A history of the state of New York, from the first discovery of the country to the present time: with a geographical account of the country, and a view of its original inhabitants, Part 32

Author: Eastman, Francis Smith, 1803-1846 or 7
Publication date: 1832
Publisher: New York, A. K. White
Number of Pages: 930


USA > New York > A history of the state of New York, from the first discovery of the country to the present time: with a geographical account of the country, and a view of its original inhabitants > Part 32


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HENRY HUDSON.


Henry Hudson, the discoverer of our state, was an eminent English navigator. Of the place of his birth, the manner in which he was educated, and the private circuinstances of his


* Allen's Biography. Ames's Sketch.


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life, we have no account. He first made his appearance in 1607, and, during the three following years, immortalized his name by a series of the most brilliant discoveries.


Of his most important discoveries, and the manner of his death, some account has already been given. While on a voyage of discovery, a mutiny broke out among his crew, and Hudson was bound, and, with his son John, and seven of the most infirm of his men, put into an open boat, and abandoned to their fate, at the west end of the straits that now bear his name. The crew then proceeded to England ; but, landing near the mouth of the strait, four of them were killed by the savages. The remainder, after enduring the most severe sufferings, arrived at Plymouth, September, 1611 .*


" The sensation produced in London, upon the disclosure of these tragical events, may be conceived to have been very great. Such, indeed, was the interest felt in England, that the London company, prompted by the benevolent motive of searching for Hudson and his companions, flattered also by the hope of discovering an unexplored passage at the west side of the bay, fitted out another expedition the following year, which, after wintering, returned, disappointed in both objects of search.


" Hudson had become deservedly a favorite with a large portion of the British public. The English long regretted the loss of their countryman, whose achievements as a navi- gator had reflected honor on a nation already distinguished for its illustrious seamen. Hudson's personal qualities and virtues, displayed during four voyages, at times which were calculated to try character, will ever be contemplated with admiration and pleasure; but to the citizens of the state of New York, the character of this heroic navigator will be pe- culiarly the theme of culogium, and his misfortunes the sub- . ject of regret.


" Hudson was not faultless; but no record imputes to his conduct any crime or wilful vice. He had at times that irri- tability of passion, which is so peculiarly the trait of those whose lives are passed upon the ocean. But few, who have


* Allen.


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so conflicted with its dangers, and at the same time combated the turbulent dispositions of mutinous crews, could have preserved presence of mind, exercised moderation, and dis- played magnanimity, in a more exalted manner than Hudson. His faults, whatever they were, are eclipsed by the splendor of his virtues. When the river, which he discovered, shall display upon its banks, in a range of 300 miles, a free, vigor- ous and intelligent population, crowded into numerous addi- tional cities, villages, seats and farm-houses, the merits of Hudson will be reiterated with increased praise, while his name shall be handed down from generation to generation."*


FRANCIS LEWIS.


Francis Lewis was a native' of Landaff, in South Wales, where he was born in the year 1713. His father was a cler- gyman, belonging to the established church. Ilis mother was the daughter of doctor Pettingal, who was also a clergyman of the episcopal establishment, and had his residence in North Wales. At the early age of four or five years, being left an orphan, the care of him devolved upon a maternal maiden aunt, who took singular pains to have him instructed in the native language of his country. He was afterwards sent to Scotland, where, in the family of a relation, he acquired a knowledge of the Gaclic. From this, he was transferred to the school of Westminster, where he completed his education, and enjoyed the reputation of being a good classical scholar.


Mercantile pursuits being his object, he entered the count- ing-room of a London merchant; where, in a few years, he acquired a competent knowledge of the profession. On at- taining to the age of 21 years, he collected the property which had been left him by his father, and, having converted it into merchandise, he sailed for New York, where he arrived in the spring of 1735.


Leaving a part of his goods to be sold in New York, by Mr. Edward Annesly, with whom he had formed a commercial


* Yates and Moulton.


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connexion, he transported the remainder to Philadelphia, whence, after a residence of two years, he returned to the former city, and there became extensively engaged in naviga- tion and foreign trade. About this time, he connected himself by marriage with the sister of his partner, by whom he had several children.


