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GC 974.7 MlIn v.] 1735153
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01125 7950
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7
.53
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
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THE
NATURAL, STATISTICAL AND CIVIL
HISTORY
OF THE
STATE OF NEW-YORK.
v. |
IN THREE VOLUMES,
BY JAMES MACAULEY.
NO
VOLUME I.
840
NEW-YORK:
PUBLISHED BY COULD & BANKS, AND BY WILLIAM GOULD & CO. ALBANY.
- 1829.
A. S. Gould, Printer.
P
1
F851.53
1735153
Southern District of New-York, ss.
BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the 16th day of March, A. D. 1829, in the fifty-third year of the Independence of the United States of America, James Macauley, of the said District, has deposited in this office the title of a Book, the right whereof he claims as Author, in the words following, to wit :
-
" The Natural, Statistical and Civil History of the State of New-York. In Three Volumes. By James Macauley."
In conformity to the Act of Congress of the United States, entitled " An Act for the encouragement of Learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the time there. in mentioned." And also to an Act, entitled "an Act, supplementary to an Act, entitled an Act for the encouragement of Learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned, and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving and etching, historical and other prints."
FRED. J. BETTS, Clerk of the Southern District of New-York.
1
TO THE PUBLIC.
The author, after he had made a draft of his History of the State of New-York, submitted the same to the examination of several literary gentlemen of eminence, in order to obtain their opinion in relation to the propriety of its publication, from . whom he received the following letters of commendation.
Letter from Alexander B. Johnson, Esq. of Utica, Oneida Co. Utica, October 14th, 1826.
To James Macauley, Esq.
Sir-The History of the State of New-York is an in- adequate title. Your work is rather a chorography of the State, with a copious topography of every city, village, moun- tain, valley, lake, river, creek and canal; a display of its in- digenous and its exotic animate productions, and inanimate ; its commerce, manufactures, arts, literature and religion.
Since our States have become members of a great confed- eracy, the political History of one alone is difficult to indite.
The manner in which you group the kindred natural divi- sions of the earth, tends much to assist memory, and to the communication of definite information. Your chapter on winds, yielded me much instruction. In short you have sketch- ed out an immense outline. From a careful examination of more than thirty quires of close manuscript, I can say you have collected many important facts ; recorded many interest- ing phenomena ; deduced many rational conclusions, and des- cribed minutely many sections of country.
That it may be productive of both honour and profit, is the
- sincere wish of, sir, your respectful and very obedient,
A. B. JOHNSON.
Letter from the Hou. Ezekiel Bacon, Esq. of Utica. Utica, October 16th, 1826.
James Macauley, Esq.
Sir-I have looked over some portion of your manu- script, of a projected History or view of the State of New- York, but have had no sufficient leisure to examine it critically, or with sufficient attention to form a competent opinion of its particular merits. I am, however, satisfied that it embraces
IV
geographical, geological and statistical views of this and the adjoining States, which nothing but great research and in- dustry could have enabled you to collect ; many parts of which are new aud original, and not, I believe, to be found in any other single work. Yours, respectfully,
.
E. BACON.
.
Leiter from the Rev. Dr. H. Davis, President of Hamilton College, Oneida county.
Hamilton College, Nov. 22d, 1826.
James Macauley, Esq.
Dear Sir-I have read, with attention, a considerable part of your manuscript, denominated a History of New-York. It is evident, that your collection of facts, is the result of long continued and patient exertions, and much of careful and mi- nute research.
As to the question of publishing it, I cannot advise you to send it to the press in its present form. It certainly comprises a mass of valuable materials. Were it reduced about one-half of its present number of pages, its matter arranged in the best style and manner, and in some respects corrected, I am of the opinion that it would be found an interesting and useful work .* Truly and respectfully your friend and humble servant,
H. DAVIS.
Letter from Dr. Josiah Noyes.
Hamilton College, November 22d, 1826. James Macauley, Esq.
Dear Sir-From the perusal of various parts of your History of New-York, in manuscript, I consider it as containing a great number of useful facts, arranged on an extensive plan. By some improvements in the style, and a condensation of some parts of it, with the corrections and additions which you will soon be able to make, I am confident it will be rendered a very interesting work.
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Very respectfully your friend and humble servant, ,
JOSIAH' NOYES,
Professor of Chemistry, at Hamilton College.
* The whole has been copied, and many corrections made since the date of this letter.
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-
Letter from the Hon. Nathan Williams, Esq.
