History of Montgomery and Fulton counties, N.Y. : with illustrations and portraits of old pioneers and prominent residents, Part 2

Author: Beers, F.W., & co., New York, pub
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: New York : F.W. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 664

USA > New York > Fulton County > History of Montgomery and Fulton counties, N.Y. : with illustrations and portraits of old pioneers and prominent residents > Part 2
USA > New York > Montgomery County > History of Montgomery and Fulton counties, N.Y. : with illustrations and portraits of old pioneers and prominent residents > Part 2

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Spruker, James, Palatine Brulze, Residence,

prcerling 159

Stafford. John. Palatine Bridge, Residence,

follow ing 130

Dunn, Amicew, Fort l'un. Residence,

following 134

Dunk, John. Jr., Johnstuwn. M.mafietory,

preceding 133

Putmib, John, Glen, Residence,

preceding 165

preceding 119

Cook, J. C., Palatine, Residence,

following 15:

Rose, S. N., John-town, Residence,

Ross, Euler J . ( hurle-ton + Coroers, Residence.

following 106

Summons, Col. > . Mohawk, Residence

facing 143

Summoos. Mr -. H., Sammonsville, Residence,

following 210

Schuyler G. S., Glen, Residence,

following 116

Dievendort, C , Currytown, Residence,

preceding 165

facing 169

scott, James It , John-town, Hotel.

following 214

Shuler, D. W., Amsterdam, Residence,

following !KI

following 230

sitterly, J., Pratine, Restdetice,

following 198

Brown, J. F., Port . Lickson, Lumber and Coal Yard, following 112 Cady, David, Am-tetdam, Residence, following 140

Cary, A., Fort Plain, Residence und Grounds. , following 123

Prindie E. W. & C., Johnstown, Residence,

following 196

Beach & Cory, Palatine Bridge, Cider Manufactory,

following 166

Benze, H. C., Canajoharie, Stoce,

following 96

Wood, G. L., Gloversville, Marble Works, following 204

Bauder, B., Minden, Residence, following 100

Bander, J. G., Minden, Residence and Grounds, following 130

Shaw. William B ..

230 Vanderberg, Peter.

Vandeuturgh, Penjamin B., 153

Biddle, Joseph,

431

Van Dyke, Giles C., 136

Van Evera, Peter, 171

Robertson, James, 219

Van Amdam, A N.,

Shaffer, Henry ti ..

231 Vandenburgh Hiram, 213

Pierson, Moses,

following 102 following 168 facing 161

Lotridge, C. & W. T., Mohawk, Residence, following 229

Bowdish, Hon. John, Rural Grove, Residence and Store, follow'R 166

Northrup & Co., W. S. & M. S., Johnstown. Factory, preceding 211 Ostrom, Col. stephen, Glen, Resplence,

Pickard, M .A., Minden, Residence. following 204

following 236 preceding 127

following 198

foRowing 158

following 200

tullow in: 19.1

following In2 facing 161

Shaw W. H., Misteld.

shull, A. W., Patatine.

Wagner. Hon. Webster, 15:

Washburn, Alfred B., Weintz. John, -

Lighthall, H., Ephratah, Ili silence, precreling 121

Thomas, Henry C ..

GENERAL OUTLINE HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

CHAPTER I.

THE AMERICAN ABORIGINES-DISCOVERIES BV EUROPEAN EXPLORERS-THE OPENING OF COLONIZATION AND TRADE.

