USA > New York > New York City > History of the New Netherlands, province of New York, and state of New York : to the adoption of the federal Constitution. Vol. I > Part 14
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. CHAPTER VII.
Connecticut is confined within limits by the Duke of York-Conduct of Nicolls-Discontent of the Towns-Francis Lovelace, Gor- ernour-Continuation of the History of the Iroquois till 1671- The Rev. Mr. James-The Lutheran Church in New York.
Ar the time of the hostile seizure of New Netherland by the arms of Charles II, England and Holland were in a state of peace. Not- withstanding which, Charles granted to his brother James the whole territory, with part of Connecticut. James, finding that Long Island had been already given to the Earl of Stirling, bought it as we have noticed above, for £300 .¿ The grant to James, Duke of York, gave to him and his assigns the power of government, and he as- signed that part of New Netherland now called New Jersey, 1664 to Lord Berkley and Sir George Carteret.
By the surrender to Richard Nicolls, and the mandate of Charles, Connecticut lost all her territory on Long Island, and part of what she had seized on the main, her boundaries being fixed on one side by the Sound, and on the other by a line running north from the Sound at Mamaroneck Creek, and another confining her within ten miles of the Hudson River.
Nicolls, under the style of Deputy Governour for his royal high- ness, James, Duke of York, during his short stay in New York, filled his coffers by new grants of land and by making the posses- sors of former grants pay him for confirmations. He had likewise
* See his History of New-York.
t The pear tree which now stands at the corner of 13th street and 3d Avenue, marks the spot of the old governour's garden, and was probably brought from Hol- land, when he repaired thither to account to his superiors, which he did imme- diately after the surrender. See Appendix L.
# See MSS. papers, N. Y. Hfist. Library.
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a joint power with Carr, Carteret and Maverick, to settle contested boundaries of certain great patents, a further source of wealth. He instituted a race-course and races at Hempstead, on Long Island ; and his successor in the government, appointed by procla- mation, directed to the Justices, that races should take place in the month of May ; and that subscriptions be taken of all such as were disposed to run for " a crown in silver, or the value in good wheat."
He ordained that henceforth all purchases made of the Indians. should be by agreement with the Sachems and recorded before the Governour. Purchasers, to encourage them, were made free from assessments for five years. Liberty of conscience was promised, and the townships were allowed to frame their own laws for cases within themselves. He particularly encouraged settlements on the west side of Hudson river, near Esopus. Ministers were to be supported in every township, each man paying his proportion of the salary agreed upon. Officers, civil and military, were to be chosen by the freeholders of the town. The municipal privileges of Albany remained untouched ; and he prudently changed 1665 the mode of government in New York by degrees, and in- troduced a Mayor, five Aldermen, and a Sheriff, instead of a Scout, Burgomasters, and Schepens. Thomas Willet, an Eng- lishman, was appointed Mayor by the Governour ; the five Burgo- masters were transformed to Aldermen, and the Scout to a Sheriff.
Captain John Underhill, being now a resident of Oyster Bay, had the appointment of High Constable of the North Riding on Long Island.
'The governour chose his own council to suit himself, and pos- sessed both executive and legislative powers. The Court of As- size was composed of justices appointed by the governour, and. dependent on him. This court only served to lessen his responsi -- bility. .
Nicolls called a convention of two deputies from each town to' meet him at Hempstead, but conceded no liberty to the people. 'The assembly merely settled the limits of the towns, and then: signed a loyal address to the duke. Their constituents scorned, them for their servility .*
The seizure of New Netherland in time of profound peace,. caused an open war between England and Holland, which being proclaimed in London, notice was sent to Nicolls, at New York,. with information from the ministry that the terrible De Ruyter was to be sent to wrest New York from the English. This apprehen- sion proved without foundation, and by the peace of Breda, con-
* See Wood, and N. Y. Hist. Collections.
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cluded 21st July, 1667, the province was ceded to England in lieu of Surinam. During the war, however, Nicolls confiscated thie property of the Dutch West India Company in New York, which had been assured to them by the treaty with Governour Stuyvesant.
