"°. ^' -nf ^^ < <^ll<' -^ J,-^ o * .0' A' MAJOR NICHOLAS STONEl'., As accf)ntre(i for tho forest. TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK, OR A BIOGRAPHY OF NICHOLAS STONER & NATHANIEL FOSTER; TOGETHER WITH ANECDOTES OF OTHER CELEBRATED HUNTERS, AND SOME ACCOUNT OF SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON, AND HIS STYLE OF LIVING. BY JEPTHA Rr^SIMMS, AUTHOR OF THE HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY, AND BORDER WARS OF NEW YORK. He lifts the tube, and levels with his eye ; Straight a short thunder breaks the frozen Bky.— Pope. ALBANY : J. MUNSELL, 82 STATE STREET. 1871. Fli.3 Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1850, by JEPTHA R. SIMMS, In tlie Clerk's Office for the Northern District of New York. It Trp-sfer PEEFACE. " To be ignorant of all antiquity," says a popular • writer (I. D'lsraeli), " is a mutilation of the human mind; it is early associations and local circumstances which give bent to the mind of a people from their infancy, and insensibly constitute the nationality of genius." This is a truism which can not be contra- travened, and although the world is now full of books for good or ill, yet 1 venture to add another. Well, as this is only a duodecimo, may I not bespeak for it a little share of public favor ? For if it is but a small volume, it has nevertheless required considera- ble time and care to collect and arrange its minuti^. the author does not claim for it a place among classic works, which sparkle with literary gems; but he does claim for it the merit of candor. In a work purporting to be one of truth, he would not impose upon the credulity of others, what he could not be- lieve himself. This book has been written with the view of giving the reader some knowledge of the peril-environed life of a hunter; in connection with the early and topo- graphical history of a portion of northern New YorK. As the forests disappear, the country is settled and wild game exterminated; that hardy race of indi- viduals which followed the chase for a li vin- will have 4 PREFACE. become extinctj indeed, those who would have been called professional hunters, have now nearly or quite all left the remaining woods of New York, and most of them sleep with their fathers. Many of the names with their daring adventures are now forgotten. How important is it, therefore, to place on record what can still be gathered respecting them, to live in future story; when some American Scott shall have arisen to connect their names and deeds forever, with the rifle-mimicking mountains, the awe-inspiring glens, the hill-encompassed lakes, and the zigzag- coursing rivulets — upon, within, around, and along which they sought with noiseless footstep the bounty- paying wolf, the timid deer, and fur-clad beaver. 1 may remark, that one motive in producing this book has been, to contribute materials for the future history of the state. Says an American scholar (W. A. Whitehead), "The general historian must gather his facts from the details of local annals, and in proportion as they are wanting must his labors be imperfect." A small budget of antiquarian matter, and some interesting incidents of the American Re- volution are here introduced; and in connection with this subject, I will take occasion to say, that I am collecting original matter of an historical character, with the intention of publishing it at a future, not distant day. There are yet unpublished, many reminiscences either of, or growing out of our war for independence, both thrilling and instructive. PREFACE. 5 Not a few such are now in the writer's possession. They are generally of a personal and anecdotal na- ture, and many of them were noted down from the lips of men whose heads are whitened by the frosts of time, or are now laid beneath the valley-clods. If such an anecdote should still linger in the mind of a reader of this page, or any old paper of interest remain in his or her keeping, that individual would confer a favor by communicating the same to my address. Our Revolution is destined, in its fullness of benefit, to emancipate the world from tyranny; and every minute incident relating to that great struggle is not only worthy of record, but highly important, for the proper understanding of its cost to the young, to whose guardianship its principles and advantages must soon be confided. The difficulty of preparing a work for the press where much of the matter is to be obtained by con- versational notes, IS only known to those who have experienced the task; and such best know its liability to contain error. The biography of Major Stoner has nearly all been read over to him since it was written out, and corrected; I can with confidence, therefore, promise the reader, as few errors in this as he will find in any work similarly got up. In con- clusion, I would fain express my grateful thanks to those individuals who have in any manner contributed towards making this volume. Fultonville, m Y. J. R. SIMMS. INTKODUCTORT NOTE TO THIRD EDITION. An impression seems to have stolen upon the credulity of many- persons, that a full account of Maj. Stoner's eventful life had not been given in this work ; but that after his death, the reader would be startled by the narrative of a score of tragic scenes, vieing with each other in horrid detail. Desirous of making the work as authentic as possible, before the first edition of it was published, the matter relating to Mr. Stoner was r6ad over, not only to him, but to Jacob Shew, a compatriot in arms, and after as well as before the war, a resident of the same county. At its conclusion the latter observed that my Leatherstocking had been very candid with me, and as he believed, had told me of all the fatal rencontres he had ever had with Indian hunters, which were much talked of at the time of their occurrence. Mr. Blakeman, a hunter whose name appears in the book, thought Mr. Stoner had killed one Indian whose death I had not recorded, but the senior hunter at a later interview explained the whole matter. The Indian, as he said, did not wait to be killed, and the blood seen near the deserted cabin, which confirmed Blake- man's suspicions, was that of a deer. And here let me add, I never conversed with a more candid and seemingly conscientious man than Nicholas Stoner. He died Nov. 24th, 1853, and was buried at Kingsborough. As some credulous people are looking for what is never to appear, unless in a workof ^diow, the reader is assured, that after each of the preceding editions of this work were issued, Mr. Stoner, who had read it himself, informed the writer in all candor, that although he had frightened very many Indians, this book contained a true account of all that he had actually killed. He good-humoredly added, that some knowing ones told stories about him which had no foundation in truth, and appearing desirous to make him a very bad man. 1857. J. R. S. CONTENTS. Chapter L *arentage of Nicliolas Stoner — Description of his person — His trapper's dress — His schooling — First settlement of Fonda's Bush — Signification of the name — First settlement at Fish House — Some account of Sir William Johnson — His style of living at Johnson Hall — His household — First school-house in Johnstown — School children how treated — Manners taught — Anecdote of Jacob Shew at school — Schools of former days in New England and New York — Johnson's Fish House when built — Its site — Fonda's Bush — Plank roads and stage routes — Village of Northville — Its first settlers — First settlers at Den- ton's Corners ------- Page 15 Chapter II. Reasons for Sir Wm. Johnson's locating in Johnstown — Scenery between the Mohawk and Sacondaga rivers — The great Sacou- daga Vlaie — Vlaie Creek — Its source and Indian name — Origin of the marsh — Singular discovery of a lake — Stacking- ridges — • Cranberries — Johnson's cottage on Summer-house point — His carriage road — Nine mile tree — Sacondaga Patent — Summer- house how built and painted — Its Garden — Creek entering the Vlaie — Origin of their names — Summer-house point in fresh- ets — Wild game — Visit to the point in 1849 - - 30 O CONTENTS. Chapter III Signification of Sacondaga — Its great angle — Name for Daly's oreek how originated — Residence of Henry Wormwood — Inti- macy of Sir William Johnson with his daughters — His signal for a housekeeper — Four in a bed at the Fish House — Disposal of Wormw ood's family — Sale of Fish House and its farm — Cost of Sacondaga bridge — Summer-house point fortified — Fate of Johnson's cottage — Willie Boiles drowned — Sale of Summer- house point — Mayfield settlement — Its first mill — First mill on the Kenuyetto — Anecdotes of Sir William Johnson — Dunham family 1-42 Chapter IV. Nicholas Stoner's boyhood— He enters the army— Gen. Arnold's device to raise the siege of Fort Stanwix — Evidences of the Oriskany battle — Gen. Arnold in the battle of Saratoga — Stoner -end Conyne how wounded — Three Stoners on duty in Rhode Island— Anecdote of a theft— Stoner a prisoner— Capture of Gen. Prescott— Attempt to capture Stoner and others near Johnson Hall — Signification of Cayadutta — A prisoner from necessity ---------55 Chapter V. Baker for Johnstown Fort — Singular incident at his house, and dangerous situation of Stoner — Residence of Jeremiah Mason — His daughter Anna— The Browse family — Stoner pigeon hunt- ing — He takes his captain on a hunt — Hunters how alarmed — Browse family remove to Canada — Maj. Andre's gallows how constructed — Stoner eats pie near it — How he got two flog- gings — How the British Army surrendered at Yorktown — Er- rors in pictures — Stoner's first day at the siege — First fire on the British works — Nicholas Hill finds many friends — Henry CONTENTS. 9 Stoiier leaves the army — Is murdered by the Indians — Trea- chery of Andrew Bowman — His treatment at Johnstown fort — Prisoners made at Johnson Hall ----- 70 Chapter VI. ^ohn Helmer in jail — Escapes from it three times — Stoner in New York at the close of the war — Is one of the band per- forms at Washington's leave taking — Stoner and his stool pigeon before Col. Cochrane — His return to Johnstown — First marriage of Anna Mason — Her husband how slain near John- son Hall — Stoner 's marriage — Is deputy sheriff— The Stoner brothers again in the army — British invasion of New York — Battle of Beekmantown — Anecdote of Maj. Wool — Battle of Lake Champlain and death of Commodore Downie — Gen. Macomb fires a national salute — Burial of his remains — Mourn- ers at his grave — Celebration at Plattsburg in 1842 — Stoner again leaves the army - - - - - - 86, Chapter VII. [aj. Stoner becomes a hunter — Hunter's law — How accoutred for the forest — Intemperance an attendant on war — De Fon- claiere keeps a tavern in Johnstown — How his horses ran away — Indian hunters at his house — Stoner obtains an ear jewel — An Indian boasts of killing his father — Is branded with a fire- dog — The Indians leave the place — Stoner in jail— How lib- erated — His celebrity in Canada - - - - 111 Chapter VIII. ;oner's bear-trap — Precaution in its use — Bait for beaver — Sea-^ son for hunting — Accident to Capt. Jackson — Dunn in Jack- son's place — Hunters' lodges how constructed — their larder how supplied — Johnstown hunters meet Indian trappers — Fierce quarrel at Trout lake — An Indian falls upon the shore — 10 CONTENTS. Dunn transfixed to a canoe — Stoner in the enemy's camp — Trophies he there obtained — Hunters return home — Stoner and Mason hunt together — Mason discovers bear's tracks — Stoner seeks an interview with Bruin — Discovers him on a log over the Sacondaga — A rifle is heard and the bear falls into the river -------- ]23 Chapter IX. Stoner annayed by a bear in his wheat and corn-fields — How he loses one leg of his pantaloons and kills the bear — A deer hunt — Hunters swamped at Stoner's Island — Have a gloomy night — Frederick's gratitude towards Stoner for saving his life — Stoner and Mason on a long hunt — Food how cooked — A peep at a hunter's camp— Out of provisions the hunters seek a settlement — Stoner almost shoots another blanketed bear — Mason arrested in Norway as a spy — Is liberated — Hunters return to the woods — They meet two Indians — Stoner mis- taken for the hunter White — A quarrel — An Indian's death yell — His comrade takes leg-bail — Johnstown hunters return home with three guns — Stoner suspected of smuggling mer- chandise — Anecdote of Green White - - - 134 Chapter X. Hunter's moccasons how made — Stoner hunts with Griswold — A dog eats a moccason for Griswold — The loss how repaired — Stoner hunts with Capt. Shew at the Sacondaga Vlaie and there shoots a wolf — Stoner and Forest on a hunt trap an eagle — Diflferent trappers with whom Stoner is associated — With an Indian partner visits the head of Grass river — There met a white hunter with a squaw — Stoner makes a map for him to go to Johnstown — Hunts with the Indian Gill — Latter spears the beaver — Stoner hunts with Obadiah Wilkins who encoun- ters an Indian — Magic of Stoner's name — Stoner's last diffi- culty with Indian hunters — How he loses a trap and fur — How CONTENTS. 1 1 he gets his trap and pay for the fur— The Sabbath how regarded by hunters— Admonition of a young Indian— Stoner's dog in trouble— Spirit of Mary Stoner - - - 146 Chapter XI. Major Stoner a widower— His voluntary marriage— Again a widower— His last marriage— His present residence— Garoga and Fonda plank road— Chase's patent— Foohsh expression of Capt. Chase— Stoner a pilot for surveyors— Signification of Piseco — Goes to a settlement for food — Has a warm job of it — Law students in the forest— Ice discovered— Fourth of July how celebrated— Stoner skins a hedgehog— Description of the country— Prospective view of it— Newspaper notes of Lake Byrn— Sundry other lakes— Lake Goodluck, why so called— Water privileges of Hamilton county — Description of the country, by Dr. Emmons — Stoner and others discover a dead man near Jesup's river— Importance of preserving Indian Chapter XII. Birth place and marriage of Nathaniel Foster— Settles in Salis- l3ury — Description of his person — His success the first year in hunting — Large game killed by him — Anecdotes of his wolf killing— 'Supplies Museums with moose skins— Is near being shot— His rifles— A tussle with a deer— A wolf for a pet- Where Foster learned to write — Brown's tract of land — Source of mill stream — Brown attempts to settle his lands — His death — Herreshoff goes there — His birth place and person — Clears up land— Builds a forge— Expends large sums of mo- aey — Becomes discouraged and commits suicide — Time of his death — Inquest — Place of burial — Inscription to his memory — Cost of his iron — His taxes — Brown's tract when and by whom surveyed — Its townships — Survey of roads — Moose lake — In 12 CONTENTS. dian clearing — Distance from Boonville to forge — Huckleberry lake — Surveyor kills a hedge-hog — Anecdotes of Herreshoff 175 Chapter XIII. Benchley's description of Brown's tract — Usual route to it — Use of drays — Size and power of Moose river — Present condition of early improvements on the tract — Its ore — Effect of erecting a dam — Lakes how numbered — First lake — Dog Island — Second lake — Foster's Observatory — Third lake — Grass Island — Fourth lake — Line between Hamilton and Herkimer counties — Extent of tract — Respect for the Eagle — Description of ' the Indian Foster killed — Effect of liquor — Foster's vision — Five Echoes — North Branch lakes and outlet — Fifth and Sixth lakes — Carry- ing place — Foster at sixty — Prospective use of a lock — Seventh lake — Beautiful view — Character of Green White — His tragic fate — His success in hunting — The hunter Williams — Place for trout — Pitch pine grove — How Foster shoots a deer — Why he would kill a doe — Eighth Lake — Racket inlet — Grave of Fos- ter's victim — Floating for deer — Jerseyfield lake — Jock's lake — Little Salmon and Black River South lakes — Physical outline of this region of country, by Lardner Vanuxem - - 191 Chapter XIV. Brown's tract tenantless — Is a resort for hunters — Premises leased — Lease assigned to Foster who moves there — Indian Peter Waters or Drid — A debt — Drid threatens Foster's life — Goes to his door to shoot him — An interview — Indian attempts his life — Foster before a peace officer — Apprehensions of Foster's family — Last interview between Foster and his foe — Their threats of vengeance — Foster on Indian's point — Drid's ap- proach — His death — Foster aids in getting his body home — Foster is arrested — Note explaining cut . - - 208 CONTENTS. 13 Chapter XV. Foster is arraigned before Judge Denio — Is tried and acquitted — How he received the verdict, and leaves the court room — His acquittal how received by th« public — Anecdote of Joseph Brant - - 218 Chapter XVL Foster's answer to Gen. Gray — Stoner's opinion of Foster's and his own skill as marksmen — How Drid's friends received his death — Advice to Foster's- family — Drid's wife returns to the St. Lawrence — Foster removes to Pennsylvania — Returns to Boonville and dies there — The Indian Hess — Importance of a country tavern— How Foster and Hess meet and part — Run- ning fight with a moose bull — Sudden appearance of Hess — He threatens to kill Foster — Falls from a log over his own grave — Mysterious sayings — How he shot eighteen otters — His eye-sight improved by venison — Signification of Oswegatchie — How Foster carried bullets — Anecdote of his rapid firing — How he made his camp in the woods — How he accoutred for the chase -------- 241 Chapter XVII. Incidents in the life of Jock Wright — His birth, habits and ap- pearance — Is a soldier — Captures British officers — How he parts with one of them — He scalps a British ally — Visits his former prisoner in Boston — Again a hunter — The rattle snake Hunter — A snake fight — Death of a panther — Wright removes to Norway — His family — How he lost and found his jug — The hunter Nicholas — His stock in trade — A reason wanted for his habits — He hunts with Wright — Finds lead ore — His death — Jock's lake — Crookneck the hunter — How he almost caught a deer, and got caught himself — How uncle Jock kills two 14 CONTENTS. moose — Hi j opinion of a certain prayer — Gets sick and prays himself — Crookneck on snow shoes — Beaver's meat — Uncle Jook draws a pension — When he made huts — His death - 253 Chapter XVIII. Some account of the heaver — Peculiarity of its flesh — Its food — Bait used for its capture — Its social hahits — Its dams and dwellings how constructed — A beaver community how fore- warned of danger — Hahits of the otter — Its food — Form of its feet — Its sagacity in preparing its burrow — The muskrat — Not easily exterminated — Its fate in freshets — Habits , of the pine marten — Its size — The wolverine — How it annoys hunters — Its great strength ----.