USA > New York > Fulton County > The border warfare of New York, during the revolution; or, The annals of Tryon county > Part 23
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It may here be observed, that one of the first move- ments of this little colony was the organization of a church, under the pastoral charge of Mr. Dunlop, and the erection of a rude edifice of logs, in which they assembled to worship the God of their fathers. In his own house Mr. Dunlop opened a classical school, and there educated some young men from the Ger- man families on the Mohawk, who afterward, and especially during the Revolution, acted conspicuous parts. Among the number were Col. Henry and Ma- jor John Frey. It is worthy of especial remembrance that in this valley the first regular society was organ- ized for religious worship in the English language, and the first classical school established in central or western New York. I have not been able to find an account of any other church or school at that early day, between this place and the immediate vicinity of the Hudson River, though there may have been classical schools at Schenectady. The church organ- ized under the patronage of Sir William Johnson, at Johnstown, was not founded until about 1765.
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The conduct of our fathers in the establishment of churches and schools, is the best evidence of the spirit with which the foundations of this settlement were laid. Virtue and knowledge, the two great pillars of republican institutions, were in the very commence- ment the object of their pursuit. They sought to plant here, in the centre of the wilderness, the seeds of Christianity and civilization. Their aim was noble- their enterprise was worthy, and deserved success. Their numbers were small-their means were lim- ited. But their hearts were undaunted-their cour- age did not forsake them-their minds had been made up for the undertaking-they resolved to be, and they were, successful.
Settlements were not then, as now, thrown forward almost with the rapidity of the earth's own motion, so that a frontier hamlet of to-day becomes a city with a densely peopled country around it to-morrow. On the contrary, the encroachments upon the wilderness, and upon the home of the red man, previous to the Revolution, were made slowly and with great caution. The white population advanced along the banks of the rivers and the margins of the tributary streams. Occasionally, as was the case with this settlement, a few families, more adventurous, might plunge further into what was then termed the desert, and relying for protection on the God of hosts and their own right arm, plant there the foundations of the white man's home. But the increase of these frontier settlements was very slow. In 1752, twelve years after the first settlement of Cherry Valley, there were but eight families in the place. In 1765, they had increased to
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forty families. The number in 1775, and at the com- mencement of the war, I do not know, but probably it did not exceed sixty families.
In 1744, Mr. John Wells removed to Cherry Val- ley. He purchased of Mr. Lindesay the farm occu- pied by him, and called Lindesay's Bush, being the same farm now owned and occupied by Mr. Joseph Phelon. Mr. Wells was a man of fine character, and was highly respected in the settlement. He was appointed the first justice of the peace. His son Robert iutermarried with a daughter of the Rev. Mr. Dunlop, and of this marriage, among other children, was John Wells, one of the most distinguished and able lawyers whom the State of New York has pro- duced. His history, I trust, is familiar to all who hear me. You have heard of the destruction of his whole family, of his subsequent labors, his compara- tive obscurity in his profession, until an opportunity was afforded for a display of his talents and genius, in his defense of the celebrated James Cheatham, editor of the American Citizen; when, as it were, with a single bound, he rose from that comparative obscurity to professional eminence. That distinguish- ed lawyer always cherished a warm affection for this the place of his birth, and it was his intention, had his life been spared for a few years longer, to have pur- chased the property of his ancestors, and to have re- tired from his profession, and spent here the closing years of his life amid the scenes of his boyhood.
From 1740 down to 1775, (as has already been stated,) the population of Cherry Valley increased
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slowly. That period had been one of considerable excitement, alarm and trial.
