Landmarks of Albany County, New York, Part 8

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

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Third Company .- John Lautman, captain; Peter Vosburgh, first lieutenant; John Schurtz, second lieutenant; Conradt Best, ensign.

Fourth Company .- (See Second Company, first organization Fifth Regiment, and First Company in Sixth Regiment, first organization.)

Fifth Company .- (See first organization in Sixth Regiment.)

Sixth Company .- Jacob De Freest, captain; Martinus Sharp, first lieutenant; An- dries Miller, second lieutenant; John Crannell, ensign.

Seventh Company .-- Florus Banker, captain; Christopher Tillman, first lieuten- ant; Abraham Ten Eyck, second lieutenant; Jonathan Sever, ensign.

At the inception of the difficulties leading to the war the inhabitants of the city of Albany, and of the county within its present limits at least, were not inspired with warm sympathy for the cause of the col- onists. The mayor (Abraham C. Cuyler) and most of the aldermen openly espoused the royal cause. As early as 1773 the increasing diffi- culties with the mother country entered largely into local public affairs in the city, and the charter election of that year was a very exciting

one. The last election for aldermen and assistant aldermen under colonial laws was held September 29, 1775, when the following were chosen :

First Ward-Aldermen, Peter W. Yates, Gerrit Van Sante; assistants, Jacob Roseboom, Aries La Grange.

Second Ward-Aldermen, Guysbert G. Marselis, John J. Beeckman; assistants, Cornelius Van Schelluyne, Jeremiah Van Rensselaer.

Third Ward-Aldermen, Thomas Hun, John Ten Broeck; assistants, Abraham Schuyler, Abraham Ten Eyck.

The last meeting of this board under provincial laws was held at the city hall March 25, 1776. The English laws were then for a time superseded by the authority of the Continental Congress and State governments. From the date last given to April 17, 1778, there was no meeting of the Common Council of Albany. John Barclay was ap- pointed mayor by Governor Clinton September 27, 1777; the aldermen being John Roorbach, John Price, Jacob Lansing, jr., Abraham Cuyler, John M. Beeckman, Harmanus Wendell; assistants, Abraham I. Yates, Matthew Visscher, Isaac D. Fonda, Jacob Bleecker, Cornelius Swits, Abraham Schuyler.

By act of the Legislature in 1778 the mayor and his subordinate offi- cers were required to meet and qualify by taking the oath of allegiance prescribed by the State law, and their respective oaths prescribed by the city charter; they met for this purpose April 17, 1778. From March, 1776, to April, 1778, the duties of the mayor and council were performed by the Committee of Safety and Correspondence, appointed by the first Legislature. The original city charter was kept in force, except as it conflicted with the new State government. This commit- tee was composed as follows:

First Ward-Jacob C. Ten Eyck, Henry I. Bogart, Peter Silvester, Henry Wen- dell, Volkert P. Douw, John Bay, Guysbert Marselis.

Second Ward-John R. Bleecker, Jacob Lansing, jr., Jacob Cuyler, Henry Bleecker, Robert Yates, Stephen De Lancey, Abraham Cuyler.

Third Ward-John H. Ten Eyck, Abraham Ten Broeck, Gerrit Lansing, jr., An- thony E. Bradt, Samuel Stringer, Abraham Yates, jr., Cornelis Van Santvoordt.

The meetings of this committee were usually held in the Old Stadt Huys, and their proceedings were fraught with important measures during its existence, full records of which are preserved in the State Library. For our present purpose we need refer to only a few of these. As an indication of the sentiments of its signers the following

document, which was probably put forth soon after the battle of Lex- ington, fought April 19, 1775, must find a place here :

A General Association agreed to and subscribed by the Members of the several Committees of the City and County of Albany.

Persuaded that the salvation of the Rights and liberties of America depends, un- der God, on the firm Union of its Inhabitants in a Vigorous prosecution of the Meas- ures necessary for its Safety; and convinced of the necessity of preventing the An- archy and Confusion which attends a Dissolution of the Powers of Government, We, the Freemen, Freeholders and Inhabitants of the City and County of Albany, being greatly alarmed at the avowed Design of the Ministry to raise a Revenue in Amer- ica, and shocked by the bloody scene now acting in the Massachusetts Bay, Do in the most Solemn Manner resolve never to become Slaves; and do associate under all the Ties of Religion, Honor and Love to our Country, to adopt and endeavor to carry into Execution whatever Measures may be recommended by the Continental Congress, or resolved upon by our Provincial Convention for the purpose of preserv- ing our Constitution, and opposing the Execution of the several Arbitrary and op- pressive Acts of the British Parliament until a Reconciliation between Great Britain and America on Constitutional Principles (which we most ardently desire) can be ob- tained: And that we will in all things follow the Advice of Our General Committee respecting the purposes aforesaid, the preservation of Peace and good Order, and the safety of Individuals and private Property.