Mr. Lewis acquired the character of an active and enter- prising merchant. In the course of his commercial transac- tions, he traversed a considerable part of the continent of Europe. He visited several of the seaports of Russia, the Orkney and Shetland islands, and twice suffered shipwreck off the Irish coast.


During the French or Canadian war, Mr. Lewis was, for a time, agent for supplying the British troops. In this capaci- ty, he was present at the time when, in August, 1756, the fort of Oswego was surrendered to the distinguished French general de Montcalm. The fort was, at that time, command- ed by the British colonel Mersey. On the 10th of August, Montcalm approached it, with more than 5000 Europeans, Canadians and Indians. On the 12th, at midnight, he opened the trenches, withi 32 pieces of cannon, besides several brass mortars and howitzers. The garrison having fired away all their shells and ammunition, colonel Mersey ordered the can- non to be spiked, and crossed the river to Little Oswego fort, without the loss of a single man. Of the deserted fort the enemy took immediate possession, and from it began a fire, which was kept up without intermission. The next day, colonel Mersey was killed while standing by the side of Mr. Lewis.


The garrison, being thus deprived of their commander, their fort destitute of a cover, and no prospect of aid present- ing itself, demanded a capitulation, and surrendered as prison- ers of war. The garrison consisted, at this time, of the regiments of Shirley and Pepperell, and amounted to 1400 men. The conditions required and acceded to were, that they should be exempted from plunder, conducted to Montreal, and treated with humanity. The services rendered by Mr. Lewis, during the war, were held in such consideration by the


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British government, that, at the close of it, he received a grant of 5000 acres of land.


The conditions upon which the garrison at fort Oswego surrendered to Montcalm were shamefully violated by that commander. They were assured of kind treatment; but no sooner had the surrender been made, than Montcalm allowed the chief warrior of the Indians, who assisted in taking the fort, to select about 30 of the prisoners, and do with them as he pleased. Of this number Mr. Lewis was one. Placed thus at the disposal of savage power, a speedy and cruel death was to be expected. The tradition is, however, that he soon discovered that he was able to converse with the Indians, by reason of the similarity of the ancient language of Wales, which he understood, to the Indian dialect. The ability of Mr. Lewis thus readily to communicate with the chief, so pleased the latter, that he treated him kindly ; and, on arriving at Montreal, he requested the French governor to allow him to return to his family without ransom. The request, however, was not granted, and Mr. Lewis was sent as a prisoner to France, from which country, being some time after exchanged, he returned to America.


This tradition as to the cause of the liberation of Mr. Lewis is incorrect; no such affinity existing between the Cymreag, or ancient language of Wales, and the language of any of the Indian tribes found in North America. The cause might have been, and probably was, some unusual occurrence, or adventure ; but of its precise nature we are not informed.


Although Mr. Lewis was not born in America, his attach- ment to the country was cocval with his settlement in it. IIc early espoused thic patriotic cause, against the encroachments of the British government, and was among the first to unite with an association, which existed in several parts of the country, called the sons of liberty, the object of which was to concert measures against the exercise of an unduc power on the part of the mother country.


The independent and patriotic character which Mr. Lewis was known to possess, the uniform integrity of his life, the distinguished intellectual powers with which he was endued,


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all pointed him out as a proper person to assist in taking charge of the interest of the colony in the continental congress. Accordingly, in April, 1775, he was unanimously elected a delegate to that body. In this honorable station he was con- tinued by the provincial congress of New York, through the following year, 1776; and was among the number who de- clared the colonies forever absolved from their allegiance to the British crown, and, from that time, entitled to the rank and privileges of free and independent states.


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In several subsequent years, he was appointed to represent the state in the national legislature. During his congressional career, Mr. Lewis was distinguished for a becoming zeal in the cause of liberty, tempered by the influence of a correct judgment and a cautious prudence. He was employed in several secret services ; in the purchase of provisions and clothing for the army; and in the importation of military stores, particularly arms and ammunition. In transactions of this kind, his commercial experience gave him great facilities. He was also employed on various committees, in which ca- pacity he rendered many valuable services to his country.