--- 272 J TEAPPERS OP NEW YORK. CHAPTER J. Incidents of greater or less interest occur in the lives of almost every member of the human family, which only need be known to be justly appreciated, or sub- serve some good and wise purpose j but occasionally an individual crosses the broad landscape of life, whose career may be said to consist of a bundle of incidents — the greater part of whose existence is in fact so full of novelty as to claim, for at least a por- tion of it, a record for the benefit or amusement of mankind. Of the latter class is Major Nicholas Stoner, some of the most romantic and daring of whose ad- ventures are presented in the following pages. To say that a man lived through the American Revolution and participated in its perils, is alone sufli- cient guaranty that he can, if at all intelligent, recount unique and thrilling scenes as yet untold in history; but when we meet with one who has not only been exposed to the perils of an eight years' war, but has shared in the dangers and hardships of a second war — one, in truth, whose life has been chequered with a thousand hazardous exposures between and subse- quent to those wars J we may expect, almost as a m? t- 16 TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. ter of course, to learn from him not a little that will prove acceptable to the general reader, nourishing " The seeds of happiness, and powers of thought." The facts here given of this celebrated warrior, were noted down by the writer from his own lips at personal interviews; not a few of which have been corroborated by the testimony of others. It is the fortune of very few individuals to pass through a long life surrounded by such a variety of perils, without receiving more personal injury. Henry Stoner, the father of Nicholas, emigrated from Germany to the American colonies, as is believed, nearly twenty years before their emancipation from British tyranny. He landed at New York, and after a short residence in that city removed to the colony of Maryland, where he married Catharine Barnes, by whom he had two sons, Nicholas and John. Nicholas Stoner, who was about a year the senior of his brother, was born Dec. 15, 1762 or '63; which year is not now known with certainty, the family record having been burned with his father's dwelling in the Revolution. He is five feet eleven inches high, of slender but sinewy form; and though his light brown hair is now ( 1848) silvered by the frosts of fourscore winters, and his body is a little bent, yet his step is still firm without a cane, and his intellect vigorous. He has from boyhood worn a pair of small rings in his ears. His complexion, owing to his mode of life, is now swarthy. In his younger days he must have been a man TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. 17 of uncommonly prepossessing personal appearance; for his acquaintances of forty years' standing, speak of him " as one of the likeliest looking men they have ever known." His walk — in(ieed,alraost every motion, betrays his forest life, for he moves with the caution of a trapper and the stillness of a panther; added to which he becomes impatient and vexed at restraint. The frontispiece, which gives a good likeness of hiff at the age of about eighty-three, exhibits him accou tred as a trapper. He usually wore a fur cap when hunting, and a short coat, or cloth roundabout. A belt encircled his waist, at the foot of which was fastened a bullet pouch, and beneath which upon the leftside were thrust a hatchet and knife; while under his right arm hung a powder horn of no mean capacity. When trapping for beaver, he was often loaded with a bun- dle of double-spring steel traps; which were suspended beneath the left arm. The frontispiece was engraved from two daguerreotype likenesses, one of which was taken in the village of Johnstown, on the 10th of Sept., 1846; and as there was a militia general train- ing in the village on that day, the old hero was not only accoutred with little trouble to visit the artist, but was greeted at every turn by numerous friends and acquaintances, all eager once more to grasp his hand and give him a friendly salutation. The other min- iature, although it does not exhibit the old trapper in his forest garb, was taken subsequently at his place of residence, and is by far the best likeness. A bor- 18 TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. rowed cap seen in the picture, conceals much of his intelligent brow. New York city again became the residence of Henry Stoner while his children were quite young, during which Nicholas went to school and learned to read. He was sent to school by John Binkus (if I have the orthography correct), a man of wealth, who had mar- ried Miss Hannah Stoner, a sister of the young stu- dent's father. During the Revolution, this Binkus became a refugee officer in the famous corps of Gen. De Lancey. Henry Stoner, who had been a kind of trafficker or speculator in a small way since his arrival in the colonies, after a second residence in New York of a few years, resolved to become a pioneer settler, and removed with his family to Fonda's Bush, a place in the Johnstown settlements, so called after Major Jelles Fonda, who took a patent for the lands. The place is situated about ten miles north of east from the village of Johnstown, and the same distance west of north from Amsterdam* Fonda's Bush signifies the same as if it were called Fonda's Woods, a dense forest covering the soil at that early period — bush being the usual term for woods on the frontiers of New York. Indeed, the Sugar Bush is the present appellation given to woods from which maple sugar is made. A t the time of Stoner's arrival, Johnstown, though but a small village, was becoming known abroad, as it was the residence of the baronet, Sir William Johnson (after whom it was called), whp TKAPPERS OF NEW YORK. 19 as Indian agent for the Six Nations, and as a military man of repute, was notorious in what was then Western New York. As Stoner was the first settler at Fonda's Bush, he left his family in Philadelphia Bush, while he was erecting a log dwelling four miles distant. The last mentioned place, now in the town of Maryfield, ob- tained its name from the fa^t, that one or more of its first inhabitants were from Philadelphia, or the vicin- ity of that city. Some tw^o years after Stoner fixed his residence in the wilderness, Joseph Scott, and about the same time Benjamin De Line, also located in his neighborhood. I say neighborhood because they were the nearest neighbors of the Stoner family, although from one to two miles distant. His residence was still on the wild-wood side of his pioneer brethren. The next man w^ho fixed his residence in the vicinity of Stoner, was Philip Helmer, who drove the wild beasts from their haunts and broke ground two miles to the eastward of him. Andrew Bowman, Herman Salisbury, John Putnam, Charles Cady, and possibly one or two others, also settled in and about Fonda's Bush before the Revolution. Cady, w^ho married a daughter of Philip Helmer, was one of the first settlers at the west village. He is believed to have gone to Canada with Sir John Johnson. It must have been about the time of Stoner's loca- tion in Fonda's Bush, that Godfrey Shew, a German, made the first permanent location near Sir William 20 TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. Johnson's fishing lodge, denominated the Fish House, and situated on the Sacondaga river, eight miles north-east of Stoner's dwelling. Before Shew planted himself at the Fish House, several families of squatters had been there, who had gone " to parts unknown," and desirous of getting a wholesome citizen to remain there, the baronet held out liberal inducements to Mr. Shew, of which he accepted. In my History of Schoharie County, etc.,, I have given some account of Sir William Johnson, with several anecdotes of him — described his stately man- sions, and told the manner of his death, &c., &c.; but at the time of publishing that work, I was not aware that he had a more celebrated summer residence in the latter part of his life, than that denominated the Fish House. From conversations held within the past year ( 1849) with the aged patriot Jacob Shew, who is a son of Godfrey Shew named above, I am enabled to garner up some more incidents in the life of this no- bleman, and authentic memoranda of the classic grounds under consideration, which can not fail to prove interesting to future generations, even though they are little appreciated by the present. Sir William Johnson, after establishing himself at his Hall in Johnstown, no doubt lived in greater affluence, or more in the style of a European noble- man of that day, than ever did any other citizen of New York. His household was quite numerous at all times, and not unfrequently was much increased by TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. 21 distinguished guests. He had a secretary named Lafferty, who was a good lawyer and did all his legal business. He had a houw-master, an Irishman named Flood. Bouw is a Low Dutch word signifying har- vest — or as here used, an overseer or manager of the laborers of the Hall farm. From ten to fifteen slaves usually performed the labor on the farm, and they were under the immediate direction of the bouw-master. The slaves, some of whom had families, lived across the Cayadutta creek from the Hall, in small dwell- ings erected for them. They drest much as did their Indian neighbors, except that a kind of coat was made of their blankets by the Hall tailor. He had a family physician named Daly, who prac- ticed but little out of his own household. Doct. Daly was a very companionable man, and often accompa- nied Sir William in his pleasure excursions. He had a musician, a dwarf some thirty years old, w^ho an- swered to the name of Billy. He played a violin well, and was alw^ays on hand to entertain guests. He had a gardener, who cultivated a large garden, and kept that and the grounds about the Hall as neat as a pin. He had a butler, named Frank, an active young German, who was with him a number of years, and who made himself very useful to his master. Frank remained about the Hall until the Revolution began, when he went to Albany county. He had a waiter named Pontioch, a sprightly, well disposed lad of mixed blood, negro and Indian, who was generally 22 TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. with him when from home. He had a pair of white, dwarfish-looking waiters, who catered to his own and his guests' comfort: their surname was Bartholomew* and they are believed to have been brothers. The secretary, physician, bouw-master, and all the waiters remained, after the death of Sir William, with his son. Sir John Johnson, until the Revolution began, and then followed his fortunes to Canada. The Ba- ronet had also his own mechanics. His hlacksmith- and his tailor, had each a shop just across the road from the Hall. They did very little work for any one^ out of the royal household. Sir William was a large, well-looking and full-favored man. *' Laugh and^ grow fat," is an old maxim, of which his neighbors were reminded, when they beheld this fun-loving man- He was well read for the times, and uncommonly well versed in the study of human nature. Near the Hall- he erected two detached wings of stone, the west one' of which was used by his attorney Lafferty, for an office, and the other contained ?i philosophical appara^ tus, of which he died possessed. The room in which the apparatus was kept, was called his own private study. On seeing him enter it,Pontioch used to say: " JYow massa gone into his study to tink oh somesin me know not what.'' Sir William erected a school-house in Johnstown soon after he located there. It was an oblong building with a desk at one end, and stood on the diagonal corner of the streets from the county clerk's office — ^ TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. 25 on the present site of Lucus I. Smith's store. To be^in a village, he also erected at the same time six dwelling-houses in the vicinity of the school-house. They were each some 30 feet long fronting the street, by 18 or 20 feet deep, were one and a half stories high, with two square rooms on the floor. Those dwellings and the school-house were all painted yellow. One of the earliest if not in fact the first teacher of this school, was an arbitrary Irishman named Wall, who taught only the common English branches. An Epis- copal church was also erected in Johnstown under the patronage of Sir William, several years before his death. In the street in front of the school-house, public stocks and a whipping-post were placed, the former of which were a terror to truant boys, whose feet not unfrequently graced them. Before Godfrey Shew removed to the Fish House, he resided a mile west of the Hall, at which time his children, with those of a neighbor or two, went to school. In the vicinity of the Hall were usually to be seen a dozen or more In- dians, of whom the children were afraid; and the fact coming to the knowledge of Sir William, he spoke to a chief in their behalf, and then assured the little urchins, with whom he liked to chat, that they need borrow no more trouble about their red neighbors. He had six children at that time by his handsome brown housekeeper, Molly Brant; and the three oldest, Peter, Betsey and Lana, went to school — George and two little girls being thought too young to send. 3 26 TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. Wall was very severe with most of his pupils, but the Baronet's children were made an exception to his clemency — they ever being treated with kind partial- ity and pointed indulgence. He observed the most rigid formality in teaching his scholars manners ; a very important branch of education, and quite too much neglected in modern times. He required his pupils, however, not so much to respect age and in- tellect in others as in himself. If a child wished to go out, it must go before him with a complaisant — 'please master may 1 go out? accom.panied with a bow, a backward motion of the right hand, and drawing back upon the floor the right foot. On returning to the school-room, the pupil had again to parade before the master, with another three-motioned bow, and a very grateful — thank you, sir! The lad Jacob Shew, on becoming initiated into the out-and-in ceremony, accompanied his first bow with a scrape of the left foot. Tak the other fid, you rascal ! was roared with such a brogue and emphasis by old Pedagogue, as to confuse him, and he flour- ished the left foot again. Tak the other fut, I tell ye! came louder than before, attended with a stamp that carried terror to the boy's heart. Comprehending the requirement, he shifted his balance — scraped with the right fut — heard a surly that'll doh ! and went on his way rejoicing though trembling. In nearly every school of New England and New Yoik twenty-five years ago, the scholars on entering and on leaving the school-room during the hours of TKAPPERS OF NEW YORK. 27 school, had to make their manners — the boys to bow, gracefully if they could, but at all events to bow, and the girls to courtesy, genteely, of course. Nor were the manners of the children confined to the school- room; for on meeting any sober person in the street, they had to make their obeisance, and learned to take pleasure and pride in so doing. It was then a very pretty spectacle to pass a country school-house at noon, or when the children were out at play, and see them parade as if by military intuition, and give the traveler a united evidence of good breeding. This sight is occasionally seen at the present day, where female teachers are employed. Traversing the forest in the French war, from Ticonderoga to Fort Johnson, his then residence, no doubt first made Sir William Johnson familiar with the make of the country adjoining the Sacondaga river; and soon after the close of that war he erected a lodge for his convenience, while hunting and fishing, on the south side of the river, nearly eighteen miles distant from his own dvrelling. The lodge was ever after called The Fish House, It was an oblong square framed building, with two rooms below, and walls sufficiently high (one and a half stories) to have afibrded pleasant chambers. Its site was on a knoll within the present garden of Dr. Langdon I. Marvin, and about thirty rods from the river. It fronted the south. Only one room in the building was ever fin- ished; that was in the west end, and had a chimney 28 TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. and fire place. The house was never painted, and in the Revolution it was burnt down, but by whom or whose authority, is unknown. The ground from where the building stood, slopes very prettily to the river. No visible trace of this building remains. A village has grown up at this place, containing several hundred inhabitants, and bearing the historic name of Fish House, although the post office is im- properly called Northampton, the village lying mostly in one corner of that town. The village is built upon gentle elevations, and a degree of neatness and thrift pervades it, that agreeably disappoints the visitor. Among its early influential inhabitants, were Asahel Parkes, John Trumbull, John Rosevelt, Alexander St. John, and John Fay. The last one named located here in ]803, and the others a few years before. Where the Stoner family settled in Fonda's Bush, a pretty village has also sprung up. It is built mostly upon level sandy land, and contains double the popu- lation of Fish House. It is situated in the town of Broadalbin, and like its sister village, has the mis- fortune to have its post-office called after the town instead of itself, a discrepancy that should never exist where it can be avoided. A plank road went into operation in 1849, from Fish House to Fonda's Bush, a distance of eight miles; and another from the latter place to Amsterdam, a further distance often miles, bringing the three places within a few hours' ride of each other. TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. 29 The villages of Fish House and Fonda's Bush must grow in importance with their improved facilities for business — indeed, the travel to those places has been on the increase for several years. From Edinburgh, a little hamlet in Saratoga county, six miles down the river from Fish House, a stage runs twice week to Ballston Spa, stopping at Fish House; and another runs through the place three times a week, from Northville to Amsterdam. Both are mail routes. Northville deserves a passing notice in this place: it is a charming inland village in the town of Northamp- ton, containing two or three hundred inhabitants, romantically embowered among the hills on the north bank of the Sacondaga, six miles above the Fish House, and is fast increasing in importance. The first settlers at this place were Abraham Van Aernam, Paul Hammond, John Shoecraft, Daniel Lobdell and Daniel Bryant. It is now in contemplation to build a plank road from Northville to connect at Johnstown with the one from that place to Fultonville, on the Erie canal. At a little place about equidistant between Fish House and Northville, on the south bank of the river, with a post-office called Denton's Corners, settled Garret Van Ness, Abel Scribner and John Brown. They located there soon after the war of the Revolu- tion closed; and as they had all three been participa- tors in its perils, they must often have met of a long winter evening and fought their battles over. There is at this place, a bridge across the Sacondaga. CHAPTER II. Sir William Johnson was no doubt induced to locate in Johnstown, partly on account of the greater facili- ties it would aiford him for hunting and fishing about the Sacondaga river, over a residence in the Mohawk valley, and partly to obtain more favorable grounds to accommodate the numerous Indians, who at times came to receive presents from the royal bounty. North of the Hall was a forest in which those visitors were occasionally encamped in great numbers. The Sacondaga and Mohawk rivers are about twenty miles apart, from the Fish House westward, for some distance. The Mayfield mountain stretches across from the former river south-easterly to the latter, and there forms what is called The Nose, while on the north side of the Sacondaga, mountain ranges of hills towering one above the other, bound the view. The lands, on gaining the summit level, a few miles north of the Mohawk, are not mountainous between the rivers, but gently rolling from the Mayfield mountain, some twenty miles to the eastw^ard, until they strike what is denominated the Maxon hill; the northern termination of which at the river the In- dians called Scow-a-rock-a. The scenery, therefore, to the northward of Johnstown and Fonda's Bush, is verv fine. TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. 