USA > New York > Schenectady County > Schenectady County, New York : its history to the close of the nineteenth century > Part 5
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But Schenectady owed its destruction to another cause than the battles of European kingdoms. Politics, fierce then as now, were the more inexcusable as there was then no Erie Canal in its very heart, to act as a powerful stimulant. In the English and French warfare he could and did say with Mercutio " A plague on both your houses." Had he felt the same indifference as to the bossisın of Gov. Leisler he would have been at liberty to heed the call of his neighbors, to
41
PREPARATIONS OF ATTACK.
cease building political fences, and stand guard at the north gate. But, though the city was Leislerite, it was not strong enough to con- trol a large and powerful minority and, while thus dallying, the Philistines came upon him. Had the Dutch Sampson been himself he would have crushed the barbarian by loosing a pillar stone or brick of the home he loved. It was in ridicule of his political opponent, who kept up a ceaseless call to arins, that he was induced to mould his snow images beside the gates where warm hearted, brave men should have been. If the anti-Leislerite advocated any one thing the Leislerite knew, ipso facto, that that particular thing was absolutely wrong. The Dutch idea once lodged is permanent. Once in a while the trait is discoverable yet in the tenacity of con- viction in the character of his descendant. So that the. Anti wanted the guard stationed, the simple fact that he so desired, was sufficient reason for leaving the little hamlet unprotected.
Of all the numerous and authentic stories of the memorable chap- ter in the early history of our land, we select two, one from the French report from the Paris documents, vol. 14, in the State library.
" An account of the burning of Schenectady by Mons. DeMonsig- nat, Comptroller-General of the marine in Canada, to Madame De Maintenon, the morganatic wife of Louis XIV.
" The order received by M. LeCompte (DeFrontenac) to commence hostilities against New England and New York, which had declared for the Prince of Orange, afforded him considerable pleasure and were very necessary for the country. He allowed no more time to elapse before carrying them into execution than was required to send off some dispatches to France, immediately after which, he determined to organize three different detachments to attack those rebels at all points at the same moment and to punish them at various places for having afforded protection to our enemies, the Mohawks.
"The first party was to rendezvous at Montreal, and proceed towards Orange; the second at Three Rivers, and to make a descent on New York, at some place between Boston and Orange ; and the third was to depart from Quebec and gain the seaboard between Bos- ton and Pentagouet, verging toward Acadia. They succeeded per- fectly well, and I have communicated to you the details.
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SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
" The detachment which formned at Montreal, may have been com- posed of about two hundred and ten men, namely: eight savages from the Sault and La Montagne, sixteen Algonquins and the remainder Frenchinen, all under the command of the Sieur LeMoyne de Sainte Helene and Lieutenant Daillebout de Mantet, both of whom are Canadians.
" The Sieurs Le Moyne d'Iberville and de Montesson commanded under these.
" The best qualified Frenchinen were the Sieurs de Bonrepos and de La Brosse, Calvinist officers, the Sieur la Moyne de Blainville, Le Bert du Chene and la Marque de Montigny, who all served as volun. teers.
"They took their departure in the course of five or six days. They called a council to determine the route they should follow, the point they should attack.
" The Indians demanded of the French their intention. Messieurs de Sainte Helene and the Mantet replied that they had left in the hope of attacking Orange, if possible, as it is the capital of New York, and a place of considerable importance, though they had no orders to that effect, but generally to act according as they should judge on the spot of their chances of success, without running too much risk. This appeared to the savages somewhat rash. They represented the difficulties and the weakness of the party for so bold an undertaking.
" There was even one among them, who, his mind filled with recollections of the disasters which he had witnessed last year, enquired of our Frenchmen. Since when had they become so des- perate ? '
" In reply to their raillery, 'twas answered that it was our inten- tion now, to regain the honor of which our misfortunes had deprived us, and the sole means to accomplish that, was to carry Orange, or to perisli in so glorious an enterprise.
" As the Indians, who had an intimate acquaintance with the localities and more experience than the French, could not be brought to agree with the latter, it was determined to postpone coming to a conclusion until the party should arrive at the spot where the two
43
.