John Barclay, chairman; Walter Livingston, John Bay, James Magee, Tyrans Callans (?), Isaac Van Aernam, Gysbert Marselis, Philip P. Schuyler, George White, John McClung, Gershom Woodworth, Bastyaen T. Vescher, Florus Baricker, John Knickerbacker junior, Barent Vanderpoel, William Van Bergen, John Abbott, Jacobus Williamson, Samuel Van Vechten, Peter Becker, Ebenezer Allen, Simeon Covel, Asa Flint, James Parrot, Henry Leake, Andries Watbeck, Matthew Visscher, Samuel Stringer, Gerrit Lansing, jr., John Ten Broeck, Robert Yates, Henry I. Bogart, John Van Loon, Henry Van Veghten, Joseph Young, Richard Esselstyn, Othniel Gardner, Barent Dyne, Abraham Cuyler, Robert McClullen, Henry Wendell, Cornel- ius Van Santvoordt, R. Bleecker. Henry Bleecker, John H. Ten Eyck, Jacob Bleecker, jr., John T. Beeckman, Harmanus Wendell, Matthew Adgate, Abraham Yates, jr., John Taylor, Rutger Lansingh, Henry Quackenboss, John M. Beeckman, John D. Fonda, John Van Rensselaer, jr., John Price, Anthony Van Schaick, Dirck Ten Broeck Reitzert Bronck, Frederick Beringer, Reynard Van Alsteyn, Philip Van Veghten, Joshua Losee, Anthony Van Bergen, Albertus Van Loon, Mynderse Roseboom, Abraham Ten Eyck.

A similar document was sent on May 1, 1775, to the Boston Commit- tee. A letter from the committee to the New York Committee, dated May 3, set forth that the city was "very scant of powder, arms and warlike stores," and in a defenseless condition. Reports came in of the probable hostile action of the Indians, and Col. Guy Johnson was sent for to express his opinion on the subject. The result was such as to prompt the committee to issue the following advertisement :

-----

Notice is hereby given to the inhabitants of the City of Albany that it is the opinion of their Committee that they assemble and meet together in the different wards of this city at the usual place of election to form themselves into Companies from the age of sixteen to sixty, each Company to consist of a Captain, two Lieu- tenants, one Ensign, four Sergeants, four Corporals, one Drum and fifty one privates.

This was under date of May 3, 1775. The meetings were held as directed and the companies organized with the following officers:

First Company-John Barclay, captain; John Price, Stephen Van Schaick, lieu- tenants; Abraham Yates, ensign.

Second Company- John Williams, captain ; Henry Staats, Barent Van Allen, lieu- tenants; Henry Hogan, ensign.

Third Company-Thomas Barret, captain; Abraham Eights, Matthew Vischer, lieutenants; John Hoogkerk, ensign.

For the Third Ward -- Captains, John Beeckman, Harmanus Wendell ; lieutenants, Isaac De Freest, Abraham Ten Eyck, William Hunn, Peter Gansevoort, jr .; en- signs, Cornelius Wendell, Teunis T. Van Veghten.

The formation of similar companies was recommended by the com- mittee in the several districts of the county. The record of May 12 shows the following :

We received a letter signed Ethan Allen by the hands of Mr. Brown, acquainting us of the taking of Ticonderoga. Upon which we wrote a letter to the committee of New York by Captain Barent Ten Eyck, Express, and each of us paid him a Dollar a piece for going.

A few days earlier the Albany Committee had voted against sending needed supplies to Ticonderoga. During that month Congress, then in session in Philadelphia, requested the Albany Committee to send men and supplies to Ticonderoga to build scows with which to bring away the guns and stores in that fort. This was done and Henry I. Bogart appointed to take charge of the work.

As bearing directly upon the loyalty and disloyalty of the committee to the cause of the colonists, the following is pertinent :

Committee Chambers, June 29th-Samuel Stringer, Chairman pro tem.