Utica, Feb. 8th, 1827. . To James Macauley, Esq.
Sir-I have perused some chapters of your work, upon the Civil and Natural History of the State of New-York, and have arrived at the conviction, that if the whole work is written as well as the parts I have examined, it cannot fail to be highly interesting and useful to the present and rising generations. When we consider the wide range you have taken in assisting our knowledge of the most important part of North America, and the great labour and diligence that the work must have cost you, our good wishes, at least, are enlisted in your favour ; and for myself, I sincerely say, that I hope you will not only publish it, but that the public approbation of your work will give that reward, which, I think, it will be found to deserve,
Yours, respectfully,
N. WILLIAMS.
Letter from Dr. Samuel L. Mitchill.
C
. New-York, June 13th, 1827.
To James Macauley, Esq.
Sir-I write you this note on the subject of your medi- tated History of New-York. Its present amplitude, the neglect of the early settlers, and the employment of the Dutch tongue, in recording events, have all operated against the full and re- gular execution of this great work.
I am much pleased to find you have resolution and ability to persevere in a task of so much complication and difficulty.
If I comprehend you rightly, you intend to give both the Natural and Civil History.
The former will occupy your first volume; treating of the mountains, hills, plains, valleys, rivers, lakes, cataracts, climate, winds, and other matters appertaining to this department.
The second volume will comprehend an account of the coun- ties, cities, antiquities, aboriginal population, arrival of em- igrants from Europe, and the transactions of the latter to 1750.
Your third volume will comprehend the proceedings from 1750 to 1800. A correct delineation of these several periods, I mean the colonial, the belligerent, and the republican con- dition of the people, present scope for wide and deep re- search.
I have listened with interest to the chapters you have read to me. I think the disquisition on the Red Men, or Indians,
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VI
was very instructive, and highly probable. Really, you seem to have shown that the ancestors of the Toltecans and Mexicans once inhabited the region between Black river and the Arkan- saw. I have long been convinced that the Indians of the northern division of our western hemisphere, are Tartars, as I am that those of the southern section, are Malays. I there- fore coincide with your views, that the Hurons, Delawares, and the kindred tribes which formerly possessed New England, New-York, New-Jersey, and the tract reaching to the Chiesa- peake bay, were members of this race ; and your conclusion that the famous Five Nations, or Agoneaseah, who occupied the country south of Lake Ontario, were descended from the Hu- rons, carries with it all the force that the evidence in such a case will warrant.
If, sir, the other chapters are written as well as those you have submitted to me, I consider the manuscript as a valuable performance.
It would be too much to say you have exhausted all the materials ; but it is fair and candid to acknowledge, that your table of contents exhibits a characteristic, and compre- hensive outline, which should you be unable to complete in all its details, will pass to your successors as a document of im- portance.
I conclude with the assurance of my personal regard, and of my wishes for the prosperity of your elaborate undertaking.
SAMUEL L. MITCHILL ..
Letter from Dr. Jeremiah Van Rensselaer.
New-York, June 26th, 1827.
Mr. James Macauley,
Sir-At your request, I have examined the chapters of your contemplated work on the Civil and Natural History of the State of New-York.
The plan of your work appears ample and satisfactory, and one which, if properly executed, cannot fail to be duly appre- ciated. The History of our State, from its early colonization by the Dutch, to the present day, is replete with interest. An authentic and well written narrative of the wars alone, of which our State has been, as it were, the theatre, would form an interesting and valuable work, independent of what are termed the early troubles and Indian wars-the French wars that harrassed our froutiers for more than half of the last cen- tury ; the war of our independence, and the late war, with Great Britain, are fertile themes for the historian.
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.
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VII
The Natural History of our State, is a laborious task, and one, which in the present state of our knowledge, may perhaps prove difficult ; but in which, I trust you will succeed. Mate- rials for such a work have increased rapidly within the last few years, and by a careful examination and comparison of the works of such naturalists as have attended to the subject, aid- ed by your own observations, during several successive years, I doubt not you will make it an attractive part of your work.
To the merit of what I have seen, I cheerfully offer my tes- timony. Very respectfully your obedient servant,
JER. VAN RENSSELAER .-
Letter from Dr. David Hosack.
New- York, June 27th, 1827.
Dear Sir-As far as my time and engagements have permitted me to read those chapters of your work which you have submitted to my perusal; I very much approve of your general design, and of the outline you have sketched-when the latter may be filled up in the manner some of the subjects have been treated of, I have no doubt your work will prove a valu- able accession to the historical publications which have already reflected honour upon our country, and will merit the patron- age of the friends ot American literature.