MOVEMENT OF THE ENEMY.
routes separate ; the one leading to Orange, and the other to Corlaer ( Schenectady.) In the course of the journey, which occupied eight days, the Frenchmen judged proper to diverge towards Corlaer, accord- ing to the advice of the Indians ; and their road was taken without call- ing a council. Nine days more elapsed before they arrived, they having experienced inconceivable difficulties, and having been obliged to march up to their knees in water, and to break the ice with their feet in order to find a solid footing.
" They arrived within two leagues of Corlaer about four o'clock in the evening, and were harangued by the great Mohawk chief of the Iroquois from the Sault. He urged on all to perform their duty, and to lose all recollections of their fatigue, in the hope of taking ample revenge for the injuries they had received from the Iroquois at the solicitation of the English, and of washing them out in the blood of the traitors' enemies.
" This savage was without contradiction the most considerable of his tribe, an honest man, as full of spirit, prudence and generosity, as is possible, and capable at the same time of the grandest under- takings. Shortly after, four squaws were discovered in a wigwam, who gave every information necessary for the attack on the town. The fire found in their hut served to warm those who were benumbed, and they continued their route, having previously detached Giguie- res, a Canadian, with nine Indians, on the lookout.
" They discovered no one, and returned to join the mnain body within one league of Corlaer.
" At eleven of the clock at night, they came within sight of the town but resolved to defer the assault until two o'clock of the morn- ing, but the excessive cold admitted of no further delay.
" The town of Corlaer forms sort of an oblong with two gates, one opposite the road we had taken, the other leading to Orange, which is only six leagues distant. Messieurs de Sainte Helene and de Mantet were to enter at the first which the squaws pointed out, and which in fact was found open wide. Messieurs d'Iberville and de Montesson took the left with another detachment, in order to inake themselves inasters of that leading to Orange. But they could not discover it, and returned to join the remainder of the
44
SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
party. A profound silence was everywhere observed until the two commanders separated at their entrance, and put everyone who defended the place, to the sword. The massacre lasted two hours. The remainder of the night was spent in placing sentinels and in taking some repose.
" The house belonging to the minister was ordered to be saved, so as to take him alive to obtain information from him ; but as it was not known it was not spared. He was slain and his papers burnt before he could be recognized.
" At daybreak some inen were sent to the dwelling of Mr. Coudre (Coudre Sander), who was mayor of the place, and who lived at the other side of the river. He was not willing to surrender, and began to put himself on the defensive, aided by his servants and some Indians ; but as it was resolved not to do him any harm, in conse- quence of the good treatment that the French had formerly exper- ienced at his hands, M. d'Iberville and the Great Mohawk proceeded thither alone, promised him quarter for himself, his people and his property, whereupon he laid down his arms on parole, entertaining them in his fort, and returned with them to see the commandants of the town.
" In order to occupy the savages, who would otherwise have taken to drink, and thus render themselves unable for defense, the houses had already been set on fire. None were spared in the town except one house belonging to Coudre (Sander Glen), and that of a widow (Bratt), who had six children, whither M. de Montigny had been carried when wounded. All the rest were consumed. The lives of between fifty and sixty persons, old men, women and children were spared, they having escaped the first fury of the attack. Some twenty Mohawks were also spared, in order to show thein that it was the English and not they, against whom the grudge was entertained.
" The loss on this occasion in houses, cattle and grain, amounts to more than four hundred thousand livres. There were upwards of eighty well built and well furnished houses in the town.
"The return march commenced with thirty prisoners. The wounded, who were to be carried, and the plunder, with which all the Indians and some Frenchmen were loaded, caused considerable
45
JOURNEY SOUTHWARD.
inconvenience. Fifty good horses were brought away. Sixteen of these only reached Montreal. The remainder were killed for food on the road.
"Sixty leagues fromn Corlaer the Indians began to hunt, and the French not being able to wait for them, being short of provisions, continued their route, having detached Messieurs d'Iberville and DuChesne with two savages before them to Montreal. On the same day, somne Frenchinen, who doubtless were much fatigued, lost their way. Fearful that they should be obliged to keep up with the main body, and believing themselves in safety, having eighty Indians in their rear, they were found missing from the camp. They were waited for the next day, until eleven o'clock, but in vain, and no account has since been received of themn.
