USA > New York > The documentary history of the state of New York, Vol. I pt 1 > Part 24
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310
INVASION OF NEW-YORK
Thus had Leysler perperted yt poor people by his seditious let- ters now founde all bloody upon Skinnechtady streets, with the notions of a free trade, boalting &c. and thus they are destroyed ; they would not watch, and where Capt. Sander commanded, there they threatened to burn him upon ye fire, if he came upon the garde. We were much alarmd at Albany; we sent ye Maquase yt were at hand out, and to ye Maquase Castles ; but ye Mes- senger being so timorous did not proceed ; so yt it was 3 days before we could get ye Maquase downe to pursue them, who being joyned with our men, follow'd them to the Great Lake, where ye Yse being good and ye French haveing robb'd sundrey horses, put ther plunder upon sleds and so over ye Lake ; however ye Indians pursued and gott 10, and afterwards 5, and killed 3. Who being examined relate, yt ye French design to attacke Albany early in ye Spring, haveing 120 batoes 100 birch canoes and 12 light morter peeces and severall other engines ready, and are to come with 1500 men. Poor Sharpe is lame being wounded with a great gunn yt split when ye alarm came [to Albany ] of Skinnechtady.
JACOB LEISLER TO THE GOVERNOUR OF BARBADOES.
[From Vol. endorsed, Letters in Leislers time &c.]
Ao 1690 : 17 May in fort William.
Honorable Sir-The French of Cannada with their Indianes committed six bloody masacres in this province three, & in New England three, they have destroyed Skanectady a vilage 20 milles from Albany, murdered sixty three men women and children, carried captive 27: & have committed the greatest tyranny ima- ginable, rypt up women with chyld throwed children alive into the flame, dasht others agt door post till their brains stuck to it, another murder of eleaven people, and one or two committed since last fall, we send fifty men up to guard that place, but a certaine number of people there maintaining the cômissions from Sir Edmond Andross & Coll. Dongan deryving from the authority of the late King James would not accept them there, but keept the
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311
AND BURNING OF SCHENECTADY.
for by virtue of the sd Commission & would not suffer any of them to goe & guard sd Village being the frontier but send of their people there, by which meanes from treachery cowardice and carelesnes that too unfortunate and to be lamented accident hes hapened there, the river being frozen that noe forces could be sent up the winter, the well meaned people, lodged our souldiers who kept guard in the City whereof the french & Indian (in num- ber of 200 men) had advise the Indianes would not goe there & so altered the designe, and that place was by that meanes spared our Indians pursued them kild & took 25 frenchmen who gave us an account of severall troops out in a designe in the Spring with 2500 french besides their Indianes.
MR. VAN CORTLANDT TO SR ED. ANDROSS.
[Lond. Doc. VII.]
19 May, 1690.
May it please your Excellency, # The French and Indians have againe, since your Excellcy's departure, destroyed some people to the Eastward of Boston, have also burned Scheneghtade killed 60 people and tooke 28 young men and boys prisoners : About 150 Indians and 50 young men off Albany followed the French over- tooke them upon the lake killed some and tooke 15 Frenchmen, which the Indians have killed in their castles ; the french Indians have killed eight or ten people att Conestagione, which has made the whole country in an alarm, and the people leave their planta- tions. Most of the Albany Wood men are att New-Yorke. Arent Schuyler went with eight Indians to Chambly, killed 2 and tooke 1 Frenchman prisoner.
MR. LIVINGSTON TO [CAPT. NICHOLSON.]
[Lond. Doc. VII.]
7th June. 1600. Honble Sir,-We of Albany stood out the longest till were deserted by all New-England, and while I was sent by the Con-
312
INVASION OF NEW-YORK, ETC.
vention of Albany to procure assistance from the neighbouring colonies, Leisler sends up one Jacob Milborne, formerly a servant to a man in Hartford, but now a fitt tool for his turn with 160 men, who gott the fort surrendered to him, after I had maintained the garrison, and all publick charge to the 12th of March, turn'd: out all the Souldiers but 12 or 13, which they tooke in again, and so kept there for some weeks- This Jacob Millborne, John de Bruine and Johannes Provoost, under the dominion of New-York commissrs spending their time with drinking and quaffing, while the French Indians comes and cutts off the people at Canastagione and above Synectady, and never one of them catcht. We have all Leisler's seditious letters secured which was the occasion, of the destruction of Synechtady, miraculously found in the streets, all embrued wth blood the morning after massacre was committed, so that we want nothing but a Govern' to call him to account.
