USA > New York > Schoharie County > History of Schoharie County, New York : with illusustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 6
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33
TREATMENT OF INDIANS.
When the Indian could not be pursuaded to bargain with the tradesman, rum was freely given him and while under its potent influence, whatever he possessed was easily obtained. Many of the finest tracts of land upon the Mohawk and Schoharie rivers were obtained from the.n for a mere trifle in that way and by the commencement of the Revolution, scarcely sixty years after his acquaintance with the whites, his hunting grounds and even the soil upon which stood his wigwam were in possession of the white man. The same treatment we find meted to them to-day, throughout the West, even under the knowledge of the government to which they look up as their Father. When they resist in their weakness, the encroachments upon their promised rights, the glittering bayonets of an army of annihilation, drive them to submit to every imposition that traders and agents feel disposed to inflict upon them. Allowing that the majority of the Schoharie tribe were refugees from the council fires of old tribes, it was no excuse for taking undue advantage of them.
After the Mohawks learned a few of the white man's tricks, they often proved themselves equal to like emergencies and as often showed a dis- position to do right. We found a petition in the Secretary's office that was forwarded to Gov. Hardy in September, 1755, to aright a transac- tion in which they were interested as business men, without the power to settle the matter themselves. It is as follows :-
"To his Excellency The Honorable Sir Charles Hardy Esq, Captain-General & Governor in Chief in, and over his Majesties Province of New York & Territories Thereunto belonging Vice Admiral & Chancellor of the same.
"The Humble petition of the Mohawk In- dians Living in Schohare his Majesties Loyal Subjects & Soldiers Whose names are hereunto subscribed most Submissively Sheweth That your Honors ree Sold some pasture Land to Johannes Lawyer of Schoharry That lay Con- tigus to two farms he had, one of said farms bounded with the land of Nickolas Mattice & the pasture and wood land Joining to said Mat- tice farm ye petes Excepted out of the sale made to Lawyer, having covenanted with Nickolus Mattise for that part that lay convenient to him. & when said Lawyer brought the Surveyor-
General's Deputy to lay out the land ye Excel- lency's Petª by noe means suffer the Surveyor to lay out that land covenanted with Mattice, for a song with Lawyer. Except for Mattice use & thien agreed upon, it should be for the use of Mattice. The Land was laid out, under one which made the coarse the easier for the Surveyor to run, all this very well known to the Surveyor and some of the principle men of Scoharry who are men of credit & veracity.
" Now Lawyer have gott a patent by which, he says takes all the land as well as Mattice as what we sold him & if so it is by folse & Injust Insinuation to the Secretary. Lawyer absolute- ly refuses to let Mattice have the land we re- served to him Except he bot it at a Extravagant prise, he also sent for us the other day to pay for the land and desired we should give him a Receit in full in order to have to Shew he had a right for Mattice as well as his own in order to cloak his Injust dealings, which we refused, Either to take the money or give a receit, May it therefore please your Excellency to Consider the premises, with the many agrivating Cir- cumstances & that your wonted Probity & Justice may be herein manifested by Rectify- ing the Injury done to ye Excelly pets & that Nicholas Mattice have his part of the land ac- cording to our Covenant & for ye Excellency long life & prosperity yr Petª as in duty bound will Ever pray
LOWES CAREKE DUMTE SETH CAREKE DUMTE SETH CAREKE DUMTE Junior HANS VRE CAREKE DUMTE MARGRET CAREKE DUMTE MARY CAREKE DUMTE CATHREN CAREKE DUMTE"
The above were Mohawk Indians, and a like exhibition of fairness in their dealings, was made at Johnson Hall on the 9th of April, 1767, as published in the Documentary History of New York, in a speech by Abraham, one of the Sachems, before Sir William Johnson. He said :-
" Brother GORAH WARRAGHIIYAGEY
" We are come to acquaint you with a very extraordinary affair which we were yesterday made acquainted with by some of our Neigh-
34
HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY.
bors of Scoharee, and as it concerns us, We would be glad to hear from you the reason of such doings.
" It is concerning the Lands we sold when the Governor was at your house last fall, for the use of Hannis Lawyer & his associates, from whom we then received the full considera- tion for which we agreed, and now we under- stand that Lawyer and his friends, are to have but half of it-To us such doings appear strange, and I believe You would think hard of us were We to act so.
