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 26
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54
On the 26th of October, 1693, Fletcher, the governour of New York, with Nicholas Bayard, came to Hartford while the assembly was sitting, and demanded an answer, " yes or no," says Trumbull. He ordered the militia of Hartford under arms; and it was judged expedient to comply, but the assembly insisted that the command of the militia was vested by charter in the governour and company. Colonel Bayard, by Fletcher's command, sent a letter to the Assem- bly, declaring that his excellency, had no design upon the civil rights of the colony, and tendered a commission to Governour Treat. This was refused of course.
When the train-bands assembled, Captain Wadsworth, as senior officer on the ground, took the command. Fletcher ordered his commission to be read to the troops, by Bayard ; but on his com- mencing, Wadsworth ordered the drums to beat ;- Bayard again attempted, but the command was readily obeyed. Upon Fletcher's persisting, Wadsworth told him, if he interrupted his command again, he "would make the sun shine through him in a moment." - Such were the numbers of people collected, and such the face shown, that Fletcher and his favourite Bayard, desisted : and as soon as convenient got off to New York.
1694 The assembly which met the governour this year in March, were in a continued state of contention with him : they insisting on an examination of public accounts, he demanding additional pay for some troops lately arrived, and supplies for those on the frontier. . He prorogued them, after a month's session ; but in September he again met them, again to quarrel ; but they granted additional support for 100 men on the frontiers.
During this year, the French general and governour of Canada appears to have had hopes of deatching the Iroquois from the Eng- lish. He finds means of sending several of the Caugnawaghas among their former friends, as his agents. Father Charlevoix represents these spies as so many saints endeavouring to thwart the
-
:
·
225
FRONTIGNAC'S EXPEDITION AGAINST THE IROQUOIS.
machinations of the English devils, who instigated the Iroquois to enmity, by promising them sooner or later to conquer Canada.
Deputies frequently go from the Iroquois to Montreal, where they were caressed and returned loaded with presents. Charlevoix re- presents the confederacy as able, in case of an attack, to raise 3,000 warriours.
1695 In 1695, the Iroquois took a hostile tone with Frontig- nac. They insisted that if he wished to treat of peace, he should send French deputies to them. This appears to strengthen his determination to rebuild the fort at Cadaraqui, which he accord- ingly accomplished. He likewise sent a party of 300 men to sur- prise such of the Iroquois as might be hunting near Niagara : this was accomplished, and the prisoners who were carried to Mon- treal were burnt. This only caused more rancour, and in return, the captives taken by the confederates were tortured in the same manner.
1696 Fletcher heard that Count Frontignac was rebuilding the fort at Cadaraqui ; and about the same time, received from England the king's orders for carrying on the war, by a union of the strength of the colonies. The quotas assigned by the English go- vernment, were laid before the New York Assembly, and were as follows, viz. : Pennsylvania, £SO : Massachusetts Bay, £350 : Maryland, £160 : Virginia, £240 : Rhode Island and Providence Plantation, £4S : Connecticut, £120: New York, £200. This gives us a view of the relative strength of the colonies as estimated in England. That such a combination of power had not before been thought of for defence, seems most strange. This session of the Legislature passed in great harmony.
'The old Count Frontignac carried on hostilities in every shape, at this time, against the Iroquois. The Ottowas were stirred up, and made a triumphant attack on the confederates, bearing off to the French fort at Michilimackanack, thirty scalps. The Count made vigorous preparations to carry desolation into the midst of the Iroquois, and pushed forward at the same time various parties to annoy them. In January, 500 men were sent against the Mohawks, but with little effect. M. de Callieres, with 300 soldiers, was sent to attack the hunters near Lake Ontario : they surprised ten men, and one woman. Three of the Indians were killed, and the rest brought to Montreal, where one was burnt: the others being recog- nized as individuals, who had been kind to French prisoners, were spared.
It was in vain that the government of New York, called upon the respective colonies for their aid, as directed by the ministry ; and equally vain were the complaints made to England. The Iroquois were left to sustain the war unaided, except by the supplies which the governour carried to Albany.
VOL 1.
29
.
226
FRONTIGNAC'S EXPEDITION AGAINST THE IROQUOIS.
