USA > New York > Essex County > Elizabethtown > Pleasant Valley : a history of Elizabethtown, Essex County, New York > Part 14
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9. After you have fully ascertained and adjusted the preced- ing matters you will proceed to Plattsburgh in Clinton County. Mr. Sailly, Genl. Mooers, Judge Platt, Judge Delord, Judge Smith, Col. Durand, Mr. Nicholls, Captn. Greene, Lieutenant Smith & others, will give you all the information about the militia property there necessary, and about every other object of preparation or defence both on the lake and on the land which will become advisable or indispensable in the event of a rupture with Great Britain in the Spring or Summer.
All of which information you will please distinctly to note down and report to me.
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I have written to Mr. Sailly to inform me now or at any other time, whether there is any probability of negotiating a purchase of the Lands of the St. Regis Indians which I am authorised by law to make. If yea, at what time ought it to be attempted, through what agents ought they to be prepared for a treaty, & what extra payments or secret service money will be requisite to influence the principal chiefs & warriors.
After these duties are thoroughly performed you can return in such route and with such expedition as your own comfort and business may require.
Chauncey Humphrey, Esq.
Governor Tompkins Notifies William Ray that a Special Agent is Investi- gating the Matter of Public Property at Elizabethtown.
Albany, January 14, 1812.
D'r Sir : In consequence of the representations of Judge Jenks and of the suggestions of yourself & others, I have sent an agent to enquire into every matter touching the public property & building at Elizabeth Town, by whose report I shall govern myself as to the future disposition of the Arsenal & its contents. Chauncey Humphrey, Esqr, proceeds to Essex for that purpose and is the bearer of this letter.
A communication from Judge Pond and your several letters have been duly received. It must be obvious to you that the office you mention must be disposed of in consonance with the opinion of our friends within the County. It would not be deli- cate or correct in me to countenance the removal of the pres- ent incumbent, until I am acquainted with the facts which dic- tate it, or after the removal is determined, or to consult & gratify my private wishes at the expense of controuling or affronting the sentiments of the Republicans of Essex by mak- ing county appointments hostile to their wishes, or to what they might probibly deem best calculated to promote the pub-
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lic good. You must, therefore, be convinced that the success of your intended application must depend materially upon the countenance and support it may receive from the Republicans of Essex who are most immediately interested in it.
It gives me pleasure to find several respectable persons have already espoused your interest and that I have heard except from yourself of no rival although I cannot interfere to any great extent in the appointment yet I can assure you that no one will feel a more lively satisfaction than myself at finding your claims patronized from the proper quarter & at witness- ing your advancement and prosperity.
William Ray, Esqr.
Judge Jenks Also Notified by the Governor.
Albany, January 14, 1812.
D'r Sir : In consequence of your friendly intimation con- cerning the State of the Public property in Essex County, I have engaged the bearer, Chauncey Humphrey, Esqr., to visit your place and make enquiries and report to me upon all the points which are connected with or concern the property of the State deposition at Elizabeth Town. I have taken the liberty to refer and introduce him to you in hopes that will yield him your advice and information in every particular in which it may be useful to him or facilitate his enquiries and duties. Judge Jenks.
The Governor Likewise Informs Simeon Frisbee of the Fact. Albany, January 14, 1812.
D'r Sir : The uneasiness which has been created in my mind by rumors which have reached me and by direct applications from persons in Troy, who say they hold unsatisfied judgments against you, docketed anterior to your conveyance to the state of the Arsenal lot under which judgments they expect to be
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able to arrest the property & buildings belonging to this State & and to sell it for the payment of their demands against you, together with the anxiety which I have repeatedly manifested to you in person at the procrastination which has taken place in the erection & completion of the edifice confided to your management, constrain me to require a prompt & full account & explanation of all the matters which implicate the interest of the State. I have, therefore, deputed Chauncey Humphreys, Esqr., of this city as my authorised and accredited agent, to discuss and adjust difficulties existing between the Public & yourself, & to act in the premises as amply & fully touching the examination, possession and future disposition of the mili- tary stores heretofore committed to your care, and touching the liquidation & settlement of your account as I could do, were I personally present & request you to communicate and deal with him accordingly.
