USA > New York > History of the state of New York. Vol. II, Pt. 2 > Part 31
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38
' Col. Doc., iii., 753 ; iv., 196; iv., 477-481 ; Doc. Hist., il., 160-162, 160 ; New Jersey II %. Proc., i., 72-74: La Hostan, 1., 207, 208; La Potherie, Ili., 98, 101, 102; Charlevoix, ill .. - 6- 91; Chalmers. il., 74.
t Hateh., i., 329, 4/0: Doc. ITist , il., 102, 150; Trumbull, i., 385; Dunlap, 1, 122, 1524 N Y. H. S. Proc., 1919, 107.
geo
WHOTRIH
623
JACOB LEISLER, ACTING LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.
and would answer only by his cannon. An ill-conducted CHAP. XII. attack was made and vigorously repulsed, and the discom- 1690.
fited expedition retreated. A church was dedicated at Que- 8 bec to " our Lady of the Victory," and Louis ordered a med- Phipps re- i g Oct. pul: ed at al to be struck in honor of one of the most glorious deeds Quebec. of his reign. Phipps returned humiliated and without spoil to Massachusetts, which was obliged to issue the first Paper paper bills in America to pay its public creditors .* money.
During the summer, however, the three vessels which Leisler had fitted out had been quite successful at Port Roy- al and Isle Pereee. On one of the captured French vessels 22 July. 1 August. was a letter from Louis to Frontenac, intimating that he New York could afford no further assistance to Canada this year. take cruisers Hearing that some French privateers were committing ex- prizes. French cesses at Nantucket and Block Island, Leisler commission- 23 July. ed four other vessels to cruise against them. Several French prizes were taken and brought in triumph to New York, which were condemned by a Court of Admiralty appointed 17 Sept. · by Leisler, of which De la Noy was president, while Mil- borne acted as attorney general.t
Owing to Leisler's absence in Albany, the Assembly, which he had prorogued to the first of September, did not meet, and new writs were issued summoning it for a later 11 sept. day. At its meeting the Assembly enacted a law requiring 18 Sept. Assembly all persons who had left the province to return within three at New weeks after its publication, under pain of being " deemed and York. esteemed as persons disobedient to the government." An- other law levied a new tax for the support of two hundred 2 October. men as Leisler's garrison in the fort. A third law declared 4 October. that any person refusing to accept a civil or military com- passed. mission from Leisler should be fined seventy-five pounds ; that any one leaving Albany or Ulster without his permis- sion should be fined one hundred pounds ; that no merchan- dise from those counties should be brought down the Hud- son River without his license, under penalty of confiscation ;
* Col. Doc . ix .. 4.2, 455-422. 481-401. 4:5: La Potherie, iii .. 111-123 ; La Hontan. 203-217: Charlevoix, Iii., 94. 95. 110-125. 130, 131; v., 107; Hawking's Quebec, 133, 197-149, 220, 314; Hutch. Mass. , i., 399-402, 554-566; Mass. H. S. Coll., xxxv., 203-268 ; Plymouth Rec , vi., 215, 249: Ilumble Address, etc .. by I. Hammond; Chalmers, ii., 56-3, 5) : Andros Tracts ; Smith, L. 107, 108. Coldon. i., 157, 136, wrongly dates this expedition in 10 1. + Doc. Hist , if., 141. 151-150, 104-168. 172, 175, 929, 230; Col. Doc .. ffi. . 751, 752 : ix., 452, 475. 477: Un Potherie, ift , -0, 90 ; Charb voix, fit .. 101-106 ; Mase. H. S. C .L., xxvi., 263-274; Arnol !, i., 521, 522 ; N. Y. H. S. Cell. (1995., 522, 327; Col. MISS., xxxvi. ; an's, 65.
