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REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION

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SCHEN' \DY

SCHENECTADY COUNTY

NEW YORK /

ITS HISTORY TO THE CLOSE

OF THE

NINETEENTH CENTURY

HISTORIAN AND EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Hon. AUSTIN A. YATES

COUNSELLOR-AT-LAW

LATE DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND COUNTY JUDGE OF SCHENECTADY COUN'l'Y

ATTORNEY TO THE STATE INSURANCE DEPARTMENI' ; MEMBER OF

ASSEMBLY; MAJOR IN THE VOLUNTEER FORCES OF THE UNITED

STATES DURING THE WAR OF THE REBELLION AND

SPANISH AMERICAN-WAR.

Men who their duties know,

But know their rights, and. knowin.e;-, dare maintain.

Prevent the long-aimed blow,

And crush the tyrant while they rend the chain;

These constitute a state.

PUBLISHED BY

THE NEW YORK HISTORY COMPANY 1902

a^

1575686

INTRODUCTORY.

This story of Schenectady is very little more than a compilation of the work of other archival authors. It could not well be other- wise. The annals of the historic old county have been wonderfully preserved, comparatively easy of access, through the work of former writers, who have exhibited remarkable industry, and in some in- stances, the most thorough erudition. Giles F. Yates, writing under the non-de-plume of the "Antiquarian," in the Schenectady J^e/^ec^or, of which he was editor in the '30's, gathered some charmingly interest- ing bits of history, tradition and romance. They are like pretty vistas in the scenery of the by-gone, but, they were, as they were only intended, to be, material for the local columns of his paper in a city, that, in those days, taxed ingenuity and often imagination, to find anything local to write about. This matter was incidentally connected with the history of the bloody wars of Frontenac, and with the complica- tions of New Netherland politics, which were about as bad as those of Manhattan are now. The awful devastations of the French and Indian wars, in the little frontier post, hamlet, village and city, are well and sadly known. But all that was known was scattered and fragmentary, made up of paragraphs and items in the school books of elementary history, in which the city had always a fleeting prom- inence, owing to its long, and to unpracticed tongues, its unpro- nounceable names, a schoolboy terror in its orthography, a strain on the music of speech with the blood-curdling picture of the "Burning of Schenectady in 1690," over every mantel-piece; full of thrilling story, as is almost every city street, country road, and acre of Old Dorp, Niskayuna and Rotterdam, its people have seemed, until the latter half of the last century, abundantly content with legend and tradition.

iv INTRODUCTORY.

We have no Dutch Heroditus or Livy, Thiicydides or Pliny to preserve for the coming generations, heroes, martyrs and statesmen of one of the most historic localities of New York state. The edu- cated immigrant, or the comparative stranger within our gates of sufficient culture to thoroughly appreciate and enjoy the quaint folk talk of the valley, the rapidly disappearing old gabled architecture, and the grand record of the brave and resolute Dutchmen of Colo- nial and revolutionary days. He is invariably attracted by the abun- dant material for history, romantic and thrilling, and of the abun- dance of solid truth for strange fiction. The old Mohawkers were content to hear and repeat the jumble of tradition and history, fact and fancy, recitals of the actual occurrences that filtered through the song and story of the generations, to whom it was a serious and often an appalling reality. The oft-told tale was well enough known, often enough repeated by the oldest inhabitant, present in a commu- nity that rarely ever travelled, to satisfy all the historic needs of the valley.

There were enough to lift their voices for the local audiences that cared to listen to the story that began in the nursery. There seemed to have been no local genius, interested, ambitious or industrious enough to come down to business with the pen of a serious, pains- taking and accurate historian. Yates did much to charm the para- graph reader of the newspaper. The Hon. John Saunders, a de- scendant of a grand old family, a graduate of Union, a most inter- esting writer, has, in his "Early Settlers of Schenectady," indulged himself and delighted his readers with patriarchal reveries of the early days of the last century, authentic tradition, handed down to him from the frontier Glens, that is of absorbing interest to a race of Holland blood and language that is fast passing away. The Judge never pretended to be a historian, was only, in fact, a most delight- ful narrator of fireside story, and family lineage, and as such his work is invaluable.

So it is to the comparatively new importation of industrious brain that we owe the preservation of the history of this old county.

The more than twice told tale, somewhat tedious to the old resi- dent, has the charm of novelty to the cultivated gentleman, who

INTRODUCTORY. v

enters afresh upon the valley as rich in reminiscence as it is rare in the beanty of its scenery.

Pierson, the historic pioneer in the family annals of Albany and Schenectady, became deeply interested in the lives and work of the now famons men who formed a town to fight heroically in its defense, and to perish in its ashes or survive to send out into a great state the names of men who, in pnlpit, and law courts, and on bat- tlefields for King and Colony, have contributed splendidly to the renown of the foremost state of the Union.

Jonathan Pierson was a wonder. His industry and power of research were remarkable. A professor of chemistry in Union Col- lege, knowing and teaching all that was known or could be taught. He was treasurer and secretary of its Board of Trustees. One who follows him on his journey through the musty records of Ancient Churches, the old Paris and English Documents of the State Library, and sees the evidence of his tremendous labor, strewn all along the pathway of his toilsome journey, wonders how or when he found the time to do the work that looks like the achievement of a life- time of indefatigable industry. Schenectady, one of the most pro- gressive cities in the state to-day, owes Pierson a debt of gratitude, as the world owes the patient and tireless men who have disentombed the ancient towns from the burial of Vesuvius.

Following Pierson, came his heavy debtors, Sanders and McMur- ray. Of the charming idyls of the one, the only one to the manor born, we have already spoken. McMurray, an army officer and a military instructor at Union, has rendered us infinite service in the form of the most comprehensive work, the most complete History of Schenectady yet written. There is much that is new in his discov- eries, all is certainly valuable.

The Hon. Judson S. Landon has yielded to the fascination of the place and theme, and has brought to elucidation the strange situation which seems to have made Schenectady the battle ground of the French and English. It has produced traditions born of the solid learning of the historian. His article in Putman's publication of " Historic Cities," and his paper " Why Schenectady was Burned in 1690," lets in a flood of light on the historic causes of the city's

vi INTRODUCTORY.

origin, its sad youth, and its national prominence in Colonial and foreign wars.

Dr. William Elliot Griffes, while pastor of the First Reformed Church, immediately acknowledged the charm of the association of Schenectady, with much that was heroic in the characters of the Holland burgher. In the pulpit and on the platform, and in the literary world in which he has recently taken such eminent rank, he has heralded the grand tolerance of that Church of Holland, often a martyr, never a bigot or persecutor or that has tortured or killed for opinion's sake. Through the whole land he has proclaimed the heroism and bravery of the burgher who never quailed before the enemy of his faith, and who united with his valor a forbearance and magnanimity that won the love and the confidence of his Indian foe or neighbor.

Men born on heights which shadow the picturesque or pastoral beauty of the world's scenery, may not cease to admire, but become so used to the panorama that they cease to note it. The scenery along the valley of the Mohawk in the kaleidescope color of Autumn foliage, startled Henry Ward Beecher into expressions of rapture, and as he crossed " The Street of the Martyrs " in a palace car, passed in sight of the Buykendahl, the scene of the massacre of 1748 under Towereune, where the valley narrows into the highway of nations, passed by the stone mansions of Guy and Sir John Johnson, by the shrine of " Our Lady of Martyrs," consecrated to the memory of that heroic Jesuit Missionary martyr, Father Jogues, the homestead of the patriot Fondas, Oriskany, and the monument to Herkimer and Fort Stanwix, where St. Leger was held back till Burgoyne was whipped at Saratoga. The great divine thrilled with the recollection of all he had read and heard of the land of story and song.

Now, we of this day, long used to the journey, rtish through all this avenue of scenic beauty, with a pipe in the smoking car, or a book in the day coach, too familiar with the sights of the great valley to glance out of the window.

Years ago, on the "Role Baum," that overlooks the precipices of the Plant, and towers above Youta Pusha, the hill that from Union

INTRODUCTORY. vii

College looks like the iron clad prow of a battle ship, with a group of under graduates, the writer looked down on a scene of pastoral beauty, that swept over a score of cities and villages, and over the hill tops and mountain peaks of four states. Turning to the farmer living in the stone house, from whose windows all the streets in Schenectady can be traced, and where with a strong glass, time can be read on the clock of the Reformed Church, we expressed our envy of his mountain home. He was a bright man, far from a dul- lard, but there was no answering enthusiasm, for without looking up he stolidly followed his plow with a listless acquiescence in his re- mark, "Yes, folks say it is a sightly place, but I'm so used to it I don't notice it any more," and he kept his eye in the furrow, that produced his bread and butter. The artistic element in his nature, if he had any, had been exhausted long ago. There was nothing left but the practically bucolic.

So we old Mohawkers have lived on the site, and amid the scenes of one of the most legendary valleys on earth, and have heard it all, seen it all, from childhood. It is the immigrant that becomes our novelist for it is all charmingly new to him.

We Dutchmen of old, from old Peter Stuyvesant down, abhorred the Yankee, and the prejudice of the Mohawk Dutchman was the most stolid of them all. The repulsion was natural, not entirely unreason- able. The New Engandler was smart, the burgher was only honest. Jonathan said that Clausha was either asleep, or not good for any- thing, after 4 p. m., of any day. Clausha retorted that it must have been in the dewey eve when the Yankee sold him wooden hams, and condemned shoe pegs sharpened at the other end for oats.

The restless eagerness of the Down Easter disturbed the taciturn Hollander who, secure in the conviction of his own honesty and that of his old neighbors, distrusted that glibness to which his race fell easy victims. In olden time the interloper was received because he could not be kept away, but his probation was long before he met a warm welcome by the Dutchman's fireside.

All is not only changed now, but we have become debtors to those who more than a generation ago were strangers inside the old barricade. It is not the descendant of the old Roman who is un-

viii INTRODUCTORY.

earthing- the buried splendors of Pompeii, but the men of learning from other lands. The Yankee horde is upon us, overflowing us, but it is a welcome throng. They bring trade, business and pros- perity with an electric touch.

More than all, they have brought a learning and culture no greater than that which we had in the old time, but so impressive with his- toric surroundings, but they have been impelled to write, and write with recorded accuracy and charming enthusiasm.

History was made here by Bradts, Schermerhorns, Swarts, Vielies, Bankers, Tellers, Yates, Van Slycks, and all the great army of Van unpronouncables, and their heroism and adventures gave the Ancient City its renown. But Pierson and McMurray, Griffes and Landon, are the record savers of the old days. To these industrious, able and erudite chroniclers the writer owes lasting obligation, for without their work, this vista, cut out of the great picture, could not have been put in its modest frame.

SCHENECTADY COUNTY:

ITS HISTORY TO THE CLOSE OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.

CHAPTER L

The Founding of The City.

The Mohawk was the most n.agiiificent specimen of an Indian that America prodnced. As far back as tradition and history oro, this tribe was easily the master of all that surrounded it. Their domain extended through the whole length of the Mohawk Valley, the Northern and Western part of New York, and a portion of North- western Pennsylvania. The bravest, the brightest, the most eloquent, warlike and cruel, of all Indian organizations, they were yet the only nation that ever became the white man's steady, firm and faith- ful friend. Their names, as Christian communicants, are on the records of the Reformed Church. The bodies of their dead, until scattered by the march of sanitary science in the laying of water, sewer and gas pipes, lay under our feet. Their blood flows in the veins of all descendants of the Van Slycks, the Bradts, the Vielies and of Jonathan Stevens.

Along the Mohawk they had five castles, one named Minemial, after one of their chiefs, and situated on an island at the mouth of the Mohawk, below Cohoes, one at Schenectady, one at the outlet of Schoharie Creek, now called Fort Hunter, one at Chaughnawaga, and one called Canajoharie, in the town of Danube, Herkimer County.

After the settlement of Schenectady and the apportionment of the

2 SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.

lands among fifteen original proprietors, no bnrials were made within the qnadrangle bounded by Ferry, State, Washington avenue and Front streets. The number of Indian skulls, tomahawks, and sav- age implements, exhumed in past years, show conclusively that, be- fore the white man came, there was a populous settlement of red men on the spot now covered by the city.

Less than twenty-five years ago, a lad living at No. 26 Front, fired with emulation by the finding of skulls and bones by a comrade, went out under the big tree, yet standing there, to dig for Indians. The derisive smiles which followed him in his quest, were changed to expressions of astonishment as he turned a wonderfully preserved skeleton, facing the east, with tomahawk and arrow heads beside the bones. Subsequently, on digging for sewerage, skulls and bones enough to stock a small cemetery, were tossed by every spadeful.

There are other evidences of Indian occupation. An ancient path coming from the direction of Niskayuna, once wound around the brow of the hills that but a half century ago, battlemented the east- ern half of the town. Traces of it may yet be seen across the front of Prospect Hill, curving around southeasterly towards the cemetery enclosure.

Previous to the coming of the white man the valley from Free- man's Bridge to Rotterdam Junction was cultivated by the Mohawks and in harvest time was fairly gilded with the tassels of Indian corn.

The locality was called by every possible variation of pronuncia- tion of the name that has at last settled down into Schenectady. It was a well known spot. The great flats of Rotterdam from Centre street to beyond the first lock west of the city, was known as Scho- nowe. Van Corlear, in 1643, describes the whole territory' as that Schoonste, "loveliest land that the eyes of man ever beheld." The name the county now bears is said to have a beautiful origin, Sclioon (beautiful) Acten (valuable) deel (portion of land,) making the sound Schoon Acten deel, changed and twisted by the different Na- tionalities that have been busy with the name. But this pretty deriv- ation is only conjecture. The name in ancient papers and records is spelled seventy-nine different ways, but all the orthography with its marvellous combination of letters produced the sound of Schenec-

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FOUNDING OF THE CITY. 3

tady. Governor Stuyvesant wrote it as we spell it now as early as 1663, two years after the original patent. The name is undoubtedly of Mohawk Indian origin and belonged originally to the land lying around Albany. Four years after the charter, it settled down from Corlear, as the settlement was originally called, to Schenectady.

White men well knew the spot in 1642. Van Curlear, returning from one of his errands of mercy to the Mohawks, who listened and heeded him because they loved him, wrote to the Patroon Killian Van Rensselaer, "that a half day's journey from the Colonic, Town of Albany, on the Mohawk River, there lies the most beautiful land that the eye of man ever beheld." Any man who has stood on Youta Pusha Berg, Prospect Hill, over Landon Terrace, or Schuyler- berg, midway between the Troy and Albany turnpike, east of Bran- dywine avenue, cannot fail to understand the rapture of the Dutch- man.

In the forties one could easily understand what was the lay of the land when it was said to be the Mohawk Village of Connochaiegu- harie. The name was an Indian description of the great masses of floodwood which were left every Spring on the flats. The deposit was then as now, often immense, but the name is comprehensive enough to include the whole pile.

Major McMurray has described its ancient appearances. The old township of Schenectady embraced a territory of 128 square miles, a portion of the Mohawk valley, sixteen miles long and eight miles wide. The western half is an irregular plateau elevated 400 or 500 feet above the Mohawk, a spur of the Helderberg, passing north into Saratoga County. The eastern half is a sandy plain, whose general level is 300 or 400 feet lower. The river, running through the middle of this tract, in a southeasterly direction, forms the most beautiful and striking natural object in its landscape. At the westerly boundary where it enters the town, it flows through a nar- row valley, whose sides though covered with foliage, are too steep for cultivation. From the hill ." Towereune," the valley widens gradually to Poversen and Maalwyck, where the hills sink down into the great sand plain. Until the river reaches the city of Schenectady, it is a constant succession of rapids, and its general

4 SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.

course is soulheast. Here it makes a great bend, and flows with a deep sluggish current northeastward to the Aal Plaats, the eastern boundary of the town. The tributaries of the Mohawk within the town are small and unimj)ortant streams ; those at the west end flow- ing from the slates, are nearly or quite dry in summer, while those at the opposite end, fed from the sand, are constant spring brooks. On the north side of the river are the following brooks : Chuckte- nunda, (stone houses) at Towereune, and coming east in succession are Van Eps Kil, Droyberg, Verf, or color (paint) creek, called by the natives Tequatsera, Jan Mebie's Kil, Creek of the lake in Scotia, Cromme Kil and Aal Plaats Kil. On the south side are Zandige Kil, the sloot, Right Brugse Kil, Plaats Kil, Poenties Kil, William Tellers. Killetie, Zand Kil, Coehorn Kil and Symon Groots Kill. But of these streams, few are of sufficient size and constancy now to serve as motor power.

With the exception of a little limestone in the extreme western limits of the town, all the rocks found in place, belong to Hudson shales and consist of alternate layers of blue slate and sandstones, some of which are used for building purposes.

In the west half this geological formation is most abundant, and the soil there is a clayey loam, underlaid with clay or hard pan. The immediate valley of the river where it breaks through the range of hills is narrow, and is composed chiefly of drifts of at least two elevations. The highest called the " stone flats," raised twenty to thirty feet above the water, consists of coarse gravel and boulders, and is chiefly found on the north side of the river. The opposite bank is " lower plain of sand and gravel.-'

The eastern half of the town has no hills worthy of the name; its general level perhaps loo feet above the IMohawk, and the prevailing soil is a fine sand, underlaid with clay except in the extreme easterly limits where the clay loam again prevails.

Besides this there is found in the bends and eddies of the river, and upon the low islands, an alluvial deposit which is constantly enriched by the annual floods. This constitutes the widely known " Mohawk Flats," which though cultivated by the white man for more than 200 years, have lost little of their unsurpassed fertility.

EARLY SETTLEMENTS. 5

In the early period of the settlement no other land was tilled. Hence they called the land arable land, or bonwlandt, all else being denominated woodland and little valued. In addition to their fertil- ity, these flats presented another advantage to the first settler — they were mainly free from wood and ready for the plough and seed. For ages they had been the native's corn land, while the adjacent forest furnished him with flesh and the river with fish.

The great sand belt which passes across the town south to north, was once covered with a heavy growth of pines, while the high lands lying north and west of it produced the usual varieties of hard woods. Nothing could have been more charming to the eye of the first white men traveling up the Mohawk to Fort Hunter, than the flats skirting the river banks, clothed in bright green of the Indian corn and other summer crops of the red men.

The site of the village of Schenectady was admirably chosen. No other spot in the neighborhood of the bonwlandt offered such facilities for a village. From the eastern end of the " Great Flat " there makes out from the sandy bluff which surrounds it a low narrow spit, lying upon the east, north and west sides the Mohawk river and Sand Kil. The extreme point, only about 1,200 feet wide, was chosen for the site of the future city — a warm dry spot, easily fortified against an enemy and sufficiently elevated to be safe from the annual overflow of the Mohawk river. This little flat contains but 175 acres, and it was the site of an earlier Indian village. Tradition has it that it was a former seat or capital of the Mohawks, whose numerous dead have been, from time to time, found buried along the Benne Kil.

If we may believe tradition, Schenectady had already been occu- pied by the white man many years when Van Curler first visited it in 1642. In fact it has been claimed to be little if any younger than Albany.

That a few fur traders and bosloopers early roved among the Mohawks, married and raised families of half-breeds, cannot be denied ; indeed there are respectable families in the valley to this day, whose pedigree may be traced back to these marriages. But

6 SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.

that the white man made any permanent settlement on the Mohawk west of Albany before 1662, there is no good reason for believing and, in view of the opposition of Albany and the Colony, improbable.

In the snmmer of 1661 Arent Van Cnrler, the leader of the first settlement, made formal application to Governor Stnyvesant for per- mission to settle npon the " Great Flat " lyiiig west of Schenectady.

The fonndation and establishment of Schenectady is almost uni- versally credited to Arent Van Curler, indeed it was at first known as Curlear. He was only one of the founders, however. He never lived there, had no hand in the establishment of the early govern- ment of the hamlet, or in its subsequent development. But he was the man who obtained the original patent, and who had a long and discouraging battle before he secured it from the cautious Stnyve- sant.

Nor was he the first white man to appreciate the natural advan- tage of the place. The evidence of Bible entries, corroborating tradition, shows that Jacque Cornelise Van Slyck, (the half-breed son of Cornelise Van Slyck and his wife, a Mohawk chieftian's daugh- ter) also Alexander Lindsay, Glen and John Teller, a nephew of Glen's wife, were here as early as 1658. Cornelise Antonise Van Slyck, father of Jacque Cornelise, married Alstock at Mohawk Castle, was adopted into the tribe, and was known, with Arent Cornelise Viele as one of the two great interpreters of the Indian language. Cornelise Antonise Van Slyck could live anywhere among the Mohawks whose fidelity and devotion followed the family down, deeding the land to his sons Martin, Maurice and Jacque Cornelise. To the latter in 1658, Van Slyck's Island, between what ,is now known as the Frog Alley river, and the Benne Kil.

Alexander Lindsay Glen, to whom also the Mohawks were warmly attached, and whose son, John Alexander, was the so-called Mayor of Schenectady on the night of the massacre, lived where the Glen family mansion still stands, in the possession of the Sanders family, his descendants.

