USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > The annals of Albany, Vol. VIII > Part 5
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By the returns enclosed your Excellency will see we have not more men well in the whole than would be re- quisite to garrison Fort Clinton, had I sent a relief, and therefore did not, at this time, judging your Excellency would not have this city left destitute of defence.
The party escorting the provisions to Saraghtoga marched this morning, but with difficulty it having been industriously reported in this town that they were to re- main there, which is the occasion of more desertion last night. It is impossible to relate the many malicious re-
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ports that are continnally spread in order to distress every Company but those raised in this County.
When I sent the last express, Coll. Johnson was at the Mohawks, nor had I time to let him know; he is now in town, and goes for York tomorrow with ten of the chief Sachims of the Six Nations who were come to him with three beits to assure him of their readiness to go out whenever he called them; and as our Assembly are not all endued with a Christian Faith, they go down to make thes ame declaration of friendship.
JNO ROBERTS.
LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR DE LANCEY TO THE LORDS OF TRADE.
[New York Papers, Bundle Kk., No. 29.]
New York. 21. October 1754.
My Lords: I omitted in my last of the 8th inst: a duplicate of which is inclosed, to acquaint your Lordships with the steps taken upon the incursions of the French Indians into this Province. I immediately ordered the City of Albany to be inclosed with Stockadoes in the places where wanting, the Blockhouses to be repaired, two hundred Men of each Regiment of Militia of the adjoining Counties to be held in readiness to march, and the whole Regiment in case of need, to the Assistance of Albany. I sent the independent Company posted in Fort George in this City to Albany, detaining a sergeant and the Inva- lids to do the Fort duty; and had also directed a fort to be built at a Pass on the Hudson's River about forty miles from Albany, but no workmen would undertake it on the credit of the Government. I inclose a copy of my letter to the General of Canada-I am-My Lords,
Your Lordships most obedient . and most humble servant JAMES DE LANCEY.
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LIEUTENANT DE LANCEY TO THE GOVERNOR OF CANADA. [New York Papers, Bundle Kk., No. 31] (Copy)
New York 16. October 1754.
Sir: I have received accounts from Albany, that seve- ral of the Indians of the Orondacks, and other Tribes, domiciliated within your Government, and as I have been well informed, intirely in your direction, have lately made incursions into this, and the Neighbouring provinces, and have burnt and destroyed the Houses and Barns of the poor Farmers living at and near Hoseck within my Gov- ernment : this, in a time of profound peace between His Britanick and most Christian Majesty, is a practice so Bar- barous, as I think is not warranted by any orders, and I persuade myself will not be approved of by the Most Christian King; and I would willingly flatter myself, could not have been done by the encouragement of a per- son of your Excell's Rank and character, and yet you will permitt me to say, it is with difficulty I can con- ceive, that those Indians would have attempted this piece of cruelty without your privity and connivance, since those Indians live among the French and are under your direction, what adds to the difficulty, is, that I am told, the Commanding Officer at Fort St Frederick furnished these Indians and those of Scachtacook whom they had taken with them, with a vessel to carry them to Canada. . I am in duty bound to lay those things before the King my Master.
I shall not doubt but your Excellency will, by putting an effectual stop for the future to such Barbarities, con- vince the world, that the suspicion entertained on this occasion are groundless, and I hope I shall always [have] the honor to subscribe myself ettc.
JAMES DE LANCEY
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MAJOR GENERAL JOHNSON TO THE LORDS OF TRADE.
[New York Papers, LI., No, 6.1
Camp at Lake George
24 September 1755
Your Lordships will observe from the inclosed Minutes that they repeat in a very earnest manner that the Cogh- nawagaes may never again be suffered to trade either at Albany or Oswego.
