USA > New York > The documentary history of the state of New York, Vol. III pt 2 > Part 9
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In the fall of that year those that were living, (then it must be observ'd that during their voiage thither, and after their landing a great number of them were dead ;) were remov'd toa traet of land belonging to one Mr Livingston, where they liv'l in houses erected by themselves till the Spring following, when they were order'd to the woods to make pitch and fair, and contin- ued there near 2 years, but as the land was improper to raise any sort of naval stores in any Considerable quantity, their labours turn'd to a different account, and the profits of building and improving the lands fell to a private person, they being not able to make more then near 200 barrils of pitch and fair.
The small prospect they had of being in a Capacity to serve the nation, who had so generously and Charitably advanc'd very great sums of money for their relief and Support and the Impossibility there was of raising Corn, Cattell, and other pro- visions for their subsistance on such ordinary and almost barren land oblig'd them to petition the aforesaid Governour, that they might be put in Possession, and settle on the land Call'd Schoric which the Indians had given to the late Queen Am for their use he answer'd, that the' the land was the Is, he could not would not take it from them, neither could be settle them there, because it would oblige him to maintain to many Girisons
The said Governor thought fit some thue after to visitt all the Villages, where they were settled and view the people there, who with one consent apply'd to him again, humbly praying they might go and inhabit the above promis'd land, upon which he in a passion stamped upon the ground and said, here is your land (meaning the almost baren Rocks,) where you must live and dic.
The second year after their arrival were orders sent to them to detach 300 able men to serve on the late unfortunate expe-
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dition against Canada, which they willingly and Chearfully did, and on their return, were their arms taken from them, tho' all that went on the Expedition should have kept them by her late Majesty's particular order without paying them any wages or sallery (notwithstanding they were put on the Establishment of New-York and New Jersey or both, and the money receiv'd by the sd Gouvernor,) they march'd home, where they found their familys allmost stary'd, no provision having been given them during their absence.
The winter following did the Inhabitants of the frontier Town of Albany desire the Governour, that they might have (being fearfull) the assistance of some of them to strengthen ye Garrison of that town from an Invasion of the Indians in Conjunction with the French of Canady, which the Governonr agreeing to, they went accordingly, but were never paid.
In the second year of their abode at Livingston on the pitch wood three of their people were sent down to Coll: Hunter, Petitioning that he would be pleas'd to order them their full allowance of provision, which they never hitherto had, to which he answer'd, that they should return home, and he wou'd send orders after them, and about 8 days after, came this surprising message from him, that he had not received any subsistance for them from England, and therefore every one of them must shift for himself, but not out of the Province.
This was the latter end of the year and winter just at hand, which is very severe, there being no provision to be had, and the people bare of Cloaths, which occasioned a terrible Consternation amongst them, and particularly from the women and Children the most pityfull and dolerous Cryes and lamentations that have perhaps ever been heard from any persons under the most wretched and miserable Circumstances, so that they were at last much against their wills put under the hard and greeting necessity of seeking relief from the Indians, upon which some of their Chiefs were suddenly dispatch'd away to the Indians by whom they were kindly receiv'd, and to whom they open'd their miserable Condition, and that being wholly Cast of by the sd Governour, and left distituted of the means of living elsewhere, they intreated them to give 'em permission to settle on the traet of land call'd
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Schorie, which they immediately granted, saying they had for- marly given that sd land to Qveen Anne for them to possess, and that no body else should hinder them of it, and they would assist them as farr as they were able, Whereupon these Chief's return'd to the people, acqvainting them of . the Indians favorable disposition.
This put the people in some heart, and finding it. absolutely necessary to embrace that opportunity so providently bestow'd on them, all hands fell to work and in 2 weeks time Clear'd a way thro' the woods of 15 miles long with the utmost toyle and labour, tho' allmost stary'd and without bread Which being effected, 50 familys were immediately sent to Schorie, when being arriv'd and allmost setled, they there receiv'd orders from the Governonr, not to goe upon that land, and he who did so, shou'd be declar'd a Rebell.
