Our county and its people: a descriptive and biographical record of Saratoga County, New York

Front matter

CORNELL

UNIVERSITY

LIBRARY

Preface

To record all the interesting events transpiring in a county so rich in history as Saratoga; to note the development of all its industries, to follow the career of each of its various institutions, would be impossible in a single volume. In " Our County and Its People" it has been the aim of the writer and those associated with him to preserve for future generations a record of such occurrences as will tend to illustrate the development of the community along its various lines, and to leave unwritten many of the minor details in this story of development which, however interesting they might prove to a few individuals in each locality, are not of sufficient importance to the county at large or even to a large portion of the population of any town or village.

It has also been the plan to carry the history of the county as a whole down through the various periods of its existence, with simply a gazetteer of the towns — wherein this work differs from most local historical publications.

The chapter dealing with the battles fought in Saratoga county during the war of the Revolution, and the history of the Saratoga monument and the Saratoga Monument Association, have been revised by Mrs. Ellen Hardin Walworth of Saratoga Springs, the highest local authority on Revolutionary history ; and the chapter on the Bench and Bar of Saratoga county has been revised by the Hon. John R. Putnam of the New York Supreme Court. The invaluable assistance rendered by these distinguished persons contributes to give to this work a standing wliich should guarantee for it not only a hearty reception on the part of the large number of persons who have shown an interest in its compilation, but also should cause it to be recognized, in these particulars at least, as the most valuable historical work which has ever been laid before the inhabitants of Saratoga county.

The compiler of " Our County and Its People" further desires to iv PREFACE.

acknowledge the services of lanthus G. Johnson, M. D., of Greenfield Centre, George R. Moore of Mechanicville, Major James W. Lester and Captain Frederick M. Waterbury of Saratoga Springs, Captain John D. Rogers of Round Lake, Edward F. Grose, James L. Scott, David Frisbie and William Spencer of Ballston Spa, James T. Sweetman, M. D., of Charlton, the various town and village clerks, officers of various societies, principals of the leading schools, the pastors of the churches, the editors of the county newspapers and others who have contributed to the success of the undertaking by the great volume of information which they have supplied. Among the references employed in the preparation of the work we desire to give full credit to N. B. Sylvester's History of Saratoga County (1878); Enos R. Mann's History of the Bench and Bar of Saratoga County (1876); O'Callaghan's Documentary Colonial History of New York; Reports of the Adjutant- General of the State of New York ; Hon. George G. Scott's historical address delivered at Ballston Spa July 4, 1876; Jeptha R. Simms's Border Wars of New York (1845) ; William L. Stone's Reminiscences of Saratoga and Ballston (1880); David Cusick's Ancient History of the Six Nations; French's Gazetteer of New York; Centennial Celebrations of the State of New York, and numerous other works. Material for the sketches in the biographical department has been gleaned by agents of the publishers, and the matter as prepared has been reviewed by those persons best able to guarantee its accuracy.

Doubtless some mistakes will be found in the succeeding pages ; but as all statements of more than ordinary importance, and those regarding which serious questions have arisen, have been referred to the best authorities accessible, the volume is submitted in the belief that it will be found to be, on the whple, a trustworthy record of the origin and development of the county and the doings of its inhabitants.

George Baker Anderson.

Ballston Spa, N. Y., September 1, 1898.

Chapter I

Organization of Saratoga County — Its Geography and Topography —Its Rivers, Lakes and Mountains — Geological Formation — Original Patents Embraced Entirelj- or Partly Within the Limits of the County — Origin of the Word "Saratoga" — Railroads and Canals — Organization of the Districts and Towns _ 1-13

Chapter II

The Indian Occupancy of the Territory now Known as Saratoga County — The Great Iroquois Confederacy and the Mohawks, Its Most Ferocious Nation — • Their Wars Against Other Tribes — The Famous Hunting Grounds of the Mohawks, Sarah-to-ga and Kay-ad-ros-sera — Sale of Both Properties to the White Men _ _ 12-20

