Our county and its people. A descriptive work on Jefferson County, New York, Part 54

Author: Emerson, Edgar C., ed
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: [Boston] Boston History Co.
Number of Pages: 1368

USA > New York > Jefferson County > Our county and its people. A descriptive work on Jefferson County, New York > Part 54

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1 It is believed that the name Iste aux Chevreuils was applied to this island on the occasion when Frontenac encamped there. Another French or Indian name for the island, according to a map in Vale college was Cahihouonage, but its meaning is not clearly understood.

2 Major James H. Durham, an acknowledged authority on Cape Vincent history, gives the correct name of the island as " Ile aux Chevereaux," of Goat island, but which was by the Eng- 'sh mistaken for "Isle aux Chevreuils," i Roebuck, or (Trenadier island). Carleton island was also known as Deer island. From the same authority (Maj. Durham) we also learn that as early a> 1275 the British established a supply depot on Carleton island, and in 176, upon the outbreak of the war, the place became a rendezvous for tories and Mohawk Indians in planning their depredations against American outposts. A little later Sir Guy Carleton was succeeded in the governor-generalship of the Canadas by Sir Frederick Haldimand, and the latter in 1247 caused the fort th be erected on the island, believing the locality offered the greatest advantages for offensive and defensive operations. At that time the name of Carleton island was formally ap- plec, in honor of Sir Guy Carleton, and the fort was named Fort Ilaldimand in allusion to Sir Frederick, the new governor-general.

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THE TOWN OF CAPE VINCENT.

Atlantic, while some writers have ascribed it to a still more ancient origin, dating back in some cases almost to Champlain's time. As a matter of fact the fort on Carleton island was built by the English during the years 1678-19, and was heavily equipped with cannon and other necessary munitions of war.

FROM THE DITCH

DEBRIS

GLACIS FILLED WITH

OLD FORT CARLTON

DRAWN ON THE GROUND

DITCH

VERTICAL

GHD DEL.

DITCH

WALL

WALL +FEET

MAGAZINE

WALL

CHINNIES

WELL

SALLY

GORGE

WALL

PERPENDICULAR BLUFF 50 FEET .

MAGAZINE

STEEP BLUFF

SOUTH HARBOR

NORTH HARBOR

SUNKEN NUIT

SUKKEN HULK

However, the advocates of the carlier date of construction were not wholly without foundation for their claims, for as early as 1758 the plans of French defenses along the Canadian border contemplated the costruction of a fort on Isle aux Chevereaux, but the work was not done under the French governor-general, nor until after the over- throw of that power in America. The accompanying diagram gives an idea of the outlines of this historic fortification although the elements and the ever destroying hand of man have reduced the work almost to a pile of débris.

Fort Carleton stands immediately on the brow of a high bluff over- looking the little peninsula and two harbors below, and commands both channels of the river lying south of Wolf island. The gorge, or rear wall, was chiefly formed by the high cliffs at its base, forming a natural defense, and in addition is an artificial wall of stone, although now a pile of ruins, while its accompanying stockade has entirely disappeared. The length of the gorge wall line is about 800 feet, and about in its

PERPENDICULAR

PORT

BLUFF

ROAD

CHIMNIES

PARAPET

DITCH !

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

middle is a gateway leading out to what was evidently the magazine. . The fort, looking toward the mainland of the island, was defended by an irregular line-of works, with a solid parapet having three faces, and each strengthened by a bastion. Outside of the parapet was a ditch excavated in the rock to a depth of six feet, and having a width of about 22 feet. The stone from the ditch was used in constructing the irregu- lar wall which run along the entire front and about 30 feet distant therefrom. There were two main sally-ports, one at the north and the other at the south extremity of the fort, and each connected with a road leading to a landing. The fort, including the ditch, covered an area of about eight or ten acres, and could accommodate a garrison of about 500 men. It was one of the most substantial fortifications on the frontier, and must have cost an immense sum of money. The relics found in and around the fort consist of coins, buttons, tomahawks, flints, &c., and indicate French, English and Indian occupancy of the region. Nearby and on the plain east of the works, was a burial ground, but little if any of this spot is now visible.

Such, in brief, is a description of one of the most noted localities in Jefferson county, yet during the period of its history we have no account of an important conflict at arms on the island. This indeed was the key to the outlet of the take and the value of Carleton island as a strat- egic point was undoubted, yet the circumstances of war decreed that it should not be the scene of any sanguinary engagement. The island and the fort were held as a British port until 1812, when Abner Hub- bard and a few companions took it upon themselves to capture it in the cause of the Americans. Three invalid men and two women were the fruits of this conquest. The movable contents of the fort were soon afterward transferred to the mainland and the buildings were burned and destroyed.

