History of Rockland County, New York : with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Part 3

Author: Cole, David, 1822-1903, ed. cn; Beers, J. B., & co., New York, pub
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: New York : J. B. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 993

USA > New York > Rockland County > History of Rockland County, New York : with biographical sketches of its prominent men > Part 3

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The Continental Congress assembled on the roth of May, and on the 22nd of the same month a Provincial Congress assembled in New York.

In August an attack was made by the British ship of war " Asia " on a party who were engaged in removing some cannon from the battery in New York, and considerable damage was done to the buildings in the vicinity but the guns were removed. In the autumn an armament was 'collected by General Schuyler at Ticonderoga and an ex- pedition went against Canada. The forts at Chambly, St. Johns and Montreal were taken, and Quebec was as- saulted, but the colonial force was here repulsed and driven out of Canada.

CHAPTER IV.

REVOLUTIONARY EVENTS IN NEW YORK-THE STATE GOV- ERNMENT ESTABLISHED.

ARLY in 1776 General Lee, with a force of twelve hundred men, occupied the city of New York. General Schuyler with a small force had disarmed the tories of the Mohawk valley and a like service had been rendered on Long Island by the New Jersey militia. About the first of July General Howe who had previously evacuated Boston and sailed for Halifax, appeared off

Sandy Hook with his army, where he was soon afterward joined by his brother, Admiral Howe, with a force of British regulars and Hessians, and Clinton and Parker. on their return from an unsuccessful attack on Charles- ton, making an aggregate force of about 30,000 mnen.

The Provincial Congress of New York adjourned to White Plains, where it convened on the 9th of July, and ratified the Declaration of Independence by the Conti- nental Congress.

On the 22nd of August a British force landed on Long Island, and on the 27th a battle was fought, resulting in the defeat of the Americans, who on the night of the 29th, favored by a thick fog, retreated to New York. The plan had been formed to capture New York, ascend the Hudson, effect a junction with a force from Canada under General Carlton, and thus cut off communication between the patriots of New England and those of the middle and southern colonies; but the movements of Washington and the failure of Carlton frustrated the plan.

On the 15th of September General Howe took posses- sion of New York, and the Americans retreated to Har- lem Heights. General Howe sought to gain their rear, but Washington's movements frustrated his designs.

Opposed to General Carlton at the north was General Gates, who abandoned Crown Point and concentrated his forces at Ticonderoga. A small squadron was formed and placed on Lake Champlain under command of Arnold in August. An action took place in October between this squadron and the fleet which Carlton had prepared at St. Johns, in which the Americans were de- feated and fell back on Ticonderoga. Not deeming it prudent to attack them there General Carlton withdrew to Canada.

On the 21st of April 1777 a State constitution was adopted, and under it George Clinton was elected gov- ernor, and he assumed the duties of the office on the 31st of the following July.

The principal object of the British in the campaign of 1777 was to carry out the cherished design of separating the eastern from the southern colonies by controlling the Hudson River and Lake Champlain. Lieutenant-General Burgoyne, who had superseded General Carlton, was to force his way from Canada, and meet Sir Henry Clinton at Albany, while Colonel St. Leger was to ascend the St. Lawrence, and, with a force of loyalists and Indians, sweep. through the Mohawk valley from Oswego and Rome, and join them at Albany.

In June Burgoyne moved on Ticonderoga, which the American commander, General St. Clair, evacuated. As the American army retreated some fighting took place, without decisive results, till at Bennington the Amer- icans, under General Stark, achieved a victory over a detachment of the enemy under Colonel Baum, who was slain.

Colonel St. Leger advanced and invested Fort Schuy- ler, otherwise called Fort Stanwix, now Rome. The battle of Oriskany was fought, soon after which St. Leger abandoned his undertaking and returned to Canada.

OUTLINE HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

General Burgoyne advanced to Saratoga, where he was surrounded, and on the 17th of October was compelled to surrender.

