USA > New York > Schenectady County > Schenectady County, New York : its history to the close of the nineteenth century > Part 8
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This wall seems to have been removed to include houses, built beyond it towards the Benne Kil, which had rendered it useless as a defense, while it cut them off from access to the street. The square of four blocks was left intact by the Queen's Fort, it having been built beyond the old palisades in the triangle bounded by the pali- sades on the south, near Ferry street on the east, and the river road (now State street), on the north side. The original wall went straight from the corner of Front and Washington to the door of St. George's church. There was a gate at Church street most of the time. From this gate ran the river road. The placing of the fort of 1704 threw the road beyond the north bastion of the fort and Green street, and when laid out conforined to it also. After the abandonment of the old fort the triangle of land was converted into house lots.
The garrison was as follows : From Half Moon, eastern Niska- yuna and what is now the town of Crescent Park. Schenectady and Niskayuna furnished each twenty men. John Sanders Glen reported
77
FORTS REPAIRED.
in the fall of 1711, that the fort was in a rotten condition, and in obedience to orders he proceeded to repair it.
After the peace of Utrecht, between Great Britain and France, in 1713, until the " Old French War," in 1744, the people on the borders enjoyed reasonable quiet and safety.
There were efforts made from time to time, however, to keep up a show of defense by rebuilding the wooden forts and posting small garrisons therein.
Thus in 1715, and again in 1719, the Assembly passed acts for repairing the forts here.
CHAPTER V.
THE CITY IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
The city was a lovely place as tradition hands it down to us. Ungridironed by railroad or canal, poles or wires, the necessary but unsightly adjuncts of an unromantic, unsentimental age, an age that tears down and builds up at its pleasure, disembowels the ancient graveyard on Green street, razes to the earth the old landınarks, that old eyes loved to see, and that grew dim as they were taken away. The little village nestled under magnificent elms, parasols in the summer and stockades against the storms of winter. Names of streets were changed. Albany street became Martyrlaer, the street' of the inartyrs. What is now Washington avenue became Hande- laer, the street of traders. Niskayuna (Union) long retained its name. Front street still holds its own name. Commonplace and cheap nomenclature, that we share with all the municipal mush- rooms of earth, have taken the places of the titles that were inelodi- ous and suggestive, memorials to the heroic dead, and the founders of a trade and traffic that grew steadily,and with a solid and conservative progress, until interrupted and overthrown for a time by the advent of canal and railroad.
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SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
The architecture was all Netherland gothic when built of brick. Frame houses were many of them built in as nearly the same style as the material would permit. But a very common style of wooden structure, especially of the larger kind, was a kind of edifice seen only in Schenectady, Kingston and old Dutch burghs. The whole upper half or second story front was a semi-circle. The last one was taken down more than forty years ago to make way for the residence now occupied by Mr. Hinsdell Parsons. Rare, quaint old houses, they were. One of the finest specimens of the style was the ware- house of DeGraff, Walton & Co., on the river bank where Whit- myer's broom factory now is. The smaller style of the brick build- ing may be seen in the residence of Mrs. Joseph Y. Van Vanderbo- gart, opposite the Court House, on Union street, built by Abraham Yates in 1734.
The business was all grouped on Handalaer, the lower part of Martyrlaer and the foot of West Front street. The Mohawk began early to be the avenue of transportation and travel to the westward. And on what is known as the " Camp," the plain directly west of the Sanders house, gathered under Sir William Johnson, companies of troops under the commands of Major Roseboom, Capt. Christo- pher Yates and Bradt for the expedition against Fort Niagara. Warehouses began to be erected along the Benne Kil, as the Frog Alley river was then called, and stores, little and big, began to thicken along Front and Handalaer streets, the markets of the retailers.
Others came to the growing town in the early days of 1700, who became the founders of large families, and in the French war and the Revolution were destined to win renown.