In my humble opinion to grant their request, to pro- hibit and prevent by the strictest execution of Law all Trade with the Cognawagaes or subjects of the French King either at Albany or Oswegoe or elsewhere by any of His Majesties Subjects in these parts, but more parti- cularly at Albany, will be a measure of the most useful kind will highly distress the French, who by the great Trade between Canada and Albany are enabled to supply the Indians with Goods which otherwise they could not but under great disadvantages, and hereby they make us Tools to the increase and stability of their Indian Inter- est-We might then push a stronger and more successful Interest amongst them and have one of the most powerful means in our hands to draw off the Coghnawagaes from the French reunite them to their Brethren of the Six Na- tions, and prevail on them to return to their antient hab- itations in this Province
Sir Charles Hardy is come up to Albany in order to push forward the present Expedition. I hope to see him here. ' when I propose to lay this matter before him, but I for- see that if Sir Charles embrace my sentiments and tries to push them into effect he will meet with great opposi- tion from the Dutch Traders at Albany who by their Cabals and weight in the Assembly may perhaps distress or at least vex him, those people are so devoted to their own private profit that every other publick principle has ever been sacrificed to it-I will detain your Lordships no longer than to assure you of my most sincere inclina- tions to promote what appears to me for the Honor and Interest of His Matys Service, and that I am My Lords &c
WM JOHNSON
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(From New York Colonial Ilistory, vol. iii.)
ROBERT LIVINGSTON TO SIR EDMUND ANDROS. (New England, V. 300.)
Hartford 14 April 1690
May it please Your Excell : I was in hopes Your Ex- cel : should have heard the newes of the destroyin Shinnechtady by the French and Indians before your de- parture that your Excel: might the more hastned their motion at Whitehall for our settlement. On the 9th of February last a Company of 250 French and Indians came upon that place when they all were asleep about 11 aClock at night, and killed and destroyed 60 men women and children, carryed 27 men and boys prisoners and burnt the towne, except 6 or 7 houses which are saved by Capt : Sander * whom they did not touch, having ex- presse command to meddle with none of his relations for his wife's sake, who had always been kinde to the French prisoners. The people of that Towne were so bygotted to Leysler that they would not obey any of the Magis- trates neither would they entertain the souldiers sent thither by the Convention of all; nothing but men sent from Leysler would doe theire turn.
Thus had Leysler perverted that poor people by his se- ditious letters now founde all bloody upon Shinnechtady streets, with the notions of a free trade, boalting &c and thus they are destroyed; they would not watch, and wher Capt : Sander commanded, there they threatened to burn him upon the fire, if he came upon the garde: Wee were much allarm'd at Albany ; we sent the Maquase that were at hand, out, and to the Maquase castles; but the mes- senger being so timorous did not proceed; so that it was 3 days before we could get the Maquase downe to pursue them ; who being joyned with our men, follow'd them to the Great Lake, where the yse being good and the French having robb'd sundrey horses, put their plunder upon sleds and so over the Lake; however the Indians pursued and gott 10, and afterwards 5, and killed 3. Who being
* Captain ALEXANDER GLEN. Colden's History of the Five Na- tions, 115.
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examined, relate that the French design to attacke Al- bany early in the Spring, having 120 batoes 100 birch canoes and 12 light morter peeces, and severall other en- gines ready, and are to come with 1500 men.
We signefied this dissaster to N. Yorke, Virginia, Con- ecticut, Boston, &c and desyred assistance. I was com- missionated by our Gent: to come hither and to Boston, where I have been; but they being lusty to send 500 men to Port Royall and raiseing men to secure there out townes, for Salmon Fallst was cut off when I was at Boston by 30 French and 30 Indians and but one French- man taken; Boston said, they could not assist us, but re- ferr'd us to this Collony where the General Court sits now, and have at last granted us about two Cumpan- ies, 124 men besides Officers, and as many of their In- dians as will make 200 in all, and furnish provisions for them, and are to goe forthwith to Albany. I had letters last week from home, who write me they have surrender. ed the fort to Leysler's party ; for this Collony drew off the Company that was there as soon as the N. Yorke forces viz 160 men came up, and advised them to sub- mitt to Leysler as also did Boston, calling him Leift: Governor, and that we could not expect any assistance till we had submitted, for every one of our neighbors drew back their hands. The conditions as far as I can under- stand are but mean, the Red Coats they promised should be entertained, them that would stay, and should have their pay in 6 weeks time; and no sooner had they the Fort in their possession, but turned out all the souldiers but 13, among the rest poor Sharpe, who is lame, being wounded with a great gunn that splitt when the alarm came of Shinnectady. They of Albany agree wel eneugh with the New Yorke Commissioners concerning the car- rying on the warr. Albany furnishes 140 men, Sopus 60, N. Yorke 200 that goe out in a months time against the enemy with the 5. nations towards Canida. But Leyslers faction will have the Mayor and other Magis- trates to take Commissions as Leift: Gov. and that they
t A settlement in Strafford county, New Hampshire, on the river which divides that State from Maine.
