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 14
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The most important of these events was the "Battle of Klock's Field," fought October 19th, 1780. Sir John Johnson, with a combined force of 2500 Tories and Indians, was in retreat after pillaging the rich and fruitful Schoharie Valley. The enemy force was about equal to that which opposed General Herkimer at Oriskany, yet the Battle of Klock's Field was of minor importance because of Colonel Van Rensselaer's failure to follow up his advantage. The enemy had abandoned their baggage, brass field piece, wagons, hundreds of captured cattle and horses and should have been an easy prey for the Colonists. General Van Rensselaer was court martialed for his failure to capture the enemy and it is said he escaped punishment through political influence. Brant, the Indian Chieftain was wounded in the heel during this engagement but made good his escape.
In a letter from Governor Clinton, dated October 29th, at Poughkeepsie, reference is made to the destructiveness of the Johnson raid as follows: -
"Almost the whole of the intermediate country on both sides of the Mohawk River from Fort Herkimer to Fort Rensselaer at the upper end of Canajoharie, including the settlement of Stone Arabia is burnt and laid waste. On a moderate computation we have lost at least a hundred and fifty thousand bushels of wheat, besides other grain and forage and two hundred dwellings .. Schenectady may now be said to become the limits of our western frontier."
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Another interesting letter was read before the Schenectady Committee of Safety on July 14th, 1775, which, of course, preceded the Johnson raids -
Canajoharie - July 13th, 1775.
Gentlemen :
Mr. Ebenezer Cox, informed this board that Mr. Peter S. Dygert told this informant that he was informed by a person who we have reason to think has it from good authority that Colonel Johnson was ready with eight or nine hundred Indians to make an invasion of this County, that the same Indians were to be under the command of Joseph Brandt and Walter Butler and that they were to fall on the Inhabitants below the Little Falls in order to divide the people in two parts and were to march yesterday or the day before.
Captain Jacob Klock informed this Board that this morning, about an hour before day three Indians of Fort Hunter came to his house from Oswego on their way home, that he was informed by a free Negro man, a Servant of him, that they each had a bag of powder on their horses, that they stayed about an hour and then went off in great haste.
From these and other concomitant circumstances we have but too much reason to think it is true, and that all our enemies in this county will appear in arms against us, as soon as the Indians are nigh to us, which from the above information we must expect in a few days.
We have sent off a party of People by way of a scout, to find out if possible, the route of the Indians (176) and give us early intelligence.
Our ammunition is so scant that we cannot furnish Three hundred men, so as to be able to make a stand against so great a Number.
In these deplorable circumstances we look up to you for assistance both in men and ammunition to save this County from Slaughter and Desolation which we beg you will not be backward to afford us as soon as possible.
We have ordered some of our Companies up toward the little Falls, who are to keep Scouting Parties out and we intend to keep sitting until such time as we can be Convinced of our Safety.
This is more alarming to us, as we shall in a few days be obliged to begin with our Harvest. Men are therefore absolutely necessary.
We beg of you to forward this by express to Albany and Copies from there to the Provincial Congress and to General Schuyler.
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FORT KLOCK
Mr. Dygert was obliged to promise not to disclose the Person's Name, who informed him of the above but be assured that the Person is well acquainted with the Indians, and therefore, if found out is in great Danger. We are Gent.
Your most Obt. and Humble Servants By order
To the Committee of Chrisr. P. Yates
Schenectady and Albany
Christopher P. Yates was chairman of the Tryon County Committee of Safety which was formed in the spring, the first full meeting being held but six weeks previous to the date of this letter. The opening paragraph of the letter sounds more like gossip than military intelligence but in this case, secrecy was absolutely necessary. It was only two months after the first shot had been fired at Lexington and in so short a space of time it was impossible to know for a certainty, friend from foe. Then too, this business of making war on one's own neighbors was strange to such men as composed these committees.
