USA > New York > Schoharie County > History of Schoharie county, and border wars of New York > Part 53
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"Of the accounts from the southward, the newspapers will give you more particular information than I can. We have it confi- dently reported, and indeed generally believed, that Admiral Rodney, with thirteen sail of the line are arrived at New York from the West Indies, and the French fleet, consisting of eighteen sail of the line, are arrived at Rhode Island; should this be the case, we are in hopes the French will be able to give a good ac- count of Mr. Graves.
"Mr. Burnside requests me to inform you that, as he was not on the New Windsor side, and being disappointed in not succeed- ing agreeable to his wishes, he entirely forgot to leave your let- ter for Mr. Rutgers ; a neglect for which he is very sorry. Dean has returned to us from Capt. Moodie, being very much indispos- ed. By the same post as this is sent, I have forwarded you a letter from Capt. Wool. Thus have I agreeable to my promise, given you a short and as minute a detail of circumstances as my abilities will admit, and hope they may prove agreeable. I am joined with Mr. Burnside and the remainder of the officers, with best wishes for your happiness. Believe me with every sentiment of respect and esteem,
Your obedient humble servant,
JAMES BRADFORD."
"P. S. A line by the first conveyance and what you are like to succeed in, would be agreeable-pray inform me if you have ever seen my father. Excuse this scrawl, &c., &c.
Capt. Machin appears to have been engaged at New Windsor much of the year 1781, in the recruiting service. Having the principal direction of that business, and to have disbursed much
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money .* The following paper from Capt. Hubbell shows in truth the situation as regards funds, of very many of the officers of the American army in the latter part of the war.
"Dear Sir-I am under the necessity of sending a man off into Connecticut to-morrow morning, and have not a shilling of money for the poor fellow to bear his expenses-should therefore be exceedingly obliged to you for some money. As his going is a matter of moment to a number of the gentlemen of the regi- ment, beg you would oblige me in this request-12th March, 1781.
I am, respectfully yours, J. HUBBELL." " Capt. Thomas Machin.
Difficulties in the recruiting service were unavoidable, as the following paper directed to " Capt. Machin, Artillery Park, New Windsor," will show.
" Pokeepsie, April 20th, 1781.
" Dear Sir-Mr. George Thompson informs me that one of your recruiting parties pretended to have enlisted his son, and that he apprehends difficulties will arise on the subject. If Mr. Thompson's information is right, it would appear that the business was unduly managed; however, as the old gentlemen is of re- spectable character, I would not wish you to carry the matter to any extremity ; but to submit it to the determination of the civil magistrate. He is ready to appear before any in the neighbor- hood.
" Capt. Machin.
I am yours sincerely, GEO. CLINTON."
In the fall of 1781, Capt. Machin accompanied the park of Gen. Washington's army, and, as engineer, aided in laying out the American works at the memorable siege of Yorktown. His skill in gunnery, which caused Gen. Sullivan to exclaim of the cannonading at Newtown, near Elmira, that it was elegant, was again manifested in the early part of this seige, by sending a shell, agreeable to the orders of Gen. Knox, into the magazine of a small British vessel lying in the river, and blowing it to atoms. Gen. Knox is said to have remarked, with evident satisfaction, as the shell performed its mission, and the men were blown into the
. In furnishing recruiting officers with orders, it was particularly specified that they should enlist no slave, tory, or individual who had been in the ser- vice of the enemy.
38
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HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY,
air-" See the d-d rascals go up."-Thomas, son of Capt. Ma- chin.
The following paper from His Excellency, affords additional evidence of his friendship and confidence :
" Pokeepsie, 13th January, 1782.
" Dear Sir :- I was favored with your letter of the 16th ultimo, a few days ago. I am happy in the good opinion entertained of Mr. Tappan, and particularly obliged to your friendly offers res- pecting him, which shall be communicated to his father. The warrants for the several gentlemen lately appointed to your regi- ment will be forwarded by the present conveyance to the Colonel, as also certificates of their appointment to the War office.
" I have nothing worth communicating. Mrs. Clinton begs you to accept the compliments of the season ; and believe me,
" Dear Sir, with great regard, " Your most obed't serv't,
"GEO. CLINTON." " Capt. Thomas Machin.
