USA > New York > The documentary history of the state of New York, Vol. I pt 1 > Part 19
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243
GENESEE COUNTRY AND NIAGARA.
Charles Aubert de la Chenays, J. René de Brisay Monsieur de Dénonville, Chevalier de Callière, Fleutelot de Romprey, de Desmeloizes, de Ramezay, Francois Vaillant of the Society of . Jesus, de Grandville, de Longueuil, Saint Paul and Dupuy.
TAKING POSSESSION OF NIAGARA BY MONSIEUR DE DENONVILLE.
[Paris Doc. III.]
JACQUES RENE DE BRISSAY Chevalier Seigneur Marquis de Denonville and other places, Governor and Lieutenant General for the King in the whole extent of Canada and Country of New France.
This day, the last of July of the year One Thousand Six hundred and Eighty seven, We declare to all whom it may con- cern, in presence of Hector, Chevalier de Callières, Governor of Montreal in the said Country and Commandant of the Camp under our orders, and of Philippe Derigaud, Chevalier de Vau- dreuil, Commanding the King's troops, being encamped with all the army at the post of Niagara, returning from our expedition against the Seneca villages, that being come to the camp of Nia- gara situate south of Lake Ontario west of the Senecas, twenty- five leagues above them, in the angle of land East of the mouth of the River of the same name which is the outlet of Lake Exie, coming from Lakes Huron, Illinois, the Great Lake Superior and several others beyond the said Great Lake, to reiterate anew for, and in the name of the King the taking Possession of the said Post of Niagara, several establishments having been formerly made there many years since by the King's order, and especially by Sieur De la Salle having spent several years two leagues above the Great Fall of Niagara where he had a Bark built which navigated several years Lakes Erie, Huron and Illinois, and of which the stocks (les chantiers) are still to be seen. MOREROVER the said Sieur De la Salle having erected quarters (logemens) with settlers at the said Niagara in the year one thousand six hundred
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DENONVILLE'S EXPEDITION TO THE
and Sixty Eight which quarters were burned Twelve years ago by the Senecas, which is one of the causes of discontent that with many others have obliged us to wage war against them, and as we considered that the houses we have thought fit to rebuild could not remain secure during the war, did we not provide for them, WE have Resolved to construct a Fort there in which we have placed one hundred men of the King's troops to garrison the same under the command of Sieur de Troyes, one of the Veteran Cap- tains of His Majesty's Troops with a necessary number of Officers to command said soldiers.
This Acte has been executed in Our presence and in that of Monsieur Gaillard, Commissary on behalf of the King attached to the Army and subdelegate of Monsieur de Champigny, Intend- ant of Canada : which Acte We have signed with Our hand and sealed with Our Seal at Arms, and caused to be subscribed by Messrs de Callières and Vaudreuil and by Monsieur Gaillard, and countersigned by Our Secretary. And they sign : J. RENE DE BRISSAY, Marquis de Denonville, le Chevalier de Callières, Che- valier de Vaudreuil, Gaillard ; and lower down by Monseigneur Tophlin.
[From Council Min. V.]
ffort James Tuesday ye 19th July 1687. (O. S.)
Mr Brockholes Informed ye Councill he is now Come from Albany & Schanectade with Instructions ffrom the Govern" to bring up with all convenient speed a Certain Number of Men & some Provisions
The Instructions Read
Ordred that sixty men be raysed out of ye Citty & County of New York & sixty men out of Queens County that Warrants be forthwith made out to Major Willett to Raise the men in ye Queens County and to Coll. Bayard to raise ye men in ye Citty & County of New York. that an Expresse be Ime liately sent to Major Willett with yo sd Warrant & that he & Coll. Bayard have their Complement of Men Well armed in ffort James on ye 22th Inst.
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GENESEE COUNTRY AND NIAGARA.
FROM MR. GRAHAM TO MR. SPRAGG.
[London Doc. V.]
New York, 16 July 1687.
