USA > New York > Washington County > Washington county, New York; its history to the close of the nineteenth century > Part 16
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Another anecdote, ending up with a somewhat ludicrous episode though not caused by this New Hampshire controversy, was as follows: It was related by Robert Blake and Ann McArthur to that indefatigable mouser in the early history of Washington county, Dr. Fitch-to whom too much praise and gratitude cannot be given for the preservation, through his efforts, of much which otherwise would have been con- signed to oblivion.
The first building erected in the old Township of Argyle, stood upon the flat beside the Batten-Kill, above the mouth of Cassayuna Creek. It seems that one Rogers had obtained from Lydius a strip of land along the Batten-Kill from the mouth of White Creek to the Cassayuna outlet and had built his cabin, cleared some of the land around it, and
1 Belknap Allen's Narrative. Slade's Vermont State Papers.
2 Many of the soldiers, says Johnson, not desiring to settle and not being able to dispose of their lands. the latter remained vacant. Consequently, squatters often settled upon them, in some cases remaining so long in undisputed possession that they or their heirs or assigns became in time the lawful owners.
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WASHINGTON COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
was residing there with his family when the town was surveyed by spies from New Hampshire. It would also appear that he remonstrated with the surveyors against their marking any trees upon his lands, for the corner of one of the lots near his house was left unmarked. Soon after this, when the Scotch settlers began to arrive in the vicinity, he very properly forbade their intruding upon any part of the lands which he claimed, telling them that if they did so it would be at their peril. Disregarding and unintimidated by his threats two of them, Livingston and Read, erected their houses upon the land claimed by Rogers. He accordingly, sought every occasion for annoying them, boldly maintain- ing that none of the Argyle settlers had any title to their lands, Lydins, if any one, being the real owner. Finally, on one occasion, finding that Livingston was absent from home, he went to his house and taking his wife carried her out of doors, sat her down and then proceeded to remove all of the furniture from the house-truly a remarkable case of ejectment! For this ontrage a warrant for the arrest of Rogers was issued by Esquire McNaughton and handed to Read, one of the constables of the town, for service. Rogers, who was a stalwart and athletic man, had given ont that it would be as much as one's life was worth to molest him, especially as he had some bulldogs about his house that would be found dangerous foes for any man who came near his dwelling. Fearing, therefore, that it would be a difficult matter to arrest him, Read summoned to his aid one of the most vigorous and resolute men in the neighborhood, viz: Joseph McCracken of Salem, to assist him. Not a dog was heard to bark when they approached Rogers' house in the evening or rather, as it would seem from the narrative, at the earliest dawn. As they opened the door, Rogers caught up his loaded gun, but McCracken, instantly rushing up and grasping it, held it firm in spite of Rogers' ntmost efforts to wrest it from him. Read now proceeded to bind Rogers' arms behind him. A comical incident now occurred. Suspenders, says Mrs. Ann McArthur, were not worn at that period; and in the struggle the waistband of McCracken's pantaloons, becoming unbuttoned, they slipped down, as he was holding for his very life on to the musket in Rogers' hands. Meanwhile, a little child of Rogers, furious at seeing his father thus overpowered, hereupon ran up and bit the posterior of McCracken: but even this attack in his rear did not cause him to relax his hold on the gun. The prisoner then, being securely bound, was conveyed to the jail in Albany. "Such" says Fitch, "is the history of the first service of a legal process in the
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PROMINENT SETTLERS.
county of which we have any knowledge." What afterwards became of Rogers or his family is not known. To prevent further annoyances of this kind, Esquire McNaughton had an interview with Lydius and requested him either to desist from giving deeds to these lands based on his titles opposed to those given by Governor Wentworth, or else to get confirmation of his title from the Royal Government. Lydius, it is said, visited England for this purpose but without success, the Board of Trade refusing to interfere. No further molestation, however, from this source was experienced.
