HISTORY. The early history of this county contains many events of thrilling interest. The first settl ment in the county, was made in 1739, by Mr. John Lindesay, a Scotch gentleman of some fortune and distinction, who, in conjunction with three other gentlemen, had obtained a patent for a tract of 8000 acres, in the present town of Cherry Valley. The place for several years was called Lindesay's Bush.

Mr. Lindesay sedulously cultivated the friendship of the Mohawks, with whom this section was a favorite hunting ground, and soon had reason to rejoice that he had done so, for in the winter of 1740, his stock of provisions was exhausted, and on account of the depth of the snow, he was unable to procure supplies from the distant settlements, but the friendly Indians brought food on their backs, and thus administered to his wants. In 1741, by the persuasion of Mr. Lindesay, Rev. Samuel Dunlap, an Irish clergyman of education and talent, was induced to emigrate, with several of his friends, to the number in all of about thirty persons, to this county. Soon after their arrival, provision was made for the erection of a church, a schoolhouse, and a grist and saw-mill.

Mr. Dunlap opened, in 1743, a classical school for boys, the first in the state west of Albany.

The settlement progressed but slowly for the next ten years. Mr. Lindesay was not well adapted to the management of an infant settlement, and after expending his fortune in the enterprise, necessity compelled him to abandon it. He entered the army, and died in New York, after serving a few years as lieutenant.

A few years later, small settlements were made at Springfield, Middlefield, Laurens and Otego.

In 1772, when the county of Tryon was formed, the whole population of Cherry Valley was somewhat less than three hun. dred; and of the entire western portion of the state, (Tryon county comprising all that portion of the state lying west of a line drawn through the centre of Schoharie,) but a few thousands.

A number of the inhabitants had served in the French war, and had suffered from the hostile incursions of the Indians.

During the Revolution, the inhabitants of this county, as well as those of the frontier settlements generally, were agitated with fear of the tories and Indians, but though often alarmed, they did not suffer from the devastating effects of the border wars, in their own settlements, till the autumn of 1778.

Rumors of an intended attack of the Indians and tories having reached the inhabitants in the spring, they fortified the church, and Colonel Alden, with a portion of an eastern regi

ment, was stationed to defend the settlement. The summer, and two of the autumn months passed, without the appearance of the enemy, and believing themselves secure, the farmers left the fort, and returned to their homes.

On the 6th of November, Colonel Alden received intelligence from Fort Schuyler, of the approach of a large force of Indians and tories toward Cherry Valley; on the dissemination of this intelligence, the settlers requested permission to remove into the fort, or at least to deposit their most valuable property there. Colonel Alden denied both requests, and with the most criminal apathy, considering the report unfounded, took no efficient measures to ascertain its truth. He stationed scouts in different districts, but they, actuated by the same feelings with their commander, kindled a fire, lay down to sleep, and were all captured by the enemy.

On the night of the 10th of November, 1778, the enemy, under command of the brutal Walter Butler, and Brant, the Mohawk chieftain, encamped within one mile of the fort, and on the morning of the 11th, approached it.

Colonel Alden, in addition to his other imprudences, had lodged the officers of his garrison in different houses in the neighborhood. By means of their prisoners, the enemy discov ered in which houses they were lodged, and took them all captives.

Colonel Alden himself was not in the fort, and on receiving intelligence of the commencement of the attack, was still incred ulous, but ordered the guard to be called in, and went tow the fort. Dearly did he pay for his apathy and incredu now was among the first victims of the cruel massacre took place.

The family of Mr. Robert Wells, consig of twelve persons, were all murdered in cold blood and one of the tories boasted that he had killed Mr. We while at prayer.

The wife and one daughter the Rev. Mr. Dunlap, the hardy pioneer of the settlement already mentioned, were also a crificed, and himself only spared through the importunity of an Indian. The wife and our children of Mr. Mitchell, were also inhumanly butchered by the wretches. Thirty-two of the inhabitants, mostly women and children, and sixteen continental soldiers were killed, and a large number made prisoners; all the houses and other buildings of the settlement were burned; and the sun, which that morning looked on a quiet and happy village, in that beautiful valley, shed its last rays that evening upon smouldering ruins, and lifeless corses weltering in their blood.

A conference was held at Unadilla in this county, between General Herkimer and Brant, the year previous to this massa

tre, in which the General attempted, though unsuccessfully, to dissuade the Indians from taking part in the contest.