John Teller, a nephew of Glen's wife, was a resident of Rotter- dam, where his family burial lot still exists on the lands of the Hon. Simon Schermerhorn. Arent Van Curler, as his real name is

A GENUINE HOLLANDER. 7

spelled, was a grand specimen of the genuine Hollander, tender- hearted, humane and brave. He was universally trusted and beloved by the Mohawks, all governors of New York being called after him. He was a cousin of the Patroon, a brewer in Beaverwyck, and an intimate friend and companion of Arent Andreas Bradt, who is an ancestor of a distinguished county family which has given a Icng list of distinguished men, who have served their county in Legisla- ture, Congress, and on the battlefields of King and Colony. Van Curler was also a trader. His correspondence with the Patroon, and his letters to Stuyvesant, in arguing the issue of the .patent, show him ito have been a man of intelligence and of unusual education for his day and generation. He knew the location of Schenectady by heart, and wrote rapturously of the natural beauty of the spot and its remarkable adaptability to Indian trade and commerce. But he had other motives urged upon him by Bradt and Schermerhorn, Teller, Banker and others, who subsequently became the original proprietors. Holland claimed and possessed, in right of discovery,, the whole territory that included Beaverwyck and the banks of the Hudson and Mohawk. Manhattan was the chief port and headquar- ters of the traders, who, to prevent competition, organized a great corporation, first under the name of the United Netherland Com- pany, and afterwards in 1621 secured exclusive privilege, by the title of the Privileged West India Company. The real object of this company was trade of which it had a complete monopoly. In the parlance of this day, in comparison with this gigantic commercial output, the Standard Oil and the Steel Trust ''zvasn't in it:' Pressure was put upon the directors of the Company in Holland, and they yielded by making concessions to the Patroons, another name, as was afterwards discovered to the disgust of the Colonist, for the Baron with the feudal system of the middle ages. The directors were Patroons in earnest. They took up immense tracts of land, and though organized ostensibly for the development of the county, engaged not only in trade, but burdened it with restrictions, intro- ducing slavery, and raising up an aristocracy that for wealth and power was not surpassed in the dark day of feudal tyranny.

The sturdy Dutchman, always a freeman in heart and soul, the

8 SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.

most liberty-loving and tolerant man on earth, conld not and would not endnre it, and began to get away from his irksome condition, scattered out of Beaverwyck and the dominion of Fort Orange. It was for men like these that Van Curler strove to obtain the patent.

In the summer of 1660, three years before the emissary of the Duke of York came from England to overthrow the Dutchmen, Van Curler applied to Governor Stuyvesant at New Amsterdam, for per- mission to take possession of the Groote Vlachte, after purchasing it from the Mohawks who were willing to take a moderate price for it.

On the 23d of June an order was issued providing that the title be as usual transferred to Stuyvesant, as Director, whatever the peti- tioners price to be, returned to them. Before the authority was received a terrible freshet occurred, which cut off communication with the executive at New Amsterdam and not until a month later was the land purchased. It was bought of three Mohawk represen- tatives and Chief Cautuqua signing with a grotesque etching of a bear as his mark, Aiadane with an impossible turtle as his coat of arms, Sonareetsie with a lamb distorted with agony as his sign manual, who designated the Groote Vrachte as "Sconnowee." April 6th, 1662, Van Curler notified Stuyvesant of the action, and asked him to send a surveyor. But Beaverwyck and Rensselaerwyck, jeal- ous of the new township, and desirous of keeping a monopoly of the fur trade, "had a pull" with Director-General Stuyvesant, and induced him to order that the settlers of Schenectady should confine them- selves to agriculture exclusively, and restrain from all trade with the Indians. To this Van Curler and the settlers would not agree, imploring the Governor that, as they had paid for their lands, they should have them without any restriction. At last, after a long and tedious correspondence, desiring to be honest and fair, as all good Dutchmen of that day desired to be, the Director-General at last in immediate answer to the last appeal of April 17th, 1664, sent up Jacques Cortelyou, surveyor to the Board of Directors. Van Cur- ler's description in this deed from the Indians was followed and resulted in a very meagre plot of land. So continuing the progress inaugurated by his Yankee neighbor of crowding out the aboriginal, the burgher bought more land, conveyed in the fantastic language

THE FIRST CHARTER. 9

of the time signed by Mohawks of unpronounceable names and attested by grotesque hieroglyphics in imitation of animal life that was never seen in the heavens above, or the earth beneath, or the waters under the earth.

Meantime the Duke of York through Nicholls had ousted Stuyve- sant and the Great West Indian company. The Mohawk Dutchman in his forest home, where he had begun to settle down to his pipe and build on the Groote Vlachte, (the elevated plain on which Schenectady was being built) knew little and cared less. So that he was free from the Lords of the Manor and was free to worship God and Mammon with strict impartiality in his dealings with both, cared little or nothing for the change but kept on figuratively and literally sawing wood and swapping "aukers of good beer," rundlets of brandy, beads, trinkets and any old thing for Mohawk land.

They applied for a charter to Dongan, the English Governor. This charter embraced fully twelve miles of land, extending about four miles in width along the north and south banks of the Mohawk river. This was denied for indefiniteness of boundary though the petitioners were garnted the use of a seal and graciously permitted to pay quit rent. Their descendants in Rotterdam are doing it yet.

Meantime the Indians (Indian givers as the phrase is yet used in the valley) began to repudiate their bargain. They were staunchly devoted to Jacques Van Slyck, and claimed that he owned the first flat for he was of their people, and that much of Van Curler purchase to Hilletece and Leah, half breed sisters of Van Slyck, who had married Danielse Van Olinda and Jonathan Stevens, and that of all the land. Van Curler had bought only the "grassed" and not the land, "that is may be some drunken fellow may have made some writings without their knowledge." But some more good ankers of beer, rundlets of brandy, some beads and a shoddy blanket or two, probably settled the question, for the Governor, satisfied with title and boundary, finally, Nov. ist, 1664, gave a charter to William Teller, Ryer, Schermerhorn, Swere, Teunessen, Van Velsen, Jan Van Eps and Mynderst Weniple, on behalf of the inhabitants of the town of Schenectady.

Thus ancient Schenectady was established. The charter was the

,o SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.

legal title to lands embraced within 128 square miles of territor>^, and about 80,000 acres of land. Its boundaries, as near as we can discover from ancient maps, began on the west about where the county line is now, at Hoffman's Ferry on the Glenville side, extending over a strip about four miles north of the river bank to the Aal Plaats, (Eel Place) creek. On the south bank it extended to the hillside, fol- lowino- the line of the highland back to Pattersonville and Rotterdam Junction, the lands of Hon. Simon Schermerhorn, skirting the base of the hills at the residence of the Hon. John D. Campbell, and curving around behind the Villa Road, the bowery wood, below Union College grounds, (then a forest) with "Hanse Janse Eanklu Kil," a large stream that fifty-five years ago contained in what is now Jackson's garden, the perch, rock bass, sunfish and suckers of the Mohawk River. Now it is dried up and shows no water except in early spring or after heavy rains. • From thence to the boundary line.

Arent Bradt died during the negotiation by Van Curler for the charter. He left two sons, of whom and their descendants more hereafter. He was represented in subsequent divisions of the land by Catalina, his widow, who had borne him six children and married Barent Jan Van Ditmars. Schenectady, be it remembered, was on the Groote Vlachte, a level plateau that began under the hills at about Center and Smith streets, ran along on the brow of the slope, easily yet to be traced, to the Benne Kil, "Frog Alley River." The Benne Kil, the name now given to the center stream, was then called the middle Benne Kil, at that time a narrow creek. Thence it followed the stream in a high bluff, long since cut away, turning at the Glen- ville Bridge until at the poor pasture it curved around the College hill, then a forest of pines, keeping southward in a slight elevation until it met its starting point. All the rest of the charter lands and Indian grants were called Bouwelandts, or farm lands. The inhabi- tants of the city were known as burghers. The farmers as bouwer- ies. The highest point in this plateau was about opposite the pres- ent parsonage of St. George Church where the first fort was built.

The village was under the government of five trustees, the persons named in the Dongan Charter, who governed the hamlet apparently

ERECTION OF STOCKADES. n

to the entire satisfaction of the scanty population until the Leisler and anti-Leisler factions divided the town just before the massacre.

A division of lands and property had been made, and the inhabi- tants in those perilous days began at once to fortify. They did so and from what we have learned of their work, to such good purpose that, but for their own fatuity and want of watchful care, the horrors of the night of February 2nd, 1690, need never have reddened his- tory. Thanks to the energy and public spirit of the Hon. J. W. Clute, formerly mayor of the city, all important points in the annals and records of the city have been handsomely identified and com- memorated by a series of bronze tablets that mark the sites of the scenes of eventful occurrences that have made Schenectady known the world over. These bronze tablets tell a wonderful story to the passer-by. There were several forts built in the village — in fact there was always a fort and garrison here until long after the Revolutionary War.

The first defences of the city are described by Major McMurray, whose militar}^ education has evidently materially aided him in com- ing near to the exact situation. This is the result of his discoveries. The method of fortification was by stockades, which the abundance of timber at their very doors made a cheap and ready protection. Cannon were only used for defense, attacks being always made by the musket.

The stockade consisted of a series of posts or logs from fifteen to eighteen feet long, and twelve inches or more thick, sharpened at one end and hewed flat on opposite sides. Pine was usually chosen because most abundant and easily worked.

The line of stockade being marked out, a trench three feet deep was dug, the posts were set therein, the flattened sides together and the earth shoveled back and rammed against them. To strengthen the top two adjoining posts were bored and fastened together with oaken trenails. At the angles, gates and other important points, blockhouses for the shelter of the garrison and guards were built and within the stockade all around was a free space, called the rondweg, of sufficient width in which the patrol could march.

In addition to this outer circle of fortification in Schenectady,

12 SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.

there was a fort in one of the angles of the latter place, snrronnded by a double row of high palisades. This fort was furnished with barracks for the garrison, platform, guns, lookouts, etc. In later times, when Schenectady became a depot for men and materials, there were barracks outside the walls. In 1765 the troops were posted along the east side of Feriy street, from Union street to the Episcopal church ; in 1762 on the south side of Union street from Ferry street to the late Mrs. Colon Clute's house ; in the Revolution- ar>^ War on the south side of Union street from Lafayette street east- wardly to Quackenbush street.

For protection and safety, Schenectady was admirably placed, being surrounded with water and marsh on three sides and open only to the southeast, from which side the inhabitants had little to fear.

The first settlers, though their land lay elsewhere, built their habi- tations mainly together for their greater protection. As soon after the settlement in 1662 as could conveniently be done, the village was stockaded. Starting at State street the line ran along the east side of Ferry street to about the gate of the Episcopal church, then in a straight line to the north side of Front street a little beyond Washington avenue, then southerly and parallel to the same to State street and lastly along the same twenty-eight feet south thereof to Ferry street or Mill Lane. This was the original plot enclosed, and it contained most of the houses of the first settlers.

The south and west lines remained substantially the same down to the time of their extinction soon after the Revolutionary War. The Front and Washington street lines were later moved north and west to the river bank and the Ferr}^ street line some time after 1765, was carried southeasterly to the New York Central Railroad depot and thence northerh- through the Dutch church bur}-ing ground to the river bank.

In 1690 it was said, in the French account of the village, that there were but two gates ; one at the north end of Church street called the ''north gate," the other at State. This was doubtless at the junction of State and Church streets and opened out to the roads

FORTIFICATIONS AND BUILDINGS. 13

through Mill Lane and Water street, leading to the bouwlands and to the Mohawk countr}'.

In later times there were others at Front and Union streets. The foundations of the gates and guardhouses where Ferry crosses State and Union streets were exposed in laying the water pipes in 1871.

Schenectady was so important a post for the protection of the province against the incursions of the Canadians that for the first hundred years of its existence it was deemed necessary to strengthen it by a fort and garrison.

The writer is led to believe, from references in the records, that the first block house was in the north angle of the stockade at or near the junction of Front and Washington streets. This was destroyed in 1690 by the French, at which time it was garrisoned by a small detachment under Lieutanant Enos Talmage, from Captain Jonathan BulPs company, then stationed at Albany. These troops were Con- necticut men.

The magazine stood on or near the lot of Mrs. Willard, then belonging to Captain Sander Glen.

Outside of block houses and the Fort, the most prominent struct- ure built before the massacre, was the little Reformed Netherland Dutch Church. It stood directly in the centre of the space at the intersection of State, Church and Water streets. It was an insignifi- cant little place of worship, its exact dimension being unknown, perfectly square in shape, with its four roofs running to a peak, on which was perched a small belfry or cupola. Around it was a grave yard, from whence in 1848, the Hon. John Sanders removed the bones of his ancestor, Alexander Lindsay Glen. The building was erected in 1682. The houses were built in the old Dutch style, some of them with brick; not in a single instance it is believed with bricks brought from abroad. Houses are repeatedly pointed out as being built of brick brought from Holland. It would not have paid to bring bricks from there — the Hollander was of a commercial race — he did not carry anything around in trade that did not pay. Bricks did not come over in ballast. Ships came from Holland when they had pay- ing cargoes, or remained in the Maas or Scheldts until they had one.

14 SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.

Clay was plenty, and the best of it. Brick making was not such skilled labor that its product had to be imported. Abundant mate- rial was made in Fort Orange, only twenty miles off by a fairly good road. Stone was abundant, of the best kind at that. And lumber of all kinds was in the possession of almost every land proprietor.

The style of the buildings whether of wood, stone or brick, was almost that of a building gable end to the street, or with a round topped front. A specimen can be seen in the house built by Abra- ham Yates (1734) opposite the Court House (now owned by Mrs. Joseph Vandebogart) the Bradt house in Rotterdam, west of the Pump House, or the Vroman mill at the Brandywine. Within the stockade and quadrangle, above described, were the lots of the fifteen original proprietors.

The original plat embraced only the ground extending from the main Benne Kil, on the west, to what is now the east side of Ferry street, on the east, and from the Mohawk River, on the north, to the line of the low lands on the south, including a small portion of the Flats. This area they carefully fortified with stockades or palisades well knowing that at this point they occupied the extreme front line of civilization. And although compactness was studied and desirable yet, with a view to business and convenience of posterity and an enlightened policy, they laid out their streets wide, regular and at right angles, as still exhibited when the palisades were laid.

I St. Handelaers' street, literally Traders' street. This name con- tinued until soon after the destruction and massacre at Schenectady in 1690, when the name was changed to "Lion" street, and was so called until after the close of the Revolutionary War, when it was named "Washington" street, (Washington Avenue) in honor of the great First President. This street, until the disastrous fire of 1819, when its docks, wharves and storehouses along the main Benne Kil, and the mercantile and dwelling houses on the street itself, were swept away, was by far the most valuable business portion of the city and had been from the day of its settlement. But with that desolation of fire and the progressive movements of the Erie canal and the strides of railroad power, its business activities have been transferred to our State street and the old business center has become.

LOCATION OF STREETS. 15

with quiet dignity, a delightful place of residence — one of the most charming points of Schenectady.

2d. Front street retains its original name and was so called because it was on the north line of the place, and ran parallel with the Mohawk river.

3d. Ferry street also maintains its first name, and was called because one of the gates of the place, and the landing place for its boats, canoes and only scow, was at its foot. The Mohawk was crossed by no bridges then. The village, and the sparse population on the north side of that river, maintained communication by water except in the winter season. There the sentinel of snow was sta- tioned when the place was surprised in 1690. Here the only entrance was made by the French and Indians. The French account given by Monsieur DeMonseignat (Paris Doc. LV.,) states:

" The town of ' Corlear,' (Schenectady) forms a sort of oblong with only two gates, one opposite the road we had taken (Ferry street,) the other leading to Orange (Albany.) Messieurs DeSainte Helene and DeMantet were to enter at the first, which the squaws pointed out and which, in fact, was found wide open. Messieurs d'Iberville and DeMontesson took the left, with another detachment to join the remainder of the party. A profound silence was everywhere observed, until the two commanders, who, separated at their entrance into the town for the purpose of encircling it, had met at the other extremity."

4th. Church street was always called so because the earliest church (Reformed Dutch) was erected on the small public square at its southern termination.

5th. Niskayuna street was so named in honor of the old Niska- yuna settlement just outside of the manor of Rensselaerwyck, whose inhabitants sympathized with those of Schenectady, and in some families were of the same kith and kin. It is now known as Union street.

6th. Albany street was so called until after the burning and mas- sacre of 1690, when it was named " Martelaer's street " (Martyr's street,) in memory of the cruel slaughter of many of its residents, where the murders of that hour and the barbarities of that night

i6 SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.

seem to have been the most terrific. It was so named until it received its present designation, "State street."

The lots on the village plat and the farming flats on both sides of the Mohawk river, embracing the islands therein, as contained in the grant, were equitably divided or apportioned among the original pro- prietors, who subsequently sold out sections or rights to actual set- tlers on easy terms. Aided by such encouragement, the fertility of the soil and the advantages of local trading position, Schenectady soon advanced in population, prosperity and wealth.

As is apparent at this late day, the lots on the north side of Front street ran through to the " Strand " on the Mohawk river.

The east side of Ferry street was occupied by a line of pickets, placed deeply and firmly in the soil, some remains of which this writer, in the march of later-day improvements, has seen excavated from the line where both tradition and history claim they were fixed by the old pioneers.

The lots on the south side of State street ran down to and, gen- erally, some short distance on the flats. And the lots on the west side of Washington avenue extended to the Strand on the main Bennekill, which was, until 1819, the harbor and commercial port of our comparatively venerable place.

Besides the portion above named, within the pickets, there were four blocks, laid out 400 feet square, Rhineland measure, (400 feet Rhineland being 413 feet English measure.)

In the division Van Curler was first taken care of. With no inten- tion to discredit this distinguished man, all indication points to the fact that his interest here, as were those of many of the original proprietors, was purely commercial. He knew the locality well, admired it for its beauty, but was not in the business of founding colonies to enjoy beauties of scenery. In fact he was establishing a land improvement company for what there was in it. Arent Andries Bradt was a half-breed, the son of Andries of Albany and Kinetis, a daughter of a Mohawk chief. Arent Bradt was an actual resident of Schenectady. Curler and Bradt were brewers and warm personal friends. Cornelise Antoinsen Van Slyck had married Olstock, a sis- ter of Bradt's wife. It was Bradt and Van Curler Slyck who induced

EARLY SETTLERS. 17

the speculative Van Curler to enter into the deal. Bradt bought his lot before Van Curler obtained his charter, had built his house and lived in it before the survey. He died in 1668, one year before the little township was plotted out. Arent's son, Andreas Arent, married a half-breed daughter of Jacquese Cornelise Van Slyck. He and his wife were killed in the massacre and left one son surviving, Arent Bradt, who subsequently became one of the most prominent and dis- tinguished men of Schenectady. Samuel Bradt, a son of Arent Andreas, the first settler, married also Susannis, another half-breed daughter of Jacques Cornelise. The Bradts, it thus appears, con- trary to the general impression, have more Indian blood than the Van Slycks. They have transmitted it by direct descent in male and female line, through most all of the old Mohawk families and through many of the English who subsequently came here. All the Yateses, descending from Col. Christopher and Teller who were born at the Aal Plass in 1734 and 1744 and married daughters of Capt. Andreas Bradt, have a full strain of it.

CHAPTER H. The Founders of Schenectady.

Van Curler's lot, which he never occupied, was on the northwest corner of Church and LTnion streets, embracing one-quarter of the block, being two hundred feet square. It covers the present site of the classical department premises of the .Union school, the County Judge's and clerk's offices, etc. His bowerel farm, after his death called Juffrow's Landts, comprised one hundred and fourteen acres of flat land immediately southwest of the village which, sub- sequent to his decease, was sold in sections to divers individuals. Van Curler left no children. His widow continued to reside in Schenectady until she died January 15th, 1675.

Philip Hendrickse Brouwer was the second of the original pro- prietors. He was in Beaverwyck as early as 1655, where he owned

i8 SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.

a house, lot and brewery and became one of the proprietors of Schenectady. He died soon after, in 1664, having previously acci- dentally shot Class Cornelise Swits there, who was not a proprietor, but an early settler, and had n.arried the daughter of Symon Symonse Groot, who had long been in the employ of the West India Company as boatswain of the ship Prince Maurice. His wife's name was Elsie Tjerk. Brouwer left no children.

His village lot, two hundred feet square, was on the northwest corner of Church and State streets. It is on a portion of this lot that the present law office of Charles P. Sanders now stands- Shortly after his decease the lot was sold to Cornelius Van Ness, who had married the widow of Dirk Van Eps, and subsequently conveyed the lot to his step-son, John Dirksie Van Eps, who, in the massacre of 1690, was killed, with two of his children, and his son, John Baptist, taken prisoner. Afterwards, John's widow married Gysbert Gerritse Van Brakel, a wealthy citiz'^n, whose son Alexander had been killed, and his son Stephen captured, on the same disastrous occasion.

Alexander Lindsay Glen was the third original proprietor named, called by the Dutch, Sander Leendertse Glen. He was a Scotchman of the Highlands, born in the vicinity of Invernes, and a refugee to Holland, from whence he emigrated with the Dutch to New Netherlands at a very early day. It appears from the colonial records, that he was an agent of the West India Company, at Fort Nassau on the Delaware, in 1643 5 received a grant of land there, and prepared to build in 1651, but was prevented by the violence of the Swedes.

Alexander Lindsey Glen's village lot in Schenectady, on the division was 200 feet front on the west side of what is now Washington Avenue, running down with equal breadth to the strand on the main Bennekill. A part of these premises, being the exact location of the old Glen family city residence, belonged to, and was occupied by, one of his lineal descendants until it was destroyed by the great fire of 181 9.

Mr. Glen's farm apportionment embraced the flats and adjacent

ANECDOTE OF COLONEL JOHN GLEN. 19

islands, on the north side of the Mohawk river, as by him previously occupied by permission of the Indians.

