USA > New York > Gazetteer of the State of New York: embracing a comprehensive view of the geography, geology, and general history of the State, and a complete history and description of every county, city, town, village, and locality, Part 1 > Part 73
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Another paper was commenced at Elizabethtown, in Jan. 1849, by D. Truair, and removed to Keeseville in about 4 months.
The Elizabethtown Post was established by Robert W. Living- ston in 1851, and was subsequently nuited with the Northern Standard, of Keeseville.
The Keeseville Herald was commenced in 1825 by F. P. Allen, and soon after passed into the hands of A. II. Allen, by whoin it was continued, with a few interruptions, until 1841.
The Keescville Argus, edited by Adonijah Emmons, was begun about 1831, and continued 5 or 6 years.
The Essex County Republican was established at Keeseville iu 1839, and is now published by J. B. Dick- inson.
The Au Sable River Gazette was started at Keeseville about 1847, by D. Truair, and continued 5 or 6 years.
The Old Settler, mo., was commenced at Keeseville by A. II. Allen in 1849, and was afterward removed to. Saratoga Springs.
The Northern Gazette was started at Keeseville in 1851, and continued several years.
The Northern Standard was established at Kerseville in 1854 by A. W. Lansing, and is now published by A. W. Lansing & Son.
The Essex County Republican was started at Essex about 1822 by J. K. Averill, and was continued by him, and by Walton & Person. until 1833.
The Berean Guide was started in 1840, at Essex, by Rev. M. Bailey, and continued 1 year.
The Westport Patriot and Essex County Advertiser was com- menced in 1845, at Westport, by D. Truair.
The Essex County Patriot was issued at Easex, about 1847, by A. II. Allen. It was changed to
The Westport Herald. and continued 6 or 7 years.
The Essex County Times was published at Westport in 1851.
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ESSEX COUNTY.
and thriving villages had sprung up, before they were finally broken up by invading armies. Still more extended schemes of settlement were planned, and extensive grants of laud were made upon the same condition as the French grants in Canada.1 Soon after their first occupation, the French caused a survey of the lake and its shores to be made by Sieur Anger, surveyor to the King ; and the work seems to have been carefully done. In 1755 the French advanced 12 mi. nearer to the English settlements, and eominenced the fortification of Ticonderoga upon a point that entirely commanded the passage of the lake. The fort was named by them " Carillon;"2 but it is now generally known by the Indian naine of Ticonderoga. Upon it vast sums of money were afterward expended by both the French and English, and it became the most formidable fortress in America. The French here made a stand against the advances of the English; and when at length it was found to be no longer tenable, Crown Point and all the posts along the lake were at once abandoned.
The repeated incursions of the French and Indians into the English settlements, and the eon- tinual advancements of the French military posts, at length aroused the attention of the English Government and led to the conviction that the very existence of the frontier settlements depended upon the complete overthrow of the French power in America. One of the great expeditions of 1755 was directed against Crown Point. The English troops, under the command of Gen. Lyman, built Fort Lyman-afterward Fort Edward-on the Hudson, and, under Sir Wm. Johnson, whe assumed the command, advanced to the head of Lake George. Here, learning that the French were fortifying Ticonderoga and that they had received large reinforcements, Sir William chose a commanding position and fortified his camp. In the mean time, Baron Dicskau, the French commander, at the head of a superior force, endeavored to cut off his counnunication with Fort Lyman. A body of provincial troops, under Col. Williams,3 of Mass., and of Indians, under the famous Mohawk chief Hendrick, thrown out as an advance guard by Sir Wm., fell into an ambush, and the whole party were cut to pieces, and the two leaders killed. The French imme- diately attacked the English camp, but were repulsed with great loss, and the retreating fugitives were mostly killed or taken prisoners by a party of fresh English troops from Fort Lyman. Sir Win. did not follow up his success, but spent the remainder of the season in constructing Fort Wm. Henry on the site of his camp, leaving the French to strengthen their works at Crown Point and Ticonderoga without molestation. No general expedition was projected during 1756, and the only active warfare was carried on by adventurous parties of rangers.4
