USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > The annals of Albany, Vol. II. Second Edition > Part 12
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but to avoid all such Jealousies thogh we are very well as- sured that few or none in our Posts but doe abhor and De- test all Popery and what tends thereunto but on ye Contrarie will with all Cheerfullnesse & readinesse abide ye oath of allegiance to there sd Majesties as all ye members of ye sd Convention have already done
It is therefore thought Convenient by ye sd Convention thogh for ye present there be no Commission from there Majesties to administer ye sd oath that ye Inhabitants of ye Citty & County of Albany & souldiers of there Majesties fort doe all take ye oath of Allegiance to there Majesties king William & queen Mary on or before the last day of october next ensuing, and ye Aldermen in there wards are ordered to administer sd oath who will be founde at there respective houses on ye-forenoon & ye justices in ye out plantations to administer the same to them that live there, all who are to make Return thereof to ye office of 'ye Citty & County who names are to be recorded accordingly.
By order of ye Convention
ROBT LIVINGSTON
The 26th of october 1689 Resolved yt Dirk Wessells John Wendell Jan Janse Bleeker David Shuyler & albert Ryck- man, Justices of ye Peace doe repare to there Majestys fort and administer to ye Souldiers the oath of fidelity to there Majesties William & Mary king & queen of England &c. who accordingly with all Cherfulnesse & Readinesse took ye same (as they were drawn up in ye fort in arms by Levt Sharpe who took his oath ye 19th of october last in ye full Conven- tion) a list whereof follows
Charles Rogers Christoph: Barnsford John holman
Sergts
Wm Ellis Robt Farrington
Ralph Graunt
John gilbert
Corprs
Wm Haaton
John Thompson
Wm hather
Wm Shaw meatros
[gunner]
Stephen hooper
Tho. Rodgers Drummer gert arentse Robt Barnet
Wm Rogers John Radecliffe
Richd Tunnell
John Carter John Douglas John Denny
Elias Van Ravesteyn Ricd white Ricd wilson
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Jos Yetts Tho : wakefield
These were not present being at ye halfmoon Tobyas henderson James Larmond Wm Powel
James willet
Tho. Shaver Refuses [to] take ye oath
Memorandum ye 10 of Nov. ye abovesd men Took all ye oath of allegiance
It is unanimously Resolved yt Leift Thos. Sharpe who to- gether with ye Souldiers of there Majesties garrison have taken ye oath of fidelity to there Majesties William & Mary king & queen yt ye sd Leift Sharpe shall Continue in ye Com- mand of there Majesties fort of Albany who is to obey such orders & Instuctions as he shall from time to time Receive from ye Convention of ye Citty and County of Albany, & yt no other person shall have ye Command of sd fort till orders Came from there Majesties king William & queen Mary which we with Patience will waite for Since ye sd fort is kept for there Majesties use
Signed
P SCHUYLER JOHANNES WENDEL JAN JANSE BLEEKER K V RENSELAER Ev BANKER JOH : CUYLER DIRK TEUNISE
This Protest was sent aboard of Jochim Staets by ye Mar- shall inclosed in a letter to him & alderman Skaik
Resolved to write and give our hearty thanks to ye Hon- orable Governor & Councill and Representives of Boston for. there kinde letter of ye 10th of October in writeing to ye governor & Councill of Conetticut Pressing them to Provide one hundred men for our assistance who accordingly have granted to furnish us with eighty men with there officers hopeing & expecting Payment for ye Commission officers & yt Kilian Van Renselaer & Capt gerrit Teunise be sent to Conetticut to return them thanks for there assistance and to accept of ye men and withal to Inform them of ye mean Condition of this place and how willing we would be to pay sd officers & Souldiers too if we were in condition to bear it.