Chapter III

The French and Indian Wars — The Frequent Incursions of the French from Canada Into the Land of the Mohawks — Saratoga County a Bloody Battle Ground — The Iroquois and English Ever on Friendly Terms — Fate of Father Isaac Jogues — The Massacre at Schenectady — Battles in Saratoga County— The Old Saratoga Massacre — The Final Struggle— Sir William Johnson's Campaign — Fort George, Fort William Henry, Ticonderoga and Crown Point ._ __ 30-30

Chapter IV

Settlements in Saratoga County Prior to the War of the Revolution — The Earliest Permanent Settlement Made Along the Banks of the Hudson North of Half Moon Point, and Across the River from Schenectady — The March of Progress Northward Along the Hudson — Some of the Early Pioneers.^. ..30-47 vi CONTENTS.

Chapter V

EDITED BY MRS. ELLEN HARDIN WALWORTH.

Events Leading up to the Famous Campaign of 1777, Made by Gen. John Burgoyne — His Magnificent Army — General Schuyler in Command of the Northern Army — His Futile Attempts to Get Reinforcements — Burgoyne Takes Forts Ticonderoga and Independence — Baum's Expedition against Bennington — Defeated by Gen. John Stark — British Failure at Fort Stanwix — Schuyler Superseded by Gates — The Battles of Saratoga — Death of the Valiant Frazer — Arnold's Gallant, though Unauthorized, Victory — Burgoyne's Surrender 47-64

Chapter VI

The Attack on the Ballston Settlement by Munroe and His Band of Tories and Indians — Capture of Col. James Gordon and Others and Their Imprisonment in Canada — Escape of the Captives and Their Return to Their Homes — The Invasion Under the Command of Joseph Bettys, the Notorious Renegade— His Valiant Services to the American Government — Piqued at Being Unrewarded for His Valor, He Turns Spy in the Service of the British — His Capture — Tried and Executed as a Spy — Major Mitchell's Peril — End of the War _ _ _ -..65-75

Chapter VII

Condition of the Pioneers at the Close of the Revolutionary War — Many Homes Devastated, and Many Families Bereft of Their Means of Support— Slow Progress of Civilization in the County During the War — Development of the Various Communities from the War Period to the Close of the Eighteenth Century — The March of Civilization Northward Along the Valley of the Hudson— Some of the Early Inhabitants of the Various Towns, and Their Share in the Development and Prosperity of the County 75-123

Chapter VIII

The Division of the Districts Comprised Within the Limits of the County and

the Organization of the Early Towns— Erection of the County of Saratoga

The First Courts— First County, State and Federal Officials— Erection of the

First Court House— The Northern Canal, Known as "Schuyler's Ditch"

The First Newspaper, One Hundred Years Ago, and the First Books Printed

in the County— Other Events Transpiring Prior to the Year 1800_ 124-130

CONTENTS. vii

Chapter IX

History of the County from the Beginning of the Nineteenth Century to the Construction of the First Steam Railroad within its Borders — Wonderful Development of Saratoga Springs and Ballston Spa — Gideon Putnam and His Beneficent Labors — Early Hotels at the Springs — Some of the More Important Manufactures — Water Power of the Kayaderosseras — Churches Established in the County During this Period — History of the Erie and Champlain Canals — Semi-Centennial Celebrations of 1826 — County Medical Society and County Bible Societ}' — Men who Served as Officers in the Early Militia.. 131-175

Chapter X

Construction of the Railroad from Schenectady to Saratoga Springs, the First in Saratoga County — The Rensselaer and Saratoga Road Built Soon After — Rivalry Between the Two Concerns— Other Roads Merged in the Rensselaer and Saratoga — All Pass Under the Control of the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company — The Old Albany, Vermont and Canada — The Adirondack — The Fitchburg and the Mount McGregor Lines— Projected Lines Which Were Never Constructed — Modern Electric Railways in Saratoga County. 176-184

Chapter XI

Second Period of the Century, 1831 to the War of the Rebellion — Days of Great Prosperity of Saratoga Springs — Reconstruction of the Early Hotels and the Building of Many Handsome New Ones — Dr. Clark's Waterworks System— Banks, Churches and Schools — Foundation of Temple Grove Seminary — Societies Organized — The Numerous and Important Manufactures of Ballston Spa Established During this Period — The Ballston Spa National Bank — Religious and Secret Societies — Academies, Schools and Churches Throughout the County — The Development of the Water Power of the Hudson and the Kayaderosseras 184-216