In 1775, Mr. Lewis removed his family and effects to a country seat which he owned on Long Island. This proved to be an unfortunate step. In the autumn of the following .. year, his house was plundered by a party of British light-horse. His extensive library and valuable papers of every description were wantonly destroyed. Nor were they contented with this ruin of his property. They thirsted for revenge upon a man, who had dared to affix his signature to a document which proclaimed the independence of America. Unfortunately, Mrs. Lewis fell into their power, and was retained a prisoner for several months. During her captivity, she was closely confined, without even the comfort of a bed to lie upon, or a change of clothes.


In November, 1776, the attention of congress was called to her distressed condition, and shortly after a resolution was passed, that a lady, who had been taken prisoner by the Amer- icans, should be permitted to return to her husband, and that Mrs. Lewis be required in exchange. But the exchange could


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not at that time be effected. Through the influence of Wash- ington, however, Mrs. Lewis was at length released; but her sufferings, during her confinement, had so much impaired her constitution, that, in the course of a year or two, she sunk into the grave.


Of the subsequent life of Mr. Lewis, we have little to re- cord. His latter days were spent in comparative poverty, his independent fortune having, in a great measure, been sacrificed on the altar of patriotism, during his country's struggle for independence. The life of this excellent man and distinguished patriot was extended to his 90th year. His death occurred on the 30th day of December, 1803.


PHILIP LIVINGSTON.


Philip Livingston was born at Albany, on the 15th of Jan- uary, 1716. His ancestors were highly respectable, and, for several generations, the family have held a distinguished rank in New York. His great grandfather, John Livingston, was a divine of some celebrity in the church of Scotland, from which country he removed to Rotterdam in the year 1663. In 1672, or about that time, his son Robert emigrated to America, and settled in the colony of New York. He was fortunate in obtaining a grant of a tract of land in that colony, delightful- ly situated on the banks of the Hudson. This tract, since known as the manor of Livingston, has been in possession of the family from that time to the present.


Robert Livingston had three sons, Philip, Robert and Gil- bert. The first named of these, being the eldest, inherited 7


the manor. The fourth son of this latter is the subject of the present memoir.


The settlement of New York, it is well known, was com- menced by the Dutch. For many years, scarcely any attention was paid by them to the subject of education. They had few schools, few academies, and, until the year 1754, no college in the territory. Such gentlemen as gave their sons a liberal education, sent them either to New England, or to some for- cign university. But the number of liberally educated men


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was extremely small. . As late as 1746, their number did not exceed 15 in the whole colony. The subject of this memoir, and his three brothers, were included in the number. The author is ignorant where the brothers of Mr. Livingston re. ceived their education, but he was himself graduated at Yale College, 1737.


Soon after leaving college, he settled in the city of New York, where he became extensively engaged in commercial operations. Mercantile life was, at this time, the fashionable pursuit. Mr. Livingston followed it with great ardor; and, having the advantage of an excellent education, and being distinguished for a more than ordinary share of integrity and sagacity, he was prosperous in an eminent degrec.


In 1754, he was elected an alderman in the city of New York. This was his first appearance in public life. The office was important and respectable. The population of the city was 10,881 souls. Mr. Livingston continued to be elected to this office for nine successive years, by his fellow-citizens, to whom he gave great satisfaction, by his faithful attention to their interests.


In 1759, Mr. Livingston was returned a member from the city of New York to the general assembly of the colony, which was convened on the 31st of January of that year. This body consisted of 27 members, representing a population of about 100,000 inhabitants, the number which the colony at that time contained.


At this period, Great Britain was engaged in a war with France. A plan had been formed for the reduction of Canada by the united colonies. For this object, it was proposed to raise 20,000 men. The quota of New York was 2680. This number the general assembly directed to be raised, and appro- priated £100,000 for the support of the troops, and ordered an advance of £150,000 to the British commissariat, for the general objects of the expedition. Similar measures were adopted by the other colonies, which, together with the assist- ance of the mother country, led to the capture of several important posts in Canada, and, in the following year, to the subjugation of the whole territory to the British power.


