Craft Masonry in Albany County, New York - Onondaga and Oswego ...

21 being Lords Day. went on bord Capt. Van burans albana Sloop about 10 o'clock, had a good wind that carried us up the river
about 30 miles. lodgd on bord anchord about 8 o'clock.
22 hoisted Sail about 9 in the morning, had a big wind this Day ahead, came to anchor by the highlands ½ after 3 o'clock, could not
get thro the narrows. I went on Shore recanortered the Mountains, on the west Side, went upon one about 500 feet high. as the wind
continued a head & very high we lay at anchor till about 11 o'clock at night, when the Tide favoured we hoisted Sail & attempted the
passage at the highlands, but were obliged to come to anchor before Daylight after passing about 18 miles by Fort Mongomery &
Fort Constitution. I was on deck till after 2 o'clock this morning with a Curious eye viewing the Vast mountains & the difficulties in
rough warter. the mountains are said to be more than ½ a mile high almost perpendicular from ye warter.
23 This morning we were at anchor near fort Constitution. after Breakfast Genl Thomson, Col Sinkler, Majr. White, Majr Suell, Capt.
Badlam 40 , Capt. Van buran & myself with Doctr. & Doctr. & 2 Albana Gent passangers were our Mess in the Cabbin. Capt. Lindley
& a Company of Carpenters was on bord our Sloop. we had 5 horses on Bord & 4 Dogs. as the wind was contirary we could not
come to Sail. the Genl. proposed my going to view the fort (with him & several others went with us) as I was ordered by Genl.
Washington to inspect the whole to the northward where I could do it without retarding our march. and make remarks & send them
to him we returnd about 12 o'clock & come to Sail but ye wind continued high & flawey but ye tide favorued, we beat about 3 hours
when on a Sudden a flaw took us, Shiverd our Boom all to pieces & carried all before it overboard, knocked down the horses & as I
was on Deck it took off my hatt with the rest, which was a great wonder no life Lost or person much hurt. I immediately proposed the
making a New Boom, after we came to anchor I went with the carpenters on Shore cut a Tree hewd. Shavd. a drawd. down a boom
51 feet long off from a Mountain a great heighth & got it on board & it was compleatly fixed ready to sail in 8 ½ hours from the time
the old one gave way, but as the wind & tide was against us we lay at anchor till about 2 o'clock in the morning when the wind
abated. some time after my hat went overbord we discover it at a distance. 4 of our men Jumpt into the small boat and brought it
me.
24 This is a fine pleasant morning. we were passing the Highlands, as I awoke, in company with several other sloops & then opend
a pleasant settld country on each side the river. I went on Shore to several housen on the west side the river, bought butter, bread,
milk & eggs, got on bord about 11 o'clock. the sloop kept under Sail had a gentle breeze of wind S. E. we passed by New Windsor &
Newboro on ye west Side, Powcapsey & Lime kilns. at Long reach people were throwing wood from a hill 80 feet high to load a
Vessel. a Very fine pleasant Day this. about 6 o'clock the Sun went into a dark thick cloud & lookt like a Storm. we passt Livingstons
mannor about sunset. kept under Sail till ½ past 1 o'clock A. M. when our vessel ran a ground with 2 other Sloops.
25 yesterday we Sailed about 80 miles. this morning about 7 o'clock our Vessel floated & we had a fine pleasant gale of wind, the
weather fair which carried us to Albana [Albany] 12 miles in a Short Time. we soon marched to our Quarters provided for the Genl. &
his Company. Set the Carpenters & Smiths to work making tent polls &c. we Dind agreably with a No. of our Gentn. of the army &
others of the Sity. The Genl. orders that Col. Greatons Regt. March tomorrow for Lake George, Col. Patersons a Saturday & Col.
Bonds Sunday, & Col. Poors a monday next, when I am to march with the Genl. Thomson For Quebeck which will compleat a
Journey of above 800 Miles since I left Cambridge, but Thank God I have health given to undergo any fateague that I have been
calld too in the cause of my Country.
26 Wrote home from albany by Bradshaw, Breakfasted with Commisary Ransler, Dind with Gen. Thomson, Col. Livingstone 48 & a
No. of other Gentn at the Kings arms, Mr Varnam. Col. Greatons Regt. marched from albany for Canada.
27 Col. paterson Regt. Marcht. Dind with Mr. Ransler [Rensselaer], the armourers came up & joind the artificers at albany.
28 Col. Bonds Regt. Marched of for Canada. I rode with Genl. Thomson, Col. Sincler in a Coach in company with other officers to
the Cohoes, 49 crossed the Mohawk River at Lowdons [Loudons] ferry, went to Half mon, crosst Hudsons river & returnd by Stone
Robbin to Albany. Drank Tea at Capt Lonsons, had a beautifull Day & a most agreable ride.
29 Supt with Mr. Ray at meriks at albany & Dr. Mchensey. 50 Sent off part of my Bagage with Capt. Badlem [Badlam]. Dind with Mr
Livingstone Commisery Gen., in the afternoon I attended a Treaty between the Indians & Inglish, present a Comtt. of the City &
county of Albany, Genl. Thomson & some other officers of the army & about 130 Chiefs & wariers from 2 Tribes of Mohawks,
Oniadas, Tuskaroras, onondagos & Kiogos [Cayugas]. the Indians were all seated in a large hall, when we went in they arose singly
& came round in there turn & Shook hands with all of us, after this serimony was over we were all seated, the chairman of our Comtt
arose & welcomd them to this place, was glad to see them in health & peace, & it gave us pleasure to have an opertunity to Smoak
a pipe & drink togeather, & then sot down. pipes were brought for every Man with tobaco, then one of the Chiefs arose & said that
they were glad to see so many of us there bretheren well & that they had an opertunity to Smoak a pipe with us, then a kind of
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