USA > New Jersey > Hudson County > History of the county of Hudson, New Jersey : from its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 42
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28 III. Richard, b. Aug. 31, 1800 ; m. Sarah E., dau. of Charles Weyland, Sept. 15, 1856; d. April 10, 1865 ; had ch. : I. Richard Garret, b. July 2, 1860.
Seventh Generation.
Garret [26] had ch. :
29. I. Jane. b. Oct. 6, 1812.
30. II. Maria, b. Feb. 26. 1814 : m. Jacob Van Winkle (136), Nov. 6. 1834.
31. III. Peter (32), b. Nov. 10, 1815 : m. Anne Van Winkle (138). April 25, 1839.
Eighth Generation.
Peter [31] had ch. :
32. I. Margaret Ann. b. Aug. 12, 1842: m. Barbarie W. Throckmorton, June 24, 1868.
33. II. Garret, b. Sept. 26, 1844.
34. III. Jacob, b. Jan. 7. 1846; m. Elizabeth Jane, dau. of Benjamin Decker, Nov. 25, 1868.
35. IV. Richard T., b. May 17, 1848; V. Mary Elizabeth, b. April 17, 1851, m. John J. Toffey.
36. VI. Emma Louisa, b. Oct. 2, 1853 ; m. William V. Toffey, Oct. 29, 1872.
BLENCKERHOEF-BLINCKERHOFF-VAN BLINCKERHOFF --- BRINKERHOFF.
Joris Direksen Brinckerhoef. the founder of the American branch of this family, came from the county of Drent, or Drenthe, in the United Provinces, and having lived for some time at Flushing, a seaport in Zealand, arrived in this country in 1638. He settled on Staten Island, and entered into a contract with Cornelius Melyn, the owner of the island, to reside there ; but owing to the murder of some neighboring planters by the In-
527
THE BRINKERHOFF FAMILY.
dians. in 1641,1 he obtained a release from the contract, Ang. 15. 1641. Then he went to Long Island, and settled in Brooklyn. He m. Susannah Dubbels : d. Jan. 16, 1661.2
Second Generation.
Joris had ch .:
2. I. Derrick, was killed by the Indians ; d. s. p.
3. II. Hendrick (6), m. Claesie, dau. of Cornelius Boomgaert, and settled near the English Neighborhood. In 1677 he purchased the land on Bergen Hill, on which some of his descendants yet reside.3 He and his wife were members of the Hackensack Church in 1686.4
4. III. Abraham, b. in 1632 : lived at Flatlands, Long Island ; m. Aeltje, dan. of Jan Stryker, May 20, 1660; d. at Newtown about 1714. His descendants are on Long Island.
5. IV. Aeltje, m. William Van Convenhoven.
Third Generation.
Hendrick [3] had ch. :
6. I. Geertje, b. Feb. 20, 1670.
-1 II. Margrietje, b. June 13, 1671 ; m. Mattys De Mott, of Kingston, May 6, 1705 ; united with the Hacken- sack Church Oet. 5, 1701.
III. Cornelius (12), b. in Midwout, L. I .; m. Aegie Vree- land (28), May 24, 1708: d. Sept. 1, 1770. æt. 97 vr's. He was sometimes called Cornelis Hendrick- sen Van Blinkerhoff: united with the Hackensack Church April 8, 1699.
9. IV. Joris, d. Feb. 5, 1692.
10. V. Derriek (18), united with the Hackensack Church April 8, 1699; m. 1st, Margrita Sibese Banta, Oet. 31, 1702; 2d, Abigail Ackerman, Oct. - , 1733.
11. VI. Jacobus (23), m. Angenitje, dan. of Hendrick Banta, April 17, 1708. Hendrickje, one of his dau., m. Roelof Van Derlinde in 1702; another m. Van Giesen. Hle and his wife united with the Hackensack Church Jan. 2, 1709.
N. Y. Col. MSS., i., 259.
3 Winfield's Land Titles, 50.
2 Annals of Newtown, 200.
+ Romeyn's Discourse, 132.
528
HISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY.
Fourth Generation.
