USA > New York > History of the state of New York. Vol. II, Pt. 1 > Part 31
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273
EDMUND ANDROS, GOVERNOR.
mand of the fort. Michael Siston was appointed schout, CHAP. VI. or sheriff, and Richard Pretty collector of the excise. George Hall ,was made schout of Esopus. Andros also 1674. 4 Novem. wrote to the Dutch commissaries at both places, inclosing Alany Colve's orders for their surrender. Domine Bernardus officers. Arensius, the Lutheran minister, was at the same time li- G Novem. censed to go to Albany in the sloop which conveyed the Arensius. new officers, and officiate there "as formerly under the English Government." The surrender was happily accom- plished ; and the reinstated Albany commissaries expressed 10 Novem. their satisfaction at being settled again under the Duke of York's authority .*
To quiet any controversy about the "Jus Postliminii," Andros now issued a proclamation that " all former grants, ? Novem. privileges, or concessions heretofore granted, and all estates tion of An- Proclama- legally possessed by any under His Royal Highness before firming all dros con- the late Dutch Government, as also all legal judicial pro- grants. former ceedings during that Government to my arrival in these parts, are hereby confirmed, and the possessors by virtue thereof to remain in quiet possession of their rights: It is hereby further declared that the known Book of Laws formerly established and in force under Ilis Royal High- ness's government, is now again confirmed by His Royal Highness, the which are to be observed and practiced, to- gether with the manner and time of holding Courts there- in mentioned, as heretofore." The next week, to settle some farther doubts, the governor declared that his procla- 16 Novem. mation of the ninth of November was "to be understood with due regard of the Articles of Peace in every par- ticular."t
The city of New York being the metropolis, Andros, by 10 Novem. a special commission, appointed Secretary Matthias Nicolls ces of Ner City otfi- to be mayor, John Lawrence deputy mayor, and William York. Dervall, Frederick Phillipse, Gabriel Minvielle, and John Winder aldermen, who were to hold their offices until the
* Council Min., ill. (ii.), 2, 3; Gen. Ent., iv., 300-304; Warr., Ord., Passez, iii., 2-8, 38, : D c. Ifi.t., iii., 51, 505. It appears that Arensius afterward spent his summers in New York, and his winters at Albany, ministering alternately to the Lutherans in each place : Lx 'ter of Selyns to CL. Amst., 26 October, 1652; Murphy's Anthology, 94 ; C. Wolley, 57. ' stala Koyff. on his departure for Holland, made several donations to the Lutheran (.arch : Col. MISS., xxiii. , 424
1 Warr., Ord .. Pass., ilf., 13, 13; Col. MISS., xxiv., S; Col. Doc., iii., 227; Doc. Hist., iii.,
#2: Min. Af N. Y. Com. Council, i., 12, 13; Val. Man., 1845, 1846, 330, 331; ante, 260.
IL .- S
274
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
CHAP. VI. next October. Thomas Gibbs, who had been one of Love- 1674. lace's counselors, was also commissioned as sheriff. Yet care was taken that the English element should prevail .*
13 Novem. Mayor's Court of New York.
A few days afterward the "Mayor's Court" of the city of New York was convened. Its records were ordered to be thereafter kept in English, and every paper offered to the court to be in that tongue, except in the case of poor people who could not afford the cost of translation. This introduced more of the English form in legal proceedings. But it was several years before the system was settled.}
