The civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the county of Kings and the city of Brooklyn, N. Y., from 1683 to 1884 Volume I, Part 3

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909, ed. cn; Brockett, L. P. (Linus Pierpont), 1820-1893; Proctor, L. B. (Lucien Brock), 1830-1900. 1n
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: New York : W. W. Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1114

USA > New York > Kings County > Brooklyn > The civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the county of Kings and the city of Brooklyn, N. Y., from 1683 to 1884 Volume I > Part 3

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Through the influence of London merchants, whose colonial trade suffered by reason of the act, the odious law was repealed in 1766 ; but its repeal was followed by a declaration by Parliament of the right "to tax the colonies in all cases whatsoever." Troops were quartered in New York city, really for the purpose of enforcing the laws that Parliament might enact. Col- lisions occurred between these troops and the people, and the Assembly refused appropriations for their sup- port. Parliament declared the legislative powers of the Assembly annulled till compliance was had with the demands of the government. In June, 1767, a bill was enacted by Parliament imposing duties on certain articles imported into the colonies. This was followed

REVOLUTIONARY EVENTS IN NEW YORK.

by a revival of the non-importation agreement that had previously been entered into by the colonists, and again the influence of the English merchants procured the repeal of all these duties, except that on tea, which was retained by reason of a determination to assert and maintain the right of taxation.

· Sir Henry Moore succeeded Governor Colden in 1765, and his administration continued till his death, in 1769, when the government again devolved on Cadwal- lader Colden. Between the soldiers and those colon- ists who were known as the Sons of Liberty, animosities continued to exist, and finally, on the 18th of January, 1770, five years previous to the battle of Lexington, a collision occurred at Golden Hill, in New York city, in which several of the citizens were wounded.

In October, 1770, Lord Dunmore superseded Colden in the government of New York, and in 1771 he was transferred to the government of Virginia and suc- ceeded in New York by William Tryon, who was ren- dered independent of the people by a royal decree that his salary should be paid from the revenue.

The non-importation agreement was continued so far as related to tea, and the East India Company suf- fered severely in consequence. Doggedly determined to maintain the assumed right of taxation, the British gov- ernment abolished the export duty on such tea as was shipped to the colonies, thus enabling the company to sell it there cheaper than in England, and appointed consignees in the colonial ports for its sale. Regardless of this appeal to their cupidity, the people made such demonstrations of resistance that the consignees in New York resigned, and when an attempt was made to land a quantity of tea clandestinely, it was thrown overboard by the vigilance connnittee, and the vessel sent out of the harbor.

It is hardly necessary to say that in the other colonies the oppressive acts of the King and Parliament met with as firm resistance as in New York. The battle of Lexington was the signal for a general rush to arms throughout the colonies.

In New York city the arms in the arsenals were seized and distributed among the people, and a provisional government for the city was organized. Tieonderoga was seized on the 10th of May, 1775, by Connecticut patriots under Colonel Ethan Allen, and two days later Crowu Point, both without resistance, and thus the command of Lake Champlain was secured.

The Continental Congress assembled on the 10th of May, and on the 22d of the same mouth a Provincial Congress assembled in New York.

In August an attack was made by the British ship of war " Asia " on a party who were engaged in removing some cannon from the battery in New York, and con- siderable damage was done to the buildings in the vicinity, but the guns were removed. In the autumn an armament was collected by General Schuyler at Ticon- deroga, and an expedition went against Canada. The

forts at Chambly, St. Johns and Montreal were taken, and Quebec was assaulted, but the colonial force was liere repulsed and driven out of Canada.

CHAPTER IV.

REVOLUTIONARY EVENTS IN NEW YORK-THE STATE GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHED.

E ARLY in 1776 General Lce, with a force of twelve hundred men, occupied the city of New York. General Schuyler, with a small force, had dis- armed the tories of the Mohawk valley, and a like service had been rendered on Long Island by the New Jersey militia. About the first of July General Howe, who had previously evacuated Boston and sailed for Halifax, appeared off Sandy Hook with his army, where he was soon afterward joined by his brother, Admiral Howe, with a foree of British regulars and Hessians, and Clinton and Parker, on their return from an unsuc- cessful attack on Charleston, making an aggregate force of about 30,000 men.

The Provincial Congress of New York adjourned to White Plains, where it convened on the 9th of July, and ratified the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress.