£
1
624
IHISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
: : ytt. and that " all persons" who had left those counties must ro- turn within fourteen days after publication of the law, " at 1:00. their utmost perils." In the annals of "popular" legis- lation, it would be difficult to find more despotic laws than these .*
Leisler now superseded his former commission to De 1 Oktober. Albany of- Bruyn, Provoost, and Milborne, and appointed Staats, Wen- ficers .. dell, Bleecker, Bogardus, and Schermerhorn "to superin- tend, direct, order and controul all matters and things re- lating to the city and county of Albany, and the safety and defense of the subjects therein, according to the laws of this Province, and the present establishment." Wendell S October. was also commissioned to be mayor in place of Schuyler, 11October, and on King James's birthday aldermen and assistants were elected who all appear to have been Leisler's friends .;
20 October.
Letters were also written to the king and to Lord Shrews- bury, as it was not known that he had resigned his office of secretary of state. "New England's perfidy and disap- pointments" were set forth offensively, and the " Cocceian" . Domine Dellius, of Albany, and others, denounced as trai- tors. These letters, which were the last that Leisler address- ed to England, seem to have been written by Milborne .;
quarrels with the Dutch and l'rench ministers.
Among other quarrels, Leisler engaged in several with the Dutch and French ministers. Dellius at Albany, who was a favorite with the Indians, had opposed his authority, would pray only for the crown, and not for the King of En- gland, and had been kindly spoken of by the Jesuit Lam- berville. Leisler endeavored to imprison him in New York, but Dellius wisely escaped to Boston, whence he intended returning to Europe, and complain. Varick, of Flatbush, who had signed the address to the king and queen of the previous May, for uttering his sentiments too freely, was obliged to fly to Newcastle, and, on returning to his house, was arrested and imprisoned "for speaking treasonable words against Captain Leisler and the Fort." After a trial before De la Noy and others, under a special commission, he was sentenced "to be deprived from his ministerial func- tion, amerced in a fine of eighty pounds, and to remain in
* Doc. Ilist., ii., 123, 153, 150, 163, 191. 200, 201 ; Col. Doc., iii., 153; Col. MSS., xxxVi., 119; Council Journals, i., Int., xxv. ; S. Wood, 105: ante, 616.
+ Doc. Hist .. il., 100, 171, 199, 200; Munsell, ii., 112.
$ Col. Doc., iii., 751-754; Mass. H. S. Coll., xxxv., 277.
625
JACOB LEISLER, ACTING LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.
close prison until that fine should be paid." Upon making CHAP. XII. his submission to Leisler, he was released. Selyns offered bail for Varick, but he was refused, and " grossly abused by 1690. Leisler himself in the church at the time of divine service, and threatened to be silenced." The French ministers, Per- ret and Daille, were often menaced " because they would not approve of his power and disorderly proceedings.""
A colony of French Huguenots had meanwhile been founded at New Rochelle, upon ground sold to them by 20 May. Huguenots Leisler, who had bought it of Pell. Its first minister was at New Ro- the Reverend David Bonrepos, who, a few years afterward, chelle. removed to Staten Island. Small as it was, the new colony, greatly to its disgust, was called upon to raise the taxes im- posed by Leisler's Assembly.t
Discontent was now spreading through the province. The people would not readily pay their taxes, especially as the Canada expedition had failed, for which Leisler was held responsible. In Queens County they declared against his government, and he suspended the session of the court 20 October. "until the said rebells be suppressed, and the counties on against LongIsland Long Island reduced to their obedien.ce." Milborne was Leisler. also commissioned to raise what force he could, and, " with Es October. all violence and hostility." to subdne all " that are refrac- subdue the Milborne to refractory. tory to the established goverment." Another commission 30 October. directed Edsall and Williams to assist Milborne, and exam- ine vessels, search houses, and secure all "suspected per- sons." These orders were executed with such predatory vi- olence that the inhabitants of Hompstend, Jamaica, Flush- ing, and Newtown met and directed Captain Jolm Clapp to : Novem. write a letter to the king's secretary of state explaining Jolin . Captain Clapp's let- their miserable condition " by the severe oppressions and ter to the tyrannical usurpations of .Jacob Leisler and his accomplices." secretary of state.