The following paper from Maj. Popham, without date, gives further evidence of the straitened circumstances of the American officers, or rather of one of them :
"Dear Machin :- The situation of my finances at present obliges me to apply to you as a dernier resort. It must be hard times when a soldier is obliged to sell or pawn his arms. If you could dispose of my sword at Head Quarters, it would be infinitely agreeable to me ; and if it was in your power to spare me a few dollars for pre- sent use, until your return, you would add much to the happiness of your friend. Nothing but extreme necessity could induce me to write what I could not speak last night when I saw you.
"Adieu.
W. POPHAM."
" Capt. Machin. "Paid £3 4s 0 specie. 3 4 0 new emission. " May 14- 3 4 0 specie."
By the memorandum on the paper, we may suppose the major's sword was sold for $24. Poor fellow : I hope he was not compel- ed, after parting with his trusty blade, to follow the fortunes of war with a wooden one.
The following extracts are copied from a letter from Lieut. Morris to Capt. Machin, dated Burlington March 24th, 1732.
"You expressed an anxiety to be acquainted with our movements after we reached Lancaster : to comply with your desire I am un- der a friendly injunction to give a relation of the expedition. We were ordered to that post to guard prisoners from thence to Phila-
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delphia, but before we reached the place of our destination, we found ourselves fatigued to a great degree, from the deepness of the roads, and the summit of every hill we passed pre- sented to our view the same sad comfort that we had just passed. However, a generous supply from the financier, and my own re- sources, rendered every obstacle a mere trifle, and soon erased from my memory that gloomy prospect I had pictured in my imagina- tion.
" Suppose we change the subject and give you a little of the news. The French have at length succeeded on Brimstone Hill, in the island of St. Christophers, and are in quiet possession of that place. The British made an attempt to succor the garrison by landing 1000 men at Basseterre, but were repulsed with 400 of them killed.
" We are furnished with the debates of the House of Commons by a late arrival from France : the minority are thundering away against the prosecution of the American war, and the other party are strenuously opposing them. I am clearly of the opinion they will continue it a campaign or two longer. The Dutch, to my great astonishment, seem disposed to make a peace with England through the mediation of Russia. This circumstance, added to a little suc- cess the British have had in the East Indies, convinces me they mean to spend a few millions more. I must conclude ; and believe me to be,
"Your friend and humble servant, "W. MORRIS."
" P. S. Remember me to my uncle Richard if you should see him."
The period at length arrived when Capt. Machin's great skill in engineering could not construct a breast-work to guard him against an arrow from Cupid's bow. In other words, when he was to love one of the softer sex, and feel confident that a virtu- ous young woman reciprocated the sentiment. The following ex- tracts of a letter from Maj. Doughty hint the existence of the skillful captain's tender passion.
" Burlington, March 27th, 1782.
" My Dear Sir-How goes on recruiting ? Do you meet with encouragement ? Is there any prospect of money from the State ? These are questions I wish you would answer for me, for I feel interested in them all.
" You promised to write me on the subject of my depreciated notes, and the prospect of improving them to advantage by joining you in the purchase of the lands formerly Gen'l Clinton's : you have forgot your promise-perhaps your being in love, and the pear object that inspires that interesting passion so totally en- grosses your attention, as to leave no room for your friend Doughty.
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HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY,
I know he must give way both to the passion and its object, but still he must claim a share though a small one, of your friendship and attention ; and believe me that he esteems them both not a little. Adieu-make my respects to Col. Bedlow and family, Maj. and Mrs. Logan, and believe me to be with the greatest truth, " Your friend and servant,
" JNO. DOUGHTY."
The following paper relating to the service in which he was then engaged, was received by Capt. Machin per Col. Cobb.
" Head Quarters, 24th May, 1782.
" Gent'n-You will proceed to Fish Kill and there apply to Colonel Weissenfels' for the proportion of the levies destined for your line, one half of which are for the regiment of artillery and the other half for the regiment of infantry.
" So soon as you have received your proportion of Col. Weissen- fels' regiment, you will send them on to the regiments for which they are destined, under the care of an officer, and the remaining officers will wait at Fish Kill to receive those which will be sent from Col. Willet's regiment, which are to be divided in the same manner. Before you send away the recruits you will make a re- turn to me of the number you have received.
"I am, &c. "Signed GO. WASHINGTON."
" To Capt. Machin,
" Lt. Forman, York Line."
