Growth of a Century : as illustrated in the history of Jefferson County, New York, from 1793 to 1894, Part 24

Author: Haddock, John A. 1823-
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : Sherman
Number of Pages: 1094

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The broken pottery observed was of the usual patterns, but it is only sparingly ob- served, for around some of the mounds none could be found. A few of the small mounds were flat-topped, but the usual shape and appearance is a ring of earth, with a depressed or basin-shaped center.

In opening cross sections, or digging trenches from the outside to the center of the circles, as the centers are approached, remains of fires, charcoal, ashes, etc., were observed, sparingly though in the case of the largest mound. There was observed no disturbance of the soil below the level of the natural sur- face. The dirt of which the mounds had been constructed, is the common country soil, none of it seemingly brought from a distance, similar in character and com- position to the soil of the adjacent land, made up of clay, sand and small fragments of the underlying limestone, belonging to the Trenton group, as near as I could determine from a cursory examination of the contained fossils, with here and there an occasional transported or drift pebble. The only ob- servable difference was a darker color, caused by an increase of decayed organic matter and burned earth. No graves or human bones were observed. No lines of entrenchments were to be seen. Nor have there been any metal objects or utensils found.

The explanation of the phenomena observed here, that has seemingly puzzled several generations of white men, seems to be plain

and simple. There is no necessity for bring- ing far-fetched theories to explain the ob- served facts.

Whoever has been to California and noted the appearance of the singular rings of earth, with their basin-shaped centres, that are known to be the remains of the old rancheras of the Digger Indians, can readily see here, in the close resemblances, the original forms of Indian houses belonging to the lower stages of barbarism, and probably a more or less universal style of house be- longing to this stage of advancement, usually occupied only during the winter months, or generally deserted for nomad life during the warmer summer months.

This style of house was constructed with a frame work of poles set upon end, inclining and meeting at the top and covered with dirt, leaving an uncovered space at the top, to serve for the exit of smoke, And very prob- ably the original form of the later buffalo- hide lodge subsequently evolved from cir- cumstances and conditions not present here. And it is to be remarked that this style of house really afforded better protection in winter than the later long-house of the Iro- quois, observed by white men upon the first settlement of the State. The writer once visited one of these dirt houses in Cali- fornia, large enough to hold several hundred people, but perhaps not larger than the re- mains of one of those observed at Perch lake.

Prof. Thomas has described the remains of similarly constructed houses in Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia, but his description did not meet my eye until after I had explained to my own satisfaction the facts here observed ; but they tally exactly with my own views here given, except that this style of house must have been superseded here earlier than in the Southern States. I have also observed near Burrville, within a strongly fortified enclosure, circles of toad stools, that had grown up from organic mat- ters, old bones, etc., buried in the soil, show- ing that similar round houses once existed within fortified enclosures, but unfortunately both ditches and circles are now leveled by the plow.

The observed facts and the evidences sug- gest that here was, in reality upon our own soil, an older form of house than the long house used by the Iroquois, as seen later by the white men. . There was observed no evidence of the remains of so-called mounds, as seen in Ohio and the Western States. The fact that these basin-shaped remains are now found here in such abundance, and at the same time so well defined and fully preserved, is of itself interesting, and adds much to the accumulating evidence that this style of house was at one stage of human progress more or less universal in what is now the territory of the United States, but such re- mains have been destroyed more or less by the plow. The long house was a result of developement, growing out of changes from the lowest to a higher stage of barbarism ;

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THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

circumstances the world over have ever changed the habits of man. We may sce this illustrated in the case of the introduction of the Spanish barb among the Indians upon the plains. It was undoubtedly the possess- ion of the horse that wrought this change in a few generations. Almost in our own day the normal village Indian was made over into a complete nomad, possessing most of the characteristics of the Bedouin, a case, too, where history repeats itself, for the Indian pony is of the same breed of horses that the Bedonins now possess ; brought first to Bar- bary, then to Spain, then to Mexico, and there turned loose and allowed to multiply themselves upon the savannas of the South.

