Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations, Part 223

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 223

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On the 20th September, 1697, articles of peace were signed between France and Great Britain, called the peace of Ryswick. For nearly ten years the Mohawk valley had been the scouting ground of the two hostile parties. The husbandmen had labored with his musket by his side, and made his dwelling literally his castle.

The news of peace did not reach Canada until May, 1698, and then by the way of New York in a communication from Governor Bellomont.

Although peace had been declared between the two nations, the French of Canada still threatened war against the Five Nations, and Governor Bello- mont prepared to espouse the cause of his Indian allies by calling upon the trained bands of Albany and Schenectady to hold themselves in readiness to march with the regulars. The dangers and alarms of these times are clearly stated by Governor Bellomont in a letter to the Lords of Trade, dated 24th October, 1698.

After the proclamation of peace, early in 1698, the fortifications and garrisons on the border were greatly neglected. May 25, 1700, Governor Bellomont wrote to the Lords of Trade "that at the very time they [the French] are fortifying against us and keeping up the same number of soldiers still, which they did all the war, we on our part let our wooden forts fall to the ground, and re- duce our pittance of soldiers, and neither mind paying nor recruiting them."

On the 29th August, 1700, Governor Bellomont held a conference with the sachems of the Five Nations at Albany, to whom he made the follow- ing complaint:

"I have some complaints at this time made to mee of mischief lately done by some of your people in killing their cattle above Schanegtade. I desire you will inquire into the matter, and take such or- der that reperation may be done the people that have been so wronged." * * *

INDIAN WARS ON THE BORDER.

From 1697 to 1701 there was peace between England and France, consequently between Canada and the English Provinces. Nevertheless the con- stant intrigues and threats of the French toward the Five Nations made it necessary for the Pro- vincial authorities of New York to use persistent and vigilant circumspection to counteract these intrigues.

Governor Bellomont died 5th March, 1701. Al- ready rumors were rife in New York of a prospect- ive war between France and England, on which account Colonel William Smith, President of the Council and ex officio Governor of the province, in writing to the Lords of Trade, " begs leave hum- bly to repeate the state and condition of the forts at Albany and Schenectady, which are almost to- tally decayed & unserviceable."

In 1709 orders were sent from England to Governor Lovelace to prepare for an attack upon Canada and Nova Scotia. It was proposed to send out a naval squadron and five regiments of regu- lar troops to Boston, there to be joined by 1, 200 of New England.

These troops were to attack Quebec, while 1,500 men marching by way of Albany were to attack Montreal.

The Five Nations and River Indians were to as- sist. This expedition was to be commanded by Colonel Francis Nicholson and Colonel Samuel Vetch, but like the attempt in 1691 proved a mis- erable failure. The English ministry, instead of sending the promised armament to their American provinces, sent it to Portugal.

The Five Nations, during the war (1701-13) be- tween France and England, being neutral, became corrupted, and less firmly attached to the latter.

In 1711 another attempt was made to conquer Canada, as abortive as the others, the naval expe- dition proving a failure. As a consequence, the French Indians commenced their skulking attacks upon the frontiers, killing two families in Schagh- takook.

January 1, 1712, Governor Hunter wrote to the Lords of Trade: " All is quiet at present upon the frontier."

From this time until the " old French War" in 1744 there was peace between France and Eng- land, and consequently between Canada and the colonies.

In 1715 the township of Schenectady had two military companies of foot, consisting of about sixty men each, including officers.

Although the peace of Utrecht brought compara- tive quiet to the border settlements of this province,

the Five Nations still distrusted the French and their Indians, and stood prepared to defend them- selves against their attacks.

The English sympathized with them and fur- nished them every aid and help short of an armed force. They built their forts, supplied them with arms and ammunition, repaired their muskets and tomahawks, clothed them with duffels and strouds, and in times of scarcity sent them corn. In many cases the smiths and carpenters sent there were citizens of Schenectady.

In 1711 Governor Hunter, the better to pro- tect his faithful allies, the Iroquois, contracted with Gerrit Symonse [Veeder], Barent Vrooman, Hendrick Vrooman, John Wemp and Arent Van Petten, carpenters, of Schenectady, for {1,000, to build two forts in the Indian country, one for the Mohawks, 150 feet square and 12 feet high, of logs one foot square, with a block house at each angle two stories high and 24 feet square; also a chapel within the fort, 24 feet square; the other, for the Onondagas, of like dimensions.

