Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. III
An evidence of this country having been formerly settled, beyond what has been mentioned, is tliis -- European productions -- and such as would be left by an improved people, are found here -- as currants black and red, angelica, plantain, English pursely, high balms, peppermint, and indeed almost everything which is found od Connecticut river. There are in the marsh, hewn and square timbers which have
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MOHAWK AND BLACK RIVES COUNTEIES. 1141
been dug up many feet from ye surface, and where this people mow 1 A batteau has also been dug up from a considerable depth under the surface, half a mile from the lake in the marsh.
M"" Hackley tells me, tliat between the Black river and the St. Lawrence, there are y« same marks of former settlements as fiere. There are forts built in the same form ; and all y^ marks of a society diifereut from that of Indians. Last summer a man in digging a cellar, found a foot under the surface, that he had fallen upon an old colepit. I am told by the people here, that pieces of broken bricks are found in all the lands they plough.
Sept. 1** -- I have this day rode a mile and a half into the woods to examine the remains of another fort ; and I am truly thrown into a wilderness of conjecture. The fort lies upon 2 sides of a small creek, which is about the centre between the N. and S. branches of Sandy creek. It is an irregular fort, but was built with a good deal of art. The ditch is at present in many places, 4 feet below the surface. Standing in the ditch I find that I can just oversee the land in the fort.