Upon the whole, we are of opinion, First-That as the safety of our Persons, and the Preservation of our Properties depends upon the due administration of Justice, that the course of Justice ought not to be obstructed, but that the Same Continue in the usual Course, and in the King's Name, as our allegiance to him is not denied ; and that we are to Wait the resolution of the Provincial or Continental Congress on this Subject and abide by their determination, otherwise we Conceive the whole Country will be reduced to a State of the Greatest Anarchy and Confusion.

Second-Appeals are still admitted, at least in this Government, in all cases where they always have been Allowed; in this the law has not been altered, and the Sub-

ject in this Province has the Same Liberty of a fair and impartial trial, as usual on Constitutional principles; and we do not object against any Acts of Parliament, ex- cept the late Unconstitutional and oppressive ones which have been Noticed by the Continental Congress in their Session last Fall.

Third-We are neither Rebels or 'Traitors, nor have we forfeited our Estates, neither are there any acts of Parliament of that nature in force to our knowledge against any persons in this Province; nor do we conceive the application of Traitors and Rebels justly applied to Subjects who refuse to comply with requisitions of un- constitutional Acts of Parliament.

The committee was informed by Henry Glen on July 5, 1775, that Congress had approved of the following field officers: Colonel, Myndert Roseboom; lieutenant-colonel, Goosen Van Schaick; major, Lucas Van Veghten; and that they had appointed John M. Wendell, quarter- master, and Barent Ten Eyck, adjutant.

The following is quaint and characteristic of the times; the date is July 12, 1775:

It being intimated to this Board by Mr. Peter Vrooman, that some tavern-keepers in this county sell spirituous liquors too freely to the Indians, from which evil con- sequences often happen, therefore,

Resolved, That it be recommended to all Tavern-keepers and others in said county, to sell spirituous liquors to the Indians as sparingly as possible, so as to pre- vent their getting drunk.

Before the struggle fairly commenced it developed that Guy Johnson was intriguing with the Indians, inciting them against the Americans. Sir William Johnson had died in the previous year, leaving Sir John Johnson and Guy Johnson his heirs. The former began fortifying Johnson Hall (near the site of Johnstown) and preparing for his later active support of the British cause. The Albany Committee received information in July, 1775, that Guy Johnson was preparing to invade Albany county with a large body of Indians under command of Brant and Butler. Great alarm was felt and Philip Schuyler, then at Sara- toga and in charge of the military affairs of the province, was addressed on the subject and asked for aid. The committee wrote:

Our ammunition is so scant we cannot furnish 300 men so as to be able to make a stand against so great a number. This is the more alarming to us, as we shall within a few days be obliged to begin with our harvest. In these deplorable circum- stances, we look to you for aid.

Schuyler's reply was prompt and to the point. He advised the marching of Captain Van Dyck and his company and all others obtain- able into Tryon county with the Albany and Schenectady militia; he

also ordered a supply of powder to be sent to the Tryon county com- mittee. The Johnsons were, however, brought to terms for the time being without bloodshed.

The following entry may possibly provoke a smile; it follows upon a complaint made to the board by an Indian that he had been beaten in the city and robbed of his shirt :

Resolved, That Mr. John W. Bleecker furnish the said Indian with a new shirt of the value of ten shillings.

The results of the campaign of 1776 were generally unfavorable to the Americans. The attack on Quebec and Montreal in the preceding November by the gallant Montgomery had failed and the commander was killed. The more important events of the year 1776 were the evacuation of Boston before Washington's army on March 17; the signing of the Declaration of Independence; the expulsion of the American forces from Canada; the flight of Sir John Johnson to Can- ada; the attack upon Long Island by the British and the retreat in August of Washington's army to New York; the evacuation of New York by Washington in October; the capture of Fort Washington on the Hudson River by the British in November; the battle of Trenton and victory of Washington in December-almost the only bright ray to lighten the general gloom of the year.

Early in this year (1776) the Albany Committee began its unceasing struggle for the repression of disloyalty. On the 20th of January the following was recorded :

The Committee to enquire for a proper place to confine such persons as are inimical to American Liberty, Report that there are two rooms in the Fort in this city which might be repaired with little expense for said persons; therefore

Resolved, That General Schuyler be requested to fit the upper room in said Fort.

Again, George Ramsey was sent on from Schenectady charged with " calling persons in favor of American Liberty, Rebels." He was made to furnish a bond in the sum of £200 for good behavior. The following is in the same line :

Resolved, That no person or persons be permitted to move into or settle in this County, unless he or they bring a Certificate from the Committee of the County or district from which they claim that they had, prior to this resolve, signed the asso- ciation recommended by Congress, and had in all things behaved in a manner be- coming to Friends of American Freedom.