While operations were in progress in the vicinity of Saratoga Sir Henry Clinton sought to make a diversion in favor of Burgoyne. He proceeded up the Hudson, captured Forts Montgomery and Clinton, devastated the settlements along the banks of the river, burnt Kingston, and, on learning of the surrender of Burgoyne, returned to New York.

In the campaigns of 1778 and 1779 no very important operations were carried on in New York. The Indians of the Six Nations (except the Oneidas and a few others) were induced to carry on against the Americans their savage and cruel warfare, and devastation, slaughter and massacres were the result. To arrest these depredations General Sullivan, in the summer of 1779, with an army of 3,000 men, ascended the Susquehanna to Tioga Point, where he was joined by General Clinton with a thousand men. With these forces they penetrated the country of the savages, destroyed their towns, and laid waste their cornfields and orchards. Though not subdued by this punishment, they were so crippled that their inroads were less frequent and destructive afterward.

During the years 1780 and 1781 the Mohawk valley was the scene of devastation by the savages of the Six Nations, particularly the Mohawks, under their celebrated chief Brant; but aside from these New York was not the scene of important hostile operations. The year 1780 was made memorable by the treason of Arnold. This gallant officer had, for some irregularities in Philadelphia in 1778, been court-martialed and sentenced to be repri- manded by the commander-in-chief. He apparently ac- quiesced in the sentence, but his pride was deeply wounded, and he thirsted after revenge. He solicited and obtained command of West Point, and entered into negotiations with Sir Henry Clinton for the delivery of that fortress into the hands of the British. In the course of these negotiations Major Andre, of the British army, met General Arnold on the banks of the Hudson. In attempting to return he was captured, about thirty miles from New York, by three militiamen named Paulding, Williams and Van Wert, who refused his offered bribes and delivered him to their commander. He was tried, condemned and executed as a spy.

The Revolutionary war virtually closed with the sur- render of Cornwallis and his army at Yorktown on the 19th of October, 1781. A treaty of peace was entered into on the 3d of September, 1783, and on the 25th of November in the same year the British troops evacuated on New York.

After the United States had achieved their independ- ence it was early perceived that the confederation, which had been established for a particular purpose, lacked that cohesive force which was requisite for an effectual national government. Measures were accordingly insti- tuted, first for a revision of the Articles of Confederation, but finally the formation of a national constitution was determined on; and such constitution was formed by the | the remainder of the year.

convention in Philadelphia in 1787. After its adoption by the requisite number of States it was ratified in con- vention by the State of New York, by a close vote, on the 26th of July, 1788, but with the recommendation of several amendments, which, however, were not adopted.

The difficulties arising out of the conflicting claims of New York and New Hampshire to the territory now com- prising Vermont, which had been held in partial abey- ance during the Revolutionary struggle, were finally set- tled by the admission of the disputed territory into the Union as a State, in 1790, under the name of Vermont.

By reason of indefiniteness and confusion in the original grants Massachusetts claimed a portion of the territory of New York. This claim was settled by the cession to Massachusetts of all rights, except that of political sov- ereignty, over about one-fourth of the State. The largest tract of these lands, embracing what has been known as the Genesee country, was sold by Massachusetts for the sum of one million dollars.

CHAPTER V.

THE WAR OF 1812 BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND GREAT BRITAIN.

