USA > New York > Jefferson County > History of Jefferson County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 133
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ANTWERP .- Lydia Turner, 76; Noah French, 86; Martha Clark, 76; Josiah Drake, 78.
BROWNVILLE .- John Baxter, 88; Walter Wilson, 85 ; Selah Bur- ton, 79; David Rimiston, 93; John P. Beecher, 78.
CLAYTON .- Solomon Ingalls, 90; Hosea Randolph, 72; Lydia Dixon, 85 ; Amos Richards, 82; James Bothell, 82; Mary Davis, 73; Abraham Joy, 78; James Rankin, 83; Thomas Fetterly, 76.
ELLISBURG .- Solomon Tracy, 81; Jonathan Fish, 83; Stephen Lindsley, 81 ; Mrs. Deuse, 80; Bryant Eddy, 79; Jonathan Matte- son, 78; Rufus Richardson, 79; Abel Porter, 80; Samuel Hubbard, 79; James Gault, 83; Simeon Russell, 84; Samuel Mixer, 82; Levi Smith, 85 ; Abiezar Philips, 81; Thomas Worden, 82; Simeon Rus- sell, 89; Ebenezer Wallace, 79; Stephen Hicks, 85; Henry H. Fall, 90.
HENDERSON .- John Pettingell, 73; Ebenezer Sawyer, 86 ; Abijah Stickney, 82; John Carter, 78; John Morris, 81; Stephen Hawkins, 82.
HOUNSFIELD .- Jared Olcott, 81; Charles Ripley, 76; Sumner Adams, 65; Solomon Livermore, 78; Anna Dorchester, 79; Elias
Taylor, 72 ; Thomas Cole, 72; Julius Terrey, 64; Ebenezer Philips, 80.
LE RAY .- Timothy Tamblin, 83; Joel Dodge, 79; Hiel Truesden, 78; Ezekiel Lyman, 80; William Rogers, 83; Hannah Harwick, 81; Elizabeth Ainsted, 74; Elisha Scofield, -.
LORRAINE .- Jacob Weaver, 83; Benjamin Fletcher, 80; Caleb Tift, 81.
LYME .- Samuel J. Mills, 81 ; Jacob H. Oves, 83; Nicholas Smith, 85 ; Prudence Hodges, 73; Lucretia Marsh, 84 ; Felix Powell, 77.
ORLEANS .- Joseph Rhodes, 78; Adolphus Picket, 79; William Colins, 80; John Monk, 89; Moses Limon, 78; Elizabeth Rixford, 75 ; Nicholas Smith, 85; Elizabeth Barret, 80; Caleb Willis, 78; M. Contreman, 70.
PAMELIA .- J. Gloyd, 85.
PHILADELPHIA .- Edith Taylor, 84; James Hewitt, 77; Jonathan Carr, 83 ; Isaac Hurd, 79.
RODMAN .- Ephraim Wright, 73; John Russell, Elijah McIntosh, 78.
RUTLAND .- Mary Barney, 74; Samuel Dunham, 88.
WILNA .- Peter Brown, 88; Stephen Shew, 79; Josiah Hurlbert, 79; Solomon Cleveland, 86.
When the War of 1812-15 broke out, the population of Jefferson County was about 16,000, and very many of her young men were con- nected with the military and naval operations along the northwestern frontier, and one of her private citizens, Jacob Brown, then living on his farm at Brownville, became very prominent. Sacket's Harbor was the most important station on the great lakes, and was made the centre of naval and military operations during a considerable portion of the war.
The following chapter, descriptive of the operations in this region, is from Dr. Hough's History of the County, published in 1854. It has been carefully revised and corrected, and is believed to be full and reliable.
537
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.
WAR OF 1812-15.
