USA > New York > Fulton County > History of Montgomery and Fulton counties, N.Y. : with illustrations and portraits of old pioneers and prominent residents > Part 13
USA > New York > Montgomery County > History of Montgomery and Fulton counties, N.Y. : with illustrations and portraits of old pioneers and prominent residents > Part 13
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In the spring of 1756 measures were taken for fortifying the portages between Schenectady and Oswego, by way of the Mohawk, Wood Creek. Oneida lake, and the Oswego River, with a view to keeping open com- munication between Albany and the fort at Oswego. The latter was in danger of being taken by the French, but the English authorities, though warned of the fact, took hut tardy and ineffectual measures to defend the post. A few days before it was actually invested Gen. Webb, a man of small ability and courage, was sent with a regiment to reinforce the garri- son; and Sir William Johnson, with two battalions of militia and a body of Indians, shortly followed him. Before Webb reached Oneida Lake, how- ever, he was informed that the beleagured post had surrendered, and fled down the Mohawk to the German Flats, where he met Johnson's force. The fort at Oswego was demolished by the French, greatly to the satisfat - tion of most of the Iroquois, who had always regarded it with alarm, and who now made treaties with the victory; and the Mohawk valley, exposed to the enemy, was ranged by scalping parties of Canadian savages.
The Mohawks, however, through the influence of Sir William Johnson. remained faithful to the English. The Baronet, with a view to counteract the impression made upon the Six Nations by the French successes, sun- moned them to meet him in council at Fort Johnson, in June, 1756.
37
FRENCH AND INDIAN MASSACRE IN THE MOHAWK VALLEY.
Previous to their assembling an adverse circumstance occurred which rendered negotiations at once more necessary and less hopeful. A party of Mohawks, while loitering around Fort Hunter, became involved in a quarrel with some soldiers of the garrison, resulting in several of the Indians being severely wounded. Revengeful feelings possessed the minds of the tribe, but Johnson succeeded in pacifying them, and winning over the Oneidas and Tuscaroras to the English interest. In the beginning of August Sir William led a party of Indian warriors and militia to the relief of Fort William Henry, at the head of Lake George, which was besieged by Montcalm; but on reaching Fort Edward his progress was arrested by the cowardice of Gen. Webb, who was there in command, and who used his superior authority to leave the beseiged fortress to its fate, which was a speedy surrender. The provincials, thoroughly disgusted by the disasters incurred through the incompetency and cowardice of their English officers, now deserted in great numbers; and while this was the case it was not to be expected that the fickle warriors of the Six Nations would remain faithful.
Soon after the capture of Fort William Henry rumors gained circulation that a large force of French and Indians was preparing to invade the settlements on the Mohawk. The Palatines who had settled on the Burnetsfield Patent were evidently most exposed; and feeling but poorly protected by what fortifications there were among them, they were several times during the Autumn on the point of deserting their dwelling, and removing to settlements farther down the river which were better defended. The rumors, however, seeming to prove groundless, they became embold- ened, and finally neglected all precautions against an attack. Meanwhile, an expedition of about three hundred Canadian French and Indians, under command of one Belletre, penetrated the northern wilderness by way of Black River, and at three o'clock in the morning of November 12, the Palatine village, containing sixty dwellings and four block houses, was surrounded, and the inhabitants aroused to a sense of their situation by the horrid war whoop, which was the signal of attack. The invaders rushed upon the block houses. At the first they were received with an active fire of musketry, but the little garrison was soon appalled, as mach by the blood-curdling yells of the Indians, as the more serious demonstra- tions of the French. The Mayor of the village, who was in command, opened the door and called for quarter. The garrisons of the other block-houses followed his example. These feeble defences, with all the other buildings in the settlement were then fired, and the wretched iomates of the dwellings, in attempting to escape from the flames were tomahawked and scalped. About forty of the Germans were thus massa- cred, and more than one hundred persons, men, women and children, were carried into captivity by the marauders as they retired laden with booty. This they did not do, however, until they had destroyed a large amount of grain and provisions, and as Belletre reported, slaughtered three thousand cattle, as many sheep, and fifteen hundred horses-figures, doubtless, grossly exaggerated.
