USA > New York > Fulton County > The border warfare of New York, during the revolution; or, The annals of Tryon county > Part 3
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BORDER WARFARE OF NEW YORK; OR,
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CHAPTER II.
OF all the English colonies in North America, none was more loyal than New York ; but while her colo- nial history exhibits her inhabitants professing a warm attachment to the English crown, it presents them also uniformly and zealously maintaining their own inherent rights and privileges. As early as 1691 an act was passed by the colonial Assembly, asserting the grounds of their right of being represented in Assem- bly ; that it was one of the distinguishing liberties of Englishmen, and was not a privilege enjoyed through the grace of the crown ; and in 1708 the following resolution, reported by the committee of grievances, was adopted by the Assembly : "Resolved, that the imposing and laying of any monies upon any of her Majesty's subjects of his colony, under any pretence or color whatever, without consent in General Assem- bly, is a grievance, and a violation of the people's property." From this period down, we find this colony steadily resisting every attempt of her govern- ors to encroach upon her rights, while contributing at the same time freely and largely for their support, and that of the government generally. During the long and harassing French wars, her levies both of men and money, considering her population and resources,
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ANNALS OF TRYON COUNTY.
were immense. Her territory was the principal scene of action, and she seconded with all her powers the measures adopted by the English to destroy the influ- ence of the French in America : the successful termi- nation of the last of those wars, thus freeing New York from constant alarm and danger ; the common privations and sufferings endured by the Provincial and English armies ; the numerous connections by marriage formed by the officers of the latter; and the extensive and flourishing commerce of the city, all tended to strengthen the attachment of this province to the mother country.
Still asserting her own exclusive right of taxation, the Stamp Act was opposed in this province with much warmth in 1765, and the first committee of corre- spondence was chosen; which, communicating with the committees of other provinces, prepared the way for the calling of the Congress which convened in the city of New York the same year. With the repeal of the Stamp Act, the loyalty of the inhabitants again returned ; and the aforementioned causes still opera- ting, together with the direct influence supposed to have been exerted by the English ministers, prevent- ed the early adoption by the Assembly of the measures recommended by the Continental Congress of Phila- delphia in 1774.
In Tryon County, during the period between the repeal of the Stamp Act and the assembling of Con- gress in '74, a state of things existed unfavorable to the cause of the Colonies. Sir William Johnson, respected for his talents, and distinguished by the official stations which he had filled with so much 3
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credit, had endeared himself, not only to the Indians, who looked up to him as a father, but also to the other inhabitants, who regarded him as the patron of of the County, and who consulted him upon all mat- ters of importance. Drawing towards the close of life, his opinions were those of a sage, and expressed, as they would naturally be, in favor of that govern- ment which had so highly honored and enriched him, had a tendency, if not entirely to change, at least to neutralize many individuals, who otherwise would have espoused with warmth the colonial cause. He was supposed, however, to have been actuated more by what he considered his duty to the English gov- ernment, than governed by his own private opinions. He could but view therefore with regret, those acts of the British Parliament which were goading on the Americans to resistance by force. His sons-in-law Colonel Guy Johnson, and Colonel Claus, and his son, Sir John Johnson, especially Guy and Sir John espoused the cause of the crown with great ardor Possessing large estates and occupying splendid resi- dences along the eastern boundary of the County, they presented a formidable barrier to the transmission anc circulation of general intelligence relative to existing differences. If they were not individually possessed of the influence and reputation of Sir William, they made up the deficiency by their zeal and activity. Iı the early part of the disturbance, they formed saga cious plans to prejudice the Six Nations against the American cause, and also to secure the co-operation il favor of Great Britain of their numerous dependent and friends. Among the latter were John and Wal
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ANNALS OF TRYON COUNTY.