31 From the residence of Col. John I Shew, situated on an eminence one and a half miles from Fonda's Bush, and on the plank road to Fish House, is afforded the lover of natural science, in a clear day, one of the richest landscapes in this part of the state. Here the eye, looking north, seems to scan rather more than one-half of an amphitheatre, an hundred miles iu circuit, with rich and varied scenery. Within the view is overlooked the Sacondaga vlaie, a body of from ten to thirteen thousand acres of drowned lands. This immense marsh extends east and west about six miles. A strip at the west end, nearly two miles long, lies in Mayfield, and the eastern part extends into Northampton; but the greatest proportion is in Broadalbin, where it is the widest, being perhaps a mile or more in width. A fine mill stream, called Vlaie creek, because it courses through the great marsh, rises in Lake Desola- tion, near the Maxon mountain in Greenfield, Sara- toga county, and making a grand circuit of Broad- albin, passing in its route through the village of Fonda's Bush, it enters the Sacondaga at Fish House, not more than two or three miles from its source; although some twenty by its sinuous route. The stream is sometimes called the Little Sacondaga. The Indians called it Ken-ny-ett-o^ says Isaac R. Rosa, of Fonda's Bush, w^ho saw an intelligent Indian, many years ago, write the name with red chalk on the door of a grist mill. The signification of this pretty abo- 32 TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. riginal name, after which the village and post-office should have been called, is now unknown. The origin of this marsh is thus given by Lardner Vanuxem, in his volume of the Geology of New York: " The vlie, or natural meadow and swamp which ex- tends along the creek of that name, to near the Fish House, are the remains of a lake, and show the pre- existent state of that country; the drainage of which happened at successive periods, as is Deautifully shown, and the extent of alluvial action also, near where the irpper and lower roads unite, which lead from Cranberry post-office to the river, near the hill or mountain side. There four well defined alluvial banks exist, resembling great steps or benches ranging by the mountain side, which form a semi- amphitheatre, changing by a curve from a north-east to a south-south-east direction. The upper bank of alluvion rises about a hundred feet above the river; the next below, about eighty feet; the third, from thirty to forty feet; and the lowest, from ten to twelve feet. The upper one is of sand, the second of bluish clay covered with sand, and the two lower ones of sand and gravel. " The vlie, or natural meadows, are numerous in many parts of the [geological] district: they are the prairies of the west upon a small scale. Their soil, being composed of minutely divided parts of fine earth, is favorable for grass, the rapid growth of which smothers the germinating tree. This is the primary TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. 33 cause why trees do not exist where grass is rank; the others are but subordinate ones. One and all in the district show the same origin, having been ponds or lakes receiving the wash of the country which they drained, the finer particles of which being diffused through their waters, have by subsidence formed their level bottom, and their highly productive soil for grass." It is by no means an uncommon occurrence for a pond or lake to become filled up by alluvial deposits, so as to form dry and tillable land; and at times upon the surface of a body of water, a soil is formed that is cultivated without its ever being known to the hus- bandman, that he is toiling over the bosom of a lake. In confirmation of this I would instance a singular occurrence of recent date. On the Michigan Central Railway it became necessary to carry an embankment some fifteen feet thick across a piece of low ground, containing nearly one hundred acres dry enough to plow. The workmen had progressed with the grading some distance, when it became too heavy for the soil to support it, and it sank down into seventy -nine feet of water. It then became apparent that the low ground had been a small lake, upon the surface of which, in process of time, a soil had collected, com- posed of roots, peat, muck, &c., to the depth of from ten to fifteen feet thick; the surface of which had become dry. Had it not been deemed necessary to carry so heavy an embankment over this miniature 34 TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. prairie of now rich arable land, it would probably never have been known that it rested on the bosom of a lake. On the northerly side of the vlaie and to the west- ward of the centre, are two strips of hard land bearing timber. They are called stacking-ridges, from the fact that many tons of hay cut annually on the low giounds contiguous, are stacked upon them to be drawn off in the winter. Blue-joint grass used to grow, and perhaps does to this day on the dry est bogs. Formerly immense quantities of cranberries were gathered on the north side of the marsh east of the lower stacking-ridge, on what is called Cranberry point. A kind of shovel with fine teeth was some- times used to scoop them up, and nearly a quart could thus be gathered at once. This mode of picking in- jured the vines however. Cranberries are not as plenty here as formerly. Opposite Cranberry point the water in Vlaie creek is said to be very deep. One of the most interesting features about the vlaie is the fact, that a little knoll or table of hard land elevated some ten or twelve feet, extends into it toward the upper or western end. It is oblong in shape, level upon the top and gently sloping all round. It lies about north-west and south-east, the summit being some 600 feet long by 150 in breadth; and containing in the whole say ten or fifteen acres of very good land This tongue of land is called Summer' house point, from the fact that Sir William Johnson TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. 35 erected a beautiful cottage in the centre of it in 1772, and there spent much of his time in the summer for several seasons. From Johnstown to this point, which is just fourteen miles, the Baronet opened a carriage road. While the road was surveying, a large tree was marked at the end of every mile, and numbered from the Hall. The one denominated JYine-mile tree, a large pine, was standing within twenty-five years, and was by the late Gen. Henry Fonda designated to several persons, who have kept vigilance of its locality. The stump of this tree, which has for seventy years been a landmark, is still standing a little east of James Lasher's dwelling in the town of Mayfield. Summer-house point is af)pro ached from the west- erly end, upon a strip of arable land, which in very high water is covered, making an island of the point. The Sacondaga patent embraced all or very nearly all of the vlaie. The point which lies in Broadalbin, was embraced in the Sacondaga patent, which con- veyed 28,000 acres of land, Dec. 2, 1742, to Lendert Gansevoort, Cornelius Ten Broek, Douw Fonda, Anna J. Wendell and ten others. Of some of the original patentees or then owners, Sir William not only bought the point, but many of the lands in and contiguous to Fish House, in which village the Northampton and Sacondaga patents unite. The cottage erected on Summer-house point stood precisely in ils centre. It was a tasty one story build- ing, fronting the south, upon which side was its front 36 TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. entrance. The roof sloped north and south. A piazza supported by square columns extended around the sides and east end, with a promenade upon the top nearly as high as the eaves. It had a gable window at each end on the first floor, and two windows at each end on the second. A hall ran across the build- ing in the centre, with a square room upon each side of it, handsomely finished, well furnished, and each room lighted by two front w^indows. It had a nice cellar kitchen, the entrance to which was on the west end which room was always occupied in the summer season by JYicholas and Flora, a pair of the Baronet's slaves, who were there to keep every thing in order, and minister to his comfort during his visits. The cottage was painted white, with the corners, doors, widow casings and columns painted green, as was the English taste of the times — the whole contrast- ing beautifully with the wild scenery around. A large garden was cultivated on the point, two cows kept there, and when the Baronet was there two horses also; as he usually rode there in a carriage. He planted fruit trees there, and two antiquated apple trees of a dozen or more are still standing. The stone of which the cellar and well were made, were brought from Fish House in a boat, and as stone were scarce on the sandy lands contiguous, early settlers with sacrilegious propensity have carried off and converted them to other uses. The plow^ has removed all traces of the well, which was on the verge of the knoll south TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. 37 of the house, and has nearly filled the cellar, a small cavity only remaining. A log house and well were built on the south side of the point toward the west- ern end just after the revolution, but the dwelling is now gone, and most of the stone which were used in that cellar. The nearest house now to the point, is that known as the Brown place, where Samuel Brown, an old pensioner, lived and died. I have said that the Kennyetto coursed through the vlaie. It enters a narrow strip of it south-west of the point, and runs along the latter upon its southerly side, where it is some two rods wide, and usually three or four feet deep. The Mayfield creek, a mill- stream about two-thirds as large as the Kennyetto, runs through that part of the marsh in Mayfield, and sweeping its north margin, unites with the latter stream at the extremity of the point. The Brown farm lies betweeg the two strips of the marsh named, and near where they approximate. Besides those named, several other streams enter the marsh. On the north side at Cranberry point, a mile from Sum- mer-house point, Cranberry creek runs in, and nearly loses itself before reaching Vlaie creek, as the stream is called after it receives Mayfield creek. On the south side two mill streams run in, in Broadalbin, one nearly opposite Cranberry creek, called formerly Frenchman's creek, and the other a mile below called Han's creek; and yet so great is the natural process of absorption and evaporation constantly going on 38 TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. here, that the creek, where it issues from the vlaie and enters the Sacondaga at Fish House, discharges but little if any more water than passes Summer-house point, in the Kennyetto; indeed, it is said by some of the observing citizens near its mouth, that less water issues from the marsh than did formerly. Frenchman's creek is so called, because a French- man named Joseph DeGolier located at an early day upon its shores about two miles from its mouth. It has since been called McMartin's creek, after Duncan McMartin, Esq., who established himself and erected mills upon it many years ago. McMartin was a sur- veyor and laid out most of the roads in and around Broadalbin. He was a man of wealth and respect- ability, and was appointed a judge of the common pleas in 1818 — was a master in chancery, &c., &c.; and as an evidence of his enterprise, erected a sub- stantial brick edifice upon his farm, some few years before his death. This same stream has also been called Factory creek, from the fact that a woolen manufactory was established upon it near the resi- dence of Mr. McMartin, as early as 1812 or 1814. It is still in operation. Han's creek got its name from the following circumstance: Some few years before his death, Sir William Johnson and John Conyne were fishing for trout in the mouth of this stream, when as Conyne was standing up, an unex- pected lurch of the boat sent him out floundering in the water. He shipped a sea or two, as the sailor TKAPPERS OF NEW YORK. 39 would say, before he was rescued by the helping hand of his companion from a watery grave. My informant heard the Baronet relate the circumstance at Johnson Hall to a large circle o^ friends soon after, with his usual gusto for such adventures. He not not only had a hearty laugh over it then, but often afterwards when telling how Conyne 'plunged into the water to seek for trout. Hans being the Dutch of John, and the familiar name by which Sir William called his companion in relating the incident; hence the name for the stream. There is now along the sides and lower end of Summer house point, a stunted growth of alder and swamp willow, but when occupied by Sir William Johnson, the bushes were all cut off, and the margin of the stream kept clean. He had a beautiful boat there, in which he used to go down to the Fish House, four miles distant, sometimes with company, for he entertained numerous distinguished guests, and at other times attended only by a few servants, or possi- bly by his faithful Pontioch, who rowed the boat while he sat in the stern and steered it. His greatest time for hunting and fishing was in the spring and fall. When the marsh was flooded, a boat would pass over it any where, the water rising at Summer-house point, from six to eight feet above low water mark. At such times the prospect was grand from the prome- nade of his cottage, access to which was gained by an outside stairway, near the hall door. Thousands 40 TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. upon thousands of ducks and wild geese were then floating upon the waters, at which time his double- barreled gun was in almost constant requisition. Some Twenty five years ago, ducks used to breed about the vlaie. They are sometimes caught in nets there, and taken to market. In company wi-h Dr. William Chambers, Marcellus Weston, Esq., my patriotic old friend Jacob Shew, Col. John I. Shew his son, and little Haydn Shew, I visited Summer-house point on the 29th day of Au- gust, 1849, and well was I compensated forthe jour- ney. It is a most delightful place, divested of all historic associations, but clothed with them, it is one of the most interesting spots imaginable Recreating in fancy the white cottage with green facings, I could almost hear the notes of Billy's old fiddle, as his greatest skill was taxed to please the ear of some fastidious city guest; and at some witticism of the happy host, I seemed to hear peal after peal of merry laughter, and now and then an Indian whoop, as in former days they rang out upon the gentle breeze. The fairy craft of some forest son seemed once more to be gliding along the grass-hidden stream with its blanket-clad navigator standing erect as of yore, and bound for Sacondaga. Imagination pictured Pontioch caressing his favorite steeds, and calling on Nicholas to aid a black driver in rubbing them dry; and as I passed the entrance to Flora's department, to look at the noble animals, I seemed to see upon one side of TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. 41 it scores of pigeons and wild ducks, with the saddle of a deer; and on the other a large heap of golden trout, to supply the cottage larder and feed its guests. But I find 1 am growing visionary, and will dismiss this subject, with ray grateful thanks to the gentle- men who conducted me to Summer-house point, where I trust I may again light tip " the council fires" of imagination — again be surrounded by intelligent friends — again see some little Haydn hooking perch or sun fish — again see the happy hay makers near the upper stacking-ridge — and again seek for some relic of the point's first occupancy, if only to be re- warded by the limb of an old apple tree. CHAPTER III. Sa-con-da-ga is an aboriginal word, which signifies, as the Indians assured Godfrey Shew, much water y Capt. Gill, an Indian hunter, said it meant sunken or drowned lands. It no doubt has particular reference to the flooding of the vlaie. The Sacondaga shoot- ing out from the mountains in Northampton, enters the semi-amphitheatre in a south-eastern course, and continues that direction in what seems a great basin, until it gets to Fish House, where, receiving the Vlaie creek, and striking spurs of the Maxon mountain, its course is changed to a north-eastern one, thus making two equal sides of a triangle some twenty miles in circuit. The vlaie is about as low as the bed of the river, and when the latter rises suddenly, it sets back up the creek with a heavy current, so as not unfre- quently to carry bridges up stream^ that were over the streams in the marsh. The Sacondaga continues a north-easterly course, until it enters the Hudson some thirty miles from the Fish House. A small steam boat has been plying for two seasons between Fish House and Barber's Dam, a distance of about twenty miles. This dam is situated at the head of what is usually denominated the Horse race, or rapid water, which extends from thence to the Hudson. Conklinville, a TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. 43 small hamlet, with several mills and a leather manu- factory, has recently grown up at the dam. Daly's creek, a stream running into the Sacondaga on the east side, and near Barber's dam, got its name from the following circumstance. Dr. Daly, the family physician of Sir William Johnson, was at the mouth of this stream with the latter on a nshing: ex- cursion, as in days gone by it was a great place for trout. A little eddy in the water had caught up a bed of leaves, and the top ones were so curled and dry, as to lead the doctor to suppose they were quietly reposing on the top of a small sand bar. It is not unlikely that Sir William, to please himself or guests that may have been with them, humored the joke, if he did not set it on foot. Catching the painter, the doctor sprang out to draw the boat upon the bar — when lo! he went plum up to his arms in the water^ This incident not only added a yarn to the Baronet's long budget, which he often spun at the doctor's ex- pense, but served to originate a name for the stream. Some few years after the above incident transpired, Godfrey Shew, his sons John and Jacob, and Edmund Pangburn, were fishing at the mouth of Daly's creek, when a similar little eddy of crisped leaves attracted the notice of young Jacob, and to get the wrinkles out of his legs, he concluded to step out of the boat on the bar. He did so, and down went the leaves, and still deeper down the boy to get a handsome ducking, and be laughed at by his comrades when in 44 TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. the boat. Query: Should not this stream be called Shew's creek, some part of the time? Near the mouth of Han's creek, and about half- way from Summer-house point to Fish House, dwelt before the Revolution the family of Henry Worm- wood. He had three daughters and two sons. The oldest daughter, whose name is now forgotten, mar- ried and went to Schoharie; the other two, Susannah and Elizabeth, lived at home Susannah, the eldest of the two, was a beautiful girl, of middling stature, charmingly formed, with a complexion fair as a water lily — contrasting wnth which she had a melting dark eye and raven hair. Elizabeth much resembled her sister, but was not quite as fair. An Irishman named Robert or Alexander Dunbar, a good looking fellow, paid his addresses to Susannah, and soon after mar- ried her. The match was in some manner brought about by the Baronet — was an unhappy one, and they soon after parted. She however, retained as her stock in trade a young Dunbar. What became of Dunbar is unknown. Sir William was on very intimate terms with both the Wormwood girls, but the most so with Susannah after she became a grass-widow — at which time she was about twenty years old. Those girls were often at the cottage on the point, and not unfrequently at the Fish-house. As the latter place was not furnished, when Sir William went down there intending to stay over night, he took down a bed from the point, J TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. 