Major John A. Glen bnilt the present Sanders mansion at Scotia, in 1 7 13, (now occnpied by Charles P. Sanders, Esq.,) and occupied by himself for seventeen years, until his death. His whole estate, both real and personal, was spared when Schenectady was destroyed, by express order of the Governor of Canada for rescues made and kindnesses shown to sundry French prisoners captured with Van Curler, from whom he had received valuable lessons.

The circumstances attending one of those rescues are so interest- ing and ingenious that the temptation of incorporating here an extract from the draft of a letter written by Judge Sanders to a friend, in 1874, giving an account of the occurrences, is irresistible.

" .The Mohawks of Scotia's early days were always devoted friends of the Dutch, but they were barbarous, after all, and the white pop- ulation was too sparse, weak and timid, to interfere with the chival- ric customs of those noble knights of the tomahawk, blunderbuss, bow and arrow.

" The writer's father has shown him a hillock, not far from the present Scotia house, where, after their return from warlike or plun- dering expeditions, they were wont to sacrifice their victims. Even so late as the time of his grandfather. Col. Jacob Glen, a Mohegan Indian was burned on the spot. This surely was revolting, but the' monarchs of the valley, original owners of the soil, willed it so and nothing was left to civilization but to mitigate or ameliorate and this the Christian pioneers accomplished when possible; and many were the acts of kindness which, according to the accounts of the French themselves, were rendered by the Glens of Scotia to parties captured by the Mohawks.

" Under such circumstances, according to well established tradi- tion, it happened that sometime about five years before the burning of Schenectady in 1690, towards sundown of a beautiful summer afternoon, the original large stone house, according to the French accounts, stood on the bank of the Mohawk (its site now covered by water, though the writer has seen a portion of its foundation wall.) The home and estate of John Sanders (Alexander) Glen, was occu-

20 SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.

pied only by himself, his wife, four daughters and two sons. His eldest daughter, Catrina, was then only thirteen years of age, and his then youngest son, Jacob Alexander, subsequently the ancestor of the Baltimore Glens, was in his cradle. He had a large family of negro slaves (for Mr. Glen was an extensive land cultivator and pro- prietor.) On this occasion while they were quietly surrounded by the enchanting beauty of its lake, river, lowlands, adjacent island and a full view of Schenectady, and all was peace, a large party of Mohawks, just returned from the north, encamped below the Glen mansion, as in that day of aboriginal power they claimed clear right to do, as original sovereigns of the soil.

" The party was in a high state of elation and triumph, having captured a Roman Catholic Jesuit priest, against whom they enter- tained extreme antipathy. The reason of their peculiar dislike to priests was this : The IVIohawks were Protestants, after their cwn fashion, because the Dutch were, and this priest, with others, had proselyted among them and caused some, as a Catholic party, to remove to Canada.

" Now these rejoicing, victorious Christians soon announced to Mr. Glen and wife, that they intended a special roast of their cap- tive on the following morning. So they brought the unfortunate priest along for Glen to lock up in his cellar until they should want him for their pious sacrifice.

" Mr. Glen and his wife (the last very much praised in the French accounts for her many acts of benevolence and humanity to cap- tives) did not see it in that light. Now Major Coudre (Glen) pos- sessed two keys to his locked cellar and, aware of the confidence the Mohawks placed in him, also of their credulity and superstition, raised this clear-sighted well-intended and formidable objection.

" That the Mohawks were his friends, and he felt pleasure at all proper times to oblige them; but, in this case, he would not take the responsibility. ' Priests ' were ' wizzards,' and could go through any keyhole; suppose the priest was gone in the morning, what then ? ' No, he should take no risk.' But one thing he proposed ' with wise solemnity.' They might lock him up, and take the key them- selves. This just proposition Mrs. Glen seconded. It was ratified,

ESCAPE OF A PRIEST. 21

the poor priest placed in close quarters, and the key duly delivered to his captors.

" Mr. Glen had also suggested, at a proper time, in a quiet way, and to the proper ears, that early in the morning, before daylight, he should send his team to Albany for salt, so as to excite no sus- picions about movements contemplated or an early stir.

" Well, the noble Mohawk, as was customary after a campaign, got their rum from Schenectady and feasted, drank, danced and sang, until the wee small hours of the morning, when their exhausted nature, and even their dogs, settled into stupid repose.

" This lull. Major Glen, his wife x\nna, and faithful slaves, having watched, placed the priest in a wagon, in a hogshead with the lower head out, and the bung hole to breath through, and with a good team the priest and two negro men started for Albany after a load of salt. The priest was quietly and well received by the humanitarians of Albany, and silently forwarded to Montreal. Publicity, after such a joke on Mohawk warriors, was impolitic ; but this kind act bore abundant and blessed fruit afterwards to the Glen family in 1690, when Schenectady was burned. Nor was it ever heard that Major or Mrs. Glen, or their faithful slaves, ever felt any remorse about the pious fraud.

"The team, hogshead, priest and negroes were gone. The dawn of morning came, with it the Mohawks, having an important mis- sion on hand, a roast; but Mr. Glen took the matter easy. The Mohawks found the cellar closed, ' but the priest had flown.' Sleep to Mr. Glen then became impossible ; the shouts were awful, and the agonies of disappointed justice became simply diabolical. When Major Glen appeared, and said calmly to his Indian friends, ' I told you so ; I told you so; priests are wizards.' And they reluctantly responded: ' Coudre,' ( his Indian name) 'was right.' Nor was it ever known that any Mohawk of that generation discovered the deception. Major Glen was always a great favorite of the Mohawks; his sayings and doings were ex-cathreda."

Simon Volkertse Veeder was the fourth named proprietor. He was born in Holland in 1624 5 bought a lot at New Amsterdam in

22 SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.

1652 ; sold the same and came to Beaverwyck in 1654, and from thence removed to Schenectady in 1662. He owned, on the division, a farm on the great fiat, nnmbered 9, containing- fifty-one acres, and a lot on the north side of State street, at its jnnction with Ferry street, 200 feet sqnare, and also owned considerable possessions on the Norman's Kil.

Few settlers contributed more to the healthy and vigorous early settlement of Schenectady than this proprietor, who died January 8th, 1696, aged about 72 years. His descendants are numerous, all bearing the name and having his blood.

Swear (Ahasueras) Teunise Van Velsen ( alias Van Westbrock,) was the fifth named proprietor. In 1664 he married Maritie Myn- derse, widow of Jan Barentse Wemp. About this time he removed from Lnbberda's land (Troy,) to Schenectady, and built a grist mill on Mill Lane. This was carried away by the flood, and rebuilt by him in 1673. In consideration of his loss, the community generally allowed him to take one-eighth, instead of one-twentieth, as a toll, out of grain ground there.

Besides the one-half of the great Van Slyck island, purchased by him of Jan Barentse Wemp, (who had previously obtained the one-half interest therein of Martin Mauris Van Slyck, which he held conjointly with Jacques Cornelise Van Slyck, the brother of Martin Mouris, who owned the other equal undivided one-half) he owned the land on the south side of State street from Church street, including Mill Lane, nearly to Cowhorn creek, and extending upon the lowlands so as to comprehend about twenty-five acres.

Swear Teunise (so always called) was a much-respected and influential citizen of Schenectady. In 1676 he was a magistrate of the village, and one of the five patentees named in the great town- ship grant, confirmed in 1684. He was slain in the massacre of 1690, with his wife and four negro slaves, leaving no descendants or heirs.

Cornelius Antonisen Van Slyck, called by the Mohawks " Broer Cornells " (brother Cornelis), was the seventh named proprietor, and an early settler at Beaverwyck. Previous to 1640 he married a Mohawk chieftian's daughter, by whom he had several children,

EARLY PROPRIETORS 23

viz.: Jacques, Martin, ]\Ioiiris, Hiliitie and Leah. Martin Monris (Maurice) gave name to the island lying between the Mohawk river and the main Binnekill, west of Schenectady (now called Van Slyck's island). This son, Martin Mouris, a tradition hands down, died early in 1662.

Cornelius Antonisen was a proprietor, and received his portion on division, but the location of his farm and village lot the writer has been unable to determine, or even whether he was, at any time, a settled resident of Schenectady. His original home was Beaver- wyck, but most of his time was passed among the Mohawks, at their upper or great castle at Canajoharie, either as an interpreter for the province, or as a trader, or because he had married among them, and been adopted by the tribe.

Such marriages were not deemed disreputable, for the Mohawks enjoyed high character among the tribes of North America, and were wonderfully generous in grants or outfits of land to their white friends, and especially to married connections of the tribe, which last were uniformly adopted as members of their community.

Cornelius Antonisen died in 1676, at an advanced age, fourteen years after the decease of his son, Martin Mouris. He was reputed to be a man of excellent character and unbending integrity, possess- ing great influence among the Mohawks particularly, and the Five Nations generally. By reason of his eminent services on severa] occasions, in bringing about peace with the natives, he received a patent for a large tract of land at Catskill, He also owned land at Cohoes, granted to him by the Mohawks, near their old castle at the mouth of the Mohawk river.

Accustomed, as Cornelius Antonisen was, to Indian customs and peculiarities, it certainly tells much for his sense of what was due to his civilization and early education, that, during his life, he had only one wife and one family. It was owing to his sterling character, aided by his extended landed interests, that, although his son, Mar- tin Mouris, died young and unmarried, his son, Jacques, and his daughters, Hillitie and Leah, and their respective descendants, mar- ried among the most respectable, full-blood white families in the province. This fact might be illustrated by well-preserved genea-

24 SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.

logical tables, but it would exceed the proposed limit of this local history ; so the writer contents himself with adding the son, Jacques Cornelise, who will be treated of hereafter as one of the early pro- prietors of Schenectady.

Gerrit Bancker was the eighth proprietor. He hailed from Amsterdam in Holland. He was at New Amsterdam before 1655, and, in 1667, was settled at Beaverwyck, wdiere he continued to reside until his death in 1691. When Arent Van Curler began the settlement of Schenectady in 1661, he became one of the original proprietors. Farm lot number six, on the Bouwland, was appor- tioned to him, and his village lot comprised the northerly quarter of the block bounded by Washington, Union, Church and State streets. His son Evert held his property until 1702, when he sold it to Isaac Swits.

Gerrit Bancker left two children : Evert, born January 24th, 1665, who, on the 24th day of September, 1686, married Elizabeth, daugh- ter of Christopher Jans Abeel ; also a daughter, Anna, who married Johannas DePeyster of New York, September 21st, 1688.

William Teller was the ninth proprietor named. He was born in Holland A. D., 1620, and was the first Teller wdio came to the New Netherlands, arriving at New Amsterdam in 1639, when he was sent to Fort Orange by Governor Kieft, and entered into the service of the West India Company. He was '' Machtmeester " of the Fort, and for many years a trader at Beaverwyck, continuing his residence there from 1639 to 1692, when he removed to New York, accom- panied by all of his sons, except his son John, who was settled in Schenectady.

William Teller married Margaret Dongan, a sister to Alexander Lindsay Glen's wife. He was not only an original proprietor, but one of the five patentees mentioned in the first patent of the town, granted by Governor Dongan in 1684. On the apportionment, in 1664, his allotments on the flats were numbered five, the foremost lot lying on the west side of, and separated by, the Tellers' Killitie from Elias Van Guysling's farm. This Van Guysling farm, situated on the Bouwland, in Rotterdam, remained in that family from that time to 1665, when Cornelius Van Guysling died without issue.

THE TENTH PROPRIETOR. 25

William Teller's village lot, two hundred feet square, was on the northeast corner of Union and Washington streets. He gave all his real estate in Schenectady to his son John, in 1700, who also remained, when the rest of the family removed to New York. Wil- liam Teller was an individual of wealth and great influence in his day. He died in 1701 and left seven children. All the Tellers in this section of our country are descended from his son John. U. S. Senator Teller from Colorado, Secretary of the Interior, is a descendant of this William Teller.

Bastian DeWinter was the tenth proprietor named. He came from Middleburg in Holland, and was at Schenectady as early as 1662. On the apportionment his village lot, 200 feet square, was situated on the southeast corner of Church and Union streets, and his farm on the flats was subsequently known as Elias Van Guysling's plantation. Falling sick in 1670, he sold all his real estate to Elias Van Guysling and others, with the intention of returning to Holland. His death prevented his return. He left no heirs in this countr)-, and in 1678 the Dutch Church at Albany (the church at Schenec- tady being not yet erected ) claimed, and in some way obtained his property for the use of the poor.

Bastian DeWinter, as the attorne)- of Catalina, widow of x^rent Andries Bradt (commonly called '' the Noorman ") became, as such attorney, the eleventh proprietor named. Mr. Bradt became one of the proprietors of Schenectady in 1662, but died soon after and before any apportionment was made, leaving his widow, Catalina, and six children surviving him. x\fter his death the flats and vil- lage lot which fell to his share was conflrmed to his widow, through DeWinter, for herself and Bradt's children. The farm was No. i on the Bouwland, and the village lot was the southwest quarter of the block bounded by Washington, Union, Church and State streets, and was 200 feet square, Amsterdam measure.

This Catalina Bradt was the daughter of Andries DeVos, a magis- trate and deputy-director of Rensselaerwyck. She was reputed to be a lady of intelligence and good education for the limited opportuni- ties of that day. She had great and sad experiences in the early his- tory of Schenectady.

26 SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.

Pieter Danielse Van Olinda was the twelfth proprietor named. Judge Sanders was unable to locate his village lot, or his farm on the Bouwlandt. He married Hilitie, the daughter of Cornelius Antonisen Van Slyck, and a sister of Jacques Cornelise. She was a half-blood Mohawk and was a paid interpretress of the Provincial Government. The Mohawks gave her several tracts of land. She died February loth, 1707. He died in 17 16. They left three sons, Daniel, Jacob and Mathias.

Peter Jacobse Borsboom was the thirteenth proprietor named. His house lot in the village, 200 feet square, was the northwest quarter of the block bounded by Front, Washington, Church and Union streets. He had also two farms allotted to him on the Bouwlandt. He died in 1688, and left surviving him one son, Cornelius, who died young and unmarried ; also four daughters, viz.: Anna, who married John Pieterse Mabie ; Maria, who married Hendrick Brower ; Fytie, who married Martin Van Benthuysen ; Catharine, who married John Oliver. The name has disappeared in this county.

Jan Barentse (Wemple) was the fourteenth proprietor named. He was an inhabitant of Beaverwyck as early as 1643. Having pur- chased the interest of Martin Maurice Van Slyck in 1662, he received, as joint owner with Martin Maurice's brother, Jacques Cornelise, a patent for the Great Island, lying immediately west of Schenectady, which interest was subsequently owned by Swear Teunise Van Velsen, who had married Wemp's widow. Wemp also had a house lot in the village, on the west side of Washington street, a little north on State street, with a front of 200 feet on Washington street, running down with equal width to the strand on the main Binnekill. He died in 1663, an ancestor of an extensive list of descendants.

Jacques Cornelius Van Slyck was the fifteenth and last proprietor named. He was born at the great Indian Castle, Canajoharie, in 1640. The Mohawks gave him and his brother, Martin Maurice, the large island in the Mohawk river, lying immediately west of the city, and only, separated from it by the main Binnekill ; to each brother the equal undivided one-half. Jan Barentse Wemp subsequently

THE FIRST MINISTER. 27

purchased the interest of Martin Maurice, which, as has been shown, eventually vested in Swear Teunise Van Velsen.

The Mohawks also gave Jacques Cornelise a tract of land five miles above the city, on the south side of the Mohawk, a portion of which is still occupied by his lineal descendants. He also owned land on the flats, apportioned to him as a proprietor, on the division, unlocated, except that it was the first flat, and was, after his decease, divided among his heirs.

His village lot, granted on the only public square of the place, on which the first church was erected, was on that front extending between State and Water streets, and running westerly along both streets, to an alley still existing, dividing the Van Slyck lot from the premises now owned and occupied by the Young Women's Christian Association.

Dominie Petrus Thesschenmaecker was the first settled minister in Schenectady. Having officiated in 1676 in Kingston, to the acceptance of the people, they petitioned for his continuance. In 1679 he was ordained in New York, by a council comprising the ministers then settled in the province, as of the church at Newcastle on the Delaware, where he continued until about 1684 when he came to Schenectady. In the destruction of the village in 1690, the parson- age, the site of which is unknown, was burned and the Dominie was killed. He left no heirs.

This completes the list of the original proprietors. But others came before 1690. Herman Albertie Vedder, ancestor of all the Vedders in this county, and wdio married into the Indian blood of the Van Slycks ; Symon Symonse Groot, whose five children were taken captives on the night of the massacre ; Johannes Van Eps who came to this city and was slain on Church street with his two chil- dren, two sons and a daughter escaping.

Class Frederickse Van Patten came to Schenectady in 1664. In 1668 he bought, in company with Cornelius Cornelisse Viele, the farm of Martin Cornelisse Van Issesteyn (Esselstyn,) lying next west of the farm of Ryer Schermerhorn, the elder, who was his brother- in-law. Van Patten having married Aeffie, the daughter of Arent Andreas Bradt and Catalyntje DeVos. His bouwery remained in the

28 SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.

family for several generations. In 1690 Van Patten was appointed a justice of the peace by Leisler. He was born jVIay 30tli, 1641, and died October 3d, 1728, aged 87 years. He left surviving him three sons and three daughters.

Isaac Swits settled in Schenectady in 1664. He married Susanna, daughter of Simon Groot ; his village lot was on the west side of Washington street opposite the west end of State street. On the destruction of the town in 1690, he was carried away captive, together with his oldest son, Cornelius, but- they were ransomed and returned home the following July.

Johannes Putnam came to Schenectady in 1664. He married Cor- nelia, daughter of Arent Andries Bradt and Catalyntje DeVos. His homestead lot was on the northwest corner of Union and Ferry streets, having 100 feet next west from Jan Roeloefse, the oldest son of the celebrated Anneke Janse, by her first marriage. He sold sub- ject to the life estate of himself and wife, Roeloefse had no child- ren. On the disastrous night of February 9th, 1690, both Putnam and his neighbor Roeloefse, with their wives, were slain by the French and Indians. Jan Putnam left three sons and two daughters.

John Apple came to Schenectady in 1668 ; he, too, was wounded in his limbs at the destruction in 1690. The Apples removed to New York in 1693. William had a son, Simon, and a daughter, Maria Magdalena, who married Johannes Vrooman, a nephew of the dis- tinguished Adam.

Hanse Janse Eenklwys. This was truly a remarkable old Hollan- der who came to reside at Schenectady in 1670. Already as early as 1632, he was an officer of the Dutch West India Company, under the administration of Governor Van Twiller, and erected the standard (the arms of the States-General ) at a spot called Kievit's Hoeck, (now Saybrook,) at the mouth of the Connecticut river. (See O'CaL laghan's His. N. Y. Netherlands, Vol. i, p. 149.) In July, 1648, on the occasion of Governor Stuyvesant's visit to Rensselaerwyck, he was employed to clean the Patroon's cannons and fire the salute. When he came to Schenectady, being an old man, without any rela- tions in this country, he made, by his will, the deacons of the Dutch Church of Schenectady his devisees and legatees, on condition that

THE EARLY CHURCH. 29

he should be supported by them in his old age and weakness, which they did to his satisfaction for thirteen years, and when he died, in 1683, at a very advanced age, they bnried him with dne respect and solemnity. The church inherited all his property, consisting mostly of forty acres of land, of what was formerly known as the Poor Pas- ture, being that portion of it lying west of or above Hansen Kil, (now College brook.) That portion of the Poor Pasture lying east of or below the creek, called " The Boght," was bought of Harma- nus Van Slyck, in 1806, for $1,750. The memory of brave, honest Hans Janse Eenklwys should always be cherished by the descendants of Schenectady's pioneers. Monuments, in these latter days, are often erected to perpetuate the memory of those who possessed but a small share of his experience, honesty, gallantry and worth. He gave to the church of his affections his memories of Holland, and all he possessed.

Jan Peck was an early settler at New Amsterdam ; he owned Landbat Peekskill, and Peekskill Creek was named after him. He owned also, in 1655, much property at Fort Orange. He married, February 20th, 1650, Marianne Dertruy, (Truax) neice of old Philip Truax. He never lived in Schenectady, but late in life, his widow, Maria, did, with her son. Jacobus. Jan left two sons and two daughters.

John Roelafsen, the oldest son and youngest child of the cele- brated Anneke Janse, by her first marriage to Rollof Jansen, having sold his interest in his mother's property in Albany to Derick Wersel Ten Broeck, removed from Albany to Schenectady in 1670. He had, in that year, at Albany, accidentally killed one Gerrit Verbeeck, for which accident he was pardoned by the Governor. His lot was on the north side of Union street, 100 feet west of Ferry street, being the same great lot now owned by the Messrs. Joseph and Giles Y. Van der Bogert. . At the date of his mother's will in 1663 he was unmarried. He subsequently married, but having no children or the prospects of any, he sold his lot and buildings to John Putman, his neighbor, owning and occupying the lot lying adjoining on the east, reserving for himself and wife a life estate in the premises. But on the fatal night of February 9th, 1690, Roelafsen and his wife and

30 SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.

Putman and his wife were slain b}' the French and Indians. Jan Roelafsen was born in 1636, and at the time of his death was fifty- four years of age.

Barent Janse Van Ditmars came to Schenectady in 1670, and mar_ ried Catalyntje DeVos, widow of Arent Andriesse Bradt ; he owned land on the south side of the Mohawk river, near the " Steen Kil." He had a son Cornelius, who married Catharina, daughter of John Alexander Glen, of Scotia. Van Ditmars and his son were both massacred at the slaughter of 1690. The widow of Cornelius in 1692, married Gerrit Lansing, Jr., of Albany.