Among the early and most prominent, and indeed distinguished settlers of the County was Captain, (afterwards Judge) Duer. It was in 1766, that the present Village of Fort Miller was founded.' Captain Duer, a brilliant officer of the British army had served with distinguished merit on the staff of Lord Clive during the latter's remarkable career of conquest in India ; and, among other English officers attracted hither, had. in his surveys, chosen the vicinity of Fort Miller to found a colony. His wife was a daughter of Mr. Alexander of New York who claimed to be the rightful heir of a Scottish Earldom and who was known throughout the Revolutionary War as Lord Sterling. He had, more- over, subsequently won high honors at the Battle of Long Island, and was held in great esteem by Washington, himself. Mrs. Duer was generally known as "pretty Lady Kitty" (not Katy as she has been called) Duer ; and if that designation had at that day been in existence she would have been said to have belonged to the "Four Hundred." While maintaining a princely establishment in this primeval forest-her husband being a person of great wealth-she was accustomed to spend a great portion of her time amid the gaieties of the fashionable circles of New York City. She was present at the Grand Ball given in 1789, in New York City, in honor of the adoption of the Federal Constitui- tion and of Washington's Inauguration. "
Major Duer was, subsequently, with Gen. Philip Schuyler, appointed the second judge of the County-Schuyler being the first; and both were associated together on the judicial bench. " Philip P. Lansing
1 Deriving its name from the old fortified store-houses on the west side of the Hudson, the erection of which has already been mentioned.
% In my father's (Col. Wm. L. Stone's) account of the "Grand Inauguration Ball," taken down by him from the lips of Aaron Burr, who was present on that occasion. a full account of the costume worn by Lady "Kitty Duer" is given.
3 Schuyler's appointment as "first judge of the county" of Charlotte county (Washington ) was dated the Sth of September, 1772.
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WASHINGTON COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
(after whom Lansingburg was named) was at the same time appointed sheriff, and Patrick Smith of Fort Edward, clerk, while Ebenezer Clark, a son of Rev. Dr. Thomas Clark, and Alexander McNaughton- both of New-Perth-and Jacob Marsh and Benjamin Spence of the present State of Vermont, received the appointment of "Justices of the Quorum." i. e .- associates of the judges in holding the Courts of Com- mon Pleas and Sessions.
Another of the prominent settlers in the county was Major Philip Skene-a distinguished officer-who had, at the assault on Ticonderoga in 1758, displayed extraordinary bravery. He had also served with gallantry under General Amherst. From these reasons, as well as from his prominence and his great influence in early bringing this county into notice, he deserves much more than a passing mention.
In the summer of 1759, having, during his march with Amherst through the country, noticed the great fertility of the land, Major Skene made a settlement at the head of South Bay, where the present village of Whitehall 1 now stands. Here he located thirty families, all being in his employment and began with great zeal the work of clearing the land. This place afterward received the name of Skenesborough, after its founder, and was destined, as will hereafter be seen, to come into great prominence at the time of the Revolutionary War-especially during the campaign of General Burgoyne. Although he had not yet secured a title to this land, he, it is said, acted under the advice of General Amherst, having it is to be presumed no doubt that, with such a " backer," there would be no question of his obtaining a title to it. Having settled his tenants comfortably on their various allotments, and still retaining his rank in the army he went to Cuba with the British army, and greatly distinguished himself at the attack and capture of Morro Castle. In the New York State records he is styled Major Skene, yet the grant to him of 3,000 acres of land at Northwest Bay (now West Port) in Essex county, for military service, would seem to indi- cate that he held at this time a captain's commission only. At a later period, while serving under General Burgoyne, he is styled "Colonel Skene;" but this may have been in consequence of having received a civil appointment as one of the judges of this county. He is also often designated in the correspondence of the day "Governor Skene" -a title which probably originated from the project he at one time con- templated, of having the New Hampshire Grants (the present State
" For the Indian name of Whitehall and its meaning, see a few chapters back.
1
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MAJOR PHILIP SKENE.
of Vermont) and northern New York erected into a separate Royal Government with himself at its head. If he, however, actually had such a commission, it would have been, as has been pointed out, nat- urally suppressed by the continental authorities, anxious as they were not to offend the important province of New York which would have been the effect of recognizing such a document.
On his return from the West Indies, in 1763, he brought with him a number of African slaves; and having obtained, in the spring of 1765, a grant of 25,000 acres at the mouth of Wood Creek in the present Town of Whitehall, he set himself to erecting a number of buildings of a much more pretentions character than any other private citizen possessed in those days. His own dwelling was of stone, on William's Street in the Village of Whitehall, and his barn, also built of stone, stood some distance south of his house, it being occupied by the garden of the late Judge Wheeler. This edifice was 130 feet long; and its walls were so massive that it was always supposed that Colonel Skene, like his contemporary, Sir William Johnson in his building at Johnstown, N. Y., contemplated the possibility of its being used at some time as a fortification-a conjecture which seems not at all unreasonable.