In a future chapter on genealogies there will be abundant records for hundreds of the descendants of the old stock to furnish proof sufficient to enable them to gain entrance into any of the ancestral societies that are so popular in these days. We are growing old enough to have a purely American ancestry, of an origin better, purer and as brave as any European country can produce. It is intended that one of the advantages of this volume will be to give people an opportunity, if they so desire, to prove a birth and lineage purer than any traced from issue of some of the multi-married John
79
ANOTHER MASSACRE.
of Gaunts, or, from the hazy ladies of the time of Charles II., the morganatic marriages of the French nobility, or the titled Cyprians of the days of the Georges, the four Royal Brutes, as Thackery calls them.
The Marcellus, a Spanish Holland name contracted into Marselis, the Mynderse, Phillepse's (Phillips), the Swarts, the Antwerps who built the Maybe house near Fitchburgh Junction, the Vanderbogarts written almost always Franse, the Van Eps, the Van Valkenberghs, Van Voasts and the Veeders and Yates, most all are on Revolutionary rolls.
CHAPTER VI.
THE BEUKENDAAL MASSACRE.
Meanwhile another horror was coming down on the unhappy county with the central years of the century, not in the city, but near enough in distance and far nearer in the awful shadow on many a happy home, within the gates and palisades.
The " Sacandaga Pike" turns off from the village of Scotia at its junction with what is still called Reeseville. It is the second road north, or to the right after entering the village at the residence of Mr. James Collins. A few rods beyond where this road passes over the New York Central, just at the foot of the long ascent to the Town House, and directly opposite to the Toll mansion, one will see at the right, a little glen, a very modest one now, but of deeper depression and heavily timbered on its banks and glades in 1748. This is the Beukendaal, corrupted by the Dutch into Poopendal. Here was the scene of one of those skulking massacres, those shud- der bearing tales of horror, that made life in those days an hourly tremor all through the land. The Mohawk farmer had become alert and vigilant. In the heart of a game-producing county he had learned to be a deadly marksman. In the protection of his own life and the guardianship of those he loved, he had gained a splendid
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SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
nerve that aimed at the heart of a crouching enemy with the cool- ness with which he could shoot a polecat. But more than once he fell a victim to that murderous craft that the bloodthirsty genius of his Indian foe was perpetually planning.
As the war drew to a close in 1748, Schenectady met with the severest loss it had suffered at any one time since the year 1690. This is generally called the Poopendal (a corruption of Beukendaal) massacre. It was however, in no sense a massacre like that of 1690, except perhaps, in the killing of the first victim, but a stand-up hand to hand fight in Indian fashion, in which the whites were the attack- ing party, and on that account suffered more severely than the sav- ages.
About twenty of the former were killed and some thirteen or more made prisoners; of the losses of the latter we have no sufficient accounts.
Beyond tradition the accounts of this skirmish are meagre and uncircumstantial.
A brief letter to Col. William Johnson, written by Albert Van Slyck July 21st, 1748, three days after the affair, is the only semi- official narrative we have, and was given by one who was in the fight.
From the details preserved in this letter, it appears that a party of men from Schenectady, the leader of whom was Daniel Toll, had been dispatched to some place in the vicinity, to bring in a number of horses. They were surprised by a party of the enemy, whose presence in the neighborhood was neither known nor suspected.
" The firing was heard by Adrian Van Slyck, a brother of the writer of the account, who seems to have resided at a distance from the town. He sent a negro to the latter place to give the alarm and obtain reinforcements. Four parties of armed men successively repaired to the scene of action, the first of which was composed of the " New England lieutenant with some of his men and five or six young lads," accompanied by Daniel Van Slyck, another brother. The second party was led by Ackes Van Slyck 'and some men,' how many of either party is not stated.
" Adrian Van Slyck followed next, at the head of a party of New
8I
ACCOUNT OF MASSACRE.
York levies, but on reaching the scene of action, where Ackes with inferior numbers was holding the enemy at bay, the levies all fled in a most cowardly manner.
" The fourth party was composed of Albert Van Slyck (the writer of the letter), Jacob Glen and several others, on the approach of whom the enemy drew off leaving Adrian among the dead."
The letter adds : " It grieves me, I not being a commander, that when we went, Garret Van Antwerp would suffer no more to accom- pany the party."
