USA > New York > A history of New York, for schools. Vol. I > Part 4
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Mary. How funny it must have been for the cler-' gyman to climb over the wall! I think he could not have been like one of our clergyman, or he would not have done it.
Un. True, my good girl.
John. So many schools, colleges, books, newspa- pers ! Uncle, we ought to be better now than the people were formerly.
Un. So we are, boy.
John. Yet people talk of the good old times.
Un. I think they speak unadvisedly, my son.
John. I dare say, sir, that you are right; yet I read and hear of a great many very bad people and wicked actions.
Un. I believe that there were more, in propor- tion to the number of the people, then than now. More bad actions and fewer good. Pirates roamed the ocean, and were received in the seaports, and entertained by those who profited by them. Slave ships were fitted out publicly, with chains and hand- cuffs to bring the people of Africa to our markets ; where, those who did not die on the passage, in con- sequence of the horrid and pestilential air engen- dered in the dungeons in which they were packed together, or who were not thrown overboard alive, if infected with a contagious disease, were openly sold like cattle on board the ships that brought them, or at auction in Wall street. 'T'o encourage by pur- chasing, or to avow the practice of this legalized murder by advertising for sale, does not appear to have been thought criminal by the most pious and 5
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virtuous people, a few called Quakers only except- ed. Even the Indians, the aboriginal lords of the soil, were in many instances reduced to a state of slavery ; and the poor ignorant savages enticed to drunkenness by civilized and Christian men, were induced to sell their children for rum. The crime . of drunkenness was more prevalent than now. I think that any one who reads the advertisements in the newspapers-who sees the rewards offered for runaways, white, red, or black; English, Scotch, Irish, Indian, and negro; who sees the slave de- scribed as having the initials of his master's name branded, that is, children, burnt, on his breast or shoul- der; any one who recollects that criminals, even women, were whipped, on the bare body at the " cart's tail," through the streets, and that negroes were frequently burnt alive; will be convinced that there is an improvement in the manners and feelings of the people, and, of course, that they are better. But I tire you, children.
John. Not me, sir. But, sir, surely the first set- tlers of our country were good men.
Un. Many, my boy; and many continued to cher- ish the love of liberty, virtue, and true religion; but the mother country, from whose intolerance and bad government they had sought a refuge, still claimed them as her own. In vain did the wiser among the colonists protest against having slaves sent among them, and evince their repugnance to receiving the felons who were reprieved from the gallows, and sent "to people his majesty's planta- tions."' We see the authentick record of thousands sent from the jails of London, and Dublin, and other towns, to ships appointed by the English govern- ment to bear them to " his majesty's plantations in America," and frequently they were mingled in the
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same ship with the poor who came voluntarily to this country as redemptioners.
John. Redemptioners ! What's that ?
Un. They were poor people, who, to better their condition, agreed with ship captains, or ship own- ers, to be sold for a certain number of years, instead of paying for their passages. Such people, if hon- est, might be corrupted by being shut up for weeks in the same place with the felons from the jails. O, I could tell you some curious stories connected with this practice.
Mary. O do, Uncle !
Un. To pay you for remembering so much, I will tell you a story.
Mary. A true story, Uncle ? -
Un. To the best of my knowledge and belief, Mary. It runs thus: A captain of a brig carried a cargo of rum to Dublin, and having sold the poison, (probably enough to fill half the jails of the city with criminals,) he received by contract with the magistrates, a great number of the wretches al- ready condemned for crimes, from the jails and dun- geons, to poison " his majesty's plantations in North America."
Mary. Poison, sir ?
Un. Moral poison.
John. I understand you, sir. The rum poisoned the Irish people by making them drunkards, and keeping them poor; and the Irish criminals poison- ed the colonies by the vices they brought with them.
