Rev. Dr. WORTMAN'S ADDRESS.

ADDRESS OF HON. C. W. HUTCHINSON.

The two Palatinate families of Johan Peter Wagner and William Fox removed from Schoharie to the Mohawk valley, about the year A. D. 1723, and settled in the town of Palatine, near Palatine church some two miles west of this village, Fox settling on the easterly side of the Garoga creek (a part of which is now known as the Newkirk farm), and Wagner settling about a half-mile easterly of the creek (a part of which is now occupied by Harvey Smith and Chauncey Wagner.) The lands occupied extending from the Mohawk river several miles northerly. We find from the copy of the original deed that John Conrad Wiser, Jr., Jan Jacokop,, John Jost Peters, Conrad Rigarts, Nicholas Fuller, Henry Mayor, Angerian Smith, Rutles Raving, Peur Spice, Peter Waggoner, Peter Conneaskenn and Jacob Warynoo, all high Dutchmen or Palatines, took a deed from the five nations by their sachems, dated July 9, 1722 , of the land beginning at Ostenrogen, or the first carrying place to the westerly end of it, to Gauerdagavien, being about twenty-four English miles upon both sides of the Mohagus river.

And this is the first recorded mention of this branch of the Wagner family. The traditional and subsequent history I now note.

Johan Peter Wagner, the Palatine and ancestral head of this family, was born at Braunsback, in Wirtemburg, October 4, 1687. He was married with Maria Elizabetha Laucs, who was born at Oehringen in 1686. They emigrated to America 1709 and settled at New Paltz, Ulster county, and afterwards, in the year 1714, removed to Schoharie county where they remained until their settlement at Palatine in 1723 . About the year 1750 he built his residence the old stone dwelling, (now standing and in a good state of preservation.) It was quite similar in style with the well-known houses of Frey, Ehle, Van Alstine, and Wormouth, which were erected about the same period.

This Wagner house is said to be the oldest house now standing in the State of New York, west of Fort Plain. In early times, and during the wars, it was stockaded and was known as Fort Waggoner, and a block house was said to have been situated some fifty feet southeasterly of the dwelling, and that some of its timbers are still in the barn buildings on the farm. And a part of the old foundation still remains.

On the Wagner farm in the rear of this house is a peculiar range of hills, called by the German settlers the Steiler-Berg or steep hill, ranging east to west for about half a mile. These hills, on excavation, are found to contain Indian relies of the prehistoric period, and recent discovery has opened two burial grounds of different generations of the tribes.

It was upon one of the most prominent of these hills that the old burying ground of the early settlers of this portion of Palatine was situated; a very few graves having inscribed tablets, hundreds being marked with two rough stones, without other mark or record.

Colonel Wagner's family consisted of eight children, as follows:
Anna Margaretha, born April 15, 1712; married Heinrich Tillenbeck.
Maria Catharina, born August 18, 1714; married Georg Rosner.
Utilia, born August 16, 1716; married Isaac Reit.
Catharina Elizabetha, born September 10, 1718; married Johan Georg Stockenchild.
Maria Magdalena, born January 4, 1720; married John Failing.
Johan Peter, born January 8, 1722; married Barbara Elizabetba Dockstader.

Martha Elizabetha, born January 24, 1724; married Georg Saltsman.

Colonel Peter Wagner, died May 23, 181.3, aged ninety-one years, four months and nineteen days. And the following receipt is still preserved:

PALANTINE, 29 May, 1813.

Received of Colonel Peter Waggoner, nine dollars in full for Six gallons of rum for the berriing or old Colonel Peter Waggoner.
L 3: 12 0.

J. Wheeler.

This Johan Peter, was the only son of his father the pioneer. He was generally known as Colonel Wagner. And herewith we copy from the records of the Evangelical Lutheran German congregation in Stone Arabia and translated from the original German, the following record:

The Mr. Colonel Johan Peter Wagoner was born 8th of January, 1722. The godfathers were Peter Knieskeren, Gottfried Fiedler, Maria Lies Knieskerken, [Free].
Stone Arabia, March 2, 1811.

