No. 112j 691 



mand for lumber. A smithery had been erected. Various see^ 

 had been sown, to supply culinary vegetables. The goverment, 

 political as well as moral, of the community, was in the exclusive 

 guidance aud control of the proprietor. Its administration, seems 

 to have been eminently patriarchical. The appointment of justice 

 of the peace, which had been conferred on Mr. Gilliland, in his 

 primitive jurisdiction, endowed him with a plentitude of powers, 

 that essentially embraced all the functions of counsellor, judge 

 and chancellor. The ample limits of Albany county, at that 

 period; embraced the whole region of northern New- York. 



A tract of two thousand acres, lying north of the Boquet, which 

 had been patented to James Ross, was occupied in 17()6, by two 

 persons named Wilson and Goodrich. They established an agency, 

 which they called Burton at Flat 'Rock Bay. The attempt was 

 abandoned in Februaiy ensuing, and no further occupation, north 

 of the Boquet in Willsboro, occurred prior to the year 1790, ex- 

 cept one slight improvement, near the stream. Two other patents 

 were granted at this time. One of which, issued to John Mon- 

 tresor, was located north of Ross, and the other laid west of Field 

 and Ross, to Richard Benson and others who were soldiers in the 

 war with France. These locations still remain, and are designated 

 by the names of the original patentees. The patents to Montrcsor 

 and Benson, were occupied only by '' Squatters," until 1819. In 

 that year they were purchased by Seth Hunt of Keene, New-Hamp- 

 shire. The validity of the original patents, and his title under tliem 

 was soon after established, and his rights judicially enforced. 

 Many individuals, who were innocent purchasers under the spuri- 

 ous titles to these patents, were severe sufferers, in tlie issue of 

 the controversies excited by the conflicting claims. 



Duriug the winter 17G7, Gilliland made anaccurate aud minute 

 survey upon the ice, of the lake shore, along the entire front of 

 .his locations, and named the prominent topographical features. 

 In the same .season the tirst horse introduced iwto the settlement, 

 was brought out upon the ice, for Mr. Gilliland, from Caiuula. 



William McAuley, a relative and ouc vi' the prominent nnd 

 most efficient coadjutor* of Gilliland, occupied as a farm, the' fcite 



