Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y. 1684-1890, Part 44

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- [from old catalog] comp; Horton, William H., [from old catalog] ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., The Syracuse journal company, printers and binders
Number of Pages: 1384

USA > New York > Jefferson County > Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y. 1684-1890 > Part 44

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No spot in this vicinity has excited more historical curiosity than the head of Carleton Island, where now can be seen the conspicuous ruins of the old fort-Fort Haldimand. At the head of the island are two land-locked bays, with a depth of water sufficient to accommodate large vessels, and beyond is a low peninsula. On the high bluff overlooking the river is the ancient forti- fication, which, at the time of its completion, was a first-class work. Five of the massive stone chimneys are still standing, and deep excavations in the rock, probably used for magazines or secret storage, are very noticeable. It overlooked the little peninsula and the two harbors below, and effectually

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commanded both the channels of the St. Lawrence lying south of Wolf Island. The gorge, or rear wall, was mostly formed by the high cliff at its base, which, for about one-half of its length, hangs nearly perpendicular over the waters of the north bay. Excavations at the base of the first shoulder of the cliff would seem to indicate magazines or store-rooms, though the main magazine was located a little north of the center of the work. The front, looking towards the main land of the island, was defended by a somewhat irregular line of earth-works, with a solid parapet having three unequal faces, with a strong bastion on each face, calculated for four guns, and there were guns mounted at intervals between the bastions. The ditch was excavated through rock to a depth of six feet. A zigzag wall, built of stone taken from the ditch, ran along the front, parallel to and distant from the outer wall of the ditch about 30 feet, and the glacis was formed of débris of the ditch filled in beyond, making the approach of an enemy exceedingly difficult, the whole glacis and ditch being under direct fire from the guns of the parapet. The quarters appear to have been built along three sides of a parallelogram, and a low wall of loose stone inclosed the space between on the south and east sides of the quadrangle. Originally there were about 15 buildings within the work, as indicated by the immense chimneys, five only of which remain standing. These chimneys were very solidly constructed of hammered stone, and were about six feet square at the base and 20 feet high. Most, if not all, of the chimneys were constructed with two fire-places, and in opposite faces, with double flues. There were two gateways, one near each extremity, on the north and south, connecting with roads leading down to the landings. The lime-kiln used in manufacturing the lime with which the chimneys were constructed was on the plain near the water's edge, and can be seen yet. The fort, including the ditch, probably covered an area of from eight to 10 acres, and could accommodate a garrison of 500 men. It was accord- ing to the system of Vauban, and must have cost an immense sum. The cemetery was on the plain east of the works, but very little remains of the head-stones at the present day. The relics found in and around the works consist of buttons, coins, tomahawks, flints, etc. Pieces of wrecked vessels are distinguished, on a still day, at the bottom of the river in the north bay. There is a sunken dock on the west side, and some little distance in the rear are the broken and almost obliterated graves of the soldiers' ceme- tery. When Charles Smyth obtained possession of the island, about 1820, many of the burial-places were still marked by carved oaken pieces of wood, but when Dr. Hough published his History of Jefferson County, 1854, he found only one grave that was indicated by a head-stone, on which was the following : " J. Farrar, I). 23 Fy. 1792." The oldest coin ever found was dated 1696.

There has always been considerable doubt whether the French or English built the fort, but in the history of Carleton Island and the Old Fort recently published by Major J. H. Durham, of Cape Vincent, is a letter written Oc-

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tober 14, 1778, by Gen. Sir Frederick Haldimand, who succeeded Sir Guy Carleton in command of His Majesty's forces in Canada, which proves conclu- sively that the fort was built by the English in that year. In his letter to his commander in England he says he has sent several officers and their compa- nies of soldiers to establish a " post at the entrance of Lake Ontario, to serve the purpose of a safe place for the traders to send their goods to, which go from Montreal in boats, till the king's vessels, now the only craft allowed to navigate the lakes, can be spared from the more urgent services to transport them to Niagara, a secure harbor for these vessels, and a defense against the enterprises of the rebels upon this province by that great avenue into it." He also writes that he has sent an officer to build gunboats, and says: " The place pitched upon by these gentlemen, after having been carefully examined, is an island about 12 mlies below the entrance of Lake Ontario, having Grand Isle (now Wolfe) on one side, from which it is divided by a channel of some- thing less than a mile, and the south continent on the other, at a distance of one mile and a quarter from it." He also states "the name of Carleton Isl- and is now given to this in question. Very favorable ground for fortifying, commanding a commodious and safe harbor which the island possesses at the upper end of it looking toward the lake, induced the gentlemen sent on this service to fix upon this spot, where a fort is begun, and barracks are building for the troops, and the place will be in a tolerable state of defense and habita- tion by the winter." As will be seen by this letter, there is no longer any doubt who built the fort or when it was built. It was named Fort Haldi- mand, after the general who ordered it constructed.