1
X.
CIVIL LIST
OF THX
Province of new-York, 1693.
A LIST OF ALL THE OFFICERS
.
EMPLOYED IN CIVILL OFFICES IN THE PROVINCE OF NEW-YORKE IN AMERICA THE 20th OF APRILL 1693, AND OF THEIR SALLARIES.
[Lond. Doc. IX.]
Patent Officers.
Sallaryı
His Excellency Benjamin Fletcher Esqr Capt Gen !!
and Governour in Chiefe of the Province of New- York and Territories depending thereon in Ame- 780 00 00
rica and Vice-Admirall of the same £600 sterling att 30 pr cent advance is . .
Matthew Clarkson Esq' Secry allowed him for Paper pen and ink pr annum
30,00 00 Chidley Brook Esq' Coll' and Receiver Gen11 pr 260 00 00 ann. £200-£30 Sterl pr cent advance
Members of Council.
Fred. Phillips Steph Courtlandt Nich Bayard Will. Smith
Gab: Monveille Chid. Brook Wm Nicolls
Thos Willett Willm Pinhorne Peter Schuyler Esqrs. John Lawrence John Youngs Caleb Heathcote
Esqrs.
314
CIVIL LIST OF NEW-YORK.
James Grayham, Esq' Attorney Gen11
David Jamison Clerk of the Councill, allowed per annum
. . 50 00 00
Dan. Honan Accomptant-Gen11 pranñ: . 60 00 00
Jarvis Marshall Doorkeeper and Messenger of ye
Councill
30 00 00
Justices of the Supream Court of Judicature haveing the power of Kings Bench, Comôn Pleas and Exchequer. William Smith Esq Chiefe Justice per
Allowed for annum . 130 00 00
riding the circuit. William Pinhorne, Esq. 2d Justice per
annum, . 100 00 00
Steph Courtlandt
Chid. Brooke Esqrs Justices
John Lawrence
The Secretary is Clerk of this Court.
Custome House Officers.
Robt Livingston Sub Collector att Albany per annum £50 00 00 Wm Shaw, Gauger att Albany pr ann: . 8 00 00
Thos Munsey Surveyor att New-York pr ann . . 40 00 00
James Evetts Waiter 30 00 00
Emmanuel Young waiter
£
30 00 00
The Guager at New York paid by ye cask
Allowed to Godfredus Dellius for teaching and con- verting the Indians pr anñ 60 00 00
To the Interpretess Helene to interprete for yo Five Nations pr annum 20 00 00
Allowed for their Maties Barge one Coxwain pr ann: and eight oars att 50g each, £20 30 00 00
Allowed to a printer pr anñ . 40 00 00
Clerk of the Assembly allowed 12ª pr diem dureing ye Sessions
Door Keeper and Messenger 4ª pr diem dureing ye Sessions
Allowed the Honble N. Blaithwayte 5 pr cent out the Revenue as Auditor Generall
£1738 00 00
815
CIVIL LIST OF NEW-YORK.
In the Citty of New Yorke Abraham Depeyster Esq. Mayor & Clerk of the Mercate James Graham Esqr Recorder Standley Handcock Esqr High Sheriff William Sharpas Towne Clerke The Aldermen, Collectors, Assessors and Constables are elec- tive.
In the Citty of Albany
Peter Schuyler Esq Mayor
Dirck Wessells Esq Recorder
Robt Livingston Esq Town Clerk John Apell Esqr Sherriffe
The Aldermen, Collectors, Assessors and Constables elective. The Mayor's Court hath the Power of the Comôn Pleas.
In each County there is a Court of Comôn Pleas whereof the first in the Commission of the Peace is Judge, and is to be assisted with any two of the three next in the commission of the Peace.
