USA > New York > Warren County > Queensbury > A history of the town of Queensbury, in the state of New York : with biographical sketches of many of its distinguished men, and some account of the aborigines of northern New York > Part 39
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Given under my Hand and Seal at Arms at Fort George in the city of New York the twenty-first day of September 1759 in the thirty-third year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second by the Grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith and so forth. JAMES DE LANCEY.
By his Honour's Command
G. W. Banyar D Secy. GOD SAVE THE KING.
As already recorded, a response was soon made to this procla- mation by the application of Daniel Prindle, and others, for a
372
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF QUEENSBURY.
patent for a township of 23000 acres lying upon the Hudson river, and embracing within its limits the three clearings men- tioned. Previous to this, however, the buildings at the Half- way brook had found a tenant in the person of one Jeffrey Cow- per or Cooper, of whom Sir Jeffrey Amherst, in a letter to Mr. Sharpe, dated New York, 20th October, 1762, writes as follows :
" The permit to Jeffrey Cooper to occupy the small post at Half-way brook between Fort Edward and Lake George was only intended for the preservation of the barracks, etc., that had been erected there, and for the conveniency of passengers, as I judged it unnecessary, after the reduction of Canada, to leave a garrison at that post. It would seem that Cowper was a sea- faring man, for in the Calendar of English MSS., in the secre- tary of state's office, p. 657, is filed a petition by " Ephraim Cook owner of the Snow Cicero 34 guns" in which he applies for a commission, and in case of his death, " to his first lieutenant, Richard Harris, and Jeffrey Cowper, his second lieutenant to command said Snow Cicero."
Cowper (as the name is also spelled on the town records) is therefore without doubt the first permanent bona fide white set- tler in the town of Queensbury.
This permit is supposed to have been granted as early as 1759 or 60, while Gen. Amherst was present with his command in this vicinity. Cowper is conjectured to have been a depend- ent if not a relative of the general's. He is referred to in the following journal of Abraham Wing who accompanied the sur- veyor Zaccheus Towner, and made at this time his first visit to the scene of his future life work and labors.
" August the 23d day 1762. Then set out for Queensbury township from home early in the morning, and dined at Nehe- miah Merritts.1 Then set off for our journey and lodged at Esquire Castle's that night. The 24th traveled to Livingstone's manor; the 25th traveled to Greenbush and lodged at Capt. Dows. The 26th we passed the ferry and eat breakfast in Albany and got our stores and traveled to Stillwater and lodged at Millerd's that night. The 27th was a rainy morning, but we traveled on to Beemises and there we eat breakfast, and waited there a little while, then went forward and eat dinner at Moores, and traveled that night nigh to Fort Miller and stayed there that night. The 28th we set forward being a showery day, made a short stop at Fort Edward where we were obliged to
1 Whose three sons had married three of Wing's daughters.
373
PROPRIETORS' MINUTES.
show our pass, and then set forward and arrived at the Half- way brook about the middle of the day, where we were doubt- ful of some trouble. We had not been there in the tavern many minutes before the question was asked of the tender, whether we should have the liberty of a room to put our stores in, and so told our business. He replied, there is room enough, and after a short consideration, he replied, if we would go with him, he would show us a room, and accordingly we cleared out our house, put in our stores, and went to surveying the town plot. The 29th, being the first day of the week, set forward early in the morning." 1
Through the politeness of the late Mr. Abraham Wing, some years since, I was permitted to copy from the proprietor's min- utes the following extracts. This book, which for three genera- tions had descended as an heirloom in the family, was destroyed in the great fire, which desolated our village in 1864.
" At a proprietors' meeting, held for the township of Queens- bury this 18th day of June 1762 did by the majority of votes agree that Abraham Wing shall keep and preserve the certifi- cate and patent for said township.
*
" At a proprietors' meeting held at Nehemiah and Daniel Mer- ritt's shop on the Oblong in Dutchess county July 10, 1762.
"Voted-that the town lots in said township be drawn the 14th inst. at this house.
" Voted-that Daniel Chase and Thomas Akin shall draw the above mentioned lots, first being lawfully qualified and John Gurney to make a record thereof.
*
" At a proprietors' meeting met according to appointment this 8th day of Nov. 1762, at Nehemiah and Daniel Merritt's shop in Beekman precinct in Dutchess co.
"At this meeting voted that Danl. Chase and William Haight were appointed to draw lots for the balance of the lots.
*
" At a meeting held Feb. 23, 1763, Wm. Smith, Nehemiah Merritt and Abraham Wing were appointed trustees to rent out all the undivided lands.
