USA > New York > New York City > History of the city of New York : its origin, rise, and progress. Vol. II > Part 18
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The first popular outbreak was against the stamp-officers themselves. "Why allow a stamp-collector upon this side of the water at all ?" whispered one and another. Grenville's policy in appointing Americans was but the addition of fuel to the fire. "It will be as in the West Indies, negro overseers are always the most cruel," was the cry. The names of the stamp-officers were published in Boston, August 8. "Had you not rather these duties should be collected by your brethren than by foreigners ?" said a friend of Ingersoll, of Connecticut, who had just arrived, duly qualified. "No, vile miscreant ! Indeed, we had not," exclaimed Dagget of New Haven. "If your father must die, is there no defect in filial duty in becoming his executioner in order to secure the hangman's fees ? If the ruin of our country is decreed, are you free from blame for taking part in the plunder ?"
Within a week the effigy of the Massachusetts stamp-officer, Oliver, was swinging, one morning at daybreak, on the bough of a stately elm, near the entrance to Boston. It was tricked out with the emblems of Bute and Grenville, and thousands collected to gaze upon the grotesque specta- cle. Chief Justice Hutchinson ordered the sheriff to remove it, but the people, said " We will take it down ourselves at evening." And they did. A multitude, moving in order, bore the image on a bier directly through the Old State House, and under the Council Chamber itself, shouting at
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the top of their voices, "Liberty, Property, and no Stamps." They then built a funeral pyre for the effigy in front of Oliver's house. Hutchin- son directed the colonel of the militia to beat an alarm. "My drummers are all in the mob," was the reply. Hutchinson tried to disperse the crowd, and was obliged to run for his life. Oliver prudently resigned the next day. Hutchinson was suspected of favoring the Stamp Act, and the rougher spirits wrought each other into a frenzy, and, collecting at night- fall, a day or two later, in a mixed crowd, destroyed his house, furniture, books, manuscripts, and scattered his plate and ready money ; the morning found what had been his home, a miserable ruin. The citizens of Boston denounced such outrages, and in town-meeting the next day pledged themselves to suppress the like disorders for the future. But the old elm was solemnly named "the Tree of Liberty."
Of Rhode Island, Gage wrote, "that little turbulent colony raised a mob likewise." And the "mob" compelled the stamp-master to resign. Maryland was in commotion; a party of four or five hundred, at Annap- olis, pulled down a house which was in process of repairs, supposed for the sale of the stamps. Hood, the stamp-master, took refuge in the fort at New York. Connecticut waited quietly until Ingersoll was within her own borders. The famous crusade of five hundred mounted men from New London and Windham Counties, who met him in the woods of the Connecticut Valley, as he was riding towards Hartford to put himself under the protection of the government, has been many times graphically portrayed ; the scene also in the main street of Wethersfield, where they compelled him to resign, and the manner in which they escorted him to Hartford. He rode a white horse. Some one asked him, jocosely, what he was thinking about.
"Death on a pale horse, and hell following," was his quick retort.
He was conducted to the Court-House, and ordered to read his recan- tation within hearing of the Legislature, and to shout "Liberty and Prop- erty " three times, which he did, swinging his hat above his head to the entire satisfaction of his captors. Coxe, the stamp-master of New Jersey, renounced his place, and the whole South, beyond Maryland, passed reso- lutions to resist the operation of the law. The last to yield, north of the Potomac, was John Hughes, a Quaker of Philadelphia, who, as he lay desperately ill, heard muffled drums beat through the city, and the State House bell ring, muffled, and the tramping of people about his house to demand his resignation. Thus was his written promise, to have nothing to do with putting the Stamp Act into execution, extorted. The islands of Jamaica and St. Christopher, the colonies of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, even Canada, revolted at the degrading statute, and deter- mined to oppose it.
