USA > New York > The documentary history of the state of New York, Vol. I pt 1 > Part 23
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AND BURNING OF SCHENECTADY.
sue for it, being deprived of aid from and communication with the English.
In order to deprive the English of the facility of undertaking land expeditions against New York from New England, His Majesty desires that the English Settlements adjoining Manathe and further off if necessary, be destroyed; and that the more distant be put under contribution.
He will send an exact report of all the observations he will be able to make regarding the trade of the new inhabitants of New York, the security of the navigation thence to France, the communication with Canada, so that His Majesty may give him on those points the necessary orders to derive from that conquest all the advantages to be expected from it. But should this ex- pedition contrary to all appearances, and for reasons which His Majesty cannot foresee, not be executed, he will convey his orders to the said Sieur de la Caffinière to make war against the English, and to range along the Coasts of New England and New York to capture there as many prizes as possible, and to remain there until he have no more provisions than are necessary for his return to France.
AN ACCOUNT
·
OF THE MOST REMARKABLE OCCURRENCES IN CANADA FROM THE DE- PARTURE OF THE VESSELS, FROM THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER 1689 TO THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER 1690. BY MONS. DE MONSEIGNAT, COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF THE MARINE IN CANADA.
[Paris Doc. IV.]
[EXTRACT. ] The orders received by M. le Comte (de Frontenac) to commence hostilities against New England and New York, which had declared for the Prince of Orange, afforded him con- siderable pleasure, and were very necessary for the country. He allowed no more time to elapse before carrying them into execution than was required to send off some despatches to France-imme- diately after which he determined to organize three different detachments, to attack those rebels at all points at the same mo
.
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INVASION OF NEW-YORK
ment, and to punish them at various places for having afforded protection to our enemies, the Mohawks. The first party was to rendezvous at Montreal, and proceed towards Orange ; the second at Three Rivers, and to make a descent on New York, at some place between Boston and Orange;1 and the third was to depart from Quebec, and gain the seaboard between Boston and Penta- gouet, verging towards Acadia. They all succeeded perfectly well, and I shall communicate to you the details. * * *
The detachment which formed at Montreal, may have been composed of about two hundred and ten men, namely: eighty savages from the Sault, and from La Montagne; sixteen Algon- quins ; and the remainder Frenchmen-all under the command of the Sieur Le Moyne de Sainte Helene, and Lieutenant Daille- bout de Mantet, both of whom are Canadians. The Sieurs le Moyne d' Iberville and Repentigny de Montesson commanded under these. The best qualified Frenchmen were, the Sieurs de Bonrepos and de La Brosse, Calvinist officers, the Sieur la Moyne de. Blainville, Le Bert du Chene, and la Marque de Montigny, who all served as volunteers. They took their departure from Montreal at the commencement of February.
After having marched for the course of five or six days, they called a council to determine the route they should follow, and the point they should attack.
The Indians demanded of the French what was their intention. Messieurs de Sainte Helene and Mantet replied that they had left in the hope of attacking Orange, if possible, as it is the Capital of New York and a place of considerable importance, though they had no orders to that effect, but generally to act according as they should judge on the spot of their chances of success, without running too much risk. This appeared to the savages somewhat rash. They represented the difficulties and the weak- ness of the party for so bold an undertaking. There was even one among them who, his mind filled with the recollections of the disasters which he had witnessed last year, enquired of our French- men, " since when had they become so desperate ?" In reply to
1 This detachment entered New Hampshire where they burned a place called Salmon Falls. .
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AND BURNING OF SCHENECTADY.
their raillery, 'twas answered that it was our intention, now, to regain the honor of which our misfortunes had deprived us, and the sole means to accomplish that was to carry Orange, or to perish in so glorious an enterprise.