From this time to the close of the war, and agaiu during the Revolution, this co. was the theater of important military events. We have space only for a brief chronological recapitulation of the principal ones as they occurred. The partisan warfare, with varying success, continued through the winter and spring of 1756-57. In July, Montcalm, Gov. of Canada, assembled 9,000 men at Ticonderoga, and marched to the head of Lake George, for the purpose of reducing Fort Wm. IIcnry; which object he accomplished Aug. 3.5 In the summer of 1758 an expedition was fitted out against Ticonderoga, and was intrusted to the commaud of Gen. Abercrombie. On the 5th of July he crossed Lake George with 17,000 men ; and on the 6th the advanced guard of his armny was surprised by the French, and many killed, among whom was Lord Howe,6 second in command. On the 8th the English army endeavorcd to take the fort by storm, but were repulsed with a loss of 2,000 men. In 1759, Gen. Amherst, at the head of 12,000 men, proceeded to invest Ticonderoga. The French troops having been mostly withdrawi for the defense of Quebec, the whole fortress was dismantled, and abandoned on the 30th of July. Crown Point was soon after abandoned, and the whole region came into the undisputed possession of the
1 A seigniory, extending 3 leagues along the lake shore and 2 leagues back. was granted, June 13, 1737, to Sieur Louis Joseph Robert, the king's storekeeper at Montreal. 1ts northern boundary was to be half a league below the "Bacquet" (Boquet) River. and its sonthern 2} leagues above. This territory eni- braced the present town of Essex and a large part of Willsborough. Another seigniory, extending 6 leagues along the lake and 5 back, was granted, Nov. 15. 1758, to Michael Chartier de Lotbinière. It was called "D' Alainville," and embraced the present towns of Ticonderoga, Crown Point, and Schroon. Settlements which commenced upon this grant were broken up by the English arinies. Most of the seigniory was granted to officers and sol- diers of the English army, in accordance to his majesty's pro- clamation of Oct 7, 1763. After the cession of Canada, the French proprietor presented his claims to the English Govern- ment, with no other effect than to create a considerable tem- porary aların among the English settlers.
$ On his way to the frontiers, Col. Williams stopped at Albany '2 See page 304.
and made his will, leaving a sum of money to fonud a free school in Western Mass. This legacy founded and gave the name to Williams College. In 1851 the alumni of the college erected a momument to his memory on the spot where he was killed.
4 The most enterprising of these rangers were Majs. Israel Putnam and Robert Rogers. The party commanded by the latter officer consisted of old hunters, accustomed to all kinds of hardships and privations. Among his officers was Jolin Stark, afterward Gen. Stark of the Revolution. These parties hung upon the outskirts of the French forts. took off their sen- tinels, burned their villages, killed their cattle, destroyed their boats, and annoyed them in every possible manner.
6 See page 668; Lossing's Field Book of the Revolution ; Ban- croft's Hist. U. S.
6 Brother of Sir William Howe and Admiral Howe, English commanders during the Revolution. Lord Howe was a brave and enterprising officer, greatly beloved by the army, and his loss was deeply deplored.
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ESSEX COUNTY.
English. The works at Tieonderoga and Crown Point were enlarged and strengthened, at a cost of $10,000,000.1
By the provisions of the Treaty of Paris, signed Feb. 10, 1763, in which the French ceded their possessions in North America to the English, the latter goverumeut was bound to respect the titles to land previously granted by the former. The proclamation of the King of Oct. 7, 1763, authorized the granting of the lands upon Lake Champlain to officers and soldiers who had served in the war. These incompatible acts led to much confusion. Overlapping claims aud coufficting titles unavoidably followed; and the matter was not finally settled until after the Revolution. In the mean time, the controversy had the tendency to retard settlement, by destroying confidence in the titles by which the land could be held and conveyed.
Settlement was commenced upon the Boquet in 1765, under the auspices of Wm. Gilliland, a wealthy merchant of N. Y.2 Through his agency, and that of other capitalists, several miles of the lake shore between the mouth of the Boquet and Crown Point were settled, mills and roads were built and schools established. Mr. G. held a justice's commission, and for many years was the only judicial authority.3 The settlers whom he induced to locate upon his estate were mostly Irish.
