USA > New York > Staten Island > History of Richmond County (Staten Island), New York : from its discovery to the present time > Part 16
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On the 1st of December, 1775, Paul Michean, one of the depu- ties from Richmond county in the first provincial congress, ad- dressed a letter to the secretary of the congress, in which he says that he had requested the county committee to convene the people to elect new deputies ; that a meeting of the com- mittee had been called, and that only a minority appeared, who for that reason declined to act, and requests congress to write to them and learn their reasons for not convening the people, and concludes by hoping the congress may be able to keep tranquility and good order in the province, and make peace with the mother country. He then gave the names of the committee as follows: Capt. John Kittletas, Capt. Christian Jacobson, Capt. Cornelius Dussosway, Henry Perine, David Latourette, Esq., Peter Mersereau, John Poillon, Moses Depuy,
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Lambert Merrill, John Tysen, Joseph Christopher, George Bar- rus and David Corsen.
To this communication congress replied the next day in a let- ter addressed to "John Poillon, John Tysen and Lambert Mer- ril, of the committee for Richmond County," urging them to elect deputies to represent them without delay, and they added emphatically, "rest assured, gentlemen, that the neighboring colonies will not remain inactive spectators if you show a dis- position to depart from the Continental Union." They con- cluded their letter in these words: "We beg, gentlemen, you will consider this matter with that seriousness which the peace, good order and liberties of your county require."
To this the committee made the following reply:
"RICHMOND COUNTY, Dec'r 15th, 1775. Mr. President:
SIR :- Your favour of 2d Decem'r. we hereby acknowledge came safe to our hand, and with the majority of our committee considered the contents. We, agreeable to your request, have caused by advertisement the freeholders and inhabitants in our connty to be convened on this day, in order that their sense might be taken whether they will choose deputies to represent them in a provincial congress or not. Accordingly, a number of the said freeholders and inhabitants did appear ; a regular poll was opened, and continued till 6 o'clock; at the conclusion of which it appeared that a majority was, for the present, for sending no deputies. Our former conduct in sending of depu- ties to represent us in Provincial Congress, was elevated with enconraging hopes of having, ere this, obtained the so much desired point in onr view, namely, a reconciliation with Great Britain. But, with anxiety we express it, that the hopes of obtaining so desirable an event, is now almost vanished out of our sight ; and, instead of which, we behold with horror, every appearance of destruction, that a war with Great Britain will bring upon us. Under these apprehensions, and in our particu- lar situation, we hope you will view us, and when candidly con- sidered, we trust will furnish you with sufficient reason, for the present, to forbear with us.
"We wish and pray that if yet any hope of reconciliation is
11
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left, that measures might be adopted, if possible, to obtain that desirable end, in wishing of which we conclude ourselves,
Your most obt.
And most humble serv'ts, JOIIN TYSON, CHRISTIAN JACOBSON, DANIEL CORSEN, PETER MERSEREAU, JOSEPH CHRISTOPHIER, LAMBERT MERRILL, JOHN POILLON.
To NATHI'L WOODHULL,
Prest. of Provl. Congress, New York.
"P. S .- Should the congress think it necessary for further in- formation of the state of our county, they will please to order two of our committee to appear before them for that purpose."
On the 21st, congress passed several resolutions, censuring Richmond county for its delinquency, and resolved that if within fifteen days a list of the names of those who oppose a representation in congress be not sent to that body, the whole county shall be considered delinquent, and entirely put out of the protection of congress, and that intercourse with them shall be interdicted, and that the names of delinquents shall be pub- lished in all the newspapers of the colony.
During the recess of the congress, the committee of safety was in session. On the 12th of January, 1776, Richard Law- rence and Christian Jacobson appeared before the committee and represented that the majority of the people of Richmond county were not averse, but friendly to the measures of con- gress ; Lawrence was a member of the committee for Richmond county.
On the 23d of the same month the following letter was re- ceived by the committee of safety from the Richmond county committee.
"RICHMOND COUNTY, Jan'y 19, 1776.