Sir-I am invited by your favours to give you by this occasion acknowledgements and also to acquainte you that Mr. Swinton departed this life the 3d currant, after that he had been violently seized with three fitts of an apoplexie. In the interval of his fitts he was very sencible but without apprehensions of death, how- ever was prevailed with to make a will, by which has constituted Mr Delaval his executor, his affairs are in great confusion, and he judged to be indebted £300. besides what his engagements may be to you, his Excell: being at Albany. The Councill sealed up the office in which state it now remains and will continue until His Excells pleasure be knowen. Mr Knights in the mean time does the service of the office. Last night I received a letter from his Excell: in which aduiseth that the French had assaulted the Senaquaes, and were worsted, report by other hands saying the French had 300 men killed, the certainty wants confirmation, however, its consequence is like to be very injurious to us, we having already very little trade, besides are likely to be ingaged in a bloody warr. whose events is uncertain, we are strangely sur- prised with the french proceedings, not knowing what inoves them to invade his Majtys dominions, without giving notice, and so soon after the publication of the treaty of Commerce betwixt the two Crowns-P the next which will be Jacob Maurits His Excell: will give you a full account of his resolves, he having sent a messenger to the French which is not yet returned. Five days agoe, My Lord Effingham .Sr Robert Parker arryved here from Virginia, he laments the Governours absence otherwise wer satisfied with his entertainments; all your friends are well, my wife kisseth your hands and joins with me in the request that you would give our duty to our Father, our service to Major Baxter, to whom please to excuse not writing, being strained with time, and accept of the assurance that I am Sir
Your affectionate friend and most humble servant
JA GRAHAM
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DENONVILLE'S EXPEDITION TO THE
INFORMATION GIVEN BY SEVERALL INDIANS TO THE GOVERNR. AT ALBANY, 6. AUG. 1687.
[Lond. Doc. V.]
The Govr of Canada last fall, sent word to the Sachems of all the Five Nations to come and speak with him at Cadarachqui this spring, which wee acquainted His Excellency withall, but in pur- suance to his Excellcys commands wee being the King of England subjects, thought ourselfs noways obliged to hearken to him, and therefore refused to go, and shortly after wee heard by an Onon- dage Indian that had lived long at Cadarachqui, that the Govr of Canida had a design to warr upon us, for hee had seen a great deal of amunicion and iron Dubletts brought to Cadarachqui, and that a Frenchman at Cadarachqui told him, that they would warr with all the Five Nations, About ten days after wee gott the news, that the Govr of Canida with his army was seen, encampt att the side of the Lake with many Canoes about halfe way between Onnondage and Cadarachqui: upon which they sent a hundred men to the Lake side to spy ; who see a Barke neer Irondequat the landing place a lyeing by and nott att anker they sent four men in a Canoe to haile them, there orders from the Sachems be- ing expressly not to doe the French any harme, and when they hailed them, the French answered in base language : Enustogan- horrio, squa, which is as much in theire language as the Devil take you, whereupon they paddled for the shore, and told the rest of theire companions, what answer they had, the hundred men went forthwith to the Castles, and told the Sachems, what they had seen, who forthwith sent twenty men to spy what theire de- signe was, and they see another Barke come to the first, and while they were theire as scouts spied a great many of the Twichtwich Indians come by land, and had almost environed them before they were awarr of them : the twenty men seeing this, went up forth- with to the Castles and had much adoe to gett through, and the Sachems having sent out three Spyes, after the twenty, to see what the French would have, and before the three were come to
-
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GENESEE COUNTRY AND NIAGARA.
the Lake side (it being about twenty miles from their Castles) the French Army out of Barks and Cannoes was landed, they seeing that. called to them and asked what they were intended to do, A Maquase answered out of the Army. You Blockheads, I'll tell you what I am come to doe, to warr upon you, and to morrow I will march up with my army to your Castles, and as soone as hee had spoke they fyred upon the three Indns butt they runn home and brought the news to the Sachems about the twighlight, The Sachems upon this news concluded to convey their wives and chil- dren, and old men away, and beeing busy thereabouts all next day, most parte retiring to Cajouge, and the rest to a. Lake to the Southward of, there Castles in the meantime the French were as good as there words, and marched up halfe way between the landing place and the Castles and there encamped that night ; As soon as the women and children were fled, their fired their own Castles and all the men being gon to convey them away ex- cept a hundred in a small Fort who had sent out Spyes and re- ceived information that the French were upon there march towards them. they sent forthwith messengers to them that were conveying the Women and Children and desired the assistance of as many of their young men as could conveniently bee spared to turn back and face the French and give battle : whereupon 350 turned back and joyned with the hundred, butt being all young men, were so ea- ger to fall on, that the officers could not bring them in a posture to engage, they went out about halfe a league from the Castle, on a small hill, and there stayed for the French army, but the officers could not persuade them to be in order there neither, all being so fiery to engage, and having scoutts out, brought them intelligence, that they were approaching and how they marched, vizt the Right and left wing being Indians and the Body French, and when they came in sight of the Sinnekes, the French not seeing them satt down to rest themselves and the Indians like- wise ; the Sinnekes seeing this advance upon the left wing being Indians, the French seeing them stood to theire arms and gave them first vally, and then the Enemy Indns that were on the left wing ; whereupon the Sinnekes answered them with another. which occasioned soe much smoak that they could scarce see one
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DENONVILLE'S EXPEDITION TO THE
another, wherefore they immediately runn in and came to hardy blows and putt the left wing to the flight, some went quite away and some fled to the reare of the French, and when that wing was broake, they charged and fyred upon the French and the other Indians. The French retired about 150 paces and stood still, the Sinnekes continued the fight with there Hatchets, butt perceiving at last that the French were too numerous and would not give ground, some of the Sinnekes begun to retreat, whereupon the French Indians cryed out, the Sinnekes run and the rest heareing that followed the first party that gave way and so gott off from another and in there retreat were followed about half an English mile, and if the Enemy had followed them further, the Sinnekes would have lost abundance of people because they carried off there wounded men and were resolved to stick to them, and not leave them.