On July 6th, 1771, he obtained a further grant of 9, 000 acres on the ground that he could, if duly encouraged by the government, settle upon it a hundred families within three years. This last grant which was known as "Skene's Little Patent," adjoined the north side of his "Great Patent," and lay on the "East side of the waters running from Wood Creek into Lake Champlain." Nearly 2, 000 acres of this smaller tract forms the northern portion of the Town of Hampton. The remainder of it and all of the "Great Patent" lies in the present Town of Whitehall, and includes 2, 000 acres granted to Lieutenant McIntosh, besides fragmentary corners of two other military tracts.
Being now greatly encouraged by the aid given him by the Govern- ment-a circumstance which he undoubtedly owed to his old com- .manding officer and personal friend, General Amherst-he pushed rapidly forward his improvements; and such was his untiring energy and enterprise, and the love which his tenants bore him-they all help- ing him in his projects to the utmost in their power-that, in 1767, he cut a road at his own expense from his settlement (Skenesborough) amid a dense wilderness, thirty miles through the central portion of Hebron, or New Perth, and Salem, whence, aided by the inhabitants of the southern portion of the county, it was subsequently extended to
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WASHINGTON COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
Bennington. This, known for many years after the Revolution, as "Skene's Road," passed in as straight a course as possible and conse- quently went over hilly tracts that are now avoided. It crossed Pawlet River at the old turnpike bridge, a short distance above Whitehall and keeping down between the hills in the western part of Granville, came to "Monroe's Meadows" by the present west road, and so onwards by Chamberlain's Mills to Salem.
Nothing was done towards grading this primitive road, a large part of which was made of logs, and was called in the parlance of the county "corduroy." It was, consequently, passable in winter only for sleighs; and not only in winter was the ox-sled the chief means of conveyance, but even in summer (as is the case even at this day, in many portions of the Adirondack wilderness) it was a common thing for a settler to hitch his oxen to a sled, with wooden runners-iron not being thought of-and with a bag of wheat or of corn as a load, make his way to the nearest settlement often twelve miles distant. "A man who owned a cart at that time was considered to be decidedly forehanded; and one who possessed an actual wagon with four wheels might fairly claim to belong to the aristocracy! "'
Now, although this narrative will have much to say of Major Skene when the campaign of General Burgoyne is considered, yet I deem this a good place to describe his personal appearance, and his general character. "We are surprised," says Fitch, "at the malignancy of the hatred which most of our old people [this was written in 1849] manifest toward this man. From one who in his youth saw him repeatedly in Burgoyne's camp at Fort Edward we are told that he was a large, fine looking person, with a pleasant countenance and an affable deportment. Except what took place in open and honorable warfare, we cannot learn that he was party to any acts by which the inhabitants were ever distressed or molested in any way. But there is no doubt that his power and influence and the known energy of his character made the leading Whigs of the county, from the very outset of the Revolutionary struggle, fear him ten fold more than any other friend of the King dwelling in this section of the State. They saw that it was necessary that his popularity [and there is no doubt but that it was very great] among the inhabitants should be effectually destroyed; and the abhor- rence with which he is commonly spoken of indicates, as much as any
1 Conversations of Dr. Fitch with Jacob Bitely. Fort Edward; George Webster, Lansingburg, and James Rogers, Hebron.
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NEW HAMPSHIRE GRANTEES INDICTED.
fact within our knowledge, the consummate taet and ability with which the affairs of those times were here managed. Could we put the question to any of the common people who were residing here in the days that are now gone by, who it was that they hated most, the reply we know would be ' the Devil; ' but if we further asked who, next to him they most exeerated, we are in doubt whether the answer would be .the Pope ' or ' old Skene.'"