In Houndsfield, on the shore of Black River Bay, between Maskohinge creek and Storrs' Harbor, is said to have existed formerly a trench enclosure of the ordinary form. We have not learned whether it is wholly or in part preserved, nor is its extent known. Some of the largest trees of the forest grew upon and within the bank. In Watertown, on Lot No. 29, about two and a half miles south-west from the village, could once be seen in an open wood, and in a fine state of preservation, the outline of a work consisting of a bank thrown up from a sur- rounding ditch, and evidently intended as a defensive work. It is on the summit of a gradually sloping terrace of Trenton lime- stone, and commands a delightful prospect. Elms, three feet in diameter, were found upon the bank, and the decaying remains of others still larger, within and upon it, carry back the date of its construction to an ante- Columbian period. In the same range and lot, on premises owned by Anson Hunger- ford, Esq., and about forty rods east, there was formerly another enclosure, with gate- ways, the position and extent of which can- not now be ascertained, as the bank has long since been leveled by cultivation. The one first mentioned is semi-circular, the open side facing upon the bank. Half a mile cast of Burrville, on lot No. 31, was formerly a defensive work, consisting of a mound and ditch, running across a point between two streams near their junction, and forming by the aid of the natural banks a triangular en- closure. The plow has long ago filled the ditch and leveled the bank, leaving no trace of the work. The soil has afforded a great abundance and variety of relics, and the vicinity indicates that it had been occupied as an Indian village. Within the enclosure is a boulder of gneiss, worn smooth and con- cave in places by the grinding of stone im- plements. On a point of land opposite, Hough found an iron ball weighing eight ounces, and others have been picked up in the vicinity, indicating that the place must have been passed, at least, by those who knew the use of small ordnance, probably the French, on some of their expeditions against the Iroquois. Mr. Squier, in his work on the ancient monuments of New

York, mentions the trace of an Indian village a mile north-cast of this.

Near Appling post office, on the land of D. Talcott, in Adams, near the line of Watertown, could once be seen the trace of a work of great extent and interest. It is on the brow of the upper terrace of Trenton limestone, overlooking a vast extent of coun- try to the west and north. The bank has an average height of three, and base of ten feet, with an external ditch of corresponding dimensions, and there were about seven gateways or interruptions in the work, which had an elliptical form, one side border- ing upon a beaver pond, and bounded by an abrupt bank, about thirty feet high. Upon and within the work, trees of an enormous size were growing in 1854, and the decaying fragments of cthers carry back the origin of the work several hundred years. A great number of small pits or caches occur where provisions were stored for concealment ; as shown by quantities of parched corn. Several skeletons have been exhumed here, which had been buried in a sitting posture, and its relics are the same as those above mentioned.

Near the north-west corner of Rodman, on lot number two, on the farm of Jared Free- man, was formerly an interesting work, of which no trace remains, except a boulder of gneiss, worn smooth by grinding. Before the place had been cultivated, it is said to have shown an oval double bank, with an intervening crescent-shaped space, and a short bank running down a gentle slope to a small stream, one of the sources of Stony Creek, that flows near. Several hundred bushels of burnt corn were turned out, over an area one rod by eight, showing that this must have been an immense magazine of food. On the farm of Jacob Heath, on lot No. 25, near the west line of Rodman, and on the north bank of Sandy Creek, a short dis- tance above the confluence of the two main branches of that stream, there formerly ex- isted an enclosure of the same class. It in- eluded about three acres, was overgrown with heavy timber, and furnished within and without, when plowed, a great quantity and variety of terra cotta, in fragments, but no metallic relics. Under the roots of a large maple was dug up the bones of a man of large stature, and furnished with entire rows of double teeth.

On the farm of Wells Benton, half a mile from Adams village, was an enclosure similar to the others, and affording the usual variety of relies ; and another trace of an ancient work of a similar character is mentioned in Adams, two miles north of the village. On the farm of Peter Durfey, near Bellville, in Ellisburg, was still another, which, from the description given by those who have ex- amined it, does not differ in age or general appearance from others, having gateways at irregular intervals, and being guarded on one side by a natural defence.