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. will not doe till he can [produce] beter power from K. Wm. to grant it. He is as cruel as ever, abuses all the principal men basely. Brother Cortland is fled, poor Cornel Beyerd, Mr. Goer, Wm. Nicolls, and severall more he keeps close and in dark prisones, and causes Beyerd to be carried in a chayr thorow the Fort by por- ters, with yrons on, in triumph. Your Excel : may con- jecture how we long to hear from His Majesty that a peri- od may be putt to our sufferings. Never were poor Prot- estants in the world so persecuted as this tyrant Leysler does and that upon pretence for standing up for King William. He mocks and skoffs when a man speaks of law: the sword must settle K. Williams right, not the law, he tells us. As soon as he heard of my goeing from Al- bany to these Colonies, he sends to this Colony and Bos- ton to apprehend me, writeing warrants, containing many false and pernicious lyes that I should have spoke this and that against the Prince of Orange, thinking by that means to render me odious to these Colonies, that they should not send supplyes. and then he could manage Al- bany at his pleasure.
I begg your Excell: to put His Majesty in minde of our deplorable condition, and that a Governor may be sent if not already done; elce it is to be feared this coun- trey will be lost.
We moved to them of Boston to joyne and fit out ves- sels to take Quebeck, and we would goe with the Indians towars Mount Royall; but they alleadge the want of - powder, and have therefore sent a sloop a purpose to the King for a supply. If Canada be not taken this su- mer, we wil be undone. I writt to my Lord Nottingham and sent his Lordship the copies of our protest against Leysler, the memorialls I delivered to this and Massa- chusetts Collony, all inclosed in a letter to Mr Ferguson. I hope they will come to hand, and that we may be speedily redressed. There is a generall meeting of Com- missioners at Rhode Island within a fortnight, of all the dominions, to carry on the warr. I hope it will be speedi- ly ended. We are well assured that if His Majesty never send so many letters Leysler will continue his ty-
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rannicall government, till a Governor comes from His most sacred Majesty K. William which God send speedi- ly with men for our assistance. I have noe more to add but pray your Excell: to be mindfull of my concerns about the Albany expedition, that His Majesty may send orders to setle and pay all these arrears; else I am un- done; for there is above 400£ I am out, besides what I have the mortgage for, and I have since these revolutions advanced considerable, expecting every day a settlement Brother Cortlant and I have maintained the Kings soul- diers at Albany till the 12 of March 1699 exclus : and now they turn them out like doggs, and tell them "let the Convention pay yow," who adminiustred them the oath of allegience to them for King William and Q. Mary, for none elce were admitted to stay but them that took the oath, because they should have nothing to ob- ject against us.
I doubt not but your Excell : will also take care about the £60 I advanced your Excel: at New Yorke. I am considerably indebted to one Joseph Hamond of London merchant and know not how to pay him except these matters be setled and paid. I have no more to add at present but that I am
Your Excel: most humble and most obedient servant. R LIVINGSTON
MR. LIVINGSTON TO LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR NICHOLSON. [New-York Papers, B. II. 451.]
7th June 1690.
Hon Sir.
