USA > New York > The documentary history of the state of New York, Vol. III pt 2 > Part 5
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dangerous place to settle at present, and for this reason it is that they are willing to have patience here for a couple of years. But they will not listen to Tar-making. He thinks this repugnance can be overcome as was that to cultivate their gardens-and that the future will furnish with difficulty what the present time might easily guarantee, did the people conform to the intentions of those above them.
AIR CAST TO GOV. HUNTER.
['Translated.]
Sir I have received the 20 barrels of Pork which I distributed among the people at this side and supplied all with some to the 10th May. The people on the other side have been supplied to the 34 May. This will cause Mr. Baggs to be looked for earlier than the 10th with his portion of pork. I never saw salted meat so poor nor packed with so much salt as this pork was. In truth, almost one eighth of it was salt.
I likewise received the 117 barrels of flour of Mr. Beekman. The following is the weight & the tare-
53 barrels are from Mr Beekman
32 from Made Exvin Ge widow, and 32 from Mr Rotzen
117
The experience that the tare of the Barrels is very incorrect, and that such deception causes the people not to take the flour in barrels according to the Tare, but ordinarily to return the barrels to me that I may make a new tare, led me to make a bet with Mr Robert Levingston Jur that a barrel, tared 17lbs ..
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PAPERS RELATING TO THE
weighed 201bs. I was universally censured for making such a wager. But when the Barrel was emptied and well shaken and cleaned it weighed 21lbs tare. Judge, Sir, what a loss of flour this is. I sent Mr Baggs 20 barrels to day of Ma Exvin, marked ED. and requested him also to investigate the cheat. 18 barrels are tared 16lbs: 1 barrel 17lbs and one 19lbs. I would make another bet that not one of them runs below 201bs tare. It is too palpable a fraud to mark so many at 16lbs. Mr Baggs will not fail to advise you how the tare turns out.
At the close of the last quarter, 25 March, I introduced the New York method for the ascertaining the persons to be supported. I keep the register myself and have it signed by the Captains in order to obtain a more full knowledge of the condition of the people. In the absence of such examination I tell them what to do. I oblige them by this examination to proceed more exactly with their declarations, and I have found occasion to make a. greater deduction when necessary after the account and distribu- tion have been made out.
It is for the 12th May then, Sir, that I have need of provisions, and Mr Baggs will commence his distribution only on the 5th May.
I am with great respect, Sir Your most humble & 1 May 1711
most obedient servi
J. CAST.
Return of the Palatines; 1 May 1711
On the East side of Hudson's River. Hunterstown Persons. . .334
Queensbury 350
Annsberg 252
Haysbury
258
On the West side. - 1173
Elizabeth Thown 11
George Thown 111
New Village
321
583 .
Total . . 1961
4
.
661
MANOR OF LIVINGSTON.
GOV. HUNTER TO THE BOARD OF TRADE.
[ Lond. Doc. XVIII.]
New York, 7. May 1711.
I gave your Lordships in my last an account of the purchase of Four thousand acres of land for her Majesty, her heirs, and Successors for that purpose from Mr Livingston for Two hundred Sixty Six pounds thirteene shillings and four pence Sterling. The small Tract on the East side in the Queens gift, being not sufficient for Settleing the remainder, I have taken for that purpose an adjacent tract, belonging to Mr Thomas Fullerton who is now Concerned in her Majesty's Customes in Scotland, who has by his letter of Attorney given me power to dispose of the same, which tract contains about Eight hundred acres of very good land, which will cost more in proportion than the Lands purchased of Mr Livingston, he reckoning the neighbour- hood of that people more than half the price, Mr Fullerton reaping noe benefit from that Scituation. If I find them streightened in ground I shall endeavour to find more in the neighbourhood at easy rates, for I find the extent of ground a great encouragement to the people.
