Gazetteer and business directory of Schoharie County, N.Y. for 1872-3, Part 9

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- comp. cn
Publication date: 1872
Publisher: Syracuse : Printed at the Journal office
Number of Pages: 252


USA > New York > Schoharie County > Gazetteer and business directory of Schoharie County, N.Y. for 1872-3 > Part 9


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31


Adam Vrooman."


The Palatinates located upon the land without any title ex- cept the word of Queen Anne that they should have their land free. They had not long been in possesion before Nicholas Bayard, an agent of the British Government, appeared and of- fered to give to every householder a deed in the name of his Sovereign, of his land, if he would make known the boundaries. The settlers were very ignorant, and fearing that the design was to bring them under tyrannic landholders, resolved to kill Bay- ard and thus establish more firmly the independence which they had for several years enjoyed. Bayard had put up at the house of John George Smith, of Smith's dorf, and early next morning the settlers assembled, armed with guns and pitchforks, surrounded the house and demanded Bayard, and on Smith's refusing to surrender him, the house was besieged; sixty balls were fired by the assailants through the roof, and the siege kept up until the failing ammunition and the darkness admonished them to desist. Bayard left in the night and went to Schenec- tady, whence he sent word that to all who should appear there with a single ear of corn, acknowledge him as the royal agent and name the bounds of their land, a free deed should be given. As no one called on him he went to Albany and disposed of the land to Myndert Schuyler, Peter Van Brugh, Robert Livingston Jr., John Schuyler and William Wileman, to whom a patent was given and executed Nov. 3, 1714, in the first year of the reign of George I., by Robert Hunter, Governor of the Province. This patent began on the northern line of the Vrooman Patent, on the west side of the river, and the little Schohariekill on the east, extending north nearly to the south boundary of Mont- gomery County, taking in a strip on both sides of the river. The intention was to take in all of the flats, but this was not effected, though some curves were made. Lewis Morris and An- drus Coeymans, who were employed to survey and divide the land, finding that a large piece of the flat at the mouth of the Cobleskill was not taken in, made haste to secure it, as also the flats along Fox's Creek. Finding it difficult to divide their land, these patents sometimes running into each other, and sometimes leaving a gore, the five first purchasers agreed to make joint stock with their surveyors, and were afterwards known as the Seven Partners. Patents and deeds granted sub- sequently, for lands lying adjacent to those of the Seven Part- ners, were sometimes bounded in such a manner as to infringe


72


SCHOHARIE COUNTY.


on their lands, and gave rise to much litigation. Suits for parti- tion were brought in the Courts in 1819-25-26-28 and '29, when they were finally adjusted.


After the Seven Partners received their title to the Schoharie flats, they called on the German settlers to purchase, take leases or quit them altogether, but they stubbornly refused, still rely- ing on the word of Queen Anne. Mild measures having failed, the partners appealed to the strong arm of the law. A sheriff from Albany, named Adams, was sent to apprehend some of the boldest of the trespassers and frighten others into a compro- mise. Adams stopped at Weiser's dorf, and attempted to arrest a man, when a mob immediately collected, Adams was knocked down, dragged through the mud and finally rode upon a rail through most of the settlements, suffering as he went such in- dignities as the excited rabble saw fit to heap upon him. For some time after this outrage the settlers of Schoharie were very cautious about visiting Albany ; at first sending their wives for salt and such other necessaries as could not be obtained else- where, the men not daring to appear there except on Sunday, and were careful to leave the same night. At length suspicion having been allayed, several of the Schoharie citizens ventured to Albany for salt, when they were arrested and committed to jail. The most notorious of the party, among whom were Con- rad Weiser, Jr., were placed in the dungeon. Great was the consternation when the news of this outrage reached Schoharie, and a meeting of the citizens was called, when it was decided to draw up a petition setting forth their grievances and delegate three of their number to lay it before the King. This peti- tion was entrusted to Conrad Weiser, - Casselman and one other. The parties imprisoned at Albany were compelled to sign a statement of their treatment of Bayard and Adams before they were released, and they agreed also to take leases and pay the rent or purchase their lands. Weiser and his comrades proceeded to England and shortly after presented their petition, but were horror stricken to find a statement of their treatment of Bayard and Adams already in the hands of the King. Their guilt was manifest and they were immediately imprisoned in the Tower. After a time they were released and permitted to return home. Many of the settlers concluded to purchase their lands, but Weiser and sixty families removed to Berks County, Pa. Some removed to German Flats and others to Stone Arabia.


