USA > New York > Erie County > Our county and its people : a descriptive work on Erie County, New York, Volume I > Part 22
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101
In the issue of the Gazette of November 26, 1811, a meeting was called to consider the propriety of making application to the Legisla- ture for assistance to " effectually amend and improve the Public Road
1 Farther particulars of the Gazette and all other Erie county newspapers will be found in Chapter XXXII.
2 These several advertisements for journeymen mechanics in a small frontier village bring to mind the marvelous changes that have taken place in the last half century in American methods of manufacturing. Under these changes the village shoemaker, the wagonmaker, the tailor, the tinsmith have almost disappeared, their wares being now turned out in enormous quantities from great factories employing hundreds of men.
*
184
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
from this village to the village of Batavia." Again, on the 3d of De- cember, a meeting was held to adopt measures for raising money by a lottery for the improvement of roads. This call was signed by Archi- bald S. Clarke, Abel M. Grosvenor, Joseph Landon, Frederick Miller, Timothy S. Hopkins and Asa Harris, of all of whom the reader has already learned something. The first number of the Gazette contains notice of 157 letters remaining in the Buffalo post-office; also in an early number is chronicled the arrival of the schooner Salina, Daniel Robbins, master, with a cargo of furs. Among the merchants adver- tising in the Gazette were Nathaniel Sill & Co., at Black Rock; Peter H. Colt, at the same place (who had whiskey, gin, buffalo robes and feathers); Townsend & Coit, Grosvenor & Heacock and M. Daley; the latter had on hand several panaceas for human ills. The name "New Amsterdam " was still in use to some extent, as appears from a notice that the "Ecclesiastical Society " would meet at "the school house in the village of New Amsterdam," and Grosvenor & Heacock advertised goods "at their store in New Amsterdam." There is no record of what this Ecclesiastical Society was, except as indicated by its name; and there was still no regular preaching anywhere in the county. The fare by vessel to Detroit was $12, as shown by a notice that the new sloop "Friends' Goodwill, of Black Rock," would take passengers on those terms.
In November, 1811, a call was published for a meeting of the Medical Society of Niagara County, signed by Asa Coltrin, secretary; he was then a partner with Dr. Cyrenius Chapin. Towards the last of Decem- ber Dr. Daniel Chapin also issued a notice of a meeting of the Medical Society of Niagara County. In the next number of the Gazette Dr. Cyrenius Chapin announced that Dr. Daniel's call was irregular and the Medical Society of Niagara County had already met in November and adjourned to February 1, 1812. But Dr. Daniel Chapin's society met and its founder made a speech reflecting severely on the other one, which he characterized as " a mutilated, ill-starred brat, scotched with the characteristic marks of its empirical accoucher." This was soon followed by an address from Dr. Cyrenius Chapin in which he de- nounced the other society as a humbug. Finally Dr. Daniel's society sued Dr. Cyrenius for taking a letter from the post-office addressed to the Medical Society of Niagara County, and the suit was decided just before the war in favor of the defendants. 1
1 See Chapter XXXI.
185
JUST BEFORE THE WAR.
On March 10, 1812, the Western Star Lodge of Free Masons pub- lished a notice of the approaching installation of its officers.
Down to the latter part of 1811 the name of the village had been spelled with a final "e," thus, Buffaloe. But it was changed at that time and the "e" dropped; the stimulus for the change was supplied chiefly by the Gazette, in which on December 29 was printed a satirical report of a fictitious lawsuit in the ".Court of the People's Bench of Buffalo-e," wherein " Ety Mol O Gist was plaintiff and General Opin- ion was defendant." The reader of the present day is led to wonder how the final "e" ever came into use at all.1
On the 20th of March, 1812, the great town of Willink was much re- duced in size by the erection of the towns of Hamburg, Eden and Con- cord; Hamburg then contained the present towns of Hamburg and East Hamburg, and Eden included what are now the towns of Eden, Boston, Evans and part of Brant; Concord included the present towns of Con- cord, Sardinia, Collins and North Collins, leaving Willink about twelve miles square and including the present towns of Aurora, Wales, Hol- land and Colden. Willink and Hamburg, however, nominally ex- tended to the middle of the Buffalo Reservation, while Collins included that part of the Cattaraugus Reservation lying in Niagara county.