The Mayor and Aldermen are Justices of the Peace and have power to hold Quarter Sessions in the Cittys of N. York & Albany.
Justices of the Peace
In the County of Albany to joyne the Mayor Record' and Aldermen in the Quarter Sessions.
Eghbert Theunisse
Nicholas Rispe
Kilian van Ranslaer
Sanders Glenn
Martin Gerritse
Esqrs
Peter Vosbrough
Dirck Theunisse
Gerryt Theunisse
Justices in Westchester County
Caleb Heathcote Esqr Judge of the Common Pleas.
Joseph Theale James Mott
William Barnes EsqTs John Hunt
Esqre
Daniel Strange
Wm Chadderton
Thomas Pinkney
Benjamin Collier Esqr Sherriffe. Joseph Lee Clerk of the County Collectors Assessors and Constables elective
Esqrs
316
CIVIL LIST OF NEW-YORK.
Justices in the County of Richmond Ellis Duxbury Esqr Judge of the Comôn Pleas Abraham Cannor Abraham Lakeman
Dennis Theunisse Esqrs
John Shadwell
John Stilwell Esq& Sherriff
Justices in the County of Ulster
Thomas Garton Esqr Judge of the Comôn Pleas Henry Beeckman
Dirck Shepmers
Wessell Tenbrook Esqrs
Abraham Haasbrough
Nicholas Antonio Esqr Sherriffe
Justices in Suffolk County
Isaac Arnold Esq' Judge of ye Comôn Pleas.
John Howell
Samuell Mulford
Richd Smith
William Barker Esqrs
Matthew Howell
Ebenetus Platt
Tomas Mapes ·
Josiah Hobbart Esqr Sherriffe
Justices in Queens County
Thomas Hix Esqr Judge of the Common Pleas Richard Cornwall
Ellias Doughty
Dan. Whitehead Esq"
John Smith
Tho. Stevensant
John Harrison Esq" Sherriffe
Andrew Gibb Clerke
317
CIVIL LIST OF NEW-YORK.
Justices in the Kings County
Stephen Courtlandt Judge of ye Common Pleas
Roeloffe Martinse Dirk Huyle
...
Nicholas Stillwell John Theunisse
Joseph Hogeman
Esqrs Peter Cortiliau
Esq™
Henry Filkin Stoffell Probasco
Gerryt Strycker Esqr Sherriff.
Dukes County consisting of Nantuckett and Martins Vineyard claimed by Sr William Phipps, the case of Martins Vineyard laid before their Ma'ties.
Orange County not above twenty families, for the present under the the care of New York
Dutchess County haveing very few inhabitants committed to the care of the county of Ulster
Surveyors of Highways, Collectors, Assessors and Constables, are elective throughout the whole Province
An Account of all Establishmts of Jurisdictions within this Province.
Single Justice-Every Justice of the Peace hath power to determine any suite or controversy to the value of forty shillings
Quarter Sessions-The Justices of the Peace in Quarter Sessions have all such powers and authorities as are granted in a Commission of ye Peace in England
County Court-The County Court or Common Pleas hath cogni- zance of civil Accons to any value, excepting what concerns title of land, and noe Accôn can be removed from this court if the damage be under twenty pounds.
Mayor and Aldermen-The Court of Mayor and Aldermen hath the same power with the County Courts.
Supreme Court-The Supreme Court hath the powers of Kings Bench, Common Pleas & Exchequer in England, & noe accôn can be removed from this court if under £100.
Chancery .- The Governour and Councill are a court of Chancery and have the powers of the Chancery in England, from whose sentence or decree nothing can be removed under £300
318
MILITIA OF NEW-YORK.
Prerogative Court .- The Governour discharges the place of Or- dinary in granting Administracôns and proveing Wills &c. The Secretary is Register. The Govern" is about to appoint Delegates in the remoter parts of the Government, with Supervisors for looking after intestates estates & provideing for orphans
Court Marshall-The Govern' hath established a Court Martiall att Albany whereof Major Richd Ingoldesby is President & Robert Livingston Judge Advocate who with the other cômissionated Captains att Albany have power to exercise Martiall Law, being a frontear Garrison and in actuall warr. Admiralty -Their Majesties reserve the appointment of a Judge, Register, and Marshall
M. CLARKSON Secry.
A STATE OF THE MILLITIA
IN THEIR MAJESTIES PROVINCE OF NEW YORK IN AMERICA, APRIL 1693.
