices gave him, by study, he was admitted to practice in the court
ol" Conimon Pleas, of Monroe, and ultinrttely in the Supreme Court.
He was emphatically a self made man, and what is not always the
case with self made men, the work was well done. He died after a
long and useful life, in Feb. 1848, leaving an only daughter who is
the wife of A. D. Webster, a merchant in West Henrietta. His
wife, who was the daughter of Nathan Jeffords, ,4111 survives. Ja-
cob Adam, and Philip Price, emigrated to Michigan in 1824. Geo.

634

PIIELPS AND GORIIAll's PURCHASE.

The dauiih-

Prico resides in Rush on the homestead of the Aiinilv.
ter was tiie wife of Jacob !Stull

The survix-iny sons of Jacob Stull, are:- John P. 8tull, George
StuI , Jam,,.s Sluli al residents of Rush. Chrystal Tho.nas, died m
844 lie erect^ed the hrst saw mill in Rush, on Stonv Rrook. i,.
1805 Jacob, Cfn-ystal, and David Thnn.as are his sons. M,j
Mook. ot Henrietta IS a dauirhter. John and Frederick Bell of
Kush, are the sons of the early emigrant from Maryland, John jjell
In ad.iilion to these that have been named, there were settled in
Rush previous to 180(5, Thomas Daily, who still survives. The
Harmon family, who were afterwards early settlers in Svveeden
and onumal proprietors of a lai;ire portion ol' the villa-e plat of

of J ush. Joseph M lar and ; the father of Peter iMFarland, of
Kush. /(>phaniah JJranch. A large family of (JolTs, of which the
early and widely known Elder G'ofK was a member •

Jaseph Sibley caine to the Genesee country in 1804 — in 1800
located ni Jiush He was from Renssealer countv, N. V Like

witb' inl t •' ' k" '"''\ ■:"l^-^'"^^"-^'-«- l^e came into the wildernes
with little to aid him in his enterprise; but with an in.Jomitablt
spin of perseverance, he looked at its ruuged features undismayed,
and bo l,t V and successfully wr.^.tled through long years with all of

iStUud' lirSlj'"""""- '^'' ^""^'^^^"^' ''^^'^'^' --^'S^ -^

" Tlio iixc tlint w.indroiis iiistniiiient,
TiiMt like tlii^ hilisinan, ti-niist'orms
Ucst'i'ts to liulcls ami cities,"

and first in one locality and then in .aiother, made openincrs in
he f-M-est ; and now m his declining years, favored with almost'un
interupted health, and a sound constitution, he is enjoying the frui s
of his h.bors-,s settled down m the midst of bnii; highly culti-
vated fields, constituting one of the many large and beauliful ilrm^
in the immediate valley of the Genesee. "^auiiiui laims

In 1812 he changed^his residence from Rush to Riiin, an.l was one
o the first to commence clettring a farm in the neighborhood of
Churchville ; and after that was a resident of Chili,' louiidii,. tl e
mdhng establishment on Bh.ck creek, now owned by D Co ne
When in anticipation of the declaration of war, Gov Tomnkins
ordered drafts from the militia, he was one of the sk- hundre .1 vob
unteers that supplie.l the necessity of a drt.ft, and promptly marched
to tlie frontier, under tl ' .•/-.., '— i

supervisor of Genesee and Monroe

le command of Col Swift. H

lature ; for five years

a canal superintend

a member of the State L

e was an early

eijis-

the collector of the port of Ge

and Samujl Church, of Riga, to whom I
survives; a nioie lliun usual nioiiuliiyJi

int; and more recently

Miesee. His wife, the sister of Elihu
le was married in 1807, still

iiw

lis prevailed with their i;

The dauiih-

ull, George
nus, died ii,
■ iJrook. in
oils. Mrs.
di Bell of
John jk'll,
a settled ill
ives. The
I Svveeden,
^'e pjiit of
i Ilartwell,
'ariand, of
whieh the

— in 1800,
Y. Like
wddeniess
idoinitablt
idisinnved.
vith all" of
urage and

penings in
ihuo.-jt un-
ihc fruits
hly culti-
iliil larms

d was one
rhood of
idinti; the
D. Cope,
.'oinpkins
Ired voj-
niarched
an early
e hems-
recently
of Elihu
807, .still
eir large

PHELPS AND GORHAJI rf PURCHASE.

535

family of sons and daughters; of a family of ten children, most of
whom hecame adidts, hnt three siu'vive : — Horace J. Sil)lry a stu-
dent of law ill lloclu'ster ; Mrs. John P. Stull, of Hush ; and Mrs.
James M'Ciill, of t'incinnatti.

REMINISCEXCK.S OF JOSEPH SIBLEV.

AYIicn I came to Rush, in 1800, th(?re was no surveyed road in the
township. The fall previous, .Mr. VVaJsworth hiid contracted with Major
Mnrkliam to cut out a wuail's road as fur as the line of lluiiiicilii; but it
wa-i several years before it was carried any farther. Tho lirst surveyed
road tl>rough the town and West Henrietta, was the State roal from Ark-
port to llie mouth of the (Jeuesee river. A road was surveyed from the
line ot Meiuioii thne.inh the "Golf settlement," in 1807; and in 1808, a
brid;;e was built by tho volunteer labor of sotllers, over the lloneoye, near
where State road crosses, In 180!), a bridge was built over tiie Honeoye,
in West Unsh, on r.ver road, by the town. In 1817, the bridge on the
State road, vveut otV in a freshet, and about the same periud, Austin VVing,
a broliiur of Dr. Wing, of Albany, was drowned in crossing the stream.

There were large patches of rushes both on Hats and upiaiuLs, along the
river and the lloneoye Creek; the locality was called "Hush liottom " —
thence the name of tiie town. Cattle would winter well and thrive on
the rushes; the Wadswortha would send large droves here to winter, and
many were sent from Lima, llloomtield, and Victor, ibe rushes finally run
out by being repeatedly fed down.

The greatest amount of sickness and death that I knew of in any locali-
ty in tli(! Genesee country, was as late as 18'2!, in the settlements along
on Black and Sandy (Jreek. The prevailing disease had all the distinctive
character of the yellow lever, ami in a dense population, vvoull have been
equally as fatal. It was principally owing to the erection of mill dams,
and consecpient flooding of timbered lands. When the mill dams were
drawn oil, the sickness subsided. In one of tho earlier years, when Riga
and Chili were one town, it was ascertained that 00 died in apopuhuion of
less than 3,000. At one period, in a population of 83, within the distance
of It miles alonii' on the Hrntklock's Bay road, G3 were sick, principally
with billions inlermittents. In many seasons, along on the river, the per
cent of sickness was greater than has ever prevailed in any of the large
cities of the United States, not excepting even the seasons of cholera.
This was the case in many of the early years. 1 have seen instances
when entire families would be prostrated, deaths would occur wiihout any
medical aid, and sometimes even without nursing. Physicians would be
worn out, over-run with business; often it would be twenty-four hours af-
ter they received a call before they could attend to it.

In 1805, crops were very light, and before the harvest of 180G, there
M^as much suflering for food; wheat, went up to $2 50 per bushel. The
season of 1804 i.ad been very wet, espec'ally along about corn harvest;
aud the seed corn planted in 1805, seemed to have lost in a great measure

536

PHELPS AND GORHAM's PURCHASE.

• Its germinating principle ; much of it rotted in the ground. The harvest
of 1806 was an abundant one; many fields of wheat were fit to cut on
the 4th of July. Wheat and corn became a drug; neither would sell for
store trade, nor could they be bartered for the ordinary necessaries
of life. I chopped, cleared, and sowed to wheat, twenty acres the first year
I commenced in Rush. I harvested from 6 to 700 bushels, but could sell it
for nothing that I wanted, except in a few instances. I gave a blacksmith
m JJloomfaeld, a bushel of wheat for putting a small wire baii into a tea
kettle. Leather, wheat would not buy : and so we had to go barefoot.
This state of things produced a large amount of distilling, and whiskey
became far too cheap for the good of the new country. The seasons of
1807, '8' '9, '10, '11, were productive, but that of 1812 was unproductive
and they grew worse until 1816 inclusive. In that year, most of the'
wheat was not fit to cut until September; the corn crop was almost entire-
ly lost; but little summer crops of any kind were raised. From the 6th to
the 12th of June, there was frost every night. I sold pork that year for
$10 percwt., fresh; and beef for $6. The harvests of 1817, '18 were
tolerable ones: from 1819 to '24, they were universally prolific. In 1819
wheat went down to 31 cents per bushel. '

In early years, there was none but a home market, and that was mostly
barter:— It was so many bushels of wheat for a cow; so many bushels for
a yoke of oxen, &c. There was hardly money enough in thee ountry to
pay taxes. In the way of clothing, buckskin breeches and those made
from hemp grown upon the river, were quite common. A young man
would then have to work six months for such a suit of clothes as he could
now buy for $12. Few wore shoes or boots, except in winter. I have
seen men who are now wealthy farmers, barefoot long after snow came,
lie price of a common pair of cow-hide boots would be $7, payable in
wheat at 62 cents per bushel. Judge Peter Price told me that the first
horse he ever owned in Rush, he paid ten bushels of corn for shocincr
As a matter of necessity, l-.or:-.es mostly had to be used without shoeino-.
When we began to have a few sheep, n cost usn great deal of trouble t"o
keep them from the wolves; the coarsest wool was worth 50 cents per lb
and cash at that. Woolen shirts were a luxury; the most common ones'
were oi flax and hemp.

Along in years previous to the war, there was extensive liemp culture
on the river. The Wadsworths introduced it, raising much themselves, and
turnisiungseed for others; upon their Honeoye farm, in 1811 18 acres of
hemp were raised. Samuel M. Hopkins, and his brother, Mark Hopkins,
were largely er iged in the business at one time, at whiit is row Cuyler-
ville. Ihe principal market was at Albany. It finally became a losing
business; cultivation, harvesting, preparation for market, transoortation, cost
too mucii. It was abandoned after an experiment of a [c\v years

Game was very plenty :-The hills of Rush, Avon, Caledonini Wheat-
land, valleys and uplands, were favorite ranges for the deer. In the win-
ter of 1806, '7, a deep snow came suddenly in December— a thaw suc-

Note.— In 1816, iho uutlior paid some Indian women at Monnt Monis, $2 per
tjuft.nci tor a oiiu liurwu wngon load of corn, and helped pound it outinthc biu'guin.

PIIELPS AND GORHA^l's PURCHASE.

537

ceeded, leaving the openings pretty much bare, but there was eight or ten
inches of snow left in the woods, which was suddenly crusted over. This
drove the deer, in large flocks, into the openingr^. They were in good con-
dition, and we could easily kill all we wante i. The Indians of Canawau-
gus had tine sport, and laid in stores of venison. In all the early years,
those Indians were frequently upon the trails that went down to Ironde-
quoit, the Falls, and the mouth of the Genesee river. On their return,
their ponies would be loaded down with the spoils of the chase, the
tish-hook and spear.

The winter I have spoken of, was generally a very severe one ; toward
the last of March and beginning of April, ihere was a heavy fall of snow ;
through Canandaigua, Phelpstowa, and in all that region, it was from four
to five feet in depth ; on the river, three and half feet. AH the roads were
entirely blocked up. A thaw carae suddenly and swept the flats of the
river throughout their whole exl«.-nt. It was a singular fact, t the robin,
remained in the country throw mt this generally hard winter, in the
winter of 1808, '9, another de^ , ow and crust occurred. The wolves
and dogs made terrible havoc i: ..ong the deer; the poor creatures would
take to the roads, and flee into farmers' yards for refuge. Venison, in the
way of meat, was a great help to new settlers. I have never heard of a
regiou where deer were so plenty.

In the winter of 1815, we had a general wolf hunt, or drive, as it proved
to be.. The inhabitants of the whole region turned out, and surrounded
all the swamps in Gates, Chili, Wheatland, aud Caledonia; sounded horns,
fired guns, halloed, shouted, and raised a din of discordant sounds.
Many deer, bear and foxes were killed; the wolves fled, and after that,
there was but few seen in this region.

Ducks were abundant in the river and tributary streams in early years.
There was the wood duck, another species bearing a strong resemblance to
the common tame duck, shell drakes, dippers, or divers; and occasionally,
the real canvass back. Wild geese would come every fall and sprino;

Pigeons would in some seasons come in large flocks, and seriously injure
the newly sown crops. I have known an hundred dozen to be cauoht m a
net in one day. In 1812, they made a roost in a cedar swamp on Dugan's
creeli. They occupied the trees of seventy -five or eighty acres; there
were, in some instances, as many as thirty nests on a single tree. The
young squabs were brought away by the inhabitants in cart loads. When
the young ones loft the nests, they would go off and remain about the
neighborhood in flocks by themselves, and it was several months before the
old and young ones mingled,

The black squirrel was a great nuisance in early yeara I have ?een
thirty on a single tree. They would sometimes destroy whole fields of
corn. They have bcv3n gradually diminishing.

The advent of ihe crow in this region was in 1817. They had been
preceded by the raven, then- natural enemy, as I am led to infer. The
crow made cautious and gradual approaches ; at first, they flew over, then
ventured to light on the tops of the highest trees, in which position muc
would seem to be detftrmininp' if it were safe to locate. It was F.nme w.i
before they became permanent residents, and had fairly expelled the r^
34

]! '

538

PITELPS AND GORHAm's PUECIIASE.

In after years, wlien a raven would venture to revisit tlie region, tlie crows
would seem to be gntbered here and there iu council, to determine how
^ulVoTr;::: " '- '''''''- ^'^ --P-^^- ^^ '•- — > -- the re"
In the earliest years, there were a few turkey buzzards upon the river,
b they soon disappeared. A constant revolution has been goino on
Mi h birds, annuals and quadrupeds; old settlers Inive been disappeaHn^,
b d dn'Tf ^"r^^^«-- Tl^ere is scarcely a year in which some Strang
I ..J, .u ^.4c.rj.irfaa nM become a permanent resident.

Ehsha Sihley, a brother of Judge f^ibjov, -vas amonn- ,he enrjv

ley, VVilIiam feible}- Kcj Jeremiah Siblov, of Ilus!,. Elisha Sibley,

• S^^t ""T^'r ^- '•'''''' S''>'^-y'0<'t^'-'^veland, and Martin and Joseph

^'^I'^y- o* ^^/chignn. Daughters became the wives of Holt

ot 1 ush Calvni Norton, of Groveland, and Jehiel Markhain
_ Llnathan Perry was a settler in Rush, as earlv as ] SOU. He vva«
in service ( unngthe Revolution, and came to*' this region in Sulli-
van s expedition. At some period during the Revolution he had
made the acquaintance of La Fayette, and was recognized by hin.
at Rochester, in his tour through this region in 1825.^ He died in
1848 ; his wKlow still snirvives His surviving sons are, John Perry

a Ll ivr''t'"'"' "'i r 'T' ^ T^'^^'/''' ^^"^''' ^^''- ^^-^than Green
and Mrs. feturgess ol Rush, are his daughters.

iVnjamin Campbell, who afterwards was a merchant and miller
m ^iochester, ^yas an early merchant in Rush : soon after the war
ot 181 J lie ,s now a resident of Builalo. John Webster and
Miner, were early merchants.

as?8n ^' n"'""' ^\t']',''' ■ '" f,'''>' '''""'^'' Pliysician-as earlv
as 1811. He was killed by the lall ol a tree, fifteen or twenty year's

S ll' M "'1 ''^ *'?V"J?f^"'' -^^^ A.s,semb!y from Monroe, is a ^on
ot his , Mrs. Jeremiah hibley, ol Rush, and Mrs. Robert Martin, of
Irlenrietta, are hi.s daughters.

loi^f ^°?!''"^^ SmithVommenced practice soon after the war of
8 U and IS vet a practicing physician in the toxvn. He married a
daughter ot the early Pioneer, Col. Wm. Markham.

ihe irst rehgiou. society organised in ]{ush, was of the Baptist
oidei ; their early settled clergyman. Elder (ioti: They erected a
stone church about If^yo Elder Badger organized a christian so-
ciety in early years. A Lutheran society was organized in early
ycar.s; and built a church about IS.'JO.

The town of IJush was organized in 1818. The first town meet-
ing was lield at the house of Rcnajah Hilliufrs. Tli'> ofhc-rs chosen
were:— William Markham, supervisor, Peter Price, town clerk.

was

piiELPs AND goiuiam's pukoiiase. 539

Other town ofTiccrs: — Nat' 1 an JefTords, Jacol) Stull, John Mark-
ham, Natlian Rose, Dudley Braiiiard, Clark Davis, Ueorge Liday,
Peter ]*rice, Adolplms Allen, Alfred Jones, John Ford, J3enj. Cam}).'
bell_. Daniel llulburt, Philip II. llich, Alexander Kelsey, Oliver Case,
Jericl Smith, Nathan Gilpin, Henry Hart.

iiexrip:tta.

James Sperry, Esq., who is generally familiar with the dcductionr,
of land titles in this region, is under the impression that T. 12,
7th R.. which now constitutes'the town of Henrietta, was sold bv
Phelps and Gorham, previous to the general sale to the J^ondon As-
sociates. In tiie general deed of conveyance there is no reservation
of that township, except that of 900 acres to "Major E. Scott,"
and the author therefore concludes that the main portion of the
township became a part of the Pulteney estate : and this belief is
strengthened by the fact that the township assumed the name of
the daughter of Sir. Wm. Pulteney. Mr. Wads worth sold the
township during l. tour in Europe, to William Six, of Hague, in
Holland, and two associates, as the agent of the I^ondon Associ-
ates, as is inferred. When he returned from Europe, the sale and
settleinent of the town, constituted one of his numerous agencies.
He did u<jt, as would seem, l)ring it into market until the late period
of ^1800. In that year, Stephen Rodgers surveyed it into farm lots.

The name, " Major E. Scott," as entered in the ollice of Messrs.
Phelps and Gorham, should have been, Alajor Isaac Scott. He had
been_ either an agent or surveyor, for Phelps and Gorham, and to
satisfy a claim, or to fulfill a promit,e of reward, they apportioned
to him 900 acres, on the River, in the south west 'corner of the
township. Although displeased with the location that had been as-
signed him, he settled up;'n it soon after 1790, built a log house,
cleared some ten or fifteen acres, remained in his solitary wood's
home ibr two or three years; but becoming discouraged, from sick-
ness in his lamily, and other endurances incident \o pioneer life,
he gave up his enterprise, and the tract, by some exchange or com-
in-omis(\ was again merged in the township. This was the untoward
conuTiencement of settlement in what is now the wealthy and flour-
ishing town of Henrietta. It was a hard region to begin in, desirable
as it would now seem ; the lands were most of them flat, wet and
heavily timt)ered; and the whole region had a forbidding as[)ect, as
many will recollect, in the earliest years of settlement.

The. next adventurers, and in fact the i)ioneer settlers of the town,
in reference to permanent settlement, were: — Jcssee Pangburn.
Lymau and Warren Hawiey. They came in in 1800. liesides
tliem, the purchasers in the township, in this year, were : — Charles

540

PHELPS AND GORIIAJl's PURCHASE.

Rice, William Thompson, Moses Goodale, Thomas Sparks, George
Dickinson, Sela Reed, Asa Charnplin, Gideon Grisvvold. In Octo-
ber, 1807, there were settled, and about to settle in the east part of
the township, mostly on what was called the " VVadsworth Road : "

— Joseph Came, Ira Hatch, Moses Wilder, Charles Rice, Jonathan

Russell, Benjamin Bales, Parish, Barnes, Elias

Wilder ; and soon after the jieriod named, there were added to the
settlement, the Baldwin family and Eiisha Gajre.

But few sales and settlement took place in 1807 and '8 ; in 1800,
'10, nearly all the most desirable lands in the township were contrac-
ted. In the latter part of 1811, the sales were arrested in conse-
(juence ot- the discovery that the foreign proprietors had neglected
to put their deeds upon record in the ofKce ot the Secretary of
State, as they were required to do by a special statute. The set-
tlers were advised by Mr. Wadsvvorth to use their means in making
improvements, and in preparing to pay the purchase money when
the dilliculty in the way of title was 'removed. In the winter of
1813, '14, Mr. Wadsworth (h'ew up a petition, which was generally
signed by the settlers, praying the legislature to pass a law which in
etlect would allow the proprietors to" supply the omission of record
within one year after the close of the then pending war. The
prayer was granted, and in 1817 title was perfected. Soon after
this, Mr. Wadsworth purchased of the foreign projv Motors, all of the
unsold lands in the township.

On the perfection of title, a somewhat stringent policy was adop-
ted by the proprietors, in reference to the outstandinir expired con-
tracts : — The contract price, $4 per acre, had been fixed at a time
when Henrietta vvas looked upon as a quite out of the way place

— a back settlement — " thirty miles from Canandaigua," and pros-
l)ectively far removed from market iacilities. In 1817 the whole
face of things had changed, and was changing: — A village had
sprung up at "the Falls,'' (Rochester,) milling, and other manutac-
turing was in progress there, and large expectations had began to
be formed in reference to the locality ; and what was still more im-
portant, the speedy prosecution of the then projected Erie Canal,
was confidently anticipated. New terms were imposed upon the
settlers, or rather what amounted to new terms, for although they
had had a long time to prepare for payment, they were mostly un-
prepared ; — it was in years when new settlers could do little more
than provide for present support of themselves and families. The
conditions imposed were : — t»avment in fu" ipon their contracts at
contract price, within about four months, or payment in full for
twenty acres or more at contr -ct price, and a new contract for all
that remained unpaid for, at an advance of GO percent ; or paying
nothing, and taking new contracts, the 66 per cent was to be ad-
ded. The new conditions imposed were upon the principle that
the proprietors and settlers, were entitled to an equal share of what

PHELPS AND GOKIIA^yi 8 PURCHASE.

5-il

would be regarded as a lair estimate, of the rise in value tliat liad
occurred since the original contracts were made; a principle that
governed large land proprietors in other similar instances, but which
did not give due weight to the consideration, that it is tlie ])ioneers
who first break into new tracts of land — commence improvements
— who principally give the lands their enhanced value. But few
of the settlers could meet the prompt payment demanded ; most of
them were obliged to submit to the terms of renewed contracts ; un-
toward years followed, and the finale was the loss, with many, of
their improvements ; while many were obliged to sell at a sacrifice,
and renew in some western region, a j)ioneer lil'e. Such has been
the fate of many early settlers in other localities of the Genesee
country, but in few instances perhaps, were there as large a propor-
tion of changes of ocupants as in Henrietta. But few, in fact, of
the early settlers became permanent residents.

The Sperry family, as will have been observed in another con-
nection, settled in Henrietta in 1809, — or a part of it in that year,
and a part in 1813; their location, what was termed "Methodist
Hill." John Briminstool was the first settler on the River road, in

1810. His father, Michael Briminstool, settled on the same road in

1811. In that year, the only settlers on the lliver road from Enos
Stone's, in Brighton, to .south line of Henrietta, were the Brimin-

stool's, John Cook, Russell, and a family in a log house near

Mt. Hope ; to whom were added before the close of the year, Lu
ther C. Adams, Charles Case, Isaac F. Nichols, Hugh and Frederick
Sample, Simon Moore, Bethuel Hitchcock, and Charles Colegrove.
In the same year, Andrew and John Bushman, and John Gould set-
tled on cross road between River and State road. With a little
assistance from Mr. Wadsworth the River road was opened through
Henrietta to the Falls, in 1812 : — " but," says Deacon Briminstool,
"we had but little business in that direction ; we used sometimes to
go down the river to fish, and sometimes to mill." In 1812 Joshua
Briminstool and William Frazier, and soon after, Daniel BIy and
Timothy Torrence settled upon the road. Of the early settlers in
that part of the town, the surviving residents are, Michael Brimin-
stool, Charles Case, and Andrew and John Bushman. Deacon Brim-
instool is now in his 81st year. Jacob Briminstool, of Henrietta, is
a surviving son; a daughter of his became the wife of James Mc-
Nall.

Moses Wilder set out the first orchard in town, and built the first
framed house; Elias wilder the first barn. Elias Wilder moved to
Conncaut, Ohio, soon after the war of 1812. His surviving sons,
are, Amasa Wilder, of Richmond, Moses Wilder and Palmer B.
Wilder, of Rochester; daughters became the wives of Jonathan
Rood, of Pittsford, Clark Marshall, of Waterbury, Vt., Orrin An-
derson, of Orleans county, Jairus Bryant, of Pontiac, Michigan.
Ira Hatch removed to Cattaragus county. Jonathan Russell is

542

PITELrS AND GORHAil's PURCHASE.

still livincr in Henrietta. Benjamin Bales removed in an early day
to Ontario, Wiiyne county; and also the Barns and Parish families,

The fir.st religious meetings held in town, were at the house of
Moses Wilder, by circuit preachers : — Elder S. Puffer, Lacey, Fill-
more. The first school on Wadsworth road, was opened in 1809,
in a log school house that stood near Stephens' corners. The school
was kept by Sarah Leggett. The first military muster in town.

was in 1810. Joseph Bancroft was captain ; Hodge, who

was killed at the battle of Queenston, was the Lieutenant. It was
remembered that but few of the trainers had guns, and most of them
were barefooted. A saw mill was erected in 1811 or '12, by Jon-
athan Smith.

In 1814, Elder Thomas Gorton settled on the river road. He
had previously resided in Lima. A Baptist society had been or-
ganized two years previous, and meetings had been kept up. Deacon
Briminstool generally leading in them.' After Elder Gorton settled
in the neighborhood, a block meeting house was erected. The Elder
emigrated to Michigan in 1840. He had thirteen children who be-
came heads of lamilies. The first school on River road, was opened
in 1810, by Lucy Branch, now Mrs. Solomon Nichols, of Cattarau-
gus county. A religious reading meeting was started in 1811, by the
elder Mr. Sperry, on the State road, which terminated in the forma-
tion of a Congregational society, in 1815. A log meeting house
was erected, but no stated preaching was maintained until the Rev.
Wm. P. Kendrick was employed by the society in 1823. In 1833,
the society was merged with another that had been organized in the
east part of the town, and their present nrieeting house near the
Academy was erected.

In 1813 or '14, a Baptist society was organized in the east part
of the town, over which Elder John Finney was settled for several
years. In 1827 the east and west societies were merged, and a
house erected at Henrietta corners. Over this united church Elder
Miner was settled until 1838, when a division took place, and
churches were erected at West Hem-ietta, and in the east part of
the town.

To the enterprise, and just appreciation of the cause of education,
on the part of a few citizens of the town of Henrietta, the inhabitants
of all this region were indebted tor an early flourishing literary insti-
tution. Monroe Academy was projected as early as 1825. Before
the close of 1820 a sufficient amount of subscriptions were obtained
to warrant the erection of a building. The contract went into the
hands of Benjamin Baldwin, a young merchant of the town ; the
Academy building was completed and the whole enterprise was
fairly under way under the auspices of David Crane as Principal,
in the winter of '28 '9. Among its rnost active projectors .ind pat-
rons, wr re : — Luther C. Chamberlin. Richard Wilkins. Richard
Daniels, ElishaGaae. Bediamin Baldwin, Abijah Gould,

ieajamm

PHEL:ra AND GORIIAM R PTJEOIIASE.

■'c

543

Ozias Church, (father of the present Lieut. Governor,) of Henrietta,
and Giles Bolton, of Rochester. Its success exceeded the most san-
guine anticipations; its students soon numbering as manv as 350.
It continued to he a flourishing institution in all the early vears of its
existence, and supi)lied a local ^' (ici. ,u;y that had existed in the
means of education ; and only declined when similar institutions
were rapidly niulti|)lied in otirjr localiti 's.

Early settlers of Henrietta, other than those named : — Ebenezer
Gooding, a son of the early pioneer in Bristol, Warren Burr, Ros-
well Wickwire, Elijah Little, Stephen Legget, Alfred Jones, Noble

Dayton, Charles Bahvin, . Scudder.

_ The Pioneer sr^tdement of Henrietta, owing to its secluded posi
lion, its heavy ti; iber, and the prevalence generally of level lands
and wet soil, to which was added vears of questionable title ; was
slow and discouragin-^ As with all the rest of this region — but
especially with that and several other localities — the "good time"
came with the Eri canal ; or when that great promoter and diffuser
of prosperity had bi^come a settled measure. The town is now
justly ranked among the best agricultural towns of Western New
York ; and no where, perhaps, do farms bear a higher average value.

CHAPTER II

MORRIS' RESERVE.

The territory thus designated is bounded on the east ny Phelps
and Gorham's purchase ; north by Lake Ontario ; west by the
Transit, or Holland Company's eastern line; south by the Penn-
sylvania line; — containing in all, not far from 500,000 acres. It
was a reservation made by Mr. Morris, in his sale to the Holland
Company, and afterwards sold in large tracts to others — principally
to preferred creditors. The northern portion of it, the settlement
of which will only be included in thid connection, was divided into
two tracts: — the"" Triangle," and the "Connecticut," or " 100,000
acre Tract."

THE TRIANGLE.

This is a tract, which as will be observed by reference to maps,
has its base upon Lake Ontario, and terminates in a sharp point, a

544

PHELPS AND GORHAm's PUECnASE.

little south of Le Roy village. The peculiar shape had its origin
in the north easterly direction it was necessary to give the west
line of Phelps and Gorham's Purchase, in order to have it corres-
pond with the course of the Genesee River, and be an average dis-
tance of twelve miles therefrom.* The tract contains 87,000 acres ;
embraces the towns of Clarkson, Sweeden, and part of Bergen and
Le Roy. Mr. Morris sold it to Le Roy, Bayard and M'Evers, who
were then merchants of the city of New York. It was not sur-
veyed until 1801. In the spring of that year, Mr. Eliicott, as agent
for the proprietors, employed Richard M. Stoddard who then resi-
ded m Canandaigua, and had been in the emplov of the Holland
Company, to survey the tract ; and after the survey he became the
local agent for its sale and settlement.

Mr. Stoddard had married the sister of Dudley Saltonstall, of
Canandaigua, who took an interest with him in the purchase of 500
acres of the tract, which constitutes the site of Le Roy village.
Mr. Saltonstall soon sold his interest to Ezra Piatt, who was also a
resident of Canandaigua, and one of the early Judges of Ontario.
Stoddard and Piatt, became the Pioneers of Le Roy, and all of the
Triangle. Before the close of 1801 they had built a log house on
the banks of Allan's creek, opened a land office, and were erecting
mills at what was then called " Buttermilk Falls." Mr. Stoddard
was sheriff of Genesee county soon after its organization ; in all
early years a prominent and useful citizen. His widow still sur-
vives, a resident with her son, Thomas B. Stoddard, Esq, near Irving,
Chautauque county. The only daughter was the first wife of the
Hon. John B Skinner, of Wyoming. Mr. Stoddard died in 1810.
Ezra Piatt, who was at one period First Judge of Genesee, died in
1811 ; Elijah and George Piatt of Le Roy, and Ezra Piatt, of Ann
Arbor, are his sons ; Mrs. Stephen M. Wolcott, of Le Roy, is a
daughter of Judge Piatt.

This pioneer commencement has reference to the immediate vil-
lage of Le Roy. Near the village, on the main road, east, it will
have been observed, Capt.. Ganson had succeeded Charles Wilbur
in a public house in 1798. In reference to the whole towij Mr. Wil-
bur was the pioneer. He was the first justice of the peaie west of
Caledonia. Removing fron. Le Roy, he located at the Cold Springs,
near Lockport, becoming the first settler in all that part of Niagara
county. His wife was a daughter of Deacon Handy, of West
Bloomfield ; a daughter, the first born in Le Roy, is Mrs. Standart,
of Cleavland. Jessee and Philip Beach, Chapman Hawley, Gil-

* Tlie survey of the Mill Tract -n-aa first made l)v Col. Hugh Maxwell. He ran
twelve miles west from tlie ri\cr, and tlieii due north to Lake Ontario. Tliis beiufr
objected to by the Indians, tlio late Judu:e Porter ran a new line, whicli was as near
an avr-rage of twelve miles di^latit from tlie River as a straight lii;e would allow. Li
after surveys, west of this line, the tract which Porter's survey struck out from the
Maxwell survey, became what has been termed the Triangle.

PHELPS AND GOEHAM's PURCHASE.

545

Douglass, Samuel Davis, and Hinds Chamberlin,

bert Hall, —

were soon added to the new settlement east of the present village
site. The Beaches removed to Niagara county where many of
their descendants now reside. Deacon Hinds Chamberlin, who is
named in another connection, came a young man to Scottsville, as
early as 1795. He was elected a constable in 1798, for the whole
region west of the River; first serving precepts issued by a magis-
trate at Avon ; and afterwards those issued by Esq. Fish. As a
road commissioner he laid out the first road west of theRiver, from
Scottsville to Hall's corners. He married previous to 1800, the
widow of Malcolm M'Laren, of Caledonia. He aied in 1849, aged
84 years. Some reminiscences of his, will be found in Holland
Purchase, p. 321 ; to a son of his, Mr. S. Chamberlin, of Le Roy,
the author has been indebted for some farther reminiscences obtain-
ed from the early pioneer, previous to his death.* Mr. Davis be-
came an early tavern keeper, a mile east of Le Roy. He was from
Bloomfield ; lived in early life with General Hall ; married a daugh-
ter of Isaac Scott, the pioneer of Scottsville. He was murdered in
his own house, in 1827 or '8, by James Gray, who was excuted at
Batavia. The father of Gray, who was implicated in the murder,
was sentenced to the States prison, pardoned by the Governor, and
died in Le Roy a few years since. The Grays were intoxicated;
the immediate provocation was the refusal of Mr. Davis to give up
a child of James Gray that was indented to him.

