Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations, Part 222

Author: Howell, George Rogers, 1833-1899; Tenney, Jonathan, 1817-1888
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: New York, W. W. Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1452

USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations > Part 222

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These preparations to "watch the Designe of ye Gov' of Canida " miscarried, and before the In- dian scouts reached "ye Lake and Otter creek," the invading force had passed those points and the fatal blow was struck, destroying the village and scattering such of its inhabitants as were spared.

DESTRUCTION OF SCHENECTADY IN 1690. From painting by Giles F. Yates, now in possession of his niece, Mrs. A. A. Yates, of Schenectady. In the painting the artist unquestionably drew upon his fancy.

BURNING OF SCHENECTADY.

The story of the massacre of 1690 has often been told. The essential facts are few and well estab- lished, both by the English and French accounts. The causes of this attack were, first, the war be- tween England and France, occasioned by the English revolution of 1688, and, secondly, the de- sire of the French in Canada to intimidate and detach the Iroquois from the English, by delivering

a stunning blow, and capturing both Albany and Schenectady. The destruction of this place would perhaps have decided the fate of the Province, for they then would have held the key to the naviga- tion of the Hudson.

A march from Montreal to Schenectady-a dis- tance of 200 miles-was one of extreme labor, requiring great pluck and endurance. Between the St. Lawrence and the Mohawk rivers there

BURNING OF SCHENECTADY.

was then an unbroken wilderness, without a single habitation. In mid-winter the snow lay in the forest from three to six feet deep, and could be traveled only on snow-shoes.

In addition to their heavy muskets and ammu- nition, the French were forced to carry provisions for the march of twenty-two days. Such were the conditions of an attack upon Schenectady, only possible in winter without a flotilla of canoes to pass the lakes.

The attacking party consisted of 114 Frenchmen, 80 savages from the Sault, and 16 Algonquins-in all 210 men.

The commander was Lemoine de Sainte Helene, assisted by Lieutenant D'Aillebout de Mantet. They started from Montreal on the 17th of Janu- ary, and after suffering incredible hardships on the way, arrived in sight of the town about 11 o'clock at night on the 8th of February. It was their in- tention to make their attack later, but the intense cold forced them to enter the town at once.

The village at this time lay mainly west of Ferry street, and was stockaded with palisades of pine logs, ten feet high. It had at least two gates, one at north end of Church street, opening out to the highway (Front street), which led to the eastward to Niskayuna ; another at south end of Church at State, opening out to Mill lane and the Flats and the Albany road (State street).

The only dwellings outside the stockade were built on the northern side of State street, extending as far southeast as Lange gang [Center street]. It is said there were eighty good houses in the village, and a population of 400 souls ; both numbers, doubtless, greatly exaggerated.

In the northern angle of the village, on the Binnie kil [near corner Washington and Front streets], was a double stockade fort, garrisoned by a detachment of 24 men of Captain Jonathan Bull's Connecticut company, under the command of Lieut. Talmadge.

Thus fortified and garrisoned, the inhabitants should have repelled any ordinary attack, or at least held the enemy at bay until succor could reach them from Albany.

The destruction of the place was occasioned by divided counsels and a fatal apathy. The whole Province was then divided into two factions-the Leislerians and the Anti-Leislerians -- the short hairs and swallow-tails. Divided feelings and counsels ran so high in Albany and Schenectady as to coun- teract the sense of self-preservation. Both parties were determined to rule; neither was strong enough to take the lead.

On the fatal night of February 8, the Noche triste of the ill-fated village, the inhabitants went to rest with their gates open and no guard set. They trusted that the Indians who had been sent out as scouts to Lake George would forewarn them of the enemy's approach. The French marched upon the village from the north, crossed the river on the ice and divided their men into two companies, with the intention of entering the town, one by the north, or Church street, gate, the other by the south, or State street, gate. The latter entrance, being in a measure covered by the dwellings on that street, could not be found ; both companies therefore entered by the north gate, and separating, spread themselves throughout the village, five or six before each house. At a signal agreed upon a simultaneous onslaught was made upon each dwelling, and before the terror-stricken inhabitants could seize their arms the savages were upon them. Resistance was vain. Within two hours sixty of the people were slaughtered, without distinction of age or sex. After selecting such booty as they could carry away, the French fired the houses and burned all but five or six.

Captain Sander Glen's family and relatives, with their habitations and other property, on account of former kindness shown to captive Frenchmen, were spared by express order of the Governor of Canada. The utter helplessness of the inhabitants to offer resistance is shown by the fact that only two of the enemy were killed and one severely wounded.

