USA > New York > History of the state of New York. Vol. II, Pt. 2 > Part 16
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,1, July. La Fon- taine Ma- rien shot Denon- ville. with the edicts of Louis, notwithstanding he had a pass from Dongan. The rest of the prisoners were sent to Ca- faracouy, and thence to Montreal.t
* Col. Doc., ix., 255, 261, 327, 362-364, 402 ; Barber and Howe's Coll., 205; N. Y. H. S. Coll. (ii.), ii., 176. After being appointed governor of Louisiana (ante, 406), La Salle salle from Rochelle for the mouth of the Mississippi on 24 July, 1684, and on 20 March, 1657, was murdered by some of his followers not far from the present town . f Washington, in Texas. In February, 1680, Tonty went down the Mississippi in search of La Salle; and, on his re- turn to Montreal in July, was sent by Denonville to bring down the Illinois in the rear of .the Iroquois, which he did : Col. Doc., ix., 300, 301, 315, 316, 323, 327, 331, 352, 239, 243, 304; Ilist. Coll. Louisiana, i., 67-70, 85-111, 214-200; N. Y. H. S. Coll., ii., 2SS-333; Charlevoix, ¡E., 847, 34S: La Potherie, il., 193-198: Sparks's La Salle, 119-159, 204; Shea's Di-covery, 155-213 ; Shea's Charlevoix, ill., 270-251 ; Bancroft, iii., 168-173.
+ Col. Doc., iii., 430, 431, 434. 456, 497, 434 476, 453, 499; v., 731 ; ix .. 294, 975, 300. 000. 337, 339, 348, 362-364, 353, 1023; Ilist. Coll. Lou., i., 09; N. Y. H. S. Coll., fl. (ii.), 172-176. 190; La Potherie, il., 200-207: Charlevoix, il., 552, 353 ; Shea's Charlevoix, iii., 2×4, 256; La Hontan, i., 95, 96, 27 ; Pinkerton, xiii , 252, 203; Colden, i., SO; Smith, 1., 20; Garneau, L, 262; Holgate, 91 ; ante. 121, 400, 422, 432, 443, 444.
1
3
479
THOMAS DONGAN, GOVERNOR.
Having palisaded their encampment-which was appro- Cuar. IX. priately named " The Fort of the Sands," and garrisoned 1687.
by four hundred men under D'Orvilliers -the French I's July. pushed southward along the east shore of Irondequoit Bay, Denonville
invades through the superb " oak openings" of Monroe and Ontario the Seneca Counties, which allowed them to march in three columns. New York. country of Wood-rangers and savages formed the van and rear guards, while the regulars and the Canadian militia were in the centre. After passing two defiles the expedition reached is July. a third, near the Seneca village of " Kohoseragle,", or Gan- nagaro, or Saint James, not far from what is now Vic- tor, in Ontario County. The Senecas had meanwhile sent away their women, children, and old men to Cayuga, and to a lake-probably the Canandaigua-" to the southward of their castles." About five hundred -- among whom were several women who would not leave their husbands-re- mained in an ambuscade near Gannagaro, and,, as the Battle near French came confidently on, received them with a war- ro. - Gannaga- whoop and a fire of musketry. The European regulars, unused to warfare with the American savages, were thrown into disorder until their Ottawa auxiliaries repulsed the Senecas, who left nearly thirty dead on the field. The in- vaders had eleven killed and as many wounded, among whom was the Father John Enjalran, who had come down from his Ottawa mission with La Durantaye's party. Among the slain was the famous Oneida chief Garonhi- agué, or La Cendre Chaude, who had led the first Iroquois emigration to Canada, and became a catechist at the Sault Saint Louis. Instead of pushing on, as their Indian allies advised, the French halted on the battle-field. The next day they marched triumphantly into the deserted and burn- . July. ed village of Gannagaro. Two old Senecas, who had been left behind, were shrived by the Father Bruyas, and then cooked and eaten by the French savages. All the maize that could be found was destroyed. Gandagarae, or Saint Gandaga- Michael, was next visited in the same manner. The in- rae. vaders then moved their camp to the great Seneca village of " Theodehacto," or Totiakto, or Conception, on a bend Totiakto. of the Honeyoye Creek, near what is now West Mendon, in Monroe County. Here a pompous " Act of possession" of all the Senecas' lands " conquered in the name of his
£
450
·
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
1667. 1'3 July. 'The French take po3- session of the Seneca country.