Simeon Frisbee, Esquire.
Following is Wm. Ray's reply to Governor Tompkins' letter of January 14, 1812 :
Elizabethtown, January 20, 1812.
His Excellency Daniel D. Tompkins,
Sir : Your letter of the 14th instant I have the honor to re- ceive.
The representations of Judge Jenks I believe, sir, you will find not to have been exagerated and my suggestions relative to the Arsenal and public property not unfounded.
I know, sir, that the office I seek must be disposed of in con- sonance with the opinion of our friends within this County and on this ground I have built my hopes ; but it cannot be ex- pected that I can obtain the opinion and suffrages of all the Republicans of the County ; yet could I do it I think there is
MAJOR ROBERT WILSON LIVINGSTON, Founder of The Elizabethtown Post.
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no doubt that my expectations would be answered. For the correctness of my opinion I refer your Excellency to Mr. Del- evan Delance who was recently re-elected Member of Assem- bly by a majority unprecedented in this County and who is now the echo of the people's voice as also the letter of Judge Joseph Jenks, than whom a more honest, judicious and firm Republican this County cannot boast. Other letters from re- spectable characters will be laid before the Council. It would be strange indeed should I meet with no opposition and no rival; but I am told that the boys who began to aspire to office are about to yield to my superior claims.
Mr. Delance attended Court here throughout last week ; he saw and conversed with people from all parts of the County and he can inform your Excellency that it is the general opin- ion and wish of the people here that the present incumbent ought and might be removed and that I have better claims and more general support than any other candidate for the office of County Clerk. Returning your Excellency my most sincere thanks for the friendly sentiments of your letter.
I am, Sir, with the greatest respect,
Your Excellency's most obedient and most humble servant, WM. RAY.
The following letter from Wm. Ray shows that Major Skin- ner was appointed Superintendent of the Arsenal :
Elizabethtown, January 28, 1812. His Excellency Gov. Tompkins.
Sir : Major Joseph Skinner is the bearer of papers which I think will convince you that my claims are justified, patron- ized and supported by the Republicans of this County in general and that I have answered the expectations of your ju- dicious and friendly letter. It cannot be thought that the people will openly declare all their reasons why Mr. Frisbie
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ought to be removed-modesty forbids it. But depend on it Sir, this is the popular sentiment.
Should however what I now transmit be judged insufficient to establish the truth of what I have advanced I beg leave to have time and opportunity to confirm what I have stated be- fore any other person is appointed, by more corroborating witnesses. Yet I should be very glad to be relieved from suspense as soon as possible and receive the favorable decision of council by Major Skinner.
The removal of the Military stores from the superintendence of Mr. Frisbie and their being placed in the hands of Mr. Skin- ner gives univeral satisfaction. There is no doubt but they will in future be well attended to. I feel no disposition to interfere much with the appointment of Sheriff-I think how- ever that Mr. Hoffnagle ought not to have it. That office has been held for ten years in his neighborhood by himself and among his connections. He was first a federalist, then a Re- publican, next a quid and now a Democrat. His chief support at present (if I am informed correctly consists of federalists whom I will not solicit. He knows I am opposed to him and he and his friends will probably oppose me.
I wish your Excellency to lay my papers before the council as soon as may be that I may know something of the result by return of Mr. Skinner who can inform you more particularly of my present situation, my standing in society and my popu- larity.
I hope sir that before long your Excellency will feel the "lively satisfaction of witnessing my advancement and pros- perity."
I remain your Excellency's most obedient and most humble servant,
WM. RAY.
