USA > New York > Dutchess County > Pine Plains > History of Little Nine Partners of North East precinct, and Pine Plains, New York, Duchess county, Vol. I > Part 8
USA > New York > Dutchess County > North East > History of Little Nine Partners of North East precinct, and Pine Plains, New York, Duchess county, Vol. I > Part 8
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DERICK JANSEN, Chairman.
"Hostages-George Fandle, Jerry Wheeler, John Lyke, William Merri- field, Ulric Streble, Teunis Snyder, Christopher Hoghadone, Nicholas Wheeler, Hendrick, Smith, Jun., Johannes Dings, Arent Decker, Daniel McIntire, Thos. Henderson, Jacob Teethrick."
"Arnout Vielie of Livingston Manor," mentioned in the foregoing pro- ceedings, having gained great notoriety in this business, was tried by a court martial sitting in Albany on the preceding May 21, 1777. The court was called by order of Brigadier General TenBrceck and consisted of Col. Stephen J. Schuyler, President; Colonels, Anthony Van Bergen, Jacobus Van Schoonhoven, Peter Vroman and William B. Whiting; Lieut. Colonels, Philip P. Schuyler, John H. Beekman, Henry K. VanRenseslaer, James Gordon and Cornelius Van Vechten; Majors, Flores Banker, Isaac Goes, Jacob Ford, Andrew Mitchel, Abraham Cuyler, John Van Rensselaer; Cap- tains, John N. Bleeker, Andries Douw, Abraham Oothout and Caleb Bent- ley. Lieut. Col. Richard Varick, Judge Advocate.
"The charge against Velie was " you Arnout Velie stand charged for that you being a member of the state of New York, protected by the laws. thereof and owing allegiance thereto, on the 28th day of April last past,
[NOTE .- The Dings family was one of the earliest settlers, and lived on the present Col. Silvernail farm about three miles north of Pine Plains village. The Dings house stood nearly opposite the present Silvernail dwelling, a few rods northward and on the opposite side of the road .- I. H.]
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and at divers other days and times, both before and after and since the 16th day of July, 1776, at the Manor of Livingston in the county of Albany. did wickedly, traitorously and treasonably, contrary to your allegiance aforesaid, levy war against the said state within the same, by enlisting many of the subjects of the said state, into the service of the King of Great Brit- ain, then and now in actual war against the said state within the same and by swearing divers persons the subjects of the said state to bear faith and true allegiance to the said King of Great Britain, and to defend his erown and dignity, thereby adhering to the King of Great Britain and others the enemies of the said state within the same, giving them aid and comfort contrary to the resolutions of the said state."
Vielie confessed to the swearing of several persons to the oaths of se- crecy and allegiance to the King, but plead not guilty to the charge of en- listing men. The oath of secrecy was: "I, A. B., do swear to keep secret all that you shall say or read to me, and not to reveal the same to blood relations or any person whatsoever. So help me God." The oath of allegiance was: "I, A. B., do swear to be true to King George, and serve him honestly and faithfully in defense of his person, erown and dig- nify against all his enemies in America or opposers whatsoever, to keep seeret and to observe and obey the orders of my superior officers that shall be issued from time to time. So help me God."
The trial lasted several days, in which several prominent men in the Manor for and against were witnesses. After hearing all the evidence the court pronounced "the prisoner guilty of all the charges exhibited against him and do sentence him to suffer death." This was endorsed "Confirmed to be hanged" by the Council of Safety at Kingston, to which the findings of the court martial were referred. An earnest and pathetie appeal to the Council for the remission of his sentence signed by ninety-eight influential men and patriots in Albany County under dateof June 24, 1777, is endorsed "rejected."
Vielie was not twenty one, not well educated, yet could read English and translate it into Dutch. His parents were dead and he had two sisters. Probably the Council deemed it wise to cheek the tory element in Living- ston Manor in permitting his execution. Nearly all the prisoners tried at this court martial were from Livingston's Manor and the "Manor of Rense- laerwyck." War and sentiment that year were incompatible.
CLASS MONEY.
In an old docket of Justice Jonathan Landon, of NorthEast Precinct- an extremely interesting historical document, which by permission was taken from a lot of "worthless" papers in an old chest of the Landon descendants and preserved by Mr. Silas I. Deuel, of Pine Plains-are the following entries :
" Abraham Hartwell vs. Aaron Dolph, Amos Evart, Benjamin Blan- cher, Daniel Baker. June 7, 1781. Warrant for Class Money.
THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
" George Wait vs. Martin Adsit, January 21, 1182. Plaintiff declares for ? s. 6 p. class money. On trial by jury verdict for defendant.
"John Copeland vs. Samuel Crandle, April, 1783. Plaintiff declares for 5 bushels of wheat and 5 s. in money, and Damages in Prosecution for Class Money.
"John Copeland vs. John Crandle. Plaintiff declares for the sum of ten bushels and one-half of wheat for himself and two sons, Class Wheat. Paid 28 April, 1783." _ What is class money or class wheat ?
To raise troops for the "Defence of the Frontier of this state" the legislature passed special acts in 1781, 2 and 3, and amendments to the same. arranging the army into classes to receive bounty monies and un- appropriated lands, which were given to those procuring enlistments and to those enlisting. It caused discontent and trouble in its application in many ways, for the first two years-'81 and '82-and in fact was not exempt from difficulties at the last. Suits were instituted under the acts of each year, but the one passed February 21, 1783, was the one most prolific of suits for class money and its equivalent in wheat and other barter.
The first act for the "defence of the state" was passed March 20, 1781; at the fourth session of the legislature of the state. The officers and men under this act were to receive bounties of unappropriated land as follows :
"Lieutenant Colonel and Major each four rights, a captain and a sur- geon each three rights, a lieutenant, ensign and surgeon's mate each two rights, and each non-commissioned officer and private one right, and that each right shall consist of five hundred acres." These lands were to be granted by the legislature as soon as a survey could be made after the ex- piration of the time of service, and sixty-one rights collectively in one location should be laid out in a township seven miles square, including one reserve right for "the support of the gospel and the remaining three In- (red and sixty acres for the use of a school in such township." One pro- vision of this act was that any man soliciting another to enlist could take a transfer of the rights of the man so enlisted.
March 23, 1782, at the fifth session of the legislature a supplementary act to the above was passed, as the former act did not "complete the said regiments to their full establishment." These two acts had reference prin- (ipally to "class rights" in "bounty lands."
The third act of February 21, 1783, at the sixth session, gave the gov- ernor power, at his discretion, to call out six hundred men for eight months, the men to be selected from a list, made by the captains in the regiments, of persons sixteen years and upwards, within each of their re- spective beats. The men so enrolled were to be divided into classes by a board of regimental and field officers, each class to consist of so many men as the governor shall direct. From the classes so arranged men were to be- drawn to fill the draft, an assessment being made on the whole class for
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the bounty and expenses of the men so drawn from it, and "if any person refusing to pay the sum assessed upon him shall not be possessed of goods and chattels whereof the same can be levied, the said commanding officer shall by warrant under his hand be directed to any sergeant of the regi- ment cause such person to be committed to the gaol of the county, there to remain without bail or mainprise until the sum so assessed upon him shall be paid to the commanding officer of the regiment."
The act further declares, which clause is probably the one on which the suits for "class money" and "bounty money" were brought, "that whenever any person or persons belonging to any class shall procure a man for the same at his or their own proper expense, to serve in such troops, and all the persons composing such class cannot agree for the mode of ap- portionment of such sum, the assessors of the district where the major part of such class shall reside, or any two or more of them, shall and may apportion the sum paid, as and for a bounty to such man, and assess the persons comprising such class agreeable to their circumstances and abili- ties, and that the assessment or apportionment so to be made in pursuance of this law shall upon suit to be commenced for the recovery of any part of such bounty before any justice of the peace of the county who is hereby authorized to take cognizance thereof, be deemed conclusive evidence to entitle the plaintiff to receive the sum assessed with costs of suit against the defendant, in which suit a jury shall be granted in manner aforesaid if required and execution shall by the said justice be forthwith granted accordingly."
The suits referred to were evidently money and wheat borrowed to pay class assessments. Class rights and bounty rights were transferable, and became the subject of special legislative enactment for several years. The commanding officers made returns to the governor for all class and bounty monies, which were filed in the United States treasury, and were credited to the state in the final settlement of the general expense of the war.
How class rights were sustained by the legislature is seen in a special aet passed as late as April 4, 1803.