After the cession of Canada the great fortresses on the lake were allowed to fall into partial decay, and were held by only small bodies of troops. Upon the receipt of the news of the com- mencement of hostilities at Lexington, a small body of troops, known as "Green Mountain Boys," uuder Col. Ethan Allen, surprised and took both Ticonderoga and Crown Point in May, 1775.4 During the summer and autumn of the same year the expedition, under Schuyler and Montgomery, against Canada, passed down the lake, and returned the next spring, uusuccessful. During the summer of 1776, naval forces were organized upon the lake by both the British and Americans, the latter under the command of Benedict Arnold. In an engagement that ensued, the Americans were defeated, and their remaining vessels were obliged to take refuge under the guns of Fort Ticonderoga. Crown Point was dismantled, and the stores removed; and soon after it was taken possession of by the British. Mr. Gilliland and the colonists ardently embraced the American cause, and materially aided Montgomery's army in its advance on Canada, by furnishing provisions, and, on its return, by affordiug relief to the sick and wounded.5 Mr. G.'s estate was wasted by both friends aud focs, and finally the whole settlement was broken up by Burgoyne.6
Burgoyne landed on the banks of the Boquet, Juue 21, 1777, and spent several days in con- ferences with the Indian tribes; and on the 27th the invadiug army advanced to Crown Point. On the 30th they invested Ticonderoga; and on the night of July 4 they took possession of " Sugar Loaf Hill," (uow Mt. Defiance, ) and erected upou it a battery of heavy guns, completely commanding the fort. On the night of the 5th the Americans hastily embarked their stores and munitions of war upon bateaux, and scut them up to Skencsborough under convoy, and the main body of the army escaped into Vt.7 Both parties were quickly pursued, and the tide of war slowly and sullenly rolled southiward, beyoud the limits of the co.
In Sept. Gen. Lincoln, at the head of a body of militia stationed at Manchester, Vt., made an attack upon these works, took Mts. Hope and Defiance, released 100 American prisoners, took 293 of the enemy, and captured an armed sloop, several gun boats, and more than 200 bateaux.8 The fort was not taken. After the surrender of Burgoyne the place was dismantled, and the garrison retreated down the lake. The rear division of their boats, with 50 men and a large quantity of
1 The fort and field works at Ticonderoga spread over an area of several miles, and the fortress at Crown Point embraced seven acres. The ruins of these works now visible still attest their extent and magnitude.
2 Mr. Gilliland at first designed to lay the foundation of a vast baronial estate; and hence be sold no land, but leased it on the most favorable terms.
8 A convention of the settlers was held March 17, 1775, (St. Patrick's Day,) and a local. independent government was adopted. The management of affairs was intrusted to a mode- rator, two supts. of roads and bridges, three appraisers of dam- ages and a town clerk. Just before the Revolution, a scheme was devised to form a separate colonial government, embracing all the territory north of Mass, and between the Connecticut and St. Lawrence Rivers. Philip Skene, the founder of " Skenes- borough," (now Whitehall,) is believed to have been the leading spirit of this movement, and his appointment as gov. of the forts of Ticonderoga and Crown Point in June, 1775, seems to give color to this belief. See Journals of Congress, June 8, 1775; Watson's Ag. Survey, Tr. Ag. Soc., 1852, p. 694.
4 The capture of these forts. und of the armed schooner upon the lake, was of immense importance to the Americans, as it supplied them with a great amount of cannon and other munitions of war.
5 Gen. Carlton offered a reward of $500 for the delivery of Gilliland in Canada. Sheriff White, of Tryon co., and a party
of Tories and Indians, who attempted to capture bim, were themselves captured and sent to Gen. Schuyler.
6 Mr. G. assisted Arnold in the prosecution of his designs to the extent of his ability; and, in return for the kindness, Arnold, by an arbitrary stretch of power, destroyed his dwell- ings, mills, and stores, and nearly reduced him to poverty. In a memorial to Congress in 1777, Gilliland held the following truthful and prophetic language in regard to Arnold :- " It is not in mine, but it is in your power to bring bim to justice. Bursting with pride, and intoxicated with power,-to which he ever ought to have been a stranger, but which he has had art enough to obtain from you .- he tyrannizes where he can. If temerity, if rashness, impudence. and error, can recommend him to you, he is allowed to be amply supplied with these quali- ties ; and many people think they ought to recommend him in a peculiar manner to Lord North, who, in gratitude for his having done more injury to the American cause than all the ministerial troops have had the power of doing. ought to reward bim with a generous pension."
7 A heavy chain, 1000 feet long, and an immense boom, erected across the lake by the Americans at great labor and expense, were cut through in 2 hours.
8 In this expedition the Continental standard left behind by St. Clair was recovered.
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ESSEX COUNTY.
military stores, were captured by a party of "Green Mountain Boys" under Capt. Ebenezer Allen. In 1780, Gen. Ilaldeman, with a party of British soldiers, advanced to Ticonderoga and occupied it for some time. Maj. Carleton here made a diversion in favor of Sir John Johnson, by an attack upon Forts Anne and George. In 1781 the British fleet several times entered the lake, but retired without accomplishing any thing.1 In 1784, Gilliland returned to his ruined settlement and endeavored to retrieve his waning fortunes. Relinquishing his ideas of manorial greatness, he offered his lands for sale; but adverse lawsuits and treacherous friends soon dissipated the rem- nant of his wealth and brought his existence to a miserable close.2 The progress of settlement at first was not very rapid. In 1795 there were in Clinton co .- then embracing Essex-but 624 legal voters. From that time forward, however, settlement progressed with great rapidity, and several publie roads were opened to facilitate it.3 Soon after the war an arsenal was erected at Elizabeth- town. During the patriot excitement it was robbed; and since, it has been sold.
