USA > New York > Fulton County > History of Montgomery and Fulton counties, N.Y. : with illustrations and portraits of old pioneers and prominent residents > Part 14
USA > New York > Montgomery County > History of Montgomery and Fulton counties, N.Y. : with illustrations and portraits of old pioneers and prominent residents > Part 14
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Notwithstanding that royalist influences thus seemed predominant in the Mohawk valley, the stamp act agitation and other excitements that followed it penetrated this secluded region and kindled the same patriotic flame that was beginning to glow throughout the colonies; so that the people were not uninterested spectators while the conflict of power and principle was going on upon the seaboard previous to the organization of the continental army.
Upon the death of Sir William Johnson, July 11, 1774, his son, Sir John Johnson, succeeded to his post of Major-General of the militia, as well as to his title and most of his estate, and his son-in-law, Col. Guy Johnson, became superintendent of Indian affairs. But no heir to the first Bar- onet's property or offices had the record or the personal qualities to enable him to sway the sceptre of Sir William. Sir John was unsocial, morose and irascible in disposition, and a man of small popularity. The Johnson's, however were strongly supported by the influence of "Miss Molly," Sir William's Mohawk housekeeper, over the tribe to which she belonged; and her efforts were seconded by the strenuous exertions of her brother Thayendanegea, better known as Joseph Brant, who had been in the service of the first Baronet during the last years of the latter's life, and upon his death became the secretary of Guy Johnson. Thus a great, though diminished influence still emanated from Johnson Hall. Its pro- prietor was in close official and political relations with Col. John Butler, a wealthy and influential resident of the county, and his son Walter, whose names were rendered infamous by their brutal and bloody deeds during the Revolution. The Johnson family, together with other gentlemen of the same views, owning large estates in their neighborhood, so far con- trolled a belt of the Mohawk valley as to measurably prevent the circula- tion of intelligence unfavorable to the mother country.
But the white settlers were generally the Dutch, who had gradually ex- tended their settlements up the valley from Schenectady and occupied the eastern part of the county; and the Germans from the Palatinate who had located farther west. These people were not disposed to suhinit to the new -fledged aristocrats who assumed a high and mighty style in dealing with the sturdy yeoman. The Johnsons soon found that the principles avowed in rebellious Boston had taken root even in their midst; while the far-reaching influence wielded by Sir William was narrowing down to a sort of feudal domination over a few hundred tenants and immediate re- tainers. Many of the inhabitants of I'ryon County, in common with those of other parts of the country, viewed with alarm and indignation the oppressive acts of the English ministry, and deeply sympathized with the
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40
THE HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
people of Boston, upon whom the iron hand of tyranny had fallen. Before Sir William had been in his grave two months a public meeting was held in the Palatine district, warmly approving the calling of a congress for mutual consultation upon the political exigencies of the colonies. The resolutions adopted breathe the genuine spirit of freedom, and must have required noble decision and courage to promulgate in so remote and defenceless a region, filled with loyalists and Indians controlled by them. They may be read as follows, from the original minutes of the meeting in the handwriting of Christopher P. Yates:
"WHEREAS, The British Parliament has lately passed an act for raising a revenue in America without the consent of our representative, abridging the liberties and privileges of the American colonies, and, therefore, block- ing np the port of Boston; the freeholders and inhabitants of and in the county of Tryon aforesaid, looking with concern and heartfelt sorrow on these alarming and calamitous conditions, do meet this 27th day of August, 1774, on that purpose at the house of Adam Loucks, Esq., at Stone Arabia, and conclude the resolutions following, viz .:
"FIRST .- That King George the Third is lawful and rightful lord and sovereign of Great Britain and the dominions thereto belonging, and that as part of his dominions, we hereby testify that we will bear true faith and allegiance to him; and that we both with our lives and fortunes, will sup- port and maintain him upon the throne of his ancestors, in the just dependence of these, his colonies, upon the crown of Great Britain.
"SECOND .- That we think and consider it as our greatest happiness to be governed by the laws of Great Britain, and that with cheerfulness we will always pay submission thereunto, as far as we consistently can with the security of the constitutional rights and liberties of English subjects, which are so sacred that we cannot permit the same to be violated.
