USA > New York > A history of New York, for schools. Vol. I > Part 5
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Wm. What became of the vile woman who told so many falsehoods ?
Un. She was rewarded by being made free, and comparatively. rich ; for she received 81/., in Sep- tember, 1742, (having been all the time of the tri- als, from early in 1741, maintained by the magis'
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trates,) with 194. previously paid, making in the whole, the 100l. reward promised. In this interval, from September, 1741, to the same month, 1742, alarms and accusations had occasionally occurred, and a little before the last mentioned period, the Re- corder, (Horsemanden, the historian of the plot,) charges the grand jury to search into all dram shops, tippling houses, &c .; for "notwithstanding, great pains 'and industry (as it should seem) had been taken to bring the notion of a plot into contempt," he tells them he has no doubt but popish emissa- ries are at work " like moles in the dark," in the shape of dancing-masters, schoolmasters, physi- cians, and such-like, to accomplish the work of the devil." He therefore charges them that if they " find any such obscure persons," they shall present them to the court "to be apprehended and examined according to law." Such a charge is a specimen of the "good old time," that you so often hear of; and of the style, as well as mind, of Mr. Recorder Horsemanden. It appears further, that people be- gan to cry out against Mary Burton, and her testi- mony, and she on her part began to accuse people of some consequence in the city; this broke the spell ; the magistrates were afraid to permit accusa- tions which might affect even themselves; the search for conspirators ceased, and we hear no more of Mary Burton.
John. Is it not very strange, sir, that a person should be thought to merit death, because he was a priest of the Roman Catholick faith ?
Un. It would now, my son, be not only strange, but criminal, abominable, and absurd. But at that time there was a cause. in England which made it reasonable and perhaps right, that such a law should exist. Do you remember any thing more that happened during Governor Clarke's administration ?
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John. Yes, sir. Mr. Clarke went up to Albany to negotiate with the Indians of the Five Nations for a tract of land, called Irondequot, somewhere near Oswego, but he was disappointed. And I remem- ber another of his acts the French, you know, sir, had a fort at Crown Point, which commanded Lake Champlain, and it was said that they were about to build another at Wood creek ; and Mr. Clarke con- ceived a scheme to bring over a large body of Scotch highlanders, and to settle them as a kind of ad- vance-guard against the French encroachments.
Un. The plan was a good one, but it is supposed that it was defeated by the Governor's mingling his own mercenary schemes with it.
John. Yes, sir. He promised Mr. Campbell. who was their leader, thirty thousand acres of land, and upon this Mr. Campbell brought out eighty- three families at his own expense and sold his pro- perty in Scotland. When he arrived Clarke did not fulfil his engagement; the colonists were oblig. ed to shift for themselves, and Campbell could only purchase a farm, and become a cultivator in a strange and wild country. Many of these high- landers enlisted in the expeditions against Cuba and Carthagena.
Un. And some of their descendants, with other Scotch emigrants, joined Sir John Johnson, and his Indians, in devastating the frontiers of New York in the war we are to speak of.
John. The war of independence. And I remem- ber, sir, that Clarke told the legislature that the En- glish government even then had jealousies that the colonies wished to throw off their dominion and become independent.
Un. Now let us go and walk in the fields, over at lloboken ; and to-morrow we will resume the stories of old time.
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WVm. But, Uncle, you might tell us something more of the French wars.
Un. There is an incident in the history of the province of New York that ought to be mentioned in detail, but it happened in 1690.
Wm. O, never mind that, sir.
Un. Mr. G. F. Yates, of Schenectady, is prepar- ing for the press a work called " Antiquarian Re- searches, and Olden Time Reminiscences of the Mo- hawk Valley," and being in correspondence with him he has permitted me to show you a beautiful picture painted for him by Mr. Chapinan, of our city, and engraved by Mr. Adams, representing the burning of Schenectady by the French and Indians; and we will read the account he has published of this dread- ful scene :- " The inhabitants of Schenectady were not ignorant of the designs of their remorseless foes, the French of Canada and their savage allies. Often when we think danger is the farthest off, it is near at hand. It was so on this occasion. The guard which had been kept for many a weary night, was at this time intermitted. The truth is, it was not supposed to be practicable, at such an inclement season of the year, for any body of forces to march through a wilderness which was hardly passable in the summer, with no covering from the heavens, or any provisions except what they carried about their persons.
