USA > New York > Monroe County > Rochester > Settlement in the West : sketches of Rochester with incidental notices of western New-York > Part 10
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SKETCHES OF ROCHESTER, ETC.
'In reference to some suggestions which we made con- cerning the changed aspect of the diseases of this region, Dr. WM. W. REID, one of the physicians of Rochester, re- marks, in a letter which we take the liberty of publishing-
" The name of the 'Genesee country' was formerly asso- ciated strongly in eastern minds with ideas of sickness and death. Notwithstanding the glowing descriptions of the beauty and fertility of the land given by the early pioneers of Western New-York, those who remained at home in New-England could scarcely divest themselves of a feeling of gloom in contemplating the danger incident to health and life in the early stages of the settlement westward. It seemed to most of them that, after all, this western region was but a ' valley of bones'-a premature burying-place for those loved friends and relatives who were tempted to settle in this then newly-opening territory. And truly, like all new, level, and rich countries, abounding in vegetation, it was sub- ject largely to the diseases of similar districts-the severe forms of intermittent and remittent fevers, cholera mor- bus, &c.
" Rochester, situate near the northern extremity of the Genesee Valley, within five miles of Lake Ontario, a few years ago necessarily partook of the characteristics of the country on the score of health. Being then but a small village -its streets ungraded and undrained-the forest encroach- ing upon its suburbs-the stumps of recently-felled trees mingling with the buildings-the soil a deep vegetable mould that had been accumulating for ages, and covered with de- caying matter-what wonder that malaria and malaric dis- eases should prevail ? that ague, in its worst and most diver- sified forms, should abound ?
" But time has removed the decomposing vegetable mat- ter, and man has graded, drained, paved, and macadamized the streets ; and Rochester, grown into a city, is now less subject to intermittent and remittent fevers than the sur- rounding country, although the latter has also become re- markably healthy. Since 1828, fevers have so declined and become so infrequent and mild, that death from that cause has been comparatively a rare occurrence during the last seven years.
" Nor have the former and earlier diseases of this place been supplanted by others of greater or equal malignity. But, as the face of the country has changed, the population
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MEDICAL TOPOGRAPHY, ETC.
increased, and the habits of society become more luxuri- ous, disease has assumed a greater variety of aspects and a more inflammatory type, yet milder and more controlla- ble by medicine. And as we approximate the condition of other cities-as improvements, wealth, refinement, luxury, and ease are increased, diseases change remarkably ; and now that ' opprobrium medicorum,' that choice agent of the King of Terrors, CONSUMPTION, is gaining the ascendency. Twelve years ago, and death by consumption was as rare an event in Rochester as death by fever is now. But du- ring the last eight years, especially the last four or five, consumption and its kindred affections of the lungs have in- creased considerably. Yet a comparison of the bills of mortality in this and any eastern city of equal population will show a balance in our favour with reference even to this disease.
" Whether the prevailing temperature and winds of this locality have contributed most to the increase of inflamma- tory affections of the lungs, or whether it must be ascribed equally to a variety of causes, is difficult to determine. Previous to 1831 we had no regular and accurate registry of the thermometrical and barometrical variations ; but from that period to the present time (1838), we have a set of ob- servations carefully made by Dr. E. S. MARSH. An ab- stract from his tables is elsewhere given in this work. (See the account of the Climate, Soil and Productions of the Genesee Valley.) The mean temperature for the year 1837 was lower by about one degree on every day than was the case during either of the five preceding years, and by nearly three degrees lower than the mean of those five years. The range of the mercury in the barometer in this place is less than two inches. On the 19th of March, 1831, the mercury stood at 28.40-on the 14th of February, 1831, at 30.20-and on Jan. 15, 1834, at 30.20. These are the greatest extremes that have been noted."
The following statements of the mortality in the City of Rochester, and comparisons between this place and other towns with reference to the subject, are furnished by Mr. William Myers, the Sexton of the City Cemeteries.
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SKETCHES OF ROCHESTER, ETC.
Report of Deaths in Rochester in 1837.
Consumption, 46 ; dropsy, 8; dropsy in the head, 10; drowned, 18 ; dysentery, 12; fits, 16; accidental and sud- den, 8; aneurism, 1; unknown, 10; canker, 4; bowel complaint, 82 ; inflammation of the lungs, 16; of the brain, 2 ; of the bowels, 44 ; of the head, 26; fever, scarlet, 9; typhus, &c., 10; piles, 2; palsy, 2; catarrh, 2; cholera infantum, 2 ; croup, 2 ; childbed, 4; worms, 4 ; quinsy, 2 ; pleurisy, 2.