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Resolved to write to ye governor & Councill of Conetticut to thank them for there kinde letter of ye 15th of October wherein they graunt to send us eighty souldiers with there officers, hopeing and expecting we will Pay ye Commission officers, & yt Capt. Renselaer and Capt. gert Teunise be Commissionated to goe thither and Return our Thanks and accept of ye 80 men & Endeuor to have them hither with all speed, who are to submit themselfs to ye orders & direc- tions of ye Convention, & withal to consult with ye Governor & Councill Concerning ye Payment of ye Commission Officers.
-
By ye Convention of ye Civill and Military officers of ye Citty and County of Albany. :
Whereas it is thought Convenient that some p'sons be Commissionate to goe to ye honorable governor & Councill of Conetticut and ye assembly if sitting to give our Cordiall thanks for there great kindnesse in Resolueing to send eighty men with there officers for ye security of there Majes- ties Interest in these parts, and we confideing in ye Integrity and fidelity of Capt. Kilian van Renselaer & Capt. Gert Teunise members of our Convention have Desyred and authorized them with all Convenient Speed to goe to ye Col- lony of Conetticut and Signify to ye honorable governor & Councill of yt Colony & to ye assembly if sitting ye Real sence we have of there kindnesse in Sendeing these men, & to hasten there Comeing with all convenient Speed, as also to Discourse with ye sd Governor Concerning ye wages of ye Commission officers earnestly Desyreing yt ye sd Two gentle- men may be Reputed and Esteemed as our agents in y' Be- halfe Ratifyeing and Confirming whatever they shall act or doe about ye p'mises, given under our hands & sealls in Albany ye 28th day of october in ye first year of ye Reign of our Souveraign Lord & Lady William & Mary king & queen of England: &c. 1689.
Signed
PIETER SCHUYLER JOHANNES WENDELL DIRK WESSELLS Ev. BANKER
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Att a Convention &c. Albany 28th Sept. [October] 1689 Present as before.
Resolved yt Capt. wendel & Capt. Bleeker Cause ye gates & Courtains of ye Citty to be made & Repared according to ye Division made and there engagement who are to warn there People to doe it upon Pain of answering whatsoever Inconveniencies that may happen by such neglect and each of ye sd Captains had an order given them accordingly.
Resolved yt Since Sundrey members of ye Convention have Signed a Bonde for ye Reimburseing of Robt Livings- ton such disbursements as he shall make for there Majesties account upon our Request yt ye said Bonde be Recorded which is as follows.
Whereas there is at this Present juncture litle or no Rev- enue accrueing to there Majesties in this Citty and County and nevertheless diverse Charges to be paid as ye Reparations of there Majesties fort Paying of ye People that have been at Sarachtoge upon ye kings & queens account and Diverse other Public Charges and altho Robert Livingston is already Considerable in advance yett ye Convention doe Desyre yt he further may advance upon there Majesties accompt, such necessary Charges as shall from time to time happen and because ye sd Livingston may be ye more Incouraged to Proceed, we whose names are underwritten doe Promise & Engage yt if ye sd Livingston be not Reimbursed such Dis- bursements as he shall make by ye Mayors order one alder- men and assistant for ye Publick account in Six monthes after ye arrivall of a governor or orders from there now Majesties king William & queen Mary yt wee will yointly & severally see him pd & Satisfyed and that he shall not sustain any Losse or Damage by Such Disbursements being by our Particular orders as witnesse our hands in albany ye 26 of october 1689.
PETER SCHUYLER DIRK WESSELLS CLAES RIPSE VAN DAM GABRIEL THOMPSON DIRK TEUNISE ALBT RYCKMAN DAVID SCHUYLER
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Johannes van der heyden hend: Janse & William Hollie took ye oath of allegiance to there Majesties.
The Convention writt a letter to alderman Schayk and Lieftenant Staets putting them in minde of what they had writt yesterday Concerning ye Reports of Leyslers Inten- tions to send up armed men to overthrow ye government of this Citty, and that they would endevor to prevent it as they loved ye Peace of this Citty, and withall Informed them that we hear by a Prisoner come from Canida yt ye Indian Prisoners were come from france with ye governor of Mont Royall and yt ye governor of Canida and diverse officers went to france, & therefore consider in what a Con- dition we would be with ye Indians if a Change of Magis- trates and a Subversion of ye government should at p'sent be made.
