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Gc 974.701 Sa7s 1214667
REYNOLDS HISTORIC GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01125 9733
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/historyofsaratog00sylv_0
-
HISTORY
-- OF -
SARATOGA
COUNTY,
NEW YORK,
-- WITH -
HISTORICAL NOTES ON ITS VARIOUS TOWNS.
BY NATHANIEL BARTLETT SYLVESTER,
Author of Historical Sketches of Northern New York and the Adirondack Wilderness, Saratoga and Kay-ad-ros-se-ra, etc.
TOGETHER WITH
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
OF ITS
PROMINENT MEN AND LEADING CITIZENS,
PREPARED BY
SAMUEL T. WILEY AND W. SCOTT GARNER.
EC 974.701 Sa 75
Illustrated.
GRESHAM PUBLISHING COMPANY: RICHMOND, IND. 1893.
NEW YORK, N. Y.
CHICAGO, ILL.
PRESSES OF M. CULLATON & CO., RICHMOND, IND.
PREFACE.
1214667
F A TRUTH it may be said that History, the highest form of prose literature, is fast becoming one of the most popular and important branches of human knowledge. It has rapidly risen in our day from an empirical state to the rank of a science, and the master minds of this century that have devoted their energies to efforts in behalf of its advancement in accuracy, interest and value, have transformed it from the princely eulogy and fairy tales of olden times into a vast super- structure only less real than the great drama of actual events it is intended to perpetuate in human memory. This improvement has popularized History until it is no longer the Pactolus of the learned, but has risen to be the guiding star of modern civilization. In it are reflected the principles that govern the character and destiny of nations, and from it the statesman and reformer may construct a chart to guide all intelligent effort at reform in our old civilization, or in the upbuilding of the new. As in ancient times, so even at this hour, "Experience is a light for our footsteps," no less for the Nation or community than for the individual, and true History is human experience condensed and preserved.
Local history particularly has rapidly risen in importance since our Centennial year, when the Congress of the United States, by joint resolution, recommended to each city, town and county in this country the duty of collecting for permanent preservation their local history and the biographies of their worthy citizens. In the first century of our National existence the annals of town and county, together with the individuality of the citizen, had been absorbed by the history of the State and the still more masterful theme of the life of the Nation. Since the opening of our second century it is becoming more generally understood that the history of a people resolves itself largely into the achieve- ments of its leading men and women, and that in biography may be found that depart- ment of history most valuable for the intelligent study of National life and human advance- ment. Hence in the series of County Cyclopedias that bear the imprint of the publishers of this volume, much attention has been given to the collection and publication of bio- graphical sketches of leading citizens, past and present. This work contains sketches of the men who in a large measure created the present status of Saratoga county and now hold her destiny in their hands. It is a fact that biography of this character must have
viii
PREFACE.
prominent place in the local history of the future, and that the important and useful les- sons it teaches will never fail to excite interest and give pleasure. It subserves the highest good by presenting examples worthy of emulation, and by perpetuating the mem- ories of those who are worthy of remembrance. It also preserves mention of thousands of men remarkable for wisdom, virtue, intelligence, energy and ability, who only lacked opportunity to write their names on the muster rolls of fame.
The general history of this old and time-honored county of Saratoga has been care- fully prepared by Judge Nathaniel Bartlett Sylvester, a resident of the county and well known to her people. To him is due all credit for the arrangement of the matter and the somewhat elaborate history of the Revolutionary war, and other conflicts of arms, that appears in the following pages, together with the historical notes on the towns and villages of the county, and such other matter of interest as has been included in the historical part of the work. In gathering this information the Judge has spent many years and consulted many volumes, and has selected for discussion in this work such topics as he thought would best illustrate the progress of the county, from the time when this terri- tory was yet a howling wilderness down to the present day, when old Saratoga occupies an important position among her sister counties of the Empire State- a proud eminence based alike on her wonderful development, her industrial prosperity, her world-famous springs of healing waters, and the prominent place she occupies in the history of the Revolution - that gigantic struggle for the rights of man, when a Nation was born in a day, and the dial hand on the clock of human progress moved forward in a greater advance than it had hitherto marked in five centuries.
