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. II > Part 3
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 | Part 55 | Part 56
2
---
3 1
1
1
€
25
THE JOHNSONS.
CHAPTER II.
The Johnsons-Brant - Schuyler's Expedition to Johnstown- The state of the valley of the Mohawk.
1774 SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON had filled offices and performed actions in the province of New York of too much import- ance to permit the historian to pass over his death unnoticed. He had made a voyage to England, in 1773, and returned prepared to take part in the struggle which was anticipated between the ruling country and her provinces. He had assembled his Indian friends, and prepared the Iroquois to raise the tomahawk against the colonists : but, on the 24th of June, he died of apoplexy, at his house near Johnstown. His son John succeeded to his estate and title. His efforts against the American cause will be found in the sequel. The friend of Brant, without some of his good quali- ties, they were both scourges and dealers in mischief to the western and northern part of this state, even before she took that proud title. Guy Johnson, the son-in-law of Sir William, succeeded him as English agent for Indian affairs : Brant was advanced to the office of secretary ; these with Miss Molly-Brant's sister, and the baronet Sir William's concubine-added to the hereditary noble, Sir John, moved every engine, and exerted all their power to op- pose the spirit of liberty which was aroused in the east and spread its benign influence even to the valley of the Mohawk. Hendrick and John Frey, Christopher P. Yates and Isaac Ferris, names un- known to the officials of Britain, fanned the flame of freedom ; and, in the face of the Johnsons and Miss Molly, published a de- claration of rights and echoed the voice of the patriots of the city of New York. .
The Butlers, John and his son Walter N., (famous for their murders subsequently, in connection with Brant and his Indians,) were early coadjutors with the Johnsons, in opposition to the colo- nists. They were all bound to England by offices, and by the belief that she was the stronger party in the contest.
1775 .
The tories of Tryon county assembled at Johnstown, at the time of holding court, and procured the signatures of many to an address, in opposition to that of the congress. The county named after Tryon, embraced all the settlements west and and south west of Schenectady. This effort of the tories aroused VOL. II. 4
26
GUY JOHNSON.
the friends of reform ; and meetings were called, and committees appointed in every district. At Caughnawaga they proceeded to the erection of a liberty pole; but the Johnsons, with other offi- cials, attended by their associates, tenants, and followers, armed, made their appearance, to oppose this demonstration. Guy har- rangued the multitude, and told them of the irresistible power of Britain, her justice, and the insolence of her opponents. The whigs interrupted his oratory, and a scuffle and bloodshed by bruises ensued, principally endured by the liberty boys. In Cherry Valley the whigs held their meeting at the church, in the month of May, and, with enthusiasm, signed an address, approving the pro- ceedings of Congress. But in the Palatine district the Johnsons overawed the people by show of force, and prevented their assem- bling. Sir John fortified his house, armed the Highlanders of Johnstown, and with his family and the Butlers, prepared the In- dians to act against the colonies. Brant was secretary to Colonel Guy, and an influential agent with the Mohawks. The Oneidas, influenced by the Rev. Mr. Kirkland, espoused the American part, and Brant was active in opposition to him. Guy, in the name of the British government, ordered away the missionary.
In June, Gen. Washington wrote to Schuyler to keep a watch- ful eye upon Guy Johnson, which that patriot was already disposed to do ; and Colonel Guy was in an uneasy position, which he en- deavoured to mitigate by addressing a letter to the people of Cana- joharic and others, professing his desire to keep the Indians quiet, hinting dangers to himself from the New England people, and the vengeance of the Iroquois upon those who injured their agent -- himself.
The committee, however, denounced Johnson, as taking upon himself unauthorised powers, arming those around him, stirring up the Indians of the upper country, and cutting off communication between the districts favourable to Congress with the city of Albany. The Albany committee advised the people thus oppressed by Jolinson, to procure arms and ammunition, act on the defensive, and counteract Johnson's intrigues with the Indians. These fron- tier whigs showed a determined spirit ; at the same time they acted with praiseworthy caution.
