¥&. 113.] 689 



and returned ladened with all other appliances to secure the com- 

 fort and safety of his people. "During his absence he had ex- 

 amined the region with a vigilant eye, upon both shores of the 

 lake ; had ascended the navigable streams, sounded their depths, 

 and explored their banks. Twelve grants had now been located 

 by Mr. Gilliland. Eight of these were situated within the pre- 

 sent town of Willsboro ; two at Westport, and two at Salmon 

 River, now in Clinton county. A tier of lots, intended for farms, 

 was surveyed and numbered in this year (1765), ranging along 

 the shore of the lake, from the mouth of the Boquet to Judd's 

 patent. Many of these lots were immediately selected by the 

 settlers, but on account of the advanced season were not occu- 

 pied until the succeeding spring.''* The settlement upon the 

 Boquet was named "Milltown." Mr. Gilliland, in November, 

 left it, with his other interests upon Lake Champlain, in charge 

 of a kinsman, whom he dignified with the European title of 

 " steward." He'passed the winter himself in New- York, engaged 

 in preparations for the removal of his family to his new estate. 

 The cattle which had been turned out upon their arrival, were 

 recovered with great difficulty in the autumn, and in a condition 

 almost as wild as the native denizens of the forests. The first 

 winter of these pioneers in the wilds of New-York, was passed 

 without suffering or remarkable incident. Their time was occu- 

 pied in attending the cattle, cutting and drawing saw-logs to the 

 mill, and in the preparation of timber for the construction of 

 their buildings. " In January, 1766, their hay was drawn upon 

 the ice, from a beaver meadow, two miles south-west from Split 

 Rock, (now Whallon's bay,) to Milltown. In the February of 

 that year, a purpose was formed by a part of the colony to aban- 

 don the settlement. Two men seized a team, and attempted, with 

 their families, to escape into Canada. Through the vigilance of 

 the steward, they were pursued by a guard from Crown Point, 

 and brought back."t At tlie approach of spring, all the eftbrts 

 of the settlers were enli.sted in constructing their dwellings, 

 and making other improvements upon their newly acquired 



* 0. F. Sboldoo, and th*^ ililliUrd p«p«n. 

 t 0. F. Sheldon, MBS. 



[Ag. Tr. TiS.] TT 