"Coming events cast their shadows before them," and the troubles that preceded the declaration of war in some degree prepared the public mind for that event. On the 22d of December, 1807, congress laid an indefinite embargo, which applied to the inland lakes equally with the sea-board, and rendered measures necessary for enforeing an observance of the non-intereourse. In the summer of 1808, Lieut. Melanchthon T. Woolsey was sent to Oswego to superintend the build - ing of a brig, which was launched early in 1809, and named the " Oneida." She was built by Christian Bergh and Henry Eckford, and was pierced for sixteen guns. A company of infantry, under Capt. Win. V. Bennet, and of twenty-three artillerymen, under Lieut. Cross, were stationed at Sacket's Harher in 1808, and early in March, 1809, two detachments of militia (forty-five men) from Col. Paul Stickney's regiment were drawn out, twenty of whom were stationed on the St. Lawrence, opposite Kingston, and the remainder on the Oswegat- chie road, where several routes united.# Tne embargo had the effect of lowering the price of grain, by interrupting the commerce by which it was exported, while, from the same cause, it enormously increased the price of potash, which all new, woody countries produce, and which the embargo prevented from reaching England, except indi- rectly by way of Canada. This afforded a temptation too strong for the honesty of great numbers, who, notwithstanding the vigilanee of the revenue officers, were very successful. This article rose to $300 and $320 per ton in Montreal, from whence it could be exported with- out obstruction to England; and as there then existed in Canada no law against its importation into the country, the only difficulty to meet was an evasion or open defiance of our own laws. Potash was brought from the interior counties, and even from New York to this frontier, and temporary roads were beaten through the forest in the winter time by those engaged in tbis illegal traffie. Among these was the " embargo road," from the Black river, near Brownville, to near French ereek, which for a season became a great thoroughfare for smugglers. Previous to the calling out of the militia detachments above mentioned, Mr. Hart Massey had seized fifty-four barrels of pot and pearl ashes and twenty barrels of pork near Cape Vincent, which property was openly rescued and carried off by a force of fifty or sixty armed men, with many sleighs from Kingston.
This open and bold defiance of laws was not entirely due to a mer- cenary spirit, but political rancor and a practical opposition to a law which they deelared uneonstitutional and void. On the 1st of March, 1809, the embargo gave place to a non-intercourse law, which expired in May, 1810. April 4, 1812, an embargo was again laid, wbich rendered renewed vigilance necessary ; but this time a more efficient system of means was at hand.
In May, 1812, the "Lord Nelson," a British schooner bound for Niagara, and laden with flour and merchandise from Kingston, being found in American waters in the lake, was captured by Woolsey, brought into Sacket's Harbor, and condemned as a lawful prize. Among the goods taken and offered at auetion was a quantity of plate, jewelry, wearing apparel, and household artieles of rich materials belonging to a lady of Queenstown; and these artieles, altbough of great intrinsic value, were inestimably precious to the owner, as family relics and keepsakes. These Commodore Woolsey, with true courtesy, proposed to restore, and the suggestion was seconded by the bearty aeclamation of his gallant sailors, who offered to relinquish their claim ; but others, from sordid and illiberal motives, insisted that the sale should go on, and undertook to compete in the bids, which gradually arose to three, four, and five hundred dollars. At this moment the gallant Woolsey, determined not to be baffled in his design, suddenly raised his bid to five thousand, which at onee ended the contest, amid the cheers of his men, and to the discomfit of his opponents. The property he promptly forwarded to the owner, and the government sanctioned his course by discharging him from the obligation. The vessel was owned by Crooks, of Niagara, who afterwards got a reversal of the adjudication. The " Lord Nelson"
was changed to the "Scourge," and was afterwards recaptured by the enemy.
June 14, the schooner "Ontario," Capt. Charles Sweet, was seized at Cape Vineent for an alleged violation of the revenue laws, but dis- charged ou the 22d. The schooner " Niagara" was seized at about the same time, and afterwards sold for a like cause. The " Ontario" had a cargo consisting of about 600 packages of goods. IIer papers showed a permanent registry granted by the collector of Niagara, June 9, 1810 ; and a regular clearance by him from the port of Lewis- ton to the port of Queenstown, dated April 16, 1812.