PETER WILHELM, Domeier.

He was married with Maria Elizabetba Dockstader in the year 1750. They bad nine children, namely: Johan Peter, Johan Georg, Elizabetha, Maria Margaretha, Johan Joseph, Johan William, Catharine, and Helen or Laney. And it is to the memory of Colonel Johan Peter Wagner and of his eldest son also named Johan Peter, and of their remains we are now paying this tribute of respect and Christian duty.

Upon their graves no evanescent flowers are laid; a crown of laurels is the fitting tribute to the record of their lives, a brief resume of which connected with public events I shall now partially present.

The first public record of Colonel Wagner is his commission as second lieutenant in the second battalion of the county of Albany, which was under the command of Sir William Johnson. It is dated August 25, A. D. 1748, and is signed by George Clinton, the colonial governor. He was undoubtedly engaged in the French and Indian war of 1756.

The colonel was a staunch patriot during the Revolutionary war, and unswerving in his devotion to the cause of his country. He was one of the committee of Safety for Tryon county, and was present as a delegate from the Palatine district at its first meeting held at the house of Adam Loucks, at Stone Arabia, August 27, 1774.

There being present Christopher Yates, chairman, Peter Waggoner, Isaac Paris, John Frey, Jacob Klock, Andrew Fink, jr., Christopher W. Fox, George Ecker, jr., Andrew Reeber, Daniel McDougle and Anthony Van Fechten.

And he is also recorded as being present at the first general meeting of the committee in the Canajoharie district, held June 2, 1775, at the house of Werner Tygert, near the upper Indian Castle.

Colonel Wagner was engaged in the battle of Oriskany and held the position of lieutenant colonel of tile second battalion from the Palatine district, of which Jacob Klock was colonel. His oldest son, Johan Peter, was second lieutenant in the first company of this regiment, and his second son, Johan Georg, was a volunteer in his command; the latter, was wounded in the forearm by a bullet, and on account of it received a pension. Joseph another son rail away from home and joined the command at tile German Flatts, but being only sixteen years of age and the only son old enough to afford any protection to the family, his father promptly sent him back to look after the women and children.

Lieutenant Colonel Wagner, it is said, took command of the first battalion of the Canajoharie district at the battle of Oriskany, which was under the command of Colonel Ebenezer Cox, after General Herkimer, who was its first colonel, was wounded. He was also one of the grand jury at the first court of quarter sessions under the new State Government held at Johnstown September 8, 1788, and represented his district as a Member of Assembly at the second, third and fourth sessions, in the years 1777, 1778, 1779, 1780, 1781.

A reference to some of the local history of this portion of the State may interest some of those here assembled. Those lands upon the south side of the river were in the possession of the Mohawks whose easterly or lower Castle was called by them Te-ah-ton-ta-lo-ga situated near Fort Hunter. The westerly or upper Castle was called Ga-ne-ga-ha-ga, and was situate on the east bank of the How-a-da-ga creek in the town of Danube, some two miles easterly of the residence of General Nicholas Herkimer, and was the former residence of King Hendrick and Captain Joseph Brant. The village of Fort Plain was called by the Iroquois Twa-da-a-la-ha-la, "The Fort on a Hill." The Mohawk Middle Castle being situate on the easterly bank of the 0-squa-go creek overlooking the village, and was called Ga-na-jo-hi-e, and was the junction of the great Central and Susquehanna Indian trails.

Here, near the Reformed German Church, familiarly known to you as the Sand Hill Church, lived the Indian trader John Abeel, who married for his first wife the daughter of a Seneca Sachem, and whose sons were Teh-wun-yars, who was one of the fifty hereditary Sachem of the Iroquois, and was the leading military Sachem of the Confederacy; and Gy-ant-wa-ka, John (Abeel), the Cornplanter, the great war chief, and their half brother by Indian lineage was Ga-ne-o-di-yo, "The Prophet." It was during the invasion of the Tories and regulars, under the command of Colonel John Johnson, and the Indians, under the commands of the Chiefs Tha-yen-da-ne-gea and Gy-ant-wa-ka, in August the year of 1780, that the Indians took John Abeel prisoner and burned his residence and other buildings, but his son soon released him and sent his father with an escort safely home. Abeel's daughter Maria (this is crossed out and Catharina written in) by his second wife, married Joseph Wagner, who resided in the old Paris mansion in this village for many years.

