History of Oswego County, New York, with illustrations and Biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 11

Author: Johnson, Crisfield. cn
Publication date: 1877
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts & co.
Number of Pages: 798

USA > New York > Oswego County > History of Oswego County, New York, with illustrations and Biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 11

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Cockburn then proceeded along the south shore of Lake Ontario, and the northeastern and eastern lines of the pur- chase. On completing his work he made a map of the tract, under the name of the Roosevelt Purchase, a few copies of which are still extant. Mr. Scriba did not receive a patent for the tract until December, 1794; but before reaching that point we must turn our attention again to the course of settlement.

Lawrence Van Valkenburgh, popularly known as " the major," having acquired an interest in lot 75, on the west side of the river, came there early in 1792, accompanied by two laborers, Valentine and Schermerhorn, and a colored slave boy called " Har." Two men, named Olcott and Fow- ler, brought some Indian goods to the falls a little later, and began trading. Major Van Valkenburgh, having set his men to work, returned east. In his absence Schermerhorn died, and was buried by Olcott, Valentine, and " IFar," en- wrapped in a blanket, while a few pieces of bark did duty in place of a coffin.

. Shortly afterwards, and before the major's return, Val- entine contracted a special friendship for a squaw, or was suspected of having done so by her copper-colored liege lord. The latter made some hostile demonstrations against the intruder, a quarrel ensued, and Valentine struck the Indian on the head with a hoe, causing his death. Instantly a tremendous excitement arose among the Indians, accom- panied by a very natural terror on the part of the two or three whites and the negro.

Valentine sold Major Van Valkenburgh's oxen and gun to the English at Oswego, and fled to Canada. Olcott and " Har" left for the eastern settlements, but were met at Three Rivers point by the major, who returned to the falls with them, and addressed himself to the task of pacifying the Indians. The British commander at Fort Ontario sent 'up a detachment of soldiers for the same purpose. These efforts were successful, though there was much ill feeling for a long period.

Governor Clinton offered a reward for the capture of Val- cntine, and in time the latter was brought back from Canada.

HISTORY OF OSWEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.

It is said that the person who brought him promised to give him half the reward if he would come quietly, as there was no extradition treaty in those days. Valentine was tried at Whitesboro', then the county-seat of Herkimer county, and acquitted, but the tradition runs that the speculator who arrested him kept the whole of the reward.

Another event of 1792 was the expedition of Francis Adrian Vanderkemp, a distinguished citizen of Holland, who fled from that country on account of having engaged in an unsuccessful attempt at revolution, and who was ex- amining the Roosevelt purchase with a view to settlement. He was accompanied by the Baron De Zeng, a German nobleman, sometimes called Major De Zeng, who had come from Saxony to take part in the American Revolution, and had become a permanent resident of the country.

In June the travelers, with two servants, entered Oneida lake in their canoe, and proceeded to the mouth of Scriba creek (where Constantia village now stands), which was then called Bruce creek, from the solitary resident of that name before mentioned. They then visited " Frenchman's island."

It has been questioned as to which of the two islands near together was actually occupied by " the Frenchman," but Vanderkemp's statement is direct that it was " the largest and most westerly." His account of the exiles is very in- teresting, and is none the less so from the occasional quaint- ness of the worthy Hollander's English. He says,-

" This island might in ancient days have been the happy seat of a goddess, in the middle ages that of a magician, or a fairy's residence in the times of chivalry. Proceeding on one after another the stately trees through which we per- ceived yet the last glances of the setting sun, we were at once after a few rods, surprised with an enchanting view, of which it is not in my power to give you an adequate de- scription. All that the poets did sing of the gardens of Aleinous, all the scenery of those of Armida, so highly decorated by Virgil and Ariosto, could scarce have made upon me, who was captivated unawares and bewildered, a more deep impression than this spectacle of nature. We did see here a luxuriant soil in its virgin bloom ; we did see industry crowned with blessing ; we did see here what great things a frail man can perform if he is willing. It seemed a paradise which happiness had chosen for her residence. Our path, gradually increasing in breadth, did lead us to the circumference of a cleared circle surrounded with lime- trees ; at both sides of the path was planted Indian corn, already grown from four to five feet, while a few plants towards the middle of this patch were six feet long, and this in the middle of June. A small cottage of a few feet square stood nearly in the centre of this spot. It had a bark cover- ing, and to the left of it a similar one, three-fourths uncovered, and appropriated for a kitchen. Here was the residence of Mr. and Madame des Wattines [the Hollander's rendering of the French name], with their three children. They lived there without servants, without neighbors, without a cow ; they lived, as it were, separated from the world. Des Wattines sallied forward and gave us a cordial welcome in his demesnes. The well-educated man was easily recognized through his sloven dress. Ragged as he appeared, without a coat or hat, his manners were those of a gentleman ; his address

