USA > New York > New York City > History of the city of New York : its origin, rise, and progress. Vol. I > Part 36
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Nicholson and his council met on the 2d of March, and re-
March 2. solved that Plowman, the king's collector (who was a Catholic), should bring the public money, which he had hitherto kept at his lodgings in a private house some distance away, to the port for safe-keeping. A strong chest was provided, and locked and sealed by the collector himself, until orders should arrive from England. This precautionary movement
343
THE PUBLIC MONEY.
was the immediate occasion of a wide-spread terror, which was confined, however, to the lower and more illiterate classes.
When news came of the imprisonment of Andros, Nicholson
April 26.
requested the common council of the city to meet in session with
his special council in order to advise more intelligently as to the proper course to pursue in order to keep the country quiet. They met the April 27. next day in the City Hall. The common council consisted of John
Lawrence, Francis Rombouts, William Merritt, Thomas Crundall, Paulus Richards,1 Johannes Kip, Balthazar Bayard, Anthony De Milt, Teunis De Kay, and Peter De Lanoy. It was then resolved to call in the chief military officers in the afternoon. There was perfect harmony in the meet- ing ; and in view of the jealousies and fears of the inhabitants occasioned by a rumor that war had broken out between the English and French, it was unanimously agreed that the city must be fortified. Aldermen Crun- dall, Kip, De Lanoy, and Balthazar Bayard, together with Captains Abra- ham De Peyster and Jacob Leisler, were appointed a committee to survey the city, and determine upon the points most exposed. Money was scarce and it was decided to apply the revenues from the first of May, towards paying for the new defenses.
Nicholson and the three gentlemen of his council sent for the justices of the peace and the military officers of the various counties in the prov- ince and enjoined upon them strict care and watchfulness. They also wrote letters to Winthrop, Treat, Allyn, Younge, Pinchon, Clarke, New- bury, and Smith, of New England, of which the following is a copy, it being duplicated and sent to each.2
1 Paulus Richards was the son of a French nobleman. The crest of his coat-of-arms was a lion's head in silver ; the motto, "I bend but break not." He was driven into Holland through religious persecution in 1650. Ten years afterward he came and settled in New Am- sterdam, and in 1664, married Gelatié, daughter of the celebrated Anetje Jans. He became one of the leading men in the colony and city. He was an alderman from 1686 to 1697. His house stood upon the corner of Whitehall Street and Broadway. His son, Stephen Rich- ards, born in 1670, married Maria, daughter of Johannes Van Brugh, and grand-daughter of Anetje Jans. They had nine children. One daughter, Elizabeth, married Nicholas Van Taerling. Paul Richards, the eldest son, organized a large mercantile firm, which included his five brothers, and transacted business on an extensive scale with Europe and the East and West Indies. They had business houses in New Haven, Philadelphia, Norfolk, and in the Island of Bermuda. He was a prominent man, an intimate personal friend of Lieutenant- Governor De Lancey, several years a member of the Assembly, and at one time, in 1734, ap- pointed counselor to the governor in place of Rip Van Dam. In 1753, he was sent with Sir William Johnson to represent the city and county of New York in a conference between Governor Clinton and the Mohawk Indians. He was one of the gentlemen to whom the char- ter of Columbia College was granted, and made a bequest of four hundred pounds sterling to that institution. His brother, John Richards, married Elizabeth Van Rensselaer, and their son Stephen married Margaret Livingston.
2 New York Hist. Soc. Coll., 1868, p. 248.
344
HISTORY OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK.
SR.
Having received the surprising news that the Inhabitants of Boston have sett up a Gouvernment for themselves and disabled his Excellency the Capt. Generall and Gouvernor in Chieff from acting in the gouvernment These are therefore to desire you That you would come with all expedition to advise and consult with us what proper is to be done for the safety and welfare off the Gouvern- ment this Citty and part of the gouvernment being resolved to continue in their station till further order. Soe not doubting off y" Complyance Remaine
Yr friends & humble Servants FR. NICHOLSON FRED. PHILIPSE STEP. VAN CORTLANDT, NICH. BAYARD.
NEW YORCKE, 1689 Aprill the 27th.