The east cellar door of Fort Klock opens into a stone walled chamber without windows and paved with stone. The cellar is partitioned into two nearly equal rooms by a heavy north and south stone wall. In a corner of the room to the west, there is a pool fed by the spring previously spoken of which still furnishes to the occupants of the house a never failing supply of water. There is also an outside cellar door leading from this west room through the south wall to the outside. The entrance to the cellar from the main floor above is by a low, narrow and steep stairway, into this west room. Here may be seen the huge floor timbers overhead while other equally large are seen in the northwest room on the ground floor. The interior of the house has been much altered through the years. Part of the south foundation wall is out of place, making it necessary to put props under the ground floor beams. Otherwise, the building seems in condition to stand another 175 years. This old house has had the honor of sheltering Generals Schuyler and Clinton; also, Alexander Hamilton, Brant, and John Jacob Astor, the latter's visit being on business in connection with his fur buying. Doubtless one of the Klocks was his agent. It is interesting to note that Mohawk Valley furs helped lay the foundation of one of America's greatest fortunes.
John J. Vrooman-1939
Indian Castle Church Fort Plain
Page 163
INDIAN CASTLE CHURCH
Indian Castle Church
HIS unusual structure was built in 1769 under the direction of Sir William Johnson and at his own personal expense, on land donated by the Indian chieftain, Joseph Brant. It was dedicated the next year as an Indian Mission. Its name is derived from the fact that as early as 1642 an Indian "Castle" or stronghold was located here. It was in 1642 that Arent Van Curler, as a representative of the Van Rensselaer interests at Albany, journeyed to this place in company with two other Dutchmen for the purpose of securing the release of Father Jogues, a Jesuit missionary, who, together with two companions were being held prisoners by the Indians. Van Curler made the Indians an offer of six hundred florins which they refused but they did make him a promise that they would spare the lives of their captives.
Two years later, Father Jogues, still a prisoner, was at Albany with a band of Mohawks. Here he contrived to see Domine Megapolenses, the Dutch minister, and with his help was stowed aboard a "yacht" returning to New York. This term "yacht" was commonly applied to the sailing vessels of that time.
Indian Castle was the home of some of the most famous personages of the Mohawk tribe. Mollie Brant, the consort of Sir William Johnson, lived here, as did Joseph, Mollie's brother. Hilletie Van Slyke, the half-breed Indian of Schenectady who later became Christianized and assisted in the translation of part of the Bible into the Mohawk language, also made this her home for a time. This, too, was the home of King Hendrick, the Chieftain of the Mohawk tribe.
When Sir William built the Church he also built a block-house or fort nearby and named it "Fort Hendrick" after his old friend, the Chief. This Church now stands in what seems to be an open field though there is a small lane leading south to it from the highway, Route 5S.
Nothing remains of any former settlement. Along the hillside just west of the Church are some slight depressions which are no doubt remains of early burials. The cemetery up on the hill behind the Church is of later date. The location of the block house is shown by a marker at the north of the road below
the Church. The farm house at this point is said to stand within the bounds of
nübel
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the old stockade which surrounded the Fort, while just behind the house stood the home of King Hendrick. The outlines of a cellar, until recently visible, marked the location where once stood Joseph Brant's house.
The Church, the only remaining building, is not of particular interest, architecturally. It is a simple frame structure, painted a dead white, and because of its age has required a great deal of renovation. Originally it stood north of the road and was painted to resemble a stone building. Its steeple is a replacement, patterned after the original. The window sash is still made up of small panes but doubtless most of the glazing is new.
An interesting story is told of the Church bell which the Indians attempted to carry away with them to Canada when they left the Valley to take up their residence there. The accidental ringing of the bell aroused the settlers who started in pursuit. The Indians, to avoid capture were forced to throw the bell overboard while crossing the River. It was later recovered but was found to be cracked and useless.
Church services are no longer held here with regularity. However, the building is often in use for patriotic and memorial services.
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John J. Vrooman-19-4X
General Herkimer Home Little Falls
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GENERAL NICHOLAS HERKIMER HOME
General Nicholas Herkimer Home
ENERAL NICHOLAS HERKIMER, the eldest son of John Jost and Catherine Herkimer, was born in 1728 in a log cabin built by his father about 1723, just east of the present Fort Herkimer Church. Following this cabin, his father built a stone house in 1740 which was destroyed when the Erie Canal was built. The house Nicholas built is therefore the only remaining early Herkimer home.
