USA > New York > Pioneer history of the Holland Purchase of western New York : embracing some account of the ancient remains > Part 31
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* It is evident from the whole narration, that it was the British, and not the Indians, who wished to punish Allan: that the Senecas, were even glad of the excuse to refuse farther participation in the war.
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where he lived with his squaw SALLY, who by this time had made him the father of two daughters, named MARY and CHLOE. He next season, entered into an arrangement with PHELPS and GOR- HAM, in pursuance of which they gave him 100 acres of land, at the Genesee Falls, in consideration of his building a grist and saw- mill, to accommodate the few settlers in the surrounding country .*
His friend, Mrs. JEMISON, signalizes this advent of ALLAN as an early miller of this region, by two murders, and the obtaining of two additional wives. While conveying down the river some materials, an old German named ANDREWS, in his employ, gave him some offence, and as is supposed, he pushed him out of the canoe. ANDREWS was never afterwards heard of; ALLAN still resided at Allan's creek.
While at the Falls, superintending the erection of his mills, a white man came along, emigrating to Canada. He had a young daughter, that took ALLAN's fancy; there was a summary courtship; the young woman, "nothing loth," consented; the ambitious emi- grant parents, thought the suitor rich, unmarried of course, consented. They were married. "Miss Lucy,"-that was her name-had her dream of happiness soon interrupted. She was introduced to the domicile of her suddenly acquired husband, where she found a dark complexioned "SALLY," a joint tenant, and co- partner in bed and board. She had none of her own race to appeal to for redress, the parents had gone on their way, and she, perhaps prudently, resolved to stay and make the best of it.
The backwood's "BLUE BEARD" was about this time in a marrying way, and did not know where to stop. On a visit to Mrs. JEMISON, at Gardeau, a short time after this, he saw a "young woman with an old husband," and deemed that circumstance, a justification for his gallantry. (Fatal to the happiness of many an old dotard, would such a deduction in moral ethics be in these latter days of January and May matches!) He poured into her ears the
* The author has in his possession a quit claim deed, or rather an assignment of his right to this 100 acre tract, to Benjamin Barton, the father of Benjamin Barton, Jr. It would seem he had at the date of it. no written title to the land, but he authorises Messrs. Phelps and Gorham to deed to Mr. Barton. The consideration was "Two hundred pounds, N. York currency." It is in the hand writing of Samuel Ogden, and witnessed by " Gertrude Ogden," by which it would seem that it was executed in the city of New York. The signature is well executed. It is written "E. Allan " - not Allen. The land is described as being on the "west side of Genesee river in Ontario county: - bounded east by the river, so as to take in the mills recently erected by the said Allan." The instrument is dated March, 1792.
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story of his wealth-his possessions at Allan's creek-his "Mills" -his influence; - and succeeded so far as to induce his victim to persuade her "old man" to accompany him home with his wife. ALLAN under pretence of showing him his flats on Allan's creek, took him out, and pushed him into the river. He saved himself from drowning, but died in a few days, in consequence of the fall and struggle. The young widow, remained in the harem for a year, and left.
He removed from the creek, back to Mt. Morris, in the summer of 1792, it is presumed, as he sold the mill tract, early in that season. IIe built a house there; moved his remaining two wives into it; and soon resolved to fill the vacancy occasioned by the departure of the widow. He married MILLE M'GREGOR, the daughter of a white settler upon the Genesee flats. Taking her home, there was soon trouble in his domicil :- SALLY and LUCY united, and whipped the new comer, MILLE. She was provided with a separate residence. This is a sad picture, it is confessed, of morals and matrimony, in our region, at a primitive period; and yet it is a truthful record. It is a specimen of "freedom in the backwoods."