In June, Frontignac having completed his preparations, assem- bled his army at Montreal and La Chine. In addition to all the regular troops at his disposal, the Ottowas, Caugnawahgas, Algon- kins, and the tribes under the influence of France, were brought together. Light batteaux, portable at the rapids, and other carry- ing places, conveyed the stores and ammunition instead of wagons, known to be worse than useless in the wilderness. On the 7th of July, this well appointed army left La Chine.
There were two bodies of Indians under Le Jardinier and Beau- vois. A body of picked rangers led by the Baron de Beckencourt, preceeded the main army. The regular troops were divided into battalions of 200 men each, commanded by Messrs. Durabay, De Muys, Du Mesnel, and the Chevalier De Gras. I cannot but again pause, when the picture of these splendid officers in their pure white uniforms, glittering with gold, and followed by the finest troops of Europe, glancing back the rays of a July sun from their polished arms, and dazzling accoutrements, gaily moves be- fore the mind's eye, amidst the luxuriant growth of American forests, to seek a nation of savages so widely different in dress, decorations and manners-but these regular troops were followed by four bat- talions of Canadians, more assimilated in appearance and mode of warfare to the red men they sought to destroy. The rangers of Beaupre, were led by M. de Granville, those of Trois Rivieres, by M. de Grandpre ; those of Montreal, by M. de Chambease ; and those of Quebec, by the Chevalier de St. Martin. Monsieur Sube- rease acted as Major General. The van was commanded by M. de Callieres, an active and efficient officer, but who had at an ear- ly period protested against the attempt of the Count Frontignac, as inadequate to the destruction of the redoubted Iroquois. This gentleman had command of a body of Indians, and two battalions of French troops.
I have displayed, after the Jesuit historian, this formidable ar- my, equipped by the Governour General, with the utmost care, and directed in person, by one of the most vigilant and experienced commanders that ever ruled the province. They embarked upon the St. Lawrence, preceeded by two batteaux with field pieces, mor- tars and ammunition, and followed by canoes with provisions, which . were guided by Canadians. Frontignac followed, surrounded by canoes carrying his household, his baggage, and gentlemen volun- teers. The rear-guard was composed of two battalions of French soldiers, another band of Indians, and commanded by the Cheva- lier de Vandrenit.
Such is Charlevoix's detail of Counts, Barons, Chevaliers, and gentlemen, with followers of every class, who embark for the des- truction of the sons of the forest, and their wigwams, and corn fields.
227
FRONTIGNAC'S EXPEDITION AGAINST THE IROQUOIS.
After twelve days stemming the stream of the Saint Law- rence, the army, undisturbed by an enemy, reached Fort Fron- tignac at Cadaraqui - a distance of about 1S0 miles. At this place they waited before embarking on Lake Ontario, for a body of Ottawas that was to join them. After looking some days for these allies in vain, they left their sick, amounting to 26, and crossed the lake to Oswego. The army then ascended the Onondaga river, stemming the rapids, and guarding the wooded shores by 50 scouts on each side. . They then entered the Oneida Lake; but found suspended to a tree at the outlet, two bundles of rushes, which, on counting, they found were 1,434 pieces, denoting the number of warriours who awaited them, and defied their numbers and mighty preparations. After passing this lake, the French army landed at the now well known deposit of salt. Here they threw up a fort ; and under charge of two captains and 100 soldiers, the canoes, bat- teaux, baggage and provisions not immediately wanted, were left ; and the army, thus prepared for battle, advanced upon the Iroquois.
They soon perceived a great smoke in front. The Onondagas, having learned the force that was approaching, removed their wo- men and children to the Oneidas and Cayugas, set fire to their villa- ges and betook themselves to the woods. The flames illumined the resting place of the French at night, and next day the army, in order of battle, in two lines, with artillery in front, advanced towards the spot where the villages once stood. Callieres on the left, com- manded one line : on the right, Vandreuil led the other. Fron- tignac, surrounded by his aids and volunteers, preceded by cannon, was borne in an arm-chair. After a hard day's march, the army, in all the pomp of glorious war, entered the first village, and found no- thing but ashes and the bodies of two Frenchmen, recently put to death.
Here, Charlevoix says, were seen, in ruins, the remains of a fort, which had been a parallelogram with four bastions, surrounded by a double palisade, which, if the English who built it had occupied with cannon, they might have stopped the progress of the Count Frontignac.
The next day, some squaws who had been captives, and of course slaves to the Onondagas, escaped to the French ; and a soldier who had been prisoner to the Oneidas, arrived with proposals of peace from that nation. The general replied, that they must submit, and be removed within the French colony, as the only terms he would grant.