I have met with great opposition from many of the ill disposed Inhabitants, who dayly insinuated that there were better lands for them on the Fronteers, and that they were ill used in being planted there ; being informed from all hands that these Sugges- tions had been of fforce enough to make the people idle and backward, and something worse, on my returne from the Jerseys I visited them againe, having remained Some days amongst them, to appearance convinced them of the ill intentions of those who had misled them, that they could not follow the work they were destined for, there being no Pine on these lands on the Frontiers, which they had a mind to, besides they must lay their account of labouring there as the Israelites did of old, with a sword in one hand and the axe in the other ; having by these meanes to my thinking quieted them I left them, but was overtaken a few miles off by an Express which acquainted me that they had been in a mutinous manner with their officers, declaring they would
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not settle these lands but would have others, upon which I returned and ordered them to send Deputies from each Village next morning with their demands, but they then came in a body, and when I found I could prevaile little with reasoning, and was thinking of some more effectual method to keep them to their duty, I ordered the contract which they had all signed to be read to them in High Dutch, and asked then whether they were resolved to keep to the terms thereof or noe, that I might take my measures accordingly. After some small deliberation they returned me for answer that they were resolved to keep their contract and would for the future be directed entirely by me, soe wee parted good ffriends.
SECY CLARKE TO THE LORDS OF TRADE.
[Lond. Doc. XVIII. ] New York 30th May 1711. MY LORDS,
I have said nothing more of the Palatines in my other letter than that his Excellency was gone up to set them to work on preparing the Pine trees, not having then received any clear account of their deportment, but since I closed that I have had one full and particular which it will require more time to give it your Lordships, especially at length, and with the Copys of some-Papers requisite to a thorough prospect of their proceedings than I now have, for I expect to be called on every minute, for this, however, I will endeavour to be as particular as I can now.
About a fortnight agoe his Excellency having received information from their Overseers and other officers, that these People had taken a resolution neither to work in making Pitch and Tarr nor to remain on the land they are settled upon for that purpose, but even by force, if they could not otherwise effect it, to remove to Schohary (a Tract of resumed Lands) and that they had actually hindred the Surveyors from laying out more Lots to them, strengthening each other in these Resolutions by a Secret
MANCE OF LIVINGSTON.
Association, his Excellency was forced to send for a Detachment of Sixty from the Garrison of Albany to meet him at the Manor of Levingston, which is about two miles from their Settlement on the West side of the River, so soon as his Excellency arrived there, he sent to all the Villages on that side of the River to know how they dared disobey his orders, and hinder the Surveyors and other officers to do their duty.
By their Deputys they returned for answer, that when the Surveyors came to lay out the land, the People called them out, told them 'twas worth nothing, they would have no more, so that 'twas needless to survey it & that they would have the lands at Schohary which the Queen had ordered them by their Contract.
His Excellency replyed that he had often told them that if any man by chance had a bad Lott, the Surveyors on application would lay him out another, as they were ordered, that those who had cleared what was given them, might upon application to the Surveyors, have more, and if what he had already purchased was not sufficient he would purchase more, provided it lay on the river, and near the Pines, that they might ffollow the manu- facture they were destin'd for, and obliged to by their Contract. That as to the Lands of Schohary its the malice of those who would have them for their Slaves that put them on demanding it, for that those Lands the Indians had not yet parted with, nor were they fit for their labour, no Pine being within Twenty miles of it, that it would be impossible to subsist them there, or defend them against ye French and French Indians, and besides they had obliged themselves to settle on such lands as he should assign them, and then desired their final answer, which was that they would have the lands appointed them by the Queen ; Wherenpn his Excellency, in writing, toll them that since neither their duty, allegiance or regard to her Majesty's unparallelled Charity and goodness in taking them up, and providing for them when they were starving, and abandon'd by all ye world besides, had been of any force to keep ym within the bounds of their duty, and since they had no regard to a solemn contract signed by them, he was come to require and enforce the execution of it, Copys and Translations of which they had in their own language. Then his Excelley desired that what past between
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them, Copies whereof were then given y" might be communicated to the people and their last resolution & final answer the next day at four in the evening.
A few Minutes after the Deputyes were gone, His Excellency was informed that a body of three or four hundred of then were then passing the brook, the Deputyes among whom were the Captains, return'd to him and in appearance seemed softened, and then went to the people who were drawn up on the hil! above the House, towards whom his Excellency marching with the Detachment, one of the Commissarys who had been with them told him they wanted to pay their compliment to him, so his Excellency walked up to them, and askd them what they meant by appearing in arms, they told him what they had told the Commissarys, whereupon his Excelley ordered them home to their habitations, and being gone about a mile they discharged all their Firelocks, but their saying they came to pay their Com- pliment was only a Pretence, for they told two of their officers, as they were going home, that they came to relieve their Deputys in case they had been confined.