The young Indian that was in the engagement relates that after the engagement was over, when the Sinnekes were gott upon a Hill, they see a party of Fresh French come up, the French called to them and bid them stand and fight, but the Sinnekes replyed, come out four hundred to our four hundred and wee have butt a hundred men and three hundred boyes, and wee will fight you hand to fist, The said Boy being asked, whether he see any of the French with Gorges about there necks, it was to hott, they were to numerous,
There was amongst the 450 Sinnekes five women, who engaged as well as the men, and were resolved not to leave their husbands but live and dye with them
A true copy examined p me ROBt LIVINGSTON CL
EXAMINATION OF INDIAN PRISONERS.
[Lond. Doc. V.]
31 August, 1687.
A few days after the French came and gave him and all the Indians in the Christians Castle, each thirty bullets and a double
249
GENESEE COUNTRY AND NIAGARA.
handfull of powder, and bad them appeare att a French Gents house, neare Mont Royall : the Christian Indians being about one hundred and twenty or thirty strong, in meane time the French and other Nations of Indians all appeared at Mont Royall, and the second day after that the Govr himselfe ; the number of the French being two thousand and of all the Indians one thou- sand. The army went all by water in about two hundred boates in each Boate some seaven and some ten menn, the rest went in Canoes, they were sometimes forced to draw the Boates with Cordes against the Trenches, the Provisions being part in the Boats and a great deal sent upp before at Kadraghke : they were going up from Mont Royall to Kadraghke three dayes, makeing verry short journeys ; att Kadaraghkie they rested three dayes from thence they went and lay att night upon an Island, the night after they lay at Cadranganhie next morning about nine the clock they saw ten Onnondages att Aranhage; the Govr gave orders not to meddle with them, upon that the Onnondages gave a greate shout and went their way, and the army went along the shore- side to a passage that goes to the Cayouges ; the day following they saw a Brigantine att anker, and all the army went ashore and lay there that night. Some of the French went aboard the Brigan- tine where Arnout was, as this Examinant has heard ; next day the army went along and att Jedandago, the Govr landed fifty men to discover the place and the rest went on to Ierondokat where att the same time they mett with the French that came from Twightwig and Dowaganha with their Indians, then the Govr ordered the Xtian Maquasse and some other Indians to bee putt in the middle of the army and stayed there three dayes till the Fort was finished, in the meane time four or five Indians came and asked what the matter was, and why the French came so strong in their Country, the French answered (by a Xtian Ma- quasse) wee come to meet you, the Sinnakes asked againe, and said, why doe you make a Fort, you should butt come on, for we intend to kill you all in a short time. The third day the army marched in the afternoone and came that night about half way between the Lake and Sinnakes Castle : next morning very early after prayers they marched on all the Indians being putt on the
250
DENONVILLE'S EXPEDITION TO THE
right side somewhat before the French, and we marched on till about noone, then the Indians would boyle their potts, butt the Govr bid them march on, till they came upon a greate hill from whence the Govr sent three Dowaganhas to spye towards the Sinnakes Castle, who were out butt a little time, and returning said that the Sinnakes were, neare by and lay, in the passage, upon which the Gov! gave order that one hundred Indians should bee chosen, out and sent to discover the Sinnakes, who went but not farr before the army then the. Govt sent out. againe four Dowa- ganhas Indians and one Frenchman to discover, who went out, and stood in the path till the army came to them, and a little time after fouer hundrd Sinnakes appeared att the right side of the army, where the French Indians were and with greate cry or shout, fyred upon them without wounding one mann being too farr off, butt the Sinnakes advancing came nearer by, and fyred againe, then the French Indians got some wounded, who fyred also upon the Sinnakes and wounded some of them, but the Sinnakes came so neare, and tooke an Indian out of the French army, and cutt off his hands, the rest firing stoutly upon one and the other, till the Douwaganhas and other French Indians fled without re- turning to the fight, butt the Maquass came up againe and stood their ground till the whole body of the French, came firing all att once upon the Sinnakes, soe that the Sinnakes retreated, having got some dead and wounded in that firing ; the Govr forbidd fol- lowing of them having gott seven Frenchmen killed and many