CHESTERFIELD-was formed from Willsborough, Feb. 20, 1802. It lies in the N. E. corner of the co., upon the shore of Lake Champlain. Its surface is broken and mountainous. The Jay Mountains, a northern spur of the Adirondack Range, extend northward through the w. part. This range is a continuous, high, rocky ridge, without a single pass, forming an almost impassable barrier between Chesterfield and Jay. The main Adirondack Range extends through the center of the town from s. w. to N. E., ending at Trembleau Point, a high, rocky bluff 1200 to 1500 feet above the surface of the lake. Bosworth Mountain and Poke-a-Moonshine, each attaining an elevation of about 3000 feet, are the two principal peaks within the limits of the town. The s. E. part is hilly. The N. E. part is a rolling table land, with a light, sandy, and unproductive soil. There are several lakes in the interior, the principal of which are Augur and Butternut Ponds. Not more than one half of the surface is susceptible of cultivation. The principal valuable minerals that have been found are iron, graphite, and a beautiful light brown marble. Schuyler Island, in the lake, belongs to this town. The Au Sable River, upon the N. border, affords a large amount of hydraulic power, and some very attractive scenery. The falls at Birmingham have a descent of 90 feet, including the rapids above the main fall.4 Keese- ville (p. v.) is situated on both sides of the Au Sable River, its northern part being in Clinton co.5 It is the seat of extensive iron works and other important manufactures. The iron from the ore is made into nails, horseshoes, merchant iron, edge tools, and machinery. The village has a bank, an academy, and 5 churches. Pop. according to last census, 2569, of which 1370 were in Chester- field. Port Kent,6 (p. v.,) on Lake Champlain, contains 25 houses; Port Douglas 5; Port Kendall 6; and Birmingham Falls 6. Matthew Adgate and sons came into town about 1792.7 The first church was Cong .; and the first preacher was Rev. Cyrus Comstock.8
CROWN POINT-was formed March 23, 1786, and named from the old French fortress9 situated on the lake. Elizabethtown was taken off in 1798, Schroon and Ticonderoga in 1804, and Moriah in 1808. It lies upon the shore of Lake Champlain, s. E. of the center of the co. A strip of nearly level land, about 4 mi. wide, extends along the lake shore. The central part of the town is broken, the hills gradually rising into the Kayaderosseras Mts. in the w. Putnams Creek, the principal stream, takes its rise in the ponds and lakes among the mountains, and upon its course are numerous falls, furnishing an abundance of water power. The soil upon the lake shore is a deep, rich, clayey loam; and in the interior it is of a light, sandy nature. Abundance
I For a long time there was a great mystery connected with | the first bridge and sawmill and kept the first store, in these movements, which was afterward explained by the publi- cation of the negotiations which took place between the Gov. of Canada and the " Vt. Council of Safety."
2 For some time he was confined in N.Y. for debt ; but, regain- ing his freedom, he returned to the scene of his former enter- prise. Here meeting with new disappointments and treachery, and becoming partially deranged by his misfortunes, he wan- dered into the wiklerness and perished of cold and exposure.
" Among these public roads were one from Willsborough Falls to Peru; another, known as the "Old State Road," from Sandy Hill, along the Schroon Valley, to Canada Line; and another across the s. w. corner of the county from Canton to Chester. In 1790, Platt Rogers established a ferry across the lake, at Basin llarbor. He also built several roads, and a bridge over the Boquet at Willsborough Falls. For constructing these and other public works, Rogers and his associates received
a grant of 73,000 acres of unappropriated land. ៛ See page 235.
" The first settler of Keeseville was Robert Hoyle, wbo built
1802. It was first called "Long Chute." About 1812 the pro- perty came into the hands of Richard and Oliver Keese and Jolin W. Anderson, who erected a woolen factory and iron works in 1813. The name was first changed to " Andersons Falls," and afterwards to Keeseville. See Clinton co., town of Au Sable.
6 Both Port Kent and Keeseville are centers of extensive and important iron districts.
7 Alva Bosworth, Elihu Briggs, Edward Palmer, Levi Cooley, Dr. Clark, John and Benj. Macomber, John Page, and -- Norton, were among the first settlers. The first child born was Tbos. Rangnam, and the first death that of Abel Handy.