Although the people of New York were disappointed of their expectations by the non-establishment of a representative govern- ment, Nicolls appears upon the whole to have conducted himself with uncommon moderation, considering that he was in fact a despot. After three years in America, the governour returned to England, in favour with his masters, who appointed Colonel Fran- cis Lovelace to succeed him. The king sent Nicolls a present of £200, and from his monument in Ampliill church, Bedfordshire, England, it appears that he had the honour of serving Charles in his infamous war against Holland, undertaken by command of Louis XIV, whose pensioner he was; for on that monument Richard Nicolls is recorded to have been killed on board the Duke of York's ship, in a fight with the Dutch, in 1672.
I find no effort made by Nicolls to promote literature in the Co- lony, except that he licensed John Shute, an English schoolmas- ter, to open a school in Albany, for the purpose of teaching the people English ; and warranted him that he should be the only English schoolmaster in the place and be paid as much as any teacher of Dutch. His care of religion is proved, as well as his liberal opinions, by authorizing the Lutherans to send for a preacher of their sect, and by his order to the magistrates of New York to raise 1,200 guilders for the support of ministers.
1667 Colonel Francis Lovelace arrived in New York, com- missioned by the Duke of York as liis deputy governour. He appears to have followed the instructions of his master, and to have made as much out of the people as circumstances would ad- mit, exercising the unlimited authority established by Nicolls, levy- ing taxes and imposing duties without consulting the inhabitants. They, however, had imbibed different notions of govern-
1669 ment and of the rights of the people, and meetings were held in the various towns, and a petition agreed upon for redress.
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At the surrender of the Colony, the inhabitants were promised besides protection to person and property, all the other privileges of his majesty's English subjects. The people contended that a participation in legislation was one of those privileges. They found their English governour as arbitrary as the Dutch Di- rector-general. They resolved to complain to the court of assize : and on the 9th of November, 1699, the towns of Hempstead, Jamaica, Oyster Bay, Flushing, Newtown, Graves- end, West Chester, and East Chester, severally petitioned for re- dress. They reprobated the exclusion of the people from any
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share in legislation. They were assured by some trifling conces- sions, but denied redress in all the important points.
1670 The court ordered contributions from the Long Island towns to repair the fort at New York. The people already deemed all taxation without representation, tyranny. They, in town meetings, resolved not to contribute unless their privileges should be obtained. The people of Huntington assigned as the reason for their refusal " because they were deprived of the liberty of Englishmen." The other towns protested to like effect. The resolutions of Flushing, Hempstead, and Jamaica, were laid be- fore the court of sessions of the West riding ; (the West riding was constituted of Staten Island, Newtown, and King's County,} and " that court, assisted by the secretary of the Colony and one of the council," adjudged the representations scandalous, illegal, and seditious ; and ordered the papers to be presented to the governour and council, to proceed on as they should think might best tend to suppress such mischief. The papers were laid by Gover- nour Lovelace before his council, who ordered them to be burnt by the hangman.
The opinions of Lovelace were similar to those Shakspeare puts in the mouth of Richard III. If the people were at case and had leisure, they were to be " grumbling knaves" and find fault with those Heaven had set over them. To keep them in order, says the governour, " lay such taxes upon them as may not give them liberty to entertain any other thoughts but how to discharge them."*
I will call the attention of my reader to the natives of New York and the neighbourhood. Mr. Gallatin tells us that about this time the Indians of Massachusetts carried on even offensive operations against the Iroquois. Six hundred men marched into the Mo- hawk country and attacked one of the forts. They were repulsed . with considerable loss : but, two years after, peace was made between these hostile tribes by the interference of the English and Dutch at Albany ; and the subsequent alliance of the Iro- quois with the British, after they had become permanently pos- sessed of New York, appears to have preserved the New Eng- land Indians from further attacks.
A brief statement from father Charlevoixt of the affairs of Ca- nada and the Indians of New York, or their neighbours, up to this period appears necessary.
In 1650, M. Lanson was governour of New France. At this time the Iroquois proceeded to Trois Rivieres, attacked the set- tlement, and carried off the commandant of the place prisoner. Montreal was only saved by the timely arrival of one hundred sol-
.* Letter to Sir Robert Carr.
t Hist. of Canada.
