oO' •/^ V * . • ^^ ^^.. C' - \ "% 4 -x^' c a\ A^"".- .^^ "^ "c« si> -T*^ ^-^^. ■"^A V^^ V!> r ^'^' 'o. v%^' 'o .^'^ \: x^^ ■%.. ,0- ^ / ^, "^^A V^ .^^ '^% -^-^-^^ /'^ ^ - ' .^^ . ■>■ <-' V-.-' » ■■ '^- r y/j, ■\K > . m,!4,. JV. Jl,,.^ f . 'iy?: p-sN j-^p ^ HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS STATE OF NEW YORK; CONTAINING A GENERAL COLLECTION OF THE MOST INTERESTING FACTS, TRADITIONS, BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, ANECDOTES, &c. RELATING TO ITS HISTORY AND ANTICIUITIES, WITH GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTIONS OF EVERY TOWNSHIP IN THE STATE. Illustrated by 230 ringTaving:s. BY JOHN W. BARBER, lUTHOR OF CONNECTICUT, AND MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS AND HENRY HOWE, AUTHOR OF "THE MEMOIRS OF EMINENT AMERICAN MECHANICS," KTG. [More elevated.] NEW YORK: PUBLISHED FOR THE AUTHORS, BY S. TUTTLE, 194 CHATHAM-SQUARE. PRICE, THREE DOLLARS 1842. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1841, By John W. Barber and Henry Howe, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Connecticut. HITCHCOCK & STAFFORD, Priuien Fvv PREFACE. The design of this volume is to give an account of the most im- portant and interesting events relating to the history of the state of New York, from its settlement to the present time, with geographical descriptions, illustrated by numerous engravings. In collecting the materials and preparing them for publication, the compilers of this work have unitedly spent more than two years of close and laborious application. We have visited every part of the state, and besides travelling thousands of miles in the public conveyances, we have journeyed many hundreds on foot. Although feeling conscious that we have used all the efforts, and taken every precaution which could be reasonably expected, in order to have this work accurate in every respect, yet we do not claim an entire exemption from those imperfections ever attendant on works of this kind. A degree of diffidence is felt, when it is considered who are to be the readers. Travellers in giving accounts of foreign countries, may make statements at random, which may pass for truth, when there is no one at hand able to correct their errors. This vol- ume will come before many persons, who, on some subjects intro- duced, have better means of information, and possess more know- ledge than the compilers. A certain writer defines history to be merely " an approximation towards truth." Although this humilia- ting statement will not be allowed to its full extent, yet when the im- perfection of every thing human is considered, it must be confessed to have some foundation in truth. In the prosecution of this work, we have availed ourselves of the labors of those who have preceded us. The historian, of necessity, derives his information from others. It will be observed, that quota- tions have been made from a great variety of publications ; in most instances of which, credit has been given. As a general rule, we have preferred to have each account appear as it was originally given to the public, in the author's own words, from which the reader can draw his own inferences. Truth ought always to be preferred before elegance of language. In the geographical department much information has been derived from Spaflord's and Gordon's Gazet- PREFACE. teers, and the state maps, published at Ithaca by Messrs. Stone & Clark. SpafTord may be considered as the pioneer in furnishing geographical descriptions of the state : his first gazetteer was pub- lished in 1813, the second in 1824. The gazetteer by Mr. Gordon, consisting of 800 closely printed octavo pages, containing a map of the state, and one of each county, was published in 1836, and is by far the most complete and valuable work of the kind relating to New York, which has as yet been issued. To this able work, we would refer our readers for a full statistical and geographical account of the various places in the state. It not only contains a great amount of statistical inlbrmation, but also the political history of the state, abstracts of its laws, and other valuable information. It is a volume which ought to be placed in every public library in the state. The numerous engravings interspersed throughout this volume, were, with few exceptions, copied from drawings taken on the spot by the compilers of the work. In these engravings, our principal ob- ject was to give faithful representations, rather than picturesque views, or beautiful specimens of art. Before deciding that any of these representations are incorrect, we wish our readers to consider that the appearance of any place will be materially altered, as viewed from different points. In order to form an entirely correct judgment, it will be necessary to stand on the spot from whence the drawing was taken. COUNTIES, TOWNSHIPS, VILLAGES. Acra, 183 Acrnn, 153 AcquaboRue, 540 Adams, 2 )0 Adatiis Ba^in, 265 Adainsport, 531 Adiimsville, 572 Addison, 528 Alabama, 175 Alliinii, 431 Ald-ii, 143 Albany, 44 Albany County, 44 AllVrd, 56 Albion, 431, 429 Alexandria, 158, 201 All n, 56 AU'xand'jr, 175 Almond, 58 Allegany County, 56 Allejianv City, 82 Allen's "Hill, 409 Alloway, 579 Amajaiiset, 536 Amber, 392 Am boy, 383, 431 Amenia, 133 Ainberst, 143 Amiiy, 56, 428 Amsleidam, 272 Ancranr 114 Andes, 126 Andover, 57, 375 Angelica, 57 Annsville, 360 Antwerp, 2iJl Appling, 201 Apulia, 384 Arcniie, 603 Arcadia, 573 Argyle, 567 Aiietla, 191 Arkport, 531 Arkwright, 87 Asliford, 82 Ashville, 90 Astoria, 451 Athens, 181 Athol, 582 Attica, 602 Attlebury, 142 Auburn, 74 Augusta, 360 Aurelins, 79 Auriesville, 278 Aurora, 143 Austcrlitz, 114 Au Sable, 106 Avoca, 528 Avon, 242 Babylon, 539 Bainbrid.'re, 99 Barki-r's Mills, 4P8 Baker's Rridue, 56 Bakersville, 113 Baldvvinsville, 384 Ballston. 491 Ballston Spa, 492 Bangor, 163 Barcelona, 93 Barbersville, 132 Baremarket, 142 Barker, 66 Barre, 429 Barrington, 605 Barrvlown, 140 Barton, 549 15aia\ ia, 175 Batcsiown, 4')8 Bail), 464, 528 Bailil)ouse,237 Baitcnviile, 572 Bayl.;y!owM, 525 Bearyt-ville, 525 Braverdam, 543 Bedford, 584 Beeknian, 106, J33 Belfast, 57 Bell Port, 5,35 Belleisle, 383 Belleville, 202, 428 Bt'lmoiit, 103 Eenne/s Flats, 531 Bennet Settlement, 179 BeiininL'ton, 602 B.nton, 605 Bergen, 178 Berkshire, 549 Berlin, 484 Berne, 50 Bi'lhany, 179 Betliil, .547 BethI "hem, 50 Betis' Corners, 384 Big Flats, 94 Binghaniton, 66 Birdsall, 59 Black Brook, 106 Black Rock, 143 Bleeker, 167 Blenheim, .516 Bloomiiigsburg, 547 Blooming Grove, 411 Bloomville, 130 Blossomsville, 263 Bliif}" Point, 605 Bolivar, .53 Bolton, 562 Boiribav, 163 Bi.onville, 360 Borodino, 403 Boston, 143 Bouckville, 260 Bovina, 120 Boylston, 431 Bradford, .530 Branchport, 605 Branch, 541 Brandon, 164 Brasher, 483 Brant, 152 Breakahern, 51% Bridcehamp'on, 543 Bridce|Port, 260 Bridgewater, 360 Biigbton 21)3,447 Bristol, 404, .501 Broarialbin, 167 Brock port, 271 Bmoktteld, 255 Brookhaven, .533 Brooklyn. 219 Broome County, 66 Broome, 516 Bronx, 587 Brownville, 201, 408 Brunswick, 464 Brutus, 80 Buffalo, 147 Bullville, 417 Burdette, 552 Burlinghani, 547 Burlington, 440 Burns, 59 Bushnell's Basin, 266 Bushwick, 233 Burton, 82 Buskirk's Bridge, 567 Busti,87 Butler, 578 Butternuts, 440 Byersville, 251 Byron, 179 Byrnville, 518 Carkemver's Mills, 135 Cadi/., 85 Cadysville, 59 Cairo, 183 Cahoes, 54 Caldwell, 562 Caledonia, 244 Cambridge, 567 Caniillus, 383 Campbell, 530 Cambria, 348 Camden, 361 Cameron, 530 Canaan, 114 Canaderaga, 447 Canajoliarie, 274 Canandaigua, 404 Canadice, 404 Canaseraga, 260 Canastota, 260 Candor, 549 Canejidea, 59 Canisieo, 530 Canning, 365 Cannonsville, 132 Caiioga, 525 Canterbury. 411 Canton, 403, 483 Cape Vincent, 212 Cardiff, 384 Carlton, 430 Caroline, 552 (^areysville, 179 Carlisle, 516 Camiel, 448 Carrol, 88 Carr's Corners, 152 Carter, 242 Caton, 530 Carthage, 135 Casadaga, 92 Casety Hollow, 360 Castile, 602 Casflelon, 474 Cattarauous County, 82 Calherine,s, 94 Cailln, 95 Cato, 80 CatskiU, 183 <-'auglinawaga, 280 Cavioa County, 74 Cayuga, 79 Cayuta, 95 Cazenovia, 255 Cedarville, 196 Centre Port, 540 Centreville, 59, 80, 92, 114, 5:« Chamberlain, 85 Champion, 2^1 Chauiplain, 106 Chapiiisville, 408 Cliarlotie, 88 Charlotteville, 524 Charleston, 278 Charlton, 491 Chaumont, 212 Chateaugua, 164 Chaiham, 114 CnATAuyuE County, 87 Cha.auqne, 88 Cha/y, 106 Cheikiowaga, 152 Chelsea, 475 Chemung, 05 Chemung County, 94 Chenango, 66 Chenango County, 99 Chenaniio Forks, C6 Cherry Valley, 440 Cherry Creek, 88 Chester, 417, 565 Chesterfi( Id, 155 Chili, 263 China, 603 Chittenango, 260 Chittenden Falls, 122 CImrchiown, 114 Churchville, 266, 484 Cinciimatus, 123 Cicero, 383 Clarence, 152 Clarendon, 430 Clarke's Settlement, 73 Clarkson. 263 Clarkstown, 476 Clarkesville, 59, 255, 79 Clavorack, 114 Clay, 383 Clayton, 201 Clear Creek, 89 Cloavelnnd, 431 Clermont, 115 Clifton Park, 491 Clinton County, 105 Clinton, 133 Clintonville, 106, 133, 453 riockville, 260 Clyde, 578 Clymer, 89 Cobleskill, 516 Cochecton, 547 Coeyman'p, 50 Concord, 1.53 Colrhe.ster, 126 Coldon, 1.52 Coles' Mills, 449 Colesville, 72 Cold Spring, 83, 449, 463 Collierville, 444 Collins, 1,52 Colliiisvi'le, 242 Colosse. 432 Columbia, 192 Columbia County, 113 Columbiaville, 122, 485 COUNTIES, TOWNSHIPS, VILLAGES. Columbus, 100 Conesville, 518 Cnnesus, 244 Coney Island, 237 Cnr.licicton, 530 Conklin, 72 Connewango, 84 Conquest, 80 Constable, 165 Coiistableville, 242 Constanlia, 431 Coonsville, 408 Copake, 116 Cooperstown, 445 Cnpenhajren, 239 Corbeau, 10« Corfu, 180 Corinth, 492 Cornwall, 411 CornwaHsville, 188 Cnruiii, 534 Cortlaiidt, 585 Cortlandt County, 123 Cortlandtville, 123 Coventry, 100 Covert, 525 Covington, 603 Cowlesville, 602 Coxsackie, 188 Craifrsville, 411 Crawford, 417 Crolon, 585 Crown Point, 156 Cuba, 59 Cuddebackville, 417 Currytowii, 283 Cutchogue, 545 Danby, 552 Danube, 102 Dansville, 249, 530 Darien, 179 Dashville, 559 Davenport, 126 Day, 492 Dayanville, 242 Dayton, 84 Deansville, 365 Decatur, 444 Deerfield, 361 Deer Park, 417 Defriestville, 464 De Kalb, 484 Delavan, 87 Delawarb County, 125 Delanli, 92 Delhi, 126 Delphi, 392 Denmark, 239 Depauville, 20i^ 484 Depeyster, 484 Deposit, 132 De Ruyter, 256 Dewit, 383 Dexter, 201 Dexterville, 89 Diana, 239 Dickenson, 165 Dix, 95 Dobb's Ferry, 587 Dover, 133 Dora, 72 Dresden, 567, 605 Dryden, 552 Duane, 165 Duanesburg, 507 Dublin, 525 Dundee, 608 Dunkirk, 91 Durham, 188 Djirhainville, 375 DtrrcHEss County, 132 Eagle, 60 Eagle Harbor, 430 East Bloonilield, 408 I'ast Chester, 587 East Hampton, 535 Easton, 568 Eaton, 256 Eddysville, 557 Edenville, 428 Eden, 153 Edinburg, 492 Ednieston, 444 Edwaids, 484 Elba, 179 Elbridge,383 Ellenburg, 106 Ellenville, 560 Eliery, 89 Ellicott, 89 Ellicottville, 85 Ellington, 89 Ellisburg, 202 Elmira, 95 Elizabethtown, 156 Elmore's Corners, 550 Enlicid, 552 Ephrata, 167 Erie County, 142 Erieville, 2G0 Erwin, 530 Erin, 99 Esopus, 556 Esperane, 523 Essex, 156 Essex County, 154 Etna, 552 Evans, 153 Evans' Mills, 211 Exeter, 444 Fabius, 384 Factorvville, 474, 549 Fairfield, 193 Fairhaven, 430 Fairport Basin, 266 Fall Creek, 552 Fallsburg, 547 Farmersville, 84, 525 Farmington, 408 Far Rockaway, 456 Fayetteville, 387 Federal Store, 137 Fenner, 258 Felt's Mill, 212 Finchville, 423 Fishkill, 134 Flanders, 543 Flalbush, 235 Flatlands, 235 Fleming, 80 Florence, 361 Florida, 278, 428 Floyd, 361 Flushing, 453 Fluvaiuia, 89 Fonda's Bush, 167 Forrcstburg, 547 Forestville, 90 Fort Ann, 568 Fort Edward, 569 Fort Miller, 509 Fort Covington, 165 Fort Hunter, 278 Fort Plain, 279 Foslerdale, 79 Fowlersville, 251 Fowler, 484 Fraid Falls 269 Gleiins Falls 566 Gleiiville, incursion into 507 Gray, Colonel, dealh of. ., 210 Granger, Gideon, epitaph 407 Greig, Captain, remaikable preservation of 369 Gothic or Temperance Hall 329 Harpers, William and John, adventures of 128 Hamilton, Miss Sally, murder of 181 Hanlbiirs Latiding 264 Hale, Captain Nathan, notice of 308 Halls of Justice 318 Harlem Tuimel 338 Hamilton, Alexander, notice of. 344 Hamilton, Alexander, epitaph 347 Hamiltoti Cdllege 361 HaUiaway, Hon.Joaliua, epitaph 570 INDEX. 11 Han Verry, anecdote of. 379 Herkimer, General, notice of. 192 Herkimer, burning of. 195 Hendrick, King, notice of. 280 Hendy, Colimel, anecdote of 98 Hornby Lodge 64 Hdsack, Rev.S., D. D. epitaph 173 Holland Land Company's Office 176 Hughes, Jotin, Welsli epitaph on 375 Hurlgate 461 Indian forts at Philipsburg 56 Indian aiitiquiiies, Oxford lO't Indians, interview with, in 1691 235 Irving, Washington, residence of. 588 Jay, John, LL. D. notice of 584 Jefferson barracks 211 Jemison, Mary, the "white woman" 6(J2 Johnson Hall 168 Joluison, Sir William, notice of 168 Johnson, Sir John, incursion of. 170 Johnson, Sir Guy, residence of 272 Johnsons, the fac-similes of. 273 Kalm, Professor, visit to Albany 47 Kidd's Heights, Albany 45 Kidd, Williani, the pirate 536 Kirtland, Rev. Mr. notice of 362 King, Rufns, noiice of. 460 Kingston destroyed 557 Knickerbocker, extract from 290 Kosciusko, notice of 415 Kunze, J. C, D. D. notice of 347 Lake George, battle of. 563 Lawrence, Capiairi J., epi:aph 346 Lee, Ann, notice of 55 Leverich, Rev. Mr. notice of. 461 Letter, anonymous, Newhurg 425 Livingston, Robert R. notice of. 115 Livingston, Philip, noiice of. 339 Livingston, William, notice of. 340 Livingston, Brockholst 342 Livingston's Manor 1 19 Liberty-pole, first, in Mohawk Valley 194 Little Falls, Indian descent at 198 Lindesay , Mr. notice of. 440 Louis Pliilippe, King, visit to Elmira 98 Long Island, battle of , 228 Long Island, history of 251 Long Island, Indians of. 253 Lundy's Lane, battle of 355 Mann, J. D. Milton, epitaph 118 McCrea, Miss Jane, murder of 569 McKenzie, A. epilaph 173 Mersereau, Judge, notice of 7.'i Merrick, Mariha, epitaph of 124 Merchants' Exchange, New York 325 Mexico, wreck of 457 Meigs, Colonel, expedition of. 544 Mmisink, invasion of 420 Montour, Catharine, notice of 94 Mooers, General, epitaph on 112 Morgan, William, abduction of 177 Monumenial inscription, Sackett's Harbor 211 Moody, Lady, notice of 236 Mohawk Castles, taking of 277 Monument at Hempstead 456 Moinnnental pile, Indian 2T8 Monument at Goshen 418 Montgomery, General, notice of. 343 Montgomery, epitaph 346 Montgomery, Fort, capture of. 422 Mont^'(miery, Fort, shocking appearance at 423 Monlauk Point, view of 537 Morris, Gouverneur, notice of. 597 Mormonism, origin of 580 Mnsquetoes, Indian tradition respectitig 81 Murder near the Sterling Iron Works 428 Murphy, T. adventures of 518 Navy Yard, Brooklyn 221 Negro plot 295 New York, evacuation of. 310 New York in 1800 315 New York Uinversity 326 New York Deaf and Dumb Asylum 327 Newspapers, ancient, extracts from 296 Niagara Falls, view of 353 Niagara Fort, account of 358 Norton, Selh M. epitaph 364 Novel marriage 514 Oak, ancient, at Lyons 579 Oak openings 180 Officers, Dutch names of 287 Ogdensburg, attack on 486 Oneida Institute, view of 378 Onondagas, account of. 389 Onondaga, French colony at, in 1656 398 Oriskany, battle of 380 O.-wego, attack on 436 Oswego Fort, surrender of. 435 Palatinates, settlement of 521 Painted Post, the history of. 530 Parson's, Gen. corresiiondence with Gov. Tryon, 591 Penitentiary, Black well's island 320 Perkins, Capt. S. epilaph 370 Peekskill, incursion into 586 Phoenix, burning of. 107 Phelphs and Gorham's surveys 406 Phtlps, Hon. Oliver, epitaph! 408 Phillips' patent 595 Pine, large 130 Pike, Gen. Z. M. death of 205 Pike, Gen. Z. M. monumental inscription 211 Pixley, Colonel D. epitaph 551 Plattsburg, battle of. HO Portage Falls, view of 62 Pompey, ancient remains at 392 Prison at Auburn 77 Piisnn ships, revolutionary 222 Prescott, battle of 487 Prondnt, Rev. J. epitaph 576 Publications, periodical, in New York 333 Putnam's battle with Indians 573 Pulteneyville, invasion of 583 Queenstown Heights, battle of 349 Red Jacket, notice of 149 Red Jacket, conference with 406 Rensselaer tenants, riot of 114 Rensselaer, manor of 472 Rensselaer, Hon. Stephen, notice of 50 Revolutionary incidents in New York 304 Rivington press destroyed 300 Robbery at Fishkill 136 Rochester, O'Reilly's sketches of. 267 Rockwell, J.O. notice of 386 Robinson House, the 450 Roger's Rock 505 Royalists executed at Kingston 558 Salt procured by Indians 74 Sammons, Sampson, adventures of 171 Sackett's Harbor, attack on 207 Sandy Creek, battle at 202 Sanger, Jedidiah, notice of. 365 Salina salt works 3U6 Sailor's Snug Harbor 474 Sabbath Day Point 565 Sandy Hill, Indian barbarities at 573 Schlosser Landing, view of 356 Schenando, notice of 303 Schuyler, Honyost, stratagem of. 369 Schuyler, General Philip, notice of. 498 Schuyler Mansion House 494 Schenectady, destruction of. 511 Schoharie, middle fort, attack on 518 Schoharie stone church 522 Seneca oil spring 59 Seneca Mission House 149 Senecas invaded by the French 243 Senecas, sacrifice of. 268 12 INDEX. Shakers, notice of. 55 Shakers at New Lebanon 120 Silliman, Major-general, capture of. 463 Sing Sing Prison 593 Skeene, Major, royalist 577 Smith, Richard, notice of. 541 S iih, Joseph, the Mormon 580 6' opy Hollow 595 S| iiil8h Hill, Chemung 95 Spy, Indian, death ol 508 Standard, tirst, taken in last war 163 SladtHuysinl642 286 Sitiyvesant, Governor, notice of 339 Sterling, Lord, notice of 343 Stan wix, Fort, siege of 368 Steuben, Baron, notice of. 371 Stillwater, battle at 499 Steamboat, Fulton, first American 342 Tammany Hall, New York. 330 Tallmadge, Colonel, expedition of 534 Ticonderoga, Fort 158 Ticonderoga, capture of, byAllen 159 Ticonderoga, St. Clair's evacuation of. 161 Tornado in Alleganv County 57 Tripe's Hill, (irst settlers at 281 Trenton Falls 373 Truxton, Commodore, notice of 460 Troy Female Seminary 471 Tryon, corrtvpondence with 591 Tumiel at Portage 63 Union College 510 Ujaion Kace Course. >. 459 Van Buren, President, birthplace 119 Van Buren, Abraham A. epitaph 119 Van Kleek House 138 Va- 1 en.s^;aer, S. notice of 50 Va.i Tassel Mansion 588 Van Wart, Isaac, epitaph 588 Warrant, ancient 140 Wadsworth, James and William, notice of 245 Washington, Fo.t, capture of 600 Washington inaugurated 324 Washington's head-quarters, Newburg 424 Walnut tree, large 90 Walker, Rev. EInaihan 124 Wawarsing, burning of. 560 Wedding, curious 384 West Point Academy 412 West Point, ancient view of. 416 Wheat, &c. price of, 1804 174 White, Hugh, notice of 378 White, Hugh, epitaph. 382 White Plains, battle of 598 Williams, Rev. Mr. capture of 163 Willet, Colonel Marinus, notice of 460 Williamson, Captain, tirst settler at Bath 529 Wilkinson, Jemima, "the Universal P'riend".. .. 605 William Henry, Fort, capture of 564 Woolsey, Major, cowaidice of 520 Yeo, Sir James, amusing alarm of, near Rochester, 270 Yellow Fever iti New York 311 York Island, military movements on 301 York, U. C. attack on 203 Young, Major G. D. notice of. 163 OMISSIONS AND CORRECTIONS. Page 50, the Mhnvy Medical ColUge is a flourishing Institution. Its officers are a President, Registrar, Librari;in, and eight Professors Nu'mbir of students in 1841, one hundred and twenty-three. Page 95, the village of Horseheads \s ahoni five miles north of Elmira, so called, it is said, from the sculls of horses found near it, slaughtered for food bv Sullivan's armv. Page 120, Pop. of New Lebanon, 2,534. Page 282, for Tryon, read Campbell. Page 308, for Uavid, read Nathan Hale. Page 472, there are at this time ,1841) 17 churches in Troy, viz : 3 Episcopal, 4 Presbyterian, 1 Scotch Presbyterian, 2 Baptist, 2 Methodist, 1 Friends, 1 Universalist, 1 Catholic, and 2 African. NEW YORK. OUTLINE HISTORY. There is reason to believe that the first Europeans who landed on the soil of New York, were the crew of a French vessel under the command of John de Verrazzano, a Florentine, in the service of Francis L, of France. " Verrazzano had been for some time intrusted with the command of four ships, in cruising against the Spaniards. These vessels being separated in a storm, the commander resolved with one of them, the Dauphin, to undertake a voyage for the purpose of discovering new countries." About the middle of March, 1524, he arrived on the American coast near Wilmington, N. C. From this point he proceeded as far south as Georgia. He then turned and proceeded northward, until he came to about the latitude of 41° north, where he entered a harbor, which, from his description, is believed to be that of New York.* It appears from Verrazzano's account, that he stayed in the harbor about fifteen days. It seems he had much intercourse with the natives of the country. " They came on board his ship frequently, and without reserve ; traded with him freely for such articles as he needed, and generally attended his men, in greater or smaller numbers, whenever *hey went on shore." He sailed from the harbor on the 5th of May, nd proceeded as far north as the coast of Labrador ; from thence ; sailed for France, where he arrived in July. In a letter to the ag, he gave an account of his voyage, giving the name of New •ance to the country he visited. As his voyage neither produced r promised any addition to the revenues of France, his discoveries ;re not pursued, and even the memory of it was almost forgotten. s supposed that Verrazzano, in a subsequent voyage, was cut to ces and devoured by the savages. .n 1607, a London company fitted out a ship under the command Henry Hudson, for the purpose of discovering a northwestern ssage to the East Indies. This voyage, and another the next year An account of this voyage, given in a letter to the French king, is found in Richard luyt's Voyages, Navigations, &c., published in 1600, in London, in three vols, folio, republished in vol. i. of the Coll. of the New York Hist. Soc. 14 OUTLINE HISTORY. for the same purpose, both proving unsuccessful, the company sus- pended their patronage, Hudson then went to Holland, and entered into the service of the celebrated Dutch East India Company. This company fitted out a small ship, named Half Moon, under the com- mand of Hudson, Wi\h a crew it is said of twenty men, Dutch and English. Hudson left Amsterdam on the 4th, the Texel on the 6th of April, and arrived on the American coast on the 18th of July, 1609, near Portland, in the state of Maine. Pursuing his course southward, Hudson came to Cape Cod, where he landed, about the 3d of August. After this, he sailed southward and westward for one-and-twenty days, " making remarks on the soundings and currents," until he came to the entrance of Chesapeak Bay, about the 24th of August. From this point, he returned north- ward along the coast, and on the 28th discovered Delaware Bay During the six following days, Hudson pursued his northerly course, until, on the 3d of September,4609, he anchored within Sandy Hook. " The next day, the 4th of September, he sent a boat on shore for the purpose of fishing. The tradition is that his men first landed on Coney Island, which lies near to Long Island, and now makes a part of Kings county. On the same day the natives came on board his ship, as she lay at anchor, conducting themselves with great apparent friendliness, and discovering a strong disposition to barter the produce of their country for knives, beads, clothes, and other articles of a similar kind. The next day, the 5th of September, Hudson again sent his boat on shore, for the purpose, as appears from the journal, of exploring and sounding the waters lying to the south, within Sandy Hook, and forming what is now called the Horse Shoe. Here the boat's crew landed and penetrated some distance into the woods, in what is now Monmouth county, in New Jersey. They were very well received by the natives, who presented them very kindly with what the journal calls ' green tobacco,' and also with ' dried cur- rants ;' [these were probably whortleberi'ies,] which are represented as having been found in great plenty, and of a very excellent quality. " On the 6th of September, Hudson sent a boat manned with five hands to explore what appeared to be the mouth of a river, at the distance of about four leagues from the ship. This was no doubt the strait between Long and Staten islands, generally called the Narrows. Here, the writer of the journal observes, ' a good depth of water was found;' and within, a large opening, and a narrow river to the west ; in which it is evident he refers to what is now called the Kills, or the channel between Bergen Neck and Staten Island. In exploring the bay and the adjacent waters, the boat's crew spent the whole day. On their way in returning to the ship towards night, they were attacked by the natives, in two canoes ; the one carrying fourteen men, and the other twelve. A skirmish ensued, in which one of Hudson's men, named John Colman, was killed by an arrow, which struck him in the throat, and two more were wounded. The next day the remains of Colman were interred on a point of land not far from the shio, which from that circumstance OUTLINE HISTORY. 15 received the name of Colman's Point ; and which, probably, was the same that is now called Sandy Hook. "On the 8th, 9th and 10th days of September, Hudson still rode cautiously at anchor, without the Narrows, and seems to have been chiefly employed in trading with the natives, and in guarding against any insidious attacks which might have been meditated by them, and which he evidently feared. On the 11th, he sailed through the Narrows, and found, as the writer of the journal expresses it, ' a very good harbor for all winds.' On the 12th, he first entered the river which bears his name, and sailed up about two leagues. On these two days the ship was visited by great numbers of the natives, who brought Indian corn, beans, tobacco, and oysters, in abundance, and exchanged them for such trifles as the ship's company were disposed to barter. They had pipes of 'yellow copper,' in which they smoked. They had also various ornaments of copper ; and earthen pots, in which they dressed their meat.- But, although they were ' civil,' as the writer of the journal tells us, and ' made show of love,' Hudson did not think proper to trust them ; and by no means would suffer any of them to remain on board during the night. "From the 12th to the 22d of September, Hudson was employed in ascending the river. The journal represents it in general about a mile wide, and of a good depth, abounding with fish, among which were ' great store of salmons.' As he advanced, he found the land on both sides growing higher, until it became ' very mountainous.' This high land, it is observed, ' had many points ; the channel was narrow, and there were many eddy winds.' In his passage up the river, the natives frequently came on board of his ship, and sometimes in considerable numbers, but always in an amicable manner. " Hudson appears to have sailed up the river a little above where the city of Hudson now stands ; and beyond that point, he himself n£ver ascended. Not considering it as safe to proceed farther with ms ship, he sent a boat with five hands, (the mate, who had the command of the expedition, being one,) to explore and sound the river higher up. The boat proceeded eight or nine leagues beyond where the ship lay at anchor ; but finding the soundings extremely irregular, and the depth, in some places, not more than seven feet, it was judged una.dvisable to attempt any farther progress. It is evident, from the whole account, that the boat went as far as where the city of Albany now stands. " It is worthy of notice, that the farther they went up the river, the more friendly and hospitable the natives appeared. After they had passed the highlands, the writer of the journal observes : ' There we found a very loving people, and very old men ; and were well used.' On the 18th of September, when the ship was lying about twenty-five or thirty miles below the present situation of Albany, * the mate,' it is farther observed, ' went on shore with an old savage, a governor of the country, who took him to his house and made him good cheer.' At this place the savages flocked on board the ship in considerable numbers, bringing with them corn, tobacco, pumpkins, 16 OUTLINE HISTORY. and grapes, and some of them beaver and otter skins, which they exchanged for hatchets, knives, beads, and other trifles. On the 20th of September, Hudson and his crew, for the purpose of making an experiment on the temper of the Indians, attempted to make a number of their principal men drunk. But though they * were all merry,' as the journalist expresses it, only one of them appears to have been completely intoxicated. This phenomenon excited great surprise and alarm among his companions. They knew not what to make of it, and it was not until the next day, when he had completely re- covered, that they became composed. This, so far as we know, is the first instance of intoxication by ardent spirits, among the Indi- ans on this part of the American continent. It is very remarkable that among the Six Nations there is a tradition, still very distinctly pre- served, of a scene of intoxication which occurred with a company of the natives when the ship first arrived On the 22d of the month, confidence on the part of the natives being restored, a number of their chiefs came on board the ship as she lay at anchor. This interview the writer of the journal describes in the following man- ner : ' At three o'clock in the afternoon they came on board, and brought tobacco and beans, and gave them to our master, and made an oration, and showed him all the country round about. Then they sent one of their company on land, who presently returned and brought a great platter of venison, dressed by themselves ; and they caused him to eat with them. Then they made him reverence and departed.' " On the 23d of September, Hudson began to descend the river. On his way down, his men went frequently on shore, and had several very friendly interviews with the natives, who expressed a desire that they might reside among them ; and made them an offer of lands for that purpose. But when the ship came below the highlands, the savages appeared to be of a different character, and were extremely troublesome ; especially those who inhabited the western side of the river. They attempted to rob the ship, and repeatedly shot at me crew with bows and arrows from several points of land. Hudson's men discharged several muskets at them, and killed ten or twelve of them. In these conflicts, which were frequently renewed during the first and second days of October, none of the ship's crew appears to have been injured. The land on the eastern side of the river, near its mouth, was called by the natives ' Manna-hattaJ " On the 4th day of October, (just one month from the day on which he landed within Sandy Hook,) Hudson came out of the river which bears his name ; and without anchoring in the bay, immedi- ately stood out to sea. By twelve o'clock at noon that day he was entirely clear of land. He steered directly for Europe ; and on the 9th of November following he ' arrived,' as the writer of the journal expresses it, 'in the range of Dartmouth, Devonshire.' Here the journal ends. " Whether Hudson immediately landed in England, cannot now be clearly ascertained ; but it appears that he left that country in April, 1610, and reached the American coast early in the summer. He OUTLINE HISTORY. 17 soon discovered the great northern bay which bears his name. There, after an unwise delay, he was compelled to pass a distressing and dangerous winter. In the spring, in addition to all his other misfor- tunes, he found a spirit of dissatisfaction and mutiny growing among his crew, and at length manifesting itself in open violence. This proceeded so far, that on the 22d of June, 1611, a majority of the crew arose, took command of the ship, put Hudson, his son, and seven others, most of whom were sick or lame, into a boat, turned them adrift in the ocean, and abandoned them to their fate. They never were heard of more. " Hudson did not give his own name to the river which he discov- ered. The Iroquois Indians called it Cahohatatea. The Mahicaris, Mahakaneghtuc, and sometimes Shatemuck. Hudson styled it em- phatically the ' Great River,' or the ' Great River of the Mountains ;' no doubt from the extraordinary circumstance of such a body of water flowing through the mountains without a cataract. The name of its discoverer, however, was early attached to it. I find it familiarly called Hudson's river, in some of the public documents of the Dutch colonial government ; but more frequently the North river, to dis- tinguish it from the Delaware, which was discovered by the same navigator, and which being within the territory claimed by the Dutch, was called by them the South river. " The Dutch immediately began to avail themselves of the advan- tage which the discovery of Hudson presented to their view. In 1610, it appears that at least one ship was sent hither by the East In- dia Company, for the purpose of trading in furs, which it is well known continued for a number of years to be the principal object of com- mercial attraction to this part of the new world. In 1614, a fort and trading-house were erected on the spot where Albany now stands, and called Fort Orange ; and about the same time another fort and trading-house were established on the southwest point of Manhattan Island, and called New Amsterdam. The whole colony received the name of New Netherlands." — Hist. Discourse hy Samuel Miller, D. D., vol i. Coll New York Hist. Soc. In 1621, "the Privileged West India Company" was formed in Holland ; this company in 1623 began its operations along the Hud- son, with a direct view to colonization. A number of settlers during this year were sent out, under the command of Cornells Jacohse Mey, who were most heartily welcomed by the few previous inhabitants. Before these arrived they had been two years without supplies, and had been obliged to cut up the sails of some of their boats for neces- sary clothing. In compliment to Capt. Mey, they named the bay of New York Port Mey. During the same year the forts New Amster- dam and Orange were erected, upon the sites of the present cities of New York and Albany. In 1625, the West India Company freighted two ships, in one of which Peter Minuit arrived in New Netherland, with a company of Waloons, who settled on Long Island opposite New Amsterdam. Minuit is considered by some as the msi Governor or Director of 3 18 OUTLINE HISTORY. New Netherland. Subordinate to him, the gradation of authority and rank seems to have been: 1. Opper-Koo])7nan ; 2. Onder-Koop- man ; 3. Koopman ; 4, Assistant. The office of Opper-Koopman, chief-merchant or commissary, was vested in Isaac de Raiser. In four or five years the trade with the natives was greatly extended, attracting dealers even from the lakes, and from the banks of the St. Lawrence near Quebec. In 1629, the company adopted a charter of" Liberties and exemp- tions for patroons, masters, and private individuals, who should plant colonies in New Netherland, or import thither any neat cattle." The terms of encouragement to those who should send out settlers, were great. Such as should undertake to plant a colony of fifty souls, up- wards of fifteen years old, were to be acknowledged Patroons, a name denoting something baronial and lordly in rank and means. They were allowed to select lands for miles in extent, which should descend to their posterity for ever. Under this charter, several directors of the company determined to avail themselves of these privileges, among whom were Samuel Goodyn, Samuel Bloemart, Killian Van Rensselaer, the Heer Pauw, and Jan de Laet. These persons sent out Wouter Van Twiller, as agent, to inspect the condition of the country, and to purchase the lands of the natives for the purpose of settlement. Owing to some disturbances in the colony, Minuit was recalled in 1633, and Wouter Van Twiller was appointed in his place. The arrival of Van Twiller, as governor, gave a fresh impulse to the set- tlements. During his administration, the controversy occasioned by the encroachments of the English was begun. In 1638, William Kieft succeeded Van Twiller as governor of New Netherland. In 1642, he broke up the English settlement on Long Island, and fitted up two sloops to drive them out of the Schuylkill, of which they had possessed themselves. In 1643, the New England colonies entered into a league both against the Dutch and Indians. In 1646, a severe battle was fought on part of Strickland's Plain, called Horse Neck, between the Dutch and Indians. There appears not to have been any particulars of the action preserved ; but it is said fhe battle was contested with mutual obstinacy, and great numbers were killed on both sides. The Dutch ultimately remained masters of the field. In 1647, Peter Stuyvesant arrived at Fort Amsterdam, as govern- or. He was a brave old ofhcer, and had been commissioned gov- ernor-general of Curacoaand the Dutch West Indies. He laid claim to all the lands and streams from Cape Henlopen to Cape Cod ; he went to Hartford, and demanded a surrender to the Dutch of all the lands on Connecticut river. These claims were opposed, and left to the decision of arbitrators. Long Island was divided : the eastern part was to be held by the English, the western by the Dutch ; to the main, the boundaries were amicably adjusted. In 1664, Charles II. of England, disregarding the Dutch claim on New Netherland, made a ^ant to his brother, the Duke of York and Albany, which included alFthe mainland of New England, begin- OUTLINli HISTORY. 19 ning at St. Croix, extending to the rivers Connecticut and Hudson, " together with the said river called Hudson's river, and all the lands from the west side of Connecticut river, to the east side of Delaware Bay." In order to enforce this claim of England for the New Nether- land, an expedition, consisting of three ships, 130 guns, and six hun- dred men, was sent against it, under the command of Col. Richard Nichols. On his arrival at Manhattan, Nichols demanded the sur- render of the fort. Gov. Stuyvesant was exceeding loth to surrender without an attempt at defence, but the favorable terms offered to the inhabitants disposed them to an immediate capitulation. After some fruitless negotiation, during which Gov. Stuyvesant pleaded the justice of the title of the States-General, and the existing peace between them and the English nation, the province was surrendered, August 27th, 1664, upon the most liberal terms to the vanquished. Having taken possession of the country, Nichols assumed the gov- ernment, with the title of " Deputy-governor under his royal high- ness the Duke of York, of all his territories in America." New Amsterdam was now called, in honor of the Duke, New York, and Fort Orange, Albany. Gov. Nichols proceeded to erect a Court of Assizes, consisting of the governor, council, and justices oithe peace This court compiled a body of laws, collected from the ancient cus- toms and usages, with additional improvements, such as the times required, regarding English law as the supreme rule. These ordi- nances were sent to England, and confirmed by the Duke of York the following year. It is supposed that, at the time Nichols took possession of the province, the Dutch inhabitants were about 6000 in number. New Amsterdam, the metropolis, it is said, contained about 3000 persons, about half of whom returned to Holland. Their habitations, however, were soon occupied by emigrants, partly from Great Britain, but mostly from New England, Upon Hudson river there were many Dutch settlers ; and upon the shores of the Delaware, there were numerous plantations of Dutch and Swedes. Col. Nichols, after having governed the province about three years, resigned his office, and Col. Francis Lovelace was appointed by the duke to succeed him. Lovelace assumed the government in 1667, and continued his administration till the colony was re-surrendered to the Dutch. War having been declared against Holland, a small squadron was sent over by the Dutch, which arrived at Staten Island July 30th, 1673. Lovelace being absent from New York, Captain Manning, who had the charge of the town, rejected the aid of the English inhabitants, who offered to defend the place, sent a messenger to the enemy, and struck his flag before their vessels appeared in sight. As the fleet advanced, the garrison showed their willingness to fight ; but Manning forbade a gun to be fired, under pain of death, and surrendered the place unconditionally to the invaders. He was afterwards tried by a court-martial, and pleaded guilty to all the charges preferred. His sentence was as extraordinary as his con- duct ; it was, that, " though he deserved death, yet, because he had 20 OUTLINE HISTORY. since the surrender been in England, and seen the king and duke, it was adjudged that his sword should be broke over his head, in pub- lic, before the City Hall ; and himself rendered incapable of wearing a sword, and of serving his majesty for the future, in any public trust in the government." Anthony Clove was constituted the Dutch governor, but he remained in the office but a short period. A treaty of peace, in 1674, was concluded between the Dutch and English, by which New Nether- land was restored to the English. The Duke of York, to remove all controversy respecting his property in America, took out a new patent from the king, and commissioned Major Edmund Andros " Governor of New York, and all his territories in these parts." Andros, as the agent of a despotic master, was unpopular to the people under his government, and involved himself in disputes with the neighboring government of Connecticut. The province of New York, about the year 1678, contained twenty- four towns, villages, and parishes. Fifteen vessels, on an average, traded yearly with England, importing EngUsh manufactures to the value of £50,000 sterling. Its annual exports, besides pease, beef, pork, tobdtico, and peltry, consisted of about sixty thousand bushels of wheat. The city of New York contained 3,430 inhabitants, and ovmed only three ships, eight sloops, and seven boats. " A trader worth £500 was considered a substantial merchant ; and the planter, worth half that sum in movables, was accounted rich. All the es- tates in the colony were valued at £150,000. Ministers were scarce, and religions many. The duke maintained a chaplain at New York, which was the only certain endowment of the church of England. There were about twenty houses for public worship, of which about half were vacant. The law made it obligatory upon every district to build churches, and provide for their ministers, whose compensa- tion varied from £40 to £70 a-year, besides a house and garden. But the Presbyterians and Independents, the greater and more sub- stantial portion of the inhabitants, only, showed much willingness to comply with the requisition. There were no beggars in the province, and the poor were well cared for. The militia amounted to 2000, mcluding 140 horsemen ; and some regular troops were maintained for the forts at Albany and New York." Col. Thomas Dongan arrived at New York, in August, 1683, as the successor of Andros in the government. He immediately, on the request of the magistrates of New York, gave orders that an assem- bly should be elected by the freeholders. This assembly, consisting of a council of ten, and eighteen representatives, convened at Hemp- stead on the 17th of October. They passed an act of general natural- ization ; an act declaring the liberties of the people, or a Bill of Rights ; one for defraying the expense of government ; and a few others, regu- latmg the mternal affairs of the province. In 1686, James II. having come to the throne, on the renewal of Gov. Dongan's commission, refused to confirm the privileges granted when he was Duke of York. The assembly was prohibited, and orders were given to Dongan to OUTLINE HISTORY. 21 " suffer no printing-press in his government." Much disaffection arose at this time, among the colonists, on account of the appointment of professed Cathohcs to the principal crown offices. At this period there were in the province 4000 foot, 300 horse, and one company of dragoons. The shipping, belonging to the city of New York, had increased to nine or ten three-masted vessels, of about 80 or 90 tons ; 200 or 300 ketches or barks, of 40 tons ; and about twenty sloops, of twenty-five tons. In 1687, the French court aimed a blow, which threatened the British interests in North America. M. Denonville, with 1 500 French and 500 Indians, took the field against the Senecas, one of the con- federated tribes of the " Five Nations" who were the friends of the English. An action took place near the principal Seneca village, in which 100 Frenchmen, ten French Indians, and about eighty of the Senecas were killed. Denonville, the next day, marched forward to burn the village, but found it in ashes. The Senecas had burnt it, and fled. After destroying the corn in this and several other villages, the French returned to Canada. For this attack, and other outrages committed by the French, the confederated Five Nations thirsted for revenge. " On the 26th of July, 1688, twelve hundred of their men landed on the south side of the island of Montreal, while the French were in perfect security, burnt their houses, sacked their plantations, and put to the sword all the men, women, and children, without the skirts of the town. A thousand French were slain in this invasion, and twenty-six carried into captivity, and burnt alive. Many more were taken prisoners in another attack, in October, and the lower part of the island wholly destroyed ; only three of the confederates were lost, in all this scene of misery and desolation." Nothing but the ignorance of the Indians, in the art of attacking fortified places, saved Canada from being utterly cut off. In 1688, it was determined to add New York and the Jerseys to the jurisdiction of New England, and Sir Edmund Andros was ap- pointed captain-general and vice-admiral over the whole. Governor Dongan was removed from his office of governor, and Francis Nichol- son, who had been lieutenant-governor under him, was appointed in his stead. The constitution, established on this occasion, was a legisla- tive and executive governor, and a council, who were appointed by the king, without the consent of the people. The news of the acces- sion of William and Mary, in 1689, to the throne of England, was joyfully received in New York. Andros, the tyrant of New Eng- land, was seized at Boston. Jacob Leisler, with forty-nine men, seized the fort at New York, and held it for the protestant king and queen of England. Leisler's assumption of the command at New York excited a spirit of envy and hatred among many of the people, at the head of whom were Col. Bayard and the Mayor, who, unable to make any effectual resistance, retired to Albany. A letter arriving from the English ministry, addressed " To Francis Nicholson, Esq., or, in his absence, to such as, for the time being, take care for preserving the peace and 22 OUTLINE HISTORY. administering the laws in his majesty's provmce of New York, &c.," to do every thing pertaining to the office of Ueutenant-governor, till fai'ther orders — Nicholson having absconded, Leisler considered the letter as addressed to himself, and accordingly assumed the office of governor. The people of Albany, though friendly to William and Mary, refused subjection to Leisler. They were however compelled to submit to his authority by an armed force under Milborn, his son- in-law. The colonists continued in a state of contention nearly two years. During this period, the French and Indians from Canada, in 1690, surprised Schenectady, and massacred sixty men, women, and children. In 1691, Col. Henry Sloughter arrived at New York, as governor of the province ; which was, at this time, by an act of the assembly, divided into ten counties. The arbitrary acts of James were repealed, and the former privileges of the colonists were restored. Leisler and Milborn, having made a foolish attempt to retain their authority, were imprisoned on a charge of high treason. They were tried by a special commission, and sentenced to suffer death. Gov. Sloughter hesitated to command their execution, and wrote to the English min- isters for directions how to dispose of them. Their enemies, fearing the result of this application, made a petition for, and earnestly pressed their execution. " The governor resisted, until, having been invited by the petitioners to a sumptuous entertainment, he was, when his reason was drowned in wine, seduced to sign the death-warrant. Before he recovered his senses, the prisoners were executed." Slough- ter died suddenly, in July, 1691, and ended a short, weak, and turbu- lent administration. Upon the death of Sloughter, the government, pursuant to the late act for declaring the rights of the people, committed the chief com- mand to Richard Ingoldsby. His authority was terminated by the arrival of Col. Benjamin Fletcher, who arrived with the commission of governor, in August, 1692. Fletcher is represented as a man of violent temper, shallow capacity, and avaricious disposition. He made considerable disturbance, by his efforts to establish the Episco- pal form of church government in the province. By virtue of a com- mission which he held, Fletcher attempted to take the command of the militia of Connecticut ; and went to Hartford, in that colony, while the legislature were in session, to compel obedience. While attempting to have his commission read to the train-bands at that place, Capt. Wadsworth, their senior officer, ordered the drums to beat, and told Fletcher, who commanded " silence," that if he was interrupted he would " make the sun shine through him." Fletcher upon this desisted, and returned to New York. Early in 1693, Count Frontenac, with a force of 6 or 700 French and Indians, made an incursion into the Mohawk country, and sur- prised an Indian village on the river, slew many of the inhabitants, and took 300 prisoners. Col. Schuyler hastened to the assistance of his allies, and with about 300 Indians, mostly boys, followed the re- treating enemy, and several skirmishes ensued. When the French OUTLINE HISTORY. 23 reached the north branch of Hudson's river, a cake of ice opportunely served them to cross it ; and Schuyler, who had retaken about fifty Indians, desisted from the pursuit. The French, in this expedition, lost about eighty men, and such were their sufferings, that they were compelled to eat their own shoes ; the Iroquois, while in pursuit, fed upon the dead bodies of their enemies. In 1696, Frontenac made another descent, with a large force, and spread devastation among the possessions of the Five Nations. After this expedition, the Indians in the English interest continued to harass the inhabitants near Mon- treal, and similar parties in the French interest to harass those near Albany, until the peace of Ryswick, in 1697. In 1698, Richard, Earl of Bellamont, arrived as the successor of Fletcher, and his commission included the governments of Massachu- setts and New York : and for the latter, he brought with him his kinsman, John Nanfan, as lieutenant-governor. Piracy, at this time, prevailed in the American seas to a great extent, and the inhabitants of several colonies were accused of giving the pirates aid. The most noted of these marauders was a Captain Kidd, the remembrance of whom is kept alive by the belief that he buried immense sums of money along the coast. To suppress piracy was one of the avowed purposes of the king, in selecting a man of the high rank, resolution, and integ- rity of the Earl of Bellamont. The earl died in 1701, and Nanfan, the lieutenant-governor, assumed the command. Lord Cornbury was appointed governor the following year. Cornbury began his administration by espousing one of the factions in the colony which had its rise from Leisler, who was executed for treason. By a series of outrageous acts, he endeavored to establish the Episcopal party. lie prohibited the Dutch ministers and teach- ers from exercising their functions without his special license, and imprisoned some of them for disobeying his orders. This tyrant was the grandson of the Earl of Clarendon, and first cousin of the queen. " Having dissipated his substance in riot and debauchery, and being compelled to fly from his creditors, he obtained from his patron the government of New York, which was confirmed by the queen, who added the government of New Jersey. His character is portrayed as a compound of bigotry and intolerance, rapacity and prodigality, voluptuousness and cruelty, united with the loftiest arrogance and the meanest chicane." His dissolute habits and ignoble manners completed the disgust with which he was universally regarded ; and when he was seen rambling abroad in the dress of a woman, the people beheld with indignation and shame the representative of their sove- reign and the ruler of the colony. In 1709, the queen was compelled to revoke his commission by the complaints of the people of New York and New Jersey. When deprived of his office, his creditors put him in prison in the province he had governed, where he remain- ed till the death of his father elevated him to the peerage, which entitled him to liberation. John, Lord Lovelace, Baron of Hurley, the successor of Cornbury, arrived in the province, December, 1708. The hopes entertained, 24 OUTLINE HISTORY. from his exalted character, of a happy administration, were frustrated by his death on the succeeding 5th of May. The government now devolved upon Richard Ingoldsby, lieutenant-governor. His admin- istration of eleven months is chiefly distinguished by an unsuccessful attempt on Canada. In this attempt, the province of New York dis- covered much zeal. Besides raising several companies, she procured six hundred warriors of the Five Nations, paid their wages, and maintained a thousand of their wives and children at Albany while they were in the campaign, at the expense of about twenty thousand pounds. In 1710, Colonel Schuyler went to England, to press upon the ministry the importance of subduing Canada. The more effectu- ally to accomplish this object, he took with him five Indian chiefs, who gave Queen Anne assurances of their fidelity, and solicited her assistance against their common enemies, the French.* Brigadier-general Robert Hunter, a native of Scotland, arrived as governor of the province, in June, 1710. He brought with him three thousand Palatines, who, in the previous year, had fled to England from the rage of persecution in Germany. Many of these persons settled in the city of New York, others in Livingston Manor in Co- lumbia county, while others went into Pennsylvania. In 1711, the assembly of New York, in order to assist the enterprise under the command of Colonel Nicholson for the reduction of Canada, passed an act for raising troops, restricted the price of provisions, and issued 10,000/. in bills of credit, to be redeemed by taxation in five years. Nicholson mustered at Albany two thousand colonists, one thousand * " The arrival of the five sachems in England, made a great bruit through the whole kingdom. The mob followed wherever they went, and small cuts of them were sold among the people. The court was at that time in mourning for the death of the Prince of Denmark ; these American kings were, therefore, dressed in black underclothes, after the English manner; but instead of a blanket, they had each a scarlet-in-grain cloth mantle edged with gold, thrown over all their other garments. This dress was directed by the dressers of the play-house, and given by the queen, who was advised to make a show of them. A more than ordinary solemnity attended the audience they had of her majesty. Sir Charles Cotterel conducted them in two coaches to St. James's ; and tiie Lord Cham- berlain introduced them into the royal presence. Their speech on the 19th of April, 1710, is preserved by Oldmixon, and is in these words : " Great Queen — We have undertaken a long voyage, which none of our predecessors could be prevailed upon to undertake, to see our great queen, and relate to her those things which we thought absolutely for the good of her, and us her allies, on the other side of tlie water. " We doubt not but our great queen has been acquainted with our long and tedious war, in conjunction with her children against her enemies, the French, and that we have been as a strong wall, for their security, even to the loss of our best men. We were mightily rejoiced when we heard our great queen had resolved to send an army to reduce Canada; and immediately, in token of friendship, we hung up the kettle, and took up the hatchet, and with one consent, assisted Colonel Nicholson, in making preparations on this side the lake : but at length, we were told our great queen, by some important affairs, was prevented in her design at present, which made us sorrowful, lest the French, who had hitherto dreaded us, should now think us unable to make war against them. The reduction of Canada is of great weight to our free hunting ; so that if our great queen should not be mindful of us, we must, with our famihes, forsake our country, and seek other habitations, or stand neuter, either of which will be much against our inclinations. •' In token of the sincerity of these nations, we do, in their names, present our great queen with these belts of wampum, and in hopes of our great queen's favor, leave it to her most gracious consideration." OUTLINE HISTORY. 25 Palatines, and one thousand Indians, who commenced their march towards Canada on the 28th of August. A fleet, under the command of Admiral Walker, sailed from Boston with a land force of six thou- sand four hundred men, with the intention of joining Colonel Nich- olson before Quebec. The admiral arrived in the St. Lawrence early in August, but owing to fogs and tempestuous weather, eight or nine transports, with about a thousand men, were lost by shipwreck. This put an end to the expedition, and the admiral sailed for Eng- land. Nicholson, who had proceeded as far as Lake George, was compelled to retreat. The peace of Utrecht, signed March, 1713, put an end to hostilities, and continued till 1739. Governor Hunter, after a wise and popular administration, left the province in 1719, and the command devolved on Colonel Peter Schuy- ler. In September, 1 720, William Burnet, son of the celebrated Bishop Burnet, arrived as the successor of Governor Hunter. His administra- tion of seven years was prosperous. Soon after his arrival, for the purpose of securing the trade and friendship of the Six Nations, he erected a trading-house at Oswego, in the country of the Senecas. The great merit of Governor Burnet's administration consisted in his effectual efforts to diminish the trade and influence of the French with the northern Indians. He failed, however, in his endeavors to prevent the establishment of a French fort at Niagara, by which they secured to themselves the possession of the west end of Lake Ontario, as they had previously that of the east by the erection of Fort Fron- tinac many years before. The persecutions in France at this period, which ensued the revocation of the edict of Nantz, drove many of the protestant subjects of Louis XIV. into foreign countries. Many fled to this province. The most wealthy settled in the city : others planted New Rochelle on the East river, and a few seated themselves at New Paltz in Ulster county. In 1728, Colonel John Montgomery received from Governor Bur- net the seal of the province, and assumed the government. His short administration, terminated by his death in 1731, was one of tranquillity, and not distinguished by any important event. During his term, in 1731, the boundary between New York and Connecticut was finally settled ; and a tract of land upon the Connecticut side, of 60,000 acres, called the Oblong, was ceded to the former in consideration of another near the Sound, surrendered to the latter. Governor Montgomery was succeeded by Rip Van Dam, the old- est member of the council, and an eminent merchant of the city, who held the government until August, 1732, when William Cosby ar- rived, with a commission to govern this, and the province of New Jersey. The French, during this year, erected Fort Frederic at Crown Point, which gave to them the command of Lake Champlain. The finances at this period were much embarrassed ; while the fre- quent calls for supplies imposed a heavy burden upon the colony. In 1734, the establishment of a court of equity was agitated in the assembly. The governors had previously exercised the office of chan- cellor, which had at times excited the jealousy, and produced much 4 26 OUTTJNE HISTORY. controversy among the colonists. The court party insisted that the governor was, ex officio, chancellor of the colony, while the popular party warmly opposed this position. After the close of the session, there appeared in the paper called " Zenger's New York Weekly Journal," severe animadversions on the government. Several printed ballads likewise appeared, which ridiculed some of the members of the legislature. The governor and council considering the subject worthy of notice, voted that the obnoxious numbers of Zenger's paper, and two printed ballads, were derogatory to the dignity of his majesty's government, and tended to raise sedition and tumult. They likewise voted that said papers and ballads should be burnt by the common hangman. Zenger was imprisoned for eight months, and much ferment was produced in the colony. Governor Cosby died in March, 1736. One of his last acts was the suspension of Rip Van Dam from his seat as councillor of the pro- vince. After Cosby's death, the council immediately convened, and George Clarke, the senior councillor, next after Rip Van Dam, was declared president, and assumed the government. A powerful party, however, was formed in favor of Mr. Van Dam, as his suspension from the council was by many declared illegal. The sharp contro- versy on this point was ended in October, when Mr. Clarke received his commission as lieutenant-governor. During the administration of Governor Clarke, the colony was embroiled in controversies principally relating to the prerogatives of the governor on one hand, and the rights of the people on the other. In their second session, 1737, the house departed from their accus- tomed mode of proceeding, and instead of voting to take the govern- or's speech into consideration, voted that his honor the lieutenant- governor be addressed. This address is a remarkable production for the times in which it was formed. On the sul-ject of the revenue, the house adopted the following bold and energetic language: " The true causes of the deficiency in the revenue, we beHeve are too well known to your honor, to make it necessary for us to say much on that head. Had the conspicuous loyalty of the inhabitants of this province met with a suitable treatment in return, it is not unlikely that we should now be weak enough to act like others before us, in being lavish beyond our abilities, and raising sums unnecessary to be given, and continued the donation like them for a longer time than what was convenient for the safety of the inhabitants ; but experience has shown the imprudence of such a conduct ; and the miserable condition to which the province is reduced, renders the raising of large sums very difficult if not imprac- ticable. We therefore beg leave to be plain with your honor, and hope you will not take it amiss when we tell you, that you are not to expect that we will raise sums unfit to be raised, or put what we shall raise into the power of a governor to misapply, if we can pre- vent it ; nor shall we make up any other deficiencies than what we conceive are fit and just to be paid, or continue what support or revenue we shall raise for any longer time than one year ; nor do we think it convenient to do even that, until such laws are passed as we conceive necessary for the safety of the inhabitants of this colony, who have reposed a trust in us for that only purpose, and which we are sure you will think it reasonable we should act agreeable to, and by the grace of God, we shall endeavor not to deceive them." In 1738, Captain Norris, of the ship Tartar, then lying in the city of New York, made application to the mayor for liberty to impress thirty seamen to man his vessel. The governor and council ordered the mayor to cause the impressment to be made. The mayor refused to OUTLINE HISTORY. 27 obey the order, and the governor and council prudently declined ta- king measures to enforce obedience. At the close of Clarke's admin- istration, the finances of the colony were in a depressed condition. " The duties on negro slaves, wine, rum, brandy, cocoa, and dry goods, from September, 1741, to September, 1742, amounted to £2,197 7s. l|d. only ; while the expenses of government, for about the same period, amounted to upwards of £4,600." In 1743, George Clinton, the son of the Earl of Lincoln, was ap- pointed to supersede Mr. Clarke as governor of the colony. His arrival was highly gratifying to the colonists, and a spirit of harmony prevailed. In 1744, war was declared between France and England, and great preparations were made on both sides, to carry it on with vigor. A similar spirit prevailed in their respective colonies in Amer- ica. Large appropriations were made by the assembly of New York to carry on the war. In 1745, the English colonies united in an ex- pedition against Louisburg, on Cape Breton Island. This important fortress was surrendered in June. Eight thousand pounds was voted by the assembly for the promotion of this enterprise. The country north of Albany was kept in a continued state of alarm by Indian warriors, who ranged in small parties, marking their course by conflagration and indiscriminate slaughter. The fort at Hoosic was captured by M. De Vaudreuil, in August, 1746 ; and the settlements at Saratoga were surprised, and many of the inhabitants killed or carried into captivity. These events caused much distress, and occasioned much alarm even in Ulster and Orange counties. The plan of the war, in 1746, was, that a squadron under the command of Admiral Warren, with a body of land forces, should proceed up the St. Lawrence ; while the troops from New York, and other colo- nies at the south, should be collected at Albany, and proceed against Crown Point and Montreal. The assembly of New York entered with great zeal upon this design : they levied a tax of £40,000, to re- deem bills issued for the occasion. In .Tuly, a congress of the Six Nations was held with the governor, at Albany, who was attended by Dr. Colden, Mr. Livingston, and Mr. Rutherford, members of the council. The indisposition of the governor prevented him from open- ing the council in person, and that duty fell upon Dr. Colden. The Indians formally renewed their pledge to unite zealously in the war against the French. The efforts of the colonies were, however, rendered nearly useless by the failure of the promised assistance from England. In April, 1748, the preliminaries of peace were signed at Aix-la- Chapelle, and hostilities soon after ceased. After the close of the war, the colony enjoyed a period of general tranquillity. The in- habitants vigorously pursued the arts of peace, and by industry, economy, and enterprise, repaired, in a great measure, the losses sus- tained in the preceding war. In 1750, the entries at New York were two hundred and thirty-two, and the clearances two hundred and eighty-six. Above six thousand tons of provisions, chiefly flour, were exported, besides large quantities of grain. 28 OUTLINE HISTORY. Governor Clinton having resigned, Sir Danvers Osborne arrived as his successor, in October, 1753. " Clinton is represented to have been mercenary ; to have used every plausible device, for enhancing the profits of his government ; to have sold offices and even the rever- sions of such as were ministerial ; and to have amassed a fortune, during his administration of ten years, of more than £80,000 sterling. He became, afterward, governor of Greenwich Hospital." The ad- ministration of Sir Danvers Osborne endured but a few days only. Five days after his arrival, he was found suspended by the neck in the garden of Mr. Murray, with whom he resided. This unfortu- nate gentleman is supposed to have committed suicide on account of grief for the loss of his wife, and by the embarrassments which he apprehended would attend the exercise of his office as gov- ernor. James de Lancey, who ha:d been appointed lieutenant-governor by one of the last acts of Governor Clinton, on the death of Osborne assumed the administration of government. At this period, the Eng- hsh and French extended their settlements in the colonies, and each were anxious to secure the most eligible situations for trading-houses and forts. Mutual complaints of aggression were soon followed by open acts of hostility. In 1754, a convention of delegates from New Hampshire, Massa- chusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, and Maryland, with the lieutenant-governor and council of New York, was held at Albany, for the purpose of uniting upon some scheme for the com- mon defence. The plan for a political union, drawn up by Dr. Frank- lin, a delegate from Pennsylvania, was adopted on the 4th of July. This plan had the singular fortune to be rejected by the provincial assemblies, because it gave too much power to the crown ; and, at the same time, to be rejected by the crown, because it gave too much power to the people. In September, 1755, Sir Charles Hardy, a distinguished naval offi- cer, arrived in New York with commission of governor. Being ignorant of civil affairs, he put himself into the hands of Mr. De Lancey, and was guided altogether by his counsels. Early in the spring of this year, the colonies made preparations for vigorous exer- tions against the enemy. An expedition was planned against the French in Nova Scotia, another against the French on the Ohio, a third against Crown Point, and a fourth against Niagara. The first expedition resulted in the reduction of Nova Scotia. That against the French on the Ohio failed by the defeat of General Braddock, who was drawn into an ambuscade of French and Indians near Fort du Quesne. The expedition against Crown Point, commanded by Gen. Wm. Johnson, though unsuccessful in its main object, served, in a measure, to dispel the gloom occasioned by the defeat of Braddock. Governor Shirley, of Massachusetts, took the command of the expe- dition against Niagara. He advanced to Oswego, where, being poorly supplied with provisions, the expedition was abandoned, and the troops returned to Albany. During the winter and spring following, ma- OUTLINE HISTORY. 29 rauding parties of western Indians committed many atrocities in the counties of Orange and Ulster. In the plan of operations for the campaign of 1756, Niagara and Crown Point, then in possession of the French, were the principal points of attack. Owing to the improvidence of Gen. Abercrombie, then in command, in the absence of Lord Loudon, nothing of import- ance was effected by the English forces. In August, Marquis de Montcalm, commander of the French troops in Canada, captured the two forts at Oswego, which he demolished, took 1,600 men prisoners, with 120 cannon, 14 mortars, two sloops-of-war, 200 boats and bat- teaux, with a large quantity of stores and provisions. The campaign of 1757 was equally unsuccessful on the part of the English, Fort William Henry, on Lake George, with a garrison of 3,000 men under Col. Munro, was compelled, after a brave defence, to surrender to Montcalm. This event gave the French the command of the lake and the western frontier. In 1758, the celebrated William Pitt, Lord Chatham, now placed at the head of the British ministry, gave a new tone to their measures, and a fresh impulse to the colonies. The tide of success was soon turned in favor of the English, which continued, with few exceptions, 4ill Canada was subjected to their arms. The plan for this year com- prehended three expeditions, viz, Louisburg, Ticonderoga, and Fort du Quesne. Louisburg surrendered to Gen. Amherst in July. Gen. Abercrombie, with an army of 16,000 men, passed Lake George and made an attack on Ticonderoga. After a contest of four hours, he was compelled to retire with the loss of nearly two thousand in killed and wounded. Abercrombie, after his defeat, sent Col. Brad- street, with 3,000 men, against Fort Frorrtenac, on the northeastern side of the outlet of Lake Ontario. Bradstreet sailed down the lake, landed within a mile of the fort, and in two days compelled it to surrender.* The garrison at Fort du Quesne, unsustained by their savage allies, on the 24th of November abandoned and burnt this fortress on the approach of the British army under Gen. Forbes. Great Britain, having resolved to annihilate the French power in * The expedition under Col. Bradstreet consisted of the following troops : — Regulars, 135 ; Royal artillery, 30 ; New York provincials, 1,112 ; Massachusetts do., 675 ; New Jer- sey do., 412 ; Rhode Island do., 318 ; batteau-men, 300 ; and about 60 rangers ; in all 3,035. The regulars were commanded by Capt. Ogilvie, and the artillery by Lieut. Brown, The New York troops consisted of two detachments. The first commanded by Lieutenant, colonel Charles Clinton, of Ulster, amounting in the whole to 440, under Capts. Ogden, of West- chester, Peter Dubois, of New York, Samuel Bladgely, of Dutchess, and Daniel Wright, oi Queens. The second was commanded by Lieutenant-colonel Isaac Corse, of Queens, and Major Nathaniel Woodhull, of Suffolk, amounting to 668, under Captains Elias Hand, of Suf- folk, Richard Hewlett, of Queens, Thomas Arrowsmith, of Richmond, William Humphrey, of Dutchess, Ebenezer Seeley, of Ulster, and Peter Yates and Goosen Van Schaick, of Al- bany. The troops left Fort Stanwix, August 14th, 1758, and the fort capitulated on the 27th. The commander of the fort was exchanged for Col. Peter Schuyler. Col. Corse, who had distinguished himself in the three preceding campaigns, with a part of his troops, volunteered to erect a battery, in the night of the 26th, in the midst of the enemy's fire, ■which in the morning commanded their fort, and led to an immediate surrender. The colonel received a slight wound, but not so severe as to unfit him for duty. The detach- ment returned to Fort Stanwix the 10th of September." — Gordon's Gaz. of New York. 30 OUTLINE HISTORY. America, made adequate preparations for the campaign of 1759. The colonies now displayed that zeal with which men pursue their interests when animated with well-founded hopes of success. The legislature of New York authorized a levy of 2,680 men, and issued the sum of £100,000 in bills of credit, bearing interest, and redeem- able in 1768, by the proceeds of an annual tax. The impositions, in the space of five months of the year 1759, amounted to $625,000. At the instance of Gen. Amherst, a loan of £150,000 was made to the crown, which was paid in specie. The contemplated points of attack, in 1759, were Ticonderoga, Crown Point, Niagara, and Quebec. Gen. Amherst took Ticonde- roga, and proceeded to Crown Point, which surrendered without op- position. In July, Gen. Prideaux invested Niagara, but was slain by the bursting of a cohort in the trenches. The fort was, however, captured by Sir William Johnson, who succeeded him in command. On the 13th of September, a severe battle was fought between the British forces under Gen. Wolfe, and the French under Montcalm. Both these commanders were killed, the French were defeated, and Quebec surrendered to the British arms. In the ensuing spring of 1760, the French made a fruitless attempt to recover Quebec. On the 8th of September, Montreal, Detroit, Michilimackinac, and all other places within the government of Canada, were surrendered to his Britannic majesty. The conquest of Canada, by preventing the incursions of the French and Indians into the territory of New York, removed a great obstacle to the prosperity of the colony. Gov. De Lancey died suddenly, July 30th, 1760. Cadwallader Colden assumed the government, as president of the council, and received the appointment of lieutenant- governor in August, 1761. Mr. Colden was superseded by General Robert Monckton on the 26th of October. This gentleman being placed at the head of an expedition against Martinique, on the 15th of November, left the government of the province to Mr. Colden, under an agreement for an equal division of the salary and per- quisites. In 1763, the celebrated controversy with New Hampshire, respect- ing boundaries, commenced. The territory in question comprised the country between Connecticut river and Lake Champlain, since known as Vermont. The original character of the colonies, owing to im- perfect surveys of the country, were many of them extremely indefi- nite, vague, and often contradictory. A grant was made in 1664 and 1674, by Charles II. to his brother, the Duke of York, containing, among other parts of America, " all the lands, from the west side of Connecticut river, to the east side of Delaware bay." This territory was, however, by many supposed to fall within the limits of New Hampshire, although claimed by New York, by virtue of the grant made to the Duke of York. The government of New Hampshire, in 1760, made large grants of land to settlers west of Connecticut, and the settlements progressed with astonishing rapidity. In 1763, one hundred and thirty-eight OUTLINE HISTORY. 31 townships had been granted by New Hampshire, extending as far west as the shore of Lake Champlain, and to what was esteemed twenty miles east of Hudson river. To check these proceedings, Gov. Golden issued a proclamation, claiming jurisdiction as far east as Gonnecticut river. He also commanded the sheriff of Albany county to make return of all persons, who, under the New Hampshire grants, had taken possession of lands west of the river. In opposi- tion to this, the governor of New Hampshire issued a proclamation, declaring the grant of the Duke of York to be obsolete, and that New Hampshire extended as far west as Massachusetts and Con- necticut. Application having been made to the crown, a decision was ob- tained in 1764, by which the western bank of Connecticut river was declared to be the boundary line between the provinces of New Hampshire and New York. The government of New York proceeded to organize the new territory, and to exercise jurisdiction. The new district was divided into four counties. The southwestern part was annexed to the county of Albany, and the northwestern part formed into a county, by the name of Charlotte ; east of the Green Moun- tains were formed the counties of Gloucester and Cumberland. Courts were held in these counties, the grants of land under New Hamp- shire were declared illegal, and the settlers required to take out new charters from New York. Some of the towns complied, and pur- chased their lands the second time, but the greater part refused. Ac- tions of ejectment were commenced in Albany against several of the ancient settlers, which were decided in favor of the New York titles. When the executive officers came to eject the inhabitants, they gene- rally met with opposition, and were not allowed to proceed in the execution of their offices. The militia were called out to support the sheriff; but as they agreed in sentiment with the settlers, they disbanded themselves on the appearance of armed opposition. As the efforts of the government were continued, mobs were raised, the opposition of the settlers became more bold and daring, and was fre- quently characterized by acts, of outrage and violence. In 1765, much excitement was produced by the stamp act, passed by the British parliament, for the purpose of raismg a revenue from the colonies. This act ordained that all instruments of writing, such as deeds, bonds, notes, &c., among the colonies, should be null and void, unless executed on stamped paper, for which a duty should be paid to the crown. In October, a congress of twenty-eight delegates, from Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and South Carolina, was held at New York, to consult on the common interest. They made a declaration of the rights and grievances of the colonies, and peti- tioned for redress. In Connecticut and New York originated an association of persons styling themselves the " Sons of Liberty," which extended into other colonies, who bound themselves, among other things, to march to any part of the continent, at their own ex- pense, to support the British constitution in America : by which was 32 OUTLINE HISTORY. understood, the prevention of any attempt to carry the stamp act into operation. In New York, Peter de Lancey, James M'Evers, and other stamp officers, obeyed the pubhc voice, and renounced their commissions. Gov. Golden, having taken the oath to execute the stamp act, became the object of popular indignation. His effigy was carried about the city and hung ; his carriage and other property w^ere burned ; and his person was probably preserved from violence, only by his ad- vanced age. When the stamps arrived, they were lodged in the fort, which the governor, contrary to the advice of his council, put into a state for defence. He was obliged to surrender their custody to the city corporation, on the assurance of being responsible for their value, and to declare that he would take no measures to enforce the act, but leave the subject to his successor, who was hourly expected. Sir Henry Moore, Bart., who was commissioned governor in July, 1765, met the council on the 13th of November following, and proposed at once to attempt the execution of the stamp act. The unanimous ad- vice of his council, and the demonstration of public feeling, induced him to a more prudent course. Gov. Moore's administration was terminated by his death, in Sep- tember, 1769. During his term of service elforts were made, unsuc- cessfully, to settle the boundaries between this province and Massa- chusetts, who claimed territory to the Pacific Ocean. Emigrants from Massachusetts intruded into the counties along the Hudson, and settled even in the manor of Rensselaerwyck. They were frequently removed by force, and blood was shed more than once in the attempt. Commissioners from both colonies met at New Haven, October, 1767, who agreed that the western line of Massachusetts should be fixed at twenty miles east from Hudson river, but differed as to the man- ner in which that line should be determined. At the termination of Gov. Moore's administration, the supreme court consisted of four judges : Daniel Horsemanden, chief justice ; David Jones, second ; William Smith, third ; and Robert R. Livings- ton, the fourth justice. The first received £300, and the others £200 per annum. The salary of the governor had been increased, from time to time, to £2,000 per annum, with a perquisite of £400, granted as an appropriation for fire-wood and candles for Fort George. The attorney had £l50, and the colonial agent, Mr. Charles, at Lon- don, £500 per annum. The colony of New York contained, at this period, upwards of one hundred and sixty thousand inhabitants. By the death of Sir Henry Moore, the government again devolved on Mr. Golden. This his third administration, continued till Novem- ber, 1770, when he was superseded by John, Lord Dunmore. With the service of this nobleman commenced the practice of paying the governor by the crown. This practice was afterward denounced by most of the colonies as a serious grievance, as it made the govern- or independent of the assembly. Dunmore governed the colony until his removal to Virginia, when his place was supplied on the 8th of July, 1771, by William Try on, the last of the royal governors. OUTLINE HISTORY. 83 In 1772, Governor Try on made an unsuccessful attempt to con- ciliate the minds of the settlers of the New Hampshire grants. In 1774, the assembly passed an act by which it was declared felony, punishable by death, for any of these settlers to oppose the govern- ment by force. The governor at the same time made proclamation offering a reward of fifty pounds for the apprehension of Ethan Al- len, Seth Warner, and six others of the most obnoxious of the settlers. The inhabitants of the New Hampshire grants became still more violent in their opposition. The proscribed persons, in an address to the people of the county of Albany, made this public declaration : — " We will kill and destroy any person or persons whomsoever, who shall presume to be accessary, aiding, or assisting in taking any of us." In the spring of 1775, an event took place in the New Hampshire grants which exasperated both parties. At the time appointed for the session of the court at Westminster, in the disputed territory, some of the inhabitants in this and the adjacent towns took possession of the courthouse, to prevent the officers under the authority of New York from entering. The judges, on being refused admittance, retired to their quarters. About eleven o'clock at night, the sheriff" and other officers, attended by an armed force, repaired to the courthouse, when, being again refused admittance, some of the party fired into the house, killed one man, and wounded several. The people were highly inflamed by these rash proceedings. Some of the officers were seized, and carried to the jail at Northampton, Massachusetts. Matters now appeared about to be brought to a sanguinary crisis. But at this period, an event took place, which arrested the attention of all, and gave a new channel to the torrent of popular fury. The breaking out of the revolutionary war at Lexington, caused a suspension of local and provincial contests ; and the public mind was exclusively directed to the great contest now opening between Britain and America. In May, 1775, the second continental congress was to be assembled at Philadelphia. The subject of sending delegates to this body was agitated in the assembly of New York ; and on the refusal of that body to appoint them, a provincial convention was called by the people for this purpose. The convention assembled at New York on the 22d of April, and proceeded to make the appointments. This convention was composed of deputies from New York, Albany, Dutchess, Ulster, Orange, Westchester, Kings, and Suffolk counties. They appointed Philip Livingston, George Clinton, James Duane, John Alsop, Simon Boerum, William Floyd, John Jay, Henry Wisner, Philip Schuyler Lewis Morris, Francis Lewis, and Robert R. Livingston, Jr., dele- gates to the continental congress, who, or any five of them, were intrusted with full power to concert with the other colonies, and adopt those measures best adapted to sustain their rights. The news of the battle of Lexington, (19th of April, 1775,) caused a violent agitation in the city of New York, which prevailed for some days, until a new committee of superintendence, consisting of one hundred of the most respectable citizens, was formed at the instance 5 34 OUTLINE HISTORY. of the " committee of observation," It was resolved that a provincial congress ought to be speedily assembled, to assume the government of the colony, to prepare for defence, &c. It submitted at the same time the form of an association, to be signed by the inhabitants, de- claratory of their rights and liberties, and of their determination to sustain them. This association was signed by the whigs with great cordiality, and by the tories under the fear of, or by actual constraint. The inhabitants generally began to arise under the direction of com- mittees. Six hundred stands of arms were seized in the city arsenal and distributed among the people : another parcel was taken from the soldiery by Colonel Willet, when on the way to the hai'bor to be exported to Boston. It was deemed of importance, in order to put the country in a pos- ture of defence, to secure the fortresses at Ticonderoga and Crown Point. On the 10th of May, Colonel Ethan Allen took possession of Ticonderoga by surprise : on the same day. Crown Point was sur- rendered to Colonel Warner ; a third party surprised Skeensborough, (now Whitehall.) The capture of an armed sloop at St. Johns soon after, gave to the Americans the entire command of Lake Champlain. Governor Tryon, who had been absent on a visit to Europe, returned to New York on the 24th of June. He was much esteemed by many of the citizens, and received a complimentary address from the city authorities. His exertions to promote the royal cause, soon ren- dered him extremely unpopular. In October, he became alarmed for his personal safety, and retired on board of the Halifax packet. On the 22d of May, 1775, a provincial congress, consisting of about seventy members, convened at New York. The proceedings of the convention were determined by counties ; New York having four, Albany three, and each of the others two votes. Two regiments were authorized to be levied ; bounties were offered for the manufac- ture of gunpowder and muskets in the province ; fortifications were projected at Kingsbridge, and the Highlands ; and Philip Schuyler and Richard Montgomery were recommended, the first as major- general, the second as brigadier, to be appointed by the continental congress. Upon the adjournment of the congress, in September, for a month, they delegated their powers to a " Committee of Safety ;" and this ex- pedient was resorted to upon every subsequent" adjournment. Ordina- rily, this committee was composed of three members from the city, and one from each of the other counties. When on the re-assembling of the congress, and at other times, a quorum was not present, the members resolved themselves into a " committee of safety," and thus the public business was never interrupted. The committee was em- powered to execute the resolves of the provincial and general con- gresses, to superintend the military affairs of the province, to appro- priate money for the public service, and to convene the congress when and where they deemed necessary. While General Washington was engaged in organizing the main body of the American army in Massachusetts, an important expedi- OUTLINE HISTORY. 35 tion was planned against Canada, the command of which was assign- ed to Generals Schuyler and Montgomery. General Schuyler having retired on account of ill health, Montgomery, with a force of one thousand men, proceeded to Montreal, and from thence led his gallant little army to Quebec. During his progress. Colonel Arnold, with a boldness and perseverance rarely surpassed, passed up the Kennebec river and pursued liis course through a trackless wilderness of three hundred miles, and joined Montgomery at Quebec. On the last day of the year, (1775,) General Montgomery, with a force of less than eight hundred, attempted to take Quebec by storm. This brave com- mander fell in the assault, and the Americans were repulsed with the loss of about half their number. Arnold, now in the command, en- camped about three miles from Quebec, where he maintained his position till spring. He was afterward compelled to make a disas- trous retreat, and by the 1st of July the whole army was driven from Canada. Congress being informed that a large number of the inhabitants of Tryon county were disaffected to the American cause, and, under the direction of Sir John Johnson, were making military preparation, re- solved to disarm them. General Schuyler, to whom this business was committed, in January, 1776, called out seven hundred of the Albany militia, and commenced his march. But such was the enthu- siasm of the people that, on his arrival at Caghnewaga, his force amounted to near three thousand, including nine hundred of the Tryon county militia. The approach of this formidable body awed the royalists into submission. The whole number disarmed was supposed to amount to about six hundred. About the same time, a considerable number were entrenching themselves on Long Island, in order to support the royal cause. A detachment of the Jersey militia was sent over, by whom they were disarmed, and their lead- ers secured. The fourth provincial congress convened at White Plains on the 9th of July. This body took the title of " The Representatives of the State of New York," and exercised all the powers of sovereignty, until the establishment of the government under the constitution. On the first day of their meeting, they received from the continental con- gress The Declaration of Independence. They immediately passed an unanimous resolution, fully approving of the measure, and express- ing their determination at all hazards to support it. The convention, on the 16th of July, on the motion of Mr. Jay, declared that all per- sons abiding in the state, and who were entitled to the protection of the laws, who should aid or abet its enemies, should on conviction suffer death. In 1776, it was expected that the enemy would make New York their principal point of attack. Gen. Washington arrived in the city on the 14th of April, and great exertions were made for putting the place in a posture of defence. On the 22d of August, Lord Howe landed a force, estimated at 24,000 men, on Long Island, at Gravesend bay. The Americans, amounting to 15,000, under the command of 36 OUTLINE HISTORY. Gen. Sullivan, were encamped on a peninsula near the village of Brooklyn. On the 27th, an obstinate battle was fought, and the Ameri- cans were compelled to retire to their entrenchments with great loss. On the night of the 30th, a safe retreat was effected from the island. On the 15th of September, the British took possession of New York, the American troops having retired to Harlaem and King's Bridge. A few days after the British took possession, a fire broke out, in which about one thousand houses were destroyed, being about one fourth part of the city. A large proportion of the distinguished and wealthy inhabitants of the city of New York, and many in the adjacent country, were loy- alists, and, of course, enemies to American independence. On the arrival of the British army, the disaffected in this part of the state and the neighboring parts of New Jersey, embodied themselves under officers selected by themselves. Oliver de Lancey was appointed a general, with authority to raise a brigade of tories, and a like com- mission was given to Courtland Skinner, of New Jersey. These troops committed many murders and robberies on both sides of the Hudson river, but more especially in Westchester county. The pro- vincial congress now adopted energetic measures. The " Council of Safety" were empowered to send for persons and papers, and to em- ploy miUtary force. By its dread power numerous arrests, imprison- ments, and banishments, were made throughout the state. Many tories and their families were sent into New York, others expelled the state, others required to give security to reside within prescribed limits ; and occasionally the jails, and even the churches, were crowded with its prisoners, and many were sent for safe-keeping to the jails of Connecticut. The personal property of those who had joined the enemy was confiscated. The American army being in point of numbers greatly inferior to that of the British, General Washington drew off the main body of his army from York Island, and encamped at White Plains. Lord Howe advanced upon him with 1 5,000 men. An engagement ensued on the 28th of October, but no decisive advantage was obtained ; the Americans retired to a strong position on the heights of North Cas- tle, which the enemy declined to attack. General Washington, leav- ing about 7,500 men under General Lee to defend North Castle, crossed the Hudson and continued his retreat to the southward. The American army continuing to retire from New York, Sir William Howe embraced the opportunity of reducing Fort Wasiiington and Fort Lee, on the Hudson. While these operations were going on in the southern part of the state, the northern division of the army, under General Gates, was engaged at the north in putting Ticonderoga in a state of defence, and made preparations to secure the command of Lake Champlain. General Arnold, who commanded the American fleet, being pursued, was obliged to blow up his vessels, and, after firing the fortress at Crown Point, retreated to Ticonderoga. The British general, Carlton, after reconnoitering the latter place, deemed it prudent on the approach of winter to return to Canada. OUTLINE HISTORY. 37 The state convention, driven from New York, convened from time to time at Harlaem, King's Bridge, Philip's Manor, Fishkill, White Plains, Poughkeepsie, and Kingston. On the 1st of August, 1776, a committee was appointed to report a constitution. The draft of this instrument, which was prepared by Mr. Jay, was reported on the 12th of March, and finally adopted on the 20th of April, 1777. It was amended by convention in October, 1801, and superseded by the present constitution in November, 1821. The constitution of 1777 was republican in its character. The supreme executive power was vested in a governor and lieutenant-governor, who was to preside over the senate, and perform the duties of the governor in case of vacancy. The legislative power was vested in the senate and house of assembly, who were to hold at least one session every year. The governor and members of the senate and house of assembly, were to be elected by the freeholders of the state of New York. The returns of the first elections under the new constitution were made to the Council of Safety, July 9th, 1777. General George Clinton was chosen governor, and was sworn into office on the 30th of the same month, at Kingston, being then in the active command of the New York militia. He did not quit the field until after the defeat of Burgoyne, but discharged such civil duties as devolved on him, by correspondence with the Council of Safety. At the adoption of the constitution, the state was divided into fourteen counties : New York, Richmond, Kings, Queens, Suflfolk, Westchester, Dutchess, Orange, Ulster, Albany, Tryon, Charlotte, Cumberland, and Gloster ; the two last form part of the present state of Vermont. The first six (except part of Westchester and part of Orange) remained in possession of the enemy until the peace, the highlands forming the great barrier to his farther advance from the south. The principal object of the British in the campaign of 1777, was to open a communication between the city of New York and Canada, and to separate the New England from the other states. The plan consisted of two parts : General Burgoyne, with the main body of the army from Canada, was to advance by the way of Lake Cham- plain, and effect a junction, at Albany, with the royal army from New York. A detachment of British soldiers and a large body of Indians, under Colonel St. Leger, with a regiment of New York loyalists, under Sir John Johnson, were to ascend the St. Lawrence to Lake Ontario, and penetrate towards Albany by way of the Mohawk river. General Burgoyne, with an army of more than 7,000 men, exclusive of a corps of artillery and a large body of Indians, invested Ticon- deroga on the 30th of June. This fortress was abandonded by General St. Clair, on the approach of the enemy. The rear-guard of the American army, consisting of 1 ,000 men, under Colonel War- ner, was overtaken and defeated at Hubbardston. General Schuyler, who commanded at Fort Edward, was obliged to retire to Saratoga before the superior force of the enemy. While the British were en- camped at Fort Edward, a detachment, under Colonel Baum, was sent to take possession of the American stores at Bennington, in the 38 OUTLINE HISTORY. New Hampshire grants. General Stark collected the militia in that vicinity, and an obstinate engagement took place, in which the British were totally defeated. On the 3d of August, St. Leger, with about 1,800 men, invested Fort Schuyler, under the command of General Gansevoort. He had a severe conflict with General Herkimer, who was advancing to the relief of the garrison, and was obliged to aban- don the siege and return to Montreal. General Burgoyne, having advanced as far as Saratoga, found himself surrounded by a brave army, from which he endeavored in vain to effect a retreat. In this extremity, on the 17th of October, he was compelled to surrender his whole army, consisting of more than 5,700 men, to General Gates. During the operations at Saratoga, Sir Henry Clinton, with three thousand men, proceeded up the Hudson, with the view of effecting a diversion in favor of Burgoyne. On the 6th of October, he made an attack on forts Montgomery and Clinton. These works were car- ried at the point of the bayonet, but most of the garrisons escaped. Forts Independence and Constitution were evacuated, and General Putnam, who had the command on the Hudson, retreated to Fishkill. General Tryon on the following day burned Continental Village, where considerable stores were deposited ; General Vaughan with a strong detachment, proceeding up the river, devastated the settle- ments along its banks, burned the village of Kingston, and then em- barked for New York. In the campaigns of 1778 and 1779, nothing decisive was effected ; the British engaged in no enterprise of much importance, and appear to have aimed at little more than to plunder and devastate the unpro- tected parts of the country. Many acts of cruelty were committed, and a great amount of public and private property destroyed. The main body of the American army was concentrated near West Point, for the protection of that important fortress. General Clinton, having seized the works at Verplanck's Neck and Stoney Point, General Washington formed a design for their recovery. The reduction of the fortress at Stoney Point by Gen. Wayne, by assault, on the 16th of July, 1779, was one of the most bold and daring enterprises which occurred during the war. The Indians of the Six Nations (with the exception of the Oneidas and a few others) had been induced by the presents and promises of Sir John Johnson, and with the desire of plunder, to invade the fron- tiers, and wherever they went they carried slaughter and devasta- tion. To put a stop to these incursions, congress, in August, 1779, sent General Sullivan with an army against them. Sullivan, with a force of 3,000 men, marched from Easton, Pennsylvania, to Tioga Point, where he was joined by General Clinton, who marched from the Mohawk with a force of about one thousand men. The Indians collected their forces, and took a strong position near Newtown, Tioga county, determining to resist the advance of Sullivan. They stood a cannonade for more than two hours, during which time they repelled several assaults ; they were, however, compelled to give way and abandon their works. Generals Sullivan and Clinton penetrated witli- OUTLINE HISTORY. 39 out obstruction into the heart of the Seneca country, and spread deso- lation on every side. Eighteen towns and villages, besides hamlets and detached habitations, were burnt. All their fields of corn, their orchards and gardens, were entirely destroyed. By this summary proceeding the ardor of the Indian warriors was damped, and their inroads became much less frequent and destructive. At the period of this expedition, different parts of the state suffered severely from the depredations of detached parties of Indians. In July, Colonel Brandt, with a party of Indians and royalists, burned the JVLnisink settlement and took several prisoners. In August, the Indians with their tory associates destroyed the settlements at Cana- johane, and burnt a number of houses at Schoharie and Norman's creek. In October, these irruptions were renewed, a great extent of country about the Mohawk was laid waste, and many of the settlers were killed or made prisoners. During the year 1780 and 1781, the operations of the war were chiefly conducted in the southern states, the British occupying the city of New York and its vicinity. In 1780, a plot, fraught with im- minent danger to the American cause, was happily discovered. Gen- eral Arnold having solicited and obtained the command of West Point, entered into a negotiation with Sir Henry Clinton, to deliver that important fortress into the hands of the enemy. To facilitate the correspondence, John Andre, the adjutant-general of the British army, proceeded up the Hudson in the Vulture sloop-of-war, as near West Point as practicable, without exciting suspicion. On the night of September 21st, Andre went on shore in a boat, and met Arngld on the beach. Failing to get on board the Vulture again, Andre at- tempted to return to New York by land, in disguise. Receiving a passport from Arnold, he passed the guards and outposts without suspicion. When about thirty miles from New York, he was met by three militia-men, Paulding, Williams, and Van Wert, who, re- fusing the bribes which Andre offered, carried him to their command- ing officer. He was tried as a spy by a board of officers, condemned, and executed. The capture of Cornwallis at Yorktown, Virginia, convinced the British government of the impracticability of conquering the United States. The provisional articles of peace between the two countries weic signed at Paris, November 30th, 1782. On the 19th of April, 1783, a formal proclamation of the cessation of hostilities was made throughout the army, and the definitive treaty, acknowledging the independence of the United States, was signed on the 30th of Sep- tember. The British troops evacuated New York on the 25th of November, and the Americans took possession the same day. The termination of the revolutionary war, and the adoption of the federal constitution in 1788, gave a new aspect to the affairs of the country. During the war a considerable portion of New York was in possession of the enemy, and many of its most fertile tracts open to their ravages : many of the new settlements were broken up. On the return of peace these were resumed, and many others commenced. 40 OUTLINE HISTORY. which progressed with astonishing rapidity. Commerce, also, expe- rienced a rapid revival on the return of peace. In 1791, the exports to foreign ports amounted to above two million five hundred thousand dollars. In 1793, six hundred and eighty-three foreign vessels, and one thousand three hundred and eighty-one coasting vessels, entered the port of New York. The controversy relative to the New Hampshire grants still con- tinued. Frequent application had been made by both parties to the general congress for the interference of that body, but no decisive result was obtained. In 1789, the legislature passed an act in order to settle this controversy, and acknowledging the territory as an in- dependent state. Commissioners were mutually appointed, and in 1790, after a controversy of twenty-six years, the subject was brought to an amicable adjustment. In 1791, the new state was admitted into the Union, with the name of Vermont. In 1786, the state of New York, to quiet or put at rest certain an- tiquated claims of Massachusetts to a portion of her territory, granted that state large tracts of vacant lands. These lands consisted of two parts : one part comprehended all that part of the state lying west of a line beginning at the north at the mouth of Great Sodus bay, on Lake Ontario, and running thence southerly to the north line of Pennsylvania, except one mile on the east side of Niagara river, and the islands in that stream. This tract consisted of six millions one hundred and forty-four thousand acres, and was called the Genesee Country. The other tract comprehended ten or twelve townships, of six square miles each, embraced in the counties of Broome and Tioga. These cessions embraced about 10,000 square miles, nearly one fourth of the state, New York ceding every thing, save sove- reignty, to Massachusetts without an equivalent. The government of Massachusetts sold the first tract to Oliver Phelps and Nathaniel Gorham, for one million of dollars, and the other to John Brown and others, for three thousand three hundred dollars and some cents. The " Military Lands" as they were called, were set apart by the legislature, in 1782, for the officers and soldiers of the state of New York, who should serve in the army of the United States till the end of the war, according to law. The military tracts contained about one million eight hundred thousand acres, comprehending, generally speaking, the counties of Onondaga, Cortland t, Cayuga, Tompkins, and Seneca, and parts of the counties of Oswego and Wayne. Pre- vious to the cession made to Massachusetts, and the grant made to the soldiers, the Indian title was not extinguished. Messrs. Phelps and Gorham, and the government of New York, had to extinguish these before settlements could be made. The first permanent settle- ment made in the western territory was by Hugh White, in 1784, in company with four or five families from Connecticut, who seated themselves at Whitestown, near Utica. A party of emigrants, in 1790 or 1791, made a road through the woods from the settlements of Whitestown to Canandaigua. Emigra- tion now increased from year to year. The winter was the season OUTLINE HISTORY. 41 usually chosen for emigrating from New England to the western country. Then, as the country was shaded by forest trees, there was commonly snow enough for sleighing. In 179G, the British evac- uated forts Oswegatchie and Oswego, and immediately afterward set- ments were begun at these places. In 1797 and 1798, settlements were commenced at Lowville, Watertown, and Brownville, in the counties of Lewis and Jefferson. Settlements were now rapidly ex- tended on every side. The settlements along the great road from Utica to Genesee river, were mostly connected by the year 1800, and from that year the western country began to attain consequence in the councils of the state. In 1795, Governor Clinton, having for eighteen years discharged the office of governor, declined a re-election on account of sustaining the republican principle of rotation in office. He was succeeded by John Jay, who continued in the office till 1801, when Mr. Clinton again accepted a re-election. In 179G, the legislature granted the Oneida Indians an annuity of $5,552, in lieu of all former stipulations for lands purchased in 1795 ; $2,300 to the Cayugas ; and $2,000 to the Onondagas. A general organization act was passed in 1801, dividing the state into thirty counties. Mr. Clinton, having been elected vice-president of the United States, Morgan Lewis succeeded him as governor, in 1804. Mr. Lewis was succeeded by Daniel D. Tompkins, in 1807. Albany, the same year, was made the capi- tal of the state. In 1810, an act was passed by the legislature "for exploring the route of an inland navigation from Hudson's river to Lake Ontario and Lake Erie." Commissioners were appointed for this purpose, who made a I'eport the following year.* The subject now began to excite general interest, and a bill being introduced by Mr. Clinton, an act was passed, " to provide for the improvement of the internal navi- gation of the state." Commissioners were again appointed to solicit * The first legislative movement with reference to a communication Hke the present canal between the Hudson and Lake Erie, was brought about by the exertions of Mr. Joshua Forman, then a member of assembly from Onondaga county, who proposed to the House, February 4th, 1808, that " a joint committee be appointed, to take into consideration the propriety of exploring and causing an accurate survey to be made of the most eligible and direct route for a canal, to open a communication between the tide xoaters of the Hud- son and Lake Erie, to the end that congress may be enabled to appropriate such sums as may be necessary to the accomplishment of that great object." " The proposition," says Gordon, in his very able Gazetteer, " was received by the House ' with such expressions of surprise and ridicule, as are due to a very wild and foolish project.' It was fortunately, however, firmly sustained by the proposer and his friends, and finally sanctioned upon the principle, ' that it could do no harm and might do some good.' But the joint committee, pre. possessed in favor of the Oswego route, directed the surveyor-general to cause a survey of the rivers, streams, and waters in the usual route between Hudson river and Lake Erie, and such other route as he might deem proper : shifting to the surveyor-general the responsi- bility of countenancing a project deemed absurd. Six hundred dollars, only, could be pro. cured for the exploration When in January, 1809, Mr. Forman waited upon President Jefferson, and informed him that in view of liis proposal to expend the surplus revenues of the nation in making roads and canals, the state of New York had explored the route of a canal from the Hudson to Lake Erie, and had foimd it practicable ; and when he had described all the advantages anticipated, the president replied, ' that it was a very fine project, and might be executed a century hence.' " 6 42 OUTIJNE HISTORY. aid from the congress of the United States. De Witt Clinton and Governeur Morns were appointed to lay the subject before the gen- eral government. They proceeded to Washington, and presented a memorial to congress ; but were unsuccessful in their application to that body for assistance. In March, 1812, the commissioners again made a report to the legislature, and insisted that now sound policy demanded that the canal should be made by the state on her own account. The subject was, however, soon after suspended by the breaking out of the war with Great Britain. War having been declared in 1812, the attention of the Americans was early directed to the invasion of Canada, and troops to the num- ber of eight or ten thousand were collected along the line for this purpose. They were distributed into three divisions ; the northwest- ern army, under General Harrison ; the army of the centre, under General Stephen Van Rensselaer, at Lewiston ; and the army of the north, in the vicinity of Plattsburg, under General Dearborn, the commander-in-chief. Great exertions were also made in preparing a naval force upon the lakes, the command of which was intrusted to Commodore (Jhauncey. About the 1st of October, Commodore Chaun- cey, with a body of seamen, arrived at Sacketts Harbor ; several schooners which had been employed as traders on the lake were purchased, and fitted out as vessels of war. Lieutenant Elliot was despatched to Black Rock, to make arrangements there for building a naval force superior to that of the enemy on Lake Erie. On the 13th of October, a detachment of one thousand men under Colonel Van Rensselaer crossed the Niagara river at Lewiston, and attacked the British on the heights of Queenston. They succeeded in dislodging the enemy, but not being reinforced from the American side, as was expected, were afterward repulsed, and compelled to surrender. During the ensuing winter, the operations of the war on the New York frontier were mostly suspended. Some skirmishing took place along the St. Lawrence ; but the opposing enemies being divided by a barrier of ice, not sufficiently strong to admit of the transportation of artillery, no entei'prise of importance was attempted. In April, 1813, General Dearborn made dispositions for a descent upon York, the capital of Upper Canada. The enterprise was com- mitted to a detachment of one thousand seven hundred men, under the command of General Pike, assisted by the fleet under the com- mand of Commodore Chauncey. General Pike was killed in the attack, but the place, with large quantities of military stores, fell into the hands of the Americans. Commodore Chauncey having returned with the fleet to Fort Niagara, it was immediately resolved to make a descent upon Fort George, situated upon the opposite shore. An attack was made on the 27th of May, and after a short contest the place fell into the hands of the Americans. During these operations of the Americans, several enterprises were undertaken by the enemy. About the last of May, a detachment of about one thousand British soldiers, under Sir George Prevost, made an attack on Sacketts Harbor, but were repulsed with considerable OUTLINE HISTORY. 43 loss. On the 10th of September, Commodore Perry captured the British fleet on Lake Erie. The operations on Lake Ontario were less decisive. During the latter part of summer and autumn, frequent skirmishes took place, but no important advantage was obtained by either party. After the victory on Lake Erie, great preparations were made for the conquest of Montreal. This object was to be effected by two divisions under Generals Wilkinson and Hampton, who were to effect a junction on the St. Lawrence. The division under Wilkinson moved down the river early in November ; on the 11th, a severe but indecisive engagement with the enemy took place at Williamsburg. General Hampton made a short incursion into Canada, but no junction was effected. The enterprise against Mon- treal was abandoned, and the troops retired to winter quarters at French Mills, near St. Regis. Fort George was evacuated and blown up by the Americans. In December, the British crossed over above Fort Niagara, and took that place by storm. After the capture of the fort, they proceeded up the river and burnt Lewiston, Youngstown, Manchester, and the Indian village of Tuscai'ora. On the 30tii, a de- tachment of the British crossed over near Black Rock. They were feebly opposed by the mihtia, who soon gave way, and were totally routed. Having set fire to Black Rock, the enemy advanced to Buffalo, which they laid in ashes, thus completing the desolation of the Niagara frontier. Early in July, 1814, Fort Erie was taken by the Americans, and during the same month sanguinary battles were fought at Chippewa and Bridgewater. On the 11th of September, Sir George Prevost, with an army of fourteen thousand men, made a descent upon Platts- burg, and after a severe engagement was compelled to retire with great loss. The British fleet, under Commodore Downie, was cap- tured by Commodore Macdonough, on the same day. The war was terminated by the treaty of Ghent, signed by the commissioners of both countries, December 24th, 1814, and ratified by the president and senate on the 17th of the following February. On the termination of the war, the consideration of the great plan for the internal navigation of the state was resumed. During the session of 1817, a memorial was presented, signed by upwards of one hundred thousand citizens, calling upon the legislature to pass laws for the commencement and execution of the proposed canals. An act was accordingly passed, and large appropriations made for this purpose. The Erie and Champlain canals were immediately commenced and vigorously prosecuted. The Erie canal, from Al- bany to Buffalo, was completed in 1825, at an expense of about eight millions of dollars, and is one of the most magnificent works of the kind ever constructed. The Champlain canal, seventy-one miles in length, was completed in 1823, at an expense of $875,000. In 1817, Governor Tompkins was chosen vice-president of the Uni- ted States, and De Witt Clinton was elected to succeed him as gov- ernor of New York. In 1822, Mr. Clinton declining a re-election, he was succeeded by Joseph C. Yates. During this year, (1822,) the 44 ALBANY COUNTY. constitution of the state having been revised by a convention at Albany the preceding year, was accepted by the people in January. In 1824, De Witt Clinton was again re-elected to the office of gov- ernor. He died suddenly, February 11th, 1828, and the duties of his office devolved on Nathaniel Pitcher, the lieutenant-governor. Mar- tin Van Buren was next elected governor. He entered on the duties of the office on the 1st of January, 1829, which, after holding for three months, he resigned. He was succeeded by Enos T. Throop, who exercised the office of governor from 1829 to 1833, when he was succeeded by William L. Marcy. Governor Marcy was succeeded in the office of governor by William H. Seward, in 1837. ALBANY COUNTY. Albany County was originally organized in 1683 ; but its limits have since been greatly altered. In the year 1768, there were but ten counties in the state, viz : New York, Westchester, Dutchess, Orange, Ulster, Albany, Richmond, Kings, Queens, and Suffolk. This county then embraced the whole of the territory of New York lying north of Ulster and west of the Hudson river, as well as all northward of Dutchess on the east side of the Hudson. Its greatest length now is 28, and greatest breadth 21 miles. The surface and soil are very much diversified. Along the Hudson are alluvial flats, nowhere exceeding a mile in width, susceptible in some places of high cultivation. From these flats, the surface rises abruptly 140 feet, and thence gradually westward to the mountains. On the Mo- hawk, the land is broken, rugged, and naturally sterile ; on the west are the Helderberg Hills, precipitous and craggy, with a soil of cal- careous loam. Centrally the county consists of undulating grounds and plains, with small marshes and tracts of cold, wet sands and clay, but which of late years have been greatly fertilized by gypsum, converting the piney and sandy desert into fragrant clover and fruit- ful wheat fields. Still, large tracts in this county are unimproved and perhaps unimprovable ; but the greater portion is productive of wheat, of which a large surplus is annually sent to the New York market. The country is well watered by streams which, flowing from the highlands, empty into the Hudson, affording valuable hy- draulic power. This county is divided into ten towns. Population in 1840 was 68,536. Albany, the capital of New York, and the oldest city in the Uni- ted States, hes in 42° 39' 3" N. Lat., and 3° 12' E. Lon., from Wash- ington. It received its present name in the year 1664, in honor of James, duke of York and Albany, who afterward mounted the throne of England as James II. Its original Indian name was ^ugh-negh-ta-da^ signifying, " the end of tlie pine woods,'' and this 1^5 b s^ -=q "■ Si pc"' rr © R s^: ^' s §. C] ^ s r-c' y y ri t-' 5s- '-^ & ^5 t '^ ^ ee ^i' H t-„- ■l ^ fet § ^ s ^ S^S, t ^ S;- 5=^ ^S. K3 ALBANY COUNTY. 45 name for the same reason was applied by the aborigmes to the site of the city of Schenectady, where it is yet retained with a shght va- riation in the orthography. The Dutch named Albany " Beaver- wyck," [i. e. Beaver-town,] and afterward, " Willemstadt." It was never known as Fort Orange, or Urania, as has been asserted ; but the fort only was called Fort Orange.* Albany was probably never visited by a white maniiW Sept., 1610, when Hendricke Chrystance, who was sent up the river by Henry Hudson to explore the country, first landed here; and as far as can be learned from tradition and some documentary evidence, he landed somewhere in the present North Market street. In that or the succeeding year, a party of the Dutch built a blockhouse on the north point of Boyd's Island, a short distance below the Albany ferry. This house was erected for a two-fold purpose ; first, to open a trade with the Indians for furs ; the next, to secure themselves against any sudden attack from the savages. But it was soon demolished, for the next spring's freshet and ice swept the whole of it away. This party then chose a hill, subsequently called " Kiddenhooghten"-\ within two miles of Albany, for the erection of another trading- house. The Indians called this hill " Ta-wass-a-gun-shee," or the " Look-out Hill." Not long afterward, this spot was- abandoned, and a more convenient post selected. The place last chosen was in the vicinity of the house now called " Fort Orange Hotel," in South Market street. The Dutch there erected a Fort, " mounting eight stone pieces "X and called it " Fort Orange." Until after the year 1625, the Dutch did not contemplate making any permanent settlements in this state. They merely visited the country in the autumn and winter, with a view to the fur trade with the Indians, returning in the spring to Holland, or " Vader- landt." But in that year, the Dutch West India Company first en- tertained the idea of colonizing their newly discovered territories in America, and accordingly offered large appropriations of land to such families as should " settle" in their colony of New Netherlands. This soon brought many over, and from that period till 1635, several of our most respectable Dutch families arrived ; among them were the ancestors of the Van Schelluyne, Quackenboss, Lansing, Blocker, Van Ness, Pruyn, Van Woert, Wendell, Van Eps, and Van Rensse- laer families. It does not appear that any stone or brick building was erected here (the fort excepted) until the year 1647, when, according to * For most of the statements given respecting the early history of Albany, the authors are indebted to the " Historical Reminiscences," published in the American Journal, 1835. r Kiddenhooghten, or Kidds-heights or hill, received its name about the year 1701; and, according to tradition, in memory of the pirate Kidd, so celebrated " in song and story," who it is supposed concealed much of his ill-gotten treasure in the vicinity. It is, however, doubted whether Kidd ascended the Hudson as far as Albany. t According to Mr. Vander Kempt, the translator of our Dutch records, they were called " Stien-gestucken," or stone pieces, because they were loaded with stone instead of iron ball. They were formed of long and strong iron bars, longitudinally laid, and bound with iron hoops, and were of immense caUber. 46 ALBANY COUNTY. a " letter from Commissary De la Montagnie" to the Dutch gov- ernor at New Amsterdam, (New York,) a stone building was erected near the fort, and he complains of the " enormous libations" upon the occasion of celebrating its completion : " No less" (he says) "than 8 ankers (128 gallons) of brandy were consumed." About 100 years since, Albany was protected against sudden ir- ruptions from the Indians by the erection of palisades,* part of the remains of which were visible within the last forty years. Barrack (now Chapel) street, was the principal place for business. The gov- ernment of the city was extremely rigid, and often cruel ; it bore the character more of a military despotism than that of a civil po- hce ; heavy penalties were imposed for the least infraction of the laws regulating the trade with the Indians, and many families conse- quently ruined. This severity drove some of the "traders" to the Schenectady flats, where they intercepted a considerable portion of the fur on its way to Albany, and which occasioned for many years the most bitter animosities between the inhabitants of both places. The circulating medium then in use consisted principally of sewant, or wampum. Ministers of the reformed religion were regularly sent out from Holland to the colony. In 1657, the Rev. Gideon Schaats sailed from Amsterdam for this colony, and about the same time the Dutch West India Company wrote a letter, stating that they would send a hell and a pulpit, " for the inhabitants of Fort Orange, and of the vil- lage of Beaverwick, for their newly constructed little church." In Ancient Dutch Church, Albany. 1715, this church became too small for the congregation, and the proprietors adopted a singular mode of enlarging it. Beyond and on every side of the ancient building, they sunk a new stone wall ; * These palisades consisted of large pieces of timber in close contact with each other, driven endwise into the ground, and gates or openings were made at suitable intervals, which were closed at night. ALB AN y COUNTY. 47 on this foundation they raised a larger structure. Having thus com- pletely enclosed the first church, they took it down and removed the whole, with only the loss of public worship for three sabbaths. The new edifice, which had been constructed in this manner, was one story high, of Gothic appearance, having its windows richly orna- mented with coats of arms. This church, of which the preceding en- graving is a representation, stood about ninety-two years in the open area formed by the angle of State, Market, and Court streets. It was taken down in 1806, and the stone of which it was constructed was used in the erection of the South Dutch Church, between Hud- son and Beaver streets. Fort Orange, on the river bank, appears to have been but a slight fortification. In 1639, a complaint was made by the commandant of the fort to Gov. Stuyvesant, stating " that the fort was in a miserable state of decay, and that the hogs had destroyed a part of it." A later work built of stone was erected on the river hill, at the west end of State-street. The English Church was just below it, at the west end of a market. As has been stated, the government of Beaverwick, or Albany, while under the Dutch rule was rigid and arbitrary. It was in the hands of three or more " commissaries," appointed by the governor and council, who usually held their offices for one year. Without the permission of the commissaries, no one was allowed to build houses, buy or sell, or to establish manufactories, stores, shops, taverns, or beer-houses. In 1647, Jan La Battle applied for permission "to build a brewery," which was granted " on his paying yearly six heav- ers, a duty of perhaps of about eighty dollars. The duties were generally farmed out, or sold at auction ; and during this year and several years afterward, the duties on beer in Beaverwick exceeded eight hundred dollars. The fines imposed for the violation of ordi- nances were generally distributed in the sentence in this way : " one third to the church, one third to the public, and one third to the attorney-general." " Professor Kalm, who visited Albany in 1749, has left us some facts. All the people then understood Dutch. All the houses stood gable end to the street; the ends were of brick, and the side walls of planks or logs. The gutters on the roofs went out almost to the middle of the street, greatly annoying travellers in their discharge. At the stoopes (porches) the people spent much of their time, especially on the shady side ; and in the evenings they were filled with both sexes. The streets were dirty by reason of the cattle possessing iheir free use during the summer nights. They had no knowledge of stoves, and their chimnies were so wide that one could drive through them with a carl and horses. Many people still made wampum to sell to Indians and traders. Dutch manners every- where prevailed ; but their dress in general was after the English form. They were re. garded as close in traffic ; were very frugal in their house economy and diet. Their women were over-nice in cleanliness, scouring floors and kitchen utensils several times a week ; rising very early and going to sleep very late. Their servants were chiefly negroes. Their breakfast was tea without milk, using sugar by putting a small bit into the mouth. Their dinner was buttermilk and bread ; and if to that they added sugar, it was deemed delicious." — Watson's Sketches of Olden Times in New York. Albany was incorporated as a city, under Governor Dongan's administration, in 1686. The charter limits were one mile on the river, and extended northwest to the north line of the manor of Rens- selaer, and retaining that width thirteen and a half miles ; the fee simple 48 ALBANY COUNTY. of which was vested in the corporation. Its bounds were enlarged by the addition of part of the small town of Colonic, in 1815, which now forms the fifth ward. The government of the city is now lodged in a mayor, recorder, ten aldermen, and ten assistant aldermen, who are annually elected on the first Tuesday of May. The plat on which the city is built is uneven. A low alluvial flat extends along the river from fifteen to one hundred rods wide ; west of which rises abruptly a hill of clay and sand, in the first half mile one hundred and fifty- three feet, and in the next about sixty-seven feet high ; from this summit the country extends in nearly an even plain to Schenectady. The position of Albany, necessarily makes it a great thoroughfare. The completion of the canals has given it a great commercial im- portance, making it the entrepot for a great proportion of the pro- ducts destined for the New York market. To accommodate this trade, a basin has-been constructed by the citizens on the river, in which all the northern and western canal boats are received. It consists of part of the river included between the shore and a pier eighty feet wide, and four thousand three hundred feet long. The pier contains about eight acres, on which stores have been built, and where immense quantities of lumber and other articles of trade are deposited. The basin has an area of thirty-two acres. State and City Halls, Albany. The above is a west view of the State and City Halls, the fronts of which face the Academy Park, a small section of which appears on the left. The building on the right is the City Hall, constructed of white marble, hewed out by the state prisoners, at Sing Sing, and distinguished above all other edifices in this country by ito gilded dome, like the Invalides at Paris. It was completed in December, 1832. In the rotunda of this building there is a statue of Hamilton, a copy of that by Greenough, in the Merchants' Exchange, destroyed by the great fire in New York, in 1835. There are also two designs in bass- relief, executed by W. Coffee, at the cost of the citizens, commemora- tive of De Witt Clinton and Sir Walter Scott. A bust of each is ALBANY COUNTY. 49 introduced in the designs ; that of Clinton is surrounded by figures, representing Commerce, Agriculture, Science, a canal lock, &c. The bust of Scott is accompanied with a female figure, presenting a volume inscribed " Marmion ;" the words " Minstrel" and " Waverly" appear on a scroll below ; the Genius of History, Fame, and the emblems of death and immortality, are also introduced. The New State Hall, par- tially seen on the left, was commenced in 1835. It covers an area of one hundred and thirty-eight by eighty-eight feet, and is sixty-five feet in height. The materials of the building are brick and stone ; the exterior faced with marble, from Mount Pleasant ; the ceilings are arched with brick, and the whole fire-proof. This edifice contains the offices of the secretary of state, comptroller, treasurer, attorney- general, surveyor-general, &c. East View of the Capitol at Albany. The above is an eastern view of the capitol, situated at the head of State-street, one hundred and thirty feet above the level of the river. It is substantially built of stone, at an expense of $120,000, of which the city corporation paid $34,000. The hall of the repre- sentatives and the senate chamber, each contain full length portraits of Washington, and of several governors of the state. The Academy is on the north side of the public square ; is a fine building, con- structed of Nyac stone, three stories high and ninety feet front; cost, at the city charge, $90,000, exclusive of the site and some im- portant donations. The Albany Institute has commodious apartments in the Academy. Its library contains about two thousand volumes, and its museum more than ten thousand specimens in geology, mineralogy, botany, coins, engravings, casts, &c. It pubhshes its transactions from time to time, and has a high reputation abroad. The Albany Female Academy, is a beautiful building, erected by a company incorporated February, 1821 ; this institution has a high reputation. The Exchange, Stanwix Hall, the Museum, and several 7 50 ALBANY COUNTY. of the churches, are fine buildings. The Atheneum, was established in 1827 ; the Albany Lihrai-y, established in 1792, and now connected with the Atheneum, has about nine thousand volumes. There are six banks, viz: — Bank of Albany, incorporated in 1792; capital, $240,000. New York State Bank, incorporated 1803; capi- tal, $369,600. Mechanics and Farmers' Bank, incorporated 1811; capital, $442,000. Commercial Bank, incorporated 1825; capital, $300,000. Canal Bank, incorporated 1829; capital, $300,000. Al- bany City Bank, incorporated 1834 ; capital, $500,000. The Albany Savings Bank was incorporated in 1820. There are 25 churches : 4 Presbyterian ; 1 Associate do. ; 3 Dutch Reformed ; 4 Methodist Episcopal ; 1 Protestant Methodist ; I Colored do.; 3 Baptist; 1 Colored do.; 2 Catholic; 3 Episcopa- lian ; 1 Friends ; 1 Universalist. Population, 33,663. Albany is distant from New York 148 miles ; from Washington city, 376 ; Phil- adelphia, 237 ; Boston, 171 ; Hartford^ 92 ; Montreal, 247 ; Quebec, 394 ; Detroit, 664 ; Buffalo via Utica by land, 296 ; via Cherry Val- ley, 282 ; by the canal, 363. Upon the northern bounds of the city is the mansion house of the late Stephen Van Rensselaer, Esq., the patroon of the manor of Rens- selaerwick. It is almost entirely surrounded by a thick forest of trees, giving it an unusually retired aspect. " The name of this gen- tleman can scarcely be mentioned without a passing tribute to his merit. Blessed with great wealth, which so frequently leads to sel- fish egotism and exclusiveness, he has through life been distinguished as an active and efficient public man ; bestowing his personal services and his fortune, to the encouragement of every species of improve- ment in literature, science, and art. His name, as a benefactor, is associated with most of the charitable and scientific institutions of the state ; and he has perhaps done more than any other citizen to foster agriculture and internal improvements." — Gordon's Gaz. Berne, centrally distant west from Albany 20 miles, was taken from Rensselaerville in 1795. Population, 3,740. This town was settled during the revolutionary war, by a number of Scotch families. Berne, East Berne, and Readsville, are the names of postolfices. Centreville, is a small village. The lands in this town are leased by Mr. Van Rensselaer. Bethlehem, the first town south from Albany, was taken from Watervliet, in 1793. Pop. 3,225. The flats on Hudson river are inhabited by the descendants of the early Dutch settlers. There are here extensive limestone caves, one of which has been explored for about a quarter of a mile. Coeyman's creek and the Normans kill, afford valuable hydraulic power. Cedar Hill postoffice, on the Hud- son, is 8 miles south from Albany. Mills Island, a fertile tract in the Hudson, lies partly in the town. CoEYMANS, taken from Watervliet in 1791. Pop. 3,107. It was early settled by the Dutch, and received its name from one of the first settlers, himself a proprietor. Coeyman's village, at the junction of Coeyman's creek with the Hudson, 14 miles south of Albany, includ- ALBANY COUNTY. 51 ing the Square, contains 150 dwellings. Coeyman's Hollow, is a post village, in the central part of the town on Hawnakrans kill. GuiLDERLAND, taken from Watervliet in 1803. Pop. 2,790. Guild- erland. West Guilderland, Guilderland Centre, and Dunsville, are postoffices. The town is centrally distant from Albany 10 miles. Knox, taken from Berne in 1822. Pop. 2,143. The lands are leased by Mr. Van Rensselaer. Knoxville, or Union Street, 21 miles west from Albany, has about 30 dwellings. New Scotland, taken from Bethlehem in 1832. Pop. 2,914. New Scotland, 8 miles southwest of Albany, has about 40 dwellings. New Salem, Clarksville, Union Church, are postoffices. Callagan's Corners, is a small settlement in the southeast part of the town. Rensselaerville, taken from Watervliet in 1790. Pop. 3,712. Renssclaerville, a village of about 125 dwellings, is situated on Ten Mile creek, at the junction of the Albany, Delaware, and Greenville tampikes, 24 miles southwest from Albany. The following view Northeastern View of Rensselaerville. was taken near the Episcopal church seen on the left. The church on the hill is the Presbyterian, and that on the right the Methodist. The Baptist church is not seen from this point. On the Ten Mile creek there is an artificial reservoir or dam, flooding 80 or 100 acres, which afibrds great hydraulic powei\ This stream approaches the village through the ravine, seen between the hills in the engraving, and in the course of half a mile falls 1 50 or 200 feet. In 1 788, the first mill in this town was erected by Messrs. Samuel Jenkins and Joel Culver on this creek, near the site of the village. This town was first settled during the revolution by Mr. Henry Vandyke, an elderly gentleman, who located himself in the southwest part. Samuel Jen- kins, Melatiah and Nathaniel Hatch, Joseph Woodford, Thomas Brown, Joel Culver, Jonathan Crocker, Ashbel Culver and others, settled here about 1788. They were mostly young men, from Con- 52 ALBANY COUNTY. necticut, Massachusetts, and Dutchess county. They built their log cabins, cooked their provisions, remained during warm weather, and in whiter returned east. These first settlers were very poor. For the first year or two, not a horse was owned within a mile of the A^illage, and they were obliged to carry their maple sugar 20 or 30 miles on their backs, exchange it for corn, and return in the same manner. The first log cabin in the village was located on the spot where Mr. Charles L. Mumford's store now stands, and was erected by Mr. Samuel Jenkins. In the hollow near the village, the tories, during the revolutionary war, had a secret place of rendezvous. Here they built a hut of bass-wood logs, oblong in its form, with the logs meeting at the top, and capable of holding 50 or 100 men. An unsuccessful attempt was made to surprise them. The military road, built during the old French war, between Athens and Schoharie, pass- ed a little west of the village site. Preston Hollow, 30 miles south- west of Albany, on the Athens and Cherry Valley turnpike, has about 40 dwellings. Potter's Hollow, 2 miles south of the above,, and Hall's Mills, about 5 miles south from Rensselaerville, are small settlements, having postofRces. The following account of the captivity of two lads, John and Rob- ert Price, is drawn from a pamphlet by Mr. Josiah Priest, entitled " The Captive Boys of Rensselaerville." The parents of these children emigrated from Scotland in 1774, and settled in that part of the Rensselaerwick patent formerly comprised in the limits of this town, but now in those of Berne. The war of the revolution had raged with various success for about four years, when the iew scattered families of this vicinity began to be in constant fear from the incursions of the tories and Indians, who had now commenced their depredations and acts of cold-blooded cruelty upon the inhabitants in the neighborhood of Old Schoharie. The family of Mr. Brice, having got out of bread, sent one morning on horseback, Robert, the youngest of the two boys, who was then about eleven years of age, with a bag of meal to get ground at a place called the Beaver Dam, eight or nine miles distant from their dwell- ing. He arrived safely at the mill, in company with three other lads, who went thither on a similar errand. By the time their meal was ready, the day was far spent ; and as their route back mostly lay through a long and deep forest, they all but little Robert concluded to remain with the miller overnight. John Brice, the elder of the two boys, was at this time at work with a farmer by the name of Johannes Deitz, who resided about three miles from the mill, and thither Robert was determined to go and spend the night, and return the remainder of the way home on the next morning. The bag of meal being placed on the horse, the little fellow pursued his lonely way through the wilderness. It was near the commencement of twilight, the last beams of the descending sun were flashing their golden glare among the peaks of the mountains, when, on approaching the house where he intended to have passed the night, an Indian horribly painted rose up suddenly from the roadside, and seizing the bridle of the horse, without saying a word, or seeming to notice the rider, lead the horse directly towards the house. On passing the barn door, the boy was inspired with additional terror on beholding old Mr. Deitz lying on the ground weltering in his blood. Between the house and barn, he saw in a similar situation the wives of old Mr. Deitz and son, with four small children of the latter, and a servant girl, in all eight persons, their newly shed blood scarcely yet cooled in the evening air. He now perceived the house to be full of Indians, hideously painted, busily and silently employed in carrying out its contents — provisions, clothing, &c. In casting his eye around, he beheld at a little dis- tance from the house his brother John and Captain Deitz, the son of the old man, tied to a tree, prisoners. The work of robbery and butchery being accomplished, the Indians packed their plunder on the backs of several horses which they had stolen, and hurried from the place. They had gone but a little way from the scene of butchery, M'hrn hearing a crackling noise behind them, the lads looked back, and saw the house, barn, and outhouses all in flames. The first night of their captivity they slept within a mile of their parents, in ALBANY COUNTY. 53 the arms of the savages. Early the next morning they resumed their flight ; their progress was slow through the woods, occasioned by the bulkiness of their baggage, while they directed their way towards the head waters of the Cattskill creek, sleeping that night some- where in the neighborhood of what is now called Potter's Hollow, a few miles southwest of Oakhill, in Greene county. From this place they again set off in the morning towards the Schoharie river, and at the close of the day, while ascending to the height of land aim- ing to reach the river above Middleburgh, the Indians suddenly became very much alarmed. News, it appeared, had reached the garrison at Schoharie of the outrage, and they had sent out a party to intercept the Indians in their retreat ; but the savages had discovered them in season not to be surprised. Abandoning their horses, plunder and all, the three prisoners and eight scalps excepted, the Indians fled into the woods on the side of the ridge, and the darkness of night soon hid them from the fuiy of their pursuers. If they had no: been disturbed in their course, their intention was to have availed themselves of the war- rior's path on the Schoharie river, leading to the place called Brake-a-bin, from thence to Harpersfield, and so on to the Susquehannah, the Chemung, Genesee, and Niagara. As soon as it was day, having slept that night without fire, they set forward again, much cas; down in their minds ; pursuing the range of the mountain till somewhere near Gilboa, they crossed the creek, and passed on through the woods to Harpersfield ; from thence to the Charlotte river, coming to the Susquehannah at McDaniel's Mills, since so called, and thence onward down that river to the Oquago. Having now lost all their provisions, they felt the sufferings of hunger, and had no way to relieve themselves, lest their tell-tale guns should report them to their pursuers. Three days and nights they were compelled to subsist on nothing except what the bushes might afford — wintergreens, birch bark, and now and then a few wild berries. Captain Deitz was a peculiar sufferer, as suspended from a stick were the aged scalps of his father and mother, his wife and the four bloody memorials of his babes, adorned with the half-grown hair of their infant heads. These were constantly in his view, and often slapped in his face by the savage warrior. Captain Deitz finally died at Montreal with a broken heart. On the third day, when not far from the mouth of the Unadilla river, they considered them, selves out of danger, consequently travelled more at leisure, stopping frequently to hunt. At such times, as when they went out to hunt a day, intending to return by night, the Indians always bound Captain Deitz and Robert's brother to a tree, laying them flat on their backs, with their legs a little elevated to a limb ; in this uneasy posture they were compelled to suffer till their return. The owner of Robert had received a wound in the leg, when the party were pursued by the detachment from the garrison at Schoharie, and after a few days travelling, he became so lame as to be unable to travel as fast as his companions. The poor boy was now separated from his brother and Captain Deitz, and was left behind with his master and two other Indians. The first intimation to the boy that they had arrived in the Genesee or Indian country, were the yells which they uttered, and the responses they received from a great distance, which were continued until within sight of each other. Here commenced a persecution which the little fellow had not anticipated ; for the Indian children about his size and age immediately fell upon him with their whips and fists, amus- ing themselves to see him jump about and cry. He fled for protection to his master, but obtained none from that quarter. His next resort was to fly to a hut, although tuh of Indians, all laughing at his misfortunes ; he sprang in among them, trembling, pale, and bleeding, when his pursuers desisted. Whenever they approached an Indian settlement, the same ominous yells were renewed, when the same sort of persecution again befell him ; but as necessity at first had taught him to fly to a hut, so he now had learned to press forward with all his power to the door of the first wigwam which oflTered to his view, never being repulsed on his entry. Four times on passing from one settlement to another, he experi- enced the same sort of treatment ; which custom at one time had nearly cost him his life. An Indian lad much larger than himself, who ought, even according to their notions of dignity and manners, to have known better, knocked him down with a club, but he sprang up, and soon found the accustomed asylum, drenched in blood. At length, the three In- dians came to a place called the Nine Mile Landing, on Lake Ontario, where was the home of his master. Here they shaved his head and adorned it with feathers, and painted him after their manner, intending to bring him up as an Indian, taking him with them on their fishing and hunting parties, initiating him as fast as possible into their mode of living. A few weeks after, his master took him to Fort Erie, opposite to where Buffalo now stands, and sold him for fifteen dollars to the captain of a vessel on Lake Erie, who was a Scotch- man. From this time he saw his Indian acquaintance no more, going immediately with his new master to Detroit. Supposing that if he continued with the captain, and followed a sea-faring life, all opportunity would be forever lost of returning to his parents, he contrived a plea to be left at Detroit, to which his master consented. At this place he remained imtil 54 ALDANY COUNTY. the close of the revolutionary war, when, according to the articles of peace, the prisoners of both countries were to be sent to their homes. His brother, at the time of their separation, was sent to Fort Niagara, and he, in company with Robert and many others, were released and sent to their respective homes. — Robert Brice is now, or was recently, still living in Bethlehem in this county; a respected citizen of the farmer class. Watervliet was organized in 1788. Pop., including West Troy, 10,146. It includes the islands in the Hudson on the east ; centrally distant north from Albany 6 miles, extending 10 miles along the Mohawk river, and its lowest branch or sprout, and 6^ along the Hudson. Havers, Van Schaicks or Cahoes, and Green or Tibbets islands, are formed by sprouts of the Mohawk. They were occupied by the American army under General Gates, in 1777. The lands of the town are principally comprised in the manor of Rensselaerwick. Cahoes, Neskayuna, and West Troy, are villages. The small but flourishing manufacturing village of Cahoes is situated near the falls, on the bank of the Mohawk, within a short distance of the junction of the Erie and Champlain canals. The water-power developed here is very great, and the advantages of this position for manufac- tures, are among the best in the state. " The Cahoes Falls, in full view of the village, and seen with special advantage from the bridge, have a total descent of 78 feet, and a perpendicular pitch of about 40. Above the cat- aract, the bank on the left has nearly 100 feet perpendicular elevation, and below, 170 feet. On the right above the pitch, the bank is low ; but below it, the shore is between 80 and !>0 feet high ; below the falls the river runs in a deep, rocky and broken bed for a short dis. tance, expanded into the placid pool formed by the state dam, and ghdes over that dam in one lovely sheet of about ^ of a mile in length, whose gentle fall of 7 feet makes a pleasant contrast with the great cataract above. In floods, the whole bed at the latter is covered with water, which descends in one unbroken torrent about 900 feet wide. At such sea. sons, the high rocky barriers which confine the stream, the roar of the cataract, the dash, ing of the troubled waters as they descend the rapids, and the striking assimilation of the torrent with the wilderness above, give to the scene unusual subhmity." West Troy, incorporated in 1836, comprising Gibbonsville, Wa- tervhet, and Port Schuyler, is situated upon the Hudson, opposite Troy, and may be considered as a part of that city. [See view of Troy.'] A communication is constantly kept up with it by ferries, and a fine macadamized road 6 miles in length alon^ the river con- nects it with Albany. A valuable water-power is derived from the Junction canal, and used at the arsenal and other works. The village has, by the census of 1840, a population of 4,607 ; and enjoying all the advantages of navigation possessed by Troy, grows rapidly. The United States arsenal, located here, comprises several extensive buildings of stone and brick, in which there are a large quantity of arms, with workshops for their repair. Among the cannon are some pieces taken at Saratoga and at Yorktown ; others, presented to the United States by Louis XIV., with some cast in New York and Phil- adelphia during the revolution. Another suburb of Troy, called North Troy, has been laid out upon Tibbets island, upon which is the railroad depot. At Neskayuna, there is a small society of Shakers, which was established here in September, 1770, by Ann Lee. They own 2,000 acres of good land, well cultivated and divided into four farms, on ALBANY COUNTY. 5S each of which is a family, the whole amounting to about 80 persons of both sexes and all ages. From a very small beginning, the society has grown into several communities, the largest of which is estab- Ushed at New Lebanon, Columbia county. Ann Lee, or " Mother Ann," (as she is usually called,) was born at Manchester, England. About the year 1 758, she joined herself to the society of Shakers, so called from the singular tremblings and shak- ings with which these people were affected at their religious meetings. According to the account given by her biographer, she passe4 through great trial and distress of mind for the space of nine years! during which period she had many visions and revelations. She sej up herself as a religious teacher, and soon collected a number of foil lowers, who believed her to be the " elect lady," spoken of in the 2(1 of John. After having been imprisoned in England and confined iri a madhouse, she set sail for America, in the sprmg of 1774, with a number of her followers ; particularly, Abraham Stanley, her hus- band, William Lee, her brother, James Whitaker and John Hock- neil ; and arrived at New York the following August. It appears that Mother Ann remained in New York neaHy two years, and then went to Albany, and thence, in the following September, to Neska- yuna. In 1781, she began a progress through various parts of the country, particularly of New England, which lasted, we are told, about two years and four months. She died in 1784. The follow- ing lines are from a book entitled " Christ's Second Appearing ;" they are extracted from a poem called " A Memorial to Mother Ann," and will serve to show in what light she is viewed by her followers. At Manchester, in England, this burning truth began, When Christ made his appearance in blessed Mother Ann ; A few at first received it and did their lust forsake, And soon their testimony brought on a mighty shake. For Mother's safe protection, good angels flew before, Towards the land of promise, Columbia's happy shore ; Hail, thou victorious Gospel, and that auspicious day, When Mother safely landed in North America. About four years she labor'd with the attentive throng, While all their sins they open'd and righted ev'ry wrong ; At length she closed her labors and vanish'd out of sight, And left her faithful children increasing in the light. How much they are mistaken who think that Mother's dead, When through her ministrations so many souls are fed I In union with the Father, she is the second Eve, Dispensing full salvation to all who do believe. Westerlo, taken from Coeymans and Rensselaer in 1815. Pop. 3,096. Centrally distant from Albany, southwest, 21 miles. The western part pertains to the manor of Rensselaerwick ; the eastern part is in Coeyman's Patent. The Dutch and Germans commenced settlements in 1759, around the lowlands. In 1794, they were much increased by the arrival of many emigrants from New England. Disbrows and South Westerlo are postoffices. 66 ALLEGANY COUNTY. ALLEGANY COUNTY. Allegany county Avas taken from Genesee in 1806. It is 44 miles long, 28 wide, being part of the tract ceded to Massachusetts. The two western tiers of towns are within the Holland Land Com- pany's purchase. The Genesee river flows through the county by a deep channel, depressed from five hundred to eight hundred feetbelow the higher hills. By an act passed in 1828, this river was declared a public highway Irom Rochester to the Pennsylvania line. The soil IS of a good quality, there being extensive tracts of alluvion, and the uplands embrace a variety. The northern part is best for grain, but a,s a whole it is better for grazing. Wheat and corn thrive well in :he valley and on the river flats. Of the former, twenty-five bushels an acre are an average crop, and of the latter forty. On the upland, corn, rye, potatoes, oats, and buckwheat, are productive crops. The growth of forest trees being heavy, lumbering is carried on exten- sively. The Rochester and Olean canal, chartered in 1836, and now constructing, enters the county at Portage and terminates at Olean, in the adjoining county of Cattaraugus. The line of the Erie railroad also passes through it. The county contains 30 towns. Pop. 40,917. Alfred, taken from Angelica in 1808, distant from Albany 246, and from Angelica, east, 10 miles. Pop. 1,637. The town is a good one for farming. Alfred and Vandemark are postoffices. Baker's Bridge and Alfred Centre are villages. In 1821, Almond and Inde- pendence were taken from the town. Allen, taken from Angelica in 1823, since reduced ; distant from Albany 244, from Angelica, north, 6 miles. There is a postoffice at Allen, and one at Allen Centre. Pop. 870. Almond, taken from Alfred; since reduced in area. Pop. 1,434. The Bath and Angelica turnpike passes through it. Almond, the largest village, 16 miles east from Angelica, has about thirty-five dwellings. Centre Almond and North Almond are postoffices. Amity, taken from Angelica and Scio in 1830 ; distant from Al- bany 258, from Angelica, south, 6 miles. Pop. 1,356. The Genesee crosses it northwestwardly, upon which are flats from half a mile to a mile wide. Phillipsburg,a very flourishing post village, lies on the river and line of the Erie railroad in the northeast angle of the town, and has one Presbyterian and one Methodist church. There is a fall here of twelve or fourteen feet, yielding an excellent water-power. Phil- lipsville, Hobbieville, and Genesee Valley, are postoffices. In the vicinity of Phillipsburg are the remains of three Indian forts, on the largest of which there formerly stood eight aged trees. On the bark of one of them was carved a figure of a turtle, underneath which there was also cut a canoe, with seven Indians in it, headed down stream. This was done, according to the account given by the natives to the first settlers, by a party of seven Indians of the Turtle tribe, to inform their companions that they had gone down the river. ALLEGANY COUNTY. 