3} July.
CHAP. IX. Majesty" was attested by the chief officers of the French expedition ; while every body shouted " Vive le Roy." At the gate of the small village of Gannounata, or Gannon- data, near East Avon, in Livingston County, were found the English arms, which Dongan had caused to be placed there in 1684, "ante-dated as of the year 1683." This greatly disgusted the French, who thought it "beyond ques- tion that they first discovered and took possession of that country, and for twenty consecutive years have had the Fathers Fremin, Garnier, etc., as stationary missionaries in all these villages." After destroying all the Indian corn they could find, being more than a million of bushels, and a " vast quantity" of hogs, Denonville's expedition return- ed to Irondequoit without meeting any more Iroquois war- riors." And so, having destroyed the stored grain, and the acorn-fed swine, and the frail bark cabins of the thrifty native New Yorkers whose territory he invaded, the French marquis stopped. He was but a weak imitation of Louvois. Denonville only irri- tatea the Iroquois. Thus far Denonville had only irritated the Senecas. He had not humbled the brave red Americans who had fatally dis- ordered his disciplined European troops ; whose wooden vil- lages could soon be rebuilt ; and whose yellow maize would spring again in quick abundance throughout the beautiful and fertile valley of the Genesee. If he had been a gener- al, Denonville would have pursued the retreating Senecas eastward among the Cayugas and the Onondagas, whereby he might have crushed the power of the Iroquois. Instead of this, he sent back a part of his force to Cataracony, and went with the rest to the east bank of the Niagara River, Denonville where he built a palisaded fort on the spot which La Salle builds a agara. fort at Ni- had appropriated in the winter of 1678, and had named the "Fort de Conty." It was "the most beautiful, most pleas- ing, and most advantageous site on the whole of Lake On- tario." La Salle had chosen it nine years before, to the
* Col. Dec., ill., 251, 252, 431-435, 446, 417, 479 ; ix., 334, 837-339, 364-36S; Doc. ITist., I, 149, 151-154: Col. MSS., xxxv., 160; Hi-t. Coll. Lon., i., 60; N. Y. H. S. Coll., ii. (ii. ). 150- 103, 176-152, 150-191; La Potherie, ii., 207, 209; La Hontan, i., 95-101; Charlevoix, ii .. $53-555; She's Charlevoix, ill., 285-200; Colien, i., SO, SI ; Shea's Missions, 298, 318, 371, 375; Pinkerton, xiii., 203, 204; ante. 179, 236, 324, 398, 400. I think that La Hoatan ex- aggerated when he wrote, " We found in all these villages horses, cattle, poultry, and an abundance of hoge." At all events, Denonville speaks only of the "vast quantity of hogy" which the French destroyed : compare Col. Doc., ix., 338, 367; Charlevoix, ii., 355: La Hon- tan, i., 101 ; Pinkerton, xiii., 204: N. Y. HI. S. Coll., ii. (ii.), 191; Col. Doc., ill., 432, "in one village they get some hogs and fow le."
31 July. &G July.
481
THOMAS DONGAN, GOVERNOR.
great disgust of Andros ; and now Denonville occupied it CHAP. IX. again to "circumvent" Dongan. A formal "Act" was 16S7.
drawn up, declaring that La Salle's previous possession was "reiterated anew," in the name of Louis the Fourteenth.
21 July. The Fort at Niagara was mounted with some small can- 24 July. non, and the Chevalier de la Troye, who had led the expe- 3 August. dition to Hudson's Bay the year before, was left in com- Troye, Ber- mand of the garrison of one hundred men, with the Sieur Lamber- gères, and des Bergères as his lieutenant ; and Lamberville was ap- agara. ville at Ni- pointed chaplain. Denonville then returned to Montreal by way of Cataracony, where he left another garrison of one hundred men in charge of D'Orvilliers."