Whole number of deaths in the City of Rochester for the year 1837, 358-of which 166 were under 1 year old ; 58 between 1 and 5 years ; 12 between 5 and 10 ; 24 between 10 and 20; 42 between 20 and 30 ; 16 between 30 and 40 ; 28 between 40 and 50; 10 between 50 and 60 ; 2 between 70 and 80-showing a proportion of one death out of every fifty-three persons, the population of Rochester being cal- culated at 19,000.
The deaths reported in the city of New-York for 1837 amounted to 8009-or about one death for every 34 persons.
In Boston, the mortality during the year amounted to 1843, or one death in every 43 persons.
In Philadelphia, the deaths amounted to 5666-making about one death in every 35 persons.
By these statements it will be seen that the mortality in Rochester is considerably smaller in proportion to the num- bers of the population than in New-York, Boston, or Phila- delphia.
THE LANDS OF THE SIX NATIONS.
NOTICES OF THE TREATIES AND LAWS CONCERNING TIIE EXTINCTION OF THE INDIAN TITLE.
THE arrangements by which the SIX NATIONS were grad- ually induced to relinquish their territory may be considered now, preliminary to some observations on the subsequent subdivisions and settlement of this valuable region.
A treaty made since the commencement of the current year (1838) provides for the removal westward of the " last lingering relics" of that renowned Confederacy-a people, rude though they were, whose career was marked with traits of wisdom, eloquence, and valour, which produced compar- isons in some respects between them and the Greeks,* and won for them the title of the ROMANS OF AMERICA. f
The progressive means by which this great change has been effected are briefly traced in the following analysis of official documents, which we were induced to prepare for the information of those who cannot conveniently investigate the voluminous records of events which form such interest- ing features in the annals of our country .
Notwithstanding the atrocities perpetrated by the Indians (to which they were stimulated by the royalists).} the spirit manifested towards them by our government after the revo- lution was nowise vindictive, as will be seen by the context.
The following notices, in connexion with matters included in the Appendix, will probably enable the reader to form a tolerably correct idea of the extraordinary Confederacy whose former hunting-grounds have suddenly experienced the trans- forming influence of civilization, as signally exemplified in the RISE OF ROCHESTER.
* Vide President Dwight's Travels.
t Vide Discourse of De Witt Clinton, in Appendix.
# See Appendix.
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SKETCHES OF ROCHESTER, ETC.
FIRST TREATY BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND THE SIX NATIONS, AFTER THE REVOLUTION.
1784. The conditions of peace between the United States and the Six Nations were concluded at Fort Stanwix on the 22d of October, 1784. Oliver Wolcott, Richard Butler, and Arthur Lee acted as commissioners for the United States.
Peace was granted to the Six Nations on condition that captives, white and black, should be restored to their homes, and that the Indian Confederacy should agree to certain western boundaries. The western frontier thus established was described as beginning at the mouth of a creek four miles east of Niagara, then known as Johnson's Landing- place, " on the lake named by the Indians Oswego, and by us Ontario"-thence running southerly in a direction always four miles east of the portage or carrying-path between Lakes Erie and Ontario, to the mouth of Buffalo Creek on Lake Erie -- thence due south to the north boundary of the state of Pennsylvania-thence west to the end of the said north boundary-thence south along the west boundary of the said state to the River Ohio. The Six Nations, on con- curring in this limitation, were guarantied the peaceable pos- session of their territories eastward of the line, excepting a reservation of six miles square around Fort Oswego for the convenience of the United States. " In consideration of the present circumstances of the Six Nations, and in execution of the humane and liberal views of the United States," the commissioners distributed among the Indians a considerable quantity of goods at the conclusion of this important treaty.
The cession of their hunting-grounds northwest of the Ohio was vigorously though unavailingly opposed by several of the red men. Saguaha, or Red Jacket, then young and nameless among the head men, rose rapidly in favour with the Senecas for his hostility to the measure-while the pop- ularity of their great chief, Cornplanter, suffered severely among his race for his partiality to the whites in the arrange- ment. The reservation on the Allegany river, whereon his descendants still abide, formed part of the gratuity bestowed on the half-breed chief (for Cornplanter was the son of John Abeel or O'Bail) whose exertions contributed so largely to the furtherance of the views of the American government. The patriotism of Red Jacket was then thoroughly aroused, and his wisdom and eloquence were generally zealously employed to vindicate the rights of the red man against the
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THE LANDS OF THE SIX NATIONS.
encroaching influence of the " pale faces." He was elected a chief among the Senecas soon after this treaty, and his in- fluence was great among the Indian Confederacy for upward of forty years, till death prevented him from witnessing the complete success of the policy (which he had resolutely op- posed) for the total expatriation of his race by the removal westward of the fragments of the Six Nations yet lingering in Western New-York.
