USA > New York > Oneida County > Annals and recollections of Oneida County > Part 56
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
XXVIII.]
WESTMORELAND. 769
were very few better soldiers in that army of heroes, or who possessed greater powers of endurance. He was at the siege of Yorktown and capture of Cornwallis. During the siege, the Americans pushed their advances with the greatest ardor, and soon more than 100 pieces of artillery and mortars of the heaviest calibre opened their fire upon the enemy's lines. Their thunder was incessant day and night. There was a thirteen-inch brass mortar proverbial among its fellows for the sharpness of its reports, and while the bombardment was thus crowded, the men assigned to it complained that the tour of duty of two hours in serving it, was too severe. Sergeant Chittenden at first but laughed at the men, but the com- plaints becoming more frequent, he told them he would vol- unteer a tour, and accordingly did so, and applied the match, but upon taking his post, he wadded his ears with cotton .. The bombardiers probably crowded their fire a little more rapidly, that their sergeant might have, at least, a fair speci- men of their trying duties. There was, however, on his part no shrinking, but for the last half hour the blood ran so copious- ly from his ears, that it dropped from his heels. In conclu- sion, after his severe experiment, he had the men attached to that mortar stand but half tours. He was almost entirely deaf for weeks, and during his life never regained the hear- ing of one of his cars.
After peace had been declared, he returned to Connecticut, was married, and early in the settlement of Whitestown re- moved to within its present bounds, in its extreme south-west corner. After a few years' residence in that town, and some years previously to 1800, he removed to Westmoreland, where he resided the remainder of his days. A few years after this last removal, an unexpected " wind-fall " greeted him. Judge Dean, while in the Assembly, in looking over the " balloting boek," found the name of Jared Chittenden, sergeant in
49
770
ANNALS OF ONEIDA COUNTY
[CHAF".
Lamb's Artillery, as entitled to a land warrant, for 640 acres,- as one of the New York line. This was immediately com- municated to Mr. Chittenden. It was unexpected, as he en- listed in the Connecticut line, and did not suppose that the- transfer to the New York troops, would entitle him to land in the latter state. He at once went to work to find the lo- cation of his " soldier's right," and soon found that it was near Homer Village, and already of considerable value. This placed the recipient in casy circumstances for the re- mainder of his life.
He was supervisor of the town for one year. and served as a magistrate for a considerable length of time. His charac- teristics were strongly marked, and his native good sense and judgment of a high order. When an opinion was formed. it was rarely yielded. In all the transactions of life he was inethodical and exact, and his integrity unimpeached. He- was ardently attached to the politics of the federal party, and when that party disbanded upon the second election of De Witt Clinton, he voted a ticket alone. claiming to be the last man left of his party in the county. With many of his compatri- ots in the continental army, he formed an appetite for strong drink, but his principles and strength of mind enabled hits to keep it under due control, until within a few years of the close of life. Then. in a few instances. he allowed himself to be overcome, and it was feared by his friends. that as his powers became impaired by age, he would give way to his appetite. An excellent man and neighbor went to him in the kindest spirit, and plainly warned him of his danger. This was received in candor, and upon a review of the past .. he at once perceived his critical position, and to that friend, he then made a solemn promise to refrain, which was most religiously observed for the remainder of his life. He died April 2d, 1828, aged seventy-two years.
771
WESTMORELAND.
XXVIII. ]
The following is from the pen of the author, and was pub- lished in the Utica Observer of December 31st, 1845.
THE OLD SUGAR HOUSE PRISON IN NEW YORK.
In the Utica Observer of the 3d inst., is a very interesting article containing an account of the sufferings, and various anecdotes of the inmates, of this worse than Bastile of the American Revolution.
A venerable relic of the days that "tried men's souls," Captain Phineas Bell, now in his eighty-fourth year, resides in my vicinity. Knowing that he had been a prisoner, and confined some months in the Sugar House, I took the paper to his residence and read the article to him. Could I trans- fer to paper the deep feeling manifested by him while hear- ing the article read, and with which he narrated the story of the sufferings of himself and fellow prisoners, their various at- tempts, stratagems and defeats, in their efforts to regain their liberty, or even the thrilling sensations his story created in m'y breast, I should perform more with my readers than I can anticipate.