Chapter XII

Participation of Saratoga County in the War of the Rebellion— The Seventy- Seventh and Thirtieth Regiments of Infantry and Their Career During the War— Morgan H. Chrysler's Second Veteran Cavalry— The One Hundred and Fifteenth — Other Regiments in which Inhabitants of the County Fought — Officers of the Seventy-Seventy and Thirtieth, with Promotions. Discharges, Resignations and Deaths — Names of the Men from Saratoga County Who Fought in the War, and the Towns Which Furnished Them 216-273 viii CONTENTS.

Chapter XIII

The Latter Years of the County's History, and the Causes of Its Prosperity Since the Days of the Civil War— The Development of the Older Industries and the Establishment of New Ones — The Manufacturing Centres — New Churches — Growth of the Educational System — Newspapers, Past and Present — Financial Institutions — Some of the Leading Public Institutions — Clubs, Societies, etc., — Centennial Celebrations of 1876 and 1877— Anniversaries of the Battle of Bemis Heights and the Surrender of General Burgoyne — The Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument at Ballston Spa — Death of General U. S. Grant— Other Happenings of Interest - 272-312

Chapter XIV

The War with Spain, and the Participation of Saratoga County Therein — Enlistment of the Twenty-second Separate Co. of Saratoga Springs — Assigned to the Second New York Provisional Regiment — Its Gradual Movement to Hempstead Plains, L. I., Thence to Chickamauga Park and Tampa, Fla. — Promotions in the Regiment — Those Who Volunteered — Others from This County Who Volunteered in Other Commands — Relief Measures — The One Hundred and Twenty-second Separate Company - 313-329

Chapter XVI

The Discovery and Development of the Celebrated Mineral Springs of Saratoga County — High Rock, " the Medicine Spring of the Great Spirit," First Seen by a French Officer — Sir William Johnson's Visit — George Washington, Philip Schuyler and Joseph Bonaparte Also Early Visitors — Analysis of the Principal Springs of Saratoga— Discovery of the First Spring at Ballston Spa in 1711 — Development of the Resort— Saratoga Gains the Lead as a Resort and Holds it— Analysis of the Ballston Springs 390-410

Chapter XVII

REVISED BY HON. JOHN R. PUTNAM.

History of the Bench and Bar of Saratoga County— The Early Courts of the County and the Changes in Them Wrought by the Revised Constitutions- First Sessions of the Original Courts— Building of the First Court House at Court House Hill— Destroyed by Fire— The First Court House at Ballston Spa— The Modern Structure— Leading Lawyers of the Early Days of the Century— Men in the Profession Who Have Become Eminent 410-440

CONTENTS.