" Ens'n Swartwout,
The following extracts are made from a letter from Lieut. R. Parker to Capt Machin, dated George Town, July 6th, 1782.
" Capt. McClure and myself are stationed at this place. Its situation I suppose you are acquainted with : its trade is much increased within a short time past, a number of valuable prizes have been sent here. Rum, and most kinds of West India goods are plenty. The southern army and the country in general re- ceive great advantages from it. I believe they could scarcely be supported without it.
" Here are a number of fine girls and rich widows. I have not yet got far in love-but can't promise for the future-some fair nymph may captivate my heart- and while guardian reason sleeps, Cupid's fatal shaft may wound my rising heart and make me own his superior power, &c., &c.
"We have no news : Gen. Greene lays near Goose Creek, twenty miles from Charleston. An evacuation of Charleston and Savannah is daily expected by our sanguine friends.
" I have hardly got over celebrating the fourth of July in a Bacchanal frolic-Impute my inaccuracies to a pain in the head, &c."
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AND BORDER WARS OF NEW YORK.
A letter from Capt. Machin to Oliver Wendell, Esq., of Boston, of which the following is a copy, discloses the fact fully at which Maj. Doughty hinted, and adds another evidence to the truism, that the course of true love is beset with thorns, thistles, and a multitude of briers.
" New Windsor, 10th Aug't, 1782.
" Honored Sir-An experimental knowledge of your philan- thropy has emboldened me to address you on this occasion. Know then, my Dear Sir, that I am at this time engaged to a young lady in the State of New York : the day for our union was set, and we both, I am led to believe, waited with equal anxiety for the arrival of that happy period ; in which I think two feeling souls would have been happily united in the honorable bonds of Hymen. But to my great mortification, somebody was pleased to inform the young lady's friends that I had a wife in Boston. And as I always did, and I hope ever will, detest decep- tion, be it of what kind soever it will : and much more that which is of all the most villanous; I therefore, relying on our former friendship and your justice, make no doubt but you will give the bearer, Mr. Dunning, the young lady's and my friend, what- ever information he may require relating to my conduct when in Boston. Please to give my compliments to Mrs. Wendell, and believe me Dear Sir, to be, with all the esteem that is due to ho- nor and merit,
" Your hum'l. serv't, " THO'S MACHIN." " The Honorable Oliver Wendell, Esq."
The aspersions of some villain on the fair fame of Capt. Machin were satisfactorily removed by Mr. Dunning's visit to Boston, and his marriage took place in August, 1782. He was married to Miss Susan, daughter of James Van Nostrand ; who resided at or near Huntington, L. I. The marriage took place at the house of Timothy Dunning in Goshen, who had previously married a sister of Miss Susan.
The following letter from Lieut. Woodward, shows to some ex- tent the popularity and influence of Capt. Machin in the army.
" West Point, 26th Oct. 1782.
" Dear Sir-While I was gone to Poughkeepsie the day before yesterday, Lt. Tappen was so imprudent as to give permission for William Ockerman to leave the Point to go to New-Windsor, and return the same evening ; but in order to keep alive the dignity of his former conduct he has broke into Goshen goal .- That is, I am informed he is taken by the constable for a tavern debt. Col.
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HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY,
Stevens desires you will take upon you the trouble of procuring his enargement and send him to Camp. His inducement for request- ing you to undertake the task, is because that you by some means or other can accomplish it, while another officer would not be able to succeed. You must give my best compliments to Mrs. Machin, &c. &c.
" I am, dear sir, with every sentiment of respect, " Your ob't humble serv't,
" Capt. Machin."
" PETER WOODWARD."
At this period general officers were deficient in funds.
" Little Britain, Nov. 9th, 1782.
" Dear Sir-I received your favor by Serj't Reino, and should have sent you the balance of Maj. Bush's account as you have made it out if I had the cash, which article I never was scarcer of than at present ; at the same time must inform you that you have not given me all the credit in your account that I ought to have, but that is a matter we can easily settle when opportunity serves. I wish it was in my power to pay you the whole or half due on the account of your location ; as soon as it is I will do it : if I can't soon I will give you a note or bond with interest.
" I am, sir, yours, &c. " Capt. Machin."
" JAMES CLINTON."
Considerable correspondence passed between Joseph Wharton, Esq. of Philadelphia, and Capt. Machin in the year 1782 : it began in the latter part of the preceding year, as the following letter will show.