At the time of her seizure she was on a voyage from Queenstown to Preseott. When approached by the revenue officers she was lying at anchor off shore, opposite the store of J. B. and Richard Esselstyn. Upon being hailed she attempted to move off, but was taken and brought to port. The collector had sent inen to bring her into Saeket's Harbor for safe keeping. Her armament consisted of three muskets ; and her bill of lading, according to the affidavit of Robert Grant, of Queenstown, consisted of 9 bales of leather, 456 barrels of flour, and 4 harrels of whisky, making a total of 471 packages, shipped June 10, 1812, from Queenstown to Prescott by Grant & Kirby, and owned by Porter, Barker & Co.
The State legislature, acting on the spirit which led the general Government to take the steps above related, Feb. 12, 1808, direeted that 500 stand of arms should be deposited at Champion. Gov. Tompkins, in a letter to Judge Noadiah Hubbard, of Champion, Feb. 27, 1809, announced that of the above 350 sets of accoutre- ments, 7500 rounds of fixed ammunition, etc., had been for some time at Utica, awaiting some place of deposit, which was not, how - ever, provided, and their destination was, by an aet of March 27, 1809, changed to Watertown, where an arsenal was built that year, under the direction of Hart Massey. The street on which it was lo- cated was called Columbia street previous to this time, when its name was changed to Arsenal street. It was maintained as a State arsenal until sold under the act of April 19, 1850.
By an aet of Congress, passed April 10, 1812, the President was authorized to raise a body of 100,000 minute-men, of which propor- tion New York was to furnish 13,500.
Col. Christopher P. Bellinger, from German Flats, Herkimer county, was stationed at Sacket's Harbor in May, with a regiment drafted under the act just mentioned, and remained three months. A portion of his command was stationed at Cape Vincent, and was very efficient in enforcing the embargo.
War having been for years anticipated, was declared June 18, 1812, by a vote of 79 to 49 in the House, and of 19 to 15 in the Senate, Silas Stow then representing this district, and voting in the negative. The event was first announced in a letter from Gov. Tompkius to Brig. Gen. Jacob Brown, of the militia, dated June 23, in which he was empowered to reinforce Col. Bellinger with the militia of Lewis, Jefferson, and St. Lawrence counties, and to arm and equip them at the State arsenals at Russell and Watertown, if occasion required. Col. Benedict, of De Kalb, St. Lawrence Co., was ordered to turn out immediately, to guard the frontiers from Ogdensburgh to St. Regis. In reply, Gen. Brown urged the speedy forwarding of aruis and munitions, and that a force should be posted at Cape Vincent and Ogdensburgh, which could be concentrated at a few hours' uotiee, should decisive measures be necessary.
The news of the war had scarcely reached this frontier, when hostilities were hegun in a small way by Abner Ilubbard, a Revolu- tionary soldier, who, witbout authority, and with only the aid of a man and a boy, made a descent upon Fort Carleton, near Cape Vincent, and, without firing a gun, took the garrison, consisting of three invalid men and two women, prisoners. The next day a hoat was sent to the island for the stores, and the buildings were afterwards burned. This proceeding being known at Kingston, an attempt was made to detain a citizen from Brownville, who was in town on commercial business, but, being forewarned by a friend, he escaped. On the 29th of April, a fleet of trading-vessels, that had been caught at Ogdensburgh, and were attempting to aseend the river to the lake, were pursned by a party of provincial militia. Two of the vessels-" The Sophia" and "Island Packet"-were burned, and the remainder returned in great confusion to Ogdensburgh, where they created the greatest alarm. This occurred near the foot of the Thousand Islauds. On the 2d of July the scouts of Gen. Brown brought in a man, found between Indian river and the St. Lawrence, who was taken for a spy, but proved to be an American, and con-
* Dr. Isaiah Massey had charge of the militia on the Oswegatchie road, Daniel Spinning of those at Port Putnam, Abel Franklin of those at Sacket's Harbor, and Nathaniel H. Hubbard of those at Henderson Harbor, in the spring of 1809. t A different version of this anecdote is given by Cooper, in his Lives of Dis- tinguished Naval Officers, vol. ii. p. 136. We give the account as related by Capt. Augustus Ford, of Sacket's Harbor, who, since 1795, has been familiar with whatever is connected with the navigation of Lake Ontario.
