Pioneer history of the Holland Purchase of western New York : embracing some account of the ancient remains, Part 1

Author: Turner, O. (Orsamus)
Publication date: 1850
Publisher: Buffalo : Jewett, Thomas & Co.
Number of Pages: 726


USA > New York > Pioneer history of the Holland Purchase of western New York : embracing some account of the ancient remains > Part 1


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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69


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Loroph Elliott 11


PIONEER HISTORY


OF THE


HOLLAND PURCHASE OF


WESTERN NEW YORK:


EMBRACING SOME ACCOUNT OF THE ANCIENT REMAINS; A BRIEF HISTORY OF


OUR IMMEDIATE PREDECESSORS, THE CONFEDERATED IROQUOIS, THEIR SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT, WARS, ETC .- A SYNOPSIS OF COLONIAL HISTORY : SOME NOTICES OF THE BORDER WARS OF THE REVOLUTION :


AND A HISTORY OF


PIONEER SETTLEMENT


UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE HOLLAND COMPANY;


INCLUDING


REMINISCENCES OF THE WAR OF 1812:


THE ORIGIN, PROGRESS AND COMPLETION OF THE


ERIE CANAL.


ETC. ETC. ETC.


BY O. TURNER.


BUFFALO: PUBLISHED BY JEWETT, THOMAS & CO .: GEO. H. DERBY & CO.


1850. 2.


Checked


·


PREFACE.


READ THE PREFACE! A command that may be regarded as too imper- ative, and yet one that an author has some right to make, in consideration of the deep interest which he may be supposed to have in its observance. Having prepared an entertainment, as he is about to open the door to his guests, it is quite natural he should wish to pass them in with his own introduction.


First, as to the general plan of the work :- There may be readers of it who have anticipated a history more strictly local in its character, than they will find this. It was the original intention of the author to have commenced with the close of the Revolution, and traced settlement and its progress westward, very much as has been done, with the exception of a more extended detail. Upon proceeding to his task, however, after mate- rials for it had been collected, the important consideration presented itself, that, although there existed, in detached forms, sketches of the earliest approaches of civilization to this region-of early colonization tending in this direction -of the French and Indian and French and English wars; the long contest for supremacy and dominion; the occupancy of that extraordinary race of men, the Jesuit Missionaries; the Border Wars of the Revolution; still, there was no history extant that connected all this, and furnished an unbroken chain of events allied to the region of Western New York, and especially the Holland Purchase. The distinguished historian, Mr. BANCROFT, was the first to draw from French sources any considerable amount of the history of French occupancy of the valley of the St. Lawrence, and the borders of our lakes and rivers; of the advents of Jesuit Missionaries, and their cotemporaries, the fur traders; and embellish his country's history with a long series of interesting events, before almost unnoticed. But little could be gathered by an humble local historian, after such a gleaner had passed over the ground; but his work is of a magnitude to preclude access to it, by the great mass of readers;


vi


PREFACE.


and that portion of it having reference to this region, but incidental to the general history of the United States. Aside from this, the early history of our region, embracing the periods and events alluded to, was to be found only in detached forms -much of it in old newspaper files and magazines - in conditions to make it generally inaccessible.


Having adopted the title, Pioneer History of the Holland Purchase, early events, the first glimpses that our own race had of this region, was indicated as the starting point; and taking position there, the necessity of going even still farther back, seemed involved. The ancient remains, the mysterious, rude fortifications upon the bluffs, ridges, and banks of streams, throughout our local region, form an interesting feature, and one that claimed a place in our local annals. Some account of our immediate predecessors, the Seneca Iroquois, was suggested as coming within the immediate range of local history; and especially as they were to be mingled in almost our entire narrative. All that relates to them possesses a peculiar interest; that which relates to the system of government of the confederacy to which they belong, is a branch of their history -but recently investigated to any considerable extent; is far less generally understood than most things appertaining to them, and has therefore been made to occupy a prominent position in that portion of the work .*