Guy Johnson likewise addressed the people of Albany and Schenectady by letter, of a tenor similar to that sent to the people of the Mohawk valley. The leaders at Albany replied, that the report of danger threatened to the colonel, was an artful rumour raised to enlist the feeling of the Indians on his part, and against the colonists. They assured them, however, of their wish to preserve peace and friendship with them, and the tribes in his charge.
The seat of Colonel Johnson, was called Guy Park, and the
Ç
INTRIGUES AND NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE INDIANS. 27
stone house on the bank of the Mohawk, yet indicates the sub- stantial splendour of the agent who guided the Iroquois for the bene- fit of Britain. At this place Johnson held a council of Mohawks, for the purpose of making known the intention of supporting and protecting Johnstown. He had invited the other tribes, but they did not appear. He called a second council to remedy this deficiency, and appeared with his followers at the German Flats.
On the 2d of June, a full meeting of the Tryon county com- mittee met, in despite of the efforts of the Johnsons and Butlers. They echoed the sentiments of the people of the colonies gene- rally, who pledged themseves to defend the liberty of their coun- try. They addressed the Indian agent ; rebutted the charges brought against them ; they called upon him to keep the Indians from interfering in the quarrel between the colonies and England; they asserted their right to meet, and reprobate his interference. The colonel answered their address. He treated their fears of the In- dians as only propagated for bad purposes : his political opinion he avows, and his belief that the king of England would rectify all just complaints : he considers his frequent meetings with the In- dians beneficial to the country ; and charges the whigs with inter- cepting the gifts to the Indians .- He acknowledges that he had fortified his house, and considers the reports as true, which induced him so to do, he being threatened with captivity, which if accom- plished, would have raised the ire of the Iroquois, and of course their vengeance. He assures the people, that they have nothing to fear from him ; but that he wishes to promote their true interest.
At the German Flats no council of Indians took place, and John- son with his companions proceeded to Fort Stanwix, which still fur- ther excited the apprehensions of the colonists, who saw him moving up the Indian country attended by his family, his depen- dants, and a body of the Mohawks. These apprehensions were entertained by the provincial congress of Massachusetts, who laid them before the provincial congress of New York, and the conti- nental congress. It was believed that the Indian agent persuaded the Iroquois that the colonists intended to extirpate them, and by that means attached them to England as a protectress.
The friends of liberty and the people, made efforts on their part to counteract the schemes of the Johnsons : and the Oneidas, and Tuscaroras, met deputies from 'Tryon county and Albany, on the 2Sth of June, at the German Flats, and a pledge of neutrality was obtained from those tribes.
In the meantime, Guy Johnson procceded from Fort Stanwix to Ontario, not without experiencing some tokens of the jealousy of the whig inhabitants of the valley of the Mohawk, who seized some supplies on their way to his troops. From Ontario he informed
28
INTRIGUES AND NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE INDIANS.
the committee at Albany, that he was finishing his business with the Indians, having 1,340 warriours* with him. That he disclaimed the orders of congresses and committees, as not consistant with his loyalty-again threatens the vengeance of the Indians if he is injured ; and professes too much humanity to promote the destruction of the colonists.
Guy Johnson was accompanied into Canada by the two Butlers and Brant. The Oneidas and Tuscaroras remained at home : as did Sir John Johnson, who had as stated, fortified his house at Johnstown, and was a brigadier-general under the king, and had at his com- mand a great number of armed followers. Colonel Herkimer wrote to Albany for succours, as he expected Guy and his Indians would return and carry desolation through the valley, aided by Sir John. Guy held another council with the Indians at Oswego, and still further set them against the colonists. He thence joined Carle- ton and Haldimand in Canada. Carleton, the commanding officer, proposed to the Indians to enter the king's service. At Montreal, Haldimand addressed the confederated Indians, and engaged them to serve against the Americans.
In 1775, congress appointed commissioners with instructions to endeavour to keep the Iroquois and their allies, in a state of neutrality : Philip Schuyler was one of these. In August, two of the commis- sioners assembled as many as they could, at the German Flats for this purpose, and proposed a more full council at Albany. The chiefs of the Iroquois present, agreed to meet at Albany, but de- clined sending to their allies or to the Caughnawagas : among the the latter they said, Guy Johnson was present, and carried them in an opposite course. The Iroquois likewise required assurance of safety in coming to Albany, which was given them ; and on the 23d of August, the chiefs assembled at Albany, and the magis- trates joined with the commissioners in a formal visit to them at their quarters, in which visit the Albanians called themselves the descendants of Quidder, or Peter Schuyler, by way of claiming friendship with the Iroquois.