The American Continent, in its natural features, presents a striking and diversified display of resources and grandeurs. With the Atlantic on the east, the Pacific on the west ; its coasts indented with numerous gulfs and bays ; intersected and drained by large rivers, of which the Mississippi and the Amazon exceed any other on the globe in length; and the St. Law- rence, leading into lakes, equal in extent to seas, it affords every facility for commerce; while its fertile valleys and extensive plains are admirably adapted to agricultural pursuits, and its interior is stored with minerals of inestimable value. The magnificence of mountain scenery, the dashing flood and deafening roar of Niagara, the subterranean labyrinths of Mam- moth Cave, are features of nature which fill the beholder with wonder and amazement. To what people were these resources offered and these grand- eurs presented in the dim ages of the past? With only the shadowy and uncertain light of tradition, little else than speculation can furnish anything like a beginning to the history of the aborigines of America. The ruins of cities and pyramids in Mexico and Central America, the numerous mounds so common in the valley of the Mississippi and scattered through the State of Ohio and Western New York, are monuments which point to a people more skilled in arts and farther advanced in civilization than the Indian found in occupancy when the first Europeans landed. Some of these mounds appear to have been erected for burial places, and others for defence. The remains of fortifications present evidence of mechanical skill, and no little display of the knowledge of engineering. Metallic im- plements of ingenious design and superior finish and finely wrought pottery, glazed and colored, equal to the best specimens of modern manufacture, have been found, showing a higher degree of mechanical skill than the In- dian has ever been known to possess. Some of these remains have been found twenty feet or more below the surface, showing that they must have lain there many centuries. All the investigations of the antiquarian to dis- cover by what people these mounds were erected, have ended in uncertainty. If these are the relies of a lost people, as many believe they are, it seems most probable that they were from Egypt. Their pyramids and skill in the arts, together with the fact that human bodies have been found preserved somewhat similiar to Egyptian mummies, support this theory. At an early age the Egyptians, who were noted for their skill in navigation, sailed around Africa, and made many other voyages, in some of which they may have reached America. Aristotle, Plato and other ancient writers appear to have been aware of an extensive body of land in the West, speaking of it as an island greater than Europe or Africa. It is also supposed that the Egyp- tians may have reached America through Asia. It is related that an Asiatic people emigrated to Egypt and conquered the Mizraimites, who were then in possession; and that they became distinguished for their arts, built cities and erected gigantic pyramids, which still remain as evidence of their skill and power. The Mizraimites, smarting under their tyranny, rose against them, and after a long struggle succeeded in driving them out of the land. They retreated to the northeast, leaving mounds and walls as far as Siberia. a> traces of their passage, and, it is thought, crossed Behring's stratt, and eventually settled in the Mississippi valley and Mexico.

leaving conjecture, in regard to the early inhabitants of this continent, it was found when first visited by the whites, that the Indians had long been

in possession. Their personal appearance, language and customs plainly indicated a distinct race. There were many points of difference among the various tribes, but in many respects they bore a resemblance to each other. The Aztecs of Mexico were found with a large and populous city, in which were temples and palaces, and well cultivated grounds; while in the more northern regions a village of rude huts and a small field of corn were about the only marks of occupancy. The traditions of the Indians are so dim and conflicting as to shed little light on their origin. They obtained a sub- sistence chiefly by hunting and fishing, and were continually engaged in bloody wars with each other. They had no written language; no letters with which their words could be represented; but to some extent they communicated their thoughts to one another by hieroglyphics; certain sym- bols denoted certain ideas, and these were either drawn or painted on skins or birch bark, or chiselled on rocks. By comparing their languages they were grouped into great families, some of which contained many tribes. Of these families the Algonquin was the largest, occupying about half of that portion of the United States east of the Mississippi river, together with a part of Canada. The Huron-Iroquois was the next in importance, occu- pying the greater part of the State of New York and the Canadian penin- sula, formed by lakes Ontario, Erie and Huron. They have rapidly dimin- ished in numbers from pestilence and wars with the advancing whites, until only fragments remain, and their aversion to civilization, and strong attach- ment to a wild mode of life make their fate-extinction-inevitable. The pioneer still advances; railroads are connecting ocean with ocean, and the war whoop is silenced by the screech of the locomotive as it sounds the death knell of the once proud lords of a continent.

The discovery of America was the most important event of modern times. For the honor of this discovery several claims have been presented. Welsh historians have awarded it to Modoc, a prince of Wales, who went to sea in the twelfth century and discovered land far to the west, to which he made several voyages, but who with all his crew was finally lost. This claim is founded on tradition, however, and unsubstantiated. The Norwegians claim discovery and settlement on stronger evidence: Eric emigrated from Ice- land to Greenland in 986, and formed a settlement. Leif, a son of Eric, embarked with a crew of men in the year 1000 on a voyage of discovery. He sailed to the southwest and discovered land, and sailing along the coast he finally entered a bay, where he remained through the winter, calling it Vineland. In 1007 Thorfinn sailed from Greenland to Vineland. An account of his voyage and history of the country is still extant. Other voyages were made, and the Antiquarian Society, after a careful examina- tion of all the evidence, including the geography of the country described in these voyages, do not hesitate to locate this Vineland at the head of Nar- ragansett bay in Rhode Island. These discoveries, however, were so inef- feetual, that nothing was known in Europe of land leyond the oreen, until 1492, when Christopher Columbus, believing that India might be reached by sailing westward, was at his urgent solicitation despatched en a voyage of discovery by Ferdinand and Isabella, king and queen of Spain. He sailed from Palos, and after stopping at the Canaries, struck om upon the hitherto unknown ocean, discovering first one of the Bahama island's; then proceeding towards the south he discovered Cuba and Hayti and returned to Spain, thus opening a highway over the trackless Atlantic. He mace other voyages, and in 1498 discove. d the continent neer the mouth of the Orinoco river. The discovery of land in the west promised large profits and excited maritime enterprise throughout Europe. Henry VII con:nus- sioned John Cabot, a Venetian, in 1497, to sail on a voyage of discovery,

