History of Ulster County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers. Vol. I, Part 12

Author: Sylvester, Nathaniel Bartlett, 1825-1894. cn
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 758

USA > New York > Ulster County > History of Ulster County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers. Vol. I > Part 12

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III .- THE SACK AND BURNING OF WILTWYCK.

On Thursday, the 7th of June, 1663, only two days after the conference with Chambers, between eleven and twelve o'clock, when the men were at work in the fiells, a large party of Indians entered the village of Wilewyck through the gates, and scattered through the place, bartering a few beans and some maize. They had been in the stockade " but a short quarter of an hour," when some people on

HISTORY OF ULSTER COUNTY, NEW YORK.

horseback rushed through the mill-gate, crying out : "The Indians have destroyed the new village." Taking this for a signal, they fired a shot, and commenced a general attack " from the rear" ou the surprised and almost defenseless whites, " murdering our people in their houses with their axes and tomahawks." To provide against snecor from the husbandmen without the Indians divided themselves into two parties, one occupying the street corners and the eur- tains outside, so as to waylay all who came in, while the rest set the windward side of the town (the south) on fire, hurried the women and children outside the defenses as prisoners, and slaughtered whoever cke came in their way. In a short half-hour Barent Geretsen and William Jansen lay dead in front of their doors; Jan Albertsen and Jan the Smith were struck down in their dwellings; Dommin- cus, a soldier, fell with Alberts; Christian Andrisen had his brains knocked out in the street; Lichten Derrick, Hendrick Jansen Looman, a negro of Thomas Chambers, and Hendrick Martensen, a soldier, were on the field when the attack began, but while hurrying off to the assistance of the others they were shot. Lichten Derrick's wife, " with her lost fruit," was burned in her house. Capito's wife was also slain, and then consumed with her abode. Jan Albertsen's spouse, "big with child," and a little daughter were killed in front of their own door. All this while the only men in the stockade were the sheriff, donii- nie, Cornelis Slecht, six civilians, and five soldiers, but they bravely seized whatever weapons were at hand, and fought for life and reseue. The sight of the smoke from the burning town, with the report of firearms, brought those on their farms to the conflict, among them Licat. Schoon- maker and Capt. Chambers. The latter was shot while on the way in, but, heedless of his wounds, rushed through the gates, and dauntlessly assuited the Indians. Schoon- maker was wounded twice before his superior arrived, bat he fought on heedless of danger. Thus reinforced, the gates were soon closed, the cannon put in order, and a gen- eral attack made on the retiring enemy. This is the story of the officers ; but Blom wrote the whole place would have been destroyed, " had not the Lord our God wonderfully protected it, and they (the Indians) fled, having taken a fright in their heart, when no person drove them away." He was nearly right, for the legend is they ran as soon as they saw the common brought out. "Injun no stand big gun." A list of the houses burat in Wiltwyck, and of those taken prisoners, is Here appendul, to show whose fathers and mothers " suffered in those direful times."

HOUSES BURNED IN WILTWYCK.

Of Michael Ferre 1

1 Peter Van Hall 1 of Mattys Roelofsen

1 Barnet Carretien

Liebten Derrick 1 Mattys-

Prisoners taken at Wiltwyck were Rachel Montagne, wife of Dr. Gysbert Van Imborch; Hester Douwe and daughter Sara ; Grietje, wife of Domini Lær, and a child ; Femmotje Hendrix, sister of Roelof Hendrix, who had leu married to Joost Arians five weeks; Thatje, oldest daughter of 'Ajerk Claesen De Witt; Ariarn Gerretsen's daughter, and two little boys of Mattys Roelofsen.

IV .-- THE "NEW VILLAGE" UTTERLY DE- STROYEIL.

Iu a letter conveying the intelligence of the massaere to Amsterdam, under date of June 10, 1663, is the following account of the destruction of the " new village :"

"The new village is entirely destroyed except one unfinishedl barn and one rick,-burned to the ground. The larger part of its inhabit- ants are either killed or carried into captivity. A few only saved themselves by fleeing hither to Wiltwyck. Martin Harinence was killed at his barn ; Jacques Tysson at Barent's house. Dirck Adria- ensen was shot on his horse. Jan Evertsen, on the farm of Volckert Jansen, was taken prisoner."

NAMES AND NUMBER OF THE CAPTURED.

The women and children taken prisoners are as follows :

Women. Children.

The wife of Lois Dubois and children ...

1 3

Matheus Blanssen's children.

