42 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



near Chautauqua lake. James Sherrard mentions fragments of pot- 

 tery in Stockton, and a cache in Sheridan of " as much as two 

 bushels of flint spalls or chips, and a number of arrow and spear- 

 heads." Many fine and rare relics are found in various places. 



Rev. Samuel Kirkland said of the north part of this county, " On 

 the south side of Lake Erie are a series of old fortifications, from 

 Cattaraugus creek to the Pennsylvania line^ a distance of 50 miles. 

 Some are from two to four miles apart, others half a mile only. 

 Some contain five acres. The walls or breastworks are gf earth, 

 and are generally on ground where there are appearances of creeks 

 having flowed into the lake." Little attention has been given to 

 these works near the lake. 



The Jesuit relations of 1648 says, " This lake named Erie was 

 formerly inhabited on its southern coast by certain peoples whom 

 we call the nation of the Cat, who have been obliged to withdraw 

 inland in order to get away from their enemies who are more toward 

 the west. These people of the Cat have a number of fixed villages, 

 for they cultivate the ground and are of the same language as 

 our Hurons." They knew little of Europeans and their downfall 

 came in 1654-55. 



1 There were remains of extensive works in Westfield. — Youngs 

 p. 18. There was a bank in the village of Westfield, half a mile 

 south of West Main street, on Hugh Neil's land. — Reynolds, p. 512 



2 There were circular works and old roadways in Portland. — 

 Young, p. 18. An elliptic work was on the west bank of Fay's 

 creek Portland, on the central part of lot 38, T. 5. The Erie railroad 

 runs through the north part of the fort and clay and stone pipes 

 have been found there. — Reynolds, p. 512 



3 A bank in Portland opposite the home of John L. Coon. — 

 Reynolds, p. 512 



4 Two circular works not connected with the Fredonia series 

 were noted on the first terrace of Lake Erie. — Cheney, p. 47. Loca- 

 tion not specified but presumably near Fredonia. 



5 A work near the east line of Fredonia was on an abrupt emi- 

 nence of 30 feet and was 190 feet long. It intersected the steep 

 banks of the creeks on either side. The wall was semicircular. 