The letter was telling and bitter. Leisler was styled a " bold
* Doc. Ilist., if .. 247 ; C. 1. Der., TH , 435- 041. 631. 632 696, 715, 762, 7 10, 753, 771; iv., 216, 450, 533; Col. MSS., xxxvi., 142; Corr. (1. Anrt. ; Marphy's Anthology, 103, 108, 113, 116, 118; N. Y. Christ. Int., 21 Sep :. , 1-6): N. Y. IL S. Coll. (1 65, 47, 400. Leister appears to have been so hostile to Selyns, who had married ti duighter Catharine to Walters in Feb- ruary, 1655, that he would not allow hin to marry his daughter Mary to Milborne on 3 Feb- ruary, 1690-1 : ante, 517. By whom the cureray was jarformed does not appear : compare Val. Man., 1961, 652, 665; 1502, 004. 611, 016: 1-63. 291, 200: Pass Book, iv., 71; New York Marriages (1560), 230, 262.
+ Doc. Ilist., ii., 171; iff., 560; C. L. D.c., F1 , 745. 746; TVitoa's Westchester. i., 375-390, 414; Church in Westchestor. - 8-2:6: s.tym to Choisis; Murphy's Anthology. 120, 127; Dr. De Witt, in N. Y. I. S. Pric. for Loks. p. J.
II .- RR
626
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
Cusr. XII. usurper,""and Milborne's former conviction for clipping 1690. coin had inade him " famous for nothing but infamy." In a barbarous and inhuman manner houses had been phun- dered by them, women stripped of their apparel, and estates sequestered, "because we would not take commissions from the pretended Lieutenant Governor to be part executioners of his tyrannical will and exorbitant demands, and extort an illegal tax from the subjects." The crimes which Leis- ler had committed would force him to take shelter under Catiline's maxim, " The ills that I have done can not be safe but by attempting greater ;" and the king was besought to " break this heavy yoke of worse than Egyptian bondage." Popular feeling could not be so openly expressed in New York, which was overawed by the fort, and where none were safe but Leisler's "faction." It was alleged, never- theless, that much of the plunder which he obtained from houses, shops, cellars, and vessels was " sold to his friends in this city, and shipt off for the West Indies and elsewhere.""
Adverse feeling in New York.
€
Yet Leisler did not neglect the security of Albany against 1G Novem. the French. The Ulster officers were directed to send thith- er as many men as they could upon the first notice. Viele 20 Novem. was also appointed general agent of the province, to go to Viele agent at Ononda- ga. Onondaga and reside among the Iroquois, to act according to his best " knowledge, skill, and power."+
11 Decem. Leisler ad- vised by Boston.
Leisler was now advised from Boston that Governor Sloughter was " daily expected," and that it would be well for him, against whom many "strange reports" had been made, to temper " justice with moderation and merey," cs- pecially when the king's own settlement of the matter was so near. But this good advice had little influence on one who clung to his usurped authority with the tenacious grasp of a despot. Ilis last letter to Treat had not been answer- 1691. ed. Milborne therefore drafted for him a characteristical- ly abusive New Year's greeting to Connecticut, in which Saint James was cited as condemning " hypocrites," and the colony reviled for its " fig-leaf"' righteousness and its "ex- tent of treachery." This joint "effort" was a coarse and unsuccessful imitation of the usual Puritan style .;
1 January. Leisler's abusivelet- ter to Con- necticut.
* Doc. Ilist., ii, 153, 184. 153, 215 ; Col. Doc., iii., 754-150; Wood, 108, 100 ; Thompson, 1., 167; Riket's Newtown, 119, 120; Onderdonk's Queens County, 12; N. Y. I. S. CALL. 06, 351,38%. f Doc. Ilist., ii., 157, 133.
+ Doc. Mist., il., 179, 172, 180 ; Masa. II. S. Coll., xxxr., 277, 273.
$
627
JACOB LEISLER, ACTING LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.