that of one who had seen the higher circles of civilized life. A female, from whose remaining beauties might be conjec- tured bow many had been tarnished by adversity, was sit- ting in the entrance of this cot. She was dressed in white, in a short gown and petticoat, garnished with the same stuff; her chestnut-brown hair flung back in ringlets over her shoulders, her eyes fixed on her darling Camille, a native of this isle, at her breast ; while two children, stand- ing at each side of her, played in her lap. Her appearance Was amiable indeed ; a wild imagination might have lost herself, and have considered the wearied, toiling Des Wat- tines as the magician who kept this beautiful woman in slavery, but ere soon the charm dwindled away. Esteem for the man filled our bosom, and when you considered how indefatigably he must have exerted himself, what sacrifices he must have made, what hardships endured, to render her situation comfortable and rear roses for her on this island, so deep in the western wilderness then, notwithstanding all the foibles which a fastidious, cool observer might discover at his fireside, in a character and conduct as that of Des Wattines, he becomes an object of admiration. I, at least, gazed at him in wonder. Des Wattines introduced us to his spouse. She received us with that easy politeness which well-educated people seldom lose entirely, and urged, with so much grace, to sit down, that we could not refuse it with- out incivility. This couple was now in the second year on this island, and all the improvements which we had seen were the work of Des Wattines' hands exclusively."

Mr. Vanderkemp describes the interior of the cabin as containing a few trunks, a few chairs, an oval table, two neat beds, a double-barreled gun, and a handsome collection of books, chiefly in modern French literature. The follow- ing delineation displays the French love of adornment, even in the most adverse circumstances :

" Des Wattines had laid out behind the cottage a pretty garden, divided by a walk in the middle. The two fore- most beds, and rabats, against the house were covered with a variety of flowers ; sweet williams, lady slippers, with a few decaying hyacinths. At the right hand were bush beans, large kidney beans at poles, cabbage, turnips, peas, salade, with that strong-scented herbage which we call keovel (cheovel), and which you purchase so dear at your arrival in New York, although its culinary use in cakes and soup was then yet unknown there; at the left, watermelons, cantelopes, cucumbers, persil, string peas, with a few of the winter provisions, all in great forwardness, with few or no weeds among them ; behind the garden a small nursery of apple-trees, which was closed with a patch of luxuriant potatoes, and these again were joined both sides by wheat, describing a semicircle around it."

When Desvatines learned that the travelers were going to Lake Ontario in a canoe, he generously offered them his safer and more commodious bateau, which they thankfully accepted.

With it Vanderkemp and De Zeng proceeded without any adventure of note to Oswego. They found Fort On- tario garrisoned by only one company of British troops, under Captain Wickham, a Rhode Islander by birth. He treated the travelers very politely, and allowed Mr. Price, the interpreter of the post, to conduct them to the mouth

HISTORY OF OSWEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.

of Salmon creek. Nevertheless, Vanderkemp records with indignation that he saw " in this despicable fortress seven barrels of salt taken from an American bateau, by an American runaway, now a British custom-house offieer."

The travelers were very near being wrecked near the mouth of Salmon creek, and Vanderkemp's curious deserip- tion of the adventure is very amusing in spite of the danger he delineates. P'rice gave up the helm to one of the hands who professed to be a good sailor. There was a strong wind, and from fear of going out on the lake the steersman almost ran on the rocky shore. Vanderkemp says,-

" At once a lond, pitiful ery ' hold towards shore,' struck our ears. Price did tear the oar from Barker's hand, com- manded to lower the sail and bring out the oars, but all in vain. The pilot wept and ery'd, ' Hold towards shore, Mr. Price, good Mr. Price ! push on shore-I pray God Al- mighty-dear Mr. Price, set on shore l' Price's reply was ' God damn you, rascal ! down the sail, out the oar; obey or sink !' One of our boys sat nearly lifeless in the bow ; the other near the mast, pale as death, with staring eyes and with opened mouth. The danger increased to appearance : the surge rose higher and higher; our united strength and weight, viz., De Zeng's and mine, were scarce sufficient to prevent the bateau turning upside down ; twice did I actually see a great part of the bottom, twice did I see it naked ; one-half inch more and we had been lost. At last the sail was struck, the oar out, and we were only in part exposed to the first shock, while Price, who remained calm and alert, succeeded in foreing the prow into the waves, and bringing us again in safety in deep water."