The Mohawks and Oneidas had meanwhile advised Don- 12 June. gan of Denonville's invasion of the Senecas. The New York Council determined at once to protect the Five Na- 24 June. Dongan's tions ; and the governor, with Counselors Brockholls and Palmer, hastened to Albany. Under the late Treaty of tions Neutrality, Dongan assumed that the Iroquois were British subjects, although they had not yet been distinctly claimed as such by his king. It was thought, too, that the French might push on eastward; and Brockholls was therefore sent down to New York, with orders to Colonel Bayard 1? July. there, and to Major Willett in Queen's County, to send up the river militiamen for the defense of the frontier of the province at Albany and Schenectady.t
Soon afterward Dongan talked with the Iroquois, whom 5 August. he had convened at Albany. He congratulated his " Breth- conference Dongan's ren" that the French had done them so little harm, and i with the told them that he would send Palmer to report to the King of England all that had happened. In the mean time he advised the Five Nations not to kill any Frenchmen whom they might take prisoners; to manage their own affairs by a secret council ; to make peace with the Ottawas, Miamis, and further Indians, as well as with the Mahicans; and to draw home those Iroquois who had been Christianized
against the French.
roquois at Albany.
* Col. Doc., iii., 396, 432, 435, 476; ix., 235, 336, 332, 349, 368, 369, 386, 3SS; Doc. Hist., L, 149, 150, 155; Col. MISS., xxxv., 160; La Potherie, ii., 208; La Hontan, i., 101, 102; Pinkerton, xiii., 294, 205; Charlevoix, ii., 837, 556, 366, 369 ; Colden, i., 81, 82; Shea's Lou. HI. S. Coll., i., 70; N. Y. H. S. Coll., ii., 162, 155; Shea's Charlevoix, ili., 290, 291; Shea's Missions, 818; Garnean, i., 264. I have already noticed the misdate in Denonville's " Act of Possession :" ante, 163, 164, 325.
t Col. MSS., xxxv., 70, 71; Council Min., v., 195, 200; Doc. Hist., i., 150, 157; Col. Doc., ili., 475; ante, 475.
II .- II II
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
1657. No Trench, hat only English priests, to bo allowed
iroquois.
Lord Ho ard and Sir Robert Parker, of Virginia, at New York.
C August. Reply of the Five Nations to Doagan.
wir. Ix. in Canada ; to name the " most convenient" place on Lake Ontario where the English might build a fort ; to refuse to receive Lamberville or any other French priests, "having sent for English priests, whom you can be supplied with, all to content ;" and to be on their guard, and make In treaties without Corlaer's means, nor do any thing with the French without his knowledge; "for then you will be looked upon as the King of England's subjects." Dongan then referred to the recent outrages of the Oncidas, who had "killed a fine gentleman, with some others," at the head of the James River. These outrages had obliged Lord Howard of Effingham to come with Sir Robert Park- er from Virginia to New York, where, while lamenting the governor's absence at Albany, the citizen-peer was other- wise " satisfied with his entertainment." The Five Nations were chidden for their breach of the treaty of 1681, and told that, if they did so again, New York and Virginia would dig up the buried axes, and "totally ruin" the breakers of the covenant chains. But the Senecas, who had never done any thing against Corlaer's orders, were freed from blame, "except the making of that unlucky peace with the French three years ago, which has been the cause of all these troubles."*
The next day, Sindacksegic, a Mohawk sachem, answer- ed for the Five Nations that the French had attacked them only because, "about six years ago," the Senecas had troubled La Salle at Niagara during the government of Andros, who had forbidden those French to trade there; and because those New York Iroquois had " submitted themselves to the King of England," when Lord Howard, of Virginia, was with Dongan at Albany in 1684. As to hunting beavers in the great West of America, what, asked the Mohawk, had " the Christians to do with that," to the prejudice of its aborigines? "O, Brethren !" he added, with the serene logie of truth, "you tell us the King of England is a very great King :- why should you not join with us in a just cause, when the French join with our en- emies in an unjust cause ? O, Brethren, we see the reason
* Col. Doc., iii., 426, 423, 438-441, 475; Dec. Ilist., i., 151; iif., 73; Coldden, i., 53, 52-57; Smith, i., 80-55 ; ante, 396, 393. Neither Beverley nor Burk mention this second visit of Lord Effingham to New York in July, 1657.