wounded and five dead Indians and several wounded ; of the Sin- nakes were killed sixteene and some wounded; forthwith the Govr gave orders that the army should fortify themselves at the same place where the Battle was and so stood there all that night. Next morning the whole army marched towards the Sinnakes Castle called Kohoseraghe, leaving their dead Frenchmen unburried but the Indians burried their dead, and carried all the wounded French and Indians with them to the aforesaid Castle, where one of the wounded men died at said Castle; they found itt all burned, then the Gov' gave orders that the Christian Indians should cutt downe and destroy the Indians corne, which they re- fused : soe Frenchmen were sent and destroyed all that they could
25 1
GENESEE COUNTRY AND. NIAGARA.
find. Afterwards the Govr sent four hundred men to another small castle neare by, to surround the same till the whole army should come, thinking the Sinnakes might bee there, butt found the same burned also, butt found a great deale of provisions which they destroyed, takeing only some beanes along with them, for they had provisions enough, every man carried some and the Boates were loaden at Jerondekott with corne and other necessa- ries, soe the army went to every place where the Castles were burnt and lay att every Castle one night destroying all the corne they could finde except some out fields, which the Xtian Indians would not show them, The Sinnekes made severall times small allarms, butt never attacked the French, since the first fight. From the last Sinnekes Castle, called Theodehacto,, the army went back againe, by another way, as they came to Jerondekatt, being butt one night by the way, and were butt two dayes still there, then the Govr gave orders that the whole army should goe directly to Oneageragh butt the Xtian Indians refused itt butt would returne to Kadaragkie, and soe went that way, the Govr forthwith followed them with seven Canoes, each seven menn, and stopt them saying, what is the matter that you leave us, it is better that wee goe and returne together ; butt they would not, till one Smiths John stood up and spoke very loud, saying to the rest of the Xtian Indians, you hear what the Govr's will is, that wee should goe up with him, if wee doe not, he will force us to it ; come, you are lusty men let us goe with him, soe they were persuaded, and returned back with the Govr, severall Canoes en- deavoured yett to escape, butt were soe watched by the French, that they could not except two or three Canoes that stole away : soe were forced to goe with the French along the shore side of the Lake till they come to Oneagoragh being two days by the way, where the French made a Fort and putt two great gunns and seve- ral Pattareras in it with four hundred men to bee there in Garri- son, After they had been there five dayes, the rest of the army returned to Cadarachque and slept there one night, and left there some men, from whence they went to Mont Royall in two dayes, there this deponent left the Govr and the Christian Indians went to their Castles.
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DENONVILLE'S EXPEDITION TO THE
[From Council Min. V.]
Councill held at ffort James
Thurs day ye 18th of Augs. 1687. (O. S.)
Present His Excelcy the Goverr &c.
The account of the Expence that has been about the Seneckas & the ffrench, Read
Resolved that it be taken into Considration that the Councill Do tomorrow give their oppions about a Method for Raising it,
Councill held at ffort James
1
ffriday ye 19th Augst 1687
The Councill give their opions about Raising mony to Defray ye expence about ye Indyans & ye ffrench
Resolved that a penny in ye pound besides the former tax of a halfepenny in ye pound be raised out of ye Estates of the ffreholdrs Inhabitants of Kings County queens County Dukes County Dutch- eses County Countys of Richmond Orange Suffolk & Westchester & one halfepenny in ye pound out of ye Estates of ye Inhabitants & ffreeholdrs of ye Cittys & Countys of New York and Albany & County of Vlster and the mony be brought in to ye Kings Collector at ye Custome house on or before ye first day of May next.
Ordered that two bills be Drawn up for the same Accordingly
Councill held at ffort James
Saturday August ye 20th 1687
The Bill for Raiseing a penny in ye pound out of ye Estates of ye ffreeholdrø & Inhabitants of ye Kings Queens Dukes & Dutcheses Countys the Countys of Richmond Orange westchester & Suffolk, Read and approved Passed and Signed by ye Govern" & Councill
253
GENESEE COUNTRY AND NIAGARA.