57 Andover, taken from Independence in 1824 ; distant from Albany 252, from Angelica, southeasterly, 15 miles. Pop. 864. Angelica, formed from Leicester in 1805 ; from Albany 256, and from New York 327 miles. The Genesee crosses the southwestern angle of the town. Pop. 1,261. View of the Public Buildings at Angelica. Angelica Village, 2 miles east of the Genesee river, 40 miles west from Bath, 52 S. from Batavia, incorporated 2d of May, 1835, is the county seat. The above view, taken near the residence of Mr. John T. VVright, shows all the public buildings excepting the Baptist church. The gothic structure, on the left, is the Episcopal church ; the building with a spire, the Presbyterian ; the one with a cupola, the courthouse ; and that on the extreme tutt, the Methodist church. There are in the village about one hundred and thirty dwellings and two printing-offices, each issuing a weekly paper. About three miles southwest of the village, is the seat of Philip Church, Esq., called Belvidere, where there is a fine house with a farm under high culti- vation. The county was first settled by this gentleman, in 1804, and the town is named after his mother, Mrs. Angelica Church, the eldest daughter of General Philip Schuyler. Belfast, taken from Caneadea, by the name of Orrinsburg, in 1824 ; name changed in 1825 ; distant from Albany 264, and from Angelica, west, 6 miles. Pop. 1,684. Summer's Valley, Rockville, and Belfast, are post-offices. The following account of a tornado, which passed over this region a few years since, is taken from Silliman's Journal for July, 1839 : — " Having visited and examined the scene of the tornado, so w^ell described by Mr. Willis Gaylord, of Otisco, Onondaga County, N. Y., in the Genesee Fanner, Nov. 10, 1838, we also can bear witness to the tremendous devastation which that whirlwind produced. " We were on the ground in September, about two months after the event. Before the tornado, a region of 4 or 500 acres had been covered by a dense forest of pine trees, many 8 58 ALLEGANY COUNTY. of them very tall and large ; roads had been cut through this forest, and a few sohtary houses were planted in it, here and there. Now we looked in vain over the whole tract for a single perfect tree. Those which had not been uprooted or broken in two near the ground, were shivered and twisted off at different elevations, leaving only a portion of a shattered trunk, so that not a single tree top, and hardly a single branch, were found stand- ing in the air : there were instead only mutilated stems, presenting a striking scene of de- solation wherever our eyes ranged over the now almost empty aerial space. On the ground the appearances were still more remarkable. The trees were interwoven in every possible way, so as to form a truly military abattis of the most impassable kind ; nor immediately after the gale could any progress be, in fact, made through the gigantic thickets of entangled trunks and branches, without the labor of bands of pioneers, who cut off the iimumcrable logs that choked every avenue. We had before seen many avenues made through forests by winds, prostrating the trees and laying them down in the direction of its course : but never had we seen such a perfec* desolation by a gyratory movement, before which the thick and lofty forest and the strongest framed buildings vanished, in an instant, and their ruins were whirled irresistibly around like flying leaves or gossamer. " Still, it was truly wonderful that people were buried in the ruins of their houses, and travellers with their horses and cattle were exposed to this driving storm of trees which literally filled the air, and still not a single life was lost, although some persons were wounded. " We were assured that this wind had marked a track of devastation for twenty miles or more, but this was the scene of its greatest ravages. Two or three miles from this place, we saw a wing of a house which had been moved quite around, so as to form a right angle with its former position, and still the building was not broken." — Editors. " The first appearance of severe wind, (says Mr. Gaylord,) was, as we learned, in the town of Rushford, some fifteen miles from the place where we observed its effects. The day was hot and sultry, and the course of the gale was from the N. of W. to S. of East. At its commencement in Rushford, it was only a violent thunder gust, such as are frequently experienced, but it soon acquired such force as to sweep in places every thing before it. In its passage the same violence was not at all times exerted ; some places seemed wholly passed over, while in the same direction and at only a small distance whole forests were crushed. In the language of one who had suffered much from the gale, ' it seemed to move by bounds, sometimes striking and sometimes receding from the earth,' which in- deed was most likely the case. " It passed the Genesee river in the town of Belfast, a few miles below Angelica, and its fury was here exerted on a space of country perhaps a mile or a mile and a half in width. The country here is settled and cleared along the river, but the road passes at a little dis- tance from the river, and at this point wound round one of the finest pine woods to be found on the stream. Of course when it came over the higher lands from the N. W., the tornado crossed the river and the plain before encountering the groves of pine. In the space occupied by the central part of the tornado, say three fourths of a mile in width, nothing was enabled to resist its fury. Strong framed houses and barns were crushed in an instant, and their fragments and contents as quickly scattered to every point of the com- pass ; while those out of the direct line were only unroofed or more or less damaged. Large oaks and elms were hterally twisted off, or crushed like reeds. " The road from the north approached the pine woods on what was the northern verge of the tornado, and the first appearance of the country in front was that of woodlands, in which all the trees had been broken off at the height of 20 or 30 feet, leaving nothing but countless mutilated trunks. On entering the narrow passway, however, which with im- mense labor had been opened through the fallen trunks, it was perceived that much of the largest part of the trees had been torn up by the roots, and lay piled across each other m the greatest apparent confusion imaginable. Fortunately for our view of the whole ground, a few days before our arrival, fire had been put in the ' windfall,' and aided by the extreme dry weather, the whole was burned over so clean, that nothing but the blackened trunks of the trees were remaining, thus disclosing their condition and position most perfectly. This position was such as to demonstrate beyond the possibility of a doubt, the fact, that the tornado had a rotary motion against the sun, and in perfect accordance with the course which we in a former volume of the Farmer have ascribed to such electric aerial currents, a theory first developed by Mr. Redfield of New York. " The first tree met with, prostrated by the tornado, wa& a large pine, which lay with its top exactly to the N. of West, or precisely against the general course of the storm. Hun- dreds of others lay near in the same direction on the outer part of the whirl, but immedi- ately after entering the fallen timber, the heads of the trees began to incline to tJie centre of the space torn down, and south of tliis, the inclination was directiy tlie reverse until the ALLEGANY COUNTY. 59 outside of the whirl was reached, when they all lay with their tops to the east. This almost regular position of the fallen timber, was most distinct in the bottom courses, or that which was first blown down, those that resisted the longest, being, as was to be expected, pitched in the most diverse directions. That there was also an upward spiral motion, caus. ing a determination of the rushing air to the centre of the whirl, would appear probable from the iact that articles from the buildings destroyed were carried high in the air, and then apparently thrown out of the whirl, into the common current ; and also from the fact that a large majority of the trees both from the south and to the north of the centre of the gale, lay with their heads inclined to that point, while the centre was marked by the greatest confusion imaginable. A diagram formed of a continued succession of circles moving from the right to the left, would illustrate the position of the trees first uprooted, as these lay as when first crushed by the approach of the whirlwind. " Many curious facts illustrative of the force of the wind were related by the inhabitants in and near the place. A farmer attempted to drive his team of horses to the barn, but the tempest was too soon upon him. When the rush was over, and it was seemingly but a moment, he found the barn torn to pieces, himself about thirty rods in one direction from it, and his horses as many rods the other, and what was most remarkable, with scarcely a fragment of harness upon them. A wagon was blown away, and a month afterward one of the wheels had not been found. A house standing near the Genesee river, and a Uttle out of the line of the gale, was completely covered with mud that must have been taken from the bed of the river. And appearances render it very evident that near the centre of the whirl the water was entirely taken from the channel." Birds ALL, taken from Allen and Almond in 1829 ; distant from Al- bany, southwest, 245 miles. Pop. 328. Birdsall post-office is 12 miles northeast from Angelica. Bolivar was taken from Friendship, in 1825 ; from Albany 275, and from Angelica, southwest, 19 miles. Pop. 408. Bolivar Village has about twenty-five dwellings. Burns, taken from Ossian in 1826 ; distant centrally from Angelica, northeast, 16, and from Albany 239 miles. De Witt's Valley and Whitney's Valley are post-offices. Pop. 847. Caneadea, taken from Angelica in 1808 ; distant from Albany 267, from Angelica, northwest, 11 miles. Pop. 1,647. Caneadea Village is centrally situated. The Caneadea Indian reservation commences here, and extends northward on the river about ten miles, through Hume into Portage and Granger. Centreville, taken from Pike in 1819 ; from Angelica, northwest, 18 miles. Pop. 1,504. Centreville Village, centrally situated in the town, has about thirty-five dwellings. Clarksville, taken from Cuba in 1835 ; from Angelica, southwest, 18 miles. Clarksville is a post-office. Pop. 326. Cuba, taken from Friendship in 1822 ; distant from Albany 275, and from Angelica, southwest, 18 miles. Pop. 1,761. Cuba Village, centrally situated, near which the lines of the Erie railroad and the Rochester and Olean canal intersect, is a very flourishing place, and has about eighty dwellings, one Presbyterian, and one Baptist church. Cadysville is 2 miles north of the village. The famed Seneca Oil Spring is in this town, within eighty rods of the county line. The spring rises in a marsh, distant three and a half miles from the village. It is a muddy, circular, stagnant pool, about -eighteen feet in diameter, with no visible outlet. The water is coated with a thin layer of mineral oil, giving it a yellowish-brown color, similar to dirty molasses. The oil is collected by skimming it from 60 ALLEGANY COUNTY. the fountain, and is used for rheumatism in man, and sprains and sores for man or beast. The spring was highly valued by the Indians, and a square mile around it has been reserved for the Senecas. The oil sold in the eastern states is obtained from Oil Creek, in Venango county, Pennsylvania, where it is more pure and abundant. The spring gives name to a post-office. Eagle, taken from Pike in 1823 ; centrally distant from Albany 264, from Angelica, northwest, 24 miles. Pop. 1,222. Friendship, taken from Caneadea in 1815. Pop. 1,230. Friend- ship Village, on the line of the Erie railroad, 10 miles southwest from Angelica, contains about sixty dwellings. Genesee, taken from Cuba in 1830 ; from Angelica, southwest, 25 miles. Pop. 569. Little Genesee and West Genesee are names of post-offices. Little Genesee is a small village. Granger, taken from Grove ; centrally distant from Angelica, north, 12 miles. Grove, Short Tract, and Plickory Swale, are post-offices. Pop. 1,064. Grove, taken from Nunda in 1827 ; from Angelica, north, 14 miles. East Grove is a post-office. Pop. 625. New Hudson, formerly named Haight, and taken from Rushford in 1825 ; from Albany 268, and from Angelica, west, 13 miles. Black Creek is a post-office. The summit level of the Rochester and Olean canal is in this town. Pop. 1,488. Hume, taken from Pike in 1822 ; from Albany, southwest, 260 miles ; drained by the Genesee on the southeast. Pop. 2,305. Hume and Cold Creek are post-offices. At Mixville, a post village, 15 miles northwest from Angelica, there are about twenty dwellings, and an excellent hydraulic power, comprising four perpendicular falls, making in the whole seventy-tive feet descent. Independence, taken from Alfred in 1821 ; from Albany 262, and from Angelica, southeast, 20 miles. Pop. 1,398. Independence Cen- tre, Independence, Whitesville, and Spring Mill, are post villages. Nunda, taken from Angelica in 1808 ; from Albany 253, and from Angelica, northeast, 18 miles. Pop. 2,614. The name is a corrup- tion of an Indian word signifying " potatoe ground," applied when this town comprehended the rich flats of the Genesee. Nunda and East Hill are post-offices. The village of Nunda Valley, upon the Cashaqua creek, is a place of much and increasing business ; the Ro- chester and Olean canal is to pass through it. The following is a southern view of the open square in the business portion of the place, taken at Whitcomb and Co.'s store. The vil- lage was first settled about the year 1826, by Deacon Rawson, Asa Heath, Samuel Swain, David Basset, James M. Heath, and others. The latter-named person built the first tavern, in 1826, of logs. The Baptist and Presbyterian churches were erected in 1832. The vil- lage contains about one hundred dwellings. OssiAN, taken from Angelica in 1808 ; from Albany 233, and from Angelica, northeast, 20 miles. Pop. 945, Ossian village is centrally situated. ALLEGANY COUNTY. 61 Central Part oj Nunda Valley Village. Pike, taken from Nunda, March, 1818 ; from Albany 255, and from Angelica, northwest, 18 miles. Pop. 2,181. Pike, centrally situated, has one Presbyterian, one Methodist, and one Baptist church, and about ninety dwellings. East Pike and East Koy are post-offices. Portage, taken from Nunda in 1827; centrally distant from Al- bany 247, and from Angehca, north, 18 miles. Pop. 4,715. Portage- ville, on the Genesee river at the head of the rapids, is a flourishing village, containing about sixty or seventy dwelHngs. The hne of the Olean and Rochester canal passes through it. Hunt's Hollow and Oakland are post-offices. This town is located in an exceedingly interesting region, both from the wild grandeur of its river scenery, and the exhibition of human enterprise and skill in the construction of a tunnel for the canal, through the solid rock, which here bounds the valley of the Genesee. " There are three distinct falls on the river, respectively sixty, ninety, and one hundred and ten feet high, within the space of two miles, each differing in character, and each having peculiar beauties. Al- though the cascades are highly admirable, they are almost disregarded in the wonder and fear caused by the stupendous, perpendicular walls of the river, rising to four hundred feet in height, and extending along the stream for three miles, with almost as much regularity as if con- structed by art. To this great depth the river has worn its bed in the solid rock, in turns as short and graceful, as if winding through the softest meadow." The middle falls, which are the highest, have been the scene of several narrow escapes, of which, perhaps the fol- lowing is the most remarkable. Early in the spring of 1827, a boy about fourteen, named Joel Burgess, took a boat into the river above the falls, for the purpose of obtaining a duck which he had shot. In his eagerness to secure the prize, he lost sense of his peril and floated down the stream. On going over the dam, which is situated about twelve rods above the cataract, he was thrown out of the boat, but still held on with both hands. Thus clinging to the frail bark, he was fast hurrying to an awful death, when his feet struck a small project- ing rock in the bed of the river. With admirable presence of mind, 63 ALLEGANY COUNTY. he let go of the boat and stood fast. His situation was even now full of danger. On each side the water was deep, and the current running with an irresistible force. Chilled and exhausted by the cold- ness of the element, he was about losing hold of the slippery rock, when those ashore succeeded in throwing him a rope, which he tied around his waist and was dragged exhausted to land. Under these falls, on the northei-n side, is the " Devil's Oven," a cave fifteen feet in height, and sixty feet deep. Pass of the Genesee at Portage Falls. The above is a representation of the gorge, at that point where the river, coming from the south, takes a sudden and abrupt bend to the east. It is situated below the middle and upper falls ; both of which are in full sight from near this point. The spectator is supposed to be standing in the valley, and looking eastwardly in the direction of the lower falls, which are about a mile and a half distant. Imme- diately in front rise massy, perpendicular rocks, to the height of four hundred feet, their summits crowned with gigantic pines" and hem- ALLEGANY COUNTY. 63 locks, the aged sentinels of an hundred years. In the perspective, the river meanders along its rocky bed, until finally lost to the view behind projecting precipices. Far in the distant horizon is seen the hills of the Cashaqua, and to the right " Hornby Lodge," standing on the verge of the precipice, resembling an ancient chateau ; its rude, gothic architecture in keeping writh the wildness of the situation. The sketch for the above engraving was taken at the close of the year. Winter had thrown her snowy mantle upon the face of na- ture. The huge evergreens and naked limbs of the other forest trees were enveloped in their drapery of white ; immense icicles hung from the rocks ; w4iile the blue of the distant hills, contrastino- with the icy splendor and sublimity of the foreground, combined to render it a scene of indescribable grandeur. Some years since, a party of surveyors cut down an immense pine, standing on the verge of the precipice. It turned one somerset in its descent, and struck its butt perpendicularly upon the rocky bottom of the gorge. Every limb fell to the earth with the shock. It stood for a moment, a tall, Hmb- less trunk, quivered, and fell with a crash. The tunnel, eleven hundred and eighty feet in length, to which al- lusion has been made, commences at a point on the southern side of the gorge, about six hundred feet east of the lodge, and has a south- western termination near the middle falls. The following description of this work, and the " lodge," is from an interesting series of letters, entitled " Midsummer Rambles," published in the New York Com- mercial Advertiser in the summer and autumn of 1840. " The trunk of the tunnel is to be twenty-seven feet wide and twenty feet high. Fortunately, the character of the rock (sandstone) is favorable to the progress of the work. The contractor for this section is Elisha Johnson, Esq., formerly mayor of Rochester, and one of its most enterprising citizens. Mr. Johnson commenced this vast excavation last year, first running a shaft or ' heading' five and a half feet near- est the roof, and of the entire width required, through the whole length of the tunnel. One of the lateral drifts, for the introduction of air and light from the river brink to the main tunnel, had also been pre- viously completed," the opening to which is seen in the engraving on the rock in front of the " Lodge." " The entire excavation of this tunnel, including the gallery, shaft, and lateral drifts, will amount to more than twenty-five thousand cubic yards, for which the price paid is four dollars per yard. This, how- ever, will not, by a great amount, cover the entire cost of the tunnel ; for since the excavation has been commenced, such is the character of the rock — thrown together apparently by nature in loose masses and blocks — that it now appears that the entire roof and sides of the tunnel will require arching with solid mason work. Indeed, tempo- rary arches of wood have been found necessary during the progress of almost every successive yard of the work. It is by far the great- est undertaking of the kind that has been attempted in our country. " Perceiving, at the outset, that his contract would require a long time for its completion, Mr. Johnson, whose daily presence was 64 ALLEGANY COUNTY. Hornby Lodge at Portage Falls. necessary, wisely determined to surround himself by his family. He accordingly prepared ' a lodge' for them in the ' wilderness.' The site selected is wild and picturesque in a high degree. It stands upon a small plain or table, upon the highest verge of the precipitous bank of the river so often adverted to, a few yards only from the edge, which juts out, and almost impends over the abyss, threatening to descend and overwhelm all that may be below. The site of the building is near the southwestern entrance of the tunnel.* Facing that direction, a full view is presented of the chasm of the river, and the upper and middle falls ; the roar of which is incessant, and the ascending clouds of vapor of which form objects of ever-varying and incessant interest and beauty. ' Hornby Lodge^ is the name of Mr. Johnson's castle, and the grounds around it — purposely kept as wild as nature herself has made them — are called ' Tunnel Park.' " The house, or lodge, is of itself a great curiosity. In shape it is an octagon, sixty feet in diameter, and two stories high — with r-, wings — according to the ground-plan annexed. It is sup- / "^v^ ported by the trunk of a huge oak tree, standing in the [I] t] centre, from which the beams and rafters radiate to the \-/ outward circumference. It stands directly over the main tunnel, the roof of which is 100 feet beneath the base of the lodge. The work is prosecuted by relief parties night and day ; and while the miners were at work directly beneath the lodge, the explosions of the powder used in blasting were both heard and felt by the family, essentially disturbing their slumber at night. The ornaments of the lodge, over the doors and windows, and much of the furniture, are truly Gothic, being formed from the crookedest limbs of trees that could be found. On the whole, it is a most picturesque establish- ment, standing alone in its rustic beauty, and looking out fearfully * Having formerly been some years engaged on public works, we were naturally inter- ested in the construction at this place. Much credit is due to Mr. Edward A. Stillman, a young man of 23, who is the resident instrmnental engineer. His lines have Jaeen run with uncommon success as compared with similar works in Europe. — H. JI. ALLEGANY COUNTY. 65 upon the confined deep. I was a partaker of Mr. Johnson's hospi- tahty for one night. It was a beautiful moonUght night ; and both by day and night I enjoyed the scene to the full." To the foregoing description, we would add that the building pre- sents a similar appearance from every direction. There is between each pair of wings a door which opens into an octagonal saloon, occupying the whole of the basement, excepting the wings. This saloon is in true " log cabin" style. The trunk of the huge oak, pre- viously alluded to, with its shaggy bark covering, rises from the floor in the centre of the room as a pillar to support the ceiling. The fur- niture, chairs, sofas, &c., in this apartment are formed of the rough limbs of the forest. The wings are divided into rooms of convenient size answering the respective purposes of parlor, library, office, conservatory, kitchen, &c. &c. The structure approaches to the Swiss Gothic st54e, and its peculiar and novel feature is, that while the lower story is an octagon, the upper is a quadrilateral, diamonding with the base. We will close our account of this region by a description of the lower falls, taken from the " Rambles." " The water at the lower falls rushes around an immense rock in its descent, close under the southeastern bank. Fortunately for visiters, as yet the scene has been thus far permitted by man to remain in a state of nature. It is therefore as wild and romantic as can be desired. A dark screen of evergreen, hanging over the cataract so near and thick as to :'"ender it unsafe to push through it, partially hides the descending torrent of foam, which dots after its final plunge the river to a considerable distance with cream-like ornaments. Partly detached from the main wall which confines the river to its narrow bed, a huge rock partially conceals the fall, tapering upward like a sugar-loaf, and crested with evergreens. On the opposite, or western side, the top of the rock around which the waters hurry in their maddened wrath, is level as the house-floor, and large enough for a company of Those gallant sons who shoulder guns And twice a year go out a-training, to perform their martial exercises upon. Midway from the top, the sugar-loaf is united to the main buttress. The depth of this fall is 96 feet." RusHFORD, taken from Caneadea in 1827, is centrally situated from Albany 270, and from Angelica, northwest, 20 miles. Pop. 1,502. Rushford village contains 1 Methodist church, and about 70 dwellings. Scio, taken from Angelica in 1823, and centrally distant, south, 16 miles. Scio and Wellsvilie are post-offices. Pop. 1,150. In its ter- ritorial limits, this town is far the largest in the county. Its surface is high and much broken by streams, and heavily timbered with pines, hemlock, &c. Most of the township is in its primitive wilder- ness state. West Almond comprises township No. 4 in the first range of Morris' Reserve, and was taken from Almond, Angelica and Aljfred in 1835; from Angelica, east, 7 miles. Pop. 810. 9 66 BROOME COUNTY. Wirt, taken from Friendship and Bolivar ; from Angelica, south- west, 14 miles. Pop. 1,208. South Branch and Richburg are post- offices. BROOME COUNTY. Broome county, named after Lieut. Gov. Broome, was taken from Tioga in 1806. Length, on the Pennsylvania line, 37 miles ; breadth, on the Tioga boundary 28, on the Delaware 13, and midway 17 miles. Centrally distant from New York, northwest, 252, and from Albany, southv/est, 145 miles. The surface of the country is broken and mountainous. Among its principal elevations are the Cookquago, the Oquago, and the Randolph mountains. The valleys bordering on its numerous streams are extensive and fertile, producing large quantities of wheat. The soil is generally better adapted to grazing than the culture of grain. Fruit succeeds well. The inhabitants are principally farmers, and its agriculture is respectable. The Chenango canal enters the county on the north, follows down the valley of the Chenango river, and enters the Susquehannah river at Binghamton. The line of the Erie railroad passes through the county. The county is divided into 1 1 towns. Population, 22,348. Barker was taken from Lisle in 1831 ; drained by the Tioughni- oga river crossing it diagonally from northwest to southeast. Pop- ulation, 1,258. Chenango Forks, post village, 12 miles north from Binghamton, has about 30 dwellings. There is a small collection of houses at Hyde settlement. Chenango was organized in February, 1791 ; since reduced in limits. It is centrally intersected by Chenango river, which enters the Susquehannah at Chenango Point. Along the valleys of both these streams are rich alluvial flats from one to two miles wide. The land is broken and hilly, containing large quantities of pine and other timber for market. Population, 5,475, The village of Binghamton in this town, formerly called Chenango Point, the shire village of the county, was incorporated in 1813, 1824, and 1834. It derived its present name from William Bingham, a munificent benefactor of the village in its infant state. This gentleman was possessed of a large estate, and was the proprietor of a large patent of land lying on both sides of the Susquehannah, including the site of the village. . Mr. Bingham was a native of England, and came to this country when a young man, and went into the mercantile business in Philadelphia. He was a member of congress for some years while it held its ses- sions at Philadelphia. His two daughters married, the one Alexander, the other Henry Baring, two noted bankers in London. Mr. Bing- ham died in London in 1804. BROOME COUNTY. &r Western View of Binghamton. The above shows the appearance of the village as it is entered from the west side of Chenango river, by the red bridge, (so called,) which is 600 feet long. The village is principally on the east side of the Chenango, and contains about 400 houses, 30 stores, and 2,000 inhabitants. There are six churches, viz : 1 Episcopal, 1 Methodist, 1 Presbyterian, 1 Congregational, 1 Baptist, and 1 Catholic. There are two female seminaries, a large school for boys, two printing- offices, the courthouse and prison ; two banks — the Broome County Bank incorporated 1831, with a capital of $100,000, and the Bing- hamton Bank, which commenced its operations in 1839, with a capital of $100,000, and the privilege of extending it to one million. The village of Binghamton is 150 miles from Albany, 90 from Utica, 40 from Norwich, 22 from Owego, and 7 from the Pennsylvania line. The great medium of transportation to the place is by the Chenango canal. This canal, which terminates at Binghamton and Utica, is 95 miles long, 46 feet wide, and 4? deep. The number of locks in the whole route is 105. The canal was commenced in 1834 and completed in 1837, and cost nearly two millions of dollars. The tract of country in which Binghamton is situated, became first known to the whites by the expedition of Gen. Sullivan against the Indians in 1779, Upon the site of Binghamton, a brigade of American 4i'Oops under the command of Gen. James Clinton, the father of De Witt Clinton, encamped for one or two nights on their way to join the main body under Sullivan, then penetrating westward. The first white man who made a permanent settlement in what is claimed for the village vicinity, was Capt. Joseph Leonard, who was originally from Plymouth, Massachusetts. He first emigrated to Wyoming, Pennsylvania. He owned a farm in that place, and was under arms there at the time of the massacre, though not on the field of action. He moved from Wyoming in 1787, with a young wife and two little children. His wife and children were put on board a 68 BROOME COUNTY. canoe, with what goods he brought up, and the canoe rowed by a hired man ; while he himself went up on land with two horses, keep- ing the shore, and regulating his progress by that of his family on the river. A Capt. Baldwin, who settled on the Chemung river, moved up at the same time in company with him.* Capt. Leonard received his first information of this region from Amos Draper, then an Indian trader in these parts. On his first ar- rival, he found a Mr. Lyon, who lived in a temporary log house near where Col. Page's ashery now stands. In two or three weeks after- ward. Col. Wm. Rose and his brother, from Connecticut, came on to Binghamton, and fixed their location a little above Capt. Leonard's. During this year, (1787,) Joshua Whitney, Gen. Wm. Whitney, and Henry Green, from Hillsdale, Columbia county, came to this place, and settled on the west side of the Chenango, about two miles above its junction with the Susquehannah, on what was afterward called Whitney's flats. At the time the above families settled here, their nearest white neighbors were at Tioga, a distance of forty miles. Previous to the settlement of these first emigrants, a number of persons from Massachusetts came on an exploring tour to this region ; on their return they obtained a grant from the legislature of Massa- chusetts of a large tract, which they afterward purchased of the In- dians. This tract contained 230,000 square acres, for which the company paid to the state £ 1,500. It appears that when the agents of the company came on, they found that patents had already been granted to Bingham, Wilson, and Cox, by the state of New York, which interfered with their grants. This claim of Massa- chusetts to this part of the state, originating in some ancient colonial claims, was finally satisfied by the grant of the right of pre-emption to certain lands in western New York. The facts respecting the treaty with the Indians, &c., is from the Annals of Binghamton. " They made their propositions to the Indians for the purchase of it, appointed a time and place for the negotiation of the bargain, and returned home. These individuals, at first, designed to form a com- pany to consist only of eleven persons ; but conceiving the purchase too heavy for so small a number, and having so many applications for co-partnership, the number of the company was finally fixed at sixty. This company appointed as commissioners to treat with the Indians, Elijah Brown, Gen. Oringh Stoddard, Gen. Moses Ashley, Capt. Raymond, and Col. David Pixley. These gentlemen met the Indians in treaty, in the first instance on the Chenango rif er, the east side, two or three miles above the present village of Binghamton, in the forepart of winter. But at this treaty the negotiation was not fully completed, and they adjourned to meet at the Forks of the Che- nango. At this second treaty, there were between three and four hundred Indians. * The authors are indebted for the history of Binghamton, to a work pubHshed at that place in 1840, entitled " Annals of Binghamton, and of the country connected with it, from the earliest settlement, by J. B. Wilkinson." BROOME COUNTY. 69 " At this and the former treaty, it is said, the Indians, who were fur- nished with provisions and liquor at the expense of the company, would get drunk, almost to a man, by night, but be sober through the dav. While the subjects of the treaty were under discussion from day to day, they would sit in circles upon the ground, and listen with the utmost decorum. Their chiefs, when they spoke, would speak in substance, if not in form, in accordance with parliamentary rule. Captain, and afterward Esquire Dean, was their interpreter, and did their business. " The nominal sum paid for this tract is not now known, but the payment was made, one half in money, and the other moiety in goods, consisting of rifles, hatchets, ammunition, blankets, and woollen cloths. The last, it is said, the savages, in perfect character with their taste, immediately tore into strings for ornament. • " An estimation was made of the entire cost of these ten townships, to wit : the purchase price, the expense of the treaties, and the sur- vey made of it, and found to amount to about one shilling per acre. The number of acres contained in the tract, as has just been stated, was 230,000 square acres. This, equally divided among the sixty proprietors, would give to each 3,833 acres, with a fraction over. The price for which the land was sold, in the earliest sale of it, was uniformly at twenty-five cents per acre ; but it, after a little, rose to one dollar per acre, and even to more. " The land upon the shores of the two rivers, and for some distance back, was, even at the time of the purchase, partially cleared, so far as the Indians have their lands cleared. The under-brush was cleared, having been kept down by burning, and grass growing on the flats. The Indians uniformly keep down the shrubby part of their hunting grounds, that they may, with the more facility, discover and pursue their game. Col. Rose says, that he could see deer upon the mountains immediately back of him for half a mile, so free were they of under-brush. He observes, also, that the woods exhibited a sombre appearance, from their annual burnings. The large island opposite Judge Stoddard's, was, when the first settlers came, covered with grass and the anacum weed, a tall kind of weed, the roots of which they were in the habit of digging and drying, and then grind- ing or pounding for bread stuff"; or rather its apology, perhaps, when their corn failed them. " The Indians, in their treaty with the New England commissioners, reserved to themselves the right of hunting upon the lands they had sold, for the term of seven years ; and also made a reserve of one half mile square, as their own possession. This reserve was situated near the mouth of Castle creek, and went by the name of the Castle Farm. Upon this reserve the Indians of the neighborhood who did not remove to New Stockbridge, or Oneida, resided. Their number on the farm is said to have been about twenty families. They by no means confined themselves to this httle spot. They cultivated the ground of the farm, more or less, but depended chiefly, in accordance with their long custom and native propensity, upon hunting and fishing.'* 70 BROOME COUNTY. In the summer of 1789, a very considerable accession was made by persons who settled in the Susquehannah and Chenango valleys. Daniel Hudson, afterward a major and judge, settled between Capt. Leonard and Col. Rose ; Jonathan Fitch settled upon the creek that took his name : he was a merchant from Wyoming, and had been sheriff of the county ; it is believed he was the first representative to the state legislature from the new county of Tioga, The first reli- gious society formed within the bounds of the settlement was a Bap- tist church, consisting of 10 or 12 members, formed by Elder Howe, a very early settler in the place. He was succeeded by Elder Fisk. This society became extinct about the year 1800. A Dutch Re- formed church was founded about 1798, by the Rev. Mr. Manly, who was succeeded in his ministrations by the Rev. Mr. Palmer: this church was afterward merged into the Presbyterian. The present Pj-esbyterian church was organized in 1817. Mr. Niles, their minister,' was ordained the next year. He died in 1828, and was succeeded by Mr. Lockwood, who continued his pastoral relation till 1833. He was succeeded, in 1836, by the Rev. John A. Nash: in 1838, Mr. Nash was succeeded by Rev. David D. Gregory. The Episcopal church was incorporated in 1816. Rev. Mr. Keeler was the first ofliciating clergyman. He was succeeded by Rev. F. H. Cumming. In 1821, Mr. Cumming was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Gear. The clergymen succeeding have been in the following order : Rev. Na- thaniel Huse, in 1824; Rev. Mr. Cumming, in 1829; Rev. Hiram Adams, in 1831; Rev. Mr. Shimeall, in 1835; and Rev. Edward Andrews, in 1836. The Methodist society was formed in 1817. In 1822, the Methodist chapel was purchased of the Episcopalians, and moved from the site of the present Episcopal church to where it now stands. The present Baptist church was instituted in 1829. Elder Frederick was its first pastor. The succeeding pastors have been in the order following : Revs. Jason Corwin, Henry Robertson, Davis Dimmick, William Storrs, and Rev. James M. Coley. The Congre- gational church was organized in 1836, and the Rev. John Stark- weather was called to be their pastor ; he was succeeded by Rev. Samuel W. Bush. A Catholic church was finished in 1837. In Jan. 1838, a Universalist society was organized. Windsor, the ancient Oquago, was taken from Chenango in 1807; has a mountainous surface, and is centrally intersected by the Susque- hannah. Great quantities of locust timber, valuable for shipbuilding, have been taken from this town. The principal settlement is on the west side of the Susquehannah, and has about 60 dwellings, and 350 inhabitants; 16 miles from Binghamton, and 128 from Albany. Pop. 2,368. The valley of Oquago was settled by the whites about the year 1788. The most of the earlier inhabitants were from Waterbury and Watertown, in Connecticut. The Rev. Mr. Buck was the first minister who preached in the place. He was called by the first settlers Major Buck, as he had held that office during the revolutionary war. Mr. Williston, a missionary from Connecticut, appears to have been BROOME COUNTY. 71 the next. Soon after the formation of the Presbyterian church, Rev. Seth Sage became the settled pastor, and remained such till his death. The Episcopal church was organized in 1803, by Bishop chase, then a missionary in Western New York, The Presbyterian meeting- house was erected in 1800, the Methodist in 1833. Oquago was the residence of a tribe of Indians. It appears to have been a half-way resting-place for the " Six Nations" as they passed south of Wyoming, and also for the tribes of the Wyoming valley as they passed north. Jonathan Edwards, the celebrated divine, while a minister at Stockbridge, Mass., took a deep interest in the welfare of the Indians in this place. He procured a mis- sionary for them. Rev. Mr. Hawley, and three other persons, Mr. Wood bridge, Mr. and Mrs. Ashley. The three latter returned. Mrs. Ashley, it appears, was employed during her stay as an interpreter. Mr. Hawley remained their missionary until the commencement of the French war, when it was considered unsafe for him to remain longer. About one year previous to this time, Mr. Edwards sent one of his sons, a lad of about nine years of age, to Oquago, under the care of Mr. Hawley, to learn the Indian language, in order to become an Indian missionary. When the war commenced, a faithful Indian, who had special care of the lad, took him and conveyed him to his father, part of the way on his back. This lad was afterward President of Union College. The following, relating to the privations and difficulties encountered by the first settlers of Oquago valley, is from Wilkinson's Annals of Binghamton. " In about the year 1794, there was what was called the pumpkin freshet, in the month of August ; the Susquehannah rising much above its usual height, and sweeping down in its tide the productions of the fields — corn, pumpkins, potatoes, &c. A great scarcity was the natural consequence. During this scarcity, Maj. Stow shouldered a bushel of wheat, in which the whole neighborhood had a common share, and started for Wattles' ferry to mill, a distance of more than forty miles, carrying his grist the whole distance on foot. He got his wheat ground, and returned in the same trudging manner. During his journey, he purchased one quarter of a pound of tea — at that time a rare article with the settlers — to help out the repast which he anticipated at his return. Upon his arrival home, the neighbors, who held an interest in the grist of wheat — and most pro- bably others also — collected at the major's house, to hold a sort of thanksgiving ; which was to be celebrated by preparing and partak- ing of as sumptuous a feast as their stores would admit. Out of the flour they made short-cake; but having no hog's lard, they would have come short of this luxury, had not the major bethought himself of some hear''s grease which he had in the house, and which answer- ed as a substitute. Their tea was quite a ncvr article to them, for which they were not prepared. They had no teakettle, no teapot, no teacups. Instead of the first, a small kettle was furnished to boil the water in ; they put the tea into the same to steep it ; and instead 72 BROOME COUNTY. of cups and saucers, they used a wooden bowl, which they passed around from one to the other. Still they made a merry cheer of it ; felt the glow of sociabiUty, and told each his best anecdote. These early inhabitants, when they became old, would tell the story to their children and more recent inhabitants, with moistened eyes ; but said, it was then a heart-felt thanksgiving and a merry time." CoLEsviLLE, taken from Windsor in 1821 ; drained centrally by the Susquehannah river; from Albany 123 miles. Pop. 2,517. Har- persville, 17 miles N. E. from Binghamton, has about 30 dwellings. Colesville, New Ohio, Nineveh, Dora, and Susquehannah, are post- offices. Bellona springs in this town, so named from some sulphur springs, has been frequented for health and pleasure. CoNKLiN, taken from Chenango in 1824 ; having the Susquehannah river running N. W. through it in a deep valley with fertile flats. Pop. 1,471. Conklin and Corbotville are post-offices: the former of which is about 4 miles E. of Binghamton. Lisle, taken from Union in 1801 ; from Binghamton, N. E., 18 miles. Lisle, Lisle Centre, and Union Village, are post-offices. This town was settled in 1792 by emigrants from the eastern states. Pop. 1,558. " A congregational church was organized in what is called Lisle, in the year 1797, by the Rev. Seth Williston, who had, a short time pre- viously, been sent there by the Connecticut Missionary Society, upon the personal application of Mr. Edwards. The church consisted, in its first formation, of sixteen members, eleven of whom were by pro- fession. In 1801, William Osborn was elected to the office of a deacon; but it was not till 1810 that he was consecrated by the im- position of hands from the presbytery ; and his colleague, Andrew Squires, was consecrated at the same time. " Mr. Williston employed about half of his time in pastoral duties in this congregation; the rest of his time he missionated in Union, Owego, and in Oquago. He was installed pastor of the church in Lisle, in October, 1803 ; and from this period he appears to have em- ployed all his time within the pastoral limits of this one congregation, until he was dismissed from it in 1810. The church of Lisle was the earliest organized, it is believed, of any west of the Catskill and south of Utica. At the time of Mr. Williston's installation, the council or- ganized what then was called ' The Susquehannah Association,' tak- ing in some of the northern counties of Pennsylvania. " In the year 1796, Mr. E. Edwards built the first saw-mill on the Onondaga or its waters; and was nearly, if not quite, the first that came down the Chenango with a raft. He subsequently carried on lumbering to a great extent ; and the pine timber of that section being of a superior quality, compensated for his being so far back from the broader stream of the Susquehannah. The first grist-mill was built much later, by Dr. Wheeler. Previous to this, the inhabitants came down to Castle creek for their grinding ; and when that mill failed for want of water, they were obliged to go to Tioga Point." Nanticoke, taken from Lisle in 1831 ; from Albany 144 miles. BROOME COUNTY. 73 There are sulphur springs in the N. W. part of the town ; 14 miles N. W. from Binghamton. Pop. 418. Sand FORD, taken from Windsor in 1821 ; from Albany 121, from Binghamton, E., 24 miles. The town is thinly settled, being stony and mountainous. Pop. 1,172. Triangle, so named from its shape, taken from Lisle in 1831 ; from Albany 132, from Binghamton, N., 17 miles. Pop. 1,692. Tri- angle post-oifice is at Clarke's settlement, near the E. line, where there are about 30 dwellings. At Union Village is the post-office named Upper Lisle. Union was organized in 1791 ; lies on the north side of the Sus- quehannah ; its surface is undulating, with a fertile soil of gravelly loam. The village of Union is on the Susquehannah, 9 miles W. from Binghamton, containing about 50 houses and 300 inhabitants. Maine post-office is in the northern part of the town. Pop. 2,600. The town appears to have been first settled about the year 1789. One of the most prominent settlers was Gen. Oringh Stoddard, one of the commissioners appointed by the Boston Company to treat with the Indians. Amos Patterson, afterward judge of Broome county, and Joshua Mersereau, one of the earliest judges of old Tioga county, were early settlers in Union. Judge Mersereau and his brother John, were originally from New Jersey. Previous to the revolutionary war, these two brothers removed to Staten Island, where they kept a large tavern. It is stated that they were the first persons who commenced a line of stages from New York to Phila- delphia, uniting their line with the boats that plied between their own dock and New York. When Staten Island fell into the hands of the British, Judge Mer- sereau and his brother, being zealous in the American cause, left the island and entered into the American service. These two brothers were the principal agents in preventing the British from crossing the Delaware in their pursuit of Washington. Judge Mersereau, who was a commissary through the war, was much about the person of Washington. When he had crossed the Delaware, he was asked if he was sure that he had removed every thing that could be employed to transport the enemy over. Washington replied he thought he had. Judge Mersereau begged the privilege of re-crossing with his brother and making search. They went back and searched the op- posite shore, and found, below the surface of the water, two Durham boats, which had been timely sunk by a royalist who lived near. They raised them up and took them to the Pennsylvania side. " Several of the Indians, whose particular location was at the Castle farm, had temporary huts or wigwams in Union, near the river, and on both sides. These they occupied more or less for several years after the country was settled. Where, and in what manner, they ob- tained their salt was always a mystery to the whites. They would strike a course over the mountain about opposite Judge Mersereau's, on the south side of the river, and after an absence of about twelve hours, would return with a pail or kettle of salt ; and that, too, im- 10 '^4 CAYUGA COUNTY. mediately upon their return, would be warm. Old Mr, Richards used to say, that the Indians would cross the river below Willow Point, rise the mountain, and bring back salt. Sometimes it would be warm. He inferred that there must be a salt spring near, but it never could be found. John D. Mersereau relates, that when a lad, his father and himself have endeavored to follow the Indians when they were known to have set out for salt ; but they soon would ap- pear to be apprehensive that they were watched, and would either remain where they were, or turn from their course. Never more than two would set out upon the expedition. They used the utmost precaution to prevent the whites from ever discovering the secret spot. They had other places to which they resorted for salt, one or more in the neighborhood of Oquago. Why these sources of salt have never been found by the whites, is a mystery. Vestal was taken from Union in 1823, being divided from that town by the Susquehannah. It is a lumbering town, being but a small part of it cultivated. Major David Barney was one of the first settlers. He came down the river from Cooperstown with a large family of children in a canoe. Vestal is 8 miles S. W. from Bing- hamton. Pop. 1,250. There are two post-offices, Vestal, S. Vestal. CAYUGA COUNTY. Cayuga county was formed from Onondaga in 1799 ; but other counties have since been taken from it. Greatest length N. and S. 55, greatest breadth E. and W. 23 miles. From Albany, W., 156 miles, from New York, 301. Upon the S. the surface rises into ridges, along the Cayuga lake, the Owasco lake and inlet, and the Skaneateles lake. The disposition of the waters shows an irregular surface. The Poplar ridge, E. of the Cayuga lake, rises in some places to 600 feet above, but has a gentle slope towards the lake, dis- playing finely cultivated farms. The eastern declivity of this and other hills are more abrupt. On the N. of Auburn, the country is comparatively level, yet has a rolling appearance from the many large gravel hills scattered over the plain, assuming in many places the semblance of stupendous mounds formed by art. This gravel has much limestone, and produces excellent wheat. Few portions of the state possess more fertile lands, or can boast of higher cultiva- tion. In all the fruits of the climate, this county is prolific. About two thirds of the land is under improvement. The southern portion is most thickly settled. The Cayuga lake, which fonns a large part of the western boundary, is a beautiful sheet of water, 36 miles long, and from 1 to 4 broad. The county is divided into 22 towns. Pop. 50,364. Auburn was taken from Aurelius in 1823. The town, 3 miles by CAYUGA COUNTY. 75 2, comprehending 6 lots of the old miUtary tract, is included within the chartered limits of the village. The compact part of the village lies 2h miles from Lake Owasco, on the outlet of that name. It is 156 miles from Albany, 314 from New York, 7 from Weedsport on the Erie canal, and 339 from Washington. Pop. 5,626. There are 2 Presbyterian churches, 1 Episcopal, 1 Baptist, 1 Universalist, and 1 Catholic ; a state prison, courthouse, theological seminary, an academy, 2 banks, 4 printing-offices, and a number of splendid hotels. Auburn is one of the most thriving and beautiful villages in the state. Its principal streets are adorned with lofty buildings of brick and limestone. Eastern part of Genesee-street, Auburn. Auburn was first settled in 1793, by Col. John L. Hardenbergh, and was for many years called " Hardenbergh' s Corners." It became a post village in 1800, and in 1805 the county town ; and received its present name from Dr. Crosset. At this time, the village consisted of but a few log dwellings, a store or two, a gi'ist-mill, &c., all situ- ated near the bank of the creek, not far from the spot occupied by the establishment of Messrs. Leonard & Warden. In 1807, the building of the courthouse was commenced, and the county courts removed to this place from Aurora. In 1811, the vil- lage is supposed to have contained about 300 inhabitants ; the court- house was the only public building ; even this was in an unfinished state. The construction of an academy, a three-story brick budding, and a neat little Episcopal church were commenced, and a Pres- byterian society formed during this year. In 1815, Auburn was incorporated a village, at which time it con- 76 CAYUGA COUNTY. tained 1,000 inhabitants. From this period, its improvement became more rapid and uniform ; walks were now put down on the principal streets, which before were muddy and uneven. In 1816, the state prison was founded in this place ; the first Presbyterian church in North-street was commenced, and the Bank of Auburn, capital $200,000, was chartered. In April, 1817, the village contained 1,506 inhabitants, 148 dwellings, 20 stores, and 40 mechanic sliops. A railroad connects Auburn with Syracuse. This road is 26 miles long, and was constructed at an expense of $460,000. A railroad is now constructing between this place and Rochester, which passes some distance S. of the Erie canal, through the flourishing villages of Canandaigua and Geneva, a distance by this route of 77^ miles. Auburn Theological Seminary. The Auburn Theological Seminary was established by the synod of Geneva in 1819, and by the act of incorporation, in 1820, was placed under commissioners, chosen by the synods of Genesee, Geneva, and Oneida. There are four professors in the institution. Over 300 clergymen have been educated since its establishment. In 1839, the numijer of students was 71. The principal building is of stone, pre- senting a front of 200 feet. The library exhibits a valuable collec- tion of choice theological works, and contains upwards of 5,000 vols. No charge is made for the use of the library, rooms, or furniture. The Methodist Episcopal society was organized in 1821 ; their house, on Chapel-street, was erected soon after, and has been since sold to the Catholics ; their present stone chapel, on North-street, was erected in 1833. The Baptist society was organized in 1825, and built a •church on South-street, (since sold to the Universalists.) in 1829; their church on Genesee-street was erected in 1834. The Second Presbyterian society was organized in 1829, and the foundation of their house laid. In 1833, the Universalist society was organized; and in 1834, the Catholics fitted up their church on Chapel-street. The following is a representation of the state prison as viewed from the N. ; the cupola of the courthouse is seen in the distance. The CAYUGA COUNTY. 77 State Prison at Auburn. erection of this prison commenced in 1816. "It occupies a plot of ground forming a square 500 feet each way, enclosed with a boundary wall 2,000 feet in extent, 30 feet high, and 4 feet thick at the base. A small river or creek runs along the S. side of the boundary, and sufficient power from the stream is obtained, by means of a water- wheel and shaft through the wall, to work the machinery within the prison. The prison buildings stand back about 80 feet from the road, and form three sides of a square ; the front part being about 280 feet long ; each of the return wings is 240 feet long and 45 in depth." The cost of erecting the prison was more than $500,000. The usual number of prisoners of late years has been between 6 and 700. The earnings of the prison during the year ending Sept. 1839, was $60,161.46; the expenditures during the same period, $51,671.21. Religious instruction is regularly given by the chaplain. Sunday schools are instituted in the prisons, in which the students in the the- ological seminary and other pious persons assist ; the younger por- tion of the convicts, if illiterate, are taught to read, write, and cast accounts. " The building contained originally 550 cells. More, we believe, have lately been added. They are principally distributed into four tiers or stories, and constructed on each side of the block or wing. The cells are each 7 feet long, 7 feet high, and 3^ wide. They are sufficiently lighted, well warmed, and ventilated. The area between the cells and the parallel walls, 10 feet wide, is open from the ground to the roof; and of this interval, 3 feet adjoining the cells are occu- pied by the galleries. This space in front of the cells forms a com- plete sounding-gallery, so that the watchman in the open area on the ground can hear even a whisper, from a distant cell in the upper stoty. " Such are the provisions and precautions for the separate confine- ment of the prisoners at night. In the daytime, they are compelled to labor together, in an orderly and penitential manner. Soon after daylight, on a signal given by the prison bell, the turnkey unlocks the 78 CAYUGA COUNTY. Prisoners at the State Prison at Auburn. doors of the cells, when the convicts, each with his night tub, water can, and mush kid, march out ; and having disposed of these articles according to the order of the prison, proceed to the workshops, where they commence the labor of the day. At a fixed hour another bell is rung, when they form again in line, and march in silence, with closed files, to the mess-room, where they breakfast at narrow tables, so arranged that they are unable to exchange even looks or signs. After an interval of 20 to 30 minutes, they return in the same manner to the workshops. At 12 o'clock, they dine under the same care to prevent intercourse. On the approach of night, they wash their faces and hands, and at the ringing of the bell, form a line according to the number of their cells, march out of the shops to their tubs, and at the word of command take them up, step forward and empty into the drain the water which had been placed in them in the morning to purify them. They then proceed, with closed files, the tubs hang- ing on their arms, to the wash-room, adjoining the kitchen, where their mush and molasses in a kid, and water in a can for drinking, have been placed together, in rows, by the cooks ; and, without breaking their step, they stoop and take up the can and kid, march to their respective galleries, enter their cells as they arrive at them, and pull the doors partly shut. Each gallery is occupied by one compa- ny, which is marched and locked up by one turnkey, with two keys, differing from each other, and from all the rest. The convicts then eat supper in their respective cells. At an early hour they are re- quired, by the ringing of a bell, to take off their clothes and go to bed, upon their canvass hammocks; when well, they are not permitted to lie down before the bell rings, nor to get up again, but from neces- sity, until the ringing of the morning bell. During the night, turn- keys are constantly moving round the galleries, wearing woollen socks on their feet, and walking so noiselessly that the convicts are notable to discover ^their presence or absence; and thus the whole CAVUGA COUNTY, 79 wing, containing several hundred convicts, is preserved in perfect stillness and order. It is obvious that no communication can take place between the convicts at night, without the connivance or negli- gence of the turnkeys, which is guarded against by the visits of the keeper and his deputies at different hours." — Gordon's Gaz. The following inscriptions are copied from monuments in the grave- yard N. of the village. " Professori HisT. Eccles Pclitiaeque nostra Reverendo Matthaeo La Rue Perrine D. D. quindecim annos a principio in Sominario Auburnensi theologico qui eruditus diiuctus mo. destus impietate erga deani a'que homines cunctos imagine Dei creates sinccrus vixit nato maii V MDCCLXXVII moriturus exitum prospexit tranquiilus patiens benignus spe in Cliristo solo radiatus christum esse verum deum et redemptorem suum gloriosissimum gaudens confessus et precatus triumphavit suis benedixit gloriae ascendit Feb. XII MDCCCXXXVI Hunc lapidem amici nonnulli orbati posuere." [To the memory of Rev. Matthew La Rue Perrine, D. D., Professor of Ecclesiastical History and Polity, for fifteen years, in the Theological Seminary at Auburn. He was learned, amiable, and modest, and lived in sincere piety towards God and good will towards all men created in the image of God. He was born May 5, 1777. In the near prospect of death he was tranquil and patient, illumined by hope in Christ al(5ne, whom he joyfully confessed to be the true God and his most glorious Redeemer. Having prayed, he tri- umphed over death, blessed his friends, and ascended to glory, Feb. 12, 1836. — Some of his bereaved friends have erected this monument to his memory.] " 1 Cor. 15 ; 57. ' But thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord •Jesus Christ,' Hev. William Leivis, Jr., son of Wm. and Mary Lewis of *his vicinity. After his course of preparatory studies in Williams College and Auburn Theo. Seminary, and successfully devoting himself to the cause of Education, Temperance and Piety in Canada, New York, Indiana, and Ohio, he went home to God, 4 April, 1838, aged 36 years. From the bible class, his interest in religion began. His faith and character were formed on the Bible ; and he went down the dark valley saying ' all is light.' " AuRELius, organized in 1789; bounds since altered; from Albany 159 miles. Pop. 2,644. Cayuga, 8 miles W. from Auburn, has about 30 dwellings. Aurelius and Fosterdale are small villages. Clarks- ville, 1 mile W. from Auburn, has about 50 dwellings. Cayuga Bridge. The above view of Cayuga Bridge, which crosses the Cayuga lake on the great western turnpike, was taken on the western bank, and shows on the opposite side of the lake a portion of the little vil- lage of Cayuga. The large building on the right is the well-known tavern of Mr. Titus, having superior accommodations. This bridge, so famous in political estimates, was commenced in May, 1799, and 80 CAYUGA COUNTY. finished in September, 1800. It was built by the Manhattan Com- pany of New York, and cost $150,000. Its length is one mile. " This bridge is the longest in America, perhaps in the world, and yet five years ago," says a traveller in 1800, " the Indians possessed the shores of the lake, imbosomed in almost impenetrable woods." The first bridge was built on mud sills — the second on piles — the third and last was erected in 1833, and cost about $15,000. Brutus, taken from Aurelius in 1802. Pop. 2,045. Weedsport, incorporated in 1831, on the canal 7 miles N. of Auburn, 26 from Syracuse, 87 W. of Utica, and 197 by canal from Albany, is a flour- ishing village, with about 120 dwellings. Centre ville is a small vil- lage on the canal. Cato, taken from Aurelius in 1802; bounds since altered ; from Albany 155, from Auburn, N. E., 13 miles. Cato Corners and Cato are small villages. Pop. 2,380. CoNauEST, taken from Cato in 1821 ; from Albany 162 miles. Pop. 1,911. The post-oflice is 19 miles N. N. W. of Auburn. Fleming, taken from Aurelius in 1823; from Albany 160 miles. Pop. 1,330. Fleming, 5 miles S. of Auburn, has about 20 dwellings'. Genoa, organized by the General Sessions of Ontario county, in 1789, by the name of Milton; name and bounds since altered ; from Albany 185, from Auburn centrally distant, S.,20 miles. Pop. 2,591. Genoa, formerly called the " Indian Fields," has about 40 dwellings. Northville has about 20 dwellings. Kings Ferry, Five Corners, and East Genoa are post-offices. Ira, taken from Cato in 1821 ; from Albany 189 miles. Pop. 2,282. Ira, 24 miles N. of Auburn, has about 25 dwellings. Led YARD, taken from Scipio in 1823. Aurora, post village 18 miles S. W. from Auburn, is beautifully situated upon the lake in a fertile country, and has several churches, the Cayuga Academy, and about 125 dwellings. Levana, also upon the lake, 14 miles from Auburn, is a small village. Pop. 2,500. Locke, taken from Milton, original name of Genoa, in 1802 ; from Albany 166, from Auburn centrally distant, S. E., 21 miles. Milan, at which is the post-office of the town, has about 50 dwellings. Pop. 1,800. Mentz, originally named Jefferson, and taken from Aurelius in 1808;. from Albany 161 miles. Pop. 4,215. Port Byron, on the canal, 3 miles W. from Weedsport, and 8 from Auburn, has about 150 dwell- ings. Tbroopsville is a small manufacturing village on the Owasco outlet, 3 miles N. W. from Auburn. Montezuma Village is situated •at the junction of the Seneca, Cayuga, and Erie canals. It con- t&ins an Episcopal and a Baptist church, a collector's office, and «ibout 75 dwellings: distant, 10 miles from Auburn, 21 from Geneva, €4 fi-om Rochester, 7 from Cayuga, 35 from Syracuse, and 205 fi-om Albany. In 1839, the state was successful in sinking a shaft about 300 feet, from which issues a large quantity of the best salt water in the state. The -salt made from it is remarkably free from impurities, and the facilities for its manufacture are great, the ground being good CAYUGA COUNTY. 81 and fire-wood plenty. No lime is used in the manufacture of salt from these springs. The Montezuma marshes commence about a mile westward of the village : they are gradually drying away, and it is believed that the healthfulness of this town is now equal to any in the vicinity. " This marshy tract," says a well known writer, " is the paradise of 7nusquetoes" which tiny and troublesome insect are here notorious for their numbers, size, and '• penetrating proboscis." The following is said to be the tradition of the Onondagas respecting the origin of this " musical insect :" " There were, in times of old — many hundred moons ago — two huge feathered monsters permitted by the Manitou to descend from the sky and Hght upon the banks of the Seneca river, near the present route of the canal, at Montezuma. Their form was exactly that of a musquetoe, and they were so large that they darkened the sun like a cloud, as they flew between the earth and it. Standing the one upon one side of the river, and the other op- posite on the other bank, they guarded the river, and stretching their long necks into the canoes of the Indians as they attempted to paddle along the stream, gobbled them up as the stork king in the fable did the frogs. The destruction of life was great, for the em- bargo was so strictly enforced that not an Indian could pass without being devoured in the attempt. It was long before the monsters could be exterminated, and then only by the combined efforts of all the warriors of the Cayuga and Onondaga nations of Indians. The battle was terrible, but the warriors finally triumphed, and the mammoth musquetoea were slain. But, sad to relate, as their carcases decomposed in the sun, every particle be- came vivified, and flew oflf daily in myriads of clouds of musquetoes ! And they have filled the country ever since." Moravia, taken from Sempronius in 1833 ; from Albany 157, from Aubiu-n centrally distant, S. E., 20 miles. Settlements were com- menced here in 1794. A branch of the Owasco inlet here falls per- pendicularly 70 feet. Pop. 2,010. Moravia is a small village. NiLEs, taken from Sempronius in 1833; from Albany 160, from Auburn centrally distant, S. E., 15 miles. Kellogsville and West Niles are post-offices. Pop. 2,234. Owasco, taken from Aurelius in 1802; from Albany 164 miles. Owasco, a small village, is 8 miles S. E. from Auburn. Pop. 1,331. SciPio, organized as part of Ontario county in 1789 ; bounds since altered; from Albany 180, centrally distant S. from Auburn, 10 miles. Scipio, N. Scipio, Sherwood's Corners, and Scipioville are post-offices. Pop. 2,255. Sempronius, organized in 1799; from Albany 153, from Auburn centrally distant, S. E., 16 miles. Skaneateles lake touches it on the N. Pop. 1,304. Sennet, taken from Brutus in 1807; from Albany 160 miles. Sennet, 5 miles N. of Auburn, has about 30 dwellings. Pop. 2,060. Springport, taken from Scipio and Aurelius in 1823 ; from Albany 166 miles. Pop. 1,891. Union Springs, so called from two springs whose united waters form a useful mill-stream, laid out in 1813, on the Cayuga lake, 10 miles S. W. from Auburn, has about 50 dwellings. Sterling, the northernmost town, formed fromCato in 1812 ; from Albany 172, from Auburn, N., centrally distant 28 miles. Sterling, Martville, and Little Sodus are post-offices. Pop. 2,536. Summer Hill, originally named Plato, and taken from Locke in 11 82 CATTARAUGUS COUNTY. 1821 ; from Albany 147, from Auburn, S. E., centrally distant 25 miles. Summer Hill, in the south part, has about 20 dwellings. Pop. 1,446. Venice, taken from Scipio in 1823 ; W. from Albany 162 miles. Smith's Corners, 14 miles S. W. of Auburn, Talcott's 15, Tupper's 17, and Stuart's Corners, are small villages. Pop. 2,105. Victory, taken fromCatoin 1821 ; from Albany 167, from Auburn N., 20 miles. Lathrop's Corners has about 25 or 30 dwellings. Pop. 2,371. CATTARAUGUS COUNTY. Cattaraugus county, taken from Genesee in 1803; centrally dis- tant from New York via Catskill, 384; from Albany, 292; from Buffalo, S. E., 50 miles. Length, E. and W., 39, and greatest breadth N. and S. 36 miles. It derives its name from the Indian word Gah- ta-ra-ke-ras, signifying stinking shore or beach, originally applied to Lake Erie, and thence extended over the adjacent country. This county is highly elevated, being from 500 to 1200 feet above Lake Erie. Its surface is broken by some hills of no mean pretensions to the character of mountains, but in general it is but moderately uneven, and in some parts quite level. In the S., along the Allegany river, there are broad belts of white pine, behind which there are marshes ; excepting these, the lands are generally firm, and timbered with a variety of trees of lofty growth. No region of this state, and proba- bly none of any other in the Union, was originally covered with an equal amount of valuable timber. Some of the trees have measured 230 feet in height, and five of them have been known to furnish an hundred " lumber-man's" logs. Shingles and boards for the supply of the whole western world, have been manufactured in the shingle shanties and saw-mills upon the Allegany and its tributaries. The lands in the N. part are warmer and better adapted to grain and grass crops than in the south, except at the S. W. corner. This county formed part of the Holland Land Company's purchase, who originally owned it all excepting the Indian reservations. About one eighth of the county is under improvement. The county is divided into 26 towns. Pop. 28,803. AsHFORD, taken from Ellicottville in 1824; from Albany 282, from Buflalo 40, from Ellicottville, N., 10 miles. Pop. 1,462. Not more than a tenth part of the town is yet under improvement. The valley of the Cattaraugus creek, on the northern line of the town, is from 1 to 2 miles broad, and fertile. Ashford is a small village. Burton was taken from Great Valley in 1831 ; centrally distant from Ellicottville, S. E., 16 miles. Pop. 511. "Allegany city," is a plot laid out some years since upon the Allegany river, near the east- CATTAEAUOU3 COUNTY. 83 em boundary. Not more than one thirtieth part of this town is under improvement. Cold Spring was taken from NapoH, of which it formed the south- ern part. Pop. 673. This township is intersected by the Allegany river. At the mouth of Cold Spring creek, which enters this stream, is an " Indian village called Tunes-assah ; the reservation, one mile in width along the river, extends some miles above and several be- low this point into Pennsylvania; this remnant lately had at its head the celebrated chief Cornplanter, who died early in the year 1836, aged about 100 years. Some of the tribe are wealthy ; have large stocks of cattle, and some saw-mills. Much is due for the improve- ment of their condition to the judicious efforts of the society of ' Friends,' of Philadelphia, who have long maintained instructers among them, teaching the primitive arts of civilization, and who have a settlement in the southern part of the town." Some of the last of the Indian prophets incorporated a part of the tenets of Chris- tianity into their pagan system. A few years since, a portion of the Indians in this town were in the practice of collecting around a log about 30 feet long, worked into a resemblance of the human form, to which they performed a kind of worship. The son of Cornplanter subsequently persuaded them to throw it into the river. Cornplanter, the chief above-mentioned, it appears, was the son of a white man, who lived in the vicinity of Fort Plank ; his mother was a young woman of the Seneca tribe. The Seneca Indians, during the revolutionary war, were led on against the Americans in the Mo- hawk valley, by Cornplanter, who, in one of his incursions, took his father prisoner. He however treated him well, and released him from confinement. In a letter written by Cornplanter to the govern- or of Pennsylvania in 1822, complaining of the attempt to impose taxes upon him and the Senecas residing on the Allegany, he began as follows: " When I was a child, I played with the butterfly, the grasshopper, and the frogs. As I grew up, I began to pay some attention, and play with the Indian boys in the neighborhood, and they took notice of my skin being a different color from theirs, and spoke about it. I inquired of my mother the cause, and she told me that my father was a resident of Albany. I ate still my victuals out of a bark dish : I grew up to be a young man, and married me a wife, but I had no kettle or gun. I then knew where my father lived, and went to see him, and found he was a white man and spoke the English language. He gave me victuals while I was at his house, but when I started to return home he gave me no provision to eat on the way. He gave me nei'her kettle nor gun, neither did he tell me that the United States were about to rebel against the government of England," &c. &c. " Cornplanter lived to a great age, having deceased within the last eight or ten years. He was an able man, distinguished in subsequent negotiations. He was eloquent, and a great advocate for temperance. He made a very effective and characteristic speech upon that subject in 1822. 'The Great Spirit first made the world, and next the flying animals, and found all things good and prosperous. He is immortal and everlasting. After finish- ing the flying animals, he came down upon the earth and there stood. Then he made dif- ferent kinds of trees, and woods of all sorts, and people of every kind. He made the spring and other seasons, and the weather suitable for planting. These he did make. But stills, to make whiskey to give to Indians, he did not make.' * * * * ' The Great Spirit told us that there were three things for people to attend to. First, we ought to take care of our wives and children. Secondly, the white people ought to attend to their farms and cattle. Thirdly, the Great Spirit has given the bears and deers to the Indians.' * * * ' The Great Spirit lias ordered me to quit drinking. • He wishes me to inform the people 84 CATTARAUGUS COUNTY. that they sliould quit drinking intoxicating drink.' In the course of the same speech, he gave evidence that he was not overmuch pleased with the admixture of his own blood. * * * i The different kinds the Great Spirit made separate, and not to mix M'ith and disturb each other. But the white people have broken this command, by mixing their color with the Indians. The Indians have done better by not doing so.' " — Stone^s Life of Brant. Ganothjowaneh, a distinguished chief of the Seneca tribe, was, it is said, a superior orator to Red Jacket. He was called by the whites, Big Kettle, that being the signification of his Indian name. It is stated that he never tasted ardent spirits, and opposed the practice among the Indians, and suffered some persecutions on this account. During the early period of his life, he was opposed to the introduction of Christianity, but latterly was rather in favor of it. Mr. Wright, the missionary, now living among the Senecas, near Buffalo, attempt- ed to persuade him to embrace the Christian religion. When told that he was a sinner in the sight of God, Big Kettle appeared to be somewhat surprised ; throwing himself in an oratorical attitude, he recounted a long list of his good deeds, and endeavored to make it appear that he was not a sinner. He once came to Mr. Wright, and asked him the question, " Does God overrule all things ?" " Certainly," replied Mr. Wright. " I tell my people so, in council," replied Big Kettle ; " but when I am alone, and think how much iniquity is prac- tised by the white people in getting away our lands, &c., and how they go on without being punished, I have my doubts." He said that the preaching of the missionaries was good, and that the Indians would listen to, and follow it, but he said it would be useless : the bad habits of his people were so strong, the attempt to break them up would be as idle as to " stop the wind from blowing down Lake Erie." CoNNEWANGo, formcd from Little Valley in 1823; from Albany, 312, from EUicottville, S. W., 20 miles. The soil is excellent. Pop. 1,316. Rutledge is a small post village. Dayton, taken from Perry sburg in 1835 ; from Albany 302, from EUicottville, N. W., 25 miles. Pop. 922. The surface of the town is undulating, and generally heavily timbered. Ellicottville, taken from Ischua in 1820 ; was named after Joseph Ellicott, late principal agent of the Holland Land Company. Pop. 1,088. EUicottville, the county seat, is from Albany 292, from New York, by the way of Cattskill, 384, from Mayville, E., 50, from Angelica, W., 35, and from Buffalo, S. W., 50 miles. Gi-ove Hurlburt and Orrin Pitcher were the first settlers, and came here in 1815. The following view of the county buildings was taken near Gregory's tavern. The Episcopal church is seen on the left. The courthouse is the larger building, fronting the spectator. The jail, a stone struct- ure, is seen on the right. There are here, besides the above, 2 land and 2 weekly newspaper offices, a fine hotel, a Presbyterian church, and about 90 dwellings. The scenery of the valley and sur- rounding hills is beautiful, and has been compared to the Italian. Farmersville, taken from Olean in 1812 ; area since much re- duced; from Albany 280, and from Ellicottville, N. E., 19 miles. CATTARAUGUS COUNTY. 85 Pop. 1,294. Farmersville is a small post village. About one fourth part of the town is under cultivation. Southern View of the Public Buildings, Ellicottville. Franklin viLLE, taken from Olean, by the name of Ischua, in 1812. Pop. 1,276. Franklinville Village in the N. E. angle of the town, 13 miles N. E. from Ellicottville, has about 60 dwellings. Cadiz, a mile below on the Ischua creek, has about 40 dwellings. Freedom, formed from Ischua, or Franklinville, in 1820. Pop. 1,831. Freedom Village, 26 N. E. from Ellicottville, Chelsea 21, and Sandusky 24 miles, are small settlements. There is here an oil spring, similar in many respects to the famous Seneca oil spring at Cuba, Allegany county. Great Valley, taken from Olean in 1818 ; from Albany 299, cen- trally distant S. from Ellicottville 11 miles. Chamberlain is a village. Kilbuck and Great Valley are post-offices. The Indian reservation, about a mile wide, extends along the river to the east line of the town. Pop. 843. Hinsdale, taken from Olean in 1820. Pop. 1,937. Hinsdale, 26 S. E., and West Hinsdale, 16 miles from Ellicottville, are post villages. Humphrey, taken from Burton ; from Ellicottville, S. E., centrally distant 10 miles. Chapelsburg is a post-office. Pop. 459. Leon, taken from Connewango in 1832; from Albany 307, from Ellicottville, W., 18 miles. Leon Centre is a small village. Leon and Leon Mills are post-offices. Pop. 1,325. Little Valley, taken from Perry in 1818; Little Valley village is a small settlement, 7 miles S. W. from Ellicottville. Bucktooth is a post-office. Not one fortieth part of the town is settled. The In- dian reservation extends along the Allegany river through this town. Pop. 671. Lyndon, taken from Franklinville in 1829 ; from Albany 277, and from ElUcottville, E., 20 miles. Hopkins is a post-office. Pop. 628. 86 CATTARAUGUS COUNTY. Machias, taken from Yorkshire in 1827 ; from Albany 288, from Ellicottville, N. E., 10 miles. Machias, a post-office, and Machias Corners, are small settlements. Pop. 1,085. Mansfield, taken from Little "Valley in 1830, originally named Cecilius ; from Albany 296, and from Ellicottville, W., 5 miles. Pop. 960. Napoli, originally named Cold Spring, and taken from Little Valley. Seeleysburg, 13 miles S. W. from Elhcottville, is a post-office. Na- poli is a small village. Pop. 1,142. New Albion, taken from Little Valley in 1830 ; from Albany 302, from Ellicottville, W., 10 miles. New Albion is a post-office. Pop. 1,033. Olean, organized in 1808 ; bounds since much reduced. Pop. 638. Olean Village, at the junction of the Olean creek with the Alleghany river, is the oldest place in the county. It was founded by Major Hoops, and named by him, in honor of Gen. Hamilion, "Hamilton on the Allegany." Major Hoops was originally from Philadelphia, and served as an aid under Washington during the revolutionary war. This is a flourishing village, and is destined to become a place of im- portance. The New York and Erie railroad is to pass through it ; and the Genesee Valley canal, now constructing from Rochester south, is to terminate here. The width of the Allegany river is 20 rods, with a channel free from obstructions. The amount of lumber annually sent to market by it, is about 200 millions of feet, board measure, of' superior quality. Otto, taken from Perrysburg in 1823 ; from Albany, W., 300 miles. Waverly, 1 1 miles N. W. from Ellicottville, is a small village. Otto and East Otto are names of post-offices. Pop. 2,125. Perrysburg, originally named Perry, was taken from Olean and Ischua in 1814. It is in the northwestern angle of the county ; from Albany 304, and from Ellicottville 30 miles. Perrysburg and Ver- sailles are small villages, and North Perrysburg a post-office. Pop. 1,672. Persia, taken from Perrysburg in 1835 ; from Albany, W., 300 miles. Pop. 870. Lodi, 25 miles N. W. from Ellicottville, upon both sides of the Cattaraugus creek, is partly in Erie county. It was first settled on the Erie county side of the creek, in 1811, by Mr. Turner Aldrich, one of the society of Friends ; and on the Cattarau- gus side, about the year 1813, by Benjamin Waterman, Thomas Farnsworth, Daniel and Ahaz Allen, and others. Both of the churches, the Presbyterian and Methodist, were built in 1832. At its first settlement, there was not a white inhabitant south of here in the western half of the county, and no road to Pennsylvania in the county, excepting an Indian trail. The village contains about 100 houses, an academy, and a weekly newspaper office. The creek in this town affi)rds a valuable water-power. PoRTviLLE, the S. E. town of the county, recently taken from Olean ; from Albany 296 miles. Pop. 462. Riceville is a small set- tlement ; Mill Grove a post-office. CHATAUaUE COUNTY. 87 Randolph, taken from Connewango in 1826 ; from Ellicottville, S. W., centrally distant about 35 miles. East and West Randolph are small settlements. Pop. 1,283. Yorkshire, taken from Ischua in 1820 ; from Albany, W., 281, from Ellicottville, N. E., 15 miles. Yorkshire, Yorkshire Forks, and Delavan are small post villages. Pop. 1,292. CHATAUQUE COUNTY. CHATAuauE COUNTY, the southwestern county of the state, was formed from Genesee in 1808. The name is a corruption of the In- dian word Ots-ha-ta-ka, which signifies a foggy place, and was ap- plied to the country around the head of the Chatauque lake, even now famous for its fogs. Its greatest length N. and S.'is 40, and greatest breadth E. and W. 36 miles ; centrally distant from Albany, W., 330, and from New York, by way of Cattskill, N. W., 428 miles. The soil generally is strong clay loam, very productive of large crops of wheat, barley, and corn ; the last is however destroyed sometimes by the early frosts to which the country is subject. The plain upon the lake is highly fertile, and produces the finest fruits adapted to the cHmate. This county, though bordering on Lake Erie, is situated on the elevated ground known as the " Chatauque Ridge," which divides the waters of the northern lakes from those of the Allegany river. This ridge is generally from 5 to 10 miles from the shore of Lake Erie, and elevated from 790 to 1400 feet above it. The general surface of the county, though hilly, is not mountainous, and the highest hills are arable to their summits and frequently adorned with valuable farms. The soil along the shore of Lake Erie from 1 to 4 miles wide is a border of rich alluvion, and along the margin of the rivers. The upland is generally a most loam. Grain is raised in considerable quantities, and the county is generally well adapted to g"azing. Fruit, such as apples, pears, and plums, succeeds well. Chatauque Lake is a fine sheet of water 16 miles long, and from 1 to 4 wide. Its elevation is 1,305 feet above the ocean, and it is navi- gated by steamboats. This county formed part of the Holland Land Company's purchase; and wild lands were offered by them at $1 50 to $4, per acre ; but a company from Batavia bought their interest in the wild land of the county. More than three quarters of the county are yet unimproved. The county is divided into 20 towns. Pop. 47,641. Ark WRIGHT, taken from Pomfret and Villenova in 1829 ; distant from Albany 310, centrally situated from Mayville, N. E., 16 miles. Pop. 1,418. BusTi, formed from EUicott and Harmony in 1823 ; from Albany 88 CHATAUaUE COUNTY. 334, from Mayville, S. E., 17 miles. Its surface is hilly, and the soil good. Pop. 1,749. Carroll, taken from Ellicott in 1825; from Albany 336, from Mayville, S. E., 29 miles. Carroll and Frewsburgh are small set- tlements. Scarcely one third of the town is yet improved. Pop. 1,632. Charlotte, taken from Gerry in 1829; from Albany 325, and from Mayville, N. E., 13 miles. Charlotte Centre is a post-office, and Sinclairville a small post village. Pop. 1,428. CHATAuauE, organized as part of Genesee county in 1804 ; since much reduced in area. It is upon the " dividing ridge," but chiefly on its eastern declivity, and produces excellent crops of corn, v^^heat, and grass. Pop. 2,980. Western entrance into Mayville. Mayville the county seat, incorporated in 1830 ; distant, 336 miles W. of Albany ; from New York, via Cattskill, 434 ; from Buf- falo, S. W., 66 ; from Erie, Penn., 35 ; from Warren, Penn., 40 ; from^ Portland Harbor, E., 7 miles. This is one of the most beautifuf sites for a village in the state, and is situated upon the high grounds at the head of the lake. The above view was taken near the resi- dence of Mr. M. P. Bemas, on the road to Westfield, at a point com- manding a view of the principal street and the lake in the distance. The top of the courthouse, a substantial edifice, costing $9,000, is seen on the left. Further down is the spire of the Episcopal church, nearly opposite to it the Baptist, and on the right of the engraving the Academy. The Methodist and Presbyterian churches are not seen from this point. The Episcopal, the first church built here, was erected about 1824. Mayville has about 80 dwellings. In the northern part are two springs on the " dividing ridge" within ten minutes walk of each other. One of which flows into those streams which empty into the Gulf of Mexico, and the other into those which flow into the Atlantic by the St. Lawrence. Hartfield, 2 miles E. of Mayville, is a small village. There is a post-office at De Wittville, and one called Magnolia. Cherry Creek, takea from Ellington in 1829 ; from Albany 320, CHATAUaUE COUNTY. 8D and from Mayville, E., 18 miles. There is a post-office at Cherry- Creek village. Pop. 1,141. Clymer, formed from Chatauque in 1821 ; from Albany 353, and from Mayville, S. W., 15 miles. Clymer is a small village, and Clymer Centre a post-office. Pop. 800. Ellery, on Chatauque lake, taken from Chatauque in 1821 ; from Albany 342, and from Mayville, S. E., 13 miles. Pop. 2,252. El- lery Centre is a small post village. Ellicott, taken from Pomfret in 1812 ; limits since reduced ; from Albany 330, and from Mayville, S. E., 22 miles. Pop. 2,568. Southern view of Jamestown. Jamestowrn, the principal village in the county, is on the Chatauque outlet, 4 miles below the lake, and contains about 200 dwellings. The above view was taken near the sawmill on the Chatauque out- let, seen in front, and shows the principal portion of the place. The spire in the centre of the view, is that of the Congregational church. The steeple on the left is the Presbyterian, and that on the right the Academy. There are also a Methodist and a Baptist church, and 2 weekly newspaper offices in the place. A steamboat plies on the lake between here and Mayville. James Pendergrast, Esq., from Pittstown, Rensselaer co., established himself here in 1811 or '12, and laid the foundation of the village. The first tavern was built shortly after by Jacob Fen ton. But few dwellings were erected till 1816, when the place rapidly increased by emigrants principally from the eastern part of the state. Fluvanna and Dexterville are villages. Ellington, taken from Gerry in 1824 ; from Albany 320, from Mayville, E., 20 miles. Pop. 1,709. Ellington and Clear Creek are small villages. French Creek, taken from Clymer in 1829 ; from Albany 35.5, from Mayville, S. W., 17 miles. Pop. 621. The greater part of the town is yet in its wilderness state. Gerry, divided from Pomfret in 1812 ; from Albany 326, from Mayville, S. E., 13 miles. Vermont is a small village. ' Pop. 1,246. About three fourths of the town is yet unimproved. Hanover, taken from Pomfret in 1812. Pop. 3,998. 12 90 CHATAUaUE COUNTY. Silver creek, 33 miles from Buffalo, lies on a harbor on Lake Erie, and has about 100 dwellings. Forestville, on Walnut creek, 6 miles from the Lake, has about 100 dwellings, and a weekly newspaper office. Nashville, Smith's Mills, Irving, and Le Grange, are small settlements. " Walnut creek in this town has its name from a black walnut tree, which formerly stood a mile above its mouth, and was 36 feet in circumference at its base, gradually and grace, fully tapering 80 feet to the first limb. Its entire height was 150 feet, and was estimated to contain 150 cords of wood, or 50,000 feet of inch boards. The bark was a foot thick. The tree was entirely sound when blown down in 1822, and was supposed to have been 500 years old. The butt, 9 feet in length, was transported to Buffalo, having been excavated, and was there occupied as a grocery. It was sul^sequently carried by the canal to the At. lantic cities, and, splendidly adorned, was exhibited for money to thousands of admirers." — Gordon'' s Gaz. Harmony, taken from Chatauque in 1816 ; from Albany 338, from Mayville, S., 13 miles. Ashville and Panama are small villages. Pop. 3,333. About one fourth of the town is under improvement. MiNA, taken from Clymer in 1824 ; from Albany 353, from Mayville, S. W., 13 miles. Pop. 870. There is a small settlement at Mina, and one at Finley's mills. Most of the town is yet in its wilderness state. Poland, taken from Ellicott in 1832 ; from Albany 316, from May- ville, S. E., 20 miles. Kennedy's Mills and Waterborough are small hamlets. Pop. 1,082. PoMFRET, taken from Chatauque in 1808, is on the " divided ridge." Pop. 4,556. Fredonia village was incorporated in 1829 ; is on the Can- adawa creek, 315 miles from Albany, 22 N. E. from Mayville, 45 S. W. from Buffalo, and 3 from Lake Erie at Dunkirk. It is the oldest village in the county, and was formerly called Canadawa, from the creek. It contains about 120 dwellings. The annexed view was Southern view of Fredonia. taken near the residence of Samuel Johnson, Esq. The large build- ing with a square tower is the Johnson House ; the steeple next to it is that of the Baptist church ; the third is the Academy, incorporated in 1836 ; the fourth the Presbyterian, and the fifth, on the extreme CHATAUaUE COUNTY. 91. right, the Episcopal church. The Methodist and UniversaUst church- es are not seen in the drawing. Laona, 2 miles above Fredonia, has a valuable water-power and about 45 dwellings. The following account of the Gas springs in this vicinity, is from the Report of Dr. Lewis C. Beck, published in the New York Geo- logical Reports for 1832. " Chatauque Gas Springs. — By far the most interesting exhibitions of the evolution of carburetted hydrogen, which occur in this state, are to be observed in the county of Cha- tauque. The village of Fredonia, indeed, has attracted much attention in consequence of the gas springs found in its immediate vicinity, although they are by no means confined to this particular locahty. The gas springs seem to have their origin in the strata of slate which form the bed of the stream, and which are everywhere met with in this vicinity, a short distance from the surface of the earth. This slate has a bluish color, and some of the layers are exceedingly fragile, requiring only a few years exposure to be completely con- verted into a clayey soil. The lower strata, however, resist atmospheric agencies, and are sometimes used as a building material. When recently broken, this slate always emits a strong bituminous odor, and it frequendy contains thin seams of a substance resembhng bituminous coal. Most commonly, however, this bituminous matter occurs in patches, hav- ing more the appearance of detached vegetable impressions than a regular stratum. Through fissures in this rock in the creek near the village, are everywhere to be seen bubbles of gas rising through the water. The evolution, however, is most abundant at the bridge, and about three quarters of a mile below. The gas, when collected in a proper vessel and fired, burns with a white flame tinged with yellow above, and blue near the orifice of the burner. Its illuminating power is not inferior to that of ordinary coal gas. When mixed with atmospheric air and ignited, it explodes violently. It contains no admixture of sulphuretted hydrogen. " The illuminating power of this gas, and its abundant supply, suggested the idea of its employment in lighting the village. A copious discharge of the gas was observed issuing from a fissure in the rock, which forms the bed of the creek, which it was thought could be diverted to a boring on the bank. A shaft was accordingly sunk through the slate about 22 feet in depth, which occasionally passed through layers of the bituminous substance, already described, and the result was that the gas left the creek and issued through the shaft. By means of a tube, the gas was now conducted to a gasometer, and from thence to different parts of the village. The gasometer had a capacity of about 220 cubic feet, and was usually filled in about 15 hours, affording a sufficient supply of gas for 70 or 80 lights. Bubbles of the same gas are here and there seen rising through the water in this creek for nearly three quarters of a mile below the village. But the largest quantity is evolved at the latter point. It was not possible for me, with any apparatus which I could command, to determine the amount of gas given out at this place in a given time ; but bubbles rise with great rapidity from an area of more than 20 feet square, and I should probably be warranted in asserting that it is 5 or 6 times greater than that obtained at the village. " At Van Buren harbor, on Lake Erie, 4 miles from Fredonia, bubbles of inflammable gas may be seen rising through the water, when the lake is calm, a rod or two from the shore. In the town of Sheridan, six and a half miles from Fredonia, the same gas is also abundantly evolved in various places ; and a short distance below Pordand harbor, near the shore of the lake, there is supposed to be a sufficient supply to light a city. It is em- ployed in the lighthouse at the harbor, 75 feet above the level of the lake." Dunkirk, formerly owned by the Dunkirk Land Company, is pleasantly situated on Lake Erie, and is destined to be a place of great importance from its being the terminating point of the line of the New York and Erie railroad. The distance from Buffalo is 44 miles, and to Piermont, on the Hudson, (about 22 miles N. of New York,) by the line of the railroad, 446 miles. This whole distance from Dunkirk to New York, on the completion of the road, will be accomplished in from 20 to 24 hours. The U. S. government, view- ing the growing importance of the place, has expended large sums in the improvement of its harbor. This port is occasionally open many days, and even weeks, earlier in the spring and later in the fall, than 92 CHATAUaUE COUNTY. Northeastern view of Dmikh'k Harbor. that of Buffalo. The above view was taken about a mile from the village, seen on the left. The large cupola is that of the hotel, a capacious brick structure ; the steeple next to it is that of the Presby- terian church, and the smaller one the Academy. The opposite shore of the harbor is seen beautifully curving around in the distance, and is lined to near the water's edge with a fine growth of forest trees. Van Buren is the name of a place laid out as a city 2 miles above Dun- kirk, where there is a good harbor. Shumla and West Milford are small villages. Cassadaga is a post-office. Portland, taken from Chatauque in 1813 ; distant from Albany 354, and from Mayville, N., 6 miles. Salem and Centreville are small settlements. Pop. 2,136. About half the town is under improve- ment. Ripley, taken from Portland in 1817, on the "dividing ridge," has a hilly surface. Distant from Albany 348, and from Mayville, W., 12 miles. Pop. 2,197. Quincy, formerly called Ripley, contains the post-office and about 50 dwelhngs. Sheridan, taken from Pomfret and Hanover in 1827; 340 miles from Albany, and 20 N. E. of Mayville. East Sheridan and Orring- ton are post-offices. Pop. 1,883. Sherman, taken from Mina in 1822 ; from Albany 348, from May- ville, S. W., 12 miles. Sherman is a small village. Pop. 1,100. More than two thirds of the town is yet a forest. Stockton, formed from Chatauque in 1821 ; distant from Albany 323, from Mayville, N. E., 8 miles. Delanti and Casadaga are small villages. Pop. 2,078. Villenova, taken from Hanover in 1823 ; distant from Albany 318, from Mayville, N. E., 22 miles. Omar is a small village. Pop. 1,655. About one fourth part of the town is under cultivation. Westfield, formed from Portland and Ripley in 1829. Pop. 3,199. Near the shore of Lake Erie, about three quarters of a mile below Portland harbor, is a carburetted hydrogen spring, the gas of which is sufficiently abundant to light a city, and is used for the lighthouse at the harbor, seventy-five feet above the lake level. Mcln- CHATAUUUK COUNTY. 93 tyre's sulphur spring, on the banks of the Chatauque creek, 3 miles from the lake, was formerly much frequented. Westfield village, from Albany 342, from Mayville, N. W., 6, and from Buffalo, S. W., 60'miles; was incorporated in 1833. It is a pleasant, bustling little village, situated on the border of a handsome View in central part of Westfield Village. plain, and containing about 100 dwellings. The above view was taken at Edson & Son's store, and shows oh the left the Episcopal, and on the right the Presbyterian churches. The other public build- ings are the Methodist church. Academy, and Westfield Hotel, a sub- stantial brick edifice, with a cupola. About two and a half miles from the village, near the road to Mayville, is a remarkable gulf, known as the " Hogs Back," which is much resorted to in the sum- mer. The first settler with a family in the county, was a Mr. John McMahan, from Northumberland county, Penn. He came here about the year 1803, and bought of the Holland Land Company a tract six miles square, on the Chatauque creek, in this town. Portland, or Barcelona, one mile from Westfield, on the lake, was early occupied by the French, who had a military post at this place. The lighthouse, 40 feet in height, standing on a bluflf, is a conspicuous object, and vis- ible at a great distance on the lake. The village contains about 40 dwellings. Rogersville, Volusia, and Nettle Hill are post-offices. 94 CHEMUNG COUNTY. CHEMUNG COUNTY. Chemung* county was formed from the western part of Tioga in 1836, Greatest length, N. and S., 28 ; greatest breadth, E. and W., 20 miles. The surface of the county is hilly. The soil consists gen- erally of sandy and gravelly loam, interspersed with patches of marl and clay. The uplands are commonly better adapted to grass than grain ; but the valleys give fine crops of wheat and corn ; oats, beans, barley, peas, and hops thrive almost everywhere. The pine plains, principally in the towns of Elmira and Big Flats, formerly considered almost worthless, are now deemed highly valuable ; pro- ducing by treatment with plaster, and due succession of crops, abun- dant returns in wheat, Indian corn, and clover. The Chemung canal, connecting Elmira with Cayuga lake, is about 20 miles in length. The New York and Erie railroad passes through the towns of Che- mung, Southport, Elmira, and Big Flats. Chemung county is divided into ten towns. Pop. 20,731. Big Flats, taken from Elmira in 1822 ; from Albany 207, from Elmira centrally distant, NW., 10 miles. The navigable feeder of the Chemung canal passes centrally through the town in an easterly direction. There are extensive flats on the Chemung river. Pop. 1,375. Catherines was taken from Newtown in 1798 ; from Albany 184 miles. Havanna, founded in 1829 by Mr. David Ayres, and incor- porated in 1836, 18 miles N. from Elmira, is a very thriving village, containing about 700 inhabitants. It is situated upon a small stream rushing over a high hill from the west, with three cascades, making together a fall of over 100 feet. This town appears to have derived its name from its having been the residence of Catherine Montour, the wife of an Indian sachem or king. She has sometimes been called Queen Esther. This remark- able woman, it is said, was a native of Canada, a half-breed, her father being one of the French governors, probably Count Frontenac. During the wars between the Six Nations and the French and Hu- rons, Catherine was taken prisoner, when she was about ten years old, and carried into the Seneca country, and adopted as one of theii children. At a suitable age she was married to a distinguished chief of her tribe, by whom she had several children. Her husband was killed in battle about 1730. She is represented as having been a handsome woman when young, genteel, and of good address. She frequently accompanied the chiefs of the Six Nations to Philadelphia, and other places where treaties were holden. On account of her character and manners, she was much caressed by the American la- dies of the first respectability, and invited and entertained at their houses. Her residence was at the head of Seneca lake. She has * Chemung is said to be big horn, or great horn, in the ancient Indian dialect. And that a very large horn was found in the Chemung or Tioga river, has been well ascertained. CHEMUNG COUNTY. OS been accused of perpetrating some savage atrocities at the massacre at Wyoming, but the account does not appear to be well authenti- cated. At the period of the revolutionary war, Catherine's town con- sisted of thirty houses, cornfields, orchards, &c. ; these were all de- stroyed by Gen. Sullivan, Sept. 3, 1779, in his expedition into the In- dian country. Catlin, taken from Catherine in 1823; from Albany 190, from Elmira, N W., 12 miles. A great portion of the town is yet unsettled. Catlin, West Catlin, and Martins Hill, are post-offices. Pop. 1,119. Cayuta, taken from Spencer in 1824 ; from Albany, SW., 188, from Elmira, NE., 20 miles. It is rather thinly settled. Cayuta, West Cayuta, and Van Eltensville, are post-offices. Pop. 835. The surface of the township is hilly and broken ; the hills are covered with pines and hemlocks. Cehmung, organized in 1791 ; from Albany, SW., 198, from El- mira, E., 12 miles. Surface is hilly, and broken with fertile flats along the Chemung river. Pop. 2,377. The Chemung upper and lower Narrows are formed by high, rocky cliffs, projecting into the river, along which the road is conducted with great labor. " In the south part of the town is a mound, called Spanish Hill, elevated 110 feet above the plain, and near the river bank, described as a work of art ; but this suggestion is ren- dered incredible from the fact, that the area of its summit comprises four acres. Upon this summit, however, are vestiges of fortifications, displaying much skill in the art of defence ; having regular entrenchments, which perfectly commanded the bend in the river. — Gordon's Gazeteer. Drx, taken from Catlin in 1835, is the NW. town of the county; from Elmira 20 miles. Pop. 1,990. Townsend, Moreland, and West Catlin are post-offices. Jefferson, post village, partly in Steuben county, at the head of Seneca lake, 3 miles N* of Havanna, was founded in 1828 by Dr. Watkins, and has about 50 dwellings. Elmira was taken from Chemung by the name of Newtown, in 1792. Much of the land in this township is rich and productive, par- ticularly the flats on Chemung river. Pop. 4,791. Elmira village is situated at the confluence of Newtown creek with the Chemung river. It was formerly the half-shire village of Tioga county, and is now the seat of justice for Chemung co. It was incorporated in 1815 by the name of Newtown, which name was changed to Elmira in 1828 : its ancient Indian name was Conewawah, a word signify- ing " a head on a pole" Elmira is admirably situated for the pur- poses of trade, in the midst of a fertile valley, eight to ten miles in extent from N. to S., and from twelve to fifteen miles E. and W. The place is connected with Pennsylvania and Maryland, in trade, by the Chemung and Susquehannah rivers, and with almost every portion of the state by means of the Chemung canal, which leads through Seneca lake, and thence by the Seneca to the Erie canal. The village contains about 230 dwellings, 4 churches — 1 Presbyte- rian, 1 Baptist, 1 Methodist, and 1 Episcopal — 2 newspaper establish- ments, 1 bank, and a number of select schools. The village is on the line of the Erie railroad. 96 CHEMUNG COUNTY. Distant view of the Village of Elmira. The above view w^as taken near the Sullivan mill,* about a mile eastward of the village, near the junction of Newtown creek with the Chemung river. The first spire on the right is that of the Presbyte- rian church, the next to the left the courthouse ; the others are those of the Episcopal and Baptist churches. The bridge seen extending across the Chemung is GOO feet in length. The section of country in which Elmira is situated became known to the whites during the revolutionary war. When Gen. Sullivan was penetrating into the Indian country, in 1779, the Indians under Brant, and the tories under Colonels Butler and Johnson, made a stand to oppose his progress at the SE. point of this town. They entrenched themselves by a breast-work of about a half a mile in length, so covered by a bend in the river as to expose only their front and one of their flanks to attack. On Sullivan's approach, Aug. 29th, an action commenced which is sometimes called the " Battle of the Chemung ;" the force of the Indians and tories has been estimated from 800 to 1,500, while that of the Americans was between 4,000 and 5,000. The following account of the battle is extracted from the 2d vol. of " Stone's Life of Brant." " The enemy's position was discovered by Major Parr, commanding the advance guard, at about 11 o'clock in the morning of the 29th of August. General Hand immediately formed the light infantry in a wood, at the distance of about 400 yards from the breast- work, and waited until the main body of the army arrived on the ground. A skirmishing was, however, kept up by both sides — the Indians sallying out of their works by small par- ties, firing, and suddenly retreating — making the woods at the same time to resound M'ith their war-whoops, piercing the air from point to point as though the tangled forest were alive with their grim-visaged warriors. Correcdy judging that the hill upon his right was occupied by the savages. Gen. Sulhvan ordered Poor's brigade to wheel off, and endeavor to gain their left flank, and, if possible, to surround them, while the artillery and main body * So called from its being only a few rods above Sullivan's landing place, where he en- camped both on the advance of, and return from his expedition against the Indians. The site of the fortress which Sullivan built, can be distinctly seen from the south windows of this mill. CHEMUNG COUNTY. m of the Americans attacked them in front. The order was promptly executed ; but as Poor climbed the ascent, the battle became animated, and the possession of the hill was bravely contested. In front the enemy stood a hot cannonade for more than two hours. Both tories and Indians were entitled to the credit of fighting manfully. Every rock, and tree, and bush, shielded its man, from behind which the winged messengers of death were thickly sent, but with so little effect as to excite astonishment. The Indians yielded ground only inch by inch ; and in their retreat darted from tree to tree with the agility of the pan- ther, often contesting each new position to the point of the bayonet — a thing very unusual even with militiamen, and still more rare among the undisciplined warriors of the woods. Thayendanegea was the animating spirit of the savages. Always in the thickest of the fight, he used every effort to stimulate his warriors, in the hope of leading them to victory. Until the artillery began to play, the whoops and yells of the savages, mingled with the rattling of musketry, had well-nigh obtained the mastery of sound. But their whoops were measur- ably drowned by the thunder of the cannon. This cannonade ' was elegant,' to adopt the phraseology of Sullivan liimself, in writing to a friend, and gave the Indians a great panic. Still, the battle was contested in front for a length of time with undiminished spirit. But the severity of fighting was on the flank just described. As Poor gallantly approached the point which completely uncovered the enemy's rear, Brant, who had been the first to pene- trate the design of the American commander, attempted once more to rally his forces, and with the assistance of a battalion of the rangers, make a stand. But it was in vain, al- though he exerted himself to the utmost for that purpose — flying from point to point, seem- ing to be everywhere present, and using every means in his power to reanimate the flag, ging spirits, and reinvigorate the arms of his followers. Having ascended the steep, and gained his object without faltering, the enemy's flank was turned by Poor, and the fortunes of the day decided. Perceiving such to be the fact, and that there was danger of being surrounded, the retreat-halloo was raised, and the enemy, savages and white men, precipi- lately abandoned their works, crossed the river, and fled with the utmost precipitation — the Indians leaving their packs and a number of their tomahawks and scalping-knives behind them. The battle was long, and on the side of the enemy bloody. Eleven of their dead were found upon the field — an unusual circumstance with the Indians, who invariably exert themselves to the utmost to prevent the bodies of their slain from falling into the hands of their foes. But being pushed at the point of the bayonet, they had not time to bear them away. They were pursued two miles, their trail affording indubitable proof that a portion of their dead and wounded had been carried off. Two canoes were found cov- ered with blood, and the bodies of 14 Indian warriors were discovered partially buried among the leaves. Eight scalps were taken by the Americans during the chase. Consid- ering the duration of the battle, and the obstinacy with which it was maintained, the loss of the Americans was small almost to a miracle. Only 5 or 6 men were killed, and be- tween 40 and 50 wounded. Among the American officers wounded, were Maj. Titcomb, Capt. Clayes, and Lieut. CoUis — the latter mortally. All the houses of the contiguous Indian town were burnt, and the cornfields destroyed." • The first settler of Newtown, now Elmira, was Col. John Hendy, a native of Pennsylvania and a veteran of the revolution. In the summer of 1788, he came into this town and erected a log hut on the point where Sullivan had encamped, about half a mile from the pre- sent centre of the village of Elmira. He brought his family to this place in the fall of the same year. It was during this year that this section of the country was surveyed by Gen. James Clinton, Gen. John Hathorn, and John Cantine, Esq., as commissioners on the part of the state. The land at this time was estimated and sold by the state at eighteen pence per acre to the first settlers. The second log house was built by John Miller near the bank of the river on the farm now occupied by Capt. Partridge. The same year, and the year fol- lowing, (1789,) several families came in and settled on the south side of the river, in Southport. In the same year, Thomas Hendy and a Mr. Marks built log houses at the east end of the site of the village. When Col. Hendy built his log cabin on the pine plain of Conewawah, the only highway or road existing in the country for hundreds of 13 98 CHEMUNG COUNTY. miles round, was what was called the Indian pathway, extending from Wilkesbarre, Penn., to Canada. This pathway crossed the lot of Col. Hendy, and was for a long period the only avenue by which emigrants from the south reached Niagara and the northwestern part of the state. The following anecdote relative to Col. Hendy, is taken from a pub- lication, in a pamphlet form, entitled " Views of Elmira," by Solomon Southwick, Esq. It is from this publication that the historic notices of this place are mostly taken. " They [the Indians] knew nothing of ceremony, and never waited for an invitation to visit the cabins of the white settlers ; but would stalk in and sit themselves down as freely as they had been used to do in their own huts ; nor were they less scrupulous in their attacks upon whatever food or beverage presented itself. If any of the whites disliked this freedom, they found it their best policy to bear patiently with the oft-repeated demands upon their hospitahty which flowed from it ; but in spite of their philosophy were sometimes involved in serious strife with their lawless visiters. One evening of a summer's day, Col. Hendy, having returned from the labors of the field, found two Indians at his house, one of whom was John Harris, celebrated for his quarrelsome and malignant temper, as well as vigorous and athletic frame. He had insulted Mrs. Hendy, and evinced such bad intentions, that his companiun, aided by Col. Hendy's son, had found it necessary to bind him down in a chair, which operation they had just performed when Col. Hendy came in. Whilst the friendly Indian laid down and went quietly to sleep, the Colonel seated himself to watch the motions of the unruly savage. The fellow was so mortified by the compulsion and re- straint imposed upon him, that he became apparently humble, and the Colonel, on his promise to behave well, unbound him, and ordered him to lay down on the floor and go to sleep, whilst he threw himself on the bed, but did not think it safe to undress or sleep ; and the event proved the necessity and prudence of his precaution. For the savage, ruminating on the disgraceful circumstance of his having been bound, till his revengeful temper was roused to a high degree, rose up suddenly crying out " Me be many," a well known excla- mation of the Indians when prepared to commence a fight single-handed with one of their own, or that of the white race. This was a critical moment for Hendy, who quickly per. ceived there was no time to be lost ; he therefore rose up, exclaiming " You be many — You none at all — / be many .'" and as the Indian sprang forward to grapple with him, brandishing a long knife, the veteran gave him a blow on the side of his head which laid him prostrate on the hearth ; and then seizing him by the hair, beat his head upon the hearth, till the savage yielded up his knife, well convinced by the Colonel's demonstrations, that if he was many, his host was many more, or at least too many for him — and the next morning he was as quiet and peaceable as a lamb." " In 1790, we believe it was, Elmira was visited by some ten or twelve hundred Indians ; one of the oldest settlers assures us there were not less than eleven hundred. Their object was the negotiation of a treaty with the United States. On our part the venerable Timo. THY Pickering was the principal negotiator. Guy Maxwell acted as his secretary, and transcribed the treaty. On the part of the Indians there were chiefs of all the Six Nations, among whom were Red Jacket, Big Tree, Trench Peter, Farmer's Brother, «fec. Jasper Parish, of Canandaigua, was their interpreter. It was on this occasion that Red Jacket made one of his most eloquent and powerful speeches. One of the chiefs, and several of the subordinates, died during the negotiation ; and their bones, it is said, have been re- cently found in digging the cellars for the elegant row of buildings, called Benjamhi's Block, on Front-street. The treaty was held immediately east of the present courthouse in Lake- street, under an ancient oak-tree, which thenceforth, if not before, was known by the name of the council tree." In 1792, Nathaniel Seely built the first frame house in the village of Newtown, now Elmira. The original patentee of the towns of Southport and Newtown was Moses De Witt ; he sold out to a Mr. White. In 1794, Guy Maxwell and Samuel Hepburn purchased the village plot of Elmira from Mr. White. In 1797, Elmira re- ceived a visit from Louis Phillipe, the present king of France, the Duke de Nemours, and the Duke de Berri. These distinguished per- CHENANGO COUNTY. 99 sonages had been spending some time at Canandaigua, under the hospitable roof of Thomas Morris, Esq., son of Robert Morris, to whom tiie United States are so much indebted for his services as a financier in the revolution. Mr. Morris gave the royal exiles a letter of introduction to Henry Tower, Esq., who then resided here. They travelled on foot through the Indian pathway from Canandaigua to Elmira, a distance of more than 70 miles. Mr. Tower, on their arrival, fitted up a boat — an American ark or batteau — in which he took them down to Harrisburg, through the Chemung and Susque- hannah rivers. Erin, taken from Chemung in 1822; from Albany 186, from El- mira, NE., 12 miles. Erin is a post-office, centrally located. Pop. 1,441. The surface of the town is hilly and broken and the soil rather of an indifferent quality. SouTHPORT, taken from Elmira in 1822; from Albany 203 miles. It has broad and rich flats upon the Chemung river, which forms in part the northern boundary. Wellsburg on the Chemung river, 6 miles SE. from Elmira, is a small post village. Southport and Seeleys Creek are post-offices. Pop. 2,100. Veteran, taken from Catherines in 1823; from Albany 190, from Elmira, N., centrally distant 12 miles. Pop. 2,279. Millport, Pine Valley, and Veteran are post-offices. CHENANGO COUNTY. Chenango county was formed from Herkimer and Tioga counties in 1798 ; the northern part of which was erected into Madison county in 1806. Its form is irregular; the greatest length N. and S., 35 miles ; greatest width, 28. The general surface of the county is broken and hilly, though not mountainous. Its valleys are extensive, rich, and fertile, producing large crops of grain ; while the uplands are well adapted to grazing. Its agriculture is respectable, and its inhabitants are generally farmers. Live-stock is one of their prin- cipal exports. The Susquehannah river crosses the SE. corner of the county. The Chenango river, one of its principal branches, flows southerly through the centre of the county. The Unadilla river forms most of the eastern bounds of the county. The numerous streams in this county furnish abundance of fine mill sites. The Chenango canal passes through the county in the valley of the Che- nango river. This county was principally settled by emigrants from the eastern states. It originally included the twenty townships of the " Governor's purchase," a part of which are now in Madison county. The county is divided into 19 towns. Pop. 40,779. Bainbridge, organized as part of Tioga county, by the name of Jericho, in 1791 ; name since altered and limits much reduced. Pop. 100 CHENANGO COUNTY. 3,324. The town forms part of a tract given by the state to suffer- ers in former grants to the present state of Vermont. Bainbridge, incorporated in 1829 ; a large and thriving village, pleasantly situated upon the W. branch of the Susquehannah, upon the Ulster and Delaware turnpike; 110 miles from Albany, and 14 S. from Norwich ; has about 90 dwellings. E, Bainbridge, N. Bain- bridge, and S. Bainbridge are names of post-offices. Columbus, taken from Brookfield in 1805 ; from Albany 83, from Norwich, NE., 16 miles. Columbus is a small village, and Columbus Corners a post-office. Pop. 1,561. Coventry, taken from Greene in 1806; from Albany 117, from Norwich 16 miles. Coventry and Coventryville are post villages, on the Cattskill turnpike. Pop. 1,681. German, taken from De Ruyter in 1806 ; from Albany 115, from Norwich, W., 15 miles. Pop. 975. Greene was formed from Union and Jericho in 1798 ; limits since reduced. The Chenango river passes in a SW. direction through the town, upon which are rich alluvial flats. Pop. 3,452. Greene, the principal village, is on the river, 20 miles SW. Irom Norwich, and 19 N. from Binghamton. It contains 3 churches, 11 stores, and about 90 dwellings. It was laid out in village form in 1806, and was at first called Hornby. East Green and Genegansette are post- offices. The first person who settled in the vicinity of the village of Greene, is supposed to have been Conrad Sharp, a Dutchman, who located himself about two miles above the village in 1794 ; a number of other Dutchmen came in and formed quite a settlement in his vicinity. The names of some of the other principal settlers were, Stephen Ketchum, David Bradley, Derick Race, Joseph Tillotson, Mr. Gray, a Baptist elder, and Elisha Smith, who was the agent, for a number of years, in behalf of the Hornby Patent ; he surveyed the town of Greene and laid out the village. The first white inhabitants who located themselves on the site of the village, were eight or ten French families, who fled from their country during the revolutionary period. The first one who came appears to have been Simon Barnet, who is said to have been a Creole from the West Indies. He came to this place from Philadel- phia, probably sent as a pioneer for the French company. One of the emigrants, M. Dutremont, was a man of considerable talents, learning, and wealth. This gentleman contracted for the lands settled by the company. The purchase was made of William W. Morris and Malachi Treat, the patentees. Capt. Juliand, one of the French emigrants, came into the place in 1797, a httle after the first company. About the year 1795, the celebrated French statesman, Talleyrand, visited this place, when on a sylvan jaunt on horseback from Phila- delphia to Albany in company with a French gentleman. When here, he became acquainted with the son of M. Dutremont, with whom he was so much pleased, that he obtained the consent of his parents to take him to France, where he became his private secretary. By the CHENANGO COUNTY. 101 death of M. Dutremont, the financial affairs of the little colony be- came deranged. He was drowned while fording a river on horse- back, on his way to Philadelphia. As he had not paid for the land occupied by the emigrants, it reverted back to the patentees. The emigrants became discouraged, and after a few years left the place, moved down below Towanda, and joined a French settlement at a place called Frenchtown, now Asylum. Capt. Juliand, however, re- mained in Greene, and to him and Judge Elisha Smith the founda- tion of the village is to be ascribed. " There were no Indians in this particular section, when first settled by the whites. But we have to record a most remarkable mound, the relic of Indian superstition and industry. There are now to be seen only some imperfect traces of it. It was situated about two miles south of the village, and about thirty rods from the river bank, on what is now the farm of Mr. Lott. The mound, before it was dug down or ploughed over, was about six or seven feet above the surface of the ground, and forty feet in diameter ; being nearly cir- cular. There was also, till within a few years, a large pine stump in the centre of it, the remams of a large pine-tree which was standing when the whites came in. It was then, however, a dead tree. When it was cut down, there were counted 180 concentric circles or yearly growths. Estimating the age of the mound by the concentric circles of the stump, it must have been over 200 years old when this section of the country was settled. An examination of this mound was made in 1829, by digging, and there were found hu. man bones to a great number ; and lower from the surface, there were found bones that had been evidently burnt ; suggesting the idea, that the mode of disposing of the dead, when these bones were deposited, was burning the dead body. No conjecture could be formed as to the number of bodies buried here. They were found lying without order, very much jumbled, and so far decayed as to crumble, or fall apart, when brought to the air and handled. The supposition would not be an unlikely one, that these bones were the remains of bodies which had fallen in battle, and were afterward hurriedly thrown together and buried. * * * * In the mound near Greene, there were found, lying quite in one pile, 200 arrow heads, cut after their usual form, and all either of yellow or black flint. It will be recollected thai there are no stones of this kind found in this part of tiie state of New York. In another part of the mound there were found, lying together, about sixty, made after the same form. A silver band or ring was also found, of about two inches in di. ameter, extremely thin, but wide, with the remains — in appearance — of a reed pipe, lying within it. The supposition is, that it was some sort of musical instrument. There was also found a number of stone chisels, of different shapes, evidently fitted to perform differ- ent species of work. A large piece of mica also, cut into the form of a heart ; the border much decayed, and the different laminae separated." — Annals of Binghamton. Guilford, taken from Oxford in 1813, by the name of Eastern; name since changed ; from Norwich, centrally distant S., 10 miles. Pop. 2,828. Guilford is a small post village, Rockdale a post-office, and Mount Upton a small settlement. LiNCKLAEN, taken from German in 1823; since reduced in area; from Albany 128, from Norwich, NW., 20 miles. Lincklaen and West Lincklaen are post-offices. Pop. 1,249. McDoNouGH, named in honor of Commodore McDonough, taken" from Preston in 1816; from Albany 128, from Norwich, W., 14 miles. Pop. 1,369. Near the south line of the town is a sulphur spring much frequented. McDonough is a small village. New Berlin, taken from Norwich in 1807. Pop. 3,086. New Berlin, an incorporated village, 13 miles NE. from Norwich, and 90 W. from Albany, on the Unadilla river, has 1 Presbyterian, 1 Episcopal, 1 Baptist, and 1 Methodist church. There are here 154 dwellings, 10 mercantile stores, a weekly newspaper office, and sev- 102 CHENANGO COl.'NTY. eral large manufacturing establishments. South New Berlin, 9 miles east from Norwich, has about 40 dwellings. New Berlin Centre is a small village. Norwich, formed from Jericho and Union, as part of Tioga county, in 1793; area since much reduced. Pop. 4,146. Norwich village, the county seat, is delightfully situated upon the Chenango river. Its site is much admired by travellers. It is surrounded by lands in a Courthouse and other huildinss in Norwich. high state of cultivation, and well supplied with pure and wholesome water. There is a mineral spring near the village resorted to for cutaneous diseases. The above view shows the courthouse in the centre of the engraving ; the building with a spire on the left, is the Presbyterian church. The courthouse has been but recently erected. It is built of freestone, and is one of the most splendid structures of the kind in the state. Besides the above, there are in the village 1 Episcopal, 1 Baptist, and 1 Methodist church, 2 weekly newspaper offices, the Chenango Bank, several manufactories, and about 200 dwellings. Otselic, taken from German in 1817; distant from Albany 110, from Norwich, NW., 20 miles. Otselic is a small village, and South Otselic a post-office. Pop. 1,621. Oxford.* " The present town of Oxford was originally a part of the township of Fayette, a tract which was laid out soon after the war of the revolution, and sold at auction in New York, in lots of a mile square. This township, and a tract called the Gore, bought by Gen. Hovey and Judge Melancton Smith, containing about 7,000 acres, "Were incorporated into a town in 1793, and in 1794 the first town meeting was held at the house of Gen. Hovey ; this building stood on the site of the Fort Hill house, (burnt in 1839.) Previous to 1791, * Communicated to the authors by Henry M. Hyde, Esq. •CHENANGO COUNTY. 103 there were no settlers on the western part of Fayette except two, Mr. Elijah Blackman, and a man named Phelps. They lived on lot 92, in the bounds of the present village. " From the time the settlement was commenced, by the exertions of Gen. Hovey, whose enterprise and hardihood sm-mounted every ob- stacle, the population rapidly increased. The pioneers who com- posed the settlement, were distinguished for qualifications rarely pos- sessed by men in their laborious occupations. Their intelligence was proverbial. In fact, many of them were persons of considerable sci- entific attainments. They obtained an act of incorporation for an academy as early as 1794, and sustained the institution in the most creditable manner, under all difficulty. Gen. Hovey, whose name seems to be connected with nearly all the occurrences in the early days of the town, was a man of uncommon business abilities, and was a favorite of the distinguished men who were at that time at the head of affairs in this state. He was a member of assembly in 1798, and was also a judge of the county. He afterward removed to the Ohio, and at the time of Burr's expedition down the Mississippi, he was the general agent of a company, composed of some of the first men of the Union, for the purpose of canalling the Ohio at the falls opposite Louisville. The project failed, and Gen. Hovey was a severe sufferer in consequence. He died about 1815. " Nearly all the settlers were natives of New England, and a ma- jority were from the state of Connecticut. There are at present living many of the hardy pioneers who commenced the settlement. Of these, Mr. Francis Balcom, Mr. Jonathan Baldwin, Judge Anson Gary, Col. Samuel Balcom, James Padgett, and some few others, are now residing in this town. Judge Uri Tracy, who was some years since a member of congress from this district, and who died three or four years since, was likewise an early resident, and principal of the academy." " The Indian antiquities in and about the village of Oxford are worthy of notice. Of these, the Old Fort has always attracted the most attention. This fort stood upon the hill in about the middle of the village, and the ditch is yet to be distinguished, in front of the house of Ira Wilcox, Esq. When discovered, it was a regular semicircle from the river, and enclosed about three quarters of an acre, and the ditch, when the ground was cleared, was in many places four feet deep. The interior of the fort was covered with the largest kind of maple and beach trees, and on the top of the bank hove up, stood a dead pine stump, which, when cut, left a stump on which was counted two hundred grains or circles. This tree evidently sprang up after the ditch was dug. There were upon the north and south sides of the fort, two places where the ground had evidently never been disturbed. These are supposed to have been gates. The ditch was four or five feet wide, and on the river side, the bank having been almost perpendicular. The fort must have been a strong position. Nothing short of cannon from the neighboring hills could annoy the fort. In the course of subsequent excavations in and about it, human bones, cooking utensils, and other reUcs, have been found. Of course, nothing is known about the object of this fortification, or by whom built. The Oneidas have a tradition running many generations back, but they can tell us nothing definite. The Oneidas leave us this tradition : that about a century or more since, a gigantic chief occupied it, who destroyed all their hunters who came into this quarter. They called this chief Thick Neck. The Onei- das made several attempts to decoy him from his stronghold, but without success. They at length managed to go between him and the fort, when he ran down the river about six miles and secreted himself in the marsh around the pond called Wam's Pond. Here he was discovered and killed by the Oneidas, who buried him and scratched the leaves 104 CHENANGO COUNTY. over his grave that no vestige of him should remain. The remnant of his tribe were adopted by the Oneidas, and an Indian who was hung at Morrisville many years since named Abram Antone, was a descendant from Thick Neck, " There is an incident connected with a small island a few rods above the bridge over the Chenango. Some years ago, two worthies residing in the town, having quarrelled about some trifling matter, resolved to exchange shots, in vindication of their honor. The place selected for the transaction was this island. On the day appointed, the belligerents made their appearance on the spot. The seconds, however, were agreed that neither should suffer harm, and loaded the pistols with cork instead of ball. Each second inspired his principal with courage, by imparting to him the information that his antagonist's pistol was loaded with cork, at the same time assuring him that his own contained the lead. The consequence was, the duellists manifested great bravery — no one was hurt, and the actors were highly complimented for their chivalry, and unhesitatingly pronounced men of honor. The island has since been called Cork Island." Central part of the Village of Oxford. The above view was taken on the banks of the Chenango canal, and shows the principal public buildings in the village. The church on the left is the Presbyterian, the smaller building with a cupola in the centre is the Academy, and the two spires seen on the right are those of the Episcopal and Baptist churches, which latter structures stand near the site of the old fort. There is also a Methodist church in the village, 2 weekly newspaper offices, and about 170 dwellings. There are several bridges over the Chenango river, and the Appian way, from Newburg, terminates here. The village is 8 miles south of Norwich. There is a post-office at South Oxford. Population of the town, 3,177. Pharsalia, first settled in 1798, and taken from Norwich in 1806, by the name of Stonington ; name afterward changed ; distant from Albany 114, from Norwich, NE., 11 miles. Pop. 1,213. PharsaUa is a small post village, and East Pharsalia a post-office. Pitcher, formed from German and Lincklacn in 1827 ; from Al- bany 127, from Norwich, W., 17 miles. Pitcher is a small post village. Pop. 1,561. Plymouth, taken from Norwich in 1806 ; from Albany 107, from CLINTON COUNTS. 105 Norwich, NW., 7 miles. Frankville, formerly known by the name of the French settlement, has 30 or 40 dwellings. Pop. 1,625. Preston, taken from Norwich in 1806; from Albany 115, from Norwich, centrally distant W., 7 miles. Pop, 1,117. The Chenango river and canal pass through the SE. section of the town. Mason and Palmer's Corners are small villages. Sherburne, taken from Genoa in 1806 ; from Albany 96, from Nor- wich, N., 11 miles. Pop. 2,791. The flats on the Chenango river, which flows through this town, are remarkably fertile. The portion of the town called " the Quarter," was early settled by 20 families from Connecticut, who bought one quarter of the township. They formed themselves into a religious society of the Presbyterian denom- ination before emigrating. They arrived on a Thursday, and by the succeeding Sabbath had erected a log meeting-house, in which they assembled for public worship ; and not a single Sunday has since passed without divine service being performed. Sherburne, post vil- lage, has about 100 dwellings. Smithville, taken from Greene in 1806 ; from Albany 131, from Norwich, SW., 20 miles. Pop. 1,762. Smithville is a viUage of about 40 or 50 dwellings. Smyrna was taken from Sherburne in 1808. Pop. 2,240. The first settler was Joseph Porter, who emigrated here in 1792. The first post-office was established in 1808. The village of Smyrna was incorporated in 1834; it is 101 miles from Albany and 11 NW. of Norwich, and contains about 60 dwellings. CLINTON COUNTY. Clinton county lies on the western shore of Lake Champlain, at the northeastern extremity of the state, about 170 miles N. from Al- bany. Soon after the conquest of Canada, in 1759, the shores of Lake Champlain were visited by speculators in quest of pine and oak tim- ber, but no permanent settlements were made until about the close of the revolution. Its greatest length N. and S. is 40i miles, greatest breadth 37 miles. The northern boundary being latitude 45°, indi- cates the rigors of a cold northern country. The natural advantages enjoyed by this county have been undervalued. Along the whole eastern border, adjoining the shore of Lake Champlain, a wide tract of land extends, moderately uneven or quite level, with a pretty strong inclination or depression eastward, averaging 8 miles in width of no inferior quality. It amply repays the labor of the husbandman. The western part is mountainous, but these mountains are covered with timber, and the county with rapid streams and mill sites, and abounds with the richest and best of iron ores, already extensively manufactured. The soil is of various qualities. On the broad belt 14 106 CLINTON COUNTY. of comparatively level land above noticed, it is principally a clayey with some tracts of a sandy loam. The streams supply a profusion of good natural sites for all sorts of hydraulic work. With these advantages, this county looks forward with confidence to increased sources of business and profit. About one fifth part is settled. Pop. 28,180. The county is divided into 10 towns. Au Sable, taken from Peru in 1839; distant 155 miles N. from Albany, centrally distant from Plattsburg 15 miles. Pop. 3,229. The village of Clintonville on the Au Sable river, partly in Clinton and partly in Essex counties, was incorporated in 1825. It contains 2 churches, 1 Presbyterian and 1 Methodist, 8 mercantile stores, upwards of 80 dwellings, and 730 inhabitants. It is 6 miles W. of Keesville, 17 from Elizabeth, and 18 from Plattsburg. The exten- sive works of the " Peru Iron Company" are located in this village. They have a forge of 18 fires, an extensive rolling-mill, a nail and a cable factory, furnace, &c. All these works were 'commenced when the place was comparatively new, by I. Aiken, Esq., but little was done till the organization of the company by the legislature about the year 1825. Beekman, taken from Plattsburg in 1820 ; distant from Albany 167, NW. from Plattsburg, 18 miles. The township is 6 miles in width, and stretches across the country 37 miles ; the eastern part of the town is level or undulating, the western mountainous. Pop. 2,763. Black Brook, taken from Peru in 1839; from Albany 163, from Plattsburg, SW., 25 miles. Black Brook and Union Falls are small villages. Pop. 1,054. Champlain, organized in 1788; from Albany, N., 185 miles. Champlain village, on the left bank of the Chazy, 5 miles from Lake Champlain, has about 40 dwellings. Rouses Point, 23 miles N. from Plattsburg, Corbeau, and Perrysville, are small villages. Pop. 2,950. Chazy, taken from Champlain in 1804. Pop. 3,592. Chazy, 15 miles N. of Plattsburg on the state road from Albany to Canada, and West Chazy, are small villages. Chazy Landing, on Lake Champlain, is 3 miles from Chazy village. Ellenburg, taken from Mooers in 1830 ; from Plattsburg, NW., 25 miles. Pop. 1,164. MooERs, named in honor of Gen. B. Mooers, was taken from Champlain in 1804 ; from Plattsburg, NNW., 18 miles. Pop. 1,701. Mooers is a small post village on the Chazy river. Peru, taken from Plattsburg and Willsburg in 1792 ; bounds since altered. Pop. 3,183. Peru, post village, 10 miles S. of Plattsburg and 4 from Lake Champlain, has 1 Presbyterian, 1 Methodist, and 1 Catholic church, 70 dwellings, and 360 inhabitants. Unionville and Port Jackson are post-offices. The first settler in Peru village was John Cochran, who came here in 1794. Rev. Hernan Garlick was one of the first ministers who preached in this section. It is said that he used to cross the lake, in a boat, and walk 30 miles to preach to a congregation. CLINTON COUNTY. 107 The following is an account of the conflagration of the steamer PhcEnix, which took place near here, on Lake Champlain, September 5, 1819. The steamboat left Burlington for Plattsburg about midnight, and had proceeded by one o'clock in the morning as far as Providence island, when the alarm was given. The boat at this time was temporarily commanded by a son of the captain, Richard M. Sherman, a young man of twenty-two. " Amid the confusion, danger, and difficulties attendant on this terrible disaster, he displayed an energy and presence of mind, not only worthy of the highest praise, but which we might seek for in vain, even among those of riper years. To quahties like these, rightly directed as they were, was it owing that not a person was lost on that fearful night. In that burning vessel, at the dead of night, and three miles from the nearest land, was the safety of every one cared for, and ultimately secured, by the promptness, energy, and decision of this young commander." Shortly after the fire was discovered, it raged with irresistible violence. " The passen- gers, roused by the alarm from their slumbers, and waking to a terrible sense of impending destruction, rushed in crowds upon the deck, and attempted to seize the small-boats. Here, however, they were met by young Sherman, who, having abandoned all hope of saving his boat, now thought only of saving his passengers, and stood by the gangway with a pistol in each hand, determined to prevent any person from jumping into the boats be- fore they were properly lowered into the water, and prepared to receive their living freight. With the utmost coolness and presence of mind he superintended the necessary prepara- tions, and, in a few minutes, the boats were lowered away, and the passengers received safely on board. They then shoved off, and pulled through the darkness for the distant shore. As soon as this was reached, and the passengers landed, the boats returned to the steamboat and took off the crew, and, as the captain supposed, every living soul except himself. But, shortly after the boats had left the second time, he discovered, under a set- tee, the chambermaid of the Phcenix, who, in her fright and confusion, had lost all con- sciousness. Lashing her to the plank which he had prepared for his own escape, this gal. lant captain launched her towards the shore ; and was thus left alone with his vessel, now^ one burning pile. Having satisfied himself that no living thing remained on board his boat, and with the proud consciousness that he had saved every life intrusted to his care, he sprung from the burning wreck as it was about to sink beneath the waters, and, by the means of a settee, reached the shore in safety. — This is no exaggerated story. It is the simple narrative of one of the most heroic acts on record. We have only to add, that the captain who so faithfully and fearlessly discharged his duty on this trying occasion, is still (1840) in command of a noble boat on Lake Champlain, and is known to every traveller as Captain Sherman, of the steamboat Burlington." The following description of this terrific scene was written by one of the passengers :— •' I awoke at the time" of the alarm, but whether aroused by the cry of fire, the noise of feet tramphng on deck, or by that restlessness common to persons who sleep in a strange place, with a mind filled with sorrow and anxiety, I am unable to tell. I thought I heard a faint cry of fire, and, after a short interval, it seemed to be renewed. But it came so weakly upon my ear, and seemed to be flung by so careless a voice, that I concluded it was an unmeaning sound uttered by some of the sailors in their sports on deck. Soon, however, a hasty footstep was heard passing through the cabin, but without a word being uttered. As I approached the top of the cabin stairs, an uncommon brilliancy at once dispelled all doubts. Instantly the flames and sparks began to meet my eyes, and the thought struck me that no other way of escape was left but to plunge half naked through the blaze into the water. One or two more steps assured me that this dreadful alternative was not yet ar. rived : I hastily stepped aft, — a lurid light illuminated every object beyond with the splen- dor of a noon-day sun ; I fancied it was the torch of death, to point me and my fellow- travellers to the tomb. I saw no person on deck ; but, on casting my eyes towards the boat which was still hanging on the larboard quarter, I perceived that she was filled, and that her stern-sheets were occupied with ladies. I flew to the gangway, and assisted in lower, ing the boat into the water. I then descended the steps, with an intention of entering the boat ; but perceiving that she was loaded deep, and that there was a strong breeze and a high sea, I desisted. The painter was soon cut, and the boat dropped astern. I ascended the steps with the design of submitting myself to the water upon a plank ; for I had great confidence in my skill in swimming, and I acted under an impression that the shore was only a few rods, certainly not half a mile distant. Judge of what would have been my as. tonishment, and probably also my fate, had I done as I contemplated ; when the fact was, that the steamboat at this period was in the broadest part of Lake Champlain, and at least 108 CLINTON COUNTY. three miles from any land. I had left the deck about two hours before, and this change had occurred in the mean time. I looked round upon the deck to find a suitable board, or something of sufficient buoyancy, that I could trust to amid such waves as I saw were run- ning. There was nothing large enough to deserve such confidence ; I looked aft over the taffrail, every thing there looked gloomy and forbidding ; I cast my eyes forward, the wind was directly ahead, and the flames were forced, in the most terrific manner, towards the stern, threatening every thing in its range with instant destruction. I then thought if I could pass the middle of the boat, which seemed also to be the centre of the fire, I might find security in standing to windward on the bowsprit. I made the attempt. It was vain. The flames were an insurmountable barrier. I was obliged to return towards the stern. There was then no one in sight. I stepped over upon the starboard side of the quarter. deck. I thought all was gone with me. At that moment I saw a lady come up to the cabin door ; she leaned against the side of it, and looked with a steadfast gaze and dis. tracted air towards the flames ; she turned and disappeared in the cabin. It was Mrs. Wil- son, the poor unfortunate lady who, afterward, with the captain's assistance, as he informed me, committed herself, with many piercing shrieks and agonizing exclamations, to the treacherous support of a small bench, on the troublous bosom of the lake. I then looked over the starboard quarter to know whether the other boat was indeed gone. I had the happiness to see her; she seemed to be full, or nearly so; one or two passengers were standing on the lower steps of the accommodation ladder, apparently with the design of entering the boat when she came within reach. I was determined to enter her at all risks, and insTantly leaped over the quarter and descended into her. I found her knocking under the counter, and in danger of foundering. The steam-vessel stiU continued to advance through the water : the waves dashed the boat with considerable violence against her, and most of those who had sought safety in the boat, being unacquainted with water scenes, were much alarmed, and by their ill-directed eflbrts were adding to the risk. Under these circumstances it became necessary to cut the fust, which was done, and the boat, and those that were in it, were instantly secure. All these incidents occurred in a shorter time than I have consumed in writing them. From the moment of my hearing the first alarm to that of leaving the steamboat, was not, I am satisfied, near ten minutes ; I believe it was not five." View of Plattsburg. Plattsburg, organized in 1785. Pop. 6,397. Plattsburg, an incor- porated village and county seat, is distant from New York 319, from Albany 164, from Whitehall 112, and from Ogdensburg, E., 120 miles. The accompanying view was taken on the eastern bank of the Sa- ranac, about 30 rods above the bridge. The first steeple on the left is that of the Presbyterian church, the second the Methodist, the third the courthouse, the fourth the Episcopal, and the fifth the Catholic. CL[NTON COUNTY. 109 Besides the above-mentioned public buildings, there is an academy, the Clinton county bank, and about 300 buildmgs. A settlement was commenced in this village " previous to the revo- lution, by a Count Vredenburg, a German nobleman, who, marrying a lady of the household of the queen of England, obtained a warrant for 30,000 acres of land, which he located on Cumberland bay, whither he removed, although he did not perfect his title by patent. He built a large house on the spot now occupied by the United States Hotel in Plattsburg, where he resided, as tradition reports, in extraor- dinary luxury, having his floors covered with carpets, and his win- dows shaded with damask curtains. When the revolutionary strug- gle commenced, he sent his family to Montreal, but remained some time after their departure, and then suddenly and mysteriously disap- peared : his house, and a saw-mill he had built 3 miles above, on the Saranac, ' at Vredenburg's Falls,' being at the same time burned. He was generally supposed to have been robbed and murdered by some one covetous of the money and plate which he displayed. " In July, of 1783, after the preliminaries of peace had been settled, Lieut, (since Maj. Gen.) Benjamin Mooers, adjutant of Hazen's regi- ment of Canadian and Nova Scotia refugees stationed at Newburg, on the Hudson, with 2 other otficers and 8 men, left Fishkill Landing in a boat, and by way of the Hudson, the portage from Fort Edward to Lake George, and by that lake and Champlain, reached Point au Roche, 9 miles N. of Plattsburg, where he and his companions, on the 10th August, commenced the first permanent settlement of the county. " A company, consisting of Judge Zephaniah Piatt and others, form- ed soon after the war for the purchase of military warrants, located their warrants on Lake Champlain. In August, 1784, the judge. Capt. Nathaniel Piatt, and Capt. Reeve, personally surveyed the Plattsburg patent on Cumberland bay, and laid off", among others, 10 lots of 100 acres each, to be given to the first 10 settlers who came on with families. Another tract of 100 acres was allotted as a dona- tion to the first male child born on the patent. Messrs. Jacob Ferris, John Burke, Derrick Webb, Jabez Pettit, and Cyrenus Newcomb, were the first settlers on the 'gift lots,' and Piatt Newcomb, Esq., was the fortunate first born male, but not the first child born on the patent ; Mrs. Henry Ostrander having previously given birth to a daughter, who intermarried with a Mr. Wilson, of Chateaugua, of Frankhn county. From this period the settlement of the county steadily progressed. " The first court was holden at Plattsburg on the 28th day of Oct., 1788, of which the following persons were officers: Charles Piatt, judge; Peter Saily, Wm. McAuley, and Pliney Moore, assistant jus- tices ; Theodorus Piatt, justice; Benjamin Mooers, sheriff; John Fautfreyde, coroner ; Robert Paul, John Stevenson, Lott Elmore, Lewis Lezotte, and Jonathan Lynde, constables. Grand jury, Cle- ment Goslin, Allen Smith, Abner Pomeroy, Jonas Allen, Joseph Shelden, Peter Payn, Moses Soper, Edward Everett, Elnathan Rog- 110 CLfNTON COUNTY, ers, John HofFnagle, Cyrenus Newcomb, Melchor Hoftnagle, Stephen Cuyler, Jacob Ferris, John Ransom, and John Cochran." — GordorCs Gaz. Plattsburg is rendered memorable as the place of the victory of Com. McDonough and Gen. Macomb, over the British naval and land forces, in Sept, 1814. The following account of the military movements on the land are copied from the statements given by Maj. A. C. Flagg and Gen. St. J. B. L. Skinner, who both were actors in the scenes described. " ' On the 31st Aug., (says Maj. Flagg,) the advance of the British armyunder Gen. Brisbane entered Champlain, and encamped on the north side of the great Chazy river, and on the same day Maj. Gen. Mooers ordered out the militia of the counties of Clinton and Essex,' en masse. ' The regiment from Clinton co., under Lieut. Col. Miller, immediately assembled, and on the 2d Sept. took a position on the west road near the village of Chazy ; and on the 3d, Gen. Wright, with such of his brigade as had arrived, occupied a position on the same road, about 8 miles in advance of this place. On the 4th, the enemy having brought up his main body to Champlain, took up his line of march for Plattsburg. The rifle corps, under Lieut. Col. Appling on the lake road, fell back as far as Dead creek, blocking up the road in such a manner as to impede the advance of the enemy as much as possible. The enemy advanced on the 5th, within a few miles of Col. Appling's position, and finding it too strong to attack, halted, and caused a road to be made west into the Beekmantown road, in which the light brigade under Gen. Powers advanced ; and on the morning of the 6th, about 7 o'clock, attacked the militia, which had at this time increased to nearly 700, under Gen. Mooers ; and a small detachment of regulars under Maj. Wool, about 7 miles from this place. After the first fire, a considerable part of the militia broke and fled in every direction. Many, however, manfully stood their ground, and with the small corps of Maj. Wool, bravely con- tested the ground against five times their number, falling back gradually, and occupying the fences on each side of the road, till they arrived within a mile of the town, when they were reinforced by two pieces of artillery under Capt. Leonard ; and our troops occupying a strong position behind a stone wall, for some time stopped the progress of the enemy.' " At this point, one of the finest specimens of discipline ever exhibited, was shown by the British troops on the occasion of the opening Capt. Leonard's battery upon them. The company to which I was attached, formed a part of the left flank of our little army, and was on the rise of ground west of the road leading from Mr. Halsey's corner to Isaac C. Piatt's, and about midway between the artillery and the head of the British column ; and the whole scene was open to our view. Here, (at Halsey's corner,) was a battery of two field-pieces, so perfectly masked by a party of the infantry, that the enemy probably was not aware of it, until it opened upon him. There a dense column of men, with a front equal to the width of the road, and extending nearly half a mile in length, pressing on with a buoyancy and determination of spirit, betokening an expectation that they would be per- mitted to walk into our works without much opposition. How sad the disappointment to the victorious veterans of so many bloody fields of Europe ! So perfect was the motion of the troops in marching, that they seemed a great mass of living matter moved by some invisible machinery. Yet I can now almost fancy we could hear them cracking their jokes, and each claiming for himself the honor of being the first to make a lodgment in the Yankee forts ; when suddenly, with the noise of thunder, the sound of a cannon came booming through the air. It sent forth a round shot which took effect near the centre of the front platoon, about breast high, and ploughed its way through, sweeping all before it, the whole length of the column ; opening a space apparently several feet wide, which, however, was immediately closed, as if by magic ; and on the column pressed as if nothing had happened. A second shot was fired with the like effect, and similar consequences ; but when the third discharge came, with a shower of grape shot, there was a momentary confusion. Immediately, however, the charge was sounded by some dozen British bugles ; which through the clear and bland atmosphere of a bright September morning, was the most thrilling and spirit-stirring sound that could greet a soldier's ears. In an instant of time, the men forming the advance of the column had thrown their knapsacks on either side the road, and bringing their pieces to the charge, advanced in double quick time upon our miniature battery. " ' Our troops being at length compelled to retire, contested every inch of ground, until they reached the south bank of the Saranac, where the enemy attempted to pursue them, but was lepulsed with loss. The loss of the British in this skirmish, was Col. Wellington, CLINTON COUNTY. Ill and a Lieut, of the 3d Buffs, and two Lieuts. of the 58th, killed ; and one Capt. and one Lieut, of the 58th light company wounded, together with about 100 privates killed and wounded, while that on our part did not exceed 25. The corps of riflemen under Col. Appling, and detachment under Capt. Sproul, fell back from their position at Dead creek in time to join the militia and regulars just before they entered the village, and fought with their accustomed bravery. The British got possession of that part of the village north of the Saranac about 11 o'clock, but the incessant and well-directed fire of our artillery and musketry from the forts and opposite banks, compelled them to retire before night beyond the reach of our guns.' The bridge in the village was defended during this day by Capt. Martin I. Aikin's company* of volunteers, who were stationed in the saw-mill on the south bank of the river for that purpose. The enemy arrived towards night with his heavy artil- lery and baggage on the lake road, and crossed the beach, where he met with a warm re- ception from our row-galleys ; and it is beheved, suffered a heavy loss in killed and wound- ed. On our side, Lieut. Duncan of the navy lost an arm by a rocket, and 3 or 4 men were killed by the enemy's artillery. The enemy encamped on the ridge west of the town, his right near the river, and occupying an extent of nearly 3 miles, his left resting on the lake about a mile north of the village. From the 6th until the morning of the 11th, an almost continual skirmishing was kept up between the enemy's pickets and our militia and volun- teers stationed on the river, and in the mean time both armies were busily engaged — ours in strengthening the works of the forts, and that of the enemy in erecting batteries, collect- ing ladders, bringing up his heavy ordnance, and making other preparations for attacking the forts. On the morning of the 7th, a body of the enemy under Capt. Noadie, attempted to cross at the upper bridge about 7 miles west of the village, but were met by Capt. Vaughn's company o*" about 25 men, and compelled to retire with the loss of two killed, and several wounded. On the morning of the 11th, the enemy's fleet came round the Head with a tight breeze from the north, and attacked ours which lay at anchor in Cumberland bay, two miles from shore east of the fort. " ' The enemy commenced a simultaneous bombardment of our works from 7 batteries, from which several hundred shells and rockets were discharged, which did us very little injury ; and our artillery had nearly succeeded in silencing them all before the contest on the lake was decided. " ' The enemy attempted at the same time to throw his main body in the rear of the fort, by crossing the river 3 miles west of the town, near the site of Pike's cantonment. He succeeded in crossing, after a brave resistance by the Essex militia and a few of the Ver- mont volunteers, in all about 350, stationed at that place, who retired back a mile and a half from the river, continually pouring in upon them an incessant fire from behind every tree, until Lieut. Sumpter brought up a piece of artillery to their support, when the enemy commenced a precipitate retreat. " ' The Vermont volunteers, who had hastened to the scene of action on the first alarm, fell upon the enemy's left flank, and succeeded in making many prisoners, including 3 ofiicers. " ' Had the British remained on the south side of the river 30 minutes longer, he must have lost nearly the whole detachment that crossed. Our loss in this affair was five killed and eight or ten wounded, some mortally. " ' Immediately on ascertaining the loss of the fleet. Sir George Prevost ordered prepara- tions to be made for the retreat of the army, and set off himself, with a small escort, for Canada, a little after noon. The main body of the enemy, with the artillery and baggage, were taken off in the afternoon, and the rear guard, consisting of the light brigade, started at daybreak and made a precipitate retreat ; leaving their wounded and a large quantity of pro- visions, fixed ammunition, shot, shells, and other public stores, in the different places of deposit about their camp. They were pursued some distance by our troops, and many prisoners taken ; but owing to the very heavy and incessant rain, we were compelled to return. The enemy lost upon land more than 1,000 men, in killed, wounded, prisoners, and deserters, while our aggregate loss did not exceed 150.' " The following account of the naval action is from " Perkins' His- tory of the late War." " The American fleet, under Commodore McDonough, lay at anchor in the bay, on the right flank of the American fines, and two miles distant. Great exerdons had been made * "This company was composed of young men and boys of the village, most of whom were not subject to military duly, who volunteered after the militia had gone out on the Chazy road, offered their services to Gen. Macomb, who accepted their offer, aimed the company with rifles, and ordered the?ii to repair to the head-quarters of Gen. Mooers, and report for duty." Three only, it is said, of the members of this corps were over 18 years of age. 112 CLINTON COUNTY. by both parties to produce a superior naval force on this lake ; the Americans at Otter creek, and the British at the Isle aux Noix. On comparing their relative strength on the 11th of September, the American fleet consisted of the Saratoga, flag-ship, mounting 26 guns; Eagle, 20 guns; Ticonderoga, 17 guns; Preble, 7 guns; 6 galleys, of 2 guns each, 12 guns ; four, of one, 4 guns ; making in the whole, 86 guns ; and 820 men. The British fleet consisted of the frigate Confiance, flag-ship, mounting 39 guns; Linnet, 16 guns; Cherub, 11 guns; Finch, 11 guns; five galleys, of 2 guns each, 10 guns; eight, of one, 8 guns ; making in the whole 95 guns, and 1,020 men. " The British land forces employed themselves from the 7th to the 11th, in bringing up their heavy artillery, and strengthening their works on the north bank of the Saranac. Their fortified encampment was on a ridge a little to the west of the town, their right near the river, and their left resting on the lake, 1 mile in the rear of the village. Having deter- mined on a simultaneous attack by land and water, they lay in this position on the morning of the 11th, waiting the approach of their fleet. At 8 o'clock, the wished-for ships appear, ed under easy sail, moving round Cumberland head ; and were hailed with joyous acclama- tions. At 9, they anchored within 300 yards of the American squadron in line of battle ; the Confiance opposed to the Saratoga, the Linnet to the Eagle ; 13 British galleys to the Ticonderoga, Preble, and a division of the American galleys. The Cherub assisting the Confiance and Linnet, and the Finch aiding the galleys. In this position, the weather being perfectly clear and calm, and the bay smooth, the whole force on both sides became at once engaged.