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 16
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In the living room is a splendid old fireplace with flanking built-in cupboards and above all a mantel. All this woodwork is hand carved; the stairs are of cherry and the hand rail of mahogany.
The main part of the house is but 45 feet square with a shed, recently attached at the rear, in such a way as to continue in an unbroken pitch the roof line of the main house. This gives the building, as viewed from the side, a most unusual appearance. There is a basement under the north half of the house where the ground naturally falls off toward Frederick Creek. No pretense toward elegance or adornment is discernible in the exterior of the house. Indeed, it would be difficult to conceive how it could be more severely plain. The house, being frame, has of necessity undergone repair. The siding is new, as well as the windows. The front door is the original and is easily recognized as such.
Within the rooms are many heirlooms. A grandfather's clock made in Reading, England, stands nine feet six inches under the ten foot ceiling. Its honest old face indicates the day of the month and the change of the moon.
The house also holds a rich heritage of pewter, Sheffield and silverware, with a great many pieces of antique furniture such as tables, chairs, beds and lesser pieces. All of these were once the property of George William Agustus Scriba, who died here at the age of 84, a comparatively poor man, on August 14th, 1836. He is buried in the village churchyard near by.
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SKETCH of FORTBREWERTON, at the WefiEnd of ONEDA LAKE.
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Fort Brewerton Brewerton
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FORT BREWERTON
Fort Brewerton
HE visible remains of Fort Brewerton are the irregular embankments which enclosed the fort. These have been sodded, and trees have been planted to protect them from erosion. The eight salient angles of the fort are easily seen. Within this enclosure is the old well which furnished the garrison with water. In 1906 the State of New York bought the site and enclosed it within a simple fence and made it a State Reservation to preserve it for all time.
The fort was built in 1755, the location being chosen by General Abercrombie, the English commander, as a point of defense along the all-important water route and was the trail between the Great Lakes and Albany. From its location all travel up and down the Oneida River was always under observation. It was named for Captain Brewerton of the English Army. The site is a sloping plain on the northerly bank some 300 feet from the River's edge, about a mile to the west of the Lake which is the River's source. It is about 350 feet across the embankment. Formerly a moat surrounded it and the earthworks inside were surmounted by loopholed palisades 20 feet high. About 100 feet east of the fort an underground powder magazine was connected with the fort by a tunnel.
Within the palisades were blockhouses, hewn from heavy logs, and large enough to accommodate a hundred men. A covered gateway led out of the south side of the Fort toward the River. The armament was four swivel- mounted three-pounders.
The reasons which prompted General Abercrombie to select this as a site for a fort no doubt were similar to those of the Onondaga Indians who had selected it for a fishing village as mentioned by the French explorer LeMayne in 1654. It was a junction point on two of their important trails. Furthermore it had always been a favored fishing place. The run of fish in and out of Oneida Lake in those early days was unbelievably large. At such times the Indians placed their weirs in the shallow waters of the outlet and caught these fish in immense quantities.
There was evidently an Indian burial ground on what is called Iroquois Island just east of the Fort, for the bones of hundreds of human beings were
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unearthed there during recent grading operations. In addition to the Indian burial ground other relics have been found in abundance at scattered nearby points.
From what is known of Champlain's route of exploration, it is assumed he passed through here in 1615, probably the first white man to see the place. It is said La Salle dated and dispatched a letter from here in 1673 and that Frontenac was here in 1692. Other French explorers mention the existence of an Indian village here as early as 1654.
It will be noted that this fort was built the same year as Fort Bull, which was at the eastern end of Wood Creek, and Fort Williams on the Mohawk near Rome. All were built to reinforce the Oswego trail, the only line of communication with the outpost at Oswego (built in 1727) and the Mohawk River settlements.
Following the Indian treaties, Fort Brewerton was dismantled and subsequently occupied as a trading post. Sir William Johnson spent three weeks here in October of 1767 by which time the Fort had been dismantled. The razing was in accordance with the treaty that the territory was to revert to the Indians. In connection with its latter days as a garrisoned Fort, the following document, found in the attic of old Fort Klock is of interest :--
"permit the bearer hereof, James Platto with one batteau and three men, to pass from this to Schenectady and Return with Liquor and stores for the use of the garrison, he behaving as Becometh.