Peter Vrooman, son of the patentee of Vrooman's Land, commenced improvements soon after the purchase, and settled there. During the first summer he employed several hands, planted corn, fenced some of his land and in the fall returned to Schenectady to spend the winter, leaving. a hired man,


.


73


SCHOHARIE COUNTY.


named Truax, and two colored persons named Morter and his wife Mary, to take care of his property. Not long after Vroo- man's departure, Truax was murdered in his room. Morter and Mary were tried and convicted of the crime, though Mary persisted in declaring her innocence. They were burned alive at Albany, after which nothing more was known for several years. A man named Moore, who lived at Weisers dorf at the time of the murder, afterwards went to Pennsylvania, and on his dying bed confessed that he and Morter were the mur- derers, Mary being entirely ignorant of the whole affair. The second season after the murder, Peter Vrooman returned and established a permanent residence. Several other Dutch families settled there about the same time.


Simeon Laraway erected the first grist mill in the County. Bolting cloths were first introduced about 1760 by Henry Weaver. The settlers procured their shoes at Albany or East Camp until near the time of the Revolution, and one pair was the yearly allowance for each member of the family. Travel- ing cobblers went from house to house repairing such as needed. The first cider made in the County was by Lawrence School- craft. It was made by pounding the apples in a mortar, similar to those used for corn, the pumice was then placed in a large Indian basket, previously suspended to a tree, and weights placed in the basket, the juice being caught by a spout made of two planks fastened together at the edges. The first cider press ever used in the County was made by a man named Brown, who removed from West Camp. He was a wheelwright and the first one of the trade to prosecute the business in the County. John Mattice Young taught the first German school ever taught in America, at the Camps, about 1740. Schools were taught in Schoharie shortly after; a man named Spease taught the first, and Keller the second. English instruction was introduced about 1760, and in some instances the English, German and Dutch languages were all taught by the same teacher. The implements of husbandry were of the rudest kind, their rakes being made with teeth on both sides, and their hay forks were crotched sticks. Their wagons were with- out tires until 1760.


In 1762 slaves were introduced into the County from New England, females being worth about $150 each, and males a lit- tle more. A duty was imposed upon slaves imported from another Colony. Under the Colonial Government, persons were not obliged to fence their lands along the " King's Highway," as public roads were called, but where the line fence between two neighbors crossed them, gates were erected. As this was a great annoyance to travelers, the law was afterwards changed,


74


SCHOHARIE COUNTY.


requiring a permit, signed by several of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace, before such obstructions could be placed across the road. These gates were continued to some extent until after the Revolutionary War. Among the peculiarities of the early set- tlers we select the following description from Simm's History :


"Few dishes were formerly seen upon the tables of the Scho- harie people. It was no uncommon sight to see a family of eight or ten persons seated at an old fashioned round table- which was turned up in every dwelling when not in use-each with a spoon eating from a single dish of supawn. Every mem- ber had a cavity in the pudding filled with milk, from which he or she was allowed freely to scoop. On eating through into each other's divisions, a quickened motion of the spoon ensued, if trouble did not. If bowls were not then found indispensable in a large family, for eating a supper of supawn and milk, neither were plates in eating a hearty dinner. Each member of the family-seated at the round table, the quality and neatness of which no cloth concealed-was given a large slice of bread upon which they ate their meat and potatoes; after which the time serving plate was broken up, thrust into a dish to receive a coat of dope (gravy) and soon devoured. Bread was then sliced by one of the heads of the family, and dealt out around the table as a whist player would deal his cards. Rice and milk was like supawn, also eaten from one dish, after receiving the liberal scrapings of a cake of maple sugar. Happy days were those when the good house-wife had few bowls or plates to wash, and little envy about the quality or number of those pos- sessed by her neighbors."


Pleasure carriages were unknown, and a single horse often carried upon his back a man and woman at the same time.


The Germans and Dutch of the County remained distinct for a long time, very few intermarriages occuring between them. The Dutch were generally wealthier than the more hardy and laborious Germans, and preferred to contract marriages with their own class in the older Dutch settlements. They often kept slaves, while the Germans seldom had further assistance than such as their own households afforded. Gradually the barrier became obliterated and hereditary distinctions in socie- ty have disappeared.