* At an hour and a half after the commencement of the action, the star- board guns of the Saratoga were nearly all dismantled. The commandant ordered a stern anchor to be dropped, and the bower cable cut, by means of which the ship rounded to, and presented a fresh broadside to her enemy. The Confiance attempted the same ope- ration and failed. This was attended with such powerful effects, that she was obliged to surrender in a few minutes. The whole broadside of the Saratoga was then brought to bear on the Linnet, and in 15 minutes she followed the example of her flag-ship. One of the British sloops struck to the Eagle ; 3 galleys were sunk, an# the rest made off; no ship in the fleet being in a condition to follow them, they escaped down the lake. There was no mast standing in either squadron, at the close of the action, to which a sail could be attached. The Saratoga received 55 round shot in her hull, and the Confiance 105. The action lasted without any cessation, on a smooth sea, at close quarters, 2 hours and 20 minutes. In the American squadron 52 were killed, and 58 wounded. In the British, 84 were killed, and 110 wounded. Among the slain was the British commandant. Com. Downie. This engagement was in full view of both armies, and of numerous spectators collected on the heights, bordering on the bay, to witness the scene. It was viewed by the inhabitants with trembling anxiety, as success on the part of the British would have opened to them an easy passage into the heart of the country, and exposed a numerous population on the borders of the lake to British ravages. When the flag of the Confiance was struck, the shores resounded with the acclamations of the American troops and citizens. The British, when they saw their fleet completely conquered, were dispirited and confounded." " A short distance from the village, are the ruins of the cantonment and breastworks occupied by Gen. Macomb and his troops. A mile north, is shown the house held by Gen. Prevost, as his head-quarters, during the siege ; between which and the village the marks of cannon-shot on the trees and other objects are still visible. Further onward about 5 miles, on a hill overlooking the village of Beekmantown, is the spot where a sanguinary engagement took place between the American and Biitish troops, which resulted in the death of the British Col. Wellington and several men of both armies." — GordoiCs Gaz. The following inscriptions were copied from monuments in the graveyard in Plattsburg. " In memory of Gex. Benjamin Mooers, who died Feb. 20, 1838. He served as lieu- tenant and adjutant during the revolutionary war. He commanded the militia at the battle * "1 will mention one circumstance for the purpose of showing the frame of mind in wliich the brave McDonongh entered the battle, and in whom he put his trust for success. After the enemy's fleet hove in sight, the men of his ship were assembled on the quarter-deck, when lie kneeled down, and in humble, and fervent prayer, roinnnnded himself, his men, and the cause in which they were engaged, to the God of Bat- tles, and arose from that posture, with a calmness and serenity depicted on his brow, which showed he had received coiiilon iiiid assurance from above. One other little incident, and 1 will proceed with my subject. During the Imltcsl pari iif the battle, the hen-coop was shot away, when a cock escaped and flew up into the rigging, tiappi'd his wings, and crowed most mant'ully ! The sailors considered this as a sure omen of success, and, cheering from one end of the ship to the other, went to their work of dealing death to tlie enemy with redoubled exertion. The cock remained in the rigging during the whole of the engagement, ever and anon clieering the men on to a greater exertion by his clear shrill voice." — Qcn. Skinner's account of the Battle of PlaUaburg. COLUMBIA COUNTY. 113 of Plattsburef, Sept. 11th, 1814. He was the first settler in this county who remained here through hfe. He was the first sheriff of the county, and for 30 years county treasurer. He repeatedly represented this section of country in the assembly and senate of the state, and discharged the important duties which devolved upon him as a citizen, a soldier, and a Christian, with fidelity to his country, and integrity to his God." Grave of Commodore Downie at Plattshurg. " Sacred to the memory of George Downie, Esq., a post.captain in the British navy, who gloriously fell on board his B. M. S. Confiance, while leading the vessels under his command to the attack of the American Flotilla, at anchor in Cumberland Bay, off Platts- burg, on the 11th of Sept., 1814." " To mark the spot where the remains of a gallant officer and sincere friend were honor, ably interred, this stone has been erected by his affectionate sister-in-law, Mary Downie." Saranac, taken from Plattsburg in 1834 ; from Albany, N., 145 miles. Pop. 1,464. Redford, 21 miles southwesterly from Platts- burg, has about 60 dwellings. Here are the extensive works of the Redford Crown Glass Company. Bakersville is a small village about 5 miles NE. from Redford. COLUMBIA COUNTY. Columbia county, taken from Albany in 1786: its greatest length on the E. line 36, medium breadth 18 miles. Centrally distant N. from New York 125, from Albany, SE., 34 miles. The surface of the county is considerably diversified, though no part can be called mountainous. Ranges of small hillocks are interspersed with exten- sive plains or valleys, and much of rich alluvion. There are some excellent lands, and much of the larger portion may be, by judicious culture, rendered highly productive. Nature, in the abundant beds of lime, has furnished the means, as if by a special providence, of tempering the cold and ungrateful constituents of the clay ; and in many places the lime in the form of marl does not require burning to 15 114 COLUMBIA COUNTY. become a stimulant. Scarce any portion of the state is better adapted to the raising of sheep, and the profits from this source, ah'eady great, are yearly increasing. This county is famed for the quantity and quality of its Indian corn Lead and iron ore are found in this county. It is divided into 19 towns. Pop. 44,237. Ancram, originally named Gallatin, and taken from Livingston in 1803 ; from Albany, S., 51, centrally distant S. E. from Hudson 21 miles. Pop. 1,769. The Ancram Iron Works operate quite exten- sively in castings and bar iron from the celebrated ore of Salisbury, in Connecticut. Ancram is a small village near the W. line of the town. AusTERLiTZ, taken from Hillsdale, Canaan, and Chatham, in 1818 ; surface hilly and mountainous. Pop. 2,090. Spencertown, 15 miles NE. of Hudson, and Green River, are small villages. Canaan, organized in 1788 ; bounds since altered. Canaan Cor- ners 24, Canaan 18 miles NE. from Hudson, and Red Rock are small settlements. The surface of the town is mountainous, with some fertile valleys. Pop. 1,957. Chatham, taken from Canaan and Kinderhook in 1795. Pop. 3,650. Chatham Four Corners, on the Albany and Hartford and the Hudson and New Lebanon roads, is a small settlement, 20 miles SE. of Albany and 14 NE. from Hudson. Chatham, North Chatham, New Cont-oic. and are post-offices. Claverack, organized in 1788. Pop. 3,053. This name is derived from Klauver-rack literally Clover-reach; so called in its early settle- ment from the immense fields of clover which abounded here. Cla- verack post village, 4 miles E. of Hudson, was the seat of justice for the county, from 1787 to 1806, when it was removed to Hudson. It is a beautiful village, and contains about 60 dwellings. Churchtown, Smoky Hollow, and Centreville are small villages. This country was settled at a very early period by the Dutch. The following extracts from ancient newspapers, show that difficulties between the land- lords and tenants are not confined to our time. To the printer of the New York Gazette, dated May 20th, 1766. Sir, — For many months past we have heard a great deal of the uneasiness and riotous behavior of the tenants upon several of the large manors of this government. And as these disorders have risen to a very great and dangerous height, and the causes of them variously spoken of, and not well understood, (some imputing the fault to the landlords, and others the tenants,) it is surprising that more care has not been taken to set the whole affair in a clearer light ; which, besides that it might tend to an amicable settlement of the difference, would dispose the public to join in discountenancing the blameable party, and obtain redress for the injured. On the one hand, it seems strange that the landlords should draw upon themselves so much trouble and vexation, so much ill-will and opposition from their tenants, unless the matters they insist on are just and reasonable, and of very great importance. On the other hand, it seems equally strange that the tenants should take such desperale steps, and hazard the ruin of their famihes, the loss of property, and even life itself, unless their grievances are of the most insupportable kind, and such as it is worse than death to bear. If these matters were explained by an impartial narrative, it would, I believe, do service to the parties and oblige the puWic, &lc. A. B. Extracts from letters from Claverack, near Albany, dated June 27th, 1766. " For some months a mob has frequently assembled and ranged the eastern part of the manor of Rensselaer. Last wet^k they appeared at Mr. Livingston's with some proposals to liiin ; but he being from homo, they returned to Mr. Rensselaer's son's, about two miles COLUMBIA COUNTY. 115 from Claverack, where, not finding him at home, they used some insulting words, and left a message for Mr. Rensselaer, that if he did not meet them next day at their rendezvous, they would come to him. On the 26th, the sheritf of Albany, with 150 men under his com- mand, went to disperse the rioters, who were assembled it is supposed to the number of 60 in a house on the manor. On the sheriffs advancing to the house they fired upon him, and shot off his hat and wig, but he escaped unhurt — many shots were exchanged on both sides. Of the militia, iVIr. Cornelius Tenbrook, of Claverack, was killed, and seven wounded. Of the rioters, three were killed (two of whom were the ringleaders) and many wounded, among whom was Capt. Noble (one of the chief instigators) in the back. The rioters retreated to Capt. Noble's house, where they formed a breastwork, and did not quit the house till the sheriff's party left the place. He afterward went to Poughkeepsie to get assistance from the regulars to disperse the whole ; but the regulars were gone to Pender- graft's house, on Philip's Patent, in Dutchess county. " We hear from Fredericksburg, in Dutchess county, that on Saturday last, as a party of regulars stationed there, under the command of Major Brown, were crossing a bridge, they were met by about 30 of the rioters, who were going to join Pendergraft, their chiefs party — a skirmish ensued, whereon two of the regulars were wounded, and it is supposed a much greater number of the rioters, who generally dismounted and fled to the cornfields and bushes, leaving some of their horses and guns, which were taken, and one prisoner. Several more were taken that night. The next evening they sent a flag of truce with 50 followers, who were all lodged in the meeting-house, and the next day several more parties came in. Pendergraft's wife was gone to persuade her husband to accept of the governor's mercy, as were many more wives of the rioters. We hear of no lives lost. It was reported that 300 of the rioters lodged at Quaker Hill, intending to attack the regulars on the 13th ult." [How many uneasy moments must such of these sensible regulars feel, who are pur- suaded that they are employed to support In Equity ?] From the New York Gazette, dated November 10th, 1768. " On Saturday last, the great cause between the Crown and Mr. John Van Rensselaer was ended. It was tried by a struck jury, and came on before the Hon. Justice Jones, on Tuesday the 25th of October, and continued (with evening adjournments by the consent of parties) until the 5th inst. The suit was for intrusion upon the crown lands, to try the limits of that part of the old Rensselaerwick manor and estate called Claverack. It was pro. moted by certain reduced officers upon a supposition that there was a great unpatented vacancy between the manor of Rensselaerwick and Livingston, and the patents of Kinder- hook and Westenhook, and carried on at the expense of the crown. There never was a trial in this colony so solemn, important, and lengthy. The counsel spent about eleven hours in summing up the evidence : Mr. Attorney General, Mr. Mayor, Mr. Duane, and Mr. Kissam, were of the counsel for the crown ; and Mr. Smith, jr., Mr. Scott, and Mr Thomas Smith conducted the defence. The judge was clear in his charge upon the construction of the old patent in the Rensselaer family, and the jury in two hours agreed on their verdict for the defendant This estate was attached upon the same princi- pies, by certain petitioners a few years ago ; but their petitions were dismissed by the gov- ernor and council, in the administration of Gen. Monckton, on the 20ih October, 1762." Clermont, organized in 1788; from Albany, S., 43 miles. Pop. 1,231. Clermont, 12 miles S. of Hudson, is a small post village. It was the ancient seat of the Livingston family, and the residence of Chancellor Livingston, the -well-knov^fn patron of Fulton, who named his first American steamboat the " Clermont." The following biogra- phical sketch is extracted from the Encyclopedia Americana. "Robert R. Livingston, an eminent American pohtician, was born in the city of New York, November 27th, 1746. He was educated at King's College, and graduated in 1765. He studied and practised law in that city with great success. Near the commencement of the American revolution he lost the office of recorder, on ac- count of his attachment to liberty, and was elected to the first general congress of the colonies ; was one of the committee appointed to prepare the Declaration of Independence ; in 1780, was appointed secretary of foreign affairs; and throughout the war of the revolu. tion, signahzed himself by his zeal and efficiency in the revolutionary cause. At the adop- tion of the constitution of New York, he was appointed chancellor, which oflice he held until he went, in 1801, to France, as minister plenipotentiary, appointed by President Jef. ferson. He was received by Napoleon Bonaparte, then first consul, with marked respect and 116 COLUMBIA COUNTY. cordiality, and during a residence of several years in the French capital, the chancellor ap- peared to be the favorite foreign envoy. He conducted, with the aid of Mr. Monroe, the nego- tiation which ended in the cession of Louisiana to the United States, tooli leave of the first consul, (1804,) and made an extensive tour on tlie continent of Europe. On his return from Paris, Napoleon, then emperor, presented to him a splendid snuff-box, with a minia- ture likeness of himself, (Napoleon,) painted by the celebrated Isabcy. It was ia Paris that he formed a friendship and close personal intimacy with Robert Fulton, whom he materially assisted with counsel and money, to mature his plan of steam navigation. In 18U5, Mr. Livingston returned to the United States, and thenceforward employed himself in promoting the arts and agriculture. He introduced into the state of New York the use of gypsum, and the Merino race of sheep. He was president of the New York Academy of fine arts, of which he was a chief founder. He died March 2Gth, 1813, with the reputation of an able statesman, a learned lawyer, and a most useful citizen." CoPAKE, taken from Taghkanic in 1824; from Albany, S., 57 miles ; from Hudson, SE., IG miles. The town is part of the Liv- ingston manor. Pop. 1,505. The eastern part of this township is mountainous ; on the western border is Copake lake, which covers about 600 acres, and embosoms an island of about 20 acres, which has been the residence of members of the Livingston family. Gallatin, taken from Ancram in 1830 ; from Hudson, SE., 15 miles- Pop. 1,645. Germantown, organized in 1788; from Albany, S., 39, and from Hudson, S., 12 miles: commonly known by the name of the German or East Camp. Pop. 968. There are three landings on the Hudson, In June, 1710, seventy of the palatines sent out by Queen Anne set- tled on this spot, then part of Livingston manor. In 1725, pursuant to an arrangement between George I. and tlie proprietor, this tract was granted by letters patent to the persons belonging to East Camp, as the settlement was called, in trust to appropriate 40 acres for the use of a church and school, and to divide the rest equally among the inhabitants. The settlement first commenced by three small lodges, or dorfs, the German word for village, named respectively after the superintendent of each, as Weiser's Dorf, Kneiskerns Dorf, &c, Ghent, taken from Claverack, Kinderhook, and Chatham in 1818. Population 2,557. Ghent is a small village, 10 miles NE. of Hudson. Greenport, recently formed from Hudson. Pop. 1158. Hillsdale was organized in 1788; centrally distant 14 miles E. of Hudson. Pop. 3,470. Green river and Hillsdale are post-offices. Unhappy disputes relative to titles to land in this town, long agitated the inhabitants, and several lives were lost in the controversy before it was finally settled by arbitration. Hudson, the capital of Columbia county, is situated on the E. bank of Hudson river, 116 miles from New York, 29 from Albany, and 28 from West Stockbridge, Mass. Lat. 42° 14' N., long. 14'" E. from New York. The city is finely situated on an elevation of about 50 feet above the Hudson, the western part of which is a bold cliff or promontory projecting into the river, more than 60 feet high. The principal part of the city is built on a street one mile long, ex- tending in a straight line from the foot of Prospect Hill, to the prom- enade on the extremity of the cliff. Nearly all the streets intersect each other at right angles, except near the river, where they conform COLUMBIA COUNTY. 117 to the shape of the ground. The promenade at the western extrem- ity, and fronting the principal street, commands a beautiful view of the river, the village of Athens opposite, the country beyond, and the towering Catskill mountains. The bay south of the city is locked in by a lofty eminence, anciently termed Rorabuck, now called Mount Merino, in consequence of there being a sheep farm established here some years since. The city contains 5 churches — 1 Presbyterian, 1 Episcopal, 1 Baptist, 1 Methodist, and 1 Universalist. There is an academy, a number of classical schools, the Hudson Lunatic Asylum, a private hospital for the reception and cure of lunatics, 1 bank, and 3 printing-offices. An elegant courthouse has been recently erected. Water is brought in subterranean pipes from the foot of Becraft's mountain for the use of the city. Pop. 5,071. Hudson was founded in 1783, by enterprising men of property from Rhode Island and Nantucket, of the names of Jenkins, Paddock, Barnard, Coffin, Thurston, G reeii e^ Minturn, Lawrence, and others, in all thirty persons. About twenty of this company, in the early part of 1783, sailed up the Hudson to find some navigable situation on which to commence a new settlement. They selected and purchased the site on which the city now stands, which at that time was occupied as a farm, with a single store-house on the bank of the river. In the fall of this year, two families arrived and commenced a settlement. In the spring of 1784, the other proprietors arrived, bringing with them seve- ral vessels ; they were soon followed by other emigrants from the east- ward. Between the spring of 1784 and that of 1786, there were 150 dwelling-houses erected, besides wharves, warehouses, shops, barns, &c., and several works connected with manufactures ; and the pop- ulation had increased to 1,500 persons. In 1795, Mr. Ashbel Stod- dard removed from Connecticut, established a printing-office, and issued a weekly paper, the " Hudson Gazette." Hudson was incorporated a city in 1785. At this period about twenty-five vessels were owned in the place, which were mostly era- ployed in the West India trade ; a few were engaged in the whale and seal fishery, which was carried on with considerable success, and Hudson rapidly increased in wealth and population. During the rev- olutionary struggle in France, and the long protracted war in Europe, such was the demand for neutral vessels, and such the high prices of freight, that the vessels owned here were engaged in the carrying trade. This trade was not long enjoyed, for British orders in council and French decrees swept many of them from their owners. Other losses followed by shipwreck, and the embargo, non-intercourse, and the war which succeeded, almost finished the prosperity of Hudson. The city was a port of entry till 1815. The immense losses at sea produced much embarrassment and many failures, and kept the place in a state of depression for a considerable period. From this de- pression it is gradually and steadily advancing. The Hudson and Berkshire railroad proceeds from this city, across the route of the New York and Albany railroad, 31 miles to the west line of Massa- 118 COLUMBIA COUNTY. chusetts at West Stockbridge, whence it is continued for two miles, till it unites with the great western railroad of that state. The following inscriptions are copied from monuments in the graveyard in this place : " To the memory of William Howard Allen, lieutenant in the U. S. Navy, who was killed in the act of boarding a piratical schooner on the coast of Cuba, near Matanzas, on the 9th of November, 1822, iE 32— William Howard Allen. His remains, first buried at Matanzas, were removed to this city by the U. S. government, and interred under the direction of the Com- mon Council of this city, beneath this marble erected to his honor by the citizens of his native place, 1833. William How- ard Allen was born in the city of Hudson, July 8, 1790 ; ap- pointed a midshipman in 1801, and a heutenant in J 811 ; took a conspicuous part in the engagement between the Argus and Pelican in 1813, and was killed while in the command of the U. S. schooner Alligator. " Pride of his country's banded chivalry. His fame their hope, his name their battle cry. He lived as mothers wish their sons to live, He died, as fathers wish their sons to die." Allen's Monument. " In memory of John Milton Mann, M. D., who was drowned crossing the Hud- son from this city to Athens, August 24, A. D. 1809, aged 43 years. This monument is erected as a token of their love by his bereaved wife and children. Doctor Mann was born in Attlebury, Massachussetts ; he was educated at Brown's University in Providence, Rhode Island ; and came to reside in Hudson, A. D. 1800. This city is indebted to him for the introduction of vaccine innoculation, though here as elsewhere, the philanthropic enterprise was obliged to contend against prejudice and misrepresentation. The Common Council of Hudson, of which body he was a member, voted that they would attend his fu- neral and wear crape on the left arm thirty days on account of their respect for his char- acter, and their regret for his loss. Here are laid the remains of one whom society re- spected and his kindred loved. He was a wise scholar, a skilful physician, a kind husband and father, and a sincere Christian. Deeply is he bewailed. Few men of his time pos- sessed a mind more happily turned to the acquisition of science, or exhibited more per- spicuously patience and vigor, than Doctor Mann. Alas I just as his faculties had become mature, and society had learned their value — just when in the prime of bodily and mental manhood, with his honors thickening upon him, death struck him down. But let not in- fidel grief regard his mind as having been cultivated or his knowledge accumulated in vain ; for so he was enabled to enter the future life with enlarged capacities of enjoyment, with more worthy views of his own nature and destiny, with a clearer apprehension of his heavenly Father's will, and with added incitement to constant obedience. We will not mourn, then, as they who have no hope." KiNDERHooK was Organized in 1788 ; the surface of the town is di- versified, soil gravelly clay of sandy loam, and generally well culti- vated. Pop. 3,512. This place was settled at an early period by some Dutch and Swedish families. Its name is of curious origin, and signifies children's corner, or point ; so called from the number of children belonging to a Swedish family that anciently lived on a point of land about half a mile above the present upper landing. Several of their descendants are now living of the fourth and fifth generation. Valatie is a large manufacturing village in this town, 14 miles N. of Hudson, at the junction of the Valatie and Kinderhook creeks. It contains 1 Presbyterian, 1 Methodist, and 1 Lutheran church, 8 mer- COLUMBIA COUNTY. 119 cantile stores, 300 dwellings, and 1,700 inhabitants. Kinderhook village on the old post-road to Albany, 12 N. of Hudson, 5 E. from the river, and 20 miles S. from Albany, is finely situated on a beauti- ful level plain. Many of the dwellings have spacious yards and gardens decorated with shrubbery ; and groves of trees interspersed here and there give this place a pleasing aspect. There are several churcnes, an academy in high repute, and about 90 dwellings. Birthplace of President Van Buren, Kinderhook. The above is a representation of the house in which Martin Van Buren, recently president of the United States, was born. It is situ- ated about 60 rods E. of the central part of the village, near the banks of the creek. It was at that time occupied by his father, Abra- ham Van Buren, as a tavern, and the town meetings of former days were held within its walls. Originally it had a gable roof with two attic windows, in Dutch style ; and the small building seen on the right stood in the rear and was used as a kitchen. On a beam in the cellar, cut rudely with a penknife, are the initials, M. V. B ; a memento of the president's youthful days. The following epitaph of president Van Buren's brother wascopied from a tablet in the new graveyard, about three fourths of a mile N. of the village. " In memory of Abraham A. Van Buren, who died at Hudson, Oct. 30th, 1836, in the 49th year of his age. He had been for many years, and was at the time of his death, sur. rogate of the county of Columbia ; and by his talents and integrity, secured universal respect and esteem. Peace be to his ashes." Livingston was organized in 1788. Glenco, 9 miles SE. from Hudson, and Johnstown, are small villages. Pop. 2,534. " Livingston manor or lordship, originally contained that tract which now composes the towns of Livingston, Taghkanic, Copake, Ancram, Gallatin, Clermont, and Germantown It was granted by the English government, while America was a colony, to Robert Livings, ton, who had been some years settled in this country and who was a member of the Brit, ish king's council. This consisted of several distinct grants made in the years 1684, 1685, and 1686. In 1710, agreeable to an arrangement with Queen Anne, the proprietor con. veyed a tract containing 6,000 acres adjoining the Hudson from the SE. part of the manor, to a number of Palatines, who had served in her armies, and were now driven from Ger. 120 COMJAIIUA COUNTY. many by tlip. French army. Tliis tract constituted the, township of Germantovvn. In 1714 a new grant, or grant and confirmation, was made of the manor to the original proprietor, and erected into a lordship, with the usual privileges and royalties at that day annexed to liaronies. He was authori:ied to constitute a Court Baron, and appoint the officers thereof; and the manor tenants were entitled to elect a member to the legislative assembly for the manor, and without losing their votes in the county elections, which privilege they exer- cised until the revolution." New Lebanon was taken from Canaan in 1818. Lebanon Springs village is 25 miles from Albany, 32 NE. from Hudson. There are here about 35 dwellings, and several taverns for the accommodation of visiters at the spring. The spring is ten feet in diameter and four deep, and discharges water sufficient to turn several mills near its source. The water is tasteless, inodorous, and soft, and is deemed beneficial in internal obstructions, salt-rheum, and cutaneous affec- tions generally. The place is much resorted to for health and amuse- ment. The surrounding country is salubrious and picturesque. New Lebanon is a small settlement, one mile and a half SE. of the spring. Shaker Buildings in New Lebanon. New Lebanon, Shaker village, called by its inhabitants the village of the " Millennial Church,^' is two and a half miles S. of the spring, on the western side of the Taghkanic mountain, and contains about six hundred inhabitants. The annexed view shows one of their dwellings (containing a family of 150 persons,) and their meeting- house, which was erected in 1823. This place of worship is some- what singular in its construction. It is eighty feet long by sixty-five wide, all in one room, without beams or pillars, having a domical root covered with tin ; and a porch thirty-four by twenty-seven feet, roofed and covered the same way. The building is of wood, but the founda- tion and flights of steps are of marble. " This edifice," says a visiter, " stands in a beautiful grass plat, in the centre of the village. There are no seats in the house, except for spectators of their worship. Their stone walls and other fences are constructed with the utmost regularity and precision, and their gate- posts are of massive marble columns, of many tons weight. They manufacture a great variety of articles for sale, which are remarka- ble f(ir their neatness and durability ; and, in short, their farms, thejr COLUMBIA COUNTY. 121 gardens, their manufactories, and houses, all exhibit the pleasing effects of industry and rural economy. Indeed, they are one independent community ; — their property is all held in common, and ' nowhere,' says Professor Silliman, ' in any community, can the moralist, the philosopher, or the statesman, see such a demonstration of the power of industry and economy.' They cheerfully pay their proportion of the public taxes, and share all the burdens of government except the bearing of arms, which they deem to be unlawful. They never ask charity for any purpose, but always have hands and hearts to give. We were conducted through the whole establishment in every de- partment. Their internal domestic arrangement is excellent. Their standing motto seems to be, to save time and labor, and all their va- rious machines and utensils are constructed to this end. We visited their extensive dairy, their washing-house, mills and manufactories, all of which evinced the most consummate skill and nicety. We also visited their school, consisting of about one hundred hearty, rosy- cheeked, and contented children, from eight to fifteen years of age. They underwent a very creditable examination in the various branches of astronomy, grammar, reading, spelling, arithmetic, &c., and gave us the most satisfactory proof that they are not trained up in igno- rance As far as our observation extended, they are as willing to let others think for themselves, as they are to cherish their own peculiarities ; and, surely, if they are tolerant we should not be in- tolerant. They are indeed a most singular people, but they have many, very many, excellent qualities. They are plain in their de- portment and manners, close though honest in their dealings, but kind, benevolent, and hospitable ; and they remember and treasure up every kindness shown to them. In short, they are inoffensive, quiet, and valuable citizens ; and notwithstanding the idle, and even abomi- nable stories that have been put forth against them, after close ob- servation for many years past, it is our deliberate conviction that among themselves they strictly live up to their professions, and that their conduct and morals are irreproachable."* The society own about 2,000 acres of land in this town, and about half as much more in Hancock, Mass., the adjoining town. Within a few years after " Mother Ann," as she is usually called, made an establishment at Neskayuna, {see Watervliet, p. 55,) another was be- gun at New Lebanon, which is now the principal Shaker establish- ment in the state. Their religious tenets must, of course, necessarily affect the order of their societies, by producing an entire separation of the men from the women. The leading characteristic in the worship of this people, is their dancing. This they describe as the involuntary result of the exhilirat- ing and overpowering delight received through the outpouring of di- vine grace upon their hearts. The evolutions and changes in the dance, by constant practice, become as precisely correct as the man- oeuvres of a regiment of experienced soldiers ; it becomes in fact a * New York Commercial Advertiser. 16 122 COLUMBIA COUNTY. mechanical movement. No one ever makes a mistake, or throws the rank in disorder from inattention or inexperience ; but every thing is conducted in the most exact order, as if every step and movement ot the body was directed by a gauge and rule. Dances are sometimes held in private houses, when variations are frequently introduced. On some occasions it is said their movements are so rapid, that the eye can scarce follow or keep pace with their swift motions. " The principal doctrines of the Shakers are a belief in the second appearance of Christ in the person of the holy mother. They admit of but two persons in the Godhead, God the Father, and God the Mother, which they say is according to the order of nature, being male and female. To relieve the depraved race of man, they believe that it became necessary for God to take upon him the real character of human nature as it is, male and female, and that his first appear- ance was in the person of man, and the second in the person of wo- man, whereby the work of redemption was finished and completed. The confusion and wickedness that prevailed in the Catholic Church, during the long period which preceded and followed the reformation, they ascribe to the work of redemption not being completed in Christ's first appearance, it being the necessary period that must intervene between the making and fulfilment of the promise of Christ, that he would establish his law of righteousness on earth. They believe in perfect holiness, and insist that salvation from sin here is necessary to salvation from misery hereafter. They regard the Bible as a tes- timony of Christ's first appearance, but deny that it contains the word of God, or of life, as they consider a belief in the second appearance of Christ, or in the spiritual character and mission of the holy mother, as indispensable to salvation." Stockport, so named from Stockport, England, the native place of Mr. Wilde, the proprietor of the mills at Columbiaville, was taken from Hudson, Ghent, and Stuyvesant, in 1833. The Claverack and Kin- derhook creeks unite near the centre of the town. In breaking through the high bank of the river, these streams, within three miles, have several falls which amount to about one hundred and sixty feet, and this water-power has given rise to the several flourishing manu- facturing villages named below. Columbiaville, t'cs miles N. of Hud- son, has very extensive cotton factories, and about forty-five dwell- ings. The Hudson river Seminary is located here. The print works for printing calicoes, were established fourteen years since, by J Marshall & Co., and employ about two hundred and fifty hands. There are in this vicinity about seventy dwellings. 'Chittenden's Falls are seven, and Springville two and a half miles from Hudson. At Glencadia, on the Kinderhook creek, three and a half miles from Hudson riiv, there are two falls amounting to about seventy feet, on which are situated extensive cotton factories. Pop. 1814. Stuyvesant was taken from Kinderhook in 1823. Stuyvesant or Kinderhook Landing, on the Hudson, is one hundred and twenty-five miles N. of New York, five W. from Kinderhook, twenty S. of Al- bany, and contains about fifty dwellings. Pop. 1,946. CORTLAND COUNTV. 123 Taghkanic, taken from Livingston, in 1823, by the name of Gran- ger ; name and bounds since altered. It is one of the towns of Liv- ingston manor, and lies SE. of Hudson fifteen miles. Pop. 1,724. CORTLAND COUNTY. Cortland county, taken from Onondaga in 1808, and named in honor of Gen. Pierre Van Cortlandt, who was a large landholder here : centrally distant NW. from New York 200, and from Al- bany, W., 145 miles. This county forms part of the high central section of the state. It has the dividing ridge between the northern and southern waters across its northern and western borders. It is consequently elevated. Its surface is composed of easy hills and broad valleys, giving it a gently waving and diversified aspect. The soil is generally a gravelly loam, rich and productive. This county comprises four whole and two half townships of the tract granted by the state to the soldiers of the revolution, and is settled chiefly by emigrants from the eastern states. Pop. 24,605. It is divided into 11 towns. CiNciNNATUs, taken from Solon in 1804; W. from Albany 131, from Cortland, SE., 15 miles. Pop. 1,301. Cincinnatus, the post village, contains about 30 dwelUngs. , CoRTLANDViLLE, taken from Homer in 1829; 142 miles from Al- bany. Pop. 3,799. The following view shows the principal public Public buildings in Cortlandville. buildings in the village. The first building on the right is the Meth- odist church, the second the Academy, the third the Presbyterian, the fourth the Baptist, and the last the Universalist church. The 124 CORTLAND COUNTY. com-thouse is seen on the opposite side of the street. The village is pleasantly situated and laid out in regular squares. There are here two weekly newspaper offices and about 120 dwellings, some of them splendid, with neat door-yards adorned with trees, shrubbery, &c. &c. McGrawsville, a small village, is 4 miles E. from Cortlandville. South Cortland and Port Watson are post-offices. The following epitaph was copied from a monument in the grave- yard at Cortlandville. "In memory of Martha Menick, wife of David Merrick, who died April 8, 1831, in the 62d year of her age. She had passed the last 32 years of her life in this town and Homer, having been among the first settlers in this county. She departed this life in the full faith of a blessed Saviour. She lived respected and died regretted." Freetown, taken from Cincinnatus in 1818 ; from Albany 140, and from Cortland, SE., 10 miles. Freetown Corners is a small village, and Freetown is a post-office. Pop. 949. Homer, organized in 1794. The township is level ; the soil a sandy and clay loam. Pop. 3,572. Homer village, the largest in the county, is beautifully situated upon a plain, upon the W. bank of the Tioughnioga river ; from Albany 138 miles, 40 N. from Oswego. 30 S. from Syracuse, 2^ N. from Cortland village. The following view shows on the right the Episcopal church, the building next is Public buildings in Homer. the Academy, the third the Presbyterian, the fourth the Methodist, and the fifth the Baptist church. The Cortland Academy is a highly flourishing institution, having a collection of philosophical apparatus and a cabinet of minerals. The public buildings are upon a square of 6 acres. The village was incorporated in 1825, and has about 200 buildings. Thefollowing is the copy of an inscription on a monument in the graveyard in this village. " Rev. Elnathan Walker, was bom at Taunton, Mass., Feb. 7th, 1780 ; graduated at Brown's College, Rhode Island, Sept. 7th, 1803. Joined the church in Dighton, Mass., DELAWARE COUNTY. 125 Jan. 31, 1805, was ordained and installed Pastor of this church, Oct. 25th, 1809. Died June 4th, 1820. This monument is erected by an affectionate people as the last testimony of respect to their beloved pastor. Rev. Mr. Walker settled over this church when it con- sisted of 99 members. Admitted during his ministrj' 481. Left when he died 440. Hav- ing ended his labors and called upon God, saying Lord Jesus receive my spirit, he fell asleep. Marathon, originally named Harrison ; taken from Cincinnatus in 1818; from Albany 145, and from Cortland, SE., 15 miles. Pop. 1,063. Marathon is a small village about 4 miles from the county line, on the south. Preble, taken from Tully in 1808 ; from Albany 138, from Cort- land, N., 10 miles. Preble, a small post village, is seven miles N. of Cortland. Pop. 1,247. Scott, taken from Preble in 1815; from Albany 146 miles. The surface of the township is broken by ridges of hills running N. and S., with valleys of good land. Pop. 1,332. Scott Centre, post vil- lage 10 miles NW. of Cortland, has about 20 dwellings. Solon, organized in 1798 ; from Albany 140, from Cortland, E., 10 miles. Solon and East Solon are post-offices. Pop. 2,311. This township has a soil of good quality, and the inhabitants have been much engaged in rearing cattle. Truxton, taken from Solon and Fabius in 1808 ; limits since changed ; from Albany 128, NE. from Cortland 12 miles. Pop. 3,658. Truxton village, pleasantly situated on the right bank of the river, has about 40 dwellings. Cuyler is a post-office. Virgil, organized in 1804 ; from Albany 148, from Cortland, S., 6 miles. Virgil and Hartford are small post villages. Pop. 4,501. Willet, taken from Cincinnatus in 1818; from Albany 137, from Cortland, SE., 17 miles. Pop. 870. This is a hilly township and but thinly settled. DELAWARE COUNTY. Delaware county, formed from Ulster and Otsego counties in 1797, is centrally distant from New York via Cattskill 166, SW. from Albany 77 miles. Greatest length NE. and SW. 60 ; greatest breadth SE. and NW. 37 miles. The county has a broken and diversified surface — from the rugged, lofty, and barren mountain side and summit, to the subsiding hill and the high and low plain, with the rich valley, and the low and fertile alluvion. Its climate is subject to sudden and gi-eat changes of tem- perature, yet not unfriendly to health and longevity. It is principally watered by the northeastern sources of the Delaware, a large navi- gable river of Pennsylvania, on which stands the city of Philadelphia. The east branch of the Susquehannah, another large stream of Penn- sylvania, forms a part of the northeastern boundary, as does the Del- 126 DEI.AVVAUE COUNTY. aware a part of its southwestern. The Cookquago branch of the Delaware, or the true Delaware, as it ought to be called, runs nearly centrally through the county from NE. to S W. ; the Popacton branch runs nearly parallel with this, a short distance to the south of it. These streams with their branches, and many smaller streams, spread plentifully over the whole county, and supply a vast profusion of fine sites for mills. The quality of the soil is as various as the surface. On the upland there is a large proportion of chocolate-colored loam, and the valleys and alluvial tiats have a rich mould. The whole may be pronounced a good country for farming, well watered by small springs and rivulets. The heavy trade of this county follows the course of its lumber, which goes in rafts by the Delaware and Sus- quehannah rivers to Philadelphia and Baltimore ; while considerable traffic is carried on with the towns on the Hudson, to which there are turnpikes in various directions. The value of the wild lands in the county is from two to three dollars an acre, and the improved lands in the valleys average about 30 dollars, while those on the hills are worth about 5 dollars the acre. West of the Mohawk branch of the Delaware, the county was divided into several patents ; but east of it was included in the Hardenburgh patent. In 17G8, William, John, Alexander, and Joseph Harper, with eighteen others, obtained a patent here for 22,000 acres of land, and soon after the Harpers removed from Cherry Valley, and made a settlement which was called Harpersfield, but which was broken up by the Indians and tories during the revolutionary war. About one quarter of the county is under improvement. Pop. 32,933. The county has 18 towns. Andes, taken from Middletown in 1819 ; from Albany 90, centrally distant SE. from Delhi 15 miles. Shavertown and Andes are post- offices. This town and Bovina were principally settled by the Scotch. Pop. 2,176. BoviNA, taken from Middletown, Delhi, and Stamford, in 1820; distant from Albany 89, from Delhi centrally situated E. 10 miles. Bovina and Fish Lake are post-offices. Pop. 1,403. Colchester, taken from Middletown, part of Ulster county, in 1792; bounds since reduced; from Albany 91, from .Delhi S. 21 miles. Colchester and Popacton are post-offices. Pop. 1,567. The surface is hilly, somewhat mountainous. The settlements are princi- pally on a branch of the Susquehannah, which passes through the town. Davenport, formed in 1817 ; from Albany 65, from Delhi centrally situated N. 1 1 miles. Davenport, West Davenport, and Davenport Centre, are post-offices. Pop. 2.054. Delhi, taken from Middletown, Kortwright, and Walton, in 1798 ; area since much reduced; from Albany 77, west from Cattskill 68, from Kingston 67 miles. Pop. 2,555. The following view of Delhi village, the county seat, was taken on the eastern bank of the Delaware. This village was incorporated in 1821. The building with a steeple seen on the extreme right is a factory — the spire near the centre of the view is that of the Epis- DELAWARE COUNTY. 127 Eastern view of Delhi Village. copal church, the one to the left the Presbyterian, and the cupolas are respectively those of the Courthouse, Jail, and Academy. The academy here, under the charge of the Rev. Daniel Shepherd, is in- corporated and flourishing. The village contains about 100 dwellings. Delaware Literary Institute, Franklin. Franklin, taken from Harpersfield whilst part of Otsego county, in 1792; area since much altered. It was settled in 1785. Pop. 3,025. Franklin village is pleasantly situated 16 miles W. from Delhi, 80 from Kingston, and 60 S. of Utica, and contains 1 Presbyterian, 1 Baptist, and 1 Methodist church, and about 500 inhabitants. " The Delaware Literary Institute was incorporated in 1835. The build- ing is of stone, 86 feet long, 42 wide, and 4 stories high. It contains, besides rooms to accommodate 80 male students, a chapel, two re- 128 ' DELAWARE COUNTY. citation rooms, and one for apparatus. Cost, including the site, $7,500. It has a chemical, a philosophical apparatus, and a library. It is di- rected by a board of 24 trustees. It has a male and female depart- ment, and five teachers are employed in instruction. Rev. Silas Fitch is principal, and Merit Piatt lecturer and instructor in natural science. It has 110 students. The moral influence and pecuniary advantages it affords are considered highly favorable." East Franklin and North Franklin are post-oflices. Hamden, taken from Walton and Delhi in 1825 ; from Albany 85, from Delhi, SW., 8 miles. Hamden is a small post village on the Delaw^are. Pop. 1,469. Hancock, a large and somewhat mountainous township, was taken from Colchester in 1806 ; from Albany 129, and from Delhi centrally distant SW. 27 miles. Hancock, East Branch, Bloomfield, Paulina, and Partridge Island are the post-offices. Pop. 1,027. The inhabi- tants, who are principally engaged in lumbering, are chiefly settled upon the Popacton branch of the Delaware. Harpersfield, organized in 1788 as part of Montgomery county ; bounds since much reduced ; from Albany 62 miles. It has a moun- tainous surface. Pop. 1,696. Harpersfield, 18 miles NE. of Delhi, and West Harpersfield, are small post villages. North Harpersfield is a post-office. The following is extracted from Mr. Campbell's interesting and valuable work entitled " Annals of Tryon County :" " In 1768, William, John, Alexander, and Joseph Harper, with eighteen other individuals, obtained a patent for twenty-two thousand acres of land lying in the now county of Dela- ware. The Harpers removed from Cherry Valley soon after, and made a settlement there which was called Harpersfield. This settlement had begun to flourish at the commence, ment of the war. Col. John Harper had the command of one of the forts in Schoharie. The following account of a successful enterprise of Col. Harper, was furnished by the Rev. Mr. Fenn, who received the information from him. He informed me that in the year 1777, he had the command of the fort in Schoharie, and of all the frontier stations in this region. He left the fort in Schoharie, and came out through the woods to Harpersfield in the time of making sugar, and from thence laid his course for Cherry Valley to investigate the state of things there ; and as he was pursuing a blind kind of Indian trail, and was as- cending what are now called Decatur Hills, he cast his eye forward and saw a company of men coming directly towards him, who had the appearance of Indians. He knew that if he attempted to flee from them they would shoot him down ; he resolved to advance right up to them, and make the best shift for himself he could. As soon as he came near enough to discern the white of their eyes, he knew the head man and several others ; the head man's name was Peter, an Indian with whom Col. Harper had often traded at Oquago be- fore the revolution began. The colonel had his great-coat on, so that his regimentals were concealed, and he was not recognised ; the first word of address of Col. Harper's was, ' How do you do, brothers ?' The reply was, ' AVell — how do you do, brother ? Which way are you bound, brother ?' ' On a secret expedition : and which way are you bound, brothers ?' ' Down the Susquehannah, to cut ofi' the Johnston settlement.' (Parson John- ston and a number of Scotch families had settled down the Susquehannah, at what is now called Sidney's Plains, and these were the people whom they were about to destroy.) Says the colonel, ' Where do you lodge to-night ?' ' At the mouth of Schenevas creek,* was the reply. Then shaking hands with them, he bid them good speed, and proceeded on his journey. " He had gone but a little way from them before he took a circuit through the woods, a distance of eight or ten miles, on to the head of Charlotte river, where were a number of men making sugar ; ordered them to take their arms, two days' provisions, a canteen of rum, and a rope, and meet him down the Charlotte, at a small clearing called Evans's place. DELAWARE COUNTY. 129 at a certain hour that afternoon ; then rode with all speed through the woods to Harpers- field ; collected all the men who were there making sugar, and being armed and victualled, each man with his rope laid his course for Charlotte ; when he arrived at Evans's place he found the Charlotte men there, in good spirits ; and when he mustered his men, there were fifteen, including himself, exactly the same number as there were of the enemy ; then the colonel made his men acquainted with his enterprise. " They marched down the river a little distance, and then bent their course across the hill to the mouth of Schenevas creek ; when they arrived at the brow of the hill where they could overlook the valley where the Schenevas flows, they cast their eyes down upon the flat, and discovered the fire around which the enemy lay encamped. ' There they are,' said Col. Harper. They descended with great stillness, forded the creek, which was breast-high to a man ; after advancing a few hundred yards, they took some refreshment, and then prepared for the contest — daylight was just beginning to appear in the east. When they came to the enemy, they lay in a circle with their feet towards the fire, in a deep sleep ; their arms and all their implements of death, were all stacked up according to the Indian custom when they lay themselves down for the night : these the colonel se- cured by carrying them oflT a distance, and laying them down ; then each man taking his rope in his hand, placed himself by his fellow ; the colonel rapped his man softly, and said, ' Come, it is time for men of business to be on their way ;' and then each one sprang upon his man, and after a most severe struggle they secured the whole of the enemy. " After they were all safely bound, and the morning had so far advanced that they could discover objects distinctly, says the Indian Peter, 'Ha! Col. Harper! now I know thee — why did I not know thee yesterday ?' ' Some policy in war, Peter.' ' Ah, me find em so now.' The colonel marched the men to Albany, delivered them up to the commanding officer, and by this bold and well-executed feat of valor he saved the whole Scotch settle, ment from a wanton destruction. " Early in the spring of 1780, a party of tories and Indians, under the command of Brant, destroyed Harpersfield. The inhabitants had generally left the place ; but a few of the men were at the time engaged in making maple sugar. Nineteen were taken prisoners, and several killed. A consultation was held in the Indian language in presence of the prisoners relative to a contemplated attack upon the upper fort, in Schoharie ; the Indians, satisfied with the booty and prisoners already obtained, were unwilling to risk any thing in an uncertain expedition ; some of the tories represented the plan as promising success, and advised the Indians to kill the prisoners, that they might not be encumbered with them. Brant came up to Capt. Alexander Harper, one of the prisoners, and drawing his sword, asked him if there were any troops in the fort ; saying his life should be taken if he did not inform him correctly. Harper knew enough of the Indian language to have learned the subject of the foregoing conversation, and immediately answered that it was well gar- risoned, believing that they would all be killed should he answer diff(?rently. Another pris- oner, hot knowing the determination of the Indians, and fearing their vengeance should the falsehood be detected, stated truly that there were few if any troops in the fort. Harper insisted that his statement was true ; he was believed, and they returned to Niagara. The last night of their journey they encamped a short distance from the fort. In the morning the prisoners were to run the gauntlet. Harper, knowing the hostility of the Indians to- wards him, and fearing they might take his life, requested Brant to interfere and protect him, which he promised to do. The Indians arranged themselves in two parallel lines, facing inward, with clubs and whips in their hands. " Harper was selected first ; he was a tall, athletic man, and on the first signal sprang from the mark with extraordinary swiftness. An Indian near the end of the line fearing he might escape with little injury, stept before him ; Harper struck him a blow with his fist, and then springing over him, ran towards the fort ; the Indians, enraged, broke their ranks and followed him. The garrison, who had been apprised of the movements of the Indians, were upon the walls when they saw Harper approaching ; they threw open the gate, and he rushed in, when they immediately closed it. It was with difficulty they could keep the Indians back. The other prisoners took different courses and got into the fort without passing through this, if not fiery, yet bloody ordeal."* * " William Harppr was an active member of the provincial congress, and after the war was several times a member of tlie state legislature. When Otsego county was formed, he was appointed one of the as- sistant judges, William Cooper, Esq., being first judge. He lived to a great age, and died a few years since at Milford, in Otsego county, retaining to tlie 'ast that strong desire for information which had characterized his public life. Col. John Harper died in Harpersfield, and Alexander and Joseph, soon after the vvar, ob- tained a grant of some land in the western part of the state of Ohio, whither they removed. The quiet of the comitry, and the approach of civilization, was not congenial to them. They preferred the life of a bor- derer, and sought it amid the boimdiess forests which then covered that beautiful state." 17 130 DELAWARE COUNTY. KoRTRiGHT, organized as part of Otsego county in 1793 ; from Al- bany 68 miles. Bloomville, 7 miles NE., and Kortright 14 miles from Delhi, are small villages. South Kortright and North Kortright are names of post-offices. Pop. 2,442. Masonville, taken from Sidney in 1811 ; from Albany 105, and from Delhi NW. centrally distant 24 miles. Pop. 1,420. This town contains great quantities of pine, and lumbering is the principal oc- cupation of its inhabitants. Meredith, taken from Franklin and Kortright in 1800; from Al- bany 77, and from Delhi centrally situated N. 8 miles! Meredith and West Meredith are small settlements. Pop. 1,640. Dr. Dwight, in his journey to the Niagara Falls in 1804, passed through this town. He says : " Meredith is in the fullest sense a new settlement. In the year 1800 it contained only 213 inhabitants, and in the year 1810, 726. Peculiar efforts have been made by Mr. Law to introduce into this township sober, industrious, virtuous settlers. In this manner he has probably secured its prosperity, both moral and physical, for a century. Since the date of my journal, the inhabitants have built an academy, in which they assemble for public worship From the house of Mr. Law, a handsome mansion in the centre of the town, the prospect stretches to the south, over a valley ultimately bounded by mountains at the distance of thirty miles ; and to the north, over another valley which extends ten miles. The hill which limits the northern prospect is covered with a magnificent growth of white pines ; one of which having fallen down was measured by Mr. Law, and was found to be two hundred and forty-seven feet in length It is not improbable that the next generation may never see a white pine of the full size, and may regard an exact account of this noble vegetable production as a mere fable." — DioigMs Travels, vol. 4. MiDDLETow N, taken from Rochester and Woodstock as part of Ul- ster county, in 1789 ; area since much reduced ; settled by emigrants from New England, and by Scotch, Dutch, Irish, and German emi- grants ; from Albany 79, from Delhi centrally situated SE. 20 miles. Middletown, Ashville, Colesville, and Halcottsville, are post-offices. Pop. 2,608. RoxBURY, taken from Stamford in 1799; area since altered; per- manently settled by New England emigrants in 1790; from Al- bany 63 miles. Roxbury, formerly called Beaver Dam village, and Mooresville, 28 miles E. of Delhi, are small villages. Pop. 3,004. Sidney, taken from Franklin in 1801 ; from Albany 100, and from Delhi, NW., 24 miles. Sidney Plains, Sidney, and New Road, are post-offices. Near here is a locality called " the Beaverdam," where there are the timbers remaining of a dam constructed by the beavers which flooded 30 or 40 acres of land. Pop. 1,720. One of the first settlers of this town was Timothy Beach, originally from Fairfield county, Connecticut. At the close of the revolutionary war, Mr. Beach, with his son, a lad of about 12 years, proceeded up the Hudson river to Cattskill, and from thence struck across the wil- deniess to Wattle's Ferry, a distance of about one hundred miles. DELAWARE COUNTY. 1^1;^ Being considered dangerous to penetrate that distance without a guide, they procured the services of an Indian conductor. Mr. Beach selected his farm near Wattle's ferry, on the Susquehannah, then in a wilderness state, since known as the Ketchum farm. He then returned through the same woods, carrying his boy on his horse behind him, till he arrived in Connecticut. On November 11th, 1784. Mr. Beach with his family went up to Albany, and from thence con- tinued their journey till they arrived at Otsego lake, the head waters of the Susquehannah. Here they left their teams, as the road pro- ceeded no further, put their effects on board of a batteau, and glided gently down the lake, a distance of nine miles to its outlet, where they encamped in the open air, on the spot where the village of Coopers- town is now built. On the third day after leaving this place, Mr. Beach arrived at his farm, on which was a small clearing, having a log house in a ruinous state, in the centre. It appears that the place had belonged to a Scotchman who was killed by the Indians in the revolutionary war. " The shortness of time," says Mr. Priest, (in a pamphlet giving an account of the adven. tures of this family,) " between their arrival here and the setting in of winter, prevented the building a larger and a better log house. During this winter they became experimentally acquainted with cold, hunger, and a variety of sorrows, known only to the pioneers of an entire new country. Money was of but little use, as food was not to be bought where there was none for sale, as scarcely any as yet had been produced. There were but five families in the whole community, who having come in the spring of the same season, had not therefore had time to raise but little, consequently food of any kind was scarcely to be found among them. To procure it from a distance was also extremely difficult, there being no settlement where it could be had, nearer than old Schoharie, a distance of about seventy miles, to which place at that time the road was not much better than none at all. " This dreadful winter at length passed away, and with it, in a measure, their sufferings; as by this time they had learned of the Indians how to catch fish, which abounded in the river, coves, and creeks of the country. Without this relief they must have finally perished. But now a new scene of things, such as they had never before witnessed, says Mrs. Priest, were about to captivate their attention. March had begun to yield its rains ; the snow to feel its dissolving power; every rill and creek of the mountains to swell and roar, plunging forward over crag and cliff to the vales below. The devious Susquehannah began to put on majesty, drinking largely of its annual libation from earth and sky, swelling the headlong waters, which as they rose lifted and tore away the ice from the shores and promontories. Loud sounds were heard to moan along the thick-ribbed ice, the covering of the waters bursting in ten thousand places with the noise of tempests. But now commenced a more amazing display of the power of the waters. Already its banks were overflown, and the distant forests of the flats along the river, inundated with the sweeping flood to the very base of the hills. The broken ice began to move, large islands of it to rush upon each other, still breaking more and more, urging its way forward with resistless fury. Now the roar increases, large fields of ice plunge into the woods on either shore ; the trees bending, groan and snap asunder beneath the overwhelming load, still passing on till thrown in huge heaps along the shores and in the adjacent woods. Still the main channel pursues its way, every moment adds to the enormous weight it bears. As far as the eye can view from the tops of commanding eminences, above, below, all its commotion, plunging onward with a loud and steady roar till stayed on some long level in the river. Here it makes a stand, or but slowly moves ; as a vast army on the verge of battle, which halts to adjust its prowess, then to move again. So the river in its grandeur resumed its course a mo. ment, while from shore to shore the ice stood piled in pyramids, chafing up and down as if in anger. But now the level narrows to a defile between the mountains, when all at once the mass for many miles above, with whirhng eddies, stood at bay. So halts the embattled host, whose scouts descry the foe ; the council, cool in war, debate the safest mode to bring their legions fiercely to the fight. Now suddenly the waters rise and boil and foam through all its heaps and ranks of massive ice ; as generals do, inspiring courage in the soldier's breast. The upper floods having gathered head, urge on with augmented power its course ; 132 DUTCHESS COUNTY. expectation stands aghast ; the lowing herds with stupid gaze wonder at the noise, deer from their coverts scamper to the hills, dogs howl from fear at the dismal sounds, horses enort, bounding with staring eyeballs both right and left ; when all at once the frozen dam gives way and rushes on with sound of thunder. Fury and desolation mark its progress, trees torn from their roots plunge here and there, old timber with fences swept from the fields and woods, mingle in the ruin ; onward roars the unconquered deluge, till from Otsego lake to where the frigluful Caughnawaga dashes to foam the descending river with the sub- dued and shivered ice : which ends the scene. Stamford, taken from Woodstock, and organized as part of Ulster CO. in 1792; from Albany 58, from Delhi, centrally distant NE., 16 miles. Pop. 1,681, Hobart, upon the Delaware river, is a village containing about 80 dwellings. Stamford is a small village near the head of the river. Tompkins, originally named Pinefield, and taken from Walton in 1808; it has a mountainous surface. Pop. 2,032. Deposit village, upon the Delaware, and partly in Broome co., 116 miles from Albany, 40 SW. from Delhi, and on the Erie railroad, has about 70 dwellings. Cannonsville and Barbersville are small settlements. Walton, taken from Franklin in 1797; from Albany 94, from Delhi, centrally situated SW., 17 miles. Walton village, on the Delaware, has about 70 dwellings, within the area of a mile. Pop. 1,844. DUTCHESS COUNTY. Dutchess county was organized in 1683. It is on the E. side of the Hudson river, 75 miles S. of Albany, and 74 N. of New York. Greatest length N, and S. 38, greatest breadth E. and W. 26 miles. This county is one of the most opulent in the state, though its area has been reduced by the erection of the small county of Putnam from its southern end. Along the eastern border towns there are ranges of hills called the Fishkill or Matteawan mountains. Along the west- ern borders of these, the surface is tossed into ridges and valleys, knolls and dales, fancifully diversified, producing a great variety of position, of soil and aspect, and a multitude of brooks and springs. In the southern part are some of the highest peaks of the Highlands. That called the Old Beacon, two miles from Matteawan village, and three from Fishkill Landing, raises its crest 1,471 feet, and the New Beacon or Grand Sachem, half a mile southward, towers 1,685 above tide. Their names are derived from the Beacons placed on their summits during the revolution. From the top of the latter, the view on the S. embraces the country upon the Hudson, for 25 miles to Tappan bay ; on the SE. includes Long Island and the sound ; and upon the NE. and W. comprehends, in the diameter of a circle 50 miles in extent, scenery of every diversity, blending the beauties of cultivation with the stern and unchangeable features of nature. The principal streams are the Hudson river on its western boundary, Ten DUTCHESS COUNTY. 133 Mile, Fishkill, and Wappinger's creeks. As a whole, the county is highly fertile, producing abundantly wheat, rye, corn, oats, and grass, and an immense amount of produce is annually exported to New York. This county is divided into 18 towns. Pop. 50,926. Amenta, from Albany 75, and from New York 95 miles. Pop. 2,179. Until 1761, Amenia was part of the Crom Elbow precinct, when it was erected into a separate one, and in 1788, into a town- ship with its present name. Ameniaville, 24 miles E. of Poughkeep- sie, is a small village. The Amenia Seminary, in Ameniaville, has been in operation about 5 years, and is in a flourishing condition. The village of Hitchcock's Corners, 29 miles from Poughkeepsie, lies partly in this town, and partly in Sharon, in the state of Connecticut. It is pleasantly situated in a beautiful and populous valley, rich in the resources of agricultural wealth. The township comprises the width of the oblong tract, and the E. tier of lots, in the Great Nine Part- ners, — a large tract from the Hudson to the W. line of Connecticut, granted to nine proprietors or partners. It is stated in Spafford's Gazetteer, that "in 1711, Richard Sackett and family lived on this tract, and continued the only white family until 1724, when Ulric or Oliver Winegar removed thither from the German Camp in Livings- ton manor, with a few other families. But the improvements were very small until 1741, when several families emigrated here from Connecticut." Beekman, organized in 1788 ; from New York, NE., 87, from Al- bany, S., 90 miles. Pop. 1,400. The Clove vale in this town, which was early settled by the Dutch, is extremely fertile. " On the Sprout creek, which rises in this town, a great quantity of human bones have accidentally been discovered, lying promiscuously, as if a vast pile of human bodies had here been made, and left to rot. No tradition has been preserved of this event, but it is supposed the spot was once the scene of a bloody Indian battle, and that the slain were hastily thrown together, probably friends and foes, and left to the raven, the fox, and the worm." Beekmanville, on the Fishkill, 16 miles E., Greenhaven, 18, and Poughquake, 18 E. of Poughkeepsie, are small settlements. At the Beekman furnace 1,000 tons of pig iron are an- nually manufactured. Clinton, organized in 1788 ; NE. from New York 90, from Al- bany, SE,, 70, and from Poughkeepsie, NE., 16 miles. Clinton ville, Pleasant Plains, Clinton Hollow, and Schultz Corners, are small set- tlements. Pop. 1,830. Dover, taken from Pawling in 1807 ; from New York, N., 80, and from Albany, S., 90 miles. This town was early settled by the Dutch. Pop. 1,999. Dover, South Dover, 24 E. from Poughkeepsie, and Chestnut Ridge, 2 miles S. from Dover village, are small settlements. Near Dover village is a remarkable cavern, which, from the re- semblance of the entrance to the pointed Gothic arch, is called the Stone Church. The following description is from the pen of a late visiter : — " The Stone Church consists of a fissure in the rock on a declivity 134 DUTCHESS COUNTY. Dover Stone Church. of the mountain, and near its base, through which passes a rippling streamlet, which, in its passage down until it reaches the ground-work or floor of the church, forms numerous and extensive cascades, some of thirty feet in height, and from ten to fifteen in breadth. This current has been looked upon as the great architect of the work. The opening, though so narrow at the top as to ap- pear almost closed, gradually widens to its base, so that it forms a vast arch of very con- siderable regularity, of per- haps twenty feet span and up- wards. Its greatest depth is probably two hundred feet ; and the inner or principal apartment, (it being divided into two spacious halls,) is about seventy feet in length, and is well lighted and aired from above. The ante-chamber, as it may be termed, or hall of entrance, is separated from the church by a huge mass of rock, which has detached itself from the side or roof, and is aptly styled the pulpit. The view is well fitted to inspire feelings of devotion. The heart, touched by the religious gloom and solemnity of the place, acknowledges the power of the Creator, and rises in admiration of his works." FisHKiLL was organized in 1788. Pop. 10,436. This town was settled by the Dutch, previous to any other in the county. Its early inhabitants called it Vis-kill, that is, fish creek ; kill being the Dutch for creek, — hence its present name. Matteawan is a beautiful manufac- turing village upon the Fishkill creek, about a mile from the landing, at the foot of the Matteawan mountain. It was founded in 1814, by Messrs. Schenck and Leonard, about which time the Matteawan com- pany was formed. There are here several large cotton mills, and factories of various descriptions. There are about 2,000 persons connected with and employed in the works. S. Grosvenor & Com- pany, are the agents of the company in New York. Thei-e are many neat dwelhngs, and two beautiful churches, one Presbyterian and one Episcopalian, at whose sabbath schools 250 children attend. No intoxicating liquors are permitted to be sold, and almost the whole population have pledged themselves to abstain from their use. " The deep valley, with its cascades and rapids ; the village, with its neat white dwellings, magnificent factories, and ornamental churches, overhung by the stupendous mountain, render this one of the most beautiful scenes in the state, where enlightened, cheerful, and perse- DUTCHESS COUNTY. 135 Factory Buildings in Matteawan, Fishkill. vering industry is reaping its due reward. It attracts much atten- tion, and is greatly resorted to in the summer season." Glenham, Franklinville, and Rocky Glen, are small manufacturing villages. Fishkill Landing, Hopewell, New Hackensack, Carthage, Upper Landing, Johnsonville, Hughsonville, Storm ville, Shenandoah, Cackemeyer's Mills, Gayhead, and Peckville, are small villages or hamlets. Fishkill village, on the creek, 5 miles from the Hudson river, and 16 from Poughkeepsie, is situated upon a beautiful plain, in a fertile country, and has about eighty dwellings, an academy, one Episcopal, and one Dutch church. A portion of the American army were located here in the revolutionary war. Their barracks were about half a mile south of the village. The head-quarters of the ot?icers was the dwelling now occupied by Isaac Van Wyck. Esq., generally known by the name of the " Wharton House."* The bar- racks commenced about 30 rods north of this dwelling, from the resi- dence of the widow, Mrs. Cornelius Van Wyck, and extended south- wardly near the line of the road, to the foot of the mountain. The soldiers' graveyard was situated near the base of the mountain, where a road turns off from the turnpike to the east. While the army was here, the tory and other prisoners were confined in the old Dutch stone church, represented in the following engraving. In this church, it is said that Enoch Crosby was confined, and escaped in an apparently miraculous manner. The following is an inscription on a monument in the graveyard, adjoining the church : * This dwelling and its vicinity is the scene of " The Spy," by J. Fennimore Cooper. Some years since a work was published, entitled " Enoch Crosby, or the Spy Unmasked," which attempted to identify the hero of Cooper's novel with a person then living. This production is generally beheved to have but slight foundation in truth. It is not, however, questioned, but that there was such a person as Enoch Crosby, and that some of the adven- tures attributed to him actually happened. He died at South East, in Putnam cc, about 10 or 12 years since. 136 DUTCHESS COUNTY. " Glory to God alone ! Sacred to the memory of the Reverend Nicholas Van Vrancken, minister of Jehovah Jesus, and Pastor of the Dutch Reformed Congregations of Fishkill, Hopewell, and New Hackensack. This excellent man lived tenderly beloved, and died deeply lamented, by the people of his charge. He was born the 24th of May, 1762, and departed in peace and rested in hope, the 20th of May, 1804, aged 41 years, 11 months and 19 days. The Lord gave, and the Lord taketh away ; blessed be the name of tho Lord." Old Dutch Stone Church, Fishkill The following extracts are from newspapers published at the time to which they refer : — " July I2th, 1765. — We hear from the Fishkills, that for a week or two past, a tiger or panther has been seen in the woods in that neighborhood, not far from Mr. Depeyster's house. It had killed several dogs, torn a cow so that she died the same day, and carried off the calf; it likewise carried off a colt of about a week old. Eight men with their guns went in search of it, and started it at a distance ; it fled with great swiftness, and has been since seen at the Fishkills." " August 28th, 1776. — A few days since about 100 women, inhabitants of Dutchess county, went to the house of Colonel Brinkerhoff, at Fishkill, and insisted upon having tea at the lawful price of six shillings per pound, and obliged that gentleman to accommodate them with one chest from his store for that purpose. Shortly after he sold his cargo to some Yorkers, who, for fear of another female attack, forwarded the nefarious stuff to the North river precipitately, where it is now afloat, but the women have placed their guard on each side." " Forty Dollars Reward will be paid by the subscriber, besides all reasonable expences, for detecting and bringing to justice, one or more of a gang of villains, eight or ten in num- ber, who, on the night of the 17th of August last, armed with guns, bayonets, and swords, surrounded the house of Mrs. Phebe Thomas, on Quaker Hill, in Dutchess county, which some of their number forcibly entered, and after many threatening expressions, robbed the subscriber of the following articles, viz. 180 silver dollars, 28 guineas, 9 half Johanneses, 1 green silk purse, opening with a spring with a large silver hook, and containing between ^£4 and £5 in small silver, with one guinea ; two pairs of silver shoe buckles ; 1 silver table-spoon, marked with the letters R. M., with a T at top between them ; 1 small silver snuff-box, marked A. S.; 1 large paper snuff-box ; one silver thimble ; two penknives, (one with a rnother-of-pearl handle,) in cases ; one carved ivory tooth-pick case ; one lawn hand- kerchief; one red and white linen do.; tluee cotton stockings, and one pair of white yarn knit garters. One pair of buckles has been found upon a fellow, who went by the name of Williams, who formerly used to profess himself a painter in New York ; was lately taken up on a charge of some other felonies, and imprisoned at Kingston, in Ulster county. DUTCHESS COUNTY. 137 from whence, on the approach of the British incendiaries, he was removed (with the other prisoners,) into the state of Connecticut, where he is now confined. " Quaker Hill, Nov. 5, 1777. MARY FERRARI." " Fiskkill, February 1th, 1783. — It is with pain and regret, that we mention the death of Lieutenant-Colonel Barber, who was unfortunately killed at camp the 11th ult. The circumstances which led to this unhappy catastrophe, we are told, are as follows : Two soldiers were cutting down a tree ; at the instant he came riding by it was falling, which he did not observe, till they desired him to take care ; but the surprise was so sudden, and embarrassed his ideas so much, that he reined his horse to the unfortunate spot where the tree fell, which tore his body in a shocking manner, and put an immediate period to his existence." Hyde-park, so called from the country seat of the late Dr. S. Bard ; taken from Clinton in 1821 ; from New York, N., 81, and from Alba- ny, S., 68 miles. Pop. 2,364. Hyde Park village and landing are about 7 miles N. from Poughkeepsie. The village has several church- es, about 80 dwellings, a distinguished female seminary and a classi- cal school for boys. The magnificent seat of the late Dr. Hosack is here. Staatsburg is a post-office, 2 miles N. of Hyde Park. La Grange, originally named Freedom, and taken from Beekman and Fishkill in 1821 ; from Albany, S., 77, and from Poughkeepsie, SE., 8 miles. Freedom Plains, Spouts Creek, and Arthursburg, are names of post-offices. Pop. 1,851. Milan, taken from North East in 1818 ; from Albany 63 miles. Mi- lan, Shookville, 25 N., and Lafayette Corners and Rock City, each 24 miles from Poughkeepsie, are small villages. Pop. 1,726. North East, organized in 1788. The surface of this township is covered with portions of the Taghkanic and Matteawan mountains. The western mountains are cultivated to their summits, and have excellent lands for sheep pasturage. Spencer's Corners, 31 NE., North Amenia, 28 NE., and Federal Store, 25 miles NE. from Pough- keepsie, are small villages. The form of this town is nearly that of a boot, 10 miles long E. and W., 5 wide at the top or W. end, 3 across the ancle, and with a foot 7 miles in length. Pop. 1,381. Pawling, organized in 1788; from Poughkeepsie, SE., 22 miles. Pop. 1,571. Pawlingville and Quaker Hill are small post villages; the latter was first settled by Friends in 1740. Pine Plains, taken from North East in 1823; from Albany 72 miles. Pine Plains, 28 miles NE. from Poughkeepsie, has about 40 dwellings. Hammertown and Pulver's Corners are small settlements. The western part of this township is mountainous. In the north- eastern part there was formerly an extensive plain covered with pines, — hence the name of the town. Pop. 1,324. Pleasant Valley, taken from Clinton in 1821 ; from New York 84, and from Albany 82 miles. Pleasant Valley is a manufacturing village, 7 miles NE. from Poughkeepsie, beautifully situated upon the right bank of Wappinger's creek, and has 1 Presbyterian, 1 Metho- dist, 1 Friends, and 1 Episcopal churchy and about 100 dwellings. Salt Point, 12 miles NE. from Poughkeepsie, and Washington Hol- low, are small villages. Pop. 2,219. Poughkeepsie was organized in 1788: its name is said to have been derived from the Indian word Apokeepsing, signifying safe har- 18 J 38 DUTCHESS COUNTY. bo7'. The face of the country along the Hudson river is somewhat broken, but the general surface is but moderately uneven. Pop. 10,000. The village of Poughkeepsie, one of the most thriving and substantial places in the state, was first founded by a number of Dutch familes somewhere about the year 1700. Being situated about half-way between New York and Albany, it occasionally be- came, in early periods of its history, the place of legislative deliberations. The convention which met to deliberate on the Federal Constitution, and voted for its adoption, met in this place in 1788, The annexed engraving, taken from one published in the Family Magazine, Dec. 1838, is a representation of the first house erected in this place. It Van Kleek House. was built in the year 1702, by Myndert Von Kleek, one of the earliest settlers of Dutchess county. The house and grounds attached are still in possession of his descendants. It belonged to Matthew Vas- sar, Esq., in 1835, the year in which this house was demohshed. — The distant building seen on the left, is that of the old brewery, this ancient edifice exhibited its port-holes, a feature so common in the buildings of the early settlers, they being necessary for defence against the original possessors of the soil. In 1787, this building, then a public house of some note, was used as a stadt-house ; the eleventh session of the legislature of this state was held therein. George Clinton was then governor of the state, and Pierre Van Cortlandt, afterward mayor of New York, lieutenant-governor. Poughkeepsie is by the river, 70 miles from Albany, and 75 from New York, 18 from Kingston, 14 from Newburg, and 42 from Hud- son. Population of the village in 1840, was 7,710. The central part of the village is nearly a mile from the landing place on the Hudson, standing on an elevated plain about 200 feet from the river. Several roads conveniently graded, and the principal one paved, lead from the shore to the plain above, which on the north is overlooked by a beautiful slate hill, from which is a commanding prospect of the adja- cent country. The Fall creek or kill meanders through the plain on which the village is built, and finally passes into the Hudson by a DUTCHESS COUNTY. 139 succession of cataracts and cascades, which together fall more than 160 feet, affording water-power for a number of mills and factories. There are 11 churches, viz : 2 Presbyterian, 2 Episcopal, 2 Meth- odist, 2 Friends, 1 Baptist, 1 Catholic, and 1 African ; there is also a Universalist society. There are 3 banks, having an aggregate capital of 8850,000, 3 newspaper offices, and a variety of manu- facturing establishments. Within the limits of the village are twelve male and female schools, all of which are of a superior order. Poughkeepsie Collegiate School. The above is a representation of the Poughkeepsie Collegiate School, erected on the summit of an elevated hill about a mile from the Hudson, and half a mile northward from the business part of the village. This structure is modelled after the Parthenon at Athens, and is 35 by 115 feet in size, exclusive of the colonnade; inclusive, 77 by 137 feet. It cost, exclusive of the ground, about forty thousand dollars. This institution was opened for the reception of pupils in Nov., 1836, under the superintendence of Mr. Charles Bartlett, as- sisted by eight competent teachers. During the first term, there were 50 pupils ; the second, 84 ; the third, 94 ; and the fourth term, 108. "its situation is truly a noble one ; standing on an eminence commanding an extensive view of almost every variety of feature necessary to the perfection of a beautiful landscape. From the col- onnade, which entirely surrounds it, the eye of the spectator can compass a circuit of nearly fifty miles : on the south, at a distance of twenty miles, the Highlands terminate the view, within which an apparent plain stretches to their base, covered with highly cultivated farms, neat mansions, and thriving villages. Similar scenery meets the eye on the east, but more undulating. On the west and north, the Hudson rolls on in its pride and beauty, dotted with the sails of inland commerce and numerous steamboats, all laden with products of industry and busy men. In the dim distance, the azure summits of the Cattskill, reared to the clouds, stretch away to the north, a dis- tance of forty miles, where the far-famed ' Mountain House' is dis- tmctly seen, like a pearl, in its mountain crest, at an elevation of nearly three thousand feet above the river. At our feet, like a beau- tiful panorama, lies the village of Poughkeepsie, with its churches, its Hterary institutions, and various improvements in view, indicating the existence of a liberal spirit of well-directed, enterprise." The Dutch- 140 DUTCHESS COUNTY. ess County Academy was erected in 1836, in the southeast part of the village, at an expense of about f 14,000. The average number of its pupils is about one hundred. " The objects of this institution are to prepare young men for college, for teachers of common schools, for the counting-house, or any of the active pursuits of life," The follov^^ing is copied from the ancient records in Poughkecpsie, and will serve to show one form of a legal instrument in olden times. D^ ) Thomas Sanders Esqr. Justice of the peace UTCHESS LOUNTY > SS. r • j r^ . a ■ j ) tor said bounty Assigned. To all Constables and other officers as well within the £L. S.] said County as Elsewhere within the Collony of New York to whom the Execution hereof doth or may Concern Greeting WHEREAS I have Received Information and Charge against one James Jones Lately Come from Lebanon In ye County of Windham In ye Collony of Conecticut and Liveing in Dutchess County at the house of one Ellexander Griggs Calls him self a Weaver a Lusty Well Sott Likely man full faced Brown Complextioned and wares a Black Wigg Irishman ; by birth by the brogue on his Speach Who is Charged before me to be a Dangerous person and is suspected to have Stolen a Silver Spoon or the bigest part of a Silver Spoon ; as by a Warrant Produced ; and the Complaint of William Derddy of Lebanon in County afores"* Some time in the month of this Present November. Notwithstanding Seavvrall Endeavours for apprehensions of him he hath not as yett been apprehended but hath withdrawn himself and fled — Lately from Lebanon in ye County of Windham In ye Colloney of Conecticut and is Come to our County of Dutchess These are therefore in his majesties name to Command you and Every of You to make diligent Search within your Severall Precincts and Districts for said James Jones and to make hue and Cry after him from Town to Town and from County to County and that as well by horsemen as footmen according to Law and if you shall find the said James Jones that then you do Carry him before some one of his majesties Justice of the Peace Within the County or place Whare he shall be taken to be Dealth withall according to Law Hereof fails not at your perrills Given Under my Hand In Dutchess County this Seventeenth Day of November In the fourth year of our Reaign And In the Year of our Lord God Everlasting An" 1730 To Franc Cool! High Constapel „, , ^ "^T" rr., o j In Dutchess County pursue Afier The mark of ^ Thomas Sanders the Person In this Hue and Cry Justice of the Peace. Red Hook, taken from Rhinebeck in 1812; from Albany 55, and from New York 96 miles. Pop. 2,833. Red Hook is a small village, 25 miles N. from Poughkeepsie. Upper Red Hook, Barrytown, and TivoU, are post-offices. DUTCIIE3S COUNTY- HI Rhinebeck, organized in 1788, is centrally distant from Pough- keepsie 17, from Albany 57, and from N. York 91 miles. Pop. 2,749. The surface of the township in the eastern part is rolling, in the western it is level. The Rhinebeck flats, near the centre, are noted for easy culture and fertility : the Wirtemhurg tract, in the SE. part of the town, has a light soil, which has been rendered productive by the use of plaster. This town was settled at an early period, by some German families, and derives its name from the river Rhine in Germany, and Bcehnan, an original proprietor. Much of the land was formerly holden in large tracts, and leased out to tenants in small farms. The village of Rhinebeck Flats was incorporated in 1834, and is 3 miles E. from the Hudson. It contains a Dutch Reformed and a Methodist church, an Academy, with upwards of 100 houses in the vicinity. Rhinebeck Landing, on the river, is 90 miles from New York and 55 from Albany. Methodist Church and Academy, at Rhinebeck. The above is an eastern view of the Methodist church and the Academy in the central part of the village. The Methodist church, a plain but substantial stone structure, is seen on the left, and the Academy on the right. The church was erected in 1822 ; the Rev. Ffeeborn Garrettson, a resident of this town, contributed largely to its erection. Mr. Garrettson was one of the pioneers of the Meth- odist denomination in this part of the state, and on account of his labors to promote the cause of Christianity, and of his exemplary life, his memory is deservedly cherished with respect and affection. Mr. G. was born in Maryland in 1752. His parents were members of the Church of England, and educated their children in the same faith. About the beginning of the American revolution, some of the first Methodist preachers who came over to America labored in the vi- cinity of his father's residence. He joined the Methodist society, and soon after became a travelling preacher. He was remarkably con- scientious in the performance of whatever he considered his duty. Being convinced that slaveholding was wrong, he gave his slaves their freedom, telling them, that they did not belong to him, and he did not desire their services, without making them a compensation. Having 142 ERIE COUNTY. conscientious scruples which deterred him from taking the prescribed state oath, during the revolutionary period, he suffered some persecu- tions on this account. In one instance, he was seized by a mob, who took him to a magistrate, by whom he was ordered to prison. While part of the mob were taking him thither, they were dispersed by a remarkable flash of hghtning, and he was left unmolested. In 1788, Mr. Garrettson was appointed presiding elder for the district north of New York, then including all the circuits from New Rochelle to Lake Champlain. In 1793, he was married to Miss Livingston, daughter of Judge Livingston, of Clermont, in the manor of Livings- ton. In 1799, a mansion-house was erected on the bank of the Hudson, in Rhinebeck, where his family were settled during the re- mainder of his life. The following is a copy of the inscription on his monument, in the graveyard attached to the church represented in the en":ravinof. " Sacred to the memory of the Rev. Freeborn Garrettson, an itinerant minister of the Methodist Episcopal church. He commenced his itinerant ministry in the year 1775. In this work he continued until his death, laboring with great diligence and success in various parts of the United States and of Nova Scotia. He died in peace, in the eiiy of New York, September 27th, 1827, in the 76th year of his age, and 52d of his ministry. — ' Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace,' Psalm xxxvi. 37. — ' I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith : — Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge shall give me at that day, and not to me only, but all them also that love his appear- ing,' 11 Tim. iv. 7, 8." Stanford, taken from Washington in 1788; from New York 110, and from Albany 78 miles. Pop. 2,278. Stanford, with Clinton ana Washington, comprised Charlotte precinct before the revolution. This precinct has been settled about 100 years. Bangall, 20 miles NE. from Poughkeepsie, Attlebury, Old Attlebury, Separate, Hull's Mills, Stewart's Corners, and Bare Market, are small settlements. Union Vale, taken from Beekman and La Grange in 1827; from New York 75, from Albany 90, and from Poughkeepsie, E., 15 miles. Pop. 1,499. Verbank and Clove are post-offices, Washington, organized in 1788 ; from Poughkeepsie, E., 16 miles. Pop. 2,833. The principal portion of the early settlers were Friends or Quakers, from Long Island and the eastern states. Mechanics- ville, 15 miles E. of Poughkeepsie, and Hartsville, are small villages. At the former place is the Nine Partners Orthodox Friends school which was established in 1797, and is now flourishing. ERIE COUNTY. Erie county was taken from Niagara county in 1821. Greatest length N. and S. 44, and greatest breadth E. and W. 30 miles. Centrally distant from New York 357, from Albany, W., 298 miles. Lake Erie and the Niagara river form its western boundary, the ERIE COUNTY. 143 Tonawanta creek its northern, and the Cattaraugus its southern. The many streams which empty into Lake Erie furnish fine mill sites. The Erie canal enters the Tonawanta creek on the northern border ; from which a towing path has been constructed along the bank of the creek, which is used as a canal 12 miles to the Tonawanda vil- lage, a short distance above its junction with Niagara river, near Grand Island. A railroad connects Buffalo with the village at Niag- ara Falls, and one with the Black Rock ferry. The surface in the northern part of the county is level or gently undulating ; the southern is more diversified, but no part is hilly. Generally the soil is good ; consisting in the northern half, of warm, sandy, and gravelly loam, occasionally mixed with clay, and adapted to wheat ; in the southern, clay prevails, and is productive of grass. Both portions yield excel- lent and various fruits. About one third of the land is under im- provement. The whole county was within the Holland Land Com- pany's purchase, excepting a strip a mile wide on the Niagara river. The county has 21 towns. Pop. 62,251. Alden, taken from Clarence in 1823; from Albany 272 miles. Pop. 1,984. Alden, 20 miles E. of Buffalo, is a small village. Amherst, taken from Buffalo in 1818 ; from Albany 283 miles. Pop. 2,440. Williamsville, 10 miles NE. from Buffalo, is a thriving village containing about 50 dwellings. Aurora was erected in 1818, when the former town of Willink was divided into 3 towns, Aurora, Wales, and Holland, abolishing the name of Willink, which had been given in honor of one of the principal proprietors of the Holland Land Company. It has an un- dulating surface, soil clay and gravelly loam. Pop. 2,909. Aurora village IS 15 miles SE. from Buffalo ; it contains about 700 inhabit- ants, 1 Presbyterian and 1 Methodist church, and 150 dwellings. The Baptists are the most numerous denomination in the village, and occupy the Presbyterian church one half of the time. The hydraulic privileges within one fourth of a mile from the village are very great, and can be used to almost any extent. Griffin's Mills is a small set- tlement 3 miles SW. from Aurora. The Aurora Seminary was incorporated in 1833. Boston, taken from Eden in 1817 ; from Albany 289, from Buffalo, SE., 18 miles. The land is elevated, the soil a moist or wet loam, and adapted for grass. Boston, Boston Centre, and North Boston, are small settlements. Pop. 1,746. Black Rock, recently organized, comprises what was formerly the southern part of the town of Buffalo. The village of Black Rock is in two divisions, the upper and lower. The post-office, which is in the south part, is 3 miles from Buffalo, opposite the village of Water- loo on the Canada side. The following is a distant northern view of part of the village of Black Rock ; the Canada side, on which is the village of Waterloo, is seen on the right and Lake Erie in the extreme distance. A ferry boat plies between Waterloo and the south part of Black Rock village. Niagara river at this point is three fourths of a mile wide, 20 feet 144 ERIE COUNTY. Distant view of Black Rock and vicinity. deep, and runs with a current of 6 miles an hour. The harbor of Black Rock is 4,565 yards long from N. to S., and from 88 to 220 yards broad, containing an area of 136 acres. It begins in the lake opposite Bufialo, at Bird island, and is continued, by a mole of double wooden cribs filled in with stone 18 feet wide and 2,915 yards long, to Squaw island, and is raised from 1 to 4 feet above the surface of the river, rising gradually towards the north. A dam at the end of Squaw island, connecting it with the main land, raises the water about 4^ feet to the level of the lake. The average depth of the water in this harbor is 15 feet. By means of the dam, great water-pcwer is obtained, and mills of various kinds are established at the lower village. The vil- lage of Black Rock contains about 350 dwellings, and 2,000 inhabit- ants. Black Rock, in common with other places on the Niagara fron- tier, was. ravaged and burnt by the enemy in December, 1813. On the 11th of July previous, the British made an attack on the place. The following particulars of this event are compiled from the Buffalo Gazette. " The British troops which crossed over at Black Rock on the 10th inst. were coninianded by Cols. Bishop and Warren. They crossed the Niagara below Squaw island, and marched far above the navy yard before any alarm was given. The detached militia being surprised, retreated up the beach, and left the enemy in quiet possession of the village, who proceeded to burn the sailors' barracks and block-houses at the great battery. They then proceeded to the batteries, dismounted and spiked three 12 pounders, and took away 3 field-pieces and one 12 pounder; they took from a storehouse a quantity of whiskey, salt, flour, pork, &c., which, with four citizens, they took across the river. At the first moment of the alarm, Gen. Porter left Black Rock for Buffalo, at which place he assembled a body of volunteers and a few regulars, which, with 100 militia and 2.5 Indians, formed a junction about a mile from the enemy. After being formed, with the miliiia and Indians on the flanks and the volunteers and the regulars in the centre, they attacked, and the enemy, after a contest of 20 minutes, retreated in the utmost confusion to the beach, embarked in several of our boats, and pulled for the opposite shore ; all the boats got off without injury, except the last, which suffered severely from our fire, and from appearance nearly all the men in her were killed or wounded. The British lost 8 killed on the field, besides those killed and wounded in the boats. We took 15 prisoners, who were sent to Batavia. Capt. Saunders, of the British 49th, was wounded while stepping into his boat; he was conveyed to Gen. Porter's house. He states that Col. Bishop was badly wounded and carried into the boat, and says also, that several killed and wounded M'ere carried into the boats. On our side, Sergeant Hartman, Jonathan Thompson, and Joseph Wright were killed, and 5 wounded, 2 of whom were Indians. The Indians behaved well and committed no act of cruelty* They fought ERIE COUNTY. 145 because they were friendly to the United States, and because their own possessions, which are very valuable, were in danger of invasion. They are opposed to crossing the river to fight, but are ready to meet the enemy at the threshold in defence of the country which protects them. Maj. King was at Black Rock overnight, and was present and assisted in the action. Two hundred regulars have arrived from Erie at Black Rock, where they are to be stationed." Fort Erie, about a mile S. from the ferry at Waterloo on the Can- ada side, was a post of much importance during the last war. After the battle at Niagara, the Americans fell back to Fort Erie, of which they had previously taken possession. This fortress is situated on the margin of the lake, at its outlet into the Niagara river ; being nearly a horizontal plain 15 feet above the level of the water, it pos- sesses no natural advantages. On the 13th of Aug., 1814, the British troops, having invested the fort, opened a brisk cannonade, which was returned from the American batteries. At sunset on the 14th, one of their shells lodged in a small magazine, which blew up without any injurious effects. The following account of the assault which took place a few hours afterward, is taken from " Perkins' History of the Late War." " Gen. Gaines, expecting an assault in the course of the night, kept his men constantly at their posts. The night was dark, and the early part of it rainy ; at 2 o'clock in the morning, the British columns, enveloped in darkness, were distinctly heard approaching the American lines. The infantry under Maj. Wood, and Captain Towson's artillery, opened a brisk fire upon them. The sheet of fire from this corps, enabled Gen. Gaines to discover this column of the British, 1,.500 strong, approaching the American left. The infantry were protected by a fine of loose brush representing an abattis bordering on the river. The British, in attempting to pass round this, plunged into the water breast high. ThS com- manding general was about to order a detachment of riflemen to support Maj. Wood, but was assured by him that he could maintain his position witliout a reinforcement. The British columns were twice repulsed, and soon afterward fled in confusion. On the right, the lines were lighted by a brilliant discharge of musketry and cannon, which announced the approach of the centre and left columns of the enemy. The latter met the veteran 9th regiment, and Burton's and Harding's companies of volunteers, aided by a 6 pounder, and were repulsed. The centre column, under Col. Drummond, approached at ttie same time the most assailable points of the fort, and with scaling ladders ascended the parapet, but were driven back with great carnage. The assault was twice repeated, and as often check- ed ; this column, concealed by the darkness of the night and the clouds of smoke which rolled from the cannon and musketry, then passed round the ditch, repeated their charge, reascended their ladders, and with their pikes, bayonets, and spears, fell upon the artillerista. Most of the officers, and many of the men, received deadly wounds. Lieut. McDonough being severely wounded, and in the power of the enemy, surrendered and demanded quar- ter ; Col. Drummond, refusing it, drew a pistol and shot him dead. In a moment after- ward, as he was repeating the order to give no quarters, Col. Drummond was shot through the heart. The bastion was now in the possession of the British. The battle raged with increased fury on the right ; reinforcements were ordered and promptly furnished from Maj. Wood's corps on the left. Capt. Fanning kept up a spirited and destructive fire from his artillery on the enemy as they were approaching the fort. Majs. Hindman and Trimble, failing to drive the British from the bastion, with the remaining artillerists and infantry, and Capt. Birdsall's detachment of riflemen, rushed in through the gateway, to the assist, ance of the right wing, and made a resolute charge. A detachment, under Maj. Hall, was introduced over the interior of the bastion, for the purpose of charging the British, who still held possession, but the narrowness of the passage, admitting only 2 or 3 abreast, prevented its accomplishment, and they were obliged to retire. At this moment, every operation M'as arrested by the explosion of the principal magazine, containing a large quantity of cartridges and powder, in the end of a stone building adjoining the contested bastion. Whether this was the effect of accident or design, was not known. The explosion was tremendous, and its effects decisive. The British in possession of the bastion were destroyed in a moment. As soon as the tumult occasioned by that event had subsided, Capt. Biddle posted a field. piece, so as to enfilade the exterior plain, and the salient glacis. Fanning's battery at the 19 146 ERIE COUNTY. same time opened on the British who were now returning. In a few minutes they were all driven from the works, leaving 222 killed, 174 wounded on the field, and 186 prisoners. To these losses are to be added, those killed on the left flank by Maj. Wood's infantry and Towson's artillery, and floated down the Niagara, estimated in the official reports at 200. The American loss during the bombardment of the ISth and 14th, was 9 killed, and 36 wounded, and in the assault of the night of the 14th, 17 killed, 56 wounded, and 11 missing." The British troops still continuing their investment of Fort Erie, on the 17th of September a part of the American garrison made a sortie, and took the British works about 500 yards in front of their line. The British had two batteries on their left, which annoyed the fort, and were about opening a third. Their camp was about 2 miles distant, sheltered by a wood ; their works were garrisoned with one third of their infantry, from 1,200 to 1,500 men, and a detachment of artillery. " Early on the morning of the 17th, General Porter, with a large detachment, was order, ed to penetrate through the woods by a circuitous route, and get between the British main body and their batteries ; while General Miller was directed to take a position in the ravine, between the American lines and the batteries, and attack them in front. The advance of Gen. Porter's command consisted of two hundred riflemen, under Colonel Gibson. The right column, of 400 infantry, commanded by Col. Wood ; the left, under Gen. Davis, of 500 militia, designed to act as a reserve, and to hold in check any reinforcements ^rom the Briiish main body. Gen. Porter's corps carried the blockhouse in the rear of the third battery by storm, the magnzine was blown up, and the garrison made prisoners. The leaders of the 3 divisions under Gen. Porter, all fell nearly at the same time ; Col. Gib- son, at the head of the riflemen, at the second battery, and Gen. Davis and Col. Wood in an assault upon the first. While these transactions were taking place in the rear of the enemy's works. General Miller in front penetrated between the first and second batteries, and aided by the operations of Gen. Porter in the rear, succeeded in canning them. With- in 30 minutes from the commencement of the action, 2 batteries, 2 blockhouses, and the whole line of entrenchments were in possession of the Americans; and immediately after, ward, the other battery was abandoned by the British. Gen. Ripley was now ordered up with the reserve, and at the close of the action, was dangerously wounded in the neck. Strong reinforcements from the British main body arrived while the Americans were en- gaged in destroying the works, and took part in the action. The object of the sortie being fully accomplii-hed, the American troops were ordered to return to the fort. During the action. Gen. Porter, in passing from the right to the left column of his detachment, accom- panied with only 2 or 3 officers, suddenly found himself within a few yards of a body of 60 British soldiers, who had just emerged from a ravine, and were hesitaUng which way to go. The general immediately advanced, and ordered them to surrender; approaching the first man on the left, he took his musket, and pushed him towards the American lines : in this way he proceeded nearly through the whole company, most of the men voluntarily throwing down their arms, and retiring towards the fort : when on a sudden, a soldier, whose musket the general was about to seize, presented the bayonet to his breast, and de- manded his surrender. Gen. Porter seized the musket, and was about wrenching it from him, when he was seized by a British officer, and 3 or 4 men who stood in the ranks, and thrown on the ground. He succeeded in gaining his feet, when he found himself sur. rounded by 15 or 20 men, with their guns presented at him, demanding his sunender. By this time, several American officers with a number of men weie advancing to the scene of action. Gen. Porter, now assuming an air of composure and decision, told them they were now surrounded and prisoners, and if they fired a gun they should all be put to the sword. By this time a company of Cayuga riflemen had arrived, and after a momentary scene of confusion and carnage, the whole British party were killed, or made prisoners." The American loss was 79 killed, 432 wounded and missing. The British loss, as estimated by the American commander, was 500 in killed and wounded : 385 prisoners were taken, and their advance works were destroyed. On the night of the 21st, Gen. Drummond, after an investment of 56 days, broke up his camp, and retired to his intrenchments behind Chippewa river. ERIE COUNTY. 147 Immediately after the unfortunate termination of the battle of Queenstown, Gen. Van Rensselaer resigned the command to Gen. Smyth, and retired from the service. Upon taking the command, Gen. Smyth issued two proclamations to the citizens of New York, one of which was an appeal to their patriotism, and calling upon them to join him in an expedition to conquer Canada and secure peace to the American frontier. This call was answered, and a highly re- spectable force assembled for the expedition. The result of this en- terprise is thus given in Perkins' History of the Late War. " On the 27th of November, 1812, the military force collected at Black Rock, under Gen. Smyth, prepared for the invasion of Canada, amounted to 4,500 effective men, consisting of New York volunteers under Gen. Porter, and regulars and volunteers from Pennsylvania and Baltimore : 85 boats were prepared for crossing the river, capable of transporting at once the necessary artillery and 3,500 men. On the night of the 27th, two parties were sent over, one under Colonel Boerlster, and the other under Capt, King, assisted by a com- pany of marines, under Lieut. Angus, to destroy the British batteries. They effectually ac- complished this object, routed the enemy, spiked their guns, and drove them from the shore. Capt. King, in attempting to return, was captured, with two boats belonging to his party. Colonel Winder, witli a party of 250 men, in attempting to land at a difficult point on the river, was prevented by the rapidity of the current, and obliged to return to the American side. The general embarkation commenced in the morning of the 2Sth, but was not completed until afternoon. They then moved up the stream from the navy yard to Black Rock, and were ordered by Gen. Smyth to disembark and dine. After dinner, the expedition was postponed to a future day. This attempt gave the enemy full notice of the plans of the American general. The two following days were employed in preparations for a second attempt. At 3 o'clock in the morning of the 1st of December, the embarka. tion commenced a second time ; the regulars on the right, Gen. Tanehills's brigade in the centre, and the New York volunteers on the left. Gen. Porter, accompanied by Majs. Chapin and Macomb, Capt. Mills of the cavalry, and Adj. Chace, with two pilots, took his station in the front boat, hoisted his flag, and advanced to the head of the line to lead the expedition. " The troops, in fine spirits and in eager expectation, awaited their orders from Gen. Smyth, when, after considerable delay, they were given, not to proceed to the Canada shore, but to disembark and go into winter quarters. Nothing could exceed the chagrin and disappointment of the troops upon this occasion; disorder and insubordination ensued; Gen. Smyth's life was threatened, and in imminent danger; the militia disbanded and sent home ; and Gen. Smyth, finding the Canadas were not to be taken by proclamation, and being disinclined to make use of more powerful means, retired from the service." Buffalo city is situated at the outlet of Lake Erie, at the head of Niagara river, at the mouth of the Buffalo creek, and at the western extremity of the Erie canal ; Lat. 42° 53' N., long. 2° west from Washington. Distant from Albany by the great western road 298 miles ; by the Erie canal, 364 ; from New York, by Albany and Utica, 445 ; by Morristown. N, J., Owego, and Ithaca, 357 ; from Rochester, 73 ; from Niagara Falls, 22 ; from Erie, Penn., 90 ; from Cleveland, Ohio, 103 ; from Detroit, Mich., 290 ; from Toronto, U. C, 72 ; from Montreal, L. C, 427 ; and from Washington City, 370 miles. Buffalo is the port of entry for the Niagara district, including Silver Creek, Dunkirk, and Portland, and all above the falls. It is an entrepot for the great and growing trade between New York and a large portion of Upper Canada and the great west. Buffalo was originally laid out in 1801, by the Holland Land Compa- ny, on a bluff or terrace rising 50 feet above the water, and partly on the low and marshy ground extending from the terrace to the creek and lake. This marsh has been drained, and a large portion of the 148 ERIE COUNTY. business part of the city lies upon it. The Erie canal from Tone- wanda village is continued along the margin of Niagara river and the shore of the lake to the city. A mole or pier of wood and stone, 1,500 feet long, extends from the south side of the mouth of the creek, forming a partial breakwater to protect the shipping from the gales which are felt here. For the better accommodation of trade, a ship canal, 80 feet wide and 13 deep, was completed in 1833, across the harbor near the mouth of the creek, a distance of 700 yards. A light- house built of limestone stands on the end of the pier, 4G ieet in height. From the time of the foundation of this place to 1812, it increased slowly. In that year it became a military post, and in December, 1813, every building in it was burnt save two, by the British and In- dians. Many of the inhabitants were taken prisoners to Montreal. The place was soon rebuilt, and by 1817, it contained 100 houses, some of which were large and elegant. It was incorporated as a village in 1822, and, in 1823, had the courthouse and jail, and upwards of 300 buildings. It had then felt in advance the influence of the Erie canal, and much improvement was made in anticipation of the completion of that great work. In 1829, it had 400 houses and more tlian 2,000 inhabitants. It was incorporated as a city in 1832, and contains at this time about 2,000 houses, and 18,041 inhabitants. There are 13 churches, viz: 1 Presbyterian, 1 Episcopal, 1 Free Congregational, 1 German Lutheran, 1 Unitarian, 1 Methodist Epis- copal, 1 Methodist Reformed, 1 Baptist, 1 Universalist, 2 Catholic, 1 German Evangelical, and 1 Bethel, a literary and scientific academy, incorporated in 1827, 3 banks, 5 weekly and 2 daily newspapers, and many hotels and taverns required for the great concourse of strangers here. The buildings, public and private, are generally good, many of them four stories high, among which are fine specimens of architecture. An entei-prising citizen, Mr. Rathbun, during the year 1835, erected 99 buildings, at an aggregate cost of about $500,000 ; of these, 52 were stores of the first class, 32 dwellings, a theatre, &c." The foUowiing is a western view of the Seneca Mission church, on the Indian reservation, four miles from the main street in Buffalo. The church is somewhat on the congregational plan. This building was erected in 1829, almost wholly at the expense of the Indians. The Rev. Asher Wright is their minister, and resides a short distance from the church. In order to render himself more useful to them, he has acquired their language, as they are but partially acquainted with the English. They seem to be much attached to him. The Indian burying ground is about 25 rods north of the church. This spot is the site of an Indian fort, on which some vestiges of the wall are still remaining. The Senecas have a tradition that there was a great battle fought here against a hostile tribe ; that the bodies of the slain were collected, and burnt-sacrifices were offered, &c. This is strongly corroborated by the fact of human bones, those of animals, and corn, in a burnt state, having been dug up on this spot. Four or five graves- o fe; ^ O p w ai H o w c ^ M m H R o S '^ <1 3 ^ rr P5 o • a. 'TJ •<; W o c1 nj > r O -'Mil»j ^iiijilil ill!! m 1 ■w •I iii , ill 11 ,I(HV,1 ^l\ ERIE COUNTY. 149 Seneca Mission House, Buffalo Reservation. only have monuments. The following inscriptions were copied from two of them. Red Jacket's monument was erected by some persons connected with the theatre in Buffalo : " Sagoyewatua, Keeper Awake, Bed Jacket; chief of the Wolf Tribe of the Senecas, the friend and protector of his people. Died Jan. 20, 1832, aged 78 years. Erected by — ." " In memory of ' The White Woman,' Mary Jemison, daughter of Thomas Jemison and Jane Irwin, born on the ocean between Ireland and Philadelphia in 1742, or '43, ta- ken captive at Marsh Creek, Penn., in 1755, carried down the Ohio, adopted into an In- dian family in 1759, removed to Genesee river, was naturalized in 1817, removed to this place in 1831, and having survived two husbands and five children, leaving three still alive, she died Sept. 19th, 1833, aged about 91 j'ears, having a few weeks before expressed a hope of pardon through Jesus Christ. The coimcil of the Lord shall stand." There are about nine hundred Indians on the Buffalo creek reser- vation ; of this number about six hundred and seventy-five are Sen- ecas, the rest Onondagas, Oneidas, Tuscaroras, a few Mohawks, and four or five Stockbridge Indians. They have eight peace and two war chiefs, who have a seat in the council of the confederated Six Nations. There are about ninety chiefs in the Seneca nation, per- sons authorized to sign treaties, &c. These chiefs preside over about 2,400 Indians, who live on the Buffalo creek, Tonewanda, Allegany, and Cattaraugus reservations. Many attempts have been made, by treaty and otherwise, to get possession of the Indian lands in the vicinity of Buffalo. It is believed that the full extent of the bribery, fraud, and villany which has been practised upon the Indians, in order to make them sign treaties for their lands, will never be fully known. At present, only about one fourteenth part of the Indians are willing to remove. Whether the recent attempts of the land speculators to get the Indian territory into their possession will prove successful, remains to be seen. The following is an eastern view of the house of William Jones, and the cabin of Red Jacket, both situated about 80 rods from the Mis- sion church. The house of Jones, which is seen on the right, is a fair specimen of the better sort of Indian houses. It is said that Jones was offered ten thousand dollars b,* the land speculators, if he 150 ERIE COUNTV. House of Red Jacket, on the Buffalo Reservation. would sign his name to the treaty, conveying away the Indian lands. Although as anxious and diligent as most white men in the pursuit of wealth, yet considering it would be injurious to his Indian brethren, he refused the bribe. The cabin seen on the left, is constructed of hewed logs, and was the residence of the celebrated chief Red Jacket, during the latter period of his hfe. It stands back a few rods from the road, and is quite humble in its appearance. The following biographical sketch of Red Jacket is taken princi- pally from the 14th vol. of the New York Mirror, and partly from persons on the reservation, who were acquainted with the subject of it. Red Jacket was born in 1756. His birthplace is supposed to have been at a place for- merly called " Old Caste," about 3 miles west of Geneva, in the present limits of the town of Seneca. His Indian name was Sa-go-you-wat-ha, a word signifying one who keeps awake by magical influence. During the revolution, the Senecas fought under the British standard. Ahhough quite young, his activity and intelligence attracted the attention of the British officers. By them he was presented with a richly embroidered scarlet jacket. This he wore on all occasions, and from this circumstance arose ihe name by which he is known among the whites. During the revolution he took little or no part as a warrior, but his personal activity and transcendent talents won the esteem of his tribe. A gentleman who knew him intimately for more than 30 years in peace and in war, speaks of him in the fol- lowing terms. " Red Jacket was a perfect Indian in every respeci, in costume, in his contempt of the dress of the white men, in his hatred and opposition to the missionaries, and in his attachment to, and veneration for the ancient customs and traditions of his tribe. He had a contempt for the English language, and disdained to use any other than his own. He was the finest specimen of the Indian character that I ever knew, and sustained it with more dignity than any other chief. He was second to none in authority in his tribe. As an orator he was unequalled by any Indian I ever saw. His language was beautiful and figurative, as the Indian language always is, and delivered with ihe greatest ease and fluency. His gesticulation was easy, graceful, and natural. His voice was distinct and clear, and he always spoke with great animation. His memory was very strong. I have acted as interpreter to most of his speeches, to which no translation could do adequate jus. tice." The following interesting anecdotes are illustrative of his peculiar points of character, aa well as of his ready eloquence. At a council held with the Senecas, a dispute arose between Gov. Tompkins and Red Jacket, connected with a treaty of some years standing. The governor stated one thing, and the Indian chief insisted that the reverse was true. But, it was rejoined, " you have forgotten — we have it written down on paper." " The paper then tells a lie," was the confident answer ; " I have it written here," continued the chief, placing his hand with great dignity upon his brow. " You Yankees are born with a feather be- tween your fingers ; but your paper does not speak the truth. The Indian keeps bis ERIE COUNTY. 151 knowledge here — this is the book the Great Spirit gave us — it does not lie !" A reference was immediately made to the treaty in question, when, to the astonishment of all present, and to the triumph of the tawny statesman, the document confirmed every word that he had uttered. It happened during the revolution that a treaty was held with the Indians at which La- fayette was present, the object of which was to unite the various tribes in amity with America. The majority of the chiefs were friendly, but there was much opposition made to it, especially by a young warrior, who declared that when an alliance was entered into with America, he should consider that the sun of his country had set forever. In his travels through the Indian country, when last in America, it happened at a large assemblage of chiefs, that Lafayette referred to the treaty in question, and turning to Red .lacket, said, " Pray tell me, if you can, what has become of that daring youth who so decidedly opposed all propositions for peace and amity ?" " I myself am the man," replied Red Jacket ; " the decided enemy of the Americans, so long as the hope of successfully opposing them remained, but now their true and faithful ally until death." During the late war. Red Jacket with his tribe enlisted on the American side. He fought through the whole war, and displayed the most undaunted intrepidity ; while in no instance did he exhibit the ferocity of the savage, or disgrace himself by any act of inhumanity. Red Jacket was the foe of the white man. His nation was his god ; her honor, preser- vation, and liberty, his religion. He hated the missionary of the cross, because he feared some secret design upon the lands, the peace, or the independence of the Senecas. He never understood Christianity. Its sublime disinterestedness exceeded his conceptions. He was a keen observer of human nature ; and saw that among white and red men, sordid interest was equally the spring of action. He therefore naturally enough suspected every stranger who came to his tribe, of some design on their little and dearly prized domains. His tribe was divided into two factions, one of which, from being in favor of the missionaries, was called thg Christian, and the other, from their opposition, the pagan party. His wife, who would attend the religious meetings of the Christian party, received much persecution from him on this account. During his last sickness there seemed to be quite a change in regard to his feelings respecting Christianity. He repeatedly remarked to his wife, that he was sorry that he had persecuted her, — that she was right and he wrong, and as his dying advice, told her, " Persevere in your religion, it is the right way .'" A few days before his decease, he sent for Mr. Harris, the missionary ; but he was at- tending an ecclesiastical council, and did not receive the message until afcer the death of the chief. In his last wandering moments it is said that he directed that a vial of cold water should be placed in his coffin, so that he might have something with which to fight the evil spirit. A considerable number of people from Buffalo attended his funeral, some of whom wished him buried in the ancient or pagan style. He was, however, interred in the Christian manner, in accordance with the wishes of his relatives. He left two wives, but none of his children survived him. Two of his sons are supposed to have died Christians. Rev. Jabez B. Hyde, a teacher to the Senecas before the war of 1812, states that one of the sons of Red Jacket was the first convert to Christianity from this tribe. For some months previous to his death, time had made such ravages on his constitution as to render him fully sensible of his approaching dissolution. To that event he often ad. verted, and always in the language of philosophic calmness. He visited successively all his most intimate friends at their cabins, and conversed with them upon the condition of the nation in the most aflecting and impressive manner. He told them that he was passing away, and his counsels would soon be heard no more. He ran over the history of his peo- ple from the most remote period to which his knowledge extended, and pointed out, as few could, the wrongs, the privations, and the loss of character, which almost of themselves constituted that history. " I am about to leave you," said he, "and when I am gone, and my warning shall no longer be heard or regarded, the craft and the avarice of the white man will prevail. Many winters have I breasted the storm, but I am an aged tree, and can stand no longer. My leaves are fallen, my branches are withered, and I am shaken by every breeze. Soon my aged trunk will be prostrate, and the foot of the exulting foe of the Indian may be placed upon it in safety ; for I leave none who will be enabled to avenge such an indignity. Think not I mourn for myself. I go to join the spirits of my fathers, where age cannot come ; but my heart fails when I think of my people, who are soon to be scattered and forgotten." At the time of the burning of Buffalo in the last war, most of the regular American troops were removed from the Niagara frontier. Gov. Tompkins, on being informed of this, ordered out the militia for 152 ERIE COUNTY. its defence. On the 25th December, 1813, Gen. Hall had assembled at Black Rock and Buffalo 2,000 men. On the night of the 29th, the enemy were discovered approaching the American shore in great force. The militia were ordered to oppose their landing, but the main body fled on the approach of the enemy. Col. Blakesley's regi- ment, with other detached corps, amounting in the whole to about 600 men, formed in a line, and poured a destructive fire on the enemy as they approached the shore. They were, however, overpowered by numbers, and forced to retire. Gen. Hall retii'ed with the remains of the dispersed militia to Eleven Mile creek, where he was able to collect only about 300 men to cover the flying inhabitants. The frontier presented one scene of universal desolation. " The misera- ble inhabitants who escaped the Indian tomahawk, fled into the in- terior, without shelter or means of support, in the depth of winter, and subsisted on the charity of their friends." The following, relative to these events, is extracted from an oflficial letter to Gov. Tompkins : " On my arrival at Batavia, I found that the inhabitants of that place, and the country west, as far as Buffalo on the main road, had, on receiving information of the landing of the enemy, fled and left their homes, but were generally returning. I proceeded to Buffalo, and found that flourishing village totally destroyed. The only buildings remaining in it are a jail, which is built of stone, a small frame house, and an armorer's shop. All the houses east of Buffalo on the Batavia road, for two miles, excepting log-houses, are also destroyed, and almost every building between Buffalo and Niagara along the river, had, I was informed, shared the same fate. The enemy had with him at Black Rock and Buffalo, a number of" Indians, (the general opinion in that country is about two hundred,) who pursued their ac- customed mode of horrid warfare, by tomahawking, scalping, and otherwise nnitilating the persons who fell into their hands. Among the victims of their savage barbarity, was a Mrs. Lovejoy, of Buffalo, who was tomahawked and afterward burnt in her own house. The conduct of these savages has struck the minds of the people on the Niagara frontier with such horror, as to make it absolutely necessary that a more efficient force than the ordinary militia of the country should be employed for its protection, to prevent its becoming en- tirely depopulated. There was, when I left Batavia, between five and six hundred militia at Williamsville and in its vicinity, under the command of Gen. Hopkins, and about the same number on the ridge road near the arsenal, under the command of Col. Hopkins. It was the intention of Gen. Hall, who was at Batavia, to make up the number at each of these stations to 1,000 men. There was also at Batavia about 100 regulars, under the command of Major Riddle, who had received orders to march to Williamsville." Brant, recently formed from Collins, is situated in the southwestern corner of the county, bounded partly on the S. by Cattaraugus creek ; centrally distant from Buffalo 26 miles. Pop. 1,068. Cheektowaga, recently erected from the southern portion of Am- herst ; from Buffalo, W., 7 miles. The line of the Buffalo and Bata- via railroad passes centrally through the town. Pop. 1,137. Clarence, organized in 1808 ; bounds since altered ; from Albany 265 miles. Clarence, 18 miles NE. from Buffalo, has about 50 dwellings. Pop. 2,271. CoLDEN, taken from Holland in 1827 ; from Albany 287, from Bufl'alo. SE., 21 miles. Pop. 1,085. Collins, taken from Concord in 1821 ; from Buffalo, S., 30 miles. Lodi village is partly in this town and partly in Cattaraugus co. (See Persia, Cattaraugus co.) A large portion of this town was set- tled by Friends. Pop. 4,227. Collins Centre and Carr's Corners are small villages* ERIE COUNTY. 153 Concord, taken from Willink in 1812; from Albany 282 miles. SprinfTville village, incorporated in 1834, 28 miles SE.from Buffalo, has 1 Baptist, 1 Methodist, and 1 Presbyterian church, a flourishing Academy, 110 dwelhngs, 7 mercantile stores, a large flouring mill, erected at the expense of $20,000, two woollen factories, &c., and about 700 inhabitants. Concord Centre and Waterville Corners are small villages. Pop. 3,004. Eden, organized in 1812; centrally distant from Buffalo, S., 16 miles. Eden and Eden Valley are small villages. Many German and Swiss emigrants have settled in this town. Pop. 2,172. Evans, taken from Eden in 1821 ; from Albany 293, from Buffalo, SW., 19 miles. Jerusalem Corners and Evans are small villages. Pop. 1,822. Hamburg, taken from Willink in 1812 ; from Buffalo centrally dis- tant, SE., 10 miles. Hamburg, E. Hamburg, Water Valley, Whites Corners, and Hamburg on the lake, are small settlements. Pop. 3,734. Holland, taken from Aurora in 1818 ; bounds since altered ; from Buffalo, SE., 24 miles. Holland is a small village. Pop. 1,242. Lancaster, taken from Clarence in 1833 ; from Albany 280 miles. Lancaster, 10 miles E. of Buffalo, is a small village. Town Line, on the Lancaster and Alden line, is a post-office. Pop. 2,083. Newstead, originally organized by the name of Erie, as part of Genesee county, and taken from Batavia in 1804; from Albany 260 miles. Akron, 24 miles NE. from Buffalo, and Fisher's Falls, are small villages. Newstead is a post-office. Pop. 2,653. Sardinia, taken from Concord in 1821 ; from Albany 273 miles. Sardinia on the Cattaraugus creek, 34 miles SE. from Buffalo, has about 50 dwellings. Pop. 1,741. Tonewanda was recently taken from Buffalo. It comprises Grand Island, in the St. Lawrence, and a small tract of the adjoining main- land. Pop. 1,250. Tonewanda village lies at the mouth and on both sides of Tonewanda creek, the portion lying on the north side of the creek being in Wheatfield, Niagara co. It is 16 miles SW. from Lockport, 1 1 N. from Buffalo, on the lines of the Buffalo and Niagara railroad and the Erie canal, which latter here runs in the Tonev/anda creek. Grand Island, called by the Indians Owanungah, in the Niagara river, commences about 5 miles below the termina- tion of Lake Erie, runs down 8 miles, and ends within 3 of Nia- gara Falls. Its breadth varies from 3 to 6 miles. Originally this with the small islands of Strawberry, Snake, Squaw, and Bird, be- longed to the Senecas, and were purchased of them by the state for $1,000, and an annuity of $500. " The state, in 1833, sold Grand Island to the East Boston Co., who have erected upon it, on the site of the proposed Jewish city of Ararat, opposite to the mouth of the Tonewanda creek, the village of White Haven, (named after Mr. Stephen White, who resides upon Tonewanda island nearly opposite,) where they have a steam grist-mill and saw-mill 150 feet square, with room for 15 gangs of saws, said to be the largest in the world, several dwellings, a building used for a school and church, a commodious 20 154 ESSEX COUNTY. wharf, several hundred feet long, and a spacious dock of piles for storing and securing floating timber. The principal object of the company is to prepare timber for vessels on the lakes and the ocean, fitting the frames to the models given ; in which they avail them- selves, not only of their special resources on the island, but of all which the vast region around the upper lakes affords." The oper- tions of this company are at present suspended. " In 1816 and '17, a number of persons from the United States and Canada went on this island. They marked out the boundaries of their different possessions; elected magistrates and other officers from among themselves ; and gave out that they were amenable to neither government, but an independent community. After the question of boundary was settled, the state of New York passed a law to drive them oft'; but that was not effected till the severe measure was resorted to of destroying their houses, which was done by the sheriff and posse of Erie county. ' Grand Island was selected by Major Noah, (now of the city of New York,) on which to build a city, and establish a colony of Jews, with the view of making it the Ararat, or resting-place of that dispersed people. There it was anticipated that their government would be organized, and thence the laws would emanate which again were to bring together the children of Israel, and re-establish them as a nation upon the earth. The European Rabbi did not sanction the scheme, and it vanished as a day. dream of the learned and worthy projector." — Steele's Book of Niagara Falls. The monument erected by Major Noah is now standing. It is about 14 feet in height. The lower part is built of brick, — the upper or pyramidal portion is of wood, and the whole painted white. The following is inscribed upon the tablet, which faces the east. ARARAT, A CITY OF KEFUGE FOR THE JEWS, Founded by Mordecai M. Noah, in the Month Tizri, 5586, September, 1825, and in the 50th year of American Independence. Wales, taken from Willink in 1818; from Buffalo, SE., 20 miles. Wales, S. Wales, and Wales Centre, are villages. Pop. 2,441. ESSEX COUNTY. Essex county, formed from Clinton in 1799, was originally settled from New England. Its greatest length N. and S. 43, greatest breadth E. and W. 41 miles ; centrally distant from New York 271, * Trans. — " Hear, Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord." — Deut. viw 4. ESSEX COUNTY. 156 and from Albany 126 miles. Pop. 23,620. The county is divided into 15 towns. "The surface of this county is decidedly mountain- ous, in which respect it bears a striking contrast to the St. Lawrence. In addition to this, it may be remarked, that the hills, as well as the mountains, are steep and abrupt, and almost uniformly present, on one side, a precipice nearly perpendicular. In this county there are no long and gradual slopes, or gentle risings towards the moun- tain summit, but they are always bold and dithcult of ascent. A sur- face of country thus characterized, combined also with great height, both of the general surface and especially of numerous peaks, alters to a very great extent its agricultural character. By this combina- tion, the mean temperature of the county is reduced so low, that the cultivation of some of the most useful vegetables is prevented, or they are crops so uncertain, on account of late springs and early autumnal frosts, that little inducement is held out for trying them even as matters of experiment. There are, however, some bright and favored places where most of the essential vegetable productions are raised, and even grow luxuriantly, as along the shores of Lake Champlain and the valleys of the upper Hudson." But the agricultural poverty of this county is amply compensated by her immense mineral resources. " Many years must elapse before a correct estimate can be formed in regard to their real extent and value. To say that there are here numerous beds of magnetic iron ore, would scarcely convey a true idea of the enormous deposits of that mineral which are found in various parts of the county. The ore is everywhere of sufficient purity for the manufacturer, and if only a small portion of it can be wrought, Essex must become one of the most thriving counties in the state." — State Geol. Rep. Chesterfield, taken from Willsborough in 1802. Pop. 2,697. Port Kent, a small village 25 miles from Elizabethtown, upon the lake, is the stopping place for the steamboats. Port Douglass, also upon the lake, is the shipping place for the Clintonville iron works. Port Randall is a village in the SE. part. Keeseville is a flourishing manufacturing village on the Au Sable river, which forms here the boundary line between the counties of Clinton and Essex. It is 21 miles from Elizabethtown, and 16 from Plattsburg. There are 1 Presbyterian, 1 Baptist, and 1 Catholic church, an Academy, 10 mer- cantile stores, 225 dwellings, the Essex County Bank, and 1,800 inhabit- ants. This place is now the centre of business for the great iron and lumber district of the Au Sable valley. A railroad 4^ miles in length connects it with Port Kent. Keeseville was originally named " Anderson's Falls," from a Mr. John W. Anderson, who settled here about the year 1813. At this time he was almost the only inhabitant in the place. In 1819, a post-office was established, and the present name was given to the village in honor of Mr. Richard Keese, a partner of Anderson's. The first clergyman was the Rev. Elijah Crane, a pious and devoted minister of the Methodist persuasion, who located himself here in 1825, and was very efficient in reforming the morals of the place. Near here is the High Bridge of Keeseville, on 156 ESSEX COUNTY. the Au Sable river, which is one of the greatest natural curiosities in the state. Crown Point, organized in 1780; from Albany 100 miles; cen- trally distant SE. from Elizabeth 20 miles. Pop. 2,212. Crown Point, whence the name of the town and ancient fort are derived, is sit- uated at the NE. extremity, and is formed by an extensive deep bay on the west, skirted by a steep mountain, and on the north and east by the body of the lake. Fort Frederick, at this place, was built by the French in 1731. This fortress was a star work, being in the form of a pentagon, with bastions at the angles, and surrounded by a ditch walled in with stone. This post secured the command of Lake Champlain, and guarded the passage into Canada. It was through this lake, by the route of Crown Point, that the parties of French and Indians made their bloody incursions upon the frontiers of New Eng- land and New York. This fort was subsequently blown up ; and its site is now marked by a heap of ruins. This place being abandoned by the French, in 1759, to Gen. Amherst, fort Crown Point was after- ward erected, about a quarter of a mile from the shore, and has at a distance something the appearance of Ticonderoga. The walls were of wood and earth, 16 feet high, 22 thick, enclosing an area of 1,500 yards square, surrounded by a deep broad ditch cut into granite. There were here a double row of stone barracks, and on the north, a gate with a drawbridge and covered way leading to the lake. These works and those adjoining, which were extensive, are now mostly heaps of rubbish. Crown Point fell into the hands of the Americans at the time of the capture of Ticonderoga, in May, 1775, but was evacuated the next year. The disastrous expedition against Canada was terminated near this place, by the destruction of the lake fleet under the command of Gen. Arnold, Oct. 13th, 1776. Arnold, on his retreat from Canada, on board his fleet, was pursued by the enemy so closely, that he was obliged to run his vessel on shore and blow up five gondolas. The British soon established themselves, with their army and fleet, at Crown Point, and strengthened the ibrtifications ; but ere long they abandoned the station and retired to Canada. Elizabethtown, settled in 1785, and organized in 1798 ; from Al- bany 126, from Lake Champlain, W., 8 miles. Pop. 1,061. Eliza- beth, the county seat, is a small village of 30 or 40 dwellings. About a mile SW. of the village is a detached mountain called the Giant of the valley, the summit of which is elevated 1,200 feet above the plain, and commands a very extensive prospect to the eastward. It embraces a view of the whole valley of Lake Champlain, compris- ing Plattsburg, Burlington, Vergennes, Middlebury, and many other villages. Essex, taken from Willsborough in 1805; from Albany 133 miles. Pop. 1,681. Essex village, handsomely situated upon Lake Cham- plain, has about 40 or 50 dwellings. About 12 miles NE. of Eliza- beth is the noted Split Rock. This curiosity is part of a rocky pro- montory projecting into the lake about 150 feet, and elevated 40 above the water. The part broken off" contains half an acre covered ESSEX COUNTY. 157 with trees, and is separated about 20 feet from the main rock. The opposing sides fit the prominences of the one, corresponding with the cavities of the other. Through this fissure a hne has been let down to the depth of 500 feet without reaching the bottom. There is a third post-office called Wessex. Jay, settled in 1790, by emigrants from New England. "The Forks," Upper Village, and Jay ville, are manufacturing villages ; the latter is 20 miles NW. of Elizabeth, the county seat. There is a large quantity of iron annually manufactured in this town. Pop. 2,260. Keene, taken from Elizabeth and Jay in 1808 ; from Albany 138, from Elizabeth, W., 12 miles. The settlements at the " Flats" were commenced in 1797. and those at the "Great Plains," in 1804. Pop. 730. rf\ Adirondack Mountains. The Adirondack mountains, which are partially in this town, were comparatively but little known until explored by the state geologists. They named them from the Adirondack Indians, who formerly dwelt in this region. The group, as a whole, is more lofty than the White Hills of New Hampshire, though the main summit. Mount Washing- ton, exceeds the highest by 767 feet. Mount Marcy (named in honor of ex-governor Marcy) is the most lofty, being 5,337 feet, or 57 feet over a mile in height. Large banks of snow have been observed on this peak as late as the middle of July ; and there is reason to be- lieve that ice is formed there every night in summer. Lewis, settled about 1800, and taken from Willsborough in 1805. This township has its surface much broken by high mountains. Iron ore is abundant. Lewis, 5 miles N. from Elizabeth, is the post vil- lage. Pop. 1,500. Minerva, taken from Schroon in 1804. Minerva Four Corners, in the SE., 92 miles NE. from Albany, 40 SW. from Elizabethtown, is the post village. Pop. 455. 15S ESSEX COUNTY. MoRiAH, on Lake Champlain, taken from Crown Point and Eliza- bethtown in 1808; from Albany 114, from Elizabethtown centrally distant S. 10 miles. Iron ore of excellent quality abounds here. Pop. 2,595. This place was first settled about 1785, by William Mackenzie, Esq. Moriah, West Moriah, Port Henry, and Millbrook, are post villages. Pondsville is a post-office. Newcomb, taken from Minerva and Moriah in 1828 ; N. from Al- bany 120, centrally distant SW. from Elizabethtown 30 miles. Pop. 74. The Adn-ondack mountains are partially in this town, Mount Marcy, the highest, being on the dividing line between this and Keene. Newcomb is a small settlement, centrally situated. ScHRooN, taken from Crown Point in 1804, Schroon, 30 miles S. from Elizabeth, Paradox, and Hoffman, are small post villages. Pop. 1,660. Ruins of Fort Ticonderoga. TicoNDEROGA,* taken from Crown Point in 1804 ; from Albany 196, S. from Elizabeth 30 miles. Alexandria and Ticonderoga are thriv- ing villages ; the former at the upper fall, near Lake George, and the latter on the lower falls, near Lake Champlain, about one mile apart. Pop. 2,168. The above is a representation of the ruins of Fort Ticonderoga, the fortress so celebrated in colonial and revolutionary history. These ruins are situated on a peninsula of about 500 acres, elevated upwards of 100 feet above Lake Champlain, at the mouth of Lake George's outlet. This fortress was originally erected by the French in 1756, and was called by them Carillon, and was a place of much strength by nature and art, surrounded on three sides by water, and having half the fourth covered by a swamp, and the only approach- able point defended by a breastwork. It was, however, commanded by Mount Defiance on the south side of the creek or outlet, which, "* Ticonderoga is a corruption from the. Indian word Che-onderoga, signifying Twwy, probably in allusion to the falls on the outlet of Lake George. ESSEX COUNTY. 159 towers 750 feet above the lake. It was on the summit of this moun- tain that Gen. Burgoyne's troops showed themselves on the morning of July 4th, 1777, with a battery of heavy cannon, which they had drawn up along the ridge during the night. The distance from the summit to the fort, in a straight line, is about a mile. The position was so commanding that they could count all the men in the fort, and fully justified Gen. St, Clair in ordering an immediate retreat of the garrison. Mount Independence, connected in history with Ticonde- roga, lies in Vermont, one mile from the fort on the east side of the lake. There are here also remains of military works. The following account of the defeat of Gen. Abercrombie before Ticonderoga, July 8, 1758, is from the 3d volume of Macauley's His- tory of New York : " The expedition against Ticonderoga and Crown Point was conducted by Abercrombie in person. In the beginning of July he embarked his forces, amounting to nearly seven thousand regulars and ten thousand provincials, on Lake George, on board of nine hundred batteaux, and one hundred and thirty-five whale boats, with provisions, artillery, and ammu- nition. Several pieces of cannon were mounted on rafts, to cover the proposed landing at the outlet of the lake. Early the next morning he reached the landing place, which was in a cove on the west side of the lake near its issue, leading to the advanced guard of the enemy, composed of one bafalion, in a logged camp. He immediately debarked his forces, and after having formed them into three columns, marched to the enemy's advanced post, which was abandoned with precipitation. He continued his march with the army to- wards Ticonderoga, with the intention of investing it ; but the route lying through a thick wood that did not admit of any regular progression, and the guides proving extremely ig- norant, the troops were bewildered, and the columns broken by falling in one on another. Lord Howe being advanced at the head of the right centre column, encountered a French detachment, that had likewise lost its way in the retreat from the advanced post, and a warm skirmish ensuing, the enemy were routed with considerable loss ; and one hundred and forty-eight were taken prisoners. This advantage was purchased at a dear rate. Lord Howe, and one other officer, besides privates, were killed. The former is spoken of in very high terms for his bravery.* Abercrombie perceiving the troops were greatly fatigued and disordered, deemed it advisable to fall back to the landing place. Then he detached Lieutenant-colonel Bradstreet, with a detachment, to take possession of a saw-mill in the vicinity of Ticonderoga, which the enemy had abandoned. This post being secured, Abercrombie advanced again towards Ticonderoga, where, he understood from the prisoners, the enemy had assembled eight battalions, with a body of Canadians and Indians, amount- ing in all to six thousand men. The actual number, however, was considerably less, not exceeding four thousand men, as was afterward ascertained. These, they said, being en- camped before the fort, were employed in making a formidable intrenchment, where they intended to wait for a reinforcement of three thousand men, who had been detached, under the command of M. de Levi, to make a diversion on the side of the Mohawk ; but upon intelligence of Abercrombie's approach,were now recalled for the defence of Ticonderoga. This information induced Abercrombie to strike, if possible, some decisive blow before the Junction could be effected. He therefore early next morning sent his engineer to recon- noitre the enemy's intrenchments ; and he, upon his return, reported that the works being still unfinished, might be attempted with good prospect of success. A disposition was made accordingly fur the attack, and after proper guards had been left at ihe saw-mill and the landing place, the whole army was put in motion. The troops advanced with great alacrity towards the intrenchments, which, however, they found altogether impracticable. The breastwork was raised eight feet high, and the ground before it covered with an abattis, * "This young officer was the idol of ihe army. From his first arrival in America, he had accommodated himself and liis regiment to the peculiar nature of the service. He cut his hair sliort, and induced Ihe regi- ment to follow the example. He fashioned their clothing for tl)e activiiy of service, and divested himself and them of every arlicle of superfluous baggage. When near Ticonderoga, major, afterward Ge[i. Putnam, witli about iOO men, advanced in front of liie army as a kind of scouling parly. Putnam endeavored to Iirevent Lord Howe from accompanying him, saying, 'My Lord, if I am Itilled, the loss of my life will be of little consequence, but the preservation of yours is of infiniie importance to this army.' The only answer was, ' Putnam, your life is as dear to you, as mine is to me: I am determined to go.' "They soon met the lell flank of the enemy's advance, by whose first fire his lordship fell."— Humphrey's Life of Putnam. 160 ESSEX COUNTY. or felled trees, with their boughs pointing outward, and projecting in such a manner as to render the intrenchment almost inaccessible. Notwithstanding these discouraging diificul ' ties, the troops marched up to the assault with an undaunted resolution, and sustained a terrible fire. They endeavored to force their way through these embarrassments, and some of them even mounted the parapet ; but the enemy were so well covered, and defended their works with so much gallantry, notwithstanding their greatly inferior numbers, that no impression could be made ; the carnage became fearfully great, and the assailants began to fall into great confusion, after several attacks, which lasted several hours. Abercrombie by this time saw plainly that no hope of success remained ; and in order to prevent a total de- feat, sounded a retreat, leaving about two thousand men on the field. Every corps of the army behaved, on this unfortunate day, with remarkable intrepidity ; the greatest loss sus- tained among the corps, was that of the regiment of Lord John Murray." The seizure of the fortress of Ticonderoga, by Col. Ethan Allen, on the 10th of May, 1775, is thus related by Ramsay, in his history of the American Revolution : " It early occurred to many, that if the sword decided the controversy between Great Britain and her colonies, the possession of Ticonderoga would be essential to the security of the latter. Situated on a promontory, formed at the junction of the waters of Lake George and Lake Champlain, it was the key of all communication between New York and Canada. Messrs. Deane, Wooster, Parsons, Stevens, and others of Connecticut, planned a scheme for obtaining possession of this valuable post. Having procured a loan of 1,800 dollars of public money, and provided a sufficient quantity of powder and ball, they set off for Bennington, to obtain the co-operation of Colonel Allen of that place. Two hundred and seventy men, mostly of that brave and hardy people who are called green mountain boys, were speedily collected at Castleton, which was fixed on as the place of rendezvous. At this place Colonel Arnold, who, though attended only with a servant, was prosecuting the same object, unexpectedly joined them. He had been early chosen a captain of a vol- unteer company by the inhabitants of New Haven, among whom he resided. As soon as he received news of the Lexington battle, he marched off" with his company for the vi- cinity of Boston, and arrived there, though 150 miles distant, in a few days. Immediately after his arrival he waited on the Massachusetts committee of safety, and informed them, that there were at Ticonderoga many pieces of cannon and a great quantity of valuable stores, and that the fort was in a ruinous condition, and garrisoned only by about 40 men. They appointed him a colonel, and commissioned him to raise 400 men, and to take Ti- conderoga. The leaders of the party which had previously rendezvoused at Castleton, ad- mitted Colonel Arnold to join them, and it was agreed that Colonel Allen should be the commander in chief of the expedition, and that Colonel Arnold should be his assistant. They proceeded without delay, and arrived in the night at Lake Champlain, opposite to Ti- conderoga. Allen and Arnold crossed over with 83 men, and landed near the garrison. They contended who should go in first, but it was at last agreed that they should both go in together. They advanced abreast, and entered the fort at the dawning of day. A sentry snapped his piece at one of them, and then retreated through the covered way to the pa- rade. The Americans followed, and immediately drew up. The commander, surprised in his bed, was called upon to surrender the fort. He asked, By what authority ? Colonel Allen replied, ' / demand it in the name of the great Jehovah, and of the continental congress,^ No resistance was made, and the fort, with its valuable stores and forty-eight prisoners, fell into the hands of the Americans. The boats had been sent back for the re- mainder of the men, but the business was done before they got over. Colonel Sclh War- ner was sent off with a party to take possession of Crown Point, where a sergeant and 12 men performed garrison duty. This was speedily effected. The next object, calling for the attention of the Americans, was to obtain the command of Lake Champlain, but to ac- complish this, it was necessary for them to get possession of a sloop of war, lying at St. Johns, at the northern extremity of the lake. With the view of capturing this sloop it was agreed to man and arm a schooner lying at South Bay, and that Arnold should com- mand her, and that Allen should command some batteaux on the same expedition. A fa- vorable wind carried the schooner ahead of the batteaux, and Colonel Arnold got immedi- ate possession of the sloop by surprise. The wind again favoring him, he returned v/ith his prize to Ticonderoga, and rejoined Colonel Allen. The latter soon went home, and the former with a number of men agreed to remain there in garrison. In this rapid manner the possession of Ticonderoga and the command of Lake Champlain were obtained, with- out any loss, by a few determined men." ESSEX COUNTY. 161 The following account of the evacuation of Ticonderoga by Gen- eral St. Clair, on July 6, 1777, and some of the events which follow- ed, is from the 3d volume of Macauley's History of New York : " From Crown Point, the British army advanced on both sides of the lake ; the naval force keeping its station in the centre ; the frigate and gun-boats cast anchor just out of cannon-shot from the American works. On the near approach of the right wing, which advanced on the west side of the lake, on the second of July, the Americans abandoned and set fire to their works, block-houses and saw-mills, towards Lake George ; and with, out attempting any serious opposition, suffered General Philhps to take possession of Mount Hope. This post commanded the American lines in a great degree, and cut off their com- munication with Lake George. The enemy charged the Americans, on this occasion, with supineness and want of vigor ; but this charge seems not well-founded ; they had not men enough to make any effectual opposition to the powerful force which threatened to enclose them. " In the meantime, the British army proceeded with such expedition in the construction of their works, the bringing up of their artillery, stores, and provisions, and the establish, ment of posts and communications, that by the fifth, matters were so far advanced as to require but one or two days more to completely invest the posts on both sides of the lake. Mount Defiance had also been examined, and the advantages which it presented were so important, that it had been determined to take possession, and erect a battery there. This work, though attended with extreme difficulty and labor, had been carried on by General Phillips with much expedition and success. A road had been made over very rough ground, to the top of the mount ; and the enemy were at work in constructing a level for a battery, and transporting their cannon. As soon as this battery should be ready to play, the American works would have been completely invested on all sides. " The situation of General St. Clair was now very critical. He called a council of war, to deliberate on measures to be taken. He informed them that their whole effective num- ber was not sufficient to man one half of the works ; that as the whole must be constantly on duty, it would be impossible for them to endure the fatigue for any considerable length of time ; that General Schuyler, who was then at Fort Edward, had not sufficient forces to relieve them ; and that, as the enemy's batteries were nearly ready to open upon them, and the place would be completely invested in twenty-four hours, nothing could save the troops but an immediate evacuation of the posts. " It was proposed that the baggage of the army, with such artillery stores and provisions as the necessity of the occasion would admit, should be embarked with a strong detach- ment on board of two hundred batteaux, and despatched under convoy of five armed gal. leys, up the lake to Skeensborougb, (Whitehall,) and that the main body of the army should proceed by land, taking its route on the road to Castleton, which was about thirty miles Boutheast of Ticonderoga, and join the boats and galleys at Skeensborough. It was thought necessary to keep the matter a secret till the time should come, when it was to be ex. ecuted. Hence, the necessary preparations could not be made, and it was not possible to prevent irregularity and disorder, in the different embarkations and movements of the troops. " About two o'clock in the morning of July the sixth. General St. Clair left Ticonderoga, and about three, the troops at Mount Independence were put in motion. The house which had been occupied by General de Fermoy was, contrary to orders, set on fire. This afforded complete information to the enemy of what was going forward, and enabled them to see every movement of the Americans — at the same time, it impressed the latter with such an idea of discovery and danger, as precipitated them into great disorder. About four o'clock. Colonel Francis brought off the rear-guard, and conducted their retreat in a regular man. ner ; and soon after, some of the regiments, through the exertions of their officers, recov- ered from their confusion. When the troops arrived at Hubbardton they were halted for nearly two hours, and the rear-guard was increased by many who did not at first belong to it, but were picked up on the road, having been unable to keep up with their regiments. The rear-guard was here put under the command of Colonel Seth Warner, with orders to follow the army, as soon as the whole came up, and to halt about a mile and a half short of the main body. The army then proceeded to Castleton, about six miles further — Colonel Warner, with the rear-guard and stragglers, remaining at Hubbardton. " The retreat of the Americans from Ticonderoga and Mount Independence, was no sooner perceived by the British, than General Frazer began an eager pursuit with his bri- gade. Major-general Reidesel was ordered to join in the pursuit with the greater part of his Germans. General Frazer continued the pursuit through the day, and having received in- 21 162 FRANKLIN COUNTY. telligence that the rear of the American army was at no great distance, ordered his men to lie that night upon their arms. On July seventh, at five in the morning, he came up with Colonel Warner, who had about one thousand men. The British advanced boldly to the attack, and the two bodies formed within sixty yards of each other. The conflict was fierce and bloody. Colonel Francis fell at the head of his regiment, fighting with great gallantry. Warner was so well supported by his oflicers and men, that the assailants broke and gave way. They soun, however, recovered from their disorder, formed again, and charged the Americans with the bayonet, when they, in their turn, were put into disorder; these, however, rallied and returned to the charge, and the issue of the battle became du. bious. At that moment. General Reidesel appeared with the advance party of his Ger- mans. These being led into action, soon decided the fortune of the day, and the Amer- icans had to retreat. The loss in this action was very considerable on the American side. Colonel Hale, who had not brought his regiment, which consisted of militia, into action, although ordered so to do, in attempting to escape by flight, fell in with an inconsiderable party of the enemy, and surrendered himself, and a number of his men, prisoners. In killed, wounded, and prisoners, the Americans lost in this action three hundred and twenty- four men, and the British one hundred and eighty-three in killed and womided." Westport, taken from Elizabethtown in 1815. Iron ore abounds. Pop. 1,932. Westport, a thriving village at the head of NW. bay of Lake Champlain, 8 miles east of Elizabethtown, contains about sixty dwellings. Wadhams Mills, on the Boquet, is a small village. WiLLSBORouGH, Originally organized as part of Clinton county in 1788; since modified. Pop. 1,667. Willsborough, 2 miles from the mouth of the Boquet river, N. from Albany 138, and from Elizabeth E. 13 miles, is a manufacturing village, and has about 50 dwellings. Wilmington, taken from Jay in 1821 ; name and boundaries since altered ; from Albany 148, from Elizabeth NW. 20 miles. The White Face Mountain here commands a view of more than 100 miles in extent, including Montreal, Ogdensburg, and Lake Ontario. Pop. 928. FRANKLIN COUNTY. Franklin county, taken from Clinton in 1808, is centrally distant from New York 287, from Albany NW. 142 miles. Greatest length 60, greatest breadth 30 miles. The high northern latitude sufficiently indicates the rigors of the climate. The forests are very dense, con- sisting of trees of immense size. In the southwestern part are some lofty ridges of mountains, but of all the rest a large portion is rather level than hilly. The settlements are almost wholly in the northern part, extending about 15 miles S. from the N. line, and even here are sparse ; much the larger portion of the county being as yet covered with the primitive forests. The soil is a sandy loam, occasionally mixed with clay, stony, and the fields commonly among thrifty farm- ers are fenced with stones gathered from the surface. Some wheat is raised, but it is an uncertain crop, whilst grass, oats, barley, corn, &c., generally are very productive. No portion of the state is per- haps better adapted to the sugar-beet. Grazing and lumbering are the chief pursuit of the inhabitants, who find their market upon the FRANKLIN COUNTY. 