The second account, written by Giles F. Yates, Esq., and pub- lished in the Schenectady Democrat and Reflector, April 22, 1836, was gathered from tradition. then floating about among the aged peo- ple of that day, with whom Mr. Yates had an extended acquaintance.
"In the beginning of the month of July, 1748, Mr. Daniel (Toll) and his favorite servant Ryckert, went in search of some stray horses at Beukendahl, a locality about three miles from this city. They soon heard, as they supposed, the tramping of horses ; but on nearer approach the sound they mistook for that made by horses hoofs on the clayey ground, proceeded from the quoits with which some Indians were playing.
" Mr. Toll discovered his danger too late, and fell pierced by the bullets of the French savages, for such they were. Ryckert, more fortunate, took to his heels and fled. He reached Schenectady in safety and told the dreadful news of the death of his master and the presence of the enemy.
" In less than an hour about sixty volunteers were on the march to Beukendahl. The greater part of these were young men and such was their zeal that they would not wait until the proper author- ities had called out the militia. Without discipline or experience, and even without a leader, they hastened to the Indian camp.
" Those in advance of the main body, before they reached the enemy, were attracted by a singular sight. They saw a man resem- bling Mr. Toll sitting near a fence in an adjoining field, and a crow flying up and down before him.
" On coming nearer they discovered it to be the corpse of Mr. Toll with a crow attached to it by a string.
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SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
" This proved to be a stratagem of the Indians to decoy their adversaries. The Schenectadians fell, alas, too easily into the snare laid for them, and were in a few moments surrounded by the Indians who had been lying in ambush. Thus taken by surprise, they lost many of their number, and some were taken prisoners before they could make good their retreat.
"They, however, succeeded in reaching the house of Mr. DeGraff in the neighborhood, which had been for some time deserted. But while retreating they continued to fire upon their enemy. On reach- ing Mr. DeGraff's house they entered, bolted the doors, and ascended to the second floor. Here they tore off all the boards near the eaves, and through the opening thus made, fired with success at the sav- ages and succeeded in keeping them at bay. In the meantime Dirck Van Vorst, who had been left in the charge of two young Indians, effected his escape.
" The two youngsters were anxious to see the fight and secured their prisoner by tieing him to a tree and left him alone. He suc- ceeded in getting his knife from his pocket and cutting the cord with which he was bound. On the approach of the Schenectady militia under Col. Jacob Glen the party in Mr. DeGraff's house were relieved from their perilous situation, and the enemy took up their line of march from Canada.
"On this occasion there were thirty-two citizens killed. Of these we are able to give the names of Jacob Glen, (cousin of Col. Glen), Peter Vrooman, John Darling, Adam Conde, Van Antwerpen, Cor- nelius Viele, Nicholas DeGraff and Adrian Van Slyck ; wounded, Ryer Wemp, Robinson and Wilson ; prisoners, Abraham DeGraff and his son William, John Phelps, Harmen Veeder and Lewis Groot.
" The bodies of DeGraff and Glen were found lying in a close con- tact with their savage antagonists, with whom they had wrestled in deadly strife.
" The corpses were brought to Schenectady the evening of the massacre and deposited in the large barn of Abraham Mabee, in the rear of the building lately occupied by Mrs. Churchill on Washing- ton Avenue. The barn was removed only a few years ago. The
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KILLED BY SAVAGES.
relatives of the deceased repaired thither to claim their departed kindred and remove them for interinent."
The third narrative may be found in Drake's " Particular His- tory," and seems to have been gleaned from various sources. It is particularly valuable as giving inore naines of the killed and missing than any other account.