This Message sounded like thunder in their cars, and sur- pris'd them beyond expression, but having seriously weighed matters amongst themselves, and finding no manner of likelyhood of subsisting elsewhere, but a Certainty of perishing by hunger, Cold, ete, if they return'd the found themselves under the fatall necessity of bazarding the Govrs Resentments, that being to all more Eligible than Starving.
In the same Year in March, did the remainder of the people (tho' treated by the Governour as Pharao treated the Israelites) proceed on their Journey, and by God's Assistance, travell'd in fourtnight with sledges thro' the snow which there Cover' the ground above 3 foot deep, Coll and hunger, Joyn'd their friends and Countrymen in the promis'd land of Schoric.
The number of Germans who came hither to search for bread for themselves, their Wifes and Children were more then the land allready granted them by the Indians Con'd supply with settlements, and some of the people of Albany endeavouring to purchase the land round 'em from the Indians on purpose to Close them up, and deprive them of any rang for their Cattle, they were oblig'd to sollicit all the Indian Kings there adjoy ning for more land, which they willingly granted 'em & sold 'em the rest of the land at Schorie, being woods, Rocks and pastaridg for 300 pieces of Eight.
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MANDE OF LIVINGSTON.
No sooner had Governonr Hunter notice of their settlement and Agreement with the Indians, but he order'd one Adam Vromen to endeavor to persuade the Indians to break the Agreement made.
Upon the first settlement of this land the miserys those poor and allmost famish'd Creatures underwent were incredible, and had it not been for the Charity of the Indians who shew'd them where to gather some eatable roots and herbs, must inevitably have perish'l every soul of them, but what God said in anger to Adam was in merey fulfilled, viz. thou shall cat the herbs of the fields, when they Continu'd about one year on this land, build small houses and huts and made other Improvements thereon with their blody sweat and labour and under the most grievous hardships and dayly hazard of their lives from the french and Indian Ennemys, as well as from those more dreadfull ones hunger and Cold, severall Gentlemen Came to them from Albany, declaring they had bought that land of Governour Hunter, and if they intentioned to live thereon they must agree with them, to which demand these poor people answered, that the land was the King's and that the were the Kings Subjects and had no power to agree to any thing about his Majesty's lands without his special order, upon which these Gentlemen said, Wee are King's of this land, but the German's reply'd that their King was in England, and that the land should not be taken from them withont his Majesty's particular order.
Some time after did these Gentlemen send the Sheriff with some others upon the land, and to take the sd Captain by force, dead or a life, but he having timely notice of it was on his Guard, so they were prevented.
These Gentlemen finding the Inhabitants resolut in keeping possession of the lands they had thus improv'd and from whence they drew the only support to themselves and family's fell on another project which was Clandestinely and basely to endeavour to sew Enimity belwixt them and the Indians, and if possible to persvade them (for money or Rumm) to put them in possession of the land and declare them rightfull owners thereof, but in this also they fail'd tho' not without great troubles and Charge to those poor people, who were foro'd to put themselves on the
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mercy of the Indians, by giving them out of their nothing and begg of them, that since they had so long sukled them at their breast, not to wean them so soon and Cast them of.
In the Spring, 1715 the Gentlemen from Albany sent a man to affix some papers on the land Containing in substance that whosoever of the Inhabitants shou'd see those papers, must either agree with them, or leave the land.
This with their Treatnings being done in the Spring, the best planting time for Indian Corn. (the Chief of their subsistance) damp'd the spirits of these poor people, slackned their Industry and did 'em great damage.
In the year 1717 Came the Gouvernor to Albany, and sent orders to the Inhabitants of the land Schorie, that 3 men of every village shon'd appear before him on a day appointed, and particularly the abovenam'd Captain Weiser.
When they appear'd before him, he said, that he wou'd hang John Conrad Weiser, and order'd them to answer him the 3 following questions viz.
1. Why they went to inhabit the land Schorie without his order.
2. Why they wou'd not agree with the Gentlemen at Albany.
3. Why they concern'd themselves so much with the Indians.
Their to the first question was, that His Excell : had ordered them to shift for themselves, and denied them further subsistance. the utmost necessity and poverty fore'd them to remove thither to earn their bread for the maintenance of their Wifes and Children, and that they continu'd their settlement on the same motives in expectation of His Majesty's Grace and ITis Excell. favour.