Gen. Daniel Davis was a settler as early as 1801, and also became
an early tavern keeper. He was ;in early military officer, succeed-
ing Joseph Hewitt in the command of a company of militia ; had
attained the rank of Brig. General on the occurrence of the war of
1812 ; was killed at the sortie of Fort Erie.

Asa Buell was a settler soon after 1800 ; had held a commission
in the Revolution ; was a member of the Legislature of Conn. ;
died in 1825 or '6 ; a son was killed with Gen. Davis at the sortie of
Fort Erie ; a surviving son occupies the homested.

The following list embraces the names of all who purchased land
upon the Triangle, from commencement of sales until the close of
1809. Generally it is the names of the early Pioneers, though in
some instances, it is presumed, the purchasers, or holders of contracts
never became residents. And it is also to be considered that many

Note. — In reminiscences ef Le Roy, reference will be had to tlie wliole town, witli-
out any distinction as to that poition of it which is on the Triangle.

* Mr. Chamberlin has forwarded to the author the first deed given for a farm lot,
west of Caladonia. John Johnstone, as the agent of William Hornby, conveys 100
acres of land in Le Roy, to Josepli Hewitt. The blank was printed by " L. Gary,
Canandaigtia." Mr. Hcwett paid for his farm thus early witli the i)roceeds of a con-
tract with Mr. Ellicott, fur buii Jiug the fiist bridge uver Allan's creek, at Le Roy. lie
removed to Lewiston, Niagara county, in early years, where he became a successful
farmer, and where his descendants now reside.

■ii !

;46

PIIELPS AND OOItHAM's PUKCIIASE.

transfers of contracts were made, in which cases the names of
the actual settlers may not appear : —

' TowN>iiirp J.
Ducllf Walioiwtall,
E. il. a»odUaid,

Township 1.
Elias Undenvdod,
E. Uacoii,
William Gilmorc,

TowNsnir 1.
Isaac Marsli,

'I'owNsnii' 4.
Moody Freeman.]

Township 1.
PliiloiiKiii iVcttlcton,
James Bates,
John Fordham.

TOWNSUIP 5.

Benj. Fox,

TOWNSITIP 1.

Gaines Uiown,
Jessee Foskett,
Ccplias Fordbam,'
Martin Kelsey,
James Bates,
Jessee Giiswold,
Daniel Le Barron,
Sylvan us Fail-field,
Joseph Mapes,
Ella Sinitli.

Township 2.
Eirliard Abbey,
Abraliam Davis,
Aley under Wliite,

Township 1.
Simon I'ieison,
Joseph Pierson,
Oliver Bates.

Township 2.
Samuel Oleason.
William Peters,
Jonathan Tliompson,
Willard Leach,
fleorge L(}tson,
Joseph Eldridge,
Sanmcl Farley,
David Johnson,

1801.

Township 1.
David Fainliild,
Thaddous Keys,

1802.

Township 1.
Lemuel F. Prindell,
Natlian Hnrvey,
Jormiiiih H.iMaU,

1803.

^Township 5.
John Barns,
Amos W. Sweet,
John Cobb.

1804.

Township 2.
David Scott.
Jolm Landon, '
Benajah Wordeu.

Township 4.
James Sayres,

1805.

Township 2.

James Austin,
David Potter,
Solomon Loach,
Cotton Leacli,
Gideon Elliott,
Isaac Leacli,
Levi Leach,
Daniel Kelsey,
David Franklin,
Jolm I'ieison.

Township 3.
Isaiah Wliito,
Jonathan Freeman,
TJiomas White.

1806.

Township 2,
Roger Kelsey,
James Gano.

Township ,3.
Jas. D. Mowlat,
Archibald M' Knight,
Josepli Hopkins,
Levi Gilbert,
Gideon Orr,
John Ellis,

ToVv-N-SHIP -l.

Wm. Spafford,
Samuel Algur,

Township I.
EbeiK'zer Oicen,
Aaron Scriljuer.

Township 1 .
Abraliam liiissell,
Horace She|iherd,
Joshua Woodward.

Township 2.
Jacob Fuller.

Township 4.
Elijah Blodgett.

Township o.
James M'Casaon.

Township 4.
John Fowle,
Wm. Davis,
Simeon Daggett,
David Stanton,
Noah Owen,
Benj. Boyd,
Isaac Farwell,
John Farwell.

Township 5.
Abigal Sayer,
John Chajiman,

Township 4.
Aretas Haskcdl,
Julius Curtiss,
Samuel Cliiswell,
Ebenezer Towlo,
Svhester Eldritlge,
Iv^oah Owen,
Olney F. Rice,
Carr Draiier.

Township 5.
Perry G. Nichols.

ill

]

PHELPS

1- i

andoorham's purcil^e. 547

1807.

Township 1.

Township 2.

Township 3.

Oliver Biites,

James Larulon,

Ephraim (barter.

Jainos BiiteH,

Sylvanus Durlain,

Bethucl H.iiTou,

Lock wood G. Iloyt,

Aug. lUieli,

Amos Parks,

SylvjiiniH Franklin,

Joim (iifford.

I'liah L. James,

I'liilo i'iorson.

Cyrus (litFord,

AV^m. James,

, ^M

ToWNSIlU- 2.

Dyre Thomas,

AV. Stewart,

, ^M

Abriiliani Davis,

Jo.sej)!! Tiiroop,

Elisha Stewart,

' ^M

Levi UussellJr.,

Orange Throop,

Bi'iij. Sheldon,
Elislia Ewer.

Pliili[) Conklin,

David Johnson,

John A. Lackor,
Aaron H. Kelsoy,
Ei)er (Jriswold,
Wlieaton Southworth,
Hein-y i). (Jillbrd,
Jeretuiali Hart,

A. Bissell.
Township 3.

John Ellis,
John Reed,
Samuel Bishop,
Stei)lien Jolmson,

Township 4.
Patrick Fowler,

JoHe[)ii Grover, i i
Wiliiur Sweet, ■ '■ !
Levi Loaeli,
Eli (Hiuis,

Ahiier Lovejoy,
D, l{. Peters,
Benj. Woodward,
Wju. Woodward,

Josej)h Ho )kins,
Wm. Dunsha,
Samuel Liucoln,
Luke Chase,

1808.

Wm. Dickinson,
Anthonv Case,
S. Bigelow.

TowNsiiir I.

Township 3.

John Richards,

Walter Palmer,

Wm. Bentley, ■ ,'

1 Leonard I'arinelee,

Linc<iln Palmer,

Niclioliis Jjako,

Win. Wolcott,

Cyrus Hatch,

Oramel Butler,

Daniel Waite.

Rufus Harinan,

Simeon Gray,

Nathaniel Kin;?.

John A. Tone,

Joseiili Luce.
Township 4.

TOWNSHU' 2.

Reuben Stickney,

' ^1

Benj. Wright,
Levi Wanl, Sen.

Joseph Ekiridge,
Steplien Lyman,
Josnua Green,

Eldiidge Farwell,

John Mallory, ^^Ji *

John Ward,

Lsaac Iiincoin, HMII

I^H

Levi Ward, Jr.,

Cyrus Galloway,

Eli Mead, ^^^H

1^1

BetHoy Whipple.

Wm. M. Bentley,

Wilbur Sweet, ^^Hi

!^l

Win, Munger,
John Wright,

Charles Warren,

L. W. Udall, ^n

)* ^^1

Wm. B. Worden,

Robert Clark, WkM

■t ^^M

Joseph 'i'hroop,

Aaron Hill,

Robert Hoy, ^^^

Polly (Hfford,

Moses J. HiU,

Robert Brown, j, i'>

Peleg 'i'honias.

Juihih Church,

Jas. M. Brown, .-

Abijah Cai)ron,

Natliauiel Pool,

Oliver Hamlin,

Simeon Gray,

Daniel C. Stoue,

Dani'ortli Howe,

Wni. H. Miinger,

David Lovett,

Macv Brown.

TowNsi'ii- 3.

Jacob Bartlett,

Eli Ijundell,

Samuel Linc(dn,

Bonj. Kidght,
Natliauiel PooL

Joiiatlian Mead,

t^t

Johnson Hedull,

Elisha Lake.

Amos Parks,

Micajah Moon,

Edward Parks,

Reuben Downs,
1809.

Township 2.

Township 3.

Joshua tireen,

Amos Frill k,

Reuben Stickney. Jr.,

Daniel Guthrie,

Alaiison Tlioraas,

Tlios. W. Taylor,

Azariah Haywood,

Iwiac Howard,

Reulien Downs,

George Ornian,

Zadock Hurd,

Township 4,

Jacob Orman.

Joseph Lan 'don,
Levi Jlerrills,

Isaac Holmes,

Township 3.

James Hoy, ;

Matliias I'ease,

Joshua Gieeu,

Joshua H. Brown,

Ebenezor Champney,

John ilarshall.

Walter Billings,

Gale Funuan,

Stephen Clark,

Orange Risdeu.

1 1

548

PIIELP3 AND GORIIAm's PURCHASE.

Ttie successor of R. M. Stoddard in the lanrl acrency, was Gra-
ham Newell, who was succeeded by Egbert Benson. Jr. The suc-
cessor of the last named, was Jacob Le Rov, a son of one of the
m-oj.rietors. In 1839, Mr. Le Roy returned to New York, and
Joshua Lothrop who had been his clerk, succeeded him in the
agency, which position he still retains ; though the affairs of the
agency are pretty much closed ; the whole tract being sold, deeded,
and paid for, with the exception of a small amount which remains
m the form of loans.

The reader by a cursory examination of the list of earlv settlers, will
observe that tor the first few years, settlement of the Triangle beyond
the immediate neighborhood of J^e Roy, had a slow progress. I n
1803, there were but two lots sold in Bergen ; in 1804, but seven ;
in 1805, but twenty-one. In 1805, but three in Sweden ; in 1806,
but nine ; in 1807, but twenty-six. In 1803, but one in Clarkson ,
in 1804, but three; in 1805, but twelve. And it is not to be pre-
sumed that all who purchased became actual settlers ; in fact, many
did not.

Jeremiah Hascall removed from Canandaigua, where he had set-
tled in 1800, to Le Roy, with his family, in 1805; having pur-
chased a part of the present Murphy farm in 1802. He was a
Justice of the Peace when his jurisdiction embraced all the territo-
ry west of Genesee river. He died in 1835, aged 96 years ; his
wde in 1834, aged 84 years. They had thirteen children, twelve
ol whom arrived at adult age. The surviving sons are :— David,
Amasa, and Augustus P. Hascall, of Le Roy, the last named being
the member of Congress elect, from the county of Genesee ; John
Hascall, of Kalamazoo, Michigan. Daughters :— Mrs. Wiard, of
Le Roy; Mrs. Hurvey, of Pike; Mrs. Austin, of Le Roy; Mrs
Knowlton, of Ohio.

James Austin was an officer of the Revolutionary army ; settled
fn-st in Bristol; in Le Roy soon after 1800. He died in Bergen.
His widow still survives, over 90 years of age. Mrs. Bissell'and
Mrs. Lee, of Bergen, Mrs. Allen, of Mendon, were his daughters.

Nathan Harvey settled in Le Roy in 1802. He and Jeremiah
Hascall were both engaged in opening what is now called the Brock-
port road. It was done at the expense of the proprietors of the Trian-
gle. The road makers took camp equippage, and encamped as
they progressed. Mr. Harvey died in 1839. Harmon Harvey, of
Le Roy aid Nathaniel Harvey, of Allegany, are his sons; Mrs.
Hiram Butler, of Le Roy, is a daughter.

Richard Waite was the Pioneer blacksmith ; was an early officer
of the militia. He still survives, a resident of Alexander.' He is
the father of the Rev. Richard L. Waite, of Carvville ; Daniel D.
Waite, editor of the Advocate, Batavia; Elisha Waite, of Adrian.
Michigan : Mrs. Newton, of Alexander, is a daughter.

Stephen Stilwell was the Pioneer shoemaker ; coming in with a

PHELPS ATTO GORHAm's PURCHASE.

540

large family in the fall of the year, for the want of a better tene-
ment, he was obliued to rover and make a small addition to a frame
raised by Major >v' a ite i'^f shoeing oxen; in which he wintered,
and began the ;-liO'.ii'r; u' the new settlers. He was not only a
shoemaker, ju. a preicner, and a famous coon hunter. One of a
family of emig n^s ;lying at Capt. Gansons, he preached the fu-
neral sermon in l.'.e b i-room. This was the first death and burial
in Le Roy.

The Parmule*' 'i r ily were early settlers. Col. Parmalee, of
Wilson, Niaga > .. ity, is one of the survivors. Martin Kclsey.
Timothy Hatch, Washington Weld, Isaac Marsh, Hugh Murphy,
David Scott, Martin 0. Coe, were in Le Roy previous to, and be-
fore the close ot the war of 1812. Mr. Kelsey survives at the a-^e
of 70 years ; Mrs. Elmore, of Le Roy, is his daughter. Mr. Hatch
died in 1844 ; his widow still survives ; M. P. llatch, of Oswego,
is a son of his ; Mrs. Martin O. Coe, of Le Roy, a daughter. Mr.
Weld died in 1849 ; Willard Weld, residing near Lockport, is a son
of his ; the widow still survives. Mr. Marsh died many years
since ; some of the family are residing in Bushville, near Batavia.
Mr. Murphy settled first in Cambria, Niagara county; in 1810,
changed his residence to Le Roy, purchasing the tract which now
constitutes the fine farm occupied by his sons and daughters, border-
ing upon the eastern boundaries of the village. He died in 1826.
David Scott was an officer of the regular army in 1812 ; now re-
sides in Michigan. Mr. Coe still survives : George, Joseph and
("harles Coe, of Le Roy, and William Coe, of Boston, are his sons.
Dr. Ella Smith was the first settled physician in Le Roy. Dr.
William Sheldon settled there in 1811, and has continued practice
up to this period. William H. Sheldon, of Le Roy, who married
a daughter of one of the early pioneers at Allen's Hill, Ontario
county ; Joseph Garlinghouse ; Lucius Sheldon, of Le Roy ; G. T.
Sheldon, of Detroit, and Horatio Sheldon, of Wisconsin, are his sons.

Dudley Saltonstall was the first practicing lawyer in Le Roy.
Heman J. Redfield commenced practice there soon after the war of
1812; his students, while at Le Roy, were: — Seth M. Gates, of
Warsaw, Lucas Beecher of Sandusky, Willis Buell of Zanesville,
and Albert Smith of Milwaukee. John B. and Samuel Skinner,
and John and Augustus Hascall, succeeded the early lawyers in
practice there.

In 1810, the first building was erected exclusively for merchan-
dizing. It wixs first occupied by George A. Tiffany, a son of one

of the early printers at Canandaigua, and by Johnson and

Joseph Annin, in succession. Thaddeus Joy, so long and widely
known, first as a teamster in the days of " big wagons," on the Al-
bany and Buffalo road, then as a mei chant, and in later years, in
connection with transportation on the Erie Canal, was merchan-
dizing in Le Roy as early as 1810. He went to Buffalo in 1823;

nf)!!

PTIELPS AND GOmiAI^l's rulJCIIASE.

now resides ill the city of Now York. Ju(lu;(> Siimucl Dc Vcaux.
ol" Ni:i,<(;ir;i l'\iils, now one; of the most we'iiihy and jmblic spirited
citizens of all thai ren;ion, had been att,ach(>d to the connnissarv
department at I'ort Niagara, and suhse(iuently had conmuMiced
mercliandizinu: then;. The winter alter the IJreaking out of the
\var, he removed to Lc; Roy, and was en<fa<:;t'd in merehan-
diziniir_ there until alter the close of the war. Li'some reminiscen-
ces of the war of 181'2, which he has furnished the author, and
which will fonuan interestin<r chapter in a volume now ]tarrlv pre-
pare(Mor the jn-ess—" Sketches of the War of 1812 upon the j\ia-
jj;ara Frontier "—he i)ays a well merited tribute to the patriotism of
the citizens of j^e Roy, in that tryinu; crisis ; and especially names
tlu^ circumstance of the furnishing of ,<i;ra!uitous supplies from that
villaj^e and neiu-hborhood, at a luM'iodof want and destitution upon
the Frontier; and it but accords with the author's recollection of
the patriotism (>f the citizens of that locality during tlie war.

A Presbyterian church was organized in'Le Roy in 181'2. The
Rev. Mr._ Tuller was th.> first to oilieiat',> ; the llev. Calvin C. Colton,
author of the "Life of Henry Clay," was the first settled clergy-
man. The society erected a church in IS-jS. Previous to the or-
ganization of this society, religious meetings had been held in a barn
near the present residence of Judge Brewster; and subse(|uently.
ill a school hou.-'e opposite the residence of Col. Shedd. The P>af)-
tists erected a church in 1822. A illethodist society was formed in
1823, Dy Elder A. Seager. An Episcopal church was erected in
182(1.

The Le Ptoy Female Seminary was founded in ISHfl. An asso-
ciation, the members of which were, A. P. ITascall, Samuel Corn-
stock, Lee Comstock, Ezra Rathbuii, S. j\[. Cafes, Albert iJreUster.
Jonathau P. Darling, Alonzo S. Upham, Richard ilollister, William
S. Bradley, and Euos Bachelor, j)urchased a private residence for
the purpose of converting it into a literary institution. The Misses
Inghams, having i)reviously l(jcated themsslves in the village of At-
tica, as an inducement for'tb.em to remove to Le Rov, the associa-
tion took their [nopcrty in Attica in exchange for the building and
lotiiiLePioy. The school was immediately started under' their
ausjjices, was nourishing, and has become, by their uiu'cmitting en-
terjnise and perseverance, one of the best 'Female Seminaries in
the State. Improving the grounds, and from time to time enlarging
the ('(lifice, it now has the imposing appearance of some of the
eastern colleges. Few, if any, female institutions in the State have
turned out more well educatcfl graduates; many of wheni are.
cither at^the head of, or teachers in seminaries in different portions
ot the United States : especially in the western .States. One of
the founders of the institution lias becume the wife of Mr. Phineas
Stanton, a son of one oi' the prominent pioneers of the Holland
Purchase, the late Colonel Staiiton, of Middlebury.

rJIKLrS AND GOEIIAjM'm PURCIIASi:.

551

The aiitlior is indebted to the venerable Simon Pierson, a suiviv-
in[i- pioneer dI' liie noiiliern jiuriion of the town of JiO Hoy — the
noic^hbftrlinoil of F(^rt Hill — for nnniy early reminiscences of that
locality, espi'cially in reference to the interestinir ancient remains
which has (fiven to the spot considerable celebrity. The remains
found at Fort Hill, were embraced in a previous work of the au-
thors, and the public have been made familiar with the subject in
other l()rins. Mr. I'ierson's account of early settlement, the author
cheerfully and thankfully makes available.

Deacon Hinds Chamberlin was a ])ioneer in this, as he had
been in other localities. He broke into what was called the north-
crri woods, built a cabin, and made ,m opeiiin<^ in the forest, in the
neidiborhood of Fort Hill, in 1801. In 1802, Alexander M'J'herson
beoamii his neighbor; John, .Jani(;s, Allen, and Alexandor M'l'her-
son, jr., are his sons. In 1801, Francis Lc JJarron; descendants
principally i-eside in Michigan. In 1801, Cideon Fordham. Also,
in 1801, i^'hilemon N(;ttleton ; descendants |)rinci[)ally reside in
Michigan. In 1805, these five first settlers rolled up sonte huge
b.'isswood logs, at the ibot of Fort Hill, near the brook, and nuule
one of lli- mdest specimens ol" a backwoods school house. The
first teacher was vVddrew M'Nabb, a Scotchman; the secohd,
Siunucl Ciocker ; the third, Major Nathan Wilson ; the last of whom
died in 181,'J of the prevailing epidemic; liis son, Nathan Wilson,
jr., died from a wound received in battle in the war of 1812 :
Steplu'n S. and Jared E. Wilson, of J^e Hoy, are surviving sons.
Alexander M'Pherson died in I8\i',i, aged 80 years ; Francis Le Bar-
ron in 18;?2, aged 01 years; Philemon Nettleton in 1818, ag"d 72
years; (lideon Fordham in 1821, aged 77 years.

David J^e IJarron, Samuel Smith, Ebenezer Parmalee, Jshi
Franklin, Aljner Hull, llussell Pierson, Rev. Josiah Pier.son, Philo
Piersson, John l^ierscMi, Simon Pierson, Sylvanus Franklin, Linus
Pierson, were all settled in the neighborhood before the close of
1810. The first nanied died in 1820, aged 51 years ; two sons are
sui)posed to be with the IMormons at Salt Lake. The second died
in 18'2!), figed 77 years ; descendants reside in Michigan. The
third died in J817, aged 73 years; David W., Harlow and William
Pnrmalee are his sons. The fourth died in 1813, aged 02 years;
Warren, Watson, Henry, William and David Franklin, are his sons.
The nixth died in 1815, aged 70 years; Luther and Adol})hus Pier
son, of Ijergen, Edwin Pierson, of Chili, Willis Pierson, of Ogden.
and ,Iohn Pierson. of Careyville, are his sons. The seventh died
in J)ergen in 181(»; Hamilton W. and Nelson Pierson, of Bergen,
Carloss Pierson, of Ohio, and Josia'.i Pierson, of Mount Morris, are
his sons. The eighth died in 1820; William Pierso'i, a lawyer in
Kentucky, and David B. Pierson, a merchant in Cincinnati, are his
sons. The tenth died of the prevailing epidemic in 1813, contract-
ed upon the frontier, aged 30 years ; au only son was drowned from

552

PHELPS AND GOEHAJIS' PUECHASE.

on board the S. B. Washington, on Lake Erie, in 1838 ; Mrs.
Flint, of Batavia, is a daughter. The eleventh still survives, re-
siding near Churchville.

David Frankin, a brother of Sylvanus Franklin, had come in
previous to 1809. In March of that year, the two brothers, with
their wives and two children, were descending the primitive road
at Fort Hill, which ran along upon one side of a deep ravine, in a
sleigh drawn by spirited horses. The horses became unmanage-
able, set off at full speed, and turning an angle of the road, the
sleigh upset, throwing the whole party a considerable distance, with
great violence ; David Franklin striking a stump, and receiving an
injury that he did not long survive. " This sorrowful accident,"
says Mr. Pierson, " threw a shade of gloom over our backwoods
settlement; for it seemed as if we could hardly do without our
neighbor Franklin, who was forward in every good word and work."
This, and other accidents that had happened there, induced a change
in the location of the road.

Touching the advent of our friend Mr. Pierson, he must be al-
lowed to tell his story in his own humorous way.

REMINISCENCES OF SIMON PIERSON.

In October, 1806, in company with my brother, the l",ue Rev. Josiali
Pierson, of Bergen, and our families, I started from Ki'.lingworth, Conn,,
with a wagon load of household goods, bound for the Genesee country,
which we then understood as embracing all west of Whitestown. I was
then 28 years old, my brother 26, From Albany to Whitestown, we met
a vast number of teams loaded with wheat for the Albany market. On
the road, we met De Witt Chnton returning from a western tour. At
Whitestown, there were three log-houses, one of them a tavern, kept by
Air. Baggs. We then supposed we had arrived at the western verge of
civilization, and that we were now coming to a region —

" Where nothiug dwelt but beasts of prey,
Or men as wild aud fierce as they."

they.'
here —

But which has proved to be a regio;;

" The worthy, need,; , poor repair,

Aud build them towns and cities there."

" * * * * »

•' They sow their seed, and trees they plant,
Whose yearly fruit su[)plie.s tliei. want ;
Their race grows up in fruitful stock,
Their wealth increases with tlieir Hock."

From Vi^hitestown we passed on, I should think, about three miles, where
there was a log school house, and where they were holding a meeting —
for it was Sunduy — and they were singing the good old familiar tune —
New Jerusalem: —

" From the tliird heavens where God resides," &c.

PHELPS AND GOEIIAMS PURCHASE.

553

We travelled on the Sabbath, because we were told that travellers had no
home but the tavern ; and that they were thronged on that day with those
whose society would not contribute to a Sabbath day's rest ; loafers they
would be called now that we have got such a word. From Whitestown
to Canandaigua, 112 miles, was a new turnpike, much of the way through
the woods and very muddy. Once in ten miles was a toll gate where we
had to pay 25 cents for poaching ten miles of road. On arriving at the
outlet of Canandaigna Lake, we found a small grist-mill, said to have been
built by one of our townsmen, Mr. Harris; who, it was said, had brought
a half bushel of wheat on his back from Whitestown, for seed. I saw
the old man on his return from the Genesee country. His friends in Con-
necticut had conjectured that the Indians would use him up, and that he
would never reach home again.

At Genesee river, we had no way of crossing, but in a wretched scow.
On the west side of the river, we saw many Indian huts, from the corners
of which was suspended, by braided husks, large quantities of corn. An
old Indian told us we were at " Canawaugus." I began to think of toma-
hawks and scalping knives. About four miles west of the river, we came
to a log tavern kept by Major Smith. Here we found a small man with a
very large wife. Says Major Smith to the small man : — " Is that woman
your wife ?" " Yes, sir," was the reply. Says the Major : — " How did
you get across the river? — I should suppose that your wife would have
sunk that old scow." " 0," said the little man, "I went twice for her."

Arriving at " Ganson's settlement," now Le Key, we found friends who
advised us not to purchase land " down in the north woods," for, said they,
" it will always be sickly there ; and the region will never be settled. "
But having a brother and brother-in-law at Fort Hill, who had preceded
us a few months, we resolved upon going there. Fort Hill was then cov-
ered with a dense forest of heavy timber from its base to its summit. Its
appearance was that of gloom and solitude, except when enlivened by the
music of the water rushing over the falls at Allan's * Creek.

Mr. Pierson is now in his 73d year ; his surviving sons are, Philo
L. Pierson, of Le Roy, and M. D. Pierson, of Dansville.

The prominent ancient remains in Le Roy, other than those at
Fort Hill and its immediate vicinity, were upon a bluff, near Allan's
creek, a short distance below the village. It was a mound, or
tumuli in size, according to Mr. Pierson's recollection, who saw it
in an early day, about that of an ordinary coal pit ; others who saw
it in an early day, tl^ 'k it was about 15 feet in height, with a base

" Mr. Pierson, in corsidcr'.tion of the unamiable character of the person from whoi.i
this beautiful Btreani is named, would change it to Mrs. Jemison's Iniliau iiame —
" Ginisaga." Other citizens of Le Hoy, would call it " Oatkn " the Indian name for
a stream cominf i i^ om between hiijli banks. Tlie latter na.ne would only be ap-
plicable to till Uti.ir topogi-aphy of Le Roy and its neighborhood. D; -i.' ;ble iifi
some cliange of tJio name of the stream in.'iy he regarded, it would require the co-
opersliiiii of those ^.vnerally who reside upon its banks, in its whole extent ; a con-
yentional decision that the author lias uot ventured to anticipate.
35

^Ml:

654

PIIEirs AND GOUIIAjfs PUiJClIAST:.

of no feet. Trees were growini;; upon it 18 inches in diameter
The foxes in Inimnvingintoit h;ul hrou.i^ht out liuman hones, which
Jed to an asnenibliniv of the early settlers, on a yiven daj', in consid-
erable numbers, who made several excavatioiis in tfie tumuli, and
disenterred a large quantity of human skeletons. They were the
bones of all ages and both sexes ; some of them judoed to be consid-
erable larger than^ the bones of the largest of our own race.
\£r ^ee Appendix to sui)])lemcnt. No. 2.

Jn a considerable area of the locality ; especially in the immediate
neighborhood of Fort Hill, many relics of ancient occupancy have
been discovered ; and occasionally evidences of French occupancy.
During the Revolution, those who lied from the Mohawk to Canada,
and made frequent jourTiies backwards and forwards upon the old
Niagara trail, had favorite camping grounds upon the creek in the
immediate vicinity of Le Roy village. They had leit considerable
plats ol tame grass, which were very convenient for travellers when
settlement was tending in that direction ; attracting the deer from
the surrounding forest, they were often killed in those little openings.
Allan s creek has a fall of over sixty feet, within the corporate
limits ot Le Roy village ; thus creating a durable and valuablo
water ]U)wer, in the midst of a rich agricultural region, where it is
much required. It takes its rise from springs in Wyomino- county ■
passes through Warsaw, JMiddlebury, Covington, Bethany, a cor-'
ner ot Stallord, Le Roy, and Wheatland, discharging into the Gen-
esee river at Scottsville. It furnishes mill power at Gainesville.
Warsaw, Pavillion, Bailey's mills, Roanoke, Northrup's Factory.
Tomlinson's mills, Le Roj- ; a mile below Le Roy, Albright's, (now
Finch's) mills, Garbuttville, and Scottsville.

Le Roy luivingbeen erected from Caledonia in l812, when the
war spirit was rife, it \vas named Bellona; afterwards, and in better
taste, it assumed the name of one of the original proprietors of the
Triangle. William Sheldon was the first .supervisor, Thomas Tuft>--
town clerk Other town officers : — David Le Barron, Philo
rierson, IJenjamin Ganson, Ella Smith, John Ganson, Asa Buel
Zalmon Turrell, David Bidleeum, Harvey Prindle, Richard Waite'
Levi Farnuni, H. Graham Newell, George Terry, Amasa Hascalk
Jeremiah Ilascall. At first State election, in 1813, for Governor
Darnel D. Tompkins had 123 votes, Stephen Van Rensselaer, 24.'

It will be observed by the preceding list of names, and periods of
settlement, that the settlement of what is now Bergen had but com-
menced along in 1804, '5 and '0. Tiie early road w^as the north
and south road already mentioned. The road trom where Roch-
ester now IS to Batavia,was not opened through Bergen until 1810.
The town was organized in 1818. Tiiuse wliose nanies Ibllow, were

PIIELPS AND GORIIAMS PURCIIA-SE.

555

early pioneers, other than those ah-eady named tioinc of them among
the earliest : —

Levi Bi.<-oll,
AkxiiiKk'P IJissol,
]';itiu'k Fouler.
Tiiniithy Hill,
JoL'l Wii^'ht,
Stcplii'ii Everts,
David (i. EvL'its,
Anuis Hcwi'tt,
i'liiiK'jis I'aniialcc,
Natliun Field,
Jouuli Buell,

Uriah Ktlsov,
Jedediaii Crosby, [Iiis
Hoii Lutlier,a pieseul jun-
tiee of the jieaci' in lier-
fj;ea, was the first born
ill tlie town.]
Wielvhain Field,
Uriah Crampton,
Ashbell OranipVon,
Sanuiel Bas.sett,
Uarvey Kelsey,

M. Wriirlit,

Jacob Sjiatiurd, Sen
Nathaniel Spallord,
Aaron Arnolil,
Oliver Avciy.
Sanaipl Biiljur,
A))el Fuller,
Bela Mnn-er,
JeNM' I'.arber,
James MuniaT.

LEVI WARD.

Dr. Levi Ward was a native of KilHn<>;\vortli, Conn., a son ol
Levi Ward. He studied his profession with Dr. Jonathan Todd, of
Guilford, and marrying the dtuiu;hter of Daniel Hand,* settled in
practice in Haddain, in 1790, where lie continued until 1807, in
which year he emigrated to the Genesee country ; his lamily then
consisting of his wife, and four sons, and four daughters, lie was
accompanied by his brother, John Ward, and his ftimily. The em-
igrants arrived at Le Roy undetermined as to their location ; lallin*'-
in with R. M. Stoddard, the then agent of the Triangle, whom they
had known in New England, they were induced to cast their lot
with a linv old neighbors who had preceded them, in what was then
called the "north woods;" then mostly a dense, heavily timbered
forest, rugged in all its features; now the smiling tind |)rosperous
agricultural neighborhood, contiguous to the Rail Road station in
Bergen. Finding temporary (piarters in the newly erected log
house of Daniel Kelsey, Dr. Ward erected a small frtimeil house,
covering it with cedar shingles, and using riv^ed cedar for siding.
The Dr. quaintly observes, that even that manner of building was
ahead of the times, and in a region of log cabins, was deemed some-
what aristocratic, His brother erected a log house ; both went to
clearing land, but it took about a year to :nake an opening sufficient
to see out without looking up.