Carleton island also had an interesting civil history, and was, so far as we have any definite knowledge, the first occupied portion of the territory now constituting this county. After the close of the revolu- tion William Richardson was granted a bounty or land warrant in com- pensation for services in the army. This he sold to Matthew Watson and William Guilland, who, on Oct. 2, 1786, located the same on Carle. ton island generally. This action was approved by the land commis- sioner, but the transaction was to be void if the island proved to be within Canadian territory. Guilland sold his interest in the warrant to Watson, and the latter died, leaving three children, John, Margaret

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THE TOWN OF CAPE VINCENT.

and Jane, two of whom (John and Jane) subsequently died without issue. Margaret married with Jacob Ten Broeck, and they sold the right to Charles Smyth, In the meantime the island was in possession of the British, and Smyth was thus unable to locate his claim or occupy any portion of the land, henee had recourse to the legislature in 1821, which resulted in an aet to the effect that the title should not be preju- diced by the lapse of time between the location of the claim and the application for patent. At the same time Smyth also applied for a patent for the remaining lands of the island (its area is about 1,300 acres), and the legislative committee, to whom the applications were re- ferred, learning that the lands were then occupied by about a dozen squatters who were making serious inroads on the timber lands, advised a compliance with the petition. An act was therefore passed (March 2, 1821) directing the issue of a patent for 500 acres on the west end of the island, but subsequently Smyth became possessed of the whole traet. 1

In 1823 F. R. Hasler, a mathematician of note, and who for many years had charge of coast survey work, was employed to survey Carle- ton island, and reported it to contain 1,279 acres. Ile found about 30 acres of land near the south shore which had previously been improved, and which was known as the " king's garden." At that time the island also contained 8 log houses and 2 cabins, and about 197 acres of land under cultivation. This, of course, was the work of squatters. These improvements are said to have begun in 1822, when Avery Smith and Abijah Lewis began lumbering operations, and in the course of a few years the island possessed a post-office and a school; James Estes had a tavern, and four dwellings were built in the vicinity of the old chim- neys on the site of Fort Carleton. A Mr. Shumway taught the school, and also served as justice of the peace to settle any differences which might arise among the settlers; and if local tradition be true, the worthy pedagogue dispensed justice with the same firmness with which he wielded the rod in the school room. Among the other denizens of the locality were David Briggs, who made shoes, and also James Wood and a Mr. Shaw, who kept stores. Abijah Lewis also kept store, and after he and Smith dissolved partnership, each carried on the lumber business alone until the island was practically stripped of its primitive forest growth. This having in due time been accomplished, the busi-

1 A small tract of land at the northwestern extremity of the island was ceded to the United States, June 21, 1:53, for the purpose of a lighthouse.

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

ness importance of the island passed away, and where once was the semblance of a hamlet only the old smoke colored chimneys survived to mark the historic spot. Subsequently the island was divided into farm tracts, and has since been devoted chiefly to agricultural pursuits, except as non-resident persons have secured small parcels in the most attractive localities and turned them into summer resorts.1 The perma- nent occupants of the island do not number more than half a dozen families.

Another historical locality within the jurisdiction of the town is that known as Grenadier island, which lies southwest of the mainland of Cape Vincent. It contains 1,290 acres of excellent lands, but from a purely historic point of view does not possess the interest which ever seems to be associated with Carleton island and its old ruins. Grena- dier island was patented to Hezekiah B. Pierrepont, Joshua Wadding- ton and Thomas L. Ogden, Oct. 1, 1824, and on the 10th of November following the title became vested in Pierrepont. He sold the island (and also Cherry island, of which he became possessed at the same time) to William and Gerardus Post, of New York, Feb. 19, 1825, for $2,000, and by them it was sold to settlers, although in the meantime it had become populated with squatters, who were very reluctant to to yield up their improvements. Previous to this time, however, and as early as 1803 Samuel English and Hezekiah Barrett had petitioned the legislature for a patent for Grenadier island, but it was then uncer- tain whether it was within the jurisdiction of this state, hence the re- quest could not be granted. The line dividing the province and New York was established in 1819, and in 1824 the patent to Pierrepont and others was issued as above stated.