Although, as soon as their infamous work was consummated, the raiders hastily withdrew in the direction of their approach, the whole Mohawk valley was thrown into the wildest panic, which the distressed condition and heartrending narratives of women and children who had escaped the massacre, served to intensify. The inhabitants of the remaining Mohawk settlements hastened to send their effects to Albany and Schenectady, with the intention of following them; and for a time the upper towns were threatened with entire desertion. The Palatine settlement on the south side of the Mohawk, near the ore whose destruction has been related, was similarly visited in April, 1758. The militia under Sir William Johnson rendezvoused at Canajoharie to resist this last invasion, but the enemy withdrew, and did not afterward appear in force in this quarter. About this time Johnson, with some three hundred Indian warnors, chiefly Mohawks, joined Abercrombie's expedition against Crown Point. The disastrous repulse and retreat of Abercrombie's force, with the expectation that it would be followed up by the victorious enemy, renewed the worst fears throughout the Mohawk valley, which for once were not realized
In spite of this disaster, the successes of the English elsewhere during 1758 made so favorable an impression on the Six Nations, that Sir William Johnson was enabled to bring nearly a thousand warriors to join Gen. Prideaux's expedition against Niagara, in the following summer, which the Baronet conducted to a successful issue after Prideaux's death by the accidental explosion of a shell. Sir William, in 1760, led thirteen hundred Iroquois warriors in General Amherst's expedition against Mon. treal, which extinguished the French power in North America.
CHAPTER V.
THE MOHAWK VALLEY IN 1757-GROWTH OF POPULATION-CIVILIZING THE SAVAGES-CREATION OF TRYON COUNTY.
The settlement of the Mohawk valley previous to the conquest of Canada progressed but slowly. A description of the country given by a French authority in 1757, furnishes the following interesting representa- tion of the state of things at that date, in the present territory of Mont- gomery county, after mentioning that the road was "good for all sorts of carriages," from Fort Kouari, about opposite the mouth of West Canada Creek, in the town of German Flats, Herkimer County, to Fort Cannat- chocari, which was at the upper Mohawk castle, in the town of Danube, and same county, and was a stockade fifteen feet high, and one hundred paces square :
"From Fort Cannatchocari to Fort Hunter, is about 12 leagues; the road is pretty good; carriages pass over it; it continues along the banks of the Mohawk river. About a hundred houses, at greater or less distance from one another we found within this length of road. There are some situated also about half a league in the interior. The inhabitants ot this section are Germans, who compose a company of about roo men each.
"Fort Hunter is situated on the borders of the Monawk river, and is of the same form as that of Cannatchocari, with the exception that it is twice as large. There is likewise a house at each curtain. The cannon at each bastion are from 7 to 9 pounders. The pickets of this fort are higher than those of Cannatchocari. There is a church or temple in the middle of the fort; in the interior of the fort are also some thirty cabins of Mohawk Indians, which is the most considerable village. This fort, like that of Cannatchocari, has no ditch; there's only a large swing door at the entrance.
"Leaving Fort Hunter, a creek [Schoharie] is passed, at the mouth of which that fort is located. It can be forded and crossed in batteaux in summer, and on the ice in winter. There are some houses outside under the protection of the fort, in which the country people seek shelter when they fear or learn that an Indian or French war party is in the field.
" From Fort Hunter to Chenectedi or Corlar is seven leagnes. The public carriage way continues along the right bank of the Mohawk river. About 20 to 30 houses are found within this distance separated the one from the other from about a quarter to half a league. The inhabitants of this section are Dutch. They form a company with some other inhabit- ants on the left bank of the Mohawk river, about 600 men strong."