In 1754 Nicholas moved below the Falls to this location, living probably in a log house while the "brick mansion" was being built. The architecture is credited to Samuel Fuller of Schenectady. It is typically Dutch Colonial with its hip roof construction, and remains in much its original condition. There are five fireplaces and a broad central hall on both floors, making of it the practical "double" house. The basement is flagged with rough stone and its deeply recessed windows are proof of the thickness of the foundation walls. The woodwork, panelling and the wide floor boards, as well as the hardware are of great interest. The lock on the front door is a massive affair, its actual measurements being ten inches in height and sixteen inches across.
Outside, toward the rear, is a powder magazine, with heavily laid arches of stone. This was used as a storehouse by the Tryon County Militia. The slave quarters and barns have disappeared.
General Herkimer was severely wounded at the Battle of Oriskany and following the Battle was brought home, only to die ten days later. The immediate cause of his death was the result of an amputation of his leg by an unskilled surgeon, so the story goes. But the fact is, the operation was performed by a Dr. Robert Johnson, a man of unusual ability, detailed to the case by General Arnold. The operation was performed on the morning of Aug. 16th and the patient died the evening of the same day. Dr. Johnson's report is in part, as follows:
"Yesterday morning I amputated General Harcomer's leg, there not being left the prospect of recovery without it. But alas, the patriotic hero died in the evening -- the cause of his death, God only knows. About three hours before his departure he complained of pain. I gave him thirty drops of laudinum liquid, and went to dress Mr. Pettery. I left him in as good a way as I could, with Mr. Hastings to take care of him. When I returned, I found him taking his last gasp, free from spasm and sensible. Nothing more
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surprised me but we cannot always parry death so there is an end of it.
Gen. Arnold left yesterday morning with positive orders to follow him this evening or tomorrow morning. I sent for Scull to take care of the General and Pettery. He is now just arrived. I propose to have Pettery removed to Palatine where Scull and two regimental mates will take care of him and the others wounded. This evening, I will pursue Gen. Arnold and I suppose will overtake him at Fort Dayton.
The place and the hour of glory draws nigh. No news from Fort Schuyler. I am, dear Doctor, your most obedient and humble servant."
(Signed) "Robert Johnson."
The "Pettery" referred to in the letter was Dr. Wm. Petry, born in Germany, who had served as surgeon and doctor at Ft. Dayton (Herkimer) 1776 - 79. He it was who dressed General Herkimer's leg on the battlefield. Dr. Petry's wound received at Oriskany, was also in the leg, which explains the care to be administered by Scull.
General Herkimer was in the southeast corner room on the second floor at the time of the operation. After the leg was taken off, two boys buried it in - the garden. " Shortly after, the General said: "I guess you boys will have to take that leg up and bury it with me for I am going to follow it." In the meantime, Colonel Willett called to see the General and found him sitting up in bed, smoking his pipe. But his strength ebbed toward evening, and he called his family to him, read to them composedly the thirty-eighth psalm "Forsake me not O Lord; O my God be not far from me. Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation." He then closed his Bible, sank back upon his pillow and died.
He was buried in the family cemetery just to the rear of the house. In 1896 the State Legislature appropriated the necessary funds to ercct the present monument over the grave. It was dedicated in that year with appropriate Masonic ceremonies. An excellently executed figure of General Herkimer cast in bronze . stands in the City park at Herkimer, the work of Burr C. Miller, who had studied sculpture in Paris.
General Herkimer left no children. The house passed to his brother George, then to a son of George, the Hon. John Herkimer, who lived here until 1815, at which time it passed out of the Herkimer family. It was bought by the State of New York in 1914 and made a State Reservation under State ·· maintenance. It is open to the public and visited by thousands of interested people every year. The location is just east of Little Falls on the south of the River, which it overlooks.