That Saratoga county has kept well to the front in that general improvement which distinguishes these later times- in industrial development, art, science, literature, and everything that tends to ennoble life and make its possession priceless - is largely due to the energy, ability and character of the men who have found fitting notice on the pages of this volume-worthy descendants of the pilgrims and pioneers who first conquered this soil, and by brawn and brain reduced it to the uses of civilization. That later generations may follow in their footsteps, imitating their virtues and improving on even the best they have accomplished, is the earnest hope and wish of
THE PUBLISHERS.
M
CONTENTS.
HISTORICAL.
PAGES.
HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY. 17-153
CHAPTER I .- Geographical Situation - Early Explorations - Genesis of the County .. 17-24
CHAPTER II .- Topographical Features. 25-29
CHAPTER III .- Outlines of Geology 29-33 CHAPTER IV. - Indian Occupaney - Indian Nations and Characteristics. 33-38 CHAPTER V .- The Extinguishment of Indian Title to Lands in Saratoga County - In- dian Deeds - Provincial Patents .. 38-42 CHAPTER VI. - The Planting of the Early Settlements in Saratoga County - Half Moon - The Dutch Pioneers - Their Influence over the Institutions of the Country 42-48
CHAPTER VII .- French and Indian Wars- The Discovery of Lake George by Father Isaac Jogues - Journeys through Sara- toga County to his Mission on the Mo- hawk .. 48-53
CHAPTER VIII. - French and Indian Wars (continued ) - Governor Courcelles' Ex- pedition against the Mohawks in Janu- ary, 1666 - Lieut .- General Tracy invades the Mohawk Valley -The Iroquois In- vasion of Canada ..... 54-60
CHAPTER IX .- French and Indian Wars (con- tinucd ) - The Sacking and Burning of Schenectady - The Return Expedition against Canada of 1690.
60-64
PAGES.
CHAPTER X .- French and Indian Wars (con- tinued ) - The Battle of the Greenfield Hills, near Saratoga -The Invasion of the Mohawk Castle's in 1693. 61 70 -
CHAPTER XI .- French and Indian Wars (con- tinued) - Queen Anne's War -- English Expeditions against Canada-Campaigns of 1709 and 1711 70-73
CHAPTER XII .- French and Indian Wars (con- tinued ) - The Sacking and Burning of Saratoga in 1745 -The Events which led to the War. 73-79
CHAPTER XIII. - French and Indian Wars (continued) - The Second Invasion of Saratoga, in 1747 79-82
CHAPTER XIV .- The Last French and Indian War-Campaigns of 1755, 1765, 1757, 1758 and 1759. 82-89
CHAPTER XV .- The War of the Revolution- Causes of the War -Situation in Sara- toga County - Campaigns of 1775 and 1776-The British Plan of the Campaign of 1777 - Causes of its Failure - Bur- goyne's Army .. 89-93
CHAPTER XVI .- The War of the Revolution ( continued ) - Progress of Burgoyne's Army-The Fall of Ticonderoga - Battle of Fort Ann -The Retreat of the Ameri- cans 93-97
x
CONTENTS.
PAGES.
CHAPTER XVII .- The War of the Revolution (continued)-The Murder of Jeannie Mc- Crea by the Indians under Burgoyne - The American Situation - The Battle Ground - The Battle of September 19 .. 97-102 CHAPTER XVIII .- The War of the Revolution ( continued ) - Burgoyne's Fatal Delay after the Battle - The Battle of the 7th of October - The Burial of Frasier - Burgoyne's Retreat 102-105
CHAPTER XIX .- The War of the Revolution (continued ) - The Negotiations for the Surrender - The " Convention of Sara- toga " . 106-110
CHAPTER XX. - The War of the Revolution (continued) - The British lay down their Arms - What became of Burgoyne's Army after the Surrender at Saratoga .. 110-113 CHAPTER XXI .- The War of the Revolution (continued)- The Raid upon Ballston in 1780- Joe Bettys, the Saratoga County Spy 113-118
CHAPTER XXII. - Organization of Saratoga County- Original Courts - The County Buildings-First Board of Supervisors- Civil List. 118-123
CHAPTER XXIII. - Saratoga County in the Great Rebellion - The 77th Regiment-
The 30th Regiment - Other Regiments. 123-133 CHAPTER XXIV .- Centennial Celebrations- History of the Saratoga Monument Asso- ciation 134-141
PAGES. CHAPTER XXV. - Internal Improvements- Canals - Railroads. 141-146
CHAPTER XXVI. - The Press of Saratoga County - The Press of Ballston Spa - The Press of Saratoga Springs - The Press of Other Villages. 146-153
Addenda to General History.
