USA > New York > Delaware County > History of Delaware County, and border wars of New York, containing a sketch of the early settlements in the county > Part 7
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DELAWARE COUNTY.
as a burying-ground, and where, but a year since, a large con- course of relatives and friends consigned his lifeless remains to the silent chamber of the tomb,* and where, crossing the Bear Hill, a short distance below the village of Moresville, he came near losing his life, in the following manner :- In those early times, the streams were guarded by high banks on either side, which were effectually prevented from yielding to the inroads of the current, by the rooty projections of trees, making the crossing exceedingly difficult for a horse with a heavy bur- den, as the animal would, in most cases, have to step down full two feet into the stream, and to spring with all his force to attain the bank on the opposite side. It was while the horse was performing this last act of springing up, that he slid off behind, and went over backwards into the water, sticking his head beneath the mire in the bed of the stream, which filled eyes, nose, and mouth-the father, who was immediately in front, perceiving him fall, sprang and rescued him from the unpleasant situation, and carried him to the shore, exclaiming, when he found that he was apparently lifeless, and could not speak, with all the feeling peculiar to his native tongue, "Sondy ! Sondy, is thee dead ?" He soon recovered, however, after a copious effusion of cold water, which effectually re- moved the mud; and not being otherwise injured, they again proceeded on their journey.
After a short digression from the main subject, we will return and complete our description of the family : across the other horse were slung two baskets, one on either side, and which were fastened together by a rope; they were filled with provisions and clothing. The animal was managed by the elder of the boys, aged about eight years-this person is still living, although bowed down by the weight of years-the
* Alexander More was the first white male child born in Delaware County. Born January 5th, 1775.
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HISTORY OF
venerable John T. More, of Moresville. Behind him clung his little brother Robert, who died at Prattsville, Greene county, a few years since, an aged man. The sire of the family accompanied them on foot, with an axe, to lop the bushes and under-brush, which frequently obstructed their progress. After a tedious journey of four days, they arrived at Catskill, where was then only one or two rude habitations. At this place he resided with his family until 1786, when, peace having been established, he removed and settled at Moresville, and was the first white settler within the present limits of the town of Roxbury.
It is impossible at this late day, to ascertain with accuracy the number of inhabitants within the present limits of the county of Delaware, but it is certain that it could not much have exceeded one hundred souls. In the absence of better authority, I shall assume the liberty of distributing them as follows :-
Harpersfield,
-
50
Pakatakan, -
- 20
Pepacton,
15
Johnston Settlement,
20
Kortright,
10
Stamford,
-
5
Total population,
120
There were two or three families of Scotch, who had settled within the present limits of the town of Kortright, but who, becoming affected with what is commonly called toryism, sought an asylum in Canada. Among them was one, who for those times, was considered wealthy, if indeed gold could have constituted wealth in so isolated a spot. I give the following
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DELAWARE COUNTY.
anecdote upon the authority of several early settlers of that town.
Among the early settlers within the limits of the county, were a few Scotch pioneers, who located themselves in the valley of Wrightsbrook, within a short distance of the site of the present village of Bloomville. After the war broke out, the murders and lawless depredations committed upon the lives and property of the frontier settlers, gave them a timely warning. They saw safety only in flight. Although favorably inclined to the British Government, a heavy bounty had been offered for scalps, and the Indians were as likely to sacrifice friend as foe, and they consequently prepared to leave. The arrangements were soon completed, their goods boxed and buried, or otherwise secreted in places recognised by them- selves through the agency of marked trees, intending to return and possess themselves of their property, as soon as peace should be restored.
The Scotchman, fearing to take much money with him in his flight, pondered long and earnestly in what manner most effectually to conceal his "pile;" at last he bethought himself to bury it-selecting a spot favorable to his purpose, he sank an excavation at the roots of a hollow tree, in which he depo- sited the wallet, containing, as he asserted upon his dying bed, five hundred guineas, and carefully replaced the dirt, and de- signated the spot by a marked line of trees, to the junction of Wright's brook with the Delaware river.
The party sought a refuge in Canada, and while there the family of this Scotchman became the fated victims of a con- tagious disease : one by one were consigned to the grave, until he alone remained. At last he was taken ill himself, and when upon his dying bed, he called the physician who had kindly attended him during his illness, and revealed to him the secret of his hidden treasures, and all the attending cir- cumstances.