Albany ye 29th of october 1689. Present, Peter Schuyler Mayor, Dirk wessells, Jan Bleeker, Claes Ripse, David Schuyler, albert Ryckman, Joh: Cuyler, Eghbert Teu- nise, Jan nack
Whereas there was an order made by ye Convention ye 25th Instant that ye men Lyeing at Sarachtoge be sent for and yt seven Souldiers of there Majesties fort with Two other men be Sent there yt can speak ye Indian Language, and being informed by Leift Sharpe yt ye Souldiers were un- willing to go, they were Sent for who told the Gentlemen that if ye Convention would engage for their Pay they would willingly serve there Majesties to whom they have Sworne fidelity in their Majesties fort; But they would all willingly goe with there officer for their Majesties account whereever he would lead them, & if ye Convention were not satisfied with that they would all grounde there arms alleadgeing yt none but a governor or he yt had Immediat Commission from there Majesties William & Mary could Command them out in Such Small Partyes Except they en- gage for their pay
Upon which it was Resolved yt Dirk albertse Bratt and another be sent thither to stay there with Some Indians till further order,
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Att a Convention &c. albany ye 4th of november 1689 Present, Peter Schuyler mayor, Dirk wessels Recorder, Joh : wendel, Liv Van Schaik, Jan Bleeker, Claes Ripse, David Schuyler, albert Ryckman, Reynier Bar- entse, Evert Banker, Jan nack, Joh : Cuyler, Eghbert Teunise, Captain Marten gerritse Justice, Leif. Robert Sanders,
Whereas ye members of ye Convention have given to Robt. Livingston a Bonde whereby they oblige themselfs to bear ye sd Livingston harmlesse for such Disbursements as he hath now or shall make for ye Publike account by our Particular order. That if he be not paid within Six months after ye arrivall of a governor or orders from there now Majes- ties King William & queen Mary, that wee will see him' paid, & if it should happen that care should not be taken for ye Reimburseing of sd Livingston, that he should be necessitated to Demand ye sd Disbursements of ye members of sd Convention. It is ordered yt such p'son or p'sons so Paying Such Publike Charge be Reimbursed out of ye Pub- like Rates of ye County, always Provided ye sd Charge be for ye Reparations of there Majesties fort of Albany & ye Charge of ye People yt Lay at Sarachtoge.
Livinus Van Schaik alderman and one of ye Justices of ye Peace of this County arrived this day from N : Yorke to whom the Resolution of this Convention of ye 26th of october Last was Sent, inclosed in a letter to him and Leift Jochim Staas who were Desyred after they had Received Information yt Capt Leysler was intended to send up a Company of armed men to make themselfs master of there Majesties Fort .of Albany and of ye Citty turn ye govern- ment of this Citty upside doune & Disturbe ye Peace and Tranquility of there Majesties King William & queen Marys Liege People, and carry Some of ye Principle Burghers and Inhabitants of this Citty Prisoners to N : Yorke.
That they should Deliver ye Protestation sent them by this Convention against Such Proceedings.
Alderman Schaik haveing Received diverse Informations from Credible Persones that they had such and such Designs Discoursed Jochim Staets telling him he thought himself obliged to Deliver ye Protest to Leysler and ye Committee,
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which was sent by ye Convention of Albany upon which Jochim Staets Replyed he knew not what to doe. They would have him Capt of yt Company that went up to Albany which was to Lye in ye fort.
Alderman Shaik answered Mr. Staets you know that would Be against ye Resolution of ye Convention of Albany who hes Put Captain Sharpe to be Commander there, where- upon Jochim Staets Replyed they would have Sharpe out, & if I will not accept of itt they will putt in Churchill, me- thinks that it is better that I accept of itt then that such a Vagabond as Churchill should have ye Command.