Cornelius [S] had ch. :
12. I. Maritje, b. Feb. 27, 1709 ; m. Helmich Van Wagenen (18), Sept. 26. 1736 : d. Sept. 23, 1775.
13. II. Claesie. b. Sept. 3. 1710: m. Garret Croese : d. March 21. 1787.
14. III. Geesje, m. Cornelius Bogert : d. May 3, 1783.
15. IV. Hendrick, b. Dec. 13, 1713 ; d. Ang. 12, 1795, unm.
16. V. Aegie, b. March 23, 1715 ; m. Abraham Sickles, April 1, 1739 ; d. Oet. 3, 1802.
17. VI. Hartman (28), m. Claesie Van Houten, Oct. 20, 1744: d. Dec. - , 1798. He resided in the English Neighborhood.
Derrick [10] had ch. :
18. 1. Hendrick, bap. Oct. 21, 1705 : m. Maritje Westervelt, Nov. 1. 1728.
19. II. Arie, bap. Aug. 29. 1708 ; m. Margrietje Stegg, Oct. -, 1728.
20. III. Joris, bap. Dec. 13, 1715; d. in inf.
21. IV. Siba, bap. Dee. 13, 1715 ; m. Beelitje Degranw, Nov. -, 1744. In the Revolution he sympathized with the British, and was arrested under order of July 11, 1777,1 but released on taking the oath.
22. V. Joris, b. Aug. 24, 1720.
Jacobus [11] had ch. :
23.
I. Hendrick, bap. May 1, 1709 ; d. in inf.
24. II. Hendrick (34), b. Nov. 1, 1710.
25. III. Joris, b. Oct. 9, 1719 ; m. Martintje Bogert, Nov. -. 1745; removed to Adams County, Pa. : d. Jan. 3. 1810.
26. IV. Jacob (35), b. Nov. 19, 1721 ; m. Elizabeth Kip ; d. in 1771.
27. V. Maritje, m. Jacobus Huysman, Nov. - , 1741.
Fifth Generation.
Hartman [17] had ch. :
28. I. Cornelius, m. Jannetje Kip; d. Dec. 9, 1772 ; had ch. : Hendrick, b. Dec. 31, 1770. d. Jan. 8, 1771.
29. II. Eleanor, m. , and left two ch. : Claesie, who m.
Minutes of Council of Safety, 83, 112.
529
THE BRINKERHOFF FAMIL.Y.
Christian Burdett, and Rachel, who m. Michael Vreeland.
30. III. Jane, m. George Vreeland (98), Oet. 21, 1780; d. June 2, 1834.
31. IV. Effie, b. June 10, 1751 ; m. Jacob Van Wagenen (46); d. Jan. 16, 1820.
32. V. John, m. Sally Smith, and had ch. : Hartman, Becky, Philip, Cornelius, John, Claesie and Sarah. He lived at the English Neighborhood.
33. VI. Hendrick (36), b. March 31, 1763; m. Leah Van Wagenen (48), June 19, 1779 ; d. March 12, 1838.
Hendrick [24] had ch .:
34. I. Jacobus: II. Nicausie ; III. George; IV. Hendrick ; V. Ann, m. Henry Verbryck.
Jacob [26] had ch .:
35. I. Agnietje, m. Daniel Haring ; II. Lucas; III. Annatje, m. John Christie: IV. Jacobus; V. Ilendrick ; VI. Albert (who had a son, Jacob); VII. George.
Sixth Generation.
Hendrick [33] had ch .:
36. I. Hartman (39), b. April 15, 1781 ; m. Eleanor, dau. of Walter Clendenny, Nov. 6, 1802; d. July 15, 1832.
37. II. Catlyntje, b. July 13, 1784 ; m. Jacob Vreeland (81), Jan. 21, 1801.
38. III. Claesie, b. April 8, 17SS; m. Henry De Mott, Jan. 25, 1806.
Seventh Generation.
