USA > New York > Washington County > Gazetteer of the county of Washington, N. Y. : comprising a correct statistical and miscellaneous history of the county and several towns from their organization to the present time > Part 7
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84
TOWN OF CAMBRIDGE.
of Edward Small, John Robertson, James Lourie, George McGeoch, and Thomas Mc Vorris.
The present number of members is eighty.
Twenty-seven have been added within the two past years.
In May 1849, eleven members were set off to organize the Asso - ciate Congregation of Greenwich.
There is a Sabbath School connected with the Congregation, hav- ing about 40 pupils in attendance. Also a class consisting of about 30 young persons, male and female. who meet weekly for the pur- pose of being instructed in the doctrines of religion.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, NORTH CAMBRIDGE.
This Society was organized in 1838, at which time a new and con- venient building was erected, on a site about three miles north of Center Cambridge- cost $1500. The first Trustees were Peter IJi !! senior, Isaiah Darrow and Edward F. Whiteside,
The present Trustees, are
Ebenezer McLean, Daniel Burrows, Robert Wier, Julius Phelps and James II. Austin.
The following are the names of the Ministers and Assistants, who have been attached to this church since its organization:
Reuben Wescott, Henry Stead, W. W. Pierce, Simmons, Brayman Ayres, John Graves, Paul P. Atwell, John Harwood and Parmenas Watts. The two last named are at present officiating.
THE EAST CAMBRIDGE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
was lawfully organized into a Church Society, March 15, 1823.
A Class however, was formed there as early as 1813, and stated circuit preaching was established from that time. Fenner King, was leader, and has been, and still continues to be, one of the main pillars in the church up to this time-hence it is known and distinguished by the name of the KING CHURCH in the neighboring tow .is.
The first Trustees were
Fenner King, Horace Warner, aud Thursting Thomas,
85
TOWN OF CAMBRIDGE.
The present Trustees are
Iliram Darrow, Fenner King, King A. Haxstun, Andrew Culver,
Hiram S. Pratt, Ira Pratt, and Robert Weir.
The following are the preachers in charge who have filled the pulpit since its organization.
Samuel Draper, J. B. Houghtaling,
Henry Stead,
Orrin Pier,
Roswell Kelly,
Brayman Ayres,
Stephen Remington,
John Graves, Paul P. Atwell,
Joseph Ames,
Samuel Covel,
P. M. Hitchcock,
John Harwood, the present in- .cumbent.
The cost of the Church building $1000.
The present worth of Church property, $1500.
The present number in Society about 70.
CHEQUERED HOUSE.
This well known establishment is located on the Turnpike about two miles south of Cambridge village. It is kept by Edward Long.
Tioshoke Lodge of I. O. of O. F. was instituted about the year 1847, and located at Buskirk's Bridge.
NORTH CAMBRIDGE.
We omitted to place this settlement in order with other business directories. Suffice to say, that recently a Post-office has been es- tablished here called North Cambridge, and Esek Brownell appoin- ted P. M. There is at this place a Store kept by Esek Brownell- Blacksmith Shop by William Skellie-Wagon Makers by John Willis and a Fiax Machine by Esek Brownell. Distance 25 miles to Cen- tre Cambridge, 3 miles to Stevenson's Corners, and 6 miles to Union Village.
N. B .-- In consequence of not obtaining statistics of Rev. Mr. McLaughry's Church, we are obliged to defer the publication until next number.
JACKSON.
This town was organized in 1816, being taken from the town of Cambridge. The township is hilly and uneven, but the soil is quite productive. It is emphatically a farming territory, there being no mills within its limits except one Saw Mill and a Woolen Factory. There are no villages wholly within it, of importance, and , the tra- ding is principally done at Cambridge and North White Creek. The town contains but one Store, a Tavern, a Church and a few Mechan - ics Shops. Population at the last census, 1815; of which 902 were females, and 913 males. The products for one year as stated there - in, are as follows-Wheat 4866 bushels, Corn :38900, Rye 11349, Potatoes 94793, Turnips 1740, Buckwheat 1728, Beans 182, Peas 780, and Barley 1680.
LIST OF TOWN OFFICERS.
SUPERVISORS.
Jawes Irvine,
1816
Peter Hill,
1833
David Campbell,
1817
do
1834
Simon Stevens.
1818
Anderson Simpson, do
1836
Edward Cook,
1820
Elisha Billings,
1837
do
1821
do
1838
Simon Stevens,
1822
Thomas K. McLean,
1839
David Campbell,
1823
do
1840
Edward Cook,
1824
William S. Warner, 1841.