Accept, dear sir, my best wishes for your success in the im- portant undertaking in which you have embarked, and believe me to be very respectfully yours,
DAVID HOSACK.
To James Macauley, Esq.
V
Letter from Dr. James R. Manley.
New-York, June 28th, 1827. Mr. James Macauley,
Sir-The manuscript portions of your work which you left with me, I have carefully read, and I take great pleasure in bearing my feeble testimony to their merits. Such parts as treat of the Aborigines of this State, their early settlements, their wanderings, wars, occasional conquests, and consequent muta- tions of sovereignty, are as curious as they are interesting ; and give ample evidence of the patience and industry which were necessary to complete your projected History. I think you may indulge the assurance, that the public, and more particularly the citizens of this State, will patronize the work, to an extent which will not disappoint your expectations.
.
VIII
The revision of the work, preceding the publication, will give you the opportunity of correcting those inaccuracies of style which are inseparable from the first draughts of all works of such magnitude on such subjects.
With my best wishes for your success, I subscribe myself yours, sincerely,
JAMES R. MANLEY, M. D.
Letter from Mr. Jas. Renwick, Columbia College, New-York. 2d July, 1827.
: Mr. James Macauley has exhibited to me some portions of the manuscript of a History of the State of New-York. To one part of it I have paid some attention, and perused it with care ; it is that which relates to the climate. I find that this portion of his work is drawn up with much care and labour, and contains a collection of a mass of valuable facts. Should every other part of this History evince equal industry in the preparation and collection of materials, the whole cannot fail of being a valuable acquisition to such as apply themselves to the study of our local annals.
JAMES RENWICK,
Prof. of Nat. Exp. Phil. and, Chem. in Columbia College.
Letter from Dr. Felix Pascalis.
New-York, July 11th, 1827. To James Macauley, Esq.
Dear Sir-I tender you my humble testimony of the fa- vourable impressions I have received from an examination of some of the important chapters of your projected History of New-York, and I feel convinced that the whole of it will be found instructing and interesting.
The rapid advance of this section of North America, in agri- culture, population and commerce, sufficiently prove, that by its soil and climate, the State of New-York is one of the best districts of this great confederacy.
Ancient and modern nations have been much indebted for their prosperity to good statistical books, or travellers' narra- · tives, which, with the report of their good government, have greatly enhanced the value of their natural resources, and their progress of internal improvements. That this may be the re- sult of your publication, I have a sanguine hope ; and that it may be justly estimated and patronized by your fellow citizens, is the wish of your respectfully and cordially very humble servant,
FELIX PASCALIS.
TO THE
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HON. STEPHEN VAN RENSSELAER, EsQ:
THE PROMOTER OF
AGRICULTURE, COMMERCE, INTERNAL IMPROVE- MENTS, AND THE SCIENCES;
THE
NATURAL, STATISTICAL AND CIVIL
HISTORY
.
OF THE
STATE OF NEW-YORK,
IS MOST RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED BY THE .
AUTHOR.
.
PREFACE.
Two hundred and fifteen years have passed away, since a few adventurers from Holland formed establishments at New- York and Albany : establishments destined to be the future abodes of civilization, of commerce, of opulence, and of the arts and scien- ces. Here then the history of the State dates its origin. The cir- cumstances attending the early settlement of this State, like those of the other Atlantic States belonging to the confederation, have not been handed down with so much care and precision, as we could have wished. From the year 1614 to the year 1635, there are very few records remaining in relation to the affairs of the colonists. The encroachments of the colonies of New- England, at the latter period, upon the Dutch possessions on Connecticut river, and shortly after upon those along the Sound, aud upon Long Island, gave rise to a series of epistolary corres- pondence, from which some valuable information is derived. The correspondence was continued for about twenty-nine years, when the English came into possession of the country. From , thence to our time, information has, in a measure, increased in a ratio corresponding with the increase of the country.
It is not our design to blame the humble founders of New- York and Albany for not having left us copious memorials of their time. They were surrounded with difficulties, dangers and hardships. They were intent on self-preservation and gain, which are things common to the human family. They did not imagine that they were laying the foundation of a great
PREFACE.
opulent, agricultural, commercial and populous State. They did not imagine that ere long, the little village of New Amsterdam, enclosed as it then was with pickets and confined to a few perches of ground, would grow up into a great emporium. It is, there- fore, not a matter of censure, that they have been almost silent in the narration of events. Objects before they become consi- derable, seldom attract much notice.