"July 18th, 1748. About three miles from Schenectady, Daniel Toll, Dirck Van Vorst and a negro went to a place called Poopendal to catch their horses ; but not finding the horses as they expected, they went into the adjacent woods to a place called the Clay pit (Kley Kuil). They discovered Indians and attempted to escape from them, but were pursued by them and Toll and Van Vorst were shot down, but the negro escaped. Van Vorst, though wounded, was not killed but taken prisoner. The firing was heard at Maalwyck about two miles distant and the people, knowing that Toll and Van Vorst had gone for their horses, suspected the occasion of the firing. This was about ten o'clock in the morning and a messenger was at once dispatched to the town where the aların was sounded about twelve. Some. of the inhabitants with a company of new levies, posted there under Lieutenant Darling of Connecticut, in all seventy men, marched out toward Poopendal cautiously searching for the enemy. They went as far as the lands of Simon Groot, but made no discovery of the enemy. At this point the negro before men- tioned came to the party and told them where the body of his mas- ter was.
The negro was furnished with a horse and they (about forty in number) were piloted to the spot where his master lay dead, near Beukendahl at Abraham DeGraaf's house. They immediately entered the woods with the negro where they at once discovered the enemy in great numbers, upon whom they discharged a volley with a shout. The enemy shouted in return, accompanying it with a vol- ley also. This was the commencement of a inost desperate fight. All but two or three of the English stood to it manfully, although they were hemmed in on every side by the great numbers of the eneiny, and fought over a space of about two acres ; yet the battle ground was left in possession of the settlers. In this hand to hand
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SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
encounter twelve of the inhabitants of Schenectady were killed out- right, five were taken prisoners and seven of Lieut. Darling's men, including himself, were killed and six of them missing, who were supposed to be taken prisoners. The news of this battle reached Albany on the evening of the same day, and by midnight Lieut. Chew, with one hundred English and two hundred friendly Indians, were on the march for the scene of action, but to no other purpose than to show their willingness to meet an emergency of this kind. The names of the people killed, so far as ascertained, were Daniel Toll, Frans Van der Bogart, Jr., Jacob Glen, Jr., Daniel Van Ant- werpen, J. P. Van Antwerpen, Cornelius Viele, Jr., Adrian Van Slyck, Peter Vrooman, Klaas A. DeGraaf, Adam Conde, John A. Bradt and John Marinus.
"There were missing Isaac Truax, Ryer Wemp, Johannes Seyer Vrooman, Albert John Vedder and Frank Conner, all belonging to Schenectady. Of the soldiers, seven were killed and six missing."
From these accounts it is certain that the presence of the Indians was not suspected until the first shot ; that Captain Daniel Toll was the first victim ; that the alarm was given by his negro Ryckert ; that a company of Connecticut levies under Lieut. Darling accompa- nied and followed by squads of the inhabitants marched to the scene; and that after a liot engagement the Indians retreated, leaving twenty of the whites dead, and taking away thirteen or fourteen prisoners besides the wounded.
Considering the number of the whites engaged, their loss was very severe, amounting probably to one-third of their force.
The following is the fullest list of killed and missing that can now be given :
KILLED.
John A. Bradt,
Adrian Van Slyck,
Johannes Marinus,
Jacob Glen, Jr.,
Peter Vrooman,
Adam Conde,
Daniel Van Antwerpen,
J. P. Van Antwerpen,
Cornelius Viele, Jr.,
Nicholas DeGraaf.
Frans Van der Bogart,
THOSE WOUNDED AND MISSING. 85 .
Capt. Daniel Toll was standing by a tree when the fatal bullet struck him. His name was to be seen cut in the bark for many years after but has now disappeared.
WOUNDED.
Ryer Wemp, Robinson,
Dirck Van Vorst, - - Wilson,
And probably many others.
MISSING AND PRISONERS.
John Phelps, Lewis Groot,
Harman Veeder,
Isaac Truax,
Johannes Seyer Vrooman,
Albert John Vedder,
Frank Connor,
And six soldiers, in all thirteen inen.