When they mention'd His Majesty, the Governour in a great passion said, What Great Britain, and Mr Lewingston added, here is y' King, meaning the Governor, Whereupon they beg'd his pardon, and that he would forgive them their Ignorance and Inadvertency.
To The second question they return'd this answer, that the people were so many, the land so small and the wags so bad, that it was impossible to agree with the Gentlemen on their extravagant terms, especially after the vast expence and labour they had had.
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not mentioning, that the Indians had given it to the Crown for their use, and that there was no direction imediately from his Majesty to confirm it to them, they being sent over with a promise of so much land pr head. and if they serv'd any body, it must be the King and not a privat person.
They answer'd to the third point, that because they liv'd on the borders of the french as a frontier, and were liable to their dayly insults against whom they could scarcely stand, they were oblig'd to keep fair with the friendly Indians amongst Whom, they dwelt, which was the only way to be protected and live in peace.
Governor Hunter then order'd, that those who would not agree with or turn tenants to those Gentlemen of Albany, to whom he had sold the land for 1500 pistoles shou'd remove from their habitations and Improvements and that they should make two lists, one of those that wou'd agree, the other of those that won'd not agree with the Gentlemen, and that he soon expected an order from England to transplant them to another place, but no such thing was perform'd.
They then most submissively remonstrated to the said Governor, how hard it wou'd be to leave and abandon their houses lands and Improvements for nothing, besides that they were indebted for other necessarys, thereupon Governour Hunter answer'd, that he woud send 12 men to examine their works and in. prove- ments and give them money to pay their debts, but it was never perform'd.
The Winter following they sent 3 men to New York to the Governour humbly besecching him to grant them liberty to plough the lands or he wou'd other wise take care of them, but he answer'd, What is said, is said, meaning the Prohibition of plowing at Albany.
This was a thunder Clap in the ears of their Wifes and Children and the lamentation of all the people increased to such a hight, and their necessitys grew so great, that they were fore'd for their own preservation to transgress those orders and sew some Summer Corn and fruits or else they must have starv'd.
These Gentlemen have thrown one of their women in prison 1. at Albany, who still continnes there as also a man for plowing
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the land, and will not release him till he gives one hundred Crown's security, the same has also hapned to others.
The Governor sent orders, that all the Germans should take their oaths of being faithfull, and withall to pay 8 shillings pr head, which they willingly agreed to, in hopes of a settlement, but this with all the promises formerly maid unto them, was in vain.
(Endorsed) Grievances of the Palatines in, New York. Rd Augt 20th 1799.
A BRIEF ALLOWING ROBY LIVINGSTON,
TO MAKE A COLLECTION IN AID OF BUILDING A CHURCH ON HIS MANOR.
[ Deed Book XI. ]
WILLIAM BURNET Esqr Captain Generall and Govern" in Chief of the Provinces of New York New Jersey and Territories thereon Depending in America and Vico Admirall of the same &c.
To all Christian and Charitable people within the Provinces of New York and New Jersey in America, sendeth GREETING --
WHEREAS Robert Livingston Esq Sole Proprietor of the Manor of Livingston hath proposed and doth propose to Establish a Church or Meeting House and to send for and Call some able and Pious Dutch Reformed Protestant Minister from Holland according to the Constitution and Direction of the Reformed Church in Holland Agreeable to the Discipline And Government of the Dutch Church as is established by the Synod at Dort in the Year 1618 and 1619 to Officiate therein for the Inhabitants and Sojourners within the same Manor Agreeable and suitable to the Vulgar Language and Education of the said Inhabitants, which pious work and the Building of Such Church or Meeting House will require a larger Sum of Money than Can be reasonably be expected to be advanced, by any one particular person. I being willing and
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MANOR OF LIVINGSTON.
Desireous to promote and Encourage so pions an undertaking HAVE Therefore thought fitt to grant unto the same Robert Livingston Leave and Lycence to Collect & Receive the tree and Voluntary Charity and Contribution of any of the Inhabitants within the said Province towards the Carrying on aud Finishing of the same ; And for his so doing this shall be to him a sufficient Warrant GIVEN under my hand & seal this Twenty first day of June Anno Domini 1721 Annoq Regni R+ Georgij Magn: Brittan. Franc. et Hib: tid: Defensoris Septimo.
