USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > The annals of Albany, Vol. VII > Part 19
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Your affectionate friend
22th June fort James
COL. NICOLLS TO THE COMMISSARIES OF ALBANY.
[New Nork Papers, I. 31.]
Messieurs: Your of the 26th October is received, and in answer thereunto Ist I doe confirme the persons nomi- nated for this Ensuing Yeare to be Comissaries, Capt. Abraham Staets Aron Van Curler
Philip Pieter Schuyler Richard Renzlaer
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Theunis Cornelis Spitsenbergh, and that Schout Swart continue in his . Office till further order. I suppose my letters to you may by chance be broken up, but not pur- posely by Capt. Baker, howeuer since Complaint is made I shall prævent the like in the future.
In my last letter I sent you full directions for your safety in case the french doe attempt to doe you further præjudice. In regard tis uncertaine whether the River will be open before the Time præfixt by the Court of As- sizes for bringing in your Ground Breifes under a Penal- ty in your favour I shall suspend the penalty exprest for the space of one moneth Extraordinary.
I could wish that all the land betweene the Fort and Towne lay in Common so that the people who lost their houses may be recompenct upon the hill with accommo- dation. I know that you only are authorized to give billets for the quartering of Souldiers, and none exempt- ed where you shall place them, but if you Exempt by favour the chiefest men, the comon people will cry out against you. I doubt the River will be shortly frozen and therefore doe earnestly require and desire you to be carefull of the Publick Peace and safety, and that amongst yourselues no quarrells or disputes may arise. and to the end that English and Dutch may live as brothers keep a strict hand upon the authors or reporters of strange newes which commonly tends to the dividing of mens hearts, and if any Newes happens this winter be it good or bad you shall have the truth from me. Thus wishing you health and peace I remaine
Your aff'te friend,
R. NICOLLS.
COL. NICOLLS TO MR. RENZELAER.
[New York Papers, I. 83.]
Monsieur Renzelaer : By the date of your letter from Renzelaerwicke in Albany October the 25th I perceiue that you conclude the Towne of Albany to be part of Renzelaerwick; I giue you friendly aduice not to grasp
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at too much authority, and you may probably obtaine the post more to your profitt. I haue lately returnd an- swer to His R. Hs his last letters, and doubt not of his finall determination of all matters relating to this Juris- diction in May next; if you imagine there is pleasure in titles of Government I wish that I could serue your appe- tite, for I have found onely trouble. You seeme to plead for a succession to your brother Baptista as of right be- longing to you, I will make answer in a Latine verse which in some sort you may apply
Filius ante diem Patrios inquirit in annos.
Let there be no Controversies of this nature betweene you and mee who will in all reasonable things serve you. Sett your hearth therefore at rest to bee contented with the profitt not the government of a Colony, till we heare from His Royall Highness. In my letter to the Comis- saries you will find Theunis Cornelius Spitsenburgh con- firmed., My service to your wife, your Brother and Mon- sieur Curler
I am. Your aff 'te friend R. NICOLLS. 16% 9ber 1666
COLONEL NICOLLS TO THE COMMISSARIES AT ALBANY.
| New England I. 360.]
Messieurs: Yours of % of 9ber as also of the 4 of 10ber, with the enclosed propositions from and answers to the Maquaes and your resolutions, are all well re- ceived; wherein I find good cause to return you thanks for your care in the preservation as well of His Majes- ties as of your own true interest in these times of diffi- culty with the ambitious French. Neither have I been unmindful to prepare the English in the North to your succor, in case the French should disturb the peace. All the soldiers at the Sopes will be ready at an hour's warn- ing, and further I have wrote to the Schout and Schepens there, to be ready for your assistance with as many men as they can possibly spare, of the Burgers, for I know
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well how impossible it is to send any from hence in the winter. I may well hope that the French are not onely weary of their two fruitlesse voyages, but that most of their souldiers, commanded away with the Viceroy into the West Indies, and now that the warr between Spaine and France is renewd, in probability the French will find worke enough at home. These last are but speculations and feed my hopes that yow may live in peace hereafter, though your circumspection ought not to be the lesse. I may not forgett to tell you with how much satisfaction to mee all the letters from Albany this winter, are received, in regard no complaints are made one of another, but a generall complyance to peace and friendshipp which is very agreeable to my disposition Therefore I should returne yow a complement, but I chouse rather to expect a time wherein I may more emphatically doe yow a service, un- to which I am most heartily inclind being,
Your aff'te friend,
R. N.
7 of Jan. 1666. Fort James.