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Evidently the arrival of Governor Tompkins' agent in Eliz- abethtown moved Simeon Frisbee to action, as the latter deeded as follows :
"This Indenture made the twelfth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight Hundred & twelve Be- tween Simeon Frisbee of Elizabethtown County of Essex and State of New York and Lucy Frisbee his wife of the first part and the People of the State of New York of the Second part Witnesseth That the said parties of the first part for and in Consideration of the Sum of Thirty-five Dollars Money of amount of the United States of America to them in hand paid at or before the ensealing and delivery of these presents by the said party of the second part the Receipt whereof is hereby confessed and Acknowledged Hath granted Bargained Sold Aliened Remised released conveyed assured enfeoffed and con- firmed and by these presents doth grant Bargain Sell Alien remise release convey assure enfeoff and confirm fully freely and absolutely unto the said party of the Second part forever all that certain piece parcel or tract of Land Situate lying and being in the Town of Elizabeth Town County and State Afore- said and is part of Lot Number thirteen in a Small Patent of Land granted to Platt Rogers and Company for three thous- and Seven Hundred Acres of Land Bounded as follows (to wit) Beginning at Cedar tree standing in the Northeast Corner of a piece of Land on which the Arsenal Stands near the Highway Thence Running Westerly in the line of A Board fence one Hundred feet thence Southerly in the line of said fence one Hundred feet thence Easterly one Hundred feet thence North- erly one Hundred feet to the place of Beginning Containing thirty six Rods of Ground be the same more or less," etc, the instrument being signed, sealed and delivered by Simeon Frisbee and Lucy Frisbee, his wife, in the presence of Benj'n
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Warren and Uriah Palmer. The Arsenal lot deed was re- corded March 21, 1812.
We who follow at this late day are inevitably led to conclude that Simeon Frisbee partially retired "under fire," so to speak, as he lost the superintendency of the Arsenal, was compelled to give a deed for land upon which the State of New York had already erected a building and that he did these things in "fear and trembling" lest he lose the office of Essex County Clerk.
First Number of the First Paper Ever Printed in Essex County.
The following letter is of especial interest as it tells of the first issue of the first paper ever printed in Essex County : Elizabethtown, Essex County,
April 27, 1812.
His Excellency, Gov. Tompkins,
Sir : I enclose you the first number of the first paper ever printed in this County. The proprietors have placed me at the head of its editorial department associated with Ezra C. Gross, Esquire, a young gentleman of sound principles and excellent talents. The prospectus and some other original ar- ticles I wrote myself.
When I first learned that the appointment I solicited had not taken place and probably would not be granted, I must own that a momentary gust of indignation against the whole Republican party absorbed every passion of my heart. Con- cious of the justice of my claims and the increasing of some certain charges preferred against me by some of my most in- veterate foes and knowing that my support was from some of the most influential Republicans of the County who had gone great lengths in certifying in my favor I could not have thought that my claims could have been disregarded or that a man would have been continued in office so odiously unpopular as
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Frisbie. And now in the situation of Editor with what kind of spirit or zeal can I devote my time and talents (though small) to the defence or support of a party which seems as yet so totally to disregard my rights, my statements, my sufferings, my services and my present distressed circumstances. But you see, Sir, I am yet "tremblingly alive" to the Republican interest because I have some, nay, many good friends among that party and because I feel and know the cause to be a good and just one. I have done everything in my power to convince the people here that the prorogation was a wise and politic measure-everything in my power to prevent divisions. The resolution passed at the County meeting I drafted and intro- duced and I cannot but yet hope that my extraordinary case will meet with due consideration. My situation is indeed truly distressing. I cannot possibly hold out much longer.
"Sunk in self-consuming anguish Can the poor heart always ache ? No-the tortur'd nerve must languish Or, the strings of life must break."
Some of these gentlemen who attended at Albany brought back word that they had succeeded in their attempts to injure me with your Excellency and have boasted that they found your friendly opinion of me very much altered before they came away. Did I know this to be true it would plunge the dagger of affliction still deeper in my heart.
Mr. Delance has become quite unpopular in this County. His sickness in Albany has made the people here sick of him. I suspect his conduct toward me has not been very fair and honorable and shall no longer consider him as entitled to any confidence with the Council let him be either for or against me.