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New York all this time was watched with intense interest. Aside from being the most important city on this continent, it was the head- quarters of the standing army of Great Britain in America. The fearless- ness of her press astonished not only her neighbors, but the statesmen across the water. "Ever since the matter of appeals was disputed last winter," wrote Colden to Secretary Conway, "the judges and lawyers have been publishing infamous articles to render me odious in the eyes of the people." James McEvers, who had been appointed stamp-distrib- utor for New York, was unwilling to take the stamps in custody on their arrival, and sent a letter of resignation to Colden, who was at his country- seat at Spring Hill, Long Island.1
Colden repaired immediately to his residence in the fort, and wrote to General Gage for a military force sufficient to effectually prevent sedition and tumult. " You shall have as many troops as you demand, and can find quarters for," was the response. At the same time Gage recom- mended the "severe exertion of civil power." "McEvers is terrified," wrote Colden to Conway, " but I shall not be intimidated; I shall do everything in my power to have the stamped paper distributed at the time appointed by the Act of Parliament." In closing, he said : -
"I have at all times endeavored to perform my duty, and in some instances where I perceived the doing of it would be greatly prejudicial to my private interest ; and I beg you will be assured, sir, that I shall continue to do so while the administration is in my hands." 1
But Colden met with unexpected difficulties. The secret correspond- ence of the Sons of Liberty baffled his vigilance, notwithstanding that postmasters and postriders were brought before him, and examined. The Stamp Act Congress assembled in the City Hall on the 7th of Octo- ber, in spite of his vehement declaration that it was unconstitutional, un- precedented, and illegal, and that he should give it no countenance. The press of New York continued to deny the right of Parliament to tax the colonies, and a new paper, called " The Constitutional Courant," with the device of a snake, cut into parts (to represent the colonies), with "JOIN OR DIE " as a motto, actually appeared, and had an immense sale at the very moment the fort was being put in a state of offense and defense, and while Major James of the artillery was hurrying to increase his stock of powder, shot, and shells.3 "JOIN OR DIE " was echoed far and wide, as
1 McEvers to Colden. New York Col. MSS., VII. 761.
2 Lieutenant-Governor Colden to Secretary Conway, September 23, 1765.
3 This paper was privately printed in Woodbridge, New Jersey, and reprinted in both New York and Boston. Colden tried to discover the printer, but failed.
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soon as it was rumored that Major James had said he would "cram the stamps down the throats of the people with the end of his sword." "Three or four popular lawyers who have raised this spirit of insubordination cannot be curbed without proper judges," wrote Colden, despairingly. Even then the sterling merchants were carefully preparing an agreement to send no new orders for goods or merchandise, to countermand all former orders, and not even to receive goods on commission unless the Stamp Act was repealed.
New York was represented in the Stamp Act Congress by Judge Rob- ert R. Livingston, Mayor John Cruger, Philip Livingston, Leonard Lis- penard,1 and William Bayard. Its deliberations occupied three weeks. The members believed themselves responsible for the liberties of the con-
1 Leonard Lispenard was born in the city of New York in 1716. He was the son of All- thony Lispenard, Jr., and grandson of Anthony Lispenard, a Huguenot refugee who came to New York about the middle of the seventeenth century. He married, in 1741, Alice, daugh- ter of Anthony Rutgers. This lady inherited from her father, who died in 1746, one third of the extensive grants which he had received from George II. ; and Lispenard purchased, Sep- tember 28, 1748, from the two sisters of his wife (one of whom was Mrs. Rev. Dr. Barclay), the remaining two-thirds, thus becoming proprietor of the whole. This was the origin of what has since been known as the Lispenard estate. Lispenard was a large merchant, was alderman of the city for a dozen or more years, was one of the active members of the Stamp Act Congress, and was connected with nearly all the later important committees. He was a member of the Assembly from 1765 to 1767. He was one of the original members of the Society of the New York Hospital, and one of its first governors from 1770 to 1777. He was also treasurer of King's College for a long period. His country mansion was on Lispenard Hill, a handsome elevation overlooking what was afterwards St. John's Square. The center of this hill was the present junction of Hudson and Desbrosses Streets. He had three children : 1, Leonard ; 2, Anthony ; 3, Cornelia, who married Thomas Marston of New York. Leonard Lispenard, Jr., was born in 1743, and was one of nine who graduated from King's College in 1762. He was a merchant and member of the Chamber of Commerce. He traveled extensively in Europe, and was spoken of as a man of fine education and intelligence, and great symmetry of character. He was the proprietor of the property known as "Davenport's Neck " in New Rochelle, where he had a summer residence. He never married. His brother Anthony married his cousin Sarah, daughter of Andrew Barclay (merchant) and niece of Rev. Dr. Barclay. He, Anthony, was proprietor of extensive breweries and mills on the Greenwich road, near the present foot of Canal Street. He had six children, three sons and three daughters. They were, 1, Leonard (3d), who married his cousin (their mothers were both daughters of Andrew Barclay) Anna Dorothea, daughter of Theophylact Bache, and left four children ; 2, Anthony, Jr., died unmarried ; 3, Thomas, died unmarried ; 4, Helena Roosevelt, married Paul Bache, son of Theopliylact Bache ; 5, Sarah, married Alexander Stewart of New York, and was the mother of Lispenard Stewart ; 6, Alice, died unmarried. The down-town streets, Leonard, Anthony (now Worth), and Thomas were named by Anthony Lispenard after his three sons, and Lispenard Street was so called by the corporation of the city in honor of the family. Bache Street, now spelled Beach, which was opened through the Lispenard farm, was named for Paul Bache. The Lispenards sleep in the family vault in Trinity Churchyard. The hon- ored name is now merged in the families of Stewart, Webb, Nicholson, Livingston, Le Roy, and Winthrop, who are among the descendants in the direct line. Biographical and His- torical Sketches. Chamber of Commerce Records. By John Austin Stevens.
