USA > New York > A geographical history of the state of New York: embracing its history, government, physical features, climate, geology, mineralogy, botany, zoology, education, internal improvements, &c., with a separate map of each county > Part 8
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But a few days previous to his decease, Governor Cosby suspended Rip Van Dam from the council, thereby preventing his acting as lieutenant governor, in the event of his death. This act had well nigh produced serious troubles in the colony ; for Mr. Clarke, who was next in order of seniority, having as- sumed the government, Van Dam opposed him, and himself appointed various officers.
The two parties soon came into collision, and a civil war seemed inevitable. Each party prepared for such a result, when, on the very eve of a conflict, a commission arrived from England, confirming Mr. Clarke, in the office of lieutenant gov- ernor, and president of the council.
This, of course, left the other party no alternative but submission. Gov- ernor Clarke exerted himself, to remove all just ground of complaint, from the people. He sought every occasion to conciliate those who were hostile to him ; and during the seven years he was in power, rendered himself highly popular.
In 1737, a company of Highlanders offered to settle on the shores of Lakes Champlain and George, if they could be coun- tenanced and aided by the assembly. As the colony would prove an effectual barrier to the French, on the northern fron- tier, the proposition was cheerfully met, by many of the citizens ; but the assembly withheld the necessary aid, and the poor colonists were obliged to leave their lands, almost in a state of starvation.
In 1741, occurred the Negro plot, so famous in the annals of New York.
The evidence of the existence of such a plot seems to be meagre and insufii- cient. It is not improbable that a few profligate wretches, whites as well as blacks, had meditated arson ; but the only proof of a plot to burn the city, was the testimony of a single abandoned woman, whose statements often contradicted each other, and were not corroborated by any of her associates. Yet such was the alarm and infatuation of the citizens, that on this woman's testimony, 154 Negroes and twenty Whites were imprisoned, thirteen Negroes were burned at the stake, eighteen or twenty persons hanged, seventy transported to foreign countries, and fifty discharged.
The people, always suspicious of the Roman Catholics, arrested and executed several Irishmen, who professed that faith, and who happened to arrive in the colony about this time. Among others who were hanged, was one Ury, a Cath- olic priest, who was condemned on two charges ; one, that he was concerned in the conspiracy, and the other, that he was a Catholic priest. The charge of con- spiracy, he protested was untrue, nor was it proved against him.
In September, 1743, George Clinton, son of the Earl of Lin- coln, arrived in the colony, with a commission as governor.
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The ensuing year, war was declared, between England and France, and the colonists prepared to carry it on with vigor.
In 1745, the colonies of New England and New York united in an attack upon the French fortress, at Louisburg ; and New York furnished ten pieces of cannon, and £8000 towards the expedition. It was surrendered in June, of that year,
The colonies were seriously molested, during the year 1746, by the Indians, in the pay of the French, who attacked and re- duced the English fort at Hoosick, and also made an incursion upon the settlement at Saratoga, murdering and plundering all who fell in their way. It was therefore determined to make & vigorous attack upon the French fortresses at Crown Point and Niagara, and also to send an army to capture Quebec. For this purpose New York raised £40,000, and solicited aid from England, which was promised, but not furnished. The enter- prise proved unsuccessful.
The peace of Aix la Chapelle was concluded in 1748, and the colony, in the prosperity which followed for a few years, began to recover from its losses by the wars.
In 1746, the assembly appropriated £2250. towards founding a college.
During the years 1746-9, there were constant contentions, between the governor and assembly ; but in 1750 both parties manifested a more concili- ating spirit, and during the remainder of Governor Clinton's administration, they were on better terins.
Governor Clinton resigned in 1753, and in October of that year, Sir Danvers Osborne arrived, as his successor. Deeply afflicted at the loss of an excellent and amiable wife, the cares of the government seemed, to this unfortunate gentleman, an intolerable burden; and on the 12th of October, 1753, five days after his arrival, he put a period to his own existence.
Mr. De Lancy, the chief justice, was appointed lieutenant gov- ernor, a short time previous to Governor Clinton's resignation, and now assumed the reins of government.