· By reference to the early chapters of this work it will be seen that Grenadier island was known to the early French explorers who voy- aged up the St. Lawrence to Lake Ontario. Champlain, La Salle and Frontenac undoubtedly made this a temporary stopping place, as did other navigators and explorers who followed after them, yet the island itself did not become in any way noted previous to the war of 1812- 15. In the year first mentioned the family of Richard M. Esselstyn

1 In Dec., 1475, the Carleton Island club, of Utica, purchased a portion of the peninsula at the liead of the island; and on July 11, 1881, the Navasink club, of Ithaca, in the same manner acquired title to another part of the island.

" According to Major Durham, this was the " Isle aux Chevreuils," or Roebuck island, but the name through some mistake on the part of the English was applied to Carleton island. Roe- buck island is also called Deer island, although for many years Carleton island was so desig- Rated.

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THE TOWN OF CAPE VINCENT.

was sent by lake to Sackets Harbor, and stopped over night on the island. In those days, when settlers were pouring rapidly into the region, and when still others were leaving the vicinity on account of the uncertainties of the war then impending, this water route was a common thoroughfare between Cape Vincent and the lower St. Law- rence country, and also between Cape Vincent, Sackets Harbor and Oswego. During the embargo period Grenadier island was the fre- quent resort of smugglers, but gained its greatest prominence in the fall of 1813, when it was made the rendezvous for Wilkinson's army preliminary to his disastrous expedition down the St. Lawrence in the vain hope of capturing Montreal, At the time the October weather proved true to itself, and as a result of the ill- timed expedition, Wil- kinson's whole fleet of boats was at the mercy of wind and waves. It was four days before the army reached Basin harbor, a safe refuge from the elements at the east end of the island where the lake eur- rents threw up beaches in such manner as to form ample bays.

The pioneer of Grenadier island is supposed to have been John Mitch- ell, a squatter, who built a cabin and made an improvement soon after the war. Ile was followed by others, and before the proprietor came to assert his title and ownership, at least fourteen families were living here, engaged in lumbering, farming in a small way, and in fishing. For many years fishing was an established industry in this part of the lake, and many thousands of barrels of fish were annually taken with seines and nets off the shore of Grenadier island. This prom- inence the island has ever since enjoyed, although the extensive fish- eries are now a thing of the past. It is a frequented spot for pleasure fishermen, and also enjoys considerable prominence as a summer resort.

Fox island is also within the jurisdiction of the town, and is a small body of 257.5 acres of land situate between Grenadier island and the isthmus connecting Point Peninsula with the mainland of the town of Lyme. It is a pleasantly located tract, a frequent resort for pleasure and fishing parties during the warm months, yet in the history of the town at large is of comparatively little importance.

Having thus referred at some length to the islands which form an important part of this town, at least one of which began to make history before the mainland itself, let us now turn our attention to the history of the town at large. Among the civil divisions of the county Cape Vincent is the youngest town, having been created from Lyme, April 10, 1849, yet as is told on preceding pages, within its present boundaries

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

was made the first white settlement both in the county and in northern New York. Lyme, the mother town, was formed from Brownville in 1818, and the latter was created from Leyden (Oneida county) in 1802, and included all this county north of Black river. The territory of Cape Vincent, except its islands, lay wholly within great lot number four of the Macomb purchase, the history of which will be found in an earlier chapter of this work. When erected from Lyme, this town em- braced all the territory of the county "west of a line running from the mouth of Little Fox creek, on Lake Ontario, N. 48.75 degrees E., 646 chains; thence N. 57 degrees E , 235.56 chains, to the line of the town of Clayton." The town was named in honor of Vincent Le Ray, son of James D. Le Ray, the land proprietor.

The town contains 34, 022 acres of land, of as good quality as is found along the lake and river border of the county. The surface is generally level, or slightly undulating, and the soil is a clayey loam, heavy and fertile, and produces abundantly under proper care and cultivation. It is devoted chiefly to general agricultural pursuits, yet yields most profitably in hay and market garden seeds.