It was QU Saturday when the emigrants arrived at their new
home in the wilderness ; accustomed to a regular attendence upon
public worship, the first business was to provide for religious exer-
cises ; a meeting was agreed upon at the house of a new settler ; 14
or 15 persons convened from their scattered woods homes ; prayers

* Captain Hand was an officer of tlio Revolution, a highly respected and useful
member of society, a professor and promoter of religion. Ho died at an ad\anced
age, iu Ciuilford, the place of his birth.

r)56

PITELPS AND GORHAM's PURCHASE.

were made, a sermon was read, and Mrs. Ward says they " had ex-
cellent singino;."*

For nine years Dr. Ward was one of the active and prominent
Pioneers of his locality ; an etHicient helper in all there was to be
done in the backwoods, in religious and school organizations in, the
opening of n^w roads, &c. Coming to the new region, to be the
founder of a new home for himself and his large family, rather than
with reference to the practice of his profession, his practice was
only to the extent that the absence of other physicians in tiie new
region made necessary. To the labor of clearing heavily timbered
land, and subduing a rugged soil, was soon added, as will be observ-
ed, a land agency, which made him the founder, or agent of settle-
ment in his immediate neighborhood. In 1811 he was appointed
an agent or commissioner, to settle the accounts of the commission-
ers who had constructed the primitive bridge over the Genesee
River, upon the site of Rochester. There was no mall routes, or
]>ost offices north of the main Buflalo road until 1813. In that
year, Dr. Ward interceded with the then P. M. General, Gideon
Granger, nnd obtained from him authority to transport a weekly
mail from Caladonia, via Riga, Murray, Parma, Northampton, to
Charlotte, at the mouth of the Genesee River. His compensation
was the net proceeds of letter and newspaper postages collected on
the route. It was provided in the contract that the P. M. G. would
appoint deputy post masters, in any locations the contractor should
(lisignate, which were seven miles distant from each other. The
plan was put in successful operation. Routes were extended by Dr.
Ward, upon the same terms, along on Ridge Road to Oak Orchard
Creek ; from Clarkson corners through Sweeden, to Bergen; from
Parma through Ogden and Riga to Bergen ; from Bergen to Bata-
via.f This system continued until 1820, supplying the early con-
venience of mail facilities to a wide, sparsely populated region,
when it was superceded by the ordinary contract system.

In the war of 1813. in an exigency of anticipated invasion, and
a want of arms. Dr. Ward collected all the muskets, rifles, cartouch
boxes and bayonets in his neighborhood, and delivered them to Col.
Daniel Davis for the use of his Regiment. Twenty-one muskets.
and cartouch boxes, and bayonets, and four rifles ; % and besides all

* In tlie same year a Congre!i;atioiial Cliurcli was organizoil, the si^ermd one west of
Genesee River. The Rev. Allen Hollister, ministered alternately to this chin-ch ari<i
the one organized in Riga. The Rev. Harmon Halsey, now a resident of Wilson.
Niagara county, was an early settled minister. Dr. Levi Ward and Uriah Grampton
are among the few wlio survive of the earliest members of this church.

t Prettly liheral time was allowed, cunesponding with the condition of primitiv(
roads. It was stipulated that tlie mail should "leave Caladonia every Monday at 8
A. M., and arrive at Charlotte on Tuesday, by 4 P. M."

t It has been before remarked that a large pro])ortion of the Pionecr.s of the Genesee
country liad been officers and soldiers of the Revolution. Most of tlu! muskets col-
lected in Bergen, belonged at the time to those who luid used them in that contest
for nationaal independence.

PIIELPS AND GOEUAM'S PURCHASE.

iibl

the powder and balls of the new settlement were put in requisition.
In anotlier crisis, at the requisition of Major General Hall, a com-
pany of exempts, or " silver grays," were raised in Bergen, and Dr.
Ward was elected to the command of it. Though the company saw
no service, no marching orders having been received, and no inva-
sion extending as far as that locality, tlie muster roll is copied, ex-
hibiting as it does Pioneer names, and shewing who were willing in
that crisis to waive a legal exemption and engage in the defence of
their country :

Levi Ward. Jr. Capt.
Jesso Barber, Lt.
Amos Huwit, 2il Lt.
Joseph Lans^don, Ensign.
Calvin VVolis, Sergeant.
Reuben Langdon, "
Wlieaton Southworth, "
■VVilliaiu Peters,
Leonard Tattle, Corporal.
Benj W. Elsworth,
Joliu Colinan. "

John Dibbl<?,
John K Larkins, "

Wra. H. Ward,
Music.
James Munger, Drummer.
Simon Pierson, Fifer,
Benjamin Wright, Private,
Josiah Picrsou, "

John Ward, Private.

Jesso Munger, "

Samuel Taggart, "

J()se])h Lord, "

Lodowick M^right, "

William Crowell, "
Jehoida Page.

Jolni Didap, '•

Asa Williams, "

Theophilus M. Fcnn, "

William Jones, "

Benham Preston, "

Ainasa Walker, •'
Cyrus Walker,

Samuel Hammond, "

Joshua Wright, "

James Tillotson, "

Amos Allen, "

Martin Richmond, Private.

Nathan Rogers, "

Isaae Baker, "

Dennis Jtagden, •'

Abner Phelps, "
Orange Throop,
Joshua Green,
Moses Brown,

William Shepherd, "

Linus Kelsey, ''

Samuel Throop, "

John T. Freeman, "

Asa Merrills, •'

Josiali Bnel, "

Win. Buel, "

Adin Hard, "
Amos Chamberlin,

Samuel Tillotson, •'

Elijah Loomis, "

Ward was for six or seven years the supervisor of his town,
and at one period one of the Judges of Genesee county.

In 1817 he changed his residence from Bergen to ihe village of
Rochester ; thus becoming a Pioneer in a new locality, with which
he has been prominently identified in most of its history of rapid
progress. One of the first to break into the wilderness region north
of the old Buffalo road — he has survived to see it become one broad
theatre of agricultural wealth, comfort and prosperity. One of the
first to cast his lot in a primitive village, while the forest was yet
but partially cleared away ; where the wolf, the bear, the deer and
the rattlesnake had but just had notice to quit — he has survived
to see it become the fifth city of the Empire State ; to see it a scene
of unsurpassed business activity and enterprise; endowed with re-
ligious and literary institutions, and all the evidences of substantial
progress, intelligence, and refinement.

He is now in his 80th year ; the wife and mother, who accompa-
nied him in his primitive advent, nearly of the same age. With
the sands of life running low, yet blessed with a more than usual
exemption from the infirmities of age, enjoying all of temporal bless-
ings, in the midst of a large circle of their descendants, they are
calmly and serenely awaling the sununons to depart from the the-
atre of life, upon w'hich they have so well performed their parts.

The eldest son, Wm. H. Ward, who was P. M. at Bergen, the

'Ijim^tF

558

PHELPS AND GORIIAM's PURCHASE.

first north of Le Roy and Caladonin ; a Colonel of Militiji in early
years, and an early merchant. )f Rochester; died in IHJJS.nged 45
years. Another son, Daniel H., died in 1840, a<red 50 years. Sur-
vivin.r sons, are : — Ilenrv M Ward, a resident of Illinois; Levi
A. Ward, an Ex-Mayor of Rochester; Ferdinand D. W. Ward, a
returned Missionary from Madras, in the East Indies, author of a
work entitled " India and the Hindoos," now a settled minister at
Geneseo. Daughters, are the wives of Silas O. Smith, Samuel L.
Selden, Charles L. Clarke and Freeman Clark, of Rochester. A
deceased daughter was the wife of Moses Chapin , she died in 1823,
aged 25 years. Another deceased daughter was the wite of Dan-
iel Hand, a prominent and successful merchant in Augusta, Georgia;
she died in 1839, aged 35 years.

The father of Dr. Ward, who followed him to the Genesee coun-
try m early years, died in I}crgcn in 1838 at the advanced age of
over 92 years. The brother, John Ward, survives, a resident of
JJergen, aged 81 years ; his surviving sons are, Martin, Abel, John,
J*hilo and Horatio Ward.

The northern portion of the Triangle, Sweeden and Clarkson.
began to be settled in 1804. '5, or rather land contracts were taken
in those years, and it is presumed that actual settlement soon follow-
ed, though it [)rogressed slowly, as in all the region north of the then
principal thorough-fare, the Buffalo Road.

Dr. Abel Baldwin, is one of the oldest surviving residents. He
was a native of Norwich, Vermont ; studied medicine with Dr
Nathan Smith of Hanover, N. H. Dr. Thurber, of Riga, Dr.
Nathaniel Rowley, of Clarkson, Dr. Jacobs and the late Dr. iJemis, of
Canandaigua, were his fellow students. Dr. Baldwin settled in
practice in Saratoga county in 1807 —in 1810 first visited the Gen-
esee country — in 181 1 removed to Clarkson. Practicing medicine
only in the earliest years, h? opened a public house in 18i5, at what
was then called "Murray Corners," now Clarkson village. He
erected the first framed tavern house on the Ridge Road ; travel up-
on the Ridge had then became pretty brisk — Falls travel had be-
gan to take that route ; the house of" Dr. Baldwin being about half
way from Canandaigua toLewiston, was a prominent haltino- place.
In fact, Clarkson Corners, at that period, and up to the final com-
pletion of the Erie Canal, in refei-ence to all the northern region,
was a prominent locality. Dr. Baldwin continued a landlord until
1825, when he was succeeded by Mr. Silas Walbridgc; he is now
an enterprising and successful farmer. He was an Elector of Pres-

NoTK.— It ^vill give the ipndor some idea of tlio slow progross of scttlciiK'nt in all
tlio ivgion lictwoon tlio oM Biittalo road and Lake Ontario, to Icani, that as late as the
war of 181;i, so littlo was known of tliat best of all natnral highways in the world,
fill' llidge Koad, that a large army, with heavy artillerv, camp e.iiiipage il-e., \\w des-
tination of whieh was Lewiston,' actuallv diverged from the Ridge at Clarkson, iuul
went via Bergen and Batavia.

PHELPS AND GORHAMS PURCHASE.

559

ident and Vice President, in 18.')2, Mrs. Baldwin also survives ;
uu only daughter is the wile ot lleury K. Solden.

IlEMINISCEXCES OP DR. BALDWIN.

When I moved into the country in 1811, with my fiimily, we wore fer-
ried over the (jienescc river at Rjcliester; the Ridgo road was only cut
out wide enough for a wagon track; the streams were crossed by means of
log bridges. Upon the present site of Clarkson village, there were three
log-houses; and in all, perhaps, thirty acres of land cleared. James Sayre
was the Pioneer of the locality; in fact, the first settler on Ridge, in what
is now Clarkson and Murray, and I think, Parma. He liad selected this
spot on account of a fine spring, before any thing was known of a continu-
ous Ridge road. Sayre, who had taken up considerable land, sold his
contracts and removed. Beside liira, I found here: — David Forsyth, who
remained here until 1840, when he removed to Michigan. Deacon Juel
Palmer had just commenced tanning and currying in a rude primitive es-
tablishment, the first upon all the Ridge road. He still survives, a resi-
dent of Clarkson ; Joel Albert and John Palmer, of Clarkson, are his sons.
Dr. Nathaniel Rowell had preceded me a few months, and was in practice
among the new settlers. He was from Hanover, N. H. ; died in 182(3;
Hopkins Rowell, of Clarkson, is his son; two other sons are clergymen in
New Jersey; Mrs. Henry Smith and Mrs. Danforth are his daughters.
Eldridge Farwell had located here, but removed soon, and became the
Pioneer of what is now Clarendon, erecting mills there. Eldridge, Geo.
and Horace Farwell are his sons. West of the Corners, on the Ridge,
John and Isaac Farwell, brothers of Eldridge, had settled. The saw-mill
of the afterwards Judge Eldridge Farwell, in Clarendon, made the first
boards had in all this region, and his was the pioneer grist-mill, excepting
a small log mill the Atchinsons had erected on Salmon Creek. We had
our first milling done at Church's mill in Riga.

In all the region north of Ridge, in what is now Clarkson and Murray,
Moody Freeman was the Pioneer. He was originally from Hanover, N.
H. ; had pioneered his way all along; had beon the proprietor of the town
of EUisburg, Jefferson count; ; and one of the earliest settlers of Broad-
albin, Montgomery county. He made his solitary home two miles north
of the Corners, at the centre of the township. He was an early Justice of
the Peace: a man of more than ordinary natural abilities; was an early
backwood's lawyer, or pettifogger. There was in Clarkson, north of Ridge,
beside Freeman, in 1811 : — Eratus Haskell, who had taken up land upon
which there were salt springs — and set up a few kettles, and was boiling
salt for the new settlers. Haskell was a captain of militia in the war of
1812; was at the sortie of Fort Erie. He now lesides in Joliet, Illinois,
Stephen Baxter settled in that neighborhood in 1811, and also engaged
early in salt boiling. He still survives, and has

a large number of de-

5G0

nrKLPrt AND (lOKIIAMS I'UIJCHAHIO.

sccndnnts in the neighborhood. John Nowhm was also settled in tho Frec-
raaii iKMghbdrliuod; still aurvivcs, over 80 years of age.

The war of 1812 stopped nil settlement and improvemont. TIkto was
11 constant state of exeiteinent and alarm; many new settlors broke up and
left the country. Tho Hidge road was a thoroughfare for troops pas.sing
to and from tho Frontier. Wluiii J^ewiston was burned, many families
came and wintered along on Ridge road; tho families of the late Sheldon
Thompson, of lUilfalo, Joshua Fairbanks, Mr. Townsend, and Dr. Smith,
stopped in Clarkson. A comijany of riflemen was raised in tliis vicinity,
commanded by captain Stewart; went upon the frontier, and at ono period
at the mouth of tho river; they acted mostly as minuto men. There
were besides, militia drafUs and volunteering during the war.

Immediately after the war, settlers came in rapidly. Tho Ridge road
may almost be said to have settled in its wliole extent west of Genesee
river, in 181 ti. I'revious to that, there was but few settlers upon it; es-
pecially in Momoc hnd Orleans.

'J'he lirst town meeting of Murray, was hehl at the barn of John.son
Bedel, about four miles south of Urockport. The I'ioncer of iJrockpojt
and its neighborhood, was llufus Hammond. His farm embraced a part
of the northern portion of the village. He liad been settled live or six
years wlien I came; had an orchard and a considerable improvement. Ho
had formerly lived in Avon; died in 1824; Shubel Hammond, of Clark-
son, is his son. Either Mr. Hammond or Mr. Freeman raised the lirst crops
in this region. I raised the lirst framed barn ; Isaac B. Williams the lirst
framed house, upon the site of the present brick tavern. I omitted to
name Mr. Williams, as one who was here previous to 1811; he was tho
Pioneer blacksmith. He removed to Hartland, where he died several
years since; William Williams, of Clarkson, is his son.

In 1817, a considerable settlement had been made at Sandy Creek, on
the Ridge — 15 or 20 families, perhaps — in which year, Iloiwy M'Call and
Robert Perry built mills there; raising a dam and overflowing 15 or 20
acres of timbered land. A sickness that pervaded every household in the
neighborhood, soon followed; in one season, in a population of about 100,
there were 27 deaths. The settlers from other neighborhoods had to go
there and take care of the sick, as there were not well ones enough there
to do so; — it was a neighborhood of gloom and desoluion. Tho mill dam
was taken down, and the sickness disappeared.

The first settler at the mouth of Sandy Creek, was a Dutchman by the
name of Strunk. When I first visited the place in 1812, he had died, and
a man by the name of Billings was living there; and others had been there,
I presume, for there were several deserted log houses, Billinos removed
to Canada. After that, settlers would come in by water, and after remain-

NdTK. — Suit spviiiivs IptoiIj nut ill! Jiloiin; on tlie ■ Iojh- iiortli of Ridge — jxpnorally
about thivi' mill's disliiiU. Tlu'V break out IVoiii the Clinton (iroup, whieli is next
Jibove the Meilinii Sand Stone, 'in the early settlement of tlio rountrv, salt was maiiu-
faetufed near l^oekport, ilediiia.at Oak Oivhanl, in Clarkson, J 'aiina.'Hollev, Wel)ster,
Ontaiio antl Soiliis. The salt was usually att'oriied at aliout a dollar per birshel. Tlie
weakness of tlie lirine forbid competition witli the Works at Montezuma and Salt
Point, wlieii the Krie Canal was finished ; ami the business, in fact, had bei^au to de-
cli lO previous to that.

PinCLI'S AND OORIIAM's rUKCIIA.SE.

501

inpf a short limo, would bo taken sick, and have to be brought out to the
older sctllemonts on ox-slods. The iirst permanent settlor in that locality,
was Alanson Thomas, at the head of still water, lie purchased a saw-
mill that Le Roy and IJayard had built thero in 182U; to which he added
a grist-mill. Thomas sold out to a community of Fourcrites. *

The whole region between Ridge and Lake, and more especially, per-
haps, in Murray, Clarkson and Purma, was as forbidding as any that stout
hearted Pioneers ever ventured to break into. Its settlement was attend-
ed with long years of hardships and privations ; many changes of inhabitants
occurred before there was a permanent population. It was heavy timbered,
mostly a wet soil; when the timber was removed, openings made, the heat
of summer suns would engender disease. Those who lived along on the im -
mediate shores of the Lake, or on the Ridge, not in the immediate vicinity
of ponds or marshes, would generally escape; the scourge would principal-
ly prevail where openings had been made in heavily timbered wet lands.
Sickness would generally commence in August, and continue until winter ;
it was by no moans fatal ; where there could be even good nursing, the
proportions of deaths to the number of cases would bo small ; but at times
sickness would be so pervading, that good nursing could not be had. It
was a common thing to bring whole families out of the woods upon ox-
sleds.

Speaking from observation and experience, my advice would be to all
those who are settling a new timbered region, to select Ihe most olovated
sites for their residence, and leave several acres of timber standing for the
few earliest years about their dwellings ; and what is of still greater im-
portance, if they have not good springs of water, dig wells to begin with,
and thus avoid the poisonous surface water, which is of itself a pregnant
source of disease in new settlements in the forests.

A log school house had been erected, and a school was in operation,
when I came there in 1811. Our first settled minister was the Rev. John
F. Bliss; the Rev. Mr. James, of Albany, was settled here in 1825 or 'G.

|.' if.

t * f

[! !•«

No where in ;i wide region of prosperity, has there been a greater
change than in the locality that Dr. Baldwin embraces in liis obser-
vations, north of the Ridge. Even tiie Pioneers, stout hearted, san-
(piine aa their anticipations must have been, in reference to the
ultimate value ot the land, to liave endured what they did, could
hardly have anticipated the sources of agricultural wealth that
through so many trials and difliculties they were developing. The
soil they were not strong handed enough to drain; that they could
but imperfectly cultivate while the stumps and roots remained in it ;
and which gave them but poor returns for the labor, is now dry, sub-
dued, its surface mould mingled with the rich elements that lay hid-

* The ^\■]u>\ti ;liint5 has boon a failiiro. Tlio jiriiicipal leaders wore : — Simoon Dajj;-
i^oU, Dr. TlioUci', Thoiiiiis roinid. Many (hvoUini^s wore orecteil, and a impiilalion of
about 300 gathe'etl there. The community broke up after an experiment of two
years.

.a^

IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (AAT-3)

1.0

I.I

1.25

m Uk

li£ IlilM

111=
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Photographic

Sciences

Corporation

23 WEST MAIN STREET

WEBSTER, NY. 14S80

(716) 872-4503

562

PHELPS AND OtORHAJi's PURCHASE.

den Its sub.soil ; and no where does the earth make more bountiful
returns for the hibor bestowed upon it. It has become a region of
high i)riced and desirable farms. The sites of bark covered \o^
houses and thatched hovels, have now upon them comfortable and
even luxurious brick and framed farm houses, and all the appoint-
ments of flourishing farming establishments. Good common roads
and even plank roads have taken the place of the wood's roads
through which the pioneers plodded — more than half the season
waded through mud and mire — and over which some of them, as
\ye have seen, and their families, were carried hv the good Sama-
ritans of the older settlements, who would find them in the dark
recesses of the forest, prostrated by disease.

Asa Clark, the father of Gustavus Clark, of Clarkson, was from
iiast Haddam, Conn., emigrated to Geneseo in 1802 ; soon removed
to Avon, where he resided until 1830, He died at Sandy Creek in
1834, aged 76 years. His sons were : —Asa Clark, who resided in
Avon until 1S28, when he removed to Sandy Creek, where he was
a merchant for many years. He was a representative in the State
legislature of Orleans, in 1834, '5, had been a Presidential Elector
in 1828. He still survives, at the age of 06 years. George W
and Charles Clark of Buffalo, are his sons. Erastus Clark, of Lima,
who in early early years was the mercantile partner of James K.
Guernsey, and afterwards established in the mercantile business by
himself in Lima. He still survives ; a son and a son-in-law, are his
successors in business. Gustavus Clark, who as early as 1800, was
a clerk with Minor & Hall, at Geneseo ; afterwards a clerk of James
IV. Guernsey in Lima, under whose auspices he commenced busi-
ness in Clarkson, where he has resided since 1815, and where he
still resides. His wife, who still survives, was a daughter of John
^lerson, one of the pioneers of Avon ; Edwin E., of Clarkson, and
Uushrod W. Clark, of Buffalo, are sons of Gustavus ; an only dauf'h-
ter is the wife of W. L. G. Smith, of Buffalo. He was a represen-
tative from Monroe, in the Legislature, in 1825 ; and was the first
1 resident of the Bank of Orleans; an early Supervisor of Clarkson,
and more recently, a magistrate. The daughters of the elder Asa
Clark, became the wives of Robert M'Kay, of Caladonia, Ephraim
Chapman, a pioneer in Portage county, Ohio, and Chandler Pierson,
01 Avon.

REMINISCENCES OP GUSTAVUS CLARK.

When I came to Clarkson, in 1815, the Ridge road was but little trawl-
led for want of bridges; my first load of goods broke most of the bridges
down from Rochester to Clarkson, and the team was obliged to return to
Lima viii the south road and Le Roy. That road had been opened before

PIIELPS AND GORHAm's PURCHASE.

563

?.tf^'i°f ™'? '"'! ^'""'T^Y ""if- ^^y ^''^ P""<='P^l business Tvas to pay
part goods and part cash for black salts and pot-ash. Henry M'Call a

metfntn h"'°" ^'""f!}' ?' ^"^^'-^"^ ''-"^J^- had beenfirsren.aged h
S bP.n ^""'T'a' ^^''}''''' %»d Joshua Field, now of Brockjort, had

f^ofiuf r^ S''^ ''''1 ""S^ged in the manufactury of pot-ash; in
fact, tha was then the staple production of all this region. It was the

r^t o r ;f ' ""''"' -^'^ ^^' new settlers had to pay for^store goods or to
raise a little money ; ,t was a great help to them ; I hardly know how they
could have got along without it. It was a period when hi few of the S
rnn 1 1 T'^ "."^ ^^am to Sell. The new settlers would put up a few

rnS^'^''','"'^>''"7/"^.™''^'^« ^^-"'^ '^^''' t'^««« who were ^st?on.
handed enough, and could raise kettles, would make pot-ash. Upon lands
where beech maple and elm predominated, the ashes would almost pay for
clearing. Many times when a new settler was under the necessity of rais-

ZTZ7' """ T^ .'","'''^ °f '^''' ^'^^'' ^' ^'0^1^ 8« into the forest,
chop down maple and elm trees, roll them together, and burn them, for the

suoolietmanflr*'!'-''"'!/-" ^''^''*.™S- The proceeds of ash^s ha^e
lifpJn ?h T ^^/''^■\'",*h" ''§•«" ^''h t'^e «"™^on necessaries of
ite, m the absence of which there would have been destitution. Our pot-

fLT ?. ? ■'' M ' "''",^'i "^ *'^' ^''''''' "^<^r and shipped to Montreal.

n^IL H '" ^r^''i ^'^ '' ^^ ^ P"'^^ ^^ ^305 pif ton. Lumber.

ng, the getting oiit, purchasing and shipping of oak butt staves, was the
next considerable business after that of pot-ash, and helped the new set-
on ntnTarTet. "' ^"'^ ''' ^"' ^'°'^' "^^ ' ^"-P^"^ '^S^^'- t« «^"^"P-

=nSn?'?f.^-!i'"'^ '^''' ™."'h improved soon after 1815, by the erection of
substantial bridges over the streams. A post route was established from
Canandaigua Lewiston. in November 1815. At first, the mail was car-
nod in a small wagon twice a week. In 1820, daily coaches were pu*
upon the route; travel increased rapidly; for a few years before the canal
was completed, there were coaches almost continually in sight.

• ^I!".""" Warren, settled upon the Rid-e, in east part of Clarkson.
m 1817 ; still survives, at the age of 80 years. He is the Hither of

ISOTE -In Mny 1807, Mr. Wadsworth urgos Mr. Troup Ly letter, to oncoura-o the

nanulactmo .. j.o -ash; «iys it will bo a "great help t. noV settles aVircar^

St7 V^7 t!"-;"- /'""l^ ; an,l ,ukls, that Mr. Murray has authorized liSo b' y vo

tpnllril / ^ ~:\T; ''"".'""•'Ily I'nagi.io what a spring the two not-a^li

ketth's 1 1 ave sent to 1 airfie d has given to the c-rearing „f lancf, unfl what a n^at ac-
con.modat.on it 18 connidered by the i.ihabitante. The'situatio. of the 1. alS an s ,'n
thiB part ot lie cou,.try ha.s really bee,. di.tres.i..g ; a Ihrn.er .night have 000 b Lis
of wl.eat ... h.8 ban., a..d yet not be able t,. buy a j.oun.l of !ea ' Till of 1- tc the
nicrehan s have began to take wheat for goo.is, but at a very Icnv price '' •' I fullv
believe tha theprorits a fan.ier can n.ake'fmu, the ashes on 'm acra o ,'mbered] f
18 greater than the profits .... a,, a.-re of wheat. I n.uch wish tha? i. e ., de ce .1 1
beh.t.,..o.. toco.iv.nee Lady J?atl. how .nuch the value of her esL t^ vo be „
hanced (,y lac.l.tat.ng the tra.isportation of pot-ash an.l heiu,, to Moutra '' fTIds
has relercace to some change in tlio British leveuue laws] ^ ^"^^>^""uii. lihis

564

rilELPS AND GORHAm's TURCIIASE.

Capt. Henry Warren, who lias been for many years the popular
manager of one of the Rochester and Buffalo canal Packets. At
the period he located upon the Ridge, there were settled in north of
his locality, in what was called the " north woods," three brothers :
Adam, Henry and James Moore. They were Irishmen ; neither of
them survives; there are many of their desendants in the noifrhbor-
hood ; John and Thomas Moore, early settlers of Loclqiort, were the
sons ot Adam. The Hoy family, also Irishmen, were settled in the
same neighborhood ; the old gentleman died in 1838 or '9 ; his sons
were: James, John, and Robert Hoy; many of the desendants
reside in Clarkson. It was pretty much a wilderness north of
Kidgein 1817. There had settled along the Ridge in Clarkson:
Tj ,j ""'^^'^' ^^ho ^s ""^w living ; had come in previous tc war. John
H. Bushiiell was the Pioneer of the neighborhood ; died about five
years since ; widow still survives ; Sidney and John Bushnell are
his sons ; he was a supervisor and magistrate. Ebenezer Toll, re-
moved to Gaines, where he died about fifteen years since. The first

tavern keeper at Ladd's corners, was Huysott ; Reuben

Downs wa-. an early tavern keeper east of Ladd's corners. John
Philips, afterwards sherifi' of Niagara, kept a tavern in the neighbor-
hood m an early day.

The village of Brockport, was one of the creations of the Erie
canal, and is of course not embraced in the Pioneer period. Pre-
vious to the construction of the canal, there was at that point— upon
the site of one of the most flourishing villages in Western New
York— but the farm houses of Rufus Hammond and Hiel Brockway.

The village started up under the auspices of Mr. Brockway, and
to his extraordinary enterprize was much indebted in all its early
yeais. He was a native of Lyme, Conn., settled first in this State
at Cattskill, about the year 1800 ; emigrated to the Genesee country
in an early day, and was a resident first in Geneva and then in
Phelps. Soon after the war of 1812, he removed to the then town
of Murray, afterwards Sweeden, and purchased the farms of two or
three of the early settlers, at the rate of $12 and 815 per acre. The
site of Brockport and its vicinity was then but a region of log
houses and small improvements. The locality had no other advan'^
tages than of being the point where a main north and south thorough
fare crossed the canal ; and of being in the centre of a region which
promised to become, as it has, one of the richest agriculture districts
of Western New York. The village took a rapid start after the canal
w^as completed, and has had a steady and uninterrupted growth.

In addition to other early enterprizes, Mr. Brockway was en-
gaged extensively in the packet boat business ; first putting on boats
between Rochester and Buffalo in opposition to the old packet line
from Utica to Buffalo ; then filling up the portion of that line west
of Rochester with his own boats in connection with that line. He
made Brockport the centra! locality in reference to packet boat

PHELPS AND GORIIAM's PURCHASE.

565

operations at the west ; infused a new spirit of enterprise into the
business ; and to him, in fact, have the travelling public been largely
indebted for the superior packet boats, and their excellent manage-
ment, that have for a long series of years been enjoyed upon The
western section of the Erie canal. To part with them and their
excellent managers, most of whom have been educated in the school
ot Mr. Brockway, (and he was a shrewd judge of men as well of
horses, and of the best model of boats,) will seem like parting with
old triends ; and yet the event would seem to be near at hand for
soon the shrill notes of the steam whistle will be heard along the
line, where their horns have so long sounded ; and haste, speed,
regardless of comfort, is the order of the day.

Mr. Brockway died in 1843, aged C7 years ; of a large family of
children — 13 in number — but 4 survive : Charles M., and Nathan
K. Brockway, Mrs. Dr. Carpenter, and Mrs. Elias B. Holmes.

A portion of the village has grown up on non-resident land that
James beymour purchased about the time the canal was constructed.
Mr. beymour was an early merchant in the village; the President
ot the bank of Rochester; was the fortunate owner of the land on
which the capital of Michigan was located ; and is now a resident
there.

The town of Sweeden was pretty geK./% settled before the con-
struction ot the Erie canal, but a large portion of the farms had been
but recently commenced. When the town was organized, in 1821
Jere were 330 inhabitants liable to assessment upon the highways'
Ihe first supervisor was Silas Judson> the town clerk. Major M
^'■"'f^ri-^^^®^^^^" officers: Joshua B. Adams, Chauncey Staples.
Abel Crifiord, Levi Branch, Zenas Case, Oliver Spencer, Zenas Case
Jr., Samuel Bishop, Levi Pond, Sylvester Pease, Daniel J. Avery.
Jo^ph S. Bosworth, John Reeves, Peter Sutven, Joseph Randall.

The early physicians of village and town, were : -— Daniel J

Avery, the father of Daniel J. Avery of Sweeden, Millican

John B. Elliott, Elizur Munger, Davis Carpenter, M. D.

Levi Pond settled in Sweeden in 1817, purchasing a farm in the
north part of the town ; still survives. He has filled the several
ottices of deputy sheriff, constable and collector, and in 1833 was
one of the representatives of Monroe in the Legislature. He is the
lather ot Elias Pond, late collector of the Genesee District.

THE CONNECTICUT, OR "100,000 ACRE TRACT."

Robert Morris sold this tract to Andrew Cragie, James Wat'-on
and James Greenlief, for $37,500. Oliver Phelps purchased an
equal undivided half of it in 1794, which he conveyed to De Witt
Clinton in 1095 ; it reverted, and Mr. Phelps sold his interest to the

56G

PHELPS AND GOKIIAJi's PURCHASE.

State of Connecticut, The other half was sold by Mr. Cragie to
Charles Williamson and Thomas Morris, and ultimately the title
became vested in Sir Wm. Pulteney ; the State of Connecticut
and Sir William Pulteney thus becoming tenants in common,
in 1808, the commissioners .of the school fund of Connecticut,
(tiie purchase having been made out of that fund,) appointed Levi
Ward, Jr., who had then recently settled in Bergen, to act in their
behalf, and in co-operation with Col. Troup, the local representative
of the Pulteney interest, to procure the survey of the tract. This
accomplished, in March 1810, Dr. V/ard was further empowered in
co-operation with Col. Troup, in behalf of the commissioners of the
school fund, to procure an equitable partition of the tract. Israel
Chapin and Amos Hall were mutualiy appointed by Messrs. Troup
and Ward, for that purpose, and made the partition.

Fifty thousand acres of the tract having been vested in the com-
missioners of the school fn.nd, in July 1810, they appointed Dr.
Ward their local agent for the sale of it. In September of the
same year Dr. Ward commenced the sales of farm lots. The sales
progressed until 1810 under this agency, when Dr. Ward and Levi
H. Clark, purchased of the State of Connecticut all the unsold
lands. By agreement, the sales were continued in the name of the
State, until the whole was disposed of to actual settler.^. The bonds
belonging to the State, have remained in charge of Dr. Ward, until
the })rcsent time ; the management of the property for the last ten
o: fifteen years, since the retirement of Dr. Ward from active busi-
ness, iias(levc'ved upon his son Levi A. Ward.

The half belonging to the Pulteney estate, was managed in Col.
Troup's agency and that of his successor, Mr. Fellows. The 100,-
000 acre, or as it has usually been called, the Connecticut Tract, is
bounded north by Lake Ontario, west by the Holland Company, or
transit line, south by an east and west line, a little north of the Buf-
falo road in the town of Stafford, and east by the west line of the
Triangle. In it, are now embraced the towns of Kendall, Murray,
Clarendon, Byron and a small portion of Le Roy, afford and Ber-
gen.