"Gentlemen-Whereas the committee for this county have caused by advertisement the freeholders to be convened on this day, in order to elect two members to represent this county in Provincial Congress ; accordingly a poll was opened for that purpose, without any opposition, at the close of which it ap- peared by a majority, that Messrs Adrian Banker and Richard
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HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
Lawrence was duly elected to represent this county in Provin- cial Congress nntil the second Tuesday in May next, which we hope will be agreeable to the rest of that body,
We are, gentlemen,
Your mo. obt, and most humble servts.
CHRISTIAN JACOBSON, LAMBERT MERRILL, JOHN TYSON, PETER MERSEREAU, GEORGE BARNES, MOSES DUPUY, DAVID LATOURETTE,
DANIEL CORSEN,
HENRY PERINE,
JOSEPH CHRISTOPHER.
"To the Committee of Safety on recess
of the Provincial Congress in New York."
The reputation of Richmond county for its want of sympathy in the canse of the colonies seems to have gained more than a local hearing. It reached the ears of the continental congress, and that body made it the subject of action, as shown by the following extract from the minutes :
"IN CONGRESS, Feb'y 8th, 1776.
" The inhabitants of Richmond county, in the Colony of New York, having refused to send Deputies to represent them in Provincial Convention, and otherwise manifested their enmity and opposition to the system and measures adopted for pre- serving the liberties of America : and as a just punishment for their inimical conduct, the inhabitants of that Colony having been prohibited by the Convention from all intercourse and dealings with the inhabitants of the said county ; and this Congress being informed by the Committee of Safety of that Colony, that the freeholders of the said county did afterwards, without any opposition, elect Deputies to represent them in Provincial Convention ; but as the proceedings against them had been submitted to the consideration of Congress, it was ap- prehended Deputies would not be received until the sense of Congress should be communicated,
" Resolved, That it be referred to the said Provincial Conven- tion to take snch measures respecting the admission of the Deputies, and revoking the interdict on the inhabitants of the
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HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
said county, as they shall judge most expedient, provided that the said Deputies and major part of the inhabitants of said county shall subscribe the association entered into by that Colony.
" Extract from the minutes.
CHAS, THOMPSON, Sec'y."
It was then ordered by the provincial congress that the reso- lution of the continental congress be transmitted to the deputies lately elected by the people of Richmond county.
The congress being apprehensive that General Clinton would attempt to land upon Staten Island for the purpose of making depredations and carrying off live stock, had requested the pro- vincial congress of New Jersey to send Colonel Herd, with his regiment, to the island to prevent it, and lest he might not get there in time, a like request was made to the committee of Elizabethtown. This measure excited the apprehensions of the people of Staten Island, who were suspicious of the errand of Colonel Herd and his regiment. Accordingly, on the 19th of February, the two deputies, Adrian Bancker and Richard Law- rence, hastened to inform the congress that they had subscribed to the association entered into by the colony, and that seven eighths of the people had done so likewise "long since," and that the coming of Colonel Herd, "with a large body of men, to call the people to account for their inimical condnet," just then when many of the people were coming into the measures, and the cause gaining ground daily, would have an injurious effect, and they suggest that the stopping of the New Jersey forces would quiet the minds of the people. On the same day con- gress replied and assured the deputies that Colonel Herd's er- rand to the island did not in any manner relate to the people of the county, except to protect their property, and that a counter request had been forwarded to New Jersey. The two deputies were requested to attend the congress and to bring with then the proof that the majority of the people had subscribed to the association, to enable them to take their seats.
The committee of Elizabethtown had caused the apprehension and imprisonment at that place, of Isaac Decker, Abraham Har- ris and Minne Burger, and had held Richard Conner, Esq., under bonds to appear before them, upon charges not specified. The congress of New York entered into a correspondence with the committee of that place, and requested them to send the
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HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
delinquents to the county where they belonged, to be tried by the county committee. The committee of Richmond were also informed of the action of the congress, and were instructed to try the delinquents and mete ont to them impartial justice, and report to congress. On the 23d of February, Mr. Adrian Bancker's name appears among those of the members of the congress. On the 28th of February, Decker and Burger were returned to their own county, and the charges against them and Richard Conner were also transmitted to the committee of Richmond. Nothing is said of Harris.