The plucky fight made by Adam Vrooman and his family comes down to us by tradition. His house stood on the west corner of Front and Church streets, opposite the north gate.

By keeping up a brisk fire from his dwelling, he kept the enemy at bay and extorted a promise from the French commander to spare his life. -

After taking a few hours of much needed rest, the French began their retreat at 11 o'clock of the 9th, with 27 prisoners, men and boys, and fifty horses laden with plunder.

Nineteen of their men perished in the retreat and the remainder were only saved from starvation by killing the horses.

Of the many accounts of this transaction written at the time, the following are most trustworthy.

The first is the French report, and may be found among the "Paris Documents," Vol. IV, in the Secretary of State's office.

" An account of the burning of Schenectady by Mons. De Monsignat, Comptroller-General of the Marine in Canada, to Madame de Maintenon, the morganatic wife of Louis XIV.

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

* * At eleven o'clock at night they came within sight of the town (but) resolved to defer the assault until two o'clock in the morning. But the excessive cold admitted of no further delay.

"The town of Corlaer forms a sort of oblong with only two gates -- one opposite the road we had taken-the other leading to Orange, which is only six leagues distant. Messieurs de Sainte Helène and de Mantet were to enter at the first, which the Squaws pointed out, and which in fact was found wide open. Messieurs d'Iberville and de Montes- son took the left with another detachment, in order to make themselves masters of that leading to Orange. But they could not discover it, and returned to join the remainder of the party. A profound silence was everywhere observed, until the two commanders, who separated, at their en- trance into the town, for the purpose of encircling it, had met at the other extremity.

" The signal of attack was given Indian fashion, and the whole force rushed out simultaneously. M. de Mantet placed himself at the head of a detachment, and reached a small fort where the garrison were under arms. The gate was burst in after a good deal of difficulty, the whole set on fire, and all who defended the place slaughtered.

"The sack of the town began a moment before the attack on the fort. Few houses made any resistance. M. de Montigny discovered some, which he attempted to carry sword in hand, hav- ing tried the musket in vain. He received two thrusts of a spear-one in the body and the other in the arm. But M. de Sainte Helene, having come to his aid, effected an entrance, and put every one who defended the place to the sword. The massacre lasted two hours. The remainder of the night was spent in placing sentinels and in taking some repose.

" The house belonging to the minister was ordered to be saved, so as to take him alive to obtain information from him; but as it was not known, it was not spared any more than the others. He was slain and his papers burnt before he could be recognized.

" At daybreak some men who were sent to the dwelling of Mr. Coudre [Coudre (?) Sander], who was major of the place, and who lived at the other side of the river. He was not willing to surrender, and began to put himself on the defen- sive, with his servants and some Indians; but as it was resolved not to do him any harm, in conse- quence of the good treatment that the French had formerly experienced at his hands, Mr. d'Iberville

and the Great Mohawk proceeded thither alone, promised him quarter for himself, his people, and his property, whereupon he laid down his arms, on parole, entertaining them in his fort, and returned with them to see the commandants of the town.

" In order to occupy the savages, who would otherwise have taken to drink and thus render them- selves unable for defence, the houses had already been set on fire. None were spared in the town but one house belonging to Coudre [Sander Glen], and that of a widow [Bratt] who had six children, whither M. de Montigny had been carried when wounded. All the rest were consumed. The lives of between fifty and sixty persons-old men, women and children-were spared, they having escaped the first fury of the attack. Some twenty Mohawks were also spared, in order to show them that it was the English and not they against whom the grudge was entertained.

" The loss on this occasion in houses, cattle and grain amounts to more than four hundred thousand livres. There were upwards of eighty well built and well furnished houses in the town.

"The return march commenced with thirty prisoners. The wounded, who were to be carried, and the plunder, with which all the Indians and some Frenchmen were loaded, caused consider- able inconvenience. Fifty good horses were brought away; sixteen of these only reached Mon- treal. The remainder were killed for food on the road. * * *

"Such, Madame, is the account of what passed at the taking of Corlaer. The French lost but twenty-one men, namely, four Indians and seven- teen Frenchmen. Only one Indian and one Frenchman were killed at the capture of the town; the others were lost on the road."-Doc. Hist. N. Y., 1, 186.

A few days subsequent to the massacre at Schenectady, Pieter Schuyler, mayor, and Dirk Wessels Ten Broeck, recorder of Albany, and Kilian Van Rensselaer, Patroon of Rensselaerwyck, addressed the following appeal to the Governor (Bradstreet) and Council of Massachusetts. This letter, as well as one from Capt. Bull, was answered by the Governor and Council on the 27th of February.

