Landmarks of Albany County, New York, Part 6

Author: Parker, Amasa Junius, 1843-1938, ed
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason
Number of Pages: 1374

USA > New York > Albany County > Landmarks of Albany County, New York > Part 6

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It will be seen that this was a vast county, as originally erected. It embraced all the territory lying north of Ulster and west of the Hudson River, taking in nearly the whole State; and north of Dutchess on the east side of the Hudson, including what is now the State of Vermont. That State and the fifty counties of New York State, excepting Put- nam, Sullivan, Rockland, and a part of Greene and Delaware, were formed from the territory of the original Albany county. The erection of these various counties has already been described in an earlier chap- ter.

At the first the county had no towns with corporate limits. Albany was chartered by Governor Dongan under date of July 22, 1686. We quote from that charter:

That the said city of Albany, and the compass, precincts and limits thereof, and the jurisdiction of the same, shall from henceforth extend and reach itself, and shall and may be able to reach forth and extend itself, as well in length and in breadth, as in circuit, on the east by Hudson's River, so far as low water mark: to the south, by a line to be drawn from the southernmost end of the pasture at the north end of the said island, called Martin Gerritsen's island, running back into the woods sixteen English miles due northwest to a certain kill or creek called the Sandhill; on the north, to a line to be drawn from the post that was set by Gov. Stuyvesant, near Hudson's River, running likewise northwest sixteen

English miles; and on the west, by a straight line to be drawn from the posit'n of the said south and north lines.

From Governor Dongan's report to the English Board of Trade made in 1687, we take the following :

The town of Albany lyes within the Ranslaers' Colony; and, to say the truth, the Ranslaers had the right to it, for it was they settled the place, and upon a petition of one of them to our present King, about Albany, the petitioner was referred to his Majesty's council at law, who, upon a perusal of the Ranslaers' papers, made their return that it was their opinion that it did belong to them. The town itself is upon a barren sandy spot of land, and the inhabitants live wholly upon trade with the Indians. I got the Ranslaers to release their pretence to the town and sixteen miles into the country for commons to the King, with liberty to cut firewood within the colony for one and twenty years. After I had obtained this release of the Rans- laers I passed the patent for Albany.

Regarding the fort at Albany he wrote in the same report as fol- lows:

At Albany there is a fort made of pine trees fifteen foot high & built over with Batterys and conveniences made for men to walk about, where are nine guns, small arms for forty men, four Barils of powder with great and small Shott in proportion. The Timber & Boards being rotten were renewed this year. In my opinion it were better that fort were built up of Stone & Lime which will not be double the charge of this years repair which yet will not last above 6 or 7 years before it will require the like again whereas on the contrary were it built of Lime & Stone it may be far more easily maintained, And truly its very necessary to have a Fort there, it being a frontier place both to the Indians and ffrench.

At a session of the Council held at New York city October 1, 1691, there was enacted a second "Bill for dividing this province and de- pendancyes into shires and countyes," which was principally in con- firmation of the first. In reference to Albany county, "the town of Albany " was omitted; "Mannor of Ranslaerwyck " was substituted for the "Collony of Ranslaerwyck," and "to the uttermost end of Sarraghtoga," for the words, "to the Sarraghtoga." "An Act for an- nexing that part of the Mannor of Livingston which now lyes in Dutchess County, unto the County of Albany," was passed by the Council May 27, 1717. The division of the Manor into two districts and the erection of the several towns have already been noticed.

CHAPTER VII.

During the progress of the events described in the preceding chap- ter, the French had been energetically extending their domain, their influence, and their fur trade in Canada (New France). The same causes that animated the English also inspired the French with an ar- dent desire for conquest in the western world, and both of these powers fully realized the vital importance of securing the allegiance of the Iroquois Indians. With their aid either nation might hope to win; without it the one deprived must surely lose. When the long-con- tinued efforts of the French failed to win the fealty of the Indians a bloody and unavailing war was begun upon the natives which con- tinued many years, with intervals of peace. As early as 1668, the French minister in Canada was called upon to furnish his government with reasons for and against war with the Indians. One of his items in favor of war reads:

That the success of the Expedition [by Courcelles] against the Mohawks opens the door for the seizure of Orange [Albany] the rather as the Dutch may be found inclined to unite with the [French] Kings arms in aiding the attack and capture of that fort. 1

On the other hand and against war he wrote:

That the English and Dutch, who, up to this time, have committed no act of hos- tility, will possibly declare war against us if they see us destroy an Indian tribe which appears to be under their protection. 2

Throughout the period in which the French were actively warring upon the Indians Albany stood in fear, for the Dutch and English clearly realized the jealousy entertained by the French of their amity with the Indians and their extensive fur trade, while the importance of the place from a military standpoint led the inhabitants to anticipate that attempts would be made to capture it.

