Map of Fort Haldimand

Map of Fort Haldimand

 

 

Unsigned and not dated this map is in a collection of documents at the Cape Vincent Historical Museum, Cape Vincent  NY.

 

In 1878 Dr. Charles Douglas of Dexter, New York made a series of sketches of Carleton Island that he gave to his daughter, Helen A. Douglas of Black River. The original sketches, that included several views of Fort Haldimand, Chimneys and earth works as well as a few structures, are in the Jefferson County Historical Society in Watertown, New York. The 1878 sketch of North Bay is from Fort Haldimand at the top if the cliff looking down into North Bay with part of the head of the island in view. In the 1810 map by Colonel Gray the point was called Aubrey Head.

Simple computer simulations of one of the Chimneys at Fort Haldimand

A possible future of Fort Haldimand is receation in computer animation. 

 

 

3D chimney simulation
 

Simulation placed on location where the
last chimney stood.



Last Chimney, 1973 photo
Dennis McCarthy

 

Brass Pipe Tomahawk

Relec of Trade with the Indiands at Fort Haldimand:

A brass pipe trade tomahawk was recovered as part the the "Carleton Island Project" in the early 1970's.  See the Post-Standard story written by Roger Segelken entitled, "History Beneath the St. Lawrence" http://home.ix.netcom.com/~srhf/SRHF_Empire.html



Pipe Tomahawk just after it was recovered in 1973

The brass tomahawk head without its wooded Haft (shaft) was recovered near the Revolutionary War period wreck in North Bay. The brass tomahawk was fitted with a steel edge that was dovetailed in the blade and hammered down into grooves in the head. The steel blade was covered with some corrosion. In the Post-Standard article the blade is shown after preservation and very little of it lost over the after 200 years that it was underwater.

Pipe Tomahawk before preservation.

There are raised horizontal moldings across the eye just below the neck, an engraved border, and conventionalized floral motif in the center of the eye. The border continues along the front and back of the blade, and down the center is engraved a single floral spray. According to American Indian Tomahawks By Harold L. Peterson, Museum of the American Indian Heye Foundation 1971, page 123 this was one of the commonest forms of brass tomahawk with dovetailed steel edge. 

We ( http://www.forthaldimand.com/ ) are looking for any information or records on people that may have been buried at the site of Fort Haldimand. The fort was located on Carleton Island in the town of Cape Vincent, NY. The island is across the St. Lawrence River from Kingston Ontario.

During the Revolutionary War, there may have been upwards of 1,000 people on the island consisting of British and Hessian soldiers, Indians, loyalist regiments and civilian women and children. Some records indicate both slaves and freed slaves and American prisoners of war were also on the island. Fort Haldimand was under British control from 1778 to 1812, after that time period and into the 1830's, the island supported an active logging and rafting trade of upwards of 200 families.

Historical records identify three different burial grounds. A military or post burial ground with at least 25 soldiers, an Indian burial ground and loyalist/settler burial ground of unknown size. There is no official recorded record of who is buried in these locations and even the exact locations have been lost over the years.

Any one with information about people that may be buried on Carleton can email info@forthaldimand.com or post on the facebook at FORT HALDIMAND

The following are people that are listed in the historical records as dying on Carleton Island. If anyone has any information on these people, please let us know.
 

• Chief Hawksbill, Mohawk Indian?, died 1778-1783, Carleton Island
• George Barnhard, Royal Artillery died 1789, Carleton Island
• Capt. George McDougall, 84th. Regiment, died April 8, 1780, April 8, 1780
• Lt. Kenneth Mackenzie, King’s Royal Regiment of N.Y., died 1780, Carleton Island
• Jacob Best, Soldier King’s Royal Regiment of N.Y., died 1783, Carleton Island
• Henry Fyker, King’s Royal Regiment of New York, died 1780, Carleton Island
• J. Farrar died 1792, buried on Carleton Island.
• Lieutenant Flyn, Royal Artillery, died November 8, 178?, Carleton Island
• Several infants of Loyalists that died during relocation to Canada 1770s - 1780s

Iron Gun recovered in 1973 from the St. Lawrence River

Information provided to Dennis McCarthy, St. Lawrence River Historical Society on April 16, 2008 from Charles Trollope, Noted Independent Ordnance Expert,

Ref: Iron Gun recovered in 1973 from the St. Lawrence River off Fort Haldimand, Carlton Island, Cape Vincent, NY

The gun is a 9Pdr of 9 Ft 6 Ins (guns are recorded to their nearest 6 Ins). It was cast between 1731 and 1748. Probably in the period 1731 - 1734. 9pdrs for garrison service (usually long guns) were sent out to New England, including Boston, in 1754. On 19th May 1757 Govenor Shirley took some guns, including 2 X 9drs, out of Boston for service at Oswago and Crown Point. None of these guns were returned. More guns were taken later by Abercromby but these would seem to have been the 18Pdrs of which two burst in the defense of Fort William Henry.