[Lond. Doc. IX.] Men.
The Millitia of the Citty and County of New Yorke & Orange, commanded by Coll: Abraham Depeyster, being Eight Companys of foot, and one Troop of Horse, consist- ing of - 477
The Millitia of Queens County in ye Island of Nassaw, commanded by by Coll. Thomas Willett being nine Companys Foot, and one Troop of Horse consisting of 580
The Millitia of Suffolke County in the Island of Nassaw commanded by Coll: John Young being nine companys of Foot, consisting of - - 533
The Millitia of Kings County in ye Island of Nassaw, commanded by Coll: Stephanus Van Cortland, being six Com- panys of Foot and one Troop of Horse, consisting of - 319
The Millitia of the county of Albany comanded by Major Peter Schuyler being five companys of Foot and one Troop of Horse, now formed into Dragoons by the Govern', con- sisting of - 359
319
MILITIA OF NEW-YORK.
The Millitia of Ulster and Dutchess Countys comanded by Lieut Coll. Beeckman being four Companys of Foot and one Troop of Horse now made Dragoons, consisting of - 277
The Millitia of the County of Westchester, comanded by Coll. Caleb Heathcott, being six Companys of Foot, con- sisting of - -
- 283
The Millitia of the County of Richmond commanded by Capt Andrew Cannon being two Companys of Foot, con- sisting of
104
In all - 2932 = BEN. FLETCHER
XI.
PAPERS
RELATING TO
Count de Frontenac's Expedition
AGAINST 1
THE ONONDAGOES.
1696.
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21
FRONTENAC'S EXPEDITION, 1696.
[Council Min. VII.]
At a Council held at his Maties ffort in New Yorke the 9th of July 1696.
Present His Excellency Benjamin Fletcher &c
ffred Philips
Gab Monvielle
Steph. Cortlandt Esqrs Peter Schuyler EsqTE
Nich : Bayard John Lawrence
His Excell: did Communicate intelligence from Albany with the examination of a ffrench prisoner wherein appcars there is great preparacôn in Canida and a resolution of the Govern' of Canida to reduce the five Nations this summer that all the men between fifteen & fifty in Canida are ordered to be in readinesse ' and that all the ffrench Indians & Ottawawaes are together & that they are to joyn the Dawaganhaes
His Excell. offered his opinion to march up 400 men to the Castle of Onondage to encourage and confirme the Indians.
The Council do approve thereof, but affirm the impossibility for want of money which is not to be had our neighbours having denyed assistance the Revenue lessened much by the decay of trade and great backwardnesse in bringing in the taxes
At a Council held at his Matys ffort in New Yorke the 27th of July 1696.
Present His Excellency Benjamin Fletcher &c.
ffred Phillips John Lawrence Esq™ Steph: Cortlandt Esqrs Caleb Heathcote
Gab Monvielle
His Excell : did communicate a letter from Mr. Allyn of Con- necticutt giving account of two ffrench men taken prisoners neere
324
COUNT FRONTENAC'S EXPEDITION
the heads of their rivers and that they report there is 1000 ffrench & 2000 Indians marched against the five Nations.
Also a letter from Coll. Ingoldesby with a belt from Onondage bringing intelligence of a great body of ffrench & Indians on this side Mount Reall on their march towards them 12 dayes aggo.
His Excell : desired the advice of the Council what is to be done offering his readynesse to march immediately to the frontiers in person and his opinion it were convenient to march up men for the frontiers that a body may be spared to go to Onondage to cover them and show our zeal for their preservacon which will give them encouragement.
