USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > Early history of Cleveland, Ohio : including papers and other matter relating to the adjacent country : with biographical notices of the pioneers and surveyors > Part 7
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Since the year 1850, no further discoveries have been made on that beach.
3d. In the year 1859, a bayonet was thrown out by a plow on the margin of the plateau, overlooking the left bank of the river, between TISDALE's point, and the highway, running from the plank-road to the residence of Col. MERWIN. In the year 1863, Capt. TISDALE, while constructing a private road to his residence on the point, uncovered with a plow, the circle of boulders inclosing a quantity of ashes and charcoal-the remains of a camp-fire, to which allusion has already been made, and which is near where the bayonet was discovered.
On the outer margin of the circle were, dug out of the earth, the remains of a case-knife, nearly consumed by rust, and the blade of a surgeon's am- putating knife. The bayonet and the amputating knife I have among my collection of relics.
4th. The ring-bolt, rudder irons, nails, and other remnants of a consumed batteau, were exposed by
117
RELICS ON MC MAHON'S PLACE.
clearing of the bottom at the mouth of McMAHON's run, soon after the first settling of the township.
5th. A stack of bayonets, covered with accumu- lated soil, rubbish and rank vegetation, and the re- mains of a musket, resting in the crotch of a tree, encased in the growth of wood; were discovered about the same period of time, as were the relics of the batteau.
4
6th. Several years later, two six-pound cannon balls and a number of leaden musket balls, were exposed to view, by undermining, by the Lake of the clay-cliff, which rises from the western margin of the bottom lands. These, no doubt, were among the articles, buried by BRADSTREET, with his cannon and ammunition, as described by Sir WM. JOHNSON.
All of the aforenamed relics were discovered by Mr. MCMAHON, and most of them were preserved by his family for a considerable time. All seem now to be lost, except the two six-pound cannon balls, which the family retain, and one of the musket balls, that is in my possession.
7th. About the year 1831, a young daughter of DATUS KELLY, now Mrs. CHARLES CARPENTER, of KELLY's Island, found an antique silver spoon on the beach, opposite the present residence of Col. MERWIN. She dug it out of the sand while at play. It is thick and heavy for its size, the workmanship, which is coarse, is evidently old, and is of the model
118
TOMAHAWK AND BAYONETS.
of those that were common, in the more wealthy families in New England during the last century.
On the under side of the tip of the handle, the initials I. C. are engraved, and on the same side near its junction with the bowl, are stamped the initials of the maker, A. S. Mrs. CARPENTER has had the care and good taste to retain it in her possession as an interesting relic.
8th. On the 4th of July, 1851, OSCAR TAYLOR, in company with several young men, while bathing in the lake at McMAHON's cove, some forty rods west of the run, discovered in the water a teaspoon similar in all respects, except the engraved initials are S. T. He now resides at New London, Wiscon- sin, and retains the spoon. On the same occasion STEPHEN M. TAYLOR found an old bayonet near that locality, but neglected to preserve it.
9th. Still farther to the west, on the beach op- posite the farm of Mr. BROWN, the proprietor dis- covered many years since, an iron or steel tomahawk, constructed to answer also the purpose of a pipe for smoking. It is lost.
10th. In the year 1859 an extensive slide from the high land, overlooking the lake and the right bank of McMAHON's run, took place. While ex- amining it, EDWIN BIDWELL noticed the end of a bayonet, still bearing the metallic tip of the sheath, projecting from the undisturbed margin of the bank, about twelve inches below the surface, the depth of
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OLD ENGLISH MUSKETS.
the soil that seems to have accumulated over many of these relics, dropped on the land, a hundred years since. This bayonet was invested in the fine grained blue clay, formed from the breaking down of the adjacent shales, in which condition it is thrown upon the margin of the high banks of the lake, by the surf during storms. So perfectly did this investing material, protect the bayonet against the action of erosive agents, that it now retains much of its original polish, and is entire in all its parts. Through the kindness of Mr. B. I have it in my collection.
11th. In the same collection are also a number of bayonets, less perfect, collected by the families of Gov. WOOD and Col. MERWIN. These, at different times, were thrown up by the surf, or were drawn out of the water by fishermen's seines. One thus obtained was still attached to a large fragment of a musket barrel.
Two years since, a very entire and perfect musket barrel was obtained in the same manner, and pre- sented to me by the fishermen. It belonged to an English Queen's arm of the last century. It exactly receives the bayonet found by Mr. BIDWELL, and the lead ball, washed from the clay bank at McMAHON's run.