45 which, " as the evening shades prevailed," was made up on the floor. In passing Wormwood's dwelling, some half a mile distant from his boat at the nearest point, if he desired an agreeable compan- ion for the night, he discharged his double-barreled gun, and the two shots in quick succession, was a signal that never failed to bring him a temporary housekeeper. Susannah was his favorite, and so pleased was she with his attentions, that she often arrived on foot at the fish house before he did, especially if he lingered to fish by the way. Wormwood and his wife sometimes accompaaied one of their daughters to the fish-house, where they occasionally remained over night. The old man had the misfortune to break an arm, and by imprudence he kept it lame for a long time. Early one morning he called in atShew's dwelling, situated over a knoll and perhaps one-fourth of a mile from the fish-house. Rubbing his arm he began to give a sorry picture of its lameness, in which he was suddenly interrupted by Mrs Shew. " Poh!" said she, "you have made it lame by sleeping on the floor again at the fish- house." " No I haven't," said he, " I slept on a good bed; for Sir William brought down from the point a very nice wide one, which was plenty large enough for four" — " Four?'^ quickly interrogated Mrs. Shew, greatly surprised at the reply of Wormwood, " pray how did you manage to sleep ybwr in a bed?" 46 TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. *' 0, casv enough. Susannah made it up very nicely on the floor, and then Sir William told us how to lay. He first directed the women to get in the middle, and now, said he to me, you get on that side and take care of your old woman next to you, and I'll get in on this side and try to take care of Susan- nah. No, 1 didn't make my arm lame by sleeping on the floor last nighV^ It is unnecessary to add, Mrs. S. did not question her neighbor any farther. To dispose of this family in a few words, which catered for years to pamper the baser passions of an influential man, liberally endowed with Solomondic lust; the two sons went to Canada with Sir John Johnson; Elizabeth married somebody and moved to — so)neivhere ; and Susannah, with an heir to the Sacondaga vlaie — sex unknown — remained about Johnstown wnth her parents until the Revolution was over and then went to Canada. Old Wormwood was seen at Amsterdam after the war by a former neighbor, who enquired where he lived? "Any where," he replied, " w^here I can find a house." Poor weak man, he has beyond a doubt parted with his " mortal coil" long since; but his old bones, we hazard a conjecture, more than once felt the need of Sir William's ' wide bed,' or some other, before that solemn event. About the fish-house. Sir William Johnson re- served one hundred acres of land, which was confis- TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. 47 cated with his son's estate in the Revolution. When sold by the sequestrating committee, it was purchased by Major Nicholas Fish (he was adjutant-general of n ilitia after the war), for one hundred pounds. Maj. Fish sold it at the close of the war to Asahel Parkes, of Shaftsbury, Vermont, who resided several years upon it. He built a dwelling upon the low ground a few rods from the mouth of Vlaie creek, and the fol- lowing spring he was driven out of it by some four feet of water. Traces of this building are still to be seen west of the road, just above the river bridge. Parkes sold the Fish-house farm to Alexander St. John. The village has since been built upon it. The bridge just alluded to crosses the river where it makes its great angle, and only a few rods below the mouth of Vlaie creek. The Sacondaga at this place is about two-thirds as large as the Mohawk is at Fultonville. The cost of this bridge, a covered one, in Barber & Howe's Historical Collections of JVew York, is erroneously stated to have been sixty thousand dollars. It cost about six thousand dollars, and was built by the state's munificence in 1818, at which time Jacob Shew was in the legislature and advocated the measure with success. It was sup- posed the state would soon realize the funds again, by the sale of her lands on the north side of the river, a markt t for w^hich would be more readily found by improving the way to them How profitable the in- vestment has proved for the state we are unable to 48 TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. say, hut the convenience of a free bridge to the puljlic is invaluable. Among the unwise measures adopted in the early part of our struggle for liberty, was that of fortifying Summe-house point; it being supposed by some that an enemy from the north, would be likely to approach the point by water. Part of a regiment of continental troops under Col. Nicholson was stationed here much of the summer of 1776. An intrenchment six feet wide and several feet deep was cut across the eastern end of the point; while the cottage in green livery, as we may suppose, assumed a warlike aspect- The point as a military post was abandoned at the end of the summer. The summer-house shared the same fate as the fish-house, in the Revolution; as they were both burnt about the year 1781. We suppose that, from the fact that this cottage had been occu- pied by the Americans as a military post, and that the repossession of it by Sir John Johnson was now placed almost beyond a doubt among the impossibili- ties, he gave instructions to some hostile invaders to burn that and the fish-house, that they should fall to the ownership and occupancy of no one else. All traces of the fortifications on the point have disap- peared, the ditch having become entirely filled up by deposits from the marsh. Just before Summer-house point was garrisoned, a scout of several men was sent from Johnstown to re- connoitre in its vicinity. From the point they crossed TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. 49 the marsh to the bank of the Sacondaga, and not find- ing any trace of an enemy's approach, they returned to the point. When ready to retrace their steps to Johnstown, they found the boat had been left by some person on the opposite shore of the Kennyetto. In attempting to cross the stream and get it, one of the men, named Willie Boiles, a continental soldier, was drowned. His body w^as recovered and buried on the northerly end of the point, a few rods southerly from the fence toward the road, and not far distant from the Mayfield creek. No stone or stake indicates the spot. Summer-house point was sold by Jeremiah Van Rensselaer, one of the committee for sequestrations, to James Caldwell of Albany. Who now owns this delightful spot I am unable to say. Formerly, when it became the rallying spot for hay-makers, cranberry- pickers and fishermen, temporary bridges were made across the creeks upon its sides, by throwing over stringers and covering them with brush and hay. The timber was drawn upon the point in the winter, to be restored in the summer. A settlement was begun in Mayfield, some ten miles to the northward of Johnson Hall, under the patronage of Sir William Johnson, about as early as Stoner's location at Fonda's Bush. The first settlers who ob- tained a title from the Baronet to one hundred acres of land each, were two brothers named Solomon and Seely Woodworth, Simeon Christie, two brothers named Reynolds, Jacob Dunham, Cadman, Jon a. 5 50 TRAPPERS OF NEW YORE. Canfield, Capt. Flock, a captain when in New England; and possibly one or two others. Christie was a Scotchman ; the rest of the settlers, or nearly all of them were enterprising Yankees. The Wood- worths were from Salisbury, Connecticut; Seely set- tled near the present site of Mayfield Corners, and his brother about a mile to the westward of him. The rest of the pioneers were scattered about the wood- man's neighborhood. Perhaps the only descendant of this early settlement now" living upon the 'homestead, is Simon, a son of Simeon Christie. Solomon Woodworth was killed by the Indians in the Revolution, as I have elsewhere published. The circumstances attending his death, as related by an eye-witness, I design to give the public at some future day, as also the captivity of several of the settlers at Fish House and Fonda's Bush, and fate of Eikler and young Shew. Old Mr. Dunham w^as murdered by the Indians in the war, as related on page 294 of my His- tory of Schoharie County, etc., where the name is in- accurately printed Durham. His wife was not mur- dered at the time, as there stated. The house was plundered, but from motives of policy not then burned. Dunham had a son, a young officer under Capt. Solo- mon Woodworth, who shared the fate of his brave commander, as wull be shown hereafter. After Shew located at Fish House, and before the Revolution, John Eikler, Lent and Nicholas Lewis, brothers, Robert Martin, Zebulon Algar, a family of I TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. 51 Ketchums and one of Chadwicks, also settled in that neighborhood. All of them left at the beginning of difficulties, except Shew, Martin and Algar. These pioneers at first had to go to Johnstown for their mill- ing. To accommodate them and the Mayfield settle ment, Sir William Johnson erected a small grist mill at the latter place, in 1773 or '74, and had the avails of it during the remainder of his life. It was either burnt in the war, or rendered nearly valueless by neglect. The mill property having been confiscated, it was purchased at the close of the war by Abraham Romeyn, the oldest son of the Rev. Dr. Romeyn, who had been an artificer in the Revolution. He rebuilt the mill again, and put it in operation. Soon after Romeyn got his mill in operation, Thomas Shankland — who had been a prisoner among the Indians — erected a grist mill on the Kennyetto, in the present town of Providence, to which the Fish House settlers repaired, as it was a mile or two nearer than the Mayfield mill, with no intervening marsh. This mill is now owned by Jonathan Haggidorn. The bolts in those mills to separate the flour from the bran, were turned by hand. It was the usual practice for customers to turn the bolt for their owm grist — a task they were by no means pleased w^ith. After the country became more settled, and probably as early as 1800, one Van Hoesen erected a mill also in Provi- dence, situated about half a mile east of Fish House, on a stream which rises on the Maxon mountain. 62 TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. Speaking of mills, we are reminded of the follow- ing anecdote of Sir William Johnson. While he was livine: at Fort Johnson, he made some alteration in his grist-mill near by — putting in a new^ pair of mill- stones. A German named Francis Salts, who was erecting a mill for Messrs. Philip and Jacob Frederick, situated on the Schoharie river, some five or six miles above its mouth, called on the Baronet to purchase the old grinders. The price was stipulated, and after some little conversation about the terms of payment, the quondam owner told his customer to take them home, get his mill in operation, and if he would sing a song when the debt was due, that pleased him, he would exact no other pay. It was not long ere the buzzing and clitter clatter evinced the new mill in successful motion. When pay day for the millstones arrived, Mr. Salts went to Fort Johnson to cancel the debt. He w^as quite a song singer, and had possibly prepared himself with something new, expressly for the fastidious ear of his creditor. In the presence of several of the Baronet's friends, who were, no doubt, invited in expressly to hear them, song after song was sung, to the evident amusement of all save the one he desired to please; but his features remained uncommonly rigid. Having exhausted his catalogue of German songs, without discovering any expression of delight on the counte- nance of his creditor, the millwright thrust his hands into a deep pocket, and drew forth a long pouch of TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. 53 the ready, singing in no very good humor as he did so: ^er 5P^ann mill be^at)lt Mn.* " That will do — now put up your money," said Sir William, at the end of a burst of laughter. "And are you paid? " asked Salts, with evident sur- prise, as he returned the purse to his pocket. " Yes, yes," said the now delighted lover of fun, " that will do— that's the best of the w^hole." The songster went home rejoicing, and left the Baronet and his guests to discuss the merit of his songs over a bottle of wine, when he was far away. — Col. Peter Young and Volkert Voorhees. If Sir William Johnson enjoyed a joke at the ex- pense of some friend, they occasionally got the rig upon him, as the following anecdote will show. Just after the close of the French war, in which he had acted so conspicuous a part, and for which he was placed on the baronial list. Sir William had occasion to go to Albany. At that period there were only two or three dwellings in the whole distance between Albany and Schenectada, and they were little if any better than squatter's lodges of more modern times. There were numerous little swamps and marshes along the road, and the Baronet returning to Schenectada on horseback, passed a little marsh, in which he heard, * Money bag ! money bag ! you must come out ! The man he will be paid .' 5* 64 TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. as he believed, the voice of a new animal. Nearing a house just after, he inquired, What animals were making such a strange noise ? He was answered with a grin, that they were hull frogs! He spurred up his horse, not a little mortified to think he had but just learned, as his countrymen would say, " what a toad a frog was.^' The family of which he inquired knew him (indeed that family which did not know him in Western New York, was behind the times), and soon the nature of his inquiry reached the ears of his most intimate friends, who bored him so unmercifully about it, that he was obliged to own up. He admitted that he never was so ashamed of having asked a question in his life, as he was of that about the new animals on the pine plains below Dorp. — James Frazier. After the preceding pages were stereotyped, I learned that the given name of Dunham, mentioned on page 49, was Jacob: that when he was murdered, as stated on page 50, which took place April 11, 1779, a son named Samuel met the same fate. Zebulon, another son, was made prisoner, but escaped from his captors while they were engaged in plundering the house. John, a third son of Jacob Dunham, fell with Capt. Woodworth, in Fairfield. — Hon, John Dunham, of Wells, N. Y., a son of Ebenezer Dunham, and grandson of Jacob Dunham, above named. CHAPTER IV. Very little is known of Nicholas Stoner's boyhood, but from his propensity in riper years we may suppose, that if he did not play off some wild pranks, it was only for the want of a butt. With perceptions na- turally quick, his city life afforded him a fine school for the study of human nature as developed in the actions of men; but the transition at so early an age to sylvan shades, where, instead of artificial objects he might behold natmre by the pencil of God adorned, was genial to his untamed spirit, and he was soon fitted to enjoy to the fullest extent the life of a wood- man: finding music in the scream of the panther, growl of the bear and bay of the wolf When a cry from the Boston Cradle announced that the infant Liberty was about to be strangled by its pretended nurse; the Gray Forest Eagle, " An emblem of freedom, stern, haughty and high," having plumed his broad wing for a heliocentric flight, was up— " And away like a spirit wreathed in light," he fluttered over the land of his choice, until he aroused the patriotism not only of the indweller of city and village, but of him, who, though isolated his home, could appreciate untrammeled thought and act. 56 TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. The first two years of the war of Independence, the pioneer inhabitants of New York enjoyed comparative tranquillity; for the swift-footed Indian had not fully determined to raise the hatchet of death against un- offending innocence, in a quarrel that did not directly concern him, and crimson the altar of domestic hap- piness for the golden calf royalty had set up: but as the portending storm lowered, and it became known that the red man, having sharpened his scalping knife and participated in the war dance of his nation, was then on his way to the frontiers; exposed settlers who were inclined to look with favor on the acts of those who were raising an arm of rebellion along the sea- board, found it necessary to remove to thickly peopled neighborhoods. Accordingly, the families making up the small and scattered settlement of Fonda's Bush, except that of Helmer and Putman, removed early in the summer of 1777, to Johnstown : soon after which Nicholas Stoner went to reside with the Fisher bro- thers in the Mohawk valley.* Living with patriots, * John and Harmanus Fisher. They resided at that period where the Hon. Jesse D. DeGroff now resides, between the vil- lages of Fonda and Amsterdam, and were both killed and scalped by the Indians and tories in the summer of 1780 5 at which time the former was a captain and the latter a lieutenant of militia. Col. Frederick Fisher (or Visscher, as he wrote his name in the latter part of his life), a third brother, chanced to be there at the time, and was scalped and left for dead, but recovered and lived many years. For a more particular account of the Fisher family and their sufferings, see my Border Wars of New York, TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. 57 although a lad of only 14 or 15 summers, it is not sur- prising that young Stoner, who had been properly schooled at home as the removal of the family indicates, should have imbibed the spirit which throbbed in older hearts, and been ready to stand or fall with the com- mon cause of his country. Visiting his friends in Johnstown in the summer of 1777, at which time it had become a military post, Nicholas, for whose ear martial music had peculiar charms, needed but little persuasion to become a sol- dier, and enlisted as a fifer into a company of New York troops, commanded by captain Timothy Hughes. Not long after his brother John, a mere boy, enlisted under Capt. Wright. Captain W. had been a British drum-major previous to the Revolution, and being pleased with John, undertook to perfect him in the art oi flammadiddles sind paddadiddles — in other words, in the ability to make a world of noise in a scientific manner. Henry Stoner, imitating the example of his boys, soon after enlisted under Capt. Robersham for a term of three years. The father and sons were all in the same regiment, so that they not only saw each other almost daily, but the former could to some little extent, still exercise the duties of a parent. The re- giment alluded to was commanded by Col. James Livingston, of which Richard Livingston was lieuten- ant-colonel, and Abraham Livingston captain; the three Livingstons being brothers. In August 1777, the troops under Col. Livingston joined the army of 58 TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. Gen. Arnold, while on its way up the Mohawk valley, to succor Col. Gansevoort at Fort Stanwix. Among the patriotic rangers who left Johnstown at this time was Jacob Shew, who is still living. Nicholas Stoner saw the spy, Han Yost Schuyler, who was captured at Shoemaker's place (where Spen- cer now lives, at the upper end of Mohawk village), set out on his mission to excite the fears of the enemy, and thus save his own neck from a halter.