Upon which ye sd alderman went in with Jochim Staets to ye Committee being ye 29th day of october & Delivered ye Protest to Capt. Leysler & ye Resolution of ye Convention of Albany for Capt Sharpe to Continue till further orders.
The Said alderman Skaik askd, what answer they would give him upon ye Protest, upon which Jacob Milborne Replyed with Consent of ye other Persons Conveined yt time that he would goe up to Albany, & see the fort there better Secured.
The Said Schaik Considering ye Contents of ye Conventions Letter whereby they earnestly Desyred advice by an Expresse if occasion Required, thought Convenient to come up him- self to give ye Convention an acct off affares not Doubting but that they were fully Resolved to Send up men hither to Disturbe the People of Albany Since ye day before ye Pro- test came to his hands he himself being in there Committee (about some Discourse thatt should have Passed on Long Island) heard Capt. Leysler Say amongst other Discourse that they of albany should bring there Charter here if they had one, & yt Leift Sharpe & Rodgers were Papists all which with severall other Informations he heard while he was at N : Yorke.
The Convention did Returne there hearty thanks to alder- man Schaik for his Care & fidelity in acting so Prudently in yt affaire & for Delivering ye Protest which they understand would not have been Delivered by Jochim Staets; & Espe- cially for his trouble that He hes been Pleased to take to come up himself Expresse & give an acct of affares.
Upon which itt. was Enquired by ye Mayor of ye Con- vention whither there were any Person or member of ye
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Convention from ye greatest officer to ye Least yt any Per- son had any objection against or ye Least mistrust that they should now declare itt.
Whereupon ye Convention unanimously answered that they had nothing to object against any of ye members of ye Convention, but that they should be and Remaine in there Respective offices and Stations till orders from there most Sacred Majesties William & Mary king & queen of England &c. and that they would not Suffer that any member Should be Disturbed Displaced or Removed from this Citty upon any Pretence whatsoever and if such a thing happened to be done by force Contrare to ye Priviledge of this Citty (which God forbid) that ye whole Convention would Resent it as done to them all in generall & make Record of it ac- cordingly-
Itt is Resolved by this Convention to acquaint the Burgers and Inhabitants of this Citty by the assistants of there Re- spective wards how yt we have Received Information from N : Yorke that there is a Company of men comeing up from thence, who Intend to Turn ye government of this Citty upside doune, make themselfs master of ye Fort and Citty, and in no manner to be obedient to any orders and Com- mands as they should Receive from time to Time from ye Persons now in authority in this Citty and County, whereby great Confusion will Ensue, Especially, if ye Indians Per- ceive Such Divisions amongst our Selfs, will be in Danger to be led away to ye french, & so break ye frindship which with so much Trouble and Paynes and charge hath hitherto been Preserved by this government which might tend to ye great Ruine and Destruction of there Majesties Interest in these Parts which sd men so comeing up we hear are to be paid by ye Burgers and Inhabitants of this Citty and County, which charge would be untollerable to be born by ye In- habitants att this Juncture of time, & not only that charge butt by such means cause us to Contribute to what Charge they of N : Yorke have been att Since these Revolutions, and therefore itt is thought Convenient to Convein the Bur- gers in the Citty hall & there to Demand there opinion, and to answer to Some articles which will be given them in write- ing to morrow.
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Att a Convention &c. Albany the 5th day of november 1689 Present as before
According to ye Resolution taken by ye Convention yes- terday ye Burgers and Inhabitants of ye Citty and Part of ye County were Conveined in ye Citty hall by Bell Ringing and these following Proposalls were made & given them in writeing & Desyred to give there answer.
PROPOSEALLS made by the Convention to ye People. In Albany ye 5th day of november 1689. Upon ye Report of men comeing from N : Yorke.
1 If they be not Resolved to stand for ye Privileges of there Citty and County, and to Resist all p'sons who shall endeavor to Brake ye Same.
2 If they had any objection or any thing against the Magistrates or members of ye Convention from ye Least member to ye greatest, That they now would Reveale ye Same.