In 1724 Harmen Vedder was appointed cap- tain of a party of smiths stationed among the Sen- ecas, at a salary of £50, and Andries Brat at £15, Hendrick Wemp at {25, and Harmen Van Slyck at {25, as smiths among the Onondagas.

In 1726 Joseph Van Lice, of Schenectady, pre- sented a bill to the Governor for seven months' service as smith in the Senecas' country, for which he claimed {20.

At a conference between Governor Burnet and the six sachems at Albany, 9th Sept., 1726, a Seneca sachem said:

* * * "It is three years ago that you offer'd us a smith, and told us we might look for one to our minds; we found one there who pleased us very well. It was Myndert Wemp; when his time was expired he told the sachims that he was going home, whereupon they desired him to come again, because he was good and charitable to the poor; therefore we desire he may be our smith and go with us when we go home. We desire also an Armourer who can mend our Locks and Arms; such a man lives at Schenectady."

"5 October, 1728.

"Brother Corlaer :

" It has been customary when we came here to- wards the fall that a Smith and an Armourer to be sent to work for you, but then to work in our Country; we beg you to grant us now that Joseph Van Lise and 'Hendrick Wemp may be Ordered to go up with us, who are fit persons for our Occa- sion."

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

His Excellency answered:

"I will order a Smith and an Armourer to be sent to work for you, but then I Expect that you will not suffer the ffrench Smith who is now there, nor any other from Canada, to reside among you for the Future."

A Sinneke sachem said:

"Brother Corlaer:

" We desired a Smith and an Armourer, but we do not hear further of it. You spoke about a ffrench Smith, who is now with us; he can Make no work, for he is an old man, and can scarce see. So we beg again that Joseph Van Lize and Hen- drick Wemp may go up with us. We would fain have the Smith and Armourer go with us now, that we may be sure of them, otherwise it may be neg- lected."

His Excellency answered:

" Brethren:

"I will give Effectual orders to the Commission- ers to send a Smith and an Armourer with you to work in your country."

THE OLD FRENCH WAR, 1744-1748.

The Old French War, so called to distinguish it from that of 1753, was declared by Louis XV, on March 15, 1744, and accepted by England March 29. It was two months after before the news reached New England, although known a month earlier by the French of Canada. To secure the friendship and active aid of the Six Nations, the Governor of New York called a council of the chiefs of the confederacy, who met at Albany, June 18, 1744, and "renewed, strengthened and bright- ened the covenant chain that had so long tied them and the subjects of his Majesty, the great king, their father, in mutual ties of friendship."

Although inclining to peace, they promised in the strongest terms to stand by their friends if at- tacked. During this war, as in the other preced- ing it, the French and their allies were the most actively aggressive, sending out, almost daily, small parties of their Indians to annoy and distress the frontier settlements, and bring back such plunder and captives as they could find. The points of attack in this province were settlements along the Mohawk and Hudson, particularly Saratoga, Sche- nectady and Albany and the outlying places.

No family was safe unless protected by block- house or palisade; no man was exempt from mili- tary duty save by age or infirmity. In Schenectady and Albany each able-bodied man kept watch and ward every third or fourth night. French and

English reports also give sad accounts of shocking barbarities practiced on both sides by skulking parties of savages and white men. French reports clearly show the cruelties practiced by these two Christian nations, who rewarded their savage allies in proportion to the number of scalps returned.

The French and their savages made war upon the almost undefended frontier settlers, who were taken by surprise and practically unprepared.

The distress occasioned by this war is clearly set forth by the following petition of the inhabitants of Albany for relief, made to the Provincial Assembly, July 27, 1747.

The sufferings of Schenectady were even greater, because more exposed, more impoverished and less secure :

** * That the inhabitants of the corporation of the city of Albany are in great misery and distress by reason of the present war with France, and with the Indians in their alliance.

"That the inhabitants of the said city, ever since the commencement of the war, by their frequent watching, have been very much taken off from themselves and families : That every man of our corporation has been obliged to attend in person, or pay a hired man in their stead, upon watch and ward every third or fourth night during the whole time, excepting a small interval of time in the spring the duty was demanded only every fourth night ; but now, and for some time past, for the safety of this frontier and the poor inhabitants, we are obliged again to come upon a fourth night : That our corporation, by reason of the present war, are indebted * * for the supplying of fire, wood and candles for the night watches, and for powder and ball for the poorest of the inhabitants, * * * besides what the inhabitants have done by a voluntary taxing themselves for providing and setting up new stockades, where the old ones were gone to decay."