In 1791, the Seneca Indians deeded to ALLAN in trust, for his two daughters, four square miles on the Genesee river, the tract which now embraces the beautiful village of Mount Morris. The deed commences by setting forth the reasons why the gift is made: -" It has been the custom of the nation from the earliest times of our forefathers, to the present day, to consider every person born of a Seneca woman as one of the nation, and as having equal rights with every one in the nation to lands belonging to it. And whereas, KYENDANENT, named in English, SALLY, has had two daughters born of her body, by our brother JENUHSHIO, named in English, EBENEZER ALLAN; the names of said daughters being in English, MARY ALLAN, and CHLOE ALLAN,"&c. It was provided in the deed that ALLAN should have the care of the land, until his daugh- ters were married, or became of age; that out of its proceeds he should cause the girls to be instructed "in reading and writing, sewing and other useful arts, according to the custom of the white people." SALLY, the mother, was to have comfortable maintenance during her natural life, or as long as she "remained unjoined to an- other man." The deed is signed by the sachems and chiefs of the Seneca nation, and by TIMOTHY PICKERING as U. S. Commissioner;
-
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witnessed by Horatio Jones, Jasper Parrish, Oliver Phelps, Ebene- zer Bowman.
In pursuance of the provisions of the deed, ALLAN took the two daughters to Philadelphia and placed them in a school. Mrs. BLACKMAN, to whom allusion has been made in a preceding page, remembers well when ALLAN returned with his daughters from Philadelphia, and staid at her fathers house over night. She says: -"The party were on horseback, attended by a white man and a white woman, as waiters. ALLAN would not allow them to sit at table with him and his daughters. The daughters were fine looking well behaved girls. The carly settlers here did not like ALLAN. I remember when he came near being burned up when dry grass caught fire on Genesee Flatts, and that people generally were sorry that he escaped. He has sit in my father's house often, and boasted of the murders he had committed on the Susquehannah, and his other exploits there." Mrs. B. says that ALLAN got the irons for his mill at Rochester, at Conhocton, and hired Indians to take them to Rochester on pack horses.
JOHN M' KAY, of Caledonia, says: - "I knew ALLAN well. He was about fifty years of age when I first came upon the Genesee river. He was tall and strait-light complexion - genteel in ap- pearance-of good address. Capt. JONES told me the story of ALLAN's carrying the wampum to the American commissioner, (not to the commandant of a post.) The Indians were very angry. but said JONES, such was the influence he had over them, they dared not to punish him." Mr. M' KAY thinks it was not a disinter- ested act; but that the goods he carried to Mount Morris were the proceeds of the pacific enterprize.
In 1797, finding the white settlers getting too thick around him - the restraints of civilized life, that he had fled from in his youth, likely to interfere with his "perfect freedom"-he sold his prop- erty at Mount Morris, and moved to Delawaretown, on the Thames, (C. W.) taking with him his white wife, and leaving SALLY and MILLE behind. Gov. SIMCOE granted him 3000 acres of land, upon condition, that he should build a saw-mill, grist-mill. and a church; all but the church, to be his property. He per- formed his part of the contract, and the title to his land was confirmed. In a few years, he had his mills, a comfortable dwel- ling, large improvements, was a good liver; and those who knew him at that period, represent him as hospitable and obliging. In
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two or three years after he left for Canada, MILLE followed him, and when he was flourishing there, he had the two wives under one roof. SALLY soon followed, remained in the neighborhood about a year, when she was driven away by the persecutions of the two white wives. An acquaintance of the author, who was for a long period his neighbor, says he once asked him how he could manage two women. He replied that he "ruled them with a rod of iron." The reader must have, ere this, discovered that he was the man thus to rule his household.
About the year 1806 or '7, reverses began to overtake him. At one period, he was arrested and tried for forgery; at another, for passing counterfeit money; at another, for larceny. He was acquitted of each offence, upon trial. He was obnoxious to many of his white neighbors, and it is likely, that at least two of the charges against him, arose out of a combination that was prompted by personal enmity. All this brought on embarrassments, which terminated in an almost entire loss of his large property. He left Delawaretown, and went upon some land that had been leased to his daughters by the Indians.
Soon after the breaking out of the war of 1812, he was sus- pected by the Canadian authorities, of being friendly to the Americans, of holding a correspondence with Gen. HULL at Detroit; arrested and confined in jail at Niagara. He was bailed out upon condition that he should in no way interfere against the government. He took no part in the war; though he was evidently in favor of the Americans; alledging that the British government had illy requited his services. He died in 1814.