538
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.
firmed the account of the burning of the vessels, stating that there were about thirty persons aboard, mostly families moving, and that the most of their effects were burned. It was apprehended that the enemy were about to fortify tho islands, and thus command the river. A few days before the news of war was rceeived, a large quantity of small arms was forwarded by the governor to this frontier, consisting of 2000 muskets, and a corresponding quantity of muni- tions, which were mostly sent on to the Russell arsenal, in Lawrence county, eseorted by the detachment fromn Lewis county. A consider- able body of militia from Jefferson County was assembled at Cape Vincent, together with a portion of the force of Col. Bellinger, as it was cousidered advisable to keep Kingston in as great a state of alarm as possible. At this point was the great naval station of the enemy, where for one or two years armed vessols had been building, and from whence alone an attack could be reasonably expected. It was apprehended that an attempt would be made by the British to destroy or take our vessels at Ogdensburgh and Saeket's Harbor.
On Sunday, July 19, 1812, Capt. Woolsey, of the "Oneida," dis- covered from the mast-head of his brig five sail of the enemy beat- ing up the harbor, viz., the " Royal George," 24 guns; the " Seneea," 18; " Prince Regent," 22; " Earl of Moira," 20; and " Simcoe." The " Oneida" attempted to gain the lake. but failing, returned, and was moored outside the point, where the ship-house now is, with one broadside of nine guns to the enemy, while the others were taken out and hastily placed on a breastwork on the shore, near which, on the day previous, a 32-pounder had been mounted on a pivot, upon a mound about six feet high. Alarm guns were fired and expresses sent to eall in the neighboring militia, who did not, however, arrive in time to render assistance, but who, in the course of the day, came in to the number of 3000. The British had, early in the morning, captured a boat laden with flour, from Cape Vincent, and the erew were set on shore, and sent with the message " that all they wanted was the brig 'Oneida,' and the ' Lord Nelson' (a vessel taken a lit- tle before for a violation of the revenue), and that they would burn the village if there was a single shot fired at them." The enemy had been misinformed about the defenses of the place, and especially of the 32-pounder, and supposed there was nothing to be feared iu the way of ordnance. The forec in town at that time was, besides the erew of the " Oncida," the regiment of Col. Bellinger, a volunteer eom- pany of artillery under Capt. Camp, and a few militia. Capt. Woolsey, leaving his brig in charge of a lieutenant, took the general command on shore, the 32-pouuder being in charge of Mr. William Vaughan, sailing-master, and the other guns uuder that of Capt. Camp. There were no shot in town larger than 24-pound balls, which were used (with the aid of patches formed of carpets#) in the 32-pouuder. By the time these arrangements were made the enemy had arrived within gun-shot, nearly in front of the battery, when the action was begun, the first shot being from the 32-pounder on the mound, upon which a shout of laughter was heard from the fleet, at the supposed imbecile attempt at resistance. The fire was returned briskly, and continued for two hours, all of the enemy's balls but one or two falling against the rocks at the foot of the bluff, where our force was stationed. One ball fell near by, and plowed up the ground for some distance. It was caught up, just as it had spent its foree, by a man who came run- ning in and shouting that he had " caught them out ;" and so it proved, for, from its commanding position, it was seen that our big gun had every advantage, and that several of its shots told with effect. To- wards the elose of the action, as the " Royal George," the flag-ship, was wearing to give another broadside, a 24-pound shot struck her stern, aud raked her whole length, killing eight men and doing much damage. Upon this the signal of retreat was given, and the whole fleet bore away for Kingston without ceremony. At this, the band on shore struck up the national tune of "Yankee Doodle," and the troops, who had through the whole affair behaved like veterans, seut up three cheers of vietory. The shots from our battery had broken their chest of medicines, their forc-top-gallant mast, and their vessels in a dozen places, while the enemy broke nothing but-the Sabbath. In a letter to the governor, of July 24, Gen. Brown attributed the success of the day to the gallant spirit of Woolsey, Bellinger, and Camp, in their respective capacities, and especially to the nice shots of the 32-pounder. Mr. Vaughan, who pointed and fired this piece, claimus the honor of having fired the first hostile gun in the war. One of the men at this gun, named Julius Torry, a negro, better known as
* Belonging to Mrs. Vanghan.
