Our county and its people. A descriptive work on Jefferson County, New York

Front matter

CORNELL

UNIVERSITY

LIBRARY

Preface

It is now one hundred years since the first settlement was made in the county of Jefferson. About fifty years afterward Dr. Franklin B. Hough published a historical work upon our county, which was followed in subsequent years by other works which have served useful purposes.

It would seem, however, that in none of these publications was any attempt made to trace the history and development of the county, beginning with a full and complete description of the prehistoric traces, and following down in chronological order with the evidences of aboriginal occupancy, the advent of the white pioneers and the complete settlement, growth and development, in the results of which we have our admirable schools, our well established churches, our extensive and prosperous manufacturing enterprises, our patriotic citizenship which prompted nearly seven thousand men to enlist in the army and navy during the war of the rebellion and the payment of over $1,000,000 as bounties to volunteers, and in a population which in character, intelligence and public spirit need not fear comparison with any in the state. This mission it has been the purpose of the present work to perform, thus rounding up the first century of its existence with a full and complete history of everything that pertains to the occupancy, settlement, growth and development of our county.

In recording the history of pioneer life, Dr. Hough's narrative has been largely consulted, as this invaluable work is and must always be taken as the ground work of all county historical publications. At the time Dr. Hough wrote, many of the pioneers were yet living, and he was able to record from their own lips the narrative of their privations, hardships and trials, and of their ultimate success.

But while many of the avenues of information which were open to Dr. Hough are now closed, it is believed that the progress of the age, iv PREFACE.

the advancement of science and the development in the study of Indianology have tended to elucidate many subjects connected with our history which in his time were but imperfectly understood and narrated.

In the preparation of this work the authors have availed themselves of information gathered from all standard historical works now extant bearing upon the subject, from ancient writings and documents, and from fireside tales and family traditions.

It is not contended that the events recorded are in every instance absolutely correct, as our early history is now largely a matter of tradition, and freedom from error is therefore an impossible condition, but every effort has been made to verify as far as possible the accuracy of the statements in the text, and it is confidently believed to be as correct as it is possible for an historical work to be.

The onerous task of making investigations and research, and collecting material for this publication, has been mainly performed by Lewis Cass Aldrich, an assistant editor, by means of personal inquiry throughout the county; to him is due in a large measure the credit for the compilation and arrangement of the work.

The matter contained in the departments relating to personal and family history and biography was collected by agents of the publishers, and has been submitted for correction to the persons most likely to insure its accuracy.

In enumerating the sources from which assistance has been received it is impossible to name all who have rendered valuable aid, but among such persons, and without being invidious, we may be permitted to mention Col. Walter B. Camp, Levi H. Brown, Dr. J. Mortimer Crawe, Sen., Col. Albert D. Shaw, William G. Williams, Frank A. Hinds, Lawrence J. Goodale, James Dolan, Byron J. Strough, George E. Yost, Wm. M. Thomson, George W. Knowlton, Gen. Bradley Winslow and others, who by valuable information and timely suggestions have aided materially in the preparation of this work.

The territory of our county is historic ground, and stirring events have taken place within its borders. It was the favorite hunting and fishing grounds of the Oneidas and Onondagas, to whom it originally belonged, and the remains of whose villages, fortifications and entrenched encampments yet meet the eye of the student of county history. Situated at the foot of Lake Ontario, it was the great thoroughfare of travel between the Canadas and the Mohawk and Hudson River Valleys, and for centuries was the theater of the most bloody en-

PREFACE, V

counters between the Algon quins of Canada and the Iroquois of New York in their repeated contests for the mastery of the region..

Five years before the landing of the Pilgrim Fathers and but one year after the first settler stepped foot on Manhattan Island, our county was visited and traversed by the intrepid explorer, Samuel de Champlain, who noted and described the physical and productive features of its western border. It was again visited over two hundred years ago by De la Barre, then governor of New France, and it was here that the sachems of the Five Nations lighted their famous council fire while holding conference with that doughty Frenchman.

Later on it was the rendezvous where was organized one of the most important expeditions of, the French against the English, and it was also the theater of some of the most important events connected with the last war with Great Britain. It was for a considerable time the headquarters of the army assembled for the invasion of Canada, and movements were here inaugurated which to no inconsiderable extent have shaped the destiny of the nation. It was the site of stirring events connected with the so called Patriot war, and from the first its history has been largely a part of the public history of the country.