" Two hours after forty more left the main body without acquaint- ing the commander, continued their route by themselves and arrived within two leagues of Montreal one day ahead, so that they were not more than fifty or sixty men together. The evening on which they should arrive at Montreal, being extremely fatigued from fasting and bad roads, the rear fell away from M. de Sainte Helene, who was in front with an Indian guide, and could not find a place suitable for camping, nearer than three or four leagues of the spot where he expected to halt. He was not rejoined by M. de Mantet and the others, until far advanced in the night. Seven have not been found. Next day on parade, about ten o'clock in the forenoon, a soldier arrived who announced that they had been attacked by fourteen or fifteen savages, and that six had been killed. The party proceeded, somewhat afflicted at this accident, and arrived at Montreal at 3 o'clock P. M.
"Such, Madame, is the account of what passed at the taking of Corlaer. The French lost but twenty-one men, namely four Indians and seventeen Frenchmen. Only one Indian and one Frenchman were killed at the capture of the town. The others were lost on the road."-Doc. Hist. N. Y., 1186.
A few days subsequent to the massacre Pieter Schuyler, Major, Dirk Wessels Ten Broeck, Recorder, and Killian Van Rensselaer, the patroon, addressed an appeal to the Governor of Massachusetts,
46
SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
from which we quote, putting as well as possible, the English of that day into our modern vernacular.
" ALBANY, the 15th day of Feb., 1689.
HONERED GENTLEMEN :
To our great grief and sorrow we must acquaint you with our deplorable condition, there never having been the like dreadfull massacre and murder committed in these parts of America, as has been acted by the French and their Indians at Schenectady, twenty miles from Albany, between Saturday and Sunday last, at II o'clock at night. A company of two hundred French and Indians fell upon said village and murdered sixty men, women and children, most bar- barously, burning the place and carrying twenty-seven along with them prisoners, among which, the Lieut. of Capt. Bull Enos Tal- madge, and four more cf said company were killed and five taken prisoners. The rest being inhabitants, and above twenty-five per- sons freezing their limbs in the fight.
"The cruelties committed at this place no pen can write, nor tongue express, the women with child ripped up, and the children thrown into the flames, and their heads dashed in pieces against the doors and windows.
" But what shall we say? We must lay our hands upon our mouths and be silent. It is God's will and pleasure and we must submit. It is but what our sins and transgressions have deserved. Since human things are generally directed by outward means, so we must ascribe this sad misfortune to the factions and divisions which were amongst the people, and their great disobedience to their offi- cers, for they would obey no commands or keep any watch, so that the enemy having discovered their negligence and security by their praying Maquase Indians (who were in said place two or three days before the attack was made) came in and broke open their very doors before any soul knew of it, the enemy dividing themselves in three several companies, came in at three several places no gate being shut, and separated themselves six and seven to a house, and in this man- ner begun to murder, sparing no man till they saw all the houses open and mastered, and so took what plunder they would, loading
47
REPORT OF MASSACRE.
thirty or forty of the best horses, and so went away about II o'clock at noon on the Sabbath day.
" It was, as if the heavens combined for the destruction of the village. That Saturday night the snow fell above knee deep, the weather was dreadfully cold, and the poor people that escaped and brought us the news about break of day, did so much increase the number of the enemy, that we all concluded that there was a consid- erable army coming to fall upon our city, and as was affirmed, they were upon their march hither; we were being told not only then but that day that there were 1900 at least. We sent out a few horses forthwith, after we had received the news, but scarcely could they get through the deep snow, some wherefore got to that desolate place, and there being some few Maquase here in town, we got them to go thither with our men in companies, to send messengers in all haste to the Maquase castle, and to spy where the enemy went, who were not very free to go, the snow being so deep, and afraid of being discovered by their tracks, but coming to the village which was in such a consternation, there being so many people and cattle killed and burnt, that it was not effected until two days after, when we heard that the Maquase knew nothing about it, upon which mes- sengers were sent, and the Maquase of the first and second castles came down in twenty-four houres, whom we sent out with some of our young men in pursuit of the enemy. Afterwards the Maquase of the third castle came down, who were also sent out, but we are afraid will not overtake them, and which is worse if they do find them, fear they will do them no great hurt, the Indians amongst thein being of the kindred of our Indians; for the policy of the French is so great, that they declared to some of the Maquase, whom they found at Schenectady, that they would not do the Maquase any harın, yea, if they should burn and destroy ever so many houses at Canada, and kill ever so many French, yet they would not touch a hair of their head ; for their governor had such an inclination to that people that he would live in peace with them. Nay, to gain the hearts of the Maquase, whatever they desired at Schenectady was granted to the women and children that were left alive. Upon their desire they were released and saved. The very houses where the Maquase lay
48
SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
were saved upon their request, so that they left no stone unturned to bring the Indians to their devotion.