The locality, along the beach at Col. MERWIN'S, where many of these relics have been found, is a favorite fishing ground, but the fishermen, after a
120
1
RELICS YET BURIED THERE.
few trials, are annually compelled to abandon it, as their seines are certain to become entangled by hid- den and fixed objects some rods from the land. Often they are cut and injured, and they draw in various relics. The remains of some of BRAD- STREET's engulphed batteaux are doubtless the ob- structions against which they become arrested.
12th. Pursuing the survivors' track from the beach, where they were overwhelmed by the storm, we first arrive at the ridge, near the house of FRED- ERICK WRIGHT. There he some years since disinterred the collection of gun flints above referred to. In quantity they are said to have amounted to a peck or more. They were adapted to the heavy musket, but had never been used. I have not succeeded in obtaining a specimen; though the authority upon which the above statement is made, is good.
13th. Still further east along the ridge is the orchard of JOHN WILLIAMS, where, at the first break- ing up of the ground, a silver teaspoon was exposed, some thirty or more years since. It was retained by him until recently, when it was lost. From re- port it seems to have been similar to those previous- ly described, and doubtless belonged to some of the officers of the expedition.
A vague report also states that a number of relics, including a sword and several bayonets, were in early times discovered in the next lot east, lately
121
BURIAL OF THE DEAD.
owned by WM. ALLEN. No satisfactory confirma- tion of it can be obtained.
14th. A few rods still farther to the east, in the garden of the Patchen Inn, Mr. SILVERTHORN, in 1862, while excavating to put out a fruit tree, dis- covered some three or four dollars in silver, in small pieces of change, of French and English coinage, one bearing date in 1717, and all of them earlier than 1764. It is to be regretted that he soon pass- ed them off at their nominal value.
15th. Mr. P. A. DELFORD, residing at the plank- road gate, discovered, in 1863, while digging in his garden a few rods from the last named locality, two copper pennies of 1749, bearing the effigies of GEORGE II. of Great Britain.
I have perhaps been tediously minute in these de- tails, but my object was to facilitate the labors of any future investigator, who may attempt to divest this subject of any remaining doubts and obscuri- ties.
A theory, to account for the manner in which these relics were scattered and deposited, at these several points has been already given.
A tumulus or grave of unknown dead, long since observed, on the right bank of the Rocky river, I have not noticed; yet I have little doubt, it has an intimate connection with one or the other of these (lisasters.
It is situated one hundred and fifty feet east of
9
122
A TUMULUS RAISED.
the plank road bridge, at the head of a gully, that formerly cut, from the high ground down to the bottom land, near the present bridge. This gully has been partially obliterated, by the construction of the road. In its pristine condition, it was the only accessible way, from the river to the uplands, except a similar gully nearer the lake, and at the head of which that ancient camp-fire was established, on the left bank of the river.
This tumulus was observed at the time of the clearing of the land, forty years since, but as it was ascertained that it abounded with human bones, the early cultivators were careful to shun it. It then rose from two to three feet, above the level of the adjacent ground, and was about one rod square. The covering of earth was so thin that a spade easily reached the bones; and the surface was strewed with their fragments.
The common belief was, that it was an Indian grave. Mr. WORDEN, plowing the field with two yoke of oxen, seventeen years since, attempted to level it down by running his plow deeply through it. His furrows seemed to consist mostly of human bones, skulls in large proportion ; and all in a very perfect state of preservation. He again interred them, and avoided any further disturbance of the locality. He informed me, that his sons, then small lads, picked up, from the rubbish of bones many small articles, such as metallic buttons and pieces of
123
CRANIOLOGY.
iron. The former were entire, the latter were nearly destroyed with rust. It was a mystery with him and his family, how the early Indians should possess so many of these articles. One of those sons, now an adult, confirms fully the statement of his father.
In 1861 Mr. EATON again plowed into it, and threw up bones in like manner. Of the large ones, he brought me at least two bushels, including a dozen craniums, and I subsequently made addition- al collections.
On examining them, they evidently were middle aged or younger adults, and all males. I pronounc- ed them to be either Greeks or Anglo-Saxons, and not then knowing, that a Greek colony had ever set- tled within the Union, I concluded, of course, they must have belonged to the latter race-which was confirmed by the decision of one of the most perfect of craniologists in our country. My further conclu- sion was, that they were the remains of those who perished in one of the shipwrecks, on the adjacent coast.