The long and bloody wars between England and France had been carried forward. The battle-field was transferred from Europe to America, and the con- test for national supremacy was maintained with re- newed vigor amid the forest homes of our fathers, and upon their inland seas. Most of the Indian tribes at the north, allured away by the French Jesuits, and by the liberal presents of the so-styled Grand Monarch of France, took up the hatchet against the English and Americans. The frontier inhabitants were kept under almost constant apprehension, and though the settlement of Cherry Valley escaped destruction, yet the inhabitants were called into service, and exchang- ed the peaceable pursuits of agriculture for the ex- citements and dangers of the camp, and were engaged in distant and hazardous expeditions. When the war of the Revolution commenced, Cherry Valley was still a frontier settlement. A few inhabitants were settled in the present town of Springfield ; a few in Middlefield, then called Newtown Martin. Along the banks of the Susquehanna, and in the valley of Unadilla and Otego creeks, a few settlers were found, and the brave and hardy family of Harpers had gone out from Cherry Valley and planted a little colony at Harpersfield ; but Cherry Valley was considered the centre and gathering-place of all these settlers.
When the period arrived that the united colonies of North America were compelled to take up arms to maintain their rights, the announcement produced
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necessarily a deep emotion through the frontier set- tlements.
War at all times is to be deprecated, and, if possible, avoided. In the case of our Revolution, war became justifiable on our part. The great principles of civil and religious liberty, for which our ancestors contend- ed in the old world, and which they sought to plant here in the new, were invaded. The crisis had arrived when their rights must be surrendered, or the ques- tion must be tried by a long and bloody civil war. The minds of men were early made up for the con- test. In this section of country, the perils and trials of the inhabitants were probably greater than in any other section of the Union. The Six Nations of In- dians, who early joined the English, were the most powerful and warlike of the aboriginal inhabitants. Yet, in defiance of danger, and undismayed by threats of vengeance, the inhabitants of Tryon County ral- lied together when the indications of the gathering storm were seen only in the distance.
If you will consider what was then the situation of that county, sparsely populated, and separated from the Hudson River and the Eastern States by a power- ful tribe of Indians, and a large body of men attached to the English cause, organized and commanded by influential and experienced men, and will then look at the early proceedings of their committee of safety, you will find exhibited a fearlessness and determina- tion of spirit almost unparalleled even in that day of self-sacrificing and heroic devotion to country. Read the proceedings of the Palatine committee, as early as 27th August, 1774, two years before the Declara-
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tion of Independence, when they asserted fearlessly their rights, and bound themselves together to abide by all the regulations of the first Continental Con- gress. Read the resolutions of the same committee, passed May 21st, 1775, when, in answer to the threats of Guy Johnson, then Indian superintendent, they resolved, " that as we abhor a state of slavery, we do join and unite together under all the ties of religion, honor, justice, and a love of freedom, never to become slaves, and to defend our freedom with our lives and fortunes."
When the time, the place, and the circumstances are considered under which that committee met and passed the resolutions referred to, I think you will conclude with me that they are unparalleled. In their tone and sentiment they would have done credit to any provincial assembly, or even to the Continen- tal Congress itself. The original draft of these reso- lutions I found many years since in a neglected spot in the garret of the house of Major John Frey, and I have deposited the manuscript among the archives of the New York Historical Society, that it may re- main as a memorial of the noble spirit of Tryon Coun- ty. It is in the handwriting of Christopher P. Yates, who was an eminent and able patriot. But if he had done nothing besides being the author and advocate of these resolutions, his name and his memory should be warmly cherished in this section of country where you dwell.
Here, in Cherry Valley, the leading citizens early embraced the colonial cause. In May, 1775, the common article of association was circulated, in which
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the signers pledged themselves to support the Conti- nental Congress. It is unnecessary here, and indeed I have not time to detail the progress of the war, dur- ing the first years of its continuance. A fort was erected which occupied a portion of the present burial ground, and which was garrisoned by a regiment of continental troops under the command of Col. Alden. Alarms and rumors were the order of the day. This region of country seems early to have been marked out for destruction, and the settlement of Cherry Val- ley, after repeated alarms, was destined to share the common fate of the frontier hamlets of New York.