483
THOMAS DONGAN, GOVERNOR.
of this. The French would fain kill us all ; and when that CHAP. IX. is done, they would carry all the beaver trade to Canada; and the Great King of England would lose the land like- 16S7. The Iro- wise. Awake, therefore, O, Great Sachem beyond the Great quois ap- Lake [the Atlantic], and suffer not those poor Indians who James for peal to have given themselves and their lands under thy protection, to be destroyed by the French, without cause !" After this pathetic appeal the Iroquois agreed to Dongan's proposi- tions, and promised not to receive Lamberville or any oth- er French Jesuit; and, if possible, would draw the Chris- tian Indians back from Canada. They suggested the Sal- mon River, in Oswego County, as the best place for an En- glish fort ; and engaged that they would do every thing to prevent further mischief toward Virginia, and also that- they would make no peace with the French without per- mission of the Governor of New York. Several Seneca sachems, who had been in the engagement near Ganna- garo on the third of July, then gave an account of what the French had done in their canton. Upon this, Dongan 6 August. felt justified in interpreting the Treaty of Neutrality so supplies Dongan that he might supply the Senecas with arms and ammuni- queis with the Iro- tion, which he did; although he declined to assist them ammuni- arms and with soldiers, as the farmers in New York were then all tion. busy with their harvest."
On his return to Montreal, Denonville, having received the letter which Dongan had sent him by L'Espinard the previous June, charged him with duplicity in sending New &t Aug. York traders to Michilimackinac, " where no Englishman ville's re- had ever put a foot, and where our Frenchmen have been Dongan. established over sixty years ;" and reproached him for breaking the Treaty of Neutrality, by advising and pro- tecting the Iroquois, and causing the French missionaries to leave the cantons. MacGregorie and the other prison- ers would be retained until the Neutrality Treaty should be executed. In a later letter Denonville rejected the 33 Aug. claim of the English, and maintained the right of the The French French to sovereignty over the Iroquois; adding, "I am sovereign- ty over the astonished that you should be ignorant that before Manate Iroquois belonged to the King, your master-being in possession of tu. sin-
* Col. Doc., ili., 428, 441-447, 474; v .. 76; Doc. Hi-t .. i., 151, 152, 157, 164; Col. MISS., xxxv., 90, 91 ; Shea's Charlevoix, iii., 250 ; ante, 326, 357, 479.
protection.
484
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
CHAP. IX. the heretic Dutch, as you are aware-our missionaries, per- secuted and martyred, found there an asylum and protec- 1687. tion !”*
Angust. Kryn, the ·· Great Mohawk," ineets " Blue Stocking" at Lake Cham- plain.
As Denonville wished to know what was going on in the Mohawk country, Kryn, " the Great Mohawk" chief at the Sault Saint Louis, offered to go with five others and bring his countrymen in New York to treat with Onnontio. Most of the party were dressed by the French in "very nigh Christian habits." On reaching Lake Champlain by way of Chambly, they met sixty Mohawks, commanded by "Blue Stocking," who, with Dongan's assent, were going to make prisoners in Canada. Kryn addressed his old companions so eloquently that he persuaded four of them `to go back with him to Canada. Instead of capturing the Canadian proselyte and his followers, the Mohawks return- ed to their country, accompanied only by Kakariall and Adandidaghko, whom they sent from Albany to New York 31 August. as prisoners, and who were examined before Counselor Van Cortlandt. They had both been with the French expedi- tion against the Senecas, of which they gave interesting ac- counts. Both expressed their shame at having left their own country, but declared that " if a priest would settle at Saragtoga," many would return; "for they have waited a long time for it."+
1 Septem.
The Iro- quois want an En- gliah priest at Sarato- 53. 1S August. 19 August. 20 August. War tax levied by Dongan and his council in New York. 2 Septem.