Desirous of retaining the affections of the people, and disposed to side with their representatives in those measures which were advantageous to the colony, while at the same time he held his office at the will of the English government, Mr. De Lancy had a difficult task to perform ; but the skill with which he concili- ated both parties, does honor to his ability, as a statesman.
In 1754 a convention of delegates from the colonies of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Penn- sylvania, Maryland and New York, met at Albany, to devise some plan of common defence against the French, who had again commenced hostilities.
At this convention Dr. Franklin, afterwards so eminent in the history of the Revolution, proposed a plan for political union, which was rejected by the provin- cial assemblies, on the ground that it gave too much power to the crown, and by the English government, because it gave too much power to the people.
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In September, 1755, Sir Charles Hardy, an admiral in the British navy, arrived in New York, as governor. Being unac- quainted with civil affairs, he gave the management of these to Mr. De Lancy. In the spring of this year, the colonies had made extensive preparations for an attack on the enemy, but, owing to the ignorance of the commanders of the English forces, of the tactics of Indian warfare, the campaign was utterly un- successful. Braddock, who was sent against Fort Du Quesne, (now Pittsburgh,) was killed, and his army routed, by a small body of Indians. Crown Point, and Niagara, both French posts, although assailed, were not captured.
Nor was the campaign of 1756 more successful. The Eng- lish fort at Oswego was captured, 1600 men taken prisoners, and a large quantity of stores seized, by the French.
The campaign of 1757 was still more unsuccessful. Fort William Henry, on Lake George, with a garrison of 3000 men, was compelled to surrender. These repeated misfortunes awa- kened the energies of the English.
In 1758, William Pitt (Lord Chatham) was placed at the head of government, in England, and a new impulse was given to the energies of the nation. Success soon followed. In July, Louisburg, which at the former peace had been restored to the French, was recaptured. Fort Frontenac, on Lake Ontario, (now Kingston, C. W.) was captured soon after, and the French compelled to abandon Fort Du Quesne. General Aber- crombie attacked Fort Ticonderoga, but unsuccessfully.
Stimulated by this success, New York, in 1759, exerted her- self to the utmost, and raised $625,000 in five months, and lev- ied a force of 2680 men. Ticonderoga was captured by General Amherst, early in the season, and Crown Point surrendered a few days later. In July, General Prideaux invested Fort Niag- ara, and though he was killed in the attack, Sir William John- son, his successor in the command, succeeded in reducing it. On the 13th of September, the brave General Wolfe laid down his life, in the moment of victory, when the English banners floated over the towers of Quebec.
The ensuing year the French, made an unsuccessful effort to recapture Quebec ; and on the 8th of September of that year, all the French possessions in Canada were surrendered to the British Government, and the French power extinguished there. Two small islands at the mouth of the St. Lawrence, St. Pierre and Miquelon, alone were preserved to them, of their former vast possessions.
During the progress of these events, in July, 1760, Governor De Lancy suddenly deceased. He was succeeded by Dr. Cad- wallader Colden, the president of the council, who in August, 1761, was appointed Lieutenant Governor. In October of the
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same year, General Robert Monkton arrived, with a Governor's commission, but left on the 15th of the ensuing month, to com- mand an expedition against Martinique, and the government again devolved upon Dr. Colden.
It was during his administration, that the difficulties between New Hampshire and New York commenced, relative to the territory, now known as the state of Vermont.
By the original patent, granted to the Duke of York, this tract was included. New Hampshire, however, claimed it under her charter ; and, contending that the charter of the Duke of York was obsolete, proceeded to make extensive grants of land, to the settlers on the west side of the Connecticut. Emigration pro- gressed rapidly, and in 1763, 138 townships had been granted, by New Ilamp- shire, covering a large portion of the present state of Vermont.
Governor Colden was not the man to sit by, and tamely submit, to what he deemed injustice to his colony. He issued a proclamation, claiming jurisdiction as far east as the Connecticut, and ordered the sheriff to make returns to him, of any persons, who had taken possession, under the authority of New Hampshire.