197-198
HISTORICAL NOTES UPON THE TOWNS OF SARATOGA COUNTY. 153-196
CHAPTER I .- The Village and Town of Sara- toga Springs 153-160
CHAPTER II .- Village and Town of Saratoga Springs (concluded) 162-168
CHAPTER III .- Ballston Spa and the Town of Ballston . 168-173
CHAPTER IV .- Historical Notes on the Towns (continued) - Charlton - Clifton Park - Corinth. 173-178
CHAPTER V .- Historical Notes on the Towns ( continued ) - Day - Edinburgh - Gal- way - Greenfield. 178-184
CHAPTER VI .- Historical Notes on the Towns ( continued ) - Hadley - Half Moon Malta - Milton 184-1SS
CHAPTER VII .- Historical Notes on the Towns ( continued ) - Moreau - Northumber- land - Providence - Saratoga. . . 188-192
CHAPTER VIII. - Historical Notes on the Towns ( concluded ) - Stillwater - Wat- erford -Wiltou. 192-196
8
xi
CONTENTS.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
PAGE.
PAGE.
Crawford, Frank M.
471
Crippen, George M.
301
Crocker, Harry
374
Cronch, William.
588
Crum, George. .
535
Cummings, Michael S.
251
Curtis, Pierson C., M. D.
418
Curtis, Warren .. .
554
Dater, Henry C.
273
Davenport, William
459
Davison, Charles Mason.
280
Dawson, George H.
219
Dayton, J. Judd.
325
Denison, William Latham
362
De Voll, Rev. Jonathan
524
Dillon, John T.
381
Donaldson, Hon. Harvey J
283
Donnelly, William S., M. D
523
Doolittle, Charles M.
448
Dugery, James.
598
Dumphrey, Patrick.
632
Dunlop, John J., M. D
257
Eaton, George
622
Eddy, John M. 516
Eddy, Daniel.
296
Edwards, Gustavus W
291
Eggleston, David D.
566
Elixman, Theodore.
611
Ellis, IIon. Chesselden
432
Ellsworth, Col. Ephraim Ehner 580 Emmett, Rev. John T., O. S. A. 375 Evers, John. 454
PAGE.
Acland, Lady Harriett.
357
Ainsworth, Seymour.
262
Alexander, Joseph H.
213
Bryar, Thomas F.
379
Allen, Everett W
620
Bull, Chauncey Dickenson, M.D. 369 Bullard, Daniel A. 493
Burke, Hon. John H ..
260
Burnham, Judge James A 394
Burritt, O. H., A. M.
236
Butler, Walter P
244
Callaghan, Melancton B.
337
Campbell, Capt. John H
458
Carey, Michael.
530
Carey, Rev. Joseph, S. T. D
483
Carpenter, Hiland.
470
Carragan, Emmett.
457
Carruth, Clarence Edgar
503
Case, William J.
290
Chalmers, William.
340
Barnes, Albert H.
267
Batcheller Family, The
402
Beach, William Augustus.
208
Bedell, Isaac.
342
Clapp, Charles R.
385
Cleary, Patrick J.
629
Bell, John F.
221
Bennett, George H.
472
Clements, William
238
Clute, John.
348
Collamer, William A
454
Comstock, George F., M. D.
316
Comstock, Theodore.
419
Consolas, Hon. William B.
588
Cornell, Benjamin F., M. D.
599
Brace, Richard
418
Cowen, Hon. Esek ..
279
Breslin, Thomas.
580
Brezee, R. Newton.
330
Cramer, Hon, John.