Wife of Antony Crepet and child. 1

1 Wife of Lambert Huybertsen and children .. 1 3

Wife of Marten Harmensen and children .. 1

Wife of Jan Jansen and children ... 1

Wife of Baren! Harriensen and child. 1

CAPTIVES FOUND. 6

Greitje Westercamp and children.

Wife of Jan Parents and child

Michael Ferre's children.

Hendrick Jurger's child ...

Hendrick Martensen's child 1

Albert Heyman's children. 2

Total- S 26

This was a terrible blow to the prosperity of the village, and to the hopes of the enterprising men who were its founders. They had redeemed their pledges made to the director-general and council in their petition. They had taken possession of the lands assigned them. They had given their village the appearance of a stockaded fort. They had erected houses and barns, and gathered at least fifteen families, who were engaged in agriculture. They had gathered one crop, and were now busily at work in their fields cultivating another. Apparently unconscious of danger, the men had gone forth in the morning to their several employments, leaving their wives and children in seeming security. Suddenly their treacherous neighbors swooped down upon the fold, killing the few men found at home, taking captive the women and children, burning their barns and dwellings, and in an hour laying waste their property and destroying their prospects of peace and comfort.

All the buildings in the new village were burned, except a new unroofed barn, a rick, and a stack of reeds. Three men were killed in the new village,-Martin Harmensen, Jacques Tyssen, and Derrick Ariaensen, the first found dead " stript naked behind the wagon, the second beside Barent's house, and the third shot on his horse." Strange to say, no one else was injured, but eight women and twenty-six children were carried off from this place alone, with five women and as many children from Wiltwyck. The re- mainder of the people of the new village betook themselves to the woods for safety, and during the afternoon made their way to the fort and the stockade at Wiltwyck.

V .- THE CPRISING OF THE PEOPLE.

By night sixty-nine effective men were gathered together. These were sufficient to hold Wiltwyck against a thousand Indians. Confidence revived and order followed.

Hans Carolusen .. 1 Of William Kap ..

1 Jacob Bourhand.

Abert Gerrelsen.

THE SECOND ESOPUS INDIAN WAR.

But that night innst have been one of sorrow and weep- ing. Dear wives and tender children were following their captors through bramble and bush to a savage feast. Ay, perhaps while the parents wept their children's brains were dashed out against some tree. These were excruciating re- fections for people who saw about them "burnt and slaughtered bodies, together with those wounded by bullets and axes."

The following letter from Blom puts the total loss in both places as twenty-four killed and forty-five carried off as prisoners :

" REV'D, WISE, RIGHT LEARNED, AND PIOUS :

"The stale and condition of my church, situate in the village of Wiltwyck, in the Esopus country, in New Netherland, since my three years' residence there, is somewhat prosperous through God's Wessing and merey, as well in members, which have increased from 16 to 60, as in bearers, and all was well ordered iu church matters and Con- sistory, so that everything is placed on a good tooting.

" I have also laid a good foundation both by private and public in- struction of catechists, both within an I without my house, as also by the explanation of the catechism, so that this newly-rising comum- nity began to grow and to bloom right worthily, when a cruel blow overlook it, and the heathens fell on and right sorely treated our church and comunonality, and, under the guise of friendship, mur- dered and also captured many. They intended to destroy this church altogether, and to devour it alive, had not the Lord our God wonder- fully protected it, and they flel, having taken a fright in their heart when no person drove thewu away, so that we escaped with the most part of the inhabitants and have still retained the place. The Lord only be thanked therefor, not wen, for men's help was far from us, for tho soldiers whotu we had before were discharged and sent to Hol- land. There lay the burnt and slaughtered bodies, together with those wounded by bullets and axes.

"The last ugouies and the tnoans and lamentations of many were dreadful to hear. I have been in their midst and have gone into the houses and along the roads to speak a word in season, and that not without danger of being shot by the Indians; but I went on my tuission and considered not my life mine own. I may say with Jere- mish, ' I am be who hath seen misery in the day of the wrath of the Lord.' Consider well, worthy colleagues, bow manifold is the suffer- ing and lamentation amongst us, of our wounded who fied l'or refuge to my house, and of others who yielded up the ghost near the. €

"The burnt bodies were most frighiful to behold. A woman lay burnt with her child at ber side, as if she were just delivered, of which I was a living witness. Other women lay burnt also in their houses, nud one cortese with her fruit still in ber womb most cruelty masdered in their dwelling with her husband and another child.

"The houses were converted into heute of stones, so that I waight say with Miech, 'We are made desolate,' and with Jeremiah, A piteous wail may go forth in his distress.'