It is the opinion of the Council that there being no assistance of men from the neighbouring Colonies and a small summe of money sent from Virginia and Maryland to assist in the many great charges this Province is put to upon the alarms of the enemy it being harvest time and many of the South of the Province already listed to recruit the Companyes it will be very grievous to take the people from their labour and hardly possible there is likewise no money to answer the charge thereof Do therefore advise that a letter be wrote to the Indians to give them encou- ragement and to acquaint them the King of England has sent them some presents & desire them to be watchfull.
At a Council held at his Matys ffort in New Yorke the 31st day of July 1696.
Present his Excell : Benjamin Fletcher etc
ffred Philips
Steph: Cortlandt
Nich Bayard S Esq™ª Gab: Monvielle - Esqrs
Caleb Heathcote
His Excell: did communicate to the Council intelligence from the frontiers that the enemy are upon their march that the Indians of the five Nations have sent to call for assistance of Christian force and did expresse his readynesse to go to Albany
His Excell: did desire their opinion what is to be done being there's no money in the Coffers
It is the opinion of the Council that there may be men found upon the frontiers that upon encouragement will march to the
325
AGAINST THE ONONDAGAS.
Indian Country if there were a fund to answer the charge thereof
His Excell. did declare his readynesse to go provided they will finde money to answer the necessary charge thereof
Coll. Cortlandt proferred his personall credit for £200 towards the expedicon
Coll Bayard offers the same ffred Philips offers the same Lt Coll. Monvielle the same Coll Heathcote the same
His Excell: did recommend to them to procure the creditt each for £200 forthwith.
FRONTENAC'S EXPEDITION AGAINST THE ONONDAGA INDIANS. 1696.
[Paris Doc. V.]
The Count is already advised, by despatches at the departure of last year's ships, of the preparations for a considerable expe- dition against the Iroquois and principally against the Onnonta- gues which is the chief nation, where the councils of the other five are held, the most devoted to the English, and the most strenu- ously opposed to the negociations for peace of preceding years. It became of importance to crush them, and it appeared to. many more advantageous to do so during winter inasmuch as it was cer- tain, said they, to find in the Village at least all the women and children who being destroyed or captured would draw down ruin on the warriors or oblige them to surrender to us.
The necessary preparations for this expedition were begun last autumn, but the large amount of snow produced a change of de- sign, the rather as it was impossible to transport the Militia (ha- bitans) from the south shore and the Island of Orleans to the government of Quebec, the river having been absolutely impassa- ble from the sailing of the vessels to the commencement of 'this year.
This it was that caused the adoption of the resolution to proceed by the Mohawk country with whatever troops could be collected capable of travelling on the snow with the militia of Three Rivers and Montreal and Indians, which had always been the plan of
1
326
COUNT FRONTENAC'S EXPEDITION
Monsieur the Count de Frontenac who fore. aw the difficulty of executing the other project during winter. But this design also aborted, because we were informed that a Mohawk prisoner who escaped from us, had communicated our intention, and that this Nation, united with the English of Orange, awaited us with reso- lute determination, which, however, would not have prevented us going in quest of them had the continuance of the season permitted a large body to make so long a march and to carry munitions and the supplies necessary for subsisting there. * *
The intelligence which we stated that M. le Comte de Fronte- nac received from the Ottawas obliged us to interrupt what we had commenced of the preparations for the Onnontague voyage. Every thing was put in order during his short stay at Montreal. He departed for la Chine where the army arrived on the 4th July ; ten Ottawa savages arrived there the same day, and coming from the vicinity of the Onnontagues they roved a long time around the village without having been able to make any prisoners, and find- ing themselves pursued by a considerable party, took refuge in fort Frontenac. They thanked Monsieur le Comte for not having deceived them, and for having saved their lives by furnishing them at that fort with something to eat and, particularly, to smoke.
On the information given them by Sieur Dejordis, a Calvinist Captain, who commanded that fort, of the march of M. le Comte, they said they were going to meet him, and that they expected to accompany him.
Provisions having been furnished to the Indians, the whole army proceeded to encamp on the 6th at Isle Perrot. Next day it was ranged in the order of battle, which it was intended should be observed during the entire march.