Black Julius, and a great favorite in the camp, served at his post with remarkable activity and courage. As there was no opportunity for the use of small arms, the greater part of the troops who were drawn up were passive spectators of the engagement.
It has been intimated that a fleet of eight trading-vessels was de- tained at Ogdensburgh, which occasioned great anxiety among our citizenst and to both belligerents. If they could be got to the lake and armed, they would give us the supremaey thero; and if they could be destroyed, the enemy were sure of the aseendency for a con- siderable time. To prevent any attempt at escape, the "Earl of Moira," of fourteen guns, and the "Duke of Gloucester," of ten guns, had been sent to Prescott. This did not prevent a bold at- tempt from being made to relieve the vessels, which, although it failed to effeet all that was intended, was carried out with great firmness, and deserves honorable notiee. In a letter of July 30, to the gov- ernor, General Brown said,-
" The expedition for Ogdensburgh is fitted out. The 'Julia,'{ with the long thirty-two pounder, two long sixes, and about sixty volun- teers, under the command of Lt. Wells, from the ' Oneida,' seconded by Capts. Vaughan and Dixon, now lies off the harbor, ready to sail with the first favorable wind. We count upon her being under way in the course of this day, and we pray God she may do something towards saving the honor of the country. Perhaps your Excellency may suppose we have been led astray by our ardor, dazzled by the object, and forgot our humble meaus. Our means are humble, but, with the blessing of Heaven, this republiean gun-boat may give a good account of the ' Duke' and the 'Earl ;' and a successful ter- mination of this enterprise will give us an equal chanco for the com- mand of the lake."
The result of this expedition is detailed in the following extraet from a letter of Gen. Brown to the governor, dated Sacket's Harbor, Aug. 4, 1812:
" DEAR SIR,-The 'Julia' engaged the 'Earl' and 'Duke' on the St. Lawrence, about twelve miles above Ogdensburgh. They closely hugged the Canada shore, as the wind at the time was down the river, and it was impossible for them to beat to windward. The fire was continued for full three hours, when night-and a dark night-was eoming on, and Lt. Wells very prudently made his way to Ogdensburgh. The ' Julia' was very little injured ; but few balls struck her ; there was neither killed nor wounded on our side, and we have not been able to learn what injury the enemy suffered. We expect to hear from Wells again in a day or two."
The "Julia" was moored in the stream before Ogdensburgh until Sept. 5, in charge of Sailing-Master Vaughan, when, availing herself of the armistice in September, she returned to the lake in company with the vessels at that port. Bellinger's regiment was disbanded on the 20th of August, before being paid ; the officers remained and the soldiers returned home. The delays of payment which thesc men experienced occasioned murmurs, and their claims were repeatedly made the subject of representation to the governor by Gen. Brown, who awarded them mnch credit for the services rendered, but insisted that the interests of the service and the honor of the country alike required their discharge at the end of their enlistment.
On the 30th of July, a fine eompauy of riflemen under Capt. Benj. Forsyth had been ordered to join Gen. Brown at Saeket's Harbor, which was the first regular force on this frontier sinee the declaration of war. He was encouraged by Gen. Brown to enlist as many men into his company as possible, and it was hoped that he would be able to have men enough for two companies in the course of the fall. On the 17th of Sept., Gen. Brown addressed a letter to the governor, in which he said,-
DEAR SIR,-The first aud only official notice that I have received from my government of the renewal of offensive operations against Great Britain, came to hand yesterday by the way of Ogdensburgh .¿ . . But I must say to your Excellency that, unless more vigor and energy is iufused into the national council, it is not in human nature that this war ean be brought to a conclusion worthy of the American people. Excuse me. sir. Of vessels we have on this lake ten, besides the " Oneida," and vessels they are of the first class for their burthen ; six of them are here, viz., the "Genesee Packet,"| "Experiment,"{ "Collector,"## "Lord Nelson,"tt "Niagara," and the "Julia." At Oswego, "Charles and Aun,"}{ "Diana,"2? "Fair American," and "Ontario." These vessels are from 70 to 100 tons
t See History of St. Lawrence County.