OUTLINE HISTORY OF STATE OF NEW YORK.

and take possession of new lands in the name of England. Sailing west- ward, in company with his son Sebastian, he discovered Newfoundland, and while off the coast of Labrador saw the main-land of North America. The next year Sebastian set sail to discover a northwest passage to China. The frozen regions at the north compelled him to change his course, and sailing towards the south, he visited various points along the coast as far as Albe- marle sound, taking possession of the whole region for the Crown of England. John Verazzani, a Florentine in the service of Francis 1. of France, arrived on the coast of North Carolina in 1524, and sailed south as far as Georgia. Turning north, he explored the coast to about 41º north latitude, and entered a harbor, which from his description, is believed to have been New York Bay, where he remained about fifteen days, and it is supposed that his crew were the first Europeans that landed on the soil of New York. He proceeded north as far as Labrador, giving the name of New France to the whole country, which was afterward confined to Canada.

Henry Hudson, an English navigator, having failed in two expeditions to discover a passage to the East Indies, for a company of London merch- ants, by sailing westward, offered his services in 1609 to the Dutch East India Company of Holland, which was formed the preceding year for traffic and col- onization. He left Amsterdam on the 4th of April with a small ship and a crew of about twenty English and Dutch sailors, and arrived on the American coast near Portland in Maine, whence he proceeded south along the shore to the entrance of Chesapeake Bay. From this point he returned northward, dis- covered and entered Delaware Bay, and on the 3d of September anchored at Sandy Hook. From here he proceeded up New York Bay, sending his boats to the Jersey shore and receiving on board the natives, who came in great numbers to traffic. On the 12th he entered the river which bears his name, and ascended it to a point a little above where the city of Hudson now stands, having been frequently visited on the way by the Indians, who came to traffic, bringing maize, tobacco and other products native to the country. To them he imparted a knowledge of the effects of rum, to the drinking of which in later years they became greatly addicted. Not con sidering it safe to proceed farther with his ship, he sent a boat with a part of his crew to explore the river higher up. It is supposed that they went a little above Albany. On the 23d he commenced to descend the river, and when a little below the Highlands, the Indians made several attempts to attack his crew, who, in repulsing their attacks, shot ten or twelve of their number. Descending into the bay he immediately sailed for Europe. The following year he made a voyage for the discovery of a northwest passage to India, and discovered and entered the bay which bears his name. Con- tinuing his search too long, he was compelled to remain through the winter. In the spring, part of his crew mutinied, and put him in a boat, together with his son and seven others, and left them to perish. In 1607, Samuel Champlain, a French navigator. ascended the St. Lawrence river, exploring its tributaries; and on the 4th of July discovered the lake which bears his name. Hence the three nations, Holland, France and England, founding their titles upon discovery, claimed ownership in a region, a part of which lies within the limits of the State of New York.

The accounts given by Hudson of his discoveries stimulated the Dutch to avail themselves of the advantages that might be gained by trading with the Indians, and accordingly in the following year another vessel was sent out to engage in the fur trade on the banks of the river he had discovered.

In 1612 two more vessels were fitted out by Hendrick Christiansen and Adrian Block, which were soon followed by others. The fur trade proving successful, Christiansen was appointed agent of the traffic, and Manhattan Island made the chief depot. He erected a small fort and a few rude buildings at the southern extremity of the island, calling the place New Amsterdam. The island was covered with giant forest trees and dense thickets, which served as hiding places for reptiles and wild beasts In 1614 the States General granted a charter to the merchants engaged in these expeditions, conferring the exclusive right of trade in this new terri- tory between the 40th and 45th parallels of north latitude for four years, and giving the name of New Netherlands to the whole region. The trade flourished, and had become so profitable, that at the expiration of the charter the States General refused to renew it, giving instead a special license for its temporary continuance.