The whole tract as will have been observed, was settled after the
general Pioneer period, and it is one of the localities of the settle,

NoTi;. — A singular incident is connected with the title to the 100,000 tract. —After
sales had eoninienced and progressed several years, Selh P. Beers, who rejireseiitcd
tlie State of Cunuecticut, and Joseph Fellows, the agent of the Pulteney estate, discov-
ered, that a deed from one of the early grantors was lost, and not upon record. Jlr,
Beers souglit out and importuned tlie grantor to substitule a new one — offered him
jSilO.OOO wliich he refuseii, demantling ^'20,000. Another of the early jHoprietors wlio
Jiad been familiar wiili all tiie transfers, was upon jail limits in the city of Waslung-
ton. Mr. Beers repaired to that city and lie assured hiin ho could find the deed ni
Philadelphia. Procuring a carnage, Mr. Beers took him from the jail limits under
cover of niglit, conveyed him to I'hiladeljihia, he fountl the deed, and was r jturned
to the jail hmits before his absence was discovered. For $1000 tlonated to ^hc finder,
title was perfecteil without yielding to the exhorbituut demands of one who was for
takiug auvantago of the loss of the deed.

PHELPS AND GORHAm's PUECHASE.

5G7

ment of whicli the author lias received but meager remmiscences
Benliam Ireston was the Hrst settler, preceded survey and tli,
openuig of sales. He went in from «tatlbrd, on the Bullhlo road,
and set his family down upon Black creek, without a shelter, while
he went through the woods to the then new settlement of Ber<ren
and procured the aid of Henry D. Gifford and otiiers in erecting a
rude cabin. ^

The following are the names of most of all who took contracts
upon the whole tract, or deeds, the first five years after sales com-
menced. As in the instance of the Trangle, it will generally, but
not invariably, indicate who were the Pioneers :

SajTuicl Lincoln,
Paul Kiiowlton,
Aaron Sciilmcr,
Ella Hniilii,
William Wooil,
Horace Laii<,'(l()n,
Amos lio.sworth,
Elijah Brown,

Elijali Loomis,
Samuel Hall,
Bilas Hoi brook,
Uriel Holcomb,
Major Osliorne,
Miumon llobbs,
Jas. M. Piico,
Chester Holbvook,
Silas Hazen,
Araasa Walker,
Jacob Sjiatford,
Timothv T.Hart,
Alfred Ward,
Joshua Wright,
Eliab Wright,
Jared Child,
SelahM. Wright.
Ezekiel Case,
Wm. Jenny,
Beuajah Giawold,

Simeon Hosmer,
Sanuiel Hosmer,
Gideon Hazen,
Jacob Dunning,
Caleb JVliUer,
Antliouy Miller,
Amos Lainpson,
Paul Knowlton,
Wm. Croswell,
Seth Griswold,
Benj. Livermore,
Paul Bulluid,

1810.

Natlian George,
John Smith,
John Coleman,
Silas Taylor,
Elisha Tavlor,
Eli Jlead, "
John Mead,

1811.

Elijah Sluimway,
Henry Mead,
John Gookin,
Harvey Prentice,
Nathan Sciuior,
Stephen Parldiuret,
Ishi Parmelee,
Daniel Beckley
Elijah Warner,
John Thwing,
Jolm Thwing, Jr.,
Frederick Jimes,
George Christ,
William Wolcott.
Manning Richaidaon,
Daniel Oaipenter,
Ami Cui-tiss,
Ira Scribuer,
Joseph Barker,
William Strong,

1812.

Amasa Heath,
Justis Taylor,
Samuel Payne,
John P. Bishop,
I'age Bussell,
Enos Bush,
Abel Hyde,
John Carnirtj
John Tucker,
John Xan \"alkenburg,
Samuel Hammond,
Dauiel Woodward,

Grcenman Carpenter,
Adam Gardner,
Jonathan Sprague,
Darius Sprague,
John Parewell,
William Jiurlingame,
Joshua Whaley.

William Shepard,
Grover Gillum.
Job Jordon,
Ednnind Wilcox,
Asa MerriLs,
George Holt,
John Janes,
David Loomis,
Hubbard Everts,
Samuel Parker,
William Parker,
Enoeli Eastman,
John Johnson,
John Cunnnings,
Eandal Stivers,
John Stivers,
Iladley Randal,
IsJiac B. Williams,
Oliver Van Kiik.

John Freeman,
George Barton,
Ahimaz Bniinard,
Thompson & Tuttlo,
Justis Parish,
Moses Green,
M. J. Hill,
R. Lucas,
A. Webb,
Augustus White,
Henry Merrill,
Lyiuau Griswold,

568

PHELPS AND GORHAM's PURCHASE.

Zeno Terry,
Jolm Siiyrus,
Nathan JJannistcr,
Zuri Stephens,
Pliney Sanderson,
Preserved Kichinond,
Nathan Ladd,
Mathew Hannah,
John Richards
William Preston,
Josiali Heath,

Page,

Homer H. Campbell,
Silas Williams,
Salmon Patterson.
Lyman Isbel,
James Douglass,
Consider W^arner,
John Douglas,
Theodore Dr<ake,
Barney Carpenter,
William Rhoades,v
Amasa Haskell,
William Wood,

Chauncoy Robinson,
Daniel (Jleason,
John Stephens,
Sliiibel Lewis,
Oliver Smith,
John Southworth,

George Campbell,
Joseph Langdon,
Ezra Sanford,
Lodowick Wright,
Benham Preston,
Henry Grovenburg,
Daniel Hall,
Job Gardner,
Peter Prindel,
Oliver Mattison,
John Qiiimby,
Stoiy Curtiss,
Betheuel Greenfield,
Timothy Bachelder,
Stephen Richmond,
Cyrus Coy,
Noah Sweet,
William Lewis,
Charles Lee,
Abijah Smith,
Nicholas Prine,
Roswell Osborne,
Ezekiel Lee.

1812.

Thomas Hause,
Calvin Weed,
Pliineas White,
Barney Carpenter,
Thomas Fisner,
Abner Chase,
Nathaniel Rogers,
Dewey Miller,
Ezra Sanl'ord,
George Holt,
Roswell Mair,

1813.

Elisha Smitli, Jr.,

Solomon Bishop,

Lemuel P. Hall,

Ephraim Whipple,

Lodowick Wright,

Chester BiUs,

Ezekiel Allen,

Eli Whelon,

John Lake,

Ephraim Van Valkenburg,

Jesse Carter,

Daniel Reese,

Davis Ingals,

1814.

Elijah Andrus,
Peleg Sisson,
Solomon Ciirpenter,
Asa Lake,
Joh.athan By am,
Arrod Kent,

1815.

William Allen,
Ezekiel Allen,
William Jones,
Joel Bronson,
Ebcnezer Penigo
Zirari Perrigo,
Oliver Page,
WilUam P. Gibba
Ebenezer Gibbs,
Elijah Macknard,
Levi Dudley,
David Leaaman,
Wm. Alexander,
Joseph Parks,
Allen Sears,
Amos Salmon,
Anson Morgan,
Stephen Eastman
Jacob Amen,
Robert Owen,
Darius Ingalls,
Jesse Munson.

Cyrus Hood,
Sanford Main,
William Buniham,
Elisha Bentley,
William D. Dudley,
Lemuel Cone,
John Cone,
Samuel Alger,
Abner Hopkins,
John Palmer,
Henry Van Wormer.

Samuel Rundal,
Henry L. Gould,
David Glidden,
Stephen Martin,
Eddy Emmons,
William Stiveback,
David Church,
Chauncey Hood,
Aaron Thompson
Levi Preston,
Gideon Baldwin,
Van Kirk.

Eldridgo Farwell
Daniel R. Starks,
John Love,
Jiras Hopkins,
Horace Balcom,
Samuel Mansfield,

Samuel Day,
Nathan Crandal,
David Hutchinson
Isaac Leach,
Robert Clark,
Benjamin Allen
David Wait,
Abel Wooster,
David Jones,
Nathaniel Brown,
Theopilus Randal,
Enos Cochran,
Henry W. Bates,
Benjamin Morse,
Amos Randall,
John Augur,
Stephen Randall,
David Jones,
Levi Stephens,
Joseph Weed,
Asel Balcom,
Hooker Sawyer.

PHELPS AND GORIIAm's PURCHASE.
BRIGHTON.

569

•i!pi

The township was an early pioneer locality, as will have been
seen in preceding pages, though its settlement made but slow
progress; but an occasional settler coming in previous to 1816
1 he town which then embraced what is now Brighton and Ironde-
quoit was organized in 1814. Oliver Culver was the first supervisor,
i\ehemiah Hopkins, town clerk. Other town officers i—Oranrre
btone Ezekiel Morse, Solomon Gould, Sylvester Cowles, John
Hatch, Jessee Tamtor, Ezra Rogers, Rufus Messenger, Enos Blos-
sc)m, bamuel SpafTord, David Bush, Enos Stone, Job C. Smith, Wm
liilhnghurst. There were but three road districts in the town • the
overseers were, Rufus Messenger, Wm. Moore, Solomon Gould,
James Suffield, Joseph Caldwell. By records transferred from old
town books of Northfield, it .would seem that as early as 1802 a
road was Jaid "from Tryon Square, to Genesee River near Kincr's
l^anding. In 1801 a road was surveyed " from Irondequot Fttlls
intersecting a road from Glover Perrin's to Irondequoit Landinrr "
In 1806 a road from mouth of river to intersection of road n^ar
Ihomas m Landing Town." In 1800 a road "from centre of
Main street ni the city of Tryon, to the road leading from Orange
fetone s to the Genesee River." In same year, a road leading "from
centre of road leading by Hollands and Ingersoll's to Irondequoit
Landing. Same year, " from Rattle-snake Spring to the Genesee
Kiver, opposite the old mill." Same year, a road "from a stake and
stone, south of Allan's creek, to Irondequoit Landing. In 1810 a
road " beginning at the new bridge, Genesee river Falls, till it in-
tersects a road near Mr. Wilder's in West Town." As late as 1816
$10 was voted for wolf scalps. In that year there was five school
districts in the town. Same year, Elisha '^,ly, Oliver Culver, Otis
Walker, Lbenezer Bingham and Ezekiel Morse, were appointed
as a committee to petition the "General Assembly," for money to
be laid out on the road from " Orange Stone's to the Genesee River "
In 1817 Daniel D. Tompkins had 29 votes for Governor, Rufus
King 42. In that year Elisha Ely was supervisor.

The first settled minister in Brighton was the Rev. Solomon
Allen, as early as 1817. He was the father of S. & M. Allen, the
well i.-nown brokers in New York ; a faithful minister and an ex-
ce lenn man, as many well remember. His first meetings were
held at private houses. He remained five years, and would receive
no salary. He died in the city of New Y.:k in 1820, aaed 70
years. °

Enos Blossom was the Pioneer of the numerous family of that
name, that has been so closely identified with the history of the
town ; emigrating previous to, or during the war of 1812. He was
from Cape Cod, Mass. He died in 1830, aged 51 years. George

570

PIIELrS AND OORHAM's rURCHASE.

Blossom, of Brighton, and Noble Blossom, of Marshall, Mich., are his
sons ; daughters became wives of Marshfield Parsons, of Brighton,

and Aldrich, of Marshall, Michigan. Ezra Blossom, an uncle

of Enos, caine to Brighton in 1813, purchasing the Spaflbrd farm,
upon which the village of Brighton has since grown up. He opened
tlie first tavern there ; died in 1820, aged Gl vears. His only sur-
viving son is Benjamin B. Blossom, Post Master of Brighton ;
daughters became the wives of Ansel House, one of the pioneer
auorneys of Rochester, Wm. C. Bloss, of Rochester, and Levi
Hoyt, of Brighton.

Dr, Gibbs was the first settled physician in Brighton ; Ira West
the first merchant.

CHILI.

A small portion of Chili, was an early settled locality, next to
Wheatland, in all the south western portion of Monroe county.
When the pioneers had settled down in •' West Pulteney," " Fair-
field," and on the Gore " in now Parma, thej called it going out of
the woods when they went to the " Hannover settlement." This
settlement was along on the old Braddock's Bay road, projected by
Mr. Williamson, in " East Pulteney, now Chili ; the first settlers,
principally from Hannover, N. Hampshire. There were of them
the elder Mr. Widener, his sons, Jacob, Abraham, William, and

Peter ; Jacob still survives ; the Sottle family, Joseph Gary,

Wood, and his sons Lemuel and Joseph ; Joshua Howell, who wa?
an early Justice of the peace; Samuel Scott, of Scottsville, Benja-
min Bowen, and the Franklin family. The names of early settlers
on the River, have occurred in other connections. With the ex-
ception of a small portion, the town was late in settling, owing to
diffipulties in land titles, which kept the lands out of market, but as
a whole, its superior soil has been enabling it to overtake its neigh-
boring towns in the march of improvement.

John Chapman became a resident of the town in 1804. He had
been preceded two years by his son Israel Chapman, who still sur-
The elder Chapman opened the road from the Hannover

vives.

settlement, to his location on Chestnut Ridge. In 1807 he had the
contract from Mr. Wadsworth for opening the State road, from
the site of Rochester to Ogden; the primitive opening consisting
only of " turning out the logs," and under- brushing. In 1808 he
opened a road from where he settled in Chili, to the Rapids. He
had removed from Phelps, and returning there in about two years
he remained there until his death, at the advanced age of 80 years,
Israel Chapman, of Chili, Julius Chapman, of Riga, and Joel Chap-

PIIELP3 AND GORnAlM's PURCHASE.

571

man, of Macedon, are his sons ; other sons reside at the west ;
Mrs. Wm. Peer, of Chili is a daurrhter.

Isaac Lacy, thoiifrh a late Conner, was for many years a prominent
citizen of the town; an enterprising and successful farmer, lie
emigrated from Washington county in 1816, and in process of time
became possessed of a farm of ne'ar 1000 acres; (500 of which he
cultivated. He died in 1811, aged 08 years. He was a member of
Assembly from Monroe for two'terms, and subsetiuently a member
of the Senate. His surviving .sons are Allen T. Lacy, near Mar-
shall, Michigan ; .TohnT. Lacy, clerk of Monroe county ; Edward
P. and Isaac Lacy, of Janesvilie, Wisconsin. Daughters became
the wives of Ira Carpenter, of Scottsville ; R. M. Long, of Buflalo-
Dr. John Mitchell of Janesvilie; and H. II. Smith, of Union city,
Michigan. There was in all, a family of eleven children.

CHAPTER III.

EARLY GLIMPSE? OF THE GENESEE VALLEY PIONEER HISTOaY OK

ROCHESTER.

In all wc have of the history of French occupancy of Western
New York, but kw allusions are made to the immediate valley of
the Genesee ; and yet there are distinct evidences that there were
Jesuit Missionary and French traders located upon it ; and such
may well be the inference, as within it were some of the principal
seats of the Senecas. Soon after the advent of La Salle, a trading
post and missionary station was founded upon the Niagara, a few
miles above the Falls. In the Jesuit letters there are several allu-
sions to another one, with which those who occupied the first, were
in frequent communication, upon the "River of the Tsonnontouans."
(the river of the Senecas.) * While La Salle was building his ves-
sel at the mouth of the Cayuga creek, he sent embassies over land,
to reconcile the Senecas to his enterprise ; and the vessel he had
built at Frontenac, coasted along the .jouth shore of Lake Ontario

* The communication was by water, aad yet not by the Niagara river and Lake
Ontario. Strange as it may now seem, batteaux iisoenJecl the Tonawanda, were car-
ried over a short portage into tlio Tonawanda swamp, and descended by the waters
of Black creek to the Genesee river ! That there liad once been Bucli an internal
navigation, Mr. EUicott was in some way apprized, and that suggested to him his fa-
vorite route ft;r the Erie Canal, a partial survey of which was made.

572

rilELPS AND GOKIIAMS PURCHASE.

and entered the Genesee River, the first craft of European architec-
ture, in all prohabihty, tliat ever disturbed its waters. The liaron
I^a llontan, who accompanied the expedition of I)e Nonville, L'ave
some account of tiie River, and laid it down upon the ma[) that
accompanied the first publication of iiis "Voyages to North Amer-
ica," in London, 1703. There are other maps in which the River
is recognized, of even earlier date. Views of the upj)er Jind lower
Falls were published in London in 1708. Upon them, the river is
called, "Casconchi;igon, or Little Senecas' River." [The term
lilth, must have been in comparison with Niagara river.] Joncaire,
who is introduced in the body of the work, was familiar with the
whole region, and gave to Charlevoiz, in 1723, a very intelligible
description of tl.» Genesee River. English occupancy of western
New York, was comparatively of but short duration, and there
seems to have been no occupancy of the immediate valley of the
(jcnesco. In Governor liurnctt's time, there was an English trading
house, and a few soldier's at the " Bay cf Tyrondequoh," but little
is said of it. It was probably soon abandoned, as the Senecas were
far more jealous of English than of French occupancy. The Rev.
Mr. Kirkland visited this region in 1765, and during all the period
of English occupancy, there were English traders on Seneca Lake,
the (Jenesee and the Niagara rivers. When the Revolutionary
war commenced, the Genesee valley, aj will be observed, began
soon to be the temporary abiding place of refugees from the Mo-
hawk, the Susquehannah and New Jersey ; the chief among them,
the ruling spirit, the " lord of the valley," being Ebenezer, or Indian
Allan ; the solitary occupant upon the River, below the mouth of
Allan's creek, one of his liege subjects, Jacob Walker.

THE FALLS OF THE GENESEE AND THEIR IMMEDIATE VICINITY nELAV

IN SETTLEAIENT AND IMI'ROVEMENT THE IMMEDIATE AND

REMOTE CAUSES.

Truly ic may '.e observed, that with reference to the pioneer his-
tory of all this region, a reversal of the ordinary arrangement is in-
dicated by the course of events, and the first becomes last. The
site of the "City of the valley op the Genesee," — the com-
mercial and general business emporium, of all the region that we
have been travelling over — was a wilderness, almost unbroken, a
bye place, in homely phrase, for long years after settlements were
founded in almost the entire Genesee country. When Buffalo,
Batavia, Canandaigua, Geneva, Palmyra, Penn Yan, Bath, Gen-
eseo, Caledonia and Le Roy, had becnme considerable villages, and
local business had began to centre at Pittsford, Penfield, Victor,

!'^

PIIELPS AND OOIUIAM's PlTRCirASE.

57.*^

Lyons, Vienna, Manchester. East Bloomfiold, Lima. Avon, Dans-
I villu Aiisreiica, Warsaw, Attica, Lr^wiston, Uait Orclianl, Gaines.

r Clarkson, Pauna, Charlotte, Ilandlbrd's Lanrjinj,' and Scottsvillc

sulficient to form little clusters of stores, machine shops and dvvell-
injrs — there was at "Genesee Falls," now Rochester, hut a rude
mill and u few rude dwellings, h^ss than twenty acres of the forest
cleared away, and less than a half dozen fami.ics.

The reader whose interest and patience have both held out thus
far, to keep alnni? with the narrative, has had occasional glimpses
of the site of Rochester, hut has seen little as there w.as hut little to
see ; or rather has read little of it, lor the reason that it lias not
been before reached in the order of tima. It was late in attracting
the attention of men cf enterprise, founders of settlements and vil-
lages. Now when its superior advantages are so obvious, when it
has become a largo and populous city, with those not familiar with
the early history of the country, surprise is created that it was not
one of the primitive theatres of investment and enterprise. In the
first place, it may be observed, that there was a long series of
years, after the settlement of the Genesee country commenced,
. when the Pioneers in detached settlements in the forest, were

subduing the soil, and obtaining from it but barelv the means of
subsistence; in the most favored localities but a, small surplus
which was required by the new comers that were dropping in from
year to year around them ; there was little necessity for market
. i places, or commercial depots. Rapids upon the small streams ex-

: isted in almost every neighborhood and settlement, upon which rude

mills were erected, sufficient for all the then existing requirements.
The extensive hydraulic power created by the Rapids and the Falls
of the Genesee, was not put in requisition, because there was no
occasion for it. Rochester, of itself, in its steady permanent growth,
demonstrates the fact, that villages and cities should follow the gen-
eral improvements of a country which is to be tributary to tl?em.
and not precede them. It .sprung up when it was required, kept
pace wi4h the growth and improvement of the whole country — and
a rapid march it had to make to do so — and thence its permanence
and substantial character.

The territory bordering upon the shore of Lake Ontario, in the
entire Genesee country, with few exceptions, did not attract settlers
in all the earliest years. There was little of Lake commerce, and
travel, transportation and business, centered upon the main thorough-
fare, the old Bufllilo road. It is a far greater wonder that at a peri-
od when good roads was the great desideratum, when upon all ordin-
ary soils they could not be made ; when even the main Buffalo road,
after there had been expended upon it a vast amount of labor, was
in most seasons of the year almost impassable, — that sujh a con-
tinuous national highway as was the Ridge road, was not opened
and travelled ; than that the Falls of the Genesee were not earlier

'li ■

' i '

■1;

■ i

; i

■ 1

574

PIIELP3 AND GORIIA:m's PURCHASE.

improved. There was never, in the earliest period, any misapprehen-
sion of tiie intrinsic valuf^ of the soil in all ♦his northern region of the
(ienesee country. The Pioneers were awure of the fact, now so clear-
ly demonstrated by time and experience, that from the Pennsyl-
vania line, northward to the shores of Lake Ontario, there was a
irradual improvement in the face of the country, and in all the ele-
ments of succes.'sful agriculture ; but along on' the Lake shore, in
tiie whole distance from vSodus Bay to Fort Niagara, there was a
wide belt of dense dark forest, the soil mostly wet ; its whole aspect
repulsive and forbidding. It was penetrated in the earliest years by
luit few, and those as may well be conceded, the boldest of the Pio-
neers. First, Mr. Williamson, attracted by the beautiful Bay of
iSodus, by its fine building ground, and its prospective commercial
importance, broke in there, and accompanying extraordinary enter-
prise with a liberal expenditure of capital, mad^ a failure of it, and
years of decline, and almost desertion, followed. Then two hardy
Pior "ers set themselves down on the Lake shore, between Sodus and
Pulteneyville ; (Brown and Richards.) Previous to this however,
the Lusks, Hydes, Timothy Allyn, Orange Stone, the Scudder.s, and
a few others had located upon an inviting spot in Brighton, near the
head of the Irondequoit Bay. Then followed William Hencher,
at the mouth of the Genesee river; then the Atchinsons and a few
others, formed an isolated and lonesome settlement at the head of
Braddock's, (Prideaux's) Bay. Then James Walworth, Elijah
Brown, (the same who had settled below Pulteneyville,) Elisha
Hunt, the De Graws, Lovell, Marsh, Parmeter, Dunham, the Grif-
fiths and others, located at Oak Orchard ; and soon after, openings
ill the forest began to be made in the vicinity of Fort Niagara, as
low down as the Four Mile creek. Following these pionet r advents,
other adventurers were " few and far between ; " they were in a
tinv localities in Niagara, along on the RidT-e in Orleans, in Clark-
son, Ogden, Bergen, Riga, Chili, Greece, Penficld, Macedon. Wal-
worth, Marion, and along on the road from Sodus to Lyons. When
little neighborhoods had been formed in all these detached localities,
disease came into the openings of the forest, about as fast as they
were made. Often families, and sometimes almost entire neigh-
borhoods were carried into the older and healthier localities, upon
ox sleds and carts, through wood's roads, to be nur.sed and cared for.
Through long years this operated not unlike the carrying of th? dead
and woimded from a battle field into the presence of those whose aid
is re(iuired to renew and maintain the strife. It was but little less
appaling and discouraging. The whole region now im nediately
under consideration was sickly in all the early years, and i.pon that
account, and for other reasons, was slow in settling. All the region
i'rouiid the Falls of the Genesee, at the mouth of the river, at King's
Landing, (as the reader has observed and will observe,) was regar-
ded as prolific in the seeds of disease — ot' chills and fevers — almost.

PHELPS AND GOPJIAii S PtJECIUSE.

675

vis are the Pontine marshes of the old work), and the passes of the
Isthmus on the route to California. A single instance may be sta-
ted in this coimection, in addition to what will appear elsewhere :
— In an early year, previous to 1800, Wheelock Wood, a pioneer
in Lima, built a saw mill on Deep Gulley creek, within the present
city limits of Rochester, had it in operation but one season, carried
back to Lima, his workmen, prostrated by disease ; and was finally
obliged to abandon his enterprise, and let his mill go to decay, for
the reason that workmen could not be found who would incur the
exposure to disease consequent upon the care of it.

The causes that have been cited are quite sufficient to account
for the late start of Kochester ; to explain to the readers of the pre-
sent day, why valualjle hydraulic privileges, in the immediate neigh-
borhood of shipping ports of Lake Ontario, were so long principally
shrouded by the primeval forest, after settlement had approached
and almost surrounded the locality. To these causes the reader
may add what he has already observed, of the tendency of things
toward the main thoroughfare, the Bufialo Road, in early years ;
and Ihe fact, that quite up to the period of the start of Rochester,
the commercial enterprize and expectation of a large settled portion
of the Genesee country was turned in the direction of the head waters
of the Allegany and Susquehannah.

The year 1811, that being the year in which Col. Rochester, first
surveyed and sold lots on the one hundred acre tract, may be regarded
as the starting period of Rochester, though in reference to any con-
siderable movement, accession of population and business, the years
1815, or '10 w^ould perhaps be indicated. The first period named,
preceding but a few months, another important event in our local his-
tory, the war of 1812 — some account of the then general condition
of the Genesee country, will not be out of place : — Commencing with
the Pioneer region, the territory now comprised in the county of
Ontario, improvements were considerably advanced. Generally,
the soil there was more easily subdued, and made more speedy re-
turns for labor expended, than the more heavily timbered lands that
predominated elsewhere. There were many framed houses and
barns, bearing orchards, largely improved farms, and good public
highways. The territory had began to have a large surplus of pro-
ducts, which principally found a market in the later settled regions,
south and west. There may be included in this description a small
portion of the present counties of Wayne, Livingston and Yates.
In nearly all the northern portion of Wayne county settlement was
recent, and but small improvements had i)een made. In Living-
ston the considerable improvements were principally confined to the
fiats of tlie Genesee and Canascraga, the IJuifalo road, Livonia,
r^'Onesus, Grovelnnd nnd Sparta. A large portion of Alleimny wag
a wilderness ; there were but few recent and feeble .settlements. The
older settlements in Steuben had began to produce a small surplus,

i ft!

576

PHELPS AND GOEHAM's PURCHASE.

which, with its lumber, was shipped upon the head waters of the
Susquehannah, for the Baltimore market ; but most of the county
was either a wilderness, or sparsely populated.

West of the Genesee River, the lands along the Buffalo load were
principally settled, and many large improvements had been made.
The principal public houses were along on that road ; it was the
central locality ; those who lived away from that were in the back-
woods, or interior ; there they gloried in some very respectable
framed tavern houses ; " double log" tavern houses prevailed to the
south and north of it. In Wyoming, there were settlements and
considerable improvements along on the old " Big Tree" road, the
Tonawanda and Allan's creek ; elsewhere the Pioneers were in
small isolated settlements, with wide belts of forests intervening.
Cattaraugus had been broken into in but few localities, principally
along on the Cattaraugus creek, the Ischua, and the Allegany River.
Chautauque and the south towns of Erie iiad considerable settle-
ments, principally along near the lake shore, and in the interior, on
Chautauque Lake, and on the old " Big Tree" road. The settle-
ments in all the northern portion of Erie, were along on the Buffido
road, and between that and the Seneca Reservation. In Niagara,
settlement was principally confined to the Niagara River, the Ridge
Road, and along on the narrow strip between the Ridge Road and
Mountain Ridge. Orleans was mostly a wilderness, with but little
in the way of improvement off from the Ridge Road, and in but few-
localities upon it. The Ridge Road in its whole extent, from the
Genesee to the Niagara River, had but just been opened, a large
portion of it was butan underbrushed woods road, with only a part of
the streams having over them even rude log bridges. In short, in
■ al! the region between the Genesee River and the west bounds of
the State, off from the main east and we-t road, there was but isola-
ted neighborhoods and detached famlies, settlement had mostly
commenced within the preceding six years. There was not fifty
framed dwellings, nor over an hundred framed barns ; fifty acres
was deemed a large improvement, much above the average.

The condition of the territory now comprised in Monroe, may be
inferred from the history of settlement that has been given.

During the war, there was no increase of population in the whole
region — as many lel't the country as came to it — a very laro-e
proportion of the effective men were upon the frontier, and alarm
and apprehension paralyzed all of industry and enterprise. With
reference to the period of 1812, Rochester had an untoward com-
mencement; and with reference to the latter period — 1815 and '16
— it started v^rhen the whole region with which it had a local iden-
tity, had but passed its infimcy, — when after acquiring a little
strength and manhood, prostration and weakness had followed, from
which it was just recovering.

PHELPS AND GORHAm's PURCHASE.

57r

THE FIRST BLOW STRUCK ON THE SITE OF ROCHESTER

ALLAN MILL REMINISCENCES OF EVENTS TO

THE CLOSE OF THE WAR OF 1812.

THE

:! iijii

It was soon after Mr. Phelps had concluded his treaty, that he
sold or gave to Ebenezer Allan the One Hundred Acre Tract, upon
which he erected , his rude mills. The mills were in operation be-
fore the close of 1790, or rather were in readiness to saw and grind
when there was anything to do. The measure on the part of Allan
was premature ; when the grist mill was completed, there was not
in all the region west of the old Pre-emption line, 1500 of our race ;
and with theexceptionof the flats upon the Genesee and Canascraga,
and a few small Indian improvements elsewhere, not 1000 acres of
cleared land. As settlements increased, small mills were erected in
other localities, leaving the Allan mills at the Falls of the Genesee,
surrounded as they mostly were by an unsettled wilderness, but little
to do. A miller was usually kept with them, the solitary occupant
of all the now site of Rochester, but he had usually not employment
enough to enable him to keep the mill in repair. Sometimes there
would be no miller — the whole premises would be deserted — and
in seasons of drouth, or when the small mills at Mendon, Wilder's
Point, and atConesus, would be out of repair, the new settlers would
come down the Genesee River in canoes, upon Indian trails, or via
the early woods road that came from Pittsford to Orange Stone's in
Brighton, and to avoid the low wet lands thai intervened, was carried
off upon the ridges lo the south, coming out upon the river near
Mount Hope. Arriving at the mill, they would occupy the deserted
cabin, supply a broken cog, mend a strap, put a bucket upon a wheel
or a plank upon the floom, and be their own millers.

The mill and the Hundred Acre Tract was purchased of Allan by
Benjamin Barton, senior, in March, 1792. The property was soon
after conveyed by Barton to Samuel Ogden of the city of New
York. Mr. Ogden being a lawyer, and a far off resident, was not
likely to improve it, and as early as 1794 conveyed it to Charles
Williamson. The next year Mr. Williamson put the property under
the care of Col. Fish, and expended upon it about -^500. But still
there was a want of business for it, and in all the time that elapsed,
during the ownership of Mr. Williamson, it was allowed to go grad-
ually to decay. While in various other localities, in Sodus, Lyons,
Geneva, Hopeton, Bath, on the Canascraga, in Caledonia, and to a
small extent at Braddock's Bay, he was prosecuting enterprises,
founding villages, and mills, the Falls of the Genesee seems to have
had no considerable attractions for hira. And this together with
the then isolated condition of the locality in reference to the cour.so
that settlement was then taking, may furnish the explanation : In all
expenditures and improvements lie had reference to the increasing

578

PHELPS AlfD GOEHAm's PUECIIASE.

of the value of the property of his principals. All thai is now Gates,
most of Greece, a part of Chili, all of Henrietta, Rush, Mendon,
Pittsford, Perrinton, Penfield, and Brighton, was not a part of the
Pulteney estate. The principal interest of his principals in the im-
mediate vicinity of Rochester, was most of what is now Irondequoit,
a tract of 4000 acres at the Rapids, and a larger tract in what is
now Chili. In January, 1802, in a valuation of all the different
parcels of the Pulteney estate, made by Israel Chapin, Joseph
Annin, and Amos Hall, the mill and hundred acres, was valued at
$1,040.

Following the erection of the mill, the clearing away of a small
spot of the forest around it, there was in respect to either settlement
or improvement, an hiatus — an almost total suspension of opera-
tions — for nearly twenty years ; a period in our present day, more
than sufficient for settling States, founding new empires, and build-
ing large cities.

Tn all this time the locality, and its immediate vicinity, was not
lost sight of; it was frequently visited by tourists and men of enter-
prise. In 1795, Aaron Burr, — then a large operator in sites of
towns, in tracts of wild lands, and in a few years after, the owner
for a short period, of an 100,000 acres of Orleans county, contiguous
to mouth of Oak Orchard creek — diverged from the old Butfalo road,
came down a^id critically examined the Falls, taking measurements
of them. Adventurers coasting along the Lake shore in batteaux,
would put into the mouth of the river and survey the Falls, become
impressed with the value of the location, the magnitude of its hy-
draulic power; but the dark frowning forests, the low wet lands,
the malaria they could well fancy they saw floating in the atmos-
phere, sent them away to other fields of investment and enterprise,
of far less importance, as time has demonstrated.