He was taken prisoner by the British the 3d of April, 1779, and immediately confined in the Sugar House. He there re- mained in durance about eight months, when he was taken very ill, and carried to the hospital (which was the Friend's meeting house), where he remained until his whole term as prisoner amounted to ten months and twenty days, when he was exchanged. When first confined, there were but eight inmates in the prison, but in autumn the number had'in- creased to more than three hundred. During the whole time of his imprisonment, there was but a solitary successful attempt to escape, and that by a single individual. Another attempt was made by a very active young man by the name
772
ANNALS OF ONEIDA COUNTY.
[CHAP.
of Squires. He had observed that the rubbish had so accu- mulated in one corner of the yard that he could by getting upon it, scale the nine feet board fence by which it was sur- rounded. He prepared himself by putting on two suits of clothes, so as not to suffer from cold if he had to lie in the field over night. He watched his opportunity when the sen- tries were on the opposite side of the prison, when he suc- ceeded in clearing the fence. But as ill luck would have it, an old tory on the outside saw him leap from the fence, who immediately set up the hue and cry of "stop thief." The inhabitants in the vicinity not understanding the deception. turned out in the pursuit, and the poor fellow was soon re- captured. When brought back, the Hessian sergeant, who commanded the guard, was determined to take his life, and made several thrusts at him with his sword, but the strength and quantity of Squires' clothing, effectually resisted its blun- ted point, and preserved his life.
After the cold weather of autumn had come on, another plan was contrived, by which a considerable number hoped eventually to get clear of their hated prison. The guard house stood so near, that a plank from one of the upper win- dows would reach its roof, from whence they could escape to the ground on the outside of the yard. One dark night, the four who were to be the pioneers in this projected escape suc- ceeded in thus getting outside the yard without alarming the sentrics. After three days, almost famished with cold and hunger, they returned and gave themselves up. They said they had searched in vain for a boat to convey them to the main land, but had failed, as they were all secured by the British. They had not dared to call on any of the inhabi- tants, for fear of falling into the hands of the tories. They had even explored the banks of the Harlem River without any better success.
1
1
773
WESTMORELAND.
XXVIII. ]
The winter of 1779-80, was the coldest known since the settlement of the United States. Even the mention of the "hard winter " will yet cause a shudder to run through the nerves of the iron men of the Revolution. The prisoners had, by some means, learned that the rivers by which New York Island was surrounded, were so frozen that the heavi- est teams could pass in safety. Now they thought was their time, but how to get elear of the guard was the question. The scaling system had not proved successful. they therefore now determined to undermine. All the trenching tools possessed were a mason's trowel and a shoe hammer, and with these the work was commenced in earnest, and day after day it progressed. From the old gentleman's description, the man- ner of excavating was somewhat ludicrous. The head work- men loosened the earth and cast it behind, as near to himself as he could ; the next on his knees with his face towards the first did the same, and so on, until the line reached from the extremity to the cellar. When thus paraded, they com- menced putting the earth back with their hands on each side. until it reached the cellar. As the mine increased in length more hands were added, so that the distance the dirt had to be moved, did not in the least retard their work. The digging was easy, the soil being light and sandy. No fears were entertained that the passage would become filled by its caving in, the surface being so firmly frozen. By their perseverance they had cleared out their trench fifty feet in length, and this they were confident reached outside the yard. They then commenced perforating the frozen sur- face, and succeeded until light began to show itself. All now became highly elated, and only waited a favorable opportuni- ty to open the avenue, and again breathe the uneontamina- ted air of heaven. But how bitter the disappointment. The very day after the so near completion of their labors, and, as
774
ANNALS OF ONEIDA COUNTY.
[CHAT.
they had fondly anticipated, the completion of their odious confinement, they were visited by the officer of the guard, who discovered this new outlet to the prison, and made it se- cure against all future attempts in that way. The prisoners were entirely satisfied that treachery had been at work, and that some one of their own number was the traitor. Suspi- cion fell on an individual, but as the proof was exceedingly light, the matter soon passed over.