The army remained upon the ruins of Onondaga that day, and the following, Callieres, with 700 men marched for the Oneida country, with orders to burn the villages, cut the corn, and, in case of submission, receive six chiefs as hostages. If resisted, to put all to the sword.
While he was absent upon this errand, a young Frenchman who had been a captive with the Onondagas, escaped, and joined his
223
FROXTIGNAC'S EXPEDITION AGAINST THE IROQUOIS.
countrymen : he pointed out the spots where the corn was hidden in holes dug for the purpose, called by the French, Caches, and where the goods and clothing of the Onondagas were hidden. These were seized, the standing corn cut, and the country desolated. While executing this duty, an old man of 100, who could not fol- low his countrymen, was taken in the woods, and called the Chris- tian soldiers to another piece of duty. He presented himself to the enemy without fear of the death he expected, and was delivered over to the allies, who exercised their skill and ingenuity in torturing him, while he defied their cruelty with heroic constancy.
" It was," says the Jesuit Charlevoix, " a curious spectacle, to see many hundred men surrounding a decrepid old man, and stri- ving by tortures to draw from him a groan. While life lasted, he reproached the Indians with becoming slaves to the French. When one stabbed him with a knife, 'you do wrong,' he said, ' to shorten my life ; you should have taken more time to learn how to die like a man !' "
The detachment that had been sent against the Oneidas, returned with 25 persons, principally Frenchmen, released from captivity. A Mohawk was found, who had deserted from the Caugnawaghas. He was burnt.
Such was the harvest reaped from this long projected expe- dition. The army, discontented, returned to the Oneida Lake, demolished the fortifications raised to protect their boats and stores, embarked, and retraced their way to Montreal. The count had destroyed some wigwams and corn-burnt a Mohawk - tortured an old Onondaga - and only lost six of his army. The province was impoverished, and a famine succeeded. The Iroquois, more than ever embittered, not only followed the army and cut off some of the batteaux, but laid waste all the defenceless frontier settlements of Canada.
1697
This succession of endeavours to do as much mischief as possible, continued until the peace of Ryswick, and some months after. A party of French and Indians approached Albany, but were killed or taken prisoners. Though the Count Fron- tignac was seventy years of age, no reverses daunted him, and his activity appeared unabated. It was not until February, 169S, that the peace between England and France was known in Canada - although it was concluded on the 10th of September, 1697. Still Frontignac continued his hostilities against the Iroquois, until Lord Bellamont threatened (upon his succeeding to Fletcher,) to bring the whole force of the province to their aid, and the government, in Europe interfered.
,
LORD BELLAMONT GOVERNOUR.
,
229
1
CHAPTER XIV.
Piracy-Lord Bellamont, Governour-Robert Livingston-Wil- liam Kidd completes his crew at New York-Turns pirate-Re- turns to America, and is secured by Bellamont-Treasure-Bel- lamont at the head of the democracy ;- His council, at the time of his arrival-Progress of the city-New City Hall, in Wall street -French plans of conquest in America-Bellamont claims the Iroquois as subjects to England and New York-Canadian affairs -Death of Bellamont.
1697 PIRACY, though not in so good repute as in ancient times, was certainly not looked upon with the same horrour and contempt during the government of Fletcher, as it now justly receives. , Private armed vessels, licensed and unli- censed, roved the seas, and robbed at all convenient opportunities. Many of these free sailors had English commissions from James II, and some from William III : many had no permission from any one to commit violence or murder for emolument. The ships of all nations were rifled or burnt, not even sparing those of Great Britain. Many of the colonial ports received these freebooters and shared in the spoils ; and New York, under the administrations which ruled from 1692 to 169S, had a full share of the gainful trade - the men in office, from Fletcher downwards, affording protection, and the traders buying, selling, and fitting out the corsairs with all they required.
Richard Coote, Earl of Bellamont, was appointed in the year 1695 to succeed Fletcher, as Governour of New York. Massa- chusetts and New Hampshire were likewise submitted to his government; and he appears to have been chosen, in a great mea- sure, as a person well qualified to heal the disorders in America, and to put down the pirates. Although appointed in 1695, he did not receive his commission until 1697; and it was April 2, 169S, before he arrived at New York .*
* In 1696, Livingston returned from England, where he had become a friend of Bellamont. He brought with him a nephew, Robert Livingston, junior. He ac-
230
LORD BELLAMONT GOVERNOUR.