In February, 1666, Courcelles, then Governor in Canada, made an unsuccessful expedition against the Mohawks. The following is from the records:

1 Col. Doc., vol. IX, p. 53. 2 Ibid.

His forces came unwittingly " within two miles of a small village called Schenec- tade, lying in the woods beyond Fort Albany in the territoryes of his Royall High- ness. He fell into an ambush and lost some of his men. Seven who were wounded were sent the next day to the village, where they were carefully drest and sent to Albany. The Dutch bores carried to the camp such provisions as they had, and were too well paid for it; especially peaz and bread, of wch a good quantity was bought. He inquired what garrison or fort was at Albany. 'Twas told him a captain and 60 English Soldyers with nine pieces of ordnance in a small fort of four Bas- tions, and that the Captain thereof, Capt. Baker, had sent for 20 men from another garrison of the King's at Sopes.

The reader of the Paris Documents (vol. IX, Col. Doc. ) will be con- vinced that the capture of "Orange and Manatte," as Albany and New York were called, was continually contemplated and advised by the French officials in Canada. M. Talon wrote in October, 1667:

The means, in my opinion, to secure the whole Colony more effectually against either the Europeans or the savages, would be to give Manatte and Orange to the King [the French King] by conquest or acquisition, as I had the honor to propose to you.1

Sentiments thus expressed were persistenly reinforced by complaints against the English and Dutch for encroachments on French territory in pursuit of the fur trade. M. Talon's memoir of November, 1670, says :

The English of Boston, and the Dutch of Manatte and of Orange who are subject to them, attract, by means of the Iroquois and other Indian tribes in their neighbor- hood, over twelve hundred thousand livres of Beaver, almost all dry and in the best condition. All this Beaver is trapped in countries subject to the King. I find con- siderable occupation in diverting the greater part of this trade, etc.2

Courcelles wrote in 1671 :

The Iroquois, however, trade scarcely any with us, but carry all their peltries to New Netherland. . Wherefore some means were sought a long time ago, to prevent the Iroquois going to New Netherland to trade. 3

Frontenac in 1674, advised the French to imitate the Dutch and English in the fur trade, by designating the place where the trade should be carried on, and "prohibit it in private settlements; it is thus our neighbors have built up Manatte and Orange."

On April 6, 1672, Louis de Bouade, Count de Frontenac, was ap- pointed governor of Canada, and under his efficient management the confidence of the colony was restored and in 1673 a treaty of peace was made with the Iroquois. Concerning this treaty he wrote:

In spite of the efforts of the Dutch to get the Iroquois to make war on the French,

1 Col. Doc. vol. ix, p. 60. 2 Ibid, p. 65. 3 Ibid, p. 119.

the Iroquois came last year on solem embassy to Montreal; brought eight children belonging to the principal families of their villages, and ratified the treaty made with them in 1673.

Another rupture took place in 1684 between the French and the In- dians, the principal feature of which was an expedition against the Senecas by De la Barre, who had been appointed governor of Canada in 1682, but the expedition proved a failure. De la Barre was suc- ·ceeded by the Marquis de Nonville in 1685. He made a report on the condition of the country as he found it, which was replete with the old complaints; the Dutch and English were selling guns and ammunition to the Indians at so low a price that they could obtain all they wanted and thus be better able to fight the French. "The gain of the merchants of Orange and Manette," he wrote, "is par- amount to every public interest." In 1686 he wrote that Governor Dongan was giving away guns to the Indians and advising them to plunder the French in the woods. In November he wrote his govern- ment to send him orders, "for I am disposed to go straight to Orange, storm their fort, and burn their whole concern."