Hartman [36] had ch .:
39. I. Henry (45), b. Aug. 28, 1803; in. Jane Van Horn (27), Jan. 18, 1827; d. Nov. 10, 1858.
40. II. Walter C., b. Aug. 8, 1805 ; d. March 11, 1813.
41. III. Cornelius (50), b. Aug. 26, 1806; m. Jane Vreeland (218), Dec. 16, 1830 ; d. June 13, 1850.
42. IV. John V. W. (53), b. Sept. 27, 1812; m. Hannah, dau. of George Tise, Aug. 2, 1832.
43. V. Jannet M., b. Feb. 27, 1818 ; d. in inf.
44. VI. Leah Ann, b. April 29, 1819; m. Abraham Tuers. Oct. 10, 1844; d. March 18, 1853.
3.1
530
HISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY.
Eighth Generation.
Ilenry [39] had ch. :
45. 1. Mary Jane, b. June 26, 1828 ; d. May 26, 1834.
46. Il. Eleanor, b. Nov. 9, 1830 ; d. Jan. 28, 1834.
47. III. John Henry, b. Ang. 2, 1834 ; d. April 11, 1840.
48. IV. Garret V. H. (59), b. July 26, 1839; m. Elizabeth W., dau. of Justus Slater, Dec. 24, 1863.
49. V. Jacob Henry, b. Dec. 14, 1847 ; d. Aug. 22, 1851. Cornelius [41] had ch. :
50. I. Cornelia Ann, b. Sept. 16, 1833 ; d. Aug. 28, 1834.
51. II. Cornelius (60), b. June 10, 1835 ; m. 1st, Mary Jane, dan. of Abraham J. Rapp, Nov. 15, 1855 ; she d. Nov. 22, 1855 ; 2d, Sarah S., dau. of George Perry, Feb. 11, 1857.
52. III. Eleanor C., b. Jan. 26, 1844; m. William H. Speer, Oct. 1, 1862.
John V. W. [42] had ch. :
53. I. Ilenry H. (61), b. Jan. 6, 1835; m. Elizabeth Vree- land (312), June 6, 1855.
54. II. George, b. Oet. 6, 1836 ; d. Ang. 20, 1837.
55. III. Abraham, b. May 27, 1839 ; d. July 1, 1844.
56. IV. Cornelins, b. Ang. 9, 1841 ; d. June 4, 1842.
57 V. William, b. July 20, 1843 ; m. Melissa, dan. of Allen Clark, April 15, 1868 ; had ch. : I. Lillie, b. Nov. 28, 1869.
58. VI. Eleanor Ann, b. Feb. 18, 1845 ; m. George B. Fielder, April 25, 1865.
Ninth Generation.
Garret V. H. [48] had ch. :
59. I. Henry, b. Sept. 19, 1864; II. Justus S., b. Aug. 30, 1867, d. Dec. 7, 1869.
Cornelius [51] had ch. :
60. I. George T., b. Jan. 24, 1859 ; II. Cornelius, b. March 1, 1863, d. in inf.
Henry II. [53] had ch. :
61. I. John, b. Oct. 27, 1858; II. Henry, b. May 23, 1865 ; III. Lois Elizabeth, b. Sept. 18, 1871, d. Jan. 18, 1873.
531
THE SCHUYLER FAMILY.
SCHUYLER-VAN SCHUYLER-SCHUYLAARDT-SCHUILER.
The brothers, Philip Pieterse and David Pieterse Schuyler, were the founders of the family in this country. At first the name was written Van Schuyler, derived probably from the place where the family resided in Europe, and then recently adopted as a surname. The place is not to be found in the records of Holland.1 They came from Amsterdam in 1650, and settled at Fort Orange. David, the younger of- the two, m. Catlyntje, dau. of Abraham Isaacsen Planek, the owner of Paulus Hook, Oct. 13, 1657. By her he had five sons-Pieter, Jacobus, Abraham, David and Myndert-who lived to maturity, married, and left families at and near Albany .?