ter Butler, who lived near Caughnawaga, a few miles from Johnstown, and Joseph Brant,* all of whom visited with such dreadful massacres the settlements of western Pennsylvania and New York. The in- habitants of Tryon County, friendly to the American cause, were not idle. They, in common with their friends of this and the other provinces, had viewed with alarm and indignation the enactment and opera- tion of the oppressive acts of the English Parliament, and warmly sympathized with the inhabitants of Mas- sachusetts. They hailed with joy the proposition for calling a Continental Congress. A meeting for Pala- tine district was called the 27th of August, 1774, which was attended by a large number of the inhab- itants. It was said by Dr. Franklin, upon his exam- ination before the British House of Commons, in 1766, relative to the operation of the Stamp Act, "that the Germans who inhabit Pennsylvania are more dissatis- fied with the duty than the native colonists them-" selves." The following resolutions, adopted at this meeting, will show what were the feelings and senti- ments of their brethren on the Mohawk. They contain the sentiments of the times, and they breathe a spirit highly commendable, and which could hardly have been expected to exist, and existing, must have required some deeision and courage to publish in this then remote and defenseless county, filled too with loyalists and Indians under their control. It will be romembered that it was in June preceding, the Boston Port Bill went into operation, and when the first mea-
* See Appendix-Note C.
,
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BORDER WARFARE OF NEW YORK; OR,
sures were adopted by the Assembly of that province for the calling of a General Congress.
" This meeting, looking with concern and heartfelt sorrow on the alarmning and calamitous condition which the inhabitants of Boston are in, in conse- quence of the act of Parliament blocking up the port of Boston, and considering the tendency of the late acts of Parliament, for the purpose of raising a revenue in America, has to the abridging the liberties and priv- ileges of the American colonies, do resolve :
I. That King George the Third is lawful and rightful Lord and Sovereign of Great Britain, and the dominions thereunto belonging ; and that, as part of his dominions, we hereby testify, that we will bear true faith and allegiance unto him; and that we will, with our lives and fortunes, support and maintain him upon the throne of his ancestors, and the just dependence of these, his colonies, upon the crown of Great Britain.
II. That we think and consider it as our greatest happiness, to be governed by the laws of Great Brit- ain, and that with cheerfulness we will always pay submission thereunto as far as we consistently can with the security of the constitutional rights and liber- ties of English subjects, which are so sacred that we cannot permit the same to be violated.
III. That we think it is our undeniable privilege to be taxed only with our own consent, given by our- selves or our representatives. That taxes otherwise laid and exacted are unjust and unconstitutional. That the late acts of Parliament, declarative of their right of laying internal taxes on the American colo-
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ANNALS OF TRYON COUNTY.
.
nies, are obvious encroachments on the rights and liberties of the British subjects in America.
IV. That the act for blocking up the port of Bos- ton is oppressive and arbitrary ; injurious in its prin- ciples, and particularly oppressive to the inhabitants of Boston, whom we consider brethren suffering in the common cause.
V. That we will unite and join with the different districts of this county, in giving whatever relief it is in our power, to the poor, distressed inhabitants of Boston ; and that we will join and unite with our brethren of the rest of this colony, in anything tending to support and defend our rights and liberties.
VI. That we think the sending of delegates from the different colonies to a general continental Con- gress is a salutary measure, and absolutely necessary at this alarming crisis, and that we entirely approve of the five gentlemen chosen delegates for this colony by our brethren of New York, hereby adopting and choosing the same persons to represent this colony in the Congress.
VII. That we hereby engage faithfully to abide by and adhere to such regulations as shall be made and. agreed upon by the said Congress.
VIII. That we consider it necessary that there be appointed a standing committee of this county, to correspond with the committees of New York and Albany, and we do hereby appoint Christopher P. Yates, Isaac Paris, John Frey, and Andrew Fink, who, together with persons to be appointed by the other districts of this county, are to compose a committee of
1
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BORDER WARFA LE OF NEW YORK; OR,
correspondence to convey the sentiments of this coun- ty, in a set of resolves, to New York.
IX. It is voted by this meeting, that copies of the proceedings of this day, certified by the chairman, be transmitted to the supervisors of the different districts of this county, and that we recommend it to the in- habitants of the said districts to appoint persons to compose a committee of correspondence."
The Continental Congress which met in Philadel- phia in September following, after a session of eight weeks adjourned until May, 1775. Several impor- tant and patriotic addresses had been sent forth, well calculated to awaken the people to a knowledge of their rights.