"THIRD .- That we think it is our undeniable privilege to be taxed only with our own consent, given by ourselves, or our representatives; that taxes otherwise laid and enacted are unjust and unconstitutional; that the late Acts of Parliament declarative of their right of laying internal taxes on the American colonies are obvious encroachments on the rights and liberties of the British subjects in America.
"FOURTH .- That the act for blocking up the port of Boston is oppres- sive and arbitrary, injurious in its principles, and particularly oppressive to the people of Boston, whom we consider as brethren suffering in the common cause.
"FIFTH .- That we will unite and join with the different districts of this county in giving whatever relief it is in our power to the distressed inhab- itants of Boston, and that we will join and unite with our brethren of the rest of this colony in anything tending to support and defend our rights and liberties.
"SIXTH .- That we think the sending of delegates from the different colonies to a general Continental Congress is a salutary measure, and absolutely necessary at this alarming crisis, and that we entirely approve of the five gentlemen chosen delegates for this colony, by our brethren of New York, hereby adopting and choosing the same persons to represent this colony at the Congress.
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"SEVENTH .- That we hereby engage faithfully to abide by and adhere to such restrictions and resolutions as shall be made and agreed upon by the said Congress.
"EIGHTH .- That we conceive it necessary that there be appointed a standing committee of this county to correspond with the committees of New York and Albany; and we do hereby appoint Christopher P. Yates, Isaac Paris, John Frey, and Andrew Finck, Jr., who, together with persons to be appointed by the other districts of this county, shall compose a Com- mittee of Correspondence to convey the sentiments of this county in a set of resolves to New York
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" Niste .- It is voted by this meeting that copies of the proceedings of this day, certified by the chairman, be transmitted to the supervisors of the different districts of this county, and we recommend it to the inhabitants of the said district to appoint persons to compose also a committee of cor- respondence."
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1
At the meeting of the Continental Congress in September, 1774. a Declaration of Rights was adopted, showing wherein the colonies were sub- jected to injustice. It had a powerful effect in forming and defining puh- lic opinion, and drawing the lines between patriot and tory in this inland district. It was beginning to be suspected that Col. Guy Johnson was using his official authority with the Indians to alienate them from the cause of the Americans, and induce them to declare for the King in case
of a conflict. Brant, Johnson's secretary, was incessantly visiting the tribes, and holding secret conferences with the chiefs. His former friendly intercourse with the Rev. Samuel Kirkland, missionary among the Oneidas, suddenly ceased, and at the instigation of Brant, an Oneida chief, preferred charges against the clergyman before Johnson, and asked his removal. It was well known that this faithful minister was a staunch patriot, and the action of the wily Sachem could not be misunderstood. The Oneidas as a nation, however, rallied to the support of Kirkland ; his removal was for a time deferred, and to his influence may be attributed the position taken by the tribe during the long Revolutionary struggle, and the signal aid which they gave to the cause of freedom.
The Johnson family and their associates having promptly sided with the crown, made active efforts to smother the spirit of liberty, which was evidently gaining strength, but by a measure of their own adoption, they managed to fan into full blaze, instead of extinguishing the spark that had been struck in the Palatine District. In the spring of 1775, just before the second Congress assembled at Philadelphia, the exciting intelligence of the encounter at Lexington was received in Johnstown, during a session of court. The loyalists, thereupon, thinking it time to assert themselves, undertook a demonstration against the colonial Congress, by circulating for signature a declaration disapproving of the proceedings of that body in the preceding autumn. This provoked a spirited altercation, but the movers in the affair succeeded in obtaining the signatures of a majority of the grand jurors and magistrates of the county. This procedure of the tories threw the whigs, who comprised a considerable majority of the white population of Tryon county, into a fever of excitement and indigna- tion. They judged the time had arrived for a decided step, and public meetings were called, and committees appointed in all the districts, and sub-committees in nearly every precinct.
