IV. A LOYALIST OF THE ST. LAWRENCE. An Address Delivered July 4, 1913, at Block House Point, North Hero, Vt. BY HENRY HARMON NOBLE. Delivered on the occasion of the erection and unveiling by the Vermont Society, Sons of the American Revolution, of a boulder and inscribed tablet in commemoration of the building in July, 1781, on this spot, of Loyal Block House, and of its builder, Captain Justus Sherwood, of the Queen's Loyal Rangers. Published by the Ontario Historical Society, by permission of the author, Henry Harmon Noble, Essex, N.Y. Mr. President and members of the S. A. R., Colonel Sherwood, Friends:I cannot but express the great pleasure that I experience in that I am permitted to be present on this most auspicious and interesting occasion, but I can assure you that my pleasure would be greater, if it had been given me to be present as a spectator, instead of having been given such a prominent place in the ceremonies of the day. Since I rashly gave my promise to Mr. Clark to deliver what your programme styles an "Historical Address," I am frank to say that I have viewed the matter with considerable trepidation. I have never pretended to any particular literary style, beyond possibly a reasonable knowledge of the correct use of the English language, and while I may have some knowledge of the history of this beautiful valley of ours, my contributions on the subject have been in the nature of monographs, and those of no great length, so that if in this effort I fall short of your expectations, I can but say with the poet of our youthful days: "Don't view me with the critic's eye, But pass my imperfections by." It seems particularly fitting while the survivors of the opposing armies of the most remarkable battle of the most remarkable war in the history of the world, are commemorating together, and in amity, the fiftieth anniversary of that titanic struggle, that the Vermont Society, Sons of the American Revolution, descendants of the men who fought for the Colonies, in the struggle for American Independence, are commemorating here to-day, and on this spot, the erection of this ancient fortification, and the memory of a gallant foe, its builder. Of the controversy over the New Hampshire Grants, and of the negotiations between Vermont and the British authorities in Canada, conducted on this very spot, it perhaps does not become me, a New Yorker, to speak. As I wrote Mr. Clark, I had hoped that perhaps that phase of this most interesting subject might have been handled by a Vermonter, and more sympathetically, than it could be by me. It has been told, in printed works, by men of Vermont whose ability in the field of history far exceeds mine, and I feel that had I the time, which I have not, I could add nothing to what has been written on the subject. As I have said before, my historical writings have been almost entirely monographs, and they have been written, I may also say, in most instances as the result of queries that have come to me from far and wide from other seekers for "Historia Veritas," the truth of history regarding some matter of which apparently no one has ever before heard. My friends tell me that I am of an enquiring, not to say, inquisitive disposition, so not to belie my reputation, when these queries have come to me, I have gone to work at the matter. and literally dug it up by the roots, and by the sweat of my brow. It was in this way, that from an enquirer in the Dominion of Canada, came to me, in the summer of 1910, the query regarding this historic spot. I am free to say that at that time I at first had no recollection of ever having heard of it, but in the dim recesses of my memory, it came to me that in the files of that wondrous store house of lore relating to the history of our valley, the good old Plattsburgh Republican, edited by my old and valued friend, the late Dr. George F. Bixby, somewhere--I had seen the names, Loyal Block House-and Dutchman's Farm. And it was there that I found the key. In the Historical Department of the Plattsburgh Republican for May 23, 1896, appeared this query: "British evacuation of Lake Champlain. Date wanted. Some time during the year 1896 there will be celebrated the one hundredth anniversary of the final relinquishment by the British of their Military posts on Lake Champlain after the close of the Revolution, under the Jay treaty of 1794. The ascertainment of the exact time of this event is an important desideratum. Can any of our readers furnish data which will facilitate this inquiry? When did the British finally relinquish their possession of Lake Champlain to the United States? These military posts were at Point au Fer and Loyal Block House, or Dutchman's Farm." At the time of the publication of this query in the Republican, the Honourable John B. Riley of Plattsburgh was American Consul General at Ottawa, and through him as I have understood, Dr. Bixby was enabled to publish in the next succeeding issue of the Republican, May 30, 1896, the following most valuable and enlightened historical document, copied through Judge Riley's kindness from the Dominion Archives at Ottawa. Series B. Vol. 176. Dominion Archives, Haldimand Papers. Series B. Dutchman's Farm, 1st July, 1781. Sir, I arrived here yesterday with 23 men including old men, Boys & unincorporated Loyalists. I am building an oven & hutting the men; shall begin to-morrow felling timber for the block house. Timber is not so plenty here as I expect'd & must draw it a mile at least. I find that I was mistaken in supposing the point I shewed His Excellency on the map to be the Dutchman's Farm. It is about 200 yards east of that point & being separated from it by a narrow channel makes part of the Grand Isle. However, it is the place that I meant to point out to the General & as it is every way situated (in my opinion) to answer the purpose intended we shall proceed to get the timber & bring it together, after which if I have no orders to the contrary we shall set up the house. I think any ship in the Lake may lie with safety in the channel above mentioned. The spot on which I propose setting the Block House is a rise just at the extremity of the point about five yards higher than the other ground & may be fronted with an Abbatis of about 50 yards in length from water to water. The plain beyond this is Level & entirely clear to a distance of near one hundred yards northward. From this point we have a southern view of the Lake near four leagues but cannot see above half a league northward on the Lake. The Isle a Motte prevents our seeing