By his Excellency's Command Is Robin Dy Secry
WV BURNET.
THIRD IMMIGRATION OF PALATINES.
In Council, Oct ye 27. 1722.
Present His Excellency WILLHAM BORNET Esqr &c &c &c
This Board being informed that a ship was arrived here with Palatines from Holland which had touched in England, and which had lost many of its passengers in the Voyage & upon Examination of Doctr Braine, Doctor Nichols and Doctor Cobus who had been Ordered to go on Board and Visit the said Vessell and the Surgeon thereof,
It does not appear to this Board there was any Contagious Distemper on Board the said Vessell but upon Consideration of the Number of Persons who have been sick in the Voyage, and the quantity of Cloaths which may have Contracted Noisome Smells through the Length of the Voyage
It is ordered by his Excell with the Advice of the Council that the Commander of the said Ship do not Suffer any Person to Come on Shoar on this Island with any Cloaths Chests or other furniture till the same have been thoroughly air'd upon Nutton Island during the pace of six hours at least as the said Commander shall Answer the Contrary at his Peril.
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GOV: BURNET TO THE BOARD.
[Lond Doc XXII.]
New York 21st Novr 1722
MY LORDS
** * * * * When I was at Albany I expected to have fixed the Palatines in their new Settlement which I had obtained of the Indians for them at a very easy purchase, but I found them very much divided into Parties and the cunningest among them fomenting their Divisions on purpose that the greatest number might leave the Province and then the great Tract of Land lately purchased would make so many considerable estates to the few Familys that should remain and with this view they told me that they found the Land was far short of what the Indians had represented it to them and that not above twenty Familys could subsist there which I shewed them was a mere pretence by naming a Tract where 130 Family's live and flourish, which by their own confession was less and no better soil than theirs however since I found it was their humour to undervalue what had been done for them I thought it best to wait till they should of themselves be forward to settle this new Tract rather than to shew too much carnestness in pressing them to it. But as about sixty familys desired to be in a distinct Tract from the rest & were those who had all along been most hearty for the Government I have given them leave to purchase land from the Indians, between the present English settlements near Fort Hunter & part of Canada on a Creck called Canada Creek where they will be still more immediately a Barrier against the sudden incursions of the French, who made this their Road when they last attacked & burned the Frontier Town called Schonectady- The other Palatines have since my return to New York, sent some of their body to desire a warrant of Survey for ye New Tract already purchased, which convinces me that I had done right, in not being too ernest in that affair when I was at Albany And indeed in my dealings with those people I find very little gratitude for favors done them, & particularly that those who were best taken care of & settled on good Lands by my Predecessor are the most apt to mirrepresent him and this is
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MANOR OF LIVINGSTON.
managed by a few cunning persons among them that lead the rest as they please, who are for the generality a laborious and honest but a headstrong ignorant people.
SECRETARY CLARKE TO MR WALPOLE.
N. York Nov. 27th, 1722.
I find myself obliged to give you the trouble of this to prevent the malice of my enemies who bearing wth impatience their ill succes hitherto are now with new hopes abont to attack me from another quarter: I will be as short as possible.
Brigadier Hunter wanting Certificates from the palatins themselves to prove that he had subsisted them pursuant to y' Queens orders & his accots sent me a draft of a certificate giving me liberty wthall to alter it if I saw occasion and wrote to several others of his friends here to consult with me and to be assisting in the affair, I considered his draft as thurroughly as I could shewed the Govr & some others those parts wh I thought most liable to objections & discoursing upon the capricious humours of those people I proposed some alterations in the draft of ye Certificate to make it go down the better, and a paragraph at the end to still their fears of entering thereby into an additional obligation to repay the King the money expended for their Subsistance how idlesoever this would have been wer; they reasonable men it was then thought pertinent cungh, I showed the Brigadeer's friends who vouchsafed to talk withme the altera- tions I had made and receiving their approbation I gave it to one of them with my earnest request to proceed we the utmost caution and temper he took it and went to albany with the Corr round about weh place most of the palatins live, and where they were to wait on his Exey to inform him what progres they had made in the purchase of Some lands in the Indian Country by his leave but no sooner were these Gentlemen got together but they rejected what I had done declaring that unles ye palatins Signed the Certificate Sent by the Brigadier wtout alterations
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they had as good sign none the resolution being thus taken they went to work wh the palatins and finding an unwillingness in them to sign it they were threatened and the Govr told them they should not have the land he had promised them unles they signed; by this means they failed in their negotiations getting but very few hands to the Certificate, the rest resolving to leave the province and accordingly the greatest part of them have pur- chased in pensilvania and are determined to go thither, thus the Brigadeer is baulked and this province deprived of a good frontier of hardy and Laborjons people.