The following year, Mr. KIRKPATRICK and myself, made a thorough exploration to the bottom of the tumulus. This we reached at the depth of two or three feet, after digging through a rich compost of bones and decayed animal matter. The bottom tier of skeletons at that place, had not been disturbed since their interment. We examined two-one large and middle aged, the other somewhat smaller and young-
124
AMONG THEM WERE INDIANS.
er, judging from the teeth and length of the bones. Both were lying on their sides, thrown there in a careless manner. By the front of the large one, and near its middle, lay in close contact, the following articles, to wit : two small fragments of ancient In- dian pottery, of the days of the race of mound building; one valve of the unio siliquoides of the western rivers; a knife, or spatula formed from bone, and the peculiar bone of one of the sexes of the raccoon. They occupied a small place only, and could have been embraced as charms, or amulets in an Indian's pouch, or the pocket of a soldier as ob- jects of curiosity.
This discovery led to the conclusion that they all were Indian skeletons, but on re-examining such of the craniums as have not been lost, I am led to be- lieve that the one of large size, found at the bottom of the grave, was that of an Indian, while the others were Anglo-Saxon.
The grave was evidently shallow, not over three feet deep. The bodies were thrown in one on an- other without much care, and were covered super- ficially, raising the tumulus two or three feet above the surface of the adjacent ground, in the manner soldiers are many times buried on recent battle- fields.
That these individuals perished in one or the other of those wreckings, can be hardly doubted. That BRADSTREET had with him many Indians is
125
CONFLICTING VIEWS OF THE LOCALITY.
certain, but nothing is known as to the number of men he lost; though that number was considerable is inferred from the fact that "the losses of officers and men by the wreck, was made the subject of legislative action." That WILKINS lost a specified number, is well established ; seventy men and three officers, but whether he was accompanied by Indians is not recorded. Such was probably the fact, for they were wont to take part in all military move- ments in those days, and he would need them as scouts and guides to his expedition. One or more were probably lost, and were thrown into the bot- tom of this grave. Its dimensions adapted it for the reception of about the number of his dead.
Another view may be taken. I may err in the conclusion, that one was an Indian's skull. All may be Anglo-Saxon. The Indian amulets, may have been collected by a sailor while among the Indians, retained as curiosities in a pocket of his clothing and with his person buried in this grave, after he perished. J. P. K.
We have the example of HERODOTUS for introdu- cing discussions and opposing statements, in cases where the evidence is not historically conclusive. He gives in this way an interesting variety, and an air of candor to his narrations.
Prof. KIRTLAND's investigations leave reasonable doubts, in reference to the locality of Major WIL-
126
OLD NEWSPAPER ACCOUNTS.
KINS' disaster. The additional testimony which I now introduce, favors the impression that it occurred on the north shore, nearly opposite Cleveland, but does not entirely relieve the obscurity of the subject.
A letter in the Newport Mercury, (R. I.,) of De- cember 26th, 1763, states the shipwreck to have happened at "Point-aux-Pins," or Pine Point, already referred to by Prof. KIRTLAND. Pine Point is the only recognized name, for a short spit which projects into the Lake at the "Rond-eau," Rondout, or round water, on the Canada shore. This point is visible on EVANS' map, but is there without a name. It projects in a southerly and westerly direction into the water, the bearing of which upon the question of locality, will appear upon reading the following extract, to which reference has already been made.
Extract from the "Newport Mercury," December 26th, 1763, from a New York letter dated December 19th.
"The same day Major MONCRIEFFE arrived here from Niagara. He belonged to the detachment un- der the command of Major WILKINS, destined from Niagara for Detroit, by whom we learn that on the 7th, ultimo, at 11 o'clock at night, eighteen of their boats foundered on Lake Erie, in a violent storm at south-east, which came on suddenly, by which seventy brave men were drowned.
" Among the number was Lieut. DAVIDSON of the train, and nineteen of his men, also Lieut. PAYNTER
127
THE STORM A SOUTHERLY ONE.
and Doctor WILLIAMS of the 80th, and a French pilot. The whole detachment was in danger of being lost, as every batteaux that reached the shore was more than half full of water, by which means sixty odd barrels of provisions, all the ammunition but two rounds to the man, which the officers saved in their hands, and two small brass field pieces were lost; and that after holding a council of war it was thought most prudent to return to Niagara."
A wind at south-east, or in a southerly direction, could not have been the occasion of a dangerous sea on a straight southerly coast. In turning any projecting land on the north shore, a storm at any point of compass, south of an east and west line, would be dangerous, if it was severe.
Among the manuscripts of the Maryland His- torical Society, at Baltimore, is the unpublished journal of Lieut. JAMES GORELL, who was in the ex- pedition. The Rev. E. A. DALRYMPLE, secretary of the society, has transcribed for my use, what re- lates directly to the shipwreck.