The first town meeting for Hamburg was held April 7, at the house of Jacob Wright. At that meeting it was voted that last year's super- visor (of Willink) should "discharge our poor debt" by paying the poormasters the sum of five dollars. At an adjourned meeting the next day it was voted that "hogs should remain as the statute law directs," (in allusion to methods of confining them on their owner's premises), and that $5 per head should be paid for wolves and panthers; the town was divided into twenty-one road districts. The records indicate that Eden was not organized until the next year, when Joseph Yaw was moder- ator of the meeting and the usual regulations were voted. Concord has lost her records by fire and its organization cannot, therefore, be given.
Meanwhile war rumors and sentiment were spreading, the Federalists strenuously opposing it, while the Democrats (or Republicans, as they were also called) favored retaliation upon Great Britain, even to the taking up of arms, for her unjust acts. Up to that time Niagara county had been decidedly Federal. Ebenezer Walden was member of assem-
1 For details of this alleged trial see Ketcham's Buffalo and the Senecas, Vol. II, pp. 259-60.
24
186
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
bly for the district of Niagara, Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties. Jonas Williams, founder of Williamsville, was the candidate of the Democrats (Republicans) for Assembly. In April, 1812, Abel M. Grosve- nor, the Buffalo merchant, was nominated for the Assembly by the Federalists (who now assumed so far as they were able the title " Fed- eral Republicans"). The law passed by Congress in February calling for the organization of an army of 25,000 men, and a speech by Daniel D. Tompkins, governor of the State, to the Legislature, advising the State to prepare for the approaching conflict, caused intense excitement and anxiety. At the same meeting which nominated Mr. Grosvenor, a great committee was appointed, the members of which were doubt- less the most influential men in the county, and their names should, therefore, find a place here; they were as follows:
Town of Buffalo-Nathaniel Sill, Joshua Gillett, Benjamin Caryl, James Beard, Gilman Folsom, William B. Grant, John Russell, Daniel Lewis, Rowland Cotton, David Reese, Elisha Ensign, S. H. Salisbury, Ransom Harmon, Frederick House, Guy J. Atkins, Samuel Lasuer, John Duer, John Watkins, R. Grosvenor Wheeler, Fred. Buck, Henry Anguish, Nehemiah Seeley, Henry Doney, Solomon Eldridge, Holden Allen.
Clarence-Henry Johnson, Asa Fields, James Powers, James S. Youngs, William Baker, Archibald Black, John Stranahan, Josiah Wheeler, G. Stranahan, Benjamin O. Bivins, John Peck, Jonathan Barrett.
Willink-Abel Fuller, Ebenezer Holmes, John McKeen, Sanford G. Colvin, Levi Blake, Ephraim Woodruff, Daniel Haskell, Samuel Merriam, Dr. John Watson, John Gaylord, jr.
Hamburg-Seth Abbott, Joseph Browning, William Coltrin, Ebenezer Goodrich, Cotton Fletcher, John Green, Samuel Abbott, Benjamin Enos, Pardon Pierce.
Eden-Charles Johnson, Luther Hibbard, Dorastus Hatch, Dr. John March, Job Palmer, Samuel Tubbs.
Concord-Joseph Hanchett, Solomon Fields, Samuel Cooper, Stephen Lapham, Gideon Lapham, Gideon Parsons, William S. Sweet.
It is pertinent to this topic to here give the names of a similar com- mittee of Democrats, although they were not appointed until a little later date:
Buffalo-Nathaniel Henshaw, Ebenezer Johnson, Pliny A. Field, William Best, Louis Le Couteulx, John Sample.
Clarence-Otis R. Hopkins, Samuel Hill, jr., Daniel Rawson, James Baldwin, Daniel McCleary, Oliver Standard, Moses Fenno.
Hamburg-David Eddy, Richard Smith, Samuel Hawkins, Giles Sage, William Warriner, Joseph Albert, Zenas Smith.
Willink-Elias Osborn, Israel Phelps, jr., Daniel Thurston, jr., William Warren, James M. Stevens, John Carpenter, Joshua Henshaw.
187
JUST BEFORE THE WAR.
Eden-Christopher Stone, Benjamin Tubbs, Gideon Dudley, Amos Smith, Joseph Thorn.
Concord-Rufus Eaton, Frederick Richmond, Allen King, Benjamin Gardner, Isaac Knox. 1
These were general committees to have charge of county affairs re- lating to war, politics, etc.