His wife MILLE, was the mother of six children; Lucy of one; and there were beside, the two half-breed daughters of SALLY. An elderly lady of the author's acquaintance, knew these daughters well after they went to reside upon the Thames. They were tolerably educated, amiable and reputable. They died after hav- ing become the wives of white men, and the mothers of several children, who are supposed to be still living in Canada West. His son SENECA ALLAN, is a resident of one of the western states.
NOTE .- Allan conveyed the land at Mount Morris, that was given to his daughters, to Robert Morris; by what right, it does not appear upon the records. Allan's creek, heading in Wyoming, passing through Warsaw, Le Roy, and emptying into the Gen- esee river at Scottsville, derives its name from the subject of our biographical sketch. He had a farm where Scottsville now is.
PART FOURTH.
CHAPTER I.
PROGRESS OF SETTLEMENT WESTWARD, AFTER THE REVOLUTION.
In the treaty of peace which ended the Revolution, Great Britian made no provisions for her Indian allies. Notwithstanding their strong and well founded claims to British regard and protec- tion they were left to take care of themselves, and get out of the difficulties in which an unsuccessful war had involved them, as best they could. They were much offended and disappointed; they complained of this conduct as unjust and ungrateful, in view of the sacrifices they had made, and losses they had sustained, all along through the war. They were sagacious enough to conclude, that if the arms of the "Thirteen Fires," had conquered them and their British allies united, there was little use in their contending single handed. A portion of them however, were not disposed to yield. Prompted by British agents, they were for leaguing with the North Western Indians, and reviving the war. Among these, was the youthful, subtle, and eloquent Red Jacket. But Corn Planter, and some others of the more influential Indians, counciled peace, and peaceable councils prevailed.
Accordingly the sachems, chiefs and warriors, of the Six Nations, and the commissioners in belialf of the United States, assembled at Fort Stanwix in October, 1784, and concluded a treaty of peace and friendship. Oliver Wolcott, Richard Butler and Arthur Lee, acted as commissioners for the United States. The Six Nations greed to surrender all their captives, and relinquish " all claims to le country lying west of a line beginning at the mouth of Oyo- zagea creek, flowing into lake Ontario, four miles east of Niagara; hence southerly, but preserving a line four miles east of the carry- g path, to the mouth of the Tehoseroron, or Buffalo creek; thence the north boundary of Pennsylvania; thence cast to the end of
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that boundary; and thence south along the Pennsylvania line to the river Ohio."*
"The cession of their hunting grounds north-west of the Ohio, was vigorously, though unavailingly opposed by the red men. Sa- goyewatha, or Red Jacket, then young and nameless among the head men, rose rapidly in favor with the Senecas for his hostility to the measure-while the popularity of their great chief Cornplanter, suffered severely among his race for his partiality to the whites, in the arrangement." * * *
"The patriotism of Red Jacket was then thoroughly aroused, and his wisdom and eloquence were gen- erally zealously employed to vindicate the rights of the red man against the encroaching influence of the pale faces. He was elected a chief among the Senecas, soon after this treaty, and his influence was great in the Indian confederacy for upwards of forty years."t
After the conclusion of this treaty, the United States commis- sioners, in consequence of the then condition of the Six Nations, and in pursuance of the humane and liberal intentions of the government whose agents they were, distributed a large quantity of goods in the form of presents.
It will be observed that at the treaty above referred to, the Indians made no cession of territory, but simply defined their
* A bad definition of boundaries, but the reader will have no difficulty in seeing what was intended.
t History of Rochester and Western New York.
NOTE. - Lafayette was present at the treaty of Fort Stanwix. After the lapse of forty years, the generous Frenchman, the companion of Washington, and the Seneca orator again met. The author was present at the inteview.' A concourse of citizens had been assembled for nearly two days, awaiting the arrival of the steam boat from Dunkirk, which had been chartered by the committee of Erie county, to convey La- fayette to Buffalo, and among them was Red Jacket. He made, as usual, a somewhat ostentatious display of his medal - a gift from Washington - and it required the especial attention of a select committee to keep the aged chief from an indulgence-a " sin that so easily beset him," - which would have marred the dignity, if not the romance of the intended interview. The reception, the ceremonies generally, were upon a sta- ging erected in front of " Rathbun's Eagle." After they were through with, Red Jacket was escorted upon the staging, by a committee. "The Douglass in his hall," - himself, in his native forest - never walked with a firmer step or a prouder bearing! There was the stoicism of the Indian-seemingly, the condescension, if it existed, was his, and not the "Nation's Guest." He addressed the General in his native tongue. through an interpreter who was present. During the interview, Lafayette not recog- nizing him, alluded to the treaty of Fort Stanwix: " And what" said he, "has become of the young Seneca, who on that occasion so eloquently opposed the burying of the tomahawk?" "He is now before you!" replied Red Jacket. The circumstance, as the reader will infer, revived in the mind of Lafayette, the scenes of the Revolution, and in his journey the next two days, his conversation was enriched by the reminis- cences which it called up.