* Boats • This Han Yost (John Joseph) Schuyler and Walter Butler were fortunately made prisoners near Fort Dayton, about the time of Arnold's arrival at that post. Butler was sent down to Albany as a prisoner, Schuyler had entered the Mohawk valley as a spy — was tried by court-martial and sentenced to be hung, his coffin being made ready to receive his remains. Gen. Arnold thought to turn his life to more profitable account than his death, and agreed to spare him on condition that he would enter the camp of St. Ledger, and by an exaggerated account of the forces ad- vancing under his command, thus contribute towards raising the siege of Fort Stanwix, then called Fort Schuyler. Schuyler accepted the terms for his life; and his brother Nicholas was retained as a hostage, to suffer in his stead in case of a noncompli- ance. Han Yost entered the enemy's lines, and his known fidelity to their cause gave his representation of Arnold's forces no little weight. Probably Schuyler had been sent below to learn whether American troops were approaching. The camp was thrown into confusion, and it was resolved to raise the siege. Several shrewd Oneidas friendly to the American cause were in the secret, and ere St. Ledger began his retrograde movement, one of them dropped into the camp as if by chance. He was interrogated as to his knowledge of the approaching Yankees, and replied mysteriously, but in a manner to inspire awe. " Are the Yankees numerous?" inquired a tory officer. The Indian pointing to the surrounding TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. 59 laden with provisions were taken up the Mohawk, guarded by troops along the shore. As they drew near the theatre of the brave Herkimer's disasters, evidences of the terrible onslaught at Oriskany met them. Near the mouth of the Oriskany creek, a gun was found standing against a tree with a pair of boots hanging on it; while in the creek near, in a state bordering on putrefaction, lay their supposed owner. In the grass a little way from the shore, lay a genteely dressed man without coat or hat, who it was supposed had made his way there to obtain drink. A black silk handkerchief encircled his once aching head. John Clark, a sergeant, loosened it, but the hair ad- forest replied by asking — " Can Oneida count the leaves? Can white man count the stars?" The siege was precipitately aban- doned, and agreeably to arrangement another and another Oneida entered the ranks of the foe to add their enigmatic testimony to that of the first. The stratagem succeeded to a charm 5 and find- ing opportunity to return to the army of Arnold, and thence to Fort Dayton, Schuyler saw his brother set free and went back to Canada. Subsequent to the war, Schuyler returned to Herkimer county where he died. Facts from John Roof^ who was on duty at Fort Dayton, and saw the coffin made for Schuyler, and who was familiar with the circumstances which led to his arrest and novel liberation; corroborated by John Dockstader^ of Herkimer. Says the latter, this Schuyler had a brother and two sisters who were carried captive to Canada in the French war, and were re- tained there until it closed. Herkimer, then called the Palatine's village, was invaded by the French and Indians in November, 1757, its dwellings, grain, mills, etc., destroyed by fire, and its inhabitants mostly slain or carried into captivity, as we may show at some future day. 60 TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. hered to it on its removal, and he left the prize. He took from his feet a pair of silver shoe-buckles. His legs were so swollen, that his deer-skin breeches were rent from top to bottom. Nine dead bodies lay across the road, disposed in regular order, as w^as imagined, by the Indians after their death. The stench was so great that the Americans could not discharge the last debt due their heroic countrymen, and their bones were soon after bleaching upon the ground. A little farther on an Indian was seen hanging to the limb of a tree by the heels. He was suspended with the traces of a harness from a baggage w^agon by the Americans, as believed, after death. Col. St. Ledger having made a flying retreat towards Canada, Gen. Arnold, after giving his troops time to rest, left Fort Stanw^x and returned with his command to the army of Gen. Gates near Stillwater. At some period subsequent to the action of September 19th, in which Gen. Arnold was by many thought the master spirit of the American officers engaged, an altercation took place between him and Gen. Gates, supposed by some on account of envy entertained to- wards the former, either by Gen. Wilkinson or Gen. Gates, and possibly both,* which resulted in his being deprived of his command. Consequently, in the san- guinary battle which took place on Bemis's Heights, October 7th, Gen. Arnold had no authority for the glorious deeds he there performed. Towards evening * See Neilson's Burgoynes Campaign^ page 150. TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. 61 of that day, that daring chief led a .body of troops into the very heart of the Hessian camp; carrying dismay along the whole British line. In this impetuous onset he was shot through the leg,* and would to God the ball had passed through his heart; and that that fear- less and reckless leader, who, up to that hour had been one of Liberty's boldest champions, could have sealed with his life-blood his former deeds of glory! Yes, would to God that that brave general, who had faced his country's foes on the snow-clad plains of Abraham, and been a companion in peril of the gal- lant, warm-hearted Montgomery, could now have found a grave on those heights, where his own blood had mingled with that of the foeman ! But alas ! alas ! a sombre destiny awaited him. Among the death-daring spirits who followed Ar-^ nold to the Hessian camp, was Nicholas Stoner, and near the enemy's works he was wounded in a singular manner. A cannon shot from the breastwork killed a soldier near Stoner, named Tyrrell. The ball de- molished his head, sending its fragments into the face of Stoner, which was literally covered with brains, hair and fragments of the skull. He fell senseless, with the right of his head about the ear severely cut * A wounded Hessian fired on Arnold, and John Redman, a vo- lunteer, ran up to bayonet him, but was prevented by his general, who exclaimed, ''^ He's a fine fellow — don't hurt him!'''' The Hessians continued to fight after they were down, because they tiad been told by their employers that the Americans would give no [juarters, — Stoner. 6 62 TRAPPERS OF NEW ifORK. by portions of the skull bone, which injury still affects his hearing in that ear. Shortly after, as the young fifer was missing, one Sweeney, an Irish soldier, was sent to seek out and bear him from the field ; but a cannon shot whizzed so near his own head, that he soon returned without the object of his search. Col, Livingston asked Sweeney where the lad Stoner was? " Ja — s ! colonel," replied the soldier, " a goose has laid an egg there, and you don't catch me to stay there !" Lieut. William Wallace then proceeded to the spot indicated by the Irishman, and found our hero with his head reclining upon Tyrrell's thigh, and taking him in his arms, bore him to the American camp. When young Stoner was found, a portion of the brim of his hat, say about one-fourth the size of a nine-pound shot, was observed to have been cut off very smoothly, the rest of it was covered with the ruins of the head of Tyrrell, who, to use the words of Stoner, did not know what hurt him. Peter Graff, from Switzer Hill, and Peter Conyne also from the vicinity of Caughnawaga, were at the American camp as teamsters on the day of this bat- tle, and served as volunteers among the troops led on by Arnold. Conyne having raised a gun to fire on the enemy, received a bullet in his arm and breast. Young Stoner and Conyne were taken from Stillwater to Albany in a boat wuth other woun(ied Americans. Col. Frederick Fisher chanced to be in that city when they arrived, and took Stoner home with him, from TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. 63 whence he carried him to Johnstown. He was under the care of Dr. Thomas Reed, a surgeon in Livmgston's regiment, and was cured. Conyne also recovered. In the summer of 1778, the three Stoners were all on duty in Rhode Island. In an engagement with the enemy while there, the father was wounded by a musket ball, which lodged in his head. He was sent to Providence, where he was trepanned, and recovered. A piece of silver placed over the wound, it was be- lieved, the Indians who afterwards killed and scalped him, obtained with their plunder. The relic (an ounce ball), was preserved by the wounded man, but was lost when his dw^elling w^as burnt by the hirelings of Britain. While the Stoners w^ere serving in Rhode Island, the following incident occurred in the American camp. Two soldiers, Williams a Yankee, and Gumming an Irishman, had a quarrel, in which the former gave the latter a severe flogging. To revenge his chagrin, the worsted combatant took a shirt from his own knap- sack, and placed it in that of Williams, to give it the appearance of having been stolen, in the hope of seeing the latter punished. The officers found it ne- cessary to use severe measures for petty theft, as it was of very frequent occurrence. The missing gar- ment of Gumming having been found in Williams's possession, the latter was tied up w^th his coat off to be whipped. The son of Erin, conscience stricken, then advanced into the ring, and drew off his coat to 64 TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. take the lash. He said he had received one licking from Williams, and although he had used stratagem to get him publicly flogged, he would rather receive the scorpioii'tailed cat himself, than see a man pun- ished for a crime of which he was not guilty. So manly a confession on the part of Gumming, excited the admiration of the Rev. John Greenough, a baptist minister, and chaplain of the regiment, who interceded with Col. Livingston, and he readily forgave them both. The Americans had several skirmishes with the enemy in Rhode Island, in the summer and autumn of 1778, in two of which Nicholas Stoner was engaged. Capt. Hughes was out one night with his command as a piquet guard on Poppasquash point, opposite Bristol. The troops having been observed before dark by a British vessel in the vicinity, a body of marines and 'grenadiers landed and made them prisoners. The enemy having gained the beach in boats, came round a salt marsh which was separated from a corn field by a stone wall. Capt. Hughes and his men were on the marsh side of the wall, and fired on the marines as they approached. The latter called to them not to fire, saying, " we are your own men." As they drew near, their white belts betrayed them however, and the Americans attempted their retreat. In endeavoring to leap the wall, our hero missed his footing and fell back, at which instant he was seized by the collar by a British grenadier named John McGaffee. At this TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. 65 instant another soldier raised his musket to strike him down, but was prevented by McGaffee, who exclaimed, *' Vast, shipmate, it is only a child." Daniel Basin, a Frenchman, who was leaping the wall near Stoner, w^as bayoneted and killed. Capt. Hughes and all his men were made prisoners, except the one killed, and two who were missing, supposed to have scaled the fence and escaped; and as the American army was near, they were hurried into the boats and taken to Conanicut island. While crossing the marsh to the boats, the young fifer thought it was best to secure the rum in his canteen, and accordingly took a long- gurgling swig, which was broken oiF by McGafiee, who claimed a share, as being his by the fortune of war, and he gave the finishing guzzle. As they neared the beach, Stoner threw the empty casket away. An officer hearing it strike the water, raised his sword to punish, as he supposed, an act of treachery, think- ing a prisoner had cast a cartridge-box from him, but McGaffee, with his tongue now oiled, again inter- posed, and observed that the boy had only thrown away an empty and valueless canteen. At daylight the prisoners were paraded and lodged in the enemy's prison on the island. When aroused by the morning roll-call, young Stoner, who had been w^ofully drunk, from his attempt to swallow the contents of his own flask the evening before, and whose brain was still broiling from the effects of the potation, started up, supposing at first he was required to play the re- 6* 66 TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. veille in the American camp, but he was soon brought to his senses, and to a situation in which he could get sober at his leisure; in other words, he learned that others were to pipe while he danced. John Stoner was at this time a drummer in the American camp, not far distant from where his brother was a prisoner; indeed, the spangled banner was floating in sight.* Gen. Prescott,* the British commander on that sta- tion, was captured the summer before Capt. Hughes was taken. He had gone to pay his devoirs to a buxom widow, at a little distance from his own camp, and a slave of the lady foimd means to communicate the fact to the Americans. Lieut.-Col. Barton, of the Providence militia, an officer of spirit, at once con- ceived the bold project of his capture. At dead of night, in a barge, well manned by stout-hearted volun- teers with muffled oars, he landed and approached the house in which the general was so happily quar- tered. Feeling quite secure, he had accepted the kind lady's hospitality, and resolved to tarry all night. Possibly his arrest was set on foot by the fair hostess, for woman often proved the champion of freedom. The general was nabbed in a bed-chamber; and without allowing the drowsy hero time to collect his *At the time Gen. Prescott's capture was noted, it had escaped the writers recollection that an account of it had ever been pub- lished •, and Stoner's narrative of the event was adopted in the first edition, making it a year later than its occurrence. It look place July 10, 1777 — five miles from Newport. Col. Barton left Warwick Neck with 38 men in two boats, surprised the generaJ in bed, and returned with him in safety {Holm€s''s jinnah). TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. 67 scattered thoughts, or the war-god to chase the dreams of love from his mind — or, indeed, what was far more uncharitable, time to put on his breeches, he was hurried off to the rebel barge. Passing through a piece of standing barley, his legs were tickled, as we may suppose, not in the most agreeable manner. So silently had the Americans arrived, and so brief had been their stay, that they were even bending their oars for their own camp before the general's guard could be mustered. Great was the surprise among the British next day, when it became known that their general had been spirited away. On being apprised of the fact, some of the soldiers were heard to say, " The rebels have got the old rascal, and I hope they'll kill him ! " He was a man some sixty years of age, was a severe disciplinarian, and not very popular. He w^as exchanged for Gen. Lee — for w^hich object he was possibly captured — in April preceding the surprise of Capt. Hughes. After several months imprisonment, Ca]U. Hughes and his command were exchanged. In the fall of 1778, the several regiments of New York state troops having become much reduced, a new organization took place, their number being les- sened, at which time Nicholas Stoner joined the com- pany of Capt. Samuel T. Pell, attached to Col. Cort- landt's regiment, which marched to Schenectada. The state troops were sent, during the winter months, to different frontier stations, and Capt. Pell proceeded to Johnstown for w^inter quarters. 68 TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. Small parties of the enemy kept the inhabitants along the frontier of New York, in a state of almost constant alarm. While stationed at Johnstown Nicho- las Stoner often went hunting and fishing with other lads, to provide a dainty morsel for some officer, who thought more of his palate than of his purse; and con- sequently paid liberally for their success. Young Stoner, in company with three others, one Charles- worth, Charles Darby and John Foliard, all nearly of the same age, went out with guns and fishing tackle, in the vicinity of Johnson Hall. After they had be- come busily engaged along the Cayadutta,* all at once Darby, without uttering a word, was seen to start as if terribly frightened, and run off in the direction of the Hall. His comrades soon learned the cause of his alarm, by seeing a small party of Indians emerge from a patch of hemp not far distant from them, and near the Hall barn. One of them fired on Charles worth, but the boys scattered, fled and all effected their escape. These Indians, or, as probably some of them were, tories disguised, had no doubt visited the settle- ment as spies, and were anxious to take back a pri- soner as a proof of having accomplished their mission. They were sure of their reward, if they could return * Ca-ya-dut-ta signifies mttddy creek, says the Hon. John Dun- ham, of Hamilton county, who had the signification from Indian hunters. The creek courses in Johnstown through a soil which gives to the water at most seasons of the year a dirty appearance ; hence the ahoriginal name. TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. 69 with occular evidence of having visited the place de- signated by some British or refugee officer in Canada. Thomas Harter, an inoffensive man, nearly seventy years old, who resided in Scotch Bush, a few miles from Johnson Hall, went to his field, bridle in hand, to catch a horse, and was made prisoner and taken to Canada, by a small party of the enemy (in the fall of 1778, or spring of 1779), that did not wish to harm him, but w^ere anxious to prove they had been to Johnstown. His unaccountable absence from home greatly alarmed his family, but their apprehensions were softened by a tory neighbor, who assured them he was alive, but had been taken prisoner as a matter of necessity, and would be kindly used. His treat- ment was not as cruel as that meted to most prisoners, and he lived to return home, to the great joy of his friends. CHAPTER V. Conrad Reed, a baker in New York city, married Miss Barbary Stoner, a second sister of Henry Stoner, and removed to Johnstown just before the Revolution. He dwelt some distance from the fort, but was em- ployed to bake for the garrison. When on duty at Johnstown, the Stoner boys not unfrequently took occasion to visit their uncle's family, but those visits were not approved by their father; who knew that his kinsman was tinctured with royalty, and he often cautioned them against going there. Nicholas called there one evening, and had been but a short time in the house, when he heard a slight tap upon a window. Mr. Reed instantly disappeared through a trap-door into the cellar without a candle, and his wife went out of the house. There seemed a sprinkling of mys- tery in the affair, but it did not excite Stoner's fears, and he awaited in silence the issue. After a few minutes' absence, his aunt came in having in her hand several gaudy handkerchiefs. She appeared rather more reserved after the singular interruption of the family, and he soon returned to the fort. Stoner learned subsequently, that a small party of the enemy, one of whom was John Howell, who dwel+ between Johnstown and Sacondaga, had visited the TRAPPERS OF INEW YORK. 71 settlement as spies: that they had seen him through the window, and by a tap on a pane of glass, a signal she well understood, had called out Mrs. Reed, to con- sult her about making him a prisoner. She told them that if he was captured there, it would be the ruin of their family; for her husband would certainly lose his employ as baker for the garrison, if in fact he was not imprisoned. They reluctantly withdrew, although Howell could hardly consent to let so favorable an opportunity pass for securing certain evidence of having accomplished their mission. The young fifer did not know until long after, how near he had been to a Canadian prison. The handkerchiefs left with Mrs. Reed were presents, to adorn the necks of several tory ladies, whose husbands or lovers were in Canada. About a mile from the Johnstown fort (the jail in- closed by strong palisades), dwelt Jeremiah Mason, whose family was numbered among those in the vicinity, as friendly to the cause of liberty. This Mason had a daughter named Anna, about the same age as our hero ; who was a maiden very fair to look upon. Nature had given her charming proportions; a stature seemly, gracefully jutting out where swell- ings were most becoming, and bewitchingly tapering where diminution is sought in female form. Her skin was clear and fair, and her hair and eyes black, the latter shaded by raven lashes under the control of muscle, that gave to the organs of love a most melting expression. 