Simon Stevens,
1825
James Thompson,
1842
Elisha Billings,
1826
Wiliam S. Warner, do
1843
do
1827
1844
James McNaughton,
1828
Samuel McDuoal,
1845
do
1829
do
1846
Thomas K. McLean, do
1830
Robert Alexander, jr.
1847
1831
James Thompson,
1848
Elisha Billings,
1832
do
1849
TOWN CLERKS.
Kirtland Warner,
1816
William McGeoch,
1821
Solomon Dean,
1817
Arden Heath;
1822
Robert Simpson,
1818
Kirtlund Warner,
1823
Arden Heath,
1819
Arden Heath.
1824
William McGeoch,
1820
to 1831 inclusive
1835
do
1819
East Greenwich
Bit
Kill
East Salem &
Shushanko
ermont Line
Jackson Centre
Ana quascookO
N. White Creek
Cambridge
MAP OF JACKSON.
TOWN OF JACKSON.
John McMillan,
1832
Samuel Oviatt,
1840
to 1834 inclusive
Richard Barton. 1841
Francis McLean,
1835
to 1845 inclusive
do
1836
Samuel Oviatt,
1846
do
1837
do
1847
Samuel Oviatt,
1888
do
1948
do
1839
Joel II. Corbett,
1849
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
Andreson Simpson;
1830
Charles Clark,
1840
George W. Robertson,
1831
William S. Warner,
1841
Ira C. Stevens,
1832
Paul Doag,
1842
Francis McLean,
1833
Elisha Billings,
1843
Anderson Simpson,
1834
Charles Clark,
1844
James Thompson,
1835
William S. Warner,
1845
Ira C. Stevens,
1836
Alexander Small,
1846
William S. Warner,
1837
Elisha Billings,
1847
Anderson Simpson,
1838
Moses S. Hartwell,
1848
James Thompson,
1839
Thomas Robertson,
1849
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Jackson, was organi- zed December 31st, 1833, by the Rev. J. D. Fonda, then Pastor of the Church of Union Village.
The first Pastor of said Church was Rev.'James W. Stewart, who was installed on the 19th day of February, 1834.
Rev. James W. Stewart resigned his pastoral charge and discon - tinued his ministerial labors in Jackson, June 27th, 1836.
Rev. Wm. Pitcher, was installed Pastor of said Church January 11th, 1837, and the dissolution of the pastoral relation between him and the church took place July 9th, 1839.
Rev. John Quick, was installed as Pastor of the Church. June 25th, 1840, and dismissed in April, 1843.
Rev. J. M. Pitcher, was called to the Pastoral charge of the church in July, 1843, and is their minister at the present time.
Rev. James W. Stewart died in Philadelphia, within the past year.
Rev. Wm. Pitcher is Pastor of the Dutch Church at the Boght in Watervleit.
88
TOWN OF JACKSON.
Rev. J. J. Quick, is Pastor of the Dutch Church at Wynant's Kill. No. of members in full communion-80.
The following persons constituted the First Consistory, viz: Elders-John McLean and George H. Ford.
Deacons-Moses S. Hartwell and John Welch.
JACKSON CENTRE.
This place is located nearly in the centre of the town, and the business of the town is generally transacted here. It contains a Ho- tel and Post-office, besides several Mechanics Shops.
The several Post-masters who have officiated, are Nathan Collins, Francis McLean, Harvey Volentine, and Frederick Newton, who is the present incumbent:
BUSINESS DIRECTORY.
HOTEL.
Joel H. Corbett,
WAGON MAKER. Joseph W. Edie,
BLACKSMITH. Frederick Newton. COOPERS. John Dobbin, . Stephen Cook, Edwin W. Wheeler.
Distance to Salem Village 8 miles-to Cambridge 4 miles, and 3 miles to Shushan.
ANAQUASSACOOK.
Is the name of a Post office located on the east side of the town; James Thompson, has been Postmaster for several years past. For- merly a Tavern was kept at this place by James Thompson, but it is now discontinued.
BAKER'S WOOLEN FACTORY.
Located on the south side of Batten Kill, in the north part of the town, opposite East Greenwich. The business men of this place are Wm. Baker, Woolen Manufacturer, Moses Billings, Wagon Maker and Thomas D. Safford, Blacksmith. Mail facilities at East Green wich post-office.
WASHINGTON COUNTY.
( Continued from Page 70.)