We of Albany stood out the longest, till were deserted by all New England, and while I was sent by the conven- tion of Albany, to procure assistance from the neigh- bouring colonies, Leisler sends up one Jacob Milborne, formerly a servant to a man in Hartford, but now a fitt tool for his turn with 160 men, who gott the fort surren- dered to him, after I had maintained the garrison, and all publick charge to the 12th March, turned out all the
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souldiers but 12 or 13, which they took in againe, and so kept there for some weeks-This Jacob Milborne, John de Bruine, and Johannes Provoost, under the do- minion of New York Commissioners spending their time with drinking and Quaffing, while the French Indians comes and cutts off the people att Canastagione, and above Synechtady, and never one of them catcht. We have all Leisler's seditious letters secured which was the occasion of the destruction of Synechtady, miraculously found in the streets, all imbrued with blood the morning after the massacre was committed, soe that we want nothing but a Governor to call him to account-I writt to the Gent : of New York as soon as I heard your hon- our was arrived to send an expresso to Virginia; to be satisfied how things are in England in reference to our province, and when we may expect Coll: Slater, fearing that our Tyrant will make his escape-He has fitted out out a shipp, Briganteen, a sloop upon pretence of going to Canida who committ all manners of robberies in the sounde, having stole 30 Sheepe and 10 Calfs from Major Wintrops Island, fired severall gunns at Road Island, and by a man that hath deserted the said vessell, understand they design to take a Vessell with provisions and soe for the south sea, on Ginnee, and it is thought Leisler will make his escape after he has gott in this rate, he hath lately made with his pretended assembly and soe march off, which I hope will be prevented. If a Governor come not speedily it is much to be feared, the Country will be lost, all goes to confusion, all the Eastern parts lost and destroyed, no shipps ready to make an assault on Quebeke as was proposed, no army by land, the few sorry and despicable fellows that Leysler sent up as Souldiers to Albany, most of them being boys, dye like rotten sheep, of the bloody flux, by the fishy porke that Leisler robbed of the merchants, upon pretence to press itt for the Kings service.
I am forced to abscond, haveing not seen my family these three months, have seized on my estate, because I will not give an account of the excise to him-Brother Cortlandt, Coll : Willett, Capt. Jackson Mr. Whitebread *
* WHITEHEAD .- O'C.
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and other gents: are forced to do the same; you will have an account how tyranically he uses Coll: Bayard and the other Gents in prison at New York, so that shall need to say little to those affaires; I doe keepe at Hart- ford, and am come downe here to passe some few days with Coll: Winthrop, whom the General Court of this Colony have requested to be the Generall-after that the Commissioners of the three Colonies met at New -York, had left it to Capt. Leisler to choose the chief comman- der-I know not how to evade it-O brave doeings when all New England must come like servants to truckle to such an usurping Tyrant .-
The 160 men that Boston had raised to send us, who were upon their march were called back, upon the news of Caskoe being destroyed. This Colony has another camp ready, which they keep at home, fearing of the flux, that hath taken their men off the other camp at the green bush, soe that if somee speedy relief do not come, the King is liked to loose his interest in these parts. Coll: Wintrop who hath contrary to all their expecta- tions accepted to take the command of the forces at Al- bany presents his respects to you, says he had his share of troubles since your departure. The Gent : here knew they did not deserve, that he should take the trouble upon him, but he is soe willing to serve the King and the Country, that he waues all these things for the pres- ent. They sent an expresse to Leisler about it, but I know not what answer they have got come up to Hart- ford-
Sir, I have sent enclosed copies of some of my trans- actions with these Colonies, in the behalfe of Albany. They are scarce worth your perusing, considering the business you will have to doe in settling of the Dimin- ion. I have no more to add at present, begging the fa- vour to hear from you, which will be extream acceptable in our solitary condition-soe shall remaine- Honorable Sir -ettc.
ROET LIVINGSTON.
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MR. LIVINGSTON TO THE GOVERNMENT OF CONNECTICUT. [New-York Papers, B. II. 453.]
To the Hon the Governor and Councill and Represent- atives of Their Majesties Collonie of Connetticut assem- bled att a General Court att Hartford the 9th of May 1690.
The Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Albany have desired me to return their hearty thanks to Your Hon- ours for taking their request into consideration. : by grant- ing them men for their assistance, against the common ennemy begging to be excused for their not writeing to your Honors not being able te express themselves in the English tongue, they write to me that they can supply the men with bread and pease, for the like quantity att N. York, but have no porke, nor flesh to exchange, neither would I advise your Honours to doe it, by any means for your Honours men are used to good provisions, and if they should get fishy porke it would not agree with them.