-
COLONEL NICOLLS TO MR. ARENDT VAN CURLER.
Sir: Yours of the 1's of 9ber and of the 43 of 10ber with the account of the affaires under your care are kind - ly received, and will be soe acknowledged when opportu- nity presents.
I percieve my former instructions are observed, and I hope by that unanimous resolution taken the French will be discouraged from attempting to disturbe yow, and the Maquaes, forever obliged by the kindness and protection showd them in their necessity.
I would gladly heare of the demolishing of that fort mentioned in yours, and that the Paper could be found. Yow have not forgott your promise to perfect the Cart of the Lake, with the French Forts, and how it borders up- on the Maquais River .Sir, I am so abundantly satisfyed [ Annals vii.] 23.
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with your care and conduct in these troubles, that I shall now only desire yow to continue in well doing, wherby you have and will extremely oblige Your very aff'te friend,
R. N.
7 January 1666 Fort James.
-
COLONEL NICOLLS TO MR. GERARD SWART, SHERIFF OF ALBANY.
Sir: Yours of the 24 10ber is received; the messenger made no great haste, and I hope you will have no extra- ordinary occasion to send another before the River opens. I am very glad to heare that all affaires are carried with so much discretion, that not one complaint is made; which is wellcome tydings to mee, and showes that every man walkes in his owne station. It remaines that I returne yourselfe and all the officers particular thankes for the care taken in your defence against any nation that may disturbe yow assuring yow that on my part nothing shall be wanting to præserve yow all in peace or promote your wellfare. I am
Your aff 'te friend.
.
R. N.
COLONEL NICOLLS TO MR. ARENDT VAN CURLER. (New York [Papers, I. 49.)
Mons. Curler : Yours of the 29th 10ber is receued but not by the hand of Smits Jan who staid in Esopus so that I am disappointed of all the intelligence he might- have giuen mee ; bee pleased when you see Smits Jan to take in writing from his mouth whateuer he can inform you worth the writing, and send it mee by the next op- portunity. By circumstances in letters and the Passeport to the Indians I make my guessing that the french will not trouble your Parts this winter. I haue wrot at large to the Comissaries therefore shall not say more to you
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not doubting of the continuance of your care and paines in this publik concerne. Smits Jan must carry mine and the Comissary's" former letters to the Vice Roy at Can- ada. I haue enclosed sent you all the french letters back again, for my part I understand well Banchot's meaning, which is to lett you know how little good will Mons. de Tracy hath for the Dutch and when time serves he will make use of those pretences to color his ambi- tion of Ingrossing the Bever trade by destroying and interrupting ours at Albany. In returne of those novelles which he sent you pray send him these two Copies one relates to the fight in June the other relates to the En- terprise of Schelling Island, after the defeat given the Dutch fleet upon the 25th of August; and let Mons. Ban- chot hear that we haue later intelligence than himselfe, and probably he knows not that the warr is lately begunn between France and Spaine. I hope the publik and your private affaires will permitt you in the spring to visit these Parts which you haue not done since I came into the Country.
Mons. Le Rolle and Mons. de Ville haue wrote to Monsr fountaine to returne to Canada with Smits Jan as also that the french would not lose this Opportunity : Monsr fountaine hath kept his Christmas with Capt. Carterett in New Jersey, and can not stir thence this moneth; but if he could 'tis impossible for him to march from hence to Canada through the snow afoot. All the french souldiers except one thats lame and in service with a french man upon Staten Island, are gone to Bos- ton to seeke a passage thence, by the helpe of the Alin- conguins. I haue no more at present but to assure you that I am Your very aff'te friend . To serue you, R. N.
11th of Jan 1666 fort James.