VOL I.
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diers from France, sent, as the historian says, by a pious- virgin and by the mother of God, the particular patroness of the place. This warfare and interchange of murders continued until 1654 ; when a priest was sent to Onondaga to ratify it. With difficulty the Mohawks were reconciled to this measure, as.it gave the more' western tribes an advantage to trade, heretofore enjoyed by the castern, from their vicinity to Albany. They were, however, paci- fied, and received a French missionary among them, while two" were sent to Onondaga. Conversions and miracles followed, as did a colony of fifty Frenchmen sent by the governour of Canada. This intrusion appears to have broken the good understanding of the parties. The Mohawks became suspicious, and in 1656 at- tacked the Hurons and their French allies : and the intruders upon . Onondaga either discovering or suspecting a conspiracy to cut them off, secretly fled : open hostilities immediately followed.
A new governour arrived from France in 1659, and the first bishop tliat had visited Canada. Still the colony was so weak that the' Iroquois pursued and massacred the Algonkins, allies of the French, even under the walls of the fort at Quebec, and held that town in' a species of blockade. This feebleness, and the hardihood of the " Iroquois protected New Netherland from France, while Stuyve- sant was striving to avoid the impending blows of New and Old England.
'The French were not always worsted in their encounters with the Indians ; for in 1661 the Iroquois sent an embassy to Mon- treal with four French prisoners, offering to exchange them for eight · of the red warriors who had been taken captive. The ambas- sadors were strengthened by a letter from all the French prisoners among the confederates, signed by them, and representing the ne- cessity of complying with the terms proposed, as otherwise they should be all sacrificed. The deputies were received and enter- tained at Montreal until the governour came from Quebec to meet them, and he succeeded in again making a peace. A missionary is sent to the Iroquois, and a new governour, M. D'Avoujaur, arrives from France.
We are told by the Jesuit that the missionary sent in 1661 was received with great honour by the Onondagas, (who are represented as the chief nation of the confederacy,) and the politeness of Garakonthee, their headman, is set forth at large. The priest harrangued the assembled chiefs, and they blamed the Mohawks as being the cause of the late hostilities. Nine . French prisoners were sent to Montreal in consequence of this conference, and the release of all the French prisoners, is pro- mised to " Onontheo," the name given by the Iroquois to all the French governours. Garakonthee went to Montreal, but the
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other tribes continued their hostilities. 'The Onondagas and two other tribes consented to receive missionaries.
About this time the French received succours from home and the Iroquois were destroyed by small-pox.
During the years 1664 and 1665, while Nicolls was adjusting New York to the government of James, another Governour took the com- mand in Canada, bringing succours to the Colony. He caused forts to be erected at Trois Rivieres, and at Sorel : but he found that forts would not stop the Iroquois, and their incursions were continued. An invasion of their country was determined on, and preparations made to conquer these ruthless savages. The Iroquois saw the impending storm, and to prevent it sent two of their chiefs to Quebec. While these warriors were entertained by the Gover- nour at a feast, the fate of a French officer, supposed to be killed by the Indians, was inquired into. One of the Iroquois sachems arose, and lifting his naked red arm aloft, cried, " This is the hand .. that slew him !" " You shall kill no more," said the Governour, and ordered him to be strangled on the spot.
Preparations for overwhelming the Iroquois were ready in 1666, and in the depth of winter, divided into several parties, the troops marched over the frozen lakes and through the wilderness to fall upon the enemy. One body of the Canadian forces lost their way, and after wandering several days without food, approached the lower Mohawk castle by the direction of the river a little above the falls, and in a weak, sinking, starving condition, would have inevi- tably been cut off, but that a Dutchman, of the name of Corlaer, had advanced beyond civilization into the wilderness, and formed a settlement where Schenectady now is. Corlaer, touched with their condition, furnished them shelter and food, and by repairing to the Mohawk castle, represented this advancing party as only in- tended to call their attention, while a greater force fell upon their towns and castle from higher up the river. The Indians being thus prevented from destroying the exhausted Canadians, the Dutchman supplied them with provisions, which enabled them again to take to their repaired snow shoes and make their escape to Canada. Corlaer had his settlement in the midst of the Mo- hawks and in the vicinity of their lower castle. He was a great favourite of the Iroquois, but thought it his duty to save these Europeans, who could not at this time harm his Indian friends, and who very gladly escaped by making the best of their way home. From this man's name, Schenectady has by many been called Corlacr ; and from him the Iroquois long deno- minated the Dutch and afterwards all the people of the pro- vince " Corlacr." The Iroquois spoke of, and to, the go- vernours of New York by the name of Corlaer, as they called the French of Canada and their governours Onontlico. The go-
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vernours of Canada, in gratitude, offered to Mr. Corlaer an advanta- geous settlement, which he accepted ; but in passing Lake Cham- plain, was drowned.