" We cannot therefore in Justice to these people (who have been long about that Tract, and at a good deal of expense beside the pur- chase money) allow the Land to be Surveyed for People with whom we are not ac- quainted neither did we hear of the least inten- tion they had in purchasing them Lands, and if they had applied, we could not think of leting them, or any other sett of People have the Land which we had so long ago promised to the pur- chasers, which you may reinember Brother, we declared to the Governor at the time the Deed lay on your Table ready to be signed, & gave our reason then for it, which together with the carefull manner everything was then done, we imagined there never could be any the least squabble about it hereafter, but in sliort Brother, we are sorry to see that the White People (who have more sense than we) will for the sake of getting land wrong one another, since that is the case, what are we Indians to expect from you.
" Brother, We have no more to say to the sub- ject but to request you will let us know if you can, the reason for such doings. If you cannot, we would beg of you to Enquire of the Gov- enor, who no doubt is acquainted with every thing relative to the affair, as it was transacted in his presence."
Writers variously estimate the number of In- dians supposed to be residents of the valley from time to time, ranging from three to six hundred, but we do not think they ever numbered over the former, if as many.
The " Memorial Concerning the Iriquois," by the Rev. Chas. Inglis, written in 1770, and dic- tated by Sir Wm. Johnson, says at that date, " The Mohawks have three villages, Schoare,
Fort Hunter, and Canajoharie, they are all within the English settlement and contain 420 souls." The Schoharie tribe being much the smaller of the three, quite probably their num- bers would not at that time number one hun- dred. The settlers of Schoharie were chiefly engaged in agricultural pursuits. Yet every able- bodied male over eighteen and under forty-five, was enrolled as a soldier. Sir Wm. Johnson was in command over all regiments north of the highlands, as Major-General.
Schoharie furnished a regiment that numbered, as far as we can learn, nearly three hundred, over which Jacob Sternberghi was colonel. Peter B. Vroman and Jacob Hager, were captains of companies several years, and did service under the Crown at Oswego, Niagara and Fort George. It appears that the former captain was a military man, and did but little else than perform mili- tary duty. Sir Wm. Johnson must have thought highly of him, as when a vacancy of a major in the regiment occurred in 1769. he repeatedly insisted to Governor Colden, upon his promo- tion to that position, and Vroman was honored by the appointment in 1770.
Previous to March 12, 1772, the whole terri- tory of Schoharie was in Albany county, and at that date a line was established which gave the western part of the present county to Tryon, and the eastern to Albany.
A line was drawn from St. Regis. upon the St. Lawrence river, to a point upon the south bank of the Mohawk, some distance west of Schenectady, it being the northeast corner of a lot of land granted to William Crosby, Jr., in 1735, running from thence to the Indian stone heap upon Bowen's tract, (near Sloansville,) and from thence to a pine tree, now a stump, in the Bear Swamp of Carlisle, which is the northeast cor- ner of the " Dorlach " purchase, thence to Lake Utsayantho, in the town of Jefferson, and from thence following the Delaware river to the south bounds of the Province. All west of this line was Tryon county. The present towns of Sharon, Seward, Richmondville, and a greater portion of Summit and Jefferson, were in Tryon, and continued so up to the year 1784, when Tryon was changed to Montgomery, in honor of the patriot who fell at Quebec.
Previous to 1765 all civil officers of authority
35
.
SCHOHARIE AT THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE REVOLUTION.
over the Schoharie district were chosen from Albany, and the supervisor was to be chosen from the corporation. The people had no re- dress except by petitions which were frequently indited to the Governor, for his influence in their behalf. Who was the scribe we are unable to say. Each writing denotes a fair scholar, and nearly all seems to have been written by the same person.
The Lawyer family were business men, but there was a resemblance in their hand-writing, which was unlike the documents to which we refer. The omission of words by wear and fading of ink, renders all, with but one excep- tion, useless to copy. After the year above mentioned, the Supervisor and Justices were chosen from Scholarie. Marcus Bellinger was Supervisor for several years but who, if any, officiated beside, we have been unable to learn.
CHAPTER III.