In 1688 a revolution placed William of Orange on the English throne and war with France promptly followed. The Indian allies of the lat- ter were almost powerless against the dreaded Iroquois, who harassed the Canadian settlements until the French foresaw defeat. In 1689 Count de Frontenac was again sent over; he was an old man, but vig- orous and capable, and revived the spirits of the French settlers. He endeavored at first to negotiate a peace with the Iroquois, but failed, the English being on the ground and succeeding in retaining the good will of the Indians. Albany was looked upon by the English crown as a point of greatest importance, both in war and in peace, and its preser- vation was regarded as most essential to the English cause. Governor Sloughter wrote:

If the French should assault and gain Albany, all the English colonies on both sides of us would be endangered. For we have nothing but that place that keeps our Indians steady to us, and the loss of that must be the loss of all the King's in- terest on this continent.

But the war was upon them, At a meeting held at Albany, Novem- ber 24, 1689, there were present, "Ye Commissioners for ye Citty and County of Alb. advysing with Sundrey officers of ye militia There." It was

Resolved, That ye following Persones be commissionated, vizt .: Captain Jochim

Staets Comdr. of Fort Orange always to keep under command in sd fort sixty men; Lieut. Jonathan wrigt; Ens: John Hater. For the city of albany, Pieter minne, Toune Major, Capt. Johannis wendel, Melgert Wynants, Ens: Regnier Barentse, Capt. Pieter van waggden, Leift. Robt. Sanders, Ens: Joh: Bleeker, Junr Capt. Barnet Liewis, Leift. Marte Klock, Ens. For the County of Albany, Capt. Martin gerritse, Lieut. Evert d'Ridder, Ens: Zymon van ness, Capt. Alexander glen, Leift. Johannis glen, Ens: douwe Aukus, Capt. Johannis Bensing, Leift. Andries Bar- rentse, Ens. Johannis Janse.

Ordered That ye aforesaid Commissionated officers now are Established, and shall from this time forth Remaine and be in full Power & ye Authority, & ye Authority for ye Militia of this & County. To act & to doe in all matters and things relating Militarie affaires, according to ye Rules & decipline of war, until, further order from his Majestie King William of England, Scotland, French & Ireland, &c.

Failing in his efforts to make peace with the Iroquois, Frontenac opened a vigorous campaign. He visited Schenectady with torch and tomahawk on the night of February 9, 1690; defended Montreal suc- cessfully against Major Peter Schuyler in the same year and at all points actively served his country. But it was a losing cause; the French were hindered from tilling their lands and from reaping what they had sown; their fur trade was ruined by the Indians who took possession of the passes between them and their allies to the west- ward; and worse than all else, a terrible famine followed, causing great suffering.

Important as it was in some respects, Albany was at this time (1689) according to Broadhead, "not much more than a large stockaded vil- lage, of which the two chief streets crossed each other at right angles. The one 'Handelaer's Straat,' or Market street, ran nearly north and south, skirting the river, proverbially apt to overflow its banks in times of great floods. The other, running about east and west, a little way up a steep hill, was called 'Yonkheer's Straat,' now known as State street. About half way up the hill stood the fort, just outside one of the city gates."

In July, 1691, Governor Sloughter made a visit to Albany, concern- ing which he wrote:

I returned from Albany on the 27th past, where I left all things in good posture, and with much difficulty have secured the Indians. I found that place in great dis- order, our plantations and Schenectady almost ruined and destroyed by the enemys dureing the time of the late confusion there. I have garrisoned Schnectady and the Halfe Moon with some of the hundred fusileers raised by our Assembly; the re- mainder, with one of the King's Companys, are posted at Albany.

In 1693 Frontenac, in his desperation, organized a raid into the Mo-

hawk country, but its cost outweighed its advantages. In June of this year the governor held another council with the Indians at Albany, and by bountiful presents and flattering words, retained their good will. The sum of £1,500 having been appropriated for the repair of Fort Orange, in September, 1693, 560 new palisades "were sett up against the old Stockadoes."

This period of war closed with the treaty of Ryswyck made in July, 1698. The Earl of Bellomont was then governor of the province of New York. To him the Common Council of Albany addressed the following document on the 2d of August, 1698:

The Common Council are unanimously of the opinion to address his Excell. the Earl of Bellomont on the following heads:

1. To thank his Lordship for bringing ye joyfull news of ye Peace.

2. To acquaint his Lordship ye great hardships this poor Citty has labored under for these 9 years dreadful and bloody warr; during which time they have not only been at an Excessive Charge and Expense in quartering ye officers and souldiers sent hither from time to time, but have been obliged, for their own security, to fortify ye towne twice with Palesadoes, and build 5 block houses, all at their own charge, which hath so much impoverished ye Inhabitants yt most have deserted.