20
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boundaries, rocognizing and somewhat enlarging the bounds of the " carrying place " at Niagara, which they had granted under Eng- lish dominion.
This treaty was the first ever made by the United States with the Indians.
At Fort Herkimer, on the Mohawk, in June, 1785, a treaty was held with the Oneidas and Tuscaroras, by George Clinton and other commissioners. For a consideration of eleven thousand five hundred dollars, those nations ceded to the State of New York, the land lying between the Unadilla and Chenango rivers, south of a line drawn east and west between those streams, and north of the Pennsylvania line, &c.
On the 12th of September, 1788, the Onondagas, by a treaty at Fort Stanwix, ceded to the State of New York, all their territory. saving a reservation around their chief village. It was stipulated that the Onondagas should enjoy forever, the right of fishing and hunting in the territory thus relinquished. The "Salt Lake," and the land around the same for one mile, was to remain forever for the common use of the State of New York, and the Onondagas, for the purpose of making salt, and not to be disposed of for other objects. The consideration was a thousand French crowns in hand, two hundred pounds value in clothing; and a perpetual annuity of five hundred dollars. Upon a full confirmation of the treaty, in 1790, the state gave as a gratuity, an additional five hundred dollars.
On the 22d of September 1788, the Oneidas, who had before ceded a part of their lands, made an additional cession, including all their lands except a small reservation for themselves, and another for the Brothertown Indians, which they had previously given them. The consideration was two thousand dollars in hand, two thousand dollars in clothing, one thousand dollars in provisions, five hundred dollars to build a grist mill on their reservation; and a perpetual annuity of five hundred dollars.
By a treaty at Albany, in 1789, the Cayugas ceded to the State of New York all their lands, saving a reservation of one hundred square miles exclusive of the waters of Cayuga lake, about which the reservation was located. The consideration was five hundred dollars in hand; an agreement to pay one thousand five hundred and twenty-five dollars, in June following; and a perpetual annuity
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of five hundred dollars. Upon the final confirmation of the treaty. the State paid the Cayugas as a gratuity, one thousand dollars.
In 1793, the Onondagas ceded to the state some portions of their reservation. The consideration was four hundred dollars in hand, and a perpetual annuity of four hundred dollars.
On the 29th of March, 1797, the Mohawks, who had mostly fled to Canada during the Revolution, by their agents, Capt. Joseph Brant and Capt. John Deserontyon, relinquished to the State of New York all claims to lands within the state, for the sum of one thousand dollars, and six hundred dollars in the form of a fee for traveling expenses, &c. advanced to the above named agents.
Numerous treaties and cessions of reservations followed, with the five easterly nations of the confederacy, but the cessions that have been noticed embraced the great body of their lands. In all these cessions the Indians reserved the right of fishing and hunting, and stipulated to lend their assistance in keeping off intruders upon the lands.