After the close of hostilities, Governor Clinton sent Lieut. Stod- dert to Montreal to arrange for an exchange of prisoners. With Capt. Anthony Van Schaick he went into the Indian country to recover the captives, but with indifferent success. Among those who were with Lieut. Stoddert, were Capt. Anthony Van Schaick, John Vrooman, Peter Vasborough (Vosburgh), Albert Vedder and Francis Connor. Efforts were made to induce others to return, but without success. Of these were Rachel Quackenbos, Simon Fort and Philip Phillipsen. Rachel Quackenbos abjured the English religion and Lieut. Stoddert could not persuade her to return. Fort and Phillipse also desired to remain with the Iroquois; the former belonged by adoption to a sister of a chief named Agonareche. She refused to give him up at any price. Capt. Van Schaick offered six hundred livres for Fort but was not successful. On the contrary, so determined was his squaw owner to retain him that she said she would obey the French commandant and deliver him up, but that she and her husband would follow him, and he should not reach home alive. Lieut. Stoddert left Canada on the 28th of June, 1750, with twenty-four prisoners.
7
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SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
CHAPTER VII.
SCHENECTADY IN COLONIAL WARS.
All through the eighteenth century the names of the Schenectady burghers are proportionately more numerous than any of the then military divisions of the Province. The Mohawker was born in the midst of war's alarms, baptized to the music of the twang of the bowstring and crack of musketry. Often and often the hands that sprinkled his forehead, or mnade the sign of the cross above it, had become familiar with the stain of blood, as priest or parson performed the last duty to the dying. Among the old names all the blood is soldier's blood. Beginning with the year 1700 the roll of fighters is long and heroic. Some of the names are still well known and prom- inent, some have died out. It is surprising to know of so many whose ancestors, two centuries ago fought, and suffered, and died for God and King, whose record is among the easily attained archives of New York, and yet who know nothing about that recorded story of ancient valor that may well be the pride of their children's children.
From as exhaustive an examination of Colonial Mss., as their immense volume will permit, we give here the companies and regi- ments from Schenectady, then part of Lyon and Albany county, who did duty in the protection of home and in the service of William and Mary, Anne and the three Georges of England. By examina- tion of the genealogical records that follow, it will be possible for thousands of her people to learn just the fighting stock from which they came.
The first roll is that of a company of foot. The official record is John Sanders Glen, Captain, Adam Vrooman, Lieutenant and Harman Van Slyck, Ensign, in the years r700-14.
87
OTHER COMPANIES.
TWO COMPANIES AT SCHENECTADY.
Johannes Sanders Glen, Capt., Gerrit Symonse, Lieut., Jacob Glen, Ensign.
Jan Wemp, Capt., Arent Bradt, Lieut., Syman Switz, Ensign.
ONE COMPANY AT NISKAYUNA.
Johannes Wendell, Capt., Anthony Van Slyck, (minor)
Jacob Vanderheyden, Ensign. Lieutenant.
LIST OF CAPT. SANDERS GLEN.
Capt. John Sanders Glen,
Lieut. Gerrit Symons,
Lieut. Jan Wemp,
Corp. Everet Van Eps,
Sergt. Arent Bradt, Corp. Theunis Vander Volgen, Corp. Manus Vedder.
Abraham Glen, Peter Vrooman, Jr.,
Cornelus Van Slyck,
Cornelus Viele,
Gilbert Van Brackel,
Helmus Veeder,
David Marenus, John Peck,
John Teller, Jr.,
Jellis Fonda,
Jobin Peck, Jr.,
Jacob Switz, Sander Glen,
Abraham DeGraff,
Cornelus Van Dyck,
Peter Daniels, Phillip Phillipse,
Claas Vanderbogart,
Symon Veeder,
Jacob Vrooman,
Peter Quinzy,
Jellis Van Voarst,
Abraham Groot,
Cornelus Slingerlant,
Jacob Schermerhorn, Jan Schermerhorn, Symon Toll, Jan Dilemont, Andris Van Patten, Jan Marselus,
Jacob Van O'Linda, John Vedder, Sweer Marselus, Jan Paptist Van Eps, Arent Daniels,
Thomas Swart, Dirck Groot, Robert Eps, Nicholas Henpel, Arent Samuel Bradt,
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SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
Barent Vrooman,
Symon Groot,
Hendrick Vrooman, Jr.,
Marte Van Slyck,
Myndert Wemp,
Hendrick Phillips,
Jacob Teller,
Williaın Marenus,
Claas Van Patten,
Jacob Phillips,
William Hall.
(Signed) John Sanders Glen, Gerret Symon, Jan Wemp.