386
Brisbin, James C.
547
Crane, Hon. John W.
560
Britton, Reuben.
411
Brooks, James W
218
Brusnihan, James T.
531
Allen, Henry J., M. D.
548
Allen, Philip Adelbert.
575
Ames, George L.
442
Andrews, George S., D. D.S
413
Andrus, Eugene A.
416
Anthony, Joshua.
552
Atwell, Robert S.
359
Bailey, Joshua.
420
Baker, Elmer E.
505
Baker, Henry H
366
Baker, Howland.
551
Balch, William V., M. D. 452
Baldwin, Dexton
633
Carpenter, William P.
436
Balch, William S.
310
Chapman, Hon. James R
253
Chubb, John H.
449
Billings, Jesse.
202
Billings, Reuben M., jr
395
Blodgett, George W
533
Bloss, Richard P
624
Bockes, Hon. Augustus
579
Craw, David.
565
xii
CONTENTS.
PAGE.
Falconer, Prof. Alexander
346
Fenton, Adoniram J. 618
Finley, Thomas
433
Fish, Howland.
595
Fitzgerald, George
491
Foley, Hon. Jolın.
276
Ford, Ephraim
474
Ford, John W
266
Forte, Erastus R.
453
French, Winsor Brown.
499
Freeman, Andrew J.
547
Fuller, Samuel Washington.
.. 514
Gage, William B.
294
Gervin, Jacob.
630
Gilbert, Jay.
380
Gillis, Col. George Henry.
321
Gilmour, Neil
375
Goetchius, Capt. Louis O., M.D. 297
Gould, Grant
525
Granger, William H
217
Griffing, Edgar T.
399
Grippen, Clarence L.
526
Grippen, M. B.
364
Groesbeck, William H., V.S.
472
Haight, Henry L.
602
Hall, Hibbard.
513
Hall, Commissioner A. Edson. 451
Hamilton, Robert, M. D.
440
Janvrin, Louis Henri .
468
Johnson, Col. Walker R
534
Johnson, Ianthus G.
428
Jones, Frank ..
510
Jones, Rebecca.
564
Kathan, Orange E.
528
Kathan, John A.
405
Kearney, Richard.
525
Harvey, George F.
391
Keefer, Charles W., M. D
584
Hathorn, Hon. Henry Harrison 501
Haviland, Norris S.
599
Kendall, Daniel Webster
527
Hawley, Asahel P.
452
Kelly, John M.
Kelly, Robert.
231
Haxstun, Richard Baxter.
557
Hay, Judge William
Kelly, Prof. James E
603
309
224
Kelso, John S.
606
Kneil, Thomas R.
553
Knightz, Daniel
492
PAGE.
LaDow, Daniel E.
475
LaDow, J. Charles, M. D
627
Lamb, David T ..
477
L'Amoreaux, Hon. Jesse S ..
422
Lansing, Capt. Levinus
488
Lawrence, Eben S., M. D.
274
Lawrence, George B.
617
Lawton, Col. George P.
388
LeDoux, Louis.
457
Lester, Hon. Charles S
199
Levengston, Harry M.
324
Lewis, Judson Adoniram
275
Lincoln, Harry M., M. D
382
Lohnas, Deyoe
334
Manicus, George W
215
Manville, George H.
255
Martin, Hiram H.
347
Marvin, Hon. Thomas J.
322
Marvin, Hon. James Madison. 573
Massey, John H.
261
Massey, John H. B.
314
Mawney, Capt. Peter L
576
Maxwell, Charles White.
378
Mayhew, C. W.
344
McCall, William H.
242
McClew, Erastus T
601
McCreedy, Charles O.
259
McCrea, Jane
603
McDonald, Martin
634
McDonough, Rev. Bernard J. . . 278
McEwen, Robert Charles, M. D. 469
McEckron, James E.
578
McEchron, William.
593
McHaffie, Robert.
234
McKnight, Charles Scott, jr., M. D. 397
McKnight, Horace E.
522
McNair, Lieut. Com. Antoine
de Reilhe, U.S. N.
370
Mead, Farrington L., Ph. D.