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tinent. They were of various characters and opinions; they came from colonies remote from each other. "To do them justice," wrote John Watts, " I believe they have deputed some of their best men, and I im- agine the fruits of their deliberations will be sensible and moderate enough." Ruggles of Massachusetts and Ogden of New Jersey believed resistance to the Stamp Act was treason. The debates were earnest and exciting. The validity of the Acts of Navigation was assailed, and it was finally determined to "insist upon a repeal of all acts laying duties on trade, as well as the Stamp Act." An address to the House of Com- mons, pointing out the disadvantages of the new measure, was penned in a clear, concise, and elegant manner by John Cruger. Every word and phrase was subsequently weighed with anxious care, some of the mem- bers constantly interposing scruples and timidities. It was finally signed on the morning of the 25th of October.
While the Stamp Act Congress was still in session a ship arrived laden with stamps. It was announced off Sandy Hook by the firing of cannon from a man-of-war in the harbor, about ten o'clock at night, October 23. The next day the ship was convoyed under the protection of the guns of the fort, by a war-vessel and tender, with great parade. A vast number of people beheld the scene and were furiously enraged. The shipping at the wharves lowered their colors in sign of grief. That night papers were posted upon the doors of every public office and upon the corners of the streets ; the following is a fac-simile :-
Pro Patria The first Man that either distributes or makes use of Slampt Paper let him take Care of his House, Person, & Effects. Vox Populi
We Dame
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ARRIVAL OF STAMPS.
" We will no more submit to Parliament than to the Divan at Constan- tinople," were the words uttered by one of the members of the Congress, which flew from mouth to mouth. The excitement was intense. The whole city, as one man, seemed determined to prevent the landing of the stamps.
Colden summoned the counselors together for advice, but of seven only three came, - Chief Justice Horsemanden, Judge William Smith, and Joseph Reade. These were ominously reticent. They warned the lieuten- ant-governor that the detention of the ship, which was a merchant vessel, rendered him liable to suits for damages from every merchant who had any goods on board, and the cost of suits, and damages allowed, might amount to a very large sum. He was perplexed. He even accused the judicial gentlemen, who suggested the transfer of the goods to a sloop, of being desirous of beginning a riot.
The continued preparations at the fort for defense were looked upon as an insult by the citizens at large. "The Declaration of Rights and Grievances of the Colonists in America," which had just emanated from the Congress, was all very well, but the stamps must not be distributed nor business delayed for the want of one.
On the 31st of October, the governors of the several colonies took the required oath to carry the Act into effect; and yet there was not Oct. 31. one who dared make the attempt. Colden retired within the fort, fully persuaded that he should overawe the people with his loaded guns and strong guard. "He was fortified as if he had been at Bergen-op- Zoom, when the French besieged it with a hundred thousand men," wrote John Watts, " which gave more offense and made people's blood run higher than any one thing that happened." It was termed the "last day of liberty," and numbers of people were flocking into town; they came, so said Gage, by thousands. They uttered terrifying threats. They sang ballads as they wandered through the streets. The favorite was one of thirteen verses, with a chorus, which had been produced by no indifferent versifier, and printed and scattered broadcast a short time previously. A few specimen lines will suffice : -
" With the beasts of the wood, we will ramble for food, And lodge in wild deserts and caves, And live poor as Job, on the skirts of the globe, Before we 'll submit to be slaves, brave boys, Before we 'll submit to be slaves," etc.