Philip Pieterse Schuyler, b. in 1628; m. Margaretta, dan. of Herr Brandt Arent Van Schlectenhorst, of Nienw- kerk, in Gelderland, Dec. 12, 1650. Her father came to this country in 1647 as man- ager of the colonie of Patroon Van Rensselaer. Schuyler and his wife were respective- ly twenty-two years old at the time of their marriage. Being now the son-in-law of the Patroon's commissary, he en- gaged in the fur trade with the Indians, a business pro- FİLYP PIETERSEN SCHVYLER COMMISSARIS 5856. hibited to private persons.4 In it he soon accumulated wealth. He was a magis- trate at Fort Orange in 1656, '57 and '61.5 On April 6, 1662, he, with others, received COAT OF ARMS.3 permission to plant a village on the Great Esopus.6 In his will
1 Lossing's Life of Schuyler, i., 21. º N. Y. Geneal. and Bibliog. Rec., i. 28.
3 ESCUTCHEON argent, a falcon sable, hooded gules, beaked and membered or, perched upon the sinister hand of the falconer, issued from the dexter side of the shield. The arm clothed azure, surmounted by a helmet of steel, stand- ing in profile, open-faced, three bars or, lined gules, bordered, flowered and studded, or, and ornamented with its lambrequins argent lined suble. CREST -out of a wreath, argent and sable, a falcon of the shield.
+ N. Y. Col. MSS., A. 138, 140, rri., 186.
6 N. Y. Col. MSS., x., Part 1, 113.
New Neth. Reg., 68.
532
HISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY.
he is styled " Captain and old commissioner of Albany." He died March 9, 1684, and his wife in 1710.
Second Generation.
Philip Pieterse had ch .:
1. I. Gysbert, b. July 2, 1652 ; d. before his father, unm.
2. Il. Geertruyd, b. Feb. 4, 1654 ; m. the Right Hon. Stephen Van Cortlandt, Sept. 10, 1671.
3. III. Alyda, b. Feb. 23, 1656; m. 1st, Rev. Nicholas Van Rensselaer, son of the Patroon, Feb. 10, 1675 : 2d, Robert Livingston, by whom she had seven children ; d. March 27, 1729.
4. IV. Pieter, b. Sept. 17, 1657 ; m. Maria, dau. of Killian Van Rensselaer, Oct. 25, 1672; d. Feb. 20, 1724. He was the first Mayor of Albany; a member of the Council of New Jersey and New York in 1709. and appointed to command the Indians in the ex- pedition against Canada.
5. V. Brandt, b. Dec. 18, 1659; m. Cornelia Van Cortlandt, July 12, 1682.1 Hle became a merchant and set- tled in New York city. Governor Clinton recom- mended him to a seat in his Council .? He was one of the witnesses to the deed by which Paulus Hoeck was conveyed to Cornelius Van Vorst.3
6. VI. Arent (11), b. June 25, 1662; m. 1st, Johanna about 1682; 2d, Swan Van Duykhuisen, of Al- bany ; 3d, Maria -, who was still living at Belleville in 1734.+ While yet a young man he came to New York city and engaged in mercantile business. In the beginning of the year 1694 he was appointed by Governor Fletcher to visit the Indians at Minisinck. The following is an extract from his report of that visit :
" 1692 ye 3ª of Feb. : I departed from New York for East New Jersey, and came that night att Ber- gen town, where I heired two men and a guide.
" Ye 4th, Sunday Morning. I went from Bergen and travilled ten English miles beyond Hagkking- sack to an Indian place called Peckwes.
" Ye 5th, Monday. From Peckwes North and
1 Burke's Landed Gentry, ii., 1361. 2 Col. Hist. of N. Y., vi., 465.
" Winfield's Land Titles, 45.
+ Taylor's Annals, 297.
533
THE SCHUYLER FAMIL.V.
be West I went about thirty-two miles, snowing and rainy wether.
.. Te 6th, Thusday. I continued my journey to Maggaghka- mieck,1 and from thence to within half a day's Journey to the Minnissinck.
