Cape Vincent, Jefferson, NY

Grenadier Island

GRENADIER ISLAND

Fox, Carlton, and Grenadier islands belong to the township. Owing to the uncertainty of the boundary line between the United States and Canada, up to 1819 the islands of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence were not patented, although they were included in the great Macomb contract. An interesting negotiation concerning the purchase of Grenadier Island and some others, is found in a letter written from London, under date of June 4, 1792, by Patrick Colquhoun to William Constable, who controlled the interest in the Macomb purchase at hat time. It would seem, however, that no bargain was consummated. This was five years before permanent settlement was made in Jefferson County. In 1803 Samuel English and Hezekiah Barret petitioned the legislature of New York of the grant of Grenadier Island, which they evidently supposed belonged to the State, and which they proposed to settle within twelve months after such grant was made; but no good title could be given until the national boundary-line had been agreed upon. This was done in 1819; the islands were patented soon after, and by a survey made in 1823 Grenadier was put down as containing 1290 acres. John Mitchel was probably the first settler. There is good reason to suppose that Basin Harbor was frequently visited by French explorers, more than a hundred years before the settlement of the county, in their journeys westward. La Salle and County Frontenac were probably here more than one hundred and seventy-five years ago. During the excitements of the war of 1812 Richard M. Esselstyn sent his family around to Sacket's Harbor, and on the way the party stopped overnight at Grenadier Island. This water-route was a common one from Cape Vincent to the Harbor and Watertown in those early days. But the most noticeable event connected with Grenadier Island was the disastrous expedition of General Wilkinson, who went out from Sacket's Harbor with several thousand men, late in the fall of 1813, for the ultimate purpose of capturing Montreal. It was too late in the season for an undertaking of that character. It was nearly dark of October 26 when the army pushed out upon the lake in scores upon scores of open boats,--scows, bateaux, sail-boats, and Durham boats, with their flags flying in the breeze and their military bands thrilling the air with music and enthusiasm. The surface of the water before the fleet was like a mirror, and all along the western horizon were still seen the beautiful colors of the setting sun. Both the heavy and light artillery were afloat, and all had orders to rendezvous at Grenadier Island. Everything were prosperously until a little after midnight, when a stiff breeze arose, which increased in two hours to a gale. The October weather was true to itself; and the result was the complete wreck of the fleet and an immense loss of ammunition and supplies. It was four days before all the army that survived reached Basin Harbor. Some of the boats had been driven to Wolf Island; some to Chaumont bay; others stood off for Kingston after working out into the lake; and the morning of the 27^th revealed the shores of the islands and the mainland "strown with broken and sunken boats." On the way to Cape Vincent from Grenadier, Gen. Wilkinson encountered similar difficulties. He had a small fight with the British near Clayton. Below Ogsensburgh there was another valueless battle. And then what was left of the flotilla went into winter quarters on the banks of Salmon river. This was about the middle of November, and Montreal was not frightened. The blunder was partially due to the weather, partially to military generals, and much more to whiskey. General Wilkinson was court-martialed and removed from command. (Jefferson County History, by L. H. Everts, 1878)

Transcribed by Holice B. Young

Html by Debbie

December 27, 1999

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