The first mass meeting of the whigs was broken up by the violent interference of the tories. Some three hundred patriots had assembled unarmed at Caughnawaga to proclaim their sentiments and raise a liberty pole, a most offensive object to Tory eyes. Before their purpose was accomplished, Sir John Johnson and Cols. Claus, Guy Johnson and Butler, with a large number of their retainers, armed with swords and pistols, arrived on the ground. Guy Johnson mounted a high stoop and harangued the crowd with great vehemence. He expatiated on the strength of the king and government, and the folly of revolt. A single British ship, he said, could destroy all the navy that the colonies might set afloat. He had not a conciliatory word for the people, but denounced their proceedings in virulent and abusive language. Among the leading whigs present were Sampson Sammons, a wealthy farmer, living a little north of the place of meeting, and two of his sons, Jacob and Frederick. Johnson's speech so irritated Jacob, that he interrupted the speaker by pronouncing him a liar and a villian. Johnson leaped from his rostrum and seized young Sam- mons by the throat. A struggle followed, in which Sammons was telled to the ground by a blow from a loaded whip-handle, producing a moment- ary stupor. Recovering he found one of Johnson's servants sitting astride his body. Flinging him off he sprung up and renewed the fight. Pistols were presented to his breast, but he was destined to suffer much more rough handling for his country's sake, and they were not fired. He was, however, knocked down again and severely beaten by the tories. Mean- while, his unarmed companions had dispersed, and on escaping from the clutches ot the Johnson men, Sammons was satisfied to retire to his father's house, bearing upon his body the first scars of the Revolutionary contest in the county of Tryon.
A crowded and spirited whig meeting was held shortly after in the church at Cherry Valley The orator of the occasion was a resident named Thomas Spencer, who had served as an Indian interpreter. He delivered a rude but forcible speech, and resolutions were adopted strongly condemning the conduct of the Johnstown tories, and explicitly approving the proceedings of the Continental Congress, A second meeting at the house of Adam Loucks, fearing that the Johnstown tory declaration might pass for the voice of the county, if no notice was taken of it, adopted an article of association, endorsing the action of Congress, and pledging the signers to its support A committee to correspond with those of other districts was appointed, consisting of Christopher P. Yates, John Frey, Isaac Paris, Andrew Finck, Jr., Andrew Receber, l'eter Waggoner, Anthony Van Vechten, Daniel M Dougall, Jacob Klock, George Ecker, Jr., Harmanus Van Slyck, and Christopher W. Fox.
Adam Loucks, at whore house this meeting was held, lived on what is
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TRYON COUNTY PATRIOTS SUSPICIOUS OF COL. JOHNSON.
now known as the Graff farm, (being occupied by Erwin Graff, some two miles from Palatine Bridge. Loucks was a Justice of the Peace, upon the bench at the sitting of the first "Court of General Quarter Sessions " at Johnstown.
CHAPTER VII.
PATRIOTIC ACTION OF THE PALATINE DISTRICT COMMITTEE-THE COUNTY COMMITTEE TO GUY JOHNSON-HIS SUSPICIOUS COURSE.
The patriots of Tryon county were early confirmed in their suspicion that the Johnson party was preparing to suppress all patriotic demonstra- tions in the county; and also inciting the Indians to take up the hatchet for the king when actual hostilities should break out. As evidence of his intentions, Sir John Johnson planted swivels around the Hall, and organ- ized and armed a body of Scotch Highlanders living near it. The Palatine committee, in view of the alarming state of affairs, met on the 19th of May, 1775, and addressed the following letter to the committee at Albany :
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"We are so peculiarly circumstanced in this county relating to the present struggle for American liberty, that we cannot longer defer laying the situation of this county before you. The district we represent has been foremost in avowing its attachment to liberty, and approving the mode of opposition adopted in America, and are now signing an associa- tion similar to what has been signed in other counties of this province. And we hope in a few days to have the pleasure to transmit it down for the press. The county being extensive, it takes a considerable time before the people who are favorable to the cause can be got to sign, for we have caused copies of the association to be dispersed in divers parts of the county.