Election was held on the 12th of May, and the result in this county, and probably elsewhere, had evidently made a decided change in the relative strength of the opposing political parties. The vote for mem- ber of assembly indicates both the Democratic gains, and the com- parative population in the several towns :
Grosvenor, the Federal candidate, received from Willink, 71 votes; Hamburg, 47; Eden, 41; Concord, 33; Clarence, 72; Buffalo, 123; total, 387.
Williams, Republican, received from Willink, 114; Hamburg, 110; Eden, 46; Con- cord, 50; Clarence, 177: Buffalo, 112; total, 609. Archibald S. Clarke was elected to the State Senate, the first citizen of Erie county to hold that office, as he had already been the first assemblyman and first surrogate.
Early in May a lieutenant of the United States army advertised for recruits in Buffalo, offering bounties that were liberal for those times, although they included only $16 in cash. In Lieut. - Col. Asa Chap- man's militia regiment Dr. Ebenezer Johnson was appointed surgeon's mate, a post identical with what is now termed assistant-surgeon; Abiel Gardner and Ezekiel Sheldon, lieutenants; Oziel Smith, pay- master; John Hershey and Samuel Edsall, ensigns.
In Lieut .- Col. William Warren's regiment, Adoniram Eldridge, Charles Johnson, John Coon, Daniel Haskell, Benjamin Gardner and John Russell were appointed captains; Innis B. Palmer, Isaac Phelps, Timothy Fuller, Benjamin I. Clough, Gideon Person, jr., Frederick Richmond and Varnum Kenyon, lieutenants; William Warriner, sur- geon; Stephen Kinney, paymaster; Elihu Rice, Samuel Cochrane, Benjamin Douglass, Lyman Blackmar and Oliver Blezeo, ensigns. A considerable number of these will be recognized as settlers within the present limits of Erie county. The war was at hand.
188
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
CHAPTER XIV.
WAR OF 1812.
Incentives to the Conflict -- President Madison's Attitude-Congress Assembled -- Elements of Opposition to the War-Its Effects upon Commercial Affairs -- The Local Military Situation-Dismay on the Frontier -- British Superiority on the Lakes -An Indian Declaration of War -- Plan of Campaign of 1812-Hull's Failure at De- troit-General Harrison's Operations in the West-Sackett's Harbor Attacked -- Captain Chauncey to Build a Fleet for Lake Ontario -- Attack on Kingston- Arrival of General Van Rensselaer at Fort Niagara-Plans to Invade Canada-Lieutenant Elliott's Brilliant Naval Exploit -- Battle of Queenston-Surrender of the Americans -General Smyth and his Proclamations -- Concentration of Troops at Buffalo -- Smyth's Abortive Operations-Invasion of Canada Indefinitely Postponed -- A Riot in Buffalo-Naval Operations-An Epidemic.
It is not within the province of this work to enter into the details of the causes that led Congress to declare war against Great Britain in 1812; the incentives to this step were many and aggravating.
Great Britain was deeply humiliated when she signed the treaty of Paris, and grudgingly granted limited and indefinite rights to the new republic. Her rulers neither understood nor appreciated the spirit that moved the colonists to rebel and fight for self-government and in- dependence. The fact that for thirteen years she occupied military posts within United States territory is fair evidence of her reluctance to be just, and to accord to her conquerors the right they had gained but were really too weak to enforce.
Jay's treaty of 1794, while a long step on the road to justice, was in reality but an execution of the treaty of 1783; and though it did not secure to the United States all that was her right, it had the effect of strengthening the foundations of the government.
Early in the century, while Napoleon was threatening at the gates of England and England was aiding her allies against France, the gov- ernment of Great Britain issued orders, and France published decrees, suspending commerce in neutral vessels with the ports of these bellig . erents. American sailors were seized on American vessels by British men-of-war, and impressed into the naval service of that country, the
189
WAR OF 1812.
right to do this being one of England's unfounded claims. These and other high-handed acts of injustice led Congress in October, 1807, as an act of retaliation, to place an embargo upon all vessels in United States harbors. This extreme measure may have been necessary, but it was ruinous to the ocean commerce of the United States and resulted in extreme political division. The Democratic party as a whole sup- ported the embargo, while the Federalists strenuously opposed it. It was clear to the more conservative statesmen of the country that how- ever effectual the embargo might prove as a method of retaliation against England and France, it was a measure that would bring noth- ing but commercial ruin to the United States.
"The outside pressure upon the administration against the embargo act became too great for resistance, and on the 1st of March, 1809, it was repealed."1 But as a compromise to the contending powers of Europe, a non intercourse act was passed by Congress, by the terms of which the ports of the United States were opened to the commerce of the world, excepting that of England and France. This act met with even more denunciation by the opposition to the administration than did the embargo act.