Previous to a council with the, commissioners, the Indians wished to have a talk with the magistrates, and head men of Albany, and accordingly a committee consisting of Walter Livingston, Jeremiah Van Rensselaer, and Samuel Stringer, was appointed to make arrangements, and the meeting took place in the evening. The Oneidas professed their pacifick disposition, and said, Guy John-
* According to Mr. Stone, the historian of Brant, Sir William Johnson made the number of Mohawk warriours 160: Oneidas 250: Tuscaroras 140: Onondagas 150: Cayugas 200: Senecas 1.050. Total 1950. And during the American re- volution, the English had in their service 300 Mohawks, 150 Oneidas, 200 Tusca- roras, 300 Onondagas, 230 Cayugas, and 400 Senecas.
1
29
HOSTILITY OF THE IROQUOIS.
son had endeavoured to engage them against the colonists, and had done so by request of General Gage. On the 25th of August, the grand council with the commissioners took place. It was not until the last day of August, that the Mohawk chief, Little Abra- ham, gave the determination of the Iroquois, which was, for a neu- trality, but is supposed to have given a false gloss to the conduct of Carleton and Guy Johnson on the subject. The next day the commissioners made their reply in conformity with the intention of congress.
Messrs. Philip Schuyler and Volkirt P. Douw, were appointed to keep up the amicable convention with the Iroquois, and hold councils with them at Albany ; but this was the last : the hostility of the Indians, and their attachment to England, and the Johnsons were soon after avowed.
From this council the Iroquois returned home, satisfied with good treatment and abundant presents, but soon after an epidemick broke out among them, and swept off great numbers. The Mohawks of Schoharie were almost exterminated. The agents of England easily made the Indians believe, that disease and death were a proof of God's anger against them for not joining the king and the John- sons. In this belief they took up the hatchet against the colonists ; and the tribes that had most suffered, were the most cruel enemies of the people of the valley of the Mohawk, and said to be pre-emi- nent in atrocity. It will likewise be recollected that with the ex- ception of the Oneidas, and the tribe of Mohawks nearest to Sche- nectady, the other Iroquois were already led away by Brant and his employer, Guy Johnson.
. To prove that Brant was right in preferring the party of Eng- land, to that of America, his eulogist tells us, that the Indian being solicited by Doctor Wheelock, his former instructor, to join the cause of the colonists, or to remain at peace as neutral, replied, . that he only followed the Doctor's maxims, in attaching himself to Great Britain, as his preceptor had taught him to " fear God, and honour the king."
If this justified Brant, how vile must appear the Washingtons, Adamses, Jeffersons, Franklins, Schuylers, and the thousands of provincial patriots, who set themselves in opposition to the king and his officers. The writer well remembers that he was taught, (and such was the teaching of Americans generally, until 1775,) not only " to fear God and honour the king," but to honour all those placed in authority under his most sacred majesty. But those to whom we owe our liberties, and the world a bright example, honoured justice more than the king, and despised those put in authority under him, when they proved to be blind or selfish tools of the master who paid them. In childhood I was taught to " fear God and honour the king, and all those put in authority under
-
30
PROCEEDINGS ON THE MOHAWK.
him ;" but three score and ten years, with a study of the scriptures, their commentators and the philosophy of history has taught me to " love God, and to honour most highly, such of his creatures as appear to do his will." If this is a digression, I will pursue it no further than to remark, that the Brants, the Johnsons, of Johns- town and Tryon county, and the hundreds of governours and other place-men, who honoured the king, and joined his standard, in opposition to the colonists, were servants of the king and of his servants, and were interested to support the power that paid them. The Iroquois were no longer the independent republicans of the seventeenth century, they were led by Brant and Johnson to lift the hatchet on the part of those, who were most likely to supply them most plentifully with guns, powder, and blankets.
