USA > New York > Schoharie County > History of Schoharie county, and border wars of New York > Part 14
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8
1
6!
4
6
1
6
4 Patrick McConnelly,
8
1 6 4
15 3
5 John Van Dewake,
10!
1
Gİ 4
6| 1 6 4|Peter Young,
10| 1| 6 4
5 5
John & Evert Van Eps, Wm. & Woulter Swart, Martinus Van OLinda, Mary Phillipse, Abraham Phillipse, William Allen, John Souts,
Assess.
Assess.
151
AND BORDER WARS OF NEW YORK.
PERSON'S NAMES.
Quota.
Annual Assess.
No. Days Work.
PERSONS NAMES.
Quota.
Annual Assess.
No. Days Work.
Jacobus Cromwell, Andrew Frank,
16
3
5 Charles H. Van Eps,
15
3
5
Abraham Van Alstine,
18
3
5 Peter Jost,
6
1
6
4
Crownidge Kincade,
10
1
6
4 Philip Phillipse,
13
3
5
John S. Vrooman,
7
1
6
4 Jacob Van Dewarke,
9
1
6
4
Adam Sternbergh,
15
3
5 John Everse,
7
1
6
4
Henry and John Lewis,
6
1
6
4 Malkert Van Duesar,
12
3
5
Abraham Yates,
20
3
Mrs. Sophia Denniston,
6
1
6
4
David and Peter Lewis,
10
1
6 4 Capt. Norm'd McLead,
6
1
6
4
Hendrick Divindorf,
7
3
5 Widow Vrooman & son,
6
1
6
4
David Potman,
15
3
5 Dow Fonda,
16
3
5
Lips Spinner,
15
3
5 John Funda,
6
1
6
4
Samuel Rose,
10
1
6
4 Jelles Funda,
40
9
8
Hendrick Hoff,
10
1
6
4 Barent B. Wemple,
8
1
6
4
Adam Gardenecr,
13
3
5 Gilbert Tice,
6
1
6
4
Arent Bradt,
13
3
Peter Cooley
7
1
6
4
Adam Dagstader, Sen.
18
3
5 Samson Simens,
15
3
4
Fredrick Dagstader, Sen
20
3
5 John Wemple,
6
1
6
4
Hendrick Dagstader, Sr. John Bowen,
7
1
6
4 Peter Conyn, Esq.,
30
5
6
William B. Bowen,
6
1
6
4 Harman Visher,
27
5
6
John V. Potman,
7
1
6
4 Hanse Clement,
8
1
6
4
John Butler, Esq.,
27
5
6 Lewis Clement,
14
3
5
John Nare,
12
3
5| Michael Staller,
10!
1
6
4
John and Jacob Kilts,
20 3
5 Daniel McGregor,
10
1
6
4
Conradt Linkefelter,
11 3
6
1
6
4
Arent Potman,
7
1
6
4 Baltus Ergetsinger,
8
1
6
4
Sir Wm. Johnson, Bart.,
202
12
9| Robert Adams,
14
3
4
Sir John Johnson, Kt.,
25
5
6| Martin Lessler,
10
1
6
4
Col. Daniel Claus,
21 5
15
3
5
Col. Guy Johnson,
21
5
6 Hanse Clyne,
12
3
5
Frederick Degraff,
6
1
6
4 Jacob Potman,
9
1
6
4
6
1
6
4 Cornelius Potman,
10
1
6
4
1. Degraff & son Jer'h, Lewis Groat,
16
5 Garrent C. Newkirk, 3
8
1
6
4
Jacob Bushart,
7
1
6
4 John Newkirk,
10
1
6
4
Hendrick Bushart,
7
1
6
4 Peter Martin, Esq.,
13
3
5
Adam Fonda,
9
1
6
4 Isaac Collier,
10
1
6
4
Peter Whitmore,
6
1
6 4| Adam Zeelie,
13
3
5
John & Conradt Smith,
6
1
6
4| Ephraim Wemple,
13
3
5
Guysbert & Garret Van Brachler,
6
1
4 Hendrick Hansen, 6
7
1
6
4
Peter Frederick & sons,
12
3
5 Jeremiah Quackenbush,
11
3
5
John Wilson,
7
1
6 4|N. & P. Quackenbush,
10
1
6
4
J. Rupart & Lottridge, Peter Service,
8
1
6
4 Vincent Quackenbush,
6
1
6
4
Hans Albrant,
7
1
6
4 John Malatt,
8
1
6
4
Andries Snyder,
8
1
6 Samuel Gardeneer,
18
3
5
Hans Doren,
7
1
6
4 Jacob Gardeneer,
12
3
5
Philip Cromwell,
17
3
5| William Schylder,
6
1
6
4
Volkert Veeder,
6
1:
6
4 Hans Wart,
7|
11
6
4
Widow Smith and sons,
17
3
4
John V. Veeder,
27
5
6
Total Assess.