In the evening the merchants met at Burns's tavern to consummate the first blow struck at the trade and industry of Great Britain. Over two hundred signed the non-importation agreement. " England will
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suffer more by it in one year," wrote Judge Robert R. Livingston, “ than Q USEA SO B I SHILLING. the stamp tax or any other - should others be imposed - could ever recompense. Merchants have resolved to send for no more British manu- factures, shopkeepers will buy none, gentlemen will wear none; our own are encouraged, all pride in dress seems to be laid aside, and he that does not appear in homespun, or at least a turned coat, is looked upon with an evil eye. The lawyers will not issue a writ. Merchants will not clear out a vessel. These are all facts not in the least ex- aggerated; and it is of importance that they should be known." 1
Stamps. 162 A large number of boys and sailors gathered in G R front of the house where the merchants were as- sembled, a rumor having been spread that some foolish ceremony of burying liberty was about to be executed; but when they found that the mer- chants peaceably separated, and that there was to be no show, they proceeded through the streets, hurrahing and whistling, but did no further mischief than to break a few windows.
Many of the merchants belonged to the secret order of Sons of Liberty, and to secure the co-operation of merchants throughout the colonies re- solved to appoint a special committee of correspondence. The danger appalled many who were nominated, and they withdrew their names. Finally, Isaac Sears, John Lamb, Gershom Mott, William Wiley, and Thomas Robinson volunteered their services, and were accepted.2
More fearless, energetic, or radical men for the service it would hardly have been possible to find. They left no stones unturned. On the 14th of November the names of the merchants of Philadelphia had been added to the formidable list, and on the 9th of December those of Boston. It will therefore be seen that the great system of intercolonial correspondence originated in New York, and was sustained through the medium of regu- larly constituted committees.
The memorable 1st of November was ushered in by the tolling of muffled bells, and pennants hoisted at half-mast. During the day letters were sent and found, and papers stuck up all over the town, threatening destruction to every person and his property, who should in any way touch a stamp, or delay business for the want of one. A placard ad-
1 Mass. Hist. Soc. Coll., Vol. X. 517.
2 Leake's Life of General Lamb. Bancroft, V. 355. Dawson's Sons of Liberty, p. 86.
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dressed to the lieutenant-governor, which had been posted in the Mer- chants' Coffee-house all day, was delivered at the fort towards evening by an unknown hand. It assured Colden of his fate if he did not that night make oath solemnly before a magistrate, and publish it to the people, that he would not execute the Stamp Act.
The crowds of people increased as the day waned. Sailors came from vessels in the harbor, and country people were constantly arriving. Troops from Turtle Bay marched through town to the fort, a strong guard was placed about the jail, and the cannon of the merchants, at Copsy Bat- tery, near the foot of Whitehall Street, was spiked by order of Colden. This last act created fresh indignation.
About seven o'clock an organized band of the Sons of Liberty appeared in the streets, led by Isaac Sears, and, proceeding to the common, erected a movable gallows, upon which they hung an effigy of Colden, and one of the Devil whispering in his ear. His Satanic Majesty held a boot in his hand, designed as a satire upon the Earl of Bute. They marched down Broadway to the fort, attended by a most formidable mob, carrying can- dles and torches. Another party, meanwhile, had placed an effigy of Col- den upon a chair, with which they were parading through other streets, now and then firing a pistol at the effigy. In front of the house of McEvers, they halted and gave three cheers.1 They placed the gallows, with the effigy swinging thereon, within ten feet of the fort-gate. The populace knocked, placed their hands on the top of the ramparts, called out to the guards to fire, threw bricks and stones against the fort, and used the most offensive language. Not a word was returned, General · Gage having prudently given orders to that effect. The mob broke into the lieutenant-governor's coach-house, and, taking out his chariot, dragged it through the streets to the common and back again. The fort fence facing Broadway had been taken down by the soldiers, in order to expose the assailants to the fire of the fort, which was another cause of wrath. Hence the boards were gathered into a pile, and the chariot, chair, gal- lows, effigies, and every movable which could be found in the stables, placed upon them, and the whole set on fire.
