Three Rivers
Hudson~Mohawk~Schoharie
History From America's Most Famous Valleys


Donated by Brandt Rostohar

This is from St. Johnsville Enterprise and News, Wednesday, November 24, 1937.

This map of the south eastern corner of the Town of Manheim, Herkimer County, has been drawn to show the Snell-Timmerman Patent, together with those land grants surrounding it and lying to the north of the Mohawk River and to the west of East Canada Creek, the Indian name of which is spelled on the map as it stands in the patent. The Timmerman allotment has been shaded. Every detail that could possibly be shown of the patent appears, with the exception of the bearings and distance of the starting point on the west bank of the East Canada Creek above the Mohawk Rivers and below Beardslee Falls. In addition, the location of the lot twenty-seven of the fourth allotment of the Royal Grant, acquired by Henry L. Timmerman in 1787, as described in this series is indicated. For comparison, possible boundaries of the King Hendrick deed have been included. Since the landmarks mentioned in this document were of so perishable a nature, it would, of course, be quite impossible at this date to vouch for the accuracy of the limits shown. One thing, however, should be clear in this connection and that is that the Timmerman received in the patent but little of the hinterland granted them by the Indians.

The map, however, does not limit itself to a portrayal of land grants. Present-day schools, churches and cemeteries are also shown. The Canajoharie Indian Castle is located in accordance with the statement in the patent that the East Canada Creek flowed into the Mohawk "opposite to the Connajohary Indian Castle." The General Herkimer Homestead is also included on the map, not only because it is a well known historical spot, but also because a young walnut tree mentioned in the patent is said to be "opposite to the dwelling House of Johan Nicholl Herchheimer." This residence cannot have been the present brick mansion, since the latter was erected in 1764.

Because of the district in the latter half of the nineteenth century was actively engaged in the production of Herkimer County cheese, the site of the local cheese factor is shown. This bring us, moreover to the only tradition of the locality that seems to have come down to the present day, for between Snells's Bush, there is a wooded ravine known to the natives as "Roadcup's Holler" (Rotkopf's Hollow.) According to one account, the murder of a red-headed peddler occurred here. When the more timid were frightened later by strange noises emanating from the forest, the bolder inhabitants discovered that these sounds were really caused by the wind swaying two trees which had lodged together. According to the different version, the redheaded victim was a blacksmith, and the beats of the dead man's hammer could be heard on his anvil as one passed through the wood. R.E. (To be Continued.)

If I come across any more of this story, I will add it to this page. ajb

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