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"This county has for a series of years been ruled by one family, the dif- ferent branches of which are still strenuous in persuading people from coming into Congressional measures, and even last week, at a numerous meeting of the Mohawk district, appeared with all their dependents armed to oppose the people from considering of their grievances. Their number being so large, and the people unarmed, struck terror into the most of them, and they dispersed. We are informed that Johnson Hall is fortified by placing a parcel of swivels round the house, and that Col. Johnson has had part of his regiment under arms yesterday, no doubt with a design to prevent the friends of Liberty from publishing their attachment to her to) the world. Besides which we are told, that certain Highlanders (Roman Catholics' in and about Johnstown, are armed and ready to march upon like occasion. We are also informed that Col. Johnson has stopped two New England men and searched them, being, we. suppose, suspicious that they were going to solicit aid from us or of the Indians, whom we dread * * * there being a current report through the county that they had been made use of in keeping us in arms.
"We recommend strongly and seriously to you to take in your consider- ation whether any powder and ammunition ought to 'be permitted to be sent up this way, unless it is done under the inspection of the committee, and consigned to the committee here, and for such particular shopkeepers as we in our next shall acquaint you of.
"We are determined to suffer none in our district to sell any but such as we approve of, and sign the association. When anything particular comes to our knowledge relating to the Indians (whom we shall watch), or any other thing interesting, we shall take the earliest opportunity in communi- cating the same to you. And as we are a young county, and remote from the metropolis, we beg you will give us all the intelligence in your power.
We shall not be able to send down any deputies to the Provincial Con- gress, as we cannot obtain the sense of the county soon enough to make it worth our while to send any; but be assured we are not the less attached to American liberty, for we are determined, although few in number, to let the world see who are and who are not such, and to wipe off the indelible disgrace brought on us by the declaration signed by our grand jury and some of our magistrates, who in general are considered by the majority of the county as enemies to their country. In a word, gentlemen, it is our fixed resolve to support and carry into execution everything recommended by the Continental and Provincial Congress, and to be free or die."
Shortly after this letter was written, accidental confirmation was ob- tained of the belief that the superintendent of Indian affairs was tamper- ing with his savage wards in anticipation of hostilities. A communication from the Mohawks to the Oneidas, in the language of the former, was
found in an Indian trail, where it was probably dropped by one of their couriers. It was written by Joseph Brant, from Guy Johnson's house, and was an application for warriors to act as part of a perpetual body guard for the superintendent who, the despatch said, was " in great fear of being ta- ken prisoner by the Bostonians." It was announced that the other nations might be called on. This dispatch was interpreted by those into whose hands it fell as an attempt of Johnson to reinforce himself for purposes in- compatible with their safety. Col. Johnson himself wrote about the same time to the magistrates of the upper districts, urging them to dissipate if possible the impression that he meditated an improper use of his influence with the Indians. It was learned, however, that the remoter tribes of the Six Nations had been invited down to his house. The superintendent's own domestic army amounted to five hundred men, and he had already cut off free communication between Albany and the upper Mohawk settle- ments. The Palatine district committee, at a meeting held May 21, to consider these facts, unanimously adopted a series of resolutions including the following :
"THIRD .- That as the whole continent has approved of the proceedings of the Massachusetts Bay and other colonies of New England, we do adopt and approve of the same, and therefore we must and do consider that any fortification or armed force raised to be made use of against them, is de- signed to overawe us and make as submit.
"FOURTH .- That Col. Johnson's conduct in raising fortifications around his house, keeping a number of Indians and others constantly about him, and stopping and searching travellers upon the king's highway, is very alarming to the county and highly arbitrary, illegal, oppressive, and un- warrantable, and confirms us in our fears that his design is to keep us in awe, and to oblige us to submit to a state of slavery,
" FIFTH .- That as we abhor a state of slavery we do join and unite to- gether under all the ties of religion, honor, justice and love for our coun- try, never to become slaves, and to defend our freedom with our lives and fortunes."
It was ordered that the German Flats and Kingsland districts be invited to join the Palatine for the purpose of a common defence.