The present cemetery, a little above Ellis village, presents the trace of a work that was

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ABORIGINAL TRACES.

crescent shaped, and by the aid of the natu- ral bank on which it was built, formed an irregular enclosure of about two acres. On the south bank of South Sandy Creek, three miles from its mouth, was a similar work, defended on one side by an abrupt bank, and now entirely leveled by tillage. A consider- able number of places occur in Ellisburg, which must have been inhabited by the aborigines. The fertility of the soil, excel- lence of water, and vicinity to valuable salmon fisheries, and extensive hunting grounds, must have afforded many attrac- tions to the savages. Probably several traces of ancient works in this section of the coun- try may have been leveled by tillage, without exciting suspicion of their nature. Besides these, one is mentioned as having occurred near Tylerville, and another in Houndsfield, two miles from Brownville.

One of the most conclusive evidences of ancient military occupation and conflict, occurs in Rutland, near the residence of Abner Tamblin, one mile from the western line of the town, and two miles from the river. It is on the summit of the Trenton limestone terrace, which forms a bold escarp- ment, extending down the river, and passing across the southern part of Watertown. There here occurred a slight embankment and ditch irregularly oval, with several gate- ways ; and along the ditch, in several places, have been found great numbers of skeletons, almost entirely of males, and lying in great confusion, as if they had been slain while de- fending it. There is said to have been found at this place fire-places, with bones of animals, broken pottery, and implements of stone, at two different levels, separated by an accumulation of earth and vegetable mould from one to two feet thick, as if the place had been twice occupied. So great has been the length of time since these bones have been covered, that they fall to pieces very soon after being exposed to the air. Charred corn, bones and relics, occur at both levels, but more abundantly at the lower. At numerous places, not exhibiting traces of for- tification, are found fire places, accumula- tions of chips or flint and broken pottery, as if these points had been occupied as dwellings. In several places bone-pits have been found, where human remains in great numbers have been accumulated. One is mentioned as occuring near Brownville vil- lage, where in a space of ten or twelve feet square and four feet deep, a great number of skeletons were thrown. Another deposit of bones occurs in Ellisburgh, nearly opposite an ancient work, on South Sandy Creek, near a house once occupied by J. W. Ellis ; where, in digging a cellar in 1818, many bones were dug up. In 1842 there was found in Rutland, three miles from Watertown, under a pile of stones, about three feet high, which rested on a circular flat stone, a pit four feet square and two deep, filled with the bones of men and animals, thrown together in great confusion. These exhibit marks of teeth as if they had been gnawed by animals. This,

with the charcoal and charred corn in the vicinity, has been thought to indicate ancient massacre and pillage, in which an Indian vil- lage was destroyed and the bones of the slain afterwards collected and buried by friends. It was estimated that thirty or forty skele- tons were buried here, besides parts of animals, that may have been killed for food. A custom is said to have prevailed among some Indian tribes, of collecting and burying at stated intervals, the bones of their dead, and some of these depositories may have thus originated. The earthen, found around these localities, was of the coarsest and rudest character ; externally smooth, except where marked by lines and dots, in fantastic and every-varying combinations of figures, and internally rough from the admixture of coarse sand and gravel. There was no glaz- ing known to these primitive potters, who possessed, nevertheless, a certain degree of taste and skill ; and sometimes attempted on their pipes and jars, an imitation of the human face and fantastic images of serpents and wild animals. Rarely, metallic relics of undoubted antiquity are found. A fragment of a sword blade, around which the wood of a tree had grown, was found by the first set- tlers of Ellisburg. Muskets, balls, hatchets, knives and other implements of metal have been at various times turned out by the plow ; but none of the articles of undoubted European origin can claim an antiquity prior to the French and Indian wars.

