USA > New York > Forts and firesides of the Mohawk country, New York : the stories and pictures of landmarks of the pre-Revolutionary War period throughout the Mohawk valley and the surrounding country side, including some historic and genealogical mention during the post-war period > Part 11
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
Old Walter Butler built this frame house on the crest of a steep hill just east of old Caughnawaga. From the house door one can sec the Mohawk, winding out of a low range of hills on the western horizon. In its elevated position it equals that of a "look out" post and from it on many occasions the Butlers and
Page 116
FORTS AND FIRESIDES OF THE MOHAWK COUNTRY
their Indian allies must have exchanged smoke signals with their comrades far up the Valley.
There is some question as to the ancestry of this Butler family and to their movements as well, both en route to America and as to their goings and comings after arrival. We read of a Walter Butler sailing from Barbadoes aboard the ketch "John and Sarah" on October 20th, 1679; destination, New York. The trail from New York to New London is obscure but we find a Walter Butler marrying Mary (born Nov. 4th, 1690) the only daughter of George Denison at New London in 1712. Her mother was Mary Wetherell, whose first husband had been Thomas Harris, a resident of the Barbadoes, who died there June 9th, 1691, leaving an estate estimated at £927. This probably explains the remark that Mary (the bride) "was regarded as the richest heiress in the settlement."
In 1727 we find Lieutenant Walter Butler marrying Deborah (Ely) Dennis and it was this Deborah who rejoined her husband (Old Walter) in the "Northern Counties above Albany" in 1742.
Just when Old Walter went into the Mohawk Valley is indefinite but there is a record of a Crown Grant of land in the Schoharie and Mohawk Valleys to Walter Butler and forty two others in 1733. In 1737 he was stationed at Fort Hunter, a very early settlement situated on the south bank of the Mohawk at the mouth of Schoharie Creek. This location is perhaps three miles from the site of Butlersbury, Old Walter's future home, which is on the north side of the River just east of the present Fonda.
In 1735 fourteen thousand acres of this land extending from Fort Hunter eastward along the south side of the River was sold to Sir Peter Warren, the uncle of Sir William Johnson, who was to become its overseer in 1738. Possibly Walter Butler realized some immediate cash from whatever interest he might have had in this tract for in the same year (1735) he (together with three others) obtained a Crown Grant for land on the north side of the River which included his homesite.
He finished his house probably in the fall of 1742, which date coincides with an entry penned in a New London diary as follows :-
"November 6, 1742. Mrs. Butler, wife of Capt. Walter Butler, and her children and family is gone away by water to New York in order to go to him in the Northern Counties above Albany, where he has been several years, Captain of the Forts."
سعيدة
مجي
--------
-
John J. Vrooman-1917
Doorways. Butler Homestead
Page 117
BUTLERSBURY
The house once built and the family gathered into it, old Walter returned to his post at Oswego. His two sons, John and Tom, seem to have been with him a great deal of the time. Tom was more trader than soldier, though in those days the merchant often enough shouldered his gun. As a family they were closely affiliated with Sir William Johnson as his agents in trade and as military aides and all seem to have shared his entire confidence. Old Walter died in this house in the winter of 1759-60.
Colonel John, Old Walter's son grown up, was with Sir William at the capture of Niagara, which event just preceeded his father's death. He had married Catherine Pollock about 1752 and Young Walter, his son, grew to be one of the most thoroughly detested Tories to carry the War into his own homeland. Walter's military service must have begun about 1768 for in that year his name is mentioned among others "recommended to be Captains and Subalterns for the new formed regiments of militia."
This was on the eve of the Revolution. In 1771 the Butlersbury estate consisted of some 5,000 acres and reached westward to include a part of old Caughnawaga. Indeed, the old Caughnawaga Church, spared during the Johnson raids, is said to have owed its immunity to the fact that it stood on Butlersbury acres. The importance of the Butler estate is noted by the fact that taxes levied against it were second only to those assessed against Sir William's holdings.
In May, 1775, the Butler men fled to Canada and Butlersbury knew them no more. Mrs. Butler was taken to Albany and there held prisoner. The house was deserted. Colonel John and Captain Walter were attached, for the most part, to the Niagara garrison. It is a matter of documentary evidence that these two men, father and son, were the most active, most important and the most effective foes of the Clinton-Sullivan expedition. Their slender force, hopelessly outnumbered, half starved and at a dangerously great distance from their base of supplies, could do but little to stem the irresistible advance of a well-planned campaign such as this. And the Indian country, its villages, homes and fields suffered a wholesale destruction which permanently crippled the entire Indian population. But it also added fuel to the fire of Indian hatred already at white heat. The Mohawk Valley was to feel the retaliatory effect of this expedition after the winter of suffering and privation had passed. However, so much of this story has to do with Niagara it is better told there.