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John J. Vrooman-1911
Fort Herkimer Church Herkimer
Page 167
FORT HERKIMER AND FORT HERKIMER CHURCH
Fort Herkimer and Fort Herkimer Church
AUNT and gray, impressive in its simplicity, appealing in its loneliness and a tombstone to its early pastors, the Church's truncated weather- beaten steeple rises sturdily above the hundreds of graves scattered at its base in proof of the solidarity of its buttressed stone walls and the honest labor that went into them. Old Fort Herkimer Church is the oldest remaining House of God in all New York, save only the Sleepy Hollow Church at Tarrytown which was completed before 1699.
The exact date of the beginning of the Fort Herkimer Church is not known but the site was donated in 1730. The first Church building, erected in 1725 was, in the natural course of events, built of logs but about 1737 the present building was begun. Halted in the building by the French and Indian War and by the impoverished condition of its parishioners thereafter, it was not completed until 1767. This date appears cut in a stone set in the north wall over the original doorway, accompanied by the initials, J. H. E. These letters stand for John Jost Herkimer, the builder, the letter "E" being the initial letter of the German word "erbaut" (built). But this was the date of the completion in its present form. There is evidence of its being used prior to this date. Originally its walls were eight feet less than their present height. The entrance was also changed from the north to the west side, and the pulpit moved to the east end. It formed a part of a stockaded defense built under the administration of Sir William Johnson in 1756.
John Jost Herkimer's house, erected about 1740, stood a half mile east of the Church and in it General Nicholas Herkimer was born, the eldest of five sons and eight daughters. The house was destroyed in 1850. A recently erected tablet at the roadside identifies the location.
When John Jost Herkimer built this house, maintaining in it a store and trading post, the place immediately became a "port" for all river travellers and traders. It was known as Fort Herkimer by the English and it rightly deserved
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the name for it was the only stone house in the western end of the Valley and was easily capable of defense. There is a reproduction of the original ground plans entitled
"Plans and Profile of Retrenched Work round Herkemeis house at Ye German Flats, 1756"
This plan shows an elongated quadrilateral with one long side facing to the north or River side. The four corners are not true "corners" but spear shaped projections (bastions) which allowed the defenders to fire down the sides of the palisades. A gate is shown in the north wall and just outside is the "Smith's Shop." Directly inside the gate is what was evidently the Herkimer house, called on the plan the "Old House." To the west of it was a "Guard Room" in front of which a well is shown. To the east of the "Old House" a "Stone House" is shown.
To the Indians it was known as "Fort Kouari," the last word being the Indians' name for old John Jost. He carned this nickname through an act of kindness. He had been poling along the upper River, looking for a rich tract of land he hoped to buy from the Indians and there carve out his homestead. So far he had been unsuccessful. Apparently the Indians were not then disposed to sell any more land. But here, at a bad rift in the channel, he went ashore to look about. In the forest he met a party of Indians who had made a dug out canoe from a large log and were unable to launch it. Seeing their difficulty and also mindful of his own purpose, he soon had the canoe in the water, much to the amazement of the Indians who immediately dubbed him "Kouari" (the bear) because of his great strength. He also had an agreement from them for the land he so much wanted to buy. A description of the house he built here is given as follows from a personal knowledge of the building by one of the local residents, now long dead: -
"The building was of stone, forty feet wide and seventy feet long, two storys high with a basement. The roof was very steep and covered with oak shingles three feet long. The walls of the building were over two feet thick, pierced with six windows, six portholes and a door on the front or north side besides the front windows in the basement, wide enough to drive a team through.
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John J. l'roomtan-1951
The Pulpit, Fort Herkimer Church
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FORT HERKIMER AND FORT HERKIMER CHURCH
The basement was under the east end of the building and under the west half of the house was a cellar, each about 35 feet square. The only opening in the west end was a square window in the upper story.
The main entrances to the building were two doors, one on the south and the other on the north side. The hallway, running through the middle of the building from north to south was about twelve feet wide. Near the north end which was then the front were two doors, one opening into the east and the other into the west room, the house being divided into two rooms on the main floor, and the east room subdivided into a large kitchen and a small bedroom and a pantry.