The city militia consisted of six free companies called train-bands, embraced in a colonel's command. As many of the regular soldiers were in Maine it was the only defense of New York, with the exception of a sergeant's guard of royal troops which garrisoned the fort. Nicholson proposed that one of these train-bands should mount guard every night, supposing it would give the people a greater sense of security. Bayard was their colonel ; and the six captains were Abraham De Peyster, Johan- nes De Bruyn,1 Gabriel Minvielle, Charles Lodwyck, Nicholas Stuyves- ant, and Jacob Leisler. De Peyster was a rich and aristocratic merchant of fine intelligence and excellent parts, the son of Johannes De Peyster. He was of French descent, as was also De Bruyn and Minvielle. The latter had been a resident of New York for about twenty years. His wife was the daughter of John Lawrence; and he was at one time mayor of the city. Lodwyck was an English merchant and an old-time Whig of the deepest dye. He was a man of irreproachable character, and of no mean ability. Five years afterward he was elected mayor of the city. Stuyvesant was the son of the old governor, and about forty years of age.
1 Johannes De Bruyn was the first of the name in this country. He was of French descent, and the ancestor of the New York family of Brown. Indeed his name is sometimes spelled both ways, De Bruyn, and Brown, in the same manuscript document. He was an educated young man with considerable property. He commanded all the colonial forces in the war with the Indians just after the Colonial Revolution. His son, W. Brown, married Elizabeth Taerling, the granddaughter of Stephen Richards, and held many important positions. Their son Stephen Richards Brown, born 1765, had a daughter Maria who married Oliver Du Bois. The children of the latter were as follows : Stephen ; Richard ; Adeline ; Catharine. Ade- line married Samuel Russel, and her daughter Almira married Major-General Hancock. Catharine married William Bennett, and her children were Helen, Emma, and Louisa. Helen married General S. S. Carroll, of Carrollton, and Emma married Leopold Bouvia. The chil- dren of the latter are Laura, Maurice, and Bertha.
345
JACOB LEISLER.
He was in possession of the family estate and lived on the farm near Thirteenth Street. He had lost his first wife, Maria Beekman, and had recently married Elizabeth Slechtenhorst.
Jacob Leisler was the hero of the hour. He was a German, and not a Dutchman as has generally been supposed. He was born at Frankfort- on-the-Maine. Of his origin and early life very little is known. He had been a resident of New York about thirty years. He married, in 1663, Elsie (Tymens), step-daughter of Govert Loockermans, and widow of the wealthy Peter Cornelisen Vanderveen.1 He was thus connected by mar- riage with Van Cortlandt and Philipse, and he was the brother-in-law of Balthazar Bayard. He was a deacon in the Reformed Dutch Church and a thriving man of business. He had never held any public office of im- portance, but his standing was respectable, such that in 1674 he was chosen one of the commissioners (Martin Cregier and Francis Rombouts being his associates) to provide means for the defense of the city, and he was assessed as " one of the most affluent inhabitants." 2
He was a man of energetic will and great force of character, but he had little education and comparatively speak- ing no manners. He hated the crown, and the Church of Eng- C land; he was a zealous champion of Belgian republicanism, and a Leisler's Autograph. rancorous though con- sistent party man. He was loud and coarse in conversation, and when angry would swear like a porter. He said bitter things which he readily forgot when pacified, but which others remembered to his sorrow and dishonor. His native quickness and sagacity would have rendered him eminent as a leader, but prosperity made him self-sufficient and boastful ; and his want of knowledge of the world muddled his understanding. His integrity was unquestionable, his loyalty unimpeachable, and he had a strong but distorted sense of duty and honor. In short, he possessed the elements of executive power without the balancing characteristics. He
1 Marriage Register of the Collegiate R. D. Church in New York. Mr. and Mrs. Leisler had seven children : Susanna, b. February 10, 1664 ; Catharine, b. November 8, 1665 ; Jacob, b. November 13, 1667 ; Mary, b. December 12, 1669 ; Johannes, b. December 20, 1671 ; Hes- ter, b. October 8, 1673 ; and Francina, b. December 16, 1676. Register of Baptisms in Col- legiate R. D. Church.
2 Minutes of the Council of the Administration of Commanders Evertsen and Bincks, Feb. 1, 1674. Assessment Lists, Feb. 19, 1674.