The Governor of New Hampshire issued a counter proclamation, and the mat- ter was referred to the Crown, which decided in favor of New York. The at- tempt to enforce this decision. and to induce the inhabitants to take out new deeds under New York, was, with some exceptions, ineffective, and led to con- stant hostilities between the Vermont settlers, and the government of New York.
In 1764 the news of the passage of the Stamp Act, (which rendered all deeds, bonds, notes, &c., invalid, unless written on stamped paper, which should pay a duty to the Crown, ) excited universal indignation among the people. An organization was soon formed in this, as well as some of the adjacent states, called " The Sons of Liberty," which offered the most daring re- sistance, to this aggression upon the rights of the people.
Governor Colden attempted to enforce the act, but the at- tempt called down the hostility of the people upon him, and but for his age, he would undoubtedly have suffered in person. As it was, his effigy was carried about the city, and hung upon a gallows erected for the purpose, and his carriage and other property destroyed.
When the stamps arrived, he was obliged to surrender them to the city corporation, and await the action of the Governor, Sir Henry Moore, who arrived in July, 1765, and by the advice of his council, was deterred from attempting farther to enforce the act.
On the 1st Tuesday in October, 1765, a Congress composed of delegates from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and South Carolina, met at New York, to take into considera- tion, the invasion of the rights of the colonies, by the Stamp Act.
New Hampshire, Virginia, North Carolina and Georgia, did not send delegates, but two of them expressed their sympathy with the Congress, and the others bad no meeting of their legislatures, in time to appoint delegates. This Congress made a declaration of the rights and privileges of the colonies, and petitioned for redress.
The Stamp Act was repealed on the 18th of March, 1766 ; but
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the offensive declaration accompanied the repeal, that " Parlia- ment possessed the power, to bind the colonies in all cases, what- soever."
In 1767, Charles Townsend, chancellor of the English ex- chequer, proposed a new bill, levying duties on glass, paper, paints and tea. This passed, and the inhabitants entered, as they had previously done, into non-importation agreements, by which they pledged themselves to use none of these articles, nor, so far as it could be avoided, other articles of British manu- facture. In 1769, five-sixths of these duties, and in 1770, all of them, were repealed, except the duty on tea. 'The people of New York, as well as of the other colonies, rigidly abstaining from the use of this beverage, no excitement was produced ; and from 1770 to 1774 a period of calmness ensued, although the English government and the colonists regarded each other with jealousy.
Attempts were made, in 1767, to settle the boundary between Massachusetts and New York. Massachusetts, under her charter, claimed to the Pacific Ocean, and had repeatedly attempted to make settlements within the bounds of New York. The attempt to establish these settlements, had produced collision, and in several instances, bloodshed. Commissioners from the two colonies met at New Haven, in October, 1767, and determined that the Massachusetts line should run twenty miles east of Hudson river, but could not agree in regard to the manner of running that line.
In September, 1769, Sir Henry Moore deceased. His course, during the period in which he acted as Governor, had been pru- dent, mild, and dignified. He had, as far as possible, abstained from controversy with the assembly and people, interpreting his instructions from the government in England, as liberally as lay in his power. His death was much lamented. Governor Col- den again occupied his place, although very much advanced in years.
Governor Dunmore assumed the government in November, 1770 ; but his administration continued only a few months, and was marked by no important event, He was the first Governor supported by the Crown, a measure against which New York protested, as calculated to make the executive independent of the popular branch of the government. During his short con- tinuance in office, a contest took place with the legislature, in regard to quartering the King's troops, to which the assembly were wholly averse, but to which, under the threats of the Brit- ish government, they were obliged to submit.
Liberty poles had, at this period, been frequently erected in New York city, and as often cut down and destroyed by the British soldiery, who entertained the bitterest hostility to the citizens. After repeated efforts, the inhabitants erected one upon private grounds, so frily encased in iron, that the soldiers could not destroy it.
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Lord Dunmore having been appointed Governor of Virginia, Governor Tryon succeeded him on the 8th of July, 1771.