COLONEL NICOLLS TO CAPTAIN JOHN BAKER. (New York Papers, I. 50.) Capt Baker: Yours of the 20th of 10ber which should
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haue come by Smits Jan is brought by another Indian who calls himselfe Mr Thomas. So that I want all the infomation which hee could giue mee. In another of this date to the Capt. and Comissaries at Albany I have sent the best advice and direction which my knowledge of the present affaires could collect out of the seueral let- ters; but I must referr the management thereof for the best to the discretion of yourselfe and Comissaries whose former letter with mine to the Viceroy of Cana- da must be sent by Smits Jan. The relation you made mee is sent to Mr Winthrop and Capt. Pinchen. I col- lect from the letters and from the Viceroy his passeport to the Indians, that we are not much to feare their at- tempts this winter yet such collections may faile and not much to be relyed upon, for the french forts are too neare neighbours and can poure forth men before we are aware, if we be not always watchfull. I do not see cause to change my former directions but because the Maquaes desire my advice it is that they make a good peace or none with the french, such as may bring in bever to Albany, and leave them without feare or Jeal- ousy of the French, one point will be necessary that the Maquaes should declare to the French that the King of England is the Great King of all their Country and parts adjacent, and unto him they are subordinate, living in peace and trading with all his subjects, and now they are willing to make peace with the french and will re- solue to keep it if the French will demolish their forts and bring no more troopes of Souldiers into the King of England's country or their Plantation.
To this purpose you may take seueral opportunities of instructing not onely Smits Jan but the Maquaes Saga- mores, shewing them it is their Interest to make an hon- orable mention of the King of England, what numbers of English there are round about and all the Country over, how considerable a force from all the adjacent colonies are come to Albany in three or four dayes, and with what freindship the English, Dutch and Maquaes liue togeth- er in all points except warr with Christians. Such lan-
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guage or the like you may make use of to the Maquaes, Sachems and Smits Jan, some Dutch here are persuaded that Smits Jan hath received so much kindness from the french that hee is turned frenchman, but he hath drawne so much blood from the French that he can not be so foolish as to thinke that they haue good intentions for him onely to serue their present endes.
Wee have no late newes from any Parts being shut up with a hard winter. I had almost forgot a short passage in a French letter to Monsr La fountaine from a friend of his at Quebec where speaking how kind the Viceroy is to him, says that the Viceroy intended to have relieved him at any hazard, upon which subject he would have write more if he thought the letter should passe directly to Monsr fountaine's hands, further that they had found an easy and Admirable means to transport their men up- on all occasions, therefore it is necessary to inquire of Smits Jan what new passage or Inventions they haue found. This is all at present from
Your aff'te freind.
DUKE OF YORK TO GOVERNOR ANDROS IN FAVOR OF THE REV. MR. VAN RENSELAER.
[New York Entries CLI. 16.]
Major Andros : Nichalaus Van Renseslaer having made his humble request unto me, that I would recomend him to be Minister of one of the Dutch Churches in New York or New Albany when a vacancy shall happen ; whereunto I have consented. I do hereby desire you to signify the same unto the Parishoners at that [place] wherein I shall look upon their compliance as a mark of their respect and good inclinations towards me. I am &c.
23 July 1674.
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SIR JOHN WERDEN TO GOVERNOR ANDROS.
[New York Entries CLI. 21.]
Sir: I have forgott to mention in my long letter of the 28th instant one particular which I have been informed of, and it is this.
I'me told that in the whole time of your predecessours in that government they never permitted any Foreigners vessells to pass up the river of New Yorke to sell their goods up at Albany or elsewhere in the country, but obliged them alwaies to sell what they had at New Yorke, thereby not only securing better the publique dutyes at N. Yorke, but inriching the people thereof by giving them the opportunity of the first marketts and of keeping the bever trade within the hands of the inhabitants our owne colony. Whereas 'tis said that you permitt the Bosteners and other strangers to goe up in their small vessells to Es- opus and Albany and elsewhere as freely as the very natu- ral subjects of his Royal Highness's Colony.
I know not whether the thing be truly represented to me, or whether such ill consequences attend it as are presaged by some, but finding it reported as a new thing I am not sorry for this opportunity to give you notice of what I heare and shal be glad to have your reasons for a proceeding different from what was heretofore thought best for the place, if my intelligence be good. I am &c. St. James's 31 Jan. 167-5.
To Major Andros &c.
REPORT OF COUNSEL ON THE PETITION OF KILIAEN VAN RENSSELAER.