LOYALTY OF GERMANSTO BRITAIN-SACREDNESS OF OATH -- MOHAWKS AND TOMAIIAWKS -- INDE- CISION OF MANY -- ROUSED TO ACTION-SECRET MEETING AND RESOLUTION-FIRST COMMIT- TEE OF SAFETY-MILITARY DISTRICT AND OFFICERS - EVENTS OF 1777-DIVISION OF SCHOHARIE- MCDONALD'S INVASION -- THE HARPERS - ADAM CRYSLER - SKIRMISH AT ORISKANY-BEMIS HEIGHTS - BUILDING OF FORTS-BATTLE AT COBLESKILL-MORGAN'S CORPS -CRYSLER AT TURLOCH AND AT VRO- MANSLAND-JOHNSON AND BRANT'S INVASION AT MIDDLE FORT-LOWER FORT-INCIDENTS -BRAVE WOMEN-COL. VROMAN'S MARCH TO MOHAWK-SETH HENRY AT "TURLOCH "- DOCKSTADER AT CURRYTOWN AND SHARON- WILLET-SETH HENRY AT FOX'S CREEK- CRYSLER AT VROMANSLAND IN 1781-CAPT. HAGER'S FIGHT AT THE LAKE-CAMPBELL'S AND SIMMS' LABORS - RETURNED TORIES AND INDIANS-MUSTER ROLL OF 1777-
SCHONARIE SUPPLIES-DIVISION OF ALBANV COUNTY-INUNDATION OF SCHONARIE RIVER -FALSE STORIES, ETC.
THE settlements of Schoharie, which in- cluded those along the Schoharie Creek and its tributaries and the sparse ones of Sew- ard and Sharon. (old Dorlach) up to the com- mencement of the Revolutionary struggle had been quiet and progressive.
Occasional fears were aroused by the British officers as to the imagined invasion of the French and French Indians during hostilities between the English and French Governments. During all the wars from the time the Germans came across the ocean up to the Revolution, they and their descendants proved true to the English Government.
Quite a number from this isolated section, as before stated, took an active part in the contests at Fort George, Oswego and Niagara, where they did signal service. All of the companies were equipped with guns and the necessary ac- coutrements and drilled in a rude way, which proved to be a schooling for them in the use of arms when they needed such discipline in their struggle for liberty.
It must be borne in mind that both classes of Dutch, high and low, found in these settlements, were very conscientious as a mass, in their duty to God and to each other. One characteristic was more prominently displayed perhaps than any other; that of the sacredness of their word, especially an oath, and we find many who held military positions and had taken the oath of al- legiance as is required by all governments, at the commencement of the war for Independence, refused to desert the Crown and make a stand against it on conscientious scruples, deeming that the oath was life-long and not to be forfeited. When friends and neighbors expostulated and when the excitement became great and led to threatenings, some removed to Canada and were quiet but others returned as invaders, while a few remained here until they were compelled to leave.
The descendants of those who remained loyal and sought safety upon Canadian soil may still be found living to the west of Niagara and near
36
HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY.
Toronto. Those going from the Mohawk and Schoharie settlements and not taking an active part were called "Mohawks," while those who did return to murder and plunder were called "Tomahawks."
As we find families divided upon political questions to-day, so also many were divided upon the great issue at stake at that day.
-
But very few families existed but that some member or branch adhered to the Crown and much to the detriment of the character of the belligerents, the most heinous crimes were com- . mitted by such, especially upon their kinsmen. We do not like to chronicle upon the whitened page bloody deeds of more than demons, of fathers and mothers falling beneath the toma- hawk of disguised sons, and brothers bathing their hands in fraternal blood. Oh no, we wish to pass them by, their stain is hard to erase, but such as chill the blood without creating a spirit of devotion to country and pride of brotherhood, should be cast out of the emerald pages which the American Revolution caused to be written.
It should be enough for us to know of the dan- gers, hardships and privations our noble fore- fathers experienced in the attainment of our liberties, to animate us to a just appreciation · of them, and enough to give birth in us to a just pride in those patriots and homage to their spirit and principle by observing their unyield- ing devotion to country and unflinching patriotic endurance, under the most withering circum- stances.
Many upon the extreme frontier, conceiving their numbers so few, and those of England and her Indian allies so great, thought it a foolish and ignorant step to undertake to cope with them. They were placed far from help, surrounded by Indians and enthusiastic loyal- ists, whom they believed would exterminate them if they chose the Colonial cause, and con- sequently were led to countenance British rule and aggression, when within their hearts a burning hatred existed. When the tide of events began to roll the almost wrecked ship of Independence nearer and nearer to the harbor of success, they began to feel a thrill of patriotic joy, and ere peace was proclaimed proved themselves active and staunch adherents to the new order of things.