Captain Martin Krigier, (Crigier) leaving New York, settled on his farm in Niskayuna in 1672, ending his days there in the early part of 1 713, aged about ninety years. The farm, or some portions of it, is still possessed by some of his descendants. He was the first burgomaster of New Amsterdam (New York); was a fearless and skillful military leader and an exemplary magistrate. (O'Callaghan's Hist. N. Netherlands, Vol. 2, p. 554.)

Christian C hristianse came to Schenectady in 1672. In that year he bought three acres of land of Paulus Janse. His village lot was on the north side of Union street, adjoining the Dutch Church lot, and included the Isaac Riggs and Aaron Barringer lots ; it was 100 feet front, Amsterdam measure. He sold this lot in 1694 to Neetje, widow of Hendreck Gardenier. Christian married Maritje Elders. He left surviving him two sons and several daughters. His name survives.

R}'nier Schaats, a physician and surgeon, eldest son of Dominie Schaats of Albany, came to Schenectady in 1675. He married Catrina Bensing. His village lot was on the north side of Union street, 100 feet west of Church street, the same as now occupied by the clerk's, surrogate's and other county offices, and partly by the late ex-]\Iayor Hunter. Rynier and one of his sons were killed at the slaughter of 1690, after which his only surviving children, Gideon and Agnietje, conveyed the property to Symon Simonse Groot. Liesler appointed Rynier a justice of the peace in 1689.

Hendrick INIeese Vrooman came to Schenectady in 1677. His house lot was on the north side of State street, extending from what

DEFENSE OF HOMES. 31

is now Centre street, and including the location of the Central depot. His farm was a portion of Van Curler's land. The former freight house of the Mohawk and Hudson railroad stood nearly in the centre of his land. In the massacre of 1690, he was killed, with his son, Bartholomew, and two of his negro slaves. His son John was carried away into captivity. He left surviving him two sons, Adam and John.

Adam, his oldest son, born in Holland, 1649, was naturalized in the province of New York in 171 7. He was a millright by occupa- tion. In 1683, he built a mill on the Sand Kill, where the Bran- dy wine mills lately stood. In 1690, when Schenectady was burned and sacked by the French and Indians, he saved his life by bravery in defending his house, which then stood on the west corner of Church and Front streets, where the residence of Mrs. Linn now stands. Of the French account we will make further mention here- after. Monseiur DeMonseignat to Madame DeMaintenon (Paris Doc. IV. Doc. His. N. Y., Vol. i, p. 297, etc.)

"The sack of the town began a moment before the attack on the fort ; few houses made any resistance. M. D. Montigny (Lieut. La Marque DeMontigny, a gallant young volunteer ofhcer,) discovered some houses, one of which he attempted to carry sword in hand, having tried the musket in vain. He received two thrusts of a spear, one in the body, the other in the arm; but M. DeSainte Helene hav- ing come to his aid, effected an entrance, and put every one who de- fended that house to the sword."

Judge Sanders says : " That gallant, I may well add, desperate defense was made by Adam Vrooman, assisted only by his wife, Angelica, daughter of Harman Janse Ryckman of Albany. On that dreadful night, his intrepid wife and her infant child were killed; His two sons, Barent and Wouter, were carried away captive. His father, Hendrick Meese, his brother Bartholomew, and two of his father's negroes, were killed, and he, of all his own family, alone was left a monument amid the surrounding desolation.

" How and why was the indomitable Adam Vrooman spared ? Tradition assigns several reasons. First. That M. DeSainte Helene, the commander of the expedition, in admiration of his heroism,

32 SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.

offered him safety on surrender. Second. That the hostile Mohawks knew him well and sought to save him. Third. As a favor to his brother-in-law, Jacques Cornelise Van Slyck. Fourth. On the inter- cession of his friend, John Alexander Glen. Fifth. That he escaped after capture, for he was not carried into captivity, although his two sons were. Whatever may be the true reason, it is satisfactor}' to know that he lived forty years distinguished and useful. This is indeed wonderful after so much of affliction and disaster.

Mr. Jeremiah Fuller, on the 29th of March, 1792, purchased the corner lot of Church and Front streets with the identical building of Vrooman's defense upon it, of Cornelius Antoinesen Van Slyck, for ^300. It was taken down and reconstructed the same year, and its yellow pine timbers used (which are now in a perfect state of preser- vation, though of a \er}' dark brown color through age, having been protected from the weather) in the construction of the present dwell- ing.

He became an extensive owner of some of the most fertile lands of the province. In 1688 the Mohawk sachems conveyed to him a valuable tract at Fort Hunter. In 1708 he obtained from the trus- tees of Schenectady, a grant for the Sand Kil and adjacent lands for milling purposes. In 1714 he obtained a patent for lands in Schoharie, where now stands the village of Middleburgh, which he settled in 17 15, and it was then known as Vrooman's land. Some of the Palatines attempted to drive him off. He commenced a stone house, twenty-three feet square, with the help of his sons, and had proceeded as far as the second story floor beams, when, one night, his unruly neighbors, led by the notorious Conrad Weiser, entirely demolished it. He then retired to his property in Schenectady and petitioned the Governor for redress, who succeeded in stopping the opposition. (Doc. His., Vol. Ill, p. 412.) In 1726 he took out an additional patent in that vicinity of 1,400 acres for his son Peter. He made his will September 12th, 1729, and died on his farm at Schoharie, February 25th, 1730, aged 81 years. He possessed great wealth and left a reputation for fearless bravery, strict integrity and excellent Christian character. He was true to his affection for the home of his early days and the scene of his wonderful exploit of

STURDY DUTCHMEN. ^3

heroism. By his own express direction he was interred in his private bnrs'ing ground, now No. 35 Front street, in the city of Schenec- tady, on the east portion of the lot occupied by the residence of the Hon. John A. DeRemer.

Adam Vrooman was married three times ; first, in 1678 to Engel- tie, daughter of Marman Janse Ryckman ; second, in 1691, to Grietje Ryckman, his first wife's sister, and widow of Jacques Cor- nelise Van Slyck ; thirdly, January 13th, 1697, to Grietje Takels'i Heemstreet, in Albany. His descendants are very numerous extend- ing far and wide through the Union, but mostly settled in the Mohawk and Schoharie valleys. He had nine sons and four daugh- ters, most of whom survived him.

Barent, his oldest son, born in 1679, was carried away captive to Canada in 1690. He married June i8th, 1699, Catrina Heemstreet, of Albany. He had a brewery on the north side of Union street, near to or upon the present crossing of the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad. He lived on the north corner of Center and State streets. He died in 1746, leaving one son, Adam, and one daughter, Engeltie.

Wouter, the second son of Adam, born in 1680, was also carried captive to Canada in 1690.

Adam Vrooman and his younger brother, John, were men of large frame and great muscular "power — their descendants, even at this day, give weight to the reputation. Adam Vrooman, especially, was, we are informed, a man of gigantic stature and immense bodily strength, and in confirmation of what that power probably was, Judge Sanders quotes as follows :

" There were among the early Schoharie settlers, some remarkable for great strength. Cornelius, Samuel, Peter and Isaac, sons of Peter Vrooman," (this last was a son of historic Adam), are said to have possessed the strength of giants. They erected the first sawn. ill in the county, which stood in Clayer, N. Y,, on the little Schoharie Kil. Two of these brothers could easily carry a good sized log to the carriage.

Many anecdotes are related by the aged, showing the strength of the Vrooman family. At the hill mentioned as the tongbergh, on

34 SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.

the road to Albany, Cornelius, the strongest of the brothers, always made a practice, when going to Albany with wheat, to carry one or two bags, each containing two or three skipples (each three pecks) up this hill to favor his horses. Twenty-five skipples was the ordin- ary load to Albany, and usually brought fifty cents per skipple.

" Samuel Vrooman is said to have carried at one time, twelve skip- ples of wheat and a harrow with iron teeth, from his father's house across a small bridge back of it, and set them down in a field.

" x'Vt another time Cornelius carried ten skipples of peas, the same harrow, and a brother on the top of them, the same distance, in either caSe 800 or 900 pounds.

" The stout Vroomans had a remarkably strong sister. A quarrel- some man being at her father's, warm words passed between him and her brother Cornelius, when the sister, fearing the consequences if her kinsman laid hands upon the intruder in anger, siezed him, although a pretty strong man, and pitched him neck and heels out of the house saying to the unhappy aborigine, ' the boy might hurt you.' The battered and bruised Mohawk undoubtedly thought that he could not have been worse off if the boy had hurt him."

Harman Myndertse Van Der Bogart, this is one of the oldest names identified with the earliest settlement of New Netherlands. Born in Holland in 161 2, he came to New Amsterdam in 1661, as surgeon of the ship Eendracht, and continued in the West India Company's service until 1663, after which he resided at New Amster- dam as a physician until appointed commissioner at Fort Orange. He was a highly educated and respected man, though, from all accounts, he appears to have been of an irascible temper. An instance is mentioned ( see O'Callaghan's History New Netherlands) of his having attempted, in the excitement of a high quarrel, when both appear to have been in a violent passion, to throw the director ( Wouter Van Twiller ) out of a boat, in which they were sailing on the river ; and he was with difficulty prevented from accomplishing his object. His wife was Jilisje Class Swits of Ziereckzee, in Hol- land, aunt of Class and Isaac Cornelise Swits. His descendants are well known here.

Johannes Clute settled in Niskayuna in 1684, on lands he received

1575S86

A REMARKABLE WOMAN. 35

by will from his rich uncle, Captain Johannes Clute of Albany. He married Baata, daughter of Gerrit Van Slichtenhorst, and grand-daugh- ter of Brant Arantse Van Slichtenhorst, who was director (head man) of the Colony of Rensselaerwyck in 1646, and who I have had occa- sion to remark, proved to be a foenian worth}' of Governor Stuyve- sant's most bitter animosity. She was also the grand-daughter of the indomitable Colonel Philip Pieterse Schuyler. In 1692 her hus- band Johannes, being a prisoner in Canada, this remarkable woman, with great adroitness, managed all his business affairs.

Johannes Clute died November 26th, 1725, and was buried in Niskayuna. He left surviving him three sons and five daughters.

Gerrit Marselis, son of Janse Marselis of Albany, married Bregie Hause in 1687, and the same year came to Schenectady. He, with his wife and one child, was killed in the massacre of February 9th, 1690. One child named Myndert, was saved, and was living at Schenectady in 1709. He married Fitje Oothout of Albany, May 23, 1 7 13. They had three sons and four daughters. Theirs is yet a well known name in Schenectady.

Class iVndriese De Graff came to Schenectady in 1688. He mar- ried Elizabeth, daughter of William Brouwer of Albany. Soon after his arrival he settled on what was then and is now called the Hoek farm situated in the present town of Glenville. This farm until lately belonged to the Reese family.

Jonathan Stevens from Connecticut, born in 1675, married July 24th, 1693, Lea Van Slyck, widow of Class Williams Van Coppernol, She was a half-breed Mohawk, and often acted as interpreter. Besides a house lot in Schenectady, Stevens owned a farm on the north side of the Mohawk river, about three miles northeast of the village which, until recently, was occupied by some of his descendants.

Carel Hansen Toll, a Swede, came from the island of Curacoa, almost directly to Schenectady, certainly as early as 1685 ; for we learn from the Albany records that in that year Carel Hansen Toll of Schenectady, was married to Lysbet Rinckhout of Albany, and that his daughter Neetje, was born June 20th, 1686. He first settled on land near Hoffman's Ferry on the north side of the Mohawk river, which he had bought of Hendrick Cuyler and Gerardus Cam-

^6 SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.

berfort ; and also occupied land opposite on the south side, purchased of Johannes Luykass, which last farm he conveyed to his brother-in- law, Tickston.

In 1 71 2 he purchased a tract of land at Maaylwyck from Joseph Clement, to which he immediately removed, and some portion of which is still possessed by his descendants. About -this same time he also owned the lot in Schenectady, on the southeast corner of Union and Church streets, extending eastwardly along Union street, and including the present court house lot. This court house lot, 100 feet front by 210 deep, he sold, September 5th, 17 12, for the sum of /'50, to Isaac Van Valkenburgh, the son-in-law of the old proprietor, Jacque Van Slyck. Carel Hansen Toll died in the month oi March, 1728.

The above were proprietors and residents previous to 1690. The hamlet was fast filling up with a peaceful, God-fearing, contented community, prosperous in trade and happy in their homes.

In the sixteen years of its young life, the little settlement had grown into a village. Sixty houses had been built, the original fif- teen proprietors had increased to 800. Within the great hearths, roomy enough for all the old people who were wont to gather close and warm their blood by crackling logs, under swinging cranes, amid the incense of the punch brewing in the steaming kettle, in the dim light of the farther corners " where the good wife's shuttle mer- rily went flashing through the loom," and in low toned murmurs, broken often by happy laughter, the old, old story of young love was told in shadowy recesses of the great raftered room, its floors and ceilings fairly glowing with Holland cleanliness. The Dutchman's fireside was, on the eve of February 9th, 1690, radient with the hap- piness of humble content. He heard, but heeded not, or laughed to scorn the warnings that came to him again and again, of the destruc- tion that was sweeping down upon him. With grim sarcasm, snow sentinels had been posted at the north gate, and, as coldly insensate to danger as his icy statues, he calmly went to rest between his feather beds, contemptuous of fear as of the bitter cold of a wintry night of terrible severity.

And while thus he slept, his implacable enemy, chattering with

A HISTORICAL EVENT. ' 37

the cold, no colder than his cruel heart, squatted in the snow, wait- ing the awful signals, that were to summon him to light and heat at the bonfire of the burgher's home. So came down the darkness of the midnight of February 9th, 1690, soon to blaze forth in the sky, with murderous glare, the terrible truth declared by the great Sher- man, "War is Hell."

CHAPTER III. The Massacre.

Very few, if any of the readers of the story of Schenectady's early martyrdom, have understood the real cause of the calamity. Often as we have read the account of it, remarkably well preserved as it is in what is called the Paris Documents and other records in the State Library at x-llbany, none of us, it may be said, have fully understood how all this came about. With the erudition of a thorough scholar, well versed in the history of the 17th century, and in a severely his- torical style Judge Landon, in his admirable paper, read before the Fortnightly club of Schenectady, has, in sixteen pages of printed matter, made it as clear as daylight, and from this remarkable con- densation of facts, we learn that all this awful horror came upon our ancestry from three and four thousand miles away, and that the torch was held and the flames were lighted by the hands of princes and kings of whom they knew nothing and for whom they cared less. Innocent, liberty-loving, God-worshipping, simple people who never heard or knew of the polemic wars of Europe, were tomahawked or stabbed, scalped or shot and thrown, dead or alive, into the flames roaring through doorways and windows of their own beloved homes, because nearly half way on the other side of the globe men were quarreling and fighting in the dark, over the interpretation of the message of the God of Love.

James IV was driven from the throne and fled to the protection of

4

38 SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.

Louis of France. William and Mary, Protestants, became King and Queen of England. Louis would not recognize them and war was declared in 1689.

But there were other causes, and the religion of that day became a controlling factor. William, an elector of the States General of Holland, had become the leading spirit of the Augsburg League made between Holland, the Protestant prince of the Rhine, and the Catholic King of Spain, to resist the pretension of Louis. A schism had arisen in the Catholic Church, and the everlasting conflict between faith and works yet alive, was going on between Jansenist and Jesuit. Louis took part with the Jesuit, the man of faith. The Pope gave his support to the Jansenist, and the League and the Pro- testants sided with the Pope. War existed between Austria and Turkey.

The Augsburg League became allies of Austria. France, together with the Jesuits, sided with Turkey. So Protestant England and Catholic Pope warred against the Crescent and the Crown of the Jesuit faction.

The insensate war crossed the water. No Jansenist and Jesuit had an actual battle ground here. But the Society of Jesus had long been doing grand missionairy work on this side of the water, indeed, for more than half a century.

The French were in great disparity of numbers. The white pop- ulation of Canada was only 12,000, that of the English Colonies more than 200,000. At any time, for one hundred years after 1660, could not the English, had the Colonies so willed, have crushed Canada out of existence ? Yet the French were always the aggres- sive party and punctured the English lines and spread devastation in their territory, apparently at will.

To counteract the effect of this disparity, the French made allies of the Indians and learned their methods of warfare. They began with them commercially and then helped the Jesuit to convert them to Christianity. With the barbarian, the Jesuit had a great advan- tage over the Protestant.

Ritual and ceremonial pomp and procession brought home first to the fancy, and then to full belief of the savage, fond of color and

JESUIT MISSIONS. 39

display, the idea of the unseen and only God. He needed first and must have evidence of a visible Presence. This the Jesuit gave him, and more. He gave him the sacrifice of his life, if need be, in the service of his Master. Judge Landon gives to these magnificent devotees this eloquent and deserved tribute :

" The Jesuit priests were the missionaries, who zealously under- took the labor of converting the Indians. If successful, France would enjoy the profits of the Indian trade in times of peace, and have the support of the Christian, or ' praying Indians,' as they were called, in times of war. It must be said, to the lasting honor of the Jesuit missionary, that he was actuated by as consecrated and unselfish a devotion to his sense of duty as the annals of lofty self- sacrifice record.

" A chain of Jesuit missions was established from the Gulf of St. Lawrence as far west as the Lake of the Woods and, in these, far away from civilization and the faces of white men, the Jesuit priests, amid the squalor, dirt, indecency and misery of the savage tribes, devoted their sympathy, their labor and their lives to the sal- vation of the souls of these unregenerate children of nature. To aid in snatching a dying soul from Hell's burning pit was, with these earnest devotees, the highest service in which life could be spent or sacrificed. With a self-denial that challenges the admira tion of mankind, these men welcomed with delight the order of their superior which bade them carry the emblem of the Cross to the heathen."

Meanwhile the sedate Hollander, being neither Jansenist nor Jesuit, English nor French, having heard nothing, (and if he had heard would have cared nothing about the x^ugsburg League ) paid no heed to all these wars and rumors of wars. He wanted to be left alone just as in his broad toleration he left everybody else alone, to work out his own salvation. But he had the strong friendship and enduring confidence of the Iroquois, the combination of five tribes of the best Indians on the earth. In their disappearance the adage of the cow- boy is true, " The best Indian is a dead Indian."

Along the St. Lawrence the Jesuit missionary had done splendid work. The savage, attracted by dazzling ritual and impressed by the

40 SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.

cheerful martyrdom of the messenger of religion, had adopted the Catholic faith. From the great Indian castle at Caughnawauga a colony of Mohawks had gone to found a new Caughnawauga on the banks of the St. Lawrence near Montreal, and become good Catho- lics and with all the zeal of new converts came down to the slaugh- ter at Schenectady.

From their knowledge of the lands about their old homes, they were of infinite service to the midnight marauder.

The Iroquois were always the enemies of the French, who never succeeded in converting any considerable number of them to the Catholic faith.

In 1689 King Louis sent Frontenac to Canada for the second time as Governor-General. He was a man of remarkable vigor and was a master in the art of Indian conciliation. During his absence the French had treated the Iroquois with shameful treachery ; the great tribe had captured Montreal in retaliation. With his knowledge of the admiration for boldness and dash and the terror it instilled in the Indian, he resolved at once upon a bold stroke. He summoned to his aid the praying Indians of New Caughnawauga and directed a descent upon English towns in New England and on Albany, for which latter point the expedition among which were the " Praying Indians of Caughnawauga " set out on their terrible journey. They turned at the confluence of the Mohawk and Hudson, and abandoned the attacks on Fort Orange and floundered through the deep snow to Schenectady. Why they did so will fully appear.

Had they been expected, had the brave burgher seen the " Northern Light " that was flashing under the Polar Star, and been on guard, no assassin would have passed alive through the northern gate.

But Schenectady owed its destruction to another cause than the battles of European kingdoms. Politics, fierce then as now, were the more inexcusable as there was then no Erie Canal in its very heart, to act as a powerful stimulant. In the English and French warfare he could and did say with Mercutio " A plague on both your houses." Had he felt the same indifference as to the bossism of Gov. Leisler he would have been at liberty to heed the call of his neighbors, to

PREPARATIONS OF ATTACK. 41

cease building political fences, and stand guard at the north gate. But, though the city was Leislerite, it was not strong enough to con- trol a large and powerful minority and, while thus dallying, the Philistines came upon him. Had the Dutch Sampson been himself he would have crushed the barbarian by loosing a pillar stone or brick of the home he loved. It was in ridicule of his political opponent, who kept up a ceaseless call to arms, that he was induced to mould his snow images beside the gates where warm hearted, brave men should have been. If the anti-Leislerite advocated any one thing the Leislerite knew, ipso facto^ that that particular thing was absolutely wrong. The Dutch idea once lodged is permanent. Once in a while the trait is discoverable yet in the tenacity of con- viction in the character of his descendant. So that the-Anti wanted the guard stationed, the simple fact that he so desired, was sufficient reason for leaving the little hamlet unprotected.

Of all the numerous and authentic stories of the memorable chap- ter in the early history of our land, we select two, one from the French report from the Paris documents, vol. 14, in the State library.

" An account of the burning of Schenectady by Mons. DeMonSig- nat, Comptroller-General of the marine in Canada, to Madame De Maintenon, the morganatic wife of Louis XIV.

" The order received bvM. LeCompte (DeFrontenac) to commence hostilities against New England and New York, which had declared for the Prince of Orange, afforded him considerable 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 dispatches to France, immediately after which, he determined to organize three different detachments to attack those rebels at all points at the same moment 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 ; and the third was to depart from Quebec and gain the seaboard between Bos- ton and Pentagouet, verging toward Acadia. They succeeded per- fectly well, and I have communicated to you the details.