[New York Papers B. II. 104]
May it please Your Royall Highness : We have in pur- suance of the refference unto us upon the Report of the Governor of New York and the Petitioners of the heir- ess of Killiaen Van Rensselaer considered thereof, and do find both, by the Governors Report and by several acts or adjudications, in Holland, whereby the right of
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the Petitioners to the lands called the Rensselaers Wyck heretofore called Williamstad and now Albany, doth of right belong unto the Petitioners by a sale made to their predecessors in the year 1630, and have been for some years unduly kept out of the enjoyment thereof, and do humbly conceive that it may be just for your Royal High- ness (if you so please) to grant unto the Petitioners the said Ransselaers Wyck colonie with such priviledges and imunities as formerly they had, excepting the Fort called Orange Fort and the land it stands upon, that whereas dureing the time they have been out of posses- sion viz since the years 1652, divers persons have built several houses upon some part of the premises, that such persons shall hold and enjoy the same for one and thirty years from this time, paying to the Petitioners yearly the value of two beaver skins for the great houses, and for the middle sort of houses one beaver skin, and for the lesser half the value of a beaver skin during the term which the Petitioners do assent unto, and with this also that the Petitioners and all that shall claime under them shall from time to time well and truely pay and performe all publik dutties and impositions as formerly have been by them, or their predecessors and all such as shall be imposed on them by your Royall Highnesse or your Governors upon the other persons that hold and en- joy any part of your Highnesss lands or Colonies which [lie] in your territories of New Yorke or Albany.
London 4 Junij 1678.
JOHN CHURCHHILL, HENEAGE FINCH.
WARRANT TO GOVERNOR ANDROS TO ISSUE A PATENT FOR RENSSELAERSWY CK.
(New York Entries, CLI. 26.)
WHEREAS I have perused the peticon of the heirs of Killian Van Rensselaer setting forth their right to cer- tain lands called the Rensselaers-Wicke (heretofore called Williamstadt and now Albany) and have heard the opin-
.
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ions of yourself and my counsell at law thereupon : these are to will and require you to cause Letters Patent un- der the seal of your government to be granted to the said petitioners to grant and confirm unto them the said Rensselaers- Wicke colony with such privileges and im- unities as formerly they had (excepting the Fort called Oranges Fort and its outworks, if any be, and the lands they stand upon) and whereas during the time they have been out of possession, viz since the year 1652, divers persons have built several houses upon some part of the premises, you are to take care that such persons and all deriving under them shall remain in quiet possession of the same yielding and paying during the term of 31 years to commence from the date of the letters pattent above- mentioned, unto the said petitioners or their assigns such yearly rent as you with the advice of your counsell shall think reasonable, not exceeding the value of two beaver skins for the great houses and of one beaver skin for the middle sort of houses and of halfe a beaver skin for the lesser sort of houses, and from and after the ex- piration of the said 31 years the rent for the future to be agreed on between the said parties themselves or as you or your successors for the time being, with the advice of your counsell shall judge reasonable. All which the said petitioners do assent unto. And further you are to take care that the said petitioners and all that claim under them shall from time to time well and truly pay and per- form all public dutyes and impositions as formerly have been by them or their predecessors and all such as shall be imposed by myself or by you or other my Lt. Gov- ernors for the time being upon the other persons that hold or enjoy any part of the lands or colonies within the territories of New York or Albany 'or their depend- encyes in America. For all which this shall be your warrant. Given under my hand and Seale at St. James's this 7th day of June, 1678.
To Sir Edmund Andros Knight and Governor of New York and its dependencyes in America,
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PROPOSITION OF THE ONONDAGA AND CAYUGA INDIANS.
(New York Papers, I. 338,)
Brother Corlaer : Your Sachim is a great Sachim and we are but a small people, when the English came to Manhatans that is New York, Aragiske, which is now called Virginia, and to Jaquokranægare now called Mary- land, they were but a small people and we a great peo- ple, and finding they were good people we gave them land and treated them civilly, and now since you are a great people and we but a small, you will protect us from the French, which if. you do not, we shall lose all our hunting and beavers. The French will have all the beavers, and are angry with us for bringing any to you.
Brethren: Wee have putt all our land and our selfs un- der the protection of the great Duke of York, the brother of your great Sachim; we have given the Susquehanne river which we wonn with the sword to this government and desire that it may be a branch of that great tree that grows here, whose topp reaches to the sunn, under whose branches we shall shelter ourselves from the French or any other people, and our fire burn in your houses and your fire burns with us, and we desire that it always, may be so and will not that any of your Penns people shall settle upon the Susquehanne river; for our young folks or soldiers are like wolfes in the woods, as you Sachim of Virginia know, we having no other land to leave to our wives and children.