But the business of the day was not yet terminated. The Eng- fish had scarcely entered the camp, when the Americans, pursuing their success, assaulted it in different parts with uncommon fierce- ness; rushing to the lines through a severe fire of grape-shot and small arms, with the utmost fury. Arnold especially, who in this day appeared intoxicated with the thirst of battle and carnage, led on the attack against a part of the intrenchments occupied by the fight infantry, under lord Balcarres. But the English received him with great vigor and spirit. The action was obstinate and sanguinary. At length, as it grew towards evening, Arnold having forced all ob- stacles, entered the works with some of the most fearless of his fol- lowers. But in this critical moment of glory and danger, he was grievously wounded in the same leg which had been already shat- tered at the assault of Quebec. To his great regret, he was con- strained to retire. His party still continued the attack, and the English sustained it with obstinacy, till night separated the combat- ants.
The royalists were not so fortunate in another quarter. A repub- lican detachment, commanded by lieutenant-colonel Brooks, having succeeded by a circuitous movement in turning the right wing of the English, fell, sword in hand, upon the right flank of their intrench- ments, and made the most desperate efforts to carry them. This post was defended by lieutenant-colonel Breyman, at the head of the German reserve. The resistance at first was exceedingly vigorous ; but Breyman being mortally wounded, his countrymen were damped, and at length routed, with great slaughter. Their tents, artillery, and baggage, fell into the power of the assailants. The Americans established themselves in the intrenchments. General Burgoyne. up- on hearing of this disaster, ordered them to be dislodged immediate. ly. But either in consequence of the opproach of night, or from tho
90
WASHINGTON COUNTY.
discouragement of his troops, he was not obeyed, and the victors con- tinued to occupy the position they had gained with so much glory. They had now acquired an opening on the right and rear of the Brit- ish army. The other American division passed the night under arms, at the distance of half a mile from the British camp. . The loss in dead and wounded was great on both sides; but especially on the part of the English, of whom no few were also made prisoners. Majors Williams of the artillery, and Ackland of the grenadiers, were among the latter. Many pieces of artillery, all the baggage of the Germans, and many warlike stores, fell into the power of the repub- licans, who needed them greatly. They were impatient for the re- turn of day, to renew the battle. But deplorable and perilous beyond expression was the situation of the British troops; they bore it. how- ever, with admirable temper and firmness. It was evidently impos- sible to continue in their present position, without submitting to a certainty of destruction on the ensuing day. The Americans, invi- gorated and encouraged, would certainly have profited of the access they had already opened to themselves on the right, and of other un- tenable points, to carry every part of the camp, and completely sur- round the British army. Burgoyne therefore determined to operate a total change of ground. He executed this movement with admira- ble order, and without any loss. The artillery, the camp and and appertenances, were all removed before morning to the heights above the hospital. The British army in this position had the river in its rear, and its two wings displayed along the hills upon the right bank. The English expected to be attacked the following day. But Gates, like the experienced general he was, would not expose to the risk of another battle that victory of which he was already certain. He in- tended that time, famine, and necessity, should complete the work which his arms had so fortunately commenced. There were frequent skirmishes, however, engaged in the course of the day ; but of little importance. Towards night, the obsequies of general Frazer were celebrated in the British camp; a ceremony mournful of itself, and rendered even terrible by the sense ofrecent losses, of future dangers, and of regret for the deceased. The darkness and silence of night aided the effect of the blaze and roar of the American artillery; while at every moment the balls spattered carth upon the face of the offic- iating chaplain.
91
WASHINGTON COUNTY.
General Gates, prior to the battle, had detached a strong division of his army to take post upon the left bank of the Hudson, opposite to Saratoga, in order to guard the passage and prevent the enemy's escape on that side. He now dispatched a second detachment to oc- cupy a passage higher up. He ordered, at the same time, a se- lected corps of two thousand men to push forward and turn the right flank of the enemy, so as to enclose him on every side. Burgoyne, on intelligence of this motion, determined to retire towards Saratoga, situated six miles up the river, on the same bank. The army accor- dingly began to move at nine o'clock at night; but such was the bad- ness of the roads, rendered still more difficult by a heavy rain which fell that night, and such was the weakness of the teams for want of forage, that the English did not reach Saratoga till the evening of the ensuing day; the soldiers were harassed with fatigue and hunger .- The hospital, with three hundred sick and wounded. and a great num- ber of wheel carriages, were abandoned to the enemy. The English, as they retired, burnt the houses, and destroyed whatever they could use no longer.
The rain having ceased, Gates followed them step by step, and with extreme caution, as they had broken all the bridges, and he was resolved not to give them any opportunity to engage him with advan- tage.