As the Indians, who had an intimate acquaintance with the localities, and more experience than the French, could not be brought to agree with the latter, it was determined to postpone coming to a conclusion until the party should arrive at the spot where the two routes separate-the one leading to Orange, and the other to Corlear (Schenectady). In the course of the journey, which occupied eight days, the Frenchmen judged proper to di- verge towards Corlear, according to the advice of the Indians ; and this road was taken without calling a new council. Nine days more elapsed before they arrived, having experienced incon- ceivable difficulties, and having been obliged to march up to their knees in water, and to break the ice with their feet in order to find a solid footing.
They arrived within two leagues of Corlear about four o'clock in the evening, and were harangued by the great Mohawk chief of the Iroquois from the Sault. He urged on all to pe: form their duty, and to lose all recollections of their fatigue, in the hope of taking ample revenge for the injuries they had received from the Iroquois at the solicitation of the English, and of washing them out in the blood of the traitors. This savage was without contradiction the most considerable of his tribe-an honest man- as full of spirit, prudence and generosity as it was possible, and capable at the same time of the grandest undertakings. Shortly after four Squaws were discovered in a wigwam who gave every information necessary for the attack on the town. The fire found in their hut served to warm those who were benumbed, and they continued their route, having previously detached Giguieres, a Canadian, with nine Indians, on the look out. They discovered no one, and returned to join the main body within one league of Corlear.
At eleven of the clock that night, they came within sight of the town, resolved to defer the assault until two o'clock of the mnorn- ing. But the excessive cold admitted of no further delay.
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INVASION OF NEW-YORK
The town of Corlear forms a sort of oblong with only two gates-one opposite the road we had taken; the other leading to Orange, which is only six leagues distant. Messieurs de Sainte Helene and de Mantet were to enter at the first which the squaws pointed out, and which in fact was found wide open. Messieurs d'Iberville and de Montesson took the left with another detach- ment, in order to make themselves masters of that leading to Orange. But they could not discover it, and returned to join the remainder of the party. A profound silence was every where ob- served, until the two commanders, who separated, at their entrance into the town for the purpose of encircling it, had met at the the other extremity.
The signal of attack was given Indian fashion, and the entire force rushed on simultaneous'y. M. de Mantet placed himself at the head of a detachment, and reached a small fort where the gar- rison was under arms. The gate was burst in after a good deal of difficulty, the whole set on fire, and all who defended the place slaughtered.
The sack of the town began a moment before the attack on the fort. Few houses made any resistance. M. de Montigny dis- covered some which he attempted to carry sword in hand, having tried the musket in vain. Ile received two thrusts of a spear- one in the body and the other in the arm. But M. de Sainte He- lene having come to his aid, effected an entrance, and put every one who defended the place to the sword. The Massacre lasted two hours. The remainder of the night was spent in placing sen- tinels, and in taking some repose.
The house belonging to the Minister was ordered to be saved, so as to take him alive to obtain information from him ; but as it was not known it was not spared any more than the others. He was slain and his papers burnt before he could be recognized.
At daybreak some men were sent to the dwelling of Mr. Coudre [Sander], who was Major of the place, and who lived at the other side of the river. He was not willing to surrender, and began to put himself on the defensive with his servants and some Indians ; but as it was resolved not to do him any harm, in consequence of the good treatment that the French had formerly experienced at
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his hands, M. d'Iberville and the great Mohawk proceeded thither alone, promised him quarter for himself, his people, and his pro- perty, whereupon he laid down his arms, on parole, entertaining them in his fort, and returned with them to see the commandants of the town.
In order to occupy the savages, who would otherwise have taken to drink and thus rendered themselves unable for defence, the houses had already been set on fire. None were spared in the town but one house belonging to Coudre, and that of a widow who had six children, whither M. de Montigny had been carried when wounded. All the rest were consumed. The lives of be- tween fifty and sixty persons, old men, women and children. were spared, they having escaped the first fury of the attack. Some twenty Mohawks were also spared, in order to show them that it was the English and not they against whom the grudge was en- tertained. The loss on this occasion in houses, cattle and grain, amounts to more than four hundred thousand livres. There were upwards of eighty well built and well furnished houses in the town.