So again the spotlight of interest is swung away from the old house as it had been so much of the time since Old Walter built it. As soon as his family
Page 118
FORTS AND FIRESIDES OF THE MOHAWK COUNTRY
came to live in it, Walter left for Oswego in the pursuance of his military career. One wonders what happiness the family did find in the home, for whenever mentioned, the men folks were on the war path or stationed at some fort or remote outpost where duty held them fast.
The loyalty of the entire family to the Johnsons; "dogs of the Johnson family," some called them, and to Old England made heavy demands on each one of them. Of them all, only Oid Walter came home to die. Even Colonel John's wife shared in the sufferings when she was taken captive to Albany as stated and held an uncommonly long time while Colonel John and Captain Walter tried desperately to arrange an exchange of prisoners that would liberate her. This they finally accomplished and she joined them at Niagara where she died in 1793. Colonel John died there three years later. From Captain Walter the supreme sacrifice was exacted when he was shot on the battlefield of West Canada Creek near the present Hinkley, N. Y., and his body abandoned by his comrades, in their hurried retreat, to the creatures of the forest.
Jelles Fonda Home
John J. Vrooman-19 18
...
-
T
..
·
Page 119
JELLES FONDA RESIDENCE
Jelles Fonda Residence
HE old Dutch town of Caughnawaga stood on the flats toward the eastern end of the present Fonda, and was first settled by Douw Fonda whose house was close by and just east of the highway bridge on the north bank of the River. The site is now marked by the State and is a part of the grounds of the Montgomery County Fair Association.
When this tract was graded for the race course, some very interesting relics were found, among them the graves of persons buried in the old cemetery. Several well curbs were also found and parts of the foundations of various homes, including that of Douw Fonda.
The original Fonda in the Colony was Jelles Douwse, a Hollander, who came here in 1642. His occupation seems to have been that of a whaler. He is mentioned at Beverwyck as early as 1654. He married a Hester - (family name uncertain) and died about 1662. His son, Douw Jelles (1640 - 1700) owned land near Lansingburg (Troy). He married Rebecca Conyn in 1666. They had a son named Jelles Adam, born in 1670 and it was he who went to Schenectady, the first of this name in the Mohawk Valley. He was a gunsmith by trade and continued this work in Schenectady from 1700 to 1720. His wife was Rebecca Winne whom he married in 1695. He died on Sept. 8th, 1737, having had eleven children, eight of whom survived him.
Douw, the son of Jelles Adam, was born August 22nd, 1700. He moved to Caughnawaga in 1751 where he conducted a flourishing trading business. H was buried in the Dutch Church Cemetery on the flat close by his home. His wife was Maritje Vrooman, a daughter of Adam Vrooman of Schenectady. Her tombstone and that of her husband have both been removed to the new Cemetery overlooking the Valley from the hill-top just behind the old townsite. Here also are the stones of their son, Jelles and his wife, Jannetje Vrooman.
Jelles (Gillis or Giles) born in 1727 was one of three sons of Douw of Caughnawaga. He was an extensive landholder and a trader as his father had been, dealing largely with the Indians as well as contracting for the supplies for the Forts along this part of the Mohawk and westward as far as Niagara. Many of his papers were in the possession of his great grandson, Major Giles H. F. Van Horne. His ledger is an interesting old book and unfortunately shows accounts due him in excess of $10,000. The following is an entry charged to Sir William Johnson, but beyond doubt this one was paid :-
.
Page 120
FORTS AND FIRESIDES OF THE MOHAWK COUNTRY
"To burying Sacorias (Zachariah) a Mohawk Indian, 1 large blanket, 1 large shirt, 17 lbs. pork, 2 galings rum, 17 lbs flower. The sachem spoke to me and said he was very poor and that it was useful at the funeral of a grown person to have provisions."
This early trade was carried on from the large stone store which stood near the residence. He was a Major of militia and served under Sir William Johnson against the French and Indians in the Battle of Lake George. Later, probably because of his being physically incapacitated by an injured leg, he became associated with the home guards.
