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 22
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Leisler wished to command the allied forces himself; but the influence of the Albany Convention prevented. He then wished Milbourne to command ; but Livingston and the Government of Connecticut prevailed : Winthrop was appointed, and the Lieu- tenant-governour of New York was obliged to thank him. Schuy- ler had the same influence over the Iroquois. Thus Leisler and Milbourne were completely in the hands of their enemies.
It was late in August when Winthrop came to a full pause, at Wood Creek. By the letter of the Governour of Connecticut, dated, 23d of August, 1690, we learn that the general had written, informing the governour that he was then retarded by the failure of the Indians to accompany them and furnish them with canoes. Dissentions existed in the army. Treat seems to have had little hope from the expedition, except that it might distract the attention of the enemy, and aid Phipps, who had sailed from the bay with a great fleet. Mason had joined Phipps, and brought in several prizes.
Charlevoix says, that sickness was one of the causes of Will- throp's failure ; certain it is, that he returned with his army to Al- bany - the men disheartened, discouraged, and discontented.
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WINTHROP'S EXPEDITION.
CHAPTER XII.
Great Discontent in New York and Connecticut-Arrival of Cap- tain Ingoldsby, with troops-He joins the party of Bayard, Van Cortlandt, Livingston, etc .- His claims properly denied by Leis- ler-His outrageous proceedings-Sloughter arrives-Leisler is seized, and after a mock trial, is executed, with his son-in-law.
1690 THE retreat of an army is, at all times, pregnant with disorder and suffering : the retreat of the provincial army of Winthrop, which had marched with the prospect of conquest, and retreated with- out seeing an enemy, or coming within many miles of the country intended as the scene of fame, subjugation, and plunder, was pecu- liarly deplorable. Sick, and scantily supplied with necessary food, to toil through such a wilderness as lay between Wood Creek, flowing into Lake Champlain, and the frontier town of Albany, in 1690, was evil enough, without the aggravation of disappointed hopes and sectional dissensions. The two secretaries of New York and Connecticut, Milbourne and Allyn, had long been at sword's points. The officers of the allied forces threw the blame of fail- ure, of course, on each other. Both would join in censuring the Iroquois, who again felt contempt for the boasting white men, and proportional reverence for the power of France. Yet France had failed no less, in her intended conquest of New York, than the Co- lonies of England had done, unaided by the mother country, in the attempt upon Canada.
Leisler had fitted out a fleet - had sent to Sir William Phipps the first ship of war fitted out by New York - had raised and pro- visioned an army, considerable for that day, and the resources of the colony he governed. To do this, taxes had been imposed, collected with rigour, and private property seized, perhaps from necessity ; and had the expedition been successful, the advantages to the province would have been incalculable, and the plaudits of all men would have crowned the government of Jacob Leisler. But all had failed ; the province was exhausted; the enemy tri- umphed and threatened : and every ill was attributed to his dis- honesty or incapacity.
With an honest intent to remedy these misfortunes and grievan- ces, as I see no reason to doubt, the Lieutenant-governour of New York proceeded to Albany, there to meet the discomfitted army of the Connecticut general, who arrived on the 27th of August.
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WINTHROP ARRESTED BY LEISLER.
It appears, that I,eisler was biassed by the representations of Mil- bourne and others of New York; and although Winthrop had, as commander-in-chief, with the advice of his officers in council, re- treated, the Governour of New York arrested him and the Con- necticut commissary, and put both in confinement. This drew from the Governour and Council of Connecticut a letter, dated Septem- ber 1st, 1690, addressed to "the Honorable Jacob Leisler, Esq.," without addition, or other title, in which they say, that the tidings of these arrests are very grievous to them. That the knowledge and confidence in Mr. Winthrop's many virtues, caused that inter- cession which induced him to accept the command of the army ; which confidence is not impaired by Leisler's suspicious of him. That if the retreat from Wood Creek "be the matter" which offends the Lieutenant-governour of New York, they think the commission given by Leisler justified that retreat, made with the advice of Winthrop's council of war. That this conduct of Leis- ler's, will prevent Connecticut from joining with New York, in the measures necessary for future operations. That, by this act, he has disobliged all New England ; nor is a prison " a catholicon for all state maladies, though so muchi used by" Leisler. They attri- . bute Leisler's proceedings to Milbourne. They advise an imme- diate release of Winthrop and the commissary, and threaten to make Massachusetts acquainted with Leisler's proceedings.
