USA > New York > Franklin County > A history of St. Lawrence and Franklin counties, New York : from the earliest period to the present time > Part 19
USA > New York > St Lawrence County > A history of St. Lawrence and Franklin counties, New York : from the earliest period to the present time > Part 19
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
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 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84
1 [The remainder of the report relates to other subjects.]
Signed, SIMEON DE WITT.
ALBANY JAN. 14, 1800.
The troubles from trespass anticipated in the above, were soon real- ized ; for the particulars of these the reader is referred to our account of Massena.
On February 20, 1800, there was received in Assembly from the Senate, a resolution: " That the commissioners of the land office be directed to settle with the St. Regis Indians, for such tracts of land, included in the lands confirmed to them by the late treaty, and before located by in- dividuals, and granted by this state, by making compensation for the lands so granted, or by satisfying the individuals owning such lands in such manner as they shall judge most advantageous to the state, and the legislature, will make provision for carrying into effect any agreement which may be made by the commissioners for extinguishing the claims of the said Indians, or of the individual proprietors aforesaid."
This resolution was postponed by the assembly, nor is it known what was the final action of the legislature upon it.
On the 9th of April, 1801, a law was passed making it lawful for the governor to cause a treaty to be holden with the St. Regis Indians, for the purpose of extinguishing their right to a tract of a mile square at the mill on Grass river, and for that purpose to appoint an agent on the part of the state, and procure the appointment of a commissioner, on the part of she United States, to attend the holding as such treaty. Pro- vided that the consideration to be paid the said Indians for the said tract, shall not exceed a permanent annuity of two hundred dollars. A sum not exceeding $500 was appropriated to defray the expense of holding this treaty.
The surveyor general was directed to cause the meadows reserved to the use of the said Indians, upon Grass river, and which had been dis- posed of by the state, to be surveyed, and the quantity ascertained, and to report the same to the legislature at the next session.
It was further made lawful for the agent to extinguish the right of ferriage, belonging to the said Indians over the River St. Lawrence, ad- joining their reservation, for such reasonable annuity as they may deem proper.
The future payments of the annuity stipulated with the said Indians, was directed to be made at the town of Plattsburgh, in the county of
152
HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE
Clinton. The act referred to makes a provision for the patenting by the state to William Gray, of two hundred and fifty-seven acres of land, in- cluding the mill on Salmon river.
The president of the United States, by a message making snndry nominations, and addressed to the senate, February 2, 1802. recommend- ed the nomination of John Taylor of New York, to be a commissioner to hold a treaty between the state of New York, and the St. Regis Indians.
He was led to this, from having received a communication from the governor of New York, purporting that the St. Regis Indians had pro- posed ceding one mile square, including the ferry, to the state of New York, and requesting a commissioner to be appointed on the part of the United States, to sanction the business, which it was proposed should be accomplished during the ensuing winter at Albany.
(American State Papers, Indian Affairs, vol. i, p. 565.)
In 1802, agents were appointed to treat with the St. Regis Indians for the sale of their mile square, and meadows. The following commu- nication made to the Assembly by Governor Clinton, March, 15, 1802, contains the results of their negociations. It was first reported to the senate.
Gentlemen :
"I now submit to the Legislature, the report of the agents appointed to treat with the St. Regis Indians, for the extinguishment of the mile square, and the meadows on Grass river. I also present to you a petition from those Indians, praying among other things, for legislative provisions, to enable them to lease a part of their lands, to establish a ferry across the St. Regis river, and to apply the income to the support of a school for the instruction of their children. It may be proper to observe, that as the petitioners have uniformly evinced a warm attachment, to the state, and have made uncommon advances towards civilization, they have a claim to the attention of the Legislature, arising as well from princi- ples of policy, as benevolence. They discover an anxiety to return home as soon as possible, but at the same time are unwilling to leave this city, until the result of their application to the Legislature is known." GEO., CLINTON.