Given under my hand this 27th day of August 1765 at Fort Brewerton. To all whom concerned ---
(Signed) Hy Congalton, Lieut. 60th Reg --- Commanding Fort Brewerton."
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1
John J. Ironman-19:37
The Sally Porte, Fort Ontario Osurego
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Forts Oswego and Ontario
VIDENCE of the necessity of a fort or trading post at Oswego is found in a letter written by Governor Burnett at New York, dated June 25th, 1723, to the Lords of Trade at London in which he said in part: -
"Last spring there came about twenty Far Indians to Albany and this month about eighty, besides women and children which they commonly bring with them wherever they go. . . . I have since, intelligence of forty or fifty more Far Indians who are coming to Albany to trade . . . and thus I find the fruits of the Company I have kept in the Sinnekees country, whose business it has been to persuade all the Indians that pass by, to come rather to trade at Albany than Montreal. .
I shall be very earnest to build a Fort in the Indian Country which I believe will be the best way to secure the passage of these remote Indians from any interruptions. . . "
From his letter we can appreciate the importance of the trade to the colony. Both England and France were "on their toes" to secure control of the waterways which were the only passages to and from the country of the "Far Indians."
Again, at New York on December 4th, 1726, Governor Burnett writes the Duke of New Castle: -
"I am now to lay before your Grace a complaint in which the Indians of the six nations join with me against the French for having built a fort at Niagara on the land of one of the six nations at the place through which they must pass to go to their own hunting country. . . . By means of this fort the French can hinder and molest these Indians when they please, which is directly contrary to the 15th Art: of the Treaty of Utrecht. .
I have likewise prevailed with the Assembly to raise 300 pounds in their last sessions in order to enable me to build a fort at the mouth of the Onondaga River, on the side of the lake, in the spring, in order to protect our trade. . . . "
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The situation became more critical. Governor Burnett won his point and arranged for the building of a "stone house" as related in his letter to the Lords of Trade at London under date of May 9th, 1727, as follows: --
" .. . I have this Spring sent up workmen to build a stone house of strength at a place called Oswego, at the mouth of the Onondaga River where our principal trade with the Far Nations is carried on. I have obtained the consent of the Six Nations to build it . . . and . . . sent up a detachment of sixty soldiers and a Captain and two Lieutenants to protect the building from any disturbance that any French and Indians may offer to it. There are besides, about two hundred traders now at the same place . . . I have been obliged to lay out more than double that value (300) pounds upon my own credit to furnish necessaries and provisions, and hire workmen, and make Battoes to carry up the men, for it is all water carriage (travel) from our outmost town called Schenectady, to this place, which is about two hundred miles, except five miles, where they must draw their Battoes over land, which is easily enough done (?) and this makes the communication much more convenient than by land.
The letter is interesting in its casual description of means of reaching Oswego. No doubt it was "easily enough done" as compared with an attempt to move this enormous amount of supplies overland through an unbroken forest. But nevertheless, it does smack of the man behind the desk who, without experience, tells how it can be done. It is also interesting in its statement that there are "about two hundred traders now at the same place," which is further proof of the need of a fort or fortified trading post. Certainly these two hundred traders would not have been there had they not known of plans for the building of the Fort.
How quickly the French responded to the erection of the Fort is seen in Governor Burnett's letter to the Duke of New Castle, dated August 24th, 1727, saying: -
"I have now finished the strong house at Oswego . . . but have lately received a summons from the Governor of Canada to demolish and abandon it in fifteen days . . . to which I could by no means agree. ... "
Rather an imperative note to say the least, and not much time allowed to think it over!
During the interval from 1727 to 1749 the Fort was garrisoned and some slight attempts made to better its defenses. Governor Clark, writing to London
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from New York in 1743, expresses concern over the activities of the French "on the Lake Cadaraqui" (Ontario) saying: -
"On the Northeast end whereof near the entrance into the River of St. Lawrence they have a small stone fort called Frontenac (Kingston) . . . and on the Southwest end near the fall of Niagara another . . .. We have a trading house and a garrison of 20 men in it at Oswego, almost opposite to Fort Frontenac.