On the next day, the 2d of September, the Governour and Council of Connecticut address another letter, of the same import, to Leisler, but in a more gentle style, and direct it to him as " Lieu- tenant-governour of the Province of New York." They require to know the reasons for the major general's confinement, " if any such be," that they, as confederates with New York, may assent or not to Leisler's proceedings. They say all New England is concerned in his vindication, and, by arguments, enforce their first request or demand.
Without detracting from the high character of Mr. Winthrop for virtue, I am of opinion that there had been at that period, and have been since, men, who, having led an army to Wood Creek, which falls into Lake Champlain, and is the commencement of water com- munication, leading directly to the enemy, would have found some means, by building batteaux, or otherwise, of accomplishing the in- tended attack. One-third of August, and all the fine autumnal months were before him for action. He knew that the armament of Phipps and that of New York were to co-operate, by distracting the attention of the French ; that Frontignac, with an inferiour force, awaited him at Montreal, and having there concentrated his powers, Quebec was left with weak defence. If the land army from New York had been successful, or only occupied Count Frontignac, and the French and Indians up the river, Quebec might have fallen
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DISSENTIONS BETWEEN LEISLER AND CONNECTICUT.
`into the hands of the Massachusetts armament, and a junction of the English provincial forces would have wrested Canada from France.
The success of the expedition against Canada would have exalted Leisler in the opinion of America and England. His enemies, the rich and influential men of New York city and Albany, would have been proportionably cast down. These men almost commanded the Iroquois ; and, by their intrigues with the Indians, relied upon the means of ruining the expedition, which, though of immense benefit, if successful, to the province and all English America, was death to their hopes and predictions. Upon the failure, Leisler returned to New York, to meet obloquy, discontent, and the accumulated evils which the faction had it now in their power to heap upon him.
On file, at Hartford, will be found the Lieutenant-governour's answer to the Governour and Council of Connecticut, dated, the 30th of September, 1690. In this, he asserts, that violent dissen- sions had arisen between the New England captains and the New York officers before the arrival of General Winthrop ; which he attributes to the friends of the Albany Convention, and enemies of his government. He accuses Winthrop with siding with Secre- tary Allyn and Robert Livingston, and proving himself a very dif- ferent man from the representations which induced him and the commissioners of New York to place him at the head of the army. He says, Winthrop was directed by Connecticut not to proceed to Canada without the Iroquois, and more than insinuates, that they were rendered unfaithful by the intrigues of Livingston, and that faction. He accuses Winthrop of declaring liis army unequal to the intent, without the troops of Massachusetts and Plymouth, (which did not join,) and, after arriving at Wood Creek, of influ- encing the council of war to their return, only sending forward a small detachment, with a party of Indians. He says, the success of this detachment (of 30 whites and 150 Iroquois, in destroying the enemy's cattle, taking or killing 2S of the French, burning dwel- ling houses and barns,) proved, that with only 150 more men, they could have taken Montreal. He accuses Winthrop with being in- fluenced by Allyn, Livingston, and the faction opposed to the estab- lished government, and expresses his surprise, that such a person should be considered an honour to New England. And in a se- cond letter, dated January 1st, 1691, calls for a trial of Winthrop, by the colonies of New England. In this letter, he reiterates his charges, and says, he has long waited an answer to his proposal, that Connecticut should empower commissioners, to meet those of New York, at Rye, to consult on the means of defending Albany.
Trumbull, the historian of Connecticut, tells us, that Winthrop had been released from his confinement by a party of Mohawks, who bore him off in triumph to his own troops. Yet it was the
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LEISLER THWARTED.
failure in performing the promises of these Indians that was the ostensible reason given for Winthrop's retreat.
