Members of the Richfield Springs Historical Association went to the site of the Andrustown Massacre, Monday, June 4. It was a dark and threatening night following a calamitous day, weather wise. A group of intrepid seekers of history embarked upon a trek. Luckily, we had cars. We hiked to the area of the Andrustown Massacre, which occurred July 18, 1778, during the Revolutionary War. This seven-family settlement was one of the villages alerted by Adam Helmer when he made his famous run warning the settlers about the impending raid by Chief Joseph Brand and his murderous Tory and Indian band. Heeding the warning, everyone had fled the scene for the safety of German Flatts. Unfortunately, some returned to care for the livestock and the fields. All were massacred – men, women and children. There was bread baking in the communal oven. It was purported that the band of marauders carried it off in their bloody hands. The site for the meeting was the Hoyer family cemetery. Even though it is a graveyard, its location is one of the highest points in the area. Blanketed by dark scudding clouds, the 360 degree panoramic view was still tremendous. In the distance to the west, through the gathering gloom, twinkled the golden dome of the Jordanville Monastery. On a clear day, German Flatts would have been visible. Our guest expert was the renowned Gary Aney, from the Farmers’ Museum in Cooperstown. His knowledge of history of the area was extensive and highlighted his obvious love of this locale that has been long populated by the Aney family. The road that ended here at the cemetery was once one of the major routes from Cooperstown to German Flatts. Settlement, in the main, was in 1757, after the French and Indian War. If you missed this meeting, you missed a great one. Talk to one of the association members or Aney, and they might give you a copy of the map to one of the most spectacular views in Herkimer County, and one of great historical interest.
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