" Philadelphia, Dec. 24th, 1781.
" Mr. Thomas Machin. Sir-You have been so obliging as to offer me your services in the State of New-York, I commit to your care two deeds from Col. George Croghan to me ; the first dated April 3d, 1780, for twenty-five thousand four hundred and seventy- seven acres of land with a release for the same ; and the other for eleven hundred and fifty-seren acres, dated June 27th, 1780, with its release ; and both tracts situated on and near Lake Otsego in Tryon county in that State. These lands becoming more and more valuable, it's necessary the deeds should be recorded in the proper office. And as I have some reason to apprehend an assignment of the Mortgage on these lands to the late Governor Franklin, is attempting to be obtained, when probably some hasty step may be pursued to recover payment by public sale, injurious to my prop- erty; I earnestly press it upon your friendship to have the deeds recorded in Albany, or wherever the most suitable office is, in the most expeditious manner ; and for your assiduity herein as well as the necessary charges, I will gratefully pay due honor to your draft. The repossession of the deeds will give me great satisfac- tion ; yet I would not have them sent, unless a gentleman of char-
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acter and whom you know can be found to be entrusted with them. In the mean time, I beg you will inform me by post the moment the deeds are enrolled, as well as any farther information you may receive of the value of these lands in consequence of any rise since your departure from their vicinity : for surely the late glorious victory to the Southward, and our proximity to absolute indepen- dence must have started the value of such excellent tracts.
" I have shown you Mr. Hooper's Field Book, containing as well his description of the exterior lines of my 15074 acre tract on the Tennedena, as the qualities of the land of each 1000 acres: the whole being surveyed into fifteen lots ; and you have read that the soil and other natural advantages are very good and exceeding great. Will you, sir, be pleased to enquire the utmost price that can be obtained for the whole of this tract payable in two months, or rather one-half in six weeks and the other in three months with interest in specie or sterling bills on France? Because if this 15000 acre Tract will command what I conceive it will, it will enable me to keep the Otsego Tract to a future day, and a far more benefi- cial price. I must also request you will have the offices searched to know what Mortgages and Judgments are on the Otsego Tract ; for although there may be a Judgment or two, yet whether the legal steps have been pursued to secure payment previous to the time you will have my Deeds enrolled is the question. Among other favors you are going to bestow on me, do let me know the Law of your State in regard to Mortgages, that is whether any time is limited for their recording ? Whether a second or third Mortgage being entered first does not supersede, or at least obtain first payment ? And if a Deed enrolled prior to a previous Mort- gage (as in my case) will not bar a recovery by the Mortgage ?
" It may be necessary to explain the hint I have given relating to Governor Franklin's* Mortgage for £1800 your money, which is, that his creditors here and in Burlington are endeavoring to procure his Assignment of Testatum, (if I have the word right) and although it ever was my disposition that Justice should be done, yet prudence dictates a cautionary prevention to the sale of my estate to my disadvantage, which surely would be the circum- stance if it was to be sold at this period. For I suppose in cases of Sequestration your State, like ours, hath taken care that just creditors shall be satisfied as far as such estate will admit.
" I am, with respect, " Your most obed't humble serv't, "JOS. WHARTON."
· Lest all my readers may not be aware of the fact, I will here remark, that the Governor Franklin above alluded to was a son of Doctor Franklin, and at the beginning of the war was Governor of New-Jersey-that not having the just counsels of his father, and possibly the fear of God before his eyes, he espoused the cause of the mother country which had honored him with the Executive authority of a Colony ; and was soon arrayed in sentiment against that great and good man his father ; whom the world de-
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HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY,
Under date of Sept. 11th, 1782, Mr. Wharton wrote Capt. Machin as follows.
" My situation in life requiring me to raise a capital sum of money in the course of the Winter, has determined me to sell the Otsego Tract, containing about 27,000 acres; provided I can be paid one-third part on the sale, and the remainder in the Spring. My price will be twenty shillings this currency (specie) per acre. [He proposed to let 7,000 pounds of the purchase remain unpaid with security. He considered the land worth, he said, thirty shil- lings per acre. He added]-Should my limit be thought too high, let me know the highest sum obtainable for the whole Tract, pay- able in part down and the rest in six months with interest ; or if it would be more agreeable, I will take twenty thousand pounds for it and the purchaser to be accountable for the incumbrances ;" [which were some 2,000 pounds N. Y. currency on that and a Tract of 40,000 acres adjoining.] Col. Croghan was buried about ten days since."