3 If they were Inclined to pay ye Souldiers wages come- ing from N : Yorke which we here ye military officers of N : Yorke have Engaged must be paid by ye Inhabitants of albany
4 If they had any mistrust of Lieft Tho. Sharpe whom ye Convention have Continued in ye fort to be under them, and if they would have one besides him to have ye Com- mand of ye fort.
5 Since we have heard Such Strange Rumours, if it would not be Very Dangerous to Suffer ye men comeing from New Yorke to come into ye Citty, before we have Sufficient assur- ance that they come with a good Intent to assist us as neighbours, and to obey the Convention, and not to turn ye government of ye Citty upside doune, to make themselfs master of the fort and Citty, and to fetch ye meanest Burger from hence; and if they Burgers would not oppose Such hostility and force.
6 If it is not Extream Dangerous at this Juncture to make any Confusion Division or change least ye Indians who are in Covenant with us and depend thereupon should mistrust our Integrity and so be brought to Side with ye french.
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7 If they will not secure ye fort and Citty for there Ma- jesties till Such time there Majesties king william & queen mary Send orders or a governour, and that of N: yorke nor none else be admitted to be master of ye same
8 That they ought to Consider yt ye Souldiers that lye in ye fort are no Burthen to ye Citty nor County but kept main- tained & paid upon there Majesties accompt who are not only naturall born subjects of England but have all (Except one) taken ye oath of allegeance to ye Present king & Queen
9 If they doe not owne and acknowledge ye Convention . of ye Citty and County for there Lawfull Authority till a Settlement comes, and if they them will obey as such
Upon which ye People agreed and Consented to ye sd Articles, acknowledgeing ye members of ye Convention for there Lawfull Magistracy in there Respective offices and Places and made this following answer Signed by forty of ye Inhabitants Principall men of ye Toune
Whereas ye Convention of albany have Propounded Some articles to ye Commonality for ye wellfare of ye Place wee underwritten Burgers and Inhabitants of ye Citty and County of albanie do Promise and Declare faithfully and Sincerely yt wee will uphold and Maintain to ye utmost ye Previleges of albany, & oppose all Persones who shall Seeke to infringe ye Same.
2 That we have not ye least objection or Evill opinion of ye Magistrates or members of ye Convention, butt Promise to Obey them and assist them as faithfull Subjects are bounde to doe there lawfull authority.
3 That we are no ways Inclined to pay ye People comeing from : N: Yorke, neither can bear such Excessive Charge, but if they come as good neighbours & friendes shall en- deavor to Treat them Civilly with meat and Drink and Lodgeing according to our ability.
4 That ye Bussinesse Concerning ye fort is Referred to ye Convention.
5ly That we unanimously judge it Dangerous to lett ye men comeing from N : Yorke come into ye Citty till Such time ye Convention have Sufficient assurance of there sincere meaning and Intention, Since by no means we can Suffer them to Turn ye government of this Citty upside doune, Annals ii. 12
·
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nor that they be masters of City or fort nor suffer ye Least Burger to be carried away from hence, or molest them. But if anything to object against any of ye Burgers of this Citty, that they may enter there action before ye Courts of this Citty & County according to law
6 That we juge a Change or Subversion of government att this jucture to be Exceeding Dangerous in Reference to · ye Treating with ye Indians, and therefore doe not under- stand that there now be a Change upon any Pretence what- soever, before yt orders comes from there Majesties
7 That wee are fully Resolved with ye help of god al- mighty to keep & Secure ye fort and Citty for the behoofe of our Souveraign Lord &. Lady King William & Queen Mary; and not suffer them of N : Yorke or any Person else to Rule over ye Same, Since it will be Required att our hands when a governor comes & not of theres.