No fort had yet been built on the east side of the Oswego River and the garrison was inadequate at Oswego. £ On September 23rd, 1749 Lieutenant Lindesay, in command at Oswego, writes Governor Clinton explaining the care with which he has promoted trade with the Indians and sends a very comprehensive table showing the amount of trade carried on. He also says: ---
"I have, dayly, opportunities to see what pains the French take to gain our Five Nations many ways and they seem to be in too good a way to succeed if the assembly do not enable your excellency to Empower Col. Johnson to take proper means to keep those we have on our side and gain over some other trading Indians.
Evidently the pressure from business men and traders was making itself felt for on April 23rd, 1755, Governor Clinton announced to the "Board" (The New York Assembly) the fact that "The Fort at Oswego, as a Post of Great Importance is to be strengthened." This is what was done: ---
"They began a new fort upon a hill on the east side of the river about 470 yards from the old one. It is 800 feet in circumference and will command the harbor; it is built of logs from 20 to 30 inches thick, the wall is 14 feet high and is encompassed by a ditch 14 feet broad and ten deep. It is to contain barracks for 300 men and to mount 16 guns. On the other side of the river west from the old fort another new fort is erecting. This is 170 feet square, besides the parapet; this is also encompassed with a ditch 14 feet broad and 10 feet deep and is to contain barracks for 200 men; another barracks is preparing of 150 feet by 24."
On February 2nd, 1756, Governor Vaudreuil of Canada writes to the Minister at Paris: ---
"Chouaguen (Oswego) is now in a state of defense . . . The English have three forts there, each of which has cannon and bombs. The garrison consists of 600 men who are constantly on the alert."
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On the 14th of August, 1756, the Marquis de Montcalm, who succeeded Baron Dieska in command of the French troops in Canada, crossed Lake Ontario from Fort Frontenac and captured and completely destroyed the entire post with his force of from 3000 to 4000 troops reinforced by a large number of Indians, leaving only a smoking ruins. He seized a vast store of armament and ammunition, thousands of barrels of provisions, the military chest and a "quantity of liquors and wines." Speaking of his Indian allies Montcalm says "the latter perpetrated there a multitude of horrors and assassinated more than 100 persons . . .. " The letter of Governor Hardy of Sept. 5th to the Lords of Trade tells the story: -
"The enemy attacked Fort Ontario with musquetry which they continued for two days, when the English garrison abandoned it . . . and retired into the Old Fort, soon after the enemy drew up their cannon to Fort Ontario . . . and commanded the Old Fort . . . the surrender took place and the French possessed the fort."
Inasmuch as Oswego represented the westernmost trading point to which the majority of these venturesome "boslopers" (forest runners) made their way, here seems a logical place in the narrative to give a description of the route by which they came and went. The two following are valuable in that they are "of the time" of which we write.
The first is from the diary of Ralph Izard who was: ---
"born in Charleston S. C. in 1742, and inherited a large estate; educated in England, he returned to America and married a niece of Lt. Gov. DeLancey. His journey to Niagara was evidently made before his marriage. He was a loyal patriot and esteemed friend of Washington; was U. S. Senator from South Carolina and a delegate to Congress, 1789-1795."
"Monday 24th June 1765 - Went with my three companions aboard a sloop for Albany (from New York City) a very hot day with the wind at south after sailing about fifty miles through a very rocky and mountainous country, the wind came about contrary and we anchored.
Friday 28th -- arrived at Albany, a hundred and sixty miles from New York. Albany is a dirty, ill-built Dutch town, of about three hundred houses; stands upon Hudson's River. Dined at Schuylers.
July 2nd - Left Albany in a wagon, came to Schenectady, Laid at Sir William Johnsons; he is superintendent for Indian affairs in the northern district. £ Breakfasted at Fort Johnson (Amsterdam) where Sir Williams's son lives, eighteen miles from Schenectady; good land all the way thither. Dined with Sir William at Johnson Hall. Extraordinary good land about his
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house. The office of Superintendent was very troublesome. Sir William continually plagued with Indians about him, generally from 300 to 900 in number - spoil his garden and keep his house always dirty.
7th - Left Sir William's, lay at Nicholas Failing's, a very civil Dutchman who seemed glad to give us whatever he had in his house; it is 42 miles from Schenectady.