The hostility of Red Jacket to the treaty of Fort Stanwix was so ingenious and enthusiastic, that it was vividly remem- bered by Lafayette (though the name of the orator was for- gotten) on his last visit to the United States. It is not sur- prising that the name should have been forgotten, as, at the time of the treaty, Red Jacket was young and nameless among his tribe ; his character having then only begun to develop itself, though he had not been backward among the warriors whose hostilities in the revolutionary war provoked the summary vengeance inflicted on their Confederacy by the expedition of General Sullivan. When at Buffalo on his tour through the Union, Lafayette was reminded by Red Jacket of the treaty of Fort Stanwix. "The occurrences are fresh in my memory," said the veteran general ; " and what became of the young warrior who then so eloquently opposed the burying of the tomahawk, and who so zealously resisted the cession of lands to the whites ?" " HE IS NOW BEFORE YOU !" said Red Jacket.
First Lands acquired from the Indians by the State of New- York.
1785. In 1785, on the 28th of June, at a treaty at Fort Herkimer, with George Clinton and other commissioners for the State of New-York, the Oneida and Tuscarora tribes sold a portion of their territory for $11,500. The tract thus sold included 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 22d of September, 1788, the Oneidas, by treaty at Fort Stanwix, ceded all their lands, excepting certain reservations, as will be seen in the sequel.
Particular solicitude was manifested by the state govern- ment to purchase lands from the Indians for the purpose of discharging obligations to revolutionary soldiers, See no- tice of the Military Tract.
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SKETCHES OF ROCHESTER, ETC.
New- York and Massachusetts.
1786. On the 16th of December, 1786, the controversy between New-York and Massachusetts respecting the rights of jurisdiction and property over a large portion of territory within the now acknowledged limits of New-York (the dis- puted territory being claimed by each state in virtue of an- cient grants and charters under the British Crown), was amicably arranged between the commissioners from the re- spective states by an agreement made at Hartford in Connec- ticut. (Both states had previously concurred in ceding to Congress all claim to lands lying westward of the present boundary of New-York .* ) The difficulty was compromised by a concession to Massachusetts of the right of pre-emption
* THE PENNSYLVANIA TRIANGLE .- Now that the rivalry for the Western trade has excited so much attention to the enterprise mani- fested by several states in connecting seaboard and lakeboard by canals and railroads, it may not be deemed irrelevant, after referring to the settlement of the conflicting claims of Massachusetts and New-York, to mention the fate of the triangular tract [north of the ancient limits of Pennsylvania, and west of the present western boundary of the State of New-York], by which the boundaries of Pennsylvania were enlarged so as to secure a small frontier on Lake Erie.
This triangular tract is situated in Erie County, Pennsylvania-em- braces the town and harbour of Erie, formerly Presque Isle. It is bounded by a base line on Lake Erie of 38 miles ; eastward by the west line of New-York 18 miles ; south by lat. 42ยบ, the line about 33 miles long-containing 202,187 acres. The circumstances attending its annexation to Pennsylvania were these, as will be seen by reference to the proceedings in Congress on the 4th September, 1788 :-
New-York and Massachusetts having ceded to Congress all preten- sions growing out of their charters to territory west of a line drawn southerly from the western extremity of Lake Ontario, there was a small remainder of land between the north part of Pennsylvania and the south shore of Lake Erie, and between the New-York line east and the Ohio line (or rather the line of the Connecticut Reserve) west, which prevented Pennsylvania from having direct intercourse with the lakes.
It was ordered in Congress, on report of a committee consisting of Mr. Dane, Mr. Sedgwick, and Mr. Madison (to whom had been refer- red a motion of the Pennsylvania delegation), that, as the said tract is entirely separate (by the intervention of the Connecticut Reserve) from the other lands of the Western Territory, over which the jurisdiction of the United States extends ; and as it would be expedient for Penn- sylvania, under these circumstances, to have jurisdiction over the tract aforesaid-the United States relinquished all right to said tract on con- dition that the sum of $157,640 should be paid for the 202,187 acres which the tract contains, and that the inhabitants should be maintained in their usual rights.