Fearing that Burgoyne would hasten to detach his light troops, in order to secure the passage of the river near Fort Edward, he rapid- ly threw several companies of militia into that fort, in order to pre- vent it. Scarcely had they arrived there, when the English rangers appeared ; but finding themselves anticipated, they returned disap- pointed and dejected. During this time, the main body cf the Eng- lish army, having passed the night of the ninth at Saratoga, left it on the morning of the tenth, and forded Fish Kill Creek, which falls in- to the Hudson, a little to the northward of that town. The British generals had hoped that they should here be able to cross the river at the principal ford, and escape pursuit on its left bank. Fut they found a body of republicans already arrived, and throwing up in- trenchmentson the heights to the left of Fish Kill Creek. The Ameri- cans ,however, when they observed the great superiority of the English,
02
WASHINGTON COUNTY.
retired over the Hudson, and there joined a greater force, which was stationed to prevent the passage of the army. Having lost all hope of passing the river in the vicinity of Saratoga, the British generals had it in mind to push forward upon the right bank, till they arri- ved in front of Fort Edward, and then to force a passage to the left bank, in defiance of the troops stationed there for its defence. For this purpose, a company of artificers, under the escort of a regiment of the line, with a detachment of marksmen and loyalists, were sent forward to repair the bridges, and open the road to Fort Edward .- But they were not long departed from the camp, when the enemy ap- peared in great force upon the heights on the opposite side of Fish Kill Creek, and seemed preparing to cross it, in order to bring on an immediate engagement ..
The regulars and marksmen were immediately recalled. The workmen had only commenced the repair of the first bridge, when they were abandoned by the loyalists, who ran away, and left them to shift for themselves, only upon a very slight attack of an incon- siderable party of the enemy. Hence it became necessary to aban- don all hopes of saving the artillery and baggage.
Amidst all these embarrassments, still a new difficulty presented itself; the republicans who lined the further shore of the Hudson, kept up a contihual fire upon the batteaux loaded with provisions and necessaries which had attended the motions of thr army up the river, since its departure from Stillwater. Many of these boats had been taken, some re-taken, and a number of men lost on both sides. At length, to avoid these inconveniences, the English were forced to land the provisions, and transport them up the hill to the camp; a la- bor which they accomplished under a heavy fire, with great fatigue and loss. Nothing could now exceed the distress and calamity of the British army; the soldiers as well as the generals were reduced to brood upon the prospect of an ignominious surrender, or total des- truction. To attempt the passage of so wide a river, while its shore was guarded with so much vigilance by a formidable body of troops, and in the presence of a powerful enemy, flushed with victory. was an enterprise savoring rather of madness than temerity. On the oth- er hand, the retreat upon the right bank, with the same enemy at
33
WASHINGTON, COUNTY,
the rear, through ways so difficult and impracticable, was a scheme which presented obstacles absolutely insurmountable. Every thing announced therefore an inevitable catastrophe. Nevertheless. in the midst of so much calamity, a ray of hope suddenly gleamed upon the English ; and they were near gaining an opportunity of retrieving their affairs all at once. The two armies were only separated by the Fish Kill Creek; report, which magnifies all things, had represented to general Gates the feeble detachment winch Burgoyne had sent to esco: t his pioneers upon the route to Fort Edward as the entire van- guard and center of the British army, already well on their way to- wards that fort. He concluded, therefore, that only the rear guard remained near the Fish Kill, and instantly conceived the hope of crushing it by an attack with all his forces. He made all his pre- parations in the morning of the eleventh of October His scheme was to take advantage of a thick fog, which in those regions, and at this season, usually obscure the atmosphere till a little after sunrise, to pass the Fish Kill very early, to seize & battery which Burgoyne had erected upon the opposite bank, and then to fall immediately up- on the enemy. The English general had notice of this plan ; he fur- nished the battery with a strong guard, and posted his troops in am- bush behind the thickets which covered the banks of the creek In this position he waited the enemy's approach, and calculating upon their supposed error, he had little doubt of victory. The brigade of , the American general Nixon had already forded the Fish Kill, and that of general Glover was about to follow it. But just as the latter entered the water, he was informed by a British deserter, that not only the rear guard, but the whole royal army, was drawn up in or- der of battle upon the other bank. Upon this intelligence Glover halted, and sent to apprise Nixon of the danger he was in of being cut in pieces, unless he hastened to recover the left bank. General Gates was immediately informed of the incident ; he revoked all the orders he had gi en, and directed that the troops should be reconducted to their positions. General Nixon received the message of Glover in good time; for a quarter of an hour later he would have been lost ir- recoverably. He fell back with all expedition ; but the fog being dis- sipated before he was out of sight of the enemy, his rear guard was annoyed by the English artillery, with the loss of a few soldiers.