8th - Got to Nicholas Herkimer's, 16 miles from Failings.
9th - Fort Herkimer, S miles. The land about it belongs to old Herkimer, excellent land settled by Germans. During the war this fort was built for the protection of the neighborhood from the attacks of the Six Nations Indians, · who live round about it.
10th - Discharged our wagon; went on board a batteaux; hunted and rowed up the Mohawk River against the stream which, on account of the rapidity of the current, is very hard work for the poor soldiers. Encamped on the banks of the River about 9 miles from Herkimer's.
Friday 11th - Got to Fort Schuyler, (Utica) 15 miles from our last night's encampment. A little block house, built during the late war, not capable of containing above six or eight people.
Saturday 12th --- Had a disagreeable ride, 22 miles through a thick wood with a bad path to Fort Stanwix (Rome) built in the year 1759 by Gen. Stanwix. Lieut. Allan Grant commanded there.
Monday 14th - Went on horseback by the side of Wood Creek 20 miles to the Royal blockhouse, a kind of wooden castle, proof against any Indian attacks. It is now abandoned by the troops and a settler lives there, who keeps rum, milk, and racoons, which though nothing of the most elegant, is comfortable to the strangers passing that way. This blockhouse is situated at the east end of Oneida Lake, and is surrounded by the Oneida, one of the Six Nations. Some of our batteaux not being come up, we stayed next day at the blockhouse.
16th - Embarked and rowed to the west end of the lake which is 28 miles, to Fort Brewington, a small stockade, built last war. The Oneida Lake is 20 miles broad from north to south.
17th - Rowed down the Oswego River to the Onondaga Falls, 39 miles. These falls are so rapid, that the batteaux were all drawn out of the water, and rolled 20 yards upon logs made for that purpose, below the falls where we encamped.
18th - Arrived at Fort Ontario (commanded by Capt. Lieut. Jonathan Rogers of the Seventeenth) situated on the Lake of that name, near a point formed by the lake and Oswego River. Fort Ontario is of wood, has five bastions built in 1759. Fort Oswego which was taken by the French, is on the opposite side of the River within sight of this Fort. Pontiac, the famous
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Ottawa chief with 60 head men of the neighboring Indians, were arrived here to meet Sir William Johnson about matters of consequence.
21st - Sir William arrived.
22nd - At two o'clock in the morning left Fort Ontario, encamped on the banks of Lake Ontario about 30 miles from the Fort.
23rd - Proceeded and encamped.
24th -- Arrived late in the evening at Niagara Fort, one hundred and seventy miles from Fort Ontario, Captain Thomas Norris of the Seventeenth regiment commanded here. Many civilities received from him and the officers of the regiment."
Then follows an account of a visit to Niagara Falls and the return to New York via Quebec and Lake Champlain.
Having made the trip westward enroute to Niagara, a description is now given of the route, as written by a French spy going eastward from Oswego back through the Valley in 1757. However the date is eight years earlier than that of the previous account: -
"Itenerary from the mouth of the River Chouegen (Oswego) in Lake Ontario to Lake Oneida then up Vilcrick (Wood Creek) to the summit level which is the source of the River of the Mohawk, or des Agnies, by which we can descend to Corlear or Chencctcdi (Schenectady) when Albany or Orange can be reached.
The entrance to the River Chouegen (Oswego) is easy, the harbor is formed of a cove. The English had a fort on each side of this River by which this entrance was defended.
From Chouegen (Oswego) to the Great Fall is an ascent of four leagues. In this space the navigation is intricate, the river rapid and encumbered with large rocks. Good pilots familiar with the shoals, are requisite to be able to pass through it. Batteaux must be unloaded at the Great Fall where a portage occurs of about 40 to 50 paces. The batteaux are dragged along the ground. ..
From Chouegen to Ft. Bull is estimated to be about 36 leagues. The ordinary batteau load is only 14 to 1500 weight. It takes five days to ascend the River from Chouegen to Ft. Bull and three and a half from Fort Bull to Chouegen (Oswego). The River of the Five Nations (Seneca River) rises in little lakes near which, about six leagues from its entrance into the River Chouegen, the Indians of the Five Nations reside. The River divides into two branches. That from the right rises in the Lake of the Senccas and Cayugas. That from the left beyond the lake of Ononontagues. .