327
Mealey, James
626
Medbery, Horace J.
358
Medbery, Stephen C.
269
Meeker, Capt. Jolın H
537
Hays, Hiram W ..
226
PAGE.
Hedden, Hooper C.
313
Henning, John L ..
239
IIickok, Capt. Ambrose C ..
406
Higgins, John.
319
Hill, Nicholas.
252
Hill, John H.
613
Hine, Hon. Simeon
249
Holden, Capt. Charles H.
328
Holden, Almerin D.
541
Holroyd, William
536
Huestis, William B.
533
Hunter, Edward B
415
Hurd, B. L.
520
Husted, Jeremiah
214
Hodgman, William H., M. D ..
409
Holmes, Ebenezer.
365
Houghton, Hon. James Warren 460
Howe, John W.
612
Howe, Capt. Edward Porter .. 285
Howland, Jonathan
427
Hoyt, Edward H.
473
Ingalsbe, Truman Belus
601
Inlay, Erwin G.
519
Isbell, Elisha
312
Jackson, George I
447
Hamilton, Theodore Frank.
.. 241
Hamlin, Lieut. Lewis Wood .. 556
Hammond, William J
432
Ilanks, Daniel H.
225
Harcourt, Robert ..
402
Harris, Newton C., M. D.
341
Hayner, Silas.
569
Ilays, Alexander S.
232
xiii
CONTENTS.
PAGE.
PAGE.
Mills, Charles H.
542
Peck, Frank B.
367
Peckham, Allen G., M. D ..
241
Pendrick, Harry P.
269
Perkins, Joseph J.
439
Person, John.
311
Peters, Elias H.
302
Morgan, Hon. Thomas C
400
Pike, Lemuel B
291
Pierson, Judge William A
315
Sheehan, Cornelius.
398
Porter, Joshua, M. D.
383
Porter, Hon. John K
207
Potter, Emory
248
Powell, Eli M.
295
Pratt, James H.
605
Prindle, John M
568
Smith, Joel W
456
Putnam, Abel, jr
352
Smith, Lyman.
421
Quinn, Rev. John V
332
Nash, Alvah B.
538
Neilson, John
427
Neilson, William B.
433
Newland, Rial.
633
Newton, Col. Henry C.
446
Noonan, David H
306
O'Conner, Thomas
351
Oreutt, J. B.
614
Ormsby, Hon. Isaae C.
205
Ormsby, Charles C.
206
Ostrander, James M.
293
Ostrander, William S.
487
Owen, Hiram
403
Palmer, Frank A., M. D.
303
Palmer, George Henry
416
Palmer, Hiram.
467
Palmer, Jaeob P.
629
Parks, Solomon Augustus.
620
Parmenter, Henry J
490
Patrick, George II
289
Patterson, Cornelius
596
Patterson, Frederick E.
509
Patterson, Alexander A.
286
Patterson, William Annesley,
M. D ..
619
Sackett, Hon. William A.
387
Safford, Henry D.
558
Salisbury, George R. F ..
200
Sayre, Ezra ..
577
Thomas, Warren.
515
Schermerhorn, Capt. Porter J. 584
Seidmore, Harvey
579
Scott, E. Porter
221
Peak, Thomas ..
628
Peck, Rev. David A.
481
Scott, James Lee.
229
PAGE.
Schoonmaker, Mallory D.
304
Schuyler, Maj .- Gen. Philip
360
See, Charles F.
356
Searing, Col. William M.
466
Selden, Hon. Edward D., A. M. 435 Settle, George E .. 313
Shackelford, George R. P. 364
Sherman, Frank J.
222
Shonts, Capt. Nelson
323
Siver, Franklin A.
559
Smith, Fletcher A., M. D.
323
Smith, George H.
521
Sınith, Martin H.
549
Smith, Timothy T.
340
Smith, Will W
464
Staples, Roger H
396
Steenberg, Frederick I.
511
Stewart, Charles A
347
Stubbs, Roland Henshall, M. D. 376
Sturdevan, William T.
492
Sturges, Charles H.
465
Snell, Charles Edward.
604
Stewart, Hon. John ..