Un. Just so, boy. With these criminals from the jails, this West India captain, who was a planter in Barbadoes, received in his vessel a number of poor people, who were to be sold, as I explained to you, for their passage. The brig was bound to Maryland. On the voyage, the felons corrupted the honest pas- ¿engers, persuading them it would be better that they
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should make themselves free by seizing on the vessel, . and landing in the country without being sold as ser- vants. To do this, they must murder the captain, and such of the crew as would not join them. So completely had the poor passengers become crimi- nals, by being mingled with criminals, that they agreed to this dreadful proposal, and it was carried into execution. The rum-dealing captain and most of his sailors were murdered, and the murderers ran the brig on shore upon the coast of Nova Sco- tia, and then separated, cach to secure himself, or herself, with such spoil from the wreck as he or she could carry off. Among the criminals was a wo- man, who had the remains of beauty, and the ad- vantage of an education superiour to the rest. She · had been one of the unfortunate females who are seduced from the paths of virtue, by those who are called gentlemen ; and being abandoned, as usual, had sunk to such practices as reduced her to the fate and company of this crew of murderers. She had had address enough to gain from the captain his history, and an account of his estate or planta- tion in Barbadoes; and on being found alone in the woods of Nova Scotia, she said she was Mrs. John- son, the wife of the captain of the brig: told a la- mentable tale of the murder of her husband, and of her own sufferings, and excited the compassion of those who found her, to such a degree, that she was carried, with all the tenderness due to one.in the situation she described, to Annapolis Royal, and introduced to the governor. Her appearance, her address, and her story, gained her the confidence of the governor and principal inhabitants. She told them, that on arriving at Barbadoes, she should take possession of her late husband's plantations, and that she would repay, with thanks, the kindness, and with money or produce the sums now loaned her.
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'To return to Barbadoes, it was necessary to go to New York, and, if no passage offered to the West Indies, to London. The governor procured her a passage to our city, and supplied her amply with money. She arrived safe here, and sailed for Lon- don, where, amidst the profligates of that great city, she disappeared, and was no more heard of.
WVm. She would take care not to go to Dublin, sir.
Un. Probably she remained in London. In that great city, she might escape any search.
John. It appears that the wicked triumphed in this story; and the good were deceived and injured.
Un. It may often so appear, my son ; but we do not see the reality, or know the end of the wicked. This planter and navigator, who was willing to traffick in poison, found his own death in the trade of destruction. The good people of Annapolis Royal had the consolation of upright intention. The erring woman most probably, unless she repented, ended a life of crime by a death of misery. 5*
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CHAPTER V.
Un. Well, my good children, we will now go on with our history of New York, after you have look- ed at the picture of old Governor Stuyvesant's house ; which, according to my promise, I now show you.
Mary. Tell us another story, Uncle, about old times.
Un. If I tell you stories, we shall never get through : but John will tell us, by and by, what he remembers of the negro plot, which is as extraordi- nary an event as any true or invented story I ever heard. When did that happen, John ? .
John. In 1741, sir, and during Governor Clarke's reign.
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Un. A number of people were committed to jail as incendiaries, kept in dungeons for some months, (amidst the crowd of people confined upon suspi- cion, or upon the accusations of Mary Burton and others who thought to thrive by turning accusers,) and finally condemned to be hanged.
John. Can this be true, sir ?
Un. We could scarcely have believed it, if one of the magistrates of the time had not recorded it. Mr. Horsemanden, the Recorder of the city, says, many people had such terrible apprehensions on the subject that several negroes, some of whom had assisted to put out the fires, were, when met in the streets, hurried away to prison ; and when once there, they were continued in confinement because the magistrates could not spare time to examine them. Peggy Carey, finding that Mary Burton was to be rewarded, turned informer too; and ac- cused whoever she wished ill to, or whoever she thought it would please the magistracy to accuse as a conspirator ; but Peggy was too late, she could not save herself; and with Hughson, and his wife, she was hanged. But before the executions took place, the jail was crowded so full as to produce fears of another kind in the people: they were alarmed at the thought of pestilence; for the re- ceivers of stolen goods, the thieves, and the sup- posed conspirators; whites, Indian slares, negroes, (English-bred, Dutch, and Spanish,) were all crowd- ed together, in the same building where the com. mon council, magistrates, judges, and lawyers, met every day to receive information, examine and con- demn. The fear of a jail-fever did not drive off the fear of conspirators, but it hastened the executions by way of making room in the dungeons.