The next day the Deputys came according to order with their answer, which begins indeed with a desire that his Excellcy would assist them, that they may be settled in the lands of Schohary, but they soon forgot that humble stile, and told his Excellency that they had rather lose their lives immediately than remain where they are, that they are cheated by the contract, it not being the same that was read to them in Engd There, the say, it runs thus, that seven years after they had had forty acres a head given them, they were to repay the Queen by Hemp, Mast Trees, Tar and Pitch or anything else, so that it may be no damage to any man in his Family. Upon these terms they will perform the contract, but to be forced by another contract to remain on these lands all their lives, and work for her Majesty for the ships use, that they will never doe, What does it signify they say to promise them this Land, that they shall inake Pitch and Tar. They will be obedient to the Queen but they will have the promise kept, that Mr Cast read to them in High Dutch in England, and upon that land which was promised them they will be there, and if they cannot they desire
665
MANOR OF LIVINGSTON.
three or four men may goe for England and lay their case before the Queen, they say likewise there are a great many things promised them, clothing, household Goods, working Tools wch they desire to have. They say further their people dye for want of care and proper remedyes and desire money to subsist themselves and lastly they say that Mr Cast told them he'd make , them slaves, and therefore desire his Excellency to appoint another in his room.
Whilst his Excellency was talking with the Deputys he received Information that there was a great body of men in arms on the other side of the Brook, and having by that time a reinforcement of seventy men more, he marched the detach- ment immediately and passed the Brook, the Palatines were run home to their houses, His Excellency marched to the first Village and ordered them to bring in all their arms, which they did Immediately except a few ; He could go no further that night but the next morning march'd to ye other three Villages. on the same side of the River and disarmed them all, and then returning to Mr Levingston sent orders to the Villages on the other side to bring in their arms that day to the Store house to be transported to him, which I believe they have done, if they refused his Excellency in case of necessity had sloops ready to transport the Detachment thither.
Its hardly credible that men who reap so great a benefit as they doe by these people, not only by the consumption of their Provision, but by the increase of Strength, should yet be so- malicious to possess them with notions so injurious to themselves and prejudi Sal to Her Majesty's Interest, but yet it is so, and I believe almost the only cause of their present discontents, the land they live on is generally good, producing So great a crop that those Farmers and men of skill in husbandry who are honest enough to wish success to these people's labours wonder how they could be wrought upon to complain of it, but great pains have been taken to magnify the goodness of that at Schohary above this, and to persuade them that if they once settle where they are, there is no prospect of their ever remove- ing, but if they refuse to doe that and insist on their being planted on the other the Govr must give way to it, and by these
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PAPERS RELATING TO THE
means it is that they are arrived at this pitch of disobedience which I hope will wear off now they are disarmed of their Firelocks, the power by which they hoped to force a compliance to their unreasonable humour.
His Excellency has published a Declaration revoking all mili- tary Commissions and putting them entirely under the command of their overseers and Directors, as the Queen's hired Serv's and all the good people amongst them who have been merely misled and frightened by the turbulent to join in these tumults, are better satisfied with that rule of Government.
Whatsoever else they complaine of I dare be boll to atlirm, there are not many planters in the Province so happy, so healthfull and so well cloth'd as they, nor could it well be other- wise considering how well they have been used, they have by their own choice three flesh and four flower days a week, a pound of beef a head or equivalent in pork and pease, as long as they lik'd them besides three quarters of a pound of the finest or a pound of a courser sort, of bread, which they please, and as good Beer as any man in the Province drinks of at his Table, of flow" they have a pound a head; with bread and beer ; there is not one of their houses that is not hung round with Provisions and as to their Clothing every one has had of Shoes, Stockins, Kerseys, Shaggs, and other sort of woollen, such a quantity last Winter as their occasions required, and now again this summer a sufficient quantity of linnen, the remainder is kept for their use to supply them as they want, which by such management will goe twice as far as by making one general distribution of the whole ; of Tools they have had as many as they want, and a great many more have been made for them here, as particularly two hundred barking irons ; as to their dying indeed, many did at their first coming, tho' none for want of care or proper appli- cations, but by diseases contracted on board, since they have been planted in the country they have had as good a share of health as any people in the world, but all sickness was likewise provided against there by Doctors & medicines, the want of any thing I am sure is no cause of their turbulent behaviour, what- ever the care and plenty they have lived in is.