Upon returning to the metropolis, Dongan and his coun- cil, considering the expenses caused by the French, enacted the levy of an additional penny in the pound upon the free- holders and inhabitants of Kings, Queens, Dukes, Dutchess, Richmond, Orange, Westchester, and Suffolk Counties. But only a halfpenny in the pound was levied on New York, Albany, and Ulster, " these three places being the only sup- port of the Government.";
S Septem. Dongan's instruc- tions to Palmer going to England.
As Palmer was now going to England, Dongan gave him full instructions to lay before James the condition of
* Col. Doc., ill., 406-472, 4ST; ix., 336; Doc. Hist., i., 159-162; ante, vol. 1., 346, 373, 374, 402, 423; ii., 119, 121, 466.
t Col. Doc., iii., 431-498, 453, 487, 458, 512, 514, 530; ix., 352, 353; Col. MES., xxxv., 95: Charlevoix, ii., 357, 358; Shea's Charlevoix, ili., 292; Shea's Missions, 209. 319, 3.0; ante, 442, 476. Isaac Swinton, the deputy secretary under Spragg, having died while Dongan was at Albany, the council ordered, on 6 July, 16ST, that Counselor Van Cortlandt should take charge of the seal, and John Knight act as deputy secretary : Council Min., v., 195: Col. Doc., ili .. 407, 426; Col. MES., xxxv., 162.
$ Council Min., v., 198, 199, 200; Council Journ., i., Int., xx .; Col. Doc., ill., 4:6, 477 ; Doc. Ifist., i., 154, 155, 153.
485
THOMAS DONGAN, GOVERNOR.
New York, and the conduct of the French in Canada. In CHar. IX. this interesting paper the governor again urged that Con- necticut and New Jersey should be joined to New York, 1687. which could not alone "help our Indians," as its revenue had fallen off from some thirty-five thousand beavers ex- ported every year, to about nine thousand. Forts should Forts pro- be built on Lake Champlain, at Salmon River, and at Ni- colonial posed, and agara on Lake Ontario; and smaller posts between them with Cana- boundary and Schenectady. The boundary with Canada should be adjusted. adjusted in England; but not until the country had been better explored by the English, in which matter "the French at present have much the advantage." Priests should also be sent from England to live among the In- dians. Dongan likewise asked Sunderland that people s Septem. should be sent to New York from Ireland, " who had . pre- wishes Dongan tences to estates there, and are of no advantage to the Irish pro- ple to be country, and may live here very happy." A few days aft- sent to erward he informed the lord president that news from Al- 12 Septem. New York. bany would oblige him to spend the winter there ; and that "it is a great misfortune for this government that there are so few of his Majesty's natural-born subjects ;- the greater part being Dutch, who, if occasion were, I fear would not be very fitt for service."*
On receiving the information brought by L'Espinard 7 Septem. from Canada, it was ordered in council that Albany and by advice Dongan, Schenectady should be strengthened with palisades, a watch cif of his coun- kept, and Indian scouts stationed near Lake Champlain. winter in Word soon came that the French had provided fifteen Albany. hundred pairs of snow shoes, with the intention of destroy- ing Albany during the winter, and threatened to send its inhabitants to Spain, Portugal, and the West Indies. The council therefore ordered that the Five Nations should ? Septem. send all their old men, women, and children to the neigh- precautions New York borhood of Catskill, "Livingston's land," and elsewhere the Iro- in favor of along the Hudson River, where they could be assisted in against the queis case of need. It was also determined that Dongan should French. spend the winter at Albany, which was in great conster- nation ; and that every tenth militiaman in the province 11 Septem. should be drafted to go thither, " except those that were out
* Council Min., v., 200; Col. Doc., ill., 421, 428-430, 476-478; Doc. Hist., i., 157-150, 103; ante, 471.
.
£
456
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
Car. Ix. the last year a whaling."" This exception affected only the east end of Long Island.