In 170G Zadock Granger, Gideon King and others, as will have
been observed, formed a settlement at what afterwards became
Hand ford's Landing. These were the first comers upon the river,
belov/ the mouth of Black creek, (the miller of the Falls excepted,)
after Wm. Hencher. In writing to his friends in England, Mr.
Williamson was much disposed to make things quite as forward as

Note. — In tliis connection the author will make an extract from the manuscript re-
miniscences of Tliomas llorris : — "In June, 1797, Louis Pliilip, the late King of
Franco, his two brothers, tlie Duke de Montpensicr, and Count Beaugolais, were my
guests at Canandaigua. Being desirous of shewing them the Falls of the Genesee
Iliver, we rode togetlier to where Rochester now is, There was not at that time a liut
of any kind. Tlie nearest habitation was that of a farmer by the name of I'erriu,'"
(Orange Stone he should have said,) " where after viewing the Falls we dined iu our
return to Canandaigua. Notwithstantling all that I had heard of the progress of Roch-
ester," (Mr. Morris is now alluding to his visit to the city in 1814,) it was tlifhcult for
mo \n realize that a place that I had last seen, even at that distance of time, an un-
inhabited wihlerness, shouhi now be a busy, active city, containing elegant and costly
buildiiig.s, uiid wiUi a |i(ipulali()u, as 1 was iuibrmeu there, of between tweuty-flve
andthiity thousand iiihabitauts."

four

the

PHELPS AND GORHAirS PUECHASE.

579

they were, and to rreate the impression that the country was going
ahead pretty rapidly. He announced the advent of these new
comers, as a matter of considerable importance ; and speaks of the
commercial enterprise of Mr. Granger, in the same year, as having
created a new era in this region of the Genssee country. " The
navigation of the river," says one of his letters, " is interrupted by
four successive magnificent falls, the highest of them 90 feet ;
around these falls a carrying place was made, and the inhabitants
for the first time began tc use the navigation, and they received
their salt from the Onondaga salt works, and their stores from Al-
bany, with a very trifling land carriage, compared to what they
were before necessitatedjo undertake from Geneva; and it has
opened to them a ready market for their produce."

From the very earliest period of the settlement of the Genesee
country, there seemed to be a prevalent, vague idea, that a town
of some consequence was to grow up somewhere in what is now
the northern portion of Monroe — neucluses were formed, prelim-
inary steps taken to start villages and commercial depots — but the
sites, or locations, were for a long period fluctuating. There are
within nine miles of Rochester, within the precincts of the over
shadowing city — the sites of no less than five embryo villages, or
towns, gone to decay — or rather, are either converted into highly
cultivated farms, or have become principally the eligible sites of
private dwellings; and this, without including Frankfort — at first
assuming rather an independent existence — but having now but
little separate identity ; having long ago been merged in the city
that is now travelling on, on, beyond it, with rapid strides.

Soon after the completion of the surveys of Phelps and Gorham's
Purchase, the late Augustus Porter, mapped the whole territory,
carefully disignating the localities where villages and mills either
were or were likely to be. He makes no mark or sign of civiliza-
tion, on the river, below " Hartford," (Avon,) except at the Allan
mill, and upon the afterwards site of Carthage, is printed, "Athens."
This would lead to the conclusion that the earliest proprietors of
the region, (even before the advent of Mr. Williamson,) had desig-
nated that as their favorite locality. EligiJile and beautiful as the
site now is, it must have been in that early day, a most unpropi-
tious spot, to introduce a name associated with the highest degrees
of civilization in the old world. But let this reminiscence remind
the dwellers there, that they are treading upon classic ground.
" Tryon Town," in now Brighton, on the " Eutauntuquet* Bay,"
was the next favorite locality ; where, as will have been observed,
a town was projected and commenced, and for many early years
was the focus of business for a wide region of log cabins and wood's
roads ; — a shipping port, withal. Then succeeded " King's" and

' Vide, Judge Porter's Map,

580

PHELPS AND GOEHAMS' PURCHASE.

•'Handfords Landings; then "Charlotte;" and next, (or perhaps
in earlier years.) " Castle Town." All but the " oldest inhabitants"
will have to be told where "Castle Town" was : — It was upon the
west side of the river, at the Rapids, near the division line of Gates
and Chill. Mr. Wadsworth owned lot 47, the south east corner lot
ot Gat-s, embracing the upper part of the Rapids, and the PuUenev
estate, lots 12, 24, and 36 of the "4,000 acre tract," conti<mous and
below, embracing the lower part of the Rapids. The whole bein^
under Mr. W.. Jsworth's control, as owner and agent, durin<r the
long years that the site of Rochester was left unimproved, he°con-
ceived the idea of founding a village there, it being the foot of nav-
igation on the Genesee river, and the head of the portage from
the navigable waters of the river below the Falls. A town was
surveyed, some lots sold, a store and tavern house erected, and a
few iamilies settled there ; among whom was Isaac Castle • and
thence the name. Rochester starting up, and soon after, a diver-
sion of the water power being made by the Canal Feeder, there was
an end of " Castle Town."

After the pioneer commercia' enterprise of Mr. Granr^er, a con-
siderable period elapsed before other vessels were buiit. ' The one
schooner, with such' as dropped in at the mouth of the river for
Ireight, hailing from other ports, was probably found sufficient pre-
vious to 1800. Augustus and Peter B. Porter, built a schooner up-
on Irondequoit Bay, and for several years the commerce was divi-
ded between the Bay and the River. "In 1808 or '9, Erastus Spauld-
ing built a schooner at the mouth of the river, and in 1811, Oliver
Culver built one upon the Irondequoit Bay. The Lake commerce
had commenced with pot and pearl ashes for the Montreal market
to which was soon added small amounts of flour and wheat, salt
from the Onondaga salt works ; and at a later period, butt staves
A small commerce, upon the River and Bay, seems almost to have
been forcing itself in the earliest years. The navigation of the
busquehannah was fluctuating, tedious and expensive. The boat-
ing Irom Lyons, Geneva and Seneca Falls, had been almost aban-
doned ; transportation of produce, overland, upon the Albany road,
impracticable to any considerable extent, except when good winter

^OTE. — Something of Charlotte will be found in dctaclied portions of the work •
but any esi)eciiil notice of one who was early identitied with the locality, has been'
omitted. Andrew J\['^ abb, emigrated from Scotland in ISOG. AVell educated and
^""^tmm" l»"Vr oi clearing new hinds, he spent a considerabl time with Alexan-
der M 1 herson, ol Le Roy, under an arrangement tliat he should be the teacher of his '
children, and m turn should be taught himself the rudiments of Tioncer labor Soon
however, he att acted the attention of Mr. Stoddard, and was employed in his land
ottice ; Irom which he was transferred to the office of James Wad' worth. Under the
auspices ot Messrs. Troup anil Wadsworth, he was establislied at Charlotte as early
as IHUJ witli a stock of goods, and as a local land aaent where lie vemnippil until tli..
occu;i«iice of the war of 161:^, when he removed to Geneva, where he died, a bachelor
previous to 1830.

PHELPS AND GORHAm's PURCHASE.

581

roads occurred ; Lake ports and Lake commerce, began by slow
degrees to be the creation of exigency and necessity. In a letter
from James Wadsworth to John Murray & Sons, N. Y., dated in
June 1807, he observes that Mr. Penfield has been to Upper Can-
ada, and while there had became impressed with the commercial
advantages of that county ; " a barrel of pot ash can be sent from
there to Montreal for 81 00; wheat commands cash, and a much
higher price than in this State, from the fact of facility of transpor-
tation." " These facts," adds Mr. W., " serve to illustrate the im-
portance of ' Fall Town,' (Rochester,) and of the country in its
vicinity. Articles can be sent at somewhat less expense from the
mouth of Genesee river, than from the west end of Lake Ontario.
At present our communication with Kingston and Montreal is attend-
ed with unnecessary embarrassment. Montreal must become an
immense deposit for agricultural productions seeking an European
market. I could now purchase to be delivered at FallTown, 10,000
bushels of wheat at 50 cents. It could then be ground and sent to
Montreal for 75 cents per barrel. Our field ashes which are now
wasted, would be an object of considerable consequence. Fifteen
tons might be rr.ade in the small town of Fairfield this season. The
business once started, the example would be followed by many.
The ashes which can be scraped off from an acre after a good burn,
are worth from $4 to 88. I imagine there will he 200,000 bushels
of surplus wheat in this part of the State, west of a line beyond
which wheat cannot be sent to Albany, at the price it now com-
marls."

In July of the same year, Mr. Wadsworth wrote to Samuel Corp,
N. Y. : — Grain here will not command money at any price. The
Nortons are sending flour to Albany at a certain loss of $1 50 per
barrel. JVIoney hardly circulates among us. Farmers who have
four or five hundred bushels of grain on hand, are paying premiums
for a few dollars, tha- would astonish you." * * *

* "A tract of country extending from Utica to Lake Erie,
and from Lake Ontario forty or fifty miles southward ; (a tract twice
as largo as the State of Connecticut,) is in a rapid progress to a
tolerable state of cultivation. The agricultural products of this
district cannot be transported to Albany, except in years of scarcity.
They must generally be sent to Baltimore or Montreal. The com-
munication to Baltimore is only open from three to four weeks in
the spring. This river is undoubtedly a great benefit to the coun-
try, especially to the inhabitants on its banks, who can seize the fa-
vorable opportunity for pushing oflT their arks. But in my opinion
the St. Lawrence is the natural out-let for the produce of this coun-
try. Lake Ontario is navigable in all seasons of the year. Boats
may be sent dov^'n the St. Lawrence, almost eight months in the
year. Restrictions to trade with Canada, embarrass every thing
Free trade would be a mutual advantage." Mr. W., in the same

.■)82

PIIELPS AND GOEHAm's PUECnASE.

letter urges Mr. Corp, to " correspond with friends in London upon
this subject."

As early as March, 1810, Silas O. Smith emigrated from N.
Malborough, Mass., and became a pioneer merciiant at Ilandford's
Landing. He is one of the few survivors of that early period ; has
lived to witness the- primitive start and entire growth of Rochester,
and with a physical "ul mental constitution unimpaired, has but
partially retired from the active duties of life. He is the father of
L. Ward Smith, late a representative in Assembly from Monroe
county, now acting Adjt. General of the State ; of George Hand
Smith, M. D. of Rochester; and of E. Meigs Smith, of Rochester. A
daughter is the wife of Samuel Stevens, of Albany ; and there are
two unmarried daughters.

Mr. Smith has obligingly furnished the author with his recollec-
tions of the early times, which are used in the form adopted in other
instances.

REMINISCENCES OF SILAS 0. SMITH.

When I came to the country, the whole region was but sparsely settled.
About the Upper and Lower Landing, the forests were but little broken.
Where the city of Rochester nryf stands, it was a dense forest, save about
half an acre of cleared grounti, around the old Allan mill. In the spring
of 1813, I built the tirst store in what was then called " Rochesterville.'''
It was a wooden structure, and stood next north of the Rochester Bank, on
Exchange street. In 1814, I cleared three or four acres of ground on
which the Court House, St. Luke's cliurch. First Presbyterian cliurch, and
school house No. 1, now stand. I sowed it to wheat, and had a fine crop;
the harvesting cost me nothing, as it was most efi'ectually done by the
scjuirrels, coons, and other wild'beasts of the forest. Scarcely three years,
however, had elapsed before this ground was mostly occupied with, build-
ings, through the liberal policy of Col. Rochester, the acting proprietor.

The war of 1812 to '15, checked the growth and enterprise of the young

Note. — Such wore tlie embarrassments, s\icli the speculations and anticipations in
riioso early years. By hardy eiiteipiise the forest ])ad been so far cleared away, the
soil so far subdued, that a surplus began to be produced ; somethiuij to reward toil, to
htt exchauLced for the necessaries and comforts of life, where there liad been long years
of privation and endurance ; but tJie isolated condition of tlie country, the want of
avenues to market, forl)id the fruition so well earned and so long delayed. What an
event was hidden in the womb of speedily coming time ! But a few weeks previous
ro the date of the first letter of Mr. Wadsworth. a citizen of the (Icnesee country —
(and honored l)c his memory !)— oppressed by pecuniary misfortune, a refugee from
inexorable creditors, in an obscure village in Pennsylvania, had projected, and ready
for denoument, the plan for the connection of the waters of Lake Erie :tnd tlie Hi:d-
son, by means of an Oyi;iiLAXD Ca\al ! That great remedy for the formidable evil
that was paralyzing industry in all this fair and fertile region ; that great and diffusive
dispenser of the wealth, comfort and luxuiy that meet us at every liaiid, wliethcr we
:i\i surveying our own Western New York, or travelling through" tiiat Einjjire of the
West, wiiere the influence has been f.c.ircely less potent ! Q;^ See 2d or 3d edition of
" Holland Purchase," appendix.

ing.

all J

PIIELPS AND GORHAm's PURCHASE.

588

village. The rumors of border warfare, and frequent turn-outs to meet the
enemy, interfered much to interrupt its quiet progress. It was not until
the peace of 1815 that the village may be said to nave fairly commenced
its growth ; which from half a dozen families, now numbers 40,000 inhabi-
tants.

In 1810, when at the Landing wit?i a store of goods, I was often asked
by travellers who threaded their way through the narrow paths of the
forest, how I found sufficient customers to warrant any business enterprize.
But people came there from a dist.^nce of even 100 miles with their teams
and loads of pot ash to sell and exchange for their supplies.

Charlotte and Handford's Landing had just began to contend for the
ascendancy, when the war and fever? settled the contest, and located the
village at Rochester; when the g:eat Falls, with their extensive water
privileges, together with a fertile and healthy country, opened a field quite
worthy of its enterprising Pioneers; and did time, i^pace, and recollections
of the past admit, I should hke to do justice to the memory of those active
and praiseworthy men. For their perseverance and endurance during so
many privations ; I remember them with the highest esteem and honor.

I would add that Handford's Landing was formerly called King's Land-
ing. The earliest settlers there were mostly doomed to a death more ter-
rible than the sword. Prostrated by fevers, there were times when there
was none left with strength enough to bring water to the parched lips of
the dying, or afford a decent interment to their remains. Their graves,
more than twenty in number, could be counted in the woods near by.

Very rarely a missionary would pass through this wild and lonely region,
administering the consolations of his faith. Sunday was not at all observ-
ed. I remember with pleasure, the Rev. Mr. Parmalee, a Prysbeterian, a
good old man, who passed through and stopped at my house where he
preached and baptised; afterwards continuing on for miles to find another
house and repeat the same services. At the time he was suffering so much
from ague and fever that he was often obliged to dismount from his horse
and lay down under a tree until the ague fit had left him, then arise and
continue on his solitary journey.

At that early period we had no great partiality for any particular denom-
ination of christians ; we were sufficiently glad to have any. Very provi-
dentially I had brought with me three books of Common Prayer; and
while living at the Landing, fishing and hunting being the usual occupa-
tion of many of the new settlers on Sunday; the report of the rifle breaking
the otherwise " Sabbath stillness of the day" ; I obtained the assistance of
John Mastirk, and in a small plank school house we commenced the beautiful
ritual of the Episcopal church; and on each Lord's day read the prayers and
a sermon. The plan was perfectly successful, for the services came to be
attended from far and wide ; and it formed the neucleus afterwards of St.
Lukes, the largest church in this diocese. These were the first Prayer Books
and Episcopal services used and held in this section of the country. This
very small beginning contrasts strangely with the present aspect of the
various religious societies, and shows that the early settlers of Rochester,
as well as the present inhabitants, were not entirely negligent in these mat-
ters which have had such beneficial influence upon the great prosperity of
the city.

584

PHELPS AND GORHAM'B PURCHASE.

Charles Harford was an emigrant from England, soon after 1700.
Among Mr. Williamson's papers, is a letter from him dated in New
York, in 1794, in which he reciuests Mr. W. to reserve for him
4,000 acres near " the Great Sodus" and some " town lots," — says
he intends to engage "extensively in grazing ; " that he is aliout to
start for England to bring out his family. It is presumed thot on
his return from England, (or may be previously,) he had purchased
an interest in the " 20,000 acre tract," west of the River. The au-
thor is not informed where he located previous to 1807. In that
year he became the Pioneer on all the site of Rochester west of the
river, erecting a block house on what is now State street, near the
termination of the Lisle road, and making a small opening in the
forest. He had here allotted to him 100 acres of his interest in the
20,000 acre tract; besides back farm lots in Gates, upon which in
early years, he settled several branches of his family. In 1808 he
had completed a small mill with one run of stones, a little below the
Falls, conducting the water in a race. This mill for four years, did
the grinding for a wide regioYi of backwoods settlers. A saw mill
soon followed, or it may have preceded the erection of the grist
mill. Mr. Harford died nearly thirty years since ; of a numerous
family, possessing at one period a hundred acres of the city of
Rochester, and about one-twelfth of the town of Gates, the author
has no information, other than the fact that a son resides in the
town of Chili, and that other sons and daughters reside in Western
States.

After the advent of Charles Haford on the west side of the Riv-
er, the next was that of Enos Stone, the first settler on the east
side of the River. DCP See page 424. Mr. Stone's advent was in
March, 1810. Arriving at the house of his brother Orange with
his family and effects, he was helped through the woods by him and
some of his neighbors, and established in his log cabin, the solitary
occupant of all the present site of Rochester, east of the river. Two
years previous, Enos Stone the elder had erected a saw mill on the
river, which had been carried off by a freshet. In October follow-
ing, needing a little more house room — having occasionally to en-
tertain a visiter or traveller, Mr. Stone put up a small frame build-
ing, 16 by 20 feet. The cutting of the timber, raising and enclos-
ing occupied but three days; — the raising was done by Mr. and
Mrs. Stone, and a hired man and hired girl.* Mr. Stone saw and
endured the most rugged features of pioneer life. Getting out of
provisions, he went out in search of wheat, and passing through
Pittsford, Mendoi, Victor, Bloomfield and Livonia, found not a
bushel for sale, until he had arrived at Judge Chipman's near Allen's
Hill, in Pittstown. He remembers with feelings of gratitude, that

* The structure of the first frame building ever erected upon all the broad site of
tlie iiow cit^ of Rocliester, in a toleiable State of preseiTatioii, is now occupied as a
wood sliL'd, in rear of the dwelling of Wm. Adams, on Elm street

PHELPS AND GORHAM S PURCHASE.

586

■i*

teilin<» the Judj?e of his wants, and of the destitution of himself and
his backwoods neighbors, how readily he gave him a seat at his
breakfast table, and went out himseli and made a levy upon his
neighbors — getting a bushel of wheat of one, and a bushel of an-
other ; — and so far as pay was concerned, he would only receive a
dollar per bushel, less than the current price. It is with lively recol-
lections of other and like kind acts, on the part of this early and wor-
thy pioneer, that the author records this veminiscence. On another
occasion, being out of meat, Mr. Stone walked oat with his rifle,
and a fine buck just trotting up the bank from the river, where he
had been to drink, was transferred to the shambles ; — and as oppor-
tunely it was, as the manna, in another exigency in the world's his-
tory.

Isaac W. Stone, who has already been mentioned in connection
with the invasion at the mouth of the rivei, in the war of 1812, had
settled in Bloomfield, establishing a clo'Ji dressing establishment on
Fish creek, soon after 1800. In 1810 1 ^ purchased of Enos Stone
five acre*: opposite Blossom's Hotel, pon a part of which the
Minerva block now stands ; erected a framed house and opened a
tavern. There had began to be a little travel on the Ridge Road,
though the fording of the river was often difficult and dangerous;
and settlement it will be observed had commenced on the Ridge.
His was the only public house in Rochester during the war, was a
boarding place lor several of the early local adventurers — the head
quarters of all military operations, while the enterprising landlord
was himselt, by virtue of a commission, as well as by pitriotic im-
pulses, the active and principal leader in measures of defence. Re-
turning from the Niagara frontier, in 1813, he was taken ill upon
the road, and died at the house of Major Isaac Sutherland, near
Batavia ; much regretted, for he had been active and useful in the
then trying crisis. An only surviving son became a resident of
Lockport, was for one term sheriff of Niagara ; died a few years
since in Illinois. The eldest daughter, the wife of the Rev. Artemus
Bishop, went upon a mission to the Sandwich Islands, in 1827,
where she still resides. Another daughter became the wife of Ira
West ; another the wife of the Rev. Wm. F. Curry, now a settled
minister at Geneva; and another, the wife of .Tohn F. Bush, of
Rochester. Mrs. Stone, who continued the pioneer tavern for four
years after her husband's death, still survives, at the age of 70 years,
a resident of Rochester; and with the exception of Enos Stone,
the oldest living resident of the city.

The first public improvement upon the Genesee River, below
Avon, was the erection of a bridge upon the present site of Roch-
ester. In 1809 the Ridge Road becan to be regarded

prospe

JToTK. — Mr. Stone adds, that when bp arrived n,t Zohiilnn Norton's mill, in McndoD,
the old gentleman instead of taking toll, added a bushel, j
37

iSG

PHELPS AND GORHAM'S PURCHASE.

ly, as an important thoroughfare, and the citizens of what are now
the northern towns of Wayne and Monroe, began to make move-
ments te secure a better crossing of the River, than that of a dan-
gerous fording place. A petition to the Legislature was put in cir-
culation, and favored by the pretience at Albany, of both the elder
and younger Enos Stone, a law was passed for the construction of
a bridge, by means of a tax upon the inhu.jitants ot Genesee and
Ontario, at the session of 1809, '10. The measure met with severe
opposition ; the dwellers along on the Buffalo road, feared the diver-
sion of travel from that thpn main thoroughfare, and the local mem-
bers of the Legislatuie, were all from that road or south of it, ex-
cept Judge Rogers, of Palmyra, who gave it his support. Samue
Lawrence, of what is now Yates county, then a member from On-
tario, opposed the measure, as im])0sing an oppressive tax upon those
who were not to be benefitted by it, as an unnecessary and wild pro-
ject. In the course of his speech he assumed that the region sur-
rounding the cor.tcmplated improvement, was one frowned upon by
Providence, and not fit for the residence of man. It is, said he, "in-
habited by muskrats, visited only by straggling trappers, through
which neither man nor beast could gallop without fear of starvation,
or of catching the fever and ague." The bill passed by a close v ote ;
the bridge was commenced in 1810, and finished jUst after the com-
mencement of the war of 1812. The first company of troops that
marched to Lewiston, passed upon the uncovered timbers. The
building commissioners were Dr. Zacheus Colby, of Genesee, and

Caleb iloikins, of Ontario ; the builder, Hovey. The bridge

soon began to bring travel to the Frontier, upon the northern route,
and in the absence of the war would have given an impetus to set-
tlement.

Little beyond what has been named, transpired upon the east
side of the River, until the close of the war ; but two families were
added to those of the Messrs. Stones, and they were not permanent
residents.

Though Col. Rochester and his associates. Cols. Fitzhugh and
Carrol, had purchased the Hundred Acre Tract in 1802, it lay idle,
as it had in long previous years, until the summer of 1811. The
delay in the improvement of a site so valunble, is sufficiently ac-
counted for in preceding pages ; late as would now sam the com-
mencement, it was even premature, as the re"(ier will hove observed.
Yet there had began to be an anxiety to see a cuinmencement, the
Bridge was progressing, public expectation and individual enterprise
had began to fix upon the tract — the 100 acres, and the hydraulic

UoTK. — By some means or other tlio Bridge matter took a p.irty turn, tlie then
democratic iiumibers generally voting for it. The next year it was brought into the
election canvass, find was thiMneans of defeating the deiiiocratic members. That de-
termined the complexion of the Legislature ; so the tii'st bridge iu R-^chester, cost the
democratic party the asceudaucy iu the State.

rUKLi'S AXD GORII All's PUKC1IA8E.

687

facilities it L-mbniced-

■as the oligible spot in which all hilhertc

. , , , . , ,. . . ^ . - iiiinerto

projected business locahties in its- neighborhood, was to become
merged. In August 1810, Mr. Wadswortii. although his interests
were principally at Charlotte, and Castleton, had |)robably i)ecome
convinc'd that neither was the natural location of the business he
saw ({rawing otfto the lower valley of the Genesee, towards the
navigable waters of Lake Ontario ; and in one of the localities,
sickness had began to discourage him as it had others. At this pe-
riod he wrote to Mr. Troup ; — " J wish that tract of 100 acres
could be purchased of the Maryland gentlemen. The Brid.'e and
Mill seat render it verv valuable indeed." °

In July, 1810, Col. llochester came down fronr. his residence at
Dansville, and surveyed a few lots on the River, along on either
side of Exchange and Butfulo streets. Having before °his return
home, constituted Enos Stone his local agent, he addressed to him
the following letter of instructions . —

Daxsville, 14th August, 1811.
Dear Sib :

Inclosed I send you a plat of tlie village of Rochester, at tlie Falls of
Genesee River. I have sent on advertisements to the printers at Cnnr.r.daigua and
Geneva, mentioning that I have laid out a village, and that you will shew the lota and
make known tlio terms on whicli the lots are to be sold.

The terms are for lots No. 2, 3, 4, 5, 16, 17, 18, 30, fifty dollars each ; for lots No. 6,
7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 19, 20. 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, thirty doUar:5. No. 1, two hundred doUars,
the rest that arc numbered are sold. Tcrsons purchasing must build a dwelling house,
or store house, not less than 20 by 16 feet, by the 'irst of October 1812, jr the lote
will rev<^rt to the proprietors, and the advance of five dollars be forfeited. Five dollars
are to be advanced on each quarter acre lot, aud twenty dollars on lot No. 1, the resi-
due to be paid iu two annual payments with interest thereon. If any person wants a
lot above the head of the race or the River, tell theiu tliat I will be down in October
to lay out lots along Mill street up to the river, and these lots can be had for building
Ware Houses on the River, at tifty dollars for a quarter acre lot. Brid;;e street, Buffalo
sti-eet, Mill street and CaiToll street, are sLv rods wide, the other streets are four rods,
and the Alley's twelve feet. You will observe that lots No. 26, 27, are to be but three
rods on Bridge street, but extend back more than ten rods, owing to the angle in the
street. Wlieu I go down in October, I shalllay out the streets, alleys and lots agreea-
ble to the enclosed plat, NATHANIEL ROCHESTER.

Enos Stone became the purchaser of lot 36 at 850. Other sales
occurred in the order, and at the pi ices named, commencing Dec.
29,1811: —

Israel Scrnntom,
Luscum Knapp,
Hezekiah Noble,
Jose{)li Hughes,
Ebenezer Kelly,
Ira West^

" 50, 115, 260

Henry Skinner,

Lot No. 1,

|200

Hamlet Scrantcn,

26,

Isaac W. Sti'ue,

" 23, 34,

100

Abraham v^iarks.

20,

David C. Knapp,
Amasa Marshall,

" 21, 22,

200

25.

Apolenus Jerry

32,

125

Lot No. 18, 19,

100

45,

" 15, 62,

16,

1 " 3.

t:(

588

PHELPS AND GORHAM S PURCHASE.

ElishaEly. Lot No, 39, 40, 41, 133, f 3G0

Porter P. Peck, Lot No. 154, 100

Jo9iahBissell,Jr., " 7,13,31, 260

Stephen Lusk, " 6, 50
Wm. Robb, Lot, 61, 69, C3, 1 16,

117, 800

Miciiael Cully, Lot No. 79, 100

Cook & Bro-WTi. " 83, 100

Harvey Montgomery, " 88, 250

Roswell Hart, " 8, 56, :>?, 400

Chas. D. Farman, '• 129, 300

Geo. Ct. Sill. " liJ4, 90

James Stoddart, " 130, 100

Fabricus Reynolds, " 131, 200

This will give the reader a pretty good i '. x of the range of pri-
ces of primitive locations, and bring pioneer names to mind, though
many of the purchasers did not become permanent residents. The
author notices but one lot that reverted ; nearly all were paid for by
purchasers, or those to whom they transferred their contracts. The
list embraces nearly all the sales that were made before the close of
the war. The lovv range of prices will strike the reader, as being
almost unprecedented in the early history of villages and cities.
The liberal patroons seemed to have been guided by the considera-
tion that should govern the founders of towns and settlements, as
well as legislation in reference to our public lands : — That, as it is
the Pioneers, the settlers, that add real to what was before little
more than nominal value, tney should be large sharers in what they
create.

NATHANIEL ROCHESTER.

Identified witb the Pioneer history of the city of Rochester, far more than
in name, was the late Col. Nathaniel Rochester. The acting resident co-
proprietor of the "100 Acre Tract" — the principal germ of village and
city — we may -well consider him the Patroon and Founder of the prosper-
ous City of the Genesee Valley. Thus blended with the most prominent
locality embraced in these annals, a brief biography of him demands a place
in thexii ; and especially as in other precedent instances, it may be made to
embrace, not only interesting reminiscences of our own local region, but
those of the Revolutionary period. He was one of the founders of an em-
pire of freemen — our glorious Union — and also one of the founders of
settlement in one of its most prosperous localities.

Col. Rochester was a native of Westmoreland, Virginia, the son of John
Rochester, whose father was an emigrant from the county of Kent in Eng-
land. When thirteen years of age, his family removed to Granville county
in North Carolina . Two years afterwards he entered the mercantile estab-
lishment of James Monroe, in Hillsborough, N. C, as a clerk, becoming
after a few years a partner in the concern ; a third partner at the time,
being Col . John Hamilton, who was Consul for the British government, in
the middle States, after the close of the Revolution. Soon after the break-
ing out of the Revolution, Col. Rochester was appointed a member of the

Note. Many transfers took place soon after purchase. Lot 1 , was present Eagle

Tavern lot; 26, "site of Pitkin's Block; 2.3, partly site uf I5iirn's Block uud Arcade ;
25, Arcade ; 32, S. 0. Smiths Corner ; 18, 19, partly Gould's Block.

PHELPS AND GORHAm's PUECnASE.

589

committee of safety for Orange county ; tht duty of said committee having
been, to use his own language : — " To prom ite the Revolutionary spirit
among the people, procure arras and ammunition, make collections for the
city of Boston, whose harbor was blocked up by a British fleet, and to pre-
vent the sale and use of East India teas." In August, 1775, he attended
as a member, the first Provincial convention in North Carolina. Among
the measures adopted was the raising of four regiments of troops; the or-
ganization of a militia system, and enrolling of minute men; and the adop-
tion of a resolution for an adjourned raeetingin May following, to frame and
adopt a constitution. During the setting of the convention he received a
Major's commission, and was appointed a Justice of the Peace.

At the meeiing of the convention in Ma)^ he was appointed Commissary
General of military stores and clothing for the North Carolina line, which
was then made to consist of ten regiments. As a member of the conven-
tion he participated in the organization of a State government for North
Carolina.

Ou tiie adjournment of the convention, he entered upon the active duties
of providing food and clothing for the army ; the fatigues incident to which,
accompanied by uausual exposure in unhealthy districts of the country,
brought on disease so permanent in its character as to cause the resignation
of his office in accordance with medical advice. He was not destined to
remain idle in these stirring times. Returning to Hillsboro', he found that
he had been elected a member of ihe Legislature, in which he soon took
his seat; thus becoming a member of one of the earliest legislative bodies
organized and assembled in defience of British claims to dominion. It was
at this time, and in this same convention of Pioneer legislators, that Nathan-
iel Mason, then just graduated Irom college, commenced his long career of
usefulness.

About this period Col. Rochester was appointed a Lieut. Col. of militia,
and clerk of Orange county; in which last office he was the successor of
Gen. Nash, who was killed at the battle of Germantown, In 1777, he was
appointed a commissioner to establish and superintend a manufactory of
arms at Hillsboro' ; the iron necessary for which he transported upon wagons,
from Pennsylvania, a distance of 400 miles. He was next appointed one
of the board of auditors of public accounts. In 1778, he engaged in busi-
ness with Col. Thomas Hart, the father-in-law of Henry Clay, and James
Brown, who was afterwards minister to France. Col. Hart was then a
resident neai' Hillsboro', where he was a large land holder, miller and man-
ufacturer; being an active whig his tory neighbors depredated upon his
property to an extent that induced him to take the advice of Gen . Gates,
then in the command of the southern army, and remove to Hagerstown,
Maryh nd, after a disposition of his large estate. In 1781, Col. Rochester
also removed to Hagerstown and settled on a farm.

In 1783, the war having been brought to a close, Col. Rochester went
into the mercantile business with Col. Hart at Hagerstown; their business
embracing the manufacture of flour, a nail and rope factory. The part-
nership continued until 1792, when Col. Rochester went into business on
his own account He after that, filled successively the offices of a member
of Assembly of Maryland, P. M. at Hagerstown, a Judge of the county
court, sheriff of the county, elector of President and Vice President in 180S,

590

PHELPS AND GORHAM's PURCHASE.

President of the Hagerstown Rank. In all this time he had not only been
carryinrr on extensive manufocturing establishments in Hagerstown, but
had in operation two mercantile establishments in Kentucky.

^In 1800 he first visited the Genesee counf'v, in company with Cols.
William Fi'zhugh, Hilton, and iUajor Charles Ca-rol. The measures taken
by Mr. Williamson to attract the attention of Marylanders to this reoion,
have already been noticed. Col. Peregrine Fitzhugh who had not yet re-
moved, was the neighbor of Col. Rochester at Hagerstown, was active in
promoting emigration in this direction, and it is presumed, the party were
induced to take the j )urney by him. They bore from him a letter of intro-
duction to Mr. Williamson ; though Major Carrol had previously made his
acquaintance. The writer informs Mr. Williamson that the fever and ao-uo
is generalljr prevalent in Maryland, but hopes that this country is exempt
from it, " inasmuch as a few paie faces generally makes an unfavorable im-
pression upon strangers." Before they left the country, Messrs. Carrol
and Fitzhugh made their large purchase near Mount Morris, and Col. Roch-
ester the mills, water power, and a portion of the lands upon which he
afterwards resided at Dansville. In 1802, the three revisited the Gen-
esee country, and while here, purchased the '• 100 Acre," or "Allan Mill
Tract," in what is now Rochester, then called " Falls Town."