The return march commenced with thirty prisoners. The wounded, who were to be carried, and the plunder, with which all the Indians and some Frenchmen were loaded, caused consi- derable inconvenience. Fifty good horses were brought away. Sixteen only of these reached Montreal. The remainder were killed for food on the road.
Sixty leagues from Corlear the Indians began to hunt, and the French not being able to wait for them, being short of provisions, continued their route, having detached Messieurs d'Ibervile and Du Chesne with two savages before them to Montreal. On the same day, some Frenchmen, who doubtless were very much fatigued, lost their way. Fearful that they should be obliged to keep up with the main body, and believing themselves in safety having eighty Indians in their rear, they were found missing from the camp. They were waited for next day until eleven o'clock, but in vain, and no account has since been received of them.
Two hours after, forty men more left the main body without acquainting the commander, continued their route by themselves,
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INVASION OF NEW - YORK
and arrived within two leagues of Montreal one day ahead, so that there were not more than fifty or sixty men together. The even- ing on which they should arrive at Montreal, being extremely fa- tigued from fasting and bad roads, the rear fell away from M. de Sainte Helene, who was in front with an Indian guide, and who could not find a place suitable for camping nearer than three or four leagues of the spot where he expected to halt. He was not rejoined by M. de Mantet and the others until far advanced in the night. Seven have not been found. Next day on parade, about ten o'clock in the forenoon, a soldier arrived who announced that they had been attacked by fourteen or fifteen savages, and that six had been killed. The party proceeded somewhat afflicted at this accident, and arrived at Montreal at 3 o'clock, p. m.
Such, Madame, is the account of what passed at the taking of Corlear. The French lost but twenty-one men, namely four In- dians and seventeen Frenchmen. Only one Indian and one French- man were killed at the capture of the town. The others were lost on the road.
[From Mortgage Book B, in County Clk's Office, Albany.]
Albany y0 9th day of February 16gg Die Sabbathi.
This morning about 5 o'Clock ye alarm was brought here by Symon Schermerhoorn who was shott threw his Thigh yt ye french and Indians had murthered ye People of Skinnechtady ; haveing got into ye Towne about 11 or 12 a Clock there being no Watch Kept (ye Inhabitants being so negligent & Refractory) and yt he had much adoe to Escape they being very numerous. They fyred severall times at him at last throw his Thigh and wounded his horse and was come over Canatagione1 to bring ye news.
The allarm being given all People Repared to there Post ye fort fyred severall gunns to give ye alarm to ye farmers but few
1 Now, Niskayuna. .
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AND BURNING OF SCHENECTADY.
neara there being such an Extream Snow above Knee Deep Se- verall ye People haveing Escaped ye Cruelty of ye french and there Indians came Running here & told us ye Village was a fyre and yt they had much adoe to Escape for all ye streets were full of french and Indians, & yt many People were murthered and yt ye enemy were marching hither which news was Continually Con- firmed till afternoon Letters were sent forthwith to Sopus for ye assistance of a hundred men an Expresse sent to Skachkook but by reason of ye highwater-deep snow & yse could not Proceed, notice was given to all ye farmers of Kinderhook Claverak &ca of ye sad news, Some horse men sent out to Discover ye Enemies force and there march but were forced to Return ye snow being so Deep yet some were sent out again who got thither, Laurence ye Indian with ye Maquase yt were in Town were sent out also to Skinnechtady to Dispatch posts to ye Maquase Castles for all ye Indians to come doune, but unhappily sad Indians comeing to Skinnechtady were soe much amazed to see so many People mur- thered and Destroyed that they omitted ye sending up to ye Ma- quase Castles according to there Engagement, While ye Enemy was at N. Scotia a man came to Ensign Joh : Sander Glen and said he would goe to ye Maquase Castles and warn ye Maquase to come doune who was ordered to goe in all haste but comeing to ye Upper Plantations went for fear along with some of ye oy Inhabitants into ye Woods and never went to ye Maquase Castles, this night we gott a letter from Skinnechtady Informing us yt the Enemy yt had done yt Mischieffe there were about one hundred and fifty or 200 men but that there were 1400 men in all; One army for Albany & anoyr for Sopus which hindred much y* marching of any force out of ye Citty fearing yt ye enemy might watch such an opportunity.