Their sufferings from cold were every day growing more intense. There were no fire places in the building, and only one box stove in one of the large rooms. Their cooking had to be done in the basement over fires kindled upon the ground. Their supply of fire wood was so stinted, that after cooking. there was barely enough left to warm up the stove once in twenty-four hours. The rest of the time they were entirely without fire. Grown frantic and desperate, they now re- solved upon a more daring and desperate movement to re- zain their freedom, or to die in the attempt. Their guard consisted of twelve men, two of whom were constantly ou Inty. Their plan was to take advantage of some dark night. while all but the two guards were asleep, when a sufficient number were to attack and overpower those two, and the main body of prisoners were to rush into the guard house, seize the arms and conquer as they best could their waking owners. and then scatter in all directions so as to elude pur- suit. Death, under any circumstances, they preferred to their present bondage. Upon the day preceding the very night in which their forlorn hope was to give the signal and com- mence the attack, they were astonished to find their guard increased to sixty men, and the sentries doubled. Thus were They again defeated by a Judas. Their rage could with dif- ficulty be restrained, but who the traitor was no one knew Their suspicions as to the person before mentioned were
775%
WESTMORELAND,
KXVIII. ]
strengthened. They took him to the fifth story, and in- formed him that his hour was come, that this betrayal of his companions had been ascertained, and that they had decided to throw him headlong from one of the windows. . The evi- dence against him however was so slight that the more mod- erate and cautious of the prisoners advised delay in the exe- cution of this threat until his guilt had been more satisfacto- rily established, and this advice was finally acceded to. The proof was soon forthcoming, but the " bird had flown," for a few days afterwards he was taken from prison by a British officer, and set at liberty.
Soon afterwards, Mr. B. was removed to the hospital as before stated. Here an angel of mercy in the form of woman appeared and administered to his every want. A good whig matron daily came to the hospital with a cup of tea or cof- fee for each prisoner. She also went her daily rounds among the good whigs then in the city to collect fresh provisions for the sufferers, and it seemed with success, for there was no lack of good things for the sick in the hospital. After Mr. B. had partially regained his health, he was retained by the surgeon as an assistant, and did not again return to the prison until his exchange, which took place in February. While he was narrating to the writer the acts of kindness of that " angel woman," and describing the joy she infused into all hearts when she went her daily rounds upon her errands of mercy, the big tears glistened in his age-bedimmed eyes, and trickled down his wrinkled cheeks. Whether she re- ceived any compensation in this world is not known, but we know great must be her reward in heaven.
While in the Sugar House, the treatment of the prisoners by the different sergeants of the guard was various. Some showed all the hard-hearted ferocity of the hireling, unfeel- ing soldier, while others possessed the milk of human kind-
1
776
ANNALS OF ONEIDA COUNTY.
[CHAP
ness. The guard was principally furnished by the Hessian regiments. One sergeant, named Brown, by his humanity endeared himself to all the prisoners. He showed every in- dulgence in his power, and often, while he commanded the guard, he permitted them to go into the yard for the benefit of fresh air, where he frequently allowed them to walk for half an hour. But the fortune of war changed sides. Mr Bell was at the taking of Cornwallis. When the British ar- my marched out of their lines to ground their arms, he saw many guardsmen of the Sugar House, and among the rest Sergeant Brown. Upon recognizing each other, the sergeant ran from the ranks and embracing the subject of this notice. kissed him, saying, in broken English, " I prisoner now. I treat American prisoners kind, hope they treat me good." All that Mr. B. could do in return for the kindness of the HIes- sian sergeant was to assure him of his best wishes. Mr. B soon marched back into the country, and never again saw the warm-hearted Hessian.
It will be perceived by the dates, that Mr. Bell survived but a few months after he narrated the foregoing incidents of the Sugar House.
The following inscription is from the monument erected to his memory in the cemetery near Lairdsville.
" PHINEAS BELL, A Patriot of the Revolution Died May 13th, 1815, Aged 81 years. lle was one of the first to take up arms in defence of his country at the early age of 15 years, and served faithfully to the close of the perilous contest. has since been the recipient of the bounty of a grateful people, lived long to enjoy it, and died full of honors and of years."
