686 [ASSEMBLT 



the repugnance of many of the patentees to the occupation them- 

 selves of their land, combined to depress their value and throw 

 them into market. 



William Gilliland, a native of Ireland, was at that peri- 

 od, a merchant, residing in the city of New-York.* Endow- 

 ed with great force of character and enterprise, and possessing 

 expanded and sagacious views, he became conspicuous in the 

 early settlement of Clinton and Essex counties, and held, for 

 many years, a controlling ascendancy in the affairs of that region. 

 Patents of rich and extensive Manors, had been, anterior to this 

 time, granted in the southern sections of the province. Actuated 

 by the desire of forming to himself a similar estate, the mind of 

 Mr. Gilliland was attracted to the valley of Champlain,then sur- 

 rounded by the circumstances to which allusion has been made. 

 He employed, with this view, competent agents to explore the 

 west shores of the lake. The larger proportion of the territory 

 upon the eastern side, had already been granted and appropria- 

 ted. He decided upon the result of this survey, to locate his 

 proposed domain near the Boquet river, expanding southerly 

 along the borders of the lake towards Splitrock. 



The remarkable beauty and fertility of the tract still vindicate 

 the wisdom and tact of his selection. His first location was a sec- 

 tion of two thousand acres, under a grant to Joseph Field. This 

 was situated immediately south of the Eoquet,! and is now de- 

 signated as Field's Patent. Mr. Gilliland subsequently purchased 

 seven additional claims, which embraced in the aggregate more 



*I am greaOy indebted to Oscar F. Sheldon, Esq., of WiUaboro, for much valuable infor- 

 mation, relatire to the early American settlement of this county. He has been engaged for 

 fifteen years, with great zeal and intelligence, in collecting and arranging materials for its hia- 

 tory. His efforts hare preserved a knowledge of many important facts and incidents, whidh 

 otherwise would have been irretrievably lost. With great courtesy and liberality, he Bubmitted 

 to my use, the very voluminous MSS. he had arranged, and the narrative already commenced. 

 To this source, I refer for most of my authorities. I have also been permitted, by the court- 

 esy of the Messrs. Gilliland of Plattsburgh, to inspect and use the original journal of William 

 Gilliland, their ancestor. This highly interesting and valuable document, waa begun May 

 ICth, 1165, the day his first colony left New-York, and is continued with considerable regu- 

 larity for the two suocceding years, with occasional entries, until 1783. This journal is replete 

 with interest and invaluable information ; I have derived from it, most of the prominent facta 



relative to tbe settlement of the county presented in my report. 



t The origin of the name of this river is uncertain. Tradition sAyg it woe thus earned by 

 Mr. Qilliland, from the profusion of flowers on its banks. It is also supposed to have been de- 

 HTed from G«n, Boquet, a» Englieh officer of considerable distinction. 