That it would have been of great service to the Colonies if this expedition against Montreal had succeeded, is very apparent ; but it is no less apparent that success would have strengthened the lieutenant-governour of New York, made him popular with the pro- vince, and raised his credit in England ; while those who had opposed him, under the name of the convention of Albany, would have sunk in proportion ; the representations sent to England by Livingston, Bayard, Van Cortlandt, and the rest, would have been contradicted, Leisler's ruin prevented, and their nomination to the council pre- vented, perhaps their ruin sealed. Such being the consequence of success, it is, perhaps, not too much to believe, that the gentry, "the people of figure," though no longer acting as the Albany Con- vention, did, by thwarting Leisler's measures, and holding back the Iroquois, defeat the expedition, and turn back General Winthrop.
There is a letter on file at Hartford, dated from New London, October the 6th, 1690, from General John Winthrop to Go- vernour Treat, calling for vengeance on Leisler for the insult of the arrest; in which Winthrop plainly says, that when he accepted the command and went to Albany, he was referred for advice, by Treat's instructions to the gentry who had formed the Albany Convention. He says, "the most considerable gentle- men of Albany accompanied him as counsellors to the whole ma- nagement of the design." These were the persons to whom he was referred by Governour Treat, and these were the persons whose credit depended upon Leisler's scheme, and the expedition failing. These gentlemen guided the Iroquois, and could thwart every effort of Leisler. The Iroquois " demanded delay," says Winthrop. Canoes were not ready. Livingston repaired to Win- throp's camp, and had, without doubt, seen and conferred with him before he went to Albany. The gentlemen of Albany concurred with Winthrop's council, that the army could not proceed to Canada ; he marched back, and Leisler was rendered the disgraced and unpopular thing that the "people of figure" wished to represent him.
That General Winthrop was deceived by the Albany Conven- tion, to whom he was recommended by Treat, and by those. persons whose importance, credit, and perhaps safety, depended upon thwarting the measures of Leisler and Milbourne, is my opin- ion : not that the general, the son and grandson of the two distin- guished John Winthrops, was a traitor to the expedition he had con- sented to lead. He was exonerated by Governour Treat and the New England provinces, and afterwards governed the province of Connecticut. But that Jacob Leisler, who was ruined by the re- treat, and could not penetrate the councils of those who thwarted VOL 1. 25
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THE FRIENDS OF ANDROS PREVAIL.
him, should be enraged against the commander, was natural, though perhaps not commendable.
Peter Schuyler was a brave soldier, and honest in his intentions. It is much to be lamented that he did not see that the welfare of the province demanded his co-operation with Leisler.
From an early day in June, 1689, Leisler, first by the call of the people of the city of New York, and the inhabitants of Long Isl- and, which then constituted in itself the greater part of the pro- vince, ruled with unquestioned authority, until Captain Ingoldsby arrived, with a company of foot, from England, in the latter days of January 1691, and demanded the surrender of the fort to him- self.
I must here remind the reader, that the gentry, consisting of Nicholson's council and the leading men of Albany, as soon as they found that Andros had been put down in Boston, and William and Mary proclaimed in England, likewise declared for the revolu- tion : and whatever might have been the event, if James had re- mained on the throne of England, and his creature, Andros, had succeeded in subverting the charters, and carrying into effect the bigot-tyrant's will, in the colonies, the convention at Albany, and the governour's (or his majesty's) council, loudly declared for the pro- testant religion, and King William III. But they declared still louder against the freeholders of the province, for taking up arms and putting their trust in a merchant of the city of New York, a mere captain of militia, who had, with them, placed himself in opposition to Andros, Nicholson, and the sworn council, under James' govern- ment.
The two parties awaited the decision of William's ministry. A governour, appointed by that king whom the people of Eng- land had chosen, was expected. The arrival of orders, and a ruler from England, was needed, that the province might be united. But William of Orange had the great game of war to play on the continent of Europe, against the usurpations of popery and Louis XIV, as well as in Ireland to subdue the adherents of James, assisted by the French king. We cannot then won- der, that a distant province was neglected. Yet, the commis- sion of Sloughter was dated the 4th of January, 1689 ; but still, in January, 1691, Lieutenant-governour Leisler knew nothing of the appointment, and was only notified by Ingoldsby, a captain of foot, in a peremptory demand for a surrender of the fort and pro- vince to him - bearing no commission but that which authorized him to discipline and command his company.