The report of the agents referred to, in his excellency's said message, and the petition of the St. Regis Indians, were also severally read, and together with the message, referred to the committee of thee house. ,The petition was as follows:
" To our great and Honorable Brother, John Jay, Governor of the State of New York :
Brothers :
We, the chiefs and warriors of the village of St. Regis, have sent the bearers, Colonel Louis Cook, Jacob Francis, Peter Tarbell, as deputies, and William Gray as interpreter, to act and settle all business for us tha t
)
153
AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES.
may concern this state, or us, the above mentioned village, or any indi- vidual belonging to this state.
Firstly, we beg you brother, to order means to have our meadows on Grass river, surveyed, and the number of acres contained there, to liave as many acres cleared near our village, within the reservation made to us by this state, and then to have the use of the meadows on Grass river, till such time as those lands will be fit to mow grass on.
Secondly, brother, we wish to inform you, that at the west end of our meadows, on Grass river, we have one square mile of land, likewise re- served to us by the state, with a saw mill in the centre of the mile square, for which Amable Foshee is bound to pay us the sum of two hundred dollars per year, as long as he keeps it in his custody, and we are not satisfied with his usage to us.
Thirdly, brother; there is a route that leads from Plattsburgh on Lake Champlain, crosses the Chateaugay river, and comes straight to the vil- lage of St. Regis, where there ought to be a ferry kept up for the ac- commodation of the public, and the use of this ferry is like to create quarrels and disputes :
Now brothers in order to prevent all these disagreeable contentions, we wish to propose to you, for to take one hundred acres, and the privi- lege of the ferry, and where there may be a good potash works erected for those people who wish to give us two hundred and fifty dollars, as a yearly rent.
Fourthly, brother, we wish to inform you, that there are nine miles be- tween houses, however the route runs through our reservation, and we mean to rent a part of our lands, in order to make it convenient for travelers, and as some benefit to ourselves and children, who may follow us, and we began to inform all our brothers who may see fit to rent the lands of us, that we expect they will pay their rents according to con- tract, as you have law and justice in your power, and we are not ac- quainted with our brother white people's laws.
Fifthly, brother, there is a request from your sisters of the village of St. Regis, the women of families, which is, that you pity them, and send them a school master. to learn their children to read and write.
Brother, your compliance to these requests will cause us ever to pray your welfare and happiness, who remain your brothers, chiefs, and their wives in the St. Regis."
TE-HA-TON-WEN-HEON-GATHA, TI-E-HEN-NE. TE-GA-RI-A-TA-RO-GEN, ON-WA-RI-EN-TE. ORI-WA-GE-TE, To-TA-TO-WA-NE, AT-TI-AX-TO-TIE.
Witness, WILLIAM GRAY.
Accordingly two laws were enacted, relating to these people, at the ensuing session of the Legislature. The first was passed March 8, 1802. which provided, " that it shall and may be lawful for his Excellency the Governor, and the Surveyor general, to treat with the St. Regis Indians for the extinguishment of their claim to the mile square, and the meadows on Grass river, ceded to them in the year 1796, on such terms as they shall deem most condusive to the interests of the state, or to pur- chase the same from the individuals to whom it has been granted by the state before it was ceded to the said Indians, in case the latter purchase can be made on more favorable terms than the extinguishment of the Indian claim.
154
HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE
That in case the said lands can not be purchased of the said Indians, or of the said patentees at a reasonable price, his Excellency, the Gov- ernor, shall represent the same to the Legislature that further provisions may be made respecting those claims."
The meadows were subsequently purchased of the patentees for the Indians :
During the same session, an act was passed, relating to the St. Regis Indians, March 26, 1802, as follows.
" Be it enacted by the people of the state of New York, in Senate and As- sembly, That William Gray, Louis Cook and Loren Tarbell, belonging to the tribe of the St. Regis Indians, be and they are hereby appointed trustees for the said tribe, for the purpose of leasing the ferry over St. Regis river, with one hundred acres of land adjoining, aud also one mile square of land on Grass river, within their reservation within this state, for such term of time as they shall judge proper, not exceeding ten years, and it shall and may be lawful for the said trustees, to apply the rents and profits of the said ferry and lands for a support of a school for the instruction of the children of the said tribe, (of which the said trus- tees shall have the superintendence,) and for such other purposes as the said trustees shall judge most conducive to the interests of the said tribe, and the powers hereafter vested in the said trustees, 'may be exer- cised by them or any two of them.
