Page:History of Delaware County (1856).djvu/221

DELAWARE COUNTY. 197 route waSj for a great part^ through a dark wilderness of pines and hemlocks^ with nothing for their guide but an imperfect foot-path, in many places entirely obstructed by trees that had been blown across it. There were no bridges, and the travellers .had to cross the streams on logs, rafts, or canoes, and get their things along as best they could. If they happened to have horses with them, they forded the streams with these. One mode of moving the women and children, was by making large baskets and fastening them together, — placing one on each side, for the children to ride in, while the mother rode and guided the horse. Those who had more baggage than they could carry on horseback, formed an ingenious carry-all, by taking two long poles and fastening the smaller ends to some old collar, one on either side in the form of thills, and letting the larger ends drag on the ground, connecting them with some cross-pieces, and with an upright stake in each to fasten a board to ; then boards across these thills formed what they called a dray. On this they fastened their provisions and other arlicles necessary to make their condition comfortable during their journey, and maintain them in their new homes, until they could raise the necessaries of life. In 1789, a company, consisting of twenty heads of families and two single men, principally from Fairfield county, Con- necticut, came into Delaware to examine the country and fix upon a favorable situation for a permanent settlement. The names of the company, so far as I have been able to learn, were Josiah Patchin, Captain Abraham Gould, Colonel John Hubble, Aaron Rollins, Isaac Hubble, Talcott Grould, Isaac Gould, George Squires, Walter and Seth Lyon, John Polly, Stephen Adams, Peter and Eben Jennings, Joseph Hill, and one by the name of Gibson. The two single persons were David Gould and David Squires.* The journey at that David Squires, my informant, lives in Stamford, and is the only snrvivor of the company. He is now over seventy years of age. 17* '