" Such was the restless spirit of the French, that it became a necessary policy with their commander, the Count de Frontignac, to keep in action the most daring of them and revive their flagging spirits. He accordingly projected three expeditions against the English colonies. Of these the surprising of Schen- wtady was one. This was committed to the super- intendence of Monsieur de Ferville.
" Near midnight they entered the guard-gates of
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the town unperceived, and silently divided themselves into small parties, that they might make a simulta. neous attack on all the inhabitants. The war-whoop was raised, the signal for destruction. Like demon .. loosened ' from their kindred hell,' they broke open every dwelling and murdered all they met, withon: distinction of age, sex, or condition ; and at the saux time, to complete the havock, applied the blazin torch to every building. 'The slumbering inhabi :.
ants started from their sleep, bewildered, frantiel .. Some hid themselves and remained secure, until the flames drove them from their lurking places ; when they fell beneath the tomahawk or were taken pri .. oners. Others ran half-naked and barefoot into the
adjoining woods, whence a few escaped after extreme sufferings to Connestigiuna and Albany, and others perished miserably on the way. Surprised, unarm- ed, and defenceless, resistance was in vain. Courage and cries for mercy were alike unavailing. The some of the inhabitants, however, this assault was not altogether unexpected, and they had for some time previously taken the necessary precautions to prevent surprise. Among those who made a suc. cessful defence and kept the foe at bay, was Adam Vrooman, whose building is represented on the right of the engraving. Being well supplied with am munition, and trusting to the strength of his build. ing, which was a sort of fort, he formed the desperate resolution to defend himself to the last extremity ; and if it should prove to be his fate to perish in the flames of his own domicil, to sell his own life and that of his children as dearly as possible. Seconded in his efforts by one of his sons, who assisted in load. ing his gens, he kept up a rapid and continuons fire upon his assailants, and with the most deadly effect. His house was soon filled with smoke. His wife,
· same fate awaited the craven and the brave. To
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nearly suffocated with it, cautiously, yet imprudent- ly, placed the door ajar. This an alert Indian per- ceived, and firing through the aperture killed her. In the mean time one of his daughters escaped through the back hall-door with his infant child in her arms, as depicted in the engraving. They snatched the little innocent from her arms, and dashed out its brains ; and in the confusion of the scene the girl escaped. Their triumph here was, however, of short duration ; Mr. Vrooman succeeded in securely bolting the door, and preventing the intrusion of the enemy. On witnessing Mr. Vrooman's courage, and fearing greater havock among their chosen band, the enemy promised, if he would desist, to save his life and not set fire to his building. This promise they fulfilled, but carried off two of his sons into captivity.
" Mark how vividly the engraver has depicted the confusion of men and things. Observe the sullen darkness of the heavens-no light is there save that proceeding from the conflagration: with the sparks of fire, we think we see the flakes of snow commin- . gle. As the flashes of light fall upon the faces of the men they wear an unearthly aspect. The Schen- eetidians, wild in their attire, are seen flying, they know not whither ; or lying slaughtered with their ettle in the streets. The newly fallen snow is clot- text with the blood of infants torn from their mothers' agonizing embrace. The young props round which had gathered 'the tendrils of aged fathers' hearts,' are rudely wrenched away-and along the encrim- soned snow the stiffened corses of young and old alike are strewed.
" The news of this dreadful massacre reached Al- bany next day. The Albanians were exceedingly alanned, and many resolved to go to New York. The Mohawk sachems, when they came to condole
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with them on the 25th of March thereafter, address. ed them in a set speech, and persuaded them to re- main. From this speech we make the following extract, which may serve to give some idea of the Indian genius :
"'Brethren, be not discouraged, we are strong enough. This is the beginning of your war, ani the whole house have their eyes fixed upon you a: this time, to observe your behaviour. They wait your motion, and are ready to join in any resolute measures. We, as to our parts, are resolute to con- tinue the war. We will never desist so long as a man of us remains. Take heart, do not pack up and go away; this will imbolden a dastardly enemy. (A belt is given.)