The committee of Elizabethtown, at the time of surrendering them, disclaimed all knowledge of their offenses, but intimated that they had been arrested by Colonel Herd, at the instance of either the New York or the continental congress.
The proposed expedition of Colonel Herd to Staten Island to protect the live stock there, originated with General Lee. Hav- ing communicated his apprehensions to the committee of safety, that body, on the 10th of February, 1776, addressed a letter to the provincial congress of New Jersey, in which they say : "The entrance of Genl. Clinton into our port on pretence of merely paying a visit to Govr. Tryon, though he has been followed by a transport with troops, which we have good reason to believe are only a part of 600 that embarked with him at Boston, rend- ers it highly probable that some lodgement of troops was in- tended to be made in or near this city ; " and as no troops from New York conld be spared from its defense, and as Colonel Herd's regiment was so near Staten Island, General Lee deemed it proper that he should be sent over for its protection. The next day the committee addressed another letter to the same convention, informing them that the "Mercury," ship of war, with two transports under her convoy, had left the port, and anchored near Staten Island. and expressed their fears that the Colonel would arrive too late. In reply, the New Jersey con- gress informed the committee on the 12th that Colonel Herd, with seven hundred men, had been ordered to march immedi- ately to Staten Island. On the 17th, congress expressed their thanks to Colonel Herd for his alacrity in their service, but as the danger had now passed (probably by the departure of the ships) his services would not be required.
On the 8th of March, Hendric Garrison, of Richmond county, forwarded a complaint to the congress, that while he was attend-
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HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
ing as a witness before the committee of said county, and while under examination, the said committee permitted the defend- ants, Cornelius Martino, Richard Conner and John Burbank, to insult and abuse him, and he asked the protection of congress, as he considered his person and property unsafe. Lord Stirling, as commander of the continental troops in New York, issued a warrant to apprehend John James Boyd, of Richmond county, and to have him brought before the congress. Captain John Warner, to whom the warrant was delivered for execution, laid it before that body on the 14th of March, when it was consid- ered and decided that the said Boyd was so unimportant and in- significant a person as not to deserve the trouble and expense of apprehending him. Boyd resented this depreciation of his im- portance, and on the 21st sent a note to the committee of safety claiming to be "a steady and warm friend to his country," and pronounced any accusation against him unfounded.
On the 1st of April, 1776, Christian Jacobson, as the chairman of the county committee, reported the organization of four companies of militia in the county, the officers of which were ordered to be duly commissioned. On the 3d of April Mr. Law- rence, a member from Richmond, reported that the county was already furnished with fourteen good flats or scows, which were sufficient for the removal of the stock from the island, and that the building of two more, as previously ordered, would be a use- less expense. These scows, or flats, were held in readiness to re- move the cattle to New Jersey, if the English ships of war on the coast should attempt to seize them, as they had done in several other places.
On the 12th of April, Lord Stirling informed the committee of safety that he had General Putnam's orders to march with a brigade of troops for Staten Island, and that he would be under the necessity of quartering the soldiers in the farm-houses for the present ; he requests the people to be notified of the fact, so that they might prepare quarters most convenient to them- selves, and to be assured that he would make the residence of the troops as little burdensome as possible. The committee of Richmond were requested to prepare empty farm-houses, barns, etc., for the reception of the soldiers, and to use their "influence with the inhabitants to consider the soldiers as their country- men and fellow citizens employed in the defence of the liberties of their country in general, and of the inhabitants of Richmond
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HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
county in particular, and, endeavour to accommodate them ac- cordingly."
The question has been raised as to whether or not General Washington was ever on Staten Island in person. To this question Mr. Clute, the historian of Staten Island, has sng- gested the following considerations :
" The only evidence of the fact which is attainable at this day is contained in the extract from his carefully kept accounts with the government of the United States, which we here present. ** 1776.
Ap1. 25th, To the Exps of myself and party recctg
the sev' landing places on Staten Island . £16 10 0." " It may be said that the reconnoitering, which is almost un- intelligibly abbreviated in the original account, might have been done on the water, and quite as efficiently as on the land. The following objections, however, exist to this view of the subject :
" First .- The object of Washington was to erect fortifications and other defences on the most eligible sites, as the British did when they took possession on the following July ; and some parts of the shores-perhaps the most important-could not be examined with such an object in view, from any position at- tainable on the water.