42 SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.

" The detachment which formed at Montreal, may have been com- posed of about two hundred and ten men, namely : eight savages from the Sault and La Montague, sixteen Algonquins and the remainder Frenchmen, all under the command of the Sieur LeMoyne de Sainte Helene and Lieutenant Daillebout de Mantet, both of whom are Canadians.

" The Sieurs Le Moyne d'Iberville and 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 vol un_ teers.

" They took their departure in the course of five or six days. They called a council to determine the route they should follow, the point they should attack.

" The Indians demanded of the French their intention. Messieurs de Sainte Helene and the 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 weakness of the party for so bold an undertaking.

" There was even one among them, who, his mind filled with recollections of the disasters which he had witnessed last year, enquired of our Frenchmen. Since when had they become so des- perate ? '

" In reply to their raillery, 'twas answered that it was our inten- tion 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

MOVEMENT OF THE ENEMY. 43

routes separate ; the one leading to Orange, and the other to Corlaer ( Schenectady.) In the course of the journey, which occupied eight days, the Frenchmen judged proper to diverge towards Corlaer, accord- ing to the advice of the Indians ; and their road was taken without call- ing a council. Nine days more elapsed before they arrived, they having experienced inconceivable 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 Corlaer 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 perform 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' enemies.

" This savage was without contradiction the most considerable of his tribe, an honest man, as full of spirit, prudence and generosity, as is possible, and capable at the same time of the grandest under- takings. 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 Giguie- res, a Canadian, with nine Indians, on the lookout.

" They discovered no one, and returned to join the main body within one league of Corlaer.

" At eleven of the clock at night, they came within sight of the town but resolved to defer the assault until two o'clock of the morn- ing, but the excessive cold admitted of no further delay.

" The town of Corlaer forms sort of an oblong with 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 open wide. Messieurs d'Iberville and de Montesson took the left with another detachment, 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

44 SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.

party. A profound silence was everywhere observed until the two commanders separated at their entrance, and put everyone who defended the place, to the sword. The massacre lasted two hours. The remainder of the night was spent in placing sentinels 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. He was slain and his papers burnt before he could be recognized.

" At daybreak some men were sent to the dwelling of Mr. Coudre (Coudre Sander), who was mayor 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, aided by his servants and some Indians ; but as it was resolved not to do him any harm, in conse- quence of the good treatment that the French had formerly exper- ienced at his hands, M. d'Iberville and the Great Mohawk proceeded thither alone, promised him quarter for himself, his people and his property, 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 render themselves unable for defense, the houses had already been set on fire. None were spared in the town except one house belonging to Coudre (Sander Glen), and that of a widow (Bratt), who had six children, whither M. de Montigny had been carried when wounded. All the rest were consumed. The lives of between 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 entertained.

" 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 considerable

JOURNEY SOUTHWARD. 45

inconvenience. Fifty good horses were brought away. Sixteen of these only reached Montreal. The remainder were killed for food on the road.

" Sixty leagues from Corlaer 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'Iberville and DuChesne with two savages before them to Montreal. On the same day, some Frenchmen, who doubtless were 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 the next day, until eleven o'clock, but in vain, and no account has since been received of them,

" Two hours after forty more left the main body without acquaint- ing the commander, continued their route by themselves and arrived within two leagues of Montreal one day ahead, so that they were not more than fifty or sixty men together. The evening on which they should arrive at Montreal, being extremely fatigued from fasting and bad roads, the rear fell away from M. de Sainte Helene, who was in front with an Indian guide, and 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 Corlaer. The French lost but twenty-one men, namely four Indians and seventeen Frenchmen. Only one Indian and one Frenchman were killed at the capture of the town. The others were lost on the road."— Doc. Hist. N. Y., 11 86.

A few days subsequent to the massacre Pieter Schuyler, Mtijor, Dirk Wessels Ten Broeck, Recorder, and Killian Van Rensselaer, the patroon, addressed an appeal to the Governor of Massachusetts,

46 SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.

from which we quote, putting as well as possible, the English of that day into our modern vernacular.

"Albany, the 15th day of Feb., 1689. HoNERED Gentlemen :

To our great grief and sorrow we must acquaint you with our deplorable condition, there never having been the like dreadfull massacre and murder committed in these parts of America, as has been acted by the French and their Indians at Schenectady, twenty miles from Albany, between Saturday and Sunday last, at 11 o'clock at night. A company of two hundred French and Indians fell upon said village and murdered sixty men, women and children, most bar- barousl}', burning the place and carrying twenty-seven along with them prisoners, among which, the Lieut, of Capt. Bull Enos Tal- madge, and four more cf said company were killed and five taken prisoners. The rest being inhabitants, and above twenty-five per- sons freezing their limbs in the fight.

" The cruelties committed at this place no pen can write, nor tongue express, the women with child ripped up, and the children thrown into the flames, and their heads dashed in pieces against the doors and windows.

" But what shall we say ? We nnist lay our hands upon our mouths and be silent. It is God's will and pleasure and we must submit. It is but what our sins and transgressions have deserved. Since human things are generally directed by outward means, so we must ascribe this sad misfortune to the factions and divisions which were amongst tlie people, and their great disobedience to their offi- cers, for they would obe}- no commands or keep any watch, so that the enemy having discovered their negligence and security by their praying Maquase Indians (who were in said place two or three days before the attack was made) came in and broke open their very doors before any soul knew of it, the enemy dividing themselves in three several companies, came in at three several places no gate being shut, and separated themselves six and seven to a house, and in this man- ner begun to murder, sparing no man till the}- saw all the houses open and mastered, and so took what plunder they would, loading

REPORT OF MASSACRE. 47

thirty or forty of the best horses, and so went away about 11 o'clock at noon on the Sabbath day.

" It was, as if the heavens combined for the destruction of the village. That Saturday night the snow fell above knee deep, the weather was dreadfully cold, and the poor people that escaped and brought us the news about break of day, did so much increase the number of the enemy, that we all concluded that there was a consid- erable army coming to fall upon our city, and as was affirmed, they were upon their march hither ; we were being told not only then but that day that there were 1900 at least. We sent out a few horses forthwith, after we had received the news, but scarcely could they get through the deep snow, some wherefore got to that desolate place, and there being some few Maquase here in town, we got them to go thither with our men in companies, to send messengers in all haste to the Maquase castle, and to spy where the enemy went, who were not very free to go, the snow being so deep, and afraid of being discovered by their tracks, but coming to the village which was in such a consternation, there being so many people and cattle killed and burnt, that it was not effected until two days after, when we heard that the Maquase knew nothing about it, upon which mes- sengers were sent, and the Maquase of the first and second castles came down in twenty-four houres, whom we sent out with some of our young men in pursuit of the enemy. Afterwards the Maquase of the third castle came down, who were also sent out, but we are afraid will not overtake them, and which is worse if they do find them, fear they will do them no great hurt, the Indians amongst them being of the kindred of our Indians ; for the policy of the French is so great, that they declared to some of the Maquase, whom they found at Schenectady, that they would not do the Maquase any harm, yea, if they should burn and destroy ever so many houses at Canada, and kill ever so. many French, yet they would not touch a hair of their head ; for their governor had such an inclination to that people that he would live in peace with them. Nay, to gain the hearts of the Maquase, whatever they desired at Schenectady was granted to the women and children that were left alive. Upon their desire they were released and saved. The very houses where the Maquase lay

48 SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.

were saved upon tlieir request, so that they left no stone nnturned to bring the Indians to their devotion.

" The forty Maquase that were out as scouts at the lake, whom we furnished with powder and lead to lie there on purpose, we must conclude, have known nothing of the enemy's coming, for they had posted themselves at one of the passages, and before they had sent men to the other passage the enemy had passed by, which we must impute to their negligence.

" The said French had belts of wampum along with them which they showed to a Maquase squaw at Schenectady, which they designed to have given to our Indians, upon proposal of peace, if they had met with any upon the wa}', so that we must conclude they wanted nothing but a peace with our Indians to destroy all the parts.

" Our Maquase have got one of their Indians prisoner, whom they have tortured and afterwards have released him, but delivered him into our custody ; for we feared that he would escape and run away to the enemy. The said Indian confessed that there were 600 men preparing to come out upon this place or New England, and 100 men were gone out against Skachkook Indians, which were beside these 200 men, and that this company had been twenty-two days away from Canada.

" After the French had done the principal mischief at Schenec- tady, Captain Sanders, a justice that lived across the river, was sent for by the captain of the French, who had put himself in a posture of defense in his fort with the men that he could get by him ; when thirteen came there and told them not to fear for their order was not to wrong a chicken of theirs, upon which Captain Sanders ordered them to lay down their arms, and so were let in where they left one man for a hostage, and Captain Sanders went to their commander, who told him he had a commission to come and pay a debt which they owed ; Colonel Dongan, our governor, had stirred up our Indians to do mischief in Canada, and they had done the same here. And pulling his commission out of his bosom told him he was strictly charged to do no harm to him or his, but especially to his wife who had since been so charitable to the French prisoners, so that Captain

LIST OF KILLED. 49

Sanders saved sundry houses from being burnt, and women and chil- dren from being carried away. But the snow was so extremely deep that it was impossible for any woman to march a mile, so that they took none but men and boys that could march."

The Hon. John Sanders, a descendant of John Alexander Glen, known as M. Coudre, and whose narration is not tradition, but relia- ble information, derived from his father, who was born 150 years ago, and who derived it in turn from his grandfather, furnishes some interesting incidents which we take from his most interesting work. In his accounts of John Alexander Glen, we find the cause of the tenderness of the French toward the Major, or chief burgomaster as Glen then was.

Adam Vrooman's life was spared after his wife was killed, and his child's brains dashed out against his house, which stood on the cor- ner of Front and Church streets, where Mr. Charles Linn now lives. We have given the story in the account of his life as we have of the first settlers. Had the burghers been on guard under the leadership of a man like Vrooman they would have torn the assassins to pieces.

The following is a list of the killed, wounded and the prisoners. It is entirely correct, all accounts agreeing on the number. It is taken from Vol. i. Doc. Hist, of N. Y., p. 304.

It will be noticed that the largest number of the slain resided when living, on State street, hence the survivors called this street Martelaer's street, in pious remembrance of their slaughtered rela- tives and neighbors, a name whose significance and sentiment are in striking contrast with the utter poverty of invention and good taste, shown by their descendants in borrowing a name from Albany for their chief business street.

List of the people killed and destroyed by the French of Canada and their Indians at Schenectady, twenty miles to the west of Albany, between Saturday and Sunday, the 9th day of February, 1690.

" Myndert Wemple killed."

He was the eldest son of Jan Barentse Wemple, who owned half the great island west of the town, and who died in 1663, leaving another son, Barent, and two daughters.

5°

SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.

Myndert's house lot was on the west side of Washington street, a little north of State street. His son, Johannes, was carried away to Canada but was redeemed and lived many years.

" Jan Van Eps and his son and two of his children killed." Jan Van Eps was the only son of Dirk Van Eps and Maritie Damens. The father died early and the mother married two hus- bands afterwards, the last of whom was Cornells Van Nes of Albany. With Jan Van Eps were also killed three of his children, and a fourth, Jan Baptist, then seventeen years of age, was carried away by the French. He remained with the Indians three years, but finally escaped in one of their excursions against the Mohawks. On account of his familiarity with the langauge of the natives, he was often employed by the governor of the province as an interpreter.

The Van Eps house lot was on the north corner of Church and State streets and embraced about 200 feet on each street. The east half, including the corner, was early sold to the Bratts. It is prob- able that Van Eps resided upon the west half at the time of the massacre.

" Sergeant Church of Captain Bull's company." " Barent Janse (Van Ditmars) killed and burnt ; his son killed." His son's name was Cornells, a young man of mature age, the hus- band of Catharina Glen, daughter of Sander Leendertse Glen. The elder Van Ditmars in 1664, married Catalyntje DeVos, widow of Arent Andriese Bratt, one of the earliest settlers of Schenectady, by whom she had six children, all living at the time of her second marriage.

At the time of the massacre she was living with her family on her village lot, on the east corner of Washington and State streets, and it was there that Van Ditmars and his son Cornells were slain.

" Andries Arentse Bratt shot and burnt and also his child," (one child.)

He was the eldest son of Arent Andriese Bratt and Catalyntje De Vos above mentioned, and lived on the same ample lot (200 feet square) as his mother, on the north side of State street. In the mas- sacre his wife, Margarette Jacobse Van Slyck, and two children were spared.

LIST OF KILLED CONTINUED. 51

" Maria Viele, wife of Dowe Aukes and lier two children killed) and his negro woman, Francyn, Maria Aloff, wife of Cornells Viele, Junior, shot."

These five persons were killed in one house, standing on the south corner of Mill Lane and State street next the ancient church. Aukes kept an inn there. Viele was an uncle of his wife and subsequently became heir of his property.

At the same time Arnout Cornelise Viele, brother of Aukes' wife, was carried to Canada.

" Swear Teunise (Van Velsen) shot and burnt. His wife killed and burnt. Antje Jans, daughter of Jan Spoor, killed and burnt. Item : four negroes of the said Swear Teunise the same death., Enos Talmage, Lieutanant of Capt. Bull, killed and burnt. All in one house."

Van Velson's house was next east of Dowe Auke's above men- tioned, on the south side of State street, now numbers 54 and 56. He was the town miller, and directly in the rear of his house stood his corn mill on Mill Lane.

As he died without heirs, his estate was divided among his wife's children, the Wemps, a portion being reserved for the church.

" Hend. Meese Vrooman and Bartholomeus Vrooman, killed and burnt. Item : two negroes of Hen. Meese the same death."

He lived on the south side of State street, where the New York Central Railroad crosses. All the Vroomans in this vicinity are his descendants through his two sons, Adam and Jan.

" Gerrit Marcellis and his wife and child killed."

He was a son of Marsellis Janse of Albany. At the time of his death he was residing on the lots now occupied by McCamus & Co's stores.

" Rob Alexander, soldier of Capt. Bull's, shot."

He was probably quartered in the block house at the north angle of the village at the corner of Front and Washington streets.

" Robert Hessling," residence unknown. " Sander, the son of Gilbert Geritse (Van Brakel,) killed and burnt."

He lived on the east corner of Ferry and State streets.

" Jan Roeloffse DeGoyer, burnt in the house. He was a son of

52 SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.

the famous Anneke Janse, and lived upon the lot of Mr. G. Y. Van de Bogart, opposite the Court House. He left no descendants."

" Ralph Grant, a soldier in the fort, shot."

" David Christoffelse and his wife, with four children, all burnt in their house."

His house lot was on the east side of Church street. He was the son of Christoffel Davids of Albany, an Englishman by birth.

" Joris Aertse (Vander Baas), shot and burnt. Wm, Pieterse, killed."

His house lot was on the south corner of Church and Union streets.

"John Putman, killed ; his wife killed and her scalp taken off."

His house lot was on the south corner of Ferry and Union streets where Mr. Barney now lives.

He was the ancestor of the Putmans of this vicinity.

" Domine Petrus Tassemaker, the minister, killed and burnt in his house."

" Frans Harmense (Van de Bogart) killed."

His house lot was on Front street and near the north gate.

" His son Claas was carried away, but after^vards redeemed."

" Engel, the wife of Adam Vrooman, shot and burnt, her child's brains dashed out against the wall."

Her maiden name was Engeltie Blom. Vrooman's house stood on the lot on the west corner of Front and Church streets.

His son Barent and a negro were carried away to Canada.

" Reynier Schaats and his son killed."

He was a son of Domine Gideon Schaats of x'Vlbany, surgeon and physician of the village, as well as Justice of Peace. His lot was on the north side of Union street, now owned by the County of Schenec- tady.

" Daniel Andreis and George, two soldiers of Capt. Bull." " A French girl, prisoner among the IMohawks, killed." "Johannes, the son of Symon Schermerhorn."

He probably lived on the west corner of Church and Union streets, where Mr. Parsons now lives.

List of the persons which the French and their Indians have taken

THOSE TAKEN PRISONER 53

prisoners at Schenectady and carried to Canada, the 9th day of Feb- ruary, 1690, Johannes Teller and his negroes.

The Teller lot was on the east corner of Union and Washington streets, extending 200 feet along each street.

Teller was redeemed from the Indians.

"John Wemp, son of Myndert Wemp and two negroes."

This Wemps (Wemples) lived on the west side of Washington avenue, a little north of State street.

" Symon, Abraham, Phillip, Dyrck and Claas Groot, all five sons of Symon Groot."

His house lot was next west of Reynier Schaat's, on the north side of Union street, now owned by the county of Schenectady and Scott Hunter, Esq. All these were redeemed with perhaps the exception of Claas.

"Jan Baptist, son of Jan Van Eps."

The Van Eps lot was on the^north corner of Church and State streets. Jan remained among the Canadian Indians about three years, and in one of their expeditions against the Mohawks escaped and returned home.

"Albert and Johannes Vedder, sons of Harme Vedder."

Harmen Vedder, the father, had a homestead on the bouwland, now occupied and owned by Mr. John D. Campbell of Rotterdam, and it is not certainly known that he had a village lot. Both were redeemed-

" Isaac Cornelise Switts and his eldest son."

He lived on the west side of Washington street directly opposite State street. Both were redeemed.

" A negro of Barent Janse (Van Ditmars)."

Van Ditmars married Mrs. Bratt in 1664 and lived upon the lot on the east corner of State and Washington streets.

" Arnout, the son of Arnout Corn ; Viele, the interpreter."

Arnout was a brother-in-law of Douwe Aukes and was residing at his house on the south corner of State street and Mill Lane near the church.

" Stephen, the"son of Gysbert Gerritse ( Van Brakel)."

Van Brakel resided on the east corner of Ferry and State streets.

5

54 SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.

" Lawrence, son of Claas Lawrence Purmurent ( Vander Volgen)."

The Vander Volgen home lot included the lots on which are built the Van Horn hall and the Myers block.

Lawrence remained with the Canadian Indians about eleven years, becoming perfectly familiar with their language and customs. After his return he was employed as provincial interpreter.

" Arnout, son of Paulyne Janse ;" residence unknown. " Barent, the son of Adam Vrooman, and the negro." " Claas, son of Frans Marmense (Van de Bogart)."

His father's village lot was on the north side of Front street, now the residence of Mrs. Henry Rosa.

" Stephen, adopted son of Geertje Bonts ; " residence unknown. " John Webb, a soldier belonging to Capt. Bull."

Judge Sanders gives some interesting data from which we extract :

" It occurred about the time of the accession of William and Mary, when Jacob Leisler, a wealthy merchant and influential poli- tician of New York, had usurped the government in their names ; and backed up by the popular Protestant frenzy, that all those who had held office under James, were Baptists, removed every old officer, and appointed the devotees of himself and son-in-law, Milborne, in their stead. It was truly a time of disobedience, distraction, wild riot and disorder. Schenectady itself was strongly Leislerian. I wish not to enter into details, but it is clearly a matter of history and tradition that John Alexander Glen, commandant of the place, and a justice of the township, residing at Scotia, was not allowed to enter the village under any circumstances, his life threatened, and in derision of his advice to guard and close the gates ; so great was their confidence of security from attack in the depth of that unusu- ally severe winter, that the Leislerians formed men of snow and set one at each gate, as a sufficient protection. Captain Alexander Glen, John Alexander's brother, a resident of the village, and also justice of the peace, was obliged to take refuge at Albany; and many prom- inent men of the province were compelled to seek an asylum in New England.

" There was, at the time of the conflagration and massacre, a gar- rison of twenty-four men ( to whom the Leislerians were inimical),

A NEW FORT. 55

stationed at a point now called the Old Fort, sitnated at the jnnction of what is now Front, Ferry and Green streets, under Lieut. Enos Talmadge of Connecticut. From the earliest date of its erection, this spot, and none other, of Schenectady, has been designated as the Fort. It was destroyed in 1690; a new fort was built in 1700, rebuilt in 1735 and again in 1780. I have been unable to ascertain from any source what was the precise extent of the fort. The parade ground embraced the small public square, and some vacant lots lying between Front street and the premises now belonging to and occupied by the Episcopal church.

" Although called a Fort, it seems, from investigations made by me, to have been the barrack station of an exposed frontier town, but probably mounted a few cannon. I am not clear about that.

" The people of the town were so bigoted to Leisler that they would not obey any of the magistrates, neither would they entertain the soldiers sent thither by the convention at all ; nothing but men sent from Leisler would do their turn ; and when Capt. Sander com- manded, they threatened to burn him upon the fire if he came upon guard.

" From all the accounts rendered, that winter night of February 8th must have been one of extreme suffering and heart-rending deso- lation ; but all of its inhabitants were neither slaughtered nor cap- tured. Schenectady then contained eighty dwellings ; assuming that each house held five individuals (a moderate estimate), it must have contained about 400 inhabitants. And what became of them ? They escaped, it is true, but where ? It is idle to suppose, as has been sometimes stated, that they fled twenty miles off to Albany in their night garments, on that severe night, with the snow more than a foot deep."

No, there is too much romance in that commonly received opinion, and it is not borne out by the knowledge of the settlers. They fled off too, and were protected by their friends and nearest neighbors. The Mohawk flats, on both sides of the river, were settled as far west as to what is now called Hoffman's Ferry, and down the river east on both sides to the manor line, and the Ael Plaas creek. There is but

56 SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.

one authenticated and believed case of flight and arrival at Albany, during that terrible night of storm and misery.