The arrival of Ingoldsby, and his information that Sloughter had been appointed, was hailed with joy by Bayard, Van Cort- landt, Livingston, Phillipse, and their party. They rallied around
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CAPTAIN INGOLDSBY.
the English captain of foot, and brought forward all the discon- tented in their train.
During Leisler's administration, war had been felt throughout the province. His efforts against the enemy on the frontiers, and the expedition against Canada, had been paralyzed by the opposite party. He had been obliged to raise money, by taxes and loans, which had turned many of the people against him ; and, in the gene- ral joy at the approach of a king's governour, as announced by In- goldsby, Leisler was blamed for not surrendering his government, at the first summons, from a man who bore no letters or orders from the ministry.
The residence of the lieutenant-governour was in the fort. The fortifications in every part of the city had been repaired by Leisler ; and within the fort was the governour's house, the Dutch Church, (then the only place of worship,) and the barracks. In this fortress the families of the commander and of his son-in-law, Milbourne, (we. must presume,) resided. Notwithstanding the general peace of the southern portion of the province, and some successes at sea against the French commerce, the government of Leisler was now unpopu- lar; and the accession of Ingoldsby, with his audacious behaviour, countenanced by the former mayor and council, was approved by the people-who now wished a change, and were willing, gene- rally, to be guided by the leaders of the party who were again coming into power. 1691
It appears, that Captain Richard Ingoldsby arrived at New York, in January, 1691, in the ship Beaver, the same vessel which carried over to England, Nicholson and Ennis. Im- mediately seized upon by the gentry, with whom an officer, bear- ing the king's commission and livery naturally assimilated, Ingoldsby demanded the surrender of the fort, under pretence, in the first in- stance, of finding quarters for his soldiers. . He was made acquain- ted with the posture of affairs ; and having announced the appoint- ment of Colonel Sloughter, as governour of the province, Leisler requested to see his commission, or order, from the ministry or the governour : at the same time, the mayor tendered to Ingoldsby quarters for his majesty's troops. This did not satisfy the "people of figure," and, in the captain's name, the magistrates, or justices of Long Island, were called upon to assist his majesty's officer in enforcing his commands.
Whereupon, Leisler published a proclamation, to this effect : "Forasmuch, as Major Richard Ingoldsby, without producing any" order from his majesty, King William, or from Governour Slough- ter, has demanded possession, etc., - not being satisfied with the accommodations for himself and the forces under his command, twice tendered to him, (in the City Hall,) until further orders shall arrive, but has issued a mandate, dated the 30th January, 1691, to
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SLOUGHTER ANXIOUSLY DESIRED.
the magistrates of Long Island, calling upon them to assist in ful- filling his commission, I do, by and with consent of my council, military officers, and others, in behalf of the king and queen, protest against the proceedings of said Ingoldsby. And further, the gover- nour warns him, at his peril, not to attempt any hostility against the king's city and fort."
This proclamation is headed, " By the Lieutenant-governour and Council;" but it is plain, that though in possession of the fort, power had departed from Leisler: otherwise, his majesty's lieuten- ant-governour would have shown it otherwise than by words. In fact, Ingoldsby, directed by the party, and his feelings of superiority over a Dutchman and a provincial, had landed his soldiers, and besieged the fort. He likewise blockaded Leisler by sea, with the armed ship in which he had arrived with his troops from England.
The fears of the introduction of popery, which might honestly have influenced the conduct of Leisler and the people of New York, at the commencement of the revolution of 1688, had ceased; but the resentment of those who had been suspected or accused of being papists or favouring the designs of Dongan, Andros, and James, was increased by recent disgrace and suffering.
It has been observed by Robertson, the historian, that popery, in its very genius, is "averse, at all times, to toleration," and that it was, in the early stages of the reformation, " fierce and unrelenting ;" and no less fierce and unrelenting was the enmity of the aristocracy of New York, on the return of power, towards Jacob Leisler. He must have known his peril, and that it proceeded from " the gentry," the "people of figure," who had cut so poor a figure since the flight : of Andros and Nicholson. His hopes must have been placed on William, whose cause he had advocated, and whose standard he had raised against James. The arrival of Sloughter must have been looked for anxiously, as that which would relieve him; for, as yet, he could not know that the expected representative of majesty was even more likely than Ingoldsby, to fall into the views of, and be di- rected by his enemies. Sloughter was a man, described by a king's officer, as, "licentious in his morals, avaricious, and poor."* He was one of those governours who, according to Lieutenant-gover- nour Colden, were sent hither " to gratify a relation or a friend, by giving him an opportunity of making a fortune." Sloughter was the very man that Leisler's opponents might wish for : ignorant, brutal, needy, and vicious ; - yet to his arrival Leisler must have looked for safety.