Seeing that even the New York county militia were in CHAr. XII. disorder, Leisler ordered their major, De Bruyn, to " settle" them. A few days afterward he issued a proclamation re- 1691. an. . quiring the appointment of assessors and collectors of his 25 Jan. last tax in cach town, at their " utmost peril." But before of Leister's despotism. Last acte this spasmodic effort of waning despotism could be accom- plished, Leisler's pernicious colonial authority was over- thrown." *
The revolution which shifted the crown of England from James the Second to William and Mary, at the same time transferred the allegiance of the English colonies from the old to the new sovereigns. Thenreforward Parliament as- Parliament sumed more immediate direction of colonial affairs than it crown. and the had ever before taken. Nevertheless, the English crown remained the unquestioned sovereign of all British Planta- tions. But the crown was taught wisdom by experience.
Not less fond of power than James, William ordained for 1690. New York a government which continued substantially in operation for nearly a century. It consisted of a governor William's and council, appointed by the English sovereign, and an As- go sembly elected by a majority of the freeholders in the ser- ment. eral counties of the province. In their mimic sphere these provincial authorities faintly shadowed the king, the lords, and the commons of England. Yet, supreme above minia- ture colonial legislation spored the undefined prerogative of the crown of England and the imperial arrogance of her Parliament.
New York
. Sloughter's commission from William resembled in form, 4 .Jan. and in most particulars, those which James had given to commis- Dongan and to Andros. Its chief difference was the au- sion. thority intrusted to the royal governor and council to sum- mon Assemblies of the frecholders of the province of New York. The governor, with the consent of the Council and a majority of the Assembly of the freeholders, could make Assembly. local laws conformable to those of England, which colonial laws the king might approve or disallow at any time. The governor might negative all laws, and adjourn, prorogue, and dissolve such Assemblies. The new oaths enjoined by Parliament were to be sworn to by the councilors as " the
Slouchter's
* Doc. Hist., if., 1S1 ; Col. Dec., ii , 753: ante, 623.
C2S
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
('HAP. XII. Test" of 1673, which, not affecting America, James had 1690. waived. But William now required it to be taken, as well as that for the due execution of their places. Like Don- gan and Andros, Sloughter was authorized to appoint judges, erect courts, pardon offenders, collate ministers in vacant benefices, command the militia, execute martial law, and act as vice-admiral. In case of his death or absence from the province, his duties were to be executed by the com- mander-in-chief, if the king should appoint one, and if not, Council. by " the first counselor," who was to act as president, with the usual "powers and preheminences.""
31 Jan. Sloughter's instruc- tions.
William's instructions to Sloughter were also modeled in most respects exactly after those which James had given to Dongan and Andros. Sloughter, however, was required to cause the Test of 1673 to be subscribed by all officers, besides their other oaths, and was directed to appoint an at- torney general and call a Court of Exchequer. The former orders respecting the Church of England were renewed, by which the Bishop of London was to have ecclesiastical ju- risdiction in New York, certifying ministers and licensing schoolmasters. The governor, however, could collate to ben- efices, grant marriage licenses, and have the probate of wills as surrogate. Liberty of conscience, which James had grant- ed to all peaceable inhabitants, was restricted by William to all such persons "except Papists." The old instructions limiting the liberty of printing was repeated in the same words. The royal councilors in New York named by Wil- Councilorz. liam were Frederick Phillipse, Stephen van Cortlandt, Nich- olas Bavard, William Smith, Gabriel Minvielle, Chidley Brooke, William Nicolls, Nicholas de Meyer, Francis Rom- bouts, Thomas Willett, William Pinhorne, and John Haines. Of these, Phillipse, Van Cortlandt, and Bayard had been An- dros's former counselors, and their reappointment by the Dutch king showed that he approved of their loyal conduct under Nicholson. But he left out Leisler, because he was a colonial demagogue, with brains and honesty, but blunder- headed, and Broekholls and Baxter, because they were
* Col. Doc., ili., 377-382, 531-542, 623-623; Commissions, li., 3; Narcissus Luttrell, ii., 2; ante, 201, 202, 264, 452-155, 502-504, 504. It will be remembered that the English " Test Act" of 1673 required all officers in England to take cathy of allegiance and supremacy to the king, receive the Sacrament according to the English Episcopal form, and sign a decla- ration against the Romish doctrine of transubstantiation : ante, 201.