what passes to the westward between Pt. o Fare and Rush Point. I am informed by Mr. Saunders, Ast. Engineer, that this is a bad season to cut oak, hickory & cherry or birch timber as it will be too open & brittle for any fine work, or for duration. I likewise find the rapids so low that a raft cannot be taken down till the fall of the year, but the pine timber can be cut in & formed into a raft. The hickory & oak can be cut in October, & then deliver'd at Quebec in November. Mr. Saunders wishes to have a party of my men to assist him in getting hay at Misisquoi. I suppose I could place them in such a manner as to serve the purpose of guarding him & at the same time be able to discover any scouts from Vermont by the way of the Onion River, but I mention this only by Mr. Saunders' request. I enclose Levi Warner's report, & beg you will please to let me know His Excellency's pleasure on the different subjects herein mentioned. I am with much respect & esteem, (To) Captain Mathews. Sir, your most obed't hum'l servant, J. Sherwood. The report of Levi Warner mentioned in the foregoing letter is as follows: "Levi Warner arriv'd from Connect River the 28th of June & reports that Joseph Taylor, a Rebel Spy, is in Canada at Belle Isle where he has been some time secreted by the Canadians. Soon after Col. Allen's report was read & the whole Convention except two men voted to accept of Gen'l Haldimand's proposals to Vermont. Judge Jones is made Chief Justice & Cols. Wells & Alcot, Royalists, Ass't Judges for Vermont. The people on the east side almost all in favour of Gov't & intend to join with Canada if they can, but they are very much afraid of the people on the west side of the mountain who are almost all Rebels & begin to threaten Govr. Chitenten & the Allens very much." From the Dominion Archives, Haldimand Papers, Series B, Vol. 176, at page 184, the following extract from a letter to Captain Mathews from Captain Sherwood is taken. (Capt. Mathews was Secretary to Governor Frederick Haldimand.) Loyal Block House, July 29th, 1781. I have built a very good and large block house & on the most advantageous spot of any on the Lake. I wish I knew whether it was to be an establish'd post as in that case it should be picqueted. It is my humble opinion that there is not so proper a place on the Frontiers as this for the residence & departure of secret scouts & I think when the Block House is Picqueted 50 men may defend it against 300 with small arms as two or three swivels may be placed in it to advantage. Thus we have the record, my friends, of the building one hundred and thirty-two years, to the day, of this ancient work whose erection, and its builder we here commemorate to-day. Of detailed history, or narrative, of this work during the time it was garrisoned by British troops, none exists, save the frequent incidental mention, in the reports and correspondence in the Canadian archives. From that source, we glean these documents of exceedingly human interest, which I trust I may be pardoned, if I take a few moments of our time to read. For these, also, we are indebted to the Historical Department of the Plattsburgh Republican, January 29, 1898, a copy of which I hold in my hand and from which I read: Sir: Dominion Archives, Haldimand Papers, B. 162, Page 168. St. John's, 22nd Jan'y, 1784. I take this liberty of troubling you with an affair, which I hope will not appear disagreeable nor offensive, but will interest Your Kind Interference and Assistance as you shall judge best in the matter. I had the Honor to Command the Loyal Block House for seven or eight months During which time I was visited by many Passing and Repassing to and from the Colonies, on Acc't of which I was obliged to support the Dignity of an Officer, to be at no small expense, more than my pay was sufficient to support. Not doubting, with your Representation, but the Commander in Chief will take it into consideration, I submit the whole to your discretion, and at the same time refer you to Captain Sherwood for particulars. I am Sir with much respect, Major Mathews, Your most obt. Servant, J. Dusenbury, Ens. L. B. Quebec. Dominion Archives, Haldimand Papers, B. 162, page 22. St. John's, 28th March, 1784. I have sold my farm at Dutchman's Point, to a Dr. Washburn of Vermont, reserving the Block House as King's property. Mr. Washburn seems very anxious to know when the King's Garrison will be withdrawn from there, and particularly requests me to inform him several days before it takes place, but I have assured him that he is not to expect any information from me on that subject without permission and direction from His Excellency the Commander in Chief. I am with great Respect, Sir your most obedient and most Humble servant, Dominion Archives, B. 155, page 146. Return of Stores, Tools and Materials belonging to the Engineer. Department at Dutchman's Farm, the 7th of September, 1784. Sir: Com'ing Engineer in Canada. Dominion Archives, Haldimand Papers, B. 175, page 268. Arlington, April 15th, 1784. Since peace has taken place between Great Britain and America and as in consequence thereof the British Post on the Island now called the Hero's in this State, named the Loyal Block House, will probably be evacuated some time this year. I shall esteem it a mark of your Excellency's favour if you would direct the Commanding Officer of the Post to certify to me the time of its evacuation, that an Officer from this State may take possession thereof. Such a favour will be gratefully acknowledged by, Sir, your Excellency's most obedient Humble Servant, (To) His Excell'y Gen'l Haldimand. It is positively known that this post was garrisoned by British troops as late as September 20, 1792. This is shown by the affidavit of that date of Ebenezer Marvin, of Alburgh, which is found in Vermont Papers, Volume 30, page 181. In it he states: "The British have another post at Dutchman's Point on- North Hero," and "The garrison at Dutchman's Point has never interfered in any way with the inhabitants or done any thing besides keeping their own sentries." The exact date when this post was given up, or evacuated by the British authorities, is not shown in any records which have been accessible to the writer. The official correspondence in the Canadian Archives simply shows that the posts on Lake Champlain were to be given up by the British, some time during the summer of 1796, exactly when, a careful search of the records does not disclose. The records of the United States at Washington are equally silent on the subject. |