WESTMORELAND
John Townsend, Esq. settled in this town in 1790, and l .- cated on the Eats formed by the " gulf book " here ezparinr the valley of the Oriskasy from the west, and in the s. cil- west port of the town. The - Townsend Sats" the msme ag- plied to that section, have ever been mored fir their fertility and beauty, and in productivemess they are ausurpassed in the county. Esquire Townsend was a man of great more! excellence, benefisenes and purity of character By industry and economy be sopared a Hieral competente for Lis decli- ning years Fer his Revolutionary services he drew a peer- sion of which he considered himself but the almover vo bester for the spiritual and temporal good of his fellow men Past ale meridian of life be made a profession of religion. which L. adorued by a correct walk and deperiment He was Liberal and charitable in his views towards the several religious de- nominations around him. He died in the 983 year of Lis age. fall of years and ripe for a better world
The following obituary morice is of the sarood centenarme: in the t.m2
DE: - A: Westmoreland. on the Ith of (other IN Ex: FEINES L EUN KETELANT aged lo Fears and : months Ne Ke ...- lund was a hatire of Germany came to this country as a se wer in the army of G.x Burgerne was made prisoner at Sarsroga afterwards enlisted into the American service, continued a faithful soldier duris the war, and as he was proud to say, marched inte New Fork wi Gen. WasLitgron, when the city was erapasted iy the Dritist da Tas Y moraly discharged."
From its earliest settlement the inhabitants of Westmore- land have shown a liberal spirit in the education of their chil-
778
ANNALS OF ONEIDA COUNTY.
[CHAP.
dren. In a number of instances, they did not wait until saw- mills were built, so that a framed school house could be erect- ed, but rude log houses with bark roofs were hastily thrown up, to accommodate their children while acquiring the rudi- ments of an education. As early as 1792, a school was taught in a log building which stood near the present bury- ing ground, a short distance west of Lairdsville. The teach- er was Calvin Butler, brother of the late Deacon Salmon Butler of Clinton. This is believed to have been the first school taught in the town. In 1793, a log school house was built in Lairdsville, and some time in 1794, a teacher was hired for a year. He was competent, and his pupils advanced rapidly, but after seven or eight months of his year had lapsed, it was discovered that he was intemperate, and that he was occasionally partially intoxicated in school hours. For several days, upon one occasion, he carried about one of his eyes all the hues of the rainbow, received in a drunken brawl at a neighboring public house. In the spring of 1795. a number of the patrons of the school believing that such examples to their children should be no longer tolerated. a meeting was notified to take the matter into consideration. The meeting was a protracted one, part of the district strong- ly advocating the continuance of the school, while the other part were equally tenacious for dismissing a teacher whose walk before his pupils was so irregular. The arguments, pro and con, having been exhausted, it was found upon taking the vote upon the motion for dismissal, that there was a tic. The vote not being carried to dismiss the teacher, the advocates for continuing the school moved an adjournment, which was married and they dispersed to their homes. Not so with the opponents of the school. Some of the leading spirits passed round the word to their friends to remain after the adjourn- mont. They did so, and after the teacher's friends had all
779
WESTMORELAND.
XXVIII.]
left and were out of sight, they carried out the books and stationery to a secure place, and then kindled a fire in the building, and did not retire until the destroying element had so far progressed as to prelude all possibility of its being quenched, thus most effectually dismissing the drunken school teacher.
VILLAGES .- Hampton is the most centrally located and is the largest village in the town. Here are the Congrega- tional and Methodist houses for public worship, the West- moreland post-office, two dry goods and a drug store. two taverns, an extensive carriage shop, three boot and shoe shops, two harness and saddlers' shops, a tailor, milliner, and a small tannery. Last year (1850), Smith, Buell and Co., erected and put into operation a furnace for the marr ufacture of malleable iron. It is doing a large business, casting many of the articles formerly made of wrought iron, which is a great saving in labor and price to the consumer, in comparison to their manufacture by the black- smith. Hampton was formerly celebrated as the place where the democratic county conventions were held, and many a knotty political question has here been settled satis- factorily to the party, and a majority of the voters. No point in the county is as near the centre of the population as this ; but geographically Rome has the advantage, and the facilities the rail road have afforded that place, have caused the an- cient council ground at Hampton to become neglected. Hampton is located in the easterly part of the town, and is on a gravelly plain of some seventy rods width, having " Dean's Creek " on its south, and "Sucker Brook " on its north side.