5 = 4)

" Lately, at our monthly prayer-meeting. I took iny text from! Isaiah, 42,- . Who gave Jacob for a spoil and Israel to the robbers,' cle., v. 24, 25, and such other verses in addition. I have also every evening during a whole month offered prayers up, with the congre- gation, at the four points of our fort under the blue sky. But the Lord strengthened me in all this.

" We trust and depend further on ile help of our God that lle will hol altogether forsake us, but vouchsafe us His merey in the midst of Ilis justice, and evince His power in our weakness : for mountains ttay depart and hills fall away, but His werey shall not once depart from this feeble and infaut congregation. For wo lean on His almighty arm, and He shall be a wall of fire round about me and re- qaire aud avenge this blood on the beads of these murderous heather .. . Already he has begun to do so. Many heathens have been slain, and fall twenty-two of our people in captivity have been delivered out of their hands by our arms. Another expedition is about to set out. The Lord our God will again bless our arus and grant that the foxes who have endeavored to lay waste the vineyard of the Lord shall be destroyed. The Indians have slain in all twenty- four souls iu our

place and taken forty-five prisoners, of whom thirteen are still in their power. About the same number of theirs are in our hands. $ ¢

" HERMANUS BINHt.

" The 15th September. 1663, in New Amsterdam, in New Nether- lund.

" ,Egra Manu."

This attack, which came so near destroying all the settle- ments in Esopus, was adroitly planned, and only failed in its execution by the alarm and precipitation at Wiltwyck. The plan of the Indians seems to have been to fall upon both villages at onee by surprise, so as to take them un- guarded and defenseless. The party which went to Hurley were either too hasty, or the one which assaulted Wiltwyck too tardy. The latter meant to assault each house at once, but the alarm prevented the distribution of their forces. Why the first party were less bloodthirsty than the second ean only be accounted for by the little opposition they met with, and 'a consciousness that they could fly with their prisoners with greater ease.

Three days after the massaere the officers of the court sent a communication containing an account of it to Stuy- vesant, conveying it to the river with ten horsemen. On the return of this party to the stockade they brought back Sergt. Christian Niessen Romp, commander of the garri- son, who was at the redoubt during the attack. He at- tempted to return the same day, but, meeting the fugitives on the way, he returned with them to the fort. Hle was now followed back by many from the new village.

The letter of the court reached the director on the 12th, and he immediately sent what foree he could spare to suc- cor the distressed settlers. These arrived the next day. On the 16th the sergeant went again to the Strand, with forty-two men and three wagons, for ammunition. On their return they were set upon "at the first hill," near the residence of E. B. Newkeik, by a party of savages, who attempted to take the wagous; but Nicesen, dividing his foree into small parties, fought with " great courage," and brought the wagons in in safety, having lost one killed and six wounded. The noise of the battle attracted the atten- tion of the authorities in Wiltwyck, who sent a force to his assistance, but. the Indians had fled before their arrival. The dead man was found the next day, with a hand cut off and stripped naked.

VI .- GOVERNOR STUYVESANT RENDERS AS- SISTANCE.

While this was going on, Stuyvesant was doing all he eould to further assist the Esopus. Councillor De Decker was sent up the river to raise volunteers, and concert such measures as he and the authorities deemed for the public good. He found the people at Fort Orange in a great fright. They fled from all the outer settlements to the de- fenses, and would not move " lest evil should come to their place." Montagne vouelied they wished to rush to the rescue of their brethren, but self-preservation prevented them. Their fears were not a little heightened by a erne! war then raging between the Five Nations and the Miaquas, which ended in the conquest of the latter. Under these circumstances men could not distinguish friend from fue, wherefore Beaverwyck talked of nothing but war. Those

HISTORY OF ULSTER COUNTY, NEW YORK.

ouly who have lived through the days of their country's danger can feel and understand the nervous state of settlers in a wilderness under, such circumstances. The vice-di- rector, Montagne, was naturally more solicitens about the affair than his neighbors, on account of his daughter. Arent Van Corlear, a favorite with the Indians, endeavored to find where the prisoners were, but only learned they were scattered here and there in the woods with their cap- tors. Hester Donwe was near Catskill with her child. He advised her to escape while the ludians were drunk, but she was too much intoxicated and afraid. Smits Jan, a Mohawk sachem, with some warriors and two Mohican Indians, were next sent to rescue whom they could, but especially Montagne's daughter. Christopher Davis, who now lived in Rensselaerwyck, was likewise dispatched after her, but he at first lost his way in the woods, and then, when only four miles from Esopus (near Rosendale), re- turned on the recommendation of sonde savage. The In- dian messengers were more successful. They penetrated to the Indian fort, nine or ten Dutch (nearly thirty English) miles in a southwesterly direction from Wiltwyck. There they found a party who held Mrs. Van Imborch. After a parley with her captor, Pamirawachginek, he accepted a ransom for her. This was in the evening. When morn- ing came " he was gone," and had taken her with him. The other savages offered to return the ransom, but that did not satisfy Smits Jan and his haughty Mohawk follow- ers. They said, " How do you fool us? If we had our arms with us we would not stand it." The chief now pro- posed to go home to his tribe, get forty warriors, and take all the prisoners by force.