The 11th of November, 1778, has been rendered memorable by the sacrifices and sufferings, and death of many of the early settlers of this valley. On the morning of that day no bright sun gilded the moun- tain tops with his beams, nor was the eye gladdened with the view of the rich tints of autumn. Clouds and mists were round about the homes of our fathers, as if veiling the horrid scenes which on that day were to be enacted. The gun from the fort early in the morning announced that the enemy was near. The scouts had been surprised and taken, and the yell of the Indian, and the report of his rifle, heralded his approach to the garrison. The scattered inhabitants, most of them, unarmed, strove to gain places of actual or fancied security, but generally in vain. Some reached the fort and were saved, others were pursued and slain by the wayside, and the tomahawk and scalping-knife drank the blood of others at their own fireside, and even while kneeling in prayer before their Maker. Others were retained as hostages or
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prisoners, to be borne away through the wilderness to take up their abode with savages, and to suffer a tedious and dreadful captivity. I have endeavored, in the history which I have heretofore presented to my fellow citizens, of the border wars of this State, to give a picture of this valley on the night succeeding the day of the massacre. The place chosen for encamp- ment of the enemy was about two miles south of the village, and near the site of the dwelling-house of James Dickson. The prisoners were gathered around the watch-fires, drenched with the rain and sleet, and shivering with cold, with no protection from the storm. Thick darkness covered the valley, except when some gust of wind kindled a flame for a moment amid the dying embers, and thus marked the spots where once had been their homes. The mangled corpses of rela- tives and neighbors lay unburied around the ashes of their dwellings. Their own fate was hid from them. They knew not whether a long captivity awaited them, or whether on the morrow they should be offer- ed up as sacrifices to appease the wrath or gratify the passions of their enemies. I can imagine no state of suspense more awful. Mercy, however, in a measure triumphed, and a portion of the prisoners were releas - ed, and the rest were carried into captivity, and ena- bled to return after the lapse of many years. Be- tween thirty and forty of the inhabitants were killed on the 11th of November. It is unnecessary at this time to give their names.
On the following day their corpses were gathered together, and under the protection of the garrison were deposited in a common grave. It would have
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been very gratifying if, on this occasion, we could have laid the corner-stone of a monument to mark the place of their burial, and which, while it commemo- rated the death of those who perished on the 11th of November, 1778, might have endured also as a me- morial of the anniversary which we this day cele- brate.
This destruction of the settlement closed the Revo- lutionary drama at Cherry Valley. The small fort was abandoned in the following summer, and the troops joined General James Clinton's detachment, when on his way to join Gen. Sullivan, in the famous expedition against the Six Nations in 1779. This whole region of country was swept over by an ever active and vindictive enemy. At the close of the Revolution, and when peace was once more restored, , the remnant of the inhabitants returned to their former homes, but war, and disease, and poverty had done their fearful work, and many a once familiar face was never again seen round the domestic hearth. In 1784 a few log houses were built by the inhabitants who had returned, and in the same year the immortal Washington honored our little valley with a visit. He came up from the Mohawk River for the purpose of visiting this place, and also examining the outlet of Lake Otsego, where, in 1779, Gen. James Clinton threw a dam across the Susquehanna, preparatory to his descent of that river.
It has already been stated that the first inhabitants of Cherry Valley were mostly religious people. Like the Puritans of New England they were watchful and jealous of any infraction of Christian duties. Many
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of my hearers will have read the letter addressed by the committee of safety of Cherry Valley to the general committee of Tryon County. It was as follows :
" Cherry Valley, June 9th, 1775. " SIRS,
"We received yours of yesterday relative to the meeting of the committee on Sunday, which surprised us not a little, inasmuch as it seems not to be on any alarming circumstance, which, if it was, we should readily attend. But as that does not appear to us to be the case, we think it very improper ; for unles , the necessity of the committee sitting superexceed the duties to be performed in attending the worship of God, we think it ought to be put off till another day ; and therefore we conclude not to give our attendance at this time, unless you adjourn the sitting of the com- mittee till Monday morning, and in that case we will give our attendance as early as you please. But otherwise we cannot allow ourselves to be cut short of attending on the public worship, except the case be so necessitous as to exceed sacrifice. We conclude with wishing success to the common cause, and sub- scribe ourselves the free-born sons of liberty.
JOHN MOORE, SAMUEL CLYDE, SAMUEL CAMPBELL."