From allusions to attacks from the Indians in other parts of the journal, he supposes the party to have followed the southern shore of the Lake. This extract, however, states that they were delayed by contrary winds at "Long Point" ten days. On EVANS' map this is the name given to the slender promontory opposite Erie, which it has retained ever since. No other point of that name or character exists in any part of Lake Erie.
128
LIEUT. GORELL'S STATEMENT.
Extract from the Journal of Lieut. JAMES GORELL con- cerning the shipwreck of Major WILKINS' command, November 7th, 1763.
" At 10 o'clock at night we set sail and continued all night and next day, until we came to the long point. There we were obliged to stay for ten days. The day we left we got a good wind until we came to a place called Fish Creek, where we were obliged to lay nine days more; on the ninth day the wind favored us, and the Major ordered us all up, with instructions to keep well out from the land and to continue all night. About two hours after dark
there arose a storm, and we lost nineteen batteaux,
the most of them the largest and best. Lieut. DA- VIDSON and all the powder boats were lost in this storm. ( Not legible.) Was drowned, of the artillery, Lieut. PAINTER, late of the Independent, Doctor WILLIAMS, of the 80th regiment, with four sergeants, sixty-three privates and one Canadian. The next day we attempted to gather the wreck, but found little or none, except Lieut. DAVIDSON and about six men, which we buried. As soon as the Indians were gone out of sight (they were sent by land to Detroit), we set sail and arrived at Niagara the latter end of November."
The distance from the " Rond-eau" in a direct line to Detroit is sixty miles; by way of the Lake shore between ninety and one hundred. From Rocky river by land to the same place, is one hundred and
129
ITS AGREEMENT WITH MONCRIEF.
fifty to one hundred and sixty miles. No mention is made by MONCRIEF or GORELL, of the post at Presque Isle on the south shore, where they would have called, and received supplies had they passed that way. The south shore route is nearly one hun- dred miles longer than the north, a distance which it was of great consequence to save, at this season of fall storms on the Lake.
ROGERS took the southern route because he was required to visit Fort Pitt, and to procure cattle from that region. The object of BRADSTREET's expedi. tion was to strike the Ohio Indians living on the south shore.
All the relics procured at Rockport may have be- longed to BRADSTREET's party, whose boats were no doubt scattered by the storm and came ashore at different points. One of the contemporary accounts states, that they stood boldly out on the Lake, hoping to weather the rocky portion of the coast, before they were beached. Between Long Point and Ron- dout, on the Canada shore, is Catfish creek, which may have had that name at that time. The number of bodies recovered was only six, while those buried at Rocky river, were from sixty to seventy. This is the extent of our present knowledge upon this sub- ject.
FRENCH AND ENGLISH TRADERS.
The mouth of the Cuyahoga, was a point of too much consequence among the Indians, not to bring traders here at a very early day. Between 1700 and 1750, the French extended their forts and trading posts, to all points on the waters of the lakes and of the Ohio river. In the last named year they had a fort at Sandusky, and in 1755 a trading house on the Cuyahoga, opposite the mouth of Tinker's creek.
JAMES SMITH, of Pennsylvania, spent the winter of 1755-6 on the "Cayahoga," not as a trader, but as a prisoner among the Delawares. He left a narrative of his captivity, in which the country watered by the Cuyahoga, the Black, and the Kilbuck rivers, is fully described. . From 1760 to 1764, MARY CAMP- BELL, a young girl captured in Pennsylvania, lived on this river, most of the time near the foot of the falls, at the forks below Akron.
After the British took possession in 1760, French and English traders continued together, to traffic
132
JOSEPH DU SHATTAR.
with the Indians on the waters of lake Erie. No doubt a post was kept up, at some point or points on the river during a large part of the eighteenth century, but such establishments are so slight and temporary, that they are seldom noticed in history. A trading house is a very transient affair. A small log cabin covered with bark, constituted all of what is designated as an establishment. If the Indian customers remove, the trader follows them; aban- dons his cabin, and constructs another at a more convenient place. Within a year the deserted hut is burned to the ground, and all that remains is a vacancy of an acre or two in the forest, covered with grass, weeds, briers and bushes.