T the commencement of the present century difficulties arose between this country and Great Britain concerning the rights of neutrals on the seas, and the aggressions of the British became a subject of bitter animosity. In ad- dition to other encroachments, the English gov- ernment claimed the right to search American ves- sels and impress into their service such of their crews as they chose to regard as British subjects. Outrages were committed in the enforcement of this pretended right, and for the suppression of the practice, and the vindication of the national honor, war became necessary; and it was declared on the 19th of June, 1812. To this measure there was a strong opposition, both in New England and New York, and this opposition embarrassed the govern- ment to some extent in the prosecution of the war. An invasion of Canada was determined on, and for that pur- pose forces were collected in the vicinity of Plattsburg, on Lake Champlain, under General Dearborn, and at Lewiston, on the Niagara River, under General Van Rensselaer. A naval force was fitted up on the lakes, and Commodore Chauncey was placed in command of it. Unsuccessful attacks were made by the British fleet on Sackett's Harbor and Ogdensburg, while, on the other hand, the British vessel "Caledonia " was captured at the foot of Lake Erie An attack was made on the heights at Queenston, on the Canadian bank of the Niagara, and though at first the Americans were success- ful they were finally compelled to surrender. Nothing beyond slight skirmishing occurred in this quarter during

THE WAR OF 1812-THE REBELLION.

Early in the spring of 1813 a successful expedition to Canada was made from Ogdensburg, and in retaliation an attack was made on that place, some stores taken, sev- eral vessels destroyed and the property of citizens injured. In April a successful expedition was sent by General Dearborn against York, now Toronto. In May the Brit- ish were driven from Fort George, on the Niagara River, near Lake Ontario, and the enemy's post on that frontier evacuated. Sackett's Harbor was attacked by the British, who were repulsed, and an unsuccessful attack was also made by them on the village of Black Rock.

The brilliant victory of Commodore Perry, on Lake Erie, was achieved on the roth of September in this year, but the operations on . Lake Ontario were less decisive. Late in the autumn an unsuccessful attempt was made to invade Canada under General Wilkinson. The Ameri- can generals Izard and Hampton were repulsed near the border of Franklin county. In December the British took Fort Niagara, and massacred a large part of the gar- rison and even hospital patients. Lewiston was burned, and the villages of Youngstown, Manchester, Schlosser and the Indian village of Tuscarora were devastated by the enemy. The village of Black Rock and Buffalo were also burned, and thus the desolation of the Niagara fron- tier was completed.

Early in 1814 an attempt was made by the British to capture some military stores at Oswego Falls, but without succ .ss. On the 3d of July, 1814, Fort Erie was taken by the Americans, and on the 25th a battle was fought at Lundy's Lane. In August Fort Erie was besieged by the British, who were compelled to retire about the mid- dle of September.

The plan of a dismemberment of the Union, by pos- sessing Lake Champlain and the Hudson River from the north, and capturing New York, was again formed, and it was hoped that discontent and opposition to the war in New England, and possibly in New York, might lead to the conclusion of a separate peace with these States. The people, however, were fully aroused, and the de- fenses of New York were strengthened and strongly gar- risoned. An invasion was undertaken from Canada, and a descent was made on Plattsburg by an army of 14,000 j and peace has since prevailed.

men under Sir George Prevost, but after a severe engage- ment on the 11th of September this army was compelled to retire with great loss. The British fleet, under Com- modore Downie, was on the same day captured on Lake Champlain by Commodore Macdonough. No further invasion of this frontier took place. On the 24th of De- cember a treaty of peace was concluded at Ghent.

No other interruption of the peaceful relations between this country and England has occurred. Some infrac- tions of the neutrality laws have been attempted by peo- ple on the Canadian frontier, the chief of which took place during the Canadian rebellion, commonly known as the " Patriot war," in 1837-38.

What were known as the anti-rent disturbances com. menced as early as 1839, and were not terminated till 1846. Liws were enacted to modify the process of col- lecting rents and to extend the time for "re-entry " on

lands where rents were in arrears. Participators in out- rages were pardoned, and quiet was finally restored.

The annexation of Texas to the United States led to hostilities between Mexico and this nation, and on the IIth of May, 1846, Congress declared that, by the acts of the Mexicans, war existed between the two nations. The Americans were victorious in all important engage- ments with the Mexican army, and the part taken by the troops from the State of New York was conspicuous and highly creditable to their valor.