346
HISTORY OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK.
was of medium height, robust frame, full round figure, austere visage, dressed carelessly, made long prayers, and was rigid in the performance of every Christian duty. He had some legal knowledge picked up in practice of no very high kind, and he had used it in one or two lawsuits to the great pecuniary disadvantage of Van Cortlandt and Bayard, an offense which had terminated all social intercourse between the families.
He was an importer of liquors, and on the 29th one of his vessels entered the harbor with a cargo of wine on board. He refused
April 29. to pay the duties, which amounted to one hundred dollars, on the ground that Collector Plowman being a Catholic was not qualified to receive the customs under the new power. The case was discussed at the meeting of the counselors, aldermen, and military officers, and the majority were of the opinion that the present official structure was sound until contrary orders came from the new sovereigns. Leisler became very much exasperated, and swore he would not pay a penny to Plow- man ; he used language more forcible than elegant, and finally turned on his heel and left the council-chamber before the matter was adjusted.
As was feared, others declined to pay duties, shielding themselves April 30. under the excuse which Leisler had advanced. In apprehension of an attack from some foreign foe, watchmen were stationed at Coney Island to give an alarm if more than three vessels should come together within Sandy Hook. Nicholson and his council wrote to the Plantation Com- mittee over the water, expressing their regret at the want of definite in- structions, and picturing the painful embarrassment under which they groaned.
The greatest activity prevailed about the new fortifications. The council met daily. The Indians were carefully watched, and an order given that no rum should be sold them. But the most serious May 11. mischief was feared from the French. All at once an ominous cloud that had been hanging along the eastern end of Long Island took shape. The counties of Suffolk and Queens displaced their civil and military officers and chose others. Presently the Long Island militia began to clamor for their pay. Some ill-affected and restless men among them came to the city on foot in squads, and hanging round the fort discoursed largely upon individual freedom, and said Nicholson was pre- paring to betray New York into the hands of some foreign power. They picked up whatever gossip was afloat and told it, with additions, at every farm-house on their way home.
Every day developed some new source of alarm. The officers felt themselves surrounded by stealthy foes. And the common people were growing into the belief that their superiors were full of fiendish plans
347
WILD RUMORS.
and purposes. Rumors when once started swelled into marvelous pro- portions as they passed from mouth to mouth. Some said that Staten Island was full of roaming papists. Others declared that Nicholson had been seen to cross the bay in a small boat to hold "cabals " with them ; and that King James was soon to land on the Jersey beach with an army of French. A few of the Long Island militia actually took up arms and came within fourteen miles of the city, ostensibly to be near at hand in case of an attack, but as was supposed by the men in power, to watch their opportunity for seizing the fort and plundering the town.
It was clear that there were vague ideas being nurtured about a dawn- ing millennium when the popular element should shoot miraculously to the top round of the governing ladder, and aristocracy come to earth and henceforth wield the plow and the hammer. The stupidity on that sub- ject which prevailed among the humbler classes was by no means remark- able. The era of general intelligence, of printing-presses, newspapers, books, and schools, had not yet arrived to bless America. The condition of laborers was in no wise above the serfs in foreign countries. They were easily swayed and at the mercy of ignorant middle-men who were scarcely wiser than themselves. And no influence was quite as potent as what stirred their superstitious fears.
Many believed that the leading Dutch citizens were going over May 15. to popery. It was suddenly reported that Ex-Governor Dongan was the instigator of an infernal plot to destroy New York. It was true that he was fitting out an armed brigantine, but for quite a different object. On the evening of the 21st of May, some persons appeared before Colonel Bayard with a petition (unsigned) asking that the Roman Catholics in the city be disarmed. Their conduct indicated serious alarm. The next morning the subject and the petition were earnestly discussed in council. There were ridiculously few Catholics in either city May 22. or province. Among the soldiers there were not over twenty of that faith, "and they," said Colonel Bayard, " are old cripples." But it seemed best to gratify the people as far as possible, hence Mayor Van Cortlandt sent for the authors of the petition to come and sign their names. They refused, and at the same time demanded an answer in writing, or to have their petition returned. The mayor went to them and assured them that their wishes should be respected, but they received him ungraciously. Captains Leisler and Lodwyck were sent finally to return the petition and answer its writers verbally.