On the 22d of August a British force landed on Long Island, and on the 27th a battle was fought, resulting in the defeat of the Americans, who, on the night of the 29th, favored by a thick fog, retreated to New York. The plan had been formed to capture New York, ascend the Hudson, effect a junction with a force from Canada under General Carlton, and thus cut off communication between the patriots of New England and those of the middle and southern colonies; but the precautions of Washington and the failure of Carlton frustrated the plan.

On the 15th of September General Howe took posses- sion of New York, and the Americans retreated to HIar- lem Heights. General Howe sought to gain their rear, but Washington's movements frustrated his designs.

Opposed to General Carlton at the north was General Gates, who abandoned Crown Point and concentrated his forces at Ticonderoga. A small squadron was formed and placed on Lake Champlain under command of Arnold in August. An action took place in October between this squadron and the fleet which Carlton had prepared at St. Johns, in which the Americans were defeated and fell back on Ticonderoga. Not deeming it prudent to attack them there, General Carlton with- drew to Canada.

On the 21st of April, 1777, a State constitution was adopted, and under it George Clinton was elected gov- ernor, and he assumed the duties of the office on the 31st of the following July.

OUTLINE HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

The principal object of the British in the campaign of 1777 was to carry out the cherished design of separat- ing the eastern from the southern colonies by controlling the Hudson River and Lake Champlain. Lieutenant- General Burgoyne, who had superseded General Carlton, was to force his way from Canada, and meet Sir Henry Clinton at Albany, while Colonel St. Leger was to aseend the St. Lawrence, and, with a foree of loyalists and Indians, sweep through the Mohawk valley from Oswego and Rome, and join them at Albany.

In June Burgoyne moved on Ticonderoga, which the American commander, General St. Clair, evacuated. As the American army retreated some fighting took place, without decisive results, till at Bennington the Ameri- eans, under General Stark, achieved a victory over a detachment of the enemy under Colonel Baum, who was slain.

Colonel St. Leger advaneed and invested Fort Sehuy- ler, otherwise ealled Fort Stanwix, now Rome. The battle of Oriskany was fought, soon after which St. Leger abandoned his undertaking and returned to Canada.

General Burgoyne advaneed to Saratoga, where he was surrounded, and on the 17th of October was eom- pelled to surrender.

While operations were in progress in the vieinity of Saratoga Sir Henry Clinton sought to make a diversion in favor of Burgoyne. He proceeded up the Hudson, captured Forts Montgomery and Clinton, devastated the settlements along the banks of the river, burnt Kingston, and, on learning of the surrender of Burgoyne, returned to New York.

In the campaigns of 1778 and 1779 no very important operations were carried on in New York. The Indians of the Six Nations (except the Oneidas and a few others) were induced to earry on against the Americans their savage and eruel warfare, and devastation, slaughter and massaeres were the result. To arrest these depredations General Sullivan, in the summer of 1779, with an army of 3,000 men, aseended the Susquehanna to Tioga Point, where he was joined by General Clinton with a thousand men. With these forces they penetrated the country of the savages, destroyed their towns, and laid waste their eornfields and orchards. Though not subdued by this punishment, they were so erippled that their inroads were less frequent and destructive afterward.

During the years 1780 and 1781 the Mohawk valley was the seene of devastation by the savages of the Six Nations, particularly the Mohawks, under their eele- brated chief Brant; but, aside from these, New York was not the scene of important hostile operations. The year 1780 was made memorable by the treason of Arnold. This gallant offieer had, for some irregularities in Philadelphia in 1778, been court-martialed and sen- teneed to be reprimanded by the commander-in-chief. He apparently aequieseed in the sentence, but his pride was deeply wounded, and he thirsted after revenge. He

solicited and obtained command of West Point, and entered into negotiations with Sir Henry Clinton for the delivery of that fortress into the hands of the British. In the course of these negotiations Major Andre, of the British army, met General Arnold on the banks of the Hudson. In attempting to return he was captured, about thirty miles from New York, by three militiamen named Paulding, Williams and Van Wert, who refused his offered bribes, and delivered him to their commander. He was tried, condemned and executed as a spy.

The Revolutionary war virtually elosed with the sur- render of Cornwallis and his army at Yorktown on the 19th of October, 1781. A treaty of peace was entered into on the 3d of September, 1783, and on the 25th of November in the same year the British troops evacuated New York.

After the United States had achieved their independ- dence, it was early pereeived that the confederation, which had been established for a particular purpose, lacked that cohesive foree which was requisite for an effectual national government. Measures were aeeord- ingly instituted, first for a revision of the Articles of Confederation, but finally the formation of a national constitution was determined on; and sueh constitution was formed by the convention in Philadelphia in 1787. After its adoption by the requisite number of States, it was ratified in convention by the State of New York, by a elose vote, on the 26th of July, 1788, but with the recommendation of several amendments, which, however, were not adopted.