The above having sketched the south bank of the Mohawk, the writer, beginning at the west, thus describes the corresponding distance on the north bank :
"After fording Canada creek, we continue along the left bank of the Mohawk river and high road, which is passable for carts, for twelve leagues, to Col. Johnson's mansion. In the whole of this distance the soil is very good. About five hundred houses are erected at a distance one from the other. The greatest number of those on the bank of the river are built of stone, and those at a greater distance from the river in the interior are about half a league off ; they are new settlements, built of wood.
"There is not a fort in the whole of this distance of 12 leagues. There is but one farmer's house, built of stone, that is somewhat fortified and surrounded with pickets. It is situate on the banks of the river, three leagues from where the Canada creek empties into the Mohawk river. The inhabitants of this country are Germans. They form four companies of too men each.
"Col. Johnson's mansion is situated on the border of the left bank of the river Mohawk ; it is three stories high, built of stone. with portholes crenelees and a parapet, and flanked with four bastions, on which are some small guns. In the same yard, on both sides of the mansion, there are two small houses. That on the right of the entrance is a store, and that on the left is designed for workmen, negroes and other domestics. The yard-gate is a heavy swing gate, well ironed ; it is on the Mohawk river side ; from this gate to the river there is about 200 paces of level ground. The high road passes there. A small rivulet coming from the north empties itself into the Mohawk river about 200 paces below the enclosure of the yard. On this stream there is a mill about 50 paces dis. tant from the house ; below the mill is the miller's house, where grain and flour are stored ; and on the other side of the creek, 100 paces from the mill, is a barn in which cattle and fodder are kept. One hundred ard
38
THE HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
fifty paces from Col. Johnson's mansion, at the north side, on the left bank of the little creek, is a little hill on which is a small house with port holes, where is ordinarily kept a guard of honour of some twenty men, which serves also as an advanced post.
" From Col. Johnson's house to Chenectedi is counted seven leagues ; the road is good, all sorts of vehicles pass over it. About twenty houses are found from point to point on this road. *
* In the whole coun- try of the Mohawk river there are nine companies of militia under Col. Johnson ; eight only remain, that of the village of the Palatines being no longer in existence, the greater part having been defeated by M. de Belle- tre's detachment. Col. Johnson assembles these companies when he has news of any expedition which may concern the Mohawk river."
-
The French war had involved the government of New York so deeply in debt that direct taxation was necessitated. Part of a tax list under a warrant sent by the Albany county commissioners to " Mr. John Fonda, Collector for Mohawks," in the summer of 1764, is extant, and reads as follows .
VALUA- TION.
ASSESS.
VALUA- TION.
ASSESS.
Sir Wm. Johnson, £167 £20 17 6 ; Peter Young,
£13 £1 12 6 1 12 6
Margrit Flipse.
2.4
3
John Nukerk,
13
Marte Van O'Linda, 21
2 12 6
Hans Klyn,
1 3
I 12 6
Lewis Groat, 20
2 TO
Daniel Clas,
I
5
Davit Pruyn,
20
2 10
Guy Johnson,
10
I
5
Isaac D. Graf,
18
2
5
John Have,
TO
I
5
Hans Antes, 17
2
2 6 | Jacob Potman,
10 1
5
James McMaster, 16
2
Clas D. Graf,
9
I
2
Harme Vedder,
16
2
Harmanis Mabe,
9
1
2
Wouter Swart,
16
2
Cor's Potman,
9
T
z 6
John Johnson, 91
2
Cor's Nukerk,
9
1 2 6 -
The apprehension and dread of French invasion being removed, the tide of emigration flowed more rapidly into the Mohawk valley ; and the gloom and desolation that had fallen upon the advanced settlements gave way before the promise of a prosperous future. For the improvement of his vast estate Sir William Johnson was active in settling families on the north side of the river. He built a summer residence within the present town of Broadalbin, Fulton County, which was known as Castle Cumber- land ; and at the same time a rustic lodge on the Sacondaga river, a few miles west, which was afterwards called the Fish House. In 1762 he more fully identified himself with the development of his estate north of the river by building and occupying Johnson Hall, at the settlement subse- quently named from him Johnstown. Much of his time and attention was taken up with Indian affairs. Various plans were devised by him for christianizing and educating the Six Nations by the introduction of churches and schools among them. He interested himself especially in the elevation of the Mohawks, several of whose young men were sent to the Moor Charity School, at Lahanon, Conn., under the direction of the Rev. Dr. Wheelock. It is to be hoped that most of them gave a better account of their opportunities than their school fellow, Joseph Brant, whose name was in after years a terror throughout the Mohawk valley, which he and his savage followers swept with fire and tomahawk.