The object of this work has been to correctly narrate these various important historical events, and it is now submitted to our people in the hope that it may help to preserve the record of the origin and growth of our county, and that when at some future time another chronicler of county history takes up the thread of our story he may be able to record a continuation of that marvelous prosperity which has marked the first century of our county's existence.

Watertown, Sept. 1, 1898. EDGAR C. EMERSON.

Chapter I

European Explorations and Discoveries — Evidences of Pre-historic Occupation — Ancient Indian Fortifications — The French in Canada — New France — Samuel de Champlaiu Visits the Territory now Comprising Jefferson County — Dutch Occupation in the Netherlands — Its Overthrow by the English — French and English Rivalry 1-10

Chapter II

The Indian Occupation — Iroquois Tradition — Origin of the Confederacy — Indian Characteristics — Line between Oneida and Onondaga Territory — Jesuit Fathers Labor among the Iroquois — De la Barre's Expedition in 1684 — The Council at La Famine in the Present Town of Ellisburgh — Conflict of Authorities Regarding the Location of La Famine — Extracts from Charlevoix's Letter — French Surveying Expedition in 1793 — La Famine and Hungry Bay Undoubtedly Different Points — Downfall of Iroquois Confederacy. 10-20

Chapter III

Beginning of the French and Indian Wars — -Causes Leading to Them — Jesuits Driven out of New York — De Courcelle's Expedition against the Iroquois — De Nonville's Peace Negotiations — French Treachery Costs Montreal — Invasions and Counter-invasions — English Colonists Become Involved — Attempt the Subjugation of Canada — Frontenac's Expedition — Treaty of Ryswick 31-35

Chapter IV

Conflicting Claims to Territory in the St. Lawrence Region — Treaty of Ryswick — War Positions along the St. Lawrence — Importance of a Post at Oswego — War Declared between Great Britain and France — Beginning of Hostilities — Forts Built on the Frontier — Attempts at Alliance with the Six Na,tions — Plans for Colonial Union Rejected — Campaign of 1755— Nothing Gained in 1756 — French become Aggressors in 1757 — De Villiers Establishes a Strong Post at Henderson Harbor — Attacks Fort Ontario and is Defeated — Vaudviii CONTENTS.

reuil Reinforces the French Garrison at the Harbor — Arrival of the Main Army under Montcalm — Here He Organizes a Successful Expedition against Oswego — Returns to Camp at Hendersen, but Soon Departs for Canada — English Victories in 1758 and 1759— End of the French Dominion 25-33

Chapter V

Return of Peace — Pontiac's League — Devil's Hole and Black Rock — Events Preceding the Revolution — Taxing the Colonies — The Continental Congress — Situation in Tryon County — Sir William Johnson — His Death — Sir John Johnson with Tories and Mohawks Depart for Canada — Brief Recapitulation of Events of the Revolution — British Form an Alliance with the Iroquois— The Oneidas and Tuscaroras Friendly to Americans — Operations in the Mohawk Valley — Indian Outrages — Sullivan's Campaign — Other Events — Close of the War — The Treaty of Paris — British Maintain Armed Force on American Soil — The Boundary as Established 34-41

Chapter VI

Extinguishing the Indian Titles to Land — Treaty with the Six Nations at Fort Stanwix — Special Treaty with the Oneidas — Conflicting Claims of Massachusetts and New York— The Hartford Convention — The Macomb Purchase — Its Extent and Subdivision — The Chassanis Tract — Penet's Square 41-49

Chapter VII

Land Titles Continued — Great Tract Number Four, Macomb's Purchase — The Antwerp Company — Land Operations of Gouverneur Morris, Moss Kent and James Le Ray — Tracts Numbers Five and Six of Macomb's Purchase — The Boylston Tract — The Black River Tract — Lorraine, EUisburgh and Worth — The Eleven Towns — Survey and Disposition of the Islands in Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River 49-56

Chapter VIII

Division of the State into Counties — Tryon County Created — Counties Formed from Tryon — Jefferson and Lewis Counties Erected from Oneida — Thomas Jefferson — Brief Topographical and Geological Description of Jefierson County — The Glacial Period — Towns Formed — The Convention at Harrisburgh Discusses the Two County Project — Locating the County Buildings — History of the Court House, the Jail and the County Clerk's Office — The County Poor Farm — Several Changes in Superintendency __ 56-73