There was found many years since in the sand, at a deep cutting of the railroad, near the Poor House, an oval ball, about three inches long, which for some time was used by children as a plaything. From its light- ness and hardness, it excited curiosity, and it was cut open, when it was found to contain a strip of parchment and another ball ; this latter also contained another ball and strip of parchment ; in all three. One of these is preserved, and is & by 11 inches, containing, written on one side, four lines of Hebrew characters, without vowel points, quoting from Deuteronomy xi, 13 to 21 inclusive. The case containing these was apparently made of hide, and it had been doubtless used as an amulet, by some travelling Jew, or had been procured by the Indians as a charm, at a period not prior to the French era of our history. This section of the State, at the earliest period of authentic history, was occupied by the Oneidas and Onondagas as a hunting ground ; and one or two trails were perceptible when surveyed in 1796. Occasionally the St. Regis Indians would find their way into our territory, but oftener the Massasaugas from the north shore of the lake. The Oneidas considered them as in- truders, and the latter seldom allowed them- selves to fall in their way, from which reason the visits of the natives were stealthy and unfrequent, and nothing would fill the foreign Indians with apprehensions sooner than being told that the Oneidas were in the neighborhood. After the war nothing was seen or heard from them.

112

THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

Although our territory was not actually inhabited at the time it first became known to Europeans, it is not without incident con- nected with the wars between the French in Canada, and the Iroquois of New York, who from an early period had been under the influ- ence of the English. Within a very few years from the time of first occupation, the French had penetrated far into the interior, explored the great lakes, discovered the Mississippi near its source, and established small forts for the double purpose of securing the fur trade, and converting to their religion the natives. The Dutch had conciliated the Iro- quois, and their influence had been transfer- red to the English, who succeeded them, which led to a hostile incursion by De Cour- celles and De Tracy, against the Mohawks in 1665-6, resulting in nothing but the murder of a few aged warriors, who preferred death to the abandonment of their homes, and in ex- citing to a greater degree of insolence the In- dians, who, some time after, fell upon a party of French hunters, killed several and carried others away prisoners. Peace was subse- quently gained, during which the French got the permission of the natives to erect a fort at Cataroqui (Kingston), ostensibly to protect the traders and their merchandise. The Jes- uits, meanwhile, availing themselves of the peace, penetrated the settlements of the Five Nations, and acquired to some degree an in- fluence with the Onondagas. The Senecas and Cayugas were still jealous of the French, and continued to annoy their trade, which led to a complaint from De la Barre, governor of Canada, to Governor Dongan of New York, that these savages had plundered seven canoes. and detained fourteen French traders ; to which the principal Seneca sachem re- turned a spirited reply, and Dongan re- quested the French to keep their own side of the lake.

The Marquis De Nouville succeeded De la Barre in 1685, and brought from France for- ces thought sufficient for the reduction of the Senecas, which was undertaken two years after, with a great force, but without success, further than ravaging their country with fire, and destroying a few aged and defenceless men and women. On the 26th of July, 1688, the Iroquois, to the number of 1,200, invaded the island of Montreal, without notice, and destroyed more than a thousand French, besides carrying away great numbers of prisoners for torture. In these and other ex- peditions, our territory must have been the scene of many events of tragic interest, but the history of the details has not come down to us.

During the French and English war, which in 1760 resulted in the complete subjection of the former, our frontier again became alive with military operations, and the principal route between Canada and the Mohawk scttle- ments, passed through this county. On a peninsula, called Six Town Point, a few miles from Sackets Harbor, is the trace of a slight work, in a square form with bastions at each angle, and apparently a small stockade,

erected during this period. Between the bas- tions the sides were but 48 feet, and the whole affair was of a slight and transient character. The only trace left is a slight ditch along the sides, apparently formed by the decay of the wood that formed the defence. On one side is a row of mounds, five in number, probably for the mounting of cannon. The locality is about one mile and a quarter from the end of the point on the inside, and but a few yards from the water's edge. The place is partly covered by a thin growth of hickory and oak, and the quiet scenery of the spot is delightful.

CARLETON ISLAND.

In the broad channel of the St. Lawrence, as its waters leave Lake Ontario and run be- tween Kingston on the Canadian and Cape Vincent on the American shore, are several islands. One of the most noted of these is Carleton Island, which is situate in the American channel, four or five miles nor- therly of Cape Vincent. Carleton Island was known to the old French explorers as the Isle aux Chevreuils, or Isle of Roe Bucks. It lay in the line of the old Indian trail, which ran from the Canadian shore of Lake Ontario to the Iroquois cantons on its southern border, which trail avoided by its coast-line the rough and dangerous waves of the open lake, and it lay also in the line of the great western trail. There being at the head of this island what Father Charlevoix (who visited it in 1720), calls "a pretty port that can receive large barques," it was a favorite stopping place and camping ground in all the long colonial period.

