Early Days of Oswego Recalled

Oswego Daily Palladium

Saturday, January 25, 1902

EARLY DAYS IN OSWEGO

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When the British Captured Fort Ontario.

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Letters That Will be Read by Many

With Interest - How T. S. Morgan

Captured a Cutlass While British

Were Looting Residence of

Matthew McNair.

    In speaking of the coming to Oswego of Matthew McNair last Saturday the Palladium referred to him as “the famous civil engineer.” That was a mistake. The engineer was his son, John. It was Matthew McNair who built the first schooners here to ply on Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence river. As early as 1804 Mr. McNair embarked in this business, building several vessels.

    Eckford & Bergh built the brig Oneida for the Government in those early days. The Oneida mounted sixteen 24-pound guns. In 1810 Alvin Bronson, Porter, Barton & Company built schooners to meet the increasing commerce on the lake. Prior the business of the lake had been entirely in the hands of the British, but the Yankee, ever progressive, contended for his share, eventually taking a large portion of the trade for himself. So prosperous did the three hundred settlers, who occupied dwellings of logs here, become, that the houses of logs were superseded by those of frame. Sawmills and gristmills were built upon the river, adding much to the comfort and prosperity of the people.

    But soon there were disturbing rumors afloat of war, and in June, 1813, a fleet of of British gunboats appeared in the lake and made an attack by bombarding the town. The attack, however, did little damaged, but the exposed position of the town, the reports of activity in the shipyard at Kingston, kept the people here in an excited state of mind. On October 29, 1813, a meeting was held for the purpose of dividing ways to escape and saving goods in case of an early movement on the part of the enemy in the Spring. The following letters, written by a resident, show the feeling and state of mind that existed here in the Winter of 1813-14:

    “Business is very dull. Tea is selling for fourteen shillings a pound; tea cups, bowls, plate, etc., all sold. Flannels selling fast. Mr. McNair gives an order for a sawbuck to be sent here as soon as possible. The Growler is in the harbor waiting Colonel Scott with the Regulars from Fort George. The Lady of the Lake, United States dispatch-boat is in direct from the army, which lies in Brown Harbor, Grenadier Island.”

                                                                                           OSWEGO, DECEMBER 18th, ,1813.

    “The prospects are rather gloomy for this place. When the harbor opens Sir James Yeo will have command of the lake in the Spring. We have correct information from Kingston that the enemy has a frigate of 160 feet keel, a ship 120 feet do, and a schooner underway. This comes from a prisoner released a few days since.”

    Although  there was a feeling that the British would make an attack in the Spring, the usual Winter activities were not by no means abandoned. Balls and weddings were in order and from the society news of the day it is learned that Mr. McNair gave a pleasant party at his gnome. Among those present were Mr. Dolloway and lady, Mr. Stevens and lady, Miss O. Dolloway, Catherine Connor, M. and M. Hugunin, E. Bronson, William S. Fitch. March 17, 1814, Mr. T. S. Morgan was married to Miss Harriet Reed. sister of Mr. McNair.

    Following is an extract from a letter dated March 18, 1814:

    “We have no prospect of troops for our defence at present. You have undoubtedly heard of the troops from the Harbor for the westward. So we conquer Canada by marching down the hill and up again. What can we expect for such rulers? Just listen to the words of our honorable Governor (Daniel D. Tompkins) on a petition being presented from the most respectable men in this village of both parties - for guns and praying to be organized into an independent company of artillery for the defense of this place. The petition was presented him by one of his favorites (Lieut. Boody, paymaster N.Y,. Volunteer regiment commanded by Major John Herkimer) he opens it, just looks at it and hastily returns it - in a few moments he asks  ‘to see the letter again.’ He perused it and exclaimed: “No, I will not! If I was to lend guns they would turn them  against their country. They would sink it to hell if in their power.”

     Tory and Federalist were alike bitter in their political feelings at the above date, evidently.

     This is an extract from a letter written November 4, 1814:

    “If our war has to be prosecuted by the militia, I think our Government must relinquish the conquest of Canada (if they ever wished it). But the demands of the enemy are such that it must arouse the indignation of every man that has the least spark of patriotism in his breast. The spirit of ’76, like an electric fire, will re-animate the gray-headed as well as the beardless youth. he m militia of Onondaga county are marching onto the Harbor, taking the men from Oswego, the only place in danger, excepting the Harbor. But as it is a Tory place it its no matter.”