The difficulties arising out of the eonflieting elaims of New York and New Hampshire to the territory now comprising Vermont, which had been held in partial abeyance during the Revolutionary struggle, were finally settled by the admission of the disputed territory into the Union as a State, in 1790, under the name of Vermont.

By reason of indefiniteness and confusion in the original grants, Massachusetts elaimed a portion of the territory of New York. This elaim was settled by the cession to Massachusetts of all rights, except that of politieal sovereignty, over about one-fourth of the State. The largest tract of these lands, embraeing what has been known as the Genesee country, was sold by Massa- chusetts for the sum of one million dollars.

CHAPTER V.

TIIE WAR OF 1812 BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND GREAT BRITAIN.

A T the commencement of the present eentury diffi- culties arose between this country and Great Britain eoneerning the rights of neutrals on the seas, and the aggressions of the British beeame a subjeet of bitter animosity. In addition to other en-

THE WAR OF 1812-THE CIVIL REBELLION.

croaehments, the English government elaimed the right to search Ameriean vessels and impress into their service sueh of their crews as they chose to regard as British subjeets. Outrages were committed in the enforcement of this pretended right, and for the suppression of the practice, and the vindication of the national honor, war beeame necessary; and it was deelared on the 19th of June, 1812. To this measure there was a strong opposi- tion, both in New England and New York, and this opposition embarrassed the government to some extent in the prosecution of the war. An invasion of Canada was determined on, and for that purpose forees were eolleeted in the vicinity of Plattsburg, on Lake Cham- plain, under General Dearborn, and at Lewiston, on the Niagara River, under General Van Rensselaer. A naval force was fitted up on the lakes, and Commodore Chaun- cey was placed in command of it. Unsueeessful attempts were made by the British fleet on Sackett's Harbor and Ogdensburg, while, on the other hand, the British vessel " Caledonia " was captured at the foot of Lake Erie. An attack was made on the heights at Queenston, on the Canadian bank of the Niagara, and though at first the Americans were sueeessful, they were finally com- pelled to surrender. Nothing beyond slight skirmishing oceurred in this quarter during the remainder of the year.

Early in the spring of 1813, a suceessful expedition to Canada was made from Ogdensburg, and in retalia- tion an attaek was made on that. place, some stores taken, several vessels destroyed and the property of citizens injured. In April a sueeessful expedition was sent by General Dearborn against York, now Toronto. In May the British were driven from Fort George, on the Niagara River, near Lake Ontario, and the enemy's post on that frontier evacuated. Sackett's Harbor was attacked by the British, who were repulsed, and an unsuccessful attaek was also .made by them on the village of Black Roek.

The brilliant vietory of Commodore Perry, on Lake Erie, was achieved on the 10th of September in this year, but the operations on Lake Ontario were less deeisive. Late in the autumn an unsueeessful attempt was made to invade Canada under General Wilkinson. The American generals Izard and Hampton were repulsed near the border of Franklin county. In De- cember the British took Fort Niagara, and massaered a large part of the garrison and even hospital patients. Lewiston was burned, and the villages of Youngstown, Manchester, Schlosser and the Indian village of Tus- carora were devastated by the enemy. The village of Black Rock and Buffalo were also burned, and thins the desolation of the Niagara frontier was completed.

Early in 1814 an attempt was made by the British to capture some military stores at Oswego Falls, but with- out suecess. On the 3d of July, 1814, Fort Erie was taken by the Americans, and on the 25th a battle was fought at Lundy's Lane. In August Fort Erie was

besieged by the British, who were compelled to retire about the middle of September.

The plan of a dismemberment of the Union, by pos- sessing Lake Champlain and the Hudson River from the north, and capturing New York, was again formed, and it was hoped that discontent and opposition to the war in New England, and possibly in New York, might lead to the conclusion of a separate peace with these States. The people, however, were fully aroused, and the defenses of New York were strengthened and strongly garrisoned. An invasion was undertaken from Canada, and a deseent was made on Plattsburg by an army of 11,000 men under Sir George Prevost, but after a severe engagement on the 11th of September this army was compelled to retire with great loss. The British fleet, under Commodore Downie, was on the same day captured on Lake Champlain by Commodore Maedonough. No further invasion of this frontier took place. On the 24th of December a treaty of peace was coneluded at Ghent.