When the stormy period of the Revolution commenced, a few of the people espoused the cause of the British, but the ma- jority were ardent patriots. In many instances members of the same family were arrayed against each other, and the struggle assumed all the horrors of a'civil war, aggravated by Indian barbarities. A council of safety was chosen in 1774, of which Johannes Ball was chairman until the close of the war. It


75


SCHOHARIE COUNTY.


consisted of six members, but we have no means of determin- ing who were the first, though the following. persons are believed to have been members at some time during the war : Joseph Borst, Joseph Becker, Peter Becker, Col. Peter Vrooman, Lieut. Col. Peter Zielie, Peter Swart, William Zim- mer, William Dietz, Samuel Vrooman, Nicholas Sternberg, Adam Vrooman, George Warner and Jacob Zimmer. Col. Vrooman did most of the writing for the board. At an early period of the difficulties, an effort was made by the settlers to induce the Indians to remain neutral. A meeting was held for that purpose, at the old council ground in Middleburgh. It is said that Brant and several other Mohawk chiefs were present, and a Mrs. Richtmyer acted as interpreter. The Indians agreed to remain neutral or join the Americans, but they were two fond of war to remain inactive, and yielded to the induce- ments offered by the agents of the British Government. Mr. Ball, the chairman of the commitee, had two sons, Peter and Mattice, who engaged with their father in their country's cause, while two other sons espoused the cause of the British. A regiment of militia was organized for the "Schoharie and Duanesburgh districts," as the 15th Regiment of N. Y. Militia, and commissions were issued to its officers, Oct. 20, 1775. It consisted of only three companies. A small company was af- terwards organized at Cobleskill under Capt. Christian Brown and Lieut. Jacob Borst. At a meeting of the New York State Committee of Safety, at Fishkill, Oct. 9, 1776, a resolution was passed appointing persons in each County " to purchase at the cheapest rate in their several counties, all the coarse woolen cloth, linsey woolsey, blankets, woolen hose, mittens, coarse linen, felt hats, and shoes fitting for soldiers, and that they have the linen made into shirts."


Among the relics of Revolutionary times is the following paper :


" Schoharie, July 7th, 1777, in Committee Chamber first Resolved that all the persons between the ages of sixteen and fifty years, from the dwel- ling house of Christian Shaffer and to north-ward in Schoharie, are to bring their arms and accoutrements when they come to the meeting at either of the two churches in Fountain Town and Fox's Town, on Sunday or any other day when kept; and if any of them shall neglect in bringing their arms and accoutrements to either of the churches, shall forfeit and pay the sum of three shillings, New York Currency, into the hands of Jo- hannes Ball, for the use of paying the cost for the district of Schoharie; or if any person shall not pay the said sum as aforesaid, it shall be lawful for Mr. Johannes Ball to give a warrant directed to a sergeant or corporal, and levy the same on the offender's goods and chattels, and also the cost thereof.


" And the persons inhabiting from the dwelling of Baltus Krysler to the said Christian Shaffer, are to bring their arms &c. to the church at Weiser's


76


SCHOHARIE COUNTY.


Town, as they are ordered to in Foxes Town; and if neglected to pay the same to Johannes Becker, and be put in execution by him as ordered by Mr. Ball aforesaid.


" And persons southward from Baltus Kryslers are to be armed when they come to any meeting that may be kept in Brakabeen, and if neglect- ed, to pay the fines to Mr. William Zimmer, and to be put by him in exe- cution as before mentioned, and for the use as aforesaid.


"N. B. Their resolve in Fountain Town Church is to be paid to Mr. Johannes Lawyer, and to be put by him in execution as within mentioned, and for the use as aforesaid; and George Warner is appointed to see that the inhabitants of Cobleskill bring their arms when they come to meeting there, and put this resolve in execution as within mentioned, and for the use aforesaid.