It will thus be seen that most of the early and prominent settlers of this county were of foreign birth, viz: Judge (Major) William Duer, Major (afterwards Colonel) Skene, Dr. Thomas Clark, and a Dr. John Williams-the last being a young English physician, who had settled in Salem in the early part of 1773, and who soon displayed marked ability not only in his chosen profession, but as a man of business and a political leader; for, notwithstanding his recent arrival from England, he was an ardent supporter of the patriot cause. So, also, was Judge Duer. Dr. Clark and Major Skene were both believed to favor the cause of the mother country, though the former took no active part ; while a few believed that, at this time, even the hated and much maligned Skene would not have become an outspoken and active British partisan had it not been for needless harshness on the part of the Colonial authorities.
On the 21st of March, 1773, a stormy court was held at Fort Edward. Judge William Duer presided, Judge Philip Schuyler being in attendance on the Colonial Assembly in New York City defending the cause of the people. It was expected that many indictments grow- ing out of the riots in the eastern part of the County, in consequence of the stand taken by the New Hampshire grantees, as mentioned a few pages back, would be found against certain disturbers of the peace. In addition to which, the disturbed condition of the country (as is the case at the present day on our western borders) caused many criminals who had fled here from their haunts in the cities, to make themselves obnoxious to the peaceable inhabitants of the county. These men hoped, and not, perhaps, without reason, that those who had been ousted from their claims and burning for revenge would, if not sympathize, at least would "wink " at, or condone their outrages. They were, it is said, of the most debased class, comprising robbers, thieves, and especially counterfeiters, who had taken advantage of the riotous proceedings; and perhaps, too, in addition, the just indigna- tion of those settlers who had been driven from their farms, and thus
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WASHINGTON COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
willingly aided in circulating their bogus silver coin with alarming facility.
Thus it was, that all these violators of the law and their friends crowded in and around the rude tavern at Fort Edward, in one of the rooms of which the court was to be held, cursing and drinking, and threatening all sorts of dire things-not the least of which was their determination to "pitch court, officers and jury into the Hudson if they dared attempt to enforce the law;" and what added to the excitement was the fact that some days before, the court at Westminster, in Cumberland county (then in the present state of Vermont) had been broken up by a similar mob-one man having been killed and several wounded in the affray.
Judge William Duer, however, the East Indian soldier and one accustomed from his military experience to brook no insubordination, was not frightened. A company of British troops under Captain Mott, chanced, at the time, to be passing through Fort Edward on their way to Ticonderoga. The Captain, thereupon, having been persuaded by Judge Duer to tarry at that village for a few days, the Judge at once proceeded to convene and hold his court. The rioters being thus confronted with the glistening bayonets of men who would stand no nonsense, sullenly subsided, and allowed the court to be held peaceably and with no molestation. Consequently, indictments were duly found against the guilty parties, though the intense excitement which arose soon after consequent upon the Battle of Lexington, prevented either their arrest or conviction.
Upon the adjournment of his court, Judge Duer reported this attempt to intimidate him in the performance of his duty to the Pro- vincial Congress and requested their permission to hold the court the ensuing June; writing as follows:
"Your interposition in this matter may save the shedding of blood at the next court, for so long as I know it to be the sense of the country that the courts of justice should be supported, and that I have the honor of sitting as one of the judges, I shall endeavor to keep them open even at the risk of my life."
"The court thus held by the resolute judge in March, 1775, was the last public court in Charlotte county previous to the beginning of the Revolutionary period. " '
1 Johnson.
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PROSPERITY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
CHAPTER XII.
1775-1776.
THE PEACE OF 1763 BRINGS INCREASED PROSPERITY TO WASHINGTON COUNTY-GENERAL THRIFT OF THE PEOPLE DISTURBED BY RUMORS OF WAR BETWEEN THE COLONIES AND THE MOTHER COUNTRY-THE INHABITANTS OF THE COUNTY DIVIDED IN THEIR ALLE- GIANCE-ETHAN ALLEN'S ATTACK ON, AND CAPTURE OF, TICONDEROGA-SEIZURE AND IMPRISONMENT OF COLONEL SKENE-FORMATION OF WAR COMMITTEES-FAILURE OF GENERAL MONTGOMERY'S EXPEDITION AND HIS DEATH BEFORE THE WALLS OF QUEBEC -DEATH FROM SMALL POX OF GENERAL THOMAS-WASHINGTON'S VIEWS REGARDING THE RECRUITING FOR THE CONTINENTAL ARMY-CARLETON'S NAVAL VICTORY ON LAKE CHAMPLAIN OVER GENERAL ARNOLD-OUTLOOK FOR THE FUTURE MOST GLOOMY -EXTRACTS FROM CAPTAIN NORTON'S "ORDERLY BOOK"-POSITION OF THE PEOPLE OF WASHINGTON COUNTY AT THIS CRISIS OUTLINED.