Chapter XVIII. The Medical Profession

IX

.440-455

Chapter XIX. Civil List And Statistics

_ 455-478

Part II. Biographical

Ainsworth, Seymour _,515

Anderson, John K. , Dr .565

Anthony, Joshua _ 579

Barbour, Oliver L _533

Batcheller Family, The 550

Beach, William A 518

Bellinger, Peter Dr 579

Bockes, Augustus 513

Brackett, Eclgar T _. 498

Brady, Edward M., Rev 576

Brennan, Joseph F 572

Bullard, Daniel A.. _ 522

Bullard, Daniel A., 2d 525

Bullard, Edward C 524

Burke, John H..___ 544

Cady, Clifford E 568

Carey, Joseph, Rev 566

Closson, C. S 564

Comstock, George F., Dr 516

Cook, Ransom 541

Cowen, Esek ._ 507

Cramer, John ___ 538

Crane, John W 569

Curtis, Warren. _ 575

Davidson, Lucretia and Margaret... 558

Davison, Charles Mason. 532

Davison, Gideon M. 547

Delaney, William J 538

De Ridder, John Henry 537

Deuell. Edwar(3 Valencourt, Dr. 511

Earley, James 570

Ellsworth, Ephraim E., Col 240

Farrow, Edwin 581

Finley, Thomas 582

French, Winsor Brown .493

Gage, William B ...518

Hamilton, Theodore Frank 511

Hanson, William Hendricks 527

Hay, William. 526

Horton, James W.. 570

Houghton, James W - 514

Howe, John W 539

Hill, Nicholas 505

Jenkins, Benjamin R 584

L'Araoreaux, Jesse S 574

Lester, Charles Cooke 563

Lester, Charles Smith . 561

McDonough, Bernard J., Rev. 535

McKean, 'James B. 531

McKittrick, William Henry, Capt,, ..534

McNair, A. R 554

McNair, Frederick P., Lieut 555

McNulty, William Douglass 577

Martin, William M. .552

Marvin, James M .504

Marvin, Thomas J 502

Masten, Jeremiah 583

Murray, Byron J., Dr 542

Newell. Hiram .530

Perry, John L., Dr... .519

Porter, John K 505

Porter, Joshua, Dr 553

Putnam, John R 420

Redmond, William J 535

Sackett, William A 499

Schuyler, Harmanus 545

Scott, James Lee 508

Sherman, Rav S 582

Snyder, Michael P 558

Steel, John H., Dr 549

Strang, Edward H 550

CONTENTS.

Sutfin, Ransom 559

Taylor. John W... 517

Thompson Family, The -..481

Todd, Edward R 578

Tompkins, Hiram 506

Turpit, George F 578

Varney, Miles Egbert, Dr 571

Walton, Henry -531

Walworth, Reuben Hyde 490

Warren, William L. F - 545

Wayland, Francis, Rev - 547

West, George - 538

Wiggins, Peter V 550

Willard, John 531

Willcox, Albert O - 548

Worden, William W 560

Young, Jesse 584

Young, Samuel, Col 509

Part III. Indexes

PORTRAITS .-- 203

PORTRAITS.

Anthony, Joshua racing 579

Bellinger, Peter, Dr facing 341

Brackett, Edgar T. ; facing 436

Brady, Edward M., Rev facing 576

Brennan, Joseph P. ._ .facing 572

BuUard, Daniel A facing 532

Bullard, Daniel A., 2d facing 525

Bullard, Edward C facing 524

Burke, John H facing 544

Cady, Clifford E facing 881

Gary, Joseph, Rev facing 137

Closson, C. S __ facing 564

Comstock, George F., Dr facing 449

Curtis, Warren facing 368

Davison, Charles Mason facing' 532

Delaney, William J facing 538

De Ridder, John Henry .facing 290

Deuell, Edward V. , Dr facing 448

Earley, James facing 570

Farrow, Edwin facing 581

Finley, Thomas. facing 582

French, Winsor Brown facing 438

Gage, William B facing 518

Hamilton, Theodore Frank,.. facing 437 Hanson, William Hendricks.. facing 537

Houghton, James W facing 439

Howe, John W facing 388

Jenkins, Benjamin R facing 376

L'Amoreaux, Jesse S facing 574

Lester, Charles Cooke facing 396

Lester, Charles Smith facing 433

McDonough, Bernard J., Rev. facing 197 McKittrick, William H., Capt. facing 337 McNair, Frederick P., Lieut, .facing 555 McNulty, William Douglass . .facing 577

,Martin, William M facing 553

Marvin, James M facing 504

CONTENTS.

Marvin, Thomas J facing 428

Hasten, Jeremiah facing 583

Murray, Byron J. , Dr facing 451

Newell, Hiram... facing 530

Perry. John L. . Dr facing 519

Putnam, John R facing 431

Sackett, William A facing 499

Scott, James Lee facing 508

Sherrpan, Ray S facing 366

Snyder, Michael P. facing 558

Strang, Edward H facing 355

Sutfin, Ransom facing 348

Thompson, James 487

Thompson, John W facing 36

Todd, Edward R facing 578

Tompkins, Hiram facing 5U6

Turpit, George F facing 360

Varney, Miles Egbert, Dr. ...facing 450

Walworth, Reuben Hyde facing 417

West, George facing 373

Willcox, Alberto facing 548

Worden, William W facing 560

Young, Jesse .' facing 584

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

Chapter I

Organization of Saratoga County — Its Geography and Topography — Its Rivers, Lakes and Mountains — Geological Formation — Original Patents Embraced Entirely or Partly Within the Limits of the County — Origin of the Word "Saratoga " — Railroads and Canals — Organization of the Districts and Towns.