The 10th day of February.
Present. Pr Schuyler Mayr D. Wessels Recr, J. Bleecker, C. Bull, Capt Staets, Ald. Shaick, Ald Ryckman, Joh. Cuyler, Ens. Bennett.
Resolved yt Capt Jonathan Bull be sent wth 5 men out of each Compy to Skinnechtady to bury ye dead there & if ye Indians be come doune to joyn with them & Pursuc ye Enemy.
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INVASION OF NEW-YORK.
Instructions for Capt Jonathan Bull.
You are to goe wth all Convanient speed with men to Skinnechtady & there Bury ye dead which are Killed by ye Enemy and give such succor and Relieffe to ye Poor People left alive at Skinnechtady as y" can, and if there be any considerable number of friendly Indians at Skinnechtady yu are wth all speed to Pursue & follow after the french and Indian Enemy & them Spoyle and Destroy what in yu Lyes and use all means Imagi- nable to Rescue ye Prisoners which they have Carried along with them.
You are to take Especiall Care to have always Spyes and Skouts out on both sides of ye Path where y" March yr Men and to be as Carefull as Possible for ambushes of ye Enemy and to Keep yr men in good order and Discipline
LIST OF YE PEOPLE KILD AND DESTROYED
BY Ye FRENCH OF CANIDA AND THERE INDIANS AT SKINNECHTADY TWENTY MILES TO Ye WESTWARD OF ALBANY BETWEEN SATUR- DAY AND SUNDAY Ye 9th DAY OF FEBRUARY 1688.
Myndert Wemp killd · 1
Jan van Eps and his Sonne & 2 of his Children kild .
4
a negroe of dito Van Eps ·
1
Serjt Church of Capt Bulls Compy .
1
Barent Jansse Killd and Burnd his Sonne Kild 2
Ands Arentse Bratt shott and Burnt & also his childn 2
Mary Viele wife of Dowe Aukes & her 2 children killd 3 and his Negro Woman Francyn 1 ·
Mary Alolff Wife of Cornelis Viele Junr Shott 1
Sweer Teunise Shott & burnt his wife kild & burnt all
2
Antje Janz doughter of Jan Spoor kild & burnt in .
1
Item 4 Negroes of ye said Sweer Teunise ye same death
one
4
Enos Talmidge Leift of Capt Bull kild & burnt .
Hend Meese Vrooman & Bartholomeus Vrooman
house 1 kild & burnt , 2
AND BURNING OF SCHENECTADY. 305
Item 2 Negroes of Hend Meese ye same death Gerrit Marcellis and his Wife & childe kild 3 Robt Alexander souldr of Capt Bulls Shott 1 Robt hesseling shott 1
2
Sander ye sonne of gysbert gerritse kild & burnt 1
Jan Roeloffse de goyer burnt in ye house 1
Ralph grant a souldier in ye fort shott
1
David Christoffelse & his wife wth 4 Children all burnt in there house 6
Joris Aertse shott and burnt Wm Pieterse kild 2
Joh: Potman kild his wife kild & her skalp taken off
·
2
Dome Petrus Tassemaker ye Minister kild & burnt . in his house 1
Frans harmense kild
1
Engel the wife of Adam Vroman shot & burnt her childe the brains dashed out against ye wall .
2
Reynier Schaets and his sonne kild 2
Daniel Andries & George 2 souldiers of Capt Bull ·
2
a french girl Prisoner among ye Mohogs kild .