As civilization approached this region, from that direction, colonization upon the St. Lawrence has necessarily been the main feature of that portion of the work having reference to European Pioneer advents. Enough, however, of carly colonization elsewhere has been embraced, to afford a glimpse of eotemporary events; and especially such as finally had a bearing upon events in this quarter. Starting principally with the advent of CHAMPLAIN, a connected chain of events has been attempted, extending through long and eventful years, down to the extinguishing of the Indian title, the advent of the Holland Company, Pioneer settlement under their auspices, and the two prominent events, the war of 1812, and the construction of the Erie Canal, belonging to a later period. The title of the work, of itself, indicates its general character, and the intention of the author not to embrace events, generally, beyond early settlement,- pioneer advents. Another volume would have been necessary, had it heen concluded to extend the work to a later period; and besides, as a


# The credit of a thorough investigation of this admirable specimen of Indian legislation -of unschooled forest statesmanship-and wisdom, if we regard its prac- tical workings - belongs to LEWIS H. MORGAN, Esq. of Rochester, who communicated the result of his labors, in numbers, to the North American Review. In reading his essays, it is difficult to determine which most to admire, the careful and industrious researches of the author, in a matter so difficult to comprehend, with no records, and little beyond obscure tradition for his guides; or the zealous and lively feelings he manifests, in every thing that concerns the character and welfaro of the unfortunate race whose interesting traditions he has aided in rescuing from oblivion.


VII


PREFACE.


general rule, public events should not assume the form of history, until time has ripened them for it; and especially such as have involved contro- versy, many of the prominent actors in which may survive-the asperities it engendered, unobliterated. A political history of the Holland Purchase, has formed no part of the plan of work; on the contrary, even allusions to partisan contentions have been mostly avoided. That should form a distinct branch of history; its appropriate alliance is with the general history of the state; and those who may desire to study it, have the means furnished them in the candid and impartial work of Judge HAMMOND.


The range of the work thus extended, its magnitude has been increased far beyond the original design. In adopting the general plan, there was a purpose to be subserved, in addition to those that have been named. Had the work been merely a history of settlement and local events upon the Holland Purchase, it must necessarily have been one of considerable magnitude - attended with an expense that any prospective local sale would not have warranted. It has therefore been the aim of the author, to impart to it both a local and general interest; how far he has been successful, time, and the ordeal to which he submits his labors, must determine. From the moment the general plan of the work was adopted, and its expense to the purchaser enhanced beyond the mark originally indicated, it has been the constant aim of the author to give it a corres- ponding value. It will be seen that little expense has been spared in its mechanical execution ; and the author flatters himself that the twenty-two illustrations will be adequately appreciated by those who possess themselves of a copy of the work. The Maps of the eight Counties have been prepared by a competent hand, carefully adapted to localities as they now exist, and may be considered of themselves as having an intrinsic value, equal to any addition that has been made to the price of the work, from the lowest sum that has been named in connection with the enterprize ; while the number of excellent Portraits of distinguished Pioneers, have been extended far beyond what was originally contemplated. The careful legal deduction of title in the Appendix, in addition to the historical deduction in the body of the work, will be found a valuable accession to law libraries, while it will aid the general reader in a better understanding of that subject, than can be obtained from any facilities hitherto furnished in a form of general access.


It is hardly necessary to inform the intelligent reader, that Mr. BAN- CROFT's History of the United States has been the basis of all that relates to French and English occupancy ; though the anthor has been materially aided by LANMAN's History of Michigan, and BROWN's History of Illinois, both of which had traced events from the mouth of the St. Lawrence to


viii


PREFACE.


their local regions; and he regards himself as somewhat fortunate, in having been enabled to add, from various sources, no inconsiderable amount of materials that have hitherto had no place in history, other than in the form of manuscript records, neglected newspaper files, or among the collections of Historical Societies .* If, as most historians are obliged to do, he has been under the necessity of culling his materials, in many instances, from fields already explored, he may, perhaps, without incurring the charge of egotism, assume that he has occasionally been enabled to bring fresh contributions to the common stock of historical knowledge.