The modern boycott found a small example in the treatment of John Boyd by the committee. Boyd was convicted of selling tea for 7s. 6d.

per pound, "contrary to Resolution of Continental Congress." Here is what followed :

Resolved, That the said John Boyd has violated the Resolution and ought to be considered an Enemy to the American Cause, and it is Recommended that all per- son break off all intercourse with said Boyd.

This was in May, and later, others were punished in the same man- ner. It was in this summer that a resolution was adopted for the dis- arming of all disloyal persons.

On the 8th of November the following preamble and resolution were adopted :

Whereas, The time limited by the good people of this County for the present Committee to serve, expires in this County this 4th Tuesday of this month; and

Whereas, The Representatives of this State in Convention have been inevitably prevented from forming a Government for this State, it is necessary that another Committee be elected in this County for the space of Six months:

Resolved, That the Election in the several districts of this County be held on the 3d Tuesday of November.

The county committee thus elected consisted of nine members from the first ward; Manor of Rensselaer, twenty members; Schoharry, six members; Grote Imboght, five members; Ballston, five members; Hosick, twelve members; Coxackie, six members; German Camp, four members; Schaghtikoke, ten members; Half Moon, seven members; Saratoga, seven members; Schenectady, eleven members; Cambridge, nine members; Kings, eight members; Claverack, twelve members. Manor of Livingston, ten members. A resolution was adopted that " the Committee of the County Meet every fortnight in the City Hall."

The number of troops furnished to General Schuyler for the Canada campaign by Albany county was as follows:

East Manor, Rensselaerwyck, 75; West District, Rensselaerwyck, 75; Claverach and King's District, 150; East Camp and Grote Imboght, New York, 75; Half Moon, Balston and Saratoga, Canada, 75; Albany, Schodary, Coxackee and Kinderhook, 75.

The following military notes are from the records of that date:

Henry Marselis was made captain of Company raised in Albany City, Schenectady, Coxackee and Schohary, to reinforce Continental Army in Canada; Benjamin C. Dubois, first lieutenant; John Van Antwerp, second lieutenant.

Resolved, That Henry K. Van Rensselaer be appointed Major of the Company of Militia for the County for Service in New York.

Peter Van Rensselaer was appointed captain of company raised in Claverack; Christopher C. Miller, first lieutenant; Wilhelmus Philips, second lieutenant,

July 1st-Committee appointed officers of battalion, raised in Albany, Tryon, Charlotte Cumberland and Gloucester Counties as follows: Cornelius Van Dyck, colonel; Barent S. Ten Eyck, major; John Shepardson, lieutenant-colonel.

July 17th-Received a letter from Abraham Yates, Junior, Robert Yates and Matthew Adgate, dated White Plains, 14th instant, inclosing the Declaration of the United States of America; declaring the Said United States free and independent ; also the resolutions of the Representatives of the State of New York, in consequence thereof.

On the 18th of July the following momentous resolution was adopted :

Resolved, That the Declaration of Independence be published and Declared in this City to-morrow at Eleven O'clock at this place, and that Colonel Van Schaick be requested to order the Continental Troops in this City to Appear under Arms at the place aforesaid; and, further, that the Captains of the Several Militia Company in this City be requested to Warn the Persons belonging to their respective Companies, to appear at the place aforesaid, and for this purpose aforesaid.

On the 3d of August the following was adopted in extension of mili- tary preparations :

Resolved, That John A. Bratt and Alexander Baldwin be appointed Captain for the Ranger Companies; and Marte Van Beuren, John B. Marselis, Michael Jackson and John Jost Sidney, Lieutenants for said Company, and Stephen Lush, Captain for the Company to guard the stores in Albany, and Gerrit Staats and Jacob J. Lansing, Lieutenants.

Inspired by repeated successes the British made extensive prepara- tions for the campaign of 1777. One conspicuous feature of their plans was an invasion of this State in the vicinity of Albany county by an army from the north under Gen. John Burgoyne, who had recently returned from England and superseded Gen. Guy Carleton in Canada. Vigorous operations by the British had driven the Americans out of that country, sending them southward to Crown Point, "disgraced, defeated, discontended, dispirited, diseased, naked, undisciplined ; eaten up with vermin; no clothes, beds, blankets; no medicine; no victuals but salt pork and flour." During the winter of 1776-7 many of the prominent officers of the American army, including Generals Gates, Col. Morgan Lewis, Col. Benedict Arnold, Col. John Brown, and others had their winter quarters in Albany.