The Brigadeers friends however resolved not to act in concert wth me making shew of some distrust of my heartiness, I was somewhat surprised to see them daily wthout speaking to me of this affair only M. Kennedy told me sometimes what they had done & what number of hands they had got but hoping to retrieve the wrong step they had taken at Albany those palatins are again dealt wth to stay in this province the greatest part notwithstanding resolve for pensilvania some of them stay here and a few sign the Certificate. One Coll Rutsen whom the Brigadeer wrote to serve him in that affair came to me as he was directed & desired me to advise him how to proceed. I talkt with him about it he promised to come to me again and take some notes for his better direction, but finding that he put me of from day to day I at last complained to him of it, who exeused himself by telling me that Mr Kennedy and the attorney GenU had forbid him to discourse wth me about it, he had then some affair depending in which he hoped for the Attorneys assistance but failing of it he told them he would not stirr a foot in the Brigadiers affair, I then again undertook him got him to alter that resolution, and he is now gone to try what he can do with the palatins but I cant expect much Success after their mismanagement at Albany.
Since therefore these Gentlemen have acted in this manner no doubt with the Govrs privity I apprehend that they will endeav- our to perswade the Brigadeer that I was unwilling to serve him and that their distrust of me put them upon those measures thereby unjustly imputing to me their miscarriages and gratify- ing, if they can, their passions at his cost and mine.
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I know not what sentiments the Brigadeer will have of those- things but if those men prevail it will be vain for me to avow my innocence or my desire to have served him effectually, to you Sir, whose good opinion I hope no arts will deprive me of. 1 am bliged for my own sake to open myself and I wish the Brigadeer had intrusted this affair wholly to me I am confident that I should · have given him a better accot of it then they have done, his Claim is Just his request reasonable, but that threatening manner of proceeding at first and the offering rewards to others for their hands has injured him beyond expression.
I beg however that you will be pleased to make no other use of this than as a testimony of my Innocence for I fear even the Brigadeers resentment should he know I have informed you of it I humbly ask pardon for the trouble and beg the continuance of y' protection I am wth &c
G. C.
I have at length after much time Spent in Sending severall times into the neighbouring provinces as well as to the remote parts of this got the vouchers to the Brigadiers accounts of the Expedition, they are almost all Copyed, so that you may depend upon my sending them by the Govrs Ship which he tells me will Sail by the tenth of the next month Iam &c
Novr 27th 1722
Endorsed Novr 27th 1722 to Mr Walpole abt Brigadier Hunters palatins and Expedition affairs
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PETITION OF JACOB SHARP &c. IN BEHALF OF THE PALATINES IN THE MANOR OF LIVINGSTON.
To his Excellency WILLIAM BURNET Esqr Captain General & Gour in Chief of the provinces of New York New Jersey & Territories thereon Depending in America & Vice Admiral of the Same &c in Councill
The Petition of Jacob Sharp Christophel Hagatorn & Jacob Shoemaker in behalf of themselves & others palatines inhabitants of that part of the mannour of Livingston formerly granted by Robert Livingston to Brigt Hunter to the use of her Late Majesty her heirs & Successors HUMBLY SHEWETH
That upon the Encouragement that has been heretofore given them of haveing a grant of the Said Lands they have setled upon the Same and made Considerable improvements which they would be glad to have seenred to them and their leirs, That the said Lands have not been as yet of any use to his Majesty but now they are willing to pay the usual quit rent for Lands in this province which will be a Considerable increase of them
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