WI'm. I remember the jail, which is now a very handsome building, and called the Record office.
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Un. That jail was not built in 1741. At the time we speak of, the only jail was in the lower part of the old city hall, in Wall street, where the custom house now stands; or rather where part of the custom house stands, for that building covers more ground than ten city halls of the time we are speaking of.
John. Was this the old Dutch city hall ? i
Un. No. It was the first city hall built by the English ; and continued in the state I now describe until the adoption of the Federal Constitution, when it was very much enlarged and remodelled for the reception of the first congress under the present sys- tem of government.
Wn. Had the Dutch a city hall, Uncle ?
Un. They had: but it was called the Stadt Huys by them. It was built in 1637.
Wm. In Wall street ?
Un. O no. Wall street was then (as you ought to remember) the line of the city wall or palisade, with gates that were locked every evening at the set- ting of the watch, when the bell rung; and opened again at daylight. The first city hall or stadt huys was at the head of Coenties' slip, and in what was called Dock street, now forming a part of Pearl street. Here is a picture of it. 1
Wm. Thank you, sir. . I should like to know when this old Dutch city hall was destroyed, and the first English city hall in Wall street built.
Un. If you will read this memorandum, made from the records of the corporation, (begun in the old stadt huys, and continued in the second city hall,) you will know all that is now to be learned on the subject.
Wm. "On the 25th day of May, 1699, Johannes Depeyster, being mayor, James Graham, recorder, Messrs. Boelen, Lewis, Walters, Wenham, and Cortlandt, aldermen, present. The board taking
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into consideration the necessity of building a new citty hall, doo unanimously resolve, (Alderman Cort- landt only dissenting,) that a new citty hall shall be built with all convenient expedition, and that the same be erected and built at the upper end of the Broad street within the said citty." It was further resolved, that " the materials of the old citty hall be exposed to sayle, and the ground belonging to the sime be lett to farine for the terme of ninety-nine years." Thus while deliberating in this old stadt huys, they decree its destruction, and the erection of a greater one in Wall street, fronting Broad street.
Wm. " And on the 17th of August following, the old stadt huys, or city hall, was exposed to sale, by public outcry," " with all and singular the appurten- ancas belonging thereunto, (the bell, king's arms, and iron works belonging to the prison excepted.)" " The cage, pillory, and stocks, standing before the
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same," were ordered to be removed within twelve months, and the slip to remain for ever for the use of the city. The corporation however reserved for one month the use of the jail within the old house: and on these conditions, John Rodman, merchant, bought it, with the ground and appurtenances. On the 16th of October, 1699, the corporation (David Provoost, being mayor) ordered an estimate to be made of materials for the intended city hall, in Wall street; and that the same committee view " the block house, by the governor's garden," to know if , it will answer for a prison. On the 1st November, following, the estimate of materials was reported as above ordered. It was 1150l. 18s. 3d .; and it was ordered that the materials be furnished before the 25th of March, 1700; and that the money for build- ing the new city hall be raised before that day. On the 16th day of January, 1700, a committee was appointed to superintend the building of the new hall. On the 2d of November, 1700, ordered, " that the common council sit at the city hall, on the last Saturday in every month ;"' therefore I conclude that the new city hall, in Wall street, was ready for their reception ; the old stadt huys having been long be- fore taken down."
Un. Now I resume my story.
John. I wish, sir, that you would be as particu- lar about this negro plot as is agreeable to you; I tried to read the book, although I could not un- derstand it: I thought that all the negroes and others who were hanged and burnt must have been very wicked, though I could not believe that they deserved such cruel treatment.
Un. I will endeavour to give you a clear notion of this affair, at least as I understand it according to the representation of Mr. Horsemanden himself; al- ways remembering that he must have felt interested
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in justifying proceedings in which he was an actor; for, my children, we are prone to the excusing of ourselves for acts which we are afraid may appear wrong in the eyes of others; and the greater our doubts of the propriety of our conduct may be, the more strenuous we are in our endeavours to con- vince ourselves, and others, that we were right.
Wm. But, sir, the negroes confessed that they intended to set fire to the city, and murder the peo- ple.