Jelles built a home and an "ashery" six miles west of Caughnawaga on the north side of the River along Canagara Creek. This site is now the location of the Montgomery County Home and its historical significance is explained by suitable markers. It was part of a great tract of 6,000 acres of land given by the Mohawks about 1716 to Captain Harmanus Van Slyke whose grandmother was half French, half Mohawk. The deed of gift was confirmed to Captain Harmanus by King Charles I in 1723. The land runs along the Mohawk for six miles. The eastern half Van Slyke sold to Colonel Abraham DePeyster, treasurer of the Province of New York, who owned it at his death. The trustees of his estate sold it to Jelles Fonda in 1768. It included what is known as "The Nose," a conspicuous landmark near this spot. Major Fonda, soon after acquiring the property, began the erection of his mills and "ashery," wood ashes being the source of potash.
This complete set of buildings was destroyed in the first raid of Sir John Johnson, along with nearly every other building on the north side of the River from "The Nose," just east of Canajoharie down nearly to Tribes Hill. Fortunately, Major Jelles was not at home at the time. His wife and their son Douw were warned of the coming of the raiders and escaped across the River. The house was completely demolished and, it is said, while burning a music box began to play. The Indians ascribed its music to "spirits."
Following the War, in 1791, the Major built the present house on Mont- gomery Terrace in Fonda, overlooking the Valley from its sightly location, but unfortunately he never lived to occupy it. His slaves brought his body down the. River from the home in which he was then living, doubtless a more or less temporary one on the site of the house destroyed by Sir John in 1780, and he was buried from the all but completed building. Following the funeral, the family occupied the new home.
--
-
مشاعة
John J. Vrooman-1937
Johnson Hall Johnstown
Page 121
JOHNSON HALL
Johnson Hall
ANY reasons have been given in explanation of why Sir William Johnson built his home in this location, which at the time was a wilderness. Some say because here was the intersection of six Indian trails and therefore a future crossroads and a logical place for a settlement. And no doubt Sir William did consider this when Others say the principal reason was to planning the erection of his new estate.
live more centrally within the bounds of his enormous land holdings. All agree he wanted a home of greater elegance than he contemplated when he built Fort Johnson. It was to be more in keeping with his position of advanced importance and a suitable place in which to entertain the socially and politically great of both the Old World and the New. No doubt these too were factors but another reason must have been a desire to live apart from his son, Jobn. Not that there was undue friction between them, but it was certain that John would marry when he returned from school and naturally Sir William hoped he would marry "well." And how satisfactorily John's wife would adapt herself to Sir William's mode of living must have been a moot question.
Johnson Hall, built in 1760, is a frame structure, the siding marked off to imitate stone blocks. In 1763 there was an Indian uprising under Chief Pontiac, the powerful leader of the more western tribes not so completely under Sir William's control. Therefore the two stone blockhouses were built (separate buildings) spaced perhaps twenty feet from the Hall which stood equidistant between them. These blockhouses were connected with the Hall by underground passages and the entire group was surrounded by a stone wall. One of these blockhouses remains today, and is the only original structure of its kind in the Valley.
The buildings face an open, shaded lawn which slopes away to the south. Here and there are groups of lilacs said to be from the original strain planted by Sir William himself. On this open expanse which continues completely around the house were held the Indian councils. Here the Indians came and camped, actually by the thousands, debating important questions which Sir William was called upon to settle. These were often the old grievances of land grabbing, unfair dealings, boundary treaties and questions of loyalty and allegiance to the English Crown.
Page 122
FORTS AND FIRESIDES OF THE MOHAWK COUNTRY
Other small buildings across Cayuadutta Creek housed some fifteen slaves who worked the land. There were also a personal physician, a butler, a surveyor and a musician or two.
The-Hall is colonial in its lines, with a sloping roof facing each of its four sides. A hall, fifteen feet wide, runs directly through the building which has the same appearance, front or rear, with the exception of the staircase window on the north side. Its lines are decidedly less the fortified home and more the elaborate country seat of an important gentleman. At the time he built, Sir William was apparently but little concerned with the safety of his exposed frontier establishment. He felt assured of his control over the Six Nations and the French had been defeated, so all seemed peaceful. The later uprising under Pontiac was a direct result of injudicious (to use a word far too mild) treatment of the western Indians by the English who committed grievous mistakes in their dealings with them. As was so often the case, it was a sort of behavior not at all in accord with Sir
William's policies, though he was called upon to settle such disputes. It was because of this unforseen danger that Sir William built his blockhouses. The fact that he built thein proved the seriousness of the situation as he saw it. Yet even here he might have spared himself the expense. His almost unbelievable influence over the Six Nations, coupled with his personal appeal to Pontiac at Oswego was sufficient to accomplish a peace and understanding which all feared could be reached only by defeating the Indians in another awful and bloody frontier war.