In 1796 Fort Haldimand was defended by a small British guard and six pieces of cannon. In 1812, as soon as the news reached Cape Vincent that a second war had been declared against Great Britian by the American Con- gress, Abner Hubbard, an old Revolutionary soldier living at Millen's Bay, au- thorized himself and several of his neighbors to capture the fort. They crossed over the river in the night and demanded its surrender. Two women and three invalid men surrendered. The following day the fort was destroyed and the prisoners taken to Sackets Harbor. Immediately adjoining the ruins of the old fort, and lying clear across the head of the island from shore to shore, a plot of ground of more than 100 acres has been surveyed, and a park laid out. Messrs. Folger and Hance, the present owners, contemplate the erection of a large hotel, and the locality once the scene of warlike prep- arations against Fort Stanwix, Cherry Valley, and Fort Edward, and the meetings of the mighty Iroquois chiefs who here assembled thier followers and prepared for their sanguinary raids, will give place to the beauties and pleasures of a summer resort among the Thousand Islands.

The earliest settlement on the main land in this town was made by Abijah Putnam, from Rome, who, in 1801, located two miles below the present vil- lage of Cape Vincent, at a place early known as " Port Putnam," where he established the first ferry to Wolf Island. He was sent there for the purpose

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by Jacob Brown, the agent of Le Ray. One Samuel Cone settled on the op- posite shore of the island at the same time. In 1803 the State road was ex- tended from Brownville to this place, and cut out and partly worked in the winter of 1803-04. In 1804 John Macombs and Peter Sternberg purchased Putnam's interest, laid out the plan of a village, and sold a few lots. In May, 1803, John B. Esselstyn settled three miles below the present village of Cape Vincent. Daniel Spinning came in 1804, and soon after two families by the name of Smith, Jonathan Cummings, - Sheldon, and others located near the place. In 1806 Richard M. Esselstyn settled near Putnam's ferry with his brother. In the summer of 1809 Eber Kelsey came to the present village of Cape Vincent, and cleared for Mr. Le Ray, the proprietor, a tract of 50 acres, erected a wharf, block, dwelling house and tavern, a frame barn, etc., and the same season Richard M. Esselstyn built a house and store, and commenced trade with John B., under the firm name of J. B. & R. M. Es- selstyn. Dr. Avery Ainsworth, the first physician to settle in this part of the county, came from Vermont in 1809, and the same year built a house and store here. Mr. Le Rav, from an early period, designed Cape Vincent, or " Gravelly Point," as it was sometimes called by the pioneers, as the site of a village, and in 1811 a mile square was surveyed and lotted by Musgrove Evans, one of the surveyors employed by Le Ray.

In 1809 an extensive iumbering business was commenced in this town, which gave employment to many men and brought a transient population to the place. A large business was done in importing staves in 1810, and also the building of arks for the Montreal trade, which was continued in 181I. The War of 1812 necessitated the discontinuance of this business, and the lumber on hand was mostly used as fuel by Wilkinson's army. The business was not continued until the close of the war. The news of the war spread terror throughout the settlement, and this point being nearest to Kingston was considered of much importance by General Brown, upon whom the care of the early military operations of this place was laid. Capt. Farrar had been stationed here with a small company of militia to enforce the embargo laid in 1812.

A few days after war had been declared, but before the news was received, the Niagara and Ontario, schooners, laden with flour and potash, from Queenstown to Brockville, were seized by Mr. Elijah Fields, Jr., deputy col- lector at Cape Vincent, and taken to Sackets Harbor, where, after an inves- tigation, the Niagara was condemned and sold, and the Ontario was released.

During the war, this being the most exposed point on the whole frontier, and one of the few places then inhabited on the river, it became the scene of adventures that attracted notice at the time. On one occasion, probably in the summer of 1813, a man by the name of Draper, who belonged to Capt. Getman's company, obtained permission from Col. Dodge, of Sackets Har- bor, to raise a party of volunteers from the company, to dislodge a party of Indians that had been discovered lurking on Wolf Island. A gunboat, under

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Capt. Hawkins, having touched at the Cape, agreed to take them over, but not to take part in the affair. As the boat approached a gun was fired which put the Indians to flight. They were pursued about a mile, when Draper care- lessly exposed himself to the shots of the enemy and was killed. Two oth- ers were slightly wounded, when the party hastily returned.