.. Y'e 7th, Wendsday. About Eleaven a Clock I arrived att the Minnissinck, and there I mett with two ther Sachems and severall other Indians, of whome I enquired after some news, if the French or their Indians had sent for them or been in ye Men- nissinck Country. Upon weh they answered that noe French nor any of the French Indians were nor had been in the Mennissinck Country nor there abonts, and did promise yt if ye French should hapen to come yt they heard of it that they would forthwith send a mesinger an give ye Excellency notice thereof. * * * In the afternoon I departed from y" Minnissineks; the Sth, the 9th and 10th of Feb. I travilled and came at Bergen in ye morn- ing, and about noone arrived at New Yorke."? As late as May 30, 1709, he was requested by the Governor and Council of New Jersey to summon the Minisinck Sachems to a meeting at Perth Amboy.
On June 6, 1695, he and Anthony Brockholst purchased of the Indians 4,000 acres of land at Pequannock. On Nov. 11, 1695, they purchased the title of the East Jersey Proprietors to the same tract for £100. On May 20, 1697, he received from Governor Fletcher a patent for land in the Minisinck country, called by the Indians Sankhekeneek, alias Maghawaem ; also a parcel of meadow called Waimsagskmeck, on the river Mennis- sincks, before a certain island called Menagnock, adjacent to a tract called Maghaglkarnek, containing one thousand acres, at a quit rent of twelve shillings.3
At what time he went to New Barbadoes Neck is not known, bnt in the deed from Edmund Kingsland to him, dated April 20, 1710, he is described as a resident of that place. He paid £330 for the land then bought, but afterward added to his purchase, having accidentally discovered copper on his land. This dis- covery was made by a negro slave, who, when ploughing, turned up a greenish, heavy stone. He took it to his master, who sent it to England for analyzation. It was found to contain eighty
: The Indian name of the Neversink, which empties into the Delaware river a short distance south of Port Jervis.
: Col. ITist. of N. Y., iv., 98.
Book of Patents, Albany, vii., 71. The location and present names of these places I leave for others to make out.
534
HISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY.
per cent. of copper. This discovery opened an avenue to wealth, and Mr. Schuyler, desiring to reward the lucky slave, told him to name three things which he most desired, and they should be granted to him. The innocent fellow desired-First, that he might remain with his master as long as he lived : second, that he might have all the tobacco he could smoke ; and third, that he might have a dressing gown like his master's, with big brass but- tons. The trifling nature of these wants prompted his master to tell him to ask for something that was of value. The old fellow, after mature reflection, filled the measure of his earthly happi- ness by making his fourth request, that he might have a little more tobacco! He did not work the mine as extensively as his son Jolm, vet prior to his death he had shipped to the Bristol
HELIZABETH TOWN PT
NEWARK
IX
SCHUYLERS COPPER MINE DISCOVERED 1719
BARBADOS
CONSTABLE PT
BAREN NECK
ROBINS REEF
COMUNY
BERGEN
OYSTERI.
BEDLOWS I.
MAHASSIMUS
HOBUCK
NORTH
NUTING I.
YELLOW HOOK
RIVER
ANEW YORK
copper and brass works, England, 1,386 tons. In 1761 the mine was leased, an engine brought ont from England, and the mine worked for four years. With this engine came Josiah Hornblower, the father of the late Chief Justice, as engineer. In 1765 a workman who had been dismissed set fire to the building, and the engine was destroyed. Until 1793 the engine lay in ruins, and the mine was neglected. Mr. Schuyler's dwelling house, a large stone and brick building, was near the river, a little south of the Belleville road. About three-quarters of a mile east of the house there were. in the days of his son John and grand-
535
THE SCHUYLER FAMILY.
son Arent, two fine deer parks, stocked with about one hundred and fifty deer.1
ITis will was dated Dec. 17, 1724; codicil dated Oct. 30, 1730. He died about 1730.
7. VII. Sybilla, b. Nov. 12, 1664 : d. Dec. 9, 1664.
8. VIII. Philip, b. Feb. S, 1666 ; d. s. p.
9. IX. Johannis, b. April 5, 1668 ; m. Elizabeth Staats, wid. of John Wendell, April -, 1695 ; d. Feb. 27, 1747 ; she d. June 3, 1737.
He was an active leader against the French and Indians after the burning of Schenectady in Feb., 1690; was Mayor of Albany from 1703 to 1706, and a Member of the Colonial Assembly from 1705 to 1713.