The following correspondence, taken from the originals still in the possession of the family, relating to these incursions just mentioned are of historic interest, and while carious in style, they are imbued with a spirit of rare force and determination in their quaint expression.

PALATINE, May 281h, 1780.

A Return for Ammunition for the men which are gethered at the house of George Klock- 13 men.

Sir Col. Klock desired me to call upon you for Ammunition, as you had trawn for all the men in his Reg't living upwards from Fox's. Remain Sir your Humble Servt,
Jacob G. Klock.

To Col. Peter Waggoner

PALATINE, 26 June, 1789.

Sir, I do not doubt but you know that our scout made a discovery of the Enemy this afternoon near our Quarters. I Emediately on the endeligence send a few lines to Col Clyde Informing him of the aproge of the Enemy, and also desired some Assistance of him, he Emediately send 18 men which arrived here.

Capt Diffendorf with his Company Lise at Cox's, which we send for to come over this Evening. Now I desire you would send all the yung abble men to-morrow by day braek from all the forts from you up. In order to durn out at day braek to attack the Enemy, as all the men here mean to durn out if we could be Leetle more Ranforced. I should be glad if you desire Col Klock to send some men from Stoneraby also. No more as Remain
Sir your most Humble servt
Col Waggoner
Jacob G. Klock

FORT PARIS, July 13 1780

Sir pleas to order twelve of the smartest men that you have, in the different forts under your command to Joyn Capt John Cassalms Company with four days provition with the quickest dispatch
From your friend and humble servant
To Lt Col Waggoner.
JACOB KLOCK Coll

FORT PARIS, June 5, 1781.

Sir: I this moment received a letter from the commanding officer at Johnstown, that the enemy have yesterday taken several prisoners and burnt some buildings in those quarters, and it is thought by him that they will make a stroke either at Stoneraby or else up the river, the enemy is sixty or seventy strong you'll give notice to all the Posts up above without a moment's delay. I am your

To Cols. Klock and Waggoner.
PETER S. DYGERT, Major.

FORT PARIS, Sept. 9, 1781.

Dr. Col: T received your order and did according to it. I have ordered every man, except yours namely John Shull's Adam Loux, Valentine Freligh and Henry Becker whom I have kept for scouts. I am

To Col Waggoner.

Dr. Col. Your very hbl servt
SEPRINUS KLOCK Capt

Lieutenant Johan Peter Wagner, the oldest son of Colonel Wagner, and afterwards also a colonel was a fitting scion of the sturdy old Dutch stock of his ancestry. He was born November 6, 1750, and his wife Nancy Bell was born in the year 1759. They were married in 1782 and had a family of nine children. He died at Palatine, August 1, 1816 at the age of sixty-seven years. He was appointed by General Nicholas Herkimer a special commissioner to confer with Captain Joseph Brant at the Unadilla conference in July, 1777, and as heretofore mentioned was second lieutenant in the first company of the regiment commanded by Colonel Klock, at the battle of Oriskany. He with his brothers Johan Georg, Johan Joseph, William and Johan appear also to bave been engaged in several skirmishes in this portion of the valley, particularly that of Fox's Mills, situate some eight miles west of this village, where Sir John Johnson with his Tories and Indians bad thrown up a small breast work, and awaited the approach of General Van Rensselaer and his militia. The Indians were first driven from their position, and the works of the enemy would have been carried, when apparently without reason Van Rensselaer ordered his troops to fall back a mile and encamp. The young Wagners with many others of the young men indignant at the order refused to retreat and remained on the ground taking many prisoners during the night. In civil life we find the name of Lieutenant Wagner a member from the Palatine district in the convention of 1801, over which Aaron Burr presided. There is also preserved a record of some of the generous gifts of the two, Colonels Wagner for public and religious purposes, to which allusion is proper.