1 The Wing MSS. Here the journal abruptly terminates, and it is fair to as- sume that the work of survey went harmoniously forward, until completed. The town plot herein referred to, is elsewhere described as the originally proposed site of the village.
374
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF QUEENSBURY.
The following names are recorded as proprietors at the meet- ing held on the 18th of June : John Dobson, Nehemiah Merritt, Abraham Wing, Daniel Merritt, John Lawrence, Henry Hay- dock, Wm. Smith, Benjamin Ferriss, John Burling, John Akin, Thomas Dobson, Reed Ferriss, George Bowne, Ichabod Mer- ritt, Elihu Marsh, jr., John Farrington, Haydock Bowne, Na- thaniel Hazard, John Rapelje, Samuel Bowne, Benj'n Seeley, John Carmon, Jacob Haviland, Samuel Hungerford, Joseph Pursell, John Hadok, Edward Burling, Elihu Marsh, Wm. Haviland, Nathaniel Stevenson, Isaac Mann.
Thirty-one names in all, and of the entire number not over half a dozen of them who ever became actual residents, although, from time to time their descendants appear among the records of the township. Of the struggles and trials of these early set- tlers we can now have but the faintest conception.
The following record from the public archives at Albany goes to show that an early effort was made to improve the valua- ble water power in this neighborhood.
" Moses Phillips acct. for Building Saw Mill at Queensbury for Moses Clement according to agreement made with him the 9th of July 1764. (That is to say) Moses Phillips at 7s per day. Jos. Taylor, his jour- neyman at 5s, and John his prentice at 2s per Day.
NUMBER OF DAYS FOR EACH MAN.
M Phillips
J. Taylor
John the Prentice
4
4
4
5
5
53
6
6
6
6
5
5
5
5
5
6
6
6
21
3
3
6
6
6
By one do on Mrs. Cle- ments
. £10. 4.6
6
6
£44.16.6
1
6
6
£49. 8.9
2
2
2
£4.12.3
67월
55
671
£23.12.6
£13.15
£6.15
Total sum,
. £44. 2.6
To 1 day allowed Extra for each Man 14s
. £44.16.6"
The foregoing account being disputed or unpaid, an action was instituted (probably at Albany) for the recovery of the claim
By Moses Phillips Acct. for Boarding, Drinking, Washing, and Lodging as pr Acct to Am't of £9.12.0 By a Note on David Mat- thews for . £25. 0.0
6
6
6
6
6
1
6
375
OLD ACCOUNTS AND OLD LAW SUITS.
in March or April, 1765. Although there is nothing on the face of the account to fix the date of the construction of the mill, it must have been at least as early as 1764 and possibly earlier. The following memorandum is appended to the account and forms a part of the original paper.
"1 Non Assumpsit to whole. 2 With leave of the Court, Non As- sumpsit as to £4.12.3. parcel and payment of £34.12.0 other parcel before action brought, and Tender and Refusal of Ten Pounds, five sixths Resi- due after action, to wit on the 6th April 1765 with £3.9.3 costs and refusal.
" In support of Plea of Paymt. notice of Monies paid to Pltfs. use, of monies lent to him, of Meat, Drink, Washing and Lodging found and pro- vided by Deft. at Pltf's request for Plttf. his journeymen apprentices, ser- vants and monies received by Pltf. for Defts. use, and Horse hire due from Pltf. to Deft.
£10. 4.6 2. 8. 10.
13. 2.6."
The result of the suit is not recorded. The location of the mill is left wholly to conjecture, but is supposed to have been near the mouth of the Cold brook, at the eastern boundary of the town, the power being supplied by a wing dam extending across to the island near the left bank of the river. There is no un- certainty at all, however, in the statement that a saw mill existed, and was in full operation here at the falls, as early as 1763, as appears by the following verified statement found among the Wing manuscripts. In the year following, viz. 1764, a saw bill of lumber manufactured for one of the Jessups appears among the same papers.
City and County ? SS.
of Albany.
The deposition of Simeon Chandler taken upon oath before me Patt Smyth Esq., one of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace, for the county aforesaid etc. That in the year 1763, James Bradshaw did in my hearing, . agree with Mr. Abraham Wing, and Mr. Nehemiah Merritt, for as many planks and boards as should be wanted for the work necessary to be done for the said mill in Kingsbury, in said year 1763, and on said Wing, and said Merritt departure from Queensbury, said Bradshaw did desire the above said Wing and Merritt would give orders that said Chandler should
376
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF QUEENSBURY.
have what was then wanted for said work and said Wing and said Merritt did send a token to John Bracket to saw what planks were wanted for the work aforesaid.
The above is a true copy of what was wrote by the hands of Simeon Chandler the 18th day of Dec., 1763.