The pioneer of the town was Captain Abijah Putnam, who came from Rome in 1801, and settled four miles below Cape Vincent village, at a point named for him Port Putnam, but which in later years became known as Millen's bay. The pioneer established a ferry between the port and Wolf island, on the Canadian side, and also projected a village site, making surveys and plans to that end, but in 1804, before any considerable settlement had been made, he sold his interest to John Macomb and Peter Sternberg, and then left the locality. The new proprietors prosecuted the village scheme on a plan still more elaborate than that of the founder, and laid out the t act in the form of a paral- lelogram, with a central public square of some five or six acres, and also a reserved space for public buildings on the upper side of the tract, facing the river. The streets running parallel with the river were named from First to Seventh, in regular order, and intersecting them at right angles where Green, Montgomery, Herkimer, Washington, Jefferson, Clinton and Hancock streets. From this it is seen that the worthy proprietors were thoroughly patriotic and must have descended from revolutionary stock. Pleasant street was laid out on two sides of the square, but notwithstanding all the laudable endeavors of the owners, the village never attracted more than a dozen or fifteen families, and abont 1811 it was abandoned in favor of the new settlement two miles

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THE TOWN OF CAPE VINCENT.

up the river, where James Le Ray founded a settlement at "Gravelly Point," which he named Cape Vincent in honor of his son.

However, during the period of its history, Port Putnam attracted a number of worthy families to its vieinity, and the construction of the state road (in 1803-4) to this point from Brownville was an important factor in drawing settlers to this part of the town. Among those who came (the same years in which the road was built) were Jonathan Cum- mings, Daniel Spinning, Elnathan Judd, Norman Wadsworth and John B. Esselstyn. Mr. Esselstyn came in 1803, and was the head of a family which has ever since been prominently associated with Jefferson county history. Richard M. Esselstyn, one of the best carly represent- atives of the same surname, came to Chaumont in 1801 as a surveyor, and in 1806 removed to a point near his brother (John B. ) a short dis- tance below Port Putnam. Other early settlers along the river, nearly all of whom came by the state road route, were Eddy Cole, Caleb Lob- dell, Avery Smith, Wm. Hollenbeck, Charles Gillette, Orison and Zimri Butterfield, Daniel Nichol, Abner and Barrett Hubbard, Samuel Britton and others named Soper, Smith and Phelps, but to reliably locate all of them on their original farms in the town is now impossible. Mr. Soper lived on the line of the state road and kept house for the entertainment of travelers. The old thoroughfare was often well-nigh impassable, and as many as ten or more hours were at times required to make the journey from Chaumont to Port Putnam.

In addition to the names of pioneers and early settlers already men- tioned, still others may be recalled, though the absence of reliable record makes it impossible to give the year of their arrival or the exact place of settlement. In this connection mention may be made of Michael Van Schaiek, Willard Ainsworth, John Vincent, Joseph Cross, Dr. Sackett, Dr. Brewster, Captain Caton, Benjamin Estes, Captain Merritt (who sailed from Port Putnam on the "Appollonia," and when off the coast of Mexico bay the ship was suddenly struck and wrecked by lightning, and her crew barely escaped to shore with their lives), Ira Hadley, James Borland, James Buckley, Abner Rogers, Oliver Pool, Jacob Bedford, Abner and Philip Gaige, and also other heads of fami- lies whose surnames are remembered as Fuller, Green, Hasler, Con- verse, Holmes, Pigsley, Marshall, Van Husen, Hoff, Lee and others. All were good and worthy settlers, and had a share in developing the resources of the town in its early history, while its territory formed a part of the ancestor town of Brownville. It is undoubtedly true that when

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

Lyme was created a majority of inhabitants in the proposed new juris- diction lived in the part afterward set off to Cape Vincent; and when in 1×49 this town was formed from Lyme, the latter surrendered more than half her population and area.

Continuing the roll of settlers and developers still further, there may also be re- called the names of Highland Millen, for whom Millen's bay received its name. He married the daughter of Abner Hubbard, and their children were Abner, John and Jane. By a second marriage Millen had ten more children. There were also Thomas Dodge, Elisha P. Dodge, Henry Ainsworth (an old revolutionary patriot), Joseph Peo. James Robbins, John Laniger, Jeremiah Carrier (a prominent figure in county history), Terrence Connell, Joseph Mays, James C. Irvine, Alex. Armstrong, Alfred Vautrin, John Laird, Simon Cornaire, Euger Aubertine, Jerome Aubertine, John F. Bourcey, John Branch, John Cornaire, Joseph Willey, James Burnett, Fran- cis Merchant, John Stewart (who served in the war of 1812), Elias F. Powell, John Stumpf, Raney P. Dezengremel, Eli L. Dunning (war of 1812 survivor), John B. Rosseau, Jacob Fraley, David C. Schnler, Adam A. Gray, Peter Reff, John Nilles. Samuel Gardner, Luther Stedman, Leander Rice, Lawrence Constance, John Hum- phrey, Herman Shaffer, Fidelis Berringer, Andrew Radley and perhaps others equally worthy of mention, all of whom are believed to have been in the town pre- vious to its creation from Lyme.