" Secondly, Resolved that four watches are to be kept in Schoharie every night from this time constant: the first to be kept at the dwelling house of Capt. George Mann, and under his command, and in his absence the next in command ; the inhabitants from Christian Shaffer's dwelling house and to northward are to be under Capt. Mann's command for the watch to con- sist of eight men. The second is to be kept at the dwelling house of Mr. Hendrick P. Becker, and under the command of Capt. George Richtmyer, and in his absence the next officer in command; the inhabitants from Hendrick Tansen's house and so north ward to Christian Shaffer's are un- der the command of this second watch, and to consist of six men. The third is to be kept at the dwelling house of Mr. Johannes Feak, and under the command of Lieut. Martynus Van Slyck, and in his absence the next officer in command ; the inhabitants from Baltus Krysler's dwelling house and so northward to Hendrick Tansen's are under the command of this third watch, and to consist of six men. And the fourth is to be kept by the inhabitants from Baltus Krysler's and so southward at the dwelling house of Mr. Hendrick Hager under the command of Capt. Jacob Hager, in his absence the next officer in command ; and this watch is to consist of six men. Every person or persons neglecting to serve on such or either of such watches aforementioned, shall for every neglect pay and forfeit the sum of twelve shillings for the use of the district of Schoharie."


In 1777 a company of volunteers under Capt. Hager pro- ceeded to Loonenburg, now Athens, to arrest Col. James Huet- son, who was enlisting Tories. After a search of thirteen days, during a part of which time they made a levy upon his poultry yard, they arrested him and about twenty others, whom they delivered to the military department at Albany. Col. Huetson was afterwards hanged. In August of this year a company of Tories under Capt. McDonald were defeated by Col. John Har- per. Capt. George Mann, one of the Tories, secreted himself in the vicinity until December, when he surrendered himself to the military authority and was sent to Albany for trial. Owing to the influence of his Whig neighbors, his trial was put off until the close of the war, when he was set at liberty and returned to his family and the possession of his property, which was not confiscated. Some persons in the Schoharie settlements accepted of kingly protection from McDonald, when the prospects of the Colonies were the most gloomy, but


77


SCHOHARIE COUNTY.


after his defeat and hasty flight, they managed to return home and became the supporters of the federal compact. The fol- lowing letter was written by Col. Harper to the' Committee of Safety :


" Schoharie, August 28, 1777.


" Gentlemen -- Since we put Capt.McDonald and his army to flight, I pro- ceeded with some volunteers to Harpersfield where we met many that had been forced by McDonald, and some of them much abused. Many others were in the woods who were volunteers, and as we could not get hands on these that were active in the matter, I gave orders to all to make their ap- pearance when called on, at Schoharie, in order to give satisfaction to the authority for what they have done; and if they do not, that they are to be proclaimed traitors to the United States of America; which they readily agreed to, and further declare that they will use their best endeavors to bring in those that have been the cause of the present disturbance. I would, therefore, beg the honorable Council of Safety, that they would ap- point proper persons to try these people, as there will be many that can witness to the proceedings of our enemy, and are not in ability to go abroad.


"From your most obedient, humble servant, JOHN HARPER, Colo.


" P. S. The people here are so confused that they do not know how to proceed. I therefore would beg the favor of your honorable body to ap- point such men as are strangers in these parts.


" To the honorable, the council of safety, at Kingston."


In the fall of the same year, the following advertisement was published :


" Advertisement .- This is to give notice to all persons, that the Commit- tee of Schoharie have Resolved that nobody shall sell anything to disaffect- ed persons, and especially to such persons as buy and send it to the Scotch settlements [on the Charlotte and Susquehanna rivers;] and if any person does it, we shall seize it.


By order of the Committee,


JOHANNES BALL, Ch'n. "Schoharie, Nov. 24th, 1777."


A fort was erected near Middleburgh in the fall of 1777, by citizens and soldiers, the former drawing the timber and the latter assisting in putting it in its proper place. It was known during the Revolution as the Middle Fort. It consisted of an inclosure by pickets of about three quarters of an acre of ground, with block-houses in the north-east and south-west corners, where cannon were mounted. The principal entrance was on the south side, and on each side of the gate were bar- racks for the soldiers. The pickets were about a foot in diame- ter and ten feet high, with loop holes from which to fire on in- vaders. Along the east and west sides were huts in which the citizens deposited their most valuable effects and took refuge in times of danger.


The Upper Fort was about five miles further up and on the opposite side of the river. It was commenced the same fall as


78


SCHOHARIE COUNTY.


the Middle Fort, and completed the next summer. It consist- ed of an inclosure like the preceeding, picketed on one side, and on the others were breastworks, eight or ten feet high, com- posed of earth and timber, and wide enough on the top for a wagon to be drawn. A ditch surrounded the fort thus con- structed. Military barracks and huts for citizens were within the inclosure, as well as block-houses and sentry-boxes.