7
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HISTORY OF
Immediately after the declaration of peace, the physician, not doubting from the minute statement of the dying man, but that he could easily discover the concealed treasure, made a journey into the county in search of it. He arrived at the place, then and until recently, known by the appellation of " Four Corners," concealing the object of his mission from every one, and accounting for his strange conduct by pretend- ing to be searching for herbs of rare medicinal properties, which a friendly Indian had told him abounded in that region. He readily discovered the line of marked trees-but alas ! he had come too late, and the improvements of the Scotchman were now occupied by an enterprising settler, and upon the identical spot where the treasure was concealed years before, was now waving a heavy crop of wheat. The physician now made careful inquiries of the present occupant, who stated " that in ploughing the field over there, (pointing to the same lot,) the ploughshare had struck and smashed in the end of a wooden box, which, upon examination, he found to have once contained clothing, but of which only a few decayed remnants remained ; he had also ploughed up a set of harrow-teeth and an iron wedge, and that these were all that he had discovered." After a futile search of nearly a week, the physician was com- pelled to abandon the enterprise, and return to meet other en- gagements. Before his departure, however, he made a reve- lation of the facts to one Gregory, a merchant at the "Corners ;" but to this day the treasure remains undiscovered, although many persons have searched for it since that time.
The following account of a successful enterprise of Colonel John Harper, during the Revolution, was often related by the late Rev. Stephen Fenn, for many years a minister at Harpers- field, who had received the information from the colonel's own lips. It was first published in the Annals of Tryon county. :
"In the year 1777, he had the command of one of the forts in Schoharie, and of all the frontier stations in this region.
·
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DELAWARE COUNTY.
He left the fort in Schoharie, and came out through the woods to. Harpersfield, in the time of making sugar, and from thence he laid his course' for Cherry Valley, to investigate the state of things there; and as he was pursuing a blind kind of In- dian trail, and was ascending what are now called Decatur Hills, he cast his eye forward, and saw a company of men com- ing directly towards him, who had the appearance of Indians. He knew that if he attempted to flee from them they would shoot him down : he resolved to advance right up to them, and make the best shift for himself he could. As soon as he came near enough to discern the white of their eyes, he knew the head man and several others : the head man's name was Peter, an Indian with whom Col. Harper had often traded at Oquago, before the Revolution began. The Col. had his great coat on, so that his regimentals were concealed, and was not recognized : the first word of address on Col. Harper's part was, 'How do you do, brothers?' the reply was, 'Well ; how do you do, brother ? which way are you bound, brother ?' 'On a secret- expedition ; and which way are you bound, brothers ?' ' Down the Susquehanna, to cut off the Johnston settlement.' (Parson Johnston, and a number of Scottish families, had settled down the Susquehanna, at what is now called Sidney Plains, and these were the people whom they were about to destroy.) Says the colonel, 'where do you lodge to-night ?' .'At the mouth of Schenevus creek,' was the reply. Then shaking hands with them, he bid them good-speed, and pro- ceeded on his journey.
"He had gone but a little way from them before he took a circuit through the woods, a distance of eight or ten miles, on to the head of Charlotte river, where were a number of men making sugar; ordered them to take their arms, two days' provisions, a canteen of rum, and a rope, and meet him down the Charlotte, at a small clearing called Evan's place, at a cer- tain hour that afternoon; then rode with all speed through
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HISTORY OF
the woods to Harpersfield, collected all the men who were there making sugar, and being armed and victualed, with each man his rope, laid his course for Charlotte : when he arrived at Evan's place, he found the Charlotte men there in good spirits; and when he mustered his men there were fifteen, including himself, exactly the same number as there were of the enemy; then the colonel made his men acquainted with his enterprise.