1
A Maquase Indian kild 1
Johannes ye sonne of Symon Skermerhoorn
1
3 Negroes of Symon Skermerhoorn
3
In all
60
LYST OF Y PERSONES WHICH Ye FRENCH AND THERE INDIANS HAVE TAKEN PRISONERS ATT SKINNECHTADY AND CARIED TO CANIDA Ye 9th DAY OF FEBRUARY 168 g
Johannes Teller and his negroe 2
John Wemp sonne of Myndt Wemp & 2 negroes -
3
Symon, Abraham, Phillip, Dirck & Claes Groot all 5 sonnes of Symon Groot 5
Jan Baptist sonne of Jan Van Epps ·
1
Albert & Johannes Vedder sonnes of harme Vedder ·
2
Isaack Cornelise Switts & his Eldest sonne 2 . a negroe of Barent Janse 1 . Arnout ye sonne of Arnout Corn : Viele ye Interpr 1 .
20
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INVASION OF NEW-YORK
Stephen ye sonne of Gysbert Gerritse .
1
Lawrence sonne of Claes Lawrence Purmurent .
1
Arnout sonne of Paulyn Janse 1
Barent ye sonne of Adam Vroman & ye neger
.
2
Claes sonne of Frans Harmense
1
Stephen adopted sonne of Geertje Bouts
1
John Webb a souldier Belonging to Capt Bull
1
David Burt belonging to ye same Compe
·
1
Joseph Marks of ye same Compe
-
1
In all
· 27
THE WAY HOW Ye BLOODY FRENCH AND INDIANS COMMITTED THIS TRAGEDY WAS THUS.
After they were gott into ye Toune without being discovered (no watch or guard being kept, notwithstanding several gente of Albany no longer then 3 days before were up there to Perswade ym to it) The french & ye Indians besett each house and after they had murthered ye People they burnt all ye houses and barns Cattle &ca Except 5 @ 6 : which were saved by Capt Sander to whom they were kinde as they had Particular orders so to be by reason of ye many kindnesse shewne by his wife to ye french Prisoners.
Albany ye 22 day of february 163 g.
Symon Van Ness and Andries Barents who went out ye first wth ye Maquaese returning told ; they had Pursued ye Enemy to ye great Lake & would have overtaken them had they not been spyed by some of ye Enemy Indians that went out to looke for 2 Negroe boys, yt were Runn away from them, & yt ye Indians & Christians were all Tyred when they came to ye Croune Point neer ye Lake ; some went further till they came to where ye Ise was Smoth ; where the french had with horses that they carried from Skinnechtady & Skeets and Yse Spurrs, made all the way they could over ye Lake in so much that our People could gain nothing upon them ; whereas at first they went 2 of there days journeys in one ; neverthelesse Laurence ye Maquase and about 140 Mohoggs & River Indians are gone in Pursuite of them, & will follow them quite to Canida.
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AND BURNING OF SCHENECTADY.
JACOB LEISLER TO MARYLAND.
[From Vol. in Sec's Office, endorsed, "Duke of York's Charter, Laws, Papers &c. in Leisler's time. I."]
March 4, 1689 [O. S.] In fort William.