72 TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. Some distance farther from the fort, and on the same road as Mason, dwelt a family named Browse; the male members of which were in the camp of the enemy. At home were Mrs. Browse and two beauti- ful daughters. They, too, were in their teens, and like Anna Mason, they had sparkling black eyes, ruby lips and cherry cheeks. The war of the Revolution soon rendered neighboring families distant and formal, where they looked with diverse favor upon the acts of the contending parties, even though they had been intimate before. The resolutions of vigilance com- mittees often tended to such a result. I have remarked elsew^here, that young Stoner, when on duty at Johnstown, went hunting in the proper season. His pigeon hunting often gave him an inter- view with the young ladies named, and not unfre- quently did Anna, as the hunter was about to proceed farther from the garrison, with some anxiety and a reproving look, cast a caution in his path from her father's door, such as " Nicholas, you'll be surprised yet at that tory house and taken off to Canada: you had belter not go there." If the maiden had not con- ceived some attachment for the young fifer, the reader will agree with me, that she was possessed of sisterly feelings. He was then quite partial to Anna, as he admits, and we think he must have promised her to limit his future excursions to a nearer range, else why the caution observed in another visit. As the young musician usually hunted in the same TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. 73 direction, it was suspected by more than one at the station that he went sky-larking, and James Dunn, who was possibly in the secret of his destination, one day told Capt. Pell that " if he did not look out he would lose his fifer, as he not only went upon danger- j ous grounds, but hunted two kinds of pigeons. ^^ The j captain, whose inclinations led him to follow all the fortunes of w^ar, took occasion secretly to catechise the young hunter; and the latter, with his usual can- dor, owned up. The consequence was, the commander of the garrison concluded the hunting oi pigeons must be rare sport, especially if they were not too lean, and soon obtained a promise from young Nimrod to take him where he could find one nestled. Arrangements having been made for a hunt, secretly of course, a garment was thrown over the back of an old white mare belonging to the w^idow Shutting, which sought its living around the fort; and selecting. a propitious evening, the hunter and his pupil — under cover of a cluster of trees a little distance from the garrison, mounted their Rozinante and set off. The reader may be surprised that they started on a pigeon hunt in the evening, and still more when informed that they left their shooting-irons behind; but this is all owing to his ignorance of the policy of w^ar, for he should know that game is easier taken on the roost than on the wing. It was the wish of the master hunter to avoid pass- ing on their way the house of Jeremiah Mason, and 74 TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. why, possibly the reader may infer; he says himself, however, it was from fear a watch-dog might betray the nature of their errand and thus startle the best game : consequently a blind and circuitous route was chosen, some distance from the public highway. Whether the animal was too heavily loaded or not, we can not judge any better than the reader (sin is said to be weighty), but sure it is that in threading an intricate footpath carpeted by a web of briars and un- derbrush along a ravine, the mare stumbled and weni^ heels over head, sending her riders far from her, if not pell-mell, certainly Pell and Nick. Bestowing some harsh epithets upon the poor beast, which probably had the worst of the bargain, they'did not attempt to remount; but leaving the old mare to her fate, they proceeded on foot. On arriving near the hunting-grounds, Stoner went forward to reconnoitre, and finding the coast clear, returned and conducted his captain into a neat little cottage, with two rooms below, and possibly as many above. The ceremony of an introduction once passed, the captain soon found himself quite at home. The time for retiring to rest at length arrived, and as the old hen roosted in the room they were in, it became necessary for the hunters to leave it: consequently the hunter most familiar with the premises, followed the pullet in its flight to a chamber. The other bird soon after fluttered past the captain into an adjoining room, v.'hithor he pursued possibly to capture it. TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. 75 I do not consider it important to the present narra- tive to stop and inquire of an ornithologist, '■'• If birds confabulate or no: •Tis clear that they were always able To hold discourse, at least in fable;" and that the genus columba, Soon are cooing when together If they meet in coolish weather, is a fact so well established, it must be obvious to the reader that 'pigeon hunting may be rare sport. Some time after the beautiful birds under consideration had flown to separate rooms, into which we can not think of introducing the reader, as the cooing was done agreeably to the most approved style then in vogue in western New York, the loud barking of Mason's dog fell upon the ears of the hunter closeted above. His apprehension was in a moment on tiptoe; for to be surprised by a party of the enemy and either slain or captured with his captain in such a place and at such an hour, without their having the least means of de- fence, he readily saw must bring scandal if not dis- honor upon the American arms; and he descended (although his bird attempted with a delicate little claw to prevent) to take a midnight observation. It turned out that Mason's sentinel was barking at the old mare the hunters had abandoned. Having collected her scattered limbs, she too had concluded to go browsing, and was, as the reader will perceive, on the right track. On the return of his pioneer, the 76 TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. captain was gratified to learn that there was no real cause of alarm, and pigeon hunting soon prospered again. Towards the dawn of day the sportsmen re- turned to the garrison; Capt. Pell exacting from his musician the most solemn assurances of secresy re- specting his successful and only attempt at fowling among the Browse, until he should meet with me. The female and infant part of many families in the border settlements of New York, whose male members were foes of the country, removed about this period to Canada, among which was this Browse family; and such others as did not go voluntarily, were compelled to by an act of the state legislature soon after. In the summer and autumn of 1780, Nicholas Stoner was on duty in the valley of the Hudson. He was a filer of the guard at Tappan, which attended Major Andre from his prison to his gallows; and witnessed the execution of that unfortunate man. The gallows was constructed, as he says, by the erection of two ■white oak crotches, w^ith a cross-piece of the same kind of timber, all with the bark on. Not far from the gallows was an old woman selling pies, to whom Stoner directed his steps. He met at her stand Elijah Cheadle, then a stranger to him. They paid this huckstress $100 in continental money, for either an apple pie, or pumpkin pie, which at first she declined receiving: she finally concluded to take it, observing as she did so, " My children, the pie is w^orth more than the money, but I will take it that I may be able TRAPPERS OF NEW -YORK. 77 to say, I sold a pie for 07ie hundred dollars.'^ Mr. Cheadle settled at Kingsborough after the war, where he resided at the time of his death, Sept. 23, 1849. While stationed at Snake Hill, near the Hudson, young Stoner's inclination to mischief procured for him a duplicate flogging. There was daily about the 3amp a boy named Albright, who had been so un- fortunate as to lose an eye. Stoner, inclined to be waggish with all, procured the eye of a beef butchered in the neighborhood, and offering it to Albright, said to him, " Here, take this and you will then have two eyes and be somebody." The boy complained to his mother, an Irish w^oman, who, stating the matter to the commanding officer, had the satisfaction of know- ing that he was punished for treating her son so un- kindly. Stoner did not relish the interference of the mother, as the boy was about his own age, and began to puzzle his wits for some method of retaliation. A soldier's agent is powder, although he may be a fifer, and loading an ugly looking bone with the dangerous dust, he watched a favorable opportunity when she was near his tent, and applied the match to it. The explosion was greater than he had anticipated, and the scattering fragments not only tore the old woman's petticoats, but severely wounded her arm. Although he had improved a most promising occasion to avoid detection, yet some trivial incident betrayed Stoner as the artillerist, and he was very severely whipped for the act. He w^as served rightly no doubt 7* 78 TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. In the fall of 1781, Nicholas Stoner was on dut}^ at Yorktown, and when the seige of that place closed, he saw Gen. O'Hara surrender his sword to Gen. Lincoln * A part of the time while at Yorktown, our hero was a fifer under the noble-hearted Lafayette. One * Several errors have crept into history about this ceremony. The facts w^ere as follow^s: In May, 1780, Gen. Lincoln, then in command at Charleston, S. C, was compelled to surrender his sword to Cornwallis. When his lordship found himself obliged to yield to the allied army, he knew that Lincoln, who was his equal in rank, was with the conquerors, and as the terms now meted to him were precisely like those dictated to Lincoln, he possibly may have conjectured that that officer would be designated by the great American commander to receive his own polished blade. Be that as it may, certain it is that instead of appearing on the occasion, as a man of real courage and generosity would have done (for that officer lacks moral courage who can not share defeat with his men), he feigned illness and sent Gen. O'Hara to do the disagreeable honors ; and that officer very handsomely per- formed the ceremony of tendering his sword to Gen. Lincoln, who was appointed by Washington to receive it. Capt. Eben Wil- liams^* who was present assured the writer, that Lincoln received, reversed, and again restored the hilt of the weapon to its owner, with a dignity and grace of gesture he could never forget, for he had never seen it equalled. Several persons who witnessed this ceremony have corroborated what I have here stated, and an old soldier (James Williamson) , who received half the British stand- ards, to the question, why did not Cornwallis surrender his own sword? replied, " / guess he was a little sick at his siomachP'' In a picture intended to represent this scene, and but recently got up, Gen. Washington erroneously appears in the act of re- ceiving the resignation from O'Hara, the latter being on foot. The * This hero died at his residence in Schoharie, July 1, 1847, aged nearly 98 years. He was beloved by all who knew him. TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. 79 Darby, a fifer, having been killed, Stoner was sent as a substitute to Gen. Lafayette's troops. Mr. Nicholas Hill, a worthy and intelligent citizen of Florida, N. Y., was also at Yorktown during its seige, as a young musician. He informed the writer, at an interview in the summer of 1846, that the firing on the British works did not take place until the Americans had completed a line of redoubts and bomb batteries, so as to play on the greater part of the ene- my's fortifications at once. The allied army had raised a liberty pole, and the signal to commence an assault was given in the evening, by a hand-grenade sent up near the liberty pole, attached to a sky-rocket. The gunners stood ready with linstocks on fire, and as soon as the grenade exploded in the air, they were applied to the cannon. (Dr. Thatcher, in his Military Jour- nal, says Gen. Washington applied the first match.) The simultaneous discharge of such an array of ord- nance, was perhaps never heard before ; and nothing general officers present, American, French and British, as several witnesses have assured the writer, were all mounted. The pic- ture of this scene by Trumbull, a beautiful steel copy of which is made the fontispiece of Howe's Historical Collections of Virginia. although painted soon after, presents the British general trudging along on foot, and without side arms; while Dr. Thatcher, in his Military Journal, made at the time and published long since, stated that he was elegantly mounted. Col. Abercrombie, who commanded the left wing of the British army on this occasion, was also on horseback. It is to be regretted that more care is not taken in preparing historical pictures, lest truth be violated, and the young taught popular errors never to be corrected. 80 TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. could in the night exceed the sublimity of the con- cussion. To use the language of Mr. Hill, "i^ seemed as though the world was at an end — or that the heavens and the earth were coming together .'" It must have been the most magnificent salute ever before given in America. After the first discharge the firing con- tinued as fast as the pieces could be loaded. At some period of this seige, Mr. Hill was so for- tunate as to obtain eleven guineas from the pocket of a dead Briton. " While this money lasted," says Stoner, " we who were so fortunate as to have the pleasure of his acquaintance, lived like fighting cocks." The British prisoners made at Yorktown, were sent to interior military posts; and Col. Cortlandt's regi- ment, to which Nicholas Stoner belonged, on its re- turn march took five hundred prisoners, destined for Fredericksburg, in charge for some distance. While the troops were crossing at a ferry, probably York or Rappahannoc river, Stoner saw a French officer drop his purse, and lost no time in restoring it to the owner. The officer grateful for its recovery, although he had not yet missed it, rewarded him with a half doubloon (S8), numerous bows, and not a few expressions of re- gard, such as — "You pe a grand poy! You pe bon honest American! You pe a ver fine soldier, be gar! " and the like. The reception of this money, obtained through the generosity of a kind hearted stranger, for an evidence of commendable integrity, afforded young Stoner more pleasure, as he assured the writer, than TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. 81 could possibly the whole amount the purse contained, had he dishonestly kept it; for to retain that which we know another has lost, is almost as great a crime as to purloin it either by stealth or force; and a "con- science void of offence," allows its possessor to sleep soundly and have pleasant dreams. The young musi- cian had many friends while his eight dollars lasted, for come easy, go easy, was the soldier's motto. Henry Stoner, as elsewhere stated, enlisted for a term of three years, in the American army. At the expiration of that time he received his discharge at Verplanck's point, soon after which he reenlisted at Groton, for three months, to fill another man's place. After the time of his second military engagement was up, he returned home. For about one year he lived on the farm of Col. John Butler, on Switzer hill, from which he went to reside near Tribe's hill, not far dis- tant from Fort Johnson. The farm to which he re- moved from Butler's, is now in the town of Amster- dam, and was long known as the Dr. Quilhott place: the late John Putman, if we mistake not, was residing or this farm at the time of his death. (n the summer of 1782, a party of seven Indians traversed the forest from Canada to the Mohawk val- ley, the ostensible object of whose mission was to capture or destroy William Harper, afterwards judge (he resided for some years in Queen Anne's chapel parsonage), John Littel, afterwards sheriff, and such others as chance might throw in their way. Arriving 82 TFAPPERS OF NEW YORK. at the house of Dries* Bowman, to the eastward of Johnstown, the hostile scout learned that Henry Stoner was a whig of the times; that he had two sons then in the American army, and that he was living in a situation from its retirement, exposed to their mercenary designs. Thwarted in their original plan, they direct- ed their steps, piloted by Bowman, to the dwelling of Stoner, and on their way captured a man by the name of Palmatier. Unsuspicious of danger, Mr. Stoner, accompanied by a nephew named Michael Reed (son of Conrad Reed),w"ent early one morning to a field to hoe corn; it was the first hoeing for the season. Mrs. Stoner having prepared breakfast, blew a horn to call her friends, and they were about to leave the corn-field, as young Reed, a lad then in his teens, discovered two Indians armed with hatchets approaching them from adjoining w^oods, and directed the attention of his kinsman that way. The latter, w^ho kept a loaded gun in his house, attempted to gain it by flight, seeing which, one of his foes ran so as to cut oif his retreat. While making an angle in the road, the savage headed him, by crossing a piece of growing flax. Whether the victim offered to surrender himself a prisoner to the British scalper, is not known; it is very probable he did; but the cry of mercy was un- heeded, and the assassin's keen edged tomahawk de- scended with a crash, through an old fashioned beaver * Dries is an abbreviation for Andreas, the German of Andrew. TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. 83 hat and what resistance the skull offered, and pene- trated the brain. The scalping knife was quickly unsheathed, and several fingers of a hand the stricken patriot had laid imploringly upon his aching forehead, were nearly cut off with the scalp lock — the merchan- dise that w^ould then most readily command British gold. Some of the Indians now ran to the dwelling, which was soon rifled of its most valuable contents, and set on fire. As they approached, Mrs. Stoner dis- covered them near the door, and snatching up a frock, threw it out of a back window which was open. The enemy lingered sufficiently long to secure what plun- der they desired, and see the house so efifectually on fire as to ensure its destruction, and then directed their course towards Canada. No personal injury was offered Mrs. Stoner, and soon after the destructives had retired, she obtained the dress cast from the win- dow, the only article she was enabled to save, and went to the house of John Harman, a neighbor, sup- posing her husband and young Reed were prisoners. Bowman aided the prisoners in carrying their plun- der to a secret hiding place, near the Sacondaga, where, beside a log, they had concealed food. Pal- matier eflfected his escape on the first night after his capture, to the great joy of his friends; and the feigned prisoner. Bowman, was allowed to retiun home the night following, From their secret rendezvous, near the present village of Northville, the party journeyed with their captive Reed, by the northerly route to 84 TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. Canada, where he became a drummer in Butler's Ran- gers and remained until the war closed. Harman, after the arrival of Mrs. Stoner at his house, suspected Bowman of treachery, and made known his suspicions to some of his neighbors, who went with him to Stoner's premises. Going from the ruins of his house to the corn field, they found him where he had been cut down, in or near the road. He was still alive, and although unable to speak, sig- nified by signs, his desire for water, which was pro- cured in a hat as soon as possible; but on drinking a draught he expired immediately. He was buried be- neath a hemlock tree, near which he had been slain. Thus ignobly perished a brave man, who with scores of other citizens on the frontiers, of all ages, sexes, and conditions, found an untimely grave, because the evidence of their destruction would command a liberal price in the camp of the enemy. English freemen, where is thy blush? Where is thy shame for the deeds of hellish cruelty inflicted by thy hirelings, not only on brave men, but on unoffending mothers and smiling infants? Liberty purchased at such a price, oh, with what jealousy should it be guarded! When Palmatier returned and made it known that Bowman had aided the Indians in carrying their stolen goods, the latter was arrested by patriots and confined in the Johnstown jail, then fortified. A party of whigs, among whom w^ere Godfrey Shew and his son Henry, John Harman, James Dunn and Benjamin TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. 