After this, a little more exploration satisfied them, and they speedily returned. Mr. Vanderkemp mentions seeing numerous bateaux and canoes laden with goods, furs, salt, etc., and there was evidently a good deal of business transacted on the forest-lined shores of the Oneida and Onondaga. On reaching Desvatines' island in July, the garden vege- tables were fit to use, and the poor exiles, with unfailing generosity, insisted on furnishing the travelers with a plen- tiful supply. Desvatines went with them as far as Fish creek, to obtain corn of the Oneidas, and Mr. Vanderkemp thus describes the scene when they set forth :

" Madame des Wattines, with her Camille to her bosom, her eldest boy and sister at her side, motionless, staring at us with an expressive countenance, with features portray- ing what her soul so keenly seemed to feel in that distress- ing moment of separation. 'Adieu, Des Wattines " was all which we could distinguish. There stood that lovely de- serted fair one ! not deserted as Ariadne, but nevertheless left alone with three helpless children-alone ! on an island in Oneida lake. I turned my head from this mournful object and conquered, with some reluctance, these painful sentiments which tortured my bosom."

Mr. Stevens, at Fort Brewerton, had a curious adventure this same year. While at dinner one day, a Frenchman, excited, breathless, and dripping with water, came rushing up to the open door of his house :

" Ah, you come vite, quick, right away, Monsieur Yankee, s'il vous plaît. Mon camarade, my fren', he get kill right avay. He be mangé-vat you call eat up-or drown, or somesings. Venez-come right along !"

" Why, what's the matter ?" exclaimed the astonished Stevens, springing from his chair.

" Ah! my fren', my camarade-ze bear vill kill him - and I lose my bateau-mon boat-prenez votre gun-take your fusil-kill ze bear-stop ze boat-save mine fren !"

At the words "gun," " bear," and " boat," Stevens be- gan to comprehend what was needed, snatched his loaded rifle from the wall, and rushed down to the river's edge. There he found another Frenchman, as wet as his com- panion, wailing and wringing his hands.

" Ah ! mon Dieu ! mon Dieu ! ze bear run away mit mine bateau. Ah ! see him go-shoot him quick !"

Looking ont to the centre of the stream, Stevens was astonished to see a bear seated on his haunches in the stern of a boat, which was floating slowly down the river, while Bruin surveyed the scene with an air of the most majestic tranquillity. Lifting his rifle, Stevens fired, and the bear sank down dead in the craft he commanded. The French- men then swam out and brought both boat and bear to shore. The animal weighed over three hundred pounds, and furnished many a good meal to the pioneer.

It seems that the two men had been rowing up the stream when they saw the bear swimming across it. They had no fire-arms, but thought they could perhaps kill him, and at all events could have some fun. They rowed up to him, and one of them aimed a stroke at his head with an oar. The bear dodged the blow, and then, instead of trying to get away, put his paws on the gunwale of the boat and began scrambling in. The Frenchmen tumbled ont with equal celerity and made for shore, while his bearship took command, as before narrated, and started on a journey down- stream. The man who reached shore first never looked around, but ran at full speed for Stevens' house, thinking his comrade in the claws of the monster. They had all the fan they wanted.

In the spring of 1793, Major Van Valkenburgh brought his family. Forming a part of his family was his son Abram and his newly-wedded wife of sixteen. Their son, Lawrence, Jr., born in November, 1793, has generally been considered the first white child born in the county, but must give place to Camille Desvatines. With the Van Valkenburghs came Henry Bush and a Mr. Lary, who also settled at the falls.

Daniel Masters located himself on the west side in 1793, being the first settler in the present town of Volney. He established the first blacksmith-shop in the county, an important part of his business being the making of spear- heads to kill the salmon which then abounded in all the streams. These useful articles he sold to the Indians and settlers for a silver dollar each.