¿ A schooner built by Matthew McNair, of Oswego, and named from his daughter.
¿ Referring to an armistice that had been agreed upon Ang. 8, 1812.
| Afterwards the "Conquest." tt Afterwards the " Scourge."
[ Afterwards the " Growler." ## Afterwards the " Gov. Tompkins."
** Afterwards the " Pert."
¿¿ Afterwards the " Hamilton."
--
539
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.
burthen, and, if armed with long 32-pounders and manned with such men us this nation eould furnish, would at onee command the lake and the St. Lawrence to the rapids ; and may I ask, your Excellency, in the naure of all that is holy, why this has not been done ? Besides these vessels, we have a number of slip-kecl boats, of from 10 to 12 tons burthen, and many other boats of froin 6 to 8 tons burthen. These boats should be armed with swivels and light guns of from 4 to 6 pound calibre. Let this be done, and we will soon see these waters ours, and then Upper Canada will not be of so difficult acquirement. Anything liko a respectable army will then be enabled to look down all opposition.
On the night of the 20th of Sept., an expedition was dispatched from Saeket's Harbor, which is thus described by Gen. Brown, in a letter to the governor :
" At a time when my foree was the lightost, and a very consider- able aların prevailed for the safety of that port, I fitted out a secret expedition, under the command of that excellent offieer, Capt. For- syth, against Gananoqui, a small British post, 20 miles below Kingston, with the view of capturing some of the enemy's ammunition, of which we were, and are, greatly in want, and of alarming them as much as possible for their own safety. My order was executed by Capt. For- syth as beeame an officer and a soldier ; and Capt. MeNitt aud Lieut. Brown, and Ensigns Hawkins and Johnson, of the militia, who vol- unteered on the expedition. are reported to me, by Cupt. Forsyth, as deserving the highest praise for their cool, intrepid valor and good eonduet. There was not a man but did his duty. Capt. Forsyth Ianded in open day, two miles above the village, his whole foree amounting to 95. At three-quarters of a mile he met two horsemen, one of whom was probably shot; the other fled to the village, where Capt. Forsyth found, on his arrival, the enemy drawn up in order of battle, 110 strong, and upon his approach they eommeneed a heavy fire upon him, but over. He rushed immediately on, without firing, until within 100 yards, when his party made a few deliberate shots, then rushed on and broke the enemy, drove them aeross a bridge, which, for his better security, Capt. Forsyth broke up. Ife had one man killed and one wounded. The loss of the enemy, in killed, Capt. Forsyth has declined stating, but, from the best information I ean collect from the party, it was from ten to fifteen. Twelve prisoners were taken, 3000 ball cartridges, and 41 muskets .; There were, in the King's store, about 150 barrels of provisions, and as there were no boats to bring it away it was consumed by fire, together with the store. Private property was held sacred. To the soldiers on this expe lition I have presented the publie property taken, as a reward for their valor and good eonduet. I wish your Exeelleney to appro- bate or disapprobate this my donation to these brave men. Your Exeelleney must bear in mind that, with my very littlo brigade, or at best a part of that at Oswego, I have been put upon the defense of this northern frontier, from St. Regis to near Oswego. The men that I have the honor to command havo done and suffered inueh for militia; their clothes generally were in tatters, and they are poor men. They cannot elothe themselves in this region for $6.66 per month, and it is not in human nature that these men ean endure a winter campaign in this elimate thus elad. 1 eannot believe that these men would leave me; it would grieve me if they should; but it is a stain upon our national character that the citizen soldier of this country should be worse paid and provided for than any other elass among us."
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