The original ten counties of what is now the State of New York were created November 1, 1683, by the English Colonial Government and named New York, Kings, Queens, Suffolk, Richmond, Westchester, Orange, Ulster, Dutchess and Albany. The British Government confirmed the act of the Colonial Government October 1, 1691. By these acts the county of Albany embraced "the manor of Rensselaerwyck, Schenectady, and all the villages, neighborhoods, and Christian plantations on the east side of Hudson's River, from Roeloffe Jansen's Creek ; and on the west side, from Sawyer's Creek to the outermost end of Saraghtoga." ' Tryon and Charlotte counties were taken from Albany county in 1772, Columbia in 1786, Rensselaer and Saratoga in 1791, a part of Schoharie in 1795, a part of Greene in 1800 and Schenectady in 1809. The date of the legal formation of Saratoga county was February 7, 1791.

Saratoga county lies in the north angle formed by the junction of the Mohawk and Hudson rivers. It is centrally distant thirty-one miles from Albany, and has an area of eight hundred and sixty-two square miles. It is bounded on the north by Warren county, on the east by Washington and Rensselaer, on the south by Albany and Schenectady and on the west by Montgomery, Fulton and Hamilton. Until about a score of years ago it was essentially an agricultural county; but dur-

' The manor of Livingston was annexed to Dutchess county May 37, 1717, and by subsequent statutes the county of Albany was also made to comprise everything within the colony of New York north and west of the presetlt limits of the county, and at one time the whole of Vermont.

ing the last two decades of the nineteenth century, the development of a considerable number and variety of manufactures within its borders, principally in its most populous villages, has placed it in the rank of leading manufacturing as well as agricultural counties of the Empire State.

The topography of Saratoga county is easily described. In the south its surface is for the most part gently undulating, though comparatively level along the Hudson valley and in other places. The northern half of the county is very hilly and mountainous. Two ranges of mountains, from eight hundred to one thousand feet high, traverse the county from northeast to southwest.

The eastern and southern range is known as the Palmerton mountains.' This range enters Saratoga county from Warren county, and extends through the western parts of the towns of Moreau and Wilton, and the eastern part of Corinth into GreenfieH, where it terminates in a series of low, irregular hills sloping toward the south. This range extends into Saratoga Springs and terminates at the Congress Springs. Broadway ascends the slope of the southernmost hill in the chain, and Judge Hilton's park includes its summit. On the northern border of the county the Hudson river — at that point a narrow, rapidly flowing and most picturesque stream — forces its way through this range in a deep ravine three miles in extent. From the river's banks the rugged mountains rise precipitously to a height of eight hundred feet.- As a rule the elevations of this range have steep and rocky sides, with broad, rough uplands covered with forests. In late years, however, much of the forest land has been denuded.

The northern range extends through the towns of Corinth, Edinburgh, Day and Hadley, and is known as the Kayaderosseras range. As a rule the declivities of these mountains are precipitous, and their summits spread out into broad, rocky uplands broken by ledges and craggy peaks. The Kayaderosseras range extends also through the towns of Providence, Galway and Charlton to the Mohawk, where it confronts the northern slopes of the Helderbergs that rise on the other side of the valley.

Through the western part of Stillwater and Saratoga extend a group of isolated hills — the most conspicuous of which is Snake hill, a promontory on the eastern shore of Saratoga lake — some of which are four hundred and fifty feet high, having rounded summits and terraced de-

' gometimes also callod ttie Luzerne mountains.

TOPOGRAPHY. 3

clivities. Along the Hudson extends a broad intervale, bordered by a range of clay bluffs from forty to two hundred feet in height. From the summits of these bluffs an extensive sand plain extends westward to the foot of the mountains, covering the greater part of the towns of Moreau, Wilton, Northumberland, Saratoga Springs and a small portion of Milton and Ballston. The southwestern part of the county is rolling or moderately hilly, well watered and, for the most part, quite fertile.