From time to time the Legislature enacted laws con- cerning slavery, down to the year 1819. A law passed in 1799 provided for the gradual extinction of slavery in the State. "In 1817 a further act was passed, decreeing that there should be no slavery in the State after the 4th of July, 1827. Ten thousand slaves were set free by this act.'

The recognition of slavery in the territories of the United States was earnestly resisted during many years, and the controversy finally resulted in a gigantic civil war. On the election of Abraham Lincoln to the pres- idency, in 1860, on the platform of avowed hostility to the extension of slavery, and the failure to effect a com- promise by which the institution should be recognized or tolerated in any of the territories, the southern States de- termined to secede from the Union and establish a sep- arate government. The attack by the Confederates, as these States styled themselves, on Fort Sumter was the first overt act of the Rebellion, and on its occurrence, in April, 1861, was the commencement of active hostilities. Before the close of that year the State of New York had placed in the field one hundred and fifteen regiments.

In July, 1863, during the execution of a draft ordered by Congress, an alarming riot occurred in the city of New York. The police were unable to check its progress, and during several days the city was convulsed with law- lessness, rapine and murder. The outbreak was finally quelled by military force, but not until a large amount of ': property had been destroyed and many lives sacrificed. The war was prolonged till the spring of 1865, when it terminated with the complete success of the Union arms,

CHAPTER VI.

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS - CONSTITUTIONAL AMEND- MENTS-SCHOOLS-STATISTICS.

N 1791 the Legislature ordered an exploration and survey to ascertain the most eligible method of removing obstructions from the Mohawk and Hudson rivers, with a view to improve their navigation by the construction of . canals. The following year two companies were incorporated, styled the Northern and West- ern Inland Lock Navigation Companies, for the purpose

OUTLINE HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

of facilitating navigation by connecting Lake Ontario | on the 4th of June, and continued its session, except with the Mohawk and Lake Champlain with the Hudson by canals.

In I810 a provision was made by the Legislature " for exploring the route of an inland navigation from Hudson's River to Lake Ontario and Lake Erie." It was at first proposed to solicit aid from the general government to carry out this work, but in 1812 a commission reported to the Legislature that sound policy demanded that this should be done by the State. War with Great Britain interrupted the project.

On the termination of the war the policy was revived; and notwithstanding the formidable character of the un- dertaking, and the difficulties in its way, through the the constitution of the State, the right of the elective untiring energy and perseverance of De Witt Clinton an franchise has been extended; till now complete manhood suffrage is established. act prepared by him was passed in April, 1817, author- izing the construction of the work. It was commenced on the 4th of July in that year, and on the 26th of Oc- tober, 1825, the first flotilla of boats left Buffalo for New

In 1787 a law was enacted incorporating the Regents of the University of New York, and in their report for 1793 they called attention to the importance of instituting York. The departure of this flotilla was communicated a common school system. . At different times from 1787 to New York in one hour and twenty minutes, by the dis- charge of cannon stationed within hearing of each other. This was then regarded as a rapid transmission of intelli- gence.

The first railroad in the State, that between Albany and Schenectady, was chartered in 1826 and completed in 1831. Other roads through the central portion of the State were soon constructed, and railroad connection be- tween the great lakes and Hudson River established. In substantially the features of the system as it existed up to

1851 these different roads were consolidated into the 1840. Changes in this system have from time to time been inade, till now the free school system of this State is believed to be, with scarcely an exception, the most nearly perfect of all in existence. present immense New York Central Railroad, and subse- quently connection was cstablished, through the Hudson River Railroad, with the city of New York. In 1833 the New York and Erie Railway was commenced, but it was The State Agricultural Society, which has been pro- ductive of such great benefit, was organized at a conven- tion in Albany in 1832. It was rcorganized in 1841, and measures were adopted for raising funds and holding not completed till 1852. The enlargement of the Erie Canal to its present capacity was commenced in 1835 and completed in 1862. These constitute the main avennes of travel and transportation through the State between | annual fairs. the eastern and western extremities, but connecting routes In 1836 the Legislature ordered a scientific survey of the State for the purpose of developing a knowledge of in every direction have come into existence, and the fa- cilities for transportation and travel in this State are not its geology, mineralogy and natural history. The pub- lished reports of this survey are of very great value.

excelled by those of any other. It is hardly necessary to call attention to the telegraph lines that ramify through all parts of the State.