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657
MANOR OF LIVINGSTON.
THE SAME TO THE SAME.
New York 31 May, 1711.
MY LORDS,
I have just now received some further Intelligence from his Excellency concerning the Palatines of a very different nature from what I did myself the hont to lay before your Lordships in my Letter of yesterday and which would make me wish I had not writ it, were it not necessary you should be informed of all their actions; however it is with great pleasure I do myself the honour to write this, which will shew your Lordships their sincere repentance of their behaviour.
After his Excellency had disarmed them, he sent back the detachment to Albany, and the sober and better sort of People, who are likewise the majority, being secured from the rage of the hot headed, unthinking and misguided, met together to debate on their former proceedings, and with a general Consent came to this Resolution, to acknowledge their faults, ask his Excellency's pardon, and signify their hearty repentance; Accordingly, all the Villages, by their Deputys waited on him, and some of them on their knees asked his pardon and promised a thorrough Reformation of their behaviour, and an entire Resignation to his orders for the future, whereupon his Excel- leney pardoned them with this Certification, 'that the first disobedience shall be punished with the utmost rigour the law will allow, which they received with great joy, and now they begin to demonstrate their sincerity by inquiring when they shall be set to work, and shew a great desire to make a good beginning on it.
Return of the No. of Palatines; June 1711.
On East side of Hudsons River.
Hunterstown
311
Elizabeth thown 148
Queensbury 317
Annsbury 257
New thown 351
Haysbury 211
On West side.
George thown. 118
-
1189 Total 1803. 611
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PAPERS RELATING TO THE
PALATINE SCHOOL HOUSE.
I acknowledge to hav. Received of Robert Livingston 40 Boards for ye School house in ye palatyeyn town called Queens- berry & desire sd Livingston to send for ye sd use 30 Boards now: to Compleat ye School house
dated this 18 Jany 1711
Jon. FR. HÆYER, MIN.
Mannor Livingston 24th June 1711.
Account of the charge of Subsisting the Palatin's from 26th March to this day both Inclusive in their several Settlements on the East and West Sides of Hudson's river according to the Number in Each Family, and the Days they have been respectively subsisted at 6d pr Diem one with another.
Familys
Persons
Hunter's Town
105
352
807 1 -
Queen's bury
102
365
798 15 -
Ann's bury
7ti
277
591 9 6.
Hays bury
59
241
532 8 6
Elizabeth Town
42
1.16
327 9 -
George Town
10
128
265 12 -
New Town
103
365
511 12 -
Came 28th Aprill & beging May .. 527
1874
2837 7
EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM RICHP SACKET TO SEGY CLARKE.
Sundry of our pallatines are Sick of the feaner and they Desire me to Aquaint you that they Doe Desire that you will please to send the Docktor that Belongs to them Sr order him to Come to the East Side of the River if he Doe Come vp.
Mannor of Leuingston
June the 24 1711.
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669
MANOR OF LIVINGSTON
COURT OVER THE PALATINES.
MINUTES of the PROCEEDINGS of the COMMISSIONERS Appointed by his Excellency Brigadeer Hunter Captain General and Governour in cheif &c relating to the Palatins Settled in four villages on the East Side & 3 on the west Side Hudsons river in the Counties of Dutches and Albany, sent over by her Majesty for the Production of Naval Stores, weh Commission is as follows.
To ROET LIVINGSTON, RICHARD SACKET, JOHN CAST, GODFRY
WULSIN, ANDREW BAGGE and HERMAN SCHONEMAN Esq's and the officer commanding the Detachment of Soldiers at Man' Livingston for the time being.