The Hudson river flows for nearly seventy miles along the entire eastern and northeastern boundaries of the county. Falls, some extremely picturesque, interrupt its course at frequent intervals, and several dams and many bridges cross its water. The High Falls are situated just below the great easterly bend of the river in the northwest part of the town of Moreau. The water flows in a series of rapids' for three-quarters of a mile over a declining rocky bottom, and then rushes through the narrow gorge for a quarter of a mile, at the bottom of which it plunges down a nearly perpendicular descent of sixty feet. The ledge of gneiss over which it falls is convex in form, and the water is thereby broken in perfect sheets of snow white foam. A few rods above the last leap of the water, and where it rushes with the greatest velocity, the river may be spanned by a plank thirteen feet in leaigth. At Glens Falls, which occur about three miles above the great southerly bend in the river, in the northwest part of Moreau, the river falls over a broad shelving rock, the total descent being about fifty feet.. The beauty of this fall is greatly enhanced by two natural piers of black limestone standing upon the edge of the precipice, which break the fall into three channels. These two are the greatest falls in that section of the Hudson traversing the eastern boundary of the county.

The eastern half of the southern boundary of the county runs through the centre of the Mohawk river. The Sacandaga river, the principal outlet of the largest lakes in the southern part of Hamilton county, winds its tortuous way sluggishly through Edinburgh, Day and Hadley, emptying its waters into those of the Hudson at Hadley. The stream is navigable for boats of light draft from Northampton, on the border of Fulton county, to Conklingville Falls in Hadley, a distance of twenty miles, but in recent years has seldom been navigated. During the Revolutionary war the inhabitants of the town of Edinburgh, fearing that the British troops might attempt to ascend the river, placed a heavy chain across the river, but the British never made the anticipated attempt. Below the Conklingville Falls the river flows in a series of rapids, between high, rocky hills, until it reaches the Hudson. Kayaderosseras creek drains the central part part of the county, emptying into Saratoga lake. The water of the lake, in turn, finds its way into the Hudson through Fish creek, which crosses the town of Saratoga. The Mourning Kill rises in the southwestern part of the county, and running easterly empties into the Kayaderosseras a short distance below Ballston. Eel-Place creek, or Aal Plass Kill, rises near the headwaters of Anthony's Kill, west of Ballston lake, and runs southerly into the Mohawk a few miles below Schenectady. Gordon creek, Shenandahorah creek, Anthony's Kill, Snook Kill and Glowegee creek are the other principal streams.

There are several lakes and large ponds in the county. Some of the former are beautiful sheets of clear water, on whose shores are located popular summer resorts. Among these are Saratoga lake. Round lake and Ballston lake. Saratoga lake is located in the towns of Saratoga Springs, Saratoga, Stillwater and Malta. It is six and a half miles long and two miles broad. Round lake is in the southern part of the town of Malta, and is about three miles in circumference. Ballston lake lies principally in the- town of Ballston, the southern extremity extending into Clifton Park. It is three and a half miles long, with an average width of nearly half a mile. Livingston lake. Sand lake and Mud lake are in Day. Lake Desolation lies on the boundary between Providence and Greenfield. Efnor, Jenny, Hunt and Black lakes are in Corinth. The lakes in the northern part of the county are surrounded by a wooded wilderness and are but little known.

Both mountain ranges consist principally of primary rocks. A stratum of crystalline limestone extends along the foot of the mountains, and below this is Potsdam sandstone in large quantities. Iron ore has been obtained in these formations, but not in paying quantities. Among the other minerals found in this section are agate, chalcedony, chrysoberyl, garnet, tourmalin, phosphate of lime, graphite, iron pyrites and tufa. In 1897 and 1898 gold was discovered in several places in the towns of Greenfield and Saratoga Springs, and expert geologists and mineralogists express the conviction that it can be produced in paying quantities.