€
.
290
ITHOTRUE
629
JACOB LEISLER, ACTING LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.
" Papists," while lie appointed Smith, Minvielle, Rombouts, CuAr. XII. and De Meyer, nominated by Dongan .*
1690.
In the mean time the acting authorities in Massachusetts had sullenly obeyed the royal command to send to England, to answer "what may be objected against them," Andros, Andros and others sent Dudley, Palmer, Randolph, West, Graham, Farewell, and toEngland. Sherlock, whom they had kept in close confinement. The prisoners were meanly shipped on board the deeply-laden 14 Feb. bark Mehitable, in which they "endured all the miseries of a troublesome winter voyage." But three days before the 11 Feb. Mehitable sailed, Cooke and Oakes were dispatched in the Martin, as special agents of the insurgents, to assist Mather and Ashurst, on the part of Massachusetts. With them sail- ed Wiswall, of Plymouth, who was " an artist at sea." When Andros and his fellow-prisoners appeared before the Plan- 10 April. tation Committee, they were ready to charge Massachusetts with "rebellion against lawful authority, and imprisoning the King's Governor." The agents of that colony were then required "to give the reasons of the opposition to Sir 14 April. Edmund and his authority." This was done in an unsign- 17 April. ed paper, which the committee, of course, disregarded. Upon their report the king ordered the prisoners to be dis- 21 April. charged. A month afterward Andros submitted to the charged. committee a full report of his administration, which was
27 May. answered by the Massachusetts agents. But William, full 30 May. of Irish affairs, took no further notice of this New England quarrel.+
Andros being thus alsolved by his sovereign, Dudley and Graham, with their as oriates, shared the triumph of their chief. The question of a new charter for Massachusetts was left undecided, and meanwhile the king directed that Dudley should be added to the Council of New York as its Dudley. * Col. Doc., ill., 302-355, 417, 510-542, 645.641; Chalmiere, H., 21; N. Y. H. S. Coll. (18GS), 502; Wond. i., 152.
t Doc. Hist., Ii., 42; Chalmers's Annali, li , 27, 28, 69, 61, SO ; Mass. II. S. Coll., xxxii , 202, 300, 301; xxxv., 225-229; Col. InA, ., 722.520; Maine II. S. Coll., v., 308, 398; Hutch. Mass., 1, 353, 301, 393-215; C AL, M'S. S: Barry, 1. 510, 511; Arnold, i., 515; R. I. Rec., iii., 250, 257, 251-255; Narcissus Luttr. I. 11, 52: Hist. Mag .. i., 842; Palmer's Impartial Ac- count, Preface; Rev. in N. E. Just., in Force's Tract-, iv., ix., 9, 10; Andros Tracts; Palfrey, iii., 532, note ; ante, 593.
While imprisoned in Boston, Palmer drew up his " Impartial Account," which he could circulate there only in manuscript, it " twing branded with the hard name of a Treasonable and seditious libel;" but, on reaching more liberal London, he had it printed "for Edward Poole, at the Ship, orer nogins' th . Ron! Exchange. in Cornhill, 1690." Palmer's " Account" has been reprint. Lin the And is Truirts, tounther with an answer to it, entitled " The Rer- vlu. ion in New England Jus'is, ," which also makes No. 9 of Force's Tracts, iv.
Andros dis-
I MODAL
T
630
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
CHAD. XII. first member. Graham was also recommended to be made recorder and attorney general."