Major Baxter, one of the counselors from Albany, and com- May 27. mander of the fort in that place, arrived in New York on the 27th, and requested of Nicholson and his council permission to withdraw from 22
348
HISTORY OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK.
the province, on account of the jealousies which had arisen concerning his religion. His judgment was approved, and he was permitted to retire. An ensign in New York was relieved from duty at the same time on account of his avowed Catholicity. The two men proceeded to Virginia.
But the tide was rising. Grievances seemed to multiply. The merest, trifles became momentous. Every act of Nicholson was magnified into. something of diabolical intent. On the evening of May 30, it was May 30. the turn of Captain De Peyster's company to mount guard. Lieu- tenant Henry Cuyler ordered one of his men to stand as sentinel at the sally-port. The sergeant of the regular soldiers in garrison objected that. the lieutenant-governor had given no such directions. Upon Nicholson's. return late at night, the incident was reported, and Cuyler was summoned to attend him in his bedchamber. Irritated at the breach of military discipline, Nicholson asked, " Who is commander in this fort, you or I ?" Cuyler replied that he had acted under Captain De Peyster's orders. In a passion Nicholson exclaimed, "I would rather see the town on fire than. be commanded by you "; then, seeing a stalwart corporal who had accom- panied Cuyler as interpreter standing by the door with a drawn sword, he seized a pistol and ordered them both out of the room.
Before sunrise the next morning the story was buzzed all over-
May 31. town with absurd exaggerations. It was reported and believed that Lieutenant-Governor Nicholson had threatened to burn New York. And it was said also that he was planning to massacre all the Dutch in- habitants who should attend church in the fort on the following Sabbath. The falsity of the rumor seemed to give it greater currency. No con- tradiction could satisfy the people.
The lieutenant-governor went to the City Hall at the usual hour to meet his own and the Common Council, and Mayor Van Cortlandt sent. for the militia captains. The latter appeared, all but Captain Leisler. Nicholson explained what had occurred the night before. But Cuyler- maintained his version of the affair, and finally Nicholson in high temper dismissed him from the service for impertinence. Captain De Peyster sympathized with the disgraced officer and retired in anger.
Presently drums began to beat. Workmen dropped their tools and im- plements of labor, and rushed along the streets, and women and servants. ran from the houses with white scared faces. A panic spread through the town. Terror, and a dread of no one knew what, rendered the scene almost hideous. Captain Leisler's company mustered tumultuously before. the door of his house, led by Sergeant Joost Stoll. The latter brandished his sword, and shouted, " We are sold, we are betrayed, we are going to be. murdered !" and then marched to the fort followed by the rabble. They
.
349
REVOLUTION IN NEW YORK.
were received and admitted by Lieutenant Cuyler; and a few minutes later Captain Leisler appeared and assumed command.
Colonel Bayard went at the request of the council at the City Hall to endeavor to bring the muti- neers to reason, and induce them to disperse; but he was informed by Stoll in the most insulting manner, that they " disowned all authority of the government." He re- turned to announce that his commands were disregarded, and that most of the city militia were in rebellion. It was then determined to hold another session of the gov- ernor's and common council Leisler's House in the Strand. during the evening.
Captain Lodwyck's company was to mount guard that night, according to the previous arrangement of rotation in duty. A little before dark Leisler sent an armed posse to demand from Nicholson the keys of the fort. The lieutenant-governor was at the house of Frederick Philipse, where he had gone to supper. He declined to comply, and repaired to the City Hall to advise with his council how to act in such " a confused business." An hour later, Captain Lodwyck appeared at the head of his company, and entering the council-chamber claimed the keys. There seemed but one course to pursue. The military had turned against the government, and the government was powerless. Bloodshed must be avoided if possi- ble, and perhaps by yielding gracefully the people might be brought to their senses and their former obedience. The keys were accordingly sur- rendered.
Nicholson was a good soldier, but hampered in all his movements by English customs and forms. He was not blessed with a directing mind, and could act only under instructions. His counselors were in the same predicament. Instructions had, indeed, been sent to their imprisoned gov- ernor-in-chief at Boston, which had they reached New York would have saved the province from a series of disasters.
