Clyde in Wayne County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Butler’s Cannon

Legends & Lore

— Empire State Trail —

Butler’s Cannon Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Susan A. Dalaba, April 9, 2025

1. Butler’s Cannon Marker

Inscription. As told by early trappers, a cannon was sunk here in the Clyde River by Butler’s Rangers, September 1779. Reported but never found

Erected 2016 by NY Folklore Society and William G. Pomeroy Foundation. (Marker Number 20.)

Topics and series. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: War, US Revolutionary • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the William G. Pomeroy Foundation Legends & Lore Series series list.

Location. 43° 5.286′ N, 76° 53.369′ W. Memorial is in Clyde, New York, in Wayne County. It is on New York 31, on the right when traveling east. Small parking area for trail. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 10425 NY-31, Clyde NY 14433, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial is in Upstate New York,

specifically in Western New York,

in the Finger Lakes,

and in the Rochester Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American Northeast,

on the Great Lakes,

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

New Netherland,

and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Towpath Trailhead (a few steps from this marker); Clyde Glass Works (approx. 0.8 miles away); Lock No. 64. (approx. 0.8 miles away); Erie Mansion B&B (approx. 0.8 miles away); Erie Mansion (approx. 0.9 miles away); VFW War Memorial (approx. 0.9 miles away); The Galen Historical Society Museum (approx. one mile away); Roll of Honor (approx. one mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Clyde.

Regarding Butler’s Cannon. During the Revolutionary War Sullivan-Clinton Campaign of 1779, a cannon belonging to Loyalist unit Butler’s Rangers was said to have been sunk intentionally by them during a retreat from Lake Ontario or by Americans at Melvin Brook (Clyde River) west of the Village. There were reports from early trappers, pioneers and boatmen who claimed to see the cannon. Lore suggests that one man reported putting his hand on the muzzle. About 1840,

Butler’s Cannon Marker - looking east. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Susan A. Dalaba, April 9, 2025

2. Butler’s Cannon Marker - looking east.

a group of residents set out to locate the cannon, but never found it. This legend can be found in both the “Military History of Wayne County” and “Morrison’s History of Clyde.”

William G. Pomeroy Foundation website for this marker:

Also see . . . Butler’s Cannon (William G. Pomeroy Foundation). (Submitted on April 10, 2025, by Susan A. Dalaba of Cortland, New York.)

Pull off for Empire State Trail and marker off of NY-31. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Susan A. Dalaba, April 9, 2025

3. Pull off for Empire State Trail and marker off of NY-31.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 10, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 10, 2025, by Susan A. Dalaba of Cortland, New York. This page has been viewed 140 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 10, 2025, by Susan A. Dalaba of Cortland, New York. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.