On the 4th of March, 1809, James Madison was inaugurated presi- dent. In addition to her contentions with the foreign powers, the United States at this time was on the brink of an Indian conflict in the West, where Tecumseh was creating a disturbance that promised to generate a war of savage fierceness. The battle of Tippecanoe, fought November 7, 1811, by General Harrison against the Indians led by Tecumseh, was the culmination of the difficulties with the western tribes; and although a victory for Harrison, it gave only tem- porary relief to the settlers, while tending to ally the Indians with the British interests.
President Madison called Congress together November 4, 1811, a month earlier than the customary time, and a heated session followed. The Democrats who favored war were overwhelmingly in the majority in Congress, and the hesitation shown by the president, induced doubt- less by the influence of leading members of his cabinet, only inflamed the impatience and spurred the energy of the war party. Threats and ridicule from his supporters at length brought Mr. Madison to consent to a declaration of war, in which he sought to avoid the appearance of
1 Lossing's Field Book of the War of 1812, p. 175.
190
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
being a leader. A proposition to include France in the declaration re- ceived ten votes. The act passed the House on June 4, 1812, and with a few amendments, passed the Senate on the 17th. On the following day the House concurred and the act was promptly signed by the president. His proclamation declaring war under the act was issued on the 19th, in which he urged the people to support the adminis- tration.
Although strong opposition to the war policy developed and contin- ued throughout the conflict, it accomplished little else than the crea- tion of political strife. This opposition was chiefly centered in New England, where the ruinous effects on commerce were most severely felt. Congress passed measures providing means for carrying on the war, increasing the insignificant navy, and adjourned on the 6th of July. One of the measures provided for calling out 100,000 militia, the quota of which from New York was 13,500. On May 17 Colonel Swift, of Ontario county, arrived in Buffalo to take command on the frontier. On the 18th, as learned from the Gazette, the first detach- ment of militia marched through Buffalo on its way to Lewiston. Again the old-time anxiety arose as to the future attitude of the In- dians and efforts were made by both Americans and British to gain their alliance or secure their neutrality. On the 26th of May Indian Superintendent Granger, with Jones and Parrish, the interpreters, held a council with the chiefs of the Six Nations. No effort was made by Mr. Granger to enlist the services of the Indians, but they were strongly urged to remain neutral. To this they agreed, but intimated that they would send a delegation to consult their brethren in Canada.
Colonel Swift made his headquarters at Black Rock and by the last of June was in command of more than 600 militia, and there was, be- sides, a small garrison of regulars at Fort Niagara. Many early enlist- ments were made in the militia by residents of Erie county and several companies were also early organized from men who were too old to be subject to military duty. One of these was formed in Willink, with Phineas Stephens, captain; Ephraim Woodruff, lieutenant; and Oliver Pattengill, ensign. Another was organized in Hamburg of which Jo- tham Bemis was captain. These companies were commonly called "Sil- ver Greys." Preparations for war were at the same time progressing on the Canadian side, where 600 or 700 British regulars were disposed along the Niagara with about 100 pieces of artillery. Ere long Fort
191
WAR OF 1812.
Erie was strengthened and a redoubt was constructed on the Canadian shore about opposite the residence of General Porter. Earthworks were also thrown up at Chippewa, Queenston and other points.
The British gained considerable advantage at the beginning of the contest through their early receipt of news of the declaration of war by a courier sent from Washington by their minister. Almost imme- diately thereafter measures were adopted by them to secure the result- ing benefits. Numbers of young Americans who were in business in Canada, either for themselves or others, were taken as war prisoners. The Buffalo Gazette of July 14 contained the following :
The British are understood to have about six or seven hundred regular troops sta- tioned between the lakes from Fort George to Fort Erie. These men are generally those who have seen service in various parts of the old world.
The militia of the province are ordered out en masse. Great discontent prevails in consequence of this requisition, there being no help to gather in the crops. . Many young tradesmen in Canada will be ruined. They are required to take up arms or leave the country. They cannot collect their debts, nor bring away their property, but many have come away and left their all in jeopardy.