In 1786 a lively trade in furs is known to have been carried on here. Of the energetic half civilized men, who for so many generations carried on this business, we know personally nothing; except in regard to JOSEPH DU SHATTAR and some of his com- panions. Mr. EBENEZER MERRY, of Milan, Huron County, Ohio, in 1842 had a conversation with Judge S. A. ABBEY, in which he stated that he had known DU SHATTAR. He had from a youth been in the employ of the North-West Fur Company, along this lake. The mouth of the Cuyahoga and San- dusky, were principal points. About 1790 he married MARY PORNAY, at Detroit, and commenced trading on his own account. He had a post nine miles up the river, which is probably the one whose
133
HIS TRADING HOUSE IN BROOKLYN.
remains have been observed in Brooklyn, opposite Newburg.
Here his second child was born in 1794. JOHN BAPTISTE FLEMMING and JOSEPH BURRALL were with him a part of the time. While he was at Sandusky one of his voyageurs, by the name of BEAULIEAU appropriated the wife of an Indian. This proceeding, and the continued presence of fire-water gave rise to frequent quarrels. Their establishment at Sandusky was attacked by the Indians, in order to rescue BEAULIEAU's squaw, and many goods were seized. The remainder were saved by a compromise effected with rum.
On the Cuyahoga, a fight occurred with the Indians in reference to a rifle. The Indians attacked them at another time, intending to capture their spirits, to obtain which they will risk whatever they possess. Some of the savages were killed and the remainder retreated. A trader was killed on the lake shore about ten miles below Grand river. Du SHATTAR Was living in 1812, and assisted in captur- ing JOHN O'MIC and SEMO, on Locust Point, the murderers of MICHAEL GIBBS and DANIEL BUELL at Pipe creek, near Sandusky.
THE MORAVIANS IN CUYAHOGA COUNTY.
1786-1787.
Those who escaped alive from the slaughter of the Pennsylvanians, under Col. WILLIAMSON, located themselves around Sandusky. But although they were here among their kindred, the Delawares, they were not in a place of safety. The Indians threat- ened and annoyed them, until at last they appealed to Col. DEPUYSTER, the British commandant at De- troit. He treated the missionaries and their converts with humanity. This gentleman made great efforts to soften the ill will of their savage enemies. The praying Indians remained near Detroit during four years. They built a village on the Huron river of Michigan, which was called New Gnadenhutten. In May, 1786, they determined to plant a "settlement " on the Cuyahoga river, within the limits of this county. The officer in command at Detroit procured two small vessels, the Beaver and the Mackinaw, to bring them, their provisions and other luggage to
136
A DISTRESSING JOURNEY.
this place. They left New Gnadenhutten because the Chippewas were dissatisfied at seeing them on the Huron. With their usual bad luck, after they were near enough to have a view of the mouth of the Cuyahoga, a violent storm drove them back to the islands opposite Sandusky. It was now one month since they had embarked at Detroit, and they were not more than half way to their destination. Two of the missionaries, YOUNGMAN and SENSEMAN, had left New Gnadenhutten in May, 1785, so that the responsibility of directing their affairs remained with ZEISBERGER and HECKEWELDER.
The North - Western Fur Company, to whom the vessels belonged, could spare them no longer, and sent orders for the Beaver to return. It was barely possible to crowd the weak, the sick and the young, with the heavy luggage into the Mackinaw. The others were landed in the woods on the shore op- posite Sandusky bay. From thence they stra ggled along, crossing the bay in a very destitute condition. Those who were healthy and strong, whether men or women, took the great trail along the Lake shore on foot, led on by their brother ZEISBERGER. For those who could not travel by land, canoes were built, and Brother HECKEWELDER embarked with them on the 7th of June. Both parties reached the Cuyahoga on the same day. The schooner Macki- naw had also been here, and had landed their blankets, mats and other property, including some
137
THEY REACH CUYAHOGA.
provisions. Congress had ordered five hundred bushels of corn for their support, but it never came. A firm by the name of Duncan, Wilson & Co., of Pittsburgh, were engaged in furnishing supplies to the Indians of Lake Erie. They had flour in store on the west side of the river, and had the liberality to relieve the immediate wants of this distressed company. They immediately proceeded up the river. The site of their mission was on the east bank of the Cuyahoga, a short distance below the mouth of Tinker's creek, to which they gave the name of Pilgerruh, or the "Pilgrim's Rest." Near it there had been a village of Ottawas, where some ground had been cleared. This they planted with corn. On the 13th of August they celebrated the Lord's supper. In the month of October their vil- lage was so far completed, as to furnish comfortable lodging for the coming winter. Mr. HECKEWELDER then left the community, whose numbers at this time I cannot ascertain, and started for the old station at Bethlehem, Pa. A brother by the name of WM. EDWARDS, had arrived at the Pilgrim's Rest, who remained with ZEISBERGER during the winter.
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