far as the
St Lawrence, and that they had a permanent residence here. No histoi-y pretends
that any other tribe settled here. But it is not improbable, that on account of the
wars, which had for some time been carried on between them and the Algoiujuins,
they had been induced to remove their residence further from the neigliborhood of
their enemies, at least, from the borders of the lake, before Ciiajiplain's discovery
of it. They had at least left the islands at the noi'th part of the lake before that,
and Champlain's party did not meet any enemy until they reached Crown Point.
UI^3T0RY OE ADDISON COUNTY. do
conquering the French, as well as the savages. In 1709 and sev-
eral following years, attempts were made, through the lake, to in-
vade and concjuer Canada. And while the EiTglishand French gov-
ernments were at peace^ for some years previous to 1725, wars Avero
still carried on by the Indians, aided occasionally hj the English
and French colonies. In 1746, while the French were in posses-
sion of Crown Point, an expedition from that place was fitted out
by the French and Indians, v/ho captured Fort Iloosick, which be-
fore that had been I'uilt at Willianistown, Massachusetts, near the
southv/est corner of Vermont.
During all these expeditions and until the French were driven
from Crown Point in 1759, this territory, including the whole of
Western Vermont, was exposed to the depredations of the Indians,
and settlements in it were wholly unsafe. Even the proprietors of
Bennington, who had obtained a charter in 1749, did not venture
to commence a settlement of that tov/n until 1701, after the conquest
of Canada.
In' the