At a court held in Johnstown in the spring of 1775, a declaration was drawn up and circulated by the loyalists of Tryon County, in which they avowed their opposition to the measures adopted by the Con- gress. Warm altercations and debates ensued, but it was signed by most of the grand jury, and nearly all the magistrates.
This proceeding applied the torch to that train of combustible materials which had been accumulating, and which immediately kindled into a blaze. The minds of men were generally prepared for a decisive step, and meetings were called, and committees ap- pointed in all the districts, and sub-committees in almost every precinct and hamlet in the county.
On the day appointed for the meeting in Cherry Valley, the little church was filled with the inhabit- ants, of every age. Parents took their children with them, that they might early breathe the air of free-
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ANNALS OF TRYON COUNTY.
dom, and that their first lispings might be in favor of the liberties of their country. Thomas Spencer, a resident in the place, and an Indian interpreter, ad- dressed the meeting in a strain of rude, though im- passioned eloquence. The noblest efforts of a Henry or an Otis never wrought more sensibly upon the feelings of the respective congresses which they ad- dressed, than did the harangue of this unlettered patriot upon that little assembly. The article of as- sociation was carried round to the different persons, most of whom subscribed it.
These meetings were called early in May, and the following was the article of association : " Whereas the grand jury of this county, and a number of the magistrates, have signed a declaration, declaring their disapprobation of the opposition made by the Colonies to the oppressive and arbitrary acts of Parliament, the purport of which is evidently to entail slavery on America ; and as the said declaration may, in some measure, be looked upon as the sense of the County in general, if the same be passed over in silence ; we the subscribers, freeholders, and the inhabitants of the said County, inspired with a sincere love for our country, and deeply interested in the common cause, do solemnly declare our fixed attachment and entire approbation of the proceedings of the grand Conti- nental Congress held at Philadelphia last fall, and that we will strictly adhere to, and repose our con- fidence in the wisdom and integrity of the present Continental Congress; and that we will support the same to the utmost of our power, and that we will re-
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BORDER WARFARE OF NEW YORK; OR,
ligiously and inviolably observe the regulations of that august body."
On the 18th of May the Palatine committee met and wrote a letter to the committee of Albany, which, as it gives a full view of the affairs of the County, is inserted at length.
" We are so peculiarly circumstanced in this coun- ty, relating to the present struggle for American lib- erty, that we cannot longer defer laying the situation of this county before you. The district we represent has been foremost in avowing its attachment to liber- ty, and approving the method of opposition adopted in America, and are now signing an association simi- Jar to what has been signed in other counties in this province, and we hope, in a few days, to have the pleasure to transmit it down for the press. The County being extensive, it takes a considerable time before . the people who are favorable to the cause can be got to sign : for we have caused copies of the association to be dispersed in divers parts of the County. This county has, for a series of years, been ruled by one family, the different branches of which are still strenu- ous in dissuading people from coming into congres- sional measures, and even have, last week, at a numerous meeting of the Mohawk district, appeared with all their dependents armed to oppose the people considering of their grievances : their number being so large, and the people unarmed, struck terror into most of them, and they dispersed. We are informed that Johnson Hall is fortifying by placing a parcel of swivel guns round the same ; and that Colonel John- son has had parts of his regiment of militia under arms
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ANNALS OF TRYON COUNTY.
yesterday, no doubt with a design to prevent the friends of liberty from publishing their attachment to the cause to the world. Besides which, we are told that about 150 Highlanders (Roman Catholics) in and about Johnstown, are armed, and ready to march upon the like occasion. We have been informed that Colonel Johnson has stopped two New England- ers and searched them, being, we suppose, suspicious that they came to solicit aid from us or the Indians, whom we dread most, there being a current report through the County, that they are to be made use of in keeping us in awe.