     May 5th, 1814, a British fleet of four ships and three brigs and small schooners appeared off the harbor and opened a heavy fire on Fort Ontario. Towards evening the vessels hauled off. The four guns mounted at the fort and a one-gun battery on the West side of the river, with 400 men in garrison, were the only defense, when the next morning the fleet returned to the attack. At noon a strong British force landed under cover of the guns of the fleet, in two columns, one directly in front and one on the low around East of the Fort. After a short engagement the Fort was captured, Colonel Mitchell retiring to Oswego Falls to guard property in his charge.  Most of the inhabitants of the town, with household effects and goods upon their backs had fled to the country when the British fleet came in sight on the lake, where they were placed in hiding places supposed to be same from looting. In the village barrels of pork beef and goods not perishable, were rolled into the river. Vessels and boats were sunk. The smaller ships in the British fleet discovered these maneuvers and fired at the parties so engaged.

    When the Fort surrendered the soldiers and sailors began looting. The residence of Mr. McNair on the river bank with wide hall, large kitchen, a great brick chimney, fireplace an oven, attracted a body of sailors. While the men were loading themselves with loot, they found that the cutlasses which they wore were an incumbrance. Unbuckling them they played them upon a table. Entering the room T.S. Morgan saw them and the sailors being busy looking for treasure, he took one of them and hid it in the big chimney. For many yeas after this trophy was shown by the family.

    The old Hugunin mansion was invaded by the British. Mr. and Mrs. Hugunin seized one of them and were in the act of drawing him up to a beam when an officer and detailed looking for deserters entered and rescued the soldier. Some of the soldiers wandered up the river to the Wentworth homestead, still standing near the first dam, and demanded food. The oven was filled with brown loaves just about being removed, and the marauders were so well satisfied with the quality and quantity of the provender offered that they left the house without further molestation. That was one batch of bread that did not furnish food for the Wentworth, and the recall being sounded the sailors returned to the fleet and made preparations to sail away with the property captured, which was stored aboard the ships. The property was not large, but nevertheless a great loss to the owners.

    Alvin Bronson, Eli Stevens, Abram Hugunin, William Squire and C. Cotten wee carried off as prisoners of war. Next morning the prisoner were mustered on deck and asked which of them could pilot the ship through the “gut” of the lake. The prisoners pointed to Mr. Hugunin and he was ordered to take the helm. Two soldiers with loaded muskets stood on either side of him with orders to shoot the pilot if the ship struck bottom. There as not a pilot shot that day, When the fleet first hove in sight Mr. Hugunin consigned his stores of kettles, shovels and other articles that would not be effected by water to the river, fastened by aline leading on shore. These were found by the British and as he sold at the helm he could see his stores all nicely piled under the bulwarks.

    After the ships disappeared the inhabitants returned to their homes. The next year, 1815, peace was declared. Settlers moved in, new industries were inaugurated, business expanded and an era of renewed

 prosperity gladdened the hearts of the Oswegonians. In the “piping times of peace” Commodore Chauncey visited Oswego in his flagship, anchoring, owing to the great draught of the ship, some distance from shore. Exchanges were made by the officers and a number ladies of Oswego were invited to tea aboard ship. The boats were sent in for the guests and when they arrived alongside a whip, which had  been roe to the main yard arm, was made fast to a chair furnished by Miss Connor, and seated in a  chair one by one of the fair ladies were hoisted up, swung inboard and lowered the deck. The festivities were prolonged to a late hour and long were remembered by the guests.

    After the British had retired from Fort Ontario some of the enterprising citizens engaged in the iron business, paying a certain price per pound for British cannon balls. Dr. Deodatus Clark is reported to have sold five and one-half tons of eighteen, twenty-four and thirty-two-pound shot to the United States foundry in Onondaga. In 1816 the county of Oswego was formed from Oneida and Onondaga counties - Oneida on the East and Onondaga on the West side. Courts were established and held in school-houses until the Court-house was built in 1818. The first Judges were Peter D. Hugunin, E. Hawks and John Grant Jr.

    That year was known as the cold year, ice forming in every month of the twelve. Corn in the West and in this State was sold for five dollars a bushel. Owing to the abundance of game in the forest and a large supply of fish, the inhabitants of this city did not duffer for want of food, as people in many parts of the country did.