In the summer of 1763 Sir William Johnson had to exert himself to prevent the Six Nations from joining the league of the western tribes which had been effected by Pontiac, chief of the Ottawa confederacy, for the ex- pulsion of the English, in whose occupancy of the country he forsaw the doom of his race. Without neutrality, at least on the part of the Iroquois, there was no safety for the frontier settlements. Even with an assurance of their neutrality, which Sir William obtained from all but the Senecas, it was deemed expedient to order out the militia, who were sent in compa- nies to the frontier posts, while friendly Indians served as scouts, and ranged the forests from Lake Champlain to Oswego in vigilant search for the prowling foe. Pontiac's conspiracy failed of the support he had hoped from the French; his followers deserted him before they had made the New York settlements feel the vengeance that they visited upon the far western posts.
--
Sir William Johnson thus gained opportunity for more constant efforts for civilizing the Indians. In 1767 he drew up an elaborate review of the state of Indian affairs for the English board of trade, recommending vari- ons measures for the advancement of the tribes. When a change in the location of the Moor Charity School was talked of, he endeavored to have
it removed to the Mohawk valley. He failed in this, but in 1769 he built a church expressly for the use of the Mohawks, both of the upper and lower castles. Mr. Stone quotes a letter from the Baronet to his agent in New York, in which the latter is directed "to get a ball made and gilt ; also a weathercock and all the iron work necessary to fix them, They are to be proportioned to the building, which is a wooden church now a build- ing at Canajoharie of 50 ft. long by 32 wide. Also a bell £13 to £20 in price." Mr. Stone writing in 1864' adds, " This little church is still stand- ing in the town of Danube, Herkimer County, New York; the same old bell still hangs in the belfry. Tradition states that during the Revolution this bell was carried off by the Indians, who on being pursued cast it into the Mohawk, whence it was afterwards fished out and restored to its place." At this time the Indians of the Six Nations were enjoying the services of teachers of their own race, educated by Dr. Wheelock, at the expense of Sir William Johnson.
The continual increase of population in the Mohawk valley in process of time naturally gave rise to the question of dividing the county of Al- bany, which originally occupied all but the southeastern part of the State as then bounded, including Vermont. A movement for that purpose, in 1769, failed to meet the approval of the Legislature, and was for the time abandoned. The onerons tax imposed upon the people by their being compelled to go all the way to Albany to avail themselves of the courts, however, caused the project to be revived. A second petition, suggesting an appropriate line for a division, was forwarded to the Assembly early in 1772, by Sir William Johnson, who was the principal mover in the enter- prise. The Assembly complied with the petition by the creation of a new county, embracing all of the State west of a line running due north from the Delaware river, through what is now Schoharie County, and along the eastern limits of the present counties of Montgomery, Fulton and Hamil- ton to the Canadian line. The new county was named Tryon, from the Governor of the colony. Johnstown was designated as the county seat on the toth of May, and measures for the erection of a jail and court- house were at once taken.
At the formation of Tryon county its white inhabitants were mostly settled along the Mohawk. Instead of townships, it was divided into five large districts. The most eastern district was called the Mohawk, and consisted of a strip of the State between the east line of the county already defined and a parallel line crossing the Mohawk river at the "Noses." The Stone Arabia district extended indefinitely northward from the river between the Mohawk district on the east and on the west a north and south line through the State, crossing the river at Little Falls. With the same breadth the Canajoharie district reached southward to the Pennsylvania line. North of the Mohawk river and west of the Stone Arabia district, as far as settlements extended, was the Kingsland district; while south of the river, extending westward from the Canajoharie district to the meridian of Fort Stanwix and southerly to the Pennsylvania line, was the German Flats district. On the first Tuesday in April each year, the inhabitants of each district were to elect a supervisor, and two assessors and one collec- tor of taxes. This division of districts was made March 24, 1772, the boundaries adopted being suggested by Sir William Johnson. A year later the name of the Stone Arabia district was changed to Palatine.