7
1
6
4
James Davis,
6
1
6
4| Abraham Quackenbush,
8
1
6
4
18
3
5 Ab'm Quackenbush,
7
1
6
4
Nicholas Degraff,
13
3
5 Harmanus Meaby,
8
1
6
4
20
1
6
4 Andries Wemple,
6
1
6
4
15; 3
5|Timothy Lenderse,
15| 3
5
£14/11/ 6 555
5 Philip Weamer,
6| Frans Salts,
Barent Hansen,
152
HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY,
I have observed that RUM was one of the principal articles of traffic with the Indians on the frontiers of New York. Says Col- den-
" There is one vice which the Indians have all fallen into, since their acquaintance with the Christians, and of which they could not be guilty before that time, that is drunkenness. It is strange, how all the Indian nations, and almost every person among them, male and female, are infatuated with the love of strong drink; they know no bounds to their desire, while they can swallow it down, and then indeed the greatest man among them scarcely deserves the name of a brute."
Alcohol has, in a very great degree depopulated the state of a noble race of men and women, and much demoralized and ener- vated its present race of inhabitants. One single invoice now be- fore me, of rum purchased in New-York, in October 1770, and de- signed for the Mohawk valley trade, was for ten hogsheads and twenty barrels, containing seventeen hundred and seventy-nine gallons ; which, at the low price of two shillings and four pence, amounted to over five hundred dollars.
Tryon county, so called after the Governor of New York at the time, was organized in 1772, and took in the present counties of Montgomery, Fulton, Herkimer and portions of several others. The first court of general quarter sessions of the peace for this county, was held in Johnstown, so called after Sir William John- son, on Tuesday September 8, 1772. The Bench consisted of
" Guy Johnson, Judge.
" John Butler, Peter Conyne, Judges.
" Sir John Johnson, knight, Daniel Claus, John Wells, Jelles Fonda, Assistant Judges.
" John Collins, Joseph Chew, Adam Loucks, John Fry, Fr. Young, Peter Ten Broeck, Justices."
In 1791, the county of Herkimer was organized from Tryon, and called after General Herkimer who fell at Oriskany; and in 1794 the name of Tryon county was changed to that of Mont- gomcry, who fell at Quebec.
About the year 1800, might have been seen, as in New England at a still later period, at some public place in every town in New York, a public whipping-post and stocks; and justices of the
153
AND BORDER WARS OF NEW YORK.
peace had authority to order that individual confined in the stocks, who got drunk or used profane language. Criminals guilty of petty thefts, and other violations of the law, were not unfrequently seen with their hands tied, and their arms drawn up to their ex- tent around the public post, which was made square, receiving upon their bare backs, from the hands of a sheriff or constable, the scorpion lash of justice.