13 Novem. Lovelace's estate seized for the Duke of York.
Pursuant to the duke's order, Andros seized the estate of Lovelace, and required all persons having any of it in their hands to render accounts. The governor thus ob- tained possession of the "Bouwery," which some of the heirs of Domine Bogardus and his widow conveyed to Lovelace in 1671. It formed a part of " the Duke's farm." then esteemed to be one of the least valuable perquisites of the actual governor; but which has since become the sub- ject of much avaricious strife .;
When the governor's proclamation of the fourth of No- Castern towns on Long Isl- aud. . vember, reinstating the old officers under Lovelace, was re- ceived at Southampton, Easthampton, and Southold, these towns held meetings, and directed Mulford, Howell, and Younge, the magistrates appointed by Connecticut, to sign 18 Novem. a memorial to Andros, stating that, by the aid of that col- ony, they had repelled the Dutch ; that they were now. un- der her government, and that they could not secede with- 4 Decem. Action of Andros. out her consent. It was at once ordered in council that the three towns should reinstate their former officers, ac- cording to the proclamation, " under the penalty of being declared rebels." Andros also wrote to Governor Win- throp, of Connecticut, counseling him to disabuse his would- be subordinates of their "notion" that they could exercise
. Council Min., iii. (ii.), 3; Warr., Ord., Pasz., iii., 12. These particulars are not state! in Valentine's Manual. While the provincial seal was saved, the city's seal and mace had disappeared, and Andros " be poke" new ones : Col. Dec., iii., 230 ; ante, 157, 153, 212.
t Records of the Mayor's Court, ii. ; Daly's Int., 28, 20 ; Council Min., iff. (ii.), 149; C. Wolley, 57. In May. 1677, it was ordered that "pleading attornies" be no longer aik we! to practice their profession in New York, "but for the depending causes."
# Col. Doc., ill., 226, 291 ; iv., 327, 303, 448; Warr., Ord., Passes, iii., 15. 16; Col. MSS . xx., 14, 15, 72 : Hoffman's Treatise, il., 192, 183 ; Val. Man., 1800, 548 ; ante, 183. 269. Tris- ity Church, in the city of New York, now enjoys the benefit of this action of Governor And: + in 1074. Lovelace died before 21 January, 1679, on which day the accounts of his t-take were exhibited : Col MISS., xxvi., 43; xxviii., 50.
275
EDMUND ANDROS, GOVERNOR.
power in any part of New York .. Sylvester Salisbury, who CHAP. VI. had returned from England with the governor, was ac- 1674. cordingly dispatched to execute the orders of the council. 5 Decem. To give him more dignity, Salisbury was also commissioned lisbury high- sheriff.
to be high-sheriff of Long Island .*
Andros himself appears to have visited the eastern towns of Long Island, which prudently avoided any farther oppo- sition to his authority. They soon learned that Winthrop Connecti. cut mes- had sent his son, with Mr. Willys, to explain the proceed- sengers to ings of Connecticut at New York, where they arrived dur- Andros. ing the governor's absence. The recusant towns seem to 10 Decem. have been soothed by Salisbury's declaration that he ac- sion of re- Submis- cepted their return to New York " from under the colony towns. cusant of Connecticut, by whose help and protection they have been secured from the Dutch invasion unto the obedience of Ilis Royal Highness." On his return to the capital, An- dros wrote to Winthrop that every thing was satisfactorily 23 Decem. arranged at the eastern end of Long Island ; and that Con- Andros rites to necticut, by her interference against the Dutch in the pre- Winthrop. vious February, had done well for the restoration of his master's royal authority.+
By direction of the people of Newtown, their clerk, John 16 Noven. Burroughs, replied to the governor's proclamation, speak- Letter of Newtown to Andro ?. ing very plainly of the grievances they had suffered under Lovelace, and reflecting on the authority of the Court of Assizes. Andros at once demanded whether Burroughs 2% Novem. had expressed the voice of the town, and an unsatisfactory answer was returned. The offending clerk was brought 5 Decem. before the council at New York, and sentenced to stand an 1675. 15 Jan'y. hour on the whipping-post before the City Hall, with a pa- Its clerk. per on his breast, setting forth that he had signed seditious punished. letters against the government ; and Burroughs was far- ther declared incapable of holding any public trust in the province. This sentence was executed under the direc- tion of Sheriff Gibbs, at the metropolis .;
Burroughs,
* Council Min., ill (ii.), 6 º: Warr., Ord., Passos, etc., iii., 4, 25, 20, 30, 31, 41, 42. 53 ; Gen. Ent , iv., 299; Wood, 98, 92 : Thompson, i., 159, 335, 363; ante, 253, 272.