I have one request to ask of your Excellency and that is a desire that the remonstrance which was sent in against me may be forthwith forwarded to me that I may have a chance to de-
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fend myself against those ruffian assailants of my reputation.
I remain your Excellency's most ob't servant,
WM. RAY.
Evidently Ray meant to keep Gov. Tompkins promptly in- formed as he wrote immediately after issuing the second num- ber of his paper as follows :
His Excellency Gov. Tompkins,
Sir : I send your Excellency accompanying the letter a second number of the Reveille.
We have not yet received official returns from all the towns in the County but there remains not the least doubt but the Republican ticket has prevailed by a handsome majority for each candidate. Judge Miller is undoubtedly elected by a majority of three or four hundred and as Judge Miller is one of my petitioners for the clerkship I flatter myself his success will not be unfavorable to mine. Judge Stone who signed a petition last winter to have Mr. Frisbie continued in office has politically committed suicide on his popularity. Macumber is a federalist, Adgate failed in obtaining a nomination and Hoff- nagle only got two votes in at our County meeting and one of them was given by his brother-in-law. The fact is, sir, that every one who is a true Republican is in my favor for the office I ask. Mr. Frisbie at our town meeting opposed my nomina- tion to the chair but could get no one to back him. He held himself up for one of our County delegates against me and only gote one vote out of more than one hundred! You may see by this sir how popular my enemies and my rivals are.
I shall forward some more papers and petitions when the Honorable Council of Appointment shall have convened for I cannot give up what I feel concious is my just right. My sit- uation is extremely distressing and if the Republican party which I am now serving without fee or reward really wish to
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see me utterly destroyed they may perhaps be gratified in the end; but I shall not fall without a struggle to expose the base- ness and infamy of my opposers, to do which I have now the weapon in my own hands. I do not by this mean to cast any odium on my friends who are much more numerous and repu- table than my enemies. In all the Republican towns the peo- ple generally wish my success and I know a large majority of the voters of the County are on my side ; but it seems I have not as yet been able to make your Excellency and the Council believe my statements although certified by men of high re- spectability.
I remain your Excellency's Most obedient humble servant.
Elizabethtown, May 9, 1812.
WM. RAY.
Two days after the above letter was written Ray wrote Gov. Tompkins as follows :
His Excellency, Gov. Tompkins,
Sir : It is understood that Brigadier General Wright is ap- pointed Colonel in the United States Army ; and as it is ex- pected that this brigade will be divided and this County of itself compose one brigade it is thought by our friends here that a man ought to be made eligible to the office of Brigadier General, who is a Republican and a friend to his country and no other. As Colonel Barnes has removed from his regiment, Major Noble is casting a figure to wind himself into the ap- pointment of oldest Colonel that he may ultimately succeed to the office of General. He is a bitter enemy of our present ad- ministration and many people here would be highly offended at his advancement. If Major Skinner is eligible to fill the vacancy of Colonel Barnes, his next step I am told would be to the station Brigadier General, and as he is a firm Republi-
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can and a man of good military talents I am confident his ad- vancement would do honor to the station and be well received by our Republican friends-he might still act as Brigade In- spector.
I remain your Excellency's most obedient humble servant.
WM. RAY.
Elizabethtown, May 11, 1812.
It is evident from the following that Ray wrote Gov. Tomp- kins and the Council of Appointment May 12, 1812.
To his Excellency, the Governor, and the Honorable the Coun- cil of Appointment of the State of New York.