Un. Listen, and I will endeavour to explain. Many of these poor ignorant creatures were taken up on suspicion, and, as I have said, crowded to- gether, when the weather was very hot, in dungeons; they suffered terribly, and believed that they were to be burned, or at least hanged. They heard the accusations against them. They saw the conster- nation of the inhabitants; which was such, that the people removed their furniture and sought safety in flight from the city ; giving any price for carts, wagons, or boats; and for labourers to assist them in their flight. This confusion gave an opportu- nity for thieves to plunder ; and all robbery was charged upon the negroes and their accomplices. The magistrates ordered that each alderman, as- sistant, and constable, should make search in his ward for strangers; and the militia was turned out under arms, and sentries were posted at every avenue.
Phil. Why, Uncle, this was as bad as Major D:um.
Un. It produced the same kind of effect, but in a greater degree. When the inhabitants saw and heard all this-the militia paraded-the aldermen and constables searching for incendiaries-the ne- zroes seized and hurried to jail, and the justices sit- ting day after day to examine the prisoners; how could 'hey but think that they were in imminent danger ?
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Every black face and every strange visage appeared as that of an enemy; and it was in vain the negroes protested that they knew nothing of any plot. Mary Burton, who had been promised money and her lit- erty for her discovery of a plot, said there was one ; and the magistrates said the same. No strangers or suspicious persons were discovered when the great search was made; but one alderman found in the possession of Robin, the negro of Mr. Chambers, and in possession of Cuba, his wife, "some things, says the recorder, " which he thought unbecoming the condition of a slave:" that is, too good for such people, "and he committed" Robin and his wife to jail.
Wm. All this is very strange, sir.
Un. You must bear in mind, that it had been proved that robberies had been committed by som. negroes, and that some white men were concerned with them; receiving the stolen goods and encour. aging them to steal ; and that slaves were from their very condition liable to temptation, and without the safeguards possessed by other men.
John. What do you mean, sir ?
Un. I mean that not being capable by law of holding property, they were tempted to purloin tha: of their masters; and having no hope of better con. dition, they were without the incitements to well- doing which freemen possess ; they knew they were suspected of thieving, and of secretly meeting to- gether. Their masters suspected them of evil de- signs ; and the affair at Hughson's-the fires-3n". some discoveries of the blacks having secret meul. ings, convinced the people while in this state of pan- ick, that all the negroes had conspired to burn the town, and murder the inhabitants.
Wm. Go on with the story, if you please, sir.
Un. While the trials of Ilughson and his win
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were in progress for the receiving stolen goods, and the conviction and execution of several of the negroes took place, proclamations were made, offer- ing pardons to the free who should make discove- ry of the plot, or accuse others; and pardon and liberty to the slaves who should do the same; and rewards in money to both. The consequence was, that the negroes who were in jail accused them- selves, and others, hoping to save their own lives, and obtain the promised boons. What one poor wretch invented, was heard and repeated by ano- ther; and by degrees the story assumed the shape of a regular plot, instigated by Hughson and his wife, joined in by their daughter and the depraved Peggy Carey, with a multitude of negroes, until the historian exclaims: "This evidence of a con- spiracy, not only to burn the city, but also to destroy and murder the people, was most astonishing to the grand jury." They were astonished that the blacks should be so wicked, but "that any white people should confederate with slaves," was, as he says, " very amazing." The only whites accused by Mary Burton, (the principal and, for a time, the only witness,) were the Hughsons; but by and by she implicated others, and, as I said. a schoolmaster, by the name of Ury, who was an English clergy- man, and had left his country in consequence of persecution, he having refused the oaths required by the government.
John. Such were called non-jurors.
Un. Right. It appeared by witnesses, irreproach- able, and by this poor man's diary, that he had taught school in Pennsylvania, and New Jersey; that he came to New York and was employed to teach ; and finally entered into a partnership with another schoolmaster, one Campbell ; and they hired the house which Hughson and wife had been re- 6
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moved from, when accused of receiving stolen goods, but found the daughter there, and they re- proved her for her profanity. She was a witness against him. It appears to me, that the magistrates were ashamed of the accusation of conspiracy with the negroes, and they therefore added one of pope- ry; which, at that time, was a capital crime in a priest of the Roman Catholick religion, if found in the province.