I have introduced this letter for the purpose of call- ing attention more particularly to a meeting of the inhabitants in 1785, after the storm of war had passed over, and when quiet and peace once more rested
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upon the borders. Neither war, nor exile, nor pov- erty had caused them to forget their Christian duties, or the importance of religious societies.
On the 5th of April, 1785, a public meeting of the citizens was held, the objects of which will be best explained by the record made at the time. It is as follows :
"We, the ancient inhabitants of Cherry Valley, in the county of Montgomery, and State of New York, having returned from exile, find ourselves destitute of our church officers, viz : deacons and elders. In con- sequence of our difficulties, and other congregations in similar circumstances, our Legislature thought proper to pass a law for the relief of these, viz : 'An act to incorporate all religious societies,' passed April 6th, 1784. In compliance of said act we proceeded follows :
" ADVERTISEMENT.
" At a meeting of a respectable number of the old inhabitants of Cherry Valley, it was agreed upon that an advertisement should be set up, to give notice to all the former inhabitants that are returned to their re- spective habitations, to meet at the meeting-house yard on Tuesday, the fifth day of April next, at ten o'clock, before noon, then and there to choose trustees, who shall be a body corporate for the purpose of taking care of the temporalities of their respective Presbyte- rian congregation, agreeable to an act of the Legis- lature of the State of New York, passed April sixth, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-four.
SAMUEL CLYDE, Justice of the Peace.
Cherry Valley, March 19th, 1785."
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" Cherry Valley, April 5th, 1785.
" 1st. The congregation being met agreeable to the above advertisement, proceeded as follows, viz : The congregation having no minister, nor elders, or deacons, at present, by reason of death and removal of such in the late war, we, the people at large, did nominate and elect the following two members of the congregation to be the returning officers and judges of the qualification of the electors of said meeting :
COL. SAMUEL CAMPBELL, WILLIAM DICKSON.
"2d. Proceeded as follows at the said meeting, and have nominated Col. Samuel Clyde, John Campbell, Jr., and James Wilson, to be the trustees for said con- gregation. The trustees appointed James Cannon as clerk for said board."
" Cherry Valley, April 5th, 1785. " At a meeting of the inhabitants of Cherry Valley this day, the undermentioned were elected trustees for the Presbyterian congregation :
SAMUEL CLYDE, Esq. JOHN CAMPBELL, Jr. JAMES WILSON.
" Electors' Names .- Robert Shankland, William Thompson, Samuel Ferguson, James Moore, Jr., John Campbell, Jr., Hugh Mitchell, William Gault, James Cannon, Samuel Campbell, Jr., Samuel Clyde, Esq., Samuel Campbell, William Dickson, James Dickson, Daniel McCollum, John McKillip, Israel
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Wilson, Luther Rich, James Wilson, Thomas Whita- ker, Benjamin Dickson, John Dunlop."
" Cherry Valley, April 5th, 1785.
"To all whom it doth or may concern, Greeting : We, Samuel Campbell and William Dickson, return- ing officers, by virtue of the law of this State, entitled an act to enable all the religious denominations in this State to appoint trustees, who shall be a body corpo- rate for the purpose of taking care of the temporalities of their respective congregations, and for other pur- poses therein mentioned ; passed the sixth day of April, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-four, of the Presbyterian congregation of Cherry Valley, in the county of Montgomery, do hereby certify that Samuel Clyde, John Campbell Jr., and James Wil- son, were duly and legally elected trustees of said congregation, and that the said trustees and their suc- cessors shall forever hereafter be a body corporate, and be called, distinguished, and known by the name and title of Trustees of the Presbyterian Church in Cherry Valley, in the County of Montgomery.
" Given under our hands and seals this fifth day of April, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-five.
SAMUEL CAMPBELL. [L.S.] WILLIAM DICKSON. [L.S.]"