They have also desired me to acquaint you with the affairs of that place, since great things were supposed would be done after a submission to Capt Leislers au- thority, which they only by the advice of your Honours and neighboring Collonies have done, but doe not finde the affect as was expected, neither is the business of the warr or Indians anyways promoted, or sett forward, nor their Majesties subjects preserved; The French Indians have murdered and destroyed divers persons and houses, and in two several places lately, and but not one of the Ennemie assaulted, the scouts they sent to the lake re- turned pretending wanted provisions ; the three Commis- sioners sent to Albany by Capt Leisler, doe no great feats except throwing some of the Citizens into gaole, and carrying them up into the fort by musquetiers with- out mittimus or warrant, nay the Capt of the guard not escaping, but carried from the very watch to the fort by Milbourn. These are the least of our troubles, now many of Leislers own faction can cry as loud for a Governor comeing from England as ever we did: but I shall not de- taine this Honourable Assembly by relating how the poor people there have been oppressed and impoverished [ Annals.viii.] 7
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by 220 men, eating up their victuals, without any provi- sions delivered out, when 5 days quarters were but desir- ed; nor with the souldiers murmuring for their agree- ment not being performed, not with the news lately come from Canida how it is reported, that 5 Sinnekes are there makeing of peace with the French, nor the Indians of the 5 nations not comeing down and the Mohogs backward- ness to pursue the French praying Indians; the desire the Eastern Indians have of a peace, signified to us by the Sachim of Skachkook which I have sent an account of to the Gov and Councill of Boston.
These and other such matters being more proper to be discoursed at large with a Committee, then to keep your Honours up from proceeding on greater business; only one I must putt Your Honours in mind of, which I am affraid, if not remedied, will prove so pernicious, will ruine all His Majesties affairs in our parts; That is that a General for all the forces att Albany, be appointed by the United Colonies who send their forces thither till our Governor comes, and not left to Captain Leisler, upon pretence of his sending up the most men-Gentlemen you all know how many mieschiefs and calamityes has hap- pened in former ages by the contendings of chief Officers, neither will the people that goe from hence be easiely commanded by such persons as Leisler shall nominate to be theire head, and wether there be any of his creatures, that are capable so great a charge and trust, since the principle persons of that province, both for conduct and estates are forced to abscond from his cruelty-I leave Your Honours to judge, it is a business of great moment, the Kings interest, and the lives of a great many of his subjects, lyes att the stake, and itt is in your Honours power, now to prevent many mischiefs that may ensue. I hope your Honours doe not look upon Albany as Alba- ny, but the frontier of Your Honours Collony, and of all their Majesties countries, and you Honours have all a pe- culiar interest in the preservation of that place, and there- fore it would be convenient, that there was a judicious man from each Collony to reside there, till His Excell : our Governor arrives, to manage all affairs and not to
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leave itt to such, who by report can not manage them- selves-The Mayor and Aldermen who he continued out of meer fear and terrour of the Indians, have not that correspondence and familiarity with the three New York Commissioners as was expected, the said Commissioners managing most affairs without them, except such as they know not how to proceed on without their advice.
We hope we shall have a Governor speedily, but in the mean tyme, it will be very requisite that the united Col- onies take Inspection of all affairs with us, since their interest and ours are so inseparable; fearing that if the business do miscarry we shall be ruined and that without lamentation, for all the world will say why did they trust persons to manage Kings affairs, which the King himself never did entrust, nay, such as have reason to believe, that all theyr actions will be called in question, as soon as a Governor comes, whom God send speedily to deliv- er us from the arbitrary yokes that poor -province lyes under, and restore to us the Ministry of the Gospell which in some parts, by their evill management the Kings liege people are deprived of-I shall conclude with an humble request in behalf of the City of Albany, that the forces your Honour design thither for their assistance and the annoying the common ennemy, may be dispatch- ed with all possible speed, since they long extreamly for their coming, and that your Honours would be pleased to remainde the Gent of Boston to do their part by sea towards Quebeek, and so shall remaine Your Honours most obedient Servant
ROBT LIVINGSTON.
MR. LIVINGSTON TO THE GOVERNMENT OF CONNECTICUT.
[New York Papers, B. II. 453.]
To the Honourable the Governor and Councill and Representatives of his Majesty's Colony of Canetticut now assembled att a general Court in Hartford the 13th Day of May 1690.
Honourable Gentlemen
I am fully perswaded your Honours are now satisfyed
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the Gent: of Albany did not without cause dread to think of having fort and citty brought under Leislers command, when they considered on the one hand, what persons he designed to employ to have the management of all affairs, and the 5 nations on the other hand to deal with all, when the least disgust of such a nature may prove so fatal to all the countrey, which is so little regarded by those persons called Commissioners there, that they do not stick to doe any violence to exasperate the heathen.
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