" The forty Maquase that were out as scouts at the lake, whom we furnished with powder and lead to lie there on purpose, we must conclude, have known nothing of the enemy's coming, for they had posted themselves at one of the passages, and before they had sent men to the other passage the enemy had passed by, which we must impute to their negligence.
"The said French had belts of wampum along with them which they showed to a Maquase squaw at Schenectady, which they designed to have given to our Indians, upon proposal of peace, if they had inet with any upon the way, so that we must conclude they wanted nothing but a peace with our Indians to destroy all the parts.
"Our Maquase have got one of their Indians prisoner, whom they have tortured and afterwards have released him, but delivered him into our custody ; for we feared that he would escape and run away to the enemy. The said Indian confessed that there were 600 men preparing to come out upon this place or New England, and 100 men were gone out against Skachkook Indians, which were beside these 200 inen, and that this company had been twenty-two days away from Canada.
" After the French had done the principal mischief at Schenec- tady, Captain Sanders, a justice that lived across the river, was sent for by the captain of the French, who had put himself in a posture of defense in his fort with the men that he could get by him; when thirteen came there and told them not to fear for their order was not to wrong a chicken of theirs, upon which Captain Sanders ordered them to lay down their arms, and so were let in where they left one man for a hostage, and Captain Sanders went to their commander, who told him he had a commission to come and pay a debt which they owed ; Colonel Dongan, our governor, had stirred up our Indians to do mischief in Canada, and they had done the same here. And pulling his commission out of his bosom told him he was strictly charged to do no harmn to him or his, but especially to his wife who had since been so charitable to the French prisoners, so that Captain
49
LIST OF KILLED.
Sanders saved sundry houses from being burnt, and women and chil- dren from being carried away. But the snow was so extremely deep that it was impossible for any woman to march a mile, so that they took none but men and boys that could march."
The Hon. John Sanders, a descendant of John Alexander Glen, known as M. Coudre, and whose narration is not tradition, but relia- ble information, derived from his father, who was born 150 years ago, and who derived it in turn from his grandfather, furnishes some interesting incidents which we take from his most interesting work. In his accounts of John Alexander Glen, we find the cause of the tenderness of the French toward the Major, or chief burgomaster as Glen then was.
Adam Vrooman's life was spared after his wife was killed, and his child's brains dashed out against his house, which stood on the cor- ner of Front and Church streets, where Mr. Charles Linn now lives. We have given the story in the account of his life as we have of the first settlers. Had the burghers been on guard under the leadership of a man like Vroomnan they would have torn the assassins to pieces.
The following is a list of the killed, wounded and the prisoners. It is entirely correct, all accounts agreeing on the number. It is taken from Vol. I, Doc. Hist. of N. Y., p. 304.
It will be noticed that the largest number of the slain resided when living, on State street, hence the survivors called this street Martelaer's street, in pions remembrance of their slaughtered rela- tives and neighbors, a name whose significance and sentiment are in striking contrast with the utter poverty of invention and good taste, shown by their descendants in borrowing a namne from Albany for their chief business street.
List of the people killed and destroyed by the French of Canada and their Indians at Schenectady, twenty miles to the west of Albany, between Saturday and Sunday, the 9th day of February, 1690.
" Myndert Wemple killed."
He was the eldest son of Jan Barentse Wemple, who owned half the great island west of the town, and who died in 1663, leaving another son, Barent, and two daughters.