1657. The mayor and aldermen of Albany also conferred with the Mohawks, who gave up a French prisoner to the fami- ly of Viele, still held a captive in Canada, "to wash the tears of his wife and children." Their war-chief, Tahaja- doris, lamented that their party who had met Kryn on Lake Champlain had not seized him; but they would at once send out expeditions to attack the French. The Ononda- 14 Septem. gas also asked succor for the Senecas and Cayugas, and Action of the Albany suggested that Oswego would be a better place than Sal- 15 Septem. mon River for the proposed fort. They were told that officers. Dongan would spend the winter at Albany with a large force, and expected them to send him re-enforcements ; upon which they joyfully promised to " acquaint all the nations."+
29 Septem. 14 October. Dongan's arrange- ments for the gov- the prov- ince. S October.
Before going to Albany, the governor appointed and swore Stephanus van Cortlandt mayor of the City of New York, as successor to Nicholas Bayard. John Younge, ernment of who was now " a very old" man, and lived at the east end of Long Island, one hundred and fifty miles from Fort James, was removed from the council because he detailed "many aged and siekly men, and others without arms or cloths," to make up the quota of Suffolk County for the expedition to Albany. In his stead, James Graham was appointed and sworn as a counselor. Peter Schuyler was 11 October. reappointed mayor of Albany. It was also ordered in Spanish Indian slaves again set free in council that certain Spanish Indians who had been brought from Campeachy, in Mexico, and sold as slaves, should be New York, set free. This was only confirming previous legislation in 1680. The New England Puritans ruthlessly enslaved both the long-haired native red American, and the curly- haired imported black African. But New York was more just toward the superior aboriginal races, who occupied North America ages before Europeans usurped their lands.+
Dongan's unele, Tyrconnell, the lord lieutenant of Ire-
* Council Min., v., 202-205; Doc. Hist., i., 155, 156, 162, 163, 166; Col. Doc., ill., 477-152, 437 ; Col. MISS., xxxiv., 120.
t Col. Doc., iii., 4:3-185; Col. MISS., xxxv., 93 ; Council Min., v., 206; Col. Rec. Conn., iii., 3ST ; ante, 453.
# Council Min., v., 207, 200, 210; Col. Doc., ifi., 416; iv., 726, S47; Val. Man., 1553, 356, 380; Dunlap, ii., App. cxxxv. ; Min. of Com, Council, i., 319 ; Col. MISS., xxix., SO ; xxxiv., 77, 78; xxxv., 169 ; ante, 296, 331, 462.
£
487
THOMAS DONGAN, GOVERNOR.
land, now informed him that it was "requisite" for the CuAr. IX. king's service that he should go home. The governor at 1687.
once wrote to James that he would cheerfully obey his 24 October. commands ; but that he was largely in debt on his majes- Dongan writes to ty's account, " and no ways left to paying it if Connecticut James about his expected recall.
be not joyned to this government, which your Majesty will otherwise be continually out of purse to maintain, and whoever comes after me will certainly run your Majesty more in debt."*
The governor being now ready to winter in Albany, it 25October. was ordered in council "that Major Brockholls sign all Brockholls com- warrants, papers, and licenses, usually signed by his Excel- mand at New York lency, and that all other public business be managed by him and the council, as if his Excellency were present."+ during igan's absence at Albany.
New York
.
Had Dongan's advice been adopted by his sovereign, English Jesuits might have replaced French missionaries English in English New York. But the English disciples of Loy- priests in Jesuit ola do not seem to have had the manly spirit of adventure under among the savages which distinguished their order in Dungan. France. At this time there were three Jesuit fathers in New York : Thomas Harvey, of London, who had accom- panied the governor from England; Henry Harrison, of Ireland; and Charles Gage, of Norwich. One of them seems to have taken charge of the Latin school which Ja- Latin mison had relinquished ; and Dongan asked James to en- college in dow it with the "King's farm." To this school Graham, under Palmer, and Tudor " did contribute their sones for some Dongan. time; but nobody imitating them, the college vanished," although the Dutch Church bell was tolled every morning at eiglit o'clock to summon the students. The Father Har- rison appears to have assisted Harvey as Dongan's chap- lain ; and one of them seems to have taken the name of John Smith. IIc had a small chapel adorned with images, which the governor arranged in Fort James; and this Smith was a very "good-humored" man.}
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