Each one as now had a right to a choice, and we cannot condemn those whose sympathies were with the mother country, only in the manner in which the majority of them espoused the cause and mode of warfare. We cannot but give homage to one that stands up man- fully and defends oppression, dictated by a true sense of its being just and right, as well as to him who does the same in what we consider a more just cause. But the one that clothes himself in the garb of deceit and sneakingly defends his cause and employs the most coward- ly means to attain the end, and ruthlessly de- stroys the innocent and helpless, should be, and is condemned by all.
There were many such during the war, and their acts were heartless crimes that would make demons blush and we wish we might be privileged to pass them by.
While actual hostilities were going on in other sections of the country, the enemy to political rights did not pollute Schoharie soil with martial tread until the year 1777. But the people were not inactive. When the mes- senger traversed the winding road from Lexing- ton to Concord, making the old granite hills of Massachusetts echo to the clarion notes of the bugle, "To arms !" and the noble few that faced the British regulars upon Lexington com- inons, poured their hearts-blood upon the altar of Liberty and Independence these yeoman were not spectators to the scene. But as the notes of the bugle and groans of the dying patriots sent their echo from hill to hill, through valley and over plain, it aroused the sturdy ones to active and more determined purposes. Though weak in numbers and distant from the field of action, a deep anxiety pervaded every heart and each weighed the matter well. Citi- zens gathered here and there to discuss affairs and it cannot be supposed it was long before each knew of the others decision. It was at this auspicious moment that the patriots of Schoharie chose two delegates to attend a meeting to be held in Albany, to determine upon the actions of the future.
The meeting was secret and held at the house of Richard Cartwright, "inn holder," on the 24th of January, 1775, with Abraham Yates in the chair, and Daniel Budd and Peter Becker
37
SECRET MEETING AND RESOLUTION.
as delegates from Schoharie. They drew up the following resolution :---
" Persuaded that the Salvation of the rights and liberties of America depends under God on the firm union of its Inhabitants, in a vigorous prosecution of the measures necessary for its safety, & convinced of the necessity of Preventing the anarchy and confusion which attend a dissolution of the Powers of Govern- ment, We the Freemen, Freeholders & In- habitants of the city and county of Albany being greatly alarmed at the avowed design of the Ministry to raise a revenue in America & shocked by the bloody scene now acting in the Massachusetts Bay, Do in the most solemn manner Resolve never to become slaves & do associate under all the ties of Religion, Honor & Love to our country, to adopt & endeavor to carry into execution whatever measures may be recommended by the Continental Congress, or Resolved upon by our Provincial Convention for the purpose of Preserving our constitution & opposing the Execution of the several ar- bitrary and oppressive acts of the British Par- liament until a reconciliation between Great Britain & America on Constitutional Principles [which we most ardently desire] can be obtained & that we will in all things follow the advise of our General Committee respecting the purposes aforesaid, the Preservation of Peace & Good Order & the safety of Individuals and Private property."
The foregoing was drawn by a committee and signed by sixty-eight, among whom were the delegates from Scholarie. The afternoon meeting of that day was attended by Adam Vroman, in addition as delegate of Schoharie.
Frequent meetings of committees and del- egates were held at the same place and called the "Committee of Correspondence." They communicated with each other on the state of feeling with the provincial assembly, and Con- tinental Congress, and on the 2 1st of March fol- lowing, ordered donations of wheat, corn, etc., for the distressed citizens of Boston. A messen- ger was dispatched on horseback to that city to inform the patriots of Albany county's Resolves, and encourage them to remain staunch in oppo- sition to British aggression.
On the 29th of April a "Committee of Safety" was appointed in each district who reported in person on the toth of May, which was the first Committee of Safety in the county, and gave to the association formed on the 24th of January. the name of "Committee of Correspondence and Committee of Safety of Albany City and County." The same extended their powers and duties and were called in addition "Committee of Protection." Those first appointed in Scho- harie were, Peter Vroman, Jacob Zimmer, Daniel Budd, Peter W. Zeilie, Thomas Ecker- son and Johannes Ball. The latter was chosen chairman and filled the position to the close of the war. The second board was appointed on the 7th of November, 1775, and consisted of William Dietz, Lawrence Schoolcraft, Jost Borst, Peter W. Zeilie, Peter Becker, Peter Vro- man and Johannes Ball. Associated with them from time to time, to the close of hostilities, were Samuel Vroman, Joseph Becker, Joseplı Zimmer, Nicholas Sternbergh, George Warner and Peter Swart.