A little before the attack on Sackets Harbor a British gunboat touched at Cape Vincent in the night, and a part of the crew, having heard of the pres- ence of three dragoons, who had put up for the night from Sackets Harbor, resolved upon their capture. One of the dragoons, named Moore, who was an accomplished fencer, retreated to a corner of the room and kept off his assailants so effectually that, finding it impossible to take him alive, they shot him, a most cowardly act and one unworthy of a true soldier. His comrades escaped. Two weeks later another visit was made, a store plundered, and temporary barracks burned. Subsequent visits for plunder followed, and many of the inhabitants sought a less exposed situation.

The Royal George, a British war ship of 24 guns and three masts, once stopped at Cape Vincent, but withdrew without making any demonstration. Major Esselstyn was taken prisoner near Chaumont, August 23, 1813, was removed to Canada, and two weeks later was exchanged for a British officer of equal rank.

The Patriot movement in 1838, when a number of deluded persons of the United States and Canada organized for the purpose of freeing Canada from British rule, caused considerable excitement in this locality. Hunter lodges were organized, secret meetings were held, and aniong the initiated a myste- rious sign language was used. The robbery of the arsenal at Watertown, the burning of the Sir Robert Peel near Wells Island, the memorable trip of the United States across the lake and down the river, when the Patriots gath- ered at Windmill Point, and the disastrous end of the expedition are mitters of historical interest previously mentioned in the County Chapter. Daniel George, one of the patriots who suffered the death penalty, was a resident of Cape Vincent village.

During the civil war Cape Vincent contributed her full quotas. The quota under the call of October 17, 1863, was 44 ; under that of February 1, 1864, it was 70 ; March 14, 28 ; July 18, 50 ; December 19, 40. At a meeting of the citizens held August 6, 1862, a permanent war committee was appointed, which continued till 1865. In February, 1865, the committee reported that $235.85 still remained in its hands unexpended, of the moneys raised to pay bounties, which was used by the committee in providing for the families of vol- unteers. At a special town meeting held January 12, 1864, it was voted (263 for and 52 against) to tax the town sufficiently to pay a bounty of $300 to each person who should thereafter volunteer into the service of the United States and be credited to Cape Vincent. Previous to the appointment of this war committee the volunteers received little or no bounty, although small sums were given them by individuals as they left home, and they went under the

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stimulation of a patriotism that no one could lay to the charge of green- backs. Through the efforts of the women of the town several hundred dol- lars were raised for the purpose of establishing a "Soldiers' Relief Fund." Several cows and sheep were donated for the benefit of this relief fund, and on the occasion of festivals given by the ladies were sold.

Previous to 1816 the settlements in the town were limited to a few points on the river ; but about this time the country around about began to be taken up, new roads were opened, and the country rapidly advanced in pop- ulation. About this time several educated and accomplished French fami- lies located here, among whom, in 1818, was Peter Francis Real, known in European history as Count Real, the chief of police under Napoleon. The political changes in France, in a few years, recalled many celebrated exiles who had adhered to the fortunes of Napoleon, and fled from the disasters which overtook that dynasty, among whom were Count Real and others who had made this country their home. At about the same time Mr. F. R. Hasler, the eminent philosopher and engineer, having become interested in real estate in this place, came here to reside with his family, and planned the establishment of a Normal school, which he never perfected. The village was a favorite resort of Mr. Le Ray, and he was often accompanied by emi- nent foreigners, who never visited the county without becoming his guests, and sharing that refined hospitality which he knew so well how to bestow. The first visit of Le Ray to this place was in 1803, and was attended with the following incident, the account of which we take from Hough's History of Jefferson County :-

" He was accompanied by Gouverneur Morris, and after visiting Brownville they took an open boat to continue their journey, as Mr. Morris had a wooden leg, and could not conven- iently travel in the woods by the rude means of communication which the country then afforded, and he was moreover very partial to sailing, and claimed to be especially skillful in managing water craft. On passing Cherry Island Mr. Morris observed that there must be fine fishing there, and as he had with him his French cook and culinary apparatus, he de- clared he would serve his friend a better fish dinner than he had ever tasted. Mr. Le Ray objected that it was getting late and cloudy, and they had a great ways to run before reaching Putnam's, the first settlement on the shore. Nothing would do; Mr. Morris was as fond of good cheer as of sailing, and they stopped. They had good fishing, and a capital dinner; but it was late before they set sail again and dark before they reached the St. Lawrence, and they were obliged to stop at Gravelly Point, two miles above Putnam's, where they pitched their tent and went to bed, for they had all the necessary implements. In the middle of the night a fire built before the tent set it in flames; Mr. Morris, thus unseasonably disturbed, felt all around for his wooden leg, but was obliged to flee without it. The exposure to wind and rain produced in Mr. Le Ray a violent illness, and he with difficulty returned to Brownville. Dr. Kirkpatrick was summoned from Rome and attended him through a long and dangerous fever."