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Wm. I can't understand, sir.
Un. The history of England, of that time, will explain it to you. I must finish the story of poor John Ury. The pretence that he conspired with negroes to burn the town was so absurd, that even the panick-struck court and jury could not have ad- mitted it; but a person was found who testified that he made a kind of a desk for Ury, which was con- strued into being an altar; and another person swore that he had applied to him to make wafers; supposed to be such as Romish priests use. At this time England, and of course the colonies, were involved in war with Spain; and the people believed that Romish priests and Jesuits were sent to America for the purpose of instigating the slaves . to revolt and murder; in short, the court and jury were convinced that Ury was a Romish priest, and worthy of death, upon testimony that none but peo- ple frantick with fear would have listened to.
John. What was it, sir ?
Un. I must first mention that one Kane, a sol. dier, of the most loathsome character, had (in the course of the trials) given testimony on oath, that he had seen negroes sworn to burn the town; and described the ceremony as taking place . at Hugh- son's tavern : the negroes being placed on a circle, made with chalk, and mother Hughson standing in the centre, with a punch bowl, and administering
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the oath. This absurd fable was a hint for Hugh- son's wretched daughter ; and she described Ury as making a circle on the floor with chalk, placing the negroes on the chalk, and standing in the mid- dle with a crucifix, instead of a punch bowl; and baptizing and swearing them. This must have been too palpably absurd; but lo! Elias Desbrosses, a confectioner, deposed, that Ury came to his shop, with one Webb, a carpenter, and wanted sugar bits, or wafers: and asked him, " Whether a minister had not his wafers of him ? or, whether that paste, which the deponent showed, was not made of the same ingredients as the Lutheran minister's ?" " or, something to that purpose." And he told Ury that, if he wanted such things, a joiner could make him a mould; and asked him, "if he had a congrega- tion; but Ury waived giving him an answer." Webb, the carpenter, who accompanied Ury to the confectioner's, was examined, and his whole testi- mony amounted to Ury having told him that he had written a book, in England, which was called treason, although he did not mean it so; and that a friend, a great man, got him off; that on reli- gious subjects, the carpenter could not "always understand him;" that, as to negroes he had a very despicable opinion of them; and, that after Campbell removed to the house which Hughson had occupied, Ury went thither, and the deponent likewise went to the place three times, and heard Ury read prayers in the manner of the Church of England ; but in the prayer for the king he did not mention the name; that, he preached against drunk- enness, debauchery, and deists ; admonishing every one to keep to his own minister; and that he said, " he only gave a word of admonition at the request of the family where he was." He has heard him way, that such and such a day, " was his sacrament
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day;" and thinks he has heard him say, "that he must administer the sacrament, but cannot be posi- tive." Upon such testimony, and that of the worth- less wretch, Sarah Hughson, whose story was ab- surdity itself, yet was believed; upon such testi- mony, (enforced by a letter to the governor, saying, that the Spaniards were sending Jesuits disguised as schoolmasters and dancing-masters to cause re- volts among the negroes,) was Ury, after a masterly defence, (made by himself,) convicted, condemned, and hanged.
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Wm. Oh, Uncle ! could it be ?
John. It is terrible to think of, sir.
Phil. But they burnt the negroes ; tell us of that, sir.
Un. There were thirteen blacks burned alive- tied or chained to stakes, and thus tortured to death, while surrounded by a crowd of people calling, and believing, themselves Christians. Eighteen blacks were hanged ; seventy were transported to the West Indies, or other places; Hughson, his wife, and Peggy Carey, were hanged. Several of the ne- groes declared that they had accused themselves and others, because they had been told that was the only way to save their lives. One poor wretch is described, " lifting up his leg," as he sat with his back to the stake, to which he was fast bound, and laying it down on the fire, as he lifted up his eyes and cried aloud on those who had advised him to confess that of which he knew nothing. But let us close this story of guilt, terrour, and horrour.
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