There are those to whom the author is indebted for local statistics, who will miss a portion of their contributions. The omissions have been reluc- tantly made. To have carried out the plan of giving in detail, all that related to early county and town organizations, would have been to exclude large portions of the work that were deemed more essential, and it is hoped, will prove in the end quite as acceptable. It was intended, however, to have given sketches of the first organization of all the Coun- ties; but that intention has been but imperfectly consummated, owing principally, to the absence of the necessary materials. The records of the primitive organization of the Courts, etc. of old Niagara, were inaccessible, owing to the condition in which the large mass of records were in, prepara- tory to a new arrangement of them, in the Clerk's office of Erie. The author unexpectedly failed in procuring the primitive records of Chautau- que and Allegany.


It was a paramount object in giving sketches of the Pioneer settlement of the Holland Purchase, to embrace as many of the names, and as much of personal reminiscences, as practicable. To this end, the general plan was adopted, of giving a list of all who took contracts previous to January 1st, 1807; and of the first five or six, and sometimes more, of those who took contracts in all the townships upon the Purchase that were not broken into previous to that date. These lists have been made with a great deal of care and labor, and yet, there are undoubtedly many errors in them. Contracts in many instances, were in the name of those who never became settlers, and in numerous other instances perhaps, there were transfers of contracts, the name of the actual settler not appearing upon the contract books. Although there are in these tabular lists, and in various other forms, the names of four or five thousand of the Pioneers upon the Ilolland Purchase, the author has sincerely to regret, in many instances, the omission of the names of early, prominent Pioneers. These omissions are principally of those who became settlers after January 1st, 1807, and were


* A principal one, having been that of the State of Maryland, as indicated in some portions of the work.


ix


PREFACE.


not the earliest in their respective townships. The Table in the Appendix, containing a list of the townships, with reference to towns as they now exist, will be found useful, in designating the localities of early settlement.


Errors in dates, names, and events, in reference to Pioneer settlement, will undoubtedly be found; in some instances they were unavoidable. They have depended, of course, mainly, upon the memory of the aged and infirm. None but those who have been engaged in gathering reminiscences from such sources, can know their liability to errror and discrepancies. Any two or three will seldom agree in their recollections. In many in- stances interesting reminiscences have been omitted, where it was impossible to reconcile conflicting statements. It is presumed, upon a consciousness of having exercised great care in this respect, that but few material errors will be found; where such exist, and the author is referred to them, they will be corrected in a second edition.


Much as perhaps the necessity of apologies may be indicated throughout the work, they will be indulged in but sparingly. Intelligent narrative has been the highest mark aimed at in its literary execution. Long accustomed, as the author has been, to writing for the newspaper press - a branch of composition where a careful weighing of words and sentences is generally precluded by exigencies allied to it -he may have brought to his new task something of habit thus acquired, and incurred the just criticism of those who apply to the work no more than fair tests, or subject it to no more than a liberal ordeal. Reared amid the most rugged scenes of Pioneer life upon the Holland Purchase, with little of early opportunities for educa- tion, beyond those afforded in the primitive log school house, he can prefer no claim to any considerable attainments in scholarship; and submits a work to the public, of the character and pretensions of this, not in the absence of an anxiety, and a distrust, which may be supposed to arise from a consciousness of what he has thus frankly acknowledged. "Literary leisure," so essential to the faultless execution of such a task as this has been, he has not enjoyed. It is about eighteen months since the collection of materials was commenced; during the fore part of that period, a connec- tion with a newspaper necessarily divided the time and attention of the Author; and since the preparation of the work for the press commenced, his own ill health, consequent upon a phyical constitution much impaired, and ill health in his family, have been the cause of frequent interruptions. Much the largest portion of the work has been prepared since the printing commenced. All this is not intended to disarm any just and fair criticism; but may perhaps, with some propriety, be preferred to break the force of technical cavilling, or the asperities of faultfinding, if they are encountered.