A few moments may not be unprofitably spent, in reflecting on the great and important changes that have passed over New York since the peace of 1783-changes not only visible on every wa- ter-course and thoroughfare, but on almost every acre of ground, from the then frontier settlements of Albany and Tryon counties to the shores of St. Lawrence and the great western lakes. In the territory named, and at the period to which I have alluded, where were dense forests, uubroken for many miles, may now be seen waving fields of grain, and flocks and herds upon a thousand hills-may now be heard the complicated machinery of the me- chanic arts-may now be felt the genial influence of unfettered science. The revolution in mind and individual interest in eastern New York, under cultivation two generations removed from the present, is almost as apparent as that in matter, where then roam- ed the happy savage in quest of his game. The difference in the mode of traveling, particulary in the Mohawk valley, in the last thirty years, is worthy especial notice. Public conveyance was then either in stages or boats propelled on the river by manual la- bor ;- rail-road cars, moved by steam power have now not only driven post-coaches from the valley, but the commodious canal packet drawn by horses, now subserves the purpose of the slow moving Durham craft. Indeed, the New England tourist, who might then have been seen mounted on horseback, with an enor- mous portmanteau fastened upon his saddle, journeying in the valley, is seen no longer : his economy is rendered unnecessary by the cheapness of the passenger line-boat.
Extensive manufactories-indeed large cities and villages have sprung up as if by enchantment, where but little more than half a century ago might have been heard the dismal howl of the
154
HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY.
wolf; the frightful scream of the panther; or the terrific yell of the savage. In fact, little hamlets, in number almost countless, with the domes of their seminaries and church spires towering aloft, are scattered over the hunting grounds of the mocasined Indian ; the site of whose little bark dwelling and intricate foot- path, has been usurped by an iron-bound road, or an artificial river.
Not only has enterprise peopled those portions of New York lying west of the frontier settlements at the close of the revolution, with a population of one and a half millions of freemen, with an estimated valuation of property exceeding $100,000,000, and a real one more than five times greater; but it has thickly popu- lated several States west of New York; and the American Eagle, as if undetermined where to alight, is conducting the hardy sons of New England and New York toward the shores of the great Pacific. Judging from the past and present, what may we rea- sonably expect will be the future condition and resources of the Empire State ?- resources which now more than equal those of the thirteen States, when under British tyranny.
( 155 )
CHAPTER V.
There were among the early Schoharie settlers, some remarka- ble for great personal strength. Cornelius, Samuel, Peter and Isaac, sons of Peter Vrooman, are said to have possessed the strength of giants. They erected the first saw-mill in the county, which stood in clauver-wy, on the little Schoharie kill. Two of those brothers could easily carry a good sized log on the carriage. Many anecdotes are related by the aged, showing the strength of the Vrooman family. At the hill mentioned as the Long-berg, on the road to Albany, Cornelius, the strongest of the brothers, al- ways made a practice when going to Albany with wheat, to car- ry one or two bags, each containing two or three skipples, up this hill to favor his horses. Twenty-five skipples was the ordi- nary load to Albany, and usually brought fifty cents per skipple.
Samuel Vrooman is said to have carried at one time, twelve skipples of wheat and a harrow with iron teeth, from his father's house across a small bridge back of it, and set them down in a field. At another time, Cornelius carried ten skipples of peas, the same harrow, and a brother on the top of them, the same distance : in either case, eight or nine hundred pounds.
The stout Vroomans had a remarkably strong sister. A quar- relsome man being at her father's, warm words passed be- tween him and her brother Cornelius, when the sister, fearing the consequences, if her kinsman laid hands upon the intruder in an- ger, seized him, although a pretty stout man, and pitched him neck and heels out of the house. This we may look upon as a very charitable act, considering it was done solely to save his life. There were other individuals in Schoharie who, if not as strong
156
HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY,
as the brothers mentioned, were sufficiently so to protect them- selves. Several of the Boucks and Borsts, it is said, could easily raise a barrel of cider and drink from the bung-hole.