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In this assembly, Mr. Livingston acted a distinguished part. His talents and education gave him influence, which was powerfully exerted in promoting the above important measures. He also suggested several plans, which were calculated to improve the condition of the colony, particularly in relation to agriculture and commerce. He was deeply impressed with the importance of giving to the productions of the country a high character in the markets abroad, and of increasing the facilities of communication with other countries. In respect to these and other subjects, he possessed a well in- formed mind, and was desirous of pursuing a most liberal policy. ,


Previous to the revolution, it was usual for the respective colonies to have an agent in England, to manage their indi- vidual concerns with the British government. This agent was appointed by the popular branch of the colonial assemblies. In 1770, the agent of the colony of New York dying, the celebrated Edmund Burke was chosen in his stead. Between this gentleman and a committee of the colonial assembly, a correspondence was maintained. As the agent of the colony, he received a salary of &£500. He represented the colony in England, and advocated her rights. Hence the office was one of great importance. Not less important were the duties of the committee of correspondence. Upon their representations, the agent depended for a knowledge of the state of the colony. Of this committee Mr. Livingston was a member. From his communications, and those of his colleagues, Mr. Burke doubtless obtained that information of the state of the colonics which he sometimes brought forward, to the perfect surprise of the house of commons, and upon which he often founded arguments, and proposed measures, which were not to be resisted.


'The patriotic character and sentiments of Mr. Livingston led him to regard with great jealousy the power of the Brit-' ish government over the colonies. With other patriots, he was probably willing to submit to the authority of the mother country while that authority was confined to such acts as reason and justice approved. But, when the British ministers began to evince a disposition to oppress the colonies, by way


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of humbling them, no man manifested a stronger opposition than Mr. Livingston. His sentiments on this subject may be gathered from an answer, which he reported in 1764, to the speech of lieutenant-governor Colden. In the extract we give, may be seen the very spirit of the revolution, which led to American independence.


" But nothing can add to the pleasure we receive from the information your honor gives us, that his majesty, our most gracious sovereign, distinguishes and approves our conduct. When his service requires it, we shall ever be ready to exert ourselves with loyalty, fidelity and zeal ; and, as we have al- ways complied, in the most dutiful manner, with every requi- · sition made by his directions, we, with all humility, hope that his majesty, who, and whose ancestors, have long been the guardians of British liberty, will so protect us in our rights, as to prevent our falling into the abject state of being forever hereafter incapable of doing what can merit either his distinc- tion or approbation. Suchi must be the deplorable state of that wretched people, who (being taxed by a power subordinate to none, and, in a great degree, unacquainted with their circum- stances) can call nothing their own. This we speak with the greatest deference to the wisdom and justice of the British parliament, in which we confide. Depressed with this pros- pect of inevitable ruin, by the alarming information we have from home, neither we nor our constituents can attend to improvements, conducive either to the interests of our mother country, or of this colony. We shall, however, renew the act for granting a bounty on hemp, still hoping that a stop may be put to those measures, which, if carried into execution, will oblige us to think that nothing but extreme poverty can pre- serve us from the most insupportable bondage. We hope your honor will join with us in an endeavor to secure that great badge of English liberty, of being taxed only with our own consent ; which we conceive all his majesty's subjects, at home and abroad, equally entitled to."


The colony of New York, it is well known, was, for a time, more under the influence of the British crown than several others, and more slowly, as a colony, adopted measures which hastened forward the revolution. But, all along, there were


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individuals, in that colony, of kindred feelings with those who acted so conspicuous a part in Massachusetts and Virginia.


Among these individuals, none possessed a more patriotic spirit, or was more ready to rise in opposition to British ag- gressions, than Philip Livingston. The sentiments which he had avowed, and the distinguished part which he had all along taken, in favor of the rights of the colonies, marked him out as a proper person to represent the colony in the important congress of 1774. In the deliberations of this body he bore , his proper share, and assisted in preparing an address to the people of Great Britain.


Of the equally distinguished congress of 1776, Mr. Living- ston was a member, and had the honor of giving his vote in favor of that declaration, which, while it was destined to per- petuate the memory of the illustrious men who adopted .it, was to prove the charter of our national existence. In the following year, he was re-elected to congress by the state convention, which, at this time, tendered to him and his col- leagues an expression of public thanks, for the long and faith- ful services which they had rendered to the colony of the state of New York.