And be it further enacted, That it shall and may be lawful for the said St. Regis Indians, on the first Tuesday of May next, and on the first Tuesday of May in every year thereafter, to hold a town meeting on their said reservation, within the state, and by a majority of male In- dians above, twenty-one years of age, to choose a clerk, who shall keep order in such meeting, and enter in a book to be provided by him for that purpose, the proceedings of the said meetings.
And be it further enacted, That it shall and may be lawful for the said tribe, at any such meeting aforesaid, to make such rules, orders and regu- Jations, respecting the improvement of any other of their lands in the said reservation, as they shall judge necessary, and to choose trustees for carrying the same into execution, if they shall judge such trustees to be necessary.
And be it further enacted, That it shall and may be lawful for the said William Gray, Louis Cook, and Loren Tarbell, to procure a bell for the church belonging to the said tribe, to be paid for out of their annuity.
And be it further enacted, That it shall and may be lawful for the per- son administering the government of this state, to cause to be sent to the said tribe at the place where their annuity is paid, two suits of silk colors, one with the arms of the United States, and the arms of this state as a gratuity, and to draw a warrant on the treasury for the ex- penses of thesame."
On the approach of the war, the situation of St. Regis, on the national boundary, placed these people in a peculiar and delicate position. Up to this period, although residing in both governments, they had been as one, and in their internal affairs, were governed by twelve chiefs, who were elected by the tribe, and held their offices for life.
The annuities and presents of both governments were equally divided among them, and in the cultivation of their lands, and the division of
155
AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES.
the rents and profits arising from leases, they knew no distinction of party.
The war operated with peculiar severity against them, from the terror of Indian massacre, which the recollections and traditions of former. wars, had generally inspired the inhabitants.
So great was the terror which these poor people excited. that they could not travel, even where acquainted, without procuring a pass, which they were accustomed to obtain from any of the principal inhabit- ants, whose names were publicly known. A paper, stating that the bearer was a quiet and peaceable Indian, with or without a signature, they were accustomed to solicit, and this they would hold up in sight, when still at a distance, that those who might meet them should not be alarmed. They were likewise accustomed to require persons traveling across their reservation, to have, if strangers, a pass, purporting the peaceable nature of their business. The chiefs, it is said, appointed certain persons to grant these passes, among whom was Cap- tain Polley, of Massena Springs. As few of them could read it became necessary to agree upon some emblem by which the signification could be known, and the following device was adopted: If a person were going through to French Mills, a bow was drawn on the paper, but if its bearer was designing to visit St. Regis village, an arrow was added thus.
Thus cut off from their usual means of subsistence, they were reduced to a wretched extremity, to obtain relief from which, Col. Louis repaired to Ogdensburgh, and sent the following letter to Gov. Tompkins:
" I address you these lines, for the purpose of expressing the situation of my nation, and of giving you assurances of our constantly cherishing good will and friendship towards the United States, and of our deter- mination not to intermeddle with the war which has broken out between them and the English, and which has placed us in so critical a situation. Our young men being prevented from hunting, and obtaining a subsist- ence for their families, are in want of provisions, and I address myself in their behalf to the justice and liberality of the governor of this state, to obtain a supply of beef, pork and flour, to be delivered to us at St. Regis, during the time that we are compelled to give up our accustomed pursuits, which it seems, if continued, would give aların to our white brethren. I have come myself to this place, to communicate the dis- tressed situation of our nation to Col. Benedict, who has promised to submit the same to you, and in hopes of soon receiving a favorable an- swer to my request, 1 subscribe myself with much attachment, your affectionate brother and friend."
(Signed,)
LOUIS K COOK, his mark.
. One of the chiefs of the nation of the St. Regis Indians, and a Lt. Co !. in the service of the United States of America.
156
HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE
In consequence of the foregoing letter, orders were issued that the St. Regis Indians should be supplied with rations during the war at French Mills. They accordingly received during the war, about 500 rations daily, at the hands of Wareham Hastings, the agent for the government.
