Stranica 34 [34]
OCR
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, blackberries, 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, therefore, 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 contrivance 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 furnished 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 practicable 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, commissioning the respective officers and organizing the force. I received an ensign’s commission in the Hirst Regiment of Leeds Militia, under his command as colonel. At that time, I was but seventeen From Francis Gore, LieutenantGovernor 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 * ae