The British are said to have more than one hundred pieces of flying, field and garrison artillery in the different defenses on the Niagara River. Fort Erie has been strengthened considerably; a redoubt of many rods in length was thrown up on Wednesday and Thursday last, on the hill, a few rods below the house of John Warren, jun., and directly opposite the dwelling house of Gen. Peter B. Porter, at Black Rock. Immediately on the report of a declaration of war, the militia in the neighborhood of the lines were ordered out. Gen. Hopkins, who resided a few miles east of Buffalo, on what was called the "plains," ordered out his entire brigade. Gen. Porter, who had been to Washington, returned to his home at Black Rock and immediately assumed the direction of affairs."
Almost simultaneously with the declaration of war an event, insig- nificant in itself but important in its relation to the coming conflict, took place at the outlet of Lake Erie. On the morning of the 26th of June a small vessel loaded with salt left Black Rock and started west- ward. A British armed vessel from Fort Erie was now observed by citizens of Buffalo following the American vessel. The latter was soon overtaken, boarded and captured, and both returned to the fort. A few hours later an express rider came from the east bearing the president's proclamation of war.
Universal dismay now prevailed along the frontier and throughout Niagara county. The memory of then recent Indian and Tory barbari- ties was still fresh in the minds of most of the settlers, many of whom fled precipitately eastward to escape their anticipated repetition. To
192
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
dispel the general alarm Ellicott issued an address to the settlers on the Holland Purchase, assuring them that the frontier was well guarded and British invasion impossible. By the 4th of July about 3,000 men were gathered on the Niagara frontier under command of Gen. William Wadsworth, which greatly relieved the fears of the inhabitants, and many who had fled returned and resumed their home pursuits.
The anxiety of the Americans was increased by the apparent fact of the superiority of the British on the lakes. While at the beginning of the war the Americans had not a single armed vessel afloat, the British had three-the Queen Charlotte, twenty-two guns; the Hunter, twelve guns, and a small schooner. The first-named vessel cruised along the lake shore off Hamburg and Evans and kept the settlers in constant alarm during the first summer of the war. Her boats were frequently landed and their crews sent among the settlements for plunder. On several occasions men were captured, taken on board the vessel, and after being kept a few days were liberated. On one occasion a party of the British landed near the farm of Aaron Salisbury in Evans and began their work of plunder. Most of the neighboring settlers were absent, and young Salisbury took his musket, pursued and overtook the marauders and began firing on them from the wooded shore; they returned his fire but without effect. They then embarked and sailed northward. Believing they would seek the excellent landing-place at the mouth of Eighteen-mile Creek, Salisbury hastened thither and arrived just as a landing was being made. He again began firing on them. The astonished British, imagining the whole lake shore was swarming with desperate settlers, fled to their boats and the vessel.
The neutrality promised by the Indians did not long continue. At the council before mentioned Mr. Granger intimated to the young war- riors that if they were unable to control their desire to fight, he trusted that it would be on the side of the United States, and that under those circumstances a few hundred of their braves would probably be ac- cepted by the government. Red Jacket replied at the next meeting of the council, urging neutrality, and saying that he hoped no warriors would be accepted by the government without permission of the great council; he also asked leave to send a deputation to the Mohawks beg- ging them to abandon the war path. This was, of course, granted and five chiefs obtained permission from General Brock to visit their Mohawk brethren. Their mission was fruitless and the Canadian In- dians refused to bury the hatchet. A considerable number of the Senecas
193
WAR OF 1812.
and Cayugas were found on the battlefields against the British during the war
In the month of July a report was circulated along the frontier that the British had taken possession of Grand Island, which was then under United States jurisdiction, and the title was in the Senecas. The exact facts serving as the foundation for this rumor are not acces- sible, but it is true that several hundred Indians appeared on the shore of the island opposite Tonawanda. There were then sixteen soldiers in the guard house there, who had been notified of the approach of the Indians, and citizens had also been called in, supplied with extra uniforms and paraded in view from the river shore. The enemy, how- ever, made no attempt to cross. Red Jacket now called a council and sought permission from Granger to drive off the enemy, using the fol- lowing language:
Our property is taken possession of by the British and their Indian friends. It is necessary now for us to take up the business, defend our property and drive the enemy from it. If we sit still upon our seats and take no means of redress, the British, according to the custom of you white people, will hold it by conquest. And should you conquer the Canadas you will hold it on the same principles; because you will have taken it from the British.
Fortunately there was no need for a battle on Grand Island. An- other council was held by the Indians soon afterward, and a formal declaration of war was adopted and placed in writing by an interpreter. This is probably the only document of the kind issued by an Indian nation in writing. It reads as follows:
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.