Patt Smyth, Justice.
In the course of the summer of the following year (1763) an attempt was made towards a permanent settlement of the town. Mr. Abraham Wing and Ichabod Merritt moved from Dutchess county by slow and toilsome stages, and commenced the work of pioneers in the dense, green wilderness. The first building erected was a log dwelling, situated near the residence lately occupied by Mr. Charles Parsons, on the road leading to Sandy Hill. This was at first occupied by Mr. Abraham Wing, and his family. It is believed, though not certainly known at this late period, that Mr. Merritt, with his family occupied tempo- rarily the block house or picket fort in the neighborhood of Richard's steam saw mill. The second house was built in 1764 also by Abraham Wing, who vacated his first built dwelling to his oldest son. This was likewise a log structure the debris of which may still be found a few rods in the rear of the old Mc- Donald mansion. A moss covered watering trough with its attendant spring, coeval with the log-house just mentioned, may be seen to-day by the roadside opposite the residence, just mentioned.
The third building was a log house erected by Abraham Wing, jr., on the site of J. L. Kenworthy's store. A few years since, while laying the gas pipe for that building, the workmen struck upon the foundation stones of the old chimney remaining in the ground a short distance in front of the store. Log dwell- ings were built at an early period at other points, one of which tradition locates at the Butler brook on the plank road, and another on the brow of the hill overlooking Fielding & Mc- Carty's blacksmith shop, and still another near Mr. Henry Crandell's house. From the document appearing below 1 it is
1 Know all men by these presents that I Nehemiah Merritt, of Beekman's pre- cinct in Dutchess county, and province of New York, gentleman, for and in con- sideration of the sum of five shillings current money of New York, to me in hand paid by Abraham Wing, of Beekman's precinct in Dutchess county and province of New York aforesaid, have and by these presents do for me and my heirs, re- mise, release, and forever quit claim unto him, the said Abraham Wing, his heirs and assigns in his peaceable and quiet possession, now being all that one full and
377
THE FIRST CHILD.
evident that another building was erected about this time on the site of the old Spencer tavern or Glen house under the hill.
As previously stated, " the pine plains" to the west of us were covered with a heavy growth of superior yellow pine tim- ber, but the uplands along the river banks, and stretching towards the north and east, were interspersed with numerous clumps of a heavy growth of white pine, which were speedily seized upon by the settlers for material with which to construct their rude dwellings. The new proprietors were (with but one or two ex- ceptions) residents of Dutchess county, and though but few of them removed hither, yet from year to year we find their sons, nephews and relatives added to the list of inhabitants to whom their original interest had probably been assigned.
The first child of white parents born in this town, was a son of Ichabod Merritt, and this child was the great grandfather of Isaac Mott, Esq., late district attorney for the county and one of the presidential electors in the last canvass. The late Daniel W. Wing of Fort Edward, and the late Mr. Abraham Wing, of this place, were born in the log-house previously spoken of on the site of J. L. Kenworthy's store.
The lumbering business in this region was commenced at a very early period. Mrs. Grant, in her Memoirs of an American Lady, in the year 1758, speaks of timber rafts being floated down the river to Albany, and to guard the interests of the
equal half of all that saw-mill on the great fall in Queensbury township in Albany county and province of New York aforesaid which we the said Merritt and Wing in joint partnership built together, as likewise furnished said mill with utensils necessary, likewise the dwelling house standing a little northward about ten rods from said mill.
Now therefore, what is herein contained and intended is that I the said Nehe- miah Merritt for me, my heirs and assigns will and hereby do release and forever quit claim unto him the said Abraham Wing his heirs and assigns, the one full and equal half of all that mill, dwelling house and utensils belonging to said mill, and furthermore the one equal half of the water, and water course to said mill, as likewise the equal half of said mill dam, raceway, log-way, and all other privileges advantages and profits thereunto belonging, unto him the said Abraham Wing his heirs and assigns forever.
In witness whereof, I the said Nehemiah Merritt to this my release have set my hand and seal this seventh day of the tenth month in the year of our Lord one thousand, seven hundred and sixty five.
NEHEMIAH MERRITT. [SEAL. ]
Sealed and delivered in the presence of
BENJN. FERRIS JUNR. REED FERRIS.
48
378
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF QUEENSBURY.
crown in this particular, in the year 1770, Adolphus Benzel, son of Archbishop Eric Benzel, of Upsal, Sweden, was appointed inspector of his majesty's woods and forests in the vicinity of Lake Champlain, at a salary of £300 per annum. His residence was at Crown Point.