In 1772, the New Hampshire grants became a renewed source of serious disquietude to the colony. Governor Tryon offered a reward of fifty pounds for the apprehension of Ethan Allen, Seth Warner, and six others of the most obnoxious of the set- tlers ; and the New York assembly passed an act, declaring the opposition of these citizens to the government of New York, felony. Allen and his coadjutors, in return, hurled their defi- ance at the Governor, and those who were sent to arrest them.
In the Spring of 1775, matters appeared to be approaching a crisis, in regard to this territory. A collision took place, be- tween the officers of New York, and the citizens of Westmin- ster county, Vermont, in which one man was killed, and several wounded. But for the occurrence of the battle of Lexington, at this juncture, probably a serious civil war would have en- sued.
The British government resolved, in 1773, to accomplish by cunning, what they had failed to attain by force. They remit- ted to the East India Company, the customary English duties on tea, and permitted them to ship it for America, with only a duty of three pence per pound, to be paid, on landing it, at any American port. They supposed that as this would make the price of tea lower than in England, the colonists would not ob- ject to it; but the colonists saw, in this measure, the same prin- ciple, against which they had been contending.
The course adopted by the different colonies, is well known. In New York, a meeting of "The Sons of Liberty" was called, on the receipt of the intelligence, and resolutions passed, that the tea should not be landed. Accordingly, when, in April, 1774, the tea ship, (the Nancy, commanded by Captain Lockyier,) arrived off Sandy Hook, the pilots, who had already received their instructions. refused to bring her any nearer the city. The captain however came up, and was waited upon, by a committee, who informed him, that he inust return immediately to England, with his cargo; and for the purpose of preventing his sailors from de- serting, a strong guard was stationed near his ship at Sandy Hook. Finding it useless to resist, he submitted to their commands.
Meanwhile information was received that Captain Chambers, of the ship Lon- don, a man loud in his professions of patriotism, had brought out eighteen chests of tea, as a private venture. Being questioned by the committee, he denied it ; but upon their assuring him, that their evidence was so strong that they should search the ship, he confessed it, but attempted to apologize. llis apologies did not avail. His tea was emptied into the harbor forthwith, and he permitted to withdraw. Embarking on board Lockyier's ship, he sailed for England, to hide his shame and disgrace.
About this period a committee of observation was organized in New York, consisting of fifty persons, who were invested with discretionary powers, with regard to the administration of government.
On the 5th of September, 1774, a congress from the different
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colonies, met at Philadelphia. They adopted several resolu- tions, and prepared addresses to the King and both houses of Parliament, and to the people of Great Britain and Canada.
To these addresses and resolutions prepared by Congress, the assembly of New York refused to give their assent. On the contrary, they addressed an exceedingly loyal and humble let- ter to the King, in which they represented their grievances, but without seeming much afflicted by them. They were undoubt- edly influenced to this course, by Governor Tryon, a man of very popular manners, and artful insinuating address, who had the skill, to mould the assembly to his will.
This step of New York exerted a very important influence upon the future destiny of the colonies; for the British Ministry were upon the point of yielding to their just demands, when the news of the defection of New York reached them. Stimulated by this, they continued that course of aggression, which ulti- mately led to the establishment of our liberties.
Governor Tryon sailed for England in April, 1774, and re- turned in June, 1775.
In April, 1775, a provincial convention was convened at New York, and elected delegates to the 2d Congress, which assem- bled at Philadelphia in May, 1775.
The news of the battle of Lexington, (Mass,) on the 19th of April the same year, caused great excitement in the city of New York. At the desire of the committee of observation, a com- mittee of superintendence was elected by the citizens, consisting of 100 of the most respectable citizens; and the arms in the city arsenal, and others about to be shipped to Boston, were seized.
Ticonderoga, Crown Point, and Skenesborough, (now White- hall,) were captured in May, by Colonels Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold, and the entire command of Lake Champlain obtained.
Governor Tryon returned, in June, from England and was welcomed by the citizens ; but his strenuous exertions to promote the royal cause, soon rendered him unpopular, and in October, considering his personal safety endangered, he took refuge on board the Asia, a ship of war lying in the harbor.