Chapter IX

A Brief Tribute to the Pioneers of Jefferson, County — Creation and Settlement of

the Towns —Subsequent Growth as Indicated by the Census Reports

Boundaries of the County Permanently Established in 1818 — Town Boundaries also Defined 74-84

CONTENTS. ix

Chapter X

Events Preceding the War of 1812-15— British Aggressions— The Embargo and Non-intercourse Acts — British Claims of Right to Search — Depressing Effect of the Embargo Act on the Inhabitants of Jefferson County — Smuggling Operations and Measures to Suppress Them— Arsenal Built at Watertown — The Beginning of Hostilities — General Brown's Militia on the Frontier — Sackets Harbor Becomes the Center of Operations — Brief Review of Events of 1813— Campaign for the Year 1813— British Take Ogdensburgh— Movements about the Harbor — Ships Built — York Taken by the Americans — Death of General Pike — The Enemy Attacks Sackets Harbor — A Privateering Expedition — Operations on the Lake — Council of War at Sackets Harbor— Its Results — Expedition to the Champlain Country — Chrysler's Field — Campaign of 1814 — Sandy Creek — Operations in Western New York — Militia again Called Out— The Return of Peace _ 84-105

Chapter XI

Sackets Harbor as a Military Station — Madison Barracks — The Naval Station

and Customs District 105-136

CHAPTER Xn.

A Brief Chapter Relating to the More Prominent Events of the So-called Patriot War — Reminiscences of the War as Related by a Participant 126-135

Index

PART II - - 812

PORTRAITS AND ILLUSTRATIONS.

PORTRAITS.

Levi H. Brown - facing 191

James M. Cleveland

Andrew Cornwall

J. Mortimer Crawe, M. D.

Charles Crossmon

Edgar C. Emerson

Roswell P. Flower

Robert P. Grant

Hiram Herring

Frank A. Hinds

Benjamin F. Hunt

George H. McKinley

Horace E. Morse_

Alfred D. Remington

CONTENTS.

William Roberts

Azariah H. Sawyer...

John Avery Sherman .

Jean R. Stebbins

Byron B. Taggart

William W. Taggart .

Pardon C. Williams . .

William G. Williams _

.facing

ILLUSTRATIONS.

Champlain's Attack on the Indian Fort -_. 7

First Steamboat on the Great Lakes 266

Former Residence of Maj.-Gen. Jacob Brown _ 507

Fort Pike 109

Glacial Groovings and Potholes near Huntingtonville facing 64

La Farge Mansion, the 731

'Le Ray Mansion, the -670

Line-of-Battle Ship New Orleans -.-646

Map of Anc:

ent Fortification in Adams in Ellisburgh 577 in Le Ray 661

" " 663

" " 663

in Rodman 769

- -.. 773 in Rutland in

Watertown 826

--.-839

Champlain's Route - -- - -. 6

the Macomb Purchase --. facing 45

Old Fort Carleton - -- -511

Paddock Building, the --- 392

Southeast View of Sackets Harbor in 1815 - - 694

Watertown— Public Square Looking East - - between 376 and 377

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

Chapter I

European Explorations and Discoveries — Evidences of Pre-historic Occupation — Ancient Indian Fortifications->-The Frencli in Canada — New France — Samuel de Champlain Visits the Territory now Comprising Jefferson County — Dutch Occupation in the Netherlands — Its Overthrow by the English — French and English Rivalry.

In 1492, more than four hundred years ago, Christopher Columbus, a Genoese, sailing under the flag of Spain, landed on the shores of the American continent. This event has always been mentioned in history as the discovery of America, yet the first Europeans to visit the western hemisphere were Scandinavians, who colonized Iceland in A. D. 875, Greenland in 983, and about the year 1000 had cruised southward along the Atlantic coast as far as Massachusetts. However, of this mediaeval period of history of our fair land we have at best an imperfect knowledge, and some writers have asserted that the strange and almost unaccountable implements found in some parts of Jefferson county half a century and more ago were evidences of occupation by the people referred to, while others have attributed these discoveries to the unmistakable presence of the mound builders. Both are undoubtedly mistaken claims, and while the present writer readily concedes the existence of a race of mound builders, he sees nothing in the discoveries in this part of the State which is inconsistent with the theory of continuous Indian occupation. The Jesuit fathers visited the region almost two centuries ago and many implements and utensils used by them, or which they taught the natives to make, were indeed crude and to us almost unaccountable. In the towns of Adams, Henderson, Brownville, Rodman, Rutland, Hounsfield, Le Ray, Ellisburgh, Watertown, and in fact in almost every town, the pioneers found tools, implements and utensils which were entirely novel in construction, the proper use 1 of which was wholly unknown, hence the assumption that they must be evidences of a pre-historic occupation. There have also been discovered in various parts of the county remains of rudely constructed inclosures, built as were fortresses at that time, from which the inference has grown that once this region was the scene of great strife and contention between semi-barbarous races.