It only remains to make personal acknowledgments of the kind offices and essential aids of those who have cooperated in the enterprise :- To


X


PREFACE.


the Hon. WASHIINGTON HUNT, of Niagara, for early encouragement to embark in it, and generous assistance, whenever needed, in its progress ; and to the Hon. HIRAM GARDNER, of Lockport, and the Hon. WM. BUEL, of Rochester, the Author is under like obligations. To his brother, C. P. TURNER, Esq. of Black Rock, who, in various ways, has lent his zealous cooperation and assistance.


To LYMAN C. DRAPER, Esq. a resident of Philadelphia, but a native of the Holland Purchase, for essential aid in procuring valuable and rare materials for the work. Leaving this region an ambitious boy, in search of an education ; that acquired, he engaged in historical researches, and now enjoys a well earned fame for valuable contributions to American history. Apprised of the Author's intention to commence this work, prompted by private friendship, and a laudable zeal to aid in the history of the region in which his parents were Pioneers, he has volunteered to search the ar- chives of historical societies, and give to the work the benefit of his discov- eries. He is now engaged in Philadelphia, in preparing for the press "The Life and Times of Gen. GEORGE ROGERS CLARK, of Kentucky," and intends to follow it up with histories of others of the prominent pioneers of the Valley of the Mississippi.


To O. H. MARSHALL, Esq. of Buffalo, for free access to a library, in which he has gratified a highly cultivated literary taste, by the accumula- tion of rare works, in various departments of American history. Meeting him as a stranger, the Author has found in him a friend, patiently and generously, from time to time, cooperating in his enterprise, and giving him the benefit of his more than ordinary familiarity with early Colonial history, and all that relates to our immediate predecessors, the Seneca Iroquois.


To EBENEZER MIX, Esq. of Batavia, for the benefit of his long familiar acquaintance with the Holland Purchase, and the details of the Land Office, in the preparation of the Maps, the Topographical Sketch, and the deduction of title in the Appendix. To Gov. CASS, of Michigan, and the Hon. HENRY C. MURPHY, of Long Island, for the possession of books and pamphlets, essential to the work. To JAMES D. BEMIS, Esq. of Canan- daigua, the respected Father of the Press of Western New York, for early cooperation in the enterprize; and to Judge OLIVER PHELPS, of the same place, for free access to the papers of his grandfather, the patroon of settlement, whose brief biography is given in the body of the work. To the Members of the Buffalo Young Men's Association, for the benefit of free access to their extensive Library, and all the facilities their praise- worthy institution afforded. To HENRY O'RIELLY, Esq. for the possession of valuable papers that he had accumulated with reference to an historical enterprise that it is hoped he will yet find leisure to consummate. To the


xi


PREFACE.


young friend of the author, DANIEL W. BALLOU, JR. of Lockport, whom he transferred from his place as compositor in a printing office, to assist him as a copyist; for aid in historical researches he had so well qualified himself to render, by early studious habits, and an employment of his leisure hours in the laudable pursuit of knowledge. To all, who are identified in the body of the work, as having lent their cooperation and assistance; and especially to such surviving Pioneers as have cheerfully given the author the benefit of their recollections.


The Author closes with an acknowledgement of his obligations to the enterprising Printers and Publishers, Messrs. JEWETT, THOMAS, & Co. prompted as well by a sense of gratitude for their uniform personal courtesy and kindness, as by the gratification which is derived from seeing his work go out from their hands so good a specimen of the progress of the art of typography upon the Holland Purchase; and so creditable to a craft with which he has himself been so long identified.