163 St. Lawrence river. Pop. 16,450. The county is divided into 13 towns. Bangor, taken from Dickenson in 1812 ; distant NW. from Albany 221 miles. Pop. 1,218; Bangor, 5 miles W, of Malon^, and W. Ban- gor, are post villages. The population is principally distributed along two roads about 3 miles asunder.known as the North and South streets. Belmont, taken from Chateaugua, in 1833 ; N W. from Albany 185. Pop. 470. Belmont is a small village, 12 miles SE. of Malone. Bombay, taken from Fort Covington in 1833 ; NW. from Malone 20 miles. Pop. 1,446. The Indian village of St. Regis lies on the left bank of the St. Regis river, upon the northern boundary. The reservation of this tribe lies partly in this town and partly in Fort Covington, extending 3 by 1 1 miles. Hogansburg and Bombay Four Corners are villages. The present or late chief of the St. Regis Indians, is or was a descendant of the daughter of the Rev. John Williams the minister of Deerfield, Mass., who was with most of his family and neighbors taken prisoners to Canada in 1704. Mr. Williams was carried to Lake Champlain, and from thence to Montreal and Quebec. In 1706, a flag-ship was despatched to the latter place, and Mr. Wilhams and 57 other captives were redeemed and sent to Boston : all his children returned with the exception of his daughter Eunice, who, at the age of 10 years, was left behind. She adopted the manners of the Indians, to one of whom she was married, and became converted to the Catholic faith. Some time alter the war, she, with her husband, visited her relations at Deerfield, dressed in the Indian costumes and though every persuasive was in vain tried to induce her to abandon him and remain among her connections, she still persisted in wearing her blanket and counting her beads, and returned to Canada, where she ended her days. Her descendants still continue to visit their relatives in New England, by whom they are hospitably received. One of them, by the name of Eleazer Williams, has been educated by his friends in New England and employed as a missionary to the Indians at Green Bay. Mr. Williams some years since, when on a visit to Canada, found the Bible of his great-grandfather, the Rev. John Williams, with his name in it. He states, that when Deerfield was destroyed, the Indians took a small church bell, which is now hang- ing in the Indian church at St. Regis. It was conveyed on a sledge as far as Lake Champlain and buried, and was afterward taken up and conveyed to Canada. The first standard captured from the enemy in the late war wais taken at this place by Maj. Guilford Dudley Young, on the 22d of Oct., 1812. The following account of this event is extracted from newspapers published at the time. " Major Young, of the Troy inilitia, commandant of a detachment stationed at French Mills, on the St. Regis river, having received information that a parly of the enemy had arrived at the village of S;. Regis, and that more were shortly expected, formed a resolution to take them before they were reinforced. For this purpose, he marched a detachment, at 11 o'clock on the night of the 21st of October, crossed the river at Gray's Mills about 3, and at 5 in the morning arrived within half a mile of the village unexpected by the enemy. Here the major made such a judicious disposition of his men, that the enemy were entirely 164 FRANKLIN COUNTY. surrounded, and after a few discharges, surrendered themselves prisoners with the loss of 5 killed. The result of this affair was the capture of 40 prisoners with their arms, equip- ments, &c., one stand of colors and two batteaux, without a man of our party being hurt. They got safe back to camp at 11 o'clock in the morning. The prisoners were sent off to Plattsburg. Maj. Young has thus had the honor of taking the first standard from the ene- my in the present war." From the Albany Gazette of January, 1813. " On Thursday, the 5th inst., at 1 o'clock, a detachment of the volunteer militia of Troy entered this city, with the British colors taken at St. Regis. The detachment, with 2 superb eagles in the centre, and the British colors in the rear, paraded to the music of Yankee Doodle and York Fusileers, through Market and State streets, to the capitol, the officers and colors in the centre. The remainder of the vestibule, and the grand staircase leading to the hall of justice, and the galleries of the senate and assembly chambers, were crowded with spectators. His excellency the governor, from illness, being absent, his aids. Cols. Lamb and Lush, advanced from the council chamber to receive the standard." Upon which Maj. Young, in a truly military and gallant style, and with an appropriate address, presented it to the people of New York ; to which Col. Lush, on the part of the state, replied in a highly complimentary speech, and the standard* was deposited in the council room, amid the loud huzzas of the citizens and military salutes. Subsequendy to this achievement, Maj. Youngt was appointed a colonel in the U. S. army. Brandon, taken from Bangor in 1828 ; centrally distant SW. from Malone 30 miles. The settlements are in the north part of the town. Pop. 560. Chateaugua, taken from Plattsburg and Champlain as part of Clinton county. Chateaugua Four Corners, 13 miles E. from Malone on the turnpike to Plattsburg, is a small village. West Chateaugua is a post-office. Pop, 2,820. There is in this town a cascade on the Chateaugua river of 90 feet perpendicular, over granite rock. Cha- teaugua was settled in April, 1804, by Benjamin Roberts, from Man- chester, Vermont ; William Bailey, Esq., and Mr. Nathan Beman, came about the same time. Mr. Beman acted as a guide in conducting Col. Ethan Allen into Ticonderoga. At the first settlement of this place, there were no other settlers in the limits of the county, except- ing a few Canadians at French mills, now Fort Covington. A skirmish took place in this vicinity during the late war, between the British and a portion of the American army under General Hampton, which was designed for the co-operation upon Montreal. The following account of this affair is taken from " Perkins' History of the Late War." * The standard is at present remaining in the capitol at Albany. \ This officer was a native of Lebanon, Conn. " After the war he entered the patriot service under Gen. Mina, and lost his life in the struggle for Mexican independence in 1817. The patriots, 269 in number, had possession of a small fort which was invested by a royalist force of 3,500 men. The sujiplies of provision and water being cut off, the sufferings of the garrisim and women and children in the fort became mtolerable; many of the soldiers deserted, so that not more than 150 effective men remained. Col. Young, however, knowing the perfidy of the enemy, determined to defend the fort to the last. After having bravely defeated the enemy in a number of endeavors to carry the fort by storm. Col. Young wa.s killed by a cannon shot, from the battery raised against the fort. ' On the enemy's last retreat, the colonel, anxious to observe all their moverr.en's, fearlessly exposed his person, by stepping on a large stone on the ramparts; and while conversing with Dr. Hennessey on the successes of the day, and on the dastardly conduct of the enemy, the last shot that w^■^s fired from tlieir battery carried off his head. Col. Young was an otJicer, whom, next to Mina, the American part of the division had been accustomed to respect and admire. In every action he had been conspicuous for his daring courage and skill. Mina reposed unbounded confidence in him. In the hour of danger he was collected, gave his orders with precision, and, sword in hand, was always in the hottest of the combat. Honor and firmness marked all his actions. He was generous in the extreme, and endured priva- tions with a cheerfulness superior to that of any other officer of the division. He has been in the V. S. service as Lieut. Col, of the 29th regiment of infantry. His body was interred by the few Americans who could be spared from duty wiih every pos^^jble mark of honor and respect; and the general gloom which per- vaded the division on this occasion was the sincerest tribute lliat could he offered by them to the memory of their brave chief.' —Barber's HUtorical CoUectunta aHd ^ntiqtutica of Omncclicut. FRANKLIN COUNTY. 165 " On the morning of the 21st of October, 1813, the army commenced a movement down the Chateaugay. An extensive wood of 10 or 12 miles in front, blocked up with felled timber, and covered by the Indians and British light troops, impeded the progress of the army. Gen. Izard was detached with the light troops and one regiment of the hne to turn these impediments in flank, and seize on the open country below, while the army, preceded by a working party, advanced in a more circuitous, but practicable route. The measure suc- ceeded, and the main body reached the advanced posirion on the Chateaugay, on the evening of the 22d. The 2.3J and 24th were employed in getting up the artillery and stores. There was now in front of the army 7 miles of open country, at the end of which commenced a wood of some miles in extent, which had been formed into an entire abattis, filled with a succession of wooden breastworks, the rearmost of which was supplied with ordnance. The Indiana and light troops were placed in front, and a heavy force in the rear. On the evenmg of the 2.5th, Col. Purdy, with the light troops, was detached to gain the rear of this position, while Gen. Izard made a simultaneous attack in front. Col. Purdy was misled by his guides, the attempt failed, and the advanced corps retired, with a loss of 50 killed, wounded, and missing, to a position 3 miles in the rear. On the 28th, Gen. Hampton, under an impression that Sir George Prevost might be in the way of his further advance, fell back to his former position at the Chateaugay Four Corners," and immediately conducted his army back to Plattsburg for winter quarters. Constable, taken from Harrison as part of Clinton county in 1807 ; bounds since altered. Pop. 1,121. Constable is a small village 7 miles N, of Malone. East Constable is a post-office. Dickenson, taken from Harrison (original name of Malone) in 1808 ; from Malone centrally distant SW. 30 miles. Pop. 1,005. This town is about 50 miles long, N. and S., and 6 broad. The set- tlements are in the northern part. DuANE, taken from Malone in 1828 ; centrally distant S. of Ma- lone 20 miles. The post village lies in the N. part of the town, where there is a considerable quantity of iron and steel manufactured from ore in the vicinity. Pop. 324. Fort Covington, named after Gen. Covington, who was slain at the battle of Williamsburg in Canada, November 11, 1813; taken from Constable in 1817; from Malone N. 7 miles. In the Fork, 5 miles S. of the St. Lawrence, is the post village of Fort Covington, formerly called " French Mills," which contains about 150 dwellings. Fort Covington of the late war was in this township. A large lum- ber business is here conducted by the way of the St. Lawrence. Pop. 2,098. Franklin, recently formed from Belmont ; centrally distant 28 miles SE. from Malone. The post-office is at Merritsville. Pop. 192. Malone, taken from Harrison, and organized as part of Clinton county in 1805 ; from Albany 212 miles, from Plattsburg W. 51, and from Ogdensburg E. 70 miles. Pop. 3,229. Malone village, the county seat, is situated upon both sides of the Salmon river. This stream is here crossed by a stone bridge, having an arch of 97 feet span and a roadway of 70 feet above the original bed of the stream. This town was first settled by Nathan Wood, an emigrant from Vermont, who located himself about a mile north of the village. The following view was taken near Hosford's tavern, and shows the prin- cipal part of the village. The public building on the extreme left is the academy, the one adjacent, the Baptist church ; the steeple of a large cotton factory is seen near the centre of the engraving, at the foot of the hill, and the courthouse on the right ; the Presbyterian 166 FUIiTON COUNTY. View of Malone, church, a large and substantial stone structure, is not brought into this view, being at the eastern end of the village. During the late war, (Feb., 1814,) a detachment of British made an incursion into this place, and proceeded as far as Chateaugua Four Corners. They were commanded by Col. Scott, of the 103d British regiment, and numbered about 2,300 men, including many Indians. Hearing of the approach of the American troops, they retreate 1 in great confusion, though not without destroying the bridges in their rear. The whole party suffered severely in their retreat by a tre- mendous storm of snow and hail which prevailed at the close of the day, and lost upwards of 200 men by desertion. MoiRA, taken from Dickenson in 1827; from Albany 225, centrally distant W, of Malone 14 miles. Pop. 964. Moira is a small village. Westville, taken from Constable in 1829 ; from Albany 233. from Malone centrally distant NW. 9 miles. Westville is a small village. Pop. 1,033. FULTON COUNTY. Fulton county was taken from the northern part of Montgomery county in 1838 ; NW. from Albany 40 miles; length E. and W. 32 miles, breadth N. and S. 17. The surface of the northern part of this county is hilly, with some ranges of a mountainous character. The Kayaderosseras range of mountains enters the county on the NE., but sinks to the general level in the town of Northampton. The county is well watered and contains several small lakes. It is divid- ed into 9 towns. Pop. 18,038. FULTON COUNTY. 167 Bleeker, taken from Johnstown in 1831 ; from Albany 53 miles, from Johstown N. 13. There are three inconsiderable settlements in the town. The soil is quite poor and covered with small evergreens. Pop. 346. Broadalbin, taken from Caughnawaga in 1793; from Albany 47 miles, from Johnstown NE. 10. A settlement was made in this town in 1776, by Daniel Mclntyre, and a few other emigrants from Scot- land ; but it was broken up during the revolutionary war. Fonda's Bush or Rawsonville, 10 miles from Johnstown, incorporated in 1815, has about 800 inhabitants. West Gal way and Union Mills are small post villages. Pop. 2,728. Ephrata, taken from Palatine in 1827 ; from Albany 58 miles, from Johnstown centrally distant W. 10. This town was settled in 1724, by Germans. Pop. 2,009. Pleasant Valley, Ephrata, and Lasselsville, are small villasjes. Southern view of Johnstown. Johnstown, originally named Caughnawaga, was founded about the year 1770, by Sir William Johnson, who resided here during the lat- ter period of his life, essentially in the rank, and with much of the splendor of a nobleman. Sir William and his family, by various means, became possessed of vast tracts of valuable land in this section of the country, and had many tenants and retainers under them. Their great possessions, however, were confiscated during the revo- lutionary war, on account of their adherence to the British cause. The village of Johnstown is about 4 miles N. of Fonda, the seat of justice for Montgomery county, and 44 from Albany. The accom- panying engraving shows the appearance of the village as viewed from the first elevation south, on the road to Caughnawaga or Fonda village. The courthouse is the first building seen on the left with a spire ; Mayfield mountains appear in the extreme distance. The vil- lage contains a bank, an academy, 4 churches — 1 Presbyterian, I Episcopal, 1 Dutch Reformed, and 1 Methodist — and about 250 168 FULTON COtJNTY. dwellings. It is situated on a handsome plain, skirted on the N. and W. by Cayadutta creek, and on the S. by a hill of moderate ele- vation. It was regularly laid out by Henry Oothoudt, Jeremiah Van Rensselaer, and Christopher P. Yates, state commissioners, in 1784, and was incorporated in 1807. The village of Kingsboro is 4 miles NE. from Johnstown ; it has a Presbyterian church, an academy, and about 40 or 50 dwellings. This village has acquired some celeb- rity, as being the place where great quantities of dressed deer-skin gloves and mittens have been manufactured. The town of Johns- town was originally organized by the name of Caughnawaga in 1 798 ; its territorial limits have since been much reduced. Pop. 5,408. Johnson Hall, in Johnstown. The above is a southeastern view of the mansion-house built by Sir William Johnson, called ^^ Johnson Hall." This house, now oc- cupied by Mr. Wells, is situated about three fourths of a mile NW. of the courthouse, on ground gently elevated above ihe village. The hall itself is built of wood, but the buildings or wings on each side are of stone, pierced with loop-holes for musketry. When Sir Wil- liam occupied these buildings, he had them surrounded by a stone breastwork. While in possession of the Johnson family, this was a place of resort for the sachems of the Six Nations, and all the Mo- hawks repaired thither to receive their presents from the British gov- ernment. William Johnson was born in Ireland about the year 1714; he was a nephew of Sir Peter Warren, the naval commander who dis- tinguished himself at the siege of Louisburgin 1745. Sir Peter hav- ing married a sister of Chief-justice De Lancey of New York, pur- chased a large tract of land on the Mohawk, and about the year 1734, sent for his nephew to come to America and superintend this estate. Young Johnson first established himself at the mouth of the Schoharie, afterward erected a house in the town of Amsterdam, and subsequently the hall at Johnstown. To fulfil the duties of his commission, he learned the language of the Indians, studied their FULTON COUNTY. 169 manners and cultivated their acquaintance. His situation between Albany and Oswego presented a fine opportunity for trade, and he carries on a large traffic with them, supplying them with goods, and receiving in return beaver and other skins. By a course of sagacious measures he obtained an influence over the Indians greater than was ever possessed by any other white man. In 1757, Johnson was intrusted with the command of the provincial troops of New York, whom he led to Lake George, where was achieved the first victory gained on the British side, in the war com- mencing at that period. For this victory, towards which he did but little more than barely hold the place of commander-in-chief, he re- ceived from the house of commons £5,000 sterling ; and from the king, the title of baronet, and the office of superintendent of Indian affairs. In 1759, being at the head of the provincial troops employed under Gen. Prideaux to besiege Fort Niagara, he became, when that officer was killed, the commander-in-chief: by his activity and skill he defeated the enemy and obtained possession of the fort and garri- son. In 1760, when Gen. Amherst embarked at Oswego on his ex- pedition to Canada, Sir William brought to him at that place 1,000 Indians of the Iroquois or Six Nations, which was the largest number that had ever been seen in arms at one time in the cause of England. " Sir William Johnson possessed considerable talents as an orator, and his influence over the Indians was not a little owing to the im- pression made upon them by means of his elocution He had wives and concubines, sons and daughters, of different colors." By Lady Johnson he had 3 children — 1 son and 2 daughters. His son, Sir John Johnson, took side with the British, in the revolutionary war, and became the scourge of the Mohawk valley. One of the daughters married Col. Claus, and the other Sir Guy Johnson. Sir William died suddenly, at Johnson Hall, July 11th, 1774, aged 60 years ; and was succeeded by his son in his title, and also to his post as major-general of the militia. The following anecdote respecting Sir William, seems to evince, that in his dealings with the Indians, who have a good reputation for cunning, he was not outwitted. Hendrick, the chief of the Mohawks, was at the house of Sir William when he received several rich suits of laced clothes. Soon after, the chief came to him and said, " I dream." " Well ! what did you dream ?" " I dream you give me one suit of clothes." This hint could not be mistaken or well avoided, and accordingly Hendrick received a suit. Some time afterward Sir William meeting Hendrick, said to him, " I dreamed last night." Did you ! What did you dream V " I dreamed you gave me a tract of land," describing it. Hendrick at first paused at the enormity of the demand, but at length said, " You may have the land ; but we no dream again, you dream too hard for me" The tract of land thus obtained, is stated to have been 12 miles square, in the present county of Herkimer ; the title to it was confirmed by the king, and was called the " Royal Grant." The power which Sir William Johnson acquired over the Indians 22 170 FULTON COUNTY. descended to his son and to his nephew, Col. Guy Johnson, who suc- ceeded him in the agency of Indian affairs. As the family had de- rived most of their wealth and consideration from the crow*, they were, as might be supposed, devoted loyalists. In 1775, Gen. Schuy- ler prevailed upon the Indians to agree to be neutral in the coming conflict. It appeared, however, that the influence of the Johnson family prevailed with the Indians, and induced them to join the British cause. It also appeared that Sir John was fortifying his house and arming the Scotch Highlanders, his tenants and adherents. Congress having heard of these movements, sent Gen. Schyyler to disarm these persons, and take other measures to secure the tranquiUity of Tryon county. Schuyler set out on this mission with 700 militia, but before he reached Caughnawaga his force had increased to three thousand. At Schenectady a deputation of Mohawks under the in- fluence of the Johnsons met him, and with much artfulness endea- vored to dissuade him from advancing. On the IGth of January, 1776, Gen. Schuyler despatched a letter to Sir John, requesting him to meet him on the morrow ; they accordingly met, and after some subsequent delay, he and the Scotch gentlemen agreed to make a delivery of the arms of the inhabitants. Sir John likewise agreed that he would not go westward of German Flats and Kinsland dis- trict, and that six Scotch inhabitants might be taken as hostages. On the 19th, Schuyler marched into Johnstown and drew up his men in a line ; the Highlanders were drawn up facing them, and grounded their arms. The military stores were surrendered : and this service being performed, Schuyler and the militia returned. It was found afterward that the Highlanders had not delivered up their broad- swords or ammunition. Gen. Herkimer was left by Gen. Schuyler to complete the disarm- ing of the hostile inhabitants. Sir John, notwithstanding his word of honor, continued his hostile intrigues with the Indians, and otherwise forfeited his promises. It was found necessary to secure him, and in May, 1776, Col. Dayton was sent on this duty. The tories in Al- bany gave notice to Sir John of his approach, and the knight and his followers fled to the woods, and escaped to Canada, arriving at Mon- treal after nineteen days of suffering and starvation. He left his re- sidence in much haste : an iron chest with the family Bible and papers were buried in the garden. On arriving in Canada, the baronet was commissioned a British colonel, and raised the regiment of tories called the Royal Greens. By his adherence to the British, his immense estate was forfeited, and this appears to have inspired him with implacable revenge. On Sunday, the 21st of May, 1780, at dead of night, Sir John Johnson, with a force of about 500 men, part of whom were Indians, made an incursion into Johnstown. He had penetrated the country by way of Lake Champlain to Crown Point, and thence through the woods to the Sacondaga river. The following account of tliis incursion is from a newspaper pubUshed June 15th, 1780. " By the latest intelligence from Schenectady, we are informed that Sir John Johnson, (who styles himself Lieut, colonel commanding the King's Royal Yorkers, in the parcels FULTON COUNTV. 171 given to some of the prisoners,) on Lord's day evening, the 21st uh., made his first appearance at Johnson Hall, imdiscovered by any but his friends, who no doubt v^rere in the secret. On Monday, about daybreak, they began to burn all the houses except those of the tories, beginning at Aaron Putnam's, below Tripe's Hill, and continued burning to Anthony's Nose, or Acker's house, except a few which by the vigilance of the people were put out after the enemy had set them on fire. There have been burnt 33 houses and ouuhousea and a mill ; many cattle were killed in the field, and 60 or 70 sheep burnt in a bam. Eleven persons were killed. Col. Fisher [Visscher] and his two brothers fought with great bravery, when the two brothers were killed and scalped ; the colonel went up stairs and there defended himself, but being overpowered, was knocked down and scalped, on which they plundered the house, set it on fire, and then went off. The colonel recovering a little, though he was left by the enemy for dead, he pulled one of his dead brothers out of the house then in flames ; the other was consumed in the house. It is said that the doctors have hopes that Col. Fisher will recover. His mother had a narrow escape for her life, being knocked on her head by an Indian ; but she is like to do well. Capt. Hansen was killed by an In- dian, who had formerly been used by him with kindness, and professed much gratitude. Old Mr. Fonda was cut in several parts of his head with a tomahawk. Had it not been for the alertness of Mr. Van Vrank, probably more would have been butchered by their savage hands ; he alarmed the people along the way to Caughnawaga, who by crossing the river saved their lives. Having done all the mischief to the distressed inhabitants they possibly could, they returned to Johnson Hall in the afternoon ; when Johnson dug up his plate, and about sundown marched for the Scotch Bush, about four miles, that evening. He has 15 or 20 of his negroes who had been sold ; several of his tenants and others have gone with him. He has permitted some of liis prisoners to return on parole. His whole force when he landed at Crown Point, is said to be about 500 men, 200 of them British, part of his own regiment, and Indians. Capt. Putnam and four men followed them in their retreat four days, on their way to Lake Champlain. He saw him 24 miles from Johnson Hall. Some think they will take their route to Oswagatchie ; but this seems improbable, as they have not provisions sufficient with them. His excellency the governor has collected a body of militia to intercept their way to Lake Champlain ; a number have also marched from the New Hampshire grants for the same purpose : Col. Van Schaick, with 800 men, is in pursuit of him by the way of Johnstown. We hear that the enemy had their feet much swelled by their long march ; and being greatly fatigued, it is hoped our people may come up with and give a good account of the Lieut, colonel and his murdering banditti." In this incursion, Mr. Sampson Sammons and his three sons, all stanch whigs, residing in Jonu-stown, were captured by the enemy and their dwelling laid in ashes. The elder Mr. Sammons and his youngest son, a youth of eighteen, were released by Sir John, but Jacob and Frederick, the other sons, were taken to Canada and con- fined in the fortress of Chamblee. From this place they made their escape, and after a series of dreadful suffering, in their flight through the wilderness, arrived in safety among their friends. A long and interesting account of their adventures is given in Col. Stone's Life of Brant. " A singular but well-attested occurrence," says Col. Stone, " closes this interesting per- sonal narrative. The family of the elder Sammons had long given up Frederick as lost. On the morning after his arrival at Schenectady, he despatched a letter to his father, by the hand of an officer on his way to Philadelphia, who left it at the house of a Mr. Levi De Witt, five miles distant from the residence of the old gentleman. The same night on which the letter was thus left, Jacob dreamed that his brother Frederick was living, and that there was a letter from him at De Witt's announcing the joyful tidings. The dream was repeated twice, and the contents of the letter were so strongly impressed upon his mind, that he repeated what he believed was the very language, on the ensuing morning — insisting that such a letter was at the place mentioned. The family, his father in particu- lar, laughed at him for his creduhty. Strong, however, in the behef that there was such a communication, he repaired to the place designated, and asked for the letter. Mr. De Witt looked for it, but repHed there was none. Jacob requested a more thorough search, and behold the letter was fomid behind a barrel, where it had fallen. Jacob then requested Mr. De Witt to open the letter, and examine while he recited its contents. He did so, and the dreamer repeated it word for word." 172 FULTON COUNTY. In the summer of 1781, another expedition was sent against Johns- town. This was conducted with so much secrecy, that on the 24th of Oct., the enemy, about one thousand in number under Majors Ross and Butler, were upon the settlement at Warrensbush before their approach was suspected. Col. Willet, who was at Fort Rensselaer about twenty miles distant, on hearing the news, immediately marched for Fort Hunter, which he reached early on the following morning with all the forces he could muster, being but 41G men in all. When he arrived here, he learned that Ross and Butler had the preceding day crossed the river some distance below Tripe's Hill, and arrived at Johnstown about the middle of the day, killing and taking the peo- ple prisoners, destroying buildings and cattle on their way. Having eftected the passage of the river, Col. Willet pushed on in pursuit of the enemy. Having ascertained their position, he detached Major Rowley, of Massachusetts, with part of his force, by a circuitous march, to fall upon the rear of the enemy while he attacked them in front, a short distance above the Hall. The battle became spirited and general, but the militia under Col. Willet gave way, and ran in the utmost confusion to the stone church in the village. Here the colonel succeeded in bringing them to a halt. But the defeat would have been complete, had not Major Rowley, at this period of the ac- tion, emerged from the woods and fell upon the enemy's rear in the very moment of their exultation at their easy victory. The fight was now maintained on both sides with obstinacy till near sunset, when Willet was enabled to collect a respectable force, with which he returned to the field, and again mingled in the fight. The battle was kept up till dark, when the enemy, pressed on all sides, fled in disorder to the woods — nor stopped short of a mountain six miles distant. The loss of the Americans in this conflict was about forty. The enemy lost about the same number killed, and about fifty pri- soners. "Major Ross retreated up the north side of the Mohawk, marching all night, after the battle. In the morning he was pursued by Col. Willet, but was not overtaken. The re- gion of country over which Ross retreated, after he had passed the settlements, lies twenty or thirty miles north of Fort Schuyler, and at that time was uncultivated and desolate. His army suffered much from hunger. — It was on this retreat that Walter Butler was killed : he was pursued by a small party of Oneida Indians ; when he arrived at West Canada creek, about 15 miles above Herkimer, he swam his horse across the stream, and then turn- ing round, defied his pursuers, who were on the opposite side. An Oneida immediately discharged his rifle and wounded him ; he fell. Throwing down his rifle and his blanket, the Indian plunged into the creek and swam across ; as soon as he had gained the opposite bank, he raised his tomahawk, and with a yell, sprang like a tiger upon his fallen foe. Butler supplicated, though in vain, for mercy ; the Oneida with his uplifted axe, shouted in his broken English, — ' Sherry Valley ! remember Sherry Valley ." and then buried it in his brains; he tore the scalp from the head of his victim still quivering in the agonies of death, and ere the remainder of the Oneidas had joined him, the spirit of Walter Butler had gone to give up its account. The place where he crossed is called Butler's Ford to this day." — Campbell's Annals of Tryon County. The following is a copy of a kind of diploma, in possession of the New York Historical Society, which it would seem the Johnson family were in the habit of giving to those Indians in whom they confided. In the vignette, a British officer is seen presenting a medal, FULTON COUNTY. 173 or something resembling it, to an Indian dressed in the aboriginal style, — the council fire, the pipe of peace, the chain of friendship, &c., are all represented. " By the Honorable Sir William Johnson, Bart., His Majesty's sole Agent and Superin- tendant of Indian Affairs for the Northern Department of North America, Colonel of the Six United Nations, their Alhes and Dependants, &c. &c. " To Whereas, I have received repeated proofs of your attachment to his Britannic Majesty's Interests and Zeal for his sei-vice upon sundry occasions, more particu- larly I do therefore give you this public Testimonial thereof, as a proof of his Majesty's Esteem and Approbation, Declaring you, the said to be a of your and recommending it to all his Majesty's Subjects and faithful Indian Al- lies to Treat and Consider you upon all occasions agreeable to your character. Station and services Given under my hand and seal at Arms at Johnson Hall the day of 17 By Command of Sir W : Johnson. The following inscriptions are copied from monuments in the grave- yard in the village of Johnstown : " Sacred to the memory of the Rev. ^mo7i Hosack, D.D., minister of the Presbyterian church, Johnstown, who died May 19, 1833, in the 79th year of his age. He was born in Rosshire, in the north of Scotland, in March, A.D., 1755. He received a finished edu- cation in the University of Aberdeen, and completed his theological course in the semi- nary connected with that institution. As a man, he was judicious and prudent — as a Chris- tian, his conversation was in Heaven, and whatsoever things were true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report, these were his — as a minister of the gospel, he was evangelical in his sentiments, circumspect in his walk, and watchful of the spiritual welfare of his people, of which he had the oversight for the extended period of 42 years. His death, which, though deeply and sensibly felt to be a great loss by all who well knew and rightly appreciated his sterling worth, was to him great gain." " This stone was erected by Anne McKenzie, in grateful remembrance of her affection- ate husband, Dugald McKenzie, who departed this life on the 7th of Sept., 1809, aged 27 years and 7 months. No private interest did his soul invade. No foe he injured, no kind friend betrayed ; He followed virtue as his surest guide. Lived like a Christian, like a Christian died." " In memory of John Baptiste Vaumane Be Fonclaire, formerly a captain in the Martin, ique regiment, in the service of his most Christian Majesty, Louis the XVI., and for thirty years past a citizen of the United States, who departed this life 5th January, 1811, in the 7l8t year of his age." 174 GENESEE COUNTY. Mayfield, taken from Caughnawaga in 1793; from Albany 40, and from Johnstown, NE., 8 miles. Cranberry Creek, Mayfield, and Ricefield, are post-offices. Pop. 2,615. NoETHAMPTON, taken from Broadalbin in 1801. At the confluence of the Scandaga river and the Mayfield creek, lies the small village of " Fish House," v^^here Sir William Johnson had his sporting lodge, or summer retreat. Northampton, or Fish House village, 17 miles NE. from Johnstown, is a small village. There is here a splendid bridge across the river, costing about $60,000. Northville and Os- born's Bridge are small settlements. Pop. 1,526. Oppenheim, taken from Palatine in 1808; from Albany 63, from Johnstown, W., 18 miles. This town was settled in 1724, by Ger- mans. Its present inhabitants are characterized by the hardy in- dustry and frugality of that nation. Oppenheim and Bracket's Bridge are post-offices. Pop. 2,169. Perth, recently taken from Amsterdam, of Montgomery county ; it is 10 miles E. of Johnstown, and is the smallest town in the county. Pop. 737. Stratford, taken from Palatine in 1805 ; from Albany 63 miles. Nicholsville is a small settlement, 23 miles NW. from Johnstown, on the west line of the county. Pop. 500. GENESEE COUNTY. Genesee county was taken from Ontario in 1802, and has since been much reduced by the formation of several counties from it ; centrally distant from New York 321, from Albany 258 miles. This county pertains to the great plain of the west, and forms with Wyo- ming the highest portion of it. Upon the west, the streams run to Lake Erie, and on the east to the Genesee river : as in limestone countries generally, the streams are subject to much fluctuation. The soil is generally highly fertile, and produces as fine crops of wheat as any part of the state. By the recent erection of Wyoming county from the southern portion, this county is reduced to twelve towns, and a population of about 30,000. The following is a list of articles and rates of wages, taken from a history of Genesee county, pubhshed in 1804, by Robert Munroe; " Wheat from 62 cents to $1 per bushel ; corn, from 30 to 50 cents a bushel ; hay, from $G to $12 a ton ; butter and cheese, from 10 to 16 cents a pound ; a yoke of oxen, from $50 to $80; milch cows, $16 to $25; a pair of good working horses, $100 to $125; sheep, $2 to $4; pork, freshed killed in winter, $4 to $6 a 100 lb.— salted in Spring, $8 to $10 ; whiskey, 60 to 75 cents a gallon ; salt, $1 a bushel, weighing 56 lbs. ; field ashes, 4 to 9 cents a bushel : 600 bushels may be manufactured into a ton of pot or pearl ashes, which has been sold at market at $1.25 to $1.50 ; and some persons by saving their ashes, or by manufacturing them, have nearly cleared the cost of improving land. GENESEE COUNTY. 175 The wages of a laborer, $10 to $15 a month and board ; a suit of clothes, made from $4 to f 5 ; a pair of shoes, $1.75 to $2.50. Store goods are sold at very moderate prices, the expense of carriage from New York to Albany being about $2 a hundred weight," Alabama, taken from Pembroke and Shelby in 1826 ; from Albany 257 miles. The greater part of the town was in the Tonawanta Indian reservation, part of which was sold in 1827-8. The Indi- ans have yet here, and in Niagara and Erie counties, a tract of 12,000 acres. Their village, containing about 300 inhabitants, is sit- uated in this town. Alabama post-office is 12 miles NW. from Ba- tavia. Pop. 1,798. Alexander, taken from Sheldon in 1812 ; from Albany 247 miles ; drained NE. by the Tonawanta creek. Alexander, on the Tona- wanta railroad, incorporated in 1834, has about seventy dwellings. Brookville is a small settlement, 6 miles south of Batavia. The Alexander classical school, in this town, was incorporated in 1834. Pop. 2,241. Batavia was organized in 1802; it has a level surface and is drain- ed by the Tonawanta creek. Batavia, the shire village, incorporated in 1823, is laid out upon a plat about 2 miles square. The village is principally built on a single street upwards of a mile long, on the eastern side of Tonawanta creek, distant from Albany 244 miles, Buffalo 40, Rochester 34, Canandaigua 49, Genesee 29, Lockport 32 miles. Population of the town, 4,219. A railroad connects Batavia with Rochester. Western view of the central part of Batavia. The above is a western view of the central part of Batavia, as seen from the bridge over the Tonawanta creek, about 40 rods NW. from the courthouse seen in the central part of the engraving. The village consists of about 300 dwellings, many of which are finely constructed of brick. The spire of the Presbyterian church is seen on the left, the tower of the Episcopal on the right. The state arse- nal is about a mile NW. of the courthouse. There are in the village. 176 GENESEE COUNTY. 1 bank, and 2 printing offices, and the office of the Holland Land Com- pany. Dr. Dwight, who on his visit to Niagara Falls passed through Batavia in Oct., 1804, states that at that time it contained "from 20 to 30 houses ; a considerable number of them built of logs ; the rest small, and chiefly of one story. The courthouse, a well-looking structure, has three stories, the second of which is the county jail." He also says, " in the season when we were on the ground, so many persons were ill of the diseases common to this region, that those who remained well, were scarcely able to nurse the sick." Office of the Holland Land Company. The above is an eastern view of the office of the Holland Land Company in Batavia, about 80 rods northward from the courthouse. The state of New York, in 1786, granted the state of Massachusetts more than six million acres of her western territory, [see page 40,] which that state sold to Oliver Phelps and Nathaniel Gorham, for one million of dollars. These gentlemen soon after extinguished the In- dian title to a part of this territory ; they surveyed it into tracts, denominated ranges and townships, and sold large parcels to specu- lators and actual settlers. In 1790, they sold nearly the whole of the residue of the survey, 1,204,000 acres, to Robert Morris, of Pliila- delphia, for eight pence the acre, who resold it to Sir William Pult- ney. Phelps and Gorham being unable to fulfil their contract in full with Massachusetts, compromised and surrendered that part of the land to which the Indian title was unextinguished ; in consideration of which, the state relinquished two thirds of the contract price. In 1796, Robert Morris purchased from the state this portion also — ex- tinguished the Indian title — sold off several large tracts upon the east side, and along the Genesee, and mortgaged the residue to Wilhem Willink, of Amsterdam, and 1 1 associates, called the " Holland Land Company." This company, by the foreclosure of the mortgage, ac- quired full title to the land, surveyed it, and opened their first land- office in Batavia in 1801. "Having sold a large proportion of the country, they, in 1805, conveyed the residue of the wild lands to several companies, who have undertaken to retail them." GENESEE COUNTY. 177 " The Holland purchase was bounded on the east by a transit meridian line due north from latitude 42°, embracing the two west- ern ranges of the county of Allegany, and with an offset, west, of two and a quarter miles, extending north to Lake Ontario, on the west line of Murraytown, Orleans county — two fifths of Allegany county, the greater portion of Genesee and Orleans counties, and all of Niagara, Erie, Chatauque and Cattaraugus," with the exception of some small Indian reservations. Batavia has acquired celebrity from its being the place from which William Morgan was abducted in 1826, for attempting to reveal the secrets oi free masonry. Morgan, it appears, was born in 1774, in Culpepper county, Va. His occupation was originally that of a bricklayer and stone mason. He removed from Virginia in 1821, and went to York, U. C. ; from thence he removed to Rochester. From various misfortunes, he became quite reduced in his circum- stances, and in the summer of 1826 he resided in the village of Bata- via. While here, he became connected with D. C. Miller, a printer, for the purpose of publishing a work disclosing masonic obligations, secret signs, &c. Morgan, it appears, was a royal arch mason ; and when the fact became known that he was preparing a work to reveal the secrets of masonry, many of the masonic fraternity became much excited, and appeared determined to put an end to his disclosures. For this purpose, his character was assailed in the public prints. In July, 1826, Morgan was arrested on a civil suit at Batavia, and gave bail ; he was afterward arrested and hurried to jail, without time being given him to procure bail, and search was made at his lodgings for his papers on some pretended process, the sheriff in the mean time absenting himself An attempt was afterward made to burn down Miller's printing office, where " Morgan's Book" was print- ing. On Sunday, Sept. 10th, application was made to J. Chipman, Esq., a magistrate of Canandaigua, for a warrant to apprehend Morgan for stealing a shirt and cravat, which it appeared afterward he had only borrowed. The warrant being issued, the constable at Canandaigua, attended by five other persons from that place, immediately set out for Batavia, where they arrived in the evening. Early the next morning, (Monday,) Morgan was arrested and taken to the public house where the party had slept ; an extra stage-coach was procured, and the party left Batavia for Canandaigua, with Morgan in their cus- tody. Miller attempted to procure the release of Morgan just as the carriage was starting, but he was pushed aside, and the driver was urged to drive fast till he should get out of the county. Having arrived in Canandaigua, Morgan in the evening was taken before the magistrate who had issued the warrant, and was by him examined and discharged. One of the party then immediately applied to the same magistrate for a warrant against Morgan for a debt of about $2, which he said had been assigned to him by a tavern keeper. Judgment was entered against Morgan for $2.69, debt and costs, and an execution immediately issued. Morgan took off his coat, and 23 178 GENESEE COUNTV. offered it to the constable to levy upon for the debt. The constable declined receiving it, and Morgan was committed to the Canandaigua jail the same evening, where he remained till the evening of the next day. On the 12th of Sept., about 9 o'clock in the evening, the wife of the jailer, at the request of the plaintiff in the execution, consented to let Morgan out of the prison. As he was leaving the jail steps, he was violently seized by two persons ; he struggled, and cried " murder," a number of times. Two other persons now came up, one of whom stopped Morgan's outcry by thrusting a handkerchief, or something similar, into his mouth. At a signal given by one of the party, a two- horse carriage now drove up ; two of the party thrust Morgan into the carriage, and then got in themselves. This carriage arrived in Rochester about day-dawn the next morning. Another carriage was procured, and relays of horses were obtained. When the party arrived at New Fane, about 3 miles from Lockport, they sent to the sheriff of Niagara county, to assist them in getting Morgan into Canada. The sheriff accordingly left Lockport, attended the party, and assisted them in procuring horses, &c. They arrived at Lewis- ton about midnight ; here another carriage was procured, and the party was driven to the burying ground near Fort Niagara. Here they left the carriage and proceeded with Morgan in their custody to the ferry, and crossed over to the Canada side. After conferring with a number of persons in Niagara village, Morgan was brought back, as arrangements had not been completed for his reception. This event it appears had been anticipated. Morgan was taken to the magazine of Fort Niagara, and locked in before day-dawn, on the morning of the 14th of September. On the day that Morgan was put into the magazine, a royal arch chapter was installed at Lewiston, which event called together a considerable assemblage of masons from the vicinity. " In the even- ing, 20 or 30 persons came to the fort from Lewiston. About mid- night, 7 persons, stated to be royal arch masons, held a consultation on the plain near the graveyard, as to the manner in which Morgan should be disposed of The prevailing opinion among them appeared to be, that Morgan had forfeited his life for a breach of his masonic obligations, and that they ought to see the penalty executed by drowning him in the river ; some of the company discovering a re- luctance to go to such lengths, the project was abandoned at that time. On the night of the 15th, a similar consultation was held between four persons, but nothing was decided on. " As to the disposition of Morgan, after the evening of the 14th of September, nothing has yet been known judicially, but circumstances are strong, to induce the belief that he was put to death on the night of the 19th of Sept., 182G, by being cast into the depths of Niagara river."* Bergen, taken from Murray in 1818 ; bounds since altered. Ber- * Report of Mr. Whittlesey and others, at the United States anti-masonic convention, held at Philadelphia, Sept. lltli, 1830. GENESEE COUNT r. 179 gen is a small village, 16 miles NE. from Batavia. North Bergen and Stone Church are post-offices. Pop. 1,835. Bethany, taken from Batavia in 1812 ; from Albany 241 miles. Bethany, 8 miles SE., Linden 10 miles S. from Batavia, Bennet's Settlement, and East Bethany, are small villages. Pop. 2,288. The Genesee Manual Labor Seminary, in this town, was incorporated in 1832 — capital $20,000, with a farm annexed. BvRON, taken from Bergen in 1820; from Albany 247, from Ba- tavia, NE., 10 miles. Byron and South Byron are small villages, — the latter of which is on the line of the Batavia and Rochester rail- road. Pop. 1,908. In the SW. part of the town, sulphuric acid is produced in great quantities in a diluted and concentrated state, in a hillock 230 feet long and 100 broad, elevated 5 feet above the plain. Darien, taken from Pembroke in 1832 ; from Albany 255 miles. Darien, 13 miles SW. from Batavia, and Danen Centre, are small villages. Pop. 2,406. Elba, taken from Batavia in 1820 ; from Albany 250 miles. Pine Hill, 6 miles N. from Batavia, Oakfield, and Careysville, are small villages. Pop. 3,161. Eastern view of Le Roy Village. Le Roy, named after Mr. Jacob Le Roy, a French gentleman from Paris, who was a large proprietor, was taken from Caledonia in 1812, and organized by the name of Bellona ; from Albany 234 miles. Le Roy village was founded in 1810, by Mr. Le Roy, and incorporated in 1834. It contains 1 Episcopal, 1 Baptist, 1 Methodist, and 1 Pres- byterian church, and about 260 dwellings, surrounded by ample lots and of very neat appearance. The annexed view was taken on the eastern bank of Allen's creek, near the Baptist church. The fall in the creek here, and in the vicinity, is considerable. At the village it is iS feet; within a mile is another fall of 27, and within 2 miles a. 180 GENESEE COUNTY. third of 80 feet. South Le Roy is a small settlement, 12 miles from Batavia. Pop. 4,335. Pavilion, organized in 1841. This township comprises the north- ern part of the original town of Covington, now in Wyoming county. Pavilion is a small village, 1 1 miles SE. from Batavia. Pembroke, taken from Batavia in 1812; bounds since altered; from Albany 257 miles. Richville, 14 miles W. from Batavia, and Corfu, are small villages. East Pembroke is a post-office. Pop. Dr. D wight, who travelled through this town in Oct., 1804, notices the circumstance of his passing, when in this part of the state, through oak plains or openings. These grounds are described as having a varied surface, and in a great degree destitute of forests, but covered with grass, weeds, and shrubs of various kinds : he supposes these openings to have been caused by the Indians burning them over, to produce pasture for deer. The following is extracted from the 4th vol. of his Travels. " When one of these plains is seen at a little distance, a traveller emerging from the forest naturally concludes, that it is the commencement of a settled country, and as he advances towards it, is instinctively led to cast his eye forward to find the village of which it is the outskirt. From this impression his mind will be unable to free itself: for the thought, though given up, will recur again and again, in spite of his absolute conviction that he is in the heart of an immense wilderness. At the same time a sense of stillness and solitude, a feeling of absolute retirement from the world, deeper and more affecting than any which he has even suspected before, will be forced upon him while he is roving over one of these sequestered regions. No passage out of them is presented to his eye. Yet though the tract around him is seemingly bounded everywhere, the boundary is everywhere obscure ; being formed by trees thinly dispersed, and retired beyond each other, at such distances, as that while in many places they actually limit the view, they appear rather to border dim, indistinct openings into other tracts of country. Thus he always feels the limit to be un- certain ; and until he is actually leaving one of these plains, will continually expect to find a part of the expansion still spreading beyond the reach of his eye. At every little distance, especially on the higher grounds, the view is widely, though indefinitely extended along the surface ; and a little above where he looks through the stems of the trees, is bounded only by the horizon. On every side a multitude of chasms conduct his eye beyond the labyrinth by which he is surrounded ; and present an imaginary passage back into the world, from which he is withdrawn; bewildering him with expectation, continually awakened to be continually disappointed. Thus in a kind of wild, romantic rapture, he wanders over these plains, with emotions similar to those with which, when a child, he roamed through the wilderness created in Arabian tales, or the imaginary regions spread before him in a dream. He is not only separated from all human beings, but is every moment conscious of this separation. Whenever he ascends one of the superior elevations, he seems to stand above the rest of the globe. On every side he looks downward ; and beholds a prospect with many vistas, opening indeed around him, but conducting his eye to no definite object, and losing it in confusion and obscurity. His view is confined by neither forests nor moun- tains : while yet trees in a thin dispersion partly interrupt it ; but at the same time discover, through their various openings, that it has no other limitation than the skirts of the heav- ens. — While he wanders on through this bewildering scenery, he cannot fail to remember, that on these plains Indians have lived, and roved, and hunted, and fought, ever since their first arrival from the shores of Asia. Here, unless they molested each other, there was nothing to molest them. They were the sole lords, the undisturbed possessors of the country. Here, therefore, he will call up before his imagination the secret windings of the scout ; the burst of the war-hoop ; the fury of an Indian onset ; the triumphant display of scalps ; and the horrors of the war-dance before the tortured and expiring captive. Whether these thoughts will be excited in the mind of any future traveller, I know not : in my own they sprang up instinctively." Stafford, taken from Batavia and Le Roy in 1820 ; from Albany 238 miles. Stafford Centre, 6 miles E. from Batavia, Morgansville 7, and Roanoke 9 miles, are small villages. Pop. 2,560. I GREENE COUNTY. 181 GREENE COUNTY. Greene county, on the west side of the Hudson river, was taken from Ulster and Albany counties in 1800 ; greatest length 42 miles ; greatest breadth on the Hudson 28 miles ; centrally distant from New York 130, and from Albany 35 miles. The surface is every- where hilly, and the larger portion mountainous. The Cattskill mountains, after following the southern boundary of the county in an easterly direction to the southeast angle, turn north and northwest, and pass nearly through the centre of the county into Schoharie. The general elevation of this range is from 2,000 to 2,500 feet above the adjacent country ; while many of the peaks are elevated from 3,000 to 3,800 feet above the level of the Hudson. Round Top has an elevation of 3,718 feet. High Peak 3,804, and Pine Orchard 3,000 feet. The whole southwestern part of the county is hilly and moun- tainous, yet it affords a fine soil for pastures, with some arable land. The northeastern and eastern parts of the county are less hilly, and have many valleys, rich and extensive. Much attention is paid to agriculture, and more leather is manufactured in this than in any other county in the state. The county was originally settled by the Dutch. A large proportion, however, of the present inhabitants are of New England descent, and are noted for morahty and industry. Pop. 30,446. The county is divided into eleven towns. Athens was taken from Cattskill and Coxsackie in 1815. Athens village was incorporated in 1805. It lies on the west bank of the Hudson, opposite the city of Hudson ; from New York 116, from Albany 29 miles. It is beautifully situated, extending along the shore about a mile and a half, and is viewed advantageously from the city of Hudson. [See view of Hudson.'] The northern section of the village was laid out about 1790, by Edward Livingston, Brockholst Livingston, Elihu Chauncey Goodrich, and associates ; the southern in 1801, by Isaac Northrop, Alexander Alexander, Patrick Hamilton, and others. The village now contains several churches, and about 150 dwellings. It is a place of much business, and its natural ad- vantages are such, that in time it must be one of considerable im- portance. A ferry plies constantly between it and Hudson. Pop. 2,387. The following account of the murder of Miss Hamilton, in 1813, is taken from a newspaper published at the time : '' A most daring atrocity. — Hudson, August 1, 1813. — On Saturday afternoon last, the body of Miss Sally Hamilton, the daughter of Samuel Hamilton, Esq., of Athens, (on the opposite bank of the North river,) was found in the creek which empties itself into the river, about one hundred rods north of the upper settlement of that village. The circum- stances attending the daring deed which produced this young lady's death, are most agoni- zing, and such as at once exhibit a most wretched deterioration in the morals of society, The facts as we have been able to collect them are as follows : " On Wednesday evening last, about 8 o'clock, Miss Hamilton left the house of her sister, in the lower settlement of the village of Athens, where she had been visiting, to re- turn to her father's house in the upper settlement, 'the two settlements are towards half & 182 GREENE COUNTY. mile apart,) accompanied by several of her acquaintances. On reaching the upper settle- ment, part of her company stopped at a store to make some purchases, and on being desired to go in, she also stopped at the door, but excused herself, urging that she had been from home all day and was anxious to return. When she left this store it was precisely half, past 8 o'clock. From here she was accompanied by two elderly ladies, and when she parted from them, was within twenty rods of her father's house. After she parted from these ladies no positive account of her can be traced, although the twenty rods she had to walk to reach her father's house is nearly as thickly settled as any part of the city of Hud son ; and it was not until the next afternoon that her absence was discovered, when het sister, at whose house she had been the preceding day, visited her father's, and both parties missing the favorite of the family, mutual inquiries of her were made, which, on further in- quiry among the neighbors, resulted in the distressing eclaircissement embraced by the pre ceding detail. The alarm was instantly given, and search made for her in every direction without effect. " The only intelligence that could be obtained that in any way tended to elucidate her fate was, that between 8 and 9 o'clock in the evening in which she disappeared, a woman who was in the back part of the house at the opposite corner of the street to that to which she had to turn to go to her father's, came into the front part of the house, and inquired with some agitation if they had just then heard the stifled cries of a woman in distress. The reply being given in the negative, the inquiry was dropped. This corner of the street is within a stone's throw of the water side, and turning which, from the street she was last parted with in, to go to her father's house, she would leave the road that led direct to the creek beyond the village. About 9 o'clock, also, or a little after, the cries of a female in distress were heard by the people of a house about 80 rods beyond the creek ; they were heard twice or thrice very distinctly, and afterward rather faintly ; but imagining that they must be deceived, and that it was the noise of ihe boys in the village, they thought but little of it until the next day, when the absence of Miss Hamilton was ascertained ; blood was found upon the timbers of the bridge that crosses the creek, where two of the plank wore missing. The creek was now searched, but all to no purpose ; and, in this state of painful incertitude, the search was renewed on Saturday, the third day of her absence, when the body was found about half a mile up the creek beyond the bridge, nearly as far as a boat could be pushed. The body was afterward placed in the charge of a jury summoned for the purpose, (on which were two physicians,) who conveyed it to her father's house ; and after an examination of evidence, &c., they were unanimously of opinion that the young lady had been wilfully murdered by some person or persons unknown. From the coroner and several of the jury, we understand that the skull above the left eye was fractured, that the upper part of the cheek bone under the left eye was broken, that the hands were much lacerated, each arm near the shoulder bore the marks of having been seized there with violence, and on her breast there were marks of blows — but that lower down on her body there were no signs of violence having been offered her. " The conclusion drawn from all these circumstances is, that at the time of her passing the corner into the street that led to her father's house, where the stifled cries of a woman were heard, she was forcibly seized by ruffians, and conveyed by land or water to some place in the vicinity of the creek before mentioned, where the alternative was probably offered her, of submitting to the hellish embraces of these murderers, or of instant death. At this time it most undoubtedly was, that she uttered those moving shrieks which were heard at the house north of the creek, and when, to stop her cries, and prevent, as they probably conceived, all possibility of detection, the blows were inflicted that terminated her existence. After this, it appears probable that the murderers took the body to the bridge, and from thence plunged it into the water and it drifted up the creek ; or else that it was lowered down from the bridge into a boat, and conveyed to near the place where it was found ; one of the planks of the bridge being found near the body, is in support of the former position, but the circumstance of there being little or no current in the creek from the tide, argues that the latter mode was adopted. " Miss Hamilton was about 20 years of age, of a very respectable family, and possessed to the full an equal share of the attractions and accomplishments of her sex ; superadded to which, she enjoyed a most irreproachable character. Her funeral was attended on Sunday, by a large concourse of citizens from this city, as well as from the village of Athens ; and no occurrence has ever taken place in this vicinity, that has ever excited to an equal degree the sensibility of the community. Suspicion rests upon no person re- siding in this neighborhood ; but to be more particular on this head at the present moment, might jeopardize the prospect there is of apprehending the perpetrators of this atrocious act, for we are not without the strongest hope of soon being able to annoimce to the public tjiat the villians have been detected." GREENE COUNTY. 183 In 1815, Patrick Cavanagh confessed himself the murderer, and re lated in detail the manner in which it was committed ; but on his trial it was ascertained that he was insane, and he was accordingly acquitted. Some time after, Lent, a soldier in the U. S. army, com- plained of a comrade by the name of Sickler, as being the author of the crime. At the trial, Lent testified that he was with Sickler at the time, and stood silently by and witnessed, although he did not partici- pate in the transaction ; and that previous to the murder, Sickler committed an outrage upon her person. In the course of the trial it became evident that the whole story was a fabrication on the part of Lent, for the purpose of obtaining the offered reward. Sickler was acquitted, and Lent arrested, tried, and condemned to the state prison for perjury, where he died some years since. Nearly thirty years have elapsed since the murder, and as yet the transaction remains a mystery. The following inscription is from the monument in one of the burying grounds at Athens : " Sacred to the memory of Sally Hamilton, who was murdered by unknown hands in the evening of the 25th of August, A.D., 1813, in the 20th year of her age. Parental affection erects this monument. "Does youth, does beauty lead this line ? Do sympathetic tears their breast alarm ? Speak, Heavenly Spirit ! breathe a strain divine, — Ee'n from the grave thou shalt have power to charm ; Tell them them that tho' it is an awful thing to die, — 'Twas e'en in thee, — yet the dread path once trod, Heaven lifts its everlasting portals high, And bids the pure in heart behold their God." Cairo, originally named Canton, was taken from Catskill, Cox- sackie, and Freehold, (now Durham and Greenville,) in 1803. The surface of the town is mountainous and hilly. Pop. 2,862. Cairo, upon the Susquehannah turnpike, 10 miles NW. of Catskill, has 1 Presbyterian, 1 Episcopal, 1 Baptist, and 1 Methodist church, and 400 inhabitants. Acra, 14 miles NW. from Catskill, is a small settle- ment. Catskill was organized in 1788 as part of Albany county; since modified. The town had a small annexation from Saugerties in 1822. The surface and soil are quite diversified. On the west are the Kaatsbergs, of a lofty mountain character, bordered by many hills of no inferior magnitude ; and the intervening plain that extends towards the Hudson has a broken surface, especially in the southern part, whilst the northern has a high level plain of sand and clay. The Catskill creek runs through the northern part of the town, re- ceiving in its course a number of fine mill streams, which, with the Catskill, are bordered with rich tracts of alluvial land. Pop. 5,339. Leeds and JeflTersun are small villages. The village of Catskill was incorporated in 1806, and is the seat of justice for the county. The village is principally built in the deep valley of the Catskill, between which and the Hudson is a bluff 150 feet in height. The annexed engraving is a NW. view of the village, as seen from an elevation called Ashley Hill, at its northern extremi- ty. The drawbridge over the Catskill is seen on the right, and will 184 GREENE COUNTY. Northwestern view of Catskill. admit the passage of sloops some distance above it. The mouth of the creek makes a good harbor for sloops ; and a long and broad dyke, walled with stone, connects the shore with an island in the river, affording a place for buildings, and a commodious landing for steamboats. The principal street in the village is about half a mile in extent, having quite a business-like appearance. The steamboat landing is about 1 mile distant. There are in the village 1 Dutch Re- formed, 1 Episcopal, 1 Presbyterian, 1 Baptist, and 1 Methodist church. There are 2 banks, 2 newspaper establishments, and about 300 dwellings. Distant 6 miles from Hudson, 111 from New York, and 33 from Albany. " Although not in the town, yet as connected by name and many relations with Catskill, we may describe here the Pine Orchard and Mountain House, noted attractions to tourists. They are in Hunter, near its eastern boundary, 12 miles west from Catskill village. The road from the village to the foot of the mountain, 9 miles, has little of interest. The ascent of the mountain is by a good though circui- tous road of 3 miles, but which, often running upon the brink of .a deep ravine, or beneath frowning precipices, excites an unwelcome degree of terror. The hotel, erected by ' The Kaatskill Mountain Association,' at the cost of $22,000, is on a circular platform of rock, of uneven surface, having an area of about 6 acres. The building is 140 feet by 24, 4 stories high, with piazzas in front, and a wing for lodging rooms, and is duly fitted and furnished for the accommodation of its numerous guests. " The prospect from this rock is more extensive and diversified than, perhaps, from any other point in the United States. Petty inequalities disappear, and the whole surrounding country is spread out as a plain. The eye roves, in endless gratification, over farms, villages, towns, and cities, stretching between the Green mountains of Vermont on the north and the Hijjhlands, The Hudson river, with GREENE COUNTY. 185 Catskill Mountain House. its green isles and thousand sheets of white canvass, becomes visible for 60 miles in a clear atmosphere. At times, a thick curtain of clouds of ever-changing form, veils the region of lovi^er earth from sight ; and in their respective seasons, storms of rain and snow spend their force in mid air, beneath the rays of a bright sun which gilds the mountain above them. The scene, when gradually unfolded with the day, is most enchanting. " A few years since this delightful position was almost unknown and rarely visited ; but the reports of the extent, beauty, and gran- deur of its prospects, and the salubrity of its atmosphere, at length fixed public attention. The number of visiters at each successive season increased, until the temporary buildings at first erected gave place to the edifice we have described. The following heights on the mountain have been given by Capt. Partridge : Mountain house, 2,212 feet above the Hudson; 1,882 feet above Lawrence's tav- ern ; 1,547 feet above the turnpike gate, at the foot of the mountain, and 947 above Green's bridge. " Two miles from the hotel are the Kaaterskill Falls, upon a stream flowing from two lakes, each about a mile and a half in circumfer- ence, and about a half mile in the rear of the house. After a west course of a mile and a half, the waters fall perpendicularly 175 feet, and pausing, momentarily, upon the ledge of a rock, precipitate them- selves 85 feet more, making the whole descent of the cataract 260 feet. Below this point, the current is lost in the dark ravine or clove through which it seeks the valley of the Catskill. The water-fall, with all its boldness, forms, however, but one of the interesting fea- tures of this scene. From the edge of the first falls is beheld a dreary 24 186 GREENE COUNTY. chasm, whose steep sides, covered with dark ivy and thick summer foHage, seem like a green bed prepared for the waters. Making a circuit from this spot, and descending about midway of the first fall, the spectator enters an immense natural amphitheatre behind the cascade, roofed by a magnificent ceiling of rock, having in front the falling torrent, and beyond it the wild mountain dell, over which the clear blue sky is visible. The falls on the west branch of Kaaterskill have a perpendicular descent of more than 1^0 feet, and the stream descends in rapids and cascades 400 feet in 100 rods. The Kaaters- kill has a devious and very rapid course of about 8 miles, to the Cats- kill, near the village. The falls are best seen from below ; and the view from the Pine Orchard is better between 3 o'clock, P. M. and at sunset, than in the middle of the day." — Gordon's Gaz. The following description of this view from the Catskill mountain house is given by Miss Martineau : " After tea I went out upon the platform in front of the house, having been warned not to go too near the edge, so as to fall an unmeasured depth into the forest below. I sat upon the edge as a security against stepping over unawares. The stars were bright over- head, and had conquered half the sky, giving promise of what we ardently desired, a fine mon-ow. Over the other half, the mass of thunder-clouds was, I supposed, lieaped together, for I could at first discern notliing of the champaign which I knew must be stretched below. Suddenly, and from that moment incessantly, gushes of red lightning poured out from the cloudy canopy, revealing not merely the horizon, but the course of the river, in ail its wind, ings through the valley. This thread of river, thus illuminated, looked like a flash of hght- ning caught by some strong hand and laid along in the valley. All the principal features of the landscape might, no doubt, have been discerned by this sulphurous light ; but my whole attention was absorbed by the river, which seemed to come out of the darkness like an apparition at the summons of my impatient will. It could be borne only for a short time ; this dazzling, bewildering alternation of glare and blackness, of vast reality and nothingness. I was soon glad to draw back from the precipice and seek the candlelight within. " The next day was Sunday. I shall never forget, if I live to a hundred, how the world lay at my feet one Sunday morning. I rose very early, and looked abroad from my win- dow, two stories above the platform. A dense fog, exactly level with my eyes, as it ap. peared, roofed in the whole plain of the earth ; a dusky firmament in which the stars had hidden themselves for the day. Such is the account which an antediluvian spectator would probably have given of it. This solid firmanent had spaces in it, however, through which gushes of sunlight were poured, fighting up the spires of white churches, and clusters of farm buildings too small to be otherwise distinguished ; and especially the river, with its sloops floating like motes in the sunbeam. The firmament rose and melted, or parted off into the likeness of snowy sky mountains, and left the cool Sabbath to brood brightly over the land. What human interest sanctifies a bird's-eye view ! I suppose this its peculiar charm, for its charm is foimd to deepen in proportion to the growth of mind. To an infant, a champaign of a hundred miles is not so much as a yard square of gay carpet. To the rustic it is less bewitching than a paddock with two cows. To the philosopher, what is it not ? As he casts his eye over its glittering towns, its scattered hamlets, its secluded homes, its mountain ranges, church spires, and untrodden forests, it is a picture of life ; an epitome of the human uni> crse ; the complete volume of moral philosophy, for which he has sought in vain in all libraries. On the left horizon are the Green mountains of Vermont, and at the righ* extremity sparkles the Atlantic. Beneath hes the forest where the deer are hiding and the birds rejoicing in song. Beyond the river he sees spread the rich plains of Con- necticut ; there, where a blue expanse lies beyond the triple range of hills, are the churches of religious Massachusetts, sending up their Sabbath psalms ; praise which he is too high to hear, while God is not. The fields and waters seem to him to-day no more truly property than the skies which shine down upon them ; and to think how some below are busying their thoughts this Sabbath-day about how they shall hedge in another field, or multiply their flocks on yonder meadows, gives him a taste of the same pity which Jesus felt in his fwlitude when his followers were contending about which should be greatest. It seems strange to him now that man should call any thing his but the power which is in hira,- and GREENE COUNTY. 187 which can create somewhat more vast and beautiful than all that this horizon encloaes. Here he gains the conviction, to be never again shaken, that all that is real is ideal ; that the joys and sorrows of men do not spring up out of the ground, or fly abroad on the wings of the wind, or come showered down from the sky ; that good cannot be hedged in, nor evil barred out ; even that light does not reach the spirit through the eye alone, nor wisdom through the medium of sound or silence only. He becomes of one mind with the spiritual Berkeley, that the face of nature itself, the very picture of woods, and streams, and mead- ows, is a hieroglyphic writing in the spirit itself, of which the retina is no interpreter. The proof is just below him, (at least it came under my eye,) in the lady, (not American,) who, after glancing over the landscape, brings her chair into the piazza, and, turning her back to the champaign, and her face to the wooden walls of the hotel, begins the study, this Sun- day morning, of her lapful of newspapers. What a sermon is thus preached to him at this moment from a very hackneyed text ! To him that hath much, that hath the eye, and ear, and wealth of the spirit, shall more be given, even a replenishing of this spiritual life from that which to others is formless and dumb ; while from him that hath little, who trusts in that which lies about him rather than in that which Uves within him, shall be taken away, by natural decline, the power of perceiving and enjoying what is within his own domain. To him who is already enriched with large divine and human revelations this scene is, for all its stillness, musical with divine and human speech ; while one who has been deafened by the din of worldly affairs can hear nothing in this mountain solitude." The annexed anecdotes, extracted from the New York Commer- cial Advertiser, are from the well-known pen of the editor. " Passing through the little village of Jefferson, we arrived at the still larger and more bustling one of Madison, 4 miles from Cattskill The principal house at this place, is an ancient stone edifice, and for a generation past occupied as a store and as a tavern. Its builder and late proprietor was the late M — g S — n, Esq., an ancient and somewhat eccentric Dutch denizen, who stood six feet six in his shoes, weighed 15 stone, and was in a way somewhat of a wag withal. — The valley of the Kaatskill was chiefly settled by the Dutch ; and the house of mynheer was the principal place of resort for the Van Bokkelins, Van Ordens, and Van Der Speigles of the neighborhood to smoke their pipes, and crack their jokes of long winter evenings, before their peaceful country was overrun by the Yan- kees, who have swarmed over this once happy region like the locusts of Egypt, equally hungry and destructive. It was the worthy host of huge dimensions whom we have de- scribed, who was so grievously taken in, once on a time, in an encounter of wits with one of those keen-eyed, cunning Yankees, who prowl over the country, seated on tin carts, with bags of feathers, or some other " notion" for their cushions. After some sporting and bantering between mynheer and Jonathan, who had shown off some common slight of hand tricks, with cards, to the great astonishment of the " spoons" who were looking on, he, that is, the said Jonathan, declared that he could swallow his robustuous host ! Notwithstanding that Jonathan had already played off several of his Yankee tricks which puzzled the good people exceedingly, yet this assertion was too great a mouthful for them to swallow, if the pedler could. A bet suflficient to moisten the throats of the whole company was the conse. quence between the principal parties, though the landlord in proposing it had no idea that his customer would accept, when, as he supposed, he must be certain of losing. Jonathan then directed that mynheer should be divested of his coat and boots, and be stretched longi- tudinally upon the old oaken table which had stood in the bar-room for half a century. These arrangements having been made, Jonathan voraciously seized upon the honest land- lord's great toe, which he pressed rather violently between his teeth, giving the good man a twinge which caused a writhing movement and a groan. ' Dunder and blixem,' exclaimed Mynheer : ' Vat de teinl do ye pite me sho vor !' ' Why you darned great fool,' said Jona- than, ' you didn't think I was going to swallow you whole, did you ?' A burst of laughter proclaimed Jonathan victor, and mynheer had to pay the toast and toddy. " . . . . Before reaching Cairo, an ancient and spacious stone house was pointed out to us bearing date of 1705, in large iron figures. This venerable mansion stands in the midst of an extensive farm of about 1,000 acres, well cultivated, and presenting a scene which, for a single farm, is hardly anywhere to be equalled for the rich, picturesque, and beautiful. The cultivation denotes the hand of industry rather than taste. The practised horticulturist had not been there ; but rank pastures, heavy waving fields, and luxuriant meadows, indicated rich returns to the husbandman. The small clumps of trees left here and there in the fields to afford fuel in the winter, and lend a grateful shade in summer, diversified the scene and rendered it still more delightful. We linger longer at this spot than our wonted manner is, in consequence of an interesting tale connected with it, whicli 188 GREENE COUNTY. is no fiction. During a part of the 17th and nearly the whole of the 18th century, it be. longed to a single owner ! When young he was a man of violent passions. A servant girl having once run away, he pursued and overtook her, and, in his exasperation, tied her to his horse's tail to lead her home. By a fright, or some other cause, the horse ran off, and the unfortunate girl was dashed to pieces against some rocks and stones. The unhappy master was arrested, tried, and convicted of murder ! He was rich, of a powerful family for the times, and through the combined means of wealth and family influence, it being on ail hands allowed to be a hard case, he was sentenced to be executed at ninety-nine years old. He lived on ; and generations passed away — and yet he lived ! Death seemed to have no arrow barbed for him. At length the time approached. Ninety, ninety-five, ninety.eight years had rolled away since his birth. The ninety-ninth came on, and yet he lived ! But generations had risen up and gone down to the tomb since his ofience. Nay, the tale had almost become a forgotten tradition, although many years before the keen eyes of super, fitition had seen, and her tremulous tongue related, many tales of startling terror concerning the appearances at the fatal spot, pointed out to this day, where the poor girl had lost her life. The hopeless swain, who, in returning from visiting his rustic mistress, was so un- lucky as to have been detained in the lap of bliss to the solemn hour of midnight, was sure to encounter a nocturnal appearance of some sort. Sometimes sighs and lamentations were heard in the air, like the plaintiveness of the soft whistling wind. At others, a white cow, which was said to have been a favorite when the deceased was alive, would stand lowing among the rocks, while again at others, a shagged white dog would stand pointing and howling towards the mansion. But they always vanished on approaching them, though perhaps it would be difficult to prove that the spectators approached very near. A white horse of gigantic size, with fiery eyeballs and distended nostrils, was often seen to run past the fatal spot, with the fleetness of wind, dragging a female behind, with tattered gar. ment and streaming hair, screaming for help. At other times the horse would appear to drag a hideous skeleton, clattering after him, half enveloped in a winding sheet, with cries and dismal bowlings ; while again a female figure would at times appear sitting upon a huge fragment of rock, with a lighted candle upon each finger, singing wildly, or uttering a piercing cry, or an hysterical laugh. People, too, began to wonder that the murderer did not die, while many shook their heads and indicated that he could not, — that his soul was bound to earth till the time should come. But these things, too, passed away. And now the revolution had intervened, — a new government bore rule ; and the old man was not molested. For 75 years he had led a quiet and inofl'ensive life, and who would rudely break in upon his repose ? He died tranquilly at more than a hundred years old. Peace be to his ashes ! Tradition has added to his sentence that he was to wear a cord contin- ually upon his neck ; and a few years ago, there were those living, who pretended that they had seen a neat silken string worn in compliance to the sentence, but to appearance as an ornament." CoxsACKiE was originally settled by the Dutch ; it was a part of Albany county, and organized in 1788. Pop. 3,539. It derives its name from an Indian word, meaning " hooting of owls." Coxsackie vil- lage and landing, on the Hudson, lies 124 miles from New York, 20 from Albany, and liz N. of Cattskill. The village is over a mile W. of the landing, and has about 100 dwellings. At the landing there is a jaii« from Geneseo SW. 6 miles. The site is beautiful, being elevated above the fertile flats which border the river. The annexed view was taken near the residence of Mr. Joseph Starkey. The three churches seen in front are respectively the Episcopal, Baptist, and Methodist ; the spire on the left is that of the Presbyterian church. The hills in the distance are on the opposite side of the Genesee flats. The village contains about 120 dwellings. The post-offices are River Road, River Road Forks, Tuscarora, at Brushville village, and Brooks Grove. Sparta, organized as part of Ontario county in 1789; area since reduced ; from Albany 231 miles. Pop. 5,841. Dansville village, 18 miles SE. from Geneseo, is at the head of the Genesee valley, 45 * For a biographical sketch of Mary Jemison, or the " White Woman," the reader is re- ferred to Castile, Wyoming county. 32 250 LIVINGSTON COUNTY. "Western view in Dansville, Livingston county. miles from Rochester. A side-cut connects this village and the valley of the Canascraga with the Olean and Rochester canal. The above is a central view^ in Dansville. There is a Lutheran and a Methodist church besides the one shown, which is a Presbyterian, and a flourishing Academy. This is a thriving place and rapidly increasing. Within the circle of 6 miles, there are no less than 60 saw-mills. There are now in the village about 200 dwellings. The first settler in the village was Amariah Hammond, originally from New London, Conn. He came here in 1795, and erected in June of that year the first log cabin, which stood a few rods south of his pre- sent residence. Shortly after came Samuel Stillwell, Alexander Ful- lerton, Frederick Covert, Richard Porter, and others. The village was laid out in 1796, by Daniel Faulkner from Dansville, Penn., after which it was named. He was a wealthy enterprising man, and making large purchases of land, held out inducements to emigrants. When Mr. Hammond came, there was no blacksmith nearer than 40 miles, at Bath. The usual price for laborers was ^2, and some, by jobbing, would earn 4 or 5 a day. In the spring of 1796, the settlers were alarmed by a loud noise like the report of a cannon. It was immediately ascertained to be the bursting out of a stream on the hill east of the village. The water came with such force as to throw forth earth and stones weighing two or three hundred pounds. An oak two and a half feet in diameter was cast butt foremost down the hill. The stream is supposed to be the outlet of a pond one and a half mile distant, on the summit of the mountain. It continues to flow to the present day, and is used to turn the wheels of a tannery. Before the revolution, according to tradition, a battle took place on a hill, a few miles distant, between the Canisteo Indians and those liv- ing in this vicinity, during which a chief of the latter was killed. When the whites first settled here, the spot where he fell was marked by a large hole dug in the earth in the shape of a man with arms ex- tended. An Indian trail led by the place, and the Indians, on passing, were always accustomed to clear away the dry leaves and brush which had blown in. This chief was buried in an old Indian bury- LONG ISLAND. 251 ing ground which stood on the present site of the Lutheran church, and was thickly covered with graves to the extent of two or three acres. His monument consisted of a large pile of small stones gath- ered from time to time by the natives from a hill a mile distant ; who, on passing, were accustomed to take one in their hand and add to the heap. His bones were afterward disinterred by the settlers, and judging from them, and the length of the hole on the hill, he must have been 7 feet or more in height. Scottsburg, ByersviUe, Kysor- ville. and Union Corners, are small villages. Sparta is a post-otfice. Springwater, taken from Sparta and Naples in 1816; from Gene- seo, SE., 18 miles. Springwater valley is a small village. Pop. 2,832. York, taken from Caledonia and Leicester in 1819; from Albany 237 miles. Pop. 3,644. Fowlersville, on the Genesee, 10 miles N., Greggsville, 4 miles NW. from Geneseo, and York Centre, are small villages. LONG ISLAND.* " Long Island may be described as the southeasterly portion of the state of New York, and extending from about 40° 34' to 41° 10' north latitude, and from 2° 58' to 5° 3' east longitude from Washing- ton city ; being in length from Fort Hamilton, at the Narrows, to Montauk Point, nearly one hundred and forty miles, with a mean range north, 90° 44' east. Its breadth from the Narrows, as far east as the Peconic bay, varies from 12 to 20 miles in a distance of ninety miles." A ridge or chain of hills commences at New Utrecht, in Kings county, and extends with occasional interruptions to near Oyster Pond Point, in Suffolk county. The surface of the island north of the ridge is in general rough and broken, while the surface south of the range is almost a perfect plain, with scarce a stone ex- ceeding in weight a few ounces. On the south side of the island is the great South bay, extending from Hempstead to the eastern boundary of Brookhaven — a distance of more than seventy miles of uninterrupted inland navigation. It varies in width from two to five miles, communicating with the sea by a few openings in the beach, the principal of which is opposite the town of Islip, called Five Island Inlet, In this bay are very ex- tensive tracts of salt marsh, and islands of meadow furnishing im- mense quantities of grass ; while its waters contain great quantities of shell and scale fish. Wild-fowl of many kinds and in almost countless numbers are found here, and many hundreds of people are engaged in taking them for the New York market. The north shore * A history of Long Island in an octavo volume of 536 pages, by B. F. Thompson, Esq., has been recently published; it is to this valuable and interesting work that the authors are deeply indebted for the accoimt given of the various towns on Long Island. 252 LONG ISLAND. of the island is very irregular, and where not protected by masses of rock and stone, has been worn away by the sea to a considerable extent. The soil on the north side generally consists of loam, on the south side it consists more of sand, while through the middle of the island it consists chiefly of sand and gravel. The soil on the high grounds is in most cases better than that upon the plains, yet that found upon the necks or points on both sides is better than either. The soil in the vicinity of New York is highly productive and valua- ble, but in the greater part of the island it is naturally light and poor. Much of the land in the central part of tlie island is covered with a vast pine forest, in which wild deer are still to be found. " Long Island Sound is a bay, or inland sea, with two outlets. If considered as extending from the Battery, in New York, to Fisher's island, its length is the same as that of the island. Proceeding from the city, easterly, it has a tortuous course of 16 miles, in which it varies from half a mile to two miles in width. From the Battery to Harlaem river, the course is NNE. 8 miles, and thence to Throg's Point, nearly E., 8 more. This portion is known as the East river. At the bend, opposite to Harlaem river, is the noted pass of He lie Gat (Dutch) or the gut of hell, narrow, crooked, and to the inexperienced, dangerous. The water here, when the tide is rising or falling, forms cataracts and vortices, which may dash to pieces or swallow up the largest vessel coming within their influence. The best times for pass- ing it ai'e at high and low water. " Above Throg's Point, the Sound, properly speaking, commences, and turns to the NE. 18 miles, between Lloyd's neck and Stamford, in Connecticut. Thus far the shores are rugged and the channel rocky, and much interrupted by small islets and projecting points ; but be- yond Lloyd's neck it opens into a noble elliptical expanse, from 8 to 20 miles wide, and with depth suflicient for the largest vessels of commerce or war ; presenting, along its northern shore, a continued picture of gradually rising hills, bold promontories, and commodious havens, which is chased before the eye like a briUiant phantasmago- ria, in the rapid passage of the steamboats." Long Island was claimed by the Dutch and English nations re- spectively by right of discovery. The Dutch commenced their set- tlements as early as 1625, at the west end of the island. In 1623, the Plymouth company, by order of Charles I., issued letters patent to William Alexander, Earl of Stirling, for the whole of the island. The Enghsh made settlements at the east end of the island, but they were for a season resisted by the Dutch. The settlements, both at the E. and W. end, were nearly cotemporary. In the Dutch towns, the Indian title was bought by the governor, and the lands granted to individuals by him ; in the English towns lands were ob- tained under the license of the agent of Lord Stirling, and after his death, by the people of the several towns for their common benefit. The line of division between the two nations was a source of much contention and many complaints. The several English towns united .themselves with the colonies of Connecticut and New Haven. After LONG ISLAND. 253 Connecticut received her royal charter, in 1662, she exercised juris- diction, and gave each of the towns who united with her, permission to send a deputy to the general court. But before these measures could be fully completed they were frustrated by the grant of Long Island to the Duke of York. The following account of the Indians on Long Island, is taken from " Wood's History of Long Island" pubhshed in 1828. " When the first settlements were made on the island by the Dutch and English, it ap- pears, from the original Indian deeds, that the principal tribes that occupied it, were as follows : — " The Canarse, the Rockaway, the Merikoke, the Marsapeague, the Secatague, and the Patchague, on the south side — the Matinecoc, the Nissaquague, the Satauket, and the Cor- chaug, on the north side ; the Shinecoc, the Manhanset, and the Montauk, from the Canoe Place on Montauk Point. " The Canarse appears to have been the only tribe, or the only tribe of any consequence, in Kings county. This tribe claimed the chief part of the lands in Kings county, and a part of the lands in Jamaica. " The Rockaway tribe claimed the territory around Rockaway, and more or less of the lands in Newtown and Jamaica. " The Merikoke and Marsapeague tribes extended from Rockaway through Queens county into Suffolk, on the south side of the island. " The tenitory of the Matinecoc tribe extended from Flushing through Queens county to Fresh Pond in Suffolk, on the north side. " The Nissaquague tribe extended from Fresh Pond to Stonybrook. " The Satauket tribe claimed from Stonybrook to the Wading river. " The Corchaug tribe extended from the Wading river through South Old on the north side. " The territory of the Manhanset tribe was Shelter-Island. " The territory of the Secataug tribe adjoined that of the Marsapeagues, and extended to Patchogue. " The territory of the Patchogue tribe extended to South Hampton. " The Shinecoc tribe extended from the Canoe Point to Montauk, and that peninsula was the seat of the Montauk tribe. " There are one or two other tribes named in the old records, but the place they occu- pied cannot be ascertained, and it is evident from that circumstance, that they must have been very small, perhaps the mere remnants of tribes which had been destroyed in their wars. " Those above enumerated are the principal tribes that occupied the island when the Enghsh and Dutch commenced their settlements there, and the original purchases of the several towns were made of these tribes. " The Indian settlements were all on the bays, creeks, and harbors on the north and south sides of the island, and their territories were divided from each other by the middle of the island. " At the time of the first settlement of the island, the whole Indian population was con- siderable, but by no means as great as the facilities of subsistence would have authorized us to expect, nor as great as it probably had formerly been. *' The shell banks which indicate the sites of their villages, on the western half of the island, are large and numerous, and beds of shells of some size or other are found at inter, vals of a few miles all around the margin of the island. From these it would seem that the population of some parts of the island was once very numerous, or must have been sta. tionary there a long time.* " The state of the Indian population must be ascribed to their perpetual wars, by which they had been diminished. " All savage nations are addicted to war. The causes of war among them are numerous, and the mode of carrying it on destructive to their numbers. * " The shell banks in the western towns of Suffolk county are much larger and more numerous than in the eastern towns, where shell fish are as abundant : which proves that the western part of the island had been the longest settled, and that the Indian emigration proceeded from west to east." 254 LONG ISLAND. " It appears that Long Island had been overrun by hostile tribes, and many of the natives must have been destroyed by them. " The confederacy of the Five Nations extended their conquests as far south as Manhattan Island, and had passed over to the west end of Long Island, and subdued the Canarse Indians. " There is a tradition among the Dutch, that at the lime of the first settlement of the island, the Canarse tribe paid the Mohawks an annual tribute of wampum and dried clams, and that they discontinued the payment of it on the persuasion of the whites, in conse- quence of which a party of the conquerors came and destroyed the whole tribe, except a few who happened to be from home. " Some writers have supposed that the conquest of the Mohawks extended to the whole island, but there is no tradition to support it, and it is believed that the conquest never extended beyond the territories of the Canarse Indians. This may have been owing to the fact, that all the other Indians were in subjection to the Pequots. It is well known that this tribe never was subdued by the Five Nations, and it would have been a violation of their rules of warfare, to have turned their arms against a tributary people, when they had not subdued the power that held them in subjection. " The Montauks had probably been the most warlike tribe on Long Island, had overrun the other tribes on the island east of the Canarse territory, and had reduced them to some kind of subjection. At the time of the first settlement of the island, the Montauk sachem claimed and exercised some kind of sovereignty over the whole territory, and it is stated that he justified his claim before the governor and council in virtue of a former conquest of the country. In 1659, he conveyed the territory which constitutes the town of Smithtown, then occupied by the Nissaquague Indians, to Lyon Gardiner. " It was under a belief of his superiority over the chiefs of the other tribes, that the first settlers were anxious to have their purchase deeds signed by that chief, as well as by the sachem of the tribe of whom the land was purchased. " The confirmation deed of Hempstead in 1657, the deed for Lloyd's neck, and others, are executed in this manner, and in some of the original deeds the Mantauk chief is styled the sachem of Long Island. " The superiority ascribed to the chief of that tribe after the settlement of the country, might have arisen in part from the distinction conferred on him or recognised by the com- missioners of the united colonies. In 1651 it is stated in some of our early records, that they constituted one, who is supposed to have been the Montauk chief, grand sachem of the Long Island Indians. It is probable that the commissioners only recognised or con- firmed an authority with which they found him invested. " It is evident from the early writers of New England, that the Pequots, who occupied the country around New London, and was the most warlike tribe in Connecticut, had sub. dued the Montauks with their tributaries, and that at the time of the first settlement of New England, the Long Island Indians were in subjection to the Pequots, and paid them a tribute. The \'ictory over the Montauks involved the subjection of all the tribes that were under them, and the conquest of the Pequots must have embraced all the tribes on the island east of the Canarse territory. " In 1637, the New England colonies made war on the Pequots, to avenge the murders and other hostile aggressions which they had committed on the whites, and subdued and dispersed the whole tribe. The Long Island Indians who had been subject to the Pequots, immediately repaired to the English to make their peace with them. Winthrop, in his journal, states that on the reduction of the Pequots in 1637, 'sachems from Long Island came voluntarily and brought a tribute to us of twenty fathom of wampum each of them.' " From this time they seem to have considered themselves to be in subjection to the English, and to have paid them tribute, perhaps the same they had paid the Pequots. In 1644, they appHed to the commissioners for some evidence of their relation to them, and the commissioners gave them a certificate in writing, in eflect promising them security from injury by the English, and all others in friendship with them ; at which time they as- sured the commissioners ' that they had been tributaries to the Enghsh ever since the Pe. quot war, and that they had never injured the English or Dutch, but had been friendly to both,' which implied that they had been subject to the Pequots and followed their fate. In 1650, the commissioners sent Captain Mason to Long Island to require payment of the tribute due from the Indians there, and to settle a way in which it might be punctually discharged in future. " In 1656, the Montauk chief visited the commissioners at Boston, and in answer to an inquiry whether he had paid the tribute due from him, stated that he had paid it at Hartford for the space of ten years, and that it was in arrear for the four last years, which they re. mitted in consideration of his distressed condition by the late war in which he had been MADISON COUNTY. 255 engaged with the Narragansetts. In 1653, Ninnigrate, the chief of the Nehantic Indians, who were either a tribe of the Narragansetts or closely connected with them, made war on the Long Island Indians, which lasted several years, and reduced them to great extremity. He invaded the territory of the Montauks, and would have extirpated the whole tribe, if they had not found protection in the humanity of the people of East Hampton. " They were obliged to abandon their villages, and to flee for refuge to East Hampton, where they were kindly received, sustained, and protected. They continued to reside in that town for several years, before they deemed it safe to return to Montauk. Long Island is divided into three counties, Kings, Queens, and Suffolk. An account of the various towns on the island, with his- torical notices, &c., is given under the head of these counties in their alphabetical order. MADISON COUNTY. Madison county was taken from Chenango county in 1806, and named after James Madison, president of the United States. Great- est length N. and S. 33, greatest breadth E. and W. 32 miles. Cen- trally distant from New York 250, from Albany 108 miles. The surface of the county is much diversified. The middle and southern towns are more or less uneven and hilly ; but the northern is more level. In the northern part much wheat is produced : the southern is better adapted to grass. The county is generally well watered. The route of the Chenango canal follows up the Oriskany, and crosses thence into the Chenango valley. The Erie canal runs westerly through the northern towns of Lenox and Sullivan. The county is divided into 14 towns. Pop. 40,032. Brookfield, taken from Paris when part of Herkimer county, in 1795 ; from Albany 90 miles. Pop. 3,695. Clarksville, incorporated in 1834, has about 60 dwellings. Leonardsville, on the Unadilla river, 22 miles SE. from Morristown, is a small settlement. Cazenovia, taken from Whitestown and Paris when part of Her- kimer county, in 1795 ; from Albany 113 miles. When erected, this town comprised an area nearly equal to that of the county. Pop. 4,153. It was first settled in 1793, by Col. John Linklaen, from Am- sterdam, agent for a company in Holland, who were owners of large tracts in this and the adjacent towns, and sold them out in farms principally to New Englanders. Cazenovia village was founded by Col. Linklaen, about 1695, and incorporated in 1800. It is situated upon the margin of Cazenovia lake and its outlet, and upon Chittenango creek, 8 miles S. of the Erie canal, 1 1 from Morris- ville, 40 from Utica, and 113 from Albany. The following engraving is a S W. view of the village as seen from the bridge, at the outlet of the lake. The village contains upwards of 200 dwellings, 1 Presby- terian, 1 Methodist, 1 Baptist, and 1 Congregational church, a bank, 2 printing offices, and the " Oneida Conference Seminary," incorpo- rated in 1825. This institution was established under the patronage 256 MADISON COUNTY. South JVestern view of Cazenovia. of the Methodist denomination for the education of youth of both sexes. It has ever maintained a high standing. The number af pupils in 1840 was 327. Woodstock is a small village. De Ruyter, , taken from Cazenovia in 1798; from Albany 123 miles. Pop. 1,799. De Ruyter village is 17 miles SW. from Mor- risville, and was incorporated in 1833. It contains about 80 dwell- ings and the De Ruyter Institute, a flourishing literary seminary, es- tablished a few years since under the patronage of the Seventh-day Baptists. The annual catalogue for 1840 gives 162 as the numbei of pupils male and female, A newspaper entitled the " Seventh-day Baptist Register," is published in the village. Eaton, named in honor of General William Eaton, settled in 1794^ Northeast view of the public bziildings in Morrisville. and taken from Hamilton in 1807 ; from Albany 100 miles. Pop. MADISON COUNTY. 257 3,408. Morrisville, the county seat, on the three great western turn- pikes, 102 miles from Albany, 15 S. of the Erie canal at Canastota, was founded in 1803 by Thomas Morris, and incorporated in 1833: settled principally by emigrants from Connecticut. The above view shows the county buildings and all the churches in the village ex- cepting the Baptist. The first building on the left is the jail ; the second, with a cupola, the county house ; the third, the county clerk's office ; the fourth, the Methodist church ; and the two on the right, are respectively the academy and the Presbyterian church. There are in the village and vicinity about 100 buildings. Eaton village, some- times called the Log City, 4 miles SE. from Morrisville, was founded in 1790 by Mr. Joseph Morse, and has about as many dwellings as Morrisville, and 1 Baptist and 1 Presbyterian church. Pratts Hollow, 3i miles N. of Morrisville, is a small village. In September, 1823, an Indian by the name of Abram Antone was executed at this place for murder. The following narration is drawn from a memoir published at that time. Abram Antone was bom in the year 1750, on the banks of the Susquehannah. When a boy, his parents removed to Chenango. During the revolution he took up arms in favor of the Americans, and besides being in several battles, it is said, was employed on a secret mission by Governor Clinton. Bold, adventurous, and revengeful, few dared to encounter his wrath. Years might elapse before the opportunity for revenge was afforded : but then, when perhaps the hapless offender least expected, he paid the price of his temerity with his life. " But the most atrocious deed of all, was one at which humanity starts with horror — the murder of an infant child, and that child his own ! The circumstances of this event are almost too horrible to relate. It appears from the account of his wife, that returning from an assembly of Indians one evening to his wigwam, he found his little child of four or five months old vociferously crying. Impatient at the noise, the monster snatched the child from its mother's arms, and raking open a hot bed of coals, buried the infant beneath them." The following are the circumstances connected with the murder for which he was executed. — " In the year 1810, Mary, the daughter of Antone, formed a connection with a young Indian, it is said of the Stockbridge tribe ; however, the connection was soon broke off, and the young savage left his former mistress for one more agreeable. This so enraged the he. roine, that she determined to kill her rival, which she effected by stabbing her with an Indian knife. When arrested, and on her way to prison, she manifested a remarkable indifference as to her fate, justifying herself concerning the murder of the squaw, by observ. ing that she had got away her Indian, and deserved to die. She was executed in Smith, field, in this county. John Jacobs was the principal evidence against her. He had also been very active in her arrest. In short, he was considered by Antone as the principal cause of his daughter's death, and both before and after her execution he openly threatened to kill him the first opportunity. Jacobs hearing of it, left the country, and did not return till Antone sent him word that he would not molest him, probably for the purpose of getting him into his power. The circumstances of the poor fellow's death are these : Relying on Antone's promise, he did not take all the precaution which seems to have been necessary. He was hoeing corn in a field, with a number of men, when Antone came up in a friendly way, shaking hands with each one until he came to Jacobs, and while grasping his hand in apparent fiiendship, shpt a long knife from out the frock sleeve of his left ami, pronouncing ' How d'ye do, brother ." and quicker than lightning plunged it into the body of Jacobs, striking him three times under the short ribs. He fell at the first blow. Antone giving a terrific yell, bounded off before any one had recovered presence of mind sufficient to pursue him. " The same night, the Indians, learning where he had secreted himself, to the num. ber of fifteen or twenty pursued him. He had encamped in a thick copse of under, brush, and had provided himself with dogs that might give the alann in case he was dis. covered. He had also with much labor cut a path through the thicket, which was almost impassable. On the approach of the pursuers the dogs gave the alarm, and Antone, flying with the speed of a deer through the narrow path which he had cut, escaped. Shortly 33 258 MADISON COUNTY. after, a company composed of about thirty white men and Indians, followed him to his hiding-place. They approached within twelve yards before they discovered him. Again by his agility he escaped, the night also favoring him. He went constantly armed with a rifle, two or three knives, and it has been said that he wore pistols in his belt; this, how. ever is not certain. His two sons were almost constantly with him, well armed, and, as they declared, for the purpose of defending their father. One of the brothers, called Charles, was a most powerful and desperate fellow. He was said to be the strongest Indian of his tribe. He died some years since in Chenango county, having undertaken to drink a quart of rum on a wager. " There was an attempt made to take Antone while encamped on a Mr. John Guthrie's land, in the tovvn of Sherburne. Two large and resolute Indians having obtained informa. tion that Antone was alone in his camp, his two sons, having left him for a few days on a hunting tour, went with the full determination of securing him. They approached his camp undiscovered. Antone was making a broom ; but the ever watchful Indian hearing a rust- ling at the entrance of his camp, seized his rifle, and as they suddenly entered, pointing at the foremost, declared if he advanced a step further he would shoot him dead. His deter- mined manner appalled the pursuers, and after parleying with him a short time, they with- drew, very much mortified at the result of their enterprise. But the most curious circum- stance of all was that Antone's rifle was not loaded at the time. He has frequently boasted since of having scared two Indians with an empty rifle. He at length grew so fearless that he marched through our towns and villages in open day, without any fear of being taken. It is even said, that in the village of Sherburne he entered a store in which were about twenty men, and drank till he was completely intoxicated. " There was nothing remarkably interesting in his trial. His honor Judge Williams, of Utica, presided. The prisoner was brought to the bar, and plead 7iol guilty. The wit- nesses against him were principally uncultivated sons of the forest. But it was remarked that their testimony was given with a carefulness and precision scarcely to be expected. The testimony was clear and decisive. The court appointed Judge Piatt and General Kirkland his counsel. They rested their defence altogether on this, that the state of New York had no jurisdiction over the Indian tribes within her territory. The court, however, overruled the objection, and Antone was sentenced to be hanged on Friday, the 12th of Sep- tember, 1823. The prisoner has always objected to a trial, except by his own people. He says that he has paid two hundred and seventy dollars to the dilferent tribes for a ransom, and thinks it hard that he should die when he has made his peace with the Indians. He particularly objects to the mode of execution, which he thinks is very degrading. ' No good way,' said he, putting his hands around his neck — ' No good way,' and then pointing to his heart, he observed that he should be willing to be shot. " Two or three different tribes have sent petitions praying for his release ; but the Oneida, of which tribe he is said by some to be a chief, have neglected it. This is said to be owing to the influence of the head chief, who is the enemy of Antone. Without doubt the Indi- ans generally would be pleased with his release ; though it is certainly a very singular cir- cumstance that the same ones who volunteered in pursuit of him after the murder of John Jacobs, and to whom he was always a particular object both of dread and fear, should now turn and petition for him. The natives do not generally assent to our jurisdiction over them, and it may perhaps be thought that they petition for Antone on this principle. " It may be interesting to some to know what ideas of religion are entertained by An- tone. As is usual, pious people have talked with him and endeavored to explain the prin- ciples of the Christian religion. But he either cannot or will not understand them. He has no idea of a Saviour — indeed he appears to be utterly ignorant of every principle of Christianity. He mentioned through the interpreter that he put his trust in God, or more properly the Great Spirit. He was then asked whether it was the God of the Christians, or the Spirit which was worshipped by his fathers. The eye of the warrior sparkled as he readily replied, ' The God of my Fathers ." Until within a short time he has nourished some hopes of being reprieved, but they seem to have failed him. He says that he is will- ing to die, and ojily complains of the manner. He is very anxious respecting his body, being fearful that it will be obtained for dissection. " To look at the old warrior, one would scarcely suppose that he could be guilty of so enormous a crime. He has a noble countenance, in which there is not the least expression of malice. On the contrary, there is something placable, and bordering on serenity in his features. His eye is penetrating, but yet expresses no cruelty. His voice is somewhat broken by age, but pleasant and sonorous." Fenner, taken from Cazenovia and Smithfield in 1823 ; from Alba- ny 11-5 miles. Pop. 1,997. Perrysville, on the Sullivan line 15 miles MADISON COUNTY. 259 NW. from Morris ville, and Fenner centrally situated, are small set- tlements. Georgetown, taken from De Ruyter in 1815; from Albany 106 miles, and from Morrisville centrally distant SW. 12 miles. George- town is a small settlement, near the centre of the town. Pop. 1,130. Hamilton was originally taken from Paris, when part of Herkimer county in 1801. At the period of its incorporation it comprised townships No. 2, 3, 4, and 5, Eaton, Madison, Hamilton, and Leba- non. The surface of the township is hilly, but the soil is of a supe- rior quality : it is di-ained on the south by the Chenango river and its branches. Pop. 3,738. Northern view of Hamilton village, Madison county. Hamilton village is 8 miles S W. of Morrisville, 28 from Utica, and 96 from Albany ; it contains nearly 100 dwellings, 1 Baptist, 1 Pres- byterian, and 1 Methodist church, and a newspaper printing office. The above engraving shows the appearance of the village as seen from a point near the burying ground. The buildings of the " Ham- ilton Literary and Theological Seminary" are seen on the elevated ground on the left. This institution was incorporated in 1819, and commenced operations in 1820. The principal building, which was erected in 1827, is of stone, 100 by 60 feet, 4 stories, containing 34 rooms for study, 34 lodging rooms, a reading room, library, and a large chapel. Another large stone edifice, 100 feet by 60, was erect- ed in 1834. There is a boarding-house, a joiner's shop, and a farm of 130 acres belonging to the society. The regular course of studies is six years ; four in the collegiate, and two in the theological depart- ment. This seminary was established under the patronage of the Baptists, and it is said to be the largest theological institution of that denomination in the world. " The institution is open to young men having the ministry in view from every denomination of evangelical Christians." Poolville, Hamilton Centre, and Colchester, are small settlements. 260 MADISON COUNTY. Lebanon, taken from Hamilton in 1807; from Albany 110, from Morrisville centrally distant S. 9 miles. Lebanon, Smith's Valley, and the "Centre," are small settlements. Pop. 1,794. Lenox, taken from Sullivan in 1809; from Albany 118 miles. Pop. 5,441. Clockville, 10 miles NW. from Morrisville, has about 60 dwellings. Canastota, post village, on the line of the Erie canal and great Western railroad, 15 miles from Morrisville, has 1 Dutch Re- formed and 1 Methodist church, 7 mercantile stores, and 750 inhab- itants. The village takes its name from a cluster of pine trees that united their branches over the creek vi^hich passes through the centre of the village and bears its name, called in the native dialect of the Oneidas, Kniste. The tract on which the village is located was pa- tented in 1810 by the state of New York to Capt. Reuben Perkms. its first, and now its oldest inhabitant. The present site of the village was a wheat field when the Erie canal was laid out and constructed. The first framed house was erected by Capt. Perkins on an eminence where it now stands, near the cluster of pines. The Rev. Mr. Young was the first settled minister. Wampsville, 13 miles from Morris- ville, Lenox, and Lenox Basin, are small villages. Madison, taken from Hamilton in 1807; from Albany 94 miles. Madison, Bouckville, 6 miles E. from Morrisville, Madison Centre, and Solesville, are small settlements. Pop. 2,344. Nelson, taken from Cazenovia in 1807 ; from Albany 109 miles. Erieville, 9 miles SW. from Morrisville, has about 45 dwellings. Nelson Flats is 7 miles W. from Morrisville. Pop. 2,100. SrocKBRiDGE, recently taken from Smithfield ; centrally distant 7 miles NE. from Morrisville. Cooks Corners and Munsonville are small settlements- Knoxville is a post-ofiice. Pop. 2,344. Smithfield, taken from Cazenovia in 1807 ; from Albany 108, cen- trally distant N. from Morrisville 5 miles. Pop. 1,699. Peterboro, centrally situated, has about 60 dwellings, 2 churches, and a school for the education of colored persons. Siloam and Stockbridge are villages. The principal part of this town and Stockbridge was leased of the Oneida Indians by Peter Smith in 1794, and purchased by the state in 1795. These towns comprise the larger part of the New Petersburg tract, and a portion of the Oneida reservation and New Stockbridge tract. Sullivan was first erected in 1803, then in Chenango county ; and in 1809 the eastern and largest part was erected into the town of Lenox. Canaseraga and Bridgeport are villages. Joslin's Corners is a post-office. Pop. 4,390. The above shows the appearance of Chittenango village as it is entered from the SE. The village consists of upwards of 100 dwell- ings, 3 churches — 1 Dutch Reformed, 1 Methodist, and 1 Baptist — a large woollen factory, and several other manufacturing establishments. The Methodist church is seen in the central part of the engraving ; the woollen factory, built of stone, is seen on the left; the spire of the Baptist church is seen towards the right, near which is the spire of the youths' Bethel. The Dutch Reformed church, a large stone structure, is a pro- MADISON COUNTY. 261 Southeastern view of Chittenango. nent object as the village is entered on the road from the Erie canal, but it could not be seen from the spot from whence the above view was taken. The site of the village was probably at a former period a lake ; it is surrounded on almost every side by elevated grounds, in which are found numerous petrifactions of trees, branches, &c., in various stages of conversion. In the valley of the Chittenango creek, about a mile above the village, are two mineral springs, one mostly sulphur ; the other has a large portion of magnesia : both have been found efficient in some diseases. The village is situated one mile S. of the Erie canal, 2 from the Utica and Syracuse rail- road, 8 from Cazenovia, 16 from Morristown, 34 from Utica, and 15 from Syracuse. Canesaraga and Bridgeport are post villages. The latter is 20 miles from Morrisville, and has grown within a few years from a hamlet to a thriving village. The murder of Robert Barber, by Lewis Wilber, on the line of the Erie canal in this town, August 30th, 1837, caused a great sensation in this part of the country. Robert Barber was from Coleraine, in the northern part of Massachusetts, and was a man of respectability, and in easy circumstances. He was a widower of upwards of fifty years of age, and had children and numerous respectable relatives in Coleraine. He left home on the 28th of August, for the purpose of marrying a lady residing at Onondaga, N. Y. On his journey to Utica he became acquainted with Wilber, who was about 21 years of age, a native of Saratoga, N. Y. This person was of a low and vicious character, and in the habit of thieving from his childhood. The following account of the murder is from a pamphlet published in Morrisville in 1839. " At Utica, Wilber first entertained the thought of murdering the old man. For that object, or any similar one, he purchased a common shoe-knife, as he said, — but such a one as is often called a bread-knife, with a sharp point and a turned wooden handle ; it cost eigh. teen pence. This he wrapped in a paper, and carried it in a pocket in the skirt of his coat. " Sometime towards evening of the same day, (the 29th,) they both took a line boat to go west, of which Edwin H. Hunger was captain ; the name of the boat he could not re- 263 MADISON COUNTY. collect. Night coming on, they lodged together in the same berth. Little of interest oc- curred during the passage until morning, when they arrived very early at Burr's Tavern, on the canal, in Sullivan, about three miles east of the Chittenango Landing. There, the boat having stopped, Wilber and his companion (for they had by this time become consid- erably acquainted, and the old gentleman familiar with him) stepped off from the boat, went into the house, and drank something at the bar that they called for, which was handed to them by a woman. " They (hen walked along the towpath to Lcc's Bridge (so called,) about eighty rods west, and had some conversation about going on foot to Chittenango Landing ; and at the suggestion of Wilber, they crossed over Lee's Bridge, and took a westerly direction in the highway leading to Chittenango Landing. They passed the crotch of the road that leads off towards Canesaraga, and turning west, went on beyond all the houses and buildings. When they reached the last open field on the right, before entering the woods, Wilber in- formed the old gentleman that it would lessen the distance to turn to the right from the road, and cross the woods in that direction. They accordingly got over the fence, and walked in the direction of the woods, which they soon reached and entered. In the direc- tion they were travelling at the time, the woods, where they entered them, were about sixty rods from the highway, and the distance through the woods to the canal (towards which they were going at an angle of about forty-five degrees to the general course of the canal,) must be not far from a quarter of a mile. " When they arrived at the place where the body of the old gentleman was subsequently found, (eighteen or twenty rods distant from the canal,) Wilber said he took from his pocket the knife before described, and a pistol that he carried, which at the time was not charged — and presenting the pistol to the old gentleman, demanded of him his money, at the same time showing him the knife. Here he said he became much agitated, and appa- rently more so than the old gentleman. The latter deliberately took his pocket-book from a side-pocket in his coat, and a purse from his pantaloons pocket — saying at the same time, ' I did not think that of you — I thought you was my friend.' Wilber then told him to throw down the pocket-book and purse, which he did. ' I was afraid to take them up,' said he, ' and told him to lie down and hide his face, and not look up for half an hour.' He then laid down in the same position in which he lay when found, according to the testimony of the witnesses. Here Wilber resolved to take the money and leave him. He took the pocket-book and purse, and secured them. Then, standing by the right side of the old gentleman, who lay on his face, with his right hand under his eyes and his hat on his head, a second thought warned Wilber of the danger of detection if the old gentleman should live ; and throwing up the skirt of his coat, with a back-handed stroke he plunged the knife into his body, near the back-bone and below the ribs. This he repeated several times. He said that from the time he struck the first blow with the knife, no signs of life appeared. Indeed, he never moved from the original position in which he laid down. " But this seemed not enough. He then stepped a few paces to the west, and thinking that by possibility his victim might survive, he picked up a large stone, and approaching him as he lay, threw it at him, and it struck his head. This he thought made the fracture in the skull above the left ear, on the back of the head, which appeared when the body was found, and also a similar corresponding hole in the hat. " In describing this scene — which he did with a great deal of accuracy and minuteness — his feelings frequently overcame his utterance, and the burden of his thoughts choked him to silence. He would pause, and groan and weep ; and when he spoke again, it would be by exclamations and ejaculations, accompanied by the most frightful writhings, manifesting the greatest mental suffering. He declared that if the old gentleman had made the least resistance or noise, he should have fled, and left him untouched." Wilber after the murder proceeded on to Buffalo, and from thence to Cleaveland, Ohio, where he was arrested in April, 1838. After Mr. Barber was missed by the captain of the boat, from which he went with Wilber, his trunk was kept on board through to Buffalo and back again to Albany, where he saw a notice respecting the dis- appearance of Mr. B. His suspicions now rested on Wilber as his murderer. Search was made far and near on the north side of the canal ; this was in October, and the winter passed away without any discovery. In March, 1838, the body was accidentally discovered, which immediately led to the apprehension of Wilber. He was ex- ecuted at Morrisville, October 3d, 1839. MONROE COUNTY. 263 MONROE COUNTY. Monroe county was taken from Ontario and Genesee in 1821. Distant from New York by way of Albany NW. 365, and from Albany W. 219 miles. Greatest length E. and W. 34, greatest breadth N. and S. 24 miles. The surface is level, or gently wav- ino-. The mountain ridge, a high terrace of land nearly parallel with Lake Ontario, extends across the county, as also the alluvial way, supposed to have been formed by the action of the waters of that lake at some former period. The soil is generally a rich mould and very productive. " It is said that an analysis of the Genesee wheat, for which this county is so celebrated, exhibits more saccharine than that of the southern states ; whilst the latter combines with a larger portion of U3ur in the composition of bread. This may explain why southern flour is more acceptable to the baker, and Genesee to the consumer. It is common for extensive farmers to sow from 50 to 200 acres with wheat, and to reap an average crop of 20 bushels to the acre. The product is sometimes 30, 40, and even 50 bushels to the acre." The long level of the Erie canal continues 2h miles E. of the Genesee river. In the towns of Rochester, Mendon, and Gates, there are sulphur springs. " The towns of Parma, Ogden, Chili, Riga, Gates, and Greece, E. of the Triangle, belonged to the great tract of Phelps and Gorham, together with that portion of the county E. of the Genesee river. Clarkson and Sweden, part of the Triangle, and Wheatland, were of the tract purchased by Robert Morris from Mas- sachusetts. Phelps and Gorham sold out Greece and Gates, in frac- tional parts to settlers ; and Parma, Ogden, Riga, and Chili, in mass to Robert Morris. The lands on the east side of the river were sold by them in parcels, consisting of whole and parts of townships. The county was settled chiefly by emigrants from New England, with a few from Pennsylvania and the lower parts of New York." It con- tains the city of Rochester and 19 towns. Pop. 64,912. Brighton was taken from Smallwood and Penfield in 1814; NW. from Albany 216, from Rochester E. 3 miles. Pop. 2,337. Blos- somsville, situated on the canal, is a small settlement. Chili was taken from Riga in 1802 ; NW, from Albany 230, from Rochester SW. 1 1 miles. Chili, North Chili, South Chili, and O'Con- nelsville, are post-offices ; around which are small settlements. Pop. 2,174. Clarkson was taken from Murray in 1819; NW. from Albany 238 miles. Clarkson on the Ridge road, 18 miles W. of Rochester, is a small village. Pop. 3,486. Gates, originally named Northampton, and organized in 1802 ; from Albany 225, from Rochester W. 6 miles. Pop. 1,728. Greece was taken from Gates in 1802 ; NW. from Albany 225 miles. Pop. 3,6^9. Port Genesee, formerly called Charlotte, at the mouth of the Genesee nver, on Lake Ontario, 7 miles N. of Roches- 264 MONROE COUNTY. ter, is a small village. It has a customhouse, a pier over half a mile in length, for the protection of the harbor, with a lighthouse built by the United States. Hanford's Landing, 3 miles N. of Rochester on the west bank of the Genesee, was formerly a place of considerable business. " It was the first landing on the river for lake navigation, and here in 1798 was built the hrst dwelling, and in 1810 the first store, on the river below Avon, on the west side of the Genesee riv- er." Greece is a small settlement on the ridge road, 9 miles ]\ W. from Rochester. North Greece is a post-office. The following relative to Hanford's landing is from Mr. O'Reilly's History of Roch- ester. "A settlement was formed here in 1796. In 1800, the EngHsh traveller Maude men. tions that, as he could not find any accommodations for refreshment — ' not even a stable for his horse' — at 'he place where the city of Rochester has since sprung into existence, he ' was obliged to proceed to Gideon King's, at the Genesee Landing, where [he] got a good breakfast on wild pigeons. Mr. King is the only respectable settler in this township, (No. 1, short range,) in which there are at present twelve families, four of whom have established themselves at the Landing. King, though the proprietor of 3,000 acres, lives in an in- different log house : one reason for this is, that he has not been able to procure boards. The Landing is the port from whence all the shipments of the Genesee river must be made ; but further improvements are much checked in consequence of the titles to the lands being in dispute. The circumstances are as follow : Mr. Phelps sold 3,000 acres in this neighborhood to Zadok Granger for about $10,000, the payment being secured by a mortgage on the land. Granger died soon after liis removal here ; and having sold part of the land, the residue would not clear the mortgage, which prevented his heirs from admin- istering on his estate. Phelps foreclosed the mortgage and entered on possession, even on that part which had been already sold and improved. Some settlers, in consequence, left their farms — others repaid the purchase money — and others again, are endeavoring to make some accommodation with Mr. Phelps. A son of Mr. Granger resides here, and Mr. Greaves, his nephew, became also a settler, erected the fi-ame of a good house, and died. The Landing is at present an unhealthy residence, but when the woods get more opened it will no doubt become as healthy as any other part of the Genesee country. I went to see the new store and wharf. It is very difficult to get goods conveyed to and from the wharf, in consequence of the great height and steepness of the bank.' " As illustrative of the condition of things in the way of roads as well as navigable facili- ties, we may note a remark of the traveller, that ' yesterday, August 18, 1800, a schooner of forty tons sailed from this Landing for Kingston, U. C, laden with potash, which had been sent from Canandarqua to Rundicut Bay, and from thence round about in boats to this (Genesee) Landing.' " ' This Landing,' adds Maude, ' is four miles from the mouth of the river, where two log huts are built at its entrance into Lake Ontario. At this Landing the channel runs close along shore, and has thirty feet depth ; but upon the bar at the mouth of the river the water shoals to sixteen or eighteen feet. This place is about equally distant from the east- ern and western limits of Lake Ontario, and opposite to its centre and widest parts, being here about eighty [sixty] miles across.' " In January, 1810, Frederic Hanford opened a store of goods at what was called the Upper Landing or Falltown — the name of Genesee Landing was no longer strictly apphca- ble, as another Landing had been established at the junction of the river and lake, at the village called Charlotte. Hanford's was the first merchant's store on the river between Avon and Lake Ontario — a distance of about twenty-five miles. Hence the place has since been termed ' Hanford's Landing.' " In the same year Silas O. Smith opened a store at Hanford's Landing, but in 1813 re- moved to the new village of Rochester, where he built the first merchant's store ; the plat of Rochester having been planned only the previous season. " As at the present steamboat landing on the river at the north part of the city of Roches- ter, railways were used to facilitate the transit of freight between the top of the bank at Hanford's Landing and the warehouses or vessels on the margin of the river. The railway, the warehouses, and the wharves at Hanford's were burned in 1835." Henrietta was taken from Pittsford, when part of Ontario county, MONROE COUNTY. 265 in 1818 ; from Albany 228 miles. Henrietta Corners is a small post village 8 miles S. of Rochester. West Henrietta is a post-office. Pop. 2,085. iRONDEauoiT, recently taken from Brighton, of which it formed the northern part. It receives its name from Irondequoit bay, which extends through the eastern part of the town. Pop. 1,252. " This bay, [Irondequoit,] well known in the early history of the country, is now wholly unfitted for navigation, owing to the sandbar formed at its junction with Lake Ontario. It is now much frequented by parties from Rochester, for gunning, fishing, &c. The geolo. gist also has many attractions for a visit thither ; for ' on the borders of the bay, and of the creek of the same name which discharges itself there, the surface of the earth presents a most extraordinary and picturesque appearance — a muldtude of conical or irregular mounds of sand and light earth, sometimes insulated and sometimes united, rising to an average height of 200 feet, form a perfectly level meadow of the richest alluvial loam.' " The history of Irondequoit is intimately connected with that of the Military and Trad- ing Posts of western New York. A station was established there in 1726, to aid the Brit, ish in securing the trade with the western Indians, to the exclusion of the French at the lower end of Lake Ontario. " In connection with the fact that there was a city laid out at Irondequoit bay, it might be mentioned that formerly supplies from New York, destined for our western posts, were sent to the head of that bay, (instead of the Genesee river,) there freighted in batteaux, to proceed through Lake Ontario to Niagara river — thence to be taken across the portage to Fort Schlosser ; and there re-embarked to proceed up the Niagara river, through Lake Erie, &c. The city was laid out at the head of the bay, near the route of the present road be- tween Canandaigua and Rochester. " It may amuse some readers to learn that Maude, a traveller in 1800, mentions that the cargo of a schooner which sailed from Genesee river for Kingston, U. C, had ' been sent from Canandarqua for Rundicut bay, and from thence in boats round about to Genesee river landing,' for shipment in the above schooner. [The cargo thus circuitously forwarded from Canandaigua was potash — and ' no potash was then made about Irondequoit or Gen- esee landings for want of kettles' in 1800.] " The mouth of Irondequoit is about four miles eastward of Genesee river on Lake On- tario ; and the bay extends southwardly about live miles, nearly to the present main-travelled route through Brighton between Rochester and Canandaigua. " ' The Teoronto bay of Lake Ontario,' says Spafford, ' merits more particular notice, if for no other purpose than to speak of Gerundegut, Irondequoit, and Rundicut — names by which it is also known. The Indians called it ' Teoronto' — a sonorous and purely Indian name, too good to be supplanted by such vulgarisms as Gerundegut or Irondequoit ! The bay is about five miles long and one mile wide, communicating with the lake by a very narrow opening — or such it used to have — and Teoronto, or Tche-o-ron-tok, perhaps rather nearer the Indian pronunciation, is the place where the waves breathe and die, or gasp and expire. Let a person of as much discernment as these savages watch the motion of the waves in this bay, and he will admire the aptitude of its name, and never again pronounce Gerundegut, Irondequoit, or Rundicut.' " Mendon was taken from Bloomfield in 1812: from Albany 209 miles. Pop. 3,435. Mendon, incorporated in 1833, is a small village near the eastern line of the town. West Mendon is 10 miles S. of the Erie canal, on the Honeoye creek, which has here a fall of 60 feet, on which are extensive manufacturing establishments. There are here upwards of 100 dwellings. North Mendon is a hamlet. Ogden, taken from Parma in 1817; from Rochester 10, and Alba- ny 230 miles. Pop. 2,404. Adams and Spencers basins, on the canal, are post-offices, and small settlements. At Ogden, post-office, 2 miles S. from the canal, 10 W. from Rochester, are 1 Presbyterian and 1 Baptist church, and a small number of dwellings. Parma, organized as part of Genesee county in 1808, and taken from Northampton, the original name of Gates ; from Albany 230 34 1866 MONROE COUNTY. miles. Pop. 2,651. Parma village, on the ridge road, 12 miles W. from Rochester, is a small village. At Parma Centre, 15 miles from Rochester, there is a small collection of dwellings. Penfield, taken from Boyle in 1810 ; NW. from Albany 211 miles. Pop. 2,842. Penfield village, on the Irondequoit creek, 8 miles SE. of Rochester, has about 30 dwellings. The creek in passing through the village has a descent of 90 feet, forming the high falls of the Irondequoit, affording a valuable water-power. Perrinton, taken from Boyle in 1812 ; NW. from Albany 209 miles. Pop. 2,513. Bushnells, Fulloms, and Fairport, are basins and settlements on the canal. At Bushnells basin, 11 miles SE, from Rochester, is the great embankment over the Irondequoit creek. This embankment is the greatest work on the canal ; it is nearly a mile in length and from 40 to 76 feet in height. It is partly natural, partly artificial, and extending in a winding direction across the val- ley. The following is extracted from the journal of De Witt Clinton, while on his exploring tour with the canal commissioners in 1810. " We arrived at the tavern at Perrin's, in the tovi^n of Boyle, [now Perrinton,] twenty-one miles from Canandaigua, four and a half from Gerundegut or Irondequoit landing, and fourteen from Charlottesburgh. A vessel of thirty tons can go to the head of this landing [from Lake Ontario ; but the sandbar at the mouth of the bay now prevents all intercourse of that sort.] The sign of the tavern contains masonic emblems, and is by S. Felt &. Co. Felt is a man in the landlord's employ ; and the object of this masked sign is, as the land- lord says, to prevent his debtors from avoiding his house. * * * We drew lots for the choice of beds ; and it turning out in my favor, I chose the worst bed in the house. I was unable to sleep on account of the fleas, &c. * * * At this place we eat the celebrated whitefish, salted ; it is better than shad, and cost at Irondequoit landing $12 per barrel. " We departed from here at seven o'clock, after breakfast ; and after a ride of eight and a half miles, arrived at a ford of the Genesee river about half a mile from the Great Falls, and seven and a half from Lake Ontario." PiTTSFORD was taken from Smallwood in 1814 ; NW. from Albany 215 miles. Pop. 1,983. Pittsford, a thriving village on the canal, 6 miles SE. from Rochester, was incorporated in 1827 ; it has about 100 dwellings. Riga was taken from Northampton in 1808; from Albany 230 miles. Pop. 1,983. Churchville and Riga are the post-offices. The pleasant little village of Churchville is on the Rochester and Batavia railroad, 15 miles SW. from Rochester. Rochester, one of the most remarkable instances of a rapid and vig- orous growth as a village or city in this country, is situated in lat. N. 43°, long. W. 40' ; distant from Albany 217 miles, Buffalo 73, Canan- daigua 28, Batavia 35, S. from Lake Ontario 7, and 361 miles from Washington. In the year 1810 there was not a house where Roch- ester now stands. The first allotments for a village were made in 1812, when Nathaniel Rochester, Charles H. Carroll, and William Fitzhugh, surveyed the hundred-acre tract for a settlement, under the name of " Rochester" after the senior proprietor. This tract was a " mill lot," bestowed by Phelps and Gorham on a semi-savage called Indian Allen, as a bonus for building mills to grind corn and saw boards for the few settlers in this region at the time. The mills de- cayed, as the business of the country was insufficient to support them, MONROE COUNTV. JSM|i| and Allen sold the property to Sir William Pulteney, whose estate then included a large section of the " Genesee country." The sale to Rochester, Fitzhugh, and Carroll, took place in 1802, at the rate of $15.50 per acre, or $1,750 for the lot, with its " betterments." Some of the land on the east side of the Genesee in Rochester, (the hundred-acre tract being on the west side,) was sold by Phelps and Gorham in 1790, for eighteen pence an acre. The last war with Great Britain, which produced much distress in this frontier region, impeded the progress of Rochester to such a de- gree that the population at the commencement of 1816 amounted to only 331. By the opening of the Erie canal, Rochester became the great thoroughfare between the seaboard and the inland waters. On the incorporation of the village in 1817, about 750 acres were includ- ed within its limits. The city charter, in 1834, extended the bounds so as to embrace upwards of 4,000 acres. The staple product of the fertile valley of the Genesee is wheat, remarkable for its quantity as well as its quality. Its celebrity is increased by the skill with which it is prepared for market. By the immense water-power formed by the falls of the Genesee, Rochester is the largest as well as the best flour manufactory in the world. There are now within the city 20 mills, (exclusive of grist-mills,) with nearly 100 runs of stone. These mills are capable of manufacturing 5,000 barrels of flour daily, and when in full operation, require about 20,000 bushels of wheat daily. About half a million barrels of flour are yearly manufactured. There are 12 saw-mills, and various other establishments that use the water- power, such as turning, stone-cutting, grinding dye-woods and bark. There are 1 cotton and 3 woollen mills. Carpets, edge tools, and vari- ous other articles are here manufactured. The business portion of the city is compactly built, and contains many splendid houses and stores four stories high. The east and west portions of the city are connected by several bridges, and by the great aqueduct of the Erie canal, upwards of 800 feet long. There are 3 banks, having an ag- gregate capital of about one million of dollars ; 6 newspapers, and numerous religious, benevolent, and literary associations. Population in 1840 was 20,202. The following is a list of the churches in Rochester, with the date of their organization.* First Presbyterian, 1815 St. Luke's, (Episcopal,) 1817 Friends, 1817 First Baptist, 1818 Flist Methodist Episcopal, 1820 St. Patrick's, (Catholic,) 1820 Third Presbyterian 1827 Orthodox Friends 1828 Reformed Presbyterian, 1831 Free Presbyterian, 1832 Brick, formerly second, (Presbyterian,) 1833 Second Baptist, 1834 Zion church, (African,) 1835 German Evangelical Lutheran, 1835 German Roman Catholic, 1836 Second Methodist Episcopal, 1836 Free Will Baptist, 1836 Bethel Free, (Presbyterian,) 1836 Free Congregational, 1836 Universaiist, 1837 Grace, formerly St. Paul's, (Episcopal,) 1833 ' African Methodist Episcopal church, ...1837 * For this and most other facts respecting this place, the authors are indebted to a work entitled "Sketches of Rochester; with incidental Notices of Western New York, &.C., by Henry O'Reilly." This volume was published in 1838 ; it is a duodecimo of 416 pages, full of interesting historical details, and illustrated by 42 engravings. 268 MONROE COUNTY. No longer ago than 1813, pagan rites were performed on the spot where so many Christian temples have been since erected. The fol- lowing account of the last sacrifice of the Senecas, near where the Bethel church now stands, is from Mr. O'Reilly's History. " It may be premised that the Senecas, and probably others of the Six Nations, have five feasts annually ; on which occasions it is customary to return thanks to Nauwanew for his blessings, or to deprecate his wrath. At these times also the chieis conversed upon the atiairs of the tribes, and generally urged upon the people the duty of demeaning themselves so as to ensure a continuance of the favor which had attended them in their pursuits of peace or war. These feasts followed the consummation of the matters usually watched ■with most interest by Indians in peaceful times — one of the ceremonies occurring after ' sugar-time ;' another after planting ; a third called the green-corn feast, when the rnaize first becomes fit for use ; the fourth after the corn-harvest; and the fifth at the close of their year, late in January or early in February, according to the moon. " The latter ceremonial was performed for the last time in Rochester in January, 1813. The concluding rites were seen by some of the few persons then settled in ' these parts.' From Mr. Edwin Serantom, now a merchant of the city, who was among the spectators, we have had an account of the ceremonial, as far as he beheld it, which corresponds with the accounts given by the Rev. Mr. Kirkland, long a missionary among the Six Nations, and by the 'White Woman,' that remarkable associate of the Senecas. The latter person, age related, that when the Indians returned from hunting, ten or twenty of their number were appointed to superintend the great ' sacrifice and thanksgiving.' Preparations were made at the council-house or other place of meeting for the accommodation of the tribe during the ceremonial. Nine days was the period, and two white dogs the number and kind of animals formerly required for the festival ; though in these latter days of reform and retrenchment (for the prevailing spirit had reached even the wigwams and the altars of the Senecas) the time has been curtailed to seven or five days, and a single dog was made the scapegoat to bear away the sins of the tribe ! Two dogs, as nearly white as could be pro. cured, were usually selected from those belonging to the tribe, and were carefully killed at the door of the council-house by means of strangulation ; for a wound on the animal or an eff"iision of blood would spoil the victim for the sacrificial purpose. The dogs were then fantastically painted with various colors, decorated with feathers, and suspended about twenty feet high at the council-house or near the centre of the camp. The ceremonial is then commenced, and the five, seven, or nine days of its continuance are marked by feast- ing and dancing, as well as by sacrifice and consultation. Two select bands, one of men and another of women, ornamented with trinkets and feathers, and each person furnished with an ear of corn in the right hand, dance in a circle around the council-fire, which is kindled for the occasion, and regulate their steps by rude music. Hence they proceed to every wigwam in the camp ; and, in like manner, dance in a circle around each fire. Af- terward, on another day, several men clothe themselves in the skins of wild beasts, cover their faces with hideous masks and their hands with the shell of the tortoise, and in this garb they go among the wigwams, making horrid noises, taking the fuel from the fire, and scattering the embers and ashes about the floor, for the purpose of driving away evil spirits. The persons performing these operations are supposed not only to drive off the evil spirit, but to concentrate within themselves all the sins of their tribe. These sins are afterward all transfused into one of their own number, who, by some magical dexterity or sleight.of- hand, works off" from himself into the dogs the concentrated wickedness of the tribe ! The scapegoat dogs are then placed on a pile of wood, to which fire is applied, while the sur- rounding crowd throw tobacco or other incense upon the flame, the scent of which is deemed to co-operate with the sacrifice of the animals in concihating the favor of Nauwa. new or the Great Spirit. When the dogs are partly consumed, one is taken off and put into a large kettle with vegetables of various kinds, and all around devour the contents of the ' reeking caldron.' After this the Indians perform the dances of war and peace, and smoke the calumet : then, free from wickedness, they repair to their respective places of abode, prepared for the events of the new year." The following is a view of the middle or main falls, as seen from the east bank of the Genesee. The Rochester and Auburn railroad bridge is viewed a few rods north of the falls. The perpendicular fall of the water at this place is 96 feet ; towards the right of the engrav- ing is seen a small tabular projection from the general line of the MONROE COUNTY. 269 Genesee Falls at Rochester. verge of the precipice. From this projection, in the fall of 1829, Sam Patch took a last leap, and perished, not much unlike many oth- ers before him, " seeking the bubble reputation, even in the cannon's mouth." The river below this fall is broad and deep, with occasional rapids for a mile and a half to the Lower Falls, the first 25, the other 84 feet, making a total descent of 109 feet in a few rods. Just below this place stood the celebrated Carthage bridge, remarkable in its fate as in its construction. It was completed in February, 1819; it consisted of an entire arch, the chord of which was 352 feet, and the versed sine 54 feet. Its entire length was 718 feet, and the width 30 ; the sum- mit of the arch was 196 feet from the water. " The most lofty single arch at present in Europe, is 116 feet less in length than this was, and the arch not as high by 96 feet." This daring work stood but one year, and one day ; which latter period saved the builders from loss, as they guarantied that the structure should endure for one year. It contained about 70,000 feet of timber, running measure, besides 64,620 feet of board measure. " The immense weight of timber press- ing unequally upon the arch, threw up the centre from its equilibrium, and the whole tumbled into ruins." A port of entry was established at what is now known as the harbor of Rochester, in 1805; when Samuel Latta, residing at the junction of the river and lake, was ap- pointed the first collector. The Rochester or Genesee revenue dis- trict has a frontier of about 70 miles on Lake Ontario, extending westward from Sodus bay, Wayne county. The port of R-ochester, at the Ontario steamboat landing, is situated at the north line of the city, about five miles from the lake. The largest vessels on the lake can ascend the river to this point. There are three railways for facilitating the business between the vessels and the warehouses on the upper banks, which are here about 160 feet high. 270 MONROE COUNTY. " A serious alarm, attended by some amusing consequences, occurred in May, 1814, when Sir James Yeo, with a fleet of thirteen vessels of various sizes, appeared off the mouth of the Genesee, threatening the destruction of the rudu improvements in and around Ro- chester. Messengers were despatciied to arouse the people in the surrounding country for defence against the threatened attack. There were then but thirty-three people in Roches- ter capable of bearing arms. This little band threw up a breastwork called Fort Bender, near the Deep Hollow, beside the Lower Falls, and hurried down to the junction of the Genesee and Lake Ontario, five miles north of the present city hmits, where the enemy threatened to land ; leaving behind them two old men, with some young lads, to remove the women and children into the woods, in case the British should attempt to land for the capture of the provisions and destruction of the bridge at Rochester, &,c. Francis Brown and Elisha Ely acted as captains, and Isaac W. Stone as major of the Rochester forces, which were strengthened by the additions that could be made from this ihinly-settled region. Though the equipments and discipline of these troops would not form a brilliant picture for a warlike eye, their very awkwardness in those points, coupled as it was with their sagacity and courage, accomplished more perhaps than could have iMfeen effected by a larger force of regular troops bedizzened with the trappings of military pomp. The militia thus hastily collected, were marched and countermarched, disappearing in the woods at one point and suddenly emerging elsewhere, so as to impress the enemy with the belief that the force collected for defence was far greater than it actually was. (The circumstances here related are substantially as mentioned to the writer by one who was then and is now a resident of Rochester.) An officer with a flag of truce was sent from the British fleet. A militia oflScer marched down, with ten of the most soldierlike men, to receive him on Lighthouse Point. These militiamen carried their guns as nearly upright as might be consistent with their plan of being ready for action by keeping hold of the triggers ! The British officer was astonished : he ' looked unutterable things.' ' Sir,' said he, ' do you receive a flag of truce under arms, with cocked triggers ?' ' Excuse me, excuse me, sir ; we backwoodsmen are not well versed in military tactics,' replied the American officer, who promptly sought to rectify his error by ordering his men to ' ground arms ." The Briton was still more as- tonished ; and, after delivering a brief message, immediately departed for the fleet, indicat. ing by his countenance a suspicion that the ignorance of tactics which he had witnessed was all feigned for the occasion, so as to deceive the British commodore into a snare \ Shortly afterward, on the same day, another officer came ashore with a flag of truce for further parley, as the British were evidently too suspicious of stratagem to attempt a hostile landing if there was any possibility of compromising for the spoils. Capt. Francis Brown was deputed with a guard to receive the last flag of truce. The British officer looked sus- piciously upon him and upon his guard ; and, after some conversation, familiarly grasped the pantaloons of Capt. B. about the knee, remarking, as he firmly handled it, ' Your cloth is too good to be spoiled by such a bungling tailor ;' alluding to the width and clumsy as- pect of that garment. Brown was quickwitted as well as resolute, and replied jocosely, that ' he was prevented from dressing fashionably by his haste that morning to salute such distinguished visiters !' The Briton obviously imagined that Brown was a regular officer of the American army, whose regimentals were masked by clumsy overclothes. The pro- position was then made, that, if the Americans would deliver up the provisions and military stores which might be in and around Rochester or Charlotte, Sir James Yeo would spare the settlements from destruction. 'Will you comply with the offer?' ^ Blood knee-deep first ." was the emphatic reply of Francis Brown. " While this parley was in progress, an American officer, with his staff, returning from the Niagara frontier, was accidentally seen passing from one wooded point to another ; and this, with other circumstances, afforded to the British ' confirmation strong' that their suspi- cions were well founded ; that there was a considerable American army collected ; and that the Yankee officers shammed ignorance for the purpose of entrapping ashore the commodore and his forces ! The return of the last flag to the fleet was followed by a vigorous attack in bombs and balls, while the compliment was spiritedly returned, not without some effect on at least one of the vessels, by a rusty old six-pounder, which had been furbished and mount, ed on a log for the important occasion. After a few hours spent in this unavailing manner. Admiral Yeo run down to Pulteneyville, about twenty miles eastward of Genesee river, where, on learning how they had been outwitted and deterred from landing by such a handful of militia, their mortification could scarcely restrain all hands from a hearty laugh at the ' Yankee trick.' " Rush was taken from Avon in 1818 ; from Albany 229 miles. Pop. 1,929. Rush, 12 S., Sibley's Corners and Green's Corners, each 15 miles from Rochester, Hartwell's Corners and Davis' Corners, are small settlements. MONROE COUNTY. 271 Collegiate building at Brockport, Sweden, taken from Murray in 1813 ; from Albany 241 miles. Pop. 3,133. Brockport village was incorporated in 1829. It is situ- ated on the Erie canal, 20 miles SE. from Rochester, and 239 from Albany. The village consists of about 300 dwellings, some of them three and four stories high, built of brick or freestone. The citizens have erected a noble stone building five stories high, for a collegiate institution, at an expense of $25,000, of which the above engraving is a representation. Large quantities of wheat have been purchased in this village for the Rochester mills; 451,000 bushels were bought here in 1835. The first buildings in the village were erected in 1820; the population is now upwards of 1,300. Webster. 