* Masy. H. S, Coll., xxx., 113. 114. 117; Warr., Ord., Passes, iii., 48; Thompson, i., 353 ; Dunlap, il., App. xxxviii. ; ante, 243.
: Warr., Ord., Passes, ill., 25; Council Min., ifi. (ti.). 14, 15; Riker's Newtown, 90-92. Several interesting details respecting Jamaica, Francis Bloodgood, of Flushing, and Thomas and Mary Case, Samuel Scudder, and Samuel Furman, or Forman, may be found in Col. MSS., xxiv., 25, 171; xxv., 2; Warr., Ord., Payses, iii., 52; Biker, 92-95; ante, 243, 255.
276
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
CHAP. VI.
1675. S Jan'y. Council meetings. Fishery es- tablished.
The council was now directed to meet for the transac- tion of business every Friday morning at nine o'clock. A charter was also passed, authorizing a joint-stock company " for settling a fishery in these parts" for cod. It is sup- posed that this was the first commercial corporation ever created within the province of New York .*
16 Jan'y.
2 Feb'y. Manning arraigned before a court-muar- tial.
4 Feb'y.
5 Feb'y.
Among those who had lost heavily by the surrender to the Dutch was Alderman Dervall, who attributed it di- rectly to the "treachery" of Manning. This charge against an Englishman made it necessary for the governor "to proceed against him," according to the duke's instruction. Manning was brought before a court-martial, composed of the Council, Captains Griffith, Burton, and Salisbury, and the mayor and aldermen of the city ; and six charges were exhibited against him, involving neglect of duty, cowardice, and treachery. A number of witnesses testified strongly against the prisoner. Manning endeavored to explain his conduct ; at the same time, acknowledging himself " blame- worthy to all" the charges except those of treachery and cowardice ; and, pleading that his errors had been occa- sioned by his "poor broken head and disquieted spirit," he threw himself on the mercy of the court. His judges ac- quitted him of treachery, but found him guilty of the oth- er charges. It was agreed that he deserved death; but as he had been in England since the surrender, and had seen the king and the duke, he was allowed the benefit of the proverb, "King's fuce brings grace." Manning was there- Sentence of fore sentenced "to be carried back to prison, and from Manning. thence brought out to the publick place before the City Hall, there to have his sword broken over his head, and from that time be rendered uncapable of wearing a sword or serving His Majesty in any publick employ or place of benefitt and trust within this Government."+
5 March. Vessels to enter at the New York Cus-
To secure the duke's customs' duties a proclamation was issued requiring all vessels trading within the govern- tom-house, ment of the province to enter at the custom-house in New
' Col. MISS., xxiv,, 67; Council Min., iii. (ii.), 10 ; Col. Doc., iii., 234, no'c.
t Col. Doc., ii., 029, 643; iii., 206, 216; Council Min., ill. (ii.), 15, 18, 20-94; Col. MSS . xxiv., 36-53, 97; Doc. Hist., ill., 53-65; Smith, i., 48, 49; Thompson, i., 15.): Dunlap. i . 130; Val. Man., 1953, 5S4: C. Wolley, 47, 89, 90; ante, 209, 257, 263, 970. After this son. tence Manning retired to his island in the East River, now known as Blackwell's I-land (ante, 158), where he entertained his friends with bowls of excellent rum punch, accordin : to the testimony of Chaplain Wolley, in 1670.
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277
EDMUND ANDROS, GOVERNOR.
York. Dyer, the collector, accordingly executed his office CHAP. VI. so stringently as to give occasion, not long afterward, to serious complaints .* 1675.
Andros now issued a proclamation requiring "all such 13 March. persons as doe intend to continue under His Majesty's obe- legiance dience within His Royal Highness's government, that they equired. appear at such times and places as the magistrates within the respective towns and places where they live shall ap- point, to take the usual oaths of allegiance and fidelity." The mayor and aldermen of the city of New York accord- ingly appointed the next Monday for the purpose. Early
Oaths of al.