Prominent among these fortifications is a line of intrenchments, beginning in the town of Leray, near Sanford's Corners, and extending at intervals along the brow of Rutland and Dry hills and Sandy creek, in a southeasterly course through the towns of Leray, Rutland, Watertown, Rodman, Adams and Ellisburgh to Lake Ontario. These works, as a rule, are on the highest point of that range of hills, and invariably face toward the northwest. Excavations made by settlers furnished unmistakable evidences that these fortifications were of Indian construction, and in fields adjoining them have been found fragments of rude pottery, carved pipes, lines of hearths, stone chisels and other implements; also human bones, bones of animals, and skeletons buried in a sitting piosture, surrounded with deposits of burned corn. In one of these works was found a large number of skeletons of males lying in great confusion, as if slain in its defense. There have also been found in various parts of the county mounds and bone-pits, which contained large numbers of human remains.

The discovery of these various phenomena clearly indicates that these fortifications were of Iroquois construction. While this powerful people were by nature savage and ferocious, they nevertheless pre sented the highest type of the American Indian ; were governed by tribal laws, and were united by a league something after the form of our American union. They built populous towns, the more exposed of which were protected by substantial though rude fortifications, and they also conducted an extensive though somewhat rude tillage of the soil. They were expert in carving on bones, clay and stones, and nothing appeared to possess greater importance in the savage estimation than their pipes, which were frequently carved with rare ingenuity and skill.

It was the crstom of the Iroquois and kindred tribes to bury their dead in a sitting posture, and to place corn, kettles, pottery, trinkets and bows and arrows in the graves. It was also their custom in occasional years to celebrate the "feast of the dead," during which they would exhume the bodies of slain warriors and carry them to a pit pre-

EARLY DISCOVERIES. 3

pared as a place of sepulture, and there bury them promiscuously in a common grave.

The territory of our county was a part of their hunting ground, and was a direct route between the Algonquins of Canada and the Iroquois of New York, between whom deadly feuds and wars had existed for centuries, and frequent forays were made on both sides. It was the Iroquois custom to erect fortifications with embankments and palisades on the sides exposed to hostile incursions, and they moved from place to place and erected new villages and defenses as the soil became unproductive and as their fire wood was exhausted and not easily secured. Large districts in this State which are known to have been inhabited solely by the Iroquois are now marked with frequent remains of their ditches and enbankments. The writer therefore contends that these ancient earthworks are the remains of fortifications which were erected by the Iroquois to guard against their Canadian enemies, but at what particular time, or under what circumstances neither history or tradition furnishes us any reliable information. Champlain and De la Barre, the earliest discoverers and explorers, make no mention of their existence, and it is therefore fair to assume that if built before their time, they had then ceased to exist as structures of defense. However, it is not thought necessary to further pursue the inquiry in this place, as in the chapters devoted to town history these works will be described in detail, with drawings of the same so far as is possible to produce them.

Following close upon the discoveries of Columbus and other early explorers, various foreign powers fitted out fleets and commissioned navigators to establish colonies in the vast and unknown continent; and while hardly within the proper scope of this work to detail the results accomplished by those bold navigators, they naturally led to others of greater importance, eventually rendering the St. Lawrence region the battlefield of various contending powers, each striving, for supremacy and dominion over a territory of which Jefferson county is an important integral part. These events, however, will be but briefly mentioned, and only those will be detailed which have at least an indirect relation to our subject.