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It is estimated to be about four leagues from the Fall to the mouth of the River of the Five Nations (River Seneca) which mouth is called the Three Rivers."
(The junction of the Rivers Oneida and Seneca with the Oswego is still known as the Three Rivers, and point of land as the Three Rivers Point.)
"Lake Oneida is about twelve leagues long by about one league wide. Its navigation is beautiful and practicable at all times unless there be a strong contrary wind. It is best on the right side of the Lake which is the north side. From Lake Oneida we enter River Vilcrick. . .. The River of Killed Fish (now Fish Creek) flows also into the Lake; the English used it formerly; they abandoned it because there was a portage, and they have preferred Vilcrick which they have cleared, which empties into that Lake from where we ascend nine leagues to Fort Bull. This River is full of sinuousities, narrow and
sometimes embarassed with trees fallen from both banks. Its navigation is difficult when the water is low. It is, however, passable at all times with an ordinary battcau load of from 14 to 1500 weight. When the waters of this stream are low, an ordinary batteau load cannot go by the river, further than within a league of Fort Bull. It becomes necessary then, to unload and make a Carrying place of the remainder by a road constructed to the Fort, or to send back the batteaux for the other half load.
Fort Bull, which was burned in 1756 by a detachment under orders of M. deLery was situated on the right bank of this River, ncar its source on the height of land.
From Fort Bull to Fort Williams it is estimated to be one league and a quarter. This is the Carrying place across the height of land. The English had constructed a road there over which all the carriages passed. They were obliged to bridge a portion of it, extending from Fort Bull to a small stream near which a Fort had been begun though not finished; it was to be intermediate between the two Forts, having been located precisely on the summit level.
Fort Williams was situated on the right bank of the River Mohawk or des Agnies, near the rise of that River on the height of land. It was abandoned and destroyed by the English after the capture of Chouegen.
From Fort William the Mohawk River is navigable. Batteaux carry the same load as in the River Vilcrick to the portage at the Little Falls, which is about two leagues below the village of the Palatines and Fort Kouari. . . . Fort Kouari is situated on the right side of the Mohawk River on a small hill on the edge of that River's bank. . . From Fort Kouari to that of Cannatchocary (Canajoharie) is four leagues. Some twenty houses are located at a distance, one from another, within the space of one league of this road.
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Fort Cannatchocary is situated on the side of the Mohawk River on the right bank. . . .
From Fort Cannatchocary to Fort Hunter is about twelve leagues; the road is pretty good; carriages pass over it. It continues along the bank of the Mohawk River. About a hundred houses at a greater or less distance from one another are found within this length of road. .
Fort Hunter is situated on the borders of the Mohawk River and is of the same form as that of Cannatchocary. . . . There is a church or temple in the middle of the Fort. In the interior of the Fort are also some thirty cabins of Mohawk Indians, which is the most considerable village. .
From Fort Hunter to Chenectedi or Corlar is seven leagues. The public carriage way continues along the right bank of the Mohawk River. About twenty or thirty houses are found within this distance. . . . The inhabitants of this section are Dutch. . .
Chenectedi or Corlar, situated on the banks of the Mohawk River is a village of about three hundred houses. It is surrounded by upright pickets flanked from distance to distance. Entering this village by the gate on the Fort Hunter side, there is a fort to the right which forms a species of citidel in the interior of the village itself. It is a square, flanked with four bastions or demi-bastions and is constructed half of masonry and half of timbers piled one over the other above the masonry. It is capable of holding 2 or 300 men. There are some pieces of cannon as a battery on the rampart. It is not encircled by a ditch. The entry is through a large swing gate raised like a drawbridge. By penetrating the village in attacking it at another point, the fire from the fort can be avoided. The greatest portion of the inhabitants of Chenectedi are Dutch.
From Chenectedi to Albany or Orange is estimated to be six or seven leagues. The road is excellent for all sorts of carriages; the soil sandy and the country covered with open timber. There are only a few hills. A league and a half from Chenectedi there is a house on the road which is a tavern. A league and a half further on, that is to say half way, another house is met which is also a tavern.
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