The constitution of the state of New York was adopted at Kingston, on the 20th of April, 1777. Under this constitution, Mr. Livingston, in May following, was chosen a senator for the southern district, and, in that capacity, attended the first meeting of the first legislature of the state of New York.


In October of the same year, an election took place for members of congress, under the new constitution. Among the number chosen, Mr. Livingston was one. On the 5th of May, 1778, he took his seat in that body. This was an emi- nently critical and gloomy period in the history of the revolu- tion. The British had taken possession of Philadelphia, compelling congress to retire from that city. They had agreed to hold a session at York.


At this time, the health of Mr. Livingston was exceedingly precarious; and such was the nature of his complaint, which was a dropsy in the chest, that no rational prospect existed of his recovery : indeed, he was daily liable to be summoned 35 *


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from the active scenes of life to his final account. Yet, in this dubious and anxious state, his love to his country contin- ued strong and unwavering. For her good he had made many sacrifices; and, now that her interests seemed to require his presence in congress, he hesitated not to relinquish the comforts of home, and those attentions which, in his feeble and declining state, he peculiarly needed from a beloved family.


Previous to his departure, he visited his friends in Albany, whom he now bid a final farewell, as he expected to see them no more. His family, at this time, were at Kingston, whither they had been obliged to flee to escape the British army. To these, also, he bid an affectionate adieu, at the same time ex- pressing his conviction, that he should no more return.


These sad anticipations proved too true. On the 5th of May, he took his seat in congress, from which time his decline was rapid. On the 12th of June, he ended his valuable life. Although deprived of the consolations of home, he was attend- ed, during the few last days of his illness, by his son Ilenry, who was at that time a member of general Washington's family. Hearing of the illness of his father, he hastened to administer such comforts as might be in his power, and to perform the last duties to a dying parent.


On the day of his decease, his death was announced in the hall of congress, and by that body the following resolutions adopted :


" Congress being informed that Mr. P. Livingston, one of the delegates for the state of New York, died last night, and that circumstances require that his corpse be interred this evening,


" Resolved, that congress will, in a body, attend the funeral this evening, at six o'clock, with a crape round the arm, and will continue in mourning for the space of one month.


"Ordered, that Mr. Lewis, Mr. Duer and Mr. G. Mortis be a committee to superintend the funeral ; and that the rer. erend Mr. Duffield, the attending chaplain, be notified to officiate on the occasion."


Mr. Livingston married the daughter of colonel Dirck Ten


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Broeck, by whom he had several children. His family has furnished several characters who have adorned society, and whose virtues have imparted dignity to human nature. Mr. Livingston is said to have been naturally silent and reserved, and to strangers to have appeared austere. Yet he was un- commonly mild and affectionate to his family and friends. He was a firm believer in the great truths of the Christian system, and a sincere and humble follower of the divine Re- deemer.


WILLIAM LIVINGSTON.


William Livingston, LL. D. governor of New Jersey, was born in the city of New York, about the year 1723, and was graduated at Yale College in 1741. He studied law, and, possessing an understanding of great energy, a brilliant imagi- nation, and a retentive memory, and devoting himself assidu- ously to the cultivation of his mind, he soon rose to distinction in the profession. He early exhibited himself an able and zealous advocate of civil and religious liberty, and employed his pen in vindicating the rights of the colonies against the arbitrary claims of the British. After enjoying several impor- tant offices in New York, he removed to New Jersey, and, as a representative of that state, was one of the most distinguished of the congress of 1774. On the formation of a new constitu- tion for that state in 1776, he was appointed the first governor, and was annually re-elected to the office till his death in 1790. He was characterized by simplicity in his manners, and ease, amiableness and wit in his social intercourse. His writings display uncommon vigor, keenness and refinement, and are often eloquent. He devoted himself, during the revolution, ardently to the cause of his country, and did much, by the shrewdness and severity of his writings, both to encourage his countrymen and exasperate the British .*




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