MR. SCHUYLER TO GOV. DONGAN.
[Lond. Doc. V.]
2 Sept. 1687.
May it please your Excellency
Last night Anthy Lesjinard & Jean Rosie arrived here from Canada, have been twenty days upon the way, have letters from [for ?] your Excell: have therefore dispatched Anthoy with 2 Indians down, his compagnion being sick, could not goe-
The news your Excell: will hear of Antho. neverthelesse have thought fitt to examine his compagnion, who is an honest man, tells us these following news, of which your Excell: may discourse Antho about at large-
1 That he heard of father Valiant that the French will not release our people, Except that your Excell: will promise not to supply the Sinnokes with amunition or any other assistance-
2 That Antho told him he heard one of the Fathers say, if the Sinnekes got any of there people prisoners would exchange our people for them, man for man.
3 That they had now a great advantage of your Excell: and of the Indians also, having so many of our people and of the ' Indians prisoners-
4 He heard the Jesuits say that Cryn and the rest of the Christian Indians, were no ways inclined to engage in the war if the Maquas, Oneydes and Onnondages were concern'd, because their brethren sisters, uncles ants ettc were there ; and therefore all means was used to engage said three nations to sit still, for he see 5 Onnondage Christian Indians dispatched with belts and presents to the Onnondages 26 days agoe, to persuade them not to warr-
5 The French were not minded to warr with any of the Indians, except the Sinnekes, and would make a peace with them also if they would deliver to them 10 or 12 of the best Sachims children for hostage and then they would appoint them places where they should hunt: and so gett them wholly to their dispo- sition-
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DENONVILLE'S EXPEDITION TO THE
6 The Governour of Canida sent for all the Bosslopers that were at Ottowawa and ordered them to come only with their arms and m.eet him at Cadarachqua which they did, being about 300 men under the command of three French Captns and left their Bevers in the Jesuits house at Dionondade, and so marched with the Governour of Canida to the Sinnekes, in the mean time a fortunate fyer takes the house and burns them all to the number of 20,000 Bevers, when the news came to MonRoyal the Boss- lopers were like to go distracted-
7 He heard by beat of Drumm proclaimed throu Mon Royall that as soon as the peace was made with the Sinnekes the Otto- wawa trade should be farm'd out, which displeased the Bosslopers much and said, that if that was done they were all ruined-
8 Many of the Bosslopers were inclined to come here not being'minded to fight against the Sinnekes, but dare not come for fear of the Indians by the way-
9 Itt was generally beleev'd that the Sinnekes would come to Canida and begg for peace, because there corn was destroyed, and if they were supplyed by them of Albany they would come hither in the winter and plunder this place, having 1500 pare of snow shoes ready made, and if they found that we gave the Sin- nakes any the least assistance, they would not let the Childe in the cradle live-
10 He heard further of a Merchant that if we would supply the Sinnekes they would send our people away all severall ways, some to Spain, some to Portugall scme to the Islands, and it was no more than the English had done to Mons" Pere whom they kept 18 months in close prison at London
11 The French all acknowledge the Sinnekes fought very well, and if there number had been greater it would have gone hard with the French for the new men were not used to the Sin- nekes hoop and hollow. all the officers falling down closse upon the ground, for the Officers jeard on another about it att Mont Royall-
This is what Jean Rosie Antho Lespinard's compagnion doth relate being an inhabitant of this towne, and a verry honest man, although a frenchman, they were kept 5 weeks in arrest after they
255
GENESEE COUNTRY AND'NIAGARA.
came to Canida upon pretence that there passe was false, for could not beleive your Excelley was here butt gone home haveing such advice from the French ambassadour he prays your Excell: would consider the pains and trouble and the loss of time that has been att waiting for an answer from the French Governour; we have put down these articles that your Excell: may examine Antho about them (since he knows nothing of this) because he was extream familliar with the Govern" and all there great men there : We have the news of Keman that the Indians have taken 8 men 1 woman and 8 crownes or scalpes, and kild neer upon 20 more at the place where the Barks are, the particulars your Excell: will have in R Levingstone's letter - We'find that the selling of strong Liquor to the Indians is a 'great hindrance to all designs they take in hand. lay'a drinking continually at Skinechtady, if your Excell: would be 'pleased to prohibit itt for two or three months would do very well : We remain
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