Earliest History of Ashtabula

Darrell E. Hamilton

In May 1795, the legislature of Connecticut appointed a committee to receive and sell to individuals the land of

the Connecticut Western Reserve. In September 1795, the lands were sold and deeded. Even though the lands

of the Western Reserve in reality still belonged to the Indians that lived in the Western Reserve in reality still

belonged to the Indians that lived in the Western Reserve, the lands were sold to individuals whom had never

had sat foot on "their" land and some never would.

In May 1795, the legislature of Connecticut appointed a committee to receive

and sell to individuals the land of the Connecticut

Western Reserve. In September 1795, the lands were sold and

deeded. Even though the lands of the Western Reserve in reality

still belonged to the Indians that lived in the Western Reserve, the

lands were sold to individuals whom had never had sat foot on

"their" land and some never would.

The Connecticut Land Company in 1796, hired General Moses

Cleavland to make treaties with the Indians, survey the Reserve

into five mile townships townships and establish a city. Moses

Cleaveland was not your typical Daniel Boone. Mr. Cleaveland

was a Yale Graduate, appointed a Captain in the Army by Con-

ress served in the Connecticut legislature and was a Brigadier

General in Connecticut's militia.

On June 21, 1796, Moses Cleaveland met with six Indian Cheifs

around a council fire in Buffalo, New York. Cleaveland was to set-

tle with the Indians in the quickest, eastiest and cheapest way he

could. Cleaveland provided great feasts and dancing for the In-

dians not to mention the never ending supply of whiskey for four

days to soften their thinking. Originally Moses Cleaveland had of-

fered the Indians $1,000 for giving up title to the land of the Re-

serve. The Chiefs turned Cleaveland down but the whiskey flowed

and the Chiefs softened. In the end the Indians were paid $500,

provisions to see them home, two beef cattle and of course a hun-

dred gallons of whiskey. This "settlement" would enable Cleave-

land to begin surveying so settlers could move into the Connect-

icut Western Reserve.

Moses Cleaveland then set out for the Connecticut Western Re-

serve just west of the Pennsylvania line. Most of the party of 52

traveled in boats but a few traveled by land to reach the Reserve.

Among the party of 52 were at least two men who brought their

wives and children.

On July 4, 1796, Cleaveland and his surveying party would land

at Conneaut Creek in which the surveying party would christen

"Fort Independence". After settling and much celebrating, on July

7, the men organized into four field parties to begin surveying.

After completing the surveying of the eastern most part of the

Connecticut Western Reserve, the party continued on to the

mouth of the Ashtabula River. The Ashtabula River was named by

the Indians of this area translating into "river of many fish" or

sometimes different variations of the same meaning. Moses

Cleaveland was so entranced over the beauty of the surroundings

that he proposed to those accompanying him that the name of

the stream be changed to Mary Esther, in honor of his daughter.

The men were not overly enthused over the proposition until he

brought up two gallons of wine from the hold of their craft. The

men were then all in favor of renaming the Ashtabula River,

"Mary Esther". But unlike the Indians, when the wine ran out, the

name was forgotton and the Ashtabula name would live on.