The king in Council also ordered that one of the sloops built by Andros, together with the guns taken from Pema- quid, and the New York Records which had been carried to Boston, should be delivered to Sloughter; and a letter was ac- cordingly written to the acting authorities of Massachusetts. A new seal was likewise appointed for New York, and de- livered to Sloughter. It represented on one side the effi- gies of the king and queen, with two Indians kneeling and offering presents of beaver, and on the other the royal arms, with appropriate inscriptions.t
It was more than ever important that Sloughter should hasten to his goverment ; yet, after all the delays that had already occurred, his departure was again retarded. The frigate appointed to carry him to New York was detached as a convoy to Ireland, where William went to conduct the 1 Jaly. campaign in person. The defeat of James at the River Boyne enabled the king to return soon afterward triumph- antly to London. The French, however, were still very strong at sea. It was so difficult to obtain convoys that English merchants were obliged to hire the protection of Dutch privateers. At length the frigate Archangel and ; October. three smaller vessels were assigned to convey Sloughter, Soldiers for New York.
with two companies of soldiers, from Spithead to New York. Of one of these companies Slonghter himself was made the captain. The other was commanded by Major Richard In- goldesby, of "a worthy family," but "a rash, hot-headed man," who had formerly served in Holland, and had just returned from victorious service under William in Ireland. Ingoldesby probably owed his promotion to the friendship of the eccentrie Marquis of Winchester, whom William had made Duke of Bolton. His commission required him to obey the royal " Governor of New York now and for the time being," but it did not authorize him to act as com- mander-in-chief in case of Sloughter's absence or death.+
10 Sept. MajorRich- ard In- goldesby's commis- sion.
* Col. Doc., ill., 364, 321. 760, 361, 767, TAS; iv., 551, 847 ; Council Min., vi .; 2; Doc. Hist., ii., 202 ; Max. H. S. Coll. . xxxv., 277, 279 ; Hatch. Maas., 1., 225 ; ii., 313. Although Dudley was made a New York counselor, he was not appointed its chief justice by the king, who had intrusted that power to Sloughter, who accordingly commissioned Dudley on 15 May, 1651 : Col. Doc., ill., 625; Council Min., vi, 27: post. 659.
t Col. Doc., Hi .. 125. 544. 024. 710-712, 562 ; Doe. ITist., iv., 2 *; Commissions. ii., 16. # Chalmers's Ananl, il., G6, 73, 91; Rev. Col., i., 242; Burchett's Memoir 4, 47, 55, 62, 10,-
1690. Graham. 26 April. New York Records. 30 April. 31 May. New pro- vincial seal.
080
JACOB LEISLER, ACTING LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR. 631
Meanwhile Blagge had reached London with Leisler's dis- CHAP. XIT. patches of June, and submitted " a memorial of what has occurred in New York," with a petition to the king, pray- Blogge iu 1690. ing that Leisler's proceedings might be approved, that the London. Assembly of New York might choose the members of the Council, and that the petitioner might be heard in person. Blagge, however, met with no more favor than his prede- cessor Stoll. So far from recognizing Leisler as lieutenant governor, or approving his conduct, the king did not even name him as one of Sloughter's counselors. The Privy Council referred all the papers received from " Captain Leis- 17 oct. ler and others calling them selves the Council of New York," His papers referred to Sloughter. as well as the address from its principal inhabitants, to Sloughter, with directions strictly and impartially to exam- ine the several allegations on his arrival, and return " a true and perfect account of the state of that province.""
At length Sloughter set sail from the Isle of Wight for 1 Decem. Bermuda and New York in the Archangel frigate, Captain sails for Sloughter Jasper Hicks, which was to convoy the Beaver, the Canter- and is car- New York bury, and the store-ship John and James. Ingoldesby, with muda. his company of soldiers, and Counselor Brooke, who had also been appointed collector and receiver of New York, Secretary Clarkson, and others, embarked in the Beaver. The other soldiers were in the Canterbury. Dudley, the "first Counsellor" of New York, appears to have sailed di- rectly to Boston. After keeping company for some time, the three ships separated at sea from the Archangel, " with- out any direction or allowance." and made the best of their way to New York, while the frigate steered for Bermuda.t
ried to Ber.
The Beaver and the store-ship arrived safely at New 1691. York, and presently after, Stephanus van Cortlandt and ?? Jan. many others came on board, complaining against Leisler, at New and urging Ingoldesby to land his soldiers and take posses- sion of the fort. As the Archangel, with Sloughter on board, had not yet arrived, Ingolde-by was the highest roy- al officer in the province. Accordingly, he sent Counselor
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.