No other interruption of the peaceful relations between this country and England has occurred. Some infraetions of the neutrality laws have been attempted by people on the Canadian frontier, the chief of which took place during the Canadian rebellion, commonly known as the "Patriot war," in 1837-38.

What were known as the "anti-rent disturbances " commeneed as early as 1839, and were not terminated till 1846. Laws were enacted to modify the process of colleeting rents and to extend the time for "re-entry " on lands where rents were in arrears. Participators in outrages were pardoned, and quiet was finally restored.

The annexation of Texas to the United States led to hostilities between Mexico and this nation, and on the 11th of May, 1846, Congress deelared that, by the aets of the Mexieans, war existed between the two nations. The Americans were victorious in all important engage- ments with the Mexiean army, and the part taken by the troops from the State of New York was eonspieuous and highly creditable to their valor.

From time to time the Legislature enacted laws eou- eerning slavery, down to the year 1819. A law passed in 1799 provided for the gradual extinction of slavery in the State. "In 1817 a further act was passed decree- ing that there should be no slavery in the State after the 4th of July, 1827. Ten thousand slaves were set free by this act."

The recognition of slavery in the territories of the United States was earnestly resisted during many years, and the controversy finally resulted in a gigantic civil war. On the election of Abraham Lincoln to the presi- deney, in 1860, on the platform of avowed hostility to the extension of slavery, and the failure to effect a com- promise by which the institution should be recognized or tolerated in any of the territories, the southern States determined to seeede from the Union and estab- lish a separate government. The attack by the Con-

OUTLINE HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

federates, as these States styled themselves, on Fort Sumter, was the first overt act of the Rebellion, and its occurrence, in April, 1861, was the eommencement of active hostilities. Before the elose of that year the State of New York had placed in the field one hundred and fifteen regiments.

In July, 1863, during the execution of a draft ordered by Congress, an alarming riot occurred in the city of New York. The police were unable to check its pro- gress, and during several days the eity was convulsed with lawlessness, rapine and murder. The outbreak was finally quelled by military force, but not until a large amount of property had been destroyed and many lives sacrificed. The war was prolonged till the spring of 1865, when it terminated with the complete success of the Union arms, and peace has since prevailed.

CHAPTER VI.

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS - CONSTITUTIONAL AMEND-

MENTS-SCHOOLS-STATISTICS.

N 1791 the Legislature ordered an exploration and survey to ascertain the most eligible method of removing obstructions from the Mohawk and Hudson rivers, with a view to improve their navi- gation by the construction of canals. The following year two companies were incorporated, styled the Northern and Western Inland Lock Navigation Com- panies, for the purpose of facilitating navigation by connecting Lake Ontario with the Mohawk and Lake Champlain with the Hudson by canals. I

In 1810 a provision was made by the Legislature "for exploring the route of an inland navigation from Hud- son's River to Lake Ontario and Lake Erie." It was at first proposed to solieit aid from the general government to earry out this work, but in 1812 a eommission re- ported to the Legislature that sound poliey demanded that this should be done by the State. War with Great Britain interrupted the project.

On the termination of the war the projeet was revived ; and notwithstanding the formidable character of the undertaking, and the difficulties in its way, through the untiring energy and perseverance of De Witt Clinton, an aet prepared by him was passed in April, 1817, authorizing the eonstruetion of the work. This-the Erie Canal, as it is ealled-was eommeneed on the 4th of July in that ycar, and on the 26th of October, 1825, the first flotilla of boats left Buffalo for New York. The departure of the flotilla was communicated to New York in one hour and twenty minutes, by the diseharge of eannon stationed within hearing of each other. This was then regarded as a rapid transmission of intelli- genee.

The first railroad in the State, that between Albany and Schenectady, was chartered in 1826 and completed

in 1831. Other roads through the eentral portion of the State were soon constructed, and railroad connection between the great lakes and Hudson River established. In 1851 these different roads were consolidated into the present immense New York Central Railroad ; and, sub- sequently, connection was established, through the Hud- son River Railroad, with the eity of New York. In 1833 the New York and Erie Railway was commenced, but it was not completed till 1852. The enlargement of the Erie Canal to its present capacity was commenced in 1835 and completed in 1862. These constitute the main avenues of travel and transportation through the State, between its eastern and western extremities ; but connecting routes in every direction have come into existence, and the facilities for transportation and travel in this State are not excelled by those of any other. It is hardly necessary to call attention to the telegraph lines that ramify through all parts of the State.