The growing importance of the State would seem to justify the opinion, that its history ought to be enlarged and better understood. Hitherto, very little attention has been paid to this subject. New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky and Tennessee possess valuable histories, which have been written since the revolution. The history of New- York by Mr. Smith, although a work of intrinsic merit, does not appear to be calculated for the present time. Great changes have occurred in our civil and political institutions since he wrote. Our independence has been established upon a broad and solid basis ; our popu- lation, our improvements and our commerce have been aston- ishingly augmented. New counties, new towns and new cities have sprung up : roads have been opened : bridges made and canals constructed. A State becoming so celebrated for its extent, its fertility, its agriculture, its commerce, its opulence, its internal improvements and its population, ought to be better known.
The method we have adopted in the arrangement of this work has been to divide it into three volumes. These we have sub- divided into chapters.
The first volume treats of the extent of the State, its moun- tains, bills, champaigus, plains, vales, valleys, marshes, rivers, creeks, lakes, seas, bays, springs, cataracts, and canals ; its cli- mate, winds, zoology, &c.
.
PREPACE. XIII
..
'T'he second volume treats of the counties, cities, towns and villages ; antiquities of the west ; origin of the Agoneaseah, their manners, customis, laws and other matters'; discovery of Amer- ica ; voyages of Cabot and Hudson ; settlement of the New Netherlands by the Dutch, in 1614; location of the Indian tribes ; controversies between the Dutch and English ; surren- der in 1664, and thence to 1750.
The third volume treats of the war between England and France for the conquest of Canada, the war of the revolution, and other matters which occurred, &c.
In describing objects, and other things appertaining to na- tural, statistical and civil history, we have endeavoured to con- fine ourselves to facts, and have, in general, laboured to avoid embellishments. History, whether natural, civil or statistical, is founded on facts. Embellishments may please the fancy ; but after all, they tend very little to instruct the mind. Iu na- tural history, we have avoided the use of technical phrases, when they might perplex and mislead In most cases, where we have used these terms, we have been careful to give expla- nations ; and in general have dispensed with them, except in tables, where definitions are affixed. Deviations, in almost every instance, are accompanied with explanations, so that little or no inconvenience can arise on this score.
With respect to this work, it is little more than a compendi- um or abridged history of the State. Geology, botany, zool- ogy, &c. present immense fields, which no single individual can explore : all that he can do is to contribute his mite : this is all that we have aspired at.
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In our relations, we have laboured to arrive at the truth. Impartial truth has constantly been before us. We have re- strained ourselves in sallies of the imagination, though we are
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XIV
PREFACE.
not an entire stranger to the power of such illusion over the generality of readers. But 'according to our views, history, whether natural, statistical, or civil, does not belong to the de- partment of romance. We have endeavoured to describe objects and things as we have found them. This has been our uniform aim. To please all sorts of readers, we know is impossible. He who writes with such delusive expectations must be a stran- ger to mankind. Our desire has been rather to instruct than to please. Those, therefore, who are enraptured only with the rela- tions of contending armies, great victories, rapid conquests, the rise, extension and fall of kingdoms and empires, and other splen did events that dazzle the eye, must have recourse to other works. Our history of New-York is a detail of natural, statistical and civil history. It is the history of a great State : a State that has risen in two hundred and fifteen years, from the smallest beginnings ; not, however, by conquest, but by enterprise, indus- try and virtue, which are more praise-worthy and noble, than the bloody laurels of conquerors.
With respect to the style, we do not intend to offer an apol- ogy. The great object of language, the indulgent reader will remember, is to express our ideas clearly and intelligibly. Pompous diction is above our capacity. We have endeavour- ed to render our efforts useful to society. This has been our constant aim. Should we have attained this, our ends are ac- complished : the good of our fellow beings, is the utmost of our wishes.
JAMES MACALLEY.
Herkimer, (N. Y.) March 16th, 1829.
:
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
Pages
Situation extent and Superfices,
1,2
Mountains, 2 to 2%
Sacondaga Mountains,
. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Taconic, and Peterborough,
9, 10
Highlands
10, 11
Shawangunk
11
Blue Mountains
11, 12
Kaatskill Mountains
12, 13
Mountains along the Delaware, &c.