The first grist.mill in the town was built on Kent's Creek. Previous to its erection the early settlers were obliged to have their grain ground at Chau- mont, and it was not an uncommon feat for the hardy pioneers to shoulder a bushel of corn and carry it to Chaumont, and bring home their meal in the same manner.

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CHURCHES.

The First Presbyterian Church, located at Cape Vincent village, was or- ganized by its first pastor, Rev. Jedediah Burchard, in 1832, with 22 mem- bers. Their house of worship, which will comfortably seat 300 persons, was built in 1840, at a cost of $2,000, and is now valued, including grounds and other property, at $5,000. It now has a membership of 80, and Rev. James W. Hilman is the pastor. The Sunday-school has 14 teachers and 100 scholars.

St. John's Church (Episcopal), located on Market street in the village of Cape Vincent, was organized January 25, 1841, by Rev. John Noble, Messrs. Otis P. Starkey, Richard Townsend, William Deny, Nelson B. Williams, Rob- ert Moore, Robert Bartlett, and Judah T. Ainsworth. Rev. John Noble was the first rector. Their house of worship is a wood structure, will comfortably seat 194 persons, and was erected in 1841 at a cost of about $3,000. The present value of church property, including buildings and grounds, is $6,500. The present membership is 69 families, with 103 communicants, and Rev. Samuel W. Strowger is the rector. The Sunday-school consists of 65 scholars and eight teachers.

The Methodist Episcopal Church, of Cape Vincent village, was organized October 14, 1851, with 55 members, and Rev. William Jones was the first pastor. Their house of worship, a wooden building' capable of seating 250 persons, was built in 1853 at a cost of $2,000. The present value of the church property, including grounds and buildings, is about $6,000. The present membership is 67, under the pastoral charge of Rev. Harry B. Fritts. The Sunday-school has seven teachers and 60 scholars.

St. Vincent de Paul's Church (Catholic), located at Cape Vincent village, was organized in 1850, under the direction of a French missionary. Their church building was built of stone in 1850, will comfortably seat 500 persons, and cost $5,000, about its present value. Rev. William S. Kelley is the pres- ent pastor. The Sunday-school has a membership of 10 teachers and 90 scholars.

The union church at Millen's Bay was erected for the use of the Protes- tant Episcopalians and the Episcopal Methodists. The Episcopalians are considered as being members of St. John's Church in Cape Vincent village, and the services are held at Millen's Bay for the accommodation of the mem- bers in that part of the town. The Methodists around Millen's Bay are con- sidered as members of the M. E. Church at St. Lawrence village. These two societies occupy the church on alternate Sundays. Their house of worship, a wooden structure, was commenced in 1869 and finished in 1871, costing $2,700. It will seat about 200 persons. The present value of church prop- erty, including grounds, etc., is $3,000. Rev. S. W. Strowger conducts the Episcopal services, and Rev. A. Thompson the Methodist.

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The Methodist Episcopal Church at St. Lawrence village was organized by David Aylesworth, the first pastor, in 1850. Their first church building, a wooden structure, was elected in 1850 at a cost of $2.000, and is now val- ued, including grounds and other church property, at $2,500. It will seat about 250 persons. The present membership is 50, and Rev. Arthur Thompson is pastor. The Sunday-school has 11 teachers and 50 scholars.

The Roman Catholic Church, located at Rosiere village, was organized by Michael Gaith, the first pastor, in 1830, the society at that time consisting of 20 families. Their first house of worship, a stone structure, was built in 1830 by James Le Ray, who also presented the society with 100 acres of land. The present beautiful church was erected in 1879, of wood. It will comfortably seat 800 persons. The present parish consists of 100 families, under the pastoral charge of Rev. William S. Kelley. The Sunday-school has a membership of 15 teachers and 150 scholars. Rev. Michael Gaith, their first missionary priest, for many years labored among those of the Roman Catholic faith in this new country, and did much by word and deed to lighten the burdens of pioneer life. Rev. Father Kelley was born in Keeseville, N. Y., in 1854. He was educated in Montreal, Canada, and was ordained a priest in September, 1878.