Among his ch. were Cornelia ; Philip J .. who was killed by the Indians at Saratoga, Nov. 17, 1745; Margarita, "the American Lady," the friend and hostess of Lord Howe, and subsequently of Burgoyne, m. Philip Schuyler, of " the Flats," d. Aug. 28. 1752, æt. 82 yrs .. 7 mos., 13 days : Cathalyna, b. March 5, 1705, m. Cornelis Cuyler, Dec. S, 1726. Ifis eldest son. John, b. in 1697. m. his consin Cornelia, dan. of Stephen Van Cort- landt : d. in the fall of 1741, leaving tive ch., the eldest of whom was Major-General Philip Schuy- ler of the Revolution, b. Nov. 22, 1733.
10. X. Margaret, b. Jan. 2, 1672: m. John Collins, of Albany.
Third Generation.
Arent [6] had ch. :
11. I. Philip (19), bap. in 1687; m. Hester, dan. of Isaac Kingsland (3). His will, dated April 9, 1760, was proved Jan. 27, 1764. Hle received by devise all of his father's interest in the tract of land at Pequannock, which he owned jointly with Samuel Bayard, of Hoboken, and the heirs of Anthony Brockholst. On part of this tract, now known as Pompton, in Passaic County, some of his descend- ants are vet living. . He was a member of the Assembly of New Jersey in 1719, and seems to have had a little "unpleasantness " with William
Proc. N. J. Hist. Sor., viii., 124.
536
HISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY.
Sandford, a neighbor. and Thomas Van Buskirk, both members from Bergen County, who accused Schuyler of having " drank a health to the dam- nation of the governor and the justices of the peace."1 Schuyler denied the charge, and seems to have made good his denial, for he " was acquitted by a solemn vote, and permitted again to take his seat." He held the same position in 1721.
12.
II. Olivia, mentioned in her father's will. but dead at that time, leaving issue.
13. III. Casparus, bap. May 5, 1695. He received from his father a deed for land in Burlington, N. J., at Lossa Point or Wingworth's Point. His family continued to reside there for many years. Among his ch. was Arent, who m. Jane - -, and whose will, dated at Burlington, May 7, 1774, was proved Jan. 19, 1780. In it are the names of his ch., viz. : Aaron, John, Ann, Peter, Charles and Abraham.
14. IV. John (31), m. Ann Van Rensselaer. Jan. 1, 1719 ; his will, dated Dec. 22, 1772, was proved Feb. 12. 1773. He received by his father's will the home- stead farm and copper mine on New Barbadoes Neck, a part of which yet remains in the family. Governor Cosby recommended him to a seat in the New Jersey Council, Sept. 5, 1735,2 to which he was appointed, but resigned in 1746.
15. V. Peter (33), b. about 1710; m. Mary, dan. of John Walter, a man of great wealth, residing on Han- over square in New York City. By his father's will he received seven hundred and sixty acres of land near the Rahway River "in Elizabeth Towne." He was one of the prominent men of his day. When the invasion of Canada was proposed in 1746, he was authorized to recruit, and was then placed in command of the contingent of five hun- dred men from New Jersey.3 This force embarked at Amboy, en route for Albany, Sept. 3, 1746, and arrived on the 9th." He proceeded as far as the latter place, but owing to the failure of the home government to send forces from England, the ex-
1 Gordon's Hist. of N. J., 33%. Col. IFist. of N. Y., ri., 36.
His commission was dated Sept. 5. 1746.
+ Nevill's Luis, i., 332.
Peter Schuyler
537
THE SCHUYLER FAMILY.