85 DeLine,* assembled, fully determined to make Bowman confess his evil deeds. Among other devices resorted to, to make the tory disclose the information desired, a rope was thrown round some fastening overhead with a noose upon his neck; and he was required to mount a barrel. But he was interrogated and threat- ened in vain; and after the patience of his accusers was well nigh exhausted, Dunn, who partook largely of the patriotic spirit of the times, swore he should hang; and kicking the barrel from under him he did hang — or rather stood very uncomfortably upon air for a little time; but was finally taken down, and with various warnings about his future conduct, was again allowed his freedom. At the time of his father's death, Nicholas Stoaer was on duty at King's Ferry. * At the time of Sir John Johnson's invasion of Johnstown and its vicinity in the summer of J 780, DeLine and Joseph Scott were living in Johnson Hall. When Johnson visited there to procure his concealed property, DeLine and Scott were made prisoners and taken to Canada, From his having been a hunter and fa- miliar with the forest, DeLine was tightly hound. This was the second time they were taken to Canada durmg tne war. and how long they remained prisoners there at this time is unknown tc the writer, James Jones of Florida composed the following distich, which was often sounded in their ears after the war : And when they name to the Hall, the house they did surround, And Ben De Lme and Joseph Scott made prisoners on the ground CHAPTER VI. John, a son of Philip Helmer, named as one of the pioneer settlers in Fonda's Bush, who remained there after his patriotic neighbors had removed to Johns- town, accompanied Sir John Johnson to Canada on his removal from Johnson Hall, early in the Revolu- tion. Returning to the settlement not long after, he became an object of suspicion; was arrested by the patriots, and confined at Johnstown. A sentinel was placed over him who was very green in the service, and improving a favorable opportunity, the prisoner took occasion to praise his gun; and closed his adula- tion by requesting permission to look at it, which was readily granted. The piece had hardly passed out of the young guard's possession, ere his authority was set at defiance, and its new owner took it to a place of retirement to inspect its merits; which were not fully decided upon until he had safely arrived in Canada. At a later period of the war, young Helmer again had the audacity to visit the Johnstown settlements. He returned late in the fall, and was concealed at his father's house for some time, intending on the return of spring, if possible, to take back some recruits with him for the British service. The nonintercourse so generally observed between whig and tory families TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. 87 favored his design, but by some means his place of refuge became known to three patriotic neighbors, Benjamin DeLine, Solomon Woodworth and Henry Shew^, w'ho determined on his capture. Well armed, they proceeded one night to the vicinity of his father's dwelling, and concealed themselves at a place where they had reason to suppose he would pass. They had not been there long w^hen, unsuspicious of danger, he approached the trio, who poised their fire-arms and he yielded to their authority, and was lodged in the Johns- town jail. The entrance to the fort through the pick- eted enclosure, w^as on the south side. Helmer had a sister named Magdalene, the Germans call the name Lana, by this name she was known. Miss Lana w^as on intimate terms with a soldier then on duty at the Johnstown fort; and at an interview with him after one of several visits to her brother, to whom she carried such little comforts as a sister can provide, she got a pledge from him, that when on sentinel duty he w^ould unlock the prison door and set the prisoner free. It was in the night time and while his vigils lasted, that she had found access to the pri- soner. True to his promise, Lana's lover did set her brother at liberty, and, with another soldier, was se- duced from his duty by the prisoner, when both fled in his company. When she wills it, what can not wo- man do? A sergeant and five men, Amasa Stevens, Benjamin DeLine, before named, and three continental soldiers were soon upon their trail, which they w^ere 88 TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. enabled to follow by the fall of a light snow, and taking with them a lantern that they might travel by night, they came up with and surprised them in the woods. The two soldiers were fired upon and killed, but Hel- mer, with a severe bayonet wound in his thigh es- caped: he was afterwards discovered nearly dead, in some bushes where he had concealed himself, and was taken to the fort: there he was cured of his wounds and again imprisoned. By some unaccountable means he succeeded the third time in effecting his enlarge- ment; fled to Canada, and there remained. He, too, had been a hunter before the war, and was familiar with the forest. A part of the preceding facts were from Jacob Shew. At an interview between Helmer and Nicholas Stoner, w^iich took place in Canada subsequent to the war, he told the latter that he suf- fered almost incredible hardships in making his last journey to that country. In the last year of the Revolution, Nicholas Stoner belonged to a band of musicians, which marched into New York with troops under Col. Willett, on its evacuation by the enemy. He played the clarionet, as did also Nicholas Hill. During the stay of Gen. Washington in that city, an exhibition of fire-works took place, on which occasion the band alluded to performed. Stoner also saw Washington enter the barge at Whitehall on his leaving New York; and to use his own words, was one of the band that played him off. TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK 89 Mischief lurked in the veins of young Stoner to the end of the war, and often brought him into ditBculty, from which fortune sometimes extricated him quite as easily as he deserved to be. The summer of 1783, was one of comparative inactivity in the army, as hostilities had nearly ceased that spring. Stoner was with a body of troops which were encamped back of Newburgh, when a little incident occurred which afforded some momentary amusement. In the camp was a black soldier, who had frozen oflf his toes while under Col. Willett the preceding February, in his abortive attack on Fort Oswego. In consequence, the poor fellow experienced such difficulty in walking, that few could observe his peculiar gait, without having their risible faculties get the mastery. As he was waddling along near the young musician, the latter called him a stool-pigeon. The words were scarcely uttered, ere the sable patriot, who felt the in- sult sensibly, pursued the offender, armed with a bay- onet, threatening vengeance. A clarionet was a poor weapon with which ton-epel an attack, and its pos- sessor fled for dear life, and took refuge in the hut of Lieutenant-Col. Cochrane, who was then entertaining several friends. So abrupt an entrance started all to their feet, little doubting that the enemy from New York were upon them: but fears of an invasion were soon at an end, as close upon the heels of Stoner came tumbling in the infuriated, frost-bitten hero. What^s the matter? What has happened? What means this 8* 90 TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. intrusion? several voices were at once demanding, as the last enterer, almost out of breath, stammered out — " Massa curnil ! dis deblish musiker, he 'suit me berry badj I'm lame, can't help it; froze my feet, like to froze my body too : all under Curnil Will't in de bush ; snow knee deep: dis rascal call me tool pigeon; I no stand it." " I comprehend," said Col. Cochrane: "you have been very unfortunate while in the service of your country, and it grieves you, as w^ell it should, to have any one speak lightly of your misfortunes." "Eezzur!" " Well, my good fellow, leave the matter to me^ and go to your quarters: I'll punish the impudent rascal." " Dat's wat I want," said the lame soldier, now re- stored to good humor; " he desarbs it, and I hope you whip him berry hard, massa curnil; yah-yah-yah — " " That I will," interrupted the officer. "Tank you, curnil, cause you my friend;" con tinned the offended warrior, as he turned to go out, and restored a care worn drab and black hat to his bump of pugnacity. While closing the door to leave the presence of his umpire and friends, a smile of satisfaction was seen lurking about his under lip, and he was observed to close his fist and shake it at his offender, as much as to say — " Ha, de curnil gib it to you; you get your hide loosened dis time." While the dialogue lasted, a frown sat upon the TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. 91 brow of Col. Cochrance, and the young culprit began to feel in imagination the whistling lash his unruly tongue had invoked ; but no sooner had the complain- ant closed the rough door, than, in spite of all his efforts to the contrary, he found himself obliged to join his merry companions and laugh heartily. The figure of the limping negro, ^vho, if he did not wear cotton, w^as amazingly outward-bound, seemed still before him, and turning to the mischief-maker, he with no little effort gave him a sharp reproof for thus imprudently wounding the feelings of one ^vho should exite his sympathy; and then, not daring to venture a longer speech, lest he should spoil it with a laugh, he ordered him from his presence with a threat of terrible vengeance at the end of a rawhide, if he ever did the like again. Bowing his thanks for the easy and unexpected terms meted to him, young Stoner promised to do bet- ter in future, and as he left the hut to seek his own, the walls of the rude dwelling behind him shook with the boisterous merriment of its inmates, at their very unique entertainment. When the w^ar of the Revolution closed and the dove took the place of the eagle — when the prattling infant could nestle in its mother's bosom secure from midnight assassins — when the warrior once more laid aside his sword and musket to grasp the hoe and spade of thrift — when commerce again spread her white wings without fear of the foeman's fire — w^hen art and 92 TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. science again smiled o'er hill and dale, enriched by the blood of freemen slain — when Liberty, with a home of her own, invited the oppressed of the earth to her embrace, extending to the penury-stricken the horn which needed only his industry to become one of plenty — then and not till then did our hero, grown to man's estate, return again to reside in the vicinity of Johnstown. Where is the hoary-headed warrior that never felt the melting influence of woman's smiles? If any such there are, let them come forth while I tell them a brief love-story of their own time. I have already informed the reader, that there dwelt at Johnstown in the Re- volution, a soft haired, dark eyed maiden named Anna Mason ; and have shadowed forth the fact, that a little intimacy existed between her and our hero in their youthful days. As no matrimonial engagement had passed between them, not having seen or heard from the young pigeon hunter for several long years ; and not informed whether the glory of a dead warrior or the triumph of a live one were his ; in fact, not know- ing if he were alive in a distant colony, but what some other young heart then beat against his own; it is not surprising that she looked upon him as lost to her, however vividly fancy at times may have brought back his graceful figure. Among the Johnstown patriots was a young man named William Scarborough, who answered also to the name of Crowley. His mother, at the time she TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. 93 married Jeremiah Crowley, was a widow Scarborough, her husband having been killed in the batteau service, and w^as already possessed of little Willie, but people did not always stop to consider his true parentage, and after a while he almost ceased to be called Scarborough. On page 477 of my History of Schoharie County, etc., where his death is mentioned, he is called Crowley, as I was then ignorant of his true parentage. William Scarborough, who was in some respects a very worthy young man, paid his addresses to the charming Anna Mason. Now William was a brave youth, and had been in the service of his country, which Anna hap- pened to know, and on w^hich account she the more highly respected him; for the women of that period could and did discriminate between right and wrong; between liberty and oppression. To cut a long story short, for wooing is full of mazes and phases, and in- teresting filagree, William found himself enamored with the bewitching Anna, who, on his making tender advances, cast a long sigh on the war-path of a cer- tain hunter, blushed deeply and reciprocated ardently his attachment. Early in the year 178 J, but in what month we can not speak with certainty, Anna Mason was led to Hymen's altar, an altar on w^hich have been offered many pure affections, but few more unsullied than hers, and became the bride of her heroic William. Days, weeks, even months passed, and still the young wife w^as happy; should she ever be otherwise? for 94 TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. she had a kind husband, and was surrounded by those who loved and respected her. The green summer flew past, and autumn with her russet-clad meadows and golden forests arrived, and still Anna Scarborough was cheerful and happy: but alas! a civil war that had raged for years and stained with life-blood the threshold of many dwellings within a few miles, was still devastating the land; and although the war-cry for a little season w^as removed to a distance, and no immediate danger was appre- hended, yet the midnight alarm might again break on the ear, and the most tender ties be sundered in a mo- ment: for Storms that have been again may be ! The battle-axe if yet on high, Stained with the blood of martyrs free — When thought most distant may be nearest by; And from it fondly cherished may not fly. On the morning of October 25, 1781, a large body of the enemy under Maj. Ross, entered Johnstown with several prisoners, and not a little plunder; among which were a number of human scalps taken the after- noon and night previous, in settlements in and adjoin- ing the Mohawk valley; to which was added the scalp of Hugh McMonts, a constable, who w^as sur- prised and killed as they entered Johnstown. In the course of the day the troops from the garrisons near and the militia from the surrounding^ country, rallied under the active and daring Willett, and gave the TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. 96 enemy battle on the Hall farm, in which the latter were finally defeated with loss, and made good their retreat to Canada. Young Scarborough was then in the nine months' service, and while the action was going on, himself and one Crosset left the Johnstown fort, where they were on garrison duty, to join in the fight, less than two miles distant. Between the Hall and woods they soon found themselves engaged. Crosset after shooting down one or two, received a bullet through one hand, but winding a handkerchief around it, he continued the fight under cover of a hem- lock stump. He was shot dowm and killed there, and his companion surrounded and made prisoner by a party of Scotch troops commanded by Capt. McDonald. When Scarborough was captured, Capt. McDonald was not present, but the moment he saw him he or- dered his men to shoot him down. Several refused ; but three, shall I call them men? obeyed the dastardly order, and yet he possibly would have survived his wounds, had not the miscreant in authority cut him dowm with his own broadsword. The sword was caught in its first descent, and the valiant captain drew it out, cutting the hand nearly in two. Why this cold-blooded murder? Were those hostile warriors rivals in love? Had the epauletted hero, com- missioned at the door of the infernal regions, sought the hand of the blooming Anna and been rejected be- cause his arm^ivas raised against his sufifering country? Or must the prisoner be destroyed because in arms 96 TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. with his countrymen? A more hellish and malignant act was not perpetrated, even by the sons of the forest, on the frontiers of New York.* Jeremiah Crowley, the step-father of Scarborough, was made a prisoner by the enemy and taken to Canada. Mrs. Scarborough, who was at her father's on the morning of the action, fled to the fort with her father, Mrs Mason choosing to brave the dangers of the day to save her effects. Mason's house stood a little north of the present site of John Yost's tavern, and on the edge of the Hall farm. The action was fought in its vicinity, and thir- teen balls were fired into it, which no doubt kept the old lady from falling asleep. One of McDonald's men, * Previous to the war, McDonald and Scarborough were neigh- bors, and in a political quarrel which took place soon after the commencement of national difficulties and eniled in blows, the loyalist was rather roughly handled. A spirit of revenge no doubt prompted him to wreak his vengeance on an unarmed prisoner. — Stoner. Scarborough was overbearing and at times insolent towards those who differed with him in politics. On one occasion during the war, at the gristmill in Johnstown, Scarborough met an old man upon whom he heaped a deal of abuse. The young miller, a mere lad, offended at such unkind treatment, jumped into a sleigh then at the door, rode up to the fort, and informed the garrison of what he had witnessed. Several soldiers, determined to see fair play, returned with the miller; and on their reproving Scarborough for ill treating the poor old man, he turned upon and began a quarrel with them. The result was he received a severe castigation for his temerity, which cooled him down. From James Frazier^ then a boy, who, if I mistake not, witnessed the whole scene at the mill. TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. 97 who had been ordered to fire on young Scarborough and refused to obey, was so disgusted with his captain for the act, that he deserted the same ervening and joined the Americans. On the morning after their death, the remains of Scarborough and Crosset were taken to the fort on a wooden-shod sleigh drawn by horses.