The old Stone Lutheran church at Palatine was erected August 18, 1770. Henrich Nellis gave a deed for the land necessary. The title being made to Colonel Peter Wagner, Andrew Reeber and John Eisenlord, church wardens, January 2, 1769, and Peter Wagner, Andrew Reeber and Christian Nellis, Jr., were bowmasters, in charge of the erection of the church. Colonel Wagner subscribing for that purpose 100 pounds, Mr. Reeber the same amount and Mr. Nellis giving 50 pounds, and his family are recorded as giving for the support of the minister, in the year 1797, as follows:

Peter Wagner, Sr., 1.4.0 pounds. George Wagner, 1.12.0 pounds, Peter Wagner, Jr., 1.04.0 pounds, John Wagner 11.04.0 pounds, Joseph Wagner 1.12.0 pounds, and the name of Joseph Wagner who was a member of assembly at the 29th session in 1806, is engraved upon the church bell, and the following receipt is still preserved:

To Colonel Peter Wagner, Jr:

Sir-Be pleased to pay unto Thomas Day or order the sum of eight pounds in behalf of Elihu Hall, which, when paid, will be in full for your subscription money you subscribed towards building Union Academy Stone Arabia,

This occasion also recalls to the memory of a grateful people the names of other patriots of the Mohawk Valley: Herkimer, Brown, Cox, Clyde, Visscher, Fonda, Snell, Frey, Dygert, Yates, Fink, Paris, Van Horne, Sammonds, Veeder, McDougle, Van Veehten, Klock, Ecker, Campbell, Diefendoff, Petry, Fox, Staring, Bellinger, Timmerman and others.

The patriotic devotion of these men should be more closely studied by the present generation, and the monument at Oriskany, soon to be erected, is a fitting tribute to the memory of those who so nobly acted during times of savage allied Indian and Tory invasion in the Valley of the Mohawk. They were almost undisciplined, and inadequately armed, taking all their sons able to carry arms, marched through the unbroken forest to meet St. Leger and his disciplined army and its savage allies. Their arms were victorious, the invaders repulsed, and their righteous cause, contending for civil and religious freedom, was crowned with success.

These heroic men had all most dear to life pledged upon the success of their arms, and stood in the ranks by the side of their son's, in defense of their cause. Members of the committee of safety carried muskets as privates, and four of them of great prominence in public life, namely: Col. Isaac Paris, Samuel Billington, John Dygert and Jacob Snell were killed at Oriskany. Had they failed, in their patriotic efforts their homes would have been devastated their property forfeited, and the lives of their wives and families left to the brutal mercy of a ruthless enemy.

In thus cursorily recalling your attention to these events of the early history of this valley in which these patriots were such active participants, if an increased interest in this subject has been produced in the minds of any who will now determine to collect and properly preserve in fitting places records and documents of historic interest, then these exercises will have wrought a fitting work and beneficent result. It was your distinguished historian and townsman, Jeptha R. Simms, Esq., who first suggested the necessity and propriety of this day's services. His life has been spent in a labor of love recording the history of the Mohawk Valley and of the early patriots. To his exertions the public owe one- tenth of the sum, subscribed by individuals for the monument at Oriskany. And his life work of history should be conspicuously placed in the home of every descendant of the patriots of the Revolution. In order that the history of their early struggles may be recalled to the minds of your children that they be taught to emulate the heroism and noble character of these men to whose deeds and acts you owe all most dear to mankind, the enjoyment of free institutions and a government of the people.