On either side of the Hall as one enters, are large rooms. On the right, at the rear was Sir William's library, the room in which he died after a dramatic and exhausting speech made with great physical effort. In front of this room is the dining room. An inconspicuous stairway leads from just outside this room to the kitchen directly below. The rooms on the left are thrown together and were used as drawing rooms. The hall, as well as the rooms, is panelled. A large and dignified stairway with landing leads to the second floor. On this landing is a wide triple window which reaches completely across the width of the hall.
On the second floor Sir William devoted the rear bed room on the east side to the use of his two daughters (by Catherine Weisenberg) and their governess who was the widow of a military officer. An original painting of this governess hangs over the mantel in the dining room today. He gave these two daughters every consideration and surrounded them with every propriety.
1
1
The Stairway, Johnson Hall
٠٧٣٢٠٢٢
John J. Vrooman-15;1
٫٠
٠٫٨٧ 4
٧ ٣ . ٥٥ -.-
مصدا٦ ر
ستعنـ
شبكة
John J. Vrooman-1947
The Blockhouse, Johnson Hall
Page 123 - 124
JOHNSON HALL
Just outside this room, leading from the hall to the attic is a narrow stairway. This attic is a large open space which often accommodated members of the family when the four second floor sleeping rooms were taxed.
The two front bedrooms are attractive rooms, approximately square in their dimensions. The one to the west is said to have been the frequent meeting place of the local Lodge of Masons.
Behind this room on the same side is Sir William's bedroom, rather smaller than the front rooms, with two windows to the west. This room, as well as the children's room, is furnished in character.
The basement has been so completely renovated as to entirely destroy any illusion of age, with the possible exception of the section devoted to the kitchen. There was an inside well here in the basement, but all signs of it have disappeared as have the openings to the two underground passages leading to the blockhouses.
The house and grounds were bought by the State of New York in 1907, the house repaired and restored and thrown open to the public as a museum. There is a very fine collection of local memoria displayed here and included are many articles once owned by the Johnson family.
الاسم
من رحمة مهالـ
John J. Vrooman-19.19
Tryon County Court House Johnstown
Page 125
TRYON COUNTY COURTHOUSE AND JAIL
Tryon County Courthouse and Jail
HE law which created Tryon County in 1772 also authorized the appropriation of £1000 for a courthouse and a jail, to which an additional £600 was made available the following year. Sir William superintended the construction of the buildings employing a man by the name of Bennet brought from England to take charge of the details. After construction was under way, a man named Zephaniah Bachellor, a carpenter who also had some ability as an architect, came from Boston to Johnstown and found employment. Sir William was heard to remark later that he liked Bachellor's work, whose success, he felt sure, was due in a measure to his personal happiness. Bachellor had fallen in love and married a Johnstown maid and so became a permanent citizen of the town.
The plans for the building were drawn by Samuel Fuller of Schenectady who designed Johnson Hall and other buildings for Sir William. A glimpse of Fuller's relationship with Sir William may be had from the following letter dated almost ten years prior to the date of the courthouse, proving that Samuel Fuller's work must have been entirely satisfactory.
Fort Johnson, May 8th, 1763.
Mr. Fuller:
My reason for coming here this Day was to agree with the Workmen whom you intend taking into the Woods with You, and as I had not an Opertunity of Seeing you or them, I leave this paper to let you know that I am determined to give no more than five Shillings per Day to any whom you may employ for my work; if they will not agree to that, I desire you will not bring them with you. Neither will I give more to any (Yourself excepted) who work at Cap't Claus' House. What I have promised you shall be paid.
I am y'rs (Signed) Wm. Johnson.
The cornerstone was laid June 26th, 1772 in the presence of Governor Tryon, Sir William, their ladies and a large gathering of citizens. This Governor
ـ٤٨ سـ
1
Page 126
FORTS AND FIRESIDES OF THE MOHAWK COUNTRY
Tryon was the last English governor of the State, and the County was named for him. At that time it comprised about eight million acres and was subtracted from Albany County which previously had extended westward to the Indian Lands, bounded by treaty limits.