256
Spaulding, Charles W
206
Sunderlin, Hon. William D.
232
Swanick, Robert
230
Swan, William Edward.
334
Swart, George A.
363
Sweetman, James T., M. D
331
Tarrant, Frederick
234
Taylor, Hon. John W.
399
Taylor, George P. H., M. D.
383
Tefft, Allen F.
539
Tefft, Thaddeus T
401
Thomas, Cassius B.
496
Thomson, John E.
605
Schuyler Family, The.
243
Thorn, Stephen.
625
Tompkins, Iliram
207
Toms, Jesse S.
234
Totten, Thomas J
420
Ramsdill, J. N.
208
Reeves, George H
309
Reidesel, Mme. Freiderike
393
Rexford, Capt. Cyrus W
203
Reynolds, Tabor B., M. D.
545
Reynolds, Hon. Austin L.
589
Riee, John T.
361
Richards, Marquis D.
504
Riley, James H.
532
Ritchie, Col. David Francis. .
512
Rockwood, Col. William
Thompson.
211
Rogers, Capt. John D.
338
Rogers, Courtland
495
Root, Miles.
583
Rowland, William A
567
Rulison, Charles R.
623
Russell, Webster B.
550
Miner, Willard J
430
Mingay, James
272
Moe, Morgan B.
626
Monroe, H. C., M. D.
486
Morey, Robert E
485
Morris, John H
308
Morse, Milburn P
631
Moore, John A., M. D
344
Moore, Leverett, M. D.
288
Mott, Jesse S.
350
Mott, Judge Adam.
450
Mulrenan, James D
600
Murray, Byron J., M. D
247
xiv
CONTENTS.
PAGE.
Vandenburgh, Russell 634
Vanvorst, Charles C. 438
Van Vranken, William H. 570
Wayland, Rev. Francis 391
Wiswall, Irving W 343
Varney, Lewis
478
Vaughn, Orville D.
277
Verbeck, James Watson 424
Viall, Job G.
271
Weller, Robert. 429
Woodward, Amasa N 546
Wells, Samuel.
250
Woodard, Arthur J. 368
Wait, Charles F. . 220
Warren, Hon. William L. F 396
Waterbury, Heman L. 485
Waterbury, William S. 357
White, Hon. Hugh
398
Young, Jesse. 539
Walworth, Mrs. Ellen Hardin. 608
PAGE.
PAGE.
Walworth, Hon. Reuben Hyde 255
Wilson, James A. 614
Wandell, John J. 506
Winney, Valorus. 529
Wiswall, Eugene
258
Weed, Dr. P. W
329
Wing, Daniel E.
252
Weeks, Levi L. 437
Wood, Stephen
404
Worden, William W
465
Werner, Henry A.
307
Werner, Herold J
204
Westcot, John H.
412
Young, Samuel. 289
Willard, Hon. John.
434
Young, William K.
615
Webster, William B., M. D 237
XV
CONTENTS.
ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE.
Ainsworth, Seymour. facing 262
Ames, George L. 442
Balcarra's Redoubt 66
103
Breslin, Thomas ¥
580
Court House at Ballston Spa. 121
Crippen, George M. 66
301
Comstock, George F., M. D .. 66
316
Crane, Judge John W. 66
560
Davison, Charles M. 66
280
French, Gen. Winsor B. 66
499
Gen. Schuyler transferring his Command to Gen. Gates 66
54
Saratoga Monument.
17
Saratoga Monument, Interior of.
66
138
Houghton, Hon. James Warren. 66
460
Huestis, William B. 66
533
Inlay, E. G., M. D. 66
519
Varney, Lewis. . facing 478
Verbeck, James W. 424
Lawton, Col. George P
388
Lester, Hon. Charles S 66
199
Walworth, Mrs. Ellen Hardin.
608
334
Wandell, John J.
66
506
Lohnas, Deyoe.
66
Marvin, Hon. James M. facing 573
McEchron, William
593
MeElwain, William A. 60
150
McNair, Lieut. Com. Antoine DeReilhe, U.S.N. " 370
Moore, John A., M. D. 344 66
Murray, Byron J., M.D. 66 247
Old Battle Well, Freeman's Farm 101
Parks, S. A . 620
66
Putnam, Abel, jr .. 66
352
Reynolds, Tabor B .. 66
545
Rockwood, Col. W. T.
