Two years ago the Erie Canal Drama Theatre was able to find some of the descendants of Governor DeWitt Clinton, the father of the Erie Canal. For several years we have been trying to find descendants of those who helped construct the Erie Canal from 1817-1825.
It is our understanding that many of the workers, the diggers, some of the contractors, and others settled in some of the villages, towns, and cities now along the Erie Canal. We are hoping that more research will be done in these places to find descendants of early canal workers and if they have any information we would like to hear from those who would like to know more about their own families involved in the Erie Canal.
Since there were over 9,000 men who worked on the original canal there must be millions of people who descended from these workers. As far as we know, there are only one or two diaries of those who built the canal now in existence. Diaries or letters from these early workers would be very valuable. Please contact Hugh Pratt, Executive Director, Erie Canal Drama Theatre, in Buffalo, New York. Phone 716-844-3315.
We do have a list of many of the workers who worked on the canal from 1817-25. Perhaps your family relative is on that list. You should be very proud if he is. He helped create one of America’s greatest monuments.
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