In the spring of 1793, also, Mr. Scriba, though he had not yet received a patent, began a settlement on his land. He selected as its site the month of the stream, which Van- derkemp called Bruce's creek, but which has since been called Scriba's creek. The swell of the lake there was called Fisher's bay. He named the place New Rotterdam, after the celebrated eity of that name in Holland, where he was born. He immediately set his men to building a saw-mill and making other improvements. Ile also sold a hundred acres on easy terms to Monsieur Desvatines, who

HISTORY OF OSWEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.

for some reason, was required to leave his island, where he had resided for ten years.

In the autumn the embryo city was visited by Pharoux and Desjardines, the agents of the " Castorland Company," before mentioned, who were on their way to examine the Black river lands, which the company was about to pur- chase from William Constable. They were accompanied by Marc Isombard Brunel, then a young officer of the French navy, afterwards one of the most eclebrated engi- neers in the world, and the constructor of the Thames tunnel, who accompanied the expedition for the sake of adventure. Baron De Zeng also went with them from his residence at Rome.

Their journal, for the use of which, as before stated, we are indebted to Dr. Hough, states that they arrived at New Rotterdam on the 13th of October. Scriba's saw-mill had been erected during the summer, but the dam was poor, and the travelers foretold its destruction when high-water came. New Rotterdam at that time consisted of three log houses, evidently occupied by Scriba's workmen, who were all sick of fever, which was attributed partly to the shallow- ness of the water and partly to the immense numbers of fish thrown on shore to decay by the water's edge. Des- vatines was living close by, but was absent hunting. The travelers, however, were visited by Mr. Vanderkemp, who, during that summer, had purchased a thousand acres of Mr. Scriba four miles east of New Rotterdam, and was preparing to make a permanent residence there.

Pharoux, Desjardines, Brunel, and De Zeng proceeded to Fort Brewerton, where they found the outlet almost filled up by piles of stone which Mr. Stevens had arranged with an opening in which a willow basket or eel-weir was fastened. They mention the cabins which the Indians occupied there during the fishing-season, built of poles supported by crotched sticks covered and sided with bark. Below Three Rivers point they were accompanied by Major Bingham, who had already left Fort Brewerton and settled in Lysander, Onondaga county.

At Oswego falls they formed an arrangement by which the boats were slid on rollers about sixty yards around the falls, while the goods were laden on wagons and carried down from the upper to the lower landing. The price of portage was half a dollar per load.

On reaching Fort Ontario a British inspector came to see if they were taking any merchandise to trade with Canada. De Zeng then went to the fort alone, flattering himself he could rapidly obtain a pass, as the new com- mander, Captain Schroeder, was, like himself, a German. The ruins of houses were so numerous as to convince the Frenchmen that there had once been quite a town there. So far back had the forest been felled that the firewood for the garrison was procured out along the lake-shore and brought to the fort on boats. The garrison is represented as being composed of Germans and Scotch, and as being relieved annually in May.

While the Frenchmen were investigating, Captain Schroeder and Major De Zeng came out, and the former expressed great indignation and astonishment at the pre- sumption of the French, saying he could hardly restrain himself from sending them as prisoners to Quebec. He

compelled them to encamp on the west side of the river. After much negotiation he consented to grant a passport, but only on condition that Brunel should remain as a hos- tage, and that his companions should not go into Canada. Brunel agreed to stay if Schroeder would take care of him in the fort, but would not give his parole and camp on the west side of the river.

But the worthy commandant was horrified at the idea of admitting a Frenchman within the sacred precincts of his fortress. Monsieur Brunel might stay on the other side and fire his gun when he wanted food, and the commandant seemed to have no objections to the young man's returning to Oswego falls to stay till his companions' return. Even this privilege was not obtained without promising the con- mandant a case of gin and some powder and lead. Brunel, however, disliked to remain behind ; so his companions hid him under a tarpaulin, took him safely past the sentry, and steered for the mouth of Black river.

When returning from their explorations, on the 28th of October, the party came in sight of the fort before they knew it. They landed Brunel some two miles from the post, so that he could cut across through the woods to the Oswego river, without his presence being discovered. The two other Frenchmen and De Zeng proceeded on foot to the fort. They were met by Lieutenant Holland, the second in command, to whom they satisfactorily explained their proceedings and whom they describe as a very gentle- manly person. A year and a half later he was the hero of an exciting adventure, ending in tragedy, of which mention will be made farther on.