"They marched down the river a little distance, and then bent their course across the hill, to the mouth of Schenevus creek : arriving at the brow of the hill, where they could over- look the valley where the Schenevus flows, they cast their eyes down upon the flat, and discovered the fire around which the enemy lay encamped. 'There they are,' said Col. Harper. They descended with great stillness, forded the creek, which was breast-high to a man; after advancing a few hundred yards, they took some refreshment, and then prepared for the contest. Daylight was just beginning to appear in the east. When they came to the enemy, they lay in a circle, with their feet toward the fire, in a deep sleep; their arms and all their implements of death, were stacked up according to the In- dian custom when they lay themselves down for the night; these the colonel secured by carrying them off a distance, and laying them down; then each man, taking his rope in his hand, placed himself by his fellow : the colonel rapped his man softly, and said, 'Come, it is time for men of business to be on their way ;' and then each one sprang upon his man, and after a most severe struggle, they secured the whole number of the enemy.
" After they were all safely bound, and the morning had so far advanced that they could discover objects distinctly, says the Indian Peter-' Ha! Col. Harper! now I know thee ; why did I not know thee yesterday ?' 'Some policy in war, Peter.' ' Ah, me find 'em so now.' The colonel marched
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DELAWARE COUNTY.
the men to Albany, delivered them up to the commanding oficer there; and by this bold and well-executed feat of valor, he saved the whole Scotch settlement from a wanton destruc- tion."
Shortly after the above successful adventure of Col. Harper, McDonald, with a body of two hundred regulars and tories, had concerted a plan for the destruction of the whole Schoharie settlements. This expedition would doubtless have proved successful, had not their intentions been thwarted by the timely exertions of Col. Harper.
The fort at Schoharie was commanded by Col. Vrooman, a good man, doubtless, but illy calculated for the performance of the arduous duties devolving upon him as commandant. They saw the enemy wantonly laying waste the settlement, destroy- ing everything on which they could lay their hands. The garrisons, from their reduced condition, could spare no men from the forts to protect the inhabitants, or secure their crops. " What shall be done ?" says Col. Harper. " Oh, nothing at all," says Col. Vrooman, "we be so weak we cannot do any- thing." It was however resolved that a messenger must be sent to Albany for succor, and Col. Harper volunteered his services, and mounting a fleet horse was soon far on his way toward the place of destination. After travelling about five miles, he concluded to put up for the night at a tavern, and having finished his supper, he retired to an upper room, fas- tening the door behind him.
During the night a party of tories arrived at the tavern, whose object it was to secure the person of Harper, whose mission they rightly conjectured, and thinking to thereby pre- vent the news of the invasion of the settlement by McDonald, reaching Albany. The landlord stoutly protested against their disturbing the repose of his guest, but all to no purpose. They ascended the stairs, and finding the door was fastened, of the room into which Harper had retired, knocked loudly,
7*
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demanding admission. Harper, who had only lain down, and who had not been asleep, arose, and with pistol in hand opened the door, and presenting himself in an attitude of defence before his unwelcome and intruding guests, demanded of them their business, but at the same time cautioned them against entering his room, as " the first man who stepped over the thresh- old should pay for it with his life." After a little conversa- tion the party withdrew, and did not again molest him.
The next day he rode into Albany, when he informed the commandant of the exposed situation of Harpersfield. A small body of cavalry was granted him, which left Albany the same evening, and continuing to ride all night, at the break of day arrived at the tavern where he had spent the preceding night. They soon came up with the forces of McDonald, who made but a slight stand and then dispersed and fled, the moment the impetuous troopers charged amongst them. This daring and well-executed feat again restored confidence to the droop- ing spirits of the Schoharie patriots, and redounded double credit upon the head of this brave commander ; who thus recapitulates his success in a letter to the Provincial Congress :
" Schoharie, August 28th, 1777.
" GENTLEMEN,-Since we put Captain McDonald and his army to flight, I proceeded with some volunteers to Harpers- field, where we met many who had been forced by McDonald, and some of them much abused. Many others were in the woods, who were volunteers; and as we could not get hands on those who were active in the matter, I gave orders for all to make their appearance when called on, at Schoharie, in order to give satisfaction to the authority for what they had done; and if they do not, that they are to be proclaimed traitors to the United States of America; which they readily agreed to, and further declare that they will use their best endeavors to bring in those who have been the cause of the
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DELAWARE COUNTY.
present disturbance. I would therefore beg of the Honorable Council of Safety that they would appoint proper places to try those persons, as there are many that can witness the pro- ceedings of our enemy, and are not in ability to go abroad.