The chairman introducing John F. Seymour, of Utica, he read the following, letter from his brother, Hon. Horatio Seymour, the president of the Historical Society, who, to the regret of all, was unable to be present:

UTICA Oct. 19, 1881
Dear Sir: I am sorry I can not go to Fort Plain to attend the ceremonies at the re-interment of the remains of Colonel Wagner. I am glad the people of the Mohawk valley are waking up to their duties and obligations to the memories of the brave and patriotic men who were once the defenders of this region. A discredit now rests upon its inhabitants for their neglect. Elsewhere the people would be eager to give an interest to their homes in the eyes of the American people by marking and making known the spots which are connected with interesting events of American history. Those of the Mohawk valley surpass in interest and historic value the events of sections, whose people have piously and carefully preserved the histories of their fathers. I trust the work of putting up monuments and preserving history has now begun, and that the reproach resting upon our Citizens will be removed and that the descendants of these brave men of the Revolution will not permit strangers of other races and blood to do them honor.

Hon. J. R. Simms.

Very truly yours,
HORATIO SEYMOUR

Continuing, Mr. Seymour said: Mr. Webster has asked when will generosity and generous patriotism awaken to do honor to the memory of the brave men of the Mohawk valley. He has alluded to the Oneida Historical Society as having this trust in hand, and in reference to this matter and to the monument which we hope to erect at Oriskany, to the memory of the men who fought there, I have to say tho Congress has appropriated and paid over $4,200 for this object. I have to say also that the Legislature has granted $3,000 for the same purpose, and also to record the names of all engaged in the battle on such a monument. This last is given on condition that an equal amount be subscribed by private individuals by indefatigable labors, your townsman Mr. Simms, has secured $925 in this region, and at Herkimer, Utica and Rome $725 more has been subscribed and paid in. Counting other pledges, we need only about $800 more, and we are convinced that the people or the region will not let this opportunity go by till all is scoured and a proper tribute to those who died there, made certain. Senator Wagner has informed me that he will increase his subscription, and doubtless others will follow him.

The chairman introduced his friend Rev. G. L. Roof, whose father gave to Canajoharie its former name of Roofville. Mr. Roof spoke of his pride in being a native of Montgomery county and in having, had one relative who took part in the battle of Oriskany and another who was with General Herkimer when be died. Mr. Roof made a pleasant speech and expressed his conviction that the future of the country was to fulfill those words of Daniel Webster, beginning. "Liberty and Union, Now and Forever, One and Inseparable," words which did the speaker more credit even than all his great orations on the interpretation of the Constitution. The exercises at the church closed with the Doxology.

Forming again the procession moved to the cemetery, in one of the most beautiful and slightly spots of which the bodies were laid in their final resting places. From that point, which is high above the town and the valley, the observer can see the spot, three miles or more away, from which the bodies were taken, and turning around, his eye falls on many of the places of most interest to the father and the son, when they were alive. No better place could have been found. Rev. Charles R. Gardner, Rector of Trinity Church, Utica, the Chaplain, offered a fervent prayer at the grave, and the coffins were lowered side by side, the military escort firing last volleys. The words which Mr. Gardner uttered were something like the following: Almighty and eternal God, in whom we trust, who art the God of nations and who hast regard for all that work righteousness, we ask for Thy blessing oil these closing ceremonies of a memorable occasion. As we commit these remains to the bosom of mother earth, with honorable tokens of esteem, wilt Thou raise up in our hearts and the hearts of our children to a thousand generations, a strong regard for those qualities and characteristics which belonged to these heroes of liberty, and which belong to all exalted manhood. We thank Thee, our heavenly father, for the good examples of these men. They fought a good fight, the finished their course, they now rest from their labors, awaiting the time when this corruptible shall put on incorruption, and this mortal shall put on immortality. Be with all of us who are in the midst of a wicked world fighting against sin. Clothe us with the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left; may we do valiantly under of us who are in the Midst of a wicked world fighting against sin. Clothe us with the armor of righteousuess on the right hand and on the left; may we do valiantly under the captain of our salvation Jesus Christ, and may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the holy spirit, be with us now and forever. Amen-

It was now two o'clock or after, and the guests were glad to accept a cordial invitation to refreshment at the Fritcher Opera House. The bountiful lunch, kindly piovided by some of the residents of tile town, was served by its youth and beauty. The Utica party reached home about half-past six.