Oldal 34 [34]
During our visit we actually caught a large number
of fine fish, scooping them out with a long-handled
Írying-pan.
"I will now detail to you a short history of
myself, and some personal observations of an early
date.
"I was born on the 16th day of May, 1779, ona
farm near Fort Edward, New York. I was brought
to St. Johns, in Lower Canada, while at my mother’s
breast. When I was five years old, my father
removed to the banks of the St. Lawrence, coming
up with the first brigade of batteaux. I saw the
first tree cut in the United Counties by an actual
Settler ; the first hill of corn and potatoes planted,
—but, alas! where is the axe, or the man, that did
the work? Nota single individual, that I am aware
of, is now living of the first settlers, but myself.
“While many difficulties were encountered in the
early settlement, yet we realized many advantages.
We were always supplied with venison; deer were
plenty of fish for all who wished to catch them, no
taxes to pay, and an abundance of wood at our
doors. Although deprived of many kinds of fruit,
we obtained the natural productions of the country
—strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries, blackber¬
ries, and plenty of red plums. "The cranberries
were found in abundance in the marshes.
“ The only animal which we brought with us was
a little dog named Tipler, that proved almost
invaluable in hunting,
" After the first year, we raised a supply of Indian
corn, but had no mill to grind it, and were, there¬
fore, compelled to pound it in a large mortar,
manufacturing what we called ‘samp,’ which was
made into Indian bread, called, by the Dutch,
‘suppawn.’ The mortar was constructed in the
following manner: We cut a log from a large tree,
say, two and a-half feet in diameter, and six feet in
length, planted it firmly in the ground, so that
about two feet projected above the surface : then
carefully burned the centre of the top, so as to form
a considerable cavity, which was then scraped clean.
We generally selected an ironwood tree, about six
inches in diameter, to form the pestle ; and many a
time have I pounded at our mill, until the sweat ran
merrily down my back. Although this simple con¬
trivance did well enough for corn, it did not answer
for grinding wheat. The Government, seeing the
difficulty, built a mill back of Kingston, where the
inhabitants, for seven miles below Brockville, got
all their grinding done. In our neighborhood they
got along very well in summer by lashing two
wooden canoes together,
|
unite to manage the craft, each taking a grist. It
generally took about a week to perform the journey.
After horses were procured, kind Providence fur¬
nished a road on the ice, until the road was
passable by land. What is wonderful is, that,
during the past fifty years, it has not been practi¬
cable for horses and sleighs to traverse the ice from
Brockville to Kingston, such a way having been
provided only when absolutely necessary for the
settlers.
“ Lieutenant Breakenridge, who, I believe, was a
lieutenant in Major Rodger’s corps, was appointed
at an early period as Lieutenant of the County of
Leeds, being authorized to make arrangements
necessary for the formation of the militia, commis¬
sioning the respective officers and organizing the
force. I received an ensign’s commission in the
Hirst Regiment of Leeds Militia, under his com¬
mand as colonel. At that time, I was but seventeen
From Francis Gore, Lieutenant¬
Governor of the Province, I received a commission
as adjutant; by General Brock I was created a
captain; by Sir Peregrine Maitland, a major. In
1830, Sir John Colborne conferred upon me the
rank of Colonel of the First Regiment of Leeds.
In June, r813, I was appointed Paymaster of the
Eastern and Johnstown Districts: the same year I
became Treasurer of the District of Johnstown, and
was placed on the commission as a magistrate. In
years of age.
the Crown for the District. In 1516, I was made
Commissioner for the Branch Roads in the same
district. In 1819, I was appointed a member of the
Land Board; and, in 1829. Sheriff for the District
of Johnstown.
“After fifty years service as a militia officer, I
resigned, and was gazetted as retiring with the full
rank of colonel. After my appointment as Sheriff,
I resigned my office as Treasurer, which I held for
twenty-five years; and, last of all, I resigned my
situation as Sheriff, having officiated in that capacity
for thirty-five years,
(Signed) "ADIEL SHERWOOD.”
The following interesting letter was written by
Sheriff Sherwood, and addressed to Dr, Canniff,
Toronto :
** BROCKVILLE, March roth, 1868.
‘In answer to your letter, as regards slaves, I only recollect two
or three who were settled in the District of Johnstown. One
colored man, in particular, named Czsar Congo, was owned by
Captain Justus Sherwood, the grandfather of Mr. George Sherwood,
County Judge at Belleville. Captain Justus Sherwood came, with
his family, in the same brigade of boats with my father, and located
Saget *
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