It has already been stated that a State constitution was adopted in 1777. Several amendments to this constitu- sion were adopted in a convention held for that purpose in 1801. In 1821 it was revised by a convention chosen for that purpose, and the new constitution was adopted early in 1822, at a popular election held for that purpose, by a majority of more than 33,000 in a total vote of 116,919.

On the Ist of June, 1846, another constitutional con- vention met at Albany, and it continued in session more than four months. The amendments to the constitution adopted by that body werc ratificd by the people in the following November by a majority of more than 20,000 votes.

In 1867 another constitutional convention assembled,

during an adjournment of two months, several weeks into 1868. The amended constitution framed by this con- vention was submitted to the people in November, 1869, and resulted in its rejection, except the article making changes in the judiciary, by a majority of more than 66,000. The judiciary article was accepted by a small majority.

In 1872 a commission of thirty-two persons was ap- pointed to propose to the Legislature amendments to the constitution. In 1873 several important amendments were recommended, and ratified at the election in 1874. It is a notable fact that, as changes have been made in

to 1795 Governor Clinton called the attention of the Legislature to the same subject, and in that year an act was passed appropriating $50,000 annually for five years for the encouragement of schools. In 1805, after atten- tion had repeatedly been called to the subject by the dif- ferent governors, the Legislature passed an act laying the foundation of the present common school fund. In IS12 the first common school system was adopted, comprising

The following list of the governors, lieutenant-govern- ors and presidents of the council who have administered the government of the colony and State of New York from 1629 to the present time will be found convenient for reference.

Under the Dutch regime: Wouter Van Twiller, 1629; William Kieft, 1638; Peter Stuyvesant, 1647.

English governors, etc .: Richard Nicolls, 1664; Francis Lovelace, 1667; Anthony Colve, on the recapture of the province by the Dutch, 1673. After the surrender to the English: Sir Edmund Andros, 1674; Anthony Brockholls, 1681; Thomas Dongan, 1683; Francis Nicholson, 1688; Jacob Leisler, 1689; Henry Sloughter, 1691; Richard Ingolds by, 1691; Benjamin Fletcher, 1692; Richard, Earl of Bellomont, 1698; John Nanfan, 1699; Lord Cornbury, 1702; Lord Lovelace, 1708; Richard Ingoldsby. 1709; Gerardus Beekman, 1710; Robert Hunter, 1710;

NEW YORK STATE OFFICERS.

l'eter Schuyler, 1719; William Burnet, 1720; John Mont- gomery, 1728; Rip Van Dam, 1731; William Cosby, 1732; George Clark, 1736; George Clinton, 1743; Sir Danvers Osborne, 1753; James De Lancey, 1755; Sir Charles Hardy, 1755; James De Lancey, 1757; Cadwallader Col- den, 1760; Robert Monkton, 1762; Cadwallader Colden, 1763; Sir Henry Moore, 1765; John, Earl of Dunmore, 1770; William Tryon, 1771; Cadwallader Colden, 1774: William Tryon, 1775; James Robertson, 1780; Andrew Elliot, 1783; Peter Van Brugh Livingston, 1775.

Presidents of 2d Provincial Congress: Nathaniel Wood- hull, 1775; Abraham Yates jr., 1775; Nathaniel Wood- hull, 1776; John Haring, 1775; Abraham Yates jr., 1776; Peter R. Livingston, 1776; Abraham Ten Broeck, 1777; Leonard Gansevoort, 1777.