Antecedent to his embarkation, the earl had made himself ac- quainted with the state of the colonies he was destined to rule. Robert Livingston, the violent opponent of Leisler, was in London ; and from him as well as other sources, Lord Bellamont learned the condition of the Province of New York. What had changed the views and opinions of Livingston, since the execution of Leisler and his son-in-law, does not appear ; but certainly he exerted him- self, on his return to America, as the friend of Bellamont, and an opponent of his former associates of the Albany Convention and council attached to Nicholson, Sloughter, Ingoldsby, and Fletcher.
When the earl received his commission, William III said, that he thought him a man of resolution and integrity, and with these qualities, more likely than any other, to put a stop to the growth of piracy. Bellamont procured proofs of the injustice done to Leisler, and of the violent conduct of the aristocracy generally, as well as the governour's council, up to the time of his appointment, from young Leisler ; who, with becoming energy, appeared in England, and, by the aid of the earl, finally obtained some indemnification for his father's murder, by a reversal of the attainder and a restora- tion to the family of the property which the faction had seized. It is possible that the truths represented by this young man might have induced Livingston to side with him, as well as the Earl of Bella- mont, in urging his suit for redress.
.
These proceedings in England raised the hopes of the Leisle- rians, and excited the fears of their oppressors. A small but de- termined minority was gained in the House of Assembly, although Fletcher used every means to gain that body, even to appearing as an electionecrer at the time of the people's choice. No species of bribery and corruption can be too flagrant to ascribe to Fletcher and Nicholls, men who received bribes from pirates for the protec- tion given them ; and the apprehensions of Bayard, Van Cortlandt, and their friends, would make them equally active in securing a majority of the Assembly for their shield from the vengeance of those whom they had persecuted. Thus distracted by two parties of the most violent description, was the state of the province at the arrival of the new governour, who came confirmed in the opinion - that his predecessor, and the friends whose counsel he followed, in respect to Leisler and his family, were corrupt in morals and politics.
cused Fletcher. Mr. Sedgwick says, " on Cornbury's arrival, he embraced the cause of the Leislerians" -just the reverse. Cornbury restored Living- ston's estates. Livingston resided on his estate in 1711. Ilis manorial pri- vileges were confirmed by the king in 1715: it originally comprised upwards of 120,000 acres The settlement of the Palatines took from it 5,000 acres, in 1710. He gave 13,000 acres to his youngest son, Robert, the grandfather of the late chan- cellor .- See Sedgwick's Livingston.
1
231
CAPTAIN KIDD.
The English ministry were so deeply impressed with the neces- . sity of suppressing piracy, that Lord Bellam'ont was encouraged to solicit that a frigate might be fitted out for the purpose ; but the war with France requiring all the naval force of Great Britain, the . request was declined : however, a proposition to purchase and arm a private ship for this service, met encouragement so far, that the Duke of Shrewsbury, Lord Chancellor Somers, the Earls of Rom- ney and Oxford, with others, became sharers in the enterprize with Livingston and Bellamont ; the latter taking upon himself the equipment of the vessel.
There happened, at that time, to be in London a man of the name of William Kidd, who had distinguished himself as a captain of a privateer against the French, and particularly in the West In- die3. He had, in one instance, done service with his privateer, by aiding government in a perilous attack upon the French. Living- ston knew him as a brave sea captain, and recommended him to Bellamont to command ; who, accordingly, engaged him, and he sailed in the Adventure galley, of thirty guns, with sixty men, for New York, commissioned as a privateer against the French, and to take and seize pirates in the Indian seas, and elsewhere .* He took his departure from Plymouth in April, 1696, and arrived at New York in July following. Here he was at home, knew the customs of the place, the characters of the rulers, and was received cordially, and completed his crew to 155, who shipped to go to Madagascar in pursuit of pirates.
Kidd, now in command of a fine ship, bountifully equipped, and manned like a frigate, soon determined to follow the track of the heroes who had gone before him. He promised his crew to load the ship with gold and silver, and, no doubt, he found his licentious followers ready to second him in any mode of obtaining the means of evading the laws and pampering their appetites. The sailors of this period generally looked forward to nothing more than sensual gratification : the behaviour which ensures promotion was unknown to them. Such men were easily led, from pursuing pirates for plun-" der, to becoming pirates in the hope of sharing more largely in spoil.