1
on that morning many of the citizens appeared at the May- 15 March. or's Court, and were directed to take the same oath which Nicolls required from the Dutch residents in 1664. Sev- eral of the leading burgherst readily agreed to do this, Objections provided Andros would confirm what his predecessor had the Dutch. of some of declared, namely, that the capitulation of August, 1664, was " not in the least broken or intended to be broken by any words or expressions in the said oath." This capitula- tion they thought was confirmed by the sixth article of the Treaty of Westminster in 1674; and such was the opinion of the duke and his officers. Mayor Nicolls, however, was "ignorant of any such declaration," and was quite sur- prised when a copy of it was produced. The burghers in- sisted that they only wished Andros's confirmation of their "freedom of religion and from being pressed in time of war." But the governor refused to make any explanation, and required them to take the oath without qualification, charging the recusants with being mutinous. According- ly, Steenwyck and his associates petitioned Andros either 16 March. to be satisfied with the oath as accepted by Nicolls, or to Andros. Petition to allow them to dispose of their estates and remove else- where with their families. This petition was "not only ill received, but peremptorily rejected ;" and its eight signers, Steenwyck, Van Brugh, De Peyster, Bayard, Luyck, Beek- man, Kip, and De Milt, were imprisoned on a charge of is March. disturbing the government and endeavoring a rebellion.
' Warr., Ord., Passes, iii , 63; Col. Doc., ill., 229, 233, 200, 249, 316 ; Col. MISS., xxiv., 122; ante, 203, 272.
+ These were, Cornelis Steenwyck. Johannes van Brugh, Johannes de Peyster, and Jacob Kip, who had objected in 1664, and Nicholas Bayard, .Egidius Luyek, William Beekman, and Anthony de Milt, who had not : ante, 47, 4S.
£
278
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
CHAP. VI.
1765. 18 March. 19 March. The peti- tioners or- dered to be tried. 20 March.
The governor at the same time issued a proclamation warn- ing all against like practices. The prisoners having been examined before the council, where Governor Carteret, of New Jersey, and Captains Griffith and Burton, of the En- glish frigates, were present, were ordered to be tried at the next Court of Assizes ; and were released from close con- finement only upon giving heavy bonds."
Martha's Vineyard and Nan- tucket.
Although Pemaquid, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket had been included in the Duke of York's patent, and had been governed by Nicolls and Lovelace, they were not com- prehended in Colve's commission. This produced a sort of interregnum in those secluded regions, and many disor- ders occurred. Some of the "opposition" inhabitants of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket riotously endeavored to "transfer" them under the government of Massachusetts; but, through the firmness of the venerable Thomas Mayhew, they were held for the duke-the arrival of whose new governor was patiently waited for, "as in time of great 1674. drouth, for the latter raine." Mayhew was accordingly reinstated in his "first right ;" and the ringleaders in the late disorders were directed to be punished. Nantucket 1675. soon afterward declared that the coming of the duke's gov- ernor was to them "as the rising sun after a dark and stormy night." It was therefore ordered that the two isl- ands should continue to enjoy their former privileges in - subordination to the government of New York, and that the old magistrates should remain in their places.t
7 Novem.
12 April.
29 April.
Delaware affairs.
On the Delaware, Captain Edmund Cantwell, the sheriff, and all the other magistrates in office at the time of the Dutch conquest, were reinstated, except Alrichs, who had offered them his friendship on their first coming, and had acted violently as their chief officer. Captain Carr, the former English commander, had now gone t , Maryland, and his estate was seized. Andros also informed Governor Calvert that he had directed his officers on the Delaware to prevent any injuries to the neighboring colonies, and did "not doubt the like on the Governor of Maryland's part."
3 Novem.
* Warr., Ord., Passes, ill., 65, 66, 67, 74, 75; Council Min., ill. (ii.), 57-31; Col. MISS .. xxiv., 73, 76, 77-84; Col. Doc., il., 738-744; ill., 237; v., 496; vii., 586; Val. Man., 151. 331, 332; 1961, 605-607 ; Minutes of C. C., vol. i., 9-11 ; ante, 46, 47, 260.
+ Warr., Ord., Passes, ill., 19, 21, 77, 84; Council Min., ili. (ii ), 36-38; Col. MISS., xxiv., 6, 16-18, 92, 93, 100-102; Hough's Nantucket Papers, Go-SS; ante, 1 9, 211.