In 1810, Col. Rochester having closed up his business in Maryland, re-
moved to Dansville, and occupied his purchase there ; erecting a paper
mill, the first in all the Genesee country, and making other improvements.
Disposing of that property in 1814, he purchased the large farm of the
late Col. Asher Saxton, in East Bloomfield, upon which he resided until
1818, when he removed to the locality that had already assumed his name.
The subject of our sketch has already been hurried through a long, busy
and eventful career; a life of activity, of public employment, and private
enterprise, that has few paralels ; and yet a new field of enterprize— a vast,
successful one it has proved to be — was just opening before him. At an
age whenmost men are retiring from the active duties of life, he was re-
engaging in them.

Soon after settling at Dansville, he had taken some initiatory steps for the
commencement of operations upon the 100 Acre Tract; in August ISll,
had surveyed a few lots and was offering them for sale ; and while residing
at Bloonifield, had usually an agent upon or near the property, making fre-
quent visits to it himself. All that was done, was under his immediate
supervision, until 1817, when the interests of the proprietors were separated
by a division of the property, each of them assuming the management of
his own interest.

In 1816, Col. Rochester was for the second time an Elector of President
and Vice President. In 181 V he attended the Legislature at Albany as an
agent of the petitioners for the erection of what is now Monroe county;
which consumation was delayed until 1821, at which time it liad the bene-
fit of his active personal exertions. He was the Ihst clerk of the new
county, and its first representative in the legislature, in 1821, '2. In 1824
he was one of the com'missioners for taking subscriptions and distributing
the capit!)! stnck of the Bank of Rochester, and upon the organizntiun of
the institution was unanimously elected its President; which office was
accepted upon a condition dictated by a sense of the increasing infirmities

PHELPS Aim GOEHMrs PUECHASE.

591

and

ipaired phj

_ _ 1 constitution, that he should resign the

place as soon as the institution was in successful operation. He resigned in
December following. This was the last of the numerous public and cor-
porate trusts of his protracted and active life. The remainder of his days
were rather those of a retired Patriarch, aiding by his counsels and his
matured judgment, all in matters of local concern; manifesting a deep
interest in the prosperity of the then thriving and prosperous village; in
works of charity and benevolence ; in a contemplation of, and preparation
for the final close of his earthly career. Sustained by an imphcit relii;iou3
faith — that of the Episcopal church, of which he had been a liberal pat-
ron, and at whose altar he knelt, "an humble recipient of its holy symbols,"
he bore with patience and fortitude, protracted and painful disease, which
terminated in his death, on the l7th of May, 1831, in the 79th year of his age.
If personal eulogy had been within the scope and design of this work, at
every step in its progress — when reminiscences of the Pioneers of all this
region were passing rapidly in review — there would have been occasions
for itG indulgence; seldom a more fitting one than the present. Starting
in life with but few advantages, as we must infer from the fact that he was
thrown upon his own resources at the early age of fifteen, with energy and
integrity of purpose, a fearless self reliance, he had a long career of useful-
ness. When but foirly under way in private enterprise, his country de-
manded his services and he obeyed its requisitions: alternating in its
financial, military and legislative affairs. It exigencies terminating, he was
as zealous a co-worker in all that related to the beneficial uses of free gov-
ernment, as he had been in its attainment. Almost constantly filling im-
portant public stations, he was at the same time the founder of business es-
tablishments, the promoter of local prosperity ; and after having in advanced
life sought and secured a quiet rural life, he broke out from it and became
the patroon of new settlement ; the founder of a city! Ihere are few
examples of a so varied and active life. What in his case, especially in-
vites remark, is the fact, that he was well educated as the manner in which
he discharged his public duties, and transacted his private business, fully
proves — and yet, the reader will have observed, that his school days ended
before he had arrived at the age of fifteen years! All beyond that period,
was self education and self reliance.

The late Wm. B. Rochester was his eldest son. Educated at Charlotte
Hall, in Maryland, he prosecuted the study of law, first at Hagerstown, and
afterwards in the ofiice of Adam Bently, Esq., in Maysville, Ky. He
opened a-, office in Bath, Steuben county, in 1809; in the war of 1812, he
was the aid of Gen. M'Clure, was a volunteer under Smyth's proclamation,
and participated in the sortie of Fort Erie. At the period of the adoption
of the new State Constitution, he had been elected to Congress from the
Steuben district, which office he resigned, accepting the office of Circuit
Judge of what was then the 8th circuit, which office he continued to fill
until he was put in nomination for the office of Governor, in 1 826. Although
contending against the strong current of popularity then running in favor
of Mr. Cluiton. the " Young Lion of the West," as he was then termed by
his ardent and zealous supporters, came within 12U0 voles of an elecliuu.
He was soon after appointed Secretary of the American delegation to the
Congress of Nations at Panama; and afterwards, in succession, was Secre-

592

PHELPS AND GOEHAM S PURCHASE.

tary of the American Legation to Mexico, and Charge D'affaires to Guate-
mala.

Previous to these latter events of his life, he had removed from Rath to
Eochesier. Upon the location of a Branch Bank of the U. S. in Hufl^ilo, he
■was appointed its President, and removed to Buffalo. 1 1 e spent the winter of
1837 at Pensacola, closing up the affairs of the Branch Bank located there;
and returiiing in the month of June, was one of the passengers of the ill-
fcted Pulaski, that was burned off the cost of North Carolina. He was
drowned by the swamping of a boat, in which, with the mate of the vessel
and others, he was endeavoring to reach the land. James and Willifim B.
Rochester, of Buffalo, are his sons; a married daughter resides in Chicago.

The surviving sons of Col. Nathaniel Rochester, are, Thomas H. Roches-
ter, President of the Rochester City Bank, Nathaniel T., and Henry E.
Rochester; dauahters became the wives of Harvey Montgomery, Dr. An-
son Coleman, Jonathan Childs, William Pitkin, Wm. S. Bishop. Of the
daughters, but Mrs. Pitkin and Mrs. Bishop survive. John Rochpster,
the 2d son of Col. Nathaniel Rochester, was a captain in the regular ser-
vice in the war of 1812, attached to the 29th Regiment, of which the pre-
sent Gen. Wool was Major. Retiring from the army, he was connected
■with Mr. Montgomery in early mercantile establishments in Rochester and
Parma. He emigrated to Missouri in 1818, where he died in 1831.

The brothers, Dr. Mathew, Francies, and David Brown, were
originally from Western, Mass. Dr. Brown emigrated in early life
to Rome, Oneida county, where he remained many years in the
pi-actice of his profession. Francis Brown, in early life, resided at
Detroit, with an uncle, Wm. Brown, who was engaged in the Indian
trade. Soon after 1800 he was shipwrecked on a voyage over Lake
Erie, was picked up on the shore, exhausted and nearly lifeless.
On recovering he continued his journey eastward, purchasing a
canoe at Niagara, with which he coasted along the south share of
Lake Ontario. Passing the mouth of the Genesee River he was
driven in by a storm, and while waiting for it to subside, walked up
and viewed the Upper Falls and the site of Rochester, and became
sanguine of the prospective value of the locality.

Thomas Mumford was from New London, Conn. ; a graduate of
Yale College; studied the profession of the law with Judge Samuel
Jones. In 1794 settled in his profession in Aurora, Cayuga county.
In 1800 removed to Cayuga Bridge.

In 1810, the Messrs. Browns, JVIumford, and John M'Kry, of Cal-
adonia, had became by purchase of Charles Hurford, Oliver Phelps
and Samuel Parkman, the owners of the 200 acres north of and
adjoining the Hundred Acre Tract, embracing the main or Upper
Falls. Mr. Mun)ford soon purchasing the interest of Mr. M'Kay,
he became the owner of the south. 100 acres, and the half owner
•with the Messr''. Browns, of the north 100 acres. In 1812 Benjamin
Wright, for the proprietors, surveyed a portion ol" it into village

PIIELPS ANB GORHAm's PURCHASE.

593

lots, and made a few sales before the commencement of the war.
Previous to acquiring this interest Mr. Mumford had became the
owner, by purchase of Augu-tus and Peter B. Porter, of a twelfth
of the 20,000 acre tract, and over 2000 acres in Brighton ; and the
purchase of the Messrs. Browns of Charles Harfoixi had included
a considerable tract of wild land of the 20.000 acre tract. The sep-
arate and joint purchases of the Messrs. Browns and Mumford, was
named Frankfort.

The advent of the Messrs. Browns was in the winter of 1812.
The two brothers came by sleighing, to view their new purchase,
bringing a mill-wright with them to assist in projecting some im-
provements. There was on the Frankfort tract the small grist mill
of Mr. Harford, with one run of stones, and a saw mill, a block
house in which Mr. Harford resided, a plank house in which his son
Benedict resided, and there was one or two occupied log shanties on
the River road before reaching Handford's Landing. A son and
sor-in-law of Mr. Harford had just penetrated the interior of the
20,000 acre tract, and made smaJl openings in the forest. Upon the
Frankfort tract, there was hardly an opening enough to let the sun in,
and but a wood's road that ran along near the river bank. The
whole tract was a dense forest, the soil wet and miry ; a " dismal
looking place," says one who saw it at that period.

In the spring of 1812, Francis Brown came from Rome, bringing
mill Wrights, mill irons, a small stock of goods, and commenced im-
provements. What has been kno n as Brown's race, was con-
structed, and the old Harford mill was repaired and three run of
stones added. Artemas Wheelock lived in the plank shantee, built
by the Harfords, and kept the boarding house; and the Browns
soon added a small plank house for Ezra Mason, who brought in his
family and went into their employ. The improvements named
were about all that were undertaken during the war. In 1814 how-
ever, Francis Brown gave Chubb, of Pittsford, a yoke of

oxen for cutting out the timber and grubbing the stumps to make
a three rod road, where Sta^e street now is. The saw and grist
mill were kept in operation, the latter drawing customers from as
far as Niagara county on the Ridge road, and from a wide region in
other directions. The Browns kept up a small mercantile business,
in a log store they built on the site of Frankfort market. The clerk
in the store was Gains B. Rich, who became an early merchant in
Attica, Genesee county, and is now a well known banker in Buffalo.

Francis Brown continued to reside in Rochester until 1821, when
upon account of an asthmatic affection he emigrated to Mobile,
taking charge of an estate that belonged to his father-in-law, Daniel
Penfield. He died in 1824. Ilis surviving sons are, Daniel P.
Brown, a merchant in Toledo. Francis Brown, a m.erchant in Roch-
ester ; a married daughter resides at Toledo. The author could
relate numerous instances remembered by the Pioneers of Roches-

I'l

594

PHELPS AND QORHAIM's PURCHASE.

ter, of the generous acts of Francis Brown. " To his strict integ-
rity and honor, in all his dealings," says Ezra Mason, ("his refusal
to receive another man's money, when he could get nothing of me
but the promise of In'ior,) I am indebted for my farm."

_ Dr. Mathew Brown continued to reside in Rome, making frequent
visits to the property until soon after the war, when he became a per-
manent resident of Rochester. He still survives at the advanced
age of 86 years. Infirm in health, he lives in retirement, enjoying
a large share of the esteem and veneration of the dwellers of the
crowded city with which he has been so long and so prominently
identified ; one whose founders he may truly be said to have been.
His surviving sons are, Mathew Brown, of Toledo, Henry H.
Brown, of Detroit ; daughters became the wives of Wm. Barron
Williams, who was connected with some of the earliest mercantile
operations in Lockport, now among the enterprising business men
of Rochester ; another, the wife of Fletcher M. Haight, formerly of
Rochester, now of St. Louis. Of the third brotherj David Brown,
the author has no information, beyond the fact that he resided in
Rochester in early years, prosecuting business in connection with
the brothers Mathew and Francis.

The elder Mr. Mumford never became a resident of Rochester.
His resident representative, as early as 1818, was his son William
Mumford. Philip Lisle, who purchased an interest in the Mumford
tract, managed sales previous to 1818. A partition between Mum-
ford and the Browns,of the original Harford tract, occurred soon af-
ter improvements were commenced. Silas Deane Mumford, a
brother of Thomas Mumford, also purchased an interest in early
years. Thomas Mumford died at his residence at Cayuga in 1831,
aged 61 years. Wm. W. Mumford died in Rochester in 1848.
Elihu H. S. Mumford, from whom Mumfordville derived its name,
was killed by the bursting of a steam boiler, in New York, in 1844.
Geo. H. Mumford, of Rochester, is the surviving son. A daughter
became the wife of Dr. John G. Vought, an early physician of Roch-
ester, who removed to New York, where he died during the first
cholera season ; another daughter is the wife of Samuel I). Dakin,
of N. York.

Thomas Mumford was in an early day proprietor of lots 46 and
47, below Frankfort, which he sold to the late chancellor Jones, and
subsequently the late James L. Graham, of New York, acquired
an interest in it. Its sale and improvement have been principally
under the agency and management of Dr. Alexander Kelsey.

Ezra Mason, who has already been named, went into the employ-
meat of the Messrs. Browns soon after they had commenced opera-
tions, and remained with them until 1817. He gives a graphic ac-
count of Rochester in early davB ; the war alarms, llichts anrl prep-
aration for flights, the rattle snakes, and the ague and fever. At
one period an idle rumor came that the British had landed "in 40

one

PIIELPS AND GORIIAm's PURCHASE.

595

boats at the mouth of the Oak Orchard ;" pits were dug to bury all
valuable effects, and in a few instances, they were used. At anoth-
er time the flour was all taiien from Messrs. Browns mills and Iiid in
the woods. When news of peace came, there was a jubilee ; every
thing brightened up and began to move on briskly. There was a
rattle snakes den on the east side of the River, below Falls Field,
and they used frequently to visit the west side of the River. On
one occasion, Mrs. Mason found an infant daughter attempting to
pet a large rattle snake who was giving " notice of intention" to
strike. Mr. Mason and Mrs. Mason resides upon the farm on the
Lisle Road, they commenced on in 1817; and where they have
seen the roughest features of pioneer life, but where they are now
surrounded with smiling and productive fields. They have eleven
children, all of whom have arrived at adult age.

Hamlet Scrantom was from Durham, Conn.; in 1805 emigrated to
Lewis county in this State, where he remained until 1812. In J811,
he visited Geneseo, and having been acquainted with the Wads-
worths in Durham, they named to him Genesee Falls, as a locality
where a town was likely to grow up. Henry Skinner who had pur-
chased the Eagle Tavern corner, resided at Geneseo, and to encour-
age Mr. Scrantom to locate at the Falls, proposed to erect for him
a log house uj^on it. Men were sent down for that purpose, they
erected the body of a log house, but before covering it they were at-
tacked with the fever and ague, and obliged to quit. Mr. Scran-
torn arriving with his family soon after, was allowed a shelter in a
shantee belonging to Enos Stone, on the site now occupied by the
dwelling of Anson House, where he resided until August, when lie
moved into the log house on the Eagle corner. Mr. Scrantom be-
ing by occupation a mi'.ler, soon went into the employ of the Messrs.
Bissell and Elys. He purchased two lots, one of them being the
site of the store of O. L. Sheldon, and the other, the site of the old tan-
nery of Mr. Graves. He built a dwelling on the BufTalo street lot.
In 1814 he purchased a farm, now the Hanks property near Mount
Hope, for $i per acre, erected a log house and went there to reside,
to have his family less exposed in case of British invasion ; becoming
the first neighbor of D. K. Carter. He removed back to the village
at the close of the war, and became the miller of the Messrs. Browns.
In late years he was an agent of Culver and Maynard, in the con-
struction of tiie first locks at Lockport, where the author knew him
as a highly esteemed and worthy man. He was a trustee of the
first school and school district, organized in Rochester and was an
efficient helper in early religious organizations; one of the foundeis
of St. Luke's church.'

He died in April, 1S50, aged 77 years; his wife still survives.
His surviving sons are, Henry Serautuiu, uunchunt, Elbert Scran-
tom, late city Treasurer, Edwin Scrantom, an early printer
and editor, and now a successful auction and commission merchant.

596

PIIELPS AND GORHAm's PURCHASE.

and Hamlet Scrantom, o clerk of canal superintendent; all of
Rochester. Daughters becaoie the wives of Jehiel Barnard, a
Pioneer in Rochester, now a resident of Ogden ; another, the wife
of Martin Briggs of Rochester ; and there is an unmarried daughter.

Abelard Reynolds was from Pittsfield, Mass., his occupation that
of a saddler. In 1811, he travelled through this State and the north-
ern portion of Ohio, and made uj* his mind to settle in Warren,
Trumbull county. Returning to Pittsfield, in the spring of 1812, he
was on his way there to make arrangements for removing his fam-
ily and eflects, when in remaining over night at Bloomfield, he met
Col. Hopkins, of ^^ittsford, and several other gentlemen, who recom-
mended him to visit Charlotte, at the mouth of the Genesee River,
which they said, "being at the outlet of the rich products of the
valley of the Genesee, with its commercial advantages, was des-
tined at no distant period, to become a place of unrivalled impor-
tance." He diverged from his route, enquired the way to the vvith
him, newly heard of locality, come to the Genesee Falls, finding in
the woods Enos Stone, also "from Berkshire," who interested him
in his relation of what Col. Rochester had been doing towards start-
ing a village. The most he saw in the way of improvement how-
ever, or signs of civilization, was some remains of the old Allan
mill, the cabin that the miller had occupied, and the unfinished
bridge over the River. " The whole aspect and appearance of the
place," says Mr. Reynolds, "was then the most undesirable and
fovDidding that language can describe. Yet it was evident in the
reflecting mind, that the natural elements of future greatness were
here combined, and lay concealed amid this chaotic confusion."
Mr. Stone, as the agent of Col. Rochester, importuned him 1o be-
come the purchaser of a lot; but he made up his mind to see Char-
lotte first. Taking directions from Mr. Stone how to ford the Riv-
er; and especially that he must make for the "large sycamore tree
on the opposite bank," his reliable horse carried him safely over,
though he remembers that the story Mr. Stone had just told' him of
a man who with his horses and wagon, had but a few days before
been carried over the Falls, predominated in his mind.*

Mr. Reynolds visited Charlotte, continued on his journey to
Ohio, but the embryo village at Genesee Falls, had made a favorable
impression upon him ; he returned and purchased lots 23 and 24,
upon which the Arcade now stands. With the aid of " oxen and
a stone boat," kindly furnished by Enos Stone,, he drew stone (rom
the bed of (he river, made a foundation 24 by 36 feet, erected a
frame upon it, and leaving it in charge of a carpenter to be cover-
ed and enclosed, returned to Berkshire. Coming back in Novem-
ber, he found the house in the condition he had left it, and erecting

* The reader will boar in mind that at that early period the Genesco River was not
the diiuiuishud body of water, ho has seen in later years.

PHELPS AND GOEHAm's PURCHASE.

597

a smaller frame, in a few weeks had it tenantable. It was the first
framed building erected on the Hundred Acre Tract. In Novem-
ber, 1813, he removed his family. A brother-in-law who assisted in
the removal, went back to Massachusetts and reported that he had
left them in a place where they must "inevitably starve."

In November, 1812, he had been appointed P. M., and had made
Mr. Stone his deputy until he got settled. The nett proceeds of the
office up to April 1, 1813, was .f3 40. With limited means, and
encountering a long season of ague and fever, he had a hard intro-
duction to pioneer life, but with cou.-age and fortitude, he " bore up
and bore on," gradually reaping the reward of his enterprise. He
was the first saddler, the first P. M., and the first magistrate in all
of Rochester, and' kept the first public house on the Hundred
Acres, or original site of Rochester. He held the office of P. M.
when the nett quarterly returns were ^34(5 ; he surrendered it to
other hands in 1829, when they amounted to 82,105 1(5. In 1828,
he erected the Arcade upon the ground he hud originally purchased
and occupied — an enterprize of magnitude, and ahead of the times
then — even now, after a twenty years' march of progress, not be-
hind. The small plat of ground he purchased when it was almost
in its primitive condition, is now producing an annual rent which is
exceeded only by that of but few spots of equal size in the most fa-
vorite localities of the largest cities in the Union. In the hands of
his son, Wm. A. Reynolds, there has been added to the property
Corintliian Hall, a structure creditable to the city ; a model even
for similar enterprizes in the older cities.

Mr. Reynolds is now in the 06th year of his age ; his surviving
sons are, Wm A. Reynolds and Mortimer F. Reynolds, of Rochester^
the last of whom was the first born on the Hundred Acre Tract'
after it had been platted as a village ; a daughter resides in Roches-
ter, and another in Illinois. The Pioneer wife and mother still sur-
vives.

Hervey Ely wao from West Springfield, Mass., the nephew and
ward of Justin Ely, one of the original proprietors of the 20,000
acre tract. ' In November, 1813, at the age of 22 years, he cast his
lot with the Pioneers of Rochester. In company with his brother,
Elisha Ely, and Josiah Bissell, he commenced selling goods in a small
building that stood on the Hart corner. Bringing men and supplies
from Massachusetts, they soon erected a saw mill, their boaVding
place being a stable of Mr. S. O. Smith, which had been cleared
out and fitted up for that purpose. In 1817 they built the red mill,
with four run of stones. The care of the mill devolved upon Hervey
Ely ; and thus becoming a Pioneer miller in Rochester, he has con-

NoTE.— Justin Ely took an active part in tlic Revolution — principally in mustering
the militia for service. A considerable capitalist, he loaned money to Mr. I'lulps ancl
received Lis pay in lands in different localities oa Phelps and tJorhams' Purchsise ;
thence his proprietorship in the 20,000 acre tract.

598

PIIELPS AND OORHASI'S TURCIIASE,

tinned in the ])usiness, until lie has seen it in hi.s own and other
hands, arrive at a magnitude considerably exceeding that of any
other locality in the world! In 1822 he built the stone mill now
occupied by Mr. C. C. Winants, and in 1828 the extensive estab-
lishment on the west side of the River adjoining the Acjueduct.
After being engaged in the milling business for 38 years, he is yet
in his GOth year, engaged in it — active and enterprising as in his
early years. Some idea of the magnitude of his operations may be
gathered from the statistical facts, that with the exception of the
late Gen. Beach, he has paid more canal tolls upon hisownjjroperty
than any shipper on our canals ; for the first ten years after the
Eric canal was completed he paid 1 3-4 and 1 1-2 per cent of the
entire canal revenue. He pioneered in the business of bringing
wheat from the western States to be mai.uftictured in Rochester, in
1828. He has manufactured from his own wheat, in one year, 80,-
000 barrels of flour ! Later comers, to be sure, are deserving of
credit for their enterprise — as helpers in the work of making Roch-
ester what it is — but it is especially gratifying to record such
facts, in reference to a Pioneer.

Elisha Ely removed to Allegan, Michigan, in 1834, where he still
resides ; is a Judge of Probates, and a Regent of the University of
Michigan.

James B. Carter was the Pioneer blacksmith, locating upon the
Hundred Acre Tract in 1812. He erected a small story and a half
house on the corner now occupied by the block of Dr. John B. El-
wood. His shop was on ground now occupied by Front street. He
survives^, a resident of Churchville. In March, 1814, his brother,
David K. Carter, removed from Lewis county and became the oc-
cupant of the houie. In the same year he purchased the Mansion
house lot from second hands, paying for it 8 lOG ; in 1817 erected
upon it a three storj tavern house. The first lessee of it was Dan-
iel Mack, a brother-in-law of Erastus Spalding. Mr. Mack emi-
grated to Detroit ; a surviving son is Charles S. Mack of the firm
of Mack & Van Valkenburg, Lockport. The next lessee of the
house was John Christopher, "who had opened a house at Handford's
Landing, and relinquished it on account of sickness there. He kept
the house for fourteen years — and a comfortable one he made of
it as many an early traveller in the old stage coaches over the
Ridge Road will remember. Mrs. Christopher still survives, a resi-
dent with her son, John Christopher, in St. Louis. Another sur-
viving son is Joseph Christopher, of Buffalo.

In 1817 Mr. Carter purchased of Augustus Porter thirty-two acres
on the river, on either side of what is now Mount Hope Avenue, south
of the canal, for $3 per acre, upon which he found but a bark covered
log house. In 1820 he erected a tavern house, long known as the
"Carter stand," on the Henrietta road. He died in 1827; his
widow still survives, a resident of Rochester. There are five sur-

PlIELPS AND GORIIAm's PURCHASE.

593

vivlng sons in five different States, one of whom is David K. Carter,
a present or late M. C, from Ohio ; Mrs. Dennis M'Arthur, of Syra-
cuse is a daughter.

Mrs. Carter well remembers the first meeting she attended in
Rochester— a reading meeting — held in Jehiel Barnard's tailor
shop, on site of Pitkm's block. Old Mr. Harford read the Episco-
pal service, Silas O. Smitiitlie sermon ; Jehiel Barnard led the sing-
ing^ " In 1814 we got up ? small school house, and it was with
difficulty that we got together about a dozen scholars. Aaron Skin-
ner was the teacher." Mrs. Carter observes that when she firfit
came to llochesterville there was but small openings of the forest.
Dr. Simeon Hunt, still a s ;rviving practicing physician in Roch-
ester, has been in practice in Monroe county forty years. He set-
tled in what is now Greece, his only permanent predecessor, Dr.
Zaccheus Colby, who died in early years ; his surviving sons are
Hull and Zaccheus Colby, of Greece, and Merril Colby of Nunda.
Dr. Hunt is in 06th year ; surviving sons, Anson M. Hunt of Albion,
Rev. T. D. Hunt of San Francisco, who was for five years a mis-
sionary in the Sandwich islands ; Mrs. Moore of Rochester is a
daughter.

Dr. Hunt was a surgeon of Isaac W. Stone's Dragoons in the
war of lSl-2, and continued under his successor, Col. C. V. Bout'h-
ton ;' was at the sortie of Fort Erie and battle of Lundy's Lane. °

Dr. Jonah Brown was the earliest physician of Rochester; he
still survives, a resident of Irondequoit. Dr. Orrin Gibbs, of 'the
early Pioneer family in Livonia, was next ; died several year's since ;
his father, Deacon Gibbs, also settled in Rochester in the earliest
years.

Abraham Starks, was so early in Rochester, that he kept a small
grocery store in the woods, near the present Mansion House.

Jonathan Child was from Orange county, Vermont. He came to
Utica as a school teacher, in 1806, where he became the clerk of
Watts Sherman, a widely known merchant of early years, an.l uncle
of the Albany banker of that name. In 1810 he established him-
self with a small stock of goods at Charlotte, where he was succeeded
in a few months by Frederick Bushnell. He was next established
in Bloomfield, in company with Benjamin Gardner. In 1820 he re-
moved to Rochester, and soon after was engaged for several years
as a contractor upon the heavy rock cutting through the Mountain
Ridge at Lockport, in the construction of the Erie Canal. To his
business as contractor, he added at Lockport, one of the earliest
mercantile establishments in that locality. He was one of the early
proprietors of the old Pilot transportation line upon the canal. He
still survives at the age of 60 years ; his wife, who it will have been
observed was the daughter of Col. Rochester, died in 1850. His life
has been one of business, activity andenternrize; success crowned the
enterprises of his early career — then came severe reverses ; but he

600

PIIKLPS AND OORHAMS PURCHASE.

was of the material that a large class of the early Pinneers were
made of — and now, at an a!j;c when most men are seeking ease and
retirement, he is in the active management of a new branch of busi-
ness of great magnitude and public utility, of which he is one of the
founders; active, stirring, sanguine persevering, as 'n middle life:

" Ills iige, liko a lusty winter, -f oaty, but kindly,"

Samuel J. Andrews was from New Haven, Conn., a graduate of
Yale College ; was a brother-in-law of Moses Atwater of Canan-
daigua. On a visit to this region in 1812, he purchased jointly with
Dr. Atwater, of Augustus rorter, a tract of land on the River,
adjoining the farm of Enos Stone on the north, embracing the Up-
per Falls. In 1815 he brought on a small stock of goods which he
opened in the house of Enos Stone, and soon after his family. Mr.
Stone having laid out a few lots on Main street, Mr. Andrews pur-
chased what is now the corner of Main and St. Paul street, and built
upon it a stone house, the first structure, other than of wood, in Roch-
ester. Before the close of 1810 he had commenced the erection of
mills at the Falls. He died in 1832, aged 64 years. He was the
father of Samuel G. Andrews, under whose auspices, what has been
called the Andrews' Tract, has principally been surveyed and sold
out in village and city lots ; of James S. and Julius T. Andrews, of
Rochester; Mrs. Wm. P. Sherman, of Rochester, and the wife of
Judffe Joseph R. Swan, of Columbus, Ohio. The elder Mr. An-
drews had been engaged in commercial pursuits, but he readily
adopted himself to the work of settling and improving a new region,
and was always sanguii-e in reference to the destiny of Rochester.
The original Andrews and Atwater Tract — in all 140 acres — is
now mostly occupied, principally with private dwellings ; is the
Sixth Ward ; has been sold and occupied principally under the
agency of Samuel G. Andrews. Mrs. Andrews survives, a resident
with her daughter, Mrs Sherman.

EVENTS op A LATER PIONEER PERIOD,

So far, after reaching the site of Rochester, Pioneer advents and
events, have principally been confined to the period immediately
preceeding and during the war of 1812. Those that will follow gen-
erally have reference to a later period — when all of Western New
York was reviving from the effects of the war, and Rochester es-
pecially was setting out upon its rapid march, and giving earnest
of its future destiny ; though the merging of the periods, in some
degree, is unavoidable : —

John G. Bond was a native of Rockingham, New Hampshire, a
son of Dr. John Bond, a surgeon in the Navy during the Revolu-
tion, having studied his profession with Dr. Bartlett, one of the

PHELPS AND GORIIAm's PTJllCnASE.

001

signers of the Declaration of Independence, On the matern.il side
he was of a Pioneer stock His grandfather. Wm. Moulton. was
hefirstse tier of Marietta. Ohio, in 1788. the women ,;f his family
the first white females in Ohio. The subject of this sketch was bred
a merchant and in 1799 became the partner of Gen. Amasa Alien
in Kcene, N H. In June 1815, he visited Rochester upon a mixed
errand of exploration and business. Impressed with the advanta<'eg
ot the ocahty, he purchased of Jehiel Barnard, the lot now occupied
by 1 itkin s blocK, on which there was a small framed house; after
which he visited Buflalo. Niagara Falls, Toronto, and returned
home via Montreal. The farther account of his early advent — his
reminiscences of primitive days in Rochester — the author prefers
to give in his own language. There are few of the survivincr Pio-
neers ot Rochester who so well remember early events, or more
largely i-articipated in them.

In ISi'i, Judge Bond changed his residence from Rochester to
Lockport then a small village in the woods, which had sprun-r up
after the location of the canal ; where he had a joint interest with
lis brother, Wm. M. Bond, who now resides at Mt. Morris, and the
late Jesse Hawley, in a tract of land upon the original villa^'e plat
He was a good helper there as he had been in Rochester, in aTl those
things which are required to give new communities an auspicious
commencement. He was one of the early Judges of Niacrara He
IS now 73 years of age, a resident of Niles, Michigan, where he was
also a 1 loneer. His wife, who was the daughter'^of the Hon Dan-
iel x^ewcomb, of New Hampshire ; died in 1848. There are three
surviving sons residing at Niles, and an only surviving daucrhter
Mrs. Win. C. House, resides at Lockport. A deceased dau^'^hter
was the wife of Jacob Beeson, an enterprising merchant of Niles.

...

EEMINISCENCES OF JOHN G. BOND.

In the fall of 1815 having m company with my brother-in-law and partner,
Uaniel D. Hatch, purchased what was then deemed a large stock of coeds
in Boston and New York, we were fairly under wav in the mercantile busi-
ness in ''Rochesterville." Our transportation had 'cost us 84,50 per 100
from A bany. Enlarging the small house and shop that Barnard had built
we made it answer for our store. In the way of merchandizin-., there had
preceded us Silas O. Smith, Ira West, Bissell & Ely, Roswell Hart At
this period, (and within a few months after,) the citizens of all of what is
"«j/^''f.''f«ter, were, other than the merchants I have named, the Browns,
Phihp Lisle, C. Harford, Mr. Hamblin, Hamlet Scraatom, D. Carter, Hast-
ings R Bender, John Mastick, Harvey Montgomery. Abelard Reynolds and
his fathers family, George and H. L. Sill, Deacon Gibbsanrl T)r. Oihh= D-
Jonah Brown, John C. Rochester, Mr. Wakefield, the widow King and hJr
two sons Bradlord and Moses King. Ashbel Steel, Comfort Williams,
38

602

PHELPS AND GOEHAM'S PUKCIIASE.

Daniel Mack, Enos Stone,' Mrs. Isaac V/. Stone, Solomon Close, Thomas
Kempshnll, Seth Saxton, Enos Pomeroy, Roswell Babbitt, Lutlier Dowell,
Erastus Cof>li, Daniel Tinker, Wm. Rogers, Kellogg Vosburgh, Libbeus'
Elliott, Adunijah Green, James Irvin, A.& J. Colvin, Augustnie G. Dauby,
James Sheidon, Henry Skinner, Wm. W. Jobson, M. P. Covert, Samuel J.
Andrews, Azel Ensworth, Rulufi' Hannahs, Chauncey Mead, Willis Kemp-
shall, Preston Smith, Benedict Harford, J. Hoit. I of course include the
families of all who had them; many of those named were unmarried.