3. That this Citty doth wholly rely and depend upon ye Indian Trade, upon which account it was first settled, and have obtained a Charter whereby ye Sole trade with ye Indians is confined within ye walls of sd Citty, doth therefore humbly addresse his Ldp to protect and defend them in there Rights and Priviledges, and doe thank his Ldp for his great trouble and care in treating with ye 5 nations for ye Public good and advantage to this Citty, and doe further return there best thanks for ye good Instructions his Lop hes been pleased to give them, assuring his Ldp that they will not be wanting in useing there utmost endeavors to unite all parties, and restore this Citty to its Priviledges and Rights; that they will also observe all ye oyer articles Men- tioned in his Lap's instructions.

The serious consequences of this war upon Albany county are shown by the census taken soon after its close. The population was reduced from 662 men, 340 women, and 1,014 children in 1689, to 382 men, 262 women and 805 children in 1698. Of the number of men given, eighty- four had been killed.

Governor Fletcher's report on the state of the militia in the province made in April, 1693, contains the following items of interest in this connection :

" The Militia of the County of Albany, commanded by Major Peter Schuyler, being five companies of Foot and one Troop of Horse, now formed into Dragoons by the Governor, consisting of 359." The aggregate in the Province was 2,932.

" In the List of the Officers of the Militia in the Province of New York," made in November, 1700, in the time of Governor Bellomont, the officers of the Regiment of

Militia in the City and County of Albany, is given as follows: Field Officers-Peter Schuyler, Colonel; -- -- , Lieutenant-Colonel; Dyrck Wessels, Major.

Of a Foot Company in the City of Albany: Commissioned Officers-Johannes Bleeker, Captain; Johannes Rosebaum, Lieutenant; Abra. Cuyler, Ensign.

Of another Foot Company in the said City: Albert Rykman, Captain ; Wessel Ten Brock, Lieutenant; Johannes Thomasse, Ensign.

Of another Foot Company in said County: Martin Cornelisse, Captain ; Andries Douw, Lieutenant; Andris Koyman, Ensign.

Of another Foot Company in said County: Gerrit Teunisse, Captain ; Jonas Douw, Jochem Lamerse, Lieutenants; Volckhart V. Hoesem, Abra. Hause, Ensigns.

Of the Troop of Horse in ye said Regiment: Kilian Van Renslaer, Captain ; Jo- hannes Schuyler, Lieutenant; Bennone V. Corlaer, Cornet: Anthony Bries, Quarter- master. This Regiment consists of Three hundred and Seaventy-one men.

Peace was short-lived. What isknown as Queen Anne's war broke out in Europe in 1702, and continued during the next eleven years. Blood flowed in nerly every village and valley of New England. The French, and such allied Indians as they could secure, apparently strove to out- do each other in deeds of atrocity, until it at last became apparent that Canada must be subdued at all hazards.

During the short peace that preceded this war the soldiers at Albany appear to have been much neglected. In 1700 Governor Bellomont wrote:

" Some of the inhabitants of Albany who are now here [New York city] tell me the Soldiers there in Garrison are in that shameful and miserable condition for the want of Cloaths, that the like was never seen." Even the Indians were disgusted as they observed their situation. The Governor continues: "Persons assure me that some of the old crafty sachems of the Five Nations have asked 'em whether they thought 'em such fooles as to believe our King could protect 'em from the French when he was not able to Keep his Soldiers in a Condition as those in Canada are Kept."

In October of the same year the governor again visited Albany. The two companies then garrisoned there were under command of Major Ingoldsby and Captain Weems. The governor writes:

I never in my life saw so moving a sight as that of the Companies at Albany ; half the men were without breeches, shoes and stockings when they mustered. I thought it shameful to the last degree to see English soldiers so abused. They had liked to have mutinied.

He also reported the fort as " scandalously weak," and added:

The inhabitants came all about me at my leaving Albany, and told me in plain terms that if the King would not build a fort there to protect 'em, they would, on the first news of war between England and France desert the place and fly to New York rather than they would stay there to have their throats cut. There are half a dozen at Albany who have competent estates, but all the rest are miserable poor,

At this time the city and county of Albany furnished 371 men under command of Dirck Wessells, major. In 1702 Colonel Schuyler's Albany county militia regiment was pronounced in pretty good condition, ow- ing to his care. The condition of the Albany fort may be inferred from what Cornbury wrote in July, 1702. He said he found the works "in a miserable condition, the stockadoes about all roten to such a degree that I can with ease push them down." In anticipation of an invasion from Montreal, some insignificant efforts were made in 1704, to repair tho old fort by putting up new palisades. The new fort was begun, but for want of money was left incomplete and was not finished until 1735.