Since the close of the Revolution, the progress of this county has been rapid, and its quiet undisturbed by the warwhoop of the Indian, or the battle-cry of the white warrior.

VILLAGES, &c. COOPERSTOWN, the county seat, is a village in the town of Otsego. It is situated at the southern extremity of Otsego Lake, and in the beauty of its scenery, and the salubrity of its climate, has few equals among the lovely villages of cen◄ tral New York.

The town is largely engaged in the manufacture of cotton goods and paper. Population 1400.

Cherry Valley, whose thrilling story has already been narrated, received its name from its situation, and the great abundance of the wild cherry in its vicinity. It is a pleasant village, situated in a delightful valley.

The Cherry Valley Academy, a flourishing chartered institution, is located here. Population 1100.

Hartwick is principally distinguished for its Lutheran Theological and Classical Seminary, a flourishing and well conducted institution.

Springfield, so called from a large, deep spring in the town, has an agreeably diversified surface, and comprises several villages. It has some quarries of very good marble.

Salt-spring-ville has its name from a small brine spring near it, from which salt was manufactured during the Revolution, is worthy of notice for its distance from the great salt springs of the state, and its elevation above tide water.

The Cle is a noted limestone sink, in this town, eighty yards in circun and about twelve feet deep; it is oval in form. After rains or thaw it is filled with water, which gradually discharges itself by small orifices below, giving the water a whirling motion.

Unadilla is pleasantly situated on the Susquehanna. It has two fine covered bridges, each 250 feet in length, resting on three arches. It has also conserable lumber trade. A species of sandstone is quarried here for grindstones. Population about 800.

Gilbertsville, on the Butternut creek, is a thriving manufac turing village, and has a flourishing academy.

1. Ballstown, 1788.

2. Halfmoon, 1788. 3. Saratoga, 1788.

4. Stillwater, 1788. 5. Charlton, 1792. 6. Galway, 1792.

7. Milton, 1792.

8. Greenfield, 1793.

9. Providence, 1796.

10. Northumberland, 1798.

Mountains.

TOWNS.

11. Edinburgh, 1801.
12. Hadley, 1801.
13. Malta, 1802.
14. Moreau, 1805.
15. Waterford, 1816.
16. Corinth, 1818.
17. Wilton, 1818.

18. Day, 1819.

19. Saratoga Springs, 1819.
20. Clifton-park, 1828.

m. Palmertown Mountains. EE. Kayaderosseras.

Rivers. C. Hudson River. F. Mohawk. derosseras or Fish Creek.

a. Sacandaga. c. Kaya

Falls. b. Cohoes. k. Hadley. n. Glens. o. Bakers.
Lakes. f. Saratoga. g. Round.

h. Long. i. Owl. Battle Fields. Bemis' Heights. Schuylerville.

Villages. BALLSTON SPA. Saratoga Springs. Waterford. Schuylerville. Mechanicsville.

BOUNDARIES. North by Warren county; East by Hudson River; South by Albany and Schenectady; and West by Montgomery, Fulton, and Hamilton counties.

SURFACE. The surface of this county is much diversified and may be divided into mountainous, hilly, and plain lands. The Palmertown mountains enter the county a few miles west of Glen's Falls, and sink to its general level near Saratoga Springs. The Kayaderosseras range crosses the northwestern corner, riveis broken through, in the town of Day, by the Sacandaga erly direuth of that town, a lateral spur, extending in a southunites with Flint Hill of Schenectady county. The hilly portio is east of the moumains, while the level embraces the eastern a southeastern sections of the county.

RIVERS. The Hudson is the main river, forming its eastern and a large portion of its northe boundary line. It receives in its cour from this county, the Sacandaga, Fish creek, and the Mohawk river which waters it on the south.

FALLS. The "Great Falls" of the Hudson are formed by the Palmertown mountains crossing this river in the town of Corinth. After a rapid of a mile and a descent of thirty feet, the river has a perpendicular fall of thirty feet more. There is a remarkable sluice 120 yards above, twelve yards long and four wide, through which the great body of the water flows with great velocity. Parts of Glen's, Baker's, and Cohoes falls are also in this county, particular descriptions of which are given under Warren and Albany counties.

LAKES. Saratoga lake, at the junction of the towns of Malta,