But what renders this little island of more historical interest than the many other islands of the group, are the remains of a strong mili- tary work, which was constructed upon it in the latter part of the last century, crowning the brink of the bluff at the head of the island, overlooking the "pretty port" and commanding the American channel of the great river. This fortification is now known as Fort Carleton, but in regard to its origin and the date of its construction, there has been a great deal of conjecture and not a little controversy among historical students.

Until within the past ten or fifteen years, it had been supposed by many historians that this fortification was built by the French be- tween 1758 and 1760. But by a comparatively late discovery of undoubtedly genuine docu- ments relative to the building of this fort, there is no longer any doubt that it was built by the English in 1778-79, and heavily equip- ped with cannon and warlike munitions, largely supplied from Kingston. It was held as a British post until 1813, when it was cap- tured by a small American force. Upon the conclusion of peace, Carleton Island was con- ceded to the United States, and the fort was soon after dismantled of whatever arms then remaining.

The work on Carleton Island is a bastioned half-front of a hexagonal fort of some 800 feet diameter, open at the rear toward the brink

THE ADIRONDACK WILDERNESS AND CASTORLAND.

113

of the bluff overlooking the cove. The ditch, 22 feet wide and 4 feet deep, is excava- ted in the solid rock. The covered way was 24 feet wide, and the parapet 4 feet high. The front of the fort commands the approach from the island, while a heavy sea-wall, 40 feet in height, is built along the bluff that borders the cove. Several chimneys are still standing within the fort and near it, built of stone in a permanent and massive manner, while the remains of guard houses, rifle pits and wells are still plainly visible. Not far from the fort is an old burying-ground, in which many graves were found, and on the south side of the island was a large clearing of some 30 acres, called the King's Garden. Along the western shore of the little cove are still to be seen the remains of a sunken dock. Many relics have from time to time been found near the fort, all bearing marks of British origin.

In 1796 the surveyors of McComb's pur- chase found a British corporal and three men in charge of Carleton Island, and four long twelve and two six-pound cannon mounted on the works.

After the war, the right to Carleton Island became the subject of much diplomatic cor- respondence between the two governments. This controversy was carried on during the presidency of Mr. Monroe by John Q. Adams, Secretary of State, on our part. It resulted

in the boundary line being drawn to the north of the island, leaving it in American waters.

And now this little island, so fraught with historic memories, is the summer resort of the Carleton Island Club, an association of gentlemen who have built their summer cot- tage and pitched their tents on the meadow that borders the banks of the "pretty port " of the old chronicler, and in sight of the decay- ing walls of the old fort. Here in this en- chanting spot, among the Thousand Isles, made classic in American story by the pres- ence long ago of a Champlain, a La Hontan, a La Salle, a Courcelle, a Frontenac, a De La Barre, a Charlevoix, they take a yearly res- pite from busy toil, and while away the fleet- ing hours of the short Canadian summer in careless repose, dispensing a right royal hos- pitality.

For this description of Carleton Island, as well as for many suggestions as to Castorland and descriptions of some of the water ways of the great Adirondack Wilderness, the author of this History is under great obligation to Mr. N. B. Sylvester, of the Troy bar, whose " Historical Sketches of Northern New York" evince not only the fine spirit of in- quiry which should animate the true histor- ian, but a facility of description and an ac- quaintance with literature that entitle his productions to take the highest rank among our American historical publications.

THE ADIRONDACK WILDERNESS AND CASTORLAND.

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Growth of a Century : as illustrated in the history of Jefferson County, New York, from 1793 to 1894, Part 24

Author: Haddock, John A. 1823- Publication date: 1894 Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : Sherman Number of Pages: 1094

Author: Haddock, John A. 1823-
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : Sherman
Number of Pages: 1094