Before the revolution, and for some forty years after its close, there was much horse-racing and sporting of different kinds in the Schoharie and Mohawk valleys. An ox-race once took place in Cobelskill. There was also much fair boxing, and many quar- rels were settled by personal combat. The settlers sometimes played cards for coppers, but seldom for silver.
About the year 1770, a challenge was given and accepted be- tween the people of the Mohawk and Schoharie valleys, to try speed and strength. Which gave it, is uncertain. The Mohawk champions went to Schoharie at the appointed time, and multi- tudes were assembled to witness the strife. A sleigh was placed on bare ground, and with twelve heavy men in it, Cornelius Vroo- man, by the end of the tongue, drew it one and a half feet. Cor- nelius Fonda, the Mohawk bully, attempted, but in vain, to start it. On the same day, Adam Crysler ran a foot-race with one Dockstader from the Mohawk valley-the former winning the race with ease.
Formerly, almost every country woman, in some parts of Ame- rica, was to be seen in certain seasons of the year, at work on a farm. It is now very justly determined, that woman's place is in the house and man's in the field.
Wheat and poultry were the most important articles of traffic taken from Schoharie to Albany, an hundred years ago, which was usually done by sleighing. But little grain, except wheat, was carried to market for many years by the early settlers : in fact, much of that grain was fed their horses by the Germans and Dutch. The fondness of the Dutch for good horses, has origi- nated a proverb, that " a Dutchman thinks more of his horse than his wife."
In going from the Schoharie and Mohawk valleys, to and from Albany, some fifty years ago, the Dutch were in the habit of run- ning their horses up a good share of every hill. Starting the team as they neared it, they dashed on at a furious rate, thus gain-
157
AND BORDER WARS OF NEW YORK.
ing an impetus which carried them nearly to the top of the hill, arriving at which they often halted to rest or feed.
It was customary, as already observed, for the people of Scho- harie to go to market in squads, and not unfrequently fifteen or twenty teams were seen together, some of which were driven by the wives and daughters of the farmers, who were of the party. The custom yet prevails of their accompanying their husbands, fathers and brothers to market ; not, however, in the capacity of drivers. Mounted upon the top of a good load of grain, the tidy house-wife or neatly clad daughter is often to be seen as a passen- ger-or rather as a mortgage on the load, as they are not inaptly termed : for she claims some portion of the proceeds to be appro- priated to the purchase of a new dress, or such other articles as her wardrobe may require.
Weddings, in the days of which I am speaking, were celebrat- ed differently from what they now are. The law then required the publishing of the bans three successive times, in a religious meeting, before a couple could get married. After the notice had been once read, the young friends usually had a dance, and after the couple were united, they had several dances. Some good an- ecdotes are told of these weddings. Before the revolution, says George Warner, a man came from Freehold and married a Miss Schaeffer. Her father was rather fastidious about asking some of his neighbors, on the score of their not being sufficiently opulent, but invited among the guests an Indian friend, and gave him per- mission to ask such of his friends as he chose. The Indian, on such an occasion, shows no great respect for persons-indeed, he never does unless it be for distinguished prowess, and acknowledg- ed personal favors-and the sequel proved he had many friends : for when the guests began to assemble, a large part of the Scho- harie tribe were there, some with wedding garments on, and others with few garments, if any at all on. The dismayed parent was not a little perplexed, and in order to get rid of his red guests, he freely distributed several gallons of rum, when they pronounced the wedding a good one-gave a glorious whoop and retired, to the great relief of the family.