In May or June, 1865, Mr. William Gilliland, who had ob- tained a grant of lands in the limits of what is now Essex county, transported through this neighborhood a number of colonists to Plattsburgh. About this time the proprietors of the town of Queensbury deeded to Mr. Abraham Wing, a section of thirty acres of unappropriated land immediately at the falls, in consideration that he had, at considerable expense, erected there a saw-mill and grist mill for the accommodation of the inhabit- ants.1 A ferry was also soon after established leading from the upper rollway across to the head of Water street descending to the river from the old Folsom house, on the south side of the falls. The old road followed the course of the ravine leading from the canal basin to Park street. This ferry was continued with little interruption up to the close of the century. The first ferry house was a log building on the south side of the river, and on its bank a few rods above the dam, and was occupied by one of the Parks family. The cellar is even now visible. The house was burnt during the Revolution. The second, which was in use subsequent to the Revolution was built on this side
1 To the honorable proprietors and owners of Queensbury township in Albany county, your humble petitioner showeth :
That Abraham Wing, late of Dutchess county, now resident in the above said township have at a great cost and charge built mills in and on a small tract of undivided land in the above said township to the great encouragement for settling ye above lands which is and must be an advantage to the owners.
Wherefore in consideration for such cost and encouragement, I desire ye owners of said lands on which the mills stand will convey the same to me as is under- written, etc.
This indenture made this seventh day of March in the year of our Lord one thou- sand seven hundred and sixty-six by and between we the subscribers of the one part, and Abraham Wing late of Dutchess county, now resident in Queensbury township, Albany county and province of New York of the other part witnesseth, that we the subscribers for divers good causes and considerations us hereunto moving, the receipt whereof we do hereby acknowledge have granted, bargained, quitclaimed and confirmed, and by these present do grant, bargain, quitclaim, alien, and confirm unto the said Abraham Wing his heirs and assigns forever, all the right, title, interest, claim and demand that we now have, ever had, or ought to have in that certain tract or parcel of undivided land in the township of Queens- bury in Albany county and province above said situate lying on the Great falls by Hudson's river in the above township, bounded to the east by lands of Nathaniel
379
HARDSHIPS AND LUXURY.
the river near the rollway. Its remains have been visible to a recent date. These various improvements again aroused the apprehensions of the Indians, and more especially the Mohawks, who entered a formal complaint and protest to Sir Wm. John- son, the superintendent of Indian affairs for the northern pro- vinces. These claims were afterwards amicably adjusted, by purchase and an annual subsidy as elsewhere recorded.
While the first settlers here were encountering the hazards and hardships of a forest life, a different scene was being en- acted at a distance of less than 50 miles. Sir Wm. Johnson, resting from the fatigues and exertions of the famous Pontiac war, was entertaining in a style of baronial splendor never par- alleled on this side the Atlantic, a brilliant coterie of guests from the mother country, among whom were the Lady Susan O'Brien, eldest daughter of the Earl of Ilchester, with her hus- band, and Lord Adam Gordon, who afterward became com- mander-in-chief of the army in Scotland, and who on his return was accompanied by the baronet's son John, who was destined to fill so conspicuous a part in the border annals of the Revolution.
Stevenson and William Haviland, to the north and west by lands of Abraham Wing, and to the south on Hudson's river, containing about thirty acres of land, be the same more or less ; and also all trees, wood, underwood, water, water-courses, profits, commodities, advantages, hereditaments whatsoever to the said messuage and undivided land above mentioned belonging or in any wise appertaining, and also the reversion and reversions of every part thereof, and also all our estate, right, title, interest, claim, and demand whatsoever to him the said Abraham Wing, his heirs and assigns forever, to have and to hold the above granted, bar- gained, and quit claimed premises above mentioned and every part thereof to the only proper use and behoof of the said Abraham Wing, his heirs and assigns for- ever. And we the subscribers for ourselves, our heirs and assigns will warrant and forever defend from any claiming from or under us by these presents. In witness whereof to these presents we have hereunto subscribed our names and affixed our seals the day and year above written.
BENJAMIN SEELYE, [L.s.]
JOHN AKIN, [L.s.]
REED FERRISS, [L.s.]
NATHANIEL STEVENSON. [L.s.]
JACOB HAVILAND, [L.s.] -
WILLIAM HAVILAND. [L.s.]
Sealed and delivered in presence of Reed Ferriss,
Matthew Franklin,
Gaius Talcott,
Judah Handy, Jacob.Hicks, Eliezer Herrick.
380
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF QUEENSBURY.
In 1766, on Tuesday, the 6th day of May, the first town meet- ing was held in the town of Queensbury, when the following officers were chosen, viz :
1: Abraham Wing, Moderator.