14 miles NE. from Rochester, was recently taken from Penfield, of which it formed the northern part. The township is bounded on the north by Lake Ontario. Pop. 2,235. Wheatland, originally named Inverness, and taken from Caledo- nia in 1821 ; from Albany 232 miles. Pop. 2,871. Scottsville, on Aliens creek, 12 miles SW. from Rochester, near Genesee river, con- tains several churches, and upwards of 150 dwellings. The water- power here has been lately much improved by a canal one mile in length, taken from the creek to the Genesee river, by which a head of about 16 feet is obtained. Indian Allen, so called, was the first settler at the mouth of the creek which goes by his name. In the year 1800, Isaac Scott located himself where the village is now built. From this pioneer of the wilderness the village derives its name. There are within three miles of this place the remains of four ancient fortifications. Trees have grown on these mounds indicating a lapse of from four to five hundred years since they were constructed. Mum- fords ville, also on Aliens creek, 18 miles SW. from Rochester, is a small settlement. There is a small collection of dwellings in the vi- cinity of Wheatland post-office and at Garbetts mills. 272 MONTGOMERY COUNTY. MONTGOMERY COUNTY. Montgomery county was named after the lamented Gen. Montgom- ery, who fell at the attack on Quebec, in the revolution. Its greatest length is 34 E. and W., greatest breadth N. and S. 13 miles. It was originally taken from Albany and named in honor of William Tryon, then governor of the province. Its name was changed in 1784. It embraced all that part of the state lying west of a line running north and south nearly through the centre of the present county of Schoharie. It was divided into five districts — subdivided into precincts. The Mo- hawk district included Fort Hunter, Caugnawaga, Johnstown, and Kingsboro' ; Canajoharie district embraced the present town of that name, with all the country southward, comprehending Cherry Valley of Otsego, and Harpersfield of Delaware counties ; Palatine district, north of the Mohawk, extended over the region so called, and Stone Arabia, &c. ; German Flats district and Kingsland covered the most western settlements. The Erie canal crosses the county on the south side of the Mohawk, and the Schenectady and Utica railroad on the north side. The Erie canal passes the Schoharie creek through a pond formed by a dam across the stream below. Its fall within this county is 86 feet, by 12 locks. The county is divided into ten towns. Pop. 35,801. Southern view of Sir Guy JuhnsorCs house, Amsterdam. Amsterdam, taken from Caugnawaga in 1793. It has a rolling surface and fertile soil. Pop. 5,329. Amsterdam village, incorpo- rated in 1830, upon the Mohawk river and turnpike and Utica rail- road, 16 miles W. of Schenectady, contains several churches, an academy, and about 700 inhabitants. The Erie canal is on the south side of the river, over which there is a commodious bridge. The above shows the appearance of the mansion house of Colonel Guy Johnson, as seen from the opposite side of the river. It is built of stone, on the north bank of the Mohawk, about a mile from Am- sterdam village. The western railroad now passes a few rods north, and in front. It is a beautiful situation, and was formerly called "Guy MONTGOMERY COUNTY. 3ta ^ (^^^/.^^p= ^■^/^ZZ:/c^y3 c-<^^^. [Facsimile of the signatures of the Johnsons, and of Colonel John Butler, and his son Walter.] Park.". The house occupied by Sir John Johnson is further to the west, on the opposite side of the road. These men hved here essen- tially in the rank and splendor of noblemen, till their possessions were confiscated by the state for their adherence to the British cause. Sir John was not as popular as his father. Sir William Johnson, being less social and less acquainted with human nature. He accompanied his father on some of his military expeditions, and probably saw considerable service. After his flight from Johnstown to Canada, he in the month of January, 1777, found his way into New York, then in possession of the British troops. " From that period he be- came not only one of the most active, but one of the bitterest foes of his own countrymen of any who were engaged in the war, and re- peatedly the scourge of his own former neighbors. He was unques- tionably a loyaHst from principle, else he would scarcely have hazarded, as he did, and ultimately lost, domains larger and fairer than probably ever belonged to a single proprietor in America, Wil- liam Penn only excepted. After the flight of Sir John from Johnson Hall, [see Johnstown] lady Johnson, his wife, was removed to Albany, where she was re- tained as a kind of hostage for the good conduct of her husband. " She wrote to Gen. Washington complaining of this detention, and asking his interference for her release ; but the commander-in-chief left the matter with Gen. Schuyler and the Albany committee. After the confiscation of the property of Sir John, the furniture of the hall was sold at auction at Fort Hunter. The late lieutenant-gov- ernor of New York, John Taylor, purchased several articles of the furniture ; and among other things, the bible mentioned in the text. Perceiving that it contained the family record, which might be of great value to Sir John, Mr. Taylor wrote a civil note to Sir John, offering its restoration. Some time afterward a messenger from the baronet called for the bible, whose conduct was so rude as to give offence. ' I have come for Sir William's bible,' said he, * and there 35 m MONTGOMERY COUNTY. are four guineas which it cost.' The bible was delivered, and the runner was asked what message Sir John had sent. The reply was, ' Pay four guineas and take the book !' " — Slone's Life of Brant. " About a mile and a half above the village of Amsterdam under a jutting rock, on the north side of the Mohawk river, are still to be seen the remains of an Indian painting. It was the custom of the Mohawks, and doubtless of all the different tribes of ihe Iroquois, when they contemplated a military expedition, to make a representation thereof, by paint, ing on trees or rocks the figures of the warriors, with hieroglyphics designating the design of the expedition. When they went by water, canoes were painted, and as many figures placed in them as there were men constituting the party — their faces looking towards the place whiiherthey were bound. The painting in question was executed to commemorate an expedition undertaken by a party of Mohawks, against the French Indians, about the year 1720. We know five or six individuals, who saw the painting fifty years ago, when the outlines were very distinctly to be seen. It was done with red chalk, and rep- resented five or six canoes, with six or seven men in each." — Schenectady Eeflector, Oct. 9th, 1835. Eastern view of Canajoharie. Canajoharie* was organized in 1788. The surface of the town- ship is considerably uneven, but the hills are generally arable and have a strong soil. The early inhabitants were Germans. Pop. 5,150. The village of Canajoharie was incorporated in 1829. It is situated at the confluence of Bowman's creek with the Mohawk, and on the Erie canal, 55 miles from Albany. It consists of about 100 houses, a Lutheran church, and an academy. The Radii, a newspa- per, edited and printed by Mr. L. S. Backus, a deaf and dumb per- son, is published in this place. " The Canajoharie and Palatine man- ufacturing company" was incorporated in 1833. The accompanying engraving shows the appearance of the village as viewed from the ele- vated bank of the Mohawk, a few rods from the bridge seen passing " * This name is of Indian origin ; and Cana-jo-harie, as spoken by the Mohawks, signifies the pot or kettle that washes itself. This name was given by the Mohawk Indians to a deep hole of foaming water, at the foot of one of the falls of Canajoharie creek ; fi'om which it became the common name of that stream, and an extensive tract of country around it." — Sjiifford's Gazetteer. MONTGOMERY COUNTY. 275 over the river, connecting the village of Palatine Bridge with Cana- joharie. Central Canajoharie, Ames, and Freysbush, are post-offices in this town. In the spring of 1780, the Indians again made their appearance in the Mohawk valley. Gen. Clinton hearing of their movements, sent orders to Col. Gansevoort on the 6th of June, to repair to Fort Plank with his regiment, to take charge of a quantity of stores destined for Fort Schuyler. These stores were to be transported in batteaux, and carefully guarded the whole distance. Joseph Brant, the cele- brated chieftain, at the head of four or five hundred Indians, was in the vicinity, and he artfully caused a rumor to be circulated that he intended to capture the batteaux, in order to divert attention from other points of attack. This artifice proved too successful ; the mili- tia of the lower section of the county were drawn off to guard the convoy. Brant now made a circuit through the woods, and coming in the rear of them, laid waste the whole country around Canajoharie. On the first approach of Brant in Canajoharie a few miles eastwardly of the fort, the alarm was given by a woman, who fired a cannon for that purpose. The following account of this incursion is given by Col. Samuel Clyde, in a letter to Gov. George Clinton, dated at Can- ajoharie, Aug. 6, 1780: — " I here send you an account of the fate of our district. On the second day of this in. stant, Joseph Brant, at the head of about four or five hundred Indians and tories, broke in upon the settlements, and laid the best part of the district in ashes, and killed sixteen of the inhabitants that we have found ; took between fifty and sixty prisoners, mostly women and children, twelve of whom they have sent back. They have killed and drove away with them upwards of three hundred head of cattle and liorses ; have burnt fifry.lhree dwelling-houses, besides some out-houses, and as many barns, one very elegant church, and one grist-mill, and two small forts that the women fled out of. They have burnt all the in- habitants' weapons and implements for husbandry, so that they are left in a miserable con- dition. They have nothing left to support themselves but what grain they have growing, and that tiiey cannot get saved for want of tools to work with, and very few to be got here. " This aflfair happened at a very unfortunate hour, when all the militia of the county were called up to Fort Schuyler to guard nine batteaux about half laden. It was said the enemy intended to take them on their passing to Fort Schuyler. There was scarce a man left that was able to go. It seems that every thing conspired for our destruction in this quarter; one whole district almost destroyed, and the best regiment of militia in the county rendered unable to help themselves or the public. This I refer you to Gen. Rensselaer for the truth of. " This spring, when we found that we were not likely to get any assistance, and knew that we were not able to withstand the enemy, we were obliged to work and build our- selves forts for our defence, which we had nearly completed, and could have had our lives and effects secure, had we got liberty to have made use of them. But that miist not be, we must turn out of them ; not that we have any thing against assisting the general to open the communication to Fort Schuyler, but still doubted what has happened while we were gone. But it was still insisted on, that there was no danger when we were all out ; that in my opinion there never has been such a blunder committed in the county since the war commenced, nor the militia so much put out ; and to send generals here without men, is like sending a man to the woods to chop without an axe. I am sensible had the general had sufl[icient men, that he would have been able to have given satisfaction both to the pub- lic and inhabitants here." The parents of Joseph Brant, the celebrated Mohawk chieftain, resided at the Canajoharie castle, the central of the three castles of the Mohawks, in their native valley. He appears to have been born in the year 1742, on the banks of the Ohio, while his parents ■276 MONTGOMERY COUNTY. ^ were on a hunting excursion in /^ /^ ^.y^/W that part of the country.* " In Yy^^ /^T^tA'^^j]^ Ju'y. 1'761, he was sent, by Sir /^*^* ^C'^N Wilham Johnson, to the ' Moor's /y ^ ) Charity school,' at Lebanon, Con- necticut, estabUshed by the Rev. Fac-eimile of Brant's er^atur^ j^^ Whcclock, which WaS aftcr- ward removed to Dartmouth, and became the foundation of Dart- mouth College. The following mention of him is made in the me- moirs of that gentleman : — " Sir William Johnson, superintendent of Indian Affairs in North America, was very friendly to the design of Mr. Wheelock, and, at his request, sent to the school, at various times, several boys of the Mohawks to be instructed. One of them was the since celebrated Joseph Brant ; who, after receiving his education, was particularly noticed by Sir William Johnson, and employed by him in public busi- ness. He has been very useful in advancing the civilization of his countrymen, and for a long time past has been a military officer of extensive influence among the Indians in Upper Canada." In confirmation of these statements it may be added, that he trans- lated into the Mohawk language the gospel of St. Mark, and assisted the Rev. Mr. Stewart, the episcopal missionary, in translating a num- ber of religious works into the Indian tongue. Brant being a neigh- bor, and under the influence of the Johnson family, he took up arms against the Americans in the revolutionary contest. "Combining the natural sagacity of the Indian, with the skill and science of the civilized man, he was a formidable foe. He was a dreadful terror to the frontiers. His passions were strong. In his inter- course he was affable and polite, and communicated freely rela- tive to his conduct. He often said that during the war he had killed but one man in cold blood, and that act he ever after regretted. He said, he had taken a man prisoner, and was examining him ; the pris- oner hesitated, and as he thought equivocated. Enraged at what he considered obstinacy, he struck him down. It turned out that the man's apparent obstinacy arose from a natural hesitancy of speech. " In person, Brant was about the middling size, of a square, stout build, fitted rather for enduring hardships than for quick movements. His complexion was lighter than that of most of the Indians, which resulted, perhaps, from his less exposed manner of living. This cir- cumstance, probably, gave rise to a statement, which has been often repeated, that he was of mixed origin. He was married in the win- ter of 1779 to a daughter of Col. Croghan by an Indian woman. The circumstances of his marriage are somewhat singular. He was * The Indian name of Brant was Thayendanegea^ a word signifying, it is said, two-sticka. of-wood.hound-together, denoting strength. The Ufe of Brant, in two octavo volumes, has been recently written by William L. Stone, Esq., editor of the Commercial Advertiser, New York. This valuable and highly interesting work is one of great research, and em- braces a full history of the border wars of the revolution, and much other matter coimected with Indian history. MONTGOMERY COUNTY. ' 277 present at the wedding of Miss Moore from Cherry Valley, who had been carried away a prisoner, and who married an officer of the garrison at Fort Niagara. Brant had Uved with his wife for some time previous, according to the Indian custom, without marriage ; but now insisted that the mar- riage ceremony should be performed. This was accordingly done by Col. Butler, who was still considered a magistrate. After the war he removed, with his nation, to Canada. There he was employed in transacting important business for his tribe. He went out to Eng- land after the war, and was honorably received there. He died about ten or fifteen years since, at Brantford, Haldiman county, Upper Canada, where his family now reside. One of "his sons, a very in- telligent man, has been returned to the Colonial Assembly." The following is an account of the taking of the three Mohawk castles, which were situated in this vicinity, by the French and Indi- ans, in the early settlement of the country. It is drawn from Colden's History of the Six Nations. In January, 1692-3, a large body of French and Indians, amounting to six or seven hundred, started on an expedition from Canada, for the purpose of punishing the Five Nations, who had the previous summer carried the war into Canada, and in small parties had rav- aged the whole country. Count de Frontenac chose the winter sea- son for this incursion, when the enemy could not, without great hard- ship, keep scouts abroad to discover them, or their allies, the English, give assistance. On the 15th of January, they set out from la Prairie de Magda- leine, and endured innumerable hardships. The ground was at that time covered with a deep snow, and the foremost, marching on snow- shoes, beat a track for those which followed. At night the army was accustomed to divide itself into small groups, and each party to dig a hole in the snow, throwing up the snow all around, but highest to- wards that side from whence the wind blew. The ground was then covered with the small branches of fir-trees, and each man wrapped in his cloak with his feet pointed towards a fire in the centre, would thus pass the night. They passed by Schenectady on the 8th of February. The two first forts of the Mohawks being in the neighborhood of the English settlements, were not fortified, and were therefore easily taken. At the last Mohawk fort, which was strongly garrisoned, they met with con- siderable resistance, and the French lost thirty men before the Indi- ans submitted. The Indians at Schenectady having obtained infor- mation of the capture of their castles, sent to Albany for assistance to pursue the enemy. Col. Peter Schuyler, with a body of militia, regulars, and Indians, pursued the enemy on their retreat, and had a severe skirmish with them. On the 20th, Col. Schuyler was obliged to give up the pursuit, the weather being very cold and provisions scarce. Schuyler lost only 8 men killed and 14 wounded. The French lost 59 men in killed and wounded, besides several by deser- ^1^ MONTGOMERY COUNTY. tion. Schuyler's Indians ate the bodies of the French whom they found. The colonel was invited to partake of broth with them: he ate quite hearty until, putting the ladle into the kettle to draw out more, he brought up a Frenchman's hand, which put an end to his appetite. The French arrived at their settlements in a state of starvation, having been obliged to eat their shoes on their march. Charleston, organized in 1788, by the name of Mohawk; part erected into a separate town, and the residue called Charleston, in 1793 ; from Fonda S. 8 miles, from Albany 40. Charleston, Charleston Four Corners, and Bensonville, are post-offices. Pop. 2,103. Florida, taken from Mohawk in 1793; from Albany 35 miles. Pop. 5,162. The town was settled by some Dutch families from Schenectady, who in 1750 were joined by some Germans, subse- quently by Irish and Dutch, and lastly by New Englanders. Fort Hunter, 5 miles SE. of Fonda, is a small settlement. Port Jack- son, on the Erie canal, is a flourishing village. Minaville, 4 miles S. of the canal, is a village of about 40 dwellings. Fort Hunter, which formerly stood on the line of the canal in this town, was a place of some importance in colonial history. At this place also stood Queen Anne's Chape/, a stone structure, built by Queen Anne of England for the use of the Mohawk Indians. The English Episcopal mis- sions to the Mohawks appear to have been commenced as early as 1702, and continued down to the beginning of the revolutionary war. Glen, taken from Charleston in 1823; from Albany 43 miles. Pop. 3,697. This town was originally settled by the Dutch. Ful- tonville, on the canal, 1 mile S. from Fonda, 57 from Albany, and 53 from Utica, has about 50 dwellings, and a Dutch Reformed church. Auriesville or Smithtown, on the canal, 3 miles E. of Fultonville, and Voorheesville, are small settlements. "Somewhere between this [Schoharie] creek and Caughnawaga, commenced an Indian road or foot-path, which led to Schoharie. Near this road, and within the northern bounds of Schoharie county, has been seen from time immemorial a large pile of stones, which has given the name ' stone hea.p patent' to the tract on which it occurs, as may be seen from ancient deeds. Indian tradition saith that a Mohawk murdered a brother (or two of them) on this spot, and that this tumulus was erected to commemorate the event. A similar practice is supposed to have been in vogue among the Hebrews; in Scotland and in Wales, many heaps of stones, called ' cairns,' are to be found, probably constructed for a similar purpose. May not the bones of this Indian Abel be found here sepulchred ? Every individual passing this way made an offering to propitiate the manes of the deceased, or the Minetto of the place ; which was performed by the act of adding another stone to the pile ; and a person was but a few years since living, who. had witnessed this ceremony. It was con- fidently believed by the Indians that those who neglected to do it would meet with some misfortune In the early settlement of the province, Benoni Van Corlear, a great favorite and friend of the Indians, on a certain occasion, passed this stone heap in company with a party of Mohawks on their way to Canada. They all cast a stone upon the pile except Van Corlear, who refused, alleging that it would be folly for him to comply with an idle superstition. His Indian companions considered the matter in a more serious light, and expressed great alarm lest some mishap might befall him or the party. These presages were not unreal, for by one of those coincidences which the Almighty sometimes permits, Van Corlear lost his life before he arrived at the end of his journey. He was drowned in the lake now called Lake Champlain. The Indians in memory of this event called it Van Corlear's Lake, which name it retained for some time, until called by the Canadian Catho. MONTGOMERY COUNTY. 279 lie priests • Lac Sacrement,' for the reason they had selected, and used its waters for sa- cramental purposes." MiNDEN was taken from Canajoharie in 1798. The town was settled at an early period by Germans, who suffered severely from the incursions of the Indians and tories during the revolutionary war. The surface of the township is agreeably diversified by gentle hills and fertile valleys on Mohawk river and Otsquake creek. Pop. 3,507. The village of Fort Plain is situated on the Mohawk river and Erie canal, 15 miles from Fonda, 12 miles from Cherry Valley, 22 from Cooperstown, and 60 from Albany : it consists of about 80 houses, 2 churches — 1 Presbyterian, 1 Universalist — a printing office, and a number of mills. Ancient Blockhouse, Fort Plain. The above is said to be a correct representation of Fort Plain, from which the village derives its name. " The fort was situated on the brow of the hill, about half a mile northwest of the vil- tage, so as to command a full view of the valley, and the rise of the ground, for several miles in any direction ; and iience it doubtless derived its name, because its beautiful loca- tion commanded a ^ plairV view of the surrounding country. It was erected by the gov. ernment, as a fortress, and place of retreat and safety for the inhabitants and familiee in case of incursions from the Indians, who were then, and, indeed, more or less during the whole revolutionary war, infesting the settlements of this whole region. Its form was an octagon, having port-holes for heavy ordnance and muskets on every side. It contained three stories or apartments. The first story was thirty feet in diameter ; the second, forty feel ; the third, fifty feet ; the last two stories projecting five feet, as represented by the drawing aforesaid. It was constructed throughout of hewn timber about fifteen inches square ; and, besides the port.holes aforesaid, the second and third stories had perpendicular port-holes through those parts that projected, so as to afford the regulars and militia, or set- tlers garrisoned in the fort, annoying facilities of defence for themselves, wives, and chil- dren, in case of close assault from the relentless savage. Whenever scouts came in with tidings that a hostile party was approaching, a cannon was fired from the fort as a signal to flee to it for safety. " In the early part of the war there was built, by the inhabitants probably, at or near the site of the one above described, a fortification, of materials and construction that ill com- ported with the use and purposes for which it was intended. This induced government to erect another, (Fort Plain,) under the superintendence of an experienced French engineer. As a piece of architecture, it was well wrought and neatly finished, and surpassed all the forts in that region. After the termination of the revolutionary war. Fort Plain was used for some years as a deposit of military stores, under the direction of Captain B. Hudson. These stores were finally ordered by the United States government to be removed to Al- 280 MONTGOMERY COUNTY. bany. The fort is demolished. Nothing of it remains except a circumvallation or trench, which, although nearly obliterated by the plough, still indicates to the curious traveller sufficient evidence of a fortification in days by-gone." — Fort Plain Journal, Dec. 26, 1837. Hendrick, a celebrated Indian chieftain, lived in this town. He is sometimes called old King Hendrick, and the great Hendrick. " ' The site of his house,' says Dr. Dwight, ' is a handsome elevation, commanding a considerable prospect of the neighboring country. It will be sufficient to observe here, that for capacity, bravery, vigor of mind, and immoveable integrity united, he excelled all the aboriginal inhabitants of the United States of whom any knowledge has come down to the present time. A gentleman of very respectable character, who was present at a coun- oil held with the Six Nations, by the governor of New York, and several agents of distinc- tion from New England, informed me that his figure and countenance were singularly im- pressive and commanding ; that his eloquence was of the same superior character, and that he appeared as if born to control other men, and possessed an air of majesty unrivalled within his knowledge.' In the French wars he led forth his Mohawk warriors and fought side by side with Sir William Johnson. Through all the intrigues of the French he re- mained faithful to his alliance. He was also highly esteemed by the white inhabitants. During some of the negotiations with the Indians of Pennsylvania and the inhabitants of that state, Hendrick was present at Philadelphia. His likeness was taken, and a wax figure afterward made which was a very good imitation. After the death of Hendrick, an old friend, a white man, visited Philadelphia, and among other things was shown this wax figure. It occupied a niche., and was not observed by him until he had approached within a few feet. The friendship of former days came fresh over his memory, and forgetting for the moment Hendrick's death, he rushed forward and clasped in his arms the frail, icy image of the chieftain." Mohawk, the ancient Caughnawaga, recently organized, was form- erly the southern section of the town of Johnstown, from which it was taken in 1837. Pop. 3,106. Since the formation of the new county of Fulton, the seat of justice for Montgomery county has been East view of the Courthouse and Hotel in Fonda. located in this town. The above is an engraving of the courthouse and hotel recently erected in the new village of Fonda. The railroad passes between these two buildings. The central part of the village of Caughnawaga is about half a mile eastward of the courthouse, and consists of about 30 dwelling-houses, on the north side of the Mohawk, 40 miles from Albany, and 4 miles S. from Johnstown. The village occupies the site of an ancient Indian village, one of the principal towns of the Mohawk tribe. Its name, Caughnawaga, is said to signify " a coffin" which it received from the circumstance of MONTGOMERY COUNTY. 281 there being, in the river opposite the place, a large black stone, (still to be seen,) resembling a coffin, and projecting above the surface at low water. The annexed is a representation of the ancient Dutch church in Caughna- waga. it IS a massive stone structure, and is believed to have been erected in 1763. The following is a copy of the inscription on the stone tablet which was formerly placed over the door. " Komt laett ons op gaen tot den Bergh des Heeren, to den huyse des Godes Jacobs, op dat hy ons leere van syne wegen, en dat wy wandele in syne paden." [" Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord ; to the house of the God of Jacob, and he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths."] Ancient Church, Blohawk. The following, relating to the history of this town, is taken from a newspaper published in Schenectady a few years since. " The Caughnawaga flats extend from the western base of Tripe's Hill to the Cayadutta creek, a distance of fonr miles. A patent for 2,500 acres of these flats, was granted in the year 1713, to John, Euward, and Margaret Collins. These individuals aliened to Myndert Wemple, Douw Fonda, and Hendrick A. Vrooman ; and many of their descendants are proprietors at the present day. " Until 1695, there were no buildings on the site where Caughnawaga now stands, ex- cept a Dutch church edifice and a parsonage. This church was founded in 1762, by the patronage of Sir William Johnson. Its principal benefactors were the Fonda, Vrooman, Wemple, and Veeder families. The church edifice is still standing, bul in a dilapidated condition. Its first pastor was the Rev. Thomas Romeyn, who died in 1794. He was succeeded by the Rev. Abraham Van Horne, of New Jersey, who continued his pastoral duties until a few years since. " Caughnawaga hardly deserved to be called a hamlet until 1795, when Messrs. Douw and Henry Fonda, of Albany, erected several buildings. " This place suffered much during the revolution. At the western extremity of the flats, is a small hill called by the Dutch ' Teahurg^ or Teahill. It was a place of resort, during the time of the French war, by the Caughnawaga ladies during the absence of their hus- bands, to indulge in their delicious beverage of tea. It was considered a good place of re- treat from danger, and from which the approach of the enemy might be seen. The Mo- hawk name of this elevation is ' Kaheka-nunda,' or ' hill of berries ;' probably because many berries are found there. The ancient Mohawks required their male papooses to run up and down this hill, and those who flagged under the exercise, were deemed unqualified to endure the fatigues of war. " The first settlers of Tripe's Hill, were respectable yeomen. Nicholas Hanson's family emigrated thither about 1725, from Albany. His son Hendrick was the first white child born in the Mohawk valley west of Schenectady, on the north side of the river. About 1728, a New Englander by the name of Bowen, and a Mr. Putnam from Schenectady, took up their residence here. The descendants of the Hansons and Putnams are to found to this day in this region, and the creek on the eastern side of Tripe's Hill received its name from the circumstance of the Putnam family owning the land through which it passes. " About the time the colonies declared their independence, the Bowen, with several other families, took part with the mother country and moved to Canada. They were in- duced to take this course in consequence of their attachment to Sir Wilham Johnson, who, whatever his faults might have been, posseseed much warm-heartedness and benevolence. 36 ^82 MONTGOMERY COUNTY. Had he lived during the revolutionary contest, it is generally believed he would have done much towards restraining the ferocity of the bloodthirsty tories and their savage allies, whose murderous attacks on the defenceless inhabitants of ' the valley,' are so famous in tradition. But the mantle of Sir William did not descend on his son Sir John Johnson. The latter with a party of tories, most of whom had formerly resided at Tripe's Hill, and among whom Henry and William Bowen held conspicuous stations, made an arrangement for a descent on this settlement. The most zealous whig at the ' Hill' was Garret Putnam, captain of a company of rangers. He had rendered himself particularly obnoxious to the British in consequence of the fearless and zealous stand which he had taken against them. On the I8th of May, 1780, he received orders to repair to Fort Hunter; which he did, taking his family along with him. He leased his house to William Gort and James Plateau, two Englishmen, who, although tories, took no active part and were therefore unmolested by the whigs. About midnight on the 20th of May, Sir John's party reached the ' Hill,' and stealthily entering Mr. Putnam's house, instantly killed and scalped its inmates. The hapless victims had not an opportunity to reveal themselves. The enemy su[)posed they had the scalps of Captain Putnam and his son, and were not undeceived until the morning light revealed to them the corpses of their two brother tories, Gort and Plateau. The same night Henry Hanson, a zealous whig, was also murdered." ^_..^ ^ wa The annexed is a representation ■^^ ^^S *" '"''"' ' " " ^"^ A, ^^ ^^^ house of Col. Butler the loyal- ^ & p^g:raT;^^^:^ -^ ^^B!^^^^, ing in the town ; it is now owned ^ ^ITl'^^jjpfw^ j^pRlffl^B and occupied by Mr. Wilson. It is mm '^'^y^^lBi^S^ ^^H^Sp situated on a commanding eminence -^^^^^^^^ ^x^ i ^^^^^^te about one mile in a NE. direction "°*^^^^^^^^^^^&~^=^ ' from the courthouse, in Fonda, over- Butler's House, Mohawk. looking the beautiful Mohawk val- ley at this place. At the breaking out of the revolutionary war, John Butler was lieutenant-colonel of a regiment of the Tryon county militia, of which Guy Johnson was the colonel, and Jelles Fonda the major. Sir John Johnson had been commissioned a general after the decease of his father. " Colonel John Butler," says Mr. Tryon, in his Annals, " had some good traits of character, and in his calmer moments would regret the ravages committed by the Indians and tories ; but Walter Butler was distinguished from youth for his severe acrimonious disposition. After the massacre at Cherry Valley he went to Quebec ; but Gen. Haldiman, governor of Canada, gave out that he did not wish to see him." Palatine, organized in 1782 ; from Fonda, W., 14 miles. This town was first settled by the Dutch, in 1724, and though constantly under cultivation, ever since that time its choice lands can hardly be said to have lost any of their original fertility ! Palatine is 13 miles W. of Johnstown, on the river, turnpike, and Utica railroad. Pala- tine Bridge is also on the river, turnpike, and railroad, immediately opposite Canajoharie village, with which it is connected by a bridge. (See view of Canajoharie.) Stone Arabia is 3 miles N. from Cana- joharie. The above are all small villages. Pop. 2,845. During the revolutionary war there was a small stockade erected in this town, at Stone Arabia, called Fort Paris. When Sir John Johnson was ravaging the valley of the Mohawk, in 1780, this fort was in command of Col. Brown, with a garrison of one hundred and thirty men. Gen. Van Rensselaer, who was pursuing Sir John up the valley, having received information that he intended to attack Fo~rt Paris on the MONTGOMERY COUNTY. 283 19th of Oct., despatched orders to Col. Brown to march out and check his advance, while he fell upon his rear. Col. Brown accordingly sallied forth, and gave Sir John battle near the site of a former work, called Fort Keyser. Van Rensselaer having failed to advance at the appointed time. Brown's force was too feeble to check the progress of the enemy. Col. Brown fell gallantly at the head of his little divi- sion, of which from forty to forty-five were also slain, and the re- mainder sought safety in flight.* Root, taken from Canajoharie and Charleston in 1823; from Albany 51 miles. Sprackers Basin, on the canal, 9 miles W. of Fonda, and Currytown, are small villages. " In the rocky cliffs of the Nose, near the river, is a remarkable cavern known as Mitchell's Cave. Fourteen apartments, some it is said at the depth of 500 feet, have been visited. The ceilings are ornamented with stalactites, the walls with incrustations, and the floors with stalagmites. On the Plattekill, a mile from the river, there is a waterfall of about 80 feet in 10 rods, with a perpendicular pitch of 50 feet." Pop. 2,000. St. Johnsville, recently taken from Oppenheim of Fulton county. The township is small in its territorial limits, being a narrow strip* of land on the north bank of the Mohawk. Pop. 1,923. The village of St. Johnsville is about 20 miles from Fonda, and 77 from Albany. In the fall of 1780, when Sir John Johnson ravaged the Mohawk valley, he made a stand near the western line of this town, when pur- sued by Gen. Van Rensselaer. This was at Fox's mills, about eight miles above Fort Plank, (or as it is now called, Fort Plain,) and two miles below the upper Mohawk castle. " On the north side and on a flat, partly surrounded by a bend of the river, he posted his regiment of regulars and tories. A small breastwork was thrown across the neck of land. The Indians occu- pied a tract of elevated land to the north, and in the immediate vicinity, which was covered with a thick growth of shrub oak. In * Colonel Brown was a brave soldier of high moral worth. He was early in the service, and was engaged in the disastrous campaign in Canada. Col. Stone, in his Life of Brant, states that Col. Brown detected, or believed he detected, a design on the part of Gen. Ar- nold to play the traitor when the American army was at Sorel, by an attempt to run off with the American flotilla and sell out to Sir Guy Carleton. During the winter of 1776—7, while Arnold and many other officers were quartered in Albany, a difficulty arose between him and Col. Brown. The latter published a handbill severely reflecting on Arnold, and concluded with these remarkable words — " Money is this mail's God, and to get enough of it he would sacrifice his country." This publication produced quite a sensation among the officers. Arnold was greatly excited ; he applied a variety of course and harsh epithets to Col. Brown, caUing him a scoundrel, and threatened to kick him wherever he should meet him. This coming to the ears of the latter, he proceeded to the dining place of Ar- nold, where a company of officers were assembled ; going directly up to Arnold he stopped, and looked him in the eye. After a pause of a moment, he observed : " / understand, sir, that you have said you would kick me : I now present myself to give you an opportunity to put your threat into execution .'" Another brief pause ensued. Arnold opened not his lips. Brown then said to him — " Sir, you are a dirty scoundrel .'" Arnold still remained silent. Col. Brown, after apologizing to the gentlemen present for his intrusion, left the room. Arnold appears to have kept an unbroken silence on this occasion, which can only be accounted for on the supposition that he feared to provoke inquiry on the charges of Col. Brown. A monument to the memory of Col. Brown has recently been erected by hia son, at Stone Arabia. 284 NEW YORK COUNTY. this position Sir John awaited the approach of Gen. Van Rensselaer, who was joined by the Canajoharie mihtia and the tories from Fort Plain under Col. Du Bois. After a slight skirmish, the Indians were driven Irom their position, and fled up the river to the fording place, near the castle, where they crossed, and directed their course towards the Susquehannah. Sir John's troops made a more effective resist- ance, though they were almost exhausted by the forced marches which they had made and the labors they had performed. The at- tack had been commenced late in the day. Though it was conducted with considerable spirit, night came on before the works of Sir John were carried. In this situation Gen. Van Rensselaer ordered his troops to fall back a mile and encamp. Many of the militia were en- raged on account of this order, and refused to obey it. They re- mained during most of the night, and took several prisoners, who informed them that the enemy were on the point of offering to capit- ulate, when Gen. Van Rensselaer ordered his troops to fall back. A detachment of the Canajoharie militia under Col. Clyde took one of their field-pieces during the night. " On the following morning, when Gen. Van Rensselaer advanced with his troops, the enemy had entirely disappeared. They had left their ground, and retreated up the river a short distance, and then crossed to the south. The river was deep and rapid where it formed the bend, which would have ensured Gen. Van Rensselaer a com- plete victory had he prosecuted his attack with more vigor. A detachment was sent in pursuit, who discovered in the trail of the enemy evidence of the extreme state to which they were reduced by hunger and fatigue. The whole country on the north side of the river, from Caughnawaga to Stone Arabia and Palatine, had been devastated — which, with the ravages of Brant on the south side of the river, in the previous August, almost completed the destruction of the Mohawk settlements. " If here and there a little settlement escaped their ravages, each were like an oasis in the desert, affording temporary shelter and pro- tection, and, like them, liable to be destroyed or buried up by the next whirlwind which should sweep over the land." NEW YORK COUNTY. The county and city of New York are of the same extent, com- prising the whole of New York, or Manhattan Island, about 14^ miles long, varying from half a mile to two miles in width ; area 21 1 square miles, or 13,920 acres. It is bounded on the north and east by Haer- lem and East rivers, south and west by the Hudson, or by New York bay and the state of New Jersey. The legal subdivisions of the county and city are the wards, 17 in number, of various extent, ac- NEW YORK COUNTY. 285 cording to local convenience. Agreeable to the charter of New York its jurisdiction extends to the lands under the adjoining waters as far as to low-water mark on the opposite sides. The compact part of the city is at the southern part of the island, and covers about one sixth part of its surface. Its latitude and longitude, reckoned from the City Hall, were determined in 1817, by order of the corporation, as follows : N. lat. 40° 42' 43" ; W. long, from Greenwich, England, 73° 59' 46", and E. long, from the city of Washington 3° 1' 13". A table of the population of the city of New York, of the state of New York, and of the United States, at various periods. State. United States. .49,819. Years. City. 1656 1,000 1697 4,302 1731 8,622 1750 10,000 100,000 1,000,000 1774 22,750 250,000 3,000,000 1800 60,489 586,000 5,309,750 1810 96,373 959,220 7,238,903 1820 123,706 1,372,812 9,638,226 1830 202,589 1,918,608 12,852,858 1835 270,089 2,174,517 1840 312,932 2,429,481 17,068,112 The relative proportion of the population of the city to that of the whole state, has gen- erally been from one-eight to one-tenth ; and the state of New York has borne the same re- lative proportion also to the whole United States. " The number of buildings in the compact part of the city of New York is 32,116 ; of which there are used as breweries, di'^tiileries, tanneries, and the like 46 ; as dwelling houses exclusively, 16,458 ; as dwellings with shops 6,614 ; as stores and offices exclusively 3,855 ; as taverns and private boarding-houses 736 ; as baths 9 ; as factories, with engines equal to 1100 horse power, 74 ; as large factories, with labor-saving power, 172 ; as private stables 2,603 ; as livery stables 137 ; as dairy stables 57 ; miscellaneous 1,355. " The valuation of real estate in the city, as corrected by the board of supervisors in 1840, is $187,222,714; and of personal estate $65,013,801. Aggregate $252,235,515. "From 1810 to 1841, the corporation has expended for opening, widening, and improving streets, &c., $6,275,317. " The total amount derived from the city, by the state, from auction duties, from 1816 to 1840 inclusive, is $4,249,527. " The receipts into the general Treasury during the year 1840, from the ordinary rev- enues of the city, from the negotiation of its stocks, and from the management of its ' tnist accounts,' including the cash on hand at the commencement of the year, amounted to $6,004,610 12. " The amount of warrants drawn upon the Treasurer, for the ordinary expenses of the city government, the payment of its pre-existing debts, for its disbursements on the public works, and on its ' trust accounts,' including the warrants outstanding at the commencement of the year, amounted to $6,007,260 54 ; from which is to be deducted the warrants out- standing and unclaimed at the close of the year, amounting to $176,829 50. The result showing the actual amount paid by the Treasurer, during the year to be $5,830,431 04 ; and the cash balance in the treasury January 1st, 1841, to be $174,179 08." Population of the several Wards in New York. 1st ward 10,629 2d ward 6,408 3d ward 11,581 4th ward 15,770 5th ward 19,159 6th ward 17,199 7th ward 22,985 8th ward 29,173 9th ward 24,795 10th ward 29,093 11th ward 17,052 12th ward 11,678 13th ward 18,516 14th ward 20,230 15th ward 17,769 16th ward 22,275 17th ward 18,622 286 NEW YORK COUNTY. The bay of New York spreads to the southward, and is about 8 miles long, and from 1?> to 5h broad. It is one of the finest harbors in the world, generally open for vessels at all seasons of the year, but is, at rare intervals, obstructed for a few days in very severe winters by ice. The currents in the bay are rapid and strong, cir- cumstances that are of great importance in keeping the port of New York open, while others further to the south are obstructed by frost. The usual tides at New York are about six feet, and the depth of water suihcient for the largest ships. The bay contains Governor's, Bedlow's, and Ellis' islands, upon which are strong fortifications guarding the approach to the city. There are also fortifications on Long and Staten islands, commanding the narrows. Stadt Huys, built 1642 — razed 1700. New York derives its origin from the colonizing and commercial spirit of the Hollanders, and the general spirit of adventure which prevailed among the maritime nations of Europe after the discovery of the western continent by Columbus. The Dutch immediately after the discovery of Hudson in 1609, began to avail themselves of the advantages which his discoveries presented to their view. In 1614 or 1615, a kind of fort and trading-house was erected on the southwest point of Manhattan or New York Island, which was named New Amsterdam. In 1614, an expedition from South Virginia, under Capt. Argal, was sent out by Sir Thomas Dale, and took possession of New Amsterdam. At that time there were only four houses out- side of the fort. But an arrangement was soon after made with the English government, by which the Dutch remained in possession of Manhattan Island, and of the trade of the neighboring country for fifty years. The above is a representation of the ancient " Stadt Huys" or City Hall, which was built early in the Dutch dynasty, in 1642. It was built of stone at the head of Coenties slip, facing Pearl-street. About the year 1700, it became so weakened and impaired, that it was sold, and a new one erected by the head of Broad-street, which was afterward the Congress Hall, on the corner of Wall-street. NEW YORK COUNTY. 287 The city was laid out in streets, some of them crooked enough, in 1656. It then contained by enumeration ' 120 houses, with extensive garden lots,' and 1000 inhabitants. In 1677 another estimate of the city was made, and ascertained to contain--; 368 houses. In the year 1674, an assessment of ' the most wealthy inhabitants' having been made, it was found that the sum total of 134 estates amounted to £95.000. Nieuw Amsterdam, in 1659. [A, tliefort. B, the church. C, the wind-mill E, the prison. F, the house of the general. G, the place of execution. H, the Pace of expose or pillory.] D, the fla?, which is hoisted jvhen vessels arrive in porL "a( During the military rule of Governor Colve, M^ho held the city for one year for the states of Holland, after its re-capture from the British, every thing partook of a military character, and the laws still in preservation at Albany show the energy of a rigorous discipline. Then the Dutch mayor, at the head of the city militia, held his daily parades before the City Hall, (Stadt Huys,) then at Coenties slip ; and every evening at sunset, he received from the principal guard of the fort, called the hoofd-wagt, the keys of the city, and thereupon pro- ceeded with a guard of six to lock the city gates ; then to place a Burger-wagt — a citizen-guard — as night-watches at assigned places. The same mayors also went the rounds at sunrise to open the gates, and to restore the keys to the officer of the fort. All this was surely a toilsome service for the domestic habits of the peaceful citizens of that day, and must have presented an irksome honor to any mayor who loved his comfort and repose. " It may amuse some of the present generation, so little used to Dutch names, to learn some of the titles once so familiar in New York, and now so little understood. Such as De Heer Officier, or Hoofd-Schout — High-Sheriff. De Fiscael, or Procureur Gen. — Attor ney General. Wees-Meesters — Guardians of orphans. Roy-Meesters — Regulators of fences. Grooi Burgerrecht and Klein Burgerrecht — The great and small citizenship, which then marked the two orders of society. Eyck-Meester — The Weigh Master. The 3chout, (the Sheriff.) Bourgomasters and Schepens then ruled tlie city ' as in all cities of the Fatherland.' Geheim Schryver — Recorder of secrets." — Watson^s Olden Times, New York. 288 NEW YORK COUNTY. The preceding cut shows the principal buildings standing on the present site of the city of New York in 1659. The following de- scription of New York at about that period, is copied from " Ogilby's America,'" a large folio volume illustrated by engravings, published in London in 1671. This work contains a view of Novum Amsteroda- mmn, (as it is called,) similar to the engraving from which the annexed cut is copied. " It is placed upon the neck of the Island Manhatans looking towards the Sea ; encom. pass'd with Hudson's River, which is six Miles broad, the town is compact and oval, with very fair streets and several good Houses ; the rest are built much after the manner of Holland, to the number of about four hundred Houses, which in those parts are held con- siderable : Upon one side of the Town is James-Fort, capable to lodge three hundred soul- diers and Officers ; it hath four bastions, forty Pieces of Cannon mounted ; the Walls of Stone, lined with a thick Rampart of Earth, well accommodated with a spring of Fresh Water, always furnish'd with Arms and Ammunition against Accidents : Distant from the Sea seven Leagues, it affords a safe entrance, even to unskilful Pilots ; under the Town side, ships of any burthen may ride secure against any Storms ; the Current of the River being broken by the interposition of a small Island, which lies a mile distant from the Town. " About ten Miles from New York is a place call'd Hell Gate, which being a narrow pas- sage, there runneth a violent Stream both upon Flood and Ebb ; and in the middle lie some Rocky Islands, which the Current sets so violently upon, tliat it threatens present Ship- wrack ; and upon the Flood is a large Whirlwind, which continually sends forth a hideous roaring ; enough to affright any Stranger from passing farther ; and to wait for some Charon to conduct him through ; yet to those who are acquainted little or no danger : It is a place of great Defence against any Enemy coming in that way, which a small Fortification would absolutely prevent, and necessitate them to come in at the West End of Long Island by Sandy Hocjk, where Statten Island forces them within the Command of the Fort at New York, which is one of the best Pieces of Defence in the North parts of America. It is built most of Brick and Stone and cover'd with Red and Black Tyle, and the Land being high, it gives at a distance a most pleasing prospect to the Spectators. The inhabitants consist most of Engli^ and Dutch, and have a considerable trade with Indians for Beaver, Otter and Rackoon Skms with other Furrs ; as also for Bear, Deer, and Elke-Skins ; and are supply'd with Venison and Fowl in the winter, and Fish in the Summer by the Indians, which they buy at an easie Rate ; and having the Countrey round about them, and are continually furnish'd with all such provisions as are needful for the Life of Man, not onely by the English and Dutch within their own, but likewise by the adjacent Colonies. " The Manhattans, or Great River being the chiefest, having with two wide Mouths wash'd the mighty Island Watonwaks, falls into the Ocean. The Southern Mouth is call'd Port May, or Godyns Bay. In the piiddle thereof lies an Island call'd ' The States Island ; and a little higher the Manhattans, so call'd from the Natives which on the East side of the River dwell on the Main Continent. They are a cruel people, and enemies to the Holland- ders, as also of the Sarhians which reside on the Western Shore. Farther up are the Mackwaes and Mahikans which continually War, one against another. In like manner all the Inhabitants on the West Side of the River Manhattan, are commonly at enmity with those that possess the Eastern Shore ; who also us'd to be at variance with the Hoi. landers, when as the other People at the Westward kept good correspondency with them. On a small Island near the Shore of the Mackwaes, lay formerly a Fort, provided with two Drakes and eleven Stone Guns, yet was at last deserted." " The settlement and fort continued to bear the name of Nieuw Amsterdam, by the Dutch, down to the time of the surrender by Governor Stuyvesant to the English, in 1664. Then for ten years under the rule of Cols. Nicolls and Lovelace, acting for the Duke of York, it was called New York ; but in August, 1673, a Dutch fleet, in time of war, re-captured it from the British, and while exercising their rule for their High Mightinesses of Holland, to the time of the peace in 1674, they called the place Neio Orange, in compliment to the prince of Orange, and the fort they called Willem Hendrick. " The city being restored to the British by the treaty, was re-deliv- NKW YORK COUNTV. 289 ered to the British in October, 1674. The fort then took the name of Fort James, being built of quadrangular form, having four bastions, two gates, and 42 cannon. The city again took the name of New York, once and forever. The following extracts are from a pamphlet publication by J. W. Moulton, Esq., entitled "View of the city of New Orange (now New York) as it was in the year 1673." " Fort Amsterdam, genaamt James-Fort by de Engelsche. Fort Amsterdam, otherwise called James-Fort by the English. The name officially given to the fort in 1673, was ' fort Willem Hendrick.' It was first erected and finished in 1 635, by Gov. Van Twiller, neg. lected by Governor Kieft, repaired and surrounded by a stone wall by Governor Stuyve- sant, and demolished, and the ground levelled in 1790 and '91. It was situated directly south of the Bowling green, on high ground, was in shape of a regular square, with four bastions, had two gates, and mounted forty-two cannon. " Gereformeerde Kerch. The reformed Dutch church was erected within the fort, by Governor Kieft, in 1642. It was of stone, and covered with oak shingles, which exposed to the weather, soon resembled slate. The motives that induced Governor Kieft to become the founder of the fust church in this city, may be best related in the words of captain Da- vid Pietersz de Vriez ' artillery meester van 't noorder Quartier,' who performed three voy. ages to New Netherlands, associated with Killiaen Van Rensalaer and others, in 1630, to colonize this region, attempted a colony at the Hore-Kill on the Delaware, in the time of Van Twiller, and another on ' Staaten Eylandt,' which he sustained till the troubles with the Indians in the latter time of Kieft drove him to abandon the country. De Vriez ob- serves : ' As I was every day with Commander Kieft, dinmg generally at his house when I happened to be at the fort, he told me one day that he had now made a fine tavern, built with stone, for the English, by whom, as they passed continually with their vessels from New England to Virginia, he had suffered much, and who now might take lodgings there. I told him this was very good for travellers, but that we wanted very badly for our people a church. It was a shame that when the English passed, they should see nothing but a mean barn, in which we performed our worship ; on the contrary, the first thing that they in New England did, when they had built fine dwellings, was to erect a fine church : we ought to do the same, it being supposed that the West India Company were very zealous in protecting the Reformed church (Calvinist) against the Spanish tyranny, that we had good materials for it, fine oak wood, fine building stone, good lime made of oyster shells, being better than our lime in Holland. Kieft asked me then who would like to attend to this building ? I replied the lovers of the reformed religion, as certainly some of them could be found. He told me that he supposed I myself was one of them, as I made the proposition, and he supposed I would contribute a hundred guilders ! I replied that I agreed to do so, and that as he was Governor, he should be the first. We then elected Jochem Pietersz Kuyter, who having a set of good hands, would soon procure good timber, he being also a devout Calvinist. We elected also Jan Claesz Damen, because he lived near the fort, and thus we four " Kerk mcesters" formed the first consistory to superintend the building of the church. The governor should furnish a few thousand guilders of the company's money, and would try to raise the remainder by subscription. The church should be built in the fort, where it would be free from the depredations of the Indians. The building was soon started of stone, and was covered by English carpenters with slate, spht of oakwood,' (that ^, with oak shingles, which by rain and wind soon became blue, and resembled slate.) " The contract for the erection of this church is upon record. It was made in May, 1642, before the secretary of the New Netherlands, between ' William Kieft, church, warden, at the request of his brethren, the church-wardens of the church in New Nether. land, and John Ogden of Stanford, and Richard Ogden, who contracted to build the church of rock-stone, 72 feet long, 52 broad, and 16 feet high above the soil, for 2,500 guilders (jC416 13 4) " in beaver, cash or merchandize, to wit, if the church-wardens are satis- fied with the work, so that, in their judgment, the 2,500 guilders shall have been earned — then said church-wardens will reward them with one hundred guilders (.£16 13 4) more," in the mean time assist them win never it is in their power, and allow them the use, for a month or six weeks, of the Company's boat, to facilitate the carrying of the stone thither.' " The church was not completely finished until the first year of Governor Stuyvesant's administration. In July, 1647, he and two others were appointed kerk-meesters, (church, wardens,) to superintend the work, and complete it the ensuing winter. " The town bell wai; removed to this church. Besides the office of calling the devout to 37 290 NEW YORK COUNTY. meeting, and announcing the hour of retirement at night, the bell was appropriated fo. various singular uses. In October, 1638, a female, for slandering the Rev. E. Bogardus, was condemned to appear at fort Amsterdam, and before the governor and council, ' to declare in public, at the sounding of the bell, that she knew the minister was an honest and pious man, and that she lied falsely.' " In 1639, all mechanics and laborers in the service of the Company commenced and left work at the ringing of the bell, and for every neglect forfeited double the amount of their wages, to the use of the attorney-general. " In 1647, all tavern keepers were prohibited, by the placards of Governor Stuyvesant and council, from accommodating any clubs, or selling any ardent liquor, after the ringing of the bell, at nine o'clock in the evening. In 1648, two runaways were summoned into court by the ringing of the bell, to defend themselves. And in 1677, an ordinance was passed by the common council of New York, imposing a fine of six shillings on any members of the corporation and jurymen, who should neglect to appear in court at the third ringing of the bell. The bell-ringer was an- ciently the court messenger. In 1661, amid his multifarious official duties, he was to ' as- sist in burying the dead and attend to toll the bell.' " The proclamation of governor Lovelace, issued December 10, 1672, is a document too curious to be omitted. It was in the following words : — " 'Whereas it is thought convenient and necessary, in obedience to his Sacred Majesty's Commands, who enjoynes all his subjects, in their distinct colonyes, to enter into a strict Allyance and Correspondency with each other, as likewise for the advancement of Nego- tiation, Trade and Civill Commerce, and for a more speedy Intelligence and Dispatch of afl^ayres, that a messenger or Post bee authorised to sett forth from this City of New-Yorke, monthly, and thence to travaile to Boston, from whence within that month hee shall re- turne againe to this City : These are therefore to give notice to all persons concerned. That on the first day of January next (1673) the messenger appointed shall proceed on his Journey to Boston : If any therefore have any letters or small portable goods to bee con- veyed to Hartford, Connecticott, Boston, or any other parts in the Road, they shall bee carefully delivered according to the Directions by a sworne Messenger and Post, who is purposely imployed in that Affayre ; In the Interim those that bee dispos'd to send Letters, lett them bring them to the Secretary's office, where in a lockt Box they shall bee preserv'd till the Messenger calls for them. AH persons paying the Post before the Bagg bee seald up. Dated at New Yorke this 10th day of December 1672.' " Stuyvesant Huys. Governor Stuyvesant's house or dwelling was built about four years before he surrendered his government to the English. It fronted the public wharf and stood on the west side of the present Whitehall-street, nearly opposite the commencement of the present Water-street. " The public wharf and harbor or dock, were built by the burgomasters of the city about the year 1658. Here vessels loaded and unloaded, and a wharfage duty was exacted at first of eight stivers per last. The harbor was constructed to accommodate vessels and yachts, in which, during winter, the barques stationed there might be secured against the floating ice ; for which large vessels paid annually ' one beaver, and smaller in proportion, to the city, to keep it in order.' This wharf and harbor are now a part of Whitehall-street, Whitehall slip having since been formed into the river. " i>e Waegh. The weigh, or balance. This was erected in 1653, by Governor Stuy. vesant, and the standard weight and measure kept in the balance-house, was according to those of the city of Amsterdam. To this standard merchants were obliged to conform, and to pay the eyck-meester for marking their weights and measures. Goods were here also» brought in bulk and weighed, before they were stored in the public store-houses. " In front of the City-Hall were also the stocks and whipping-post. The ducking-stool, or rather cucking-stool, was not yet erected, notwithstanding the Lutheran minister in 1673 pleaded in bar to a public prosecution against him for striking a female that she ' provoked him to it by scolding.' The Dutch had the credit of introducing the wooden-horse, but the cucking-stool was reserved for the superior ingenuity of the English, who deriving a sanc- tion for their want of gallantry from the immemorial authority of their Common Law, or- dered in February, 1692, ' at a meeting of a grand Committee of the Common Council, a pillory, cage and ducking-stool to be forthwith built.' " The following relation from Knickerbocker's New York, of the manners and customs of the early Dutch inhabitants of this city, al- though humorously exaggerated, is by no means devoid of historical truth. NEW YORK COUNTY. 291 " I will not grieve their patience, however, by describing minutely the increase and im. provement of New Amsterdam. Their own imaginations will doubtless present to them the good burghers, like so many pains-taking and persevering beavers, slowly and surely pursuing their labors — they will behold the prosperous transformation from the rude log.hut to the stately Dutch mansion, with brick front, glazed windows, and tiled roof — from the tangled thicket to the luxuriant cabbage garden ; and from the skulking Indian to the pon. derous burgomaster. In a word, they will picture to themselves the steady, silent, and un- deviating march to prosperity, incident to a city destitute of pride or ambition, cherished by a fat government, and whose citizens do nothing in a hurry. " The sage council, as has been mentioned in a preceding chapter, not being able to de. termine upon any plan for the building of their city — the cows, in a laudable fit of patriot. ism, took it under their peculiar charge, and as they went to and from pasture, established paths through the bushes, on each side of which the good folks built their houses ; which is one cause of the rambling and picturesque turns and labyrinths, which distinguish certain streets of New York at this very day. " The houses of the higher class were generally constructed of wood, excepting the gable end, which was of small black and yellow Dutch bricks, and always faced on the street, as our ancestors, like their descendants, were very much given to outward show, and were noted for putting the best leg foremost. The house was always furnished with abundance of large doors and small windows on every floor ; the date of its erection was curiously designated by iron figures on the front, and on the top of the roof was perched a fierce little weathercock, to let the family into the important secret, which way the wind blew. These, like the weathercocks on the tops of our steeples, pointed so many different ways, that every man could have a wind to his mind ; — the most stanch and loyal citizens, how- ever, always went according to the weathercock on the top of the governor's house, which was certainly the most correct, as he had a trusty servant employed every morning to climb up and set it to the right quarter. " In those good days of simplicity and sunshine, a passion for cleanliness was the leading principle in domestic economy, and the universal test of an able housewife, — a character which formed the utmost ambition of our unenlightened grandmothers. The front door was never opened except on marriages, funerals, new year's days, the festival of St. Nich- olas, or some such great occasion. It was ornamented with a gorgeous brass knocker, curiously wrought, sometimes in the device of a dog, and sometimes of a hon's head, and was daily burnished with such religious zeal, that it was ofttimes worn out by the very precautions taken for its preservation. The whole house was constantly in a state of inun- dation, under the discipline of mops and brooms and scrubbing brushes ; and the good housewives of those days were a kind of amphibious animal, delighting exceedingly to be dabbling in water — insomuch than an historian of the day gravely tells us, that many of his townswomen grew to have webbed fingers like unto a duck ; and some of them, he had little doubt, could the matter be examined into, would be found to have the tails of mer- maids — but this I look upon to be a mere sport of fancy, or what is worse, a wilful misrep- resentation. " The grand parlor was the sanctum sanctorum, where the passion for cleaning was indulged without control. In this sacred apartment no one was permitted to enter, except, ing the mistress and her confidential maid, who visited it once a week, for the purpose of giving it a thorough cleaning, and putting things to rights — always taking the precaution of leaving their shoes at the door, and entering devoutly on their stocking feet. After scrub- bing the floor, sprinkling it with fine white sand, which was curiously stroked into angles, and curves, and rhomboids with a broom — after washing the windows, rubbing and polish- ing the furniture, and putting a new bunch of evergreens in the fireplace — the window shutters were again closed to keep out the flies, and the room carefully locked up until the revolution of time brought round the weekly cleaning day. •' As to the family, they always entered in at the gate, and most generally lived in the kitchen. To have seen a numerous household assembled around the fire, one would have imagined that he was transported back to those happy days of primeval simplicity, which float before our imaginations like golden visions. The fireplaces were of a truly patriarchal magnitude, where the whole family, old and young, master and servant, black and white, nay, even the very cat and dog, enjoyed a community of privilege, and had each a right to a corner. Here the old burgher would sit in perfect silence, puffing his pipe, looking in the fire with half-shut eyes, and thinking of nothing for hours together ; the goede vrouw on the opposite side would employ herself diligently in spinning yarn, or knitting stockings. The young folks would crowd around the hearth, listening with breathless attention to some old crone of a negro, who was the oracle of the family, and who, perched like a raven in a corner of the chminey, would croak forth for a long winter afternoon a string of in- 292 NKVV YORK COLNTY. credible stories about New England witches — grisly ghosts — horses without heads — and hairbreadth escapes and bloody encounters among the Indians. " In those happy days a well-regulated family always rose with the dawn, dined at eleven, and went to bed at sundown. Dinner was invariably a private meal, and the fat old burghers showed incontcstible symptoms of disapprobation and uneasiness at being surprised by a visit from a neighbor on such occasions. But though our worthy ancestors were thus singularly averse to giving dinners, yet they kept up the social bands of intimacy by coca. sional banquetings, called tea parties. " These fashionable parties were generally confined to the higher classes, or noblesse, that is to say, such as kept their own cows, and drove their own wagons. The company com- monly assembled at three o'clock, and went away about six, unless it was in winter time, when the fashionable hours were a little earlier, that the ladies might get home before dark. The tea table was crowned with a huge earthen dish, well stored with slices of fat pork, fried brown, cut up into morsels, and swinuiiing in gravy. The company being seated around the genial board, and each furnished with a fork, evinced their dexterity in launch, ing at the fattest pieces in this mighty dish — in much die same manner as sailors harpoon porpoises at sea, or our Indians spear salmon in the lakes. Sometimes the table was graced with immense apple pies, or saucers full of preserved peaches and pears ; but it was always sure to boast an enormous dish of balls of sweetened dough, fried in hog's fat, and called doughnuts, or oly koeks — a delicious kind of cake, at present scarce known in this city, excepting in genuine Dutch families. " The tea was served out of a majestic delft teapot, ornamented with paintings of fat Uttle Dutcii shepherds and shepherdesses tending pigs — with boats sailing in the air, and houses built in the clouds, and sundry other ingenious Dutch fantasies. The beaux distinguish- ed themselves by their adroitness in replenishing this pot from a huge copper tea-kettle, which would have made the pigmy macaronies of these degenerate days sweat merely to look at it. To sweeten the beverage, a lump of sugar was laid beside each cup — and the com- pany alternately nibbled and sipped with great decorum, until an improvement was introduced by a shrewd and economic old lady, which was to suspend a large lump directly over the tea table, by a string from the ceiling, so that it could be swung from mouth to mouth — an ingenious expedient, which is still Jvcpt up by some fami- lies in Albany ; but which prevails without exception in Communi- paw, Bergen, Flat Bush, and all our uncontaminated Dutch villages. " At these primitive tea parties the utmost propriety and dignity of deportment prevailed. No flirting nor coquetting — no gambolling of old ladies nor hoyden chattering and romping of young ones — no self-satisfied struttings of wealthy gentlemen, with their brains in their pockets — nor amusing conceits, and monkey divertisements, of smart young gentlemen, with no brains at all. On the contrary, the young ladies seated themselves demurely in their rush-bottomed chairs, and knit their own woollen stockings ; nor ever opened their lips, excepting to say, yah Mynher, or yah ya Vrouw, to any question that was asked them ; behaving, in all things, like decent, well-edu- cated damsels. As to the gentlemen, each of them tranquilly smoked his pipe, and seemed lost in contemplation of the blue and white tiles with which the fireplaces were decorated ; wherein sundry passages of scripture were piously portrayed — Tobit and his dog figured to freat advantage ; Haman swung conspicuously on his gibbet, and onah appeared most manfully bouncing out of the whale, like Har* lequin through a barrel of fire. NEW YOKK COUNTY. " 293 " The parties broke up without noise and without confusion. They were carried home by their own carriages, that is to say, by the ve- hicles nature had provided them, excepting such of the wealthy as could afford to keep a wagon. The gentlemen gallantly attended their fair ones to their respective abodes, and took leave of them with a hearty smack at the door ; which, as it was an established piece of etiquette, done in perfect simplicity and honesty of heart, occasioned no scandal at that time, nor should it at the present — if our great grandfathers approved of the custom, it would argue a great want of reverence in their descendants to say a word against it. " In this dulcet period of my history, when the beauteous island of Manna-hatta presented a scene, the very counterpart of those glowing pictures drawn of the golden reign of Saturn, there was, as I have before observed, a happy ignorance, an honest simplicity prevalent among its inhabitants, which, were I even able to depict, would be but little understood by the degenerate age for which I am doomed to write. Even the female sex, those arch innovators upon the tranquil- lity, the honesty, and greybeard customs of societ)^, seemed for a while to conduct themselves with incredible sobriety and comeliness. " Their hair, untortured by the abominations of art, was scrupu- lously pomatomed back from their foreheads with a candle, and cov- ered with a little cap of quilted calico, which fitted exactly to their heads. Their petticoats of linsey woolsey were striped with a va- riety of gorgeous dyes — though I must confess these gallant garments were rather short, scarce reaching below the knee ; but then they made up in the number, which generally equalled that of the gentle- men's small-clothes ; and what is still more praiseworthy, they were all of their own manufacture — of which circumstance, as may well be supposed, they were not a little vain. " These were the honest days, in which every woman staid at home read the Bible, and wore pockets — ay, and that too of a goodly size, fashioned with patch-work into many curious devices, and ostenta- tiously worn on the outside. These, in fact, were convenient recep- tacles, where all good housewives carefully stoi'ed away such things as they wished to have at hand ; by which means they often came to be incredibly crammed — and I remember there was a story cur- rent when I was a boy, that the lady of Wouter Van Twiller once had occasion to empty her right pocket in search of a wooden ladle, and the utensil was discovered lying among some rubbish in one cor- ner — but we must not give too much faith to all these stories ; the anecdotes of those remote periods being very subject to exaggera- tion. " Besides these notable pockets, they likewise wore scissors and pincushions suspended from their girdles by red ribands, or among the more opulent and showy classes, by brass, and even silver chains — indubitable tokens of thrifty housewives and industrious spinsters. I cannot say much in vindication of the shortness of the petticoats ; it doubtless was introduced for the purpose of giving the stockings a chance to be seen, which were generally of blue worsted with mag- 294 • NEW YORK COUNTY. nificent red clocks — or perhaps to display a well-turned ankle, and a neat, though serviceable, foot, set off by a high-heeled leathern shoe, with a large and splendid silver buckle. Thus we find that the gentle sex in all ages have shown the same disposition to infringe a little upon the laws of decorum, in order to betray a lurking beauty, or gratify an innocent love of finery. " From the sketch here given, it will be seen that our good grandmothers differed consid- erably in their ideas of a fine figure fi-om their scantily dressed descendants of the present day. A fine lady, in those times, waddled under more clothes, even on a fair summer's day, than would have clad the whole bevy of a modern ball-room. Nor were ihey the less admired by the gentlemen in consequence thereof. On the contrary, the greatness of a lover's passion seemed to increase in proportion to the magnitude of its object — and a vo. luminous damsel, arrayed in a dozen of petticoats, was declared by a Low Dutch sonnetteer of the province to be radiant as a sunflower, and luxuriant as a full blown cabbage. Cer- tain it is, that in those days, the heart of a lover could not contain more than one lady at a time ; whereas the heart of a modern gallant has often room enough to accommodate half a dozen. The reason of which I conclude to be, that either the hearts of the gentlemen have grown larger, or the persons of the ladies smaller — this, however, is a question for physiologists to determine. " But there was a secret charm in these petticoats, which no doubt entered into the con- sideration of the prudent gallants. The wardrobe of a lady was in those days her only for- tune ; and she who had a good stock of petticoats and stockings, was as absolutely an heiress as is a Karnschatka damsel with a store of bear skins, or a Lapland belle with a plenty of reindeer. The ladies, therefore, were very anxious to display these powerful attractions to the greatest advantage ; and the best rooms in the house, instead of being adorned with caricatures of dame nature, in water colors and needle-work, were always hung round with abundance of homespun garments, the manufacture and the property of the females — a piece of laudable ostentation that still prevails among the heiresses of our Dutch villages. " The gentlemen, in fact, who figured in the circles of the gay world in these ancient times, corresponded, in most particulars, with the beauteous damsels whose smiles they were ambitious to deserve. True it is, their merits would make but a very inconsiderable impression upon the heart of a modern fair ; they neither drove their curricles nor sported their tandems, for as yet those gaudy vehicles were not even dreamt of — neither did they distinguish themselves by their brilliancy at the table, and their consequent rencontres with watchmen, for our forefathers were of too pacific a disposition to need those guardians of the night, every soul throughout the town being sound asleep before nine o'clock. Neither did they establish their claims to gentility at the expense of their tailors — for as yet those offenders against the pockets of society, and the tranquillity of all aspiring young gentle- men, were unknown in New Amsterdam ; every good housewife made the clothes of her husband and family, and even the goede vrouw of Van Twiller himself thought it no dis- paragement to cut out her husband's linsey woolsey galligaskins. "Not but what there were some two or three youngsters who manifested the first dawn- ings of what is called fire and spirit. Who held all labor in contempt ; skulked about docks and market places ; loitered in the sunshine ; squandered what little money they could pro- cure at hustle-cap and chuck-farthing, swore, boxed, fought cocks, and raced their neigh- bor's horses — in short, who promised to be the wonder, the talk, and abomination of the town, had not their stylish career been unfortunately cut short by an affair of honor with a whipping-post. " Far other, however, was the truly fashionable gentleman of those days — his dress, which served for both morning and evening, street and drawing-room, was a linsey wool- sey coat, made, perhaps, by the fair hands of the mistress of his affections, and gallantly bedecked with abundance of large brass buttons. — Haifa score of breeches heightened the proportions of his figure — his shoes were decorated by enormous copper buckles — a low. crowned broad-brimmed hat overshadowed his burly visage, and his hair dangled down his back in a prodigious queue of eel skin. " Thus equipped, he would manfully sally forth with pipe in mouth to besiege some fair damsel's obdurate heart — not such a pipe, good reader, as that which Acisdid sweetly tune in praise of his Galatea, but of one of true delft manufacture, and furnished with a charge of fragrant tobacco. With this would he resolutely set himself down before the fortress, and rarely failed, in the process of time, to smoke the fair enemy into a surrender, upon honorable terms. NEW YORK COUNTY. 295 " Such was the happy reign of Wouter Van Twiller, celebrated in many a long-forgotten song as the real golden age, the rest being nothing but counterfeit copper-washed coin. In that delightful period, a sweet and holy calm reigned over the whole province. The bur- gomaster smoked his pipe in peace — the substantial solace of his domestic cares, after her daily toils were done, sat soberly at the door, with her arms crossed over her apron of snowy white, without being insulted by ribald street walkers or vagabond boys — those unlucky urchins, who do so infest our streets, displaying under the roses of youth the thorns and briers of iniquity. Then it was that the lover with ten breeches, and the dam- sel with petticoats of half a score, indulged in all the innocent endeannents of virtuous love without fear and without reproach ; for what had that virtue to fear, which was defended by a shield of good linsey woolseys, equal at least to the seven bull hides of the invincible Ajax. " Ah, bhssful, and never to be forgotten age ! when every thing was better than it has ever been since, or ever will be again — when Buttermilk Channel* was quite dry at low water — when the shad in the Hudson were all salmon, and when the moon shone with a pure and resplendent whiteness, instead of that melancholy yellow light which is the conse. quence of her sickening at the abominations she every night witnesses in this degenerate city! " Happy would it have been for New Amsterdam could it always have existed in this state of blissful ignorance and lowly simplicity ; but alas ! the days of childhood are too sweet to last ! Cities, like men, grow out of them in time, and are doomed alike to grow into the bustle, the cares, and miseries of the world. Let no man congratulate himself, when he beholds the child of his bosom or the city of his birth increasing in magnitude and importance — let the history of his own life teach him the dangers of the one, and this ex- cellent little history of Mannahatta convince him of the calamities of the other." THE NEGRO PLOT. The celebrated Negro Plot, 1741, occurred when there were about ten thousand inhabi- tants in this city, of which one sixth part were negro slaves. •' After a lapse of a century, we look back with astonishment on the panic occasioned by the Negro Plot, and the rancorous hatred that prevailed here against the Roman Catholics. To judge from tradition, and the journal of the proceedings against the conspirators, no doubt can be had of the actual existence of a plot ; but its extent could never have been so great as the terror of those times depicted. The very mode adopted to discover abettors by mutual criminations and confessions, tended in the progress of the trials to inculpate every negro slave in the city. We accordingly find, that the number of conspirators daily increased. As it was impossible to prove all equally guilty, the ringleaders only were ex- ecuted ; and those who, to save their Hves, plead guilty, and threw themselves on the mercy of the court, were transported. " Insurrections and conspiracies were at this juncture frequent in the West India islands, and great apprehensions were entertained of an invasion by the French and Spaniards. These circumstances aggravated the horror of a domestic plot to such a degree, that the white inhabitants, regarding every negro slave as an incendiary and an assassin, carried their apprehensions and resentment beyond all bounds. " A holy hatred of the Roman Catholics was at that period inculcated by church and state. Our Dutch forefathers, glowing with all the zeal of the early reformers, emigrated to this country shortly after the emancipation of the United Netherlands from the Spanish yoke, and fostered all the rancor of their race against Papists and Spaniards. It was the policy of the English government, after the conquest, to cherish this animosity, and those of our readers who were born and educated before the American revolution, will recollect how religiously they were taught to abhor the Pope, Devil, and Pretender. The act of our Provincial Assembly, against Jesuits and Papist priests, passed 2d William and Mary, and which continued in full force until our independence, was owing, not only to these preju- dices, but to the exposed situation of the colony, the northern frontier of which was bounded by Canada, at that time in possession of France, the natural and ever-daring enemy to Eng- land. The intolerant spirit of this act shows the horror and detestation in which the Roman Catholics were held, and will account why so few of this profession existed in this city and colony before the revolution. * In olden times the channel was but a little creek which separated the mainland from Governors Island. 296 NEW YORK COUNTY. " In estimating this singular event in our colonial history, the circumstances of ihc times should be duly considered, before we too hastily condemn the bigotry and cruelty ot' our predecessors. The advantages of a liberal, indeed of the plainest education, was the happy lot of very few. Intercourse between the colonies and the mother country, and between province and province, was very rare. Ignorance and illiberal prejudices universally pre- vailed. Their more favored and enlightened posterity will therefore draw a veil of filial affection over the involuntary errors of their forefathers, and emulating their simple virtues, endeavor to transmit a brighter example to their successors." — Hist, of Negro Plot, 8vo. New York, 1810. " The first suspicion of a plot among the negroes, and which subsequently led to a full investigation and discovery, was caused by frequent alarms of fire, and a robbery committed at a Mr. Hogg's, ' from whence were taken divers pieces of linen, and other goods, and several silver coins, chiefly Spanish, and medals, and wrought silver, &c., to the value, in the whole, of sixty pounds and upwards.' The scene of this famous robbery was in a house in Broad street. On Wednesday, the 18th March, 1740, about 1 o'clock, a fire broke out of the roof of His Majesty's house, at Fort George, within this city, near the chapel, on the east side, and the wind blowing a violent gale at southeast, it soon became impossible to stop its progress. The citizens and engines assembled promptly on the ringing of the chapel bell, and assisted in saving the records and papers in the office of the Secretary of State, over the fort gate, which fortunately were preserved, although in the hurry they were tossed out at the windows, and the papers blown and scattered. An alarm being given, the peo- ple were soon after fearful of an explosion, and stood aloof, although assured by the Gov- ernor that it was groundless. In one hour and a quarter, the Governor's house, and the venerable old Dutch Church, were thus consumed. A plumber had that morning been at work, with his pot of coals and soldering iron, to mend a leak in the gutter, between the house and the chapel, and the high wind had no doubt blown some sparks on the dry shin- gles, or under the eaves. On the 25th of March, a week after the fire at the fort, another broke out at the southwest end of the town, and on the 1st of April, another at the east end of the town, at Van Zandt's, corner of Burling's slip and Watcr-street. On the 4th of April, two other alarms were made, and fire discovered ; and on the 5th, being Sunday, Mr. Murray's haystack, standing near some stables and houses in Broadway, had some live coals put under it, which went out of themselves. On Monday, three more fires occurred, and the panic commenced. Many negroes were arrested, and the investigations were long and intricate. By the course of the evidence, it appeared that the city was destined to be fired, and the inhabitants massacred on coming out of the English Church in Broadway. " St. Patrick's night was selected to begin the bloody scene, and many Irish Catholics, lately arrived, enlisted in the gang, were even detected as being concerned. The negroes were led on by a villian named Hughson, at whose house they were freely entertained, and brought their stolen goods, and were sworn to secrecy. Ury, a priest, was also deeply concerned. " It is somewhat remarkable, that London has had its Popish Plot and fire ; Boston and Salem its delusions of witchcraft, and New York its Negro Plot: and there can be no doubt that some innocent persons were at those limes accused, and sufi'ered. " One hundred and fifty-four negroes, and twenty white persons, were committed to pri- son, of which fifty-five were convicted, and seventy-eight confessed. Thirteen negroes were burnt at the stake, at a place then out of town, but situated near the present in- tersection of Pearl and Chatham streets, where there formerly was a hollow place, as recol- lected by one of our oldest citizens, who was present at the execution, and declares that the horrible shrieks and cries of the miserable victims still dwell on his memory. Twenty were hung, (one in chains, ' on the island, by the powder-house,' where the Arsenal now is, in Elm street.) Seventy were transported to foreign parts, viz. Newfoundland, Madeira, Hispaniola, Cape Francois, Curra9oa, Surinam, &c., &c., and fifty were discharged. " Although the black population has increased from that period to the present, in this city, yet the proportion they 7iow bear to the whites is much less than at that time, being only one-twelfth part; then they were one-sixth." The following extracts are from newspapers published previous to and during the revolution : they will serve to throw light on the his- tory of the times. " New York, November 4, 1765. — The late extraordinary and unprecedented prepara- tions in Fort George, and the securing of the Stamped Paper in that garrison, having greatly alarmed and displrased the inhabitants of tliis city, a vast number of them assembled hist Friday evening in the commons, from whence they marched down the Fly, preceded by a NEW YORK COUNTY. 297 number of lights, and having stopped a few minutes at the Coffee House, proceeded to the Fort Walls, where they broke open the stable of the L — t G r, took out his coach, and after carrying the same through the principal streets of the city, in triumph marched to the commons, where a gallows was erected ; on one end of wiiich was suspended the effigy of the person whose property the coach was. In his right hand he held a stamped Bill of Lading, and on his breast was afhxed a paper with the following inscription, ' The Rebel Drummer in the year 1715 :' at his back was affixed a drum, the badge of his profession ; at the other end of the gallows hung the figure of the devil, a proper companion for the other, as 'tis supposed it was entirely at his instigation he acted : after they had hung there a considerable time, they carried the effigies, with the gallows entire, being preceded by the coach, in a grand procession to the gate of the fort, where it remained for some lime, from whence it was removed to the Bowling Green, under the muzzles of the fort guns, where a bon-fire was immediately made, and the drummer, devil, and coach, &,c., were consumed amidst the acclamations of some thousand spectators, and we make no doubt, but the L — t G r, and his friends, had the mortification of viewing the whole proceed. ing from the ramparts of the fort : But the business of the night not being yet concluded, the whole body proceeded with the greatest decency and good order to Vauxhall, the house of M — r J s, who, it was reported, was a Inend to the Stamp Act, and had been over officious in his duty, from whence they took every individual article to a very considerable amount ; and having made another bon-fire, the whole was consumed in the flames, to the great satisfaction of every person present ; after which they dispersed, and every man went to his respective habitation. The whole affair was conducted with such decorum, that not the least accident happened. " The next evening another very considerable body assembled at the same place, having been informed that the L — t G r had qualified himself for the distribution of the Stamped paper, were determined to march to the fort, in order to insist upon his delivering into their hands, or to declare that he would not undertake to distribute the same ; but before this resolution could be executed, the minds of the people were eased by the L — t G r's sending the following declaration from the fort, viz : — "TT^HE Lieut. Governor declares he will do nothing in Relation to the Stamps, but leave -L it to Sir Henry Moore, to do as he pleases on his arrival. Council Chamber, New York, Nov. 2, 1765. By Order of His Honor. Ww. Banyar D. CI. Con. " ' We can assure the Gentlemen of the neighboring Provinces, That every Importer of European Goods in this City, have agreed not to Import any Goods from England next Spring, unless the Sugar Act, and the Oppressive and Unconstitutional Stamp Act are repealed.' " "New York, Jan. 8th, 1763. — Thursday next is appointed to celebrate the birth of the Prince of Wales, when there is to be a treble discharge of all the artillery in this place, and the evening is to be concluded with the play of the Fair Penitent, by the officers of the army, in a theatre built for that purpose." "New York, Dec. 13, 1765. — We are credibly informed that there were married last Sunday evening, by the Rev. Mr. Auchmuty, a very respectable couple, that had been pub- lished at three different times in Trinity church. A laudable example and worthy to be followed. If this decent, and for many reasons, proper method of publication was once generally to take place, we should hear no more of clandestine marriages, and save the ex- pense of licenses, no inconsiderable sum these hard and distressing times." "New York, March 13th, 1766. — Upon a supposition that the cannon upon the Batteiy in this city were spiked by order of Lieutenant-governor Colden, his effigy was exhibited last Thursday, sitting upon a piece of ordnance, properly mounted with a drill constructed in such a manner as to be continually working ; at his back hung a drum as a badge of his former profession : On his breast was fixed a paper on which were the following lines : ' I'm deceived by the devil and left in the lurch ; And am forced to do penance, tho' not in the church.' " After it had appeared in the principal streets of the city attended by many thousand spectators, (although it rained great part of the time,) it was carried to the common, where a fire was immediately made, and the whole consumed by 5 o'clock in the afternoon, amidst the acclamations of the multitude, who dispersed directly thereafter The affair was conducted with such order and decorum, that no person sustained the least damage. 38 298 NEW YORK COUNTY. " N. B. The public are desired to take notice, that the cannon still remain spiked ; and it is expected that no further hint will be necessary." "New York, May Z, 1766. — The play advertised to be acted last Monday evening, having given offence to many of the inhabitants of this city, who thought it highly improper that such entertainments should be exhibited at this time of public distress, when great numbers of poor people can scarce find means of subsistence, whereby many persons might be tempted to neglect their business, and squander that money which is necessary to the payment of their debts and support of their families, a rumour was spread about the town on Monday, that if the play went on, the audience would meet with some disturbance from the multitude. This prevented the greatest part of those who intended to have been there from going ; however, many people came and the play was begun : but soon interrupted by the multitude, who burst open the doors, and entered with noise and tumult. The audi- ence escaped in the best manner they could ; many lost their hats and other parts of dress. A boy had his skull fractured, and was yesterday trepanned ; his recovery is doubtful : several others were dangerously hurt, but we heard of no lives lost. The multitude immediately demolished the house, carried the pieces to the common, where they consumed them in a bonfire." From the New York Gazette of August 3, 1769. " Extract of a letter to a gentleman in the city from a correspondent in the country, dated July 20, — ' Sir : As a sincere friend I give you a caution now to be particularly on your guard against the importation of English goods ; for I fear you will not get them sold at any rate, as it appears quite plain from this hint of facts, you may depend upon. Within these few weeks I happened to be present at several meetings of some towns here, when among other things, they took into their most serious consideration the affair of buving English goods from your merchants, and it was strongly reasoned thus : We have gone (said they) these several years past clearing new lands and raising grain only, and have foolishly neg- lected the raising of sheep and flax, because we vainly thought we could buy them cheaper at the stores than make them at our houses ; until now our cash is wholly carried to Eng- land for their fineries, and here it has got so scarce, that in a whole town one guinea is scarcely seen in a year's time : so that when a man goeth to buy any necessaries at a mer- chant's shop, instead of his purse, he must take a wagon load of grain, and sell it to the mer- chant's and take his English goods at whatever price he pleases to ask. " Wherefore they unanimously and firmly resolved, 1st. That for them to buy any more Scotch or English goods from merchants, was in fact a sure wicked way to qualify Britain tyrannically and inflexibly, from time to time to impose upon Americans whatsoever new laws, new admiralty courts, or bishop's courts they pleased, to take away our civil and re- ligious liberties piecemeal, until we and our posterity were finally enslaved as deep as any Spaniard or African. "2d. That therefore, whosoever of their town, durst presume to buy any more of said British goods, before the restoring of our liberty, should be held, reputed, deemed, and treated by all his neighbors as an open enemy to all the civil and religious interests of their country, &c. &-c. " I have heard that a great many towns, through the inland parts of this, and the other provinces, are beginning to be greatly alarmed with the fears of their new admiralty courts, and bishop's courts, &c., and therefore are forming resolves of the same nature. Now if you do in these circumstances import goods, you will be ruined. Look round and see how many merchants have been sent to jail, and their families ruined by importing English goods, and not getting them sold to any advantage. Yours, &c." From the New York Gazette, March 29, 1770. "Last Saturday night about 11 o'clock, 14 or 15 soldiers were seen about the liberty, pole in this city, which one of them had ascended, with an intent to take off and carry away the topmast and vane ; as soon as they were discovered, five or six young men who were accidentally crossing the green at that time made up towards the pole, to see what they were about, but they were immediately attacked and driven off the green by the sol- diers ; who, finding that they were discovered, and being apprehensive that the inhabitants would be alarmed, they made off. Soon after some persons went into town and acquainted their friends with the proceedings of the soldiers, upon which 14 or 15 persons came up to the green, and going to the pole were there surrounded by 40 or 50 soldiers, with their cut- NEW YORK COUNTY 299 lasses drawn ; upon which 4 or 5 of them retreated to the house of Mr. Bicker, and were followed by part of the soldiers, who immediately called out for the soldiers from the bar- racks ; upon which they were joined by a very considerable body who came over the bar- rack fence. Mr. Bicker seeing himself and family in danger, and exposed to the insults of a licentious and brutal soldiery, stood with his bayonet fixed, determined to defend himself to the last extremity, and declared that he would shoot the first man that should attempt to enter ; they several times attempted to force the under door, the uppei door being open, which Mr. Bicker kept shut by fixing the point of his bayonet against it, while ihey kept cutting and hacking the barrel of his gun, in attempting to cut him down with their cut- lasses, — but he soon after got the upper door shut and barred ; upon which they strove to break open the front windows, which were also shut, one of which they forced open, broke the panes of glass, and cut ail the frame to pieces, in order to get into the house. Some people who were in the house seeing the imminent danger to which Mr. Bicker and his family were exposed, got out the back way and ran to alarm the citizens. The chapel bell was immediately rung, upon the hearing of which, the soldiers retreated precipitately. A number of the citizens were up all night and under arms, which probably prevented any mischief being done, as they repeatedly swore that they would set fire to the house, and burn or destroy every person in it. Col. Robertson, the commanding ofiicer of the regi- ment, repaired to the barracks, as soon as he had notice of the disturbance ; he immediately ordered the centinels to be confined, and remained up all night to prevent any further mis- chief being done ; and as a number of inhabitants nightly guarded the pole, till the Trans- ports with the soldiers were sailed, they were disappointed in eftecting their designs against it, although they positively swore that they would carry off some part of it with them." From the same, JDeceinber 24, 1767 " To be disposed of — the remaining time, being about three years, of three German ser- vants, one a baker by trade, one a butcher, and the other a laborer. They are very in- dustrious good men, whose honesty has been tried, and may be had on reasonable terms. Inquire of the printer hereof." " Last Thursday being the anniversary of His Majesty's birth-day, when he entered his 30th year, the same was observed here with great solemnity. About 11 o'clock the de- tachment of the train, with the 17th and 46th regiments, were paraded on the battery, and marched in order by, and saluted his Excellency, General Gage ; at the same time his Ex- cellency, Sir Henry Moore, the members of His Majesty's council for this province, his worship the mayor, and the rest of the corporation, and most of the other gentlemen of the city, were assembled in Fort George, where his Majesty's and many other loyal healths were drank, under the discharge of a Royal Salute from the Fort, which was immediately followed by a salute of 21 guns from the Liberty Pole, on which was suspended a Union ; these were answered by three vollies from the troops, five of His Majesty's ships, and many other vessels in our harbor, which with their colors displayed made a very grand and beautiful appearance ; the two regiments then returned to their barracks and the train to the Green, and there grounded their arms. Elegant entertainments were given at Fort George, and Head Quarters, by their Excellencies Sir Henry Moore and General Gage, at which were present all the gentlemen of the army and navy, and most of the principal gentlemen of this place. In the evening the most magnificent fire-works ever seen m America were played off before a very great number of spectators. Over the gate of Fort George a number of lamps were disposed in such a manner as to represent a Regal Crown with a Laurel Tree on each side, and before the door of his Excellency Gen. Gage, was exhib- ited, by lamps properly placed, a large and elegant appearance of the Royal Arms ; there being a general illumination throughout the city. The fire- works were conducted in such a manner as showed great skill and judgment in the projectors and operators, every part be- ing played off with the greatest ease imaginable, in the following order, viz : — First Set. — Two signal rockets, royal salutes of 21 marons, 12 sky rockets, a single vertical wheel, a Chinese fountain, a line rocket of three changes and a swarm box, 2 gerbs, 2 air balloons of crackers and serpents, a Chinese piece with a horizontal wheel, a yew tree with a brilliant fire, a nest of serpents. " Second Set. — Two signal rockets, a salute of 19 marons, 12 sky rockets, a double vertical wheel, an illuminated globe, a fire tree and swarm box, 2 air balloons with crack, ers and stars, 3 fixed pieces with double vertical wheels, a range of fountains, a yew tree of brilliant fire, 2 nests of serpents. " Third Set. — Two signal rockets, a salute of 17 marons, 12 sky rockets, 2 signal ver- 300 NEW YORK COUNTY. fical wheels, a cascade of brilliant fire, a line rocket of three changes and swarm box, a range of fountains, two air balloons with serpents and stars, a Chinese piece with a hori- zontal wheel, an illuminated yew tree, a star with brilliant rays and glory. Conclusion. — A flight of rockets." From the same, January 29,cst of Hempstead village. This monument is 18 feet in height from the bottom of the mound, and is constructed of white marble from the quarries of Westchester county. The following are the inscriptions : South side. — To the memory of 77 per- sons, chiefly emigrants from England and Ireland, being the only remains of 100 souls, comprising the passengers and crew of the American ship Bristol, Captain McKown, wrecked on Far Rockaway beach, November 21, 1836. IVest side. — All the bodies of the Bris- tol and Mexico, recovered from the ocean, and decently interred near this spot, were followed to the grave by a large concourse of citizens and strangers, and an address delivered suited to the occasion. North side. — To the memory of sixty, two persons, chiefly emigrants from Eng. land and Ireland ; being the only remains of 115 souls, forming the passengers and crew of the American barque Mexico, Capt. Winslow, wrecked on Hempsiead beach, Jan. 2d, 1837. East side. — To commemorate the mel- ancholy fate of the unfortunate suflierers belonging to the Bristol and Mexico, this monument was erected ; partly by the money found upon their persons, and part, ly by the contributions of the benevolent and humane in the county of Queens Konwmentat Nta ptrUhtidi ■ Rockn^any to tht memory of \'i^ persont vho \ Uic wrtcki nf the Bruitul a/td Mciico. aUEKNS COUNTY. 457 " The ship Bristol sailed from Liverpool Oct. 15, having on board a crew of sixteen men, including officers, and about one hundred passengers, chiefly emigrants. She had a fair passage across the Atlantic, and was oif Sandy Hook at 9 o'clock on Saturday night, Nov. 20, with her lanterns out as a signal for a pilot; at which time the gale had just commen- ced. No pilots, however, were out, and the ship was obliged to stand off. About four o'clock on Sunday morning, she struck on Far Rockaway, and at daylight, though within half a mile of the shore, owing to the heavy sea, no relief could be afforded to the dis. tressed passengers and crew, who were clinging to the shrouds and other parts of the rig- ging ; in this situation they remained through the day. About 11 o'clock at night, the sea somewhat abating, some boats went to her relief, and succeeded in taking off the captain, a portion of the crew, and some of the passengers. All were rescued who remained on the wreck when the boats reached it, but during the day the ship went to pieces, and the next morning her stern-post was all that remained. " Among the passengers lost was Mr. Donnelly, of New York, who died a victim to his own philanthropy ; and Mrs. Hogan and two daughters. Mrs. Donnelly, her nurse and children were saved, and, with other women and children, landed by the first boat. Twice the boats returned to the wreck, and twice Mr. Donnelly yielded his place to others. In the third attempt to go off, the boats were swamped, and the crew became discouraged, and would not go back. In the mean time the storm increased, and Mr. Donnelly, with the two Mr. Carletons, took to the foremast, where the crew and many steerage passen- gers had sought temporary safety. Unhappily, this mast soon went by the board, and of about twenty persons on it, the only one saved was Mr. Briscoe, a cabin passenger, which I was effected by his catching at the bowsprit rigging, whence he was taken by the boats. The captain, and a number of the cabin and steerage passengers, were on the mizenmast ; and when that fell, they lashed themselves to the taffrail, where for four hours the sea broke over them. " Some twenty of the steerage passengers, principally women and children, perished al- most immediately after the ship struck. Even before they could leave their berths the ship bilged, filled, and all below were drowned. Not a groan was heard to denote the catas- , trophe — so awfully sudden was it. " And to those whom the waves and the mercy of God had spared, what was the con- I duct of their brother man ? Their persons, their trunks, were searched and robbed by the I fiends that gathered around the wreck. One hapless being, thrown senseless but yet alive ( on the shore, and having about him his all — ten sovereigns — was plundered ot them !" I Distressing as was the fate of the Bristol, the wreck of the Mexico was still more terrible. This occurred in the dead of winter, and the sufferings of the unhappy crew and passengers from the cold were intense. The annexed affecting description of the appearance i after death of the unfortunate individuals who perished in her, is given by an eye-witness : — " On reaching Hempstead, I concluded to go somewhat off the road, to look at the place where the ship Mexico was cast away. In half an hour, we came to Lott's tavern, some four or five miles this side of the beach, where the ship lay ; and there, in his barn, had been deposited the bodies of the ill-fated passengers, which had been thrown upon the shore. I went out to the barn. The doors were open, and such a scene as presented it- self to my view, I certainly never could have contemplated. It was a dreadful, a frightful scene of horror. " Forty or fifty bodies, of all ages and sexes, were lying promiscuously before me over the floor, all frozen and as sohd as marble — and all, except a few, in the very dresses in which they perished. Some with their hands clenched, as if for warmth, and almost every one with an arm crooked and bent, as it would be in clinging to the rigging. " There were scattered about among the number, four or five beautiful little girls, ft'om six to sixteen years of age, their cheeks and lips as red as roses, with their calm blue eyes open, looking you in the face, as if they would speak. I could hardly realize that they were dead. I touched their cheeks, and they were frozen as hard and as solid as a rock, and not the least indentation could be made by any pressure of the hand. I could perceive a resemblance to each other, and supposed them to be the daughters of a passenger named Pepper, who perished, together with his wife and all the family. " On the arms of some, were seen the impressions of the rope which they had clung to, the mark of the twist deeply sunk into the fleeh. I saw one poor negro sailor, a tall man, with his head thrown back, his lips parted, and his now sightless eve-balls turned upwards, 58 458 aUEENS COUNTY. and his arms crossed over his breast, as if imploring heaven for aid. This poor fellow evi- dently had frozen while in the act of fervent prayer. " One female had a rope tied to her leg, which had bound her to the rigging ; and anoth. cr little fellow had been crying, and was thus frozen, with the muscles of the face just as we see children when crying. There were a brother and a sister dashed upon the beach, locked in each other's arms ; but they had been separated in the barn. All the men had their lips firmly compressed together, and with the most agonizing expression on their countenances I ever beheld. " One little girl had raised herself on tiptoe, and thus was frozen, just in that position. It was an awful sight ; and such a picture of horror was before me, that I became uncon- sciously fixed to the spot, and found myself trying to suppress my ordinary breathing, lest I should disturb the repose of those around me. I was aroused from the revery by the entrance of a man — a coroner. " As I was about to leave, my attention became directed to a girl, who, I afterward learned, had come that morning from the city to search for her sister. She had sent for her to come over from England, and had received intelligence that she was in this ship. She came into the barn, and the second body she cast her eyes upon, was hers. She gave way to such a burst of impassioned grief and anguish, that I could not behold her without sharing in her feelings. She threw herself upon the cold and icy face and neck of the lifeless body, and thus, with her arms around her, remained wailing, mourning, and sob- bing, till I came away ; and when some distance off, I could hear her calling her by name in the most frantic manner. " So little time, it appears, had they to prepare for their fate, that I perceived a bunch of keys, and a half eaten cake, fall from the bosom of a girl whom the coroner was removing. The cake appeared as if part of it had just been bitten, and hastily thrust into her bosom, and round her neck was a riband, with a pair of scissors. " And to observe the stout, rugged sailors, too, whose iron frames could endure so much hardship — here they lay masses of ice. Such scenes show us, indeed, how powerless and feeble are all human efforts, when contending against the storms and tempests, which sweep with resistless violence over the face of the deep. And yet the vessel was so near the shore, that the shrieks and moans of the poor creatures were heard through that bitter, dreadful night, till towards morning, when the last groan died away, and all was hushed in death, and the murmur of the raging billows was all the sound that then met the ear." Jamaica is in the southwestern part of the county. Pop. 3,782. Its name is derived from a small tribe or family of Indians, who it is believed dwelt upon the shore of the creek putting up from the bay south of the present village of Jamaica, and called the " Ja- maco" tribe. In 1656 some individuals from Milford united with a few of the inhabitants from Hempstead, and obtained from Gov- ernor Stuyvesant permission to settle the town. A more formal and extensive patent was granted to the town in 1660, in which year it was incorporated by the name of Rusdorpe, from a town of that name in Holland, and which it retained until the conquest, when the present appellation was adopted. The first house for religious wor- ship was erected in 1662, and the town by a public vote agreed to give the Rev. Zachariah Walker, as their minister, a salary of sixty pounds a year, payable in wheat and Indian corn at current prices ; he was accordingly settled here in 1663. The village of Jamaica is a beautiful place. It is located upon the Long Island railroad, 13 miles from New York, also upon the great thoroughfare from Brooklyn to the east end of Long Island, and en- joys every desirable facility of intercourse with the surrounding country. Here are concentrated the different roads leading to Brook- lyn, Williamsburgh, Rockaway, Flushing, Jericho, and Hempstead. This village was made the seat of justice for the north-riding of York- shire, at its organization in 1666 ; and so continued after the division aUEENS COUNTY. 459 Central part of Jamaica Village, Long Island. of Long Island into counties in 1683, until the erection of the court- house on Hempstead plains in 1788. The offices of surrogate and county clerk are still required to be kept here, and for which a suit- able building has been erected. The village was incorporated April 15, 1814, and has been gradually increasing in buildings and popula- tion, till it now contains about two hundred dwellings and fifteen hundred inhabitants. It has, besides the academies, five places for public worship, two newspaper printing offices, two drug-stores, eight drygoods and grocery stores, two book and stationary stores, circu- lating library, bindery, three carriage-makers, blind and sash manu- factory, cabinet-maker, locksmith, pianoforte manufacturer, and many other mechanics and artisans. There are several splendid private residences in the village and its immediate vicinity, erected by gen- tlemen of the city, who find it both convenient and agreeable. Here is the depot of the Brooklyn and Jamaica railroad company, with their large and commodious car-house, engine-house, and machine- shops. This company was incorporated April 25, 1832, to continue for fifty years, with a capital of $300,000. In 1836 it was leased for a term of years to the Long Island railroad company at an annual rent, and has since been under the direction of that incorporation. The latter company commenced running cars upon their road as far as Hicks ville on the 1st of March, 1837, from which time it has been in constant operation. " Union Course, where thousands congregate at stated periods to witness the sports of the turf, is located upon the western limits of the town. This beautiful course is a few feet over a mile in length, on a perfectly level surface, with a good track ; and is universally considered one of the best in the United States. Better time has been made upon it, and more frequently, than on any other course in the country. Connected with it is a Jockey Club of about two hundred and fifty members, who contribute annually twenty dollars each towards the Jockey Club purses. There was run over this course, the 27th of May, ' 1823, one of the most remarkable and best-conteeted races that ever took place in Amer- 460 aUEENS COUNTY. ica ; being a match race of four mile heats, for twenty thousand dollars aside, between the North and the South, upon their respective champions. Eclipse and Henry ; and which was won in three heats by Eclipse. The time was as follows : first heat, 1' 37" — second heat, 7' 49" — and the third heat, 8' 24" ; whole time, twenty-three minutes and fifty seconds." Col. Marinus Willett was born of a respectable family at Jamaica, July 31st, (old style,) 1740. He commenced his mill. I' ■ ■, ^ r^ I ,r rir„..< . tsry carcBr as a lieutenant, at Fac-timiU of Col. Mannus Willett s strnature. , ■' , r -i -r • i * the early age oi 17, \n the French war, and was with Abercrombie in his unfortunate expedition against Ticonderoga. He was also at the capture of Fort Frontenac. In 1775, he served as a captain under Montgomery, in the earlier portion of his campaign in Canada. In November, 1776, he received the commission of lieutenant-colonel. During the investment of Fort Stanwix in August, 1777, by St. Leger with a body of regulars, Indians, and tories, he was second in command. (See p. 367.) For his skill and bravery on this occasion, congress voted him an elegant sword. He was a volunteer at the battle of Monmouth, 28th of June, 1788. From towards the close of 1780, until the end of the war, he had charge of the troops de- fending the northwestern frontier of New York. While on this duty he commanded at the battle of Johnstown. (See p. 172.) In private life, he was one of the most amiable of men, and after the war, held several civil ofl^ces, the last of which was the mayoralty of New York. He died universally regretted in the city of New York, August 3d, 1830, in the 91st year of his age, and was buried with military honors. " RuFUs King, minister of the United States to Great Britain, graduated at Harvard col- lege in 1777. In 1778, he was an aid to Sullivan in an expedition against the British in Rhode Island. He studied law with Mr. Parsons, at Newburyport, and was admitted to practice in 1780. He was a representative from Newburyport in the legislature. In 1784, the legislature appointed him a delegate in congress. In 1787, he was selected as a dele- gate from Massachusetts to the convention called for devising a constitution for the United States. He afterward was a member of the convention of Massachusetts for adopting the constitution. Having removed to New York, he was elected a senator from that state in 1789. During the violent discussions respecting the British treaty in 1794, he co-operated with others in its defence. Of the paper concerning this treaty, with the signature of Ca- millus, usually ascribed to Gen. Hamilton, all the numbers excepting the ten first were written by him. He was one of those who opposed with success Mr. Gallatin's right to a seat in the senate. In 1796, he was appointed by Washington minister plenipotentiary to Great Britain. He returned to America in 1803. In May, 1806, he removed permanently with his family to Jamaica. In 1813, he was again chosen a senator in congress, and although personally opposed to the declaration of war in 1812 as impolitic, yet no one ex- hibited a higher degree of patriotism in supporting it. In 1816, he was the unsuccessful candidate of the anti-administration party for governor of the state. In 1820, he was re- elected again to the senate, where he continued until 1825. In 1825, he was again appointed minister to England, where after remaining one year he returned to the United States. He died April 27, 1827. In person, Mr. King was above the common size, and somewhat athletic ; with a countenance, manly, dignified, and bespeaking high intelligence. His manners were courteous, his disposition affable, and his conversation and writings re- markable for conciseness and force." " Thomas Truxton, whose achievements shed lustre on the infant navy of this country, was the son of an eminent English lawyer, and was born at Jamaica, Feb. 17th, 1755." At the age of twelve, he made the choice of the profession of a sailor. " In 1775, he com- manded a vessel, and distinguished himself by his depredations on British commerce during the revolution. He subsequently engaged in commerce, till the year 1794, when he was appointed to the frigate Constitution. In 1799, he captured the French frigate L'lnsur- gente ; and in the following year he obtained a victory over the La Vengeance. On the close of the French war he retired from the navy, and died at Philadelphia in 1822, in his 67th year." i Newtown, originally named Middleburgh, includes Ricker's and two other islands of the sound opposite the town ; distant from QUEENS COUNTS. 461 New York about 8 miles. Pop. 5,054. The first white emigrants of the town were EngHsh, who came here in 1651. They were allow- ed many privileges by the Dutch appertaining to an independent com- munity. The village of Newtown is situated on the Flushing turn- pike, 7 miles from Brooklyn. It contains 1 Dutch Reformed, 1 Epis- copal, and 1 Presbyterian church, and about 80 dwellings. In the vicinity of Ravenswood are the valuable farms of the Corporation of New York, upon which buildings have been constructed for the ac- commodation of more than 500 children, maintained at the public ex- pense. " The first church was erected in the present village of Newtown, in the year 1670, on the arrival of the Rev. William Leverich, (sometimes spelled Leveridge.) He had been the first Presbyterian minister of Huntington, and was likewise one of the original pur- chasers of the town of Oyster Bay in 1653. Mr. Leverich remained here till his death in 1692, and was a highly useful man, being well acquainted with public business, and distin- guished for great industry and enterprise. The most ancient volume of records in the clerk's office of this town is prefaced by about one hundred pages, in the hand-writing of this gentleman, but in abbreviated characters ; purporting to be a commentary upon a por- tion of the Old Testament, affording conclusive evidence of his learning, patience, and in- dustry. He is characterized by Hubbard, in his history of New England, as ' an able and worthy minister.' Many of his descendants are at this time residents of the town." St. James' Episcopal church in this town was built in 1734, and a Dutch Reformed church has been erected here for more than a century. Besides Newtown village, there are several other smaller settle- ments ; none of which are of much note except Hallet's Cove, lately incorporated under the name of Astoria. It is the most important place in the town, and is eligibly situated on East river, a short distance above Blackwell's Island, and opposite 86th street. New York city, where there is a convenient steam ferry. Two handsome churches and several splendid private mansions have lately been erected here. The village itself is compactly built, and well calcu- lated for commercial and manufacturing purposes. Of this remark- able spot, the tradition is, that an English adventurer, whose name was Hallet, about the year 1640, for a barrel of beef and a few trink- ets, purchased from the Indians this tract of land. Having taken to himself in marriage a sturdy Dutch lass, they settled down here, and in the process of some twenty years, by their united exertions became not only independent, but the parents of a numerous race, many of whom are still respectable in character and connections. There is here an extensive manufactory of carpets, chair factory, wool card factory, bellows factory, one for chemical preparations, and several gardens and nurseries for the rearing of fruit and ornamental trees. The celebrated Hell or Hurl gate is in this vicinity, where those, says a certain writer, who love to witness the impetuous stride of angry currents, with cragged and zigzag courses among the rocks, can hardly find a better place for full gratification. Vessels are some- times wrecked at this spot. During the revolution the English frig- ate Huzza, in attempting to pass Hell Gate to get to sea by the sound, struck a rock, soon filled, and sunk in deep water. Under an impres- sion that there was a rich military chest on board, unsuccessful at- tempts were made to recover the treasure by means of diving bells. 462 aUEENS COUNTY. North Hempstead, the county town, was formed from Hempstead in 1784. This town has produced several eminent men, among whom was the late Samuel L. Mitchell, Professor of Natural History, &c., in Columbia college. He was born August 20, 1764, and died Sep- tember 7, 1831. Manhasset is the name lately substituted for Cow Neck, and designates a rich and fertile tract in this town. Sit- uated on this tract, on the North Hempstead turnpike, is a small cluster of buildings, consisting of three houses of public worship, a tavern, academy, and a few private dwellings. At the most northerly part of Manhasset is the Sands' point lighthouse, in the vicinity of which formerly was the celebrated Kldd's Rock, near which it is generally believed that notorious freebooter made valuable deposits. During the revolution bands of marauders were accustomed to land upon these shores in the night, and rob and cruelly treat the inhabitants. In one instance a Mr. Jarvis, aided by an old lady living in the same house, succeeded in beating off one of these gangs, killing and wound- ing several of the assailants. Three miles easterly of the Manhasset churches, beautifully located at the head of the bay, is the village of Hempstead Harbor, containing about 40 dwellings. North Hemp- stead and Lakeville are small settlements ; at the former are the county buildings. The first paper-mill erected in the state was es- tablished here about a century since by Andrew^ Onderdonk, ances- tor of Bishop Onderdonk of the Episcopal church. Pop. 3,891. Oyster Bay embraces a larger extent of territory than any other town in the county, and includes Lloyds Neck or Queens village, and Hog island. Pop. 5,864. In 1640, an attempt was made by some persons from Lynn, Mass., to form a settlement upon the present site of the village of Oyster Bay ; but meeting with opposition from the Dutch, the settlement was abandoned. The first permanent settle- ment was made in 1053, by the English, on the site of this village. Oyster Bay village, on the south side of the harbor, is 28 miles NE. from New York and contains about 350 inhabitants. On the high ground, near the Baptist church, are the remains of a fortification erected during the revolution, to prevent any hostile American force from entering the bay. In the year 1660, Mary Wright, a very poor and ignorant woman of Oyster Bay was sus. pected of having a secret correspondence with the author of evil. She was arrested, but as there existed no tribunal here which the people considered competent to try her case, she was sent to Massachusetts, to stand her trial for witchcraft. She was acquitted of this crime, but nevertheless was convicted of being a Quaker, and sentenced to be banished out of the jurisdiction. The first Baptist church in this village was erected in 1724, and still remains a curious relic of that age. It is about 20 feet square, with a quadrangular pointed roof, and no longer used "for lodging folk disposed to sleep;" having lately been converted into a stable. The present church was built in 1801. Glen Cove is a considerable village on the east side of Hempstead harbor. The Dutch church at Wolver Hollow was built in 1732, and having stood just 100 years, was followed by the present church in 1832. The village of Jericho contains about 250 inhabitants. The Friends meeting-house was first erected at this place in 1689, at which time several families of Friends took up their residence here, and soon after on the neighboring lands about Westbury. This place was for a considerable period the residence of Eiias Hicks, the founder of the sect of Hicksite Quakers, so called in distinction from the orthodox Friends; he settled here in 1771, and died in 1830. He was KENSSELAER COUNTY. 463 bom in the town of North Hempstead, on the 19th of March, 1748. His education was extremely limited. At the age of 17, he was apprenticed to a carpenter. He began his public labors in the society of Friends in 1795, and travelled at different periods over a great portion of the United States, from Maine to Ohio, and in the province of Canada. It is supposed that during his public ministry he travelled over 10,000 miles, and that he pro- nounced at least 1,000 public discourses. He likewise found time to write and publish much upon religious subjects, upon war and the practice of negro slavery. " He was a person of rough exterior, but of vigorous intellect ; and making no pretensions to elegance of style, he reasoned with much force, and addressed himself to the every-day common sense, rather than the imagination of his auditors." Norwich is a small village, 3 miles S. of Oyster Bay. Hicks- ville, 2 miles S. of Jericho, is located upon the eastern part of the great plains at the present termination of the Long Island rail- road. In the vicinity of Bethpage is P'ort Neck, so called on ac- count of two old Indian forts, the remains of which are still very conspicuous. The village of Cold Spring is situated at the head and upon both sides of Cold Spring harbor, and partly in the town of Huntington. It contains about 500 inhabitants and several large manufacturing establishments, and is possessed likewise of consider- able shipping. In May, 1779, Maj. Gen. Silliman, superintendent of the coast of Faii-field, in Connecti- cut, was taken prisoner in the night, by a party of refugees who crossed over the sound from Lloyds Neck in a whale boat. The boat returned here with their prisoner, and he was soon after conveyed to New York. At that time there was no prisoner in possession of the Americans whom the British would accept for the general. After some consideration it was determined to procure one. The person selected was Hon. Thomas Jones, of Fort Neck, Long Island, at that time a justice of the supreme court of the province of New York. On the evening of the 4th of November, he was captured by a party of volunteers under Capt. Hawley, who had crossed over the sound for the purpose. The judge was conveyed to Connecticut, and became an inmate in the family of Mrs. Silliman ; and during the several days that he remained in her house, she used every means in her power to make his situation agreeable. But although few ladies could contribute more effectually to this purpose, the judge was distant, reserved, and sullen. An exchange was effected sometime afterward. The grave of Capt. John Underbill, who was so celebrated in the Indian wars m New England, is in this town. He Hved here for a number of years, and died upon his farm in 1672. RENSSELAER COUNTY. Rensselaer county was taken from Albany in 1791. Greatest length 30, greatest breadth 22 miles ; centrally distant from New York N. 156, and from Albany E. 10 miles. The eastern portion of the county is broken and hilly, and in some places rather moun- tainous and interspersed with fertile valleys. The central and west- ern part is diversified with hills, and a gently undulating surface. It has extensive valleys and flats of alluvion, with a warm rich soil ; and the uplands have an easy soil, well adapted to the various pur- poses of agriculture. There are an abundance of mill sites, and the numerous streams irrigate every portion of the county. This county had partial settlements at a very early period of our history, and has 464 RICNSSELAER COUNTY. long sustained a very considerable population. The whole of the county, except the towns of Schaghticoke, Pittstown, Hoosick, and north part of Lansingburg and part of Troy, is comprised within the Rensselaer wyck patent, leased under the ordinary rent, in farms, at ten bushels of wheat the hundred acres. The county contains 13 towns and the city of Troy. Pop. 60,303. Berlin, taken from Petersburg, Stephentown, and Schodack, in 1806 ; centrally distant from Albany and Troy E. 20 miles. Pop. 1,794. A few German families settled in " the Hollow," about 1764. Berlin and Berlin Centre are small villages. Brunswick, taken from Troy in 1807 ; from Albany NE. 12 miles. Pop. 3,051. Ramerton and Millville are small villages. Grafton, taken from Troy and Petersburg in 1807 ; from Troy E. 14 miles. Pop. 2,019. Patroons Mills is a small village. Greenbush, taken from Rensselaerwyck in 1792 and 1795. Pop. 3,701. Bath, Defriestville, and Wynants Kill, are small settlements. Greenbush village, on the bank of the Hudson, opposite Albany, was incorporated in 1815, and has about 100 dwellings. Remains of the Barracks at Greenbush, 1840. The United States cantonment, now in ruins, was erected here during the late war, on a commanding eminence 2 miles SSE. of Albany. It consisted of very extensive wooden barracks for soldiers, officers' quarters, &c., &c., calculated for the accommodation in winter quarters oi' 5,000 men. The annexed account of the execution of a deserter at this place during the late war, was written by an officer of the United States army. It is shockingly minute in its details. *' In 1814, I wns stationed with a detachment of United States troops at Greenbush, in the state of New York. One morning several prisoners, confined in the provost guard- house, were brougiit out to hear the sentence which a court-martial had annexed to their delinquencies read on parade. Their appearance indicated that their lot had already been sufficiently hard. Some wore marks of long confinement, and on all, the severity of the prison-house had enstamped its impression. They looked dejected at this public exposure, and anxious to learn their fate. I had never seen the face of any of them before, and only knew that a single one of them had been adjudged to death. Soon as their names were called and their sentences announced, I discerned by his agony and gestures the miserable RENSSELAER COUNTY. 465 man on whom that sentence was to fall ; a man in the bloom of youth and the fulness of health and vigor. " Prompted by feelings of sympathy, I called next morning to see him in prison. There, chained by ihe leg to the beam of the guard-house, he was reading the bible, trying to pre- pare himself, as he said, for the fatal hour. I learned from him the circumstances of his case. He was the father of a family ; having a wife and three young children, thirty or forty miles distant from the camp. His crime was desertion, of which he had been three times guilty. His only object in leaving the camp, in the last instance, was to visit his wife and children. Having seen that all was well with them, it was his intention to return. But whatever was his intention, he was a deserter, and as such taken and brought into the camp ; manacled, and under the guard of his fellow.soldiers. The time between the sen- tence and its execution was brief; the authority in whom alone was vested the power of reprieve or pardon, distant. Thus he had no hope, and only requested the attendance of a minister of the gospel, and permission to see his wife and children. The first part of his request was granted, but whether he was permitted or not to see his family, I do not now remember. " Dreading the hour of his execution, I resolved, if possible, to avoid being present at the scene. But the commander of the post. Col. L , sent me an express order to attend, that agreeably to tiie usages of the army I might, in my official capacity of surgeon, see the sentence fully executed. " The poor fellow was taken from the guard-house to be escorted to the fatal spot. Be. fore him was his coffin ; a box of rough pine boards — borne on the shoulders of two men. 1 The prisoner stood with his arms pinioned, between two' clergymen ; a white cotton gown, or winding-sheet, reached to his feet. It was trinmied with black, and had attached to it over the place of the real heart, the black image of a heart; the mark at which the execu- tioners were to aim. On his head was a cap of white, also trimmed with black. His coun- tenance was blanched to the hue of his winding-sheet, and his frame trembled with agony. He seemed resolved, however, to suffer like a soldier. Behind him were a number of prison. \ ers, confined for various offences ; next to them was a strong guard of soldiers, with fixed I bayone's and loaded muskets. My station was in the rear of the whole. • " Our procession thus formed, and with much feeling and in low voices on the part of the officers, we moved forward with slow and measured steps to the tune of the death march, I (Roslin Castle,) played with muffled drums and mourning fifes. The scene was solemn I beyond the powers of description. A man in the vigor of life walking to his grave ; to the tune of his own death-march, clothed in his burial robes, surrounded by friends assembled , to perform the last sad offices of affection, and to weep over him in the last sad hour : no, I not by these, but by soldiers with bristling bayonets and loaded muskets, urged by stern I command to do the violence of death to a fellow-soldier; as he surveys the multitude, he I beholds no look of tenderness, no tear of sensibility ; he hears no plaint of grief; all, all is I stern as the iron rigor of the law which decrees his death. [ " . . . . Amid reflections like these, we arrived at the place of execution, a large open field, in whose centre a heap of earth, freshly thrown up, marked the spot of the deserter's grave. On this field the whole force then at the cantonment, amounting to many hundred men, was drawn up in the form of a hollow square, with the side beyond the grave vacant. The executioners, eight in number, had been drawn by lot. No soldier would volunteer for such a duty. Their muskets had been charged by the officer of the day ; seven of them with ball, the eighth with powder alone. Thus prepared they were placed together, and each executioner takes his choice. Thus each may believe that he has the blank cartridge, and therefore has no hand in the death of his brother soldier ; striking indications of the nature of the service. " The coffin was placed parallel with the grave, and about two feet distant. In the intervening space the prisoner was directed to stand. He desired permission to say a word to his fellow-soldiers ; and thus standing between his coffin and his grave, warned them against desertion, continuing to speak until the officer on duty, with his watch in his hand, announced to him in a low voice, ' Two o'clock, your last moment is at hand ; you must kneel upon your coffin.' This done, the officer drew down the white cap, so as to cover the eyes and most of the face of the prisoner — still continuing to speak in a hurried, loud, and agitated voice. The kneeling was the signal for the executioners to advance. They had before, to avoid being distinguished by the prisoner, stood intermingled with the soldiers who formed the line. They now came forward, marching abreast, and took their stand a little to the left, about two rods distant from their living mark. The officer raised his sword. At this signal, the executioners took aim. He then gave a blow on a drum which was at hand ; the executioners all fired at the same ins'ant. The miserable man, with a horrid scream, leaped from the earth, and fell between his coffin and his grave. The ser- 59 408 aK.N'isSELAKR COUNTY. geant of ihe guard, a moniPiit after, sliot him through the heaii with a musket reserved for this purpose in case tlie executioners failed to produce instant death. Tiie sergeant, from motives of humanity, held the muzzle of his musket near the head; so near thtit the cap took fire; and there the body lay upon the face; the head emitting the mingled fumes of' burning cotton and burning hair. O war, dreadful even in thy tenderness ; horrible even in iliy compassion ! " I was desired to perform my part of the ceremony ; and placing my hand where just before the pulse beat full, and the life flowed warm, and finding no symptom of either, I afiirnied, he is dead. The line then marched by the body, as it lay upon the earth, the head still smoking; that every man might behold for himself the fate of a deserter. " Thus I'ar, all had been dreadful indeed, but solenni, as it became the sending of a spirit to its dread account; but now the scene changes. 1'he whole band struck up, and with uncommon animation, our national air, (Yankee Doodle,) and to its lively measures we were hurried back to our parade ground. Having been dismissed, the commander of the post sent an invitation to all the officers to meet at his quarters, whither we repaired, and were treated to a glass of gin and water. Thus this melancholy tragedy ended iii what seemed little better than a farce ; a fair specimen, the former of the dread severity — the latter of the moral sensibilities which prevail in the camp." HootsicK was originally organized as part of Albany county.. Pop. 3,540. Hoosick Falls, 24 miles NE. of Troy, is a manufacturing vil- lage, containing about 70 or 100 dwellings. The Hoosick river here falls 40 feet. Buskirk's bridge, which is partly in Washington county. Barker's Mills, and Macnamara, or North Hoosick, are small villages. Within the limits of this town a portion of the battle of Bennington was fought, August IGth, 1777. The progress of Burgoyne thoroughly alarmed the American states, it being well known that the Americiin forces under Gen. Schuyler were not sufficient to prev^ent the capture of Albany, when- ever it was reached by the enemy. Instead of thinking of submission, the Americans met this alarming crisis with firmness and resolution, and great exertions were made to reinforce the army. Gen. Lincoln was directed to raise and take the command of the New England militia. Gen. Arnold, and Col. Morgan with his riflemen, were de- tached to the noi'thern army, and congress elected Gen. Gates as commander. " While the American nrmy wns thus assuming a more respectable appearance, (Jen. Burgoyne was making very slow advances towards Albany. From the 2S:h of .July to the 15ih of August, (1777,) the British army was continually employed in bringing forward batteaux, provisions, and ;nnmunition from Fort George, to the first navigable part of Hud. son's river; a distance of not more than 18 miles. The labor was excessive, the Europe, ans were but little acquainted with the nuihods of performing it to advantage, and the efiecf was in no degree equivalent to the expense of labor and time. With all the cllbrts that Burgoyne could nuike, encumbered with his ariillery and bnggage, his labors were inadequate to the pinpose of supplying the army with provisions for its daily consinnption, and the establishment of the necessary magaziiu^s. And after his utmost exertions for 15 days, there were not above 4 days' jirovisions in the store, nor above 10 batteaux in Hud- son's river. " In such circimistanccs the British general foimd that it would be impossible to procure sufficient .supplies of provision by the way of Fort George, and determined to replenish his own magazines at the expense of those of the Americans. Having received information that a large quantity of stores were laid up at Bennington, and guarded only by the militia, he formed the design of siu'prising that place ; and was made to believe that as soon as a detachment of the royal army should appear in that quarter, it would receive efiectual as- sistance from a large body of loyalists, who only waited for the appearance of a sgpport, and would in that event come forward and aid the royal cause. Full of these expectations, he detached Col. Bauni, a German officer, with a select body of troops, to surprise the RENSSELAER COUA'TY. 4G7 place. His force consisted of about 500 regular troops, some Canadians, and more than 100 Indians, with two light pieces of artillery. To facilitate their operations, and to be ready to take advantage of the success of the detachment, the royal army moved along the east bank of Hudson's river, and encamped nearly opposite to Saratoga ; having at the same time thrown a bridge of rafts over the river, by which the army passed to that place. With a view to support Baum, if it should be found necessary, Lieut. Col. Breyman's corps, con- sisting of the Brunswick grenadiers, light infantry and chasseurs, were posted at Battenkill. " Gen. Stark having received information that a party of Indians were at Cambridge, sent Lieut. Col. Greg, on August the 13th, with a party of 200 men to stop their progress. Towards night he was informed by express, that a large body of regulars was in the rear of the Indians, and advancing towards Bennington. On this intelligence, Stark drew to- gether his brigade, and the militia that were at hand, and sent on to Manchester to Col. Warmer to bring on his regiment; he sent expresses at the same time to the neighboring miliiia, to join him with the utmost speed. On the morning of the 14th, he marched with his troops, and at the distance of 7 miles he met Greg on the retreat, and the enemy within a mile of him. Stark drevv up his troops in order of battle ; but the enemy coining in sight, hailed upon a very advantageous piece of ground. Baum perceived the Americans were too strong to be attacked with his present force, and sent an express to Burgoyne with an account of his situation, and to have Breyman march inmiediately to support him. In the mean time small parties of the Americans kept up a skirmish with the enemy, killed and wounded 30 of iheni, wiih two of their Indian chiefs, without any loss to themselves. The ground the Americans had taken was unfavorable for a general action, and Stark retreated about a mile and encamped. A council of war was held, and it was agreed to send two detachments upon the enemy's rear, while the rest of the troops should make an attack upon their front. The next day the weather was rainy, and though it prevented a general action, there were frequent skirmishings in small parties, which proved favorable and en- couraging to the Americans. " On August the IGtli, in the morning. Stark was joined by Col. Symonds and a body of militia from Berkshire, and proceeded to attack the enemy, agreeably to the plan which had been concerted. Col. Baum in the mean time had entrenched, on an advantageous piece of groimd near St. Koicks mills, on a branch of Hoosick river, and rendered his post as strong as his circumstances and situation would admit. Col. Nichols was detached with 200 men to the rear of his left. Col. Herrick, with 300 men to the rear of his right; both were to join and then make the attack. Cols. Hubbard and Stickney, with 200 more, were ordered on the right, and 100 were advanced towards the front to draw the attention of the enemy that way. About 3 o'clock in the afternoon the troops had taken their situati(jn, and were ready to commence the action. While Nichols and Herrick were bringing their troops together, the Indians were alarmed at the prospect, and pushed off between the two corps ; but received a fire as they were passing, by which three of them were killed, and two wounded. Nicliols then began the attack, and was followed by all the other divisions; those in the front immediately advanced, and in a few miiuites the action became general. It lasted about two hours, and was like one continued peal of thunder. Baum made a brave defence ; and the German dragoons, after they had expended their anmninition, led by their colonel, charged with their swords, but they were soon overpowered. Their works were carried on all sides, their two pieces of cannon were taken. Col. Baum himself was mortally wounded and taken prisoner, and all his men, except a few who had escaped into the woods, were either killed or taken prisoners. Having completed the business by taking the whole party, the militia began to disperse, and look out for plunder. But in a few minutes Stark received information that a large reinforcement was on their march, and within two miles of him. Fortunately at that moment Col. Warner came up with his regi- ment from Manchester. This brave and experienced officer commanded a regiment of continental troops, which had been raised in Vermont. Mortified that he had not been in the former engagement, he instantly led on his men against Breyman, and began the second engagement. Stark collected the militia as soon as possible, and pushed on to his assist- ance. The action beca'nie general, and the battle continued obstinate on both sides till sunset, when the Germans were forced to give vvay, and were pursued till dark. They left their two field-pieces behind, and a considerable number were made prisoners. They retreated in the best manner they could, improving the advantages of the evening and night, to which alone their escape was ascribed. " In these actions the Americans took 4 brass field-pieces, 12 brass drums, 250 dragoon swords, 4 ammunition wagons, and about 700 prisoners, with their arms and accoutre, menls ; — 207 men were found dead upon the spot, the numbers of wounded were unknown. The loss of the Americans was but small ; 30 were slain, and about 40 were wounded." 468 RENSSELAER COUNTY. Lansingburg was taken from Troy and Brunswick in 1807, after- ward enlarged by a portion from Sciiaghticoke. Pop. 3,330. Spei- gletown and Batestown are small villages, the former 3 miles N. from Lansingburg village, and the latter 1 mile S. The annexed engraving is from a view taken near the bridge, a short distance above the village, connecting it with Waterford. In the extreme dis-tance on the right, the bridge over the Hudson at Troy is visible. Novtiiwestern view of Lansingburg. Lansingburg was incorporated in 180L It is beautifully situated on the Hudson, 3 miles N. of Troy, 9 N. from Albany, and 1 S. from Waterford. Formerly it was called the " New City," and the ra- pidity of its growth at that time excited wonder.* The village is regularly laid out with capacious streets in squares of 400 by 260 feet, and is a place of considerable manufacturing and commercial business. There is here 1 Presbyterian, 1 Methodist, 1 Episcopal, and 1 Universalist church, an academy in high repute, 2 printing offices, a bank, many mercantile stores, &c., and about 400 houses. Three of the sprouts of the Mohawk enter tlie Hudson opposite the village, and the Cahoos Falls are often distinctly heard in the stillness of the night. Nassau, originally named Philipstown, and taken from Petersburg, Stephentown, and Schodack, in 1806. Pop. 3,237. Nassau, lU * This was the rime of the revohitionary period in France. Mr. A Reed, of East Wind, sor, Conn., commenced teaching a school in this village in 1793, and continued it for five years. He states that about the time Louis XVI. the French king was beheaded, in 1793, wheat, which had previously been sold in the village in the early part of the winter for 75 cents, rose to four dollars a bushel. On the opening of the river in the spring, the price fell back to $1.75. Mr. Reed taught school in a gambrol-roof building, which was used as the first meeting-house, in the place. The lower story was divided by a swing partition. While Mr. R. was here, the Rev. Dr. Lee, of Connecticut, taught the languages in a cham- ber above. At this period the minister of the place was the Rev. Jonas Coe, who preach. ed alternately at Lansingburg and Troy. RENSSELAER COUNTY. 469 miles SE. of Albany, and East Nassau 16, are considerable villages. Brainards Bridge, Alps, and Hoags Corners, are names of post- offices. ''• Petersburg, taken from Stephentown in 1791. Pop. 1,901. Rens- selaers Mills, 20 miles E. of Troy, and Petersburg Corners 27, are small villages. PiTTSTowN, organized in 1788. The first settlements were com- menced here in 1650. Pop. 3,785. Pittstown 13, Tomhenick 13 NE., Johnsonville 19, and Shermans Mills 13 miles from Troy, are small villages. Sandlake, taken from Greenbush and Berlin in 1812. Pop. 4,305. Pocstenkill 8 miles SE., Rensselaer 12, Sand Lake 10, Ulines 7 miles from Troy, are small villages. ScHAGHTicoKE was Organized in 1788. Pop. 3,389. About the year 1600, some Dutch and German families settled on the rich allu- vial lands of this town, then occupied by a clan of the Mohawk In- dians. Schaghticoke Point, on the Hoosick river, 13 miles NE. from Troy, is a large manufacturing village having about 150 dwellings. The Valley village, on both sides of the Hoosick, and partly in Pitts- town, has about 45 dwellings. ScHODACK, taken from Rensselaerwyck in 1795. Pop. 4,125. Schodack Landing 9 miles below Albany, Schodack Centre 7 miles SE. from Albany, Castleton, and South Schodack, are small settle- ments. Stephentown, so called from the Christian name of the late pa- troon, was organized in 1788. Pop. 2,753. Stephentown Hollow or Centre, 21 miles SE. from Troy, North Stephentown 20, and South Stephentown 24, are small villages. Troy city, seat of justice for the county, lies on the east side of the Hudson, 6 miles north of Albany, at the junction of the Hudson and Mohawk valleys. There is some reason to believe that its pres- ent site was visited by Hudson, the first navigator of Hudson river, in 1609. In the record of his voyage, it is stated he "went sounding his way above the highlands, till at last the Crescent, (the ship in which he made his voyage,) had sailed beyond the city of Hudson, and a boat had advanced a little beyond Albany." Probably this boat as- cended to the rifts which lay at the northerly part of the city, where the ordinary tides spent their force, and the navigation was inter- rupted. For more than a century after Hudson's voyage, the territory now comprising the site of Troy, (although within the limits of the grant made to the patroon,) probably remained part of the hunting ground of the Mohawk Indians. In 1720, a grant of 490 acres, extending along the Hudson between the Poestenkill and Meadow creek, comprehending the original allotments on which the city was erected, was made in fee by the proprietor of the manor of Rensselaerwyck to Derick Van Derheyden, at the small rent of thre'e bushels and three pecks of wheat and four fat fowls annually. From the date of the grant, and possibly from a period a little earlier, this plain and the 470 KENSSELAER COUNTY". first range of hills adjoining, was possessed by the grantee and his descendants, and small portions of it cultivated as a farm.