Deputations from Committees also from Con- gress and the Crown, besieged the Mohawk and Oneida camps to take decisive steps, and when it became known that the greater share of the Indian tribes, to whom the wilds of Schoharie were familiar haunts, espoused the royal cause, many hearts quailed, but there were men and women whose patriotism fainted not and who at once took decisive steps.
The duty of the Board was to gather all the information they could of the movements of the enemy, to prepare for the defense of the settle- ments and obtain supplies. Their meetings were held in secret and it is unfortunate that their proceedings were not kept. The counties of the province were divided into districts from which a regiment or more was expected, but the population of the frontier districts being very small and many clinging to the Crown, some of the regiments comprised but a few companies. Schoharie was attached to Duanesburgh to form a military district and by the records in the Adju- tant-General's office at Albany, we find that the fifteenth regiment of militia was formed by order of General Schuyler, and consisted, upon the date of the commissions, of only three compa- nies. The commissions bear date of October
38
HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY.
20, 1775, and were given to the following per- sons :-
Peter Vroman, Colonel.
Peter W. Zeilie, Lieutenant-Colonel.
Thomas Eckerson, Jun., Ist Major.
Jacob Becker, 2d Major.
Lawrence Schoolcraft, Adjutant.
Peter Ball, Quarter-Master.
Co. 1. Geo. Mann, Captain ; Christian Stru- bach, Ist Lieutenant ; Jolin Dominick, 2d Lieu- tenant ; Jacob Snyder, Ensign.
Co. 2. Jacob Hager, Captain ; Martinus Van- Slyck, Ist Lieutenant ; Johannes W. Bouck, 2d Lieutenant ; Johannes Lawyer, Ensign.
Co. 3. Geo. Richtmeyer, Captain ; Johannes I. Lawyer, Ist Lieutenant; Martinus W. Zeilie, 2d Lieutenant ; Johannes Lawyer Bellenger, Ensign.
The first company was organized at the lower part of the valley, at and near the present village of Schoharie. The Captain, George Mann, proved disloyal by aiding in organizing a loyal company. He was captured and incarcerated as a prisoner of war until the close of the con- test, when he was released and not proving a very bitter adversary, his property was not con- fiscated. His command was filled by Lieu- tenant Strubach, who was promoted to a Major at the close of the war.
The second company was from the upper part of Vromansland, and the third, at and near Middleburgh. Another company was after- wards formed in Vromansland, at whose head was Tunis Vroman. After Vroman's massacre, Peter Snyder, living near the lower fort received the command.
At Cobleskill, also, a company was formed in 1777, with Christian Brown as captain, and Jacob Borst of the same place as lieutenant. The northwestern part of the County was in Tryon county until the year 1784, and a com- pany was formed in 1778, at Rhinebeck, as "Tryon County Militia," of which John Ma- thias Brown, afterwards Judge of the county, was captain. But their number being few and sur- rounded by Tories, the company was disbanded and its members acted as scouts from the mid- dle and lower forts, watching the movements of the enemy and taking disaffected ones to secure places.
Captain Brown, late judge, was lame in one knee, and was employed at the forts in doing general business for which his qualifications were well fitted.
During the years 1775 and '76, and the fore- part of '77, these companies were employed at Fort Edward, Johnstown, and along the Mo- hawk, but did not leave the Schoharie valley without protection, as invasions were expected.
In the fall of 1776, an invasion was expected upon the Mohawk, from Oswego, and measures were at once taken to oppose it by the Commit- tee of Safety. On the 9th of October of that year, the colonial committee convened at Fish- kill, and appointed a committee "to co-operate with General Schuyler on devising and carrying into execution all such measures as they shall deem most effectual for repelling the invasion of the enemy's army on the northern and west- ern frontier." The committee met at Albany on the 27th of the same month, "and had in- formation of an invasion, and resolved to detach troops for the defense of the western frontier."* Captain Jacob Hager was at Albany with a de- tachment of fifty-five Schoharie militia, and on the 29th, the committee resolved that they "should return to Schoharry and hold them- selves in readiness at a moment's warning, to march to the defense of the western frontier, whenever they shall receive orders from Col. Van Schaick, that they may contribute with the rest of their fellow subjects, who are now in arms, to the utmost of their power, in defense of the Rights and Liberty's of their Country." The company was called to Fort Stanwix, but not being employed, returned to Schoharie, where we are led to believe they remained dur- ing the winter, excepting at such times as they were acting as scouts and arresting disaffected ones, or those imbued with 'Tory sentiments.
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