The population increased very rapidly in the lattjr part of 1816. and la
'17 and M8. The timber was cut out of Buffalo street as far as what is
now'"Halsted Hall," in the spring of 1816 ; at which time there was but a
wagon track on the Scottsviile road south of Cornhill. The road from Oliver
Culver's to Rochester was mostly a log causeway, rough as any that may
now be seen in the newest regions. It was a good Hour's work to go over
it with a waoon. There was, I think less than 100 acres of cleared land
on all the site of Rochester. In all the region around Rochester, with the
exception of a part of Brighton, Penffeld and Pittsford, there was seldom
but the primitive log house, small openings of the forest. The now fine
town of Henrietta looked little as if I should live to see it what it now is.

In February 1816, I brought my own family and that of my partner,
Mr. Hatch, from New Hampshire, changing from runners to wheels, and
finally arriving when asuddenthaw had left the roads in a horrid condition.
Houses were scaice and rents high. In less than a year I changed my
residence four times. I first went into house built by Francis Brown,
the same that the good old gentleman Dr. Brown now lives in ; next a house
built by John Mastick on the Brighton side; next into the house of Iru
West on west side of State street : next into a house owned by John Roch-
ester, a little south of the Roche. ler House. I built the house, the late
residence of Gen. Matthews on Washington street, in 1817; and had previ-
ously, in 1816 built the store which Dr. Pitkin occupied for manyyearsas a
druooist shop, and which now stands in rear of his fine brick block. The
oldlhop I had bought of Jehiel Barnard, and converted into a store was
used successively by Dr. Jabcz Wilkinson, Dr. Backus, and John A. Gran-
ger, as a drugstore. , TT 1 • ,r,,n T 1 J

What was then a very serious fire, occurred, Ithink in 1819, which des-
troyed several shops and stores on the Arcade lot and my lot ; and the only

printing office. . ,, , ,„,, i. i

When I began on Washington street, m May or June, 181b, to clear
away the native forest for the purpose of building my house, my neighbors
expressed some astonishment, that I should think of building so far back in
the woods. I told them that within twenty or thirty years, I expected to
see it in the midst of a great city. They mostly demurred to my proph-
ecies and said if the population ever reached the number of 2,500 it would
be more than they were looking for. In 1816 myself and Hervey Ely plant-
ted suo-ir maple and other trees along on the west side of Washington
street "the first trees for ornament set out in Rochester. There was no
house west of Sophia street, before I built mine. On the ground now oc-
cupied by the Stone Market, I erected a large adiery as early as 1815.

Previous to December, 1813, our

mail

was brnu

rht from Canandaiffua on

horseback. Capt. Elisha Ely and myself concluded to make an attempt

Ill

PIIELPS AM) GORHAm's PURCHASE.

603

to raise a company to run a stage to Canandaigua. We went alons the
route and succeeded m getting Wca. Hildreth and other tavern keepers on
It to engage in the enterprise. Jn January. 1816, the mail was first brought
to Rochester in a four horse coach, or rather, a coach body upon runnfrs
We followed up the enterprise by a journey to Lewiston on the Rid<.e
i? \i r'' K ' "^^^y^ '"/^aching Lewiston, and we broke down our
sleigh three times, by running foul of snags on the track. We succeeded
in enL^ting upon the route, (principally Messrs. Barton and Fairbanks of
Lewiston,) a sufficient interest to extend the Canandaigua route over the
Ridge Road. In June, 1816 a tri-weekly four horse coach was put upon
t. This was thought to be far ahead of the times-some said ei^ht or
ten years at least -but within a year, there was often the necessity of
sending out three or four extra* m a day, and soon the Ridge Road became
a great thoroughfare, ° cvomo

We early citizens of Rochester had a great difficulty in gettin<r the new
county o Monroe. The old counties of Ontario and Genesee were mostly
opposed to dismemberment. I was often with others, in Canandaigua and
Ba avia o promote the object. We were told in those localities^ that it
was a wild and foolish project to think of having a new county in the back,
sparsely settled Lake region. In answer to°some unkind Remarks of a
pntiemanat Canandaigua _ language of contempt, touching the aspir-
S£;Tl -."Tr"^ young village of Rochester- Dr. Brown ventured to
foretell Us destiny, and promise that it would soon reach a position that
would command respect instead of contempt and derision

In the year 1816 and '17, Rochester had a rapid growth, a large addi-

IZT ""^ f /' !t' ^TJ'^^^'^I- ^* ^^^ ^'''''^' "«t only the principal
wheat market for the whole valley of the Genesee, but for most ot' what is
now Ontario, Wayne, Orleans and Genesee. The crowding in of teams
sales of wheat, made store trade, and with new comers dropping in, build-
ings going up &c the young village was a scene of activity and enter-
prise Hanford s Landing was the principal shipping point. Vessels be-
gan to make regular trips to the mouth of the River and Hanford's Land-
ing from all the ports below. Flour and wheat, pot and pearl ash, whis-
key and staves, were the principal articles of commerce. In '16 some

Sm If i"^ ^TT. ^'f"" ^^ ?' ?"'"• Population was increasing so
rapidly that we had to enlarge the building in which we had our school,
and held our meetings. '

After the canal had been located as far west as Montezuma, it became a
question where it should cross the Genesee River. Carthage below, and
some point above - Black creek I think, - were proposed While this
was a mooted question, the Oswego route, Lake Ontario, and a canal around
the balls of Niagara^ was revived, and became a powerful competitor.
News ciinae that the Canal Board were divided upon the question of over
land and Lake route. This created a good deal of stir with us, and alarm
It may be added. A meeting of the citizens of Rochester was convened in
my counting room, a handbill was drawn up by Enos Pomerov, signed bv
many ctizens, printed and circulated far and wide. It was headed "Canal
m Danger!' This was just pending the State election. The handbill
favored the election of Mr. Clinton., as Governor, and of his friends to the
Legislature. It was a close vote as all wiU remember, between Clinton and

I' f\

604

PHELPS AND GOEHAM's PUECHASE.

Tompkins, and I think the Rochester movement, its stirring appeal by
handbill, to the local interests of Western New York, decided the contest.*
An early adventurer in Rochester, I had from the first, high anticipa-
tions of its future greatness, and espoused its cause with an ardent zeal,
as many of my old friends will remember. My predictions were sometimes
looked upon as " castles in the air," but they have proved to be upon terra
firma — made of real and substantial brick, stone and mortar, as all may
now see. I visited the scenes of my early enterprises and associations,
during the last season, and my heart was warmed in taking by the hand
my old neighbors and co-workers of Pioneer times ; in talking over the
events of early days, and witnessing the evidences of prosperity spread
out upon every hand. Where I had in years of maturity, helped to clear
away the forest, was a population of near 40,000 ; wealth, prosperity and
all the happiness that a high degree of civilization and refinement can in-
sure, was spread out upon every hand; and more than all, with me, was
the recognition of old friends, whom 1 had encouraged to cast their lot with
me, in the primitive, rough and forbidding locality — whom I had seen
struggling in early years, with hardships and privations — in the enjoyment
of health and competence, in their declining years. May God bless, and
continue all this, is the hope and the prayer of a surviving non-resident
Pioneer.

Richard Kempshall with a large family, was an emigrant from
England, locating in a neighborhoxl of chiefly English families in
what is now Pittsford, in 1806. He died in less than a year, of the
prevalent disease of the new country, after having expended all of
his small means in emigrating, making the first payment upon a tract
of new land, in erecting a log house, and defraying other incidental
expenses, leaving a wife and ten children in indigent circumstances.
With no ability to make the payments still due upon their lands,
they were obliged to let it revert, aiul destitute even of a home, the
support of the large family devolved upon the widow, and the eldest
son, Willis, who was then but eighteen years of age. The family
was broken up, but through the extraordinary exertions of Willis,
mostly found good homes under the roofs of the more fortunate Pio-
neers. Of the ten children, six still survive.

Willis Kempshall, having acquired from his father the trade of a
carpenter, was as early as 1813 in the employ of the Messrs. Browns,
in Frankfort. He became a permanent resident in Rochester as
early as 1814, where he has since mostly resided until quite recently,
he has purchased a farm in Wyoming, Wyoming county, upon which
he now I'esides with a large family.

* The autlior has been favored by Judge I^ond with a copy of tlic famous handbill ;
an interesting historical reniiiiiscence. It i.s signed by Roswell Hart, Ira West, Thos.
Keinjishall, Russell Ensworth, Cluis. J. Hill, Raljjh Parker, D. D. llatdi, J. Ludden,
Jollli G. Uoud, CluiB. llarioid, Benjuniiii iilossoni, Eno8 Blossom, isolonioii Close,
Anson House, Samuel J. Andicws, Oliver Culver, Enos Stone. Azel Ensworth,

PHELPS AND GORHAm's PUECHASE. 605

Thomas Kempshall the more immediate subject of this brief bio-
graphical sketch, worked with his brother in early years • in the
wmter of 1813. '14, had the good fortune to be placed fn the 'store of
that early Pioneer merchant and excellent man, Ira West, to whose
examples, councils and friendship, he was largely indebted for a good
H busmess education and moral attainments which prepared him for

fl eiXd w^h %TwT7 T^'P'-'^'l^'^^ usoililness.* The clerkship

ended with Mr. West, he became his partner, at a period when his
business had become largely extended and profitable. Mr West
retiring in 1821, Mr. Kempshall continued the business on his own
account for several years, when John F. Bush, who had been a clerk
in the establishment, became his partner. The business was prose-
cuted for a few years under the firm of Kempshall & Bush, when
It was changed to that of an extensive furnace, and mill furnish-
mg establishment, under the management, mainly, of Mr. Bush
1 his business vvas discontinued about ten years since. In 1826'
Mr. Kempshall formed a business connection with Gen E S Beach
and the two erected the Aqueduct Mill, an extensive flouring es-
tablishment at the west end of the Aqueduct, fronting Child's Basin
It was put in operation in 1827, and carried on under the firm of
Beach & Kenipshall, until 1834, when Mr. Kempshall became the
sole owner and manager. He prosecuted the business until he was
obliged to suspend it in consequence of losses sustained durino- the
severe financial revulsion of 1838, '39, '40. The pronertv i "issed
into the hands of Gen. Beach ; Mr. Kempshall contTnuinl'hi cTn
nection with it until the present time.

Uninterrupted success, wealth, had rewarded his early enterprise,
and long years cf close application to business, when reverses and
embarrasments came upon him under which he has strugHed with a
beanngof nianliness, fortitude, and an integrity unimpaired, that have
. commanded respect and esteem. The orphan boy of a foreign em-
igrant, thi own upon his own resources, unaided but by tfie patron
Who nad tlie discrimination to discover merit, and a heart larcre

w'!fb?hV^''''".r.'S''^ ","'"1^ '''^^ ^'^" S'"'^^^^'^ ^»d strengthened
with the streng h of the locality where his lot was cast. E^iterin^

It \vhile as yet the forest had not receded from its now main thorouah°
tares and the sites of its costly public edifices, it became an incor-
porated village, and he became one of its officers ; it became a city
and in progress of time, he became its Mayor.

Andnot less intimately or honorably is hia history blended with
that of the wiiole county of Monroe. The occupant of a locr
cabin when it was "a region of log cabins," the boy and-
man, the primitive region, the populous and wealthy county, had

■ -

* Hitherto fliorc li.'is liof'ii but !"''''i>!'^"! •illvi-v-- i^ Tvn TV -' t. i u i ,, .

606

PHELPS AND GOEHAM's PURCHASE.

kept pace with each other, in the march of progress ; and in 1838,
the one bore the relation to the other, of its Representative in our
nationnl councils.

Rochester has many examples among its Pioneers and founders,
of self made, (and well made,) men ; and when its history, and their
histories, are so blended as in this instance, it is a pleasing task to
turn aside and for a few moments dwell upon the analogy. Were
this not the history of a wide region, instead of a single locality, far
more would be said of the early men of Rochester.

Mr. Kempshall still survives, his enterprise and industry unabated
by misfortune, or declining years.

Josiah Bissell, Jr., had a business connection with the Elys in
their primitive advent in 1813, but he did not become a resident
until 1817. He was previously a merchant in Pittsfield, Mass. He
was an early and efficient helper in church organizations ; was the
principal founder of the 3d Presbyterian church ; and also of the
six day line of stages, the object of which was to avoid the desecra-
tion of the Sabbath occasioned by the seven day lines. There are
few names and memories more closely identified with Rochester.
In 1827 he purchased in company with Ashbel W. Riley, of Enos
Stone, with small exceptions, all of the unsold portion of his origi-
nal large farm. Erecting his dwelling — which is now a part of
the fine mansion house of Dr. Levi Ward, in " The Grove" — in the
midst of the purchase, a large addition to the city was made under
his auspicies ; new streets laid out, and dwellings erected. He died
in the prime of life, at Seneca Falls, where he was engaged in a
business enterprise, in 1830, aged 40 years. His surviving sons are
Josiah W. Bissell, of Rochester, a broker; Charles P. Bissell, Presi-
dent of the Eagle Bank of Rochester; George P. Bissell, Cashier of
the Western Bank, Pittsfield, Mass. ; Champion Bissell, of New
York. An only daughter is the wife of Willard Parker, Professor
of the University of New York.

In 1817, Elisha Johnson removed from Canandaigua to Roches-
ter. He was a son of Capt. Ebenezer Johnson, who was an early
Pioneer in Chautauque county ; a brother of Dr. Johnson, who is so
closely identified with the history of Buffalo. His profession was
that of an Engineer. On coming to Rochester he purchased of
Enos Stone all the unsold portion of his original farm, (and but little
had been sold previously,) lying upon the River and extending back
to North street. This purchase embraced the water power upon
the east side of the River, principally above the Upper Falls, and
about 80 acres of what is now a compactly occupied and built up
portion of the city. Mr. Johnson paid $10,000 for the yiroperty,
and before the close of the first year expended upon it $12,000 in
the erection of a dam across the river, and the construction of a race.
Orson Seymour, of Canandaigua soon became a joint owner. Tliis
may be said to have been the starting period of all that portion of

the

PHELPS AND GOEHAM's PURCHASE.

607

the city lying east of the river, as but little had been done there pre-
vionily. The name, and enterprises of Mr. Johnson, are probably
more closely associated with what used to be called the " Brio;hton
side" — now almost one half of the entire city — than those of any
other individual.

He was the Mayor of the city in 1838 ; an Elector of President
and Vice President in 1844. One of his many business enterprises
was the formidable work of constructing the tunnel ot the Genesee
Valley Canal at Portage, or prosecuting it until the work was sus-
pended by the State. He is now in his 66th year, yet in active life,
a citizen of East Tenessee, where his only son, Mortimer F. John-
son also resides. His daughters became the wives of Chauncey L,
Grant, of Ithica, Elihu H. S. Mumford, Benj. F. Young, Edward B.
Young.

CARTHAGE.

Elisha B. Strong was from Windsor, Conn., a descendant of the
Pioneer colonists of that town. After graduating at college, in
1809, he made atrip to Niagara Falls, was pleased with the country,
located at Canandaigua, entering the office of Howell and Greig as
a law student. Admitted to practice in 1812, he was for several
years the law partner of Wm. H. Adams, who was his successor
in business at Canandaigua. In 1816 he purchased in company
with Elisha Beach, 1000 acres embracing the site of Carthage, of
Caleb Lyon,* who had been settled there for several years, had
made a small opening in the forest, and erected a few log cabins.
The few families upon the tract were mostly squatters. Nearly all
of what is Irondequoit was a wilderness ; Mr. Greig was offering
some of the poorest lands at 50 cents per acre ; for the best he
asked ^5. Sylvester Woodman, a retired sea captain, was the first
purchaser of a farm ; those that preceded him had been squatters
engaged principally in lumbering. In 1816, there was no access to
the site of Carthage or the mouth of the River, from the east and
west Brighton road, other than the " Merchants road," made prin-
cipally by the merchants of Canandaigua some years before, which
left the Brighton road a little east of the farm of Oliver Culver, and
a woods road, with blazed trees as guides, that had been made by-
Mr. Lyon, on the River, to the Brighton road.

In 1817, a bridge was projected and commenced across the Gen-
esee River at Carthage, by a joint stock company consisting of
Elisha B. Strong, Elisha Beach, Heman Norton and Francis Al-

* Tlic father of "Caleb Lyon, of Lyonsdale," the newly elected Senator from Lew-
is and Jeft'ersou. After aclliiig here, the old gentleniao purehaseJ a large tract of laud
in the Black river country, and became a patroou of settlement there.

608

PHELPS AND GOKHAm's PURCHASE.

bright. It was completed in Feb. 1819 ; the architects were Brain-
ard and Chapman. Considerinjr the period of the enterprise, it
was one of great magnitude, and would have proved one of great
public utility had it been permanent. "It consisted of an eni ire arch,
the chord of which was 352 feet, and the versed sine 54 feet. The
summit of the arch was 19G feet above the surface of the water.
The entire length of the bridge was 718 feet, and the width 30 feet, be-
sides four large elbow braces, placed at the extremity of the arch, and
projecting 15 feet on each side of it." * The bridge stood and was
crossed a little over one year — loaded teams with more than 1500
weight had passed over it ; and it was traveled over with a feeling
of security, until it gave way, when there was no weight upon it ;
the fault in the construction having been a want of bracing to pre-
vent the springing up of the arch. It was crossed about 18 months.
The Ridge Road broken by the River and the deep wide gorge, the
Bridge was designed as a connecting link. A facility for crossing
Irondequoit Bay v»'as a part of the plan which contemplated the
making of the long continuous natural highway, a main eastern and
western thoroughfare. Under the auspices of the proprietors of
Carthage, a store house and wharf was constructed upon the River,
and a road mad^ leading down to them.

The main design of the proprietors, was the forwarding of a de-
pot for the commerce of the Lake and the erection of mills and
machinery, using the hydraulic power of the Lower Falls. Aside
from the failure of the bridge there were other early untoward
events: — The failure of the old and hitherto substantial firm of
Norton & Beach, which threw the enterprise pretty much upon the
hands of Judge Strong; an interruption of the trade with Montre-
al ; and most of all perhaps, the sudden and rapid start of a power-
ful rival. When the decision as to the place of crossing the River
with the canal was i)ending, that locality was a competitor ; a route
was surveyed, and the estimates of an aqueduct made. Mr. Holley,
the acting commissioner, at one period offered to receive proposals
for the work ; a re-estimate however of the cost of an aqueduct to
span the deep and wide chasm, led to the abandonment of the route.f

In addition to the improvements named, the proprietors of Carth-
age and the Bridge, erected a public house which was opened by
Ebenezer Spear, who has been named in connection with Palmyra
and Penfield. He was succeeded by Justin Smith. Harvey Kim-
ball and Oliver Strong opened mercantile establishments. Levi H.
Clark, a lawyer settled there as early as 1818. He was the partner

Can

* Jesse Hawlp-''-, in Rochester Directory, 1827.

t Those who hnd become interested in Rochester, were divided upon the question r
uiiil hication ; a portion of tlieni being of opinion that the diversion of water froi

of
,, „ - iipinion that the diversion of water from

nulls and tnacliinery to i'i>oi\ the (anal, ^vould not Iiave its equivalent in anj' advanta-
ges that would grow out of the near proximity of it to their business sites.

PIIELPS ANDGOEHAJi's PURCIIASE. 609

of Dr. y/ard, in the purchase of the residuary land interest of the
State ot Connecticut Returning to the east after a residence
there of a few years, he was at one period a reporter at Washin^r.
ton; died a few years since in New York. John W. Stroncr was°a
resident of Carthage, as early as 1818; was an early prmninen^
merchant in Rochester ; removed to Detroit in 1830 ; is niw a clerk
of the Commissioner of the Land Office. Oliver Stroncr was con-
"'?i'lo'/^^ "]^.''^^"tile and milling business with Judge Stroncr
until 183-2, in which year he died at Detroit. He was at one period
the Major General of a Rifle Brigade. Horace Hooker was early
at Carthage, engage^ in mercantile and distilling business He
still resides there. Francis Babcock built a flouring mill at the
Lower Falls as early as 1824 ; built the dwelling now°occupied by
Ansel Frost ; eaving here, he engaged in mercantile pursuits ; was
captured and k-illed by pirates on the coast of Africa Capt Cru-

!uy of Ne'w Y^"rk ""^^ '''' ''''^ '' ^'''^''^^ ' "°^" ''''''^'' "^ '^'^
Heman Norton was the son of Nathaniel Norton, the early Pio-
neer o Bloomfield, and merchant of Canandaigua; married a sis-
ter ot Judge Strong. He removed to the city of New York, where
he died several years since. His sons are. Professor Wm. P Nor-
on, John Aorton, a Merchant in New York. A daughter became
the wife of Walter Griffith of New York. Eilsha Be^ach who uTs
a^son-in-law of Nathaniel Norton, died in Monroe, Michigan, in

Elisha B. Strong has continued to reside in Carthage since his
early advent ; witnessing and participating in its rise and decline
and surviving to see the village that became its successful rival'
grovv into an overshadowing city, and generously embrace it in its'
limits. That portion of the original site of Carthage remainincr in
his hands, and for many years constituting his farm, is now sehincr
in lots ot 100 feet front, at from $100 to -$500. He i.s now in hil
b^dyear. He was a member of Assembly from Ontario in 1819
^? ixT ^^^^21, when the application was made for the erection
ot Monroe, from parts of Ontario and Genesee, he was in attend-
ance at Albany, and contributed essentially in thwarting a stroncr
opposition, and bringing the measure to a consummation. He was
appointed First Judge on the organization of the courts of Monroe
holding the office until succeeded by Judge Samson.

Capt. John T. Trowbridge, now residing in Racine, Wisconsin
long known in connection with the commerce of Lake Ontario re-
sided at Carthage as early as 1820.

All of what is now Irondequoit was slow in settling. The lands
especially between Ridge and Lake, being mostly pine nlains, the
soil light and sandy — "barrens," they used to be called. But a
change has come over them, such ns has been noticed in other lo-
calities. 1 heir present value is from $50 to 8100 per acre.

610

PHELPS AND GORHAM 3 PUECHASE.

The early proprietors of that portion of the city on the east side
of the River, between the Andrews and Atwater tract, and the
Carthage tract, were John W. Strong, who after making a farm and
residing there, sold his possessions to Martin Galusha, under whos^.
auspices it has been platted and sold ; Caleb Lyon, who owned 32
acres, and sold it to Elon Huntington. The whole space, the Carth-
age plat included, affords some of the most eligible building grounds
within the city, overlooking the River and its romantic scenery, and
the lower part of the city on the east side of the River. It is fast
filling up.

Ashbel W. Riley emigrated from Wethersfield, Conn., in 1816;
^vas in early years extensively engaged in the lumber trade ; in
1835 was one of the principal founders of a six day transportation
line upon the Erie Canal, and at the same time was the joint propri-
etor with Josiah Bissell in real estate operations, which have been
named. The last ten years of his life has been principally devoted
to the temperance reformation, in which cause he is a widely known
and popular public lecturer. His military title is derived from the
holding of the c9mmission of Major General of the 3d division of
Riflemen,

Gideon Cobb was a young adventurer to the Genesee country
from Vermont, just previous to the war of 1812 ; a travelling ped-
lar of scythes and axes ; temporarily making some improvements
on a tract of wild land among the hemlocks of the western portion
of Wyoming county ; serving a brief season upon the frontier ;
then a travelling dealer in hollow ware; until 1814, when he went
into the employ of the Messrs. Browns, at Frankfort. He estab-
lished the first " public conveyance," in Monroe county : — a four
ox team which went twice a week from Rochester to the mouth of
the River, principally to do the transportation for the primitive mer-
chants of Rochester. He used to get his beans and pork "cooked
by Mrs. Culver except in warm weather, when his beans would
get sour," and he "had his cooking done twice a week." He
finally got board with Willis Kempshall, but had " to sleep under
the work bench." He cleared the timber from North and Monroe
streets. And all these were but a part of his early industry and
enterprise. He is now 61 years of age, " hale and hearty," the
owner and occupant of one of the largest farms in Brighton ; and
as if he knew not how to suspend labor and enterprise, is building
for the county of Monroe, the splendid edifice for its courts and
public offices, at a cost to county and city, of $60,000.

William Cobb, a brother of Gideon, had been connected with
Dr. Matthew Brown in the axe and scythe manufactory, near Rome.
In 1816, the business was transferred to Rochester, and commenced

machine

upon

now occupied by Lewis Seely'

UUiiS

Ill:

PHELPS AOT) GORIIAm's PURCHASE.

611

shop was added. In 1820, in partnership with Lawson Thayer, he
purchased the site now occupied by D. R. Barton, to wiiieli the
business of scythe manufacturing was transferred. The rear of the
lot was occupied by Thomas Morgan, with the first manufactory of
the cut nail started west of the Hudson. Mr. Cobb left Roches-
ter previous to 1830, under an engagement with the late Nathaniel
Allen, of Allen's Hill, to take charge of a tool shop connected with
the contract for constructing the canal around the Falls of the Ohio
at Louisville. The employer and the employed — two valued cit-
izens of western New York— both died at Louisville. Three dauc^h-
ters reside in Michigan, one in Buffalo, and one, (Mrs. Wm.°J.
Hanford,) in Rochester.

P^;- John Cobb, of Ogden, who was a brother of Gideon and
William, was a settled physician in Ogden, as early as 1816.

Chauncey Dean was an early citizen of Rochester — was a broth-
er of L. Q. C. Dean, of the present wife of David Thomas, of
Aurora ; was of one branch of the Pioreer family of the name in
Thelps. He was the founder of mills on Black creek, in Chili. He
died soon after 1825. His wife, who was the sister of Austin
Wing, of Michigan, is a resident with her sons at Monroe.

The following, as near as the author has been able to ascertain,

were the pioneer mechanics, other than those already recognized:

Erastus Cook, established silver smithing and watch repairing in
1815; still survives, and continues the business. Salmon Scofield,
soon after him ; died in early rears. In 1816, Jonathan Packard;
still survives, and continues b, iness. In 1817, Samuel W. Lee;
still survives, carrying on chiefly the manufacture of silver ware.

Ebenezer Watts started copper, tin and sheet iron business, in
1817, to which was added in process of time, an extensive hardware
establishment. He still survives, retired from business. He is the
father of John H. Watts, broker, of Rochester. Frazer &' Shel-
don, were early in the same business. Mr. Frazer removed to Al-
bany. Josiah Sheldon died in 1849 ; Benjamin Sheldon, of Roch-
ester is a son of his.

Preston Smith had established a small cabinet shop previous to
1816 ; he still survives. In that year, William Brewster commen-
ced the business. In 1819 Frederick, Starr. Both survive, and
are at the head of establishments, that in magnitude, and work-
manship, vie with the best establishments of the kind in the older
cities of the Union.

Isaac and Aldridge Colvin were first to start the manufacture of
hats ; they still survive, are farmers in Henrietta. John and Will-
iam Haywood followed them ; John Haywood still survives and
continues the business. Next to Mr. Reynolds, I'elatiah West, a
brother of Ira West, started the business of a saddler and harness
maker. He removedto Palmyra, where he died 8 or 10 years since.
John Shethar was early in the same business ; died at Seneca Falls.

G12

PHELPS A]VfD GORIIAJIS' PUUCHASE.

John H. Thompson, started the manufjicture of looking glasses, as
early as 18\21. '2 ; still survives and continues the business.

After Jehiel Barnard, the principal early tailors were Smith &
Holden. In fact theirs was the fu'st considerable establishment.

Jacob How started a bakery as early as 1815, continued it until
his death ; was succeeded by 'his son, "Jacob IIovv, who still contin-
ues the business.

Jacob Graves and Samuel Works, emigrated from Vermont in
1816, purchased a small tannery that had been started by Kcllofr
Vosburgh. In the hands of Messrs. Graves & Works, and in later
years, in the hands of Mr. Graves, the business has been one of
great magnitude. It is now carried on by Jacob Graves & Sons.
Mr. Works is a resident of Lockport ; was an early and efficient
helper in advancing the prosperity of Rochester ; has in later years
filled the offices of a State Senator, and Canal Superintendent.

The early master builders were, Daniel Mack, Phelps Smith,
Robert and Jonathan King, the last two of whom survive and are
residents of Rochester. Philij) Allen was an early builder; was the
fether of Asa K., and of the early forwarder upon the Erie Canal,
Pliny Allen. The Allen family, some years since emigrated to Wis-
consin, to a locality now called " Allen's Grove," where the old
patriarch, surrounded by over an 100 descendants, died in 1845,
aged 88 years. He was the father of Mrs. Samuel W. Lee, of
Rochester.

Charles Magney was the pioneer cooper ; Eggleston was

early in that branch of business. Mrs. Jewell, of Rochester, is a
daughter of Charles Magney ; a street of the city takes its name
from him.

Although he was preceded by others, in a small way. in the boot
and shoe business, Abner Wakelee was the first to establish a shoe
store. He is now a farmer in Brighton. Jacob Gould was earlv in
that branch of business ; commencing when Rochester was a small
village, his establishment, in his hands and those of George Gould
& Co., has kept up in the march of progress. The early mechanic,
Jacob Gould, has been a prominent citizen of Rochester, and an
efficient helper in its prosperity. He has held the military rank of
a Major General, has been Mayor of the city : in later years, Mar-
shall of the Northern District of N. Y. He is now President of
the Farmer's and Mechanic's Bank. Thomas and Jesse Congdon,
were early shoe dealers.

Brown, established the earliest regular machine shop ; was

the first to set up the engine lathe in Rochester. Thomas Morgan,
who is named as the founder of a nail factory, was an ingenious and
enterprising mechanic, worthy of being the predecessor of the host
of enterprising men who have made Rochester almost a city of me-
chanics and manufacturers. His wife and familv still resides in
Kochester. "

PIIELPS AND GOmiAM'S PURCHASE.

613

The early lawyers of Rochester, were John Mastick, who was
the first in the county. He studied law with George llosmer, of
Avon ; was admitted to practice and settled at the mouth of the
river, previous to 1811; removed to Rochester during the war,
opening an office in a small wooden building near the site of Gould's
shoe store. He died childless, in 1828 or '9.

Enos Pomero^ was a native of Massachusetts ; studied law in the
office of Gen. Kirkland, was admitted to practice in 1815, and in
the same year opened an office in Rochester. He still survives,
residing upon a farm in Brighton, at the age of GO years. He is
succeeded in practice by his son, John N. Pomeroy ; another son
was recently in Engineer corps on the Genesee Valley canal.

Jo.?eph Spsncer was from Hartford, Conn., a son of Isaac Spen-
cer, the Treasurer of the State at one period ; graduated at Yale
College ; commenced practice in Rochester in 1816. He was at
one period in the Senate of this State. Possessed of fine talents,
with the promise of professional success and eminence, he had but a
short career; dying previous to 1830. His wife was the sister of
Samuel L. and Henry R. Selden. She is now the wife of Capt. Eaton
of the U. S. Army, a son of Professor Eaton.

Roswell Babbit was from Lewis county ; studied law in Lowville •
died at Saratoga Springs soon after 1830. Charles R. Babbit, of
Rochester is his son.

Hastings R. Bender, was from Vermont ; a graduate of Dart-
mouth ; he left practice 15 or 20 years since, and went upon a farm
in Parma, where he now resides.

Anson House was an early Attorney and Justice of the Peace,
but engaged in business enterprises, has been but little known in his
profession. He was the founder, and is still the owner of the Mi-
nerva block.

Moses Chapin, was a graduate of Yale in 1811 ; studied his pro-
fession in Albany with Jones & Baldwin; in 181G commenced the
practice of his profession in Rochester ; was the Frst Judcre of Mon-
roe, from 1825 to 1830. He still survives in the praclice of his
profession.

Ashley Samson was a native of Addison county, Vt., a graduate
of Middlebury ; studied his profession in part with Col. Samuel

Note. — Mr. Pomeroy remarks that the project of a new county was started as early
as 1818 ; himself, Col. Rochester, Judge Strong, were at Albany at the same, and at
ditterent periods, to promote it. The opposition to the measure at Canandaitnia Batavia
and all along the old Buffalo road, was formidable, and retarded the consummation"
Crowded calendars at the courts of the old countlos of Ontario and Genesee helped the
matter much. This was the result of the financial revulsion that commenced in 1817
Johri C. Spencer, of Canandaigua, and P. L. Tracy, of Buflido, commenced each an"
hundred suits in one year in court of common pleas. In both counties protracted
sessions of the court had to be held. Judge Howell of Ontario would sometimes open
his courts before d.-iy-light. A specimen of his dispatch of busiiKss : — - Mr. Dixon
do you expect to prove any thing more in this case V" '-Well Sii- I can hardly tell
how that will be." " Clerk, enter a non-suiti" ''

614

PIIELrS AlfD 0OIinA]\l's PURCHASE.