The Indians, while drawing their rations, begged some for their priest, from the best of motives, which the latter received as a kindness from them; but this circumstance gave him more trouble than it conferred benefit, for it was with the greatest difficulty, that he was able to justify or explain this course, with the British and ecclesiastical authorities. He narrowly escaped imprisonment on suspicion of receiving bribes from the American government. It will be remembered that the priest's house is on the Canadian side of the boundary.
In 1812, it was agreed between a British and an American commis- sioner, that the natives should remain neutral in the approaching contest.
It is said that in the month of June, Isaac Le Clare, a Frenchman, then and still living at St. Regis, being down at Montreal with a raft of wood, was met by an uncle, who suggested an interview with the governor, which resulted in his receiving a lieutenant's commission, on the recommendation of Col. De Salaberry.
Before his return, the British company stationed at St. Regis, was captured as below stated, and Lieut. Le Clare succeeded to the pay, but not to the rank, of captain, in place of Montigney. He raised a company of about 80 Indian warriors, and crossed to Cornwall. These Indians participated in several engagements during the ensuing war. At the taking of Little York, they were posted at Kingston. At the attack upon Sackett's Harbor, twenty British St. Regis Indians were present under Lieut. St. Germain; and at Ogdensburgh, in Feb., 1813, about thirty of the same, under Capt. Le Clare, crossed to the town. At the battle of Chrysler's field, they were at Cornwall, and prevented by Col. McLean, of the British army, from engaging in the battle.
Chevalier Lorimier, an agent of the British government, in 1813, came up from Montreal with the customary presents to the Indians, and offered them, on condition of their crossing the river and taking up arms against the Americans. They would not do this, and he returned with his pre- sents. This was after Capt. Le Clare had raised his company, or about the time.
During the fall of 1812, Capt. Montigney, with a small company of British troops, in violation to the previous agreement, arrived, and took post at St. Regis. Maj. Guilford Dudley Young, of the Troy militia, stationed at French Mills, receiving an account of this, resolved to sur- prise, and if possible capture this party ; considering himself justified in
157
AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES.
entering upon neutral ground, as the enemy had first broken their agree- ment. * He accordingly, about the 1st of October, 1812, proceeded quietly through the woods by an obscure path, guided by Wm. Gray, the Indian interpreter ; but on arriving opposite the village of St. Regis, he found it impossible to cross, and was compelled to return.
Having allowed the alarm which his attempt had excited to subside, he resolved to make another descent, before the enemy should be re- inforced, and for this purpose he marched a detachment at 11 o'clock at night, on the 21st of October, crossed the St. Regis river at Gray's Mills, (now Hogansburgh,) on a raft of boards, and arrived about 5 o'clock in the morning, within half a mile of the village, without attracting the notice of the enemy. Here the Major made such a judicious disposition of his men, that the enemy were entirely surrounded, and after a few discharges surrendered themselves prisoners, with the loss of five killed, among whom was Captain Rothalte. The fruits of this capture were forty prisoners, with their arms and equipments, and one stand of colors, two bateaux, &c. They returned to French Mills by 11 o'clock the next morning, without the loss of a man, and the prisoners were sent forward to Plattsburgh. Ex-Governor Wm. L. Marcy held a subordinate office in this affair.
This was the first stand of colors taken by the Americans during the war, and these were received at Albany with great ceremony. An account of the reception of the colors is taken from the Albany Gazette of Jan. 1813.
" On Thursday the 5th inst., at one o'clock, a detachment of the volun- teer militia of Troy, entered this city, with the British colors, taken at St. Regis. The detachment, with two superb eagles in the centre, and the British colors in the rear, paraded to the music of Yankee Doodle and York Fusileers, through Market and State streets to the Capitol, the offi- cers and colors in the centre. The remainder of the vestibule and the grand staircase leading to the hall of justice, and the galleries of the senate and assembly chambers were crowded with spectators. His ex- cellency, the Governor, from illness being absent, his aids, Cols. Lamb and Lush, advanced from the council chamber to receive the standards. Upon which Major Young, in a truly military and gallant style, and with an ap- propriate address, presented it to the people of New York; to which Col. Lush, on the part of the state, replied in a highly complimentary speech, and the standard was deposited in the council room, amid the loud huzzas of the citizens and military salutes. Subsequently to this achievement Maj. Young was appointed a Colonel in the U. S. army."