NOTE .- The Portraits in the work are mostly daguerreotype transfers from oil paint- ings, made at the Gallery of Messrs. EVANS & POWELSON, Buffalo. To the correctness of the transfers, their excellence is in a great measure to be attributed; though their after execution is regarded as a creditable specimen of the progress of the art of Litho- graphy in the United States. The artists employed upon the illustrations are indicated by their names.


INDEX.


Page.


Ancient Pre-occupants of Western N. York, 17


Barton, Benj.


392


Ancient Relics, 19 Brisbane, James 416


Ancient Battle Field, .. 30 Buffalo, 418, 498


Aurora, remains and implements found 30


An aged Indian,.


31


35


Antiquity of the Iroquois,. 48


Arrangement of Tribes at the Council Fires, 59


Allouez, .. 111, 113


Aix La Chappelle, treaty of 1748, 177


Amherst, General. .. 205, 217


Account of a French Colony, 1655, 243 Arnold, Benedict. 272


Alden, Col. 275


Allan, Ebenezer. 296


Autrechy, Alex'r. 414


Alexander,


531


Allegany County


579


Attica,


532


Brebeuf's journey to the Neuter Nation 65


Biart, Father ..


99


Barre, De La ..


137


Cortereal, Gaspar.


72


Burnet, Gov. William.


175


Barnwell,. 179


Bradstreet, Col. 204, 233, 234 Brief notices of events under English dominion, 226


Battle near Buffalo, 231


Burnt Ship Bay, 233


Border Wars of the Revolution, 253


Brant - Thayendanega, 259


Brant, John ... 263


Butler, Col. Zebulon 274


Butler, Col. John 274, 278


Boyd, Liout.


279


282


Brief Biographical Sketches, 286


Butler, Thomas 317


Bruff, Capt ..


3.18


Butler, Richard


349


Boughton, Jared.


378 |


Page.


Blackman, Mrs


386


Busti, Paul


426


Batavia, ..


464, 545


Bush, Wm. H.


471


Blacksnake, Gov.


509


Brief reminiscences of the war of 1812 584


Burning of Buffalo,


597


Buffalo Gazette, .


601


Brown, Major General,


608


Bouck, Wm. C .. 631


Changes of time,


19


Clinton, De Witt.


20, 623


Cuisick's History, (note).


29


Captives of the Iroquois,


45


Council of the League, . 50


Civil and Military Relations of the Iroquois, . . 52


Consanguinity of the Iroquois,


56


Cabot, John and Sebastian. 71


Cartier, James ..


77,79


Champlain, Samuel.


84, 109


Company of New France,


108


Colonists of New France, (note). 109


Colbert,


112


Charlevoix's Description of Niagara Falls, . . 194


Crown Point,


216


Church at Lewiston, 265


Campbell, Mrs. (note)


276


Clinton, General James


277


Chamberlin, Hinds.


321


Cornplanter's Speech,


335


Culver, Oliver.


387


Cazenove, Theophilus


425


Commencement of settlemeut and its


Progress to 1812,


445


Chapin, Cyrenius.


452, 593


Clinton, Gov. George


466. 620


Chipman, Lemuel


481


Butler, Walter.


Burr, Aaron.


419


Ancient works at Lancaster and Shelby


Blacksmith's Tradition,. 150


INDEX. xiii


Page.


Cook, Lemuel


496


Crouse, Peter R.


510


Cuba, ..


538


Coon, Alexander


552


Carpenter, Rev. James


553


Carey, Ebenezer ...


568


Chautauque County,


576


578


Cattaraugus County, .


592


Cook, Lothrop and Bates.


Cass's visit to Niagara Frontier, 604


Commerce of the Upper Lakes, 638


Colles, Christopher.


619


Dominion of the Iroquois, 41


Decay of the Iroquois,. 43


Discoveries by Europeans, accidental 90


De Laet's Description of New Neth- erlands, . 91


Dutch trade with the Natives, 91


Duhaut


131


Dulbut, .