It has already been stated that a State constitution was adopted in 1777. Several amendments to this eon- stitution were adopted in a convention held for that purpose, and the new constitution was adopted early in 1822, at a popular eleetion held for that purpose, by a majority of more than 33,000 in a total vote of 116,919.

On the 1st of June, 1846, another constitutional convention met at Albany, and it continued in session more than four months. The amendments to the con- stitution adopted by that body were ratified by the people in the following November by a majority of more than 20,000 votes.

In 1867 another constitutional eonvention assembled, on the 4th of June, and continued its session, except during an adjournment of two months, several weeks into 1868. The amended constitution framed by this convention was submitted to the people in November, 1869, and resulted in its rejection, exeept the article making changes in the judiciary, by a majority of more than 66,000. The judiciary article was aceepted by a small majority.

In 1872 a commission of thirty-two persons was appointed to propose to the Legislature amendments to the constitution. In 1873 several important amend- ments were recommended, and ratified at the election in 1874. It is a notable fact that, as changes have been made in the constitution of the State, the right of the elective franchise has been extended ; till now complete manhood suffrage is established.

In 1787 a law was enacted incorporating the Regents of the University of New York, and in their report for 1793 they ealled attention to the importance of insti- tuting a common school system. At different times, from 1787 to 1795, Governor Clinton called the attention of the Legislature to the same subject, and in that year an aet was passed appropriating $50,000 annually for five years for the encouragement of sehools. In 1805, after attention had repeatedly been ealled to the subject by the different governors, the Legislature passed an

GOVERNORS OF NEW YORK-POPULATION.

act laying the foundation of the present common school fund. In 1812 the first common school system was adopt- ed, comprising substantially the features of the system as it existed up to 1840. Changes in this system have from time to time been made, till now the free school system of this State is believed to be, with scarcely an exception, the most nearly perfect of any in existence.

The State Agricultural Society, which has been pro- ductive of such great benefit, was organized at a con- vention in Albany in 1832. It was reorganized in 1841, and measures were adopted for raising funds and hold- ing annual fairs.

In 1836 the Legislature ordered a scientific survey of the State for the purpose of developing a knowledge of its geology, mineralogy and natural history. The pub- lished reports of this survey are of very great value.

The following list of the governors, lieutenant-gov- ernors and presidents of the council who have admin- istered the government of the Colony and of the State of New York from 1629 to the present time, will be found convenient for reference.

UNDER THE DUTCH REGIME-Directors General .- Adriaen Joris, 1623 ; Cornelis Jacobsen, May, 1624 ; Willem Verhulst, 1625 ; Peter Minuit, 1626 ; The Council, 1632 ; Wouter Van Twiller, 1633 ; William Kieft, 1638 ; Peter Stuyvesant, 1647.

UNDER THE ENGLISH REGIME-Colonial Governors, etc., 1664-73-Richard Nicolls, 1664; Col. Francis Love- lace, 1667.

UNDER THE DUTCH AGAIN, 1673 .- Cornelis Evertse, Jr., Jacob Benckes, and Council of War, August 19; Anthony Colve, Sept. 19, 1673.

UNDER THE ENGLISH REGIME- Colonial Governors, etc .- Maj. Edmund Andros, 1674 ; Anthony Brock- holles (Commander-in-Chief), 1677 ; Sir Edmund An- dros, 1678 ; Anthony Brockholles, 1681 ; Col. Thomas Dongan, 1682 ; Sir Edmund Andros, August 11, 1685 ; Francis Nicholson (Lt. Gov.), October 9, 1688 ; Jacob Leisler, 1689 ; Col. Henry Sloughter, March 19, 1691 ; Major Richard Ingoldsby, July 26, 1691 ; Col. Benj. Fletcher (Commander-in-Chief), 1692 ; Richard, Earl of Bellemont, 1698 ; John Nanfan, (Lt. Gov.) 1699 ; Earl of Bellemont, 1700 ; William Smith (eldest Coun- cillor), 1701 ; John Nanfan (Lt. Gov.) 1701 ; Lord

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The civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the county of Kings and the city of Brooklyn, N. Y., from 1683 to 1884 Volume I, Part 3

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909, ed. cn; Brockett, L. P. (Linus Pierpont), 1820-1893; Proctor, L. B. (Lucien Brock), 1830-1900. 1n Publication date: 1884 Publisher: New York : W. W. Munsell & Co. Number of Pages: 1114

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909, ed. cn; Brockett, L. P. (Linus Pierpont), 1820-1893; Proctor, L. B. (Lucien Brock), 1830-1900. 1n
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: New York : W. W. Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1114