We have put our selves under the great Sachim Charles that lives over the great lake, and we do give you Two white drest dearskins to be sent to the great Sachim Charles, that he may write upon them, and putt a greatt redd seale to them. That we do put the Susquehanne riv- er above the Washinta* or falls and all the rest of our land under the great Duke of York and to nobody else, our brethren his servants were as fathers to our wives and children, and did give us bread when we were in
* Evidently an abbreviation of Too-wawsunthah, the Mohawk word for " Falls." Gallatin's Synopsis, 387.
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need of it, and we will neither joyn Ourselves or our land to any other government than this, and this propo- sition we desire that Corlaer the Governor may send over to your great Sachim Charles that dwells over the great Lake with this belt of wampum Peeg, and another smaller belt for the Duke of York his brother, and we give a Bever to the Corlaer to send over this proposi- tion.
1
And you great man of Virginia, meaning the Lord Effingham Governor of Virginia, we let you know that Great Penn did speak to us here in Corlaer's house by his agents, and desired to buy the Susquehanne river, but we would not harken to him nor come under his Government, and therefore desire you to be witness of what we now do and that we have already done and lett your friend that lives over the great lake know that we are a ffree people uniting ourselves to what Sachem we please, and do give you one beavor skin.
This is a true copy translated, compared and revised by me
ROBT. LIVINGSTON.
PETITION OF THE COMMISSARIES OF ALBANY.
(New York Papers, I. 333.)
To the Right Honorable Thomas Dongan, Lieut. and Governor Generall of the Province of New York &c.
The Petition of the Commissioners for the town of Albany.
Humbly sheweth-That of late years the French un- der pretence of propagating the Christian Faith among the Indians have much encroached upon the Indian trade, and have likewise drawn away many of our Indians to themselues, by means whereof the Trade of this place is much diminished and the Increase of his Majesty's Rev- enue obstructed, for remedy whereof there will be nothing more effectuall in giuing satisfaction to the Indians and being conducive to regain them from the ffrench, then
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that your honor in your great wisdom will take care that those ffrench priests that are in the Indian castles may be removed, as in pursuance of the Reiterated Proposals of the Indians, their Places supplyed with English capa- ble to instruct and continue them in the knowledge of the Christian Religion.
Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray that your honor would be pleased to address unto His Majestie in their behalf that due care may be taken in the Premises.
And your petitioners as in duty bound shall ever pray &c.
GOVERNOR DONGAN TO THE LORD PRESIDENT. (New York Entry, II. 156.)
New York, Sep. 12th, 1687.
My Lord: Since writing my other letter some mes. sages have come to my hands from Albany of their ap- prehensions of the French which obliges me to carry up thither two hundred men, besides the Garrison and go and stay there this Winter, and to get together five or six hundred of the five nations about Albany and Scho- nectade which will be a great charge but I see no remedy for it.
My Lord it is a great misfortune for this Government that there are so few of his Majesty's natural born sub- jects, the greater part being Dutch, who if occasion were, I fear would not be very fitt for service.
I am sending to the further Indians to try if I can make a Peace between them and the Sennekas and also to the Christian Indians about Canada who have a mind to come, to lett them know I will get a priest for them, I will do what is possible for me to save the government against the French til I have further Orders from your Lordp. Judge Palmer has more Papers to shew your Lordp that came from Albany, by those he carries with him your Lordp may perceive the grounds I have for my proceedings.
I am your Lordps most obedt
and humble servant THO. DONGAN.
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PROPOSITIONS OF THE MOHAWK INDIANS TO THE MAYOR, &c., OF ALBANY.
(Board of Trade Papers, New York, III.)
Propositions made by the Maquass Sachim to the May- or and Aldermen of the city of Albany in the City Hall of the said city on the ninth day of Sept., 1687.
Present- P. Schuyler, Esq., Mayor. Dirick Wessells, Recorder. Adr. Geritse,
Hend. Cuyler, Aldermen.
Alb. Ryckman,
Interpreters : H. Keeman and Robert Sanders. Rode was Speaker.
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