The creation of the new county necessitated a court and civil officers. Accordingly four judges, six assistant judges, a number of justices of the peace, a clerk and a coroner were appointed by Governor Tryon, all but the clerk being Sir William Johnson's nominees. The first court of gen- eral quarter sessions was held at Johnstown on Tuesday, September 8, 1772. The bench consisted of Guy Johnson, John Butler and l'eter Conyne, judges; Sir John Johnson, Daniel Claus, John Wells and Jelles Fonda, assistant judges; John Collins, Joseph Chew, Adam Loucks, John Frey, -- Young and Peter Ten Broeck, justices.
The first election in the county occurred pursuant to write issued November 25. 1772. Colonels Gny Johnson and Hendrick Frey were chosen to represent the county in the assembly, in which they took their seats January 11. 1773
General Johnson was at this time in command of all the militia in the province north of the Highlands. He took great pride in their soldierly appearance, and was very careful in his selection of officers. Governor Tryon in a tour of the Mohawk valley in 1772 reviewed three regiments of the militia at Johnstown, Burnet field and the German Flats respectively. numbering in all fourteen hundred men.
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-
-
00
ASSESSMENTS IN OLDEN TIMES-THE JOHNSON'S INFLUENCE PREJUDICIAL TO THE PATRIOTS. 39
Among the mass of papers left by Jelles Fonda, and now in the posses- sion of the Van Hornes of Fonda, is "a List of the persons that are assessed above five pounds, with the sums they are to pay, and the number of days they are to work upon the King's highways, annexed." Though not dated, the document is believed to have been written shortly previous to the Revolution, and furnishes a sort of limited census of the inhabitants of this region, with their relative financial standing. Many names now familiar in the same district will be recognized under the disguise which the orthography of the writer, and perhaps of the times, put upon them. The list is as follows :
PERSONS' NAMES.
QUOTA.
ANNUAL ASSESS.
NO. DAYS WORK.
ANNUAL. ASSESS,
NO. DAYS' WORK.|
John Bleven,
6
1 6 4
Adam Gardener,
1 3 3
5
Abraham Hodges,
IO
1 6
Arent Bradt,
3
5
John and Evert Van Eps,
F5
3
5
Adam Dagstader, Sen.,
18.
3
5
W'm. and Woutter Swart,
10
I
7
Fred'k Dagstader, Sen.,
20
3
5
Mary Phillipse,
1 7
3
5
John Bowen,
7
I
1
Abraham Phillipse,
6
1
William B. Bowen,
6
I
6
1
15
5
John V. Potman.
7
I
6
4
6
6
4
John Butler, Esq.,
27
5
6
Jacobus Cromwell,
15
3
5 John Nare,
3
5
Andrew Frank,
16
3
5 John and Jacob Kilts.
20
3
5
Abraham Van Alstine.
18
3
5
Conrad Linkenfelter,
3
5
·Crownidge Kincade.
O
6
Arent Potman.
1
1
John S. Vrooman,
7
I
6
4 Sir Wm. Johnson, Bart.,
1202 12
9
Adam Stenbergh,
15
3
5
Sir John Johnson, Kt.,
in
5
6
Henry and John Lewis,
6
6
4
Col. Daniel Claus,
21
5
6
Abraham Yates,
20
3
5
Col. Guy Johnson,
21
5
David and Peter Lewis,
-
4
Frederick Degraff,
6
1
6
1
Hendrick Divindorf,
7
3
5
Nicholas Degraff,
6
I
6
4
David Potman,
Christian Earnest,
1 3
3
5
Lewis Groat,
16
3
5
5
Jacob Bushart,
7
1
4
James Phillipse,
IO
1 6
1
Adam Fonda,
9
1
6
1
William Snook,
8
6
4
Peter Whitmore,
6
1
6
4
.Samuel Pettingall,
8 I · 6
John and Conradt Smith,
6
1 6
1
Patrick McConnelly.