" We recommend it strongly and seriously to you to take it in your consideration whether any powder and ammunition ought to be permitted to be sent up this way, unless it is done under the inspection of the committee, and consigned to the committee here, and for such particular shopkeepers as we in our next shall acquaint. you of. We are determined to suffer none in our district to sell any, but such as we approve of, and sign the association. When any thing par- ticular comes to our knowledge relating to the Indians, (whom we shall watch,) or any other thing interest- ing, we shall take the earliest opportunity in commu- nicating the same to you. And as we are a young county, remote from the metropolis, we beg you will give us all the intelligence in your power. We shall not be able to send down any deputies to the Pro- vincial Congress, as we cannot possibly obtain the sense of the County soon enough to make it worth our while to send any, but be assured we are not the less attached to American liberty. For we are deter-
3*
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BORDER WARFARE OF NEW YORK; OR,
mined, although few in number, to let the world see who are, and who are not such ; and to wipe off the indelible disgrace brought on us by the declaration signed by our grand jury and some of our magis- trates ; who in general are considered by the majority of the County as enemies to their country. In a word, gentlemen, it is our fixed resolution to support and carry into execution every thing recommended by the Continental Congress, and to be free or die."
This same committee met on the 21st of May, when the following letters were laid before them. The first, being a letter from some of the Mohawk Indians to the Oneidas, had been found in the road, where it was supposed to have been lost by some Indian.
Translated into English, it was as follows : " Writ- ten at Guy Johnson's, May, 1775. This is your letter, you great ones or Sachems. Guy Johnson says he will be glad if you get this intelligence, you Oneidas, how it goes with him now, and he is now more cer- tain concerning the intention of the Boston people. Guy Johnson is in great fear of being taken prisoner by the Bostonians. We Mohawks are obliged to watch him constantly. Therefore we send you this intelligence that you shall know it, and Guy Johnson assures himself, and depends upon your coming to his assistance, and that you will without fail be of that opinion. He believes not that you will assent to let him suffer. We therofore expect you in a couple of days' time. So much at present. We send but so far as to you Oneidas, but afterward perhaps to all the other nations. We conclude and expect that you will
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ANNALS OF TRYON COUNTY.
have concern about our ruler, Guy Johnson, because we are all united." This letter was signed by Joseph Brant, secretary to Guy Johnson, and four other chiefs.
The following letter was from Guy Johnson to the magistrates, and others of the upper districts, dated Guy Park, May 20th, 1775. " Gentlemen, I have lately had repeated accounts that a body of New Englanders, or others, were to come and seize and carry away my person, and attack our family, under color of malicious insinuations, that I intended to set the Indians upon the people. Men of sense and character know that my office is of the highest impor- tance to promote peace among the Six Nations, and prevent their entering into any such disputes. This I effected last year, when they were much vexed about the attack made upon the Shawnese, and I last win- ter appointed them to meet me this month to receive the answer of the Virginians. All men must allow, that if the Indians find their council-fire disturbed, and their superintendent insulted, they will take a dreadful revenge. It is therefore the duty of all peo- ple to prevent this, and to satisfy any who may have been imposed on, that their suspicions, and the alle- gations they have collected against me, are false, and inconsistent with my character and office. I recom- mend this to you as highly necessary at this time, as my regard for the interest of the County and self- preservation has obliged me to fortify my house, and keep men armed for my defense, till these idle and malicious reports are removed."-
The committee, taking these letters into considera- tion, adopted unanimously the following resolutions ;
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"I. That it is the opinion of this committee that the Indians who signed the letter never would have pre- sumed to write or send the same, if they had not been countenanced.
II. That as we have unanimously adopted the pro- ceedings of the grand Continental Congress, and mean virtuously to support the same, so we feel and com- miserate the sufferings of our brethren in the Massa- chusetts Bay, and the other colonies in America, and that we mean never to submit to any arbitrary and oppressive acts of any power under heaven, or to any illegal and unwarrantable action of any man or set of men.
III. That as the whole Continent has approved of the actions and proceeding of the Massachusetts Bay, and other of the provinces of New England, we do adopt and approve of the same. Wherefore we must and do consider that any fortification or armed force raised to be made use of against them, is evidently designed to overawe and make us submit.
IV. That Col. Johnson's conduct in raising fortifi- cations round his house, keeping a number of Indians and armed men constantly about him, and stopping and searching travellers upon the King's highway, and stopping our communication with Albany, is very alarming to this county, and is highly arbitrary, ille- gal, oppressive and unwarrantable ; and confirms us in our fears, that his design is to keep us in awe, and oblige us to submit to a state of slavery.