66
211
Hodgman, William H., M. D. 409
Scott, James L ..
229
Sylvester, Judge Nathaniel Bartlett ..
Frontispiece.
PAGE.
-
-
SARATOGA MONUMENT
"MONUMENTS MAKE AS WELL AS MARK THE CIVILIZATION OF A PEOPLE."
HISTORY
OF
SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
CHAPTER I.
GEOGRAPHICAL SITUATION - EARLY EXPLORATIONS -GENESIS OF THE COUNTY.
I .- INTRODUCTORY.
Of a truth the history of a county is mostly the result of its geographical position.
The history of the County of Saratoga, in the State of New York, is a remarkable illus- tration of this principle.
Lying in the angle between two intersect- ing rivers, which flow along deep valleys that break through the mountain barriers which served to separate hostile peoples in colonial times, Saratoga county became the battle- ground of nations striving for the mastery of the North American continent.
Occupying a central position in the great Northern Valley, which stretches from New York on the Atlantic seaboard to Montreal on the St. Lawrence river, Saratoga county was of supreme stragetic importance in times of war. The same territorial characteristics ren- der it of equal importance as part of a great inland route of traffic and travel in times of peace.
In the days of its old-time Indian occu- pancy, the region which now constitutes the county of Saratoga was within the boundaries of the dark and bloody neutral ground which lay between the Iroquois nations of central
New York and the territory of their ancient hereditary enemies, the Algonquin nations of Canada and New England. Then it was that within its borders, from time to time, took place many a fierce encounter between savage foes, and across this county ran all the old Indian war trails leading between the waters of the St. Lawrence valley and those of the Atlantic slope, forming the great routes of Indian travel.
Throughout the long struggle in colonial and provincial times, between the English and French and their respective Indian allies, for the mastery of the continent, this county shared the fortunes of the great Northern Valley in the bloody and relentless partisan warfare which lasted more than a hundred years.
Again, during the seven year's war of the Revolution, the savage partisan strife of the earlier French and Indian wars was repeated within the borders of this county with all its horrors.
Thus it will readily be seen that for a period of more than two hundred years, during which its authentic history runs back, there was in the great Northern Valley, of which Saratoga county forms so prominent a part, scarcely an hour of peaceful rest in store for its war-worn inhabitants unbroken by the fear of the sav- age invader.
During all these long years of cruel warfare it was the midnight war-whoop, the swift de-
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
scending tomakawk, the keen-edged scalping knife, the burning dwelling, the captive wives and children, that made the whole land a scene of desolation and blood.
At length the long wilderness strife culmin- ated in the surrender of the whole British army of invasion under General Burgoyne, on - the 17th day of October, 1777, at Saratoga.
Then from that day, with Lexington and Bunker Hill, with Trenton, Monmouth, and Ticonderoga, with Germantown and Yorktown, Saratoga took the highest place among our country's historic names - for the victory at Saratoga was the turning point of the War of Independence, and is classed by an eminent English historian among the "fifteen decisive battles of the world."
II. - BOUNDARIES.
The county of Saratoga is centrally distant thirty-one 'miles north from the capitol at Albany. It lies between latitudes 42° 47' and 43° 22' north and longitude 2° 47' and 3º 20' east from Washington. Its extreme length from north to south is about forty-three miles, and from east to west its greatest width is about twenty-three miles. It contains 862 square miles, or 551,680 acres. Of this, according to the State census last published, there were 317,201 acres of improved land and 148,218 acres unimproved; there being of the latter 89, 192 acres of woodland. This leaves a remainder of 96,261 acres to be accounted for, in the waste non-resident lands in the north part of the county, lying within the boundaries of the Adirondack wilderness.
The county of Saratoga is bounded on the north by Warren county, on the east by the counties of Warren, Washington and Rens- selaer, on the south by the counties of Albany and Schenectady, and on the west by the counties of Schenectady, Montgomery, Fulton and Hamilton. *
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