8 That we verry well approve of ye Souldiers that have taken ye oath of fidelity doe Remain in ye fort, & if there be occasion for more men in ye fort to Secure ye Same yt then Some of ye Burgers or whom ye Convention shall ap- point doe goe thither and no others
9 : & Lastly: That we doe Esteem owne and acknowlege ye Convention to be our only Lawfull authority in this Country till such time orders comes from there Majesties whom we doe Relye upon for ye good government of ye Same, Praying God to Blesse them in their undertakeings for ye wellfare of our Country, Promiseing to assist them wherein they shall have occasion for the Preservation of Peace and Tranquility in our Toune & to lett and hinder all p'sones who shall Stirr up Mutinie and Sedition to Disturbe our Peace. In Testimony whereof that this is our Reall Intent & yt we faithfully will p'form ye Same have hereunto Sett our hands in Albany ye 5th day of november : 1689
was signed by forty Inhabitants vizt the mark of Jan
Jan Becker H: v: Dyck
Myndert Frederikse Pieter D : Schuyler Arent Schuyler Wm Teller
Cornelise Vyselaer GWVP
Wm gysbertse Abram Isaakse
Hend: Beekman
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Caspr Teller John harris
Bennony Van Corlaer
A : Teller
Johannes Thomase J Kok
Jacob Lockermans
Andrews Teller junior
Johannes Schuyler Hend : Rensselaer
Francis Salesbury
Johannes appel
John Gilbert
Abraham Cuyler
William hendriksen
Jan Bleeker Junior
Isaak Vr planken
Johannnes Becker the younger
Anthony Bratt
Jacob meese vroman
Wessel Ten Broek
Jacob Vanden Bogaert
Takel heimstraet
Gert vanness
Warner Carstense
Willem
Hans Cross H-K mark
Myndert Schuyler
Dirk Bratt
Att a Convention &c. Albany 7th & 8th days of november 1689. Present as before, Except C : Jan Bleeker absent, and C. Marte gerritse & Gert Ryerse present
The matter concerning ye Better Secureing of there Ma- jesties fort of albany being taken into Consideration this fol- lowing order was made thereabouts.
Whereas there is a Resolution made by ye Convention ye 26th day of october Last whereby Leift. Thomas Sharpe should Continue in ye Command of there Majesties fort of albany till orders comes from there Majesties William and Mary king & queen of England &c. who was to obey such orders and Instructions as he should from time to time Receive from ye Said Convention, and whereas we are In- formed that Diverse Persones are jealous that there Majes- ties Fort is thereby not Sufficiently Secured but are Desyreous that another Sufficient Person shall be authorized along with said Leif Thomas Sharpe to have ye Command thereof
It is therefore thought Convenient by this Convention Since ye winter approaches and ye Long Expected orders from there Most Sacred Majesties not yet being come and to Prevent all jealousies and Annimosities Concerning that . affaire at this juncture of time, That Pieter Schuyler Esquire Mayor of this Citty and one of there Majesties Jus-
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tices of ye Peace of this County and Leiftenant of ye Troop be authorized and is hereby authorized to have ye Command of there Majesties fort and ye same to keep and maintain and Defend for ye Behooffe of there Majesties William & Mary king and queen of England france & Irland &a Defenders of ye faith, and Lieftenant Sharpe be Lieft under him who are both to obey and Perform Such orders & Instructions as they shall from time to time Receive from ye Convention of ye Citty & County of albany that have the greatest Intrest in ye Preservation & Securing of sd fort for there Majesties behalfe, and yt till such time and while there Majesties William & Mary shall be pleased to send a governor or orders for ye government of this Province & the sd Pr Schuyler Mayor to take Possession of ye Same accordingly
N. B : Joh wendel Suspends his vote for ye p'sent as also Joh : Cuyler & J : nack.
This being Published by Bell-Ringing ye members of ye Convention went to ye Mayers house, and told him they were come to waite upon him and Conduct him up to ye fort who being accompanied with some of ye Principle Burgers went up and Possession of sd fort after ye usuall Ceremonies was Delivered, & ye sd Mayor with all cheerfulness Received by ye officers and souldiers of there Majesties garrison.
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