In speaking of the Iroquois generally as inimical to America, I do not speak of the year 1775, for at the time of the last council at Albany such was not the case, and the friendly meeting of Au- gust restored for a time tranquility to the dwellers on our frontiers.
A liberty pole had been erected in the Mohawk Valley, at the German Flats. The Dutch inhabitants, (high and low) were generally patriots. The Scotch, and other tenants of the John- sons, were tories. The king's sheriff, Alexander White, was a leader in cutting down the detestable emblem of rebelling against all those put in authority under majesty. The people by their committee removed Mr. White from office and appointed Colonel John Frey, one of the people.
White had rendered himself unpopular by other violent acts, and had been engaged in a riot which produced the first discharge of fire arms with intent to kill, in this part of New York ; and which was turned to the disadvantage of the whigs by a signal from Johnson Hall, which was known to be for calling out the knight's tenants in martial array.
Dismissed by the people, White was re-commissioned by Tryon ; but finding the committee more powerful than the governour, he fled to Canada. The whig committees governed the country with vigour and prudence. Still Sir John and his armed tenantry were at hand, and to be carefully watched. The partisans were neigh- bours, but little of neighbourly love dwelt among them. Of the whig committeemen Christopher P. Yates and Nicholas Herkimer, are names subsequently distinguished in our annals.
The agents of England felt themselves strong enough to require the inhabitants of the Schoharie Valley to arm in opposition to the cause of liberty, which was spreading in every direction, and the people were summoned to meet at the house of Captain Mann, and take the oath of allegiance to the king. Mann was strenuous in his exertions, and many took the oath required, some willingly, others overawed by armed tories and Indians. Some bolder than
*
2
31
PROCEEDINGS ON THE MOHAWK.
the rest refused, and retired to their homes prepared for defence or suffering. Mann paraded his forces with red cockades and caps, indicative of loyalty, day after day, and was perfecting them to the amount of one hundred before his door, when a troop of horse under Captain Woodlake, arrived from Albany, for the purpose of putting down the tories of Schoharie. At the sight of this troop, Mann fled, and his soldiers threw away their red badges. Pursuit was ordered for the purpose of securing Mann ; but it failed, and he escaped. The horsemen however fell in with a Mohawk chief called Neckus, one of Johnsons warm partisans, who had attended Mann's parade, and with tomahawk in hand threatened those who refused the oath and badge of loyalty. Neckus was killed with wanton cruelty, as is stated, and may easily be credited, and his death may have caused some of the subsequent cruelties exercised by the Iroquois in this devoted district.
While Tryon was on board the Duchess of Gordon, in the harbour of New York, he on the 3d of January 1776, wrote to the British government that he was informed by the person bearing his letter, that Sir John Johnson could muster 500 Indians to sup- port the English government, and these with some regulars might retake the forts. The letter of Sir John enclosed was to Gover- nour Tryon, informing him, that having consulted with all his friends in that quarter of the country, among whom were many old and good officers, he had resolved to form a battalion, had named the officers and engaged many of the men. That he waits till support and supplies are at hand, before openly avowing this plan.
It will thus be seen that General Schuyler's expedition was not too early or too rigorously executed.
At length the committee in September, informed the provincial congress of those proceedings on the part of Sir John Johnson, which produced the movement of General Schuyler in arms upon Johnstown, and resulted in Sir John Johnson's flight.
Sir John had fortified his house, armed his Scotch tenants, and carried on a correspondence with Guy, by means of Indian run- ners, who secreted letters in the heads of their tomahawks, and passed to and fro with impunity.
On the 26th of October, the Tryon county committee sent a deputation and letter to Johnson, requiring to know from him whether he would allow the inhabitants of Johnstown and Kingsbo- rough to form themselves into companies as directed by congress, for the defence of the country ; whether he would assist in the same ; and whether he would resist the committee in any use they . should make of the court house or jail ?
The deputies reported in answer, that he considers the buildings in question as his property until he shall be paid .€700, paid by him in building them. That he has not forbidden his tenants
.
.
-
32
PROCEEDINGS ON THE MOHAWK.
forming themselves into companies as directed by congress, but he knew that they would not. As to himself, he would lose his head before he would lift his hand against his king. That if any unlawful use is made of the jail, he would oppose it. That two- thirds of the Canajoharie and German Flats people, were coerced into the measures of the committee ; and that he considered the Bostonians as in open rebellion.