In 1508 Aubert discovered the St. Lawrence River; and in 1534 Francis I, king of France, sent Jean Verrazzani on a voyage of exploration to the new world. He entered a harbor, supposed to have been that of New York, and it is believed that his crew were the first Europeans to land on the soil of what is now this State. The Gallic explorer cruised along the coast about 3,100 miles, sailing as far north as Labrador, and giving to the whole region the name of " New France " — a name by which the French possessions in America were ever known during the dominion of that power. In 1534 tlie same king sent Jacques Cartier to the new country. He made two voyages and ascended the St. Lawrence as far as Montreal. The next year he again visited that region and brought a number of the French nobility, all filled with high hopes and bearing the blessings of the church. This party was determined upon the colonization of the country, but after suffering the rigors of a winter at the Isle of Orleans the scheme was abandoned and the party returned to France, taking with them the Indian chief Donnegana, who had been their generous host, and bore him with several others into hopeless captivity and final death.

In 1540 Cartier again visited the scene of his former explorations, accompanied by Jean Francis de Roberval, the latter holding a king's commission as lieutenant-general over the new countries of Canada, Hochelaga and Saguenay, with the plenary powers of vice-royalty. The results of the voyage, however, were no more profitable than its predecessor, and the effect was to discourage further attempts in the same direction until about 1598, when New France, particularly its Canadian portion, was made a place of banishment for French convicts; but even this plan failed, and it remained for private enterprise, stimulated by the hope of gain, to make the first successful effort toward the permanent occupation of the country.

The real discoverer and founder of a permanent colony in New France was Samuel de Champlain, a man born with an uncontrollable instinct of investigation and desire for knowledge of distant regions. His earlier adventures in America have no connection with this work and it is therefore sufficient to mention that in 1609, having counseled his patrons that the banks of the St. Lawrence River was the most favorable site for a new empire, he was sent to the country and founded Quebec. To satisfy his love for exploration, Champlain united with the Canadian Indians and marched into the region to the southward ; and the result was the discovery of the lake which bears his name, and a conflict between the Algonquins (aided by Champlain) and a portion of the Iroquois, whose country he had invaded. In the battle the latter were defeated with the loss of two of their chiefs, both of whom fell by the hands of Champlain himself. This ill-timed invasion signalized the first hostile meeting between the white man and the Indian

CHAMPLAIN'S EXPEDITION. 5

and low as th^ latter may have been in the scale of intelligence and humanity, and terrible as were many of the subsequent deeds of the Iroquois, it cannot be denied that their early treatment by the whites could foster in the savage breast any other than feelings of bitterest hostility. Champlain had put four balls into his weapon, and noted with surprise the astonishment of the Iroquois at seeing two of their number "killed so instantly"; but the whole scene was only a vivid testimony of how little mercy the Iroquois were thenceforth to expect from their northern enemies and the pale-faced race which was eventually to drive them from their domain. It was an age, however, in which might was appealed to more often than in later years, and the planting of the lowly bannei: of the Cross was frequently preceded by bloody conquest. It is in the light of the- prevailing custom of the old world in Champlain's time that we must view his ready hostility to the Indian.

Undoubtedly the first European to set foot on the soil of what is now Jefferson county was the intrepid Champlain, who carried into effect an expedition of exploration and attempted conquest into the heart of Iroquois country about the middle of September, 1615, five years before the landing of the Pilgrims. Indeed, this is not now a disputed fact of history, for notwithstanding Champlain described several localities by names not now known, he at the same time plainly noted prominent points that are easily discovered by every well informed reader of early county history. However, in corroboration of our statement let us quote from the journal of the expedition made by Champlain himself and note how clearly he described localities with which the average reader is undoubtedly familiar:

We continued along the borders of the Lake of the Entouhonorons,' always hunting as above mentioned ; being there we crossed over at one of the extremities, tending eastward, which is the beginning (Ventre) of the River Saint Lawrence, in the parallel of 43° of latitude. There are several very beautiful islands in this passage. We made about fourteen leagues to cross to the other side of the lake, proceeding southward toward the enemy's country. The Indians concealed all their canoes in the woods, near the bank. We traveled by land about four leagues [10 miles] over a sandy plain when I observed a very pleasing and fine country, watered by numerous small streams g,nd two little rivers which empty into said lake, and a number of ponds and prairies, where there was an infinite quantity of game, a great many vines and fine trees, a va^t number of chestnuts, the fruit of which was yet in the shell. It was quite small but well flavored.

All the canoes being thus concealed we left the bank of the lake, which is 80

1 Lake Ontario, Entouhonorons according: to the French interpretation of the Indian dialect, meaning the lake between the countries o£ the Hurons and Iroquois.