50
SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
Myndert's house lot was on the west side of Washington street, a little north of State street. His son, Johannes, was carried away to Canada but was redeemed and lived many years.
" Jan Van Eps and his son and two of his children killed."
Jan Van Eps was the only son of Dirk Van Eps and Maritie Damens. The father died early and the mother married two hus- bands afterwards, the last of whom was Cornelis Van Nes of Albany. With Jan Van Eps were also killed three of his children, and a fourth, Jan Baptist, then seventeen years of age, was carried away by the French. He remained with the Indians three years, but finally escaped in one of their excursions against the Mohawks. On account of his familiarity with the langauge of the natives, he was often employed by the governor of the province as an interpreter.
The Van Eps house lot was on the north corner of Church and State streets and embraced about 200 feet on each street. The east half, including the corner, was early sold to the Bratts. It is prob- able that Van Eps resided upon the west half at the time of the inassacre.
" Sergeant Church of Captain Bull's company."
" Barent Janse (Van Ditmars) killed and burnt ; his son killed."
His son's name was Cornelis, a young man of mature age, the hus- band of Catharina Glen, daughter of Sander Leendertse Glen. The elder Van Ditmars in 1664, married Catalyntje DeVos, widow of Arent Andriese Bratt, one of the earliest settlers of Schenectady, by whom she had six children, all living at the time of her second marriage.
At the time of the massacre she was living with her family on her village lot, on the east corner of Washington and State streets, and it was there that Van Ditmars and his son Cornelis were slain.
" Andries Arentse Bratt shot and burnt and also his child," (one child.)
He was the eldest son of Arent Andriese Bratt and Catalyntje De Vos above mentioned, and lived on the same ample lot (200 feet square) as his mother, on the north side of State street. In the mas- sacre his wife, Margarette Jacobse Van Slyck, and two children were spared.
5I
LIST OF KILLED CONTINUED.
" Maria Viele, wife of Dowe Aukes and her two children killed, and his negro woman, Francyn, Maria Aloff, wife of Cornelis Viele, Junior, shot."
These five persons were killed in one house, standing on the south corner of Mill Lane and State street next the ancient church. Aukes kept an inn there. Viele was an uncle of his wife and subsequently became heir of his property.
At the same time Arnout Cornelise Viele, brother of Aukes' wife, was carried to Canada.
" Swear Teunise (Van Velsen) shot and burnt. His wife killed and burnt. Antje Jans, daughter of Jan Spoor, killed and burnt. Item : four negroes of the said Swear Teunise the same death .. Enos Talmage, Lieutanant of Capt. Bull, killed and burnt. All in one . house."
Van Velson's house was next east of Dowe Auke's above inen- tioned, on the south side of State street, now numbers 54 and 56. He was the town miller, and directly in the rear of his house stood his corn mill on Mill Lane.
As he died without heirs, his estate was divided among his wife's children, the Wemps, a portion being reserved for the church.
" Hend. Meese Vrooman and Bartholomeus Vrooman, killed and burnt. Item : two negroes of Hen. Meese the same death."
He lived on the south side of State street, where the New York Central Railroad crosses. All the Vroomans in this vicinity are his descendants through his two sons, Adamı and Jan.
" Gerrit Marcellis and his wife and child killed."
He was a son of Marsellis Janse of Albany. At the time of his death he was residing on the lots now occupied by McCamus & Co's stores.
" Rob Alexander, soldier of Capt. Bull's, shot."
He was probably quartered in the block house at the north angle of the village at the corner of Front and Washington streets.
" Robert Hessling," residence unknown. "Sander, the son of Gilbert Geritse (Van Brakel,) killed and burnt."
He lived on the east corner of Ferry and State streets.
"Jan Roeloffse DeGoyer, burnt in the house. He was a son of
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SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
the famous Anneke Janse, and lived upon the lot of Mr. G. Y. Van de Bogart, opposite the Court House. He left no descendants."
" Ralph Grant, a soldier in the fort, shot."
" David Christoffelse and his wife, with four children, all burnt in their house."
His house lot was on the east side of Church street. He was the son of Christoffel Davids of Albany, an Englishman by birth.
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