A treaty was held at Canandaigua on the 11th of September, 1794, between the United States and the Six Nations -Timothy Pickering acting in behalf of the United States. The object of President Washington in ordering this treaty, was to remove some existing causes of complaint, and establish a firm and permanent friendship with the Indians. These two objeets were consummated. It was stipulated on the part of the United States that the Indians should be protected in the free enjoyment of their reservations, until such times as they chose to dispose of them to the United States .. This had reference to the reservations east of the Massachusetts pre-emption line. At this treaty, the boundaries of the lands of the Senecas weredefined, as including all lands west of Phelps and Gorham's Purchase, in this state, excepting the carrying place upon the Niagara river. "In consideration of the peace and friendship hereby established, and of the engagements entered into by the Six Nations; and because the United States desire with humanity and kindness to contribute to their comfortable support, and to render the peace and friendship hereby established strong and perpetual," the United States delivered to the Six Nations ten thousand dollars worth of goods, and for the same consideration, and with a view to promote the future welfare of the Six Nations and of their Indian friends aforesaid, the United States added $3000 to the $1,500 previously allowed them by an article dated
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23d, April, 1792, (which $1,500 was to be expended annually in purchasing clothing, domestic animals, and implements of hus- bandry, and for encouraging useful artificers, to reside in their villages,) making in the whole $4,500, the whole to be expended yearly in purchasing clothing, &e. as just mentioned, under the direction of the Superintendant appointed by the President.
"Lest the firm peace and friendship now established should be interrupted by the misconduct of individuals, the United States and Six Nations agree that, for injuries done by individuals on either side, no private revenge or retaliation shall take place; but, instead thereof, complaint shall be made by the party injured to the other, and such prudent measures shall then be pursued as shall be neces- sary to preserve our peace and friendship, until the Legislature (or the great Council of the United States) shall make other equitable provisions for the purpose.
"A note in the treaty says :- 'It is clearly understood by the parties to this treaty, that the annuity stipulated in the sixth article is to be applied to the benefit of such of the Six Nations, and of their Indian friends united with them aforesaid, as do or shall reside within the boundaries of the United States; for the United States do not interfere with nations, tribes, or families of Indians else- . where resident.'"
The state of New York, by its legislature, in 1781, resolved to raise forces to recruit the army of the United States. The period of enlistment was fixed at three years, or until the close of the war, and the faith of the State was pledged that each soldier who enlisted and served his time according to his enlistment, should receive six hundred acres of land as soon after the close of the war as the land could be surveyed.
On the 25th of July, 1782, the legislature of the state passed another act, setting apart a certain district of country, described therein, to meet its engagements contained in the first mentioned act. The district so set apart, contained the territory now included in the counties of Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca. Cortland, the south- west part of Oswego, the north part of Tompkins, the east part of Wayne, and small parts of Steuben and Yates; containing, besides, the reservations afterwards made therein by the Indians, one million, six hundred and eighty thousand acres.
On the 28th day of February, 1789, a third act was passed by the legislature, appropriating the lands devoted to the payment of the Revolutionary soldiers; the Indian title to which, had at length
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been extinguished by treaties with the Onondagas and Cayugas; which was soon after surveyed into townships, and those townships subdivided into lots of six hundred acres each: the state of New York thus redeemed its pledge given to the Revolutionary soldiers by the act of July 25th, 1782.
Although the military tract may truly be considered a proud and splendid monument of the gratitude of the state of New York to her Revolutionary heroes; the soldiers, whose patriotic valor earned the full reward, in many cases, realized but little from the bounty of their country; as many of the patents for six hundred acres of excellent land, were sold as late as ten years after the close of the war at from eight to thirty dollars each.
It has been already indicated that at the close of the Revolution, in 1783, settlement had not advanced beyond the lower valley of the Mohawk. In May, 1784, Hugh White, with his family, advanced beyond the then bounds of civilization, located at what is now Whitestown, near Utica. In 1786, a considerable settle- ment had been made there. In the same year that Whitestown was settled, James Dean, who had acted as an Indian agent during the war, settled upon a tract of land given him by the Indians, near Rome. In 1784, the county of Tryon had its name changed to Montgomery, its citizens preferring the name of a Revolutionary patriot, to that of an English colonial governor. In 1786, a Mr. Webster became the first white settler of the territory now com- prised in the county of Onondaga. In 1788, Asa Danforth and Comfort Tyler located at Onondaga Hollow. In 1793, John I .. Hardenbergh settled at what was for many years called "Harden- bergh's Corners,"-now the village of Auburn. In 1789, James Bennet and John Harris settled upon opposite sides of the Cay- uga lake, and established a ferry. These primitive beginnings will however, best be indicated in sketches that will follow of some relations of early adventurers.
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GLIMPSES OF WESTERN NEW YORK AFTER THE REVOLUTION.
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