* After the revolution, emigrants from New England, seeing the ad- vantageous situation of Van Derheyden, as it was then called, in- duced the proprietors to lay it out into town lots. At this period Lansingburg, tlien called the " New City," was a village of considera- ble size and commercial im})ortance ; the city of Albany lay a few miles to the south, and had i'or many generations been the centre of trade for the entire country around. These circumstances at the first appeared unpropitious to the growth of this place. The estab- lishment of the Federal government in 1789, and the settlement of the " new state" of Vermont, gave an impulse to the spirit of enter- prise. The village of Van Derheyden bemg at the head of the nat- ural navigation of the Hudson, after some struggle began to outstrip the " New City," which had been unwisely located above the rifts. The earliest surveys of the three allotments into which the site was originally divided, were made between the years 1786 and 1790; one or two slight buildings in 1786, and a small number the two years following. It is stated that by the spring of 1789, five small stores and about a dozen dwelling-houses had been erected. The appella- tion of Van Derhey den's Ferry was now changed into the more classic name of Troy. In 1791, the county of Rensselaer was detached from Albany, and Troy was selected as the county seat. In 1793 the first courthouse was erected, and the jail the following year. The infiuential men among the first settlers were the friends of order, and supporters of the institutions of religion. When they were too few to support a clergyman, they were accustomed to assemble in a store at the sound of a conch-horn, and afterward in a school-house. Here they usu- ally listened to a sermon read by Dr. Samuel Gall, or the late Col. Pawling, a revolutionary oflicer. In 1791, the inhabitants, too few to consult their denominational preferences, by an united effort erected a frame for a house of public worship, which was covered the following year, and although unfinished, was used as a place for public worship. This building became the first edifice of the Pres- byterian congregation. The Rev. Dr. Jonas Coe was their first min- ister. His services at this period were divided between Troy and Lansingburg, his residence being in the latter place. An Episcopal church, an edifice of small dimension of brick, was erected in 1804, vviiich was enlarged some years afterward, and is now known as St. John's church. In 1805, the Baptist congregation erected a house of worship in Third-street, which was afterward enlarged. The * Mr. Elijah Adams, now (184(}) 77 years of age, who has resided here about 60 years, states that when he first knew the Van Derheyden hinds, there were patches or strips with, in the present site of the city, knov/n as the corn ffroiiiids of the native Indians. Some, time after he had taken up his residence here, a full fjrown bear swam across the Hudson, landeil near the upper ferry, and on being pursued ran across the low land among the small oaks, and at length ascended a pine tree near the present location of the Rensselaer In- stitute, and was there brought to the ground by a shot from his rifle. K [".NriSKLAER COUNTV, 471 Methodist Episcopal congregation erected their lirst house of wor- ship in State-street in 1800. Northwestern view of the Troy Female Seminary. The Troy Female Seminary, located in this place, holds a high rank among the institutions of learning in our country. John H. and Sarah L. Willard are the principals, and Nancy Hinsdale the vice-principal : there are hesides 21 teachers and officers. The follow- ing account and historical sketch has been kindly furnished by an individual well acquainted with it. The school of which the Troy Seminary is a continuation, was begun in Middlebury, Vermont, in 1814, by Mrs. Emma Willard. It there obtained considerable celebrity, and the Principal was solicited to remove it to Watertord, in this state. She consented on the condition that the most influential gentlemen of that place should unite in carrying before the legislature a petition for incorporating and endowing a public institution for females. Their approbation of this measure was made to depend on that of De Witt Clinton, then governor of the state. On being presented with the plan, he expressed his high approval, and introduced the subject into his message. In the winter of 1818-19, the petition was, under his auspices, presented to the legisla- ture, and for the first time the rights of woman in regard to education, were plead in a legislative hall. Among its supporters were Mr. Van Buren, and Mr. John C. Spencer. The justice of the claim was acknowledged, an institution on the proposed plan incorpo- rated, and a bill for endowment brought in, but the adjournment of the legislature prevent, ed its passage. In the spring of 1819, the proposed school went into operation in Waterford, in the large building now occupied as a hotel, that having been hired for two years. The next winter, session of the legislature defeated the hopes which had been excited of an endowment, but in the mean time private patronage was abundant. In 1821, the school being large, and no place being provided in Waterford for its accom- modation, it was removed to Troy, the corporation of that city having voted ^4,000 for a building. Since that period, the rents of the building have been made to meet the interest and almost all the principal of the moneys expended in its several enlargements and in the additions to its grounds. Since 1837 this institution has received from the state a share of the literature fund, by which the library, apparatus, &.c., previously furnished by the Prin- cipal, have been made more complete. This school has educated at least five thousand pupils ; of whom about one tenth have been teachers, and it has furnished Principals for many of the most distinguished female schools in every part of the Union. The present Principal of this seminary, Mrs. Sarah L. Willard, spent nineteen years in the institution as pupil, teacher, and vice-princiijal, before assuming its government. But the larger number of the young ladies here educated have married, and are now, many uf them, standing in the 472 RENSSELAER COUNTY. first circles and among the first women of our country in regard to piety and moral worth, domestic usefulness, and intellectual and social accomplishments. Several of the pupils have been distinguished as authors. About twenty teachers are constantly employed. The number of pupils being about two hundred, gives an average of one teacher to ten pupils. The objects of education as stated in the original plan are considered to be, first, religious and moral , second, hterary ; third, domestic ; and fourth, ornamental. But to obtain these ends, the physical and mental powers must be developed and strengthened in due order and proportion. Great care has been bestowed on health, and but one death of a pupil, and that a sudden one from organic affection of the heart, has occurred. The Rensselaer Institute is an excellent institution under the charge of Professor Eaton. Many young men are here fitted for the pro- fession of civil engineering. The system of teaching is thorough and practical. The city of Troy is regularly laid out. on a plan similar to that of Philadelphia. The principal street is River-street, which extends along the Hudson the whole length of the city, and is ornamented with many splendid and spacious stores. It is the theatre of a very extensive business. The remaining portion of the place generally exhibits the quiet aspect of the country. Many of the buildings, both public and private, are spacious and elegant. The courthouse, built of Sing Sing marble, is a splendid edifice, after the Grecian model. St. Paul's church is a noble Gothic edifice, erected at an expense of about 50,000 dollars. There are in Troy twelve places of public worship — viz, 3 Presbyterian, 2 Episcopal, 2 Methodist, 1 Scotch Presbyterian, 1 Roman Catholic, 1 African church, and 2 Friends meeting-houses. On the Wynant and Poestens kills, which here empty into the Hudson, are several extensive manufacturing estab- lishments. The city is abundantly supplied with excellent water from the neighboring hills. Hydrants are placed at the corners of the streets with hose attached, which in case of fire, as the natural head of the water is 75 feet above the city level, supersedes the use of fire-engines. Troy is indebted in a great measure for its prosperity to its advantageous situation, and the enterprise and industry of her inhabitants. She has extensively availed herself of the facilities afforded by the river and the Erie and Champlain canals. The tides of the Hudson frequently ascend to a dam thrown across the river about a mile and a half above the centre of the city. By means of a lock, sloop navigation is thus afforded to the village of Waterford. Within the last few years Troy has increased rapidly in wealth and population. In 1820 her population was 5,268; in 1830, 11,566; in 1840, 19,373. The Rensselaer and Saratoga railroad, 24 miles to Ballston Spa, crosses the Hudson at this place by a bridge 1,600 feet in length. Eensselaerwyck, or the manor of Eennselaer, includes a very extensive tract on both sides of the Hudson, in nearly the centre of wiiich is the city of Albany. It is 24 miles wide on the river, and about 42 miles long, east and west. It includes in its area all of Rensse- laer county, excepting the towns of Schagiiiicoke, Hoosick, and Pittstown, and the greater part of Albany county. The title to this patent is derived from several successive grants by the government of Holland, dating as far back as 1641, when the first grant was made to Killian Van Rensselaer, who had purchased the native right to the soil, under conditions stipulated by the government of Holland. " When this country changed masters, passing from the Dutch to the English, again for a short time to the Dutch, and finally again to the English, some controversies arose about indemnities, but the private right of the original -C w H-a U) ■E X», •tS J5 « a J= o rn ,"" a t3 o 5 tl( r- « ^ t; t) >-i m hJ o o o H §F^ 12: ti -u S S^ S C« lO o . 2n rt S " u, 0) '^ r ^ bo >< c -S — J3 :z; rr i o^ n ■^^ T« rt ^_^ H .9^ Cn m ^ C) 5: S 13 a. > =« ^ ;', c ~ M ^^ W a V W H rt ■- c! ^r> O ^^ k5 .5i o ^X RENSSELAER COUNTY. 473 proprietor of the colony of Rensselaerwyck was never questioned. And on the 4th of March, 1685, the whole was confirmed by letters patent, under the great seal of the prov. ince of New York, by Thomas Dongan, lieutenant-governor of the same. The original design of the Dutch government extended only to the founding of colonies in this country by citizens of Holland, who should amicably acquire the Indian title to the lands ; and the founder of a colony was therefore styled its patroon by the bill of privileges and the deed of conveyance, the latter of which was only granted when the native right had been ac- quired by purchase." A great portion of the land is permanently leased, and rent annually paid in the products of the soil to the patroon at Albany. RICHMOND COUNTY. Richmond, an original county? was organized November 1, 1683. and comprises Staten Island, Shooter's Island, and the islands of meadow on the west side ot" Staten Island. It is abolit 14 miles long, and its greatest breath is 8 ; mean breadth 5 miles. It is divided into 4 towns, all of which were organized in 1788. Pop. 10,985^ The higher and naked points of the island, (says Gordon in his Gazetteer,) afford varied and delightful prospects. Hence, in a clear day, may be seen the ever-growing city with its painted steeples and gilded spires hemmed in by a forest of masts ; the broad bay stud, ded with fairy islands, and whitened by the canvass of a hundred ships, overhung by small dark clouds, strongly relieved against the deep blue sky, which proceed from the many steamboats moving upon the waters, like things of life. Long Island, with its swelling hills and richly cultivated farms; the coast of New Jersey in a circular sweep of 40 miles, from Paulus Hook to the Neversink hills and Sandy Hook lighthouse ; and last, but not least, the wide Atlantic, opening between the Hook and Long Island. From the point at New York Bay along the Kills, to a point nearly opposite to Elizabethtown landing, a distance of 5 miles, the shore has an almost unbroken street, in which neat country seats, and snug boxes of the citizens blend with the cottages of farmers, mechanics, fishermen, and watermen, who are the permanent inhabitants. This settlement, containing about 400 houses, is divided into 3 portions having separate names, viz : Northfield, Factoryville, and New Brighton. From landings along the sound, communication may be had almost hourly by steamboats with New York. The soil of the island consists of clay and sandy loam, and with good husbandry produces fine crops of oats, corn, and grass. Many of the inhabi- tants subsist by the fisheries.' The muddy bottom of Staten Island sound produces an inexhaustible supply of oysters ; which though not originally of good quality, on being transported to the beds in Raritan Bay, soon grow large and acquire an excellent flavor. The Raritan Bay affords also excellent clams, and those from the Great Kills are in higk repute. The shad and herring fisheries are productive. In a military point of view, the island is one of the most important positions on the coast ; its possessor having command of New York bay and the adjacent country. It was so deemed by the British, in the revolutionary war, and was the first place seized by Sir William Howe, (July 4th, 1776.) It was retained by the royal forces during the whole contest. Preparatory to the war of 1812, there were erected very efficient and extensive fortifications, known as forts Tomp- kins, Richmond, and Hudson, at the Narrows, opposite to Fort Fayette, on Long Island. These forts completely protect the strait, which is but one mile wide. Upon Signal Hill, back of the forts, overlooking the harbor, Sandy Hook, and a great extent of sea, is a tele, graph communicating with the city. Staten Island was purchased from the Indians for Michael Pauw, one of the directors of the West India Company, together with an exten- sive tract in Bergen county in New Jersey, by deed dated August 10, 1630, and the whole tract received the name of Pavonia. It was a very desirable spot with the primitive Dutch settlers ; and the Indians, who seem never to have considered themselves to lose right of possession by sale, and were always willing to convey for a consideration, sold the island, about the year 1638, to the Heer Melyn with the permission of Gov. Kieft; and subsequently in 1657, to the Baron Van Cappellan. Melyn and Van Cappellan, both made improvements ; but the colony settled by the latter, was broken up by the savnges from the Raritan, who murdered his people. Melyn subsequenfly obiamsd the exclusive title, and claiming to be 60 474 ItlCn.MOND CCnjNTY. independent f f New Amsterdam, gnve Gov. S;uyvesant much trouble. On the 14 June, 1659, he conveyed his rights to the company. This island was again purchased from the Indians by Gov. Lovelace, April 18, 1670. Sailor's Snug Harbor. Castleton, upon the Kills and New York bay, is the northeast- ern town of the county. Pop. 4,286, Tompkinsville, beautifully situated upon the bay, b\ miles from New York city, and 7 from Richmond the county seat, was named after Vice-president Tomp- kins, whose seat was upon the summit of the hill. This is the larg- est village in the county, and, including Stapleton, contains 3,000 inhabitants, 500 dwellings, and 1 Episcopal, 1 Dutch Reformed, and 1 Methodist church. The Quarantine ground for the port of New York is situated here. Factoryville is a manufacturing village of about 100 dwellings in the NW. portion of the town, upon the Kill Van Kull. The far-famed village of New Brighton is situated about a mile N. of Tompkinsville, at the NE. point of the island. It was founded in 1834, by Thomas E. Davis, Esq., of New York. It is intended for residences of business men from the city. Nowhere, perhaps, in our country can be found such an assemblage of beauti- ful villas, and so favorably located as at this spot, both as regards health and beauty of scenery. With this, and the places in the vicinity, hourly communication by steamers is kept up with the city. The New Brighton Pavilion is in all respects one of the most splen- did hotels in the Union — every lodging-room is equal to a gentle- man's parlor. There are here superior facilities for sea-bathing. The " Sailor's Snug Harbor," is a charitable institution for aged or infirm seamen, pleasantly located about a mile W. of New Brighton. The buildings are in the Grecian style, with marble fronts ; the main building, 65 by 100 feet, has marble pillars in front, and is connected by corridors with wings of 53 by 100 feet. Cost of construction $115,000. The institution was founded in 1801, by Robert Richard Randall of New York, who bequeathed 22 acres for this purpose in the. 15th ward, which at that time was of comparatively little value, ROCKLAND COUNTY. 475 but now has increased to an immense estate. Connected with the building is a farm of 160 acres. In the yard fronting the edifice is an elegant monument to the memory of the founder. No worthy apphcant has ever yet been rejected. There are here at present 110 of the sons of Neptune, many of whom having dropped their last anchor, have found a snug port for life. ^ NoRTHFiELD is situated upon the NW. end of the island, and has a population of 2,747. The principal village, Port Richmond, contains 1 Baptist, 1 Methodist, and 1 Presbyterian church, and about 75 dwellings. Chelsea is a small village on Staten Island sound, oppo- site the mouth of Rahway river, containing a number of handsome dwellings. SouTHFiELD, ou the SE. side of the island, has a population of 1,626. Richmond, the county seat, 13 miles from New York, is a neat but antiquated village, partly located in this town and in Northfield and Westfield. It contains 2 churches, 2 hotels, a courthouse and jail, and about 45 dwellings. At the Narrows are the forts Tompkins, Richmond, and Hudson, and the Signal Hill. At the termination of New Dorp lane on the shore is the " great elm," which serves as a landmark to the mariner out at sea. The village of Stapleton, which is but a continuation of Tompkinsville, is partly on the Castle- ton line. Here is located the " Seaman's retreat," a noble stone edifice. The heights in this vicinity are studded with numerous country seats. Westfield, at the SW. extremity of the island, has a population of 2,326. Rossville, named after Wm. E. Ross, Esq., is a small vil- lage 4j miles N. of Richmond, and contains 32 dwelling-houses, 3 mercantile stores, and 181 inhabitants. ROCKLAND COUNTY. Rockland county was taken from Orange in 1798 ; greatest length 23, greatest breadth 18 miles. It is situated in the extreme southern angle of the state, upon the west side of the Hudson. Its surface is generally much broken, and in the W. and NW. mountainous. The valleys are rich, extensive, and fertile. Dobbs Ferry, Stony Point, Fort Clinton, and the Pass, were noted in the annals of the revolu- tion. " This county includes all that part of Orange which was set- tled when that county was erected, except so much thereof as fell to New Jersey, upon the determination of the boundary. Orangetown, now in Rockland, was the capital of the county until 1737, when a courthouse and jail were built at Goshen, in Orange, and the courts were holden at the two places alternately. About 1774, the court- 476 ROCKLAND COUNTY. house and jail at Orangetown, having been destroyed by fire, and part of the village having been transferred to Nevv^ Jersey, public buildings were erected at the * New City' then in the precinct of Haverstraw." The New York and Erie railroad commences at Piermont, and running through Orangetown, Clarkstown, and Rama- po, enters Orange county in the town of Monroe. This county is divided into 4 towns. Pop. 11,874. Clarkstown, taken from Haverstraw in 1791, lies on the W. bank of the Hudson, opposite Tappan and Haverstraw bays, 28 miles N. of New York. Clarkstown and the New City are small villages, each several miles from the Hudson, the latter of which is the county seat. Pop. 2,538. Haverstraw, the northern town of the county, organized in 1788, is situated 36 miles N. of New York, on the Hudson. Pop. 3,348. Warren, upon the Hudson, near the S. line, contains about 00 dwell- ings. Sampsondale, 2 miles from the river, is a small village. Cald- wells Landing is in the northern part of the town. Fort Clinton, of the revolution, was in the NE. angle, on the bank of the Hudson, the ruins of which are now visible. (For the attack on this fortress see p. 422.) Stony Point is at the NW. extremity of Haverstraw bay, above which is the D under berg or Thunder Mountain. Northern view of Stony Point, on the Hudson. The above is a northern view of Stony Point, as seen when pass- ing down the Hudson. This place is a little rough promontory on the west bank of the Hudson, nearly a mile below the entrance of the Highlands, having a lighthouse on its summit. It was a fortified during the revolutionary war, and is distinguished by the celebrated assault made upon it on the 16th July, 1779, by Gen. Wayne. Ver- planck's Point, on the opposite side of the river, is also a place dis- tinguished in the history of the revolution. The following is an ac- count of the storming of Stony Point as communicated in a letter from Gen. Wayne to Washington, dated Stony Point, July 17th, 1779, " Sir, — I have the honor to give you a full and particular relation of the reduction of tills Point, by the Hght infiinlry under my command. " On the 15th instant at twelve o'clock we took up our line of march from Sandy Beach, ROCKLAND COUNTY. 477 distant fourteen miles from this place ; the roads being exceedingly bad and narrow, and having to pass over high mountains, through deep morasses, and difficult defiles, we were obliged to move in single files the greatest part of the way. At eight o'clock in the even, ing the van arrived at Mr. Springsteels, within one mile and a half of the enemy, and formed into columns as fast as they came up, agreeably to the order of battle annexed ; namely. Colonels Febiger's and Meigs' regiments, with Major Hull's detachment, formed the right column ; Colonel Butler's regiment and Major Murfey's two companies the left The troops remained in this position until several of the principal officers with myself had returned from reconnoitring the works. At half after eleven o'clock, being the hour fixed on, the whole moved forward. The van of the right consisted of one hundred and fifty volunteers, properly officered, who advanced with unloaded muskets and fixed bayonets, under ihe command of Lieutenant-Colonel Fleury ; these were preceded by twenty picked men, and a vigilant and brave officer to remove the abatis and other obstructions. The van of the left consisted of one hundred volunteers, under the command of Major Stewart, with unloaded muskets and fixed bayonets, also preceded by a brave and determined officer, with twenty men, for the same purpose as the other. " At twelve o'clock the assault was to begin on the right and left flanks of the enemy's works, whilst Major Murfey amused them in front ; but a deep morass covering their whole front, and at this time overflowed by the tide, together with other obstructions, rendered the approaches more difficult than was at first apprehended, so that it was about twenty minutes after twelve before the assault began ; previously to which I placed myself at the head of Febiger's regiment, or the right column, and gave the troops the most pointed orders not to fire on any account, but place their whole dependence on the bayonet, which order was literally and faithfully obeyed. Neither the deep morass, the formidable and double rows oi ahatis, nor the strong works in front and flank, could damp the ardor of the troops, who, in the face of a most tremendous and incessant fire of musketry, and from cannon loaded with grape-shot, forced their way at the point of the bayonet through every obstacle, both columns meedng in the centre of the enemy's works nearly at the same in- stant. Too much praise cannot be given to Lieutenant-colonel Fleury (who struck the enemy's standard with his own hand,) and to Major Stewart, who commanded the advanced parties, for their brave and prudent conduct. '• Colonels Butler, Meigs, and Febiger conducted themselves with that coolness, bravery, and perseverance, that will ever insure success. Lieutenant-colonel Hay was wounded in the thigh, bravely fighting at the head of his battalion. I should take up too much of your excellency's time, were I to particularize every individual who deserves it for his bravery on this occasion. I cannot, however, omit Major Lee, to whom I am indebted for frequent and very useful intelligence, which contributed much to the success of the enterprise ; and it is with the greatest pleasure I acknowledge to you, that I was supported in the attack by all the officers and soldiers under my command, to the utmost of my wishes. The officers and privates of the artillery exerted themselves in turning the cannon against Verplanck's Point, and forced the enemy to cut the cables of their shipping, and run down the river. " I should be wanting in gratitude were I to omit mentioning Captain Fishbourn and Mr. Archer, my two aids-de-camp, who on every occasion showed the greatest intrepidity, and supported me into the works after I received my wound in passing the last abatis. " Enclosed are the returns of the killed and wounded of the light infantry, as also of the enemy, together with the number of prisoners taken, likewise of the ordnance and stores found in the garrison. " I forgot to inform your excellency, that previously to my marching, I had drawn Gene, ral Muhlenberg into my rear, who, with three hundred men of his brigade, took post on the opposite side of the marsh, so as to be in readiness either to support me, or to cover a re. treat in case of accident ; and I have no doubt of his faithfully and effectually executing cither, had there been any occasion for him. " Tiie humanity of our brave soldiery, who scorned to take the lives of a vanquished foe calling for mercy, reflects the highest honor on them, and accounts for the few of the enemy killed on the occasion. " I am not satisfied with the manner in which I have mentioned the conduct of Lieuten- ants Gibbons and Knox, the two gentlemen who led the advanced parties of twenty men each. Their distinguished bravery deserves the highest commendation. The former be. longs to the sixth Pennsylvania regiment, and lost seventeen men killed and wounded in the attack ; the latter belongs to the ninth Pennsylvania regiment, and was more fortunate in saving his men, though not less exposed. I have the honor to be, &.c. " Anthony Wayne." *' The number of prisoners taken in the fort was five hundred and forty. three. By Ge- 478 ROCKLAND COUNTY. neral Wayne's return the number of killed was sixty-three. In Colonel Johnson's official account of the transaction, his loss in killed is stated to have been only twenty. It is not easy to reconcile this discrepancy. The assailing party had fifteen killed and eighty.three wounded. " Congress passed resolves highly complimentary to the officers and privates engaged in this enterprise, and confirming the promise of reward which had been previously made by General Wayne ; and also directing the value of all the military stores taken at Stony Point to be ascertained and divided among the troops who were engaged in storming the fort. " The rewards were as follows : to the first man who entered the enemy's works, five hundred dollars ; to the second, four hundred dollars ; to the third, three hundred ; to the fourth, two hundred ; to the fifth, one hundred ; being fifteen hundred dollars in the whole. The ordnance and other stores were estimated at one hundred and fifty-eight thousand six hundred and forty dollars ; which amount was divided among the troops in proportion to the pay of the officers and men. " Three ditierent medals, emblematical of the action, were struck by order of congress, bearing the names respectively of Wayne, Fleury, and Stewart." Orangetown was organized in 1788: it is 24 miles N. of New York. Pop. 2,771. Tappan 3, and Middletown 6 miles from the Hudson, are small villages. Piermont, on the river, is a thriving vil- lage, formerly known as the Sloat. The New York and Erie rail- road commences here, by a pier in the river, nearly a mile in length. About a mile below Piermont, is Dobbs Ferry, a noted place in the revolution. Nyack, in the north part of the town, on the Hudson, is a flourishing place containing about 50 or 60 dwellings. North view of the place where Andre was executed. The place where Andre was executed is at the summit of a hill, about a quarter of a mile west of Tappan village, and overlooking to the east a romantic and fertile valley. A small heap of stones, thrown hastily together, with an upright stake and a tew names carved rudely upon it, is the only monument to mark the spot of his execu- tion and his grave. While in Tappan village, Andre was confined in an ancient stone mansion, at present occupied as a tavern by Mr. Thomas Wandle. His trial took place in the old Dutch church, which was torn down in 1836. A new one has since been erected on the same site. Washington's head-quarters were in the antiquated stone dwelling now occupied by Mr. Arthur Johnson. ROCKLAND COUNTY. 479 The following account of the execution of Andre, which took place Oct. 2, 1780, is given by an eye-witness. " I was at that time an artificer in Col. Jeduthan Baldwin's regiment, a part of which was stationed within a short distance of the spot where Andre suffered. One of our men, (I believe his name was Armstrong.) being one of the oldest and best workmen at his trade in the regiment, was selected to make his coffin, which he performed and painted black, agreeable to the custom in those times. " At this time Andre was confined in what was called a Dutch church, a small stone building, with only one door, and closely guarded by six sentinels. When the hour ap. pointed for his execution arrived, which I believe was 2 o'clock, P. M., a guard of three hundred men were paraded at the place of his confinement. A kind of procession was formed by placing the guard in single file on each side of the road. In front were a large number of American officers of high rank, on horseback ; these were followed by the wagon containing Andre's coffin — then a large number of officers on foot, with Andre in their midst. The procession moved slowly up a moderately rising hill, I should think about a fourth of a mile to the west. On the top was a field without any enclosure ; in this was a very high gallows, made by setting up two poles or crotches, laying a pole on the top. The wagon that contained the coffin was drawn directly under the gallows. In a short time Andre stepped into the hind end of the wagon — then on his coffin — took off his hat and laid it down — then placed his hands upon his hips, and walked very uprightly back and forth, as far as the length of his coffin would permit, at the same time casting his eyes upon the pole over his head and the whole scenery by which he was surrounded. He was dressed in what I should call a complete British uniform ; his coat was of the brightest scar, let, faced or trimmed with the most beautiful green ; his under clothes, or vest and breeches, were bright buff, very similar to those worn by military officers in Connecticut at the pre- sent day ; he had a long and beautiful head of hair, which, agreeable to the fashion, was wound with a black riband, and hung down his back. All eyes were upon him, and it is not believed that any officer in the British army, placed in his situation, would have appeared better than this unfortunate man. " Not many minutes after he took his stand upon the coffin, the executioner stepped into the wagon with a haJler in his hand, on one end of which was what the soldiers in those days called a hangman's knot, which he attempted to put over the head and around the neck of Andre, but by a sudden movement of his hand this was prevented. Andre took off the handkerchief from his neck, unpinned his shirt collar, and deliberately took the end of the halter, put it over his head, and placed the knot directly under his right ear, and drew it very snugly to his neck ; he then took from his coal pocket a handkerchief and tied it over his eyes. This done, the officer that commanded (his name I have forgotten) spoke in rather a loud voice, and said that his arms must be tied. Andre at once pulled down the handkerchief he had just tied over his eyes, and drew from his pocket a second one, and gave to the executioner, and then replaced his handkerchief. His arms were tied just above the elbows, and behind the back : the rope was then made fast to the pole overhead. The wagon was very suddenly drawn from under the gallows, which, together with the length of rope, gave him a most tremendous swing back and forth, but in a few moments he hung entirely still. During the whole transaction he appeared as little daunted as Mr. John Rogers, when he was about to be burnt at the stake ; but his countenance was rather pale. He remained hanging, I should think, from 20 to 30 minutes, and during that time the chambers of death were never stiller than the multitude by which he was surrounded. Orders were given to cut the rope, and take him down without letting him fall ; this was done, and his body carefully laid on the ground. — Shortly after, the guard was withdrawn and spectators were permitted to come forward to view the corpse, but the crowd was so great that it was some time before I could get an opportunity. When I was able to do this, his coat, vest, and breeches were taken off, and his body laid in the coffin, covered by some under clothes. The top of the coffin was not put on. I viewed the corpse more care- fully than I had ever done that of any human being before. His head was very much on one side, in consequence of the manner in which the halter drew upon his neck. His face appeared to be greatly swollen and very black, much resembling a high degree of mortifi. cation ; it was indeed a shocking sight to behold. There was at this time standing at the foot of the coffin, two young men of uncommon short stature — I should think not more than four feet high. Their dress was the most gaudy that I ever beheld. One of them had the clothes just taken from Andre hanging on his arm. I took particular pains to learn who they were, and was informed that they were his servants, sent up from New York to take care of his clothes, but what other business I did not learn. " I now turned to take a view of the executioner, who was still standing by one of the 480 ROCKLAND COUNTY. posts of the gallows. I walked nigh enough to him to have laid my hand upon his shoulder, and looked him directly in his face. He appeared to be about twenty.five years of age, his beard of two or three week's growth, and his whole face covered with what appeared to me to be blacking taken from the outside of a greasy pot. A more frightful looking being I never beheld — his whole countenance bespoke hiin to be a fit instrument for the business he had been doing. Wishing to see the closing of the whole business, I remained upon the spot until scarce twenty persons were left, but the coffin was still beside the grave, which had previously been dug. I now returned to my tent, with my mind deeply imbued with the shocking scene I had been called to witness." In August, 1831, the remains of Andre were disinterred and con- veyed to London. The annexed narration of this event, is extracted from the account given by the British consul, J. Buchanan, Esq., to whom this duty was intrusted by the Duke of York. " My next step was to proceed to Tappan, distant from this city [New York] twenty-four miles. Thither I went, accompanied by Mr. Moore, his majesty's agent for packets. Upon reaching the village, which does not contain above fifty or sixty houses, the first we inquired at proved to be the very house in which the major had been confined while a prisoner there, kept by one Dupuy, who was also postmaster, who took us to view the room which had been used as his prison. Excited as we were, it would be diffi- cult to describe our feelings on entering this little chamber ; it was then used as a milk and store room — otherwise unaltered from the period of his confinement — about twelve feet by eight, with one window looking into a garden, the view extending to the hill, and di. rectly to the spot on which he suffered, as the landlord pointed out from the window, while in the room, the trees growing at the place where he was buried. " Having inquired for the owner of the field, I waited on the Rev. Mr. Demarat, a minister residing in Tappan, to whom I explained the object of my visit, who gener- ously expressed his satisfaction at the honor, ' which at length,' to use his words, ' was in- tended the memory of Major Andre,' and assured me that every facility should be afforded by him. Whereupon we all proceeded to examine the grave, attended by many of the in- habitants, who by this time had become acquainted with the cause of our visit; and it was truly gratifying to us, as it was honorable to them, that all were loud in the expressions of their gratification on this occasion. " We proceeded up a narrow lane, or broken road, with trees at each side, which ob- Bcured the place where he suffered, until we came to the opening into the field, which at once led to an elevated spot on the hill. On reaching the mount, we found it commanded a view of the surrounding country for miles. General Washington's head-quarters, and the house in which he resided, was distant about a mile and a half or two miles, but fully in view. The army lay encamped chiefly also in view of the place, and must necessarily have witnessed the catastrophe. The field, as well as I could judge, contained from eight to ten acres, and was cultivated ; but around the grave the plough had not approached nearer than three or four yards, that space being covered with loose stones thrown upon and around the grave, which was only indicated by two cedar trees about ten feet high. A small peach tree had also been placed at the head of the grave, by the kindly feeling of a lady in the neighborhood. " Doubts were expressed by many who attended, that the body had been secretly carried to England, and not a few believed we should not find the remains ; but their surmises were set aside by the more general testimony of the community Arriving at Tap. pan by ten o'clock, A. M., though I was not expected until the following Tuesday, as I had fixed, yet a number of persons soon assembled, some of whom betrayed symptoms of displeasure at the proceeding, arising from the observations of sonie of the public journals, which asserted ' that any honor paid Major Andre's remains was casting imputation on General Washington, and the officers who tried him.' As these characters were of the lowest cast, and their observations were condemned by every respectable person in the village, I yet deemed it prudent, while the worthy pastor was preparing his men to open the grave, to resort to a mode of argument, the only one I had time or inclination to be- stow upon them, in which I was sure to find the landlord a powerful auxiliary. I there- fore stated to these noisy patriots, that I wished to follow a custom not unfrequent in Ire- land, from whence I came, namely, of taking some spirits before proceeding to a grave. The landlord approved the Irish practice, and accordingly supplied abundance of liquor, so that in a short time. General Washington, Major Andre, and the object of my visit, were forgotten by diem, and I was left at perfect liberty, with the respectable inhabitants of the ROCKLAND COUNTV. 481 place, to proceed to the exhumation, leaving the landlord to supply the guests, a duty which he faithfully performed, to my entire satisfaction. " At twelve o'clock, quite an unexpected crowd assembled at the grave, — as our pro- ceeding up the hill was seen by the inhabitants all around. l"he day was unusually fine ; a number of ladies, and many aged matrons who witnessed his fall, — who had seen his person, — who had mingled tears with his sufferings, — attended, and were loud in their praises of the prince, for thus at length honoring one who still lived in their recollection with unsubdued sympathy. The laborers proceeded with diligence, yet cauiion. Surmises about the body having been removed were revived, and it would be difficult to imagine any event which could convey a degree of more intense excitement. " As soon as the stones were cleared away, and the grave was found, not a tongue moved amongst the multitude, — breathless anxiety was depicted in every countenance. • When, at length, one of the men cried out he had touched the coffin, so great was the en- thusiasm at this moment, that I found it necessary to call in the aid of several of the ladies to form an enlarged circle, so that all could see the operation ; which being effected, the men proceeded with the greatest caution, and the clay was removed with the hands, as we soon discovered the lid of the coffin was broken in the centre. With great care the broken lid was removed, and there to our view lay the bones of the brave Andre, in perfect order. I, among others, for the first time discovered that he had been a small man ; this observa- tion I made from the skeleton, which was confirmed by some then present. The roots of the small peach tree had completely surrounded the skull like a net. After allowing all the people to pass round in regular order, and view the remains as they lay, which very many did with unfeigned tears and lamentation, the bones were carefully removed, and placed in the sarcophagus, (the circle having been again formed ;) after which I descended into the coffin, which was not more than three feet below the surface, and with my own hands raked the dust together, to ascertain whether he had been buried in his regimentals or not, as it was rumored among the assemblage that he was stripped ; for, if buried in his regimentals, I expected to find the buttons of his clothes, which would have disproved the rumor ;* but I did not find a single button, nor any article save a string of leather that had tied his hair, in perfect preservation, coiled and tied as it had been on his hair at the time. This string I forwarded to his sister in England. I examined the dust of the coffin so minutely (as the quantity would not fill a quart) that no mistake could have arisen in the examination. Let no unworthy motive be attributed to me for recording this fact ; I state it as one which I was anxious to ascertain for the reason given. Having placed the re- mains in the sarcophagus, it was borne amidst the silent and unbought regret of the numer. ous assemblage, and deposited in the worthy pastor's house, with the intention ol removing it to his majesty's packet, in New York city, on the Tuesday following. " As soon as the removal of the sarcophagus to the packet was known in this city, it wjts not only honorable to the feelings of the citizens, but cheering to iiiy mind, depressed as it had been, to find the sentiments which prevailed. Ladies sent me flowers ; others, various emblematic devices, garlands, &c., to decorate the remains of the 'lamented and beloved Andre.' A beautiful and ornamented myrtle among those sent, I forwarded with the sar- cophagus to Halifax, where Lieut. General Sir James Kempt, governor of Nova Scotia, caused every proper mark of respect to be paid to the remains. From thence they reached London, and were deposited near the monument which had been erected to his memory in the Abbey, and a marble slab placed at the foot of the monument, on which is set forth their removal by the order of his royal highness the Duke of York. "Having represented to his royal highness the generous conduct of the Reverend Mr. Demarat, I recommended that his royal highness should convey to him a snuff-box, made out of one of the trees which grew at the grave, which I sent home. But my suggestion was far outdone by the princely munificence of his royal highness, who ordered a box to be made out of the tree, and lined with gold, with an inscription, 'From his Royal High- ness the Duke of York, to the Rev. Mr. Demarat.' Whilst speaking of this act of liberality, I was unexpectedly honored with a silver inkstand, with the following inscription :— ' The surviving sisters of Major Andre to James Buchanan, Esq., his Majesty's Consul, Newr York.' They also sent a silver cup, with a suitable inscription, to Mr. Demarat. I need not add, that I cherish this inkstand, (which I am now using,) and shall bequeath it to my children as a memorial which I prize with no ordinary feehng. * It has since been ascertained, from an American officer present at the burial, that the regimentals of Major Andre were given to his servants, after his execution. This statement has satisfied Mr. Buchanan, and will account for the absence of any vestiges in his tomb. 61 482 ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY. " I oniiUecl to mention, that I had the peach tree which had been planted on the grave, (the roots of which had surrounded the siiull, as set forth,) taken up with great care, with as much of the clay as it was possible to preserve around the roots, and brought it to my garden in New York, where my daughters attended it with almost pious solicitude, shading it during the heat of the day, watering it in the cool of the evening, in the hope of pieserv- ing it to send to England. Had it reached his sisters, they would no doubt have regarded it as another Minerva ; for, though it did not spring out of, yet it was nourished by their beloved brother's head. " I have only to add, that, through the kind interference of my brother consul at Phila- delphia, I obtained Major Andre's watch, which he had to part with when a prisoner during the early part of the war. This watch I sent to England lately ; so that I believe every vestige connected with the subject of this narrative has been sent to the laud of his birth, in the service of which his life was sacrificed." Ramapo, originally named New Hempstead, was taken from Haver- straw in 1791 ; centrally distant from New York 33 miles. The manufacturing village of Ramapo Works is situated in the Pass, which during the revolution was fortified. It is 13 miles W. from New City, the county seat, and contains 1 Presbyterian church and 80 dwellings. The names of the post-offices in this town are Ramapo, Scotland, and West Hempstead. Pop 3,217. ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY. St. Lawrence county was taken from Oneida in 1802; distant from New York 350, from Albany NW. 206 miles. Greatest length on the St. Lawrence river, which bounds it on the N., 66 miles ; greatest breadth 64. This county is larger by 1,000 square miles than any other in the state. That portion of it bordering upon the St. Lawrence, and extending 30 or 40 miles into the country, is agreeably diversified ; M^aving in gentle swells and broad valleys, with extensive tracts of champaign. The soil is warm, rich, and productive, and equal to any of the uplands of the state. The south- eastern part is broken and mountainous. These mountains abound with fine iron ore. The county is comparatively unsettled, but is now filling up rapidly. Since 1820, the population has more than trebled. This county extends 75 miles along the St. Lawrence. The many large streams, with their branches, furnish some internal navigation, with superabundance of hydraulic power. The St. Law- rence has a good sloop navigation from Lake Ontario to Ogdensburg. From Ogdensburg to Montreal, the navigation is dangerous on ac- count of the rapids. This river is studded with numberless islands, rendering the scenery highly picturesque and beautiful. Wheat is raised upon the new lands, but there is danger of its being winter- killed in the long and almost unmitigated frosts. Rye, grass, and all the summer crops flourish luxuriantly ; and it is obvious that the great source of wealth here will be found in grass farming and the culture of sheep. The county is divided into 25 towns. Pop. 66,676. ST. LAWEENCE COUNTY. 483 Brasher, taken from Massena in 1805 ; from Albany 250, and from Canton centrally distant NE, 39 miles. Pop. 2,118. Upon the forks of the St. Regis and North Deer rivers is the small post village of Helena, in the vicinity of which, on these streams, there is considera- ble hydraulic power. Canton was oi'ganized in 1805 ; from Albany 206 miles. Pop. 3,464. A natural canal, 6 miles long, and from 30 to 100 yards wide, connects in this town the Grasse with the Oswegatchie river. The " high falls" of the Grasse river are in the south part of the town, and Western view of Canton. near the northwest corner the falls of the Oswegatchie. The village of Canton, 18 miles from Ogdensburg, on the Grasse river, was made the county seat in 1828, previous to which time the courts wei'e holden at Ogdensburg. The village contains the county buildings, an academy, 5 churches — 1 Presbyterian, 1 Episcopal, 2 Methodist, 1 Baptist and Universalist united, called the Union church — and about 150 dwellings. This village was originally called " Foot's Falls," from Mr. Stillman Foot, who came here in the winter of 1799, and bought a mile square, comprising in its limits the site of the village. He erected a saw and a grist mill upon the ground now occupied by a saw-miJl upon the west bank of the river. He was accompanied by George Foot, Jr., Amos Jones, and Medad Moody, all with their families, and originally from Middlebury, Yt. The Presbyterian, the first church erected here, was built in 1826. Mr. George Foot, the father of Stillman, was the first person who died in this town. His death occurred in 1800, and as there were no boards from which to construct a cofHn, the body was wrapt in a blanket, enclosed in spruce bark, and buried. De Kalb, on the Oswegatchie river, taken from Oswegatchie in 1806; from Albany 193 miles. Pop. 1,530. This town was pur- chased in 1803, by the late Judge Cooper of Cooperstown, Otsego 484 ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY. county, and was settled by emigrants from Connecticut and Vermont. De Kalb village, formerly Cooper's village, 15 miles SE. from Og- densburg, and Richville, are both small settlements. De Peyster w^as taken from De Kalb and Osw^egatchie in 1825; from Ogdensburg centrally distant S. 9 miles, rop. 1,032. De Peyster is a small settlement. Edwards, taken from Fowler in 1827; centrally distant SE. from Ogdensburg 30 miles. Pop. 956. Edwardsville and South Edwards are small settlements. Fowler, taken from Rossie and Russel in 1816; from Albany 106 miles, comprising townships Nos. 7 and 1 1 of Great Tract No. 3 of Macomb's purchase. Centrally distant about 30 miles S. of Ogdens- burg. Shingle Creek, Little York, and Fowlersville, are the names of the post-otfices. Pop. 1,752. GouvERNEUR, named alter Gouverneur Morris, taken from Oswe- gatchie in 1810; from Albany 180, from Ogdensburg centrally dis- tant S. 25 miles. Pop. 2,529. " One of the ancient Indian works of fortification is in this town, on a farm of now or late Capt. Washburn, consisting of an embankment enclosing three acres, in which there are some remains of rude sculpture." Gouverneur is a small and pleasant village, and contains 2 churches and a flourishing academy. Washburnville is the name of a post-office. Hammond, taken from Rossie and Morristown in 1827; from Al- bany 184, from Ogdensburg centrally distant SW. 22 miles. Ham- mond and South Hammond are small settlements. Pop. 1,845. Heumon, originally named Depau, taken from Edwards and De Kalb in 1830; from Albany 180, centrally distant from Ogdensburg SE. 23 miles. Depauville is a small post village. Pop. 1,271. Hopkinton was organized in 1805. Pop. 1,149. Hopkinton, on Lyd brook, 234 miles from Albany, and 25 E. from Canton, is a small village. Port Jackson is a small settlement. Lawrence, taken from Hopkinton and Brasher in 1828 ; from Al- bany 232, centrally distant E. from Ogdensburg 50 miles. Lawrence- ville and Nicholville are small settlements. Pop. 1,835. Lisbon, organized in 1801 ; from Albany 211 miles. Pop. 3,508. On Stoney Island, in the St. Lawrence, a strong fort was built by the French, but was destroyed by Gen. Amherst in 1760. Three miles below Ogdensburg in this town was an Indian village of the Oswegatchie tribe, now in ruins. Rensselaerburg, formerly called Red Mills, on the St. Lawrence, is a considerable manufacturing village. Louisville, taken from Massena in 1810; from Albany 231, cen- trally distant from Ogdensburg NE. 22 miles. Pop. 1,687. The bat- tle at Williamsburg, in Canada, was fought opposite here, Nov. 11th, 1813. The town was settled in 1803, by eastern emigrants. Louis- ville post-office is on Grasse river. Churchville is a small settlement on the St. Lawrence. Madrid, organized in 1802; from Albany 227, from Canton N. 15 miles. Pop. 4,510. This town belonged to Messrs. I. Wadding- ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY. 485 ton, D. A. Ogden, and T. L. Ogden, Waddington village, on the river St. Lawrence, 20 miles N. of Canton, has 8 mercantile stores, and 800 inhabitants. Columbiaville is a small village on the Grasse river. Matildaville, recently formed ; from Canton SE. centrally dis- tant 17 miles. Matildaville is a small village. Massena, organized in 1802 ; from Albany 238, centrally distant from Ogdensburg NE. 36 miles. Massena is a small village, and Massena Point a hamlet. Pop. 2,726. MoRRisTowN, taken from Oswegatchie in 1821 ; NW. from Albany 190. Black Lake extends centrally across the town. Pop. 2,853. Morristown, on the St. Lawrence, 10 miles SW. from Ogdensburg, is a small but beautifully situated village, Norfolk was taken from Louisville in 1823 ; from Ogdensburg E. 26 miles. Pop. 1,132. There are two small villages on the Racket river in this town. Oswegatchie was organized in 1802, and is from Albany 200 miles. Pop. 5,719. The importance of this spot seems to have been discovered at an early day, the French having built a fort here at quite a remote period. On the maps published by them 100 years since, it is called Fort Presentation, afterward named Oswegatchie. It was situated either on or near the site of the I'uins now standing, on the west bank of the river, near its mouth. Previous to 1796, there was not much of any settlement, when Judge Nathan Ford, an enterprising individual, from New Jersey, settled in the place. The British had had a garrison here, and the military works, then in a ruinous condition, were taken possession of by him in behalf of the proprietors. They consisted of 2 stone buildings of 2 stories, a bomb proof, a row of wooden barracks, and three or four other wooden structures. Ford gave a new spring to the settlement, and was soon followed by many New Englanders. The party who emigrated with him hired a Canadian batteaux, sailed up the Mohawk into the Wood creek, then down the Oswego river into Lake Ontario, and finally landed at the mouth of the Oswegatchie. Thomas Lee, now at an advanced age, (1840,) is the only person living of the party. At this period there was a settlement of Indians at Indian Point, 4 miles down the St. Lawrence. They were very jealous of the judge, and made several attempts to drive him off, which would have succeeded had he not been a man of more than ordinary resolution. One night a party of them came to his house, built a fire in the centre of the floor, mastered his men, and were in the act of placing one of them on the fire, when the judge attacked them with a billet of wood, and being seconded by some of his men, was enabled to drive them off. The first frame building, a dwelling, was erected near where the Eagle Tavern now stands. Ogdensburg, the port of this town, has a population of 2,555. It is 204 miles N. from Albany, 60 below Kingston, 130 from Montreal, 120 W. from Plattsburgh, 63 NE. from Sacketts Harbor, and 18 from Canton. This was formerly the county seat, but it has been re- 486 ST. LAWRENCE COUNTV. View of Ogdenshurg. moved to Canton. The above view w^as taken on the bank of the Os we- gatchie river, near the ruins of the old barracks. The steeple seen on the left is that of the Presbyterian church ; the one on the extreme right the old courthouse ; the academy is next to it ; and the square steeple is that of the Episcopal denomination. The first religious society organized v^^as the Presbyterian ; they held their meetings, as far back as 1811, in the old courthouse. In 1819, they erected their first church, a few rods southwest of where the present stone church now stands. There are here 1 Baptist, 1 Methodist, 1 Episcopal, 1 Roman CathoUc, and 1 Presbyterian church, besides a society of Unitarians. The proximity of the town to the Canada line made it an import- ant place during the late war, and the scene of several minor military operations. The following is extracted from Thompson's History of the Late War. In retaliation for a daring exploit performed by Capt. Forsyth of the rifle regiment, in the destruction of an immense quantity of stores, &c., collected at the small village of Ganano. que, in the town of Leeds, in Canada, " the enemy determined on attacking and destroy, ing the town of Ogdenshurg. Opposite to this is situated the Canadian villeige of Prescott, before which the British had a strong line of breastworks. On the 2d of October, 1812, they opened a heavy cannonading on the town from their batteries, and continued to bom- bard it with little intermission until the night of the 3d : one or two buildings only were injured. On Sunday, the 4th, having prepared forty boats, with from ten to fifteen armed men in each, they advanced with six pieces of artillery, to storm the town. General Brown commanded at Ogdenshurg in person, and when the enemy had advanced within a short distance, he ordered his troops to open a warm tire upon them. The British, nevertheless, steadily approached the shore, and kept up their fire for two hours ; during which, they sus. tained the galling fire of the Americans, until one of their boats was taken, and two others 80 shattered, that their crews were obliged to abandon them ; they then relinquished the assault and fled to Prescott. There has been no engagement, perhaps, wliich exhibited more gallantry on both sides. In this attack. Gen. Brown had under his command about 400 men, the British 1000." The annexed account of the taking of this place on the 21st of February, 1813, is extracted from the same source as the above. 8T. LAWRENCE COUNTY. 487 " The movements of the enemy at Prescott were indicative of an intention to attack Og densburg. Colonel Benedict was therefore induced to call out his regiment of militia, and arrangements were immediately made for the defence of the place. On the 21st of Febru. ary, the enemy appeared before it, with a force of twelve hundred men, and succeeded in driving out Captain Forsyth and his troops. The British attacked in two columns, of six hundred men each, at 8 o'clock in the morning, and were commanded by Capt. M'Donnell of the Glengary light infantry, and Colonel Fraser of the Canadian militia. The American riflemen and militia received them with firmness, and contended for the ground upwards of an hour ; when the superiority of numbers compelled them to abandon it, and to retreat to Black Lake, nearly nine miles from Ogdensburg, after losing twenty men in killed and wounded. The loss of the enemy, from the deliberate coolness with which the riflemen fired, was reputed to have been thrice that number. The British account, which claimed the capture of immense stores, none of which had ever been deposited there, admitted the loss of five distinguished officers. In consequence of this affair, a message was sent by the commandant of Fort George, to Colonel M'Feely, the commandant of Fort Niagara, in- forming him that a salute would be fired the next day in honor of the capture of the Ameri- can village. Colonel M'Feely having received inteUigence in the course of the same even- ing, of the capture of his majesty's frigate the Java, returned the message to the British commandant, by communicating to him his intention of firing a salute, at the same hour from Fort Niagara, in celebration of this brilliant event." The following additional particulars respecting the taking of Og- densburg were obtained by personal conversation with a resident at that time. The British landed in the northeast part of the village, near some barracks occupied by a detachment of militia under Captain Lytle, which he evacuated and then joined Col. Forsyth at the fort. The enemy marched up through Ford-street, and when the Ameri- cans had abandoned the fort, they crossed over on the ice opposite to the Eagle Hotel. Besides the public stores destroyed by them, they took away a large quantity of provisions, &c., private property, which they were much in need of, but for which they afterward paid full price. A barn is now standing on the SE. side of Ford-street, near the corner of Water-street, where holes made by grape shot fired from the fort are still to be seen. The Glengarian regiment, which was in the attack, was quite celebrated during the military operations on the frontier. This corps were from the county of Glengary, in Upper Canada. Their religion was Catholic, and they were the descendants of Scotch Highlanders. The following is a view of Windmill Point and ruins in its vicinity. It is memorable as being the spot, where, during the recent struggle in Canada, a small body of men, under the unfortunate Van Schoultz, gallantly defended themselves against an overpowering force of Brit- ish and Canadians. The following account of this affair, usually termed the " Battle of Prescott," is principally drawn from a work recently published by E. A. Theller, Esq., and entitled Canada in 1837-8. Early in November, 1838, the patriots, (so called,) who had secretly rallied in clubs in and about Syracuse, Oswego, Sacketts Harbor, Watertown, Ogdensburg, French creek, and at other points on or near the American line, began to exhibit an intenfion of making a fresh demonstration at some point in Upper Canada. About the 10th, two schooners were noticed as being freighted from canal boats, which had come up the Oswego canal under suspicious circumstances, and to sail out of the harbor in a northern direction. On the 12th, the steamboat United States, which had been detained in port by a heavy gale, sailed for Sacketts Harbor. Here she took aboard about 250 patriots. The two schooners spoken of, were next discovered by the United States, lying in the river St. Lawrence ; when Capt. Van Cleve complied with the request of a passenger of respectable appearance, to take them in tow ; saying they were loaded with merchandise for Ogdensburg, which he 488 ST. LAVVRENCK COUNTY. View of Windmill Foint, Prcscott, U. C* was desirous of getting into port the next morning. Accordingly the schooners were lashed one each side of the steamer. The boxes and barrels on their decks, with just men enough in sight to navigate them, exhibited no evidence of their being other than repre- sented by the passenger. The captain was soon undeceived, by armed men climbing from the schooners on to his boat, to the number of some 200, and he determined to lay at Mor- ristown, 10 miles above Ogdensburg, and give notice to the authorities. On arriving at that neighborhood, the patriots, after transferring about 100 of the boat's passengers, unfastened their vessels, and were found the next morning at anchor in the river, between Ogdensburg and Prescott, filled with armed men. Both towns were now the scene of excitement ; for it was evident that Fort Wellington was the point of attack, and both shores were soon thronged with citizens. The Experiment, a British armed steamboat, was lying at the Prescott wharf, and by this time the United States had arrived at Ogdensburg, On her arrival, the people, with loud cheers, rushed on board and went to the relief of one of the schooners which by accident had got aground on the shoal in the river. Not succeeding in reaching her, they returned to the boat for a longer hawser. As she went out again, the Experiment came out and fired two shots, but without effect ; and she passed down the river about a mile to Windmill Point, to the other schooner, which had succeeded in land- ing her forces, and was returning to take off the men from the grounded vessel. The Ex- periment followed her, and when the United States was covering her on her way up, kept up an irregular fire upon both, without effect. The United States having seen the schooner she was protecting anchored under the Ogdensburg shore, returned again to Windmill Point, where William .Johnson with small boats landed 110 men. Meantime the American steam ferry-boat, Paul Pry, ran over to the stranded vessel, and hauled her off under a brisk fire from the Experiment, which the former returned with small-arms, killing 7 of the Ex- periment's men, but losing none. The United States was now returning, and again encoun- tered the fire of the Experiment, breaking glass lights and doing other damage. Those who had remained after the disembarkation, about 25 in number, stood upon the promenade deck and cheered the discharges as they came. During this, a shot passing through the wheel-house, killed Mr. Solomon Foster, a young man, the helmsman of the boat. As the United Slates now went into port, she was surrendered to her owners, and immediately seized by the United States authorities, which completed the forenoon's operations. " Commodore ' Bill .Tohnson' who had come on to Ogdensburg on the return of the United States, addressed ' the patriots' present, urging and beseeching them to go with him, and join those who had crossed. He succeeded in crossing with some, in one of the schooners, at two or three difi'erent times ; whilst most of the afternoon and evening was occupied at Windmill Point, by the patriots, fortifying their position, and preparing for the contest. They had taken possession of the windmill, and other large stone buildings, to the number of about 200, which were increased by accessions from the small boats crossing over in the evening. It was seen that at Fort Wellington the British were also engaged in making preparations ; but towards night there was scarcely a living soul seen in the streets of Prescott. There was no fighting that night. During the evening the steamboat * The authors are indebted for the above view to Mr. Ellis, artist, of Ogdensburg. ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY. 489 Telegraph, with Col. Worth, of the United States army, had arrived, accompanied by two companies of United States troops, and by Mr. Ganow, a United States marshal, who im- mediately took into custody all the craft which had been employed by the patriots, including the United States, the two schooners, and the Paul Pry ; and made effectual arrangements to cut off all further supplies of men, arms or provisions from the patriot camp, after which, all remained quiet during the night, except the report of cannon at long intervals. Early on the morning of the 13th, the British armed steamers Cobourg and Traveller, had arrived at Prescott with troops ; and at about 7 o'clock, they, together with the Experiment, opened a discharge of cannon, and commenced throwing bombs at the patriots at the windmill, who discharged field-pieces from their battery on shore in return. At about 8 o'clock, a line of fire blazed along the summit of the hill, in the rear of the windmill, for about 80 or a 100 rods, and the crack of the rifles and muskets made one continuous roar. It appears that by the time the firing commenced in the morning, there were but 180 of those who had crossed left at Windmill Point ; and that when they were attacked by land, in rear of their position, some 52 of these fled, leaving only 128 to face from 600 to 800 British regu. lars and volunteers. After a fight of about an hour, according to Theiler's account, the British were driven back into their fort with a loss it is supposed of about 100 killed and many wounded. The patriots lost 5 men and 13 wounded. On the morning of the 14th little was done, and the British having sent a flag of truce for permission to buiy the dead, the request was granted. Afterward when the patriots sent a flag, the bearer was shot. On the 15th, the British received a reinforcement of 400 regulars, with cannon and gun- boats, by steamboats from Kingston, and volunteers numbering in all about 2,000 ; who surrounded the mill by their gun-boats and steamers on the river, and by stationing cannon and troops on land; and keeping up a continual cannonading until Friday evening, when the patriots surrendered. At 5 o'clock, the same afternoon, a white flag was displayed from the mill, but no attention being paid to it, it was finally fastened on the outside ; then 3 or 4 flags were sent out, and the bearers shot down as soon as seen. Immediately after the surrender, the British burnt 4 dwellings and two barns in the vicinity of the windmill. According to the account of Theller, 36 patriots were killed, 2 escaped, and 90 were made prisoners ; and of the British about 150 men were killed and 20 officers, among whom was Capt. Drummond. The patriots were commanded by Van Schoultz, a Polander, who had fought for the freedom of his native land, and witnessed her expiring agonies at ill-fated Warsaw. When driven to desperation, he opposed the offering to the enemy the flag of truce, and besought his men to rush upon the enemy and die in the contest ; but their am- munition and provisions were exhausted, and a five days' fatigue in active night and day defence had worn them out and made them indifferent to their fate. At the trials, Van Schoultz pleaded guilty and was sentenced to death, and was executed Dec. 9th, 1838, aged 31. Col. Dorephus Abbey, of Watertown, Jefferson county; Col. Martin WoodruflT, of Salina, Onondaga county, and Daniel George, and others, suffered the same fate with Van Schoultz. A number of others were finally released, while the others were sentenced to transportation, and with those in a like situation, who had been respited, after their trials, and with Messrs. John G. Parker, Watson, and others, to the number of 23, were sent to England, and from thence, in company with 11 convicted felons, were transported to Van Diemen's Land." Pakishville, settled by the enterprise of Mr. David Parish ; taken from Hopkinton in 1814; from Albany 195 miles. Pop. 2,251. Parishville, on the St. Regis river, and on the St. Lawrence and Ma- lone turnpike, 39 miles SE. from Ogdensburg, is a small village. Lime and iron abound in the vicinity. PiERREPoiNT, taken from Hopkinton in 1814; from Albany 190, from Canton centrally distant SE. 10 miles. Pierrepoint is a small post village. Pop. 1,430. PiTCAiRN is a small and thinly settled town, recently formed. Pop. 396. Potsdam wslS taken from Madrid in 1806 ; from Albany 216, cen- trally distant from Canton NE. 10 miles. Pop. 4,460. The village of Potsdam is pleasantly situated at the falls of the Racket river, and contains several churches, a flourishing academy, numbering about 150 pupils, and about 130 dwellings. The annexed engraving shows 62 490 ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY. Westei-n View of Po/sda/n. the appearance of the viHagc as entered from the west. Tlie public building on the right is the Episcopal church ; the two large edi- fices in the distance, with cupolas, arc the academy buildings, each 4 stories in height; the buildings with spires between them are respec- tively the Methodist and Presbyterian churches, and the tall spire to the left is that of the Universalist churc-h. This village was scuttled in 1803, by Benjamin Raymond, Esq., a native of Richmond, Berk- shire county, Mass. He erected mills on the west side of Racket river. The first church erected was the Congregational, in 1822. James Chad wick was the first person who died in the village. He was killed in 180.5, by the falling of a tree which he was chopping. During the late war, many left this section and vacated their farms from fear of the incursions of the British. Rossi E was taken from Russell in 1813 ; from Albany 178, from Ogdensburg centrally distant SVV. 27 miles. Pop. l,!j5S. Rossie and Somcrville are small villages in this town. The Rossie Iron Works were established in 1813. Exceedingly rich and valuable lead inines have here lately been discovered, and the reputation of the Rossie lead has now become widely spread. Rlissell, named from RusscjH Atwater, by whom it was settled in 1805 ; organii'-ed in 1807 ; from Albany 194 mihis. Russell, on the St. Lawrence turnpike and Grasse river, 12 miles S. from Canton, is a small village. Pop. 1,377. Stockholm, taken from Massena in 180(5; from Albany 227, from Ogdensburg, E., centrally distant 40 miles. Stockholm, West Stock- holm, and Southville, are names of the post-offices. Pop. 2,993. SARATOGA COUNTY. 491 SARATOGA COUNTY. Saratoga county was taken from Albany in 1791 ; greatest length N. and S. 47, and greatest breadth E. and W. 30 miles. Centrally- distant from Albany 36 miles. " Its name is supposed to be a cor- ruption of the Indian word Sah-rah-ka, or the ' side hill.' The great- er part of the lands in this tract were originally granted by the Eng- lish crown to a company of 13 individuals, by the title of the patent of Kayaderosseras. Smaller portions were included in other patents. Thus Van Schaick's, of an earlier date, included the town of Water- ford and adjacent country. The Saratoga patent embraced six miles square on the Hudson river north of Van Schaick's ; and the apple patent, located on the Mohawk, extended * three miles back into the woods,' towards Ballston Lake. The first recorded grant of lands in the Kayaderosseras patent was made in August, 1702. A good por- tion of the land is now held under a rent charge of from 15 to 20 cents an acre, derived originally from the above patent. Settlements were made in 1715 under that patent, and some probably earlier, along the Hudson, upon the patents of Van Schaick and Saratoga : but there was then none north of Fish creek, now Schuylersville, and few between that and the Mohawk. Until the conquest of Can- ada by the English, settlements were slowly made. After this, although rapidly formed, they were confined some years to the banks of the Hudson and Mohawk. The surface of the county presents a broad diversity, having the Kayaderosseras and Palmertown mountains in the northwest, and in the southeastern sandy plains, generally level, and along the Hudson and some of the smaller streams extensive tracts of rich alluvion. There are several small lakes, the largest of which are Saratoga, Ballston, or the Long Lake, Round Lake, Owl Pond, &c." This county is rich in historical incident. It has 20 towns. Pop. 40,542. Ballston, organized in 1788; from Albany 25 miles. The first settlement here was made in 1763, by two brothers of the name of McDonald. The town has its name from the Rev. Eliphalet Ball, from Bedford, Westchester county, who, with a number of his congre- gation, settled about 2h miles south of the springs. The Saratoga and Schenectady railroad runs through the town, and the Troy and Saratoga railroad enters it near the north boundary. Ballston Cen- tre, East Line, and Burnt Hills are post-offices. Pop. 2,037. Charlton, taken from Ballston in 1792; from Albany 25, from Ballston Spa SW. 8 miles. Pop. 1,937. Charlton is a small village, and West Charlton is a post-office. Clifton Park, taken from Half Moon in 1828; from Albany 15, from Ballston Spa S. 15 miles. Pop. 2,717. Willow Spring, on the Erie canal, Rexford Flats, Clifton Park, Vischer's Ferry, and Jones- ville are post-offic/es. 492 SARATOGA COUNTY. Corinth wns taken from Hadley in 1818. It is N. from Albany 44, and from Ballston Spa N. 18 miles. Corinth, formerly Jesups Landing, is a small village ; South Corinth is a post-office. The great falls of the Hudson are in this town, where there is a cataract of about 30 feet, and a rapid 1 mile above, with about the same descent. Above the falls there is a narrow place, about 12 feet wide and 20 feet long, where at low water the whole river passes through with astonishing rapidity. Pop. 1,3G5. Day, the northwestern town of the county, was originally named Concord and taken from Edinburgh and Hadley in 1819 ; from Alba- ny 60, and from Ballston Spa N"W. 35 miles. Day and West Day are post-offices. Pop. 943. Edinburgh, originally named Northfield. was taken from Providence in 1801 ; Irom Albany 50, and from Ballston Spa NW. 35 miles. Pop. 1,458. Edinburgh on the Scandanaga river is a small village. Galway was taken from Ballston in 1792 ; from Albany 30, from Ballston Spa NW. 10 miles. Pop. 2,412. Gal way's Corners and West Galway are small villages. Greenfield, taken from Saratoga and Milton in 1793 ; centrally distant from Albany 36 miles. Pop. 2,807. West Greenfield 8 N., Greenfield Centre 10 miles N. from the Spa, and Porters Corners, are small settlements. Hadley, taken from Greenfield and Northumberland in 1801 ; from Albany 57, and from the Spa N. 27 miles. Pop. 865. Hadley on the Hudson river is a small settlement. Half Moon, bounded on the E. by the Hudson, was organized in 1788 ; from Albany 15, from Ballston Spa S. 16 miles. Middletown, Half Moon, and Mechanicsville are villages ; the latter of which is noticed under Stillwater. The Champlain canal and Troy railroad run along the Hudson. Malta, taken from Stillwater in 1802 ; from Albany 25 miles. Pop. 1,459. The Troy and Ballston railroad crosses the town north- westerly. Dunning Street, 4 miles SE. from the Spa, and Maltaville, are small settlements. Milton, taken from Ballston in 1792; from Albany NNW. 30 miles. Pop. 3,149. Rock City, 6 miles NW., and Factory Village, 3 miles NW. from Ballston Spa, are small villages. The village of Ballston Spa, the seat of justice for Saratoga county, was incorporated in 1807. It is 30 miles north from Albany, 15 from Schenectady, 24 from Troy, and 7 southwest from Saratoga Springs. The village is situated in a valley surrounded by hills, upon a branch of the Kayaderosseras creek, immediately around the mineral springs in the southeast corner of the town of Milton. The village contains about 180 dwellings, 3 churches — 1 Presbyterian, 1 Baptist, and 1 Episcopal — a large courthouse of brick, and other county buildings, 2 newspaper printing offices, a number of hotels, of which the Sans Souci is the most prominent. This structure is of wood, having a front of 160 feet, and wings of 150 feet, and is three stories high. SARATOGA COUNTY. 493 View in Ballston. L " The mineral springs from which this village derives its importance and celebrity, were discovered in 1767. In 1772, Mr. Douglass erected a small log-house here for the accom- modation of visiters. During the revolutionary war settlements in this part of the country were suspended, but about 1790 Mr. Douglass, enlarged his accommodations. In 1804, Nicholas Low, Esq., raised the well-known Sans Souci hotel. In 1807, several other springs, and in 1817, four springs of difi'erent qualities, were found near the great manufac- tory built by Mr. Low. " The spring in the rear of the Sans Souci, and that in the rear of the village hotel, and the original spring at the west of the village, contain, as essentia] ingredients, the carbo- nates of soda, of lime, iron, and magnesia ; the tonic qualities of the iron, and the spark- ling and enlivening influence of the fixed air that they possess in an extraordinary degree, have a wonderful effect upon enervated, bilious, and debilitated constitutions. " The use of the mineral waters here and at Saratoga is especially beneficial in all those affections termed bilious and dyspeptic, in calculous and nephritic complaints, in chronic rheumatism, gout, in ulcers and cutaneous disorders, scrofula, in mercurial diseases and strumous affections, in recent dropsy, paralysis, chlorosis, &c." MoREAu, bounded on the E., N., and NW. by the Hudson, was ta- ken from Northumberland in 1805 ; from Albany N. 50, from Ball- ston Spa NE. 21 miles. Pop. 1,575. Moreau, Reynolds Corners, and Clarksville are small settlements. Northumberland, bounded E. by the Hudson, was taken from Sar- atoga in 1798 ; N. from Albany 40, and from Ballston Spa NE. 12 miles. Gansevoortville and Popes Corners are small settlements. Pop. 1,672. Providence, taken from Gal way in 1796 ; from Albany NW. 36, from Ballston Spa NW. 18 miles. Pop. 1,512. Hagedorns Mills, Greensboro', and Johnsboro', are small settlements. Saratoga was organized in 1788 ; distant 15 miles N. from Ball- ston Spa, and 32 from Albany. Pop. 2,624. The surface of the township is moderately uneven on the Hudson, which forms the eastern boundary ; there are some alluvial flats on the western bor- der of the town around Saratoga lake ; the soil is of a light sandy loam. Schuylerville, the principal village in the town, lies on the i 494 SARATOGA COUNTY. Champlain canal near the mouth of Fish creek, which here flows into the Hudson, and consists of about 100 dweUings, 3 churches — 1 Dutch Reformed, 1 Baptist, and 1 Methodist — and an academy, with several mills and factories. Schuyler mansion-house, Schuykrville. The above is a view of the mansion of the late Gen. Schuyler, in Schuylerville, which was built a short time after his house and mills at this place were destroyed by the army under General Burgoyne in 1777. This dwelling, the residence of George Strover, Esq., is a short distance south of the spot where Burgoyne surrendered his sword to General Gates. After the battle at Stillwater, Oct. 7th, he made an attempt to effect his retreat back to Fort Edward, but was unable to proceed any further than the mouth of Fish creek, where he was hemmed in by the American forces. The following account relative to the surrender of Burgoyne is from the 2d volume of Al- len's American Revolution : — "Previous to the action of the 7ih, General Gates, anticipating the retreat of the enemy, had ordered Brigadier General Fellows, with 1,300 men, to cross the river, and take post on the heights opposite the Saratoga ford, supposing that he might be able to reinforce him before Burgoyne could reach the place. But the retreat of the British army being earlier than he expected, and the circumstances before related preventing him from pursuing imme- diately with the main army, or sendipg off any considerable detachment. General Fellows was i>laced in a critical situation, and nothing saved his detachment from destruction or capture, but the very slow movements of Burgoyne, occasioned by a heavy rain during the night of the 8th, and the badness of the roads, which compelled him to halt at Davocote, so that he did not reach Saratoga until the morning of the 9th. By this time General Fel- lows had received orders to recross the river and endeavor to oppose their passage, which he did just as the front of the British army entered Saratoga, and in time to post himself advantageously on the opposite bank of the river. On the evening before, his camp was so entirely unguarded, that Lieutenant-colonel Southerland, who had been sent forward by Burgoyne to reconnoitre, marched around it without meeting with a sentinel, and was so strongly impressed with the conviction that he could surprise him, that he solicited per- mission to attack him with his single regiment ; and it was perhaps fortunate for General Fellows that Burgoyne refused. " In the mean time several other bodies of militia were posted, to intercept the retreat of Burgoyne, in various directions, and one detachment was ordered to march immediately to Fort Edward, and take possession before any part of Burgoyne's troops could reach iu A rain on the 10th prevented General Gates from marching until the afternoon. When the front of the army reached Saratoga, about 4 o'clock, the British were encamped on the SARATOGA COUNTY. 495 heights beyond the Fishkill, [Fish creek :] their boats lay at the mouth of the creek, and a fatigue party were at work in removing the baggage from the creek to the heights. Ge- neral Fellows with his corps were on the opposite bank of the river, with a couple of small field-pieces on the plain, playing upon the enemy's fatigue party. General Gates on his arrival posted the army in several lines on the heights, about a mile in the rear of the Fish- kill, with Colonel Morgan's corps in front. Under the idea that the enemy would retreat in the night, General Gates gave orders that the army should advance at reveillee in the morning of the 11th. A small detachment had been sent off by Burgoyne to possess them- selves af Fort Edward, but finding it occupied by the Americans, had returned to camp : the movement of this detachment had given rise to the information which deceived Gene, ral Gates, that the whole British army had moved off, leaving a small guard only in the camp to take care of the baggage and stores. Upon this intelligence it was determined to attack the camp early in the morning ; and Brigadier-generals Nixon and Glover were ordered to cross the creek with their brigades for this purpose. " Colonel Morgan advancing with his corps at daylight agreeably to orders, fell in with the enemy's picket, by whom he was fired upon, and lost a lieutenant and several privates. This induced him to suppose that the enemy had not moved as supposed, in which case his situation would be extremely critical, as the fog was so thick that nothing could be seen at the distance of twenty yards ; a winding creek was in his rear, and he was unacquainted with the grounds. In this dilemma he was met by the Deputy Adjutant-general, Colonel Wilkinson, who had been sent out by the general for the purpose of reconnoitring. Wil- kinson returned immediately to communicate this intelligence to the general, and Patter- son's and Learned's brigades, both under the command of the latter, were sent to the sup- port of Morgan. In the mean time the whole army had advanced as far as the ridge between the church and General Schuyler's house, where they halted. Generals Nixon and Glover were in advance, marching according to orders to the attack of the camp. Nixon had already crossed the creek, and Glover was preparing to follow him, when a de- serter from the enemy was observed fording the creek, from whom information was received that Burgoyne with his whole army was still in his camp. This was confirmed by the capture of a reconnoitring party of a subaltern and 35 men, by the advance guard of 50 under Captain Goodale of Putnam's regiment, who discovered them through the fog just as he reached the bank of the creek, and making a resolute charge upon them, took them without tiring a gun. The general was at this time a mile in the rear, and before this intelligence could be communicated to him, and orders received for the two brigades to desist and recross the river, the fog cleared up, and exposed to view the whole British army under arms. A heavy fire of artillery and small-arms was immediately opened upon Nix- on's brigade, which was in advance, and they retreated in considerable disorder across the creek, with a trifling loss, and resumed their position. " General Learned had in the mean time reached Morgan's corps with his two brigades, and was advancing rapidly to the attack, in obedience to a standing order which had been issued the day before, ' That in case of an attack against any point, whether front, flank or rear, the troops are to fall on the enemy at all quarters.' He had arrived within 200 yards of Burgoyne's strongest post, and in a few minutes more would have been engaged under great disadvantages, when Colonel Wilkinson reached him with intelligence that our right had given way, and that it would be prudent for him to retreat. Being without authority from the general to order it, the brave old general hesitated to obey, in opposition to the standing order, until Lieutenant-colonels Brooks and Tupper and some other officers com- ing up, a sort of council was held, and the proposition to retreat was approved. The mo- ment they turned their backs, the enemy, who had been calmly expecting their advance, opened a fire upon them which was continued until they were masked by the wood. They retreated about half a mile, with Morgan on their left, and encamped in a strong position, which they held until the surrender of the British army." On the 14th of October, Gen. Burgoyne sent Major Kingston to the head-quarters of Gen. Gates with a proposition for " a cessation of arms, during the time necessary to communicate the preliminary terms, by which in any extreinity he and the army mean to abide." Gen. Gates had already prepared- a schedule of the terms upon which he was willing to treat. This schedule evinced that he was well ac- quainted with the distresses of the British, and was drawn up in terms of extreme liberality. To the 9th article of Gen. Burgoyne's propo- ^sition, Gen. Gates affixed the following answer : 49G SARATOGA COUNTY. " ' The capitulation to be finished by 2 o'clock, this day, the 15th, and the troops march from their encampment at 5, and be in readiness to move towards Boston to-morrow morn- ing.' These prehminary articles and their answers being sent to General Burgoyne, pro- duced the immediate return of his messenger with the following note. ' The eight first preliminary articles of Lieutenant-general Burgoync's proposals, and the 2d, 3d, and 4th of those of Major-general Gates of yesterday, being agreed to, the formation of the pro- posed treaty is out of dispute, but the several subordinate articles and regulations necessa- rily springing from these preliminaries, and requiring explanations and precision, between the parties, before a definitive treaty can be safely executed, a longer time than that men- tioned by General Gates in his answer to the 9th article, becomes indispensably necessary. Lieutenant-general Burgoyne is willing to appoint two officers immediately to meet two others frona Major-general Gates to propound, discuss, and settle those subordinate articles, in order that the treaty in due form may be executed as soon as possible.' " This meeting took place on the afternoon of the 15th, and the parties mutually signed articles of capitulation, or convention, as Gen. Burgoyne wished to have it designated. A copy of the convention was to be signed by Gen. Burgoyne and delivered the next morning. The following are the articles of convention. Articles of Convention between Lieutenant-general Burgoyne and Major-general Gates. " 1st. The trot)ps under Lieutenant-general Burgoyne to march out of their camp with the honors of war, and the artillery of the entrenchments, to the verge of the river where the old fort stood, where the arms and artillery are to be left ; the arms to be piled by word of command from their own officers. "2d. A free passage to be granted to the army under Lieutenant-general Burgoyne to Great Britain, on condition of not serving again in North America during the present con- test ; and the port of Boston is assigned for the entry of transports to receive the troops, whenever General Howe shall so order. " 3d. Should any cartel take place, by v^•hich the army under General Burgoyne, or any part of it, may be exchanged, the foregoing article to be void as far as such exchange shall be made. " 4th. The army under Lieutenant-general Burgoyne, to march to Massachusetts Bay, by the easiest, most expeditious, and convenient route ; and to be quartered in, near, or as convenient as possible to Boston, that the march of the troops may not be delayed, when the transports arrive to receive them. " 5th. The troops to be supplied on their march, and during their being in quarters, with provisions, by General Gates' orders, at the same rate of rations as the troops of his own army ; and if possible the officers' horses and cattle are to be supplied with forage at the usual rates. " 6th. All officers to retain their carriages, batt-horses and other cattle, and no baggage to be molested or searched ; Lieutenant-general Burgoyne giving his honor that there are no public stores secreted therein. Major-general Gates will of course take the necessary measures for the due performance of this article. Should any carriages be wanted during the march, for the transportation of officers' baggage, they are, if possible, to be supphed by the country at the usual rates. " 7th. Upon the march, and during the time the army shall remain in quarters in Massa- chusetts Bay, the officers are not as far as circumstances will admit to be separated from their men. The officers are to be quartered according to rank, and are not to be hindered from assembling their men for roll-call and other necessary purposes of regularity. " 8th. All corps whatever of General Burgoyne's army, whether composed of sailors, batteauxmen, artificers, drivers, independent companies, and followers of the army, of whatever country, shall be included in the fullest sense and utmost extent in the above ar- ticles, and comprehended in every respect as British subjects. "9th. All Canadians, and persons belonging to the Canadian establishment, consisting of sailors, batteauxmen, artificers, drivers, independent companies, and many other follow, ers of the army, who come under no particular description, are to be permitted to return there ; they are to be conducted immediately by the shortest route to the first British post on Lake George, are to be supplied with provisions in the same manner as the other troops, and are to be bound by the same condition of not serving during the present contest in North America. " 10th. Passports to be immediately granted for three officers not exceeding the rank o^ captains, who shall be appointed by Lieutenant-general Burgoyne, to carry despatches to SARATOGA COUNTY. 497 Sir William Howe, Sir Guy Carleton, and to Great Britain, by the way of New York ; and Major-general Gates engages the public faith, that these despatches shall not be opened. These officers are to set out immediately after receiving their despatches, and are to travel the shortest route, and in the most expeditious manner. " 11th. During the stay of the troops in Massachusetts Bay, the officers are to be ad- mitted on parole, and are to be allowed to wear their side-arms. " 12. Should the army under Lieutenant-general Burgoyne find it necessary to send for their clothing and other baggage to Canada, they are to be permitted to do it in the most convenient manner, and the necessary passports granted for that purpose. " 13. These articles are to be mutually signed and exchanged to-morrow morning, at 9 o'clock, and the troops under Lieutenant-general Burgoyne are to march out of their entrench- ments at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. (Signed) " Horatio Gates, Major-general. " Saratoga, Oct. 16th, 1777. (^'&"^<^^ " ^' Burgoyne, Lieutenant-general. " To prevent any doubts that might arise from Lieutenant-general Burgoyne's name not being mentioned in the above treaty, Major-general Gates hereby declares, that he is un- derstood to be comprehended in it, as fully as if his name had been specifically mentioned. " Horatio Gates." " The brass artillery captured fi-om Burgoyne at various times during the campaign, amounted to 42 pieces, constituting one of the most elegant trains ever brought into the field ; 5,000 stand of arms, 6,000 dozen of cartridges ; and a number of ammunition wagons, travelling forges, shot, carcasses, shells, &c., also fell into the hands of the Americans. The whole number of troops surrendered by the convention amounted to 5,763, which added to the number killed, wounded, and captured, in the several actions previous to the 17th October, amounting to near 5,000, makes Burgoyne's total loss of upwards of ten thousand men. " On the morning of the 17th the troops of Burgoyne were marched out of their camp to the plain near the river, where their arms were deposited ; and the victorious Americans took possession of their lines." The annexed cut is a copy of the signature of General Burgoyne, attached to the articles of the convention now in possession of the New York Historical So- ciety. Facsimile of Oen. Burgoyne's sigruiture. General Wilkinson's account of the interview between Gates and Burgoyne on the field of surrender is interesting. " Early in the morning of the 17th, I visited General Burgoyne in his camp, and accom. panied him to the ground, where his army was to lay down their arms, from whence we rode to the bank of the Hudson river, which he surveyed with attention, and asked me whether it was not fordable. ' Certainly, sir ; but do you observe the people on the oppo- site^hore ?' ' Yes,' replied he, ' I have seen them too long.' He then proposed to be in- troduced to General Gates, and we crossed the Fishkill, and proceeded to head-quarters, General Burgoyne in front, with his adjutant-general Kingston, and his aids-de-camp Cap- tain Lord Petersham, and Lieutenant Wilford behind him ; then followed Major-general Philips, the Baron Reidesel, and the other general officers, and their suites, according to rank. General Gates, advised of Burgoyne's approach, met him at the head of his camp, Burgoyne in a rich royal uniform, and Gates in a plain blue frock ; when they had ap- proached nearly within sword's length, they reined up, and hahed. I then named the gen- tlemen, and General Burgoyne, raising his hat most gracefully, said ' The formne of war, General Gates, has made me your prisoner ;' to which the conqueror, returning a courtly salute, promptly repUed, ' I shall always be ready to bear testimony, that it has not been through any fault of your excellency.' Major-general Phillips then advanced, and he and General Gates saluted, and shook hands with the familiarity of old acquaintances. The Baron Reidesel, and the other officers, were introduced in their turn." 63 .ito> 498 SARATOGA COUNTY. " Gen. Philip Schuyler was born at Albany in 1731, of an ancient and respectable family. When quite young he became a mem- ber of the New York legislature, and was eminent for his intelU- gence and usefulness. To him Facsimile of Philip Schuyler's signature. and Governor Clinton it was chiefly owing that the province made an early and decided resistance to those British mea- sures which terminated in the independence of the colonies. When the revolution com- menced, he was appointed, June 19, 1775, a major-general, and was directed to proceed immediately from New York to Ticonderoga, to secure the lakes, and make preparations for entering Canada. Being taken sick in September, the command devolved upon Mont- gomery. On his recovery, he devoted himself zealously to the management of the alfairs in the northern departments. He gave much attention to the superintendence of the Indian concerns. On the approach of Burgoyne, in 1777, he made every exertion to obstruct his progress ; but the evacuation of Ticonderoga by St. Clair, occasioning unreasonable jealousies in regard to Schuyler, in New England, he was superseded by Gen. Gates in August ; and an inquiry was directed by congress to be made into his conduct. He was afterward, though not in the regular service, very useful to his country in the military transactions of New York. He was a member of the old congress ; and when the present government of the United States commenced its operation in 1789, he was appointed a senator in the national legislature. He was chosen a second time in 1797, to the same station. In the senate of New York, he contributed probably more than any other man to the code of laws adopted by the state. He died at his seat near Albany, Nov. 18, 1804, in the 73d year of his age. He possessed great strength of mind and purity of intention. In the con- trivance of plans of public utility, he was wise and circumspect, and in their execution, enterprising and persevering. In his deportment he was dignified and courteous. He was a pleasant and instructive companion, and in all the functions of private Ufe was highly ex- emplary." — Encyclopedia Americana. View in the village of Saratoga Springs. Saratoga Springs was taken from Saratoga in 1819. Pop. 2,624. The village of Saratoga Springs is 181 miles from New York, 36^ from Albany, and 6^ from Ballston Spa. It is located in a fertile country, and contains 6 churches, several literary institutions, and about 2,000 inhabitants. The above engraving was taken from SARATOGA COUNTY. 499 near the circular railway, and exhibits the principal portion of the village, with a view of the elegant Grecian colonnade erected over the Congress spring, seen near the centre of the picture. This place de- rives its attractions from its medicinal springs. These are situated on the margin of a vale, bordering the village on the east, and are the continuation of a chain of springs discovering themselves about 12 miles to the south, in the town of Ballston. The springs in this vicinity are 18 or 20 in number, the principal of which are the Con- gress, the Iodine or Walton, Putnam's, Congress, the Monroe, the Hamilton, the Flat Rock, the High Rock, the Columbian, and the Washington. A new spring has lately been discovered, whose waters are gaining high favor with the public, and are said to be beneficial in consumption. The hotels in this place are numerous, and some of them truly elegant, built in good taste, with spacious piazzas, and yards ornamented with shrubbery. The facility with which it is visited, by railroads from Albany and Troy, with other thoroughfares, together with the numerous attractions of the place, has rendered Saratoga the summer resort of thousands from all parts of our wide-spread country. JVestern view of the battle-ground, Stillwater'. Stillwater wsls organized in 1788. It is centrally situated from Albany 22 miles. The general surface is level, and the river hills of a moderate height. Pop. 2,733. The village of Mechanics- ville is situated on a section of land between Hudson river and the canal. It consists of about 50 or 60 dwellings, partly in this, and partly in the town of Half Moon, 2 or more churches, several mills and factories on Anthony's kill, which forms the southern boundary of the town. Stillwater is a small village on the canal, about 4 miles above Mechanicsville. This town is distinguished in history as being the battle-ground of the armies of Gens. Gates and Burgoyne in 1777. The above shows the appearance of the battle-ground on Free- man's farm, as seen from near the front of Mr. J. Walker's house, 2^ miles from Pattison's tavern, and about 2 miles from Hudson river. 500 SARATOGA COUNTY. Freeman's house stood a few feet south of the southernmost building seen in the engraving ; the hne of trees or woods seen behind the buildings is the spot where Burgoyne formed his hne on the brow of the elevated plain previous to the battle of Sept. 19th; Willard's mountain on the east side of the Hudson is seen in the distance. About 15 rods south from Mr, Walker's house, in what then was called a meadow, is the spot where Gen. Frazer was mortally wounded ; it is a little west of a road running N. and S. which has since been made near this place. About 60 rods in a SW. direction was the hottest of the fight, on the 7th of October. Near the place where Frazer fell, a hole or grave was dug, into which the bodies of 40 soldiers were thrown, after being stripped of their clothing by the women of the camp. Maj. Ackland was wounded a little east of the present road. The following account of the battles is drawn from various sources. " The army arrived at Stillwater on the 9th of September, fully determined to face the foe, and if necessary pursue him into his own confines. This was at first supposed to be an eligible position for throwing up a line of intrenchments, and a large party under the engineer Kosciusko were accordingly set to work for that purpose. But upon a more nar- row inspection of the grounds, the general determined to change his position, and occupy Bemus's heights, which were taken possession of and fortified on the 12ih. Burgoyne at this time lay opposite to Saratoga, occupying old Fort Miller and Battenkill ; but what were his further intentions. Gen. Gates had no means of judging. In this situation the deputy adjutant-general, Col. James Wilkinson, volunteered to head a select reconnoitring party, and obtain if possible the desired information. He left the camp with 170 men, under cover of a dark night, and arrived by daylight at Davocote, about two miles from Saratoga. Here he posted the greater part of his men in a wood near the road, and proceeded himself to the heights of Fish, creek ; from which position he discovered a column of the enemy drawn up under arms, on the opposite bank of the creek, within 300 yards of him, and another column under march, descending the heights below Battenkill. Being satisfied from these circumstances that Gen. Burgoyne was advancing, Col. Wilkinson returned to camp with his party, bringing with him three prisoners, who confirmed the intelligence. " On the 15th, Gen. Burgoyne having crossed the river some days before, had advanced as far as Davocote, where he halted 24 hours for the purpose of repairing the bridges and roads in his advance, for the more convenient march of his army. On the 18th, Gen. Ar. nold was sent out with 1,500 men, to harass and impede him, but returned without accom- plishing any thing; Burgoyne continuing his march until he had arrived within 2 miles of Gen. Gates's camp. Here he encamped in a line extending from the river to a range of hills 600 yards distant, and upon which were posted the elite of his army. The position occupied by Gen. Gates, as described by an eye-witness, and one who knew it well, was as follows : — ' His right occupied the brow of the hill near the river, with which it was con- nected by a deep intrenchment ; his camp in the form of a segment of a great circle, the convex towards the enemy, extended rather obliquely to his rear, about three-fourths of a mile to a knoll occupied by his left ; his front was covered from the right to the left of his centre, by a sharp ravine running parallel with his line, and closely wooded ; from thence to the knoll at his extreme left, the ground was level and had been partially cleared, some of the trees being felled, and others girdled ; beyond which, in front of his left flank, and extending to the enemy's right, there were several small fields in very imperfect cultivation, the surface broken and obstructed with stumps and fallen timber, and the whole bounded on the west by a steep eminence. The extremities of this camp were defended by strong batteries, and the interval was strengthened by a breastwork without intrenchments, con- structed of the bodies of felled trees, logs and rails, with an additional battery at an open- ing left of the centre. The right was almost impracticable ; the left difficult of approach.' " — Allen's Rev. While in this position, the battle of the 19th Sept. took ploce ; the following account of which is from Gen. Wilkinson's Memoirs. " This battle was perfectly accidental ; neither of the generals meditated an attack at the time, and but for Lieut. Col. Colburn's report, it would not have taken place ; Bur- SARATOGA COUNTY. 501 goyne's movement being merely to take ground on the heights in front of the great ravine, to give his several corps their proper places in line, to embrace our front and cover his transport, stores, provisions, and baggage, in the rear of his left ; and on our side, the de- fences of our camp being not half completed, and reinforcements daily arriving, it was not Gen. Gates's policy to court an action. The misconception of the adverse chiefs put them on the defensive, and confined them to the ground they casually occupied at the beginning of the action, and prevented a single manoeuvre, during one of the longest, warmest, and most obstinate battles fought in America. " The theatre of action was such, that although the combatants changed ground a dozen times in the course of the day, the contest terminated on the spot where it began. The British line was formed on an eminence in a thin pine wood, having before it Freeman's farm, an oblong field, stretching from its centre towards its right, the ground in front sloping gently down to the verge of this field, which was bordered on the opposite side by a close wood. The sanguinary scene lay in the cleared ground, between the eminence occupied by the enemy, and the wood just described. The fire of our marksmen from this wood was loo deadly to be withstood by the enemy in line, and when they gave way and broke, our men, rushing from their covert, pursued them to the eminence, where, having their flanks protected, they rallied, and, charging in turn, drove us back into the wood, from whence a dreadful fire would again force them to fall back ; and in this manner did the battle fluctuate, like the waves of a stormy sea, with alternate advantage for four hours, without one moment's intermission. The British artillery fell into our possession at every charge, but we could neither turn the pieces upon the enemy, nor bring them oflT; the wood prevented the last, and the want of a match the first, as the linstock was invariably carried off", and the rapidity of the transitions did not allow us time to provide one. The slaughter of this brigade of artillerists was remarkable, the captain and 36 men being killed or wounded out of 48. It was truly a gallant conflict, in which death by familiarity lost his terrors, and certainly a drawn battle, as night alone terminated it ; the British army keeping its ground in rear of the field of action, and our corps, when they could no longer distinguish objects, retiring to their own camp." From the period this battle was fought, (Sept. 19th,) to October 7th, the time was spent by Gen. Bm-goyne in strengthening his posi- tion, and by Gen. Gates in collecting reinforcements. Gen. Bur- goyne is said to have planned an attack on the 20th and 21st of September, but fortunately it was delayed until the Americans were in the best situation to oppose him. Attacks on the British piquets took place almost every evening, and they were continually harassed. The following is Gen. Wilkinson's account of the battle of Oct. 7th. " On the afternoon of October 7th, the advanced guard of the centre beat to arms ; the alarm was repeated throughout the line, and the troops repaired to their alarm posts. I was at head-quarters when this happened, and with the approbation of the general, mounted my horse to inquire the cause ; but on reaching the guard where the beat commenced, I could obtain no other satisfaction, but that some person had reported the enemy to be advancing against our left. I proceeded, over open ground, and ascending a gentle acclivity in front of the guard, I perceived, about half a mile from the line of our encampment, several col- umns of the enemy, 60 or 70 rods from me, entering a wheat field which had not been cut, and was separated from me by a small rivulet ; and without my glass I could distinctly mark their every movement. After entering the field they displayed, formed the line, and set down in double ranks with their arms between their legs. Foragers then proceeded to cut the wheat or standing straw, and I soon after observed several officers mounted on the top of a cabin, from whence with their glasses they were endeavoring to reconnoitre our left, which was concealed from their view by intervening woods. " Having satisfied myself, after fifteen minutes attentive observation, that no attack was meditated, I returned and reported to the general, who asked me what appeared to be the intentions of the enemy. ' They are foraging, and endeavoring to reconnoitre your left ; and I think, sir, they offer you battle.' ' What is the nature of the ground, and what your opinion ?' ' Tlieir front is open, and their flanks rest on the woods, under cover of which they may be attacked ; their right is skirted by a lofty height. I would indulge them.' ' Well, then, order on Morgan to begin the game.' I waited on the colonel, whose corps was formed in front of our centre, and delivered the order ; he knew the ground and in- quired the position of the enemy ; they were formed across a newly cultivated field, their 502 SARATOGA COUNTY. grenadiers with several field-pieces on the left, bordering on a wood and a small ravine formed by the rivulet before alluded to ; their light infantry on the right, covered by a worm fence at the foot of the hill before mentioned, thickly covered with wood ; their centre composed of British and German battalions. Col. Morgan, with his usual sagacity, pro. posed to make a circuit with his corps by our left, and under cover of the wood to gain the height on the right of the enemy, and from thence commence the attack, so soon as our fire should be opened against their left; the plan was the best which could be devised, and no doubt contributed essentially to the prompt and decisive victory we gained. " This proposition was approved by the general, and it was concerted that time should be allowed the colonel to make the proposed circuit, and gain his station on the enemy's right before the attack should be made on their left ; Poor's brigade was ordered for this service, and the attack was commenced in due season on the flank and front of the British grena- diers, by the New Hampshire and New York troops. True to his purpose, Morgan at this critical moment poured down like a toiTent from the hill, and attacked the right of the en- emy in front and flank. Dearborn, at the moment when the enemy's hght infantry were attempting to change front, pressed forward with ardor, and delivered a close fii'e ; then leaped the fence, shouted, charged, and gallantly forced them to retire in disorder ; yet, headed by that intrepid soldier, the Earl of Balcarras, they were immediately rallied, and re-formed behind a fence in rear of their first position ; but being now attacked with great audacity, in front and flanks, by superior numbers, resistance became vain, and the whole line, commanded by Burgoyne in person, gave way, and made a precipitate and disorderly retreat to his camp, leaving two twelve and six six pounders on the field, with the loss of more than 400 officers and men, killed, wounded and captured, and among them the flow, er of his oflircers — viz, brigadier-general Frazer; Major Ackland, commanding the grenadiers ; Sir Francis Clark, his first aid-de-camp ; Major Williams, commanding officer of the artil. iery ; Captain Mooney, deputy quartermaster-general, and many others. After deliver- ing the order to General Poor, and directing him to the point of attack, I was peremptorily commanded to repair to the rear, and order up Ten Broeck's regiment of New York mili- tia, 3000 strong. I performed this service, and regained the field of battle at the moment the enemy had turned their backs — 52 minutes after the first shot was fired. The ground which had been occupied by the British grenadiers, presented a scene of complicated hor- ror and exultation. In the square space of twelve or fifteen yards lay eighteen grenadiers in the agonies of death, and three officers propped up against stumps of trees, two of them mortally wounded, bleeding and almost speechless. What a spectacle for one whose bo- som glowed with philanthropy ; and how vehement the impulse which excites men of sen- sibility to seek such scenes of barbarism ! I found the courageous Colonel Cilley a-strad- dle on a brass twelve pounder, and exulting in the capture ; whilst a surgeon, a man of great worth, who was dressing one of the officers, raising his blood-besmeared hands in the phrenzy of patriotism, exclaimed, ' Wilkinson, I have dipped my hands in British blood.' He received a sharp rebuke for his brutality ; and with the troops I pursued the hard press- ed flying enemy, passing over killed and wounded, until I heard one exclaim, ' Protect me, sir, against this boy.' Turning my eyes, it was my fortune to arrest the purpose of a lad thirteen or fourteen years old, in the act of taking aim at the wounded officer, who lay in the angle of a worm fence. Inquiring his rank, he answered, ' I had the honor to com- mand the grenadiers.' Of course, I knew him to be Major Ackland, who had been brought from the field to this place, on the back of Captain Shrimpton, of his own corps, under a heavy fire, and was here deposited, to save the lives of both. I dismounted, look him by the hand, and expressed my hopes that he was not badly wounded. ' Not badly,' replied this gallant officer and accomplished gentleman, ' but very inconveniently. I am shot through both legs. Will you, sir, have the goodness to have me conveyed to your camp ?' I directed my servant to alight, and we lifted Ackland into his seat, and ordered him to be conducted to head-quarters. I then proceeded to the scene of renewed action, which em- braced Burgoyne's right flank defence, and extending to his left, crossed a hollow covered with wood, about 40 rods, to the intrenchment of the light infantry. The roar of cannon and small-arms, at this juncture, was sublime, between the enemy, behind their works, and our troops entirely exposed, or partially sheltered by trees, stumps, or hollows, at various distances, not exceeding 120 yards. This right flank defence of the enemy, occupied by the German corps of Breyman, consisted of a breastwork of rails piled horizontally be- tween perpendicular pickets, driven into the earth, en potence to the rest of his line, and extended about 250 yards across an open field, and was covered on the right by a battery of two guns. The interval from the left to the British light infantry, was committed to the defence of the provincialists, who occupied a couple of log cabins. The Germans were encamped immediately behind the rail breastwork, and the ground in front of it declined, in a^ery gentle slope, for about 120 yards, when it sunk abruptly. Our troops had formed SARATOGA COUNTY. 503 a line under this declivity, and covered breast high, were warmly engaged with the Ger. mans. From this position, about sunset, I perceived Brigadier-general Learned advancing towards the enemy with his brigade, in open column, I think, with Col. M. Jackson's regi- ment in front, as I saw Lieutenant-colonel Brooks, who commanded it, near the general when I rode up to him. On saluting this brave old soldier, he inquired, ' Where can I put in with most advantage ?' I had particularly examined the ground between the left of the Germans and the light infantry, occupied by the provincialists, from whence I had observed a slack fire. I therefore recommended to General Learned to incline to his right, and at- tack at that point. He did so, with great gallantry ; the provincialists abandoned their po- sition and fled. The German flank was, by this means, left uncovered. They were as- saulted vigorously, overturned in five minutes, and retreated in disorder, leaving their gal- lant commander, Lieutenant-colonel Breyman, dead on the field. By dislodging this corps, the whole British encampment was laid open to us ; but the extreme darkness of the night, the fatigue of the men, and disorder incident to undisciplined troops, after so desultory an action, put it out of our power to improve the advantage ; and in the course of the night, General Burgoyne broke up his camp, and retired to his original position, which he had for- tified, behind the great ravine." The following is from Allen's American Revolution : — " The British lost in this action upwards of 400 killed, wounded, and prisoners, among whom were several of their most distinguished officers. Brigadier-general Frazer, and Lieutenant-colonel Breyman, who commanded the Germans, were both mortally wounded. Major Ackland, Sir Francis Clark, first aid-de-camp. Major Williams, who commanded the artillery, and the deputy quarter.master-general, Captain Money, were among the prisoners. Lieutenant-colonel Brooks, of General Learned's brigade, who commanded Jackson's regi- ment on this day, led his men into action with great spirit against the German grenadiers, who were posted behind a rail breastwork — the stockades were carried at the point of the bayonet, and the Germans forced to retreat. They were followed to their encampment, and again forced to fly, leaving their whole equipage to fall into the hands of the Ameri- cans. The Brunswickers showed great cowaraice in the action, having fled before a man of them was killed or wounded. Besides their killed, wounded, and captured, the British lost eight brass field-pieces, a number of carts and tents, and a considerable quantity of baggage. Burgoyne himself narrowly escaped death, one shot having passed through his hat, and another through his waistcoat. He was on the field during the whole of the ac- tion, directing every movement ; but neither gallantry nor skill could effect any thing agamst such a superiority of force. General Gates remained in camp during the whole ac- tion, that he might be the better enabled to order and regulate the various movements, as circumstances should require. " The loss of the Americans did not exceed eighty men, killed and wounded. General Arnold was among the latter; who, though he had not been reinstated in his command since the dispute with General Gates, before mentioned, rode about the field giving orders in every direction, sometimes in direct contradiction to those of the commander, at others leading a platoon in person, and exposing himself to the hottest fire of the enemy. There seems to be httle doubt, from the conduct of Arnold during the action, that he was in a state of intoxication. The mortifying situation in which he found himself at its commence- ment, without command or authority, sufficiently accounts for any extravagance in a spirit like his. At one time he dashed through two opposing lines, exposing himself to the fire of both sides, but miraculously escaped unhurt : at another time, placing himself at the head of a small platoon of Morgan's riflemen, he led them around into the rear of the en- emy, at the moment they turned to retreat, under the hottest fire of the Americans. In this situation, his horse was killed under him, and his leg was broken. It would be doing injustice to General Arnold, traitor as he afterward proved, to deny that he deserved some credit on this day ; but though he was brave almost beyond parallel, he was rash, impetu- ous and headstrong, and when it is considered, that these faults of his natural temper were aggravated and heightened by the peculiar circumstances of his situation, it will not per- haps be wrong to say, that he could not have rendered any very essential services to the American army, in this important contest. " On the night of the battle. General Burgoyne deemed it prudent to change his posi- tion ; for the Americans had followed them to within half a mile of their encampment, and continued to cannonade them without ceasing. He determined therefore to abandon his camp and move to the high grounds, which he effected in good order and without loss. On the morning of the 8th the American army moved forward and took possession of his abandoned camp, from which they kept up a random fire of artillery and small-arms dur- 504 SAUATOGA COUNTV. ing the whole day. Burgoyne's troops were all day under arms in expectation of another attack, and indicating by their movements that they intended a still further retreat. In the occasional skirmishes of the day, General Lincoln was shot in the leg by some of the en- emy's marksmen." House in which General Frazer died, Stillwater. The annexed is a northeastern view of the house on the bank of the Hudson in Stillwater, in which General Frazer died.* This house was originally one story in height, and formerly stood about 25 rods westward of its present situation, at the foot of the hill north of the canal bridge seen in the rear of the house. It has since re- ceived an addition at both ends ; the general expired near the first window to the right of the door. Beyond the bridge in the distance is seen an elevation about 100 feet in height. This spot is rendered in- teresting on account of its being the burial place of General Frazer. The gravef was between the two pine trees seen on the summit. Du- ring the last battle, the Americans had a few cannon on the rising ground above the eastern shore, from which shots were fired. This house appears to have been for a time the head-quarters of Burgoyne. Several ladies of distinction were also inmates at the time when the British troops were here, being the wives of some of the principal oflScers. The following is an extract from one of the letters of the Baroness Reidesel, originally published in Germany : — "But severe trials awaited us, and on the 7th of October, our misfortunes began. I was at breakfast with my husband, and heard that something was intended. On the same day I expected Generals Burgoyne, Phillips, and Frazer to dine with us. I saw a great move- ment among the troops ; my husband told me, it was merely a reconnoissance, which gave me no concern, as it often happened. I walked out of the house and met several Indians in their war dresses, with guns in their hands. When I asked them where they were go. * The following are the circumstances of his death : In the midst of the sanguinary battle of Oct. 7th, Colonel Morgan took a few of his choice riflemen aside and said, " That gallant officer is General Frazer ; / admire and respect him, but it is necessary that he should die ; take your stations in that wood, and do your duty." Within a few moments Gen. Frazer fell mortally wounded. He was supported by two officers, till he reached hi« tent ; he said he saw the man who shot him, that he was a rifleman posted in a tree. t His remains were taken up some years since, and conveyed to England. SARATOGA COUNTY. 505 ing, they cried out, 'War! War!' (meaning tliey were going to bottle.) This filled me witli apprehension, and I scarcely got home before I lieard reports of cannon and musketry, which grew louder by degrees, till at last the noise became excessive. About four o'clock in the afternoon, instead of the guests whom I expected, General Frazer was brought on a litter mortally wounded. The table, which was already set, was instantly removed and a bed placed in its stead for the wounded general. I sat trembling in a corner ; the noise grew louder, and the alarm increased ; the thought that my husband might perhaps be brought in, wounded in the same way, was terrible to me, and distressed me exceedingly. General Frazer said to the surgeon, ' Tell me if my wound is mortal ; do not flatter me.' The ball had passed through his body, and unhappily for the general, he had eaten a very hearty breakfast, by which the stomach was distended, and the ball, as the surgeon said, had passed through it. I heard him often exclaim with a sigh, ' Oh, fatal ambition ! Poor General Burgoyne ! Oh, my poor wife !' He was asked if he had any request to make, to which he replied, that ' If General Burgoyne would permit it, he should like to be buried at six o'clock in the evening on the top of a mountain, in a redoubt which had been built there.' I did not know which way to turn, all the other rooms were full of sick. To- wards evening I saw my husband coming ; then I forgot all my sorrows, and thanked God that he was spared to me. He ate in great haste with me and his aid-de-camp behind the house. We had been told that we had the advantage of the enemy, but the soiTowful fa. ces I beheld told a different tale, and before my husband went away, he took me one side, and said every thing was going very bad, that I must keep myself in readiness to leave the place, but not to mention it to any one. I made the pretence that I would move the next morning into my new house, and had every thing packed up ready. " Lady H. Ackland had a tent not far from our house ; in this she slept, and the rest of the day she was in the camp. All of a sudden, a man came to tell her that her husband was mortally wounded and taken prisoner ; on hearing this she became very miserable ; we comforted her by telling her that the wound was only slight, and at the same time ad. vised her to go over to her husband, to do vi-hich she would certainly obtain permission, and then she could attend him herself; she was a charming woman, and very fond of him. I spent much of the night in comforting her, and then went again to my children, whom I had put to bed. I could not go to sleep, as I had General Frazer and all the other wound- ed gentlemen in my room, and I was sadly afraid my children would awake, and by their crying disturb the dying man in his last moments, who often addressed me, and apologized *for the trouble he gave me.'' About 3 o'clock in the morning I was told he could not hold out much longer ; I had desired to be informed of the near approach of this sad crisis, and I then wrapped up my children in their clothes, and went with them into the room below. About 8 o'clock in the morning he died. After he was laid out and his corpse wrapped up in a sheet, we came again into the room, and had this sorrowful sight before us the whole day ; and to add to this melancholy scene, almost every moment some officer of my ac- quaintance was brought in wounded. The cannonade commenced again ; a retreat was spoken of, but not the smallest motion was made towards it. About 4 o'clock in the after, noon I saw the house which had just been built for me in flames, and the enemy was now not far off. We knew that General Burgoyne would not refuse the last request of General Frazer, though by his acceding to it, an unnecessary delay was occasioned, by which the inconvenience of the army was much increased. At 6 o'clock the corpse was brought out, and we saw all the generals attend it to the mountain ; the chaplain, Mr. Brundell, per- formed the funeral service, rendered unusually solemn and awful, from its being accom. panied by constant peals from the enemy's artillery. Many cannon balls flew close by me; but I had my eyes directed towards the mountain, where my husband was standing amid the fire of the enemy, and of course, I could not think of my own danger. General Gates afterward said, that if he had known it had been a funeral, he would not have permitted it to be fired on." Lady Harriet Ackland went to the American camp after the action, to take care of her husband, before the surrender, and the Baroness Reidesel afterward. They were both received with the greatest kindness and delicacy. Waterford was taken from Half Moon in 1816. The village of Waterford, containing a population of about 1,600, is pleasantly situ- ated at the junction of the Mohawk with the Hudson, 10 miles north of Albany. The annexed view was taken on the road to Cahoos Falls, about a mile west of the village. There are here 4 churches — viz, 1 Presbyterian, 1 Methodist, 1 Episcopal, and 1 Dutch Reformed — an academy, and a bank. It is favorably located for trade, being on 64 506 SCHENECTADY COUNT V. TVestern view of Waterford.* the lines of the Champlain canal and Rensselaer and Saratoga rail road. It also derives considerable importance from the navigation of small vessels on the Hudson. There is an outlet here from the canal by three locks, each 11 feet, to the Mohawk river. The agri- cultural and manufactured products exported from the village an- nually, amount to about a million of dollars. The water-power used in the large manufacturing establishments at this place is derived from the Mohawk. Pop. 1,824. Wilton was taken from Northumberland in 1818. Pop. 1,438. Fortville, 19 miles NW. from Ballston Spa, and Wilton 15, are small settlements. SCHENECTADY COUNTY. Schenectady COUNTY was taken from Albany in 1809; centrally distant from New York 163, from Albany 18 miles. Greatest length 25, greatest breadth 20 miles. The surface is much diversified by hills, plains, and valleys. The soil along the Mohawk and other streams is generally rich alluvion ; on the hills, light sandy loam, sometimes fertile ; and on the plains, clay and clayey loam, and sand, sometimes barren. Wherever practicable the country is generally well cultivated, chiefly by descendants of the primitive Dutch settlers, among whom are many wealthy farmers. The Mohawk river runs SE. through the county. The Schoharie kill, on the W., aflfords abundance of mill power. The Mohawk and Hudson, the Rensse- * Since the drawing for the above engraving was taken, and while this work was in press, a destructive fire broke out and destroyed a large portion of this flourishing village. SCHENECTADY COUNTY. 507 laer and Saratoga, and the Utica and Schenectady railroads, and Erie canal, cross this county. The county is divided into five towns and the city of Schenectady. Pop. 17,233. DuANESBURG was taken from Schenectady in 1801. Pop. 3,338. Duanesburg is a small village, 12 miles SW. from Schenectady. Ea- ton's Corners, Mariahville, and Quakers Street, are post-offices. Glenville originally formed the fourth ward of Schenectady, from which it was taken April 14, 1820. Pop. 3,068. It derives its name from the Glen family, who were early and large proprieters. It is centrally distant 5 miles from Schenectady. Glenville Church village, 9 miles from the city, contains a Dutch Reformed church and 6 or 8 dwellings. Scotia village lies on Sander's lake, about half a mile from Schenectady : it contains a Dutch Reformed church and about 30 dwellings. Scotia, the ancient name of Scotland, was the name given by its first settler. This tract commences at a point nearly opposite the eastern extremity of the city, and extends westerly along the north side of the Mohawk about two miles. The first patent conveying it was granted Nov. 3, 1665, by Governor Richard Nichols to Sanders Lendertse Glen, (Anglice, Alexander Lindsay Glen.) Mr. Glen was an immediate descendant of the Earl of Craw, ford and Lindsay, whose family had been on the peerage roll since 1399. Mr. Glen took to wife Catharine McDonald, the daughter of a Highland chieftain. He left Scotland ia the year 1645, to avoid persecution in consequence of the stand he had taken in reference to certain religious disputes which then agitated the country. He sided with the imfortu- nate Charles the First, who vainly strove to introduce the English liturgy into Scotland. Mr. Glen first emigrated into Holland, and engaged in mercantile pursuits for a number of years. He finally came to New York in company with a number of Dutch families. Here, and in Albany and Schenectady, he resided for a number of years. Some time previous to 1690, he moved to Scotia. The country seat of Mr. Glen is still owned by his descendants, the Sanders family. Although it bears the advanced age of 123 years, it bids fair to outlive many of the flimsy structures which characterize the American architecture of the present century. The iron figures showing the date of its erection, (1713,) are still to be seen. During the French wars it was rendered defensible. At the foot of a small hillock, a few yards east of the mansion, tradition points to a spot where the Mohawks occasionally performed their sac- rifices. In the beginning of July, 1748, during the French and Indian war, a farmer named Daniel Toll, residing at Maulwyck, now Glenville, went in company with a favorite colored servant in search of some stray horses, at Boekendal, three miles from Schenectady. They soon heard, as they supposed, the trampling of horses, but on a nearer approach the sounds they mistook for that of horses' hoofs on the clayey ground proceeded from quoits with which some Indians were playing. Mr. Toll discovered his error too late, and fell pierced with the bullets of the savages. His servant escaped into Schenectady, and conveyed the news of the death of his master and the presence of the enemy. In less than an hour about 60 young men, the very elite of the city, were on their march as volunteers to the scene of action. Such was their zeal that they would not wait until the authorities had called out the miUtia, which they proposed to do in the afternoon of the day. Among the number, was a youth about twelve years of age, named Abraham Swits, whom they could not prevail upon without difficulty to return home. Without discipline or experience, and without a leader, they hastened to the Indian camp. Those in advance of the main body welre attracted by a singular sight. They saw a man resembling Mr. Toll, sitting near a fence, in an adjoining field, and a crow flying up and down before him. On coming nearer they discovered it to be the corpse of Mr. Toll, with a crow attached to it by a string. This proved to be a stratagem of the Indians to decoy their adversaries. The young men too readily fell into the snare, and were in a few moments surrounded by the Indians who had been laying in ambush. Their terrible war-cry was shouted, " And rapid, rapid whoops, came o'er the plain." Thus surprised, many were killed, and several taken prisoners ere they could make good their retreat. They however succeeded in reaching the dwelling of a Mr. De Grafl", in the 508 SCHENECTADY COUNTY. neighborhood, which had been deserted for some time. While retreating, they continued firing upon the enemy. On leaching the house, they bolted the doors, and ascended to the second story. Here they tore off all the boards near the eaves, and through the opening thus made, succeeded in firing upon the savages with success and keeping them at bay. In the mean time, one of the prisoners, Derick. Vorst, who had been left in the charge of two young Indians, effected his escape. The two youngsters were anxious to see the fight, and secured their prisoner (as they thought) by tying him to a tree ; and then leaving him alone, he effected his escape by cutting the cord with his penknife. On the approach of the militia under Gen. Jacob Glen, the party were relieved from their perilous situation and the enemy retreated into Canada. The corpses of the killed, thirty-two in number, were brought into Schenectady on the evening of the massacre, and deposited in the large barn of Abraham Mabee, being the identical one now on the premises of John Walton, Esq., in church-street. The relatives of the deceased repaired thither to claim their departed kindred, and remove them for interment. " Touched by the melting scene, no tearless eye was there; All eyes were veil'd, as pass'd each much loved shroud, While woman's softer soul in wo dissolved aloud."* Neskayuna is derived from the Indian term, Con-nes-ti-gu-ne, sig- nifying " a field covered with corn." This is a small town, and was taken from Watervliet in 1809. Pop. G81. Its distance from Albany- is 12, and from Schenectady G miles. This name was formerly borne by an extensive tract on both sides of the Mohawk, granted partly by the Nestiogine and partly by the Connestiogine patents, which embraced portions of Clinton Park, Half Moon, Watervliet, and the 1st ward of Schenectady. Near the Mohawk is the village church and a few dwellings. The Ballston turnpike crosses the Mo- hawk at Alexander's bridge, 4 miles below Schenectady, where are some falls, a low rolling dam across the river, and several mills. The Erie canal is carried over the Mohawk here by an aqueduct 748 feet long, 2.5 feet above the stream, and falls immediately after by 3 locks 21 feet. The following are the names which tradition has preserved of a few of the chiefs of the Coimestigiune l^uuid, who inhabited this section of country. Ro7i.ivarrigh.wok.go.wa, sig. nifying in English, the great fault-finder, or grumbler. Ka.na-da.rokh.go-wa — a great eater. Ro-ya-ner — a chief". As-sa-re-go — big-knife. A-roon-ta-go-wa — big-tree. Of these, the first made the greatest objections to aliening their lands to the whites ; and in every deed was careful to have a covenant inserted, by which the right of hunting and fishing was preserved to them. It was a common saying of his, that " after the whites have taken possession of our lands, they will make Kaut-sore (literally ' spoon food' or soup) of our bodies." Yet he was on the most friendly terms with the whites, and was never back- ward in extending to them his powerful influence and personal aid, during their expeditions against the Canadians during the French war. He took great delight in instructing the boys of the settlers in the arts of war. He was constantly complaining that the govern, ment did not prosecute the war against the French with sufficient vigor. The wittenage. mote or council fire of the Connesligiune band was held about a mile south of the village. Neskayuna was visited in 1687 by a spy from the Adirondack?, the allies of the French. Hunger drove him to the house of a Dutchman, by the name of Van Brakkle, where he de- voured an enormous quantity of the food set before him, which happened to be pork and peas. Although his movements had been marked with more than usual caution, the eagle-eye of " the Grumbler" detected him. He waylaid him on leaving the house of his entertainer, and after a short conflict made him bite the dust. Having separated the head of the corpse from the body, he repaired to the house of Van Brakkle, and threw the head into the win. dow, exclaiming to the owner, " Behold the head of your Pea-eater." * For the history of this town, Neskayuna, and other interesting matter relating to this region, we are indebted to a series of historical sketches written and published a few years since in the Schenectady Reflector, by Giles F. Yates, Esq., who was at the time its editor. SCHENECTADY COUNTY. 509 The first white settlers in this town were the families of the Clutes, Vedders, Van Vran- kens, Groots, Tymesens, Pearces, and Claas Jansen Van Buckhoven, who afterward moved to Schenectady. Tradition says this village was settled simultaneously with Sche- nectady, in 1640. From an old document it appears that Harmon Vedder obtained a patent for some land here in 1664. Princetown, taken from Schenectady in 1798; from Albany 20 miles. Pop. 1,184. Netterville is a small village, 7 miles SW. of Schenectady. Rotterdam, formerly the 3d ward of Schenectady ; taken from the city in 1820. Pop. 2,274. The Erie canal by three locks passes the flats. Rotterdam is a small manufacturing village, 4 miles W. from Schenectady. Schenectady city was incorporated in 1798. Its name, pronounced by the Indians Schagh-nac-taa-da, signifying " beyond the pine plains" was originally applied to Albany. The compact part of the city was in olden time the site of an Indian village called Con-nugh-harie- gugh-harie, literally, " a great multitude collected together." It is said that it was the principal seat of the Mohawks, even before the con- federacy of the Iroquois, or Five Nations. It was abandoned by them at a very early period in the colonial history. Some time pre- vious to 1620, it is stated that 15 or 20 persons, 12 of whom were direct from Holland, and the rest from Albany, settled here for the purpose of carrying on the fur trade. It appears from the Dutch records that the first grant of lands was made in 1G61, to Arent Van Corlaer and others, on condition that they purchased the soil from the Indians. The deed was obtained in 1672, and signed by four Mohawk chiefs. The compact part of Schenectady is on the SE. side of the Mo- hawk river, 15^ miles from Albany, and 15 SW. of Ballston springs. The plat is laid out on 20 streets crossing each other, running about one mile in one direction and half a mile in another, eight of which are diagonally intersected by the Erie canal. The city, which in some parts retains much of its ancient appearance, contains the county buildings, 1 Episcopal, 1 Dutch Reformed, 1 Presbyterian, 1 Baptist, 1 Cameronian, 1 Methodist, 1 Universalist, and 1 Cathohc church, the Union College, Schenectady Lyceum, an academy, 3 banks, &c., &c. Pop. 6,688. The railroad from Albany to this place ex- tends across a sandy plain covered with pines and shrubbery ; it enters Schenectady by an inclined plane which descends 108 feet in half a mile. The Saratoga and Schenectady railroad passes through the city, crosses the Mohawk river on a substantial bridge between 8 and 900 feet long, and extends in a northerly direction over a heavy embankment for three fourths of a mile to a deep cut, where the Utica railroad diverges to the west, and the Saratoga to the northeast. Union College, in this city, was incorporated by the regents in 1794, and has reached its present flourishing condition from a small beginning. In 1785, a small academy was erected by the consistory of the Reformed Dutch church, which after the establishment of 510 SCHENECTADY COUNTY. Union College Buildings, Schenectady. Union College, was presented to its trustees, and used as a grammar school. Liberal donations from individuals, amounting to upwards of $30,000, raised a suite of edifices in the heart of the city, the prin- cipal one of which was afterward used as a courthouse, but having been repurchased by the institution, is now devoted to collegiate ob- jects. In 1814, the trustees purchased a site on the rising ground over- looking the Mohawk valley, a little E. of the compact part of the city. Two edifices have been erected at this place, each 200 feet long, about 40 wide, 4 stories high, standing in a line 600 feet apart ; a colonnade extending in the rear from each building 156 feet in length, by about 30 feet in width, and 2 stories high. The other college buildings are two boarding halls, farm-house, hospital house, for a professor, a number of tenements for servants, &c. The college has 6 professors and 4 assistant professors, and in its several libraries about 13,000 volumes. The total value of the college property is upwards of $448,000. There are here about 300 students. The first clergyman of the Dutch church who settled at Schenectady was Petrus Tass. chemaker, from Holland, who assumed the pastoral charge in 1684. The first edifice for public worship was erected at the south end of Church. street, near the head of Water-street, between the years 1684 and 1698. Previous to this time meetings for worship were pro- bably held in private houses. In 1733, a more commodious edifice was erected in the cen. tre of the street where Union and Church streets cross each other. This church was very similar in its appearance to the one now standing in Caughnawaga, in the town of Mo- hawk. [See page 281.] " Before the settlement of Mr. Tasschemaker, the church-going people attended public worship in Albany ; a journey to which place, going and coming, consumed more than two days. The road to Albany must have been very circuitous, as all the records of that day, when alluding to Schenectady, speak of it as being situated ' twenty miles west of Albany.' " In February, 1690, when Schenectady was burnt by the French and Indians, Mr. Tass- chemaker disappeared very mysteriously. In 1702, the Rev. Thomas Brower, also from Holland, received a call, and served until his death in 1728. The Rev. Bernardus Free- man and Rhynhard Erkson served next in order; but how long is not known. In 1740, we find the name of Cornelius Van Santvoord, who came from Staten Island, as the settled clergyman. Two years after his decease, viz., in 1754, the Rev. Barent Vrooman, a na- tive of Schenectady, accepted a call and ministered until his decease in 1782. Mr. Vroo- man received his education in Holland ; as was the case with all the Dutch clergymen of that early day, before theological seminaries were established in this country. Mr. Vroo. man was succeeded by the Rev. Derick Romeyn, from Hackensack and Schallenburgh, New Jersey. Mr. Romeyn died in 1804, and was succeeded by the Rev. John H. Myers, SCHENECTADY COUNTY. 511 from Paltz, New Jersey. Mr. Myers died in 1806. His successor was the Rev, Cornelius Bogardus, who died in 1813, and was succeeded by the Rev. Jacob Van Vechten. " The Episcopal church at Schenectady was founded by Mr. John W. Brown, who emi- grated from England previous to 1762. About this time measures were taken to erect a chapel. The principal benefactors were Sir William Johnson and John Duncan, Esq. Previous to the revolution this church owned a valuable library, which, together with the or- gan and a greater part of the interior work of the building, was destroyed by a gang of lawless white freebooters and some Indians. Strange as it may seem, these freebooters were whigs, whose prejudices against England were so great as to extend to every thing English. That this church was called the English church, and was supposed to be under the English in- fluence, formed a sufficient justification in their own view for its destruction. A project was set on fool to plunder Mr. Doty the pastor ; but fortunately the projectors were not ac- quainted with his person or place of abode, and as nobody would inform them, he escaped. " The Rev. WiUiam Andrews was probably the first pastor of this church. He was sue- ceeded in 1773 by the Rev. Mr. Doty, who left this place about the year 1777, in the heat of the revolutionary contest. From this time there was no settled minister until 1791, when the Rev. Ammi Robbins took the pastoral charge and continued until 1798. After him came the Rev. Mr. Whitmore, whose ministration ended in 1804. The Rev. Cyrus Stebbins was the next pastor ; and he was succeeded by the Rev. Pierre A. Proal in 1818." The war during the reign of William and Mary, in England, com- monly called "King William's War," commenced in 1690 and con- tinued about 7 years. In the depth of winter, Count Frontenac, governor of Canada, fitted out three expeditions against the colonies — one against New York, a second against New Hampshire, and a third against the province of Maine. The following, relating to the destruction of Schenectady, is extracted from the account given in Mr. Drake's " Book of the Indians." " After two-and-twenty days' march, the enemy fell in with Schenectady, February 8, 1690. There were about 200 French, and perhaps 50 Caughnewaga Mohawks, and they at first intended to have surprised Albany ; but their march had been so long and tedious, occasioned by the deepness of the snow and coldness of the weather, that, instead of at. tempting any thing offensive, they had nearly decided to surrender themselves to the first English they should meet, such was their distressed situation, in a camp of snow, but a few miles from the devoted settlement. The Indians, however, saved them from the disgrace. They had sent out a small scout from their party, who entered Schenectady without even exciting suspicion of their errand. When they had staid as long as the nature of their business required, they withdrew to their fellows. " Seeing that Schenectady offered such an easy prey, it put new courage into the French, and they came upon it as above related. The bloody tragedy commenced between 11 and 12 o'clock, on Saturday night ; and, that every house might be surprised at nearly the same time, the enemy divided themselves into parties of 6 or 7 men each. Although the town was empaled, no one thought it necessary to close the gates, even at night, presuming the severity of the season was a sufficient security ; hence the first news of the approach of the enemy was at every door of every house, which doors were broken as soon as the profound slumbers of those they were intended to guard. The same inhuman barbarities now fol- lowed, that were afterward perpetrated upon the wretched inhabitants of Montreal. ' No tongue,' said Col. Schuyler, ' can express the cruelties that were committed.' Sixty-three houses, and the church, were immediately in a blaze. Enciente women, in their expiring agonies, saw their infants cast into the flames, being first delivered by the knife of the mid- night assassin ! Sixty-three persons were put to death, and twenty.seven were carried into captivity. *' A few persons fled towards Albany, with no other covering but their night-clothes ; the horror of whose condition was greatly enhanced by a great fall of snow ; 25 of whom lost their limbs fi-om the severity of the frost. With these poor fugitives came the intelligence to Albany, and that place was in a dismal confusion, having, as usual upon such occasions, supposed the enemy to have been seven times more numerous than they really were. About noon, the next day, the enemy set off" irom Schenectady, taking all the plunder they could carry with them, among which were 40 of the best horses. The rest, with all the cattle and other domestic animals, lay slaughtered in the streets. " One of the most considerable men of Schenectady, at this time, was Capt. Alexander 512 SCHENECTADY COUNTY. Glen. He lived on the opposite side of the river, and was suffered to escape, because he had delivered many French prisoners from torture and slavery, who had been taken by the Indians in the former wars. They had passed his house in the night, and, during the mas. sacre, he had taken the alarm, and in the morning he was found ready to defend himself. Before leaving the village, a French officer summoned him to a council, upon the shore of the river, with the tender of personal safety. He at length adventured down, and had the great satisfaction of having all his captured friends and relatives delivered to him ; and the enemy departed, keeping good their promise that no injury should be done him." Among those who made a successful defence and kept the foe at bay, was Adam Vrooman. Being well supplied with ammunition, and trusting to the strength of his build, ing, which was a sort of a fort, he formed the desperate resolution to defend himself to the last extremity ; and if it should prove his fate to perish in the ruins of his own domicil, to sell his own life and that of his children as dear as possible. Seconded in his efforts by one of his sons, who assisted in loading his guns, he kept up a rapid and continuous fire upon his assailants, and with the most deadly effect. His house was soon filled with smoke. His wife, nearly suffocated with it, cautiously, yet imprudently, placed the door ajar. This an alert Indian perceived, and firing through the aperture, killed her. In tho mean time, one of his daughters escaped from the back hall door with his infant child in her arms. They snatched the little innocent from her arms, and dashed out its brains ; and in the confusion of the scene the girl escaped. Their triumph here, however, was of short duration ; Mr. Vrooman succeeded in securely bolting the door and preventing the intru- sion of any of the enemy. On witnessing Mr. Vrooman's courage, and fearing greater havoc among their chosen band, the enemy promised, if he would desist, to save his life and not set fire to his building. This promise they fulfilled, but carried off two of his sons into captivity. The following additional particulars respecting this event are drawn from the account given by Charlevoix, a learned French Jesuit, distinguished for his travels and authentic historical works. " This party marched out before they had determined against what part of the English frontier they would carry their arms, though some part of New York was understood. Count Frontenac had left that to the two commanders. After they had marched 5 or 6 days, they called a council to determine upon what place they would attempt. In this council, it was debated, on the part of the French, that Albany would be the smallest place they ought to undertake ; but the Indians would not agree to it. They contended that, with their small force, an attack upon Albany would be attended with extreme hazard. The French being strenuous, the debate grew warm, and an Indian chief asked them ' how long it was since they had so much courage.' To this severe rebuke it was answered, that, if by some past actions they had discovered cowardice, they should see that now they would retrieve their character ; they would take Albany or die in the attempt. The Indians, however, would not consent, and the council broke up without agreeing upon any thing but to proceed on. " They continued their march until they came to a place where their path divided into two ; one of which led to Albany, and the other to Schenectady : here Mantet gave up his design upon Albany, and they marched on harmoniously for the former village. The weather was very severe, and for the following 9 days the little army suffered incredible hardships. The men were often obliged to wade through water up to their knees, breaking its ice at every step. " At 4 o'clock ill the morning, the beginning of February, they arrived within two leagues of Schenectady. Here they halted, and the Great Agnier, chief of the Iroquois of the falls of St. Louis, made a speech to them. He exhorted every one to forget the hardships they had endured, in the hope of avenging the wrongs they had for a long time suffered from the perfidious English, who were the authors of them ; and in the close added, that they could not doubt of the assistance of heaven against the enemies of God, in a cause so just. Hardly had they taken up their line of march, when they met 40 Indian women, who gave them all the necessary information for approaching the place in safety. A Canadian, named Giguiere, was detached immediately with i) Indians upon discovery, who acquitted himself to the entire satisfaction of his officers. He reconnoitred Schenectady at his leisure, and then rejoined his comrades. It had been determined by the party to put off the attack one day longer ; but on the arrival of the scout under Giguiere, it was resolved to proceed without delay. " Schenectady was then in form like that of a long square, and entered by two gates, one at each end. One opened towards Albany, the other upon the great road leading into the SCHENECTADY COUNTY. 513 back country, and which was now possessed by the French and Indians. Mantet and St. Helene charged at the second gate, which the Indian women before mentioned had assured them was always open, and they found it so. D'Iberville and Repentigni passed to the left, in order to enter by the other gale, but, after losing some time in vainly endeavoring to find it, were obliged to return and enter with their comrades. " The gate was not only open but unguarded, and the whole party entered without being discovered. Dividing themselves into several parties, they waylaid every portal, and then the war-whoop was raised. Mantet formed and attacked a garrison, where the only resist- ance of any account was made. The gate of it was soon forced, and all of the English fell by the sword, and the garrison was burned. P/Ionligni was wounded, in forcing a house, in his arm and body by two blows of a halberd, which put him hors du combat; but St. Helene being come to his assistance, the house was taken, and the wounds of Montigni revenged by the death of all who had shut themselves up in it. Nothing was now to be seen but massacre and pillage in every place. At the end of about two hours, the chiefs, believing it due to their safety, posted bodies of guards at all the avenues, to prevent sur- prise, and the rest of the night was spent in refreshing themselves. Mantet had given orders that the minister of the place should be spared, whom he had intended for his own prisoner ; but he was found among the promiscuous dead, and no one knew when he was killed, and all his papers were burned. " After the place was destroyed, the chiefs ordered all the casks of intoxicating liquors to be staved, to prevent their men from getting drunk. They next set all the houses on fire, excepting that of a widow, into which Montigni had been carried, and another belonging to Major Coudre : they were in number about 40, all well built and furnished; no booty but that which could be easily transported was saved. The lives of about 60 persons were spared ; chiefly women, children, and old men, who had escaped the fury of the onset, and 30 Indians who happened to be then in the place. The lives of the Indians were spared that they might carry the news of what had happened to their countrymen, whom they were requested to inform, that it was not against them that they intended any harm, but to the English only, whom they had now despoiled of property to the amount of four hundred thousand pounds." The following ballad is an interesting relic of antiquity. It was written in 1690, to commemorate the destruction of Schenectady, and is composed something in the style of the celebrated " Chevy Chase." "A BALLAD, " In which is set forth the horrid crudities practised by the French and Indians on the night of the 8th of last February. The which I did compose last night in the space of one hour; and am now writing, the morning of Fryday, June 12th, 1690. W. W. " God prosper long our king and queen. Each door was sudden open broke Our lives and safeties all ; By six or seven men. A sad misfortune once there did ^he men and women, younge and olde, Schenectady befall. And eke the girls and boys. From forth the woods of Canada All started up in great aiTright, The Frenchmen tooke their way, Att the alarming noise. The people of Schenectady T^ey thg^ were murther'd in their beddes. To captivate and slay. Without shame or remorse ; They marched for two and twenty dales. And soone the floors and streets were strew'd All through the deepest snow ; With many a bleeding corse. And on a dismal winter night, rpj,e ^iHage soon began to blaze, They strucke the cruel blow. W^ich shew'd the horrid sight :— The lightsome sun that rules the day But, O, I scarce can beare to tell, Had gone down in the west ; The mis'ries of that night. And eke the drowsie villagers _ T},ey th^ew the infants in the fire. Had sought and found their reste. • -phe men they did not spare ; They thought they were in saftie ail. But killed all which they could find. And dreampt not of the foe : Though aged or tho' fair. But att midnight they aU awoke, q Christe ! In the still midnight air, In wonderment and woe. It sounded dismally ; For they were in their pleasant beddes, The women's prayers, and the loud screams And soundelie sleeping, when Of their great agony. 65 514 SCHENKCTADY COUNTY. Melhinks as if I hear them now And then their trail we did pursue, All ringing in my ear ; As was our true dutye. The shrieks and groans and woeful sighs ^j^^ Mohaques joynd our brave partye, They uttered in their fear. And followed in the chase, But some run off to Albany, Till we came up with the Frenchmen, And told the dolefull tale : Att a most likelye place. Yett though we gave our chearful aid, Our soldiers fell upon their rear, It did not much avail. And killed twenty-five ; And we were horribly afraid, Our young men were so much enrag'd And shook with terror, when They took scarce one alive. They told us that the Frenchmen were D'Aillebout them did commande, More than a thousand men. Which were but thievish rogues, The news came on the Sabbath morn Else why did they consent and goe. Just att the break of day, With bloodye Indian dogges ? And with a companie of horse And here I end the long ballad, I galloped away. The which you just have redde ; But soon we found the French were gone I wish that it may stay on earth With all their great bootye ; Long after I am dead. Albany, I2th of June, 1690. Walter Wilie. The annexed novel marriage which occurred somewhere in this vicinity is well worthy of preservation. About a century ago, saith tradition, when clergymen were not so plenty as they now are, a young gentlemen and his dulcinea were anxiously awaiting the happy day which was to see them united in the silken bands of matrimony. They resided on the north side of Tomhenick creek, and the clergyman who had been engaged to tie the knot lived on the south side of the same stream. As the fates would have it, heavy rains fell the night pre- vious to the nuptial day, which rendered the creek impassable. Its waters were rising, and its current becoming more rapid every hour. The clergyman arrived at the appointed time at a place where he had been in the habit of fording the creek ; but it was as much as his life was worth to attempt to cross it then. He turned his horse's head to return, when he was hailed by two voices on the opposite side of the stream — they were those of the groom and bride, who entreated him to stay. After some debate, it was agreed that the ceremony should proceed. In the mean time the friends of the betrothed arrived from the bride's house in the neighborhood. Then was presented a singular spectacle, " the like whereof was never seen before," and probably will not be again. The dominie read the marriage ser. vice, on the margin of the creek, while the parties stood on the opposite side. After the ceremony was over, the groom tossed a few guilders across the creek, which the dominie picked up and pocketed as his fee, mounted his horse and proceeded homewards, and the married couple did the same. The following inscriptions are copied from a monument in the graveyard near the Presbyterian church. " Jonathan Edwards, S. T. D. North, reip. Mass., natus, A. D. 1745, coll. Nassov, A. B. 1765, et eodem tutor, 1767, ordinibus ecclesise sacris Nov. Port. Connect, reip. initiatus, 1769 iisdemq. Coluni, 1796, atque coll. Concord Schenect. N. Ebor praeses, 1799. — Vir ingenio acri, justi tenax propositi, doctrina vere eximia maxime imbutus atque praeditus, christianae fidei intemeratae defensor tum fervidus tum praevalidus, et in moribus intami- natis enituit magnum sui desiderium bonis omnibus reliquit, die 1 mo. Aug. anno salutis humanae, 1801." " Mariae, Jonathani Edwards conjugis dilectissimae, nee non memor hoc est etiam mon- umentum. Ipsa urbanitate, moribus, pietate^^viro optimo dignissima, aquis, eheu ! sub- mersa fuit, Nov. Port. reip. Connect. Anno Domini, 1782. Eademque urbs rehquas ipsius habet." [Jonathan Edwards, D. D., born at Northampton, Mass., A. D. 1745 ; graduated at the college of New Jersey in 1765, where he was tutor in 1767 ; ordained to the ministry of the gospel at New Haven, Conn., in 1769, and also at Colebrook in 1796; and president of Union college at Schenectady, New York, in 1799. He was a man of acute mind, finn in his opinion, thoroughly versed and skilled in true learning, the intrepid defender, alike SCHOHARIE COUNTY. 515 earnest and successful, of the Christian faith, and conspicuous for the purity of his life. He died amid the grief of all good men, on the first day of August, in the year of our Lord 1801.] [Maria, the beloved wife of Jonathan Edwards, is also commemorated by this monu. ment. In urbanity, goodness, and piety, she was most worthy of that excellent man. In 1782, she was unfortunately drowned at New Haven, Connecticut, where her remains repose.] SCHOHARIE COUNTY. Schoharie* county was taken from Albany and Otsego counties in 1795 : greatest length N. and S. 30, greatest breadth E. and W. 25 miles. Centrally distant NW. from New York 150, from Albany W. 42 miles. In the western part of this county is the dividing ridge between the waters of the Mohawk and those of the Susquehannah and Delaware. In the eastern part it has the Cattskill and Helle- bergf mountains. It has the valley of the Schoharie creek north and south thi'ough its centre, along which the alluvial flats are very extensive, with a soil of loam and vegetable mould, peculiarly rich and fertile. Much of the surface of this county is hilly, with some of a mountainous character. The soil of the uplands is of various qualities, generally better adapted to grass than to grain. The Scho- harie creek, a large tributary of the Mohawk, has its rise in Green county, and flows northward through the centre of this county. In its course it receives several smaller streams, the principal of which are the Cobelskill on the west, and Foxes creek on the east. The Cattskill has its source in the eastern part of the county, and the Delaware and Susquehannah in the western. The county is well watered, and possesses many fine mill sites. In the towns of Sum- mit, Jefferson, Blenheim, Broome, and the uplands of Middleburg and Fulton, the tenure of the soil is generally held by lease ; the fee- simple being in proprietors of large tracts ; but in these towns, there are many tracts upon the creek, which the Germans have taken up in fee, the common tenure of the northern towns. The towns of Schoharie, Cobelskill, Sharon, Fulton, Middleburg, and portions of Blenheim and Broome, have a population of German origin. The German language prevails among the older inhabitants, but their children are educated and converse in English. The early settlers suffered much from Indian hostilities, and during the revolution the country was overrun by the Bi'itish and Indians under Sir John Johnson, Brant, and the infamous Walter Butler. The county is di- vided into 1 1 towns. At the commencement of the revolution this * Schoharie, Indian name for driftwood. t Helleberg, German — Helderburg, Dutch. The early settlers of Schoharie passed over this mountain on their route thither, and gave it this name, which signifies the " sightly hill." — J. R. Simma. 