After this affair, Mrs. Van Imborch was forced to follow Pamirawachginek, who was a sachem, to Little Esopus, where he had some maize land. Here she stayed with him alone, in a hut, for several days. Onee she tried to escape, but lost her way and returned. Still resolved to be free, she watched a favorable opportunity and got away. One account says she made her way alone to the redoubt, while another asserts she stole off with some Mohawks. This made the lot of the other prisoners worse, for they were more closely watched. Tradition says they relieved their sufferings by singing hymns. While they were doing this; Dowinie Blow and all the people of Wiltwyck, every even- ing, went to each of the four angles of the stockile, and there, " under the blue sky," supplicated God to deliver their friends out of captivity. It is grand to trust in God.

The Mohawks were too much engaged in their own wars to take part with the Dutch against the Esopus savages. De Decker, besides asking for their aid, demanded of the whites at Fort Orange men and money. The first could not be spared, and the last they did not have.

A PROCLAMATION BY THE GOVERNOR-THE RESCUE OF THE PRISONERA.

Stuyvesant now issued a proclamation inviting the colon- ists about Manhattan to enlist, and offered them the pay of a soldier, what booty they took, and a pension of from four hundred to one thousand guilders if they were disabled. lle also sent a request to the English towns on Long Island

for the same object. Hle even visited them himself, but the Englishmen had set their minds against the expedition, wherefore he only obtained about a half-dozen recruits. Hle was more successful with the river Indians, with whom he renewed treaties and secured an alliance. Forty-six Marespinck savages joined his forces. A brave and dis- creet officer, Capt. Martin Cregier, was appointed to the chief command, and Peter W. Van Couwenhoven and Nicholas Stillwell made his lieutenants. Samuel Adsol was ensign.

While these preparations were being made, the director drew up instructions for the guidance of the commander and officers of Wiltwyck. All were to live and act in har- mony. Martial law was proclaimed, and a council of war formed to obey the instructions of the majority of a coun- cil composed of himself, Capt. Chambers, and Lieut. Hen- drick Jochems Schoonmaker, of the burgher guard, and the sheriff and schepens. They were strictly enjoined to barricade all the gates, except the two used in driving cat- tle, to see no small parties went out, and when any expedi- tion went out, to take horses to convey prisoners.

Mattys Capito was at the same time appointed secretary. Hitherto the duties of this office had been done by the sheriff, who was neither a scholar nor scribe. Capito was an old and faithful servant of the company, in whom Stuy- vesant had confidence. He employed him at various times as assistant commissary of accounts, an office which few filled with an honest report. But to his credit be it said that, though peculation was the rule, this man's character was not assailed. le came out under Kieft, from Bunts, and married, 1650, Elstje Peters, of Hamburg. He began his labors in Wiltwyck in July, 1663.

Cregier, with his little army, reached the ereek at the redoubt on the 4th of the following July. He innediately communicated with the garrison at Wiltwyck, and until the Sth occupied the time in earting up supplies from the river, entting grass, and doing guard duty. All this while they only saw three Indians on a high mountain uear the redoubt, Slechtberg, and ten or twelve across the Esopus Creek, talking to each other. Two Wappingers, however, came in on the 17th with a deer and some fish. Distrust- ing their story, the Dutch retained them in the fort. The next day five others eame to inquire after their brethren, who were assured no evil should happen them if they were friendly. This party then retired. The cattle still ran at large, and the captain was now fearful they had been slaughtered by these savages, but they did not molest them.