Simon Schermerhorn, (the brother of Ryer), at five o'clock on the morning of the 9th, brought the sad news to Albany by the way of Niskayuna. He had himself been shot through the thigh, and his horse wormded in the daring effort. It was a noble struggle of life and death to rescue his distressed friends and relatives. On that disastrous night, too, his son John and three negro slaves were killed before he escaped.

It is said, in our home accounts, that only one of the enemy, " Lieut. La Margue de Montigny," was injured during the sack, and that was by the thrust of a spear in the hands of the intrepid Adam Vrooman. This is more than the French account, and indeed, in the then troubled state of the Province, our own accounts are sparse, mixed and unsatisfactory. I find the account of Monsieur de Mon- seignat. Comptroller General in Canada, addressed to Madame de Maintenon (Paris Doc. IV, Doc. His. N. Y., Vol. i, p. 297, etc.), much more lucid, satisfactory and historical, and so nearly agreeing with the statements, handed down by the Glens and other survivors of that dreadful occasion, that I adopt it as the most reliable and correct relation.

CHAPTER IV. After the Massacre.

It was all over before the dawn of a bitter winter's morning. But the servants of his most Christian Majesty, and his convert allies, the praying Indians had work yet to do, the Frenchmen to round up and corral the prisoners, and the barbarians to revert to their savage flesh pots by counting up and distributing the unburned scalps. Major Coudre was sent for and he promptly came. It was the first time for many long months that this man who, with Ryer Schermer-

FOLLOWING THE MASSACRE. 57

horn, the Bradts, Van Sl3^cks and Vroonians was the leading citizens of the little burgh, was permitted within the gates. He was an anti- Leislerite, had been among those who had long sounded the warning of the evil night, and had been laughed to scorn. He was welcome enough now, and in the midst of an awful scene, surrounded by happy homes, converted into ash heaps, with only six out of sixty dwellings remaining, and these six standing sparse .and scattered stained with the awful carnage of the dead around their doorway, and black with the smoke of their neighbors smouldering beside them, in the hour of the horrible fulfilment of his warning, the gal- lant gentleman with streaming eyes besought mercy for the sur- vivors. Further bloodshed was checked, some actually saved to endure a frightful journey to the Canadian captivity, some to return long 3'ears after, some to die on the death strewn route, some never to be heard of again. The heroic Ryer Schermerhorn came back from Albany, one son of Arent Andreas Bradt survived, and these two were all that were left to represent the original five trustees.

When the unhappy cavalcade left through the north gate to floun- der through snow and in Arctic cold to their dismal destination, those who had escaped to the surrounding country straggled back to take counsel among themselves of the cheerless, hopeless future. Added to their misery were the everlasting harpys who in Albany and New Amsterdam were hissing the inhumanly conceited mutter "I told you so," into the ears of the anguished sufferers who were sobbing and moaning with streaming eyes over the ashes of their homes and the charred and scalpless remains of their beloved dead. They began to give up in desolute despair.

To the everlasting honor of that most ungentle and warlike sav- age, the first words of consolation, of encouragement and hope came, not from their Christian brethren, but from the Mohawk, the the noblest barbarian of them all. Straightaway from their castle the Sachems of the Maquase dispatched the following letter to the Mayor of Albau}^ :

February 25th, 1690.

" Proposition made by the Sachems of the Maquase Castles to the Mayor, etc., of the City of Albany.

58 SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.

25th day of February, 1690.

" Brethren : — We are sorry and extremely grieved for the murder lately committed by the French upon our brethren of Schenectady. We esteem this evil as if done to ourselves, being all in one cove- nant chain.

" We lament and condole the death of so many of our brethren, so basely murdered at Schenectady, we cannot account it a great victory for it is done by way of deceit.

" Brethren : — Do not be discouraged, this is but a beginning of the war ; we are strong enough. The whole house have their eyes fixed upon yours, and they only stay your motion and will be ready to do whatever shall be resolved upon by yoiir brethren.

" We recommend the brethren to keep good watch, and if any enemies come take care that messengers be more speedily sent to us than lately was done. We would not advise the brethren to quite desert Schenectady, but to make a fort there. The enemy would.be too glorious to see it quite desolate, and the town is not well fortified, the stockades are so short the Indians can jump over them like a dog."— Doc. Hist. II.

Again on May 3d, 1690, in council, the Five Nations under the inspiration of the Mohawks, sent out these brave and cheering words to Van Corlear.

" Brother Corlear be no wise discouraged, but make your fort strong (as we have our castles) at Schenectady, and maintain a garri- son there, that your corn may be preserv'ed and reap your harvest, also send for your wives and children from New York and encour- age them that we shall be safe, and fear not. The words of Diado- rus are ended."

And on the 2 2d day of February, 1690, the Convention at Albany called on the brave allies of the burghers.

And they came. Their names are on the rolls of membership of the Old Dutch Church, and their blood was again diffused through Holland names.

Well may the Van Slycks, the Vielies, the Bradts, the descendants of " Taut " Stevens, of " Stoefile " and " Tellis " Yates, and hundreds of others of the old stock, admit without shame, and claim with

AN ORDER ISSUED.

59

pride the remote ancestry, that though barbarian in birth, was humane in heart, and applied with brave tenderness the Master's Golden Rule.

Staggering to his feet and summoned to manly effort by these words of encouragement, the Dutchman met the emergency. Leis- ler's commissioners at Albany, the very year of the massacre, issued the following order :

" Whereas, it is judged necessary that in order to defend Schenec- tady and to that purpose it is found necessary and requisite that a fort shall be erected to defend the inhabitants and oppugn the enemy if they should attack the same.

" These are in his Master's name to require your Capt. Sander Glen and all officers and inhabitants belonging to the said Schenec- tady and adjacent parts, with the soldiers there in garrison, to build a substantial fort of due magnitude and strength, upon that part or parcel of ground (called by the name of Cleyn Isaacs), and that all are aiding and assisting therein, according to their ability to dispatch and complete the same, as they will answer the contrary at their utmost peril.

" Given under our hand this 13th day of May in the second year of his Master's reign. Anno Dom, 1690."

This was built between Washington street and the river opposite the west end of State street, covering the lot of Klein Isaac, (that is Isaac Swits), who with his son Cornells, was carried away by the French to Canada. On his return from captivity next year, he found his homestead occupied by soldiers, his orchard cut down and his home utterly ruined. He repeatedly petitioned for remuneration for his losses, but it was not until 1708 that his son received a patent for 1,000 acres of land .in Niskayuna as a recognition of his father's claim.

In obedience to this command for this fort, there is an excellent map made by the Rev. John Miller, chaplain to the British forces, stationed in New York. He gives this description of Schenectady: " Dependent on this City (Albany) and about twenty miles north- ward from it, is the Fort of Schenectady, quadrangular, with a treble stockade with a new block house at every angle and in each block

6o SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.

house two great guns." (Miller's description of Schenectady, 1695).

Miller's map of New York city is fully supported by contempo- raneous and later maps. His map of Schenectady is doubtless cor- rect in all essentials. Certainly after two centuries have elapsed the sketch of what an intelligent man observed and recorded, is entitled to acceptance, unless some other contemporaneous plan or detailed description can be found. Rev. John Miller was chaplain to the British forces stationed at New York City. He visited all the up- river posts and returned to England in 1695. His manuscript " Description of the Province and the City of New York, with plans of the city and several forts as they existed in the year 1695. By the Rev. John Miller, London. Printed and published for the enlightenment such as would desire information anent the New Found Land of America," is in the British Museum.

The stockade therein depicted was probably in the main on the site of the stockade destroyed in 1690, and represented the growth of five years. The first fort or strong place built after the massacre on Cleyn Isaac's land, was the blockhouse at the foot of State street, (formerly Mrs. Jay Westinghouse's lot), where it dominated the bouwland and Great Island, and was guarded by the then bluff banks of Mill Creek and the Benne Kil. It was a purely military position, a blockhouse to which the few remaining settlers could rally, and probably became the southwest blockhouse of Miller's map.

The guard house was at State and Ferry streets, and was a block- house also. The writer believes that the same garrison was at this point on the night of the massacre, and many of those who escaped from their house naturally ran to the guard house and were there killed, a good enough reason why State street from Center to Wash- ington street should be called Martyrlaer street. This blockhouse was at State and Ferry streets. " Two great guns " commanded the road to Albany, the town mill and bouwlands as well as the plain east of Ferry street.

Miller's -map shows the "spy loft," or lookout station (where perched high up the lookout could see all that was in sight m the vicinity and give the signal of danger), the " center box " and flag staff, which indicate the main and headquarters. It was put there

OTHER BLOCKHOUSES. 6i

because it was the best site in 1691, and the site was the same in 1690 and earlier

Another blockhouse was about 100 feet north of the Episcopal church, to which point Front street originally ran, that is to say when it was the Rondweg inside the north wall.

A fourth blockhouse was about Washington and Front streets, and was larger than the others. Protected by being near the junction of the river and the Benne Kil it was probably intended for a storehouse as well as church.

At the massacre the town was destroyed, but few houses being unburnt the site was practically abandoned and only the strenuous efforts of government and Indians induced the return of the major portion of the people. A large number of Mohawks established themselves there, and the following summer they gathered the crops which had been planted — (winter wheat.) Miller's map shows their two large " long houses" inside the walls. The tripple stockade was probably built by, or with the aid of the Indians and in their fashion of light poles or saplings, and not the regular stockade of civilized peoples.

Miller's map shows twenty-eight houses within the stockade in 1695.

In 1698, the population of the township from Niskayuna to Hoff- man's Ferry, was fifty men, forty-one women and 133 children.

Of these the Glens, Schermerhorn, DeGraffs and others lived at a distance from the village, so that if the forty-one women represented nearly as many families, which is probable, twenty-eight houses would suffice for the inhabitants, the soldiers barracking in the block houses.

The " Fort of Schenectady " doubtless contained all there was of the village, save a few houses on the Albany road, on the bouwlands and was the whole occupied town west of Ferry street.

Miller indicates two gates — one the south end of Church street, where its location protected it from sudden attack, and where the ancient church covered, or in military parlance, traversed it. The writer believes, after careful study of the site and the history of the

62 SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.

town, that this south gate located at twenty-eight feet south of State street, was the early outlet of the town.

On passing out of the gate the road to Alban}-, via. Norman's Kil, (the oldest road), lay across the bouwlands and via. Schernierhorn mills, over the hills. Later to avoid the sand and the hill, the road up to Albany hill was traveled. It was for a century a mere trail, in common with others equally poor, but occasionally used. This road led from the gate along the hill side under the guns of the southeast blockhouse and above the mill. ( In digging cellars and foundations for Vrooman's hardware store, stone macadamizing or pavement was found seventy-five feet south of State street, as also at other houses along the same block at other times).

It was improbable that any man with a militar)- eye would locate a blockhouse back from the steep bluff bank of Mill Creek. It would be placed on the crest so that the guns of the blockhouse could fully command the whole slope. Again, a road along under such a slope would be in proper position for its protection, but very wet and muddy in spring or in wet weather, hence it was paved very early but abandoned for the higher level where State street now is, probably not long after the Queen's Fort was built in 1704. When the road was moved, the gate was moved, and the English army top- ographers at the time of the " old French war " locate the road as State street now is, and open a gate at its crossing of Ferr}' street.

Miller indicates another gate at the west side (corner of Washing- ton avenue and State), which opened to the Benne Kil, which was a canoe harbor — to the ferry — to the Great Island, and also on the old river road to the Mohawk country. There had been a gate at the north end of the town, but after 1690 it was not rebuilt, as the small garrison had enough to do to guard the south end of the town, which contained the mill, guard house and gardens, and the roads to the bouwlands and Albany.

The next tendency seemed to be to concentrate force at the State street side of the town, and new buildings clustered about the neigh- borhood. Besides settlements were neither near or numerous along the Mohawk and the Indian incursions made roads there verv unsafe.

FOUNDERS OF OLD FAMILIES. " 63

As the need for them arose, and their safety was assured, new gates were opened.

Meanwhile others came to Schenectady who were the founders of families well known among our people in these days.

Ahasuerus Marselis, brother of Garret, came in 1698. William Hull came about April 13th, 1695. John Oudikirk in the same year. Giles Van Voast in 1699. John Mynderse in 1700.

He owned real estate on the west corner of Mill Lane and State street, and the lot now No. 93 State street and east of it. He died in 1757, aged about 90 years, and left surviving him three sons and one daughter.

Jilis Fonda, son of Douw Jellisse of Albany, born in 1670, married December nth, 1695, Rachel, daughter of Peter Winne of Albany. He came to Schenectady in 1700, and was a gunsmith. He died in 1737 and left surviving him a numerous and historic family of child- ren, who have contributed much to the healthy and respectable pop- ulation of Schenectady, Montgomery and Fulton counties.

The descendants of this man, who was the ancestor of all the Fondas in the county, have contributed some splendid names to Colonial and Revolutionary history. Jellis was an officer of rank and merit under the King. Jellis J., a soldier of renown in the Revolu- tion. The Fondas were among men who attained a remarkable age.

John Quackenbos came in 1700 to Niskayuna and was the ances- tor of all that name (now spelled Quackenbush), residing here and west of the city.

These names are given as those who came here at the close of the seventeenth century. Others are on record, but the family names have died out and blood run out. It is those only whose continual residence, from ancestor to children here, is of two hundred years' duration, of whom mention has been made. Many who attained high rank and station came in the i8th and r9th centuries whose ancestral record will be given in the history of Schenectady in those centuries.

Meanwhile for the decade that closed the record of 1600 the unhappy little burgh struggled and suffered into new life and strength. The awful experience had taught caution, but had shat-

64 SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.

tered nerve. Defences were strengthened in the city. Troops, usu- ally a company of infantry with the wretched artillery appliances of that day, garrisoned the place. No descent on the town in the dark- ness of midnight, upon sleeping citizens, was possible ever more, but the vigilance was wearisome and for a long time the feeling of unrest could not be calmed down.

The renewal of the stockades, which, made of pine logs, lasted but five or six years, became very burthensome to the inhabi- tants of the village after its destruction in 1690. Having built a new fort in 1690 they were ordered to renew the palisades in 1695. On this occasion Reyer Schermerhorn refused to cut and draw his proportion of the logs. It may be because living at the mills, he thought himself exempt from this burthensome service, or that his quota was too large. Thereupon Justice Johannes Sanders Glen fined him twelve shillings, but as he continued contumacious Governor Fletcher, on the 9th of April, 1698, directed the sheriff of Albany county to bring him before the Council in New York to answer for his conduct. On the 30th he appeared before the council and " stood upon his vindication," whereupon he was "committed to answer at the next Supreme Court, and Colonel Courtlandt was desired to take bond with sureties for his appearance, and that he be of good behav- iour in the mean time."

In the winter of 1695-6 the garrison at Schenectady consisted of a detachment under command of Lieutenant Bickford, from the com- panies of Captain James Weens and Williams Hyde, stationed at Albany. "On the loth of January, about 12 o'clock at night the whole guard, except one deserted, and others to the number of six- teen, broke through the northwest blockhouse next the water side." (Benne Kil).

" They drew the guns of both powder and shot. The Lieutenant about two o'clock, discovering their desertion, notified by express Colonel Richard Ingoldsby at Albany, and with ten volunteers of the inhabitants and eleven soldiers started in pursuit. The sergeant and seven red coats soon gave out and were left behind. At four in the afternoon the Lieutenant and his fourteen men came up with the sixteen deserters, ordering them to lay down their arms. They

DESERTERS SHOT. 65

answered with a volley, and both sides continued to fire until five of the deserters were killed and two wounded, when the remainder sur- rendered."

These facts were stated by Lieutenant Bickford in his account of the affair to Governor Fletcher, of March 9th. In closing his dis- patch he says : " Here is a strong and regular fort built by the inhabitants with foot works and a stone magazine fit for this garri- son." The following were the volunteers from Schenectady who accompanied Lieutenant Bickford in his hazardous enterprise : " Har- man Van Slyck, Ensign of the train bands of Schenectady, and Gerrit Simons Veeder, Peter Simons Veeder, Albert Veeder, Gerrit Gysbert (Gysberts Van Brakel), Jan Danielse Van Antwerpen, Dirck Groot, Jonas DeRoy, John Wemp, Daniel Mutchcraft (Mascraft) and Thomas Smith."

At a court martial held in Schenectady April 21st, the survivors of the deserting party were accounted guilty and condemned to be shot.

But out in the suburbs and in remote Casligione, as Niskayuna was called, on the bouwlands of what is now Rotterdam and in Glenoilly, the musket was as necessary as the plow and no man dare leave his family alone. As we shall see throughout three-quarters of the following century Schenectady was on the frontier and until the close of the Revolutionary war was garrisoned, fortified, and the rendezvous for the fighters of the Valley.

In the Colonial Documents in the State Library at Albany, are to be found little scraps of cheerful incidents that show the terrors of that situation where eternal vigilance was not only the price of liberty but of life. We quote some of them.

In April, 1690, an attack was made on the feeble settlement at Canastagione where eight or ten people were killed by the French Indians, " which has made the whole country in an alarm and the people leave their plantations."

Of this attack Leisler wrote to Governor Treat of Connecticut, April 19th, as follows :

"It happened the last Sabbath day, at Niskayuna, 12 miles from Albany. The people there gathered all in one house and kept watch, the said French and Indians, finding in the night the house empty.

66 SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.

and perceiving their retreat, were in a swamp, the people going in the morning, each to their houses, were surprised, nine Christians, two negroes were killed and captured, which must have encouraged the enemy to further attempt, if not prevented by a vigorous attack in Canada."

About this time, the summer of 1691, the Indians took prisoner, 'one Cornelis Clatie at Niskayuna. " At the end of June, two men went over the river at Niskayuna to make hay upon Claas (Janse Van Boekhoven's) DeBrabander's land, the most dangerous place in all the Province. Some French Indians surprised them, killed one and took off his skull. What became of the other we know not. The other people that were mowing the hay upon Claas DeBraban- der's Island, that now belongs to John Child, heard three guns go off and went to the river side, but saw^ no one. The canoes were there. We sent a party with horses who found one of the men lying in the water at the shore side. Such was the alarm that the people did not dare stay on their farms, and there was also danger of the crops not being harvested."

In February came an alarm from Albany to Governor Fletcher that " 350 French and 200 Indians had come within 36 miles of Schenectady."

In September, three French prisoners, being examined at New York, said that last summer (1692) the French of Canada "had a design to fall upon Albany and Schenectady and the Mohawk coun- try, but first to take Schenectady where they resolved to build a fort. Their design failed."

The low condition of Schenectady is plainly shown by the follow- ing petition, so impoverished had the poor people become, that a pal- try tax of only ^^29 and 7 shillings was considered too great a burden for the whole township to bear.

"To his Excellency, etc., etc.

The humble petition of the inhabitants of Schenectady in the county of Albany,

Humbly Showeth :

That your Excellency's petitioners have received many great dam- ages and losses by the French and their adherents, by murdering of

A PETITION FOR RELIEF. 67

their Majesty's good subjects and burning their habitations and cattle, etc., and daily great charges and trouble with the Indian soldiers and their wives and children, as lately about 300 of these were here twenty-one days before they marched toward Canada, destroying our grain, etc., in our plantations, that our winter maintenance for our poor families is much shortened to our ruin having many poor widows and children from the out places here to secure their lives ; as also the magistrates, etc., of Albany have allotted to us to pay towards the tax of /'315 for our part ^29 and 7 shillings which seems to our poor condition very hard, not knowing how to raise it, being constrained to plant together that we cannot (lose) that little what we have left, etc.

Whereupon your petitioners humbly implore your Excellency for a redress, and that we may be freed of all taxes till the war is ended and your excellency, further assistance with soldiers, etc., for a defense against the enemies, etc. (No signature).

Petition granted '-'' nemine contradicente''^ 11 October, 1692."

In July the French attacked and burnt the castle of the Oneidas ; the Onondagas finding themselves too weak to cope with them, burnt their castles and retreated. There was a great alarm at Sche- nectady lest the French should move down and attack the village.

September 17th, 1696. "About ten days ago a skulking party of French Indians killed a man and wounded another near Schenec- tady."

England with all her power and resources, four times outnumber- ing with the Five Nations, her noble allies, all her French and Indian enemies shamefully neglected the protection of the brave Hollander whose hope and courage never failed him after the first shock of his awful disaster was over. She would not fortify. Report after report was made of the shabby defenses at Albany and Schen- ectady. Imperative orders came again to Schenectady commanding the suffering, poverty-stricken people to build forts and stockades. Ryer Schermerhorn, a sturdy, brave and independent Dutchman as ever lived, rebelled and suffered.

The century closed in gloom. A pall was over the poor little town. But in the two centuries to come she was to attract the attention of

68 SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.

history with the continuous story of heroism, in the hour of danger to awaken the admiration of Christendom with her sturdy courage, to be unequalled in her devotion to the King of England, to be patient and long-suffering under wrong and neglect, to be in the day of the Revolution the most loyal little town in the State, to awaken amusement when as though tired out she went to sleep for years, to rouse astonishment when in this day she is advancing in population and business prosperity far beyond any city in the State, outstripped in rapid growth by comparatively few on the continent.

CHAPTER IV.

Schenectady in Border and the Oed French Wars — 1700 TO THE Revolution.