In 1784 the name of the County was changed to "Montgomery" in honor of General Montgomery who lost his life in the unsuccessful attempt to capture Quebec. Governor Tryon became so unpopular through his antagonistic activities (he had earned the nickname of "Bloody Billy") that the people insisted upon the change. Thus it was that Tryon County existed for a period of but 12 years, from the years of fomentation preceding the Revolution to the well-earned peace and quiet which followed. Of all the war-torn arenas over which the battles swept, none was more bitterly contested nor more brutally ravaged by savage cruelty than Tryon County.
The courthouse was completed and a Court of Quarter Sessions convened on September 8th, 1772. Guy Johnson was the presiding judge. Later in this building the famous Southwick trial was held, Aaron Burr defending Southwick. Daniel Cady, Ebenezer Foote and Abraham Van Vechten were some of the other well-known attorneys present. Burr was at this time heartily disliked for his killing of Alexander Hamilton in their duel and it was thought Burr's appearance might provoke a disorderly demonstration, but no sound was heard. Hamilton was known in Johnstown and had appeared in the very room in which the trial was being held. Burr entered followed by a negro servant carrying an armful of books. He was a rather small, neatly dressed and dignified gentleman with powdered wig, who appeared quietly confident before the bar. He smiled at Judge Kent, who was then presiding, made an easy and graceful bow and took his seat. Southwick was acquitted.
It has often been said the bricks that went into the building were imported from Holland as is the case with so many of the buildings of this early period, but this is not true. The bricks were made on the farm of Jacob Yost, less than a half mile from the site of the building. In the cupola is the triangle, which served as a bell and was first used to announce the sessions of court. The building, through the years, has been maintained in an excellent state of repair. It is the only Colonial courthouse in New York State and because of its connection with Sir William Johnson and with the many stirring events which run through the history of old Tryon County, the edifice is among the most highly prized of all New York's historical shrines.
٠
علاقة - داعشى
-- --
.
-- -
-
John J. Frooman-19 18
Tryon County Jail Johnstown .
Page 127-128
TRYON COUNTY COURTHOUSE AND JAIL
The building still serves its original purpose but it is now the seat of government of Fulton County, which was formed from the original Montgomery County in 1838, along with thirty six other counties, separated at different times from the mother county since its inception.
The jail, a well kept stone building with walls four feet thick, was built in 1772. In those days it must have been in quite another part of the town for it is several blocks distant from the courthouse. The jail also continues to serve its original purpose. It may be the brick addition which accounts for the fact that the stone building does not seem to possess the indescribable character which age alone bestows.
.
... ..
-
-
-
-
-
2
---
-
--
--
-
-
John J. Frooman-1950
Dievendorf House Currytown
Page 129
DIEVENDORF HOUSE
Dievendorf House
HE original settlers of this name in the Mohawk Valley were Johannes and Heinrich who came to the Canajoharie district about 1725.
"1791 John Diefendorf, born 1700 in Der Schweig married Elizabeth Keller, died 23 February buried 25 February, 10 children, 47 grandchildren, 47 great- grandchildren."
John's will, filed Nov. 12th, 1791 in Montgomery County, makes his son, John Jacob, his principal heir to whom was bequeathed "the whole and entire lot of land where I dwell." This John Jacob was born in 1747 and died in 1839. His entire life was spent in the Schoharie and Mohawk Valleys where he was known as "Esquire Diefendorf." When the Revolutionary War broke out he joined Colonel Klock's Tryon County Regiment. He survived the war and at its close became a pensioner. His wife was Catherine Windecker, who is buried beside him on the old homestead farm.
In a Tory and Indian raid on July 9th, 1781, the Dievendorf home at Currytown, about ten miles south-east of Canajoharie, was attacked and a lad named Jacob Dievendorf was captured and carried off. In the retreat, when pursued by Col. Willett and his militia, the Indians began to kill their prisoners to be rid of them. Seeing what was taking place young Jacob jumped from his horse and ran into the forest. But he was seen, pursued, struck down with a tomahawk, then scalped and left for dead. The militiamen found him unconscious, and took him to Fort Plain where he was given every care. He survived this awful experience and lived to reach the ripe old age of 85. His wound never completely healed although for five long years he was under constant treatment. He too is buried on his home farm.
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.