94
WASHINGTON COUNTY.
Frustrated of this hope, general Burgoyne applied his thoughts to devise, if possible, some other way to save the army. He called a council of war, in which it was resolved to attempt, by a rapid retreat in the night up the Hudson, to gain the fords of the river at or above Fort Edward, and there having forced a passage, to press on to Fort George. That nothing might retard the march, it was determined to abandon the artillery, baggage, carriages, and all incumbrances. The soldiers were to carry upon their backs a suffi- cient quantity of provisions, to support them till they could arrive at Fort George. All the troops prepared to execute the plan of their general.
But Gates had already, with great foresight, taken all his measures to defeat it. He had recommended the utmost vigilance to the parties that were stationed to guard the opposite shore of the river ; he had posted a strong detachment to guard the fords near Fort Edward, with orders to oppose any attempt of the enemy to pass them. till he should arrive with the army upon his rear. In addition to this, he had established a camp in force, and previded with: artil- lery, upon the high and strong grounds between Fort Edward and Fort George. General Burgoyne had sent forward scouts, to exam- ine the route, and especially to ascertain whether it was possible to force the passage opposite to Fort Edward. They returned with an account that the roads were inconceivable rough and difficult; that the enemy were so numerous and vigilant upon the left bank, that no movement of the army upon the right could escape imme- diate discovery ; and that the passages at the fort were so diligently defended, that it was absolutely impossible to force them without, artillery. They also mentioned the intrenched camp on the hills between the two forts. Burgoyne had no sooner received this afflict- ing intelligence, than he was also informed that general Gates, with the main body of his army, was so near, and observed him with such steady attention, that it would be impossible for him to move a step without being instantly followed; he then saw that he must relin- quish all hope of saving himself by his own efforts.
In this deplorable extremity, his only refuge from despair was the faint hope of co-operation from the parts down the river; and with the most intense desire he looked for the aid of Clinton
95
WASHINGTON COUNTY.
It exceeds the power of words to describe the pitiable condition to which the British army was now reduced. The troops, worn down by a series of hard toil, incessant effort and stubborn action ; abandoned by the Indians and Canadians; the whole army reduced by repeated and heavy losses of many of their best men and most distinguished officers from ten thousand combatants to less than five thousand effective fighting men, of whom little more than three thousand were English. In these circumstances, and in this state of weakness, without a possibility of retreat, they were invested by an army of four times their own number, whose position extended thr. e parts in four of a circle round them; who refused to fight from a knowledge of their own condition ; and who, from the nature of the ground, could not be attacked in any part. In this helpless situation obliged to lie constantly on their arms, while a continual cannonade prevaded all the camp, and even rifle and grape-shot fell in every part of their lines, the troops of Burgoyne retained their ordinary constancy, and while sinking under a hard necessity, they showed themselves worthy of a better fate. Nor could they be reproach- ed with any action or word which betrayed a want of temper, or of fortitude.
At length, no succor appcaring, and no rational ground of hope of any kind remaining, an exact account of the provisions was taken on the morning of the thirteenth, when it was found that the whole stock would afford no more than three days' bare subsistence for the army. In such a state, it was alike impossible to advance or to re- main as they were; and the longer they delayed to take a definitive resolution, the more desperate became their situation. Burgoyne, therefore, immediately called a council of war, at which not only the generals and field officers, but all the captains of companies were in- vited to assist. While they deliberated, the bullets of the Ameri- cans whistled around them, and frequently pierced even the tent where the council was convened. It was determined unanimously to open a treaty and enter into a convention with the American gen- eral
Gates used his victory with moderation. Only he proposed that the royal troops should lay down their arms in camp; a condition
WASHINGTON COUNTY.
which appeared too hard to the English, and which they perempto . tily refused. They all preferred to be led against the enemy, not- withstanding the disadvantage of number, rather than submit to such a disgrace. After several conferences, the articles of capitulation were settled the fifteenth. They were to be signed by the two con- tracting parties on the morning of the seventeenty. In the night, captain Campbell arrived at the British camp, sent express by gener- al Clinton, with the intelligence that he had moved up the Hudson, reduced Fort Montgomery, and penetrated as far as ÆEsopus. The hope of safety revived in the breasts of some.
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