"' Brethren, three years ago, we were enga- ged in a bloody war with the French, and you en- couraged us to proceed in it. Our success answer- ed our expectation; but we were not well begun when Corlear stopped us from going on. Had vou permitted us to go on, the French would not have been able to do the mischief they have done. We would have humbled them effectually, but now we die. The obstructions you then made now ruin us. Let us after this be steady, and take no such false measures for the future, but prosecute the war vig- orously .- (Giring a bearer skin.)
" The brethren must keep good watch ; and, if the enemy come again, send more speedily to us. Don't desert Schenectady. The enemy will glory in seeing it desolate: it will give those courage who had none before. Fortify the place-it is not well fortified now : the stockades are so short that the In- dians can jump over them .- (Gives a bearer skin.)
".Brethren, the mischief done at Schenectady can- not be helped now; but for the future when the ene- my appears anywhere, let nothing hinder you from
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sending to us expresses, and fire great guns, that all may be alarmed. We advise you to bring all the river Indians under your subjection, to live near Al- bany, that they may be ready on all occasions.
" Send to New England, and tell them what has happened to you. They will undoubtedly awake, and lend us their helping hand. It is their interest as much as ours to push the war to a speedy con- clusion. Be not discouraged, the French are not so numerous as some people talk. If we but heart- ily unite to push on, and mind our business, the French will soon be subdued.'
" Before the day dawned the foe retreated home- ward, having murdered about seventy of the inhab- itants, and secured about fifty as prisoners. Of these, twenty were liberated out of gratitude to Captain Alexander Glen, a noted gentleman who resided in the neighbourhood of Schenectady, on the north side of the Mohawk river, and who has given name to the present town of Glenville in this county. Mr. Glen had, on previous occasions, manifested much kindness to several Frenchmen, who had been taken captive by the Mohawks; and had saved them from torture and death. A few Mohawks found in Schen- weirdy, were also set free ; in order no doubt to con- vilinte their nation, and make them less eager to re- taliate. In this, however, they were disappointed.
" The Mohawk nation had four towns located in the valley of the Mohawk, besides a small village about one hundred miles west of Schenectady. These were called by the whites, >castles,' or for- tresses, as they were all fortified. They were num- tx.red according to their distances from Schenectady, the nearest being called ' the first Indian castle.' The aboriginal names were as follows: Cahhaniaga, (probably the same as Caghnawaga,) Canagora, Canajorha, and Tionondaga. The Indians of the
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three first castles were, during the enactment of the dreadful tragedy we have attempted to describe, ab- sent on a hunting expedition to their western territo- ries. Several days necessarily elapsed before the Tionondaga band were notified of the massacre ly the messenger despatched for the purpose. On hear- ing the news, they hastened to Schenectady ; whence they sent a hundred of their young warriours in pursuit of the enemy, who overtook them, and killed or made captive twenty-five of their number. The old chiefs remained to comfort the inhabitants, and assist them in burying their dead."
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CHAPTER VI.
Un. Let us now proceed with our history. Mr. Clarke, I think, did not rule much longer, after the affair with Mr. Campbell and the Scotch highland- ers.
John. No, sir; the people did not like him, and the assembly let him know it; and that they were glad another Governor was coming.
Un. But he had accomplished that which English governors and other officers were sent to the colo- nies for. He had sent home money and purchased an estate. He retired with a fortune of a hundred thousand pounds ; and who came next ?
John. Governor Clinton.
Phil. Why he was governor a little while ago ; wasn't he ?
Un. The same name, and said to be of the same family originally. We have had two governors Clinton, during and since the war of independence ; men chosen by the people, serving the people, and beloved by them; but the man who succeeded Clarke, was a younger son of an English lord, and was sent out to make, or mend, his fortune, as others of the same description had been.
John. I remember, sir, that during his rule in New York, there was war again with the French and Indians. This was in the reign of George the Second; and because they quarrelled in Europe, the people here had to suffer for it. The French, from their fort at Crown Point, invaded New York with their Indians; and the people of Saratoga and Hoosac were murdered, as were those of other places. And I remember that the colonies sent troops to Louisburg, and took it.