Young, at Ballston ; commenced practice as a partner of Simon
Stone, 2d., in Pittsford in 1817; in 1810 removed to lloclK'ster. In
1823 he was appointed First Judj^e of Monroe county ; resij^ned in
1825; was re-appointed in 1838, and held the office until 1813.
He was an early Justice of the Peace in Brighton ; and was a re-
presentative in the Legislature from Monroe, in 1844. He atill
survives, mainly retired from the ])rofession on account of physical
infirmity, but with mental faculties unimpaired, enjoying the respect
and esteem of his fellow citizens.

The courts of Monroe were organized in 1821 : the first term
held in that year at the "house of Azel Ensworth." There were then
added to the bar of Rochester, and soon after: — Wm. W. Mum-
ford, Melancton Brown, Wm. Graves, Daniel D. Barnard, Timothy
Childs, Vincent Matthews, Ebenezer Griffin, Wm. B. Rochester,
Charles R. Lee ; and it may bo, others whose names have escaped
recognition.

VINCENT MATTHEWS.

Though not a resident of Monroe county early enough to be termed a
Pioneer, lie bore that relation to all the western portion of this State, and
as early as 1810, was a resident upon Phelps and (lorham's Purchase.
He was the first lawyer located in practice west of Utica; at the period of
his death had been fifty si.^ years in practice. In reference to age, his ex-
tended years of residence, and professional life, he was a Father of the
Bar of Western New York; and lio was well entitled to that distinction
by his dignified professional e.xaraples, and the deference that was award-
ed to his legal opinions and personal character, by his cotemporaries.

He was of Irish descent ; a paternal ancestor was an officer in the Brit-
ish army stationed at Albany, when the Dutch surrendered New York to
the English. His grand father emigrated to America in 1702, becoming
a Pioneer in Orange county, settling upon a tract in the then wilderness,
back of Newburg, which took the name of " Matthew's Field."

The subject of this sketch was the son of James Matthews; was born
m 1766; was one of a family of six sons and six daughters, all but one of
whom lived to adult age, and became heads of families. In 1781 he left
his paternal home, and became a student in an Academy at Newburg, of
which Noah Webster, the afterwards renowned lexicographer, was the
Principal. He was afterwards a student in an Academy at Hackensack,
of which Professor Wilson was Principal. In 1780 he entered the law
office of Col. Robert Troup in New York and after four years of study, in
1790, was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court. The fame he ac-
quired in after life as a sound and thoroughly educated lawyer, may in a
great measure be attributed to a long and severe course of study, and to
the fact that he was a uiember of a society of students (most of whom be-
came emincat ia their profussioii,) instituted for practice. Coui ts were

PHELPS AND OORIIAM's PURCHASE.

616

organized in which Brockholst Livingston, Judge Jones, Robert Troup,
presided as Judges; feigned issues were made, and tijus the youno- aspir-
ants to professional excellence were enabled lo make theory and practice
go hand in hand. And it should also be observed, tliat his law studies did
not end with the obtaining of his diploma, but continued through life.*

In the winter of 1700, '01, the counties of Tioga and Ontario were
erected from Herkimer. A friend of his who had emigrated to tlie new
region, and located at what is now Elmira, importuned him to join him
there, and commence his professional career in the backwoods. He had
married soon after the termination of his studies. Leaving his wife be-
hind until he had pioneered the way himself, he got credit for a horse,
which he mounted, and mado the journey to the newly established county
site at Newtown Point, now Elmira, The embryo village then contained
but three or four log buildings, one of which was used as a court house.
Obtaining board with a new settler three mile.-' vvn the River from the
county site— at a place then called Tioga, he opcai^l :m office; thus becoming
the Pioneer in his profession, in all the region west of Utica — if indeed
there was any there as early as 1791. His practice soon extended to On-
tario county. He was present at the opening of the first court in Canan-
daigua.

In 1793, '4, he was the representative of Tioga in the Legislature. In
'96 he was a Senator from the Western District Before the expiration of
his term of service, he was appointed one of a board of commissioners to
settle questions of disputed land titles upon the Military Tiact, some ac-
count of which has been found in a preceding chapter. He was elected
to Congress in 1809. From 1812 to 1817 was District Attorney of Tioga.
_ Like nineteen twentieths of all the early adventurers in the western p'or-
tion of this State, he had commenced poor; in debt for the horse he rode,
and for a portion of his acndemical education; but at the end of twenty
years he had not only gained professonal eminence, but had accumulated
what was then regarded as a large estate; a portion of which was a valua-
ble tract of land, which embraces a part of the site of Elmira. At an un-
fortunate period he embarked in the mercantile business, which venture
proved disastrous, even to the extent of the loss of his entire property.

In 1816 he changed his residence to Bath, Steuben county, and formed
a partnership with the late Wm. B. Rochester, in the practice of law. In
1821 he removed to Rochester, where he practiced until a few months
preceding his death, which occurred on the 23d of September, 1846.

He was District Attorney for IVIonroe, for several years; in 1826 one of
its representatives in the Legislature, His military rank of a Brigadier
General was attained through the several gradations, commencing" with
the command of a company of cavalry in a regiment of which Thomas Mor-
ris was Major. He was a General at the early period when the beat of
his Brigade was all of the territory lying west of a line north and south al-
most through the centre of the State.

The deep sensation that his death produced in the city of Rochester —

* The anecdote of the celebrated Dr. Parr, would apply to his case : — '< When did
you fiuisli your studifs," s.iid .i vord.iiit Rtiident tc. Ins jiiecoptor, Or. Parr. " Nerer
aud I never expect to finish them," was his lacouic answer and reproof.

61G

PHELPS AND GORIIA]m's PURCHASE.

the demonstrations thnt followed its announcement — are already recorded
witnesses of the esteem and respect entertained for him by his immediate
neighbors;— and in fact throughout the wide region with which he had
been so long and intimately blended, there was heartfelt sorrow; a feelincr
that an eminently exemplary and useful life had terminated. A nionu°
ment erected in ih^t well ordered and beautiful city of the dead — Mount
Hope — erected with the spontaneous offerings of all classes of his fellow
citizens; his venerable features preserved upon canvass, and hung un in
the court room; are additional evidences of the manner in which his mem-
ory is cherished.

'I"he remarks made by his friend and professional cotemporary. Judge
Samson, at the meeting of the Bar immediately following the announc'e-
ment of his death, deserves a more enduring record than that affored by
newspaper tiles : —

"Mr. Chairman: — The event we are met to consider and take action
upon, has not come upon us suddenly, or by surprise, and may be thought,
therefore, to lack some of the impressive solemnitv which attends an°un-
expected and afthcling dispensation. Death has been in our midst and
taken away a most dear and esteemed friend. It has been said that the
deceased was fifty six years in practice. I am regarded by associates as an
old man, and certainly my feelings go strongly in corroboration of this
opinion; and yet, Mr. Chairman, I was born the year our venerable broth-
er was admitted to the Bar.

"In his death crowned as it was with years and honors, he resembled
an ancient oak falling mighty and majefctic to the earth, after braving the
storms ot uncounted winters. He c< onded long with disease, but the
last enemy, death, prevailed, and he jwed his venerable head and died.
His pure and useful life affords an impressive lesson to the profession.
He confined himself mainly though not exclusively to the single object of
professional pursuits. Sometimes indeed he listened to the call of his
countrymen, and entered publiclife, but he always leturned with alacri-
ty to his professional labors.

" One feature in his character I desire particularly to notice. He was a
Christian. Though much occupied by hi. ordinary pursuits, he did not
neglect the higher interest of his soul. Even before he made a public
profession, he was known often to leave his bed, not to prepare his briefs,
but to peruse the oracles of eternal truth. In process of time he publicly
acknowledgedthe Lord Jesus, and connected himself with the Episcopal
church, to which his preferen^-es inclined. He was no technical theologian,
or mere sectarian.

In a conversation I had with him a few days since, his eye lighted with
unusual brilliancy when I adverted to the glorious hopes of the gospel,
and he expressed his undoubting trust in the cross of Christ. To a friend
who called upon him when near his end, he declared that he relied solely
upon the merits of Jesus Christ,

" In conclusion, I cannot conceal from my brethren of the Bar, my solici-
tude that wo may one and all imitate his example, and that this bereavement
may be sanctified to us all."

Mrs. Mathews died at her residence in Rochester, in December 1850.

PHELPS AiVD GORHAM's PURCHASE. 617

nL°?!! '""' f^^^'u ^' '^^^"'^«^^«' resides near the Lake shore in Somerset
Niagara county, where he was an early merchant and h>,^ZJn f^^^^^'

iZ; hTT'"^.^^' useful citizen.' The surWvTng £gt ers ITJ

Albert H. Porter, of Niagara Falls, Mrs William Fv?rotf „ ?

ried da„gh,er, residing iAloebeste'r. S.UmZI:,!^:^^ ZS:::Z'

Frederick F.Baokus,M.D., is a native of Richfield countv r„nn .

a„f*''phM°/v"'''&'"'''»"°,' f"^'"^ ^^ profession in NeS^'fc
and Philaclelpliia. He settled in Rocliester in 1818, wlferehe has
continued in practice until the present time. In addWon to loV.,1

Ts one oi- ,h? .- f ' h' •"= '•"/ ^'™ .'' T"''" <"■ *•= State Snate He
inmost of'dl itfl'i;' "" "'^' --P-»-'y identified with i^

Dr^^l^hS, ^ cVr:;tV;-^SS a-Etj'!!;

|rf„;Rote«,.-Li"rB'^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Wilkenson, Dr. Dyer Ensvvorth. Dr. Jonah Brown; and Dr Mat
thew Brown, and the elder Dr. Ensworth, practiced occasbnlv as"
exigency required. Dr. Gibbs died four or five years si^ceVr

early aa 1817. He died 15 or 16 years siiu \

nei.-lv tl IT'^-'^'" '"'"''''"'' ''^^'".S been in practice in Rochester
n.n^ u^ '''' f ' ' ~ \'f' ""^ usefulness, and somethinc. of em-
inence in his profession ; while in other respects he has maintained
a prominent and influential position. Infil™ health a TwveTrs
since induced him to make a winter's residence in Flor da vJhere
he met with a serious accident, with which the public wer^ made
famdiar a the time; from which he has mostly recovered

Comfort Williams was the first settled clergvman in Rochester
His charge being that of the First Presbyterian churc 1, vhfch uas
1^ first organized rel.giou. society of Rochester, in th; earlvVea?
1814. He was a graduate of Yale. Ministering to but fevv and
most of those but illy able to contribute to his support he labeled
dilhgently " with his own hands." Purchasing 40 acre of land in
the then woods, on what is now Mount Hope Avenue he wa'thp
firs after Messrs Carter and Scrantom, to make i np^overnts in
that portion of the c ty. He died in earlv vp-ir« ^''"/^'"eV^s m

sonsare,Alfi.dMyi,liam:,ctriL'H.'^^^^^^^^^

hands ofthpf ■'?*.''^ u"^ ^'' purchased has remained in the

hand, of the family, and has been mostly sold out in city lots under
the auspices of Charles H. Williams. ^

The Carter tract in the same neighborhood, mostly went into the

618

PHELPS AND GORHAM's PURCHASE.

hands of Lyman Muncrer, under whose auspices much of the im-
provements along on Mount Hope Avenue have been made. That
locality, where the reader will have seen Mr. Scrantom placed his
family that they might not be found in the event of British invasion ;
a dark and gloomy forest, as many will recollect who used to ap-
proach the falls and the mouth of the river, via. the Henrietta road,
is becoming the especial pride of the city. There are there, Mount
Hope, a resting place for the dead, scarcely inferior to any enter-
prise of the kind in the older cities of the Union ; and to say noth-
ing of other attractions, beautiful private residences, &c., there are
the extensive grounds of those tasteful, practical, and enterprising
nurserymen, horticulturalists, and florists, Messrs. Ellwanger and
Barry.

Augustine G. Dauby, who had served his apprenticeship with Ira
Merrill of Utica, first introduced the printing press into the county
of Monroe. He established the Rochester Gazette in 1816. John
Sheldon and Oran Follett were early associated with him. Mr.
Dauby returned to Utica, was for a long period the editor and pub-
lisher of the Utica Observer, and P. M. of Utica. He still resides
at Utica, retired from business. John Sheldon has since published
a paper at De-lroit, in Wisconsin, has held a government office, been
a reporter at Washington ; still resides at the west. A daughter
of his is the wife of Dr. Nott. Mr. Follett, who, with his family,
are noticed in another connection, resides at Sandusky. In 1818,
Everard Peck, & Co., — who had established in 1816 the pioneer
bookstore in Rochester — established the Rochester Telegraph. Mr.
Peck si ill survives, enjoying a competence of wealth, and the es-
teem of his fellow-citizens. He is now the President of the Com-
mercial Bank. The mechanical department of the paper was con-
ducted by the two brothers, Derick and Levi W. Sibley. In 1824
Thurlow Weed became its editor; in 1827, ass'i'-iated with Robert
Martin, he purchased the establishment, and the two issued it semi-
weekly until 1828, when it was published daily by Mr. Martin. The
Sihleys were the successors of Dauby & Sheldon. Levi W.
Sibley died in Rochester in 1844 ; Derick Sibley resides in Cincin-
natti. Edwin Scrantom, who is named in another connection, was
the first apprentice to the printing business in Rochester. In 1820
Luther Tucker vvho had served a portion of his apprenticeship in
the first office established at Palmyra, issued the Rochester Daily
Advertiser, the first daily in Rochester, and the first west of the
Hudson river. Henry O. Rielly became its editor. In 1829 the
two daily papers were united, and a paper published by Tucker &
Martin, called the Rochester Daily Advertiser and Telegraph.
Luther Tucker is the widely known and highly esteemed proprietor
and editor of the Albanv Cultivator. Jessee Peck, David Hovt, S.
D. Porter, Thomas W. Flagg, Elihu F. Marshall, D. D. Stevenson,
Daniel N. Sprague, Erastus Shepard,E. J. Roberts, Elisha Loomis,

PHELPS AND GORHAM's PURCnASE.

619

Albert G.Hall Peter Cherry, John Denio, Alvah Strong, Nahum
Goodsell Franklin Covvdery, Sidney Smith, George Dawson, Samutl
ileron, George Smith, Thomas Barnum— are names blended with
the history ot printing and newspapers in Rochester.

Add here the author must leave the Press of Rochester, as all else
must be left, in this history of the beginning of thinffs ; — with
something more than usual reluctance — for it is of his own craft •
and no where is the whole history of its progress marked with greater
enterprise or more creditable to the "Art preservative of all Arts "
Koswell Hart, was of the large family of that name, in Clinton,
uneida county. He commenced mercantile business in Rochester
as early as 181G ; died in 1824, aged 37 years. His surviving sons
are, Thomas P. Hart and Roswell Hart, of Rochester, and Geo. W
Wart, ot iM. Y. Daughters became the wives of the Rev. Francis
• , .T'^S-. now of Grand Rapids, Michigan ; Henry E. Rochester,
and M F Reynolds, of Rochester. Thomas Hart, a brother of
Koswell Hart settled in Rochester in 1820 ; still survives. Seth
baxton was the early clerk of Roswell Hart, subsequently his partner
and that of his brother Thomas Hart. His widow still survives
and three daughters, one of whom has recently become the wife
ot Major Sibley, of the U.S. Army, now stationed in Santa Fee.

Charles J. Hill was in Rochester as early as 1816; he still sur-
vives ; one of the many enterprising millers of the " city of mills "
He erected in 1821, in company with Mr. Leavitt, and occupied
himself, the first brick building in Rochester, on Fitzhugh street, the
present residence of Wm. Ailing. Mr. Hill observes: In point of
health, the settlers immediately upon the site of Rochester, suffered
less than would be supposed, as it was literally, most of it, a swamp
without drainage ; still they were no strangers to sickness and suf-
tering, and occasionally from fevers of a very malignant type.

Solomon Close, who it will be observed, was one of the signers of
the handbill— " Canal in danger"— was a deputy sheriff of Genesee ;
resided in early years in Greece ; and was also an early resident in
Rochester. He removed to Michigan in early years.

John Odell was a merchant in Rochester as early as 1819 ; had a
small store on site now occupied by the Talman block; emigrated
to Michigan in early years.

Harvey Montgomery, who was an early merchant in Rochester,
the partner of John C. Rochester, still survives. He is the father
of Thomas Montgomery, an Attorney, and Dr. Harvey Montgomerv
of Rochester. j o j

Eli Stilson, was from Fairfield, Conn., emigrated to Cayuga coun-
ty as early as 1800. He was an early surveyor in Cayuga, a school
teacher, and had much to do in the early organization of schools in
bcipio and its neighborhood. He removed to the town of Brighton
in 1817; in 1829 became a resident of what is now Rochester, on
the east side of the river ; was a surveyor of a large portion of the

620

PHELPS AND GOEHAM's PURCHASE.

City east of the River, of lots and streets ; was at one period the
agent of Bissell & Riley, in the prosecution of their enterprise up-
on the tract purchased of Enos Stone. He still survives at the
age of 78 years. His surviving sons are, Daviu Stilson, and Eli L.
G. Stilscn, an Attorney of Battle Creek, Michigan, Jerome B. Stil-
son, division engineer upon the Erie Canal, George D. Stilson, a
contractor on the Erie Rail Road. Daughters became the wives' of
Dr. Caleb Hammond, and Gen. A. W. Riley, of Rochester, Ros-
well Hart, of Brighton ; another the second wife of Gen. Riley, and
another the second wife of Roswell Hart.

William Atkinson was early on the east side of the River, the
founder of the mills now carried on by Charles J. Hill. Hobart
Atkinson, of Rochester, is a son of his ; the widow is now the wife
of the Rev. Chas. G. Finney. William Nefus came in as the mil-
ler of Mr. Atkinson ; his widow still survives ; his daughter is the
wife of Nelson Curtis. Mr. Nefus was an early tavern keeper on
the east side of the River.

In 1817, there was residing on present city limits, on the Brighton
side, other than those already named, Aaron Newton, Moses iHall,
Ebenezer Titus. In that portion of the now city there was not
tvyenty acres of cleared ground. There was little else than prim-
itive wood's roads in any direction. Along where iSt. Paul street
now is there was a dense forest of evergreens, hemlock, spruce
and cedar.

The brothers, M'Crackens, were as early as 1805 or '6, Pioneers
in the neighborhood of Batavia. They removed to Rochester
soon after the war. Dr. David M'Cracken was a prominent citzen
of the old county of Genesee. A tract of land he purchased near
Deep Hollow, on the River, is now embraced in the city. He died
at an advanced age five or six years since, childless. Wm. J. Mc-
Cracken, was an early tavern keeper in Frankfort, still survives, a
resident with his son-in-law, Henry Blanchard. A daughter of
Gardner M'Cracken, is the widow of "Capt. Scott," the afterwards
Col. Scott, of the U. S. Army, who was killed in the Mexican war.

Other early landlords in Rochester, who have not been named,

Charles Millerd, Henry Draper, Elliott. The daughters of

Dr. Ensworth who has been named in another connection, became
the wives of John Shethar, Benjamin Campbell, and Rufus Meech.
George Ensworth, an only surviving son, resides in New York.

Warham Whitney was from Northampton, Mass.; removed to
Rochester in 1820; was one of the early enterprising millers; a
flourishing portion of the city on the west side of the River, south
ot what was Frankfort, has grown up on his farm. He died in
JSt-" ^'^ surviving sons are, George L. Whitney and James
Whitney, of Rochester. Daughters became the wives of John
Williams and Samuel G. Andrews. John Whitney, a brother of
Warham, preceded him in Rochester ; has in later years been a res-

PHELPS AND GOKHAm's PURCHASE.

621

ident of Orleans county, and Ohio; is a<rain a citizen of Rochester,
rfalph Parker was a native of Salisbury Conn.; a resident of
Vermont, he was for fourteen consecutive years a member of the
btate Legislature. In 1816 he emigrated to Rochester, where he
stilJ resides, at the advanced age of 79 years. He was one of the
Judges of Genesee, before the erection of Monroe county His
surviving sons are, Daniel P. Parker, of New York, Medad P. and
Ralph A. Parker, of Rochester, Phineas Parker, Beaver Dam, Wis-
consin. Mrs. James H. Gregory, of Rochester, and Mrs. Richard
Ayres, ot Levviston. are his daughters.

So much m reference to Rochester, has been incidental to the
I'loneer History ot the whole region to which it bears so important
a relation. It ,s hoped that no reader of the work had anticipated
a history of Rochester ; such has not been the desian ; and it would
have been incompatible with the plan of the work.^ A wide rec^ion
ol primitive settlements, of towns and villages, has been embraced •
a long series of events recorded that preceded settlement ; brevity'
the quitting of one locality to hasten to another, has been an imper-
ative necessity that the author has had often to regret.

In another form — in a work especially devoted to the locality —
It would have been gratifying to have passed the pioneer period, and
step by step, from event to event, and from year to year, to have
traced the progress of Rochester from a primitive village to a popu-
lous city ;— a scene of wealth, enterprise and prosperity, creatines
wonder and admiration, even in an especial era of enterprise and
progress.

The "Falls of the Genesee," to which the reader has been intro-
duced when It was a lonely and secluded spot in the wilderness —
visited but by an occasional tourist — after that, for nearly twenty
years, the abode of but one solitary family of our race,— the local-
ity that remained a dense, unbroken forest, for vears after there had
been a near approach of considerable settlements and improvements ;
has now a popuhuion of nearly forty thousand, and even that is'
but an imperfect indication of its prosperity, the triumphs it has
achieved ! The " Hundred Acres," the germ of village and city,
has had added to it, first, other plats or separate surveys, then farm
after farm, in succession, until it has expanded to over four thou-
sand ACRES, nearly all of which is occupied with streets, business
establishments, public edifices, and private dwellings. The lots that
the venerated Patroon, Col. Rochester, in 1811, with moderate an-
ticipations, and liberal views, instructed his agent to sell at from -f 30
to ^200, are now worth from 5,000 to S25,000. There are annual
rents derived from the buildings upon some of those lots, from ^3,000
to 12,000. Of the staple article of home trade and commerce in
most of the civilized world, Rochester manufacturers more than is

622

PHELrS AND GORHAM 3 PURCHASE.

manufactured in any other locality. Its mills are capable of manu-
facturing the flour consumed by the entire population of the state of
New- York; and this is but a part of its nianutacturinir enterprises.
In other respects it is pre-eminent. There is no other city in this
prosperous Union, where so large a proportion of the population are
house-holders ; none where active employment, industry, so gener-
ally prevails. In it the idler is out of his element ; the " man of
leisure" feels as if he was not at home. While at the same time
it naay be added, that no where are the institutions of religion, edu-
cation, moral and intellectual improvement, better provided tbr by
an equal cnmount of population. " As the twig is bent the tree is
mchned," is as applicable to the growth of communities as to phys-
^al and moral youth and age : — The impress of the Pioneers of
Rochester in all this, is as indellible as would have been a record
chiseled upon its palisades of rock !

And what of the future ? There are no clouds in its horizon —
no breakers in its path of progress. Never in any period of its his-
tory has there been less to create doubt, or justify croaking auguries
and misgivings ; never a period of so much promise of rapid advance
and continued prosperity. To a fortunate locality — a combination
of advantages seldom excelled, the enterprise of Its citizens has ad-
ded, and is adding, what else was and is requisite.

Lake and canal commerce tend to it almost with a seeming favor-
itism ; Railroads connect and are connecting it with the Atlantic
sea board, and the long chain of Western Lakes ; a Railroad is con-
structing which will bring it still nearer to the Great West, and
make its connection with it far more intimate; a canal facilitates its
intercourse with the rich valley of which it is the emporium ; plank
roads reach out from it and i vite increased intercourse with natural
tributaries. But one enterprise more would seem to be required,
and that can hardly fail to enlist the co-operation of her public
spirited citizens. The march must be onwaud, and onward !

The Pioneer period, in reference to Rochester, has already been
passed and the whole work is becoming larger than was originally
designed. Briefness —- little more than a chronology of events —
blended with a few statistics, must suffice : —

1817.— The village was incomomted iindir the name of Roclicstcrvillc — The first
Inistooa were Francis Brown, David J^vr)\ William Cobb, Evcrard Peck, and
Jehiel Barnard — The first public hou.. J worship wiw built— William Atkin-
son built tlie yellow miU on JohiLson's Race — An Episcopal church was or-
ganized, taking the name of " St. Luke's Church, Genesee Falls," by the Rev.
Henry U. Onderdonk, afterwards Bishop of Pennsylvania — The Rev. Francis
H. Cuming became its first settled clergyman— A I'^rieiid's meeting, or society
was organized — A Lodge of Master Masons was installed.

1818.— Gilmau <fe Sibley erected a imper mill near Atkinson's flouring mill— In Sep-

w°'^^;'n*"°'' """^'' °*^ '^^^^ ^'^ contained in these brief statistics, the author is indebt-
ed to Elisha Ely's "Rochester Directory," for 1827, and Mr. O'Reilly's "Sketches
of Rochester." "^

PIIELrS AND GORHAm's rURCHASE.

623

1819
1820

1821

1822
1823

1825

1826.

1837.—

tomher the flecond conaua of the viUaffo was Mken; population 10 10 -First
:• T'o^.S"^ organized- First Baptist Chur, a wak^orfani^ed" coulLting^E
.-At\v-iit..r Androws and :\ruinford, built a toll l.ii.kro over tl.o (Jimiuscc Rivor a

■ w.(s a-Ved-F,' sru.n'''7-1'r " 'T'"''"*'"" ^^•'■'•'^ '■'"--«^' L"k'^'H Church

^ f n-S^^ Hon.; Kev^oha

.-A law pa.s,sed in the State L.^gislature erecting? the eounty of Monroe from nnrta
Ontario an.l(Jene.see - Courr,. were ..rff.ani^Jed in Maf The Bene o.Fsist-

cer Assistant justice. Eiius Pomerov Joseph Snciici.r \^l.l,.v <3n.,, ' '
apr.uute.1 to draft rules ..f Court ; ^oi^^r^^;!^ :^ J,^ ^ Q ::!:Z

-a^XlT\Ti:'^':T' I'^h^'""'"- ^'■•^ Sl'^'riff- The A,,ueduct was eo «e "

-Oct aDth, the hrst Canal Uoat left the village for Little Falls, laden wiu' W

-Census, Septeniber; population 2,700 ; including laborers on public wSs^

■~7tl,!'i"' year Canal navigation was opened from Albany to Rochester - Oct
7 h he Aqueduct was completed, and the event of the p.4*,ge of boats over it

of tJi'e viilal?.' ^"'°''-'''"" "^ '""'""^ '="'"I"'""^'^' ^^'^'>''^' .soeietiesand citLei
.—Census of the village in February ; i)opulation, 4,274 -Census of the vilh<rp
LofkS'' P"^'"'"''""' 'o>^'3.-ln thisi-ear CanaHiavigation was exlended !o
-On the acth day of Oetober, the Canal was finished in its whole extent and
t lie passage of a fleet of JJoats from Lake Krie to Sandy Hoc,k, con memo™ edbv
s icccssiou ot celebrations throughout the entire distance. There ~davs of
J:,?"f ; P.>'Wi.-- receptions, procession.s, cannonading, music, dan nrand
joyous hilarity. Never upon any occasion has all this been excelled Con
niencmg at luffido, a boat havinj,^ on boar.l Gov. Clin.,,n,an,lX State offil
cers,c,,mmittees, delegations from many counties of the State, &c, started off
Jdlowed by a flee ,,t boats. Tlie departure was announced bv a siS gun
and came.1 ah.ng from gun to gun, statione.l throughout the entire dista cf T«
one hour and twenty minuUs the news was receive.l at San.ly Hook, that a boa!

iSiSjcSi'" ""t" ""'"' """^ ^T 'T '^^ ^^' ""'averBinJ a new St., S
Atlantic Ocean." 1 hen ommenced a long .series of recepti.,ns and celebrations
along the whole line. Rochester, then a young, aspiri.lg village .' 1.' s tC
8 M)0 inhahitan s, as ,f s..me insp re.l prophet had forcitoLlthat it was the dawn-
T^.Vl! ^■•■'I''7'y largely re;d.ze.l d..stiny, caught the .s..iritof the wh.,le thing !
In their own L.cality, at Buftalo, and at other pla.'es af..ng the line ; and at the
gran, hnale ujH.n the waters of the Bay of New York, tlu^v were ■'present and
assisting." Vlhen th.. fleet from the west arme.l at theif vdhig. "^JuTe wo 'e
under arms, eight uniform coin]ianies, and an immense cncourse of citizens
Jesse Hawley nia.le an a.l.lress ^yhicll was replied t., by G.)v. Clint.)n an.l John
C. bpencer ; exercises w.-re had at the Fresbyterian Church — the Rev Jlr
1 enney ofhciatmg ; Timothy Childs delivered an a.l.lress ; Gen. Matthews nre-
Bided at a .linner at the Mansi.m H.^use, assisted by Jes.se Hawley ami JonatW
<- lui.is ; in .he .venmg there was a ball an.l a general illumination. Those
will) ccime after us may consummate acliievements of greater mao'iiitude than
theLrieCana but non.^ of mor.^ practical dift'usive utility; ancF never in all
]ir.)b;ibihty will iher.' be another such a "teoi-lk's .ji'iulee''"
-R.Kjhester was incorpr))ate.l as a city in the spring ..f 18,34. TJio first oflicers
of the citv were as t.iiows ;- Jonathan Child, Mayor; Erasmus ]). Smith
ADraham M. bcheniierli.irn. Supervisor elected by general ticket • the Alder-
men were, Lewis IJiooks, Thomas Kempshall, Fre.leriek F. Backus A W Rilev
Ja<M.b (irav.s; Assistants, J.,hn Jones, Elijah F. Smith, Jac.b Thorn". Lansin.^

• n'' vl^ ?"r-T ^''^^'""^''y' •^'•"'^ f:""l'l. A. M. Schermerhoru, Thomas Kempt
sliall, iilisha Joliuson, were May ore in succession. ^

624

PHELPS AND GORHAM's PtJRCnASE.

CENSUS OF MONROE COUNTY, 1850.

NAMES OF TOWIfS AND
WAIID8.

RociiESTEK, Ist Ward,
2(1

4th

5tli

6th

7th

8th

9th

Total,.

Penfield,

Webster,

IBrighton,

Iroudequoit, . ..

Henrietta

Rush

Mendon,

Perrinton

PittBford,

Gates, i

%•%

Wheatland,

ChiU

Sweeden,

Greece

Ogden,

Parma,

Claikson

Total,.

No. of
families

No. of
liouse.3.

G8-26
605
467
458
441
425
314
611
508
347
375
364
501
396
651
746
495
558
862

15950

White
males.

6142
575
450
429
440
422
313
611
508
347
375
364
501
396
595
705
476
543
835

15027

1538
1761
2098
1729
1848
3408
1633
1440
2339

Wliito
females.

Total of
whites,

17794
1639
1247
1665
1241
1.355
1082
1752
1514
1001
1053
1135
1534
1197
1785
2179
1307
1496
2407

44443

1453
1848
2221
1770
1804
3582
1648
1416
2341

18083
1536
1162
1431
1156
11.57
933
1593
1373
997
951
1024
1380
1050
1804
2022
129]
1445
2142

42530,

2991
3609
4319
3499
36.52
6990
3281
2856
4680

35877
3175
2409
3096
2397
2512
2015
3345
2887
2058
2004
2159
2914
2247
3589
4201
2598
2941
4549

87973

Colored
popl 'n.

62
21
172
12
53
71
55
64
16

526
10
37
21

8
4
3
1

5
6

Total
pop! 'n.

3053
3630
4491
3511
3705
7061
3336
2920
4696

36403
3185
2446
3117
2397
2513
2015
3353
2891
2061
2005
2159
2917
2247
3623
4219
2598
2946

88650

CONTENTS OF SUPPLEMENT

CHAPTER I.— [Commences page 497.] — Wheatland — Riga — Reminiscences of
Ehlm Church, of Henry Brewster — Ogden —Parma — Reminiscences of Levi
Talmadge, of Samuel Castle— Greece — Charlotte —War of 1812 — Gates —
Penfield — Reminiscences of William Mann — Pittsford — Perrrinton — Mendon
— Rush — Reminiscences of Joseph Sibley — Henrietta.

CHAPTER II. — [Ci>m. page 513.] — M onis' Reserve — Tlie Triangle — Le Roy —
Names of Early Settlers on Triangle — Reminisenees of Simon PierHon — Levi
Ward — Bergen — Swecden — Clarkson — Reminiscences of Dr. Baldwin and
Giistavus Clark — Connecticut .Tract — Names of Early Settlers— Brigliton —
Cliili.

CHAPTER III. — [Com . page 571.] — Early glimpses of the Genesee Valley — The
Falls of the Genesee and their immediate vicinity — General condition of all West-
ern New York — Pioneer History of Rochester.

taf- Omission. — A topographical skeic]; of Mumford and its neighborhood, and an
account of recent discoveries of ancient remains near Le Roy, referred to in the body
of the work, are necessarily omitted. The former will appear in the volume. " Livintr-
8ton and AUegany." "

Total
popl 'n.

3053
3630
44yi
3511
3705
7061
3336
2920
4696

36403
3185
2446
3117
2397
2513
2015
3353
2891
2061
2005
2159
2917
2247
3623
4219
2598
2946
4555

88650

inces of
of Levi

^atos —
Vlcndon

Roy-

— Levi
'ill and
liton —

— The
llWest-

and an
le body
Liviiig-