In the summer of 1697 he lay in wait for the Mocha fleet-made an attack upon them, but found their convoy too strong, and sheered off. On the coast of Malabar he plundered many vessels of various nations, Indians, Moors, and Christians ; and having broke through the laws, and become liable to punishment, if he could not elude them, cruelty followed as part of the character of the robber. He
· Kidd wasto have one fifth of the proceeds of the expedition : and Chief Justice Smith says, that Livingston was his security. The noblemen of the ministry em- barked £6000. I do not find what share Lord Bellamont possessed.
232 .
CAPTAIN KIDD.
imitated the conquerors of Mexico and Peru, by torturing men to . discover their wealth. He imitated other conquerors by landing on the coast, burning the houses and murdering the inhabitants. He was pursued by the Portuguese with two ships of war, fought them and escaped.
Among the vesssels captured by Kidd was one called the "Que- dagh Merchant," commanded by an Englishman. The captain offered 30,000 rupees ransom, which was refused ; and the goods were sold in such ports as Kidd knew were good markets for them. For the capture of Captain Wright and the "Quedagh Merchant," the pirate was afterwards tried and executed.
Among the many murders committed by this hero, he was tried for killing William Moore, which is made a great point of, in the ballads of the day ; but, as appears on the trial, the death of this mutinous pirate was not intended by his captain, who struck a blow with a bucket, which, as was said, caused death.
At a place where pirates rendezvoused, Kidd exchanged the Adventure galley for a ship that had been the Mocha frigate, and, after a variety of robberies, returned to America ; but finding 1698
that Fletcher and the other friends of piracy were no longer the rulers in New York, he appears to have passed up the
Sound, and deposited a part of his treasure on Gardner's Island. After several divisions of plunder, the crew dispersed, and Kidd venturing to appear in Boston in the dress of a fine gentleman, and, probably, with an assumed name, was met by Lord Bellamont, miade prisoner, and after the occurrence of some circumstance, which delayed the wishes of the Earl, as I shall hereafter mention, he was sent to England for trial. The treasure buried at Gardner's Island was discovered and delivered to Bellamont. A schedule of the gold and jewels remains in the hands of the heirs of Mr. Gardner to this day .*
The knowledge that a portion of Kidd's treasure had been buried on Gardner's Island ; that his companions had shared the fruits of his robberies at different times ; that other pirates infested the seas and returned to America with the gold for which they had exchanged the goods of merchants robbed on the ocean, all tended to create that feverish excitement, which stimulated bands of searchers after hidden wealth on every part of our sea coast, and particularly on the islets of the Sound which had been the resort of vessels engaged in or suspected of piracy.
Lord Bellamont arrived on the 2d of April, 1698, and with him, as his lieutenant-governour, John Nanfan, Esq., who is called
* The commissioners appointed to receive the treasure deposited by Kidd on Gardner's Island, found a box containing 738 ounces of gold, and 847 ounces of silver, besides jewels.
.
233
BELLAMONT'S ADMINISTRATION.
in the Earl's letters, his cousin. " Bellamont likewise brought with him his countess, whom he had married ere she was yet twelve years of age, and as her family name was Nanfan, I am induced to suppose that the lieutenant-governour was her relative.
Although the enemies of the family, whose cause the governour had espoused, were in office at the time of his arrival, (the council being composed of Phillipse, Van Cortlandt, Bayard, Mienville, Smith, Nicholl, Pinhorne, Willet and Lawrence,) and although the assembly led by James Grahame, had a majority of those who joined in persecuting Leisler, and although William Merritt was the mayor of the city, appointed by Fletcher, and James Gra- hame, recorder, with probably a majority in the common council, who coincided in opinion with the dominant party, yet I find that several days before Bellamont arrived, powder was ordered for saluting the new governour when he should enter the harbour : and two days after his commission was read, the mayor and aldermen voted an address to him, wherein humility and professions of obe- dience abound. They pray him to heal the divisions in the colony ; and a few days after invite him to a public dinner, appointing two aldermen, and two assistants, as a committee to make a bill of fare, and empower them, " for the effectual doing thereof, to call to their assistance, such cooks as they shall think necessary." There can be no doubt, but that the party in power trembled, and were con- science struck. It is to be observed, that Heathcote and Young, who had been advanced to the council in 1692, were not now of that body : neither does the name of Peter Schuyler appear.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.