This officer was a native of Lebanon, Ct.
" After the war, he entered the patriot service under Gen. Mina, and lost his life in the struggle for Mexican independence, in 1817. The pa- triots, 269 in number, had possession of a small fort which was invested by a royalist force of 3,500 men. The supplies of provisions and water being cut off, the sufferings of the garrison and women and children in
158
HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE
the fort became intolerable; many of the soldiers deserted, so that not more than 150 effective men remained. Col. Young, however, knowing the perfidy of the enemy, determined to defend the fort to the last. After having bravely defeated the enemy in a number of endeavors to carry the fort by storm, Col. Young was killed by a cannon shot from the battery raised against the fort. On the enemy's last retreat, the Colonel, anxious to observe all their movements, fearlessly exposed his person by stepping on a large stone on the ramparts; and while conversing with Dr. Hennes- say on the successes of the day and on the dastardly conduct of the en- emy, the last shot that was fired from their battery, carried off his head. Col. Young was an officer whom next to Mina, the American part of the division had been accustomed to respect and admire. In every action he had been conspicuous for his daring courage and skill. Mina reposed unbounded confidence in him. In the hour of danger he was collected, gave his orders with precision, and sword in hand, was always in the hottest of the combat. Honor and firmness marked all his actions. He was generous in the extreme, and endured privations with a cheerfulness superior to that of any other officer of the division. He has been in the U. S. service as Lieut. Col. of the 29th regiment of infantry. His body was interred by the few Americans who could be spared from duty, with every possible mark of honor and respect, and the general gloom which pervaded the division on this occasion, was the sincerest tribute that could be offered by them to the memory of their brave chief."
(See Barber's Hist. Coll. and Antiquities of Ct.)
In the affair at St. Regis, the catholic priest was made prisoner, and this surprisal and attack soon after led to a retaliatory visit from the enemy, who captured the company of militia under Capt. Tilden, stationed at French Mills, a short time after. Those who were taken in this affair were mostly the identical troops who had been the aggressors at St. Regis, and for these they were subsequently exchanged.
During the war, considerable quantities of pork, flour and cattle, from the state of New York, it is said, were brought by night to St. Regis, and secretly conveyed across the river for the subsistence of the British army. These supplies were purchased by emmisaries under a variety of pretexts, and by offering the highest prices.
An Indian of the British party at St. Regis, was lately living, who was employed as a secret messenger to carry intelligence, and was very suc- cessful in avoiding suspicions and in accomplishing his errands.
It is a well known fact that there were American citizens who secretly countenanced these movements, and who openly denounced the war and its abettors ; who hailed a British victory as a national blessing, and who mourned over the success of the American arms, with a pathos that proved their sincerity.
Impartial TRUTH would require their names to be held up to the exe- cration of honest men, through all coming time, but CHARITY bids us pass them unnoticed, that they may perish with their memories.
By virtue of powers supposed to be vested in them by the law of 1802
159
AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES.
the trustees of these Indians had leased considerable tracts of the reser- vation in the vicinity of Salmon river, which had thus become settled and cleared up; but this measure was found to produce jars and discords which led to the passage of a general enactment, passed June 19, 1812:
" That it shall be unlawful for any person or persons other than Indians, to settle or reside upon any lands belonging to any nation or tribe of In- dians within this state; and if any person shall settle or reside upon any such lands, contrary to this act, he or she shall be deemed guilty of a mis- demeanor, and shall on conviction, be punished by fine not less than twenty-five dollars, nor more than five hundred dollars, or be imprisoned not less than one month, nor more than six months, in the discretion of the court having cognizance thereof; and it shall be the duty of the courts of oyer and terminer,-and general sessions of the peace in the several counties of this state, in which any part of said lands are or may be sit- uated, to charge the grand juries of their respective couuties, specially to indict all offenders against the provisions of this section."
Meanwhile many persons had in good faith expended considerable sums in improvements, which it was desirable should be secured to them by a more reliable tenure than Indian leases, which led in 1816, to the passage of a law:
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.