279
EDMUND ANDROS, GOVERNOR.
The murder of Doctor Roades by the Indians, and other CHAP. VI. important matters, requiring his own presence on the Del- aware, the governor went thither, through New Jersey ; 3 May. 1675. thirty horses being furnished for his journey by Govern- or Carteret. After settling matters there, and writing to Lord Baltimore, Andros returned to New York, where 15 May. Brockholls had acted for him during his absence .*
The Diamond and the Castle frigates were sent back to 1 April. England, the latter with a load of timber for the king's Timber 20 April. dock-yard. Its value was allowed to the duke; who never- gland. theless found himself more than two thousand pounds out of pocket on account of the expedition "for the repossess- ing New York." Andros soon afterward received James's 6 April. antograph reply to his letters of the previous November letter to and December. Ilis conduct was approved, especially in Androz. reducing to obedience the three "factions towns at the east end of Long Island," which he was to treat so that their people should "be without apprehensions of any in- justice towards them." In regard to " General Assem- blies, which the people there seeme desirous of, in imita- tion of their neighbour Colonies, I thinke," wrote the duke, A popular "you have done well to discourage any motion of that disap- Assembly kind; both as being not at all comprehended in your In- James. proved by structions, nor indeed consistent with the forme of govern- ment already established, nor necessary for the ease or re- dresse of any grievance that may happen ; since that may be as easily obtained by any petition or other addresse to you, at their Generall Assizes, (which is once a yearc,) where the same persons (as Justices) are usually present, who in all probability would be their representatives if an- other constitution were allowed." The question of an_As- sembly had been raised under Nicolls and Lovelace :- but James now clearly announced his disapprobation.t
Respecting the boundary arrangement with Connecticut 6 April. in 1664, the duke thought it best " only to make accommo- of York dations of this kind temporary, if possible, to preserve the the Con- disallows utmost limitts for me that my Patent gives me a title to." boundury. necticut
" Council Min., ili. (ii.), i., 35; Gen. Ent., Iv., 305, 200; Warr., Ord., Passes, ili., 34, 69, 50, 51, 89-92; Col. MSS., xx., 50-65; xxiv., 97, 105; xxv., 51; Col. Doc., ii., 507, 652 ; iii., 203. 233, 234; Hazard's Reg. Penn., i., 93; iv., 56; Ann. Penn., 308, 413-419; ante, 190, 224, 204.
+ Warr., Ord., Pa-ses, ill., 51, 60, 70, 72; Col. Doc., ill., 950, 231, 232, 237; Chalmers's Annale, 1., 551; Mass. II. S. Coll., xxx , 115 ; ante, 64, 68, 09, 150.
sent to En-
The duke's
The Duke
280
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
CHAr. VI. But Andros had already acted on that subject. Connecti- 1675. cut had recently appointed commissioners "to runn the lyne between this Colony and the Colony of New York, from Momoronock River to Hudson's River;"-which she had done in violation of the clear understanding that she was not to approach that river nearer than twenty miles. See- ing that the king, in 1674, had again granted to the Duke of York the territory as far east as the Connecticut River, Andros sent to the General Court at Hartford copies of the duke's patent and of his own commission, and request- ed them to give orders for his receiving that part of his royal highness's territories as yet under their jurisdiction."
1 May.
17 May.
$5 May. Andros maintains the rights of New York.
16 June.
The Connecticut Court, in answer, set up their charter from the king, and the boundary arrangement of 1664. Andros replied that the award by the royal commissioners "was an evident surprise," and " never confirmed ;" and that whatever pretenses Connecticut had made before 1671 were " sufficiently cleared by Ilis Majesty's reiterated Let- ters Patents." Ile therefore again demanded possession, and protested against all who might thus disobey their king's commands. Connecticut rejoined, denying any " un- due surprise" in the boundary determination, and insisting on her own charter. The New York Council thereupon re- solved that such disobedience to the king's pleasure as ex- pressed in his patent to the duke was " rebellion."+
SS June.