By virtue of powers to me granted by her Majesty's Patent and her particular Instructions with relation to the Palatins within the Province of New-York, who by her Majus orders and their own contract are obliged to follow the manufactury of Naval Stores within the said Province, I do appoint you or any three of you (of weh Number Rob' Livingston or Richd Sacket is always to be one) to be a Court for Regulating and forwarding the said work, with full power to take Cognizance of all Misdemeanours Disobedience, or other wilfull Transgressions in the said people, with relation to the above mention'd work and power to punish the same by confinement or Corporal punishment, not Extending to life or mutilation, as in like cases is practiced by overseers over Servants : Giving me as often as there is occasion a perticular Acct of such yr proceedings. You are also hereby Impower'd to nominate in Each Village or Settlement of the said Palatins a fit person for head of the sd Village or Settlem to whom all your orders are to be directed, who is to see them put in Execution, and in case of Tumult, disobedience, or any other mutinous proceedings as have already fallen out, the officer commanding the Detachment now at Man' Livingston is to Assist you, if need be toward the Suppressing the Same, preserving the publick peace and Securing the Delinquents in order to their being brought to tryal and Condign punishm' for all wch this shall be your Sufficient warrant Givin, at Man' Livingston this present 12th June 1711.
Ro. HUNTER.
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PAPERS RELATING TO THE
Arr a MEETING of the Commis appointed to manage ye affairs of the Palatins held at Mannor Livingston 4th July 1711.
Present
Ko: LIVINGSTON JOHN CAST
Ricnd SACKET
AND: BAGGE
CAPT HAR: HOLLAND,
Comr of the Detachmt of her Majtys forces.
The Commiss's finding it of absolute necessity that Staves should be dressd fitt for making Tarr barells, and having sent for the Palatine Coopers divers times, and ordered them to go about the work, and several other Palatins for their assistance, doe find that some neglect, and others refuse to perform said Service, tho all reasonable terms have been offered for their Incouragmt.
(2) It is resolvd by the Commissrs that Every Two Palatine Coopers, (whereof there are 12 on this side and 4 on the other side Hudsons River) have four Palatins for their assistants, to ent down, saw, and split the Timber and assist in the making barrel staves fit for the containing Tarr for Transportation, and that the respective List masters or heads of Every Village on this side Doe detach 21 men and 12 men on the other side every munday morning in their Turn, according to the number of Inhabitants in Each village, and there to work till Saturday night and then the munday following others in their room keeping an exact list of those that have performed the Service. Returning the names of those yt absent, neglect, or refuse said Service, in order that they may be punished according to their deserts, at the discretion of the Comm's, pursuant to the power Invested in them.
(3) The Coopers inhabiting the west side being called in, they were told what directions were given to the Coopers on this side and that they should have the same Incouragment web was that if we could not agree for the barrels after they were made. y' Indifferent persons should deside what they were to have, or be discounted for their work, having a due regard to the Assistance they received and the Queens Tools weh they made nse off They were willing to proceed on the same Conditions, and tools were delivered to them accordingly.
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MANOK OI LIVINGSTON. e
ATT a MEETING of ye ComMissrs 5 July 1711.
Present
Ront LIVINGSTON JOIN CAST
RICHA SACKET
ANDREW BAGGI;
CApt HEN: HOLLAND
(1) The List masters of the respective villages of the Palatins were sent for and warrants delivered to them, persnant to his Excellys Commission, and told they were to take care their people do not Stragle to again, that if they want to go to work in the Harvest, Leave shall be given them provided it may be known whether they goe, that they may be sent for upon occasion.
They were likewise told that those people went with leave, Should be allowed provision but those that went withont leave should be cut off.
(2) It is thought fit by the Commiss's yt Mr Sacket do draw out an acct of the Tarr that is already made, and how many kills are ready to be sett fire to, and what quantity of knots are gott together that his Excy may be informed, what has been done, since the Trees have been barked, and in regard the grass is very high and difficult to find the knotts itt is thought fitt (as Mr Sacket proposes) yt only tenn men be imployed in gathering knots, and rideing them to the place where the kill is to be made, till such time that seasoned Casks be gott ready for Tarr.
(3) The List masters of the Respective Palatin villages appear- ing before the Commissrs do say yt they are willing to Serve her Majty and the public in yt Station, but hoped the Commisty would consider, that while they attended that service they could not mind their own private affairs, nor work for others, to gett a penny for the Support of their familys. Doe pray that the Gen- tlemen would be pleased to recommend their Case to his Excelles.
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