The savages, to the number of 500, were so divided that the greater portion were always in the van which was composed of two battalions of troops consisting cach of two hundred men. They were followed by several detached batteaux of militia, bear- ing supplies and the bagage of M. le Comte, Messrs de Callières, de Vaudreuil, and de Ramezay.
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327
AGAINST THE ONONDAGAS.
Monsieur de Callières commanded the vanguard, having two large batteaux on board which were two brass pieces mounted, also mortars for grenades, fire works and other necessary ammu- nition, with the Commissary of Artillery.
Monsieur le Comte de Frontenac followed the vanguard sur- rounded by the canoes of his Staff, Sieur Levasseur, Engineer, and several volunteers. The four battalions of militia, stronger than those of the soldiers, composed the main body. Monsieur de Ramezay, Governor of Three Rivers, commanded the entire militia. The rearguard, commanded by Monsieur de Vaudreuil, consisted only of two battalions of troops and the remainder of the savages who brought up the rear.
Sieurs de la Durantaye, de May, de Grays et Dumesnil veteran captains commanded the four battalions of troops ; sieur de Suber- caze acted as Major General and there was an adjutant (Aide. Major) to each battalion of troops and militia ; sieur de Saint Martin, a Calvinist captain, commanded the Quebec battalion ; sieur de Grandville, Lieutenant, that of Beaupré; sieur le Grandpré, Major of Three Rivers, was at the head of the militia of that government, and sieur Deschambaux, King's attorney at Montreal, commanded the battalion of that place. No officers remained in the country except those whom infirmity prevented undertaking such a voyage; and with difficulty were any found for the requi- site garrisons.
Sieur de Maricourt, Captain, led the savages of the Sault and the Abenakis who formed one corps ; sieur Gardeur de Beauvaire, Lieutenant of those of the Mountain and of the Lorette Hurons, and sieur de Beaucourt. also Lieutenant, commanded the Algon- quins, Socoquois, Nipissirmens, and the few there were of Ottawas, ·who constituted another corps.
The order of battle was not deranged during the march, and the troops which formed the van on one day, retired on the mor- row to the rear. As there were nearly thirty leagues of Rapids to be passed, the march was very tedious; it is, therefore, incon- ceivable what difficulty was encountered in making the portages, being obliged often several times in one day to discharge from the batteaux the greater part of the freight.
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328
COUNT FRONTENAC'S EXPEDITION
Those who have no knowledge of the country, cannot under- stand what we call Cascades and Saults. Falls from seven to eight feet high are often met, and there fifty men find difficulty enough in dragging a batteau, and in places less troublesome they are under the necessity of getting into the water up to, and some- times beyond the waist, it being impossible to stem the current even with the lightest canoes by aid of poles and paddles.
A part of the army encamped, on the day of departure, above the chute called Le Buisson ; the rest followed in file next day and the rain obliged them to bivouac there.
On the 9th the Cedars rapid was passed ; on the 10th the army divided in two to ascend that of Coteau du lac, a part to the north and a part to the south. The same thing was repeated next morning, and a junction was re-formed at the entrance of Lake St. Francis, which is over seven leagues long, and which Was passed under sail and in full battle array.
Our Indian scouts reported at night that they had seen some ascending and descending trails. A detachment of savages and a few Frenchmen was formed to march some leagues ahead of the main body and to prevent ambuscades.
On the 12th before decamping, nine Abenakis joined Monsieur le Comte de Frontenac. Messieurs l'Intendant and the King's lieutenant at Quebec remarked in their letters that these savages said that they had learned that the English intended coming to Quebec. These false reports, which are but too prevalent in these parts, did not interrupt the continuance of the march, and the camp was formed at the foot of the Long Sault.
However long and difficult, it was all passed on the 13th. On the 14th they came to the foot of the Rapide Plat. Sieur de Mantesh, Lieutenant, was detached with fifty Frenchmen and savages to make the necessary discoveries.
On the 15th they arrived at the rapid des Galets; the 16th after having repaired several batteaux, they could not make any more than three leagues beyond the place called la Galette where the bad navigation terminated.
At those places where portages were required to be made, seve- ral detachments marched on land to cover those who drew (the batteaux.) On the 17th the rain prevented a long march.
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