V. That as we abhor a state of slavery, we do join and unite together under all the ties of religion, honor, justice, and a love for our country, never to become
.
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ANNALS OF TRYON COUNTY.
slaves, and to defend our freedom with our lives and fortunes."
The following letter was at the same time written, and sent by express to the committee of Albany.
" Upon the alarming news that expresses were gone to call down the upper nations of Indians to Col. John- son's, we caused ourselves to be convened this day, to take the state of this County into our consideration ; upon which we have determined to order the inhabit- ants of this district to provide themselves with suffi- cient arms and ammunition, and to be ready at a moment's warning. We are sorry to acquaint you that all communication with your county is entirely stopped by Col. Johnson, who has five hundred men to guard his house, which he has fortified, under pre- tense that he is afraid of a visit of the New England men, as will appear by a copy of a letter we inter- cepted this morning. We have not 50 pounds of powder in our district, and it will be impossible for you to help us to any till the communication is opened, not a man being suffered to pass, without being searched. To-morrow is to be a meeting of Canajo- harie district, when we expect they will adopt Con- gressional measures very heartily, and we purpose to have a meeting of the committees of both districts, and propose the question, whether we will not open the communication by force ; if which question is de- termined in the affirmative, we shall despatch another express to you, acquainting you with the day, when we hope you will be on your way up with some am- munition. We have just sent off an express to the German Flats and Kingsland districts, desiring them
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to unite with us and give us their assistance ; which districts, or at least a great majority of them, we are credibly informed, are very hearty in the present strug- gle for American liberty. We are, gentlemen, per- haps in a worse situation than any part of America is at present. We have an open enemy before our faces, and treacherous friends at our backs, for which reason we hope you will take our case into your immediate consideration, and give us an answer by the bearers, who go express by the way of Schoharie, as we dare not trust them any other way. They have orders to wait for an answer. We have reason to think that a great many of the Indians are not satisfied with Col. Johnson's conduct, for which reason we have thought it would not be improper to send a couple of men, well acquainted with the Indian language, to dis- suade them from coming down. And we think it would be of service to us if you could send two also, who are able to make the Indians sensible of the present dispute with the mother country and us. We have the pleasure to acquaint you, that we are very unanimous in our district, as well as in Canajoharie, and we are determined by no means to submit to the oppressive acts of Parliament, much less to Col. John- son's arbitrary conduct."
On the 22d of May, the mayor, aldermen, and commonalty of the city of Albany, to whom a letter similar to the one addressed to the magistrates of Tryon County had been sent by Guy Johnson, re- turned the following answer. " We this day received yours without date, directed to the magistrates and committee of Albany and Schenectady, and to the
-
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ANNALS OF TRYON COUNTY.
mayor, corporation, &c. of Albany, wherein you write, that you have received repeated accounts that either the New Englanders, or some persons in or about this city, or the town of Schenectady, are coming up to a considerable number to seize and imprison you, on a ridiculous and malicious report, that you intend to make the Indians destroy the inhabitants, or to that effect, and that you, in consequence thereof, have been put to the great trouble and expense of for- tifying your house, and keeping a large body of men for the defense of your person, &c. You proceed and say, that the absurdity of this apprehension may easily be seen by men of sense, but that as many credulous and ignorant persons may be led astray, and inclined to believe it, &c., it is become the duty of all those who have authority or influence to disabuse the pub- lic, and prevent consequences which you foresee with very great concern. We are very sorry to learn from you that any groundless reports should have arisen, and be propagated to your prejudice, considering your character, station, and the large property you have in the county. And we trust that you are so well ac- quainted with the nature and duties of your office, that you will pursue the dictates of an honest heart, and study the interest, peace and welfare of your county. In which case, we presume you need not be apprehensive of any injury in your person or prop- erty ; neither can we learn or conceive that there either is, or has been, any intention of taking you cap- tive, or offering you any indignity whatever, either by the New England people, or any of the inhabit- ants of this city, or any one else ; and we have but too
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