"Whereas it appears that there remain deposited in the surveyor gen- eral's office class rights, the property of Peter Edmund Elmendorph, which, while the laws authorizing locations were in force, entitled him to to locate and receive a grant of three hundred and forty acres of unappro- priated land, but which has not been granted, Therefore, Be it enacted by the people of the state of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly ; that the commissioners of the land office be and they are hereby authorized to grant unto the said Peter Edmund Elmendorph his heirs and assigns the said quantity of three hundred and forty acres of vacant land in the east-
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ern district of this state not otherwise appropriated or reserved for special purposes by law ; Provided that all the expenses of the survey thereof, and the other incidental expenses that may arise thereon shall be paid by the said Peter Edmund Elmendorph."
UNSETTLED REVOLUTIONARY WAR CLAIMS.
For several years after the close of the revolutionary war, petitions for payment of services were presented to the legislature at every session. One instance will serve to show their character. It is reported in the assen - bly journal.
"Monday, February 18, 1793. Mr. Niles from the committee to whom was referred the petition of Hugh Montgomery and others praying a pro- vision for the payment of their services for one month as levies in a regi- ment commandod by Morris Graham in the time of the late war, reported that the claim of the petitioners may be good against the United States, but not against this state, and that therefore the prayer of the petitioners ought not to be granted."
PROSPECTING FOR LEAD IN NORTHI EAST PRECINCT IN 1776.
At the commencement of the war, in 1776, the question of lead for bullets and other purposes, was an important one, and efforts were made to develop a mine at the present Shacameco, where traces of lead had been discovered. According to instructions from the Provincial Congress at New York through its committee, John MeDonald, a miner from Scotland, on the 25th day of June, 1775, commenced working that mine. Moses Harris had been prospecting in that locality and given information in re- gard to this mine, he having examined the diggings which were made several years previous. Indeed mining had been done there in 1740 by some Hollanders, Van Hook and Tiebout, who sent the ore to Bristol in England and Amsterdam in Holland, which assayed 45 ounces of silver and 80 ounces of copper to the ton. (Mathers' Geological Report.)
In March, 1776, MeDonald examined the locality and made a report subscribed before Jonathan Landon, a justice of the peace in North East Precinet, which was presented to the Provincial Congress or Convention sitting then in New York. At that convention a committee on "Lead, Sulphur and Flint" was appointed consisting of Henry Wisner, William Harper, Matthew Cantine, Jonathan Landon and Matthew Adgate, of which Mr. Adgate was chairman. From this committee MeDonald received these instructions, June 13, 1776:
"You are immediately to repair to the Nine Partners in Dutchess County, where you are to endeavor to open the pits or shafts of which John Bogart is now owner, and was formerly carried on by VanHook and Tiebout. You are to employ proper persons to assist you, not exceeding four, at the cheapest rate, and clear out the pits or shafts as soon as possi-
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ble, and as soon as you have cleared out the same, you are immediately to repair to New York, unless you receive other directions from us or the Provincial Congress, or some person whom we shall send or the Provincial Congress.'
Accompanying these instructions to McDonald was this letter addressed to Col. Lewis Graham and Jonathan Laudon, who were then residents of North East Precinct, and living at the present Pine Plains.
"By order of the Congress we send up McDonald, a miner, to clear out the pits or shafts of which VanHook and Tiebout formerly carried on. You will please to give him what assistance you can in employing hands, not exceeding four, the pay for which the Congress will allow."
Thus prepared John McDonald commenced work June 25, 1776, on the hill or knoll near the present Shacameco depot. After clearing the pits of the "rubbish" with difficulty on account of the water, he reports July 16, 1776.
"In the first pit discovered a small quantity of lead in three different places, about two inches in diameter lying about five foot distant, not in a continued vein. The bottom is free from any prospect. The second pit is more likely by the appearance of the spar, and found lead in four places, about two or three inches in diameter, six foot distant, not containing a continued vein. The bottom is entirely void of the appearance of mines. Both pits are not worthy of pursuing at present unless further promising discoveries be made. To-morrow am going to clear the pit of 50 feet deep, and another small pit, by order of Mr. Thompson, which I shall finish with all convenient speed and immediately thereafter shall repair for New York and transmit the full account of my proceedings, unless 1 receive further instructions. The truth of this small report, etc., Mr. Lan- don will describe more at large to you.