" ALBANY ye 15th day of feb", 168 8. " Hon'd Gent":

" To our great greeffe and sorrow we must ac- quaint you with our deplorable condition, there haveing never ye Like Dreadfull massacre and murthur been committed in these Parts of America, as hath been acted by ye french and there Indians at Shinnectady 20 miles from Albanie Betwixt Sat-

BURNING OF SCHENECTADY.

urday and Sunday last, at 11 a clok at night. A companie of Two hundred french and Indians fell upon said village and murther'd sixty men women and children most Barbarously, Burning ye Place and carried 27 along with them Prisoners, among which the Leif of Capt Bull Enos Talmadge and 4 more of sd company were killed & 5 taken Priso- ners ye Rest being Inhabitants and about 25 Per- sones there Limbs frozen in ye flight.

"The cruelties committed at sª Place no Penn can write nor Tongue expresse, ye women bigg with childe Rip'd up and ye children alive throwne into ye flames, and there heads Dash'd in Pieces against the Doors and windows.

" But what shall we say we must Lay our hands upon our mouth and be silent. It is Gods will and Pleasure and we must submitt, it is but what our Sinns and Transgressions have Deserv'd. And since Generally humane things are Directed by outward means, so we must ascribe this sad mis- fortune to ye factions and Divisions which were amongst ye People and there great Dissobedience to there officers for they would Obey no Com- mands or keep any watch, so yt ye Enemie have- ing Discovered there negligence and Security by there Praying maquase Indians (who were in sd Place 2 or 3 Days before ye attaque was made) came in and Broak open there verry doors before any Soule knew of it, ye Enemy Divideing them- selfs in 3 severall companies came in at 3 severall Places no gate being shutt, and Seperated them- selfs 6 or 7 to a house and in this manner begunn to murther sparing no man till they see all ye houses open and masterd, and so took what plun- der they would, Loading 30 or 40 of ye Best horses and so went away about 11 or 12 a clock at noon on Sabbath day." * * * * * * *

Your most humble and obedt servts ye Conven- tion of Albanie

P. SCHUYLER, Mayor.

Junto vaisselle Pokor A

The Mayor, &c., of Albany their bre giveing accot of ye ffrench & Indians cutting of a Town of English &c., many things & Dutch Feb., 1689."

[Mass. Archives, 239-246. ]

The survivors of the massacre had become so discouraged by their late terrible experience, that it was seriously debated whether the settlement should not be abandoned. The frontiers were now so harassed by straggling parties of the enemy that the husbandmen could not safely plant and harvest their crops.

In the midst of these discouragements the Mo- hawks strove to dissuade them from abandoning their plantations, promising them aid, counseling them to fortify their village more substantially.

May 12, 1690, the "Commissioners for Albany" ordered that the " posts of Schanechtede, Connes- tigieone and the Half Moone be forthwith supplied with proper numbers of men to defend the same." [Doc. Hist., II. ]

In regard to the number of persons killed and carried away to Canada at the destruction of Sche- nectady, the best accounts agree substantially. The names of sixty persons massacred, and of twenty-seven captives, have been preserved among the historical documents in the office of the Secre- tary of State. The largest number of the slain re- sided, when living, on State street; hence the sur- vivors called this street Martelaer's straat, in pious remembrance of their slaughtered relatives and neighbors, a name whose significance and senti- ment are in striking contrast with the utter poverty of invention and good taste shown by their de- scendants in borrowing a name from Albany for their chief business street.

The following is the list of those killed, above referred to:

Myndert Wemp, Jan Van Eps, "his son and two of his children;" Sergt. Church, of Capt. Bull's company; Barent Janse (Van Ditmars) and son; Andries Arentse Bratt and child; Maria Viele, two children and negro woman servant; Maria Alolff, Sweer Teunise (Van Velsen) and wife; four negroes of Teunise, Antje Janz, Enos Talmidge, lieutenant of Capt. Bull's company; Henderson Meese Vrooman and Bartholomens Vrooman, " and two negroes of Henderson;" Gerrit Marcellis, wife and child; Robert Alexandier, soldier; Robert Hes- seling, Sander, "son of Gysbert Gerritse (Van Brakel);" Jan Roeloffse (son of Anneke Janse); Ralph Grant, a soldier; David Christoffelse, wife and four children; Jaris Aertse (Van der Baast), Johannes Potman and wife; Wm. Pieterse, Dom- inie Petrus Tassemaker; Frans Harmense (Van de Bogart); Engel Vrooman and child; Reynier Schaats and son; Daniel Andries " and George, two soldiers;" "a French girl prisoner among the Mohogs;" "a Maquase Indian," "Johannes, son of Symon Skermerhorn, and three negroes of Sy- mon Skermerhorn."