While the people of Schenectady were striving to protect their borders from the attack of the enemy they were called upon to send men to Oswego.

The following answer of Col. Jacob Glen disclosed a sad state of morals at that important fortress :

COL. SCHUYLER : It is impossible to procure men for going to Oswego, especially when John Vischer remains there. John Baptist [Van Eps, the interpreter] says, if a hundred pounds was offered him over and above his wages, [he] would not remain a year under his command.

SCHENECTADY, Sept. ye 8, 1747. JACOB GLEN.

THE BEUKENDAAL MASSACRE.

Glen, in a previous letter, says the officers at Oswego are drunkards.

During the year 1747 Capt. Tiebout's company of foot was stationed at Schenectady.

THE BEUKENDAAL MASSACRE.

As the war drew to a close, in 1748, Schenectady met with the severest loss it had suffered at any one time since the year 1690. This is generally called the Poopendal massacre. It was, however, in no sense a massacre like that of 1690, except per- haps in the killing of the first victims, but a stand up and hand to hand fight in Indian fashion, in which the whites were the attacking party and, on that account, suffered more severely than the savages. About twenty of the former were killed and some thirteen or more made prisoners ; of the losses of the latter we have no sufficient accounts.

Beyond tradition the accounts of this skirmish are meager and uncircumstantial.

A brief letter to Col. William Johnson, written by Albert Van Slyck, July 21, 1748, three days after the affair, is the only semi-official narrative we have by one who was in the fight.

"From the details preserved in this letter, it appears that a party of men from Schenectady, the leader of whom was Daniel Toll, had been dis- patched to some place in the vicinity to bring in a number of horses, which was surprised by a party of the enemy, whose presence in the neighborhood was neither known nor suspected.

" The firing being heard by Adrian Van Slyck, a brother of the writer of the account, who seems to have resided at a distance from the town, he sent a negro man to the latter place to give the alarm and obtain reinforcements. Four parties of armed men successively repaired to the scene of action, the first of which was composed of the New England lieutenant, with some of his men, and five or six young lads, accompanied by Daniel Van Slyck, another brother. The second party was led by Ackes Van Slyck, and some men, how many of either party is not stated.

" Adrian Van Slyck followed next, at the head of a party of New York levies ; but on reaching the scene of action, where Ackes, with inferior numbers, was holding the enemy at bay, the levies all fled in the most cowardly manner.

"The fourth party was composed of Albert Van Slyck (the writer of the letter), Jacob Glen ' and sev- eral others,' on the approach of whom the enemy drew off, leaving Adrian among the dead." The letter adds : " It grieves me, I not being com-

mander, that when we went Garret Van Antwerp would suffer no more to accompany the party."

The second account, written by Giles F. Yates, Esq., and published in the Schenectady Democrat and Reflector, April 22, 1836, was gathered from tradition then floating about among the aged peo- ple of that day :

"In the beginning of July, 1748, Daniel Toll and his servant Ryckert went in search of some stray horses at Beukendal. *

* They soon heard, as they supposed, the trampling of horses ; * but this sound proved to be that of quoits with which some Indians were playing. Mr. Toll dis- covered his danger too late, and fell, pierced by bullets. Ryckert escaped, reached Schenectady and told the news of the death of his master and the presence of the enemy.

"In less than an hour about sixty volunteers were on their march to Beukendal. The greater part of these were young men, and such was their zeal that they would not wait until the proper au- thorities had called out the militia. * * *

" Without discipline or experience, and even without a leader, they hastened to the Indian camp.

"Those in advance of the main body, before they reached the enemy, were attracted by a singu- lar sight. They saw a man resembling Mr. Toll sitting near a fence in an adjoining field and a crow flying up and down before him.

"On coming nearer, they discovered it to be the corpse of Mr. Toll, with a crow attached to it by a string.

" This proved to be a stratagem of the Indians to decoy their adversaries. The Schenectadians fell, alas ! too easily into the snare laid for them, and were in a few moments surrounded by the In- dians who had been lying in ambush. Thus taken by surprise, they lost many of their number, and some were taken prisoners before they could make good their retreat.