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Un. Right, boy; but we will not enter into the details of that war. In the histories of the time you will find an account of the taking of Louis- burg, and the ineffectual attempts to take Canada from the French. .
IFm. That was done afterward by the brave Gen. eral Wolfe.
Un. We must return to Governor Clinton, the first of the name, and very different from those who afterward made the name to be loved. This En- glish governor was received with great joy by the people because they wanted a change, but they were as glad to get rid of him in a few years. He was a man of indolence, fond of wine, and of course unfit for the duties of a man, public or private. His wife and his favourites governed, until the as- sembly were tired of the impositions laid on them.
John. But peace was restored to the country be- fore he went.
Un. Yes. The people in Europe concluded a peace, called from the place at which it was agreed upon, the peace of Aix la Chapelle : so as England and France (or rather the kings, and nobles, and their mistresses) chose to make their quarrels up. the people of America were permitted for a short time to be unmolested by brutal soldiers and savage Indians, or insulted by the assumed superiority of insolent English officers.
John. But all the English officers were not inso- lent to Americans, sir.
Un. Certainly not. Yet there was a general feeling of that kind pervading the whole. The provincials were considered as inferiours, and de- pendants; and it was the treatment they met with from both the civil and military officers sent out by England, which, when added to the usurpations of the parliament, created and nursed the spirit among
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the people that eventually produced resistance, war, and independence. Well, John, go on; who suc- ceeded this English Governor Clinton ?
John. Sir Danvers Osborne.
Wm. O, I remember him, because of his strange death.
John. He arrived in October, 1753, and was re- ceived with great rejoicings. Governor Clinton was not at the new house that had been built in the fort, so Sir Danvers went to Mr. Murray's house, who was one of the council. Next day Mr. Clin- ton came from Flushing, and having made Mr. Delancey lieutenant-governor, he resigned the gov- ernment to Mr. Osborne. But while all the people were rejoicing, the new governor was melancholy. He arrived, I remember, on the 7th, and in the morning of the 12th, was found dead, suspended by a handkerchief to the fence of Mr. Murray's gar- den. It was afterward, known that he had been deranged before he left England. He must have been very unhappy; sir.
Un. Most true, my son. This unfortunate gen- tleman had lost his wife, and had been, from the time of her death, very much depressed in spirit. His friends had hoped that by sending him to New York, the change of scene, and employment, would have cured him of the evident mental disease under which he laboured; but on his arrival he found that if he obeyed the instructions of the English ministry, he should be as odious to the people as his predecessor ; the nature of his malady made the difficulties of his situation appear insurmount- able-madness ensued, and he became a self- murderer. Mr. Delancey, who had been chief- justice, being now lieutenant-governor, was the head of the government until England sent out another ruler, in Sir Charles Hardy ; who was
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by profession a sailor, knew nothing of the country he was sent to govern, and was guided by Mr. De- lancy, during his stay in the colony, which was about two years ; when he hoisted his flag as adıni- ral, and left the, province entirely to Delancey. Ai! this time the country was disturbed by wars, of which you remember the principal events, doubtless.
John. Yes, sir. General Braddock and an army was defeated near Fort Pitt, and General Abercrom- bie at Ticonderoga; and Mr. Johnson defeated the French under General Baron Dieskau, and Gen- eral Wolfe took Quebec.
Un. The complicated events of this war, can only be understood by reading the general histories of the time. The last event you have mentioned over- threw the power of the French in America, frus- trating their great plans of encircling the colonies of England by a chain of forts and garrisons, from the St. Lawrence to the Mississippi.
John. I remember, sir ; and it appears to me that the rulers of that nation had great designs in re- . spect to this country, and that they were executed by great men.
Wm. But, Uncle, vou do not tell us any thing about the Indians. Uncle Philip used to tell us all about their war dances, their scalps, and their way of killing their enemies, and their prisoners.
Un. By and by, we will have one " long talk." (as the Indians say,) about all that : for the war of our independence had Indians in it as well as other savages, and I would wish you to understand the people who possessed all this great continent before the white men came to disturb them.
Phil. But, Uncle, General Washington was in this French war ; and I love to hear of him.