30 June. 2 July. Salisbury dispatched to England.
Andros now sent Captain Salisbury with dispatches to the duke and Sir John Werden, and directed him to in- form them fully of every thing relating to New York ; especially about its people, their trade, the French in Can- ada; the "Bostoners' trading - house at Springfield," and their claiming "to Albany itself ;" and of the recent con- tempt of the duke's authority in " that part of His Royal Highnesses' territories as yet under Connecticut, their many harbors, and plenty of corn and provisions." By the same vessel, Steenwyck and his associates, who had been bound over for trial, sent a memorial to the Dutch States Gener- al, setting forth their own hard case.#
* Warr., Ord., Pasgos, ifi., 2, 3, 112-114; Col. Doc., ill., 215. 251, 235; v.i., 527; Col. Rec. Conn., ii .. 242, 560 : Mass. H. S. Coll., xxx., 116; ante, 55, 56, 253.
t Conneil Min., ili (ii.), 39, 41, 42 ; Warr .. Ord., Passes, ili., 104, 115, 116: Col. Rec. Conn., il., 252, 570-574. 581; Col. Doc., ill., 235, 236, 238 ; Col. MISS., xxiv .. 121.
$ Warr., Ord., Passes, ilf., 106, 116; Col. Dec , ii., 739, 744 ; ilf., 234, 235, 236, 237, 415.
088
Tatra
GTOT
281
EDMUND ANDROS, GOVERNOR.
In this posture of affairs, intelligence reached New York CHAP. VI. that the Wampanoags and Narragansetts, who owned most of the territory of Rhode Island, had revolted against the 1675. Europeans. The Narragansett sachem, Ninigret, had been suspected, in 1669, of plotting against the English colonists. Two years afterward, Metacomet, or Philip, the sachem of Philip of the Wampanoags, who inhabited the region of Pokanoket, ket. Pokano- around the eastern and northern shores of Narragansett Bay, was obliged to give up most of his guns and acknowl- edge his subjection to the Plymouth government. This galled the soul of the American chief. He was the youn- gest son of Massasoit, who had made the first treaty with the English " Pilgrims." Massasoit's eldest son, Wamsut- ta, or Alexander, succeeded to the sachemship; but he soon followed his father to the grave, broken-hearted, at being dragged a prisoner to answer before the European new-comers at Plymouth. Philip was a youth when he became sachem in place of Wamsutta. Yet he had heard of the prompt kindness of his father, Massasoit, to the for- lorn English Pilgrims, and naturally contrasted it with the characteristic arrogance which repaid savage hospitality with British truculence. He saw that the Europeans had crowded his people into narrow necks of land, where they were jealously watched. In vain had Eliot and Mayhew solicited the Wampanoags to become Christians. The well-remembered injunctions of Massasoit kept the tribe firm in heathenism. A few savages were nevertheless con- verted. Among these was John Sausaman, who, after be- ing partially educated at Cambridge, relapsed from Chris- tianity, and was employed by Philip as his secretary. The Puritan colonists had generally disregarded the feelings of the Americans. Instead of adopting the conciliatory policy of New Netherland and New York toward the natives, they Now En- followed-without any warrant from the God of Israel- cy. the aggressive method of that peculiar host which went out of Egypt to possess the promised land. As Puritan- ism had already exterminated or sold the Pequods, so it now doomed the other native owners of New England to destruction or bondage. The pride of the aborigines was wounded without remorse ; for the white English Pharisee, holding the imported black African in slavery, would not
gland poli-
282
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
CHAP. VI. brook the equality of the noble red American, whose lands 1675. he covetously appropriated. While at Albany the autoch- thones of America were addressed as "Brothers," every where in New England, except in Rhode Island, they were offensively reminded of their inferiority. These memo- ries stirred the mind of Philip. Cautiously visiting the neighboring tribes, he urged them to drive out the de- Philip pre- stroyers of their race. The Narragansetts were won by pares for war. his eloquence ; and secret preparations were made for a rising of the native Americans against their British foes in the spring of 1676 .*
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