" From your most obedient humble servant, "JOHN HARPER, Colonel.
"P. S. The people here are so confused that they do not know how to proceed, I therefore would beg the favor of your honorable body to appoint such men as are strangers in these parts.
"To the Honorable the Council of Safety of Kingston."
* See Journal of Provincial Congress, page 1053.
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CHAPTER V.
St. Leger Cowley-Contention between himself and a tory-Dispute settled by his wife-Capture of Cowley and Sawyer on the West Branch-Indian sports-Journey of the captives toward Niagara- Murder of their captors-Pursued by the Indians-Miraculous escape-Narrowly escape starvation in the wilderness-Arrival at a frontier settlement in Pennsylvania-Recruit and return to Schoharie-Procure a company of troops to aid in the removal of their families-First grist-mill on the West Branch-Death of Cow- ley-Indian revenge-Murder of McKee family-Capture of Miss Anne McKee-Compelled to run the gauntlet-Fort Niagara-Re- taliatory expedition to the Indian territory-General Sullivan appointed to command-Detachment under Clinton-March down the Susquehanna-Union of Clinton and Sullivan near Tioga Point -Complete annihilation of Indian settlements-Expedition of Sul- livan an expedition of Discovery-Minisink an ancient Indian set- tlement-Massacre of the inhabitants-Battle of the Delaware- Defeat of the inhabitants-List of the killed-Burial services per- formed in 1820-Statement of Benjamin Whitaker-General out- lines of the campaign of 1779.
AMONG the early pioneers who settled on the West Branch of the Delaware river, was St. Leger Cowley, a native of Ire- land, who removed from Albany with his family and located himself below the site of the present flourishing village of Bloomville, and not far from the south corner of the town of Kortright. After the commencement of the Revolution the few whigs (as those persons who dared to disown the king were called,) living in the valley of the Delaware, became, as it were, isolated from even what historians have termed the fron- tier of New York. They were few in number, and beyond the reach of any definite tidings of the victories and reverses of the respective armies. The flying reports which reached their
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DELAWARE COUNTY.
ears, were principally those which had been industriously cir- culated by the tories and Indians, and consequently they scru- pled to believe them. And what rendered their situation still more precarious, was the fact that the valley in which they lived, was, during the Revolutionary war, a principal thorough- fare by which warlike parties traversed their way to the Scho- harie settlements on missions of plunder' and destruction .*
These expeditions were usually accompanied by tories, who were the more unprincipled of the two, and much more given to plundering from those they knew or even suspected guilty of the crime called " Democracy ;"t and frequently they took upon themselves the responsibility of plunder, unaccompanied by their less-savage allies.
One day, when the wife of St. Leger Cowley-a strong, resolute woman, from the "Emerald Isle,"-came into the house, from which she had been absent but a short time, she found a tory blackened, so as to appear as an Indian, contend- ing with her husband about a pair of breeches, which the former had taken from a chest, and was grasping with both hands, while her husband was holding on to another part of the garment with a grasp equally firm. Having learned the cause of the contention, and thinking it a game which could be better played by three persons-even though the third were a woman-she, by a sudden movement, took the "bone of contention" from their hands, and seizing a wooden poker
* I am indebted to the manuscript kindly furnished me by Asahel Cowley, Esq., a highly respectable citizen, and a descendant of St. Leger, mentioned in the context, for most of the above information. He resides in Stamford, Delaware County.
¡ Quoted from the inscription on the tombstone, in the Harpers- field burying-ground, to the memory of Thomas and John Hendry, who sacrificed their lives and property to the common cause of lib- erty. See more fully the capture of Colonel Harper and his party at Harpersfield, April 8th, 1780.
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HISTORY OF
which was standing by the fire-place, threatened to use it on the tory's head, at the same time suiting the gesture to the word in such a manner as to warn him of the necessity of beating a hasty retreat.