In the southern half of the county the rocks belong to the shales and slates of the Hudson River group. Below these have been found immense quantities of mineral waters, which, by reason of their medicinal

GEOLOGY. 5

properties, have become famous the world over. These springs are described at length in succeeding pages. Drift deposits, consisting of sand and clay, cover a large part of the county. Among the mountains the soil is a light, sandy or gravelly loam, adapted to little else than grazing. On the intervales along the rivers it is a deep, clayey loam and alluvium, for the most part very productive. In the southwestern part of the county it is a heavy, clayey loam. The greater part of the two eastern tiers of towns consists of light sand.

No deposited rocky beds are to be found in the county higher than the Hudson River group of slates and shales, the fossils of which rise no higher than the Lower Silurian age. Consequently it will be seen that, from a geological standpoint, the county is very old. The great Canadian Laurentian mountain system is well developed in Northern New York and stretches its rugged outlines well down into Saratoga count)'. This system constitutes the oldest known strata of the earth's crust. The Laurentian rocks are mostly of the metamorphic series, related to granite, gneiss, syenite, etc. Underlying the northwestern part of the village of Saratoga Springs is found the grayish rock known as the calciferous sandrock, which rests above the Potsdam sandstone. The southeastern part of the county is covered by the strata of slates and shales of the Hudson River group. Betwfeen these and the Laurentian rocks in the northern part of the county lie narrow strips of the Potsdam and calciferous sandstones and Trenton limestones. In the central and western part of the cou'nty the Drift period is also well represented. The sands and the clayhills of the river valley represent the Chainplain and Terrace epochs. Geologists believe, and apparently prove, that the long narrow bed of Saratoga sands, running across the county from northeast to southwest, was the sand of the ocean's beach in the Post Tertiary period, when the salt waters of the ocean washed the foothills of the Adirondacks and covered the entire southern half -of Saratoga county.

The greater part of Saratoga county is embraced within the Half Moon, Kayaderosseras or Queensborough, Clifton Park or Shannondhoi, Saratoga and Appel Patents. The Kayaderosseras Patent is the most exterisive within the confines of the county. The boundaries were so loosely defined, however, that disputes arose between the proprietors of the Kayaderosseras on the one hand. and of the Schenectady, Clifton Park and Half Moon Patents, and these disputes were not settled for more than a century, or until the close of the Revolutionary war.

Kayaderosseras Patent proper lay partly in Warren county. Its extent was very great, but uncertain. It was granted under the English Colonial Government November 2, 1708, to Nanning Hermanse, Rip Van Dam, Adrian Hoagland, John Tudor, Peter Fanconnier, John Latham, Samuel Broughton, Ann Bridges, Johannes Fisher, Major Bickley, Ixris (or Joris) Hoagland and John Stevens. Clifton Park Patent, the extent of which was uncertain, was granted September 23, 1708, to Nanning Hermanse and others, holders of the Shannondhoi ' Patent. Half Moon Patent, the extent of which was uncertain, like that of the Kayaderosseras Patent, on account of the long dispute among the proprietors of the four patents referred to in the foregoing, was granted October 13, 1665, to Petersen Philip Schuyler and others. Saratoga Patent," the extent of which was also uncertain, lay partly in Washington county, and was granted November 4, 1684, to Peter Schuyler and others.

Besides these were Glen's Purchase, consisting of about 45,000 acres, granted August 14, 1770, to John Glen and others; Hansen's" Patent of 2,000 acres, granted July 17, 1713, to Hendrick Hansen and others; Livingston's Patent of 4,000 acres, lying partly in Fulton county, granted November 8, 1760, to Philip Livingston and others; Nestigione ' Patent, extent 'uncertain, granted April 22, 1708, to John Rosie and others; Sawyer's Patent, extent unknown, lying partly in Washington county, granted October 29, 1708, to Isaac Sawyer; and Van Rensselaer Patent, 28, 964 acres, lying partly in Fulton county, granted October 4, 1774, to Jeremiah Van Rensselaer; Van Schaick Patent, granted May 31, 1687, to Anthony Van Schaick; Palmer's Purchase, lying principally in Warren and Washington counties; Dartmouth Patent, partly in Warren county, granted October 4, 1774, to Jeremiah Van Rensselaer; and Northampton Patent, partly in Fulton county, six thousand acres, granted in October, 1741, to Jacob Mase and others.