"They, however, succeeded in reaching the house of Mr. De Graaf, in the neighborhood, which had been for some time deserted. (This house is still standing.) But, while retreating, they con- tinued to fire upon their enemy. On reaching Mr. De Graaf's house, they entered, bolted the doors and ascended to the second floor. Here they tore off all the boards near the eaves, and through the opening thus made fired with success at the savages, and succeeded in keeping them at bay. In the meantime Dirck Van Vorst, who had been left in the charge of two young Indians, ef- fected his escape.

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

"The two youngsters were anxious to see the fight and secured their prisoner by tying him to a tree, and left him alone. He succeeded in getting his knife from his pocket and cutting the cord with which he was bound. On the approach of the Schenectady militia under Col. Jacob Glen, the party in Mr. De Graaf's house were relieved from their perilous situation, and the enemy took up their line of march for Canada.

"On this occasion there were thirty-two citizens killed (?) ; of these we are able to give the names of Jacob Glen (cousin of Col. Glen), Peter Vroo- man, John Darling, Adam Conde, - Van Antwerpen, Cornelius Viele, Nicholas De Graaf and Adrian Van Slyck ; wounded, Ryer Wemp, Robinson and Wilson ; prisoners, Abraham De Graaf and his son William, John Phelps, Harmen Veeder and Lewis Groot.

"The bodies of De Graaf and Glen were found lying in close contact with their savage antagonists, with whom they had wrestled in deadly strife.

"The corpses were brought to Schenectady the evening of the massacre and deposited in the large barn of Abraham Mabee, being the identical one now standing on the premises of Mrs. Benjamin, in Church street. The relatives of the deceased repaired thither to claim their departed kindred and remove them for interment."

The news of this battle reached Albany in the evening of the same day, and by midnight Lieut. Chew, with one hundred English and two hundred friendly Indians, were on the march for the scene of action, but to no other purpose than as showing their willingness to meet an emergency of this kind.

From the accounts it is certain that the presence of the Indians was not suspected until the first shot; that Capt. Daniel Toll was the first victim; that the alarm was given by his negro Ryckert; that a company of Connecticut levies, under Lieut. John Darling, accompanied and followed by squads of the inhabitants, marched to the scene, and that, after a hot engagement, the Indians retreated, leaving twenty of the whites dead and taking away thirteen or fourteen prisoners, besides the wounded.

Considering the number of whites engaged, their loss was very severe, amounting probably to one- third of their force.

The following is the fullest list of killed and missing that can now be given:

KILLED-John A. Bradt, Johannes Marinus, Pe- ter Vrooman, Daniel Van Antwerpen, Cornelis Viele, Jr., Nicolaas De Graaf, Adrian Van Slyck,

Jacob Glen, Jr., Adam Conde, J. P. Van Ant- werpen, Frans Vander Bogart, Capt. Daniel Toll, Lieut. John Darling and 7 of his soldiers; in all, 20 men.

WOUNDED-Ryer Wemp, -Robinson, Dirk Van Vorst and - - Wilson.

MISSING-Prisoners, John Phelps, Lewis Groot, Johannes Seyer Vrooman, Frank Connor, Harman Veeder, Isaac Truax, Albert John Vedder and 6 soldiers; in all, 13 men.

After the close of hostilities, Governor Clinton sent Lieut. Stoddert to Montreal to arrange for an exchange of prisoners. With Capt. Anthony Van Schaick he went into the Indian country to recover the captives, but with indifferent success. Among those who returned with Lieut. Stoddert were Capt. Anthony Van Schaick, John Vrooman, Peter Vas- borough [Vosburgh], Albert Vedder and Francis Conner. Efforts were made to induce others to return, but without success; of these were Rachel Quackenbos, Simon Fort and Philip Phillipsen. Rachel Quackenbos abjured the English religion, and Lieut. Stoddert could not persuade her to re- turn. Fort and Phillipsen also desired to remain with the Iroquois; the former belonged by adoption to a sister of a chief named Agonareche. She refused to give him up at any price. Capt. Van Schaick offered six hundred livres for Fort, with- out succeeding in obtaining him. On the con- trary, so determined was his squaw owner to retain him, that she said she would obey the French com- mandant and deliver him up, but that she and her husband would follow him, and he should not reach home alive. Lieut. Stoddert left Canada on the 28th of June, 1750, with 24 prisoners.