An invasion of Canada was planned in 1709 under command of Col. Francis Nicholson, for which the troops were assembled in Albany. Under the potent influence of Peter Schuyler the Five Nations sent in five hundred warriors to join the expedition. The plans involved an attack on Quebec by water and a simultaneous assault on Montreal by way of Lake Champlain. A military road had been opened at the expense of New York from Schuylerville to the lake by way of Fort Edward and Wood Creek. Three small forts on the way had been built, the middle one of which was Fort Ann. Leaving Albany the army en- camped at this fort and awaited news from the naval expedition against Quebec. When they learned that that expedition had been sent to Spain, the discouraged army returned to Albany, their mission unac- complished.

The French were not particular as to the means adopted to defeat their enemies. They hoped much from the native savagery of the In- dians. In June, 1708, M. de Pontchartrain wrote from France to M. Ridout in Canada :

It is in no way advisable that the Indians visit Orange and other English settle- ments, and an effort should be made to excite a vigorous and general war between these Indians and the English.

The French authorities on this side did not agree with these propo- sitions. In November of that year M. de Vaudreuil wrote De Pont- chartrain, giving his reasons for not having sent expeditions against Fort Orange and New York. He said he had " promised the Iroquois not to do so, as these nations, however friendly they be to us, are still more so to the Dutch."

The English now saw more clearly than ever before that until the French power in Canada was wholly extinguished there could be no

BENJAMIN MARSH.

lasting peace. It was to secure from the crown more liberal support and create a favorable influence towards the Iroquois that Colonel Schuyler, with five Indian Sachems, journeyed to England in 1710. Through his influence a fleet bearing 5,000 troops was sent over to aid in subjugating the French. On the last day of July, 1710, a fleet of twelve men-of-war, and forty-six smaller vessels left Boston, with Montreal as its destination. There this force was to be met by a strong army from Albany under General Nicholson. The latter force con- sisted of about 2,000 English, 1,000 Germans and 800 Indians; these moved in the latter part of August, 1711, from Albany towards Lake Champlain. In the mean time the English fleet met with disaster, eight transports with 800 men went to the bottom, and the remainder returned to England. When news of this misfortune reached Nichol- son he ordered his army back to Albany and the French remained un- molested for many years. A treaty of peace was signed April 11, 1711, at Utrecht, which secured the Protestant succession to the throne of England, the separation of the French and Spanish crowns, the en- largement of the British colonies in America and full satisfaction from France of the claims of the allies, England, Holland and Germany. The French acknowledged the Iroquois as British subjects :

The following record shows the military condition of Albany just on the eve of the preparation for this last expedition.

May 20, 1711, Robert Hunter, Captain-General and Governor-in-Chief of the Prov- ince of New York, called the troops from Albany to the Manor of Livingston, and directed that the Militia of Albany be called to arms to protect that city in the ab- sence of the garrison. Accordingly, the Mayor and Aldermen met May 21, 1711, and sent the following letter to his Excellency.

" Albany, ye 21st of May, 1711.

" May it please your Ex'cy.

"Your Ex'cys Letter dated yesterday we recd ys. day, and in Obedience thereof, we have forthwith procured a Sloop for ye transportation of ye Troops here, and de- sired Peter Schuyler, Esqr., Collo of the militia Regiment of ye Citty & County, that he will emmediately order ye militia of this Citty to Come in Arms to take care of ye fort and this place during ye absence of ye sd troops; who returned answer that he would comply therewith. So remain in all sincerity,

"May it please your Ex'cy,

"Your Ex'cys most obedient and humble servants."

This was signed by the Mayor, Recorder, and Aldermen.

The treaty of Utrecht was an imperfect one under the circumstances: it left the question of boundaries largely undefined, leading to endless complaints and recriminations between the two rivals on this continent,

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Landmarks of Albany County, New York, Part 6

Author: Parker, Amasa Junius, 1843-1938, ed Publication date: 1897 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason Number of Pages: 1374

Author: Parker, Amasa Junius, 1843-1938, ed
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason
Number of Pages: 1374