On the last day of January, the besieged lieutenant-governour issued an order to the civil and military officers of the colony, for-
" Chief Justice Smith, of Canada.
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LEISLER AND INGOLDSBY.
bidding them to heed the proclamations of Ingoldsby, but, accord- ing to their oaths, or their commissions, given by him, the lieuten- ant-governour, as authorized by King William, to call forth all the forces under their respective commands, both horse and foot, and to be in readiness, completely armed, to obey the orders of the lieu- tenant-governour aforesaid.
The next day, Ingoldsby answers, by proclamation, Leisler's protest and order, of the day before, which, he says, is "pernicious and dangerous to their majesties." He professes, that what he does, is to prevent outrages by those persons Leisler " calls" his soldiers. He says, " I know not how you will answer the firing a shot at my men last night, when they were coming on board."*
By this, we see that Ingoldsby's soldiers, although landed by day, and probably keeping. a watch by night on shore, still had their quarters on board the ship Beaver, in which they had crossed the Atlantic.
On the second day of February, Leisler sent a letter to Ingolds- by, saying, that he had examined into the circumstance of the shot fired at the king's soldiers, and finds that it is a fact. He adds, that if the captain will point out any injury done, justice shall fol- low. "None," says he, "under my command shall be counte- nanced in an ill action." He likewise desires to know, in what manner he can better accommodate Captain Ingoldsby. But, on. the same day, February 2d, Ingoldsby issued a proclamation, assu- ring the inhabitants that he had come to protect them, all reports to the contrary, notwithstanding.
On the 3d of February, the lieutenant-governour notified the inhabitants, by a proclamation issued from fort William, that Colo- nel Sloughter had been appointed governour of the province of New York; and that, on his arrival, the fort and government should be cheerfully surrendered to him. "In the meantime, his honour, Major Richard Ingoldsby, having a considerable number of his majesty's soldiers under his command, for the service of the colony, which, at the present, cannot be otherwise accommodated than in this city, until his excellency appears," therefore, the inhabitants are commanded to receive Major Ingoldsby, and all his people, with "respect and affection."
To show the distinction which Leisler made, and wished to im- press upon the people, between this officer, commissioned by King William, and the former council and magistrates, who had been commissioned by Dongan and James, he addressed the inhabitants again on the following day, saying, that Ingoldsby having demanded possession of his majesty's fort, without showing any order from
* MSS. in Historical Society's Library, for all the documents quoted.
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LEISLER'S PROCEEDINGS.
king, queen, or governour, therefore it is not to be surrendered ; but that several offers have been made to that officer, for the acco- modation of himself and his followers, which have been refused, he still continuing to demand the surrender of the fort. The lieutenant- governour then continues thus-" The Major, by flagitious coun- sellors, who to carry on their accursed designs of mischief, and gratify their revengeful spirits, (depending upon his majesty's gra- cious indemnity for their said crimes, which already have been, and may be, committed before the arrival of his excellency,) the said Major Ingoldsby, by such pernicious instigation, hath presumed to levy forces by his own authority, pretending commisssion from his majesty, (and likewise has dignified himself by the sovereign title of us,) by which means, sundry outrages are committed by persons who have been instigators, ringleaders, and promoters of mischief ; who have opposed the necessary taxes for supporting the present war, (against the French,) and do encourage the inhabitants to take up arms, to the disturbing his majesty's peaceable subjects." There- fore, he, the lieutenant-governour, again declares that Ingoldsby shall have accomodation for himself and soldiers, and for others who may come, until the governour shall arrive, or orders be re- ceived for surrendering the fort ; which he promises to do, on the arrival of Sloughter, or such orders as shall justify him in the act ; but he commands all persons, on their peril, not to obey said In- goldsby, and warns him to desist from his illegal proceedings.
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