Measures were soon after taken for building a church edifice, but it was not completed until some years after. The plan adopted seems to have been to sell pew ground, and with the proceeds to erect the building, each purchaser of pew ground stipula-
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ting to construct his own pew thereon, according to a uniform plan, after the building should be enclosed. The purchaser of pew ground was to pay partly in money, and partly in produce at the market price. Many of my hearers will recollect the old church, with its square, high-back pews, which occupied a part of the burying-ground, or meeting-house yard, as it is styled in the foregoing proceedings, and which was taken down about twelve or thirteen years ago, when the present Presbyterian church edifice was erected.
The meeting of the inhabitants of Cherry Valley on the 5th of April, 1785, is deserving of particular attention. The remnant of the ancient inhabitants, as they styled themselves, had returned to their former homes. They had returned, they say, from exile. The long and bloody war through which they had passed, had thinned their ranks and whitened the heads, and furrowed the cheeks of the survivors. They had once more a home, but it was again a forest home.
The wild beast had made its lair amid the ruins of their former dwellings. The briar, the thistle and the sapling grew rank upon their garden spots. In the autumn of 1784 a few log huts had been built, but in the spring of 1785, when this meeting was called, there was no building in the settlement where the in- habitants could assemble together. They met, there- fore, like their fathers, under the open heavens.
The place where they gathered together was hal- lowed ground. It had been set apart for the burial of their dead. The graves of their kindred and friends were round about them. It was the place which had
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been consecrated by their patriotism, for there stood their little fort.
On that same spot the inhabitants assembled to- gether and organized anew, on the 5th day of April, 1785, that Presbyterian society which has continued to this day.
The first regular pastor was settled in 1796, and he was our reverend and distinguished guest,* who has this day honored our little valley with his presence, and who, nearly half a century ago, commenced here his sacred ministrations, and preached here the gos- pel to our fathers. Long may his valuable life be spared to the church, and to the literary institution over which he has long presided with so much ability and success.
From 1785 down to the present time, our valley has not been signalized by any remarkable changes. The increase of population has been gradual though constant. It has not increased in this town and county as in that vast country west, which has since that period sprung into being, and is now teeming with millions of people. Our own little valley has contributed to swell that western tide, and she num- bers there many engaged in the various pursuits of life, and among the learned professions many who received here their academical or professional edu- cation.
Of the first settlers, the late Col. Samuel Campbell was the last survivor. Of his character I shall not speak at length, but I may be permitted to say that
* Rev. Dr. Nott, President of Union College.
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he was a true patriot and an excellent citizen. He served in the French war, and was with Sir William Johnson at Fort Edward in 1757, at the time of the massacre at Fort William Henry. During the stormy period of the Revolution he was an active and efficient friend of his country, and at its close found himself stripped of most of his property. Again he com- menced his laborious life, and lived to see a large and prosperous family around him. He was but three years old when he came with his father to this town in 1741. He closed his eventful life in September, 1824, at the age of 86.
While he was the last of the first settlers, his aged consort, who died a few years since, at the age of 92, may be said to have been the last survivor of the fe- male actors in the Revolutionary drama of our valley.
She was born near the Giant's Causeway in Ire- land, and when about ten years of age she removed with her father, Matthew Cannon, to this country. Her settlement, her marriage, her heroic fortitude and attachment to her country, her long and severe In- dian captivity, are circumstances upon which I need not dwell ; her friends and her descendants cherish her memory with ardent affection.
Col. Samuel Clyde was an able and efficient co- worker in the Revolutionary struggle. He was a stern and inflexible patriot, and exerted a large influ- ence in this district of country. He was appointed the first justice of the peace after the war. He, too, in in his Revolutionary toils, was aided and supported by his courageous and patriotic wife.
John Moore was another sterling man. While na-
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ture had been sparing in her physical gifts, she had endowed him with a strong and vigorous intellect, which had been well cultivated, considering the cir- cumstances in which he was placed.
Of the Rev. Samuel Dunlop I have already spoken. He was an educated man, and for nearly forty years ministered to the early settlers.
At the time of the massacre his family were slain. He alone with one daughter escaped. Under the protection of an Indian chief he stood and beheld the destruction of his earthly hopes, his home, and the homes of his friends, melt away with the flames.
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