516 SCHOHARIE COUNTY. whole territory scarcely contained 1,000 inhabitants ; the greater part of these inhabited the valley of the Schoharie river. The pop- ulation in 1840 was 32,351. BlenheiiM, organized in 1797; from Albany W. 44 miles. Pop. 2,726. North Blenheim, 15 miles S. from Schoharie, and Blenheim, are small villages. Broome, originally named Bristol, was organized in 1797 ; centrally distant S. from Schoharie 15 miles. Pop. 2,404. Gilboa, Broome, Livingstonville, Plattakill, and Smithtown, are small villages or settlements. The monument of David Williams, who died in this town, is at Livingstonville, and has the following inscription : " David Williams, the only surviving captor of Andre, died August 1st, 1831, aged 77. Amor patrice vincit," (the love of country conquers.) Carlisle, taken from Cobelskill and Sharon in 1807; from Scho- harie NW. 10 miles. Pop. 1,850. Carlisle and Grosvenors Cor- ners are small villages. Cobelskill* was formed from Schoharie in 1797. Near the brick meeting-house is one of those subterraneous streams common to limestone countries. Cobelskill, 10 miles W. of Schoharie, Law- yersville, Punchkill, Richmondville, and Mann's Valley, are small vil- lages. In the summer of 1779, a party of Onondaga Indians, after the de- struction of their town by Col. Van Schaick, made an incursion into this section, the account of which is thus given by Campbell in his Annals : — " There was at this time a little settlement, consisting of only nineteen families, on the Cobbleskill creek, ten miles west of Schoharie. Though they had erected no fortifica- tions, they had prepared for defence, by organizing a company of militia, and procuring arms and ammunition. About the middle of May, it was reported at a meeting of the militia, ihat some straggling Indians had been seen in the neighborhood, and a scout of three men, one of whom was suspected of being secretly a royahst, was sent out into the forest. On the return of the scout, they met two Indians near the settlement, who accost, ing them in friendly terms, and pretending to be hunting, were suffered to pass. The In- dians took a circuitous route, and in a short time met them again. The suspected individ- ual had now disappeared, having taken a different path to the settlement. The Indians still pretended friendship ; one of them familiarly took the musket from one of the men, and knocking out the flint, handed it back. The other attempted the same thing, but his ad- versary perceiving his intention, shot him. His companion fled, and the men returned to the settlement. This circumstance, together with a rumor that a large body of Indians were on their march for Schoharie, excited fears that this little settlement would be the first object of their revenge. They immediately despatched a messenger to Schoharie with the intelligence, and directed him to ask for assistance. A part of a company of con- tinental soldiers, under the command of Captain Patrick, was sent the same day to Cobbles, kill. The next morning a party of Indians were seen to cross the creek and return again into the woods. A small detachment of men were sent in pursuit. These were soon driven back by superior force. Captain Patrick then marched the whole of his little band, and 15 volunteers of the militia, to their support. The Indians were driven back, but soon made a stand, and after firing again retreated. They continued to retreat, disputing the ground at every step, evidently increasing in number, until the conflict became exceeding- * Mr. .Tephtha R. Simms, of Fultonville, who is at present writing a history of Scho- harie county and its vicinity, for which object he has taken pains in collecting authentic and original information, in a letter to the authors thus alludes to the orthography of this name. " Cobelskill has been written Cobuskill, Cobbleskill, and as I write it. In the laws which record the forniation of that town, it is spelled Cobelskill. The name of the man after whom it was called was Cobel." SCHOHARIE COUNTY. 617 ]y fierce. Captain Patrick was at first wounded, and afterward killed, when his men sought safety in flight. The Indians immediately pursued them, and at the same instant the main body, which had been concealed in the thickets, rushed forth, and with deafening yells poured a shower of rifle balls upon the fugitives ; their number, as afterward ascer- tained, was about 300. " The death of Captain Patrick alone saved his men from entire destruction ; in a few moments more they would have been surrounded, and their retreat cut off". " The inhabitants of the settlement, as soon as they saw the fugitives emerging from the woods, pursued by the Indians, fled in an opposite direction, and all arrived safe at Scho- harie ; their escape was favored by the desperate resistance of seven of the soldiers, who, taking possession of a house, fired from the windows, and checked the pursuit of the ene- my. The Indians at length succeeded in setting the house on fire, and six of its brave de- fenders perished in the flames ; the other was afterward found a few rods distant, much burned, and horribly mutilated ; a roll of continental money was put in his hand, as if in derision of the cause which he supported. The enemy set fire to the buildings in the vi- cinity, and after burying their dead and mangling the dead bodies of the soldiers, retired without pursuing the fugitives further. Of the 45 who went out, 21 escaped, 22 were killed, and 42 taken prisoners. The Indians suffered severely." General James Dana moved into this town soon after the revolu- tionary war, and was a resident till his death. He was born in Ash- ford, Connecticut, October 10th, 1732. The following notice re- specting this meritorious officer is from the manuscript of I. H. Tiffany, Esq., of Fultonville, which he has drawn up with care and accuracy. Most of the facts here stated were related to Mr. Tiffa- ny by General Dana himself, January 7th, 1816. He appears to have commenced his military career among the provincial troops, under Sir William Johnson. He assisted in building the fort at Lake George, and was at the battle of Lake Champlain, where the fortification was attacked by the French, and General Johnson wounded. At the commencement of the American revolution, he was a captain in Colonel Storr's regiment, in General Putnam's brigade of Connecticut militia. He ar- rived at the American camp at Cambridge, where General Ward commanded, immediately after the affair at Lexington. He was among the troops ordered to throw up a breastworli on Bunker's Hill. A half-moon fortification of facines and dirt was erected during the night. Colonel Prescott was the engineer ; he requested Captain Dana's orderly sergeant to assist in laying out the fortification. The British embarked at Winnimesset ferry. When the second division of 500 troops landed, they marched up Maiden river to gain the rear of the American fortification. This movement was first perceived by Captain Da- na, and communicated to General Putnam. By his orders, 500 of the Connecticut troops were marched down and took up their position, and formed two deep behind a fence. Cap- tain (afterward Colonel) Knowlton commanded this detachment. Captain Dana was the second in command. Putnam, in giving his directions, said to these officers, " Do you re- member my orders at Ticonderoga ?" " Yes," was the reply : " you told us not to fire till we could see the whites of the enemy's eyes." " Well," says Putnam, " I give the same orders now." The British advanced with muffled drums and soft fifes ; the officers and soldiers got over the fence south of the American line. Captain Dana was posted in the centre, to- wards which the British column was advancing. The order was, " death to any man who fired before Captain Dana." When the column was eight rods distant, Dana ordered the rear rank down flat. At this word the British officer faced about and ordered the column to display from the centre. At that instant Captain Dana, Lieutenant Grosvenor, and crderly-sergeant Fuller fired, and the British commanding officer (supposed to be Major Pitcairn) fell mortally wounded. The British troops broke and retreated, formed and ad- vanced again, which probably occupied thirty minutes. When they arrived at the fence they fired. Lieutenant Grosvenor was wounded in the hand, and a bullet also passed through a rail and lodged in his shirt, flatted and harmless. Captain Knowlton's musket barrel was broken oflf by a cannon ball. Lieutenant Grosvenor bound up his hand and re. tired from the field. Within four or five minutes after Grosvenor was wounded, a cannon ball struck a rail against Dana's breast, which knocked him down breathless. He however recovered, and remained until the line was ordered ofl". When he arrived at his quarters, h<. was confined to his room, and unable to dress or undress himself for several days. The first countersign given by General Washington after the battle of Bunker Hill was 518 SCHOHARIE COUNTY. " Knowlton," and the parole " Dana." In July, after the battle of Bunker Hill, an oration was delivered by Dr. Leonard, Washington's chaplain. After the oration and declaration had been pronounced, an aid of General Washington advanced from the head-quarters, bearing the American standard, with an order from the general directed to Captain Dana to receive it, and carry it three times around the front or interior circle of the army; further- more, that in so doing he must not let the colors fall, as it would be considered as ominous of the fall of America. The captain declined, fearful of his ability to perform this duty in a proper manner. The aid returned to head-quarters with the apology : but soon came back, with General Putnam, who, in his familiar way, clapped Captain Dana upon the shoulder, and said, " God curse it, Dana, you look like a white man ; take the colors, clear away." The army immediately opened a passage to the right and left for his excellency Gen. eral Washington, and the other officers. The next day the general in his orders expressed the most flattering approbation of the manner in which Captain Dana had performed the ceremony of displaying the flag. Captain Dana was 6 feet and 1 inch in height, noble and commanding in his appearance, but modest and retiring in his manners. He was frequently offered promotion in the army, but uniformly decHned. The celebrated General Eaton, afterward so distinguished in the war with Tripoli, was at the age of fifteen his waiter and secretary. He was put under Captain Dana at the request of his father. After the close of the revolution, Captain Dana removed to Cobelskill, where he occupied a small log-cabin or house till his death. Not- withstanding his humble circumstances, the legislature of New York, in consequence of his meritorious services in the revolution, appointed him a brigadier-general, being the first who held that office in the county of Schoharie. CoNEsviLLE, taken from Broome in 1836, is the SE. corner town of the county ; from Schoharie centrally distant 20 miles. Pop. 1,621. Cones ville is a post-office, Strikersville is a small settle- ment near the western line. Fulton, taken from Middleburg in 1828 ; from Albany 42 miles. On Stoney creek, in this town, there is a fall of nearly 100 feet per- pendicular. Byrnville, 14 miles SW. from Schoharie, Fultonham, and Breakabeen, are small settlements. Pop. 2,146. Jefferson, taken from Blenheim in 1803 ; from Albany 57, from Schoharie SW. 20 miles. Pop. 2,033. This town is inhabited by east- ern emigrants and their descendants, who are extensively engaged in the dairy business and grazing. Lake Utsayanthe, a small pond here, is the source of the Mohawk branch of the Delaware. Jefferson is a small village. Middleburg was taken from Schoharie in 1797 ; from Albany 37 miles. Pop. 3,841. The inhabitants are principally of Dutch or German origin. Middleburg, on the Schoharie river, 5 miles S. from Schoharie, is a village containing about 50 dwellings. Huntersland and Franklinton are small settlements. Remains of the old Middle Fort, noted in the revolutionary annals, are now to be seen a short distance from Middleburg village, on the plain east of the road to Schoharie. The Upper Fort was 5 miles SE., near the margin of the Schoharie river, in the present limits of Fulton, — the lower was at the village of Schoharie, 5 miles N. This last was built for a church, and is at present used as such. [See Schoharie.] The annexed account of the attack on the Middle Fort by the British and Indians, is taken from the " Life and Adventures of Timothy Murphy, the Benefactor of Schoharie," a pamphlet pub- lished in 1839. " In the fall of 1780, the enemy, about 800 strong, under Sir John Johnson, made pre- parations for destroying the valleys of Schoharie and the Mohawk. The forces, consisting SCHOHARIE COUNTY. 51 & of British regulars, loyalists, tories, and Indians, assembled on the Tioga, and marched thence up along the eastern branch of the Susquehannah, and crossed thence to Schoharie. On the 16th of October, they encamped about four miles above the upper fort. It was their intention to pass the upper fort in the night, and to attack the middle fort at daybreak : as it was expected that the upper fort would be the first object of attack, they hoped to sur- prise the middle fort by this unexpected movement. Sir John had ordered his troops to be put in motion at four in the morning, but from some mistake it was five before they began their march ; consequently the rear guard was discovered by the sentinels of the upper fort, and the alarm gun was fired, which was quickly answered from the other forts, and 20 rifle, men, under the supervision of Timothy Murphy,* were sent out from the middle fort to watch the motions of the enemy ; they soon fell in with the advanced party, and retreated back. The firing of the alarm gun disappointed the enemy, and became the signal for them to com- mence the destruction of the settlement ; houses, barns, and stacks of hay were burned, and cattle, sheep, and horses were killed or driven away. " The Indians being in advance of the regular forces, were the first to approach the fort. Murphy, whose eye was ever watching the enemy, had stationed himself in a ditch a few rods south of the fort, that he might, unperceived, the better view the movements of the enemy. The Indians approached to within about eighty yards of the fort, when Murphy fired upon them ; and as he arose the second time to fire, a bullet struck within a few inches of his face, and glanced over his head, throwing dirt in his eyes. He then ran into the fort, not however without bringing to the ground another Indian, * Murphy, who was of great service to the inhabitants of Schoharie, was a native of Virginia, and had belonged to Morgan's rifle corps, in which he had distinguished himself as a marksman. After the capture of Burgoyne, the company to which he belonged was ordered to Schoharie, where it remained until their term of service expired. When the company was disbanded. Murphy and some others remained, and served in the militia ; his skill in the desultory war which the Indians carry on, gave him so high a reputation, that though not nominally the commander, he usually directed all the movements of the scouts that were sent out, and on many important occasions the commanding officers found it dangerous to neglect his advice ; his double rifle, his skill as a marksman, and his fleetness either in retreat or pursuit, made him an object both of dread and of vengeance to the In- dians ; they formed many plans to destroy him, but he always eluded them, and sometimes made them sufler for their temerity. He fought the Indians in their own way, and with their own weapons. When circum- stances permitted, he tomahawked and scalped his fallen enemy ; he boasted after the war that he had slain forty of the enemy with his own hand, more than half of whom he had scalped ; he took delight in perilous adventures, and seemed " to love danger for danger's sake." Tradition has preserved the account of many of his exploits ; but there are so many versions of the same story, and so much evident fiction mixed with the truth, that we shall give but a single instance as a proof of the dread with which he was regarded by the Indians. They were unable to conjecture how he could discharge his rifle twice without having time to reload ; and his singular good fortune in escaping unhurt, led them to suppose that he was attended by some invisible being who warded off" their bullets, and sped his with unerring certainty to the mark. When they had learned the mystery of his double-barrelled gun, they were careful not to expose themselves too much until he had fired twice, know, ing that he must have time to reload his piece before he could do them further injury. One day, having separated from his party, he was pursued by a number of Indians, all of whom he outran excepting one ; Murphy turned round, fired upon this Indian, and killed him. Supposing that the others had given up the pursuit, he stopped to strip the dead, when the rest of his pursuers came in sight. He snatched the rifle of his faflen foe, and with it killed one of his pursuers ; the rest, now sure of their prey, with a yell of joy heed- lessly rushed on, hoping to make him their prisoner ; he was ready to drop down with fa. tigue, and was likely to be overtaken, when, turning round, he discharged the remaining barrel of his rifle, and killed the foremost of the Indians ; the rest, astonished at his firing three times in succession, fled, crying out that he could shoot all day without loading. — Annals of Tryon county. " In stature. Murphy was about 5 feet 6 inches, and very well proportioned, with dark complexion, and an eye that would kindle and flash like the very lightning when excited. He was exceedingly quick in all his motions, and possessed an iron frame that nothing ap- parently could efl^ect. And what is very remarkable, his body was never wounded or scar- red during the whole war." 520 SCHOHARIE COUNTY. " About 8 o'clock the enemy commenced a regular attack on the fort, which was re turned with effect from the garrison. The regular troops fired a few cannon shot, and threw a number of shells, one of which burst in the air above the fort, doing no injury; another entered and burst in the upper loft of the fort, doing no other mischief than destroy- ing a quantity of bedding, and nearly frightening to death a little Frenchman who had fled to the chamber for protection, and came running down stairs, at the same time exclaiming, ' de diable pe among de fedders.' The interior of the fort was several times on fire, but was as often extinguished by the exertions of the women. The Indians retreated behind a row of willow trees, and kept up a constant fire, but at too great a distance to do effect. In the fort, all was gloom and despondency; the garrison only amounted to 150 regular troops, and about 100 militia. Their ammunition was nearly exhausted — to attempt to de- fend the fort, appeared to be madness ; — to surrender, was to deliver up themselves, their wives and children to immediate death, or at least to a long captivity. Major Wolsey, who commanded the fort, was inclined to surrender on the first appearance of the enemy, but was prevented by the officers of the militia, who resolved to defend it or to die in the contest. Wolsey's presence of mind forsook him in the hour of danger ; he concealed him- self at first with the women and children in the house, and when driven out by the ridicule of his new associates, he crawled round the intrenchments on his hands and knees, amid the jeers and bravos of the militia, who felt their courage revive as their laughter was ex cited by the cowardice of the major. In times of extreme danger, every thing which has a tendency to destroy reflection by exciting risibility has a good effect. " The enemy, perceiving that their shot and shells did little or no execution, formed under shelter of a small building near the fort, and prepared to carry the works by assault. While the preparations were making, a flag was seen to approach the fort ; all seemed in- chned to admit it, when Murphy and Bartholomew Vroman, who suspected that it was only an artifice to learn the actual strength of the garrison, and aware that for them at least there was no safety in capitulation, fired upon the flag. The flag retired, and some soldiers were ordered to arrest Murphy ; but so great was his popularity among the soldiers, that no one dared to obey. The flag approached a second time, and was a second time driven back by Murphy and his adherents. A white flag was then ordered to be raised in the fort, but Murphy threatened with instant death any one who should obey. The enemy sent a flag the third time, and on Murphy's turning to fire upon it, Wolsey presented his pistol and threatened to shoot him if he did ; — but not in the least intimidated by the major's threat. Murphy very deliberately raised his rifle, and pointing it towards him, firmly replied, 'I will die before they shall have me prisoner.' Major Wolsey then retired to his room, where he remained until Col. Vroman was despatched in search of him. He was found covered up in bed, trembling like a leaf. Col. Vroman accosted him, ' Was you sent here to sneak away so, when we are attacked by the tories and Indians ? and do you mean to give up the fort to these bloody rascals ?' — To which Major Wolsey made no reply, but consented to yield up the command to Col. Vroman. At this change of officers, unanimous joy per- vaded the whole fort. And even the women* smiled to behold the portly figure of Col. Vroman stalking about the fort — directing and encouraging the soldiers in his melodious Low Dutch notes. " The British officers now held a council of war, and after a short consultation with- drew ; and then proceeded down the Schoharie creek, burning and destroying every thing t)iat lay in their way. The loss of the garrison in this affair was only one killed and two wounded, one mortally. It is not known what loss the enemy sustained, or why they re- treated so hastily." Schoharie was organized in 1788, as part of Albany county: it has a hilly surface, with extensive valleys on the Schoharie and Fox creeks. The Schoharie creek, at this place, is about 10 rods wide, and the flats on its borders are from 1 to 2 miles wide and of sur- passing fertility. Pop. 5,532. Schoharie village, the county seat, * "One of them," says Col. Stone, in his Life of Brant, "an interesting young woman, whose name yet lives in story among her own mountains, perceiving, as she thought, symp- toms of fear in a soldier who had been ordered to a well without the works, and within range of the enemy's fire, for water, snatched the bucket from his hands, and ran forth for it herself. Without changing color, or giving the slightest evidence of fear, she drew and brought bucket after bucket to the thirsty soldiers, and providentially escaped without in jury." * SCHOIIARIK COUNTY. 521 Southeast view in the central part of Schoharie. lies on the flats, near the junction of Schoharie and Fox creeks, 32 miles W. of Albany. It contains about 100 dwellings, the county buildings, 1 Lutheran and 1 Dutch Reformed church, and an aca- demy. The above engraving is a SW. view in the central part of the village : the courthouse, a stone building 3 stories high, is seen on the right ; the Lutheran church and the academy in the distance. "In the year 1709, a number of families from the Palatinates in Germany, induced by the liberal offers made by Queen Anne, embarked for New York, and having proceeded up the Hudson as far as Albany, landed, and selected a few of their number to choose a place for a settlement. Of these, some went to Schenectady, and thence up the Mohawk, where a settlement of Germans had been formed a few years previous : the others, hearing of a beautiful country to the southwest, penetrated the wilderness in that direction ; and after travelling through a hilly, and in some parts mountainous country, arrived the second day on the height of land east of the Schoharie creek. " Here a scene of extraordinary beauty, and to them entirely new, burst upon their sight. At their feet, and far below them, was a plain of limited extent, embosomed by hills, in some places rising abruptly to the height of 1000 feet, and in others of more gentle ascent, and broken by deep ravines. The declivity of the hills was covered with a stinted growth of oak, too scanty to hide even from a distant view the rocks amid which they grew, and forming a striking contrast with the stately forest and luxuriant vegetation of the plain be- low. The valley had been partially cleared, and the alternate spots of woodland and meadow, interspersed with clumps of trees, added variety and richness to the landscape. Along its western boundary ran the Schoharie creek, now washing the base of the hill, now meandering through the flats ; its course marked through the woodlands by the deep green of the trees along its bank, and through the meadows by the elms that lined its bor- ders ; sometimes its course was hidden from the view by the thick foliage, and again, as its channel spread out wider, or its course inclined to the east, its clear waters were seen glit- tering in the sunbeams. No traces of any occupants of this valley were seen, except here and there the ruins of a deserted wigwam. " The travellers returned to Albany, and gave so flattering an account of the country which they had visited, that the whole company started immediately for Schoharie, without waiting for the return of their friends from the Mohawk. The place they chose for a set- tlement had formerly been occupied by a part of the Mohawk tribe of Indians ; but they had most of them now left it. The settlers were illy provided with implements of hus- bandry, and with many of the necessaries of life, which wants were severely felt during many years. Whether they paid the Mohawks an equivalent for the land, tradition does not inform ue. It was not, however, until several years after, that they obtained a grant 66 522 SCHOHARIE COUNTY. from government. A commission was sent to grant them a title in the name of the crown, and to extend to them the protection of the laws. Believing this to be a pretence for ex- acting taxes froni fhem, and remembering their former oppression, they drove off the com- missioners, and refused to accept his proposals. A part left the settlement, and went up the Mohawk, and the remainder were finally prevailed upon by threats and persuasion to accept the terms offered by the government agent." — Annals of Tryon county. The following extracts are from a pamphlet publication by Mr. John M. Brown, entitled " A brief sketch of the first settlement of the county of Schoharie by the Germans," published in 1823. " Schoharie was first iiihabiied by a French Indian prisoner, married to a Mohawk squaw. His name was Kaiigondonte, whose father-in-law sent hini there, for fear that the Mohawk Indians would kill him when they got drunk, and gave him land, as the Mohawk bore a great enmity to the French. Other Indians, Mohawk, Mohegan, Discarora, Delaware, and Oneidas, flocked to him, so that he increased to a nation about 300 strong, and establish- ed chiefs among them ; who then pretended to be the owners of all that vast territory of land, and granted conveyances thereof. " Queen Anne having intended to settle America, sent her agent to purchase land from the natives ; for which purpose she sent messengers to Germany, to invite people to come over and settle, and promised that tiiey should have the land they possessed, free. In con- sequence whereof, many came over ; and a purchase was made, beginning near little Scho- harie creek, at high-water mark of the big Schoharie river, and at an oak stump, burned out hollow by the Indians to serve for stamping their corn ; where a stone heap was erected which stands to this day. The Indian seal of a turtle and a snake was cut on the stump, (here I must digress a little, and mention that the said stump or stamp block, served the Germans for their first grist-mill,) from thence down to the north, including all the low land on both sides of the creek, for the space of about eight miles, containing 20,000 acres. " . . . . Now being safe arrived, in the first week after three children were born, namely, Johanes Earhart, Wilhelmus Bouck, and Elizabeth Lawyer ; they found the land good, and much of the flats clear. The Indians, who were all the people they found, having shifted, they went to work and planted corn, which they got of the natives ; and in working the ground with their broad hoes, they found a potatoe-like root, which they called earth-acorns : also another, they called earih-beans, which they cooked or roasted, and so served them for food. " In the fall of 1713, Lambert Sternbergh carried a spint of wheat along the Indian foot- path from Schenectady to Schoharie ; there sowed or rather planted it over more than an acre of ground, which grew well ; and the next year he reaped and threshed it, and meas. ured 83 skipple out of it. This was the first wheat ever raised in Schoharie ; and by about 40 years after, it was reckoned that one year in another, they carried 36,000 skipple, [27,000 bushels,] to Albany. " Now the new inhabitants soon began to think themselves well off. By their industry, and great fertility of the soil, they soon got plenty to eat — wore moggisins, buckskin breeches and jackets of leather, which they plentifully obtained of the Indians. Nine of them owned the first horse, which was a gray. But now a new and very great difficulty was felt : they had no grist-mills, no teams, no horses, no roads fit for passage, but Indian foot-paths. They stamped, and also peeled their corn by help of lye, and then cooked it to eat. Their wheat they carried to Schenectady to grind, a space of 19 miles, every man about a skipple to his load : sometimes there would go 20 in a drove, often men and wo- men together. This they had to do for 3 or four years, until a grist-mill was built by one William Fox. " By now, the people began to think themselves very well off, having plenty to eat, began to have stock — used horses — made their own block sleighs for use at home, and wooden shod sleighs to go to Albany ; but knew of no britsh collars, (which were an invention of Schenectady ;) made a trip to Albany — back again in 5 days. Their wagons for summer use, were made of blocks sawed ofi", of a thick water beech tree, which we now call button-wood." The following is an eastern view of the old stone church situated about a mile north of the courthouse in Schoharie, which was used as a fort during the revolutionary war. The view la taken from a painting executed about 17 years since, and now in the possession of Henry Hamilton, Esq., of Schoharie. Since that time the church SCHOHARIE COUNTY. Ancient stone church in Schoharie. has been somewhat altered, a tower having been erected in the place of the spire. It is very antiquated in its appearance. On many of the stones are carved various names, supposed to be those of persons who contributed towards its erection. In ancient times this church was surrounded with a picket fence. When Sir John Johnson rav- aged the Mohawk valley in 1780, he visited Schoharie, and after making an unsuccessful attack on the Middle Fort, he proceeded to the Lower Fort, as this church was called. " When they arrived at the Lower Fort, they showed Httle disposition to attack it, although its garrison did not amount to 100 men. They separated into two divisions, the regular troops marching along the bank of the creek, and the Indians filing off" about half a mile to the east of the fort. The regulars fired a few cannon-shot without effect, one only lodging in the corner of the church ;* and then, after sinking one of their field. pieces in a morass, marched round to the north of the fort, where they were joined by the Indians. Here they fired a few shot with small-arms, and a few of the Indians approached near enough to throw their bullets into the tower of the church, where some marksmen had been stationed. A discharge of grape from the fort drove them back, and they continued their march through the woods to Fort Hunter, on the Mohawk, near the mouth of Schoharie creek, where they arrived after dark. " The beautiful valley of Schoharie creek presented a scene of devastation, on the night of the 17th of October, not easily described. Houses, barns, and numerous stacks of hay and grain, were consumed ; domestic animals lay dead everywhere over the fields ; a kw buildings belonging to the royalists had been spared, but the militia, sallying out, set fire to them in revenge. After the burning of Schoharie, this settlement ceased to be so much an object of tory vengeance : and during the years 1781 and 1782, though there were frequent alarms, little damage was done by the enemy. The Indians appeared once in considerable numbers at Cobbleskill, burned a few buildings, killed one man, and carried off" five prison, ers ; but the body of the inhabitants had taken refuge in a fort which they had built on their return from Schoharie in 1781, and were safe." — Annals of Tiyon County. Esperance, 8 miles N. of Schoharie courthouse, is a village of about 70 dwellings. Sloansville, Gallupville, and Smithville, are small villasres or settlements in this town. 524 SCHOHARIE COUNTY. Seward was formed from the south part of Sharon in 1840 ; cen- trally distant from Schoharie NW. 20 miles. Pop. 2,086. Gard- nersville and Hynesville are the names of the post-offices. In July, 1781, a battle was fought in this town between the Americafts and a body of the enemy, principally Indians, under the command of a tory by the name of John Doxtader. " Col. Willet, who now commanded at Fort Plain, in Jul)' sent Lieut. Gros, with 36 men, as a secret scout, into Durlagh, now the town of Sharon, [within the limits of the new town of Seward,] m Schoharie county. They discovered, near the borders of that settlement, an Indian trail, and followed it in the direction the Indiuns had gone. The scout fell in tile alongside of the path made by the Indians, and by this means ascertained that the force of the enemy was very considerable. Three men were sent on to make further discoveries. After pursuing the trail a short distance, they arrived upon the borders of a thick cedar swamp, 5 or 6 miles NE. of Cherry Valley ; here they found the camp of the enemy, in which a few sentinels only were stationed. The main body of the enemy were out on some expedition. One of the men stole up and took a blanket from beneath a tent, with- out being discovered. Having made the necessary observations, they followed the remain- der of the scout back to Fort Plain. It was almost night when the scout arrived, but Col. Willet added 70 men, and ordered an immediate march. They were joined by Major Robert McKean, with about 30 men, making their force 150. McKean informed Col. Willet that the enemy were about 300 strong, principally Indians, under the command of a tory, by the name of John Doxtader — and that the day previous they had destroyed Curry- town, a small settlement near the Mohawk, a short distance above Schenectady. The night was very dark, and there was no road, nothing but a path through the woods. About daylight they came in sight of the camp. A scout sent forward reported that the enemy had just returned. Col. Willet drew up his men in two parallel hues, and then ordered them to fall back and conceal themselves behind the trees. His plan was favored by the thick cedar swamp in the neighborhood of the enemy's camp. Major McKean with 50 men occupied the right, and Col. Willet commanded the left body, composed of his 100 men. Two men were then sent forward to pass over a piece of open ground in sight of the enemy. When discovered they were directed to lead in between the two lines. The ex- pectations of Col. Willet were realized ; the Indians, as soon as they saw these men, raised their war-cry and commenced an immediate pursuit. As they followed in, the troops of Major McKean opened a galling and destructive fire upon them, which was warmly seconded by Col. Willet's men on the left. The Indians were beaten at their own game ; they sought shelter behind the trees, but were driven back and routed at the point of the bayonet. Col. Willet led the van, and waving his hat, cheered on his men. The camp of the enemy and all their plunder was taken. They retreated down towards the Susque- hannah, and were pursued with considerable loss. Shortly after the first fire. Major McKean received two severe wounds, but he continued his command until the rout of the enemy was complete. His faithful soldiers carried him back to Fort Plain, where he survived but a day or two. The victory was dearly won by the loss of this brave and hardy chieftain." — Annals of Tryon County. vSharon, taken from Schoharie in 1797; from Albany 40 miles. Pop. 2,520. Sharon, 20 NW., and Leesville 24 miles from Schoharie, are small villages. Summit, taken from Cobelskill and Jefferson in 1819 ; from Albany 52 miles. This township comprises the highest mountains in the county, forming part of the water shed between the Susquehannah and Mohawk rivers. Summit Corners, 20 SW., and Charlotteville, 25 miles from Schoharie, are small settlements. Pop. 2,009. SENECA COUNTY. 535 SENECA COUNTY. Seneca county was taken from Cayuga in 1804 ; since which other counties have been formed from it. Its greatest length N. and S. is 36 miles ; medium width, 12. Centrally distant from New York 317, from Albany 172 miles. The land rises gently from the Cayuga and Seneca lakes, and the whole county is pleasantly diversified with hills and vales. The soil is well adapted to the culture of grain, grasses, and fruit trees, being principally a vegetable mould or calca- reous loam. There is no stream of importance excepting the outlet of the Seneca lake, which from Waterloo to Seneca lake furnishes much hydraulic power. The lands of this county formed part of the military tract, and the titles therefore are derived from the state through patents to the soldiers of the revolution. The Erie canal just touches upon the county in the NE. part, in the town of Tyre. The Auburn and Rochester railroad passes through the towns of Waterloo and Seneca Falls. The county is divided into 10 towns. Pop. 24,868. Covert, taken from Ovid in 1817; from Albany 177, from Ovid SE. 9 miles. Pop. 1,744. Covert is a small village. Fayette, originally named Washington, and taken from Romulus in 1800; from Albany 178 miles. Pop. 3,902. West Fayette, Ca- noga, and Bearysville, are small villages. Waterloo village lies par- tially in this town. Junius, taken from Fayette in 1803; from Albany 173 miles. Pop. l,594.^J)ublin is a small settlement 7 miles northwest from Waterloo. ^' LoDi, taken from Covert in 1826 ; from Albany 175 miles. Pop. 2,238. Lodi village, 4 miles S. from Ovid village, has about 35 dwellings. Townsendville and Ingersoll's Store are post-offices. Ovid, organized in 1789; bounds since altered; from Albany 171 miles. Pop. 2,719. Ovid, the half-shire seat, is about 17 miles SE. of Waterloo. It is delightfully situated on the Newburg turnpike. The village commands a view of a large part of both lakes, and of portions of 9 adjoining counties, the land rising gradually to it from the lakes, rich, arable, and finely cultivated in farms. There is here 1 Presbyterian and 1 Methodist church, a flourishing academy, and about 100 dwellings. Farmers ville, 7 miles SE. from Ovid village, has about 40 dwellings. Romulus was organized in 1789; from Waterloo centrally distant S. 13 miles. Romulus, Hoytes, and Bayleytown, are small settle- ments ; the latter of which is upon Seneca lake, opposite Dresden, where there is a ferry. Pop. 2,066. Seneca Falls was taken from Junius in 1825. It is intersected centrally by the outlet of Seneca Lake. Pop. 4,101. Seneca Falls village is 4 miles E. of Waterloo, 1 1 from Geneva, 3 W. of Cayuga bridge, 85 from Utica, and 167 from Albany. This is a flourishing 526 SENECA COUNTY. i East view of Seneca Falls village. village, containing between 400 and 500 dwellings, 1 Baptist, 1 Pres- byterian, 1 Episcopal, 1 Methodist, and 1 Catholic church, an acade- my, and 3 newspaper printing establishments. There is at this place a heavy water-power of 47 feet over 4 dams, putting in operation 7 extensive flour-mills, besides quite a number of other mills and manu- facturing establishments. The above engraving is an eastern view of the village, the river, and the Cayuga and Seneca canal, with one of the locks, &c. The first settlers at this place were Horatio Jones and Lawrence Van Clief, who fixed their residence here shortly after the revolu- tionary war. Van Clief was a soldier in Sullivan's expjTtion. The village of Seneca Falls was founded in 1815, by Col. Mynderse, who settled here in 1795, and built the first flouring mills in this section of the state. In 1827, the village contained only 265 inhabitants. Bridgeport, formei"ly called West Cayuga, at the W. end of Cayuga bridge, was formerly a place of some business, but at present is in a decayed state, the canals having diverted its trade to other places. In 1789, James Bennet settled at this spot, and in connection with Col. John Harris, on the opposite side of the lake, kept a ferry here, which was of great importance to the early settlers at the west. Tyre was taken from Junius in 1829, centrally distant from Wa- terloo NE. 9, and from Albany 171 miles. Pop. 1,507. It has a level surface, and that part of the town bordering on the Clyfte and Seneca rivers is marshy. Varick, taken from Romulus in 1830. Pop. 1,971. It is centrally situated 13 miles S. from Waterloo. Varick is the name of the post-office. North Romulus, and Romulusville are small settlements. Waterloo was taken from Junius in 1829. It has a level surface and fertile soil. Pop. 3,026. The flourishing village of Waterloo is situated on the Seneca outlet and the Seneca and Cayuga canal, 4 miles from Seneca Falls village, 7 from Geneva, and 167 from Alba- STEUBEN COUNTY. 587 South view of the courthouse in Waterloo. ny. It was founded in 1815, by the late Elisha Williams, of Colum- bia county, and was made a half-shire village in 1822. It contains about 300 dwellings, 4 churches — viz, 1 Episcopal, 1 Methodist, 1 Presbyterian, and 1 Baptist — and about 2,000 inhabitants. With the village of Seneca Falls, Waterloo possesses the advantage of the lateral canal uniting the Seneca and Cayuga lakes with the Erie canal. The water for the mills at this place is taken from the river and canal, and used under a head of 15 feet. The above engrav- ing is a south view of the courthouse, built chiefly at the expense of Messrs. E. Williams and R. Swift, the former proprietors of the soil on which the village is erected. STEUBEN COUNTY. Steuben county, named in honor of Major-general Frederick William Baron de Steuben, the celebrated tactician of the revolu- tionary army, was taken from Ontario in 1796; boundaries since much altered; from Albany centrally distant SW. 216 miles, from New York W. 220 ; length and breadth 40 miles. The surface is broken and hilly, if not mountainous. Along the rivers, the general aspect of the county is uninviting, except that in some parts the allu- vial flats are extensive and rich. The river hills are rocky, precipitous, and covered with evergreens ; but the upland plains have a rich variety of trees, and fertile tracts principally of clayey loam. The staples of the county are lumber, grain, cattle, and wool. The lum- bering is the chief business of the southern towns ; but as the coun- try is cleared of its forests, agriculture rises in importance. Chemung river is the great stream of the county ; it was called by the Senecas Cononque, " horn in the water." Its flats are said to be superior in fertility to the Mohawk.t This county, excepting the town of Reading 528 STEUBEN COUNTY. on the western shore of the Seneca lake, was included in the exten- sive cession of New York to Massachusetts, and passed from that state, through Messrs. Phelps and Gorhani and Robert Morris, to Sir William Pulteney. It was mostly settled by Pennsylvanians, except- ing Prattsburg, which was settled by New Englanders. The county is divided into 27 towns. Pop. 45,985. Addison, originally named Middletown, was organized in 1796. This town was settled in 1793. Its early inhabitants attended church at Canandaigua, 80 miles distant. Addison village, 16 miles S. from Bath, has about 40 dwellings. Rathbunville is the name of a post- office. Pop. 1,919. Bath, organized in 17&6; limits since much altered; from New York NW. 220, from Albany SW. 216 miles. Avoca, Kenadaville, and Mud Creek, are small settlements in this town. Pop. 4.796. Bath, the county seat, on the bank of the Conhocton* river, and 1 1 miles north of the N. York and Erie railroad, is one of the most pleas- ant villages in the western part of the state. The public square, laid out in 1792 by Capt. Charles Williamson, has the county and other public buildings, and several elegant private mansions. View of the east side of Pulteney Square, Bath. The above view of the eastern side of the square, shows on the right the Presbyterian church, built in 1822, being the first building erected with a steeple in the county. The one on the left is the Episcopal. There are in the village also, a courthouse, prison, a bank, a Metho- dist church, and about 200 dwellings. Bath was first settled in 1792, by Capt. Charles Williamson, the first agent of Sir William Pulteney, after whom the public square was named. Sir William, who was a noted English whig, was a large proprietor in this vicinity. * Conhocton, in the Seneca language, means '*rees in the water." STEUBEN COUNTY. 529 Capt. Williamson's party came here from Williamsport in Pennsylva- nia, and were obliged to cut a road all the way through the forest. In 1795, Capt. Williamson established a theatre at this place. He is represented to have been a scientific man, of liberal and extended views. Subsequently he was appointed governor of one of the West India islands; but died on his passage thither. As early as 1796, the va- rious settlements in this region began to exhibit an appearance of respectability rarely instanced in so new a country. A printing office was then established here, and a newspaper printed, entitled the Bath Gazette. The number of inhabitants in Bath and 8 miles ai'ound numbered 800. There were also 2 schools, 1 grist-mill and 5 saw- mills. The following, respecting the early history of this place is extract- ed from the Travels of Maude, an English gentlemen, who visited this region about the year 1800. " Bath, which now contains about 40 families," says this traveller, "was laid out in 1792, the same year that Capt. Williamson forced a passage to this till ihen unknown country, through a length of wilderness which the oldest and most experienced woodmen could not be tempted to assist him to explore ; tempted by an offer of more than 5 times the amount of their usual wages. Capt. Williamson was then accompanied by his friend and relative, Mr. Johnstone, and a servant — afterward a backwoodsman, was prevailed on to join the party. It was not till 1795 that this country could supply its inhabitants with food ; for till then, their flour was brought from Northumberland, and their pork from Philadelphia ; yet, so rapidly has the spirit of improvement gone forth in this country, so suddenly has plenty burst forth where so late was famine, and so quick the change of scene from dark tangled forests (whose death-like silence yielded to the growl of bears, the howl of wolves, and the yell of savages) to smiling lields, to flocks and herds, and to the busy hum of men, that instead of being indebted to others for their support, they will henceforth annually supply the low country, Baltimore especially, with many hundred barrels of flour and head of cattle. On Capt. Williamson's first arrival, where now is Bath, he built a small log-hut for his wife and family. If a stranger came to visit him, he built up a little nook for him to put his bed in. In a little time, a boarded or frame house was built to the left of the hut; this also was intended but as a temporary residence, though it then appeared a palace. His present residence, a very commodious, roomy, and well-planned house, is situated on the right of where stood the hut long since consigned to the kitchen fire Bath is the capital of Steuben county, which county contains at present (1800) about 300 families. On the first settlement of the country these mountainous districts were thought so unfavor- ably of when compared with the rich flats of Ontario county, (or the Genesee country,) that none of the settlers could be prevailed upon to establish themselves here till Capt. William, son himself set the example, saying, ' As Nature has done so much for the northern plains, I will do something for these southern mountains ;' though the truth of the case weis, that Capt. Williamson saw very clearly, on his first visit to the country, that the Susquehannah and not the Mohawk would be its best friend. Even now it has proved so ; for at this day (1800) a bushel of wheat is better worth $1,00 at Bath than 60 cents at Geneva. This difference will grow wider every year ; for little, if any, additional improvement can be made in the water communication with New York, while that to Baltimore will admit of very extensive and advantageous ones. Its present eflTorts are those of a child, compared with the manly strength it will soon assume. I visited Capt. Williamson's mills, a little west of Bath, on Conhocton creek, which before the winter sets in will be made navigable 15 miles higher up; at least a farmer there promises to send an ark down from thence in the spring. Should he succeed, Capt. Williamson promises him a gift of 30 acres of land. The navigation of the Susquehannah will then extend to within 6 miles of the Canandaigua lake." The following inscriptions were copied from monuments in the graveyard in this place. 67 530 STEUBEN COUNTY. " George C. Edwards, died Nov. 18th, 1837 ; born at Stockbridge, Mass., Sept. 28, 1787. — This monument records the affection and respect of the Members and Court of the Bar of Steuben county, for George G. Edwards. — Tribute to the memory of a just Judge, an able Lawyer, a good citizen, and an honest man. — The richest legacy to leave for posterity is a good name." " Sacred to the memory of Ducjald Cameron, a native of Invcrnesshire, Scotland, and a resident of this his adopted country from 1794 until his decease, which took, place in the city of Albany whilst there as a member of the legislature of this state, on the 5th oi March, 1828, aged 52 years. In his death the church was deprived of a liberal donor, the public of an useful and faithful representative, the poor and the wayfering of a ready and benevo- lent friend. — ' Mark the perfect man and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace.' " Bradford, recently formed; from Bath centrally distant E. 12 miles. Jersey is the post-office. Pop. 1,545. Cameron, taken from Addison in 1822; from Bath S. 8 miles. Pop. 1,349. The Canisteo river, which name in the Indian tongue sijrnifies " board in the water," crosses the town. Cameron and South Cameron are the post-offices. Campbell, taken from Hornby in 1831 ; from Bath SE. 11 miles. Pop. 850. There is a post-office at Campbelltown village, and one at Hammond's mills. Canisteo, organized in 1796; from Albany 241, from Bath SW. 14 miles. Pop. 941. The rich flats of the Canisteo river in this town are about half a mile in width. This was the first settled place in the county. It was settled in 1790, by Solomon Bennett, 3 fami- lies by the name of Stevens, and Capt. Jemison. They came up the Chemung and Canisteo rivers from Athens, Pennsylvania. Canisteo and East Canisteo are post-offices. Caton, the SE. town of the county, recently erected from Painted Post ; centrally distant from Bath 28 miles. Pop. 797. CoNHocTON, taken from Bath and Dansville in 1812 ; from Albany 215, from Bath NW. 16 miles. Pop. 2,985. Liberty is a small vil- lage ; Blood's Corners and Patchin's Mills are small settlements. Dansville, organized in 1796 ; since altered in area ; from Albany 240, from Bath NW. 24 miles. Pop. 2,725. South Dansville, Ro- gersville, Doty's Corners, and De Witts Valley, are post-offices. Erwin, taken from Painted Post in 1826 ; from Albany 212, from Bath SE. 20 miles. Near the mouth of the Conhocton river is the small village of Erwin, upon the Great Bend and Bath turnpike. Upon the rivers are rich alluvial flats, well cultivated, and a fine bridge across the Conhocton 300 feet long. There are post-offices at the village of Erwin and Painted Post. Pop. 782. The celebrated "painted post" from which the town of Painted Post derived its name, formerly stood upon the bank of the river. There have been various stories in relation to its origin ; the following account taken from the narrative of the captivity and sufferings of Gen. Freegift Paichin, who was taken prisoner by a party of Indians undet Brant during the revolution, is probably correct. " Near this, we found the famous PAINTED POST, which is now known over the whole continent, to those conversant with the early history of our country ; the origin of which was as follows. Whether it was in the revolution, or in the Dunmore battles with the Indians, which commenced in Virginia, or in the French war, I do not know ; an Indian chief, on this spot, had been victorious in battle, killed and took prisoners to the number of about 60. Tliis event he celebrated by causing a Uee to STEUBEN COUNTY. 531 be taken from the forest and hewed four square, painted red, and the number he killed, which was 28, represented across the post in black paint, without any heads, but those he took prisoners, which was 30, were represented with heads on in black paint, as the others. This post he erected, and thus handed down to posterity an account that here a battle was fought ; but by whom, and who the sufferers were, is covered in darkness, except that it was between the whiles and Indians." Greenwood, taken from Troupsburg and Canisteo in 1827 ; from Albany 251 ; from Bath SW. 26 miles. Pop. 1,138. Hornby, taken from Painted Post in 1826 ; from Albany 199, from Bath SE. 20 miles. Pop. 1,048. HoRNELLsviLLE, taken from Canisteo in 1820; from Albany 236. Pop. 2,121. Hornellsville, so called from George Hornell, its first settler, lies on a branch of the Canisteo near the main stream, on the road from Bath to Angelica, 20 miles W. from the former, and on the line of the New York and Erie railroad ; it contains 1 Presbyterian and 1 Methodist church, and about 50 dwellings. Arkport, on the Canisteo, and Purdy creek, are post-offices. Howard, taken from Bath and Dansvillein 1812; centrally distant W. from Bath 12 miles. Bennet's Flats, post village, contains 2 churches, an academy, and about 40 dwellings. The names of the post-offices are Howard, Goffs Mills, Towlesville, and Neil's Creek. Pop. 3,250. Jasper, taken from Troupsburg and Canisteo in 1827 ; from Bath S. 24 miles. Pop. 1,187. Adamsport is a small village. LiNDLEY, recently formed from Erwin ; from Bath SE. centrally distant 24 miles. Pop. 638. Erwin Centre and Lindleytown are the post offices. The limits of the town were early settled. At this Early method of pounding corn. period there being no mills in this section for grinding the grain of the inhabitants, they adopted a substitute for preparing their corn, not un- common among the early settlements in this region. The above is a representation of this method, consisting of a stump hollowed out by fire as a mortar, with a log attached to the end of a young sapling 532 STEUBEN COUNTY. bent over to act as a pestle. This process was slow and tedious, it being a day's work to convert half a bushel of corn into samp. The settlers who owned a few slaves employed them in this drudgery ; hence the process was vulgarly termed " niggering corn." Orange, with Bradford, until recently comprehended one town, un- der the name of Jersey ; 205 miles from Albany, from Bath centrally distant E. 15 miles. Pop. 1,822. Meads Creek and Sugar Hill are names of post-offices. Painted Post, organized in 1796; from Albany 210, from Bath centrally distant SE. 22 miles. Pop. 1,672. This is a place much noted in the early history of this section of the country. The cele- brated ^'■painted post," (for the history of which see Erwin in this county,) from which the place derived its name, stood within the old limits of this town. The flats on the Chemung river are very rich, and the adjoining hills covered with pine forests. The navigable feeder of the Chemung canal is supplied from the river at the " chim- ney narrows" so called from several piles of rocks rising perpendic- ularly in various places from the hill-side, and having the appearance of chimneys. Within two miles of the western boundary of the town, on the Great Bend and Bath road and north bank of the Che- mung river, is the little village of Centreville, which was formerly called Painted Post. This, including the village of Knoxville, with which it is nearly connected, contains 100 dwellings. The line of the Erie railroad runs in the valley of the Chemung river, which at the village of Corning, on the south bank of this stream, is intersected by the Corning and Blossburg railroad, communicating with the coal mines of Pennsylvania. Prattsburg, named after a principal proprietor, was taken from Pulteney in 1813; from Albany 202, from Bath centrally distant N. 14 miles. Pop. 2,442. Prattsburg village has two churches, an in- corporated academy, and about 80 dwellings. Pulteney, taken from Bath in 1808 ; from Albany 212, from Bath centrally distant NE, 18 miles. Pop. 1,782. Pulteney, Peltonville, and South Pulteney, are post-offices. Reading, the NE. town of the county, was taken from Fredericks- town, then Wayne, in 1806; from Albany 186 miles. Pop. 1,535. Irelandville, 24 miles NE. from Bath, has about 50 dwellings. Jeffer- son or Savoy village, on the inlet of the lake, partly in Dix of Tioga county, has about 300 inhabitants. Rock Stream, near Seneca lake, has a cascade of 140 feet. There is a post-office called North Read- ing. Troupsburg, settled in 1805 ; taken from Middletown and Canisteo in 1808 ; from Albany 247, and from Bath SW. 28 miles. Pop. 1,172. Troupsburg and West Troupsburg are the post-offices. Tyrone, taken from Wayne in 1822 ; from Albany 194, from Bath NE. 16 miles; settled by emigrants from New England, New Jer- sey, and Orange county. New York. Tvrone, Tobanna, and Pine Grove, are post-offices. Pop. 2,098. Urbana, taken from Bath in 1822 ; from Albany 207, centrally SUFFOLK COUNTY. 533 distant from Bath NE. 8 miles. Pop. 1,889. « At the head of tb« Crooked Lake Hes the flourishing village of Hammondsport, founded in 1826 by Lazarus Hammond, containing 1 Presbyterian and 1 Episcopal church, and about 100 dwellings. The village is favora- bly situated for trade, by reason of the lake. It must become the port of the county, v^^hence much of its exports will seek a market in the centre of the state, and at the towns on the Hudson river. A steamboat daily plies between here and Penn Yan, the capital of Yates county ; thence the Crooked Lake canal leads to the Seneca Lake, which is connected with the Erie canal by the Seneca and Cayuga canal, by which route there is an uninterrupted water com- munication with New York." Urbana, Cold Springs, and Mount Washington, are the names of the post-ofRces. W^AYNE, organized in 1796, under the name of Frederickstown ; limits and name since altered ; from Albany 199 miles. Pop. 1,377. Wayne, post village, at the north end of Little Lake, 18 miles NE. from Bath, has about 40 dwellings. There is a post-office at Wayne Four Corners. Wheeler, taken from Bath and Prattsburg in 1820 ; from Albany 210, from Bath N. 10 miles. Pop. 1,305. Wheeler and West Ur- bana are post-offices. WooDHULL, taken from Troupsburg and Addison in 1828 ; from Albany 236, from Bath centrally distant S. 22 miles. It is thinly in- habited. Pop. 820. Newville is a small settlement. SUFFOLK COUNTY. Suffolk county, which comprises about two thirds of Long Island, was organized in 1683, at which time the ridings were abolished, and Long Island was divided into three counties, as they have remained ever since. It is about one hundred and ten miles in length, and in some parts twenty in width. On the north side next the sound the land is considerably broken and hilly ; in the interior, and on the south side it is mostly a sandy plain, covered for the greater part with forests of pine, in which the wild deer is still an inhabitant. The county is not well watered, the streams being few and small. The chief business of the inhabitants is agriculture and fishing ; they also send large quantities of pine wood to market. The original settlers of the county were mostly from New England, and the inhabitants have ever retained to a great degree the habits and manners of the Puritans. The county is divided into 9 towns, all of which, except Riverhead, were organized in 1788. Pop. 32,468. Brookhaven, the largest town in the county, embraces the whole width of the island. It contains more than 103,000 acres, of which only about 35,000 are improved. The greater part of the in- 534 SUFFOLK COUNTY. habitants are distributed along the villages on the sound and the ocean. The middle portion is for the most part covered with pine forests, in which deer abound. Pop. 7,050. " The first settlement in the town was commenced at Setauket, in 1655, by which name the town was at first called. Most, if not all, the original planters came from Boston and its vicin- ity. The civil aflairs of the settlement were conducted by magistrates elected from among themselves, and by rules and ordinances adopted in the primary assemblies of the people. After the conquest of New York in \GM, a patent of confirmation for their purchases of the natives was obtained from Governor Nicol. The first minister. Rev. Nathaniel Brewster, was settled here in KifiS. He was a grandson of Elder William Brewster, one of the founders of the Plymouth colony, who came over in the May Flovver, in 1620. Mr. Brevyster died in 1690. It would seem that from age or some other infirmity, he was unable to discharge his pastoral duties for some years before his death ; for at a town meeting held October 31, 1685, Samuel Eburne was chosen by vote to be minister of the town, ' and it being proposed unto him, that in regard of some lender con.icieiices, he would omit the ceremony in the book of com- mon prayer, the said Samuel promised, that according to their desire, in regard of their femier comcieneex, to omit and not iisj the aforesaid cei-emonies in the public worship, except to such as should dexii-e the same.' The next minister. Rev. George Phillips, came to Setauket in 1697, and continued here till his death in 1739. The ne.xt mini.ster was Rev. David Youngs : his successor. Rev. Benjamin Tallmadge, was settled here in 1754. Mr. Tallmadge was succeeded by Rev Noah Wetmore, who came here in 1786: Rev. Zachariah Greene was his successor. The following relative to seating the meeting-house, recorded on the town books, is a curious relic of olden times : — " At a meeting of the trustees of Brookhaven, August 6th, 1703 : Whereas there hath been several rude actions of late happened in our church by reason of the people not being seated, which is much to the dishonor of God and the discouragement of virtue. For preventing the like again, it is ordered that the inhabitants be seated after the manner and form following : All freeholders that have or shall subscribe within a month to pay 40 shillings to Mr. PhilUps towards his sallary shall be seated at the table, and that no women are permitted to set there, except Col. Smith's lady, nor any women kind ; And that the President for the time being shall sit in the riaht-hand seat under the pulpit, and the clerk on the left : the trustees in the front seat, and tlie Justices that are inhabitants of the town, are to be seated at the table, whether they pay 40 shillings or less. And the pew. No. 1, all such persons as have or shall subscribe 20 shillings; and the pew, No. 2, such as subscribe to pay 15 shillings; in pew. No. 3, such as subscribe to pay 10 shillings; No. 4, BshiUings; No. 5, 12 shillings; No. 6, 9 shillings ; No. 7, for the young men ; No. 8, for the boys ; No. 9, for ministers' widows and wives ; and for those women whose husbands pay 40 shilUngs, to sit according to their age ; No. 11, for those men's wives that pay from 20 to 15 shillings. The alley fronting the pews to be for such maids whose parents or selves shall subscribe for two, 6 shillings; No. 12, far those men's wives who pay from 10 to 15 shillings ; No. 13, for maids j No. 14, for girls; and No. 15, free for any. Captain Clark and Joseph Tooker to settle the inhabitants according to the above order." Caroline church, in Setauket, the first Episcopal church on Long Island, was erected in 1730. This building, after having been repeatedly altered and repaired, is still standing. The Congregational church at Old Mans, was first erected in 1720, and rebuilt in 1805. The Pres- byterian church was built in 1800, at Middletown, and another at Fire-place, in 1828 ; the first Church at this latter place was erected in 1740. The first Congregational church at Patchogue was built in 1767, the present in 1822. The Methodist church at this place was erected in 1830. The Baptist church at Corum has stood about ninety years. The Methodist church at Stony- brook was erected in 1817. Setauket, the oldest and one of the most populous villages in the town, received its name from its being the residence of the Seatalcott tribe of Indians. It is situated on both sides of the har- bor, occupying about two square miles. The village of Stonybrook is on the western side of the town adjoining the sound, and has one of the best harbors in this part of the island. There are about 60 dwellings ; shipbuilding to a considerable extent is carried on in this place. Port Jefferson and Millers Place are small villages. Corum is near the centre of the town, and has been the seat of the town business for more than 60 years. It is a small village containing about 150 inhabitants. In, or near the village, the British had accumulated a large quantity of forage in the winter of 1780, which was destroyed by Colonel Tallmadge, a native of Setauket. The plan of this expedition was approved of by a communication from General Washington. SUFFOLK COUNTY. 535 "In pursuance of this communication, Major Tallmadge ordered the detachment to repair to Fairfield. Here being met by other troops, the party embarked, the 21st of November, 1780, at fouro'clock, P. M., in eight whale-boats. The whole number, including the crews of the boats, amounted to eighty men. They crossed the sound in four hours, and landed at Old Mans at nine o'clock. The troops had niarched about five miles, when it beginning to rain, they returned, and took shelter under their boats, and lay concealed in the bushes all that night and the next day. At evening the rain abating, the troops were again put in motion, and at three o'clock in the morning were within two miles of the fort. Here he divided his men into three parties, ordering each to attack the fort at the same time at difl'erent points. The order was so well executed, that the three divisions arrived nearly at the same moment. It was a triangular enclosure of several acres, strongly stockaded, well barricaded houses at two of the angles, and at the third a fori, with a deep ditch and wall, encircled by an abatis of sharpened pickets, projecting at an angle of forty-five degrees. The stockade was cut down, the column led through the grand-parade, and in ten minutes the main fort was cairied by the bayonet. The vessels near the fort, laden with stores, attempted to escape, but the guns of the fort being brought to bear upon them, they were secured and burnt, as were the works and stores. The number of prisoners was lifty-four, of whom seven were wounded. While they were marched to the boats under an escort, Major Tallmadge proceeded with the remainder of his detachment, destroyed about three hundred tons of nay collected at Corum, and re- turned to the place of debarkation just as the party with the prisoners had arrived, and reach- ed Fairfield by eleven o'clock the same evening : having accomplished the enterprise, inclu- ding a march of forty miles by land and as much by water, without the lo.?s of a man. Con- gress passed a resolve comphmentary to the commander and troops engaged in this expedi- tion, which was said by them to have been planned and conducted With wisdom and great gallantry by Major Tallmadge, and executed with intrepidity and complete success by the officers and soldiers of his detachment " View of Patchogue in Bi'oohhaven, Long Island. The above is a view taken at the western entrance into the vil- lage of Patchouge ; the Congregational and Methodist churches are seen on the left, and the compact part of the village in the distance on the right. The village is named after the Patchogue tribe of In- dians, who once possessed the territory in this part of the island. It contains about 75 dwellings, the greater part of which have been erected within a few years. It is 28 miles from Riverhead, and 60 from New York, upon the great thoroughfare from Brooklyn to Sagg Harbor. Four miles east is the recently built village of Bell Port, containing about 30 dwellings, an academy, 2 ship-yards, &c. Five miles east of here is a small settlement called Fire-place, known as a rendezvous for sportsmen. Moriches is in the east part of the town, extending east from Mastic river. The groves of Mastic are somewhat celebrated. Easthampton, the most easterly town on Long Island, includes the peninsula of Montauk'and Gjirdiner's Island. It is centi-ally dis- 536 SUFFOLK COUNTY. tant from New York 110 miles. Pop. 2,076. The town was settled in 1649 by about thirty families from Lynn, Massachusetts, ani the towns adjacent. The town continued an independent plantation or community till 1657, when they put themselves under the jurisdiction of Connecticut. The Rev. Thomas James was the first minister in the town ; he died in 1696, and was succeeded by Rev. Nathaniel Hunting. Mr. Hunting was succeeded by Rev. Samuel Buell in 1746. The fourth minister was Rev. Lyman Beecher, who was set- tled here in 1799. Mr. Beecher is now the President of the Lane Seminary in Ohio. The village of Easthampton is confined to a single street, of about a mile in length, having about 100 dwellings, mostly of an antiquated appearance, a church, and the Clinton acad- emy, erected here in 1785, being the first institution of the kind on Long Island. The village of Amagansett, containing about 50 houses, is three miles to the east. Wainscott is a small village in the S W. part. Gardiner's Island contains about 3,300 acres, with a soil mostly of a good quality ; the nearest point of distance to Long Island is three miles. Lyon Gardiner, the first settler on the island, was a native of Scotland. He belonged to the republican party, with the illustrious Hampden, Cromwell, and others. His family bible, now in possession of his descendants on the island, contains the following, written in his own hand : — " In the year 1635, the 10th day of July, came I, Lyon Gardiner, and Mary my wife, from Woden, a town of Holland, where my wife was born, being the daughter of one Diricke Willemson ; her mother's name was Hachir, and her aunt, sister of her mother, was the wife of Wouter Leanderson, Old Burger Muster, dwelling in the Hostade, over against the Bruser, in the Unicorne's Head ; her brother's name was Punee Garretson, also old Burger Muster. We came from Woden to London, and from thence to New England, and dwelt at Saybrook fort four years ; it is at the mouth of Connecticut Kiver, of which I was commander ; and there was hiorn to me a son, named David, the first bom in that place ; and in 1638 a daughter was born, named Mary, 30th of August, and then I went to an island of my own, which I had bought of the Indians, called by them Manchonock, by us Isle of Wi"ht, and there was born another daughter the 14tli of September, 1611, she being the first cnild of English parents born there." The notorious pirate William Kidd visited this island and buried a valuable treasure. From this circumstance, doubtless, has arisen the numerous legends respecting the burial of " Kidd's money," in many places along the coast. The following is a brief account of Kidd :— " William Kidd, the famous freebooter and pirate, was the commander of a merchant ves- sel which sailed between New York and London, and celebrated for his nautical skill and en- terprise : on which account he was strongly recommended by Mr. Living.ston of New York, then in London, as a proper person to take charge of a vessel which Lord Romney and oth- ers hud purchased, and were then fitting out against the hordes of marauders which infested the Indian seas, and preyed upon the commerce of all nations. The expense of this expedi- tion was £6000 sterUng. It was a joint fund, to which the King, Lord Someis, the Earl of Rumsey, the iJuke of Shrewsbury, the Earl of Oxford, Lord Bellamont, and Mr. Livingston were contributors. Kidd agreed to be concerned to the amount of one-fifth of the whole, and Mr. Livingston became his surety for the sum of £600. He soon set sail, and arrived on the American coast, where he continued for some time, and was useful in proiecting our com- merce, for whicli he received much public applause ; and the assembly of this state voted him the sum of £250 as an acknowledgment of nis services. He soon after established himsell at the Island of Madagascar, where he lay like a shark, darting out at pleasure, and robbing with impunity the vessels of every country. Having captured a larger and better vessel than his own, he burnt the one in which he had sailed, and took command of the other ; in which he ranged over the Indian coast from the Red Pea to Malabar, and his depredations extended from the Eastern Ocean, back along the Atlantic coast of South America, through the Ba- hamas, the whole West Indiee, and the shoree of Long Island. The last of which were se- SUFFOLK COUNTY. 53*7 lected as the fittest for depositing his ill-gotten treasures. He is supposed to have returned from the east with more valuable spoil than ever fell to the lot of any other individual. On his homeward passage from the West Indies to Boston, where he was linally apprehended, he anchored in Gardiner's bay, and in the presence of the owner of the island, Mr. Gardiner, and under the most solemn injunctions of secrecy, buried a pot of gold, silver, and precious stones. On the 3d of July, 1690, he was summoned before Lord Bellamont at Boston, and or- dered to report his proceedings while in the service of the company : which refusing to do, he was immediately arrested and transported to England, where he was tried, convicted, and executed at " Execution Dock" on the 12th of May, 1701. He was found guilty of the mur- der of WiUiam Moore, gunner of the ship, and was hung in chains. JMr. .(oliiii G. Gardiner has a small piece of gold cloth, ^vhich his father received trom Mrs Wetmore, who gave also the following accountofKidd's visit to the island. ' 1 remember, (^he says,) when verv young, hearing my mother say that her grandmother was the wife to Lord Gardiner when the pirate came to that island. He wanted Mrs. Gardiner to roast him a pig ; she being alraid to refu.se him, roasted it very nice, and he was much pleased with it. lie then made her a present of this cloth, which she gave to her two daughters; what became of the other know I not ; but this was handed down to me, and is, I believe, as nice as when first given, which must be up- wards of a hundred years.' " It having been ascertained that he had buried treasures upon this island, commissioners were sent by Governor Bellamont, who obtained the same, and for which they gave the fol- lowing receipt: — "A true account of all such gold, silver, jewels, and merchandize, late in the possession of Captain William Kidd, which nad been seized and secured by us pursuant to an order from his Excellency, Richard Earl of Bellamont, bearing date July 7, 1699. Received, the 17th instant, of Mr. John Gardiner, viz. ounces. No. 1. One bag of dust-gold, 63 3-4 2. One bag of coined gold, -.-.-.-..n and one in silver, -------... 124 3. One bag of dust-gold, - - - - 24 3-4 4. One bag of silver rings, and sundry precious stones, - - - 4 7-8 5. One bag of unpolishecl stones, - 12 1-2 6. One piece of crystal, carnelian rings, two agates, two amethysts. 7. One bag silver buttons and lamps, - - 8. One bag of broken silver, - 173 1-2 9. One bag of gold bars, .-----... 353 1.4 10. One do. 238 1-2 11. One bag of dust-gold, --------- 59 1-2 12. One bag of silver bare, ...-.---- 309 Samuel Sewall, Nathaniel Byfield, Jeremiah Dummer, Andrew Belcher, Commissioners. " View of Montauk Point, Long Island. The peninsula of Montauk contains 9,000 acres. The land is owned by about forty individuals, as tenants in common. The Indi- ans have non-fructuary interest in a portion of the land ; but as the race is nearly extinct, this incumbrance must be of short duration. The soil is generally good, and is used as pasture land. The surface is rough, and in some places precipitous. " There is a sublimity and wildness, as well as solitariness here, which leave a powerful impres- sion on the heart. In a storm, the scene which the ocean presents is 68 538 SUFFOLK COUNTY. awfully grand and terrific. On the extreme point stands the tall white column erected by the government for a lighthouse in 1795, at an expense of $22,300. It is constructed of stone, in the most sub- stantial manner." Within five or six miles of this place the Spanish schooner Amistad, in possession of a company of African slaves, was captured and carried into New London. The following partic- ulars respecting the schooner, &c., was written by one of the officers of the United States brig Washington : — New London, Augvst 26, 1839. " While this vessel was sounding this day between Gardiner's and Montauk Points, a schooner was seen lying in-shore oti' Culloden Point, under circumstances so suspicious as to authorize Lieutenant-commandant Gedney to stand in to see what was her character : seeing a number of people on the beach with carts and horses, and a boat passing to and fro, a boat was armed and despatched with an officer to board her. On coming alongside, a number of negroes were discovered on her deck, and twenty or thirty more were on the beach — two white men came forward and claimed the protection of the olfiuer. The schooner proved to be the ' Amistad,' Captain Ramontiues, from the Havanna, bound to Guanajah, Port Princi- pe, with 54 blacks and two passengers on board ; the former, four nights after they were out, rose and murdered the captain and three of the crew — thev then took possession of the vessel, with the intention of returning to the coast of Africa. Pedro Montez, passenger, and Jose Ruiz, owner of the slaves and a part of the cargo, were only saved to navigate the vessel. After boxing about for four days in the Bahama channel, the vessel was steered for the Island of St. Andrews, near New Providence — trom thence she went to Green Key, where the blacka laid in a supply of water. After leaving this place the vessel was steered by Pedro Montez for New Providence, the negroes being under the impression that she was steering for the coast of Al'rica— they would not however permit her to enter the port, but anchored every night oH' the coast. The situation of the two whiles was all this time truly deplorable, being treated with the greatest severity, and Pedro Montez, who had charge of the navigation, was suffering from two severe wounds, one on the head and one on the arm, their lives being threatened every instant. He was ordered to change the course again for the coast of Africa, tlie negroes themselves steering by the sun in the daytime, while at night he would alter their course°so as to bring them back to their original place of destination. They remained three days off" Long Island, to the eastward of Providence, after which time they were two months on the ocean, sometimes steering to the eastward, and whenever an occasion would permit, the whites would alter the course to the northward and westward, always in hopes of lalling in with some vessel of war, or being enabled to run into some port, when they would be re- lieved from their horrid situation. " Several times they were boarded by vessels ; once by an American schooner from Kingston ; on these occasions the whites were ordered below, while the negroes commu. nicated and traded with the vessels ; the schooner from Kingston supplied them with a de- mijohn of water for the moderate sum of one doubloon — this schooner, whose name was not ascertained, finding that the negroes had plenty of money, remained lashed alongside the ' Amistad' for twenty-four hours, though they must have been aware that all was not right on board, and probal)ly suspected the character of the vessel — this was on the eighteenth of the present month ; the vessel was steered to the northward and westward, and on the 20th instant, distant from New York 25 miles, the pilot-boat No. 3 came alongside and gave the negroes some apples. She was also hailed by No. 4 ; when the latter boat came near, the negroes armed themselves and would not permit her to board them ; they were so exasperated with the two whites for bringing them so much out of their way, that they expected every moment to be murdered. On the l24th they made Montauk light, and steered for it in the hope of running the vessel ashore, but the tide drifted them up the bay, and they anchored where they were found by the brig Washington, off Culloden point. The negroes were found in communication with the shore, where they laid in a fresh supply of water, and were on the point of sailing again for the coast of Africa. They had a good supply of money, some of which it is likely was taken by the people on the beach. After disarming and sending them on board from the beach, the leader jumped overboard with three hundred doubloons about him, the property of the captain, all of which he succeeded in losing from his person, and then submitted himself to be captured. The schooner was taken in tow by the brig and carried into New London." The Africans were afterward taken to New Haven ; and an inves- tigation was had before the United States court at Hartford. In January, 1840, their case was tried before the United States district SUFFOLK COUNTY. 539 court. Judge Judson decided that they should be delivered up to the President of the United States to be sent back to Africa. The United States attorney having appealed from this decision, the case was referred to the Supreme Court, at Washington, which set in January, 1841. This court declared the freedom of the Africans. Huntington, the westernmost town in the county, is bounded on the N. by the sound, and S. by the ocean. The surface in the N. is rough and hilly, in the centre a high sandy plain, covered with pines and shrub oaks. The South Bay has on its northern shore a strip of salt meadow nearly a mile wide. The soil near the sound, and par- ticularly upon the necks, is the best in the town. Pop. 6,562. The earliest deed for land in this town was given to Gov. Eaton, of New Haven, for Eaton's Neck, in 1646, the first Indian deed to the ori- ginal settlers of Huntington, and comprised six square miles. " In an early period of the settlement, in this town as well as in others, almost all domestic trade was carried on by means of exchange. Contracts were made to be satisfied in produce, and even the judgments given in the courts, were made payable in grain, at fixed prices, or in inerchaiUabk pay at the current price. The prices were established by the governor and court of assize ; and in 1665 the assessors were ordered to fix an estimate lor stocK.. Accordingly, a horse or mare four years old and upward, was to be taken in pay at twelve pounds ; a cow four years old and upward, at five pounds; an ox or bull of the same age, at six pounds; and other articles, as pork, wheat, corn, &c., at proportionate prices. In the draft of a contract between the town and a schoolmaster in 1657, the salary was to be paid in current pay ; and in 1686 the town contracted with a carpenter to make an addition to the meeting-house, to be paid in produce. Even executions issued by the magistrates, were satisfied in the same way. 'At a town meeting, April 4, 1661, it was agreed that a firkin of butter should be paid in, at Stephen Jarvis's house by the middle of June, for the satislaction of a debt due from ye town to Ensigne Briant.' The more eftectually to preserve the public morals, the people ex- cluded from society those whom they thought likely to injure them. In 1662, they appointed, by a vote at town meeting, a committee, consisting of the minister and six of their most re- spectable citizens, to examine the characters of those coming to settle among them ; with uower to admit or reject, as they judged most likely to benefit or injure society, with a pro- fiso, that they should not exclude any ' that were honest, and well approved by honest and judicious men ;' and forbid any inhabitant to sell or let house or land to any one not approved by the committee, under the penalty often pounds, to be paid to the town. In 1653, tne town forbade any inhabitant to entertain a certain obnoxious individual longer than the space of a week, either gratuitously or tor pay, under the penalty of forty shillings." In 1660, the town put themselves under the jurisdiction of Connec- ticut, and in 1662, elected two deputies to attend the genei'al court at Hartford. The connection was dissolved on the conquest of New York, in 1664. The first minister of the town was William Lever- idge, who was established here 1658. He was succeeded by Rev. Eliphalet Jones in 1677. Mr. Jones was succeeded by Ebenezer Prime, who died in 1779, who was succeeded by Rev. Nathan Woodhull, and the latter by the Rev. William Schenck. The following shows the appearance of the village of Huntington as it is entered from the westward. The Presbyterian church and aca- demy are seen in the distance, near the central part of the engraving. The Universalist church is seen near the burying ground on the light. There are about one hundred dwellings in the vicinity of the churches. A newspaper is published in this place. This village is 40 miles W. from Riverhead, and about 45 from New York. The thriving village of Babylon, 40 miles from New York, on the south side of the island, in full view of the bay and ocean, contains about 250 inhabitants. It is situated upon Sunquams Neck, and has a fine stream of water on either side, upon which mills have long been 540 SUFFOLK COUNTY. WesterJi view of Huntington Village. erected. The village of Little Cow Harbor is now called Centre Port, and the name of Great Cow Harbor changed to North Port. The steamer Lexington was burnt near Eaton's Neck, Jan. 13, 1840. IsLip. This town, on the S. side of the island, is centrally distant about 45 miles from New York. It received its name from the first settlers, many of whom came from Islip, in Oxfordshire, England. It has a level surface and a light and sandy soil, rendered productive by manures of sea-weed and fish. The bay on the south is 4 or 5 miles wide, containing an inexhaustible variety of fish, and is visitea by a vast number of wildfowl. Pop. 1,909. The extensive domain known as Nicol's Patent, includes more than sixty square miles of land, and has, since its first purchase from the Indians in 1683 by William Nicol, been by successive entailment preserved as one estate. RivERHEAD, the shire town, was taken from Southold in 1792. Only a comparatively small portion of the town is under improvement ; much of its territory is covered with wood, which has for a long period been a staple article for transportation. The following is a southern view of the central part of the village of Riverhead, as seen from the residence of Mr. J. P. Terry, about 50 rods S. from the courthouse. The village is situated upon Peconic creek or river, a mill stream, about 2 miles above Peconic bay, about 90 miles from New York, 24 from Sagg Harbor, and 23 from Greenport. The village contains about 70 dwellings, a large pro- portion of which are one story in height, 1 Methodist, 1 Congrega- tional, and 1 Swedenbourg or New Jerusalem church, an academy, and about 500 inhabitants. The courthouse, seen in the central part of the engraving with a small spire, has stood more than a century. James Poit is a recent village E. of Riverhead. Old Aquabogue, Upper Aquabogue, Fresh Pond. Baiting Hollow, and Wading River, are small villages. SUFFOLK COUNTY. 541 South view of the central part of Riverhead. Shelter Island is a town comprehending the island of that name in Gardiner's bay. It is about six miles long and four broad, contain- ing about 8,000 acres, divided into several farms. Pop. 379. The surface of the island is generally undulating, and covered in part by oak and other timber. The Indian name of this island was Manhan- sack-aha-qushu-wamock, meaning an island shelte7'ed hy other islands. It was originally purchased by James Farret from the Indians ; it afterward became the property of Nathaniel and Constant Sylvester and Thomas Middleton. In 1674, the rights of these two last pei'- sons were confiscated by the Dutch government, and sold to the first for £500, the payment of which was enforced by a party of soldiers. The first church on the island was erected by the Presbyterians in 1733 : it was taken down in 1816, and the present church erected on the same spot. Smithtown is centrally distant from New York 47 miles. Pop. 1,932. The town is nearly 10 miles square : the surface on the north is broken and hilly, and on the south a perfectly level plain. The inhabitants are much scattered over the surface. There are several small villages, the most considerable of which are the Branch and the settlement called Head of the River. This town derives its name from Richard Smith, the patentee. The annexed account of this individual has been obligingly commu- nicated by J. W. Blydenburgh, Esq. " Smithtown takes its name from the original patentee, Richard Smith, jr., of Narragansett, who with his father Richard Smith, sen., and other relatives, came from Gloucestershire, England, to Boston in 1630. Smith married at Boston, and settled with his father at Taunton, 16^, where he remained until 1641, when he purchased a tract of the Narragansett sachems ' among the thickest of the Indians,' computed at 30,000 acres, erected a house for trade, and gave free entertainment to travellers, — it being the great road of the country. The dwelling of Smith stood on the present site of the Updike house in North Kingston, and it is said that th'; present dwelling contains some of the materials of the old. Smith's was the tirst house built in NaiTagansett, and was probably a blockhouse. Roger Williams, Wilcox and others, built soon after, and Williams sold out to Smith in 1651. Smith afterward made many purchases of the Indians, and March 8, 1656, Coginiquant leased them for 60 years an immense tract south of his dwelling. June 8, 1659, the same sachem leased them for a thousand years an enlarged tract, whicn gave rise to ^eat disputes, which were the Unal cause of his removal to Long Island and the settlement of Smitlitown. In 1654, the war broke out between the Nini- 642 SUFFOLK COUNTY. Facsimile of Richard Smythe's Hgnature.* gret and the Long Island Indians, which continued with various success for several years. In one of" the expeditions made to Long Island by Ninigret, he took among other captives 14 of" their chii-t" women, one of whom proved to be the daughter of Wyandanch, chief sachem of the Montuugs. These sijuaws were taken by Lyon Gardiner, heutenant of Lord Say, to Smith's house, where the Indian princess remained until she was restored to her father by Gardiner, who gave as her ransom a grant of all the Nessaqnake lands, since called Smithtown. Smith's house at Wicktbrd, now North Kingston, K. I., was the rendezvous of the whites, during all the Indian wars, and the ^reat swamp tight took place a short distance therefrom. Smith became very influential with the Indian chiefs. He negotiated and signed the treaty for Connecticut ; several times made peace between the Narragansetts and the Massachusetts colonists, until his eastern neighbors became jealous of his power, and actually indicted him in their court, ordered him to be arrested and carried to Newport for trial. They attempted to defeat his lease of the Narragansett lands, which occasioned Roger Williams to interfere in his behalf, and write a very comphmentary letter to King Charles the 2d concerning him. In disgust at their conduct, he purchased of Lyon Gardiner, the Nessaquake lands on Long Island! whither he removed and left his eastern possessions with his relatives. On the arrival of Col. Richard Nicol, he received a patent for his Smithtown tract, and after a successful lawsuit in the general court of assize respecting his boundary, he at length secured from Sir Edinund Andross a coniirmatory patent, under the title of Smithtown, or Smithfield, dated 25th March, 1677. " Richard Smith, patentee of Smithtown, made his will March 5th, 1691, and died soon after. His will was proved, 1692. He gave to Lodovica Updike all his homestead, as far south as was then fenced in, with his Sagoge land, on condition of surrendering his West Quoge farm. To Daniel and James Updike, theland south of Wickford, then occupied by Jacob Pindor and John Thoinas. To Israel and James Newton, the West Quoee farm. To Thomas Newton, Hay Island and his house in Bristol. To Ehzabeth Pratt, alias Newman, the Boston neck land, on which Alexander King lived. He gave legacies to Richard, son of Lodovica Up- dike, and Smith, son of Thomas Newton, &c., &c., leaving his town on Long Island to his seven children in equal shares. His son, Obadiah, was drowned in creasing Nessaquake river, August 20th, 1680, and six sons and a daughter survived him, as follows : Jonathan, who mar- riea Mary T?rewster, who left two children — Richard, who married Elizabeth Tucker, and left 5 children— Job, who married Ehzabeth Thompson, and left 7 children— Adam, who married Elizabeth Brown, and left 1 child— Samuel, who married Hannah Longbotham, and left 6 children— Daniel, who married Ruth Tucker, and left 7 children— and Deborah, who married William Lawrence, and left 6 children. " On the 13th March, 1735, his grandchildren entered into an agreement to divide the town according to the proprietary rights of their parents, the seven children, and it was surveyed and laid out in pursuance of such agreement. " Smith was ouried at Nessaquake, near his residence, on land now or late in the possession of Jesse W. Floyd." " It is probable," says Thompson, in his History of Long Island, " that horses were very rare during the first settlement of this town, or that they had not as yet been introduced ; which accounts for Mr. Smith's having made use of a large bull for many purposes for which horses were afterward used, which occasioned him to be designated as the bull-rider, and his posterity to this day as the Bull Siniths, while the descendants of Col. Wilham Smith of Brook- haven are as familiarly known as the Tangier Smiths, he having once filled the office of gov- ernor of Tangier. There are also upen the island two other distinct races of^ families by the name of Smith, the one called Rock Smiths and the other Blue Smiths, the origin of which is matter of conjecture. Many singular traits of character, and not a few strange stories, are re- lated concerning this famous progenitor of the Smiths of Sniithtown, the records of which have too much the semblance of fiction to be worth perpetuating " The first minister of the town was the Rev. Abner Reeve, who was employed here abo'.t 1735. He was the father of the Hon. Tappan Reeve, the founder of the celebrated law scnool at Litchfield, Conn. His successor, the Rev. Napthah Daggett, was settled here in 1751. Mr. Daggett afterward became President of Yale College. The next clergymen were Tnomas Lewis, Joshua Hart, and Luther Gleason. " In a note to Moulton's History of New York, it is stated that an obituary appeared in a * The sliove fac-simile is taken from the deed given by Richard Smith to his grandson Oba- diah; fioni which it appears that he spelt his name unlike his posterity. SUFFOLK COUNTY. 543 newspaper, printed in 1739, of the death of a negro at Smithtown, Long Island, reputed to have oeen one hundred and forty years old, who declared that he well remembered when there were but th-ee houses in New \ ork. The memory, therefore, of this remarkable individual must have extended back to the tirst settlement of New Amsterdam, (as New York was then called,) in l(i26." Northern view of Sagg Harbor, Long Island. vSuuTHAMPTON, Called by the natives Agawam, was settled in 1640, principally by about forty families from Lynn, Mass. Its name was given in remembrance of Southampton, Eng. The surface of the township is generally level, in the W. and N. the soil is light and sandy, in the S. mixed with loam, and when properly manured, pro- duces good crops. Pop. 6,205. The people of this town early sought an alliance with Connecticut, and were received into their jurisdiction in 1644. They were represented by deputies in the general court at Hartford. The Rev. Abraham Pierson was the first minister ; he was succeeded by the Rev. Robert Fordham in 1649, who was suc- ceeded by Rev. Joseph Taylor in 1680, and Rev. Joseph Whiting in 1682. Rev. Samuel Gelston settled here in 1717, and remained .about 10 years. The village of Southampton is built on a single street, 18 miles from Riverhead. Bridgehampton, Westhampton, Good Ground, Flanders Speunk, Quogue, Canoe Place, and Beaverdam, are names of localities and villages. Shinnecock, or Southampton bay, is a fine sheet of water, 10 miles long, and from 3 to 4 wide. The territory of Shinnecock, containing some thousands of acres, is little else than a collection of sand hills. A small remnant of the Shinnecock tribe of Indians still linger on the SE. part of this tract, where they have a small church and a few dwellings. The above is a northern view of Sagg Harbor, situated in the NE corner of the town, 100 miles from New York. It has a good har- bor, lying on an arm of Gardiner's bay. The village contains 400 dwellings, 1 Presbyterian, 1 Methodist, 1 Catholic, and 1 African church, 2 printing offices, and about 3,000 inhabitants. The wealth 544 SUFFOLK COUNTY. and trade of the place may with propriety be said to be founded on the whahng business. " Sagff Harbor is the most populous, wealthy, and commercial place in the county, and may therefore not improperly be considered the emporium of Suffolk. The capital employed in trade here probably exceeds that of the whole county besides, there being nearly a million of dollars invested in the whale-fishery alone, employing a tonnage of more than six thousand, exclusive of several fine packets and other vessels eng-.iged in the coasting business. It is sup- posed that no permanent settlement was attempted here previous to 1730, and then only a few small cottages were erected near the head of the present wharf, for the convenience of those engaged in fishing. Most of the land in the vicinity was then covered with timber and forest, and it is probable also that no incon.«!iderable number of Indians dwelt in the vicinity. In .1760, several respectable families established themselves here, perceiving that it possessed many local advantages, and built for themselves comfortable houses. In 17(>7, the number of inhabitants had so increased, that it was resolved to erect a house for public worship, and with- out the advantage of regular preaching, the people were accustomed to assemble on the Sab- bath at the heal of drum, and hoar a sermon read by one of the congregation. They began soon after more largely to appreciate the commercial facilities offered by the adjacent waters, and fresh efforts were made to improve upon the old practice of hoat-whalhig. For this end small sloops were fitted out, and ranged the ocean at some distance from the coast ; but when a whalo was caught, it became necessary to return to port for the purpose of boiling out the oil upon the shore. The business had made but little progress when hostilities commenced between the mother country and her colonies in 1775 ; and this island being the next year abandoned to the enemy, commerce of every kind was of cotirse suspended till the close of the contest in 1783. Several British ships took their stations in the bay, and this village was made not only a depot for military stores, but the garrison for a considerable body of soldiers. During the war it be- came the theatre of one of the most extraordinary feats that was accomplished during the revo- lution. It has generally been denominated Mcig's Expedition, and the circumstances are thus related by the historians of that period : " ' In retaliation for the burnmg of Ridgefield in Connecticut, by General S r'loir and the wretches under his command, in April, 1777, a few soldiers from JNewhaven went on a preda- tory excursion ro Long island. A quantity of provisions had been collected at Sagg Harbor, and to destroy these was the object of the expedition. The enterprise was one of the most spirited and successful of that eventful period. General Parsons conceived it possible to sur- prise the place, and confided the execution of it to Lieutenant-colonel 3Ieigs, who embarked from NevvhavCTi, May 21, 1777, with two hundred and thirty-four men, in thirteen whale-boats. He proceeded to Guilibrd, but on account of the roughness of the sea, could not pass the sound till the twenty-third. On that day, at one o'clock in the afternoon, he left Guilford with one hundred and seventy men, under convoy of two armed sloops, and crossed the sound to South- old, whore he arrived at six o'clock. The enemy's troops on this part of the island had marched for New Vork two or three days before, but it was reported that there was a party at Sagg Harbor on the south branch of the island about fifteen miles distant. C'olonel M^igs ordered the whale-boats to be transported over the land to the bay between the north and south branches of the island, where one hundred and thirty men embarked, and at twelve o'clock at night ar- rived safely on the other side of the bay within four miles of Sagg Harbor. Here the boats were secured in a wood, under a guard, and the remainder of the detachment marched quickly to the harbor, where they arrived at two o'clock in the morning, in the greatest order, attacking the outpost with fixed bayonets, and proceeding directly to the shipping at the wharf, which they found unprepared for defence. The alarm was given, and an armed schooner with twelve guns and seventy men began to fire upon them at the distance of one hundred and fifty yards, which continued three quarters of an hour, but did not prevent the troops from executing their design with the greatest intrepidity and effect. Twelve brigs and sloops, one of which was an armed vessel of twelve guns, and one hundred and twenty tons of hay, corn, oats, ten hogs- heads of rum, and a large quantity of merchandise, were entirely destroyed. Six of the enemy were killed and ninety taken prisoners. Not one of Colonel Meig's men was either killed or wounded. He returned to Guilford at two o'clock in the afternoon, having been absent only twenty-five hours ; and in that time had transported his troops by land and water full ninety miles, and completed his undertaking with the most entire success.' " On the declaration of war against Great Britain in 1S12, preparations were made to pro- tect this place against the enemy, and a .«mall detachment of militia was stationed here, who employed themselves in erecting a fortitication upon the high ground overlooking the harbor. No regular garrison was establislied, however, till the summer of 1813, when the British t^hips, taking their station in Gardiner's Bay, threatened to land at several points in the vicinity of this port. At that time three or tour hundred luen were placed here, and were continued till the end of the war. Some part of the time a company of artillery, and another of regular troops, were stationed here ; and in 1814 one or more companies of sea fencibles. But at no time was the number of soldiers sullicient to have effectually defended the place against the enemy, had the capture of it been considered by them an object of sulFicient importance to have warranted the attempt. It was wholly impossible to have prevented their landing at various places bordering upon the bay, and they accoi;dingly visited at pleasure Gardiner's Island, Montauk, and Oyster Ponds ; taking such provisions as their necessities required, and for which, it is believed, they generally paid an equivalent. In June, 1813, a launcii and two SUFFOLK COUNTY. 545 barges, with about one hundred men from the squadron of Commodore Hardy, attempted to land at the wharf in the night ; but being timely discovered, the alami was sounded, and the guns of the fort bronaht to bear in the cJirection of the boats: so successful was the means used, that the designs of the enemv were elfectually frustrated. They had only time to set fire to a sloop which tliey took, from the wharf, when a shot from the fort raked her fore and aft, and obliged them to "abandon her. The Americans going on board, e.xtinguished the flames, when they found a quantity of guns, swords, pistols, and other instruments, which the inva- ders, (deeming discretion to be the better part ol' valor,) had left in their huny to escape." SouTHOLD embraces the N, branch of Long Island, and includes Fisher's, Plumb, Robins, and Gull islands. It is centrally situated 17 miles from Riverhead. and 103 from New York. The surface is generally level, and the soil a sandy loam, and productive under care- ful cultivation. Pop. 3,907. The inhabitants are principally settled along the great road which passes centrally through the town in a number of thickly settled neighborhoods or villages, as at Mattatuc, Cutchogue, Southold, Oyster Ponds, or Orient, forming almost a con- tinued villaire. Southern view of Greenport, in Southold. Greenport, the largest village in the town, is situated at what is called Southold harbor, a part of the great Peconic bay, 23 miles from the courthouse at Riverhead. It is laid out into streets and building lots, and contains about 100 dwellings, 1 Baptist, 1 Meth- odist, and 1 Presbyterian church, and wharves and railways for the accommodation of vessels. The water is of sufficient depth for large ships, and well sheltered from storms. The village was commenced by a few spirited individuals in 1827. The ancient village of South- old contains 1 Presbyterian and 1 Universalist church, and an academy. The peninsula of Oyster Ponds is the eastern extremity of the island ; the village, now called Orient, contains two churches, two docks or wharves, and upwards of 500 inhabitants. Fisher's Island, belong- ing to this town, is 9 miles from New London, Conn., and 4 from Sto- nington. It is about 9 miles long, and has a medial width of one mile, containing about 4,000 acres. This island was purchased by Gov. Winthrop, of Connecticut, in 1664, and has been in possession of the Winthrop family ever since. The staple articles raised on the island are wool, butter, and cheese. There are about 45 persons of all ages upon the island. Plumb Island contains about 800 acres of land, and 69 546 SULLIVAN COUNTY. has a population of about 75 persons. Great and Little Gull islands are situated in what is called the Race, on account of the swiftness of the current. Great Gull contains 15 acres ; Little Gull one acre, mostly a solid rock. Upon this last island a lighthouse has been Erected, which is of much importance to the navigation of the sound. "The Indian name of this towTi is Yeiinecock, and was purchased from the Corchougs, a tribe that possess-ed this part of the island, in the summer of 1640. Most of the first planters were originally from Hingham, in Norfolk, England, and came here by the way of iNew Haven. The Rev. John Youngs, who had been a preacher in England, was their leader. He organized a church at New Haven, and they, with others willing to accompany them, commenced the settlement of this town. The principal men among them, besides 3Ir. Youngs, were William Wells, Barnabas Horton, Thomas Mapes, John Tuthill, and Matthias Corwin. The governor of New Haven, Theophilns Eaton, and the authorities there, had not only aided the first settlers in their negotiations about the purchase of the soil, but actually took the conveyance in their own names, and exercised a limited control over the territory for several years, which event- ually occasioned some dissatisfaction among the inhabitants. The civil and ecclesiastical con- cerns of the settlement were conducted in a similar manner with the other plantations under the jurisdiction of New Haven. All government was reputed to be in the church, and none were admitted to the entire privileges of freemen, or free burgesses as they were called, except church members ; a coiu't was in like manner instituted, which was authorized to hear and de- termine all caufes, civil and criminal, and whose decisions were to be according to the laws of God as contained in the holy scriptures, in the general court, (or town meeting,) consisting also of church members, was transacted the ordinary business of the plantation. Jn these, orders were made in relation to the division of lands, the enclosure or cultivation of common fields, the regulation of fences, highways, and the time and manner of permitting cattle and sheep to go at large upon the common lands ; and such further measures as were required for the mutual defence of the settlement from hostile attacks on every side. One of the first ordi- nances required every man to provide himself with arms and ammunition, and to assemble at an appointed place, whenever warned so to do, under a certain penalty for neglect in any of these respects. The plantation made early prevision for the education of children, the preser- vat on of good morals, and the support of religion. A committee was appointed to regulate the admission of new settlers, and no one could become an inhabitant without their approbation ; and no planter could sell or let his house or land to a stranger, but only to such as were aj)- proved by the said committee, under a heavy penalty." SULLIVAN COUNTY. Sullivan county was erected in March, 1809, from Ulster county, and received its name in honor of General Sullivan, an officer of the revolutionary army. It is centrally distant from New York about 100 miles NW., and, by the routes usually travelled, 112 SW. of Albany. Greatest length NW. and SE. 45, and greatest breadth NE. and SW. 37 miles. The county of Sullivan is situated on the Delaware river, W. of Ulster county, in a region of broken land. It contains a large proportion of mountainous country. The Newburg and Co- checton turnpike runs centrally and westerly across the county ; and on this road and the Delaware river arc the principal settlements. The New York and Erie railroad runs through the southern portion. The northern part is the wildest and least settled. The Delaware and Hudson canal passes through the valley of Bashe's kill into Orange, and returns from that county by the valley of the Delaware, along which it extends in this county about 15 miles, to the dam oppo- site the Laxawasen river. The country along the Delaware is not SULLIVAN COUNTY. 5^7 favorable for agriculture ; generally the highlands are preferred for cultivation, being more dry, and productive of finer grass than the valleys, which are commonly wet and cold. Upon the Delaware, and the streams which flow into it, the inhabitants are chiefly engaged in lumbering. With the exception of a small tract on the southeast, in the Minisink patent, the whole county was covered by the Har- denburg patent, under which there are now some extensive land- holders. The inhabitants are chiefly of Dutch and New England descent. About one tenth of the county only is improved. It is di- vided into 10 towns. Pop. 1.5,630. Bethel, taken from Lumberland in 1809; centrally distant from New York 135, from Albany 121, and from Monticello W. 8 miles. Pop. 1,483. Whitelake and Bethel are post-ofijces. CocHECTON, taken from Bethel in 1828; from New York 118, from Albany 130 miles. Pop. 622. Cochecton is a small village upon the Delaware, 21 miles NW. of Monticello. Fosterdale is a post-ofiice. Fallsbukg, organized in 1826 ; from New York 108, from Albany 102, from Monticello centrally distant NE. 8 miles. Pop. 1,782'. Fallsburg and Woodburn are small post villages. FoRESTBURG, recently formed, is centrally distant from Monticello S. 8 miles. Forestburg is a small village. Pop. 433. Liberty, taken from Lumberland in 1807 ; NW. from New York 110, from Albany SW. 110, from Monticello to the settled portion of the town N. 10 miles. Liberty is a small village of about 40 dwellings. Pop. 1,570. Lumberland, taken from Mamakating in 1798; from New York 115, from Albany 130, and from Monticello centrally distant SW. 20 miles. Pop. 1,205. Lumbering is the principal business of the in- habitants. Barryville and Lumberland are post-offices. Narrows- burg is a small village. Mamakating, organized in 1798; since divided; centrally distant from New York 85, and from Albany 100 miles. Pop. 3,418. Bloomingsburg, upon the eastern foot of the Shawangunk mountain, on the Newburg and Cochecton turnpike, 13 miles SE. from Mon- ticello, incorporated in 1833, has about 60 dwellings. Wurtsbo- rough on the canal, 43 miles from Eddyville, and 11 miles from Monticello, has about 60 dwellings. Near here is a valuable lead mine. Philipsport is a small village on the canal, 4 miles N. from Wurtsborough. Burlingham is a small village on the Shawangunk creek, 4 miles below Bloomingsburg. Mount Vernon and West Brookville are post-offices. This town was settled by the Dutch about a century since. Neversink, organized in 1798; since altered in area; from New York 115, from Albany 104, and from Monticello N. 13 miles. Pop. 1,681. Neversink and Grahamsville are post-offices. Rockland, taken from Neversink in 1798; from New York 125, from Albany 116, and from Monticello N. 23 miles. Pop. 826. Rockland, Little Beaver Kill, and Purvis, are post-offices. 548 TIOGA COUXTV. Thompson, taken from Mamakating; from New York 100, and from Albany 110 miles. Pop. 2,610. Western entrance into Monticello. Monticello, the county seat, on the Newburg and Cochecton turn- pike, named after Jefferson's residence, was founded in 1804, by Messrs. Samuel F. and J. P. Jones, from New Lebanon, Columbia county, who were proprietors of most of the lands in the vicinity. Judge Piatt Pelton built the second frame house here in 1806. The above view was taken near the residence of Mr. E. W. Edmonds, and shows on the right the steeple of the Episcopal church, and on the left the Presbyterian church and the courthouse. There are about 60 dwellings in the village and vicinity. Thompsonville is a small post village. Bridgeville and Gales are post-offices. TIOGA COUNTY. TroGA COUNTY, taken from Montgomery in 1794; bounds since much altered : still further reduced in 1836, by the erection of Che- mung county from its western portion. Greatest length E. and W. 31, greatest breadth N. and S. 29 miles. This, with Chemung county, is part of the broad and long belt extending westerly from Ulster and Green counties to the vicinity of Lake Erie, preserving for a great part of the distance a mean height of about 1,600 feet above the level of the ocean. The soil of the county consists generally of sandy and gravelly loam, interspersed with patches of mud and clay. The uplands are commonly better adapted to grass than grain ; but the valleys give fine crops of wheat and corn ; oats, barley, peas, beans, and hops thrive almost everywhere. The Susquehannah is the principal stream of the county. The New York and Erie railroad crosses the county E. and W. ; and the railroad from Owego to Ithaca N. and S. The county is divided into 9 towns. Pop. 20,351. TIOGA COUNTY. 549 Barton, taken from Tioga in 1824; from Albany 181 miles, from Owego W. IG. Factory ville, 17 miles SE. from Elmira, is a small village on Cayuta creek. Barton and North Barton are post-offices. Pop. 2,305. Berkshire, taken from Tioga in 1808 ; from Albany 148, from Owego N. 14 miles. Berkshire is a small village. Pop. 955. Candor, taken from Spencer in 1811; from Albany 177, from Owego N. 8 miles. Pop. 3,367. This town was settled in 1796, by emigrants from Hartford county. Conn. Candor village, centrally situated, has about 370 inhabitants. The northern portion of this town once belonged to the Connecticut school fund. Willseyville is the name of a post-office, around which there is a settlement. Newark, originally named Westville, and taken from Berkshire in 1823; from Albany 167, from Owego NE. 8 miles. Pop. 1,616. Newark Valley is a pleasant and thriving village. Nichols, taken from Tioga in 1824 ; from Albany 167, from Owego SW. 10 miles. Rushville, in the valley of the Susquehannah, has about 400 inhabitants. Canfield's Corners is a small settlement. Pop. 1,986. Owego was organized in 1791 ; distant NW. from New York city 177, from Albany SW. 167, from Elmira E. 36 miles. Pop. 5,329. Owego village, the county seat, is pleasantly and advantageously situated for trade upon the Susquehannah river, and upon the line of the New York and Erie railroad, 30 miles SE. from Ithaca. The name Owego is of Indian origin, signifying sivift or sioift river, and was applied to the Owego creek, which empties into the Susquehan- nah about half a mile from the village. About the year 1783 or 1784, James McMaster and Amos Draper purchased of the Indians what they called a half township, comprising 11,500 acres, and em- bracing the site upon which the village now stands. "In 1785, McMaster, and William Taylor, still living in Owego, and then a bound boy to McMaster, came and cleared in one season 10 or 15 acres of land, and through the summer planted and raised a crop of corn from the same. This was the first transition of the ground, where Owego now stands, from a wilderness state. In 1794 or 1795, McMaster and Hudson, a surveyor, laid out the village into streets and lots, and thus laid the foundation of what Owego now is or shall be hereafter The sources of wealth, as the village grew up, were salt from Salina, brought to the place and carried down the river in arks for the Pennsylvania and Maryland markets, wheat from the north, which was also transported down the river, lumber, also, and plaster."* " Between Owego and Tioga Point there were a number of Indians lived on the river plain for a length of time after its settlement by the whites. They demanded a yearly rent of the settlers for their land, until a treaty was held with them at Tioga, 3 or 4 years after the first settlement. An Indian, called Captain .Tohn, was their chief, or passed as such. They were always pleased to have white people eat with them ; and would appear offend. * See Annals of Binghampton and of the country connected with it, from which the early history of this place is extracted. 550 TIOGA COUNTY. ed, if, when calling at their wigwams when they were eating, they refused to eat with them. In seeking their rent, which they expected to be paid in grain, or when they wished to borrow, or buy, or beg, they never would ask for wheat, but always for corn. It is said, that some of the squaws could make an excellent kind of cake, out of fine Indian meal, dried berries, and maple sugar. When they wished to beg something to eat, instead of expressing it in words, they would place their hand first on their stomach and then to their mouth. This mute language must have been a powerful appeal to the hospitality and sym. pathies of their more fortunate brethren. When they had bad luck, it is said, they would eat some kind of root which made them very sick and vomit, that they might, as they said, have better luck in future. " A few years after the country was settled, there prevailed an extensive and serious famine. It was felt more particularly in the region between Owego and EIniira, embracing Tioga. It was experienced even down to Wyoming. For 6 weeks or more the inhabitants were entirely without bread or its kind. This season of famishing occurred immediately before the time of harvesting. So far as the cause of this destitution was accounted for, it was supposed to result from a greater number, than usual, of new settlers coming in, and also a great scarcity prevailing in Wyoming that season. This being a much older settled country, a scarcity here would materially affect the newer parts. During the prevalency of this want of bread, the people were languid in their movements, irresolute and feeble in what they undertook, emaciated and gaunt in their appearance. The inhabitants, as a sub. stitute for more substantial food, gathered, or rather, it is believed, dug what were called wild beans ; which, it seems, were found in considerable quantities. These they boiled and ate, with considerable relish. They would also gather the most nutritious roots and eat. As soon as their rye was in the milk, it was seized upon, and by drying it over a moderate fire, until the grain acquired some consistency, they were enabled to pound it into a sort of meal, out of which they made mush. This was a very great relief, although the process was tedious, and attended with much waste of the grain. In the early part of the scarcity, while there was a possibility of finding grain or flour of any kind abroad, instances were not unfrequent, of families tearing up their feather-beds, and sending away the feathers in exchange for bread ; and instances also of individuals riding a whole day and not obtaining a half of a loaf. During the time of this great want, however, none died of hunger. There were two young men that died in consequence of eating to excess, when their hunger came to be relieved by the green rye." West view of the courthouse and other buildings, Owego. The above view was taken near the residence of Dr. Lucius Allen. The building with a cupola near the centre of the drawing is the courthouse, the one on the right the academy, both of which face the public square. The building seen in the distance is the Baptist church. Besides the above, there are in the village 1 Presbyterian and 1 Methodist church, the Owego bank, capital $200,000, 3 fine- TOMPKINS COUNTY. 551 hotels, and about 200 dwellings. The railroad which extends from here to Ithaca, was the second chartered in the state, (1828,) and is 29 J miles in length. East Owego and Flemingville are names of post-offices in this town. The following inscription was copied from a monument in the vil- lage graveyard. " In memory of Coi,. David Pixley, who departed this Hfe Aug. 25th, 1807, in the 67th year of his age. — He was an officer of the revolution at the siege of Quebec in 1775, under Gen. Montgomery, was the first settler of Owego in 1790, and continued its father and friend until his death." RicHFORD, taken from Berkshire in 1833 ; from Owego N. 18 miles. Richford is a neat but small village centrally situated. Pop. 938. Spencer was taken from Owego in 1806; from Owego NW. 13 miles. Pop. 1,532. Spencer, on the Cattotong creek, has several churches and about 450 inhabitants. It was previous to 1822 the seat of jus- tice of the county. The courthouse having been burnt, it was re- moved to the then half-shire towns of Owego and Elmira, the latter of which is now the seat of justice for Chemung county. East Spen- cer is a post-office. TioGA was formed in 1800; from Albany 176 miles. Pop. 2,323. Smithborough, 12 miles SW. from Owego, and Ransomville, are small villages. TOMPKINS COUNTY. Tompkins county, named in honor of the Hon. Daniel D. Tomp- kins, formerly Vice-president of the United States, was taken from Cayuga and Seneca counties in 1817; limits since changed. Great- est length E. and W. 34, greatest breadth N. and S. 28 miles ; cen- trally distant from New York 212, and from Albany 163 miles. This county forms part of the high land in the southwestern portion of the state. Its summit generally is elevated from 1,200 to 1,400 feet, but the singular and deep basins in which he the Cayuga and Seneca lakes, have given a peculiar formation to its surface, and to the course and character of its streams. The Cayuga lake indents it on the N. about 18 miles ; the Seneca lake extends southerly on its western border 12 miles. The greater portion of the country dechnes from all sides towards the Cayuga lake. The ascent from the shores of the lake is gradual and smooth to the eye, yet it is rapid, and attains within 2 miles the height of at least 500 feet. This gives to the streams a precipitous character. The towns of Newfield, Danby, and Caroline, were purchased from the state by Messrs. Watkins and Flint. The towns north of these, excepting a small portion in the northeastern part of Dryden, belong to the mill- 552 TOMPKINS COUNTY. tary tract. That portion was in the cession to Massachusetts. The county is chiefly settled by New England emigrants. The New York and Erie railroad passes through the county. Tompkins county is divided into 10 towns. Pop. 38,113. Caroline, taken from Spencer in 1811 ; W. from Albany 165, centrally distant from Ithaca SE. 11 miles. Caroline, Speedville, Mott's Coi-ners, and Slatersville, are small post villages, of which the latter is the largest. Pop. 2,459. Danby, taken from Spencer in 1811; from Albany 172 miles. The Ithaca and Owego railroad crosses the northeastern border of the town. Danby is a small village 6 miles S. of Ithaca, upon the Owego turnpike. South Danby is a post-ofiice. Pop. 2,570. Dryden, taken from Ulysses in 1803; from Albany 153 miles. Dryden is a neat village 1 1 miles NE. of Ithaca, containing about 50 dwellings. Etna, Verna, and West Dryden, are smaller settlements. Pop. 5,433. Enfield was taken from Ulysses in 1821 ; from Albany 171, cen- trally distant 6 miles W. of Ithaca. West Enfield and Enfield are the names of the post-offices. Pop. 2,343. Groton, originally named Division, was organized in 1817 ; from Albany W. 160, from Ithaca centrally distant NE. 14 miles. McLeansville, Groton, Peruville, Fall Creek, and West Groton are small post villages. Pop. 3,618. Hector was taken from Ovid in 1802; from Ithaca W. 16 miles. Burdette, Mecklenburg, Reynoldsville, and Searsburg, are small post villages. There are one or two other post-offices and small settle- ments in the town. Pop. 5,654. The Hector Falls, a beautiful cascade of 20 feet, are upon a stream which empties into the Seneca lake, near the village of Burdette. Ithaca was taken from Ulysses in 1821. Pop. 5,811. Around the head of the Cayuga lake, which extends about two miles within the limits of the town, are several thousand acres of alluvial flats. From this plain, the hills rise on three sides in the form of an amphitheatre, to the height of 500 feet, exhibiting uncommonly beautiful and mag- nificent scenery. To the lover of nature, few places afford scenes of more interest than Ithaca. There are several splendid cataracts within the space of a very few miles, each of which has its pecu- liar attractions, among which are the Cascadilla, Eagle, Lucifer, Taghcanic, and those on Fall creek, about a mile distant from the village of Ithaca. These last are the most visited, and derive an additional interest from the tunnel, a subterraneous work of art, 200 feet in length, from 10 to 12 wide, and 13 feet in height, which con- ducts the water from a point a few rods above the first fall to a mill site at the bridge below. The village of Ithaca was founded by the late Simeon De Witt, sur- veyor-general of the state. It is beautifully situated about a mile and a half above the Cayuga lake, partially upon the flats and partially upon the hill. It is distant 163 miles from Albany, 40 SE. from Geneva, and 29 from Owego. The Cayuga inlet is navigable to the liiili'iiiiil'iiii'?*'*^' ILL V MMiM^iAii.M&^ Mh 1.1 TOMPKINS COUNTY. 553 lake for boats of 50 tons. Ithaca is well located for trade. It com- municates with the Erie canal by the lake and Seneca canal, and with the Susquehannah river and the line of the Erie railroad, by the Owego railroad. The village contains upwards of 700 dwellings, 1 Presbyterian, 1 Methodist, 1 Episcopal, 1 Baptist, and 1 Dutch Re- formed church, the Ithaca Academy, 2 banks, several printing offices, a very extensive map-publishing establishment, a variety of mills and manufactories, and about 4,000 inhabitants. The Ithaca and Owego railroad, the second chartered in the state, (1828,) is 29i miles in length. It ascends from the level of the lake by two inclined planes ; the first, 1,733-^ feet long, rises 1 foot in 4.28, or 405 feet; the other, 2,225 feet long, ascends 1 foot in 21 feet. The whole elevation above the lake overcome, is 602 feet within 8 miles ; after which thei^e is a descent of 376 feet to Owego. Stationary steam-power is used upon the first, and horse-power upon the second plane and other portions of the road. The Presbyterian church was erected in 1817; the society which worships in this house is the oldest in the village, having been organ- ized in 1804 or 1805. They worshipped in a common school-house until 1816, which being demolished in a riot, the congregation were obliged for a season to meet in an old barn. Their first pastor was the Rev. Mr. Mandeville, who officiated till 1816. William Wisner, A. E. Campbell, and John W. McCullough, have been succeeding ministers. The Methodist Episcopal church was erected in 1819, and enlarged in 1826. The Episcopal church was built in 1824. The first Baptist society was constituted in Oct. 1826 ; their church was opened for worship in Jan. 1831. The Reformed Dutch church was organized in 1830 ; their meeting-house was com- pleted in 1683. The Ithaca Journal, the oldest newspaper in the county, was established by Ebenezer Mack, in 1818. Lansing was taken from Genoa of Cayuga county in 1817. Lud- low ville, 10 miles N. of Ithaca, has about 60 dwellings. Lansingville 12, North Lansing 10, and South Lansing 8 miles from Ithaca, are small villages. Pop. 3,673. Newfield was originally named Spencer, and organized in 1811 as part of Tioga county. Newfield, 7 miles S W. of Ithaca, is a small post village, containing 2 churches and about 60 dwellings. It was founded in 1820. Pop. 3,572. Ulysses was organized in 1801. Trumansburg, 11 miles NW. from Ithaca, has 1 Baptist, 1 Methodist, and 1 Presbyterian church, and about 100 dwellings. Jacksonville, Waterburg, and Halsey ville, are small settlements. On Halsey creek, about 10 miles from Ithaca, are the Taghcanic Falls, shown in the following engraving. This cataract is about 200 feet in height, and the rocks tower 100 feet above the top. Viewed from above or beneath, the scene is one of sublimity. The latter, however, is the best. To witness this, the visiter is obliged to go down the stream about a mile, and return by the valle}^ which is bounded by a rocky gorge, with perpendicular rocks rising in some places 400 or 500 ieet above the bed of the 70 554 TOMPKINS COUNTY. Taghcanic or Goodwin's Falls, Ulysses. creek, when the scene bursts suddenly upon him in all its wildness and majesty. The following account of an adventure with a bear, at this place, communicated by Mr. George Weyburn, a resident in this vicinity, shows that not many years have elapsed since this was a spot " Where beasts with man divided empire claimed." One Sunday evening in October, about 47 years since, as my father, Mr. Samuel Wey. burn, was returning from feeding his horse on the north side of the creek, near where the distillery now stands, his dog started up a bear and her two cubs. They followed their course up the hill on the south side of the creek until near the summit, a few rods above the mill-site fall, where the cubs took to a tree. My father ran to the house, and, having obtained his gun, pursued. Being directed by the barking of the dog, he passed about 20 rods beyond the tree in which the cubs were, and there he found the bear with her back against a tree standing on the brink of the gulf, defending herself from the attacks of the dog. He fired, and, as it afterward proved, broke one of her fore legs. The animal re. treated into the gulf, and was seen no more that night. In the mean time my mother, brother, and myself, who had followed in the pursuit, came to the tree into which the cubs had retreated, who, being frightened at the report of the gun and the sound of our voices, began to cry mam .' mam .' in the most affecting tones, strongly resembling the human voice. My mother having called my father, he shot the cubs and returned home. The next morning, my father thinking that he had either killed or severely wounded the animal, for the want of a better weapon, (having expended his only charge of gunpowder the evening pre- vious,) took a pitchfork and proceeded in quest of the enemy, accompanied by myself and brother. I was armed with a small axe ; but my brother, not being equipped for war, was allowed to accompany us 6are-handed. Thus accoutred and followed by our dog, we pro- ceeded to within about 40 rods of the great fall, when my father, apprized of the nearness of the enemy by the barking of the dog, ran and left us in the rear. We soon came in sight of the bear and dog, who were passing from the left wall of the precipice across the basin to the right, and ascended up almost to the perpendicular rock, a distance of 80 or 100 feet. My father, climbing up lower down, was enabled to intercept her passage in consequence of her broken limb. Here the action again commenced by his giving her three tliiusts with the fork. The first and second were near the heart, the third struck her ULSTER COUNTY. 555 shoulder-blade, when she turned upon him and he met her with a thrust in her face, putting out one of her eyes with one prong and tearing her tongue with the other. She then rushed towards him, his feet gave away, and as he fell she caught him by the clothes, near his breast. At this juncture, he seized her and threw her below him. This he repeated two or three times in iheir descent towards the bottom of the ravine, during which she bit him in both his legs and in his arms. At the bottom, in the creek, lay a stone whose front was not unlike the front of a common cooking stove, the water reaching to the top. Near this, 4 or 5 feet distant, stood a rock on the bank. Into this snug notch it was his good luck to throw his antagonist, with her feet and claws towards the rock in the stream. In this situation he succeeded in holding her with his back to hers, and braced between the rocks. With his left hand he held her by the back, and with his right clenched her by the neck until I came up. I struck her with all my miglit on the back with the axe. At this my father sprang from her and seized his fork. The bear turned towards us with a shake and a snort — I gave her a severe blow. She fell, but recovering herself, endeavored to retreat. We renewed the conflict, and ere long the lifeless corpse of the animal proclaimed us masters of the field. The victory was dearly bought, the blood was running in streams from my father's hands, and from his limbs into his shoes. On examination, he found that she had bitten him in each limb, inflicting four ugly wounds at each bite, besides a slit in his wrist, supposed to have been done by one of her claws." ULSTER COUNTY. Ulster, an original county, was organized in 1683. It is from New York centrally distant N. 110, and from Albany S. 60 miles. Greatest length E. and W. 50, breadth N. and S. 40 miles. The face of the country is mountainous. The Shawangunk mountain en- ters the county from Orange, and running NE. nearly 30 miles, sinks into low and irregular hills in Hurley; but its continuity is preserved to Kingston near the Hudson. Northward of that village it again rises, until it is identified with the Catskill mountains. Between the Blue and Shawangunk mountains is a broad valley through which winds the Rondout river, a stream whose name is a corruption of the word Redoubt, so named after a fortification built upon the stream by the early Dutch settlers. The Wallkill runs a northeast course south of the Shawangunk mountain, receiving the Shawangunk creek, and uniting with the Rondout, 8 miles from its mouth. The three streams above noticed are the great drains of the county, and afford very advantageous mill power, within a few miles of the tide, much of which is yet unemployed. In the vrest the Nevisink river and other tributaries of the Delaware have their sources. The Delaware and Hudson canal enters the county at its southwest border, and passing through the towns of Wawarsing, Rochester, Marbletown, and Hur- ley, unites in the town of Kingston with the Rondout, 21 miles from the Hudson. The inhabitants are much engaged in manufacturing, and much attention has been given to the raising of sheep and cattle, for which purpose few counties are better adapted. The county was settled by the Dutch as early as 1616. Tradition says that at a very early period there were settlers upon the Minisink on the Dela- ware, who transported some valuable minerals by the road along the 550 ULSTER COt'NTV. Rondout to the North river. This county appears to have suffered more from Indian hostiUties tlian any other portion of the country while under the Dutch. The county is divided into 14 towns. Pop. 45,724. Esopus, formerly called Kline or Little Esopus, taken from Kings- ton in 1810 ; from Albany 69, from Kingston S. 6 miles. Elmores Corners is a small post village, half a mile west of the Hudson. Pop. 1,927. IIuRLEY, organized in 1788 ; from Albany 04 miles. The inhabit- ants are chiefly descendants from the early Dutch settlers and New England emigrants, and their progeny. Pop. 2,201. Hurley, on the right bank of the Esopus, 3 miles SW. from Kingston, and Rosendale, 8 miles SW., are small villages. At the latter place a large quantity of lime is manufactured, celebrated for its strength and durability. Pop. 2,201. Eastern view of Kingston. Kingston- was organized in 1788. It has a rolling surfac;'. and generally a good soil. Pop. 5,824. It was one of the earliest Dutch settlements in the state, having commenced in 1016, and is said to have been the third place settled in New York. In 1 002, it had a settled min- ister, and the county records commence about that period. Kingston village, formerly called Esopus, was incorporated in 1805. The above engraving shows the appearance of the village as viewed from the residence of J. H. Rutzer, Esq., which is situated on a gentle eminence a few rods south of the Rondout road. The Catskill moun- tains are seen in the extreme distance. The village is regularly laid out on ten streets, and beautifully situated on the fertile pine flats el- evated about 40 feet above the Esopus creek. These flats commence at Kingston and extend to Saugerties, about ten or twelve miles, and are from 2 to 2? miles in width. The village contains the county buildings, 1 Dutch Reformed, 1 Episcopal, 1 Methodist, and 1 Bap- ULSTKR COUNTY. 557 tist church, an academy, 2 banks, 3 newspaper establishments, a large iron foundry, and about 275 dwellings, many of which are built of blue limestone. It is 58 miles from Albany, 93 from New York, and about 3 from the landing on Hudson river. The village of Rondout, about a mile from the Hudson, was founded in 1828 by the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company, being a place of deposit for their coal. It contains a church and about 75 dwellings. Eddysville, a small village partly in Esopus and partly in Kingston, is at the head of navigation on Rondout creek, 4 miles above its mouth, at the com- mencement of the Hudson and Delaware canal. " In the year 1663, the Indians near Esopus, (now Kingston,) who had for some time evinced discontent with their Dutch neighbors, seem to have united in a plan for extermi- nating tlie whites. In the month of June, while they amused the people with a negotia- tion for better neighborhood, they seized the opportunity, while the men of the village were at their agricultural employment abroad, to enter, as 'tis said, under pretence of trade, and in a very short time killed or carried off captive sixty-five persons. The Netherlanders, who from anterior hostilities had been induced to erect a fort, rallied and seized their arms ; but the natives, as if intending further aggression, likewise erected a palisaded fortification, and were probably increasing in force, when Martin Crygier arriving from New Amsterdam with troops sent by Governor Stuyvesant, the red men fled to the mountains. " During part of this summer the director-general repaired to Esopus, and by sending out parties, not only kept the superior numbers of the enemy in check, but made inroads among the hill fastnesses, destroyed the Indian villages and forts, laid waste and burnt their fields and magazines of maize, killed many of their warriors, released the Dutch captives to the number of twenty-two, and captured eleven of the enemy. These vigorous operations were followed by a truce in December, and a treaty of peace the May following." The village of Kingston was one of the largest places in the prov- ince of New York previous to the revolution. It was laid in ashes by the British under General Vaughan in October, 1777, and a large quantity of public stores were destroyed. It is stated that at that period the village was nearly as large as it is at the present time. Every house, excepting one in which Mrs. Hammersly resided, was destroyed. This lady being acquainted with some of the British officers, it was spared on her account. The following account of the burning of this place is from the Connecticut Journal of Oct. 27 : — " In our last we observed that the British proceeded up the river past this place. As they went along, they burnt a few mills, houses, and boats. On Friday they reached Esopus, and there landed a number of men, who marched up to the defenceless town of Kingston, about two miles from the river, and immediately set it on fire ; the conflagration was gen- eral in a few minutes, and in a short time that pleasant and wealthy town was reduced to ashes ; only one house escaping the flames. Thus by the wantonness of power, the third town in this state for size, elegance, and wealth is reduced to a heap of rubbish ; and the once happy inhabitants, (who are chiefly of Dutch descent,) obliged to solicit for shelter among strangers, and those who possessed lately elegant and convenient dwellings, obliged to take up with such huts as they find can defend them from the cold blasts of approaching winter. We learn that the inhabitants saved the best part of their movable property, but some lost the best part of their temporal all. 'Tis said the enemy took little time to plun. der, being told that General Clinton was at hand with 1,500 men, but unluckily not so near as to save the town. They burnt several vessels and houses at the landing, then scamper, ed off precipitately to their vessels. Next day they burnt several houses at Rhynebeck Flatts, and proceeded as far as Livingston's manor, where they burnt a few more ; our troops are now up with them. It is hoped they will be able to put a stop to these depreda. tions." The following is an eastern view of the house of .Tames W. Baldwin, Esq., recently standing on the corner of Maiden-lane and Fair-street, 558 ULSTER COUNTY. The building in which the Constitution of New York was formed. in the village of Kingston. It is built of blue limestone, which was pro- cured in the vicinity. It was in a chamber in this building that the convention met and formed the first constitution of the state of New York, which was adopted April 20th, 1777. "It embraced the out- lines of a state government ; defined the powers and duties of the executive, legislative, judicial, and military departments ; prescribed the mode of elections, and secured to the citizens their natural and unalienable rights. From the adoption of this instrument to the pres- ent day, the state of New York has been under the empire of laws either framed or adopted by representatives elected by the spontane- ous suflTrages of her citizens." During the revolutionary war a number of royalists were executed in this town for treason. Judge Hasbrouck of Kingston, who was at that time a lad, says that two of them were executed on the first hill from the landing. It appears that these unfortunate men expect- ed to be reprieved ; when they drew near the gallows, and saw the preparation for their execution, they became overwhelmed with a sense of their awful situation, and exclaimed, " O heer ! vergeeven onze zonde" (O Lord ! forgive our sins.) The father of Judge Has- brouck, one of the principal men of the place, although a firm friend to the American cause, was opposed to the execution, and suffered much anguish of mind on account of these harsh and bloody meas- ures. These men, although tories, were persons of respectability, who had families. Between 20 and 30 royalists who were taken up, en- listed in the American army, and thus saved their lives. Marbletown, organized in 1788 ; from Albany S. 66 miles. Mar- ble of a superior quality abounds. Marbletown 7 miles SW. of Kingston, Stony Ridge 10 SW., and High Falls on the Rondout 12 miles from Kingston, are small settlements. Yaughcripple Bush, 12 miles from Kingston, is a hamlet. Pop. 3,812. Marlborough, organized in 1788; from Albany 75 miles. The inhabitants are more generally of English origin than any other town in the county. Marlborough, 26 miles S. of Kingston, and Milton ULSTER COUNTY. 559 22 miles, are both on the Hudson, and have each about 30 dwelUngs. Latintown is a small village centrally situated. Pop. 2,534. New Paltz was organized in 1788 ; from Albany S. 70 miles. The inhabitants are descendants of the primitive Dutch settlers. Pop. 5,412. New Paltz, on the Wallkill, 16 miles SW. from Kingston, has about 30 dwellings, principally of stone, in the ancient Dutch style, and an incorporated academy. New Paltz Landing, on the Hudson opposite Poughkeepsie, 20 miles S. of Kingston, is a small settlement. Dashville and Springtown are small villages on the Wallkill. Olive, taken from Marbletown, Hurley, and Shandanken in 1823; from Albany S. 64 miles. " The City" and Caseville, 14 miles W. of Kingston, are small settlements. Pop. 2,023. Plattekill, taken from Marlborough in 1800 ; from Albany 76 miles. Pleasantville, 26 miles S. from Kingston, and Modena, are small settlements. Pop. 2,123. Rochester, organized in 1788; from Albany 75, from Kingston SW. centrally distant 17 miles. This town was originally named Mombackus, meaning Indian face. Accord and Kyserike are post- offices. Pop. 2,674. Rochester is a small settlement. Saugerties, taken from Kingston in 1811. Pop. 6,119. Maiden, on the Hudson, 13 miles N. of Kingston, is a place of considerable business, and has an academy and about 40 dwellings. Glasgo, on the river, 9 miles N. from Kingston, is a small settlement. Ulsterville, (late Saugerties,) at the confluence of the Esopus creek with the Hudson, 100 miles N. of New York, 44 S. from Al- bany, and 10 from Kingston. " This place, now one of the most thrifty on the river, was undistinguished until the year 1826, when Mr. Henry Barclay, of New York, duly appreciating the value of the water-power, became the purchaser of it and several farms in the vicinity. By a strong dam and a raceway, cut 65 feet perpendicularly through the rock, there has been obtained the use of the water under a fall of 47 feet, which may be applied twice in its descent. The en- terprising proprietor established a large paper mill, extensive iron works, and erected a building for calico printing, since converted into a paint manufactory. The business of the country now centres here ; and the trade employs 30 or 40 sloops and schooners, of from 80 to 150 tons burden. In 1825, there was not a single church here : there are now five neat edifices for public worship." Five miles above Ulster village, upon the creek at Whittaker's Falls, there is a very flourishing manufacturing village. Shandaken, a name signifying in Indian, " rapid waters," and as the old settlers report, the name of an Indian who anciently resided there. This town is in the NW. extremity of the county, and was taken from Woodstock in 1804; from Kingston NW. 30 miles. Pop. 1,464. Shandaken, Shandaken Corners, and Pine Hill, are the post-offices. Shawangunk. Shawan, in the language of the Mohegan Indians, means white salt, and Gunk, rocks or piles of rocks. The term Shawangunk, is said to have been applied by them to a precipice of white rocks of the mill-stone kind, near the top of these mountains, 560 ULSTER CUUNTY. and facing the east. This town was organized in 1788 ; distant from Albany S. 91, from Kingston SW. 28 miles. In this and the adjoining towns the skeletons of 9 mammoths have been dug up ; one of which has been sent entire to Europe, and the other exhibited in a museum at Philadelphia. The one at Philadelphia must have been 4 or 5 times as large as an elephant. Shawangunk, New Henly, Bruyns- wick, and Ulsterville, are names of post-offices. Pop. 3,885. Wawarsing was taken from Rochester in 1806 ; from Albany SW. 80 miles. Waa-wa-sing, in the Indian language, means blackbird's nest. At the Hong Falls upon the river, there is a descent of 64 feet nearly perpendicular, and one mile below them, near the village of Napanock, is another cascade, and, including the rapids, a fall of 200 feet. Iron ore and plumbago of good quality are found here. Wawarsing, 24 miles SW. from Kingston, and Port Hixon, on the canal, are small settlements. Ellenviile, Napanock, and Port Benja- min, all on the Hudson and Delaware canal, are small villages. Pop. 4,044. The following are extracts from ancient newspapers : From the Connecticut Journal, Sept. 2, 1778. " PocGHKEEPSiE, AuGf. 17. — We have also certain accounts that Andrieson and Osterhouf, who were taken by the Indians and tories at Leghewegh, in Ulster county, some time ago, made their escape from tiiem when within one day's march of Niagara, and are returned home. They were committed to the charge of three Indians, one a captain, and two squaws, ■who treated them with great severity, threatened to kill Osterhout, who from fatigue and hunger could not travel as fast as they would have him. At night, the Indians thinking themselves secure from their great distance back into the country, went to sleep ; when Andrieson proposed to Osterhout to seize the opportunity of putting them to death ; which (Osterhout declining,) he executed himself by very expeditiously tomahawking the three Indians before they were so far recovered from their sleep as to make any eflectual resist- ance. The squaws waking with the noise, took to their heels and escaped. Whereupon Andrieson and Osterhout, possessing theinselves of the Indians' provisions, consisting of 3 or 4 ducks and 2 quarts of samp, with the most valuable part of the Indians' plunder, con- sisting of some fine linen shirts, a laced beaver hat, with other articles of clothing, and some silver, with each of them a gun, set out for home, wiiere they arrived after 17 days' march, much worn out with fatigue and hunger, but in high spirits." Fro7n the Connecticut Journal of May 19, 1779. " We have advice from Warwasink in Ulster county, that on Tuesday last, the 4th inst., a party of the enemy, supposed to be mostly tory inhabitants, burnt four dwelling-houses and five barns in that neighborhood at the Fantine Kill, and killed six people, besides three or four more who are supposed to be burnt in their houses. Advice of the mischief being brought to Col. Cortlandt, stationed there with his regiinent, he immediately marched in pursuit of the enemy, whom he twice got sight of on a mountain, exchanged some shots with them, though at too great a distance, and endeavored to su'Tound them, but in vain; they all made their escape. In their flight they left a young woman whom they had taken, from whom we received the account, that their number was 3 Indians, and 27 while savages." From the Connecticut Journal, Oct. 11, 1781. " Early in the morning of the 22d ult., a party of Indians and tories, consisting of about 400, entered the beautiful settlement of Warwarsing, situated on the great road leading from Minisink to Esopus, about 35 miles from the former ; at their first coming to the place, they were hailed by a sentinel who was at the gate of a piquet fort where was a sergeant's guard kept, (which were the only soldiers in that quarter;) they not making any answer, induced the sentinel to fire and run within the fort, which alarmed the garrison. The enemy kept up a constant fire upon the fort for some time, but without eflect, and at last retired in confusion, with the loss of three killed and two wounded. They then proceeded WAUREN COUNTY. 561 to burning and plundering the place. The inhabitants being alarmed by the firing at the fort, all made their escape, except one John Kettle, whom they killed. The loss of these poor people is very great ; the fate of an hour reduced them from a state of ease and afflu- ence to want and beggary. Thirteen elegant dwelling-houses, with all the out-buildings and furniture, 14 spacious barns filled with wheat, besides barracks, stables, stacks of hay and grain, were all consumed. Between 60 and 70 horses, mostly very fine, a great num- ber of cattle, sheep, and hogs, were driven off. Col. Pauling, getting intelligence of the above, immediately collected about 200 New York levies and militia, and pursued them about 40 miles ; but was not able to overtake them.* It appeared that they fled in confu- sion, as they left a considerable quantity of plunder behind them in many places. By a white man who has been with them 3 years, and made his escape while Warwarsing was in flames, we learn that this party was from Niagara, and that they were 4 weeks and 3 days on their way ; that they were exceedingly distressed for want of provisions, insomuch that they eat up their pack-horses and dogs. He adds that the garrison of Niagara was in a melancholy situation for the want of provisions and the necessaries of life, and that the lories there most bitterly execrate the day they were deluded by the tyrant's emissaries to take up arms against their native country." Woodstock, organized in 1788 ; from Albany SW. 50, from King- ston NW. centrally distant 12 miles. Bristol and Woodstock are small villages. Pop. 1,692. WARREN COUNTY. Warren county, taken from the NW. part of Washington county in 1813. It is principally situated on the west side of Lake George, centrally distant from New York 240, and from Albany 75 miles. Greatest length N. and S. 44, greatest breadth E. and W. 40 miles. With the exception of a small district on the SE., the whole county is mountainous. The mountains, which are of primitive formation, are covered with a heavy growth of trees, and contain it is said abundance of iron ore of good quality, but have very small portions of arable soil. The valleys, which are narrow, contain some fertile alluvion, on secondary limestone. The principal employment of the inhabitants is getting lumber, which is sent to market by the rivers, lake, and Champlain canal. This county embraces about one half * Col. Pauling arrived at the outskirts in time to catch a ghmpse of the enemy's rear, and to relieve some of the inhabitants, among whom were a man and his wife, who had conducted themselves with distinguished bravery. His house was constructed of unhewn logs, in the woods, and in advance of all others. On the appearance of the foe, he fled to his castle with his wife, and securing it in the best manner he could, gave battle to a party of the Indians who laid siege to his fortress. Being well armed, he defended himself with so much spirit, that they recoiled with loss. Finding, after several attempts, that they could not force an entrance, the Indians collected a heap of combustibles, and set fire to the premises. Retiring a short distance to see the result, the man watched his opportunity, and rushing out with a couple of buckets, he procured water, which was close at hand, and extinguished the fire. The Indians, of course, ran down upon him ; but not being quick enough of foot to prevent his gaining the door, hurled their tomahawks at his head — happily without effect. He entered his castle, made fast his sally-port, and re-commenced his de- fence. Just at this moment Col. Pauhng with his troops appeared in sight, whereupon the Indians raised the siege and departed, — Life of Brant. 71 WARREN COUNTY. of the Horicon or Lake George, the greater part of Schroon lake, the whole of Brant lake, and many smaller ones. The Horicon is a beautiful sheet of water 33 miles long, and about 2 wide, and dis- charges its waters northward into Lake Champlain at Ticonderoga. Its waters are very deep and clear, and abound with the finest fish. The mountain scenery of this lake is excelled in its romantic beauties by none in the world. Schroon and Brant lakes are beautiful sheets of water, and abound with fish similar to Lake George. The county is divided into 10 towns. Pop. 13,470. Athol. originally called Thurman ; distant from Albany 70, and from Caldwell WNW. 18 miles. Pop. 1,210. Bolton, bounded on the east by Lake George, from Caldwell N. 9 miles. Pop. 1,153. Caldwell, the shire town of Warren county, was organized in 1810, and named hi honor of James Caldwell, Esq., a principal pro- View of Caldwell, on Lake George. prietor and benefactor. the south end of Lake George It has a mountainous surface, and embraces Pop. 635. Caldwell village lies at the head of Lake George, 62 miles from Albany. 9 from Glenn's Falls, and 27 from Saratoga springs. The village consists of about 50 dweUings. The scenery in this vicinity is of a wild and picturesque character, similar to the High, lands of Scotland. Westward, rises a range of mountains, the highest of which is Prospect or Rattlesnake Hill, which is an elevation of about 1,500 feet. Remains of forts William Henry and George, are still to be seen at the head of the lake, a short distance east of the courthouse. This village and the lake has become quite a fashionable place of resort during the warm season of the year. Besides the attractions of the natural scenery, it is rendered interesting from having been the theatre of important military operations. The celebrated " Battle of Lake George," on Sept. 8th, 1755, was fought in the ^cinity of Bloody Pond, so called from the fact that corpses of the slain were thrown into it. The battle was between the provincial troops under Major-general, afterward Sir William Johnson, aided by a body of Indians under Hendrick the Mohawk chieftain, and a body of French Canadians and Indi- WARREN COUNTY. 