158
HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY,
Judge Brown related the following-to use his own words-as " a nobleman's wedding;" which took place in his younger days. George Henry Stubrach was married to a daughter of John Fre- derick Bouck, who lived in the present town of Fulton. In an open field near Mr. Bouck's residence, a booth was erected and a liberty pole raised. The marriage ceremony took place in the early part of the day, and the guests resorted to the booth. On such occasions, there was generally some quidnunc present, who assumed the responsibilities of a captaincy, to direct the move- ments of the joyous company. At the time of which we are speaking Nicholas York was the admitted dictator. While all were busily engaged in such occupations as their own taste se- lected, a circumstance took place which afforded the party an unexpected source of amusement. A woodchuck made its ap- pearance in a fallow near the booth. Captain York instantly or- dered the field surrounded, directing a simultaneous march to the centre. The party had not approached to a concussion, before the intruder was slain. It was handed over to the captain- whose word on such occasions was law. He cut a piece of flesh from the warm victim and ate it, requiring all, male and female, to follow his example. Most attempted, but few succeeded in getting down the dainty morsel. A general "removal of depo- sits" was the result of this austere mandate; after which the guests again resorted to their chosen occupations. In this jolly manner the festivities were continued for three successive days. What disposition to make of the guests nights, I am at a loss to know. On the evening of the third day, the blushing bride was taken home to the residence of her husband, in Kneiskern's dorf. Two barrels of home brewed beer, twenty-two gallons of rum and a proportionate quantity of wine, were the spirits poured down to raise the spirits of the party up, on this noted occasion : and it is a fact worthy of remark, that all the liquors were quaffed from wooden dippers. This wedding took place when it was the fashion for ladies to wear short dresses-flowered silk hose-and French- heeled slippers, fastened with silver buckles. The large pocket made separately and worn loose over the dress, as also the hoop,
159
AND BORDER WARS OF NEW YORK.
both of which were part of female attire at a later period, may have been in service at the time of this wedding. This brief de- scription will serve to give the reader a pretty good idea of the manner in which most weddings of consequence were celebrated in bygone days. Nearly all the people-old as well as young- were then in the habit of dancing on such occasions. Their style, perhaps, was not of the most graceful kind. The French steps had not then been taught in that beautiful valley. The last wed- ding which seventy-two hours were required to complete, is be- lieved to have been that of the late Judge Swart, and took place in April, 1775. The revolution broke them up, as they could not in safety be celebrated then ; and after the war was over, few felt as though they could afford to give them-many being under the necessity of erecting themselves new dwellings, upon the ashes of their old ones.
Jacob Becker related an anecdote, which shows the faithful manner in which those weddings were celebrated. They had in his father's family at one time a shoemaker at work, so that a brother of his might learn the trade. While he was there, Joseph Kneiskern-a widower, was married. Becker's brother George, several years older than himself, attended the wedding. As he was putting on a new pair of shoes with very thick soles-the workmanship of the cobbler, the latter good humoredly told him if he danced those soles through, he would put on a new pair for nothing. Away went the guest to the wedding, from which he returned home on the evening of the third day. He pulled off his shoes and threw them to the mechanic, who, on examining, found he had been taken at his word-and that not only the outer, but the inner soles of both were worn entirely through. In those days house-floors in New England and New York, were scoured clean, and instead of a carpet, received a coat of fine white sand-which will enable the reader to understand how the shoes could have been used up.
It was customary for the groom, after the ordeal of proposing the question, to make his intended a present of some kind-usually a pair of silver shoe-buckles, sleeve buttons -- or snuff-box.
160
HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY,
Whether the modern low-lived and ill-bred custom of celebrating weddings in the street, usually termed horning-now in vogue in ignorant communities-prevailed before the revolution in Scho- harie, I can not say.
Several black fiddlers were, in their day, noted persons. Jack, a slave beloging to Col. Zielie, and another of the same name, belonging to John Lawyer, who, to distinguish them, were called Jack Zielie and Jack Lawyer, flourished in their way, about the time of the revolution. A frolic could not easily be sustained then, unless one of them was present. They played the fiddle, holding it in various positions, sometimes before and at others behind them. One of the two was formerly represented on a tavern sign (painted by George Tiffany, Esq.) as playing for a jolly company ; some part of which device is still visible on the sign now in the cabinet of John Gebhard, jr., Esq. of Schoharie.