The oldest of the two Wappingers soon after told the commander that a party of twenty-eight Indians were on the west side of " Fort Orange River," back of Magdalene Island, in a eripple-bush, somewhere in the town of Red Ilook. After some difficulty in proeuring boats, Niessen and Peter Wolfertsen, with twenty men and twelve lu- dians, went out to capture or destroy them. The guide missed his way, whereby, instead of coming on them by surprise, the savages were prepared to fight. But the Dutch and their allies fell upon them, killed five, took one squaw and three children prisoners, and put the rest to flight. The expedition then returned to Wiltwyck, carry-

THE SECOND ESOPUS INDIAN WAR.

ing with them u booty of blankets, kettles, and sewan, having but one mau killed, aud one " bit in the leg by a rattlesnake."

Cregier now heard Through a squaw that the prisoners were conveyed every night to a particular spot outside for safety, while the warriors occupied a fort surrounded by three rows of palisades. She also said the houses in the fort were provided with port-holes; that the Indians had nine horses, with which they drew the palisades ; and the fort was quadrangular, and stood " on the brow of a hill, and all around is table-land." Mrs. Van Imborch con- firmed the story of this squaw, and said they had built near the water to seenre it. The youngest of the two Wap- pingers affirmed this, denying any participation in this massacre, and offered to guide an expedition against the fortifications of the Indians. The " Awful Council of War" would not, however, undertake it until they had heard of the efforts to rescue the prisoners. In the mean while detachments scoured the woods, but saw nothing of the enemy. On the 15th of July " De Heer de Decker" arrived with tive Mohawks and Jan, son of Christopher Davis. These were sent to the Esopus eastle, but the latter declined, because it was too hazardous. The former then proceeded without him, carrying with them an In- dian girl and some wampum, as an inducement for the release of the whites. After an absence of three days they returned with three savages, two Dutch women, and two children. The latter tarried behind " two hours," for they were overcome with fatigue. They came in the next day.

These fortunate people informed the evaucil of war : " The Esopus Indians had fled to a high mountain through fear of the Dutch, aud that they lay here and there in stall bands, and that their prisoners were also distributed and dispersed among them here and there; they would not. trust thein in their fort, but the Indians daily threaten tirem, ' Should the Dutch come thither, we will give you a knock and kill you all at onee ;' were thus in great terror." This did not embrace the whole story. At night they Were tied to trees by thongs.

These tales of the sufferings of the women and children made the officers, soldiers, and boors solicitous about them. Jan Davis and the five Mohawks were called in and solicited to go for the prisoners. After hearing the sorrowful tale of the Dutch, and the unprovoked acts of their red brethren, Smits Jan. with his warriors, accompa- nied by Davis, took some supplies and struck out on the trail for Wawarsing, taking with them a squaw and two children. Afier an absence of four days they returned with a female prisoner and word from the savages : "They should not release any more prisoners unless they should secure peace thereby, and that Corlaer aud Rensselaer should conie to their fort and bring goods with them, to conclude peace and redeem the prisoners." This report caused Cregier to resolve on another expedition iu search of the enemy, for they were " determined to make a stand in the fort."

In the mean while, three sloops had arrived at the Strand with supplies. The commander ordered the boors to pro- vide ten wagons to bring them up to the village, but only four came. This angered him. "Some refused to work

for the company; some gave for answer, If another will cart, I will; some said, My horses are poor ; I cannot cart; others said, My horses have sore backs." Tjerek Claesen De Witt was so obdurate as to turn. Lientenant Stillwell's men out of a small house he occupied. Ile was told, as a magistrate, he should take another course then and provide quarters, " that men could not lie under the blue sky." He quaintly remarks, " There are other ring- leaders and refractory people in this place." He could not get his teaming done.

Having been to Hurley to look after crops and help the boors there in building, Cregier summoned a council of war, and proposed another exenrsion against the savages. This was agreed upon, and the next day, July 26th, " Cap- taiu Cregier, with Lieutenants Stillwell, Couwenhoven, and one hundred and twenty-seven soldiers, forty-one Indiaus from Long Island, -- ' seven of the Honble companies,' "- negroes, and thirty-five burghers, left the stockade, taking with them two cannons, two wagons, each man provided with one pound of powder and ball, two of hard bread, one-half soft, two of pork, and one-half a Dutch cheese as rations. The hour of departure was four in the afternoon, the intention being to march all night and take the In- dians by surprise. After going about twelve miles, dark- ness stopped further progress until the moon arose, when they agaiu moved, but the woods was such an impediment to the transportation of the cannons and wagons they had to halt and bivouac till dawn.

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History of Ulster County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers. Vol. I, Part 12

Author: Sylvester, Nathaniel Bartlett, 1825-1894. cn Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Peck Number of Pages: 758

Author: Sylvester, Nathaniel Bartlett, 1825-1894. cn
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 758