Un. Yes; he was a provincial officer at Brad. dock's defeat; and had done good service to his
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country before : but the English officers, as I have said, despised the provincials, and they suffered for it then, as they did afterward. There was an En- glish officer under Braddock at that time, with whom we shall have a great deal to do by and by ; he was then a captain, and a young man, and only had a subaltern's share in the misfortunes of the day. Major Washington probably then became acquainted with him for the first. -
Mary. I want to know all about Washington !
Un. We shall have to talk much of him, in due time-but I must get you Mr. Paulding's book about him ; and when you are older you will read all his letters, which give the best history of him.
John. But who, sir, was the Englishman you spoke of, that was with Braddock ?
Un. Captain Horatio Gates.
Wm. O, the great and famous General Gates !
Un. I will tell you who he was; but not yet. We are now coming to the troublesome times that produced the war of which you wish to hear; but I must endeavour to make you understand the causes. You, John, are old enough to appreciate the value of those rights for which the colonies con- tended, first by arguments and remonstrances, and then by the sword.
Wm. And I know that the English king treated us very ill.
Phil. And I too.
Mary. But you promised us more stories.
Un. I will perform my promise by telling you one, that could only have happened in a country like ours at that time, where the governors and offi- cers all came from another hemisphere, and had no interest in the welfare of the people; a country that was considered by the king of England and his ministers as a place on which to disgorge the crim-
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inals they wished to get rid of, without the aid of the gallows; and by the people as a market for thei: , manufactures, and for the slaves they could buy or steal upon the coast of Africa. You remember the story of the Irish woman who made the governor of Annapolis-Royal believe she was the widow of a rich West India planter ?
Mary. Oh, yes; she was one of the people sent from the jail of Dublin to be sold, but who murder- ed the captain and ran away with the ship-I re- meinber.
Un. Well, I will tell you of another woman, a lady by birth and education; an Englishwoman, who was sent to the colonies and sold for a slave.
Phil. A white slave, Uncle ?
Un. Yes, boy; there are a great many white slaves-the worst are those who are slaves to their passions, their vices, and their evil habits. This woman had become such a slave, before she was sentenced by the laws of England to be a slave to an American colonist.
Wm. Tell us her history, sir.
Un. I will ; not only for your amusement, but to show the state of society in the times before the country was independent-the " good old times" that some people still talk of. This English lady was named Sarah Wilson. You know, in coun- tries where there are artificial ranks or classes in so- ciety-where there are people who are called great, however little and mean they may be, because great riches descends to them from their ancestors, who are prohibited by law from suffering their es- tates to go to any but the oldest son, or the heredi- tary successor of the family .- Do you understand ? John. As the crown and the kingdom belongs, in England, to the oldest son of the former king.
Un. And so of other estates; for in the " good old
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times" the people were only considered, by kings, as part of their property. Well, where such arti- ficial distinctions exist, the great folks, to show their superiority to others, have servants of an order above common people. The king is served by lords, and the queens and princesses by ladies; so this lady, Miss Sarah Wilson, was among the lady-ser- vants to the honourable Miss Vernon, who was a servant, or maid of honour, of the queen. Unfor- tunately, Miss Wilson was not a maid of honour or honesty ; for she, although a favourite of the hon- ourable Miss Vernon's, and an intelligent young lady herself, coveted the diamonds, and other finery, which glittered in her eyes; and having an acci- dental opportunity, when on an errand to her ma- jesty, opened a casket and stole the queen's picture, richly set in diamonds, with several other jewels, which she secreted about her person, and carried off.
Mary. What! a lady, and steal ? do you believe it, sir ?
Un. A lady by birth, but not a lady in principle, my dear ; a real lady, truly honourable and truly religious, could not have done this, or even have , wished to possess the property of another. But this unhappy woman, who perhaps had never yielded to temptation before, was not duly instructed in her eternal or wordly interests. Had she been truly a lady, these jewels, however beautiful.or however costly, would have possessed no temptation for her. But she had been educated in vanity, and the love of dissipation, although destined to poverty; be- cause the property of her parents was appropriated to the oldest son of the family. She saw deference paid to the possessors of splendour ; and after cher- ishing the desire to possess these glittering toys that seemed to constitute the worth of the wearer, she, in an unhappy moment, yielded to the tempta-
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