This meeting was held at the house of Philip W. Fox, near the Palatine stone church, a house which is said, with great probability, to have been burned during the Revolution. The owner was called by his Dutch neigh- bors Lips Fox. He was a grand juror at a court held March 9, 1779, and also at a session which convened at Johnstown June 12, 1781, and ad- journed, probably for greater security, to Fort Hunter, where it is believed the court sat in Queen Anne's Chapel. They were men of such standing who formed the Tryon County committee of safety.
In the latter part of May, Guy Johnson sent to the common council of Albany a letter complaining of the expense to which he was put in pro- tecting himself from being kidnapped by certain New Englanders, or persons about Albany or Schenectady, who he had been repreatedly warned were meditating such an attempt, on the false and malicious rumor that he intended to make the Indians destroy the settlers. The savages would, however, he declared, do something of the kind if he should be taken prisoner in the way suggested. He appealed to the municipality of Albany, as having authority and influence, to disabuse the public mind, and prevent the alarming consequences which he feared.
A prompt reply to Col. Johnson's communication contained the follow- ing words :
"We trust that you are so well acquainted with the nature and duties of your office, that you will pursue the dictates of an honest heart, and study the interest, peace and welfare of your county. In which case we presume you need not be apprehensive of any injury in your person or property, neither can we learn or conceive that there either is or has been any intention of taking you captive, or offering you any indignity whatever, either by the New England people, or any of the inhabitants of this city, or any one else; and we have but too much reason to think that these groundless reports have been raised and industriously propagated, in your own phraseology, by some busy people in your county, to rouse up the Indians from thei. peaceful habitations, and take up arms against such of our American brethren as are engaged on the part of America in the unhappy contest between Great Britain and her colonies."
The Albany committee in reply to the Palatine committee's letter, said they had no ammunition to spare, and advised their correspondent not to attempt to open communication between the two counties by force, and the project was accordingly given up.
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42
THE HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
On the 24th of May, the committees of all the districts but the Mohawk met together at the house of William Seber, in the Canajoharie district, unanimously approved of the proceedings of the Palatine committee in their meetings, and voted that Daniel McDougall, for Palatine district, David Cox, for Canajoharie, and Edward Wall and Duncan McDougall, for German Flats and Kingsland, be sent to Schenectady and Albany to confer with the committees at those towns on the situation and the duties of the hour; and to get a supply of ammunition, to be sold under the supervision of the body ordering it. It was also "resolved unanimously, that whereas the persons of some of the members of this commitee have been threatened with imprisonment on account of their heing concerned in our just opposition, in which case we do associate and unite together, we will to the utmost of our power do our endeavors, by force, or other- wise, to rescue them from imprisonment, unless such person or persons are confined by legal process, issued upon legal ground, and executed in a legal manner."
William Seeber, the committeeman at whose house this meeting was held, was the Major of a batallion of militia at Oriskany. He was mortally wounded, but survived the battle 126 days, at his house, which was near the present village of Fort Plain, and within rifle shot of the Fort Plain block house. The farm that was his is now owned by the 1.ipe brothers, David and Seeber. A tenant is now Dec., 1877 , on the place, which for years previous to the spring of 1877, was owned and occupied by Adam Lipe, a brother of the present proprietors.
On the 25th of May, a council of the Mohawks was held at Guy Park. It was attended by delegates from the Albany and Tryon county commit- tees. The principal chief and speaker of the Mohawks was Little Abra- ham, a brother of the famous Hendrick. He said he was glad to hear that Guy Johnson was in no danger; the Indians did not wish to quarrel with the whites, but they were alarmed by reports that their powder was stopped; they obtained their supplies from the superintendent, and if their ammunition was intercepted they should distrust the whites, but would at all times listen to what they had to say in the presence of Col. Guy Johnson. The representatives of the committees, after holding a consultation, replied that they were pleased to hear the friendly expres- sions of the speaker. They assured the Mohawks that the reports of ammunition being withheld from them were false, and that when business was to be transacted, they would meet the Indians at the council fires, and in presence of their superintendent. The Mohawk speaker, in his response, said that the love his people had for the memory of Sir William Johnson, and the obligations of the whole Six Nations to him must make them regard and protect every branch of his family. He promised that he and his comrades would explain things to all the Indians, and hoped the com- mittee men would do the same to their people.
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