A little farther on in the hall was the grand staircase, broad and easy of ascent, made of white oak leading to the second story which was divided into three rooms, a bedroom over the hall at the head of the stairs and a large room in each end of the house. The broad old fireplaces, both in the lower and upper rooms with 'Pot-hook and trammel' and the traditional backlog and forestick blazing upon the old andirons on a cold day, gave the grand old rooms an air of comfort and cheerfulness."
John Jost Herkimer was one of the most widely known and influential men in the Valley and from him, the English Government contracted for supplies to be sent on up to Oswego- not canned goods, green vegetables, tomato and orange juice but corn meal, salt pork, candles and rum. These were his principal items of stock along with powder and lead, rough cloth and duffels which he traded to the Indians for furs. Someone has computed that the average rate of profit on this trading business was in the ratio of twenty to one; or for every dollars' worth of rum sold the trader took furs from which he realized $20.00. No wonder it was a booming business! In prosaic lines of endeavor it took a month to earn one quarter as much as could be gained for one dollar in trade. The profits of one trading expedition into the wilderness equalled the earnings of several years cf hard work, the questionable factor being the chance of not getting back alive.
John Jost Herkimer was both merchant and trader as well as farmer. He lived at his outpost over fifty years (when he wasn't away fighting) and raised a family of thirteen children, along with his corn and peas. He died in 1755 with war still rumbling in his ears.
The old Herkimer home, the Fort buildings, the parapets and palisades have all passed away, strangely enough leaving the Church, which is the oldest building, the sole survivor. Within the Church is an excellent example of an elevated pulpit flanked by a flight of stairs on either side. Over the pulpit hangs
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a massive sounding board, beautiful in the simplicity of its lines and ornamentation. One can visualize in it the good Domine Rosenkrantz (he of the "creaking knees") preaching to his congregation as described so lucidly in the novel "Drums Along the Mohawk." In fact, many of the scenes of that novel are laid in and about the buildings herein described. The pews of the Church are of the quaint, stiff type, severely plain and cach entered through its own door.
The Fort was the scene of great activity throughout the succeeding years. The English erected it as a secondary line of defense, and as a storehouse to reinforce and supply Fort Oswego, which was their western outpost. Sir William Johnson was here in 1756 and again in 1772 in company with Governor Tryon to review the Provincial Militia. Colonel Marinus Willet commanded here for a time; Arnold was here in 1777 and Washington stopped here in 1783 on an inspection trip through the Valley.
The neighborhood was raided in 1757, the brunt of the attack falling on the north shore. The next year the south side of the Valley was attacked. This was, of course, during the French and Indian War .. In 1782, at the time of the Revolution, a force of some 400 Tories and Indians burned and destroyed 120 houses and barns and over 600 head of livestock in this immediate neighborhood.
The first known minister at this Church was the Rev. Johannes Schuyler, followed in 1733 by the Rev. George Michael Weiss, the first "permanent" pastor in 1746. Abraham Rosenkrantz served as pastor from 1752 until his death in 1796. He was beloved by all his parishioners and in fact by all the settlers of the Valley for he preached not only at Fort Herkimer Church but at Canajoharie, Stone Arabia and at Schoharie. In the raid of 1757 he was saved through the insistence of friendly Indians, who, after warning the inhabitants, forced the minister to cross the River to safety. He married a sister of General Herkimer. He was buried, at his own request, under the pulpit he had so faithfully filled and his was one of the largest funerals ever held from the Church.
The history of the Church is intimately associated with the history of the early families of the settlement and its records and its gravestones are a mine of information to those interested in the genealogy of this section of the Valley.
John J. Vroomun-1938
Shoemaker Tavern Mohawk
Page 171
THE SHOEMAKER TAVERN
The Shoemaker Tavern
HIS very old home -- indeed it is reputed to be the oldest house continuously occupied as a dwelling in the present village of Mohawk, was built by a family named Shoemaker. The deed to the land came direct from the English Government in the form of a patent. The date of building is thought to have been 1772.
At the time of the Revolution there were several branches of the Shoemaker family, some of whom were Tory sympathizers, and this house was the secret meeting place for those of this mind. Consequently it was spared from fire and destruction in each of the Tory raids in the Valley.
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