Among those taken prisoners and carried to Canada, some died on the way there and some were afterward released and returned to Schenec- tady.

The following ballad, though without much lit- erary merit, has some value for the facts set forth therein.

It was evidently written by a person belonging to the English garrison, stationed at Albany.

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

A BALLAD,

"In which is set forth the horrid cruellties practised by the French and Indians on the night of the 8th of last February. The which I did compose last night, in the space of one hour, and am now writing the morning of Fryday, June 12, 1690. W. W."

God prosper long our King and Queen, Our lives & safeties all. A sad misfortune once there did Schenectady befall.

From forth the woods of Canada The Frenchmen tooke their way The people of Schenectady To captivate and slay.

They march'd for two & twenty dais All thro' the deepest snow ; And ou a dismal Winter Night They strucke the Cruel Blow.

The lightsome sun that rules the Day Had gone down in the West ; And eke the drowsy Villagers Had sought and found their reste.

They thought They were in Safetie all, And dreampt not of the Foe ; But att Midnight They all awoke, In Wonderment & Woe.

For They were in their pleasant Beddes, And soundelie sleeping, when Each door was sudden open broke By six or seven Men.

The Men and Women, Younge & Olde, And eke the Girls and Boys, All started up in great Affright, Att the alarming Noise.

They then were murther'd in their Beddes, Without shame or remorse ; And soon the Floores and Streets were strew'd With many a bleeding corse.

The Village soon began to Blaze, Which shew'd the horrid sight :- But, O, I scarce can Beare to Tell The Mis'ries of that Night.

They threw the Infants in the Fire, The Men they did not spare ; But killed All which they could find Tho' Aged or tho' Fair.

O Christe ! In the still Midnight air, It sounded dismally, The Women's Prayers, and the loud screams Of their great Agony.

Methinks as if I hear them now All ringing in my ear ; The Shrieks and Groanes and Woefull Siglis, They utter'd in their Fear.

But some ran off to Albany, And told the dolefull Tale : Yett, tho' We gave our cheerful aid, It did not much avail.

And we were horribly afraid, And shook with Terror, when

They told us that the Frenchmien were More than a Thousand Men.

The news came on the Sabhath morn Just att the Break of Day, And with a companie of Horse I galloped away.

But soone We found the French were gone With all their great Bootye ; And then their Trail We did pursue As was our true Dutye.

The Mohaques joynd our brave Partye, And followed in the chase Till we came upp with the Frenchmen Att a most likelye Place.

Our soldiers fell upon their Reare, And killed twenty-five, Our Young Men were so much enrag'd They took scarce One alive.

D'Aillebout Then did commande, Which were but Theevish Rogues, Else why did they consent and goe With Bloodye Indian Dogges ?

And Here I end the long Ballad The Which you just have redde ; I wish that it may stay on earth, Long after I am dead. WALTER WILIE.

ALBANY, 12th of June, 1690.

INDIAN WARS ON THE BORDER, 1662- 1713.

The destruction of Schenectady and the uncer- tainty of future safety of the border settlers in the vicinity of that village awakened in their minds serious doubts as to the expediency of rebuilding their dwellings and putting seed into the ground. To reassure the courage of the people, the Conven- tion at Albany passed the following resolution, on the 22d February, 1690 :

Resolved, That for ye p'servation of there majer Intrest in these parts & ye Secureing of there Subjects in this time of war wth ye french, y' all means be used to Perswade all ye maquase to come & live & Plant at Schinnectady, lately Destroyed by ye french and there Indians wh will be a means yt ye winter corn sowed there may be reaped & ye Indians in Readinesse to join with our forces upon any occa- sion if ye enemy should come .- [Doc. Hist., II, p. 90.]

The Five Nations, too, in a council held at Al- bany, May 3, spoke encouraging words :

"Brother Corlaer, be no wise discouraged, but make your fort strong (as we have our castles) at Schenectady, and maintain a garrison there, that your Corne may be preserved, & reap your harvest; also send for your wifes and children from New York and encourage them that we shall be safe, and fear not, * The words of Diadorus are ended."

So impoverished had Albany and Schenectady become that aid was called for from Connecticut for "fournishing the souldiers with provisions, Shenectady being destroyed and most of the out plantations deserted, that your hon" would be pleased to send a supply of an hundred barrels of

INDIAN WARS ON THE BORDER.

porke or beefe equivalent for maintaining their Majes Forces."