* Need I stop to tell the reader how the young bride, Anna Scarborough^ was overwhelmed with sorrow on the day succeeding the Johnstown battle? How her keenest sensibilities were on fire, at beholding the mangled remains of her beloved William; and what mental agony she endured? But such sufferings are at all times the attendants of a civil war, in which neighbor is clad in armor against his fellow, and kinsman against those of his own blood. Some time after the death of her husband, and about eleven months after the sealing of the nuptial vow, Mrs. Scarborough was presented with a daughter as a pledge of her early love, which tended in no measured degree to reconcile her to the cruel fate war had meted her. This daughter grew up to woman's estate. Time and change of circumstances, with the bless- ings of social intercourse returning at the close of a protracted war, again restored the young widow, who possesed a buoyant disposition, or a spirit to wrestle * Yockum Folluck, a soldier killed in the Johnstown battle, was found with a piece of meat placed at his mouth, as supposed by the Indians in derision. Folluck resided in the vicinity of Johnstown. — David Zielie. 98 TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. successfully with trials, to the enjoyment af society and the shaded realities of life. One that has won, again may win; and soon after the return of Nicholas Stoner to Johns- town, he came within the pale of the young widow's charms, which in the military camp had often brought him to his senses, and shortly after sought and obtained her hand in marriage. Although her affections had been chastened by the blight of sorrow, her young heart was still susceptible of an ardent offering to the one who had inspired the first budding of love there, and she proved a boon companion and cheerful wife. The fruit of this connection w^as four sons and two daughters. Three of the sons are still living. The daughters w^ere Mary and Catharine: the former mar- ried William Mills, and now ( 1847) resides in Fulton county; and the latter died when a young woman. Nicholas Stoner, the first two years after his mar- riage, lived near Johnson Hall, and then settled at Scotch Bush, now know^n as McEwen's Corners, in the western part of Johnstown, where he resided many years. John Stoner, whose temperament did not bring him into trouble often, continued in the army to the close of the war ; after which he was for several years employed by Col. Frederick Fisher, w^ho built him a farm-house nearly on the site of his homestead, and where he had been scalped by the Indians. To the location of this dwelling, a substantial brick edifice, I have already alluded. After John Stoner left the TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. 99 employ of Col. Fisher, he married Miss Susan Philes, by whom he had a daughter, Catharine Ann, and four sons. Soon after the Revolution, Nicholas Stoner was for three years a deputy sheriff under John Littel, Esq. He was also a captain of militia, and filled several town offices at different periods. When we again came to blows w4th England, because of her insolence in searching our ships and impressing our seamen into her service, the Stoner brothers were once more en- rolled in the American armyj John enlisting in 1812, and Nicholas in 18 13. John Stoner, who was a drum- major in this war, was taken sick at Sacket's Harbor and died there. Nicholas enlisted at Johnstown into the 29th New York regiment, of which Melancthon Smith was colonel, G. D. Young lieutenant-colonel,* and John E. Wool, major. He joined the company of Capt. A. P. Spencer, Lieut. Henry Van Antwerp being the recruiting officer under whom he enrolled his name. He proceeded to Utica, and from thence to Sacket's Harbor, where he remained until fall; at which time he went into winter quarters at Greenbush. Early the following spring he joined the army at Plattsburg, going from Whitehall by water. Lake Champlain and the territory adjoining it, in in September, 1814, became the theatre of some of the most important events which characterized the war • Lieut. -Col. Young was killed in 1817, in the abortive attemp: of Gen, Mina to revolutionize Mexico. 100 TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. of that period. The withdrawal of troops from Platts- burg to succor Fort Erie, determined the governor general of Canada, Sir George Prevost, to attack it with a force he supposed irresistible; and for that pur- pose he invaded the territory of the States on the 3d day of September, with an army some fourteen thousand strong, well equipped and provided with a splendid train of artillery. About the same time, so as to make a clean sweep. Commodore Downie, with 'a naval force far superior in number of vessels, guns and men, made preparations to engage the American flotilla on Lake Champlain, then under the command of the gal- lant Commodore Thomas McDonnough, who, ten years before, had so distinguished himself under Decatur in a captured Turkish ketch before the walls, and under the very batteries of the bashaw of Tripoli. Gen. Macomb, at Plattsburg, had only about fifteen hundred men at his command when the invasion of Prevost began, but his call on the patriotic sons of New York and Vermont was promptly obeyed, and he was enabled to keep a vastly superior force at bay, until reinforced sufficiently to cope with his adversary. From the 3d until the 11th of September, repeated engagements took place contiguous to Plattsburg, in several of which Nicholas Stoner, then a fife-major, was engaged. He took a musket, however, and per- formed duty at this time as a sergeant, and as he was a good marksman, several must have fallen before his deadly aim. TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. 101 There was not a little excitement in the American camp at Plattsburg as the British army was advancing on that post, and great exertions were made to put it in a fit state for the enemy's reception. The merit- orious young Trojan, Captain Wool, as a reward for his daring conduct in storming Queenston heights, in October, 1812, had been appointed major, of the 29th New^ York regiment, and in the absence of its colonels, the command of it devolved upon him in September, 1814. As the enemy were approaching, Major Wool vo- lunteered his services, and repeatedly on the 5th of September, urged General Macomb to allow him to meet the enemy and make at least a show of resistance; as nothing more could be expected against such odds. The general met his earnest solicitations with some coolness, and expressed his apprehensions that if he went out he would be captured. On the evening of the 5th. the gallant Wool received a reluctant assent to meet the enemy, but was not allowed to do so until morning. So anxious was he for active service, how- ever, that long before day light on the 6th, the major had mustered his corps and was on the Beekmantown road. Gen. Macomb had assured him Capt. Leonard, with his company of artillery, should accompany him, but the latter declined marching without the express orders of the general, and he moved forward without him. His own regiment then numbered only 200 men, to which were added about 50 from other regiments^ 9* 102 TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. and some 30 volunteer militia: in all nearly 280 men. Gen. Mooers had been stationed on the Beekmantown road with a regiment of 700 militia, previous to Maj. Wool's going there, and the latter was commanded by- Gen. Macomb to set the militia an example of firm- ness. The enemy on the morning of the 6th were ad- vancing by three roads, the eastern road running along the western shore of Lake Champlain; the west- ern leading from Chazy to Plattsburg, and called the Chazy road, and the centre known as the Beekman- town road. Maj. Appling with a body of riflemen was posted on the eastern or lake road, Maj. Wool on the centre; while the enemy were allowed to advance on the Chazy road without opposition. Maj. Appling directed his attention chiefly to obstructing the road by falling trees, and fell back in time to join Major Wool near Plattsburg. On arriving, just at day light, at Gen. Mooers's camp, seven miles from Plattsburg, Maj. Wool found the enemy, 4000 strong, were not far distant on that road, and already moving. Gen. Mooers made several at- tempts as the enemy drew near, to form his men for action, but they broke and fled, most of them without firing. Maj. Wool told him he had better head his men if possible, and with them make a stand upon the road, so as to cover his own retreat. The unexpected flight of the militia, as may be sup- posed, created some copfusion in the infantry, to re- TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. lOcJ cover from which and gain a little time, Maj. Wool ordered Capt Van Buren with his company to charge the enemy. The brave captain expressed a doubt about his ability to do it; fearing his men would de- sert him. " Shoot down the first man that attempts to run, or I will shoot you .'" was the peremptory order of the enthusiastic major. Van Buren quickly moved forward to execute the command, but when within a few rods of the foe, satisfied his handful of men could hardly be trusted to charge such a billow of animated matter, he ordered them to halt and fire. The fire was well directed and told fearfully in the enemy's ranks, which were suflSciently retarded for Maj. Wool to dispose of his Spartan band to his mind. That Capt. Van Buren did good service in his morning sa- lute, is proven by the fact, that twenty of the enemy were carried into the house of a Mr. Howe, living near by. Maj. Wool formed his men in three several double platoons; one occupying the road, and the others the fields or woods a little in rear of the first, and on either side of the road with out-flankers. The British in column continued to advance, and in the order named the Americans kept up a street fight, firing and retreating before the enemy: the troops in the street again forming and deploying in the street after each fire, a little in the rear of the field troops; and those in turn forming and deploying in rear of the platoons occupying the street. Thus did this little detachment of brave men resist the invader's approach 104 TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. step by step for nearly six miles, doing at times fear- ful execution in his ranks, and setting truly an ex- ample of firmness that would have done credit to veteran troops, with a Buonaparte for a commander. On an eminence in the road, called Culver's hill, Lieut.-Col. Willington, of the 3d regiment of British Buffs, an officer of gallant bearing, was slain, with a number of his men; while a little farther on, forty of the enemy, dead and wounded, were born^ into the house of Maj. Piatt, among whom was Lieut. Kings- bury, and possibly some other officers. Learning in the morning that Capt. Leonard had not accompanied Maj. Wool, Gen. Macomb ordered him forward to his assistance. At the junction of the Chazy and Beek- mantown roads, called Halsey's corners, he joined the in^p.ntry with two six-pounders. At this place the militia, having recovered from their panic, were brought into action by Gen. Mooers. They were posted in woods on the right and also in the rear of the artillery ; the infantry being mostly behind a stone wall along the Chazy road, to the left of the ordnance. A part of it w^as stationed so as to conceal the artillery, however, and as the British advanced, unsuspicious of receiving such a salute, the w;n-dogs were un- masked, and several round shot plowed their bloody furrows the entire length of the enemy's column. At this moment the Americans observed, says an eye- witness, " one of the finest specimens of discipline ever exhibited." The gaps in the British ranks were TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. 105 closed, as if by magic, and steadily onward was their march. As the enemy neared the field-pieces, they were greeted with grape shot, which caused them to halt, but the British bugles soon sounded a charge, and the Americans were obliged to retreat, which they did in good order to Gallows hill,* at which place they made the last stand on the north side of the Saranac. Adjutant Boynton, a young officer of great merit, and whose services to Maj. Wool were invaluable on this stirring day, was sent by the latter with orders to Maj. Appling to join him. The order w^as heroically executed though one of great peril, as he was exposed to the fire of many scores of British muskets, and Maj. Appling joined the invincible 29th near Gallows hill. After a brief stand at the latter place, the Americans fell back across the Saranac, and taking up the bridge in their rear they kept the enemy upon the north side of the river. In removing the plank of this bridge, the Americans suffered considerably. Maj. Stoner assisted in taking up this bridge, and also the one over Dead creek. The enemy's loss in this long road fight with the troops under Maj. Wool, in killed and wounded, was about 240, a number nearly equal to his entire command during the greatest part of the action. The American loss w^as about 45 in killed and wounded. Maj. Wool had a horse shot under him • On this hill the Americans erected a gallows and hung a Bri- tish spy upon it. 106 TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. during the day. For the masterly manner in which he acquitted himself on this occasion, he was breveted lieutenant-colonel; a promotion he could not that day have merited, had he not been surrounded by a band of iron-hearted warriors. In the action at Gallows hill the following incident took place. William Bosworth, a serjeant-major who had deserted from the British and entered the Ameri- can service, and on the day in question had greatly distinguished himself, received a musket ball through his thigh which brought him to the ground. It was impossible for the Americans to bring off all their wounded, so closely did the enemy press upon them. Apprised of the fact that Bosworth was down. Major Wool, addressing himself to Adjutant Boynton, ex- claimed, " See that the boys throw Bosworth on a horse and remove him to a place of safety, for if he falls into the hands of the enemy they will either hang or shoot him: he is too good a fellow to be used up in that manner; take liim offV^ A horse was quickly provided which Stoner held, while two soldiers placed the wounded sergeant upon his back, his blood running down the animal's side. The wounded man was taken to Plattsburg and afterwards to Burlington, Vermont, where he recovered. The reader may not be surprised to learn, that the generous-hearted major, who was not unmindful of the fate of a poor soldier, i ven in a fearful showier of iron and lead, is the illus- trious Major-General Wool, who has been one of the TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. 107 brightest stars of that heroic band, which has recently covered itself with such a blaze of glory in Mexico. The army of Prevost was kept on the north side of the Saranac by Macomb until the 11th of September, at which time Downie prepared to engage with Mc- Donough. Undaunted by the superior naval force of his adversary, the latter met him with a firmness and coolness characteristic of the man. It is stated in a newspaper account of his death, that he engaged the enemy at this time with a confident trust in the God of battles for his success. Calling his brave tars around him on the quarter-deck, as the enemy hove in sight, upon his knees he commended his cause to Him who governs the universe. This engagement was witnessed by both armies, it is reasonable to suppose, with intense excitement; as upon its result was sus- pended the probable fortune of the land forces. At 9 o'clock the contest began, and in less than two hours the Confiance, the enemy's flag-ship, had, with two other vessels, struck her colors to the Americans, and several British galleys had been sunk: the rest of the fleet escaped by flight, the victors being unable to pursue them, as there was not a mast standing in either squadron to which a sail could be raised. Com- modore Downie was among the slain. A pleasing incident attendant on this battle should be given in its connection. In the midst of the fiery contest, a hencoop on the Saratoga, McDonough's flag- ship, was shot away, and a liberated rooster flew into 108 TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. the rigging overhead and began to crow. The cir- cumstance was ominous, and contributed in no little degree to inspire the hardy tars with confidence, and they responded with a round of cheers and renewed exertions to his Yankee-doodle-do ! The artillery of the land forces was almost con- stantly in play during the naval engagement, but when the Confiance struck her colors, the army of Macomb took time to give a huzzaing, that fell on the ears of Prevost like the knell of death. The army of the lat- ter w^as in full retreat, early in the evening, for Canada. That they might have something to remember their Yankee neighbors by, as they were about to strike their tents, Macomb fired a national salute, with hall cartridges, into their camp. The remains of Commodore Downie, with those of five of his fellow oflftcers, and the remains of five ofl5- cers of Commodore McDonough's squadron, were brought on shore and buried by Gen. Macomb with the honors of war; on which occasion Maj. Wool was master of ceremonies and selected the place of burial. The music which led the procession consisted of some fifteen fifes and as many drums, the latter all muffled, and was commanded by Maj. Stoner: the tunes Logan Water and Roslin Castle, were played during the ceremony. The bodies were taken to a grove of pines and arranged side by side in three several rows. Two stately pines are still standing, one on each side of Downie's grave. While on that station Maj. Wool TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. 109 had the remains of the officers which fell on the Beek- mantown road, removed and deposited beside those w^hich fell in the naval service. After the war Mrs. Mary Downie, a sister-in-law, erected a tablet to the memory of her gallant kinsman. Some weeks after the above incidents transpired, Major Stoner conducted several British officers to the grave of Commodore Downie, where some of them manifested much feeling, mingling their tears of sym- pathy with the dew-drops of heaven. When Great Britain became satisfied that her claims to oceanic rule were not well founded, and the American army was disbanded. Gen. Macomb offered Maj. Stoner strong inducements to join the national army, which he declined. On the 11th of September, 1842, twenty-nine years after the event, the Clinton County Military Associa- tion celebrated the anniversary of the battle of Platts- burg at that place, in a very commendable manner, on which occasion monuments were erected to the memory of all the officers which had been buried near Commodore Downie. Gen. Wool and his suite were present by special invitation, to take part in the in- teresting proceedings. Appropriate addresses were delivered by General Skinner, Col. McNeil and Gen. Wool. The ceremony of placing a monument at Col. Willington's grave, was very properly assigned to Gen. Wool, before whose prowess he had fallen in battle. 10 110 TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK. How creditable to the enterprise and magnanimity of the citizens of Plattsburg, in so just and appropri- ate a manner to meet and mingle their sympathies over the remains, not only of their illustrious friends who had fallen in the service of their country, but also over those of their gallant and unfortunate foes, who found a final resting place beneath the pines of a foreign land. Warrior foes, there gently slumber. CHAPTER VII. I have chosen, in this narrative, to present Major Stoner's military life connectedly, although some of the incidents which follow, transpired between the wars. Fond of novelty and adventure, and inured to pri- vations and hardships in the Revolution, which pecu- liarly fitted him for a life so full of excitement and peril, Maj. Stoner became a celebrated hunter. Nor was he the only gamester who traversed the then wil- derness of North-Eastern New York: several of his companions in arms were often by his si