On September 26, 1812, from this site, some of the first shots of the War of 1812 were fired by local militia at armed soldiers from the British schooner Lady Provost. After a small boat carrying soldiers from the British ship was sighted rowing in pursuit of an American salt barge that had taken refuge at the mouth of Canadaway Creek, local citizen Celea Sampson "Widow" Cole rode her horse to the settlement of Canadaway (Fredonia) to secure reinforcements. Recognized as a War of 1812 heroine for spreading the alarm, the Widow Cole reportedly also carried food and water to the militiamen and melted her pewter dishes to make bullets for their use during the attack.