Hubbell died from this disease and was buried at that spot. Our Secretary, R. O. Bascom, in his " Fort Edward Book," p. 15, states " this was the first recorded burial in the country." ^ Possibly a corruption of " Skene," from the founder of Skenesborough. ^ The New York World of February 2d, 1896, had a sketch of this powder horn, which, at that time, was in the museum of Major Frank A. Betts. Washington, D. C. This rudely engraved map shows the various forts and settlements along the Mohawk and Hudson valleys, and depicts the trails to Lakes George and Champlain on the one side and to Lake Ontario on the other. * Letter Hdti. Hugh Hastings, State Historian.

THE HALF-WAY BROOK IN HISTORY. 17 1

popular name of " Half-Way Brook," bestowed upon it we know not by whom nor when, but which appearing in contemporary diaries, documents, letters and official despatches of " The Seven Years War," has ever since clung to it, and will while its waters run to the sea/ It will be remembered that in the Campaign of 1755, Sir William Joiinson had constructed a corduroy road from Fort Edward to Lake George, following substantially the present highway between the two points. 'Cut through the dark and gloomy virgin forest, with its overhang of interlaced pine and evergreen boughs, its thickets of dense underbrush, the road led through swamps, over rivulets, over sandy knolls, and primal rocky hills to the head of the lake. On every side was leafy covert or rugged eminence, suitable for ambuscade or hiding-place of savage foe, or hardly less savage Canadian or French regular. Every rod of ground on this road is stained with the blood of the English, the Colonists, and their Indian allies, or that of their fierce, implacable enemies.