8 The census reports 5 churches; F. W. Bap., M. E., Presb., Prot. E., and R. C.
" The point which contains the ruins of this fortress is sup- posed to have been an important commercial mart previous to the French War; but now it contains only a eiugle farm house.
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ESSEX COUNTY.
of rich iron ore is found; and in connection with it are beds of natural phosphate of lime. Graphite and black clouded marble are also found in great abundanee. On the shore of the lake is a mineral spring, containing sulphates of lime and magnesia. The manufacture of iron is carried on to a great extent; there are also establishments for the manufacture of lumber, shingles, pails, sash and blinds, and woolen goods. Crown Point, (p. v., ) in the E. part, on Putnams Creek, contains 2 churches and about 60 houses. Hammonds Corners contains 35 houses, and Irondale (late "Penfield") 20. The French made the first settlement, at a very early period. The country around Fort St. Frederick, upon the point, seems to have been once the seat of thriving villages, the remains of which are still visible.1 All these settlements were obliterated during the French War of 1755-60. During the peace which followed, settlements were again made, and in 1777 were again destroyed.' Religious services were early held in the chapel of the fort, and were continued during its military occupation.8
ELIZABETHTOWN-was formed from Crown Point, Feb. 12, 1798, and was named in compliment to Elizabeth, wife of Wm. Gilliland. Parts of Moriah and Keene were taken off in 1808, and Westport in 1815. A part of Jay and Lewis were annexed Jan. 31, 1844, and a part of Lewis, Nov. 11, 1854. It is an interior town, lying a little N. of the center of the co. The Boquet Mts. occupy the N. w. and the Schroon Range the s. E. corner of the town. Raven Hill, an offshoot from the former range, in the N. E. corner, is 2,100 feet above tide; and the "Giant of the Valley," the highest peak of the latter range, has an elevation of 2,500 to 3,000 feet. A perpendicular precipice of 700 feet lies on the northern deelivity of this mountain. The Boquet River flows in a N. E. direction through near the center of the town. Its valley, one-fourth of a mile to a mile in width, comprises the greater part of the arable land. Not more than one- fourth of the surface is susceptible of cultivation. Extensive beds of iron ore are found in various parts of the town. In the s. E. part, a hill, 200 feet high, covering 40 aeres, is supposed to be nearly a solid mass of iron, except a slight covering of drift. An extensive bed of kaolin, or poreclain clay, is also found in town. The manufacture of iron is one of the leading pursuits : there are several forges in town. The soil is a sandy or gravelly loam. Elizabethtown' (p. v.) is pleasantly situated upon the Boquet River, near the foot of several high peaks. It is the eo. seat, and a place of considerable trade. Pop. about 500. New Russia (p. v.) con- tains about 100 inhabitants. Among the first settlers were Jonah Hanehett, Sampson Smith, Herman and Joel Finney, Wareham Barber, Nathan Lewis, Hez. and Ira Phelps, Wm. Kellogg, and Gardner Simonds, who came in about 1792. The first school was taught by Dr. Kincade. The first church (Bap.) was organized in 1796 or '97.5
ESSEX-was formed from Willsborough, April 4, 1805. It lies upon the shore of Lake Champlain, N. of the center of the co. The surface is rolling in the E. and mountainous in the w. Boquet Mt., in the N. w. part, has an elevation of about 1,000 feet above the lake. Split Rock, the extremity of the Sehroon Mountain Range in the s. E. corner of the town, has already been deseribed.6 The Black River limestone crops out in this town, and is used both for building pur- poses and for the manufacture of lime. The Boquet River flows northerly through near the center of the town. Upon it are several falls, affording abundance of water power. The soil is a clayey loam upon the lake, and a light sandy loam among the mountains. Manufactures, eon- sisting of wrought iron, nails, spikes, lumber, and woolen goods, are carried on. Essex7 (p. v.) has a population of about 700, Whallonsburgh (p. v.) 250, and Boquet 200. The town was first settled by Wm. Gilliland, in 1765.8 Wm. McAuley, a relative and coadjutor of Mr. G., located upon the site of the present village of Essex.º This settlement was broken up during the Revolution.1º The first church (Prot. E.) was organized in 1805.11
1 The Swedish traveler Kalm mentions the existence of this early settlement; and the "Journal of Major Rogers" speaks of villages, well filled barns, herds of cattle, and fields of grain. Chimney Point, upon the eastern shore of the lake, derives its name from the remains of early habitations found there by the present race of settlers.
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