563 ans under Baron Dieskau, a French nobleman. Tlie baron embarked at Fort Frederick, at Crown Point, with 2,000 men in batteaux, and landed at Skeensboro, now Whitehall. Hav- ing understood that Johnson lay carelessly encamped at the head of Lake George, he de- termined to attack him. The following account of the conflict that ensued, is given by Dr. Dwight, who received much of his information from eye-witnesses of the action. On the night of Sunday, Sept. 7, at 12 o'clock, information was brought, that the enemy had advanced 4 miles on the road from Fort Edward to Lake George ; or half way between the village of Sandy-Hill and Glenn's falls. A council of war was held early in the morning, at which it was resolved to send a party to meet them. The number of men, determined upon at first, was mentioned by the general to Hendrick ; and his opinion was asked. He replied, " If they are to fight, they are too few. If they are to be killed, they are too many." The number was accordingly increased. Gen. Johnson also proposed to divide them into 3 parties. Hendrick took 3 sticks, and, putting them together, said to him, " Put these together, and you can't break them. Take them one by one, and you will break them easily." The hint succeeded, and Hendrick's sticks saved the party, and probably the whole army, from destruction. The party detached consisted of 1,200, and were commanded by Col. Ephraim Williams, a brave and skilful officer, greatly beloved by the soldiery, and greatly respected by the country at large. Lieut. Col. Whiting, of New Haven, was second in command, and brought up the rear. Col. Williams met the enemy at Rocky brook, 4 miles from Lake George, Dieskau had been informed of his approach by his scouts, and arranged his men in the best possible order to receive them, extending his line on both sides of the road in the form of a half-moon. Johnson did not begin to raise his breastwork until after Williams had marched ; nor, as a manuscript account of this transaction, now before me, declares, until after the rencounter between Williams and the enemy had begun. Williams marched his men directly into the hollow of the half-moon. This will be ex- plained by the fact, that the whole country was a deep forest. When the enemy saw them completely within his power, he opened a fire of musketry on the front and on both flanks of the English at the same moment. The English fell in heaps; and at the head of them their gallant commander. Hendrick, also, was mortally wounded, fighting with invincible courage in the front of his people. He was shot in the back : a fact which filled him with disdain and anguish ; as he thought, that he should be believed to have fled from the enemy. The truth was, the horns of the half-moon were so far advanced, that they in a great meas. ure enclosed the van of the English, and fired upon them from the rear. From this fire Hendrick received the wound which terminated his life. Upon the death of Col. Williams, Lieut. Col. Whiting succeeded to the command of the detachment. He was an officer of great merit, and had gained much applause at the re. duction of Louisburgh ; and, in consequence of his gallant conduct at that siege, had been made a captain in the regular British service. Whiting, seeing the danger of his men, immediately ordered a retreat ; and conduct^ it so judiciously, that he saved the great body of them from destruction, in circumstances of extreme peril ; in which their own con- fusion and alarm, and the situation of the ground, threatened their extermination no less than the superior numbers of the enemy. The noise of the first fire was heard at Lake George. Eflforts began then to be made in earnest by the general for the defence of the camp : and a party of 300 men were despatched under Lieut. Col. Cole, to support the retreating corps. A few stragglers, both English and Indians, came into the camp, and announced, what had indeed been already sufficiently evident from the approaching sound of the musketry, that the French army was superior in numbers and strength to Col. Williams' corps, and was driving them towards the camp. Some time after " the whole party that escaped," says Gen. Johnson, " came in in large bodies ;" a decisive proof of the skill and coolness with which Lieut. Col. Whiting con- ducted this retreat. These men also arranged themselves in their proper places, and took their share in the engagement which followed. About half after 11 o'clock, the enemy appeared in sight marching up the road in the best order towards the centre of the English. When they came to the bottom of an open valley, directly in front of the elevation, on which Fort George was afterward built, and on which the centre of the English army was posted, Dieskau halted his men about 15 min- utes, at the distance of little more than 150 yards from the breastwork. I have never seen a reason assigned for this measure. I think I can assign one. The Indians were sent out on the right flank, and a part of the Canadians on the left, intending to come in upon the 564 WARREN COUNTY. rear of the English, while the main body attacked them in front. The ground was remark- ably favorable to this design ; being swampy, thickly forested, and, therefore, perfectly fitted to conceal the approach of these parties. The Indians, however, were soon discovered by Lieut. Col. Pomeroy, who immediately mentioned the fact to the general ; and, observing to him, that these people were extremely afraid of cannon, requested that one or two pieces might be pointed against them. They were then near the ground on which Fort William Henry was afterward built. The general approved of the proposal. A shell was instantly thrown among them from a howitzer, and some field-pieces showered upon them a quantity of grape-shot. The Indians fled. The baron, in the mean time, led up his main body to attack the centre. They began the engagement by firing regularly in platoons ; but at so great a distance, that they did very little execution. This circumstance was favorable to the English ; and soon recover, ing from the panic into which they had been thrown by the preceding events of the day, they fought with great spirit and firmness. Gen. Johnson, at the commencement of the battle, received a flesh wound in his thigh, and the ball lodged in it. He bled freely, but was able to walk away from the army to his tent. Gen. Lyman then took the command, and continued in it during the action. This gentleman, who seemed to have no passions, except those which are involved in the word humanity, immediately stationed himself in the front of the breastwork ; and there, amid the thickest danger, issued his orders, during 5 hours, to every part of the army, as occasion demanded, with a serenity which many covet, and some boast, but very few acquire. The main body of the French kept their ground, and preserved their order, for a considerable time ; but the artillery, under the command of Capt. Eyre, a brave English ofl[icer, who performed his part with much skill and reputation, played upon them with such success, and the fire from the musketry was so warm and well-directed, that their ranks were soon thinned, and their efforts slackened sufficiently to show that they despaired of success in this quarter. They then made another effort against the right of the English, stationed between the road and the site of Fort William Henry, and composed of Ruggles' regiment, Williams', now commanded by Lieut. Col. Pomeroy, and Titcomb's. Here a warm fire was kept up on both sides about an hour; but on the part of the enemy was unavailing. At 4 o'clock, the English, and the Indians who fought with them, leaped over their breastwork, and charged the enemy. They fled, and were vigorously pursued for a short distance. A considerable number were slain in the pursuit. The wounded, and a very few others, were made prisoners. Among these was Dieskau. He was found by a soldier, resting on a stump, with hardly an attendant. As he was feeling for his watch, in order to give it to the soldier, the man, suspecting that he was searching for a pistol, discharged the contents of his musket through his hips. He was carried into the camp in a blanket by 8 men, with the greatest care and tenderness, but evidently in extreme distress. Hendrick had lived to this day with singular honor, and died fighting with a spirit not to be excelled. He was at this time from 60 to 65 years of age. His head was covered with white locks : and what is uncommon among Indians, he was corpulent. Immediately before Col. Williams began his march, he mounted a stage, and harangued his people. He had a strong masculine voice; and, it was thought, might be distinctly heard at the distance of half a mile ; a fact which, to my own vie\4|has diff"used a new degree of probability over Homer's representations of the effects produced by the speeches and shouts of his heroes. Lieut. Col. Pomeroy, who was present, and heard this effusion of Indian eloquence, told me, that, although he did not understand a word of the language, yet such was the anima. tion of Hendrick, the fire of his eye, the force of his gesture, the strength of his emphasis, the apparent propriety of the inflections of his voice, and the natural appearance of his whole manner, that himself was more deeply affected with this speech, than with any other which he had ever heard. In the Pennsylvania Gazette, Sept. 25, 1755, he is styled " the famous Hendrick, a renowned Indian warrior among the Mohawks ;" and it is said that his son, being told that his father was killed, giving the usual Indian groan upon such occasions, and suddenly putting his hand on his left breast, swore, that his father was still alive in that place, and that there stood his son. Baron Dieskau was conveyed from Al- bany to New York, and from thence to England ; where soon after he died. The capture of Fort William Henry, at this place, Aug. 9th, 1757, and the massacre by the Indians, created a great sensation in all the northern states. The following account of the capture of the fort, is extracted from Professor Silliman's Tour. The Marquis de Montcalm, after three ineffectual attempts upon Fort William Henry, made great efforts to besiege it in form, and in August, 1757, having landed ten thousand WARREN COUNTY'. 565 men near the fort, summoned it to surrender. The place of his landing was shown me, a little north of the public house ; the remains of his batteries and other works are still visi- ble ; and the graves and bones of the slain are occasionally discovered. He had a powerful train of artillery, and although the fort and works were garrisoned by three thousand men, and were most gallantly defended by the commander. Colonel Monroe, it was obliged to capitulate ; but the most honorable terms were granted to Colo- nel Monroe, in consideration of his great gallantry. The bursting of the great guns, the want of ammunition, and above all, the failure of General Webb to succor the fort, although he lay idle at Fort Edward with four thousand men, were the causes of this catastrophe. The capitulation was, however, most shamefully broken ; the Indians attached to Mon- calm's army, while the troops were marching out of the gate of the fort, dragged the men from the ranks, particularly the Indians in the English service, and butchered them in cold blood — they plundered all without distinction, and murdered women and little children, with circumstances of the most aggravated barbarity.* The massacre continued all along the road, through the defile of the mountains, and for many miles, the miserable prisoners, especially those in the rear, were tomahawked and hewn down in cold blood ; it might well be called the bloody defile, for it was the same ground that was the scene of the bat. ties, only two years before, in 1755. It is said that efforts were made by the French to restrain the barbarians, but they were not restrained, and the miserable remnant of the gar- rison with difficulty reached Fort Edward pursued by the Indians, although escorted by a body of French troops. I passed over the whole of the ground, upon which this tragedy was acted, and the oldest men of the country still remember this deed of guilt and infamy. Fort William Henry was levelled by Montcalm, and has never been rebuilt. Fort George was built as a substitute for it, on a more commanding site, and although often mentioned in the history of subsequent wars, was not I believe the scene of any very me- morable event. Chester, taken from Thurman ; from Albany 80, and from Cald- well N. 18 miles. Chester is a village having about 40 dwellings, 6 mercantile stores, 3 churches — 1 Presbyterian, 1 Baptist, and 1 Meth- odist. It is situated on the Canada road, near the outlet of Friends and Loon lakes. The land in the vicinity is fertile. Pottersville is a post-office in the N. part. Pop. 1,623. Hague, originally named Rochester, and taken from Bolton in 1807 ; from Caldwell NE. 30 miles. Pop. 610. "Rogers Rock is on the west side of Lake George, in the northeastern border of the town, 2 miles from the outlet. It rises out of the water at an angle of more than forty-five degrees to the height of 3 or 400 feet. The face of the rock for more than 100 feet is a perfectly smooth shde, reaching from top to bottom. This rock derives its name from the following incident. During the wmter of 17.58, Major Rogers was one of a party which was surprised and put to flight by the Indians at the outlet of the lake. Rogers came alone to the summit of this rock, whither he knew the Indians would follow him by liis tracks in the snow, and where he could prevent pursuit by a singular stratagem. Throwmg his pack down the precipice, he slipped off his snow shoes, and without changing their position, turned himself about and again put them on his feet. Thus equipped, he retreated several rods along the southern brow of the rock. The Indians coming to the spot went no further, as they saw the two tracks both lead- ing the same way and apparently made by two persons who had come to the precipice, and chosen to throw themselves oft' rather than to fall into the hands of their pursuers. Meanwhile Rogers made good his descent to the foot of the rock, where he resumed his pack, and es- caped on the ice to the head of the lake. " Sabbath-day Point is a low neck of land stretching into Lake George from the western shore, 3 miles from the little village of Hague. On Sabbath-day Point, Lord Amherst with his army stopped for refreshment upon the morning of the Sabbath, and gave this beautiful spot the name by which it is known. It is a charmmg place, and susceptible of great embel- lishment. In the summer of 1756, a small body of provincials who had retreated to this point defeated a superior force of French and Indians, who had attacked them in gun-boats." HoRicoN, recently formed from Hague and Bolton ; centrally dis- * Men and women had their throats cut, their bodies ripped open, and their bowels, with insult, thrown in their faces. Infants and children were barbarously taken by the heels, and their brains dashed out against stones and trees. The Indians pursued the English nearly half the way to Fort Edward, where the greatest number of them arrived in a most forlorn condition. 566 WARREN COUNTY. tant N. from Caldwell 24 miles. Pop. 663. Horicon post-office is in the SW. part, on the Schroon branch of the Hudson. JoHNSBURG, the NW. corner town, taken from Thurman in 1805 ; from Albany 85, from Caldwell NW. 21 miles. Johnsburg is a small settlement, and lies about 3 miles west of the Hudson. Pop. 1,156. Luzerne, first settled about 1770. taken from Queensbury in 1808 ; from Albany 55, centrally distant SW. from Caldwell 8 miles. Lu- zerne is a small village on the Hudson. Hadley's and Jessup's falls are in this town. Pop. 3,664. Queensbury was organized in 1788. The soil in the E. part of the town is a strong and productive loam, in the W. it is sandy. Pop. 3,664. The village of Glenn's Falls, in this town, lies on the N. bank of the Hudson, 53 miles from Albany, 3 W. from Sandy Hill, and 17 from Saratoga. It received its name from from a Mr. Glenn, the first settler, whose house is still standing about 20 rods from the falls. Distant view of the village of Glenn Falls. The above is a SE. view of the village as seen from the S. bank of the Hudson. There are here about 120 dwellings, 1 Pres- byterian, 1 Methodist, and 1 Baptist church, a female seminary, a printing office, and about a dozen mills on both sides of the river for sawing lumber and marble. The Presbyterian and Methodist churches and the academy are seen on the right, and part of the bridge over the Hudson at the falls, on the left. These falls have a total descent of about 70 feet. The water flows in one sheet over the brink of the precipice, 900 feet in length, and when in full flood, rushes in one mass down the cataract, filling the mind of a spectator on the bridge with awe and admiration. In ordinary seasons the river is divided at the falls by rocks into three channels, which have an angular descent of several hundred feet. These falls have evidently receded from a posi- tion lower down the stream. The banks below are in some places 70 feet in perpendieu- lar height, formed of rocks, in which the stratification is beautifully disposed, containing •many organic remains. The navigable feeder of the Champlain canal is taken from the river, two miles above, and passes along the elevated bank of the river seen in the engrav WASHINGTON COUNTY. 56"^ ing. It is believed that as many as eighteen or twenty persons have been drawn over the falls, within the memory of those now living, only two of whom escaped death. Animals are frequently drawn over, and almost invariably perish. Warrensburg, formed in 1813 ; N. from Albany 68 miles. It is a mountainous district, covered with wood and abounding in iron ore. The main branch of the Hudson flows on the west boundary, and the Schroon branch on the E. and S., uniting with the former in the SW. Warrensburg, on the Schroon branch, 6 miles N. of Caldwell, is a village containing two churches and about 60 dwellings. Pop. 1,469. WASHINGTON COUNTY. Washington county received its present name in 1784, having previously been called Charlotte county, when it claimed to include a part of the present state of Vermont. Its greatest length is 64 miles ; average breadth to South Bay, of Lake Champlain, 17 miles; and thence on the N. 6 miles. Centrally distant from New York 210, from Albany 60 miles. The face of the country is very much diversified. That around Lake George is generally rugged and mountainous, presenting sum- mits from 600 to 1200 feet in height. All the northern part is broken and hilly. The southern part, though considerably uneven, presents a very large proportion of arable land, well adapted for the various products of agriculture. In the northern part, which is comparatively new, the pine forests supply large quantities of lumber. The county is abundantly watered. As a whole, it holds a respectable rank in agriculture, producing much wheat, but is better adapted to grass. A large proportion of the population is from New England, and large emigrations are yearly making from Vermont. The county is divi- ded into 17 towns. Pop. 41,095. Argyle, organized in 1788 ; N. from Albany 44 miles. The tract comprised in the original town of Argyle, was granted by George II., in 1742, to 141 Scotch emigrants, who severally drew a farm lot of from 150 to 600 acres, with a town lot of from 15 to 16 acres. Argyle, 8 miles SE. from Sandy Hill, has about 50 dwellings. North Argyle 5, and South Argyle 1 1 miles from Sandy Hill, are small set- tlements. Pop. 3,113. Cambridge, organized in 1788; N. from Albany 35 miles. Cam- bridge, a large but scattered village, has an academy for qualifying young men as teachers, and about 120 dwellings. Buskirk's Bridge, upon Hoosick river, partly in Pittstown, Rensselaer county, has from 30 to 40 dwellings. Centre Cambridge is a small village centrally situated. Pop. 2,004. Dresden, taken from Putnam in 1822, by the name of South Bay, from Albany 72, and from Sandy Hill N. 20 miles. It is situated in ^ 568 WASHINGTON COUNTY. a mountainous and wild country, between lakes Champlain and George. In the forests deer and wolves are said to be common. Pop. 697. Easton, taken from Stillwater and Saratoga ; from Albany N. 27, from Salem SW. 16 miles. Union village is partly in this town and partly in Greenwich. Easton is a post village, containing about 50 dwellings. North Easton and South Easton are small settlements with post-offices. Pop. 3,002. Fort Ann was originally organized by the name of Westfield ; it received its present name in 1808. The face of the township is di- versified with mountains and valleys. On Wood creek there are fer- tile alluvial flats and plains, but a great part of this extensive town- ship is sterile and barren. Pop. 3,559. The village of Fort Ann, which gives its name to the township, on Wood creek and the canal, 58 miles from Albany and 10 S. from Whitehall, contains about 50 dwellings and 3 churches. It is situated on the site of old Fort Ann erected in 1757, and was a place of some importance during the colonial wars. About two miles south of the village, ves- tiges of Burgoyne's road, constructed of logs, &c., in 1777, are still to be seen. Professor Silliman in his tour gives the following account of a se- vere battle fought near this place, between a detachment of the British and one of the American army, July 8th, 1777 : — At a narrow pass between some high rocks and the river, we were shown the place where, on the 8th of July, 1777, the 9th British regiment, belonging to General Burgoyne's army, sustained a heavy loss, by a conflict with the Americans under Colonel Long. After the surrender of Ticonderoga, General Burgoyne endeavored to keep up the alarm, by spreading his parties over the country. With this view, Colonel Hill, at the head of the 9th regiment, was despatched after Colonel Long, who, with four or five hundred men, principally the invalids and convalescents of the army, had taken post at Fort Anne, and was directed by General Schuyler to defend it. Colonel Long, with his party, did not wait an attack from the enemy, but boldly advanced to meet them. " At half past ten in the morning, (says Major Forbes, of the British regiment,) they attacked us in front, with a heavy and well-directed fire; a large body of them passed the creek on the left, and fired from a thick wood across the creek on the left flank of the regiment : they then began to recross the creek and attack us in the rear; we then found it necessary to change our ground, to prevent the regiment's being surrounded ; we took post on the top of a hill to our right. As soon as we had taken post, the enemy made a very vigorous attack, which continued for upwards of two hours ; and they certainly would have forced us, had it not been for some Indians that arrived and gave the Indian whoop, which we answered with three cheers ; the rebels soon after that gave way." The giving way of the Americans was, however, caused, not by the terror of the war-whoop, but by the failure of their ammuni- tion. The fact was, the British regiment was worsted, and would probably have been taken or destroyed, had Colonel Long been well supplied with ammunition. It was said by Captain Money, another British officer, that the fire was even heavier than it was in the obstinate battle of September 19th, on Bemus' heights. The scene of this battle is very correctly described above, by Major Forbes. On leaving the street of Fort Anne village, we crossed a bridge over Wood creek, and were now on its left bank. Immediately after, we came to a narrow pass, only wide enough for the carriage, and cut, in a great measure, out of a rocky ledge, which terminates here, exactly at the creek. This ledge is the southern end of a high rocky hill, which converges towards Wood creek, and between the two is a narrow tract of level ground, which tenni- nates at the pass already mentioned. On this ground the battle took place, and the wood on the right bank of the creek, from which the Americans fired upon the left flank of the British, is still there, and it was up this rocky hill that they retreated and took their stand. General Burgoyne, as usual, claimed a victory in this afl'air, which is understood to have WASHINGTON COUNTY. 569 been a bloody contest, as indeed it obviously must have been, from the narrowness of the defile, and the consequent nearness of the contending parties. Captain Montgomery, of Colonel Hill's regiment, was left wounded on the field, and taken prisoner by the Ameri- cans, which could not have been the fact, had the royal party been victorious." Fort Edward was taken from Argyle in 1818. The surface of the town is level or gently undulating, and the soil mostly of a good quality. Pop. 1,728. Fort Edward is a small village, situated on the Hudson river and Champlain canal, 47 miles from Albany, and about 3 from Sandy Hill. There is a dam above the village 900 feet long and 27 high, which supplies a feeder to the canal. Fort Miller and Fort Edward Centre, also on the Champlain canal and Hudson river, are small settlements. Fort Edward, from which this town derives its name, was built in 1755, of timber and earth, 16 feet high, 22 feet thick, and had six cannon on its ramparts. It had a deep fosse in front ; it was situ- ated about half a mile south of the lock of the Champlain canal, in the village, and was at first called Fort Lyman, from General Lyman, a distinguished officer in the French war. This spot was also named the first carrying place, being the point where, in the expeditions against Canada, the troops, stores, &.C., were landed and carried to Wood creek, a distance of 12 „ w , o . u T, u miles, where they were again em- ■references : A. magazine, B. barracks. C. storehouse, D. Hos- i_ i j ■, F. Colonel Bagly's bridge. barked. The village of Fort Edward is rendered memorable as being the spot where Miss M'Crea met with her tragical fate. This unfortunate young woman lived about four miles south from Fort Edward, on the west bank of the Hudson. Her lover, a Mr. Jones, lived about a mile south of the fort. When Burgoyne with his army from Canada had arrived in this vicinity, Mr. .Tones left the American arm.y, and with many of his neighbors joined the forces under Burgoyne. For his loyalty he was made a major. As the place where Miss M'Crea resided was exposed to the hostile incursions of both armies, Mr. Jones, being anxious for her safety, found means to convey intelligence to her that he would take meas. ures to have her brought into the British camp. For this purpose she was directed to come to Mrs. Campbell's, a relative of hers who lived in a house now standing in Fort Ed- ward village. Here she was to wait till he sent a convoy for her safety. Miss M'Crea left her home in the morning, <;rossed the river by Mr. Jones' house, took breakfast " at the old Baldwin house," near by Fort Edward, and from thence went to Mrs. Campbell's. It appears that Mr. Jones, by offering a quantity of rum as a reward, induced a party of Indians to go for Miss M'Crea, and bring her into the British camp. Some accounts state that when the Indians came near the house they held up a letter to allay her fears, which being from her lover, she did not hesitate to venture herself with them. The Indians also took Mrs. Campbell with them. When this party had proceeded but a short distance, about half way up the elevation north of the village, they were met by another party of Indians. It is stated that the latter, hearing of the offer of Mr. Jones, determined to share a portion of the reward. This brought on a contention between them, which rose to such a height, that an aged Indian chief, fearful of the consequences, determined to end the dispute. Ap- proaching Miss M'Crea, he shot her dead as she sat on her horse. He then sprang forward, sunk his tomahawk into her head, and then scalped her. "Tradition reports, that the In- dians divided the scalp, and that each party carried half of it to the agonized lover." She was now stripped of her clothing and dragged about thirty rods west of the place where she was killed, and laid under a log by the side of the ancient pine repre- sented in the engraving. It is stated by those who saw her remains, that they exhibited a niiKt shocking spectacle ; her limbs were much swollen, and covered with dust and blood. 72 Fort Edvtard- pital, £. a flanki 570 WASHINGTON COUNTY. The Jane M^Crea tree, Fort Edward. An American officer, Lieutenant Palmer, who had been slain that day by the Indians with 18 of his men, about 80 rods northwest of the pine tree, was also thrown under the log near Miss M'Crea, and the remains of both partially covered wiih brushwood and bushes. The engraving shows the appearance of the spot where the body of Miss M'Crea was found. The pine tree which was then standing, still remains, having a venerable and ancient appearance. Her name is inscribed on the tree, with the date 1777, and " no traveller passes this spot without spending a plaintive moment in contemplating the untimely fate of youth and loveliness." At its root it is about 5 feet in diameter, standing about four rods west from the road to Sandy Hill, and about 80 rods north of the village, on the side of a sandy ridge. A fine spring issues a few feet below this tree. The bodies of Miss M'Crea and Lieutenant Palmer were taken and buried three miles below the fort, near what was called the " black house." About 18 years since, her remains were taken up and re-interred in a village burying ground at Fort Edward ; the Rev. Mr. Cum- mings, of Albany, preached a funeral sermon on the occasion. At the time of her death she was about twenty years of age, and is represented as having been of a middling stature, finely formed, dark hair, and uncommonly beautiful. Mr. Jones, who was about twenty- five, survived her death but a short period, and it is said his hair turned gray the first night after receiving the fatal news. Granville was organized in 1788. The township is handsomely diversified, and the soil is of a superior quality, well watered by springs, rivulets, &c. Pop. 3,846. The town was principally settled by emigrants from the New England states. There are 3 villages having post-offices. Granville village, or Granville Corners, 63 miles from Albany, 17 from Salem, and 21 from Sandy Hill, is the most compact settlement ; it consists of about 75 dwellings, having 1 Methodist, 1 Episcopal, and 1 Friends church, an academy, a wool- len factory, &c. The following is a northwestern view of the central part of Middle Granville, about 2 miles north of Granville Corners village. The village consists of about 30 dwellings, 1 Congregational, and 1 Pres- WASHINGTON COUNTY. 571 Nortkioest view of the central part of Middle Granville. byterlan church, a number of mills, &c. The Congregational church and school-house are seen on the right of the engraving ; the moun- tainous elevations seen in the extreme distance are in the tow^n of Pawlet, in the state of Vermont, about six miles distant. North or West Granville, 18 miles from Sandy Hill, has a church, an acade- my, and is a substantial village scattered for a considerable distance along the road. South Granville is a small village. Southeastern view of Union Village. Greenwich was taken from Argyle in 1803. The surface of the township is moderately uneven ; the soil is principally a gravelly loam, and is under good cultivation. Pop. 3,379. The above engraving shows the appearance of Union village, 672 WASHINGTON COUNTY. as seen from the elevated ground near the school-house, on the Easton side of the Batteukill. This flourishing village is 35 miles from Albany, 12 from Salem, and about 5 E. from Schuylerville. It contains 4 churches — 1 Baptist, 1 Dutch Reformed, 1 Congregational, and 1 Methodist — an academy, a bank, a newspaper printmg office, a number of mills and factories, and about 1,500 inhabitants. The Baptist church, the oldest in the village, is seen on the right of the en- graving ; a few rods westward is the Methodist church ; the Dutch Reformed church is in the central part ; and on the extreme left is seen part of the front of the Congregational church, which is with- out a spire. The village was founded in 1809. Batten ville and Franklinton are small manufacturing villages, on the Battenkill. North and East Greenwich and Lake, are post-otiices, with settlements. Hampton, from Albany NE. 70, from Salem N. 25, and from Sandy Hill NE. 25 miles. Hampton and Low Hampton are post- offices. Pop. 972. Hartford, taken from Westfield, originally the name of Fort Ann, in 1793; from Albany NE. 54 miles. Hartford, 13 miles NE. from Sandy Hill, and South Hartford, 2 miles south of the former, are small post villages. Pop. 2,158. Hebron is centrally distant north of Salem 7 miles. Pop. 2,498. Hebron, North Hebron, and South Hebron, are small post villages. Jackson, taken from Cambridge in 1815; from Albany NE. 40, from Salem S. 6 miles. Jackson and Anaquascook are post-offices. Pop. 1,730. Kingsbury was organized in 1788. It has a surface generally level and well cultivated, and in former times was mostly covered with fine groves of white pines. Pop. 2,773. This town has three villages — viz, Sandy Hill, Kingsbury, and Adamsville. Sandy Hill, on the north bank of the Hudson, is the half-shire village of the county, and was incorporated in 1810. It is situated upon a high sandy plain, about 100 feet above the river, opposite Bakers Falls, where, in the course of 60 rods, the river descends 76 feet. The contemplated railroad from Saratoga to Whitehall is to cross the Hudson here by a viaduct 1,100 feet in'length. The following is a south view of the central part of the village of Sandy Hill, 48 miles from Albany. In the central part of the en- graving is seen a triangular enclosure, set out with ornamental trees and shrubbery. The courthouse is on the right, and the church on the left. The village contains a Presbyterian and Episcopal church and upwards of 100 dwelling-houses. James Bradshaw was the first settler in the village, and the second was Albert Baker, who came here in 1768. His family was the 11th which settled in Kingsbury. Kingsbury village, 5 miles from Sandy Hill, is situated on the road to Fort Ann, and has 1 Baptist church and about 30 dwellings. Adamsville, 6 miles from Sandy Hill, is a village containing a Bap- tist church and 25 dwellings. The first minister settled in the town was Francis Baylor, a Moravian. He remained but a ehort time, and left in the year 1777. The first meeting-house was built soon after the revolu- WASHINGTON COUNTY. 573 Southern view of the central part of Sandy Hill. tion, and is still standing and occupied by the Baptists. During the war the town was burnt by Burgoyne's army, which lay encamped here about six weeks. The Hessians occupied the ground in the vicinity of the new burying-yard at Sandy Hill, while the Grenadiers lay at Moss Street, 2 miles north, and the light infantry under Frazer at Fort Edward Hill. The site on which stands the village of Sandy Hill, was formerly the scene of Indian barbarities. The following anecdote is related by Professor SiUiman, in his Tour from Hartford to Quebec in the autumn of 1819. From Mr. H., a very respectable inhabitant, I learned the following singular piece of his- tory Old Mr. Schoonhoven, recently living in this vicinity, and probably still surviving, al- though at the great age of more than fourscore, informed Mr. H. that during the last French war, he and six or seven other Americans coming through the wilderness, from Fort William Henry, at the head of Lake George, to Sandy Hill, had the misfortune to be taken prisoners by a party of the savages. Thej were conducted to the spot which is now the central green of Sandy Hill, and ordered to sit down in a row, upon a log. Mr. Schoonhoven pointed out to Mr. H. the exact place where the log lay ; it was nearly in front of the house where we dined. The Indians then began, very deliberately, to tomahawk their victims, commencing at one end of the log. and splitting the skulls of their prisoners, in regular succession; while the survivors, compelled to sit still, and to witness the awful fate of their companions, awaited their own, in unutterable horror. Mr. Schoonhoven was the last but one, upon the end of the log, opposite to where the massacre commenced ; the work of death had already proceeded to him, and the lifted tomahawk was ready to descend, when a chief gave a signal to stop the butchery. Then approaching Mr. Schoonhoven, he mildly said, " Do you not remember that (at such a lime) when your young men were dancing, poor Indians came, and wanted to dance too ; your young men said, ' No ! — Indians shall not dance with us ;' but you (for it seems this chief had recognised his features only in the critical moment) you said, Indians shall dance — now I will show you that Indians can remember kindness.'' This chance recol- lection {providential, we had better call it) saved the life of Mr. Schoonhoven, and of the other survivor. Strange mixture of generosity and cruelty ! For a trifling affront, they cherished and glutted vengeance, fell as that of internals, without measure of retribution, or discrimination of objects; for a favor equally trifling, they manifested magnanimity exceeding all corres- pondence to the benefit, and capable of arresting the stroke of death, even when falling with the rapidity of lightning. Two miles north of the village of Kingsbury is the spot where a bloody battle was fought in the French war, between a body of troops under Putnam and Rogers, and 500 French and Indians commanded by Molang. " In the month of August, 1758, five hundred men were employed, under the orders of Majors ilogers and Putnam, to watch the motions of the enemy near Ticonderoga. At South Bay they separated the party into two equal divisions, and Rogers took a position on Wood Creek, twelve miles distant from Futaam. 574 WASHINGTON COUNTY. " Upon being, some time afterward, discovered, they formed a reunion, and concerted measures for returning to Fort Edward. Their march through the woods was in three divinwns, by FILES : the right commanded by Rogers, the left by Putnam, and the centre by Captain D'EU. The iirst night they encamped on the banks of Clear River, about a mile from old Fort Ann, which had been formerly built by General Nicholson. Next morning Major Rogers, and a British officer named Irwin, incautiously suftl'red themselves, from a spirit of false emu- lation, to be engaged in firing at a mark. Nothing could have been more repugnant to the military principles of Putnam than such conduct, or reprobated by him in more pointed terms. As soon as the heavy dew which had fallen the preceding night would permit, the detachment moved in one body, Putnam being in front, ]T!']11 in centre, and Rogers in the rear. The imper- vious growth of shrubs and under-brush that had sprung up, where the land had been partially cleared some years before, occasioned this chance in the order of march. At the moment of moving, the famous French partisan Molang, who had been sent with live hundred men to intercept our party, was not more than one mile and a half distant from them. Having heard the tiring, he hastened to lay an ambuscade precisely in that part of the wood most fa- vorable to his project. Major Putnam was just emerging from the thicket, into the common forest, when the enemy rose, and with discordant yells and whoops commenced an attack upon the right of his division. Surprised^ but undismayed, Putnam halted, returned the fire, and passed the word for the other divisions to advance for his support. D'EU came. The action, though widely scattered, and principally fought between man and man, soon grew general and mtensely warm. It would be as difficult as useless to describe this irregular and ferocious mode of fighting. Rogers came not up ; but, as he declared afterward, formed a circular file between our party and Wood creek, to prevent their being taken in rear or enfi- laded. Successful as he commonly was, his conduct did not always pass without unfavorable imputation. Notwithstanding, it was a current saying in the camp, ' that Rogers always sent, but Putnam led his men to action,' yet, in justice, it ought to be remarked here, that the latter has never been known, in relating the story of this day's disaster, to affix any stigma upon the conduct of the former. " Major Putnam, perceiving it would be impracticable to cross the creek, determined to maintain his ground. Inspired by his example, the othcers and men behared with great bra- very : sometimes they fought aggregately in open view, and sometimes individually under cover ; takin" aim from behind the bodies of trees, and acting in a manner independent of each other. Tor himself, having discharged his fuzee several times, at length it missed fire, while the muzzle was pressed against the breast of a large and well proportioned savage. This warrior, avaiUng himself of the indefensible attitude of his adversary, with a tremendous war-whoop, sprang forward, with his lilted hatchet, and compelled him to surrender ; and having disarmed and bound him fast to a tree, returned to the battle. " The intrepid Captains D'EU and Harman, who now commanded, were forced to give ground for a httle distance : the savages conceiving this to be the certain harbinger of victory, rushed impetuously on, with dreadful and redoubled cries. But our two partisans, collecting a handful of brave men, gave the pursuers so warm a reception as to oblige them, in turn, to retreat a Uttle beyond the spot at which the action had commenced. Here they made a stand. This change of ground occasioned the tree to which Putnam was tied to be directly between the fire of the two parties. Human imagination can hardly figure to itself a more deplorable situation. The balls flew incessantly from either side, many struck the tree, while some passed through the sleeves and skirts of his coat. In this state of jeopardy, unable to move his body, to stir his hmbs, or even to inchne his head, he remained more than an hour So equally balanced, and so obstinate was the fight ! At one moment, while the battle swerved in favor of the enemy, a young savage chose an odd way of discovering his humor. He found Putnam bound. He might have despatched him at a blow. But he loved better to excite the terrors of the prisoner, by hurling a tomahawk at his head, or rather it should seem his object was to see how near he could throw it without touching him— the weapon struck in the tree a num- ber of times at a hair's breadth distance from the mark. When the Indian had finished his amusement, a French bas-officer (a much more inveterate savage by nature, though descended from so humane and polished a nation) perceiving Putnam, came up to him, and, levelling a fuzee within a foot of his breast, attempted to discharge it — it missed fire. Inefl'ectually did the intended victim solicit the treatment due to his situation, by repeating that he was a pri- soner of war. The degenerate Frenchman did not understand the language of honor or of nature: deaf to their voice, and dead to sensibility, he violently, and repeatedly, pushed the muzzle of his gun against Putnam's ribs, and finally gave him a cruel blow on the jaw with the butt-end of his piece. After this dastardly deed he left him. " At length the activf, intrepidity of D'EU and Harman, seconded by the persevering valor of their (bllowers, prevailed. They drove from the field the enemy, whp left about ninety dead behind them. As they were retiring, Putnam was untied by the Indian who had made him prisoner, and whom he afterward called master. Having been conducted for some dis- tance from the place of action, he was stripped of his coat, vest, stockings, and shoes ; loaded with as many of the packs of the woundecl as could be piled upon him ; strongly pinioned, and his wrists tied as closely together as they could be pulled with a cord. After he had marched, through no pleasant paths, in this painful manner, for many a tedious mile, the party (who were excessively fatigued) halted to breathe. His hands were now immoderately swelled from the tightness of the ligature ; and the pain had become intolerable. His feet were so much scratched, that the blood dropped fast from them. Exhausted with bearing a burden above his strength, and frantic with torments exquisite beyond endurance, he entreated the Irish interpreter to implore, as the last and only grace he desired of the savages, that tliey WASHINGTON COUNTY. 575 would knock him on the head and take his scalp at once, or loose his hands. A French officer, instantly interposing, ordered his hands to be unbound, and some of tlie packs to be taken off. By this time the Indian who captured him, and had been absent with the wounded, coming up gave him a pair of moccasins, and expressed great indignation at the unworthy treatment his prisoner had suffered. " That savage chief again returned to the care of the wounded, and the Indians, about two hundred in number, went before the rest of the party to the place where the whole were that night to encamp. They took with them Major Putnam, on whom, besides innumerable other outrages, they had the barbarity to inflict a deep wound with the tomahawk in the left cheek. His sufferings were in this place to be consummated. A .scene of horror, infinitely greater than had ever met his eyes before, was now preparing. It was determined to roast hmi alive. For this purpose they led him into a dark forest, stripped him naked, bound him to a tree, and piled dry brush, with other fuel, at a small distance, in a circle round him. They accompa- nied their labors, as if for his funeral dirge, with screams and sounds inimitable but by savage voices. Then they set the piles on fire. A sudden shower damped the rising flame. Still they strove to kindle it, until, at last, the blaze ran fiercely round the circle. Major Putnam soon began to feel the scorching heat. His hands were so tied that he could move his body. He often shifted sides as the fire approached. This sight, at the very idea of which all but savages must shudder, afforded the highest diversion to his inhuman tormentors, who demon- strated the delirium of their joy by correspondent yells, dances, and gesticulations. He saw clearly that his final hour was inevitably come. He summoned all his resolution, and com- po.sed his mind, as far as the circumstances could admit, to bid an eternal farewell to all he held most dear. To quit the world would scarcely have cost a single pang ; but for the idea of home, but for the remembrance of domestic endearments, of the aflectionate partner of his soul, and of their beloved offspring. His thought was ultimately fixed on a happier state of existence, beyond the tortures he was beginning to endure. The bitterness of death, even of that death which is accompanied with the keenest agonies, was^ in a manner, past — nature, with a feeble struggle, was quitting its last hold on sublunary things — when a French officer rushed through the crowd, opened a way by scattering the burning brands, and unbound the victim. It was Molang himself— to whom a savage, unwilling to see another human sacrifice immolated, had run and communicated the tidings. That commandant spurned and severely reprimanded the barbarians, whose nocturnal powwos and hellish orgies he suddenly ended. Putnam did not want for feeling or gratitude. The French commander, fearing to trust him alone with them, remained until he could deUver him in safety into the nands of his master. " The savage approached his prisoner kindly, and seemed to treat him with particular affec- tion. He offered him some hard biscuit ; but finding that he could not chew them, on ac- count of the blow he had received from the Frenchman, this more humane savage soaked some of the biscuit in water, and made him suck the pulp-like part. Determined, however, not to lose his captive (the refreshment being finished) he took the moccasins from his feet, and tied them to one of his Wj-ists : then directing him to lie down on his back upon the bare ground, he stretched one arm to its full length, and bound it fast" to a young tree ; the other arm was extended and bound in the same manner — his legs were stretched apart and fastened to two saplings. Then a number of tall, but slender poles were cut down, which, with some long bushes, were laid across his body from head to foot : on each side lay as many Indians as could conveniently find lodging, in order to prevent the possibihty of his escape. In this disagreeable and painful posture he remained until morning. During this night, the longest and most dreary conceivable, our hero used to relate that ne felt a ray of cheerfialness come casually across his mind, and could not even refrain from smiling when he reflected on this ludicrous group for a painter, of which he himseU'was the principal figure. " The next day he was allowed his blanket and moccasins, and permitted to march without carrying any pack, or receiving any insult. To allay his extreme nunger, a little bear's meat was given, which he sucked through his teeth. At night the party arrived at Ticonderoga, and tlie prisoner was placed under the care of a French guard. The savages, who had been prevented from glutting their diabolical thirst for blood, took other opportunity of manifesting their malevolence for the disappointment, by horrid grimaces and angry gestures ; but they were suffered no more to offer violence or personal indignity to him " After having been examined by the Marauis de Montcalm, Major Putnam was conducted to Montreal by a French officer, who treated him with the greatest indulgence and humanity." — Humphrey's Life of Putnam. Putnam, the extreme northern town of the county, was taken from Westfield in 1806 ; from Albany 90, and from Sandy Hill N. 30 miles. Pop. 785. Palmerston mountain, in this town, rises to the height of 1,500 feet. Salem was organized in 1788 ; has a hilly surface with narrow valleys and plains, and generally a fertile soil. Pop. 2,855. The following is a view of Salem, the half-shire village of Washing- ton county, as seen from an elevation on the main road at the northern extremity of the village, showing the principal street and the public 576 WASHINGTON COUNTY. North view of ISalem village. buildings. The village is 4G miles from Albany and 21 from Sandy Hill, and consists of upwards of 100 dwellings, 1 Presbyterian, 1 Asso- ciate Reformed Congregational church, an academy, the county build- ings, offices, stores, printing office, &c. The Presbyterian church and courthouse are seen on the left of the engraving, the Congregational near the centre, and the academy on the extreme right. The village was incorporated in 1803 ; the academy in this place has been incor- porated for about half a century, and is a very respectable institution, where quite a number of eminent men have been educated. Salem was first setttled about the year 1756, by two companies of emigrants, one from Scotland and Ireland, the other from New England. They worshipped together under the ministry of the Rev. Thomas Clark, an Irish preacher, till differences arose about " occa. sional communion," and about " receiving the covenant of the three kingdoms." This controversy occasioned a separation in 1769. A Presbyterian church was formed, and the Rev. John Warford, the first minister, was installed in 1789. He labored about 14 years, and was succeeded by Rev. Samuel Tomb, who continued in the ministry till his death in 1832. His successors have been Rev. John Whiton and Rev. A. B. Lambert. The first Presbyterian church was built in 1774, and for three years it was used for barracks and a storehouse. It was burnt by the royalists in 1778. The next house was built immediately after the war, and was burnt by accident in 1836. The third, erected at a cost of $10,000, was burnt in April, 1840 ; another is now erecting. The following inscription is copied from a monument in the village graveyard. " Here lie the earthly remains of the Rev. James Proudfit, pastor of the Ass. Ref. Con- gregation, Salem, who, after manifesting^ the most ardent zeal and disinterested faithfulness in the gospel of his Master during the period of fifty years, fell asleep in Jesus Oct. 22d, 1802. — ' Well done ! good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.' ' They that turn many to righteousness shall shine as the stars forever.' ' To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.' " White Creek, the SE. town of the county, was taken from Cam- bridge in 1815; centrally distant S. from Salem 12 miles. Pop. 2,204. North White Creek and Little White Creek are small post villages. White Creek Centre and Wait's Corners are small settle- ments. WASHINGTON COUNTY. 577 Whitehall, organized in 1788, has a great diversity of surface. The soil is principally a stiff clay, well adapted to grass. Pop. 3,810. Northern view of Whitehall. The above engraving shovi^s the appearance of the village of White- hall as seen from the rocky eminence which rises perpendicularly from the waters of Lake Champlain, a short distance to the north, overlooking the harbor. The village is compactly built, and lies in a rocky ravine, at the junction of Wood creek and the Champlain canal with the waters of Lake Champlain, 73 miles from Albany and 21 from Sandy Hill. The mouth of the creek and canal are seen in the central part of the engraving. The waters of the canal descend a distance of 26 feet by three locks. There is a steamboat communi- cation with this place and St. Johns in Canada, 150 miles distant. The steamboat landing is seen on the left at the foot of a rocky emi- nence about 200 feet high ; the Presbyterian and Episcopal churches are on the right. The village, which is a place of extensive business, consists of about 150 dwellings, a number of mills, many warehouses for the commission and forwarding business, a number of churches, and a bank. In the vicinity are the decaying hulks of the British ves- sels captured by Com. McDonough during the last war off Plattsburg. The Indian name of this place was Kah-cho-quah-na, " the place where dip-fish." It was formerly called Skenesborough, so named from Maj. Skene, a royalist, who resided here previous to the revolution. The pass at this place was seized by a detachment of vol- unteers from Connecticut in May, 1775. Maj. Skene and his family, with a number of soldiers and several small pieces of cannon, were taken. When Ticonderoga was aban. doned on the approach of Burgoyne, the public stores were embarked on board of 200 batteaux and sent up the lake to Skenesborough under a convoy of 5 galleys. They were pursued by a British brigade of gun-boals and overtaken at Skenesborough. Two of the galleys were taken, and the other three blown up, and the Americans being unable to make an effectual stand, set fire to the works, fort, mills, batteaux, and escaped as they could to Fort Ann. This place was occupied by Burgoyne as his head-quarters for a considerable time while his troops were clearing a road to Ford Edward. On the heights overlooking the harbor are the remains of a battery and blockhouse. 73 578 WAYNE COUNTY. WAYNE COUNTY. Wayne county was taken from the NW. corner of Ontario, and the N. of Seneca counties in 1823. Greatest length from E. to W. 35 miles ; greatest breadth N. and S. 30. The surface is much diversified ; on the N. the ancient beach of Lake Ontario extends with the lake E. and W. from it 4 to 8 miles ; forming in its whole course a road through the county, known as the " ridge roadP The Erie canal, for nearly the whole of its devious course of forty-three miles through the county, keeps the valley of Mud creek and the Clyde. The soil is generally highly fer- tile. The greater portion of the county on the west, including one fourth of the towns of Galen, Rose, and Huron, was in the grant to Massachusetts and in Phelps and Gorham's purchase, passing from those gentlemen to Robert Morris, and from him to Sir William Pulteney, from whom the present possessors derive title. The rem- nant in the east pertained to the military tract. The county is divided into 15 towns. Pop. 42,068. Arcadia, taken from Lyons in 1825 ; from Albany 186 miles. Newark, 6 miles W., and Lockville 5 miles W. of Lyons, each on the canal, are villages. Fairville is a post-office. Pop. 4,982. Butler, taken from Wolcott in 1826; from Lyons NE, centrally situated 14 miles. Butler and South Butler are post-offices. Pop. 2,287. Galen, organized as part of Seneca county, and taken from Junius in 1812; NW. from Albany 172 miles. Pop. 4,245. Clyde, incor- porated in 1835, is situated upon the Erie canal, 8 miles E. from Southern view of Clyde. Lyons. The above view was taken on the S. side of the Clyde river, and shows the principal portion of the village. The steeple in the centre of the view is that of the Methodist church, the one to the left the Presbyterian, and that to the right the Baptist. The village is a place of much business, and contains about 130 dwellings. WAYNE COUNTY. 579 Huron, taken from Wolcott in 1826, by the name of Port Bay; from Albany 193, from Lyons NE. 15 miles. Pop, 2,020. Lyons was taken from the S. end of Sodus in 1811 ; area since diminished. The surface of the township is hilly, and the soil of an excellent quality. Pop. 4,300. Eastern entrance into Lyons. Lyons, the shire village, was incorporated in 1831. It is situated at the junction of Mud ci'eck with the Canandaigua outlet, (below which the stream takes the name of Clyde river,) and on the Erie canal, 181 miles from Albany, 34 from Rochester, 15 N. of Geneva, and 16 S. of Sodus Point. The village contains about 250 dwellings, 1 Presbyterian, 1 Lutlieran, 1 Methodist, 1 Baptist, and 1 Episcopal church, the county buildings, a bank, 2 newspaper printing offices, a number of mills, &c. The accompanying view was taken at the bridge over the Erie canal, at the eastern entrance into the village, and shows in the distance a number of public buildings. The village was originally laid out by C. Williamson, agent tor the Pulteney estate, and is said to have derived its name from the similarity of its situation to the city of that name in France. The first settlement was commenced in June, 1798, by emigrants from New Jersey and Maryland. Mr. Van Wickle, from New Jersey, " moved in, along with 40 persons." Alloway is a small manufacturing village. "In 1834, a white oak tree was cut in this town, two miles west of Lyons, measuring 4J feet in diameter. In the body of the tree, about 3^ feet from the ground, was found a large and deep cutting by an axe, severing the heart of the tree, and exhibiting with per- feet distinctness the marks of the axe at the present time. The whole cavity thus created by the original cutting was found to be encased by 460 years' growth of the wood, i. e., it was concealed beneath 460 layers of the timber, which had grown over it subsequently to the cutting. Consequently the original cutting must have been in the year 1372, or 118 years before the discovery of America by Columbus. The tree was cut by James P. Bartle of Newark, a forwarding merchant, and the timber used by him in building the boat Newark, now belonging to the Detroit line. The cutting was at least six inches deep." Macedon, taken from Palmyra in 1823. Macedon Centre, 22 miles NW., and Macedon on the canal, 20 miles W. of Lyons, are small settlements. Pop. 2,397. 580 WAYNE COUNTY. Marion, originally named Winchester, and taken from Williamson in 1825; from Lyons centrally distant NW. 13 miles. Marion Cor- ners is a small settlement. Pop. 2,158. Ontario, originally named Freetown, and taken from Williamson, was organized as part of Ontario county ; centrally distant Irom Lyons NW. 24 miles. Ontario and West Ontario are the post- offices. Pop. 1,903. Palmyra was organized by the general sessions of Ontario county, purswmt to the act of 27th of .Tan. 1789; since modilied. It com- prised two townsiiips of Phelps and Gorham's purchase, being No. 12, in the 2d and 3d ranges. The surface of the town is gently un- dulating, and the soil of a superior quality. Pop. 3,550. Eastern view in Main-street, Palmyra. The village of Palmyra is situated on Mud creek and the Erie canal, 190 miles distant from Albany by the post route, 1 1 from Lyons, 13 from Canandaigua, and 22 from Rochester. It is a place of con- siderable business, containing about 250 dwellings, 1 Presbyterian, 1 Episcopal, 1 Methodist, and 1 Baptist church, a bank, 2 newspaper printing offices, a number of mills, &c. The accompanying engrav- ing shows part of Main-street, looking westward. Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormon sect, began his public career in and near this village. The following account of Smith, and his operations, is derived from authentic sources of information. Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism, was born in Royaiton, Vt., and removed to Manchester, Ontario county, N. Y., about the year 1820, at an early age, with his parents, who were in quite humble circumstances. He was occasionally employed in Palmyra as a laborer, and bore the reputation of a lazy and ignorant young man. According to the testimony of respectable individuals in that place. Smith and his father were persons of doubtful moral character, addicted to disreputable habits, and moreover extremely supersti- tious, believing in the existence of witchcraft. They at one time procured a mineral rod, and dug in various places fur money. Smith testified that when digging he had seen the pot or chest containing the treasure, but never was fortunate enough to get it into his hands. He placed a singular looking stone in his hat, and pretended by the light of it to make WAYNE COUNTY. 581 many wonderful discoveries of gold, silver, and other treasures, deposited in the earth. He commenced his career as the founder of the new sect when about the age of 18 or 19, and appointed a number of meetings in Palmyra, for the purpose of declaring the divine revela- tions which he said were made to him. He was, however, unable to produce any excite, ment in the village ; but very few had curiosity sufficient to listen to him. Not having the means to print his revelations, he applied to Mr. Crane, of the society of Friends, de- claring that he was moved by the spirit to call upon him for assistance. This gentleman bid him to go to work, or the state prison would end his career. Smith had better success with Martin Harris, an industrious and thrifty farmer of Palmyra, who was worth about $10,000, and who became one of his leading disciples. By his assistance, 5,000 copies of the Mormon Bible, (so called,) were published at an expense of about $3,U0U. It is possi- ble that Harris might have made the advances with the expectation of a profitable specula- tion, as a great sale was anticipated. This work is a duodecimo volume, containing 590 pages, and is perhaps one of the weakest productions ever attempted to be palmed off as a divine revelation. It is mostly a blind mass of words, interwoven with scripiural language and quotations, without much of a leading plan or design. It is in fact such a production as might be expected from a person of Smith's abilities and turn of mind. The following is a copy of the title page : "The Book ok Mormon: an account written by the hand of Mormon, rroN plates taken from THE plates of NePHI. " Wherefore it is an abridgment of the record of tlie people of Neplii, and aho of the [jainanites ; written to the Laniaiiites, which are a reaiiiaiit of the iiouse of Israel, and also to die Jew and Gentile, written by way of coniniandinent, and also by the spirit of Proi)hecy and Revelation. Writ, en and sealed up and hid up to the Lord that they may not be destroyed, to coine forth by the gift and power of God unto the inter pretalion thereof, sealed by the hand of Mijroni and hid up unto the Lord to come forth in due time by the way of the Gentile: the interpretation thereof by the ^il't of God, an abridgement taken from the book of Etlier. Also, which is a Record of the People of .lared, which were scattered at the time the Lord con- founded the language of the people when they were building a tower to get to Heaven, which is to shew unto the remnant of the honse of Israel how great things the Lord halli done ujito their fathers, and that till y may know the covenants of the Lord, and that they are not cast off forever ; and also to the convincing of the .lew and Gentile, that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal Gon, matiifesiing Himself unto all nations. And now if there are faults it betliJ mistake of men, wherefore condemn not the things of God that ye may be found spotless at th(^ judgment seat of Christ. " By Joseph Smith, Junior. Author and Proprietor, Palmyra. Printed by E. B. Grandin, for the Author, 1830." At the close of the book is " the testimony of three witnesses," viz : Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harri.^, in which they state unto all nations, kitidreds, tongues and people, that they have seen the plates containing the record, and the engravings upoir them, &c. On the last page is contained the testimony of eight witnesses, of which the following is a copy : " Be it known unto all nations, khidred, tongues, and people, unto whom this book shall come, that .loscph Smith, Jr., the Author and Proprietor of this work, hath shewed luito us the plates of vi'hich hath been spoken, which have the appearance of gold ; and as many of the leaves as the said Smith has transl;ited we did handle with our hands, and we also saw the engravings thereof, all of which had the appearance of ancient work and of curious workmanship. And this we bear record, with words of soberness, that the said Smith has shown unto us. for we have seen and hefted, and know of a surety that the said Smith has got the plates of which we have spoken. And we give our names unto the world that which we have seen and we lie not, God bearing witness of it. Christian Whitmer, Jacob Whitmer, Peter Whitmer, Jr., John Whitmer, Hiram Page, Joseph Smith, Senior, Hyrum Smith, Samuel H. Smith." In the preface, Smith states " that the plates of which htive been spoken, were found in the township of Manchester, Ontario county. New York." It is stated by persons in Palmyra, that when he exhibited these plates to his followers, they were done up in a canvas bag, and Smith made the declaration, that if they uncovered them, the Almighty would strike them dead. It is said that no one but Smith could read what was engraved upon them ; which he was enabled to do by looking through a peculiar kind of spectacles found buried with the plates. Soon after the publication of the Mormon Bible, one Parley B. Pratt, a resident of Lor. rain county, Ohio, happening to pass through Palmyra, on the canal, hearing of the new religion, called on the prophet and was soon converted. Pratt was intimate with Sidney Rigdon, a very popular preacher of the denomination called " Reformers" or "Disciples." About the time of the arrival of Pratt at Manchester, the Smiths were fitting out an expe- dition for the western country, under the command of Cowdery, in order to convert the Indians or Lamanites, as they termed them. In October, 1830, this mission, consisting of Cowdery, Pratt, Peterson, and Whitmer, arrived at Mentor, Ohio, the residence of Rigdon, well supplied with the new Bibles. Near this place, in Kirtland, there were a few famihes belonging to Rigdon's congregation, who havmg become extremely fanatical, were daily looking for some wonderful event to take place in the world. Seventeen of these persons readily believed in Mormonism, and were all re-immersed, in one night, by Cowdery. By 582 WAYNE COUNTY. The Morvion Hill. [The abovi' is a iiortlicrn vii!vv of the Mdrniori Hill In the town of Manchester, about 3 miles in a southern direction from Palmyra. It is aliout 140 feet in litif;lit, and is a specimen of the form of numerous elevations in this section of the slate. It derives its name from being the spot, (if we are to credit the testimony of Jo- seph Smitii,) where llie plates containing the Book of Mormon were (bund.] the conversion of Rigdon, soon after, Mormonism received a powerful impetus, and more than one hundred converts were speedily added. Rigdon visited Sniiih at Palmyra, where he tarried about two months, receiving revelations, preaching, &.c. He then returned to Kirtland, Ohio, and was followed a few days after by the prophet Smith and his connec- tions. Thus from a state of almost beggary, the family of Smith were furnished with the " fat of the land" by their disciples, many of whom were wealthy. A Mormon temple was erected at Kirtland, at an e.xpense of about ,$50,000. In this building, there was a sacred apartment, a kind of holy of holies, in which none but the priests were allowed to enter. An unsuccessful application was made to the legislature for the charter of a bank. Upon the refusal, they established an unchartered institution, com- menced their banking operations, issued their notes, and made extensive loans. The society now rapidly increased in wealth and numbers, of whom many were doubtless drawn thither by mercenary motives. But the bubble at last burst. The bank being an unchar- tered institution, the debts due were not legally collectable. With the failure of this insti- tution, the society rapidly declined, and Smith was obliged to leave the state to avoid the sheriff. Most of the sect, with their leader, removed to Missouri, where many outrages were perpetrated against them. The Mormons raised an armed force to " drive off the infidels ;" but were finally obliged to leave the state. By the last accounts, they were establishing themselves at Nauvoo, Illinois ; and it is said are now in a more flourishing condition than ever, rapidly making converts by means of their itinerant preachers in va- rious sections of our own country and even in England. Rose, taken from Wolcott in 1826 ; from Albany 177 miles. Rose Valley is a small post village, 10 miles NE. from Lyons. Pop. 2,031. Savannah, taken from Galen in 1824 ; from Lyons centrally situ- ated E. 13 miles. Pop. 1,707. SoDUs was organized in 1789 ; bounds since altered ; from Albany 180 miles. Sodus, on the Ridge road, 13 miles NW., and Sodus Point, 15 miles from Lyons, are small villages. At Nicholas Point, on Sodus bay, a body of Shakers settled in 1825. They have a a church, but are few in number. At Sodus bay, on Lake Ontario, the United States have made a pier for the improvement of the har- bor, of about a mile in length. The lake steamers enter the harbor and bay. Pop. 4,393. The following is extracted from Thompson's History of the late War : " On the 18th of June, 1813, the British fleet appeared before the town of Sodus, on a bay of that name, which is formed on the American side of Lake Ontario, between Gen- esee and Oswego rivers. General Burnet, of the New York militia, suspecting that thev WANYE COUNTV. 583 intended to land their troops, and capture a quantity of provisions, ordered out a regiment from t^» county of Ontario. The mihtia collected in great haste, and arrived at Sodus on the following morning. But the enemy, well knowing that his appearance would excite the alarm of the inhabitants, drew off his forces until their apprehensions should be subsi. ded, and re-appeared in the evening of the 19th, a few hours after the militia had been die. charged. In contemplation of his return, the inhabitants had removed all the pubhc stores from the buildings on the water's edge, to a small distance in the woods, and on the re- appearance of the hostile squadron, a second alarm was immediately given, and expresses sent after the discharged militia, which overtook and brought them back, with a large rein- forcement. Before their return, the enemy had landed, and finding that the provisions had been removed, they set fire to all the valuable buildings in the town, and destroyed most of the private property of every description. They then agreed to stipulate with the inhabi. tants, to desist from destroying the remaining houses, on condition of their surrendering the flour and provisions, which they knew had been deposited at that place. These articles were then not more than two hundred yards from the village, yet the enemy did not choose to attempt their capture, lest he might be drawn into an ambuscade ; but he threatened the entire destruction of every house in the town, if they were not immediately delivered over to him. The appearance of the militia prevented the execution of this threat, and the en- emy immediately returned to his shipping, and moved up the lake on the following morn- ing." Walworth, taken from Ontario in 1829 ; from Albany 208, from Palmyra NW. 6 miles. Walworth Corners is a small village. Pop. 1,734. Williamson, taken from Sodus in 1802 ; area since altered ; from Albany 206 miles. Pop. 2,147. Pulteneyville, 21 miles NW. from Lyons, on Lake Ontario, and Williamson Corners, are small post vil- lages. The following account of the invasion of Pulteneyville, May 15th, 1814, by the British, is from the Ontario Messenger, published at that time at Canandaigua : — " General Porter has received a letter from General Smith, communicating the particu- lars of the late visit of the enemy to that place, of which the following is a summary : ' On Saturday evening, 15th ult., the British squadron was discovered making towards Pulteney- ville, and information sent to General Swift, who repaired thither in the course of the suc- ceeding night with 130 volunteers and militia. On Sunday a flag was sent on shore de- manding a peaceable surrender of all public property, and threatening an immediate de- struction of the village, (which is on the margin of the lake,) in case of refusal. General Swift returned for answer that he should oppose any attempt to land, by all means in his power. Soon after the return of the flag, General Swift was induced, by the pressing so- licitations and entreaties of the inhabitants of the town, to permit one of the citizens to go to the enemy with a flag, and offer up the surrender of the property contained in a store- house at the water's edge, consisting of about 100 barrels of flour, considerably damaged, on condition that the commanding officer would stipulate not to take any other, nor molest the inhabitants. Before the return of the flag, the enemy sent their boats with several hundred men on shore, who took possession of the flour in the store and were proceeding to further depredations. General Swift, Vv hose force was too inferior to justify an open at. tack, (and which, if attempted, must have exposed his men to the guns of the whole fleet,) commenced a fire upon them from an adjacent wood, which wounded several, and became so harassing as to induce them to re-embark, whence they commenced a cannonade from the fleet upon the town, which was continued for some time, but with no other injury than a few shot-holes through the houses. Three hundred barrels of good flour had been re- moved back from the storehouse a few days before, leaving the damaged flour, which was the only booty obtained by the enemy. The three hundred barrels of flour were deposited about a mile back of the town, of which the enemy were apprized by some prisoners they took. But they chose to forego the plunder of it, rather than trust themselves in the woods with General Swift and his riflemen.' " WoLcoTT, taken from Junius, and organized as part of Seneca coun- ty in 1807 ; area since altered; from Albany 184 miles. Wolcott 584 WESTCHESTER COUNTY. 18 miles NE. from Lyons, is a village of about 60 dwellings. Rea Creek is a small settlement, 26 miles from Lyons. Pop. 2,482. WESTCHESTER COUNTY. Westchester county is of ancient date. It was represented in the first legislative assembly in the colony, which met at New York in 1691. And it has constituted one county to this time, having been organized as such by the general acts of 1788 and 1801. This coun- ty comprises a very important section of the state. Washed on the west by the Hudson, and on the south by the East river and Long Island sound, it enjoys very superior advantages for trade and com- merce. The county generally exhibits a beautiful diversity of sur- face. The northwestern corner is considerably broken by the SE. border of the Highlands, of a mountain character, and a range of hills of moderate height extends from York Island towards the NE. extremity, on which are situated the heights and hills much known in the revolution. Based upon primitive rock, the soil is naturally ster- ile, but is rendered productive by careful and painful cultivation. Of wheat it produces little, and the inhabitants import a large portion of their bread-stuffs. Summer crops are good, and by the use of plaster, valuable returns in grass are obtained. The chief business of the in- habitants consists in supplying New York city with garden stuffs, field vegetables, butter, poultry, &c. This county suffered severely during the revolution. The whole southern part was marked by the marches, works of defence, or skirmishes and battles of hostile armies. And, indeed, the active op- erations of the war in 1776, were principally confined to this region, and in the autumn to this county, where the two armies were in full force, constantly on the alert, and under the eyes of their respective commanders. The county is divided into 21 towns, all of which were organized under the act of March 7th, 1788, excepting New Castle. Pop. 48,687. Bedford, from New York NE. 44 miles, was first settled under a Connecticut license in 1681 or 1682, at a place called the hop-ground, on account of its natural product. The original patent, dated 1697, bears the Connecticut seal, and it was not until 1700 that the settle- ment was attached to New York by order of King William. Bed- ford, the half-shire town, has a courthouse and about 45 dwellings. Whitlockville is a small village. John Jay during the latter part of his life resided in the northern part of this town. The annexed sketch of his life is from Blake's Biographical Dictionary : — "John Jay, LL. D., first, chief-jtistioe of the United States under the constitution of 1789, graduated at Kings, (now Columbia college,) 1764, and in 1768 was admitted to the bar. He was appointed to the first American congress in 1774. Being on the committee with Lee and Livingston to draft an address to the people of Great Britain, he was the WESTCHESTER COUNTY. 585 The residence of the late Chief-Justice Jay, Bedford. writer of that eloquent production. In the congress of 1775, he was on various important committees, performing more service perhaps than any other member except Franklin and John Adams. In May, 1776, he was recalled to assist in forming the government of New York, and in consequence his name is not attached to the Declaration of Independence ; but July 9th, he reported resolutions in the provincial convention in favor of the declaration. After the fall of New York and the removal of the provincial assembly to Poughkeepsie, Mr. Jay retained his resolute patriotism. The very eloquent address of the convention to the people of New York, dated Fishkili, December 23, 1776, and signed by A. Ten Broeck, as president, was written by him. March 12, 1777, he reported to the convention of New York the draft of a form of government, which was adopted, and many of the provisions of which were introduced into the constitution of other states. From May 3, 1777, to August 18, 1779, he was chief-justice of the state, but resigned that office in consequence of his duties as president of congress. The glowing address of that body to their constit- uents, dated September 8, 1779, was prepared by him. On the 29th of September, he was appointed minister plenipotentiary to the court of Spain. He was one of the commission- ers to negotiate peace with Great Britain, and signed the definitive treaty of peace at Paris, September 3, 1783. He returned to America in 1784. Congress had previously appointed him secretary of state for foreign affairs. In the difficult circumstances of the country, the secretary was in effect the head of the government. Mr. Jay's services were of great im- portance. He drew up, October 13, 1776, an elaborate report on the relations between the United States and Great Britain. Though not a member of the convention which formed the constitution of the United States, he was present at Annapolis, and aided by his advice. He also assisted Madison and Hamilton in writing the Federalist. In the convention of New York he contributed to the adoption of the constitution. He was appointed chief, justice by Washington, September 26, 1789. In 1794, he was appointed minister plenipo- tentiary to Great Britain, and succeeded in negotiating the treaty which still goes by his name. He was governor of the state of New York from 1795 to 1801. The remainder of his life he passed in retirement. He died in 1829, aged 84." Cortland. The surface of this town on the north is covered by the highlands, and has some lofty summits, the principal of which is the Colleberg and Anthony's nose. The town has a considerable portion of arable land. Pop. 5,592. Croton and Cortlandtown are small post villages. Peeks till'- village was incorporated in 1826. It is situated 12 miles north of Sing Sing, and immediately south of the southern termina- tion of the highlands. The annexed engraving shows the appear- ance of the village as seen from an elevation a few rods northward from the road to Carmel. The old Dutch Reformed and the Epis- 74 586 WESTCHESTER COUNTY. East view of Peekskill. copal church are discernible on the right ; the Methodist and the Presbyterian church, having a small tower, are on the extreme left. The elevated spire of the new Dutch Reformed church is in the cen- tral part of the view. Hudson river, with the towering highlands, is seen in the distance. The village represented in the engraving is situated on an elevation 200 feet above the level of the river, half a mile from the landing, on both sides of a deep ravine, in which flows Gregory's brook, a rapid stream. There are in the village a bank, 2 printing-offices, 2 large iron foundries, &c. There is an academy, a large edifice, situated on a commanding eminence at the south. It was erected by subscription, at an expense of $7,000. The village, including the landing, contains upwards of 200 dwellings, and 2 churches for Friends, besides those mentioned above. There is a steamboat ferry at this place to Caldwell's landing, on the opposite side of the Hudson, two miles distant. Verplanck's point and Conti- nental village, places distinguished in the revolutionary war, are with- in the limits of this town. This latter place, which had barracks for 2,000 men, was burnt by the British in October, 1777; the following account of which is extracted from the Connecticut Journal of April 2d, 1777. FishfnH, March 27. — Our post at Peck's-kill, since the removal of the miUtia of the eastern states, has been in a manner in a defenceless situation, there being only part of 2 regiments stationed there under the care of Gen. McDougal amountino; to about 250 rnen. The enemy having received intelligence of this, formed an expedition thither with a view to take or de- stroy the stores belonging to the continentals that were deposited there. Accordingly on Sun- day last they appeared with a frigate, four transports, and several other small vessels in the bay, and laudea about 1,()00 men, with several pieces of cannon. General McDougal not thinking it prudent to hazard a battle with such an unequal force, and not having seasonable advice of thii enemy's movement, was under the necessity of destroying their stores in order to prevent their ialUng into their hands, and retired about two miles mto the pass in the High- lands, carrying with him his bairgage and military stores; his advanced guard being stationed at Cortlandt's house in the valley. The enemy the same day took posse.ssion of the village, and remained close in their quarters until the next day in the atternoon, when a party of them, consisting of about 2()0 men, possessed themselves of a height a httle south of Cortlandt's. The general having received a reinforcement from Col. Ganscvoort's regiment, of about 80 WESTCHESTER COUNTY. 587 men, under the command of Lieut. Col. WlUet, permitted them to attempt to dispossess the enemy from that eminence. Col. Willet having accordingly made the necessary disposition, advanced with his small party with the greatest tirmness and resolution, and made the attack! The enemy instantly fled with the greatest precipitation, leaving three men dead on the field, and the whole body, panic-struck, betook themselves to their shipping, embarking under cover of the night ; and by the last accounts they had sailed down the river. Before they embarked, they gave out they mtended to stop at Tarry town, on their way down, and attempt to destroy our magazine of forage at Wright's mills. Upon their evacuating the place. Gen. McDougal took possession of his former quarters, and detached a party of men to watch their motions The enemy oo this occasion have been exceedingly disappointed, as they have not been able to carry off any stores left behind by our men, and no other flock than about 40 sheep and 8 or 10 head of cattle, with which they were suppUed by our good friends the tories. Never did troops exhibit more firmness and resolution than did our army on this occasion. Notwith- standing the disparity of numbers was great, and the measure absolutely necessary, it was with the utmost reluctance they retired to the pass. As usual, these heroes of Britain have burnt some houses, plundered the inhabitants of what they could conveniently take with them, frightened the women and children, and raised the spirits of their tory brethren in that quar- ter, but which, alas, as is always the case when unnaturally elevated, are now again propor- tionably depressed. Peekskill is the birthplace of John Paulding, the American farmer, who intercepted Andre, the British spy, at Tarrytown, some fifteen miles below this place. His monument is situated about two miles to the north of the village. It is built of marble, of a pyramidal shape, about fifteen feet in height, and running to a point. It is enclosed in an iron railing about twelve feet square. The main inscription is on the south side, and runs thus : — " Here repose the mortal remains of John Paulding, who died on the 18th day of Feb- ruary, 1818, in the 60th year of his age. On the morning of the 23d of September, 1780, accompanied by two young farmers of the county of Westchester, (whose names will one day be recorded on their own deserved monuments,) he intercepted the British spy, Andre. Poor himself, he disdained to acquire wealth by sacrificing his country. Rejecting the temp- tation of great rewards, he conveyed his prisoner to the American camp, and by this act of noble self-denial, the treason of Arnold was detected ; the designs of the enemy baffled ; West Point and the American army saved, and these U. S., now by the grace of God free and independent, rescued from imminent peril." On the opposite side is written — " The corporation of the city of New York erect this tomb as a memorial raised to public gratitude." On the east side is a beautiful wreath engraved on the marble, with the word, " Fidelity." East Chester. The village of East Chester is situated at the head of a bay on Long Island sound, IG miles NE. from New York, on the old turnpike and stage road to Boston, and contains an Epis- copal church and about 25 dwellings. Bronx is the name of a small settlement and post-office in the northern part of the town, in the vicinity of which are valuable marble quarries. Pop. 1,502. Greensburgh is pleasantly situated on the Hudson, 22 miles N. of the city of New York. Pop. 3,361. On the banks of the river are splendid sites for country residences, many of which are occupied by the wealthy. About two miles below the village of Tarrytown, beautifully situated on the Hudson, is the country residence of Wash- ington Irving, Esq., and well known as the " Van Tassel house." Dobbs' Ferry, a noted place in the revolution, is situated on the Hud- son, 22 miles N. of New York, and opposite the northern termination of the Pahsades. There is here a village containing 2 churches, and about 30 dwellings. Hastings is a small settlement and landing on the Hudson, 2 miles below Dobbs' Ferry : 3 miles E. of Tarrytown, is the small village of Greensburgh, where there is a store, a tavern, a few neat dwellings, and a Presbyterian church, in whose cemetery rest the remains of Isaac Van Wart, one of the captors of Andre ; over which is a marble monument, consisting of a base and pyramid, with the following inscription : 539 WESTCHESTER COUNTY. Van Tassel house, the residence of Washington Irving. " Here repose the mortal remains of Isaac Van Wakt, an elder of the Greenburgh church, who died on the 23d of May, 1826, in the 69th year of his age. Having lived the life, he died the death of the Christian. — The citizens of the county of Westchester erected this tomb, in testimony of the high sense they entertained for the virtuous and patriotic conduct of their fellow.citizen, and as a memorial sacred to public gratitude. — Vincit Amor Patriffi. — Nearly half a century before this monument was built, the conscript fathers of Ameri- ca had, in the senate chamber, voted that Isaac Van Wart was a faithful patriot — one in whom the love of country was invincible, and this tomb bears testimony that the record is true. — Fidelity. On the 23d of Sept. 1780, Isaac Van Wart, accompanied by John Paulding and David Williams, all farmers of the county of Westchester, intercepted Major Andre on his return from the American lines in the character of a spy, and notwithstanding the large bribes offered them for his release, nobly disdained to sacrifice their country for gold, se- cured and carried him to the commanding officer of the district, whereby the dangerous and traitorous conspiracy of Arnold was brought to light, the insidious designs of the enemy baffled, the American army saved, and our beloved country freed," &c. Tarrytown is pleasantly situated, 28 miles N. of New York, on an elevation overlooking the Hudson, opposite the widest part of Tap- pan bay. The village contains 4 churches, 80 or 90 dwellings, and about 1,000 inhabitants. The above is a view of the place, situated about one fourth of a mile N. of the village where Andre was taken prisoner, in Sept. 1780, by three militiamen. The road at that time ran a little to the west of its present location. The three were play- ing cards in the field on the right of the engraving, which was then covered with trees and shrubbery, when their attention was arrested by the clattering of a horse's hoofs over a wooden bridge thrown across the little brook seen in the foreground. They left their cards, and arrested Andre in the vicinity of the place where now stands a small pine tree, near which a human figure is placed in the engraving. The annexed account of the taking of Andre, is from a manuscript in the possession of Isaac H. Tiffany, Esq., of Fultonville ; being the notes of a personal conversation which he had with David Williams, WESTCHESTER COUNTY. 589 North view of the place where Andre loas taken prisoner. one of the actors in the scene at Broome, Schoharie county, Feb. 13, 1817. Williams, Van Wart, and Paulding, (Williams aged between 22 and 23, the other two being younger,) were going to see some relations 20 miles below. The three were seated beside the road in the bushes, amusing themselves at cards, when their attention was ar- rested by the galloping of a horse. On approaching the road, they saw a gentleman riding towards them, seated on a large brown horse, which was afterward observed to have marked on the near shoulder the initials U. S. A. The rider was a light, trim-built man, about 5 feet 7 inches in height, with a bold military countenance and dark eyes, and was dressed in a round hat, blue surtout, crimson coat, with pantaloons and vest of nankeen. As he neared them, the three cocked their muskets and aimed at the rider, who immediately checked his horse, and the following conversation ensued : Andre. " Gentlemen, I hope you are of our party !" Paulding. " What party?" Andre. " The lower party." Paulding. " We do." Andre. " I am a British officer ; I have been up in the country on particular business, and would not wish to be detained a single moment." He thereupon pulled out a gold watch, and exhibited it as an evidence that he was a gentleman, and returned it again to his fob. Paulding thereupon remarked, " We are Ameri- cans." Andre. " God bless my soul ! a man must do any thing to get along — I am a continental officer, going down to Dobbs Ferry to get information from below." Andre then drew out and presented a pass from General Arnold, in which was the as- sumed name of John Anderson. Seizing hold upon the reins of the horse, they ordered him to dismount. Andre exclaimed, " You will bring yourself into trouble !" " We care not for that," was the reply. They took him down ten or fifteen rods beside a run of water, and Williams proceeded to search the hat, coat, vest, shirt, and pantaloons, in which they found $80 in continental money ; and at last ordered him to take off his boots. At this, he changed color. Williams drew off the left boot first, and Paulding seizing it exclaimed, " My God ! here it is I" In it three half sheets of written paper were found enveloped by a half sheet, marked, " contents West Point." Paulding again exclaimed, " My God ! he's a spy .'" On pulling off the other boot, a similar package was found. Andre was now allowed to dress, and they marched him across the road into the field about twenty rods. The young men winked to each other to make further discoveries, and inquired from whom he got the papers ? " Of a man at Pine's bridge, a stranger to me," replied Andre. He then offered them for his liberty, his horse and equipage, watch, and 100 guineas. This they refused to take, unless he informed them where he obtained the manuscript. He refused to comply, but again offered his horse, equipage, and one thousand guineas. They were firm in their denial, and Andre increased his offer to ten thousand guineas and as many drygoods as they wished, which should be deposited in any place desired, — that they might keep him and send some one to New York with his order, so 590 WESTCHESTER COUNTY. that they could obtain them unmolested. To this they replied, " that it did not signify for him to make any offer, for he should not go." They then proceeded to the nearest mili- tary station, which was at North Castle, about twelve miles distant. On the way, Ar Jre gave them his watch, telling them that " it was a prize." On delivering him to Colonel Jamieson, the commanding officer, that gentleman enjoined the strictest secrecy, at the same time expressing an opinion that there were others doubtless concerned in the plot. Major Tallmadge, who had commanded a guard, received Andre at Col. Jamieson's quarters, and afterward, with about twenty men, conducted him to Col. Sheldon, at Salem. The three accompanied Andre part of the way, and then left. During the night, Tallmadge caused Andre to be tied to a tree at Comyen hill. From Salem he was conveyed to West Point, and from thence to Tappan. Williams, Paulding, and Van Wart, stood within the ring when Andre was hung. When the officer informed him that his time had nearly expired, and inquired if he had any thing to say, he answered, " Nothing but for them to witness to the world that he died like a brave man." The hangman, who was painted black, otTered to put on the noose — " Take off your black hands !" said Andre; then putting on the noose himself, took out his handkerchief, tied it on, drew it up, bowed wiih a smile to his acquaintances, and died. David Williams, now (Feb. 13, 1817,) aged 61, was born at Tarrytown, of Dutch ex- traction, and speaks that language. Paulding and Van Wart were also Dutch ; neither of the three spoke English well. Congress gave each a farm in Westchester county, of the value of £500, an annuity of $200 through life, together with an elegant silver medal, on one side of which was the inscription, " Fidelity" and on the reverse, the motto " Amor •patria. vincit," (the love of country conquers.) Harrison is 28 miles N. of New Yoric and 3 east of White Plains. Pop. 1,139. This is a fertile township, mostly inhabited by Friends. Harrison Purchase is a thickly settled agricultural vicinage, where is located a meeting-house and a post-office. Lewisboro, originally South Salem, received its present name in 1840 ; centrally distant NE. from Bedford 6, and from New York 50 miles. Pop. 1,619. Cross River, South Salem, Vista, and Gol- den's Bride, are names of the post-offices. At Cross River there are 2 churches and about 20 dwellings. Sarah Bishop, the hermitess, resided near the boundary line of Lewisboro and the state of Connecticut. She lived on Long Island at the time of the revolutionary war. Her father's house was burnt by the British, and she was cruelly treated by a British officer. She then left society and wandered among the mountains near this part of the state, where she found a cave near Ridgefield, in which she resided till about the time of her death, which took place in 1810. She sometimes came down to the adjoining town of Ridgefield, Conn., to attend public worship on the Sabbath. It is said that the wild animals were so accustomed to see her, that they were not afraid of her presence. The following account of a visit to this hermitess, is taken from a newspaper printed at Poughkeepsie, in 1804. " Yesterday I went in the company of two Capt. Smiths of this town to the mountain, to visit the hermitage. As you pass the southern, an elevated ridge of the mountainj and begin to descend the southern steep, you meet with a perpendicular descent of a rock, m the front of which is this cave. At the foot of this rock is a gentle descent of rich and fertile ground, extending about ten rods, when it instantly forius a frightful precipice, descending half a mile to the pond called Long pond. In the front of the rock, on the north, where the cave is, and level with the ground, there appears a large frustum of the rock, of a double fathom in size, thrown out by some unknown convulsion of nature, and lying in the front of the cavity from which it wa.s rent, partly enclosing the mouth, and forming a room : the rock is left entire above, and forms the roof of this humble mansion. This cavity is the habitation of the her- mitess, in which she has passed the best of her years, excluded from all society ; she keeps no domestic animal, not even fowl, eat, or dog. Her little plantation, consisting of half an acre, is cleared of its wood, and reduced to grass, where she has raised a few peach trees, ana yearly plants a few hills oi beans, cucumbers, and potatoes ; tlie whole is surrounded with a WESTCHESTER COUNTY. 501 luxuriant grape, vine, which overspreads the surrounding wood, and is very productive. On the opposite side of this little tenement, is a fine fountain of excellent water. At this fountain we found the wonderful woman, whose appearance it is a little difficult to describe ; indeed, like nature in its tirst state, she was without form. Her dress appeared Uttle else than one confused and shapeless mass of rags, patched together \yithout any order, which obscured all human shape, excepting her head, which was clothed with a luxuriancy of lank gray hair de- pending on every side, as time had formed it, without any covering or ornament. \Vhen she discovered our approach, she exhibited the appearance of a wild and timid animal : she started and hastened to her cave, which she entered, and barricadoed the entrance with old shells, pulled from the decayed trees. We approached this humble habitation, and after some con- versation with its inmate, obtained liberty to remove the pallisadoes and look in; for we were not able to enter, the room being only sufficient to accommodate one person. We saw no utensil either for labor or cookery, save an old pewter ba.sin and a gourd shell ; no bed but the solid rock, unless it were a few old rags, scattered here and there ; no bed-clothes of any kind ; not the least appearance of tbod or fire. .She had, indeed, a place in one corner of her cell, where a fire had at some time been kindled, but it did not appear there had been one for some months. To confirm this, a gentleman says he passed her cell 5 or 6 days after the great fall of snow in the beginning of March, that she had no fire then, and had not been out of her cave since tlie snow had fallen. How she subsists during the severe season, is yet a mystery ; she says she eats but little tie^h of any kind ; in the summer she lives on berries, nuts, and roots. We conversed with her for some time, found her to be of a sound mind, a religious turn of tiiought, and entirely happy in her situation ; of this she has given repeated proofs by refusing to quit this dreary abode. .She keeps a Bible with her, and says she takes much satisfaction, ana spent much time in reading it." Mamaroneck has a hilly surface, and the township is generally under good cultivation. Pop. 1,416. The village of Mamaroneck is about 24 miles from New York, and 161 from Albany. It is sit- uated on a bay about one mile from the sound, which admits vessels of 100 tons burden. The village contains 2 churches, 2 cotton fac- tories, and about 50 dwellings. The following letter of Gen. Samuel Parsons, dated at Mamaro- neck, Nov. 21st, 1777, to Gov. Try on, with his answer, is copied from a newspaper printed at the time. " Sir, — Adding to the natural horrors of war the most wanton destruction of property, is an act of cruelty unknown to civilized nations, and unaccustomed in war, until the ser- vants of the king of Great Britain have convinced the impartial world, no act of inhumanity, no stretch of despotism, are too great to exercise towards those they term rebels, " Had any apparent advantage been derived from burning the house on Philips' manor, last Monday, tliere would have been some reason to justify the measure ; but when no benefit whatever can be proposed, by burning those buildings and stripping the women and children of necessary apparel, to cover them from the severity of a cold night, and capti- vating and leading in triumph to your lines, in the most ignominious manner, the heads of those families, I know not what justifiable cause to assign for those acts of cruelty ; nor can I conceive a necessity for your further order to destroy Tarrytown. " You cannot be insensible it is every day in my power to destroy the houses and build, ings of Col. Philips, and those belonging to the family of Delancy, each as near your lines as those buildings were to my guards ; and notwithstanding your utmost diligence, you can- not prevent the destruction of every house this side of King's bridge. It is not fear, it is not want of opportunity that has preserved those buildings ; but a sense of the injustice and savageness of such a fine of conduct has saved them : and nothing but necessity will induce me to copy examples of this sort so often set by your troops. " It is not my inclination, sir, to war in this manner, against the inhabitants within your lines, who suppose themselves within your king's protection. But necessity will oblige me to retaliate in kind upon your friends, to procure the exercise of that justice which humanity used to dictate : unless your explicit disavowal of your two captains, Emmerick and Bams, shall convince me these houses were burned without your knowledge and against your order. I am, sir, your humble servant, Samuel H. Parsons." Governor Tryon's answer, dated King^s bridge camp, Nov. 23d, 1777. " Sir, — Could I possibly conceive myself accountable to any revolted subject of the king of Great Britain, I might answer your letter received by the flag of truce yesterday, respect- ing the conduct of the party under Capt. Emmerick's command upon the taking of Peter and Cornehus Van Tassel] ; I have, however, candor enough to assure you, as much as I 592 WESTCHESTER COUNTY. abhor every principle of inhumanity, or ungenerous conduct, I should, were I in more au- thority, burn every committee man's house within my reach, as I deem those agents the wicked instruments of the continued calamities of this country : and in order sooner to purge this country of them, I am willing to give twenty.five dollars for every acting com- mittee man, who shall be delivered up to the king's troops : I guess before the end of next campaign, they will be torn in pieces by their own countrymen, whom they have for. cibly dragged in opposition to their principles and duty (after fining them to the extent of their property) to take up arms against their lawful sovereign, and compelling them to ex- change their happy constitution, for paper, rags, anarchy, and distress. " The ruins from the conflagration of New York, by the emissaries of your party last year, remain a memorial of their tender regard for their fellow beings exposed to the ' se- verity of a cold night.' " This is the first correspondence I have held with the king's enemies, on my part in America, and as I am immediately under the command of Sir Henry Clinton, your future letters, dictated with decency, would be more properly directed to his excellency. " I am, sir, your most obedient servant, William Tryon, Major Gen. " To Gen. Parsons." This came on Sunday the 23d inst, and by some means or other Gen. Delancy's house at Bloomingdale, on York Island, took fire on the 25th at night. From the Connecticut Journal, Dec. 10, 1777. " James Delancy, late sheriff of Westchester, and colonel of the enemy's militia, was taken last week by one of our scouts ; the colonel was found under a bed, and for a better defence, had surrounded himself with a bulwark of baskets. He was dragged from his humble redoubt, put under a proper guard, and sent to a place better secured." The following relative to the situation of this county in 1777, is taken from the 3d vol. of Dr. Dwight's Travels. " In the autumn of 1777, I resided for some time in this county. .The lines of the Brit- ish were then in the neighborhood of King's bridge ; and those of the Americans at Byram river. These unhappy people were, therefore, exposed to the depredations of both. Often they were actually plundered ; and always were liable to this calamity. They feared every- body whom they saw, and loved nobody. It was a curious fact to a philosopher, and a melancholy one to a moralist, to hear their conversation. To every question they gave such an answer, as would please the inquirer ; or, if they despaired of pleasing, such an one as would not provoke him. Fear was, apparently, the only passion by which they were animated. The power of vohtion seemed to have deserted them. They were not civil, but obsequious ; not obliging, but subservient. They yielded with a kind of apathy, and very quietly, what you asked, and what they supposed it impossible for t^em to retain. If you treated them kindly, they received it coldly ; not as kindness, but as a compensation for injuries done them by others. When you spoke to them, they answered you without either good or ill-nature, and without any appearance of reluctance or hesitation : but they subjoined neither questions, nor remarks, of their own ; proving to your full conviction, that they felt no interest either in the conversation, or in yourself. Both their countenances, and their motions, had lost every trace of animation and of feeling. Their features were smoothed, not into serenity, but apathy ; and instead of being settled in the attitude of quiet thinking, strongly indicated, that all thought, beyond what was merely instinctive, had fled their minds forever. " Their houses, in the mean time, were in a great measure scenes of desolation. Their furniture was extensively plundered, or broken to pieces. The walls, floors, and windows, were injured both by violence and decay ; and were not repaired, because they had not the means of repairing them, and because they were exposed to the repetition of the same in- juries. Their cattle were gone. Their enclosures were burnt, where they were capable of becoming fuel ; and in many cases thrown down, where they were not. Their fields were covered with a rank growth of weeds and wild grass. Amid all this appearance of desola- tion, nothing struck my own eye more forcibly than the sight of this great road — the passage from New York to Boston. Where I had heretofore seen a continual succession of horses and carriages, and life and bustle lent a sprightliness to all the environing objects, not a single, solitary traveller was visible from week to week, or from month to month. The world was motionless and silent; except when one of these unhappy people ventured upon a rare and lonely excursion to the house of a neighbor, no less unhappy ; or a scouting WESTCIIESTKK COUNTY. r)93 party, traversing the country in quest of enemies, alarmed the inhabitants with expectations of new injuries and sufierings. The very tracks of the carriages were grown over, and ob- hterated : and, where they were discernible, resembled the faint impressions of chariot wheels said to be left on the pavements of Herculaneum. The grass was of full height for the scythe ; and strongly reahzed to my own mind, for the first time, the proper import of that picturesque declaration in the Song of Deborah : ' In the days of Shamgar, the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied ; and the travellers walked through by-paths. The inhabitants of the villages ceased : they ceased in Israel.' " Mount Pleasant is a large and fine township, diversified with hill^ and valleys. Pop. 7,308. Beds of marble abound in this vicinity, and are extensively quarried at Sing Sing and other places. Sing Sing, Pleasantville, Sparta, and Unionville, are villages. The village of Sing Sing, 34 miles from New York, and 111 from Albany, was incorporated in 1813. Its name is derived from the Chinese Tsing- sing, the title of a celebrated governor, in China, of a city so called. It is said to have been brought to this country by a Dutch settler who had traded with China. The village is situated on an uneven spot of ground, and is quite diversified in its appearance ; and is a thriving place, having 4 churches, an academy for males, an institu- tion for females, a number of mills, and upwards of 200 dwellings. Sing Sing Prison. The above is a view of the State Prison on the bank of the Hud- son in Sing Sing village, which usually contains from 800 to 900 convicts. The following, relative to the history of the prison, &c., is taken from an article published in the N. Y. Express, April 13th, 1841. " In 1823, the solitary system of imprisonment was abandoned at the Auburn prison, and was succeeded in 1824 by the present s)'stem of shutting up the convicts in separate cells by night, and compelling them to labor diligently during the day. "The adoption of tliis system rendered the Auburn prison, which in 1824 contained but 550 separate cells, insufficient for the accommodation of all the convicted felons in the state, and an act of the legislature was passed in March, 1824, for the erection of a new state prison in the first or second sena'orial districts, which the commissioners appointed for the purpose thought proper to locate in Mount Pleasant, Sing Sing, owing to its exhaustless bodies of marble, its healthy situation, and its accessibility by water. On the 14th of May, 1826, Capt. E. Lvnds, former agent of the Auburn prison, with 100 convicts, in obedience 7.5 594 WESTCHK.-3TER COONTY. to instructions, proceeded to Sing Sing, and commenced the erection of the state prison there. This was completed in 1829, and contained 800 cells. By the addition of several additional counties to this prison district, greatly increasing the number of convicts, it was discovered that these accommodations were insufficient, and 20.0 more cells were ordered to be added, which result was obtained by adding another, or fifth story to the prison build, ing — which addition was completed in 1831. " In May, 1828, the convicts then in the old state prison in this city were removed to Sing Sing, and the old prison here was emptied of its inmates, and abandoned forever as a prison. " The Mount Pleasant prison at Sing Sing is 33 miles from this city on the eastern shore of the Hudson river, and ihe ground on which it stands is about 10 feet above high-water mark. The prison grounds contain 130 acres, and the wharf is approachable by vessels drawing 12 feet of water. The prison, keeper's house, workshops, &,c., are built of rough dressed stone. The prison for the males is 480 feet in length from north to south, and 44 in width, fronting towards the west, or the Hudson river. This building is five stories high, containing a line of 100 cells in each story on the west side, and as many more on the east side, making 1,000 cells in all. The western yard is enclosed by two buildings 40 feet wide, and 2 stories high, which are occupied as the kitchen, hospital, chapel, workshops, storehouses, &c., and extend from the prison westerly to the edge of the water. The south wing adjoins the prison, but communicates with it only through the hospital. The north wing connects with the prison by a wall 20 feet in height, running north and south 10 feet, enclosing together an area of 494 feet by 412. In the centre of the west yard is a range of shops, 40 feet wide, fronting on the Hudson, and running parallel with the prison 276 feet, with wings extending easterly towards the prison 140 feet, which are occupied as stone shops. The guard-house is on the bank or height on the east side of the prison, about 170 feet above the level of the yard, commanding a perfect view of the east yard, and most of the west. Within the last few years, an additional building has been erected on the heights east of the main prison for the purposes of a female prison exclusively, which is capable of containing about 72 female convicts, one in each cell, and in which that number is now confined. " The officers of the prison, or those connected with its government, business, interests, health, and morals, are — five inspectors, a principal keeper, agent, clerks, physician, and chaplain, 25 assistant keepers, and 26 guards. These, except the clerk, are appointed by the Board of Inspectors, and hold their offices during their pleasure. The clerk is appointed by the governor and senate, and holds his office for four years. The inspectors are ap. pointed every two years by the governor and senate, and on them the government of the prison, its discipline, police, its moneyed concerns, contracts, &c., by law devolves. They are required to meet every two months, and inspect the prison, and to make a report an- nually to the legislature soon after it convenes. The duties of the principal officers are de- fined by law, and are such as the good government and welfare of the institution require. " In this prison the convicts are compelled to labor in silence — no conversation by word, look, or gesture being allowed between or amongst them If any information is needed by the prisoner in regard to his business, he modestly applies to, and obtains it of his keeper, one of whom is always near hiin in each department of labor. " The utmost harmony of movement in the various businesses conducted, and the most perfect order reigns. The whole internal machinery of the prison, with its more than 800 hardy convict laborers, resembles more the quiet industry and subordination to authority of a well-regulated family, than an institution fur the punishment of hardened offenders. " The hours of labor are not more than laboring men out of prison generally labor. The food afforded is ample. The ration for each day consists of either 16 ounces of good prime beef, or 12 ounces of prime pork, 8 ounces of rye flour, 12 ounces of sifted Indian meal, and half a gill of molasses per man; and three bushels of potatoes, or 40 pounds of rice, 4 quarts of rye in the grain for coffee, 2 quarts of vinegar, and two ounces of pepper to every 100 rations. This is all weighed or measured out each day by the superintendent of the kitchen. The bread is well baked, and the provisions well cooked by some of the convicts employed for that purpose. Their provisions are put in small wooden vessels called kids, which are placed on racks, one of which each prisoner takes as he retires from labor to his cell, in which he is locked, and where silently he eats his repast. If any convict requires more food, on making his wants known, he is supplied from the kitchen. " At the close of the day, in long lines they march to their respective cells, accompanied by their keepers, and being locked in, partake of their food and indulge in repose. Each cell has a bunk of wood or frame, made of pine, 6 feet long and two wide, 4 or 6 inches from the floor, 4 blankets, a bible, pint-cup for their cotfec, small tin cup for vinegar, an iron spoon, a comb, and a towel. These are all kept clean, or made so when they :ire otherwise. From 12 to 14 convicts are employed in washing the clothes and bedding of the prisoners ; WESTCHESTER COUNTY. 595 some others do the cooking ; and once a week they are all shaved by a convict who acts as barber. " The tailoring is done by convict tailors, who make and repair all the prisoners' gar- ments. Clean underclothes are placed in their cells each week. At night they are care- fully watched by a keeper and four armed guards, who pace the galleries noiselessly, with socks on their feet — observe that all is safe — notice every noise ; and are prepared to quell any disturbance that might possibly arise. This latter is, however, almost impossible, as each prisoner is in a small cell by himself, and secured by powerful bolts and bars. " The moral and religious condition of the prisoners is also carefully attended to. Prayer generally at night, and a sermon and prayers every Sabbath morning by the chaplains in the chapel, a bible, and latterly other religious books in the cells, constitute a portion of their spiritual privileges. A Sunday school, attended by some 250 convicts as pupils, and a bible-class of 120 or more of them, are also in active operation each Sabbath in the cha- pel. The effects of these united means of mental and moral culture on many of the con- victs, are highly beneficial, and promissory of good fruits at a future day. They render the convicts more orderly and sober-minded, and divert their attention from less profitable subjects." The famous Sleepy Ilolloio, the noted location described in the " Sketch Book" by Washington Irving, is situated in the south part of this township, near Tarrytown ; it is a long ravine of 2 or 3 miles, through which a road passes on which is situated several romantic dwellings. Ancient Dutch church. The above is a northwestern view of the old Dutch Reformed church situated in the southern part of this town, about a mile north of the place where Andre was taken in Tarrytown. It is believed to be the oldest church now standing in the state. A tablet placed on the church bears the inscription, " Erected and built by Frederick Philips,* and Catharine Van Cortlandt, his wife, in 1699." The pulpit and communion table w^ere brought from Holland at the time of the * Frederick Philips was the original patentee of Philips' Patent, a very extensive tract in this county, originally comprising no less than 20 miles square, bounded west by the Hud- son, and lying south of the mouth of the Croton. Mr. Philips' settled on his manor about the year 1680, and built his dwelling, a stone mansion, a few rods west of the church. 596 WESTCHESTER COUNTY. erection of the church. The building has latterly undergone some repairs internally and externally, by which it has lost considerable of its venerable appearance. Unfortunately, the pulpit has not es- caped the hand of modern innovation, but the communion table still remains unchanged, a venerable relic of a former age. This church and vicinity has been made celebrated by Irving's well-known " Legend of Hlee-py Hollow." " The sequestered situation of this church," says the author of this legend, " seem always to have made it a favorite haunt of troubled spirits. It stands on a knoll surrounded by locust trees and lofty elms, from among which its decent whitewashed walls shine mod- estly forth like Christian purity beaming through the shades of retirement. A gentle slope descends from it to a silver sheet of water, bordered by high trees, between which, peeps may be caught at the blue hills of the Hudson. To look upon its grass-grown yard, where the sunbeams seem to sleep so quietly, one would think that there at least the dead might rest in peace. On one side of the church extends a wide woody dell, along which laves a large brook among broken rocks and trunks of fallen trees. Over a deep black part of the stream, not far from the church, was formerly thrown a wooden bridge ; the road that led to it and the bridge itself were thickly shaded by overhanging trees, which cast a gloom about it even in the daytime, but occasioned a fearful darkness at night." It was in this church that the never-to-be-forgotten Yankee peda- gogue Ichabod Crane, in rivalry to the old Domine, led off the choir, making the welkin ring with the notes of his nasal psalmody. It was too in the ravine just back of the church, that this redoubtable hero, Ichabod, had his fearful midnight encounter with the headless horseman, and forever disappeared from the sight of the goodly in- habitants of Sleepy Hollow. Newcastle M^as organized from Northcastle in 1791 ; from New York N. 37, from Bedford W. 6 miles. Pop. 1,529. Newcastle is a small post village, in the northeast angle of the town. New Rochelle is situated on Long Island sound, 20 miles north- east of New York. Pop. 1,816. Settlements were early made in this town by Huguenots, who f]ed from France after the repeal of the edict of Nantz. The village of New Rochelle is delightfully situa- ted in sight of the sound, on the turnpike road from New York to Connecticut, and contains 4 churches, several hotels, and about 60 dwellings. There is a small settlement at the landing on the sound containing an elegant hotel, &c. Northcastle is 36 miles NE. from New York, and centrally dis- tant 5 SW. of Bedford. Pop. 2,058. Northcastle is a post-office, around which there is a small settlement. North Salem is in the NE. corner of the county, 55 miles from New York, and 12 from Bedford. Pop. 1,161. North Salem, post village, has 3 churches, several mills and stores, and in its vicinity about 40 dwellings. Pelham is situated on the sound, 18 miles NE. from New York. Pop. 789. This dwelling was fortified against the Indians, and went by the name of Castle Philips. It is now s-:anding, and is occupied by his great grand-daughter, Mrs. Cornelia Beekman. Although the mansion has been modernized, remains of the poruholes are still to be seen in the stone walls of the cellar. WESTCHESTER COUNTY. 597 PouNDRiDGE is sltuatcd 4 miles E. from Bedford. Pop. 1,407. Poundridge, post village, centrally situated, contains 1 Presbyterian, 1 Methodist Episcopal church, and about 15 dwellings. Rye, the southeast town of the county, is distant Irom New York 26 miles. Pop. 1,803. Port Chester, post village, formerly called Saw^pits, is on the New York and Connecticut turnpike, and west side of Byram river, which is here the boundary line of Connecticut and New York ; it is pleasantly situated, and contains 3 churches, and about 100 dwellings. This place possesses a convenient landing for steamboats and sloops. The village of Rye, on the New York turnpike, 1 mile from the sound, contains 3 churches, 2 academies, and about 30 dwellings. The old Jay mansion is situated in the western part of the town. ScARSDALE is 24 milcs fz'om New York, and 3 S. of White Plains. Pop. 255. SoMERs is on the north line of the county, 50 miles NE. of New York, and 10 east of Peekskill. Pop. 2,082. Somers is a neat post village, containing 2 churches and about 40 dwellings. Owensville is a post village, where there are located several factories and about 30 dwellings. Westchester has an uneven surface, and a soil which will sustain a high degree of cultivation. Pop. 4,154. This town was probably first settled in 1642, by a Mr. Throckmorton and 35 associates, who came from New England with the approbation of the Dutch authori- ties. It was called by the Dutch, Eastdorp. The manor of Mor- risiana, originally containing about 3,000 acres, belongs to the dis- tinguished family of Morris ; it is in the SW. corner of the town, opposite Hell Gate. This manor gave name to a town from 1788 to 1791, part of the present town of Westchester. Westchester village, at the head of navigation of Westchester creek, 2 miles from the sound, and 14 NE. from New York, contains about 50 dwellings. West Farms, on the Bronx river at the head of navigation, 3 miles from the sound and 12 from New York, contains about 60 dwellings. •' GouvERNEUR MoKRis was boin at Morrisiana, Jan. 31, 1752. He graduated at Kings college, New York, in 1768. He was bred to the law, in which he obtained a great repu- tation. In 1775, he was a delegate to the provincial congress in New York. In 1776, (Dec.) he acted as one of the committee for drafting a constitution for the State of New York, which was reported in March, 1777, and adopted in April of that year, after repeated and very able debates. He was employed in the public service in various capacities, during the revolutionary contest, in all of which he displayed great zeal and ability. After the revolution, he retired from pubhc life, and passed a number of years in private pursuits, excepting being a very active member of the convention which framed the constitution of the United States. In 1792, he was appointed minister to France, and remained there in that capacity until Oct. 1794. He returned to America in 1798, and in 1800 was chosen a senator from New York. In the summer of 1810, he examined the route for the Erie canal, and took a prominent part in originating and promoting that noble work. He died at Morrisiana, Nov. 5, 1816. He passed the latter years of his life at Morrisiana, exercising an elegant and munificent hospitality, reviewing the studies of his early days, and carrying on a very interesting correspondence with statesmen and literati in Europe and America. The activity of his mind, the richness of his fancy, and the copiousness of liis eloquent con- versation, were the admiration of all his acquaintance ; and he was universally admitted to be one of the most accomplished and prominent men of our country." 598 WESTCHESTER COUNTV. Southeast view o White Plains village, (centra' part.) White Plains has a hilly, but mostly an arable soil, well adapted for grazing. Pop. 1,087, The half-shire village of White Plains is situated on the old post road to Boston, 27 miles NE. from New York, 125 from Albany, and 14 miles SW. from Bedford. It contains 2 Meth- odist, 1 Presbyterian, 1 Episcopal, and 1 Baptist church, the county buildings, an academy, 70 or 80 dwellings, and about 550 inhab- itants. The above view shows the appearance of the central part of the village : the courthouse, an ancient building, is seen on the left, the spire of the academy on the extreme right. The following account of the military operations in this town and its vicinity in Oct. 1776, and the events which followed, is from Botta's American Revolution. " The English general remained several days at Frogs Neck, as well to repair the bridges which the enemy had broken, as to wait for a considerable reinforcement whicii he had called from Staten Island. The road from Frogs Neck to Kingsbridge is excessively rough with continual masses of small stones, and the Americans had also obstructed it in many places. Washington, who had assembled all his army at Kingsbridge, sent forward his light infantry to scour the country, and to harass the enemy in his march. " Gen. Howe, having received his reinforcements, put himself in motion with all his troops ; he crossed Pelham Manor, and went to encamp at New Rochelle, where he was joined by the second division of Hessians, and of the troops of Waldeck under Gen. Knyp. hausen, and by a regiment of cavalry lately arrived at New York from Ireland. As the principal project of the expedition was to intercept the communication of Washington with the eastern provinces, and then, if he declined to venture an engagement, to shut him up on the island of New York, consequently it was necessary to occupy the two roads leading into Connecticut; the one upon the coast of the sound, and the other more inland. The first was already in the power of the English ; but in attempting to occupy the second, it was requisite to traverse the difficult country of which we have already made mention, in order to secure the post of the highlands, known by the name of White Plains, upon the rear of Kingsbridge. " Gen. Howe determined to take this route ; he marched, however, slowly and with extreme caution, after leaving at New Rochelle the German corps, lately arrived, to secure the lower road, and the communication with those places whence stores and necessaries were to arrive. " Washington examined, with attention, the danger of his position. He penetrated the designs of the enemy, and consequently decided to abandon, with the main body of his army, the encampment of Kingsbridge. Extending, therefore, his left wing, he took post with it in the White Plains, while the right occupied the heights of Valentine's Hill, near ♦ WESTCHESTER COUNTV^. 599 Kingsbridge ; the centre exactly filled the space comprehended between these two points. Here he intrenched himself with the greatest care. His army thus formed a well secured line, parallel to the river Bronx, which lay on its front, and separated it from the English, •'ho marched up along the lefi bank of this stream. " Washington had behind him the great river Hudson, into which the English frigates had not yet been able to penetrate so far as to intercept the supplies of provisions which he received from the upper parts. With his left wing he occupied the upper road of Connec- ticut, by which he was also abundantly supplied with provisions and munitions. He had left sufficient garrisons at Kingsbridge, at Harlem, and in Fort Washington ; in this last place, however, against his own opinion. Meanwhile, he detached numerous parties, over the Bronx, in order to retard the motions of the enemy. Hence frequent skirmishes ensued, and though the royalists had generally the advantage in these rencounters, they still served to dissipate the terror of the Americans, who every day showed themselves more bold in defying the enemy. " Upon the approach of the English to the White Plains, Washington, all at once, called in his detachments, and abandoning the positions he had occupied along the Bronx, assem- bled all his troops in a strong camp upon the heights, near these plains, in front of the enemy. His right flank was protected by the Bronx, which, by its windings, also covered the front of the right wing. The main body wa.s nearly parallel to the river, and the left wing being placed at a right angle upon the centre, and consequently parallel to the right, extended towards the north upon the hills, as much as was necessary to guard the defiles leading to the upper mountainous regions, into which the army, if expedient, might retire. But the right wing, being posted in more level and less difficult ground, found itself more exposed ; wherefore Gen. McDougall was ordered to occupy, with a strong detachment, a mountain about a mile distant from the camp ; he intrenched himself there as well as the time would admit of. " Such was the position of the American army when the English arrived within 7 or 8 miles of White Plains, and prepared themselves to attack without loss of time. On the morning of the 28th of Oct. they advanced in 2 columns, the right commanded by Gen. Clinton, and the left by Gen. Heister. At noon, all the outposts being driven back by the English and Hessian light infantry, the British army appeared before the American camp. Immediately there ensued a cannonade, but to very little effect. The English drew up in order of battle ; their right occupied the road which leads to Marrineck, about a mile distant from the centre of the enemy ; while the left, equally distant from his right, bordered the Bronx. The English general having observed the importance of the position taken by Gen. McDougall, and being persuaded that the right of the enemy, which was his only assailable point, could not be forced so long as it should be protected by a post of such strength, re. solved to wrest it from the Americans. He ordered a Hessian regiment, commanded by Col. Ralle, to ford the Bronx, and by a circuitous movement to fall upon the flank of Gen. McDougall, while Gen. Leslie should attack him in front with a brigade of English and Hessians. Col. Ralle having arrived at the point indicated, Leslie, who had also crossed the Bronx, furiously assaulted the intrenchments of McDougall. The militia soon fled, but the regular troops made a valiant resistance. A regiment of Maryland, conducted by Col. Smaliwood, and a regiment of New York, under Col. Ratzemar, ventured even to come out of the lines and to charge the enemy at the very foot of the mountain, but they were overpowered by numbers and forced to retire. Then the English and Hessians ascended the heights with singular intrepidity, and took possession of them after a vigorous struggle. The Americans, however, continued for some time to fire from behind the walls of enclo- sures, and thus retarded the progress of the assailants. But Gen. Putnam, who had been sent to their succor, could not arrive in season. The loss of men in this action was great on the one part as well as on the other. " Washington, calmly expecting that the enemy would come to attack him next, had already sent into his rear the sick and the baggage ; but as it grew towards the close of day, the English general determined to defer the assault till the next morning. He caused his troops to encamp within cannon-shot of the American lines. Washington took advantage of the night to strengthen them with additional works, and to occupy a stronger position in the rear with his left wing, which, by the loss of the mountain, had become more exposed. When the light appeared, Gen. Howe reconnoitred the intrenchments of the enemy, and found them sufficiently formidable to determine him to wait the arrival of some battalions that had been left at New York, under the command of Lord Percy, and of several compa- nies from Marrineck. These reinforcements being received on the evening of the 3'Jth, he appointed the following morning for the assault, but the excessive rain which fell during the night and also in the morning, compelled him to defer it. The American general, in the mean time, examined his position with his accustomed prudence ; he was decided not to 600 WESTCHESTER COUNTY. risk a pitched battle without the strongest hope of success. He perceived that the English had already ereciod 4 or 5 batteries, and that by turning his right flank they might get pos. session of the heights situated upon his rear. He concluded, therefore, to break up his camp in the night (;f the 1st of November. He removed into a country still more mouiA tainous in the vicinity of North Castle ; having previously set fire to the houses in White Plains and the neighborhood, and to the forage that was found in the camp. Hp immedi- ately detached a strong corps to occupy the bridge over the Croton river, which leads to the upper parts of the Hudson. On the following morning the English took possession of the American camp. " Gen. Howe, perceiving that his enemy declined an engagement, and that from the situation of the country, and his knowledge of every advantageous position, it would be impossible to compel him to fight but upon the most unequal and hazardous terms, took the determination to discontinue the pursuit, and to turn his attention to the reduction of the forts and fastnesses still occupied by the Americans in the neighborhood of New York. His views were particularly directed upon Fort Washington, which was its principal bul- wark. But, though the ground where this fortress had been erected was very rough and difficult, its fortifications were not sufficiently strong to resist heavy artillery. It was inca- pable, from its little extent, of containing more than a thousand defenders ; the outworks that surrounded it, especially to the south, towards New York, might lodge, it is true, a much stronger garrison. " The commander-in-chief, as if he had foreseen the event, had written to Gen. Greene, ■who commanded in this part, enjoining him to reflect maturely upon his position, and in case he should find that Fort Washington was not in a situation to sustain an assault, to cause it to be forthwith evacuated ; and to transport the garrison to the right bank of the Hudson. But this general, either believing that the strength of the place and the valor of the troops would assure him a long defence, or from the apprehension that his retreat would increase the already too general discouragement of the Americans, took the resolution to hold out to the last. He was herein the more easily determined, as he believed that the garrison would always be able to retreat into Fort Lee, situated upon the other bank of the river. But Washington judged less favorably of the future ; he was persuaded that the English would not remain satisfied with the reduction of the first fort ; but that crossing the river, and making themselves masters of the second, which was not tenable, they would spread themselves in the province of New Jersey. He left therefore Gen. Lee, with the militia of the Ccistern provinces, upon the left bank of the Hudson, and having secured the strong positions towards the Croton river, and especially that of Peeks Kill, near the Hud- son itself, he crossed that river with the main body of his army, and went to rejoin Gen. Greene in his camp under Fort Lee. Gen. Lee himself had orders to come with all speed and join him, in case the enemy, after having taken the fort, should show himself upon the right bank of the Hudson. He afterward wrote to the governor of New Jersey, requesting him to remove the magazines of provisions into the most remote parts, and to call out all the militia. All these dispositions being made to his wish, Washington watched with an attentive eye the movements of the enemy. " Meanwhile, Gen. Howe had ordered Gen. Knyphausen to march from New Rochelle, and to occupy Kingsbridge. This he executed without obstacles, the Americans, who guarded this position, having fallen back upon Fort Washington. The corps of Gen. Knyp- hausen consequently penetrated into the island of New York, £ind proceeded to invest the fort, on the part of the north. " A short time after, the Enghsh general himself abandoned the White Plains, and de- scending along the banks of the Hudson, conducted the rest of the army to Kingsbridge. He pitched his camp upon the heights of Fordham, his right wing being covered by the Hudson, and his left by the Bronx. " The royalists then prepared to attack Fort Washington ; its interior and appurtenances were defended by full 3,000 men, under the command of Col. Magaw, a brave and experi- enced officer. He was summoned in vain to surrender. The besiegers proceeded to the assault in four divisions, the first from the north, commanded by Gen. Knyphausen, and consisting of Hessians and the troops of Waldeck ; the second from the east, composed of English light infantry and two battalions of guards, conducted by Gen. Matthews. Th\s corps was to attack the intrenchments which extended from Fort Washington almost to the East river ; the third, commanded by Col. Sterling, was destined to pass this river lower down than the second, in order to assail the fort more to the south ; but this was onJy a feint. The fourth, which obeyed the orders of Lord Percy, a very strong corps, was direct- ed to aim its assault against the western flank of the fortress. These different divisions were provided with a numerous and excellent artillery. The Hessians, under Gen. Knyp- hausen, were to pass through a very thick forest, where Col. Rawlings was already ps«ted WYOMING COUNTY. 601 with his regiment of riflemen. An extremely warm affair was engaged, in which the Germans sustained a severe loss. The Americans, ambushed behind the trees and rocks, fired in security ; but at last, the Hessians redoubhng their efforts, gained a very steep ascent, whence they came down upon the enemy with an irresistible impetuosity ; the divisions which followed them were thus enabled to land without molestation. Col. Raw. lings retreated under the cannon of the fort. Lord Percy, on his part, had carried an advanced work, which facilitated the debarkation of the party under Col. Sterling, who, the moment he had landed, forced his way up a difficult height, which was very resolutely defended ; he gained the summit, where he took a considerable number of prisoners, not. withstanding their gallant resistance. Col. Cadwalladcr, who was charged with the defence of this part, retired also into the fort. " Col. Ralle, who led the right column of Gen. Knyphausen's attack, surmounted all obstacles with admirable valor, and lodged his column within 100 yards of the fort. Soon after. Gen. Knyphausen joined him with the left column ; having at length extricated him. self from the difficulties encountered in the forest. The garrison having thus lost, though not without glory, all their advanced works, found themselves closely invested within the body of the fortress. The besiegers then summoned Col. Magaw to surrender. He had already consumed nearly all his ammunition. The very multitude of defenders pressed into so narrow a space, was prejudicial to defence, and every thing demonstrated that he could not sustain an assault. Accordingly he decided to capitulate. The garrison, amounting to 2,600 men, inclusive of the country militia, surrendered prisoners of war. The Ameri- cans had few killed ; the royalists lost about 800, the greater part Germans. The reduc tion of Fort Washington thus gave the royal army entire possession of the island of New York." YoNKERs is centrally distant 16 miles N. of New York. Pop. 2,968. Yonkers village, formerly called Philipsbm'g, is situated upon the Hudson, and contains 2 churches, a female seminary, and about 50 dwellings. This place is a favorite summer resort for the citizens of New York. Kingsbridge, 13 miles N. of the city hall, New York, is on Spuyten Duyvel creek, or Harlem river, and contains about a dozen dwellings. The bridge at this place is of wood, about 60 feet long. This neighborhood was the scene of important military operations during the revolution. YoRKTowN is 45 miles N. of New York, and 6 E. of Peekskill. Pop. 2,819. Crompond is a small village containing 2 churches and about a dozen dwellings. The names of the post-offices are York- town, Pine Bridge, and Shrub Oak. Through the south part flows the Croton river, where is located the great dam and reservoir for the Croton aqueduct. [See p. 336.] This river was named after an ancient sachem, Croton, who resided on its banks at the first settle- ment of the country. vVYOMING COUNTY. Wyoming county was formed from the southern portion of Gen- esee county in 1841 ; length E. and W. 25, breadth N. and S. 18 miles ; centrally distant from New York 325, and from Albany 264 miles. The surface of the county is but gently undulated, and the general character of the soil is a most sandy or gravelly loam, well adapted to the culture of grain and grass. The Genesee river touches 76 602 WYOMING COUNTY. the southeastern corner in the town of Castile. Allen's creek, so named from the infamous Indian Allen, who committed many mur- ders on the frontier inhabitants in this region, rises in this county, and flowing northeasterly through a portion of the county of Genesee empties into, the Genesee river in the town of Wheatland, Monroe county. The Holland Land Company, to whom this country origin- ally belonged, still own some small tracts. It is divided into 13 towns, and has a population of about 30,000. Attica, taken from Sheldon in 1821 ; centrally distant NW, from Warsaw, the county seat, 8 miles. Pop. 2,709. Attic, a post village in the northern part, contains 2 churches, a printing office, several mills, stores, and about 125 dwellings. Attica Centre is a smaller village. Bennington, the NW. corner town, was taken from Sheldon in 1818; centrally distant NW. from Warsaw 14 miles. Pop. 2,367. Bennington and Cowlesville are small post villages. Castile, the SE. corner town, was taken from Perry in 1821 ; centrally distant SE. from Warsaw 7 miles. Pop. 2,828. Castile and St. Helena are small villages, the latter of which is on the Genesee river. Silver Lake is a post-office near the Silver Lake. " The Gardow Reservation, which lies partly in this town, was a tract of 10,000 acres, which the Seneca Indians reserved in their sale to Robert Morris in 1797, conferring it upon Mary Jemison, the celebrated " White Woman," who resided upon it until her decease, at a very advanced age, in Sept. 1833. Mary Jemison was truly a remarkable woman. She was of Irish parents, and was born at sea, on their passage to America in 1742 or '43. Her parents settled on what was at that time the frontier of Pennsylvania. She had an uncle in the command of Washington, who fell at Braddock's defeat. In the spring of 1755, Mary, her parents, two brothers, and several inmates of the house, were made prisoners by a party of half a dozen Seneca Indians and four Frenchmen. They were all hurried off into the woods, and the whole party murdered, Mary alone excepted. She was exposed to all tne hardships and privations of a prisoner until her arrival at a Seneca town, where she was adopted into an Indian family as a daughter, and hencefor- ward treated with kindness, — leading a roving life, and for a season meditating upon the means of escape. These being frustrated, she at length resigned herself entirely to the Indian life and customs. At a proper age, she was married to a Delaware Indian, whom she loved, and by whom she had one or more children. She visited Fort Pitt several times, and occasionally resided among the Shawnee Indians. " Her husband died, and she afterward married a Seneca chief, living in the Genesee valley, at about the beginning of the revolution. Her Seneca husband was a man of blood, but kind and afieciionate to her. She retained her family name, Jemison, and also the English language, which she spoke fluently until the day of her death. But although she had been religiously instructed by her parents, she embraced the religion of the Indians, and became thoroughly Indianized — adopting and becoming enamored of all their manners, habits, and customs, throughout. Her life was full of incident and wild adventure. The Indians ever entertained an exalted esteem for her, as was evinced by the grant of the Gardow tract — embracing a rich section, both of intervale and upland, upon which she resided until within a few years before her death, which took place at the Buffalo Creek Reservation. [See Buffalo.] In obtaining this grant or reservation, moreover, she showed all the cunning of her adopted people. Mr. Thomas Morris, who conducted the treaty for his father, has told me that when a request was made to him for a reservation for the " White Woman," he supposed that they meant only a farm of some 200 or 300 acres, but that the woman herself by artfully indicating certain bounds, with which he was not exactly familiar, actually overreached him and obtained the large tract already mentioned ; includ- ing the whole of the Gardow Flats, and the romantic walls of rock and hill within which they are sequestered. " During the revolution, her house was often the quarters of Brant and Col. John Butler, when making their inroads upon the frontiers of the colonies. She attended the treaty of WYOMING COUNTV. 603 Genesee Flats, held by Gen. Schuyler in 1775 ; and her life, taken down in writing, from her own lips in 1823, was full of incident and adventure. She would not throw off her Indian costume, even after the white population had completely surrounded her residence, but adhered to her Indian customs with the utmost tenacity to the last. She was rich, not only in lands, but in herds and flocks, and had tenants who worked her lands. One of her sons was educated a physician, and obtained a surgeon's commission in the navy — dying a few years ago on the Mediterranean station. In many respects, Mary was a valuable woman — humane and benevolent — and doing great good among the people of her adop- tion." — New York Commercial Advertiser. China, the SW. town of the county, was taken from Sheldon in 1818; from Warsaw centrally distant SVV. 17 miles. Pop. 1,437. Arcade is a small post village, containing about 60 dwellings. East China is a post-office, around which there is a settlement. Covington, the NE. corner town, was taken from Le Roy and Perry in 1817. Its limits were reduced in 1841, at the time of the division of Genesee county by the erection of Pavilion from its north- ern portion. It is centrally distant from Warsaw NE. 10 miles. Covington and La Grange are small post villages. Gainesville was originally named Hebe, and taken from Warsaw in 1814 ; centrally distant 6 miles. Pop. 2,367. Gainesville Centre, East Gainesville, and Gainesville, are small post villages. Java was taken from China in 1832 ; centrally distant SW. of Warsaw 15 miles. Pop. 2,331. Java, Java Centre, and Java village, are small post villages. MiDDLEBURY was takcu from Warsaw in 1812 ; centrally distant N. of Warsaw 6 miles. Pop. 2,447. Wyoming, post village, near the eastern boundary on Allen's creek, is 14 miles SE. of Batavia, and contains 1 Baptist, 1 Presbyterian, and 1 Methodist church, 61 dwellings, 3 mercantile stores, and about 450 inhabitants. The Mid- dlebury academy is. a flourishing institution in this place. Middle- bury, a post-office, is in the northern part of the town. Orangeville was taken from Attica in 1816 ; centrally distant W. from Warsaw 6 miles. Pop. 1,949. Orangeville, East Orangeville, and Johnsonburgh, are small post villages. Perry was taken from Leicester in 1814; centrally distant E. of Warsaw 6 miles. Pop. 3,087. The following is a view in the central portion of Perry village, incor- porated in 1830, and situated about 7 miles E. of Warsaw. It is a place of considerable mercantile and manufacturing business, and contains an academy, 3 churches, and about 150 buildings. It is situated on the outlet of Silver lake, which is a beautiful sheet of water 3 miles in length, and well stocked with fish. The outlet fur- nishes much hydraulic power for the mills and factories in this vicinity. Perry Centre is much smaller, though incorporated. It is situated about 2 miles to the north. Sheldon was taken from Batavia in 1808; centrally distant from Warsaw W. 12 miles. Pop. 2,366. Sheldon Centre, Strykersville, and Varysburgh, are small post villages. North Sheldon is the name of a post-office. 604 VATES COUNTY. South view in Perry village. Warsaw was formed from Batavia in 1808 ; from Albany W. 248 miles. Pop. 2,852. The village of Warsaw is situated 22 miles S. from Batavia, at the head of " Allen's Creek Valley," and on Allen's creek, nearly equidistant from Rochester, Canandaigua, Buffalo, and Olean. By the act of the commissioners appointed by the legislature, the courthouse, clerk's office, and jail of Wyoming county were located at this place, July 10, 1841. There are here 1 Presbyterian, 1 Bap- tist, 1 Methodist, and 1 Congregational church, 100 dwellings, 1 printing office, 1 tannery, 6 mercantile stores, 26 mechanical shops, 2 iron foundries, 2 carding works, 1 woollen factory, 1 grist-mill, and about 800 inhabitants. The town was settled in 1801, principally by emigrants from New England ; and its present inhabitants are noted for their morality and fondness for literature. The oldest church erect- ed in the state west of the Genesee river, is yet standing in the centre of the village of Warsaw. South Warsaw is a small village in the south part of the town. Wethersfield was taken from Orangeville in 1823; centrally distant SW. from Warsaw 8 miles. Pop. 1,731. Hermitage, Weth- ersfield, and Wethersfield Springs, are small post villages. North Wethersfield is the name of a post-office. YATES COUNTY. Yates county was taken from Ontario in 1823; centrally distant from New York via Albany 330, and from Albany 185 miles ; great- est length E. and W. 24, greatest breadth N. and S. 20 miles. The surface of this county is agreeably diversified ; the northern part is gently undulating, and the southern hilly. The soil is in many pla- YATES COUNTY. 605 ces composed of a warm rich mould, yielding abundant crops, though as a whole it is more of a grazing than a grain country. The cli- mate is temperate, and for the cultivation of fruit is not exceeded by any portion of the state. It lies wholly in the tract ceded to Massa- chusetts, and in that portion of it which passed through Messrs. Gorham, Phelps, and Robert Morris to Sir William Pulteney. It is divided into eight towns. Pop. 20,442. Barrington, taken from Wayne in 1822 ; centrally distant from Penn Yan S. 1 1 miles. Warsaw is a small post village. Barrington is a post-office. Pop. 1,869. Benton, taken from Jerusalem in 1803, Pop. 3,911, Dresden, on the Seneca Lake, 7 miles E, of Penn Yan, Benton. 8 miles NE,, and Benton Centre, 4 miles N,, are villages containing from 40 to 60 dwellings each. Hopeton is a small settlement near Dresden. Italy, taken from Naples of Ontario county in 1815; from Penn Yan SW. 15 miles. Italy Hill, and Italy Hollow, are the post-offi- ces. Pop. 1,663. South view of the Jemwia Wilkinson house. Jerusalem, organized by general sessions of Ontario county ; area since altered. Pop. 2,934. Branchport, 7 miles SW. of Penn Yan, and Yatesvilie, partly in the town of Potter, are small villages, Jerusa- lem is a post-office centrally situated. Bluff Point is a place notable for the singularity of its position, as embraced by the arms of the Crooked Lake, for its high and rolling surface, and for having been the residence and death-place of Jemima Wilkinson, self-styled the '* Universal Friend," and founder of a religious sect. The above is a view of the Jemima Wilkinson house, situated at what is generally called the Friends settlement. It is a large and com- modious mansion, and is still occupied by a few persons, the sole remnant of her followers. The dwelling is occasionally visited by strangers ; though there is not any thing of interest excepting a por- trait of the " Universal Friend," which is said to be a faithful repre- sentation, and exhibits a countenance, intellectual, uncommonly beau- tiful, and apparently beaming with benevolence. The followers of 606 YATES COUNTY. Jemima Wilkinson first settled about the year 1790 at Milo, in this county, near the Seneca Lake, and subsequently removed to this place. Their settlement at Milo was at that time the largest in the whole Genesee country, numbering about forty families. A highly intelligent gentleman, who visited them many years since, in the sea- son of their greatest prosperity, describes them as being distinguished for their frugality, honesty, and industry, living retired from the world, and devoting much of their time to religious exercises. The " Universal Friend" he represented as having been beautiful and dig- nified in her person, but illiterate in her conversation, and so ignorant of worldly concerns as scarcely to be enabled to understand a com- mon newspaper. Her memory, however, was retentive, and her knowledge of the Bible truly wonderful. Many of the extravagan- ces of which she is said to have been guilty, may be attributed to the high-wrought enthusiasm so often seen among religionists of her stamp at the present day. " Jemima Wilkinson, or the ' Universal Friend,' was born in Cumberland, Rhode Island, about the year 1753. She was educated among the Friends. Recovering from an apparent suspension of life which she experienced when about twenty-three years of age, during a fit of sickness, she gave out that she had been raised from the dead, and claimed to be in- vested with divine attributes and authority to instruct mankind in religion. It is also said, fihe pretended to foretell future events, to discern the secrets of the heart, and to have the power of healing diseases ; and if any person who made application to her was not healed, she attributed it to a want of faith. She asserted that those who refused to believe these exalted things concerning her, will be in the state of the unbelieving Jews, who rejected the counsel of God against themselves ; and she told her hearers that that was the eleventh hour, and the last call of mercy that ever should be granted to them ; for she heard an in. quiry in Heaven saying, ' Who will go and preach to a dying world ?' and she said she an- swered, ' Here am I — send me ;' and that she left the realms of light and glory and the company of the heavenly hosts, who are continually praising and worshipping God, in or- der to descend upon earth, and pass through many sufferings and trials for the happiness of mankind. She professed to be able to work miracles, and offered to demonstrate it by walking on the water in imitation of our Saviour; accordingly a frame was constructed for the purpose on the banks of the Seneca Lake, at Rapelyea's ferry, 10 miles south of Dres. den. At the appointed time, having approached within a few hundred yards of the lake shore, she ahghted from an elegant carriage, and the road being strewed by her followers with white handkerchiefs. She walked to the platform, and having announced her inten- tion of walking across the lake on the water, she stepped ankle deep into the clear element, when suddenly pausing she addressed the multitude, inquiring whether or not they had faith that she could pass over, for if otherwise she could not ; and on receiving an affirm- ative answer returned to her carriage, declaring as they beheved in her power it was un- necessary to display it. She died in 1819." The following description of Jemima's personal appearance is from the Freeman's Journal, published at Philadelphia, in 1787 : — " There are now in this city a number of the disciples of a certain JEMIMA WILKIN- SON, a native Rhode Island, a person who professes that ' she is Christ come again in the flesh a second time without sin unto salvation ;' though it should be noticed that her follow- ers do not admit she is a woman, as a female Messiah appears an incongruity, and they therefore of consequence deny her name, and appear to resent it as an affront when she is called Jemima Wilkinson, and declare in the most solemn manner they know no such person. Some of the society when asked to explain themselves, do it in the following manner, ' that the names of persons most properly belong to the soul ; but when a person dies and the soul leaves the i)ody, the body can no more be called by its former name. Now some years ago, there was a person called Jemima Wilkinson, but she died and her soul went to heaven ; after which the Divine Spirit re-animated that same body, and it arose from the dead : now this Divine inhabitant is Christ Jesus our Lord, the friend of all man- kind, and gives the name to the body to which he is united, and therefore body and spirit YATES COUNTY. 607 conjointly is the Universal Friend.' To complete the character of so extraordinary a per- sonage, she has her attendants of the extraordinar)' kind also, and those attendants are said to be two witnesses which are prophesied by St. John the Divine, in the Revelations. (See chap. xi. from the 3d to the 13th verse.) The Universal Friend, as she is styled, ap. pears to be about 30 years of age, of the middle size of women, not genteel in person, and rather awkward in her carriage, her complexion good, her eyes black and remarkably bril- liant, her hair black, and waving in beautiful ringlets upon her neck and shoulders, her fea. tures regular, and her face thought by many to be perfectly beautiful. As she is not to be supposed to be of either sex, so this neutrality is manifested in her external appearance ; she wears no cap, letting her hair hang down as above described upon her neck and shoul. ders. Her neckcloth she wears like a man, her shift buttons around her neck, and her shift sleeves are brought down to her hands, and buttoned as is common with men. Her outside garment is a loose robe that resembles a morning-gown, such as both men and wo- men commonly wear; under this it is said her apparel is very expensive, and the form of them conveys the same idea as her external appearance, of her being neither man nor wo- man. Her understanding is not deficient, except touching her religious fanaticism. She is very illiterate ; yet her memory is very great. She is artful in discovering many circumstances which fall out among her disciples, and in making them beheve that, as she is divine, nothing can be hid from her. On all occasions she requires the most extraordinary attendance that can be bestowed upon her, having little regard to the convenience of families wherever she happens to be ; and one or two disciples usually attend her and perform the most menial service. Her voice is masculine, and her pronunciation in the usual dialect of the most illiterate of the country people of New England. Her preaching has but very little coiu nection, and is frequently very lengthy, standing at times for several hours. Sometimes cold and languid, at others it is said she is lively, and discovers that kind of zeal and animation which give reason to suppose she may really apprehend herself to be a person that is di- vfne. She is commonly reserved to strangers, and only grows familiar as she discovers in them a great respect for her : and as she is very attentive to the disposition of those about her, she soon discovers such as are affected by her peculiar manner. Her first address to strangers is usually in a grum, masculine, authoritative tone of voice, with expressive coun- tenance and piercing eyes ; and these are the effects of her spiritual pride. Yet she often strikes the beholder with a profound awe, and the immoral are sometimes convicted before her, which she is artful to improve, so as to raise in them a great veneration for her ; and when she discovers any one properly prepared in this way, she usually puts some question to them relating to her own imagined divinity." Middlesex was organized in 1789 as part of Ontario county, by the name of Augusta ; from Penn Yan centrally distant NW. 12 miles. Pop. 1,439. Middlesex is the name of a post-office. MiLo was taken from Benton in 1818 ; from Albany W. 189 miles. Pop. 3,985. The thriving incorporated village of Penn Yan, the county seat, which is principally built on a street about a mile in length, is situa- ted at the northern termination of the eastern arm of the Crooked Lake. It was founded by Mr. Abraham Waggener, and derives its name from the circumstance that its early settlers were Pennsylvani- ans and Yankees, in nearly equal numbers. The annexed view was taken from an eminence about a third of a mile east of the village. The first building with a steeple on the right is the Presbyterian church, the one next on the left with a cupola, the courthouse, and the third and fourth, the Baptist and Methodist churches. Crooked or Keuka Lake is partially seen in the distance. The other public buildings in the village are an Episcopal church, an academy, a pris- on, a bank, and the county clerk's office. The place is one of much business, and has many mercantile stores and about 300 dwellings. Milo Centre, 4 miles SE. of Penn Yan, and Milo 6 miles, are small villages. Potter was taken from Middlesex in 1832. Pop. 2,245. Rush- ville is a thriving village of 60 or 80 dwellings in the north portion of Jf 608 YATES COUNTy. Northeastern view of Penn Yan. the town, partly in Gorham of Ontario county, and lies 10 miles SW. of Canandaigua. Yatesville is a small village near the southeastern* corner, and partly in Jerusalem. Potter and North Middlesex are names of post-offices. Starkey, the southeastern corner town of the county, was taken from Reading of Steuben county in 1824. Pop. 2,426. Starkey, including Eddyville 14 miles SE. of Penn Yan, are settlements scat- tered along the road for about two miles, and containing about 60 or 70 dwellings. Dundee, late Harpendings Corners, is a thriving vil- lage, 14 miles S. of Penn Yan, containing 4 churches and about 80 dwellings. Big Stream and Rock Stream are names of post- offices in the south part, the former of wliich is on Seneca Lake. The falls of the Big Stream in this town are one hundred and forty feet perpendicular. This cataract is situated at the foot of a rapid half a mile in length, whence the stream comes dashing over craggy rocks of slate, and leaps into a basin eight or ten rods in diameter, separated from the lake by a channel some eighty rods in length. THE END. h S 'Q1 I A^ ^^ ' ' " ' % ^ . .x^- ^^ ■ ^^ -c'Y>^ •' 'f' li- '*'■■>■ o~- ' <■ ' ^^. », .o'^O ^ .^' ^ /■_ ft \ .#■ 0*' ■'>i>; Oeacidified using the Bookkeeper process Neutralizing Agent: Magnesium Oxide Treatment Date: JUL iy9d PREStRVATION TECHNOLOGIES. LP. 1 1 1 Thomson Park Drive Cranberry Township, PA 16066 (724)779-2111