For a number of years, or, since 1760, Washington County 1 had been favored with a high degree of prosperity. Many farms were either taken up from the Royal Government, or else purchased from private parties; while, as has been seen in the last chapter, a number of prominent individuals, such as Judge Duer and Colonel Skene, had become permanent residents. In fact, all the signs gave promise of an unexampled era of thrift. The French War, moreover, being now over, every one, confident that peace had indeed dawned, looked for- ward to a life of contentment and industry, undisturbed by Indian forays, accompanied by the inevitable and horrible atrocities of border warfare. Canada, having been ceded to Great Britain, no one dreamt that soon his farm would be the theatre for the acting of one of the greatest conflicts that had ever taken place in America. Still less, did the inhabitants imagine for an instant that their misfortunes in even the distant future were to be caused by a war with the Mother Country. France, perhaps, they thought might possibly give rise to anxiety; but the idea of trouble arising from that quarter was prepos- terous and not to be seriously entertained. It is true, that distant mutterings of the fast advancing storm had recently been heard by them, but up to nearly the last moment it was supposed that the dif-
" When I speak of "Washington County." the reader should recollect that it was still a part of the western portion of Charlotte County. When I come to write of the separation of the counties this will be made more plain.
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WASHINGTON COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
ferences between England and her American Colonies would be amicably adjusted-but, as to a final and a violent separation and the cutting asunder of all ties-this was an idea not seriously to be thought of at this time, even by the most zealous patriots. When, therefore, the news of the Battle of Lexington was conveyed to them by a swift messenger, ' followed soon afterward by the news of the capture of Ticonderoga by Ethan Allen, they were simply dazed. Soon, however, recovering from their stupor, the majority of the inhabitants of the county, as with one impulse, sprung to arms, and, sympathizing with their sister colonies, they with one spirit pledged themselves to each other " to be ready for the extreme event." With one heart, they, with the entire continent exclaimed in the words of Patrick Henry: "Give me liberty or give me death!" Acting in this spirit they declared in several enthusiastic and public meetings "to stand or fall with their brethren of New England," only waiting for the commands of the Provincial Congress of New York to take up arms.
It is true, that a large and very respectable minority, consisting chiefly of natives of England and Scotland, were not ready at this early period of the contest, to cast aside their allegiance to George III ; though, in the presence of the prevailing excitement, they remained silent and did nothing by any overt act to make themselves specially obnoxious. That portion of Washington County, then forming a part of Albany County, viz: Cambridge, Easton, Jackson and White Creek,
1 In describing the general alarm sent out after the Battle of Lexington Mr. Bancroft, in one ·of his most superb passages, says :
"Darkness closed upon the country and upon the town, but it was no night for sleep. Heralds ·on swift relays of horses transmitted the war-message from hand to hand, till village repeated it to village; the sea to the backwoods; the prairies to the highlands; and it was never suffered to drop, till it had been borne north and south, and east and west throughout the land. It spread over the bays that receive the Saco and Penobscot. Its loud reveille broke the rest of the trappers of New Hampshire and, ringing like bugle notes from peak to peak, overleapt the Green Moun- tains, swept onward to Montreal and descended the ocean river, till the responses were echoed from the cliffs of Quebec. The hills along the Hudson told to one another the tale. As the sum- mons hurried to the south, it was one day at New York; in one more at Philadelphia; the next it lighted a watch-fire at Baltimore; thence it waked an answer at Annapolis. Crossing the Poto- mac near Mount Vernon, it was sent forward without a halt to Williamsburg. It traversed the Dismal Swamp to Nansemond, and along the route of the first emigrants to North Carolina. 'For God's sake, forward it by night and by day,' wrote Cornelius Harnett, by the express which spad for Brunswick, Patriots of South Carolina caught up its tones at the border, and through pines and palmettoes and moss-clad live oaks, still further to the south, till it resounded among the New England settlements beyond the Savannah.
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