Gentlemen :
I enclose a petition signed by 61 freeholders and inhabitants of this County, principally electors and respectable ones too, of the town of Jay and all Republicans to a man. This I hope together with what has been laid already before your honora- ble body will be convincing proof that my appointment would be well received by the Republicans generally of this County, though some malicious and self-interested demagogues have treacherously endeavoured to prevent it. I believe a like number of substantial men's signatures might be obtained in almost every town in the County, did I possess the means to circulate petitions, but as to the letter signed by Judge Jenks, Judge Miller and others last winter amounts to a responsibil- ity and assurance on their part that my appointment would be popular, I hope your honorable body will require no further evidence of it. I have, however, sent a petition to the town of Lewis, which may or may not be forwarded in season. I wrote last winter referring your honorable body to the opinion of Mr. Delance. I now recede from that appeal. Mr. Delance has totally lost his popularity and influence in the County-
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no matter from what causes. The main strength of the Repub- lican interest lies in the western towns of the County, Schroon, Jay, Keene, Elizabethtown and Lewis-these are all united and have carried the Election and can carry their point in spite of the other towns. In these towns my support chiefly, that is collectively, lies. These who have opposed me have opposed Judge Miller's Election or rather his nomination and he is elected by the largest majority ever given in this county ! Thus it may be seen that my friends are the Republican majority of the County.
As to the remonstrance sent against me I am told your hon- orable body were satisfied of its falsehood, baseness and turpi- tude-Signed as it was by my most bitter personal enemies consisting of old Tories, their sons and federal connections for the palpable purpose of covering their own fraudulent conduct by attempting to throw the odium of Sheldon's villany on me- the truth is these who signed the libel knew no more of the actual standing of the copartnership between Sheldon and me than Judas Iscariot did of the six million bank. The books and papers are in my hands and always have been- They have never examined nor asked to examine them-nay though solicited by me to do it have refused lest their false- hoods should stare them in the face !
And now gentlemen permit me to ask will your honorable body by your decision declare me guilty of these charges. Will you let villany triumph over presumed innocence ?
Will you plunge the dagger of affliction still deeper in my breast by leaving me under the weight of your displeasure ? By disappointing my hopes and pronouncing me a knave ? Pardon me, I cannot think of it.
I now have the editing of a paper here but without pay, perquisites or emolument of any kind and you may judge
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gentlemen with what spirit and feelings I can persist in devot- ing my exertions to the support of the present measures of administration. Should a man literally stall fed by it and pronounced by the publics voice unworthy of the station, be continued in office or any other man except myself appointed to the office of County Clerk.
I remain gentlemen,
Your most obedient Humble Servant,
WILLIAM RAY.
Elizabethtown, Essex County, May 12, 1812.
To his Excellency the Governor and the Honorable, the Coun- cil of Appointment of the State of New York :
Gentlemen :
I enclose another petition in my favor for the office of County Clerk and renew my requests that my claims be duly attended to.
If information be correct we shall doubtless have a federal Council next winter. This, therefore, is the time for those who feel disposed ever to pay any respect to the peculiar cir- cumstances of my distressed situation to evince their friend- ship by doing it.
I now edit a Republican paper without any fee or reward. Give me the office and I will continue to do it-shall continue to foster and support the establishment without which I fear it must fail.
It was reported to you last winter, I am told, that I was confined to the limits here. This was as false and as base as some other of my enemies statements.
Almost certain of success, I remain, Gentlemen,
Your most obedient humble serv't,
WILLIAM RAY.
Elizabethtown, Essex County, May 18, 1812.
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The following poem by Wm. Ray on Prorogation is further evidence of his admiration for Gov. Tompkins :
Original Poetry by W. Ray, Esq. PROROGATION.
TOMPKINS AND LIBERTY.
Essex Republicans well done ! The battle's fought-the vict'ry won ! Great be your compensation ! No war embargo's frightful ghost, Hath terried you from your post, No yet a Prorogation.
Elections over, rest awhile, And greet each other with a smile Of cordial approbation. Your suffrages demand our thanks And prove you are no friends to banks, No foes to Prorogation.
With Tompkins at the helm the State, Fears no disastrous sinking fate, No bank incorporation. Corruption wastes here fetid breath In all the agonies of death, At his late Prorogation.
Sly speculation stands aghast ! For Martin lies-in prison fast ! (So tattles information.) Suspicion points at many more While conscience "quietly" bars the door And damns the Prorogation.
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