pedition was abandoned. His force consisted of tive companies, riz .: Captain Jolm Dagworthy's, numbering one hundred and three men : Captain JJames Parker's, numbering one hundred and one men ; Captain Nathaniel Ware's, numbering one hundred and five men : Captain Campbell Stevens', numbering ninety-six men, and Captain Henry Donald's, numbering one hundred and three men. While encamped at Albany his men suffered greatly. On Feb. 26, 1747, he wrote to the authorities in this Province that his men were in want of a surgeon, medicines, shirts, Hints, colors, bread and peas. Besides this, unless they were paid, they threatened to leave, with their arms and baggage. In response to these complaints, Governor Hamilton, May 11, 1747. complimented the Colonel on his zeal in his Majesty's ser- vice, and assured him that he had that day " ordered two speckled Shirts and one Pair of Shoes for Each man." This was cold comfort, and a mutiny followed. To gniet his men. Colonel Schuyler advanced several thousand pounds out of his own means. This was the cause of bitter complaint on the part of Governor Clinton to the home government,1 as well as to the Colonel himself.2 Of this sum so advanced, the General Assem- bly of New Jersey resolved. Dec. 17, 1747, to refund him $607. 17s., 4d. He afterward marched his regiment to " Saraghtoga to garrison the fort at that place. Ilere he was reduced to such extremity for want of provisions that the General Assembly of New York took the matter in hand, Sept. 9, 1747.3 The war was terminated by the peace of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1748,4 and Colonel Schuyler returned to his home on the banks of the Pas- saic. The peace, however, was of short duration. In 1754- two years before war was declared in Europe-hostilities began in America, between the colonies and the French. New Jersey again placed her forces under Colonel Schuyler. His regiment moved up the Mohawk from Schenectady early in July of that vear,5 and reached Oswego on the 20th of that month. But the lefeat of Braddock on the 9th of that month exposed the State of New Jersey to the inroads of the savages. To protect the State from the calamity which then threatened. Colonel Schuyler with one-half of his regiment was, in December, with the con- sent of General Shirley, recalled from the northern frontier.6 During the winter of 1755-6, he occupied the blockhouses which had been erected on the Delaware, and protected the State from
Col. ITist. of N. Y., ci., 35 !. 2 Ibid, ri , 363.
Ibid, vi , 618.
4 Proc. N. J. Hist. So'., i., 52.
M 1ss. Hist. Coll., 1st Series, rii., 96.
. Gordon's Hist. of V. J., 123 ; Nerill's Lors, ii., 86.
538
HISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY.
the raids of the Indians. In the spring he returned to the north as colonel, commissary and paymaster of his regiment.1 He left his home for the seat of war on Friday, March 19. His troops ar- rived at New York April. 12, and set out for Albany the same evening. Owing to vexations delays at the latter place, he did not reach Oswego until the 1st of July. At this place were three forts, named respectively Oswego, Ontario, and George. The first was a large stone building erected in 1727 to protect a trad- ing post established there in 1722 .? It was surrounded by a wall flanked with four small bastions, but was commanded from the adjacent heights. To protect this fort, General Shirley, in the autumn of 1755, had constructed the other two.3 Fort Ontario was on the east side of the Onandaga river, about four hundred and fifty yards from the old fort. Fort George was further down the river and about four hundred and fifty yards west of Fort Oswego.4 Colonel Mercer was in command of the post and oc- cupied Fort Ontario, and Colonel Schuyler was in Fort Ontario with part of his regiment.
On the 10th of August General Montealm, with more than five thousand French and Indians, invested the place. He blocked the harbor with two large armed vessels and posted a strong party on the road between Albany and the forts to cut off succor and prevent despatches for reinforcements. On the 12th, at midnight. he opened on Fort Ontario with thirty-two cannon, besides mortars and howitzers. The garrison replied with spirit, but having exhausted their ammunition. spiked the guns and crossed the river to Fort Oswego. On the abandon- ment of Fort Ontario, three hundred and seventy of Colonel Mercer's men joined Colonel Schuyler, with the view to keep up communication between the two forts. To prevent this, twenty- five hundred of the enemy boldly swam the river on the night of the 13th, and occupied a position to command the route between the two forts. During the same night Montcalm's regular- en- tered the deserted fort and turned such of the guns as could be made serviceable on fort Oswego, and when the morning dawned opened fire. Colonel Mercer soon fell, and before night the forts were surrendered and fourteen hundred men became prison- ers. To please his Indian allies, Montcalm razed the forts, and Oswego became a solitude.
The prisoners and booty-consisting of one hundred and twenty eannon, three hundred boats, six vessels of war, a large
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