In the meantime the surrounding country was being explored. Adrian Binck had passed up the East river, Long Island sound and Connecticut river, and into the bays and along the islands eastward to Cape Cod. Cor- nelissen Jacobsen May had explored the southern coast of Long Island and southward to Delaware Bay, while Hendrick Christiansen had ascended

the Hudson river to Castle Island, a few miles below Albany, where he had established a trading post and erected a small fort. This fort was so much damaged by a flood, that it was removed to the Normans-kill, a little below. Here a council was held between the chiefs and warriors of the Five Nations and the representatives of the New Netherlands, and a treaty of alliance and peace was formed.

In 1620 James I. granted to Ferdinando Gorges and his commercial as- sociates all the land between the fortieth and forty-eighth degrees of north latitude, and extending from ocean to ocean. Captain Dermer, in the service of Gorges, appeared at Manhattan, and laid claim to all the territory occupied by the Dutch. The English embassador at the Dutch capitol had been instructed to remonstrate against Dutch intrusion, but, it seems, without effect; for in 1621 the States General granted a new charter to the Dutch West India Company, an armed mercantile association, giving them exclusive jurisdiction over the province of New Netherlands for twenty years, with power to appoint governors, subject to the approval of the States; to colonize the territory and administer justice. The executive management was intrusted to a board of directors, distributed through five separate chambers in the cities of Holland. The charge of the prov- ince had been assigned to the Amsterdam Chamber, which sent out a vessel in 1623, under the direction of Captain May and Adrien Joriszen Tienpont, with thirty families for colonization. A portion of these settled on the Connecticut river, and others as far up the Hudson as the present city of Albany, where they built Fort Orange. A fort was also erected on the Delaware river, near Gloucester, and called Fort Nassau. Their number was shortly after augmented by other accessions, and colonization fairly commenced. In May, 1626, Peter Minuit arrived at New Netherlands as Director-General or Governor of the province. He purchased the whole of Manhattan Island of the Indians for trinkets of the value of $24. Friendly courtesies were interchanged with the Plymouth colony, and a brisk and profitable trade in furs was carried on.

CHAPTER II.

THE DUTCH KEGIME IN NEW YORK-RIVAL CLAIMS OF THE ENGLISH- THE LATTER PREVAIL.

To encourage immigration, in 1629 an ordinance was adopted, granting to any member of the company, who within four years should plant a colony of fifty persons, upwards of fifteen years old, the privilege of selecting a tract of land sixteen miles in length, on any navigable stream. and inland as far as he should choose, with the title of Patroon, denoting something lordly in rank and means. The Patroons on their part were to buy of the Indians the right to the lands selected, maintain a minister and school master, and pay duty on trade carried on by them, but the company reserved the exclusive right to the fur trade, which was becoming extensive, and attracting dealers from the banks of the St. Lawrence. Several availed themselves of this privilege, among whom were Michael Pauw and Killian Van Rensselaer, the former securing Staten Island and a large tract on the Jersey shore, and the latter a large tract on the Hudson river, now the counties of Albany and Rensselaer. Although the Patroons were excluded in their charter by the company from partiet- pating in the fur trade, their interference brought on a controversy, and Minuit, who it was thought favored their pretensions, was recalled. The vessel in which he sailed was detained by the English authorities at Ply - mouth, on the charge that he had traded and obtained her cargo in territory subject to England, and thus the respective claims of the English and Datch to the title of New Netherlands were again called in question. The Dutch relied on the discoveries made by Hudson, and their immediate o cupation ratified by charter ; and the English on the prior discovery Iny Cabot and the grant of James I. covering the territory. No final settle- ment heing obtained, the question was deferred : and in April. 1633, Wou- ter Van Twiller arrived at New Amsterdam as the new Director-General. bringing with him Everardus Bogardus, a clergyman, Adam Roeland-en. the first schoolmaster to the colony, and a small military force, with which he subsequently made considerable display. Soon after assuming" the government, he directed Jacob Van Corlaer to purchase a trac: of land of the Indians on the Connecticut river, near the present city of Hartford The English colonies earnestly remonstrated' against this invasion of their territory, but without effect. The Plymouth colony secured a tract of the Indians at Windsor, and sent Lieutenant William Holmes with a force to

THE CLAIMS OF THE ENGLISH TO NEW YORK CONCEDED BY THE DUTCH.