2. Asaph Putnam, Town Clerk.
3. Abraham Wing, Supervisor.
4. Jeffrey Cowper, Assessor.
5. Ichabod Merritt, Assessor.
6. Asaph Putnam, Constable.
7. Ichabod Merritt, Collector.
8. Benajah Putnam, Pathmaster.
9. Truelove Butler, Poundkeeper.
10. Abraham Wing, Overseer of the Poor.
11. Caleb Powel, Overseer of the Poor. Eleven offices di- vided among seven male adults who manifestly composed the entire population of the town eligible to office; and of these seven, only two were proprietors of the soil.
381
THE FIRST RELIGIOUS SOCIETY.
CHAPTER VIII.
FIRST RELIGIOUS SOCIETY-PERMIT FOR A FRIEND'S MEETING-SECOND TOWN MEETING-NORTHERN FORTS PLACED IN DEFENSIBLE CONDI- TION -CHARLOTTE COUNTY ERECTED-ITS BOUNDARIES -FIRST COURT HELD-SETTLEMENT OF HARRISENA-RESIDENT INDIANS- EARLY IMPROVEMENTS-WING'S TAVERN ; AND ITS SCENES OF REV- ELRY-WOLVES AND THEIR DEPREDATIONS-PROJECT FOR THE EREC- TION OF A NEW PROVINCE-SOME ACCOUNT OF MAJOR SKENE.
ITH the single exception of Jeffrey Cooper, or Cow- per, as the name is variously written and printed, the first settlers of the town of Queensbury were members of the society of Friends, and as such, by reason of their peculiar religious tenets, necessarily precluded from participating in the hot partisan feeling, which, like the first groundswell presaging a storm, was even now surging up from the Atlantic seaboard to the hearts and homes of the American people.
It may have been the prescience of the revolutionary contest which sent these pioneers into the shelter of the peaceful wil- derness, to avoid the contentions and struggles, the bitter pas- sions and intense animosities of civil war. If so, they came where the scourge fell with sharp and unmerited severity upon the non-combatants of these border towns.
It is difficult to conjecture, and more so to realize, the emo- tions of those first settlers pushing out for the first from the surrounding of kindred and friends, the comforts and conve- niences of civilization, for a life long separation and isolation to endure the privations and dangers of the wilderness.
After the settlement was fairly established, one of the first provisions of the settlers was the establishment and mainte- nance of religious services after the simple forms of the faith which had obtained in the Wing family and their Dutchess county neighbors, for the previous four generations. These services according to tradition were first held in the rude and humble dwelling of Abraham Wing the pioneer ; and afterward, in the first house of worship erected in town, namely the old
382
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF QUEENSBURY.
log Quaker church, built on the south side of the Half-way brook, on the west side of the Bay-road. The following is a copy of the first permit :
"Minute of a monthly meeting held at Nine partners in Dutchess county and Province of New York the 19th of the 3d month, 1767.1
" At this meeting Abraham Wing on behalf of friends at Kingsbury2 and Queensbury, (and by way of Oblong preparative meeting) requested liberty to hold a meeting for worship there once a week, and its allowed at present to be held each first day at twelve o'clock. And said Abraham Wing, and James McKenney are appointed to have some care and oversight thereof, and make report to this Monthly Meeting once in three months, or as often as they can, how the meeting is kept up and conducted, and what satisfaction they have in meeting together in that G R E A T, and necessary duty.
" True Copy, "PR. ZEBULON FERRISS, Clerk."
It is stated on tradition, that at the time of the division and drawing of the town lots, one John Buck drew a lot now partly embraced within the limits of the corporation of Glen's Falls, and when the surveyors' bill was presented, being unable to meet his assessment, he sold or offered his interest for a peck of beans.3
.
The following is a copy of the town record for the year 1767 :
" At the annual town meeting held in Queensbury on Tues- day, ye 5 day of May, 1767, for the township.of Queensbury.
1 voted. Abraham Wing, Moderator.
1 2 voted. Asaph Putnam, Town Clerk.
3 voted. Abraham Wing, Supervisor.
4 voted. Abraham Wing, and Asaph Putnam, Assessors.
5 voted. Asaph Putnam, Constable.
6 voted. Ichabod Merritt, Collector.
7 voted. Benager Putnam, Pathmaster.
1 From the Wing MSS.
2 James Bradshaw and other petitioners for and settlers of the Kingsbury patent, were residents of New Milford, in the colony of Connecticut, whence, also, some of the patentees, and first settlers of Queensbury also came. In both of these towns the Quaker element was originally very strong, and in the latter for many years predominant ; spreading hence to various parts of Warren county.
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