The morning of the eighteenth century woke very dark and lowering over the unhappy town. The Englishman had not exhib- ited the prescience or exercised the wise judgment of the cautious Hollander in his dealings with Schenectady's Indian neighbors. The Jesuit had been getting in his fine work on the imaginative credu- ality of the ungentle savage. The Mohawk was not proof against his blandishments. The trinkets of this earth were dangled before his eyes, the devil's own rum was freely traded to him by the French- men, and the priest with rosary, cross and his fascinating ceremonial began to wean away the great Five Nations, and the poor town could no longer rely with such perfect faith on her dusky and faith- ful allies. As an enemy the Indian is treacherous, and all around the borders of the City of Niskayuna and the bouwlands and Woes- tina (the wilderness) as West Rotterdam was called, assassinations were very frequent at the very gates of the city. " So bold had the enemy become," writes Col. Glen, " that French and Indians cap- tured an Onondaga Chief at the north gate. Twice the number of the attacking party went after them and drove^ them away. The

ROSTER OF MILITARY.

69

Mohawks were neglected by the English. The French Jesuit was a new and a willing martyr to the faith of his adoration. Schenectady aroused, clamored for aid, and in 17 15 had two military companies on foot consisting of about sixty men, including officers. We give here the list of the names of the men of the two companies :

Capt. J. Sanderse Glen, Lieut. Gerret Symer Feeder,

(Veeder). Lieut. Jan Wemp, Lieut. Arent Brat, Lieut. Barent Wemp, Corp. Evert V. Eps, Corp. Theunis V. deVolge, Corp. Manus Vedder, Abraham Glen, Pieter Vrooman, Jr., Gysbert V. Brakel, Helmus Veeder, Joseph Teller, Jr., Jacob Swits, Sander Glen, Cornells Van Dyck, Claes Franse, (V. D. Bogart) Jacob Schermerhorn, Hendrick Vrooman, Jr., Jan Schermerhorn, Symon Toll, Jan Dellemont, Andries V. Pette, Jan Marselus, Jacob V. Olinda, Joseph Vedder, Cornells V. Slyck, Cornells Viele, David Marenus,

Jocobus Peck, Jr., Abraham D. Graef, Peiter Danyelse,

(V. Antwerpen). Phillip Philipse, Symon Folkertse Feeder,

(Veeder). Jacob Vrooman, Pieter Quinzey. Jelles Van Vorst, Abraham Groot, Cornells Slingerlant, Eheunis Swart, Dirck Groot, Sweer Marselus, Jan Baptist V. Eps, Arent Danyelse,

(V. Antwerpen). Barent Vrooman, Myndert Wimp. Jacob Teller, Willen Marenus, Class V. Putte, Jr., Jacob Flipse, (Philipse). Welm Had, (Hall). Robert Etts, (Yates). Nicolas Stensel, Arent Samuel Brat, Symon Groot, Marte V. Slyck,

7°

SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.

John Peck, Jellis Fonda, Capt. Harme V. Slyck, Lieut. Hendrick Vrooman, Lieut. Jacob Glen, Sergeant Joseph Teller, Sergeant Gerret V. Brakel, Sergeant Folcket Symonse,

(Veeder). Corp. Jacob V. Ghyselinge, Corp. Andreas de Graaf, Corp. Harme Veeder. Jan Barentse Wemp, Jan Vrooman, Jr., Cornelns Van der Volge, Benyemen V. Vleck, Marte V. Benthuysen, Samuel Hagadorn, William Teller, Wouter Vrooman, Jan Danyelse,

(V. Antwerpen), Esyas Swart, Joseph Clement, Arent Schermerhorn, Jacob Meebie, Myndert Van Ghyselinge, Joseph Marenus, Victor Putman, Daniel Toll, Bartholomew Picker, Jr.,

Hendrick Flipse, (Philipse)

Wilm Daes,

Synion Swits,

Arenout deGraef,

Wilm Brouwer,

Pieter Mebie,

Tyerck Franse,

(V. D. Bogart.) Philip Groot. Isaac de Graaf, Philip Bosie, Johannes Vrooman, Abraham Meebie, Harme Vedder, Jr., Jonetan Stevens, Arent Van Putte, Jacobus Vedder, Wouter Swart, Jeremy Tickstoon, Sander Flipse, (Philipse). William Coppernol, Hendrick Hagedorn, Peter Vrooman, Harme Flipse, (Philipse.) Robert Dwyer, Nicklas Stevens, Peter Bouwer, Peter Clement, Adam Smith, John Feerly, Joseph Van Eps.

It will be observed that many new Dutch names appear. But two English names appear in the whole list, Robert Ets, that being the nearest that Robert Yates, who came here in 1711 with his father, Abram Yates, could spell his name in Dutch, and John Smith. The

NEGLECT OF GOVERNMENT. 71

Vanderbogarts, who have figured in every war, border, French and Indian and the Revohition, were called in old documents " Franse," and there has always been a Franse Van De Bogart in this city, until a quarter of a century ago. Van Antwerp was called Danielse and Dan Van Antwerp has been here in name at least for two hundred years. The descendants of these families are living among us to-day.

For the entire first half of the century Schenectady furnished sol- diers to the Englishmen's war. The French were far inferior in numbers, by far the weaker nation, but they were untiring, vigilant and cruel. Their raids were frequently undertaken and carried out with an energy, fearlessness and rapidity that struck terror through- out our valley. With indignant surprise we look back on the story of that day, at the strange lethargy of England, and the wonderful alertness of her enemy, and that, with less than one-twelfth of her power in men, munitions and money, her enemy could strike blows in every quarter that evinced inexcusable neglect on the part of her powerful foe. All this captivated the savage, bred in him a profound and terror stricken respect for his smart and agile enemy, that often converted him to an ally of the winner in this bloody brigandage. The burgher, brave and sturdy as he was, was unnerved by the neg- lect of his government, and the dangers that hovered around him by night and day in field and by fireside. If he had been caught nap- ping one awful night in the close of the seventeenth, he was wide awake in the eighteenth century. It was his turn now to call on his comatose protectors to guard their frontier, and to call attention to defenceless towns, decaying forts and rotten barricades. Some idea of his life in the midst of enemies, firing on him from ambuscades by day, and hanging around his premises with gun and tomahawks by night, can be gathered from items picked up at random from the Colonial manuscript at Albany.

No family was safe unless protected by blockhouse or palisade ; no man was exempt from military duty save by age or infirmity. In Schenectady and Albany each able-bodied man kept watch and ward every third or fourth night. French and English reports alike, give sad accounts of shocking barbarities practiced on both sides, by

72 SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.

skulking parties of savages and white men. The following exam- ples, among many others taken from French reports, clearly show the cruelties practiced by these two Christian nations, who rewarded their savage allies in proportion to the number of scalps returned.

"April 20th, 1746, a party of fourteen Iroquois belonging to the Sault St. Louis, commanded by Ontassago, the son of the grand chief of that village who sojourned at Fort St. Frederic (Crown Point) made several scouts to Sarasteau (Saratoga)."

"May 24th, 1746, a party of eight Abenakis of Missiskony has been fitted out, who have been in the direction of Corlard (Schenec- tady) and have returned with some prisoners and scalps." It was probably in this raid that John Gfoot of Schenectady was captured. He died in Quebec Nov. 20th, 1746.

"May 27th, 1746. An equipped party of eight Iroquois of Sault St. Louis, struck a blow near Orange, and brought back six scalps."

" A party of Abenekis of Missiskony struck a blow near Orange, (x\lbany) and Corlard, (Schenectady) and brought some prisoners and scalps."

"June 2, 1746, an equipped party of twenty-five warriors of the Sault, and three Flatheads who joined the former in an expedition to the neighborhood of Orange, and who returned with some scalps."

"June 3, 1746, equipped a party of eighteen Nepissings who struck a blow at Orange and Corland (Schenectady)."

" June 19th, 1746, equipped a party of twenty-five Indians of Sault St. Louis, who struck a blow near Orange (iVlbany). One or two of the Indians were wounded. They brought away some scalps."

"June 20th, 1746, equipped a party of nineteen Iroquois of the Sault St Louis, who went to Orange to strike a blow."

" March, 1747, there came into prison at Quebec a Dutchman from Schenectady and a woman from Saratoga."

"In the spring of 1746, Edward Cloutman and Robert Dunbar, (son perhaps of John Dunbar of Schenectady, if so he was born in Albany Nov. 20th, 1709), broke prison at Quebec 23d of October, 1746, and escaped. Dunbar was taken not long before, as he was scouting on the ' Carrying Place,' and his loss was greatly lamented

INDIAN ATROCITIES. 73

as he had performed the most important service as a ranger, ever since the war commenced."

"May 7th, 1746. The inhabitants along the Mohawk river have left their settlements so that we are now reduced to great distress. As we wrote in our last, if a very considerable force be not immedi- ately sent to have neither men, money nor warlike stores."

" P. S. Just now is news come that a house and barn are burnt at Canastagione (Niskayuna), and four men carried off or killed."

About the same time, Simon Groot and two of his brothers were butchered, three miles from the village of Schenectady. The enemy burnt their buildings, killed their cattle and destroyed their other effects. They were discovered while doing this mischief by the set- tlers on the opposite side of the river, who knew some of the Indians, particularly Tom Wileman, who had lately removed from the Mohawk country to Albany.

It was doubtless to this raid that Smith refers in his history of New York. He says :

" One hundred and six men were detached from Schenectady. The track of the Indians was discovered by the fires they had made, and they were pursued above Schenectady. At the house of one Simon Groot they had murdered and scalped a boy, taken one man prisoner, plundered and set fire to the house, and shot a man in attempting to escape by swimming over the river."

It was a school of terrible experience ; its history written in bloody text on every mile of land around and beneath us. It had its grand results as many of the awful lessons of carnage have. A race of fighting men was reared here, whose splendid courage was the inspiration of their children and their children's children in heroic defense of their King, and the independence of these United States in the days of still sterner battles that were rapidly drawing near.

New England through the genius of historian and poet has drawn upon herself the attention of scholars and readers all over the world. The story of Pilgrim and Puritan, and a grand story it is, fills the school-book, and challenges the attention of the student of history the world over. But no valley in America has been made redder

74 SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.

with the blood of heroic men than this. No hills have looked down on more scenes of horror and heroism than the Heilderbergs. No river in all this broad land flows through a valley richer in the record of patriot and martyr, to Catholic and Protestant faith, of loyalty to King George and George Washington, than the grand old Mohawk around us.

Despite of wars and rumors of wars, of strife and bloodshed, all of which was engendered in Europe over the quarrels of monarchs that interested the burgher not one iota, while it made him fight all the time, the town grew and trade was always good. The land in the flats was unequalled in production of the staples of life. It was the best corn land then known on earth. Grain was plenty and to be obtained for trinkets and rum, both always plenty in the hands of the white man.

A new fort was built. After the second fort had been occupied about fifteen years, 1690 to 1705, the block houses were abandoned (as barracks only) and Queen's " new fort " was built at the east angle of the stockade. This was the " Old Fort," about which all the traditions of the people cluster. It was at first simply a double or triple stockade, 100 feet square, with bastions or block houses at the angles. In 1735 it was rebuilt in a more substantial manner with timbers on a stone foundation. The four curtains were about' seventy-six feet each and the four bastions or blockhouses twenty- four feet square.

In 1754, at the beginning of the French war, it contained one six and one nine pounder on carriages, but no "port holes in the cur- tains to fire them."

From the recollections of a Sexagenary, in the State library, we gain further description as the Fort was seen in 1757.

" Schenectady or Corlar, situated on the left bank of the Mohawk river, is a village of about 300 houses. It is surrounded by upright pickets flanked from distance to distance. Entering this village by the gate on the Fort Hunter side, there is a fort to the right which forms a species of citadel in the interior of the village itself. It is square, flanked with four bastions or demi-bastions, and is con- structed half of masonry and half of timbers piled over the other

A SECOND PETITION. 75

above the masonry. It is capable of holding 200 or 300 men. There are some pieces of cannon as a battery on the rampart. It is not encircled by a ditch. The entrance is through a large swing gate, raised like a drawbridge. By penetrating the village in attack- ing it at another point, the fire from the fort can be avoided."

" After the Earl of Loudon had resigned to Gen. Abercrombie, the command of the army, which had reduced Oswego, my father, then a young man, was called to Schenectady by sudden business."

" That place was then fortified. It had the shape of a parallelo- gram, with two gates, one opening to the eastern, the other to the northern road and was garrisoned by fifty or sixty soldiers."

On the 15th of October following, the inhabitants of Schenectady again petitioned the Governor to build a fort in the village, signed by Daniel Campbell, Arent Bratt, Abraham Glen and others.

The open space on which this fort stood, at the junction of Ferry, Front and Green streets, was about 264 feet more than 200 feet, extending from the Episcopal church yard to Green street.

The fort was built nearly in the center of this plat, the south wall extending across Ferry street, three feet south of the north corner of the parsonage house.

The well of the fort was in the middle of the street, three feet south of the north corner of Mr. James Sander's house.

Mr. Nicholas Veeder, who died in Glenville in 1862, aged 100 years, said that this fort was about twenty feet high and built of hewn timber, that it was taken down in the Revolutionary War, and the timber used in the frame of soldiers' barracks built on land of Johannes Quackenbos, at the south corner of Union and Lafayette streets. The village then had an armament of iron cannons and swivels, the largest of which were the "Lady Washington" and the " Long Nine Pounder," which were placed in the streets so as to command the gates. In digging trenches for water pipes in 1871, the south wall and well of the fort were discovered.

The new fort called Queen's Fort, after Anne, their Queen of Eng- land, was garrisoned at the time of its building in 1704.

The palisades on the west side of the village stood about 100 feet back from Washington street, but on the 29th of July, 1704, Gover-

76 SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.

nor Cornbury issued the following order for removing them to the bank of the Benne Kil :

" You or either of you are hereby required as early as the weather will permit, that next spring to cause the stockades set upon the west side of the town of Schenectady, to be removed from the place where they now stand, and be set up as near the river as the ground will permit, and hereof you are not to fail.

Given under my hand at Schenectady this 29th day of July, 1704. To Johannes Sanders (Glen), Adam Vrooman."

To understand the significance of this order, it should be remem- bered that since the destruction of the first fort in 1690, the ground lying west of Washington street had been outside of the west of the second fort. By the year 1704, the " Queen's New Fort" had been erected in the east corner of the village, at the junction of Front, Ferry and Green streets, the Governor therefore orders the removal of the west line of the second fort by setting back the stockades to the bank of the Benne Kil, the land along Washington street revert- ing to the original owners.

This wall seems to have been removed to include houses, built beyond it towards the Benne Kil, which had rendered it useless as a defense, while it cut them off from access to the street. The square of four blocks was left intact by the Queen's Fort, it having been built beyond the old palisades in the triangle bounded by the pali- sades on the south, near Ferry street on the east, and the river road (now State street), on the north side. The original wall went straight from the corner of Front and Washington to the door of St. George's church. There was a gate at Church street most of the time. From this gate ran the river road. The placing of the fort of 1704 threw the road beyond the north bastion of the fort and Green street, and when laid out conformed to it also. After the abandonment of the old fort the triangle of land was converted into house lots.

The garrison was as follows : From Half Moon, eastern Niska- yuna and what is now the town of Crescent Park. Schenectady and Niskayuna furnished each twenty men. John Sanders Glen reported

FORTS REPAIRED. 77

in the fall of 171 1, that the fort was in a rotten condition, and in obedience to orders he proceeded to repair it.

After the peace of Utrecht, between Great Britain and France, in 1713, until the " Old French War," in 1744, the people on the borders enjoyed reasonable quiet and safety.

There were efforts made from time to time, however, to keep up a show of defense by rebuilding the wooden forts and posting^small garrisons therein.

Thus in 1715, and again in 1719, the Assembly passed acts for repairing the forts here.

CHAPTER V.

The City in the Eighteenth Century.

The city was a lovely place as tradition hands it down to us. Ungridironed by railroad or canal, poles or wires, the necessary but unsightly adjuncts of an unromantic, unsentimental age, an age that tears down and builds up at its pleasure, disembowels the ancient graveyard on Green street, razes to the earth the old landmarks, that old eyes loved to see, and that grew dim as they were taken away. The little village nestled under magnificent elms, parasols in the summer and stockades against the storms of winter. Names of streets were changed. Albany street became Martyrlaer, the street' of the martyrs. What is now Washington avenue became Hande- laer, the street of traders. Niskayuna (Union) long retained its name. Front street still holds its own name. Commonplace and cheap nomenclature, that we share with all the municipal mush- rooms of earth, have taken the places of the titles that were melodi- ous and suggestive, memorials to the heroic dead, and the founders of a trade and traffic that grew steadily, and with a solid and conservative progress, until interrupted and overthrown for a time by the advent of canal and railroad.

78 SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.

The architecture was all Netherland gothic when built of brick. Frame houses were many of them built in as nearly the same style as the material would permit. But a very common style of wooden structure, especially of the larger kind, was a kind of edifice seen only in Schenectady, Kingston and old Dutch burghs. The whole upper half or second story front was a semi-circle. The last one was taken ^own more than forty years ago to make way for the residence now occupied by Mr. Hinsdell Parsons. Rare, quaint old houses, they were. One of the finest specimens of the style was the ware- house of DeGraff, Walton & Co., on the river bank where Whit- myer's broom factory now is. The smaller style of the brick build- ing may be seen in the residence of Mrs. Joseph Y. Van Vanderbo- gart, opposite the Court House, on Union street, built by Abraham Yates in 1734.

The business was all grouped on Handalaer, the lower part of Martyrlaer and the foot of West Front street. The Mohawk began early to be the avenue of transportation and travel to the westward. And on what is known as the " Camp," the plain directly west of the Sanders house, gathered under Sir William Johnson, companies of troops under the commands of Major Roseboom, Capt. Christo- pher Yates and Bradt for the expedition against Fort Niagara. Warehouses began to be erected along the Benne Kil, as the Frog Alley river was then called, and stores, little and big, began to thicken along Front and Handalaer streets, the markets of the retailers.

Others came to the growing town in the early days of 1700, who became the founders of large families, and in the French war and the Revolution were destined to win renown.

In a future chapter on genealogies there will be abundant records for hundreds of the descendants of the old stock to furnish proof sufficient to enable them to gain entrance into any of the ancestral societies that are so popular in these days. We are growing old enough to have a purely American ancestry, of an origin better, purer and as brave as any European country can produce. It is intended that one of the advantages of this volume will be to give people an opportunity, if they so desire, to prove a birth and lineage purer than any traced from issue of some of the multi-married John

ANOTHER MASSACRE. 79

of Gaunts, or, from the hazy ladies of the time of Charles II., the morganatic marriages of the French nobility, or the titled Cyprians of the days of the Georges, the four Royal Brutes, as Thackery calls them.

The Marcellus, a Spanish Holland name contracted into Marselis, the Mynderse, Phillepse's (Phillips), the Swarts, the Antwerps who built the Maybe house near Fitchburgh Junction, the Vanderbogarts written almost always Franse, the Van Eps, the Van Valkenberghs, Van Voasts and the Veeders and Yates, most all are on Revolutionary rolls.

CHAPTER VI. The Beukendaal Massacre.

Meanwhile another horror was coming down on the unhappy county with the central years of the century, not in the city, but near enough in distance and far nearer in the awful shadow on many a happy home, within the gates and palisades.

The " Sacandaga Pike " turns off from the village of Scotia at its junction with what is still called Reeseville. It is the second road north, or to the right after entering the village at the residence of Mr. James Collins. A few rods beyond where this road passes over the New York Central, just at the foot of the long ascent to the Town House, and directly opposite to the Toll mansion, one will see at the right, a little glen, a very modest one now, but of deeper depression and heavily timbered on its banks and glades in 1748. This is the Beukendaal, corrupted by the Dutch into Poopendal. Here was the scene of one of those skulking massacres, those shud- der bearing tales of horror, that made life in those days an hourly tremor all through the land. The Mohawk farmer had become alert and vigilant. In the heart of a game-producing county he had learned to be a deadly marksman. In the protection of his own life and the guardianship of those he loved, he had gained a splendid

8o SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.

nerve that aimed at the heart of a crouching enemy with the cool- ness with which he could shoot a polecat. But more than once he fell a victim to that murderous craft that the bloodthirsty genius of his Indian foe was perpetually planning.

As the war drew to a close in 1748, Schenectady met with the severest loss it had suffered at any one time since the year 1690. This is generally called the Poopendal (a corruption of Beukendaal) massacre. It was however, in no sense a massacre like that of 1690, except perhaps, in the killing of the first victim, but a stand-up hand to hand fight in Indian fashion, in which the whites were the attack- ing party, and on that account suffered more severely than the sav- ages.

About twenty of the former were killed and some thirteen or more made prisoners ; of the losses of the latter we have no sufficient accounts.

Beyond tradition the accounts of this skirmish are meagre and uncircumstantial .

A brief letter to Col. William Johnson, written by Albert Van Slyck July 21st, 1748, three days after the affair, is the only semi- official narrative w^e have, and was given by one who was in the fight.

From the details preserved in this letter, it appears that a party of men from Schenectady, the leader of whom w^as Daniel Toll, had been dispatched to some place in the vicinity, to bring in a number of horses. They were surprised by a party of the enemy, whose presence in the neighborhood was neither known nor suspected.

" The firing was heard by Adrian Van Slyck, a brother of the writer of the account, who seems to have resided at a distance from the town. He sent a negro to the latter place to give the alarm and obtain reinforcements. Four parties of armed men successively repaired to the scene of action, the first of which was composed of the " New England lieutenant with some of his men and five or six young lads," accompanied by Daniel Van Slyck, another brother. The second party was led by Ackes Van Slyck ' and some men,' how many of either party is not stated.