JOHN MCDONALD, Miner."
Ezra Thompson, who then lived at the "Federal Square," was superin- tendent, acting in conjunction with Jonathan Landon, one of the commit- tee on Lead, Sulphur and Flint. Thompson meantime had furnished McDonald these tools: one iron mail hammer, two shovels, two iron picks, four iron wedges, one broad faced ax, one inch auger, one hand saw, ten fathom of rope with an iron hook, one windlass wheel for draw- ing rubbish from pits, two buckets eighteen inches deep, with iron hoops and handles. Mr. Thompson reports one hundred and nine days labor up to this time, and has advanced seven pounds, eleven shillings and six pence. "Mr. McDonald's behavior," he writes, "was very agreeable to all his neighbors."
August 17, 1776, McDonald made another report. After repeating in part the labor performed in the first report, he writes: "Thirdly, beginning to the southwest, about the middle of said hill, there cleared two pits which appeared equal in quantity and quality agreeable to the situation of the
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THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
first and last pit cleared at the aforesaid northeast end of the hill. The vein of spar appears three inches broad, and where Mr. Harris undertook to make an advantageous discovery, have digged eighteen foot length and ebout three foot deep. There I found a vein of ore containing two inches broad at which spent four days and raised near three or four hundred weight of lead ore; but it appears to be sometimes decreasing and increas- ing, which being the usual case in the former trials done. I remarked that it is possible to procure a little quantity of ore in each vein or branches in this bounds. Therefore if your honors incline to prosecute peradven- ture in expectation to fall into a body, the method is to open and search the ground where it is supposed such do most frequently lie, as I have in my former report described at large the dimension and situation of mine hill. I'll proceed no further concerning adventuring for public purpose, but leave it to your honors' serious consideration.
JOHN MCDONALD, Miner."
At this time, or soon thereafter, he abandoned mining in pits and com menced in another place to the northeast near the present highway bridge This was in accordance to the instructions by the committee, who sent him back after making his last report, to make further examination. Of this change in location he makes this report Oct. 16, 1776:
"To explore into a further discovery of the lead mine, in compliance with the request, have conducted chiefly where my judgment in mining had an expectation of meeting with the best promising appearances accor- ding to the limited space appointed to explore the mines, which within forty-two rods to the northeast end of the hill, there opened thirty foot in length and in some places digged three foot deep and in other places have sunk six foot. The depth in general is six foot, and breadth thereof three foot. There discovered a vein about two or three inches breadth, which decreases and increases. In there raised fifteen hundred weight of ore, when sufficiently dressed for sale or smeiting, and that is my positive estimation.
He recommends a further trial and refers the committee to Col. Lewis Graham and Jonathan Landon, who inspected the work. When the committee received this report they were holding a session at Fishkill. Oct. 16, 1776, and "taking the same into consideration thereon agreed with the said John McDonald, miner, to pursue the exploring said mine, and for that purpose made an agreement with him."
This agreement, entered into October 16, 1776, stipulates " that he, the said John McDonald, shall sink the lead mme which he has lately opened, in the Great Nine Partners in Dutchess County, twelve feet in depth from its present state, and extend the same thirty feet in length and three feet in breadth, in such direction as he shall think best to pursue the vein and carefully separate the ore from the rubbish and deliver the same to the
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HISTORY OF PINE PLAINS
order of this convention." He was to furnish everything, report once a month, and to receive ten pounds for every six feet in depth, six feet in length, and three feet in breadth, which he shall sink in said mine.
November 16th following, according to contract, he reports: "When at my entry Mr. Ezra Thompson here measured twenty four feet in length from west to east, which course being and are the inclination of the veins, and perfectly appeared to be the most promising prospect to work. There wrought and blasted the rocks with the men I employed until the veins beeame mixed with different kinds of ngly rocks, which brought to disap- pear yielding any quantity worthy of pursuing to advantage, and I therefore prosecuted into several veins going to the southward, cross from the said dimensions, and therein digged out about seventy six weight of ore during the driving about three feet in length, ten and a half feet in depth and twelve feet in breadth, and at conclusion of the same, ore almost disappeared. At my pursuit in the said thirty-four feet length from west to east raised about twenty-six weight of ore. The nearest estimation of the lead ore is nine hundred weight." He lays out some plansfor "driving a level, sinking, cross eutting and raising," which will involve an outlay of six thousand pounds, and writes the present manner of prospecting will not "elear the tenth part of working."