The reader may here see what was once considered the value of the rich lands in and around Cooperstown, which money will now hardly buy.
The campaign of Gen. Sullivan in 1779, discovering the valu- able lands in Western New York, was the means of their being brought into market. The following paper, from Capt. Nestell, shows where some of the lands in the earliest transfers were situ- ated, and the price they brought :
" April 17, 1783.
" Received of Ebenezer Burling the full sum of thirty pounds, which was his subscription for a Right of six hundred acres of land between Seneca and Cayuga Lakes. Received by me, " PETER NESTELL."
On the 21st of January, 1783, Gov. Clinton sent the bounds of a certain lot of land to his friend, with the following request :
" Capt. Machin will please to take a view of the above Tract and see that the settlements are properly made, and no land cleared that will injure tbe Tract in point of timber. That the persons who live on it clear annually a proportion of swamp, and plant out fruit-trees, and make such agreement with them as shall be easy and reasonable ; but they are to be Tenants at Will, as I may conclude to sell. Fix on the most convenient place for a homestead, and erecting a dwelling house, &c., supposing it to be divided into two farms. "GEO. CLINTON.
" Pokeepsie, 21st Jan., 1783."
lighted to honor. A desire to retain place has forfeited for many individuals the good opinion of the virtuous, and the rich inheritance of parental good deeds.
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AND BORDER WARS OF NEW YORK.
On the 17th of April following, Capt. Machin wrote Gov. Clin- ton from Murderer's creekc, that he had made a beginning of the works at the Great Pond-was cutting timber, and expected to have a dwelling ready to move into within five weeks from that time, &c., &c .; to all of which doings Gov. Clinton wrote an ap- proving letter April 19th.
Mr. Machin was commissioned a captain by Gov. Clinton, and the council of appointment March 12th, 1793, to take rank as such from August 21st, 1780. The appointment was confirmed by Congress on the 28th of the following April.
On the approach of peace, in 1783, we find Capt. Machin lay- ing aside his warlike implements, and Cincinnatus like, following his plow. He settled at a place called New Grange, Ulster coun- ty, a few miles back of Newburgh, where in 1784, he erected se- veral mills, as a grist-mill, saw-mill, &c.
The following order of the quarter-master-general, on Lieut. Denniston, is inserted to show the reader how particular that offi- cer was in closing his official business :
" New York, April 10, 1784.
"'Sir :- Capt. Machin will deliver you six spades and shovels, which he received last summer from the store at Newburgh. You will deliver him one band for the nave of a wagon wheel, and two wagon boxes, to complete a wagon he bought of the public.
" TIM: PICKERING, Q. M. G. " Mr. George Denniston, West Point."
About the 1st of September, 1734, Gov. Clinton removed from Kingston to New York, as appears by several letters to Capt. Machin, directed to his address at " Great Pond, Ulster county ;" by which it appears the captain was to send down his winter's stock of fire-wood.
The following credible voucher appears to close the correspon- dence between Capt. Machin and his former general :
" This is to certify that I have been acquainted with Capt. Tho- mas Machin ever since the year 1776, and have had considerable dealings with him, and I always found his accounts to be just.
" Given under my hand the 7th of March, 1786.
" JAMES CLINTON."
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HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY,
The correspondence between Machin and Gov. Clinton, closed with the following letter, (until the latter was chosen Vice Presi- dent of the United States,) which is inserted because it tells so credibly and justly for that plain-hearted and honest republican, who not only dealt honorably with the unprotected himself, but was gratified to find others do likewise. In fact, he gained the reputation among the soldiers of the Revolution, of being a very plain, honest, unostentatious patriot,-and as an evidence of the fact, was exceedingly popular wherever known.
" New York, 13th November, 1786.
"Dear Sir :- The bearer is a brother-in-law and executor to Mr. Briggs, deceased. He has been here some time settling the affairs of the deceased. Among the little property he has left for his chil- dren, the location under a military right in your hands is a princi pal part. Mr. McClagley is anxious to know how it stands, and whether you have done the needful to give a title to the executors for the use of the infants. For this purpose he means to call on you on his way home, and the regard I have for the widow and family has induced me to write you on the subject, not doubting, at the same time, that you will pay every attention to them and their business.
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