President of the Council of Safety: Pierre Van Cort- land, 1777.

Governors of the State: George Clinton, 1777; John Jay, 1795; George Clinton, 1801; Morgan Lewis, 1804; Daniel D. Tompkins, 1807; De Witt Clinton, 1817 ; Joseph C. Yates, 1823; De Witt Clinton, 1826; Martin Van Buren, 1829; Enos T. Throop, 1831; William L. Marcy, 1833; William H. Seward, 1839; William C. Bouck, 1843; Silas Wright, 1845; John Young, 1847; Hamilton Fish, 1849; Washington Hunt, 1851; Horatio Seymour, 1853; Myron H. Clark, 1857; John A. King, 1857; Edwin D. Morgan, 1859; Horatio Seymour, 1863; Reuben E. Fenton, 1865; John T. Hoffman, 1869: John A. Dix, 1873; Samuel J. Tilden, 1875; Lucius Robinson, 1877; A. B. Cornell, 1881; Grover Cleveland, 1883.

Lieutenant Governors of the State: Pierre Van Cort- landt, 1777; Stephen Van Rensselaer, 1795; Jeremiah Van Rensselaer, I851; John Broome, 1804; John Tay- lor, President pro tem. of Senate, 1811; De Witt Clinton, 1811; John Taylor. 1813; Erastus Root, 1823; James Tallmadge, 1825; Nathaniel Pitcher, 1827; Peter R. Livingston, President pro tem. of Senate, :828; Enos T. Throop, 1829; William M. Oliver, President pro tem. of Senate, 1830; Edward P. Livingston, 1831; John Tracy, 1833; Luther Bradish, 1839; Daniel S. Dickinson, 1843; Addison Gardiner, 1845; Hamilton Fish, 1848; George WV. Patterson, 1849; Sanford E. Church, 1851; Henry J. Raymond, 1855; Henry R. Selden, 1857; Robert Camp- bell. 1859; David R. Floyd Jones, 1863; Thomas G. Al- vord, 1865; Steward L. Woodford, 1867; A. C. Beach, 1869; John L. Robinson, 1873; William Dorsheimer, 1875; George G. Hoskins, 1880; David B. Hill, 1883.

1861; Chauncey M. Depew, 1863; Francis C. Barlow, 1865; Homer A. Nelson, 1867; G. Hilton Scribner, 1871; Diedrich Willers jr., 1873; John Bigelow, 1875; Allen C. Beach, 1877; Joseph B. Carr, 1879, 1883.

Controllers : Samuel Jones, 1797 ; John V. Henry, $ 800; Elisha Jenkins, 1801; Archibald McIntyre, 1806; John Savage, 1821; William L. Marcy, 1823; Silas Wright jr., 1829; Azariah C. Flagg, 1834; Bates Cook, 1839; John A. Collier, 1841; Azariah C. Flagg, 1842; Millard Fillmore, 1847; Washington Hunt, 1849; Philo C. Fuller, 1850; John C. Wright, 1851; James M. Cook, 1853; Lorenzo Burrows, 1855; Sanford E. Church, 1857; Robert Denniston, 1859; Lucius Robinson, 1861; Thom- as Hillhouse, 1865; William F. Allen, 1867; Asher P. Nichols, 1870; Nelson K. Hopkins, 1871; Lucius Rob- inson, 1875; Frederick P. Olcott, 1877; James W. Wads- worth, 1879; Ira Davenport, 1881; Alfred C. Chapin, 1883.

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History of Rockland County, New York : with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Part 3

Author: Cole, David, 1822-1903, ed. cn; Beers, J. B., & co., New York, pub Publication date: 1884 Publisher: New York : J. B. Beers & co. Number of Pages: 993

Author: Cole, David, 1822-1903, ed. cn; Beers, J. B., & co., New York, pub
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: New York : J. B. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 993