" Adrian Van Slyck followed next, at the head of a party of New

ACCOUNT OF MASSACRE. ' 8i

York levies, but on reaching the scene of action, where Ackes with inferior numbers was holding the enemy at bay, the levies all fled in a most cowardly manner.

" The fourth party was composed of Albert Van Slyck (the writer of the letter), Jacob Glen and several others, on the approach of whom the enemy drew off leaving Adrian among the dead."

The letter adds : "It grieves me, I not being a commander, that when we went. Garret Van Antwerp would suffer no more to accom- pany the party."

The second account, written by Giles F. Yates, Esq., and pub- lished in the Schenectady De^nocrat and Reflector^ April 22, 1836, was gathered from tradition, then floating about among the aged peo- ple of that day, with whom Mr, Yates had an extended acquaintance.

"In the beginning of the month of July, 1748, Mr. Daniel (Toll) and his favorite servant Ryckert, went in search of some stray horses at Beukendahl, a locality about three miles from this city. They soon heard, as they supposed, the tramping of horses ; but on nearer approach the sound they mistook for that made by horses hoofs on the clayey ground, proceeded from the quoits with which some Indians were playing.

" Mr. Toll discovered his danger too late, and fell pierced by the bullets of the French savages, for such they were. Ryckert, more fortunate, took to his heels and fled. He reached Schenectady in safety and told the dreadful news of the death of his master and the presence of the enemy.

" In less than an hour about sixty volunteers were on the march to Beukendahl, The greater part of these were young men and such was their zeal that they would not wait until the proper author- ities had called out the militia. Without discipline or experience, and even without a leader, they hastened to the Indian camp,

" Those in advance of the main body, before they reached the enemy, were attracted by a singular sight. They saw a man resem- bling Mr, Toll sitting near a fence in an adjoining field, and a crow flying up and down before him.

" On coming nearer they discovered it to be the corpse of Mr. Toll with a crow attached to it by a string.

82 SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.

" This proved to be a stratagem of the Indians to decoy their adversaries. The Schenectadians fell, alas, too easily into the snare laid for them, and were in a few moments surrounded by the Indians who had been lying in ambush. Thus taken by surprise, they lost many of their number, and some were taken prisoners before they could make good their retreat.

" They, however, succeeded in reaching the house of Mr. DeGrafE in the neighborhood, which had been for some time deserted. But while retreating they continued to fire upon their enemy. On reach- ing Mr. DeGraff's house they entered, bolted the doors, and ascended to the second floor. Here they tore off all the boards near the eaves, and through the opening thus made, fired with success at the sav- ages and succeeded in keeping them at bay. In the meantime Dirck Van Vorst, who had been left in the charge of two young Indians, effected his escape.

" The two youngsters were anxious to see the fight and secured their prisoner by tieing him to a tree and left him alone. He suc- ceeded in getting his knife from his pocket and cutting the cord with which he was bound. On the approach of the Schenectady militia under Col. Jacob Glen the party in Mr. DeGraff's house were relieved from their perilous situation, and the enemy took up their line of march from Canada.

" On this occasion there were thirty-two citizens killed. Of these we are able to give the names of Jacob Glen, (cousin of Col. Glen), Peter Vrooman, John Darling, Adam Conde, Van Antwerpen, Cor- nelius Viele, Nicholas DeGraff and Adrian Van Slyck ; wounded, Ryer Wemp, Robinson and Wilson ; prisoners, Abraham DeGraff and his son William, John Phelps, Harmen Veeder and Lewis Groot.

" The bodies of DeGraff and Glen were found lying in a close con- tact with their savage antagonists, with whom they had wrestled in deadly strife.

" The corpses were brought to Schenectady the evening of the massacre and deposited in the large barn of Abraham Mabee, in the rear of the building lately occupied by Mrs. Churchill on Washing- ton Avenue. The barn was removed only a few years ago. The

KILLED BY SAVAGES. S3

relatives of the deceased repaired thither to claim their departed kindred and remove them for interment."

The third narrative may be found in Drake's " Particular His- tory," and seems to have been gleaned from various sources. It is particularly valuable as giving more names of the killed and missing than any other account.

"July 1 8th, 1748. About three miles from Schenectady, Daniel Toll, Dirck Van Vorst and a negro went to a place called Poopendal to catch their horses ; but not finding the horses as they expected, they went into the adjacent woods to a place called the Clay pit (Kley Kuil). They discovered Indians and attempted to escape from them, but were pursued by them and Toll and Van Vorst were shot down, but the negro escaped. Van Vorst, though wounded, was not killed but taken prisoner. The firing was heard at Maalwyck about two miles distant and the people, knowing that Toll and Van Vorst had gone for their horses, suspected the occasion of the firing. This was about ten o'clock in the morning and a messenger was at once dispatched to the town where the alarm was sounded about twelve. Some . of the inhabitants with a company of new levies, posted there under Lieutenant Darling of Connecticut, in all seventy men, marched out toward Poopendal cautiously searching for the enemy. They went as far as the lands of Simon Groot, but made no discovery of the enemy. At this point the negro before men- tioned came to the party and told them where the body of his mas- ter was.

The negro was furnished with a horse and they (about forty in number) were piloted to the spot where his master lay dead, near Beukendahl at Abraham DeGraaf's house. They immediately entered the woods with the negro where they at once discovered the enemy in great numbers, upon whom they discharged a volley with a shout. The enemy shouted in return, accompanying it with a vol- ley also. This was the commencement of a most desperate fight. All but two or three of the English stood to it manfully, although they were hemmed in on every side by the great numbers of the enemy, and fought over a space of about two acres ; yet the battle ground was left in possession of the settlers. In this hand to hand

84 SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.

encounter twelve of the inhabitants of Schenectady were killed out- right, five were taken prisoners and seven of Lieut Darling's men, including himself, were killed and six of them missing, who were supposed to be taken prisoners. The news of this battle reached Albany on the evening of the same day, and by midnight Lieut. Chew, with one hundred English and two hundred friendly Indians, were on the march for the scene of action, but to no other purpose than to show their willingness to meet an emergency of this kind. The names of the people killed, so far as ascertained, were Daniel Toll, Frans Van der Bogart, Jr., Jacob Glen, Jr., Daniel Van Ant- werpen, J. P. Van Antwerpen, Cornelius Viele, Jr., Adrian Van Slyck, Peter Vrooman, Klaas A. DeGraaf, Adam Conde, John A. Bradt and John Marinus.

" There were missing Isaac Truax, Ryer Wemp, Johannes Seyer Vrooman, Albert John Vedder and Frank Conner, all belonging to Schenectady. Of the soldiers, seven were killed and six missing."

From these accounts it is certain that the presence of the Indians was not suspected until the first shot ; that Captain Daniel Toll was the first victim ; that the alarm was given by his negro Ryckert ; that a company of Connecticut levies under Lieut. Darling accompa- nied and followed by squads of the inhabitants marched to the scene; and that after a hot engagement the Indians retreated, leaving twenty of the whites dead, and taking away thirteen or fourteen prisoners besides the wounded.

Considering the number of the whites engaged, their loss was very severe, amounting probably to one-third of their force.

The following is the fullest list of killed and missing that can now be given :

KILLED.

John A. Bradt, Adrian Van Slyck,

Johannes Marinus, Jacob Glen, Jr.,

Peter Vrooman, Adam Conde,

Daniel Van Antwerpen, J. P. Van Antwerpen,

Cornelius Viele, Jr., Frans Van der Bogart, Nicholas DeGraaf.

THOSE WOUNDED AND MISSING. 85

Capt. Daniel Toll was standing by a tree when the fatal bullet struck him. His name was to be seen cut in the bark for many years after but has now disappeared.

WOUNDED.

Ryer Wemp, Dirck Van Vorst,

Robinson, Wilson,

And probably many others.

MISSING AND PRISONERS.

John Phelps, Harman Veeder,

Eewis Groot, Isaac Truax,

Johannes Seyer Vrooman, Albert John Vedder,

Frank Connor, And six soldiers, in all thirteen men.

After the close of hostilities, Governor Clinton sent Lieut. Stod- dert to Montreal to arrange for an exchange of prisoners. With Capt. Anthony Van Schaick he went into the Indian country to recover the captives, but with indifferent success. Among those who were with Lieut. Stoddert, were Capt. Anthony Van Schaick, John Vrooman, Peter Vasborough (Vosburgh), Albert Vedder and Francis Connor. Efforts were made to induce others to return, but without success. Of these were Rachel Quackenbos, Simon Fort and Philip Phillipsen. Rachel Quackenbos abjured the English religion and Lieut. Stoddert could not persuade her to return. Fort and Phillipse also desired to remain with the Iroquois ; the former belonged by adoption to a sister of a chief named Agonareche. She refused to give him up at any price. Capt. Van Schaick offered six hundred livres for Fort but was not successful. On the contrary, so determined was his squaw owner to retain him that she said she would obey the French commandant and deliver him up, but that she and her husband would follow him, and he should not reach home alive. Lieut. Stoddert left Canada on the 28th of June, 1750, with twenty-four prisoners.

7

86 SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.

CHAPTER VII.

Schenectady in Coloniae Wars.

All through the eighteenth century the names of the Schenectady burghers are proportionately more numerous than any of the then military divisions of the Province. The Mohawker was born in the midst of war's alarms, baptized to the music of the twang of the bowstring and crack of musketry. Often and often the hands that sprinkled his forehead, or made the sign of the cross above it, had become familiar with the stain of blood, as priest or parson performed the last duty to the dying. Among the old names all the blood is soldier's blood. Beginning with the year 1 700 the roll of fighters is long and heroic. Some of the names are still well known and prom- inent, some have died out. It is surprising to know of so many whose ancestors, two centuries ago fought, and suffered, and died for God and King, whose record is among the easily attained archives of New York, and yet who know nothing about that recorded story of ancient valor that may well be the pride of their children's children.

From as exhaustive an examination of Colonial Mss., as their immense volume will permit, we give here the companies and regi- ments from Schenectady, then part of Lyon and Albany county, who did duty in the protection of home and in the service of William and Mary, Anne and the three Georges of England. By examina- tion of the genealogical records that follow, it will be possible for thousands of her people to learn just the fighting stock from which they came.

The first roll is that of a company of foot. The official record is John Sanders Glen, Captain, Adam Vrooman, Lieutenant and Harman Van Slyck, Ensign, in the years r7oo-i4.

OTHER COMPANIES.

87

Two Companies at Schenectady.

Johannes Sanders Glen, Capt., Gerrit Symonse, Lieut.,

Jacob Glen, Ensign. Jan Wemp, Capt., Arent Bradt, Lieut,

Syman Switz, Ensign.

One Company at Niskayuna. Johannes Wendell, Capt., Anthony Van Slyck, (minor)

Jacob Vanderheyden, Ensign.

Lieutenant.

List of Capt. Sanders Glen.

Capt. John Sanders Glen, Lieut. Jan Wemp, Corp. Everet Van Eps,

Corp. Abraham Glen, Peter Vrooman, Jr., Gilbert Van Brackel, Helmus Veeder, John Teller, Jr., Jacob Switz, Sander Glen, Cornelus Van Dyck, Claas Vanderbogart, Jacob Schermerhorn, Jan Schermerhorn, Symon Toll, Jan Dilemont, Andris Van Patten, Jan Marselus, Jacob Van O'Linda, John Vedder, Sweer Marselus, Jan Paptist Van Eps, Arent Daniels,

Lieut. Gerrit Symons, Sergt. Arent Bradt, Corp. Theunis Vander Volgen, Manus Vedder.

Cornelus Van Slyck, Cornelus Viele, David Marenus, John Peck, Jellis Fonda, Jobin Peck, Jr., Abraham DeGraff, Peter Daniels, Phillip Phillipse, Symon Veeder, Jacob Vrooman, Peter Quinzy, Jellis Van Voarst, Abraham Groot, Cornelus Slingerlant, Thomas Swart, Dirck Groot, Robert Eps, Nicholas Henpel, Arent Samuel Bradt,

SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.

Barent Vrooman, Hendrick Vrooman, Jr., Myndert Wemp, Jacob Teller, William Marenus, Jacob Phillips,

Symon Groot, Marte Van Slyck, Hendrick Phillips, William Daes, Claas Van Patten, William Hall.

(Signed) John Sanders Glen, Gerret Symon, Jan Wemp.

List of Capt. Harman Van Slyck.

Capt. Harman Van Slyck, Lient. Jacob Glen, Sergt. Gerrit Van Brackel, Corp. Jacob Van Guysling,

Corp. Harman Jan Barentse Wemple, Jan Vrooman, Jr., Cornelns Vander Volgen, Benjamin Van Slyck, Marte Vanderheyden, Samuel Hagadorn, William Teller, Walter Vrooman, Jan Daniels, Esyas Swart, Joseph Clement, Arent Schermerhorn, Jacob Mebie, Myndert Van Guysling, John INIarenus, Victor Putman, Arent Van Patten, Jacob Vedder, Walter Swart,

Lieut. Hendrick Vrooman, Sergt. John Teller, Sergt. Volbert Simons, Corp. Andris DeGraff, Vedder.

Daniel Daniels,

Daniel Toll,

Bartholomew Pecker, Jr.

John Van Eps,

Symon Swits,

Fremont DeGraff,

William Brouwer,

Peter Meebie,

Tecares Van De Bogart,

Phillip Groot,

Isaac De Graff,

Phillip Bo,

Johannes Vrooman,

Abraham Meebie,

Harman Vedder, Jr.,

Jonethan Stevens,

Robert Digger,

Nicholas Stevens,

Peter Brouwer,

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89

Jermy,

Sandor Phillips, William Coppernol, Hendrick Hagadorn, Harman Phillips.

Peter Clement, Adam Smith, John Fairlee, Peter Vrooman,

(Signed), Harman Van Slyck, Hendrick Vrooman, Jacob Glen. In 1 71 7. Two companies in existence in the city.

Glen, Capt., Gerrit Symonse, Lient., and John Wemple, Ensign, of the one; Harman Van Slyck, Capt., Hendrick Vrooman, Lieut., Jacob Glen, Ensign of the other. Niskayuna furnished a company of foot. Jacob Van Schoonhoven was Capt., Hans Hansen, Ensign and John Wendell, Lieut.

In 1733 there were three companies of infantry in Schenectady, officered as follows :

The First Company. Wilhemus Veeder, Capt., Lieut. John A. Vedder,

in the room of Jacob Glen. Lieut. Abraham Truax.

Ensign, Jan Baptiste Van Eps,

The Second Company.

Capt. Abraham Glen, Lieut. Jan B. Wemple,

Lieut. Andries A. Bradt, Ensign, Hendrick Wemple,

The Third Company. Jacob Van Slyck, Capt., William Teller, Lieut.,

Myndert Mynderse, Lieut.,

John A. Bradt, Ensign.

In the meanwhile Daniel Campbell in 1754 came here and settled in Rotterdam to enter the service of the king. Very soon after his coming, John Duncan came the year following, to not only serve under the king, but to remain in it all through the Revolution, and to take command of a company under Sir John Johnson and attack the settlement on the Mohawk River.

90 SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.

Joseph Yates had emigrated from Albany and had settled at the Aalplans where is now the property of Mr. Pierre Hoag, and must have prospered as he owned a large plantation, cultivated by slaves, which extended from the Aalplans Creek, along the north bank of the river to what is now Freeman's Bridge. He had two sons, Christopher (Stoeffle) and Jelis, the Dutch for Giles. These men were fort officers in the service of the king. The soldiers of that day were divided into militia, provincial troops and regulars. The militia did as much duty as either, in fact had seen more brave fighting in many instances than either of the others. They cer- tainly had in the Mohawk valley. The militiaman did not, as did his successors long years afterward, enlist for his personal beauty, his gaudy trappings, the pomp and circumstances of holiday parade, but to be ready at a moment's call to guard his and his neighbor's home. And in the early latter half of the century, the system of keeping the rolls and records was established which enabled us to find out just who were those who did soldierly duty for their king, as long as such duties were consistent with patriotism.

One of the best known old soldiers of Colonial days was Jellis Fonda, father of the heroic Major Jellis of the Revolution. He was a lieutenant in Mathews Company in 1755. He was major under Sir William Johnson of the Third Regiment of Albany. He was the close companion, comrade and friend of Sir William John- son.

Two of the most ferocious old fighters of Colonial days were Cap- tains Jonathan Stevens and William McGinnis, both killed beside King Hendrick and Col. Williams, founder of Williams College. They both commanded Schenectady companies. Sir William John- son reported officially that McGinnis, Stevens and the Schenectady men fought like lions. Stevens was killed at the age of twenty- eight, leaving no lineal descendants.

Christopher Yates (known universally in the valley as Col. Stoeffle to distinguish him from Christopher P. and Peter Yates, his cousin, all of them becoming afterwards colonels in the Revolution), was commissioned as captain in the New York Provincial Regiment at Oswego, Thursday, June 15th, 1759. He was promoted while on

DIARY OF LIEUTENANT YATES. 91

his way to Fort Niagara in command of the rear guard, afterwards of the quarter guard of the army, under Gen. Prideaux, who on his death in the assault was succeeded by Sir William Johnson. Yates had under him a Schenectady company, the roll of which cannot be found.

The French always maintained that Sir William Johnson took the fortress by deceit, treachery and the violation of the laws of civilized warfare. As interestingly illustrative of the means and ways of military transportation of those days, we offer extracts from Yates' diary of the journey. It will be seen that the Frenchman's charge against Sir William is abundantly substantiated by the written state- ment of an officer in the British service.

Diary of Lieut. Christopher Yates, Afterwards Captain in THE Expedition against Fort Niagaria in July, 1759.

" A diary of my proceedings from my father's house in Schenec- tady which I left on June ist, with the last party of our regiment, commanded by Col. Johnson, consisting of about 300 men with whale boats.

"The first day we went to Claas Vieles. Each night I had the quarter guard. The next day we went to Sir Williams' (Sir William Johnson) and encamped there, and the next day we went to Little Falls and carried over some whale boats. On the same evening- came up the artillery batteaux, which went over the falls before us, putting our party in great confusion. The next day we were ordered to make fascines to mend the road, which was very bad, and were four days in getting over our boats and provisions.

" From thence we proceeded to Fort Herkimer where we camped and from whence we proceeded to Orisco, which was June 14th, dur- ing which time we heard an alarm by the firing of more guns on the north side of the river, and sent out a party of about eighty or more men who made no discovery. The commanders of the party were Captain Bloomer, Lieutenant Schuyler and Lieutenant Wemple. Proceeded to Fort Stanwix. (Wemple was afterwards colonel in the Second New York in the Revolution).

92 SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.

" When we came there, the 14th and i6th regiments were marched to Canada Creek, part of our regiment to Fort Bull. Next day we tarried at Fort Stanwix, then another part of our regiment went off commanded by Major Roseboom, (afterwards colonel), which was the 15th of June, and Sir William went off from the fort with a great party of Indians. It was a fine sight, the bands of music played upon the ramparts of the fort, when the General and Sir William went off with the Indians.

" Oswego, July ist, 1759. Upon a Sunday morning our army commanded by General Prideaux, went off from Oswego to Niagara, and in that way until we came to a great covered harbor called Sodom, (Sodus), and encamped there that night, and the next morn- ing, July 2nd, went off from there. At night we came to another cove called Jerundequa.

" July 4th. In the morning we set off and proceeded until about two or three in the afternoon, when we encamped by a mighty great one (cove) where the Geneva river comes out into the lake.

" J^^ly 5th. In the morning we went from there and proceeded along until we came to a narrow cove and creek, and there we encamped, and in the morning very early; about three or four o'clock, we set off and proceeded very smartly until we came to a cove about three miles, and there we landed. The same afternoon the Indians went and about three o'clock in the morning cannonaded and took three prisoners and six whale boats almost from under the fort and the general. The whale boats went in order to catch the sloops but the sloops laid under the fort so that they could not catch them. The fort shot several cannons at the boats, shot one man, taking his leg right off.

" The next day, which was the 7th, we prepared our cannons and the sloop played every hour on the lake, firing several cannons, and so they did all next day, which was the 8th. Then we marched about a mile from the fort and made gabions, etc., all that day. Next day went in a flag of truce, which was Monday the 8th. Then we began to intrench, and I was in the entrenches all that night until morning, and then they fired very smart all three cannons but did not do any damage. Then Wednesday, the nth there went a

DIARY CONTINUED.

93

flag of tnice from the Indians, and stayed in the fort a good while, and there was no further firing from them or from us. Before then we entrenched like men, and as soon as the Indians came there was no work all that night, but we did not mind that much, we worked the attack like smoke. They wounded a few men very slightly with their small arms. That night we began to play with four or five howitzers. In the morning we brought a few cannons into the trench. The 1 2th at night, I went in and they said they saw hot work there, there was one of our men killed and Indian Williams wounded very badly. Then at night we entrenched until within 200 yards of the fort, close by their gabions. Satur- day 13th we began the batteries but did not finish them.

"Sunday the 14th. Went and was in all night, but it rained so hard that we could not work ; that night we finished three batteries.

"The 17th. In the morning the firing was pretty hot, all that day and the next day, the i8th at night, we entrenched.

" The 1 8th. In the afternoon the schooner came from Garoqua. The same night we entrenched forty yards from their breastwork, but the schooner did not come to the fort.

" The 20th. In the afternoon our colonel was wounded through his leg by a musket shot, and Colonel Johnson was killed by a mus- ket ball as he was laying out the ground to entrench. That night at about ten o'clock the General (Prideaux) was killed by one of our cowhorn (mortars) and Sir William Johnson took command. And so we marched and worked night and day, until the 24th, when we were attacked by about 1500 of the enemy, under the command of Mushur Delanquay