" Second .- The Commander-in-Chief expresses himself in the above extracts, in terms similar to those used in other parts of his accounts for similar services in places not accessible by water, and
" Third .- There were two or three British vessels of-war lying near the Island, on one of which Governor Tryon had taken up his quarters, and from which he kept np an intercourse with royalists on the Island, and a reconnoitering of the shores by water would not have been permitted, to say nothing of the danger of capture."
Whether he came here and travelled over the land himself or not, certain it was that General Washington had his attention drawn to this spot, and regarded Staten Island with more than ordinary concern. There were two points of importance which called for his attention ; the sentiments of the people, and the peculiar geographical position of the island. The action of congress having somewhat modified the former, it was to the latter that he gave most of his care.
Lying between the ocean and the metropolis, and on the high-
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HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
way from the one to the other, Staten Island, early in the war, was regarded as an important location in a military point of view. Its importance was enhanced by the fact that it was situated in a bay more than half surrounded by the main land of New Jersey, and commanded not only a great part of Long Island but New York city, and a large extent of country em- bracing nearly all the northern part of New Jersey; the posses- sion of it therefore became a matter of importance to both belligerents. Washington was as prompt to perceive the natural advantages of Staten Island in a military point of view as were the British. Within a week after his personal visit to the city, he established a look-out at the Narrows, which, when the British made their appearance, sent a message by express that forty of the enemy's vessels were in sight. This informa- tion was at once forwarded to the several posts on the Hudson, with instructions to prepare to give them a warm reception if they should attempt to ascend the river. But the ships, upon their arrival, anchored off Staten Island, and landed their troops, and the hillsides were soon covered with their white tents. Military works were at once erected upon every avail- able point, thus intimating their intention of taking a perma- nent possession.
The opinion which Washington had formed of the people of Staten Island, as well as of their immediate neighbors at Am- boy, may be learned from the following extract from one of his letters: "The known disaffection of the people of Amboy, and the treachery of those of Staten Island, who, after the fairest professions, have shown themselves our inveterate enemies. have induced me to give directions that all persons of known enmity and doubtful character should be removed from these places."
On the 2d of May, Mr. Garrison (Hendric), chairman of the county committee, was present at the meeting of the committee of safety, and inquired whether the people would be paid for fire-wood furnished to the troops in Richmond county, and for their labor in preparing the guard house, at the requestof Lord Stirling, and was referred to Colonel Mifflin. Hence, we infer that some of Lord Stirling's troops had taken up their quarters on the island.
On the 6th of May, General Washington wrote to the con- mittee of safety, informing them that Peter Poillon, of Rich-
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HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
mond county, had been arrested for supplying the king's ships with provisions. On the 8th, Poillon was brought before the committee and examined. He did not deny the charge, but pleaded in extenuation that the regulations for preventing in- tercourse with the king's ships had not been published in Rich- mond county until the 2d or 3d of that month, and that there- fore he was ignorant of them; he stated farther, that he left home with a considerable sum of money to discharge a debt in Kings county, together with some articles of provision for New York market of the value of about three pounds; that while passing the ship of war "Asia," at as great a distance as he safely could, he was fired at and could not escape; he proved further, by reputable witnesses, that he was a respectable man, and had always been esteemed a friend to the liberties of his country. He was discharged with a caution hereafter to keep at a safe distance from the king's ship, and to warn his fellow citizens of Richmond county to do the same.
May 18th 1776, a certificate signed by Christian Jacobson, chairman of the Richmond county committee, dated April 22d, 1776, was presented to the provincial congress, and attested by Israel D. Bedell, clerk, and directed to Paul Micheau, Richard Comer, Aaron Cortelyou and John Journey, was read and filed, whereby it appeared that these gentlemen had been elected to represent Richmond county in that body, with power to any two of them to meet to constitute a quorum, the second Tuesday of May, 1777.