Alarm and anxiety prevailed throughout Albany and Tryon counties at the opening of the campaign. General Schuyler anticipated the invasion and besought Washington to send more troops to garrison Ticonderoga and Fort Stanwix. Schuyler arrived at Ticonderoga June 20, the same morning on which Burgoyne set sail up Lake Champlain,

At Ticonderoga were about 3,000 men under General St. Clair. Before Burgoyne's army the works were untenable and were evacuated; St. Clair fled with his little army towards Fort Edward, was defeated in a battle at Hubbardton, Vt., pressed on to Fort Edward, and thence down the Hudson to near Albany. At the stand made by the Americans near Fort Ann under Schuyler, with about five hundred Rensselaer Manor men, heroic fighting took place, and many Albany men were killed and wounded. The evacuation of Ticonderoga was a most dis- couraging event to General Schuyler, for it had been looked upon as a frontier stronghold. It seemed that little was left to oppose a victori- ous march by Burgoyne directly down across the State. Schuyler dis- missed half of his militia, and a little later most of the remainder, his excuse for this peculiar action being that he dismissed a part in fear of losing the whole; and, second, that having sent away half, he might as well let them all go. While personally a brave and capable man, Schuyler is well known to have been timid and distrustful of himself in trying emergencies, as shown on several important occasions. The militia understood the situation and held the general in distrust.

On the 16th of August was fought the memorable battle of Benning- ton, in which the gallant Stark won a signal victory over a part of Burgoyne's army ; this was a disappointing event to the British general, who had begun to believe that his triumphant march was to be almost unimpeded, until he could be joined by Sir Henry Clinton and his army from the south. Meanwhile Fort Schuyler (previously called Fort Stanwix) had been considerably strengthened early in the year and placed under command of Col. Peter Gansevoort. He was a native of Albany, born in 1749, and had a distinguished military career. · The fort was heroically defended by a garrison of about six hundred men against a detachment of St. Leger's army marching from Oswego; the battle of Oriskany followed and the British were driven back, frustrated and disappointed, to nurse their wounds in Montreal. The two battles of Bemis Heights, fought on September 19 and October 7, between the Americans under General Gates (who had superseded Schuyler in com- mand of the department) and Burgoyne, went decisively against the British, and ten days later the boastful Burgoyne surrendered his army. The inhabitants of Albany county now experienced a sense of grateful relief.

During the year 1777 the Albany Committee, whose proceedings have been noticed, kept up its meetings and transacted considerable

important local business. After complaints had reached them of the great number of "taverns or Tipling houses" in existence they adopted on February 10, the following resolution :

Resolved, That no person or persons shall continue or set up a Tavern in any District in the City or County of Albany without a license or permit for the same, under penalty of £60 fine.

The spirit of patriotism in the city is indicated by the following record :

Jacobus Houghtaling, who, some time since made his escape from Jaol, being now busy enlisting men for the service of the Enemy, and being a dangerous person to the liberties of America:

Resolved, That Major Volkert Veeder be requested to order the said Houghtaling to be arrested and put in close Confinement till the further order of this Committee.

Other resolutions of the month of April ordered Jacob Kidney to patrol the streets during divine service on Sundays to quell riots and disturbances; and approved of the action of the Committee of the Manor of Rensselaerwyck in removing to a place of safety the family of a man who had been threatened for giving information against tories; the record calls them " certain disaffected persons." Christian Smith, also, was paid £8 for his services in "discovering the designs of our internal Enemies." Another order was made on the treasurer to pay $100 to Edward Davis "for his services in discovering a num- ber of conspirators." Another citizen who it was discovered had taken the oath of allegiance to the British crown, was ordered "immediately apprehended and put in Close Confinement." Day after day and week after week the committee and authorities were busy, according to the records, in arresting and punishing disloyal citizens. Many such left the city to escape arrest. The committee exercised almost autocratic power, which was doubtless a necessity under the circumstances. When a certain blacksmith, the owner of a bellows, did not use it to much extent and public business was impeded for want of one, the committee

Resolved, That if said Harmen Van Der Zee does not comply with the request to sell the same, Colonel Hay (the quartermaster) shall seize the Bellows, and have the same apprized by two indifferent persons, and pay such value to the said Van Der Zee.

This was a very early example of condemnation proceedings. A still broader exercise of power, and a proceeding that shows the privations which encumbered the American army in those days, is seen in the fol- lowing :

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Landmarks of Albany County, New York, Part 8

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