Notwithstanding the dangers to which the settlers were exposed, a number of them remained on the Delaware until 1779. In the spring or early part of the summer*, of that year, Cowley, accompanied by his eldest son, Jonathan, a lad some twelve or thirteen years of age, had been to the house of Isaac Sawyer, another whig, then living a short distance below the present village of Hobart. On their return, having arrived near home, the father walking, and the son riding on horseback, they were surprised and captured by four Schoharie Indians, Ham Henry, Seth Henry, Adam, a sister's son, and Nicholas, also a relative. Immediately after their capture the Indians fastened a military feather (which they had doubtless procured from the hat of a fallen soldier in battle,) to the front of the boy's cap, and sent him on ahead, while they and their prisoner followed. The family of Cowley, who were anxiously looking for his return, seeing the lad approaching alone. on · horseback with a military ornament so conspicuous, were filled with apprehensions. They were, however, kept but a short time in suspense, for soon the father made his appearance accompanied by his captors.
The Indians offered no kind of violence to any of the family, but amused themselves by shooting their fowls, exclaiming, " pidgee ! pidgee !" One of them shot at a churn which was standing out of doors partly filled with water, and expressed his gratification by laughing heartily to see the water gush out of the hole made by his rifle ball. After a short time spent
* Simms' Ilistory of Schoharie gives the date as "early in the spring," and as I have usually found his statements correct, I think it more than probable this was the time.
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DELAWARE COUNTY.
apparently in high glee, one of their number was left to guard the prisoner, while the others went up the river to capture Sawyer. It was night when the Indians arrived at his house, and being unapprehensive of danger, and unprepared for de- fence, they took him with little difficulty. The next morning the Indians returned with their captive, when, contrary to the usual custom, they left the women and children, and took only the men away with them as prisoners.
The party encamped the first night a short distance below Delhi; at which place the Indians, assisted by their willing captives, constructed a rude raft, on which they all floated down the Delaware, a distance of about forty miles, to a place well known in those early times as the Cook-house, (now De- posit village,) where they intersected the Oquago trail, lead- ing toward the Susquehanna. " From the Cook-house they resumed their journey by land to Fort Niagara, the place of their destination.
The prisoners were far from being ignorant of Indian cha- racter, and to conceal their original design-which was to escape the first favorable opportunity-would intimate by signs as well as they could (they were unable to converse with the Indians in either the Dutch or Indian language,) that they would rather proceed with their captors than return to the settlements they had left; and they avoided conversing toge- ther as much as possible, lest it should excite the suspicions of the Indians, one or more of whom were always watching their movements. They had already proceeded eleven days on their journey without seeing a favorable opportunity of making their escape-the last ray of hope seemed to have sped-they had followed the blind Indian trail-had traversed hill and dale-crossed large streams, and were already far beyond any white settlement-all the horrors of a long cap- tivity seemed inevitably their fate; the extremely dangerous feat of running the gauntlet, was presented vividly to their
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HISTORY OF
imagination, with its long files of hideously painted Indians ranged on either side, through which the life-race lay. Death seemed preferable to such a scene, and they mentally resolved to make one bold effort to escape, or die in the attempt.
On the eventful night of the eleventh day's captivity, the party encamped near Tioga Point. The captives, on such oc- casions were ordered to make the preparations for building a large fire, (which they ignited in those matchless days by the aid of a large tinder-box,) and also to cut and carry to the encampment a supply of fuel for the night. As they had only one axe, which had been taken from Cowley's at the time of the capture, one would cut, while the other carried it to the spot where it was to be used. "While Cowley was cut- ting and Sawyer waiting for an armful, the latter took from his pocket a newspaper and pretended to be reading its con- tents to his fellow, instead of which, however, he was pro- posing a plan for regaining their liberty."-Simms' History of Schoharie.
A quarter of venison that had been shot that afternoon was rudely roasted, and eaten without the wholesome seasoning of salt and pepper, when they all laid down to sleep-a prisoner between two Indians; and the latter of whom were soon wrapped in deep slumber. After waiting till near midnight the mutual signal was given, when the two friends cautiously arose. They shook the priming from the guns of their cap- tors, and removed the remaining implements of death beyond the observation of the savages, then returning, Sawyer, with the tomahawk of Ham Henry-who was thought the most desperate of the four-took his station beside its owner, while Cowley with an axe, placed himself beside another sleeping Indian. The fire afforded sufficient light for the captives to make sure of their victims. At a given signal the blows fell fatal upon two-the tomahawk sank deep into the brain of its owner, but unfortunately, Sawyer drew the handle from the
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