On their arrival at the fort Captain Schroeder declared he must hold them prisoners till the return of his hostage, but was pacified by the presentation of the gifts which had been promised him. The travelers pushed up the river, but were very anxious about Brunel. Pharoux went to seek him, but got lost himself, and had to sleep in the woods. Brunel, meantime, had met a patrol in the forest seeking deserters, but had evaded suspicion and got away, and the whole party was united the next day at the portage. They found families there, emigrating westward, probably to the Genesee. There appear to have been several resi- dents about the falls engaged in spearing salmon, which they packed in Onondaga salt (costing a dollar and a half a hundred) and sold for from two to three dollars per barrel. The Frenchmen say that this facility of living by hunting and fishing made the people indolent, and that they saw men sitting in the sun while their log houses were not yet covered with bark, at the last of October.

On the thirty-first of that month they arrived at New Rotterdam, where they supped and lodged "at the log house of Mr. Scriba." They visited Desvatines, whose new house was not covered and was " as open as a cage;" yet the Frenchmen say,-

" We found his wife and three little children as jovial as Cupids. They made the most they could of their poor barrack, where they would be obliged to spend the winter, as from all appearances it could not be finished this season."

He had at that time a couple of cows which had been obtained by the sale of fine embroidered clothing, and his

HISTORY OF OSWEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.

poultry-yard contained a few fowls ; these were his sole' pos- sessions, except his " chance" on the land.

The travelers mention Mr. Scriba's intention to open a road from New Rotterdam to the mouth of Salmon creek, and express their expectation that that will become the main route of trade between the lakes,-the same idea which led Mr. Scriba to his ruin. The party left for the east, attended for some distance by the indefatigable Des- vatines in a dilapidated eanoe, and soon passed beyond the limits of Oswego County. We may mention, however, that the Castorland Company bought the lands for which they were negotiating, but their proposed colony was a com- plete failure.

On the 5th of March, 1794, the county of Onondaga was set off from Herkimer, embracing all of the present counties of Onondaga, Cortland, and Cayuga, and that part of Oswego west of the Oswego river. On the same day that part of the town of Mexico situated in the new county was organized into four new towns. Of these, Lysander embraced all of the present Oswego County west of the river, and a large part of Onondaga. The others were farther south. This left Mexico "out in the cold." All the territory remaining to it was north of Oneida lake and river, in which, so far as known, the only white men living were Mr. Stevens, at Fort Brewerton, and Mr. Masters, and possibly one or two more, at Fulton. The town organiza- tion, of course, fell through, and this solves the mystery as to how it happened that Mexico was twice created by law, as will appear a little farther on.

For several years, about the time now under consideration, there was great alarm felt all along the frontier regarding the Indians. The western savages broke out into open war, and those in this State were still sore and angry over the chastisement inflicted on them during the Revolution. The three or four settlers at Oswego falls felt themselves in especial danger on account of the fatal affray already related.

Another event of far more importance, but tending to the same result, and occurring about the same time, is re- lated in Clark's "Onondaga." The British, as has been said, levied duties on all American boats passing by Oswego. The hardy boatmen, chafing at this exaction on what they considered their own territory, frequently attempted to run by in the night, and sometimes succeeded. The British commander hired some Americans to give notice of the approach of boats. When these spies were discovered, they were mercilessly punished by Judge Lynch, several being whipped at "Salt Point," now Syracuse, where there was already a considerable settlement. The bitter feeling against the English which had come down from the Revolution (especially on the New York frontier, so long ravaged by tomahawk and scalping-knife) was intensified by the ex- tortion praeticed at Oswego, and many were disposed to sanction the most desperate reprisals.

At this juncture it was learned that Colonel Guy Johnson, still superintendent of Indian affairs in Canada, had pur- ehased in Albany a valuable boat-load of stores for the Mohawks in that province, and that it was coming through by the usual route to Oswego. Thirty or forty reckless men, ineited alike by greed and hatred, determined to rob

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History of Oswego County, New York, with illustrations and Biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 11

Author: Johnson, Crisfield. cn Publication date: 1877 Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts & co. Number of Pages: 798

Author: Johnson, Crisfield. cn
Publication date: 1877
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts & co.
Number of Pages: 798