FORTIFICATIONS AND GARRISONS.

All considerable settlements on the upper Hud- son and Mohawk rivers were from the first pro- tected by wooden walls .. Though never attacked nor even seriously threatened by the Iroquois or Mohicans, there were but few short periods down to the close of the French war (1763) when they were not subject to frequent alarms from the French or their Indian allies from Canada.

. The method of fortification was by stockades, which the abundance of timber at their very doors made a cheap and ready protection. Guns were only used for defense, attacks being always made by the musket. The stockade consisted of a se- ries of posts or logs, from 15 to 18 feet long and 12 inches or more thick, sharpened at one end and hewed flat on opposite sides.

FORTIFICATIONS AND GARRISONS.

Pine was usually chosen, because most abundant and easily worked.

The line of stockade being marked out, a trench three feet deep was dug; the posts were set therein, the flattened sides together, and the earth shoveled

back and rammed against them. To strengthen the top, two adjoining posts were bored and fastened together with oaken trenails. At the angles, gates and other important points, block-houses for the shel- ter of the garrison and guards were built, and within

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the stockade all around was a free space, called the Roudweg, of sufficient width for the patrol to march.

In addition to this outer circle of fortification, in Albany and Schenectady there was a fort in one of the angles of the latter place surrounded by a double row of high palisades, furnished with bar- racks for the garrison, platforms, guns, lookouts, etc. And in later times, when Schenectady be- came a depot for men and materials, there were barracks outside the walls. In 1765 the troops were posted along the east side of Ferry street, from Union to the Episcopal church ; in 1762, on the south side of Union street, from Ferry to Mrs. Colon Clute's house ; in the Revolutionary war, on the south side of Union street, from Lafayette eastwardly to Quackenbush street.

For protection and safety Schenectady was admirably placed, being surrounded with water and marsh on three sides and open only to the southeast, from which side the inhabitants had little to fear.

The first settlers, though their land lay else- where, built their habitations mainly together for their better protection. Doubtless, as soon after the settlement in 1662 as it could conveniently be done, the village was stockaded. Starting at State street, the line ran along the east side of Ferry to about the gate of the Episcopal church ; then in a straight line to the north side of Front, a little be- yond Washington street; then southerly and parallel to the same to State; and lastly, along the same twenty-eight feet south thereof to Ferry street or Mill lane. This was the original plot inclosed and con- tained most of the houses of the first settlers.

The south and west lines remained substantially the same down to the time of their extinction soon after the Revolutionary war. The front and Wash- ington street lines were later moved north and west to the river bank, and the Ferry street line some time after 1765 was carried southeasterly to where is now the New York Central railroad depot, and thence northerly through the Dutch church burying ground to the river bank.

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

GATES .- In 1690 it was said in the French ac- count of the village that there were but two gates, one at the north end of Church street, called the "north gate," the other at State. This was, doubt- less, at the junction of State and Church streets, and opened out to the roads through Mill lane and

Water street, leading to the bouwlands and to the Mohawk country. In later times there were others at Front and Union streets. The foundations of the gates and guardhouses where Ferry crosses State and Union streets were exposed in laying the water pipes in 1871.

2 W

The Fort of Scanecthade.

"OLD FORT."

By Rev. John Miller. (Original in British Museum.)

EXPLANATION .- I, I, Block Houses. 2, 2, Rivers running beside ye fort. 3, 3, Indians' wigwams. 4, Flag staff. 5, Centry box. 6, Spy loft. 7, 7, 7, Sties for hogs. 8, The Block House designed for a church. 9, 9, Those and others like them houses. 10, A great barn. 1I, II, The treble stockadoes. 12, 12, The Fort Gates.

FORTS .- Schenectady was so important a post for the protection of the Province against the incur- sions of the Canadians that for the first hundred years of its existence it was deemed necessary to strengthen it by a fort and garrison.

It is believed, from references in the records, that the first block-house was in the north angle of the stockade at or near the junction of Front and Washington streets. This was destroyed in 1690 by the French, at which time it was garri- soned by a small detachment under Lieut. Enos Talmage, from Capt. Jonathan Bull's company, then stationed at Albany. These troops were Connecticut men. The magazine stood on or near the lot of Mrs. Willard, then belonging to Capt. Sander Glen.

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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 223

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