13, 14
Mountains of Broome and Tioga 14
Observations on the mountain and hill-ranges of De- laware, Otsego, Chenango, &c. . 2
14, 15
Remarks on the height of Palmer Mountain, Chatau- que Ridge, &c. 16, 17, 18, 19 Mountains of New-York belong to the Alleghanies 20
Table of mountain elevations, &c. 20, 1, 2,3 1 .
CHAPTER II.
Hilly Tracts 24, 5, 6, 7, 8 Hilly Tracts along the Hudson, &c .- along the De- laware and Susquehannah-on the Genessee and Alleghany rivers-and in the North.
CHAPTER III ..
Champaigns and Plains.
Champaigns and Plains of the Hudson 29, 30
Plains, &c. in Montgomery county 30
Champaigns in the counties of Greene, Rockland, Cayuga, Seneca, Wayne, Ontario, &c. 30, 1,2
Plain of the West 33, 4, 5 Plains of Long Island 35, 6
: XVI
CONTENT'S.
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CHAPTER IV
Pages.
Vales and Valleys.
Oneida and Seneca Vale 37, 8, 9, 40, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Vale of Geuesee
.
47
Vale of Tonnawanta 47
Vale of Ithaca 48
Vales of Clove and Wallkill 48
Valley of the Mohawk 49, 50
Valleys of Schoharie, Sauquait, Oriskinny, Chenan- go, Conewango, &c. 50,51
Tonnawanta Swamp 51,52
Seneca Swamp 52
Sacondaga Marsh 52 .
CHAPTER V.
Rivers, Crecks, &c.'
The Hudson and its tributaries 54, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 60, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
The Bronx, Harlaem and Hackensack . 66
The Delaware and its collaterals 66, 7, 8,9
The Susquehannah and its confluents 69, 70, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,8
Coal Fields in the basin of the Susquehannah 78. 9, 80
The Alleghany River and its auxiliaries 80, 1,2
The Ohio River 82, 3
Streams that fall into Lake Erie, &c.
Chatauque, Canadaway, Cattaraugus, Eighteen Mile and Buffalo Creeks
83, 4
Tonnawanta
84, 5
Streams that fall into Lake Ontario.
Tuscarora, Eighteen Mile, Johnson's Oak Orchard, Sandy and Salmon Creeks 85
Genesee River and its branches 85, 6,7
Irondequot Creek 87,
Oswego River, and the streams that enter it 67 to 90 Little and Big Salmon Rivers and Sandy Creek 90
Black River and the streams falling into it 90,92
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CONTENTS. XVII
Paget. 92
Perch and Chaumont Rivers Rivers that empty into the St. Lawrence.
* The Oswegatchie, and its dependants The Grass, Racket and St. Regis 93,5
92, 3
Salmon, Trout, and Chateaugue Rivers
95
Streams that run into Lake Champlain.
The Big and Little Chazy, Saranack, Sable, and Boqnet Rivers 95, 6
The outlet of Lake George, Wood creek Pawlet and Poultney Rivers . · 97
The River St. Lawrence 98, 9, 100, 1
The River Niagara 101,2
Detroit, St. Clair and St. Mary's Rivers 103
CHAPTER VI.
Lakes, Seas and Bays.
Lake George 105
Schroon, &c.
106,7
Saratoga, &c.
107, 8,9
Otsego and Schuyler's
. 109, 10
Linklaen's, Otisco, Skaneateles, Owasco, Cayuga, Sene- ca and Canandaigua 110, 11, 12
Honeyoe, Canesus and Hemlock 112
Chatauque and Cosdaga 113
Cross, Onondaga and Oneida 113, 14
Oswegatchie 115
Lake Ontario, and its Bays . 116, 17
Decrease of Lake Ontario 118, 19
Lake Erie, and its Bays
119, 20, 21
Lake St. Clair 121
Lake Huron
121, 22
Lake Michigan
122
Lake Champlain and its Bays
122, 23, 24
Atlantic Ocean 124
Long Island Sound 124
East River
125
VOL. I. C
XVIII
CONTENTS.
Pages.
New-York Bay
12
Newark Bay 125
Arthurkull and Staten Island Sounds
126
Sandy Hook Bay
126
Amboy Bay
126
Narrows 127
Gardner's and Peconic Bays 127
Jamaica and other Bays
127
I
CHAPTER VII.
Canals.
Introductory remarks 128, 9
Canals of Egypt, China, and Hindostan 130, 1
Canals of Europe
131, 2
Middlesex Canal
132, 3
Canals of New-York-the Western and Northern Inland
Lock Navigation Companies
133, 4, 5, 6
Origin of the Erie Canal
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