The Lower Fort was erected about the same time and was situated about a mile north of the Court House. The old stone church, still standing in the cemetery, was inclosed with about half an acre of ground, by strong pickets. Block houses were erected in the north-east and south-west corners, mount- ing small cannon. Along the west side of the inclosure were huts of rough boards for the protection of the families living in the vicinity, and here they deposited their most valuable effects and fled for protection in time of danger.


The Middle Fort was the headquarters during the war, and usually the residence of the principal commandant of all three.


A battle was fought at Cobleskill, on the first of June 1778, between the Americans under Capt. Patrick, and the Tories and Indians, under Brant. The enemy is said to have number- ed 350, while the Americans were less than fifty, twenty- two of whom were killed, including Capt. Patrick. All of the houses in the settlement except one, were plundered and burnt after the engagement, ten in all, with about the same number of barns and outbuildings.


In July, Lieut .- Col. Wm. Butler, with three companies of riflemen from Morgan's Corps, and the 4th Pennsylvania Regi- ment, was placed in command of the Middle Fort. Among these were some of the most distinguished marksmen of the war, including Lieut. Thomas Boyd, Timothy Murphy, David Elerson, William Leek, Wm. Lloyd, Sergt. John Wilber, Joseph Evans, Philip Hoever, Elijah Hendricks, John Garsaway and Derrick Haggidorn. Early in October 1777, Col. Butler pro- ceeded with troops under his command to Unadilla and Oqua- go, Indian towns on the Susquehanna, which he destroyed, with large quantities of provisions. The troops suffered greatly in this expedition, being obliged to carry their provisions on their backs, and frequently to ford creeks and rivers, and at night lie down without covering or the means of keeping their arms dry. The expedition was absent sixteen days. A regiment of New York State troops, under Col. Dubois, went into winter quarters at Schoharie in the fall of 1778. Adjutant Dodge, Major Rosencrans, Capt. Stewart and Ensign Johnson were quartered in the kitchen of the chairman of the Committee of Safety.


79


SCHOHARIE COUNTY.


On the 9th of August, 1778, a party of seventy-three In- dians and five Tories, commanded by Brant, invaded Vroo- mansland, near the Upper Fort, killing five and taking thirty prisoners. They burnt nine dwellings and the barns and bar- racks stored with grain, and took away ninety good horses.


In the latter part of September 1780, Sir John Johnson left Niagara with a force of five hundred British and Tories, and proceeded to the Susquehanna, where he was joined by Brant with several hundred Indians, for the purpose of invading the valleys of the Schoharie and Mohawk. They proceeded up Charlotte River, thence to Panther Creek, and down that stream near its mouth, where they encamped on the evening of October 18th. It was the intention of Johnson to resume his march so early in the morning as to pass the Upper Fort unobserved and make an attack on the Middle Fort, surprise and capture it, which would cause the surrender of the other two which were more feebly garrisoned. The troops were not set in motion as early as intended, and while crossing the river near the Upper Fort, they were discovered and the alarm gun fired. The Fort was in command of Capt. Jacob Hager, with about one hun- dred men. He sent a party to the river, who captured an In- dian who lagged behind his fellows. The Middle Fort was un- der the command of Major Woolsey, a Continental officer, who proved himself utterly unworthy of the trust committed to him. The Fort was garrisoned by about 350 troops, among whom were Col. Vrooman, Lieut. Col. Zielie, and Major Thomas Ecker of the same regiment. The firing of the alarm guns was the signal for the enemy to apply the incendiary torch. Most of the inhabitants were at the forts where they usually lodged. A party of volunteers were sent out and had a slight skirmish with the advance of the enemy near Middleburgh. The wind was blowing so that these men left their hats at the Fort and tied handkerchiefs over their heads. Johnson had a small mor- tar and a six-pounder brass cannon, with which he commenced the bombardment of the Fort, the small arms at the same time keeping up a continuous fire. The firing continued for some time, when it suddenly ceased and a white flag was seen to leave the ranks of the enemy and advance towards the Fort. Major Woolsey gave orders that the flag should be received, but Tim- othy Murphy and David Elerson, for whose scalps an extra price had been offered, determined that before the flag should enter the Fort one or the other of them would shoot Woolsey. As the flag drew near, Murphy fired upon it, with no intention of killing its bearer, but to warn him not to approach nearer. The flag was immediately returned. Woolsey was absent when the flag was fired upon, but immediately returned with pistol in




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.