On the 9th June, 1690, four persons of those who had been captured by the French and escaped from Canada arrived in Albany, to wit: Klyn Isack [Swits], of Schenectady, and his eldest son

Symon ; Ryck Claessen [Van Vranken], of Niskay- una, and one of Captain Bull's soldiers taken at the destruction of Schenectady. Four more cap- tives taken at the same place were brought in, March, 1691, by a "party of Christians and maquase."

Unun College Library

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Map ofthe town & fhomestay

market place

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Laid Down bychile of I Phony to the lich "

1768.

MAP OF THE TOWN OF SCHENECTADY.

In the beginning of June, 1691, Gov. Sloughter, who succeeded Andros, visited Albany and Sche- nectady to inspect the defenses and hold a council with the Five Nations, and, on the 11th of July, Gov. Sloughter wrote to the Governors of the other Provinces that he had just returned from Al- bany, where he "found our Plantations and Sche- nectady almost ruined. I have garrisoned Schenec- tady and Halfe Moon with some of the roo fusileers raised by our Assembly."

Again, August 6, he says : "I found Albany full of disorder, the people ready to disert it ;

about 150 farms deserted & destroyed by the French."

October 5, 1691, "At a council held at Fort William Henry [N. Y. ]

"This Board having the Garrison of Schenec- tady under consideration, it is thought convenient to remove the 4 guns from there to Albany, and that Petardoes be placed in their steade."

Late in the year 1691 another of the prisoners taken at Schenectady the year before was brought back by an Oneida Indian, who was rewarded in " Duffels and Rom " to the amount of {2 2s.

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

In January, 1692, Cornelis Van Slyck, Harmen Van Slyck and Hendrick Janse went out from Schenectady with the Maquase upon the Brand- wach, toward Canada, Captain Sander Glen fur- nishing "sno shoes " for them.

In February came an alarm from Albany to Governor Fletcher that " 350 French and 200 In- dians had come within 36 miles of Schenectady."

The Governor proposed to " detach three hun- dred men out of the city regiment and adjacent counties to be transported to Esopus by water," from whence they were to be sent on to Albany and Schenectady by horses.

In May there was a new alarm, and Major Ingoldsby visited Albany, where the officers " rep- resented that they need a force of 400 men on this frontier, 200 at Albany, 50 each at Schenectady, Canastigione & Half Moon, & 50 to go out with 100 Indians as constant scouts in the woods."

In October, Governor Fletcher visited Schenec- tady and put it in some posture of defense for the coming winter.

In August, 1692, a new expedition was fitted out at Schenectady, consisting of 350 Indians of the Five Nations under Canachkorie to attack Canada. The expense of the outfit was £54 3S. 5d. Among other things furnished was four ells of " red and blew " ribbons "to tye in his eares."

P. Davitse was allowed nine shillings for making two gun-stocks; Jellis Funda, nineteen shillings and six pence for making four gun-stocks, and Barent Mynderse and Christian Smith, £7 6s. 8d. for repairing arms for the Indians.

While at Schenectady the "Mayor & the Rest " stayed with Johannes Glen. Hille Van Olinda, their interpreter, made two great belts of wampum, for which she received £2 8s.

There was furnished for the expedition 600 lbs. of " beefe & pork, besides the four quarters of a small beasts," amounting to {1 16s., 25 skipples of pease @ 2s. 6d., and 24 loaves of bread @ 7d.

A large quantity of wampum belts was sent along to draw over the Praying Indians of Canada. The zewant for two great belts cost £3 12S.

So impoverished had the people of Schenectady become, that a tax of only £29 7s. ($73.33) was considered too great a burden for the whole town- ship, and they petitioned for a release of the same, which petition was, October 11, 1692, granted, " nemine contradicente."

" In the expedition the English lost four soldiers and four Indians, twelve wounded. Killed of the enemy, 33, including their captain-commandant

and twenty other officers, and two of their com- manding Indians, and rescued forty or fifty pris- oners."

During the winter of 1693 and the summer of 1694 there were no important movements on either side; the French using their best endeavor to make peace with the Five Nations; the English striving to counteract their projects. During the summer of 1695 there were constant conflicts be- tween the Five Nations and the French, but the anticipated raid during the winter of 1696-1697 did not take place, though in the spring of 1697 small parties appeared on the Mohawk, doing such mischief as opportunity favored.

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Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations, Part 222

Author: Howell, George Rogers, 1833-1899; Tenney, Jonathan, 1817-1888 Publication date: 1886 Publisher: New York, W. W. Munsell & Co. Number of Pages: 1452

Author: Howell, George Rogers, 1833-1899; Tenney, Jonathan, 1817-1888
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: New York, W. W. Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1452