8
I 6
4
Guysbert and Garret } V'an Brachler.
6 I 6;
Peter Young,
10
1
4
James Davis,
6
1 6 1
Timothy Lenderse,
15
3
5
Peter Frederick and sons,
3
5
15
3
5
John Wilson,
7
I
4
6
1 6
4
J. Rupart and I.ottridge,
8
!
4
Philip Phillipse.
13
3
5
Peter Service,
18
3
5
9
1 6.
4
Hans Albrant,
7
1
7
6 4| Andreis Snyder, I
8
6
4
12!
3
5. Hans Doren,
7
I
6
1
Mrs. Sophia Denniston, 61 1 6
17
3
5
6:
6 4. Volkert Veeder,
6
1 6
4
16
3
5 John V. Veeder,
:7
5
6
Lips Spinner,
15
3
5 John Funda,
6
6
4
.Samuel Rose,
Lo! I 6 4. Jelles Funda,
10
9
8
Hendrick Hoff,
1
6|
4' Barent B. Wemple.
Ī
6
4
Gilbert Tice,
1 6 4 Harmanus Mealey,
8
1
6
4
.Samson Simen»,
15: 3
40
John Newkirk,
10
1
6
4
John Wemple, Andres Wemple,
6 1 6
30 5
:6
Adam Zeelic.
13
3
5
27 5
6 Ephraim Wemple,
13
3
5
8
1 6 4 Barent Hansen,
7
1 6
4
Lewis Clement,
14
3
5. Ilendrick Hansen,
7
-
6
Daniel MeGregor,
11
3
Philip Weamer,
6 1 64
N. and P. Quae kenbush, 10
6
1
6
1
Robert Adams, Martin Lessler,
14
3
4 Am Quackenbush,
7
1
6
1
Frans Salts,
15
3
5 |Samuel Gardeneer,
18
3
5
Hanse C'lyne,
12 3
5 |Jacob Gardeneer,
12
3
5
Jacob Potman,
9 1 6 4 William Schilder,
6 : 6
4
Cornelius Potm.in,
tof if 6 4! Ilans Wart,
71
1 6 1
CHAPTER VI.
TRYON COUNTY ON THE EVE OF THE REVOLUTION-THE JOHNSON'S- PATRIOTIC GATHERINGS AND UTTERANCES.
Perhaps in no section of the northern colonies were the loyalists so numerous or so influential at the beginning of the Revolutionary agita- tions as along the Mohawk valley. A state of things existed in this quarter unfavorable to the spirit of independence. Many conditions con- spired to make the cause of the crown popular and powerful that were lacking in other sections, prominent among which was the almost absolute power that Sir William Johnson had obtained over the Six Nations and a large share of the white inhabitants. His domains in the Mohawk valley including the 66,000 acres mostly in what is now Herkimer county, which in 1760 were given him by the Mohawks, and in the possession of which he was confirmed by the crown, leading to its being called the Royal grant), were exceedingly extensive, and his influence through many sub- ordinate officers and a numerous tenantry was correspondingly great. His opinion on all matters of importance with which he was concerned was considered that of a sage; and though not decidedly expressed, it nat- urally favored the government which had bestowed upon him wealth and rank. The name of Sir William Johnson, who had been the people's friend and companion in peace and their leader in war, was a tower of strength throughout Tryon County; and it was but natural that his senti- ments on so momentous questions as those raised between the colonies and the crown should have persuaded to the side of the latter, or at least rendered neutral, some who would otherwise have cast in their lot with the colonists. By the Indians, not only of the Six Nations, but also of the western tribes which had fallen within the circle of his influence, the Baronet was regarded with the greatest veneration in spite of his unas- suming sociability and his familiar manners, incident to a border life.
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