I'm sorry for being so dramatic. He is buried right next to Jane McCrea and
both graves are enclosed behind a black iron fence and gate. She was
engaged to someone named Duncan Campbell at the time of her death.
Daniel Martin
----- Original Message -----
From: Joseph Cutshall-King <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, December 16, 2002 10:20 AM
Subject: Re: Jane McCrea - Ft. Edward
> Duncan Campbell was indeed wounded at Ticonderoga but died at Fort Edward.
His
> first burial place was the graveyard for the French and Indian War
military
> fortification called "Fort Edward" from which today's town and village
derive
> their names. That graveyard is now known as the State Street Cemetery.
> Campbell's remains were exhumed and reburied in the Fort Edward Union Free
> Cemetery, where Jane's McCrea's remains are now.
>
> Am confused by your statement "that his neighbor behind the iron gate in
Fort
> Edward/ Hudson Falls was engaged to a Duncan Campbell." Who do you mean?
>
> Joe Cutshall-King
> Washington County Historian
> Washington County Municipal Center
> 383 Broadway
> Fort Edward, NY 12828
> Tel.: 518-746-2178
> Fax: 518-746-2219
> E-mail: [log in to unmask]
>
> HOME:
> PO Box 154
> 693 County Route 49
> Cossayuna, NY 12823
>
> Bus. Tel./FAX: 518-692-0022
> E-mail: [log in to unmask]
>
> Daniel Martin wrote:
>
> > First, from everything I read, Campbell was wounded at Ti, but died at
Fort
> > Edward. I also read he was moved, as well, by relatives (the
Gilchrists)
> > who opened his lead coffin to view his remains. I also find it
interesting,
> > that his neighbor behind the iron gate in Fort Edward/ Hudson Falls was
> > engaged to a Duncan Campbell. I've always wondered if this was a
relative
> > to the Inverawe Campell of Fort Ti fame.
> >
> > I am not a professional historian, but I have suspected for awhile that
this
> > type of thing was going to start.
> >
> > For those in Albany and those who are followers of French and Indian War
> > lore, you may recall that there has been a controversy for almost 100
years
> > as to where Lord Howe, who was killed in 1758 the day before the battle
at
> > Ti, is buried. Some contend he was buried at Trout Brook in Ti due to
the
> > finding of a rude grave marker in the 1890's but most accounts say he is
> > buried under the steps of St. Peter's in Albany on State Street.
Someone
> > is buried there. I wonder, since he was a member of the royal family if
> > someday someone will want to do a DNA on those remains. I think it will
go
> > on and on and on and on and....well, you get the picture.
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Daniel H. Weiskotten <[log in to unmask]>
> > To: <[log in to unmask]>
> > Sent: Thursday, December 12, 2002 9:38 PM
> > Subject: Re: Jane McCrea - Ft. Edward
> >
> > > Two things:
> > >
> > > First. Congratulations to Phil Lord, on your retirement. I cannot
> > express
> > > the gratitude for all your help, and the pleasure it has been to have
> > > worked with you. Now go enjoy that kayak, but stay out of Labrador
Pond
> > > where the muck lies only inches below the surface and is the
consistancy
> > of
> > > putrid chololate pudding (my experience in kayaking, when I turtled
and
> > > nearly drowned in it).
> > >
> > > Second. I will say that David Starbuck is one who will do it right,
and
> > > for the right reasons, with historical inquiry behind what he does.
Too
> > > many people think that all that scientists do is dig up and study
Indians,
> > > but most of us in the field know that this is simply not the case, but
> > yes,
> > > this examination would show that we do have an interest in Human
history,
> > > even of our own kind.
> > >
> > > Abe Lincoln, George Washington, and a slew of presidents have been dug
up
> > > at least once and wondered at and poked by the curious for various
> > > reasons. Word is that observers were shocked when they found that
> > > Lincoln's skin had turned black. Some say it was due to the
particular
> > > pickling process they used, others divine revelation.
> > >
> > > As for Jane McCrea, her body has been dug up more than once already.
She
> > > was originally buried, with Lieutenant or Colonel Van Vechten (I was
> > unable
> > > to find out anything more on him,) near where they were killed in
> > > 1777. Then about 1823 she was moved to the cemetery in Fort Edward,
> > placed
> > > next to the grave of Mrs. McNeil with whom she lived at the time of
her
> > > killing. In 1852 her bones were exhumed again and reburied in Union
> > > Cemetery, in Fort Edward, where she lies today. She was placed in a
plot
> > > near the entrance to the cemetery, where all could see her grave and
> > simple
> > > marker. Her neice, Sarah Hanna Payne, is the one who had her moved to
> > this
> > > final place. Duncan Campbell's remains have a similar story, being
first
> > > buried at Fort Ticonderoga, then at Fort Edward in 1823, moved again
in
> > > 1871, and then in 1920 they were moved to the present spot right next
to
> > > Jane's. I have a feeling Van Vechten was moved around alot also.
> > >
> > > There are many sources and facts about these events, and, as Ruthann
> > > Messick pointed out, there is a great deal known about Jane McCrea,
but we
> > > all know there is even more that we do not know. Here is an
opportunity
> > > not often presented to do a serious look at the remains, and not some
> > > anecdotal poking at the bones. Archaeology and forensic investigation
> > > provide us with a unique and explicit way to read those pages of
history
> > > that were not heretofore available.
> > >
> > > For an recent interpretation of much of the story of Jane McCrea, take
a
> > > look at:
> > > http://www.yacc-uk.freeserve.co.uk/macrae/JaneMcCrea.htm
> > >
> > > Dan W.
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