. The result of the first attack upon the Iroquois, was only some skirmishes, in which the Indians lost their deserted wigwams, and the French, one officer and several soldiers. But the main body of their army moved through the wilderness with " all the pride, pomp and circumstance of glorious war," and doubtless felt as if marching to conquest. With 1200 French disciplined soldiers, glittering in gold and its imitation, their white uniforms mocking the snow, and their colours flouting the storm, Mons. de Tracy led the main battle accompanied by the Chevalier de Chaumont, and other officers, equally gay and gallant. An equal number of Ca- nadians accompanied the European troops, as rangers and scouts. One hundred friendly Indians attended them. Mons. de Cour- celles led 100 men as the advance. Messrs. Sorel and Ber- thier commanded the reserve. Tracy was the general of the whole. Two field pieces accompanied this array, which was fur- nished with all that the province could afford.
But before they could reach their enemy provisions failed, and the French approached the Iroquois towns half famished. Their Algonquins had only served to give the alarm to the nearest town, the inhabitants of which fled. The army entered the first village in order of battle, drums beating, and colours flying. They found some old men, women and children, such as could not fly. These they made prisoners. They however relieved their hunger by plenty of provisions accumulated by the Indians for winter. Maga- zines of corn were found buried, " enough," says Charlevoix, " for the colony for two years." The Europeans could only admire the Indian dwellings, and burn them. Guided by their Algonkins, they entered a second and a third deserted village, but at the fourth a stand was made by the warriours. It appears that resistance was feeble. The extraordinary force of the French army caused the Iroquois to fly to their swamps, where they could not be followed -at least in battle array. The cabins were given to the flames, and as much destruction spread around as possible ; and then M. de Tracy thinking that he had sufficiently displayed the power of France, and thereby could, with the forts on the St. Lawrence and elsewhere, keep the savages in check, retired with his army to Mon- treal, having lost but one officer and a few soldiers. -
Colden, in his history of the Five Nations, says, that M. de Courcelles added to the enmity of the Iroquois by hanging Agariata, a chief who had gone to Canada as an ambassador to apologize for the breach of the peace on the part of the Mohawks.
During the year 1667, M. Perot ascended beyond the Mich-
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ilemackenac and cultivated the friendship of the Indians in that quar- ter. The next year found the Mohawk villages renewed, and the Iroquois more determined friends to the English and focs to the French than ever, if possible.
The great preparations for the expedition ended in no advantage whatever. The French court sent out more troops to Canada, and instructions were given to diminish the numbers of the Iroquois as much as possible, and to send such as were made prisoners to France, that they might be made to serre in the king's galleys.
A temporary peace, however, was maintained between the Five Nations and Canada, and the rulers of that province sent their priests as spies and missionaries among the Indians, while the Duke of York ordered his governours " to give these priests all the encouragement in their power ;" thus assisting the French in the plan of gaining to their interests the people who were the only barrier between them and the colonists of New York, and who, if conquer- ed, removed, or gained over to the French interest, would eventu- ally give them the province James had just seized, and probably all the English colonies.
The governour of Maryland sent Col. Coursey to Albany to gain the friendship of the Iroquois for that province, and Virginia ; but while the sachems and the Colonel were in friendly conference, a party of young warriours who were out amusing themselves with burn- ing houses and taking scalps, fell in with some Susquehannalis, friendly to Maryland, killed four of them and brought home six as prisoners. Five of these captives falling to the lot of the Senecas were sent back to Maryland ; but the Oncidas kept the one that fell to their share. Another war party of Iroquois attacked the Indians in alliance with Virginia, but a body of colonists from Vir- ginia fell upon the Iroquois, defeated them with slaughter, and took some prisoners. In return, the Indians murdered the Vir- ginia planters, fired their dwellings, and bore off in triumph four scalps and six prisoners. This seems to have interrupted the ne- gotiations at this time.