. FAMILY SKETCHES.

Eber Kelsey came to Cape Vincent in 1809, with an ox team and cart, and made the first clearing where the village of Cape Vincent now stands, and built the first house near the present location of the Rathbun Honse. He built the first hotel, called the Kelsey House, which was subsequently rebuilt and called the Carleton House, and later, with additions and repairs, called the Rathbun House, which now stands. Here he resided until his death, aged 80 years His wife, Sarah, bore him eight children, viz .: Gideon, Lorenzo, Silas, Eli, Lucy, Laura, Sarah, and Zilpha. Eli Kelsey was born in Connecticut, and came to Cape Vincent with his father, dying here in 1874, aged 84 years. He married Eva Van Schaick, daughter of Michael and Caroline (Truax) Van Schaick, by whom he had children as follows: Eber L., Charles E., Caroline, Mary. Francis, Laura C., and E. Carlos. The latter was born in this town. He married Anna, daughter of Rev. J. B. and Clarissa (North) Preston, of Byron, N. Y., and is now a general insurance agent in Cape Vincent village. Eli Preston served in the War of 1812 and helped in the construction of the old ship New Orleans, at Sackets Harbor.

Hyland Millen, a native of Scotland, came to America when he was 18 years of age and located in this town, and was one of the first settlers at Millen's Bay, where he remained until his death, in 1878, aged 83 years. He married, first, Caroline, daughter of Abner Hubbard, of Millen's Bay, and their children were Abner, John, and Jane. He married Arice Hutchins, of Herkimer County, and his children by her were Fred, Hyland, Henry, James, George, Arice, William, Decatur, Sylvester, and Ju ia. His first son, Abner, was born at Millen's Bay. He married Ann Duig, of Oswego, and their children are Caroline, John, Abner, Hyland, Will- iam, Dora, and Lucy. They now reside at Cape Vincent, he at the age of 66 years and his wife at the age of 59. He has been a captain on the lakes for 35 years. Abner Hubbard served in the Revolutionary war.

Thomas Dodge was born at Block Island, R. I., and in 1813 came to Cape Vincent, where he resided until his death in 1831, aged about 64 years. His wife was Willoby King. His son David, a native of Block Island, came to this town abont 1817. and here remained until his death, in January, 1879, aged 84 years. He married Lonisa Barrett, of Long Island, daughter of Tyler Barrett, and their children were Sophronia A., Benjamin B., Amelia, Cyrus A., Horace F., Melissa M., Alonzo, Duane, Mareza, and Orlando D. The latter, a native of Cape Vincent, married Annie E., daughter of John D. and Bersina (Ballard) Angsbury, and their

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children are Roy D., Ada S., Winnie E., and Floy E. He ocenpies the homestead farm, where he was born. Frederick H. Dodge married Harriet A., daughter of Justice Felt, of Clayton, and their children were Justice D., Benjamin D., and Lyghton G. He resides on a farm on road 6, m Cape Vincent, where he was born. Benjamin D., his only surviving child, is pro- prietor of the Riverside Hotel, at Millen's Bay.

Elisha P. Dodge, son of Thomas, was born in Rhode Island. He came to Cape Vincent in 1817, among the early settlers, and here resided until his death, in February, 1864, aged 63 years. He married Olive, daughter of John and Eliza (Rathbun) Tunnichff, of this town, and they had children as follows: Edwin T., Eliza R., Mary A., Adelaide D., Lorenzo E., Flora R .. and Emogene O. Flora R. married Isaac T. Cross, of Cape Vincent, son of Francis and Lonisa (Frink) Cross, and they have two children, Beula L. and Frank D. Mrs. Olive Dodge survives her husband on the homestead farm at the age of 81 years. Eliza R. Dodge married Henry L. Fox, son of Henry and Lydia (Tracy ) Fox, and they have one son, Edward D. The latter, a native of Watertown, married Cornelia, daughter of Joseph and Cornelia (Calvin) Crevlin, and they have six children, viz .: Frederick C., Kate A., Ned R., Maria R., Delno H., and Edwin T. He is proprietor of the St. Lawrence Hotel at Cape Vincent.

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Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y. 1684-1890, Part 44

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- [from old catalog] comp; Horton, William H., [from old catalog] ed Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., The Syracuse journal company, printers and binders Number of Pages: 1384

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- [from old catalog] comp; Horton, William H., [from old catalog] ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., The Syracuse journal company, printers and binders
Number of Pages: 1384