Glancing over preceding papers, the reader must notice the frequency of foreign names-at least many not of English origin and pronuncia- tion. This fact naturally leads to the conclusion that the continent in Europe furnished many settlers to this part of the Macomb purchase. Such indeed was the case, and the famous French settlement, which has for many years been an important element of Cape Vincent history, is worthy of special mention in this chapter.

The central portion of the town of Cape Vincent, which for many years has been the abiding place of a number of thrifty French and German families, was originally settled by the same class of American pioneers who occupied the region contiguous to the river. Among the earliest settlers there may be recalled the names and families of Jacob Van Nostrand, Samuel F. Mills, Aaron Whitcomb, Asahel and Phineas Powers, Thomas Shaw and a few others, who opened farms and pre- pared the way for later comers. About 1815 and '16, through the in- fluence and patronage of Mr. Le Ray, the French and German immi- grants began to arrive and continued coming at irregular intervals un- til a considerable settlement was made in the central region of the town as now constituted. Nearly all of these foreigners were poor in purse, but rich in health and possessed a commendable determination to built up and establish for their families a comfortable condition of

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THE TOWN OF CAPE VINCENT.

life. Many of them received substantial aid from Le Ray, who seemed to take more than ordinary interest in their welfare. In the course of time, as the colony increased, the American settlers sold their improve- ments to the new element of population, and previous to 1840 the entire eastern region of the town, almost from its north to its south boundary. became thickly peopled with the French and German settlers. The hamlet localities known as Rosiere and French settlement were the re- sult of this unusual tide of immigration, and both have endured to the present time, although the descendants of the settlers who established them have now scattered throughout the town. These settlers were Catholics and established churches in which the services were con- dieted both in French and German, according to the nationality of the congregation.

Mr. Le Ray was also instrumental in bringing a considerable con- tingent of French nobility, who had become involved in political in- trignes on account of their fealty to Napoleon the First, and as a con- sequence were compelled to flee from their country and find refuge in America. Le Ray happened to be in full sympathy with their cause and readily induced them to take up homes on his vast domain in north - ern New York. Their first arrival began in 1811, and among their leaders was Count Francis Peter Real, who enjoyed the celebrity of having been chief of police under Napoleon In this colony were also the son-in-law of the count, General Rolland, Camille Arrand, Jermanx and Pigeon, the latter being secretary to Real, and an astronomer of more than passing note. For about two years the count occupied a rented house, and then built a residence of peculiar architecture at the head of Gouvello street. To this domicile was given the name of " cup and sancer," from its resemblance to those articles of table ware. The "cup and saucer " residence had no remarkable historie associations, yet had the designs of the owner been fully carried out it would have been one of the famous houses of America, for the count and his asso- ciates were fully determined to rescue Napoleon from the island of St. Helena, bear him away to this country and find for him a safe refuge within this house. The attempt, however, was not made, as Napoleon died in 1821, after which amnesty was granted the political exiles, and a number of them returned to France. Others remained and became lifelong residents of the town, furnishing a desirable element of its population and adding much to its worth and history in the county.

Among the prominent characters in this distinguished colony was

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

Louis Peugnet, a former officer in the Napoleonic army and a person of excellent abilities both as a soldier and citizen. His surname was preserved in the town many years, and its representatives were among the enterprising families of the village. Peugnet was the friend and adviser of the great Napoleon and his descendants still retain several choice mementoes which were presented to their ancestor by the famous warrior. Pigeon, the secretary, was also a notable personage, and drew much attention from the fact that during Napoleon's imprison- ment at St. Helena he (Pigeon), in accordance with a vow to that effect, was not known to wear a hat or other covering for his head. Never- theless the secretary was a strong character in Cape Vincent history for several years, and was esteemed for his scholarly attainments.

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Our county and its people. A descriptive work on Jefferson County, New York, Part 54

Author: Emerson, Edgar C., ed Publication date: 1898 Publisher: [Boston] Boston History Co. Number of Pages: 1368

Author: Emerson, Edgar C., ed
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: [Boston] Boston History Co.
Number of Pages: 1368