To our great griefe I must acquaint you of the sad and deplo- rable massacre which happened at skenectady near Albany by the french and their Indians the 19th of ffebruary last betwixt Saturn- day & Sunday at.eleaven of the clock in the night 200 men fell upon them & most barbarously murdered sixty two men women & children & burned the place left but 5 or 6 houses unburned carried away captive 27 the rest escaped many of which being about 25 persons much damnified by the french women with chyld ript up, children alive thrown into the flames, some their heads dashed agt the doors & windows all occasioned by their neglect of their not watching, deryving to obey under the com- mand of the Commission of Sir Edmond, the sd commander being onely spared withall which belongs to him a safeguard being sett in his house & he himselfe to release the prisoners he desired last Nov'ber a certaine number of rebellious people at Albany calling themselves the convention & ruling by the arbitrary Comission of Sir Edmond & encouraged & supported by some of the wicked creatures of Sir Edmond, desired from me assistance of men gunes ammunition & money being afraid of the french to whom we have sent 52 men 501bs match 9501bs pouder, boulits etc wch arryving there agt their expectatione would not receive them, & were left there by the Inhabitants desire, the sd rebells with their fort keept the Inhabitants under a faire. I have sent up this Winter & commissioned one Captn with 25 men to Joine with our confederate Indians to warre agt the french at Canada, who were hindred by the sd rebells, who proclaimed upon paine of being punished for rebells if they mett above four men soe they were prevented to goe, we would else have discovered the enemy & prevented that disaster
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INVASION OF NEW-YORK
fort William March 4th 1689
Honorable Sir Governor of Boston:
Yours of the 8th instant by Mr Pembroke I received & I re- turne yow many thanks for the care I perceive yow have had for our packet, Since your last wee have received the sad & misera- ble newes from Skenectedy neere Albany whereof wee understand is laid to your woeful account it is such newes as wee feared long since, Alace what could there be expected of a certaine number of rebellious people that remained rulling under that arbitrary Commissions of sir Edmund at Albany within this pro- vince, and encouraged and supported by Connecticoatt by order- ing their forces sent thither to observe the directions of the sd rebells named a Conventione, being well assured the same is sup- ported more especially by that waylerous John Allan the Secre- tary of that Collony.
THE SAME TO THE BISHOP OF SALISBURY, 31 March 1690.
[Lond. Doc. VII.]
May it please your Lordship-The foregoing being sent via Boston pr the agents for New England which we hope are safely arrived ere this date, we take leave to add, that [to] a certain village named Schanectede 24 miles to the northward of Albany on Saturday the 9th of Febr. last about 11 a clock at night, came 200 French and Indians near 100 each and attacqued the same whilst it snowed thick, barbarously destroying the Inhabitants all being dutch; they murthered 60 persons, and bore away with them 27 prisoners, wounding some others so that there remain but about one sixth part of them having their cattel, goods and provisions destroyed and arrested from them, the reinnant shel- tering themselves at Albany, where is provision made for them from New Yorke. Being alarmed by the daily expectations of the French and Indians advancing towards us with a considerable number of 2500 french besides their Indians at Mont-Real, ende- vouring to obtaine upon the allyed Indians with us, vizt The
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AND BURNING OF SCHENECTADY.
Macquaes, Oneydauns, Onnondades, Cayougaes, Sinnekaes, and . Mehekanders who have espoused our cause, we have appointed persons to meet them at Albany in few dayes to consult our best way to intercept the Ennemies march ; The Macquaes having given us a proofe of their fidelity and courage by pursuing those who destroyed Schenechtede even near their own home, taking and slaying twenty five of them who lagged in the reare, and promise to rayse more than 1000 men of theirs to joyne with 400 of ours which we have neare raysed for that intent, keeping the passe upon the lake with a Company of Indians and Christians in num- ber about 50. that upon the enemyes approach, we may be timely notice, lying about 150 miles northward of Albany which we have fortified, to the best of our power and capacityes, the fort having 13 canon, 10 Barrells of powder and 60 men in garrison with other habiliments ; the towne palasadoes round and making breast works within, but want canon.
ROBT LIVINGSTON TO SIR EDMUND ANDROS.
Hartford, 14 April 1690.
May it Please yr Excelly-I was in hopes Yor Excel : should have heard ye newes of ye destroying Skinnechtady by ye French and Indians before your departure yt your Excel. might ye more hastned their motion at Whitehall for our Settlement. On ye 9th of Feby last a Compy of 250 French and Indians came upon yt place when they were all *asleep about 11 a Clock at night, and killd and destroyed 60 men women and children, carryed 27 men and boys prisoners and burnt ye towne except 6 or 7 houses which are saved by Capt. Sander, whom they did not touch, having expresse command to meddle wth none of his relations for his wife's sake, who had always been kinde to ye French prisoners. The people of that Towne were so bygotted to Leysler that they would not obey any of ye Magistrates neither would they enter- tain ye souldiers sent thither by yt Convention of all ; nothing but men sent from Leysler would do theire turn.
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