Sir John would not permit the committee to place prisoners in the jail; and they were obliged to dispose of them elsewhere. They informed the provincial congress of the state of affairs : to their communication it was replied by Nathaniel Woodhull, presi- dent, that they should not carry matters to extremes with Johnson; but appeal to the governour of the colony.
In the meantime, General Schuyler having been obliged to leave . the army against Canada to Montgomery, and return in ill health to Albany, his attention was particularly called to the Indians by an act of hostility, the first committed by them in this contest, which had been perpetrated by the Mohawks near St. Johns. Some of the Indians engaged in this affair returned to the town of Canajo- harie, the Mohawks castle, and boasted of killing Americans, parti- cularly one called William Johnson, (probably the son of Sir William, who defined a gentleman to be one who drank Madeira wine and kept race horses, as Sir William did,) who had fought against Montgomery. In consequence of this the committee ad- dressed the Mohawks of Canajoharie, remonstrating against this breach of the late treaty at Albany. The Indians replied, that they had not forgotten their agreements; but said some of their young men had been seduced to Canada, and if they are killed they care not-some have come back-and the sachems hope the whites will take no further notice of it. Shortly after they applied for the discharge of two Indians from prison, which it appears they were gratified in, in order to keep them quiet.
However, in December, congress made known to General Schuyler the information they 'had received respecting Sir John Johnson's preparations for annoyance, and required him to disarm the tories, secure their leaders, and secure the tranquility of the frontier. Congress appropriated forty hard dollars for this service, and ordered this treasure to be sent to the general under a guard. . General Schuyler having no troops wherewith to execute the orders of congress, and knowing that secrecy and despatch were necessary to his success, communicated his plan to a sub-committee of Albany county, administering an oath of secrecy ; but advices arrived from Tryon county respecting the hostile preparations of Johnson, his Scotch tenants and adherents, as well as the Mohawks, that made secrecy unnecessary, and seven hundred of the militia were called out with the avowed purpose of disarming this internal
1
1
33
SCHUYLER'S EXPEDITION TO JOHNSTOWN.
enemy. With this force the general marched, but before he reached Caughnawaga, his army had increased to three thousand. At Schenectady a deputation from the Mohawks met him. Schuy- ler had sent them a message informing them of his intention to march into their country, but with no design of hostility to them. At their meeting the usual form of making speeches took place. 'They acknowledged the receipt of his message, and his informa- tion that a number of men were embodied about Johnstown and Sir Johns, and intended to commit hostilities down the river ; and that he was coming to inquire into the matter. They acknowledged that he had assured them no harm was intended to them ; as they had the last summer publickly engaged to take no part against him in the dispute with the great king over the water. They proposed to Schuyler, that instead of marching his troops to Johnstown, he should send up six men to inquire into the truth of what he had heard, and send his soldiers home. They said that the council of their nation had sent them to meet him, and warn him to take care what he was about. They remind him again of their agreement to keep peace, and that he had said " if any person was found in their neighbourhood inimical to peace, he should consider such person as an enemy ;" and the Six Nations thought he meant the son of Sir William, and they particularly desire that he should not be injured. They repeatedly warn the general not to spill blood, and say that they intend to observe the treaty made with him, and re- main at peace. They say their chiefs had begged Sir John not to be the aggressor : that he had promised he would not. That he had but a handful of men, and could not be the aggressor ; there- fore, if Schuyler and his men should come up and any evil happen, they should look upon him as the aggressor, or as shutting up the path of peace. They denied that Sir John was making military preparations or fortifying his house, and asserted that every thing remained as in the time of Sir William. They profess a sincere desire for peace, but acknowledge that some among them are dis- posed to hostilities. They insinuate that if this hostile array pro- ceed, they may not be able to restrain their warriours, who are determined, if Schuyler persists in going to Johnson-Hall, to be present at his meeting with Sir John, and the counsellors and chiefs could not be answerable for what might happen. The orator concludes, by saying, that he had persuaded the war- riours to sit still, and await his return with the answer Schuyler might give him.
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.