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

leagues long, and 35 wide. It is inhabited for the greater part by savages along the sides of the streams, and we continued our journey overland some 35 or 30 leagues. In the course of four days we traversed a number of streams and one river issuing from a lake which empties into that of the Entouhonorons. This lake is 35 to 30 leagues in circumference, with many beautiful islands, and is the Iroquois fishing grounds, fish being in abundance there.

Map of Champlain's Route of Travel into the Prcivince of New York in 1615. Taken from Parkman's "Pioneers of France in the New World."

Further extracts from Champlain's narrative are unnecessary. The adventurous explorer made an extended tour throughout the entire region of the Canadas, extending his investigation throughout the region of all the great lakes on the northern or Canadian side. He had so ingratiated himself in the savage affection that they feasted him at all their villages and atcompanied him on his journeyings. More than that, Champlain readily consented to join his little force of Frenchmen with the savages and to make a combined incursion into the very heart of the Iroquois country, hoping for the same success that rewarded his

CHAMPLAIN'S EXPEDITION. 7

first visit into the land of the Mohawks in 1609. This was the errand that brought the wily Frenchman to the foot of Lake Ontario in the early fall of 1615, where, accompanied by at least 3,500 Indian v/arriors.

Champla:n's Attack on the Indian Fort.

From the Original in the State Library.

he crossed over from the vicinity of Kingston in a southeasterly course to Galloup and Stony islands, and from there proceeded to near the mouth of Stony creek, in the present town of Henderson, where the canoes were concealed in the woods. Champlain then proceeded southward along the shore about ten miles, and then struck inland, threading the forests and crossing the outlet of Oneida lake, and after a march of four days entered the heart of the Iroquois country, where a battle was fought with unfortunate results to Champlain and his allied savages.' In fact the forces under phamplain were defeated, the leader himself being wounded and carried on the return journey in a basket slung on the shoulders of his warriors. The retreat was made over the same route as the advance, and having safely embarked in their canoes, the invaders returned to Canada. This unsuccessful campaign taught the Indians that Champlain's strength in battle was not invincible, and at the same time intensified the hatred of the Iroquois against their Canadian enemies.

A few weeks after the battle between Champlain and the Iroquois, in the country of the Mohawks, Henry Hudson, a navigator in the service of the Dutch East India Company, anchored his ship (the Halfmoon) at the mouth of the river which now bears his name. This was September 5, 1609. Hudson met the savages and was hospitably received by them; but before his departure he subjected them to a knowledge of the effects of intoxicating liquor — an experience perhaps more baneful in its results than that inflicted by Champlain with his murderous weapon. Hudson ascended the river to a point within one hundred miles of that reached by Champlain, then returned to Europe and, through information he had gained, soon afterward established a Dutch colony, for which a charter was granted in 1614, naming the region "New Netherlands." The same year a fort was built on Manhattan Island, and the next year another, called Fort Orange, on the site of Albany. The Dutch were poor colonizers but excellent traders, and by dispensing gin and arms to the natives in exchange for furs they kept at peace with them until the administration of Governor Kieft, whose unwise action provoked hostilities which continued almost without interruption during the remainder of the Dutch dominion.

Meanwhile, in 1607, the English had made their first permanent settlement at Jamestown, Va., and in 1630 planted their historic colony at Plymouth Rock. These two colonies became the successful rivals of all others in that strife which finally left them masters of the country.

1 Champlain made a drawing of the Indian fortifications whicfi he attempted to capture in this battle, and the same is reproduced here, as a matter of general historic interest rather than having any direct bearing on our county's history. i

ENGLISH, FRENCH AND DUTCH CLAIMS. 9

Thus on the discoveries and colonizations briefly noted, three great European powers based claims to at least a part of the territory embraced in the State of New York ; first, England, by reason of the discovery of John Cabot, who sailed under commission from Henry VII, and on June 34, 1497, reached the sterile coast Of Labrador, also that made in the following year by his son Sebastian, who explored the same coast from Newfoundland to Florida, claiming a territory eleven degrees in width and indefinitely extending westward; second, France, which, from the discoveries of Verrazzani, claimed a portion of the Atlantic coast, and also (under the title of New France) an almost boundless region westward; third, Holland, which based on Hudson's discoveries a claim to the entire country from Cape Cod to the southern shore of Delaware Bay.