take possession and commence a settlement. Van Corlaer being unable to oppose them with any effect, Van Twiller sent a force of soldiers to dis- perse them. The courage of the Dutch commander for ook him on per- ceiving that they were prepared to meet him, and he refrained from trying to dislodge them. Better success, however, attended him in an ex- pedition against the Virginia colonists. A hand of these, under the lead of George Holmes, had taken possession of Fort Nassau on the Delaware river. Van Twiller immediately sent a force there, which captured and brought them as prisoners to Fort Amsterdam. During his administration, Jacob Eelkin-, who had formerly been an agent for the company at Fort Orange, arrived at Manhattan as supercargo of an English vessel engaged in the fur trade. Van Twiller refused to let him proceed without a license from the company, which Eelkin, declined to prevent ; but claiming a right to trade with the Indians as an Englishman, to whom the territory belonged, he proceeded up the river to Fort Orange, in defiance of the Governor, and commenced trading with them. Van Twiller, in great in- dignation, dispatched a force after him, which took possession of his wares, and bringing his vessel back, sent it out to sea. He was so mindful of his own interests, that he became the wealthiest land-holder in the province. Vehemently passionate, he became involved in a lutter quarrel with Bo- gardos the clergyman, and with Von Dincklagen, a member of his council. The latter had very justly complained of his rapacity, for which he sent him a prisoner to Holland, on a charge of contumacy. His corruption and incompetency to govern becoming apparent, he was recalled, and William Kieft, in 1638, succeeded him, in the government of the colony.

The company in the following year obtained a new charter, limiting the Patroons to four miles on the rivers and eight inland. Other efforts were made to encourage immigration. Settlements were extending in all direc -. tions, and the province was rapidly filling with inhabitants. The Governor, however, instead of proving useful in promoting the prosperity of the colony with the opportunities presented, became involved in difficulties with the English settlements and the neighboring Indian tribes, which finally brought the colony to the verge of extirpation. By injudicious management and cruelty to the Indians, they were incited to revenge and relentless war on the whites. A robbery having been committed. a tribe of Indian, though innocent, were suspected; and Kieft sent an armed force against them, kil- ling several of their number and destroying their property. The Indians retaliated for this unprovoked attack by murdering some settlers and burn- ing their buildings. The chief, refused to give satisfaction for these out rages, and Kieft resolved on a war against them. An Indian, whose uncle had been killed by the whites a number of years before, vowed revenge, and killed a Dutchman at Manhattan. Kieft sent a force against his tribe, with orders to exterminate them. Seeing their danger, they sued for peace. Before the terms of a treaty had been agreed upon, a warrior, who had been made drunk and then robbed by the whites, upon recovering his senses, killed two of the Dutch. Just at this time the River Indians, in a conflict with the Mohawks, were compelled to take refuge on the Hudson opposite Manhattan, and solicit protection from their enemies, but instead of its being granted, a party under the sanction of Kieft, and against the remonstrance of the best citizens, went over to massacre them. This wicked and inhuman outrage wa- perpetrated at midnight, and nearly . hundred of these helpless and unsuspecting fugitives were murdered or driven into the river to perish. A desperate and bloody war was the result. The neighboring tribes joined to avenge this ontrage. The dwellings of the settlers were burned. their fields desolated, and themselves shot by their larking foes. Their settlements were attacked in every direction, and ter- ror, despair and death prevailed. Captam John Underhill, who had gained some notoriety in Indian warfare, wi- appointed to com min | their forces, and finally succeeded in bringing the Indians to submission, and in 1645 a treaty of peace was concluded An earnest appeal was made for the recall of Kieft, who had been the cause of this calamit as war, which was favor- ably receivel, and Peter Stuyvesant, who was appointed to ste. sed him, took possession of the government May rith, 1647. He hid byen in the service of th . comping a> Dire tor-General of Curaros. The controversy between the Batch and English ve tements still continuing, arbitra ore were appointed to adiast their dlaans. The eastern part of Long Island was asigned to the English. A live was specified for the boundary between the Connecte ut and New Neth rlind colonies, but it was un watisfactory tu the Dutch. In 1652 a municipal government was established for Manhat- tin, consisting of a revenue ager, to be appointed by the company, and two burgomasters and five inferior magistrates to be elected by the people,

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History of Montgomery and Fulton counties, N.Y. : with illustrations and portraits of old pioneers and prominent residents, Part 2

Author: Beers, F.W., & co., New York, pub Publication date: 1878 Publisher: New York : F.W. Beers & co. Number of Pages: 664

Author: Beers, F.W., & co., New York, pub
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: New York : F.W. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 664