Dancing or frolicing, as then called, was still the order of the day some fifty years ago, in most of the Dutch and German set- tlements. Old, middle-aged, and young-dressed much alike- usually assembled on those occasions, which were on Saturday evening, and as often as two or three times in a month. Males frequently danced with their hats on. The female dress was strapped caps of lawn, striped linsey petticoats, with short-gowns of differently striped calico or silk, an outside chintz pocket tied round the waist with ribbon or tape, and high heeled cloth boots. After the guests were assembled, a six or eight reel, then a four, a jig, and a hornpipe were danced in succession, in the centre of a room crowded by spectators to a small space for the dancers, if a fight did not take place before the hornpipe was reached-which was very frequently the case-owing to the impatience and fre- quent liquoring of the gentlemen not dancing. Then might have been seen a happy couple, manifesting great disparity of age, " jigging merrily down the middle, through a line of succeeding generations." The musician was generally either Jack Lawyer or Jack Zielie, who accompanied the motion of his bow with a continual stamping of one foot-saying, in effect, hear dis nigger mark time on de floor. The slaves of the citizens, on those oc-
161
AND BORDER WARS OF NEW YORK.
casions, were permitted to witness the performance at the doors and windows, which they literally filled. At the period of which I am speaking, much liquor was drank in all the frontier settle- ments, and pugilism, though not then treated as a science, was of very frequent occurence. It was not at all uncommon during those personal encounters, for a young miss to hold the coat and hat of her lover, while he was knocking another man down, or being knocked down himself. The reader is aware that the ban- ner of Temperance-the friend of peace and social order-was not unfurled o'er the land fifty years ago.
Judge Brown assured me, that in his younger days he often made bows and arrows, and hand-sleds, to sell to boys. The or- dinary price for one of the latter was three coppers. This fact is mentioned to show the value of money in the French war. He said he had, among other things to gain a livelihood when young, often fiddled for a respectable company to dance. His wife hu- morously remarked to him while relating that fact-" and from a fiddler you rose to be a Judge."
Few dishes were formerly seen upon the tables of the Schoha- rie people. It was no uncommon sight to see a family of eight or ten persons seated at an old fashioned round table-which was turned up in every dwelling when not in use-each with a spoon eating from a single dish of supaan. Every member had a cavi- ty in the pudding filled with milk, from which he or she, was al- lowed freely to scoop. On eating through into each other's divi- sions, a quickened motion of the spoon ensued, if trouble did not. If bowls were not then found indispensible in a large family, for eating a supper of supaan and milk, neither were plates in eating a hearty dinner. Each member of the family-seated at the round table, the quality and neatness of which no cloth concealed- was given a large slice of bread upon which they ate their meat and potatoes ; after which, the time serving plate was broken up, thrust into a dish to receive a coat of dope (gravy,) and soon de- voured. Bread was then sliced by one of the heads of the fami- ly, and dealt out around the table as a whist player would deal his cards. Rice and milk was, like supaan, also eaten from one
162
HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY,
dish, after receiving the liberal scrapings of a cake of maple su- gar. Happy days were those when the good house-wife had few bowls or plates to wash, and little envy about the quality or num- ber of those possessed by her neighbor.
That good custom of calling on friends and reciprocating kind feelings on the first day of the year, which still prevails in our larger towns, existed in Schoharie before the revolution : and no people improved the privileges of the custom or turned them to better account, than did the Indians. They not only called on the whites with a happy neiw-jahr, expecting to renew their claims to friendship by eating cakes and drinking liquor, but also expect- ed a liberal donation of eatables to take to their cabin, the squaws carrying baskets on their heads to receive them. On those gala days, the tables of the Germans and Dutch were loaded with sev- eral skipples of bread and fried cakes, and a fearful array of li- quors. Said Mattice Ball to the author-" I have alone cut up six loaves of bread on new year's day, and distributed to the Indians."
In the Dutch settlements along the Mohawk, calls began among neighbors on new year's day at midnight, with the following greeting :
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