Page:History of Delaware County (1856).djvu/220

 196 HISTORY OP early emigrants entertained of the manner in which it existed. While some imagined the whole tree to be solid sugar^ others had an idea of warm sugar, instead of sap oozing from the tree. An anecdote has been told me of one of Scotia's sons, an early pioneer to the county, and whose descendants are still num- bered among her inhabitants, which, although not strictly his- torical perhaps, nevertheless illustrates the idea suggested above. When questioned as to what would be his employ- ment in his new wild home, he replied : The making of majple-sugar, and if I find it a 'profitable husiness I intend to folloio it the year round." The following reliable information in relation to the early settlements of Stamford, was furnished me principally by Cap- tain Stephen Halt, of that town : — A few of the Scotch settlers along the West Branch of the Delaware, having experienced so much vexation from the Indians, after the breaking out of the Revolution, removed to Albany, Catskill, and other places on the Hudson, where they remained undisturbed until the termi- nation of the war. Before leaving, they buried their pots, kettles, and other things they could not carry with them. They took pains to mark the places of their hidden treasures, so that they might find them again should they ever be so fortunate as to return. Those who were tories, or friendly to the King, (Greo. III.) and opposed to the revolt of the colonies, removed to Canada. One portion of Canada was quite thickly settled by the tories, many of whose descendants are still living. A few tories re- mained to harbor the Indians, and aid them in killing and troubling those in favor of liberty and independence. About 1783, the portion that had moved eastward began to return, some by way of Schoharie, Patchin Hollow, and the old Indian trail through Break-a-bin, others by way of Cairo, Windham, Schoharie kill, Moresville, &c., to the head waters of the Delaware river, now known as Stamford. This latter