mcleaveland1

In Canterbury--

In an ancient cemetery in Canterbury, Conn., is the grave of
Moses Cleaveland, who founded Cleveland many years ago. The stone is
inscribed," Moses Cleaveland, Esq. "
Died November 16, 1806
Age fifty-two

In the next lot are two tablets, erected may years ago. These
arememorials to his parents. The one over his father's grave has the
following inscription:

In memory of Col. Aaron Cleaveland, who died in a fit of apoplexy
on the 14th day of April, 1785, aet 57. Born on the 7th day of Dec'r,
1727. On the 17th of June A.D., 1782 when in bloom of health and
prime of life, was struck with the Numb Palsy; From that time to his
death had upwards of 60 fits of the Palsy and Apoplexy. He was
employed in sundry honorable offices, both civil and military.

Followed a verse the first line of which is; " Calm and composd,
my soul her journey takes."

I have before me, copies of three letters written by Cleaveland
on that journey along Lake Erie in 1796 to survey the Western Reserve.
They are rare and were long in keeping of the Phelps family at
Canandaigua, N.Y. Oliver Phelps and his associates were listed among
the original owners of the Reserve as entitled to more than 500,000
acres of land, which Cleaveland was to survey. All are addressed to
Phelps, were started in May and the last one was written in August.

The Start--
The first dated May 19,1796, says he arrived in Albany with rain
and bad roads; that Porter, head surveyor, had left Schenectady and
one man was drowned. He is already short of money and cannot easily
obtain credit, as the Connecticut Land Company is not well known.
Thomas Mather & Co. of Albany will cash checks on the assurance of
money from Hartford, the company's headquarters, at an early date.
It is clear expenses will be greater than estimated. Porter has
made the best progress possible west but the party should be supplied
with everything necessary to settle the Reserve.
The next letter, written at " Port Independence, alias Conneaut
Creek" on July 5, says that they left Buffalo Creek a week ago,
against head winds in heavily loaded boats and reached the creek just
inside the Reserve. At 6 o'clock July 4. Hearing guns from Presque
Isle (Erie)they fired a Federal salute, then gave one in honor of the
new " State of Connecticut," which it seems the name intended for
this territory. They christened the spot, drank a few toasts, dined
and retired.
Cleaveland says Marengo Indians lived on the creek, with Paqua,
the Bear, as their chief; that he held a council, smoked the pipe of
peace and told them they might continue hunting, cultivate their land
and raise corn. There are more Indians ahead but he has no fear.
The next morning Porter is to locate the line of the Reserve nearly
70 miles south and commence running ranges westward. Settlers are on
the gound from Presque Isle.
The third letter dated Aug 5, is long. Cleaveland has seen the
Mary Easter (Ashtabula) and Grand Rivers. He describes lake shore
lands as excellant with forests of black and white walnut, sycamore,
cypress and hickory. Wild grape and hop vines, crabapple and plum
trees are plentiful. He does not mention the Chagrin but he has
entered the Cuyahoga in a Schenectady boat and paddled to the old
Moravian Indiantown. The length of the trip--25 miles-- is due to
sweeping bends and he imagines the town is 12 or 15 miles from the
lake. The valley is wide, water clear and current lively, with
streams falling into it. Indian corn, etc, is growing but the Indians
are away hunting. He found the Cuyahoga navigable for sloops eight
miles from its mouth and that small boats could reach the portage if
fallen trees in the river were cleared.