Meanwhile the militia captains were sadly perplexed. Some of them were afraid of the results of the outbreak, and regarded it as unnecessary and ill-timed. Captain Minvielle, Captain De Peyster, and Captain De Bruyn spent the greater part of the evening at the council-chamber in
350
HISTORY OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK.
warm discussion with the officers of the government, who were their neighbors and friends. Leisler was at the fort, descanting largely upon liberty. He denounced popery and kings. He enlarged upon the uni- form misrule by which James had brought matters to this crisis. He proclaimed his loyalty to the new Protestant sovereigns. He pictured the danger which threatened the city as imminent. Nicholson was a traitor. He had accomplices about him, and there was no question but that Sunday would be a veritable St. Bartholomew's day.
The captains came together late in the evening, and after much hesi- tation on the part of the majority, finally agreed to govern alternately until orders came from England. Leisler drafted a " Declaration," stating how New York was threatened by Nicholson, and promising to hold and guard the fort until the proper person should arrive to take command. This paper the captains signed upon a drum.1
The next morning there was a reaction in public feeling. The June 1. captains were not satisfied with the course events were taking. They were shrewd, sensible men, and doubted the policy of the movement. After an excited consultation, in which opinions differed materially, Cap- tain De Peyster, Captain Stuyvesant, Captain Minvielle, and Captain De Bruyn visited Colonel Bayard, and requested him to take sole command in opposition to the lieutenant-governor. Bayard declined. "Gentlemen, there is no occasion for a revolution," he said. Nicholson was honest and trustworthy. A little patience, and orders would come to establish every- thing upon a proper basis. During the forenoon Philipse, Van Cortlandt, and Bayard mixed freely with the people, and tried to quiet their appre- hensions respecting Nicholson. At one time it seemed as if they would succeed in restoring order and authority. But counter influences were at work. There were men who blazed forth in coarse invectives, and ac- cused the counselors themselves of complicity in the traitorous designs of Nicholson. Leisler said they were all "a pack of rogues and papists," and were contriving together to hold the government for King James. It was a black Saturday for New York. June 2.
On Sunday it was Leisler's turn to mount guard, and he had matters pretty much in his own hands. He had wrought himself into a frenzy of political foresight, and probably believed his own proph- ecies. New York was to have a Dutch sovereign, who would favor his own people by permitting them to govern themselves. He was diffuse upon the subject of self-government. Down with aristocracy, down with tyranny and oppression. Let the people henceforth dictate. And the
1 This " Declaration " was printed several weeks afterward by Samuel Green of Boston. In some of the reports it has been confounded with a second paper signed on the 3d of June.
A.F
ABollette
" Gentlemen, there is no occasion for a revolution. " Page 350.
"Let the people henceforth dictate." Page 350.
"During the forenoon, Philipse, Van Cortlandt and Bayard mixed freely with the people, and tried to quiet their apprehensions con- cerning Nicholson. " Page 350.
351
A BLACK SATURDAY.
people naturally enough shouted their applause. He went on and ex- plained the nature of the conflict between church and state, - that is, according to his understanding of it, - and again the people applauded. He warned them against the " dogs and traitors " who were only waiting for the opportunity to commence a horrid massacre.
Many a wistful eye through that long and weary day watched with cruel expectation for indications of a death-storm. And the common soldiers boastfully declared that the town would have been running rivers of blood but for Mr. Leisler. He notified all the men belonging June 3. to the militia companies to come on Monday morning to the
fort at a certain signal which would be given, and to obey no officer who should attempt to hinder them. The signal was to be the firing of guns. The maneuver was facilitated by the arrival of a ship from Barbadoes. A rumor spread that four or five French ships were inside of Sandy Hook. The soldiers ran in great disorder to the parade-ground in front of the fort. Captain Lodwyck hurried to the house of Philipse, where Nicholson, Van Cortlandt, and Bayard were assembled, and in behalf of Captains De Peyster, Stuyvesant, Minvielle, and De Bruyn, desired Bayard to take command as formerly, for without his orders each of the above-named captains had refused to appear in arms. Colonel Bayard replied that his orders had been so repeatedly disobeyed by both officers and men, and the government being powerless to sustain his commission while the fort was detained, he hardly thought it worth while for him to appear only as a private soldier. But an enemy was supposed to be approaching, and the lives and property of the citizens were at stake; the captains had positively refused to act without his commands; hence the lieutenant-governor and council gave order that he should proceed according to his commission as colonel of the regiment to give suitable orders in the emergency. In a few minutes he was on the ground. The captains met him with respectful deference ; but the men were rude and unmanageable.
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