This report was read to the committee at a session in Fishkill Dec. 6, 1776 and it was thereupon
"Resolved, That this committed will not prosecute the exploring the lead mine in the Great Nine Partners any further and ordered that the let- ter No. 5 be sent by the chairman to said MeDonald, miner." Letter No. 5 was written by the chairman, Mr. Adgate to McDonald notifying him of the action of the committee, requesting him to meet the committee at Fishkill and to bring a certificate from Ezra Thompson of the amount of excavation under the last contraet. Mr. Thompson's certificate is dated Dec. 3, 1776, and reads :
" According to your orders of the 1st Dec. 1776, I have measured the work done by McDonald and his workmen sinee his last agreement with you and the committee appointed to explore mines in this state, viz. : he sunk from the west to the east five feet depth, and extended the same twenty-four feet in length and three feet in breadth. He also had sunk from northeast to the southwest eleven feet in depth and extended the same two and a half feet in length and twelve feet in breadth. The above elifferent measures are as exact as I could make. By agreement McDonald was to dig one hundred and eighty cubic feet for ten pounds. He has dug six hundred and ninety cubic feet, which, at the rate of ten pounds for one hundred and eighty, amounts to sixty-three pounds, seven shillings and nine penee.
EZRA THOMPSON."
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THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
The committee met again at the same place Dec. 9, 1776, when McDon ald laid before them the certificate of Mr. Thompson.
"Ordered, That the chairman of the committee pay the same and take said Mr. McDonald's receipt therefor. To enable the payment of McDonald account,
Resolved, That the chairman draw from the treasurer the sum of one hundred dollars, a part of the money allowed this committee.
Ordered, That the chairman sign and send the letter to Ezra Thompson, Esq."
In April, 1777, Ezra Thompson and Jonathan Landon, as superinten- dents, applied to this committee for settlement for their services. The committee referred their account to the Committee of Safety, who ordered the Committee on Lead, Sulphur and Flints to audit the account and pay it out of the public money.
McDonald, in the following April, 1777, met the Committee on Lead, Etc., then setting at Kingston, N. Y., who sent him to explore a mine at Rochester, Ulster Co., and report a plan for working it, for which he was allowed eight shillings a day and subsistence. He returned and made his report to the committee at Kingston, April 18th, 1777, whereupon they employed him to "clear the pit" at Rochester, at the same time giving him an order on Ezra Thompson for the tools at the Great Nine Partner mine. This order read as follows :
" Kingston, April 18th, 1777.
Mr. Thompson, Sir .- You will deliver the mining tools now in your custody to John McDonald, taking his receipt for their delivery. You will be so good as to assist McDonald in getting a carriage for removing said tools. McDonald will pay for the same. By order of the Committee for exploring mines, Etc.
MAT. ADGATE, Chairman."
This was the final act of the government at the lead mines in the Great Nine Partners, as it was then called.
These mines thus became historic and lay dormant until 1853, when Ward W. Bryan, being the owner of the farm containing them, a mining company was formed in New York for prospecting. William H. Hughes, August 29th, 1853, in behalf of the company, took a lease for twelve years, with the privilege of renewal at its expiration for another terni. Mr. Bryan was to receive "ten per cent. of all minerals so mined and quarried by the party of the second part." Under this lease Hughes worked about two years, prospecting, sinking shafts, and other ways, blasting with powder, using ordinary mining tools. About five tons were raised and shipped to New York. Hughes left suddenly, without explana- tion or promise of return. The mystery was some time after brought to.
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light in this way. Michael Rowe, better known as "Captain Mike" was a co-laborer with Hughes. In sinking a shaft a vein of uncommon purity and richness was discovered, when Hughes enjoined secrecy upon his companion, and left By the terms of the lease, if work was suspended for eight successive months it was forfeited. This had occurred since Hughes' departure and very soon after Hughes made application to Mr. Bryan for a lease of the property in his own name. The terms were agreed upon, the lease written and ready to sign, when Hughes died suddenly. He was found dead in his bed in New York city. Whether the "find" as reported by his companion is there is not known. Rowe did not disclose the "find" until after the death of Hughes.
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