The leaders evidently intended that proceedings should end here. But the mob had become excited and unmanageable. They broke into the house of Major James2 who was an object of hatred because of unwise boastfulness, brought out his rich furniture, -everything, indeed, which the house contained, - with which they made a bonfire in front of his door, drank his liquors, knocked to pieces the doors, partitions, windows, etc., destroyed his summer-house, and desolated his fine gardens. With the
1 The house of McEvers was on the site of what is now 50 Wall Street. Dawson.
Vauxhall.
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exception of considerable noise, and an attack upon a few other houses without serious results, the mischief ended for that night.
But messages and letters were sent to the fort in the morning, that nothing would satisfy the people save the surrender of the stamps, and that the fort would be attacked at night. The majority of the counselors stood aloof in this emergency. Those who gave advice were of the opin- ion that Colden had no legal authority to distribute the stamps in any event. A governor had been appointed for New York in the place of Monckton, and would shortly arrive; they thought it better to do nothing about the stamps until then.
Meanwhile the mayor and aldermen were in consultation at the City Hall, and were joined by Judge Robert R. Livingston, James Duane, and one or two other gentlemen of the law. They were extremely dejected ; they were powerless unless Colden would make concessions, and thus quiet the minds of the people. A message finally came from the Nov. 2. fort, in the form of a placard, announcing that the lieutenant- governor would distribute no stamp papers, but leave the matter to be regulated by Sir Henry Moore; and was willing to put them aboard a man-of-war, if Captain Kennedy would receive them, which he, unwill- ing to offend the people, declined.
" We will have the papers within four-and-twenty hours," cried Sears to the multitude, who responded with shouts. "Your best way is to advise the governor to send the papers to the inhabitants," he continued, addressing the gentlemen who, by request of the corporation, were trying to put in the best light what Colden had condescended to say. Living- ston and Duane went personally to the captains of ships, presuming that . disturbances would begin among the unruly sailors ; and with others they patrolled the town. There were indications of a riot; yet nothing serious occurred. The next day was Sunday. A letter was written to the Cus- tom-House officers threatening destruction if they did not clear out vessels as usual. A paper was posted up in the Coffee House, telling the people not to mind the peaceable orators who had prevented their opera- tions on Saturday evening, but to be resolute, as they would be com- manded by men who had given proofs of courage in defense of their country. The time fixed for the assault was Tuesday, November 5, and the notices were signed The Sons of Neptune.
The secret unknown party which threatened such bold things sent dread and terror through the city, for an attack on the fort was but the precursor of civil war. Early Monday morning Colden summoned Mayor Cruger and some of the more prominent citizens to the fort, and renewed the promise made on Saturday. The following notice was at once posted conspicuously : ---
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" The governor acquainted Judge Livingston, the mayor, Mr. Beverly Robin- son, and Mr. John Stevens, this morning, being Monday, the 4th of November, that he would not issue, nor suffer to be issued, any of the stamps now in Fort George.
ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON, JOHN CRUGER, BEVERLY ROBINSON, JOHN STEVENS.
The Freemen, Freeholders, and Inhabitants of this city, being satisfied that the stamps are not to be issued, are determined to keep the peace of the city, at all events, except they should have other cause of complaint.1 "
Before night, notices were posted directly under the above, in all the public places, inviting a meeting in the "Fields " on Tuesday evening, November 5, and requesting every man to come armed
Nov. 4. for the purpose of storming the fort. Colden wrote to the Marquis of Granby, Tuesday morning, " I expect the fort will be stormed this night, - everything is done in my power to give them a warm Nov. 5. reception. I hope not to dishonor the commission I have the honor to wear, and trust I may merit some share of your Lordship's regard."
It was at this critical moment that the strong, fearless judgment of Mayor Cruger asserted itself. It was impossible to determine how for- midable the secret Vox Populi was; at all events an attempt to remove the stamps from the fort by force could not fail to be attended with bloodshed. It was believed that the people would put entire confidence in the mayor and aldermen, and with good reason. They were known to be among the most candid and determined opponents of the Stamp Act. Mayor Cruger, Isaac Roosevelt and others of the aldermen, had been among the first to sign the non-importation agreement.2 Hence pro- posals were made to Colden in writing, that the city corporation should take the stamps into its own custody.
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