780
ANNALS OF ONEIDA COUNTY.
[CHAP.
Lowell .- This is a business centre in the north-westerly part of the town, where the plank road from Rome to Madi- son crosses the road from Hampton to Verona and New London. Here are the Lowell post-office, Methodist and Congregational houses for worship (the latter now obsolete). with carriage maker, blacksmith and shoe shops, a store and tavern.
HIecla Works .- Early in the present century, a blast fur- nace was erected and went into operation at this place. It was known as the " Westmoreland Furnace," and was carried on by a company, the partners of which changed several times. The ore, of which there were two beds within less than one mile, with a small proportion from the Verona beds. was used in the manufacture of iron, until the forests in the vicinity were almost extirpated for coal. The first building was of wood, which in a few years gave place to a substan- tial stone structure. After having been in operation about thirty years, the scarcity of coal caused the business to be closed for a few years. For the few years past the business has been revived, the furnace having been converted into a cupola for using pig iron. The acting partners are A. P. and Bradford Seymour, sons of one of the partners of the former concern. The castings at the present time are of the lighter class, such as butts, all kinds of hinges and fastenings for doors and window blinds, gate hangings and fastenings, coffee mills, etc., etc. The business is extensively carried on, the articles manufactured are of the first quality, and find a ready sale in both eastern and western markets, and as far south as Philadelphia. There are a dry goods store and various mechanics, the most of whom are employed by the company. The whole establishment is conducted on pure temperance
.
1
781
WESTMORELAND.
XXVIII.]
principles. The Hecla post-office was established at this place in the spring of 1851.
Lairdsville .- Here is a post-office named in honor of the late Samuel Laird, the first settler at this place, and who for many years kept a public house. For some years, Laird's was the most noted tavern west of Albany. Mr. Laird, it is believed, was the first Yankee who ever opened an inn on the then great leading route west of the Hudson River. A few years later " Oaks' Stand " in the town of Phelps, in the " Genesee Country," was probably equally well known. Quite carly Isaac Jones opened a second public house at this place. and it is believed that either of these houses did more of the legitimate business of tavern keeping, to wit: " the aecom- modation of travellers," than is done at the present time, in all the public houses between the Oneida Castle and Utica. The Erie Canal and the Syracuse and Utica Rail Road have so diverted the business, that, like many other of the small places on the Seneca Turnpike, it has retrograded for the last twenty-five years, and landed property in the vicinity has materially decreased in value.
A tavern stand and small farm one mile west of Lairds- ville, which in 1808 sold for $2,700, and in 1815, for $4,250, were sold in 1850, for $2,150.
At present, the Methodist house of worship is sustained. Iso a small store, tavern, and a few mechanies.
1
782
ANNALS OF ONEIDA COUNTY.
[CHAP!
CHAPTER XXIX.
WHITESTOWN.
IN this town was commenced the first permanent settle- ment of the county, or in the state, west of the Dutch settle- ment in the valley of the Mohawk. Soon after the close of the Revolutionary contest, the attention of the " sons of the Pilgrims " in New England, was called towards western New York, as an excellent field for the display of Yankee en- terprise. As early as the French and Indian war of 1756. the colonial soldiers under Lord Amherst had penetrated through the wilderness, by the way of Otsego Lake and Oneida Castle to Oswego, or with another portion of the same army had ascended the Mohawk to Fort Schuyler (now Utica), thence through what are now parts of New Hartford. Kirkland, Westmoreland and Vernon, to join their comrades at Oneida. These soldiers, on their return, made a glowing report of the beauty and fertility of the wild lands through which they passed, and their accounts were fully corroborated by the Indian missionaries. But the eventful times prece- ding and during the Revolution, called the attention of all to the securing of that dearer, richer boon-Liberty. During that contest, the soldiers of New England again visited central and western New York, composing in part the garrison of Fort Stanwix in the campaign of 1777. and a brigade of Massachusetts troops under Gen. Larned, was with Gen. Arnold when he raised the siege of that for-
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.