137


Dongan, Gov.


138, 158, 162


Dallion, Joseph De La Roche 192


Dieskau, ..


200


Du Quesne, Fort


205


Devil's Hole,.


227


Dorchester's, Lord, Indian Speech,. 342


Dunham, Gideon


467


Dunn, Jeptha.


497


Doolittle, Ormus and Reuben.


533


Douglass' description of Buffalo.


606


Equality of the Iroquois Confederacy, 59


Early European Voyages and Discov- eries,. 71


Exports of Fur, . 91


Early Notices of Niagara Falls, ..... 192


Early glimpses of Western New York, 236


Ellicott, Joseph .


404, 412, 430


Ellicott, Benjamin.


408, 432


Ellicott, Andrew


432


Evans, David E.


442


Egleston, George


414


Eddy, David.


475


Erie County, .


575


Erie Canal.


617


Eddy, Thomas


624


Fort Hill,


31, 152


Franciscans,


93


First vessels upon the Upper Lakes,


116


Frontenac, Count .....


137, 162, 170, 172


Frontenac, Fort


161


Fur Trade, ..


223


Farmers Brother,


230, 291


Fairbanks, Joshua


319


Frontier Posts after peace of 1783, ... 338 First assault and battery case in Buffalo 414 First crops raised on the Holland . Purchase, . . 420 Foster, Mrs. Anna 470


First settlers on the Holland Purchase,


from the commencement of land


sales to 1807, ..


454


First settlers in townships, from 1808


to 1821,


526


Farmersville,


540


Fillmore, Rev. Gleason


546


Fort Niagara


183, 206, 590


Geographical position of the Iroquois, 42


Goshnold,


80


Griffin, the.


121, 126, 133


Garangula,


138, 142


Graffenried,


178


Greenhalph, Wentworth


236


Gansevoort, Col.


269, 272


Glimpses of Western New York after


the Revolution,


310


Gould, John.


313


Gorham, Nathaniel,


329


Green, John.


508


Garnsey, Hon. D. G.


511, 642


Griffin, John.


538


Genesee County.


574


Human bones excavated,


27


Ho-de-no-sau-nee


42


Henry Vil,


71


Hochelaga,


78


Hunt, Capt ..


81


Hudson, Henry


82, 87


Hennepin's account of La Salle's boat, 119


Hennepin,


129


Hennepin's account of the Falls,


193


Hudson Bay Company,


222


Herkimer, General, .


268


Hopkins, Silas.


310


Hosmer, Timothy


376


Historical Deduction of Holland Com- pany Title, 401


Handecour.


414


Howell, Hon. Nathaniel W.


417


Hamilton, Alexander.


418


Hopkins, Gen'l Timothy S. 421


Holland Co's. West Geneseo Lands, Hurd, Reuben 497


424


Hoops, Maj. Adam


504


Hart, Joseph


554


Hall, General


594


Hawley, Jesse


621, 629


Holley, Myron


626


Indications of preceding Races, 18 Indian Burial Grounds, .. 26 Indian Remains on Genesee River, 36


Iroquois or Five Nations, .. 40


Independence of each Indian Nation, 51


Iroquois Laws of Descent, .. 56 Indian Treatment of Children, 64


Indian Trade, ..


175


Indian Treaties for Lands,


304


Page.


De Nonville's Expedition, .


143


Griffith, Eli.


516


xiv


INDEX.


Page.


Joliet,


114, 117


Joutel,


.


132


Joncaire,


184, 186


Journal of the Seige of Fort Niagara, 209 Johnson, Sir William. 217, 228, 233, 247


Johnson, Guy


255


Johnson, Sir John


265, 267


Jones, Horatio.


286


Jemison, Mary


293


Jemison, John.


295


Johnston, Capt. Wm.


411, 498




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