On the 22d of May, 1775, a provincial Congress was convened at New York, and efficient measures were taken for the mili- tary organization, and defence of the country. Two regiments were authorized to be raised, bounties were offered for the man- ufacture of gunpowder and muskets in the province, fortifications were projected at Kingsbridge and the Highlands, and Philip Schuyler and Richard Montgomery were recommended to the Continental Congress for appointment, the first as a Major General, and the second as Brigadier General.
Upon the adjournment of this Congress in September, for a month, they dele- gated their powers to a committee of safety, composed of three members from the city, and one, from each of the other counties.
Generals Schuyler and Montgomery, at the direction of Con- gress, undertook an expedition against Quebec, which, though
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at first, promising a favorable result, finally terminated unfortu- nately, in the death of Montgomery, and the repulse of the army.
Many of the inhabitants of Tryon county espoused the side of the mother country, under the direction of Sir John Johnson, son of Sir William, already mentioned, and made preparations to fight against the colony. General Schuyler was ordered by Congress to disarm them; and calling out the Albany militia, who rallied around his standard to the number of' 3000, he pro- ceeded into that county, and dispersed about 600 loyalists. The loyalists on Long Island also entrenched themselves, but were disarmed, and their leaders secured, by the Jersey militia. These events occurred in the winter of 1775.
July 9th, 1776, the provincial Congress met at White Plains, and took the title of " The Representatives of the State of New York." On the first day of their meeting, they received the Declaration of Independence, and immediately passed a resolu- tion, approving it. Soon after, they enacted a law, that all per- sons, residing in the state, and enjoying the protection of its laws, who should be found guilty of aiding its enemies, should suffer death.
THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
In July, 1776, General Howe, and Admiral Howe, his brother, the British commanders of the land and naval forces, arrived at Staten Island. The inhabitants, at once, took the oath of alle- giance to the British Crown, and, together with a considerable number of loyalists, from New Jersey and Long Island, were embodied as a part of the British forces.
At this period, the troops under Washington were unaccus- tomed to discipline, not well clothed, nor prepared for efficient military duty ; and consequently not to be relied upon, in a direct battle with the highly disciplined, and well appointed troops of England. From this fact, General Washington determined not to risk a general action, until his forces, by constant military exercise, and occasional skirmishes with the enemy, should ac- quire greater confidence in their own prowess.
It would have been fortunate, had he been able to maintain this position ; but unhappily, in a conflict on Brooklyn Heights, on the 27th of August of this year, in which, at first, only a por- tion of the army were engaged, the entire troops finally became enlisted, and the Americans were routed with severe loss both in killed and'prisoners. As the result of this unfortunate battle, Washington was compelled to evacuate New York city, and retreat towards Philadelphia, with one division of his army, while the other made its way northward, along the banks of the
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Hudson. This event took place on the 12th of September, 1776. Previous to Washington's evacuating the city of New York, the public stores were removed to Dobb's ferry.
On the 15th of September, the American General attempted to oppose the landing of the British forces, at Kip's and Turtle bays, but unsuccessfully, and with shameful demonstrations of cowardice on the part of the American soldiery. On the 16th of September occurred the battle of Harlaem heights, in which, though but few troops were engaged, the action was close, and the Americans recovered their courage and spirit. Washington having retreated into Westchester Co., a partial action took place at White Plains, on the 28th of October, in which the Americans suffered some loss.
Forts Washington and Lee, the former on the upper part of New York Island, the latter nearly opposite on the Jersey shore, were garrisoned by the Americans; but by too small a force to resist successfully the British troops; and on the 16th of November, after a closely contested action, in which the ene- my met with a severe loss, the American garrison was com- pelled to surrender. With the remnant of his army, dispirited and disheartened, Washington retreated towards Philadelphia ; but soon after, by his bold attack upon the Hessian forces at Trenton, he infused new courage into his troops, retrieved his own reputation, and turned the tide of war.
Amid all the discouragements under which the cause of liberty labored, the New York provincial Congress did not despair. On the 23d of December, 1776, they put forth an address to the people, the production of the gifted, patriotic, and pure minded Jay, which was admirably adapted to encourage and animate the zeal of the friends of freedom.
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