LIST OF CAPT. HARMAN VAN SLYCK.
Capt. Harinan Van Slyck,
Lieut. Hendrick Vrooman,
Lieut. Jacob Glen,
Sergt. Gerrit Van Brackel,
Sergt. Volbert Simons,
Corp. Jacob Van Guysling,
Corp. Andris DeGraff,
Corp. Harman Vedder.
Jan Barentse Wemple,
Daniel Daniels,
Jan Vrooman, Jr.,
Daniel Toll,
Cornelus Vander Volgen,
Bartholomew Pecker, Jr.
Benjamin Van Slyck,
John Van Eps,
Marte Vanderheyden,
Symnon Swits,
Samuel Hagadorn,
Fremont DeGraff,
William Teller,
William Brouwer,
Walter Vroomnan,
Peter Meebie,
Jan Daniels, Esyas Swart,
Tecares Van De Bogart,
Joseph Clement,
Isaac De Graff,
Arent Schermerhorn,
Phillip Bo,
Jacob Mebie,
Johannes Vrooman,
Myndert Van Guysling,
John Marenus,
Harman Vedder, Jr.,
Victor Putman,
Jonethan Stevens,
Arent Van Patten,
Robert Digger,
Jacob Vedder,
Nicholas Stevens,
Peter Brouwer,
Walter Swart,
Phillip Groot,
Abraham Meebie,
William Daes,
Sergt. John Teller,
89
COMPANIES IN CITY.
Jermy, Sandor Phillips,
William Coppernol, Hendrick Hagadorn, Harman Phillips.
Peter Clement, Adam Smith, John Fairlee, Peter Vrooman,
(Signed),
Harman Van Slyck,
Hendrick Vrooman,
Jacob Glen.
In 1717. Two companies in existence in the city.
Glen, Capt., Gerrit Symonse, Lieut., and John Wemple, Ensign, of the one; Harman Van Slyck, Capt., Hendrick Vrooman, Lieut., Jacob Glen, Ensign of the other. Niskayuna furnished a company of foot. Jacob Van Schoonhoven was Capt., Hans Hansen, Ensign and John Wendell, Lieut.
In 1733 there were three companies of infantry in Schenectady, officered as follows :
THE FIRST COMPANY.
Wilhemus Veeder, Capt., Lieut. John A. Vedder,
in the room of Jacob Glen. Ensign, Jan Baptiste Van Eps,
Lieut. Abraham Truax.
THE SECOND COMPANY.
Capt. Abrahaın Glen, Lieut. Andries A. Bradt,
Lieut. Jan B. Wemple, Ensign, Hendrick Wemple,
THE THIRD COMPANY.
Jacob Van Slyck, Capt., William Teller, Lieut.,
Myndert Mynderse, Lieut., John A. Bradt, Ensign.
In the meanwhile Daniel Campbell in 1754 came here and settled in Rotterdam to enter the service of the king. Very soon after his coming, John Duncan came the year following, to not only serve under the king, but to remain in it all through the Revolution, and to take command of a company under Sir John Johnson and attack the settlement on the Mohawk River.
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SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
Joseph Yates had emigrated from Albany and had settled at the Aalplans where is now the property of Mr. Pierre Hoag, and must have prospered as he owned a large plantation, cultivated by slaves, which extended from the Aalplans Creek, along the north bank of the river to what is now Freeman's Bridge. He had two sons, Christopher (Stoeffle) and Jelis, the Dutch for Giles. These men were fort officers in the service of the king. The soldiers of that day were divided into militia, provincial troops and regulars. The militia did as much duty as either, in fact had seen inore brave fighting in many instances than either of the others. They cer- tainly had in the Mohawk valley. The militiaman did not, as did his successors long years afterward, enlist for his personal beauty, his gaudy trappings, the pomp and circumstances of holiday parade, but to be ready at a moment's call to guard his and his neighbor's home. And in the early latter half of the century, the system of keeping the rolls and records was established which enabled us to find out just who were those who did soldierly duty for their king, as long as such duties were consistent with patriotism.
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