On the 5th of June, 1776, congress issued an order for the arrest of a number of persons in several counties who were in- imical to the cause of America; those from Richmond county were Isaac Decker, Abm. Harris, Ephm. Taylor and Minne Burger. They also ordered that several persons who held office under the king should be summoned to appear before the con- gress, and among them are found the names of Benjamin Sea- man and Christopher Billop, of Richmond.
There is nothing in the "Journal of the Congress" to show that these orders and resolutions were ever carried into effect.
During the early part of the year 1776 the popular feeling in the colonies had become so much aroused that the officers of the king were obliged in many cases to use considerable caution in order to save their own persons from violence. William Tryon, the last of the royal governors, had indeed retired from the city
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HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
of New York, and taken his position on board the ship " Halifax," during the previous autumn, and there he wrote to Mayor Whitehead Hicks, of New York, October 19, as follows: " SIR,
" Finding your letter of yesterday insufficient for the secur- ity I requested from the Corporation and Citizens, and objec- tionable for the mode in which you obtained the sense of the inhabitants, my duty directed me for the present instant to re- move on board this ship; where I shall be ready to do such business of the country, as the situation of the times will per- mit. The citizens, as well as the inhabitants of the province, may be assured of my inclination to embrace every means in my power to restore the peace, good order, and authority of gov- ernment.
" I am, Sir, " Your most obedient servant, WILLIAM TRYON."
In Jannary, 1776, General Clinton having been sent by Howe on an expedition along the Atlantic coast, while on his way from Boston to Virginia, came to anchor at Sandy Hook and had an interview with Tryon and other friends of the king who had been obliged to take shelter in vessels, after which the y went on their way southward. Howe, with his army, about 12,000 strong, evacuated Boston March 17th, and falling back to Halifax awaited with the fleet the arrival of his brother with reinforcements from England. Becoming impatient of delay he made ready and sailed from that place for the expected seat of war at New York on the 12th of June, and arrived off Sandy Hook on the 25th. Here he waited for the arrival of the fleet, which came up on the 29th. Admiral Lord Howe, with part of the reinforcements from England, arrived at Halifax soon after his brother's departure, but withont dropping anchor he fol- lowed and joined him here. The British general, on his ap- proach, found every part of New York island, and the most exposed parts of Long Island fortified and well defended by ar- tillery. Finding Staten Island had not been so well fortified for protection the fleet anchored near here and it was determined to make use of this spot for a rendezvous while awaiting the arrival of other forces and the completion of arrangements for penetrating into the country and maturing any other plans for action.
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HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
On the 3d of July the fleet moved up to the Narrows, and the grenadiers and light infantry were landed under cover of the frigates and sloops of war. General Howe declared this was done " to the great joy of a most loyal people, long suffering on that account under the oppression of the rebels stationed among them, who precipitately fled on the approach of the shipping." The remainder of the army were landed in the course of the day, and the whole were distributed in canton- ments, where they found the best refreshments. The headquar- ters were at Richmond. The landing of the troops was made in a very orderly manner, under the direction of Captains Ray- nor, of the ship "Chatham," and Curtis, of the ship "Sene- gal," and to the entire satisfaction of General Howe. As the Americans were strongly posted and in great force, both on Long Island and at New York, having upwards of a hundred cannon for defending the city, Howe resolved to defer his scheme of ascending the North river, and to remain in his present position until he should be joined by Clinton and the expected reinforce- ments from England. The latter arrived at Staten Island on the 12th of July, and Lord Howe assumed the command of the fleet on the American station The fleet numbered one hundred and thirteen sail and they lay in a line extending from the mouth of the Kill von Kull to Simonson's ferry at the Narrows. As they were coming in, the "Asia," which brought up the rear of the fleet, was fired at from a small battery on Long Island commanding the Narrows. The fire was returned by about forty 24-ponnders, one of which lodged in the wall of a private house there. Another shot struck the house of Mr. Denyse Denyse afterward of Staten Island, wounding a negro servant in the foot and narrowly missing the kitchen, where a number of the family were at work. A second shot struck the barn on the same place, and a third destroyed much of the garden fence opposite the front door of the mansion house. This is said to have been the first blood shed in this quarter in the war.
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