There appears to have existed a jealousy among the English, particularly the colonists of New York, in regard to the Dutch of Schenectady, who were charged with misrepresenting the inten- tions of the English towards the Iroquois.
The government of Virginia finding that the confederated 1671 Indians of New York continued troublesome, sent two gen- tlemen, Messrs. Kendal and Littleton, to Albany, for the purpose of renewing friendship with them, and Gov. Lovelace re- paired thither to aid them and regulate the affairs of New York in that quarter. Before leaving the city of New York to embark on this perilous voyage, Lovelace appointed Cornelius Heinwick, who was one of his counsel, to administer the government during
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his absence ; but in case of any thing extraordinary, he was in- structed to send to the governour. The garrison, by these instruc- tions, is not to be meddled with, " but left to Cupt. Manning as usual." 'The date of these instructions is July 19th, 1671. A. pass was given to a young Indian to visit the Maquas, (Mohawks) and a passage was given him with the governour to Albany.
In his speech to the Iroquois, Mr. Kendal complained of the hostilities which had been committed by them ; but, he said, by persuasion of the governour of New York, the government of Vir- ginia would excuse them, provided such injuries were refrained from in future ; presents as usual were given to the Indians and peace promised.
Mr. Littleton died at Albany, and the Indians in token of con- dolence presented to Mr. Kendal a belt of black wampum. Pro- fessions of friendship were renewed by speeches and belts ; but neither the Onondagas nor the Oneidas were present at this treaty as it is called. Notwithstanding these ceremonies, the Iroquois were kept at variance with Virginia by the intrigues of the French priests residing among them, particularly with the Onondagas and Oneidas.
To the honour of the Rev. Mr. James, of East Hampton, it is recorded that he received the thanks of Gov. Lovelace for his en- deavors to instruct the Indians. The governour likewise requested a copy of the catechismn Mr. James had drawn up for their use, with some chapters of the Bible which he translated for their use into their tongue, that these works might be sent to England to be print- ed. It is stated that the labours of Mr. James had been crowned with great success. As there was no printer in New York, the gov- ernour says he had sent for one to Boston, but thinks the effort would be unavailing. In fact it is well known that the policy of the Eng- lish government discouraged the introduction of printing presses into the colonies ; and it was long afterwards that New York re- . ceived the first establishment of this kind from Philadelphia.
Richard Nicolls had, during his administration, given permission to the Lutherans of New York to send for a minister to Europe, and in this year Mr. Jacob Fabricius arrived.
1669 The governour by proclamation made known that the Reverend Gentleman was allowed to exercise his office as pastor, as it was the pleasure of the duke that the Lutherans should be tolerated in New York, and promised his protection to the sect, as long as they " behave orderly ; and as long as his royal high- ness shall not order otherwise." Governour Lovelace, further gare a pass to the reverend gentleman to go to Albany, which he did, but unhappily engaged in controversy with the magistrates of that place, who had authorized the " consummation of a marriage" be- tween Helmer Otten, and Adriantze Arentz, " his wife according
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to the law of the land."* For this offence Fabricius fined Mr. Otten 1000 Rix-dollars, and the Governour suspended Mr. Fabricius from the exercise of his ministerial functions in Albany, until his friends should intercede with the magistrates of that place, and they should be willing that he be restored. But in the mean time he is allowed to preach in New York. It appears, however, that Mr. Fabricius was dissatisfied with the province, and his congregation with him, for he only exercised the liberty given by preaching a farewell ser- nton. He, before departing, installed another minister, Mr. Bernar- dus Arint, and the governour gave to Mr. Martin Hoffman per- mission, upon. " petition of the minister and elders of the Lutheran church of New York," to go to Delaware for the purpose of soli- citing benefactions to assist them in building a place of worship.
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