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THE LANDS OF THE SIX NATIONS.
of the soil from the native Indians (while New-York was confirmed in the sovereignty and jurisdiction) of the tract west of a meridian line from Lake Ontario, passing through Seneca Lake to a point on the Pennsylvania line eighty-two miles west of the northeastern boundary of that state-re- serving only to New-York a tract one mile wide along the Niagara River. Particulars of this controversy are given hereafter. It was also agreed that Massachusetts should have the pre-emptive right to a tract of 230,400 acres, equal to ten townships of six miles square, between the Owego and Chenango Rivers, sometimes called the " Massachusetts Ten Townships." Soon after these arrangements Massa- chusetts sold its right to the "Ten Townships" to Samuel Brown and 59 associates, for $3333 33-and sold to Phelps and Gorham all the tract west of the line running through Seneca Lake, for $1,000,000. Particulars of the subsequent history of the western tract may be found under the heads of the " Holland Purchase" and the " Pulteney Estate." See also the statements in the sequel concerning the schemes of " the Lessees," and their operations with Phelps and Gorham and with the State Government, under the article headed " A New State Projected."
Lands of the Onondagas.
1788. On the 12th of September, 1788, the Onondagas, by treaty at Fort Schuyler (or Stanwix), sold all their ter- ritory to the State of New-York-saving a reservation around the chief village of the tribe, which reservation was guarantied to them for ever; but they were precluded from selling it otherwise than to the state in case they should wish to dispose of it. It was stipulated that the Onon- dagas and their posterity should enjoy FOR EVER the free right of hunting and fishing in the territory thus relin- quished. 'The Salt Lake, and the land around the same for one mile, was to remain for ever for the common use of the people of New-York and the Onondagas, for the purpose of making salt, and not to be disposed of for other objects. For these concessions the State of New-York paid a thou- sand French crowns in money, and two hundred pounds in clothing ; and contracted to pay to the Onondagas and their posterity for ever the sum of $500 annually. This treaty was confirmed on the 16th of June, 1790, at Fort Schuyler,
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SKETCHES OF ROCHESTER, ETC.
when and where the tribe attended to receive the stipulated annuity ; and on which occasion the state also bestowed a gratuity of $500.
Lands of the Oneidas.
1788. On the 22d of September, 1788, the Oneidas, who had in 1785 ceded part of their lands, now relinquished to the State of New-York all their territory, with the exception of a small reservation and the right of hunting and fishing FOR EVER in all the lands thus relinquished. Small tracts around Oneida Lake, Fish Creek, and Onondaga [now Os- wego] River, were reserved FOR EVER for the common use of the whites and Oneidas, in fishing, trading, &c. It was stipulated also, that, notwithstanding any reservation to the Oneidas for their own use, the New-England Indians settled at Brothertown under the charge of the Rev. Samson Oc- cum, and their posterity for ever, and the Stockbridge In- dians with their posterity FOR EVER, should enjoy the lands previously ceded to them by the Oneidas for that purpose. The tract thus assigned to the New-England Indians was three miles long and two miles broad ; and that set apart for the Stockbridge tribe was six miles square. For the lands acquired by this treaty the State of New-York paid $2000 in cash, $2000 in clothing, and $1000 in provis- ions, with $500 for building a gristmill on the Oneida Re- serve ; and agreed to pay to the Oneidas FOR EVER an an- nuity of $600. The Oneidas agreed to aid the state in ex- cluding all intruders from their reservation, in apprehending felons, &c.
Lands of the Cayugas.
1789. The treaty made at Albany with the Cayugas, on the 25th of February, 1789, provided for a cession to the State of New-York of all the territory of their tribe, saving a reser- vation of one hundred square miles, exclusive of the waters of Cayuga Lake, about which this reserve was located. The Cayugas were secured in the privilege of the eel-fishery on Seneca River, with a competent space on the south side of the river for curing their fish, &c. The right of hunting and fishing in every part of the ceded territory was also guarantied to the Cayugas and their posterity FOR EVER. In consideration of the lands thus acquired by this treaty, the
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THE LANDS OF THE SIX NATIONS.
State of New-York then paid $500-agreed to pay on the Ist of June following the sum of $1625-besides an annuity for ever of $500 to the Cayugas and their posterity. The conditions of this treaty were confirmed at Fort Schuyler on the 22d June, 1790, when the Cayugas attended for the re- ception of their annuity, $500-on which occasion the state bestowed on the tribe a gratuity of $1000. 'The state re- quired the Cayugas to prevent intruders from settling on their lands, and demanded the expulsion therefrom of all others than the Cayugas and their adopted brothers, the Paanese.
The provisions for the expulsion of intruders, contained in this treaty and in others made about the same time, were doubtless particularly levelled at " the Lessees" and those who claimed lands under " Connecticut grants"-concerning which some statements may be found hereafter.
The United States and the Six Nations.
1789. On the 8th of January, 1789, a treaty was formed at Fort Harmar, between Arthur St. Clair, governor of the territory northwest of the Ohio, and the sachems and war- riors of the Six Nations ; which treaty was merely confirm- atory of the provisions made between the United States and the Indian Confederacy at Fort Schuyler in 1784. None of the Mohawks were present, but six months were allowed for the assent of that tribe. In addition to presents formerly made, goods to the value of $3000 were now be- stowed on the Six Nations by the general government.
The Indian names attached to this treaty are more amu- sing from their oddity than any equal number attached to any similar paper that we have ever seen. The English syno- nymes which accompany their X marks are-Dogs-round- the-fire, The Blast, Swimming-fish, Dancing Feather, Fall- ing Mountain, Broken Tomahawk, Long-tree, Loaded Man, Snake, Bandy-legs, Big-tree, Thrown-in-the-water, Corn- planter, Big Cross, New Arrow, Half-town, The Wasp, Wood-bug, Big-bale-of-a-kettle, Council - keeper, Broken Twig, Full Moon, Twenty Canoes, Tearing Asunder ! In addition to which, there may be added, from the signatures of the treaty made by Timothy Pickering with the Six Na- tions at Canandaigua in 1795, the names of Handsome Lake, Jake Stroud, Captain Prantup, Big Sky, Fish-carrier, Little-
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SKETCHES OF ROCHESTER, ETC.
beard, Half-town, Stinking-fish, Green-grasshopper, or Little Billy, Woods-on-fire, Two-skies-of-a-length, Heap-of-dogs ! Among such uncouth names may be found, attached to the Canandaigua treaty, the names of Honayawus, or Farmer's Brother, and Sagooyoowhaha, or Red Jacket-men whose MAJESTY OF MIND shone with a lustre which no " belittling appellatives" could bedim.
New-York and the Oneidas, Onondagas, and Cayugas.
1793. On the 11th of March, 1793, agents were appointed by the State of New-York to hold a council with the Onei- da, Onondaga, and Cayuga Indians, for the purpose of buy- ing such lands as they would spare from their reservations -an annuity of $5 to be paid by the state for every square mile relinquished by the Indians-with a stipulation that the state should have the right to make roads through the lands reserved by the Indians.
1793. An agreement at Onondaga, between John Can- tine and Simeon Dewitt on the part of the state, and the chiefs and warriors of the Onondaga tribe, provided that the tribe should release to the state certain portions of the Onondaga Reservation. $400 paid to the Indians at the treaty, and $400 annually on account of the lands thus ceded, for ever.
1795. As the Oneidas, Onondagas, and Cayugas, some- times collectively, sometimes singly, leased parts of the lands appropriated for their use to white persons, and permitted others to settle thereon without lease, which occasioned con- troversy between the tribes and between them and the set- tlers ; and as the tribes requested the Legislature to interfere and preserve good order in reference to the subject, com- inissioners were appointed to arrange the difficulties in such way as should preserve among the Indians full confidence in the justice of the state-said agents being authorized to grant annuities to the Indians for the unproductive lands which said tribes might be disposed to relinquish to the state, pursuant to the law of 11th March, 1793 (which al- lowed annuities of $5 for each square mile which should be relinquished by the Indians).
The United States and the Six Nations.
1794. A treaty was formed at Konondaigua [Canandai- gua] on the 11th November, 1794, between the United
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THE LANDS OF THE SIX NATIONS.
States and the Six Nations-Timothy Pickering acting in behalf of the United States.
" The President of the United States having determined to hold a conference with the Six Nations for the purpose of removing from their minds all causes of complaint, and establishing a firm and permanent friendship with them; and Timothy Pickering being appointed sole agent for that pur- pose ; the following articles were agreed upon, in order to accomplish the good design of the conference-
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